SUNDAY 30TH APRIL 2023

Tinubu, Atiku, Sanwo-Olu, Abiodun Congratulate Adenuga at 70 Say Glo founder revolutionised GSM in Nigeria

Adedayo Akinwale in

The President-elect, Senator Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and his Ogun State

counterpart, Dapo Abiodun, yesterday commended the commitment of the Chairman of Globacom, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr, for his unwavering commitment to nation-building. Tinubu used the occasion

of Adenuga’s 70th birthday to extend his felicitation to the business mogul for his many social and economic investments in Nigeria.

This was even as he described him as a ‘believer in the manifest

destiny of Nigeria as a great country.’

In the congratulatory message issued yesterday by his Media Officer, Tunde Rahman, the President-elect praised the Globacom owner’s business

accomplishments in the telecommunications, oil, real estate, and aviation sectors.

According to him, the businessman democratised and revolutionised GSM telephony in Nigeria in 2003 with per-second

billing at a time it was considered impossible to do so.

He said, “I congratulate Otunba Mike Adenuga on attaining 70. To reach the Biblical age of three

Continued on page 5

Sudanese Crisis: FG Documents 637 Stranded Nigerians in Egypt for Evacuation…

Buhari Approves Postponement of 2023 Census…

Kano Governor-elect will Revisit Sanusi’s Dethronement, Kwankwaso Declares

Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano

The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s

Party (NNPP) in the 2023 general election and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, has said

the incoming government of the Governor-elect of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, will revisit the dethronement of the 14th Emir of Kano, Alhaji

Muhammadu Sanusi II. Sanusi, who became emir in the final term of Kwankwaso as governor of the state, was dethroned by the outgoing

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, who was the deputy governor at the time the monarch was installed.

Sanusi was removed on

March 9, 2020, and also banished from Kano and sent to Loko, a remote community

Continued on page 5

Why Who Becomes Senate President is Important for Tinubu’s Strategists

Akpabio, Oshiomhole, Kalu, Umahi remain strong contenders Plot thickens to amend Senate rules to allow Oshiomhole, Umahi run

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

Strong indications emerged at the weekend that the strategists of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu are showing strong interest on who becomes the next President of the Senate due to the uncertainty of the outcome of the various petitions challenging Tinubu’s victory at the election tribunal, THISDAY has learnt.

This is as a former Senate Minority Leader and exMinister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio; former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Adams Oshiomhole; Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and the outgoing Governor of Ebonyi State, Mr. Dave Umahi have remained the strong contenders

Abuja

BON Rejects NCC’s Planned Sale of 600MHz Spectrum

Says it threatens 80% of Nigeria’s TV viewers

Festus Akanbi

The Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) has kicked against the planned sale of the broadcast frequency in the 600MHz spectrum band by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), saying such action will not only threaten over 80 per cent of television viewers nationwide but will also make Nigeria’s broadcast space vulnerable to unhindered penetration by foreign media organs.

The Nigerian telecoms sector regulator, the NCC, had last month announced the plan to sell the frequency slots in the 600 MHz spectrum band through “Administrative

Assignment (without an auction), a development which the Executive Secretary of BON, Dr. Yemisi Bamgbose, said would threaten the operations of a substantial number of broadcast organisations in the country.

A report by Technology Times published at the weekend quoted Bamgbose as saying that the controversial spectrum is exclusively allocated to broadcasting in the country, hence the fear that its sale at this point will jeopardise the chances of television viewers.

The Executive Secretary of BON, which rejected the planned sale of the 600MHz spectrum band by NCC, said it was exclusively allocated to

broadcasting in the country.

BON’s rejection was said to have been conveyed in a letter to the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC’s) DirectorGeneral, calling for urgent steps to be taken to stop the planned sale of the broadcast spectrum by NCC.

The publication quoted the BON’s Executive Secretary, who warned that the NCC’s planned sale of the band before the analogue switch-off, would result in the denial of access to TV broadcasting of over 80 per cent of Nigerians that depend on the electronic broadcast medium nationwide for information and public enlightenment.

In the letter, titled “An

Urgent Call to NBC to Save Television Broadcasting from Extermination” and dated April 25, 2023, the BON said, “Our attention has been drawn to an advertisement placed by the NCC, titled ‘Availability of Frequency Slots in the 600 MHz Spectrum Band’, published on March 23, 2023.

“The NCC brought notice to the general public on the availability of frequency slots in the 600MHz spectrum band for sale. The advertisement further stated that submission of interest closes on or before the close of business on April 28, 2023.”

Consequently, the BON called on NBC to take the required legal steps to prevent the

sale of the spectrum band until after the completion of the Digital Switchover as stipulated by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and as stated in the Federal Government White Paper on digitisation.

NBC’s letter further warned that if this sale of the primary spectrum allocated to broadcasting is allowed to happen, all television stations operating on frequency 600MHz will be affected negatively.

“Those that will be affected include all DTT operators; ITS; Pinnacle; many private television stations; the majority of state government-owned stations; some NTA community

WHY WHO BECOMES SENATE PRESIDENT IS IMPORTANT FOR TINUBU’S STRATEGISTS

for the Senate Presidency.

It was gathered that as Oshiomhole and Umahi insist on running, there are moves to amend the Senate Rules to allow the first-term senators to run for the principal positions to pave the way for the former governor of Edo State, who is said to be Tinubu’s favourite.

Oshiomhole and Umahi are going to the Senate for their first term.

THISDAY gathered that while the APC has settled for the South-south to produce the Senate President and the North-west to produce the deputy, the Senate Rules prohibit the emergence of a first-term senator.

Under the current Senate Rules, they are not qualified to run as only a ranking senator is qualified to hold a principal position.

A source privy to the ongoing permutations however told THISDAY last night that

if Oshiomhole is finally cleared to contest, the APC governors would likely throw their weight behind Umahi.

It was gathered that the fear of the possible outcome of the petitions filed against Tinubu’s victory in the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) prompted the President-elect and his allies to search for a candidate they can trust.

Multiple sources told THISDAY at the weekend that Tinubu’s camp is rooting for a trusted ally to become the Senate President so that in the event of a nullification of the February 25 presidential election, their ally will hold forth as the acting President for a period of 90 days.

“There are fears that the tribunal might annul the election. If the tribunal annuls the election, they will need a strong Senate President, who will hold forth for 90

days,” one of the sources told THISDAY.

APC Govs' Panel on Zoning Submits Report Tomorrow

Meanwhile, barring any unforeseen circumstances, a committee of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) on zoning the leadership positions in the National Assembly, which was set up at the instance of the President-elect,Tinubu, is expected to submit its report tomorrow for consideration by the leadership of the APC.

THISDAY gathered that Tinubu requested for the setting up of the panel when some governors kicked against a consensus arrangement aimed at micro-zoning the presiding officers’ positions at the National Assembly to certain individuals.

The anti-consensus

TINUBU, ATIKU, SANWO-OLU, ABIODUN CONGRATULATE ADENUGA AT 70

scores and ten brings great joy to every human being and I thank God for making this great son of Nigeria and the world to reach the milestone in good health.

“Adenuga is a firm believer in the manifest destiny of Nigeria as a great country. This he has demonstrated with his continuous investments in our economy, creating thousands of jobs and wealth for our people through his many businesses.

On his part, Atiku congratulated Adenuga for attaining 70 years, saying turning 70 years is no mean achievement, given the vicissitudes of life in the country.

Atiku in a statement he signed yesterday said Adenuga’s meteoric rise from being a onetime yellow cab driver while struggling with his studies in the US, to being today's Forbes' globally listed dollar billionaire who sits atop the board of A-league corporate conglomerates such as Globacom telecoms, Conoil Plc, Conoil Producing, and Cobblestones Properties is a story usually glimpsed in fairytale story books.

He described the Globacom boss not only as the pride of his community and country but as the pride of the African continent.

The statement read: “I am delighted to write and celebrate you on your attainment of the Biblical "three scores and ten years'' on this planet Earth. Turning 70 years is no mean achievement, given the vicissitudes of life in our country. It means that you are one of the very few people that have reached the number of years

considered by the Bible as "a full lifetime" of traditionally expected duration.

“Turning 70 has a way of giving you an absolute sense of fulfillment. I have been there, so I know it. And as someone that has confronted and remarkably conquered the challenges of poverty, one can only imagine how fulfilled you now feel, having climbed up and now sitting comfortably atop the dizzying heights of business and affluence.

“Comets, they say, come but once in a century. Such is your story: our own dear Dr. Michael Adeniyi Agbolade lshola Adenuga Jnr, GCON, one of Africa's most illustrious sons and guru of business, Bull of sports, quintessential philanthropist, humane and urbane gentleman, and above all, a thorough-bred, authentic and loving family man.

“Let me, therefore, take this special moment to doff my hat to the Otunba Apesin of Ijebuland, and to congratulate you for clocking the 70th anniversary of your birth. It is the prayers of my family and I that God will grant you peace and happiness as you straddle the globe spreading these blessings upon the rest of humanity. May the Almighty grant you many more years to do even more for humanity. Happy 70th Birthday, my friend and brother, Chief Adenuga Jr,” Atiku added in the statement.

Similarly, Governor SanwoOlu, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, also commended Adenuga for his

commitment to nation-building and the growth of Nigeria’s economy.

He said: “On behalf of my wife, Ibijoke, the Lagos State Government, and the good people of Lagos State, I join family, friends, and business associates to congratulate one of Nigeria’s business giants, Otunba Mike Adenuga on his 70th birthday celebration.

“Otunba Adenuga is one of Nigeria’s business pillars and philanthropists who have impacted millions of Nigerians through their businesses across the country. He has contributed immensely to the economy of Nigeria and Lagos State in particular as an employer of labour and an accomplished businessman.

“He is an iconic businessman, legendary philanthropist and one of the luckiest Nigerians to be decorated with the second highest national honour of Nigeria (Grand Commander of the Niger) due to his many accomplishments and contribution to the nation.”

Equally, Governor Abiodun, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, described Adenuga as a business icon who had brought glory to Nigeria and his state.

He noted that the Ijebu-Igboborn telecommunications tycoon had contributed immensely to the telecommunication industry in the country.

Abiodun added that seven decades looked good on the Chairman of Globacom, noting that the state would continue to celebrate his achievements and feats, not only in the country but beyond.

governors, according to a source who preferred anonymity, threatened to move against the party’s leaders if due process was not followed in electing the presiding officers of the federal parliament.

The source said: "The President-elect was almost buying into the consensus plans until the governors intervened and vowed to work against the party by supporting a second nomination on the floor of the chambers during the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly.

"The President-elect, who does not want to start his administration with a

in Nasarawa State, while the expenses of the emirate under him were probed. He later became the leader of the Tijaniyya Islamic sect in Nigeria, after he was turbaned in Senegal as the Khalifa of the Tijaniyya sect in Nigeria by Sheikh Mahi Ibrahim Inyass, the Grand Khalifa of the Tijaniyya Movement.

However, the Federal High Court, Abuja, later declared his banishment from Kano State as unlawful and unconstitutional.

Delivering judgment in Sanusi’s suit in November 2021, Justice Anwuli Chikere awarded N10 million compensation to him and against the respondents comprising the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the AttorneyGeneral of Kano State.

She also ordered them to tender a public apology to him in two national dailies.

She held that the Emirate Council Law, 2019, relied on by the Kano State government in banishing Sanusi conflicted with the Nigerian Constitution.

Following the court judgment, Sanusi had in February this year paid a historic visit to Kano State, barely three years after he was deposed from the throne.

Sanusi arrived at the Aminu Kano International Airport and moved straight to his mother’s residence which is located along Ibrahim Dabo Road.

The former Emir later clarified that he was in Kano on his way to Dutse, Jigawa State.

He explained that he could not fly directly to Jigawa State, because of the bad weather and had to stop over in Kano.

After dethroning Sanusi, Ganduje had also enacted a law splitting the Kano emirate into five and appointed emirs

and state stations operating within the range of 600MHz frequency.

“The Director General will recall that the frequency 700-800MHz, housing some state government-owned and private stations, has been sold to telecom operators, a decision that has created problems that have not been resolved.”

BON said that if the telecoms regulator, NCC, is allowed to proceed with the proposed sale of the spectrum, the development will leave Nigeria’s broadcast space to “unhindered penetration by foreign media organs,” the negative consequences of which Bamgbose said, “will be significant.”

preventable crisis, asked the Progressive Governors Forum to set up a committee that would come up with an acceptable zoning arrangement to be deliberated upon by the chieftains of the party this week."

A source close to one of the governors, told THISDAY yesterday that the report would be submitted on Monday.

Tinubu had rejected plans by some ranking senators from the South-west geopolitical zone to make him support their agenda for the use of a consensus arrangement to produce the presiding officers of the 10th National Assembly.

who were at par.

But speaking in a viral video, Kwankwaso said the dethronement and balkanisation of the emirate would be reviewed by the incoming government of the governor-elect, Abba Kabir Yusuf, who is popularly known as Abba Gida-Gida.

According to the NNPP presidential candidate, “We have campaigned and as you know we are popular in Nigeria, especially in Kano State, we are now back and God willing we will continue with the good works our administration left. This incoming governor and his team will take them up.

“As elders, we will continue to advise them to do the right thing. We tried not to intervene in the issue of bringing or removing any Emir, but now, an opportunity has come.

“Those who were given this opportunity will sit down and see to the issues. They will look at what they are expected to do.

"Besides the Emir, even the emirate has been divided into five places. All these need to be studied. Usually, a leader inherits good, bad, and issues that are hard to reconcile.”

He further prayed for God’s intervention to allow the incoming governor to be able to handle things easily.

When contacted, an official of the NNPP in Kano told THISDAY on the condition of anonymity that "the video is genuine but I can't say anything about it. It's not my duty to talk about it".

However, all efforts to contact the spokesperson of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Mr Ladipo Johson proved abortive as he declined to answer the phone call or respond to a text message sent to him.

Multiple sources confirmed to THISDAY in Abuja on Friday that the senators who considered themselves to be the right-hand men of Tinubu had been working round the clock to allegedly arm-twist him into micro-zoning the 10th Senate Presiding Officers to two senators-elect.

The source, who is a returning senator from the South-west expressed the fears that the desperate moves by the senators might jeopardise the APC’s zoning arrangements on the floor of the Senate on the day of inauguration as there could be a possibility of a second nomination.

Recall that one year after he removed Sanusi, Ganduje had said he decided to save the system and the traditional institution from abuse.

Speaking at the presentation of a book on former President Goodluck Jonathan, authored by a journalist, Mr. Bonaventure Melah, Ganduje had said the former emir was not the best man for the throne, alleging that the deposed emir was appointed to spite former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Jonathan had in April 2014 removed Sanusi as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over claims by the ex-CBN governor that $49 billion was stolen by some persons under the Jonathan administration.

Faulting Sanusi’s public outburst over the alleged fraud, Ganduje said the ex-CBN governor ought to have discussed the matter privately with the former president who in turn could have directed an investigation into the allegation.

“Jonathan took a bold step in [removing] Sanusi as CBN governor, which created bad blood in certain circles. When Sanusi said $49 billion was lost in Jonathan’s government, I said in my mind that no, you could have discussed it with him (Jonathan) privately.

“You could have given him this clue and then he would know how to investigate even before those who had stolen the money would find a way of hiding the money.

“That statement, I said in my mind, was not honourable. That statement created bad blood… Sanusi was appointed Emir of Kano not because he was the best man for the throne but to retaliate what Jonathan did to him,” Ganduje reportedly explained.

KANO GOVERNOR-ELECT WILL REVISIT SANUSI’S DETHRONEMENT, KWANKWASO DECLARES

PARENTS’ SUMMIT…

Buhari Approves Postponement of 2023 Census

Obi, Ortom welcome decision

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the postponement of the 2023 Population and Housing Census, earlier scheduled for May 3-7, 2023, to a date to be determined by the incoming administration.

The president approved the postponement after meeting with some members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the Chairman of the National Population Commission, Nasir Isa-Kwarra, and his team at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday.

The decision to postpone the headcount has, however, received commendations from the presidential candidate of the Labour party (LP), Peter Obi and Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State.

There have been calls from some quarters for the postponement of

the census for reasons ranging from inadequate preparation, lack of funds, lack of training of supervisors for the exercise, credibility doubts raised by its timing, to security concerns, among other things.

On his part, Ortom had on April 13, 2023, called on the federal government to postpone the planned census until adequate security was guaranteed in the country.

But to a statement signed by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, and released yesterday, Buhari approved the postponement of the census to a date to be determined by the incoming administration.

In deciding to postpone the census, the meeting reiterated the critical need for the conduct of a Population and Housing Census, 17 years after the last census, to collect up-to-date data that will

WFP: 24.8m Nigerians Facing Acute Hunger in 26 States

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has raised the alarm that a total of 24.8 million people, or one out of eight Nigerians, are experiencing acute hunger this year. The UN agency, while disclosing that this situation is prevalent in 26 states of the country and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, said it was scaling up to provide emergency food and nutrition assistance to 2.1 million people affected by conflict and in dire need of humanitarian assistance in the North-east.

According to a statement issued yesterday: “WFP is gravely concerned that years of armed conflict in North-east Nigeria is driving hunger and malnutrition, with millions in need of life-saving assistance and facing the risk of famine.”

The statement added that 4.3 million people in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states will face severe hunger during the peak of the lean season between June and August 2023, with almost 600,000 on the brink of catastrophe.

It insisted that these people will face emergency levels of food insecurity, with extremely high rates of acute malnutrition and mortality in the absence of a sustained scale-up of humanitarian assistance.

WFP lamented that ongoing conflict has affected the nutrition status of children on several fronts,

with two million children in the region projected to suffer from acute malnutrition, adding that cases of severe acute malnutrition among children have quadrupled to 700,000.

The UN agency said: “With more than 4.3 million people also in need of food assistance in North-west Nigeria, resources for the North-east have been increasingly squeezed.

“A total of 24.8 million people, or one out of 8 individuals, are experiencing acute hunger this year in Nigeria’s 26 states and the capital, Abuja.

WFP said: “The more people in need of urgent food assistance who go unassisted, the greater the risk of starvation and death among the most vulnerable, and the more people will be forced to resort to coping mechanisms such as survival sex, selling possessions and child labour.”

It added that: “A lack of assistance also increases the risk of youth recruitment into armed groups, as well as displaced populations returning to inaccessible areas where they are beyond the reach of humanitarian assistance and other social services.

“Chronic insecurity is preventing many people in the North-east from growing the food they need or earning an income. In the last year, the conflict has left households unable to leave their homes due to an increase in movement restrictions, killings, and abduction of civilians, particularly in Borno where the violence is concentrated.”

drive the developmental goals of the country and improve the living standard of the Nigerian people.

The president further directed the commission to continue with preparations for the conduct of the 2023 Population and Housing Census to sustain the gains already recorded and provide the basis for the incoming administration to consolidate these achievements.

He also commended the methodology being put in place by the commission to conduct an accurate and reliable census, especially the massive deployment of technology that is capable of delivering world-class census and laying a sustainable basis for future censuses

“In arriving at the decision to postpone the census, the meeting reiterated the critical need for the conduct of a Population and Housing Census, 17 years after the last census, to collect up-to-date data that will drive the developmental goals of the country and improve the living standard of the Nigerian people,” the statement explained.

The statement quoted Buhari as saying that appreciable progress had been made in the preparation for and implementation of the now postponed census, adding that the president commended the methodology being put in place by the NPC to conduct an accurate and reliable census.

“The president noted that with the completion of the Enumeration Area Demarcation of the country, the conduct of first and second pretests, the recruitment and training of ad hoc workers, procurement of Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and ICT infrastructures, appreciable progress has been made in the implementation of the 2023 Population and Housing Census.

“He also commended the methodology being put in place by the commission to conduct an accurate and reliable census, especially the massive deployment of technology that is capable of delivering world-class Census and laying a sustainable basis for future censuses.”

The statement added, “The president further directed the

commission to continue with preparations for the conduct of the 2023 Population and Housing Census to sustain the gains already recorded and provide the basis for the incoming administration to consolidate these achievements.”

“The meeting was attended by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami; the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed; the Minister of Information and Culture, Mohammed; the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Mr. Clem Agba; and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha,” the statement concluded.

Meanwhile, Obi, Governor Ortom commended President Buhari’s decision to postpone the census as a welcome development.

In a tweet yesterday, Obi said the federal government’s decision to postpone the census, to a date to be determined by the incoming administration is a propitious and welcome development.

He noted that national census

is a critical development and nation-building tool.

“FGN’s decision to postpone the 2023 Population and Housing Census, scheduled for 3-7 May 2023, to a date to be determined by the incoming administration is a propitious and welcome development,” the tweet read.

On his part, Ortom in a statement by his media adviser, Terver Akase, stated that conducting the census would amount to injustice and deprivation of millions of Nigerians who have been displaced from their ancestral homes and are living in internally displaced persons’ camps in the state and other parts of the country.

He said with the postponement, the federal government should ensure that Nigerians whose communities have been taken over by bandits and armed herders regain their lands and return home.

The governor added that the lives and well-being of the people must be placed above other factors for the nation to realise its aspiration for greater growth and development.

Banks Shun ‘Payable on Death Mandate’ Requests from Customers

Festus Akanbi

As the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is set to mop up about N500 billion in unclaimed bank balances, there are indications that Nigerian deposit-taking banks are not ready to honour requests from their customers to integrate Payable On Demands (POD) mandate into their banking transactions.

Payable on Death (POD) is an arrangement between a bank and a client that designates beneficiaries to receive the client’s entire assets after the death of the client.

Some experts believe that by adopting the POD measure, the issue of unclaimed deposits in banks will be reduced to the barest minimum.

It was gathered that many customers have been mounting pressure on their banks since last week to integrate POD mandate into their banking transactions following a viral video that advises depositors to approach their financial institutions for a POD arrangement.

In the video, which was released early last week, a young individual advises any depositor to simply approach his bankers and demand

to demand POD form, which upon completion, would make it possible for his named beneficiary or beneficiaries to gain access to the fund in his account upon his death without going through the complexities of the probate route.

Bank sources said a sizable percentage of the dormant bank accounts belong to individuals who died without leaving clear arrangements on how relatives and other beneficiaries could easily access the funds in their accounts.

While the CBN has attributed its move to a desire to ensure that such unclaimed monies in dormant accounts are put to good use and to also enhance the growth of the economy, the content of the guidelines has triggered anxiety in certain quarters.

Meanwhile, relationship officers in the banks who spoke with reporters last week claimed ignorance of such arrangements in their banks. One of them said: “We do not do POD sir, the closest is to have a simple Will that covers mutual funds, bank, and pension”.

When THISDAY contacted the CBN’s Director of Corporate Communication, Dr. Isa Abulmumin,

he denied knowledge of such a provision, saying in a text message: “Findings indicate that there is no such provision for now”.

Further investigations suggest, however, that there are no laws restricting the banks from providing the service to a willing client but most banks are not just keen on the concept.

A high court judge who is also a private investor and who spoke under the condition of anonymity shared his experience with the banks on the service and said, “Yes I have heard of POD but from my experience as a lawyer and judge, all the banks honour it in the breach. In all the matters I have been involved in, the banks always insist on letters of administration or will and never honour the POD. That is why the bank holds billions of naira of depositors who have passed on and will do everything to make sure the families end up in litigation while the funds are sequestered in the vault with no interest paid”.

Meanwhile, Prince Yemisi Shyllon, a chartered engineer, stockbroker, legal practitioner, and investor has suggested that in the absence of the

POD, the closest way out of this reality, is to go the way of living trusts instead of relying on the writing of a Will. According to him, a POD option can be integrated into a living trust arrangement. However, a banker who is also versed in estate matters, said such a simple estate concept may not be immediately and easily applicable in Nigeria due to complications in the country’s estate process. He added: “There are so many ‘manifestations’ accompanying the administration of the estates of a deceased; we have seen a situation where many individuals unknown to the family of the deceased showed up with evidence as legitimate beneficiaries of the state of the deceased. And don’t forget, the government, especially the Federal Inland Revenue Services are also interested in how the money in the account of a dead person is distributed, especially if he was owing tax.”

Many analysts insisted that going through the probate court to access liquid assets left by dead relatives is tortuous, complex, and expensive, whereas the PODs are easy to follow and execute options.

L-R: Edo State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Joan Osa-Oviawe; Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Fr. Mathew Hassan Kukah; Governor Godwin Obaseki; and his wife, Betsy, at the maiden Edo Parents’ Summit, held in Benin City…yesterday

Sudanese Crisis: FG Documents 637 Stranded Nigerians in Egypt for Evacuation

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The federal government has said that the 637 Nigerians, who arrived at the Egyptian border outpost of Aswan from the raging conflicts in Sudan, were undergoing documentation

and clearance in Egypt before their eventual evacuation to Nigeria.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, and his Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development counterpart, Sadiya

Umar Farouq, gave the Situation Room updates yesterday on the efforts to evacuate Nigerians entrapped in the crossfire in Sudan.

A joint statement by the Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary,

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Janet Olisa, and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, said the first batch of Nigerian evacuees is expected

Buhari Relocating to Niger Republic Shows He’s Not Committed to Nigeria, Says Middle Belt Forum

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) yesterday described President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent remark on relocating to Niger Republic after the May 29 handover as an indication that the President was not committed to Nigeria.

President Buhari, who spoke at the ninth and final Sallah homage to him by residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said he “can’t wait to go home to Daura” and “if they make any noise to disturb me in Daura, I will leave for the

Niger Republic.”

The comment sparked a flurry of reactions from Nigerians as it is being interpreted by many as evidence of the president’s disinterest in the country’s current state of insecurity, economic decline, and widespread corruption.

On its part, the MBF maintained the comment simply showed that the president had never been committed to Nigeria in the first place.

MBF National President, Dr. Bitrus Pogu, said in a statement: “Yes, he has to retire after May 29 because it is a constitutional provision that after his tenure, he has to leave office for a new

president to come in. But to say that if things become unpleasant, he would move to Niger Republic is unfortunate. That is to say that he had never been committed to Nigeria in the first place.

“A Nigerian President, who has served this country, should be here to die with Nigeria and Nigerians if he believed in Nigeria when he was president.

“So, for him to make that statement it may just mean that he didn’t believe in Nigeria in the first place. And it is unfortunate for him to have made that statement.

“We pray that we will have

a President who believes in Nigeria, who will die with Nigeria, and who will die for Nigeria. Not somebody who if he finds things tough will run away from Nigeria to a safer haven.

“So, it is an unfortunate statement, I don’t know why he made that statement and I don’t know how his thoughts go but a person who believes in his country wouldn’t make such a statement because this is the only country that made him President and he should never back out whether he is serving or not; he should never back out from his country and her problems.”

to be airlifted to Nigeria in the coming hours by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and Air Peace airline, who have been on standby for the operations.

It also said the movement of the second batch of 29 buses from Sudan commenced yesterday, Saturday, April 29, 2023.

The statement advised the evacuees to be at the designated locations with only one piece of luggage.

“Contrary to insinuations on social media, Embassy staff are very much on the ground in Khartoum to coordinate the evacuation exercise to the very end. The students and other Nigerians awaiting evacuation from Khartoum, Sudan are therefore advised to cooperate with them to ensure orderliness and proper documentation while embarking on the buses.

“This will go a long way in speeding up the process and avoiding unnecessary delays with documentation and clearance upon arrival at Aswan, Egypt. While the federal government empathises with affected Nigerians, maintaining order amidst the desperate situation remains crucial to getting all

interested Nigerians out of the war zone in record time before the expiration of the ceasefire, which has been extended by 72 hours,” the statement said.

It also advised the general public to discountenance the trending news on social media concerning the fuse over the negotiated sum of $1.2 million for the buses hired for the exercise.

The two ministries decried the outcry as a creation of ignorance and sheer mischief that was needless, adding the amount in question was negotiated in a belligerent condition spiked by competing demands for the same bus services by other countries desperate to evacuate their citizens.

They appealed for cooperation and understanding of all and sundry to complement the ongoing efforts aimed at ensuring the safe return of every Nigerian trapped in Sudan.

The federal government also acknowledged the assistance rendered by Saudi Arabia towards the evacuation of eight Nigerians from Sudan to safety in its territory, from where they would be airlifted back to Nigeria.

FG Bows to Pressure, Reapproves Use of Eagle Square for May Day Rally

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The federal government has reapproved the use of Eagle Square in Abuja by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for the annual May Day rally in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) tomorrow.

This followed pressure from the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria. The federal government had earlier approved the venue for the workers’ rally but later rescinded its decision and offered the workers the Old Parade Ground as an alternative.

Both the NLC and the TUC had protested the change of venue and vowed to organise the rally on the streets of Abuja.

But the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige conveyed the revalidation of the venue to the workers in a statement issued by his ministry yesterday.

In a statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Olajide Oshundun, the minister urged all guests including the president, vice president, ministers, diplomatic missions, and international partners, to endeavour to be at the Eagle Square venue, which he said remains sacrosanct.

The minister gave this assurance following reports that the federal government, acting through the Federal

Capital Development Authority (FCDA), had withdrawn the permit granted to the NLC to use the Eagle Square for this year's May Day celebration, for reasons bordering on the preparation of the venue for the May 29 inauguration of President-elect, Bola Tinubu. Ngige said on getting the information, he contacted his colleague, the Minister of FCT, Muhammad Bello, who attributed the development to some overzealous officials of the FCDA, who acted without his authority.

Ngige said sequel to his consultation with the FCT Minister, the NLC has been asked to go ahead with its preparation for the celebration at Eagle Square, which the president, ministers, other

top government officials, and the diplomatic missions are expected to attend.

“It was actually the contractor handling the renovation of the Eagle Square that informed the Transition Committee for the handover ceremony that they erected their equipment even before last Thursday when the Nigerian Army used the venue for an event attended by the President.

"Consequently, the FCT Minister assured the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment that the place is available for NLC to use on May 1, which is the workers' day.

"This May Day is the last in the life of this administration. The NLC parade belongs

to everybody, including government, diplomatic missions, international organisations, organised labour and affiliate unions, and members of the public. The president, ministers, and others cannot shut themselves out. The Eagle Square is still available for all these individuals.

"All invited people should make themselves available for the parade at Eagle Square, most especially the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), the diplomatic missions, and the international partners.

"The Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment has been in touch with the leadership of organised labour led by Comrade Joe

Ajaero and has briefed them on these developments and equally extended the apologies of the Honourable Minister of FCT for the unintended embarrassment occasioned by the action of their officials who misinterpreted the general intention and work plan of one month of Messrs Julius Berger, the company in charge of the renovation of the Eagle Square for the May 29 inauguration to also include May 1, 2023."

The statement added that the FCT Administration has promised to give all necessary material support to make the event hitch-free and successful, while the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment wishes all Nigerian workers a blissful Workers’ Day on May 1.

HANDSHAKE ACROSS NIGERIA…

Fresh Crisis Looms as Resident Doctors Issue FG Two-week Ultimatum over Demands

Executive Council (NEC) meeting yesterday at Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.

NDLEA Replies PDP, Lists Legal Grounds Why It Can’t Arrest, Prosecute Tinubu

Alex Enumah in Abuja

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has filed a preliminary objection to a suit instituted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the governorship candidate of the party in Kogi State, Senator Dino Melaye, seeking an order of mandamus to compel the anti-narcotics agency to arrest and prosecute the President-elect, Senator Bola Tinubu over alleged forfeiture of some funds in his bank accounts over two decades ago in the United States.

In its notice of preliminary objection signed and filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja by its Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, Joseph Nbona Sunday, NDLEA submitted that the application by the PDP, which is the 1st applicant with Melaye as 2nd, is incompetent, adding that the court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain it and as such, should be struck out.

Listing its grounds for the objection, the NDLEA said both PDP and Melaye “do not have a locus standi, they do not possess an interest peculiar to them and above the interests of all other Nigerians, the only underlying specific interest of the 1st applicant then becomes political in nature,” adding that the investigation and prosecution of Tinubu were targeted at removing him as a bonafide candidate in the February 25, 2023, presidential election.

While noting that the foundation of the PDP’s application was the proceeding of the US District Court of the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division in the US, “the judgment in the said proceeding was given “with prejudice”, adding that “the said proceedings and judgment have no judicial value”, and as such “the supposed cause of action of this suit as constituted is baseless and legally unsustainable.”

In an affidavit in support of the agency’s preliminary objection, a litigation officer attached to its Directorate of Prosecution and Legal Services, Chia Cosmas Depunn said as an independent agency of government saddled with the

responsibility to investigate, arrest and prosecute persons involved in drug trafficking and other related offences in Nigeria, the NDLEA has a healthy relationship with the government of the United States of America, the name of Tinubu “by whatever acronyms or combination of names has never featured in the exchanges we had with the United States of America.”

He further claimed that the name of Tinubu has also not featured in the radar and database of the Agency as a person arrested, investigated, or prosecuted in connection with drug or other related offences.

While noting that though NDLEA relies on intelligence and information from foreign and domestic partners as well as public-spirited individuals, both PDP and Melaye have never for once since the establishment of the Agency in 1990 made or forwarded any complaint, information, and/or intelligence on Tinubu or any other person in Nigeria or outside the country relating to illicit activities on drug matters until 17th January 2023.

The litigation officer in the sworn affidavit among others, also made the following submissions:

“That this suit as presently constituted does not confer the court with jurisdiction.

“That the 1st applicant does not have locus standi to institute this suit as it does not possess interest peculiar to it and above the interests of all other Nigerians.

“That the only peculiar interest of the 1st applicant is to get rid of the 6th respondent as a candidate of a rival political party. The interest of the 1st applicant is political.

“That the 3rd respondent is an independent government agency that has no political colouration or affiliation. The court has to insulate the 3rd respondent from political controversies.

“That the suit is baseless, frivolous, and brought in bad faith with the sole aim of achieving a political objective using the instrumentality of the court process.

“That the facts and circumstances of the case require the court to apply the doctrine of judicial self-restraint.”

The meeting, which was held from Thursday, April 27 to 29, was predicated upon burning issues affecting the welfare of the doctors and the alarming rate of flight of doctors and other healthcare workers on account of poor remuneration, grossly inadequate funding of the health sector, and the attendant negative effect on the citizens and the health workers.

The doctors are demanding an immediate increment in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure to the tune of 200 per cent of the current gross salary of doctors, in addition to the new allowances included in the letter written by the association to the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, on July 7, 2022, on the review of CONMESS.

“NEC resolved to issue the government a two-week ultimatum beginning today, April 29, 2023, to resolve all

these demands, following the expiration of which on the 13th May 2023, we may not be able to guarantee industrial harmony in the sector nationwide,” the communiqué reads.

The NEC of the association said the federal government has refused to negotiate with the association or take tangible steps on the “upward review” of the consolidated medical salary structure (CONMESS).

The association accused the federal government of refusing to pay the salary arrears of 2014, 2015, and 2016 to resident doctors.

The resident doctors also condemned the bill seeking to mandate medical and dental practitioners to practice for five years before relocating abroad.

“NEC observed that despite several engagements by NARD with the government on the need to upwardly review the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), which was last reviewed over 10 years

ago, the government has neither called NARD to the negotiation table nor taken any tangible step in addressing the issue,” the communiqué reads.

“This is against the background of the dwindling economic situation in the country, the serial abysmal decline in the value of the naira, the imminent removal of fuel subsidy, and the consequent damaging effect on the cost of living in the country.

“NEC recalled that there have been previous ultimatums issued to the government by NARD on account of this problem of the review of the CONMESS salary structure.

“NEC also reiterated that the previous collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on CONMESS stated clearly that the salary structure would be due for review after five years, but this has not been done since the implementation in 2014, though the approval was given in 2009.

“NEC demands an immediate increment in the CONMESS

salary structure to the tune of 200 per cent of the current gross salary of doctors in addition to the new allowances included in the letter written by NARD to the honourable minister of health on July 7, 2022, for the review of CONMESS.

“NEC demands immediate massive recruitment of clinical staff in the hospitals and complete abolishment of bureaucratic limitations to the immediate replacement of doctors who leave the system.

“NEC demands immediate infrastructural development in our various hospitals without further delay and insists on at least 15 per cent budgetary allocation to health subsequently.

“NEC resolved to issue the government a two-week ultimatum beginning today, April 29, 2023, to resolve all these demands, following the expiration of which on May 13, 2023, we may not be able to guarantee industrial harmony in the sector nationwide.”

Osinbajo: It’s Unreasonable to Jettison Nigeria’s Fossil Fuels Now

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday insisted that while the global call for a transition to cleaner fuels may be valid, it would be unreasonable for Nigeria to abandon her fossil fuel deposits at the moment.

Osinbajo spoke at the launch of a book in Abuja titled: “Understanding Natural Gas, a Nigerian Perspective,” authored by Dr. David Ige, a former Executive Director in charge of Gas and Power at the NNPC, and Dapo Akinosun, a senior lawyer.

This is coming as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has called on the federal government to deepen investments in gas exploration.

Osinbajo highlighted that in recent months, natural gas has taken the centre stage in global politics, especially with the war in Ukraine going on, a strong reminder of the complexity of energy security concerns that nations now face.

He noted that as gas prices started skyrocketing, countries have been forced to confront the

vulnerabilities of their energy supply strategies, including Europe and America. He opined that every country must recognise her peculiarities.

“The key question, of course for us, is how does Nigeria respond? How do we position ourselves to the vantage point of a nation with abundant energy resources, working assiduously to diversify its energy resources, develop domestic resources, enhance energy efficiency, and strengthen our infrastructure?

“Our nation like others around the world, finds itself in a situation where we must navigate this challenging transition wisely and economic future in very clear perspective,” he explained.

According to him, the push to phase out fossil fuels quickly and discourage new investments in related projects is fast gaining momentum, stressing that Nigeria must take the call to action seriously, not just for the sake of the environment, but also for the economy and her people.

“It's important that we must emphasise that while climate change is an existential threat, our energy poverty and our development is also a major

threat. And so, we must find a way of balancing it. I think that this will involve a faithful implementation of our Energy Transition Plan, which involves the implementation of the decade of gas proposals,” he said.

He pointed out that there were attempts to chart a pathway to renewable energy as the bedrock to develop 250 gigawatts of solar power by 2060, which is when Nigeria intends to hit net zero. He further highlighted the role of gas as a transition from heavier fossil fuels.

“No country has yet been known to develop its energy industry solely on renewable energy. And therefore, the call for us to do so solely on renewable energy is unreasonable. So, they must take into account the fact that we are a gas-rich country and that we require gas not just for industry, but also to even be able to effectively use solar power, especially on our grid,” he stated.

The vice president said that Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) remains a viable alternative to total abandonment of fossil fuels, especially in the transition period.

He commended the authors of the book, saying it is an important

book and one of the few technical texts that has a strong policy and legal perspective. He also highlighted that the book is simple to read.

In his remarks, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has called on the federal government to deepen investments in gas exploration.

The CJN lauded the duo for putting pen to paper, noting that all literate Nigerians should have a copy to understand the sector better.

He stated that gas remains Nigeria’s new oil, noting that the book is a compilation of the duo’s industry experience and a comprehensive overview of the sector as well as its evolution.

“It’s a must-read for students, academics, investors, lawyers in practice, and policymakers as well as anyone looking for a quick knowledge of the gas industry,” he pointed out.

In his intervention, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari, said Nigeria was on course to realising the decade of gas aspiration.

L-R: Enugu State Governor-elect, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah; human rights lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN); Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; and former Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Mr. Shehu Sani, when the governor hosted guests at the second edition of Nzuko Umunna's ‘Handshake Across Nigeria’ at the Government House, Enugu...weekend

James Sowole in Abeokuta

Domesticating Gains of Nigeria’s Booming Smartphone Market

It is not a secret that Nigeria with its huge population has remained an investment destination for investors and entrepreneurs from all over the world seeking to get value for their investments. From Europe to Asia, the Middle East, and America, multinationals and other producers of household goods jostle to carve market spaces for their goods and services in Nigeria obviously to take advantage of not only the rising population of youths but the changing tastes and needs of the Nigerian people.

It is therefore not a surprise that smartphone as a cash cow and the reality is ever since the GSM revolution of the early 2000s in the country, the bourgeoning telecoms market has continued to provide jobs and services for millions of people.

Unfortunately, virtually all the smartphones sold in the country are imported, a development that has continued to rob Nigeria of job opportunities for its teeming youth local production of these items would have engendered. Painfully, the only indigenous the country.

Boom for Asian Smartphone Makers

It is this reality that was captured by a new report which asserts that Asian smartphone makers are reaping the rewards of the country’s growing demand for mobile devices.

According to the report titled, The Telecommunications Industry in Nigeria 2022 published by ResearchAndMarkets.com, “About 63 million phone devices are sold in Nigeria each year.” The painful reality, however, is that despite Nigeria’s huge markets, manufacturers from Asia dominate the Nigerian mobile market.

Although there are brands from countries including Finland, France, America, India, Japan, Philippines, Taiwan, South Korea, South Africa, and UAE, however, the bulk of the brands found in the market belongs to the over 300 models in the last 15 years.

Some of these phone brands include Tecno Mobile, Nokia, Wiko, Samsung, Panasonic, Huawei, Asus, Apple, HP, Google, Gionee, Alcatel, and Oppo, among others. Each of phones remain the main platform for voice and data connectivity with the majority of Nigerians accessing the internet through

There were reports that the number of phones approved for sale in the country by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) increased to 1,985 as of April 2023.

However, apart from these approved brands, industry operators said the inability of the NCC to enforce standards for all telecommunications equipment in Nigeria has smartphones in the country. Unfortunately, the substandard ones have bigger markets

Another category of smartphones in the

market is the one consisting of stolen phones. The sheer population factor and the falling purchasing power of the people have also been blamed for the surge in the number of stolen phones and the attendant boom in the patronage of such stolen items.

The reports added that 24 new phone models were approved in the latest update from NCC between January and now. As of January, the

Another dimension is the job opportunities in the backup end as many youths have taken to phone repairs as an occupation, given the sheer number of phone users in the country. However, industry operators believed Nigeria would have gained substantially if the environment is made in such a way to encourage local entrepreneurs to set up smartphone factories in Nigeria with the capacity to employ a greater number of the youth population.

This is because, with a population of over 200 million people, Nigeria had over 226.84 million subscribers as of February 2023, and going by the changing nature of the Nigerian economy the telecoms sector has a growing capacity to drive the country’s transformation agenda toward a digital economy. It added that the telecoms sector is growing due to a rising urban population and increasing adoption of smartphones, services, and apps. -

phones

With many Nigerians sliding into poverty, telecoms industry operators said it will be

country as reports say that the shipments ofbished and used smartphones, reached 282.6 million units in 2022, where its unit growth represented an 11.5 per cent increase over the

253.4 million units shipped in 2021.

Last year, the International Trade Centre (ITC) claimed that Nigeria spent $2.35 billion on telephone importation in three years. ITC, which is an international body that focuses on trade, said the country spent $807.95 million on the importation of phone sets in 2019; $765.57 million in 2020, and $772.25 million in 2021.

Cashless Policy

Telecoms industry watchers told THISDAY that one of the government policies that is services, and apps is the Central Bank of Nigeria’s cashless policy. The policy recently gained currency with the cash withdrawal policy which compelled Nigerians to embrace online banking transactions.

The policy, according to Mr. Sunny Iroegbu, a smartphone dealer in the Lagos Computer Village, Ikeja compelled more Nigerians to acquire more internet-enabled phones between January and March this year.

“To be honest with you, it was a bumper period for smartphone dealers because of the massive rush for phones. People had to download banks apps since cash was not available in banks,” he said.

His position was corroborated by the report by ResearchAndMarkets.com report e-services and cloud computing is fuelling

5G as key drivers of growth, along with the growing need for mobile base stations and cell towers to support these networks. The report major players MTN, Globacom, Airtel, and 9mobile, and other notable players such as

21st Century, IHS Towers, and Inq. Digital, ipNX, and MainOne Cable Company.

Analysts are of the view that as network service providers- MTN, Airtel, Globacom (GLO), and 9mobile continue to push their

of 5G and the growing need for mobile base stations and cell towers to support these networks will make the nation’s telecoms sector a major driver of the Nigerian economic breakthrough for a long time.

of connectivity is driving increased investment. The growth of e-services and cloud computing is fuelling demand for data services. increased bandwidth capacity and mobile use and acceptance.”

Strong Growth Opportunities

The number of smartphone users in Nigeria is forecast to grow to more than 140 million sources put the number of smartphone users in Nigeria at roughly 25 and 40 million although a report said there are around 170 number of users is hard to pin down - however, the data shows a strong growth outlook for the Nigerian smartphone market with user

The good news is that smartphone penetration is set to grow to around 60 per cent by 2025, presenting strong growth opportunities for feature phone and smartphone manufacturvendors including Samsung although Chinese manufacturers like Tecno, Itel (Hong Kong), strong positions in the market.

bile telephony in 2001. Interestingly, the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) is almost in its 21st year in Nigeria. At inception, what mattered was getting a means of virtual communication without having to depend on people who owned land phones to communicate.

There is no doubt that the African mobile communications market has undergoneclusive handsets designed for the market, and the increasing popularity of built-in services such as mobile money have led to increased adoption of mobile technology in Africa. While the conditions vary across communities, most signs point to mobile technologies facilitating an increasingly connected continent. But the question is when will Nigeria begin to reap from its huge market for smartphones? How long will the country continue to serve as a dumping ground for smartphone products, especially from the Asian country? One hopes the the huge market potential in the country by providing the much-desired enabling environment for industries to thrive.

-

With a huge population, the ongoing transformation in the nation’s telecoms industry, and the sustained jostling for the Nigerian market by smartphone makers from all over the world. the device that drives virtually all the day-to-day activities of its citizens, writes Festus Akanbi

Smartphones

Rising Cost of Production Killing Poultry, Fish Businesses

Festus Akanbi

There are indications that the of consistent rise in the prices of feeds for poultry farmers

an apparent surrender to the inclement operat-

years and many operators have abandoned their production is not a better alternative this the instability in the prices of feeds and vac-

Rising Cost

Some operators raised the issue of multiple taxations, like other businesses in the small and for poultry feeds have had their prices above normal and this has been principally responsible

captured by the Chairman of the Poultry AsState, the industry has been reduced to half

Territory alone, most of our farmers

‘What is the problem?’

Like Poultry Farmers, Like Fish Farmers

lamented the closure of business by many of

cultural products such as Maize and Soybeans

recorded increases in the price of feeds

Abiodun lamented that the persistent increase in

misfortune of the industry in recent years,

that the cost of feed inputs like soya beans, maize, and others has become unbearable for

Chicken being fed in a poultry pen Cat fish

MIKE ADENUGA : TRIBUTE

Celebrating Boardroom Maestro at 70

Festus Akanbi, in this tribute to Nigeria’s foremost philanthropist and chairman of Globacom, Otunba

Mike Adenuga, who hit the age of 70 years on yesterday, says the billionaire entrepreneur has paid his

Throughout last week, the Nigerian print media was awash with tributes in honour of the foremost entrepreneur, serial investor, audacious administrator, and boardroom maestro Otunba Mike Adenuga, who marked his 70th birthday on Friday, April 29.

For Adenuga, whose business interests span sectors like oil and gas, telecoms, aviation, construction, banking, and real estate, it is a celebration of success and optimism in business, uncommon management skills, and philanthropy.

To others, the billionaire businessman represents the triumph of indigenous entrepreneurship having demonstrated the capacity to match and sometimes surpass foreign competitors in business management. Each of his businesses in these sectors plays preeminent roles, helping to set the pace and contributing to the growth of the Nigerian economy.

A man who does not allow excuses to stop him from his goal, Adenuga is committed to all the businesses he has an interest. As the chairman of Conoil, he holds a majority (74.4 per cent) stake in the oil marketing business. And apart from his status as one of the largest shareholders in Nigeria’s leading commercial bank, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Adenuga, Africa’s sixth richest man and Nigeria’s third by Forbes rating, owns 25 per cent of Sterling Bank’s outstanding shares equivalent to 7.2 billion units, held through Silverware Investments Limited.

He holds 25.1 per cent (401,834,494) ordinary shares of construction giant, Julius Berger. The shares were acquired through Goldstones Estates Limited. Apart from being the single largest majority shareholder in the company, his daughter Belinda Ajoke Disu is also on the company’s board of directors as a non-executive director and was in 2012 awarded the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) by the federal government.

Adenuga’s entrepreneurial skills did not start with Globacom. He began to etch his name in the consciousness of Nigerians in 1990 when he responded to the challenge of the then-military administration to open the nation’s oil industry to indigenous operators to participate in a discretionary oil li- cence bid round. The exercise produced 11 Nigerian businessmen, including Adenuga with oil licences.

One year after the licence round, Mike Adenuga’s Consolidated Oil (now to hit oil and in commercial quantities.

Conoil quickly validated the Federal Government’s thinking that Nigerians could play big in the oil and gas industry if given the opportunity.

For many reasons, Adenuga’s stake in Conoil Plc has witnessed a surge in the the year as the company’s impressive

diesel, kerosene, low-pour fuel, aviation fuel, and gasoline. The company also produces and markets lubricants under the “Quatro” brand name.

Midas Touch

Being a man with a Midas touch, Adenuga, a majority shareholder in

the construction giant, Julius Berger, has brought his foresightedness, business acumen, and his audacity on investment

For instance, the company has success($65.3 million) commercial paper issuance market.

According to the report, the company, partly owned by Adenuga, is now ex- panding into the cashew processing industry, a move aimed at diversifying its

Theoperations.Adenuga-linked

company has the successful issuance of its commercial issuance with a 14-percent yield and a 267-day Series-2 issuance priced at a 15 per cent

Financialyield.analysts

said the issuance construction industry and highlights and stability.

Additionally, the proceeds from the CP issuance will be utilised to bolster the company’s short-term working capital and funding necessities, thereby cementing its competitive edge in the construction

Interestingly,industry.

his busy schedules and pressure to meet deadlines have not stopped the foremost philanthropistent categories of Nigerians. For instance, every year, the Mike Adenuga Foundation awards nearly $20.5 million in scholarships and aid to help students. Annually, they award undergraduate, master’s,

and Ph.D. scholarships for female Japan, Indonesia, and India. company, Globacom was able to launch a payment service bank unit, MoneyMaster PSB, to fosteraimed to empower Nigerians by providing them with unlimited opportunities.

MoneyMaster was granted a payment service bank licence by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in 2020. Globacom said the PSB is expected to facilitate payment and remittance services within Nigeria, accept deposits from individuals and small businesses as well as issue debit and prepaid cards. The company added that MoneyMaster would also operate electronic wallets, and inbound remittances and carry out other services in line with CBN regulations.

To show for his uncommon leadership, Globacom was announced as the Most Popular Brand in the country for the year 2022. This announcement was made at the public presentation of the 2022 brand evaluation by Top 50 Brands Nigeria.

Businessman with Heart of Gold

Adenuga has a heart of gold and has impacted the lives of many people in positive ways. Stories of his kindheartedness are all over

the media. He is rarely seen in public. He doesn’t dabble in politics, even his act of philanthropy is devoid of fanfare. said Adenuga’s name is written in gold in their hearts.

Investing in Sport

Adenuga’s love for sports was under- scored by the unveiling of the current African, Commonwealth, and World 100m hurdles Champion, Tobi Amusan, as Globacom’s latest Brand Ambassador. The company explained that its decision to make Amusan its ambassador was not just to reward her for her sterling accomplishments, but also to promote the growth of sports in Nigeria and encourage the country’s teeming youths to aspire toward realising their dreams by looking up to the new ambassador as a mentor. This trend manifests in the frequency of mouthwatering bonanzas which Globacom regularly dishes out to its subscribers.

Yakata tariff plan among other enticing tariffs just for the customers’ enjoyment.

To enhance its operations, Adenuga’s Globacom launched the Glo 1 submarine cable, a 9,800km cable stretching from points in Nigeria, London, and Lisbon, and connecting different countries to the rest of the world in 2010. It was launched to provide tonnes of terabytes of data per second to West Africa and many European cities.

In entertainment, it has also provided massive platforms for Nigerian and African entertainers to ply their trade through direct sponsorship of concerts such as Glo Campus Storm, Glo Rock ‘n’ Dance with Peter, Glo X-Factor, Glo Naija Sings and the popular sit-com, Professor Johnbull. The Glo Battle of the Year Nigeria is the world’s biggest dance reality television show brought to Nigeria by Globacom.

From every indication sports rank very high on the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities and investments of Globacom, including the full sponsorship of the CAF African Foo tballer of the Year awards. As a company ready to support excellence, Adenuga’s Globacom signed a sponsorship agreement with the Nigeria Football Federation thus becoming and major sponsor of Nigerian national teams. Alongside this, it sponsors the Supporters’ Club in any part of the world where any of Nigeria’s national teams is competing.

Background

Born into the family of Oloye Michael Adenuga (Snr) and Omoba Juliana (née Onashile, of Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State), Mike Adenuga was raised in humble was a teacher, while his mother was a businesswoman from a royal lineage.

He attended Ibadan Grammar School in Oyo State. He got his Higher School High School, Aiyetoro, Ogun State. He proceeded to Northwestern Oklahoma Administration.

Adenuga

Who is Afraid of Payable On Death (POD)?

Barring other developments, the Central Bank of Nigeria would make good on its decision to mop up about N500 billion in unclaimed balances in over 59.7 million accounts in commercial banks in the country.

According to the guidelines issued by the CBN about three weeks ago in a circular signed by the Director of Financial Policy and Regulation Department of the apex bank, Chibuzor Efobi, such accounts which have received no deposits or withdrawals for upwards of 10 years are classified as dormant accounts.

The guideline, which took immediate effect, instructed banks and Other Financial Institutions (OFIs) to transfer all unclaimed balances in the said accounts into an Unclaimed Balances Trust Fund (UBTF) pool account which will be domiciled at the CBN. The transferred funds, according to the CBN, would then be invested in Treasury Bills.

The CBN listed components of the eligible dormant accounts and unclaimed balances as current, savings and term deposits, domiciliary accounts, prepaid card accounts, unclaimed salaries and wages, proceeds of stale local and foreign currency drafts, and judgment debts that have not been claimed by the creditor.

FRET

While the CBN has attributed its move on a desire to ensure that such unclaimed monies in dormant accounts are put to good use and to also enhance the growth of the economy, the content of the guidelines has triggered anxiety in certain quarters. This is anchored on the suspicion that the CBN is using the guidelines to increase the pool of easy money accessible to the Federal Government, which has been combing everywhere to borrow money.

Interestingly, the Federal Government is also said to be interested in how it could have access to the rising stock of unclaimed dividends, domiciled with the Central Securities Clearing System, which increased from about N158.4 billion in 2019 to N170 billion in 2021 and N180 billion in 2022.

POD, FASTER ACCESS TO THE ACCOUNTS OF A DECEASED RELATIVE

There are indications that a sizable percentage of the dormant bank accounts belong to individuals who died without leaving clear arrangements on how relatives and other beneficiaries could easily access the funds in their accounts.

In a video, which has since gone viral, a young individual came up with what he described as a simple solution to the above scenario. He advises any depositor to simply approach his bankers and demand the Payable On Death (POD) form, which upon completion, would make it possible for his named beneficiary or beneficiaries to gain access to the fund in his account upon his death without going through the complexities of the probate route.

Expectedly the video has generated interest and questions with many making enquiries on how to integrate the POD option into their banking transactions.

WHAT IS A POD?

Payable on Death (POD) is defined as an arrangement between a bank and a client that designates beneficiaries to receive the client’s entire assets, triggered by the death of the client. Research has shown that most people who opt for the POD option settle for it because they want to keep their money out of probate court in the event that they pass away. Most people insist that going through the probate court to access liquid assets left by dead relatives is tortuous, complex and expensive, whereas the PODs are easy to follow and execute options.

Obtaining a POD and designating a beneficiary or beneficiaries is said to be a cost-free service “that allows for the transfer of all checking and savings accounts, security deposits, savings bonds and other deposit certificates by filling out the proper forms at your bank. The account holder needs only to notify the bank of who the beneficiary or beneficiaries should be. The bank, on its end, will give the owner of the account a beneficiary designation form called a Totten trust to fill out. The completed form gives the bank authorisation to convert the account to a POD”.

ARE PODs OPERATIONAL IN NIGERIA?

While putting this story together, I put a call through to my account officer to find out if I could obtain a POD form for integration into my account system. She responded that no such option is available in the bank. I also reached out to other banks and I received a similar response. One of them said: “We do not do POD sir, the closest is to have a simple Will that covers mutual funds, bank and pension”.

After a former Deputy Governor of the CBN corroborated the earlier respondents, I contacted the CBN’s Director of Corporate Communication, Dr Isa

Abulmumin, who said: “Findings indicate that there is no such provision for now”.

Further research indicates that the POD options are popular only in US banks and in some variants too in the UK banking system. PODs used to be called a Totten Trust, which derived its name from a 1904 legal case in New York, which established the position that one person could open a bank account as a trust for another person. Most states in the US have since adopted the option.

PODS ARE AVAILABLE BUT BANKS NOT KEEN IN IMPLEMENTING

Further investigations suggest however that there are no laws restricting the banks from providing the service to a willing client but most banks are not just keen on the concept.

A high court judge who is also a private investor shared his experience with the banks on the service

“Yes I have heard of POD but From my experience as a lawyer and judge, the banks all of them honour it in the breach. In all the matters I have been involved the banks despite the POD always insist on letters of administration or will and never ever honour the POD . One of the banks is actually very notorious on this matter: the bank will never divulge the existence of PoD to the families or to the beneficiary . Never. That is why that bank holds billions of naira of depositors who have passed on and will do everything to make sure the families end up in litigation while the funds are sequestered in the vault with no interest paid”

On why such is not available in Nigeria, a banker who is also versed in estate matters, said such a simple estate concept may not be immediately and easily applicable in Nigeria due to complications that we have in the country’s estate process. He added: “There are so many ‘manifestations’ accompanying the administration of the estates of a deceased; we have seen a situation where

POD: All You Need to Know

In a group discussion on the concept, moderated by Folusho Philips, founder of Philips Consulting, the conclusions were reached:

POD - PAYABLE ON DEATH

Q: What is Payable on Death (POD)?

A: Payable on Death (POD) is a designation that allows individuals to name a beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive their assets upon their death without going through probate.

Q: What types of assets can be designated under POD?

A: Most financial assets can be designated as POD, including bank accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs), and brokerage accounts. Some states also allow real estate to be designated as POD.

Q: How does a POD designation work?

A: When an account owner designates a beneficiary as POD, the beneficiary does not have any access to the account while the owner is alive. Upon the owner’s death, the beneficiary simply needs to provide proof of death and identification to claim the assets.

Q: What are the benefits of using POD?

A: The main benefit of using POD is that it allows assets to pass directly to the beneficiary without going through probate. This can save time, money and potentially avoid legal disputes.

Q: Can a POD designation be changed?

A: Yes, a POD designation can be changed at any time as long as the account owner is mentally competent to do so.

Q: What happens if the beneficiary predeceases the account owner?

A: If the beneficiary predeceases the account owner, the account owner should update their POD designation to name a new beneficiary. If no new beneficiary is named, the assets will likely go through probate.

Q: Can multiple beneficiaries be named for one POD account?

A: Yes, multiple beneficiaries can be named for one POD account. The account owner can designate the percentage of the account that each beneficiary will receive.

Q: Do I need a lawyer to set up a POD designation?

A: No, you do not need a lawyer to set up a POD designation. Most financial institutions provide the necessary forms to designate a beneficiary as POD.

The truth of the matter is that everybody is dissatisfied with the probate process, either the execution of a Will or procurement of a letter of administration in the case of interstate death. Hence, the emergence of ingenious ways of sidetracking the process. The Wills Act (as enacted into Law by most states) contains many loopholes, which is why many frontline deceased persons, even top lawyers, still have wranglings and litigations dotting their estates

several years after death. Some beneficiaries are challenging the fairness of the contents as expressed by the donors and the courts are listening to them. I know of some who abandoned the process of procuring the endorsement of the probate registry or a letter of administration because of the frustration that attended the whole process. And those bank accounts are now wearing the toga of dormancy and risk being confiscated.

As I said earlier, this decision to forcefully take away balances in ‘dormant’ accounts may not enjoy favourable pronouncement from the courts in case of litigation. I also do not know what the court may say about the new initiative tagged POD.

Another issue is next-of-kin. Legally, it has no probative value. But many, including banks, do make the mistake of viewing a next-of-kin as an automatic beneficiary in case of death, etc. A next-of-kin wears no such toga. He is nothing more than a ready contact in case of emergency, which is why a next-of-kin is always asked to supply his/her contact details. Notwithstanding, however, one should always provide the name of the closest person as the next-of-kin, such as husband to wife, and vice versa. The reason is that the next-of-kin may know of an unpleasant event about someone ahead of others, and a mischievous person acting as next-of-kin may misuse such an opportunity.

With all the pontification and legal/insurable interest razzmatazz, there’s no one size fits all, but there are safety/ drawbacks on whatever mode is adopted as a society, families and interests, among others, change with modernity.

Some erstwhile peaceful families are known to have been torn apart or at war over Wills, largesse distribution. A roll call of contested Wills in the courts will leave you amazed!

So, something as simplistic as Payment On Death (POD) can prevent the spectacle of warring beneficiaries when the donor is GONE!!!

* Administration of Wills via Probate is usually cumbersome, time- consuming and expensive.

*. The POD System is simple but not yet tested, as it may also be contested by interested parties who may feel excluded from the largesse.

*. Living it undone is a recipe for chaos, confusion and bad blood!!!

My personal take is for disposition by way of gift inter-vivos! Share as much of your major gifts by Deed while you are still breathing and let beneficiaries start enjoying them even while you are still a going concern.

‘This may not be a permanent cure, but it still provides a good anchor of PEACE compared to other models “.

many individuals unknown to the family of the deceased showed up with evidence as legitimate beneficiaries of the state of the deceased. And don’t forget, the government, especially the Federal Inland Revenue Services are also interested in how the money in the account of a dead person is distributed, especially if he was owing tax”.

ALTERNATIVES TO PODS?

Prince Yemisi Shyllon, a chartered engineer, stockbroker, legal practitioner and investor, suggested that in the absence of the POD, the closest way out of this reality, is to go the way of living trusts instead of relying on the writing of a Will. According to him, a POD option can actually be integrated into a living trust arrangement.

BETWEEN A WILL AND A LIVING TRUST

Prince Shyllon explained that “both the Living Trust and a Will are legal documents created to guide how you want your estate to be managed. The Will comes into effect when you are dead, while the Living Trust is operational when you are alive and also goes into effect when you are dead.

“Living Trust means that ownership of assets is put into Living Trusts via declarations of trust, with regulations and guidelines, documented in the trust deeds, which allows an asset owner to control his/ her assets when he is alive but cannot control them when he is dead.”

He outlined the major differences between a Living Trust and a Will as follows: “Living Trusts are so described you can continue to do whatever you wish with your assets, once you have declared who your trustee is. You then transfer the ownership and the management of your assets to your trustee. But when you are dead, the trustee takes over the management and runs it according to the guidelines you mutually agreed to when you were alive. The company that then manages the assets is called a trustee.”

MAJOR ADVANTAGES

Experts on estates explain that Living Trusts do not need to go to probate before the distribution of the assets of valid Living Trusts to beneficiaries. They affirm that probates can be very expensive and public, with everything done in the open, whereas Living Trusts do not have to go through probate.

The trustees of valid Living Trusts can distribute the assets of the deceased to the named beneficiaries in trusts while avoiding excessive taxes and the lengthy processes of probate.

With Living Trusts grantees usually name their trustees who then hold assets on behalf of grantors, according to the rules and directions of grantors for the benefit of trust beneficiaries.

WHY LEGAL PROBATE IS STILL BETTER

Dr Gani Murtala Murgan, CEO of G.M. Murgan & Co., legal practitioners & law, research trainers and publisher, law & political commentary global, believes that the legal probate system is better than the bank’s Payable on Death (POD).

According to him: “From experience in cases treated, it is observed that the probate process has better advantages than the POD in the following ways:

“The legal probate process does not take time except where there is controversy within the family over the choice of family representative”.

“Also, legal probate provides room for the deceased’s money to extend to many beneficiaries of the deceased like providing for other children of the deceased in a divorced marriage instead of limiting it to the benefits to the children and wife in the current marriage”.

“Importantly, the practice of legal probate contributes more to upholding peace and security of life of the money owner and Nigeria as a whole, as it reduces incidents of kidnapping, food poisoning, use of negative spiritual forces and other clandestine devices that may be employed to eliminate the husband (money owner) by the wife as soon as she finds that the husband has successfully registered her name as the sole authority to collect the money under the Payable On Death arrangement”.

“Further, it is heartening to know that legal probate is not an expensive process as wrongly communicated above”.

“Based on the above, it is safe to conclude that the legal probate system is better than the POD system. It is, therefore, recommended that interested persons should get in touch with qualified legal practitioners who will not only complete the process for them in no time but provide other necessary legal support that will help in solving their problem on recovery of the deceased person’s money from banks”.

Emefiele

SECURING THE NATION VIA SOLOMON ARASE

Solomon Arase will take the Nigeria Police to the next level as the PSC Chairman, reckons UZOR MAXIM UZOATU

PETER ENAHORO, JOURNALISM PERSONIFIED!

NNAMDI NWIGWE pays tribute to Peter Enahoro, Journalist, writer and author of ‘How to be a Nigerian’

See Page 25

KOGI, THE BRIDGE, AND NOV. 11

The death of the Nigerian Journalism Colossus, Peter Enahoro, stirs a whole lot of emotions and sentiments that justify a brief excursion into the odyssey of Journalism in modern Nigeria.

In the halcyon years of pulsating and eclectic newspaper journalism in our country, precisely in the 60s, reading the newspapers was a pleasure to both the literate and illiterate citizenry.

The Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) now Radio Nigeria, and the stations owned by the Regional Governments, were the only electronic media. Private radios came on board much later with Ray Power of Alagbado Lagos leading the way in the 80s.

The newspapers were also few and far between with the big ones based mainly in Lagos and Ibadan. Among them were the West African Pilot and Daily Times. Ibadan, the capital of the Western Region where the Premier, then Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the Tribune newspaper, owned by Awolowo.

It was however the Daily Times, an offshoot of the London-based Daily Mirror Group, that was to throw up great and unforgettable names in newspaper journalism, among whom was Peter Enahoro.

Peter won his stripes very early in his career when he became the editor of the Sunday Times, a weekly stablemate of the Daily Times in his 20s! His personal column PETER PAN was a delight to most readers of the weekly. He continued with the popular column in the Daily Times when he became the editor.

See Page 25

EDITORIAL ACCOUNTABILITY IN A PERIOD

OF

TRANSITION

The Daily Times was a truly mass-circulation newspaper in Nigeria and was available in most parts of the country. The paper had its and the newspapers across the country.

Invariably, the news and editorial opinion of the Daily Times impacted the citizenry and the Peter Pan Column of the editor was a sociopolitical sermon to its avid connoisseurs!

Peter was a born journalist because he virtually possessed all the attributes of a quintessential practitioner. He was intelligent, deep thinking, curious, and combined, rather curiously affability with cold cynicism.

You never caught Peter unduly excited about anything or any authority for that matter. government because what the paper would not say in its Editorial for reasons of Corporate Boardroom nuances, Peter would freely write in his Peter Pan column.

Peter respected authority as a product of a Government College of those days, but he did not fear or cringe from telling ‘it as it is.’

Both the civilian government of the immediate post-Independence era and the military regime that supplanted it, feared and hated the guts of Peter Pan.

See Page 26

A typical case remains indelible in my mind:

When General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe

Aguiyi-Ironsi Nigeria’s indigenous pioneer Army Commander quelled the Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu-led putsch of January 15, 1966, and assumed power, it wasn’t long when Peter Pan called him to order.

On the front page of the Daily Times, a copy of which I bought in Accra, Ghana where I was a student, a picture of General Aguiyi-Ironsi in the full Nigerian national babariga/dashiki regalia, at a reception in Lagos with a wine glass in his hand, was emblazoned full-size. The only caption, which was the editorial was:

Of course, the military regime didn’t take it lightly and hunted Peter. Before the overthrow of Ironsi a mere six months later, on July 29, 1966, Peter Enahoro with foreign diplomatic support had been smuggled out of the country to Accra, Ghana from where he ventured further abroad to Europe.

Before this scenario, Peter Enahoro had

event and I was there as a young journalism student at the Monotechnic Ghana Institute of Journalism, Accra. I must confess that it was one of my proudest moments to shake the hand of my long-held idol as I introduced myself to Peter Pan and as a Nigerian student Journalist. He took a special interest in me as he wished me well in my studies.

Several years later in the 70s, our paths former West German broadcast giant, the

Deutsche Welle, Voice of Germany Radio, based in Cologne, near Bonn.

I had been employed there in 1971 as an editor at the Afrika-Englisch Section of the large Africa Department which had French, Amharic, Hausa, and Swahili Sections as well.

Peter Enahoro was a guest writer to the station for a weekly Africa Roundup programme long before I came. He was based, according to what he replied to me “between Continental as he was when in the mood. He lived at Ostend from where he covered England and Germany as well as Holland and Belgian writing for the various Media houses.Peter eventually settled in London where his death reportedly took place on Sunday, April 23, 2023.

Peter published several books, and edited and owned many high-class international magazines. But the one that many of his admirers, colleagues, and associates will not quickly forget is his HOW TO BE A NIGERIAN. There you would encounter Peter Enahoro, Peter Pan, and Peter the Great at his most cynical and also most serious in perception and prophecy.

Adieu, our beloved friend. You will surely meet our other German-based chums like Akin Fatoyinbo, Egbuna Obidike, Anierobi Ngwube, and Chike Egbuna who preceded you.

Auf Wiedersehen! Peter.

The next governor of Kogi State should be one who represents the aspiration of the people, writes ABU ABDULLAH

SECURING THE NATION VIA SOLOMON ARASE

State University, specialising in Corporate Management and Finance Law. A dogged missioner after knowledge, Arase added a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from University of Ibadan. He has an honorary doctorate degree of the University of Benin. A Fellow of Nigeria Defence College, (fdc), and the recipient of the National Police Medal (NPM), Arase underpins the intellectual bulwark of the Nigeria Police Force.

KOGI, THE BRIDGE, AND NOV. 11

There is a way the unit looks so much like the whole entity. This may be a result of the fact that the unit is just a slice of the whole. In many ways, Kogi State, as a sub-state of the Nigerian State, resembles and takes on many characteristics of the entire country.

There is the ever-nagging urge to write on the negative side of Nigeria without bothering to take note of any positive development. For me, the emergence of Solomon Arase as the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) is a clear pointer to one positive reason to believe.

As Nigeria sorely needs bonding in the political as well as the security sphere, it is worthy of attention that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba recently met with PSC Chairman Arase and some former IGPs to review Nigeria’s national security and the performance of the police force.

On the crucial nature of the meeting which held at the permanent site of the PSC in Jabi, Abuja, former IGP Sunday Ehindero said: “We think the problems that we’re having in the country - political, social and even economic - are passing phases for the Nigerian Police Force. And although the international community may ask their nationals to withdraw, we in this country have a way of solving our problems. So, we have deliberated and there is very assuring hope for the society in respect of the performance and direction of the police force.”

IGP Baba, on his part, is quite the end of the tunnel. We’ll continue to discuss, synergise and cooperate with everybody that will also support us.”

When he was the IGP, Arase espoused the intelligence and community partnership approach toward tackling national security. To start on a clean stable, the no-nonsense Arase and IGP Baba have commenced a joint investigation into allegations by some aggrieved

Force headquarters were collecting bribes to the tune of $10,000 for promotion.

Ever true to his reputation, Arase has meddling in issues of land and debt collection.

He expressed grave concern over the surge in human rights abuse cases against the police and insisted that police their misconduct while also enjoying the

After joining the Nigeria Police in 1981, he distinguished himself in the different departments of the police such as Operations, Investigation, Administration and Intelligence. Arase earned his early distinction in the police as a member of the Nigeria Police contingent to the United Nations Mission in Namibia. An esteemed member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) as well as the International Bar Association (IBA) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), he served as the National Legal Adviser, Alumni Association of the National Defence College – Nigeria (AANDEC)

In the 1990s, Arase was a member of the Failed Bank Inquiry set up by the federal government to investigate the massive fraud in the Nigerian Banking Sector. He was equally a member of the Special Homicide Investigation Team into the murder of the late Bola Ige, the then Attorney-General and Minister of Justice in the regime of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

In his time as the Head of the Lagos State Criminal Investigations Department he worked closely with Lagos State’s Ministry of Justice and the Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA (Criminal Justice Programme) to introduce landmark reforms and evaluation mechanisms. Arase was the Secretary to the Presidential Committee on Nigeria Police Reform in 2006. He served as a member of Nigeria Police Committee on Review of the Nigerian Constitution/Police Act.

Arase’s deep involvement in the intellectual development of the police led him into co-editing with Iheanyi Pita Okute Iwuofor the landmark book Policing Nigeria in the 21st Century. He edited other groundbreaking titles such as Monograph on Criminal Investigation and National Security : Intelligence and Community Partnership Approach. He excelled on the Editorial Board of Nigeria Police: The Journey so Far. It is indeed noteworthy that Arase’s Course Essay at the Nigeria Defence College won the award for the Best Essay on Internal Security.

He has over the years contributed several scholarly essays to various local and international journals. Arase has participated in several workshops and other professional engagements in USA, UK, Canada, Spain, etc. A highly respected enormous clout under the auspices of the United Nations, African Union and ECOWAS.

He set the record as having been the only officer to have served as the Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to three different InspectorsGeneral of Police between 2002 and 2008. As the commissioner of police at the Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti in 2008, he developed the “Panti Vision” of crime detection. He upped the ante as the Commissioner of Police, Akwa-Ibom State Police Command by developing anti-robbery and anti-kidnapping operational protocols that proved highly effective in addressing the set of high-level crimes in the State.

Born on June 21, 1956, Solomon Ehigiator Arase enlisted into the Nigeria Police in 1981 after taking a 1980 degree in Political Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, He equally took the LL.B degree of University of Benin and LL.M from Lagos Uzoatu is a Journalist and Poet

Like Nigeria, Kogi State also has three major ethnic groups scattered across its three Senatorial Districts - The Igala in the East, Ebira in the Central, and Okun in the West. Yet, like Nigeria, there are other smaller ethnic groups. Also, like the North and West geo-political zones of Nigeria, out of the three major ethnic groups, the Igala and Ebira have been the ones that have produced all the elected governors that the state has had since its creation in 1991. Just as Nigerians from the South-East zone are complaining of marginalization, the Okun are doing the same in Kogi State.

In the same way that the dominance of power by some geo-political zones has not led to rapid development in these zones in Nigeria, the fact that governors of Igala origin have governed the state for 16 years and another of Ebira origin has governed for eight years has not conferred special developmental advantages in these areas in 24 years of democracy.

That is why as the state gets ready for an outof-season election to produce a new governor on November 11, many of its indigenes and residents are clamouring for a governor who is not an ethnic champion but a bridge across all the three senatorial districts, the 21 local government areas, and the 239 wards in the state.

It is believed that what the state needs at this point is a governor who will serve as a bridge that creates an effective link between the various ethnic, linguistic, religious, socio-economic, age, generational, professional, and partisan groups. The next governor of Kogi State should be one person who represents the aspiration of the people - no matter what cultural values they subscribe to, whatever language they speak, in what manner they worship God, and whatever age bracket they fall.What therefore is the metaphorical or symbolic representation of the next governor of Kogi State is the bridge which itself is a representation of development when constructed in a place as a civil engineering edifice. The bridge helps to shorten travel time. It is part of an urban development plan. It is an economic project which also adds value to the land and developed property in the area it is located. It links different parts of the location together, creating a unity of purpose and a focus for continuous growth.

That is why the next governor of Kogi State must be a bridge himself who seeks power to build bridges. His first goal must be to create solid development agenda and unite our people across all parts of the state behind the agenda. He therefore must be somebody who can be trusted by all sides. He must not be an ethnic champion. The focus of his message should be on how to develop the state and bring prosperity to the people.

The governor our people must seek to elect should be somebody who seems ready to explore the great resources, human and material, with which the state is blessed to turn the state and the lives of its residents around for the better. He must be ready to aggregate the aspirations of the respective people of the East, West, and Central districts.

Like late Major General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, the next governor of Kogi State must be a person who knows neither East, West nor Central but the only entity he knows and lives to work for is Kogi State. He must be a unifier. He must be a man with big ideas but these ideas must be realistic, realisable, and relevant to the uplifting of the standard of living of the people.

He must have the experience, education, background, focus, temperament, courage, and discipline to dream big and initiate lofty

development-oriented policies, projects, and programmes. He must sound convincing to rally all and sundry behind these lofty ideals and ideas.

I have seen and listened to many of the candidates that have emerged in all the parties since the primaries held a few weeks ago. My observation is that most of them are mere politicians. They only seek power to rule not to make the difference. What Kogi needs is an outsider to the political establishment. A man who feels challenged enough to want to make a difference. The one who comes not to seek fortune but to make the people fortunate and to create wealth for the masses.

Of all the candidates that I have listened to, none fit the bill or tick all the boxes like Olayinka Adenenho Braimoh, the flagbearer of the Action Alliance (AA). From his choice of a small but dynamic party whose slogan is “Let the People Thrive” to his background as a young man who has faced the challenges and travails of the slippery business world and triumphed, to his education acquired both at home and abroad up to his lofty programmes well laid out in racy, wellcrafted prose presented in a graphical manner that makes for easy digesting, I can see that he is an example of the abundant young talents that Kogi has.

I have listened to him addressing some socio-political pressure groups across the state and his post-nomination press conference. On each occasion, he has impressed me. Braimoh is an Okun but presents himself as a Kogi State candidate. He is not running on an ethnic flag. He is not a tribal champion. He appears as the unifier. A candidate that all three senatorial districts should rally around.

His focus is on development, wealth creation, and ‘making the people happy’ through creating a conducive atmosphere for them to realise their potential by working hard towards enjoying the fruits of the resources God has endowed their state with. He plans on how to better a lot of people and add value to their lives. He speaks with verifiable facts and figures about what the situation is and what can be done to turn it around.

Braimoh is perhaps the only one among the candidates who already have a manifesto prepared and which gives a clear glimpse into his vision, mission, focus, goal, and timelines for their accomplishments. He has verifiable sources of his wealth. He has displayed integrity in his business as a real estate developer and serial investor.

At 46, he is vibrant, dynamic and relates very well to both the young and the old. He is a man familiar with the use of technology to solve contemporary problems. He represents generational and paradigm shifts in our state. He is not encumbered by the clogs of establishment politics.

Abdullah writes from Igalamela, Kogi State

The next governor of Kogi State should be one who represents the aspiration of the people, writes ABU ABDULLAH

Solomon Arase will take the Nigeria Police to the next level as the PSC Chairman, reckons UZOR MAXIM UZOATU

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA

Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

ACCOUNTABILITY IN A PERIOD OF TRANSITION

The looting of offices by outgoing public officers is repugnant and must be checked

As in previous transition years, there are reports of outgoing governors who have started to ‘appropriate’ the resources of their states.

Vehicles are being relocated from government pool, furniture and

Besides, new commitments running into billions of Naira are being made as some of the outgoing incumbents raid public treasuries before the onset of the successor administrations. The situation is not different in Abuja where ministers and heads of agencies in the outgoing Muhammadu Buhari administration have embarked on a bazaar of huge contract awards.

We are aware that the president and about a dozen governors whose tenures will lapse on 29 May have the right to perform the function of their various also concede that the executive powers of a president or governor cannot be suspended simply because their tenures are coming to an end. The responsibility of the newly are inaugurated, and that might include the review of whatever had been done by predecessors. But no section of the constitution states that the duties of the president or governors include manipulating the machinery of government to impoverish the country or state, especially at the twilight of their

It has not escaped the attention of Nigerians that most of the decisions being taken in Abuja and the states are on transactional matters. Yesterday, the federal government announced the postponement of the 2023 population and housing census earlier scheduled for 3rd - 7th May, pushing the decision to the “incoming administration”. Yet, the same national carrier before 29th May which is less than a month away. At every Federal Executive Council (FEC) session in recent weeks, what follows is usually announcements of some jumbo

contracts. Meanwhile, these are the sorts of deals that have left the country with judgement debts running into billions of dollars, especially when jettisoned by succeeding administrations.

The matter is of course more serious in many of the states. A great number of governors and of poverty. So, when they are about to leave, both movable and unmovable government assets become unsafe in their custody. As a result, each new government must start by borrowing from banks, sometimes to refurbish residences, replace vehicles, etc. Worse still, many of the governors are busy right now making appointments into the civil service even where their states are already bankrupt.

We need to enter a caution on behalf of the public against these deliberate acts of pillage, especially by people who have already built retirement houses and allocated life pensions and multiple perks to themselves at public expense. Beginning from 2007, many states have passed scandalous pension laws aimed at giving former governors and their deputies a differs from one state to another, the essentials are the same: They provide for a former governor a Abuja while they are also entitled to furniture allowances and brand-new cars every four years at the taxpayers’ expense. They are also entitled to medicals abroad.

It is unconscionable that a nation with so many challenges – from getting enough to eat to providing shelter and jobs for many of its citizens and to stalling in payment of the meagre salaries of workers–can sanction the indiscriminate awards of its resources to already well-heeled and comfortable citizens. But the immediate challenge is in the lack of

We hope the relevant agencies are taking note.

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

WITHHELD SALARIES: ADELEKE’S FAULTY STEPS

Mutatis mutandis, politics is not the same as repudiating the ethics of public administration. To say that the executive governor of a state has the right or power to stop the payment of workers’ salary – what they earn legitimately - is, to say the least, an evolution throwback! That the society could not be bothered, due to political reasons or factors, is also a tragedy!

The Governor of Osun, Ademola Adeleke, has done the unprecedented by withholding the November 2022 salary and allowances of public servants (political appointees) in the state. Not only that, he has also refused to pay the half-salary arrears of the same category of people! If those people were not entitled place, that would have been a different matter entirely.

Section 15 of the Labour Act states that

“wages shall become due and payable at the end of each period for which the contract is expressed to subsist (daily, weekly or at such other period as may be agreed upon) provided that where the period is more than one month, the wages become due and payable at intervals not exceeding one month.” Without doubt, this and other relevant statutes are equally ingrained in various international human rights instruments to which Nigeria is a signatory.

Well, it’s not only Adeleke who’s guilty of this wrong act. The technocrats and the administrative staff working with and/ or for him are also to be blamed. Give it to him! The public may be asking for too much if it assumed that the governor should be versed in public administration. But what about the paid professionals, who’re working for him? In sane climes, at least, one of them should have told him

that doing such was against the norms of public service; and that, if the abnormality was allowed to stay, it’d become the norm.

If, per adventure, Adeleke is booted out today, another governor that comes in will also do whatever pleases him, not necessarily according to the dictates of the ethics of public administration. So, somebody needs to tell the governor that withholding the people’s salary, illegitimately, is not a civilised way of flaunting power in the 21st century.

With the helpful service of hindsight, that members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Osun State House of Assembly (OSHA), even with a clear majority in the House, failed woefully to stand for the people, is no longer news! Come to think of it, salaries of functional public servants – some of them apolitical - whose only crime was that they worked for former governors of the state from

another political bent were withheld! Still, our Honourable Members kept mute! People who were previously employed by the state were also sacked but, instead of siding with the dispossessed and the distressed, OSHA members were rumours of impeachment proceedings

Is it any wonder they were ramblingly using former Governor Rauf Aregbesola as a cover-up for their inadequacies? Well, the good news about Nigeria’s emerging democracy is that elected representatives can now be booted out during elections. Thankfully too, the barometer of politics is now easier measured when one understands how to measure the street

A great number of governors and their appointees come into office with a culture of poverty. So, when they are about to leave, both movable and unmovable government assets become unsafe in their custody

Abiodun Komolafe, Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State

The Curtain Closes on Belafonte, Springer

Stories by Vanessa Obioha

The past few days have been a newsy one on the international scene. From the firing of the TV host Tucker Carlson by Fox, and Don Lemon by CNN, the ousting of NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell and the stepping down of BBC Chairman Richard Sharp, to the copyright trial of Ed Sheeran over Marvin Gaye’s hit ‘Let’s Get It On,’ and the conviction of Fugees member Pras Michel of international political conspiracy. However, two significant figures passed on. Harry Belafonte, the iconic American singer, actor and activist of Jamaica descent, famous for his ‘Day O (The Banana Boat Song)’ song died on Tuesday, April 25. His cause of death as revealed by his spokesman Ken Sunshine was congestive heart failure. Belafonte was credited for causing a frenzy for Caribbean sounds, particularly with his 1956 album ‘Calypso’ which became the first album by a single artist to sell more than a million copies. He is also among the few American celebrities that received an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT) awards.

Two days after his passing, Jerry Springer, the TV host known for his controversial eponymous TV show died after a brief illn ess. Springer, who began his career as a politician, became a cultural phenomenon with his show. He adopted a talk-show format that left viewers shocked and glued to their screens with the outrageous confessions of lovers, spouses and family members in unbelievable affairs. The show ran for nearly three decades, ending in 2018 after more than 3,000 episodes. Springer born Gerald Norman Springer was aged 79.

NECLive to Host in Multiple Cities in 2024

As it marks its 10th anniversary, The Nigerian Entertainment Conference, better known as NECLive has conceived and introduced a new format that will take effect from 2024. The conference will now be held simultaneously in other parts of Nigeria; as well as in key cities across Africa, Europe, and America. These changes, according to founder Ayeni Adekunle, are “a matter of necessity, given where the industry is today; and in line with the new challenges and opportunities on the horizon.”

NECLive is touted as the largest annual gathering of creative industry professionals in West Africa. The conference sought solutions to the myriad of problems bedevilling the entertainment industry such as piracy and lack of platforms and access and opportunities for entertainment practitioners to monetize their talent at scale.

“Today, most of those problems have largely been solved. But we are now faced with even bigger problems and opportunities. And I believe that it’s time to begin the work of making sure Africa’s creators and everyone else in the value chain; as well as our societies and economies, get the maximum possible value from our contribution to, and growing participation in the global entertainment marketplace.”

‘The Two Aishas’ Premiere Celebrates Muslim Culture

The new format will see the conference held over a month, from April to May every year, beginning with a flagship event in Lagos, and running through cities like Abuja, Port Harcourt, Calabar, and Ibadan in Nigeria; London and Edinburgh in the United Kingdom; Atlanta and New York in America; and other key African cities like Nairobi, Accra, Johannesburg and more. NECLive will also be presented annually by Africa Creative Foundation, an inviteonly membership-based organisation to be launched this summer.

New Spotlight Concert Winner Emerges as Seyi Vibez Shuts Down Third Edition

For a third consecutive year, budding Nigerian music acts thronged the venue of the Spotlight Concert and Awards to showcase their talent to a larger audience. This deliberate effort led to the conversion of the Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos into a stage that hosted a medley of live, electric performances.

Founded on the premise of the unfortunate events of #EndSARS, the concert themed ‘Let Your Music Shine’ has become a lifeline to empower talented Nigerian youths. This year was no different. Positioned as the Headies for rookies, the concert’s progenitor Olumide Asanbe revealed that the platform received over 5,000 applications that were trimmed to 15 finalists through numerous knockout stages. He noted that it was a significant growth from the previous editions.

“The youths are not lazy, it is just that they do not believe in the system, and that is why they are frustrated. This platform is a way to encourage and promote them to do more,” he said backstage.

Preceded by a series of performances from other artists not in the running, and dance battles, the final 15, for over an hour, churned out impressive renditions of popular afrobeats songs, with a handful pulling their trump card through sleek moves, charisma and charm to woo the audience and judges. Eventually, it whittled to five, and then three finalists, through eliminations.

Billed as the concert’s headliner, Nigerian afrobeats singer Seyi Vibez’s entrance was unprecedented. The ‘Billion Dollar’ singer was greeted with much fanfare while he made his way to the stage dressed in a cream ensemble complemented with an esoteric blue headgear. He provided the perfect interlude to dissipate the tension that had built up in anticipation of the winner.

With back-to-back hits, the crowd became convinced they were the background vocalists, outshining the main act on songs such as ‘Alaska’, ‘+234’, and ‘Gwagwalada’ in an admirable calland-response fashion. They left Seyi Vibez humbled as he stood and listened to the very last note.

Throughout the competition, Olajide Olowoshile (Jaybow) held his own, defying expectations with his unique take on Fire DML smash hit ‘Bandana’. He clinched the top prize of a N2 million recording contract and a N500,000 cash prize. He beat out Gabriel Adetunji (Jabril), and David Samson who emerged in second and third place respectively.

Iyke Bede

Amidst the joyous celebration by Muslims marking the end of Ramadan, an intriguing cultural event surfaced that captured the attention of many faithful — the premiere of ‘The Two Aishas’.

Transforming The Jewel Aeida into a Mecca of sorts with middle eastern decor, guests poured into the venue dressed in their finest pieces that bear roots in Islamic fashion. The eclectic range of fashion statements saw women walking gracefully in their abayas and jilbabs adorned with the finest accessories, with the men majestically posing on the red carpet in their kaftans and thobes.

The mellow Arabian background music set the tone for the event as guests interacted with one another. This marked camaraderie was also reflected in the movie that journeys the audience through the bond formed between Aisha Jubril (Rahama Sadau) and Aisha Yusuf (Maryam Booth) as teenage girls who ended up marrying two best friends. But as the election date drew closer, cracks began to appear in their friendship because of the political ambition of their spouses.

Enraptured by the performance of the cast, the audience was held spellbound on a roller coaster journey of emotional highs and lows, ranging from explosive tantrums and deep-seated grudges to deceptive lies and fierce rivalries. Still, a sense of normalcy was retained through the message of love, forgiveness, and piousness.

“It is not just a feel-good movie you just watch and laugh, you are going to take home from it,” Executive Producer, Shareefah Abiola emphasised the goal of making the film. It is the debut production of the Arabel Production Company which was spun off the Arabel Exclusive Islamic Stores.

‘The Two Aishas’ also stars Paul Utomi, Akeem Ogara, and Shushu Abubakar, and it is currently showing in cinemas nationwide.

How Slay Queens, Yahoo Boys Inspired ‘Hotel Labamba’

Young people who live life on the fast lane take the spotlight in ‘Hotel Labamba,’ the newly directed movie by Nollywood director Biodun Stephen. The movie captures the shenanigans of young men and women who are known as slay queens and Yahoo boys due to their insatiable quest to always live in the spotlight.

At the media screening recently, Stephen revealed that the story of ‘Hotel Lambaba,’ started from a conversation with a friend about slay queens and Yahoo boys and expressed happiness to be part of the movie.

“My experiences shape the storyline of my movies, which is what makes them very relatable and exciting to watch,” she said.

Executive-produced by Laide Daramola, the film tells the story of the mysterious murder of a popular Instagram influencer. Her death set up a chain of events as the true killer is sought. The cast includes Lateef Adedimeji, Bimbo Ademoye, Bolaji Ogunmola, Blessing Jessica Obasi and Femi Adebayo. The film will be distributed by Cinemax in June.

Late Belafonte

Late Jerry Springer

L-R_ Chief Creative Director of Livespot 360, Dare Art-Alade_ Media Personality Gbemi Olagbegi-Olateru, Real Housewives of Lagos cast members - Toyin Lawani, Mariam Timmer, and Iyabo Ojo

Executive Producer, Hotel Lambaba Movie, Laide Daramola

Seyi Vibez

MIKE ADENUGA 70 Years of Gratitude

As he clocks 70, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr’s significance to enterprise is much like that of the virtuoso to a symphony orchestra. The multibillionaire Chairman of Globacom affects a flurry of beings curled into one: he is science, an art, a foundation of genius with dashes of brilliance brightening the creativity of his mind and soul and illuminating the world. A product of pure intellect, vision, and sheer enterprise, he can become any form he creates; he is a library of masterpieces, an intricate web of sensitivity and hope attuned in full measure to the world’s needs. At 70, he furnishes entrepreneurship in an enduring flurry, banking on the poetic imaging of his genius. Ultimately, Adenuga enlivens commerce with his brilliance; thus several decades after his emergence as Africa’s most revered business icon, his exploits attain the resonance of a fairy tale, writes LANRE ALFRED

How His Homegrown Empire Turned Africa’s Economic Colossus

Every man commands the gift of an enterprise; for some, it could be unclogging the steam pipes on a cold night; for some, it could be solving the intricate half of a complex equation. Some make their living delivering punchlines in packed theatres and a good many more ferret a living from interior plumbing. Mike Adenuga, however, asserts his niche in global telecoms, oil and gas, banking, real estate, and philanthropy. Very few tycoons can pull this off particularly when they have their fingers in many pies. Adenuga effortlessly does this, thus exploding the legend of the beneficent magnate into a billion sculpted pieces; each statuette projects his dazzling genius and benevolent repute.

If Mike Adenuga’s story reads like an enterprise legend, it’s probably because he has successfully matched grit to desire, with stunning outcomes. This is certainly a rare feat. His life espouses crucial entrepreneurial anecdotes through its metaphor-rich manifestations of his inventive sleight of hand.

At the cusp of his 70th anniversary, the social and business landscapes pulse with milestones he has achieved thus reasserting his worth as a rare force of nature. As family and friends join him in celebrating his 70th birthday, the image that pops into head is that of his genius and the passionate intensity he brings to entrepreneurship.

Indeed, very few men are as gifted as Adenuga. The poetry of his ascent radiates his glory through splendid enterprise, outstanding peerage, and a spirited lunge out of the trenches.

In Adenuga’s world, enterprise becomes magic; the fondling of ambition from a delicate prod into a feral nudge. A push against the odds. Against adversaries and unforgiving fate. Only a titan like Adenuga could brave these challenges and carve from it all, an Eden.

‘The Mike Adenuga Stare’

Some magnates fall by the margins of enterprise. Some rise through its cracks. In pursuit of profit, too many have incinerated in the flames of commerce but amid the smouldering pyre, Dr Mike Adenuga Jr. blooms like an aster. The billionaire entrepreneur flourishes unhindered, having learnt to douse the sweltering blaze of industry. But how does he do it?

Some say he does it by fanning the industrial hearth with a glacial quilt, dripping with passion and torrential rigour; they say his years of practice finally makes perfect.

Some say he does it with a stare. ‘The Mike Adenuga Stare’ - effectually rigged to tame the odds. In staring the odds down, Adenuga cuts a searing swath through a snarl of hostile economies and obstacles devised by fate, to forge his own path. It’s a reckoning.

And the world reckons him for his exploits; rarely does a magnate command so much love and idolatry of his industry and feats as Adenuga has done.

No doubt, he affirms the axiom depicting the fruitful magnate’s rippling virtuosity. Going by his trajectory, he may be likened to a god of the franchises he created and a guardian of the world his business empire inhabits. It’s a huge task; earth-born deities influence economies, politics, culture and cities. And if they are very assertive, they create not just the laws of government, but the code of mortal existence. However, no entrepreneur has been a god to as many vastly different worlds as Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr.

His worlds are tasking and exacting, but also flooded with the brilliant light of his imagination, whether he is building on the past, determining the present, or strategising for the future no one had ever imagined. Many have

Adenuga

wondered how he came to amass such vast affluence and an enduring sway at the pinnacle of the business world; it’s mostly a function of perception. An ingenious ability to discern the labyrinthine tracts of commerce, and his persistence in asking ‘Why?’

Adenuga symbolises the enterprising African spirit, unalloyed commitment, resilience and hard work. Thus, he is today one of the most recognisable names on the African continent.

Inside Mike Adenuga’s Empire of Equals…

It is not easy to be a detribalised Nigerian. For a multibillionaire, every day is a somersault through blazing declamatory hoops. You know the heart of a patriot, however, from the way he relates with fellow citizens, irrespective of their ethnicity and other vast social stripes. His greatness manifests, especially, in how he treats those beneath him in all spheres of life.

A studious examination of his corporate leadership and entrepreneurial style reveals, among other things, that the Globacom boss is incapable of presiding over a failed enterprise. He is an inveterate workaholic, perfectionist yet pragmatic in approach; and the central appeal of his style lies in its practical precision. He’s sensationally excellent at what he does. Little wonder he has become, over time, the reference point for many ambitious entrepreneurs and business managers.

Yes, in top business schools across the continent and beyond, the corporate exploits of Adenuga are veritable case-studies for academic research. And there seems to be unanimity of opinions that the patently self-effacing businessman has created phenomenally successful businesses and changed the world in significant ways. Not surprisingly, millions of youths see him as a quintessential mentor because of his guarded and understated lifestyle and business successes. Others say it is because Adenuga quadrupled as a teacher, leader, father, and mentor before being an employer.

Adenuga’s rise to acclaim reads like an emotional orchestra. The symphony is a tour de force—a stunningly acute, intense, and intelligent manifestation not just of his manhood, but also of his dreams, challenges, the pluses and minuses of endeavour, friendship, the vital necessity of creative boredom, the phenomenology of watching his dreams erupt to fruition, and anything and everything else towards which Adenuga directs his supple imagination.

Intricate Breadth, Strength of Nigeria’s Industrial Colossus

Becoming an entrepreneur extraordinaire is not mere lip service. It takes consistent effort and focus on growing from just an entrepreneur interested in a particular business to becoming a respected and renowned empire builder. Think Adenuga, frequently likened to a champion and sometimes, a business genius

that effortlessly depicts the image of a modern-day general of commerce. Nothing excites him as much as his octopoidal conglomerate because very few members of Nigeria’s affluent club can achieve great feats in their youth and remain quiet and self-effacing like an avatar of the Himalayan thrust. While some are busy pushing status and their immense bulk in a desperate dash for socioeconomic and political acclaim, Adenuga affects tact and humility without ostentation or pretence. You would be forgiven for ascribing to him superhuman smarts. For a man who has learned and mastered intricate business as the genius conductor assimilates Mozart’s aria, you can never ornament the words enough to describe his unparalleled verve and genius. If Adenuga were a lab scientist, he would have reordered groups in organic chemistry and calculated the anti-derivatives of functions that he will effectively deploy in real life - all with a modest amount of energy.

Watching Adenuga preside over his business empire, you get inspired by how beautifully he weaves the strands of his acumen and entrepreneurial depth into a dominant narrative.

But it wasn’t easy. It took incredible focus, courage and intentionality to carry himself the way he did. To use his gifts and talents, his brilliance and platform, to honour the preciousness of humane enterprise and nationhood.

It took humility and grace to seek beyond entrepreneurial exploits and improve lives via selfless, and fortunechanging philanthropy.

Adenuga reminds us that we can all resist the excuses that guard us from giving love. Whatever power we have, whatever our wealth and attainments, we attain humaneness and immortality, perhaps, by lifting others up; especially those who are less privileged than we are.

There is no gainsaying that Adenuga manages several moving parts of a colossal enterprise. The trajectories of its blooming creates a culture of growth that manifests in every aspect of commerce and societal life thus amplifying people’s perception of who Adenuga is and what he symbolises.

His Sterling Humanism

Philanthropy is at the heart of everything that Adenuga does. Why a lot of elite philanthropy is about elite causes is not so for Adenuga. Through his eponymous Pan-African philanthropic foundation, the Globacom Chairman helps Nigeria and other African countries to achieve social and economic independence while contributing to an improved future for Nigerians and other African citizens. The foundation puts smiles on people’s faces by creating or supporting initiatives that deliver knowledge, skills,

resources and infrastructures that will stimulate innovation, facilitate commerce, drive enterprise and improve living conditions. Its core programme interests are entrepreneurship, education, health, and rural development. The education programme aims to support the study of disciplines that drive innovation and development.

As the coronavirus pandemic ravaged the world, Adenuga dug into the depth of his humanity to support every effort of the federal government to combat the virus, particularly, through the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN’s private sector Coalition against COVID-19, donating heavily. In a letter to the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, Adenuga applauded the federal government’s measures to tackle the pandemic’s impacts on the country, commending the bank for its worthwhile initiatives. He donated generously to the Lagos State government, various bodies, and institutions. Nigerians are still talking about it even as you read.

Love for the Arts

Adenuga’s love for the arts is intrinsic and invaluable. Perhaps after his passion for business, making money, and philanthropy, appreciation of the arts is next in line. The entertainment industry has featured prominently in Globacom’s corporate social investment initiatives because of Adenuga’s passion for the industry.

Aside from direct financial commitments, including massive sponsorships, Globacom currently retains the largest number of key players in the entertainment industry as brand ambassadors while upholding that by actively engaging them. He has also really done so much too for African football. He has taken football to greater heights and African football has suddenly become a global phenomenon that can no longer be held back. It is no wonder that Africa continues to get more slots in the FIFA World Cup competition.

Many entertainers, both established and unheralded, have been blessed immeasurably by this love and patronage.

For several decades, the Alliance Française, committed to promoting French culture and teaching French as a second language around the world, was located in the boisterous area of Yaba, Lagos. But thanks to the generosity of Dr Adenuga, the organisation now has a new home in Ikoyi that has been aptly named the Mike Adenuga Centre. Since it was declared open to the public in 2019, the centre has been receiving commendations from far and near from art aficionados and artists, and preeminent Nigerians. In Adenuga’s reckoning, it is all in a day’s work

Philosophy

Virtues, according to him, should be, in the popular estimate, the rule guiding human conduct in business, social and political circuits rather than the exception. “A man is nothing without his virtues,” he argues. Thus he endeavours to do good. But his deeds are done not as an apology or extenuation of his fortune and citizenship of the world. While many rich men propagate virtues as penances for the inaction of the world’s privileged divide, Adenuga imbibes and perpetuates the culture of goodness out of an intrinsic part of his manliness.

Reports abound that despite his large heart, Adenuga has suffered untold betrayals from friends and staff. Yet, he does not harbour resentment towards anyone. He forgives easily. Thus, he sets high standards, which he abides by as a matter of exemplary leadership and integrity of character. Therefore, it is not surprising that doing good comes naturally to him, which is why no amount of betrayal or backbiting would deter him from what he believes in. He doesn’t hug the limelight despite that it comes with his monumental attainments.

Notwithstanding his depth as an entrepreneur extraordinaire, philanthropist, and citizen of humanity, Adenuga covets no vanities, unlike other billionaires. He demands no free verses, heroic couplets, or ornamental rhymes to glorify his personage as a man. Adenuga is hardly given to such infectious vanities.

HighLife

Abike Dabiri vs Social Media

‘Soldiers’

There is a profession today that did not exist in the past. It is an informal, infuriating, and infectious profession known very simply as ‘social media soldier’ or ‘keyboard warrior.’ This profession allows individuals to take up the mantles left behind by gladiators of the past, daring to slight whoever, whenever, and however. Abike Dabiri, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has fallen into the traps of these warriors. Having dealt with her, the brave lady of iron and fire is no longer recognizable.

When it comes to diaspora issues, Dabiri has always stood at the forefront of things. This is especially true when these issues involve Nigerians that are struggling outside their motherland or have fallen into the kind of situation that they never would have if they were back here. But Dabiri never fails to show that she has their back. This enviable character has been turned against her, gradually evolving into a distortion of what she represents and how.

Since the Sudan saga started, Nigerians with relatives in that country have been worried to the point of despair. Dabiri, ever the motivator, attempted to encourage Nigerians that efforts are being made to get back our brothers and sisters from Sudan. However, things did not go as planned and that ended up getting Dabiri into the ring with social media soldiers.

Dabiri claimed on Twitter that there are more than three million Nigerians residing in Sudan, and even the wealthiest person in that country has Nigeria’s blood flowing inside him. However, people were quick to point out that Dabiri had exaggerated the figures so far out of proportion that she could have designed 12 new Sudan and her estimated number of Nigerians would not fill up these fictional countries.

The same ridicule was raised against her claim of the wealthiest person in Sudan being a Nigerian, with some social media commentators calling her out for being a fantastic teller of tall tales. Despite knowing that she can make mistakes, these keyboard warriors are not having it.

If social media was a compound, Dabiri would have to remain in her flat for the next three to six months. After all, nobody ever wins against social media soldiers.

KAYODE ALFRED 08116759807, E-mail: kayflex2@yahoo.com

...Amazing lifestyles of Nigeria’s rich and famous

Folashade Ali: Diamond Jubilee Celebrations for Legal Icon

In the new world, age is counted as one of those things that nobody has a hang of because nobody has a hang on life. However, to live to a certain age as an accomplished person is a matter of mastery. For Folashade Alli, living to 60 as a legal icon is indeed a matter of mastery. Why else is she standing at the peak of her industry as though she is without a peer?

Time moves faster than anyone notices, but its marks remain with us. Alli, the brains behind Folashade Alli & Associates, is one of the few female Nigerian lawyers that has allowed time to polish her person and brilliance. At 60, she is gaining on her father, Afe Babalola, the super legal luminary and founder of Afe Babalola University.

On account of her genius, Alli is not as well-known as the rest of her family and even colleagues. However, this is only true among the common people. Where documents are signed and professional ranks

are decided, Alli is well-known. And why not—when she has such a robust professional profile and portfolio that few can compare to in her category.

Alli graduated from the University of Lagos in 1984 after obtaining a degree in Bachelor of Laws (LLB). She was called to the bar the following year and did not stay too long before obtaining a master’s degree (LL.M) in Corporate and Commercial law from the University College, London. That was when she truly began her lawyerly campaign, gaining ground until the present.

Now, Alli has 35 years of noteworthy experience across the board directly or indirectly related to the law profession. She is also a Chartered Arbitrator, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in the UK, and founder of Folashade Alli & Associates.

At 60, Alli is still lighting up the profession for others to follow, gradually gaining on her equally stellar father.

Ali

From Dubai with Love … On the Trail of Nasiru Danu

every’ and has decided to cool things down a bit. For Nasiru Danu, Chairman/ CEO of Casiva Limited and Dan Amana Dutse of the Dutse Emirate, the second reason appears more valid. Even so, he was reportedly sighted in Abuja recently, ending the narrative that he had retired to Dubai long ago.

Many reasons exist for someone going low-profile in Nigeria. One, it could be that the person has something to hide. Two, it could be that the person is tired of ‘every-

Many political analysts pointed out that the All Progressives Congress (APC) did not exhaust its resources in the just-concluded presidential election. Danu is one of the reasons this notion is still standing. After all, considering the influence that he commands, especially in the northern regions of the country, his presence would have lighted up the party and brought even more recognition for the now President-elect. Alas, it did not happen.

History Maker … Justice Abdulrahaman

Becomes First Female Chief Judge of Adamawa

No reasonable architect builds a structure without a foundation. If something is meant to last, its foundation must be solid, adaptable, and appropriate. Given recent political stirrings in Adamawa, Justice Hapsat Abdulrahaman has been confirmed as the first female Chief Judge of the state. With her emergence, a large page in the history books has been opened to her, one that will most likely be filled shortly with achievements.

From the ups and downs of social media news currents, groups from all around the country are hailing Adamawa for moving on from the traditional path onto a more inclusive and progressive path, one

recognizing talent and experience over vain reputation, helping the rest of Nigerians see great hope in the future.

According to the reports on Abdulrahaman’s emergence, Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, has already done the needful by handing her the required symbols to confirm her status. During the swearing-in ceremony, the governor hailed Abdulrahaman as a person so dedicated to her work it encourages others to do the same. Fintiri did not forget to mention that he is honoured to be the first Adamawa Governor to hand over such an important position to a woman, one so brilliant she has the history books in her palm.

According to reports, Danu has been keeping a low profile for months now. He had reportedly decided to reduce the flames of his candle of influence and activity in Nigeria by riding things out in Dubai. Otherwise, being the big man that he is, he would have long reached new levels of popularity while waiting for his political party to continue from where his reported godfather, President Muhammadu Buhari, stopped.

But social media has been lively in recent days, especially after it was reported that Danu had been seen in Abuja. Whether or not this means that the Dan Amana Dutse of the Dutse Emirate is ending his seclusion ahead of the May 29 inauguration is best known to him. What is almost certain at this point is that the man may be back, having sent so many letters of love from Dubai in days past.

Abdulrahaman

Dabiri-Erewa (

Danu

Will Timipre Sylva Take Bayelsa State from Douye Diri This Time? Oluseyi Soyege Wins Another Top US Laurel

Will there ever be a time when gubernatorial elections can be held without people pointing their hands at their rivals’ noses and cursing them until they are satisfied? Certainly yes. But that time is not now, and so Timipre Sylva is not at all reserved as he attempts to push Governor Douye Diri out of the Bayelsa governorship seat this year.

The Bayelsa governorship election 2023 is set to hold around November. Preparations are already underway to ensure that the election swings favourably to the side of whoever is thinking about it. For Sylva, the election must not only be won, but it has to be such a victory that Governor Diri will not know where to keep his face. But will things go as Sylva wishes? Only time will tell.

What is obvious to all and sundry right now is that Sylva has managed to secure the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the justconcluded gubernatorial primaries for the party in Bayelsa. This happened a few days ago and likely brought tears to the Minister

of Petroleum Resources (State) because of the unshaken trust of the APC delegates in him. Gaining victory over a rival that has already tasted the object of the contest is never easy. Moreover, Diri has not been sleeping since the last election. Instead, the man has contributed a great deal to the growth and development of Bayelsa. This is particularly

Contemporary man is not the first to enjoy unrestrained love and loyalty from his wife. In the past, countless men successfully obtained the heart of their wives, treasuring it to the point of speechlessly compelling these women to give their best. For Chief Razak Okoya, the Aare of Lagos and billionaire industrialist, having a wife like Folashade Okoya is the blessing of many lifetimes.

In recent times, Lady Shade has demonstrated her matchless love for her husband. Despite being a fairly reserved person, the lady has never blushed to tell the world that her heart belongs to her husband and that she takes him more seriously than anything else. When she recently took it upon herself to celebrate their 24th year together as a man and wife, people were not surprised that she gave her best.

Truth be told, Shade’s things are always colourful, notably when having to do with Okoya. When she set the stage for

the case for youth development and sports, areas for which Diri has always shown a soft spot.

So, Diri in his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) booth is almost assured of victory. But so is Sylva. Time will tell who will eventually lead the state in November.

the wedding anniversary rolling, people who had bragged about having highoctane celebrations raised their hands in surrender. Meanwhile, her husband was content to relax and enjoy the celebration organised by his youngest wife.

Of course, Shade is a full woman, so she also took the opportunity to celebrate her 46th birthday, wowing the public into celebrating her. And even though she does not make as much noise as the others, the deluge of goodwill that accompanied her birthday established that her doings in business and other spaces have started entering the books of other people, many of whom would be content in following her to learn how to be a successful wife to the Aare of Lagos.

With the double celebrations, Lady Shade has shown that her husband is twice-blessed, having gained two times the fortune to be the one in her heart.

Nigerian artist, Oluseyi Soyege, has won another top laurel at the San Antonio Art League & Museum’s 93rd Annual Juried Art exhibition held in Texas, United States of America.

Soyege’s fabric collage artwork titled “A Peek Into the Future” won one of the six awards given to artists selected out of the 552 works submitted by over 200 artists from San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, San Marcos, Corpus Christi and other cities in Texas.

The exhibition, which is free and open to the public from April 2 through June 3, will display the works of the 64 selected artists as designated by juror Catherine Walworth.

“Judging these works was like sitting on a train and watching the Texas landscape roll past my view. Altogether, it was a wide swathe of artists and perspectives, a window onto a certain time and place, and a lovely, broad field of human conditions. I applaud everyone who entered for putting something new into the world,” says Catherine Walworth.

Commenting on the award, Oluseyi Soyege, Founder of Ongrounds Art Gallery based in Houston, Texas, says he is proud to bring honour and recognition to his Nigerian artistic roots through his artistic creativity that continues to record growing acceptance across the U.S. and beyond.

Soyege’s winning artwork is a fabric collage with newspaper depicting a child imagining his future self as a rich guy who can afford rich materials for clothing and live a life of luxury.

According to Soyege, in “A Peek Into the Future,” the boy is revealed to the viewer as his mind pictures his later self. “He decks up in a coat of many colours with a colourful hat to boot. Every child, at some point in life, looks into the future hoping to glimpse what might be the culmination of his or her existence. The eyes of the child in this picture are the giveaway.”

Soyege explains that, “my foray into fabric collage came in answer to the universal question of urban consumerism and its concomitant pollution problems. Recycling of wastes has been a front burner in this century. My response to cultivating a clean environment in our cities is to find artistic use for ‘waste’ from everyday pollutants like scrap metals and fabrics offcuts. Hence the peregrination into the nascent world of fabric collage.”

The march for the top senatorial position in Nigeria is underway and many ties are gradually frazzling in the weight of vain expectations and vainer calculations. As more and more ‘aspirants’ are being whittled out of the picture, others are becoming more and more substantial. Senator Godswill Akpabio is reported to belong to this latter class. As a result, he has also signed up for resentment and animosity among some of his senatorial buddies.

There are too many reports online about Akpabio’s new rivals and those forming groups to ensure that he does not become the Senate President in the regime of President-elect, Bola Tinubu. One cannot tell the truth from falsehood. However, whether all these reported machinations will lead to something worth preparing against is another story.

One of the most popular of these narratives has it that a high-ranking Senator is a leading force working against

Senate Presidency: High Ranking Senators Plot against Senator Akpabio

the possible emergence of Akpabio as Senate President. According to the rumour, even though he and Akpabio have no unresolved issue between them, he takes umbrage at the fact that Akpabio supported Tinubu instead of him during the primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Although there is no supported evidence, reports are going around that the grudge against Akpabio is so serious that the heb has already set up a structure to ensure that Akpabio’s aspirations do not go anywhere. Moreover, it is alleged that he believes that Akpabio has no support base back in Akwa Ibom, and so will not be able to make the cut-off list.

If these things are true, there is fire on the mountain for everyone involved. Whether or not Akpabio eventually becomes Senate President, someone is going to lose out. Thus, one must commend the courage of the high-ranking senators who have allegedly become foot soldiers in their purported schemes. Akpabio

Odds Favour Gbajabiamila as the New Chief of Staff to Tinubu

For anyone with a front-row seat to the political game in Nigeria, there is no end to the excitement following from all the bends and corners of this game. For example, against the narrative of this person or the other becoming the Chief of Staff (CoS) to the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, is looking like the person who will take the trophy home.

Not a few are getting more and more convinced that Hon. Gbajabiamila will be sworn in as CoS after Tinubu. There are many reasons for this budding conviction, including the newfound love that Gbajabiamila appears to have for everybody, travelling from one state to another in a joyous celebration of life. Compared to him, other named aspirants have had their popularity deflated, returning to the embrace of ordinary political life.

It is not news that Gbajabiamila has never been shy about hailing Tinubu as the person that set him on the administrative path and ensured that he did not meet with too many obstructions. This was demonstrated during the election that saw Tinubu promoted from the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the President-elect.

Although Gbajabiamila did not have to support anybody because his status almost precluded him from doing so, the Speaker did not hide behind ethics to throw his weight behind Tinubu. More than any other person who was previously presented to the public as worthy of becoming Tinubu’s CoS, Gbajabiamila has demonstrated that loyalty and duty are the guiding pillars of his house. Thus, analysts believe that he would be the one beside Tinubu when the day comes.

Soyege, whose works adorn hotels, schools, cinemas, and individual homes across Nigeria, Africa, the U.K., and the U.S., pays tribute to his Nigerian roots that shaped and defined his artistic journey.

Soyege is a graduate of Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, Nigeria, where he started producing sculptural works and paintings during his undergraduate days. Later, after graduation, he joined seasoned artists to further hone his skills in studio practices. Afterwards, he took up a teaching job at a high school while simultaneously running a vibrant art studio.

Soyege, a prolific artist whose numerous and varied works speak to incredibly multi-level contemporaneous issues, and are housed in art institutions, museums, has hosted several solo exhibitions and shows.

“My work explores the dual sensory stimulations obtainable in the phenomenal concept of synesthesia. I explore this phenomenon in both abstract and conceptual art forms , employing paints, scrap metals, wood, stones, and fabric collage. On my canvases, frequent dynamic, sweeping brushstrokes of acrylic paints or black ink, patterned in codified symbolism characterise most of my works. As with my paintings, my sculpted works in scrap metals, or any of my media for that matter, convey a controlled but dynamic sense of movement. In them, new synergies are generated from both the traditional and modern structures. The elements of my works evoke the bifocal nature of synesthesia, for understanding the seen and the unseen stimulants, drawing greater enjoyment of each work. Mistakes or accidents at production often turn out to be fortuitous and usually remain.

Diri Sylva

Gbajabiamila

Okoya Soyege

With what my eyes have seen in the last few days, you would be surprised that I can still eat afang or even dare to write this column. We are angry o, the country is angry o and as such something, wey no reach something, we carry sledge hammer and start pursuing flies. My own is that if this continues, I will start writing riddles and jokes or be telling those stories NTA used to tell our children in that their fantastic programme – Tales By Moonlight or just run away into the dense jungles of Akwa Ibom. My mama wey hold my juju don die, so I naked.

I don’t know what has come over us as a people. There is anger everywhere. If you go on social media, you will see people pouring themselves acid, beating up people over little or nothing or generally engaging in all sorts of violent interactions that should otherwise be sorted amicably. The other day, two major showbiz personalities were fighting over N30,000.

This wahala continued for weeks, crisscrossing platforms with millions of Nigerians taking sides, either way, instead of trying to settle them. There is madness everywhere, we have lost that communality, everything must be dealt with heavily, no discussions any more. It is just now, ‘I am annoyed I slam’. If you cheat, they will cut off your something. If you jam someone’s car, you will receive the beating of your life. The other day, a woman was arrested for killing her mate because that one stole her boyfriend 10 years ago. Madness everywhere, anger at all stages. Red eyes, violence, with power being thrown around over everything. Nothing is small in Nigeria again, person wey plan coup and person wey spit on top him side chick na the same treatment. I fear o.

I remember when I first started writing this column, I had written something scathing about a SAN. It was my egbon Chike Ogeah

that called me and said, “Edgar, you don annoy oga ooo. He dey find you.” The SAN had sent his reservations to THISDAY and wanted to meet me. I went to meet him at the Protea Hotel in Ikeja and as soon as I entered, he pulled my ear. As in literally pulled my ear from the doorstep through the lounge with people laughing at me and took me to a table and brought out my write up and started taking me point for point. At the end of the day, I couldn’t see his point of view, but we ate and laughed and I begged him to pay the bill since he was like a grandfather to me and all ended well. We all need to calm down. It is not everything that is fight. We need a national ’calming down’. We are all just so tight and touchy. Kai, life is very simple o. He no reach this one that I am seeing o. Na wa.

LABOUR PARTY. A SCATTERING FORETOLD

I would have been very surprised if the Labour Party remained insoluble as we moved towards the inauguration. Despite coming a distant third, they remain a credible threat to the emergence of the Republic of Emilokan. They have been insistent that they will find their mandate and have shown more than passing resolve to achieving this goal. The people that took second have resumed holiday and are mostly in Kogi in an attempt to install the head of Comedy Central as Governor. So, if my inauguration is coming and I have gone to see the Eiffel Tower, bought new clothes, drank enough glucose and lucozade and have invited my in-laws from Guinea, would I now be sitting down and be looking at these ‘boys’ with bald head carrying London Airport wahala come and rain on my parade?

Of course not. Except I did not fight Abacha, except I did nor repel #EndSARS and except I did not fight OBJ to a standstill that I will not do something about these ‘irritants. Is it easy for the US, UK and Sudan to send congratulatory messages, even before the votes from Shomolu were counted?

So all the noise of the balkanisation of the Labour Party did not surprise me. At all oooo, in fact, I was expecting it o, except rain no fall the day I was born, that LP

will remain one. It must scatter. Today, we are hearing that one faction is going through all the courts and withdrawing petitions including Obi’s petition that law students have started studying – na only state universities dey study am sha o.

While this is going on, the main faction is shouting itself hoarse. Just as I was about to write, the Apapa faction has come out to say that it’s not true and that they have not sent in any petition anywhere and that it is the other faction that wants to give them a bad name.

Any which way, the Labour Party that took us on that historic ride during the elections is not the same we are seeing now. What we are seeing now be like Ajasco boys club.

My advice to them and to the remainder of us who had hoped for a strident fight is to hunker down and prepare for the Bula Balu Republic. Simple. I don buy Aso Oke, I ready for the Owambe, let’s go there.

MUHAMMADU BUHARI: BRING BACK

OUR BUHARI

Daddy has begged for forgiveness. In his last Sallah celebration as our President, he was reported to have asked for forgiveness from those of us that his policies have ‘killed’ and also went ahead to assure us that he will go very far from us.

Well Daddy, do not worry; we are very forgiving people. Didn’t we forgive Umaru Dikko? Remember him? The crate? He was forgiven na and even won election years after. I think the only person we have not forgiven so far is Lawrence Anini and it’s because after collecting three states from Etim Inyang and IBB, he did not wait to carry out significant infrastructural development in the states that is why we have not forgiven him. You no get problem. You have done some things well and others really really bad. This is not the time for me to be listing the very bad ones, because if I start, we no go go home today. But one thing that I want to thank you personally for is that all the abuse I have abused you in the last eight years, you never carry police pursue me or even ask DSS to release my nudes. It’s either you no see them or Uncle Femi Adeshina carefully hid the write ups from you. Either way, I thank you for that.

Another thing I want to thank you for na the civilian-to-civilian transition that you have given us. Forget that the thing be like election we used to do for Baba Raimi mechanic shop when I went to do mechanic after failing Form 4 two times. That one used to be wuru-wuru to the answer. We will get it right one day, not a problem. We thank you for

at least being a statesman and easing out without a whisper of a third term or any of those wild contraptions people used to do to elongate their state.

Don’t worry, the Nigerians that we are, in the next one year we will start doing the expected – bring back our Buhari. It’s our ethos. Na so we be. Congrats my Lord and may God grant you a blissful retirement, you have tried, it’s not easy since 1978. You have tried. Thank you. Kai.

ASUE IGHODALO AS THE REAL STAR BOY

Let me quickly send in my congratulations to Mr. Asue Ighodalo on his recent appointment as Chairman of Nigeria’s biggest Breweries, the NB Plc. I hear Asue has been on their Board for some time now and his recent appointment confirms the value that he has brought to the table.

This appointment further confirms Asue’s standing as a corporate giant. Remember, he is the Chairman of Sterling Bank and up until recently the Chairman of the NESG which is a very influential think tank.

I am not sure he would like this mention as he prefers to be under the radar, but an appointment this high profile, cannot be pushed

Tinubu

Davido

Babalola

Buhari

Onyema

under the carpet. It must be celebrated and highlighted especially in this era of economic implosion; our very best hands need to be thrown into the fray if we are to have any hope of rebuilding this economy in this generation. It is to this end, that I want to say well done to the Board of NB Plc for making this very strategic move. I am very sure that Asue would deliver much more than expected. Well done Sir.

THE SENATE PRESIDENT WE WANT FROM BOLA TINUBU

The struggle for this position is always epic. So far, two major combatants are emerging. Former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Kalu and may be Senator Akpabio from Akwa Ibom State if I am to take a guess.

Senator Orji has been quite vocal and very expansive in his bid. He has said very clearly that he is the best candidate for the position as he brings to bear very serious credentials as an experienced politician and strategist. Remember how he told us in a video of how he entered Obasanjo’s bedroom to warn him against the alleged third term bid showing how fearless he can be. Well for me and other very fearful Nigerians, the sanctity of the checks and balances in a democratic set up must be restored. We have seen the National Assembly looking like a department in the presidency in the outgoing dispensation and do really miss the Saraki-led assembly which served as a countering bulwark against the marauding influence of the presidency. It is very clear that the BAT Presidency will be very robust. It would not be impish and as such we would like for a very vibrant National Assembly to keep it on its toes and as such whoever is going to lead the Senate must come with some very bold features. Now whether these two can do it is anybody’s guess. We have reached a point in this country where it is looking like, we should just honker down and fly through the turbulence of incompetence with the hope that some natural force would come to our aid at some point. If I were the President-elect, I would support a candidate who although will be firmly entrenched in the vision I would be bringing to bear but will still retain the strength to remain principled and be bold enough to stand for truth, fair play and justice in the scheme of things.

Yes, that is the Senate President we want, now the question is, does any of these forerunners’ have that quality? No ask me abeg. Thanks.

ALLEN ONYEMA: HE JUST WANTS TO HELP

It’s crazy. Nigerians are truly crazy. So, there is a major war going on in Sudan and Nigerians like most foreigners are stranded. Caught in between the warring factions, our people, especially students, are just sitting ducks waiting to be evacuated.

Better countries have sent special forces to evacuate their own and we cannot even send MOPOL. Those ones are there beating up helpless people at various bus stops all over the country, now that there is war, we are not moving them there o.

Allen who is the main man behind Air Peace and who seems to be making a career out of doing this kind of thing has offered to evacuate Nigerians with his Air Peace planes and all of a sudden the remnants of the ethnic crises that was the bane of the just concluded elections have reared its ugly head again o. We are seeing reports and memes on social media saying that an Igbo man is using his planes to save Yoruba people. Savage things like that, that do not even begin to make sense are being thrown up all over the place.

The man as a true Nigerian, has made an offer not minding the financial toll on his business, the lives of his pilots and crew and we are now messing it up with the bile that is ethnicity.

It seems we prefer to go by the buses. I hear the federal government wants to push there. At least like I hear, they say that Nigerians will be loaded on the

FEMI OTEDOLA ON THE PROWL AGAIN

We have just heard that Chief Otedola, fresh from the listing of Geregu at the Exchange, has made a major push into Transcorp. You will remember that Transcorp is the company where Tony Elumelu’s Heirs Holdings holds sway. On these pages, I had congratulated Chief Otedola on his belief in the economy with these investments, which continue to create jobs and give confidence. But then someone reached out and asked, “Edgar, what do you think is Femi’s plan in taking this position at Transcorp?”

I couldn’t answer but what we are seeing is that at about 6%, it is looking like he is today the largest single individual shareholder at the Firm. This is definitely a strategic move and the question lingering in people’s minds especially people in the market are, will this be a move to forge a partnership between him and the existing owners or is there any other motive behind the positioning.

In search of an answer, I went to the books -Transcorp ended the year with gross earnings of N134.7bn, a 21% increase. This growth according to the report was driven largely by their hospitality and power business. They also increased their PBT to N30bn up from N28bn and reported a 150% increase in dividend payout. All major indices also recorded significant increases.

Now if you see that they play in very strategic parts of the economy, like

power, hospitality, oil and gas and with a shareholder base of about 300,000 you will start to maybe get a clearer picture of Chief Otedola’s foray.

But in these things, you will never know because it is usually like a complicated chess game. You only see the moves after they have been made. If I were to advise any serious investor, I would say this is the best time to enter Transcorp, because Mr. Otedola seems to understand our markets better than most people. Just as I was writing, another report just came in that Mr. Elumelu has increased his holding of the firm through his Heirs Holding which has increased its holdings to about 25.58% giving him a firmer grip of the firm.

It’s looking like we may have to start arranging a ringside seat for this epic struggle which is about to brew. Any which way it goes, it is better for the economy as all these funds are being deployed back into it. Na wa. Just as this page was going to bed, reports emerged that Mr Otedola had exited his position in Transcorp at multiples of four the price he entered. This was certainly a night of long knives for Tony and his team and what has readily come to my mind is the question most investment bankers are asking in different dark corners - how did Tony leave his flanks this open? Na wa.

buses according to state of origin. At this point, those from Zamfara State should better start looking for a way to reach Mr Onyema with his planes because they will have themselves to blame by the time they reach their turn after over 30 states, that is if they are going alphabetically. Na wa. Are we really serious people?

WELL DONE DAVIDO

This superstar held a very successful concert recently. Just coming after the loss of his son, this was a welcome outing. He had come out during the World Cup finals but just for a bit and one can say this Lagos outing was truly his major comeback since the sad episode. The main reason why I am hailing him is because of the Forbes report which I have just seen. The report says that he stands to earn about $20m this year from his music, concerts, merchandising and appearances among others. Kai, this is a Nigerian o and guess what, we have millions like this all over the place delivering true dividends. How can one man be earning much more than the IGR of some states and those states still have governors who at the end of their tenor will give themselves heavy pension packages. Well for me, this is quite inspiring and a story that should be told. Not only his but that of the millions of young Nigerians who are creating giant strides everywhere. To those of you that have ‘japa,’ please stay there o. Don’t come back o, leave us to continue in the struggle because with stories like Davido’s, the light will soon show at the end of the tunnel. Well done my guy.

ADMIRAL FRANCIS AKPAN: A DOCTOR BERTHS

Let me quickly send a beautiful message to my kinsman and great Naval warrior, Admiral Francis Akpan who has just been awarded an LLD degree allowing him add ‘Dr’ to his already many titles. The last time I saw him was at the women’s war museum at Ikot Abasi. I had gone to inspect the place on the back of my play ‘Ufok Ibaan’ and he drove through with his beautiful wife. Admiral is an intellectual who has written books, contributed to the Navy and by extension Nigeria and is playing a vital role in our state- Akwa Ibom making him an outstanding personality. Now I don confuse, is it Admiral or is it Doctor or is it Admiral Dr? Whatever it is, let’s just agree that this is truly a great personality. Congrats sir.

MY APOLOGIES TO CHIEF AFE BABALOLA

Let me seize this opportunity to once again send in my unreserved apology to the legal icon for my comments on his recent philanthropic engagements. The apology comes from the very bottom of my heart. Like I had said initially and also in several messages to Daddy, my language was inappropriate and as such I remain highly apologetic. I was brought up well and would not wait for any prompting to send in my apologies if a man of your stature and age feels upset at me. I can never be right in that instance and I can never argue. My mother will wake up from her grave to knock me sir.

So, Daddy, I am on my knees as I plead, please don’t curse me o. Kai! Which kind problem be this o? May only blessings come out of your wise mouth on my matter, may only prayers of good come out of your mouth regarding me.

I am working with my sister, Bolanle Austen-Peters to secure an appointment to come to Ado Ekiti and lay on the floor and beg till you bless me o. I will not stand up till you say, Joseph you will be bigger than me, Joseph God will bless you and give you a long life like me; Joseph you will build more universities than I have built; Joseph you will marry more wives; and Joseph no small Ibibio boy will insult you.

Daddy, please don’t be angry again. I am truly very sorry. God bless you for us.

Otedola

When Janet Afolabi Hosted Yoruba Queens

When Olori Janet Afolabi, the Queen of Apomu Kingdom said last year that she will not rest until she brings development to her people, many who didn’t know her took the vow with a pinch of salt. Today, she is making good on her vow by taking her milk of kindness beyond the corners of her kingdom.

Recently, the CNN awardwinning journalist met with her counterpart, Olori Ronke Ademiluyi Ogunwusi of Ile-Ife and they both played host to about 120 queens of traditional kingdoms from across Nigeria who converged at the Palace of Ooni of Ife for the first-ever Royal Queens Conference in Nigeria.

The conference was organised by the Queens under Olori Ogunwusi’s Queen Moremi Ajasoro Initiative and Olori Janet Afolabi Foundation. The two royal queens convened the conference with the theme “The Impact of Oloris (Royal Queens) In National Development” to commemorate Black Women’s History Month and to discuss the impact of royal queens in their kingdoms and national development.

A former newspaper publisher, Afolabi was a keynote speaker at the conference. She highlighted the many challenges facing various communities today and how their husbands are at the forefront of solving those problems. She urged the queens to r ise and support them.

The Apomu Queen told fellow queens to identify major challenges in their domains, do a problem analysis and strategise on how to solve them. She stated that if queens take up various impactful projects in their communities, such impacts can easily be felt at the national level.

She went on to encourage her fellow Oloris to start small, saying nothing is too small for them to start with. She gave an example of how she personally taught some of her husband’s subjects in Apomu English Language for free and also fed the students with snacks.

According to her, she started with 10 students, but the number has increased to over 150 students. Afolabi also empowered some sets of traders with a loan of N20,000 each and asked them to pay back N5000 monthly so others can benefit from the loan scheme.

Allen Onyema’s Uncommon Humanity

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends,” says John 15:12-13.

It’s doubtful if there is one man that obeys this biblical law like the Chairman of Air Peace, Barrister Allen Onyema. He may not have been a servant at the vineyard of God. He may not even have been an altar boy, but he has taken the command as his guiding philosophy.

Even while some naysayers sneer and insinuated that his milk of kindness may be laced with some ulterior or political undertone, he has kept it up, leaving no room for the doubting Thomases to realise that the trained lawyer is naturally a man given to giving and doesn’t need to be involved in such acts to gain relevance, politically or otherwise. Those close to him say his love for humanity knows no bounds, and he spares no expense to translate this in several ways.

In his characteristic manner, he announced on Monday that his airline would be willing to transport any Nigerian

trapped in the violence in Sudan for free. This is happening against the backdrop of the continuing insurrection in the nation. The airline stated that students from Nigeria and others trapped in the war-torn country needed assistance.

With the closure of Sudan’s airspace to civil aviation flights, the Chairman of Air Peace has assured that if Nigerians could be moved to a neighbouring country, the airline would fly there and evacuate them, as Sudan’s airspace is closed from civil aviation flights.

It’s not the first time Onyema’s selfless act is on display. During the xenophobic attacks against Africans living in South Africa in 2019 which put the lives of Nigerians in danger, Air Peace sent out flights to evacuate Nigerians there.

Onyema’s charitable giant strides over the years only go to support the axiom that, “In, if you have been blessed with wealth, it is not just enough to live the life of your dreams; what is most important is the legacy you leave behind and how many lives you have impacted positively.”

Joy in Ita-Giwa Daughter’s Heart

“The most magical day of any woman is the day she becomes a mother,’’ so says a popular aphorism.

If a horse, as the Yoruba would say, could walk in the belly of Kokoeka Mayen, the beautiful daughter of Senator Florence ItaGiwa, it would be free of any hindrance.

In fact, she is currently experiencing the proverbial Seventh Heaven, typical of a woman who has just safely delivered a baby. This feeling of excitement, according to our source, is visible, even to the blind.

As revealed to Society Watch, the 32-yearold lady delivered a baby boy last December in faraway Houston in the US.

The source disclosed that she alongside her

Late Captain Hosa Okunbo ‘s Mother, Helen Osazemwinde for Burial

Death, the sting that comes with anguish and bitterness. Whenever it creeps into one’s taste buds, it renders them sour. This time, it bared its ugly fangs on the household of the Okunbos and has taken their matriarch, Helen Osazemwinde, the mother of the late Captain Hosa Okunbo.

The news of her departure broke penultimate Sunday evening in Benin, Edo state. Society Watch gathered that the octogenarian died at the ripe age of 85.

The family residence in Benin City has been turned into a bequest where visitors, among whom are loyal acquaintances, business associates and trusted friends of the late Captain.

The respected families of Okunbo were

RIGHT OF REPLY

husband will be hosting arrays of stars today at the Oriental Hotel, Ajah, Lagos for the child dedication reception party.

The neonate is the second born of the couple that was married in 2014.

An entrepreneur, Koko has a hair accessory outfit in Lekki, Lagos. She and her husband, Chimaobi Obioha Jnr were an item for many years before they got married five years ago.

Obioha Jnr is a businessman. He also schooled in the UK and holds a Masters degree in International Business, from Coventry University, England, he is one of the sons of late business mogul, Chief Godwin Moore Obioha

thrown into mourning, in August 2021 when the billionaire businessman and Chairman of Ocean Marine Solutions Limited, Hosa, succumbed to the cold hands of death after months of a hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer at a London hospital. He was aged 63.

As gathered then, doctors, earlier hinted, pegged March 2021 as the likely month of his passing. But Okunbo fought harder and stayed an extra five months, hoping the hour would pass him by.

It was one loss that shook the nation’s economic sector to its very foundation because the man fondly known as Captain had his hands in every sector of the economy and was respected for his uncommon gift to turn anything he touches into gold.

Re: When will Olu of Warri, Ayiri Sheath their Sword?

We do not expect the Palace of His Majesty, the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, to respond to the condescending innuendos contained in an article penned by Adebayo Adeoye, on Page 29 of your newspaper dated Sunday, April 23, 2023, as doing so will amount to the palace nobilitating the infra dig the offensive article represents.

However, as responsible subjects of the Olu of Warri, we at the Itsekiri Renaissance Group (IRG) feel the need to defend the dignity of the throne as true sons and daughters of Iwere Land.

First of all, we are mystified as to how any person can attempt to pit the gravitas of a former chief against the Majesty of a Sovereign. From the writer’s name, it is obvious that he is a Yoruba man, also the fact that both his names make reference to crowns (Ade) suggests that he must come from a lineage familiar with royalty.

In the Yoruba culture, the King is referred to

as “Ka bi o osi” (Kabiyesi), meaning “The one who can not be questioned.” This is similar to how we the Itsekiri refer to our king as “Aformasin” meaning “ The one who speaks, and it is so.”

For someone who nominally parades credentials of an affiliation to royalty going by the writer’s name and given the cultural nuance of his ethnicity, we are appalled that such a vexatious piece could be penned by him.

Most revolting was the last line of his piece, where he stated as follows: “Tongues were wagging over the imbroglio between the two eminent citizens of the kingdom.” The writer ought to know that Ogiame Atuwatse III, can never and in deed should never be referred to as a citizen of the kingdom he is sovereign over.

Kokoeka

Onyema

Afolabi

Ogiame Atuwatse III

ARTS & REVIEW ARTS & REVIEW

Vignettes of a Designer's Dream

Obida Obioha, the creative director for the O'DA brand uncovers the dream behind his art and design portfolio in this encounter with Yinka Olatunbosun

Obida Obioha, the creative director of a number of design related enterprises: ODAArt (art advisory), O’DA(Interior Design) and Obida. Store (Product and fashion design) is born of an intriguing personality: calm, focused and of course cultured. With a strong desire to spread beauty and wellness into people's lives, Obioha channelled his love for creativity into a multi-business brand that brings beauty and wellness into people’s lives.

Trained at Scuola Politecnica di Design in Milan where he obtained a Master’s degree in interior design and a diploma in product design, Obioha has a sharp eye for design that works by fusing African aesthetics with contemporary designs.

His foray into art is like a departure from his earlier education. Instead of following in his mother’s footsteps into legal practice,

"Ending up in the arts and interior design has been quite the departure from where I began,” he says. “But it is, as they say, you end up exactly where you are meant to be and I am very happy I have ended up here."

As a child, he was fascinated by his mother's incredible sense of style. He learnt all about what looks good from this early stage

"In reality, I was guided subtly, and not so subtly by two incredible artists who later became friends and now family; Alimi Adewale and Isaac Emokpae. Isaac foresaw that I would end up in art and gently mentored me towards it and Alimi took a chance on they say, the rest is history."

can transform even the best designed space, he developed an interest in collecting art.

"Through people's reaction to seeing art in my home, I realised continues. "I saw that people wanted to experience art in relatable spaces, not necessarily the typical white cube template of traditional art galleries. In coming up with the initial idea for O'DAArt Gallery, I wanted to create a space where all your senses are peaked from the moment you walk in; from the smell of the gallery, to the calming surroundings and breath-taking art on the walls. I wanted to bring the change I myself desired to see in the art industry.”

Still, Obioha has some hurdles to cross in the art scene. Aside from existing competitions, he had to work hard to build new relationships with artists, many of whom are wary of exploitation.

"Honestly, I think the art industry in Lagos, in Nigeria really been maltreated and cheated by previous art dealers, and so, a lot of times, when we start working with a new artist, there's a mistrust at the start, but it often melts away once they see what we are about."

The brand name O'DA is drawn from Yoruba words that means "it is good." In order to live up to the name of the brand, Obioha ensures that the visitors at the gallery enjoy every bit of the visual experience. Sometimes, he'd stand back and watch quietly as every individual responds to the artworks. Perhaps, that's how he takes his mental note. The lush garden behind the gallery space is the home of metal sculptures, each telling deep cultural narratives.

"We aim to provide a positive experience all round, from our interactions with our artists to the experience we provide our guests," he explains.

Panning away from the feedback, Obioha has to make his own judgement as well. A piece of work would strike a chord

in him before any conversation starts.

But how does he decide on what piece of art to collect? "This is a very tough question; how do you articulate 'magic'? I can't describe it other than a quickening of the pulse, a quiet voice that tells you this is something special. And I do best when I listen to that voice.

"I believe the best way to discover an artist is through their work and want to discover more. Who created this? What is their practice about? Where do they want to go next? Can we assist particular artist and their work, I know I've found that 'magic'.”

Beyond hosting exhibitions, touring the gallery at O'DA is a therapy of sorts. For those people who place a great value on critical thinking and ideas, having such a peaceful ambience to walk around, sit and soak in art pieces is surely bound to be a rewarding experience. Situated in Victoria Island, the gallery of business.

"Like I said earlier, my vision has always been to create a space much more than canvas on walls; art has the power to create an oasis, a respite and at O'DAArt we try to create an oasis right in the centre of busy Lagos. We have spent some time setting the stage for this and in the near future we intend to take it to the next level by curating experiences. We plan to curate experiences where our guests have the opportunity to experience culture and share knowledge from across the globe.

"We also have plans to host art education and practical workshops to deliver immersive experiences. At O'DA Art, we are passionate about contributing towards the growth of the arts in our society, thus we also have plans to host fundraising events that will garner funds for the development of art programmes for the next generation of artists and lead to the ultimate growth of our phenomenal creative industry."

into building an ecosystem of creatives around art, design and fashion. "In addition to founding the gallery and an interior design

fashion and product line that seeks to share our vision of modern contemporary African design with the world."

"I previously co-founded 'Grey', a fast fashion womenswear label with Rukky Ladoja which we ran for over ten years. I can venture over 15 years ago. There is so much more collaboration culture and home grown materials play a large role in this and it can only lead to us having a greater presence on the global stage. It goes without saying that there are still a lot of infrastructural setbacks trying to operate manufacturing in Nigeria, and I can just imagine how much bigger we would be with the right tools, support and incentives."

mentation. Equipped with transferable skills in other sectors, -

ing is that I came into art and design with an insight on how to properly run a business; but more than that, because we are often acting on behalf of artists, there is a greater need for us to be accountable and to have proper records to ensure we are taking care of the trust they have put in us.”

To build a network of creatives, Obioha has collaborated with other spaces such as the Nordic Villa Hotel on Victoria Island. "We have held exhibitions which allow us to showcase art for other curators in order to diversify our voice. Our next show is with Seun Alli of JCCA, a great curator with a keen eye, she is allowing us to work with younger artists who we know are going to be great.”

When he is not rotating on the tripod of interior design, art and product design, Obioha works out at the gym or plays tennis.

"A typical day for me starts early, before 6am. I journal and set my plan for the day. I split my time between the gallery, site work, talking to suppliers and clients and working with my incredible team. I try to leave work at 6pm, get home, wind down and go to bed early.

"People often think I have a very active social life, but unfortunately that's a lie! I am extremely boring. But very blessed."

Obida Obioha,Founder/Creative Director O'DA Gallery

At Thought Pyramid Art Gallery, a Harvest of Talents with Masterly Dreams

Yinka Olatunbosun

tion hall at Thought Gallery Lagos was in itself

came to experience the magical The occasion was the muchemerging artists were given the entries.

Epic Story of Perseverance in Akin Ogunbiyi’s New Book

Yinka Olatunbosun

for women empowerment.

Big font. Simple language. Logical narrative. These are the highlights of the new literary

explores petals in his paintings

pieces that appropriate augis a showstopper. The Creative or the waiting process.

lustrates the importance of pets to the human race.

characters.

in his water colour paintings.

pieces was the cynosure of all farther away from the pieces help for the masterpieces.

perseverance. unsatisfactory governance in glimmer of hope to people who

role in his career trajectory. The future investment in insurance. One of the most lessons taught

reveal the circumstances of suchfest into greater opportunities. importance of having a mentor people. tells the phenomenal story of segment of the narrative. This eye-

animals. During the COVID-19

this show that support young masters.

From Independent Nollywood to World Cinema

Segun Ade-Martins

ENCOUNTER

neither art-house nor commercial view of him as an art-house

Orimogunje

success is not always where you

Despite the uncertain start of the years of marriage to supporting as an exemplary woman whonalistic writing in the narrative. from oral narratives.

the story.

who goes through postpartum

In measuring his success thus in using his artistic voice is whatrow comes from his experience

honesty without the fear of showthe author shows community with one intervention all the time investan unsatisfactory not a waste as long as there is focus on excelling. great gift for young aspiring professionals who their communities lives.

One of the works at the exhibition

As Buhari, Govs Apologise to Nigerians

It’s a season of apologies with glib pitches for forgiveness from chubby-cheeked and sharp-eyed politicians shortly exiting the stage. But according to US-born author, Cathy Burnham Martin, “apologies require taking full responsibility. No half-truths, no partial admissions, no rationalisations, no finger-pointing, and no justifications belong in any apology.”

It’s debatable whether the weight of the apologies of these swaggering leaders meets with Cathy’s specifications.

President Buhari and some governors, most of whom turned a deaf ear to the cries of Nigerians for eight years, recently chose to plead for forgiveness for their acts of omission and commission.

No doubt, President Buhari’s eight years administration will end on May 29. He emerged as President in 2015 amid heightened hope as a messianic figure that would rescue the country from downslide.

The president rode into power under the change mantra, promising Nigerians a more profitable deal than the erstwhile President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration offered the country.

The administration claimed it had been one of the best things to happen to the country. On several occasions, the government argued it had fulfilled most, if not all, the promises it made to Nigerians during its campaigns.

Though opinions are divided on whether the administration has kept faith with the people, Buhari has always maintained that it dwarfed the performance by previous governments.

However, as the end of his tenure inches closer, Buhari penultimate week caused a stir when he asked Nigerians to pardon him, especially those who might have felt hurt while he was discharging his duties.

In his apology to Nigerians, he declared: “God gave me an incredible opportunity to serve the country. We are all humans, if I have hurt some people along the line of my service to the country; I ask that they pardon me. All those that I have hurt, I ask that they pardon me.”

The president, who spoke to residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), at an occasion to mark his final outing on Sallah Day, said he accepted all the complaints and criticisms in good stead, knowing it was part of the leadership he prayed and asked from God.

President Buhari has every reason to apologise to Nigerians, at least for leaving the country debt-

ridden.

Many believe it will take several decades for the country to wriggle out of the debts incurred by President Buhari’s administration.

Though his handlers claimed that his administration had degraded Boko Haram, the insecurity he inherited in the North-east has spread to all parts of the country.

His critics believe that he is leaving Nigeria worse than he met it as Southern Kaduna, Benue and many parts of the country have become killing fields while kidnappers and bandits operate freely on the highways, schools, farms and homes. Many even feel that he brought strong division in this country with some comments.

Meanwhile, in this season of apologies and seeking of forgiveness, President Buhari certainly has several bedfellows.

Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku of Taraba State ostensibly seized by this seasonal passion after he successfully installed a successor - retired Lt. Col. Kefas Agbu - also apologised to Taraba people, especially those he might have “stepped on their toes” during his eight-year tenure.

Ishaku tendered his apology during a thanksgiving service organised by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Taraba State chapter, at the CAN Secretariat in Jalingo.

Ishaku had also earlier during a Special Easter Thanksgiving Service at the Anglican Church Mayo Dasa in Jalingo, the state capital, knelt before the congregation and sought the forgiveness of all that he had offended during his eight years as governor of the state.

“Biblically, we are taught to forgive those who offend us. In this case, I am asking those I have offended to forgive me. I did this in the House of God and if they did not forgive me, it is between them and God,” he reportedly declared.

Indeed, the scorecard of the outgoing governor of Taraba State in terms of development of infrastructure is said to be unimpressive.

His opponents attributed his the below-average performance to the health challenges which kept him outside state on many occasions.

Till date, he has not been able to find solution to the killings and frequent loss of lives in the state as many indigenes have turned destitute in their towns and villages.

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano had earlier asked Kano residents to forgive him, a week before Buhari’s plea.

Following the established tradition of begging for forgiveness in a religious arena, the governor, while attending a Ramadan Tafseer in Al-Fruqan Jumaat Mosque, Alu Avenue Kano, said he had very few days to leave office, hence the need to seek forgiveness.

He told the Kano indigenes that he had forgiven anyone who offended him.

“For those whom we have offended, already our Imam has preached about forgiveness. From my own side, I have forgiven you all. Whatever someone said about me I forgive him. I also beg you to forgive me.

“But for this long period, there must be some places where I did right and where I did wrong. Sometimes someone will commit an offence on

POLITICAL NOTES

your behalf. For whatever wrong I did, please I seek your forgiveness.”

Though Kano was safe and secure under Ganduje, his opponents alleged that he ran a corruptionridden administration, which denied his people the dividends of democracy.

In the unfolding pious drama, Benue State was not left out, as Governor Samuel Ortom also joined the fray.

Ortom, a member of the Governor Nyesom Wikeled G-5 that threw spanners into the wheels of Atiku Abubakar’s presidential bid, was defeated by Dr. Titus Zam of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the February 25, 2023 senatorial election.

“For those I might have offended in this journey of serving the state and our country, I seek your forgiveness, as I also forgive those who have offended me,” the governor said after recently meeting with State Executive Council members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Makurdi.

A significant dimension in these apologies is that these politicians, except Ortom, chose religious platforms or events to push their forgiveness narratives.

But his opponents accused him of using the herdsmen’s invasion of his state to mask his alleged poor performance in terms of building infrastructure.

However, his supporters were quick to point out that securing lives and property should remain the priority of any government as opposed to building roads and other infrastructure.

The emerging consensus is that all the beggarly contrition by the powerful outgoing political leaders cannot repair the considerable damage done to the delicate fabric of the Nigerian state. On this count, many see President Buhari as particularly culpable given the nature of the central command federalism being operated.

From the security, economic, judicial, religious and ethnic prisms, Buhari is seen to have been offered an opportunity by history to write his name in gold but failed woefully. From the nightmarish debt-profile he is bequeathing to the next administration to the quantum of innocent blood shed under his watch with little consequences, many rightly or wrongly see his call for forgiveness as a tough one.

Therefore, the call for forgiveness by Buhari and some governors may not be enough to placate the deeply hurt Nigerians. They must take responsibility for their actions and point out their errors to their successors, so that they can fix them.

The Need to Move Rivers Tribunal to Abuja

President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem,lastweekdirectedthattheEbonyi State Election Petitions Tribunal be relocated to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) due to insecurity. However,theSecretaryofthetribunal,NyiorSekulla, who announced the development in Abakaliki, did not give reason for the decision.

ButmanypeopleinRiversStatebelievetheinsecurity in the state is far worse than the case of Ebonyi State.

TheyarealsoappealingtoJusticeDongban-Mensem to equally move the Rivers State Election Petitions Tribunal to Abuja.

Executiverascalityandintoleranceofdissentviews hadplungedRiversStateintoastateofinsecuritywith the resurgence of killings and abductions.

Justice Dongban-Mensem

TheformerPresidentoftheNigerianBarAssociation (NBA),OkeyWali(SAN)isthelatestvictimofkidnapping

in the state.

Inthebuild-uptothe2023generalelection,theleaders of opposition parties were attacked and detained, whileafrontlinepresidentialcandidate,AtikuAbubakar was prevented from holding presidential campaign rally in the state following attempts on the lives of his key supporters.

The Appeal Court President cannot say that she is not aware of what has been happening in the state.

First,theagentsofthestateallegedlymadedangerousattemptstousethepoliceandotherundemocratic meanstostoptheAPCfromfilingpetitions.Thelawyers and the support staff of Tuduru Ede (SAN) &Co, who werepreparingelectionpetitionsfortheAPCcandidates in a hotel in Port Harcourt were unlawfully and illegally arrested.

The police officers also seized all their documents

containingtheevidenceoftheallegedfraudintheelectionsinabidtostoptheAPCfromfilingpetitionswithin the 21 days stipulated by the law.

The agents of the state government had also disrupted a visit by members of the APC to the INEC office,inPortHarcourt,todemandfortheCertifiedTrue Copies (CTC) of the March 18 election result sheets. They also dumped fetish materials in front of the INEC office in Port Harcourt.

Toensurethesafetyoflivesofthetribunalmembers and the lawyers of the petitioners, Justice DongbanMensemshouldmovetheRiversStateElectionPetitions TribunaltoAbujatootopreventanyonefromattacking, threatening and harassing them. WhathappenedtoWaliisaredflagthatshouldworry theAppealCourtPresident,tribunalmembers,lawyers and other judicial officers.

Buhari

The recent pleas for forgiveness by President Muhammadu Buhari and some governors to Nigerians after deliberately turning a deaf ear to the voice of reason for eight years, smack of hypocrisy, writes Louis Achi

BRIEFING NOTES

Who Will Rescue Benue Communities from Herdsmen?

alleged partisanship on the part of some security agents in tackling the herdsmen perpetrating the ongoing mass killings in Benue State, Ejiofor Alike writes that some compromised security operatives protecting the killers should be sanctioned to dispel the widespread speculations that the marauding herdsmen have the backing of some unseen forces

Asenior military officer, one soldier and no fewer than 15 others were reportedly the latest victims of the ongoing mass killings of villagers by herdsmen in Benue State.

In a renewed attack in Edikwu 2 Council Ward of Apa Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, the communities under siege by the invaders since Tuesday include: Odogbo and Opaha, the hometown of the lawmaker representing Apa State Constituency in the state House of Assembly, Hon. Abu Umoro; and the state Commissioner for Finance, Mr. David Olofu.

Before the latest attacks, the Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) in Edikwu Ward 2, Mr. Nathaniel Ochoche, had last weekend joined the growing list of victims of the coordinated attacks on the communities in the state by herdsmen.

Ochoche was said to be among the four mourners, who were killed in an ambush that left many injured and several others missing in Ankpali village, Edikwu District of Apa LGA.

“As a party, with a people-centred programme, we condemn in its totality the continuous callous acts of armed Fulani militia. We, therefore, call on the federal and state governments, and all relevant authorities and stakeholders to rise up to the occasion of protecting the lives and property of the people and stop the unwarranted killings by suspected criminal Fulani herdsmen,” LP reportedly said in a statement issued in Makurdi by its state Publicity Secretary, Mr. Tersoo Orbunde.

Despite the heavy military presence in the state, the rampaging herdsmen said to be from the Republic of Niger, Senegal, Chad and other neighbouring countries, have killed over 200 people in a suspected land-grabbing mission in the state within the last eight weeks, according to the residents.

Some of the security agents in the state, many of whom have lost their lives to the invaders, seem to have either been overwhelmed or culpable in the killings.

The troops of Operation ‘Ayem Akpatuma III’ of the 4 Special Forces Command’ providing security in both Nasarawa and Benue states, were able to kill the Tiv militia leader, Terwase Akwaza, widely known as Gana, in April 2020.

The soldiers also neutralised many of his gang members, ending their criminal exploits.

But the herdsmen who have committed more heinous crimes since 2015 than Gana and his men have continued to have a field day.

Though the 72 Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Makurdi and troops of the Operation Whirl Stroke operating in Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba and Zamfara states, had recorded a number of arrests and killings of the attackers, most of the recent attacks carried out for several

consecutive days, were hardly challenged by the security agents on ground.

After the recent killing of over 100 people, including traditional chiefs in Apa LGA, youths in the area last week blocked the Oweto-Loko/ Abuja expressway, alleging that soldiers posted to the area were protecting the herdsmen.

The subtle protection allegedly enjoyed by the killers may have accounted for the inability of the military, which degraded Boko Haram fighters who carry superior weapons, to defeat the AK-47-wielding herdsmen.

Within the first week of March, the herders invaded six communities in the Kwande LGA of the state, killing no fewer than 50 people in a four-day attack, despite the heavy presence of security forces in the state.

The former chairman of the council, Tertsua Yarkbewan, who confirmed the casualty figures, said the death toll could be more.

But the state police command spokesperson, Catherine Anene, who also confirmed the attack, disputed the casualty figure.

“They have not given me the report but it is not up to 50,” she reportedly said.

Following the sustained attacks, the farming communities in Kwande LGA had in an open letter told President Muhammadu Buhari that the Fulani herdsmen killed over 50 people in an attack that lasted for 10 days unchallenged.

Twice within 24 hours at the beginning of March, the herdsmen attacked the Umuogidi community in Otukpo LGA, killing 46 persons, including a policeman.

The Chairman of Otukpo LGA, Bako Ejeh, who confirmed the attack, lamented that he lost his 32-year-old son, nephew, and brother-in-law.

Following the editorials by THISDAY and Daily Trust, condemning the killings, an outraged presidency, which should be worried that foreign invaders are wiping out Nigerian communities, chose to mock Ortom for losing his senatorial bid in the recent elections.

The presidency in a statement by President Muhammadu Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant

NOTES FOR FILE

on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu accused the outgoing governor of frustrating all peaceful efforts made towards solving the security situation in the state.

Though the statement listed the security measures put in place to bring peace to Benue State, it failed to acknowledge that these security measures have failed woefully to defeat the herders.

This apparent weakness on the part of the security agencies has raised suspicion among the residents of the state that the security measures were intended to protect the killers and shield them from reprisals from the Benue communities.

The failure of the various security agencies to end the killings had forced Ortom to set up Livestock Guards to enforce the anti-open grazing law he had enacted.

However, this paramilitary outfit could not defeat the killers who wield superior weapons.

With the escalating attacks, Ortom temporarily suspended the enforcement of the law earlier this month to enable the foreign herders who claimed that they came into the state unaware of the law to leave the state with their cattle.

It beats every imagination that the presidency which controls the armed forces, police, Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies have constantly resorted to blaming the state governor who has no power over the security agencies.

Residents of the state deserve to know why the military, which defeated Boko Haram fighters and their heavy armoured tanks, antiaircraft weapons, land mines, Rocket-Propelled Grenades (RPG) and rocket launchers, could not defeat AK-47-wielding herdsmen.

Reacting to the latest attack on him by the presidency, Ortom reiterated that President Buhari endorsed the intractable killings in the state.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur, the governor blamed the intractable massacres in Benue on Buhari’s “endorsement” of the violent activities of herdsmen whom he said are of the Fulani ethnic extraction as the president.

“Buhari has empowered and emboldened the Fulani pastoralists in their expansionist agenda, including killings,” he added.

Indeed, many Nigerians believe that the herdsmen are the untouchables, having perpetrated killings in most of the states without consequences.

President Buhari should dispel this notion by sanctioning some compromised and bigoted security agents who are believed to be protecting those involved in mass killings in Benue State.

How Frivolous Can a Suit Be?

Lastweek,thenewswaseverywherethatthepresidential candidateoftheHopeDemocraticParty(HDP),inthe2019 elections, Ambrose Owuru, had approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja seeking to stop the inauguration of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, as president.

Owuru, who said he contested the 2019 presidential election, added that he was not satisfied with the way and mannertheSupremeCourtresolvedthecase.Helaterwent to the Federal High Court in Abuja and asked the court to declarethepresident’sseatvacantandswearhiminasthe authentic winner.

However,inJanuary,thecourtdismissedthesuit,describing itas“baseless,frivolous,irritating,andvexatiousinitsentirety.”

In a suit marked CA/CV/259/2023, Owuru urged the Appeal Court to prohibit President Muhammadu Buhari; theAttorney-GeneraloftheFederation,AbubakarMalami

andINECfromgoingaheadwithTinubu’sinauguration.He argued that he was the winner of the 2019 presidential election and had not spent his tenure.

Owuru maintained that Buhari has been usurping his tenure of office since 2019 because the Supreme Court has not determined his petition challenging the election’s outcome. He applied for “an order of prohibitory injunction compelling Buhari, AGF, and INEC, their servants, agents, and privies to preserve and give due cognisance and abstain from any further undertaking or engaging in any act of usurpation of adjudged acquired constitutional rights and mandate as the winner of the 2019 presidential election.”

He also applied for another order directing and placing on notice that any form of handover inauguration, organisedandsuperintendedbyBuharionMay29outside

the adjudged winner of the 2019 presidential election, subject of the pending appeal, remains and is viewed as an “interim place holder.”

An eight-paragraph affidavit in support of the suit is also asking the appellate court to give it an expeditious hearing before the inauguration of Tinubu.

WhileitiswithinOwuru’srightstogotocourt,doeshe notthinkthathisrequestisstrange,frivolousandawaste ofthetimeofthecourts?Washenotinthecountrywhen INEC conducted the February 25 presidential election and declared Tinubu victorious?

Is it not surprising that he is asking the court to stop Tinubu’sinaugurationwhenhedidnotevenparticipatein theelectionwhereTinubuemergedvictorious?Doesn’t hethinkthatthecurrentsuitisfrivolousandanacademic exercise?

In view of the

APC’s Obsession with Obi

Following the victory of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu in the February 25 presidential election, the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) had stormed the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to protest against the outcome of the election won by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The opposition parties had accused INEC of compromise and described 2023 elections as the worst Nigeria ever witnessed since the return of democracy in 1999.

Prior to Tinubu’s declaration and while the collation of the results of the presidential election was ongoing, the Director General of the Campaign Organisation of LP, Akin Osuntokun in a statement alleged that Nigerians had inundated the party with calls and protests over INEC’s non-compliance with provisions of the electoral guidelines and the obvious manipulations of the election results.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari had promised Nigerians free and fair elections with the passage of the new Electoral Act, while INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu also came before Nigerians and the global community and severally reiterated the commission’s readiness to conduct the elections.

Osuntokun alleged that none of these promises had been kept, adding that all the promises made about deploying a fail-safe system anchored on BVAS were broken.

“We hereby call on INEC to suspend further announcement of the results, and follow its own guidelines or completely cancel the entire election and make plans for another election with strict compliance with the stipulated laws and guidelines,” he reportedly said.

But in a swift reaction, the APC campaign said it had noted the disingenuous attempts by the opposition parties to discredit the presidential and National Assembly elections conducted nationwide.

Its Director, Media and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement said noteworthy were spokespersons of Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council and that of the Peoples Democratic Party/Atiku Presidential Campaign Council.

He added: “Two persons we consider as respectable citizens, Professor Pat Utomi and Director-General of Peter Obi Campaign Council, Mr. Akin Osuntokun threw caution to the wind by their inciting and incendiary comments on social media and TV stations where they have been making baseless and irresponsible allegations of electoral manipulations and other malpractices against our party and the electoral umpire, all in a bid to cause disaffection and civil unrest in the country.”

Onanuga noted that both Labour Party and PDP had accused INEC of conspiracy to rig election results in favour of APC, anchoring their allegation on the agency’s inability to upload election results on its website.

“While we call on INEC to expedite action on the process of uploading the results, we want to state categorically that there is nothing unusual about the seeming delay,” he added.

The verbal war continued as the Labour Party again reiterated its call for the suspension of results announcements of the presidential election.

The Director of Media, Obi-Datti Campaign Organisation, Diran Onifade in a statement

said that the party was in possession of hard video, documentary and first-hand evidence of criminal conspiracies, tricks and irregularities by some INEC and security officials on one side, and also record of vicious attacks by political thugs, as well as clear evidence of inducement by politicians, one of whom was caught with half a million dollars in cash.

He argued that the processes and practices as carried on by INEC, and as permitted by some security agencies, did not in the most reasonable minimum, meet the required standards of credibility and were not fundamentally, free and fair.

“On the basis of these anomalies, the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organisation hereby states that the conduct of the elections of 25th February 2023, including the ongoing charade of declaration of ‘results’ in the states and in Abuja are unacceptable, and we hereby demand unequivocally, for the suspension of all processes, until these recorded cases of compromise, illegality and criminality are justifiably resolved especially in the states of Edo, Imo and Rivers and various parts of the North,” he reportedly explained.

The APC campaign had also responded swiftly, saying its attention had been drawn to some incendiary comments by the spokespersons of the opposition parties, notably the PDP and the LP regarding the yet-to-be-announced results of the presidential elections.

The spokesperson of the Campaign, Festus Keyamo in a statement said some of members of the opposition had threatened fire and brimstone if their own version of some concocted results were not announced in a bid to be the judge, jury and executioner in this election.

Keyamo alleged that the opposition parties played up what he had described as some isolated incidents of violence in APC strongholds, stressing that the ruling party also had tonnes of videos of massive electoral malpractices like violence against non-LP supporters, forcing and guiding women and children to thumb-print ballot papers for LP and massive thumb-printing of ballot papers by both PDP and LP supporters in some parts of the country.

“On our part, we have decided to be calm to await the official announcement of the results and to pursue any grievance (if any) in a lawful manner,” he added.

He vowed that the APC would not sit back and allow unguided comments to

gain grounds in order to foist a particular narrative on Nigerians.

Subsequently, both Atiku and Obi addressed a joint press conference where they rejected the declaration of Tinubu as the president-elect.

They therefore resolved to challenge the outcome of the election in court.

It was at this point that the Special Adviser, Media and Communication, APC campaign, Mr. Dele Alake addressed a press conference and commended the duo of Atiku and Obi for finally opting for the rule of law.

He was of the opinion that those who laid claim to democratic credentials were expected to be conscious of those inimitable minimum requirements of law and order even in the face of a perceived injustice.

Alake stressed that the initial knee-jerk and hothead call for anarchy by their proxies was illadvised and would in no way serve any noble cause.

He said it was good to know that reason had prevailed.

While featuring on ARISE News Channel, Obi reiterated that he wanted to challenge the process of declaring the winner of the presidential election.

According to Obi, “To win in democracy is to win the people. The declared winner, Bola Tinubu did not win- that is what we are challenging…’

However, Obi’s ARISE TV interview did not go down well with the APC as the party started amassing arsenals to unleash attacks on the LP candidate.

Reacting to the interview, the APC campaign organisation in a statement called on Obi to stop deceiving his gullible followers and raising unrealistic hopes about reclaiming the presidency from Tinubu.

But hell was let loose on Obi when his grounds for seeking to void Tinubu’s victory became public knowledge.

Obi in his petition filed by his team

of lawyers hinged his request on the grounds that he and not Tinubu scored majority of lawful votes cast at the presidential poll.

Obi also argued that Tinubu and his Vice-president-elect, Kasheem Shetima ought not to be on the presidential ballot on grounds that they were not lawfully nominated by their party.

The presidential candidate of Labour Party argued that INEC violated its own regulations when it announced the result despite the fact that at the time of the announcement, the totality of the polling unit results had yet to be fully scanned, uploaded and transmitted electronically as required by the Electoral Act.

Obi also cited that forfeiture of $460,000 by Tinubu to the United States Government over alleged drug deals, an allegation that unsettled the APC leaders and incensed the party’s spokespersons.

Though Atiku and the PDP also submitted petitions against Tinubu, they did not cite the alleged drug scandals.

However, both APC and INEC urged PEPC to dismiss the petition filed by the LP and its presidential candidate against the emergence of Tinubu.

In their separate replies to the LP and Obi’s petitions, they asked the court to deny them all the reliefs sought on the grounds that their petition was “devoid of any merit and also founded on frivolity”.

They claimed that contrary to the allegations of LP and Obi, the presidential election was conducted in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022.

Since the content of Obi’s petition became public knowledge, the Tinubu’s allies have unleashed sustained attacks on the candidate, leaving Atiku out of the verbal war.

The focus of attack by Tinubu’s supporters is on Obi himself. They claimed that he took a third position but cannot afford to ignore him as they pay more attention to him than they pay to the second-place candidate.

This is despite the fact that Obi has been urging his supporters to remain calm and steadfast.

The latest attack on Obi came from a former Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, who called on Obi to withdraw his petition against Tinubu so as to allow negotiation on behalf of the South-east.

But Obi’s supporters described Nnamani’s sustained attacks on Obi as acts of desperation to endear himself to Tinubu so as to grab the ministerial slot meant for Enugu State from APC members, having lost his senatorial seat.

Obi’s supporters asked Nnamani what would happen to the other zones that also voted for Obi.

In his intervention, a legislative consultant and Public Affairs Analyst, Akinloye Oyeniyi said Nnamani did not make a wrong call. He also argued that the step taken by Obi was a right step and part of the electoral process which would help in eradicating electoral violence and consolidation of democracy.

He said: “While Obi’s step is part of the electoral process and one that is not only to seek redress but to also help in eradicating electoral violence and consolidation of democracy, Nnamani’s call to him to withdraw his petition against the declared winner, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to allow negotiations on behalf of the South-east, is also an acceptable negotiation ground to have access to dividends of democracy and inclusiveness in governance.”

The APC ‘s obsession with Obi is an indication that his petition may be the main thorn in the ruling party’s flesh.

Despite the fact that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar who came second in the February 25 presidential election, is also challenging the victory of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Election Petition Court, the All Progressives Congress seems to be more obsessed with the petition of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, Adedayo Akinwale writes

TinubuObi

INEC and the Burden of Litigations

With the 2023 general election over, the battle has since shifted to the Election Petitions Tribunals. From the declaration of the presidential and National Assembly elections’ results to that of the governorship and state House of Assembly, it has been one form of complaint, rejection or the other.

Investigation by THISDAY revealed that the number of election-related litigations rose from 680 in the 2015 general election, which was adjudged to be more transparent to a total of 1,700 in the controversial 2019 general election.

With the massive allegations of fraud and the widespread rejections and condemnations that followed the 2023 general election, many analysts fear that the number of litigations will definitely soar and hit a new record.

While political parties and their members have their share of this resort to protracted litigations after every general election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is more culpable.

With what transpired in the just concluded elections, many analysts feel that if the petitioners are able to prove their case, several results might be overturned by the courts with its attendant effects on the nation’s socio-economic landscape in the long run.

Shortly after Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared the winner of the February 25, 2023 presidential election, his two main rivals, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) had rejected the results with each of them laying claim to winning the election and filing petitions at the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal challenge the decision.

Others who are also not satisfied with the conduct of the election and have filed their petitions at the tribunal are the presidential candidates of the Action Alliance, Solomon Okangbuan and Allied People’s Movement, Chichi Ojei.

The petitioners’ decisions to challenge the outcome of the election in court on the grounds that it was marred by irregularities, is arguably the first of the 2023 general election matters presented before the nation’s judiciary.

But it won’t be the last. Some aggrieved candidates who partook in the National Assembly elections are also expected to tow the legal path.

Also, the March 18 governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections have produced more aggrieved candidates whose lawyers are already set to approach the courts to contest the outcomes of the polls and seek legal remedies.

Incidentally, it was the electoral commission that first mooted the idea that any aggrieved political party and their candidates should go to court to lay bare whatever grievances they had with the process.

In all of these, INEC, which oversees elections in Nigeria, is always listed as a party in lawsuits instituted by those who feel cheated in the process.

Nevertheless, for many stakeholders, there are cost implications when political parties and politicians engage in endless court battles over compromised political parties’ primaries and the main elections.

It would be recalled that after the 2015 elections, INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu disclosed that the commission was taken to court 680 times by litigants over the 2015 elections. He, however, explained that out of the 680 court cases, 600 were dismissed while 80 were upheld.

Similarly, litigations after the 2019 elections were higher. About 1,700 court cases arose from the conduct of the 2019 general election, according to INEC. While more than 890 of the

cases were pre-election matters from conduct of political parties’ primary elections, 799 were election petitions that went to various tribunals across the country.

Already, there are reports that INEC has budgeted over N3billion to defend the results of the general election. So far, over 100 election petitions have been filed by aggrieved candidates and their parties across the country.

Ahead of the 2023 elections, many Nigerians were shocked when on July 21, 2022, Yakubu said there were 334 post-primary cases in the various courts across the country. Political parties held their primaries between April and June 2022.

About seven months later, Yakubu, while playing host to the delegation of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), led by their President, Yakubu Maikyau, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, declared that as at February 6, 2023, the commission had been joined in 1,241 intra-party lawsuits in different courts of law. He said some of the cases had gone to the Federal High Court, while some were before the Court of Appeal, and others before the Supreme Court.

Those who have headed or are intending to head to court have every right since a majority of the people judged the elections as the worst ever conducted in the country. While INEC was supposed to have learnt from the challenges of the previous elections and made adequate preparations to ensure the problems were not encountered again, this was not to be.

Many analysts feel that the failure of political parties, their candidates and supporters to abide by the rules of the elections either at the party level or general election stage could be a veritable ground to challenge the outcome of the elections in courts.

Others however argue that litigations arising from the conduct of elections were a good omen for the country as against plunging the country in chaos.

In the face of massive protests by Nigerians and international observers over the blatant irregularities witnessed during the presidential and National Assembly elections on February 25, INEC, perhaps in an attempt to save face, recently confirmed that indeed there were glitches in the poll. The electoral umpire blamed technical hitches with its result viewing portal (IReV) during the general election in Africa’s biggest economy.

In a statement signed by its National Commissioner on Voter Education, Mr. Festus Okoye, the commission said it was aware the IReV had been relatively slow and unsteady. While assuring Nigerians that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) would be used in the March 18 governorship and state legislature elections, it further noted that its technical team was working assiduously to solve all the outstanding problems.

Also at a press conference, the INEC Chairman, Yakubu, admitted that the challenges of logistics, election technology, the behaviour of some election personnel at different levels, and the attitude of some party agents and supporters added to the extremely challenging environment in the elections.

Yakubu explained that the commission had intensified the technology review to ensure that glitches experi-

enced, particularly with uploading results, are rectified.

Yakubu said the commission appreciated the maturity displayed by political leaders even in the context of divergent views about the election, saying many lessons have been learnt.

Many Nigerians felt that the inability of INEC to abide by its guidelines as contained in the Electoral Act, 2022 would fuel litigation in the 2023 elections. They also felt that the failure of the commission to make the IReV available for the transmission of results and the general failure and refusal to use the BVAS was deliberate sabotage of the electoral process that form one of the major grounds to challenge the elections.

This is why the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has said it would work collaboratively with other labour unions and civil society groups in the country to ensure that the various tribunals deliver justice on the election petitions to the satisfaction of all.

Speaking at the meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of PENGASSAN, its President, Festus Osifo, said the union was disappointed with the failure of INEC to live up to the expectations of Nigerians. He said despite the billions of taxpayers’ money budgeted for the conduct of the general election, INEC failed in meeting the expectations of Nigerians.

Osifoh, who is also the President of the Trade Union Congress, said one of the major flaws of the 2023 general election was the failure to use the BVAS in uploading results into IRev.

“Nigerians hailed the introduction of the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) and IReV as the game changer. Despite all the sacrifices made by ordinary Nigerians to go out and wait in long queues to obtain their PVCs, strenuously cast their votes and the billions of taxpayers’ money budgeted for the conduct of this election, INEC failed in meeting the expectations of Nigerians.

“This failure on the part of INEC to upload results from polling units to IReV portal, climaxed an election that was challenged by late arrival of INEC personnel and materials in some areas, by pass of BVAS in some cases, suppression of results, outright voters’ intimidation and coercion in many instances.”

“Despite the shortcomings, we hereby appeal to all those aggrieved by the election to follow the provision of the law in seeking redress. The various tribunals must be charged to deliver justice to the satisfaction of all as the last hope of the teeming masses of the country,” he said Executive Director, Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, had attested to this belief when he said though the polling units were the arena of electoral competition, the courts had displaced the polling units as the new arena for electoral contests. According to him, the courts would determine the final votes in all the election disputes they would entertain.

Itodo, however, observed that while the recourse to an unelected body of judges to resolve election disputes signals increasing faith in the judicial process, it also exposes the desperation of politicians to exploit the litigation process to clinch electoral victory.

He stated: “Litigating election disputes is contentious, complex, and excessively technical. This accounts for the reason election tribunals and courts make efforts to resolve election disputes but often fail to address the grievances of litigants.

“As expected, political attention is shifting to the courts as aggrieved candidates and political parties that contested in Nigeria’s 2023 general election are approaching the courts to challenge the outcome of the polls and seeking legal remedies. Without good judges, the aspiration of advancing electoral justice and political legitimacy may be thwarted.”

With the widespread rejection of results of the 2023 general election, it is feared that the court cases may surpass the 1,700 litigations recorded in the 2019 elections and impose enormous burden on the Independent National Electoral Commission, whose inefficiency has transferred the responsibility of announcing the final winners to the courts, Alex Enumah writes

Yakubu

IMAGES

When the remains of Samuel Kunle Adedoyin, administrator, academician, politician and community leader, were laid to rest recently in Ayetoro Gbede, Kogi State, friends, associates and family members joined his children to give the departed a befitting farewell. After a funeral service at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, guests were entertained at Government Girls Secondary School, Ayetoro Gbede

PHOTOS: JULIUS ATOI

L-R: Dare Ihimodu and Oladele Oyelola

L-R: Chief Funsho Olorunfemi and Helen Magowa

L-R: Erelu Princess Falde and Barr Yemi Olumudi

L-R: Dupe Adedoyin; Victor Adedoyin; Alice Adedoyin; Adekunle Adedoyin; and Opeyemi Adedoyin

L-R: Mrs Bello Oluwadare and husband Engr Dare Bello

L-R: Mrs. Josephine Ore-Iya Laje; Victor Ore; Cdre Ayo Bello-Odofin and wife, Nkechi

L-R: Prince Richard Akanmode; Hon Otitoju Olusuyi; and Otunba Kingsley Mokikan

L-R: Chief Bolorunduro; Chief Paul Egbado; and Prof Ade Oladepo

APC on the Cross

TherulingAllProgressivesCongress is entitled to roll out the drums in an orgy of triumphalism. The feverish inauguration rehearsals at national and relevant state levels are all in order given the announced outcome of the last generalelection.Afterall,democraticsuccession isultimatelyaritualofcollectiveself-renewal.We haveanentitlementtoexpectaseasonofchange both in personnel and in the general method of governance. This is partly why hordes of jobless office seekers have now taken up residence in hotelsinAbujaandsomestatecapitals. Itisalmost a gold rush in a country where some attachment to government office and free money is the easiest way to come by unaccountable wealth and influence.

A few days ago, an interminable motorcade of shiny black SUVs followed Mr. Tinubu and his deputy Alhaji Shettima as they moved into Defence House to begin the effective transition rituals. No one knows exactly why that cacophonous multitude had to follow the president-elect and his deputy to their power transit camp. It can only be hoped hat both men will find time to think through whatever they want to do for Nigeria in the midst of the surging crowd of lobbyists, hustlers and attention seekers.

All things considered, as the party in the forefront of fray of our partisan ‘grab and keep’ politics, the APC cannot be denied the endless clinking of champagne glasses of triumph. In the justconcludedelections,bothatthenationaland state levels, it has fared decisively better than its opponents. In addition to producing the INEC declaredpresident-elect,theAPCclinchedatotal of 16 new state governorships out of the 26 that were in contention. It has scored a clear majority in the membership of the incoming National Assembly.

On balance also, the decibel of triumphalist noise coming from the APC and its endless campaign megaphones remains the highest in the land. A lot of this is plain empty rabble rousing and motor park grade bluster which has nothing to do with any clues as to the content, substance andcharacteroftheadministrationthatNigerians should expect come May 29th.

However, the APC’s electoral success and stature as the de facto dominant party in the land has raised far too many fundamental questions about the present state and future prospects of Nigerian democracy. The central curiosityremainsthatofhowapartywithadismal record of governance in the last eight years can score such overwhelming electoral success. If democratic elections are indeed periodic tests of the popularity and acceptability of a party, the verdict of the Nigerian electorate in this last election deserves closer look.

At the expense of rehashing the familiar features of the sad realities of the last eighth years, the consensus on the eve of the last election was that the APC under Mr. Buhari had run Nigeria aground. In every conceivable direction, the business of Nigeria has been in tatters. The economy is at its most hopelessly indebted in recent memory. With debt service at 108% of revenue, an inflation rate of close to 22% and unemployment rate of close to 40%, this is no place for cheers.

Under Mr. Buhari, the size if the poor population has increased from less than 40 million to an acknowledged 130 million, the largest in the world, in eight years. The Naira in your pocket has shrunk in value from 185 to the US dollar in 2015tothecurrent750tothedollar.Anepidemic of insecurity has come to be taken as the new normal all over the country. Literally anyone can be abducted, kidnapped, raped, killed or wasted without a trace. Manyhave disappeared into thin air without a trace. The catalogue of missing persons has continued to grow to the extent that some states like Anambra have had to open a register of missing persons just to keep track.

On the eve of the election, the APC government colluded with the Central Bank of Nigeria to ostensibly redesign the Naira. No one knows exactlywhythisfoolishgambitbecamenecessary. Government claimed it was an anti inflationary movewhiletheveiledassumptionwasthatitwas designed to curb the vote buying power of the APC’s own presidential candidate!

At the end of the day, it turned out to be one of the most foolish and self defeating and

thoughtless policy escapades in our national history. People’s money was confiscated and locked up in banks under the guise of a swap to new notes. Many innocent people lost their lives becausetheycouldnotaccesstheirownlegitimate fundstopayhospitalbillsormeetbasicexistential needs. An economy already hobbled by inflation, general shrinkage of productivity and massive businessclosureswasbroughttoitsknees.Atthe end, there were neither new notes nor economic reprieve nor a curb on vote trading.

With this backdrop, the general anticipation especially among the elite was that the 2023 general election would be an opportunity to sack the APC at the federal level and a number of state government houses. Many thought that the election would be a referendum on Buhari and the APC with the anticipation of a resounding NO on both. It was a logical democratic expectation therefore that the electorate would throw out or minimally punish the APC as a non performing party. On the contrary, what we have witnessed is the opposite of such a normal and rational democratic expectation.

But electorate are not like individual voters. Electorates are made of mobs. They have no collective mind. A mob is a collective mass of divided interests. They will individually vote according to faith, ethnicity, region or plain crass financial inducement as in a transactional vote buying and selling situation.

Thespeculativeandanalyticalspectrumisquite wide. Could it be that Nigerians as a people love sufferinganddeprivationastorewardapartythat has subjected them to such harrowing anguish? This is the ‘donkey syndrome’, the belief that the peoplearemerebeastsofburdenwhoareinsensitive to suffering and in fact would vote for a harsh master again and again.

Is there a possibility therefore that Nigerian democracy operates through an inverse logic in whichelectoraloutcomesdefycommonsenselogic and the drift of public opinion? Could it be that the outcomeofourelectionsbearnorelationshipwith voter sensibility and sensitivity? In other words, if periodic elections in our democracy do not serve as a test of the popularity of governments, what other justification can we find for staging these elaborate and costly periodic elections?

One compelling perspective holds that the electoral endorsement of the APC came from the mob of illiterate and ignorant voters in those states of the federation where the people may have been deliberately quarantined in relative ignorance and illiteracy. The argument is that in those states, people voted for whichever party the political and religious elite directed them to. In such places, the progressivism of the APC amountedtoameresignpostratherthanaserious ideological commitment.

I am inclined to fall back to the classical political theorypostulationthatinapredominantlyignorant and illiterate electorate, the crowds that troop

out to greet the rallies during election campaigns are no more than an irrational mob. In general, mobs do not have a mind of their won. They are actually masses of unthinking humanity driven mostly by the rave of momentary excitement. They are outtheretobelongwithwhateverisdriving the moment.

The mobs of liberal democracy are somewhat different. They share the collective foolishness of the illiterate massesofThirdworldilliberaldemocracy mobsbutaredifferentinonerespect.They consciously buy into the convictions of a partisan demagogue, adopt his defining mantraandallowthatmantratobecomea political theology to which they subscribe asdevoteesinaculticreligious sense. That mantra and obsessions overwhelm the values of the political party to assume a near narcotic hallucinatory effect.

For instance, the Donald Trump mobs that invaded the US Capitol to kill, destroy and maim on January 6, 2021 fit into this mould. The group insanity of the MAGA (Make America Great Again) mob is only a gross devaluation of the conservative extremity of the Republican party. In an election, they would vote for the icon of their ‘faith’ in an irrational deluge. The pro Buhari mobs of 2015, 2019 and, to a less extent 2023, were no less incensed by a theological mantra than their educated American opposites.

There is an even more disturbing distortion. The APC presidential campaign was deficient in content and substance. The presidential candidate of the party refused to honour nearly all invitations to media platforms to advance his case or market his party’s programme. No press conferences. No question and answer sessions. No town hall meets and no spirited presentations. When in fact he got the platform of the Chatham House in London to make his case, he chose to outsource both presentation and question and answer session to a motley assembly of discordant associates.

The party’s presidential campaign literally said nothing about any substantive national problem. As a matter of fact, Mr. Tinubu at some point in the campaign promised that he would continue with the programmesandpoliciesoftheinfamous Mr. Buhari. At one of his most memorable campaign outings, the presidential candidate of the APC just said: “Buhari! Buhari!! Buhari!!!”. The crowd echoed in approving shoutsofAPC!APC!!Overall,themostdis-

turbing feature of the APC’s electoral prevalence is in fact in its tacit campaign commitment to continue with the Buhari agenda.

Incontrast,theotherthreemajorpartiesstruck a decisive difference in their serious attitude to policy issues. Their presidential candidates traversed the nation with tangible programmes and policy options. They made fiery speeches at literally every platform they were invited to. Mr. Atiku Abubakar of the PDP was easily the most incisive, mute and informed at the level of policy and programme options. He insisted on a whole gamut of business friendly policies. Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party struck a note of critical difference from the rest. He envisioned a new nation that defies the business as usual politics of the past. Mr. Kwankwaso was equally incisive especially in his policy propositions on national security and defense. But in the end, the APC has prevailed with a road much travelled.

However, the APC’s electoral prevalence does notofitselfabsolvethepartyoftheseriousburden of responsibility. A political party remains a pillar ofdemocracyinanynation.Nothingdistinguishes the APC from the other 80 odd political parties in the INEC register. Its acronym is merely a badge of infamy. There is no element of progressivism in either its membership or leadership.

So far, there is nothing coherent about the governancestyleandprinciplesoftheAPCstates. Nothing unites the cosmopolitan robustness and modern revenue targeting of Lagos state and the prebendalismofMr.Ganduje’sKanostate.Similarly, there is absolutely no ideological identity in the rudderless economic knee jerk approach of the Buharipresidencyvisavisthedriftingchorusthat was the Jonathan presidency.

Anelectoraloutcomethatlookslikeanendorsementofanunpopularpartycangoadthepartyinto the complacency of unchallenged incumbency. If critics insist the economy is dysfunctional, government shows them the result of the last election. If they say the nation is insecure, why did the people vote for us? If you trumpet that the population of the poor is increasing, but the same poor people voted for us! After all, one holy book saysthat“thepooryouwillalwayshaveamongyou!” Maybethepeoplelikecorruption,povertyandhigh cost of living. They keep them in check worrying about how to survive to the next day. The critics of government become habitual malcontents, a predictive opposition of grumbletonians and enemies of progress and the state who need to be either silences or put away. That is how the electoralendorsementofunpopularpartiesleads to the enthronement of corrupt authoritarians regimes and illiberal democracies.

Acomplacentpartybecomesanelectedautocracy. Its leaders mistake the forced compliance and popular indifference for popular acceptance. What was elected as a democratic government becomes a machinery of evil authoritarianism. A nation is deleted from the ranks of democratic countries. Polite sanctions come into place.

Continuous electoral victory becomes an assumption of inevitable victory at every election. A virulent opposition builds up underneath. But the presumptive perennial party dies from within as well.

And with it, the state decays and the nation withers. This same process is currently ongoing withtheAfricanNationalCongress(ANC)inSouth Africa. Corruption has yielded a presidency that hides stacks of US dollars in sofas in a farm. The national electricity grid has collapsed, plunging Africa’s most industrialized nation into periodic hoursofdarkness.Honestpoliticiansconfessthat today’s South Africa is worse than the worst of the Apartheid era.

For Nigeria’s APC, therefore, the largely undeserved victory in the 2023 election poses a big challenge. The incoming Tinubu administration has a herculean dual mandate as it were. The first mandate is to rescue the nation from the long night of Mr. Buhari’s unrelenting incompetence anddivisiverudderlessrule.Thesecondmandate is to remake the APC into a responsible political party that has internal democratic accountability, listens to Nigerians and stops investing in the perpetuation of poverty and ignorance as strategies of vote catching. Strategies that guarantees the party a mob of unthinking voters may eventually ruin the nation. Incidentally, both mandates are mutually inclusive and contingent. The are at the heart of any sensible commitment to the development of democracy.

Adamu

Diplomatic Protection of Stranded Nigerians Abroad: The Problematic Issue of Emergency Evacuation

TheGovernmentofNigeriacannotberightlysaidtohave any policy of diplomatic protection beyond the provisions of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Section 19 (d) on foreign policy objectives in the 1999 Constitution as amended stipulates two of Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives to be ‘respect for international law and treaty obligations, as well as the seeking of settlement of international disputes by negotiation, mediation, conciliation, arbitration and adjudication.’Even though it is difficult to understand how a foreign policy objective will simply be to respect international law, the respect is necessarily restrained by Section 12(1) of the same 1999 Constitution. It provides that ‘no treaty between the Federation and any other country shall have the force of law except to the extent to which any such treaty has been enacted into law by the National Assembly.’

This provision is a recap of Article 12(1) of Nigeria’s 1979 Constitution. However, unlike Section 19 of the 1999 Constitution on foreign policy objectives, the 1979 Constitution did not provide for the respect of international law as a foreign policy objective. It simply provides that ‘the State shall promote African Unity, as well as total political, economic, social, and cultural liberation of Africa and all other forms of international cooperation conducive to the consolidation of universal peace and mutual respect and friendship among all peoples and States, and shall combat racial discrimination in all its manifestations.’Thus, it is mutual respect that was provided for, not respecting international law. Respect for any international law and treaty obligations can only be obligatory after domestication of the treaty.Two conceptual issues are raised here:‘ratification’and‘domestication.’When agreements are negotiated by plenipotentiaries, the agreements may first be initialled and then be signed after conclusion of negotiations. The agreement is only valid at the level of the negotiators. When the agreement is thereafter referred to the home government for endorsement, the government is normally required to send its instrument of ratification to the depository provided for in the agreement. Ratification at this level is an intention to be obligated by the agreement pending National Assembly approval.

The requirement of domestication raises the issue of Monist and Dualist States. Countries that do not need any further domestication processes before the international agreement is enforceable are Monists. Nigeria is dualist, requiring domestication of all international agreements before enforcement. Nigeria signed the 1961 Diplomatic Convention and also ratified it as required in Article 49 of the Vienna Convention.

Diplomatic Protection and Stranded Nigerians

The 1961Vienna Convention is already part of Nigeria’s municipal law. How do we explain the question of diplomatic protection of Nigerians that are stranded abroad? True, the 1961 Vienna Convention applies directly to official diplomatic agents and not to ambassadors with small letter (a) to borrow from a former Ambassador of Nigeria to Ireland and former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nkemjinka Wadibia-Anyanwu’s expression. The Vienna Convention does not, stricto sensu, apply to private Nigerians. This is one major reason there is a distinction between Public International Law and Private International Law.

Public International Law, generally referred to as International Law, is simply the Law of Nations, the law of nation-states. It has official character. In terms of diplomatic protection, only diplomatic agents of sovereign states and international functionaries of international organisations are protected. On the contrary, Private International Law generally refers to the aspect of municipal laws dealing with foreigners in a country, the activities of nationals abroad, etc. In this regard, an accredited diplomatic mission can have cause to seek protection of its citizens when there is a case of denial of justice in a host country. This type of protection is still referred to as diplomatic protection and should therefore not be confused with official diplomatic protection which is largely justified by the provisions of immunity and inviolability clauses in various diplomatic agreements.

With the foregoing, the Government of Nigeria has not always been able to protect its citizens decently and promptly, especially in terms of emergency evacuation from very violent theatres, when they are caught in situations for which they are not responsible. An emergency evacuation has been described as an ‘urgent egress or

escape of people away from an area that contains an imminent threat, an on-going threat or a hazard to lives and property.’There can be many types of evacuation, such as the vertical or horizontal evacuation, full evacuation, and simultaneous evacuation. Our concern here is about diplomatic evacuation and we shall briefly look at the cases of stranded Nigerians in China, United Arab Emirates, South Africa, and Sudan which is the most recent.

In the context of the People’s Republic of China, Nigerians were victims of COVID-19 pandemic discrimination and had to be evacuated, thanks to the coordination by the Air Peace airline and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As noted by the airline,‘today, May 30, 2020, Air Peace airlifted 268 Nigerians from China. The flight arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at exactly 14.30hrs (1300 GMT) (sic). All evacuees will be proceeding on the mandatory 14 days quarantine as directed by the Federal Government.’The evacuation took place against the background of reported maltreatment and discrimination against Nigerians and Africans who were denied access to hospitals, shopping malls, hotel rooms, etc. Nigerians were forced out of their homes.The letter written by the All African Association of Guangzhou community called for an end to ‘the inhumane treatment, hatred, and outright discrimination of Africans that is currently going on in Guanghzou.’

The situation compelled Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, to seek explanations from the Chinese government from the country’s ambassador to Nigeria in April 2020. How long did it take to ensure evacuation? First, Channelstv.com reported that ‘lawmakers in the House of Representatives on Tuesday rejected a motion to evacuate Nigerians in China following the outbreak of the corona virus.’The motion was moved by Benjamin Kalu Okezie, the spokesperson of the House. As told by Benjamin Kalu, a citizen of Abia State in Nigeria, ‘under the pretext of curbing the spread of COVID-19, which ironically originated inWuhan, China, several kinds of maltreatment of Nigerian citizens in Guangzhou have been perpetrated by Chinese people and authorities, including wrongful confiscation

The problematic issue of emergency evacuation can be prevented if an agreement on emergency evacuation is done with countries playing host to more than a hundred of Nigerians, and if a Permanent Preventive Emergency Evacuation Centre (PPEEC) comprising professionals in security and diplomatic protection and maritime security is established to oversee such agreements. The personnel should include representatives of the NEMA, Diaspora Commission, and the Nigeria Armed Forces. It should be coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The PPEEC may not be limited in scope in terms of coverage of who is to be evacuated. It can have a continental scope and organised as a rapid deployment and rescue centre, especially in light of Africa being the centrepiece of Nigeria’s foreign policy. The PPEEC should be seen as a foreign policy instrument. Another approach is to have a new Africa of Black Africans. Africa should be geo-politically re-conceptualised to reflect the exclusiveness of black dignity and pride. Africa, as it is referred to today, carries a stigma and jots of disrespect. Nigeria should respond by providing leadership in the making of this new Africa in an ICT globalising world. Nigeria’s foreign policy must be simultaneously reactive and programmatic in the quest to protect Nigerians in whatever situational crisis they may find themselves abroad.

of Nigerian international passports, prolonged and illegal detention of Nigerians in the name of mandatory quarantine despite having certificates of clean health and no recent travel history, outright refusal to test or release the test results, and the eviction of Nigerians from their homes and hotel accommodations.’

The rejection of the motion was based on the consideration that China has better facilities to handle the situation than Nigeria. The motion became another drama in the House. Some Representatives accused the Chinese of xenophobic attacks and want the Nigerian government to consider the maltreatment of Nigerians as xenophobic (vide Daily Post Nigeria, April 28, 2020). As much as this allegation of xenophobia may be true, it still justifies the aspects of discrimination to which the Nigerians were subjected. And true enough, the Embassy of Nigeria had a serious confrontation with the Chinese authorities in Beijing. The discrimination eventually turned out to be uncalled for because the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Zhou Pingjian, explained during a news briefing that there were 60 Nigerians living in Wuhan city where the first COVID-19 was first recorded and that‘no Nigerian citizen residing in Wuhan city has contracted the Coronavirus.’

What is particularly noteworthy, on the one hand, is the resolution of the National Assembly that: necessary financial and other assistance should be provided to the stranded Nigerians by all the relevant government agencies, and, on the other, is the observation by one Nigerian student,‘our blood is very strong. My message for the Nigerian government is that when this kind of situation comes up in any part of the world and it happens that Nigerian citizens could be caught in the web, the Government should always learn how to be fast in action like other countries did by evacuating their people home. We are hoping to be evacuated, but it is late already’ (The Guardian, Nigeria, 14 February, 2020). It is this factor of delayed evacuation that is the root problem. Government has not learnt any lesson from previous emergency evacuation efforts. One reason for the unnecessary delay in evacuation was the fact that the Foreign Minister never believed in the various videos on the mistreatment of Nigerian that went viral. It was when the acting ambassador of Nigeria in Beijing re-confirmed the situation that the delayed evacuation efforts began.This was most unfortunate.

Again, The Premium Times Nigeria titled its report on May 5, 2020, ‘265 Nigerians to be evacuated from Dubai,’United Arab Emirates. As explained by Fernando Judel, the Director of NIDO-UAE, there were 301 Nigerians working legitimately in the UAE, but lost their jobs in July when the Ministry of Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) blocked the work permit application portal for Nigerian nationals. UAE authorities denied any discrimination but the truth remains that the Emirati government made life difficult for the Nigerians. 542 stranded Nigerians were evacuated from Dubai, UAE on 23 October, 2022 in difficult circumstances. This was a follow-up to the 256 Nigerians deported on 6 May, 2020 to Nigeria.

Problematic Emergency Evacuation

The explication of the problematic of emergency evacuation is illustrated by the xenophobic cases in South Africa and the discriminatory evacuation in Sudan. As regards South Africa, there have been many cases of xenophobic attacks, one of which prompted serious reciprocal treatment in Nigeria.The 2019 incidents were serious, Nigeria evacuated 640 citizens from Johannesburg, following a spate of xenophobic attacks which the South African government did not accept as xenophobic. As told by Honourable Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chief Executive of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission,‘we have 640 Nigerians that want to come back from South Africa, and that will require two planes.There may be more people who want to leave, but we will know when we get to South Africa on Wednesday’(September 11, 2019).

Immigrants and their businesses, especially those of Nigeria, Ethiopia, Zambia and Kenya, were always the targets of the xenophobic attacks. Ten people, including two foreigners, were killed in the 2019 attacks. Nigeria recalled its ambassador to South Africa. Madagascar and Zambia opted out of the football match against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.Without doubt, the Government of South Africa recognised the enormity of the implication of the xenophobic attacks when he stated that‘Government will not allow sporadic lawlessness and violence to disrupt the safety and livelihoods of millions of South Africans and the majority of foreign nationals in our country who are law-abiding and have the right to conduct their lives and businesses in peace.’

In the eyes of the Nigerian leader, President Muhammadu Buhari, he is‘worried that the recurring issue of xenophobia could negatively affect the image and standing of South Africa as one of the leading countries on the continent, if nothing is done to stop it,’Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, said on behalf of PMB.The recurring character of the xenophobic attacks particularly on Nigerians can be explained at two levels: PEW research findings and bilaterally at the Nigeria-South African relations.

First, the 2018 survey carried out in summer by the Pew Research Center, revealed that 62% of South Africans consider immigrants as a burden on the country especially in terms of taking over their jobs, social benefits, while another 61% of South Africans believe that immigrants are more responsible for South Africa’s crimes than other groups. Secondly, at the bilateral level of Nigeria-South African ties, most younger generations of South Africa know very little about Nigeria’s roles in the dismantlement of apartheid. When they see Nigerians living like kings in their country and not knowing that Nigerians are truly darling friends of South Africans, they easily, but wrongly, attack Nigerians and the problematic issue of evacuation always recurs.

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Buhari

BACKPAGE CONTINUATION

A CENSUS WE DON’T COUNT ON

census will be disputed too.

All censuses have put the north ahead of the south in numbers and they have always been disputed by southerners who often say cows were counted as human beings over there. This would qualify as hate speech these days. The basis of their argument is that globally, coastal areas are always more populous than non-coastal areas. Hence, the south should invariably be more populated. It doesn’t matter if every southern state is not coastal or that the states vary in size. As long as a state is classified as south, it should have more population than any northern state. By this logic, Ekiti state in the south should automatically be more populous than Kogi state in the north. That is their point. The distance between Ogbomoso, Oyo state, and Ilorin, Kwara state, is about 30 minutes by bus. From Okuku, Osun state, to Erin Ile, Kwara, is about 10 kilometres. You can literally trek from Ekiti LGA in Kwara to Ekiti state. However, because Kwara is north, it is “noncoastal” and should be less populated than any of the “coastal” Osun, Ekiti and Oyo states. Ironically, only eight of the 17 southern states are truly “coastal”, yet the population of the nine non-coastal southern states should be more than that of the 19 non-coastal northern states. This logic ignores the discretionary/artificial marking of boundaries, which is less of physical geography and more of sociology and politics.

In addition to battling with not knowing our history, we are also obviously mixing up our geography. There are 37 entities in Nigeria, out of which 20 are geographically classified as north. But most northern states are far from being arid, even if they are not coastal. The easiest example that some people will accept is Benue state, which is classified as “north” but celebrated as the food basket of the nation. It cannot be classified as arid. Sambisa in the north-east hosts one of the largest forests in

TINUBU’S TASK

To detox the system, the incoming Bola Tinubu administration needs a large dose of sagacity to keep the different ethnic and religious tendencies onside in the sharing of political offices. President Goodluck Jonathan never recovered from being accused of violating power rotation in 2011. President Muhammadu Buhari was eternally framed as a religious fundamentalist and accused of using the sentiments to chase Jonathan out in 2015. Tinubu’s victory is being questioned by the opposition parties. There is a way these things shape narratives and attitudes and define tenures. Tinubu must use wisdom to calm frayed nerves in order to have some stability and focus. Critical.

Africa. That is not the meaning of arid. I have met southerners who expressed shock when they saw the vegetation in some parts of the north. That is not what they have been told all their lives.

Even on the issue of revenue allocation, as I have pointed out in the past, the role of population is often exaggerated. The “horizontal” sharing of 26.72 percent of the federation account among the 36 states is always the sore point here. The 26.72 percent is shared based on five principles: (1) equality of states, 40 percent (2) population, 30 percent (3) landmass/terrain, 10 percent (4) internal revenue effort, 10 percent (5) social development effort, 10 percent. This is aside the 13 percent derivation which is not part of the 26.72 percent in the federation pot. It is also different from VAT revenue from which the states take 50 percent, councils 35 percent and the federal government 15 percent.

The first horizontal principle treats all states as equal, so they equally share 40 percent of the 26.72 percent. If this comes to N100, for instance, states will share N40 equally: N1.11 per state, no matter the size. The 30 percent “population principle” means N30 of the N100 will be shared by the states using the population of each of them. In fact, 70 percent of federation allocation is not shared on the basis of population, contrary to the popular imagination. But since the north is more populous according to census data, the population principle is often criticised by southerners who think that the 19 northern states get disproportionate more than the 17 southern states, just by having babies.

In real life, though, Nigeria’s population is not as lopsided as portrayed in the media. It is often because we don’t pay attention to details: we listen to the agenda setters too much. If we take the 10 most populous states using the official census figures, six are from the north and four from the south. If we pick the top 20, we

will see 10 are from the north and 10 from the south. If we take the bottom 10, five are from the north and five from the south. If we take the bottom 16, eight are from the north and eight from the south. With the current population ratio of 53:47, northern states will take N16 and southern states N14 of the N30 shared on the population principle. Is this a disaster?

It is a lost cause trying to persuade some people to accept that our census figures are not as central to our nationhood as we think. It has also become pointless arguing that it shouldn’t matter what state has the most population — what should really matter is the economic productivity of the federating units. The way we debate in Nigeria, everything revolves around federation allocation. We are overly obsessed with who should get more and who should get less. There is little or no attention to the need for each state to develop its own potential so that what is shared in Abuja every month amounts to peanuts compared to the proceeds of internal productivity. This is none of our business.

We are so divided over this census thing that we cannot even ask questions of ethnicity and religion. I was counted in 1991. I was asked my ethnicity but not my religion. We were still reeling from the religious tensions that gripped the country in the wake of the OIC controversy of 1986. If the data said there were more Muslims than Christians, or vice-versa, all hell would be let loose. We are just a unique breed of human beings! So, the Ibrahim Babangida administration removed religion from the questionnaire. We are left with saying the populations of Muslims and Christians are at par so that nobody would be unhappy. Regardless, southerners still disputed the 1991 figures. You know why.

I wasn’t counted in 2006 (I was studying abroad) but I was told ethnicity had disappeared from the questionnaire. So, not only couldn’t we know the religious composition of our

And Four Other Things…

FOOL’S SUBSIDY

Surprise! The federal government is dillydallying on the deregulation of petrol pricing. It was not as if all of us believed it when it was announced in December 2022 that the multi-trillion naira subsidy would be abolished by mid-year 2023. It was all politics. The irony, though, is that if you ask Nigerians to choose between buying petrol at N300/litre and spending the N6 trillion subsidy on improving education, healthcare and road infrastructure, most would choose the subsidy. There is also this belief that Nigeria is rich enough to pay for the subsidy and still fund education, healthcare and roads. This argument plays into the hands of those benefiting from the subsidy scam. Doomed.

EXIT OF TWO GRANDEES OF NIGERIAN LETTERS

including ‘Then Spoke the Thunder’, his 2009 autobiography.

On his part, Professor Obaro Ikime edited one of the most authoritative and most comprehensive books on Nigeria’s history, ‘Groundwork of Nigerian History,’ published by the Nigerian Historical Society in 1980. Regarded as an authority on Nigeria’s inter-group relations, Professor Ikime was the author of many other well-regarded books on history, including ‘Merchant Prince of the Niger Delta: The Rise and Fall of Nana Olomu, Last Governor of Benin River,’ ‘Niger Delta Rivalry: Itsekiri-Urhobo Relations and the European Presence’, and ‘History, the Historian and the Nation.’ He meritoriously served the academia, the church and the country in different capacities. He also had his brushes with authorities, including being hauled into detention for 90 days in 1990. He was kept dingy, mosquitos-infested cell where he slept on bare floor and had only a set of clothes.

Born on 30 December 1936, Professor Ikime earned his bachelor’s and doctorate degrees in History from the University of Ibadan. He also taught in Nigeria’s premier university from 1964 to 1990. He made history by earning his PhD at 29 and becoming a professor at 37 at UI. He served as an illustrious member of the Ibadan School of History, a nationalist intellectual tradition whose more prominent members included Professor Kenneth Dike, Professor Saburi Biobaku, Professor Adiele Afigbo and Professor JF Ade Ajayi.

Interestingly, Professor Ikime became a pre-eminent historian largely because he wanted affirmation from a secondary school teacher whom he had disappointed, a certain Mr. Ihejirika. In an interview in Daily Trust three years ago, Professor Ikime disclosed that History was his best subject in CMS College in Ughelli and that Mr. Ihejirika had boasted to fellow teachers and students that Obaro

Ikime, his student, would score A1 in the school certificate examination. But when the result came out, Ikime scored a C.

“I was sad,” he said. “That was how I disappointed my teacher, Mr. Ihejirika. I went to his house to apologise but he asked his wife to tell me that he didn’t want to see me. But I refused to leave. I appealed to his wife to beg him for me. After about an hour, he came out and asked what he should do for

BY CHOICE

One shock that greeted Nigerians who emigrated to the UK was the cost of watching football on TV. A complete sports package (Sky and BT) costs £50, roughly N47,000, a month. Basic subscriptions, without sports, cost about £30 monthly. Pay per view is usually £20 for a single event lasting for a few hours. Pay as you go doesn’t exist. Yet, MultiChoice Nigeria always comes under attack for adjusting its rates, like other businesses, to address rising operational costs. Its most expensive package under the new tariff is N24,500 monthly, covering all channels. But Nigerians have turned cable TV into a fundamental human right. Students are threatening hell over a pure luxury. Absurd.

population, we also wouldn’t know the ethnic configuration. Therefore, we will keep saying Nigeria is built on a tripod of ethnic groups with equal populations, even when we know it is impossible for all ethnic groups to be numerically equal. I agree that excluding the politically explosive ethnicity and religion bits from the questionnaire can help avoid some controversies especially as they may have no bearing on the actual goal of the census, but it just shows the level of distrust in the country. We need to grow up.

I would have argued that the census is not worth the $1.8 billion to be spent on it and should not be priority for now, more so because of the predictable controversies that will result from the outcome, but I would not be doing justice to the science behind headcounts. The data generated will be useful for planning purposes — and this is not just for the government but for the private sector as well. We cannot continue to rely on population estimates. More so, a lot has changed since we did the last one in 2006. For instance, we have always assumed Nigeria’s population is concentrated in rural areas but trends appear to show a reversal. Getting the actual data can be very useful for all.

It appears we do not take census seriously in Nigeria. The UN recommends that it should be carried out every 10 years. The last one we did was 17 years ago. Before then, there was also a gap of 15 years. Going forward, we need to take census more seriously and plan for it properly. It is not just about today but also about tomorrow. The postponement of the 2023 census, as announced yesterday by the federal government, was coming all along. There was clear evidence that the National Population Commission (NPC) was not ready. There were issues around funding and logistics. It looked like it was going to be a mess. Whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well.

ODYSSEY

Happy birthday to Mrs Obiageli Ezekwesili (“Oby” to most of us) who clocked 60 on Friday. Tributes poured in from everywhere for the chartered accountant who made her mark as the no-nonsense pioneer head of the Due Process Office, officially known as the Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligence Unit — the precursor to the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP). She was one of the shining stars of the Obasanjo administration from 1999 to 2007. As minister of solid minerals and later education, she stood out as a woman of vision and passion, even if her ideas got suffocated by the pushback associated with reforms. She is also a champion of good governance. Felicitations.

I had my PhD, I went to inform him, but he didn’t still congratulate me,” Ikime told Daily Trust. “He only repeated that I should prove to the world that I knew History. He didn’t congratulate me until the day I went to inform him that I had become a Professor of History.”

Another interesting bit was that Ikime had wanted to make a career as a secondary school teacher. The principal of his alma mater had given him a job while he was awaiting his first degree result. Ikime said: “But when the degree result came out, my principal invited me to his office and gave me a resignation letter and said I should sign it. I told him I had the right to take a decision as a teacher and not as his student. He then echoed ‘sign it, you fool!’ He said I needed to return to school for my PhD. I signed the letter and returned to Ibadan for my PhD.” Without the nudge from and the faith of these teachers, the world would have been robbed of Ikime’s contributions to History. And what a great loss it would have been.

me. I apologised to him and begged for his forgiveness. He said I had made him a liar and my apology will not solve it, but I had to prove to the world that I knew the subject. He was very hurt. I left his house and took it as a challenge.” He went on to study History at the Ibadan up till PhD level and kept updating Mr. Ihejirika about his progress. But Mr. Ihejirika kept challenging him to prove his mettle. “When

In a moving tribute, Professor Toyin Falola, himself a prolific historian, attested to Ikime’s preeminent status when he wrote: “Professor Ikime was one of the finest academic commentators to have come out of Africa. Although he retired early, this historian contributed heavily to the body of knowledge on African history, and his works were pivotal to shaping how we have come to understand and conduct research on inter-group relations in Africa and Nigeria, as well as how such relations tie back to nation formation, nationalism, cultural history, and civilisation. If you have read one or more of Professor Ikime’s books, you would be familiar with his lucid writing style, making his books a joy to read.”

Before their exits, the two grandees of Nigeria letters had put in great shifts. They have gone to take a deserved rest after years of exertion and history-making. May they rest in peace.

Enahoro

Ikime

OBY’S

IN THE SERVICE OF GOD...

President,

of

at the 17th Annual

Even as Minister, Amaechi Expected Gift from Me, Says Hadiza Bala Usman

Raheem Akingbolu

A former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Hadiza Bala Usman, yesterday told an audience, which included the Vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima and other prominent Nigerians, how her failure to, from time to time, took gifts of appreciation to her former boss, the then Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, contributed to her unexpected exit from office.

Bala Usman, who spoke

shortly after reading some portions from her newly unveiled book “Stepping on Toes: My Odyssey at the Nigerian Ports Authority”, at Rovingheights Bookstore in Garki, Abuja said the long years spent by the former minister on corridor of power had affected him so much that he expected gifts from every Tom, Dick and Harry. Reacting to a question that bothers on her claim in the book that Amaechi told one of the concerned people, who wanted to intercede on her behalf that

I’ll Be Governor for All, Melaye Assures Kogi Indigenes

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the November 11, 2023 governorship election in Kogi State, Senator Dino Melaye, has assured the people of the state that he would serve in the fear of God and be fair and just to all Kogites when elected as governor.

Melaye, who gave this assurance during his consultative visits to the Ohimege Igu of Koton Karfi, His Royal Majesty, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Isa Koto, as well as the 11th Synod of the Methodist Church of Nigeria (Okun Diocese) in Lokoja, noted that his experience, performance as Senator and inner love for the people propelled him into the governorship race.

“As you are aware, His Royal Majesty, in the space of four years

as Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I did 19 projects in your Kogi Local Government. I have a very special relationship with Kogi Local Government and by the grace of God, when elected as governor, I will focus attention on the needs of our people, particularly the ecological challenges in this area.

“We are not unaware that the major business in this area is agriculture, trading and transportation. We shall make these ventures the focus of our administration by providing incentives that will encourage our people.

“I will be a Kogi governor that will govern our state in the fear of God. I will run an all-inclusive governance not as an Igala, Ebira,

AI Integration in Nigeria’s Financial Services Receives Boost

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

3line Limited, one of the trailblazers and creators of secure payments platforms in Nigeria, has organised a hackathon to explore the untapped opportunities for AI integration in the payment space.

The event, called Hack-It Challenge at Covenant University, is aimed to bring together tech-savvy youths to collaborate and develop innovative digital solutions that can address the challenges in the sector.

The participants were grouped into teams and guided to use

an iterative product development method (Agile Scrum Framework) to enable digital dexterity, talent development, and team competition. The hackathon resulted in various community-based solutions around wallets that made transactions easy and seamless, making it possible to transact with friends with ease CEO of 3line Limited, Femi Omogbenigun, emphasised the importance of reaching out to young stars and mentoring them to become innovative and successful entrepreneurs.

part of why he (Amaechi) wanted her out of NPA was because she was selfish, Ms. Bala Usman said, “Having spent many years in government, Mr. Amaechi’s entitlement mentality made him

think everybody must patronise him. As I painted in the book, he told one of the people who intervened that I did nothing for him from NPA and never even gave him a birthday gift.”

In May, 2021, Bala-Usman was suspended from office following allegations of the NPA’s non-remittance of about N165billion operating surpluses into the Consolidated Revenue

Fund Account of the federation. The suspension orders approved by President Muhammadu Buhari, followed a request for the probe of the accounts of the NPA made by Amaechi.

INEC Asks Supreme Court to Dismiss Oyetola’s Appeal

Alex Enumah in Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the appeal filed by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adegboyega Oyetola against the declaration of Senator Ademola Adeleke as governor of Osun State. INEC had last year declared Adeleke as winner of the election having scored a majority of the votes cast in the election.

But Oyetola rejected the results and filed a petition at the tribunal to challenge the declaration.

However, the tribunal in its split judgment of two-to-one delivered in January, held that Oyetola and not Adeleke won a majority of the lawful votes in the election.

According to the chairman of the tribunal, Justice Tertsea Kume, there were incidents of overvoting in favour of Adeleke, which when deducted revealed that Oyetola polled 314,921 votes as against the incumbent’s 290,266.

The tribunal accordingly ordered the withdrawal of the Certificate of Return issued to Adeleke while a fresh one was issued to Oyetola as the duly elected governor.

However, following Adeleke’s appeal in February, the appellate court’s three-man panel in its judgment by Justice Mohammed Shuaibu voided and set aside the decision of the tribunal on the grounds that the tribunal erred in holding that a case of over-voting was established, consequent upon which Adeleke’s votes were deducted.

The judgment of the Court of Appeal setting aside the judgment of the tribunal and affirming Adeleke’s election as governor prompted the current appeal before the Supreme Court. Specifically, Oyetola in his appeal is praying the apex court to set aside the decision of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, which voided the judgment of the Osun State Election Petition Tribunal, which returned Oyetola as the winner of the November July 16, 2022 governorship election.

Epia, OrderPaper Founder, is Nigeria’s Most Influential Think Tank CEO

Founder and Executive Director of OrderPaper, Oke Epia, has emerged the Most Influential Think Tank CEO in Nigeria, according to CEO Monthly Magazine, a United Kingdombased Business-to-Business global media organisation.

Epia, a Civic Tech Leader, Public Policy Advisor and Strategic Communications Expert parades vast experience in governance, parliamentary monitoring, media

relations, stakeholder relationship management, capacity building and advocacy.

Having founded OrderPaper Nigeria in 2015, the platform has evolved into the country’s premier and pre-eminent policy think-tank and legislative interface, bridging the gap between people and parliament in Africa’s most populous nation.

With extensive impact in the public policy space, including

Lagos Demolishes 13 Buildings on Airport Road

The Lagos State Government has demolished 13 buildings in Ajao Estate, close to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Gbolahan Oki, said the buildings were demolished for lacking required approvals, and were cited around the airport restricted areas while some were cited on aviation fuel pipelines.

Oki added that the builders also lacked required approvals for construction in that area, insisting that the buildings were constructed illegally in disregard to extant laws.

“The buildings had no planning permit and were built around the

pipelines. Nobody in his right mind will build on a pipeline,” he noted.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), which supported the government’s action, especially after issuing several stop warnings to ‘encroachers’ who ‘stole’ from the airport land to build.

General Manager (Business Development) of FAAN, Ngwu Hyacinth, applauded the partnership with LASBCA to bring normalcy and decency to the airport environment. He lamented that the airport authority began to notice encroachment on its land in 2015, which defied the rule that no building must be cited close to the perimeter fence.

extractive sector reform advocacy over the past decade, Epia has grown OrderPaper into a formidable and leading parliament-focused organisation regarded by its teeming public as the ACT of Parliament being built on Authority, Confidentiality and Trust.

OrderPaper started off by providing exclusive and niche reportage of Nigeria’s National Assembly and evolved over time to

dedicated legislative accountability offerings anchored on annual performance appraisals of the 469-member bicameral legislature. Epia conceptualised and led the vibrant and ebullient team at OrderPaper to develop and deploy the novel and unprecedented Most Valuable Parliamentarian (MVP) Hall of Fame recognition and awards programme for deserving members of the National Assembly.

NNPC: AKK Project to Begin Supply of Gas to North, W’Africa in Months

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), has said that once the OB3 ‘River Crossing’ is completed , the national oil company would be able to supply gas from the Niger Delta to the north and West Africa in a matter of months.

Speaking on Arise Television, THISDAY’s broadcast arm, the Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer of the company, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, insisted that the Ajaokuta-KadunaKano (AKK) project was moving as planned despite the withdrawal

of the Chinese government.

According to Eyesan, the gas project would enable Nigeria to industrialise the country, explaining that since the coming of the current management in 2019, it had taken the plunge and had made progress on the project.

“Once we finalise the OB3 river crossing, which has been a sticky part of the project which we are hoping to get past in the next couple of months, we will be moving gas from the South to the North and even to the West African sub-region, also to North Africa.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

L-R: Lay President Emeritus, Methodist Church of Nigeria, Diocese of Lagos-West, Sir Akin Hanson; Archdiocesan Lay President, Lagos Mainland, Sir Ben Oshadiya; Host Lay

Diocese

Lagos-West, Deji Aderibigbe; Host Bishop, Rt. Rev Ezekiel Akande; Special Guest of Honour, Hon. Moses Fayinka; Archbishop of Lagos Mainland, Most Rev Obafemi Adeleye; and Host Bishop’s wife, Yetunde Akande

Synod of Methodist Church Nigeria, Diocese of Lagos-West hosted by Palm-Avenue Circuit held at Methodist Cathedral, Palm-Avenue, Lagos… recently

Lagos-Ibadan: FG Appeals for Patience, Says Reconstruction Work on Final Stretch

As the reconstruction work on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway enters its final phase, the federal government has appealed for patience and understanding of motorists on account of the heavy traffic being experienced on the stretch from Toll Gate to Kara Bridge in Lagos.

The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Communications, Mr. Hakeem Bello, said he empathised with members of the public who have had to endure longer than usual

traffic as the reconstruction work in the heavily built-up stretch progresses towards the finish line.

According to the minister, the intensity of work and the high volume of traffic which had to be accommodated at the same time have been complicated by impatience on the part of some motorists who drive against the planned traffic flow and breakdown of vehicles.

He, however, noted that the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing is working with the Lagos State Government, all traffic management and

security agencies to minimize the discomfort of motorists.

The minister also explained that the contractors are also being encouraged to ensure that the final challenging phase of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway reconstruction work are concluded as soon as possible.

While noting that the earlier envisaged April 30 date for conclusion of the final stretch could not be achieved due to a combination of factors, work within the OPIC area between Kara Bridge and the Long Bridge

Bandits Release 70 Abducted Farmers in Zamfara, Kill Two

Bandits have released 70 out of 85 victims abducted from Wanzamai village of Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

However, two of the victims were killed.

The victims were kidnapped three weeks ago on their farmlands. They are mostly residents of Wanzamai, a community that had suffered series of bandits’ incursions in the past.

While the children went to the bush to fetch firewood, the other adults were kidnapped on farmlands when they went

for land clearing in preparation for this year’s cropping season. There are also women among the victims.

A resident, Sani Aliyu, said 70 out of the 85 victims were freed Friday night.

“The armed men had agreed to release the children after N6 million ransom was paid to them. Earlier, they refused to free the captives after N3 million was paid. They demanded that two brand new motorbikes must be bought for them.

“The armed criminals shot dead two teenagers trying to

escape. The released children are looking pale and fatigued. There are about 15 children still with them and we don’t know the reason for holding them.

“Some parents cried when they saw the terrible condition of their children. They look emaciated because of starvation and hunger. The freed victims are currently receiving medical attention,” he said.

The spokesman of the state police command, CSP Muhammad Shehu, could not be reached for comment.

Sanwo-Olu: Data Centre Operation Will Boost Digital Transformation

Emma Okonji

The Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has commended the rate at which data centres are springing up and expanding in the state, adding that the growth of data centres will boost technology development in the state and the country at large.

Sanwo-Olu said this at the weekend at the groundbreaking ceremony for the commencement of the expanded data centre, operated by Rack Centre.

The new data centre, known as LGS2, which is an expansion of the existing data centre, is expected to expand the capacity

of Rack Centre ten folds and consolidate its leadership as the digital infrastructure hub in the sub-Saharan African region.

Rack Centre, an Actis majority-owned and West Africa’s best-connected Tier III Carrier and Cloud neutral data centre, has reached full capacity of its existing data centre and has commenced the construction of a new best-in-class data centre in Lagos, Nigeria.

According to Sanwo-Olu, “We are very excited to have this kind of key Information Technology (IT) infrastructure like the LGS 2 data centre by Rack Centre in Lagos as this is in line with the ‘Themes’

agenda of the state government to make Lagos a 21st Century economy.”

The governor who was represented by his deputy, Mr. Obafemi Hamzat, commended the board and management of Rack Centre for the huge investment in the new data centre and for locating the project in Lagos State.

Hamzat explained that the importance of the data centre expansion project could not be overemphasised as a critical infrastructure that plays a vital role in Information technology, especially as it relates to the storage and security of data which is important to businesses and organisations.

MCSN Hails Buhari for New Copyright Law

The Musical Copyright Society Nigeria Ltd/Gte (MCSN) has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on the new Copyright Act 2022 which was recently signed by him as a parting gift to the creative industry.

In a letter dated April 19th, signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Society, Mr. Mayo Ayilaran, in a recent letter thanked the outgoing President for deeming it fit to give to the creative industry a parting gift in the form of a new copyright law.

“We have received with joy and hearts filled with gratitude the new Copyright Act 2022, which you recently signed for the creative industry in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We most sincerely thank you for this, as a parting from Your Excellency”

The Society also thanked the President for the great impact of his administration on the creative sector in the last seven years during which

hard decisions were taken, all of which have repositioned our creative industries to be coming up as a virile economic sector in Nigeria.

“Nigerian music, movies,

has been completed and would be opened to traffic tomorrow, Sunday. This means that the main carriageway, both bounds,

from Berger (New Garage) and Sagamu Inter-change on Section 1 of the Project has been completed.

Save Lives of Students Trapped in

Francis Sardauna in Katsina

The Katsina State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Badamasi Lawal, has called on the federal government to save the lives of stranded Nigerian students in Sudan by evacuating them from the war-torn country to the country.

Lawal, who spoke in a chat with journalists Friday night, said the government should immediately evacuate the students to save their lives and mitigate the trauma amongst them.

He said: “The Nigerian students are without food, money and shelter. One could imagine the

According to the minister, would now be focused on the outstanding work between Otedola Bridge and Berger.

Sudan, Commissioner Tells FG

difficulties faced by these young abducts. Only 10 out of the 40 buses were visibly seen conveying students to Egypt for possible evacuation to Nigeria.

“The deal of hiring or chartering the buses should be concretised to speed up the process. The situation on ground dashed the hopes of the students, parents and concerned Nigerians that the trapped Nigerians will leave Khartoum soon”.

The commissioner said although the federal government was making an effort to evacuate the stranded students from the war-torn country, it has not yielded significant results.

He lamented that many parents, especially those whose children were still in Sudan were worried about their safety, especially now that enemy’s planes were hovering over them at Afrique University, Khartoum.

According to him, the situation creates psychological fear in the minds of the students and makes them discouraged in the pursuit of education in foreign countries.

He, therefore, appealed to those saddled with the responsibility of evacuating the students to leave no stone unturned in guaranteeing their safety by bringing them back to Nigeria.

Plateau Monarch to Pay N10m over Unlawful Installation

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

A Plateau State High Court has ordered the paramount ruler of the Izere nation in Jos East Local Government of the state, His Royal Highness, Isaac Azi Wakili to pay N10 million as damages for unlawfully installing one Dang Azi as the Ward Head of Ahwere in his locality.

The court sitting in Jos and presided over by Justice P. Gang gave the order while delivering judgement in an originating summon filed against the monarch and six others by the claimant and Ward Head of Laminga community, Chief Y A Izang.

The Plateau State High Court presided over by His Lordship,

Hon. Justice Y.G Dakwak, had on May 11, 2007 ruled that the selection of one Dang Azi, in the first place, to aspire for rulership as a Ward Head of Laminga was null and void as it did not conform to the traditional evidence which only permits Azi’s Ahwere family lineage to aspire as Chief Priests and not as ward head in Laminga community.

literary work, and artworks among others, are now ranked among the best across the world and yielding multimillion dollars for our creators” Mr. Ayilaran stated.

MBF to Buhari

“A Nigerian President, who has served this country, should be here to die with Nigeria and Nigerians if he believed in Nigeria when he was president.”

– The Middle Belt Forum describing President Buhari’s recent remark on relocating to Niger Republic after handover as an indication that he is not committed to Nigeria.

SIMON KOLAWOLE

simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com,

A Census We Don’t Count on

The national population and housing census, so central to planning in modern societies, is one of the most politically volatile aspects of the Nigerian nationhood. I can safely predict that no matter the outcome of the next census — formerly scheduled for May 3-5 but now postponed indefinitely — it will be hotly disputed. Although we have excluded basic demographic markers such as religion and ethnicity to minimise controversy, there will still be allegations of manipulation of figures in favour of one state, one geo-political zone, one region or the other. There is no escaping it. The outcome will be attacked based on legitimate as well as ridiculous sentiments. You can take this to the bank.

Why do we always dispute census figures in Nigeria? One, there is a fundamental trigger since the data is partly used in sharing federally collected revenues. It is thought that a state with more population will get a bigger share of the federation allocation. In fact, some of us are still stuck in the past, so we do not stop at the population figure of a state alone but also add the states in a region together to analyse what the northern or southern region gets — as if we were still running regionalism. It made sense when we had regions and allocations went into same pot. But in 2023, what Oyo gets does not go to Ogun, or to the six south-western states, or to the 17 southern states.

NPC Chairman, Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra

Two, population figure is used to delineate certain legislative constituencies, namely the house of representatives and state houses of assembly. The senate is composed on the basis of the equality of states — thus, every state has three senators. The house of reps is based on population. While Lagos and Kano, as the

WAZIRI ADIO POSTSCRIPT

planning. It is also for politics.

Maybe there is also the bragging rights aspect that we should list as the third reason for the sensitivity of census. “My state is bigger than yours” is a very common shoulder-raiser in Nigeria. We often think quantity matters and this is also reflected in our universal boasting of being the “largest black nation in the world”. We know that a state could be smaller in population but bigger in economic well-being. Nigeria, for instance, is Africa’s No 1 in population but the continent’s No 35 in the World Economics Global Wealth rankings — but never mind. As I often say, I would rather my state was less populous and more economically productive, but that is such an impolitic thing to say.

most populous states, have 24 reps each, Bayelsa and Nasarawa states have only five each. Also, based on population distribution, Lagos and Kano each has 40 members of the state houses of assembly — the highest in the federation — while most states have 24 members each. That is why population census is not just about counting for

Population census outcomes are bitterly disputed because they always favour “the north”. When it was conducted by colonial governments, the results were rejected by southerners because the north turned out bigger numbers. When it was conducted in a military regime, southerners disputed the results — for the same reason. When it was conducted by a civilian government, the results were also disputed — for the same reason. When a president of southern extraction conducted the census, it was disputed — for the same reason. When a president of northern extraction did it, the figures were savaged as well — for the same reason. Inevitably, the next

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Exit of Two Grandees of Nigerian Letters

Last week, two grandees of Nigerian letters moved to the great beyond.

The first to depart was Mr. Peter Enahoro, eminent satirist, celebrated author, and journalistextraordinaire. He was 88. The following day, Professor Obaro Ikime, devoted teacher, first-rate scholar and renowned historian, followed suit. He was 86. Both lived full, accomplished lives, and as octogenarians lived well into what can be called a ripe age. Yet, their passing is a great loss to the world of letters, to history and to the country.

Both were national institutions, even when not officially recognised as such. Both were chroniclers of history—one, in a hurry, as a journalist; the other, with a retrospective lens, as an academic. Both were early achievers who lit the path for others, and in the process secured their place in history in a country afraid of according history its pride of place and of bestowing real achievers their dues. Both were members of a vanishing breed, legends of a vanishing era in a country with a vanishing memory.

In his 1979 book, ‘The Press of Africa: Persecution and Perseverance,’ Frank Barton described Peter Enahoro as “arguably Africa’s best journalist writing in English Language.” Yet, many Nigerians today within a particular

age bracket do not know who Peter Enahoro was. Most of those who know about him have heard or read his justifiably popular 1966 book, ‘How to Be a Nigerian.’ But the departed legend was more than a slim book of satire.

Born on 21st January 1935, Peter Enahoro started out as a journalist in 1955 when he joined Daily Times as a sub-editor. The highest formal education on record for him was as a graduate of Government College Ughelli. The man who later became famous as Peter Pan (the name of the column he ran in Daily Times from 1959 to 1966), was following in the glorious footsteps of his older brother, Chief Anthony Enahoro, one of Nigeria’s nationalists and accomplished pressmen.

Chief Enahoro made history when in 1944 he became the editor of the Southern Nigerian Defender, one of the newspapers in the West African Pilot group, owned by Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, a journalist and one of Nigeria’s founding fathers. Chief Enahoro was only 21 when he became the editor of the Southern Nigerian Defender, and is on record to be the youngest Nigerian to edit a major newspaper. Chief Enahoro became noted for other things. Two are worth stating briefly: for always getting in and out of jail in brushes with the colonial authorities as a journalist that he was nicknamed ‘Jailbird Enahoro’; and much later as a politician and parliamentarian, for moving, at age 30, the

first motion for Nigeria’s independence. The highest education on record for Chief Enahoro was as a graduate of King’s College, Lagos.

In their journalism and their books, the Enahoro brothers wrote in sparkling and lucid prose. That the duo could go on to establish themselves as writers and icons even with only secondary education spoke both to their industriousness and talent and to the quality of education of that era. In any case, that was also a time when journalism was seen as a craft largely learned on the job. But the really remarkable thing is that younger Enahoro was not afraid of stepping into an arena where his older brother had established himself as a legend. Peter Pan did not live in the shadows of Chief Enahoro. He actually went on to make his own history.

At 23, Peter Pan became the editor of Sunday Times. In 1962, at 27, he became the editor of Daily Times. And at 30, in 1966, he became the paper’s Editor-in-Chief. Daily Times at that time was the largest newspaper in Africa. So, at just 30 years, Peter Enahoro had been everything he could be as a journalist in Nigeria. Beyond editing the newspapers, he also kept the Peter Pan column for seven years.

The Enahoro brothers practised journalism as different periods, and this defined how they approached their craft. For Chief Enahoro, journalism was a veritable tool for campaigning

against colonialism and demanding for independence. It was thus not an accident that most nationalists like Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Ernest Ikoli, Ladoke Akintola and Anthony Enahoro were journalists or media owners.

However, the task had changed by the time Peter Enahoro actively practised journalism in Nigeria between 1955 and 1966. The battle against colonialism had been fought and won. The task was to demand good governance and to hold the feet of the new leaders to fire. Peter Pan understood this very well. He put his satirical pen to full service and held no prisoners, taking regular digs at leaders like Azikiwe, Ahmadu Bello and others. Shortly after military rule, he proceeded to London on a 13-year, self-exile during which he established himself as an international journalist, and edited a few pan-African publications, including the New African.

He founded Africa Now, a monthly panAfrican magazine, in 1981. He returned home to serve as the pioneer chairman of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) in 1992 and as the sole administration of Daily Times in 1996. But he had found home in London where he passed away last week. A writer’s writer, Peter Enahoro was the author of four books,

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