SUNDAY 14TH JUNE 2020

Edo Guber Poll: NWC Upholds Obaseki’s Disqualification Governor to decide next line of action Iyobosa Uwugiaren, Chuks Okocha, Aadedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City The National Committee of

Working the All

Progressives Congress yesterday upheld the disqualification of Governor Godwin Obaseki as a candidate for the party’s governorship election ticket.

Obaseki was disqualified on

Mixed reactions trail exclusion from primary

Friday by the party’s screening committee over alleged discrepancies in his personal and academic records while his main challenger, Osagie IzeIyamu, was cleared to contest the primaries scheduled for

June 22.

Obaseki has said he will not appeal the decision.

On Saturday, the party’s national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, said in a live press conference in Abuja

monitored on ARISE News Channel that Mr Obaseki had abused his powers as governor of Edo State.

He said Mr Obaseki orchestrated the inauguration of only nine out of 24

members of the State House of Assembly, and frustrated moves to resolve the crisis.

“Our democracy is founded on a tripod of executive, Continued on page 5

Benin Republic Backs Okonjo-Iweala for WTO DG...Page 5 Sunday 14 June, 2020 Vol 25. No 9197

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Boko Haram Attacks 3 LGs in Borno, Kills at Least 29 Persons Troops engage insurgents in fierce gun battle

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja and Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri Boko Haram on Saturday attacked three local

government areas of Borno State, in audacious attacks barely a day after President Muhammadu Buhari claimed the terrorist group had been massively degraded. Buhari

had also said Boko Haram terrorists were taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic and consequent lockdowns to wreak havoc on communities.

The comments came following an assault on Kolloram village, in Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State, in which 81 residents were killed.

The terror group attacked Gubio, Nganzai and Monguno local government councils in the latest assaults.

But troops of Operation Lafiya Dole were said to have

fought off the terrorists from Monguno.

The attacks came about five days after Boko Haram Continued on page 9

Alarm as Aisha Buhari, ADC, Breach Security in State House PDP, Civil Society Groups urge president to speak out, demand probe of shooting in the villa Police set up investigation Omololu Ogunmade and Chuks Okocha in Abuja Alarming details have emerged on how the First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, her children and Aide-de-Camp (ADC), Usman Shugaba, breached security in the Presidential Villa while attempting to force President Muhammadu Buhari's nephew and personal assistant, Sabiu Yusuf, to go into self-isolation for traveling out of Abuja recently. The altercation led to at least two gunshots being fired within the sacred precincts of the presidential seat of power, a dangerous escalation of the crisis of confidence between the First Lady and the president's other relatives in the struggle for control of

access to the president. Yusuf was said to have managed to flee the scene with blood stain injuries sustained during the attack.

Although Shugaba, and other security aides had since been detained after the ensuing melee, by the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it was alarmed at such a development and enjoined the president to speak out.

Also reacting to the shooting, a former Chairman of the Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu who called for a thorough investigation into Continued on page 8

US Appoints Ogunbiyi as DFC Advisory Council Member... Page 15

ASABA ISOLATION CENTRE...

L-R: Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari; Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa; Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Austin Obidi; and State Commissioner for Health, Dr Mordi Ononye during the commissioning of a 70-bed state-of-the-art Oil and Gas Industry intervention’s COVID-19 Isolation Centre in Asaba, Delta...yesterday

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Benin Backs Okonjo-Iweala for WTO DG Tobi Soniyi

The nomination of Nigeria's former Minister for Finance and former Managing Director of World Bank, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for the Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has received a boost as Republic of Benin withdrew its nomination in support of the Nigeria's nominee for the top job.

In a letter dated 12th June, 2020 and addressed to the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Benin to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations based in Geneva, Switzerland, Benin informed the Permanent Missions of

the Member States of the International Organization of La Francophonie (01F) at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, of its decision to withdraw its candidate in the person of Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Benin in Geneva, His Excellency Eloi Laourou.

Benin said that her decision to withdraw her nomination was informed by consultations conducted by three African countries registered by the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the African Union on February 10, 2020 in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), for the endorsement of a single candidate from Africa for the post of Director General

of the WTO, for the period 2021 - 2025.

Benin said that the decision to give her support to the candidacy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in the person of Okonjo-Iweala was informed by AU decision to support a consensus candidate.

Diplomatic sources told THISDAY that credit should be given to President Patrice Guillaume Athanase Talon of the Republic of Benin for his country's decision to support Nigeria for the WTO Director General"s job.

This decision of the President of the Republic of Benin was said to have been inspired by his high sense of seeking consensus around a candidate which will be endorsed

by the African Union, as recommended by the Heads of State and Government of the African Union in their decisions adopted respectively on July 07, 2019 in Niamey, Niger Republic and February 10, 2020 at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Benin Republic"s Permanent Mission has also called on counterparts in the member states of the OIF to inform their respective national authorities that she has decided to throw her weight behind Nigeria's candidate Okonjo-Iweala.

Last week, WTO acknowledged the nomination of Okonjo-Iweala, as one of the candidates for the position of the Director-General of the

organization.

The WTO has opened nominations for a successful candidate that will succeed the current Director-General, Mr Roberto Azevedo, who will be stepping down on August 31, 2020, one year ahead of time WTO announced this on 9th June, 2020 via its twitter handle.

The tweet post from WTO states, “Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Chair of the Board of Gavi and Nigeria’s former Finance Minister, has been nominated

by Nigeria as a candidate for the post of WTO DirectorGeneral.�

President Muasu Buhari nominated Okonjo-Iweala for the top job. However, her

nomination was opposed by Egypt on grounds that the period of nominations had elapsed.

Egypt claimed that the African Union executive had set November 30, 2019 as the deadline for submission of nominees for African countries, therefore, Nigeria’s nomination violated that.

However, the WTO disagreed saying that the nomination process actually opened on June 8, 2020 and will end on July 8, contrary to the claim by Egypt.

The statement from WTO says, “The nomination period ends on 8 July. Learn more about the process to select the next Director-General of WTO.�

coordinating the defection plans and liaising between the PDP governors and Governor Obaseki, THISDAY gathered, might lead a delegation of his colleagues to pay a courtesy visit to Obaseki on Sunday or Monday, where it is expected that the embattled governor would officially defect to the PDP. Findings have also revealed that PDP is worried that the three aspirants that already bought the forms are not strong enough to stand election against any candidate from the APC, especially if it was Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

The three PDP governorship aspirants screened are, Gideon Ikhine, Ogbeide Ihama and Kenneth Imansuangbon, who was screen through a virtually as he was outside the country due to restriction of flights in and outside the country.

Though the official result is not out yet, there are several petitions against their aspirations. It was on account of this, that the PDP has refused to release the results of the screening.

It is even said that Ihama, who is from the same Federal constituency as Obaseki might concede the ticket to governor, if the PDP chooses him as its candidate.

THISDAY gathered that his second meeting with President Buhari later in the week is expected to give fillip to the choices before him as he finally decides his political future.

Besides, key PDP leaders in the state including the Igbinedion family and Chief Tom Ikimi, THISDAY learnt, were among those lobbying the national leadership of the party to give the ticket to Obaseki should he fail to get the APC ticket.

Also, two PDP senators from the state, Senators Clifford Ordia and Matthew Urhoghide as well as Hon Joe Edionwe, Hon Sergius Ogun Mike Ogiadome, Earl Osaro Onaiwu, immediate past Director General of the PDP governors forum and other prominent party stakeholders are in the chase for Obaseki to join the PDP. When contacted, the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan said, "If Governor Obaseki will join the PDP, it has to be from the bottom," adding that the national leadership would only be informed of that decision.

Mixed Reactions Trail Governor, Others’ Exclusion from Primary

know what is happening in Edo State. The wide and huge jubilation that greeted the decision of the party on Friday is a testimony to the fact that majority of our party members are happy with the party. “A candidature of Godwin Obaseki would have led to our party’s major defeat in the September governorship election. Here was a man, who said our national chairman and his predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, must take permission from him before entering the state. “Here was a man with his many atrocities, who refused to inaugurate 14 APC members of House of Assembly, stated arrogantly that his second term was not negotiable. It would have been a disaster if he was allowed to contest election under our party,� the party leaders said.

The party stalwarts also scolded the governor for the attack on state lawmakers by suspected thugs loyal to the state government, sacking of eight commissioners and special advisers loyal to Oshiomhole, litigation against the nomination of former Deputy Governor Pius Odubu as Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) chairman, and illegal removal of council chairmen.

The statement also mentioned how Obaseki sealed up a hotel belonging to one of the party’s youth leaders, Comrade Osakpomwan Eriyo, adding that he also ordered the seizure of his working equipment, including caterpillars and excavators.

EDO GUBER POLL: NWC UPHOLDS OBASEKI’S DISQUALIFICATION legislature and the judiciary,� he was quoted as saying. “When a Governor decides to muzzle the legislature, then democracy is dead.� “Part of the duties and responsibilities of the National Working Committee includes organising primary elections for the nomination of its presidential candidate, governorship candidate, and candidate for election into the national and state assemblies. “So the responsibility to carry out this exercise is fully vested in the National Working Committee. And we have exercised these responsibilities to the best of our ability,� Oshiomhole said.

Obaseki’s disqualification was earlier Saturday upheld by the party’s appeal committee.

The committee, at a press briefing, said it agreed with the screening committee’s position that it could not vouch for the authenticity of the NYSC Certificate presented

by Governor Obaseki.

Meanwhile, the embattled governor, has said he was unfazed by his disqualification from the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries last Friday and would therefore not give up fighting, because of the interest of the Edo people.

But the governor, who claimed to still enjoy the goodwill of a majority of the stakeholders in state, whom he said had rallied behind his resolve to fight off those angling to plunder the state’s treasury, also told his supporters he was still consulting on the next step to take and would communicate his decision as soon as he made up his mind.

Obaseki, who is though not certain yet about his next line of action, is billed to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari for the second time in less than two weeks as part of his consultations on the options before him.

But the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has intensified efforts on how to woo Obaseki to its fold to enable him run on their platform, with the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, liaising between his colleagues in PDP and the Edo State governor.

Also, mixed reactions have continued to trail the disqualification of Obaseki and other APC aspirants from the party’s primary election with some stakeholders commending the move,

while others showed outright aversion to it.

A statement by Obaseki’s Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, stated: “For Obaseki, it is Edo people or nothing. This is why he has remained in this battle thus far. Among many other reasons, each of the groups that form the governor’s support base have benefitted from Governor Obaseki’s stance against thuggery and extortion. “The governor has enthroned probity and accountability in governance.

For labour unions, regular salaries, clearing of over 20 months pension arrears and providing a conducive work environment is what is gearing them to support the governor. The pensioners are fully in support of his policies. The governor has not only cleared pension arrears accrued since 1999, but would soon commence the payment of gratuities.�

While reiterating that the governor’s loyalty lies only with Edo people, the statement added: “The governor’s loyalty rests with Edo people. He would not trade them away to those, who have decided to become godfathers and waging a war of impunity to subjugate the people.�

Continuing, the statement posited that, “The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki sincerely appreciates Edo people, Nigerians and our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora, for the outpouring of goodwill and solidarity since the announcement of his unjust disqualification by the All Progressives Congress (APC) Screening Committee from the Edo governorship primary election. He thanks them for keeping the faith. “We are consulting widely with party leaders and members in the state and other stakeholders and we shall soon brief the public on the next steps we are taking, going forward.�

The statement noted that the governor’s insistence not to appeal his disqualification was informed by his stance to not kowtow to the wishes of a handful of politicians, who do not have the interest of the people at heart.

According to the statement, “The governor is unfazed, even as he would soon announce his next line of action. But at the moment,

Edo people and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are solidly standing behind the governor. They have declared unflinching support for him and the ideals he stands for. “The market women, labour unions, clerics, women groups, the elderly, artisan groups, youths, among others, are strongly in support of the governor’s ambition and his stance to keep the state’s treasury sealed from those who have now resorted to disqualifying him from running under the APC in the gubernatorial elections, because of their selfish interests. But Governor Obaseki remains undaunted and unperturbed.�

PDP Poaches Governor as Okowa Liaises With Colleagues However, in the PDP, several horse-trading is currently ongoing on the next step to be taken by Obaseki, a development that allegedly followed heated pressures from former President Goodluck Jonathan and PDP governors for the Edo governor to defect to the PDP. Although the pressures had been on before he was eventually disqualified by the APC last Friday, THISDAY gathered that it was also why the PDP has yet to officially release the outcome of the screening of the three governorship aspirants that bought forms for the election of the party ticket.

A PDP source hinted that the last visit of Jonathan to Benin, where he had a closed door meeting with Obaseki might not be unconnected with the defection talks.

The source also said the embattled governor too has not given a committed answer but has continued to ask for more time to fight till the end of the road.

"What happened Friday is the end of the road. We expect him to decide fast," the source noted.

Asked about the discrepancies in his entry qualifications to the University, which formed the basis of his disqualification, the PDOP source retorted: "Is it a must he presents a university certificate? He has school leaving certificates and that one is not in doubt.

The constitution says the qualification to contest is school leaving certificate."

But Okowa, who is

Meanwhile, while some leaders of the APC have continued to express misgivings about the disqualification of Governor Godwin Obaseki from participating in the primary election scheduled for June 22, others said the decision of the party has saved Edo APC from a major defeat in the coming governorship election.

A former National Chairman of the party, Mr. John Odigie Oyegun and a former of Minister of Information, Tony Momoh, recently warned that the ruling party might lose the governorship election in the state as a result of the disqualification of Obaseki by the party’s screening committee on Friday.

But, in a statement yesterday, some party leaders in Edo State, said the decision of the party has saved the APC from collapse and a major defeat in the September governorship election, saying there is “huge jubilation in the state over the good news, Obaseki’s disqualification.�

Explaining why Obaseki’s candidature would have been a ‘major disaster’ in the coming election, some chieftains of the party in the state in a statement said, there is no way the governor can be trusted with a second term.

They said the Obaseki-led government had made life difficult and almost unbearable for party members and the Edo people in the last three and a half years.

In the statement signed by Benson Edosonman (Edo South Senatorial Leader); Chief Francis Inegbeniki (Edo Central senatorial Leader); Chief Simon Omofuma LEADER); Hon David Iyoha (former Speaker, Edo House of Assembly); Hon Thomas Okosun (Former Chairman ACN, and former Speaker EDHA); Mrs Elizabeth Ativie (former Speaker EDHA); Prince Malik Afegbua, member APC, BOT) and Washington Osifo (member elect, EDHA), they accused the governor of maltreatment, illegal arrests and detention of chieftains and arrogant posturing in managing the affairs of the state. “Those who are complaining about the disqualification of Godwin Obaseki don’t

Obaseki’s Many Sins Listing the “many sins� of Governor Obaseki, the leaders said on December 3rd last year, Obaseki ordered that the seats of 14 state lawmakers-elect should be declared vacant, advising INEC to conduct by-elections to fill the positions.

The statement said the governor also banned political rallies and gatherings by threatening to revoke certificates of occupancy of venues hosting such gatherings.

Other “sins� of the governor, they claimed, include confrontation to the defection of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu to APC, lying against Oshiomhole that he was pushing for his impeachment, instigating Continued on page 9

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FG Evacuates 269 Stranded Nigerians from India As Agip, JV partners donate 70-bed isolation centre to Delta State NCDC reports 501 new cases, takes tally to 15,682, discharges 5,101, deaths 407 Adedayo Akinwale and Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The federal government has evacuated 269 Nigerians, who were hitherto stranded in India.

The evacuees, who arrived at 2am on Saturday after a few hours delay were tested before departing India to ascertain their Covid-19 status.

This is happening at a time the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and its Joint Venture (JV) partners, Saturday, revved up the fight against the covid-19 pandemic with the donation of a 70-bed isolation centre to the Delta State government.

Other companies that supported the oil giant in setting up the temporary medical structure in Asaba, the state capital, included the Nigerian National Petroleum

Corporation (NNPC) and Oando Oil Limited.

Also yesterday, NCDC reported 501 new cases taking the tally to 15,682, 5,101 discharges and 407 deaths.

Lagos recorded 195, FCT-50, Kano-42, Kaduna-27, Edo-26, Oyo-22, Imo-21, Gombe-17, Benue-12, Enugu-12, Delta-11, Anambra-11, Ebonyi-10, Nasarawa-9, Ogun-9, Bauchi-8, Kebbi-4, Akwa Ibom-3, Jigawa-3, Katsina-3, Yobe-2, Borno-2, Kwara-1 and Ondo-1.

However, on the Nigerian evacuees from India, although their Covid-19 results came back negative, as soon as they arrived, they were immediately placed on compulsory 14 days self-isolation.

The chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike

Dabiri-Erewa tweeted this on Saturday on her verified tweeter handle.

She tweeted: "269 Stranded Nigerians in India landed in Nigeria: 103 in Lagos, 166 in Abuja today, Saturday 13th June 2020, about 2am, after a few hours of delay. All evacuees now on compulsory 14 days self-isolation according to the new protocol."

Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, inaugurated the medical facility, witnessed by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva; Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mr. Mele Kyari and representative of the Vice Chairman and Managing Director of NAOC, Mr. Lorenzo Fiorillo.

Fiorillo noted that the medical centre was part of

the oil and gas industry intervention implemented in various states across Nigeria in response to the outbreak of the pandemic.

The company emphasised that the project was aimed at providing the critical infrastructure to stem the spread of covid-19 within Delta State and environs.

The centre consists of isolation blocks with a capacity of 70 beds and separate sections for male and female, both confirmed and unconfirmed cases, featuring also, a block for the medical personnel expected to attend to patients.

Others facilities at the centre include a lounge/waiting rooms, pharmacy, CCTV room, X-ray room, side laboratory, power generating set, amongst others.

The company stated that its management along with its joint partners in the oil industry had been actively collaborating with the government in response to the pandemic, having realised that defeating the scourge at this critical period would require the concerted, collective and sustained effort of all stakeholders.

Meanwhile, in Edo State, the government has announced two new deaths resulting from coronavirus complications and the discharge of 16 more patients, who have tested negative to the virus and cleared from the state’s isolation centres.

The state also recorded 28 new cases of the virus with 13 confirmed at the Irrua Specialist Hospital (ISTH) laboratory and 15 at the

University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) laboratory.

With the new figures, Edo has now recorded a total of 27 COVID-19 related deaths, 130 discharged persons, 1741 linelisted contacts, 4217 suspected cases and 518 confirmed cases.

Governor Godwin Obaseki, who disclosed this in a statement, reassured that the state government would continue to intensify efforts aimed at curtailing the spread of the virus and ensuring the health and safety of Edo people.

The governor, therefore, urged residents to be cautious and abide by all health and safety protocols to protect all citizens, especially the elderly, noting that the aged are the most endangered by the pandemic.

governance.

plotter ".

HURIWA said the consistent quarrels by members of his household had the capacity to damage the nation's brand internationally and 'making us a laughing stock of the International comity of nations just as it warned that the seemingly uncontrollable disagreements and supremacy battle or power tussle in the presidential mansion has the near- infinite capacity to paint Nigeria graphically in the global community as a Banana republic.

The incident, it said, reinforced the perception that Nigeria is being governed by a president that is not in charge of his domestic affairs.

It said: "Serious investors overseas will not be idiotic to take their hard earned cash in this Covid-19 era of economic recession to a country whose political leader has no control of what goes on within his own home.

"The domestic health of the political leadership of sovereign nation's is a basic requirement and indeed the global determinant for knowing the stability of a given nation."

HURIWA in the statement endorsed jointly by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director Miss Zainab Yusuf said it was reacting to the development in the Presidential mansion in which it was reported that there were gunshots just as some key aides attached to the First Lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari, were reportedly arrested by personnel of the Nigerian Police.

"HURIWA is hereby telling the Nigerian Government that Nigeria needs a leader who will not be distracted with regular disagreements that sometimes spill out into a dramatic PUBLIC SHOW OF SHAME. The Rights group said Nigeria has greater issues that demands the full attention and focus of the President to resolve such as rebuilding the collapsed national infrastructures of health, education, Water and restoration of security across the Country than to for the President to be weighed down by constant squabbles by his family members and aides over contestation for supremacy".

ALARM AS AISHA BUHARI, ADC, BREACH SECURITY IN STATE HOUSE the alleged shooting incident at the Aso Rock presidential villa, saying the action could be treasonable.

The Police High Command have set up investigation panel made up DIGs and AIGs to get to the root of what happened and why shots were fired in the State House.

However, THISDAY findings reveal that trouble started on Thursday night, when the first lady and three of her children: Zahra, Halima and Yusuf, accompanied by some of her security aides, led by Shugaba, stormed the residence of Yusuf, House 8 and one of the president's guests houses, by the Pilot Gate of the Presidential Villa, insisting that Yusuf should proceed on self-isolation for 14 days, to save the president's family from the danger of Covid-19.

Yusuf had four days earlier returned from Lagos after visiting his wife, who was recently delivered of a baby.

The situation, however, went out of control, when the First Lady's ADC, in his attempt to apprehend Yusuf, popularly known as Tunde (having been named after Buhari's former Chief of Staff, Supreme Military Headquarters, Tunde Idiagbon, when he was head of state in the 1980s), discharged his weapon in the premises.

The gunshots, which were described as ‘security breach,' in the Presidential Villa, forced Yusuf to scamper to safety and eventually taking cover in the nearby house of his uncle, Mamman Daura, also Buhari’s nephew.

What snowballed into that terrifying moment in the Presidential Villa that night, it was learnt, was the fallout of four days of insistence by Aisha that Yusuf should selfisolate after returning from his Lagos trip.

The encounter was said to have degenerated into a heated argument as Sabiu insisted that he was not the only aide of the president, who had travelled to Lagos, citing the case of the new Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, whom he claimed has been going to Lagos every weekend, without anybody pressuring him to self-isolate.

He was also said to have

made reference to the trip embarked upon by Aisha's daughters, Zahra and Halima, when they visited their in-laws following Halima’s husband uncle, who passed on recently without proceeding on selfisolation.

Sabiu, it was alleged, was resisting pressure to go on isolation because the president had asked him to continue with his duties and described the attempt to force him into self-isolation by the president's wife as double standard.

He later returned home after the arguments on the night of the incident, believing the conflict had been resolved. But he was wrong.

Shortly after getting home that fateful Thursday, the first lady along with her children, stormed his premises, allegedly raining abuses on him, then, followed by gunshots fired by Shugaba, which forced him to beat a retreat and ran to Daura's place, where he spent the night.

THISDAY gathered that IGP Adamu, after receiving security report on the incident on Friday that gunshots were fired in the precincts of the Presidential Villa, ordered the arrest of the ADC to the first lady and all the security aides, who accompanied her to Sabiu’s residence.

Their arrest, THISDAY learnt, was premised on the fact that firing gunshots, no matter the degree of provocation in the Villa and environs, amounted to a major ‘security breach’.

Whereas the news of the incident had filtered into town Thursday night, details were still sketchy until Friday night, when the first lady, in her first tweet on her Twitter handle, insisted on the inevitability of self-isolation after returning from a trip while the inter-state lockdown lasts and called on Adamu to release her aides from detention.

However, followed by a series of tweets on Friday from her verified twitter handle @ aishambuhari, the first lady wrote: “That Covid-19 is real and still very much around in our nation is not in doubt.

Consequently, I call on all relevant Government Agencies to enforce the Quarantine Act signed by Mr. President and ensure no one is found violating this law and the NCDC guidelines especially

on interstate travel without the necessary exemptions for movement of essentials. “Anyone who does that should at the very least be made to under go a 14-day mandatory isolation no matter who the person is. No one should be above the law and the Police command will do well to remember that. “Finally, I call on the IGP to release my assigned Staff, who are still in the custody of the Police in order to avoid putting their lives in danger or exposure to Covid-19 while in their custody.�

She, however, did not disclose the identities of her aides that are being detained neither did she say when or why they were detained.

But sources in the State House told THISDAY that following the death of Mallam Abba Kyari, the President’s former Chief of Staff, who died as a result of COVID-19 complications on April 17, the first lady had been moving to expand her influence within the State House but believed that some of her husband’s relatives, including Sabiu, were blocking her from achieving that objective.

She was consequently said to have seized the opportunity provided by Sabiu’s visit to Lagos to launch the move to clip his wings by vehemently demanding that he should selfisolate so as not to endanger the first family.

PDP Alarmed, Charges President to Speak Out Meanwhile, the PDP, Saturday said, it was alarmed by the reported shooting and security breaches within the precincts of the Presidential villa, following a squabble that reportedly degenerated among family members and officials of the Buhari Presidency.

The PDP said it was deeply worried that the protracted spat between the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, and aides of President Buhari could degenerate into violent combats, raids and free use of firearms within the Presidential villa.

In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party described the shooting within the Presidential Villa as distressing, more so that

members of the president's family were at the scene of the assault against one of President Buhari’s aides, during which the First Lady’s security details were alleged to have resorted to the use of firearms.

"Our party is disturbed by such ugly situation in the Buhari Presidency, which has already heightened apprehensions in the public space over the apparent failure of security architecture and central command system in the presidency, leading to such reckless and irresponsible breaches.

"The chaotic situation in the Presidential villa only points to the failure by President Buhari to provide a leadership that can guarantee orderliness in governance and effectively ensure the security of our nation," the statement said.

The PDP noted that such leadership failure at the highest level has further exposed why the nation has been bedeviled by myriads of security and economic problems under President Buhari’s watch in the last five years.

More worrisome, the PDP added, was the fact that the Buhari Presidency has failed to speak out on the frightening situation so as to reassure Nigerians and douse the tension in the polity, especially at this critical time when the nation is facing serious security challenges.

The PDP, therefore, called on President Buhari to take immediate steps to restore order in his Presidency and shield the security system from the division and power tussle among persons close to him.

"Our party also demands for an immediate inquest into the security breaches as well as the alleged violation of Covid-19 ban on inter-state travels by officials and relations of Mr. President, which was reported to be part of the immediate causes of latest disturbances in the Presidential villa," PDP stated.

Furthermore, the PDP urged the National Assembly to save the nation by wading into the persistent infighting in the Buhari Presidency especially, as those in charge of the Presidential villa have not demonstrated the required capacity to engender the needed orderliness for productive

Odinkalu, HURIWA Demand Probe of Shooting in the Villa Tobi Soniyi A former Chairman of the Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu has called for a thorough investigation into the alleged shooting at the Aso Rock presidential villa, Abuja last Thursday.

He also said that Nigerians needed to be reassured that President Muhammadu Buhari is safe.

Odinkalu argued that once forearms were discharged within the Villa, it was no longer a family affair."There are rumours - neither affirmed nor denied by the Presidency - that there has been discharge of firearms in the Villa by or from uniformed personnel. If that is true, it is no longer a family affair.

"Any discharge of firearms in the Presidency is presumed to be either on the orders of the President or against him.

If it is the latter, it could be treasonable. If it is the former, it could be defence of state.

We need to be told which and reassured that the President is safe."

He urged Nigerians to note the difference between any excitement in the family life of the occupants of the Villa on the one hand and matters that impinge on affairs of the state on the other.

Also yesterday, a civil society group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) said it was time President Muhammadu Buhari took charge of his domestic issues in the Villa to check the constant disgraceful infighting and squabbles between his personal aides and his wife Mrs. Aisha Buhari.

The group is also calling for a thorough investigation of the incident in the presidential mansion in which there was reported use of lethal weapons which the group said should be viewed as an "attempted coup plot".

It said: "Whomsoever fired the shots should be investigated and sanctioned just like a coup

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ÍšÍźËœ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

NEWS

Northern Elite, Muslim Ummah Used, Dumped Almajirai, Says Kukah Doubts capacity of region’s governors to resolve crisis Bayo Akinloye Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Kukah, says the Almajirai of northern Nigeria have become a scapegoat for the “multiple sins� of the region’s elite and the Muslim Ummah, warning that an apocalypse may hit that section of the country if the controversial Islamic education system is not properly addressed.

Almajirai, a system of Islamic education practised in the northern parts of Nigeria that encourages parents to leave parental responsibilities to Islamic schools where their children and wards are attached, has become a source of tension in the country. And leaders have introduced various measures in a desperate attempt to solve social problems that have arisen from the system.

But Kukah doubted the capacity of the northern governors to address the Almajirai crisis. He feared that the about 13 million Almajirai in the country might transmute into Boko Haram commanders and foot soldiers for the Islamic extremist group.

According to him, “The fate of the mallam and Almajiri will hang in a balance for a long time and may consume the region as the numbers overwhelm us all.

Yesterday’s Almajiri could graduate to become today’s Boko Haram commander and foot soldier or turn to other crimes. With their main theatre of operation being northern Nigeria, it is easy to see why apocalypse may not be too far if something urgent is not done."

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, governors across the 19 northern states have “deported� several dozens of Almajirai to their original homes in the North, with some governors calling for the abolition of the Almajiri system.

However, the Catholic Bishop, in a piece titled, “Almajiri: What Happened on the Road to Heaven?� said the children caught in the web of the now contentious system had become objects of political manipulation in the hands of the northern elite. “The life of the Almajiri is supposed to be a spiritual journey of nurture and

knowledge, guided by a Mallam, his spiritual foster father. Today, all of this is now besmirched,� Kukah stated in the article exclusively given to THISDAY. Lambasting the northern leaders, the Bishop wrote, “The Almajiri has become a scapegoat for the multiple sins of the Nigerian state, in general, and the Muslim Ummah, in particular. I have decided to add my voice to this debate in a slightly different context. As usual, as of now, the northern elite will do what they do best: hide in the sands of self-deception, knowing that this will blow over and soon, no one will remember again. “The governors indicted themselves when they said that it is time to act now because the Almajiri has outlived his usefulness. At least they have admitted their complicity and the fact that the Almajiri system had always been a tool for political and economic forms of transaction.

Here is my thesis: With regards to his condition today, the Almajiri is an object, not a subject, is a victim, not a perpetrator, sinned against

rather than a sinner.�

Kukah explained that the Almajirai and their religious tutors (Mallams) “are in the dock� and “charges are being read out to them,� noting that the children are charged with being dirty and unkempt, miscreants, delinquents, a nuisance to the society, petty thieves, prospective Boko Haram recruits, a stigma, and an assault on Nigerians' collective social sense of decency.

He said the tutors were being charged with many sins, including child abuse, abduction, human trafficking, exploitation, physical abuse, hard labour, enslavement, etc.

Kukah, then, argued, “So, we identify the mallam and his Almajiri more by their crimes than their names.

They are spoken about and not spoken to. In the media reports, no one bothers to give them a voice of their own. They do not speak for themselves. If they had a chance, for example, they might say: ‘Everyone calls me, Almajiri. No one has asked me my name. We are in the millions but have only one name. I have no name. I have

no father. I have no mother.

I have no home. I have no town. I have no tribe. I have no address. The streets are my home. I do not know if I have brothers or sisters. I am an Almajiri. No one knows if I have feelings. No one has ever asked me what I want to be in life. I live for today and for the sake of Allah. I have no tomorrow except Allah gives me. Tomorrow is in the hands of Allah.’" Accusing the northern states’ governors of using and dumping the Almajirai, Kukah stated, “They are seen as a nuisance and their begging bowls, torn rags, mucus dripping faces and their weather-beaten lips, charred by hunger and pain, assault our social comfort. We clear them off the streets when some foreign guests (read white folks), are coming to town. Before elections, they are preserved as vote banks and during elections, they are lined up and their votes are used as barter."

To the northern Muslim Ummah, Kukah asked, “Where did all this go wrong? Where was the Almajiri supposed to go at the completion of his

studies? Was there a career path? How and why did the mallam and his Almajirai, a much-treasured part of Islamic history, deteriorate to the status of the scum of the earth?�

Kukah, whose Catholic Church has borne a brunt of the on-going carnage in the North, accused northern Muslim Ummah of failing to prepare the Almajirai for the future. He criticised them for leaving “their people in the lurch as the modern state emerged, providing no further rung on the ladder of progress" for the Almajirai but leaving them behind in the "cave of ignorance about the modern state.�

Kukah stated, “They have remained trapped in time. The new world of modernity was presented as a contaminant to the purity of Islamic knowledge. So, while the modern elite equipped themselves and their children with the armour of Western education, the mallam and his Almajirai were left behind in the twilight zone of ignorance, fear, anxiety, disorientation and discomfiture, treating those outside with veiled contempt.�

Lafiya Dole.

Monguno, hometown of the National Security Adviser, Major-General Mohammed Monguno (rtd), plays host to thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). It is about 93 kilometres North-East of Gubio, the local government where 81 villagers and 1,300 cattle and camel were slaughtered on Tuesday.

A member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), Bunu Malam, reportedly confirmed the developments. “We have since received a signal from Monguno axis, but their telecommunications network there seemed to have gone down; so one could not reach people there," he said.

Over 120,000 IDPs presently

occupy 33,000 households in Monguno.

It would be recalled that the village, Faduma Kolloram, in Gubio Local Government Area tasted the fury of the terrorists on Tuesday, when Boko Haram accused the villagers of giving intelligence on their positions to the military.

The attack came a few days after the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Tukur Buratai, returned to Abuja from Maiduguri after spending two months coordinating the war against insurgency.

Buratai had said troops decimated over 1,000 insurgents within the period.

Nigerian Army had announced that a large contingent of military personnel was drafted in the general area to track

and apprehend or neutralise the perpetrators.

A statement signed by Musa said the army was committed to investigating the circumstances surrounding the attacks by Boko Haram on innocent civilians in Gubio.

"The Nigerian Army is deeply saddened by the unfortunate incident in which suspected retreating Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists, with a few sleeper cells within communities, ambushed and killed innocent women and children in Faduma Koloram village, Gubio LGA of Borno State.

"We would ensure that appropriate action is taken to mitigate against any future incidents," the statement had said.

a lot of interest as everyone was eager to know what was going on.

expressed their support on the method the leadership of the party chose for the governorship primaries.

In a related development, there appears to be a sharp division among the ranks of the PDP in Edo over plans

by Obaseki to defect to the party and clinch the ticket ahead of the September 19 governorship election.

The Vanguard Newspaper had reported a sharp resistance from some aspirants and other former members of the PDP, many of whom promised to resist the idea.

One of the stakeholders was said to have queried: “There are so many questions to ask. Did Obaseki purchase nomination form of his party, yes; did he appear before the screening processes of his party, the answer yes.

What happened? He was

disqualified. “Now, when was the closing date for the purchase of PDP form? Did Obaseki buy? Did he appear before the screening? So the whole thing doesn’t add up and I will resist it. I learnt he has met with the National Leadership of our party, but we are waiting for him.�

Another staunch supporter of one of the aspirants, who is the member representing Oredo Federal Constituency, where Obaseki comes from, Hon Omoregie OgbeideIhama referred to the case of Obaseki as that of a “rotten tomato that no one can buy. “How can our party be thinking of giving him a ticket? For me, it shows we are no serious. How can they be thinking of an aspirant, who was disqualified by his party over issues that can be challenged in court?�

BOKO HARAM ATTACKS 3 LGS IN BORNO, KILLS AT LEAST 29 PERSONS insurgents opened fire on Kolloram village, killing 81 residents. The battle with the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) and its local franchise, Boko Haram, which started about 12noon on Saturday, was still ongoing in Monguno at the time of filling this report.

The group had drawn widespread condemnation following the Tuesday attack in Gubio that killed 81 persons, with the president calling it one of the deadliest attacks on innocent people.

But Boko Haram returned with an attack on another settlement in Gubio Local Government Area, Dunga village, Saturday morning.

The extent of damage in the town is yet unknown

as at the time of filing this story.

However, about the same time that Dunga was being assaulted, the insurgents attacked Usmanti village in Nganzai Local Government Area, killing 29 persons.

Credible sources told THISDAY that the insurgents invaded Usmanti about 11am on Saturday. The village, though in Nganzai Local Government Area, has a boundary with Gubio Local Government Area, where 81 persons were killed on Tuesday.

The insurgents were also said to have attacked Monguno town, one of the most strategic towns in Northern Borno, which houses humanitarian

operations and has structures to accommodate over 100,000 internally displaced persons.

Eyewitnesses in Monguno, however, revealed that the military was able to repel the terrorists in the town.

They said land troops were assisted by airstrikes to ward off the invading terrorists.

Attempts to confirm the incidents from the spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Col. Sagir Musa, were unsuccessful, as he did not return a text message to his known mobile line.

Meanwhile, military sources told THISDAY that the insurgents moved into Monguno in large numbers, shooting sporadically, and precipitating the encounter with soldiers of Operation

EDO GUBER POLL: NWC UPHOLDS OBASEKI’S DISQUALIFICATION thugs to attack Prof. Julius Ihonvbere’s constituency office, threatening to deal with Oshiomhole and demolition of the hotel belonging to Comrade Tony Kabaka Adun.

They said Obaseki also revoked the Certificate of Occupancy of properties belonging to Dr. Odubu, Ihonvbere, Chief Elamah and other party leaders, saying there was no way APC members, leaders in Edo State and the electorate cannot forget in a hurry all these activities under the governor’s watch. “If Godwin Obaseki thinks he is popular, let him go and contest election in other parties. With Obaseki out of our way, APC’s victory in the governorship election will be very sweet,� the statement added.

However, one of the cleared aspirants, Ize-Iyamu has

expressed gratitude to the screening committee of the party for carrying out a thorough job.

In a statement by Mr. John Mayaki, the Director of Communication and Media of the Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu Campaign Organisation, he said: “I wish to send my deepest gratitude to all the members of our great party, the All Progressives Congress, for a joyful cooperation that led to a seamless but thorough screening exercise.�

He also asked those the process did not favour to leave Buhari, Tinubu and Oshiomhole out of their sinking ship, saying those 12 party members, who in a statement debunked mode of primary by the APC NWC are not speaking the truth but merely deceiving the public.

In the same vein, Washington Osifo, one of

the members-elect yet to be sworn in, described the entire situation as democracy in action.

He said the good thing about the entire process is that it happened on democracy day, noting that the entire screening process was open and transparent in the sense that credible individuals constituted the screening committee.

Mr. Austine Osaghae, Action Democratic Party (ADP) in the 2019 state assembly election, commended the leadership of the APC for doing everything possible to get it right this time around by making the process transparent and credible.

Osaghae who contested as member representing Uhumwonde state constituency but lost to the APC candidate, said his comment was because the screening process generated

APC Caucus in the House of Representatives This is as APC caucus in the House of Representatives has endorsed Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu ahead of the June 22 governorship primaries of the party in the state.

A joint statement by Prof Julius Ihonvbere (Owan Federal Constituency), Mr. Johnson Oghuma (Etsako Federal Constituency), Mr. Dennis Idahosa (Ovia Federal Constituency), Mr. Peter Akpatason (AkokoEdo Federal Constituency) and Mr. Patrick Aisowirien (Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode Federal Constituency), claimed the lawmakers also

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JUNE 14, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

EDITORIAL

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

THE CASE FOR JUSTICE IKPEME Denying Akon Ikpeme the position of substantive chief judge is untenable

T

he consistent refusal to confirm Justice Akon Ikpeme as the substantive Chief Judge of Cross River State by the House of Assembly is symptomatic of the impunity with which public officials trample on the rights of citizens and disregard the constitution they swore to uphold. For the past six months, Cross River State has remained without a substantive Chief Judge despite repeated interventions by the National Judicial Council (NJC) that Justice Ikpeme be confirmed and sworn in. Her elevation is being thwarted because she hails from neighbouring Akwa Ibom State even when her husband is from Cross River State, and where she had been practising her career on the bench.

In a simplistic manner, the sordid drama in Cross River State could be viewed within the context of competition for space. But it goes beyond that as it shows how some of our leaders promote clannishness and sow seeds of division.

In saner climes, people claim the state where they reside and fulfill all legal obligations. But in Nigeria today, citizens could have their rights casually circumscribed on the pretext of being ‘non-indigenes’ in a state some of them had lived and worked all their life. This particular case also depicts lawlessness because there are clear and definite constitutional provisions on such appointments based on the recommendation of the NJC that are being observed in the breach.

Sadly, Cross River State is not alone in this practice. It is commonplace that many Nigerians outside their ‘state of origin’ suffer all forms of discrimination and are denied certain rights and privileges. Women are the most discriminated against in this regard. A woman who has lived,

married and worked for over 25 years, paying taxes and performing her civic duties and responsibilities to the ‘host state’ suddenly finds that she cannot claim a position rightfully earned.

T

Ikpeme’s case depicts lawlessness because there are clear and definite constitutional provisions on such appointments

Letters to the Editor

O

S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITORS OLAWALE OLALEYE, TOBI SONIYI MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE

T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS BOLAJI ADEBIYI , PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS ERIC OJEH, PATRICK EIMIUHI ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR SAHEED ADEYEMO CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO HEAD, COMPUTER DEPARTMENT PATRICIA UBAKA-ADEKOYA TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

he Ikpeme saga started in January following the retirement of the former Chief Judge, Justice Michael Edem. Although Ayade sent Justice Ikpeme’s name to the State House of Assembly for confirmation as prescribed by law, he was believed to have engineered the refusal by the lawmakers. The reason is that Justice Ikpeme hails from Akwa Ibom State by birth, and would “pose a security risk to Cross River State” should there be a conflict between both states. A day after the House declined confirmation, the governor swore in Justice Maurice Eneji as the acting Chief Judge on grounds that “law and nature abhor vacuum”.

Since then, all the interventions by the NJC had been rebuffed by the State House of Assembly.

Last year, the House of Representatives passed the Federal Character Commission (Establishment Act) 2004.

Section 2 of Part II of the principal act was substituted with new provisions which grant married women the option of choosing the indigeneship of either their father or husband’s state of origin. While the Senate is yet to concur with this important bill, since married women are considered indigenes of their husband’s state by virtue of the subsisting act, the law is still on Justice Ikpeme’s side. Instructively, going by section 271, subsection 5 of the 1999 constitution, Eneji’s acting capacity ended two weeks ago. Since the NJC declined to recommend him and his acting capacity cannot be extended, the judiciary in Cross River is now in limbo.

While what is happening in Cross River State highlights the negative consequences of making citizens ‘foreigners’ in their own country, the case of the Nigerian woman deserves special attention.

Nothing perhaps speaks to the gender imbalance in Nigeria than the number of representation in the various arms of government both in the states and at the federal level. To now begin to exclude professionals among them fromtheir rightful position simply for archaic and oppressive reasons is unacceptable. Governor Ayade and the House of Assembly must be compelled to do the right thing by confirming and swearing in Justice Ikpeme as the Chief Judge of Cross River State.

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

The Population Explosion Myth

ver the years, different alarms have been raised about overpopulation, and how in the nearest future human beings on earth would starve to death because the population would have outstripped the food supply. This is not surprising. Rev. Thomas Malthus, an 18th Century British political economist, also expressed the same fear over population. He even propounded a population theory which became obsolete over time because he did not foresee that there would be a remarkable improvement in science and technology which would overthrow his fears and that of many others after him, and which today makes all the difference. In fact, with agricultural technology, many countries can even boast of surplus in food supply.

Critics of Rev. Malthus have

argued, and continue to argue that his pessimistic scenario never unfolded.

Rather, the world population reached one billion in Malthus’s lifetime, crossed the two-billion mark in the early 20th century and stood at more than six billion in 2000. Yet, under Malthus’s theory, the world ought to have faced massive starvation long ago.

It is amazing that in spite of the high death toll as a result of various political and religious crises (like that of Boko Haram) and COVID-19 pandemic, there are still some who, oblivious of the effect a high death rate can have on the population of a country, are still saying that our population is high and must be reduced.

These doomsayers fail to take into consideration the epileptic state of our health sector at whose hands many die needlessly every

second around the country.

In my opinion, developing countries like Nigeria have little or nothing to fear about population explosion. This is because we also have an extremely high death rate, which many times is not recorded or documented. And what’s more, many times, population estimates and projections are over exaggerated just for political or clandestine motives.

It would surprise to know that the Nigerian Population Commission has admitted several times that the accurate population of Nigeria is not even known.

All that is known are mere estimations. Nature, as we all know, always has a way of regulating itself and balancing out. But when tampered with could lead to an imbalance and can be chaotic like the China’s sad scenario resulting from their

one-child policy. Chinese parents were forced to continuously abort their female babies, until they got a population imbalance: the population of males in China outstripped that of females. They were no girls to marry in China. And what happened? China was forced to reverse the one-child policy.

So, the doomsayers advocating population reduction for Nigeria must re-think. The major problem I think we are facing in Nigeria is rural-urban migration, which is leading to the inevitable crowding of urban cities like Lagos, etc. People in their search for greener pastures many times find themselves in Lagos.

Hence the direct consequence of this is that while the source region is experiencing under-population, the target region is experiencing over-population.

No one in his or her right mind would want to remain in the village (except at retirement) because they lack the basic infrastructure we enjoy in the cities. I

have come to realize that in Nigeria, our problems are numerous. But I can assure you that over-population is the least of them. This imbalance in the population’s spatial spread many times is as a result of the lopsided distribution of resources especially between rural and urban regions. If we take a tour of villages in Nigeria, we will observe that they are desolate and almost empty, except for a few old people.

Where are the young men, you may ask? They are all in cities, trying to scrape out a living. I don’t think it will be reasonable to call this scenario overpopulation. This is better termed increased urbanization. The dilemma being faced in Nigeria is the same age-old issue of corruption and mis-management of resources.

––Omosefe Oseghale, Benin-City (See concluding part on www. thisdaylive.com)

SUNDAY JUNE 14, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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Acting News Editor ĂŒĂ™ĂŁĂ?Ă‘Ă‹ Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă‹Ă˜Ă—Ă“ E-mail: Ă‘ĂŒĂ™ĂŁĂ?Ă‘Ă‹Ë›Ă‹Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă‹Ă˜Ă—Ă“ĚśĂžĂ’Ă“Ă?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ–Ă“Ă Ă?Ë›Ă?Ă™Ă—ËœÍ¸Î€ÍšÍ˝ÍşÍťÍ˝Î ÍşÍ˝Íť Ě™Ă?Ă—Ă? Ă™Ă˜Ă–ĂŁĚš

SDP: We Must Prevent Nigeria from Descent into Failed Nation ‡ ‡ Seeks return to ideals of founding fathers Adegbenro wants Rewane, others immortalised

Gboyega Akinsanmi The Social Democratic Party (SDP) yesterday lamented the prevalent culture of manipulating the electoral process in Nigeria, urging civil society organisations (CSOs) and progressive political parties to join forces and prevent the country from outright descent into a failed nation.

In a similar development, Chief Executive Officer, Balmoral International Limited, Chief Adejare

Adegbenro urged Nigerian authorities to immortalise his maternal grandfather, Chief Alfred Rewane and other symbols of democracy in the country.

The party made the pleas in a statement its Acting National Chairman, Chief Olasupo Shonibare issued yesterday to mark Democracy Day, emphasising the need to remember the country’s founding fathers, who worked to usher in a democratic, federal, independent nation.

Bashorun MKO Abiola contested the June 12, 1999 presidential election on the platform of the SDP. But the election, which Abiola was adjudged to have won, was annulled by the administration of former President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, thereby sparking protest and unrest nationwide.

After 26 years of sustained agitation, President Muhammadu Buhari finally declared June 12 as Democracy Day and recognised

MKO Abiola as the President-elect in 2019.

SDP, a centre-left political organisation, also noted that the country should return to the ideals of the founding fathers - Mr. Ernest Ikoli, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, among others, to set the country on the path of progress.

SDP, however, lamented that Nigeria travelled along the path of entrenching an independent

FOR THE LOVE OF NATURE . . .

L-R: Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tunji Bello; Special Adviser to the Governor on Drainage, Mr. Joe Igbokwe; Pernanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Mr. Lekan Shodeinde and Director, Drainage Planning, Mr. Olayinka Adekoya, during an Inspection of Akin Adesola/Karimu kotun Drainage Collector, in Victoria Island, Lagos...weekend

democratic culture for a short period of six years, but the nation departed from the covenant when the First Republic was abruptly terminated.

Citing events that had worked against the development of the country in the last 54 years, the party urged CSOs and progressives “to stand up to be counted to prevent the collapse of the Nigerian project. We must return our country to the path and spirit of June 12. Those who emerge from rigged and contrived elections may be our rulers, but they are not our elected leaders. “We need to build up forces in the civil society groups and progressive political parties and the nation at large, to unite to found a political vehicle capable of championing the need to quickly evolve a united federal democratic culture, able to rescue the nation from the downward slide into the precipice of being a failed nation, with the attendant chaos and breakdown of law and order which that portends.�

Six years after the country’s independence, the party observed that this same tendency to dominate was re-enacted in the Second Republic, when anti-democratic tools were used to subvert the electoral process, the only tool available for a democratic culture to determine its leadership.

It said: “The blatant manipulation of the electoral process tainted the credibility of the results. Once we embark down that dark alley of falsifying the mandate of the

electorate when determining those whom we elect to safeguard our wellbeing and generally superintend our collective wealth on our behalf, we depart from the path of being a democratic nation. “The June 12, 1993 presidential election has set the benchmark for free and fair elections in Nigeria.

That election demonstrated our capacity for unity in diversity – diversity in religion and ethnicity, among so many other factors.

Nigerians were united in voting for a democratic culture and in their desire to consign the military to the barracks.�

Contrary to the spirit of June 12 election, the party lamented that Nigeria had digressed from the path of building on the electoral credibility to a polity characterised by electoral malpractices, allegations of involvement of security agencies supporting candidates and curious judicial electoral victories.

It said all these factors “negate the concept of one person one vote.

We have also departed from the federal structure bequeathed on us and have strayed towards a unitary structure with its attendant fault lines, which our founding fathers had counselled was capable of halting the quest to found a stable united federal state in a multi-ethnic nation.�

In a statement he issued yesterday, Adegbenro called on all lovers of democracy in Nigeria and beyond to accord Rewane and other symbols of democracy, both alive and dead constant recognition through honour and immortalisation.

Fagbohunlu, Adegboruwa, Others Lament Worsening State of Human Rights Tobi Soniyi Two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Mr. Tunde Fagbohunlu and Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa as well as leading human rights defenders yesterday called on activists to redouble their efforts to stop further violations of rights in the country.

They spoke via a webinar held in honour of foremost civil rights advocate and former Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Chidi Odinkalu to mark his birthday organised by a group of young

lawyers led by Mr. Orji Ama Chinedu.

Other activists who spoke during the webinar are Gloria Ballason; Mr. Inibehe Effiong; a former Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Young Lawyers’ Forum, Mr. Issa Adedokun and Cynthia Mbamalu of the ‘Not too young to run’ fame.

Speaking on the ‘Future of Human Rights in Nigeria’, Fagbohunlu noted that even though violations of rights continued, he said there was a cause for celebration.

According to him, a significant milestone has been achieved in the fight against human rights

violations, despite all the odds.

Adegboruwa was not so optimistic. He noted that the gains recorded by activists in the past had been eroded as the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari adopted a policy of hiding under national security to violate people’s rights.

He noted that people were being killed indiscriminately across the country in sheer disregard for constitutionally guaranteed right to life.

He said: “I am afraid. The future of human rights in Nigeria is very bleak. Government is hiding under the fight against corruption

Glo Calls for Peace, Unity as Nigeria Marks Democracy Day As Nigerians celebrate the return to democratic rule, Nigeria’s leading telecommunications solutions provider, Globacom has enjoined the federating units to unite in the bid to lift the country to an enviable status in the comity of nations.

The telecom giant gave this advice in a goodwill message its Corporate Communication Office issued yesterday, commending fellow compatriots for keeping the faith as the nation’s democracy continues to evolve.

In its message, Globacom said irrespective of differences in tribe, Nigerians should remember that there is power in diversity.

It called for support for the various tiers of government in their bid to evolve enduring policies aimed at giving the citizenry the dividends of democracy that would

impact their quality of life and further the development of the country.

Before now, Nigeria celebrated Democracy Day on May 29, being the anniversary of the country’s democratic rule since 1999. But the current government moved the celebration to June 12, which was the anniversary of the annulled election that saw late Chief MKO Abiola win the presidency.

Globacom said: “June 12 is a watershed. It stands for a series of events, which gave us new heroes of democracy in the 90s. We must remember that some of our fellow compatriots laid down their lives, paying the ultimate sacrifice before the country’s democracy stabilised. “In order for the labour of Nigeria’s heroes of democracy not to be in vain, we must ensure that the federating units of this great

nation unite and work assiduously towards maintaining the peace and mutual co-existence that we have enjoyed since we returned to civil rule in 1999.� “The only everlasting honour that we can give to the fallen heroes of democracy is to keep that unity intact and ensure that we harness our human and material resources towards building a truly nation,� the telecom giant said.

It said there could never be development in the absence of peace, the company averred that Nigeria is a nation of vibrant, diligent and hardworking people who are making laudable footprints anywhere they find themselves across the globe. “We should therefore determine to sustain the territorial integrity of the country no matter what it takes,� Globacom opined.

to trample on people’s rights.�

Adegboruwa said the Administrative of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) “is being used to detain people in violation of their rights.

Under this government, rule of law has given way to national security. “This government is trying to change the narrative. Judges are being intimidated. Some of them are afraid. Journalists are being hounded. People’s properties are being seized arbitrarily. We are losing the battle against human rights violations.�

A Kaduna based legal practitioner, Gloria Ballason found the disregard for human lives

in the country appalling, saying there is an urgent need to have a conversation on the right to life.

According to her, people are beginning to accept extra judicial killings as normal.

She agreed with Adegboruwa on the need for activists “to wake up and redouble their efforts to save the country from gross violations of rights. We must gather more energy to push this fight further�, she added.

Another lawyer, Mr. Inibehe Effiong frowned at disunity among human rights activists and appealed to them to come together to save the country.

He called for the amendments

of laws inhibiting enforcement of human rights including the ACJA, Sheriff and Civil Processes Act which makes the consent of the Attorney General of the Federation mandatory before one can enforce a judgment against the federal government.

He said: “We need to come together and make our voice louder. There is a lot to be done.�

Odinkalu is a Senior Team Manager at Open Society Foundations, a global charity that works with local communities to support justice and human rights and access to public health and education.

Zamfara to Boost Cotton Production with 130 Hectares of Land Tobi Soniyi As part of efforts to boost cotton development and remedy the shortage of land for farming occasioned by insecurity in Zamfara State the state government has dedicated 130,000 hectares of land for cotton farming in seventeen emirates in the state.

The state’s Special Adviser on Zamfara Directorate of Accelerated Cotton Development (ZAMDACOD) and Chairman of the State Project Management Team Alhaji Abdulahi Maiturare, disclosed this in a statement he issued yesterday.

He stated that the state government had secured the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) approval to finance 60,000 farmers through their commodity associations.

He said: “it would be recalled that during his campaigns the

state governor, Dr. Bello Mattawallen had promised to revive the agricultural sector with emphasis on cotton production. “This necessitated the reorganization of the Directorate of Accelerated Cotton Development known as ZAMDACOD and assigned with the responsibility to pilot the activities of the directorate. “On assumption of duty as the special adviser to the governor in charge of the directorate we had a wide range of consultations with the government, partners and the private sector on how to actualise the governor’s plan.�

He explained that under the scheme, 30,000 farmers would be drawn from cotton farmers while another 30,000 would be selected from rice farmers. “Cotton farmers are to be

treated under the National Cotton association of Nigeria (NACATON) while the rice farmers are to be handled by the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN)�, he added.

He said the state government’s decision to dedicate 130,000 hectares to farming would remedy the problem of shortage of land for farming occasioned by insecurity and allied factors.

He also disclosed that the state government in collaboration with the Raw Material Research and Development Council had secured 4.5 tons of cotton seed suitable for farmlands in the state.

Maiturare commended the state governor for reviving cotton production and praised his commitment to influence the revival of the ailing textiles industries and other indigenous cotton ginneries in the state.

SUNDAY JUNE 14, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JUNE 14, 2020

OPINION Racism Seeks to Drive Us Apart Patricia Scotland writes that a joint effort among people could tame the challenge

T

oday I received a message from a parent. Her nine-year-old son, Oscar, had been sitting in his living room during the Covid-19 lockdown, watching coverage of protests, sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in the United States.

He was perplexed and sat glued to his television as he watched images beamed from America, Canada, Australia and from the United Kingdom of masses of people of all races chanting ‘I can’t breathe’ and demanding an end to racism.

This fiercely intelligent mixed-race child had been raised to be proud of his blended heritage. So he was desperate to understand the circumstances surrounding Floyd’s death, and the raw wounds it had opened up in communities across the world.

Oscar turned to his mother and fired a series of profound and deeply disconcerting questions, which she shared with me.

He wanted to know why black people were being treated in this appalling way, and why some people did not understand the concept of equality. As his mother tried to respond to these difficult questions, the discussion led to the institution of the Commonwealth. Oscar wanted to know why countries who were former colonies of the British empire had willingly decided to create a union based on equality and friendship.

His questions deeply affected me, because they were the same questions I had asked my father when I was nine. I had been watching the painful and frightening saga of apartheid play out on TV, and I had already experienced the reality of being a child of the Windrush generation.

So it is deeply distressing to see that after decades of civil rights movements, race riots, powerful ‘I-have-a-dream’ speeches, and the establishment of equality laws, that we have somehow managed to come back full circle.

Here I am in 2020 witnessing the horrific manifestation of this still festering wound - a white policeman, undeterred by onlookers, nonchalantly kneeling on the neck of a black man who is begging for mercy, pleading for his life, until he is forced into permanent silence.

More and more these incidents of savagery, evil and of a lack of humanity are being caught on camera in real time - so there

can be no claims of exaggeration or distortion. But it also means that children of all races around our Commonwealth are being exposed to a trauma and their parents are facing difficult questions.

I believe that our young people, like Oscar, who represent 60 per cent of our population in the Commonwealth, deserve to know why they are still having to ask these questions. More importantly, they need to have hope that we can build on the progress we have made and create a future in which their children and grandchildren are not asking the same questions. My response is to point to the model of the Commonwealth.

In 1949, the Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, explaining why his country had decided to join the Commonwealth, spoke about its “desirable method” which “brings a touch of healing” to our sick world.

These sentiments were later echoed by Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 when she described the Commonwealth as, “an entirely new conception, built on the highest qualities of the spirit of man: friendship, loyalty and the desire for freedom and peace”.

It is true that our Commonwealth story is one of a family at times scarred by old hurts and resentments, and of a relationship sometimes strained and afflicted by fissures such as racism. But I point to the Commonwealth because our history also shows that, standing on the strong foundation of our friendship, our shared values, our common aspirations, and our spirit of collaboration, we have always been brave enough to look evil straight in the face and call it for what it is.

Our collective refusal to turn a blind eye to apartheid, and our

I am encouraged by the rays of hope I see shining through in the peaceful marches led by people of all races and cultures, and by police joining protests, not to stand against peaceful protesters, but to kneel with them in solidarity

tireless fight for the small, the vulnerable and the marginalised has made us as an enigma of diversity and equality.

Today, the Commonwealth is 54 countries, small and large, from five different regions representing one third of humanity, of all races, cultures, creeds, religions and economic positions, bound by the same language, the same common law, parliamentary and institutional framework, and values. And their leaders can sit together, all with equal say, making joint decisions on some of the worlds’ greatest challenges.

I am extremely proud of this accomplishment, but Floyd’s final silence was a deafening reminder of the challenges we still face. And Oscar’s questions, posed in the midst of a global pandemic and worsening economic and environmental crisis, presents a new set of challenges.

I am encouraged by the rays of hope I see shining through in the peaceful marches led by people of all races and cultures, and by police joining protests, not to stand against peaceful protesters, but to kneel with them in solidarity.

So I have hope that we are able to beat this, but we can only do so if we can see the bitter racism which has managed to poison minds and institutions and all of us resolve to eradicate it. We must also understand that the only antidote is to contradict this flawed ideology with the strong values of equality.

Often, when people ask me about the Commonwealth’s impact and I tell them about the importance of our Charter of values, they look at me strangely. But recent events and Oscar’s questions have made it clear that we must have solid strategies to integrate these values into every part of our society, including our education systems.

The truth is that we are at a defining moment in our history, and the choices we make matter, perhaps more than at any other time for a generation. We cannot afford to allow racism to divide us and drive us into social unrest. We all inhabit the same planet, together we are all battling the same pandemic. And it is only if we join together, in the face of our competing viewpoints and ambitions, that we can hope to defeat this pandemic, regenerate our communities and take on the economic and environmental challenges that this planet faces and defeat the corrosive stain of racism which would seek to tear us apart.

–––Scotland is Commonwealth Secretary-General.

The Lawan/Omo-Agege Synergy The seamless cooperation between the principal officers has helped in stabilising the Senate, writes Yomi Odunuga

T

he deft political calculations for effective capacity, geopolitical balancing and spread, as well as the alignments and realignments that permeated the battle· for the leadership· of the 9th National Assembly around this time· last· year did raise· some concerns about whether the All Progressives Congress-led government· would tread· the same path of errors it trod four years earlier and which almost ruined its return to power.

Perhaps, it was that fear, more than anything else, that propelled the entire leadership of the party to insist on certain governance principles and strategies that should lead to the emergence of qualitative, dedicated, committed and principled leadership in the two chambers of the National Assembly. And so, it was no mean feat that, at the end of the day, that task was achieved even if with some mild protest which is the hallmark of party politics and democracy generally.

Specifically, in the Senate, the senators in the 9th Assembly elected Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege as President of the Senate and Deputy President of the Senate respectively on June 11, 2019. Expectedly, not all Nigerians accorded them much chance of successfully steering the affairs of the Senate.

Some critics had described their emergence as a mere 'marriage of convenience' that would 'crash' in no distant time.

One year down the line, unfolding events both in the Red Chamber and in the polity have shown that the leadership of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) and the senators made the right choice in nominating the two individuals to occupy the exalted positions. It is also a pointer to a now-established fact - with mutual respect, atmosphere of brotherliness and singularity of purpose for the good of all, the nation stands to gain a lot from its leadership without necessarily sacrificing the all-important principle of checks and balances in a democracy. This is a key point in the synergy that has existed between the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and the Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege not just in their dealings with their colleagues and personal aides. This disposition positively manifests in their various interventions in national affairs, including relations with the executive. Mature discourse has replaced what was known as frosty relationship with the executive and with ministries, departments and agencies that present clear patriotic agenda before the legislative arm of government.

People say that politics is a game of numbers. Yet, it is also a game that requires maturity, intelligence and effective leadership. These key

factors continue to play important role in the way these leaders interface with people in both private and official capacities. They are conscious of the danger posed to the business of law-making by an unduly fragmented Red Chamber with less focus on unity of purpose and with more attention on being at loggerheads with the executive. The intense negativity that such inflicts on legislation is part of the consequences one can easily glean from the number of the 8th National Assembly bills that the executive refused to sign into law, ending up as mere vocal exertions in the hallowed chambers from 2015 to 2019. In their pragmatism, the two current heads of the Senate acknowledged that without a drastic paradigm shift, they knew the country would still be trapped in the chaos of movements without motion and a baggage of missed opportunities. Clearly, Lawan and Omo-Agege were not cut for such unproductive kind of narrative; instead, they want their names etched in gold by the time they finish with the onerous national responsibilities placed on their shoulders.

That maturity and intelligence to work positively with people from all parts of the federation must have been ingrained in them through varied experiences as professionals. For example, before their foray into politics, both leaders had distinguished themselves in their respective professions. Their attraction to politics is borne out of service to humanity, especially the downtrodden in their respective constituencies. However fate has a bigger responsibility for them; it has thrown them in the driver’s seat of the nation's legislative body to set a new narrative of executive-legislative relationship for the good of the people. The desire to achieve that goal is writ large in the way and manner these two leaders have been discharging the arduous task of leading a parliament comprising scores of equally cerebral members with different political ideologies.

Until he entered the political sphere in 1998 as the Vice Chairman, Yobe State Chapter of the defunct All Peoples Party (APP) before his election into the House of Representatives in 1999, Lawan was a seasoned educator and erudite scholar with the University of Maiduguri, Borno State. Omo-Agege, on the other hand, had a thriving legal practice, having worked as a lawyer both in Nigeria and in the United States of America. He joined active politics in 2002.

Like Senator Lawan, the Deputy President of the Senate is an experienced legislator. Both principal officers understand that the workings of the Senate require diligence in handling the various

issues that come with legislative business for the benefit of the masses. It is a known fact that the seamless cooperation between the principal officers, apart from signalling the harmonious relationship that governs decision making in the Senate, also inspires a rancour-free execution of committee duties by the various committee chairmen. These respected colleagues take a cue from the humble approach adopted by Senators Lawan and Omo-Agege in the leadership of the Senate. Without due diligence and the cooperation of all members, it would have been near impossible for the leaders to excel in the last one year as it relates to law-making, representation and oversight functions.

Like the neck supporting the head, the Deputy President of the Senate has kept faith with the confidence of his colleagues who elected him to be second among equals by assisting the President of the Senate in the performance of his functions. These functions include but not limited to: presiding over plenary in the absence of the President of the Senate, as enshrined in Order 26 of the Senate Standing Orders 2015 (as amended) as well as representing the Senate President in the inauguration of some ad-hoc committees and declaring public hearings open as directed by the President of the Senate.

Within the period under review, the symbiotic relationship has witnessed Senator Omo-Agege leading the Senate delegation to attend international parliamentary events like the Biennial Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth in Canada, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Africa Region conference, Tanzania and a host of others.

Little wonder then that, at a time when the usually volatile rumour mill was agog with the news that the Deputy Senate President might not head the Constitutional Review Committee as it was the convention, the Senate President minced no words in dispelling the fake news by passing a vote of confidence on the ability of the Senator Omo-Agege to make a good job of correcting the identified lapses in the Nigerian Constitution as amended for the benefit of all citizens. With his declaration that he would toe the line of parliamentary convention, a thunderous gloom of silence pervaded the rank and file of those who had predicted a breakdown of ‘war’ between the two leaders over the issue.

––Odunuga, the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ovie OmoAgege, wrote from Abuja.

(See concluding part of the article on www.thisdaylive.com)

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JUNE 14, 2020

15

LETTERS

R

TOWARDS A BETTER NIGERIA

ecently, precisely on June 12, we celebrated National Democracy Day. This is quite significant from many perspectives.

First, it signals the official recognition of June 12 as a milestone in our political landscape. Second, considering that we have had 21 years of unbroken democratic experience since 1999, it could be safely affirmed that democracy is steadily becoming an entrenched political culture here.

Third, the supreme price paid by many Nigerians over the annulled June 12 election is not in vain.

Fourth, our country could be a better place, if we all chose to play our role rightly.

Certainly, we have not really had it so smooth since independence in 1960.

But then, no nation ever really has it smooth. The most developed nations of the world today equally had their evolving phases, but they were resolute and focused on their preferred destination.

Thus, every Nigerian has

Buhari a role to play in moving the nation forward. There is no point in passing the buck. We should stop the blame game. We must all have a rethink about the future of our nation.

If some are building and others are pulling down, the building will definitely collapse.

No matter what happens, this is the only country that we can call our own.

Politics, religion and ethnicity should not be used as platforms to divide us. It doesn’t matter where we are, we can get to where we ought to be if we are determined to

build a stronger and better nation. We can do it. We have the potential. We have the resources. All we need is a strong resolve to start afresh. Let nothing diverts or deters us from this noble course.

That we have remained as one indivisible entity for almost 60 years in spite of all odds is quite impressive.

With steady economic growth, a stable democratic government and broad support from development partners, the Nigeria of our collective dream and aspiration could be attained.

To consolidate democracy, restore a functioning economy, and promote sustainable economic growth, we need to strengthen the various organs of government and other institutions of governance. We must keep focusing; keep doing the right things for our country.

We must do all we can to escape the condemnation and damnation of history and posterity.

We cannot be the people and the generation that gave up even as others fought to save their own

Environmental Pollution: A Threat To Health

W

orld Environment Day (WED) is observed on June 5 every year, and is the United Nations' principal vehicle for encouraging awareness and action for the protection of the environment.

In Nigeria, a recent environmental problem that has been a cause for concern is that of so many dead fishes littering the Atlantic coastline of Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom States.

According to THISDAY of Friday, May 15, 2020, the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) has said that its investigation of the death of tonnes of fishes along the Atlantic Ocean coastline in Nigeria was caused by the discharge of toxic waste into the ocean.

However, news from Bonny Island in Rivers State reveal that mysterious deaths have occurred in that area of recent.

Whether these deaths are as a result of consumption of the dead fish or not is yet to be ascertained.

However, according to a June 7 Business Day, "Doctors said most patients have same symptoms: Malaria, fever, loss of smell, loss of taste. Some recover, many die. .

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had earlier in the week said it had also intervened

by obtaining samples for tests. Later, the Centre said none of the deaths so far had to do with Coronavirus. This seems to douse fears on one hand but heightens it on the other. . . By noon of Friday, May 29, 2020, the Bonny Development Forum (BDF) held a meeting to examine the situation and according to Gift Hart, the symptoms were gas-related..."

Environmental Pollution is one of the most significant challenges that the world is facing today. It is the act of contaminating or polluting (either intentionally or accidentally) the natural environment with harmful substances, as a consequence of human activities, to such an extent that normal environmental processes are adversely affected.

There are various types of pollution which affect our lives on a daily basis.

The major types include: air pollution, water pollution, and land (soil) pollution.

Others include: noise pollution, light pollution, plastic pollution, radioactive/nuclear pollution, thermal pollution, and marine/ocean pollution.

Apart from this issue of dead fishes littering the coastline, other contributors to the issue of water pollution in Nigeria include the increased use of non-degradable material and especially the use

and improper disposal of plastic. Plastic materials such as carry bags, plastic straw, bottles, etc., are choking our drains and harming marine and aquatic life.

Human activities are the main source of water pollution. The most polluting type include discharging of industrial waste into water bodies such as lakes and rivers. The harmful chemicals and toxic waste, without being treated, are directly discharged into water bodies.

Another source of water pollution is the mixing of untreated sewage with rivers. Polluted and contaminated water from houses is not treated and rather made to enter the water bodies.

Yet another example of water pollution is the mixing up of high temperature (hot) water discharge into water bodies at normal temperature. The sudden change and rise in temperature also has a negative impact on aquatic life. Acid rain is also regarded as one of the causes of water pollution.

Air pollution is another major type of environmental pollution. It is the pollution of air by smoke and dangerous gases, chiefly oxides of carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen. Out of the various types of pollution, air pollution is the major contributor to global warming.

Soil pollution - indus-

trial activity, agricultural activities, waste disposal, accidental oil spills, acid rain, etc., are the main reasons for soil pollution.

Noise pollution is disturbing or extreme noise that can harm the activity or balance of human as well as animal life.

In view of all the foregoing, what can we do about environmental pollution? It is good for us to note, first of all, that pollution is as a result of a wrong attitude - a reluctance to exercise "the law of neighbour love."

So, in reality, pollution is a problem of the individual - a problem of his heart and his mind. It is the result of a mind polluted with false values and possible ignorance, and a heart polluted with selfishness, thoughtlessness and general unconcern about the welfare of others.

Everyone can discipline himself to put trash where it belongs. Parents should teach their children to value high standards of cleanliness.

Also, driving less and letting car motors idle can cut down on air pollution. Even cigarettes left unsmoked help keep the air clean and unpolluted. Industries and manufacturing companies should ensure that they do not contribute to air, land, noise and water pollution, by their processes.

––Daniel Ighakpe, FESTAC Town, Lagos.

countries. Nigeria is our country, it is the one we truly own. Let us be united in saving our nation.

Our outward expression of unity will reflect our inward unity of purpose.

All levels of government must become more committed to the welfare of the people, especially through the provision of basic infrastructure and amenities that would make life better for the citizenry.

Perhaps, this may reduce the pressure on the people for daily survival.

For the progress of our nation, it is imperative to raise a critical mass dedicated to restoring the destiny of Nigeria by living above corruption, fighting corruption and conquering corruption.

When every Nigerian is ready for positive change and truly live for such, our collective aspiration for a better country would not be disillusioned.

Against the backdrop of a growing population of idle youths, especially in the northern part of the country, we need to come up with a clear-cut youth policy that will channel the youthful vigour of our youth into proper use.

If not, the army of the unemployed youths in the country could constitute a time bomb, waiting to explode anytime.

The renaissance of June 12 must be a lesson for us on the need for national cohesion. We should not allow needless tribal and ethnic sentiments to keep

dividing us. If we do, we would only be making a mockery of our 60 years of nationhood. Individuals and organisations with influence and means should educate the masses on the imperative for national unity, harmony and cohesion.

Lee Kuan Yew, architect of modern Singapore, visited Nigeria a few days before the military struck on Saturday, January 15, 1966. His visit was in connection with the Commonwealth Conference held in Lagos on Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. His conclusion about Nigeria in 1966 is contained in a book he wrote in 2000 titled: ‘From Third World to First’. In the book, he concluded thus: “I think their tribal loyalties were stronger than their sense of common nationhood”.

Years after the iconic leader made that remark, can we in all honesty say we have overcome tribal prejudices?

One would like to close with the enduring words of Gerald R. Ford, the 38th president of the United States of America: “Even though this is late in an election year, there is no way we can go forward except together and no way anybody can win except by serving the people's urgent needs. We cannot stand still or slip backwards.

We must go forward now together”.

––Tayo Ogunbiyi, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

You Can’t Rule The World

F

or about 40 years now the West allowed China to dominate a world market niche as the centre of supply-chain for goods destined especially for developing countries where the population is bludgeoning and the people strive for improved consumer-taste in an increasingly modern world.

This arrangement was needed to enable China get its teeming mass of humanity out of poverty with the hope that a knock-on domino effect could help other obstinate pro-ex-Soviet, “revolutionistas” countries get their act right and begin to embrace market economy.

That hope did not quite pan out as expected even though China got hundreds of millions of folks out of poverty.

But the Chinks are a prickly, irritating people who still think their fabled dynastic past entitles them at the present to world domination.

Whilst the Chinese can sway and con most wretched and lazy countries into thinking that China is the preeminent developed country of the world, reality check by

enlightened people shows that this is not so. But the Chinks still want to dominate and they’d sorely love to do so.

Thus, they copy-cat the West (America, especially), doing this and doing that, but what they got real wrong was “playing” with a highly virulent medium in a third-rate, minimal-security, low-containment lab at Wuhan. To what end, who knows? Methinks they just want to build an “institute of virology,” anything of the sort that gives class and “scientific sophistication.”

Now, see what the Chinks’ foolish enterprise got us into: a totally changing world where established norms and order are being turned upside down.

By not being truthful as from where the COVID-19 originated and not then initiating multinational co-operation in containing the spread of this novel corona virus, the Chinks have demonstrated that they are incapable of leading mankind and the world into a greater plane of prosperity.

––Sunday Adole Jonah, Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˞ ͯͲ 2020

15

NEWSXTRA

Ojudu Accuses Fayemi of Violating APC Constitution

‡ Challenges appointment of party leaders in court ‡ Fayemi disputes allegations Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

In another battle for the soul of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu has accused the state governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi of violating the APC constitution by appointing his allies to multiple positions.

In swift reaction, Fayemi disputed Ojudu’s allegation, noting that he “is very alive to its responsibilities to Ekiti people and prioritising the future of Ekiti youth,� the reason for which he said he was re-elected in 2018.

Ojudu made the allegation at a session with journalists in Ado Ekiti at the weekend, citing how the executive members of Ekiti APC at the state, local government and ward levels were appointed in a private residence in Iyin Ekiti without a recourse to the constitution of the ruling party.

He justified the court action instituted against the process that produced the APC executive members at the state, local government and ward level in the state, saying the litigants had exhausted all the avenues to resolve the matter.

Since this illegality was committed, Ojudu claimed that the litigants “have been calling on

them to retrace their steps, be inclusive and let their action be guided by law. But they said we should go to hell. We complained loudly and got lawyers to write to the APC National Headquarters. “We exhausted all avenues to resolve the matter. But we were ignored. There was no congress.

What happened was arranged. It took us this long to go to court because our constitution prescribed some steps that should be taken before a matter affecting the party could be taken to court. “We took our time to go through all the steps and this took a lot of time. Taking this action is also not about the governorship election. It is a wake up call to Fayemi, the party and our leaders both at the local and national levels that things are not going well here. “If he comes up in 2022 and brings a candidate, will it be the only one who will campaign for him then? If what is happening now continues, will you call me to come and campaign for a candidate brought up by him in 2022?�

He also alleged that Fayemi violated the APC constitution by appointing his political associations to serve in multiple offices simultaneously at state and federal levels while some party patriots in the office could not get anything.

US Appoints Nigerian DFC Advisory Council Member Bayo Akinloye The United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) Board of Directors has appointed Mrs. Damilola Ogunbiyi as a member of the agency’s inaugural Development Advisory Council (DAC).

Ogunbiyi and other council members will advise the DFC on ways to increase development impact, a statement obtained from the US government by THISDAY said.

The DAC was established by the Better Utilisation of Investments Leading to Development (BUILD) Act of 2018, which created DFC and members are appointed by DFC’s CEO in

consultation with the agency’s chief development officer and with the approval of its board.

Ogunbiyi serves as Chief Executive Officer and Special Representative of the United Nations (UN) SecretaryGeneral for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of UN-Energy.

Prior to her appointment to these roles by UN SecretaryGeneral António Guterres, she held various leadership positions in organisations focused on expanding energy access in Sub-Saharan Africa and was the Managing Director/CEO of Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency (REA) before joining the UN.

FRSC Appoints New Sector Commander for Lagos The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has named Mr. Olusegun Ogungbemide as the new Sector Commander Corps Commander in charge of Lagos State.

Ogungbemide’s appointment was contained in a statement the Route Commander, Sector Public Education, Mrs. Olabisi Sonusi issued yesterday.

According to her, Ogungbemide took over from his predecessor who has just been promoted Assistant Corps Marshal Hyginus Omeje now the Assistant Corps Marshal Federal Operations at the FRSC Headquarters.

The statement said Ogungbemide was once the Unit Commander of Lagos Island Unit Command, Zonal Public Education Officer, Zone 2, Lagos and later appointed Sector Head of Operations for Ondo State Sector Command.

It said: “He was among the newly promoted senior officers to the rank of Corps Commander.

He is from Ondo state and happily married with children.

Addressing the sector heads of departments and unit commanders during the handing over ceremony at the Sector Public Education Hall Ojodu, Ogungbemide acknowledged the huge task of managing the sector command.

He said: “I will not deny the fact that it is going to be a herculean task. We are in for a great expectation to be fulfilled, I am a team player and I distaste indiscipline. We will key into the FRSC strategic goal. We must not disappoint the Corps Marshal.�

Assistant Corps Marshal Omeje handed over the baton of leadership to Ogungbemide on Thursday June 11.

He said there “are people who are commissioners who are holding board appointments at the national level. There are members of the House of Representatives lawmakers, who were appointed to boards at the federal level. “How can you give one person three appointments when we have our educated party members roaming the streets without one single appointment? One individual will be a commissioner here, he will be

on the board of two other agencies or departments in Abuja,� Ojudu explained.

He said: “Somebody will be elected to the House of Representatives. He will also be on a board of a major parastatal in Abuja.

You have the state party chairman who is also special adviser to the governor, a state executive position.

This is illegal, our constitution does not allow it. “What stops him from putting

someone as chairman and putting another as special adviser?

Imagine, a commissioner collecting money from two sets of appointments. All these things are happening here and nobody is challenging it. Some of us cannot be in the party and allow this to continue. “This is a democracy and not a dictatorship. When we brought him to power here we thought he was going to be a partner and not

an overlord. We have learnt a very bitter lesson from the events of the past years.�

Ojudu urged the party leaders to correct some anomalies in Ekiti APC to prevent the party from losing the 2022 governorship election. “We do not want to go to the election in 2022 and be damaged and be crippled and then carry the guilt of a government that has not performed here,� he said.

IN ADELAMI’S HONOUR L-R: President General,Pillars Movement of Nigeria (PMN), Chief Remi Adebiyi; a governorship aspirant of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Chief Olaide Adelami and Apostle Ojo Feyisetan at Adelami’s investiture as PMN’s Governor Generalin Lagos... recently ETOP UKUTT

Tambuwal Recommends Death Penalty for Arms Purveyors Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto Amid the rising activities of bandits, insurgents and terrorists nationwide, Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal yesterday recommended death penalty or life imprisonment for citizens found in possession of unlawful arms and weapon in the country.

Tambuwal, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, also urged the Presidency and National Assembly to come up with a legislation that would prescribe a disarmament period and clear regulation for arm control.

He made these recommenda-

tions at an interactive session with students and youth on security held at the Sultan Muhammadu Maccido Centre, Sokoto, expressing dissatisfaction with the proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) in the country.

The governor observed that there “are more small arms and light weapons in the hand of nonstate actors across the federation than there are in the hands of security operatives.�

He, therefore, urged the National Assembly and the Presidency to come up with a legislation, which according to him, would prescribe a disarmament

period in the country.

He explained that those in possession of unlicensed arms “should go and register them.

If the arms cannot be licensed, they should be surrendered to the government and the government will pay you your money. “After the grace period, a maximum punishment like a death sentence or life imprisonment should be prescribed for unlawful possession of arms. This is the only way we can have peace in this country,� he said Besides, the governor suggested a robust recruitment of security manpower, especially the police,

in order to ensure the protection of the citizenry.

He, also, recommended an improved remuneration and life insurance for security operatives in the country and commended the federal government for establishing the Police Trust Fund, which he said would go a long way in addressing their challenges.

On the activities of bandits and kidnappers in some local government areas in Sokoto, the governor said the state government would soon establish a state vigilante group, which could be deployed to troubled areas.

Regent School Wins Cambridge Award

Ogun to Feed 60,391 Primary School Pupils

Adedayo Akinwale

Kayode Fasua in Abeokuta

Eight student of The Regent School, Abuja have emerged with the best results across 13 subjects in the June 2019 Cambridge IGCSE Examinations in Nigeria and the world, the school principal, Mr. Andrew D. Williams has announced.

In a statement, Williams said the eight students had been celebrated by the British Council and Cambridge Assessment International Examinations (CAIE) for obtaining the best results in Nigeria and the world.

He quoted the Board of The Regent School as saying that “The Regent School received the information from the British Council and Cambridge International that eight of her students emerged with the best results across 13 subjects in the June 2019 Cambridge IGCSE Examinations in Nigeria and the world.�

According to him, the awards of exceptional performance at a national and international level were granted to seven students.

He said: “These awards included highest in the world in Mathematics, achieved by two students. “The students who obtained the best results in the June 2019 IGCSE Examinations were Abubakar Sadiq Tafida, Aditi Amol Sohoni, Chisom Angela Angel Akahara, Ibrahim Abdulsalam, Phinola Yeani Aruna, Shreya Jindal and Sybel Nyenimana Shreya, Phinola, Ibrahim, Sybel, Chisom, Abubakar and Aditi were adjudged to have obtained the best results across Nigeria in 11 subjects.

Shreya Jindal emerged in Accounting, Additional Mathematics, Biology, Physics; Phinola Yeani Aruna in Art & Design; Ibrahim Abdulsalam in Environmental Management; Sybel Nyenimana in Foreign Language French.

A total of 60,391 primary school pupils in Ogun State will be fed at home this month, as the Federal Government-funded “Home-grown feeding programme for school children� kicks off nationwide.

This was disclosed to newsmen in Abeokuta yesterday by the state’s Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. FemiOgunbanwo,whiletakingdelivery of various food items ranging from bags of rice, beans, crates of eggs and several other provisions, provided under the scheme.

The food items were delivered to the Ogun State Government by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

According to Ogunbanwo, over 180,000 pupils had been listed for the feeding programme across the state.

He however, said that the

government would start with one-quarter of the population in the meantime.

The exercise, he added, would take off from Ogun Central Senatorial District, before being expanded to cover the remaining two districts. “As you all know, this is a federal government-funded programme; ours is just to provide the logistics and ensure that the food items are duly delivered to the children at home. “We are visiting the children at home because of the Covid-19 situation and all our field workers and cooks are ready for the exercise,� he disclosed.

Ogunbanwo said apart from school children who are to benefit under this scheme, the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun had also stockpiled food items in Shagamu, aimed at feeding parents as well, especially those who are vulnerable and poor.

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SUNDAY JUNE 14, 2020 •T H I S D AY

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍšÍźËœ 2020

BUSINESS

Editor: Kunle Aderinokun 08033204315, 08111813084 Email:kunle.aderinoku@thisdaylive.com

Support Pours in for AfDB’s Adesina There has been overwhelming endorsement of African Development Bank President, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, as various individuals and organisations commend his stewardship of the bank, and reiterate their support for his re-election, writes Demola Ojo

C

onsidering the recent events at the African Development Bank, the resignation of the bank’s vicepresident, Jennifer Blanke, was bound to attract attention. The African bank’s president, Akinwunmi Adesina, has over the past few months, been subjected to scrutiny by the one of the bank’s shareholders, the United States.

The US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, had on May 22, expressed reservations over the complete exoneration of Adesina over whistle-blower allegations of misconduct by the bank’s ethics committee.

However, within Blanke’s resignation letter was what turned out to be the latest of many resounding endorsements of Adesina’s stewardship at the AfDB. According to the American-Swiss who was vice president for agriculture, human and social development at the AfDB since 2017, “I thank the president for his strong leadership, guidance and support which have undoubtedly motivated and helped my team and I to play a key role in the transformation of the bank.�

A renowned and globally respected development economist, Blanke rose to the position of chief economist of the World Economic Forum, Davos, Switzerland prior to joining to the AfDB in 2017. “I feel privileged to have been given an opportunity to contribute to the bank’s agenda for accelerating Africa’s social and economic transformation,� continued Blanke, who is leaving the bank for “purely for family reasons� to return to Switzerland. “I will miss the bank and the excellent team we have built, and I will continue to strongly support the bank from wherever I am,� she said.

This is just as Dr. Mima Nedelcovych, who served as the US executive director to the AfDB from 1989 to 1993, said last week that it’s in the interest of the US to support Adesina for a second term.

According to Nedelcovych, unless the US government is holding some secret that the American public is not aware of, he sees “absolutely no reason� why the US should not wholeheartedly support the re-election of Adesina.

In an interview with Pan African Visions, Nedelcovych said, “If competing with the Chinese in Africa is primordial to the US, then supporting the position of our African fellow shareholders in the AfDB and supporting President Adesina is in our own interests.�

Adesina has established the framework for furthering the critically important role that the AfDB is playing in the development and inclusive growth of the continent, Nedelcovych further said.

In truth, the focus directed at Adesina

by Mnuchin has helped in shoring up his reputation, as support comes from varied sources within and outside the bank, and across different geo-political interests.

the African Union’s high representative for infrastructural development in Africa, Raila Odinga, also weighed in and stated that Adesina had made “commendable strides� as president of the AfDB. In his June 5 statement, Odinga revealed that Adesina has “prioritised Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the continents quest for transformation particularly through investment in agriculture, infrastructure development, and continental integration, among other areas that are dear to us.�

The support of these African countries and institutions extends to their past leaders led by former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, who last month, pointed out the need to speak against the introduction of alien practices being recommended by some parties at the bank and further emphasised the need for the AfDB to remain an African-focused development bank rather than one which serves interests outside Africa.

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, has also thrown his weight behind Adesina, by hosting him at Nigeria’s presidential villa in Abuja - a significant event considering the former’s reticence especially during the coronavirus pandemic – and restating his support, after initially nominating Adesina for the position in 2015.

Adesina

In a June 5 statement by the heads of state and governments of ECOWAS signed by Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou, the West African economic bloc reaffirmed its support of the AfDB president, by noting that “in the footsteps of his illustrious predecessors, Adesina has further strengthened and accelerated the institutions development.�

The West African economic alliance comprised of 15 countries - Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo - further extolled Adesina’s “im-

pressive achievements� over the past five years of his mandate, by pointing out the bank’s capital increase from $93 billion to $208 billion. “More recently, under his leadership, the African Development Bank has launched a $10 billion crisis response mechanism to help Africa fight the COVID-19 pandemic, with the support of all shareholders,� the West African body said.

The ECOWAS heads of states and governments reaffirmed their full confidence in the leadership of Adesina and “reiterated their collective support for his re-election...�

Former Kenyan Prime Minister and

Unrelenting Commitment to Growth The widespread support for Adesina further validates the decision on May 5 of the AfDB’s ethics committee led by Japanese executive director, Takuji Yano, which described all allegations against Adesina as spurious and unfounded.

The spotlight beamed on the AfDB has further highlighted its commitment to the growth of continent.

This past week, the bank approved a $288.5 million loan to help Nigeria tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and mitigate its impact on people and businesses.

In the last month, the bank approved a $500,000 emergency assistance grant to Egypt to provide food relief, and to contribute to restoring the livelihoods of vulnerable populations severely affected by the pandemic. It also approved a $210 million loan for Mauritius to finance a national budget support programme in response to COVID-19.

More interventions in May, include a $97 million loan approved as emergency budget support for Senegal, $33m loan approved for Cape Verde (both for COVID_19) and a $13.7m grant approved to improve the health sector in Zimbabwe.

Others in May are $45million allocated for a bridge to link Cameroon and Chad and $1.67m given for study on building dams in Eswatini (Swaziland).

These visible and quantifiable interventions by the AfDB under Adesina’s leadership are reasons why he is being vigorously supported from different quarters against allegations that designed to tarnish his and the bank’s sterling reputation.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍšÍźËœ 2020

BUSINESS INTERVIEW NGOZI OKONJO-IWEALA Nigeria and Other African Countries Should Go Digital to Boost Trade At a time like this, when the world is being ravaged by COVID-19, a number of countries and pharmaceutical institutions are racing to develop vaccines, and more importantly, find cure for the disease. This is also unfortunately a period, when global trade is severely impacted by the pandemic and the world economy is collapsing. Speaking with Arise News Network, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the chair of GAVI, The Vaccine Alliance, an organisation at the centre of development and distribution of vaccines, and who is also vying for the position of World Trade Organisation director general, argues that vaccine is the most sustainable solution to the scourge as she also gives the recipe for a robust intra-African trade. Besides, the two-time Nigeria’s finance minister and former World Bank managing director, in this interview, monitored by THISDAY, cautions Nigeria and other African countries on debt, advising them against taking loans they can’t service. Kunle Aderinokun presents the excerpts:

A

s the chairperson of The GAVI Alliance, could you bring us up to speed on what your organisation is doing in terms of vaccine and the race for a vaccine for COVID-19?

GAVI,TheVaccineAlliance,whoseboardIchair, isoneofthecentralorganisationsinvolvedintrying to find, develop and distribute COVID-19 vaccine or vaccines. At the moment, the World Health Organisation (WHO) in conjunction with world leaders launched a project; an international project with the idea of accelerating development and manufacturing and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines. As soon as these vaccines or vaccine are ready and certified to be of high quality state for humans and then are manufactured, in the right number of doses, GAVI will discuss and negotiate with the manufacturers for sufficient doses which it will then distribute in a manner that will be affordable and equitable to developing countries and in fact all over the world. That is the role GAVI would play, to make sure that this vaccine gets to all who need it.

Do you think there is so much emphasis on vaccine? I asked, because we’ve had the likes of common cold and malaria that have no vaccines for years. What is so important about COVID-19 and what do you say to those who say we are spending too much on something we know so little about?

Well,thereisagoodpointthatthereareinfectious diseases in the past which no vaccine has yet been found; I mean, HIV/AIDS is one where they are still searching for a vaccine, but the reason why people are focusing on vaccines is because this is the most sustainable solution to the problem of COVID-19. If you can prevent it, the better. There is a flu vaccine as you know which many people over here take each year, of course you can have other remedies like therapeutic medicines you take when you get the virus. But why will you want to wait until you get it? Vaccines are the best preventive measures and the most cost-effective way of dealing with diseases; you wouldn’t spend as much money as you would once you have everybody vaccinated.

Beyond the debt relief African countries usually secure from foreign creditors especially China.There is still a clamour by some countries for debt forgiveness. Do you think this is something creditors are ready to do, giving the effect of the pandemic on global economy?

As you know, I am one of the members of the African Union envoy on COVID-19 along with four other high level Africans, to try and find resources for the continent and one of the key things we are arguing for, is for a two-year standstill.Wearesayingthatweneedthisstandstill across the board, on bilateral and commercial debt in order to give countries relief. Put resources in

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

their hands that they would have used to service their debts, they can use it to fight the impact of this pandemic.And the G20 has opened the door by saying that the grant, stands still till the end of this year and we think that is not enough; we are pushing. During the two-year standstill, we can now have the chance to look at each country because each country is likely different in terms of the burden of debt, and the debt service that it has to do compared to the revenue it has. This will give us the chance to look into some countries, who will need their debts re-profiled; it is not

about debt forgiveness, it is about rescheduling.

There may be other poorer countries that need thedebtforgivenessliketheInternationalMonetary Fund has already given 19 low-income countries inAfrica debt forgiveness or debt relief, to the tune of $198 million. May be some countries will need that, so we will look at it. However, you cannot do all these things unless you have a standstill that gives you time to examine these issues and that is what we think is most important now.

Giving your experience working with the World Bank, what kind of developmental

assistance do you think the bank can provide to African countries handling this pandemic at a time like this?

First of all, I want to say how much African countries themselves are helping themselves. It is a quite impressing the number of measures they’ve taken. In many countries, taxes have been suspended or canceled for businesses and households. People have canceled tariffs; there have been many measures put in place byAfrican countries.African countries have also contributed $60 million along withAfrican philanthropists to a

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍšÍźËœ 2020

Every African Country Should be Cautious on Debt lem with oil, I mean oil crisis, we all run to diversiďŹ cation of the non-oil sector. And I am speaking particularly for Nigeria; when you look at the performances of that sector through succeeding governments in Nigeria, their performances have been moderate at best. How can we fast track diversifying the revenue not just the economy but the revenue of that sector? What do you think we are doing wrongly and what should we be prioritising?

You are right, but I don’t think I agree with you that performance in those sectors are moderate.

Actually, if you look at some of the numbers of growth within the economy, you will see that of the oil sector has fallen as the percentage of the GDP and also as the contributor. We have this divergent economy that agriculture has been growing quite well, I think creative industry that were not even measured before we re-based the economyfiveorsixyearsagoarenowcontributing!

Though, we have not managed the tax. We’re now finding ways to generate revenues out of these sectors. We have highly been depending on one revenue source which is the oil and that is not good. What we need to do is to figure out ways to tax those other sectors better. It is not going to be easy because a lot of their activities in those sectors are in the informal sector with businesses that are probably not registered. So we have to embark on a long-term strategy. This is not something you are going to accomplish over night! How do we attract the young people who are creating businesses? Women who are very big in the informal sector, how do we support them, to register their businesses and then eventually down the line, maybe four or five years from now becometaxpayers?Howdowelookatagriculture processing to modernise it so it can also become part of the formal sector? These are some of the things that we have to do, or introduce in order to enlarge our tax base so that we can tax these sectors better.

fund that theAfrican Union has opened. So before we talk about other people helping, we have to ask, what have we done for ourselves? And we have done quite a lot; we’ve implemented fiscal stimulus of 0.10 per cent of GDP on the continent.

This is not enough, so that is why, it is then necessary that the AU has asked that we look for a resources outside and the World Bank has given some emergency relief to African countries and other developing countries to enable them cope with the health crisis. This is almost $300 million, but they’ve also committed $14 billion to help countries fight the economic and health impacts of the pandemic. The IMF has committed $11 billion as at this moment, Islamic Development Bank about $1.3 billion and so you have various organisations and you know that the African Development Bank has a $10 billion COVID-19 fund for the continent.

It is quite worrying for some analysts that China is Africa’s biggest creditor. Should the continent be worried and what can the government do to pre-empt the economic implication of China’s troubled economy and the Post-COVID-19 pandemic era?

Well I think that China is one of the G20 and it has agreed along with the other G20 members to go into this standstill. Of course, we are still pushing China to be a leader in terms of granting African countries this two years so that we can then look for them at the bilateral debt of each country and know how to treat it; so I think China is coming along. My general advice on debt to everyAfricancountryistogocautiously,andnever to take on more debts than they can service, by growing their economy. You always need to look not only at debt to GDPratios but also debt service to revenue. Can you afford to service the debt?

So with respect to China and other creditors, yes, they can help you build infrastructure. To grow your economy is okay to take some amount of debt, but please do it very cautiously.

Now, coming to the issues of how to deal with the impact of China’s economy and link to Africa in Post-COVID-19, this is a very important question because China has become one of the biggest markets for our exports, so of course, when the Chinese economy is down, that means the demands for our export is also lower and this is going to be an issue because the Chinese economy is expected by the IMF projection to grow may be at 1per cent this year. In fact, China has not seen this kind of growth for decades! Their economy has been growing well, like 6per cent, so when it grows at 1per cent, that means that for us, this is going to be problematic. Europe is going to contract! So we need to ask ourselves: what we can do now in order to diversify our economy for the long term so that we don’t or we are not so dependent on export?

You have highlighted what African countries are doing to respond to this pandemic in ďŹ nancial terms, but beyond the debt, which a lot of African countries are struggling with, what worries you the most about African economy?

I think what worries me the most, but also gives me much hope is the issue of employment. We have a very young population; in most of our countries 60 per cent of the population is 35 years and below, that means, jobs is the key. So, what do we do with our youth? In our economy, we have to look at every opportunity of creating job and in the post-pandemic, we have the chance to really re-look at the way our development is going, we have a chance to look at some supply chains that we can bring back on the continent and improve our manufacturing base. We have the African continental free trade agreement, may be some of our countries can specialise in manufacturing certain things which it can trade with neighbours.

Youknowweimport94percentofthepharmaceutical products we use on the continent! Why can’t some countries to specialise in the manufacture some of those products? Nigeria is one with a large population, South Africa is another; there are others with that capability. My worry is, how do we create good jobs for our young people?And how do we support our young entrepreneurs, so that they can create jobs for themselves and others? That is my biggest worry, but I can see a lot of opportunities in Africa and I have hope that we can do it.

In line with the African 2063 vision, how can Nigeria and African countries truly optimize this intra-African trade?

I think we can launch the continental free trade agreement. It is supposed to be launched in the month of July, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, maybe that will be postponed. I think

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

we should do it as soon as possible. We should look to specialisation; if we all produce the same things, then trading with each other will not be as effective as it should be. We really need to step back and look at what are the things that countries can specialise in, maybe there are those who can do well in manufacturing textiles, in processing agricultural product of one type or the other and trading with the neighbours! I think this is the way we need to look at it. How do we increase that trade? Another thing I want to mention is of course logistics, and I think that the African countries have been working well on this. How do we improve borders closures and remove all the checkpoints so that goods can move easily from one country to the other? So these are some of the things; we need to look at the remaining obstacles, we need to implement the trade, but above all, some countries need to specialise in producing one product or the other that we can trade with each other. This is of course a longer term dream and plan. We also need to go digital; technology is enabling a lot of trade and this is something else we need to look at. How can it facilitate increase trade within the continent?

You said unemployment is the one that gives you great concern, but I will like to ask you, how can African countries provide jobs without stable, efďŹ cient, low carbon, climate friendly energy source? How can they do that? Why is power such a problematic issue on the continent?

Power supply is a big issue. 55 per cent of our householdsonthecontinentstilldonothaveaccess to power and there businesses as well and without this, we cannot really move forward that is why I mentioned infrastructure; improving that will be key. I think that each country is in a different position, but many are struggling with how to have an effective means of transmission and distribution of power. In many countries now, generating power is not so much an issue because countries are having options, another thing is to bring in, independent power producers, but transmission and distribution at an affordable price to the population. But also a price to clear the market and enable our power companies to operate in a profitable manner; that is what we are struggling with. My own strong belief is that we haven’t work out the financial basis for our power sector in many countries and that is what is holding us back so we really need to sit back and work out the finances for each sector.

What investment do we need? Many countries have not invested in maintaining their power

sector for years! How do we pay transmission and distribution companies, how do we make the whole power sector work financially? That is the key thing that is holding us back.

Youalsomentionedsomethingreallyimportant, talking of energy that is climate-friendly. I want you to know that two third of the power we need on the continent has not yet been developed, so we have a huge chance inAfrica that any new power development can be with renewables; things that are low carbon types of power sources and I think that is a winner and we can actually lead the world in this!And we have the opportunity, because we are very good with renewables.

You are also on the board of twitter and how has this pandemic affected global outlook and how can Nigeria avoid a shake-up?

Right now I can tell you that all projections for globaleconomicoutlookdon’tlookverygood.The preliminary projections we have for the continent are for a contraction of about 2 per cent and I think for Nigeria, it is in the neighbourhood of about 3 per cent, but the IMF is going to produce new projections in the month of June and from all indications they are not going to look too good.

So, for the short term, I think because of the impact of the pandemic, there is not so much we can do.

What we need to do is to start planning for a better economicoutlookfrom2021.Weneedtolookinside to see how we can manage and generate more internal demand. You know we have a particular problem in Nigeria, the biggest export we have which,isoil,isnowexperiencingsomeofthelowest prices we’ve seen in years and in fact it is not just the low price but the fact that we have cargoes of oil in Nigeria. In other countries, the demand for oil has gaped. So we need to ask ourselves: how we focus on the other sectors of the economies that can help us generate growth? And I assure you that we have it. We have agriculture and we need to focus on investing in that. We have the creative industry on the continent that creates a lot of jobs for young people; let’s focus on that. We also have some manufacturing capabilities, but how do we make sure they have power supply so that they can indeed function. So we need to focus on the non-oil sector, we also need to focus on gas because there is still demand; people are still using gas. Even if they are not using oil and gas is seen as a transition fuel, that leads us, maybe, 10 years down the line to begin to put reliance on the renewables. We do have sectors we can focus on, let’s do that.

But it seems like every time there is prob-

Looking at the continent’s response to the COVID-19, some say that we are seeing different approaches and this may hinder fast-tracking ďŹ nding a cure to the pandemic which is home-grown solution in the continent, what is your take on that? Do you think there should be one coordinated response on the continent or do you agree that it’s not one size ďŹ ts all, hence the current approach is okay?

Firstofallletmesaythatweshouldcommendthe leaders on the continent for the speed with which they’ve acted. Actually I’ve been quite surprised at the unity of purpose that has come. On the continentallevel,theAfricanUnionmovedquickly todevelopafundthatcansupporttheAfricanCDC and other CDCs within the continent. They have appointed an envoy to look at procuring medical supplies and a platform for the entire continent is being built as we speak, where all countries can go and see what supplies are available. The AU, the heads of states have all acted with unity on this, which is very impressive. They have also implementedalltheselockdownswhichpolitically, is not easy when most of our people earn on a daily basis. Having said that, I don’t think there is a one size fits all in this response, in fact even within a country, there is no one size fits all response! The way you have to look at it is, say, which area, what is happening in different localities? It may be that one area doesn’t have as much COVID-19 cases as other places, so in that area you may want to say okay we can gradually open up; we don’t have to implement a complete lockdown. While other areas might be hotspots that has a lot of COVID-19 cases, then you will want to act differently there.

Similarly, between countries, you cannot have a one size fits all approach! You have to have a very nuance approach in order to handle this.

Of course, there are some over all guidelines that everybody must obey, which is the hand washing as much as possibly you can, and the wearing of face masks and the physical distancing. Those should be practised everywhere even where they aren’t much cases, because if you don’t do it, the disease will spread quickly. Beyond that, you have to have a nuance strategy.

Finally, share with us your thoughts on the current development in the African Development Bank as we do have a Nigerian, Dr. Adesina heading that organisation in the eye of the storm. What does this mean to Dr. Adesina?

I think Dr. Adesina has done a good job with the bank. He has done a good job; he is one of our own. My extreme hope with this, is that things will come out right; he will find a way through the problem.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍšÍźËœ 2020

BUSINESS/BRANDS & MARKETING

Inside Africa’s Best Brands As the 2020 edition of Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands, names the Dangote brand as the most admired brand of African origin, Raheem Akingbolu reviews the rating process and tasks the promoters of the leading African brand to sustain the tempo

P

erhaps the most celebrated news in the African corporate corridor, since the COVID-19 Pandemic broke was the unveiling of the 2020 edition of Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands, which gained traction across all social media platforms. In Nigeria, the news was particularly cheered because it brought out the best of the country’s brands -Dangote, as the best in the continent. According to the organisers, as usual, the exercise involved a survey of 100 Africa best brands.

The report shows that for the third consecutive year, Dangote Group, a conglomerate founded by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, emerged as the most admired brand of African origin, by consumers. This year, the brand shares the accolades with African multinational telecommunication giant, MTN. However, breakdown of the report shows a flipside as African brands drop to 13per cent, which is all-time low while non-African brands account for 87 per cent of the top 100 brands in the continent. For instance, Nike retains No 1 rating in Africa for third year in a row and African brands drop by over 60 per cent in 10 years.

Out of the top 100 brands in the 2010/11 rankings, only half remain in the tables due to mergers, acquisitions and obsolescence. Europe retains continental lead with 42/100 (+5%), North America with all-USA brands 29/100 (+3.5%) and Asia with 16/100 (-6%) and Dangote and MTN retain rankings as Africa’s most admired African brands. MTN is No 1 spontaneously recalled African brand among the top 100.

However, in line with the new lifestyle, which the current global crisis has foisted on all businesses, the results of the survey were announced during a novel global virtual event that took into account openings of the capital markets of Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya. In the financial services category, another Nigerian brand, Guaranty Trust Bank, came tops, while the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) of the United Kingdom, is the most admired media brand by those surveyed for the media sub-category.

Thirteen of the 100 entries are occupied

by African brands. The number was short by seven from last year when 20 African brands featured in the top 100 brands’ survey.

The survey was established 10 years ago to coincide with the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the world’s biggest single sporting event. Named Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands, the survey and rankings have established themselves as the most authoritative survey, analysis, and metric of brands in Africa.

The Survey and the Process In an online interactive session via Zoom, which was monitored by THISDAY, it was admitted that African brands have an important role in helping to build the image, competitiveness and transforming the continent’s promise into a real change. “It’s concerning that in the 10 years since the triumphant FIFA World Cup in South Africa which globally highlighted the promise and capability of Africa, and despite the vibrant entrepreneurial environment, Africa is not creating more competitive brands to meet the needs of its growing consumer market,� one of the contributors stated.

Speaking on the process that led to the report, the Global Client Development

consolidation of Vodafone (#54 in 2010/11 and now #13 in 2020) which acquired Vodacom in 2008 and rebranded in 2011, Etisalat (#40 in 2010/11) rebranding to 9 Mobile in 2017 and Motorola (#39) being acquired by Lenovo in 2014. A Chinese brand, Tecno, has raced up the ranking from #33 to #5 in the rankings – a dominant performance for one of China’s premier global brands that are not even sold in China Response and Feedback Reacting to the outcome of the survey, the spin doctors behind the Dangote brand, have expressed satisfaction in the announcement, pointing out that it came as a result of relentless effort to build a strong brand that can compete globally with a longstanding reputation for quality, relevance, compliance and social stewardship.

The Chief Corporate Communication Officer of the Dangote Group, Mr. Anthony Chiejina, said the management was not surprised at the ranking because the company has continuously deepened and delivered on its core values. The focus of the company, according to him, is to be a world-class enterprise that is passionate about the quality of life of the people and giving high returns to stakeholders. “Our mission and vision engage and inspire us, by extension, connect us to both our internal and external stakeholders. We fervently believe that only Africans can develop Africa, and this gives us stronger sense of relevance in all the countries where we have our operations. We are touching lives by providing their basic needs and empowering Africans more than ever by creating jobs, reducing capital flight, helping government conserve foreign exchange by supporting different industrial infrastructural projects of African government,� Chiejina said.

Chiejina added that Dangote Cement had been producing high quality and affordable cement, reducing poverty, engaging in unprecedented philanthropy and, above all, respecting the laws of the land where it operates. “All these are our credo and we do not compromise it; it is our way. And the ranking is just an acknowledgement of all these by our stakeholders, we keep our brand promise and stay authentic,� he concluded

Aliko Dangote

Manager, GeoPoll, Mr. Caitlin van Niekerk pointed out that the reach and accessibility of mobile across the continent enabled the coordinators to survey respondents across a representative sample of countries quickly and effectively, thereby getting vital and timeous results at a critical time. He added that Kantar has been the insight lead for Brand Africa since inception in 2010.

Founder and chairman of Brand Africa and Brand Leadership, Mr. Thebe Ikalafeng, arguably the foremost global African branding and reputation architect, advisor and author in his contribution, said that the survey seeks to establish brand preferences across

Africa, adding that it’s consumer-centric.

Earlier, an explanatory statement by the organisers had stated that the survey was conducted among a representative sample of respondents 18 years and older, in 27 countries which collectively represent 50 per cent of the continent, covering all economic regions and accounting for an estimated 80 per cent of the population and the GDP of Africa.

It further explained that the 2020 survey was conducted between February and April 2020 and yielded over 15,000 brand mentions and over 2,000 unique brands However, the most prominent changes are in the technology category with the demise of Blackberry (#32 in 2010/11), the

Lessons for African Brands The popular saying that Rome wasn’t built in a day aptly captures the process of brand building in today’s market, especially as it concerns Dangote and other top brands in the list. From a well-thought-out brand identity that will help in creating a strong brand image to brand consolidation, a lot of work is required to enhance brand equity using advertising campaigns and promotional strategies.

However, many experts have argued that creating a strong brand may not be as tough as sustaining the tempo, considering the fact that competitions are strategising every second to upstage the market leader. To this end, it is believed that brand managers who want their brands to remain relevant should not allow complacency to set in at any time.

This is why handlers of top brands that are ranked in the 2020 edition of The Brand Africa 100, should not relent but rather aspire to push their respective brands beyond the shore of the continent. Again, the way the equity of some brands suddenly falls shows that brand building requires consistent refreshment and stimulation. For Dangote and others that remain relevant despite global challenges, the future sure looks bright and beautiful.

SUNDAY JUNE 14, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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BUSINESS / VIEWS FROM ABROAD /PERSPECTIVE

Oil Company That Can’t Fix ReďŹ neries Wants to Build Hospitals Elisha Bala-Gbogbo

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or decades, Nigeria’s state oil company couldn’t maintain refineries meant to ensure domestic fuel supply, forcing Africa’s biggest producer to rely on imports. Now it wants to build hospitals to attend to the health needs of the country’s more than 200 million people.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. indicated this shift of focus when it announced plans on Tuesday to build health institutions in 12 of the country’s 36 states at the cost of 21 billion naira ($54 million), part of a new package of non-oil investments that also includes housing and power. The hospitals venture is part of its response to the dearth of health facilities in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

It’s also among “measures to cope with the boom and bust cycle in the global crude-oil market and to sustain revenue generation,� the company, also known as NNPC, said in a statement.

The oil firm seems to be hinting that it’s learned the lessons taught by the collapse of crude prices caused by loss of demand and the subsequent price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia. With the state overly dependent

on oil, for more than 50% of revenue and 90% of export earnings, President Muhammadu Buhari found his budget plans in tatters as oil fell to a 21-year record low in April.

NNPC, which manages Nigeria’s oil interests with international energy companies, has on its own struggled with financial health for more more than 25 years. Apart from frequently missing its capital obligations in joint ventures, it has among the highest oil-production costs globally and has been saddled with cash-guzzling, dilapidated refineries for years.

At the moment, the state producer is struggling to find buyers for its crude despite huge price discounts, with most of Europe, its primary market, only starting to reopen after three months of lockdown to combat the coronavirus.

A situation that perhaps spurred more creative thinking at the Nigerian oil behemoth. “We do have a lot of non-core business that would be expanded through effective collaboration and partnerships with the private sector,� said Roland Ewubare, the company’s chief operating officer for ventures and business development.

Among the new pathways to health unveiled

by Group Managing Director Mele Kyari is a plan to trim production cost to $10 per barrel, revamp the refineries for restart in 2023, seek opportunities in power and housing, and, of course, build the hospitals. t $VMMFE GSPN #MPPNCFSH

GMD, Mele Kyari

Strategic Partnerships as Growth Tool for Small Businesses

Toyosi Olatunji

this approach can help both businesses generate more sales. Since they share customers they can attract more customers to their shared space as it will be more convenient for their customers to shop in a single location.

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s the global economy emerges from its recent slowdown, many small businesses have turned their thoughts to how they will achieve growth in the coming months.

Although the nature of the economy has changed, strategic partnerships remain a useful option for small businesses looking to drive growth. Here is some information about the types of strategic partnerships that are available and how your business can use these types of relationships going forward.

A strategic partnership is a mutually beneficial relationship between two businesses which aren’t in direct competition with each other. These partnerships usually involve businesses sharing one or more of the following: customers; industry knowledge; resources; marketing resources; events and data The primary goals of strategic partnerships are usually to improve your customer offering, offset costs, or expand your customer reach.

By combining resources, both businesses become stronger and more resilient. Strategic partnerships often provide new growth opportunities, something which is particularly useful in this difficult business climate.

There are several types of strategic partnerships, but the most useful options for small businesses are: Strategic Referral Partnerships A referral partnership involves each of the business partners referring customers to the other. It is a very common form of partnership amongst small businesses.

Areal world example of a referral partnership would be a car tyre sales business partnering with a local car repair shop. When the car repair shop notices that a customer requires new tyres, they are directed to the tyre shop and vice versa.

The two businesses share customers, which provides opportunities for growth.

Strategic Marketing Partnerships A strategic marketing partnership involves working with a partner to co-brand products or services in combined marketing campaigns.

Food companies and technology companies often use this type of relationship to reduce marketing costs, increase customer engagement, and boost sales.

Strategic Supply Chain Partnerships This is a coalition of two or more businesses in the same supply chain. The businesses in the partnership work together to create more value

Are Strategic Partnerships Still Useful in the Emerging World?

The shakeup of the global economy has presented many challenges for small businesses.

Businesses that are able to quickly adapt to these challenges have the greatest chance of success.

Strategic partnerships give small businesses an opportunity to diversify their operations, become more agile, and improve their financial stability. Small businesses can use partnerships to improve their products or services and interact with consumers in new ways, which may be critical to survival in the coming years.

Partnerships provide an excellent opportunity to improve the financial position of small businesses and make sustained growth possible.

Here are a few useful tips for using strategic partnerships: Understand your market Perform extensive market research before entering into a strategic partnership. This will help you understand what strategic fits are available, where opportunities may lie, and what new offers your customers may be interested in.

Promoting your small business on Facebook

than they would if operating independently.

Some of the activities businesses can perform together include manufacturing, marketing, sales, distribution, product development and research. This is a more sophisticated form of partnership, but it can be very advantageous for small businesses involved in manufacturing.

Strategic Technology Partnerships This is a partnership that a small business makes with an external technology provider.

In return for exclusively working with the technology company, the business receives cheaper rates and access to new technologies to improve workflow. Small businesses can save money and improve their operations by entering into technology partnerships.

Strategic Financial Partnerships A strategic financial partnership is similar to a technology one, with a focus on financial activities instead of technology. Your business can form alliances with accounting agencies, banks, lenders, and finance professionals to achieve better outcomes.

One recent example of this type of relationship

is the partnership between Nigerian-founded Fintech, Flutterwave and Uber. Flutterwave is providing access to their Pan-African network of remittance partners, so Uber can deploy its cash digital wallet feature for their customers.

Both companies benefit from this relationship.

Strategic Integration Partnerships This type of partnership involves combining the different technologies, products, or services from a variety of businesses. The partners remain independent, but share the benefits and risks involved in their joint venture.

Alarge-scale example of this approach would be the Nike and Apple creating products (shoes and phones) which could integrate with one another.

Small businesses can use a similar approach whenever there are complementary products or services in the same market. For example, a fruit shop could form a partnership with a local chocolate factory to produce a line of chocolate coated fruits.

Businesses can also share infrastructure or occupy the same space in order to reduce overheads and operating costs. In many cases,

Look for competitive advantages Strategic partnerships that give you a competitive advantage over other small businesses are particularly valuable. Look for relationships that can reduce your marketing costs.

Alternately, look for partnerships which will provide a significant technological or financial boost or access to markets Be creative Some of the best strategic partnerships are not obvious. Take Uber and Spotify for example. One company is a ride-sharing service while the other is a music streaming service. Not the most complementary partnership at first glance.

However, both companies realised that customers wanted to listen to their favourite songs while travelling. Spotify added the ability to automatically play a user’s playlist when entering an Uber vehicle. This improved the value of both services for their customers.

As you can see, there are many benefits to strategic partnerships. Despite the current economic turmoil, it is still a good time to look for these kinds of business relationships. t0MBUVOKJ JT UIF $&0 PG "SDBOF *OTJHIUT Ltd.

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WEEKLY PULL-OUT

14.6.2020

STEPHANIE LINUS’ NEW HABITS ASSISTANT EDITOR OLUFUNKE OLAODE/funkola2000@gmail.com

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COVER

Stepping Out of COVID-19 Shadows with ‘Hygiene First’

Vanessa Obioha writes that actress, filmmaker and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Regional Goodwill Ambassador, Stephanie Linus, is keen on her mission to promote personal hygiene in Nigeria through her new campaign

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ike the rest of the world, the actress and filmmaker Stephanie Linus is adjusting to the new realities shaped by the coronavirus pandemic that upended the world.

COVID-19 made its entry into Nigeria in February and has harvested lives and devastated families across the world. In Africa’s most populous country, at least 12,000 COVID-19 cases.

In strange times like this, Stephanie finds herself pondering on the fickleness of life. “I’ve been thinking about the stark reality of how a virus can upend our world and how important it is for us to be compassionate towards one another. Surely, things are not going to be the same again,� she said.

These realities made her rethink how she communicates with others and made changes in other aspects of her life. “I’ve made changes on how I communicate and how I think about my future. I’ve learned to be more empathetic and conscious of the importance of my actions, big or small. I’ve considered how I run my home and made necessary adjustments by surrounding myself with things that make me feel happier and healthier. I’ve also busied myself with activities such as reading, decluttering and refurbishing my space.�

No doubt, the pandemic is an eye-opener to some of the infrastructural deficiencies in the country. Some of these conundrums are very glaring as Stephanie pointed out.

She explained: “The pandemic has reawakened our minds to some realities we have ignored for so long; pertinent among these is the decay of our health care system. Nigerians have seen the need to speak up against the neglect of this particularly important structure in our society, a neglect that has persisted for several generations. “The virus affects everyone - rich or poor, old or young - and without the luxury of traveling to countries with more advanced health care systems, we are now forced to look inwards and find urgent solutions. This pandemic has also made us see the huge impact our hygiene has on our overall health. “As a nation, we need a tactical strategy to improve our healthcare system and hygienic habits and all hands must be on deck for us to see the change we desire.�

It is against this backdrop that Stephanie, who was appointed a Regional Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in 2017 recently launched a new campaign, ‘Hygiene First: My New Habit’.

Her mission is to awaken consciousness about personal and community hygiene in the country. “I could name several habits we collectively practice that got me seriously thinking about this, but the most important thing that struck me is this: we’ve settled for less as a people. We don’t demand better because we don’t even know that we deserve better in our society,� she noted. “We’re not paying attention to certain actions, which eventually become our habits and have huge consequences on our lives.

There’s something fundamentally wrong with our thought process that needs to be fixed. “We want people to pay better attention to the habits that affect our health and environment and make better choices. It starts with our behavior. We want everyone to know that the cleanliness of our environment is not someone else’s responsibility. It is our collective responsibility as Nigerians to put in the work and achieve clean and healthy communities that we’re all proud of.�

But with only 29 percent of Nigerians having access to improved sanitation according to a Water Sanitation and Hygiene sector annual National Outcome Routine Mapping (WASHNORM) statistics in 2018, practising new hygiene habits can be almost untenable.

However, Stephanie revealed that the Hygiene First campaign is an all-encompassing one that is poised to educate citizens as well as collaborate with the government, NGOs, corporate organizations, and individuals.

She said further: “We intend to carry out

Linus

major research to find out the infrastructural needs for proper sanitation within local communities and draw the attention of the authorities concerned to address those needs. But while I understand these clear infrastructural deficiencies, the first step is actually a mindset change. “If our consciousness is awakened as a people, we would find solutions to the problems staring at us in our faces. We can’t achieve change if we don’t even know we have a problem in the first place.�

The world of hygiene and environment is not entirely new to the former beauty pageant contestant. Several years ago, she earned a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies.

She never imagined at the time that she will end

up running a national campaign on hygiene and the environment.

Over the years, the actress whose fame in Nollywood can be traced to the 2000s when she scooped several awards for her intriguing roles in movies such as ‘Emotional Crack’, has acquired a new status: an advocate for genderrelated issues.

Through her award-winning movie, ‘Dry’, that addressed the challenges of the adolescent girls in Africa but with more emphasis on Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF) — a condition that allows the continuous involuntary discharge of urine into the vaginal vault as a result of a congenital birth condition — Stephanie has amplified the need for the society to pay attention to the African girl-child, spreading the

message to every corner of the world.

Her efforts are not unnoticed. Last year, she was inducted into the Blacks in Cinema Hall of Fame in Los Angeles, and the movie has been screened in various film festivals.

The awards and recognition pale into insignificance compared with stories that have emerged from the film.

The 37-year-old mother and wife to media mogul, Linus Idahosa, considers the biggest achievement of the movie — which starred Olu Jacobs and Liz Benson — as the conversations it generated across the world and how it puts the spotlight on the African girl-child. More important, the 2015 movie has been instrumental in several significant policy changes such as the ban on child marriage in the Gambia. “’Dry’ is the first world-class movie to address fistula and bring the world’s attention to a disease that has plagued women and girls for many decades. Its impact has been widely felt and it would continue to be a source of awareness and education,� Stephanie disclosed. “It has put the spotlight on the need to improve our maternal health care system and ban harmful traditional practices that affect women and girls negatively. ‘Dry’ has also been translated into different languages to enable the message to reach people in rural communities, especially those who are most vulnerable. “Our overall goal is to eradicate fistula in Africa and we are not relenting in our efforts.

This is our passion, and we would continue to advocate for policies that protect girls and women.�

She added that her foundation, Extended Hand, has partnered several donor organizations to carry out free fistula repair surgeries on over 200 women in different communities across Nigeria such as Kebbi, Ibadan, Sokoto, Ilorin and Cross River. Presently, they are working towards building a worldclass fistula hospital.

As COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc on lives and livelihoods, Stephanie who also produced the reality TV show, ‘Make Me Fabulous’, is worried about the fate of the girlchild.

She explained: “The pandemic is putting a big strain on healthcare systems across the world. This means that a lot of health conditions that are not regarded as ‘urgent’ are being relegated and many girls are skipping medical check-ups for fear of contracting the virus. Such actions could worsen their health.�

She expressed concerns over a United Nations’ report that predicted 13 million more child marriages could take place by 2030 due to COVID-19.

Stephanie added, “This is because families are more likely to marry off daughters to alleviate the perceived burden of caring for them, especially in the anticipated economic fallout of the pandemic. “The UNFPA has also reported that the pandemic could cause significant delays in programs to end female genital mutilation which is a contributing factor for obstetric fistula. These are very valid concerns for the girl-child and it is even more important now than ever to speak up for them and keep their needs on the forefront.�

As a filmmaker, the alumnus of New York Film Academy is not oblivious to the adverse impact of COVID-19 on Nollywood.

She opined that filmmakers have to think creatively about the kind of content audiences will relate to as well as rethink the distribution of their content leverage on technology to spread their stories across the world.

But more importantly, the graduate of English and Literary Studies emphasized the need for filmmakers to be more conscious about the health and safety of their production crew.

With no immediate end to the pandemic in sight, Stephanie is convinced that she needs to make more impact and change in the world, saying: “I’ve been thinking about the things that are in my power to change and what I can do about it. If my son asks me in the future what I did to make my country better, I want to be able to say that I did something.�

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High Life Where Does Olujimi Belong?

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kiti State has climbed higher in the list of Nigerian States whose political exercises are capable of rendering the unsuspecting mind bonkers. This has been the case since Governor Kayode Fayemi emerged as Governor under the aegis of All Progressives Congress (APC).

Interestingly, much of the political tremors have developed as a result of the tango of juggernauts of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), especially former governor Ayo Fayose and Senator Biodun Olujimi.

The situation in Ekiti State in recent times is quite the dilemma: the one in charge of affairs isn’t responsible for much of the happenings in his own state, whereas the ones rattling the tree of harmony and tranquility are not in the thick of things.

As the 2022 gubernatorial elections draw nearer and nearer in Ekiti State, folks have begun to examine these parties—the camp of the not-in-power PDP and the in-power APC. It is obvious that much of the conict from which the next governor of Ekiti State is going to arise is going to be more internal than inter-party.

In addition to the usual contest for power between former governor Ayo Fayose and Senator Abiodun Olujimi, incumbent Governor Kayode Fayemi is now a noticeable spot in the big picture, alongside the silver medalist for Olujimi’s senatorial position, Prince Dayo Adeyeye.

At the moment, nothing is set on stone, as folks continue to plot graphs to the effect that this individual will support this other individual, or that this fellow will abscond into this political party.

Interestingly, the thread of party membership has crisscrossed that of natural affinity. In other words, it is alleged that Senator Olujimi (of the PDP) will most certainly pledge her support to Governor Kayode Fayemi (of the APC), while Ayo Fayose (of the PDP) might support Prince Dayo Adeyeye (of the APC). Quite the conundrum if such a thing is true.

Recall that Governor Kayode Fayemi was among the frontliners who congratulated Senator Biodun Olujimi on her victory over his own party candidate, Prince Adeyeye. As a result, Adeyeye was allegedly among the frontliners who allegedly immediately cut ties with the Governor. Ever since, Olujimi’s loyalties have been under scrutiny—especially since the woman has seemingly sworn to allow no sleep or rest to come to Ayo Fayose, a high-ranking member of her PDP. The whole state of affairs is just mystifying. However, since 2022 is not all that far away, clarity is also not all that far away.

Olujimi

with KAYODE ALFRED 08116759807, E-mail: kayex2@yahoo.com

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

Love Always Conquers: Ex-Ecobank DMD, Foluke Aboderin Finds Love at 58 Fate is an old and begrudging woman when she wants to be. There’s the occasional disregard she pays to humanity, when everything feels as trite and unimportant as anything. And then she pushes someone into the flow of time and one imagines her to be the kindest grandmother in the history of grandmothers. For years, it seemed as though Foluke Aboderin was untouched by the prints of love and wedlock; now, it is apparent that those years were only a priming period.

Hearts have been set aglow with the wedding of former Ecobank Deputy Managing Director (DMD) to Adetokunbo Alakija. Their union is a most timely one, as the pair has found in each other the strength and courage to heal from old wounds and walk the paths of life together.

Foluke Abodunrin, at the age of 58, is an accomplished banker and one of the most celebrated corporate Amazons of Nigerian birth. Having spent over 30 years in the banking industry, Abodunrin has had the fortune to help chart the course of multinational companies and other high-profile industries with an innate and unalloyed talent.

While working at Ecobank and First City Monument Bank, Abodunrin employed the best of her Economics and Accountancy education in improving the lot of the respective banks. The only sag to her juggernaut walk was the absence of a gentleman by her side—a position that has now been snugly filled by Adetokunbo Alakija.

In truth, Adetokunbo Alakija is as much a healer’s gift to Foluke Abodunrin as she is to him. Just two years ago, Alakija lost his wife, Dr. Augusta Olufunmilayo Alakija. The late Dr. Augusta was herself a most precious find, and has birthed three daughters to Alakija before her death.

At 63, Adetokunbo Alakija is a medical practitioner of many colours. He is currently the head of the management team of Q-life Family Clinic, and is an expert in travel-related illnesses. He is also the younger brother of Modupe Alakija, Chairman of Famfa Oil and husband of billionaire, Fulorunso Alakija.

The wedding of Foluke Abodunrin to Adetokunbo Alakija happened just before the Covid-19 lockdown parameters were established. Although it was a low-key ceremony, it was a day of brightness and

The Unassuming Billionaire at 60: Scion of Folawiyo Dynasty Joins the Diamond League

Folawiyo

Life is like a pot of soup that can be made bitter or sweet by seasoning.

To this end, good health and true love and a lot of money can sweeten life until one aches of happiness. On the It is easier for one who has experienced the tangy tastes of sweet oranges to dream about orange-flavoured drinks—there is no doubt about it. This is the same problem that most people are faced with: how does one aim at a goal that once has never yet attained? How does one see beyond the fences that are already natural to the eyes and mind? Unless some other achiever shows one the ropes, the road to success is much too slippery. This is exactly what young DJ Cuppy is doing.

Since sometime in 2013, DJ Cuppy has been a vocal voice in the Nigerian music industry. An artiste, record producer and general enthusiast of music, Cuppy has extended her art to not only include women in less privileged shoes than hers in her music, but also inspire them to surmount the bonds of unfair culture and the oppressive tradition of intentional underachievement, to be the stars they truly are.

DJ Cuppy (real name: Florence Ifeoluwa Otedola) is the daughter of businessman and oil magnate, Femi Otedola. Femi Otedola, the biggest philanthropist in Nigeria at the moment, the man evidently instructed his kids in the ways of success. DJ Cuppy is proof of this domestic education, which explains

other hand, illnesses and loneliness and penury are despised for the bitterness they bring to human life. Penury, truth be told, is the main culprit. So, as Alhaji Babatunde Tijani Folawiyo climbs into his Diamond years with health and love and money alongside him, life is sweet and getting sweeter.

Alhaji Babatunde Tijani Folawiyo officially turned 60 in April. This period happened to coincide with the Covid-19 pandemic and the strict measures of isolation and lockdown taken against it. As a result, Folawiyo’s birthday was a quiet affair. In fact, the billionaire reportedly only entertained his wife, Reni, and two kids, Faridah and Fuaad.

However, two months after the ultraquiet celebrations, goodwill messages are still streaming into his residence and in his honour.

Those who do not know the breadth of Folawiyo’s influence know him only as one of the most affluent men in Nigeria. This affluence is the result of his accomplishments as lawyer, businessman, scholar and philanthropist. These aspects of

Aboderin

merriment. A life of happy contentment is evidently in the works for Abodunrin and Alakija, because when love prevails, its victory is to the utmost end.

Folawiyo are more or less the powering factors behind his being the CEO and Managing Director of Yinka Folawiyo Group of Companies.

The efforts of Folawiyo in business and philanthropy have been internationally recognised. His work in education, especially, won him enough repute, that he is today a Goodwill Ambassador and Honorary citizen of the city of Houston and Honorary Consul of Barbados.

Folawiyo’s domestic habitat is also a celebrated facet of his life. He got married in 1989 to Reni Adegbite, daughter of the late Chief Lateef Adegbite—who was former Attorney General of the Western Region of Nigeria, and former Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs. Over 30 years now, their union is still one of the most divine and well-founded among the high society of Nigeria.

At 60, Tunde Folawiyo is one of the wealthiest folks in the country, but possibly the most unassuming. His life and work and home are all success stories. Nonetheless, the man has found more fulfilment in his wife and kids, philanthropy and quietness, than anywhere else. At 60, Tunde Folawiyo is a dream realised and model for a balanced life.

Florence Ifeoluwa Otedola (DJ Cuppy): The Silver Spoon Kid Who Inspires Other Young Ladies to Success

Medayese

DJ Cuppy

her lone foray into the world of music and record production—a world in which she has won enough hearts to be queen.

Cuppy has always referred to her flowering years, when she dreamt and aspired to be DJ. According to her, those dreams allowed her to extend herself beyond the expectations and shadow of her father. Now, she is one of those self-made success stories that young people are fond of reiterating to themselves.

8 years in the music industry, DJ Cuppy has won herself a name to reckon with— not on account of her father’s wealth or her mother’s beauty, but her own sweat and skill. Alongside a handful of women like her, Cuppy is breaking every offending stereotype in her way.

To sensible young ladies, DJ Cuppy is a beacon of hard work and determination, and the rare kind of fortitude that just refuses to let go of childhood dreams. That is her legacy—the character of hard work, determination and fortitude

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Adebayo Adeoye bayoolunla@gmail.com; 08054680651

Hon. Isiaq Akinlade Smiles Again!

What better proof does anyone need to be convinced that Hon. Abiodun Isiaq Akinlade was born under the proverbial lucky star?

Perhaps, if you are one of the doubting Thomases, the ovation that greeted his confirmation, last week, as the Federal Commissioner representing Ogun State in the Federal Character Commission, should have been the ace in the hole.

Akinlade, who represented the good people of Yewa South/ Ipokia federal constituency between 2003 and 2015, has continued to make his influence and foray count in both his West senatorial district and the Gateway State at large.

For the Baba Adinni of Yewaland, who enjoys strong cordiality with his governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari and subsequent confirmation by the Senate, met with unanimous jubilation and approval across the state without any dissenting voice. Of course, not a few are said to be interested in unravelling the secret behind his meteoric rise.

Perhaps, what fuels this is the fact that the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, who is an unapologetic, loyal party man, has now become a rallying point of network and influence in Ogun West.

But investigations revealed that his standout qualities that have made him relevant over the years are his ability to listen to people, connect with them and intelligently take actions that will benefit the populace.

Similarly, the ever-smiling Akinlade has carved a niche for himself when it comes to giving and empowerment, and this has made him to be one of the most benevolent politicians in Ogun State.

Interestingly, he does this without making any noise about it. As the former Chairman of the House Committee on Science and Technology delves into his new portfolio at the Federal Character Commission, it is expected that he will continue to display the strong and enviable leadership he is known for.

Akinlade

Oba Omogbolahan Wasiu Lawal’s Date with History

Oba Lawal

Not too many saw it coming. Not even those close to him had any inkling about it. But as it is in human affairs, Prince Omogbolahan Wasiu Lawal had a date with history, to the amazement of all, a few days ago.

It all happened within three days - from the rumour of his selection to the investiture. In other words, within 72 hours, the then Prince Lawal transformed from being the Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Co-

operatives to a monarch. He is the new Oniru of Iruland-the upper crust community comprising Iru and Victoria Island-a prime real estate domain in Lagos State.

It will be recalled that he had, on Thursday, June 4, suddenly resigned his appointment as a member of Lagos Executive Council.

The following day, his selection as the next Oniru was announced in the afternoon during the Lagos State Executive Council meeting, where final ratification was made on his nomination.

Before our eyes, all the necessary rites were perfected within those three days. With this, Lawal, who will be 50 on July 24, was presented with his staff of office on Sunday at a colourful ceremony in Lagos as the successor to the late Oba Idowu Abiodun Oniru who passed on last year at the age of 82. But his selection has been greeted with controversies. Reason: Lawal’s emergence came as a rude shock to many considering that he was not even in the race for the revered stool.

It was gathered that the real contenders to the throne were two famous Princes in OniruHakeem Ajasa and Aremo Adesegun Oniru.

Ajasa, a serving top police officer and Chief

Security Officer to Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, is from the Abisogun Ruling House. He is believed to be the rightful successor to the late monarch. His rival, Adesegun, a wealthy former Commissioner for Waterfront and Infrastructure in Lagos State, is the first son of the late immediate past monarch.

But the odds favoured Ajasa whose Abisogun Ruling House had never occupied the throne, unlike the Onirus who are an integral part of the families that comprise the Akiogun Ruling House that had been on the throne for about 72 years.

Expectedly, one of the two leading contenders had been narrowed down to mount the throne.

Though Society Watch gathered that Lawal’s name had cropped up in the early days of the scramble for the new king, he was thought to stand no chance. The reason, it was gathered, is that it is his mother, Olori M. A. Lawal-Akapo, who is a royal Princess in Oniru , while his late dad, Chief T. A. Lawal-Akapo, was the Ojora of Lagos between 1977 and 1993 when he died.

Former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu’s New Dream Today, the story of Nigeria’s politics will never be complete without a mention of his name.

Indeed, without recourse to exaggeration, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, a former Deputy Senate President, is one experienced politician in history who has climbed every rung of the ladder to attain his current enviable height.

He joined active politics in 1997, and his star has never suffered any eclipse since then.

The political gladiator, who attributes all to divine grace, is everything many aspiring politicians would wish to be in life.

Providence, no doubt, has literally lavished its favour on him.

However, for a man who has everything at

his beck and call, you wonder what else he wants in life. Society Watch gathered that the lawyer’s greatest desire is to secure the number one job of his state come 2023 when the incumbent governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, will have served his two terms in office.

Interestingly, he is said to have received the blessings of many top political leaders as well as those that matter in the scheme of things across the state. It was gathered that he has been enjoying massive support owing to what his fans described as his great contributions to the growth of the state. ‘’Ekweremadu is so far the best candidate after Ugwuanyi, he has and built a solid political structure, with unmatched political clout and leverage as well as heavy financial war chest’’, the source said.

Ekweremadu

Ronke Ademiluyi’s Rising ProďŹ le

Ademiluyi

Ronke Ademiluyi, a Nigerian fashion expert and entrepreneur, is a woman of true and pure grace, especially considering her track record of excellence.

Described as a woman of many parts, the beautiful Ile-Ife Princess has continued to be a blessing to humanity. Born and raised in England, United Kingdom, she has repeatedly shown a great spirit of excellence in her business engagements.

In August 2011, she founded the now wellknown Africa Fashion Week London; and she has successfully built the 10-year-old brand into one of the most internationally recognized fashion events in the world. The popular annual fashion event is a twoday free fashion festivity - a fusion of African culture, fashion style and music celebrating London’s unique and diverse cultural heritage.

Today, the AFWL has become a huge platform for hundreds of fashion entrepreneurs to showcase

and launch their designs to the international market. Some of the highlights of Ademiluyi’s AFWL include eight catwalk events, showcasing of over 800 emerging designers and exhibitors fromAfrica, Europe andAmerica to almost 70,000 visitors, including buyers, retailers, influential industry professionals, and the media.

In addition, the Law graduate of Thames Valley University in London is one of Nigeria’s custodians of the African heritage. In recognition of her long history of excellence, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi appointed Ademiluyi as the Heritage Ambassador for Queen Moremi Legacy, as part of his efforts to add value to the Yoruba culture. Ademiluyi, the woman of honour behind the House of Oduduwa, has brought class and excellence to bear in her new assignment over the past few years.

Tale of Two Actors: Chief Eleyinmi Not Related to Funsho Adeolu In these days of internet connectivity and news at the click of a button, it is often advisable to stop the spread of a falsehood lest it be taken for the truth. There is a popular saying that goes “a lie told often can be mistaken for the truth.�

The late Chief Eleyinmi of the popular ‘Village Headmaster’ series has often been mistaken to be related to the Yoruba actor, Funsho ‘Adeolu’ Adegeye. This is not the case.

The late Oba of Ode Remo, HRM Olufunso Sunday Adeolu is from Ogun State, while Funsho ‘Adeolu�’Adegeye is from Ondo State.

It is possible that at the start of his career, the Yoruba actor decided to capitalize on the name to boost his chances in the industry. This is not a bad thing, after all, they say “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.�

The two characters have done well as actors but they are in no way related or family members. The late Alaye Ode of Ode Remo was a consummate actor that plied his trade in Nigeria, UK and the United States. He featured in a British movie, ‘Out of Africa’ and the film

production of ‘Things Fall apart.’ He also played prominent roles in ‘The Village Headmaster,’ ‘The Millers’ and a few others.

Similarly, Nollywood actor Funsho ‘Adeolu’ has built a reputation for himself as demonstrated in various movie roles he played.

It would, however, be a disservice for both parties if the difference were not made known.

While he was alive, the actor-turnedmonarch was known for his tolerance and accommodation of everyone. When it was brought to his attention that there was a Yoruba actor using his name, he laughed it off and said, “Efi sile. Omo mi ni!’ (leave him, he’s my child, alluding to the fact that the younger actor was his child in the film industry.)

For those that knew him well, this was his style and way of life. He liked having people around him and would play with anyone young or old. His palace was always filled with his different ‘children’ that came and went as they pleased and he did not discriminate between them and his biological children.

For the avoidance of doubt, the late Alaye

Adegeye

Late Oba Adeolu

Ode of Ode Remo has eight children and only one biological son.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž ÍŻÍ˛Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

51

with JOSEPH EDGAR ̥͸Π͸Πͽ͝ͺͽͿΠ̢͚

Asiwaju Tinubu and Rauf Aregbesola – Rumble in the Jungle You see, my problem is when people don’t want to fight and they will be wasting our time dribbling themselves and drawing line in the sand. These two titans have started rumbling.

They say the cancellation of the groupings within the Lagos APC is to clip the wings of daddy who is now a big minister in Abuja, while others say it is just a restructuring exercise put in place to make sure that the party maintains cohesion. While some of us have gone to buy guguru

Ehanire

WHO IS WHO? These are not very good times for the World Health Origination (WHO). It’s looking like the Covid is really dribbling them and making them look really ridiculous to the world.

They have been overturning themselves so much that you begin to see them the way we used to see the great IBB and named him Maradona cos of his dribbling ways. First at the onset, they say mask cannot help, then they say wear mask.

Everybody turn to Spiderman.

Then they say mask is not good, we threw it away then they now say it is good. Then they jump on Chloroquine, they are not sure. Today use, tomorrow don’t. Then they say you cannot get it through sex, then they say you can because they have seen the virus inside semen 30days after the patient tested negative.

This final one is the one that is really vexing me, they say asymptomatic people can spread the virus, so we should all keep a distance then they suddenly wake up and say asymptomatic people have only ‘rarely’ spread the virus and I immediately jumped to hug my neighbour’s wife who does not greet me only for them to come back and say na joke o making me to resume drinking TCP to save my life.

You see why Trump no like them and Madagascar and Brazil are threatening to quit? Please WHO

and Epa to take time to watch the drama, we saw press release saying that there is no problem between both of them. Na lie o, there is problem o, there must be problem o. The whole thing is looking like those bus conductors who will be doing drama in Oshodi instead of fighting. They will jump up, tear their shirt. One will run from Oshodi to Ikeja ‘Ile Zik’, the other will run to the other side towards Cappa. Come back, run towards themselves and just when you think they

Ogeah

is WHO? I ask.

CHIKE AND FUNKE OGEAH – HAPPY Wedding Anniversary During the week, my Oga and his lovely wife the ever so delectable and sweet ‘Dame’ Funke Ogeah celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. Mbok come and see the picture my Oga post of him and madam. The picture was so fine so tay my Oga was looking like Denzel Washington with a bald head. Madam, you know I can never yab. She is such a nice hostess who will take her time to be asking me what I will eat each time I go for a visit. Unlike my Oga who will want to be discussing politics when person never chop. Anyways, I wish them many more years together and God’s true blessing to continue to shine on them.

DAPO ADELEGAN FOR GOVERNOR This is my real egbon o. The original Benjamin Back and the visionary who gave us Lekki Sunsplash. I can never forget because it was on the way to the concert that I ‘misplaced’ Duchess. That time she was very short and the roads to the place were not tarred and you will drop half way and walk towards the Beach. It was in the process that I misplaced my then fiancĂŠ.

Thank God I found her near one hut where they were giving people free drink. Anyways, my brother and Egbon has intimated

will blow, they will stop and be saying – ‘oya if dem born you well, touch me. That thing used to pain me. After all the shakara nothing will happen o. That is what it is looking like it want to happen in this one. After all the running around, na press release and twitter we see o, no explosion.

But wait first, did I just see Ambode name for that release? Someone tell me it’s not my Ambode oooo before I look for covid and drink. Did I just see Ambode on that release? I ask again.

Tinubu

Aregbesola

Adelegan

Jacobs

me of his desire to run for the governorship of his state - Ondo State. I think it is a good move if you ask me, because he comes to the table with strong pedigree and a reputation for performance. His last stint at the Nigerian British Chamber of Commerce was one of the best years at the place like I hear. So his foray into politics should not come as a surprise because of his love for service.

The only wahala there is that he would have to dye his beards pure white and be looking like Yoruba father Christmas like the incumbent. It just tight work. My lord, I wish you well if there is any support you feel I could give from Shomolu do not hesitate to let me know. We dey beside you.

reproduce it here so you people will help me thank Jehovah God. ‘So I have asked for your time to tell you about racism. Have you seen what is happening in China and America? Have you heard of George Floyd? He couldn’t breathe and yet the officers still choked him or how about the Chinese museums about black people? They are comparing us to animals. To make matters even worse they are kicking black people out of their homes and not letting them into restaurants because they say black people have Covid 19‌‌‌.did the pandemic not start from China?

So please make a better future for your Children as Martin Luther King once said‌‌.. mbok, pleae does anybody have phone number of those people that used to give Nobel Prize for literature because an Ibibio boy is on the way there o. kai, I thank God o.

ALVIN TALKS RACISM Avin Joseph Edgar is my 13 year old second son. He attends Liforte School in Ibadan and is an expert in video games and wrestling.

He knows all the wrestlers and will tell you exactly whose bones will be broken in the next fight. I used to just look and be asking myself which kind life is this, when he and all of his friends including Enoch will be sitting down and be watching Wrestling like say that is where Jesus second coming will be announced. So you can imagine my excitement when he called me in the office to say, he had written an essay on Racism. I say send and he sent. Let me

OLU JACOBS IS ALIVE AND WELL Mbok the way people will just be doing this fake news is really astounding. Can you imagine them saying that the great veteran actor had gone?

Thankfully, his lovely wife came out to debunk it and proclaim that he was alive and well and in fact they would be spending a considerable amount of time in the other room just to prove a point. I am happy and that is al I will say. Welldone sir and God bless you both.

52

JU ÍšÍźËœ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

INTERNATIONAL International Appointments and Egypto-US Political Magouilles: The Cases of AfDB and the WTO

I

nternational relations is largely a conflict system at whatever level it is considered. Even when States claim to have shared views and interests, the modality for the protection of such shared interests still differs. For example, the conflict of interest is clearly manifested in the quest for international appointments. Grosso modo, the diplomatic tradition is for a country seeking to present its candidate to do a note verbale, introducing its candidate, with an attached curriculum vitae of the candidate and sending it to the diplomatic missions accredited to it, with particular emphasis on ‘request for support’ of the State to which the note verbale is sent.

In this regard, it is important to also note that factors of regionalisation and rotation are other important dynamics in the nomination processes of international appointments. In addition, at the level of the global community, the principles of fairness and justice, on the basis of the rule of sovereign equality, necessarily requires the need to also adopt the rules of inclusiveness and rotation.

In this regard, the African continent is divided into five regions as per the 1991 Abuja Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community, whereas the United Nations considers the whole of Africa as a region. When it is the turn of Africa to be given the opportunity of presenting a candidate for a vacant international position, Africa is always considered holistically. But how does Africa, through the instrumentality of the African Union, elect a candidate for the position? This is where the factor of regionalism comes into play. African Union’s policy on the matter is rotation among the five regions. If there is vacancy and West Africa is given the opportunity to provide the candidate, the next opportunity will be given to another region.

And more interestingly, at the level of each region also, the relevant regional organisation often makes efforts to have a common candidate who will be presented to the African Union as the candidate of the whole region, and not as the candidate of the country presenting the candidate. The advert placed by Ambassador Raychelle Omano, the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kenya, on Kenya’s ‘Pivotal Role in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): ABoon to the United Nations Security Council,’ and published in The Nation newspaper of Friday, June 12, 2020, page 26, provides a good illustration of the foregoing point.

As noted by Ambassador Omamo, ‘on 17th June 2020, the United Nations will be electing 15 states from its 193 Members to take up the Non-Permanent seats at the United Nations Security Council for the period 2021-2022. Kenya will be on the ballot vying for the Single Seat available for Africa, having been endorsed by the African Union in August, 2019 as the African Union Candidate for the position.

It is the joy of being Africa’s consensual plenipotentiary that the Kenyan Foreign Ministry has been prompted to place an advert in Nigeria, to inform Nigerians about Kenya’s intention to pursue a 10-point agenda on SDGs by ‘Consensus Building Capabilities,’ demonstrating ‘objectivity and trustworthiness,’ and remaining ‘consistent,’ in the Kenyan tradition. This is how Kenya expects to contribute to Africa’s development re-strategy in multilateral diplomacy.

Although there are few cases where a candidate in a region of Africa is adopted as Africa’s common candidate and one of the countries in the region still felt aggrieved and went to the African Union to protest by fielding its own candidate, such cases are exception to the rule.

VIE INTERNATIONALE with

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

Election Processes of AfDB and WTO In explaining and understanding the election processes of the AfDB and the WTO, it is important to note in all cases that when a candidate is adopted at the regional level and the candidate is not only presented to the African Union, but he or she is also accepted, the candidature of the candidate automatically becomes that of the whole continent. The main rationale for this procedure is to prevent Africa’s votes from being divided. In the foreign policy tradition of the African Union, the people of Africa must always speak with one voice. However, the problem has always been at the level of evolvement of unanimity of purpose at the regional level. Opposi-

tion to regional candidates can arise at the continental level, but such opposition is generally avoided for reasons of possible, future reciprocal treatment. Africa’s problem, it is believed, should be addressed by Africans and African leaders should adopt a common defence whenever Africa’s interests are internationally threatened.

This is precisely what often obtains in the attitudinal disposition of the African Union towards the appointment of chief executives of the various international organisations when it is Africa’s turn to fill an international vacancy. The cases of the re-election of Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the nomination of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for possible election as Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) are retained for special exegesis in this column.

To begin with, the notion of appointment can be ambiguous: it can mean an arrangement to meet, in which case, it is synonymous with a rendez-vous, consultation, date, commitment, etc. It can also mean furniture or fittings as in saying a royal palace is gothic in its appointments. Another meaning, which is relevant to us here, is the act of assigning a position or job to an individual. In other words, we are concerned with the election processes of appointing chief executives of the AfDB and the WTO. True, the modality for the appointment of Chief Executives of international organisations cannot but be a critical dynamic for understanding the political intrigues that often characterise international relations. This dynamic should always be understood in context, though often ignored, in understanding the struggle for power and influence, and particularly in the quest to protect the national interest.

In the struggle, efforts are always made to outsmart one another.

Victory is always reserved for whoever is able to come up with the better or best diplomatic finesse in terms of strategy of how to defeat the arguments of other competitors, how to take advantage of the weaknesses of the arguments of others and how to ensure self-preservation, even if it is to the detriment of survival of other states.

As regards the AfDB, the regulation on the appointment of or succession to the Office of the President of the Bank is traceable to Article 36 of the Agreement that created the AfDB. The Article prescribed the conditions thus: the candidate must be a national of a regional Member State and must be ‘a person of the highest competence in matters pertaining to the activities, management and administration of the Bank. It should be noted here that membership of AfDB is of two categories: regional and non-regional.

Regional members are basically the 54 constitutive Member States of the African Union. The non-regional Member States are investors from other regions of the world: Europe, Asia, and America. In all, they are 27 members.

Another prescription for candidates for the presidency of the AfDB is that their candidatures must be deposited by the Governor for the regional Member State of which the candidate is national with the Secretary General of the Bank, for transmittal to the Steering Committee of the Board of Governors, which comprises the various Ministers of Finance of the Member States.

The Finance Ministers are referred to as Governors in the Bank.

The candidate presents a letter of introduction, fills a Nomination Form and submits a detailed curriculum vitae with the Form.

More important, every candidature must be supported by, at least

Trump, US President

Fattah el-Sisi, Egyptian President

one other Governor (Article 3 of the Rules). Thereafter, a list of all candidates is established and transmitted to the Steering Committee for eligibility verification before sending to all the members of the Board of Governors. In the context of the 2020 re-election of Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, the list was to be transmitted to the Board on 21 February, 2020.

Apart from the conditions required of candidates, the rules of procedure governing election also provides that election must be held during the Board’s Annual General Meeting closest to the end of the term of office of the serving president.

What should be particularly noted in the election rules is provided in Article 4 on Statement of Voting Power. The article stipulates that ‘the voting power of each member country, which shall be used in the computation of votes, shall be determined by the Board of Directors as at close of business on the last working day in the month immediately preceding the month during which the election of the President shall be held. Only payments actually received by the Bank on account of subscriptions shall be taken into account in determining the voting powers.’ Additionally, ‘the status of the voting powers referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be circulated to Governors as early as possible upon the completion of registration for attendance at the Assembly at which the elections shall be held.’ The import of the foregoing is to underscore the point that voting at the AfDB is governed by the principle of ‘weighted voting’ in which majority vote is determined by how much a Member State has in the bank as at the time of voting. On record, Nigeria has 9.5% of the equity share-holding of the Bank, which is the highest. The United States occupies the second position with 6.5%; Egypt the third position with 5.5%; Japan and South Africa the fourth and fifth positions with 5.4% and 4.9% respectively. Algeria (4.1%), Germany (4.0%), Canada (3.8), and Ivory Coast (3.7%), France (3.6%) occupied the fifth to the tenth positions as indicated. It is noteworthy from the foregoing that only five countries are among the first ten biggest shareholders.

As regards the election rules of the WTO, the regulations guiding the appointment of the Director General of the WTO are contained in Document WT/L/509 on the Procedures for the Appointment of Directors-General. The document was adopted on December 10, 2002 by the General Council. As explained on 20 May 2020 by the General Council Chair, David Walker of New Zealand, the appointment process for the next Director General would officially begin on June 8, 2020, while the closing date for nominations would be July 8, 2020, after which Mr. Walker will be required to establish a consolidated list of nominations and forward it to all WTO members. Candidates are thereafter invited to meet with members at a special General Council meeting and present their views and agenda of possible development of the organisation.

Unlike the AfDB, but like the World Health Organisation, the tradition of one vote per every Member State on the basis of the rule of sovereign equality, is what obtains at the WTO. The United States has never felt comfortable with this rule. It has only been tolerating it. In the AfDB, where the United States is the second biggest shareholder, it is finding it increasingly difficult to play the piper and also dictate the tunes. Egypt, which is on record to have been always at logger head with Nigeria on the leadership of Africa, is not comfortable with Nigeria’s new candidate for the WTO Director-General’s position. The foregoing is the background to what we have called the Egyptian and American political magouille above.

Egyptian and US political magouille ‘Magouille’ is a French word meaning fraud. Talking about political fraud is also raising intellectual fraud in essence and not necessarily in terms of financial impropriety, money-laundering, embezzlement, looting, etc. Political magouille is basically the use of intellectual skills to create a situation of misinformation in order to confuse, or seek attention and misdirect. That is precisely what the United States has done in the case of the AfDB by requesting for a fresh investigation into the allegations levied against the incumbent President of the AfDB. The position and strategy of Egypt in also raising objection to the nomination of Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala by the Government of Nigeria for possible election into the office of the Director-General of the WTO is also to misinform.

At the level of the AfDB, it should be said that the contest for the presidency of the Bank and for the office of the Director-General of the WTO is stricto-sensu, indirectly between the United States and Nigeria, and indeed, not between Nigeria and other countries in Africa, whose nominees are contesting. For instance, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina is the only and consensual candidate standing for re-election. This means that, in the absence of the United States’ quest for and insistence on a fresh investigation, he should be automatically re-elected unopposed. Besides, even though he is Africa’s candidate, he still remains a Nigerian by ius sanguinis.

Thus the United States is the only country that is openly known to be militating against his re-election and the main reason cannot be far-fetched: the AfDB is owned by Africa. It was founded on 10 September, 1964 and headquartered in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

It has three main entities: the AfDB, the African Development Fund, and the Nigerian Trust Fund. As noted above, there are two categories of membership: the regional members all of which are from Africa and which accounts for 60% of the total shares of 4,374,000. The non-regional members account for the rest, 40%.

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

ARTS & REVIEW A

PUBLICATION

14.06.2020

F O R SA M OV R A I T I , C OV I D - 1 9 I S J U ST A P H AS E Even a period of lockdown can creatively be advantageous to a creative mind, artist Sam Ovraiti discovers as struggles to adjust his routine to the current realities. Okechukwu Uwaezuoke reports

C

hange was inevitable. Things would never be the same again.

It was just a little over a month after Nigeria confirmed its first coronavirus case and the public unease about the pandemic had already heightened. As part of the package that eventually came with the imminent change was a lockdown announced by the Nigerian government on Sunday, March 29.

This initial lockdown, which lasted two weeks, became effective from 11 pm on Monday, March 30, and affected only Lagos and Ogun states as well as the federal capital city, Abuja.

But, for Sam Ovraiti, he would not lose sleep over the announcement. Lockdown might just as well have been another of those buzzwords. Or, so he thought.

“As a visual artist, my world is in me,” he rationalises. “[After all,] lockdown has been my usual state of existence.”

Slowly, but surely, it began to dawn on him that certain things about his normal routine were bound to become “casualties” of the onslaught of change. First among these “casualties” were what he called his “weekly artist dates”. Such dates offered windows of opportunities to see life outside his studio walls.

During those outings, he would criss-cross the termite-dense Ovraiti city of Lagos, feeling its vibes and tapping into the pulsating been fixed. This means that both the organisers and intending ideas that seem to be floating out there. participants would only be hoping that a gradual easing of the Then, it struck him that he was running out of art supplies. lockdown would make it possible for it to hold.

The realisation that he could not visit the art supply shops “I am confident that we are well equipped to maintain the because they were forced to close down made him begin to liken right social distancing and healthy practice protocols that will the period of lockdown to a war situation. guarantee a successful August edition,” Ovraiti enthuses.

This was when his mantra to always to the impossible with “There is enough studio space to accommodate participants, to the available came in handy. “When one material is no longer maintain the highest level of virus-free workshop. If all travel available, you begin to look differently at the ones that are available. This tasks your creativity and sometimes helps you to restrictions are relaxed before August, there’s all likelihood the harmattan workshop will hold.” come up with new slants of creative new works.”

Ovraiti, a former Federal Polytechnic, Auchi lecturer, also Tasking his creativity also implied spending a lot of time holds a Higher National Diploma from the tertiary institution on his artworks and seeking ways to make them refreshingly and an MFA degree from the University of Benin. A leading different from the previous ones. light of the contemporary Nigerian art scene, he is one of the Prior to the lockdown, he had travelled to the rustic Delta pillars of the Guild of Fine Artists, which is simply known as State town of Agbarha-Otor as the director and one of the old GFA. reliables of the annual Harmattan Workshops. The two-week Even before the lockdown, the members of this close-knit workshop had a full house, with participants drawn from all collective of the elite Nigerian professional artists preferred over the world. Also in attendance was its founder and chairsocial media as their platform of interaction. This is especially man, Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya, who created some evacuative since its membership is spread across Nigeria and even extends acrylic on canvas works.

Meanwhile, the dates for the workshop's forthcoming August to Europe and America. “So, during the lockdown, we resorted to Zoom video meetings, which we found more convenient edition, like those of the February edition, have already long

and stress-free. Social media and technology have come to the rescue.”

On the effect of the lockdown on art patronage, he insists that “art is happening always”, likening the business of art to other business endeavours. “Everything is selling: generators, food, houses, cars, books, wine… All are selling and, like them, the business of art is still running. People are still producing art and collectors are buying art. It has never ceased and it will not cease. Statistics and data will reveal how many.”

Nonetheless, he is concerned about the impact of the press reports on COVID-19 on the sale of all products with the exception of foods and medicines. “I believe at all times some will sell and some will not. Many factors will be responsible for whether a sector or a person will be affected negatively or not. Even in this lockdown mega-companies made profits and some crashed.”

“As a studio artist,” he continues. “I set my goals and my mantra is ‘I am a human being doing the business of art’. In this business, my job is to create art. I create and those who are in the business of selling art take over from there. If I create useful, valuable art that can profit people who deal in art, then a sale is assured!”

He brushes aside the apocalyptic notions swirling around the pandemic as exaggerated. According to him, the so-called period of uncertainty “is all a mind thing created by people, who are meditating in the wrong direction.”

“If I must project into the future, I will project that people will get out of the fear mode and begin to live positively knowing that ‘this too shall pass’.”

Ovraiti premises his optimism on the current positive reports from the art sector despite the pandemic. First, there was, on the international scene, a recent sale of a 1982 painting by the late American artist of Haitian and Puerto Rican descent, JeanMichel Basquiat, titled, “Boy and Dog in a Johnnypump”, for $100 million. Then, the bidings for the Lagos-based Arthouse Contemporary Limited’s first-ever online auction flagged off on Tuesday, June 9 and concludes on Monday, June 15.

“Other auction houses have followed suit,” he believes.

“This goes to show that the more things change, the more they remain the same. Art will always be created by us, who overcome fear. The business will go on. And collectors like trees are not afraid of the weather. They will always be there.”

He, therefore, advises the younger generation of artists to keep their creative dreams alive and remain open to more revelations irrespective of what the outer world is presenting.

“COVID-19 is a phase. Art will remain.”

CULTURE

From the Pangs of Pandemic, African Creatives Are Closing the Division Gap Steve Ayorinde

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uxor, the beautiful Egyptian resort city, was probably the last place Africa converged for the arts, before the pandemic forced the world to stand physically apart. It was the 9th edition of Luxor African Film Festival, one of the most engaging platforms where African films North and South of the Sahara and from the Diaspora, with the professionals behind them, interface with unrestrained sense of camaraderie.

It had opened well on March 6 with a fabulous open-air ceremony, bringing Africa together in spite of the new virus, which was then ravaging China and a few cities cities in Europe.

As at that time, it was all news to most part of Africa as only a couple of major cities had recorded index cases of infection, from Europeans who flew in into the (African) continent. But, barely mid-way into the festival, about a dozen cases had been discovered on a cruise boat in Egypt. More suspected cases were being recorded in other African cities.

Worries were palpable!

Then a directive came to suspend all schooling and public activities in Egypt to guard against community spread of the virus.

The Jury, on which I had the privilege to serve

alongside great African names like film as a united entity, closer than ever before. ditector Gaston Kabore and actress Mainouna Three months after, the world has been hit N'diaye, both from Burkina Faso; Egyptian very hard by COVID-19 and Africa, as preactor, Mustafa Shaven and Tunisian director dicted, has not been spared. Creatives and Saad Chraibi, had to view the rest of the films stakeholders in the arts and culture sphere, in the hotel in order to select winners, when like their travel and tourism counterparts, public screenings were suspended. had been most hard hit. Cinemas, theatres, The festival eventually ended almost concerts, festivals and every form of shows abruptly, two days to the official closing were cancelled. Even as lockdown protocols ceremony, due to safety reasons. are being relaxed in most African states, arts Winners were still announced and guests, spaces remain shut. every shade of filmmakers making Africa ––Ayorinde, a Lagos-based journalist proud, might have departed with a heavy and art aficionado, is the publisher of heart, not sure of what the future held, but The Culture Newspaper (TCN) were all united in chorusing the fact that African creatives must come out of the pandemic (See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

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SUNDAY JUNE 14, 2020 •T H I S D AY

SUNDAY JUNE 14, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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JUNE 14, 20Ͱͮ ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

with RenoOmokri THEALTERNATIVE El-Rufai’s Email Saying Southern Women Youth Corpers are Seen as Whores

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ver since I revealed that the Governor of Kaduna state had sent me an email wherein he said that Southern women youth corpers were seen as “whores”, there have been multiple sophisticated attempts to hack my email account.

I do not know why anyone will be stupid enough to think that a meticulous record keeper as myself would leave such a sensitive detail in my inbox. For the attention of those who are trying to hack my account, that email is with my lawyers.

The email was sent to me on Wednesday the 27th of April, 2011.

The reason I chose to expose its existence is that Nasir El-Rufai is scheming to become Nigeria’s President, and in my opinion, and I am sure in the opinion of every right-thinking person, Nigeria cannot afford another Buharesque autocrat who says that Southern women youth corpers are seen whores.

This was the sentiment expressed by extremist Hutus against Tutsis and was key to dehumanising them before, during and after the Rwandan genocide.

Nasir El-Rufai is notorious for suing people at the drop of a hat.

I have spoken about his email to a DeutscheWelle journalist and on my recent interview with Daddy Freeze on Nigerian Info. I relish the opportunity to be sued by Nasir El-Rufai.

Look at what is happening in Southern Kaduna. In recent weeks, Southern Kaduna men, women, children and infants were being killed by herdsmen and the Kaduna State Governor has shown that he is more interested in appeasing and of apologising for the suspected perpetrators.

The photographs of the victims are just too gruesome. It is just like a déjà vu of Dogo Na Hauwa. If you do not know what happened in Dogo Na Hauwa, in Plateau State, then Google the massacre that occurred there on March 7, 2010.

Two years later, when violence erupted again in Plateau, and it looked like it was going to lead to a reoccurrence of Dogo Na Hauwa, then President Jonathan ordered troops to go to Plateau and keep the peace. I still have chills in my spine when I recall Nasir El-Rufai’s response to the attempt by the Nigerian Army to protect Nigerian citizens.

On Sunday, July 15, 2012, Nasir El-Rufai said, and I quote, “We will write this for all to read. Anyone, soldier or not that kills the Fulani takes a loan repayable one day no matter how long it

takes.”

When you take into account the ferocity, and integrity of the Southern massacre killings and the ease at which the killers can raid these communities, with impunity, and sad to say, gravitas, one can’t stop asking if the loan El-Rufai mentioned on July 15, 2012 is being repaid in 2020.

And then imagine if this man gets access to power at the centre.

How will he treat Southern Nigerians?

Do not forget that on Saturday July 6, 2019, El-Rufai said, “We (Northerners) are generally considered to be more honest and less corrupt than other Nigerians”.

Now, you can clearly see the utter disdain that this man has for Southern Nigerians. And he is not yet President. What then will happen to us (Southerners) if he schemes his way to Aso Rock?

We will have a ruler who thinks Southern women youth corpers are seen as “whores”, and Southern men are dishonest. Can such a person ever do right by the South?

Look at the disdain with which his son publicly treated Southerners. Calling an Igbo woman a harlot and threatening to pass her to his friends to gang rape. Children are not born to hate. They are thought to hate. We cannot be so concerned about Black Lives Matter and overlook the lives of Southerners, which obviously do not matter to this man and his family.

Derek Chauvin had his knee on the neck of George Floyd for 8 minutes and 46 seconds and Floyd died. Does Southern Nigeria think she can survive if Nasir El-Rufai puts his knee on our necks for four years? You better have another think!

The man has not hidden his utter contempt for us. It will amount to masochism on the part of the South, to sit idly by and watch as this man schemes his way to the top, despite the many Freudian slips that have exposed the bigotry burning within him and his sons.

We are currently under the yoke of a regime that told us publicly and with a straight face that ‘giving land for ranching is better than death’. Do we want to now hand over to the person that will now actualise that? Are we so much in love with death that we will go to the slaughter without resistance? Is Southern Nigeria a conquered territory? Are there no more men in the South that we will just roll on the floor and allow ourselves to be defiled?

I reject any Southern irredentism that wants to dominate Northern Nigeria. And I also vehemently reject becoming a

second-class citizen in a country where I fought Sani Abacha and almost died. God forbid!

I remember that former President Olusegun Obasanjo once called for a psychiatric test for anyone aspiring to be the President of Nigeria. I am almost sure that if such a test is performed on Nasir El-Rufai, the results will shock Nigeria.

And that is not hyperbole. General Obasanjo has seen a lot both in peace and in war. He has been at the top and the bottom.

He was a prisoner of war in The Congo and a political prisoner under Abacha. It will take a lot to shock him. Yet, hear what he has to say about Nasir El-Rufai.

Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, who brought him to the limelight, had this to say about Nasir El-Rufai in his book: My Watch Volume 2 as follows: “Nasir’s penchant for reputation savaging is almost pathological. Why does he do it?......I recognised his weaknesses; the worst being his inability to be loyal to anybody or any issue consistently for long, but only to Nasir el-Rufai.

He barefacedly lied which he did to me against his colleagues and so-called friends. I have heard of how he ruthlessly savaged the reputation of his uncle, a man who was like, in the African setting, his foster father. I shuddered when I heard the story of what he did to his half-brother in the Air Force who is senior to him in age.” Is this the type of person that should be aspiring to rule over us? God forbid. God forbid. And again, God forbid.

To be forewarned is to be forearmed. I have taken great pains to expose in gruesome detail the type of man that has Nigeria in his sight. If we allow him to succeed in his schemes, we would have nobody else to blame, because a stitch in time saves 9.

Dear men, Think twice before going on one knee in crowded malls to propose. It is getting old. Be creative, not reactive. Many girls are accepting these proposals out of embarrassment. Bold ones are disgracing you. Propose in private, to be sure it is love, not embarrassment! To the ladies, the best response to surprise public proposals in crowded malls is ‘give me a few days’. You are not yourself at that moment. Nobody should make lifetime decisions under such circumstances (when they are embarrassed, excited, bashful or even angry!). Be clear minded when and if you say yes. #FreeLeahSharibu #RenosNuggets.

with ChidiAmuta e-mail:chidi.amuta@gmail.com

ENGAGEMENTS

A Post COVID-19 Wager

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or most of the world, a return to some normalcy is an inevitable logic as coping with the corona virus becomes part of a new normal. Throngs of people in face masks on the streets, public parks, markets and airports will no longer evoke consternation or surprise. National economies just have to reopen in the knowledge that the pandemic has shown its worst face.

We now know that it can kill people in thousands. It makes many people ill and may necessitate unusual hospitalization. It forces businesses to shut down and fire many people. It can stretch healthcare facilities where they exist and compel governments to seek relief for distressed populations. Most importantly, it has exposed the naked underbelly of incompetent governments and reaffirmed the authenticity of genuine leaders and resilient states. In one breadth, a global calamity has come with political, economic and social consequences. In short, an unexpected virus has written itself into world history in less than half a year.

The logic of urgent reopening is a simple one. It is rooted in the imperative of collective survival. Further infections and loss of lives are inevitable. They are the contingent costs of ensuring the continuity of society and the survival of nations. The management of the pandemic as a public health emergency has also become one of the various contingencies of collective living in the 21st century. It may have become part of the new curriculum of governance in most countries. What needs to be a matter of concern for public policy thinkers, however, is the consequential aftermath of the pandemic as the greatest single affliction of humanity since after the Great Depression and the Second World War. Wars and major pandemics in human history have marked turning points for nations and societies. Such turning points can present options between renaissance and damnation or hasten athe descent into apocalypse and national unraveling in some cases. For Europe and the West, the Great Depression fired great isolationism and nationalism with the rise of fascism and the onset of World War II as a political consequence. There was also a challenge to Western greatness in the birth of the New Deal inAmerica. In Europe in particular, depressed lives and prolonged suffering encouraged the rise of demagogues and autocrats riding the crest of national renewal to further assault tormented collective psyches.

Cover Nose Africans who went to fight in the second World War returned to the reality of empty days and tormented lives. Some picked up the pieces while others went beserk, driven overboard by the futility of not knowing what to do after a youth spent fighting other peoples war in far away lands for causes they never could understand.

For Nigeria, the end of the Civil War in 1970 was one such turning point. The choice was between national reconciliation and renewal on the one hand and a continuation of the campaign of hate and blood letting on the other. With the benefit of wise counsel, Yakubu Gowon chose differently. He sought to heal the nation and build a new national order designed to replace divisive regional blocs with the hegemony of a strong central government. That new order fired some damage repair and post war national development. The task of nation building

was left hanging hence the afflictions of the present polity.

It has been established that the quality and outcome of nations’ success in tackling the Covid-19 emergency has been a reflection of the quality and capacity of governments. In a recent essay in ForeignAffairs magazine, Francis Fukuyama wrote: “The factors responsible for successful pandemic responses have been state capacity, social trust, and leadership. Countries with all three…have performed impressively, limiting the damage they have suffered.”

That is how come that New Zealand and Iceland are now virtually free of new cases of Covid-19 just as the incidence has drastically declined in places like Denmark, Finland, Norway and even Germany to a large extent. EastAsia has done even better than the core West of the US, Italy, France and the United Kingdom.

The post covid-19 outlook for Nigeria would be first a reflection of the way our government responds to matters of urgent national importance. More immediately, it would be an extension of the management of the pandemic by the Buhari government. Typically, the approach of the Nigerian government has been a classic civil service method of the Nigerian deep state.Apresidential task force was set up and in liaison with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) were handed the responsibility of managing the crisis. Scientific input has been scant as there are hardly any credible scientists in the task force. Not even the universities, teaching hospitals and research institutes were initially involved in the management of the pandemic.

Even now, no comprehensive national testing protocol or regime is in place. Test kits largely a rarity in most states just as isolation centres are few and far between. National hospital bed space as a function of the national population is a sorry figure. Even the very initial response at the level of national psychology was abysmal as the president needed to be nudged by the force of public opinion to address the nation on the emergency for the whole of two weeks.

Even in subsequent addresses, there was scant recognition of the immense potentials of Nigerian researchers and experts to seek homegrown solutions to the pandemic. In places like Lagos and Abuja where the pandemic struck most viciously at first, the federal government merely hurled money at the virus.At the state level, governors quickly turned the virus into a weapon of political showmanship and grand standing.

Read the concluding article online www.thisdaylive.com

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JUNE 14, 2020

CICERO

Editor:Olawale Olaleye Email:wale.olaleye@thisdaylive.com, SMS: 08116759819

IN THE ARENA

Fighting the Rape Scourge Regular reports of sexual abuse across Nigeria are concerning and require a national response, writes Demola Ojo

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here has been widespread outcry over the past few weeks in Nigeria following almost daily reports of incidences of sexual violence across the country.

Last month’s murder of a 22-year-old Uwavera Omozuwa, a 100-level university student, who was brutally raped by some men and bludgeoned to death in a church, where she was allegedly studying in Benin, the Edo State capital, turned out to be a tipping point, with an online petition signed by thousands, as well as street protests.

Days after that gruesome incident came reports of the gang rape and murder of an 18-year-old Barakat Bello by unknown assailants in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

These two cases were among the most prominent in a multitude of reported cases in just the past month.

From the Nigerian police last week arresting a man for the rape of 40 women in the space of a year in Kano State, to reports of 11 men arrested in Dutse, Jigawa State, for the rape of a 12 year old, the gory reports kept coming.

Many of the dreadful incidents included the defilement of minors. A recent victim is a 12 year old, who was raped by four masked men in her home in Ajah, Lagos State, penultimate Thursdays.

Everyday is another heart-rending report. Of great concern, however, is the repulsive act of incestuous rape of daughters by fathers, from April’s narration by a 13-year-old girl in Akwa Ibom, on how her father raped her daily, to last week’s report that Anambra recorded a scandalous 80 cases during the lockdown alone.

The Scourge of Shaming the Victim

According to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), most of these cases are father-daughter rape. NAPTIP Director General, Julie Okah-Donli said during a press conference in Abuja that, the issues include society’s cover-up of cases. This is a recurring problem that emboldens perpetrators and silences victims.

In December 2018, the We Rise Initiative held an event in Lagos tagged Hear Me Too, as part of a 16-day United Nations campaign against gender-based violence.

From the accounts at Hear Me Too, the silencing of victims is rampant, and cuts across different strata of Nigerian society, from the underprivileged to the wellto-do.

According to one of the speakers, a talented artiste with hit singles on Nigerian airwaves, “I have gone through sexual assault. I was much younger and it was with a bunch of my brother’s friends. I was about eight. I couldn’t tell my mum, because when I tried to, she really didn’t pay attention.

“It happened at school but because they had well-todo parents, nothing much was done apart from apologies. I was between 8 and 11, while they were between 14 and 17,” she recalled.

Someone else shared a story: “I was raped by a neighbour when I was about eight. He was a teenager then. Another neighbour – after hearing my screams – came through, beat the boy, cleaned me up and told me not to tell anyone.”

These accounts buttress the fact that others, apart from the rapists, are also complicit in perpetuating this horrific

Governor-Fayemi with wife, Ereluy Bisi and other state functionaries, signing a bill against sexual violence into law crime. This should be reflected in future legislation.

Accessories to cover-ups should be liable to punishment.

could have experienced at least one form of sexual assault by the time they reach 25.

The Numbers Are Frightening

Of Education, Legislation, Enforcement

Among the guest speakers at Hear Me Too was Dr. Kemi Dasilva-Ibru of Women At Risk International Foundation (WARIF).

She said, “I’ve been warned, I’ve been told to go back to my country, which is here by the way,” said Mrs Da Silva-Ibru, recounting how communities don’t just try to silence victims of sexual abuses, but also those trying to help them.

Bemoaning the culture of victim blaming, she revealed that about 10,000 women are violated every day in Nigeria. “The youngest I’ve treated is two years but the youngest age on record is six months,” she said.

Last week, Okah-Donli expressed worry with the rising rate of rape across Nigeria. She said Sokoto State recorded over 600 cases of rape in 2019, among several other ones that were not reported.

“These do not capture the unreported cases of those violated and killed in dark alleys, buried in septic tanks in remote areas yet undiscovered, those cases handled as family issues out of public glare among several others,” she said.

Further statistics extrapolated from different sources show that the occurrence of sexual violence in Nigeria is an epidemic that needs to be frontally confronted by both government and NGOs. Indeed, a pandemic that requires a national response and rallying every sane mind.

According to a 2014 UNICEF study, 25 per cent of Nigerian girls have experienced sexual violence before the age of 18, compared with 10 per cent of boys.

The results of a survey published by NOI Polls in 2019 suggested that up to 33 per cent of girls living in Nigeria

The recent trend of prominent personalities lending their voices to the cause is one of the ways to combat this menace. Education of what constitutes sexual assault, statutory rape, the age of consent in Nigeria (which is 18), and the fact that a minor cannot legally give consent, should be at the forefront of discussions.

Those in positions of authority should also lead by example. In this regard, the zeal of the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, in combating this societal menace is commendable and worthy of emulation by his peers.

Penultimate weekend, the governor signed into law the compulsory treatment and care for child victims of sexual violence bill. The bill is meant to strengthen the Gender Based Violence Prohibition Law, 2012. Fayemi disclosed that Ekiti was the first state in the country to open a sexual offenders’ register and enact a domestic violence law in a bid to name and shame offenders.

“But it has still not stopped,” hence the need for a national response to the situation, he stated.

He directed the office of the attorney general and commissioner for justice to always oppose bail applications and plea-bargaining for rape offenders and promised to use his position as Nigerian Governor’s Forum chairman to declare a national state of emergency on rape.

True to his word, the governor’s forum last week called on all states to set up a sex offender’s register and sign on to two federal laws, which punish rape and violence against women and children.

P O L I T I CA L N OT E S

Edo’s Political Quagmire

P

Obaseki

olitical developments in Edo State are daily wearing all the semblance of a mutually assured destruction by hitherto political allies, whose differences have become glaringly irreconcilable. And with Governor Godwin Obaseki now out of the APC internal equation, the die might have been finally cast.

Sadly, this political trajectory is beginning to look too familiar. From the experience in the Zamfara State election to that of Rivers, Bayelsa and later Imo States, the current state of play in Edo is far too tricky and

intricate for bookmakers to start making predictions. It is desperately fluid and unpredictably uncertain as both camps within the same party, the APC, go for the kill.

Interestingly, as with the other elections, which turned out a bitter experience, the battle for the soul of Edo State is evidently about 2023. It is part of the positioning ahead of an election that could make or mar Nigeria as a social unit. But that might be early in the day. What’s certain is that the Edo election as with other off-season polls coming up later in the year, is a battle for the future.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž JUNE 14, 2020

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BRIEFINGNOTES COVID-19: If Still in Doubt, Ask Ikpeazu!

For those Nigerians, who still doubt the existence of Covid-19, the news that Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, recently tested positive for the virus should further attest to the reality, writes Shola Oyeyipo

A

s at the time of compiling this report, there were 7.27 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide and no fewer than 412, 013 people had died from the virus, which emanated from Wuhan, China, in December 2019.

Out of the figures above, Nigeria recorded more than 13, 000 confirmed cases and over 370 deaths.

But despite the negative local and international impacts of the virus, many people still do not believe the disease exists.

Though there have been some high profile Coronavirus cases in Nigeria, particularly the one leading to the death of the late Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr. Abba Kyari and the president’s personal body guard, Warrant Officer Lawal Mato, those were still not enough to convince the doubting Thomases, who would rather believe the conspiracy theories around the virus.

Latest on the list of state executives, who have felt the fang of the virus, is the Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu. Like some of his counterparts in other states, he also tested positive for coronavirus.

Abia State Commissioner for Information, John Okiyi was the first to make it public in a press statement, where he noted that on Saturday, May 30, 2020, Governor Ikpeazu volunteered his sample for COVID-19 test and subsequently directed members of the state Executive Council (EXCO) and those of the inter-ministerial committee on COVID-19 to do the same.

He said though the test result for Ikpeazu initially returned negative on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 but when on Thursday, June 4, 2020, the governor submitted another sample at the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) laboratory for confirmation, it returned positive. “As a result, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has gone into isolation as required by relevant NCDC protocols, and he is being managed by a competent team of medical practitioners with a view to nursing him back to good health,� Okiyi said.

Though the governor is asymptomatic, he has gone into self-isolation with experienced medical Ikpeazu personnel looking after him and presently his deputy, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, is acting while he is away.

Of course, there are lessons to be learnt from Governor Ikpeazu’z Covid-19 case. First, Coronavirus is real, and it is not a respecter of anyone – it can infect anybody, and not everybody is lucky to be asymptomatic hence the need for Nigerians to take necessary steps to protect themselves from the virus.

Second, irrespective of who you are or whatever position you occupy, it is important to get tested, when you know you might have been exposed to the virus. The reason is that even if you were asymptomatic, it is likely you might be spreading it to family, friends and colleagues at work without knowing.

Ikpeazu, therefore, enjoined the people of the state and Nigerians at large to continue to take issues concerning the Covid-19 pandemic with seriousness and also urged them to take necessary precautions as stipulated by the NCDC. Long before Ikpeazu, the Oyo State governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde had tested positive for coronavirus and made the announcement via his twitter handle before he went into isolation. The Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed and his deputy, Baba Tela, also tested positive for the coronavirus disease, as well as the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai too.

The Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service, Mohammed Babandede; the Chief Medical Director, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Prof. Otegbayo Jesse

and Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Frank Okiye, were some other notable Nigerians, who tested positive for the virus at various times since its first index in Lagos on February 27.

Unconfirmed reports are also saying former Oyo State governor, Senator Biola Ajimobi might have also tested positive for the virus. He is said to have been on admission at the First Cardiology, Ikoyi, Lagos, according to the reports.

But despite these glaring proofs of Covid-19 prevalence in Nigeria, a lot of Nigerians still don’t believe that the virus is real – not thanks to series of conspiracy theories flying around and some highly placed individuals, who are peddling false opinions by linking it to the 5G technology.

Pastor Chris Oyakhilome of Christ Embassy caught the wrath of the United Kingdom’s communications regulator, Ofcom, which sanctioned him for allegedly airing falsehood and potentially harmful statements about Covid-19 on his LoveWorld Television Ministry.

The Man of God, in the said sermon, linked COVID 19 virus to the 5G Network and also purported that hydroxychloroquine was a cure for disease condition.

His counterpart, founder and Senior Pastor, Salvation Ministries, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Pastor David Ibiyeomi also enlisted among those doubting the existence of Covid-19 pandemic in Nigeria, when he said in a viral video that he doubts if there is anything like Covid-19 in Nigeria. In his

view, even if there was Covid-19 in the country, it was being exaggerated.

Views such as these have also been compounded by those, who felt the virus only infects the privileged in the society since, it was imported, thus heightening the risk of community spread, which has become a major challenge in containing the spread and contact-tracing.

Not only that, security agents had the hard task of ensuring that places of religious worships complied with government’s lockdown directive.

In Kano State, which is currently experiencing multiple unexplained deaths, the people ignorantly and blatantly maintained that there was nothing like Coronavirus. Some were seen in videos washing their hands and drinking the water simply to prove that the disease was non-existence.

But the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, recently hinted that as much as 60 per cent of what was tagged as ‘mysterious’ in the state were likely due to the new coronavirus.

The Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF), Boss Mutapha-led task force on Covid-19 resolved to send a team to investigate the deaths and it was revealed that a total of 979 deaths were recorded in eight municipal local government areas at 43 deaths per day, which more than tripled the usual 11 deaths per day.

Mustapha has repeatedly warned that Nigeria was yet to reach the peak of Covid-19 confirmed cases, urging that the battle against the virus would be a long-term one.

He, therefore, suggested that the best way out for the citizenry is that they must pursue a strategy that would help in the control of the spread of the virus.

Also, the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, penultimate weekend, expressed worry that there might be a second wave of Covid-19 attack in the country, if urgent steps were not taken to contain the current increase in the number of cases.

The Ekiti governor was particularly concerned that the seriousness of the virus was not being taken as such by a majority of the people hence they have been placing more emphasis on large gatherings as against effectively arresting the situation. “I’m worried. We may be in for a second wave. We are not paying attention. This week, we’ve lost two respected Ekiti indigenes to Covid-19. The reality is that this thing is not a joke. People are still putting emphasis on public gathering, when the thing has not subsided. We might have another wave of it,� he explained.

In similar breath, an anonymous but concerned Nigeria, had last week, warned about a virulent strain of the virus in its second phase. “Good evening. My sources informed me that the pandemic seems to have entered a 2ndphase in Lagos with elevated levels of new infections. The current strain also seems to be more virulent. Please, don’t let your guard down.

It’s been a long haul, but we must reach the finishing line.�

But the Lagos State government has denied any such thing, saying apart from the fact that the numbers were slumping, it did not have any facts to support such claims.

Importantly, Ikpeazu, who is currently battling survival and Mustapha, shared the same view: believe it and prevent it! And it is best for the people to heed this advice, because prevention in this case is much better than the search for a cure that’s long in coming.

NOTES FOR FILE

June 12: A Date With Destiny!

M.K.O. Abiola

Last Friday marked another anniversary of June 12, since it was announced as Nigeria’s Democracy Day, 27 years after the criminal annulment of a presidential election that was globally adjudged the freest and fairest in the political history of Nigeria nay any African country.

June 12 has always been celebrated for all the positives and negatives it connotes, by advocates of democratic rule in the FRXQWU\ LW KRZHYHU HPEUDFHG D GL͞HUHQW PHDQLQJ IRFXV DQG ideology, when President Muhammadu Buhari declared it as Nigeria’s true Democracy Day two years ago.

Truth is that June 12 is a date destined to be, even though its poster boy, Chief MKO Abiola, was prevented from delivering Hope ‘93. And whether or not anyone likes it, it’s a date to

love and to cherish. It’s a date that reshaped Nigeria’s political history.

It’s a date that sent the military back to the barracks. It’s a date that reintroduced democracy notwithstanding its palpable imperfections. It’s a date that’s continued to give hope. It is a date meant to be and sanctioned by the universe.

Thus, as Nigeria continues to observe the date as notable in her political calendar, the actors and custodians of her common patrimony must not take anything for granted, its lessons especially. Although it’s been 21 years since the return of democracy to Nigeria, nothing so far suggests her gains are LUUHYHUVLEOH KHQFH FRQVFLRXV H͞RUWV PXVW EH PDGH WR FRQWLQXH to guard jealously, this priceless gain of June 12: Democracy!

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 14, 2020

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CICERO/ONTHEWATCH

Beneath Their Spin of No Rift It is true that the Minister of Interior, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola and his boss, National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Bola Tinubu, are having it rough at the moment. Shola Oyeyipo reports

T

he parlance ‘there is no permanent friend in politics, only permanent interests,’ may be playing out between two major political figures in Southwest, Nigeria, the National Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu and one of his closest political mentees, former Osun State governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, who is presently the Minister of Interior.

Though the two men have been denying the fact that there is any form of rift between them, people in their circle feel that it is not true, and there is reliable evidence to prove that all is not well between them. It is obvious that the two men are not only working at cross purposes but also moving to checkmate each other as the country moves towards 2023, when another presidential election is billed to hold.

Those familiar with Tinubu know that the content of the letter by him and Aregbesola denying any rift between them is only a way to deflect the attention of the public from the truth.

In September 2018, when Tinubu told Nigerians that there was no rift between him and former Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, alluding to his many endorsements, including the one from his wife and other senators from the state. But by Tinubu and Aregbesola in a dancing fit October of the same year, Ambode lost his return ticket. Tinubu supwould he refer to him as brother or partner in the ported someone else. struggle, when he ordinarily refers to him as leader?

So, what’s the crux of the matter between Tinubu Another sin of the minister was that during his and Aregbesola? Though the feeling that all his not May 30, 2020 birthday celebration he handed the well between the duo was fueled by Tinubu’s recent Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai a decision to put an end to the growing influence of platform to throw tantrums at Tinubu, when in a the Mandate Group in the Lagos State chapter of the webinar he said Aregbesola remained his man but APC, a move considered as a direct attack aimed at that Tinubu was not his man. He referenced that there clipping Aregbesola’s political wings in the state, but were differences between him and the former Lagos it is a little more than that!

The ban of Mandate group was in fact aimed solely governor.

There is no doubting that Aregbesola, as a close ally at stopping Aregbesola from further spreading his of Tinubu wielded considerable influence in Lagos political tentacles in Lagos, because there were no politics. That probably spurred rumours about his other active groups in Lagos APC at the time outside aspiration to contest senatorial election in Lagos West Mandate. senatorial district in 2019, a development that caused The Justice Forum, which used to be the main ripples of fury among Lagosians and which many felt rival group to Mandate is no longer active. It has no made Senator Musilu Obanikoro, who is also very leadership. So, when the Mandate group was banned influential, to show interest in the West senatorial seat along with other groups, it was Aregbesola that was as a way to check him. actually stopped, not any other group or groups. The But Argegbesola will not just give up his influence emphasis on Mandate was just to make it look like a in the state. He still asserts himself. He has a hold on general ban on other groups. the Lagos State House of Assembly, so muvh that he The minister had made the APC Organising Secretary, Abdullahi Enilolobo, the Mandate Chairman was said to have ordered the Speaker, Mr. Mudashiru Obasa, to reinstate sacked principal officers, without and former deputy chairman, Cardinal Omolaja Odumbaku, the apex leader. There was also the Sena- Tinubu’s approval. To the powers that be in Lagos, he was simply outstepping his bounds. tor representing Lagos East, Bayo Oshinowo; Lagos The recent skirmish in the Lagos Assembly is not West, Olamilekan Solomon; Chief of Staff to Governor unconnected with attempts to control the legislative Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Mr. Tayo Ayinde arm in the state. Having served four terms in the and others, while he, Aregbesola, was named Grand House, Senator Bayo Osinowo, who has a huge Patron. This was unacceptable to the Lagos APC influence on the House from his new base in Abuja, leadership and it had to be stopped! is said to be getting assistance from Aregbesola, in One may be right to say Aregbesola was struggling destabilising the leadership of the House. On Tinubu’s to hold on to a political base in the Southwest. His predecessor in Osun State, Governor Gboyega Oyetola side, the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, is having Obasa’s back to manage is practically undoing him in what many consider a the onslaught from Osinowo and Aregbesola. proxy war and his effort to feather his nest in Lagos But as it is, the Minister of Interior is fast losing his is also being met with stiff resistance. goodwill in Lagos for one other reason: he is believed What is Aregbesola’s sin? It seems he is sending to be using his influence as a minister to secure a wrong signal of larger than life disposition about strategic appointments for his loyalists and expand himself and his actions are being considered as his control base. This did not go down well with treachery targeted at benefitting from any political Tinubu. It was one of the reasons Tinubu is still not misfortune that may befall Tinubu ahead of 2023, happy with the likes of former Ogun State governor, supposedly being his self-appointed second in comSenator Ibikunle Amosun and Ekiti State Governor, mand in Southwest politics.

Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

Among other things, Aregbesola got it wrong in Tinubu’s position on this has been that such apmore than one way during his 63th birthday colpointments that are for the zone should be put on the loquium. He referred to Tinubu as ‘my brother and table and shared among party loyalists accordingly. partner,’ in the struggle, a portrayer considered as But for politicians who also want to gain some more incorrect, because as far as Tinubu is concerned, he was not even part of the struggle, so on what ground influence among his supporters, they come handy.

Aregbesola has allegedly given three of such appointments to some loyalists in his camp.

During the last 2019 general election, Alimosho, which is the largest local government area in Nigeria and Aregbesola’s base of influence did not yield much votes for the APC and this made the APC leadership question his control and influence, because likewise in Osun, the party fought tooth and nail to keep the state in its kitty after his eight years governorship.

“Lagos is weighing Aregbesola. They are seeing him more as a baggage, because Osun was not an easy win for APC and Alimosho too; what is he bringing to the table?” a source said.

There is also the feeling that he is subtly nursing a presidential ambition. The idea is not that he is planning to go all out against Tinubu but that in the event Tinubu’s ambition was thwarted, he’ll be lurking around as a direct beneficiary of such a development hence his expansionist moves in Lagos politics is seen as efforts to assist the anti-Tinubu forces to achieve their aims.

There are already moves in place to whittle down Aregbesola’s influence in Lagos. First, rather than assign him responsibilities that made him interface with party loyalists, Tinubu henceforth interacts directly with his loyalists and close political confidants. He will cease to delegate responsibilities to him so that there will be no ‘the Leaders said’ any longer.

Already there is a growing anti-Aregbesola campaign in Lagos. That will be intensified in the days to come. He would be advised to take a cue from the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who after contesting the governorship election in his home state took a backseat in Lagos politics.

But it will not end at that there will also be moves to reduce his influence in Osun, where he is considered not very popular. There will be agitations that he should also stop attempting to interfere in other states of the Southwest.

To finally sink him in Osun, the state is already planning to hold a local government election that will root out all his loyalists from the system, starting from the local government level up. The campaign now is, leave Lagos, stop interfering in Southwest states and vacate Osun.

Sources said Aregbesola is already seeing the handwriting on the wall and that not only is he denying that he is working against Tinubu’s interest, he has also been calling on some influential people to intervene. It is yet to be seen how this pans out.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JUNE 14, 2020

CICERO/INTERVIEW

Razak: No Bruises’ll Stop APC from Winning Edo In an interview with Segun James, one of the All Progressives Congress leaders in Lagos, Chief Lanre Razak speaks on the June 22 governorship primary in Edo State and other topical issues. Excerpts:

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do State is tense politically and there is a crisis rocking your party, the All Progressives Congress, ahead of the September 19 governorship election. What is really happening?

Edo State is now a classic example of Nigerian politics, where someone suddenly became governor or people with appointments easily forget, where they are coming from. Whether anybody likes it or not, the truth is that Oshiomhole had been the governor of Edo State for two terms. He has paid his dues as a leader and done wonderfully well, and without the contribution of Oshiomhole, I doubt if Mr. Obaseki could have emerged governor of Edo State in 2016.

It is the goodwill built by Oshiomhole that Obaseki has been enjoying. We belong to the same party, to the best of my knowledge, the national leadership has not been briefed about the crime and maladministration committed by Oshiomhole.

However, I am aware that Obaseki and his loyalists have taken Oshiomhole to court on several issues and we are saying we belong to the same party and we are members of the same family.

I believe the governor thought that he could remove Oshiomhole from office suddenly to ensure a smooth sail for his second term, which he failed woefully to achieve. And probably he believes that Oshiomhole will want to retaliate and deny him a level playing field in the governorship primary.

As for the governorship primary in Edo, there are six contestants and they are members of our party, who have equal rights to contest the election based on the Nigerian 1999 Constitution as amended and the Constitution of the APC. For Obaseki to be running around and seeking that he should be given the party’s automatic ticket and that no other aspirant should contest the Razak primary is unconstitutional and undemocratic.

I am happy that members of the party have insisted that other aspirants have equal right based on the Constitution of the party and the Nigerian Constitution.

He may be making a lot of noise but I can assure him that what will be, will be. Democracy is no more nascent in Nigeria; it has taken deep root as far as I am concerned. We have been practicing it for over 21 years now.

As politicians, we should realise that, if you are climbing up the ladder, those who helped you to get to the top, remember that when you are coming down you will also need them so I am not going to be bothered about the cries or the noise of Obaseki.

Like an insurance slogan, ‘If the breadwinner dies, what happens? Life will continue. People may live on charity or live in a precarious way.

I want to assure you that without Obaseki, APC will grow and with him APC will continue to grow. So, let the national leadership provide a level playing ground in Edo State; let us have the direct primary and whoever wins the election will carry the flag of the party to the governorship election scheduled for September 19, 2020.

Nigerians know that they have a right to hold opinion on issues after all freedom of speech is guaranteed in our Constitution. Let the governor make all the speeches he wants to make but Edo people will take a final decision on who becomes the next governor and the APC will have a credible candidate at the end of the day.

I am impressed that direct primary is the option the national leadership of the party has chosen and the National Working Committee (NWC) is the organ given the constitutional right to choose the type of primary that should hold in Edo and we are all looking forward to the exercise on June 22. Of course, the governor has gone to court but let us wait and see how the court will decide the case and whether it will take away the right of the party executives from them.

There’re concerns that after going through the forthcoming gubernatorial primary, the party may not have enough time to reconcile aggrieved aspirants and unite its members for the September 19 governorship election in Edo State. Is there any machinery put in place to ensure that the bruises inflicted on some members are healed before the main election?

No bruises will stop the APC from winning the Edo State governorship election. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had the opportunity of governing Edo State for almost 10 years before the emergence of the APC and the electorate knows vividly how badly the PDP ruled the state and the transformational changes brought by the APC-led administration of former governor Oshiomhole.

For this reason, the people will vote for our party again to continue to enjoy the benefits of good governance. No doubt, they will not return to Egypt. I believe the insistence of one person to be the sole candidate without first going through party primary will not deny the APC of victory in the election.

appreciate Mr. Sanwo-Olu for his landmark achievements in office so far, and if you ask the people, they are unanimous that the governor has done wonderfully well in Lagos State.

And by the grace of God, the cooperation and support of the citizens, he will continue to excel providing good governance to the satisfaction of our people. My appeal to Lagosians is to give maximum cooperation to the governor, they should continue to pay their taxes and charges as and when due so that the Lagos State Government will have more funds to discharge its responsibilities to citizens.

He is doing his utmost best and I know too well that sky is the limit for the gentleman, if funds are made available for him to implement his THEME Agenda. It is clear to all that we have a good governor in Lagos and I thank God for giving us such a man with integrity, a workaholic and I only pray that the Almighty will give him more wisdom, good health, and the energy to remain focused and not be distracted by anyone in order to provide more democracy dividends for Lagosians.

Also, I know too well that the APC has an effective crisis management mechanism in place that after the primary will immediately swing into action and ensure that members of the APC in Edo State will come out of the primary stronger and more united to defeat other parties on September 19.

What is your advice for members of the Ondo State chapter of the APC as they also prepare for their own governorship election on October 10th?

Ondo is a unique state, the Sunshine State. I know the people are mindful of what is best for them, the aspirant that will lead them to greater heights and I am sure they are working towards electing him as candidate of the party. My advice is for them to see the party as their symbol of unity and obey the directives of the party’s national leadership in conducting their governorship primary. They should embrace direct primary in Ondo State and should be careful in picking the best candidate that will win election for us.

Some people are of the opinion that if the wrong governorship candidates are fielded in Ondo and Edo States, what happened in Rivers and Zamfara States could repeat itself. Are you worried too?

What happened in Zamfara and Rivers States during the 2019 elections is a different ball game from what is playing out now in Edo and Ondo States. In Rivers and Zamfara, members of APC took the party to court on the ground that there were no genuine primaries, but this not the current situation playing out in Edo and Ondo States.

In these two states, the APC has declared that it would conduct primaries based on the party’s Constitution. It is only the mode of primaries (whether it should be direct or indirect) that is in dispute at the moment.

And like I said before, whatever decision the NWC has taken on the issue in this respect is what the party will implement and whoever emerges through that process is a candidate that is legally elected and that candidate will carry the day.

So, whatever happens after the primary, the party will put the necessary machinery in motion to ensure that we don’t make the same mistake this time around.

And my candid advice is for the leadership of the party to remain steadfast, unbiased and should not to be seen as favouring any particular aspirant to emerge as candidate. They should provide a level playing ground and the best candidate would emerge and win the election for us.

May 29 was the first anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in office. Looking at the last 365 days, will you say he has met the expectations of Lagosians?

There is this popular saying, ‘That you don’t need to tell a blind and deaf person outside when it rains’. It is because when he is getting drenched, he knows it is raining and does the needful. All Lagosians

Can you tell us a few areas you believe the governor has excelled?

One, on this COVID-19 pandemic, which is ravaging the world the governor has shown exemplary leadership and done wonderfully well in containing the disease. He has personally led the campaign in educating people, advising, directing and telling them what to do on the precautionary protocols on corona virus so that Lagosians can remain safe.

Also, the roads have been receiving the deserved attention and getting improved by the day, which means he is a focused governor. The state administration has similarly been upgrading schools, health facilities and working seriously on agriculture. There’s no area of human endeavor that Sanwo-Olu is not addressing at the moment despite the outbreak of this pandemic. We want to give him kudos for excellent performance even in the face of distractions.

I want to reiterate my earlier appeal to the federal government to consider Lagos as a special state and accord her that special status, which the state truly deserves and should be given the needed assistance, because of the quantum of problems facing Lagos State as a former federal capital so that Governor Sanwo-Olu can face these challenges frontally.

The Lagos PDP will totally disagree with your assessment of the governor’s first year in office. Rather, leaders of the party said they believed that the governor was just grandstanding and systematically flouting guidelines for re-election and that he has started campaigning for second term.

Members of PDP in Lagos State and at the federal level, we know them for what they are: they usually cross the river on the map. They don’t know what it takes to provide good governance. Remember they were in charge of the country’s affairs for 16 years before 2015 and it was a colossal failure on their part.

Now they are only singing, let them continue to sing and it is only those who believe there is a message in their song that will listen to them. But they don’t deserve any sympathy from Nigerians anymore and they don’t deserve any mercy from Lagos State either, because they have not been able to put their house in order in the last 21 years that we have democracy.

Is it Chief Olabode George that will do any better – a man who cannot win his polling booth in his ward or who else is remaining in PDP Lagos State? Former chieftains of the party like Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Moshood Salvador and others that can give PDP some votes at elections are no longer members of the party.

My humble self left them about 12 years ago, when I discovered that they don’t have anything good for Lagosians. I am a democrat committed to my people and in politics, because of the welfare of Lagosians. So, we cannot be talking of PDP now in the state. They are wrong in their assessment of the governor. They are agents of destruction and nobody is taking them serious.

Friday June 12 was the 27th anniversary of the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola by former Military President Ibrahim Babangida. The day is also a national public holiday and the official Democracy Day. Do you think the political class has learnt any lessons?

First, I want to appeal to Nigerians to look at the composition of ethnic nationalities (over 250) in this country before they make any objective assessment of the current state of the nation and the performance of the political class to manage it to the current level.

–––This interview was conducted just before the screening of candidates for Edo.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JUNE 14, 2020

CICERO/REPORT

Obaseki

Will Obaseki Survive This Battle?

With Governor Godwin Obaseki out of the equation within the APC, the options before him are very limited. Adibe Emenyonu reports

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here are other political parties in the race to the Edo State Governorship election slated for September 19 this year apart from the two rooted rivals, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Before now, analysts had predicted a two-way fight, that is, a contest between candidates of the ruling APC, and the PDP. But, as it is now, the political space may be expanded to accommodate more than the predicted two-way due to the outcome the screening of aspirants by the APC, which disqualified the incumbent governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and two others namely: Mr. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, an ally of the governor and Dr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, a strong supporter of Adams Oshiomhole from contesting on its platform.

Though the party provided a window through the appeal panel set up alongside the screening committee, there is no likelihood that Obaseki and Iduoriyekemwen will appeal.

But Obaseki, who first reacted said he would not appeal what he described as his unjust disqualification by the Governorship Primary Screening Committee of the (APC), noting that the action is ‘a mockery of the democratic process.’

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, Obaseki said, “We have watched the mockery of democratic process, which Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, is administering and superintending over in our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). It has been an unfortunate, disheartening and dreadful spectacle.

“We had initially asserted that going by the open display and enthronement of illegality by one man in the party that comprises several organs and eminent personalities, there is no way that Governor Godwin Obaseki would get a fair assessment in the run up to the nomination of candidates to fly the flag of the party in the forthcoming Edo gubernatorial election.

“It is unfortunate that this open show of shame, illegality and travesty of justice is the brand of democracy, which Comrade Oshiomhole has reduced the APC into. The situ-

ation is quite saddening, because this is a party supposedly reputed for change, equity and social justice.

“We have, therefore, decided that it would be effort in futility to appeal whatever the unjust outcome of the evaluation and screening process of the APC will be, especially, when Comrade Oshiomhole has declared that he is the Supreme Court and ultimate determiner of the fate and future of our great party.

“We wish Oshiomhole luck in his maladministration of the party and trust that the Almighty will help our country to find the path to true liberty, freedom and justice. We call on all party members and the teeming supporters of Governor Obaseki to remain calm and await further directives,” he added However, Obaseki might be standing alone here as information available to THISDAY indicated that the other two disqualified aspirants, Ogiemwonyi and Iduoriyekemwen have said they would take their case to the party appeal panel.

Iduoriyekemwen through a source close to him said since his only offence was taking the party to court on the mode of primary, “I will appeal the outcome of what the Screening Committee did”, adding that the body failed to limit itself with screening but at the same time became a disciplinary body.

Similarly, Ogiemwonyi has indicated his readiness to appeal his disqualification, acknowledging discrepancies in the spelling of his name during issuance of certificate, adding that he has already sworn an affidavit to correct it and will soon make it available to the appeal panel for consideration.

Going by this latest development, it is obvious that APC may not have Obaseki on their ballot for the primary but those who scaled through or may be allowed to contest after the outcome of report from the appeal panel.

Should this happen, what is the next line of action for the Edo State governor? Will he just retire like that? Or will he seek another political platform to actualise his second term ambition?

The second option is likely going to answer the questions flowing from the feelers that there are two plans in the offing.

One, according to information valuable to THISDAY, is that he had secretly registered in his ward 4, Oredo as a member

of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) knowing full well that going by the political difference between him and Oshiomhole, and with the failed plot to remove Oshiomhole as APC chair, which he championed, he might not get Justice.

Another consideration is getting tickets in a different party other than the PDP. According to a strong source, the governor has perfected move to cross to the Action Alliance (AA) one of the political parties allegedly floated by a former governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha to help his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu to actualise his governorship ambition.

Although all these allegations have been debunked by his loyalists, one thing is certain and that is, it’s not over for the embattled governor of Edo State as according to a party chief loyal to his course, “whether Oshiomhole likes it or not, Obaseki will contest the state governorship election and he is going to win.”

When this is achieved, the party chief continued, “Everyone including Oshiomhole will be put to shame that no man is God.” Chairman of the Edo APC loyal to Obaseki, Anselm Ojezua also gave allusions to this when he spoke Friday evening, while speaking to party supporters to remain calm following the disqualification of Obaseki, noting that the governor has performed credibly and would be reelected for a second term.

Though Ojezua did not spell out how, he simply said: “They didn’t say he will not contest the election but that he will not contest under the platform of the APC.” Against this backdrop, there is credence that one of the two options highlighted earlier may be adopted by the faction.

Should this happen, it will be a battle royale between party members loyal to the governor, and who are majorly political appointees, the 10 member state house of assembly and others sympathetic to his cause, while those to wage war for Oshiomhole and his group will comprise of other APC faithful, which includes the 14 members-elect, who were refused inauguration and the five APC House of Representatives members.

Although the battle has just begun, it is clearly no longer fluid as events have begun to assume shape. The jury is still out.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ NE 14, 2020

63

Covenant University Management with Miss Foluke Michael at the launch of Solution17 for Climate Action

A Model for the Future We Want Vanessa Obioha writes that as the world is grappling with the coronavirus pandemic, THISDAY and CYCDI are changing the narrative with Solution17-Climate Action for Change

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rior to the unwanted arrival of coronavirus, the world was already battling with greenhouse gas emissions, the major cause of global warming. These gases — carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide — escape into the atmosphere during the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas for electricity, heat and transportation.

However, the rapid rise of coronavirus in the world saw a decline in green gas emissions, as most countries locked down their economies to curb the spread of Covid-19.

The International Energy Agency reported in April that emissions are on track to plunge nearly 8 percent this year, the largest drop ever recorded, and predicted that global carbon dioxide emissions were projected to fall by roughly 2.6 billion tons this year, an 8 percent drop from 2019.

While the report was good news for advocates of global climate change, it was however short-lived as countries reopened their economies, resuming activities that are endangering the earth.

The call for action against climate change has amplified over the years, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Paris Agreement in 2015 that seeks to keep the increase in global average temperature to below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels; and to pursue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 °C. The agreement signed by 196 countries including Nigeria recognised that a reduction in these gases emissions will substantially reduce the risks and impacts of climate change.

In Nigeria, climate change is still alien to many citizens even when the effects are seen in the fluctuating weather. For instance, in the past two years, the weather has been hotter than usual, and seasonal rainfall capricious, as predicted by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet). It is no longer news that the changes in weather are responsible for the droughts and floods experienced in some parts of the country. Similar trends are expected to happen this year.

Even as the country is dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, it is important that climate change is also given top priority to prevent further damage to our world. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has already warned that the world must cut its carbon dioxide emissions to net zero by 2050 in order to prevent global warming of 1.5°C. Another major threat and possible cause of the strange coronavirus is the exploitation of wildlife.

Scientists have raised concerns that as many as 1.7 million

unidentified viruses are found in animals and could infect people which may inadvertently introduce more diseases that are deadlier than Covid-19.

It is against this backdrop that the Creative Youth Community Development Initiative (CYCDI) in partnership with Covenant University and supported by THISDAY Group launched the Solution17 for Climate Action in Covenant University (Solution17 for C.A.C.U).

The initiative seeks to groom young people who will take action on climate change and other global challenges in Nigeria and in Africa, and join the global conversations on how to build a future we want. As the name implies, the projects to be handled by the selected participants will tackle the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proposed by the United Nations which climate change is part of.

Solutions 17 kicked off in February when the organisers called for essay submission on ‘Climate Crisis; A Race We Must Win!’ in Covenant University. The essay was opened to students and recent graduates to participate in. But with the outbreak of Covid-19, the topic was expanded to ‘Lesson Learnt from COVID19 to Fight Climate Crisis.’ Series of virtual training on ‘Design Thinking and Project Management’ were organised between the months of March and April by CYCDI-Solution17 to help participants with their submissions and project design process.

This was followed by a rigorous selection process, which involved the interviews of hundreds of Covenant University students and alumni in May 2020.

Those who were selected to take part in the project were further tasked to submit project ideas which should be practical solutions to the climate crisis with the tools of 17 SDGs. 47 teams emerged from the qualifier stage. The teams were further trimmed to 17 in June after their ideas were judged based on sustainability, innovation; adaptability to the immediate environment; and alignment with the current global threats due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

They were unveiled in a two-day virtual live event on June 2 and 3 themed ‘Global Movement Against Climate Change Crisis in Nigeria: Time For Nature, Pitch For Climate Change’. Some of the project ideas to be tackled include ‘ The Plastic Operation’, ‘The Waste Action’, ‘Solar Genesis’, ‘Carbon Credit Value Chain’, ‘ClimeAct Academy’, ‘Agro Husk Wares’ and ‘Project Terra’.

The 17 finalists with the guidance of the Refiners — a team of professional, academia, social innovators, entrepreneurs

and sustainability experts from different backgrounds that will help transform participants’ passion into social impacts and profits through driving Climate Action Enterprises — will be admitted for training, project development, and sustainable business creation at the Solution17 Reality Innovation Hub later this month.

Also, the 17 finalists will be presented to world leaders in New York by September 2020. This will be followed by product development and project replication across the nations of the earth. Each participant is expected to train 17 young innovators across Nigeria under the Train-The-Trainer Entrepreneurship Network Marketing (ENM) Module.

The project outcome will be unveiled later in the year at the ‘African Youth Summit in Covenant University’, a youth dialogue for global cooperation on ‘The Future We Want’ to commemorate the United Nations 75th anniversary.

It is not the first time CYCDI is embarking on such a solutions-driven task. Founded by Foluke Michael, a Project Management expert, IBM Enterprise Design Thinking practitioner, and winner of the United Nations SDG Action Award in the Innovator category, the company is focused on engaging the youths to produce SDG based solutions that can be implemented locally and are relevant to tackling problems that will clearly accelerate the achievement of the global goals by 2030.

The organisation has successfully implemented two projects: ‘Solution17 for Good Health and Well Being’ and ‘Solution17 for United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child at 30’. The projects gained support from European Union-United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (EUUNODC) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Nigeria respectively.

Michael’s ultimate vision is to make earth liveable. “As we are struggling to flatten the curve of Covid-19, we must promote biodiversity; the most complex feature of our planet. Life must interplay with the physical environment to make the earth liveable, this is the only solution to the climate crisis,” she said.

Executive Director of THISDAY Conferences, Ayo Arowolo expressed optimism that the finalists will “frontally confront the challenge of climate change, and incorporate lessons learnt from Covid-19 to provide solutions to the climate crisis.”

Solution 17 for Climate Action is expected to grow from 17 to a minimum of five million direct and indirect beneficiaries in different parts of Africa by September 2030.

Sunday June 14, 2020

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MISSILE

PDP to Buhari “The chaotic situation in the Presidential villa only points to the failure by President Muhammadu Buhari to provide leadership that can guarantee orderliness in governance and effectively ensure the security of our nation” – The Peoples Democratic Party while reacting to the reported shooting at the Presidential Villa, following a disagreement between the wife of the President, Aisha Buhari and a presidential aide.

SIMONKOLAWOLE Enter the Daredevil Journalist SIMONKOLAWOLELIVE!

simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com, sms: 0805 500 1961

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ur paths crossed in 2014. I was about to set up TheCable online newspaper. The biggest challenge was getting a good editor to take charge. Having practised journalism for over two decades, I wanted to take the back seat and concentrate my energies on other businesses. But unable to get a suitable candidate, I began to panic. I virtually gave up. Then the application of ‘Fisayo Soyombo arrived. He performed excellently well in the written test — and even better at the interview.

Surprisingly, he gave up a bigger salary to accept our offer. According to him, he wanted to be part of TheCable dream. Putting dream above money? In Nigeria? I told myself: this guy will go far in life.

Although his newsroom experience was limited, his raw talent, youthful energy, enterprising skills and commitment helped birth and nurture TheCable, which he edited from 2014-2017. And he loves adventure — such as undercover reporting. He once disguised as a clearing agent in order to expose the decay in the customs service. This earned him the 2016 Wole Soyinka Investigative Journalist of the Year award. To write another story, he drove a “stolen” car (i.e. without documents) from Abuja to Lagos and back to Abuja, passing through 86 checkpoints. He bribed police officers at every point, so he was never properly checked.

If the car was truly stolen, he would have got away with it!

His biggest risk so far has to be his prison adventure. Early 2019, when he was about to quit as editor of Sahara Reporters, he told me he had a story idea and asked if TheCable could foot the bill. “I want to do an undercover investigation from inside the prison,” he said gleefully, as if announcing that he wanted to travel to Dubai for sight-seeing. “Someone will report me to the police that I broke a deal, I will be arrested, detained, charged to court and then remanded in prison. I want to uncover the corruption in our prisons and justice system generally. I have researched how much it will cost me to stay in a more comfortable part of the prison, have access to phones and eat noodles.”

I was scared. He could be killed! I still asked him to send in a proposal. At the management meeting, we were divided, but we finally decided to go ahead after all the arguments and counterarguments. Good enough, ‘Fisayo had also got the International Centre for Investigative Journalism (ICIR) to foot part of the bill. With fear and anxiety tugging at my heart, I approved the release of funds for the assignment. My wife was particularly agitated. She kept asking me if it was worth the trouble. I told her she needed to feel ‘Fisayo’s enthusiasm. It was impossible to discourage him. He won’t take no for an answer. He even prepared for the adventure by doing dreadlocks — to look the part.

Ahead of his police custody at the Pedro station in July 2019, he called to say good bye.

It felt like a journey of no return. “Safe trip,” I joked, and we both laughed it off. He adopted a pseudonym — Olajumoke Ojo. Everything started well. The police locked him up. He recorded the atrocities at the station with his hidden camera.

In court, some prison officials approached him and said if he wished, the judge would remand him within the premises — for a fee. They didn’t know Ikoyi prison was his goal. He opted for prison. They told him he could get a cell for N30,000, N100,000 or N150,000, depending on his choice. The VIP cell, they told him, was N1.5million. It was all a matter of cash!

Soyombo At Ikoyi prison, things began to take a dangerous turn. ‘Fisayo’s brother called to inform me that his cover had been blown! Call it the work of the devil: his hidden camera was discovered as he was being processed for incarceration. The warders seized it, watched the videos, handcuffed him behind the back, and began to torture him.

They scraped his locks and beat him silly on every joint in his body. In our risk analysis, we never saw this coming. We were more worried about beating from fellow inmates. My wife overheard my phone conversation with ‘Fisayo’s brother and burst into tears. “I warned you! I hope they won’t kill him!” she said, amid sobs.

I managed to calm her down.

To compound matters, ‘Fisayo’s journalist friend and co-conspirator went to visit him in prison as pre-planned. Not knowing that the burble had burst, she walked straight into trouble. She was arrested and handed over to the police. The lady who came with her ran away and called me. Actually, ‘Fisayo was not supposed to go to prison with the camera. The original plan was that his journalist friend would pretend she came on a visit and then slip the gadgets across to him. But on sensing at the court premises that the warders would allow you do anything for a fee, ‘Fisayo decided to keep his gadgets on him. That was how the devil got into the detail.

I was in the UK. I had to do something — and very quickly — to save ‘Fisayo from a certain trouble with the Nigerian state. He could now be officially imprisoned. There were no ministers in place, so I was blank on who to enlist for the rescue operation. I decided to reach out to a former minister. He started complaining that TheCable had a “sinister motive”. He said we could have applied officially to inspect the prisons.

After all, NGOs often visit the prisons along with officials of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), he said. I knew I was dealing with an establishment person but I didn’t expect this attitude. In the end, he did not help.

And ‘Fisayo was still being tortured.

After I had agonised for hours — amid frantic phone calls from ‘Fisayo’s brother — one name finally came to mind. Mallam Abba Kyari, the late chief of staff to the president. He was once a journalist and an editor. He once wore our shoes. He would understand what we were trying to do. I sent him a WhatsApp message, asking if I could call him over an urgent matter.

Immediately he read my message, he called. I needed to be tactical in my approach. I didn’t know how he too would react to undercover

reporting. The former minister just said it was sinister. I knew Kyari to be liberal and progressive, but he was a government official and he too might take offence at our audacity.

“Mallam,” I half-stammered, “we are trying to help President Buhari fight corruption in government agencies, so we decided to send an undercover reporter to Ikoyi prison.

Unfortunately, his cover was blown and they have been torturing him. They also arrested the lady who came to visit him.” He sighed. I smelt frustration. Then he lamented: “This is what journalists do in advanced societies to expose the rot in the system and government will act to put things right. But you know how we are in Nigeria.” He promised to reach out to the relevant authorities. True to his promise, I got word that the torture had stopped. The lady was also released by the police.

But Kyari’s help was just the end of the beginning. With the police, prison and court now aware of ‘Fisayo’s mission, they decided to make life more miserable for him. The court frustrated efforts to grant him bail by erecting fresh barriers. I had to call a top Lagos state government official for help. The court budged, but gave his release warrant to prison officials instead of his lawyer. The prison also secretly released him to the police, who took him back to Pedro. Goodness me, he could have been killed on the way and his body dumped in the lagoon! Prison would claim he had been released; officially, police no longer had anything to do with him. We dodged a bullet there.

The saving grace was that his brother was monitoring proceedings closely. He had been waiting for ‘Fisayo to come out of prison. After waiting for hours without seeing any movement, he became restless. He inquired from the warders and they said ‘Fisayo had been released! To whom?

They said he should stop asking them JAMB questions. He almost went amok. Something told him to go to Pedro. On getting there, he decided to test the waters by sending his cousin to find out if ‘Fisayo was with them. When the guy did not return, we concluded he too had been detained. They obviously wanted to lure the brother into the station and arrest him too.

He, after all, was the “complainant”!

We were unsure what the police wanted: a pound of flesh or a bucket of blood? We sent Taiwo George, editor of TheCable, to Pedro for fact-finding. He found ‘Fisayo behind bars.

‘Fisayo desperately asked him to inform me. The police officers tried to stop Taiwo but he quickly called me, saying on top of his voice: “I’ve seen ‘Fisayo! He is at the Pedro police station!” And that was it! We immediately reached out to Mr Zubairu Mu’azu, Lagos police commissioner at the time, and ‘Fisayo was freed that night. He had spent five days in police cell and eight in prison custody to get a story! On his way home, he told me excitedly on the phone: “Oga, we have a good story.” Cheeky rascal!

In October 2019, TheCable published his three-part series on his prison experience — to wide acclaim. It won him nomination for the International Journalist of the Year award, organised by the One World Media (OWM).

The other two finalists are from the UK: Alex Crawford of Sky News and John Sudworth of BBC News. On Thursday, June 18, the winner will be announced. In truth, ‘Fisayo is already winner — trophy or no trophy. As Proverbs 22:29 says, “Show me someone who does a good job, and I will show you someone who is better than most and worthy of the company of kings.” That is the story of the dare-devil journalist named Olufisayo Babatunde Soyombo. Excellence.

And Four Other Things…

ON JUNE 12 On Friday, we marked June 12, for the first time, as Nigeria’s Democracy Day. It is in commemoration of the historic presidential election of 1993 won by Chief MKO Abiola.

It was annulled and the country went into a debilitating six-year crisis in the first instance. I think President Buhari has not got the credit he deserves for recognising June 12. People said it was for political gain. Fair enough. Yet Obasanjo was president for eight years, Yar’Adua for three years and Jonathan for five years without recognising June 12. Why? Were they afraid of certain sentiments and did not want to cause political offence? That puts Buhari’s decision in even better perspective.

Laudable.

OSHIOMHOLE VS OBASEKI It started as a cold war, followed by the dreaded “no rift” declaration, and then the open war. The tussle between Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, APC national chairman, and Mr Godwin Obaseki, Edo governor, reached its highest height so far when Obaseki was disqualified from the party’s governorship primary by the screening committee. I don’t have all the details of what went wrong between them, but if this disqualification comes across to Edo voters as a godfather trying to use brute force to have his way, Oshiomhole may have himself to blame at the end of the day. One thing is sure though: the Edo election will be lit if Obaseki runs on another platform. Thriller.

COVID CYNICS One of the most frustrating sights for me in this COVID-19 season is seeing Nigerians live recklessly as if they had immunity. Many people go around without face masks; some use the face masks as chin guards; and social distancing means nothing to many. Of course, these behaviours are based on some beliefs. Some say there is no coronavirus in Nigeria, that government only wants to embezzle funds; some say there is COVID-19, but it is highly exaggerated; and some think it is only the high and the mighty that it infects. Any wonder that infections are on the rise? It’s become apparent that the only saving grace now is a vaccine — although some won’t take it because of Bill Gates. Trouble.

RACISM AND RAPE Is the cold-blooded murder of George Floyd, a black American, by Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, going to change the world? With the statues of historical slavery figures being pulled down and the dictionary definition of racism being edited, we may indeed be entering a new era. At the same time, the issue of rape has come to the front burner in Nigeria after a series of cases. The governors and lawmakers seem to be taking it more seriously. Agencies are making all the useful noises. This, I suspect, is a ripple effect of the current anti-racism movement across the world. I hope the anti-rape campaign will not relent until the law comes down heavily on the criminals. Perverts.

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