FRIDAY 3RD JUNE 2022

Friday 3 June, 2022 Vol 27. No 9915. Price: N250

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New Permutations Emerge as PDP’s Search for Atiku's Running Mate Intensifies... Page 42

Tinubu: I Made Buhari President, Osinbajo VP, Abiodun Governor Says ‘it’s the turn of Yoruba, and therefore my turn’ to be president Vice president meets Adamu, five governors APC governors to convey their suggestion to president today Deji Elumoye, Emameh Gabriel in Abuja, Gboyega Akinsanmi in Lagos and James Sowole in Abeokuta In a clear sign of desperation and fear that the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) might be slipping from his grasp, presidential hopeful and former governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Tinubu, yesterday, declared, unequivocally, that he made Muhammadu Buhari President of Nigeria, nominated Professor Yemi Osinbajo as his running mate, and got Mr. Dapo Abiodun elected as Governor of Ogun State.

Tinubu insisted it was his turn to be president. Analysts are of the view that Tinubu may have decided to go for broke, after sensing he may be losing the opportunity to achieve his 'lifelong ambition' to be president of Nigeria. "The outburst in Abeokuta today is a sign of frustration with the refusal of President Buhari to endorse him publicly. It is Continued on page 5

Key Choices Before Buhari

See story on page 10

Osinbajo

Lawan

Tinubu

Fayemi

Amaechi

Nnamani

Akpabio

Onu

Amosun

Badaru

Methodist Prelate Alleges Kidnappers Took Them to Gully Full of Corpses of Beheaded Victims... Page 43

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Nigeria’s Production Quota Hits 1.8m bpd as OPEC Ups July Crude Allocation Total country’s drilling deficit crosses 400,000bpd With 26% share of Nigeria's gas export, Kyari says Spain remains major market DHQ: Troops destroyed 40 illegal refineries in Niger Delta Emmanuel Addeh, Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos For the first time since April 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic hit the global oil industry, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) yesterday increased Nigeria’s production quota to about 1.8 million (1.799) barrels per day.

The new oil drilling limit increased Nigeria’s production deficit by an estimated 400, 000 barrels per day, since the country had only been able to produce about 1.4 million barrels daily of the 1.8 bpd ration.

The cartel and its allies, OPEC+ would increase oil production by 648,000 barrels per day in July, as opposed to the 400,000 bpd initially approved and the subsequent increase to 432,000bpd.

This was just as the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mallam Mele Kyari , has said that with about 26 per cent of all Nigeria's gas exported to Spain, the country remains a major market for Nigeria.

Also, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said yesterday that troops of the Nigeria Navy under Operation Octopus Grip and Operation Delta Safe discovered and destroyed 40 illegal refineries in the Niger Delta region in the last two weeks.

Nigeria had blamed massive oil theft, years of declining upstream investment, inability to restart oil wells shut in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic as well as outright sabotage by oil-producing communities for its lack of capacity to raise production.

From the approved schedule, Saudi Arabia would drill 10.833 million barrels per day in July, same for Russia, while the UAE would produce 3.127 million barrels per day.

In the same vein, Angola would produce 1.502 barrels per day, Iraq would be 4.58 million bpd while Algeria was given a limit of 1.039 million bpd.

THISDAY learnt that the increase by over 200,000 bpd was possibly to partly compensate for a small portion of Russian oil, which has

been shut-in due to sanctions spurred by its war with Ukraine.

A communiqué released by the organisation after the 29th OPEC and non-OPEC ministerial meeting held via videoconference, also acknowledged the most recent reopening from lockdowns in major global economic centres.

It further noted that global refinery intake was expected to increase after seasonal maintenance and highlighted the importance of stable and balanced markets for both crude oil and refined products.

“The meeting therefore resolved to: Reaffirm the decision of the 10th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial meeting on 12 April 2020 and further endorsed in subsequent meetings, including the 19th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting on the 18 July 2021.

“Reconfirm the production adjustment plan and the monthly production adjustment mechanism approved at the 19th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting and the decision to adjust upward the monthly overall production by 0.432 mb/d for the month of July 2022.

“Advance the planned overall

production adjustment for the month of September and redistribute equally the 0.432 mb/d production increase over the months of July and August 2022. Therefore, July production will be adjusted upward by 0.648 mb/d,” it stated.

It also resolved to extend the compensation period until the end of December 2022 as requested by some underperforming countries and called on underperforming countries to submit their plans

by June 17, 2022.

While reiterating the critical importance of adhering to full conformity and to the compensation mechanism, OPEC noted that its next meeting will hold on June 30, 2022.

Meanwhile, the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, speaking yesterday at the Nigeria-Africa Natural Resource and Energy Summit in Abuja, said while it was imperative to have a green initiative to fight carbon emission, it should reflect current realities and conditions.

As at today, Sylva argued that energy poverty was still much prevalent in the world, especially in Africa where millions

of people still do not have access to electricity or clean cooking fuels.

“Based on the UN data, about 760 million people lack access to electricity worldwide, with three out of four of them living in sub-Saharan Africa. Furthermore, one-third of the world’s population – about 2.6 billion people – have no access to clean cooking fuels, with over 900 million of these in sub-Saharan Africa.

“On the average, only 48 per cent of sub-Saharan Africa population has access to electricity, while only 18 per cent has access to clean cooking fuels, compared with a global average of 90 per cent and 70 per cent respectively.

“In relation to CO2 emission, World Bank statistics shows that the world average of CO2 emissions was 4.48 metric tons per capita in 2018, with some regions and individual countries recording five to seven times this value.

Emission by sub-Saharan Africa in total was only 0.76 metric tons per capita,” he argued.

The implication of this, he said, was that the issues surrounding energy poverty, climate and sustainable development are not mutually exclusive.

Consequently, he noted that

the approaches to attending to these issues should not be disconnected, but stressed that climate change remains of serious concern to Africa.

“But of equal concern is the alarming level of energy poverty.

Both must be addressed in a sustainable manner. It must be a win-win situation,” he maintained.

According to him, energy transition is about providing clean energy, and not about discriminating between energy sources.

With 26% Share of Nigeria's Gas Export, Kyari Says Spain Remains Major Market Kyari yesterday said that with about 26 per cent of all Nigeria's gas exported to Spain, it remains a major market for the country.

He, therefore, reiterated his commitment to sustaining what he described as the strategic energy partnership between both countries.

Kyari spoke while addressing Nigerian and Spanish business leaders on investment

Buhari, PANDEF Felicitate Queen Elizabeth II on Platinum Jubilee Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari and the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) have felicitated with Queen Elizabeth II England as she marks 70th anniversary on the throne.

Buhari, in a statement by his spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, yesterday extended warm wishes and congratulations, and that of Nigerians, to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, on the occasion of her Platinum Jubilee.

The president rejoiced with Her Majesty as she marked 70th year on the throne and Head of the Commonwealth of Nations, which Nigeria is a member.

Buhari noted that Queen Elizabeth II is the first British

monarch to reach seven decades on the throne.

In a message to mark the special occasion, the president noted that Queen Elizabeth had chalked a number of milestones including the fact of being the youngest ever on the throne, handling her role with confidence and grace and now, the one who has served the longest.

The president expressed his admiration for the Queen as a loyal, patriotic, and compassionate leader who worked for the people, not as a ruler but as a friend and compatriot.

“People never lose trust in Queen Elizabeth. Their firm belief is that she always has the potential to deliver, especially during troubled times. It is confirmation of the fact

that Queen Elizabeth always acts and delivers according to people’s expectations.

“In her lonely journey on the throne, and so recently having lost her husband and principal supporter Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, I and all our citizens wish her many more years as Queen of England and Head of the Commonwealth, in excellent condition of health.”

On its part, PANDEF, the apex socio-cultural organization of the people of the Niger Delta Region, has extended the warmest felicitations to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, on the occasion of her Platinum Jubilee on the throne.

PANDEF, according to a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon Ken

Robinson, expressed delight to identify with this milestone celebration of Her Majesty, becoming the first British monarch to celebrate a platinum jubilee following 70 years of exceptional service.

"Her Majesty epitomizes gracious royalty, elegance, kindness, goodwill and extraordinary leadership.

During the seven decades of her reign, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth 11, who is also the Head of State of the United Kingdom and fourteen other commonwealth countries, has brought joy, happiness, and hope to nations and peoples across the world.

"The National Leader, Chief Dr Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, OFR, CON, the National Chairman, Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien, FNSE,

TINUBU: I MADE BUHARI PRESIDENT, OSINBAJO VP, ABIODUN GOVERNOR significant that he said what he said in the home state of the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, another frontline contender for the APC ticket", an observer who pleaded anonymity noted.

Tinubu’s assertions came as Osinbajo hosted the national chairman of APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and five governors of the ruling party.

However, the governors said they would convey their collective decision regarding suggestions on Buhari’s successor to the president today or tomorrow.

But former President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Joseph Daudu (SAN), faulted Buhari’s recent request to be allowed to choose his successor, describing it as patently unconstitutional and akin to a coup d’etat.

Tinubu, who visited Ogun State in continuation of his tour to persuade delegates ahead of the APC presidential primary, declared that he facilitated the ascension of Buhari, Osinbajo, and Abiodun to their current positions.

Accompanied on the tour by a retinue of serving and former

opportunities in the Nigerian oil and gas industry in Madrid, Spain, on the sidelines of President Muhammadu Buhari’s state visit to the country.

A statement by the Group General Manager, Public Affairs of the NNPC, Garba Muhammad, stated that Buhari had earlier met with the Spanish President, Pedro Sanchez, King of Spain, His Majesty, King Filipe VI, and had given a speech at the headquarters of the World Tourism Organization (WTO) in Madrid.

During the visit, the NNPC statement quoted Buhari as saying that Nigeria looked forward to increasing bilateral relations with Spain.

Describing the partnership between Nigeria and Spain as an important one for the NNPC GMD said: “26 per cent of all LNG produced in Nigeria ends up in Spain and 14 per cent of all crude oil produced in Nigeria ends up in this country. Clearly for us as a business, it is an important market for my company.”

Kyari explained that the world would need energy for today and for the future in industries such as power, Information Technology, automobile, among others.

governors, ministers, deputy governors, senators, and a host of others, Tinubu said he was making the revelations for the first time because there was need for him to talk.

According to him, "If not for me talking to you today, Buhari would not have been president. It is over 25 years that I have been serving them. This one sitting behind me, Dapo Abiodun, he could not become the governor without me.

“Since the time we started with the Action Congress (AC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and now, the All Progressives Congress (APC), I wanted to contest for president since those times.

"This is me telling you between my life and God Almighty, Buhari called me to be his vice president. He said because the first time he contested, he picked Okadigbo, flamboyant, Catholic, but Nigerians didn't vote for him.

"The second time, he picked another Igbo, Ume Ezeoke, Nigerians didn't vote for him; that if he goes to bring the Pope to run as his vice, Nigerians won't vote for him,

but you, Bola Tinubu, you have six governors, you have never lost an election before, come and be my vice.

"He knew all the calculations then favoured us, that was why he wanted me as his vice, but I told him to let us build the party first. And when we finished building the party, after we brought in people from the PDP, Saraki now saw that those from the PDP will not get anything if Buhari, a Muslim, becomes the president and me, also a Muslim, becomes his vice, he won't get the senate president and the senate president cannot also be a Muslim, that was how they started the campaign of calumny against me.

"And I told them that I have a candidate that is a Christian that I can nominate so that the party will not break, that was how I nominated Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. I surrendered my right to him (Osinbajo).

“I was asked to submit three names: Yemi Cardozo, Wale Edun, and Yemi Osinbajo, but I said that if I submitted three names, it is like opening your door for a thief. They may add the fourth name and choose

that one. So, I insisted on only one name. You are hearing this thing from me for the first time.

"It is my time. I'm educated, I'm experienced. I have been serving you for a long time, bring me the presidency, it is my turn. When Atiku was being flogged out of the PDP

by Obasanjo, he ran to me for help, I got the ticket for him.

Nuhu Ribadu came to me and I backed him.

"It has been over 25 years now that I have been serving them.

This one sitting behind me, Dapo, can he say he can be the governor without me? We were together at the MKO Abiola Stadium, he was intimidated, they didn't want to give him the party's flag. I was the one that handed the flag to him.

He knows that he cannot be the governor without the help of God and my support.

"If not for me that stood behind Buhari, he wouldn't have become the president. He tried the first time, he failed, the second time, he failed, the third time, he failed. He even wept on national television and vowed never to contest

again but I went to meet him in Kaduna and told him he will run again; I will stand by you and you will win, but you must not joke with Yorubas and he agreed.

“Since he became the president, I have never got ministerial slots, I didn't collect any contract, I have never begged for anything from him, it is the turn of Yoruba; it is my turn."

Tinubu, therefore, asked Ogun State delegates to vote for him at the forthcoming primary of the party, saying, "Please, stand by me, you delegates that are here, from Ogun State, you shall not become delicates. Don't be carried away by ‘he is our son’.”

Responding, Abiodun said the people had listened to Tinubu and heard all he said. The governor described Tinubu as a fighter, bold strategist, mentor, and dogged politician.

He said, "This is a crucial time in the history of our nation. We shall do the needful and will justify why power must come to the South-west."

Continued on page 10

the Board of Trustees (BoT), the Executive Committees and the entire Membership of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, offer our congratulations to Her Majesty on her Platinum Jubilee, together with best wishes for her 96th Birthday.

We wish Her Majesty, the Queen, continuous good health and many more years to reign."

PANDEF further used the opportunity to call on Her Majesty, the Queen, the Government of the United Kingdom and the International Community in its entirety, to show greater interest in Nigeria's transition program to strengthen the credibility of the nation's electoral process and deepen democracy.

Britain began four days of festivities yesterday to mark Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee.

Millions of people across the UK were expected to turn out to mark the historic milestone, according to Euronews.

The monarch sent a message of thanks to the nation and said she was inspired by the goodwill shown.

Commenting on the highlights of the holiday weekend, Royal Commentator, Richard Fitzwilliams said: "The Queens' message talked about confidence and enthusiasm for the future and indeed, looking back, as a beacon of stability and continuity over the last 70 years, this will be an opportunity for the nation to show its gratitude as well, of course, it will be a break from the rigours of the last two plus years with the pandemic."

"We have a military parade today. The First Battalion of the Irish Guards will be Trooping the Colours which is a traditional, official birthday parade of the Queen and indeed the guards are marching and horse guards, quite literally now.

“The Queen first participated in Trooping the Colours in 1947, she will in fact be taking the salute from the balcony at Buckingham Palace after the parade because of mobility problems. But nonetheless, this will be a very fine military spectacle that it always is."

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NEWS

Group News Editor: Goddy Egene Email: Goddy.egene@thisdaylive.com, 0803 350 6821, 0809 7777 322

BUHARI MEETS NIGERIANS IN DIASPORA IN MADRID...

L-R: Minister of Youth & Sports Sunday Dare; Special Assistant to the President, Sports, Daniel Omokachi; President Muhammadu Buhari; Nigerian Footballer, Kenneth Omeruo and CEO Diaspora Commission Abike Dabiri, during an audience with some Nigerians in Diaspora and Nigeria Football Players in Spanish Clubs in Madrid, Spain...yesterday

Nigeria will Be Secured for Businesses to Thrive, Buhari Assures Spanish Firms Says interests of Nigerians in diaspora will always be defended Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Madrid, Spain, met with two Spanish companies doing business in Nigeria and assured them of a safe, secured and prosperous Nigeria for businesses to thrive.

Speaking at a meeting with chief executives of GB Foods, which grows tomatoes in Kebbi State and employs about 5,000 people, the president pledged that Nigeria would be secured, noting that it was one of the cardinal objectives of the administration.

He also assured of protection for local farmers against smuggling and dumping of foreign products, saying: “Detractors are working very hard against our efforts. That

was why we closed our borders for so long, and the result is evident.

We want to grow what we eat, and eat what we grow. Thank you for your huge investment in our country, the jobs you create, and skills imparted to our people.”

The Chairman of GB Foods, Artur Carulla, described the company as a family business now in its third generation in Africa, and which has invested over 250 billion dollars in countries like Nigeria, Algeria, Ghana and Senegal.

Promising to “double-down in Nigeria,” Carulla added: “Food is all we do. We have been in Africa since the 1970s. I’m married to an African, and connected emotionally with the continent. We bet on local talents and ingredients.

“It is good for us, and for Nigeria.

IFAD: More Climate Finance in Support of Small-scale Farmers Urgently Needed Oluchi Chibuzor Boosting investments to help small-scale farmers adapt to the impacts of the climate crisis is more urgent than ever, the United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) at the United Nations Conference has warned.

This is because small-scale farmers produce one-third of the world’s food, but receive only 1.7 per cent of climate finance and with the latest IPCC reports that have urged all stakeholders to act before it is too late, as the window of opportunity to secure a sustainable future for rural populations is fast closing.

IFAD in a statement said scientific evidence had proven that investments in climate adaptation reduce risks to people and nature, saving lives and protecting and improving livelihoods.

Speaking at a side event of the conference that commemorates the historic 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, the Associate Vice-President of IFAD and a global climate leader, Jyostna Puri, “If we leave small-scale farmers out of the climate finance efforts, we are simply pulling

the trigger for food shortages, food insecurity, mass migration, social unrest and conflict.

“We need to ensure that small scale farmers, who are at the core of our food systems, can adapt to climate change and continue to produce our food tomorrow. We know which adaptation techniques work, particularly those based on nature. We need to bring them to scale and do it quickly.”

According to the statement, small-scale farmers, as well as indigenous peoples, could be efficient stewards of biodiversity and ecosystems and they could also significantly contribute to climate mitigation efforts by protecting soils and biodiversity and helping to store carbon.

However, they often lack the financial resources and capacities to adapt to, or recover from, environmental changes and natural disasters increasingly triggered by climate change.

“Nature-based solutions such as agroecology, agroforestry, or ecological management in fisheries, which are at the core of IFAD’s climate adaptation work, are effective means to improve food security and livelihoods.

They also generate income, while protecting biodiversity, and human and ecosystem health.

We have built three factories in the last five years, and our products are 100 per cent locally manufactured.”

GB Foods pledged that in about two years, it would be en route to supplying 30 per cent of the nation’s tomato needs, stressing; “We will replicate what has happened with rice. We knew what it was before you came.”

At another meeting with Naturgy, a leading Spanish gas company, Buhari expressed pleasure that the company had established a steady partnership with Nigeria in the oil and gas industry.

He said: “I had the opportunity to head the industry for over three years. And a feasibility study showed that we are more of a gas-producing country than oil. I’m pleased that you have been our partners for so long, and we are doing our best to stabilize the security situation in the country.”

Chief Executive Officer of Naturgy, Francisco Reynes, said the firm's first contact with Nigeria was in 1992, and since then, they have

become one of the largest buyers of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG).

According to him, Naturgy was interested in extending its relationship with Nigeria on gas, citing its 178 years experience in the business.

“Countries like Algeria, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, and the USA, are our suppliers. We want to invest more in Nigeria,” Reynes said.

Also yesterday, President Buhari met with Nigerians living in Spain on the sidelines of his official visit, pledging that Nigeria would continue to defend the interests of its nationals living abroad.

The Diaspora team, which met with the President included President of the association, John Bosco; his deputy, Richard Omoregbe; Super Eagles player who plies his trade with Leganes FC, Madrid, Kenneth Omeruo; Obinna Okafor, a football agent; Mohammed Bashir, a student of Aviation; Segun Adedoyin, studying Global Affairs, and Bright Omorodion, a businessman.

The Nigerian leader said: “On the part of the federal government, Nigeria will continue to aggressively protect and defend the interests of all Nigerians abroad, especially the law-abiding compatriots.”

Buhari told the Nigerians he described as ambassadors of the country in Spain: “Many of you are here for different reasons, some for a fulfilling career in sports, especially in football from where you earn respectable incomes to sustain yourselves as well as maintain your extended families in Nigeria including investments back home.

"Some of you are engaged in other businesses that have enhanced your socio-economic status, both here and at home. More importantly, through your commitment to your various callings, you have enhanced the name and image of our country, thereby, earning Nigeria respect in Spain.

“I have also been informed of how law-abiding you are here in Spain. I wish to encourage you

to continue to be role models for our youth back home as well as sustain the image of being excellent Ambassadors of Nigeria in Spain and live peacefully in the various communities in which you reside here.”

Buhari, who the Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike DabiriErewa, described as, “the most Diaspora-loving President” then explained why he established the Commission: “As I have always done whenever I am abroad, I wish to reassure all of you in Spain, of the determination of the federal government of Nigeria, to continue to remain engaged with our compatriots in the diaspora, for more purposeful partnerships that impact our country and people, it is in the quest for actualising this objective that I established the Diaspora Commission to give focus to the management of this partnership that leads to a win-win situation for Nigeria, at home and abroad.

Nigeria's Oil, Gas Reserves, PIA Present Canadian Firms Attractive Export Market, Commercial Opportunities, Says Envoy Puts country's 2021 trade volume with Nigeria at over $1.2bn Peter Uzoho Canadian Trade Commissioner and Second Secretary (Commercial), Office of the Deputy High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, Ms. Sonia Hukil yesterday said the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and Nigeria's huge oil and gas reserves present many Canadian companies operating in the country with attractive export market and huge commercial opportunities.

Hukil also stated that Nigeria and Canada had been enjoying cordial bilateral relationship for many years, disclosing that the volume of trade between the two nations for 2021 was over $1.2 billion.

The diplomat made the assertions yesterday in Lagos, in her keynote speech at a hybrid workshop on "Indigenous Oilfield Solution Via Chemistry", organised by Pacegate Energy & Resources Limited (PEARL) in partnership with CES

Energy Solutions, and Adipro.

She said the PIA was a major win for Nigeria, stressing that the Act aimed to reform the nation's oil and gas sector and create a conducive business environment for investors.

Hukil maintained that Nigeria's position as the ninth largest global oil and gas reserves and amongst the biggest reserves in Africa, also present important market that holds plenty of commercial opportunities for Canadian firms in both the upstream and downstream subsectors of the African nation's oil industry.

She noted that the oil and gas sector was instrumental to the Nigeria's economy, as the sector constituted over 90 per cent of its exports and 80 per cent of government revenue.

"Also last year, a major win, which I would say, is the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act which

aims to reform the nation's oil and gas sector and create a conducive business environment. All these opportunities present a very attractive export market for many Canadian firms.

"Nigeria's upstream sector contributes significantly to the country's revenue but also there are commercial opportunities for Canadian companies in both the upstream and downstream sectors and it includes opportunities to provide training, technology and technology equipment and many others", Hukil stated.

She declared that Nigeria was Canada's largest trading partner in Africa and the largest investor into the country from Africa.

She added; "Just last year, Nigeria became number one partner for Canada with a trade volume of about $1.2 billion. So it is a very important economic partner for the Government of Canada."

Referring to the workshop which focused on oil and gas and the partnership between Nigerian and Canadian firms, Hukil said likewise, there was a lot of potential for collaboration between the two countries.

She identified natural resources and the servicing of extractive industries as important part of a symbiotic bilateral partnership between Nigeria and her country.

She further said, "Canada needs Nigerian oil and Nigeria is seeking Canada's oil and gas technology and equipment. As many of you are all aware, the oil and gas industry is a key economic driver for Canada.

Upstream and downstream activities are growing at a rapid pace.

"And globally, Canada is recognised as a leader in the oil and gas production, being the fourth largest producer of crude oil and the fifth largest producer of natural gas.

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NEWS

Key Choices Before Buhari Olawale Olaleye

President Muhammadu Buhari, Monday, tinkered with the mood in his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and, indeed, the nation, when he hinted at the possibility of a consensus in the choice of the party’s presidential candidate.

Buhari had at a meeting with the 22 governors of the party, in the presence of the National Chairman, Senator Abdulahi Adamu, cleverly stated that he wanted “reciprocity” in the process leading to the choice of his successor.

He simply asked to be allowed to determine who the fellow would be, as the governors, (so it was presumed), too, determined successors in their respective states.

The idea of seeking to be allowed to determine his successor did not come about by chance. The president was believed to have been mulling his options and, especially, how to go about it in the past few weeks.

Sources within the party had also hinted of a discreet committee long set up by the president to look at the options before him from the array of aspirants currently jostling to fly the flag of the ruling APC. The committee, which sources claimed, had long submitted its report, did so with some of the options deemed suitable from the lot and also offered explanation on each, allegedly.

While the sources declined to divulge the options presented to the president and why, the Monday meeting during which the president hinted at a possible consensus, was a follow-up to the committee report and, by extension, a clue on what would happen next week, when APC holds its presidential convention.

Very importantly, too, Buhari’s meeting with the governors, which held on a day the screening of the presidential aspirants of the party came to a close, was considered strategic to send home the right message. This is more so, as one critical question asked the aspirants during screening was what their reaction would be if the party embraced the consensus option for its primary election.

Since Buhari dropped the bombshell, shortly before departing for Madrid, Spain, on an official visit, discussions have continued almost endlessly, as to who his choice might be, even though he would not pick outside of the 22 men and a woman screened by the committee led by a former national chairman of the party and erstwhile governor of Edo State, Chief John OdigieOyegun.

But Buhari, typically, has managed to keep sealed lips, while keeping everyone guessing and the nation in suspense.

Buhari's choice is today the best kept secret, as no one can claim knowledge of the choice.

For a while, former President Goodluck Jonathan seemed like the beautiful bride. And with an eagle eye, the press kept vigil and made headlines of any scrap of information from that camp.

But events that have played out thus far, have excluded him as a tantalising prospect. Could it still be him? Well, not that it’s just impossible, but it is now highly improbable.

Yet, if Jonathan was out of the race or was never in it in the first place, these men are not.

The president is believed to have narrowed his choice to these 10 men from the 23 aspirants. They are Bola Tinubu, Yemi Osinbajo, Ibikunle Amosun, Kayode Fayemi, Chibuike Amaechi, Godswill Akpabio, Ken Nnamani, Ogbonnaya Onu, Ahmed Lawan, and Abubakar Badaru.

This, however, is notwithstanding the new thinking in the party, which seeks to broaden the space to allow for more options before the party journeys to its presidential convention next Monday, even though stakeholders are still sharply divided over zoning of the party’s ticket in order to face the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

But the question remains: who amongst these men will Buhari pick? Who is the president's choice hiding in plain sight?

In 72 hours or less, the nation shall know that which is hidden in the mind of the president.

Below are the possible contenders profiled in no particular order.

Bola Tinubu Their paths to a promising political partnership first crossed in the run-up to the 2011 general election, when an alliance was proposed between Buhari and Tinubu, including running on a joint ticket, although a MuslimMuslim blend. But the intrigues of that era were a bit too much for their proposal to fly and so, the idea was rested.

It was, therefore, not difficult to pick up from where they stopped, when the lead up to the 2015 elections also demanded some kind of partnership, stronger than the alliance proposed in 2011.

Tinubu provided the grounds for the merger and joined other forces to raise the team that sent an incumbent government packing.

Although Tinubu came to the merger with the mindset of the 2011 understanding of paring with Buhari, what was at stake in 2015 was bigger than the minced meat of 2011. So that understanding died a natural death. But Tinubu would not stop talking about it and if he ever falls in the consideration of Buhari,

it would be a compensation for his lifelong ambition.

Yemi Osinbajo Their first ever meeting was the night he was introduced to him as his co-pilot for the Nigerian project. He could barely even remember his name in their firstever outing together after that, when he erroneously referred to his running mate as “Osinbande” during an introduction. But seven years after, all that is history.

As dependable allies, Buhari and Osinbajo, have walked through the thick and thin of addressing many of Nigeria’s challenges. In his capacity as vice president, he has stepped forward to the demands of his office without reservation from any quarters. As acting president, Osinbajo made good the opportunities, which came a couple of times, to prove the stuff he is made of.

Therefore, after almost eight years together as a seemingly indivisible duo, Osinbajo ordinarily stands out as a good successor, who would easily sell the agenda of the ruling party.

But there are much deeper considerations beyond being his current deputy and this would be part of the factors to juggle, when his name eventually comes up.

Ibikunle Amosun His relationship with Buhari comes in two parts. One, as family and, two, as political ally. But he is closer as an adopted member of the Buhari family, who has been with him for many years.

No doubt, he is the closest to Buhari in the South-west. Little wonder, he is the only “stranger” allowed to see Buhari’s surviving sister. The two also flaunt their relationship without minding whose ox is gored.

Amosun has often taken it upon himself to do some political clean-up for the president, evidently, without prodding. It is personal for him. Even more, as a two-term governor of Ogun State, a state he rescued from the throes of economic and social maladies, Amosun’s management of security in the state at a time banks could not open for business for fear of robbers and how he marked up the state’s IGR are clear indications of capacity, competence, and ability to think outside the box.

Whichever angle his consideration comes from as Buhari’s likely choice, Amosun stands firm and able to take up the challenge, of course, with the support of the party and other stakeholders.

Kayode Fayemi Telling the story of the formation of the APC and the

young men, who burnt their energies to make it happen, without acknowledging the role Fayemi played would be history in poor revision. From how the name, APC, came about to the first announcement that introduced the “baby party” to the people of Nigeria, whoever is writing the story of the APC would not be seen as having done justice to it without properly documenting how Fayemi fared.

From his appointment as Minister of Steel, to his current office as not just the governor of Ekiti State, but also the governor of governors, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Fayemi has helped both Buhari and the party to manage his colleagues, to the admiration of the president, without crossing the lines on either side.

A progressive, young and promising mind, Fayemi’s development focus puts him in good stead. That’s in addition to sound academic background and choice of war studies for his PhD study, which are indications of palpable competence and capacity to cause change to happen.

Thinking Fayemi, clearly, puts these and more into account.

Chibuike Amaechi The former Rivers State governor wormed his way to the heart of the president long before the election of 2015. Based on personal conviction, even though he had no clue what the future held for him, Amaechi had told everyone, who cared to listen that the only person, who could win the election for APC was Buhari.

His conviction was further given fillip by two things: the need to fight corruption and insecurity.

Thus, Amaechi, working with like-minds, went all out and gave everything, even at personal expense, to make sure Buhari emerged, not just as the candidate of APC at its 2014 presidential convention in Lagos, but also emerged victorious at the general election.

Aside boasting enviable record, both as governor and Minister of Transportation, Amaechi, also has to his credit, the experience of having managed his colleagues at the level of speaker and as governor of governors for eight years. This puts him, too, in a vantage position. And as one of those who have done the administration proud with his railway revolution, he is standing pretty strong in the current equation.

Godswill Akpabio Wearing the badge of uncommon transformation as governor of Akwa Ibom State for eight years, the immediate past Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, is the second person, aside Amaechi, from the South-south,

TINUBU: I MADE BUHARI PRESIDENT, OSINBAJO VP, ABIODUN GOVERNOR was said to have passionately Osinbajo Meets APC scheduled to commence on Suggestion to Buhari appealed to the governors to Chairman, 5 Governors Monday, June 6.

Today Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday, played host to the chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and five governors.

Adamu led the governors, whose identities could not be immediately ascertained, to the meeting with the vice president at the Akinola Aguda official residence of Osinbajo within the precincts of the State House, Abuja.

Although the agenda of the meeting was not made public, there were speculations it might not be unconnected with the presidential primary of APC,

Sources told THISDAY that the meeting might have discussed the consensus option being canvassed

by Buhari.

Attempts to access the vice president’s official residence on Thursday evening was refused by security men, who claimed they were on instruction not to allow anybody in, except on invitation.

Efforts to also get information on the outcome of the meeting from the media aide to the vice president, Laolu Akande, also hit a brick wall, as he neither picked calls nor replied text messages.

APC Governors to Convey Their

Governors of the ruling APC resolved to convey their proposal on President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor to him when he returns from Madrid. This followed their meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, one of the presidential hopefuls of the party, which held Wednesday night, ahead of Buhari’s return to the country today.

A presidential aide told THISDAY that the meeting centred around the party’s presidential primary slated for next week Tuesday and Wednesday.

At the meeting, which lasted till 3am on Thursday, Osinbajo

see him as someone that could be trusted with the APC ticket, and one capable of winning the election for the ruling party.

The meeting also came at a time when there was apparent pressure on one of the national leaders of APC, Bola Tinubu, to shelve his presidential ambition.

APC sources confirmed that the Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, one of Tinubu's close allies, was directed to have a word with him, in an attempt to advise Tinubu to align with the president's decision to pick a nominee of his choice as the party's candidate for next year's presidential election.

A party source told THISDAY that only a few governors of

who is being penciled in for the job of the president as a result of the current confusion in APC. Although a second-class APC member by reason of the time he joined the party, Akpabio is also a latecomer to the “conference of presidential aspirants” owing to the time he enlisted in the race.

But, as a lawyer with potential for political novelties, he has claimed a slot in the race, as the party and president struggle to pick a consensus candidate acceptable to all.

With these in view, Akpabio is another South-south possibility, should Buhari resolve to go to the oil producing part of the country, as part of the balancing act to even out the power equation.

Ken Nnamani Very few people from the South-east enjoy the kind of admiration that the former senate president gets from the president.

Buhari is said to have a thing for him, especially, his maturity and capacity to manage people and relationships, irrespective of their contrasting dispositions.

Curiously, his tenure as senate president has remained one abiding testimonial that he takes about. He stood against the alleged third term agenda of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and followed it up till the federal legislature killed it and paved the way for the 2007 elections.

Therefore, the debate about his knowledge of the country does not arise, if the ability to manage his colleagues, is a factor to reckon. And coming from the South-east, which is desperately seeking to produce the president in the interest of equity, justice and fairness, Nnamani is not standing badly in the consideration, if the dice rolls up South-east.

Ogbonnaya Onu Talk about an Igbo man, who commands genuine respect from the president, the former Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, has no rival. He has maintained a good relationship with Buhari since the early years of the country's return to civil rule, when their paths crossed in the All Progressives Party (APP) – a camaraderie they enjoyed till the APC merger in 2015.

Although Onu’s placement in the cabinet is largely attributable to what he brought to the merger table, that he has kept his job has also been because Buhari has a personal relationship with him, which he considers more important than whatever new thing their political romance mighty have birthed.

A respectable southeasterner and elder statesman, Onu’s presence in the race for presidency is another pointer to the clamour the party were opposed to the president's resolve to choose a successor. This was confirmed by a senior party official, who craved anonymity, but disclosed that since the meeting, most APC governors loyal to the president had visited the State House to affirm their readiness to work with Buhari’s candidate.

The source said, "The governors on their own decided to go and discuss the matter and promised Mr. President they will revert. After a long meeting into the night, they resolved to adjourn; at that point, the majority were ready to align with Mr. President.

"Since after the meeting, many of the governors have been coming to the villa one by one to express readiness to

for a president of the Igbo extraction. And with a resume that speaks to experience and capacity, although acceptability is debatable, Onu is equally strong in consideration, should the president decide to go to the east.

Ahmad Lawan What was first thought to be a child’s play has turned around to pose one of the biggest threats to southern presidency in the APC. At least, so it is believed. Lawan’s presidential bid was said to be an idea conceived out of the many extrapolations that envisaged what direction the opposition PDP might go. Same thinking has given rise to new ideas.

But cashing in on the confusion on the turf and the rigidity of the multiple southern aspirants, Lawan’s choreographed idea has come to reality, standing conspicuously in the way of the southern agenda, which seeks power shift after Buhari’s eight years in office by May 2023.

Lawan might not have particularly impressed a majority of Nigerians with his performance as President of the Senate. That’s almost a consensus. His tenure pandered too much to virtually everything Buhari wanted, whether or not it sat well with the people. Particularly, his leadership made a mess of the amendment to the 2022 Electoral Act, which has continued to count against him.

But all these have not reduced his place as a major contender to the nation’s top job.

Abubakar Badaru Here comes the dark horse in the true sense of it. The only thing many people can recall about the Jigawa State governor, Abubakar Badaru, is that he bought the presidential expression of interest and nomination forms and submitted them as others did. Not that he had been seen anywhere or caught on camera consulting with delegates or leaders in different parts of the country.

Although a colleague of his from a neighbouring state was said to be preferred after some of the party’s analyses were contextualised. However, because the fellow was said to have some issues with the United States government, then, the idea of encouraging Badaru became inevitable for reasons of realpolitik, when the threat posed by the opposition was all thrown on the table.

Thus, if the decision of the president is to go to the north, then, Badaru is said to come first before even before Lawan. That he has maintained a radio silence is not unintentional but part of the script meant to evolve and materialise at the nick of time.

•See update tomorrow work with Mr. President's choice.

They will all report their decision to the president anytime from tomorrow. Everyone of them already knows who the president is talking about.”

The presidential aide said Buhari had taken his decision and was not ready to go back on it.

According to him, "The president has said his mind and the governors know what is at stake at this moment. He was even democratic in his approach not to have put it straight to them that this was his candidate, like others would have done.

"Governor Ganduje, to the best of my knowledge, has been asked to speak with Tinubu to drop his ambition for the sake of peace and progress of the party.”

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OPI NION

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10 YEARS GONE!

Onyeka Maimuna Kamsiyonna Kayinetochi Kayimarachi & Kobichime Anyene

Sleep On, Onyeka Anyene and Family, till we meet again on the resurrection morning.

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...Unforgettable TENTH YEAR MEMORIAL With heartfelt thanks, trust and faith in Almighty God, we the friends of Late Barr. Onyeka Collins Anyene remember our dear friend and his family who departed this world from the Dana Air Crash of 3rd of June 2012. It is ten years already but the events of that day still feel like yesterday’s.

Rest on dear friends.

Signed:

Committee of Friends

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POLITICS

Monkeypox, Syphilis and Burden of Euro-American Racist Medical Research

Umo Eno’s Opportunity for Self-Actualization Versus Targeted ‘Generosity’

Umo Robinson, Media Aide to the Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor highlights the damning inclination of the average Akwa Ibomite to judge leaders by their quality of being kind, even if it is Chido Nwangwu sheds light on the controversy designed to impress involving the American government and the current outbreak Monkeypox I’m Nigeria

I

n this digital age of instant communication, most individuals and organizations have armed themselves with the capacity to use any smart phone to reach as many persons across the world. You can broadcast, share and initiate the “trending” of news, any news, “fake news” and volatile issues.

Consequently, as the U.S government insists it has no hand in this monkeypox business in Nigeria, there are factual issues from colonial and recent documentation of British, American, French, Belgian European medical history of racism, millions of people in the U.S and around the world. Although I believe that the United States is not involved in the monkeypox laboratories scheme, there are others who insist the world needs to simply look back at the Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Negro/African-American/ Black Male — conducted between 1932 and 1972 by the United States Public Health Service (PHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on more than 400 African-Americans with Syphilis.

Those men, it was later revealed were not informed of the scope, hazards and discriminatory underpinnings of the experiment. At least, 100 Black folks died from the hazardous and nakedly racist institutional impunity of the White scientists and administrators who implemented the Tuskeegee deathly atrocities.

The Public Health Service started the study in 1932 in “collaboration” with Tuskegee University (at the time, as Wikipedia notes, Tuskegee Institute), a historically Black college in Alabama.

Fact is that some of what some people read and share may not have accuracy and reliability as important considerations. Stories are made up, concocted and distributed across the social media. Pictures on manipulated to show different things from the original events. Super powers also play those games….

The United States Embassy in Nigeria is embroiled in fighting off a monkey moment — on behalf of its government. A few days ago, it dismissed as false and misleading, reports on some social media platforms which claim(ed) that “US-controlled”

laboratories are being used to spread Monkeypox in Nigeria.

The embassy in a statement titled ‘U.S.-Nigeria Collaboration on Infectious Disease Threats’, stated that “Such reports are pure fabrication.

There is zero merit to any allegations regarding the use of US-assisted Nigerian laboratories in the spread of Monkeypox. Furthermore, there are no “US-controlled” laboratories in Nigeria.

These falsehoods detract from the work that the United States, in close coordination with Nigeria and multilateral partners, accomplish together on public health that includes disease surveillance, diagnosis, prevention, and control.”

It added that “Recent misleading posts on social media wrongly speculate on the origin of the current global outbreak of Monkeypox disease and supposedly call for the World Health Organisation to investigate the socalled ‘U.S.-controlled laboratories’ in Nigeria.”

Only a few days ago, I requested Clement Emenike Anyiwo, the distinguished Emeritus Professor of Medicine, United Nations former specialist on HIV/AIDS, and he shared with me and USAfrica published) his insights on the key scientific issues regarding the Monkeypox virus (MPV). He serves as Contributing Editor for USAfricaonline.com .

He pointed out that “MPV was first discovered in 1958 in sick monkeys in Singapore, kept for research when two outbreaks of pox-like disease occurred. The first human case occurred in Ecuador, South America in 1970, ten years before Smallpox was globally eradicated in 1980. As if it was waiting to fill in the vacuum.

Research has shown that this virus now occurs sporadically in heavily forested regions of Sub-Saharan Africa, notably Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria. MPV is a large DNA virus that belongs to the family of Poxviruses, called Poxvirudae, which includes Smallpox, Chickenpox and even Cowpox.”

On the important information regarding transmission, Prof. Anyiwo stated that “MPV can be transmitted, person- to- person through exchange of large respiratory droplets, such as in COVID-19, during prolonged faceto-face contact, bodily fluids, scratchy rash with red spots that get filled with fluids and pus, contaminated items like clothing and bedding.”

Meanwhile, the Corona virus and its variants are not yet over, that is.

These days, the electronic evil geniuses continue to cause headaches and embarrassment to the military, economic and information superpowers and heavyweights of the world!

In decades past, you practically and physically have to send troops and aircrafts to get beyond the walls of sovereignty. You only need, these days, an iPhone or the cheaper Techno.

Welcome, to the new world (dis) order!

T

here is something fortuitous about the fact that May, 2022, has not merely yielded its usual Workers Day celebration, but that the event afforded the theme: “Labour, Politics and the Quest For Good Governance,” which is a fitting herald to the party primaries for the 2023 general election - the field-equivalent of the theoretical quest initiated by workers on May Day. Indeed, arrival at the terminus of good governance has always come as the result of a quest - a sustained and rigorous one at that! And the history of political thought and practice bears out this position.

From the democratic fountain-head in Plato’s Ideal State in the ancient Greek Polis, to modern benevolent autocracies, it has been one big quest, deploying sociopolitical engineering to circumvent the deleterious effects of human selfishness and acquisitiveness on society. In places where the quest has been successful, a perfectly constituted political community has been forged. Such communities have been harmonious, stable and affording the greatest good for the greatest number.

No wonder it is said that eternal vigilance is the price of liberty and its many benefits.

But in our state – Akwa Ibom – and country, this vigilance is abysmally low. The situation has allowed for the festering of terrible notions of governance, particularly the notion conveyed in the remark: “Isinoho Owo Mkpo” (he does not give), which the average Akwa Ibom person has adopted hook, line and sinker as yard-stick for the screening of leadership materials.

It is a measure of the concern generated by the faulty sense of value underlying our people’s preference for alms from would-be and extant political office-holders, that Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, a leading Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in the state, recently cried out against the charge by his opponents that he does not give.

From the pulpit of his church, the All Nations Christian Ministries International in Eket, during his 58th birthday anniversary last month, the clergy lashed out at his traducers: “How else do I give?” he queried. “If as a private entrepreneur, I spend about N25 million every month as salary for more than 1000 workers who have consequently been able to get married and run their families, build their personal houses and actualize themselves sustainably in other ways, how else do I give?”

Annually, that is about N300million injected into the economy of the state in the last two or so decades – so, for those who asked: ‘who is he and where has he been?’, let the man again speak for himself: “…friends, I have been around and working quietly for the people of Akwa Ibom State - perhaps longer than any of my opponents has been.”

There, indeed, is the crux! As praiseworthy as proven and genuine gestures of charity can be, it must be stressed that they are not as dependable a good-governance guarantee as the social-contract scheme adopted by serious and productive democracies. Otherwise, the Chinese would not say: “don’t give me fish; but teach me how to fish”. Loosely defined, the social contract theory involves an agreement by the people to collectively evolve a political authority by which they are governed on agreed terms, “governed” here implying the harnessing of the commonwealth and

deploying same for the common good.

In charity, the people are at the mercy of the usurpers of the commonwealth, whereas in the social contract, delivery of good governance is compelled by the force of an obligation. Yes, “usurpers of the commonwealth” – because these “givers” in government had, prior to their apparition on the public-space, posted no history of philanthropy. It means that their much-vaunted generosity – targeted as it is – is funded solely by looted funds which rightly belong to the people.

Again, the tragedy of embarking on leadership recruitment on the basis of the philanthropic competence of the applicant, may be further illustrated by the analogy in which a hospital board decides to hire the man most capable of lavishing its members with gifts, for a critical heart-transplant case; without as much as referring to the man’s academic qualifications or reviewing his practice record in cardiology. “Out-of-this-world!,” “penny-wise and pound foolish!”, one would say as description for the board’s behavior. And even that would be putting the matter rather mildly!

Yet, this is exactly what our people do at every election cycle. And in response, Joseph Marie De Maistre, the 18th century Savoyard philosopher and writer, weighs in posthumously with this verdict: “in a democracy, the people end up with the government and leaders they deserve.”

It means that if democracy has failed to be a force for the common good in Nigeria, the people are to blame because of a preponderantly faulty sense of value.

But luckily in Akwa Ibom State, Governor Udom Emmanuel is changing the paradigm by insisting that we shun instant gratification, get our priorities right in order to be able to look at the wealth-creation antecedents of our leadership applicants.

In carrying out his own leadership mandate as governor of the state, Mr. Emmanuel has pointed the way in terms of what to look for as criterion for responsible and productive leadership – exactly what Pastor Umo Bassey Eno held up in his pulpit defense: “How else do I give? If as a private entrepreneur, I spend about 25 million naira every month as salary for more than a thousand workers …, how else do I give?”

Delegates of the PDP who recently converge at the hallowed grounds of the ‘Nest of Champions’ for the historic assignment of recruiting the next governor of the state, arguably, heard echoes from this pulpit defense, which guided their hearts to choose Umo Eno as the party’s gubernatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom State.

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See page 24 PETER OBI’S POLITICAL (MIS) CALCULATION AYODELE OKUNFOLAMI urges Obi’s followers to use his candidacy to change the existing political order See page 24 MOMOH AND THE PARADOX OF DEMOCRATISATION DELE SETEOLU memorialises Abubakar Momoh, a scholar-activist See page 25 SECURING STUDENTS IN KADUNA The ‘Centre of Learning’ is under constant attack, writes KENE OBIEZU See page 25 EDITORIAL IMPLEMENTING HEALTH INSURANCE LAW

See page 26

& RE A S O

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opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

IN DEFENCE OF YEMI OSINBAJO The successes and failures of the Buhari administration fall properly under the ownership of President Buhari, argues FEMI AWOTESU

UT H

The president’s move to anoint his successor though understandable risks defeat, writes BOLAJI ADEBIYI

BUHARI’S QUEST TO CROWN HIS SUCCESSOR Somehow, President Muhammadu Buhari has a knack for starting late and ÀQLVKLQJ YHU\ EDGO\ (DUOLHU LQ WKH ZHHN KH H[SUHVVHG WKH ZLVK WKDW HYHU\ GHSDUWLQJ H[HFXWLYH DOZD\V ZDQWHG WR DQRLQW D VXFFHVVRU ´, ZLVK WR VROLFLW WKH UHFLSURFLW\ DQG VXSSRUW RI WKH JRYHUQRUV DQG RWKHU VWDNHKROGHUV LQ SLFNLQJ P\ VXFFHVVRU µ KH WROG WKH JRYHUQRUV RI WKH $OO 3URJUHVVLYHV &RQJUHVV RQ 0RQGD\ VKRUWO\ EHIRUH KH GHSDUWHG WKH FRXQWU\ IRU DQRWKHU LQ KLV QXPHURXV RYHUVHDV WRXUV %XKDUL WROG WKH JRYHUQRUV WKDW KLV GHVLUH ZDV WKH SDUW\·V SROLF\ DQG WKDW LI DOO WKH H[LWLQJ JRYHUQRUV KDG E\ WKDW SROLF\ EHHQ allowed to anoint their successors while WKH UHWXUQLQJ JRYHUQRUV KDG EHHQ JLYHQ WKH ULJKW RI ÀUVW UHIXVDO LW ZDV RQO\ IDLU WKDW KH ZRXOG EH DOORZHG WR GR WKDW DW WKH IHGHUDO OHYHO 7KLV LV QRW H[DFWO\ FRUUHFW DQG KLV VSHHFKZULWHU PXVW KDYH PL[HG XS WKLQJV 7KH SDUW\ KDV QRW VKRZQ WKDW LW KDV DQ\ SROLF\ DW DOO ZDQGHULQJ DERXW VLQFH WKH SUHVLGHQW DVFHQGHG WR SRZHU LQ *RYHUQRUV KDYH DOZD\V KDG WR EDWWOH IRU WKHLU SROLWLFDO OLYHV ,Q XQGHU $GDPV Oshiomhole, the truculent erstwhile QDWLRQDO FKDLUPDQ RI WKH SDUW\ PDQ\ RI them struggled to retain their seats while those that were exiting had hard times LQVWDOOLQJ WKHLU UHSODFHPHQWV ,Q /DJRV 6WDWH $NLQZXQPL $PERGH was shunted aside and unseated despite WKH LQWHUYHQWLRQ RI KLV FROOHDJXHV ,Q 2JXQ 6WDWH ZKHUH ,ELNXQOH $PRVXQ D ERVRP friend of Buhari, held court, his choice, $GHNXQOH $NLQODGH D IRUPHU IHGHUDO OHJLVODWRU ZDV ZRUVWHG E\ 'DSR $ELRGXQ ZKR LV QRZ LQ WKH VDGGOH $PRVXQ·V H[SHULHQFH ZDV SDUWLFXODUO\ LQWHUHVWLQJ 5LGLQJ RQ KLV FORVH UHODWLRQVKLS ZLWK %XKDUL KH GLG DQWL SDUW\ DVNLQJ $NLQODGH WR FURVV WKH FDUSHW WR DQRWKHU SDUW\ ZKHUH KH HPHUJHG DV WKH ÁDJ EHDUHU 7KHUHDIWHU WKH GHFDPSHG IHOORZ ZDV WDNHQ WR WKH 3UHVLGHQWLDO 9LOOD LQ $EXMD for an audience with the president who UHFHLYHG KLP ZLWK JOHH $V OR\DO SDUW\ PHQ SURWHVWHG WKLV KLJK OHYHO DFFHSWDQFH of organisational indiscipline, Buhari DSSHDUHG DW D UDOO\ LQ $EHRNXWD WR DGG LQVXOW WR LQMXU\ ´9RWH IRU WKH FDQGLGDWH RI \RXU FKRLFH µ KH WROG WKH PDPPRWK DXGLHQFH WKDW FRQVLVWHG RI WKH UHQHJDGH·V VXSSRUWHUV DV ZHOO DV $3& PHPEHUV 7KH VLWXDWLRQ LQ ZDV QRW GLͿHUHQW 9LUWXDOO\ UXGGHUOHVV VLQFH ZKHQ 2VKLRPKROH ZDV HOERZHG RXW RI R΀FH WKH SDUW\ PDQDJHG WR LQVWDOO QHZ OHDGHUVKLS LQ 0DUFK WKLV \HDU +RZ WKDW leadership emerged is too notorious for LWV LQWHUURJDWLRQ WR GHWDLQ XV KHUH %XW LW LV HQRXJK WR VD\ WKDW OHDGHUVKLS KDV \HW WR VHWWOH GRZQ WR SURPXOJDWH DQ\ WUDQVLWLRQ

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What he needs to note is that although his wish might be understandable as the party leadership reserves the privilege to point the way for its members, it is, however, the right of the rank and file to reject the hierarchy’s choice if they are convinced that it is not in their interest

WKH VWUXFWXUHV DQG SURFHVVHV RI WKH SDUW\ ,Q RWKHU ZRUGV WKH SUHVLGHQW·V FKRLFH KDV WR EH WDNHQ WKURXJK WKH SDUW\·V VHOHFWLRQ SURFHVV $QG IRU LW WR EH VHHQ DV OHJLWLPDWH LW FDQQRW EH H[HFXWHG RYHUQLJKW RU LQ WKH PLGGOH RI WKH SURFHVV 2QFH 2EDVDQMR ZRQ KLV VHFRQG WHUP KH PDGH LW FOHDU WKDW KLV GHSXW\ $WLNX $EXEDNDU ZRXOG QRW VXFFHHG KLP $QG as soon as he lost out in his third term DJHQGD ELG KH XQYHLOHG <DU·$GXD DV KLV SUHIHUUHG FKRLFH VR WKDW HYHU\ RWKHU aspirant knew who and what he was up DJDLQVW +LV GHSXW\ WKHUHIRUH H[SORUHG DQRWKHU SODWIRUP WKH $FWLRQ &RQJUHVV 6R ZKHQ <DU·$GXD FRDVWHG KRPH WR YLFWRU\ DW WKH SDUW\·V QRPLQDWLRQ FRQYHQWLRQ WKH WDON RI LPSRVLWLRQ E\ WKH ZRUVWHG RSSRQHQWV ZLWKLQ WKH 3'3 ZDV VHHQ WR EH LQ EDG IDLWK ,I %XKDUL KDG D VRXQG SROLWLFDO PDQDJHPHQW WHDP KH ZRXOG KDYH EHHQ DGYLVHG WR SURMHFW KLV SUHIHUUHG VXFFHVVRU ORQJ EHIRUH QRZ 5DWKHU DQG DVNHG E\ D EURDGFDVW QHWZRUN GXULQJ D FKRUHRJUDSKHG LQWHUYLHZ ZKR KLV preferred successor was, he replied that it ZDV QRW KLV SUREOHP 1RZ DIWHU SHUVRQV KDYH SXUFKDVHG nomination forms at a whopping N100 PLOOLRQ SULFH WDJ HDFK DQG KDYH H[SHQGHG much more resources on electioneering QDWLRQZLGH %XKDUL LV WDONLQJ DERXW QRPLQDWLQJ D VXFFHVVRU D IHZ GD\V WR WKH HODVWLF QRPLQDWLRQ GD\ What he needs to note is that although KLV ZLVK PLJKW EH XQGHUVWDQGDEOH DV WKH SDUW\ OHDGHUVKLS UHVHUYHV WKH SULYLOHJH WR SRLQW WKH ZD\ IRU LWV PHPEHUV LW LV KRZHYHU WKH ULJKW RI WKH UDQN DQG ÀOH WR UHMHFW WKH KLHUDUFK\·V FKRLFH LI WKH\ DUH FRQYLQFHG WKDW LW LV QRW LQ WKHLU LQWHUHVW ,W PHDQV WKHUHIRUH WKDW WKH SUHVLGHQW·V FKRLFH FDQ EH GHIHDWHG LQ DQ RSHQ DQG IDLU FRQWHVW 7KLV WRR ZLOO QRW EH D QRYHOW\ ,Q 2EDIHPL $ZRORZR OHDGHU and presidential aspirant of the defunct 8QLW\ 3DUW\ RI 1LJHULD ZDQWHG KLV ORQJ WLPH DVVRFLDWHV (PPDQXHO $OD\DQGH DQG -RVLDK 2ODZR\LQ WR Á\ WKH JRYHUQRUVKLS ÁDJV RI WKH SDUW\ LQ 2\R DQG .ZDUD 6WDWHV +LV \RXQJHU DVVRFLDWHV %ROD ,JH DQG &RUQHOLXV $GHED\R VWRRG VWRXWO\ LQ KLV ZD\ 7ZLFH WKH FRQJUHVVHV ZHUH FRQGXFWHG DQG WZLFH WKH \RXQJ 7XUNV ZRQ UHVRXQGLQJO\ $ZRORZR ERZHG WR WKH ZLVKHV RI WKH UDQN DQG ÀOH LQ WKH WZR VWDWHV , KRSH %XKDUL·V KDQGOHUV ZLOO EULQJ WKLV WR KLV DWWHQWLRQ Adebiyi, the managing editor of THISDAY Newspapers, writes from bolaji.adebiyi@ thisdaylive.com

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T H I S D AY

FRIDAY JUNE 3, 2022

The successes and failures of the Buhari administration fall properly under the ownership of President Buhari, argues FEMI AWOTESU

AYODELE OKUNFOLAMI urges Obi’s followers to use his candidacy to change the existing political order

IN DEFENCE OF YEMI OSINBAJO

PETER OBI’S POLITICAL (MIS) CALCULATION

There have been some very strident FULWLFLVPV RI 9LFH 3UHVLGHQW <̥PL 2ʫLQEDMR since he launched his campaign for the Presidency. The more substantive objections fall under three broad categories – One, that his declaration constitutes a betrayal of his political benefactor; two, that he is irredeemably tainted by the failures of the Buhari administration and three, that he failed to speak truth to the power of President Buhari and his administration even as they implemented despicable policies. A fourth objection is that his membership of the Redeemed Christian Church of God renders him wholly unacceptable to Moslems in the North. The latter, based purely on religious grounds, is unreservedly reprehensible and underserving of consideration by thoughtful Nigerians; however, as the issue has been raised, I will also address it.

I write as an ordinary Nigerian citizen and hold no brief for the Vice President. I do not know him personally. I do not belong to his church or to his political party. I have no links to him whatsoever apart from our mutual heritage as Old Boys of Igbobi College, where , DGGUHVVHG KLP DV 6HQLRU 2ʫLQEDMR I write not simply in defence of the vice president but more as a rejoinder to pervasive commentary about his merit for the 3UHVLGHQF\ WKDW KDV EHHQ DW EHVW LQVX΀FLHQWO\ insightful or displayed misplaced emphasis and, at worst, has ventured into demagoguery and character assassination. Nigeria is a very young and feeble democracy. It behoves thoughtful Nigerians to engage in political discourse with intelligence, maturity and sober judgement, notwithstanding the frailties of our electoral process. In fact, if we are to be guided by the wise counsel that men like Abraham Lincoln exhibited when another young republic, the United States, was going through a perilous period in her history, the fragility of the Nigerian republic especially ZDUUDQWV FDUHIXO UHÁHFWLRQ DQG LQIRUPHG debate by thoughtful Nigerians.

One of the mistakes we make in Nigeria, and as Nigerians, is that we fail, repeatedly, to learn from history. The political history of the United Kingdom, whose parliamentary model we assumed in 1960 as well as that of the United States, whose Presidential style we subsequently adopted, is replete with examples of contenders for political high R΀FH VLGH OLQLQJ WKRVH ZKR KDG LQLWLDOO\ facilitated their political ascent. A crucial distinction in democratic governance from the aristocratic rule that preceded it is that SROLWLFDO R΀FH LV WKH SUHVHUYH RI QR RQH Going back to the Greek foundations of the concept, in a Demos, everyone who is deemed TXDOLÀHG WR UXQ IRU HOHFWLYH R΀FH LV HQWLWOHG WR do so, unreservedly. To stretch the concept of citizen further, anyone who feels he or she has talents and abilities to serve the public good and has the predilection and wherewithal to FRQWHVW IRU HOHFWLYH R΀FH VKRXOG VWDQG ,W LV the noble duty of a citizen in a democracy. So, WKH QRWLRQ WKDW 9LFH 3UHVLGHQW 2ʫLQEDMR KDV betrayed Governor Tinubu is utter nonsense.

In July 2008, David Miliband, the incumbent UK Foreign Secretary published an article outlining his vision for the UK’s Labour Party that made no mention whatsoever of the Leader of the party, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and in whose Cabinet David Miliband served. Two Labour Members of Parliament, out of about 360, called on Mr Brown to sack Mr Miliband for his perceived

disloyalty. Their petition was ignored. When the Labour Party lost the May 2010 General Election, Gordon Brown resigned as Leader of the party and a week later, on 12 May, David Miliband announced he would stand in the leadershipMcontest to elect a new Leader of the party. Two days following, on 14 May, David Miliband’s younger brother, Ed Miliband, who was also a Minister and fellow member of the Cabinet of Gordon Brown, announced that he too would stand.

In the end, the younger brother, Ed, won the election and became Leader of the Labour Party in September 2010. The Miliband

brothers dismissed any talk of fratricide as the younger Miliband assumed leadership of the party while his older brother, David, retreated to the Parliamentary back benches, and eventually left Parliament to become the CEO of the International Rescue Committee.

There are other examples in the annals of political history of political protagonists contesting against their erstwhile “political elders”. In politics, it is a moot point, as should be the case. The objective of all democrats should be that elections be contested by FRPSHWHQW DQG TXDOLÀHG FDQGLGDWHV DQG WKH best of the breed emerge victorious after a free and fair contest. That would be a credible avenue for achieving the best government of the people by the people and for the people. The language of “political godfather” recalls the sordid history of opaque politics H[HPSOLÀHG E\ WKH &KLFDJR EDFNURRP SROLWLFV of the 1960s that was tainted with links to the PDÀD 6XFK GLVUHSXWDEOH VHQWLPHQWV VKRXOG not be permitted to characterise Nigerian politics at this stage of our national journey.

In fact, the proper constitutional protocols dictate that, as the second citizen of the nation, 9LFH 3UHVLGHQW 2ʫLQEDMR VXSHUVHGHV *RYHUQRU Tinubu. The proper constitutional order, therefore, would be that no member of the APC ZRXOG GHFODUH IRU WKH 3UHVLGHQF\ ZLWKRXW ÀUVW checking with the Vice President. If the Vice President expressed his interest in contesting the Presidency, then all other aspirants in APC, to whom he is constitutionally politically superior, would defer to him, unless they wish to contest against him, notwithstanding his constitutional political superiority. So, contrary to the well-publicised view that Vice 3UHVLGHQW 2ʫLQEDMR KDV DWWHPSWHG WR XSVWDJH Governor Tinubu, the reverse is in fact the case.

Awotesu is a Senior Analyst at an Asset Management ÀUP LQ /RQGRQ

Reports that the former governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, resigned his membership of the main opposition party was met with mixed feelings. While some saw dumping a party that was unlikely to RͿHU KLP WKH WLFNHW DV JRRG DV JRRG ULGGDQFH RWKHUV IHOW KH ZDV EHWWHU RͿ PXVFOLQJ LW RXW with the big dogs, nevertheless.

Mr Peter Obi came into limelight in 2006 when he became governor of Anambra State after battling in court for three years to claim his mandate wrongfully given to the then Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Dr

Chris Ngige. Obi was of the All Progressives Grand Alliance. Obi contested and won a VHFRQG WHUP LQ R΀FH He had left APGA in 2014 to join the PDP that “stole” his mandate. Such moves are XQVXUSULVLQJ LQ 1LJHULD·V ÁXLG SROLWLFDO space. Ngige himself had left the PDP for the APC. Obi decamped without the usual funfair that goes with movements of former governors. The state structure of the party wasn’t in his control neither did we witness bigwigs of APGA go with him to PDP. Be that as it may, Obi had wormed himself into the hearts of the regular Joe with his public appearances highlighting with his husky YRLFH KLV SUXGHQFH ZKLOH LQ R΀FH DQG JLYLQJ elementary insights on how public funds can be managed.

However, what took his popularity to stratospheric heights was when against political permutations, the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, selected him as his running mate ahead of the 2019 general elections. It was tough to question Atiku’s pick at the time despite frowns from the Southeast caucus of the PDP and from the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, for the petty reasons like not being consulted before he made the choice was made. PDP lost the election, but Obi continued selling his personality and brand of governance to the public.

As politicians started showing interest in picking their party’s nomination for next year’s elections, Peter Obi was being urged to run. In January this year, he gave a cagey tweet stating that he would contest for the position of the president if PDP zoned it to the south and if not, Nigeria would hear from him.

Zoning is political and not a moral decision.

The truth is that had the southwest not voted in bloc for Alliance for Democracy, a political party that then stood for the interests of the southwest region, at lower tier elections leading to the presidential elections of 1999, the argument for a southwest presidency might have been much weaker. The southeast

doesn’t have such an electoral history.

The voting pattern in the region, which also has the lowest electoral numbers is VSDUVHO\ GLVWULEXWHG PDNLQJ LW GL΀FXOW for the major political parties to lay their electoral fortunes on such uncertainties.

Furthermore, zoning worked in the past when the political space was less competitive and was a monopoly of the PDP where the power brokers could easily throw out a morally strong candidate that the electorate would like and at the same time fundamentally weak politically to be easily manipulated by the political elite.

Times have changed. So, zoning it to the southeast, would either mean a puppet red-capped man in power or a major political party risking its political fate to an opponent that presents a rival with higher political numbers. Obi is upright but sure would be nobody’s puppet.

Moreover, he never presents himself as a SURYLQFLDO FDQGLGDWH KH RͿHUV KLPVHOI DV a Nigerian.

As time passed for PDP to decide on zoning, aspirants began making pronouncements for the top job. Obi was present when Atiku made his declaration. He joined Atiku in a few travels before he made his own modest declaration to run. Obi’s campaign which became a movement captured the hearts of his supporters. His followers grew astronomically especially on social media where they kept on prevailing on, practically blackmailing, the PDP to pick him as its candidate. They did nationwide roadshows and even went to the party headquarters demanding that Obi was chosen. Then came the news that he was resigning his membership of PDP to pursue his ambitions elsewhere.

He cited acts inconsistent with tenets of democracy in his letter of resignation.

What are those inconsistencies? Was he expecting a perfect system? How GLͿHUHQW LV WKH SURFHVV WKLV WLPH DURXQG from that that made him vice presidential candidate in the last electoral cycle? Why leave a leading opposition party with national spread that could still place him a heartbeat away from the presidency for a little-known party? Or did he just want to avoid embarrassment at the convention?

If he couldn’t convince less than a thousand delegates to vote for him, how does he expect to win the votes of tens of millions? The argument that the delegates were bought fails as vote buying will also play a part in the general elections.

2XU HOHFWRUDO V\VWHP LV RͿHQVLYHO\ merchandized from exorbitant price of nomination forms to dollarisation of delegates.

By the way, his emergence as the Labour party candidate was democratically suspect with his opponents stepping down. Our misgivings against APC and PDP aside, they had competitive primaries to pick those running for their respective platforms after sales of forms were made public to aspirants.

These were absent in practically all other parties.

Okunfolami writes from Festac, Lagos

325

T H I S D AY FRIDAY JUNE 3, 2022

DELE SETEOLU memorialises Abubakar Momoh, a scholar-activist

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OLJKWZHLJKWV DUH ODUJHO\ ZRUVKLSSHG *LYHQ WKDW , ZDV D FROOHDJXH IULHQG DQG FRPUDGH RI $EX ZKR ZLWQHVVHG VRPH RI KLV DFWLYLWLHV DV an enigmatic activist, needless to stress that I DP GHOLJKWHG WR EH LQYLWHG WR GHOLYHU WKLV WDON My presentation is divided into four PDLQ SDUWV ,W VWDUWV ZLWK DQ LQWURGXFWLRQ WKDW ZLOO ÁRZ LQWR D VKRUW GLVFRXUVH RI 0RPRK DQG KLV LQWHUDFWLRQ ZLWK ZKDW I refer to as the ‘‘African and Africanist intellectual universe.’’ This second section ZLOO EH IROORZHG E\ D WKLUG WKDW XQGHUVFRUHV Momoh’s postulations on democracy, democratisation, de-democratisation and 0\ SUHVHQWDWLRQ FRQFOXGHV ZLWK ZK\ it is important to remember our heroes and KHURLQHV ¶IURP EHORZ· ² VXFK DV 0RPRK ² in our contemporary interrogation of the socio-economic and political challenges confronting Nigeria and indeed Africa.

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7KH /DWH 3URIHVVRU RI 3ROLWLFDO 6FLHQFH ZDV bothered about the contradictions in Nigeria’s political economy amidst the socio-economic FRQGLWLRQV RI WKH ZRUNLQJ SHRSOH XUEDQ SRRU DQG UXUDO SHDVDQWV +H FULWLTXHG HFRQRPLF policies and political actions that pauperised, alienated, and impoverished the mass of the people in Nigeria. Comrade Momoh ZDV DQ DUGHQW FULWLF RI PDUNHW UHIRUPV LQ WUDQVLWLRQ VRFLHWLHV LQFOXGLQJ 1LJHULD +H SXEOLVKHG VHYHUDO ZRUNV RQ PDUNHW UHIRUPV development trajectories, impact of state

HFRQRPLF SROLFLHV RQ WKH ZHDN VRFLDO FODVVHV the falsity of abstract based development ZLWKRXW WKH UHTXLVLWH KXPDQ GHYHORSPHQW and the political philosophy of development. $EX DFWLYLVW UROH DW WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ RI /DJRV ZDV UHPDUNDEOH LQGHHG SURIRXQG +H SDUWLFLSDWHG LQ WKH SURJUDPPHV RI WKH 7KRPDV 6DQNDUD 0RYHPHQW <RXWK 6ROLGDULW\ RQ 6RXWK $IULFD <2866$ DQG other centrist and left organisations on FDPSXV +H EHFDPH D YLVLEOH DQG UHJXODU VSHDNHU DW SXEOLF HYHQWV RQ PDQ\ FDPSXVHV HVSHFLDOO\ WKH PDLQ FDPSXV RI WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ RI /DJRV LQ WKH V 0RPRK ZDV SDVVLRQDWH DERXW KLV EHOLHIV LGHDV DQG ZRUOG YLHZ KH ZDV D FRQVXPPDWH VSHDNHU ZKR KDG WKH gift of oratory and eloquence. The campuses LQ 1LJHULD ZHUH SDUWLFXODUO\ H[FLWLQJ LQ WKH V V ,W FRLQFLGHG ZLWK FROG ZDU politics amidst the preponderance of regular GHEDWHV RQ GRPHVWLF DQG LQWHUQDWLRQDO DͿDLUV &RLQFLGHQWDOO\ WKHVH FLWDGHOV ZHUH SRSXODWHG at this point in time, by some of the most intellectual and didactic scholars across LGHRORJLFDO OHDQLQJV OLNH 3DWULFN :LOPRW /DWH (VNRU 7R\R /DWH %DGH 2QLPRGH /DWH &ODXGH $NH /DWH 2MHWXQML $ER\DGH /DWH %DOD 8VPDQ 7R\H 2ORURGH 'LSR )DVLQD 7HNLQD 7DPXQR /DWH $NLQMRJELQ $ODED 2JXQVDQZR %RODML $NLQ\HPL 2PR 2PRUX\L ODWH 3HWHU (NHK DQG $IULFDQLVW VFKRODUV *DYLQ :LOOLDPV %MRUQ %HFNPDQ Billy Dudley et al. The campuses ‘‘bubbled’’ ZLWK GLDORJXHV DQG UREXVW GHEDWHV RQ WRSLFDO LVVXHV ZKLFK GUHZ WKH DQJHU DQG VXVSLFLRQ RI PLOLWDU\ GLFWDWRUV ,W LV QRWHZRUWK\ WKDW $EX featured prominently in these trajectories of post-colonial Nigeria as a student and later a university teacher. /DWH 3URIHVVRU 0RPRK ZDV YLVLEOH LQ the trade movement and civil society RUJDQLVDWLRQV +H XVHG WKH ODERXU SODWIRUP to engage Nigerian social and economic SUREOHPV DQG ODERXU LVVXHV +H GHFRQVWUXFWHG PDLQVWUHDP LQGXVWULDO UHODWLRQV ZKLFK KDG EHHQ FKDUDFWHULVHG E\ ¶¶TXLHWLVP·· +H insisted that this disciple should raise critical TXHVWLRQV RQ ODERXU UHODWLRQV DQG ZRUNLQJ class conditions; and pose alternatives to H[WDQW RUWKRGR[LHV ZLWKLQ WKH FRQWH[W RI ZRUNLQJ FODVV LQWHUHVW +H ZDV VRXJKW E\ some of the leading unions such as the 1LJHULDQ /DERXU &RQJUHVV 1/& 1LJHULD 8QLRQ RI (OHFWULFLW\ (PSOR\HHV 18(( ,URQ DQG 6WHHO :RUNHUV 8QLRQ +HDOWK DQG 0HGLFDO :RUNHUV 8QLRQ 0DULWLPH :RUNHUV 8QLRQ &LYLO 6HUYLFH 8QLRQ HW FHWHUD $EX ZDV equally prominent in the programmes and political actions of civil society organisations.

The centrist and radical civil society groups DOVR RͿHUHG SODWIRUPV IRU 0RPRK WR YHQWLODWH his ideas on major local and global issues.

This scholar-activist featured prominently in the programmes of Committee for 'HIHQFH RI +XPDQ 5LJKWV &'+5 &LYLO /LEHUWLHV 2UJDQLVDWLRQ &/2 &DPSDLJQ IRU 'HPRFUDF\ &' -RLQW $FWLRQ )URQW -$) &HQWUH IRU &RQVWLWXWLRQDO *RYHUQDQFH &&* 8QLWHG $FWLRQ IRU 'HPRFUDF\ 8$' &HQWUH IRU 'HPRFUDF\ DQG 'HYHORSPHQW &'' 5HVRXUFH &HQWUH IRU +XPDQ 5LJKWV DQG &LYLF (GXFDWLRQ &+5,&(' DQG RWKHUV +H ZDV &KDLUPDQ $FDGHPLF 6WDͿ 8QLRQ RI 8QLYHUVLWLHV $688 /DJRV 6WDWH 8QLYHUVLW\ /$68 DQG 1DWLRQDO 7UHDVXUHU $FDGHPLF 6WDͿ 8QLRQ RI 8QLYHUVLWLHV $688 Excerpts of a lecture by Dr. Seteolu at the 5th Memorial of Professor Abubakar Momoh in Abuja

The ‘Centre of Learning’ is under constant attack, writes KENE OBIEZU

SECURING STUDENTS IN KADUNA To educate a country is to put that country on the path to enlightenment and sophistication. For Nigerian undergraduate students, hours have since become days and GD\V PRQWKV VLQFH WKH $FDGHPLF 6WDͿ 8QLRQ RI 8QLYHUVLWLHV $688 GRZQHG WRROV WR VHQG WKHP WR WKHLU KRPHV IURP ZKHUH WKH\ KDYH ZDWFKHG RQ DV SHUYHUVH SROLWLFNLQJ KDV VKRZQ WKDW 1LJHULD LV DQ\WKLQJ EXW EURNH WR pay their disgruntled lecturers.

,W WRRN QR WLPH DIWHU WHUURULVP UHDUHG LWV ugly head in Nigeria in 2009 for it to become DSSDUHQW WKDW HGXFDWLRQ ZDV XQGHU DWWDFN DV PXFK DV WKH 1LJHULDQ VWDWH %RNR +DUDP Nigeria`s pioneer terrorist group, from the beginning made no secret of its distaste for ZHVWHUQ HGXFDWLRQ 7KH QDWXUH DQG WDUJHWV RI WKH DWWDFNV KDYH VLQFH FRQÀUPHG WKLV For more than a decade, ruthless terrorists, PDQ\ RI WKHP VSDZQHG E\ 1RUWKHUQ Nigeria`s educational disadvantage, and OHIW ZLWK QR PRGLFXP RI SURSHU HGXFDWLRQ to temper their savagery, have continued to target schools, students and teachers. When the 2014 abduction of hundreds of school JLUOV LQ &KLERN %RUQR 6WDWH UDWWOHG WKH

Securing students is about securing the future.

Nigeria must act quickly and decisively

ZRUOG DZDNH RYHU WKH WHUURULVW HPHUJHQF\ springing up from the Giant of Africa, the KDQGZULWLQJ DSSHDUHG RQ WKH ZDOO $ VFKRRO LQ 'DSFKL ZDV DWWDFNHG VKRUWO\ DIWHU 6DPH IDWH ZDV WR EHIDOO VFKRROV LQ .DQNDUD 7HJLQD and a handful of other schools all over the 1RUWK ZKHUH 1LJHULDQ VWXGHQWV KDYH EHHQ forced by events to question their future. +RZHYHU VLQFH LW LV .DGXQD 6WDWH WKDW has become a favourite stomping ground of the terrorists. That schools there have been disproportionately targeted distills a bitter irony for Nigeria`s “Center of Learning”.

In March 2021, armed gunmen DWWDFNHG WKH )HGHUDO &ROOHJH RI )RUHVWU\ 0HFKDQL]DWLRQ LQ $IDND DQG DEGXFWHG DERXW VWXGHQWV 7KH\ ZHUH RQO\ UHOHDVHG PRUH than a month later and of course only after ransom had been paid. ,Q 0D\ VWXGHQWV RI *UHHQÀHOG 8QLYHUVLW\ ZHUH VQDWFKHG IURP WKHLU VFKRRO

LQ .DGXQD ,W WRRN PRUH WKDQ WZR PRQWKV WKH GHDWKV RI ÀYH RI WKHP DQG PLOOLRQV RI ransom for the last student to be released.

In July 2021, about 53 students of Bethel %DSWLVW +LJK 6FKRRO LQ .DGXQD ZHUH VWROHQ from their school and held for months. The Nigerian Baptist Convention had to spend about N250 million to secure the release of the students.

1RZ OLJKWQLQJ VWUXFN \HW DJDLQ LQ .DGXQD 2Q 0D\ EDQGLWV EHVLHJHG WKH %LUQLQ *ZDUL KLJKZD\ LQ WKH %LUQLQ *ZDUL /RFDO *RYHUQPHQW $UHD RI .DGXQD 6WDWH 2I FRXUVH DV LV QRZ D WUDGLWLRQ VRPH SHUVRQV ZHUH DEGXFWHG DQG DERXW HLJKW vehicles reduced to ashes. $PRQJ WKH YLFWLPV ZHUH VWXGHQWV ZKR ZHUH WUDYHOOLQJ WR ZULWH H[DPV IRU WKH 6FKRRO RI +HDOWK 7HFKQRORJ\ LQ 0DNDUÀ ZKLFK H[DPV ZHUH VFKHGXOHG WR KROG DW WKH .DGXQD 6WDWH 8QLYHUVLW\ LQ WKH PHWURSROLV 7KLV ODWHVW DWWDFN LQ .DGXQD FRPHV DPLG WKH PRQWKV ORQJ FDSWLYLW\ RI PRUH WKDQ VL[ GR]HQ SDVVHQJHUV ZKRVH RQO\ RͿHQFH ZDV ERDUGLQJ D WUDLQ IURP $EXMD WR .DGXQD RQ March 28, 2022.

It does beggar belief. It beggars belief WKDW .DGXQD 6WDWH UHPDLQV VR LQVHFXUH ZLWK the authorities and the state and federal levels unable to do much about it. Security personnel in the state have also been hit KDUG E\ WKH LQVHFXULW\ 2Q $SULO DERXW 1LJHULDQ VROGLHUV ZHUH NLOOHG ZKHQ EDQGLWV DWWDFNHG WKHLU PLOLWDU\ EDVH LQ %LUQLQ *ZDUL When the state governor received the VHFXULW\ UHSRUW IRU WKH ÀUVW TXDUWHU RI WKH \HDU KLV REVHUYDWLRQV ZHUH TXLFNO\ ZRYHQ LQWR WKH OLWDQ\ RI ODPHQWDWLRQ KH KDV continued to recite for years. Yet, the state continues to burn. But not in the jaundiced judgment of the Petroleum Technology 'HYHORSPHQW )XQG ZKLFK UHFHQWO\ FKRVH .DGXQD 6WDWH DV RQH RI WKH YHQXHV IRU WKH FRQGXFW RI LWV 2YHUVHDV 6FKRODUVKLS 6FKHPH LQWHUYLHZV ZKLOH DYRLGLQJ WKH entire Southeast for being insecure.

It does not require divination to see that VFKRROV LQ .DGXQD 6WDWH DUH DQ\WKLQJ EXW safe at the moment. Neither are the students ZKR VFKRRO LQ WKHP ,I DQ\WKLQJ WKH\ KDYH become the favourite hunting grounds of WHUURULVWV ZKR FRQWLQXH WR SDWURQL]H WKHP in service of their iniquitous business of NLGQDSSLQJ IRU UDQVRP ,Q 0DUFK 1LJHULD UDWLÀHG WKH 6DIH 6FKRROV 'HFODUDWLRQ ZKLFK LV DQ intergovernmental political commitment WKDW SURYLGHV FRXQWULHV ZLWK WKH RSSRUWXQLW\ WR H[SUHVV VXSSRUW IRU protecting students, teachers, schools and XQLYHUVLWLHV IURP DWWDFN GXULQJ WLPHV RI DUPHG FRQÁLFW +RZHYHU WKH H[SHULHQFHV RI VFKRROV DQG VWXGHQWV DOLNH LQ WKH 6RXWKHDVW FRQWLQXH WR VKRZ WKDW WKH UDWLÀFDWLRQ ZDV \HW DQRWKHU H[HUFLVH LQ ULWXDO JUDQGVWDQGLQJ DV VFKRROV and students in Nigeria`s Northeast and 1RUWKZHVW FRQWLQXH WR EH SHSSHUHG E\ insecurity.

Securing students is about securing WKH IXWXUH 1LJHULD PXVW DFW TXLFNO\ DQG decisively. keneobiezu@gmail.com

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T H I S D AY

FRIDAY JUNE 3, 2022

EDITORIAL

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

IMPLEMENTING HEALTH INSURANCE LAW Stakeholders should ensure the law is implemented in order to speed up universal health coverage

T

LV ODJJLQJ LQ WKH WDUJHW IRU 8QLYHUVDO +HDOWK he recent signing of the National Health Coverage. The NHIA, in collaboration with state Insurance Authority (NHIA) Bill into governments, private sector, healthcare providers, law by President Muhammadu Buhari among others, must set processes in place to see has now made it mandatory for every that Nigerians - from those in the formal to informal Nigerian to be covered under a health sector, to the unemployed - are enrolled into health insurance programme. But while we insurance schemes. The stakeholders must ensure, commend the upgraded programme, where the bulk this time, there is synergy between themselves. With of the work lies is in the implementation of the law. The Universal Health Coverage as the goal, all tiers of repealed NHIS could not grow the scheme beyond government, healthcare providers and the various ÀYH SHU FHQW RI WKH FRXQWU\·V PLOOLRQ SHRSOH GXH schemes must ensure the previous disparities they to lack of implementation and political will. As a had that limited the implementation of NHIS are put result, the country was losing hundreds of thousands behind them since NHIA of its citizens yearly due promises to start on a clean to inability to pay out of slate. pocket expenses for their The main goal of the NHIS is to facilitate fair-financing of healthcare 7KH HͿHFWLYHQHVV RI D healthcare. social health insurance costs through pooling and judicious utilisation of financial resources We concede that there in Nigeria would also be can never be a oneto provide financial risk protection and cost-burden sharing for strengthened with the VL]H ÀWV DOO PRGHO IRU inclusion of the 36 states guaranteeing health people into the scheme and getting insurance for the society. them to set up and manage But we believe that the their own insurance GHÀQLQJ SUREOHP ZLWK schemes in line with the provisions of the reviewed NHIS at the time was the system-wide inequalities health scheme.

States that are yet to start their health in its implementation, including the lack of cohesion T H I S D AY schemes should take models of those who are EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU between the federal scheme and the ones promoted making progresses. This should as well trickle down DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA by the state governments, private sector, and MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO to their local governments, communities, wards, and healthcare providers.

DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU families.

Although many countries, including Rwanda and CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI Ordinarily, the main goal of the NHIS is “to facilitate Ghana, have recorded successes in Universal Health EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN IDLU ÀQDQFLQJ RI KHDOWKFDUH FRVWV WKURXJK SRROLQJ MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI &RYHUDJH 8+& LW WRRN 1LJHULD \HDUV DIWHU ÀUVW THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE DQG MXGLFLRXV XWLOLVDWLRQ RI ÀQDQFLDO UHVRXUFHV WR establishing the National Health Insurance Scheme SURYLGH ÀQDQFLDO ULVN SURWHFWLRQ DQG FRVW EXUGHQ (NHIS) to own a document that now mandates every sharing for people, against high cost of healthcare, citizen to be enrolled into an insurance programme through various pre-payment programmes prior for their future health needs. In signing the bill into T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D to their falling ill.” But only a small proportion of EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA law, the president described it as a path towards GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, 1LJHULDQV KDYH SUHSDLG KHDOWK FDUH 7KH EHQHÀWV RI D providing universal health for at least 83 million ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI health insurance scheme that works in a country like SRRU 1LJHULDQV ZKR FDQQRW DͿRUG WR SD\ SUHPLXP DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ours are many. One, the idea of cashless treatment He added that the NHIA will collaborate with state ANTHONY OGEDENGBE for those insured makes it imperative for them to get government health insurance schemes to accredit DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI immediate treatment during sudden ill-health, while SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH primary and secondary healthcare facilities to ensure ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI the premium paid on health insurance is usually tax the enrolment of Nigerians.

CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI deductible. Until we can extend health insurance This time, the NHIA has been established with a DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO WR DOO FLWL]HQV WKH FRXQWU\·V SXVK IRU 8+& ZLOO EH D promise to deliver. Every stakeholder in the sector TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com mirage. must ensure it is implemented to the letter as the nation

Letters to the Editor Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-300 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 (750- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive.com along with photograph, email address and phone numbers of the writer.

LETTERS ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE EXTRACTIVE SECTOR The Accountability in Extractive Sector (AES) Cluster, led by Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), within the framework of strengthening civic advocacy and local engagement 6&$/( SURMHFW PHW UHFHQWO\ WR KLJKOLJKW WKH DFFRXQWDELOLW\ GHÀcits within the extractive sector which literally deprives the nation of PDQ\ EHQHÀWV 7KH FOXVWHU QRWHV WKDW WKH H[WUDFWLYH VHFWRU LQ 1LJHULD VXͿHUV IURP FRUUXSWLRQ UHVXOWLQJ IURP ODFN RI WUDQVSDUHQF\ DQG accountability in governance. So far, the reforms made to address corruption in the extractive sector have fallen short of desired goals.

Year- in- year out the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency ,QLWLDWLYH UROOV RXW KHDUW EUHDNLQJ ÀJXUHV RI XQUHPLWWHG DQG XQDFcounted funds that could have been channeled into meaningful development for the good of the citizens. ,W LV RXU EHOLHI WKDW WKH H΀FLHQW DQG HͿHFWLYH PDQDJHPHQW RI H[tractive sector resources will reduce poverty and inequality in NiJHULD 7R WKLV HͿHFW WKH FOXVWHU LV FRPPLWWHG WR 2QH VWUHQJWKHQLQJ the capacity of extractive cluster members and other stakeholders to XQGHUWDNH VHFWRU VSHFLÀF DGYRFDF\ WZR DGYRFDWLQJ IRU D VXVWDLQDEOH LPSOHPHQWDWLRQ RI EHQHÀFLDO RZQHUVKLS GLVFORVXUH UHJLPH DQG contract transparency legislative/policy framework for the managePHQW RI WKH H[WUDFWLYH VHFWRU WKUHH DGYRFDWLQJ EXGJHWDU\ DOORFDWLRQ IRU WKH LPSOHPHQWDWLRQ RI WKH RSHQ EHQHÀFLDO RZQHUVKLS UHJLVWHU LQ

1LJHULD IRXU LQFUHDVLQJ DZDUHQHVV RQ WKH VHFWRU JRYHUQDQFH DPRQJ citizens including youths for transparency and accountability in the extractive sector. We will not fail to highlight that this commitment was made by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to imSOHPHQW D EHQHÀFLDO RZQHUVKLS UHJLVWHU RI RZQHUV RI DOO HQWLWLHV LQ WKH FRXQWU\ DQG PRVW LPSRUWDQWO\ WKH QHHG IRU WKLV WR EH HͿHFWLYHO\ implemented within the extractive sector and also within the EITI VWDQGDUGV 1LJHULD LV FRPPLWWHG WR SXEOLVK WKH FRQWUDFW RI HYHU\ WUDQVDFWLRQ PDGH ZLWKLQ WKH H[WUDFWLYH VHFWRU ZLWK HͿHFW IURP -DQXDU\ 7KH EHQHÀWV DQG HͿRUWV LQ WKH HͿHFWLYH LPSOHPHQtation of BO transparency in the extractive sector is a critical comSRQHQW RI WKH JRYHUQPHQW·V FRPPLWPHQW WR WKH 2*3 LQLWLDWLYH LQ Nigeria, towards advancing accountability and improving domestic UHVRXUFH PRELOL]DWLRQ IRU VXVWDLQDEOH GHYHORSPHQW ÀQDQFLQJ In advancement of the above objectives, the cluster has undertakHQ D VHULHV RI PXWXDOO\ UHLQIRUFLQJ HQJDJHPHQWV VSHFLÀFDOO\ WRZDUGV EHQHÀFLDO RZQHUVKLS WUDQVSDUHQF\ LPSOHPHQWDWLRQ RI WKH 1(,7, DXdit report remediation recommendations and contract transparency LQLWLDWLYH LQ 1LJHULD $V \RX PD\ UHFDOO EHQHÀFLDO RZQHUVKLS WUDQVparency sits within the framework of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) initiative which the Nigerian government signed up WR LQ -XO\ IROORZLQJ 3UHVLGHQW %XKDUL·V FRPPLWPHQW WR D IXOO

scale anti-corruption agenda - accountable, participatory, and incluVLYH JRYHUQPHQW WR UHVSRQG WR GHYHORSPHQWDO GHÀFLWV LQ 1LJHULD 7KLV HYHQW WKXV RͿHUV D JRRG RSSRUWXQLW\ WR UHPLQG XV WKH WHQHWV of OGP which we signed up as a country, a mission to acknowledge all the doers, thinkers, creators and reformers who have successfully RSHQHG JRYHUQPHQWV DURXQG WKH ZRUOG ,W DLPV VSHFLÀFDOO\ WR KLJKlight and amplify the necessity and public demands for the application of Open Data Standards in the BO register, stronger Inter-agenF\ FROODERUDWLRQV LVVXDQFH RI HͿHFWLYH UHJXODWLRQV WR VWUHQJWKHQ IRUHLJQ HQWLWLHV· GLVFORVXUHV DQG VDQFWLRQV UHJLPH DQG VXVWDLQDEOH funding mechanism for the establishment and maintenance of a BO UHJLVWHU 7KLV LV WR HQKDQFH WKH HͿHFWLYH LPSOHPHQWDWLRQ RI %2 WUDQVparency in the Nigerian extractive sector.

The cluster which is anchored by CISLAC, comprises of Community Conciliation and Development Initiative (CCADI) from Rivers 6WDWH 6XSSRUW IRU 7UDLQLQJ DQG (QWUHSUHQHXUVKLS 3URJUDP 67(3 IURP $NZD ,ERP 6WDWH *RRG *RYHUQDQFH 7HDP **7 1LJHULD EDVHG LQ $EXMD &RQQHFWHG $GYRFDF\ IRU (PSRZHUPHQW <RXWK Development Initiative (Connected Advocacy) from Edo State, and others.

Auwal Musa Rafsanjani is the Executive Director of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre

FRIDAY JUNE 3, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

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REPO

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Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Email oriarehu.eromosele@thisdaylive.com

08056356325

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S & P INDEX

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OPR

11.25%

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10.25%

INDEX LEVEL

613.31%

1/4 TO DATE

-0.85%

N416.86/ 1 US DOLLAR*

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11.50%

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World IGs Exports Sees Growth as Africa’s Industrial Input Supply to Asia, Others Hits $40bn

Eromosele Abiodun and Oluchi Chibuzor World exports of intermediate goods (IGs) maintained an upward trend in the fourth quarter of 2021, an increase of 21 per cent year-on-year (YoY), a report by te World Trade Organisation (WTO) has revealed.

This is as the report revealed that Africa intensified its exports of industrial inputs in Q4 2021, notably to North America growing by 46 per cent YoY to $7 billion and Asia $33 billion an increase of 45 per cent YoY. The WT, stated that World

exports of intermediate goods increased by 21 per cent yearon-year in Q4 of 2021, with a yearly recovery of 28 per cent compared with 2020, the peak year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It also noted that the 21 per cent year on year in the fourth quarter of 2021 continued the upward trend observed throughout the year, but added that growth was slower than the 27 per cent recorded in Q3 and the 47 per cent in Q2.

According to the report, the automotive sector, which was among the most affected by the COVID-19 crisis, slightly exceeded 2020 exports levels, rising by 2

per cent YoY in Q4 2021.

It added, “Also high-tech components like processors, integrated circuits and memories were the goods most traded within Asian supply chains.”

According to the WTO report, the pace of trade in IGs, which range from crops used in food production to textiles and metals needed to produce goods, is an indicator of the level of activity in supply chains.

“Similarly, other industrial supplies, comprising manufacturing inputs such as metal structures, electrical conductors and medical and pharma products, continued to

be the key driver of growth, with a year-on-year increase of 31 per cent in Q4, “it stated.

Meanwhile, the report added that world exports of food and beverage products grew slightly less, recording 23 per cent growth in the fourth quarter compared with 28 per cent in Q3, as Ores and precious stones saw growth of 10 per cent in Q4, down from 13 per cent in Q3 and 40 per cent in Q2, mainly due to persistently decreasing iron ore prices.

“Asian and African exports of industrial inputs to supply chains increased by more than 24 per cent year on year in Q4, while European exports of inputs grew

by 18 per cent. North America’s IG exports grew by 14.5 per cent, largely driven by exports of soybeans to China. However, South and Central America saw IG exports decrease by 12 per cent, mainly due to a reduction in Brazilian exports of iron ores and soybeans to China.

“China continued to be the top IG exporter in Q4 in terms of value, exporting products with a value $ 418 billion. Among the top 15 IG exporters in Q4 2021, the highest growth was recorded

by Belgium (39 per cent) and the United Kingdom (34 per cent), “WTO said.

“Malaysia joined the list of

the top 15, registering year-onyear growth of 28 per cent, with three-quarters of its domestically produced inputs shipped to Asian partners, while top IG importers in Q4 in terms of value were China ($ 439 billion) and the United States ($ 268 billion). Among the top 15 IG importers, the highest growth (42 per cent) was recorded

by India.

“North America intensified its exports to Africa by 43 per cent year on year in Q4, with its exports of soybeans increasing twentyfold and vaccines fourfold. Africa’s exports to Asia continued their rapid rise, growing by 45 per cent in Q4, “the report stated.

Renewable Energy: Brace Up for Challenges, Opportunities, Buhari Tells African Leaders Kasim Sumaina in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has urged Minister’s of Mines and Energies across Africa to as a matter of urgency brace up for the challenges and opportunities that will come with energy transition as the continent yearns for development.

He urged the ministers to collaborate as the world shifts away from fossil fuel to clean and renewable energy.

The President, in his address at the inaugural Energy Investment Summit, themed, “Towards a Greener Africa,” said: “in the fight against climate change, in the midst of this energy transition lies many challenges

and opportunities for a continent yearning for development.”

Represented at the summit

by Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Olamilenka Adegbite, he noted: “I’m delighted to see various African nationals gathering here today to deliberate and create a framework within which future cooperation and collaboration

can take place.

“I believe this should spur us as a continent of diverse people to cooperate and collaborate more, initiate innovative solutions to the challenges that are peculiar to us, come up with technologies and products that will lead to the growth and industrialisation of Africa in a more environment friendly manner while

encouraging the development and financing of green energy projects.”

Buhari, while charging all countries who are signatories to the declaration of cooperation to strengthen their shared goals, said: “With the world focusing on discovering and utilising clean sources of energy in order to cut down carbon emissions to protect the

world from further climate change, and the first Nigeria Africa natural resources and investment summit is to chart a way forward for the development of natural resources and energy projects in a sustainable and climate friendly manner.”

He further stated that the summit Continued on page 30

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT T H U R S D AY, J U N E 2 , 2 0 2 2 BILLS

BONDS DESCRIPTION

Price

Yield

14.20 14-MAR2024 13.53 23-MAR2025 12.50 22-JAN2026 16.2884 17MAR-2027 13.98 23-FEB2028

110.82

7.66

110.82

10.00

106.15

10.43

119.94

10.43

112.15

10.43

Change Updated Time (%) May 24, -0.01 2022 May 24, 0.07 2022 May 24, 0.00 2022 May 24, 0.00 2022 May 24, 0.00 2022

MATURITY

Discount

Yield

OTC F X F U T U R E S

CPS

Change Updated Time (%)

NTB 9-Jun22 NTB 14-Jul22 NTB 11Aug-22 NTB 8-Sep22

3.06

3.06

0.00 May 24, 2022

3.01

3.02

0.00 May 24, 2022

2.97

2.99

0.00 May 24, 2022

2.93

2.96

0.00 May 24, 2022

NTB 13-Oct22

3.45

3.50

0.00 May 24, 2022

MATURITY DANC CP II 25-MAY-22 TRBH CP V 26-JUL-22 FSDH CP VI 1-AUG-22 NENL CP I 24-OCT-22 FSDH CP VII 27-OCT-22

Discount Yield

Change Updated Time (%)

8.85

0.10 May 24, 2022

11.27 11.50

-0.07 May 24, 2022

8.85

7.78

7.90

-0.09 May 24, 2022

14.52 15.45

0.36 May 24, 2022

8.88

9.23

0.39 May 24, 2022

CONTRACT Current TENOR Contract Rate ($/₦) (MONTH) NGUS JUN 29 1 427.24 2022 NGUS JUL 27 428.93 2 2022 NGUS AUG 31 3 430.63 2022 NGUS SEP 28 4 432.32 2022 NGUS OCT 26 5 434.02 2022

Updated Time

May 25, 2022 May 25, 2022 May 25, 2022 May 25, 2022 May 25, 2022

30

FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

AIR WATCH

Customs Intercepts 16 Trucks Of Smuggled Rice from Benin Republic The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operation Unit (FOU), Zone ‘A’, has announced that it seized 16 trucks of foreign rice smuggled into the country from neighboring Benin Republic.

Speaking at a press briefing yesterday, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), FOU Zone A, deputy comptroller, Hussein Ejibunu, said aside the 16 trucks of foreign parboiled rice that were seized, 599 cartons of frozen poultry products were also intercepted by the unit.

According to him, the unit now have renewed vigor to fight the menace of smuggling, saying it has re-strategized its operations to block revenue leakages to curb importation and exportation of prohibited goods.

He said the Duty Paid Value (DPV), of the seized items is N818.1million adding that the unit intercepted 41,950 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 9,917 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice; 116.3 kilograms of Indian Hemp; 29 units of motor cycles; 54 cartons of creams and 3,260 pairs of used shoes.

“Other seizures are, 812bags of 5Kg and 120 bags of 2kg basmati

rice; 41,950 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS); four 20 ft containers of unprocessed wood; 1,041 bales of used clothes; 5 units of vehicles; 8,500 pieces of used tyres were also intercepted from the porus borders in Ogun State. “These seizures were made from various locations within the Zone South-western States with 14 suspects arrested in connection with the crimes. The cumulative Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized items is N818.1milliion.

“Prominent among the goods seized within the month under review are 16 trucks load of 50kg bags of smuggled rice; 812 bags of 5Kg and 120 bags of 2kg of basmati rice; 41,950 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, also known as, petrol; four by 20ft of containers of unprocessed wood; 1,041 Bales of used clothes and 5 units of vehicles. Others are, “8,500 pieces of used tyres; 599 cartons of frozen poultry products; 116.3 kilograms of Indian Hemp; 29 units of motor cycles; 54 cartons of creams; 42 units of Tiger generators and 3,260 pairs of used shoes, “he said.

He also disclosed that the unit generated N64.3million from Demand Notices (DN), on cargoes that exited

the port without paying accurate duties to federal government.

He said, “consequent upon painstaking documentary checks on some already released cargoes, duties found to have been under paid were reviewed and demand notices issued in the sum of N64.3million was paid as revenue into the federal government coffers.

“High desire by majority of Nigerians to consume foreign parboiled rice, has a nexus with the number of smugglers scrambling to import the product in large quantities.

Citizens are once again, reminded of the need to support and key into the federal government’s policy aimed at supporting the growth of its local product.”

“During the preceding month, officers of this Unit were on high alert along the port and the border corridors to ensure that, the national economy is protected from the activities of recalcitrant importers and traders. In the course of duty, various goods were intercepted for different Customs offences, ranging from inaccurate duty payment evasion, concealment, under declaration, false declaration, transfer of value, to smuggling,” he said.

Stakeholders, Entrepreneurs to Grace FAAN’s Investment Summit in Abuja Stakeholders, entrepreneurs are set to attend the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) slated for June 14-17, 2022 in Abuja.

The summit is expected to attract aviation stakeholders, captains of related industries and others to brainstorm on ways forward in the sector.

The conference, with the theme ‘Advancing the Frontiers of Possibilities for Safe, Secure and Profitable Air Transport’ which was initially billed to hold from 1st to 4th April, 2020 stalled due

to the global movement restrictions occasioned by the dreaded corona virus pandemic (Covid-19).

The conference is aimed at providing veritable platform for brainstorming and sharing knowledge and ideas on the progress and Challenges in the Aviation Industry in Nigeria.

The scheduled date for the conference is 14th to 17th June 2022, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

It will bring together captains of industries, top government

functionaries, seasoned aviation experts and key stakeholders like the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, state governors and chief executives of all aviation industry.

A select number of dignitaries would also speak on critical issues faced by our industry.

The conference would also feature an investment forum, which wouldfocus on attracting local and international investors in order to apprise them with the investment opportunities in the Nigerian aviation industry.

Ethiopian Airline Increases Frequency to Enugu, Begins Flight to Chennai, India Africa’s most profitable carrier, Ethiopian Airline is set to increase its flight operation to the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu to four times weekly.

The airline said it would fly to the state on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting from 5 June 2022.

Enugu as the fourth station of operation for Ethiopian Airlines is near to Onitsha and Aba the trading hubs of West Africa.

Enugu serves as a supply hub for goods and passengers going to major markets of eastern Nigeria.

Ethiopian Airline operates to four Airports in Nigeria, Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Enugu.

Ethiopian Airline also announced three-weekly operations to Chennai,

India from July 2, 2022.

Chennai would join the vast Ethiopian network as a fourth destination in India after New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.

Ethiopian started its service to India with a debut flight to New Delhi in 1966, just 20 years after the airline was founded.

Ethiopian pioneered the air transport linkage between Africa and India. Recently, Ethiopian marked its 50th year anniversary of uninterrupted service to Mumbai, the commercial capital of India.

Ethiopian Airline Group CEO Mr. Mesfin Tasew, said: “I am excited that we are getting closer to our customers with our signature service and global connectivity options. We have been connecting

Asia and Africa for 55 years now facilitating trade between the two continents. The addition of Chennai as a fourth passenger destination in India is a testimony of our resilience and unwavering commitment to serve our customers in India and the continent at large.

We will continue to serve India with enhanced frequency and more destinations in the future.”

Chennai is a modern cosmopolitan city and the most prominent cultural, economic and educational centre of South India.

Ethiopian has been serving India without any interruption even during the pandemic cementing the longstanding bilateral relationship between the two countries.

RENEWABLE ENERGY: BRACE UP FOR CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES, BUHARI TELLS AFRICAN LEADERS will provides the opportunity to share views on natural resources and energy market development that will lead to the growth and industrialisation of Africa in a more environment friendly manner while encouraging the development and financing of green energy projects.

In his good will message, the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Mr. Zubair Dada said he believed the summit which is tagged: towards a greener Africa, is apt and timing especially considering the climate change and its challenges are issued that Africa can no longer ignore.

He stated that the challenges requires collective effort and resolve to overcome them and the need

to adjust the country policy to become greener if we are have to safeguard our planets and of course safeguard the future.

Dada affirmed that Nigeria has taken very good steps to align with the global energy transition through a combination of technology, investment, business strategy and policy in order to transit to meet current energy systems to whole carbon energy systems because natural gas play a pivotal role over the next generations.

In his keynote address, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Olamilekan Adegbite hinted that participating countries in the declaration of cooperation would strengthen

their cooperation, through joint assessment and viewpoints, with the aim to financing sustainable African Natural Resources and Energy Projects that are key to the transition, “for the benefit of producers and consumers and to regularly review at technical and ministerial levels the status of our cooperation.”

The inaugural Energy Investment Summit had in attendance: Minister of mines and steel development, Arc Olamilekan Adegbite, Minister of mines and energy from Ethiopia, South Sudan, Gambia, Libya, Kenya, Chad, and Nigeria’s state foreign affairs, Zubairu Dada among others industry stakeholders.

A I R WATCH NCAA: Improving Safety, Providing Leadership

Nuhu Chinedu Eze The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is the bedrock of the aviation industry, which performance determines the fortunes and misfortunes of the sector. In the last three years under the saddle of Captain Musa Nuhu, as the Director General, so much has happened in the agency.

The General Manager, Public Affairs, NCAA, Sam Adurogboye, encapsulated the mileage in the agency after three years of Capt Nuhu.

Adurogboye described the three years performance of Nuhu as a quiet revolution, which has been going on in Nigeria’s civil aviation sector with unmistakable “fingerprints of the team player and a leader per excellence.”

Adurogboye said under the Director General, great things are happening but they are happening gently, almost noiselessly.

“Which is quite alright because the regulatory side of aviation is a rather conservative and reserved business; it thrives better where there is no noise,” he said.

According to Adurogboye, shortly after Captain Nuhu’s assumption of office on March 16, 2020, the world was struck with COVID -19, which prompted a total global lockdown.

“But this was to bring out the best in him; the deadly pandemic elicited his innate leadership qualities. He swung into action and NCAA became the first Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to invent COVID - 19 Health Protocols and other Guidance Materials ahead of all other CAAs, including the global aviation umpire, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

“The Protocols came in form of 48 accurately timed and well considered circulars. Among them: ‘Targeted Exemption from certain Regulatory Requirements due to COVID – 19 pandemic: Flight Crew Proficiency; Exemptions from certain Regulatory Requirements due to COVID – 19 Pandemic: Flight Crew Recent Experience and proficiency; Post COVID – 19 Lockdown Approved Training Organization (ATO) Restart Plan; Revised Provisional Quarantine Protocol for Travelers Arriving or Departing Nigeria; Exemption Documents, etc.,” he disclosed.

The NCAA spokesman said this eventually earned the Director General and the authority global commendations and awards, notably from the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC).

Numerous awards from other reputable organisations also followed.

NCAA, he said, was able to accomplish all these at a time that some organisations, both private and public, were downsizing, while others were placing their staffers on half salaries, but NCAA paid its employees fully and as at when due all through the lockdown owing to the frugality and savings made by his predecessor.

“Capt Nuhu is also reputed for his equitable management of the authority’s scarce resources within the period of his watch. It is on record that under his watch, NCAA provided the needed leadership and the rallying point for the industry stakeholders during the lockdown period. This, he did by way of organising a series of virtual meetings to aggregate thoughts, opinions and ideas on what was being done, what was to be done and the way forward. No one was left out. Everybody’s

opinions counted. Stakeholders who attended those meetings applauded Capt. Nuhu for his capacity to listen to a wide range of opinions and suggestions but also for his firmness, especially where safety was involved. All these activities were backed by the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika.

He personally attended some of the meetings, made vital contributions and also offered policy direction during that very challenging moment for the industry,” Adurogboye said.

He recalled that the restart of the industry after the lockdown became an easy task for the stakeholders as they were all on the same page.

“Nigeria is a Category 1 nation, meaning we are among what a one-time Director General termed as “the Premier League of nations” with sound safety records. It is not a mean task that this has been sustained over the years at a time others are losing theirs,” he said.

Adurogboye attributed this to hard work, training and re-training of personnel; recruitment of qualified, skilled, and experienced hands “in our inspectorate divisions”, which constitute the livewire of any aviation regulatory organisation.

“The quest to attract and retain qualified personnel in sufficient numbers made Capt Nuhu to go all out seeking for enhanced and competitive salary package for deserving personnel of NCAA from the approving authorities.

“In between, he superintended the relocation of NCAA Corporate Headquarters from Lagos to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. This was made possible through the completion of the new office complex right at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja. The new arrangement means that Aviation House is now the Regional Office, Lagos. The DG believes that the Regional Offices are an integral and crucial part of the Authority. Recently, during a meeting with workers, he unfolded his team’s plans to strengthen the Regional Offices in Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Abuja for effective oversight coverage of the entire country,” he said.

The NCAA image maker said all of these attainments, which Capt Nuhu always attributed to teamwork, are beginning to attract recognition from around the world.

“Now, Capt Nuhu has brought NCAA back to the global aviation centre stage through the hosting of the 7th African Indian Ocean (AFI) Regional Meeting held in Abuja from 16th -20thMay 2022. This was a gathering of titans in the industry, including ICAO Secretary General, Director Generals of Civil Aviation Authorities from African Countries, International Air Transport Association (IATA), Association of African Aviation Training Organizations (AATO), Airlines, Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), aviation journalists and other allied technical personnel,” he said.

That conference was a success and reinforced Nigeria’s prime position as major aviation nation in Africa and Indian Ocean (AFI) Region. Adurogboye attributed the success of the conference to Capt Nuhu, saying, “On the whole, NCAA can be adjudged to be looking up, and Capt Nuhuis leading to make it better.”

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 2022

31

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Ogunbiyi: I Will Industrialise, Revive Osun State’s Economy The Chief Promoter, Founding Managing Director/Chief Executive of Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc and governorship candidate of Accord Party in the forthcoming election in Osun State, Dr. Akinade Akanmu Ogunbiyi in this interview outlined his economic plans for Osun State and his chances at the election. Eromosele Abiodun presents the excerpts What are the economic resources in Osun State and how will you leverage them to develop the state? irst and foremost I will say the human capital in Osun State, I can say is second to none in this country. You can talk of Ekiti State, you know there is this common saying, which can literally be translated as, “If a human turns to a book, Ekiti person will read it”, but despite all that, the number of academician, the number of intelligent people, the number of highly educated people within Osun state, even if it is not number one in the entire country, I will say it is extremely high. That is the first thing that we really need to leverage on.

F

So will my government leverage these resources?

To start with I always say, agriculture is the mainstay of the entire western region, and agriculture is the mainstay of Osun State. What have the previous governments done in agriculture? That is the first thing. There are so many things you can do with agric and agro related industries and this is where I come in. Agriculture, that is number one.

Look at the area of education. I have talked about human capital development but what is the status now since the last 10 to 15 years. Our development in the area of education has actually gone down. If you use WASC as the yardstick, you can see that they have totally bastardised education. Within education, they don’t have education that is tailor-made towards current realities. They are just teaching and teaching.

Yes Osun is endowed and we have about 21 higher institutions within the state, Polytechnic, Universities, College of Education etc but what are they teaching there? They are teaching conventional things. Even teachers so to speak now go and teach with lectures prepared 20 years ago because there is no research, there is nothing. The universities are not doing what they are supposed to do. The polytechnics are not producing the kind of graduates that will be relevant to today’s economy. So there is practically nothing on research and innovation.

Again when you look at, you say you want to develop infrastructure, the focus on infrastructure has always been on roads. Who are the people plying the road?

Is it the people that are hungry, even the civil servants, going to work has become a burden to them. Because as they are going to work they are not sure of what they are going to get, they can’t even plan on anything.

If you are on level 10 and somebody is paying you a level six salary, and even that level 6 salary you are not even sure when it is coming in. Again what other thing. Osogbo, the state capital is known as the ‘Ilu Aro’ (Home of Dye). Osogbo is endowed with Aro (dye). Aro is what they use to produce Adire fabrics.

So when we say Osun State has a lot of potential, a lot of opportunities out there, it takes the discerning eye, it takes the intelligentsia, it takes the man that has the capacity, it takes an entrepreneur like myself to be able to identify them, and we have identified them.

I have produced what I can call a manifesto. I don’t think Osun people have seen a manifesto in the last 15 years. We have produced a manifesto, which is my contract of engagement with Osun people, and it contains, what and what, which area we are going to touch in our first term.

Again, in the area of partnership, it is not the government that brings in industries. And I am not saying I will bring in industries or that I will fund industries under my government but we will have private sector partners coming into Osun. I have just mentioned the area of Adire. Adire (dye) alone is a multi billion naira industry.

Look at sports. We have Osogbo stadium, when was it last used? Tell me one person that has been produced in Osun state either in athletes or in boxing or in football or in Judo, and it is because they have totally killed that industry.

They said they dont get money, where would they get money from? Doing what? They are not doing anything. So where would they get money from or you want to say somebody who is reluctant to be governor, is that who will have the creativity to think for you. So there are so many opportunities out there in Osun state.

In the entertainment industry. When they did the rebasing of Nigeria’s GDP some years ago and Nigeria became the largest economy in Africa, that is when we realised the importance of Nollywood. Look at our numerous graduates who are unemployed. But we can do a lot with Nollywood. For example, how many studious do we have in Osun? If I become governor by the grace of God, I will gather all these graduates, train them and retrain them, so that even if they dont use what they have by way of education, they can use their talents. Education frees the mind, education gives you the maturity and broadness of mind. For example, I read agriculture. I had a second class upper in agricultural economics but I went into insurance and I have done very well. So many of them can do so well.

And do you know what gave me that opportunity?

I entered a lift, that was 1986 or I think 1987 when the Babangida administration just introduced the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) and the collapse of the

Ogunbiyi economy that followed, and there was no job anywhere. I went to NICON, and I was looking for a job. I joined a lift on the 6th floor, the door closed and somebody cracked a joke and people smiled. Within that short period of 10 seconds I replied with a better joke and people laughed.

And that is how the man grabbed me, when we got down, he said to me, people say I am humorous but I can see that you are more humorous than myself. Then he said, which school do you graduate from? I said University of Ife, he said yes I went to Ife and graduated with a first class degree in mathematics, in response I exclaimed and said, I doff my hat for you o.

Then he said, what are you doing here?’’ I answered that I came to look for a job. And the man said I think I can employ you because I have seen what I needed in you. The talent I am using today is my mouth. I read agriculture. But that is what the man saw, he said I can use you in insurance and he gave me his card.

So there are so many graduates that we can help to diversify. So Nollywood is another thing.

Osun State is a home of culture and we can train all these young people and empower them. If I become governor and by the grace of God I will become governor, I will create nothing less than 20 to 50 studios even if it is not standard, you can create these studios and bring all these Nollywood people to come and train people, and by the time they train them for four weeks, six weeks, and even if it is one person they have identified, you can imagine the employment he will create.

Also these are our local drummers, if you organised them into an orchestra, that is also job creation but this needs somebody that has the creativity, who knows what he is doing. So there are so many opportunities out there for us in Osun State and by the grace of God, in four years we will capital on these opportunities.

At this crucial point Osun State cannot afford to go another four years of the current administration.

They lack ideas. If the ideas were there, he has been there for 12 years now. So if somebody comes and says the current governor is managing Osun state within a state of non-existing resources, it is an unfortunate statement.

What is your economic agenda for Osun state and how do you want to execute it?

We have five key areas. First and foremost, reform education. Education is my priority and by the grace of God our first year budget will reflect that. If our secondary school students cannot boast of good results, then what are we producing? So I will focus on primary and secondary schools. I don’t want to promote the current government but Osun state university, with the little I have seen, I think they are doing so well. The only thing is they need to change the focus of their teaching so that they can produce graduates that will be relevant to society. Apart from that, they are doing very well. But look at primary, secondary schools, that is the foundation of education. So I will focus on education. There will be compulsory free primary education for all our children. Look at what Jakende did, of blessed memory. When he started those things, people were making jest

of him. They thought it was about providing big classrooms. If you look around Osun state, you will see big primary schools. Like the one here, the primary school I graduated from, do you know that from primary one to primary six as big as the school is, they have just 40 pupils. So we need to reform and refurbish our education.

That is the priority, so that we can sustain that high level of human capital development.

Of course the same thing goes for secondary school. When I become the governor, by the grace of God, after two years of my government, you will see that Osun state will come first or second in WAEC. And if that is standardised, the other thing can run on autopilot.

Secondly, I mentioned agriculture. Awolowo used agriculture to develop the Western region.

But what has our government in the last 15 years done in the area of agriculture? Nothing.

We have cocoa, which Awolowo developed and deployed massively. But how much cocoa are we selling now? Who is buying? I went round Osun and this is the second time I am doing so.

In 2018 I went round the nukes and crannies of Osun, sometimes I get to a location and I will be crying. Are these things so bad? And again I have gone round, we have all these cash crops that are wasting away, and I will link them to agric related industries. Oranges, for example, come, but nobody harvests oranges again. Mango, nobody harvest mango again, the little we have is only for consumption. If you buy mangos now, I hear four go for N200.

If you buy four, if you don’t finish the four immediately, by the following day the remaining is spoiled. But we have companies who depend solely on fruits. I went to this Songhai Farm in the Republic of Benin, where they process fruits. I will not encourage the government to go into what private companies can do. But we will create an enabling environment so that they can come in.

Like I said, civil servants, we need to retrain them, we need to actively retrain them because without effective civil services no government can succeed. And I will pay attention to that. I will motivate them to be at work. What is the point, you are earning salary, the Bible says every worker deserves his wage but when the wages are not coming forth what will the labourer do. So I will guarantee payment of their wages. People who are due for promotion, we will promote them, and ensure payment of their pension. So all these things relating to workers welfare, I will give it priority because you can’t develop anything without effective civil services. I will make civil servants my priority and make them effective and productive.

These people are very productive. If they get the right motivation they are ready to work, they are ready to develop Osun provided you have the right leadership that will make them do it.

So that is the third point.

We will bring in agric related industries. Look at oil palm. God given, natural gift, or have you ever seen somebody who planted these old oil palm trees, they are still there. Malaysia came in 1969 to take oil palm seed, today Malaysia is the largest exporter of palm oil. What are we doing?

I went round, there is no village I went to that I did not see this small scale palm oil processing by the people using what we call ‘eku’. We can’t get mills, look, it is not rocket science. I don’t need to buy mills and dash them; they don’t even want to be dashed.

So every available resource will be channelled into productive activities. What is missing now is, one, there is lack of initiative in the area of productivity. When the initiatives are not there you cannot talk about getting things done. So when we have a government that has initiative, I will use my network to bring in private sector people who will put in money in these various things.

Again you talk of agriculture, do you know that there is the medicinal part of agriculture.

All these people graduating from medicine there is so much that they can do. Do you know that if you grow just two seedlings of bitter kola, do you know what can be produced? What you can use it for, a lot. So there are a lot of ideas and they are low hanging fruits that we can quickly pluck.

Now in the area of industrialisation. How do we want to industrialise Osun State, apart from agro allied industries, do you know that Osun State has 26 commercially viable mineral resources? Ask the government, who are the people mining our gold? Can you identify them apart from Segilola? And they mine raw gold, and it is the purest anywhere in the world, 98% pure, and you can put a structure around that gold so that Osun state will earn 13% derivation revenue. We can

take a cue from the oil producing state. I have had engagements with people in the Ministry of Solid Minerals in Abuja, in fact when they saw my manifesto; six of them came to me here to talk to me, how serious am I. It is about $6 million to do a standard gold refining and processing plant, why can’t we have it?

Today you cannot say this is how much gold that is coming out of Osun.

Whoever gets a licence, we would supervise the licence, we will know the quantity of gold that is available, the records are there, go to the Ministry of Solid Minerals, get the records. Okay you have a licence, this is the quantity of gold that is inside here, so as you produce, we monitor.

We know that mining is on the exclusive list but there are things you can do collaboratively with the federal government. Zamfara is doing it now. So if you produce gold, we will know the quantity of gold you are producing and FG takes it, then I can now request for 13% derivation revenue. How much is the resource? Do you know that the medium of exchange in the world is the dollar but gold has taken over.

Gold can never rust. So when they say that Zamfara is producing gold, if you produce gold, you earn it, you do it, you refine it, you take it to CBN, you can take money against it, it is an asset.

So all these areas we say we don’t have funds for, instead of borrowing. You know, Osun is the second or the third leveraged state in the entire federation of Nigeria, but those who are leveraged, Lagos is the most leveraged state in the entire country but does Lagos have the resources? Yes. America is the most leveraged, the greatest debtor in the world today is the USA and it is also the most prosperous. So we can take a cue from all this. This is where my experience, my expertise, my knowledge, my education would come in for Osun. I can go on and on but like I said I have a manifesto that speaks to this.

Again look at the area of empowerment, it will interest you to know that all my years in Mutual Benefits Assurance, when we wanted to differentiate ourselves from other players, we did it through retail insurance. That is why they call me the Apostle of Retail Insurance. And the backbone of retail insurance is empowerment. So all these market women, when you see me this is how you will see me except for Mondays that I will wear a tie because we are going to have an executive meeting but the rest of the week I am in my jeans. You will find me in Abattoir, you will find me with women selling ewedu, you will find me with people selling tomatoes in Oyingbo. The people in motor parks, spare parts dealers, you will find me there. Look, I bought 25,000 pieces of Okada for people in the North, for empowerment. Okada is the standard mode of transport there, it is the status symbol, but how did we do it for teachers? We said let us have the list of people that have gratuity, and we saw that their gratuity is more than the price of okada. So we bought each Okada for N65,000 and not a dime was added to it, and we gave it to them at 7.5%, and added insurance of N5,000.

The same thing with NURTW, we partnered with them. If you go round all the functional airports in Nigeria, you will find these cars on hire, we bought 400 for them, they repaid the money. So when it comes to empowerment I am the master. So there is a lot on the table, which we can discuss today but I want to encourage Osun people to please free themselves from the bondage of poverty, to free themselves from bondage of an unsecured future. Here is the Akin Ogunbiyi and Accord party and I have brought them hope.

And the greatest thing anybody can live on in Osun today is hope for a better tomorrow. Our children are suffering, the parents are suffering, everybody is suffering in the midst of plenty.

So Osun state has resources to leverage on. So I disagree vehemently with my brother and my good friend Governor Fayemi who said he is thanking the current governor, Oyetola, for being effective in the midst of a state non-existing resources.

Given the fact that Osun state is broke, with a huge debt overhang, how are you going to raise funds for these projects?

Thank you. I have just said it. How did Awolowo raise funds? I have talked about agriculture. In fact, when God created heaven and the earth, he created the Garden of Eden, the first thing He made sure He did was agriculture and He secured those plantations by putting forth streams within it before He created man. Everything in this world emanates from that same agriculture.

You said how am I going to raise funds, I will create commodity bonds, I will go the way of Awolowo, I will standardise the price of cocoa, I will standardise the price of palm oil, I will standardise the price of rubber. All these cash crops, we will sit down with the farmers. I have identified 50 farmers’ groups.

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

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FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Yadudu: Restoring Critical Airport Facilities Will Improve Air Transport in Nigeria The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Captain Rabiu Musa Yadudu, speaks on the need to provide critical airport infrastructure, the restoration of essential facilities to improve air safety and give travellers better experience. Chinedu Eze presents the excerpts: PASSENGER FACILITATION

R

ESA Airport Digital Solutions, which provides easy passenger facilitation, which we used to replace SITA that provides similar services, is very good.

RESA and SITA are the biggest two in the world. Most of Europe is RESA and SITA and most of the USA is SITA because it is an American Company etc, but SITA was giving us service for only two airports (Lagos and Abuja) and we went and negotiated an agreement with RESA that covers the five international airports. So, instead of covering two for 10 years, now, we are covering five international airports. We now have a larger number of check-in systems delivered to the airports. There is departure control system all in this one and many other services.

Most importantly, the technology we had with SITA was CUTE (common use terminal equipment) and it was replaced sometime in 2009 with CUPPS (Common Use Passenger Processing System). FAAN needs to modernize. So, we went for a newer technology and that is what RESA is offering us.

This particular RESA system also has function on revenue automation and it is the latest one being adopted by the whole world and that is what Nigeria has.

NEW TERMINAL AND RELOCATION The new international terminal in Lagos has opened. When you inaugurate a new terminal, you have to do operational review and transfer before you can move. We decided to start moving in phases from the old terminal to the new. We didn’t want everyone to move at the same time. If you remember, when Terminal 5 opened at Heathrow in London, it took organisations about six months because of teething problems that came up. It is only here that people complain. There is nowhere in the world that you have a perfect system. No airport operates in isolation of its environment. Aviation industry keeps evolving when the challenges happen and are tackled immediately. The relocation is a phased one to the new terminal. No airport system will say you want to relocate to a new terminal and you want to remove everybody, you will crash.

So, we sent tow airlines and other ones will follow.

I told them to move the airlines that operate morning and afternoon flights to the new terminal so that we will decongest the old terminal. It is unfortunate that some of them said they will not move, but we are not ready to compel them to move. We just keep quiet. You cannot be a FAAN stakeholder and dictate to us. When the time comes, they must all move. Those that refused to move want to paint us in bad light that we don’t have a good terminal, which is not true.

You were complaining of the bad facilities and the baggage handling, now, we provided you with a new one, yet, you refused to move. The whole of aviation in the world is national interest and unfortunately, Nigerians are joining them to condemn the industry.

24 HOURS OPERATION OF AIRPORTS FAAN want all airports to operate 24 hours because it is a business for FAAN. We earn our revenue from the operations; we are a service delivery agency, but the challenge is, will the 24/7 pay for itself? Somebody has to pay for the 24/7 operations. Will the business pay for itself? If we open an airport with just only three landings, FAAN will close down. No organization in the world will do that. Even if you go to Europe, you will find out that many airports are sunrise to sunset. You can operate an airport even for sunrise to midday so that everybody that knows should go around that window.

FAAN cannot operate an airport that we cannot breakeven, because we are already challenged. We want 24/7 days airport, but we need to know if the business will be sustainable. At first, some of the businesses may look as if they are sustainable even for the next two years. So, somebody must

Yadudu be ready to have the business model to sustain 24/7 operations.

One airline came to us about two years ago and said that they wanted to operate 24/7 operations to Yola and wanted FAAN to extend the time for them, but I told them that we would need a lot of money to do that. An airline may decide to open a route today and dispatch just one aircraft, but for FAAN, NAMA (the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency) and others will have to mobilise personnel, ensure efficiency and fix facilities that can be moved in and out. Sometimes, fuellers and handlers will be needed. We don’t want a situation whereby an airline will start a route now and in the next few months, it will stop such route due to lack of passengers. Then, who will pay for all we have gone through?

BEEFING UP SECURITY We have resolved the security issue and the manifestation of that is on ground. On that singular incident (of dead body found at Lagos international airport runway), there is still an investigation ongoing, but we can’t make any public statement until the result of the investigation is out. There are a lot of theories on it. I won’t dwell much on this until the report of the investigation is out. However, government processes and procedures, which are necessary, also matter in all we do. A private airport can have a problem today and by tomorrow, it can deploy the solutions to the problem because it does not go through long bureaucracy. We know the solutions to the problems we have, but we have to ensure that due processes are followed for us to implement them.

Additional challenges arise when you have to bring the equipment from abroad; which will involve manufacturing, shipping and others.

Sometimes you can know them, identify them and before you can ensure solution, it may take you up to a year.

I was a Director of Operations in FAAN when we realized there was the need for total surveillance for the whole airport. I went to Munich, Germany by the end of 2018 or so. I identified the company, they came to do lead assessment twice; marking and survey. They gave us the estimate for visual and thermal infrared cameras. They will manufacture visuals to cover the areas of the airports for a whole day, from sunrise to sunset and thermal from sunset to early morning. The equipment is high performer. If a rabbit is walking within 8km radius, which is 16km diameter, the cameras will identify it. The camera will cover the whole airport.

The runway is 3.7km or 3.8km and we are buying about four of those cameras to cover the airfield.

We started the procurement of the equipment and the Minister of Aviation was very supportive. As of now, the procurement has been concluded and Mr. President approved it last year, part payment has already been made to the manufacturer and the Chief of Staff and myself, we went to the factory to ensure that what we are buying is what we are getting.

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

This

Weekend

FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 2022

TR

UTH

& R E ASO

N

WEEKLY MAGAZINE

NEWS Aishat Anaekwe Wins Big at RAYLF Award 2022 See page 35

METRO A Quintessential Cop Takes the Final Salute: Don Awunah (1963-2022) See page 36

POLSCOPE Esau’s Plate of Porridge and the Nigerian Electorate See page 37

Yvonne Elaigwu: Group Features Editor: CHIEMELIE EZEOBI chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com

07010510430

Driving Growth, Trends in Nigeria Fintech Space

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͱ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

COVER

Yvonne Elaigwu: Driving Growth, Trends in Nigeria Fintech Space Skilled in people management, negotiation, business planning, events planning, analytical skills, and sales, Yvonne Faith Elaigwu has proven to be an experienced manager with a demonstrated history of working in the financial services industry and the Corporate Social Responsibility space, some of which include UBA Foundation and Oando Foundation.

Currently the Head of Operations at OnePipe, a foremost fintech API Company and a Trustee at Open Banking Nigeria, the Master’s Degree graduate in Environmental Management from the University of Lagos, is not just big on the growth of Fintech, she is also doubly excited about the future of the payment system in Nigeria. In this interview, she shared what it takes to drive the operations of a Startup in Nigeria’s peculiar economy, and the future of the payment system in Nigeria - An outlook of Trends, amongst other things.

Chiemelie Ezeobi brings excerpts

How do we describe you and your professional background? studied Human Anatomy from the University of Maiduguri with the goal of being a genetic engineer. Then I got a job! My first job was an operation’s role and I quickly found that I enjoyed being a part of the team in the backend that provided the support and structure that ensures that all goes well.

Every role I have occupied since then has been operational in nature. I have been doing this now for over 12 years across the NGO space, Banking, CSR and now in the technology space. Somewhere in between these jobs, I got a master of Environmental Management degree from the University of Lagos.

I

How would you describe the position of the current payment systems that are available in the Nigerian business space today?

I’d say our payment systems are growing and evolving. Transaction volume and value are growing exponentially, NIP transactions alone in 2020 were over N 235 trillion which is nearly 100 times more than the e-payments transaction less than about eight years ago.

The COVID-19 pandemic literally forced the world to prioritize contactless interactions and the payment system was not excluded.

This is probably one of the drivers of the rise and adoption of payment via transfer; PayWithTransfer.

10 years ago, the value of NIP transactions was 4,449,654 as reported by the Central Bank of Nigeria, this was less than two per cent of the 378,100,749 pulled in by POS terminals and ATM machines. I remember a time when every saloon and corner store was hustling to get a POS machine from their banks.

It was the new in-thing and everyone needed a machine to receive payments. The store owner and customer both relied on the POS slip to confirm that a transaction was successful. It’s interesting that these store owners and merchants had bank accounts but did not think to accept payments directly into them.

Today, the concept of paywithtransfer is so accepted that the cab driver, who before now would only accept cash, (who probably never went through the POS stage) would, without much ado share an account number to receive payment for his services.

Data supports this shift and growth, the CBN report on e-payments showed that in 2020, “pay with transfer” NIP volume was about 200 per cent more than the volume of payments made on both POS terminals and ATM machines and significantly more in transaction value.

Businesses are more now comfortable with receiving payments digitally, most businesses today are profiled to receive payments digitally and this is evidenced in the fact that

the transaction value and volume of all e-payment platforms are consistently growing.

What are your views on digital currencies? Do you think that they will eventually be implemented in our economy?

I am no subject matter expert here, but it looks to me that they are here to stay.

Like all new “products”, they would come with their teething problems, bugs and losses. Costly mistakes would be made and lessons would be learnt, the Luna scenario of the last couple of days taught me and hopefully the ecosystem that “it’s not really stable unless it is pegged against actual money sitting in a bank account”.

It’s like purifying gold, at the end of the day, impurities would be removed and a gem would emerge. While it may take us some time as a country or an economy to get onboard with a new technology (e.g. like it did with mobile networks and cell phones), we eventually catch on and make up for lost time. I personally believe that once digital currencies are established, become relatively more mainstream, they would be implemented and even encouraged in our country. This would probably take time, but it is very likely to happen.

What are the trends that will shape the financial space in Nigeria in a few years to come?

I think that the concept of Embedded Finance will take root and grow/shape the Nigerian financial space in a short time from now. This would be evidenced in close partnerships between traditional banks, lenders and BaaS companies to enable merchants and “regular” entities like the distributors, cooperative societies, farmers’ associations etc to provide financial services to the last mile customer.

This would improve financial literacy and bank more customers. The thinking is that the farmer who has been “acquired” by his association of farmers, would know to ask that entity for a loan to grow his farm.

This entity knows him and his operations intimately enough to offer him this facility.

The same can happen with the distributor who acquires his retailers and offers them banking services.

What would now begin to happen is that last mile customers are becoming more banked, where they are now incentivised to save their funds within the banking system in order to create transaction trails that make them eligible for credit facilities to grow their businesses and take care of pressing needs.

I also think that we will also begin to see simplified and more secure payment methods as people continue to embrace “pay with transfer”. Data already shows that people are gravitating toward this mode of payment and the failure rate of card transactions is not making it harder. In the future, the relevance of card payments would be minimised, thereby reducing the associated fraud incidences accompanied by card payments.

In what way would you say that technology is impacting the financial sector in Nigeria?

With a mobile network coverage of 99 per cent and data from the 2019 Jumia report on Nigeria that shows that 87 per cent of Nigerians are mobile network subscribers, it means that technology when properly directed can be the tool to reach the unbanked and educate the underbaked. rise and proliferation of technology startups in the finance space is the first glaring way that we see technology impacting the finance sector in Nigeria.

The prevalence of technology has made it possible for enterprising Nigerians to build solutions that can change people’s lives. These ventures have over the years attracted billions of dollars’ worth of capital into the country, provided employment to thousands of people and in 2021, technology startups contributed about 10 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP. These technology-driven companies are building and shipping solutions targeted at the unbanked and underbanked in the country and making them available on progressive web apps, downloadable apps, USSD and POS machines. The chances that an individual in the remote village of Obagaji, Agatu where I come from (where there is no physical bank) with a mobile phone (any kind of mobile phone) is able to access a financial service today is very high and attributed to technology, driven by technology companies.

Technology has made it possible for the regular person to have access to resources on financial instruments, concepts and data with which they can make informed decisions to improve their life conditions-everything is a google search away.

Digital banking versus the traditional banking system, do you think there will be a convergence?

Eventually, yes. While digital banking is the “now” and the future, traditional banks are here to stay and will need to come to a place (probably are in that place already) where they decide between

fighting digital banks, competing against them or partnering them. We are beginning to see partnerships in the US, Europe and even here in Nigeria between traditional banks and digital banks to birth the concept of Embedded Finance, which is a relatively new concept.

We expect to see more of these in the future.

As head of operations at OnePipe, what excites you about working in a startup business in Nigeria?

The challenge of building new products and systems; the joy and feeling of satisfaction from being a part of birthing something that has the propensity to change lives and influence people and economies.

Give us one practical example of a business that gained from the successful solution that OnePipe has delivered to them?

Omnibizz, a unified distribution platform in the FMCG space digitized their operations in the wake of the Covid 19 pandemic.

Omnibizz worked with OnePipe to embed financial services such that their customers can now pay directly into the account of their retailer.

Their retailers can also place orders, track their sales, pay for their orders, apply for credit and get approved without leaving the digital platform provided to them by Omibizz. This has reduced and will continue to reduce the dependence on cash transactions with the attending risks. It offers seamless payments, an opportunity to bank the underbanked retailer and possible credit to grow their market What are your winning strategies for managing people who work with you, both internally and externally?

I default to treating people how I want to be treated, I also try to understand people and learn how to communicate with them.

In terms of getting the operations of a business right, what is that one piece of advice that you would offer to women who choose to launch startups in Nigeria?

In terms of operations, I would advise that you decide very quickly on the type of company you want to build and find one person whose job it would be to help champion that from the scratch. When building a startup, operational practices may not be top on the list of most important things for the company because you’ll be building products, finding product-market fit and generally just figuring out.

With at least one resource dedicated to ensuring that you incorporate standard best practices into your operations and coursecorrect as you go, you are less likely to run into heavy-duty operational headaches in the future.

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͱ˜ 2022

NEWS ARMTI ENCOURAGES MECHANISED FARMING FOR SUSTAINABLE FOOD SECURITY

Aishat Anaekwe with Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi at the event

Aishat Anaekwe Wins Big at RAYLF Award 2022 Stories by Mary Nnah The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, OJAJA II, has honoured Aishat Anaekwe with the Royal African Young Leadership Forum Award 2022. The third edition of the RAYLF award ceremony which took place at the Oduduwa Hall of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife recently was organised to honour exceptional young leaders in Africa.

100 outstanding young personalities were honoured in different categories of the award covering five RAYLF pillars of governance and leadership, technology and

innovation, entrepreneurship and empowerment, creative culture, and academic excellence.

Currently, Aishat Yetunde Anaekwe is the Senior Brand Manager of 33 Export and Life Continental Beer. She has provided exemplary leadership in Nigeria Breweries Plc. A silent achiever and a marketer par excellence, she has also shown robust professional prowess that motivates and inspires her team.

Her result-oriented leadership style has berthed ground-breaking marketing communication campaigns across the board.

Aishat is a First class graduate of Economics at Covenant University.

She also holds a Master’s in

Finance with other professional certifications. Having worked with PZ Cussons and Johnson & Johnson, Aishat has continued to break new grounds in proffering cutting-edge solutions and strategies in Nigerian Breweries. She is also a natural leader with the ability to spot revolutionary trends and translate them into winning strategies for her organization. At every level of her interaction with people and work, Aishat shows an unquenchable appetite for excellence and innovation.

Other outstanding youths awarded include Tunde Onakoya, Adebola Williams, Jamil MD Abubakar, Olamilekan Massoud (Laycon), Rinu Oduala, Farida

Mohammad Kabir, Ahmad Salihijo, Nancy Isime, Ayodeju Balogun, Abubakar Nur Khalil, Aysha Ahmad Mohammad, Ceewhy Ochoga, Hassan Dantata among others.

The Ooni of Ife instituted the Royal African Young Leadership Forum (RAYLF) to serve as a contemporary community of young people with the finest aspirations of inspiring the future generations of the best and brightest that are irrefutably anchoring a new economic frontier by establishing innovative clusters through various mechanisms that can provide Africa its long-awaited prosperity and competitive advantage.

Stakeholders at the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), have urged Nigerian youths to be fully involved in agriculture and practice mechanised farming.

The institute stressed the need to fully go back to farming, noting that for any nation to achieve food security, the citizens and the private sector must be involved such that, when the government develops policies and programmes, the people drive them. institute explained further that sustaining mainstay Agricultural Culture profitably across generations, the ARMTI board of governors has embarked on a three-day summit to upskill and reskilled using technology to advance skillset in agriculture.

Noting that, “Agriculture remained the mainstay of the country’s economy before the discovery of oil in Nigeria”, the group insisted that the discovery of oil affected agriculture so much that people played down agricultural activities to the detriment of the nation’s economy.

On the other hand, they observe that what is heartwarming is the new craving to return to the farms to once more move up the country’s revenue in the face of dwindling global oil fortunes.

Perhaps, this development informs the new focus on commercial agriculture with the establishment of different funds to revive some of the moribund agricultural programmes.

The Executive Board of Governors and Management of Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute at the event stated that by focusing on mentoring, knowledge management, replication of systems, bridging generational gaps, corporate resilience, and mitigation strategies, the incumbents’ skills, and expertise were garnished with the intellect and aptitude required for developing and advancing their knowledge, and ability for trans-generational performance.

Also, the Executive Director of the Institute Dr. Olufemi Oladumi, said there is a need to improve rice production and other farm produce, adding that Nigerian youths need to go to the farm, not as labourers but engaged in commercial farming.

“Therefore, we are encouraging all Nigerian youths to join us so that we can make use of technology to advance farming whereby we can harvest, process, and develop our products, sell to other nations,” he added.

SBA GROUP LAUNCHES NEW OFFICE BUILDING IN LAGOS

FiberOne Rebrands, Unveils New Logo At 66: Nigeria Navy Commends Chiamaka Ozulumba

Personnel for Renewed Cooperation

FiberOne Broadband, Nigeria’s largest fiber broadband provider, has announced that it has rebranded. The new philosophy themed: ‘a new way of life’ and visual identity takes effect on June 1, 2022.

The company announced this in Lagos on Wednesday via a statement from the CEO. CEO, FiberOne Broadband, Lanre Ore, explained that “the rebrand is to position the company as an entity embracing the growing realities of the internet-enabled world. The refreshed FiberOne is making life and living easier for Nigerians because we provide a service that connects individuals with the most important elements of life work, play, family, business, etc.’’ ‘’In 2017, we started out to provide quality fiber to Nigerians at home and at work. We ensured that our products are truly unlimited and affordable. While we are still providing these, we have realised that our internet is enabling something much bigger and we have represented this through our new visual identity and its credo: a new way of life. Our new visual identity has transited the brand from a provider to an enabler, from a functional internet provider to an enabler of quality life and living’’.

This brand overhaul is coming after five years of

Rebecca Ejifoma

Lanre Ore, CEO FiberOne Broadband providing fiber optic broadband to Nigerian homes and businesses. The company has also adopted a new logo which depicts the infusion of life and living as seen in the letter “O”.

Speaking on how the rebrand will affect the customers, Head, Sales and Marketing, Kenny Joda, stated that ‘’the rebrand is coming at a time that Nigerians are expecting more from the internet. The 5G network is expected to launch in Nigeria in August and that comes with higher expectations of speed, less latency and internet efficiency. As a service provider, we have built capacity on all angles to deliver the best quality internet, better customer service and affordable connectivity to our customers.

The Nigerian Navy (NN) has commended the conduct and discipline of its personnel alongside renewed cooperation among the military and security agency in Lagos State, as a necessary tool to face common security challenges in the state.

This was according to the Commandant NN Ship Quorra, Commodore M. Ide at the NN Quorra Parade Ground at the 66th NN Week Ratings Party in Lagos.

“My delight is borne out of the fact that there is a renewed cooperation among the military and security agencies in the state,” he expressed, this is as he urged them to sustain the cordiality.

Represented by the acting Deputy Commandant Quorra, Captain Andrew Zidon, Ide lauded the ratings and their families for their efforts in sustaining the tempo.

He further applauded the conduct and discipline of the personnel within Lagos AOR, the civilian management ability and commitment of the staff.

The commandant added: “As you are all just cutting your teeth during this memorable ceremony though at different levels, bear it in mind that a lot is expected from you in terms of courage, discipline, dedication, enthusiasm and professionalism in your duties.”

Ide, however, pointed out that this is also a period of change and “for you, it cannot be business as usual.

The Nigerian Navy is looking up to you to help bring the necessary change in the system”, he reminded the personnel.

According to the commandant, a rating is supposed to be an epitome of knowledge and discipline. Adding, he told the personnel that the man who enforces the law is expected to know the law.

“The essence of this party is to bind us together with a single ideology, purpose and knowledge,” he emphasised.

Therefore, he charged them to strive to improve themselves personally in their different units and keep pace with best practices, behaviour and extant regulations. “This will save you a lot of embarrassment,” he chipped in.

Ide also appreciated the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo “for a selfless effort to organise such a glamorous event to mark the 66th Nigerian Navy week and also the entire organising committee for the work they have done”.

Meanwhile, there was lots of fun, music, jokes to crack their ribs, and amazing cash prizes for children, wives of officers, junior officers and senior officers in the dance competition.

SBA new office building SBAGroup, a leading provider of Technical Services, Sales, Spare Parts, and After Sales Service machinery for manufacturing companies last week officially unveiled the opening of its new office in Lagos, Nigeria, to accommodate its growing workforce, make room for a more spacious workspaces, as well as its warehouse.

The organisation is an African leader in packaging water, beverages, liquid food, cosmetics, and dairy, ranging from packaging machines to automated filling systems to water treatment, industrial printers, etc. They have been in operation since 1998 when it first established its presence in West Africa. Since then, they have successfully secured multiple partnerships and opened additional offices across West Africa, East Africa, and Central Africa.

It was a truly remarkable day for the Group as they welcomed over 100 Customers and Strategic Partners from all over.

The official launch, hosted by Yomi Owope, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor, Ogun State Governor’s Office, is part of the Group’s strategic decision to enhance the effectiveness and the impact of its operations while facilitating the growing activities in the Manufacturing sector in Nigeria.

The grand opening commenced with a ribbon-cutting ceremony performed by Claude Bosson, Chairman, SBA Group, and George Sakalis, Managing Director, SBA Group.

Thereafter, there was a building tour of all four floors, leading to a rooftop, where the group entertained guests in a small business party to mark the significant milestone. Special performances by Award Winning Nigerian Guitarist, Femi Leye, 12-year-old Nigerian Saxophonist prodigy, Temilayo Abodunrin, and South African singer, Noel Mio gave guests and employees a chance to relax and socialize while having drinks and canapes.

The promise of the brand new building with its ultra-modern working environment was certainly a cause for celebration.

Speaking on surmounting challenges along the way, Sakalis in his welcome address expressed gratitude to various respective stakeholders saying “because of a growing team, it was not an easy task to buy land and build during the pandemic. But this happened because of our great customers, partners, and a very determined contractor that pushed it through, despite all odds, despite all the difficulties in sourcing materials.

ͱʹ

T H I S D AY ˾ ͱ˜ 2022

METRO

…Your city life in print

A Quintessential Cop Takes the Final Salute: Don Awunah (1963-2022) Tunde Olusunle, PhD

I

was woken up by the distinct voice of my son, Oluwatobiloba, morning Monday May 23, 2022. He called me by his patented nickname for me, *Dadss.* Wiping my eyes as I roused from sleep, I hailed him in return, “Tobss,” good morning. Hope all is well.” “Your friends, Compol Olofu and Dr Nyitse have been trying to reach you.

When you were not picking your calls, they called me.” My eyes which were still drowsy, lit up immediately. I reached for my phone, spontaneously. I discovered that between my friends, Tony Olofu a commissioner of police, and Tivlumun Nyitse, chief of staff to the Benue State governor, I had grossed six unanswered calls, so early in the day. My heart skipped a few beats. I prayed it wasn’t what I feared.

Our mutual friend, Don Awunah, a serving Assistant Inspector General of Police, (AIG), had been indisposed and bedridden for nearly two months. Olofu attended a two-day Conference on Internal Security, convened by the Inspector General of Police, (IGP), co-hosted by the Akwa Ibom State government, early February. The programme was attended by senior officers from the rank of Commissioners of Police, and those above them. Olofu participated in the event and interacted with Awunah. He reported to me on his return that Awunah was not his characteristic ebullient self, and he, Olofu, was concerned. In the line of seniority in the Police, Awunah was the most senior officer from Benue State, while Olofu is next to him from the same state.

Results from initial tests suggested he was either afflicted by tuberculosis or lymphoma. We took turns to visit him regularly, to check up on his progress and cheer him up. Nyitse shuttled diligently from Makurdi to Abuja each time he had to see Awunah, while my being in Abuja availed me more regularity by his bedside. He opened his eyes and stared at me the last time I saw him, without saying a word. His trademark clean-shaven face, traditionally spick and span, had rapidly succumbed to unusual patches of grey. His wife, Dooshima was quite agitated on that occasion, wondering if he was getting the appropriate treatment for his condition.

Olofu, who I first called, confirmed my worst apprehensions.

Awunah succumbed to the cold hands of death at about 1am, that Monday May 23, 2022.

The wedding of his only daughter, Gabriella, was scheduled for a month earlier, April 23, 2022, in Makurdi. A week before the event, his family had notified guests of the postponement of the event, ostensibly to enable him recuperate.

Family, friends, associates and colleagues, rallied round him prayerfully, so he could be stable enough to stand the strains of a long haul flight abroad for further management. On one of my visits, he called out his preferred nickname for me, *Baba Tee,* as if to reassure me that he was coming round. He attempted to clench his right hand into a fist, so he could bump his knuckles into mine, characteristic of the camaraderie between us. His hand was noticeably frail, weak and tired, much unlike his famous brightness, bubble and bounce.

I met Don Awunah about two decades ago, courtesy of my very close, longstanding friend, classmate and brother, Nyitse. Both gentlemen grew up together in Makurdi, Benue State, and forged a lifelong amity, which blossomed, and intertwined their respective families. Nyitse’s wife, Helen, indeed had Awunah’s spouse, Dooshima, as her “Best Lady” on the occasion of her wedding, about 30 years ago. Such is the profundity and multi-linkages of the relationship between both families. When Nyitse secured a teaching job at Bingham University, AutaBalefi, near Karu, Abuja about six years ago, Awunah objected to his seeking residential accommodation, offering him a place in his official apartment in Abuja. If you desire to see either Awunah or Nyitse in Makurdi, there was always a 70% probability that they were in the homes of either of them.

Awunah was a very charismatic and likeable personality. He was a calm, discernibly simple, easy going, thoroughly uncomplicated character.

It was very easy to get along with him.

Perhaps because of his cosmopolitan evolution, he was extremely urbane, genial, outgoing and unassuming. He was a deep thinker who chose his words and expressions. You could be sure to find him on the side of objectivity on issues.

Donald Ngorngor Awunah was born June 13, 1963 in Bauchi, and had his elementary education in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, (where his mother hails from), and Lagos, respectively.

He attended Padopads Harmony Secondary School, Makurdi (owned by his father) and the School of Basic Studies, Ugbokolo, both in Benue

Awunah State. He obtained a degree in Philosophy from the University of Lagos, in 1984, and underwent the mandatory one year National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC), at *Shere* Hills in Jos, Plateau State, between 1984 and 1985. A collectivisation of these experiences evidently impacted his broad vision and rainbow worldview.

He enlisted in the Nigeria Police Force, (NPF) March 15, 1988, as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police, (ASP), on the same day with the incumbent Inspector General of Police, (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba. Awunah was a thoroughly and totally professionally rounded police officer, whose most eventful 34-year career, crisscrossed several key departments and divisions of the police. He was a crack detective and untiring investigator; a dedicated crime buster and a painstaking fraud trailer.

Awunah was an astute administrator and erudite speaker; an indefatigable instructor and grounded trainer; a seasoned communicator and worthy image maker.

He was a most fitting foreign ambassador for the Service in the course of his various international engagements, notably as Contingent Commander of the NPF, to the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste, (UNMIT), between 2008 and 2009. Concurrently with this assignment, he was the Spokesperson of the Mission.

To be sure, Awunah traversed the crime, fraud, public relations, administration, community policing, investigation, counterterrorism, border patrol and training sections of the Police, among others, over his momentous career.

He attended a myriad of courses and workshops, sharpening his skills in Nigeria, the United States of America, (USA), Japan, England, Scotland, Israel, among others. He was at the centre of the interrogation of several headline criminal cases, particularly following the dawn of democratic governance. These included the investigation of the killings of Bola Ige,

former Oyo State governor and Minister of Justice under the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo and Marshal Harry, one time national vice-chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples’ Party, (ANPP). He equally served, with Solomon Arase, former IGP, in the inquisition processes of Hamza Al Mustapha, chief security officer to former military Head of State, Sani Abacha.

Despite his privileged postings, he continued to seek further education and enlightenment. Awunah obtained masters degrees in International Relations and Strategic Studies from the Benue State University, (BSU) in 2009, and Peace and Security Studies, from the University of Ilorin, (Unilorin) in 2015, respectively. He had earlier obtained a certificate in Mass Communication from the Federal Polytechnic, Idah, in 1990, to enhance his skills and competencies in information dissemination. His brief in his earlier service years, devolved around public engagement and he anticipated a future career as a trumpeter for his organisation.

He serially availed himself of opportunities for training, retraining and further education and skill acquisition, in the line of his professional calling. His eternal aim was to be the best. He attended the senior executive courses for top level administrators in some of Nigeria’s topmost institutes for the training of the decision-making cadre of security and public servants. These include the Executive Intelligence Management Courses at the Institute for Security Studies, (ISS), Abuja, 2014 and the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos, respectively. He had the acronyms *fsi* and *mni* representing: Fellow of the Security Institute and Member of the National Institute, affixed to his name. He was a scholar in his right, but he was never presumptuous.

He was humble enough to subject his correspondences, term papers, speeches, press releases, to further interrogation and second editorial opinion.

Awunah brought class, style and panache to his schedule as Police Public Relations

“Awunah brought class, style and panache to his schedule as Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), between 2016 and 2017. His comportment in his several public appearances as police mouthpiece endeared him to many and helped to temper public profiling of the Force”

Officer, (PPRO), between 2016 and 2017. His comportment in his several public appearances as police mouthpiece endeared him to many and helped to temper public profiling of the Force.

He was perceived a very sharp departure from run-of-the-mill police personnel, famous for rawness, sadism and meanness. He subsequently served as police Commissioner in-charge of Akwa Ibom State; Director of Studies, Police Academy, Kano (POLAK) and Bayelsa State, respectively. He imbued his briefs with humanism and novel engagement, drawing recognition and accolades from his host communities. He served as Commissioner of Police in-charge of the Counterterrorism Unit, (CTU), at the Force Headquarters, (FHQ), Abuja, and Commandant of the Police Staff College, (PSC), in Jos in 2020.

His last assignment was AIG in-charge of Zone 16 of the NPF, overseeing Bayelsa and Rivers states.

You couldn’t but notice Awunah’s passion and joy about his profession. He donned his uniforms with every pride and delight. And irrespective of whether they were the day-to-day sky-blue top on black trousers, or the starched *khaki* attire, popular with the mobile police or CTU departments, they looked so good on him. Whether it was the ceremonial dress or the police combat fatigue, you could feel his happiness wearing them, complemented by his gleaming black shoes.

He was a regular guy who had a burning passion for football and contemporary happenings, among his varied interests. Awunah was for instance, a diehard fan of the English Premier League, (EPL) side, Chelsea. Nyitse and I on the other hand, are Arsenal aficionados. We regularly poked fun at each, reviewing the performances of our club sides and projecting into their futures. You had to be in our midst on those days when our teams locked horns in famous North West London debacles.

He almost never missed early morning newspaper reviews and public affairs programmes. He would be the first to call you at dawn, chastising you for sleeping too much and not watching *AIT* or *Arise* or *Channels Television.* He would question your credentials as a top flight journalist, if you were not up to speed with current affairs. Nyitse and I would hit back and make light of his jibes, telling him we had other sources of filtering credible trending events.

Awunah was an exceptionally good man.

His gentlemanly carriage and comportment, completely preceded and subsumed the top cop that he was. He was a family man par excellence, a loyal friend and an unrepentant patriot. He had a communal essence about his makeup, he cared about everyone and loved the music of conviviality and laughter. He treasured relationships. The very first post-retirement meeting Nyitse and I had with former President Goodluck Jonathan, was at Awunah’s instance.

When he was Commissioner of Police in Bayelsa State, Jonathan who was in his Yenagoa home on a flying visit, invited Awunah for a meeting.

Nyitse and I were guests of our friend, and he gladly invited us to come with him. He loved to show off his loved ones, and very proudly introduced us as “media scholars, top-flight journalists and distinguished public officers.”

It was the same flourish with which he announced our profiles, when we accompanied him to meet Seriake Dickson, immediate past governor of Bayelsa, in *Creek House,* Yenagoa. In his company too, we visited Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, both in his Abuja accommodation, before being the governor’s guests at the annual “Akwa Ibom Festival of Carols,” in Uyo, December 2017. Awunah dared our broken down roads and the nationwide security scare, to travel all the way from Yenagoa, to Isanlu in Kogi State, to support me on the occasion of my father’s funeral, December 2018. I had been his guest in his Mbacholon home place in Gwer West local government area of Benue State, and in his Makurdi house, respectively. He was that loyal to friendship.

Former IGP Solomon Arase who visited Awunah’s Abuja apartment on Monday May 23, 2022, consoled his wife and children, about the very sad incident. He confirmed that Awunah was a top flight professional, who invested his very best in the service of the country. He recalled that Awunah was an Assistant Commissioner of Police, (ACP), while he (Arase), was substantive CP in Akwa Ibom State, many years ago. He confirmed that Awunah served with him in the investigation of a number of knotty cases. He requested to be carried along with the planning of his rites of passage. t0MVTVOMF QPFU KPVSOBMJTU BVUIPS BOE TDIPMBS JT B .FNCFS PG UIF /JHFSJBO (VJME PG &EJUPST /(&

37

T H I S D AY ˾ ͱ˜ 2022

POLSCOPE Esau’s Plate of Porridge and the Nigerian Electorate

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Canticles….

Igbos and the Presidential Cross

I

am gradually losing hope on the future of Nigeria. Now I understand why the late Chinua Achebe wrote that book, There was a Country.

What do you mean losing hope on Nigeria, at a time we are celebrating unprecedented 23 years of unbroken democracy?

Of what use is this celebration of 23 years of unbroken democracy when the country stands disunited? How can a section of the country perpetually be regarded as second-class citizens, that only a few oligarchs have the standing right to rule and govern the rest of us?

What kind of democracy is that? In the 21st century? No way!

What are you talking about?

Atiku

T

his is election season. Not quite. The national election proper is about eight full months away. But the fever has already seized us. It is not for nothing. Not only has governance been suspended, the smell of the dollar is all over the place. And that is our bane. In a few days, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will have its own presidential primary contest. Twenty four men have been screened for the contest.

The rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had its presidential primary last weekend. It eloquently bespoke of what is to come: that the “digital politics” of today is defined only by cash. No wonder the likes of Peter Obi who would not dole out cash so mindlessly (even though he has it), had to quit.

The collection of nomination form alone from the two leading parties was a matter of financial heavy weather. While the PDP charged N40 million, the APC charged a whooping N100 million, thus raising the bar of the contest beyond the reach of ordinary good men. In an economy strewn with hardship and a punitive economic climate, the demand of such a huge registration fee for a mere political aspiration speaks volumes of how pretentious we are in mouthing our determination to have a better country.

How much honesty can we truly expect from a man or woman who doles out N100 million to buy nomination form, while dealing with the public treasury?

Last weekend, we all witnessed dollar rain.

It was heavy. PDP party delegates suddenly became like prized princes and princesses who must be courted with bags and bales of hard currency. This weekend, the rain might even be heavier as the APC files out for its presidential primary contest.

It is bad enough that the fate of the future of over 200 million people is being determined by less than four thousand people, which questions democracy as a majoritarian rule, yet, it is even worse that the rational reasoning of these less than 4,000 persons is being circumscribed by the oodles of dollars. At the sight of dollars, the reasoning capacity of the delegates is no longer assured. And that seems the only currency that is considered a legal tender in the electoral market.

Sam Ohuabunwa, one of the PDP presidential aspirants (he scored just one vote) put it succinctly.

When asked if he was embarrassed with his just one vote, he said, not many people will remember their surname when dollars are on the table. True!

So, that is where the delegates have become like Esau. The story was told in the Bible of how Esau, an elder of a twin, had returned from the field one day very famished. He saw his idle younger brother (Jacob) preparing a pot of porridge. Esau could not endure his hunger. He asked for food from Jacob, who saw his brother’s situation as an opportunity for “transactional politics”. He demanded for his brother’s birthright if he must give him the porridge. Foolishly, Esau reasoned: of what use is birthright in the face of this pang of hunger?

He staked it without a second thought, and ate the porridge. And so, Jacob became the elder and till today, the contention between Esau and Jacob has continued to haunt humanity.

In the same vein, our political class, represented

by these so-called delegates is staking our future on the table, in exchange for wads and bales of dollars (some of which are now being said are fake), forgetting that he who quenches his/her hunger today will sooner or later get hungry again. How can these delegates be so short-sighted as to sacrifice our future because of the momentary allure of dollars?

In my Delta State, I saw a video of how a delegate, on returning from the ‘Delegates’ Voyage’, quickly bought a car to celebrate the ‘harvest’. In the face of dollar, the reasoning faculty of delegates is compromised. They end up electing the wrong aspirants and the consequence is that they will battle poverty, lack, hardship under-development, insecurity, ignorance and all such ill warts of governance for another four years or even eight years, long after the temporary sweetness of the porridge (dollars) has turned sour. And another set of delegates will come, make the same mistakes, and the cycle continues. Who will redeem us from this scourge?

It has become such a lucrative venture to be a delegate. A tik-tok joke had captured it quaintly when a little boy was asked what he would like to become in the future, and he quickly declared that he would want to be a Delegate.

But inherent in this Delegates’ misdemeanour is the big issue of character, integrity and honesty, all rolled into one. How can it be explained that delegates will openly collect dollars from each and every of all the aspirants, whereas they know they will vote for just one person?

It was alleged that the son of the former Vice president, Namadi Sambo, Mustapha, who contested and lost his bid to be a member of the House of Representatives, had engaged the services of Vigilante and hunters to recover the N100 million he spent on delegates, after he scored only two votes. First, how did such a “small boy” get the N100 million he spent on bribing delegates?

Again, a social media post, in describing the source of the huge monies being spent by politicians captured it so well: that the huge monies are the money of the people, stolen from the people and now being used to buy the people. The delegates know most of the monies are stolen from public treasury, so they argue that what they get is just their own little portion from the irrecoverable loot. A vicious circle of sorts.

If they (delegates) deal so dishonestly with the aspirants like that, how and why will they expect that the aspirants, when they eventually win, will deal honestly and rightly with them?

They would be deemed to have had their due, and thus should not expect the elected persons to be responsible to them anymore.

Rightly or wrongly, politicians who spend hundreds of millions of Naira or even dollars buying nomination forms, more millions to bribe delegates and even much more millions to campaign, see their efforts as investments for which there must be a bounteous return.

Therefore, such politicians are not expected to be exactly saintly in dealing with the treasury when they get into office. The implication is that good and devoted governance will take flight. And the people will suffer, because a few delegates, yesterday, had cadged away the fortunes of the people.

What kind of question is that? Are you not in this country? Didn’t you see how, last weekend, the politicians voted for another northerner, an Hausa/Fulani man to keep ruling this country again, after an Hausa/Fulani would have done eight full years by next May? This is coming against the loud cry for an Igbo President. The two Igbo men in the contest managed to garner just fifteen votes. Yes, 15! One had 14 votes and the other just one vote. What kind of oppression is that? Are Igbo not Nigerians? Don’t they have the right to also rule this country?

Is that why you are bitter? Please calm down. Ask yourself why the 100 Igbo delegates at the PDP presidential primary did not vote for their brothers? Ask the Igbo delegates if they believe in their leaders, if they love their leaders; if they support their own? Is it not a shame that all the Igbo in the five states of South East, plus the Igbo in Delta State and even Rivers State, all dumped their brothers and went plucking dollars from Fulani trees, all in the name of transactional politics?

Is it not said that charity begins from home? So, where is the charity from the Igbo home for the Igbo aspirants? And you are lamenting here. Look, you should blame mother hen first, for exposing the chicks, before blaming the hawk that swooped on them.

But the Igbo in Rivers voted for Gov Wike and… (cuts in)… so where did that take Wike?

Do you know most of the states in the South south voted against Wike? Southerners don’t like their own? Unlike the north! Imagine Aminu Tambuwal from North-west stepping down for Atiku Abubakar from North East.

They bond better than the south. Imagine Imo State, the closest neighbour to Wike’s Rivers State voting completely against Wike.

What kind of bad belle politics is that?

Before you rant endlessly, find out why Wike’s neighbours dumped him for the faraway Fulani man. Is it from my mouth you’d hear that Wike is generally regarded as a bully, who will ride roughshod over everybody if he gets the ticket? Do you know how harshly he recently tackled and abused the leader of the PDP in Imo State? Do you know how many bridges he burnt with his executive ill manners? You think everything is money? My brother, as they sing in church, it is not by power, it is not by might… How do you expect him to earn or win the support of such people he so openly denigrated? Do you see, in him, the presidential attributes? So, look inwards and find out the things troubling Wike and his Igbo brothers.

Is Wike also an Igbo?

He is a peripheral Igbo. Does his name not tell you so? Or can’t you see how he recently started wearing the Igbo red cap?

So, if Wike was rejected because of his uncouth nature, was Anyim Pius Anyim not enough gentleman? Did he not have the suave and pedigree of a leader? Why did he not earn the support of the Igbo delegates, at least?

Ask yourself whether Anyim or Sam Ohuabunwa was prepared to spend

Peter Obi

money. How much dollars did they bring?

You plant sparingly, you reap sparingly.

A standard law of nature.

So you mean, it is a contest for dollars or a contest for brotherhood and competence?

Sit down and be asking me JAMB questions there. Did you not hear when they described it as transactional politics?

The question to ask is why did the Igbo contestants not mass up their financial muscle to match whoever cash-for-cash, dollar-for-dollar, or Okporoko-forOkporoko? Are the Igbo not the richest set of Nigerians? Even the Kingdom of God suffereth violence and the violent taketh it by force, so says the Holy book.

The Igbo must rise up and rally round their own, if the marginalisation jinx is going to be broken. They did it to Ekwueme when the South East governors led their people in 2003 to vote against Ekwueme.

In 2019, they did it against Peter Obi as the running mate to Atiku. Now they have done it again against Anyim and Ohuabunwa. Another contest is coming up next week in the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential primary. There are Igbo—core and peripheral, in the contest.

They should rise above the shenanigans of dollar rain and rally round their own, at least. Even then, there is the ultimate contest next February. The highly-rated Peter Obi is now in another party—the Labour party. Would all these Igbo patriots, ready to serve, be shunned again because of the cash-and-carry politics of today? As long as the Igbo contestants are laid back, divided and not willing and ready to throw all their hearts into the ring, I can bet you that the presidential sceptre will continue to be elusive and a shadowy mirage. Will the Igbo carry this cross forever?

Your emphasis seems very strong on ethnic affinity. Should we embrace ethnicity at the expense of character, capacity and competence?

By no means! The point we are making is that there is no part of Nigeria that has an exclusive reserve of men of character, capacity and competence. If it is found in the north, it is found in the east as well.

If it is found in the west, it is found in the east as well. And if it is found in the south, it is very much available in the east. What is good for the goose is good for the ganders.

True. But please tell the Igbo to take themselves seriously. Then and only then, will the rest of Nigeria respect and take them seriously. They have made indelible marks in trade and commerce. They can do even better in political governance. Let it not be that the south east will collocate only with IPOB, violence, beheading and mindless killings…. A word is enough for the wise!

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ JUNE 3, 2022

38

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Ogun Earmarks N1b Grant for Micro and Small Enterprises Dike Onwuamaeze Ogun State Government has set aside N1 billion to support Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) as part of the “Ogun COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Program (OGUN-CARES).”

This was announced by the Chairman, State Steering Committee for OGUN-CARES, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo, during a one-day stakeholders engagement session for Ogun East and Ogun Central Senatorial District at Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area and Cube Court Hall, Lafenwa, in Abeokuta respectively.

Okubadejo, who also doubles as the Honourable Commissioner of Finance/Chief Economic Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun, was represented by the Program Manager for the

MSE Operational Grant Delivery Platform, Ms. Sola Arobieke, stated that the administration of Abiodun in partnership with federal government and the World Bank is providing operational grants aimed at cushioning the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on MSEs. The Chairman of Ijebu Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Rafiu Niyi Osiyemi, and the President, Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria (ASBON) Dr. Femi Egbesola, in their goodwill messages thanked the state governor for the opportunity being given to micro and small enterprises to boost their businesses. He urged would be beneficiaries to use the grant judiciously Also the Chairman Abeokuta North Local Government, Hon. Adebayo Ayorinde, urged

the micro and small business owners to key into the program, stating that the grant would help in reducing the burden of the rising operational cost businesses are facing.

In her remarks, the Chairman Odeda Local Government Hon. (Mrs.) Folashade Adeyemo, appreciated the governor for the laudable initiative, adding that the grant would help boost the beneficiaries businesses as well as have positive impact in their livelihood.

Speaking on behalf of Leaders of Traders Associations, Artisans, Mrs. Toyin Bello, commended the state governor for the people oriented programme, saying she is optimistic that beneficiary would use the grant judiciously and its effect would make the State’s economy to be more robust.

From left: President Fund Managers Association of Nigeria (FMAN), Mrs Tope Omojokun, some members of FMAN Executive Committee; Mr. Ndako Mijindadi and Mr. Lanre Mohammed, Saheed Ahmed, Captain UCAP FC and Mr. Peter Ashade, Group CEO, United Capital Plc during the FMAN CUP, a football competition organised by FMAN for its member institutions held in Lagos...recently

Tech Firm Launches Real Estate Wealth Generation Platform Oluchi Chibuzor A Nigeria Tech Firm, Cuddle Realty, has unveiled an innovative online real estate platform targeted at making millions of Nigerians financially independent through investment in real estate.

The platform offers an exclusive opportunity to build long lasting wealth through Real Estate co-ownership, leveraging on technology and experience.

According to one of the cofounders, John Igbinosa, they are trying to change the narrative in Africa in terms of real estate, getting Africans to own African properties.

He said, “At Cuddle, we have licensed professionals. So we don’t just run on passion alone. We have the expertise and certificate to practice what we are passionate

about. For example, our surveyors are licensed, our structural engineers are licensed, we have architects licensed and they all come with years of experience that make them major players in the decision making process of acquiring properties.

“We also want to turn a lot of bushes into cities. We will look at going into sustainable projects around the sustainable development goals looking at better ways we can solve the housing deficit in Nigeria first.

We believe that Cuddle is an economic liberation for millions. We believe that Cuddle is a financial partner for thousands. And that exactly is why we launched.”

In his remark, a co-partner, Fabian George stated that the statistics of Nigerians that own properties is disturbing, which

formed their aim to solve this gap and ensure that people own property without breaking the bank or having to wait forever.

“If you look at the statistics of those who don’t own a property, it is very much. At least, one hundred and eighty four million Nigerians out of 200 million population do not own a property. That’s how large the statistics are. So we are bringing a solution to help people own a property starting from what they have without breaking the bank. You ask people when they would love to buy a property, they will tell you, maybe in the next five years, I will be able to save up to buy a 3 million naira property. By the time they save up to buy the property, that property had already appreciated to maybe 5 or 10 million.

Authorities Urged to Block Profiles of SuspiciousTravellers withTechnology Ugo Aliogo The Regional Group Chief Operating Officer, VFS Global, Jiten Vyes, has urged border control authorities in different countries to employ the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to block the profiles of suspicious travellers using algorithms, which would force them to go through manned border gates and narrowing the chances of illegal entry into the country.

Vyes, who gave the orders in a statement, said with travel restrictions easing globally, border control authorities are likely to spend more time scrutinising travellers’ records, given the added need to review health credentials and vaccination

statuses. He remarked that given risks such as protecting data sets, including the training data, becomes critical, noting that core security principles of encryption, access control and authentication, logging and monitoring become important and should be included right from the design and development stage of the systems.

The statement revealed that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its air transportation report for 2022 revealed that international passengers that passed through Nigerian airports increased from 1.4 million to 2.2 million in 2021, which is an increase of 57.6 per cent within the period.

The statement also noted that with a collective intent to regain pre-pandemic momentum in global mobility, governments

remain wary of overcrowding at airports and security threats.

According to Vyes, “Earlier this year when cross-border traffic was tapered. The chief solution officer at UK’s Heathrow Airport told the UK Parliament Transport Select Committee that queuing times at the airport had increased to up to six hours, as border officials were obliged to check passengers’ documents; including the passenger locator form and the proof of negative COVID-19 test; manually.

While biometric identity management systems have helped improve this situation to some extent by enabling officials at border gates to verify the identity of passengers at a faster rate, this sector demands frequent innovations.”

RIFTrust Marks First Anniversary, with New Office in Nigeria Sunday Ehigiator Leading international Citizenship and Residency by Investment advisory firm, RIF Trust, recently celebrated its first anniversary with the opening of a new office at the Wings Complex, Ozumba Mbadiwe, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.

In a signed statement, the company renewed its commitment to simplifying the process of legally obtaining a second citizenship and residency permits abroad through their

various programmes thereby giving opportunities on a global scale to individuals and businesses in Nigeria.

The event which took place at its newly opened Nigerian office, Wings Complex, Ozumba Mbadiwe, Victoria Island, Lagos saw RIF Trust host prominent and high profile local and international individuals, who turned out in numbers for the event.

In attendance were, the Chairman, Citizenship by Investment Board of Saint

Lucia, Mr Lorne Theophilus, CEO of RIF Trust and Vice Chairman of Latitude Group, Mimoun Assraoui, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Partner, RIF Trust and Latitude Group, David Regueiro, B2B Regional Director and Managing Director (Nigeria) of RIF Trust, Ranny Muasher.

Others include the B2B Director of RIF Trust, Mohammed Motavasel, Regional Director (Africa) of RIF Trust, Teka Jibril, and Country Manager of RIF Trust Nigeria Zuberu Kadiri.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

0.00

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT MONDAY MAY 30, 2022

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $118.84 a barrel on Friday, compared with $116.50 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

39

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͱ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

GSK Nigeria Shareholders Approve 45kobo Dividend, Applaud Management Kayode Tokede The shareholders of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc have approved a 45kobo dividend payout to shareholders, an increase of 11.11 per cent from the 40 kobo dividend declared in 2020 financial year.

The declaration follows an impressive 5.42per cent growth in revenue of N22.445 billion amidst a very challenging op-

erating environment compared to N21.30 billion recorded in 2020.

According to the financial statement of the Company, profit after tax for the year under review grew by 5.88per cent to N658.81 million from N622.23 million in 2020.

The shareholders also appreciated the leading research-based pharmaceuti-

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

cal, and healthcare company growth in the year under review and reaffirmed their belief in the leadership to grow the business into the next year.

Speaking at the AGM, the Chairman of the Board of Directors at GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria, Mr Edmund Onuzo thanked the shareholders for their support throughout the year and

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

promised that the Board and Management will continue to explore opportunities for the growth, profitability and sustainability of the Company.

Onuzo commended the Nigerian government’s efforts to achieve economic stability in the system and stated that the country will remain on the path of growth and development if the several economic reforms of the government

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

are diligently implemented.

“It is encouraging to note that the Nigerian government is constantly adopting different mechanisms to diversify the Nigerian economy from the single-minded posture that largely depends on oil revenue for foreign exchange.

“Whilst we appreciate the efforts of the Government, it is important to enjoin them to maintain the focus

O F

on improving the operating environment with more policies aimed at providing a more conducive environment for businesses to thrive”, he said.

Regarding the Company’s social support activities particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic, Onuzo said GSK’s special purpose is to improve the quality of human life by helping people do more, feel better and live longer.

0 2 / 0 6 / 2 0 2 2 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

40

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 2022

NEWS

STILL CONSULTING...

L-R: Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; former Oyo State Governor, Senator Rashidi Ladoja; APC National Leader and Presidential Aspirant, Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Presidential Aide Yau Darazo; former Communications Minister, Adebayo Shittu and Senator Tokunbo Abiru, representing Lagos East Senatorial District, when Tinubu paid a courtesy call on Ladoja after meeting APC delegates to the national convention/presidential primary in Ibadan, Oyo State…yesterday

Nigeria’s Power Generation Cannot Support Economic Growth, Says Power Minister Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Minister of Power, Mr. Abubakar Aliyu, yesterday admitted that Nigeria’s current electricity generation was incapable of powering the economy of over 200 million Nigerians.

Aliyu, who spoke during the inauguration of new members of the board of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) in Abuja, however stressed that the federal government was determined to change the narrative.

The new members of the board included: The Chairman, Bukar Buni; Managing Director, Sule Abdulaziz; Appolonia Okigbo; Ahmed Imamudeen, Clement Omeizabaye and Mohammed Wazaram.

Others were Abdulkareem Disu; Osagie Ediale; Gazalli Tukur; Nsima Ekere; Ali Haruna; Director General, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) Alex Okoh; Aisha Omar, among others.

He explained that power

generation in the country had been about 5000 megawatts, stating that the country had been inconsistent in power generation.

“As you are all aware, the electricity being delivered is not enough to support the level of our population,” Aliyu said.

Noting that the economy was growing at a higher speed than Nigeria’s electricity supply, Aliyu stated that the country needed to find a way to meet up with the demand.

He challenged the newly inaugurated board members of the TCN to work together to deliver on their mandate, urging them to shun infighting, reiterating that the new management must focus on ensuring the stability of the national grid.

Aliyu explained that all the members of the new board were appointed based on merit, saying that they will be appraised on the delivery of adequate and reliable electricity to the Nigerian economy.

Earlier, Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Gabriel Suswam, called on the new members to avoid any issue that will bring discord and defeat the purpose of their selection.

"Why I am worried is that most times when you

have board members, the sad impression is that you experience fighting, experience personal interests and that becomes a problem rather than a solution.

"So, I want to appeal to the chairman, who I know is a very experienced person with

some other board members I have seen. You must hit the ground running to enhance what has already been done by the MD of TCN. There's a lot that needs to be done.

There's a lot that you have to do in order to change the narrative in the power sector,"

he said.

Also speaking, the newly inaugurated chairman of the board, Buni, assured that he in collaboration with other members of the board would ensure that addressing issues in the electricity sector in Nigeria remains a priority.

Fashola: Only 694 Out of 12,386 Approved for National Housing Programme as at November Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano Only 694 of the 12,386 applications from Nigerians who have created personal accounts profiles on the website of the National Housing Program (NHP) have been approved since 12th November, 2021, when the portal was established.

The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, disclosed this yesterday, at the formal handover of keys to

beneficiaries of the sales of the NHP houses phase 1 in Kano.

Fashola said only four of the beneficiaries had fully paid for the houses of their choice within the estate. The houses were 76 units of one, two and three bedroom flats.

The minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Bashir Nura Alkali, therefore called on Nigerians and Kano indigenes to leverage on the very many units yet to be sold.

"It may interest you to know that the web-portal was launched on 12th November, 2021 and has received 12,387 applications from Nigerians who have created personal account profiles on the website, out of which 694 subscribers' applications have been approved by the Ministry.

"In Kano today, we have four Nigerians who have fully paid for the houses of their choice within the estate,” he stated.

However, in his address, Alkali explained that the

ministry was undertaking the construction of 6000 housing units in 45 sites, out of which 2,665 units had been completed in 35 states and FCT. Alkali was represented by Director public building and housing Mr. Solomon Labafilo.

He stated further that the philosophy behind the National Housing Program was the provision of a pilot scheme that was affordable, accessible, and acceptable as contained in the National Housing Policy.

Report: World Not on Track to Achieve SDG7 Goal by 2030 Says largest unserved populations are in Nigeria Dike Onwuamaeze The World Bank has revealed that the Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) goals might not be realised by 2030 even though governments all over the world mobilised an unprecedented level of fiscal support of $710 billion to manage the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in areas relevant to SDG 7.

The SDG 7 is targeted at universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy services.

The World Bank stated this yesterday in the 2022 edition of “Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report 2022,” which assessed achievements in the global quest for universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy by 2030.

It stated in the joint report of the custodian agencies that “at

today’s rate of progress, the world is still not on track to achieve the SDG 7 goals by 2030.

“This edition was prepared as the COVID-19 pandemic and its broad social and economic disruptions entered their third year. Some degree of economic recovery has taken place, but the pace of progress on the SDG 7 target is expected to slow down because of new challenges from evolving COVID variants and an energy crisis provoked by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.”

The custodian agencies that jointly prepared the report were the International Energy Agency, the International Renewable Energy Agency, the United Nations Statistics Division, the World Bank and the World Health Organisation.

The report also showed that Sub-Saharan Africa remained the least electrified region

in the world. It stated that “among people without access to electricity, 77 percent—about 568 million people—lived in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2020.”

The report, however, said that “electricity access in that region rose from 46 per cent in 2018 to 48 per cent in 2020, an annual growth rate of one percentage point.”

It added that most of the top 20 countries with lowest acces to electricity were in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“The largest unserved populations are in Nigeria with 92 million people); the Democratic Republic of Congo with 72 million, and Ethiopia with 56 million,” the report said, adding that while “access growth outpaced population growth in Ethiopia between 2010 and 2020; it did not do so in Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of

Congo, where electrification failed to keep pace with population growth.

“In contrast, Kenya and Uganda made the fastest progress in electrification among the top 20, with annualized increases of more than 3.0 percentage points between 2010 and 2020.”

The report also noted that globally, the share of the world’s population with access to electricity rose from 83 percent in 2010 to 91 percent in 2020, an increase of approximately 1.3 billion people globally.

It also said that the number of people without access to electricity dropped from 1.2 billion people in 2010 to 733 million in 2020.

The report stated that the pace of progress in electrification has slowed in recent years because of the increasing complexity of reaching more remote and poorer

unserved populations and the expected impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It said: “Between 2010 and 2018, an average of 130 million people gained access to electricity each year. That figure fell to 109 million between 2018 and 2020.

The annual rate of increase was 0.8 percentage points between 2010 and 2018. It shrank to just 0.5 percentage points in 2018–20.

“Even so, the increase in electrification outpaced population growth at a global scale. The COVID-19 crisis has also increased concerns about the affordability of electricity.

Under its weight, 90 million in Africa and developing countries in Asia lost the ability to afford an extended bundle of energy services in 2020.”

The report, however, acknowledged that “from the outset of the pandemic,

governments mobilised an unprecedented level of fiscal support to manage the impacts of the pandemic on citizens and the global economy.

Appropriations of recovery funds in areas relevant to SDG 7 reached $710 billion, but 90 percent of that came in the advanced economies.

“Emerging markets and developing countries, with their much more limited fiscal leeway, mobilised far less. Increasing clean energy and access investments in these regions requires greater support from international actors.”

It said that with oil and gas prices spiking in 2021, aggravated by the war in Ukraine, recovery plans in key economies focused heavily on renewables and efficiency, making the outlook for renewables and energy efficiency stronger than it was a year ago.

41

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 2022

NEWS

SOLIDARITY VISIT BY YOUTHS...

Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (right) with youth leaders from Enugu North Senatorial District of the state, when they paid him a solidarity visit at the Government House, Enugu...recently

Nigeria, 59 Others Seek New WTO Rules on Food Subsidy to Battle Inflation Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja with agency reports No fewer than 60 countries, including Nigeria are demanding new World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules on food subsidy to battle inflation.

Known as the G33 nations, they are pushing for changes to the WTO's public stockholding rules to account for inflation and protect food security at a time of uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine-Russia war.

India, which runs the world’s largest universal distribution

system for subsidised food grains has been pursuing the matter with the WTO and now with the backing of 59 other developing nations, the issue has gained greater political weight.

The G33 which includes India, China, Pakistan, Egypt, Indonesia among others, the African group and the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group, has thrown its weight behind the proposal to WTO which says that a permanent solution for public stockholding should account for inflation and also be based on a recent reference price instead of an old one based on 1986-88

EU to Partner Bayelsa Govt on Economic, Infrastructure Devt Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa The European Union (EU) yesterday expressed its desire to partner the Bayelsa State Government in critical sectors to foster socio-economic and infrastructural development of the state.

The Political Adviser to the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Thomas Kieller, who made this known during a courtesy call on Governor Douye Diri, in Yenagoa, also applauded the present administration's development efforts in the state.

Kieller said the EU delegation was in Bayelsa on a factfinding mission to identify key areas of collaboration with government, such as infrastructural development, human capacity building, and security, as well as key into already existing programmes of the state government.

While commending the Diri-led administration for its ongoing, critical infrastructural projects in parts of the state, he restated EU's readiness to work closely with government towards improving the wellbeing of the people.

Kieller who said the EU team would spend a couple of days in the state meeting with various groups, explained that their visit was also to prepare the ground for the EU Ambassador’s planned visit to

the state in no distant time.

In his remarks, Douye Diri gave a pass mark to the EU for the success witnessed in all the EU-supported projects in the state, especially the State Employment and Expenditure for Result (SEEFOR) programme.

According to the governor, his administration had taken steps to embark on more rural projects using the SEEFOR model through its Ministry of Local Government and Community Development.

Diri who spoke through his Deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, said the state government was prepared to partner the EU to achieve sustainable development in the areas of environmental protection, security and manpower development through engagement of youths.

The governor lamented that a greater percentage of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) processed and exported from the Bonny Export Terminal in Rivers State was actually hauled from gas fields in Bayelsa, but that no revenue was being paid to Bayelsa as derivation for gas production.

He urged the EU delegation to, as part of their fact-finding mission, carry out proper research on the environmental challenges facing Bayelsa as a result of oil and gas exploration activities in the state.

prices.

The Covid-19 pandemic created an opportunity for countries with similar economic challenges as India to come together and press for reforms in the WTO methodology of calculating the food subsidy cap. Besides the pandemic, the war in Ukraine has caused supply bottlenecks, holding up exports, creating shortages and driving up prices, fanning fears over food security.

Currently, the WTO mandates that, “a member country’s food subsidy bill should not breach 10 per cent of the value of production based on the base price of 1986-88.”

The G33 countries also proposed that export of food grain from public stocks be allowed for international food aid to vulnerable countries. The WTO so far does not allow export of commodities from public stocks as it distorts prices and affects other countries.

Last year, at an informal meeting of the G33, India's Commerce and Industry Minister, Piyush Goyal, had said WTO rules in agriculture tilted in favour of developed countries.

Meanwhile, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) has promised complete work on how much capital banks should hold in their books to cover crypto assets.

The BCBS is the primary global standard-setter for the prudential regulation of banks and provides a forum for regular cooperation on banking supervisory matters.

Its 45 members comprise central banks and bank supervisors from 28 jurisdictions.

The committee said the norms governing banks' exposure to crypto assets would be completed this year, taking notice of recent market struggles as a reason to push ahead with the plan.

The global banking standard-

setter had last year proposed rules requiring lenders to hold $1 in capital for each $1 of crypto held, triggering significant opposition from the likes of JPMorgan Chase (JPM) and Deutsche Bank (DB), two banks that viewed that as an overly arduous standard.

However, in a statement yesterday, the BCBS said: "The committee plans to publish another consultation paper over the coming month, with a view to finalising the prudential treatment around the end of this year."

Since 2008, the Switzerlandbased Basel Committee has steadily toughened banks' capital requirements to avoid a repeat of the financial crisis.

Last June, the committee proposed that banks set aside enough capital to cover losses on any bitcoin holdings in full.

Certain tokenised traditional assets and stablecoins could, however, come under existing

capital rules and be treated like bonds, loans, deposits or commodities.

Earlier this month TerraUSD, a stablecoin tied to the US dollar, collapsed.

“Recent developments have further highlighted the importance of having a global minimum prudential framework to mitigate risks from cryptoassets.

“Building on the feedback received by external stakeholders, the Committee plans to publish another consultation paper over the coming month, with a view to finalising the prudential treatment around the end of this year,” BCBS said.

Countries which are members of Basel are committed to applying its agreed principles in their own national rules.

The committee also said it had agreed to a finalised set of principles for supervising climate-related financial risks at banks.

200,000 Undetected Tuberculosis Infections Occur Annually in Nigeria, Says FG 138,591 new cases reported in 2020 Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The federal government yesterday said despite significant progress made in the fight against tuberculosis (TB) epidemic in the country, there were still over 200,000 new tuberculosis infections occurring every year with the knowledge of health officials.

The revelation came just as government said there was a 15 per cent increase in tuberculosis notification from 120,266 cases in 2019, to 138,591 in 2020.

Similarly, stakeholders in the campaign against tuberculosis scourge in Nigeria have advocated for increased local funding for tuberculosis intervention programme.

The Minister of Health Dr. Osagie Ehanire who spoke at the launch of the compendium of best practices for tuberculosis control in Nigeria in Abuja, said though significant achievements had been recorded in the control

of tuberculosis epidemic, there was need to step up commitment and to invest strategically across the nation, to scale up best practices.

"Despite significant progress in the past three years in our fight to end the tuberculosis epidemic, we know that there are still over 200,000 new TB infections occurring every year among us, yet to be detected and enrolled in treatment.

"There are also significant numbers of TB deaths annually.

We know that we must step up our commitment and invest strategically across the nation, to scale up best practices," he said.

Ehanire described the event as a remarkable one in the history of Tuberculosis control in Nigeria, adding that it afforded opportunity to showcase best practices that have enable the steady and marked increase in tuberculosis notification in Nigeria over the past few years.

According to the minister, at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, there was an 18 per cent

drop globally in the number of tuberculosis cases diagnosed and notified, from 7.1 million in 2019, to 5.8 million in 2020.

In the same period, Ehanire also said tuberculosis deaths increased significantly as a result of reduced attention to treatment of patients.

He said Nigeria, as with many others countries, suffered the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, with negative socioeconomic trends and health service disruptions. Ehanire further said following the introduction of lockdown measures for pandemic control in the second quarter of 2020, tuberculosis testing reduced by about 30 per cent, resulting in 17 per cent reduction in tuberculosis case finding and notification.

The minister however said with the implementation of innovative strategic interventions put in place by the tuberculosis programme managers, including the integration of tuberculosis control into COVID-19 response measures,

there was a 15 per cent increase in tuberculosis notification from 120,266 cases in 2019, to 138,591 in 2020.

He said Nigeria was one of the few countries in the world to record an increase in tuberculosis case notification during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

"Further to this, the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP) again recorded a remarkable increase in 2021 annual T notification, when numbers increased by 50 per cent, from 138,591 in 2020 to 207,785 in 2021," he said.

Ehanire said tuberculosis was curable, adding that the treatment was available free of charge in each and every one of the 774 Local Government Areas of Nigeria.

He expressed hope that the compendium would be a useful tool for all stakeholders, in the efforts to scale up tuberculosis control activities and to further maximise the yield from all our investments in tuberculosis control.

42

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 2022

NEWSXTRA

ALLAYING FEARS OF INSECURITY...

Anambra State governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo and Alhaji Ilyasu Yushau, Sarkin Hausawa of Onitsha, during a solidarity visit by the governor to assure the Hausa community of safety.

New Permutations Emerge as PDP’s Search for Atiku’s Running Mate Intensifies Wike, Ekweremadu, Bruce join race as stakeholders consider Okowa, Okonjo-Iweala, Udom, Anyim Ikpeazu meets Atiku, lists priority areas Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia New scenarios have emerged, as permutations to find a running mate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, intensifies.

While persons like the Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and Senator Ben Bruce, have already joined the race, PDP stakeholders have started considering the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa and the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as possible options for running mate.

Also, on the cards for consideration for the number two slot, are the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, and a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.

This is as the the South-east has made a strong case for compensation with the vice president slot, saying PDP could not deny the zone tickets for both president and vice-president.

Nevertheless, the governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, yesterday, met Atiku with a wish list of areas he should focus on if elected Nigeria’s next president.

Wike, Wednesday, reciprocated the visit to his residence by Atiku, when the governor visited the PDP presidential candidate at his Abuja residence. The implication of the visit was not lost on observers.

Sources said Wike’s visit was part of the process of building unity in the party following a raucous campaign that preceded the PDP convention last weekend.

The visit came in the wake of increasing speculations that Wike might join the race for consideration as running mate to Atiku.

THISDAY learnt that some people in the party considered it unfair for the PDP not to pick Wike as running mate, especially, in view of his financial contributions and contacts he was able to build within a period of 90 days that he joined the race for the PDP presidential ticket.

Multiple sources told THISDAY

that PDP was not oblivious of the fact that Wike could have defeated Atiku to become the presidential candidate, if not for the eleventh hour stand down by the governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal.

The quest for Wike to become the running mate to Atiku is being championed by the leadership of PDP in the South-south, headed by the National Vice Chairman, South-south, Dan Orbih.

An associate of Atiku, who was contacted on the development, refused to speak on the matter, but sources insisted that Wike’s visit to Atiku was in return to Atiku’s gesture on Monday.

The meeting with Wike was witnessed by Orbih and former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke (SAN).

Aside Wike, Ekweremadu and

Bruce, party sources claimed, were also being considered as likely options, from both the South-east and South-south to balance the Atiku ticket.

However, before the new calculations crept in, Okowa was believed to be the main person being considered for the position of vice president, with Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State as a distant prospect.

The consideration of Okowa, according to sources, flowed from his cross appeal to the South-south and the South-east geopolitical zones. While Emmanuel and Wike mobilised their state delegates to vote for them in the presidential primary, Okowa was said to have firmly backed Atiku with Delta State delegates voting 100 per cent.

Those making a case for Okonjo-Iweala, argued that there

was need for a trusted economist in the team to champion the boost for the economy. They recalled the role she played in the international creditors write-off of Nigeria's debt during the President Olusegun Obasanjo era.

One of the sources said, "Why we are advocating for Okonjo Iweala is basically because of Continued on page 43

48 Hours After, Oyegun’s C’ttee Yet to Submit Screening Report Adedayo Akinwale Forty-eight hours after the screening of 23 presidential aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ended, the Chief John Odigie Oyegun-led seven-man Presidential Screening Committee, has yet to submit its report.

The screening was a necessity ahead of the presidential primary of the party scheduled to hold between June 6th and 8th.

Those screened by the committee included Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former Lagos State

governor, Bola Tinubu; former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; former Minister of Niger Delta Development, Godswill Akpabio; former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu; former Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha and former Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosu.

Also screened were Pastor Tunde Bakare, Cross River State governor, Prof. Ben Ayade; his Ebonyi State counterpart, Dave Umahi; Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Minister of State, Education, Hon.

Emeka Nwajiuba; former Senate President, Ken Nnamani; Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello; Jigawa State Governor, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar and former Zamfara State governor, Ahmed Yerima.

Others were Senator Ajayi Borroffice, the only female aspirant, Mrs. Uju Kennedy Ohanenye, Pastor Nicholas Felix, former Speaker of Representative, Hon. Dimeji Bankole;Senate President, Ahmed Lawal; former Minister of Information, Chief Ikeobasi Mokelu and Mr Tein Jack-Rich."

The delay in submission of

the report by the committee has heightened tension in the ruling party, while also putting the aspirants on the hot seat, as they were anxiously waiting for the reports of the committee.

Section 15 (f) of the guideline also compelled the committee to equally communicate its decision on the qualification or otherwise of any aspirant by issuing aspirants with either a "Certificate of Clearance" or "Certificate of disqualification".

The party, however, has no plan to disqualify any aspirant, as it worked towards a consensus

2023: Go to Court, Ogun PDP Tells Aggrieved Aspirants James Sowole in Abeokuta The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State has asked its members who were aggrieved about the outcome of the just concluded primaries in the party ahead of the 2023 general elections to go to court and seek redress.

Despite several complaints by some aspirants, the party, insisted that all the primaries it conducted in the state were in compliance with the guidelines of the national headquarters of the party and in line with the constitution of the organisation and Electoral Law (as amended).

The PDP Chairman for Ogun State, Alhaji Sikirulai Ogundele stated this at a news conference held in Abeokuta.

Ogundele, whose text, was read by the State Secretary,

Sunday Solarumi said all the party's primary elections which climaxed with the election of Hon Oladipupo, Adebutu as the Governorship Candidate, on May 25, at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, were held at venues, designated by the national headquarters of the PDP. The chairman also stated that the party used lists of delegates generated from the congresses of the party held earlier, as directed by its national body.

He specifically stated that all the hues and cries about the delegate lists and venues about the primaries were unfounded, insisting that everything was done with the approving authority, which is the PDP headquarters in line with the party’s constitution and Electoral Law as amended.

Ogundele said "On the strength of the above, I dare say that all party primary elections took place at the party's approved locations/venues and same was duly monitored and observed by officials of INEC, officers of the Nigeria Police and of course, other security agencies.

"By this, it goes to say and confirm that PDP in Ogun state never conducted anything close to parallel congress anywhere.

"Anybody or group of persons hiding anywhere, claiming to have emerged as PDP candidate at any level of the party primary is merely living in fool's paradise.

PDP, like I said earlier, now cohabit, in total harmony under my able chairmanship.

"Before I conclude, we must say that we recognise and appreciate individual's right and liberty to

proceed to court to seek legal redress against the party, I choose to advise them to take good cognisance of the interest of the party.

"Having concluded the party's robust national convention, the party shall in no time present to the members of the public the list with detailed particulars and information of all its candidates for all elective positions and same shall be submitted to INEC and other relevant bodies for further actions."

However, the party admitted that primary elections in some few instances were held at its State Secretariat. This it attributed to none availability of facilities, like power supply at some designated centres and which would put lives of officials and delegates at risk.

candidate.

In line with the guideline of the party, the PSC was expected to compile its report and submit same to the National Working Committee (NWC).

But the delay in submission of the report is a gross violation of Section 15 (g) of the party's guidelines for the nomination of candidates for the 2023 general election.

The Section reads: "The screening committee shall forward its reports within 24 hours of the conclusion of the screening exercise to the National Working Committee through the National Organising Secretary.

"The decision of the Screening Committee shall be conveyed in writing. Upon satisfactory screening, an aspirant shall be issued a Certificate of Clearance by the committee. Upon qualification, the committee shall also state the grounds of disqualification or issue a Certificate of Disqualification" When contacted, the National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Felix Morka, confirmed that the party was yet to receive the report at the time of filing the report.

According to him, “We are yet to receive the report. The Presidential Screening Committee is still working and is yet to submit a report.”

On the constitution of the screening appeal committee as contained in the guideline, Morka added, "We are yet to get the screening committee report and are you aware of any aspirant that has been disqualified and wants to appeal the decision of the screening committee?"

43

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 2022

NEWS

AT KANAYO’S 60TH BIRTHDAY PARTY...

L-R: Nollywood legend Kanayo O. Kanayo; presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, and Obinna Iyiegbu (Obi Cubana) at Kanayo’s 60th birthday party in Lagos… recently

Methodist Prelate Alleges Kidnappers Took Them to Gully Full of Corpses of Beheaded Victims Says those who arrested them were Fulanis from Mali and Sudan Again, accuses military of complicity Declares Nigeria needs nationalist not tribalist as president Kingsley Nwezeh, Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Nume Ekeghe in Lagos The Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence Samuel Kanu-Uche yesterday revealed that the kidnappers who abducted them took them to a gully full of corpses of headed victims. Revealing further those who captured them were from Mali and Sudan.

He further alleged that the herdsmen in question were born and grew up in the south-east and were children of cow dealers, who had lived in the region for decades.

He described the raging insecurity in the country with a Bible reference, Proverbs Chapter 29 verse 2, which says that, "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan."

Speaking in a no-holds-barred interview with Arise News Channel, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers, the head of the Methodist Church in Nigeria, who was released from the den of kidnappers in Umuneochi, Abia State, after three days in captivity, alleged that contrary to earlier belief that Igbo, especially the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), were behind the killings, herdsmen were the masterminds.

He restated his accusation that the Nigerian military was complicit in the raging insecurity in the area by acting as enablers to kidnappers.

The prelate, who was kidnapped and later freed with some officials of the church after the payment of N100 million ransom, said there was a grand conspiracy against the Nigeria state by some forces. But he expressed profound confidence that God would neutralise such evil designs.

He also lamented the outcome and direction of the presidential primary of the PDP, which he said was a ploy to bar the Igbo from the presidency of the nation.

He maintained that what Nigeria needed urgently was a nationalist and not an ethnic

jingoist.

The prelate, whom at a point during the interview, shed tears, said the harrowing experience was the, "worst humiliation," a human could be subjected to.

He said the leader of the eightmember terror group, who spoke fluent Igbo language, claimed to be Fulani from Sudan while two others were from Mali and one from Songhai.

"The leader said they were Fulanis from Sudan, two from Mali and one from Songhai. They said they have lived in Nigeria for many years. The leader said he speaks Umuahia dialect fluently and has played football there. “He said his father was a cow dealer but is dead while he's now taking care of his siblings and his people.

"It was pure kidnapping. People who cut off people's heads are not Igbos. They are Fulanis from other countries who grew up in Igbo land. Their mothers used to sell kwose (local beans delicacy).

They have integrated into Igbo land," he said.

He also acknowledged the existence of two groups of IPOB, one of which he said appeared to be a breakaway faction of Nnamdi Kanu's group.

"We want a united Nigeria. Look at what happened at the party primaries. They don't want any Igbo man to be president.

"It is something that can be done by negotiation not by killing. I believe in Nigeria, there will be justice, equity and fairness," he said.

"What we want is a nationalist.

If you have somebody, who is interested in particular ethnic groups, we won't make progress," he said.

"The Bible says when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice but when a wicked man rules, the people groan.

"Do you feel good where you are? There is ASUU strike, insecurity, killings. Whoever is in power, let there be justice, let there be equity", he said.

He said he was not blaming any government but the individuals in government, who have made

equitable distribution of resources difficult.

He said his leadership of the Methodist Church ensured equity because "the Kingdom of God is one".

The head of the Methodist Church in Nigeria said the kidnappers, whose age ranged between 18 and 35, had, shown them a gully full of corpses and beheaded a corpse on the floor and threw the head into the gully of the dead as an example of what would happen to them if they defaulted the ransom payment.

He noted that having lived in the north himself, he was familiar with the knives they wielded. He said the knives were such that they could cut off heads with one strike.

He said the negotiation for his release started from N10 million, adding that the initial offer he made was up to N50 million but the terrorists insisted on N150 million.

The negotiation was finally pegged at N100 million which was raised by church members from different branches while assuring the contributors that the ransom would be repaid by the church.

He said the terror group later came with three motorcycles and a truck which zoomed off with the ransom.

"They took my wedding ring which I bought $150 and my wristwatch. They just allowed us to walk after we were freed.

They left nothing with us. It is the worst form of humiliation", he said.

On the kidnapping, he said he was rushing back to Owerri to catch a flight after a church programme when the hoodlums opened fire on their vehicle, puncturing the tyres kidnapping

him, a bishop and one other official while three others escaped.

Kalu-Uche said the incident happened at 2:45pm last Sunday, thus starting a long trek that lasted for hours, prompting constant threats of beheading from the kidnappers and leading to his hitting his head on a tree, where he bled profusely, soaking his two handkerchiefs, forcing him to apply local leaves to the injury which worsened the pain.

"We walked from 3:30pm to 1am. They threatened to cut off our head if we refused to walk.

The gully was a massive gully.”

NEW PERMUTATIONS EMERGE AS PDP’S SEARCH FOR ATIKU'S RUNNING MATE INTENSIFIES "We are convinced that Atiku's the meeting, said Ikpeazu assured Come’

his international connections and being a renowned economist. The economy is certainly in a bad shape and needs the touch of experienced persons in the management of the economy."

In the race too are both Udom and Anyim, also from South-south and South-east, as people, who could help the PDP make strong showing in the general elections, if paired with Atiku.

PDP sources hinted that the party was already confused with loads of the options before it and was yet determine, which of the many choices it would embrace as complementary to the ticket in nearly all considerations for electoral victory.

Ikpeazu Meets Atiku, Lists Priority Areas Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, yesterday, met the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, with a list of priority areas Atiku should focus on if he emerges president. The meeting, which took place at the Abuja residence of Atiku, was said to be at the instance of the former vice president, in his bid to unite the main opposition party after the fractious presidential primary.

Chief press secretary to the Abia State governor, Onyebuchi Ememenka, in a press release after

Atiku of his personal commitment and those of the entire Abia PDP to work for the success of the party at the 2023 poll.

He counselled the PDP presidential candidate to prioritise the institutionalisation of inclusive governance, if he gets to Aso Rock, and specifically reminded Atiku that the people of the South-east currently "feel profoundly alienated from the scheme of things in the country, with no south easterner in the top echelons of the executive, legislative and judicial arms of the federal government.

He stated, "This unprecedented state of affairs also persists in the entire security architecture of the country, including the paramilitary agencies as none of them is being headed by a person from the east for the first time in the history of Nigeria.”

The Abia chief executive also raised issues around ease of doing business in the country, which, according to him, ranked behind security among the most important things the South-east needs.

"As natural business people, entrepreneurs and small scale manufacturers, the people of the South-east are interested in policies that will allow them do and grow their businesses,” Ikpeazu said.

‘Atiku's Presidency An Idea Whose Time Has

Coalition of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Persons With Disabilities Support Group said former Vice President Atiku Abubakar's presidential bid was happening at a most auspicious time. The group vowed to actualise Atiku’s presidency come 2023, adding that his knowledge of the economy would lead Nigeria out of poverty.

Addressing newsmen at the PDP national secretariat, National Coordinator of the group, Dr. Chidi Olujie, said, "The special delegate convention to elect our presidential flag-bearer has strengthened our party and demonstrated our leader's readiness to take over the affairs of this country come 2023.

"While I congratulate all party faithful on this predictable success, I equally charge all members, regardless of gender, disability, and age, to work harder to deliver all our candidates come 2023 "I want to formally, on behalf of the Coalition of PDP Persons with Disabilities Support Group, congratulate the 2023 PDP presidential flag bearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, GCON (Wazirin Adamawa) on his predictable victory at the just concluded special delegate convention. Your emergence didn't come to us as a surprise considering your political antecedent in reaching out to all and sundry.

presidency is an idea whose time has come and is ready to be validated by the Nigerian masses, come 2023.

Persons with disabilities believe in your capacity, reckon with your experience and trust your knowledge of the economy and security in leading Nigeria out of the poverty and insecurity situation we found ourselves "The coalition recognises the efforts of all contenders in the last special delegate convention and sincerely appreciates them for deepening democratic ethos and practices within the party by participating in the election.

"However, we want to extend our appreciation to the governor and aspirant at the just concluded convention, His Excellency, Right Honourable Aminu Tambuwal, the governor of Sokoto State, for his magnanimity and show of statesmanship for stepping down for Atiku Abubakar. This singular gesture will undoubtedly remain the cornerstone of our association as a party that is ready to take leadership.

"We are committed to engaging, mobilising, and actualising the Atiku presidency come 2023.

Within our available resources, we shall sensitise, reorient, and educate the public, in general, and persons with disabilities, in particular, on the necessity of PDP coming back."

44

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 2022

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ACCESS BANK COCKTAIL AND BUSINESS CONVERSATIONS...

L-R: Relationship Managers, Private Banking, Access Bank Kunle Sosanya; Relationship Managers, Private Banking, Access Bank, Ayodeji Fambo; Chairman, Instagas Limited, Ifeoma Onubagu; Deputy Managing Director Access Bank, Victor Etuokwu; and Relationship Manager, Private Banking, Access Bank, Paul Modebe, during the Access Bank Cocktail and Business Conversations in Abuja… recently

Kaduna Train Attack: Fate of 2-year Old Baby, Pregnant Women, Others Worry Victims' Families Insurgency: Japanese Ambassador explains why his country can't supply military equipment to Nigeria Udora Orizu and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Families of the victims of Kaduna train attack which occurred on March 28, 2022, yesterday expressed grave concerns over the fate of a 2-year old baby, pregnant women, the aged parents as well as others with critical health conditions who have been held captive by terrorists for over two months.

This is just as the Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Kazuyoshi Matsunaga has said his country could not supply military equipment to Nigeria due to, "the limitation of the military regulation."

The families of the Kaduna-bound train abducted passengers expressed the concerns at a meeting held with the member representing Ede North/Ede South/Egbedore/ Ejigbo of Osun State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Bamidele Salam.

Speaking through their Chairman, Mr. Aliyu Mahmood, the aggrieved family members frowned at the lackadaisical attitude of federal government towards ensuring

timely release of the 62 kidnapped victims.

While calling for the involvement of representatives of the victims' families in the ongoing negotiation with the bandits, they tasked President Muhammadu Buhari and relevant authorities on the need to redouble efforts toward reuniting the abductees to their immediate families.

They said: "We are tired of being in the press and we really are not impressed with how the government has handled the matter.

We appreciate their efforts but we need to see things move rapidly.

“These people have been in captivity for 65 days. They are out in the open. This is rainy season.

They don't have shelter; they don't have all the necessary things human needs to feel secure and we have a toddler that is two years old.

‘You can only imagine what they are going through. I am sure the environment is really hostile. You have people with guns; you have people that are so sick and don't have medications. We are talking about 65 days of zero movement

as far as we are concerned. We are still pleading with the government and if the government feels they can actually open doors of discussion for us to talk to the bandits, we look forward to that.

“That is, in fact, what we want because, may be, we can convince them and they will do the needful and release all these people that in captivity. So, please, try and be proactive. Let this thing be finished as soon as possible. I am short of words and I can't think straight as I am talking to you now. This is the best I can say."

Responding, Bamidele assured them of his resolve to interface with the leadership of the House with a view to fast-track the release of the 62 victims.

"You will recall that yesterday I had a walk to call on President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the leadership of this country as a whole to rise up and do more to secure freedom for men and women who have been in the captivity of bandits for this length of time.

“Like I did say yesterday, the

walk was actually triggered by the video of some of these abductees that I watched two day ago. After the walk, I had quite a number of information and contact of certain persons who are directly connected with this incident and it is this contact that led to the meeting we held this afternoon.

"Having met with them from close to an hour now, I and listening to their story, I think the first point is to on behalf of the leadership of this country apologise to them for the lack of enough empathy because from my interactions with them, I discovered that they have actually taken steps to write letter to persons in government including the National Assembly.

“I am going to be engaging the leadership of the national assembly to take on this matter in a more pragmatic and proactive manner so that we can bring this to an end as quickly as possible," the lawmaker said Meanwhile, the Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria has said the Japanese government could not supply any military equipment to

Nigeria due to "the limitation of the military regulation."

Matsunaga disclosed this yesterday in Abuja, when he paid a courtesy visit to the Managing Director of North East Development Commission (NEDC), Mr. Mohammed Alkali.

He, however, assured that the Japanese government would continue to support the activity of the commission based on master plan, and also sought for improved bilateral relations between both countries.

Matsunaga also revealed most Japanese companies were hesitant to invest in Nigeria because of insecurity.

His words: "In Japan, the Japanese media already read the news about Nigeria, not only the football, but also the Boko Haram or the terrorism in the north-east. But many Japanese people misunderstand that there are many extremists in north-east, but the reality is not true.

"The main reason is how we can get out of the poverty, how we can develop the economy. That is the most important part. They have

called the Japanese government for support. Due to the limitation of the military regulation we cannot supply any military equipment.

"The security is also another important area because currently major Japanese companies have been hesitant to invest in Nigeria due to the security reasons. So as you may know that Japan is very conservative country, so we tend to avoid risk."

Matsunaga noted that the Japanese government would continue to support Nigeria through humanitarian aid, but added that there was a need to have more coordination among different entities, as well as the state and federal government.

He also revealed that the Japanese government was working with UNICEF to install more than 50,000 toilet in Nigeria to help prevent open defecation.

Responding, Alkali said the commission was the focal organisation responsible for assessing, coordinating and harmonising all the initiatives of development of north-east.

PERSPECTIVE

For Osun, Ogunbiyi Promises A Better Deal Moses Igbayilola Since Nigeria's return to democratic rule in 1999, the Osun state political landscape has been dominated by two major political parties.

These mainstream political parties have jointly decided the state's democratic fate in the 23 years of uninterrupted democratic rule in Nigeria.

Subsequently, while Nigeria celebrates her longest democratic dispensation, the people of Osun state seem to have been fated to endure plummeting leaderships from the dominant political parties.

Even though, some of these political parties have formed a coalition and emerged with a new nomenclature during elections, their grandstands is best described as same old distasteful wine in a new bottle.

Osun state began its journey to democracy with high hopes upon return to civil rule in the country in 1999. His Excellency, Adebisi Akande became the first democratically elected governor of the state in May, 1999 on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and held sway until May 2003 when His Excellency, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola took over on the platform of the People's Democratic Party (PDP).

Then came Ogbeni Rauuf and the incumbent

governor Gboyega Oyetola who have governed the state for 12 years on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC). It is instructive to state that in spite of their differential personal and party ideologies, successive governments in the state have all contributed meaningfully to the well-being of Osun State. Without sounding immodest however, every indices of human and societal development show that the state has not faired really well under their careless watch.

Meanwhile, the July 2022 gubernatorial election in the state gives the people yet another opportunity to decide whether to continue with motions without movement or go the paths of shared prosperity which Akinade Ogunbiyi is set to lead. This years election will decide whether the people will elect the same political parties that have mismanaged the state's economy for the past 23 years or give Accord Party an opportunity to give the state a fresh breathe of transformation.

This should be the overriding questions that electorates in the state must answer as they go to the polls in the July gubernatorial election.

While the electorates thinker about the above questions, they should be confident in Akinade Ogunbiyi, a man whose love and passion for his people has been his sole motivation to contest in

the coming election. A consummate industrialist and an unassuming scholar whose business and academic pedigrees cut across the continents of the world. With these fantastic exploits, Akinade Ogunbiyi remains the right man for the job.

At a time that the country's economy is still grappling with the untold economic downturns occasioned by the covid-19 pandemic in 2020, Osun state like every other states across the country needs her best products to oversee the state's economy. As a Sterling economist with local and international repute, Akinade Ogunbiyi remains the best choice to lead the state at this critical times.

Famed for his ingenuity in jobs creation especially in the agro allied industry, Akinade will painstakingly harness the agricultural resources of the state to ensure food security and job creation for the sons and daughters of Osun state. He believes that the cocoa produce in the state if carefully managed can sustain the economy of the state. Time and again, Akinade Ogunbiyi has assertively declared that the state economy will largely depend on agriculture where it has comparative advantage. He has continuously argued that the state's reliant on the monthly stipends from the crude oil exchange is like sitting

on a time bomb that will eventually explode with time. It is purely laziness to run down to Abuja every month to scramble over the paltry funds from crude oil exchange which are never enough when there are a lot of economic opportunities around the state that can buoyantly sustain the state's economy. It takes only a visionary leader to identify these opportunities and Ogunbiyi has found them in the state's agricultural sector, the tourism industry and in the human capital development.

An Elder stateman and former head of service of the state, Elder Segun Akinwunsi has this to say about Akinade Ogunbiyi: "Ogunbiyi clearly is not contesting because of the glamour of the office or to make money. He is in the race to bring to light the long awaited difference in the lives of our people”.

The comment by the elder statesman clearly distinguishes Akinade Ogunbiyi as an imperative and a panacea to the myriads of challenges bedeviling the home of culture. I believe Akinade Ogunbiyi is the long awaited savior, I just hope time and the Osun citizenry proves me right.

•Igbayilola wrote this piece and sent it from Oshogbo

FRIDAY JUNE 3, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWS

Ortom Reiterates Call for Autonomy for Judiciary George Okoh in Makurdi

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has reiterated his call for complete autonomy for the judiciary to enable that arm of government dispassionately uphold the rule of law.

Governor Ortom made the call yesterday in Makurdi during the swearing-in ceremony of three newly appointed High Court Judges in the State judiciary.

The newly sworn-in Judges are: Justice Felicia M. Ikyegh, Justice John M. Shishi and Justice Gabriel A. Omale following the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC).

The governor recommended that all entitlements due to the judiciary should be deducted at source from the Federation Accounts and remitted directly to the Heads of Courts for onward payment to judicial staff.

The governor said: All matters of welfare of judicial staff – salary, pension and gratuity should henceforth be handled by the NJC. “This I believe has become necessary for the smooth and effective operations of the judiciary in a democratic setting,” he said.

Governor Ortom reaffirmed his administration’s policy of

non-interference in the affairs of the judiciary, noting that it was the reason he assented to the Benue Judiciary Fund Management (Financial Autonomy) Law, 2021 to enable the State judiciary perform its duties in line with the rule of law.

The governor ranked the Benue State judiciary as one of the best in justice dispensation in the country, saying his administration has consistently sponsored judges and lawyers to conferences within and outside the country to improve the quality of their work.

While congratulating the new High Court Judges, Governor Ortom acknowledged that their appointments were based on sound knowledge of the law and positive character and charged them to remain above board and shun temptation to

pervert justice in the discharge of their duties.

He further noted that at a time when the government and the public are calling for quick dispensation of justice, the judiciary must live up to its responsibility as democracy

cannot thrive without adherence to the rule of law.

Justice Ikyegh in her response on behalf of the newly sworn-in Judges expressed gratitude to God and thanked the governor for appointing them on the endorsement of the NJC.

PREVENTING BRANDS INFRINGEMENT…

L-R: Chief Evangelist, East Africa, Marq Sikyor Africa, Mr. David Malonza; Group Chief Evangelist, Marq Sikyor Africa, Mr. Bamijoko Okupe; and Chief Evangelist Southern Africa, Marq Sikyor Africa, Mr. Mark Williams, during an interaction between the company executives and the media on the need to prevent criminals from infringing brands illegally in Lagos…yesterday

Donald Duke Denies Obi Represents Hope for Nigeria’s Resurgence, Says Otti Working against Atiku Former Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke, has debunked reports linking him to working against the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

In statement yesterday, Duke said he is a loyal PDP stakeholder who served as governor of Cross River state for two terms on its platform, stressing that “claiming that I have been drafted to work against Atiku is tantamount to working against the party.”

The former Cross River governor explained there was publication in the

Leadership Newspaper with the headline: Obasanjo Mobilises South Against Atiku, Wants Power Shift written by Ejike Ejike and Chibuzo Ukaibe and making spurious and unsubstantiated claims about my person.

He said: “In the report, it was alluded that former President Olusegun Obasanjo is upset over the outcome of the just concluded PDP presidential primary election where former Vice President Atiku Abubakar emerged as the Presidential candidate of the party.

Ex-CBN Deputy Governor, Adelabu, Dumps APC for Accord Party Kemi Olaitan inIbadan Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and gubernatorial aspirant under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), in Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, yesterday finally dumped the party for the Accord Party.

Adelabu, in a statement yesterday said the decision to defect from the APC to Accord Party was to enable him pursue and realise his governorship ambition in 2023.

He cited blatant injustice, lie, conspiracy and malice as some of

the reasons behind his decision to relinquish his membership of the main opposition party in the state.

He said: “A time exists in the life of a sincere aspiring man of the public when events and circumstances lesson the operation of his mind onto new decision, new desire and new determination.

“Such time now finds expression in my political career which necessities vital change, fundamental decision and refreshing determination.

“It is therefore, on this basis that I hereby declare the withdrawal of my membership from the APC to Accord Party of Nigeria.

Adeniyi Becomes 25th Soroptimist International President Soroptimist International has to achieving transformational, elected Mrs. Catherine Temitope Adeniyi as the 25th President of its Mainland Chapter. The new president, Adeniyi, at her investiture ceremony recently, promised to strive for the advancement of women while focusing on projects that will better the lives of women and the girl-child.

The investiture ceremony, which was performed by the National President of Soroptimist International Nigeria, Dr. Adaku, also had other past presidents of Soroptimist International with other dignitaries in attendance.

Adeniyi said: “Women are key

economic, environmental and social changes required for sustainable development.”

She promised to raise the bar of the Soroptimist International Interest which is called the “3E” – To Educate, To Enable and To Empower women and girl child.

Soroptimist International is a global volunteer movement working together to transform the lives of women and girls with over 80,000 members in 133 countries who work for peace, and to improve the lives of women and girls in local communities and throughout the world.

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

The emergence of former Anambra governor, Peter Obi as the 2023 Presidential flag bearer of the Labour Party(LP) represents a huge hope for the resurgence of Nigeria after years of economic downturn, a renowned economist, Mr. Alex Otti has said.

Otti, who is a governorship aspirant on the LP platform in Abia State, described Obi as an iconic Nigerian whose presidential ambition has

elicited “deserving encomiums and excitement, support and solidarity across political, ethnic and religious lines”.

The former bank chief executive expressed his feelings in statement, noting that “honest Nigerians of all classes” are indeed rooting for Obi because they “cherish excellence wherever and whenever they see it”.

Obi, fondly called Okwute (the Rock) by his admirers, had abandoned the PDP presidential race.

He later joined LP where

he was returned unopposed to become the presidential candidate of the party during its presidential primary held in Asaba, Delta state.

“Okwute is a national asset, a beacon of hope, and a colossus of high proportion whose administrative skills, managerial acumen and honourable disposition in leadership have contributed immensely in resetting and reshaping the hitherto pervasive mindset of mediocrity and profligacy in public service,” Otti said.

He expressed joy that his June 8, 2020 article published in his Backpage column in Thisday Newspapers is being made manifest today as many Nigerians have begun to see the genius in the man he himself has known for years.

In the referenced article with the title: “The Triumph of Profligacy Over Prudence” Otti had dedicated it to Mr. Obi and x-rayed his leadership excellence and accomplishments anchored on saving costs and prudent management of resources.

Don’t Allow Enugu Delegates to Vote During Presidential Primary, Nwoye Tells APC Gideon Arinze in Enugu Immediate past Chairman of the All-Progressives Congress (APC), in Enugu State, Ben Nwoye, has warned the party against allowing delegates from the State to vote during the party’s forthcoming presidential primary election.

Nwoye, who stated this in Enugu yesterday, ahead of the

party’s primary election, said that there was no elective congress held in the State, hence the national leadership must not allow delegates from the state to take part in the process.

“The delegates they are using in Enugu are fraudulent delegates, I’m asking the national chairman not to allow any delegate from Enugu to cast a vote during the presidential

primary election,” Nwoye said.

Speaking further, Nwoye cautioned that if delegates from the state were used to produce a presidential candidate, the decision will stand challenged which may affect the party.

He accused the chairman of the party in the State, Ugo Agballa of turning the primary election in the State into a private enterprise, alleging that those

who won various positions during the election had their names substituted illegally by the chairman.

He said:“The NWC seems to be maintaining willful blindness even when the tickets are now for shopping under Agballa,”Nwoye said. “It is shameful if what you are doing is collecting bribes and when they refuse, you remove their names”.

Group Raises the Alarm over Plan to Expunge Section of Imo Varsity Whitepaper Amby Uneze in Owerri

A non-governmental Organisation ,Every Child Education Advancement Foundation (ECEAF) has raised the alarm over the plan by the Imo State Government to expunge some sections of the government whitepaper on the Imo State University, Owerri (IMSU) that indicted the former Pro-Chancellor of the University, Alex Mbata.

Mbata, who was at the

weekend allegedly adopted by the State Governor, Hope Uzodimma as a senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Owerri zone in the 2023 elections was heavily fingered by the Professor Chinedu Nebo’s Visitation Panel report (2012 - 2019) which the government had since released a whitepaper implicating him.

In a suit filed before the High Court of Owerri with No. HOW/554/2022 between

Alex Mbata verses Government of Imo State and Attorney General of Imo State, Mbata is seeking an Order of Judicial Review by way of certiorari to the Honourable Court for the purpose of quashing the Imo State Government Whitepaper on the Reports of the Visitation on Imo State University, Owerri.

Mbata expressed in the suit that he is the person being indicted by the Whitepaper released by the Imo State Government

particularly at page 45 paragraph 8.2(vi), page 49 paragraph 8.14(x), page 56 paragraph 8.55(ii) respectively.

However, the group, which is reputed for its advocacy for the promotion of quality education in Nigeria in a statement released in Owerri, signed by its Director of Publicity, Dominic Nwankwo, accused the state government of a clandestine move to edit the whitepaper in a bid to favour Mbata.

Police Present N48.5m to 15 Deceased Personnel’s Families in Nasarawa Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia The Nasarawa State Police Command yesterday presented cheques worth N48.5 million to the families of 15 deceased Police personnel who died while in active service.

The Police Public Relations Officers of the state Police

Command, ASP Nansel Ramhan, disclosed this in a press statement issued to journalists in Lafia.

The statement stated that the state Commissioner of Police, Adesina Soyemi, presented the cheques on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, to the families of the deceased.

According to the statement, “The gesture is an initiative of the Inspector-General of Police “Group Life Assurance’’ geared towards improving the capacity and living standard of the families of Police personnel that lost their lives in the line of duty.

“While presenting the cheques, the Nasarawa

Commissioner of Police appreciated the InspectorGeneral of Police for providing succour to the families of deceased Police officers.”

CP Soyemi consequently exhorted the beneficiaries to invest the money in profitable ventures that would better the lives of their Families, the statement concluded.

FRIDAY JUNE 3, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

46

NEWSEXTRA

Insecurity: Soludo Meets Anambra MusIim Community, Pledges to Protect All David-Chyddy Eleke ÓØ áÕË

The Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has met members of the Muslim community in Anambra State, and restated that he is irrevocably committed to living up to the oath he swore to protect lives and properties in Anambra State.

Soludo spoke in respect to the current trend of insecurity in the state in the state, and the recent killing of a pregnant Muslim woman and her four children.

He said: “My interaction today with the leadership of the Anambra Muslim Community was quite revealing. A people from various parts of the country united in faith and a shared consciousness of the divine, with a rich understanding of our cultural diversity.

“Mr. Ilyasu Yushau, who is the Sarkin Hausawa in Onitsha (this means the leader of the Hausa community in Onitsha, was born 72 years ago in Anambra State; a proud old boy of the famous CKC Onitsha. He confesses to

owing all he has become to Onitsha, a place he identifies as home.”

“His story is similar to that of majority Ndi Igbo living in the North, estimated to be about 11 million.

“Our government is committed to protecting the lives, properties and rights of all lawful citizens within the state. I swore to do this, and I will keep to it. I look forward to events and programs that will deepen inter-faith/inter-religious harmony in our great state.”

Police Arrest Four Suspected Armed Robbers in Ondo

Fidelis David ÓØ ÕßÜÏ

Men of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested four suspected armed robbers at two different locations in the state.

Three of the robbers, Victor Bright, 21, AbdulRahim Mohammed, 22 and Friday Emmanuel, 27 were where apprehended in Owo, headquarters of Owo Local Government Area of the state for snatching a boxer motorcycle and mobile phone.

Speaking with journalists at the command’s headquarters yesterday, the Police Public Relations Officer

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as SULAIMAN SIMIAT OMOLARA now wish to be known and addressed as ADEKUNLE SIMIAT OMOLARA. All documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

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in the state, Funmi Odunlami, explained that the arrest was part of its achievement for the month of May, stating that upon the conclusion of investigations, the suspect would be charged to court.

The Police image maker said the command also arrested a three-man-gang, suspected to

have forcefully collected AK47 rifle with 25 rounds of live ammunition from two police officers, while on duty at Ago-Ajayi, along Owo/ Ikare-Akoko road.

“The suspects are: Onyeabor Ezekiel ‘m’ 35 years; Dahiru Idris ‘m’ 60 years and Abdulraham Musa ‘m’ 20years”.

Botched Primary: Don’t Dump APC, Aggrieved Ekiti Aspirant Begs Supporters Victor Ogunje ÓØ ÎÙ ÕÓÞÓ Aggrieved aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC)in the House of Representatives poll conducted in Ekiti State, Mr. Dele Philips, has appealed to his supporters not to dump the party for the opposition parties.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as MISS CHIDIMMA NANCY ABI now wish to be known and addressed as MRS CHIDIMMA NANCY EDWARD. All documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed MR CHUKWUMA NWACHUKWU ONWUMERE now wish to be known and addressed as MR CHUKWUMA ONWUMERE EDWARD. All documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed CLEOPATRA ANIKPE UMASSOR now wish to be known and addressed as CLEOPATRA ANIKPE EHIGBOCHIE. All documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed MR OLADAPO ABIODUN SHODIPO now wish to be known and addressed as MR OLADAPO ABIODUN OLANREWAJU. All documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formally known and addressed as MISS OKAFOR BLESSING AMAKA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OLUMBA BLESSING EZINWANNE AMAKA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formally known and addressed as JANE OGECHI UKPABI now wish to be known and addressed as JANE OGECHI OLIAKU. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

I formerly known as DR MRS JOY NDUKA O. OKI now wish to be known and addressed as DR MRS JOY NDULAKA OKI. All former documents remain valid.

Authority concerned and general public should please take note.

Philips expressed confidence that the party will prevent those who want to secure the tickets through injustice, backdoor and brigandage. The primary election for the constituency comprising the Ekiti West, Ijero and Efon local government areas of the state was inconclusive following violent disruption of the exercise midway by agents of one of the aspirants, a situation that enraged Philip’s supporters.

Philips, who addressed journalists in Aramoko Ekiti, yesterday said the APC leadership will trash all the cases and give justice to those who felt cheated in the elections.

Dismissing the insinuation that he and supporters were planning to dump APC for another party, Philips, said: “Under no circumstance will I abandon the broom party. I plead with my supporters to also display loyalty to this party”.

Old Boys Restate Commitment to Loyola College In pursuit of its commitment to reinforce the high standard of its alma mater, members of the Old Boys Association of Loyola College Ibadan, 1977/82 Set, have concluded arrangements to hold a reunion after 40years of leaving the prestigious school.

At the press conference to herald the plans for the 40th reunion, the Association’s Chairman, Oluwole Adeosun, accompanied by the Secretary General, Rotimi Seriki and Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Oladipo Olasope, unveiled the programme of activities, including the arrangement to engage the Oyo State Government on the need to hand over the school to its original owners, the Catholic Mission for enhanced rapid development.

Adeosun explained that the reunion, scheduled for Thursday, June 9 to Saturday, June 11 at the College premises, Ibadan, shall feature series of activities.

WORLD OF ISLAM

Edited by: MJO Mustapha Email deji.mustapha@thisdaylive.com

The Spirituality of Hajj (2) By: Spahic Omer/IslamiCity (continued from last week)

IHRAM AND TALBIYAH This is the spiritual, in addition to intellectual, world which every pilgrim steps into by means of putting on ihram and declaring talbiyah. Through ihram a pilgrim renders himself qualified – and pure – to be admitted into this world replete with historical wonders and with present overwhelming sensations and signs (ayat). Removing his old dress represents removing hindrances that may stand between him and a proper experience of the new world. Positively, one of the goals of Hajj is to chart and enliven history as much as possible.

There are certain etiquette which a pilgrim must observe while wearing ihram, and generally while being on Hajj. They revolve around cleanliness, beautification, maintenance of ihram, interpersonal communication, dealing with the environment, and some other elements related to general decency and good manners. The Qur’an sums up those etiquette as follows: “For Hajj are the months well known. If any one undertakes that duty therein, let there be no obscenity, nor wickedness, nor wrangling (disputing and quarrelling) in the Hajj. And whatever good you do, (be sure) Allah knows it. And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best of provisions is right conduct.

So fear Me, O you that are wise” (al-Baqarah, 197).

Wearing ihram and staying away from impropriety return a person to his primordial self as well as origins. He forsakes artificial and often discriminatory titles, symbols, routines and standards of living. There is nothing, or extremely little, in Hajj that can allude to any of these. People are all one and the same, demonstrating thereby the profundity of tawhid (the Oneness of God) and how it manifests itself in life via the unity of existence, purpose, calling and destiny. People are reminded of the simplicity and practicality of the truth, and of the inconvenience and desolation of falsehood.

In other words, a person becomes human and himself. He becomes a member not only of the earthly humanity family – temporarily erasing all falsely drawn borders and established criteria – but also of the universal family that features the boundless known and unknown planes of creation. He is constantly reminded of who he is and what he is supposed to accomplish. All paths leading to happiness, success and distinction are redrawn on Hajj. Most things are not themselves.

This way, essentially, Hajj is more about returning than going. It is more about investing (earning) than spending. It also connotes coming back home to the warmth of the ideals that the holy land of Makkah (the mother of human settlements) personifies. No wonder that pilgrims are the guests of Allah. They are in their Makkah. They are home. As Allah’s sanctuary, Makkah is free and belongs to nobody. Nobody can lay claim to it.

Those who are in charge of it are no more than its servants. Makkah belongs to everyone, just as everyone belongs to it.

With ihram donned and internalized, a person’s shortcomings become exposed to him. All masks fall off and all deceitful convictions get destroyed. Throughout Hajj, a person is expected to fight his behavioural inadequacies. It is a war of attrition between his newly found self and the overarching truth, on one side, and his old self (old negativities), his ego and Satan, on the other. If he wants and is ready, a pilgrim is afforded what it takes to win the war. The spoils of war are forgiveness, a new self, a new life and Paradise (Jannah).

The Prophet (pbuh) said that nothing but Paradise (Jannah) is the reward for an accepted Hajj. Elaborating further, he said that whoever performs Hajj for Allah, and he does not have sexual relations nor commits any sin, then his previous sins will be forgiven. In another report, the Prophet (pbuh) added that he who performs Hajj correctly and whose Hajj is accepted (neither approaching his wife for sexual relations nor committing any sin) will come out as sinless as a new born child, (just delivered by his mother).

And obviously, for a sinless person the only reward can be Paradise.

Pilgrims are the guests of their Creator. Ihram is the official uniform of the event and talbiyah the motto and, at the same time, hymn. As the munificent Host, the best thing Almighty God can offer His guests is clemency - coupled with forgiveness - and Paradise. For this reason is the life of a pilgrim after Hajj an extraordinary mood.

It is about maintaining the status procured during Hajj and about remaining as pure (sinless) as possible. Some people become paranoid. Going from one extreme to the other, certain pilgrims feel bent on repeating the occasion, and yet others – as a serious mistake and misreading, though - keep unduly postponing Hajj to their

very old age, in order to live little afterwards and hence, have better chances of remaining - and dying – uncontaminated by sin.

Living through the significations of ihram is akin to declaring a “yes” to the power of the liberating spirit (soul), and a “no” to the incompetence of the impeding matter (body). As a whole, Hajj is an exploit of emancipation, and ihram is its instrument and also immediate insignia. Having sensed the value of true freedom, a transformed pilgrim wants to cherish it forever, constantly rising through the ranks. For this reason, for example, was Makkah with its Hajj season in the late 19th and early 20th centuries a midpoint of the pan-Islamic and anticolonial sentiments. It was often recommended that it be turned into the seat of the caliphate institution.

The word ihram is derived from the root “ahrama”, which means “to prohibit”. Related to the same root are the words “harrama”, “haram”, “muharram”, “hurmah” and “ihtarama”, which mean “to prohibit”, “prohibition”, “prohibited”, “sacredness” and “to honour” respectively. In passing, “hurmah” also means “wife”, in that she is deeply esteemed by her husband and is prohibited to anybody else.

Accordingly, ihram means “making one’s self sacred or prohibited (pure)”, in the worldly sense of the term, before entering the sacred and prohibited territory; that is, becoming (intending to become) a micro haram, as it were, before entering – joining - the macro haram. Defects and impurities are to be left behind as they are neither welcome, nor qualified for the unification. The situation is similar to what God said to Prophet Musa (Moses) when he arrived at the sacred valley of Tuwa to be in the private presence of God: “Verily I am your Lord, therefore put off your shoes; surely you are in the sacred valley, Tuwa” (Ta Ha, 12).

Ihram, therefore, is a state of mind, of soul, and of entire being, rather than a mere act or a process. It is something to be as much done as experienced and built on. It is the foundation of Hajj in its totality. That is why the verb “ahrama” became so comprehensive. Apart from meaning “to prohibit” it also assumed other meanings, like “to enter the state of ihram”, “to wear ihram”, “to enter the holy land”, “to enter a forbidden month”, “to seek somebody’s or something’s safety” and “to enter the (holy) state of prayer (salat)”.

With the intrinsic spiritual and human qualities of a pilgrim drawn attention to, against the backdrop of the sacredness of Makkah and its Hajj, a pilgrim’s personal sacredness becomes absolute too. He is elevated to the pedestal of inviolability firstly as human being (part of Allah’s creation) and secondly as believer (conscious servant of Allah). All of a sudden, apart from being a spectator from the fringe or the circumference, a pilgrim is being thrust into the heart of Hajj, at once as a concept and sensory experience. He becomes its object.

Certainly it was not a coincidence that the Prophet (pbuh) personally gave emphasis to this honourable status of believer in the framework of Hajj and its holy sites. What is more, he did it in a rather forceful fashion. While circumambulating the holy Ka’bah, the Prophet (pbuh) is reported to have communicated to the Ka’bah: “How pure you are! And how pure is your fragrance! How great you are! And how great is your sanctity! By Him in whose hands lies the soul of Muhammad, the sanctity (holiness) of a believer is greater with Allah than even your sanctity (i.e. the Ka’bah).

That is (the sanctity) of his property, his blood and that we think nothing of him but good.”

The Prophet (pbuh) also said at ‘Arafah in his historic sermon during his farewell pilgrimage: “Verily, your blood, property and honour are sacred to one another like the sanctity of this day of yours (i.e. the day of Nahr or slaughtering of the animals of sacrifice), in this month of yours (the holy month of Dhul Hijjah) and in this city of yours (the holy city of Makkah).”

In his book “The Road to Makkah” Muhammad Asad dwelled on the liberating and unifying character of Hajj. Above all, Hajj is a humanizing experience, exhibiting the intricacy of the convergence of people’s human and sacrosanct dimensions.

Muhammad Asad said, as for instance, that the sight of a desert filled with pilgrims who were resting on their way to Makkah resembled a huge army camp with innumerable tents, camels, litters, bundles, a confusion of many tongues – Arabic, Hindustani, Malay, Persian, Somali, Turkish, Pashtu, Amhara, and God knows how many more. This was a real gathering of nations; but as everyone was wearing the all-levelling ihram, the differences of origin were hardly noticeable and all the many races appeared almost like one.”

Moreover, in his autobiography, Malcolm X commented that he saw “that Islam’s conversions around the world could double and triple if the colourfulness and the true spiritual-ness of the Hajj pilgrimage were properly advertised and communicated to the outside world.”

FRIDAY JUNE 3, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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MISSILE Middle Belt Forum to PDP, Atiku “We have made it clear before now that we will not support any political party that fields a Northerner as its presidential candidate for the 2023 election and we still stand by that position. So, the PDP has lost our support by fielding Atiku Abubakar (Northerner) as its flag bearer and we will surely work against him” –Middle Belt Forum’s National President, Bitrus Pogu, reiterating the Forum’s call for a Southern president in 2023.

MAGNUSONYIBE GUEST COLUMNIST

Rising and Falling of Delta State Political Family and Consequences

A

n internecine war of anarchic proportions has ensued in Delta state. And the state that has been governed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP since the return of multi-party democracy in 1999 is in turmoil. In fact , it is on the verge of tipping over and into the grasp of the opposition party, All Progressive Congress, APC,if the war persists.

That is because the incumbent state Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa’s preferred candidate, Sherriff Oborovwori who is currently the speaker of the house of assembly has literarily mauled his opponents in the gubernatorial primaries contest held on Wednesday, May 25, 2022. He clinched the victory by polling a whopping 590 votes of the 825 delegates.

That means that only about 265 delegates voted for the rest of the contenders for the office of the governor of delta state in 2023. In some states like Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Cross Rivers, etc the governors ‘anointed’ candidates scored landslide victory, leaving the opponents winning votes that can be counted on the fingers of a single hand or at best two hands .

So compared with the results of the party primaries in the aforementioned jurisdictions, prying out votes in excess of 200 from the grasp of the anointed candidate in delta state can actually be considered a feat. Drawing from the wisdom in an adage that is popular amongst my tribesmen, which is that it is the person that has the knife and the yam that is at liberty to decide the portion of yam that he/she shares out to others, the party delegates elections for producing the candidates for 2023 general elections were bound to go the way they have turned out.

And it is doubtless that transparency in how delegates list is drawn up by the governor of a state without enough involvement of other stakeholders and not within a set of rules which are immutable, is amongst the grey areas that future reviews of the electoral laws of our country should focus attention in order to improve on the process of recruitment of political leaders at the grassroots level.

Relying on the aphorism, if the foundation of a building is weak, the integrity of the structure would be in jeopardy, a grossly undemocratic practice of democracy at the sub-national level as evidenced by the manipulation of state electoral agencies by the governors and the production of party delegates list whimsically, instead of being based on established and strictly observed parameters, (as is largely the case with INEC) is tantamount to attempting to build a house on sinking or quick sand. And such incongruity as reflected by the flawed system at the grassroots level needs to be urgently addressed, altruistically. The assertion and observation above is justified or derives from the fact that those who may be benefiting from the abnormalities today, would ultimately be the victims tomorrow.

Since a system standing on a foundation of clay, instead of solid rock of democracy, would not withstand a stress test, the structure would soon after its erection go with the winds.

Arising from the above scenario , a situation whereby the party delegates list is drawn up at the behest of the sitting governor is antithetical to democracy. That is simply because, equity and fairness would be presumed to have been trifled with by the state governor, who as the leader of the party in the state, would ensure that the names that make it into the delegates list are those that are malleable by him .

Against the backdrop of the circumstances highlighted above, it is unsurprising that the closest rival to the winner of the PDP primaries in Delta state, David Edevbie, garnered a mere 113 votes compared to the 590 number of votes polled by the winner, the speaker of the house of assembly, Sherriff Oborovwori ,who is the governors preferred candidate. Rather than lament, the man

Okowa who polled the second highest votes in the contest has been stoic as if he has acquiesced with the loss by hinging it on the common philosophy: win some, lose some.

That is the attitude of Edevbie, a former commissioner for finance from 1999 to 2006 under chief James lbori as governor, and later, commissioner of finance in 2015-2019, that also served as chief of staff to the incumbent governor, Okowa, until a few months ago.

Another ranking member of the class of 1999, who was commissioner for works 1999-2003, under lbori’s watch as governor, senator James Manager, received a paltry 83 votes to take the third position in the race. He too has taken the loss like a sportsman.

That is in spite of the fact that he is the pioneer chairman of the ruling party, PDP at its inception in 1999.

The rest of the contestants, particularly, the incumbent deputy governor, Kingsley Otuaro, and the immediate past commissioner for Works, Peter Mkrapor, tied with 9 votes apiece.

When the total votes cast for the other contestants against the speaker, Oborovwori are combined, it is a little more than 200 votes. As such, the votes drawn for the winner by and large are more or less a tripling of the combined votes cast for other contenders.

Such is the power of incumbency that enables the governor under whose watch the election is held to exclusively draw up the delegates list with minimum input by other stakeholders which is to be relied upon by all the contestants, including the favored and disfavored. It is worthy to state that the outcomes of the primaries conducted in the various states where the candidates chosen by the governors won the contest are similar to how state electoral commissions always ‘deliver’ the candidates of the ruling party in the Local Government Chairman and counselor elections.

That is simply because, since it is the governors that appoint the state electoral commission members, they are often obliged to do the governor’s bidding.

Which is in consonance with the dictum, “he who pays the piper, dictates the tune.”

That anomaly or perfidy, if we must call a spade by its name, is the bane of democracy at the grassroots level which is reflected by the trend whereby the two major parties, APC and PDP enjoy predominance of their members as local government chairmen and councilors courtesy of their ‘dutiful’ electoral agencies . Thus, there is hardly any APC or PDP led state without all

the LGA chairmen and councilors being members of the state’s ruling party.

As a democracy advocate, it would remiss of me not to point out that , no matter whose ox is gored that such an anti-democracy practice is deplorable and needs to be condemned, and replaced with a more transparent process that is guided by and under-guarded with democracy ethos. This is the way to improve the fidelity of the process of recruitment of politicians at the grassroots level and the concomitant deepening of our democracy at the subnational and national levels.

Imagine what would have become of our democracy at the national level, if the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC were to be at the beck and call of the president of Nigeria as state electoral commissions are made to function like departments in the office of state governors?

Autocracy or monarchy, rather than democracy would have been entrenched in Nigeria and that could have been akin to what obtains in Russia or at best, the nation of Morocco , Syria or Turkey.

It is curious that INEC had hitherto exhibited some modicum of independence, until the recent decision to shift its timetable for the elections which critics allege was done to serve the narrow interest of the ruling party, APC. Before the delegates’ election contest in delta state, governor Okowa had not hidden his preference for the current speaker of the state house of assembly, Sherrif Oborefovwori to take over the reins of government from him, as opposed to Edevbie, who is the candidate favored by Urhobo Progressive Union, UPU, a socio-cultural group of the largest ethnic stock in Delta state.

Off course, it is within the ambit of the governor to have a choice of successor and on whom he has anchored his support. After all, President Mohammadu Buhari had stated in a television interview that he has a preferred candidate that he would like to succeed him as he exits Aso Rock Villa next year. Indeed, decoding who that candidate really is has been as tasking as untying the proverbial Gordian knot by APC members keen on stepping into Buhari’s shoes next year and indeed the entire country that is currently waiting to hear from president Buhari about who the mystery candidate truly is. That is even as the APC delegates congress that should have been wrapped up on May 30, has been postponed for the umpteenth time while waiting for mr president’s weighty utterance on the matter.

But ordinarily, the president does not have as much latitude as a state governor has to literally produce a candidate by fiat or via manipulation of the delegates list.

The underlying reason for his limitation is the fact that the national delegates list for the election of a presidential candidate comes from all 36 states and 774 local councils nationwide. In light of the fact that stakeholders in the states and regions may have their own peculiar agendas to pursue , it is more daunting for a president to impose his candidate in a direct or an indirect election exercise .

Except via a consensus process , that is if the president is charismatic and venerated by his party men and women, perhaps like president Buhari.

A major stakeholder in the Delta state governorship election is chief James Ibori, who is the pioneer governor of the state following the return of multi-party democracy 1999-2007 and therefore the political father of all the aspirants to most of the political leadership positions.

He also supported David Edevbie.His backing of Edevbie is derived from the fact that he was the erstwhile commissioner for finance under his watch,so he is considered an integral part of the state’s political class of 1999, also known as the Ibori political family.

After all had been said and done, (with the backing of the incumbent governor) the other contestants

were practically turned into spectators in the event as the counting of the votes was going on with the winner’s name mimicking a sing-sing and sounding like music to the ears of his supporters as the announcer kept repeating Oborovwori Francis as he picked up the ballots 590 times until he finally announced Sheriff Oborovwori, as the winner of the party primaries.

It is clearly a manifestation of the raw power of incumbency which made it possible for the governor’s will to prevail forcefully. And the outcome is doubtless a disruption of the governorship succession model in delta state which had more or less become entrenched since 1999.

As a microcosm of Nigeria, Delta state had started manifesting what l would like to refer to as governorship rotation malady in the manner that Nigeria is under the throes of presidency rotation malaise that has seen the main opposition party, PDP, jettisoning presidency rotation arrangement which it had practiced since the return of multi-party democracy in 1999.

As if echoing the challenges dogging the continuity of the rotation of the presidency between the north and south in the central government , the governorship rotation initiative between the three senatorial zones introduced by chief Ibori before exiting office of the governor after his eight (8) years tenure expired in 2007, is being threatened.

And it is unsurprising that it took a considerable amount of bickering and arm twisting before the incumbent government decided to honor the agreement to allow the governorship pendulum to swing back to delta central which is the base from where the rotation started in 1999.

It may be recalled that Ibori institutionalized the process in the state as he was exiting in 2007.

Typical of political actors, spanners are often metaphorical thrown into the wheel of progress.

But after all the horse-trading are done , the system had been sustained, albeit at a huge political cost to Ibori whom his Urhobo kith and kin are not happy with for not allowing them to enjoy the benefit intrinsic in the fact that they are the majority ethnic group in the state, and the majority in a democracy always carries the vote. That is assuming all Urhobos decide to vote based on the influence of ethnic sentiments.

It is by sheer grit that after him, and to the consternation of Urhobo and Ijaw nations, governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, then Secretary of the state Government, SSG, under Ibori, an Itsekiri by tribe which is part of delta south senatorial zone, mounted the saddle and led for eight years.

Subsequently, in 2015, Ifeanyi Okowa, also a former SSG under Uduaghan’s watch and a senator, who hail lka ethnic nation of the north senatorial zone, took over the reins of governance, where he has been holding sway for the past seven (7) years.

As is common in politics, the transitions of the governorship position from one zone to the other since 2007 have not been rancor free. But whatever schisms ensued during the change of batons, a degeneration of the crisis was never allowed to persist. Hence ‘the big heart state’ has been fittingly tagged with the ‘one big political family’ appellation since 1999 before what l prefer to term the Big Bang that happened on the 25th of May. That was the state of affairs until the recently concluded 2023 party primary elections for the PDP which commenced with the state house of assembly, followed by the House of Representatives and Senate before culminating in the governorship primaries where the incumbent governor had a divergent view on who becomes the next governor in 2023 with other stakeholders such as ex-governor Ibori and Urhobo Progressive Union, UPU that supported a candidate that is not the governor’s choice.

NOTE: Read the full piece in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

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