SUNDAY 19TH JUNE 2022 by THISDAY Newspapers Ltd

Babangida, Jonathan, Gusau, Kingibe, Omo-Agege, Oramah, Emeﬁele, Ovia Condole with THISDAY/ARISE Chairman over Mum’s Passage Oba of Benin, Olu of Warri, Obi of Agbor, Shonekan, Irabor, Clark, others also mourn matriarch Ejiofor Alike, Gboyega Akinsanmi in Lagos and Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

More eminent Nigerians have continued to send condolence messages to the Chairman of THISDAY/ ARISE Media Group, Prince Nduka

Obaigbena, commiserating with him over the passage of his mother, Princess Margaret Obaigbena. Among the personalities are

former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd); former President Goodluck Jonathan; a former National Security Adviser

(NSA), Gen. Aliyu Gusau (rtd); former running mate to the winner Continued on page 12

Borrowing to Pay Salaries Violates Fiscal Responsibility Act, Teriba, Others Tell FG…Page 10

Princess Obaigbena

Sunday 19 June, 2022 Vol 27. No 9931

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South-south Leaders Hail Emergence of Okowa as Atiku’s Running Mate N’Delta group urges Clark, others to support Delta gov I didn't betray South, says Okowa Segun James in Lagos, Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Sylvester Idowu in Warri Leaders of the South-south geo-

political zone, including the SouthSouth Leaders Forum (SSLF), and the South Renaissance Movement (SRM), have hailed the emergence of Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi

Okowa, as the running mate to the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

The leaders, which also include the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu; a former governorship aspirant and chieftain of the PDP in

Delta State, Chief Sunny Onuesoke; the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly and governorship candidate of PDP, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori also hailed Atiku for

making the right choice. The SRM urged regional leaders, including the Ijaw leader, Chief Continued on page 6

In Landslide Victory, APC Wins Ekiti Governorship Election asVote-buying Mars Poll EFCC arrests vote buyers Kunle Aderinokun in Lagos, Chuks Okocha and Victor Ogunje in Ado-Ekiti The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, was this early morning declared the winner of yesterday’s governorship poll after sweeping 15 out of the 16 local government areas (LGAs) in the state. The governorship election, which was held under a calm and peaceful atmosphere, also recorded a large turnout of voters. The poll was however characterised by vote-buying in all the 16 LGAs in the state, leading to the intervention of the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), who arrested some vote-buyers. According to the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Oyebanji scored 187,057 votes to defeat his main challenger and governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Mr. Segun Oni, who came a distant second with 82,211 votes, while

the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Bisi Kolawole garnered 67,457 votes to clinch the third position. However, while the APC and PDP won in 15 and one local government area, respectively, the SDP did not win any LGA. Sixteen political parties participated in the election. According to the results announced by the Returning Officer, Prof. Oyebode Adebowale, APC won in Ado-Ekiti, Ikere, Emure, Ijero, Ilejemeje, Ekiti South West, Ekiti West, Ekiti East, Moba, Oye, Irepodun/Ifelodun, Ise/Orun, Aiyekire/Gbonyin, Ido-Osi, and Ikole LGAs. While Irepodun/Ifelodun is the LGA of former governor Ayo Fayose, who was the main backer of the PDP candidate, Ido-Osi is the LGA of the governorship candidate of SDP, Oni. Ikole is the LGA of Kemi Elebute-Halle, the candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP). The candidate of the PDP, Kolawole, was announced the Continued on page 5

VOTING FOR A SUCCESSOR… Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi (left), undergoing accreditation before casting his vote during the state's governorship election…yesterday

Kwankwaso Conﬁrms Possibility of Coalition with Obi’s Labour Party…Page 10

SUNDAY JUNE 19, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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HONOURED FOR HARD WORK… L-R: Chancellor, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun and Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi; Group Managing Director of ARCO Group Plc, Mr. Alfred Okoigun; and Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, during the conferment PHOTO: ABIODUN AJALA of Honorary Degree on Okoigun at the third convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Delta State...yesterday

2023 Elections: Military Has Resolved to Eliminate Threats to National Security, Says COAS Supplier of NAF A-29 Super Tucano combat aircraft opens office in Abuja Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Ahead of the 2023 general election, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya, has stated that the military high command has resolved to eliminate all threats to national security. Yahaya also warned military personnel to remain apolitical and professional. This is coming as the supplier of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Super Tucano light attack combat aircraft, the United States-based Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), has opened an office in Abuja, a move seen as a boost to US-Nigeria military partnership. Speaking in Abuja at the closing ceremony of the week-long Second Quarter Chief of Army Staff Conference 2022, Yahaya said military authorities would sustain the procurement of arms and ammunition to boost the war against enemies of state. The army chief, who reaffirmed the military's loyalty to the President and the Constitution, said the military was determined to eliminate all threats to national

security. "I reaffirm the continuous, unalloyed loyalty of all officers and men of the Nigerian Army to the Constitution and President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. "I wish to assure His Excellency of our unwavering resolve to timely eliminate all threats to national security in collaboration with sister services and other security agencies," he said. Yahaya warned personnel to remain apolitical as the 2023 election approaches. "Commanders are reminded that as the 2023 general election approaches, troops under their command must remain apolitical and operate professionally. “They must continuously review their contingency plans for the provision of security support through an effective mechanism of cooperation with other security stakeholders. "As earlier highlighted during my opening remarks, the reviewed Rules of Engagement and Code of Conduct for Operation Safe Conduct guiding troops during

US President, Biden, Falls During Bicycle Ride US President, Mr. Joe Biden, yesterday fell while riding his bicycle near his beach home in the state of Delaware. Biden, who did not suffer any injuries, fell off his bicycle while attempting to greet a group of reporters and residents at the Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware. A video from a White House pool report showed the 79-year-old president immediately getting up after his fall. He then says, “I’m good.” He was biking with First Lady Jill Biden and had stopped to talk to onlookers when he fell. The president told a small crowd of well-wishers and reporters that he had lost his balance as he tried to pull a foot out of a bike clip. The result: “a mad scramble of Secret Service and press,” a White House pool report said, adding there were no visible scrapes or

bruises from the fall. “No medical attention is needed,” a White House official said. “The President looks forward to spending the rest of the day with his family,” the official added. As the oldest US president, Biden’s health is the subject of constant attention, particularly as speculation rises on whether he will seek a second term in 2024. In November 2021, his doctor gave Biden a clean bill of health, describing him as “healthy” and “vigorous.” Taking a few questions from reporters yesterday, Biden said he was “in the process of making up my mind” about easing some Trump-era tariffs on Chinese goods in order to soften inflationary pressures. He said he would be speaking to Chinese President Xi Jinping soon.

the upcoming 2023 general election will be distributed in earnest. "I, therefore, urge you to thoroughly sensitise troops on their contents and implore them to operate following extant provisions throughout the period," he said. The army chief also pledged to sustain the procurement of arms and ammunition and other equipment. "Furthermore, I intend to sustain the procurement of more vehicles, arms, ammunition and other technical spares needed for the successful conduct of our operations. "It, therefore, behoves commanders at all levels to ensure

the judicious utilisation and maintenance of these resources to achieve the desired effects as well as end state", he said. Meanwhile, the supplier of NAF Super Tucano light attack combat aircraft, the United States-based Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has opened an office in Abuja, a move seen as a boost to US-Nigeria military partnership. A statement by the US Mission in Abuja, said the SNC is a recognised US defence contractor and the first to establish a permanent presence in Nigeria. “SNC outfitted these US-made Embraer aircraft with the equip-

ment necessary to counter Boko Haram and ISIS West Africa. At the time the deal was completed, it was the largest ever foreign military sale in Sub-Saharan Africa, valued at $497 million. “SNC remains engaged with NAF with ongoing technical and maintenance support for NAF,” it said. The US Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM), Kathleen FitzGibbon, hosted the Nevada-based Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) at the US Ambassador’s residence on June 15 to commemorate the inauguration of its office in Abuja. DCM FitzGibbon congratulated

SNC for the dedication it showed to Nigeria, both through its recently established presence and existing programs in the country. SNC Senior Vice President, Ed Topps, who was on hand to represent the company, stated, “SNC is proud to help improve the security of the Nigerian people through the A-29 Super Tucano programme. The aeroplane is performing above expectations, thanks to the professionalism of NAF pilots and maintainers. "We hope Nigeria can increase operational effectiveness by adding another squadron of A-29 aircraft as quickly as possible,” he said.

IN LANDSLIDE VICTORY, APC WINS EKITI GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION AS VOTE-BUYING MARS POLL winner in Efon Alaye LGA, while Oni of the SDP did not win a single LGA. The winner of the governorship election, Oyebanji, is a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), to Governor Kayode Fayemi.

EFCC Arrests Vote Buyers, Election Calm, Peaceful

Following the widespread vote-buying, which characterised the governorship election, the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested persons suspected to be engaged in vote-buying in the poll. Some of the suspects were paraded at the Oke Ori Omi Area Division of the Nigeria Police Force. The suspects were reported to have been caught with bundles of cash allegedly used for votebuying. Some other persons were also arrested at a private residence with a book containing details of voters of a certain voting area. Though the election was said to be calm and peaceful, sponsored thugs had a field day destroying ballot boxes in the stronghold of opposition parties in Ise Ekiti and Ilawe Ekiti Polling Units. Ballot boxes in Ilasa, Polling Unit 001 in Ekiti East, another stronghold of the opposition party, were destroyed by sponsored thugs.

The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room (Situation Room), which observed the election, said in a statement that it received reports of widespread vote-buying by political party agents across the 16 LGAs in the state. “In many instances, voters were induced with money ranging from N4,500 to N10,000 by asking them to flag completed ballot papers as proof of voting in a specified manner in what they term ‘See and Buy’. Situation Room strongly condemns this blatant violation of the electoral law,” said the statement. Situation Room noted that the election was generally peaceful, with voters civilly conducting themselves in most of the polling units. It, however, observed that the redistribution of voters done by INEC still did not take care of the issue of a huge population of voters in some polling units as many new polling units had abysmally low numbers while older polling units remain overcrowded. “There were also polling units sited in private residences such as PU006 Omiragunsin’s House, Okemesi Ward 1, Ekiti West LGA and PU003 in front of Ezekiel’s House Iroro/Ita Alafia Iroro Imegun, Ward 3 Araromi Omuo, Ekiti East LGA,” the statement said. Situation Room, which commended the Independent National

Electoral Commission (INEC), Furthermore, INEC’s distribution noted the early arrival of poll of the BVAS devices was not officials and election materials in proportionate to the population 93 per cent of the polling units of registered voters by polling observed. unit,” the statement added. According to the group, polls Meanwhile, the Socio-Economic commenced before 9 a.m. in at Rights and Accountability Project least 88 per cent of the locations, (SERAP) has asked INEC to which it described as an improve- prosecute all those involved in ment of both the Anambra State vote-buying in the governorship Governorship Election 2021 and election. FCT Area Councils Elections 2022. SERAP in a short tweet last Situation Room observed night said the prosecution must that the Bi-Modal Verification not end with those caught in the Accreditation System (BVAS) was act but must be extended to the functional in at least 76 per cent politicians who funded their of the voting locations. election malpractice. “However, there have been many reports of EKITI ELECTION RESULTS delays and malfunctioning BVAS machines LGAs APC PDP SDP in some voting units IJERO 13,754 4,897 5,006 especially those with EMURE 7,728 2,610 3,445 many registered votEKITI S'WEST 9,679 4,474 4,577 ers. Examples of the IKERE 12,086 3,789 1,943 locations where the machines malfunctioned ILEJEMEJE 4,357 1,157 2,344 are PU 002 Igbaletere MOBA 11,609 3,530 4,904 by Mechanic Workshop, EFON ALAYE 4,012 6,303 339 Ward 6 Ado Okeyinmi, EKITI WEST 15,322 3,386 3,863 Ado-Ekiti LGA where the Machine was IREPODUN/IFELODUN 13,125 4,712 5,010 going on and off OYE 13,396 4,122 5,391 intermittently, PU 007 IDO OSI 10,321 2,871 9,489 LA Primary School ISE ORUN 8,074 2,588 5,909 Oke Afin, Otun Ward ADO-EKITI 23,831 7,575 15,214 III and PU018 Igogo Ward II both in Moba IKOLE 16,417 6,266 5,736 LGA where the BVAS GBONYIN 11,247 3,947 4,059 failed, and PU 014, Ward EKITI EAST 12,099 5,230 4,982 I Okemesi, Ekiti West TOTAL 187,057 67,457 82,211 LGA, amongst others.

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CELEBRATIING WITH A FRIEND… L-R: Representative of Delta State Governor and Secretary to Delta State Government, Chief Patrick Ukah; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Abowei Broderick Bozimo, and Delta State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Isaiah Bozimo, during the investiture of President of the Delta State Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Patience Elumeze as Dame of St. Sylvester, at St. Paul Cathedral, Isele-Uku, in Delta State…yesterday

SANs Raise Concerns over S’Court Justices’ Protest against Poor Working Conditions Alex Enumah in Abuja Two Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) have expressed fear that the protest by the justices of the Supreme Court over their poor working conditions could spell doom for the judiciary and effective justice delivery. Worried that their budgetary allocation has not increased for four years, the justices of the apex court had recently protested to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Muhammad. In the protest conveyed to the head of the judiciary via a letter, the justices complained that poor welfare had hindered their job. The major issue of contention has been the poor remuneration, which has stagnated for nearly 14 years, the absence of basic utilities in and around courtrooms, and poor accommodation and living conditions. Also with only 15 justices including the CJN on the bench of the apex court instead of 22, the job of the justices is increasingly becoming very cumbersome. A former CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen had noted at a recent book launch in Abuja that the problem with the apex court is not only the number of justices on the bench but their poor working conditions. Onnoghen said there could hardly be a Supreme Court in the world with 18 justices on its bench. According to him, the courts in other climes function effectively and efficiently because of the condition of service, adding that not all cases ought to get to the Supreme Court. Responding, the CJN was said to have constituted a Welfare Committee to find an amicable resolution of the issue. The committee had submitted a list of demands to the CJN on March 24. Reacting to the development some senior lawyers told THISDAY in separate interviews that the issue could threaten the operations of the apex court and should speedily be resolved, given the critical role played by the judiciary in the sustenance of peace, democracy, law, and order in the country.

A senior lawyer, Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN) called for a quick resolution of the issues. "These are unusual times - very strange and intriguing. The system should urgently and most urgently listen to the cries of the Justices and indeed all judges," Raji said. Raji added that it must have

gotten to the tilt for the most conservative set of people to cry out, adding that "it must be addressed as quickly as yesterday before it gets out of control which can prove too damaging to the entire system". The senior lawyer described as very strange, a system where

an ordinary director in an agency of the federal government earns more than the combined salaries of 10 justices of the apex court. "And what about the private sector most especially the banks where an MD earns more than the combined salaries and emoluments of all the Justices of the Supreme

Court,” he queried. On his part, Mr. Dayo Akinlaja (SAN), called for synergy between the CJN and the apex court justices for an amicable resolution of the issues confronting them. "The CJN and the Justices must be on the same page and operate on the same wavelength for there

to be positive headway. Once both parties can see the issue from the same angle, there would be a clear and consensual understanding of issues on the part of both parties. "That way, it will be easy enough to come to terms and avoid any untoward publicity on the subject."

SOUTH-SOUTH LEADERS HAIL EMERGENCE OF OKOWA AS ATIKU’S RUNNING MATE Edwin Clark; Yoruba leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; President General, Middle Belt Forum, Dr Pogu Bitrus and the President General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Prof. George Obiozor, who had kicked against the emergence of Okowa, to have a rethink. This is coming as Okowa has clarified that he did not betray southern Nigeria by accepting to be Atiku's running mate. Reacting to Atiku’s decision, the National Chairman of the SSLF, Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, hailed the choice of Okowa. On his part, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Elumelu congratulated Okowa on his emergence and urged him to hit the ground running. He charged the Delta State Governor to immediately initiate reconciliatory moves to heal wounds and appease party members that might have been offended by his emergence as the vice-presidential candidate of the PDP. Former governorship aspirant and chieftain of the PDP in the state, Onuesoke also commended Atiku for having confidence in Okowa as his running mate. In a congratulatory message to Okowa, Onuesoke said he was elated that the Delta State Governor was selected as the running mate to the party's presidential candidate. He described Okowa as the best-fit running mate for Atiku come 2023 and called on all well-meaning Nigerians to support the duo for a better Nigeria. Also, the Executive Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area of the state, Dr Michael Tidi, said he was glad that Okowa was unveiled as the vice-presidential candidate of PDP. The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly and the PDP governorship candidate, Oborevwori have also congratulated Okowa. The Speaker in a press statement

by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Dennis Otu, said he was excited about the choice of Okowa as Atiku’s running mate, describing it as a welcome development. Oborevwori who is also the National Deputy Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria described Okowa as a core party loyalist, political strategist and consummate politician with a deep interest in unity and development of the country. “We are very sure of victory in the forthcoming general elections and we are going to embark on massive mobilisation for the party and the presidential candidate and his running mate. The choice of Governor Okowa is indeed a round peg in a round hole. To God be all the glory,” the Delta State PDP governorship candidate said.

N’Delta Group Urges Clark, Obiozor, Adebanjo to Support Delta Gov

Meanwhile, a Niger Delta group, SRM has urged regional leaders kicking against the emergence of the Delta State governor as Atiku’s running mate to sheathe their sword. Specifically, the group urged Ijaw leader, Clark; Yoruba leader, Adebanjo; President General, Middle Belt Forum, Bitrus and President-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Obiozor to rethink their position. In a statement by the National Coordinator of the group, Mr Emmanuel Sorokwu, the group absolved the Delta State governor of any blame over the purported betrayal of the South by accepting the position. Maintaining that the outburst by the leaders was unwarranted, the group stressed that Okowa's nomination as Atiku's running mate was a boost for the aspiration of the southern part of the country. It added that the war-like posture of the group contravenes the spirit

of a united Nigeria. The elders under the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) had in a statement accused Okowa of betraying the south by accepting the running mate slot to Atiku. However, the group accused the leaders of fanning the embers of disunity, noting that their position was akin to asking the south to boycott the 2023 elections because the presidency was not ceded to the zone. Sorokwu said the position of the leaders was unfortunate, given their pedigree as elder statesmen in the country. "Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is a known loyal party man and will always submit to the dictates of the party. Since the winner of the PDP presidential ticket is from the north, obviously the running mate will come from the South. “More so, both the South-east and North-east have not had a shot at the presidency; so, the North-east having it will mean hope for the South-east,” the former Chairman of Aniocha Local Government Area, who leads the group said. He added: "As a group, we have very high regards for these elder statesmen but we need to set the records straight. We want to make it clear that the Delta State governor didn't commit any crime or betray the political aspiration of the south as insinuated by the elders. “Okowa instead was one of the people that worked for power to shift to the South, howbeit, he does not believe that politics or issue of power shift must be a do or die affair. "We appeal to them to see the emergence of Okowa as a call to service of our fatherland. We crave their support as fathers and not antagonism. We all need power shift to the South but we must go about it democratically,” the group added.

I Didn't Betray South, Says Okowa

Reacting to the allegation that he betrayed the South by accepting to be Atiku’s running mate, Okowa has said that he did not betray southern Nigeria. He argued that he belonged to a political party that agreed to throw the presidential ticket open as the best way to rescue the nation. Okowa, who spoke on ARISE NEWS Channel on Friday night, said he would not join issues with any group on the issue, especially the SMBLF "because they are leaders I hold in high esteem." According to him, “I want to respect our leaders; I always do and I believe that they have their opinions and they are well-meaning leaders; so, I am not going to join issues with them”. Okowa explained that the important thing was that he belonged to a political party and was part of the decisions of the party, including the agreement of its leadership that the best part to rescue the nation was to throw the presidential ticket race open. “Having agreed to that and also submitted by me to be a politician in the PDP, I am ruled by the policies of the party as they are. "And, since we have all agreed that we wanted to throw the presidential candidacy open and Atiku Abubakar emerged, the onus is for us to support him. "We are not expecting that he would be the candidate from the North and also have a vicepresidential candidate from the North. That would be leading to further division." He added that as a party craving to rebuild the nation, taking the right decisions that would foster unity of the nation was very important to the PDP. "We are talking about rebuilding this nation and our unity. So, to

a very large extent, we have to make the right decisions and having submitted myself to be a member of the PDP, I would have to submit myself to the decisions of the party and that is what has happened. "That does not mean disrespect to the views of those leaders. They are leaders that I respect so much. But under this condition, they have to understand that I have committed myself to the PDP. "I am a politician. If I am not, it may be different. So, I will have to play along with the collective decisions of the party and I want to appeal to them that they need to look at the issue as it is and be very cautious about the stands that we take. "Every statement we make, even while it is important that we make our decisions, it is important that we also realise that the unity of this nation is important and we need to move forward from wherever we are at the moment," Okowa said. In adding strength to the presidential ticket of the PDP, he said that he was acceptable to the structures of the party across the nation and has been in the party since inception and grown through political ranks. "I am somebody who is a team player which is very important for us, and we have various experiences in various elections before now. "Though I am a governor, I have grown through the political ranks and I have played very critical roles in the party at some point in time. "I believe that a combination of all these will enable me to assist the presidential candidate of the party and the rest of the party leadership to be able to put up the right strategy for us to win the elections," he explained. On unifying the party, Okowa said he had started reaching out to his colleagues and other leaders of the party and that he was encouraged by the response so far.

SUNDAY JUNE 19, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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ALL EYES ON HIGHER RETURNS… L-R: Corporate Development Director, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Mr. Tobias Meletschus; Company Secretary, Mrs. Cecilia Madueke; Managing Director, Dr. Lars Richter; Chairman, Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu; Director, Mrs. Belinda Ajoke Disu; Chairman, Julius Berger International, Dr. Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi; Vice Chairman, Dr. George Marks; Director Administration, Alhaji Zubairu Ibrahim Bayi; and Financial Director, Mr. Christian Hausemann, at the Julius Berger Annual General Meeting in Abuja… recently

Borrowing to Pay Salaries Violates Fiscal Responsibility Act, Teriba, Others Tell FG Canvass debt issuance tied to assets, not revenue Warn against leveraging taxation to raise funds Gboyega Akinsanmi Experts in fiscal policy and public finance, including the Chief Executive Officer of Economic Associates, Dr. Ayo Teriba, have faulted the decision of the federal government to borrow to fund its recurrent expenditure, stressing that such a decision flagrantly violates Section 41 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007. Rather than violating the fiscal regime, the experts urged the federal government to adopt a cost-effective approach of generating revenues by issuing asset-backed debt and not revenue-based debt. They argued that the country’s revenue base could not service its total debt stock. The Chief Executive Officer of Economic Associates, Teriba; the Fiscal Policy Partner of PwC Nigeria, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, and the Chief Executive Officer of Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise,

Dr. Muda Yusuf stated these in separate interviews with THISDAY. The Acting Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Chukwuyere Anamekwe, had at the fourth retreat for members of the technical sub-committee on cash management held in Abuja said that Nigeria was borrowing money to pay salaries. The AGF had said: “Due to dwindling revenues, the treasury had to resort to other sources to augment for the payment of federal government public servants. It is absurd. Ordinarily, we shouldn’t borrow to pay salaries.” In their reactions, the fiscal policy experts spoke against the federal government’s resolve to borrow to meet its basic recurrent obligations. Speaking on the legality of the federal government’s decision, Oyedele argued that not only that “borrowing to pay salaries or generally for recurrent expenditure

is against the law, it is also not sustainable as it may lead to a debt trap which could quickly spiral out of control.” He premised his position on Section 41 of the 2007 Fiscal Responsibility Act, which according to him, clearly defines what federal, state and local government could borrow domestically or externally. Section 41 (1)(a) of the Act stipulates that the framework for debt management during the financial year shall be based on certain rules. According to this section, “the government at all tiers shall only borrow for capital expenditure, human development and to undertake critical reforms of significant national impact, provided that, such borrowing shall be on concessional terms or at relatively low-interest rates and with a reasonably long amortisation period subject to the approval of the appropriate

legislative body where necessary.” As provided by the law, Oyedele explained that the country’s fiscal responsibility regime only allowed the governments at all levels to borrow to fund capital expenditure, human development and critical reforms of significant national impact. He insisted that the federal government’s borrowing “will negatively affect Nigeria's sovereign credit rating and increase the borrowing rate for the government as well as the private sector, and in turn may affect economic growth and push more people into poverty with the attendant implications for social insecurity.” Oyedele challenged the federal government “to urgently review its expenditure efficiency and priorities. Only recurrent expenditures that are expedient should be incurred most prudently. “It is important to cut waste

Kwankwaso Confirms Possibility of Coalition with Obi’s Labour Party Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, yesterday confirmed ongoing talks for a possible coalition between his party and Mr Peter Obi’s Labour Party (LP). This is coming as NNPP has announced the choice of Mr Ladipo Johnson as the running mate to its presidential candidate, Kwankwaso. Kwankwaso and Obi, both former governors of Kano and Anambra states, respectively, are the presidential candidates of their respective parties for the 2023 general election. The former Kano State governor, who spoke in an interview with BBC Hausa Service, said discussions with Obi and the Labour Party on a possible merger ahead of 2023 are still ongoing. According to him, “we are

talking to Peter Obi, or at least saying that the committee is working to look into the matter (and cooperate with him), and friends and family are coming to talk to us about it”. Kwankwaso argued that their collaboration was especially important as the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had not fielded a Southeast vice-presidential candidate. There are reports that the former Kano State governor will team up with his former Anambra State counterpart, as the vice-presidential candidate to challenge the two major political parties in the country. The development was also confirmed by the NNPP via their official Twitter account. It hinted that a special committee had been set up for the talks. The party said it hoped that the results from the ongoing talks

with Obi and the LP would “give Nigeria a chance to be alive, once again.” “We wish to inform Nigerians that, our discussions with @ PeterObi and the Labour Party are still ongoing. A special committee was set to discuss arrangements. “We hope for good results that will give Nigeria a chance to be alive, once again,” the party tweeted. LP has announced a placeholder for the position of its vicepresidential candidate in the person of Dr Doyin Okupe, it is not yet clear whose name the NNPP submitted to the electoral umpire. Meanwhile, NNPP has announced the choice of Johnson as the running mate to Kwankwaso. Johnson hails from Lagos State, South-west Nigeria and contested for the office of governor. NNPP announced through its official Twitter handle, @

nnpphqabuja1, which has also been confirmed by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Major Agbor. The party wrote: “Road to 2023: Bar Ladipo Johnson is the Vice Presidential candidate of our great party.” As the president of the African Institute of Enterprise Development and Management, Johnson has called on Nigerians to wake up from their slumber and take positive steps that could rescue the nation from further slide amidst the prevailing yoke of poverty. Johnson, who is also the convener of ‘The Johnson Initiative for Positive Impact,’ had earlier faulted the federal government’s economic policies, stating that they enslave Nigerians. Johnson, in an earlier interview, regretted that the people have had to accept such tough policies, thereby adding to their recurring sufferings.

and corruption and all forms of inefficiencies. Implementing the Oronsanye report and limiting petrol subsidy to only deserving poor are critical steps in this regard just as the government must reform the tax system to curb evasion, widen the tax net and expand the tax base for sustainable revenue generation.” While also pointing at the illegality of the federal government’s resort to borrowing for funding recurrent expenditure, Teriba specifically canvassed a more pragmatic approach to increasing the tax burden on the citizenry. Teriba faulted the federal government’s approach to borrowing, which according to him, was fiscally imprudent, regressive and unsustainable in the light of global development. He also pointed out that tying debt to tax revenue was no longer tenable due to what he attributed to the impact of the recession, COVID-19 and devaluation ruined the income base of the people. The economist advised the federal government to issue debt based on assets, which according to him, did not require the debtor country to pay back and service their debts. Teriba further urged the federal government “to adopt what Brazil, India, Saudi Arabia and now Egypt did. But Brazil and Saudi Arabia started doing it in 2015 or 2016. “Nigeria should issue debt based on assets. Tax is not a viable way forward in an economy where recession, COVID-19 and devaluation have ruined people’s income base. “Other countries are giving tax holidays right now. Many other countries are even borrowing to pay subsidies. When other countries are subsidising their people, we cannot tax our people. We do not have the income at all,” Teriba explained. He tasked the federal government “to securitise its assets. Nigeria is rich in assets. Nigeria should only issue debt that is asset-based or asset-backed. Saudi Arabia will borrow the total public debt of Nigeria within two years. But they are issuing mostly Sukuk.”

“The advantage of Sukuk is that it is linked to assets. They are not promising to pay interest. They are simply inviting people to invest in their assets to get profits or dividends. Nigeria is not issuing any debt-based on assets. Its assets are all idle,” he added. The economist explained how Saudi Arabia listed 1.99 per cent of its interests in Aramco recently after establishing the market value of the state oil company. While Saudi Arabia is still holding 98.01 per cent of its state-owned corporation, Teriba revealed that the Middle East country realised over $29 billion from the deal. In the same way, the economist suggested that the federal government should establish the market value of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), its subsidiaries, rail lines and power transmission lines, among others. “We should list every company not sell them, but just to establish their market values. With this, we will know the worth of assets. The advantage of knowing the worth of our assets is that we do not sell them. But we use them to raise funds. “We should start issuing Sukuk on revenue-generating assets. We will get billions of dollars from those assets today. We will never have to repay it. We will never have to service it because the investors will be looking at the assets for profits and recovery of principal.” Corroborating Teriba’s position, Yusuf said the way out of this fiscal conundrum “is to come up with more creative ways to reduce and rationalise government expenditure and boost revenue. “Government needs to muster the courage to act on the audit reports to correct these lapses. The economy is bleeding profusely from petrol subsidies, which may rise to about N5 trillion by the end of the year. “Although it is a politically difficult matter to handle, especially at a time like this, it is an issue that needs to be urgently tackled. The subsidy regime is unsustainable. It is therefore imperative to cut the cost of governance,” Yusuf added.

SUNDAY JUNE 19, 2022 • T H I S D AY

͹΁˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

NEWS

NBS: Retail Price for Petrol Rose to N173.08 in May Says diesel price jumped 181% in one year Festus Akanbi The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said the average retail price paid by consumers for petrol increased to N173.08 in May. The NBS Premium Motor Spirit Price Watch for May 2022, which was released in Abuja yesterday, said the increase indicates a 2.99 per cent rise when compared to the value recorded in May 2021 at N168.06. “Likewise, on a month-on-month basis, the average retail price of the product increased by 0.27 per cent from N172.61 in April 2022, compared to the average retail price paid by consumers in May 2022.” On state profile analysis, the report said the highest average retail price for petrol was recorded in Abia State with N193.20, followed by Imo State and Cross River State with N188.24 and N187.65, respectively. “On the other hand, the lowest average retail price for petrol was recorded in Ogun State with N165.00, followed by Yobe and Benue states with N165.36 and N165.50, respectively.” The report showed that the highest average retail price was recorded in the South-east zone with N186.24, while the North-central had the least with N168.20. The NBS revealed in its Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) Price Watch Report for May 2022 that the average retail price of diesel paid by consumers increased by

181.00 per cent from N238.82 in May 2021 to N671.08 recorded in May 2022. "On a month-on-month basis, the average retail price increased from

N654.46 in April 2022, indicating a rise of 2.54 per cent when compared to the average retail price paid in May 2022.” On a state profile analysis, the

report revealed that the state with the highest average price for diesel in May 2022 was Ekiti with N716.15, followed by Osun and Oyo with N716.00 and N707.33, respectively.

On the other hand, it said the state with the lowest average retail price was Yobe with N560.00, followed by Bauchi and Delta with N570.00 and N624.44, respectively.

The report said the zone analysis showed that the average price of diesel was highest in the South-West with N705.60, while the North-east had the lowest price with N639.00.

PROJECT INSPECTION… L-R: Project Construction Manager, Hitech Construction Company, Mr. Marc Seeman; Ogun State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Ade Akinsanya; and Governor Dapo Abiodun, during the inspection of the on-going reconstruction of Kemta-Idi Aba-Somorin Road in Abeokuta…yesterday

You Truly Belong to Everybody and Nobody,Tinubu Tells Buhari Deji Elumoye in Abuja The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for what he described as his “neutral stance” during the party’s recent presidential primary, which he won. Tinubu, while reviewing the build-up to the presidential primary, said the role played by President Buhari ahead of the party primary has shown that he is a “true leader, brother and friend,” who demonstrated a “sense of purpose, composure, and maturity” in the weeks leading to the special convention of the

ruling party. According to a statement issued yesterday by the presidential spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, the former Lagos State governor gave the commendation in a letter addressed to Buhari. In the letter, as reproduced by Adesina, Tinubu described Buhari as a “true leader, brother and friend”, and also commended him for his maturity, which contributed significantly to the success of the presidential primary. In the letter to the president, which Tinubu personally signed, the former governor of Lagos State expressed gratitude for the president’s congratulatory letter to him, adding that while all the

contestants expected President Buhari to “choose” his successor, he simply allowed a level-playing field. According to him, “you belonged to everybody in the party and you belonged to none of the individual candidates of the party.” He congratulated the president for the successful conclusion of the convention and assured him of an issue-focused campaign leading to the 2023 general election. “Your excellency, one must admire the sense of purpose, composure, and maturity you demonstrated in the weeks and months preceding the primary elections of our great party. As

aspirants and party leaders, we all pleaded with you to ‘choose’ your successor,” the letter reads. “Naturally, this is expected especially in African democracy. Up until the 6th of June, 2022, the day of the APC presidential primaries, the whole of Nigeria, including myself, was waiting for you to announce your preferred candidate. All of us thought and believed this was a very simple matter. “However, it was only as the primary went into the night and as the candidates walked up to the podium and spoke that I fully and truly appreciated your position and stance to be neutral and non-aligned to any of us.

As the first person to speak, I also had the special vantage point to carefully hear, without any distraction, what the other candidates had to say. “As the hours rolled by that evening, it became clear to me that all of us were your preferred candidates. As you captured it aptly in your letter to me, the “spirit” of 2013 and 2014 when we created and built APC was there for all to see. “Mr President, as the night of 6th June turned to the morning of 7th June; I fully understood and appreciated your stance. You belonged to everybody in the party and you belonged to none of the individual candidates

of the party - a true leader, brother and friend. “I will conclude by once again thanking you for being there for all of us. By the grace of God and with your leadership, guidance and support, I am confident that we will lead our great party, the APC, to victory in the February 2023 general elections. We will ride on the back of your successes. We will build on the foundations of transparency and integrity which you have laid.” Tinubu thanked delegates and other party leaders for their support during the presidential primary, adding that his emergence as flagbearer was a victory for all members of the APC.

BABANGIDA, JONATHAN, GUSAU, KINGIBE, OMO-AGEGE, ORAMAH, EMEFIELE, OVIA CONDOLE WITH THISDAY/ARISE CHAIRMAN OVER MUM’S PASSAGE of the 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe; and the Deputy President of the Senate, Senate Ovie Omo-Agege. Others include the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Dr Benedict Okey Oramah; Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele; his wife, Margaret; and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr Jim Ovia. Among those who condoled with the Obaigbena Royal Family include The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II; Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III; Dein of Agbor, Benjamin Ikenchukwu Keagborekuzi 1; Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor; Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain, Ambassador Demola Seriki; his counterpart in Germany, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar; wife of the former Head of Interim National Government, Mrs Margaret Shonekan; former Director of Military Intelligence, Brig. Gen Halilu Akilu (rtd); elder statesman, Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark; former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mohammed Uwais, his wife, Mariam; former governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi; former Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa; and a former Governor

of Edo State, Mr Lucky Igbinedion. Others are the Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr Muhammad Nami; Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr Mohammed Bello Koko; Chairman of Globacom, Chief Mike Adenuga; Group Managing Director of Oando Plc, Mr Wale Tinubu; Group Managing Director of FBN Holdings Plc, Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo; and founder of Arik Air, Chief Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide. A former Inspector General (IG) of Police, Mr Solomon Arase; former Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun; former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Michael Aondoakaa (SAN); former Minister of Special Duties, Mr Yomi Edu; former Minister of State for Defence, Mr Musliu Obanikoro; and former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus have also expressed their condolences to the Obaigbena family. Other eminent personalities and captains of industry who have equally expressed their condolences over the demise of the matriarch of the Obaigbena family include the founding Managing Director of Agusto & Co, Mr Bode Agusto; founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc and Anap Business Jets Limited, Mr Atedo Peterside; former Group Managing Director of Access Bank, Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede; Chair

of Metis Partners Capital, Mr Hakeem Belo-Osagie; founder and Chairman of Aluko & Oyebode, Mr. Gbenga Oyebode; the Erelu of Lagos, HRH Abiola Dosunmu; and former governorship candidate of the PDP in Lagos State, Mr Jimi Agbaje. Media gurus such as former Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr Chike Ogeah; the Publisher of The Guardian, Mrs Maiden Ibru; Chairman of Media Trust Limited, Publishers of Daily Trust Newspapers, Kabiru Yusuf; veteran journalist, Mr Ray Ekpu; former Chairman of Punch Newspapers, Chief Ajibola Ogunsola; and the former Chairman of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, have also sent their condolence messages to the Obaigbena family. Renowned English model, actress and businesswoman, Naomi Campbell; and renowned British fashioner designer, Ozwald Boateng, also condoled with the family of Obaigbena. In their separate condolence messages, the eminent personalities also sympathised with the Royal Family of Owa Kingdom led by the Obi of Owa Kingdom, HRM Emmanuel Efeizomor, describing the passage of Princess Obaigbena as the celebration of life and times of the matriarch of Obaigbena Royal Family.

Princess Obaigbena, who passed away at the age of 87 after a brief illness Friday, left her footprints as the Chief Nursing Officer in old Bendel State and later, Delta State, where she served meritoriously. Besides, the matriarch also served three successive governments in Delta State as Special Adviser, deploying her robust wealth of experience in health sector management to serve her people, community and the state. The late princess was born in Enugu on August 16, 1934, to Pa Paul Owakwe and Mrs Grace Osinole Usifoh of Owa Kingdom, Ika North East Local Government Area, Delta State. In his condolence message yesterday, Jonathan described Princess Obaigbena as an outstanding matriarch and a celebrated leader, who dedicated her life in service to God and humanity. He said the late matriarch left enduring legacies in works of charity and worthy contributions to the growth of the society, praying that God would grant her soul eternal rest. “On behalf of my family, I convey our deepest condolences on the passing of your dear father, Princess Margaret Obaigbena, to eternal glory. “It is always a painful experience to lose a loved one. The death of a mother makes it even more agoniz-

ing, considering the priceless roles mothers play in moulding the lives of individuals and in shaping and safeguarding our societal values. “Your mother was an outstanding matriarch and celebrated leader who dedicated her life in service to God and humanity. She distinguished herself as an accomplished health worker in her works of charity and community service. “Mrs Obaigbena’s exit would have left a deep void in your hearts and in the hearts of all those she dearly loved because of her exemplary care, sociability and high moral standards. May you all be comforted by the fact that your mother’s legacies and contributions to societal growth will continue to endure?” On his part, the Deputy President of the Senate, Omo-Agege, also sympathised with Prince Obaigbena over the death of his mum. Omo-Agege, in a statement by his media aide, Yomi Odunuga, in Abuja, said the late matriarch of the Obaigbena's family, knew God, contributed to the cause of humanity, lived a fulfilled life and left behind, successful children. In a letter he signed on behalf of the Board, Management and Staff of Zenith Bank Pic, Ovia also conveyed his deepest sympathies to Prince Obaigbena over his mother’s death. The letter said the late matriarch “blazed the trail in the field of nurs-

ing, carving out a path for many women to follow. Her achievements were reflected in her role as the Chief Nursing Officer of Bendel State and later Delta State. “Her public service contributions also span her role as Special Adviser to three Executive Governors of Delta State. The Obaigbena family and the Royal Family of Owa Kingdom have lost an illustrious daughter and a beloved princess. “She devoted her life not only to her children 's prosperity but to the advancement of the community. She lived life to the full and left a legacy and her memory will live on. May God grant you, the Obaigbena family and the entire Owa Kingdom the fortitude to bear this loss,” Ovia said. “I recall with nostalgia the love and warmth I received personally from mama over the years whenever we stop by her home in Agbor on my way from my home in Asaba. How can I ever forget mama's homemade cooking and lots of stories of her time in the 1960s with my dad, who was then the Principal Medical Officer of the General Hospital, Benin? “Mama left lasting legacies in her children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. I hereby express my deepest condolences to the entire family of Obaigbena, especially my dear friend and brother, Prince Nduka Obaigbena.”

SUNDAY JUNE 19, 2022 • T H I S D AY

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JUNE 19, 2022

BUSINESS

Editor: Festus Akanbi 08038588469 Email:festus.akanbi@thisdaylive.com

Nigerians Count Losses of Collapsed 1DWLRQDO *ULG 5LVLQJ ,QÁDWLRQ For some time now, the nation has been plunged into a major blackout with the collapse of the national grid that has forced businesses and homes to rely on alternative sources of power, with its attendant cost implications. Economic watchers, however, warned that placing extra burdens on businesses will worsen the current economic problems besetting Nigeria, which is on the verge of transiting power to a new administration, reports Festus Akanbi

A power station

espite the reluctance of the current administration to accept the ranking that placed Nigeria as the world’s 11th most miserable country for 2021, analysts argued that current realities have removed all shades of doubts about the ranking that captures the growing frustration of Nigerians over their poor conditions of living. This development coincided with the last week’s UHSRUW RI WKH :RUOG %DQN WKDW LQÁDWLRQ LQ 1LJHULD which it stated is already one of the highest in the world before the war in Ukraine, is likely to push an additional one million Nigerians into poverty by the end of 2022. 7KLV ZDV GLVFORVHG E\ WKH JOREDO ÀQDQFLDO LQVWLWXtion in its latest Nigeria Development Update (NDU) report, titled, ‘The Continuing Urgency of Business Unusual’, which was released last Tuesday. Growing Misery According to the multilateral institution, Nigeria is in a paradoxical situation: growth prospects have improved compared to six months ago but LQÁDWLRQDU\ DQG ÀVFDO SUHVVXUHV KDYH LQFUHDVHG considerably, leaving the economy much more vulnerable. Nigerians are now getting used to the absurdity of sustained deterioration of standards of living in a country where costs are skyrocketing whereas wages remain largely unsustainable. For instance, available data showed that NigeULDQV ZHUH ZRUVH RͿ ODVW \HDU WKDQ WKH\ ZHUH LQ 2020 as the country was ranked the world’s 11th most miserable country for 2021. The 2021Annual Misery Index, which analysed 156 countries, had shown that Nigeria moved from the 15th position in 2020 to the 11th position LQ 7KH LQGH[ PRGLÀHG E\ 6WHYH +DQNH D popular professor of applied economics at Johns +RSNLQV 8QLYHUVLW\ DOVR VKRZV WKDW WKH UDQNLQJ placedAfrica’s biggest economy as the fourth most miserable country on the continent. $FFRUGLQJ WR +DQNH KLV YHUVLRQ RI WKH PLVHU\ index is the sum of the year-end unemployment, LQÁDWLRQ DQG EDQN OHQGLQJ UDWHV PLQXV WKH DQQXDO percentage change in real GDP per capita.

Analysts said they were not surprised as the FRXQWU\·V KLJK LQÁDWLRQ DQG XQHPSOR\PHQW UDWH which are among the highest in the world, mirrored the high level of misery in the country. Like a country under a spell, almost everything is going in the opposite direction. From the collapsed national grid and the attendant nationwide blackout to excessive borrowings of the federal and state governments which analysts said is already mortgaging the future of the country, and of course, the frightening dimension to the problem of insecurity as terrorist activities makes intra-and interstate movements/businesses a great risk. For instance, Nigeria has, in the past few weeks, been plunged into a nationwide blackout, as a result of the incessant collapse of the national grid, with businesses and homes having to rely on generators and solar energy power. The situation is so bad that the presidential candidate of the opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar taunted the federal government for the failure to stabilise the national grid, and arrest the emerging threats to governance and the attendant erosion of standards of living in the country. According to him, the latest collapse of the national grid was a metaphor for everything that has gone wrong in Nigeria. Atiku wrote: “The darkness that has enveloped the nation in the last couple of days with the collapse of the national grid is a metaphor for the collapsing state of our nation: collapsing unity, collapsing security, collapsing economy, collapsing education, collapsing well-being and collapsing value of human life and dignity.” +XJH (FRQRPLF /RVV Although the federal government-owned Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), which manages the grid had at some point said grid collapse happen globally, the collapse of the power supply, each time it occurs, comes with a huge economic loss for consumers, especially commercial entities. ,Q /DJRV $EXMD .DQR DQG 3RUW +DUFRXUW OLNH in other major towns, it is a sad period for business promoters who have to incur heavy costs for power generation given the prohibitive cost of diesel. The situation is so bad that some hotels are losing customers daily as operators are being forced to

cut down periods when guests could enjoy power supply, mostly from generators. Nigeria is endowed with large oil, gas, hydro, and solar resources, and it has the potential to generate 12,522 MW of electric power from existing plants. On most days, however, it is only able to GLVSDWFK DURXQG 0: ZKLFK LV LQVX΀FLHQW for a country of over 195 million people. Not only does poor power supply cripple businesses, but it also comes with environmental costs. The constant use of generators that emits fumes into the atmosphere, increases air pollution which DͿHFWV FOLPDWH FKDQJH DQG KXPDQ KHDOWK ,Q WXUQ environmental damage can result in agricultural MRE ORVVHV WKH ULSSOH HͿHFWV DUH FRXQWOHVV Accordingtoeconomistsandresearchers,energy is the engine that drives the economy of a nation forward, therefore poor energy supply greatly DͿHFWV D FRXQWU\·V HFRQRPLF JURZWK ,W LV WKHUHIRUH paramount for any nation that wants to see the country’s economic boom, to invest heavily in ensuring that there is a constant power supply. It is a known fact that when small businesses thrive in a country, it acts as a catalyst for economic growth. Therefore when small and medium-scale EXVLQHVVHV DUH DͿHFWHG EHFDXVH RI SRRU SRZHU VXSSO\ LW VWLÁHV WKH JURZWK RI WKH HFRQRP\ 1LJHULD·V major shortage of reliable power supply is a major constraint to the country’s economic growth. A large number of them have opted for the use of solar energy while some use petrol and diesel-powered generators. This has seen them spend heavily on petroleum products which has DͿHFWHG WKHLU UHYHQXH 6PDOO EXVLQHVVHV DUH WKH RQHV PRVW DͿHFWHG DV D ODUJH SHUFHQWDJH RI WKHP depend heavily on power to run their business. Constant use of generators to run their business KDV VHHQ WKHP DFFUXH ORVVHV ZLWK OLWWOH RU QR SURÀW Analysts explained that the unfortunate situation in the country has turned Nigeria into one of the harshest environments to do business, which has rendered the country less competitive and has also caused some businesses to move out of the country. Borrowing Spree 8QIRUWXQDWHO\ WKH FXUUHQW ÀQDQFLDO SRVLWLRQ RI the federal government is not helping matters as it embarks on a borrowing spree from local and

external lenders. Last week, there were reports that the federal government’s total borrowing from the Central Bank of Nigeria through Ways and Means Advances rose from N17.46trillion as of December 2021 to N19.01 trillion as of April 2022. According to data from the CBN, this represents DQ LQFUHDVH RI 1 WULOOLRQ ZLWKLQ WKH ÀUVW IRXU months of 2022. The N19.01 trillion owed to the apex bank by the Federal Government is not part of the country’s total public debt stock, which stood at N41.60 trillion as of March 2022, according to the Debt 0DQDJHPHQW 2΀FH The public debt stock only includes the debts of the Federal Government of Nigeria, the 36 state governments, and the Federal Capital Territory. Commenting on the collapse of the national grid and its implication for the nation’s economy, Chief ([HFXWLYH 2΀FHU &HQWUH IRU WKH 3URPRWLRQ RI Private Enterprise (CPPE), Muda Yusuf, called for the urgent decentralisation of the country’s national grid as well as incentivising other sources of energy in the country. According to him, “The impact of this crisis is very obvious and you know right now energy cost has gotten to a level that is now almost unbearable. Both industry SOD\HUV DQG KRXVHKROGV DUH VXͿHULQJ :KHQ you have this kind of collapse the alternative is to self-generate and now with the cost of diesel and gas, Nigerians are at loggerheads. “We are creating problems and agony for investors in this economy because already they have enough troubles such as Forex, logistics, credit, and insecurity. If on top of this we are faced with this energy crisis, this is the worst time to experience system collapse because it’s simply unbearable. More businesses have closed down because there was no way they could just continue buying diesel as high as it is now. Most service centres like some hotels have shuts business because it doesn’t add up. The implications are very severe in terms of the ability to continue to sustain the business, erosion RI WKH SURÀW DQG DELOLW\ WR FUHDWH HPSOR\PHQW RU sustain the already existing employees. This is even more critical for energy-intensive businesses, especially those in production, IT, Telecoms, and the banks. It’s a major issue for the economy and the welfare of Nigerians.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JUNE 19, 2022

TELECOMS the US or the UK, the owners must also register the same media platform in the US or UK. The same applies to foreign media platforms that are already established in foreign countries that decide to operate in Nigeria. Such foreign media platforms must register the business in Nigeria for it to operate freely. The reason is that they are in business to make money and as such, must be registered and regulated. So there is nothing wrong with regulating the business aspect since it was established to generate revenue and people buy data to patronise the business,” Ogunye said. Discussing the implications of any regulation that has an ulterior motive, Ogunye said it would be unconstitutional if the planned regulation of social media by the federal government, has VRPH IRUPV RI FRYHUXS LQWHQGHG WR VWLÁH WKH social media in Nigeria. He said if the motive of the government was a fallout of the altercation it had with Twitter last year that led to the suspension of Twitter’s operations in Nigeria, then it would be unconstitutional and could be challenged if the Code of Practice infringes on people’s right to freedom of expression. He said it would be out of place if the Code of Practice should operate like the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) sanction the media at will and enforces certain rules that prohibit the media from carrying out its duties. “If the motive of the Code of Practice is to deprive the social media of its right to freedom of expression, then it will not be acceptable and Nigerians have the responsibility to debate on the draft Code of Practice and spell out what their rights to freedom of expression should be, but if the government insists on the Code of Practice, against the wishes of Nigerians, then Nigerians have the right to challenge the government in FRXUW WR KDYH LW UHYLHZHG DQG QXOOLÀHG 7KH ULJKW to freedom of expression is a fundamental right in Nigeria and it is jealousy guarded by the court in Nigeria. Telco’s Views The Chairman,Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), GbengaAdebayo, while reacting to the planned public presentation of the draft Code of Practice, told THISDAY that although he was yet to see a copy of the draft Code of Practice, it would not be out of place for government to regulate the social media, considering the behaviour of most people on social media. “I do not know the kind of obligation that government can put on the social media platform that will be able to guide the behaviour of the social media content users. So the best way to control the behaviour of content users is by regulation, but if the obligations are preemptive of the behaviour of the subscribers, then it will be a challenge,” Adebayo said. Comparing the operations of social media in Nigeria with that of other regions of the world, Adebayo said in developed countries of the world, there are levels of digital identity, such that people could be traced through any social the draft Code of Practice to ensure compliance. media platform that they belong to, but explained that in Nigeria, digital identity is a challenge, Legal Implications hence regulation in Nigeria could help address Speaking on the legal implications of the certain online issues. planned regulation of social media in Nigeria, President, NationalAssociation of Telecom Suba telecoms lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, told THISDAY scribers (NATCOMS), Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, that such regulation could be constitutional who also supported the regulation of the social or unconstitutional, depending on what the media in Nigeria, said the plan to regulate the regulation seeks to address. social media by the federal government through According to him, “Regulation could be in a Code of Practice, is a welcome development. a domestic setting, social, economic, political, ´7ZLWWHU KDV D UHJLRQDO R΀FH LQ *KDQD EXW LW formal or informal. Regulation is not negative has more followers from Nigeria, yet it has no by character or nature. The media, the world UHJLRQDO R΀FH LQ 1LJHULD DQG LWV RSHUDWLRQV over is regulated. For the mainstream media, the are not being regulated in Nigeria, although practice has always been regulated the world it is into serious business of generating money over. They have to be registered according to the from Nigeria. It is, therefore, appropriate to laws of the land, and the activities and content regulate its operations in Nigeria, because it are regulated to avoid defamation of character.” is in business in Nigeria and making money He, therefore, said if the mainstream media from Nigeria,” Ogunbanjo said. could be regulated, then social media, which is Since Twitter makes money from Nigeria, it an extension of the mainstream media, should is proper for Nigeria to have some economic be regulated as well. He gave instances where in gains from Twitter also because the business the United States, its former President, Donald resides in Nigeria, Ogunbanjo further said. Trump, had his Twitter account suspended Ogunbanjo however warned that the draft because of posts that were at variance with the Code of Practice must allow for some level of rules and regulations guiding Twitter operations freedom of expression because Twitter is a in the US. global platform with a global presence, whose He said self-regulation is constitutional if it is RSHUDWLRQV PXVW QRW EH VWLÁHG LQ 1LJHULD +H VX΀FLHQW LQ DOO FLUFXPVWDQFHV EXW DUJXHG WKDW however said freedom of expression is guarself-regulation may be subjective, depending anteed in the Nigerian Constitution, which RQ WKH SODWIRUP VLQFH SODWIRUPV GLͿHU LQ PRGH people could use to defend themselves at any of operations, but stressed the need for uniform point in time. regulation across certain social media platforms. :LWK WKH GLͿHUHQW UHDFWLRQV HPDQDWLQJ DV Ogunye further said there should be a dis- a result of the planned public presentation of tinction between regulating the content of the the draft Code of Practice for the regulation of media platform itself and regulating the media the social media platforms, the government platform as a business. must tread with caution to allow for freedom “If a media platform that is registered in Nigeria of expression on all social media platforms, while and operating in Nigeria and paying taxes in still having some forms of control that will bring Nigeria, decides to extend the media platform to sanity across all social media platforms.

Discordant Tunes over FG’s Planned Regulation of Social Media

Public reactions to the planned presentation of the draft code of practice by the federal government seeking to regulate the social media in Nigeria were spontaneous and divergent. Emma Okonji, in this report captures the views of industry stakeholders

hefederalgovernmentlastweek reawakened the consciousness and reactions of Nigerians over its planned social media regulation when it revealed plans to make a public presentation of a draft code of practice that seeks to regulate social media. The government, through the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), said it developed a draft code of practice that would regulate the practice of interactive computer service operations, which include online activities across all social media platforms. According to a statement from the federal government, “The National Information Technology DevelopmentAgency (NITDA), in line with the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari to develop a Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms/Internet Intermediaries (Online Platforms), in collaboration with relevant regulatory agencies and stakeholders, is set to make a public presentation of the draft Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms/Internet Intermediaries for further review and input.” Worried about the implications it will have on social media, some Nigerians are of the view that WKH SODQ FRXOG VWLÁH VRFLDO PHGLD LQWHUDFWLRQV LQ Nigeria if the government has an ulterior motive, while others are of the view that regulating the social media, will bring sanity and orderliness in the kind of posts that people broadcast on social media. The Draft Code of Practice The Code of Practice, according to NITDA, would aim at protecting the fundamental human rights of Nigerians and non-Nigerians living LQ WKH FRXQWU\ DV ZHOO DV GHÀQH JXLGHOLQHV IRU

interacting in the digital ecosystem. This is in line with international best practices as obtainable in democratic nations such as the United State of America, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and the United Nations. The Code of Practice was developed in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), as well as input from Interactive Computer Service Platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Google, Tik Tok amongst others. Other relevant stakeholders with peculiar knowledge were consulted such as Civil Society Organisations and expert groups. Giving details of the draft Code of Practice, the Director-General of NITDA, Inuwa Kashifu Abdullahi, said: “The new global reality is that the activities conducted on these online SODWIRUPV ZLHOG HQRUPRXV LQÁXHQFH RYHU RXU society, social interaction, and economic choices. Hence, the Code of Practice is an intervention to recalibrate the relationship of Online Platforms ZLWK 1LJHULDQV WR PD[LPLVH PXWXDO EHQHÀWV for our nation, while promoting a sustainable digital economy. “Additionally, the Code of Practice sets out procedures to safeguard the security and welfare of Nigerians while interacting on these platforms. It aims to demand accountability from online platforms regarding unlawful and harmful content on their platforms. Furthermore, it establishes a robust framework for collaboraWLYH HͿRUWV WR SURWHFW 1LJHULDQV DJDLQVW RQOLQH harms, such as hate speech, cyber-bullying, as well as disinformation and/or misinformation.” ToensurecompliancewiththeCodeofPractice, NITDA has called on all Interactive Computer Service Platforms/Internet Intermediaries operating in Nigeria to take a deeper look at

JUNE 19, 2022 • T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

CONVERSATION WITH MY BILLIONAIRE FRIEND ayo.arowolo@thisdaylive.com 08086447494 (SMS only) PERSONAL FINANCE SAVINGS BUDGETING COMMODITIES

AYO AROWOLO

GOLD

INVESTING

WEALTH CAPSULE 20

The Commendable Habit of Building Legacies by Wealth Owners humanity. One such individual is the founder of his is another session of reflective discussion the Lions Club International, Melvin Jones. The with my Billionaire Friend. This time he centred Lions Club International gives to the needy, the on what he called the commendable habit widows. Rotary Club International was founded by of building legacies by wealth owners. His Paul Harris. As a foundation, it has left selflessness submission was that real wealth is measured not as a legacy for the benefit of millions on planet just by what is accumulated by wealth builders/ earth and continues to make a global impact in owners when alive but also includes what happens providing charity to the world. Another that comes to his wealth after he is long gone. to mind is the founder of the American Legion, My Friend guided the conversation this way: by the name Henry Stimson. One other is the “When a person owns a large supply of a desirable founder of the Salvation Army, William Booth. thing, something that brings financial and emotional These are people that have set up foundations security and provides value, such a thing represents which continue to leave a legacy for the benefit wealth. Wealth left behind as footprints for future of humanity. Their charity organisations continue generations is referred to as a legacy. And there to give succour to people and spread happiness are certain habits such wealth-builders have that around the world. One current legacy institution helped them achieve this feat.” which comes to mind is the Bill and Melinda Gates “Indeed, leaving a legacy behind by wealth owners Foundation. This legacy foundation is owned by is part of their pursuit of happiness and meaningful an amazing couple (now separated), who have living. It is also in line with the teachings of the school heavily invested in creating a legacy, providing of positive psychology. This is so because positive vaccines and medical research for new drugs for psychology in itself relates to all activities of man Artist Impression of my Billionaire Friend the benefit of humanity. Their success includes that are aimed at achieving happiness, well-being, providing Covid-19 vaccines for the underdeveloped good quality of life, contentment and meaningful When a person owns a large world and research into malaria vaccination for living. It includes the acts of performing kindness third world.” for others and for creating and deriving happiness supply of a desirable thing, the“Building a legacy is not limited to only the in the process.” something that brings ﬁnancial wealthy, even though our conversation here “Generally, when the art of creating happiness about building a legacy by wealthy owners. and deriving happiness from human activities is and emotional security and isThere are indeed many non-wealth builders and tied to building a legacy, then human life becomes who have created and left a legacy for meaningful for living. Building a legacy practically provides value, such a thing owners the benefit of humanity. Such examples include involves creating enduring tangible and intangible represents wealth. Wealth left Albert Einstein, the German physicist, who came things which can be and are passed on to future with the theory of relativity. He was not wealthy generations long after the wealth owner is gone. behind as footprints for future up but created wealth for others in the world long Without mincing words, legacy influences people’s generations is referred to as a after his death with his theory of relativity. Nelson lives and confers tangible benefits to future generations. was not a wealthy man but he left a It involves being driven into creating things greater legacy. And there are certain Mandela legacy by liberating South Africans from the than for one’s lifetime into the future, to improve habits such wealth-builders shackles of the South African apartheid regime. one’s society, nation and/or the world in general.” is the great Martin Luther King of the “Building a legacy is all about living and not about have that helped them achieve Another United States of America. Galileo Galleli was also death. It is about how not to live for only now and not wealthy, but he was a great astronomer who this feat about living now for the benefit of others, tomorrow. discovered the earth’s roundness, the orbiting of It is about thinking of one’s life and what must be the earth and the centrality of the sun within our done today for the benefit of others in the future. It is about leaving today’s footprints for tomorrow’s appropriate legacy, wealth owners must dare orbital universe. Marie Curie, the Polish physicist legacy. Legacy building, complemented by building to be joyful and serve in ways that bring joy to and chemist, who discovered two elements of the wealth can be very fulfilling and beneficial to the them in the process. Indeed, a legacy should be periodic table, namely radium and polonium, is world. It can be fulfilling in ensuring that whatever fashioned around issues which give the greatest another who has left a lasting legacy without being wealth a wealth builder owns, whatever abundance of joy to wealth builders. This is why legacy builders wealthy. This woman who discovered treating valuable possessions or money that a wealth builder who love providing succour to the sick and those tumours with radiation was the first woman to owns, he will apply it to building a legacy for future with health challenges end up building a legacy win the Nobel laureate, the first woman to win it generations. Building a legacy is not necessarily aimed around clinics and hospitals, providing for the twice and also the first person to win the Nobel laureate in two separate sciences.” at the benefit of nuclear families but for unrelated needy, old people’s homes and others.” “In building a legacy, wealth owners must think “Some Nigerian living wealth owners that members of society at large and one’s nation and the world in general. Wealth builders and wealth owners of service to others and not about their personal have built and are building lasting legacies need to consciously focus on building legacies, take successes since issues of personal successes are include, Fola Adeola, with the FATE Foundation advantage of available opportunities for building more of achievements than leaving a legacy. Legacy for youth development and entrepreneurial training, legacies and be mindful of their responsibility for builders must not run around building a legacy which is silently impacting positively on millions for others, but they must run around making of Nigerian youths. Another is the Tony Elumelu advancing the interest of others.” “The process of building a legacy requires a thorough an impactful difference in the lives of others. Foundation, which was founded by Tony Elumelu. understanding of the different ways of achieving this Wealth builders and owners must elevate their This foundation is making an impact in developing goal. It involves ensuring that one discovers one’s interests to those of others and must remember, young Africans into successful entrepreneurs, passion, talent and strength, to give one the unique as stated by Charles Dickens, that: ‘No one in intellectual, skilful and talented developed youths. advantage of building a legacy for the advancement this world is useless who lightens the burdens of Another one that comes to mind is Prince Yemisi of the lives of others. It also involves monitoring others.’ To build a legacy, wealth-builders must, Shyllon, with his art foundation, OYASAF, which focuses on developing and exposing Nigeria’s art, ways by which one can best create and achieve a however, avoid those attitudes that inhibit legacybeneficial impact on others. In this same vein, it building goals. These attitudes include a lack of artists and culture to the world. He has solely also involves developing one’s skill and interest in focus, living the lives of others, anger and fear, funded the establishment of a museum of art in serving humanity in general, as separate from one’s and avoidable consumptive and wasteful living. a private university complex in Nigeria. Many nuclear family and self. Building a legacy involves Legacy building requires avoiding the habit of others such as these can be mentioned who are doing what matters to one’s self for the benefit of prioritising emergencies above strategic priorities. playing significant roles in leaving lasting a legacy others and being aware that life ends faster than By leaving a good legacy behind, wealth-builders for Nigeria and Nigerians.” one consciously realises. This means that the process and owners end up putting a stamp on societies should start as soon as possible, instead of waiting and making contributions to future generations. WHY MUST WEALTH BUILDERS THINK till the latter part of one’s life. It involves taking Legacy building is about putting other people ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THEIR WEALTH advantage of opportunities around oneself and using first and self last; putting people in positions to AFTER THEY ARE GONE? “Not all wealth builders care about what may those opportunities to advance the cause of making do great things in the future after the lifetime of wealth builders and owners.” happen to their wealth after they have gone. However, impactful contributions to the lives of others.” “It is not difficult to identify some individuals reasonable wealth owners and builders with a “Building a legacy also requires working with those closest to one and spending time to study that have left globally long-lasting legacies for clear awareness of the emptiness of human lives those around to determine how well wealth builders’ activities impact them. This helps in selecting the Not all wealth builders care about what may happen to their impactful activities for achieving the cause of their building of a legacy. It involves bringing one’s best wealth after they have gone. However, reasonable wealth self towards advancing one’s legacy goals.” owners and builders with a clear awareness of the emptiness of “Ralph Waldo Emerson puts it appropriately: ‘The purpose of life is not just to be happy, it is to human lives and the need to live meaningfully and impactfully, be useful, to be honourable, to be compassionate, think and prepare for what would happen to their wealth to have made some impactful difference that has made one live well.’ This line is a fitting compass after their death in the choice of legacy goals. In fashioning an

and the need to live meaningfully and impactfully, think and prepare for what would happen to their wealth after their death. They thus make provisions for ensuring that their wealth continues to make impactful contributions to the lives of others, even after their death.” WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BUILD A LEGACY? “There are a few essentials: the mind, focus, determination with a clear vision and feasible, well, determined goals. The mind ensures that the pleasures and harvests of this world are transferred to others when one must have gone. That the prosperity and wealth of this world are transferred for the benefit of others and for humanity to grow, protect and enjoy after they have departed this world.” WHY IS IT THAT WHEN WEALTH BUILDERS DIE, THEIR WEALTH SEEMS TO GO INTO EXTINCTION? Wealth builders that do not make adequate legacy provisions for their wealth when they die would have their wealth go into extinction. The way to avoid this is to either provide a well-executed will for peaceful and cordially related monogamous persons. For polygamous home settings, where there is a strong likelihood of an executed will being contested, a legacy should be conclusively settled while still alive (that is, Inter Vivos) in settled gifts to beneficiaries or via executing irrevocable power of attorneys with consideration. Hence generally, wealth owners who want to live legacies must ensure that they either get the irrevocable power of attorneys or they share their wealth before they die and give out as much as possible to humanity. Wealth owners must realise that doing this is necessary because humans go faster than they think. Youthfulness is not forever.” WHAT ARE THE FOUNDATIONS FOR BUILDING AN ENDURING LEGACY? “For emphasis, wealth-builders must ensure that their wealth is sustainable and that whatever legacy they are building must be sustainable. Sustainable in terms of future cash flows for the maintenance of such a legacy. They must have properly executed and good testamentary documents with a good selection of executors. Where wills are not used, then they can use the irrevocable power of attorneys or create Trust Deeds. The execution of Trust Deeds with Corporate Trustees is highly recommended. Corporate Trustees ensure that the legacy of wealth owners is assured. Of course, such Corporate Trustees arrangements should have the provision for external auditors for ensuring that corporate trustees keep to their terms of the trust.” Building a legacy does not necessarily have to be after wealth has been built. A legacy can be built before significant wealth has been built. “In essence, leaving a legacy by wealth owners is necessary to help nations to provide for areas of need, about which governments are not measuring up satisfying but about which wealth owners can contribute for the general good of the people of one’s nation and the world. Building a legacy by wealth owners is a way of securing and ensuring some degree of enduring immortality of wealth owners many years after they must have died. A notable example is Obafemi Awolowo. He was not a rich person, but he built a lasting legacy over three decades after his death. Awolowo has left lasting a legacy with companies in G.R.A Ikeja, Apapa, Ilupeju, all in Lagos and Oluyole, in Ibadan, which are still producing wealth for the Nigerian nation in billions of naira and providing employment for millions over the decades. In building lasting a legacy, Obafemi Awolowo not only invited companies to set up factories in Western Nigeria but also left a legacy of building the first stadium, the first high-rise building and the first television station all in Nigeria. My friend ended on this note: “Building a legacy is a sure way of ensuring immortality for wealth owners. Legacy building is also not only important for national and global development, but also in leaving a very solid stamp on the global map of the world.” So far... Can’t wait to catch up with you next week. ayo.arowolo@thisdaylive.com

SUNDAY JUNE 19, 2022 • T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY MONDAYSunday MARCH 14, 2022 19 June, 2022 Vol 27. No 9910

OPI NION

opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

IKE OKONTA canvasses support for a brand new political party with development on its agenda AN ABSENCE OF DEVELOPMENTAL POLITICS

THE ERA OF LAME DUCK IS HERE Power is gradually fading away from those in authority, writes ERIC TENIOLA

I See Page 30

THAT INEC MAY SUCCEED IN 2023 AYO OYOZE BAJE writes that INEC needs the full support of all the stakeholders to conduct credible elections See Page 30

A NEW NIGERIA IS POSSIBLE You have run a good race, ETIM ETIM commends Osinbajo See Page 59

WHEN WILL AFRICAN CHURCHES APOLOGISE FOR WITCH PERSECUTIONS? Witch hunting is inconsistent with the Christian faith, writes LEO IGWE

See Page 59

EDITORIAL SUPREME COURT AND WELFARE ISSUES

See Page 60

119

t was the late Claude Ake, one of Africa’s foremost political economists, who observed in his book ‘Democracy And Development In Africa’ that Africa remained underdeveloped because ‘development has never been on the agenda of the continent’s rulers.’ Bringing this pithy observation back home to Nigeria, one can similarly argue that development has never been on the agenda of Nigeria’s politicians since the advent of the Fourth Republic in May 1999. This fact was brought forcefully home to Nigerians during the just-concluded presidential primaries of the two main political parties – the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC). Bola Tinubu, who eventually HPHUJHG WKH ÁDJ EHDUHU RI WKH $3& WROG Ogun State delegates a few days to the primary that he was in the race because he had helped President Muhammadu Buhari to win the election in 2015 and again in 2019. Tinubu, beside himself with anger, pointed out that all through President Buhari’s tenure he did not request to be awarded contracts; he did not forward names of his protégés to be given ministerial positions; and that he did not ingratiate himself with the President IRU SHUVRQDO EHQHÀW What Bola Tinubu was saying was that it was pay-back time; that President Buhari should pave the way for him to emerge as President of Nigeria after the latter’s tenure ends in May 2023. Please note that Bola Tinubu did not raise a single developmental issue he would tackle were he to be elected President, using this as a platform to make his case to the Ogun State APC delegates. As far as he was concerned, development was not on the agenda. What was important is that the Presidency be ‘awarded’ to him for playing his politics right in 2015 and 2019. ,W LV VLJQLÀFDQW WKDW 1LJHULDQV responded to the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as the PDP presidential candidate and Bola Tinubu as the APC candidate with resounding silence. You did not see happy Nigerians trooping out into the streets and waving party ÁDJV HQWKXVLDVWLFDOO\ <RX GLG QRW see them taking to the radio and television stations waxing eloquent on the ‘sterling’ qualities of their candidates. Instead, what you heard them complaining about was how the presidential aspirants distributed wads of dollars to the delegates at the conventions of the two political parties and literally bought their way to the ticket. The PDP was tested for 16 years; it failed to deliver development. When APC politicians got into power in 2015, it became clear as President Buhari dithered in the simple task of appointing his ministers that he had not given prior thought to how he would govern

trained and badly paid, are perpetually on strike or migrating to Europe and America. The universities, pummeled into near extinction since the days of General Ibrahim Babangida in the mid1980s, are now gasping for breath and the lecturers rendered irrelevant. Kidnapping, banditry and Islamic insurgency have overwhelmed the north. In the east, separatists are insisting that the Igbo bid Nigeria goodbye and strike out for a revived Biafra. It is now clear that if we leave Nigeria to the present set of politicians in the APC and PDP, we will have no country in the next 10 years. Nigeria is literally coming apart at the seams, and the politicians’ if he became elected and who would response to this existential crisis was to be put in place in the various ministries gather in Abuja and compete with each and departments to help him execute his other over who would distribute more policies and programmes. We have now dollars to the delegates at the conventions. entered President Buhari’s last year in A party convention is a special event. It RIÀFH DQG WKH RYHUZKHOPLQJ HYLGHQFH LV affords leading members of the party that the APC, like the PDP before it, has an opportunity to look at the challenges confronting the country, examine the failed abysmally. When two major political parties fail performance of their party in meeting one after the other to deliver on promises, those challenges, and tell the citizens of the then it is time to take a hard look at the country how they intend to perform better. politics of the country and ask what is You did not get this at the just ended party to be done next. That is the situation in conventions. When a set of politicians fail to rise ZKLFK 1LJHULDQV ÀQG WKHPVHOYHV WRGD\ Nigerians are not happy. Unemployment up to the challenge of development is surging. The national electricity grid has thrown up by their nation and instead been collapsing regularly, plunging the resort to frivolities, then the urgent task FRXQWU\ LQWR GDUNQHVV DQG OHDYLQJ RIÀFHV is to replace them. That is the challenge and homes without power. The hospitals staring ordinary Nigerians in the face right are without equipment and doctors, badly now. They must not give in to despair or cynicism, arguing that PDP and the APC are the only dominant parties on offer and that one will have no choice but to vote one or the other. That is clearly not the way to go. A minor political party can be turned into a major winning party overnight if voters will it to be so. Emmanuel Macron, recently re-elected as President of France, took a hard look at the dominant political parties on offer in 2017 and decided that none of them spoke to the wishes and aspirations of ordinary French. Macron established a brand new political party, positioning it in the political centre and the rest is history. If enough Nigerians move away from the PDP and the APC and support a smaller political party with a presidential FDQGLGDWH ZKR WKH\ IHHO EHVW H[HPSOLÀHV their aspirations, then surely that candidate will carry the day. All they need to say is that both APC and PDP have been tested and have been found wanting and that they are striking out for a brand new party that will place development on the agenda. It can be done. As former President Barack Obama said back in 2008, rallying American voters: ‘Yes We Can!’

When two major political parties fail one after the other to deliver on promises, then it is time to take a hard look at the politics of the country and ask what is to be done next. That is the situation in which Nigerians ﬁnd themselves today. Nigerians are not happy

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

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T H I S D AY SUNDAY JUNE 19,, 2022

THE ERA OF LAME DUCK IS HERE Power is gradually fading away from those in authority, writes ERIC TENIOLA With the selection of the Presidential flag bearers by the various political parties for next year’s election, the era of lame duck, especially in the central government is here. The lame duck definition refers to when a person in power has entered the final stages of their control, and the chosen successor has been elected or soon will be. Lame-duck became the term used to describe politicians, especially the president, who either lost an election or decided to forgo reelection. For some time, we have been witnessing a weak Presidency, but it is likely going to get worse now. What is about to happen is the deconstruction of the imperial Presidency. Nothing humbles a man or a woman who has been in power to realize suddenly that he or she has to lose the power. Exit date humbles any government official and that is why they say power is transient. We have nothing that is really our own; we hold everything

as a loan. The bad news is that nothing lasts forever. The good news is that nothing lasts forever too. People and things will come and go. Everything in this life is transient. Weak men create hard times. Weakness invites aggression. A leader with excessive weakness can be a danger to democracy. He can even split the country with indecision and failure to act. We need a dynamic leadership with initiative. The danger about weak leadership is that you do not really know who is in charge. Hence we hear of cabal ruling the country. The emergence of a ruling cabal is failure of leadership. The lame duck era will create more confusion for us and it will be like a government on holidays. Henceforth, the spotlight will shift from The VILLAto the campaign field. The Presidential ÁDJ EHDUHUV ZLOO PDNH PRUH QHZV WKDQ 7KH VILLA. It will affect the political parties too. In a Presidential System of government, the Presidential candidate is the leader of the party. The political parties will have fewer roles to play during the campaign. The chairman of the political parties and the party headquarters’ will be mere passengers in the political drive. In some instances the ÁDJ EHDUHUV ZLOO XQGHUPLQH WKH SRZHU DQG LQÁXHQFH RI WKH SROLWLFDO SDUWLHV In our own case, ministers, special advisers, special assistants will be thinking of their own future since all of them will go with the President next year. In this case fewer appointments will be made and the era of imperial Presidency is coming to an end. It is a very interesting time we about to witness. I have witnessed the era of lame GXFN WZLFH 7KH ÀUVW WLPH ZDV WKH ODVW six months of General Abdusalami Abubakar (80), GCFR, between 1998 and 1999. The second time was the last six months of President Olusegun Obasanjo (85), GCFR, during which President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was elected at the PDP Presidential election in December

2006. At those two occasions, I saw power fading from those in authority. Suddenly those who wielded enormous power before became human to the extent that they were answering telephone calls and receiving telephone calls by themselves instead of through secretaries. Suddenly they were contacting old friends knowing fully well that they will soon be out of power. During the lame duck era of General Abdusalami Abubakar, he only concentrated on the construction of the Eagle Square, the National Assembly building and devoted much of his time to the transition programme. He dispatched his then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Gidado Idris, GCON, (15 March 1935 – 15 December 2017) to South Africa and East Africa to sell his transition programme to the leaders of that region. I accompanied Alhaji Gidado Idris on the trips. We met the then South African President, Nelson Mandela (July 18, 1918, Mvezo, South Africa—died December 5, 2013, Johannesburg) in Pretoria and Johannesburg. Present at the meetings with President Mandela was the then Nigeria ambassador to South Africa Alhaji Shehu Othman Malami (88), Sarkin Worno in Sokoto State and former Chairman of Union Bank, who was not only a friend to President Mandela and also part of his household. He constantly referred to him as Shehu while Malami referred to President Mandela as Madiba. No doubt President Mandela was very much fond of Alhaji Malami. The affinity between the two men was very strong. In the various meetings, President Mandela always referred to General Obasanjo as my “friend”. He was consoled when Alhaji Gidado told him that General Obasanjo was among those vying for the Presidency and his chances of becoming President were bright. From South Africa, we moved to Kampala, Uganda where we met President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (77). We also met President Daniel Arap Moi (1924-2020) in Kenya as well as the Namibia President, Samuel Shafiishuna Daniel Nujoma (93). During the two weeks tour, we met President Benjamin Mkpa (19382020) of Tanzania. That was when Nigeria was like a colossus in Africa. Lame duck era is when ministers rush memos to the CABINET secretariat for approval by the Federal Executive Council. During the Lame duck era of General Abdusalami, The CABINET secretariat was the centre of activities. Day and night members of the cabinet secretariat were receiving memos on contracts from different ministers. Their Permanent Secretary then, Dr. P.K. Kaigama, along with Alhaji Auwab Abdullahi, Mr. A. Fasan, Mr. O.S. Ogedengbe, Mr. Ibrahim Mahe, Mr Chike N. Agina, Mr. Wuese AI, Mr. T.A. Ajayi, Mr. M.U. Nnaji, Mr Joshua E. Okpo, Mr. K.W. Jibril, Mr. F.F. Ogunshakin, Mr. E.I. Onuoha, Mr. S.K. Ikata, Mr. O.I. Adisa, Miss Charity C. Utok and others were working day and night. The gossip among the workers in cabinet secretariat was that the memos were “partying gifts”. At that time the media was reporting how our foreign reserve was depreciating daily. The only thing remarkable about the lame duck era of General Abdusalami was that it was successful, in that he handed over to General Olusegun Obasanjo on May 29, 1999. In January 2005, Chief Audu Innocent Ogbeh (74), an Idoma from Otukpo in Benue State, was forced to resign as Chairman of PDP. It was assumed that Chief Ogbeh fell out with President Obasanjo on certain principles. Chief Ogbeh had earlier taken over the Chairmanship of the party from Chief Bernabas Andar Iyoryer Gemade (73) also from Benue State.

Teniola was a Director in Presidency

AYO OYOZE BAJE writes that INEC needs the full support of all the stakeholders to conduct credible elections

THAT INEC MAY SUCCEED IN 2023 “Nigerian politicians have over the years become more desperate and daring in taking and retaining power; more reckless and greedy in their use and abuse of power; and more intolerant of opposition, criticism and efforts at replacing them” - (Electoral Reform Committee Report, 2008, Vol. 1: 19). Free, fair, credible and peaceful elections that are of accepted standards form the ÀUP DQG VROLG IRXQGDWLRQ RQ ZKLFK WR build the house of democracy, anywhere in the world. But sad to say, that here in Nigeria these belong to the realm of one’s fecund imagination; the surreal sphere, or sheer idealism. With an aberrant political structure, largely predicated on money and materialism, the centripetal force and push for political power is more to serve the greed and epicurean tastes of the average Nigerian politician than for the common good. The political pendulum therefore, always swings towards the self rather than the state. And that explains one’s persisting worry about the search for good governance, anchored on sustainable economic progress in the national interest, which has remained an elusive rainbow, for decades, from one administration to

another. Or how else can we explain that each presidential aspirant had to pay the humongous sum of N100m for the form of intention for the presidential ticket on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)? That of the rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) went for N40m. You can imagine how many hungry Nigerians such huge sums could feed in this country, if only for a month! Unfortunately, this development has been worsened by the recent act of political aspirants openly distributing pounds and dollars to party delegates. So, what insulting message have these passed on to the average Nigerian citizen, who ranks as the world’s second-most impoverished person? What about those stewing in agony, worried over how to feed oneself and the famished family with WKH HVFDODWLQJ IRRG LQÁDWLRQ" 7KH DQVZHU is clearly obvious: Here in Nigeria, they (the political elite) do not care about us, as the late music megastar, Michael Jackson rightly rendered in his hit song of similar title. But there is more for us to worry about. That is where the Independent national Electoral Commission (INEC) comes in. If politics, or power-poaching to the seasoned political actors is all about how rotten rich you are, how are we going to have free and fair elections? If winning is not about the candidate’s people-oriented vision, policies and programs, his mental or professional capability and capacity, to solve the myriad of social, economic and infrastructural challenges that still bedevil the country, in the 21st century, how can we have elections of international

standard? It all means that the game and gambits to appropriate political power come 2023 is therefore going to be dirty, messy and Machiavellian. The prowling predators will muzzle the helpless preys; driven of course, by the jungle matrix of mightis- right! The lions and tigers are ready to browbeat the zebras and the hares. The VKDUN ELOOÀVK DQG EDUUDFXGDV ZLOO IUHHO\ feed on the brine shrimp, the daphnia and bloodworms. Try and imagine that bloody scenario. Am I sounding alarmist? It is based on the imperative of having elections that throw up the people’s choice as the eventual winners that yours truly was the Guest Lecturer at the 2018 Independence Anniversary Lecture organized by Nigeria Peace Group (NPG) in Lagos. The topic was: ‘Panacea for Peaceful Elections in Nigeria- Evaluating the roles of Politicians, Citizens, Security personnel, INEC and the Civil Society’. The conclusion arrived at then was that INEC will continue to need the full support of all the stakeholders to succeed at the subsequent elections. And it is going to be more so, this time around in 2023 because the challenges are enormous. For instance, whether you consider it as base sentiment or not, some concerned Nigerians are already questioning the morality, equity and justice of having an Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate another Northerner taking over from the incumbent Muhammadu Buhari after his topsy-turvy eight years as the president. Or the possibility of an Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate clinching the post, he being a Yoruba after the eight years’ tenure of Yemi Osinbajo, his kinsman as the Vice President. They are asking about the position of the Ibo factor in the inequitable political equation of the Nigerian nation. Yet, there are other tension-soaking challenges for INEC. With the insecurity monster still metamorphosing from Boko Haram terrorism, to banditry and killer herders, and rampaging into churches to take innocent souls, just how secure will the country be, before, during and after the 2023 general election? Besides all these is the mass voter apathy of the Nigerian electorate, millions of whom have willy-nilly acquiesced to the erroneous notion that electoral results are often decided long before their votes are cast. So, they would rather take the insulting packages of snacks, indomie noodles, Ankara clothes and the pittance of N5,000 from the conscienceless politicians. The way forward is for INEC to be ÀUP RQ WKH LVVXH RI FDPSDLJQV 7KH way and manner some politicians go about their smear campaigns couched with outright insults and innuendoes despite the several peace pacts signed give cause for concern. By leaving much of the substance of good governance to the base sentiments of religion and ethnicity it is obvious we may still be far from the Promised Land. Stiffer penalties must be meted out to all those involved in one electoral malfeasance or another. That will serve as a strong deterrent to other miscreants. Baje writes from Lagos

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A NEW NIGERIA IS POSSIBLE You have run a good race, ETIM ETIM commends Osinbajo It’s a few days after the APC presidential convention, and I will like to commend Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo for conducting a decent and effective presidential run that has inspired so many young people and motivated millions of others. Although the VP was not declared winner, there is no doubt that he’s won the hearts of millions of Nigerians across the country. It is obvious to me that APC will never win the presidential election unless Osinbajo’s supporters are in full support of the campaign. It’s therefore in Tinubu’s interest to rein in on his over exuberant supporters who believe that the best way to celebrate is to insult the losers.

The dream of a new country remains alive and well. We will have at the back of our minds that what you have started in the various movements, coming into one, is the seed that will birth a new nation To the millions of the VP’s supporters, the young and the educated middle class, please stay engaged and keep mobilizing. I’m happy that Prof Osinbajo did not yield to the immense pressure to withdraw from the race. Stepping down for Tinubu would have been the greatest disservice to the millions of Nigerians who are not only motivated by the freshness he exuded, but also looked up to his leadership. He’s the Obama of our time. There are indications that Prof Osinbajo would stay engaged in the polity. A few days after the convention, he visited his VXSSRUWHUV DW WKH &DPSDLJQ 2IÀFH LQ Asokoro, Abuja, where he thanked them for their support and pledged to continue to support the party. He said: “This movement is a movement within a party. We are not doing something that has not been heard of before. What is new is that ZH KDYH D ÀUP EHOLHI WKDW D QHZ 1LJHULD is possible and it is possible through us who are here. We went to the convention, and the results showed us clearly that we

lost, but it is only a battle, it is not the war. There are battles ahead, but we will win the war for a new Nigeria. I have no doubt in my mind that we will win that war for a new Nigeria. That is why our movement for a new Nigeria must remain strong and ÀUP $QG ZH ZLOO GR HYHU\WKLQJ WR NHHS our movement strong and solid.” According to the Vice President, despite the result of the APC Presidential Primary, “the dream of a new country remains alive and well… We will have at the back of our minds, that what you have started in the various movements, coming into one, is the seed that will birth a new nation. You and I know the time has come and we will devote everything to it. “I am committed and will remain committed to that dream (of a new Nigeria), for as long as you are willing and recognize that we have not yet written the story of this country, we have not yet completed the story of this country. As a matter of fact, the story has just begun, this movement has just started.” The VP further said, “a new Nigeria has only just started, and everywhere across this land, it will be clear to all that a new Nigeria has been born. Once the genie comes out of the bottle, you cannot put it back. The word has been spoken; it cannot be taken back: it is time for a New Nigeria.” Thanking Nigerians at home and abroad, including the Osinbajo supporters’ groups, for the overwhelming support for his presidential bid, Prof. Osinbajo noted that “when we started this race, I never believed that we would have so many young men and women who would believe so passionately in the cause of a new Nigeria.” These are the words of D ÀJKWHU ZKR LV QRW TXLWWLQJ There are a few lessons to learn from the outcome of the primary. First, Nigerian politics is still driven by religion, ethnicity and corruption. Apart from bribing the delegates, I understand that a certain aspirant paid as much as $3 million to some governors. Even the family of a YHU\ VHQLRU JRYHUQPHQW RIÀFLDOV UHFHLYHG luxury largess like houses in Dubai. It is a big damage to President Buhari whose anti-corruption campaign has earned him international renown. The Tinubu win has further stimulated spirited discussions on his frailties. No matter whom his running mate would be, Tinubu has inevitably become a risky standard bearer for his party. The specter of the Muslim-Muslim ticket has become the most controversial political issue today and an incubus on the Tinubu ticket. Suddenly, Tinubu’s victory is no longer perceived as a Slam Dunk as it was earlier presented. He is now being GHÀQHG E\ D VLQJOH LVVXH , KDYH ZDUQHG LQ my previous interventions that the mood of the nation in 2022 is different from that of 1993. We did not have Boko Haram, ISWAP, church bombings and blasphemy killings 30 years ago. I cannot therefore imagine what would happen, if in the midst of these, we are presented with a ticket that excludes the huge Christian community from the top echelon of the nation’s political leadership. And this brings me to the Buhari leadership. The President’s vacillation on his preference in the last week of the convention is quite emblematic of his personality and leadership style in the last seven years. It is now up to him to bear the consequences of his indecision and lack of decisiveness. Etim is a Journalist

WHEN WILL AFRICAN CHURCHES APOLOGISE FOR WITCH PERSECUTIONS? Witch hunting is inconsistent with the Christian faith, writes LEO IGWE The apology issued by the Church of Scotland for its role in capturing and torturing alleged witches in early modern Europe is an example and an initiative that churches in Africa must emulate. In a historic gesture of mea culpa, the Church of Scotland has, at its General Assembly, in May, acknowledged their role in the persecution and execution of thousands of people, mainly women, accused of witchcraft between the 16th and 18th centuries. The church regretted the terrible harm that it caused the accused. It was sorry for the miscarriage of justice, which it orchestrated centuries ago. The witch hunts in Scotland were a clear case of moral failure. So it was encouraging to see this Christian establishment rise to the occasion and acknowledge their misdeeds. So the witch apology by the Church of Scotland is a welcome development and a powerful message of remorse. The issue is not only in tendering this apology which many in Scotland deem unnecessary because the Scottish witch hunts ended centuries ago. The real tragedy is that the persecution of alleged witches is an ongoing campaign in many parts of the world, especially LQ $IULFD &HQWXULHV DIWHU WKHVH KRUULÀF abuses ended in Europe, persecution of suspected witches has not stopped in the region. Unfortunately, churches in Christian Africa are the main drivers and enablers of witchcraft accusations and witch persecutions. African pastors are among the key perpetrators of this miscarriage of justice. Violent exorcism of witchcraft is an everyday activity in many churches. These churches, including the Liberty Gospel Church, Mountain of Fire and Ministry, and Living Faith Church, engage in witch ÀQGLQJ LGHQWLÀFDWLRQ DQG H[RUFLVP DV part of everyday evangelism. The main question is: When will African churches apologize for their wrongs and misdeeds? When will African clerics regret the harm which WKH\ KDYH LQÁLFWHG RQ WKRXVDQGV DQG tens of thousands of alleged witches across the region? When will African churches repent of their role in accusing and persecuting innocent persons in the name of witchcraft? But some have argued that before African churches could repent and apologize, as the Church of Scotland has done, they need to first acknowledge that witch persecution is wrong. African pastors need to accept that witchcraft accusation is incompatible with Christian faith and practice in this 21st century. And at the moment, this is not case. African churches are actively engaged in witch-hunting and persecution. They have not realized this error and mistake. And this situation makes the witch apology by the Church of Scotland resourceful and helpful. Apart from helping the church and people of Scotland achieve some closure to what was a dark and horrific episode in their history, the witch apology must be deployed to provide moral leadership to the global campaign against witch hunting in Christian Africa. The witch apology must be used to get African churches to end horrific abuses linked to witchcraft beliefs. Many churches in Africa are branches and affiliates of the Church of Scotland. Scottish missionaries

helped found churches in the region. The Church of Scotland has continued to provide financial support and training to its African counterparts. Thus the Church of 6FRWODQG LV LQ WKH SRVLWLRQ WR LQÁXHQFH the activities of its partner churches. The Scottish witch apology will be incomplete if the Church of Scotland does not deploy it to stem the raging tide of witch persecution and killing in Christian Africa. The witch apology should be used to restrain and call to RUGHU $IULFDQ FKXUFK DIÀOLDWHV WKDW are actively involved in witchcraft accusations and witch persecutions. The Church of Scotland should mainstream the witch apology in its relationship with all Christian faith organisations. The witch apology should become a pillar of the Faith in Action programs in the region. In addition, African churches, that DUH QRW DIÀOLDWHG ZLWK WKH &KXUFK RI

Scotland must come on board and join the vanguard of churches against witchcraft accusations and witch persecution. Many pastors have been reluctant to advocate against witch persecution due to their fundamentalist interpretation and understanding of Christianity. Many churches have opposed the campaign against witch hunting because they are of the notion that the belief in witchcraft RU WKH SUDFWLFH RI ZLWFK ÀQGLQJ LV basic to the Christian faith. With the apology by the Church of Scotland, this misunderstanding has been FODULÀHG $ FOHDU PHVVDJH KDV EHHQ sent to African churches and their leaders-that they are mistaken and must change course. The Church of Scotland has reiterated that witch persecution is a fatal religious error. That witch hunting is inconsistent with the Christian faith. African churches must embrace this message, apologize, repent and regret their role in this dark and destructive campaign. Igwe directs the Advocacy for Alleged Witches, which aims to end witch persecution in Africa

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T H I S D AY SUNDAY JUNE 19, 2022

EDITORIAL

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

SUPREME COURT AND WELFARE ISSUES

The Judiciary is a critical institution of government. Underfunding exposes it to grave perils

n an unprecedented move that smacks of desperation, Supreme Court Justices have written a protest letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) drawing his attention to some RI WKH LOOV DIÁLFWLQJ WKH FRXUW $QG WKH\ PDGH WKH OHWWHU SXEOLF 6RPH RI WKH LVVXHV WKH\ raised include non-replacement of poor vehicles, accommodation problems, lack of drugs at their clinic, HSLOHSWLF SRZHU VXSSO\ DPLG DUELWUDU\ LQFUHDVH LQ HOHFWULFLW\ WDULII ODFN RI LQWHUQHW VHUYLFHV WR UHVLGHQFHV DQG FKDPEHUV HWF :H KRSH WKH VLWXDWLRQ ZLOO QRW degenerate into the level in which those who man the DSH[ FRXUW LQ WKH FRXQWU\ ZRXOG EH IRUFHG WR FDUU\ placards before these welfare issues are DGGUHVVHG E\ DSSURSULDWH DXWKRULWLHV :H XQGHUVWDQG WKDW WKH FULVLV RI FUHGLELOLW\ DIÁLFWLQJ WKH FRXQWU\·V MXGLFLDU\ LQ UHFHQW \HDUV has taken a serious toll on the institution whose image in the H\HV RI PRVW 1LJHULDQV LV QRZ VHYHUHO\ EDWWHUHG But when judicial officers, including those at the DSH[ FRXQWU\ LQ WKH FRXQWU\ DUH OHIW WR WKHLU RZQ devices, then it is inevitable that the implications ZLOO EH GLUH IRU WKH UXOH RI ODZ $V WKLQJV VWDQG 1LJHULD GRHV QRW JHQHUDWH enough funds to cater for all her needs and the VLWXDWLRQ LV QRW OLNHO\ WR JHW EHWWHU DQ\WLPH VRRQ So, we recognise that there will never be enough IXQG IRU WKH MXGLFLDU\ RU DQ\ DUP RI JRYHUQPHQW DW WKLV SHULRG ZKHQ WKH QDWLRQ ERUURZV WR VWD\ DIORDW %XW LW ERGHV LOO IRU WKH UXOH RI ODZ LQ Nigeria that Justices of the apex court are being GHQLHG EDVLF WKLQJV 2QH FDQ RQO\ LPDJLQH WKH VLWXDWLRQ DW WKH ORZHU OHYHOV ,W KDV IRU LQVWDQFH been long established that among the three arms RI JRYHUQPHQW WKH MXGLFLDU\ LV WKH OHDVW IXQGHG DQG DSSHDUV WR EH DW WKH PHUF\ RI WKH RWKHU DUPV WKH H[HFXWLYH DQG OHJLVODWXUH 7KDW H[SODLQV ZK\ HYHU\ &-1 KDV DOZD\V DSSHDOHG WR WKH SUHVLGHQW for more funds in the same manner Chief Judges FDUU\ EHJJLQJ ERZOV WR WKHLU JRYHUQRUV LQ WKH VWDWHV However, we also understand that there is

ODFN RI WUDQVSDUHQF\ DQG DFFRXQWDELOLW\ LQ WKH PDQDJHPHQW RI IXQGV 7KH RSDTXH V\VWHP HVSHFLDOO\ DW WKH DSH[ FRXUW DOORZV VFDUFH UHVRXUFHV WR EH ZDVWHG RQ IULYROLWLHV ,W LV DQ RSHQ VHFUHW WKDW ERWK WKH &-1 DQG WKH &KLHI 5HJLVWUDU OLYH LQ OX[XU\ ZKLOH MXVWLFHV RI WKH FRXUW VXIIHU %HVLGHV WKH 1DWLRQDO Judicial Council (CJN) builds a luxurious house at the FRVW RI DOPRVW D ELOOLRQ 1DLUD LQ FKRLFH DUHDV RI $EXMD IRU HYHU\ UHWLULQJ &-1 ZKLOH RWKHU MXVWLFHV UHWLUH WR UHQWHG DSDUWPHQWV 7R FRPSRXQG WKH SUREOHP IRU a meeting that takes place three or four times in a \HDU WKH 1-& EX\V DQG NHHSV H[SHQVLYH 6SRUW 8WLOLW\ 9HKLFOHV IRU FRXQFLO PHPEHUV ZKR VLW SDUW WLPH 0HDQZKLOH LW LV QRW RQO\ Supreme Court Justices that have to cope with poor welfare, but senior staff of the court are also not well taken care RI 7KLV PDQLIHVWV LQ low morale with the DWWHQGDQW FRQVHTXHQFHV 2YHUDOO ZH DJUHH WKDW WKH MXGLFLDU\ GHVHUYHV PRUH IXQGLQJ WKDQ LW LV FXUUHQWO\ UHFHLYLQJ ,W LV D FULWLFDO LQVWLWXWLRQ WKDW NQLWV VRFLHW\ WRJHWKHU $ situation of desperate material deprivation among NH\ MXGLFLDO RIILFHUV WKURZV WKH GLVSHQVDWLRQ RI MXVWLFH RSHQ WR DEXVH :RUVH VWLOO WKH DYHQXH IRU corruption and abuse is made even wider when those at the apex of justice are made vulnerable WR PDWHULDO FRPSURPLVH 7KH GHOLEHUDWH misapplications of available resources that have EHHQ QRWLFHG LQ WKH MXGLFLDU\ LV RQO\ DQ H[WHQVLRQ of the aberrations that have marred the public VHFWRU ,W LV LPSHUDWLYH WKDW WKH HPEDUUDVVLQJ GHSULYDWLRQV LQ WKH MXGLFLDU\ HVSHFLDOO\ DW WKH level of Supreme Court and High Court judges EH DGGUHVVHG XUJHQWO\ $ MXGLFLDU\ LQ ZKLFK HYHQ 6XSUHPH &RXUW -XVWLFHV DUH UHGXFHG WR JORULÀHG PHQGLFDQWV FDQQRW VHUYH WKH SXUSRVH RI WKH UXOH RI ODZ 1RU FDQ WKH FLWL]HQU\ H[SHFW FUHGLEOH MXVWLFH IURP MXGJHV ZKRVH ZHOIDUH GHSHQG RQ ZHDOWK\ SDUWLHV WR DFWLYH DQG SHQGLQJ FDVHV 7KH UXOH RI ODZ RQFH VXEMHFW WR ÀQDQFLDO and material compromise and extortion becomes a FDULFDWXUH D PRFNHU\ RI MXVWLFH DQG D ODXJKLQJ VWRFN DPRQJ HYHQ WKH ORZOLHVW RI FLWL]HQV

A situation of desperate material deprivation among key judicial oﬃcers throws the dispensation of justice open to abuse

Letters to the Editor

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

LETTERS

THE TEMPLE OF JUSTICE AND ITS FAMISHED PRIESTS (YHU\ FRXQWU\ ZKLFK LV RQ WKH SDWK WR a brighter, better and bigger future needs RQO\ WR OLVWHQ WR WKH VRXQG WKH JDYHO PDNHV in its temple of justice to divine whether the footfalls speak of progression and UHWURJUHVVLRQ 7KDW GLYLQDWLRQ IHOLFLWRXV RU RPLQRXV DV LW VRXQGV FDQ WHOO VXFK D FRXQWU\ all it needs to know for the signs scripted in LWV VWDUV In 1999, Nigeria returned to the shining SDWK RI GHPRFUDF\ PDQ\ \HDUV DIWHU D PLOLWDU\ OHG GLYHUVLRQ UDNHG LQ GLVDVWURXV FRQVHTXHQFHV IRU WKH FRXQWU\ $W KDQG WR administer the constitution and to serve as WKH WKUHVKROG RI WHDUV ZKHUH WKH XQMXVWO\ WUHDWHG FRXOG FU\ FDWKDUWLFDOO\ DJDLQVW WKHLU oppressors were the courts once described E\ D IRUPHU -XVWLFH RI WKH 6XSUHPH &RXUW DV WKH CODVW KRSH RI WKH FRPPRQ PDQ · :KLOH WKH 1LJHULDQ MXGLFLDU\ KDG ODUJHO\ FRZHUHG XQGHU WKH FOXEV RI PLOLWDU\ dictatorship, the burning hope was that under the plentitude of rectitude and FHUWLWXGH WKDW WKH EHDWLWXGHV RI GHPRFUDF\

bring, the courts would again resume their GXWLHV DV IHDUOHVV DUELWHUV But even from the beginning, problems were etched into the bench from which justice was to be dispensed, and it was the SUREOHP RI IXQGV RI PRQH\ :KHQ PRQH\ is not used in unobtrusive and unoffensive ZD\V WR FRXUW MXVWLFH LQ FRXUW MXVWLFH OLNH D EHDXWLIXO EULGH FDQ JHW TXLFNO\ H[SHQVLYH :KDW VRUW RI MXVWLFH FDQ EH GLVSHQVHG from crumbling courtrooms swarming with rats and reptiles, where creaking furniture DUH KRPH WR ZKR NQRZV ZKDW" :KDW VRUW of justice can be dispensed from the hearts RI PLQLVWHUV OHIW YXOQHUDEOH WR ÀQDQFLDO inducement? Nigeria`s skewed revenue sharing IRUPXOD GHWHUPLQHG WR D ODUJH H[WHQW E\ legislations from legislators whose expertise LV LQ VHOI VHUYLFH DQG GH[WHULW\ ZLWK WKH rubber stamp, kowtows to the lavish demands of the executive which has doQRWKLQJ PLQLVWHUV DV SURPLQHQW PHPEHUV 7KLV ELOLRXV EURPDQFH EHWZHHQ WKH

legislature and the executive sees the executive take the largest chunks for itself, and leaving the smaller chunks for the OHJLVODWXUH 7KH MXGLFLDU\ LV OHIW ZLWK QRWKLQJ EXW VFUDSV DW WKH HQG RI WKH GD\ 7KXV ZKLOH D OHJLVODWRU JHWV PLOOLRQV PRQWKO\ IRU GRLQJ EDUHO\ PRUH WKDQ observing ample snooze time in the hallowed chambers, the Chief Justice of Nigeria takes home just under N2 million a month for doing far more brutal brainstorming DQG EDUQVWRUPLQJ ZRUN 7KH SOLJKW RI WKRVH ZKR DOVR DQVZHU C0\ /RUG· DW WKH ORZHU rungs of the judicial ladder in courtrooms thick with darkness and despair is even PRUH FRQFHUQLQJ ,Q D FRXQWU\ ZKHUH PLVFKLHI DQG HYHQ malice thickens a lot of the national plot, a ORW RI SUHPHGLWDWLRQ JRHV LQWR WKH SD\ MXGJHV JHW ,W LV DOVR QR FRLQFLGHQFH WKDW LQ \HDUV there has been no increment whatsoever in WKH UHPXQHUDWLRQ RI MXGJHV LQ 1LJHULD 7KH FDOFXODWLRQ ZKHQ WKH FRYHQV ZKHUH Nigerians are eaten alive convene must center

a lot around the thoughts that ‘if the judges are SUHVVHG IRU IXQGV WKHQ WKH\ ZLOO GR DV ZH VD\ · 7KDW VRPH RI WKH MXGJHV FRQWLQXH WR EH RZHG WKHLU UHWLUHPHQW EHQHÀWV ORQJ DIWHU WKH\ OHDYH RIÀFH PXVW EH LQWHUSUHWHG DV VRPH IRUP RI SXQLVKPHQW IRU WKH KHURLF VKLIW WKH\ SXW LQ LQ D FRXQWU\ WUDPSOHG XQGHU WKH ERRWKHHOV RI FRUUXSWLRQ DQG EDG OHDGHUVKLS 6R MXGJHV DUH OHIW WR ZRUN LQ GLIÀFXOW conditions under which their independence DQG LPSDUWLDOLW\ FDQQRW EH IXOO\ JXDUDQWHHG 7KH IDFW WKDW WKH MXGLFLDU\ KDV EHHQ V\VWHPDWLFDOO\ VWDUYHG RI IXQGV IRU PDQ\ \HDUV FDQ RQO\ EH LQWHUSUHWHG DV GHYLOLVKO\ GHOLEHUDWH It appears that the guard dogs who mount the JDWHV RI MXVWLFH DUH GHOLEHUDWHO\ QHXWHUHG VR DV WR SHUSHWXDWH WKHLU LPSRWHQF\ 2U FRXOG LW KDYH DQ\WKLQJ WR GR ZLWK KRZ MXGJHV DUH UHFUXLWHG LQ WKH FRXQWU\ DQG WKH IDFW WKDW PDQ\ RI WKHP VHOO WKHLU ELUWKULJKWV HYHQ EHIRUH LW LV IXOO\ WKHLUV" Kene Obiezu, keneobiezu@gmail.com

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

19.6.2022

OLUSEGUN ODUNAIYA ON THE TRUE MARK OF LEADERSHIP At 40, Olusegun Odunaiya has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills as the CEO of Havenhill Synergy Limited, a clean-tech micro utility organisation that he founded 12 years ago. He leads a team of innovative and committed young people in providing clean, cost-effective, and sustainable solutions to curb the electric power crisis in rural and urban Nigeria using solar energy. Passionate about improving lives, Odunaiya in this interview with Vanessa Obioha, reveals the kind of leadership that Nigeria truly needs ASSISTANT EDITOR OLUFUNKE OLAODE/victoria.olaode@thisdaylive.com.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ßØÏ ͯͷ˜ ͰͮͰͯͯ

COVER

There are Many Leaders with Vision But Do Not Have Love

Odunaiya

etting Olusegun Odunaiya for a physical meeting was going to be futile, his publicist warned. His unavailability was not a trait of arrogance, rather the CEO of Havenhill Synergy Limited, a clean-tech micro utility organisation, was always on the move. As the leader of a company that takes pride in providing sustainable solutions to curb the electricity menace in rural and urban Nigeria using solar energy, Odunaiya is always looking out for partnerships and funding from numerous international and local organisations that will continuously steer his organisation in the area of impact. For instance, last May, the company received grant funding from Power Africa for the electrification of 50 primary healthcare facilities in Oyo State. As a key player in the power sector, Odunaiya and his team of innovative and committed young people strive in providing clean, cost-effective and sustainable solutions to the epileptic power supply in Nigeria. This is in line with the United Nations Sustainable Energy for All initiative whose core objectives include ensuring universal access to modern energy services by the year 2030. Odunaiya through this company is keen on deploying mini-grids to last-mile rural communities and clean energy solutions to homes and

institutions in urban areas. His target is to electrify one million households in Nigeria by 2025. Compared to the population of the country today, one might argue that his target is like a drop in an ocean but Odunaiya, during our phone conversation, explained that the process of reaching is not magical. “The project requires significant financial investment and raising funding for projects of this nature takes time. Even when you raise the funds, you have to do procurement. Most of the components are imported. So it takes time for the shipping and clearing.” Notwithstanding, by the end of June, Odunaiya would have electrified about 80,000 households. His company is currently working on a mass grid project in Kwara State which would provide electricity to about 20,000 households. He hinted at the possibility of increasing the number of households to 200,000 by the end of next year. These households are mostly in the rural or underserved areas that do not have access to the national grid. In the urban areas, however, the social entrepreneur from Ogun State offers companies solar energy as an alternative. “Instead of them taking 100 per cent of their consumption on diesel or national grid or a combination of both, we bring in solar. So they take 70% of their consumption from

solar which is cheaper. Some of our clients are beginning to save up to 40% on their energy cost.” Odunaiya’s interest in renewable energy was spurred at Bowen University where he studied Physics and Solar Energy. Hearing his lecturers talk about how the sun can power a continent piqued his interest so much that when he left school, he carried out extensive research on solar energy. “I found out that solar was expensive,” he said. However, in 2001, Odunaiya had an encounter. “We usually read stories of how people die from explosives or generator fumes in newspapers. In this particular case, it was a young boy and his family who passed on as a result of the fumes from the neighbour’s generator. They died in their sleep. “That single encounter changed my trajectory because when I left school, I knew I wanted to do business. After that encounter, I started distributing solar lanterns to a few rural communities. But I later found out that it wasn’t sustainable because I could hardly feed myself. The funds I got were mainly from family and friends. I decided that I need to start a company and the profit I make will be used to support communities. It was never our plan to provide electricity to communities but I believe God had a better plan,” he said. Weighing in on the recent power outages experienced in the country, Odunaiya’s expertise in the design, construction and operation of off-grid energy systems (minigrids) came into sharp focus. He dexterously dissected the challenges confronting the sector as well as expressed optimism that better days are ahead. “The truth is that we are still trying to catch up. First of all, these technologies are not here. The manufacturing plants are not here. Most of these components are manufactured outside the country but I can assure you that there is a lot of traction. We’ve made significant progress in this space within the last five years, and it continues to get better. “Another thing is that now we are beginning to see significant funding for the sector. There are so many programmes within this space, they are putting money into the sector just to catalyse the growth of renewable energy, especially solar in the Nigerian market. I always say that until we begin to see solar on the roofs of every house in a street, then we can start talking that we are making progress.” He added that the cost of energy has also significantly dropped in the last decade and will continue to happen with newer technologies and cheaper sources of finance. While he is optimistic that in the next five years, there will be growth in the sector, he was skeptical that the dream of having 24

hours power supply would be a reality soon.. Of course, some areas enjoy such luxury, courtesy of the mini-grids supplied by private developers like him. He pointed out that despite the privatisation of the sector, there are issues around the framework that need to be resolved. He noted that the government has realised that the vast population of Nigeria cannot be served by the grid. “It will take several years for the grid to get to those communities. And even when it gets to the communities, there is no guarantee of supply of power.” The way he sees it, the best way to electrify those communities is to decentralise the energy system. “The idea of generating power from Kainji and transporting it to other states doesn’t make sense. It is not sustainable. So we need to generate power closest to where it will be consumed. And that’s what you see with all these microgrid projects in rural communities because they are like power plants. It is just that their capacity is small, which is what is needed for that particular community. The bigger the community, the bigger the power plant. And it has its own generation and distribution right within that place. If the power is closer to the people, the fewer the distribution losses, and it adequately serves the people,” he explained. But with collaborations and government incentives for developers, he said, Nigeria may soon enjoy stable electricity. He further underscored the ripple effect electricity has on a community. “When you take electricity to a community, you’re giving them the infrastructure. You can build anything on it. Rural telephony, rural banking, rural insurance. Eighty per cent of our people who live in rural communities are farmers. Even though they are subsistence farmers, how can we move them from farming for their own consumption to farming for vision? Good education is built on power. Computers, technology, they need electricity. So take electricity to a community and you will find that it is an entirely new economy you’re starting and there are a lot of things that you can layer on. And that is what we are doing as an organisation. We are not just giving them power but increasing the quality of their life. We do this through our CSR to the community by providing quality education to the children in that community as well as helping farmers,” he said. As our conversation progressed, Odunaiya assumed a passionate tone when we broached the topic of leadership. As a fellow of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, he has demonstrated leadership skills by leading his employees to make an impact in their area of influence. The core values of the company are professionalism, integrity, general improvement and excellence. Excellence according to him is about improving what you did yesterday. The entrepreneur’s understanding of true leadership is encompassed in one word: love, which he said is lacking in Nigeria’s political leaders. He explained it thus: “There is no special skill. The simple and only thing needed is love for the people. When you love the people, you sacrifice for them. It is as simple as that. When you love the people, you will not steal the resources. The central theme in the Bible and Quran is love, but we don’t practice it in Nigeria.” He continued: “The Dubai that our leaders visit, it was built on love for the people. We can see the development in the country over the years. So it’s not about vision; there are a lot of leaders who have a vision but don’t have love. When there is love for humanity, you will go out of your way for your people. And that’s what’s missing in Nigeria. “In developed countries, if a young boy falls into the well, a son of nobody, you will see the Prime Minister sit by that well till the boy is rescued. The whole nation is focused on the boy. But it is not the same in Nigeria, some of the victims of the Abuja-Kaduna train abduction are yet to be released but the train has resumed services,” he argued. For Odunaiya, where there is no love, there can never be progress, no matter the educational qualifications or vision. “Nelson Mandela stepped down because of his love for his people. He knew he had spent the better part of his life in prison and had a few years in power. That is love because he understood that the objective of the people is greater than his personal agenda. Until we find people who love the nation genuinely, we have not yet started,” he concluded.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER JUNE 18, 2022

IMAGES

n Sathurday, June 11, 2022, the entire people of Gbede Kingdom , Ijumu LGA, Kogi State, held a coronation ceremony for HRM Oba (Col) Olusegun Oloruntoba as the Olugbede of Gbede Kingdom. These are some of the personalities at the occasion.

PHOTOS: JULIUS ATOI HRM Oba (Col) Olusegun Oloruntoba, Olugbede of Gbede Kingdom and his wife, Olori Felicia Oloruntoba

Gen. Y. Usman and Col Tunde Fagbemi

L-R: Chief Michael Akande and Speaker Mathew Kolawole

L-R: Richard Osaseyi and Hon. Austin Tantoluwa

L-R: Chief Olorunmaiye Kayode and Ahmed-Ade Fatayi

L-R: Commdr Duro Jerry Omodara and Elder Olaolu Emolorunda

L-R: Dr. Tosin Olagunju and Prof. Gbenga Ibileye

L-R: Hon. Kilani Olumo and HRM Olusegun Ayeni

L-R: HRM Olu Anthony Idowu and HRH Oba E A

L-R: Maj-Gen JOS Oshanipin and Capt David Sofa

L-R: Maj-Gen Funsho Owonibi (rtd) and Taﬁda Sulaiman Bello

L-R: Chief APS Arogundade and Hon. Victor A Omojaiye

Olufemi Rotimi

Hon. Boyo

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾JUNE 19, 2022

HighLife

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

Elumelu, Dangote, Others Join Saraki to Celebrate Father-in-Law, Ojora, at 90

Ayiri Emami: A Rising Political Pillar Ayiri Emami’s story is a great lesson for self-starters everywhere because it debunks so many of the prejudices and stereotypes that unfairly hold many back. He dispelled the idea that underprivileged kids somehow could not hack it into high society and that being from humble backgrounds is somehow at odds with being an aristocrat. Contrary to what you might read, Emami is no overnight sensation. In fact, he achieved success the old-fashioned way: he earned it. He worked hard and stayed humble. He lives the right way; he plays the right way. His story tells you that if you show grit, discipline and integrity, you too can get an opportunity to overcome the odds. However, his path to acclaim didn’t lie out on flat miles; it’s the imagination with which he perceives the world and the gestures by which he honours it that stands him apart. He’s now one of the rising political pillars in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. There are not many young Nigerians who have risen from abject nothing to something. Long before he turned 40, Emami had been estimated to be worth billions of Naira. With a taste for the good things of life, his garages are littered with several state-of-the-art cars including Bentley and Rolls Royce. Founder of the 911 Beach and Resorts in Ugborodo, Warri South West Local Government Area, Delta State, a major contractor to several oil companies including Chevron. He was a former Chairman of Delta Waterways Security Committee. He is the CEO of A & E Petrol and A & E Group of companies that have various holdings in oil, construction, logistics, 911 Hotels and Resorts, and 911 Entertainment.

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

Ojora

The remaining days of June are for celebrating Otunba Adekunle Ojora, the businessman extraordinaire and master of executive boardrooms. The well-known business administrator and influential traditional figure celebrated his 90th birthday a few days ago with relatives and friends by his side. Considering Ojora’s vast influence and charm, he had individuals of true

prestige at the private event. It is not difficult to get top Nigerian business people gathered in one place. There are always birthday bashes and soirées to distract them from the often tedious engagements that characterize their daily activities. However, to have them together in an environment where there is no competition and only mutual regard for an individual is not something that happens frequently. And yet, this was the milieu around the private birthday celebration of Ojora. During the event that took place at Ojora’s residence at Ikoyi, Lagos, there were several individuals of corporate and political power and prestige that turn heads wherever they go. These included the son-in-law of the celebrant, former Senate President Bukola Saraki; the CEO of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote; visionary

and broad-minded investor, Tony Elumelu; the executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel; CEO of the Chagoury Group, Ronald Chagoury; Earl Osaro Onaiwu; Prince Dillis Nwokedi; and many others. Even though Ojora has long crossed the threshold of what is considered elderly in this world, he has found ways to remain relevant to all and sundry. Unlike the majority of his age mates who have retired from active duty, Ojora continues to contribute to the growth of those around him, lending peerless counsel and instructions gleaned from his nonagenarian life. Ultimately, the prestigious guests at Ojora’s birthday celebration could only pay their respects to a man whose lifestyle is truly admirable. It would be their fortune to live as long as he has while still helping others to reach his level and surpass it.

From Monaco to Dubai: The Heaven on Earth New UAE Home of Billionaire Businessman, Femi Otedola Say what you will about money, but admit that it is a very useful instrument for getting the world to move around you. This is, unfortunately, a fortune that is only known to a handful of the world’s population. Femi Otedola, the philanthropist who became even more renowned for his majority ownership of First Bank’s shares, is one of the wealthiest ones, and he does not get too conservative about spending his money. Due to his humble disposition, people tend to forget that Otedola is wealthier than some nations in the world. As one of the most exceptional and visionary investors in Nigeria, Otedola almost always hits the mark when he decides to commit his funds to a venture. He did it with Forte Oil, and he is doing it with Geregu Power Plant and First Bank. All in all, he is a very smart man. Not long ago, he got three very expensive

vehicles for his daughters, Tolani, Ifeoluwa (DJ Cuppy), and Temi, and inspired Nigerians in the process. More recently, Otedola’s house in Dubai was shown to be a world wonder all on its own. The Dubai home is nothing like what is obtainable in Nigeria. It is not only massive but also a deluxe representation of what wealth is, a means of quenching the flames of need and desire. And even though Otedola will not collapse from owning a smaller, less expensive house, the Dubai house is something that positively astounds. Much like his Monaco home which was revealed a few years ago as the best of the best. Truly, it is clear that Otedola has taste. After all, who else dares to meet a basic need like a shelter with something as majestic as his Dubai or Monaco home?

Otedola

Motherly Love is the Greatest: 17th Year Remembrance for Mike Adenuga’s Mother

Adenuga

Outside of the love of God, there is no other kind of love that can compare to that of a mother. Even the most callous person has been known to call out to their mother at difficult times, let alone a soul as gentle and humble as Otunba Mike Adenuga. Every year, he takes out time to remember his late mother, Omoba Juliana Oyindamola Adenuga (nee Onashile of Okesopin, Ijebu Igbo). This year was no different and Adenuga did not hesitate to say a word of thanksgiving to God that she lived well. Who in Africa does not know Adenuga, the overall boss of Globacom? His personal and business traits have shown him to be one of the most brilliant and reliable persons in the Nigerian corporate industry. Even though he is nicknamed the Bull for his unyielding business disposition, Adenuga’s gentleness has been well documented,

a trait he inherited from his late mother. Adenuga’s mother was a trader who had a remarkable influence on the life of the young Adenuga. Although his father also played a significant role in the path he eventually took, it was Madam Juliana who truly prepared a launching pad for his business and sharpened his instincts. Those instincts have come to be known as one of his strengths and the reason he has gradually climbed to the pinnacle of the corporate corridor in Nigeria. Nevertheless, even with so many relatives and friends around Adenuga, the absence of his late mother is still being felt. It has been 17 years since she passed away, but Adenuga has never missed an opportunity to raise a glass of wine in her honour. Indeed, her goodness and wisdom remain with the philanthropist.

Shocker! Why Pastor Paul Adefarasin Shunned Elder Brother, Pastor Wale Adefarasin’s 70th Birthday

Emami

What is life if there isn’t a bit of sibling rivalry? If the rumours that have been on social media for more than 10 years are to be believed, then the sons of late Justice Joseph Adetunji Adefarasin, Pastor Wale Adefarasin of Guiding Light Assembly (GLA), and Pastor Paul Adefarasin of House on the Rock are swimming inside this exciting blend of cold relations. A few days ago, the older Adefarasin, Pastor Wale, celebrated his 70th birthday. However, his younger brother, Pastor Paul, was conspicuously absent. It has been a while since Pastor Paul was in the news. One of the previous incidents that had him on the front pages of newspapers across the country was when he declared that anybody who knows anything about anything should have a Plan B to leave Nigeria because of all the negative happenings. While that comment did not go

down well with everybody, his absence at his brother’s birthday bash is making things worse for the House on the Rock Pastor. Last week was the 70th birthday of Pastor Wale and there were a lot of people who left their jobs and daily activities to celebrate the clergyman. Even fellow man of God, Pastor Tunde Bakare, whose political aspirations at the just concluded All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary fell through, was there to cheer the celebrant. After all, a man who has dedicated his life to serving God and people is worthy of honour indeed, not to mention that he is a humble and well-liked person. But Pastor Paul does not seem to share people’s positive perspectives of his older brother. It has been rumoured that the brothers do not get along, although the reason for this divide remains a thing of speculation. Even more interesting is the fact

Adefarasin

that both of them unabashedly profess faith in the same God who forgives all transgressions and is good to all people. So, where have the Adefarasins got it wrong? Only time will tell.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾JUNE 19, 2022

HIGHLIFE

For Senator Lawan, It’s Cul-de-sac

Triumphs and Grace of Timi Alaibe at 60: Obasanjo, Amaechi, Others Honour Prominent Bayelsa-born Politician The saying that birds of a plume always gather together has been taken for granted. However, during moments of great sadness or celebration, this maxim comes alive. A few days ago, the aristocracy of Nigeria’s society took time out of their busy schedules to celebrate Timi Alaibe, the Bayelsan technocrat, businessman, and politician. It was his 60th birthday. Yet, judging from his cheerful and forward-looking disposition, one can tell that Alaibe still has a lot of majestic cards up his sleeves. It is no great mystery that Alaibe is one of the most progressive minds in the country at the moment. Different from his peers who would rather shut themselves in or find ways to demonstrate to others that they are the elite, Alaibe maintains a humble front before all and sundry. But this does not stop him from easily exchanging ideas with the chosen of Nigeria’s society.

Among the prominent persons that were at the celebration were former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi; well-known billionaire businessman, Sholaye Jeremi; and many others. Each of these raised a glass in a toast as they celebrated the man from Bayelsa who does not rub his heritage in anybody’s face, but still makes his conduct and communication as noble as possible to represent his people well. Indeed, Alaibe has represented himself and his people well in the last decade. From managing the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to playing an advisory role in all things South-south, the man has done well. So, at 60, he is worth celebrating. Thus, he did not have to ask twice before the big wigs of Nigeria’s industry and politics made their way to Lagos to throw a party on his account.

Alaibe

InspiringMileageofAishaBabangida’sBetterLife

Babangida

Making the world a better place is something that beauty pageant contestants always sing about. They are not alone, of course, as even politicians have realised that it is a goal that is noble but unreachable. But

thanks to people like Aisha Babangida, the world as we have it now has a chance to be better. And it is not the self-repairing earth that is her focus, but the people living on it. Every year, it seems like Aisha is a permanent figure on national and international news bulletins. Her reputation is not without reasons since she has proved over time that she genuinely cares for every humanitarian project she has ever thrown herself into. Nevertheless, even though these projects number in the hundreds, there is one that has a special place in her heart—the Better Life Program for the African Rural Woman (BLPARW). Although Aisha inherited this project from her late mother, Maryam Babangida, BLPARW has blossomed under her care. What once was a project to demonstrate the value of women has gradually evolved into a life-saving venture across Africa that is positively transforming the welfare of women and children. In this

venture, the daughter of the former Military President Ibrahim Babangida has done more than some governments would do for their people, winning the hearts of people everywhere. Although education, health, and industry are some of the main focuses of BLPARW, Aisha has found a way to integrate these key pillars into all her other non-profit initiatives. By doing so, she has become a champion of women and children by deciding to do something about the world that appears to be broken at its base. If only for its contribution to the lives of African women, Aisha and BLPARW deserve to be praised. If only for its contribution to the health and education of African children, Aisha and her BLPARW deserved to be applauded from Minna to the Cape of Good Hope.

Between Seyi and Bola Tinubu: Why Everyone Needs a Son Like Him Many arguments can be made for familial relationships. We can decry the loss of regard paid to fathers by sons, or we can praise the handful of public figures who are still paying respects to their parents irrespective of whether they agree with them or not. Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, and his son, Seyi, are heroes on this front. Despite the lack of a public display of affection between the two, there is no denying that few sons would work for their fathers as impressively as Seyi for Tinubu. It has been a few days since Tinubu won the APC presidential ticket. As the main figure from the South-west, there are lots of expectations from within and outside the region. Even though Tinubu had an overwhelming victory at the primary, very few understand that he had a pillar of support throughout that he

could always lean on and draw strength from — his son, Seyi. Those who know Seyi understand that he tries as much as he can to not enter the public eye. While he does not seem to care much for public opinions and bias, he tries to run his business under the radar. Yet, he is considered a brilliant and visionary industry leader, not to mention a happy husband and father. This does not mean that Seyi cannot confront the cameras. During the primary that saw his father emerge as APC’s top presidential candidate, Seyi was up and about. He was there at every point of his father’s campaign, running errands and easing tensions. More than that, he made sure to keep his father at top form, giving him the occasional squeeze of reassurance. Thus, it was not all that surprising that Tinubu never lost his cool but remained unshakably confident in his chances.

Ayo Ajala Comes on Board Great changes are coming. True to the many projections and prophecies of 2020 and 2021, this is the season of transformation, some big and others little. Nigeria’s pioneer pay-TV service provider, MultiChoice, has already gotten onto the wheels of change as it recently appointed Ayo Ajala to be its Chief Operating Officer (COO). MultiChoice has always hinted to its Nigerian subscribers that it would go to the ends of the earth to offer nothing but the best. While the company is trying its best in doing this with regard to its core services, the recent appointment of Ajala to the position of COO is just as welcoming as any new subscription bonanza. For those who don’t know, Ajala is one of the most capable MultiChoice personnel. He is also one of the longest-serving in the Nigerian branch of the company, starting in

Ajala

Tinubu

2004 as a valuable member of the Human Resources department. Nevertheless, it took only eight years for Ajala to prove his worth and climb to the position of HR Head, ensuring that the company made great strides over the years. But Ajala did not stop at this position. Four years after he was promoted to HR head, he became the Regional HRBP for West and Central Africa. Then in 2018, he was once again promoted to HR Director for MultiChoice Nigeria. A year later, Ajala rose once again to become the Group Executive Head of HR, MultiChoice Africa Holdings (MAH). It was from this position that he leaped to take the COO position for himself, a role that he will doubtless excel at. Ajala is an experienced human resource person, good at reading and relating to people, and even better at leading them. There is no doubt that his era would usher in great things for MultiChoice’s subscribers and the TV industry at large.

Lawan

Really, the Nigerian political engine and its runners should be commended for being able to entertain Nigerians even better than Nollywood or Hollywood. It is only in this sector of Nigerian society that there is always a blend of intrigue and repetition. Nevertheless, there are times when even the most uninterested observer clings to news updates. With Senate President Ahmad Lawan in the fighting ring with people from his hometown who are refusing to give him any face, this is one such time. The All Progressives Congress (APC) primary that was held some days ago had both fracturing and unifying effects on the members of the party. One person that unexpectedly stood out among these individuals was Senate President Lawan. A source that would have been considered reliable mentioned that Lawan was the APC candidate that President Muhammadu Buhari would have as his replacement. And while this declaration was later confirmed to be false, Lawan rose to national consideration and promptly fell away a few hours later. However, it appears that Lawan is in more trouble than he thought. From the news going around currently, Lawan had a placeholder, Bashir Machina, for his senatorial position. However, Machina has now organised a group of similarly influenced individuals to shut down any prospect of Lawan’s continued senatorial career. According to Machina, Lawan has represented his Yobe North Senatorial seat for more than two decades (23 years, to be precise). It is time for Lawan to retire, Lawan and his supporters have declared. To show how serious they are, they have even visited the Emir of Bade, Abubakar Suleiman II. If things go according to their plan, the Emir will approve Machina’s ambition to replace Lawan, and Lawan will lose his political relevance forever. Or so political analysts say. All in all, this is not the best of times for Lawan.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾JUNE 19, 2022

LOUD WHISPERS

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

Akwa Ibom: The Igini of the Matter All is not well in Akwa Ibom as I write. It appears that the music has temporarily stopped due to the funny stance of one Mr. Mike Igini. They say he is the Resident Electoral Commissioner for INEC in the state. The man is just running around causing unnecessary confusion all over the place. Walking around like an emperor and making pronouncements his pay grade cannot support. We hear that he has caused a letter to be written to headquarters that APC will not have a candidate in the upcoming elections in the state. Mbok, this letter or should I say his alleged stance has thrown the whole state into a quandary. Me, I do not understand the issues or what must have informed his alleged position, but listening to him ramble the other day in an interview made me begin to doubt his objectivity or even integrity. The interview was just so muddled up that one could see that he was under tremendous pressure to defend his stance

Igini

which remains antagonistic to above board engagement. I learnt he almost scattered elections in

ABDULRAHMAN ABDULRAZAQ: THE REAL LOUD WHISPER If you have ever encountered this gentleman, you will understand why I have called this piece, ‘Loud whispers’. How can a whisper be loud you will ask? It can be loud o. This Kwara gentleman is whispering very loud o. Look at these figures – when he took over in 2019, the maternal mortality rate was 1,404.4 per 100,000 deaths. It was the second-highest in the country after Borno. By 2020, it had dropped massively to 20.7 per 100,000 live births, the second-lowest in the country after Ekiti. Capital expenditure on health over the last three years of his administration has recorded at 81.3%, 83.4% and 75.3% respectively. Results have been immediate. From just one nurse he inherited in the Primary Health Care Development Agency, he now has 44 with attendance rising by over 500%. Kwara now has at least 27 facilities fixed across the state. Let me stop here before they say I was sent. But how can one in his right mind ignore such strides? Is it in infrastructure – roads and the employment of more teachers, remodelling the schools and favourably comparing with Ekiti in that space which is the national leader?

I have decided to celebrate him today after the celebration of his third anniversary in power and to also congratulate him for winning the nomination to carry his state party flag in the upcoming elections. What today’s politicians have taught some of us, is the need to look beyond the prisms of limiting party politics and identify worthwhile leaders and support. No matter which party the people-centric leader belongs to, as long as he remains people-centred and is also carrying out people-focused policies, we will celebrate. Well-done sir, we remain impressed.

AbdulRazaq

Okowa

IFEANYI OKOWA HITS PAY DIRT Some of you will now not know the meaning of this phrase o – hit pay dirt. It is used for this kind of thing that has just befallen Atiku. His last chance at the presidency, he now goes for the weakest link. Last Thursday, he chose Delta State Governor as his running mate. Whatever drove this choice I don’t know as I sit down here in Shomolu to write. But from my position which is very far from a vantage one, this choice further weakens an already limp campaign. Bogged down with credibility issues, nationality issues and baggage garnered over the years by the principal contender, one would have

other states. He has carried his wahala to Uyo and shaken the place with mundane and pedophilic outbursts that are making him look like a circus clown. It’s looking like this particular Mr. Igini did not complete his training at INEC training school because if he did, they would have told him that INEC has no powers to disqualify or reject candidates. You see, when they send you on some errands, you have to do it with some sense. This one is just muddling up the whole thing and making not only him but the highly revered INEC look like dummies. What exactly was he even doing at the venue of another faction’s congress as an INEC official as we saw in some released images? Even the Police Commissioner was also there. Shebi that one, na me carry myself go visit am for Uyo, dey invite am to come see play. I thank God he

expected a running mate that will inject energy and vibrancy. This one wey dem go bring Okowa me I don’t understand o. I would have wanted a Wike for example if for nothing, to bring his ‘gra gra’ into the equation. Trying to unseat an incumbent government parading a candidate like Jagaban is not a job for people like Okowa who cannot speak loud enough for us to hear from where we are standing. Anyway, what is our own? Shebi our job is to go on election day, dust our cards and vote who or what we think will be the best for our country. Okowa? I just dey laugh where I siddon. YAHAYA BELLO’S SUPERSONIC MOVE As they were counting delegates, it got to his turn. He got 47 votes and people started clapping for him. He stood up to acknowledge the cheers and got a rousing applause. I was weak, so I started to ask myself, am I missing something? The man is almost carrying last and they are clapping and he too is jumping up. Before that fateful night, he had stormed out of a meeting where decisions inimical to his ambitions were made. He seemed to really believe that he had the presidency within his ambit especially when he proclaimed that he would not step down for anybody

Bello

didn’t come. Let me also ask: Why is Igini interested in TV and radio appearances, and why is he so keen on selling his position? Shebi he has sent in his report; let the report do the talking na. Let us see if the report can withstand the test of rigorous fact-checking. Why all these appearances? This Igini is a different type o. My brother and his brother, the police commissioner, seem to be just working for themselves. In this era, we are trying very hard to rebuild the fabric of the nation and these people are still there playing native politics because they have been given the platform. INEC must stand on the cusp of history. Ignore its Chief Petty Officer- Mr. Igini and do the right thing. Nigerians are really tired of all these games played by officials like this who are still stuck in prehistoric and mundane times where politics of ‘prebendalism’ ruled. Can someone send me his numbers? Let me call him and tell him one or two things. Nsuto mkpo.

except it was the president that asked him to step down. My people, I really don’t like this man, I don’t think he has anything to offer his local government, let alone the nation but his doggedness, his courage and his perseverance are making me like him o. He recently said that his next attempt at the presidency will be supersonic and that he was only testing the waters. How he will make a dent without the gubernatorial platform he now parades beats me but then again, I like his gra gra. Leaders who hunger like this just may have something to offer. Mbok, don’t attack me o- I am not saying that this particular one has anything to offer especially when you look at his performance in his Kogi. All I am just saying is that I like the hunger, that is all. That is not to say that I will vote for him even if they put my head under a guillotine. It’s just the gra gra I am commending. Make we leave am for there abeg. I don tire. MAGNUS ONYIBE’S NOSTRADAMIC MOVE This Mr. Magnus Onyibe is a wizard o. If not for the fact that I know him

Onyibe

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾JUNE 19, 2022

LOUD WHISPERS

ORJI KALU: I AGREE BUT... You know Oga can talk about a lot of things that in Shomolu we call crap. But this time he seems to be on the right trajectory on this matter of Muslim-Muslim running mate. My brother’s religion in politics, especially in a country like this, is destructive and divisive. All these religious bodies like CAN and Muric - I have put CAN inside now before these Muric people will come and abuse me now o - should concentrate on advocacy on specific issues relating to their faith and human social relations like abortion etc and leave partisan politics. Mixing religion and politics is such a terrible combination with the kind of deep lines of animosity that we have. All the statements by these two bodies especially are not helping matters. I personally do not care if Tinubu comes out with a Sheik as his running mate as long as the person has the capacity to deliver on whatever is their manifesto. The issue should never be religion but capacity and value. But what do we expect from such a backward country other than for us to be tearing our clothes over the religion of a running mate who will come and be a sitting duck with no real portfolio but trader moni type things? So, you see why I agree with Senator Orji but remain bemused as to how he spoiled it with his conclusion that

Tinubu’s wife is a Pastor and as such it is ok. You see the mentality? Which kind of talk is this one again? I just tire. Tinubu, mbok just go ahead and choose the very best you can get even if he is a Babalawo or a seer just as long as he can bring value to the table. Simple. BROTHER FEMI ADESINA, FOCUS When your back is on the wall and you seem to be beaten up by all and sundry, you will look for the weakest link and grab his balls. That is what Uncle just did with Bishop Oyedepo. The ‘regime’ he represents according to independent estimations has superintended one of the most corrupt processes in the history of Africa. Mbok, let me add colour to make this story sweet abeg.

So, one man is alleged to have stolen all of N80 billion? In a ‘regime’ that is screaming incorruptible, who cares if it is auditor-general or accountantgeneral. Splitting hairs on a matter like this is annoying and condescending. We know who ‘stole’ and we do not blame Bishop Oyedepo for the mistake. The gravity of the theft is enough to confuse person. So, it is now your own job to correct the typo instead of telling us how you will help speed up the trial so that we get closure before una handover next year. It is to come and be talking to us like you are feeding us that is remaining. Laying emphasis on the words ‘alleged’ is insulting to us. It is very insulting Femiii! It is annoying and insulting. The moment one building or even a

FOR FATIMA SHEHU, IT’S ADVANCED GREETINGS Fatima Shehu is one of those powerful people who arrest you with their brilliance. I met her twice in Lekki recently and the second time, I sat with her in front of a swimming pool and discussed Nigeria. She was a massive bomb and her understanding of the Nigerian political space is almost unflinching. Kai. We talked for hours and she explained the current situation with our polity to me. She is a strong supporter of the PRP but a passionate Nigerian. She explained the positioning of the party, its antecedents and why she thinks they have a good chance with its presidential candidate. Her father was a Senator in the Second Republic. No wonder politics seems

Shehu

reach house with his very beautiful wife who was my Oga at Habib Bank, I would have called him a sorcerer. Did you know that the man in his new book, ‘Becoming Nigeria’s President’ predicted a Tinubu and an Atiku emergence in the two parties? It is all the more remarkable if you contend with the fact that he had written this down almost two years ago. If you get the book and flip to pages 331 and 332 you will see where he predicted the contest between Atiku and Tinubu. He even devoted the whole chapter six analysing Tinubu’s chances at becoming President and was emphatic about his chances. Seriously, Onyibe has been around for a long time and if you have the kind of front row seat he has and you now add that with a certain depth and brilliant intelligence, you will know these things before they occur. Onyibe is super brilliant and passionate about Nigeria. I read him and speak to him regularly and most of the sentiments you see on these pages or that I mouth about, Onyibe get stuck inside. As I was writing this column, I called him to discuss the Okowa factor in the running mate issue and the man just killed me. The analysis was mad. His arguments are poignant and striking. His conclusion laced with rationality and empirical deductions landed with a strong sense. This is why I do not joke with him when it comes to Nigerian politics. I think he is the very best among the crops of Nigerians who form the intellectual bulwark of our polity. Now the rest of you before you ask me for a link to go and read the book, let me just say I will not answer. Person will go to Harvard to study, come back, make sacrifices by ignoring madam in the other room to write the book, come and spend money, print the book and now you people will now be asking for a link. If you want to really understand what is going on politically in the country and be involved, Onyibe’s ‘Becoming the Nigerian President’ is the book to read. I am unashamedly endorsing the book because it is a must-read. My number is up there, call and I will tell you how to get it or better still call Onyibe and get a copy. The book is simply brilliant.

to be flowing from every pore of her smooth skin. Extremely beautiful with an engaging mien and strong charisma, her laughter was expansive and there was this joyous mood around her. I asked, “why not throw in your hat inside the ring since you seem to better understand power and you also have this huge and deep network?” She smiled and said, “calm down Edgar.” I have just heard that she will be clocking 50 in a few days and you guys know how I jump, so I have decided to quickly say happy birthday in advance and wish her a very long life.

fence is tied to this civil servant, his trial should be enhanced immediately. We should not be wasting time correcting Bishop Oyedepo. Brother Femi, is that the problem? Chief Spokesman, is that the issue? Mbok, come and use your broom to dey sweep the whole place, make una dey go so that we can clear our eyes abeg. PETER OBI: EGYPT ON HIS MIND This one has not said what he has gone to look for in Egypt. It is looking like he has begun to believe in the hype all around him. While the battle for Ekiti is raging and all major combatants are on ground he says he is going to Egypt to study in three days, their power, education and agriculture for what purposes if I may ask. The election is still far and because he is seeing things on Twitter, daddy has already ‘sworn himself in’ and has commenced his first state visit to Egypt to go and study when he is supposed to be in Ekiti engaging and trying his muscles. If I talk now, his people will start abusing me on social media but the inexperience of it all rankles. I was on radio penultimate Saturday with my brother Patrick Doyle and he asked me what I thought of the movement that was brewing around Mr. Obi. I said my mind. I said it was fluff. It will not last and it will peter away. Yes, I am repeating it here, come and beat me. You do not build a serious movement on anger or dislocation because once those problems are solved, that is it for your base. You must be able to strategise and structure the angst into a credible push towards sustainability and now use that vehicle to move towards power. So going to Egypt for whatever reasons at this time does not show any seriousness. In fact, you can even go to Egypt but you must realise that sustaining non-solid angst for nine months, to the point of giving you enough fulcrum to engage structural power, is not beans. So Mr. Obi, stop playing to the gallery and come down and let’s work. Some of our lives really depend on you. Leave Pharaoh’s daughters alone for now, when we win this battle, na Brazil I go carry you go. Those ones na world-class especially the ones on the beach in Rio. Let’s get serious my brother. BANKE MESHIDA LAWAL: GOOSE BUMPS EVERYWHERE That is what you get when you come in close contact with this amazon. I met her at the creative sub-group meeting of the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce where we are both members. As I walked in late, as usual, I noticed her and greeted her. She introduced herself and behold she was the Banke Meshida the one that is seemingly credited with creating the whole multi-billion Naira makeup industry. I was in the presence of royalty.So, I immediately invited her to come for my session on body image issues that our women are facing. Today, we are hearing of all sorts of cosmetic surgery being carried out by our females. They are either lifting breasts and butts or altering their faces sometimes with disastrous consequences. The tummy is usually the main culprit. They all want to reduce or flatten it out right hence the attraction to surgical procedures. Deaths are being reported but this doesn’t seem to tone down the desire for these procedures. So, she came in for the session. It was on Zoom and with over 40 people, she engaged wonderfully well on the issue. She spoke so glowingly betraying a deep concern for the mental state of some of these women. It was truly an enlightening encounter. Well done my sister. Thank you so, so much.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾JUNE 19, 2022

Adebayo Adeoye bayoolunla@gmail.com; 08054680651

SOCIETY WATCH

Happy Moment for Bukky Latunji

Two Years After, Ibidunni Ighodalo Remembered It was the celebrated American poet, Maya Angelou, who said: “A great soul serves everyone all the time. A great soul never dies. It brings us together again and again.” Without a doubt, Angelou’s profound words remind one of the life and times of Ibidunni Ighodalo, the beautiful and high-flying event planner, who died in 2020. For a good reason, she has continued to live in the hearts of many, especially her husband, Pastor Ituah, and other family members, since she passed on. The ex-beauty queen died in the early hours of Sunday, June 14, 2020, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, a month to her 40th birthday. She had breathed her last while on an assignment to set up a COVID-19 isolation centre for the Rivers State government. Since she passed on, the family, at the instance of her husband, has continued to organise memorial services in her honour at the popular Trinity House, Lagos.

As usual, the event was held again last week at the church, amidst an outpouring of emotions. During her lifetime, Ighodalo, who ran Elizabeth R, an upscale event planning company, was strikingly beautiful and blessed with graceful steps. Her smile was also infectious. You would have thought she did not have any worries in life. But the former beauty queen chose to be happy, despite what life had thrust at her. She lived her life for humanity. Indeed, she never wished to part, forever, with her loved ones when she died at the young age of 39. The former beauty queen had wanted to live longer to see her dreams come true. And she had them aplenty, including marking her 40th birthday. In fact, the late co-pastor of Trinity House Church in Lagos and founder of Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation would have, in her wonted style, used the occasion to touch lives in her humanly best possible way.

Late Ighodalo

Cross River Top Politician, Bassey Otu’s Rising Proﬁle At a time like this when the country is on the precipice, many are of the view that the searchlight should be beamed on individuals who can give the nation positive vibes. Therefore, ahead of the 2023 governorship election in Cross Rivers, one politician who has consistently been talked about by many is the former lawmaker, Prince Bassey Otu. Otu has proven beyond measures that he possesses the ability to inspire confidence in the people. He has thrown his hat into the ring for the number one job of the state because he is prepared to create an enabling environment that can trigger the desired change in the state. Though his foray into politics has seen him moving from the Peoples

Otu

Has Doris Ogunkoya Gone into Political Oblivion?

Latunji

It was another beautiful moment for Bukky Latunji when she marked her 53rd birthday on Thursday, June 9, 2022. On that day, family and friends welcomed her into an ambience of love with music and indulged her to a sumptuous meal at Shores Dining in Victoria Island, Lagos. Latunji is one of the few women who can be described as beautiful because her good look does not betray her age. So, it is not surprising that Latunji, a former banker and fashion enthusiast, gets compliments regularly for her unique style and appearance at every event. She is naturally inclined toward modern trends and relishes details that go with fashion. After putting in 29 years in the financial sector, style designing comes to her with unusual ease and she makes a whole lot of costumes. Latunji, who is presently into mentorship, public speaking and lifestyle training, attributed the secret to her good looks to “discipline in choices of food and regular exercise.” Speaking about her passion, she said: “My dream is to have my fashion and beauty brand in the not too distant future. I love everyday/comfortable attires like jeans and casual tops. High-quality cosmetics such as MAC, Lancôme and Estee Lauder are great quality brands I like to own.”

Democratic Party (PDP) back to APC, his fans maintain that his ideology remains intact: to provide good governance for the generality of the state. Since he emerged as the governorship candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC), his profile has risen astronomically. Famously known as Sweet Prince, he has suffered undeserved humiliation in the nation’s political space. But like a true fighter, he has always emerged as a hero. Perhaps, this explains why he has, once again, become a reference point and a colossus in the game today. At the moment, his home has become a Mecca of sorts visited daily by his admirers.

Ogunkoya

As a politician, Hon. Doris UbohOgunkoya made a good representation for the Ika Federal Constituency of Delta State between 2007 and 2011. It is

believed that she surpassed many of her predecessors in the area of good representation; hence, she is loved by many of her people. Surprisingly, her re-election bid was thwarted by the powers-that-be in 2011. Ever since her political career has witnessed a gradual decline. Her attempt to stage a comeback in 2015 when she contested under the Accord Party was also unsuccessful. She couldn’t survive the alleged gang-up from those who hated her gut; so, her ambition met a brick wall, as she was defeated by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Victor Nwokolo. Sadly,

her attempt to also seek redress at the court of law was fruitless. It was one of the most difficult periods in her career, as her account was also garnished by the court. This, many alleged, was tactical to prevent her from pursuing the case to a logical conclusion. Consequently, she was distraught and left in the cold. While the foregoing may no longer be news, what many do not know is that the woman, who is also the boss of Dagasteel International Limited, might have bid farewell to politics. This rumour is fuelled by the fact that she has not participated in the game and has not been seen in her constituency since she lost the election seven years ago.

Queen Hadiza Elegushi Gets Back Her Groove Like all mortals, Queen Hadiza Elegushi, wife to the youthful monarch, His Royal Majesty Saheed Elegushi, has tasted the bitter-sweet side of life. Those who are quick to celebrate her and wish they were as lucky as she is do not seem to realise that she has also been buffeted by the blustery wind of fate after she lost the greatest gift God had given her in life last February. Until the tragic development, she had watched with indescribable joy and hope that the little boy, who was her first and the only son of the Elegushi of Ikate Kingdom, would grow to become heir to the throne. But when death snatched him from her last February, she felt nothing could have been crueller than that. She cried, mourned and was distraught. The sad development made her recoil into her cocoon. However, it seems she has accepted her fate in good faith and has since got back

her groove. It was revealed that she made her first outing, after the unfortunate development, some weeks back at the 70th birthday celebration of her mother-in-law, Olori Sinatu Titilayo Elegushi, in Lagos. It was also gathered that the Queen, who flashed a winsome smile throughout the event, shone like a star at the event. To say that the stylish Queen is a dazzling beauty is, to put it mildly. Those who have met her say she has what many models will spend fortunes to possess: attractive curvature and stunning looks. This, in addition to her commanding style, usually makes her the cynosure at any public event. Already, she is gradually becoming a fashion icon, as she is setting a new standard in Nigeria’s social scene. Little wonder, since she got married to the flamboyant king three years ago, she has been grazing the pages of several

Elegushi

newspapers and magazines for her beauty and almost unparalleled fashion sense.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 24 2012

ARTS & REVIEW A

PUBLICATION

19.6.2022

In Dakar, Ibe Ananaba Preaches Emancipation from Political Bondage In two works featuring at the Dakar Biennale – known as Dak’Art – Ibe Ananaba extends his messages of hope. Okechukwu Uwaezuoke reports

“R

edemption Song,” as a title, expresses a lot more than even the artist could have hoped for through the work. Obviously inspired by a similarly-titled timeless revolutionary anthem by the late Jamaican reggae legend Bob Marley, the work—perhaps the more visible of Ibe Ananana’s two works at the 14th edition of the Dakar Biennale—no doubt arrests the viewers’ attention with its expressiveness. Talking about the work, which measures 88 x 62 inches, it is an acrylic on canvas installation work featuring suspended paintings and drawings, whose production year was written as 2021-2022. Through it, the 1999 Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu painting graduate decries the inequalities and injustices in African societies despite their natural endowments. This is while he also acknowledges the impact of the external factors, which are “rooted in racial injustice.” In his opinion, LW LV WKH HͿHFWV RI ZKDW KH LGHQWLÀHV DV both the external and internal factors that “continually heighten the black struggle.” Flashback to May 25, 2020. The realtime murder of a 46-year-old black man George Floyd in the US city of Minneapolis E\ D \HDU ROG ZKLWH SROLFH R΀FHU OHIW a stain on the collective conscience and VSDUNHG RͿ JOREDO DQWL UDFLVP SURWHVWV which rode on the crest of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. That same year, Nigerian youths were up in arms over police brutality after a video of a man allegedly murdered by SARS (Special AntiRobbery Squad) went viral. The protests, tagged #EndSARS, paralysed economic activities in most Nigerian major cities, including the federal capital Abuja. “As an artist, I tend to view from a social observer’s lens in order to contribute to the conversation towards a resolution, hence the idea behind this piece- ‘Redemption Song’,” Ananaba says. “With music as a strong source of inspiration, I imagine a choral feel of people coming together to sing in one voice. I see ‘the outsiders’ with some liberation vibes. I hear a united song of hope. I see the ones to whom the future belongs. I see a brighter tomorrow!” Alongside his fellow members of the artist collective KnitWork, Ananaba was R΀FLDOO\ LQYLWHG WR SDUWLFLSDWH LQ WKH ELHQQLDO HYHQW ZKLFK R΀FLDOO\ RSHQHG LQ WKH Senegalese capital on Thursday, May 19 and ends on Wednesday, June 21. The invitation, which was extended to the collective by the Senegalese Ministry of Culture and Communication, was an initiative of one of Senegal’s renowned artists Kalidou Kasse. The idea, according to Ananaba, was “to unite and participate in an arm of the exhibition programmes for the 2022 Edition of the Dakar Biennale, which is titled ‘Le Marché International des Arts’ at The African Renaissance Monument (Monument De La African Renaissance).”

IBE (with JOY COMES IN THE MORNING)

Redemption Song by Ibe Ananaba

A close-up on the KnitWork collective. It is composed of the multidisciplinary artist Yrneh Gabon (Jamaica/USA), the Jamaican multi-dimensional artist and cultural producer Maxine Walters, the American multi-dimensional artist Michael Massenburg, the American painter and teacher June Edmonds, the American interdisciplinary artist and social entrepreneur Janet E. Dandridge, the American curator Marie Vickles and the Nigerian contemporary visual artist and designer Ibe Ananaba. Interestingly, this year’s theme of the biennale, which is more often known as Dak’Art, revolves DURXQG WKH FRQFHSW ¶ģ 1'$))$ · drawn from I NDAFFAX - which means “to forge” in Serer language. After the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the idea of a renaissance – or perhaps, a phoenixlike reemergence from an ashen heap

you see on the street, I felt their collective sense of pride to host an art event that acts as a magnetic force pulling folks around the globe together.” Meanwhile, his second work at the biennale, titled “CAST YOUR V,000,000:TE”, is an assemblage of 24 x 24 acrylics on canvas works. This assemblage, produced in 2019, takes a swipe at the issue of vote-buying in most African societies while accusing the masses, whom he labelled “gullible”, of “willingly mortgaging their future by selling their voting rights in exchange for unsustainable promises.” Redemption Song...detail Obviously a believer in the Western democratic tenets, the artist hinges his simplistic viewer of the African problem – seems increasingly more appealing to an on the untrammelled exercise of voting innovation-hungry cultural scene. rights. His concern about the weakening of “My Dakar Biennale experience further the electoral procedure and the heightening shed light on the role of art as a vital tool in of corruption echoes the Western mindset. uniting Africa as well as a grand platform “Being a deeply rooted systematic for us to tell our authentic stories of how problem, I believe a good step in curbgreat Africa is or even greater it could be ing this menace is to create an awareness regardless of its challenges,” Ananaba campaign using arts, hence I am creating reminisces. the body of works below titled CAST YOUR Something about Dakar as a city im- V,000,000:TE.” pressed him while the biennale lasted. Born in Belgium and raised in the south%HVLGHV WKH YLVLWRUV IURP GLͿHUHQW SDUWV RI eastern Nigerian city of Aba, Ananaba the world, who arrived in great numbers discovered art early enough and has grown to be part of the experience, he felt the to value it as a potent vehicle of change. “I palpable excitement among the Senegalese, believe art, whether painting, sculpture, who seemed to relish the post-pandemic RU ÀOP KROGV WKH SRZHU WR UHZULWH RXU ambience. story as a people,” he told an interviewer “The Senegalese Government throws in a recent exhibition catalogue. “I think heavyweight support to ensure the the future is bright, it all depends on the Biennale is impactful, coupled with the individual looking inward, like Nas sings, hospitable nature of the average person DQG ÀQGLQJ WKHLU ZHDSRQ WKHLU DVVHW WKHLU out there who’s ready to welcome you. strength and applying it to changing the From the Immigration guys at the airport, narrative. Because at the end of the day the concierge, and the hotel guys, down we’re all making history. Posterity will to the taxi guys, food vendors and folks either frown or smile at you.”

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@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 19, 2022

INTERNATIONAL Buhari’s Democracy Day Season Letter: The Challenge of World War III Blitzkrieg in Nigeria

Third World War is undoubtedly in the making but it is not following the old patterns. The old pattern was characterised by blitzkrieg which is basically the strategyofamassinganoverwhelmingforcecomprised of armoured and motorised or mechanised infantry formations. Blitzkrieg,aGermanwordmeaning‘lightningwar,’hasitsorigintraceabletoCarlvonClausewitz, a military strategist, who proposed the principle of Schwerpunktprinzip meaning‘concentration principle’as a tactical war strategy in the 19th Century. Blitzkrieg is the combination of surprise, speed and superiority in firepower to destabilise an enemy in a war front. InthethinkingofVonClausewitz,whotooktimetostudyArmyGenerals before Napoleon, army commanders generally dispersed armies without focused reasoning and were unnecessarily wasting resources. He therefore recommended in 1832 in his book on war the need for an effectivesingleaction,inasinglemoment,whichhecalledSchwerpunkt, meaning‘centre of gravity.’The current centre of gravity of theWWIII in the making is the Russo-Ukrainian war which started with blitzkrieg. The other battle fronts are Myanmar, Afghanistan, and Nigeria.The war in Nigeria has the characteristic of a concentration principle in which there are kidnappings, armed banditry, Fulani herdsmen attacks, Boko Haram insurrection, and Fulanisation agenda, all by surprise. Withoutdoubt,theemergingfeaturesofWorldWarIIIcanbeexplained by an allied-triangle. At the base of the triangle, there are the Cold and HotWar angles both of which are equal in degrees.The other third angle isthatofnon-forcefulapproachtothewar.Themanifestationsofthehot wararemultidimensionalinscopewhilethepeacefulapproachesinclude adoption of re-colonisation policies by new means, and particularly repopulation in Rwanda and dictatorial democracy, to which Nigeria is currently playing host. Mostunfortunately,unlikepastWorldWarswhichhadtheirblitzkriegs insomespecifictheatres,theemergingWWIIIaretakingplaceseverallyin differentregionsoftheworld,asituationthatmakescontrolcoordination very difficult. No one is seeing the insurrection, the armed banditry and Fulani invasion of Nigeria as a manifestation ofWWIII, whereas it should be seen as such. And perhaps more disturbingly, PMB, consciously or unconsciously,isincreasinglybeingseenasaninstrumentofdestabilisation of Nigeria, for which he has politico-legal mandate to defend and protect. PMB’s Democracy Day Season Letter to the people of Nigeria lend credence to the foregoing observations. PMB’s Democracy Day Season Letter There are some critical issues in PMB’s democracy day season letter to Nigerians.First,thereisthefactorofdecliningaffectioninPMB’srelationship with Nigerians. Whenever PMB wants to address Nigerians, especially when he wants their support, he tries to endear himself to the people by using words of cordiality and umbilical cords. When he gets what he wants, such friendly words naturally disappear. Speeches of PMB often begin with either Fellow Nigerians or My dear Nigerians or my compatriots. These expressions do not have the same effect in terms of extent of sentimental attachments. For instance, in a communication between two individuals, the communication can have a horizontal character in which case the two people are at par in their conversations. Equality is the rule in this case. The conversation can also be vertical in which case we have someone on top and another at the bottom. In other words, the conversation can bedescending,thatis,givinginstructionsfromaboveandtherecipients are at the bottom and are required to comply with the instructions from above.Thereareinstanceswhensuchcommunicationscanbeascending in which case those at the bottom can send messages above, but not necessarily in terms of giving instructions but recommendations. In the context of Nigeria, communications between PMB and Nigerians have hardly followed a vertical, ascending pattern but a vertical descending manner. On May 29, 2016 PMB began his Democracy Day address with‘My Compatriots.’This is quite significant because PMB puts himself on the same pedestal with all Nigerians.The factor of togetherness is intrinsic in the expression. Compatriot simply means a‘fellow country man’that is havingacommoncountry.Butwhatdoestheword‘fellow’thatqualifies compatriot mean? The notion of a‘Fellow’can be very ambiguous. It can mean a man or aboyoranindividual;acompanionoramate;acounterpartoranequal; an inferior or worthless person; a member of a society or a graduate of a university holding a fellowship or stipend awarded for excellence. Whatever may be the meaning PMB has in mind, including inferiority and worthlessness, when he says‘Fellow Nigerians,’the expression can includehimselfandcanimplyhisdetachmentornon-inclusion.However,

“

VIE INTERNATIONALE with

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

Buhari the general understanding of a Fellow, in political statements in Nigeria, especially coup d’état speeches, is that of togetherness and not that of inferiority of Nigerians.Thus,‘My Compatriots’in the mind of PMB meant in 2016 togetherness, solidarity and sharing of sentiments. In2017,PMBwasnotavailabletomakeaDemocracyDayspeech. It was the Vice President, Professor Osinbajo, as acting president that made the speech. In 2018, PMB showed very warm cordiality of purpose by starting his Democracy Day Speech with‘My Dear Nigerians.’This expression does not imply commonality of country. It simply shows a modicum of affection. Nigerians are dear to PMB as those fighting for protection of democratic values also refer to Nigeria as a country and a people dear to them.The choice of‘My DearNigerians’cannotbutbeinpreparationforthe2019re-election. The election sloganeering was the‘Next Level.’From what level to which level was and still is the question? Answers require building an entente cordiale between PMB and Nigerians, hence, probably, the choice of‘My Dear Nigerians.’ On12June,2020,2021,and2022theDemocracyDaySpeeches of PMB began with Fellow Nigerians. Probably because of the inadequacies in the 2022 speech and probably because of public criticism of the speech, PMB opted to add a footnote to the June 12, 2022 speech on 14 June, 2022.The speech was titled‘Letter to Nigerians at Democracy Day Season.’The opening words of the letter is ‘Dear Nigerians.’The purpose of the letter is to ‘highlight and elaborate some of the developments in the last 12 months of this administration.’ Whatisnoteworthyhereistheaspectofhisforgetfulnesstoinclude the developments or achievements of his administration. It is also the strategic miscalculation of using the Democracy Day to preach the sermons of his administration rather than those of democracy anditschallengeswiththeultimateobjectiveofengenderingpublic support. Particularly‘Dear Nigerians’shows the disconnect in the

It is not poverty and unemployment that explain the reckless killings of people accused of blasphemy against the Islamic faith. Jungle justice by some Islamic fundamentalists is nothing more than seeking to impose Islam. Provisions on Islam in the 1999 Constitution but without any mentioning of the traditional religion and the Christian religion is now an issue to address. More disturbingly, is it poverty and unemployment that explain the senseless attacks on Saint Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State? Most unfortunately, the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, said that the ISWAP was responsible for the attack. If it is the ISWAP, how did they arrive Nigeria? Is the Nigeria Immigration Service not under his Ministry? The truth is that Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu has eﬀectively prevented the Fulanisation of Ondo State to the chagrin of the Fulani herders who want to acquire titled land by force. This is why the attackers went directly to his home base to attack and embarrass him. The Owo attack is a good reﬂection of the blitzkrieg in Nigeria: 30 minutes of merciless killings without security intervention. Insecurity in Nigeria is worse than the war in Ukraine and the only antidote to containing blitzkriegs in Nigeria is to stop unconditionally the threats of Fulani hegemony in Nigeria. Nigeria’s main problems are not economic poverty and unemployment, but attempts at Fulanisation and Islamisatione

continuumofcordialitywiththepeopleofNigeria.PMBsimplysaid‘Dear Nigerians,’ unlike ‘My Dear Nigerians.’ Thus, 12 June 2022, apparently because it is his last Democracy Day speech, because of the need to put on record what he considered as part of the achievements of his administration, he decided to write a letter in addition to his broadcast commemoratingDemocracyDay.Inthe26-paragraphedletter,fivemain issueswereaddressed:democracy,insecurity,infrastructuraldevelopment, electoral reform, and corporate existence of Nigeria. Asregardsdemocracy,PMBexplainedwhyhechangedtheDemocracy Day from May 29th to June 12th: the need to‘honour the sacrifices of the menandwomenofourcountrywhofoughtforthereturntodemocracy’ andtheneedtoprovide‘anenvironmentfordemocracytobeanaccepted way of life.’More importantly, PMB tried to justify the commitment of his Administration to democracy by referring to his‘strong and sustained opposition against non-democratic practices and encouragement of ssanctionsagainstcountrieswheremilitarycoupstookplace’,aswellashis rrejection of‘third terms projects by some African leaders, because it has been proven to be one of the drivers of military coups and democratic b aand social instability. Concerning insecurity, Nigeria’s situation is not different from what obtains elsewhere. Ethiopia is engaged in civil war. So is Eritrea. Mexico o has the problem of drug war.Yemen has a civil war. As of 1 April 2022, the h C Council on Foreign Relations Global ConflictTracker says there were at lleast 27 live Conflicts worldwide. More important,Tess Lowery in Global Citizen of April 1, 2022 summarises the situational reality of insecurity C iin the world thus: ‘nuclear arsenals are swelling. Conflict is on the rise. Millions are displaced. International law is disregarded with impunity, M aas criminal and terrorist networks profit from the division and violence. TThis is the situation the world finds itself in today. Additionally saysTess LLowery,‘the reasons for the outbreak of conflict range from territorial disputes and regional tensions, to corruption and dwindling resources d due to climate change.’ d ThesituationinNigeria,asnotedearlier,isnotdifferent.Nigeriaisplaying host to a civil war and terrorist insurgency in the mania of Afghanistan. In h his Democracy Day Letter, PMB acknowledged that his administration h had had critical security challenges, which have prompted the review h of security strategies. PMB said the military and security agencies ‘are o working hard to rescue all Nigerians in captivity.‘While PMB expatiated w on what he considered as achievements of the armed forces in the past o sseven years, such as increased manpower intake, better training, better equipmentandplatforms,aswellashavingacomprehensiverevisionof e tthe 2014 National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy, he simply relied on God’s help for an enduring solution to kidnapping and terror in Nigeria. G AsPMBputit,‘Isharethepainsoffamiliesanddirectvictimsofkidnapped victimswhowentthroughandaregoingthroughunimaginabletrauma in the course of their forced imprisonment.We will, by the Grace of God put an end to these terrors and at the same time improve our efforts to address the underlying drivers of insecurity, namely: poverty and under-employment.’ Asforinfrastructuraldevelopment,PMBnoteditsacceleration‘through moderate and transparent borrowing, improved capital inflow and at the same time increasing revenue through capturing more tax bases and prudent management of investment proceeds in the Sovereign Wealth Fund.’In his eyes, this, along with the‘well thought out commitments and investments in road/rail transport infrastructure, are bearing expected fruits and results. While PMB’s observations are quite arguable, what is particularly noteworthy in his letter to Nigerians is his declared commitments on unemployment reduction, sustainable democratic culture and credible election, and Nigeria’s corporate existence. It is against this background that the blitzkrieg in Nigeria will now be examined. World War III Blitzkrieg in Nigeria The manifestations of blitzkrieg in Nigeria are not far-fetched.The first manifestationisthespontaneityintellingtheuntruthaboutthedriversof insecurity in Nigeria. From the perspectives of PMB and his government, the drivers are poverty and unemployment.There is absolutely nothing to suggest that these are the main drivers of insecurity in Nigeria. The drivers are basically political in initiation, objective and implementation. At best, unemployment and poverty are secondary reasons. In fact, it is because the PMB administration is deliberately or otherwise ignoring the political causal factors that insecurity not only came into being but is also deepening. We contend here that the PMB administration can be said to be responsible for insecurity in Nigeria. First, the PMB administration has not been seen to have taken any concrete measures against the agents of Boko Haram in government. Former president, Dr, Goodluck Jonathan, said openly that there were Boko Haram agents in his government.When he left government and PMB succeeded him, what is it that has been done to flush out the boko haramists in government? Moreinterestinglyinthisregard,Dr.BabangidaAliyu,formerGovernor of Niger State, explained how some northerners made it difficult for GoodluckJonathantodefeatBokoHaram inaninterviewgrantedAisha Wakaso ofThe Punch (videThe Punch, 30 January 2022). Perhaps most significantly,DrBabangidaAliyumadetwointerestingpoints:that‘when BokoHaramstartedandUmaruMusaYar’AduaandGoodluckJonathan’s governmentstarteddoingsomethingaboutit,itfellonformerPresident Jonathan to carry on.’ In this regard, Dr. Aliyu said, ‘many northerners misconstruedhis(Jonathan)positionatthattimeandforpoliticalpurposes, they threw many arguments that made it impossible for the proper articulation and proper implementation of policies that would get rid of Boko Haram and now, we still have them till today.’ Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JUNE 19,, 2022

CICERO

Editor: Ejiofor Alike SMS: 08066066268 email:ejiofor.alike@thisdaylive.com

IN THE ARENA

Situating Security in 2023 General Election

With the alarming rate of killings and abductions of indigenes by terrorists in communities across the country, the 2023 general election may not meet the minimum integrity standards expected of a worthy democracy if human security is not guaranteed, Louis Achi reports

ormer military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) was not known to share a seer’s proclivity of predicting the future throughout his military career and thereafter. But nevertheless, he recently peered into the future of the nation’s electoral contests, especially the forthcoming 2023 general election, and delivered a worrying verdict. Taking yesterday’s governorship election in Ekiti State as a jump-off point, Abdulsalami who also heads the National Peace Committee (NPC), stated that next year’s general election may not be the best. The NPC is a non-governmental initiative conceptualised in 2014 in response to emerging threats occasioned by the 2015 general election. The body is an elite initiative made up of eminent elder statesmen who undertake efforts to support free, fair and credible elections as well as intervene in critical issues of national concern through high-level mediated and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. Abdulsalami warned that the 2023 election may not produce the results many Nigerians would be expecting. He further lambasted the leadership of political parties over the apparent compromise of the process of conducting free and fair primary elections for the selection of candidates ahead of the 2023 polls. His words: “We are aware that the 2023 election may not be the best – as can be attested to by the monetisation of the process, the acrimonious conduct of the recent party primaries, and the elevation of the ‘delegate position’ over and above the welfare of ordinary Nigerians.” He charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to be neutral and provide a level-playing field for all contestants in the June 18 governorship election in Ekiti State. Abdulsalami mentioned security agencies but failed to provide critical elucidation on the

Abdulsalami

state of insecurity in the nation leading into a make-or-mar general election in 2023. It is no secret that terrorists and sundry criminals are taunting the Nigerian state and the government appears helpless. One of the most dangerous dimensions to the infamy playing out is that indigenous communities, churches, mosques, schools, trains and highways are being mercilessly targeted by foreign invaders. If this scenario extends to the 2023 general election, then the exercise will largely be a futile electoral project. The recent massacre of Owo church members during worship in nearby Ondo State, hardly sends a reassuring message to the Ekiti electorate. The fact that beyond the foggy links to ISWAP, the federal government has not cracked the infamy and roped in the culprits, has heightened the general uncertainty lead-

ing into this off-cycle election. It could be recalled that last year, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, told the Senate Committee on Army precisely on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, that a total of N1,008.84 trillion was released to the Army between January 2019 and April 2021. Ahmed, who was summoned based on complaints by the Nigerian Army that it had outstanding N50 billion with the ministry which was part of the budgetary provision to fight terrorism, had told the federal lawmakers that the Army got more than budgetary provision during the period under review. Reacting to the foregoing, Kabir Adamu, a security risk management and intelligence specialist believes the Nigerian Army has so far failed in its mandate despite the funds being released to it. He argued that Nigeria has

witnessed increasing cases of banditry, terrorism and kidnapping. His words: “What was the mandate given to them? Is it not to contain insurgency? Unfortunately, they have not justified it. If their mandate was also to curb banditry, they have not been able to do that.” Adamu’s position was however countered by Col. Hassan Stan-Labo (rtd.), a security specialist, who said that the over N1trillion was not enough, describing it as a drop in the ocean. Stan-Labo who described the defence sector as a capital-intensive venture, stressed that the sector’s neglect in the past years had created a vacuum which made the funding by the Ministry of Finance insufficient. According to him, “The defence sector has been neglected for too long by being starved of adequate fund and well-equipped inventory. This got this long because as a nation, we are not security-conscious. Even under this dispensation, you can see that there is no seriousness.” Clearly, with rising attacks against security agencies and their facilities scaling up in the South-east, terrorists and criminal turmoil in the North and outright killings in the SouthWest and total infiltration of its forests by foreign terrorists, many strongly believe the nation’s fate is hanging over the precipice. This has led to increasing agitations for break-up of the country. Today, even respected statesmen are morphing into activists. Despite considerable efforts being deployed to cage raging insecurity in the nation, policy obfuscation, opaque military spending and procurements, debatable inter-agency cooperation, indecisive leadership and huge trust deficit, has portrayed the government as not being on top of its game. Clearly, an atmosphere of spiralling of insecurity ahead of or during the 2023 general election would have a hugely negative impact on voter turnout and the integrity of the polls. Voters would not risk their lives to go to polling units when the possibility of being killed or injured is high.

P O L I T I CA L N OT E S

Lawan and the Wages of Greed

Lawan

Inhisacceptancespeech,afterhewasdeclaredpresidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), at the EaglesSquare,Abuja,formerLagosStategovernor,Senator BolaTinubu,saidtooneofhisco-contestants,thePresident oftheSenate,AhmadLawan,thathewasinitiallyangrythat he contested the ticket with him, but now that he had won, Lawan could go and lick his wounds. Unfortunately, people only laughed off that part of the speechbutwereunabletoproperlyinterpretitatthetime. Perhaps, Tinubu knew what many people did not know at the time and as you read this, Lawan is not only licking his wounds,heis,withaheavyheart,steppingitdownwithsome methylated spirit, so it could help culture the bleeding. So,what’sthestory?Lawanhadchasedthepresidential ticketoftheAPCinthehopethathiscurrentYobeNorthsenate seat, had been locked down, using some Bashir Machina,

to hold it in trust, forced through the primaries. Indeed, the coming onboard of Lawan as a presidential hopeful, was initiallydismissedasachild’splay,butitwentontounsettle calculationsforotherseriouscandidates,whohadnothing else to fall back on. Sadly, things went south for him and he lost the ticket. He was even unable to read the game properly to have considered stepping down as some did. He went all out and the whole hog. But he was not so much worried that he lostthepresidentialbid;hehadthoughtandhopedthathis senate ticket was waiting for him, and that it would just be a return to status quo ante. Lowandbehold,hewasdamnwrong.Histicketwasinthe handofanothergreedyfellowlikehim.Obviouslyandwithout a doubt, he must have established a clear understanding withMachinaassomepoliticians,whoarecleverbyhalfare

wonttodoinsuchcircumstances.Butthingsdochangeand sowashiscasethistime.Machinahasrefusedtorelinquish the ticket and had written to relevant authorities to affirm hisposition.Motivatedbysheergreed,Lawan,hadchased two mice, only to lose both. Machinainsistedhewouldnotsurrendertheticket,because Lawan should not have contested the party’s presidential primaryifhehadtheambitionofreturningtotheSenate.Truth! Therewereseveralothersinhisshoes,hewasjustunlucky. Afterall,GodswillAkpabiodidsamething.EventheBauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, had another ‘Machina’ holdhisticketintrust.Ittooktheuncommon‘willofman’to getitback.But,whilethere’sacriticalandinstructivelesson inthisforeveryone,itisyettobeseenhowtheAPCplansto beatthesystem-guidedbylaws,rulesandregulations-and still went ahead to submit Lawan’s name to INEC..

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JUNE 19, 2022

BRIEFINGNOTES Can Okowa Lead Atiku to the Promised Land? After his failed second attempt as a presidential candidate and fourth attempt as an aspirant, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has finally nominated an ideal choice of running mate in the person of Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, to guarantee his victory in the 2023 presidential race. Ejiofor Alike examines what Okowa is bringing to the joint ticket

former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar did not disappoint political analysts when he announced Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate. Atiku announced Okowa’s nomination on Thursday at an unveiling event of his running mate held in Abuja. Atiku said making a choice between the three recommended names had been a difficult decision. He noted that some of the qualities he looked out for include someone who understands the enormity of the challenges facing the country and one who has demonstrated, from experience, that he can proffer some solutions. The National Chairman of PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, had said a 17-member committee was set up by the party to pick a running mate for Atiku. He said the committee had submitted three names – Okowa; Rivers State governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike and Akwa Ibom State governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel to Atiku. Ayu, however, said the final decision on the party’s vice-presidential candidate was for Atiku to make. BeforeThursday’s announcement, there wastensioninthepartywhen Wikewasspeculated to have been selected as the vice presidential candidate to Atiku. However, there was relief when the PDP onWednesday dismissed reports that its Selection Committee had settled for the Rivers State governor. ThosewhoarefamiliarwithWike’santecedence said he is not the best man for the job. Wike is said to have been running amok since he won his re-election bid as governor. Though he claimed to have stood behind the PDP, when Atiku and others defected to the APC before the 2015 general election, he has only brought division Okowa and crisis to the party. The Rivers State governor, who has spared no one in his media spats with top politicians in the behind the travails of a former National Chaircountry, has established a reputation as a divisive man of the party, Prince Uche Secondus. No figure who has no restraint in his verbal attacks, wonder Secondus has since congratulated which many have described as unbecoming of Atiku for making a choice in picking Okowa a presidential or vice presidential candidate. as his running mate. Wike was believed to be behind the Cross In a statement by his media aide, Mr. Ike River State PDP crisis that forced Governor Ben Abonyi, the former PDP chairman said with Ayade to dump the party for the All Progressives the duo of Atiku and Okowa, the PDP would Congress (APC). He had also launched verbal asbe victorious at the polls. saults on Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, “Prince Secondus said that Atiku’s choice Godwin Obaseki of Edo State and his deputy, of governor Okowa as his running mate shows Philip Shaibu, whom he described as a ‘mere his knack for picking a good head to be around deputy governor’. him for the gargantuan task ahead.The former Many chieftains of the opposition party believe national chairman said that with the picking that the fear of Wike’s tongues is the beginning of a running mate, the candidacy is complete of political wisdom. He was also believed to be

and PDP is now set for the inevitable journey back to Aso Rock come 2023,” the statement explained. Indeed, it was not surprising that Wike was rejected as Atiku’s running mate. Unlike Wike, the Delta State governor is one of the few PDP chieftains with high level of integrity, maturity and with no political baggage. He is also level-headed with no divisive tendency. Okowa’s excellent performance as Delta State governor is also a reference point that will come in handy when the time comes for the PDP to market the Atiku-Okowa ticket to the Nigerian voters. As a former senator, he has both legislative and executive experience. Okowa’s oil-rich Delta State with its enor-

mousresourceswillalsohelpduringthecampaign. Shortly after Atiku unveiled Okowa as his running mate, the PDP Vice Presidential Candidate Screening Committee stated that it found the Delta State governor fully qualified to be the running mate to Atiku. The Chairman of the Committee, Chief Tom Ikimi, who stated this while briefing journalists, said that the job of the committee was to screen the nominees for running mate to ensure that the party did not run into any problem. “Okowa has served in many capacities in the public service of Delta State as well as local government council of that state. He also served as commissioner at one time in that state and in fact, he served as the senator representing one of the senatorial districts of the state,” Ikimi reportedly explained. Atiku while speaking on his choice said his vice presidential candidate must fulfill the qualities to be president and one that could complement him as a president. He added that he should symbolise the quality to unite Nigeria, and should not be afraid to speak and give advice on governance in the country. He also added that his running mate must understand what he described as the depth of rots in the Nigerian system. “In other words, the person must have the qualities to be president. The person must have an appreciation of the deep rot which our country has been put into by the rudderless APC government; understands the great suffering that most of our people are going through and the urgency of relieving them of that suffering; understands the critical importance of economic growth and development to provide our young people with jobs, hope, and a pathway to wealth. “My running mate must understand that without security, development will be very difficult because local and foreign investors, who have been scared away already, would not return to invest in our economy.Thus, my running mate will be a person who will stand by me as I confront the frightening level of insecurity in our land,” Atiku explained. “Inaddition,myrunningmatehastobesomeone who is not afraid to speak his mind and give honest advice, and be by my side as I work very hard to reverse the destructive impact of the past seven years of the APC government,” Atiku added. The former vice president described Okowa as a fighter. “You know him to be a fighter; you know him to care about winning; you know him to care about good governance; and you know him to care about our people,” Atiku said. There is no doubt that Atiku has made a right choice that has the capacity to guarantee his victory in this final journey to the presidency.

NOTES FOR FILE

What Happens If Tinubu’s VP Placeholder, Masari, Goes Rogue?

Tinubu

What happens if Kabiru Masari, the All Progressives Congress (APC) vice presidential placeholder decides to go rogue? That is one question that has been agitating the minds of not a few discerning political observers since the news that Masari’s name was submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) broke. Tinubu had defeated former Minister ofTransportation,RotimiAmaechi;VicePresidentYemiOsinbajo and 12 others to clinch the APC sole presidential ticket at the party’s national convention. Since after the presidential primary, he has been making consultations for a running mate. In order to beat the INEC’s June 17 deadline for the submission of running mates of all the presidential candidates, on Friday, the APC presidential candidate submitted

the name of a Katsina State politician, Kabiru Masari, as his vice presidential placeholder until he gets a more suitable choice, most likely a sitting governor from the North. Not much is known about Masari other than the fact that he is a politician in Katsina, the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari. But after he was announced as a placeholder running mate, Masari started trending on social media. It is not clear why it is taking too long to get a competent and sellable candidate for the post of the vice president. But a source close to the APC presidential candidate said: “Asiwaju will use that time to continue consulting with the party, governors and the president. He is taking his time and doesn’t want to

rush it. He just wants to carry everybody along. Even the elections will take place in 2023 and the campaign wouldn’t start until September. The window period is still long. There is no need to rush anything about it. “I think we have fulﬁlled our own part by submitting the name as required before the window of INEC deadline closes. He is not really a surrogate per se. He is just holding forth. The electoral act stipulatesthatcandidateshavethewindowperiod to substitute up till sometime in August.” But since the name of Masari was submitted, many analysts and observers have been wondering and imagining what would if the placeholder decides to go rogue.Won’t that be serious trouble for the APC?

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JUNE 19, 2022

CICERO/REPORT

As Supreme Court Justices Tackle CJN over Poor Welfare The recent unprecedented confrontation between justices of the Supreme Court and the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad over their poor conditions of service could further dent the image of the all-important third arm of government if not carefully resolved, Alex Enumah writes

ll is not well in the judiciary where the justices of the highest court in the country, the Supreme Court of Nigeria, are currently at loggerhead with the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice lbrahim Tanko Muhammad, over poor conditions of service. In a letter said to have been addressed to the CJN, the justices who are worried that their budgetary allocations have not been increased in the last four years, complained that poor welfare was hindering their the discharge of their jobs. The aggrieved judicial officers said that while the relevant federal government agencies saddled with the responsibility of reviewing their salaries and allowances upward have kept them on the same salary for 14 years, the Supreme Court of Nigeria, under the leadership of Justice Muhammad, has worsened their situation by denying them the welfare package they are entitled to, even when the package was captured by the court’s budgetary allocation. The justices are contending thar the work they do is very serious, sensitive, and also require the appropriate authorities to take good care of them. They said unfortunately, they were currently hampered by both internal and external forces to a point that it was becoming practically impossible for them to discharge their sensitive duties to the nation. The issues raised by the justices in their protest letter are non-replacement of dilapidated vehicles; accommodation problems; lack of drugs at the Supreme Court clinic; epileptic electricity supply to the Supreme Court; increase in electricity tariffs; no increase in the allowances for diesel; and lack of internet services in residences and chambers. Others are internal problems, including non-signing of amended Rules of Court for almost three years; sudden stoppage of two to three foreign workshops and training per annum for Justices; and no provision of qualified legal assistants. The apex court has been receiving N110 billion yearly since 2018 despite the increase in its size and responsibilities. It was learnt that its annual budget was not always regularly cash-backed leading to non-provision of essential services for the justices. For some time now, there have been lamentations and anger over the poor remuneration packages given to Nigerian judges and justices as monthly entitlements. Indeed, salaries and allowances of judicial officers, judges and justices were last reviewed in 2008 through an Act of Parliament. At that time, the exchange rate of naira to a US dollar was N117 as against the current N600, and this has depreciated their entitlements. While officials of other arms of government such as the executive and legislature earn humongous and bumper salaries, allowances and benefits, the judges of courts are paid peanuts. Sometimes, when these judges retire from service, their benefits and other entitlements are not paid, thereby giving those in service cause to worry over their future. This, many believe, makes many of them compromise or be vulnerable to corruption in the process of adjudication and dispensation of justice. The judiciary is the guardian and protector of fundamental human rights as well as the arbiter of disputes among all levels of government. This is why many feel that the all-important third arm of government ought to be independent to be free to perform its functions without fear or favour. This is the primary goal of separation of powers — to enable the three arms of government to be functionally independent of each other. But despite the constitutional provision, the judiciary is still dependent on the executive for its funding. Recently, Justice Muhammad had lamented that although the Constitution provides for the separation of powers and independence of the three arms of government, he has continued to go cap - in -hand to

Justice Muhammad b ffor ffunds beg d tto run th the jjudiciary, di i a situation, it ti hhe said, has impacted negatively on the administration of justice in the country. He said it was time for the judiciary to take its destiny in its hand, insisting that “we need to borrow a leaf from other climes where things are done rightly so that we don’t keep repeating the same mistake and expect to make progress in our administration of justice.” Also at the 2021 All Nigeria Judges’ Conference in Abuja, Justice Muhammad had cried out that it would be difficult for the judiciary to be impartial and objective in a democracy when it is not autonomous. He lamented that the third arm of government remains financially tied to the executive, and called for more funding for the judiciary. “Financial independence is not just desirable; it is crucial, vital, constitutional and imperative to allow the judiciary to effectively discharge its mandates. The importance of that role is evident in the provision of Section 6 of the 1999 Constitution, (as amended), which vests wide constitutional powers on the judiciary. It similarly thrusts on judges the responsibility to fairly, justly, judiciously and impartially exercise judicial powers. “Without appearing to contradict me, I yield to the fact that it may be difficult for the judiciary to be impartial and objective in a democracy where it remains financially tied to the executive. It is trite that the foundation of impartiality is independence.”

Even though the CJN commended President E th hth d dP id t Muhammadu Buhari for granting financial autonomy to the judiciary, he said he was saddened by the fact that only a few states have implemented the agreement relating to the funding of state judiciaries. “Majority of the Heads of Courts still go cap- in- hand to the governors to beg for what is constitutionally due to them. As such, I urge the governors to emulate the federal government by ensuring that Section 121 (3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) is fully adhered to and implemented. “I also counsel the governors to remember that the judiciary cannot be regarded as being independent unless it can adequately meet its needs without kowtowing to them for funds.” Worried by the stagnation in the salaries and allowances of judicial officers, a retiring Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Ejembi Eko, at a valedictory session held in his honour recently, called on the National Judicial Council (NJC), the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) and the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to “synergise and introspect and tell the world why the dereliction since 2007” by paying them their improved entitlements. Justice Eko said there have been several calls for the review of salaries of judicial officers and nothing has been done to remedy it and that the plight of retired judicial officers from various state High Court, Sharia Court of Appeal and

Customary Court of Appeal is an embarrassment to the judiciary. He added that the constitution provides that judicial officers of the superior courts of law shall be paid salaries and allowances as may be prescribed by the National Assembly, “but not exceeding the amount as shall have been determined by the RMAFC.” It is against this background that a constitutional lawyer, Chief Sebastien Hon (SAN), recently dragged the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), National Judicial Council (NJC), National Assembly and the RMAFC before the National Industrial Court to challenge them over the poor salaries of judicial officers in the country. Hon, in his suit, is praying the court to compel the defendants, alongside the RMAFC to increase the salaries and allowances of judges in the country. In a supporting affidavit to the originating summons, the senior lawyer, who filed in his capacity as a concerned legal practitioner in Nigeria, stated that, as a legal practitioner, “who has practised in all the levels of courts in Nigeria, I know that poor pay for judicial officers is seriously affecting the quality of j judgments and rulings those officers are delivering j and the discharge of other functions associated with their offices.” The plaintiff argued that the current economic reality in the country requires that the salaries and allowances of judges be urgently reviewed upwards. He noted that the highest-paid judicial officer in the country – the CJN – currently earns about N3.4 million per annum, far below what is earned by his counterparts in other countries. Hon noted that it is about 14 years now since the salaries and allowances of judges were last reviewed upward in 2008 despite the loss of value of the naira vis-à-vis other global currencies like the US dollars, and the British pound sterling and the European Union (EU) euro, etc. “As of November 2008 when the amended Act was in force, the exchange rate between the naira and the US dollar was N117.74 to $1. The naira has considerably lost its value over time; but judicial officers in Nigeria have been placed on the same salary scale for up to 12 years, namely since 2008. Even foreigners who have been hired from time to time to coach Nigeria’s national football teams earn higher than Nigeria’s judicial officers,” he said. Speaking at the public presentation of Nigeria’s first law book on Construction Law last week, the immediate past CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen, warned that unless the Supreme Court of Nigeria is adequately funded, the apex Court may soon at best ends up a glorified High Court. He lamented that Justices of the apex court are suffering in silence since 2008 when their salaries and emoluments were last reviewed by government. Onnoghen revealed that some justices of the apex court still live in rented accommodations in unsuitable areas in Abuja. Besides poor residential accommodation issue, the former CJN explained that chambers of the Supreme Court Justices are unbefitting of their status and appealed that the court be properly funded to enable the justices perform optimally in conducive atmosphere. He recalled that while in office as CJN, he headed a team comprising Attorney General of the Federation as well as Solicitor General of the Federation which prepared a new welfare scheme on the order of the federal government and lamented that since his exit, the Welfare Scheme Report which would have enhanced the condition of service of the justices had been jettisoned. He, therefore, pleaded that funding of judiciary should be immediately looked into with a view to improving on it because of the critical role of the judiciary in nation building. “The judiciary is not Nigeria’s problem but bad leadership.There must be a rethink on issues affecting judiciary, because without a strong legal profession, you cannot talk of the rule of law,” he said.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JUNE 19, 2022

with ChidiAmuta e-mail:chidi.amuta@gmail.com

ENGAGEMENTS

Peter Obi and the Last ‘Big Men’

he outcome of our presidential nominations season has produced a new landscape of mixed blessings. The two major parties have produced rival contestants straight from the dark recesses of Africa’s political past. Atiku Abubakar and Bola Tinubu are in many ways a throwback to the African ‘Big Man’ politician of the 1970s to 1990s. On the contrary, a minor party, the Labour Party, has positioned a presidential candidate who symbolises the urgent present and the imminent future of African political contest. Mr. Peter Obi has emerged as both a generational shift and a redefinition of both political message and medium. The politics of business as usual is about to come face to face with the politics of norm shattering conveyed through the multiple devices and platforms of the internet age. It is hard to forget where and who we are. In Nigeria’s politics of ethnic identity, Tinubu is a Yoruba candidate while Atiku is the Hausa/Fulani opposite. Peter Obi is the candidate of ethnic anonymity, a sort of political everyman with perspectives that cut across all the silly barriers that have held us hostage. There are other benefits of the presidential nominations season. A partisan frenzy has been unleashed. The public is falling over itself either in triumphant adulation or mournful regret over the emergence of Atiku Abubakar and Bola Tinubu as mascots of the dominant parties. The emergence of both men replaces the anonymity of their respective party platforms with recognisable names. Overnight, those who prefer the PDP have become Atiku devotees whether they like Mr. Atiku’s nose or not. The same goes for the other side. People who a few weeks back were ready to cast stones at anything that bore a Tinubu sign are now finding justifications on why the man should relocate from his Lagos Bourdillon home to Aso Rock Villa. The epidemic of partisanship is of course a healthy sign for our quirky democracy. Schism and alignment are perfect entitlements of an activated public in a place of democracy. Moreover, in the absence of any ideological markers to distinguish between the parties, people are better off queuing up and falling over each other behind emblems. A tragic feature of today’s African democracy is the ease with which the parties’ become extensions of the private political estates of their overbearing founders or leaders. At this moment, the APC is now synonymous with Tinubu while the PDP has become Atiku Abubakar by other means. Together, both men are political Siamese twins. They represent an easily recognizable feature of Africa’s political landscape. Somehow, they are in many ways our own version of the reign and rule of the African “Big Man” as sovereign. They will carry the imprints of the modern African nation state mostly as pseudo traditional chiefs disguised as elected presidents. Both are immensely wealthy men. Their political prominence is mostly a product of their awesome economic power. They have used economic power to buy into and invoke the major classic indices of power. They have bought into primordial traditional authority by overwhelming the traditional institutions. They even influence the appointment of some traditional rulers. They control and endorse religious authority by donating churches and mosques. They own media houses and powerful information platforms and channels. They have amorphous families sometimes with multiple spouses and offspring. Both men have an identical political trajectory with many previous attempts at the top job. Their humongous wealth spans all major sectors. Those interested in following their big money usually get lost in the confusing hazy borderline between private fortune and the public treasury. Some inquisitive people end up in the confusing intersection between private fortune and privileged access to the public treasury in one way or the other. The political gravity of both Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar is ultimately more a function of their economic and financial leverage than the ideas and policy propositions they are associated with. In each case, the emergence of a personality cult is well within reach despite the constraints of constitutional conformity. African

Obi

history is littered with the nasty footsteps of a succession of African ‘Big Men’. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea. Paul Biya of Cameroun. Denis Sassou Nguesso of Congo Brazaville, Jose Eduardo dos Santos of Angola, Mobutu Sese Seko of former Zaire. These are the more memorable variants of the Africa Big Man president. The African Big Man as modern-day ruler of the nation state is a quaint anomaly, the cultural continuation of the fabled African Chief in most traditional African cultures and societies. The Chief is the inheritor of privileges beyond reproach or questioning. He has a natural entitlement to communal assets and beneﬁts. The chief expects to be gifted the best maidens, the fattest cows, the most fertile communal lands, and the best harvests from those who toil. These entitlements are hardly subject to questioning. The modern African Big Man president feels a similar sense of entitlement. In practice, the existence of a national constitution hardly regulates or limits the powers and entitlement of the African Big Man President. In most cases, the rule of law, the power of due process and the requirements of standard public accountability and the observance of a code of public conduct are mostly observed in breach. Civil society activists and rights lawyers who insist on these matters are quickly lumped with the political opposition ‘enemies of the people’ and could end up with endless prison terms. The classic African Big Man ruler did not quite materialise centre stage in Nigerian politics in the 1980s and 1990s. This coincides with a period in which Nigerian politics and governance, like in Argentina and much of Latin America, was dominated by a rival but equally fearsome power contender: Big Generals. From the 1970s up to 1999 and even till President Buhari, Nigerian politics and power was straddled by Big Generals either in uniform or as elected democracy converts. As a rule, civilian political Big Men and Big Generals do not sleep on the same bed. This is one reason why the military neutralized the threatened emergence of Chief M.K.O Abiola in the early 1990s. In the current nominations of Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar, the Big Man has re-emerged

centre stage in Nigeria’s political arena through the democratic process. However, the reign and rule of the few remaining African Big Men is doomed to imminent end. A combination of biological extinction and technological substitution will see to that. The few of this specie left are mostly in their mid-70s to 80s. They are being challenged and replaced by younger politicians with support bases rooted in a new demographics and new messaging. African democracy is now appealing directly to a broad popular demographic base with an egalitarian consciousness. A younger generation of leaders and aspiring leaders empowered and connected by the internet and an array of new technologies is on the ascent. International best practices are increasingly beaming the searchlight on African governance and politics. African democracies are being compelled, through peer pressure, to shape up to global standards of citizens’ rights and public accountability. The younger generation of African political activists and leaders is no longer frightened by decadent myths, ancient customs or the deployment of medieval intimidation and repression strategies. Nor are they impressed by long motorcades, authorized state gangsters in the name of security or the sickening opulence of Big Men. Out of the loud and wide expectation of a Third Force to counter Nigeria’s dominant two-party politics, something unexpected has reared its head. The real unexpected tale from our season of presidential nomination primaries is the emergence of Mr. Peter Obi. Beyond being the flag bearer of a little-known fringe Labour Party, Mr. Obi has materialized as a oneman political squad. Somehow, the lone scraggy voice of an ex -state governor has risen above the national political noise to reach the usually fractious Nigerian public. A new message that is both refreshingly new and unifying is afloat. With no retinue of groveling followers, no intimidating motorcade of glimmering SUVs, no political fellow travellers in over embroidered flowing gowns, Mr. Peter Obi broke loose from the suffocating embrace of his former PDP. At a disarming final moment before the presidential nomination primaries, he had the uncommon decency to say a polite goodbye to Atiku Abubakar whose running mate he had been in

the 2019 race. At another political event where Atiku declared his presidential intention, Mr. Obi described his former principal as ‘my brother’ and ‘leader’ only to take his leave of both the PDP and Mr. Atiku shortly afterwards. Prior to leaving the PDP, Peter Obi had gradually emerged as the darling of the Nigerian Online Republic. He is easily the most followed and admired political figure among Nigerians on Twitter where he has a following of over 1,000,000 and still counting. His Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok followership is growing by the moment. So far, his few open forum events are packed with active audiences who only seem to want more of his inspirational political messages. He is already a cross between a power preacher and a rock star. The Peter Obi phenomenon is a timely reversal of the old African Big Man narrative. Enter the youthful politician clad in simple outfit. He is determined to shorten the length of the presidential motorcade, curb wasteful governance, live modestly in simple circumstances, resist corruption, shun the filthy lucre, empty opulence and gradiosity of public office and avoid or curb the pomposity of state ceremony. Here is a leader who has undertaken to connect with the people as one of them. This is the regular Bayo, Emeka, Abu or Joe next door who wakes up early to pray for his nation, undertake his morning exercise, make his own coffee. Mr. Obi carries his own bag at the airport and holds up his own umbrella in the rain. Peter Obi’s increasing magnetism lies mostly in the fact that of all the political salesmen at our doorstep these days, he alone embodies the highpoints of this new anti-Big Man narrative. Peter Obi is communicating and connecting directly with ordinary Nigerians on the streets and in the markets. His catchment is a new strategic demographics of youth and the internet generation, the urban unemployed who see their hopeless situation because of the years of wasteful governance by Big Men politicians. But the traditional party membership and configuration still gives an advantage to the rural grassroot poor who remain in the vice grip of the politics and parties of Big Men. In Nigeria’s emerging democratic culture, Mr. Pater Obi is the galvanisation of the convergence of new realities and new technologies. Mr. Obi is merely the embodiment a new spirit and the carrier of a generational burden. An entirely new generation and vast population of Nigerians feel challenged to reject decades of bad politics and worsening social and economic conditions. Peter Obi is merely the current embodiment of a spirit that was hinted at by the spontaneous outburst of the ENDSARS protests. He may be the first political expression of the new spirit of protest bad government and ugly social and economic conditions. Peter Obi is still a fad, not quite a movement yet. There are pitfalls and obstacles. His solo dance is not yet a movement. His party platform still lacks a nationwide structure at the base. He fits rather untidily into the labour camp. No one knows his links to the Nigerian labour movement nor his ideological affinity to the movement’s leftist and left of centre inclination. His proposition remains at best a solo flight. His perspective are personal convictions. His lifestyle and frugality are more of a personal choice. In his political train, there are no fellow travellers or disciples to convert his personal message into a creed. Beyond his instinctual appeal as a more frugal, unassuming, and more accountable leadership proposition, we are waiting for a systematic worldview and alternative perspective in a world full of models and options. Meanwhile, questions abound: Is Peter Obi a socialist? Not at all. Is he a social democrat? No one is certain. Is he a laissez faire capitalist or random trader who made good and stumbled into the government house in Awka? Not quite sure. Given his business antecedents as a bank owner, wine merchant, general importer, retailer of sundry wares and serial global investor, Mr. Obi would at best be a left of center politician with a personal lifestyle of frugality, modesty, and simplicity. All these qualities appeal naturally to a Nigerian public that has spent decades longing for a minimum level of modesty and accountability on the part of our leaders. (See concluding part 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 19, 2022

NEWS

News Editor: Gboyega Akinsanmi E-mail: gboyega.akinsanmi@thisdaylive.com,08152359253

Again, Terrorists Kill 13 Scrap Metal Scavengers in Borno Michael Olugbode in Abuja Barely a month after the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) killed over 55 scrap metal scavengers in two local government areas of Borno State, the insurgents have again killed no fewer than 13 scavengers in the state. The previous attacks took pace in a community in Dikwa Local Government Area where the terrorists killed 23 youths while scavenging for scrap metals, and in Kala-Balge local government area where over

32 youths suffered similar fate while sourcing for their means of livelihood. According to an intelligence report obtained by Zagazola Makama, a counter insurgency expert and security analyst in Lake Chad, and made available to our correspondent, in the present attack, the Boko Haram fighters attacked the group of scavengers in Goni Kurmi, Bama Local Government Area yesterday. The top security sources said that dozens of other people including women, who were Internally Displaced

Persons (IDPs), fled the scene and now taking refuge in Bama. The source added that the Boko Haram members believed to be from Gazuwa town, came on four hilux vehicles and motorcycles while others on foot, sur-

rounded the victims before unleashing terror on them. The source added that the victims comprised 11 male and two females. Boko Haram terrorists have repeatedly attack scrap metal scavengers, accusing them of stealing abandoned properties

in deserted communities. The latest killing brings the death toll to 63 within the past four weeks. On May 22, the insurgents killed 32 scrap metal scavengers at Modu village in Kala-Balge Local Government Area, while 23 others were

murdered at Mukdala village of Dikwa LGA. The Commissioner of Police, Abdu Umar, said the victims usually sneak into the forests from the towns without informing the security agencies for scrap metal scavenging.

One Billion People Have Mental Disorder Globally, WHO Reveals Sunday Ehigiator The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said about one billion people globally are suffering from some form of mental disorder, according to the latest United Nations data. The data released at the weekend said the staggering figure was even more worrying because it included around one in seven teenagers. “To make matters worse, in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, rates of common conditions such as depression and anxiety went up by more than 25 per cent,’’ it said. The data revealed that social and economic inequalities, public health emergencies, war, and the climate crisis were among the global, structural threats to mental health. It offered examples of good practices that should be implemented as quickly as possible in recognition of the important role that mental health played in positive and sustainable development.

WHO’s Director-General, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, said: “Everyone’s life touches someone with a mental health condition. Good mental health translates to good physical health and this new report makes a compelling case for change. “The inextricable links between mental health and public health, human rights and socio-economic development mean that transforming policy and practice in mental health can deliver real, substantive benefits for individuals, communities and countries. “Investment into mental health is an investment into a better life and future for all.” He added that even before the COVID-19, only a small fraction of people in need of help had access to effective, affordable and quality mental health treatment, citing latest available global data from 2019. He said, for instance, more than 70 per cent of those suffering from psychosis worldwide did not get the help they needed.

Muslim-Muslim Will Kill Your Lifelong Ambition, Group Warns Tinubu Segun James New Nigeria Collective (NNC) has warned the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, against running with a Muslim-Muslim ticket, because that would ultimately kill his lifelong ambition to be president of the country. In a statement by its General Secretary, Bosun Osifowora yesterday, the group said it had become obvious that the reason Tinubu deferred naming his running mate was because he was conflicted between the choices of a Muslim-Muslim or Muslim-Christian ticket. While insisting that the presidential candidate must not pander to “foolish political correctness,” the group said the Christian community, as a bloc

would most definitely repay any deliberate disrespect to them in the prevailing political calculus of the nation. The group said, not only must Tinubu see the push for a MuslimMuslim ticket as a subtle move to disparage him as unqualified or unworthy to be regarded as a devout and genuine Muslim being a southerner, it would also pass as a brazen disrespect to the religion of his dear wife of many years. It said: “These things are not difficult to situate and you can tell that those pushing this agenda are doing so only for their selfish and personal aggrandizement. But what should guide Tinubu is the fact that these same set of people had earlier discouraged the party against the choice of a southern candidate, because the opposition PDP went north.

BREAKFAST FORUM … L-R: Country Manager, Tek Experts, Mr. Olugbolahan Olusanya; CEO, DigitalJewels Ltd, Mrs. Adedoyin Odunfa; CEO, VDT Telecommunications Ltd, Mr. Biodun Omoniyi; and Managing Director, HC Bonum, Mr. Lanre Onasanya at a stakeholders’ breakfast forum, organised by DigitalJewels in Lagos … recently

Court Halts FG’s Implementation of Disputed e-Customs Concession Project Alex Enumah in Abuja A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the federal government to halt the implementation of the Customs Modernisation Project otherwise known as e-Customs allegedly executed by its agents on May 30, 2022. Justice Inyang Ekwo also issued an order of interim injunction restraining the government or its agents acting through the Federal Executive Council (FEC) from retrospectively ratifying the decisions to concession the e-Customs project to Trade Modernisation Project Limited, Huawei Technologies Company Limited and African Finance Corporation. The restraining order, the court

ecuted by the Nigerian Customs Service, Trade Modernisation Project Limited, Huawei Technologies Company Nigeria Limited and African Finance Corporation. Justice Ekwo while ruling on the ex-parte application on Friday, granted the prayers of the plaintiffs who placed sufficient evidence of interest in the concession project. The judge also granted permission to the aggrieved companies to serve a writ of summons and all other processes on the AFC at its head office, located in Ikoyi, Lagos through DHL courier services. Defendants in the suit are the Federal Government of

Nigeria, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Finance Minister, Infrastructure Regulatory Concession Commission, (IRCC) Nigeria Customs Service, Trade Modernisation Project Limited, Huawei Technologies Limited, AFC and Bergman Security Consultant and Supply Limited as 1st to 9th defendants, respectively. Justice Ekwo subsequently fixed June 28 for a hearing in the matter. The two plaintiffs had in their statement of claims narrated how they proposed to carry out the Customs Modernisation Project through several government officials for the benefit of the Nigerian Customs Service.

Grid Collapses: Abuja Disco Opts for Embedded Electricity to Boost Supply Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Following the frequent collapse of the National Grid, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company Plc (AEDC), which oversees the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Niger, Kogi as well as Nasarawa states, yesterday disclosed that it was working to ramp up supply by working with private developers on embedded generation. The development followed the worsening power supply to

customers around its franchise areas, aggravated by low on-grid generated megawatts. Admitting that electricity taken to homes in Abuja and other surrounding states has been “terrible”, the new management of the power firm, added that it was embarking on 40 quick-win projects to reduce the current agony experienced by consumers. In a statement signed by the Managing Director of the company, Mr Adeoye Fadeyibi,

AEDC said that in a few months, the four states would experience improved power supply. For the fifth time this year, the national electricity grid collapsed earlier in the week, with Discos complaining that they had not been able to receive bulk electricity from the national grid suppliers. Even in the best of times, the power distributors rarely get half the needed load as generation continues to hover around 3,000

Megawatts and 3,500 Megawatts in a nation of over 200 million persons. “We, the management of Abuja Electricity Plc acknowledge the terrible and persistent poor state of electricity supply to your various homes and offices. We honestly feel your pains and trauma, and we plead for your continued understanding, while not absolving ourselves of our responsibilities.

Anambra Community Ostracises Octogenarian for Deﬁling Minor

Energy Administrators Holds Annual Conference

David-Chyddy Eleke inAwka

The Society of Energy Administrators (SEA) has concluded plans to hold its second annual conference and induction of new members on June 25. In a statement yesterday, the conference is titled Highlighting Critical Energy Technologies for Overcoming Barriers to a Green Energy Transition for zero carbon Emission and Economic Sustainability in Nigeria. The statement said the conference would hold at Marriot Hotel,

Umueri community in Anambra East Local Government of Anambra State, has ostracised an 80-year-old man, Vincent Okoye for allegedly defiling a 10-year-old girl. Okoye was allegedly caught defiling the girl at a building site where he was the contractor supervising the project, after the girl’s mother had sent her on errand to him. Traditional ruler of the com-

GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, noting that President of the association, Dr. Yekeen Babatunde Adeboye (FSEA), Chairman of the association, Dr. Diran Fawibe (FSEA) who is also the chief host, Prof. Ibrahim Olawale Olateju. Others, according to the statement, are Dr. Goodluck Enimakpokpo an energy expert, ministerial task Force on power and Mr. Udeme Akpan, energy analyst, oil market specialist and energy journalist.

held, shall last till the hearing and the determination of a suit brought against the federal government by two aggrieved companies: E-Customs HC Project Limited and Bionica Technologies (West Africa) Limited. The plaintiffs are jointly challenging the alleged unlawful and fraudulent concession of the e-custom project to African Finance Corporation (AFC). The orders were made following a motion exparte argued by a lawyer to the plaintiffs, Mr Anone Usman, who prayed the court to temporarily halt the execution of the project to protect the interest of his clients. The disputed concession project was already being ex-

munity, Benneth Emeka disclosed this while addressing a group, All Nations Arise and Manifest Initiative (ANAM), at the weekend in his palace. He said the community does not tolerate such act, and that the suspect who is a member of his royal cabinet had been suspended. The monarch said, “The man in question is a member of my cabinet. He is my financial secretary and immediately the matter was reported, we suspended him. He can never come back to the

cabinet again. “The matter has been taken to court and that shows that the community does not condone such crime. We have also given the girl scholarship to show our concern and protect her future. It could have been anybody’s child. “I’m advising parents, especially mothers to be cautious and take responsibility for the safety and security of their children.” The Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Tochukwu Ikenga confirmed that

the suspect had been arrested and charged to court. According to reports, the man is a friend of the girl’s mother. Once in a while, she sent her on errand to him. But workers in the building site noticed that each time the little girl came around, the man always took her to one of the rooms in the building site, where he securely locked the door. The girl was also reported to have confessed that ≠≠she has been serially defiled by the octogenarian, but feared to tell anyone.

͹΁˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

B AC K PAG E C O N T I N UAT I O N THE AWKWARD MUSLIM-MUSLIM TICKET and Zik got a total of 7.7 million votes. That was the Nigeria I grew up in as a primary school kid. Military governments were not sold to the religious thing either. When Gen Yakubu Gowon, a northern Christian, was head of state, Vice Admiral Joseph Edet Akinwale Wey, the chief of staff, supreme headquarters, was his second-in-command. The vice-chairman of the federal executive council was Awolowo, the minister of finance. Effectively, Gowon’s military and civilian deputies were both Christians. Religion was of no consequence. Maj-Gen Muhammadu Buhari and Brigadier (later Maj-Gen) Babatunde Idiagbon — both Fulanis, both Muslims, both northerners — were No 1 and No 2 in 1983-85 and I can’t remember any objections. That was what Nigeria used to be. Something definitely went wrong thereafter as religious crises erupted under Gen Ibrahim Babangida. When Bashorun MKO Abiola, a Yoruba Muslim, wanted to pick his deputy for the June 12, 1993 presidential election, we had lost our innocence. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) warned him not to nominate a Muslim, otherwise Christians would not vote for him. They gave him a list of northern Christians to pick from: Dr Chris Abashiya, Dr Ishaya Audu, Mr Bala Takaya and Mr Paschal Bafyau. These were no political heavy hitters. Abiola achieved the north-south balance by picking Amb Babagana Kingibe, albeit a northern Muslim. They won nine of the 16 northern states. Tinubu has found himself in that awkward position: having to go for religious balancing

of the ticket and face possible snub from the Muslim north — or opt for a Muslim running mate and risk a backlash from the Christian community, north and south. Unlike Abiola, Tinubu has a richer list of northern Christians to choose from, such as Mr Simon Lalong, governor of Plateau state; Chief Audu Ogbeh, chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF); Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara, former speaker of the house of reps; and Mr Boss Mustapha, the secretary to the government of the federation. But he may consider it is a huge risk, given that he will be up against Atiku, a Fulani Muslim homeboy. The cold calculations in Tinubu’s camp, I should guess, were in favour of a Muslim running mate. And I suppose that these might be their essential assumptions. One, a Muslim-Muslim ticket should not be a problem for the Muslim north where the bulk of the votes are. It should be a major counter-offer to an Atiku presidency since the president and vice-president would be Muslims. Two, it should also not be a problem for the south-west, apart from the cosmopolitan Lagos. Tinubu is the homeboy and religion is not yet a major political factor, although CAN and Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) are working overtime, along with fifth columnists, to poison Yorubaland with bitter bigotry. Three, their calculation may be that those most likely to be vocally opposed to a Muslim-Muslim ticket are voters and commentators from the south-south, southeast and Christian north who do not vote

for APC on a normal day. Even if Tinubu were a pastor, APC would still be a no-no for many voters in these constituencies. APC has been branded an Islamic party since it was founded in 2013 (Chief Olisah Metuh, then PDP spokesman, famously called it “Janjaweed Party” during 2015 electioneering). It still won the general election twice, so Tinubu’s strategists may consider the all-Muslim pairing a worthy risk, despite the heavy political and emotive capital it gives the opposition. Meanwhile, I have heard people argue that there is no big deal with a Muslim-Muslim ticket as long as other top positions, such as senate president and speaker, are zoned in a way to compensate Christians. That way, No 1 and No 2 will be Muslims while No 3 and No 4 will be Christians. In practical terms, No 3 and No 4 are more powerful than No 2 in the presidential system — but there is a counter argument, often muted, that No 2 is just a heartbeat away from becoming No 1, and a Muslim-Muslim ticket means head or tail, Muslims will have it. References are made to how Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan benefited from President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s death in 2010. My conclusion, though, is that there is no direction Tinubu faces that will not have electoral consequences. With a northern Christian, he may win somewhere and lose elsewhere. With a Muslim, he may win somewhere and lose elsewhere. Will he win more with a Christian candidate? Will he win more with a Muslim? As long as he has done his calculations and he is

SEASONAL BLOODBATH AT THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY The power equation is clearly asymmetrical. Most legislators do not return mainly because they fall out of favour with their governors. The legislators were keen on rebalancing the power configuration, especially in the near absolute powers wielded by the governors. Seeing the electoral law, which is largely within their remit, as a refuge, the legislators inserted some clearly self-preservation and self-serving clauses. They thought, rightly or wrongly, that they would have a better fighting chance if all members of the parties vote in the primaries. So, they legislated direct primaries as the only way for choosing candidates in the electoral bill that they passed in 2021. That version was not signed by the president who rightly maintained that restricting the parties to only one option encroaches on the rights and prerogatives of the political parties. The legislators backed down, and eventually incorporated indirect and consensus options for primaries,but made the condition for consensus stiffer. They introduced other things into the bill to counter-checkmate the governors. One of such was Section 84 (12) which states that political appointees cannot vote or be voted for in conventions for nomination of candidates. The constitutionality of this clause is being tested at the Supreme Court. Another was Section 84 (8) which states that only elected delegates can vote in indirect primaries. By the time the legislators realised they had inadvertently excluded statutory delegates, including themselves, from voting in primaries, it was too late. The obsession to get even with the governors had blindsided the legislators. They rushed an amendment to Section 84 (8) but it was too late for the president to sign as some parties had already commenced their primaries. There is no evidence that that amendment or even insistence of direct primaries would have made a difference for most of the legislators. Prising the parties out of the hands of governors and other godfathers will take more than legislating the mode of primaries or constraining political appointees. None of the methods is fool-proof, anyway. Direct primaries were adopted in Lagos and Osun in the last election cycle and they produced predictable and pre-determined results. Also, those in control of elected delegates are likely to control of sizeable number of statutory delegates based on the entrenched patronage nature of our politics. What we need is a root-and-branch reform of not just the electoral system but of our politics and our value system in general. Not a narrow and obsessive pursuit of selfinterests for electoral advantage. However, beyond the self-interest of the legislators, there is a greater good to be served by reducing the high turnover rate in the National Assembly. Lawmakers perform

Senate President , Ahmad Lawan three key roles: making laws for the good governance of the society, representing their individual constituencies and providing oversight to the executive arm of government. These roles require experience. Also, being an effective parliamentarian requires having a keen understanding of the rules, the processes and the issues, and forging lasting relationships across regional and partisan divides. All these require time. It is in recognition of these factors that parliamentarians do not have term limits. Even in a system where a president can only be in office for two terms, a legislator can be in office for life. And in most countries, the rate of attrition is usually low. This ensures that the legislative arm of government remains a stabilising and moderating force in governance. A review of public data shows that between 1900 and 2020 in the United States of America, it was only four times that up to 20% of Congressmen lost their re-election: 1910 (21%), 1922 (21%), 1932 (31%), and 1938 (21%). In a number of years, the rate of re-election in the US Congress was close to the 100% mark: 98% in 1986, 1988, 1998, 2000, and 2004; 97% in 1968 and 2016; 96% in 1976 and 1990; and 95% in 1956, 1970, 1984 and 2020. This has resulted in what some scholars call the ‘incumbent lock’ in the US Congress. While the incumbent lock or having legislators for life may be an extreme, the frequent turnover of legislators in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic is another extreme. It has been at the expense of institutional development and the country at large. It costs a lot of money and technical support to bring legislators up to speed with the demands of their important work. And in most cases, most of that investment is lost every four years. The parliament is thus robbed of institutional memory, experience, maturity

and continuity at the commencement of each legislative session. By the time most of the legislators are getting a hang of things, it is time to seek re-election, which most of them end up losing. It is important to note that while most legislators lose their seats because they have problems with their governors, this is not the sole reason. Some lose because there is intense competition for being a federal legislator. Our National Assembly members are widely perceived as the best paid elected officers in the country today and as the highest paid legislators in the world. This perception may be off the mark. But it fuels competition for their jobs. And in the scheme of things, it is easier to win the ticket to run for parliament than for governor or president. Some of the legislators lose to local dynamics, as some areas have an informal rotation arrangement to ensure the position goes round the constituency. Some also lose because the governors retire to the National Assembly, especially the Senate, and they are hardly in a position to stop the governors. But most legislators fail to return because their constituents see them are non-performing. There is a warped definition of performance at that level because the metrics are hardly about the job description of the legislative arm of government. Performance is hardly about the number and the quality of bills and motions sponsored, the voting patterns, the robustness of contributions at plenary and in committee meetings, the depth of questions in public hearings and oversight work, and level of constituency outreach. A legislator may do well on all these core functions and still be scored low by his/her constituents. Our legislators are mostly assessed on the personal and physical things they are able to do for their constituencies and their constituents. The faulty metric pushes most of the legislators either to try to compete with or duplicate the executive arm of government or to try to keep their people sweet and happy. Thus, they spend disproportionate time angling for constituency projects, siting of mostly unsustainable institutions, getting jobs for their constituents, sinking boreholes, paying schools fees and hospital bills, starting micro-credit and scholarship schemes, feeding people and doling out tons of cash. This misdirected focus robs the country of the vitality that the parliament should provide. Unfortunately, it is never enough to keep most of the parliamentarians at their coveted posts. Invariably, those who manage to return are those who are able to strike that sweet spot of simultaneously feeding the big ego of their governors and the insatiable hunger of their constituents. It will always be a tough act, made tougher in many instances by increasing competition and in some, by local realities.

convinced with his workings, he can stick to his guns. But if he wins the election, he will need to assure Nigerians across all divides, not just in word but also in deed, that he will be president of all, no matter their religion and region. We really can do with some healing after an era of acrimony, mistrust and resentment. I am an advocate of balancing, given our peculiar nationhood. I often argue that in a delicately poised multi-ethnic and multi-religious society like ours, we need to manage our diversity with sense. That is why I preach the principles of federal character. It is not the antidote to poverty and insecurity, but it has emotional benefits. You need peace before you can pursue meaningful progress. And that is why I think if either Tinubu or Atiku wins the election, or if Peter Obi does not win, there will be plenty work to do in reassuring all parts of Nigeria of fairness, especially the south-east where is a lingering feeling that there is a national conspiracy to keep them out of power.

And Four Other Things… OPL 245 BONANZA When Nigeria sued JP Morgan Chase Bank to a UK court, demanding $1.7bn for its “carelessness” in transferring funds to Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd in the OPL 245 deal, I didn’t need to be a lawyer to sense that the case was going nowhere. Getting a law court to award that amount based on our claims is quite a stretch. The court dismissed the case on Tuesday, declaring that Nigeria could not prove its fraud allegations. We had earlier lost in the Court of Milan trying to prove the same “fraud”. I would not be surprised if we now head for a US court — OPL 245 litigation has become a very lucrative oil block for lawyers and government officials. At a point, though, litigation must end. Wasteful. STRATEGIC OKOWA Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, the Delta state governor, played host to a meeting of southern governors last year where they all resolved that power must shift to the south in 2023. But as it transpired, Delta delegates reportedly voted for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, a northerner, at the PDP convention. A number of southerners found this upsetting, but one thing we have to keep in mind is that in politics, it is interest that matters the most. Interests could be primordial, political or even pecuniary. Okowa probably weighed that his interest was best served by Atiku. He has now been named as running mate to Atiku. Many things in the mix make politicians unpredictable. Reality. HOLY MURIC! Not too long ago, specifically in 2015 and 2019, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), which I love to call the “Muslim CAN”, alleged that the south-west was being Christianised and that Ekiti and Ondo states should stop fielding Christian-Christian tickets in governorship elections. With Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate, poised to pick a Muslim running mate, MURIC issued another statement, saying: “If it has never been an issue in places like Ekiti and Ondo where both the governors and their deputies have always been Christians in spite of the existence of substantial number of Muslims, why should it suddenly become an issue at the federal level?” Volte-face. MBAKA ON OBI Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka, spiritual director of Adoration Ministries, Enugu, Nigeria (AMEN), has perfected a way of inserting himself into every political discourse and I really wonder if the priest does any other thing than talking politics during his services. He has asked Nigerians not to vote for Mr Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party, because he is “stingy”. Mbaka said it is better to have an old generous man than a young man “who does not have the spirit of giving”. You would think the man had learnt his lessons after romancing the APC government and getting only full embarrassment in return, with his private runs made public. Can he not stick to his ministry? Focus.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER JUNE 19, 2022

PERSPECTIVE

Destiny Beckons on Okowa Jackson Ekwugum

he electioneering season in Nigeria is never in short supply of intrigues and drama. Events leading to the announcement of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s running mate were no exception. The anxiety was palpable as many Nigerians waited in bated breath to know who his choice as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vice-presidential candidate will be. With the South-south and South-east zones jostling for the position, it was uncertain where the pendulum would swing. However, with Peter Obi already flying the flag of the Labour Party, it seemed less likely that the South-East would be favoured. The premature announcement of Governor Nyesom Wike as Atiku’s running mate, presumably because of a mock vote by an internal committee of the party and the subsequent rebuttal by the PDP hierarchy, only heightened the suspense and exacerbated the tension. The formal announcement of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa 24 hours later as the PDP Vice-presidential candidate by the presidential flagbearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, finally put paid to two weeks of speculation, uncertainty, political horse-trading, and media propaganda. Political pundits, analysts, and commentators will have a field day dissecting the factors that favoured Governor Okowa but as one of his senior aides in the last seven years, his emergence was a no brainer. Governor Okowa has the temperament, depth of knowledge, administrative acumen, and political savvy required for the office; he possesses the time-honoured attributes of loyalty, competence, and character. Okowa’s political sagacity would certainly be an asset to the ticket as the PDP battles the APC for the presidency. A man with rich legislative and executive experience, the PDP and Atiku can count on his consummate political skills and uncanny ability to cultivate friendships and build bridges across ethnic and religious divides. As the governor of a multi-ethnic state like Delta, regarded as a microcosm of Nigeria, he has been able to ensure peaceful co-existence and harmony among the diverse ethnic nationalities with his adroit handling of sensitive issues and exemplary leadership. Born 63 years ago, Okowa cut his political teeth in the Social Democratic Party of the 1990s and, in the current political dispensation, made a mark nationally as Chairman Senate Committee on Health (2011-2015), where he spearheaded the promulgation of the National Health Act. The National Health Act provides the legal framework for the regulation, development, and management of the National Health System, setting standards for the rendering of health services in the Nigerian federation. Prior to the Act, there was no health legislation describing the national health system and defining the roles and responsibilities of the three tiers of government and other stakeholders in the health sector. Upon his election as Governor of Delta State in 2015, Okowa was confronted with the task of keeping intact a political family that was not used to being in the opposition. To make matters worse, the economy was in a tailspin. It was a situation that tasked his political ingenuity and resourcefulness. Governor Okowa managed the difficult situation with great wisdom, tact, humility, and maturity. He ensured that the party chieftains, especially those aggrieved with developments in the party before he came into office, were treated with dignity and respect. Even the few that jumped ship soon made a comeback when they saw the disposition of the governor towards peace, reconciliation, and unity. As a result, the PDP in Delta State has remained a strong, cohesive unit. Governor Okowa has been an influential figure in the PDP. He is the current Chairman of South-south Governors Forum. As Chairman of the Special National Convention PDP in 2018, Governor Okowa conducted what was then the freest, most transparent presidential primary election that produced Atiku Abubakar as the PDP presidential flagbearer for the 2019

Okowa election. Prior to that he also served as the Chairman, Special Non-Elective National Convention Committee of the PDP in 2017. Ever respectful of elders, he is very civil and courteous in the way he speaks to and relates with people, including his peers and the younger generation. As a person and a leader, I can testify that Governor Okowa is loyal to a fault. He does not forget people he met or worked with in his professional and political careers. Even when sometimes some people he helped along the way turned against him, he remains loyal to them, sometimes to the chagrin of those around him who want him to wield the big stick. If you are looking for honesty, transparency, and accountability in governance, Governor Okowa fits the bill. Despite his long public service career which dates to 1991, Dr Okowa has distinguished himself as a man of uncommon simplicity and unassailable integrity. During this period, in which he has served as secretary of local government, local government chairman, three-time commissioner, Secretary to the State Government, Senator, and now governor, it is noteworthy that he has not been tainted with corruption. He is a man of deep spiritual convictions, driven by the biblical injunction that a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses. A man of unpretentious mien, he is not carried away by the privileges of position and power. For a very long time as the state chief executive, he was being chauffeured in the SUV he used as a Senator instead of putting more pressure on the already stressed finances of the state by buying a new car. Similarly, it was the Mercedes Benz car that was used by his predecessor in the Abuja

Liaison Office that he rode in whenever he was in Abuja. A new car was recently purchased while the Mercedes was refurbished and still in use. Except it has changed in the last few months, he also has no official car at the Lagos Liaison Office preferring to ride in a friend’s car each time he was in Lagos, whether for official or private engagements. Governor Okowa insists on transparency in public communication. He frowns at any attempt to exaggerate things or embellish his achievements. From the vantage position of working closely with him, I have seen him question figures supplied by ministries/agencies and insisted that they presented the true picture to the public. “I have promised that I would not lie to the people,” he would say. Indeed, I recall a former Commissioner of Information once expressing joy and gratitude for “never being made to lie” on behalf of the government. Calm, level-headed, and unflappable even in moments of crisis, Okowa is a silent achiever. He has a voracious appetite for work, and if there is any man who knows how to turn a bad situation around, it is Okowa. The parlous state of the economy he met as governor was enough to make him walk back on his electoral promises. But with unmatched courage, he embarked on cost cutting measures and plugged leakages in the system. Of course, there were those who were not impressed – and certainly not happy - with the new regime of fiscal discipline and the need for the political class to curb its appetite for instant gratification. But with the passage of time, the Governor was vindicated. Delta State under him has continued to wax strong in all indices of socio-economic development. As evidence of the economic impacts of Okowa’s youth entrepreneurship development programmes. Delta was ranked the Best State in Human Capital Development in the 2017 states peer review by the National Competitiveness Council of Nigeria. In 2020,

Delta was adjudged to be the Second Least Poor State, coming only after Lagos, Nigeria’s business capital, according to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS). This achievement is better appreciated when juxtaposed with the fact that Delta State was the 12th poorest state in Nigeria as at 2010 in the NBS ranking. The state also won Outstanding State Government Healthcare Programme in 2017 and National Award of Excellence 2018 as the state with the most people covered under its State Social Health Insurance Scheme with a Focus on the Poor and Vulnerable Population in Nigeria. It is because he is not given to self-adulation in the form of paid advertisements and selfcongratulatory messages that many tend to overlook his phenomenal achievements in Delta State. But nonetheless, he has consistently received plaudits from leaders across board. At the inauguration of the ultra-modern Prof. Chike Edozien Central Secretariat Complex, the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo said: “There is more for which Okowa deserves commendation. Despite dwindling revenue receipt and severe resource constraints across all levels of government, he has been able to provide funding for this project.” At another event, Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal lauded Governor Okowa for “providing good leadership in all aspects of governance.” And while commissioning the Teachers Professional Development Centre, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State described Okowa as “a man who tackles issues with principle.” As Nigerians look forward to rescuing the country from the ineptitude of APC leadership, they can bank on the fact that Okowa will be a great asset to an Atiku presidency which obviously will be driven by competence, free market ideas, and value-based leadership. Ekwugum is Communication Manager to Governor Okowa.

Sunday June 19, 2022

UT H

& RE A S O

Price: N400

MISSILE

Machina to Lawan

“I remain the candidate of the APC Yobe North senatorial zone as duly elected. I did not withdraw for anybody and I will not withdraw because as a matter of fact it is a mandate given to me by members of our great party, the delegates. So surreptitiously removing my name, I consider it as very undemocratic, illegal and of course inhuman.” ––Yobe North senatorial candidate, Alhaji Bashir Sheriﬀ Machina, vowing to sue the Senate President, Dr Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan and APC if his Yobe North senatorial ticket was snatched from him.

SIMONKOLAWOLE The Awkward Muslim-Muslim Ticket SIMONKOLAWOLELIVE!

simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com, sms: 0805 500 1961

e really don’t know the depth of our political divisions and complications in Nigeria, do we? There are certain questions I have been asking along this line for decades and I would say nobody has answered me satisfactorily. We typically classify Nigeria as Muslim north and Christian south and I have often asked: does that mean we cannot elect a northern Christian as president? Can a southern Muslim with a northern Christian as running mate win the votes of the Muslim north? Can an Igbo Muslim be elected governor of any south-eastern state? If a Yoruba from Kwara state gets a federal appointment, will it be counted as Yoruba or northerner when Nigerians assess federal character? The choice of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a southern Muslim, as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is again challenging the established order where we think if a president must come from the north, it must be a Muslim and if from the south, it must be a Christian. That means northern Christians and southern Muslims can never be president or VP. Thus, there are heated debates on Tinubu’s running mate. Given our religious sensibilities, Tinubu was expected to nominate a northern Christian.

Tinubu Will the huge Muslim north vote for a ticket with a northern Christian as running mate? Tinubu obviously wants to win the election, not just to make a statement. Tinubu’s strategists believe his best foot

forward is picking a Muslim from the north. This dilemma highlights the problem with our assumptions that our political identities are fully settled. It is when something goes against the grain that we realise some questions are still hanging over the national equation. We used to think and talk about Nigeria as Hausa-Fulani, Igbo and Yoruba. In fact, the colonial masters mapped Nigeria as north, east and west, with the regions dominated by the Big Three. We later realised these delineations were neither sufficient nor satisfactory. The minority agitations, in particular, proved that the configuration of Nigeria is more complex than understood. Conversely, the candidacy of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) conforms to the mould, so there is no debate along ethnic or religious lines. Atiku is a northern Muslim and the running mate is a southern Christian. Period. That is the configuration we have come to know and that is what we are programmed to live with, at least for now. I said “for now” because human beings are dynamic and human societies are constantly evolving. Nigerian politics used to be marked by ethnic and regional identities. But we later added religious identity, or should I say ethno-religious identity. What next will enter the mix? Denominations? Sects? Height? Complexion? Weight?

Before the late 1980s, religion was not a defining factor in national politics. Alhaji Shehu Shagari, elected president in 1979, was a Fulani Muslim surrounded by Christians. His No 2, Dr Alex Ekwueme, was an Igbo Christian. The No 3 was Dr Joseph Wayas, a Christian from today’s Cross River state who was senate president. The No 4 was Chief Edwin Ume Ezeoke, a Christian from today’s Anambra state who was speaker. All the service chiefs were Christians: Lt Gen Alani Akinrinade (army chief, later defence chief); Lt Gen Sanda Jallo (army chief); Vice Admiral Akin Aduwo (naval chief); and AVM John Yisa-Doko (air chief). The inspector general of police was Mr Sunday Adewusi. In fact, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the presidential candidate of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in 1979, fielded a ChristianChristian, southerner-southerner ticket: Chief Philip Umeadi, from today’s Anambra state, was his running mate. Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, candidate of the Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP), also did a Christian-Christian ticket, pairing with Dr Ishaya Audu from Kaduna state. Although Shagari’s Muslim-Christian pairing won the election with 5.6 million votes, the Christian-Christian tickets of Awolowo and Azikiwe did not do badly, netting 4.9 million and 2.8 million respectively. Awo Continued on page 62

WAZIRIADIO POSTSCRIPT

waziri.adio@thisdaylive.com

Seasonal Bloodbath at the National Assembly

ith the conclusion of the primaries by the 18 registered parties and submission of candidates’ names to the electoral management body, two critical milestones towards the 2023 polls have been met. These milestones have imposed some clarity on the direction of travel of the political parties, and have provided more illumination for pundits and observers. The dust, though, is yet to fully settle, and the haze is yet to disappear. But some patterns are already discernible. One of the now evident patterns is a reality that has become a recurring decimal: the high turnover of federal legislators. According to media reports, about 50% of members of the House of Representatives and about 70% of senators did not win their primaries. Even after making allowance for those who switched parties on time and those who may magically make their way back in through the substitution window, we are likely to have a situation where roughly 60% of the

469 federal legislators will not even contest in the 2023 elections. It is conceivable that not all those who won the tickets will be re-elected. Give or take, another 10% or more of current federal legislators may still fall off. This will bring the 2023 attrition rate within the normal band: Since 2003 when the first set of legislators elected in this dispensation stood for re-election, the proportion of federal legislators who get reelected has ranged between 16% and 30%. In a 2020 journal article, entitled ‘Legislative Turnover in a New Democracy: An Insight from the Nigerian National Assembly (1999-2019),’ Joseph Fasagba and Chiedo Nwankwor posit that data from five election cycles show that most Nigerian federal legislators lose their re-election bids more during primaries than through general election due to ‘intra-party competition.’ The latest iteration of this pattern induced special mentions by the presiding officers of both chambers of the National Assembly last week when the legislators returned from recess. Post-primaries resumption was always tinged with grief. The affected members would

nurse their losses and receive commiserations quietly. But something shifted this time around. The grief escalated from the individual to the collective. The legislators thought they had found a way around the quadrennial gnashing of teeth that normally predates exodus of parliamentarians from the domed building. But their concocted solution did not make much material difference. Hence, the usually individualised pains gave way to collective mourning. The Senate President commiserated with his colleagues who lost out and wished them the best, including possible turnarounds of their electoral fortunes. He could be one of the non-returnees. He contested in the presidential primaries as the presumed consensus candidate and secured a paltry 152 votes. Then his supposed stand-in for the Senate seat not only refused to relinquish the ticket but also threatened to sue the party for submitting another person’s name. More sparks are expected from that front. On his part, the Speaker of the House (who won his own primaries but may not return to his plum post) welcomed his colleagues with

a fighting speech. He railed against indirect primaries, and hinted the House might revisit the amendment to the Electoral Act. Many of the issues around the current electoral law arose out of the struggle for supremacy between the federal legislators and the state governors. The legislators, for good reasons, feel that the governors are too powerful, and their growing powers and influence should be whittled down. The electoral law came in handy. Without a doubt, the governors individually and collectively are a major political force in the country. The federal legislators fancy being a major political bloc too, even if not of equal standing. Collectively, the legislators have the federal platform. Also, the concept of checks and balances gives them enormous leverage over the Presidency and other executive institutions at the centre. The only problem is that individually, the legislators come from states, and in the states, the governors are absolute monarchs who determine almost everything, including who gets the ticket to stand for elections as federal legislators. Continued on page 62

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