TUESDAY 12TH JULY 2022

Decade of Gas: FG to Spend $2bn Investment Yearly on Infrastructure Devt, Says NLNG Company to prioritise carbon footprint reduction in Train 8 NNPC intensifies efforts to block $1.283bn Seplat-Mobil deal, gets court injunction Indigenous energy firm insists agreement still valid Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos with agency report

The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited has said the federal government would need to make capital investments worth $2

billion every year with counterpart funding from the private sector to enable the delivery of specified infrastructure projects listed on

the Decade of Gas policy of the government.

This emerged just as there appeared to be no backing down on

efforts by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) to halt the completion of the $1.283 billion sales and purchase

deal between SeplatEnergies Plc and Mobil Producing Nigeria Continued on page 10

Boris Johnson's Replacement to Be Announced September 5... Page 5 Tuesday 12 July, 2022 Vol 27. No 9954. Price: N250

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UN Report: Over 13m Nigerians Hold Cryptocurrencies... Page 8

In Search for Jailbreakers, Soldiers Take over Abuja, Mount Strategic Roadblocks FCT UBEB chairman recounts ordeal in hands of train attackers NDLEA, Police arrest two escapees from Kuje prison Olawale Ajimotokan, Michael Olugbode in Abuja and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City As the search for some of the

terrorists, who escaped from the Kuje Correctional Centre in the wake of an attack by members of ISWAP terrorist group, stern-looking soldiers have been deployed in

Abuja, with roadblocks mounted in some major locations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

This development, however, coincided with the narration by

the Director of the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) in the FCT, Dr Hassan Suleiman, who gave account of his ordeal while held captive by terrorists, who attacked

the Abuja-Kaduna train on Mach 28, 2022.

Relatedly, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have arrested

one of the wanted members of the terror group, who escaped from the Medium Security Correctional Continued on page 10

Sanwo-Olu toYoruba People: Consider Tinubu’s Aspiration Your Priority Buhari explains why APC candidate announced partner in Daura Lawan, Gbajabiamila, N’East caucus back Shettima’s pick Linking ex-Borno gov to Boko Haram mischievous, says Sani Northern CAN says it won’t lose sleep over party’s choice Segun James in Lagos, Sunday Aborisade, Udora Orizu in Abuja, Francis Sardauna in Katsina, John Shiklam in Kaduna, Laleye Dipo in Minna, Hammed Shittu in Ilorin and James Sowole in Abeokuta Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday, urged the Yoruba people to see the aspiration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as their priority to enable him actualise his dream of becoming Nigeria’s president in 2023.

This is as President Muhammadu Buhari, at a meeting with governors of his party, yesterday, in Daura, Katsina State, pacified the aggrieved state chief executives over the manner Tinubu, announced his running mate, Kashim Shettima, on Sunday, saying the leakage of his plan to a section of the media forced Tinubu to take the initiative.

The governors, who had met Continued on page 10

OLU JACOBS' 80TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION...

L-R: Former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba; his wife, Derinsola Osoba; the celebrant, Mr. Olu Jacobs, his wife, Joke Silva; Ekiti State First Lady, Mrs. Bisi Fayemi; former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, and Chairman SUBEB, Hon. Wahab Alawiye King, at the 80th birthday celebration of Olu Jacobs held in Lagos…recently PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN

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Group News Editor: Goddy Egene Email: Goddy.egene@thisdaylive.com, 0803 350 6821, 0809 7777 322, 0807 401 0580

NEWS

SALLAH HOMAGE TO DAURA...

L-R: Director General/CEO of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Yusuf Jamoh; House of Representatives Member Representing Hong/Gombi, Hon Yusuf Buba; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, PHOTO: SUNDAY AGHAEZE President Muhammadu Buhari and New Minister of Transportation, Alhaji Muazu Jaji Sambo during a Sallah Homage visit to the president in Daura, Katsina…yesterday

Muslim-Muslim Ticket: I Suspect an Agenda, Says Clark Blames PDP for everything Emameh Gabriel in Abuja Elder statesman and Convener, Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) Chief Edwin Clark, has said the choice to pick a Muslim as

running mate by the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, might have confirmed the rumour that there was an agenda to Islamise Nigeria.

He, however, said the reasons given by Tinubu for picking Senator Kashim Shettima, was a direct affront to the Christian community in the north, from which he believed that there

were competent hands to pick from, stressing that the idea of comparing today's Nigeria to the Abiola-Kingibe's era by promoters of Muslim-Muslim ticket was out place.

Report: Why Europe’s Rush for Africa’s Gas Smacks of Hypocrisy Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja with agency report Europe’s growing pressure on Nigeria and a handful of other African countries to produce more gas for export, while declining to fund such projects citing carbon emission reasons has hypocrisy written all over it, a Bloomberg treatise which sampled various opinions on the matter, has indicated.

Nigeria has three per cent of the world's proven gas reserves, yet has tapped almost none of it, the report said, noting that like most African countries, what has been extracted is mostly sent to Europe, which now wants to import even more to make up for supplies lost to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

Italy, for instance, has struck fresh deals to buy gas from Angola and the Republic of Congo, while Germany has been looking to secure supplies from Senegal.

But that’s despite discouraging the use of gas and other fossil fuels around the world in pursuit of global climate goals, a case some European leaders made at the United Nations’ COP26 conference in Glasgow last November.

While African leaders are eager for the millions in revenue that the gas deals are likely to bring in, they're also calling out the sudden interest in their resources as a double standard that perpetuates the West’s exploitation of the region, the report hinted.

They question why Africa must move away from dirty fuels — thereby delaying access for hundreds of millions of people to electricity — even as its gas is used to keep the lights on in Europe.

“Rich countries have been reluctant to fund pipelines and power plants that would facilitate the use of gas in Africa because of its emissions, yet haven’t delivered on promises to help finance green projects that could be an alternative source of energy.

“Europe’s awkward position was on display at the Group of Seven leaders summit last month. The world’s most advanced economies walked back a climate commitment to halt financing for overseas fossil fuel projects, but indicated that exceptions would likely apply to projects that would allow for more shipments of LNG to their countries.

“In another climb-down, European Union lawmakers recently voted to classify gas and nuclear energy projects within the bloc as ‘green investments', potentially opening up billions of euros in fresh funding,” it added.

It noted that that approach has irked African leaders who need fuel to lift millions out of poverty.

“We need long-term partnership, not inconsistency and contradiction on green energy policy from the UK and European Union,” it quoted Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, as saying in written comments.

“It does not help their energy security, it does not help Nigeria’s economy, and it does not help the environment. It is a hypocrisy that must end,” Buhari added.

“To be sure, sub-Saharan African governments share the blame for their underutilised gas reserves. Few countries have seriously invested in or reformed their power or oil and gas sectors, particularly Nigeria, where the Bonny Island plant has run at least 20 per cent

below capacity since 2021 because of pipeline theft and vandalism.

“Many African leaders support boosting gas exports to help their cash-strapped governments, but they also want access to financing that would allow them to harness the fuel’s potential to create domestic natural gas market,” it stressed.

“They cannot just come and say, ‘We need your gas, I’ll buy your gas and we’ll take it to Europe,’” Gabriel Obiang Lima, Energy Minister of Equatorial Guinea,was quoted to have said at a press conference in May. “They need to give something back to us,” he added.

Gas has long been controversial from a climate perspective: it burns cleaner than other fossil fuels but still generates carbon pollution and tends to leak the super-warming greenhouse gas methane.

Europe's own stance on the fuel has shifted since the war began. Its top priority now is to buy up as much LNG as it can get its hands on, while countries including Germany, Austria and the Netherlands have turned to coal as a backup.

“The whole of the West developed on the back of fossil fuels — even as we speak some Western nations are deciding to bring coal back into their energy mix because of the war.

“So when the world wants to transition to zero carbon emissions, who has to do more?” said Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Energy Minister for Ghana, which has in the past few years made significant oil and gas discoveries.

“Is the West saying Africa should remain undeveloped?” he added.

The African continent’s share

of historical global emissions would only rise to 3.5 per cent from 3 per cent even if it tapped every molecule of its known gas reserves. Universal energy access on the continent could be achieved by 2030 with $25 billion a year in investment — the equivalent of just 1 per cent of the money pouring into the energy sector globally.

Meanwhile, there’s a dearth of new funding for power plants to burn gas within Africa. Governments and businesses have $100 billion in planned projects, including 35 gigawatts of gas-powered electricity, but can’t find the money to build most of them.

The former federal commissioner, in a statement also blamed the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for also playing ethic politics for its refusal to cede its presidential ticket to the south, saying it was partly responsible for the choice made by the ruling party.

His words: "I feel threatened for our beloved country, because of the way things are going.

Nigeria is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious nation, with Christianity and Islam as the major religions, even though Nigeria is a secular state.

"In compliance with constitutional provisions of inclusiveness, the number one and number two positions in the country, viz, President and Vice President, have always been occupied by practitioners of the two major religions, to ensure balancing.

"There is presently a sharp division in the country, even on religious lines, and all patriots are seeking ways to salvage the situation. Therefore, Alhaji Tinubu’s decision to take a fellow Muslim as his running mate, will further worsen the situation in the country. He should know

that patriotism is a quality of a good leader.

"On the reasons adduced by Alhaji Tinubu on why he chose Kashim Shettima as Running-mate, is the APC presidential flag bearer telling Nigerians that there are no Christians in the APC from the north, who are ‘competent, capable and reliable?’

"There are rumours of an attempt to Islamise the country.

Are all these pointers to the confirmation and actualisation of such rumours? One needs to bear in mind the antecedents of the major backers of Alhaji Ahmed Tinubu’s ambition, which include Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai, the Governor of Kaduna State; Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the Governor of Kano State, and the chosen one – Kashim Shettima.

"Both the Governor and Deputy Governor in Kaduna State, are Muslims. A blatant action by the governor, Nasir el-Rufai. Unfortunately, the APC gubernatorial candidate for the 2023 election, is following suit. Is there a deliberate move of making Kaduna an Islamic State?

Continued on page 8

Boris Johnson's Replacement to Be Announced September 5 The new UK prime minister to replace the outgoing Boris Johnson will be announced on September 5, the ruling Conservative party said Monday, with 11 hopefuls currently vying for the job.

The leadership contest was triggered last week when Johnson, 58, was forced to step down after a frenzy of more than 50 resignations from his government, in opposition to his scandal-hit premiership.

The influential 1922 Committee of non-ministerial Tory MPs in parliament on Monday outlined a timetable for the party's leadership election, TimesNow News reported.

Nominations will officially open and close on Tuesday, with a new prime minister set to be installed when parliament returns from the summer break on September 5, Graham Brady, chair of the 1922

Committee, told reporters.

Tory MPs will whittle the current list down to a final two through a series of ballots, with the worst-performing candidate eliminated after each round, before party members choose the winner.

With calls for Johnson to leave Downing Street as soon as possible -- and to avoid the process dragging into MPs' summer holidays -- the numbers are likely to be pared down quickly to just two.

The joint-executive secretary of the 1922 Committee, Bob Blackman, said they were committed to doing that before parliament breaks for the summer on July 21.

The first ballot would be held on Wednesday, with a second ballot likely on Thursday, said Brady.

In a bid to speed up the process, candidates must have at least 20

MPs backing them in order to enter the race, up from the usual eight, and any candidate who fails to get the support of 30 MPs in the first ballot will be eliminated.

Among those running are Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid, whose departures as finance minister and health minister sparked the wave of resignations.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and Sunak's successor Nadhim Zahawi have also declared, and Home Secretary Priti Patel is reportedly mulling a bid.

But a poll of grassroots members by the influential ConservativeHome website released on Monday showed strong support for less high-profile candidates, with former defence minister Penny Mordaunt holding a narrow lead from archconservative Kemi Badenoch.

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BATTLE-READY FOR OSUN...

All Progressive Congress (APC) Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with the Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, when Tinubu arrived Osun yesterday ahead of the governorship election in the state this weekend.

UN Report: Over 13m Nigerians Hold Cryptocurrencies Global trade volume hits record $7.7trn in Q1 Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja No fewer than 13 million Nigerians are in possession of digital assets, as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has rated the West African country third among countries with the highest number of cryptocurrency holders in Africa.

Latest data from the UN agency's policy brief indicated that the country was trailing Kenya and South Africa, with about 6.3 per cent of the Nigerian population owning or holding cryptocurrencies.

From the country’s estimated population of 211 million inhabitants, this meant that a little over 13 million were owners of digital currencies in 2021.

The UNCTAD policy brief put Kenya ahead of Nigeria and South Africa with the highest proportion of crypto-owning inhabitants than any other African country.

Kenya’s digital currency ownership of 8.5 per cent as a share of the population was the highest in Africa and the fifth-highest globally.

Only Ukraine with 12.7 per cent), Russia (11.9 per cent), Venezuela (10.3 per cent), and Singapore (9.4 per cent) have a higher proportion of crypto-owning residents than Kenya globally.

South Africa was the secondranked country in Africa and eighth globally, with 7.1 per cent of the population that owned or held cryptocurrencies in 2021.

Although the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) restriction on banks to allow trading in crypto currency subsist, Nigeria is currently one of the biggest cryptocurrency

markets globally.

Six Nigerian banks were in April reportedly fined N1.315 billion by the CBN in the 2021 financial year for failing to comply with the apex bank's directive prohibiting their customers from trading in cryptocurrencies.

However, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently released guidelines on the liberalisation of the cryptocurrency market.

Out of the 20 countries that were surveyed by UNCTAD in the latest policy brief, Australia was found to have the least percentage of its population (3.4 per cent) that owned cryptocurrency in the said period.

UNCTAD acknowledged that cryptocurrencies have grown in their popularity because they are, “an attractive channel through which to send remittances.”

The United Nations agency also revealed that it found that middle-income individuals from inflation-hit developing countries own or hold cryptocurrencies because they are seen, “as a way to protect household savings.”

However, based on its findings, the UNCTAD stated that it determined that, “the use of cryptocurrencies may lead to financial instability risks,” adding that their use potentially opens “a new channel for illicit financial flows.”

The UNCTAD policy brief added: “Finally, if left unchecked, cryptocurrencies may become a widespread means of payment and even replace domestic currencies unofficially (a process called cryptoisation), which could

jeopardise the monetary sovereignty of countries.

"The use of stablecoins poses the greatest risks in developing countries with unmet demand for reserve currencies."

To minimise some of these risks, UNCTAD recommended the imposition of taxes that discourages crypto trading, including “the mandatory registration of crypto-exchanges and digital wallets.”

The agency also recommended imposing, “entry fees for cryptoexchanges” or levying taxes on cryptocurrency trading.

Doing this, it stated, would make the use of cryptocurrencies less attractive, even as he prescribed the restriction of cryptocurrency advertisements and the issuing of a central bank digital currency (CBDC).

Meanwhile, the value of global trade rose to a record $7.7 trillion in the first quarter (Q1) of 2022, an increase of about $1 trillion in the

corresponding period of 2021, a report by the UNCTAD has stated.

The just-released UNCTAD Global Trade Update revealed that the growth, which represents a rise of about $250 million relative to Q4 2021, was fuelled by rising commodity prices, as trade volumes have increased to a much lower extent.

According to the report, although expected to remain positive, trade growth has continued to slow during Q2 2022.

“The war in Ukraine is starting to influence international trade, largely through increases in prices,” the report noted.

It affirmed that rising interest rates and the winding down of economic stimulus packages would likely have a negative impact on trade volumes for the rest of 2022, even as volatility in commodity prices and geopolitical factors would also continue to make trade developments uncertain.

The report stressed that trade

The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) has allegedly arrested an indigenous contractor, Shedrack Ogboru of Macobarb International Limited.

The contractor who recently dragged the NLNG and its principal officers to court over alleged breach of contract was said to have been arrested in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and flown to Abuja.

An official of Macobarb who called from London alerted

journalists that their CEO was arrested last Friday by a truckload of armed policemen traced to the Rumuokoro Police Division led by two officers from Force CID in Abuja.

Macobarb has been locked in a running battle with the NLNG since 2014, when its contract was terminated.

The company had alleged that the NLNG breached the terms of the contract and allegedly frustrated the prosecution of the job through consistent payment denials.

After complaining to federal

relative to Q4 2021.

The report showed that most economic sectors recorded substantial year-over-year increases in the value of their trade in Q1 2022.

High fuel prices were behind the strong increase in the value of trade in the energy sector, it noted.

Trade growth was also above average for metals and chemicals.

By contrast, trade in the transportation sector and in communication equipment has remained below the levels of 2021 and 2019.

The report stated that the evolution of world trade for the remainder of 2022 was likely to be affected by slower-than-expected economic growth due to rising interest rates, inflationary pressures and concerns over debt sustainability in many economies.

The report pointed out that the war in Ukraine was affecting international trade by putting further upward pressure on the international prices of energy and primary commodities.

Audit Query: House Probes NESREA over N1.25bn Extra-budgetary Spending Udora Orizu in Abuja The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts (PAC) has frowned at the extra-budgetary spending of N1.25 billion by the National Environmental Standard and Regulations Agency (NESREA) in 2019, without following due process.

The Committee chaired by Hon. Wole Oke, while describing it as illegal and total violation of the law, resolved to probe the spending to unravel the mystery behind the act.

The lawmakers therefore summoned the Chairmen of the Senate and House Committee on Environment to appear before it to explain their role in the spending

Macobarb CEO Allegedly Arrested over Contract Scam Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

growth rates in Q1 2022 remained strong across all geographic regions, although somewhat lower in the East Asia and Pacific regions.

Export growth has been generally stronger in commodityexporting regions, as commodity prices have increased.

Trade in merchandise goods reached about $6.1 trillion, an increase of about 25 per cent relative to Q1 2021, and a jump of about 3.6 per cent when compared to to Q4 2021.

The value of merchandise exports from developing countries was about 25 per cent higher in Q1 2022 than in Q1 2021.

In comparison, the figure is about 14 per cent for developed countries.

Merchandise trade between developing countries also strongly grew during Q1 2022 Trade in services grew to about $1.6 trillion, an increase of about 22 per cent relative to Q1 2021, and a rise of about 1.7 per cent

and state agencies, Macobarb pressed for criminal charges No PMC/1015/CS/2021 against the then MD of NLNG, Tony Attah, and head of legal, Akachukwu Nwokedi, holding them liable for what he called misrepresenting of the terms of contract to obtain value from Macobarb.

A Port Harcourt Chief Magistrate’s Court had ordered the Rivers State police to investigate the complaint and submit a report.

The police began the process but stopped. The inability to submit a report despite court order led

to the court striking out of the case on March 15, 2022.

Macobarb thereafter petitioned the Inspector General of Police who was said to have ordered the Rivers command to obey the court order.

However, some reliable sources the CEO who was allegedly arrested, was later released in Abuja.

Efforts to get the management of NLNG react on the development proved abortive, as calls put across to some of the senior staff were not returned as at the time of filing this report.

following allegations by the Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Professor Aliyu Jauro that the budget was approved by the Committees.

Addressing the lawmakers, the NESREA boss claimed that the agency had the mandate of the National Assembly to spend its internally generated revenue (IGR), insisting that the budget was approved by the lawmakers.

However, the Chairman of the Committee, Oke said there was no evidence that the budget of the agency was ever tabled before the House neither was it debated nor approved by the House.

Oke directed the Clerk of the Committee to write letters to the chairmen of the Committees on Environment of both chambers of the National Assembly to invite them to come and explain their roles in the consideration and passage of NESREA's 2019 budget.

He said if both the House of Representatives Chairman on Environment and his Senate counterpart considered and approved the money, it would amount

to acts of illegality and usurping of the powers of the President as only him is authorised to assent to the budget for expenditure to commence.

According to him, "From details available in the 2019 submitted audited report of the Agency, there was no evidence of its budget having passed through the rungs of required legislative process of submission of its estimates from the Presidency; no evidence of its receipt at the legislature or that it was debated on at plenary by the House before being committed to relevant committees for the necessary checks before it was compiled along with those of other MDAs and sent to Mr. President for assent to become an Act. "If this is so, then it amounts to the two chairmen of the NASS Environment Committees just sitting back in the corners of their offices and unilaterally approving the NESREA budget and ordering commencement of expenditure without Mr. President's assent, amounting to an acts of illegality and gross insubordination."

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GRAND FINALE OF THE ANNUAL OJUDE OBA FESTIVAL...

R-L: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona and Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, during the grand finale of the annual Ojude Oba festival at Ijebu Ode, Ogun State...yesterday

I am Eager to Leave Office, Says Buhari, Urges ASUU to End Strike Enough is enough, president tells university lecturers Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Francis Sardauna in Katsina With about 10 months to the end of his second term tenure, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said he was eager to leave office and retire to his home town, Daura in Katsina State.

This was just as the president called on the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to reconsider their position on the prolonged strike, expressing worry that the hiatus would have generational consequences on families, the educational system and future development of the country.

The president, who received some governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC), legislators and political leaders at his residence in Daura, said the strike by the university lecturers had already taken a toll on the psychology of parents, students and other stakeholders, throwing up many moral issues that already beg for attention.

Buhari, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said: “I am eager to go. I can tell you it has been tough. I am grateful to God

that people appreciate the personal sacrifices we have been making.”

“By this time next year, I would have made the most out of the two terms, and the remaining months I will do my best,” the president noted.

Buhari urged those in political positions and places of privilege to be mindful in helping the many Nigerians that were looking for opportunities.

“If you are greedy, you won’t look around to see what is happening with those who are less endowed,’’ he said.

The president told the governors and political leaders that he had not been to his house in Daura for close to a year due to the demands of office.

“The observation that I abandoned my base was made by the Emir of Daura, Dr. Faruk Umar Faruk, at the eid prayer ground. He held the microphone and told everyone that the last time I was in Daura was during the Eid-el-Kabir of 2021,” he added.

Buhari said he would retire to Daura, not Kaduna, where he had a better house.

“In ten to eleven months time,

I will come here. I have a better house in Kaduna, but it is too close to Abuja,’’ he said.

Speaking further on the ASUU strike, he said the future of the country rests on the quality of educational institutions and education, while assuring that the government understands their position, and that negotiations should continue, with students in the lecture halls.

“We hope that ASUU will sympathise with the people on the prolonged strike. Truly, enough is enough for keeping students at home. Don’t hurt the next generation for goodness sake,” he said.

The president called on all wellmeaning Nigerians, particularly those close to the leaders and members of the association, to intervene in persuading the lecturers to reconsider their position, and the ripple effect on an entire generation and the nation.

Buhari said students from Nigerian universities would be faced with the challenge of competing with others in a highly connected and technology-driven work space, and keeping them at home only deprives them of time, skill and opportunities to be relevant on the global stage.

“Colonial type education was

MUSLIM-MUSLIM TICKET: I SUSPECT AN AGENDA, SAYS CLARK "Unconfirmed statistics put the ratio of Christians and Muslims in Kaduna State as 50/50; some statistics even put it as 55% for Christians and 45% for Muslims, yet, Nasir el-Rufai, despite complaints and agitations by people not only from Kaduna State, but from the entire country, ‘decided’ to pick a Muslim as his Deputy.

"It is illusion to think that except one is from the north, you may not win election. So, the idea that unless you come from the north or you are a Muslim, or a Muslim supports you if you are not a Muslim, you cannot win an election, should immediately be jettisoned by proponents of such an idea.

"The north needs the south to be in power, same way the south needs the north to be in power.

No part can do it alone. About 46% or more of Nigerians are Christians. Yet, a group of persons want to sideline and exclude them from the affairs of the country.

This is not possible."

He, howver, asked if Tinubu was "under pressure from these his core supporters and backers, to pick a Muslim as his Runningmate, and did he cave in to the pressure, because it is his turn to be President of Nigeria, despite complaints and protestations?

"The PDP is the cause of these things because of its refusal to zone its presidency to the south.

These are dangerous signals. Alhaji Ahmed Tinubu cannot compare 2022/2023 with 1993. In 1993, majority of Nigerians, on their own volition, supported the Muslim/Muslim ticket of M. K. O. "Abiola and Babagana Kingibe of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), as President and Vice President, 29 years ago. It was not shoved on them; it was not forced on them. Also, during that period, Nigeria was not so divided on ethnic and religious divides. If people are complaining, a good leader should listen. Unfortunately,

we have leaders, who not only ignore the concerns of the people with impunity, but also make crass statements.

"The insecurity, the fate of Nigeria as a failing state as it is today, did not exist in 1993. The killing of Christians, especially, Catholic Priests, the forty (40) persons killed at the Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State; what happened at the Kuje Medium Correctional Centre a few days ago, where about 1000 inmates, including about 63 Boko Haram terrorists were freed;the attack on the Kaduna-bound train, and the killing of some and abduction of several of the passengers, does not speak well of the times we are in.

“They are all signs of a failing state and ought to make everyone to be very cautious in our actions.

And nobody, should aggravate the situation. Those who are leaders should remember that power is transient,” Clark advised.

geared towards producing workers in government. Those jobs are no longer there. Our young people should get education to prepare them for self-employment. Now education is for the sake of education.

“Through technology we are much more efficient. We should encourage our children to get education, not only to look for government jobs,” he added.

Furthermore, Buhari said resources should be channeled more into building infrastructure and operations of the health and educational sector, not to expand the bureaucracy to create job opportunities.

The president explained that the schedule of work was much, saying he recently had to sympathise with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, who had to be away most of the time from his family.

Buhari urged the APC stalwarts to keep working for the good of the people and the country, noting that, “we are a lucky people, and we need to reflect more on where we are coming from.”

The president said relative to the resources available and compared to the last administration, the government had done well in many areas, particularly in infrastructure.

“I wish the person who is coming after me the very best,” he said.

On security, the president said the north-west had posed more challenges, and some success had been recorded in other regions such as the north-east and the south-south.

Buhari advised some of those from the south-south to stop hurting national assets, which also affect their livelihood.

In his remarks at the meeting, the Chairman of Progressive Governors’ Forum, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, thanked the president for his leadership roles in improving the economy of the nation and the many successes recorded at the APC, which include two conventions to produce the party leadership and the presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

“We will work hard to ensure the success of our party. We have reasons to work very hard,” he added.

Bagudu, who is the Governor of Kebbi State, said the favorable seasons supported the vision of ensuring food production and making agriculture a priority, with clear results in rice pyramids in various states.

“In spite of the attacks by the renegades, our country remains

self-sufficient in food production.

We have seen investments that were not there before you came into power.

“Not less than 20 states now have agriculture process zones. We have rice pyramid in Ekiti, Gombe and Niger, while maize pyramids were revived in Katsina and Kano states,” he said.

He said more than 54 rice meals were commissioned in various states, and 57 fertiliser plants were revived, or built afresh.

“All these were achieved because of your commitment and patriotism,” the governor told the President.

Bagudu also appreciated the president for providing ease of access to governors and political leaders, noting that the opening of the National Economic Council for more fluid exchange of ideas greatly helped in improving the economy.

APC Governors at the lunch with the president included: Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari; Kaduna State, Malam Nasir el-Rufai; Imo State, Hope Uzodinma; Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule; Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello; Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; Ekiti State, Dr. Fayemi Kayode; Plateau State, Simon Lalong, and Kebbi State, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu.

GAIN Partners DBN to Train 200 Women on Entrepreneurship Kuni Tyessi in Abuja Grand Africa Initiative (GAIN), a Pan-African non-governmental organisation involved in women and youth empowerment as well as mentorship has secured a partnership with the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) to build and strengthen the entrepreneurship skills of 200 Nigerian women.

The course, "GAIN entrepreneurship masterclass for women," was designed to equip women from across the country with knowledge and skills to build and scale their businesses.

The Executive Director of GAIN, Ms. Chinwe Okoli, in a statement explained that the entrepreneurship course would run for six weeks, starting in July, thus calling on

interested women to submit application via the organisation’s website.

She also explained that the training would cover areas critical to the success of MSMEs including ideation, legal services, branding, marketing, communication, accounting, modeling, staffing, structure, etc.

She said: “Women empowerment is in line with one of the focus areas of GAIN. The participants will benefit from a faculty of experts in various aspects of the business.

They would enjoy training and mentorship sessions some of which will be held virtually.

"Eligible for the program are women who have a business or an idea, and are between 22 to 45 years of age, and have a demonstrable interest in business,

access to the internet-enabled device, and electricity to participate in the program.

On his part, the Managing Director, DBN, Dr. Tony Okpanachi, described the partnership with GAIN as a major achievement and a step towards the empowerment of women.

He said: "We are excited about this initiative which speaks directly to our mandate of building the capacity of MSMEs. The GAIN initiative has become imperative to reach as many women as possible by leveraging technology and promoting gender equality.

"At the end of this exercise, we hope to see more empowered women creating opportunities towards achieving sustainable social-economic development.”

TUESDAY JULY 12, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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TEN SANWO-OLU TO YORUBA PEOPLE: CONSIDER TINUBU’S ASPIRATION YOUR PRIORITY Buhari, first to celebrate the Eid-elKabir with him and also register their displeasure with Tinubu over the manner he announced Shettima, a former governor of Borno State, as his partner, however, lamented to the president that they would have wanted one of them asa sitting governor to pair with Tinubu.

This, nonetheless, lawmakers from the North East geo-political zone in the National Assembly, led by the Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, have congratulated Shettima over his choice as the vice-presidential candidate of the party.

In the same vein, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has equally commended the choice of Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate, saying, it was a wise option.

On his part, a human rights activist and senator in the eighth National Assembly, Shehu Sani, has faulted those linking Shettima to the dreaded Boko Haram sect, saying the idea of it was mischievous.

At the same time, the Christian Association of Nigeria in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (Northern CAN), has said it was not bothered about the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the ruling APC as there are other political parties contesting for the 2023 elections.

Conversely, the Council of Church Leaders and Ministers, yesterday, expressed disappointment in the choice of a Muslim-Muslim ticket by the APC. However, Sanwo-Olu, who made the plea while speaking as a special guest of honour at the grand finale of the 2022 edition of Ojude-Oba Festival, held in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, said there was more to benefit

by Nigeria and Nigerians if Tinubu becomes the next president in 2023.

According to him, "Let me use this opportunity to make this rallying call on all true sons and daughters of the Yoruba race and pronounce that in the unifying spirit of the Ojude Oba celebration, it is my firm hope and belief that the Yoruba race will unite as one behind the momentous candidature of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a proud son of the race and one of the most formidable and experienced politicians to have ever emerged from Africa. Yoruba lo’ kan! Asiwaju lo’ kan!"

On the importance of the festival and many collaborations between Lagos and Ogun States, Sanwo-Olu said, "It is noteworthy that the Ojude Oba Festival, has while staying true to its Islamic roots, also expanded to become a unifying symbol and occasion for people of all faiths,

tribes, and tongues,as well as a global celebration of Ijebu heritage and culture.

“We must never lose sight of this unifying element, at a time, when the forces of division seem to be working so actively to undermine all that we cherish as a people.

Celebrations like Ojude Oba remind us that evil will never triumph over good. As a proud son of Lagos, it is personally very pleasing to be in this colourful ceremony among my Ijebu brothers and sisters.

“We, the people of Lagos and Ogun, share a long history and cultural bond, shaped by the same forces and experiences, nourished by the same waterways, and living up to the same Omoluabi standards and ideals.

“This was what spurred my brother Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun and I to, in 2021, establish the Lagos-Ogun Joint Development Commission, to collaborate on key areas of mutual benefit and development, and accelerate socio-economic growth for all our communities and our people.

“The road network linking Ijebu-Ode, Epe and Lekki is yet another concrete manifestation of our collaboration. Ogun State has completed their own stretch, while we will complete our own end this year, opening up new commercial and logistics opportunities in that axis, and positively impacting the lives of our people, many of whose daily lives cross our joint borders."

Buhari Explains Why Tinubu Announced Shettima in Daura

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, put up some defence for the president candidate of the party, Bola Tinubu, when he told some aggrieved governors that, the reason he unveiled his running mate while on a visit to him in Daura, was because his plan had already been leaked to a section of the media Some APC governors had expressed shock at the manner Tinubu announced Shettima as his running mate, even though they claimed there was little or nothing they could have done to change his mind, because despite the procrastination under the guise of consultations, he had always wanted Shettima and also disposed to a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

However, just to have them on record as having protested against the process of announcement by Tinubu, which they claimed was contrary to the understanding they earlier shared, the governors decided to meet with Buhari, who was still

observing the Sallah break in his Daura hometown.

The governors, 10 of them, were led by Chairman of the Progressives Governor’s Forum, Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State, along with the host governor, Aminu Masari of Katsina State.

Others were Governor Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano); Governor Abubakar Bagudu (Kebbi); Governor Abubakar Bello (Niger); Governor Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa); Governor Hope Uzodinma (lmo); Governor Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Governor Simon Lalong (Plateau) and Governor Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna).

The governors, who drove into Buhari’s residence around 1:10 pm, and immediately commenced meeting, however, finished off at about 1:55pm, after which they had lunch.

After listening to their grievances, the president, a source at the meeting hinted, told them that Tinubu didn’t plan to disregard the understanding they had and had in fact, told him he was to meet with the governors for proper briefing before the unveiling.

But the president added that Tinubu was still with him when some section of the media had started breaking the news that he had settled for Shettima, apparently a leak from the inside, which he claimed forced Tinubu to take the initiative immediately and announced same whilst still in Daura.

The president, the THISDAY source claimed, had maintained that there was no arrogance in the approach or an attempt to disregard the understanding they had, but a situation had arisen and Tinubu

needed to respond to it immediately, which was what happened.

However, addressing the media afterwards, Bagudu said, a Tinubu-Shettima presidency would complement all the achievements of the last seven years under the Buhari presidency.

Bagudu, also said the APC Governors Forum was working hard to win the upcoming Osun governorship election.

His words: "We are quite pleased that this formidable team of Tinubu and Shettima will usher in a new Nigeria in 2023. Kashim Shettima is one of Nigeria’s finest, who will bring his wealth of experience to bear in the governance of the nation.

“Nigerians should be convinced that this is about the best team from the party for the 2023 general election.

"We are proud and congratulated the President over the development, especially, with the manner the primaries held in the most transparent way leading to the emergence of Tinubu as the APC presidential flag bearer.

“This team will no doubt complement the achievements and track records by Buhari in the past seven years, especially, with the different policies put in place to bring back the country from the effects of COVID-19 and that of the Russia-Ukraine war.

“We have resolved to work hard for the victory of the APC in both the weekend Osun state governorship election and the 2023 general elections."

On his part, the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, equally described the choice of Shettima as a collective decision, noting that the

He added that in the Decade of Gas work plan, about 10 projects had been identified to address the supply side of the gas and power challenge, pointing out that solving the problem would need a collaborative and comprehensive solution involving all stakeholders in the oil and gas sector.

Mshelbila explained, "If you take the infrastructure side, specific pipelines, interconnections and so on have been identified -the Network Code and all of that, and what needs to be done to ensure that those things happen.

"There is an investment that is going to be needed by government, over one to $2 billion every year with counterpart party private sector investment that is also going to be needed every year in order to ensure that that gets delivered."

Describing the Decade of Gas Work plan as an excellent piece of work, Mshelbila observed that it had looked at the demand side of natural gas in Nigeria both domestic and export, the supply side, the infrastructure side, the commercial or economic framework needed to address all the problems and had equally outlined very specific things needed to be done to address them.

On the demand side, the NLNG chief executive said the formulators of the work plan had identified that the potential growth in gas demand could go up to about 22.5 billion cubic feet (bcf) by 2030, and that 60 per cent of that could be domestic gas whereas 70 per cent of the country's gas, as of today, was exported because the domestic

Lawan, N’East N'Assembly Members Back Shettima's Choice

Lawmakers from the North East geopolitical zone in the National Assembly, have congratulated Shettima for his pick as the vice-presidential candidate of the APC in the 2023 general election.

Reacting to the development in a statement, yesterday, the Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, who is the Chairman of the North East Caucus in the federal parliament, said all his colleagues fully supported Shettima's choice.

While noting that Tinubu and the APC, made the right choice in Shettima, Lawan said the National Assembly North-East legislators, were convinced that Shettima would demonstrate great competence, integrity and courage in the discharge of his responsibility.

"On behalf of myself and the North East Caucus of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), I heartily congratulate His Excellency, Senator Kashim Ibrahim Shettima, on his nomination as the running mate to our presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the 2023 general election.

"Asiwaju Tinubu and our party have made an excellent choice in Senator Shettima. The former two-term Governor of Borno State entered public service with impeccable credentials, which he has burnished by demonstrating great competence, integrity and courage in all the positions that he has held.

"His background in academics and the private sector prepared him for the achievements that he has recorded in politics as Governor and since his election to the Senate in 2019.”

Gbajabiamila: Shettima as Tinubu’s Partner a Wise Decision

Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has described the choice of Senator Kashim Shettima as the running mate to Bola Tinubu, as a wise decision.

Gbajabiamila in a statement said, Tinubu settled for one of the best hands for the job of Nigeria's vice-president.

According to him, "Shettima has over the years proved his mettle as a shrewd and progressive politician, whose eight years as governor of Borno State – from 2011 to 2019 – was a defining moment for the state.

“Asiwaju is widely known as the biggest talent hunter in the country, who has over the years assembled an army of performers in governance irrespective of their ethnicity or religious leaning. This unique feature also can be found in Senator Shettima following his track record of excellence in both the private and public sectors.

"Shettima has the right character and intellectual capacity to turn things around hence having him as the Vice-President under a Tinubu presidency will be a masterstroke in the management of the economy.”

CAN Not Loosing Sleep over APC’s Muslim-Muslim Pick Continued on page 28

IN SEARCH FOR JAILBREAKERS, SOLDIERS TAKE OVER ABUJA, MOUNT STRATEGIC ROADBLOCKS Centre, Kuje, following an attack on the facility by insurgents last week in Abuja.

However, in view of the current situation in Abuja, many pedestrians were caught in the heavy traffic on the Abuja-Keffi Road on Sunday night following a roadblock mounted by soldiers stationed opposite Mogadishu Barracks, otherwise, called Abacha Barracks.

The barricade caused some gridlock that morphed from the Nyanya bound side of the barracks to as far as AYA bridge.

The traffic has also caused many vehicles heading towards Nyanya, Mararaba, Karu, New Karu, Keffi, and Jos among other places, to be trapped on the road into the early hours of yesterday.

Apart from Abuja-Keffi road,

THISDAY also gathered that soldiers had set up barriers in Madala on the Zuba-Abuja-Kaduna express road in their hunt for some of the Kuje prison escapees, who might contemplate infiltrating Niger, Kaduna and Nasarawa States that border the FCT. The manhunt followed report that one of the Kuje inmates was caught in Nasarawa State on Friday.

Meanwhile, Suleiman, who was one of the seven captives freed on Saturday by bandits, who bombed the Kaduna-bound train on March, 28, 2022 and abducted 62 passengers, has detailed his unpleasant experience while in captivity.

In an audio message sent via WhatsApp, the FCT UBEB boss, who was on his way to Kaduna for

DECADE OF GAS: FG TO SPEND $2BN INVESTMENT YEARLY ON INFRASTRUCTURE DEVT, SAYS NLNG Unlimited (MPNU).

For the NLNG, with the company's $10 billion Train 7 project currently under construction, it has set its sight on the Train 8, as it has revealed plan to deploy latest technology on the project to achieve not only expansion, both to also reduce its carbon footprint.

The duo of the Managing Director of NLNG, Dr Philip Mshelbila and the company's General Manager, Production, Mr. Leye Falade, made the disclosures during separate panel sessions at the just concluded Nigerian Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition (NOG) 2022 in Abuja.

The theme of the conference was: "Funding the Nigerian Energy Mix for Sustainable Economic Development."

The federal government had declared January 2021 to December 2030 as Nigeria's Decade of Gas, a period the government aspires to industrialise the country using gas as an enabler.

Speaking at a panel with the topic: "Harnessing the Opportunities in the Nigerian Gas Sector", Mshelbila, said the $2 billion investment was necessary as constraints such as lack of financing, absence of infrastructure and lack of interconnectivity of infrastructure were factors hampering Nigeria's competitiveness in the global gas market.

He said such deficits had resulted to the collapse of the value chain between gas and power, which had been broken for decades and had not been fixed.

22 governors of the APC would deliver their 22 states in the 2023 general election.

value chain was not working.

He further said, "And then, there are solutions around how to resolve the power challenge that we have. But very specific around the supply side is, 10 projects have been identified -onshore and shallow water, and if this 10 projects are delivered, they will actually contribute 40 per cent of the incremental volumes that we need.

"Each of these projects are known, each of them is going to require some special dispensation, whether it is around fiscals, or the framework to enable the delivery of those projects.

"All of that is understood at high level. And what the Decade of Gas says is: the operator needs to sit with all the relevant parties and this is with the ministry, with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), everybody, and say, what is it going to take to ensure that this project gets delivered in the interest of Nigeria? So, that also has been outlined.

"On the commercial side, I've talked about pricing and the transition all the way to a deregulated market, which has to be a transition because you have to go slowly on that. But you also look out for vulnerable sectors of the community that are going to need some sort of concessions.

"So, there is a plan that we have.

What we must not do as a nation is to allow this plan sit on the shelf.

So, that has been concluded. We funded the Phase one and Phase

two of that work. It's available.

What is needed now is for us as stakeholders to come together and make this happen."

In his intervention in another panel, which focused on "Developing A Roadmap for Nigeria's Energy Mix and Decabonisation," Falade said NLNG Train 8, which is now being discussed, would be built with a radical technology that would enable it to achieve both capacity increase and reduction of its carbon footprint.

The Train 7 project seeks to increase NLNG's liquefied gas supply capacity by 35 per cent to 30 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) from the existing 22mpta.

The project is an audacious move by the company and its shareholders, which comprise the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Shell, TotalEnergies, and Eni and it was intended to enable more LNG and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) delivery to both the export and domestic market.

Falade noted that Train 7 was no longer ambitious for NLNG as the company was now focused on how to bring Train 8 on the table and had started doing the scouting studies for it.

He said, "The news about Train 7 is something that everybody knows about. So, we have started doing scouting studies about train 8 as a company. We started looking at what will it take for us to go beyond train seven?

Continued on page 28

an education progarmme organised

by UBEB, described his experience as hell and prayed for his enemy never to experience same.

“Good morning, my brothers and sisters in FCT ANCOPPS, and other well-wishers. This is Dr Hassan Sule. I just want to extend my warm appreciation over prayers that led to our release by terrorists on Saturday,” he said in a creaky voice.

He said although he did not sustain any injury during the attack, many of the passengers were inflicted with injuries while some lost their lives.

He thanked the residents of the FCT and members of the All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary (ANCOPPS) and others for their show of solidarity.

NDLEA Arrests Wanted Kuje Jailbreaker with Drugs, Police Nab Another

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have arrested one of the wanted members of the terror group, who escaped from the Medium Security Correctional Centre, Kuje, following an attack on the facility by insurgents, last week, in Abuja.

A press statement by the spokesman of the NDLEA, Mr. Femi Babafemi, stated that, the fleeing terror suspect, Suleiman Sidi, was arrested in the early hours of Monday at Area 1 motorpark, in the Federal Capital Territory, while attempting to board a commercial vehicle to Maiduguri, Borno State.

Babafemi said upon searching, three wraps of cannabis sativa were found on him, adding that during preliminary interrogation, the wanted terror suspect confirmed he was remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre for terrorism and robbery charges.

He also confirmed that he was indeed one of the inmates, who escaped from the facility last Tuesday.

In a related development, the Police Command in Niger State, has said it also recaptured Kazeem Murtala, one of the inmates, who escaped during the Kuje jailbreak.

Spokesman for the command, Wasiu Abiodun, in a statement explained that a patrol team on surveillance between the General Hospital, Suleja and Bakassi, arrested the inmate on July 9 at 8:30pm.

Abiodun explained that based on credible intelligence, the police patrol team arrested the inmate at an unidentified compound.

During interrogation, the inmate was said to have confessed that he escaped from Kuje custodial center during the attack and had been in custody for two years for an offence he committed.

Group Decries Increasing Spate of Insecurity in Edo

A socio-cultural and non-political organisations, Esan Okpa Initiative (EOI), has decried the rising security crisis in Edo State, leading to the upsurge in kidnapping and other violent crimes.

As a result, the group claimed that the situation now threatens economic and social life, and therefore, called on government and other stakeholders to brace up and address the issue, adding: “Life here is akin to Thomas Hobbes brutish State of nature."

In a statement released in Benin City and signed by its President, Mr. Mathew Egbadon; pioneer speaker, Edo State House of Assembly as well as the Public Relations Officer, Mr Tony Iyare and Esan Okpa, it asked both the state and federal governments to urgently rejig their security architectures to strike a chord and synergy between the security agencies, the communities and local vigilante groups to smoke out the criminal elements, who now appear to have free reign, committing mayhem and turning the state into a killing field.

The organisation, welcomed the recent security meeting convened by the Acting Governor, Mr Philip Shaibu, with traditional rulers, LGC heads, vigilantes and hunters, which gave concrete deadlines to exiting armed herdsmen from Edo forests within 10 days, and described it as a positive step.

He, however, observed that the security arrangements in the state should not be subjected to eclectic responses and mere showmanship but directed at harnessing human and material resources to keep the state safe from criminal elements, who are now on the prowl with the alleged support of some persons in high places.

Furthermore, it urged the government to be more proactive in effectively dealing with the issue rather than tailing it in order to reassure the citizenry that governance was not on recess in Edo State.

“Security of lives and properties in Edo State, particularly, on the roads in the State, has become so threatened that it seems as if the government has given up and surrendered to the hoodlums.”

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NEWS

CONDOLENCE VISIT...

L-R: Senator. Ali Modu Sheriff; Gombe state Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya; with his Borno State counterpart, Professor Babagana Zulum; during the condolence visit to the family of late APC chieftain, Alhaji Umar Lawan Kareto in Maiduguri... yesterday

IYC, Ex-militants Caution Senate Committee on Move to Issue Bench Warrant on Dikio

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) and ex-militant leaders have cautioned the Senate Public Account Committee on its threat to issue a bench warrant on officials of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) including the PAP's Interim Administrator, Col. Milland Dikio (retd).

The Chairman of IYC, Abuja branch, Adam Marbo, in a statement, said the council was surprised at the committee's claim that the warrant was to compel Dikio appear before it to explain an alleged N10 billion unaccounted for by the amnesty office contained in Auditor-General's report of 2018.

Marbo said the council expressed surprise that the report referred to by the committee was based on transactions that occurred in 2015 fiscal year.

The IYC boss described the propose action of the Senate committee as witch-hunt, explaining that the transaction and the audit report happened years before Dikio was appointed as the interim administrator of the programme.

He explained: "We can recall that Dikio was appointed towards the end of 2020. What the Senate is investigating is a transaction that occurred in the amnesty office in 2015 but was mentioned in the Auditor-General's report of 2018.

"The matter does not concern Dikio at all. Why will the Senate Committee become so fixated on Dikio that it descended to the arena of desperation with the threat of a bench warrant? What are they looking for? The committee cannot feign ignorance of persons at the helm of affairs in amnesty office when the transaction took place."

Marbo urged the committee to stop distracting Dikio and allow him concentrate and deliver his vision for PAP insisting that the current amnesty boss should only be held accountable for his actions and inactions during his tenure.

"Dikio has reformed the amnesty programme and we won't allow any baseless attack on him. The Senate committee should judge Dikio by his deeds in the amnesty office and not by the actions and misdeeds of others before him.

We perceive any attempt to do otherwise as a deliberate attempt to distract the amnesty boss and destabilise the Niger Delta."

Also, former militant leaders in a separate statement signed by the Chairman, First Phase Ex-Agitators, HRH Henry Binidodogha and Chief Andabafa Namah ) called on President Muhammadu Buhari to hold the Senate responsible should there be renewed hostilities in the Niger Delta.

They said the lawmakers were on a mission to disrupt the existing

peace in the region with their scripted plans to destabilise the good works of Dikio The former warlords said the committee was on a mission to embarrass Dikio and make a mess of all that he had achieved within a short period of time since he took over.

They also said the issue listed in the probe predated the tenure of Dikio and wondered why the Senate Public Accounts Committee

would be disturbing him about it.

They added: "Our attention has been drawn to a report in the media by the Senate, inviting our boss, Colonel Milland Dixon Dikio (retd) to appear before them else they would arrest him. We want to say that this move is capable of causing a breakdown of law and order in the Niger Delta region.

"We do not want to believe that the Senate Committee is trying to subdue our leader and brother

Kwara State Chairman of the Traditional Council of Chiefs and Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari has said the state governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has shown enough commitments to public welfare and development to deserve a new mandate.

Sulu-Gambari, during the last Eid Fitr homage visit to the governor at Government House, Ilorin, said he deserved second term in view of his outstanding performance since he assumed office.

Speaking in Ilorin yesterday, during the yearly Bareke_ (traditional homage), Sulu-Gambari said, "the achievements of the present

administration under Governor AbdulRazaq are visible while the governor's hands-on approach to governance is commendable."

According to him, "I have seen that Your Excellency is performing, and you are ready to work more to better the lots of Kwarans.

"You have just started. It is my wish and prayer that you are given another mandate to achieve more."

He therefore prayed Allah to grant the Governor more strength, good health and required wisdom to fulfil his dreams for the state.

The Emir also expressed delight at the Governor's posture on the horseback during the Durbar and the government's support that made the socio-cultural event a huge success, describing AbdulRazaq as a true son of Ilorin Emirate.

out their oversight functions, they must be careful and be sincere especially when it had to do with the Niger Delta.

They insisted it made no sense whatsoever to compel a man to answer for an alleged offence that he knew nothing about and urged the Senate committee to stop the sponsored media trial and invite those responsible to answer for themselves what transpired in 2018.

Sanwo-Olu Orders Probe of Lagos Boat Mishap Segun James As the death toll in the boat mishap in Lagos climbed to 15, the state Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has ordered a probe into the July 8 Mile 2-Ibeshe incident.

The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso who disclosed this in a statement yesterday, said the governor was, “deeply saddened by the incident and commiserates with the families who lost their loved ones.”

Omotoso stated that the police were already probing what went wrong and treating the sad incident as a criminal offense, saying that the boat which was said to be

unlicenced, obviously broke the waterways rules of “no night travel,” and no overloading.

“Besides, not all of the passengers wore life jackets and the boat did not take off from a government-approved jetty. The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), and others are assisting the investigators,” He stressed that, “anybody who is found to have contributed in any way to this tragedy will surely face the law to ensure that we do not have any such incidents in future.

“The waterways’ rules and regulations are clear; they must be respected in accordance with the

Again, Ilorin Emir Backs AbdulRazaq’s 2023 Re-election Bid Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

who have come to change the narrative and perception of the PAP. Let us put them on notice that we will resist it with all our strength and might. As delegates and critical stakeholders in the region we will not allow them to rubbish him and the amnesty programme."

The ex-militant leaders said while the Senate committee headed

by Senator Matthew Urhogbide had the statutory right of carrying

He called on all descendants of Ilorin to continue to exist in love and unity, which he noted are parts of the cardinal objectives of the Ilorin Durbar.

The state governor in his remark, said the administration has institutionalised the Ilorin Durbar and several other festivals in the state by making them important items in public expenditure under culture and tourism.

He added, "This will get better in the coming years as we ramp up investments in tourism and culture.

"Our visual arts centre and the international conference centre will play prominent roles in promoting culture and tourism in Kwara State.

"In the future, we look forward to bringing the world’s oldest

manuscripts of the Qur’an and other historical relics for exhibition at the visual arts centre.

"We are in fact not leaving any stone unturned in our drive to make Kwara more prosperous and livable.

"Among many other initiatives of our administration, the new Ilorin Master Plan should be ready for presentation next month. This will bring many benefits to the entire state."

The Governor commended the Emir and all the traditional rulers and religious leaders in the state for their support in rallying citizens for peaceful coexistence.

He specifically congratulated the Emir on the successful hosting of the Ilorin Emirate Durbar which took place on Saturday.

greatest value that the Sanwo-Olu administration places on human life.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families. May The Almighty strengthen them in this difficult time.” Omotoso concluded.

THISDAY reported that 15 bodies have been recovered from the 16-passenger boat that capsized on July 8, in the Ojo area of Lagos State.

General Manager, Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, had

confirmed the figure.

Emmanuel had said the Search and Rescue teams of LASWA, the National Inland Waterways, Nigerian Marine Police and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, were still searching for the only remaining body.

The 16-passenger boat took off from Mile 2 and was heading to Ibeshe in Ojo Area when tragedy struck. LASWA had earlier reported that the boat took off at 7.45 pm on Friday carrying a full capacity of 16 passengers.

NIWA Lauds Buhari’s Appointment of Jaji, Adegoroye as Ministers Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja The management of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari over the appointment of the new Minister of Transportation, Mr. Mu'azu Jaji Sambo and Ademola Adewole Adegoroye as Minister of State Transportation.

The commendation was contained in a statement signed

by General Manager, Corporate Affairs, NIWA, Jibril Da'adau, a copy of which was made available to journalist in Lokoja yesterday.

The Managing Director, NIWA, George Moghalu on behalf of the board, management and entire staff of the Authority, “warmly joined Nigerians in congratulating

Mr. Mu'azu Jaji Sambo, over his meritorious appointment as the newly confirmed Minister of Transportation and Mr. Ademola Adewole Adegoroye as the Minister of State for Transportation.”

Moghalu said, “the both appointments by President Muhammadu Buhari is a clear testimony and recognition of their competence, hard work, dedication, and sterling track records of achievements in their previous national assignments.

“I strongly believe that both ministers would bring their wealth of experience, wisdom and knowledge to bear in the discharge of their new assignments by improving the affairs of the Ministry. Hence, we wish the duo ministers a successful tenure in office," he said.

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T H I S D AY TUESDAY JULY 12, Tuesday July2022 12, 2022 Vol 27. No 9953 TR

See page 16 PARLIAMENT OF EUNUCHS Except for a negligible few, the parliamentarians are a bunch of individuals who are not fit to be called representatives of their constituencies, contends TOLA ADENIYI See page 16 WHEN STOMACH INFRASTRUCTURE ARRIVED THE SUPREME COURT Tanko impoverished the Supreme Court to the point of making its Justice advocates for stomach infrastructure, writes CHIDI ANSELM ODINKALU See page 17 THE MEDIA AND THE TASK OF CONSOLIDATING DEMOCRACY RICHARD IKIEBE contends that the media has contributed to defining the ethno-political culture that has shaped Nigeria See page 17 EDITORIAL REDUCING ROAD CARNAGE

See page 18

& RE A S O

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opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

INSECURITY: THE VIEW FROM THE PENTAGON ABDULHAMID BABATUNDE argues that the US/UN agenda for prosecuting the war against terror in Nigeria and the Sahel region has no exit strategy

UT H

It is possible for the country to achieve an economic turnaround in the midst of great challenges, argues PAUL NWABUIKWU

LESSONS FROM THE OBASANJO ECONOMIC REVOLUTION After years of failed agreements and JULGORFN WKHUH ZDV ÀQDOO\ VRPH SRVLWLYH news from the World Trade Organization (WTO) two weeks ago.

Following what Bloomberg described as “a grueling all-night negotiating session at the WTO’s headquarters on the shores of /DNH *HQHYDµ PHPEHUV RI WKH JOREDO trade body which is more famous for KLJK SURÀOH GLVDJUHHPHQWV ÀQDOO\ UHDFKHG historic agreement on some issues which are critical to the health of humans and the SODQHW 7ZR OHG WKH KHDGOLQHV 7KH ÀUVW ZDV D UHGXFWLRQ RI ÀVKHULHV subsidies, an issue that the WTO had failed to unite around for almost three decades.

The second was the loosening of limits to H[SDQG YDFFLQH SURGXFWLRQ IRU &RYLG DQG IXWXUH SDQGHPLFV WKDW H[SHUWV VD\ DUH certain to come.

In all, WTO members agreed on curbing an estimated US $22 billion in subsidies WKDW FRQWULEXWH WR WKH GHSOHWLRQ RI PDULQH UHVRXUFHV DQG LOOHJDO XQUHJXODWHG ÀVKLQJ ZKLFK KDYH OHG WR VHULRXV GHSOHWLRQ RI RYHUÀVKHG VWRFNV (YHQ KRXUV EHIRUH WKH DSSURYDOV ZHUH announced, things had looked bleak.

7KH IDXOW OLQHV ² VXSHUSRZHU UHJLRQDO HFRQRPLF JOREDO QRUWK YV JOREDO VRXWK HWF ² VHHPHG VHW WR WULXPSK %XW VRPHKRZ GHVSLWH WKH 5XVVLD 8NUDLQH FRQÁLFW ZKLFK KDV IXUWKHU GLYLGHG D SRODUL]HG ZRUOG brilliant last-minute strategizing, relentless GLSORPDF\ DQG JRRG VHQVH SUHYDLOHG DQG the deed was done.

The heroine of this tale, although she SUHIHUV WR KLJKOLJKW WKH KDUG ZRUN DQG GHGLFDWLRQ RI KHU WHDP DQG WKH FRRSHUDWLRQ of the WTO member countries, is, of course, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the WTO director-general and Nigeria’s former twoWLPH PLQLVWHU RI ÀQDQFH 8QGHU KHU OHDGHUVKLS WKH KLVWRULF DJUHHPHQWV ZKLFK IHZ EHOLHYHG ZRXOG KDSSHQ ZHUH UHDFKHG MXVW D \HDU DIWHU VKH DVVXPHG R΀FH 7KH UHFHQW WULXPSK at the WTO has breathed new life into multilateralism and the search for a more equitable world order. The world is indeed IRUWXQDWH WR KDYH 2NRQMR ,ZHDOD DW WKH KHOP RI WKLV LPSRUWDQW JOREDO LQVWLWXWLRQ WKDW XQGHUSHUIRUPHG IRU VR ORQJ The outcome of the WTO negotiations reminded me of another historic battle in ZKLFK 2NRQMR ,ZHDOD SOD\HG D NH\ UROH almost two decades ago: Obasanjo’s second term economic reforms. It is sad that that VLJQLÀFDQW HYHQW LV IDVW EHFRPLQJ D IDGLQJ footnote in the national memory. But it is DOVR XQGHUVWDQGDEOH :H DUH QRW D YHU\ UHÁHFWLYH VRFLHW\ ,Q DGGLWLRQ WKH FXUUHQW state of the economy is not amenable to SRVLWLYH FRQWHPSODWLRQ 7KXV WKH VXFFHVV RI WKH UHIRUPV ZKRVH UREXVW SRVLWLYH LPSDFW

ODVWHG WR ODUJH GHJUHH WLOO KDV EHFRPH D UHWUHDWLQJ PLUDJH LQ WKH QDWLRQDO UHDU YLHZ PLUURU RYHUWDNHQ E\ KDUVK QHZ UHDOLWLHV But the fact which cannot be denied is that the Obasanjo reforms in which Okonjo,ZHDOD KHDGHG D KLJKO\ HͿHFWLYH (FRQRPLF Team transformed the economy, infused it ZLWK PXVFOH DQG YLJRU DQG SUHFLSLWDWHG D historic economic renaissance that made a YLEUDQW GLͿHUHQFH LQ EXVLQHVVHV RQ IDPLO\ WDEOHV DQG LQ LQGLYLGXDO OLYHV DFURVV WKH ODQG DIWHU D EOHDN SHULRG RI VWDJQDWLRQ DQG regression that began in the early 80s and ZRUVHQHG RYHU WKH QH[W WZR GHFDGHV 7KH LPSDFW RI WKH UHIRUPV ZDV IHOW QRW MXVW LQ WKH H[HFXWLYH VXLWHV EXW DOVR LQ WKH SRFNHWV of Nigerians.

Anchored on the National Economic (PSRZHUPHQW DQG 'HYHORSPHQW 6WUDWHJ\ 1(('6 WKH UHIRUP SURJUDPPH IRFXVHG RQ IRXU PDLQ DUHDV LPSURYLQJ WKH PDFURHFRQRPLF HQYLURQPHQW SXUVXLQJ structural reforms, strengthening SXEOLF H[SHQGLWXUH PDQDJHPHQW DQG LPSOHPHQWLQJ LQVWLWXWLRQDO DQG JRYHUQDQFH UHIRUPV )RU PH WKH HQGLQJ DQG UHYHUVDO RI WKH EUDLQ GUDLQ ZKLFK EHJDQ LQ WKH V ZDV SDUWLFXODUO\ KHDUWZDUPLQJ EHFDXVH I belong to the generation that graduated LQWR WKH EOHDN HFRQRPLF ODQGVFDSH RI WKH Buhari-Babangida years. Post 2003, the exodus of Nigerians out of the country was UHSODFHG E\ WKH UXVK RI \RXQJ 1LJHULDQV abroad back into the country to take DGYDQWDJH RI H[FLWLQJ QHZ RSSRUWXQLWLHV PDGH SRVVLEOH E\ WKH UHIRUPV 7KH JORRP RI WKH SUHYLRXV WZR GHFDGHV ZDV UHSODFHG E\ D YLEUDQW VHQVH RI KRSH DQG SRVVLELOLW\ ,Q IDFW WKH LPSDFWV RI WKH 2EDVDQMR second term reforms were so great that PDQ\ 1LJHULDQV KDYH IRUJRWWHQ WKDW WKHUH ZDV DFWXDOO\ D ÀUVW WHUP GXULQJ ZKLFK $GDPX &LURPD VHUYHG DV ÀQDQFH PLQLVWHU and Obasanjo was serially criticized IRU HQGOHVV XQSURGXFWLYH WULSV WR UHDFK LQYHVWRUV ZKR PRVWO\ UHIXVHG WR EH ZRRHG 5HPDUNDEO\ WKH IRUPHU SUHVLGHQW UHVXPHG

his second term with a sense of urgency and a clear focus on the economy. He SULRULWL]HG FOHDUO\ GHÀQHG HFRQRPLF JRDOV benchmarked against global standards and SHUKDSV EHVW RI DOO DSSRLQWHG WKH ULJKW SHRSOH LQWR NH\ SRVLWLRQV 7KLV LQFOXGHG constituting an economic team of highly FDSDEOH DQG KDUGZRUNLQJ SHUVRQV 2EDVDQMR·V YLVLRQ GHOLYHUHG KDQGVRPH GLYLGHQGV IRU WKH FRXQWU\ 7KH IDLOXUH RI the current administration to continue with many of the key reforms is the major UHDVRQ WKH HFRQRP\ LV LQ VXFK DZIXO VKDSH today. But as bleak as the situation is, things ZRXOG KDYH EHHQ PXFK ZRUVH LI WKH UHIRUPV GLG QRW KDSSHQ As the nation gets set for what has been described as a make-or-break election, the VXFFHVV RI WKH UHIRUPV SURYLGH VRPH LPSRUWDQW OHVVRQV DQG SHUKDSV D URDGPDS out of the economic woods. First, the SURJUHVV RI WKRVH \HDUV GHPRQVWUDWH WKDW LW LV SRVVLEOH IRU WKH FRXQWU\ WR DFKLHYH an economic turnaround in the midst of JUHDW FKDOOHQJHV 1LJHULD GRHV QRW KDYH WR EH D VODYH WR LWV KLVWRU\ RU LWV PLVWDNHV 7KH DFFRPSOLVKPHQW RI WKH 2EDVDQMR DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ DIWHU DQ XQLPSUHVVLYH ÀUVW WHUP LV D SRVVLEOH VRXUFH RI LQVSLUDWLRQ IRU WKH QHZ DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ WKDW ZLOO KRSHIXOO\ be inaugurated in May next year. %XW ZKLOH SURJUHVV LV SRVVLEOH LW LV IDU IURP LQHYLWDEOH 7KH HFRQRPLF EOLJKW RI WKH WZR GHFDGHV ZKLFK SUHFHGHG WKH reforms also contain a cautionary lesson: WKH FRXQWU\ SD\V KLJK IRU WKH ZURQJ SROLFLHV 7KH FXUUHQW VWDWH RI WKH HFRQRP\ SURYLGHV H[WUD VXSSRUW IRU WKLV SHUVSHFWLYH 3RRUO\ WKRXJKW RXW SROLFLHV LQFRQVLVWHQW LPSOHPHQWDWLRQ LQGHFLVLYHQHVV RQ NH\ LPSHUDWLYHV OLNH UHPRYDO RI RLO VXEVLG\ DQG UHYHUWLQJ WR NQHH MHUN VWDWLVW ´VRFLDOLVWµ HFRQRPLF WKLQNLQJ KDYH FRQWULEXWHG WR UHYHUVDO RI WKH HFRQRPLF JDLQV RI WKH reforms.

3HUKDSV WKH PRVW LPSRUWDQW OHVVRQ of the Obasanjo reforms is that we don’t KDYH WR ZDLW IRU D SHUIHFW FRQVWLWXWLRQ WKH DGRSWLRQ RI WUXH IHGHUDOLVP RU WKH UHVROXWLRQ RI WKH PDQ\ VWUXFWXUDO SROLWLFDO challenges confronting the nation to start PDNLQJ HFRQRPLF SURJUHVV DQG VWDUW UHGXFLQJ WKH WHUULEOH EXUGHQ RQ RXU SHRSOH ,Q IDFW DFKLHYLQJ D VLJQLÀFDQW PHDVXUH RI HFRQRPLF LPSURYHPHQW ZLOO KHOS FUHDWH WKH HQYLURQPHQW IRU XV WR FRPH WRJHWKHU WR WDFNOH WKHVH FKDOOHQJHV 'LVFXVVLQJ RQ DQ HPSW\ EHOO\ ZLOO QRW HQFRXUDJH VROXWLRQV The question is: will the winner of next SROOV EH HTXDO WR WKH KLVWRULF UHVSRQVLELOLW\ RI SXWWLQJ JULW DQG PXVFOH EDFN LQWR WKH economy?

Nwabuikwu is a member of THISDAY Editorial Board

2 16

T H I S D AY

ABDULHAMID BABATUNDE argues that the US/ UN agenda for prosecuting the war against terror in Nigeria and the Sahel region has no exit strategy

INSECURITY: THE VIEW FROM THE PENTAGON The Nigerian version of the war against terror now requires a critical look at the impact of foreign forces as part of a reassessment of strategy aimed at achieving a timely and decisive victory that seems to be elusive. There are certainly other options worth exploring. The agitated questions and clueless answers that becloud appraisal of the perilous performance of the Nigerian military and security forces arise from internalizing the dynamics of our security challenges by turning a blind eye to the stark reality of external backing of Boko Haram and other terrorist groups linked to Al Qaeda, ISIS and ISIL. We have internal issues but they must not overshadow external factors.

Boko Haram, Al Qaeda, ISIS and ISIL are all notorious transnational mercenary forces currently rampaging through the Sahel Region, with a dubious and deadly track record as declared targets but covert tools in the US-led war against terror. They have been spearheading the decimation of populations and destruction of sovereign states, from Afghanistan to Iraq, Libya and Syria. The similarities in their pattern of calculated aggression, gruesome killings, rape and arson resulting in total destruction and mass displacement of communities LV D FKLOOLQJ FRQÀUPDWLRQ RI WKHLU WHUURU trademarks that we are all too fearfully familiar with.

The enlistment of Boko Haram into the transnational terror teams could in fact be a clandestine strategy as a forward operation base to facilitate an encirclement approach for unleashing the catastrophic cancer of imposed insurgencies and generalized insecurity on the targeted west and central African nations. What started as a local rebellion by a local sect led by a local cleric that was active in a few local governments and had to raid rural police stations WR DFTXLUH REVROHWH ULÁHV ZDV UDSLGO\ WUDQVIRUPHG LQWR WKH YLFLRXV D΀OLDWH RI D transnational terrorist group!

Brandishing AK 47s in convoys of brand QHZ -DSDQHVH SLFNXSV ÀWWHG ZLWK PDFKLQH guns and hundreds of motorbikes, Boko +DUDP ÀJKWHUV EHJDQ ERPELQJ FLYLOLDQV seizing territories and waging a never ending bloody war against the Nigerian military. An insurgency against Nigeria is now virtually a continental war against several African nations with its epicentre in and around Nigeria.

African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), the Lake Chad Basin Commission Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Group of Five for the Sahel (G5 Sahel) Joint Force and an EU task force also in the Sahel led by France, known as 7DNXED DUH DOO RͿ VKRRWV RI WKH ZDU DJDLQVW terror. Mali’s military recently staged a dramatic coup that summarily terminated France’s neo-colonial defence “partnership” and pulled the country out of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) citing seven years of increasing instability with no end in sight.

Over and above these international deployments ostensibly mobilized to beef up the defensive capacity of the respective PLOLWDU\ DQG VHFXULW\ IRUFHV RI DͿHFWHG countries against the marauding terrorists, the US Africa Command, established to “counter transnational threats and malign

actors, strengthen security forces, respond to crises and promote regional security, stability, and prosperity” towers with all the awesome arsenal of the world’s super power.

For the avoidance of any doubt, the Command declared on arrival that it “conducts military operations to disrupt, degrade and neutralize violent extremist organizations that present a transnational threat.” The Africa Command was established in 2007 and insists that for the past 14 years it has worked with African partners for a secure, stable and prosperous Africa! It claims to have provided defence equipment and services, military education DQG WUDLQLQJ ´WR VXSSRUW WKH HͿRUWV RI Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria LQ WKH ÀJKW DJDLQVW %RNR +DUDP WKURXJK the Lake Chad Basin Commission’s MultiNational Joint Task Force”.

Unbelievable!

It is a scandalous betrayal of these pompous declarations that the Sahel region in general and Nigeria in particular actually descended deeper into a destabilizing reign of violent extremist organizations in the 14 years the Command vowed to “disrupt, degrade and neutralize” them.

Even without the combined clout of the other multinational task forces and missions deployed across the Sahel as a shield against the terrorists, surely the US Africa Command can annihilate the terrorist groups in the region in a month of combined air and land operations -- if that was its true mission.

So who is fooling who?

The US Government is actually fully aware of the absurdities of its Africa Command military operations in the Sahel.

Presenting an annual counterterrorism report and assessment of more than two decades of operations, Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently disclosed that ,6,6 DQG DO 4DHGD D΀OLDWHV EUDQFKHV DQG networks in Africa were spreading and declared precisely that “the number of terrorist attacks and the overall number of fatalities resulting from those attacks increased by more than 10 percent in 2020 compared with 2019.” The report added WKDW ´,6,6 D΀OLDWHG JURXSV LQFUHDVHG WKH volume and lethality of their attacks across West Africa, the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin, and northern Mozambique,” while alQaeda “further bolstered its presence” in the Middle East and Africa. Yet there was not the slightest indication of disappointment or regret about these tragic strategic blunders.

The only thing the US will not compromise is the advancement of its national security interests!

In the light of these unsettling narratives exposing the outrageous outcomes of US and “international” partnerships with Nigeria and other Sahel region nations against the Boko Haram/ Al Qaeda, ISIS and ISIL related destabilizing attacks, insurgency and terrorist crimes, it is very obvious that Nigeria is turning a blind eye to the reality of external sabotage due to irrational pre-occupation with the disheartening escalation of internal insecurity.

Babatunde, former Editor, The Democrat, writes from Kaduna

TUESDAY JULY 12, 2022

Except for a negligible few, the parliamentarians are a bunch of individuals who are not fit to be called representatives of their constituencies, contends TOLA ADENIYI

PARLIAMENT OF EUNUCHS I really don’t know what to call them. We labelled them men without balls, it didn’t bother them. We accused the few women in their midst as being mere decorations and carriers of scents and perfumes to deodorize the legislative chambers, those lipsticked ‘wives and mothers’ merely shrugged their shoulders. We say they are irredeemably corrupt and lacking in character and stature EHÀWWLQJ SHRSOH H[SHFWHG WR UHSUHVHQW WKHLU constituents, they just look the other way as if our words were Greek to their ears.

Wikipedia says a eunuch is a man who has been castrated. Throughout history, castration RIWHQ VHUYHG D VSHFLÀF VRFLDO IXQFWLRQ 7KH earliest records of intentional castration to produce eunuchs are from the Sumerian city of Lagash in the second millennium BCE. Over the millennia since, they have performed D ZLGH YDULHW\ RI IXQFWLRQV LQ PDQ\ GLͿHUHQW cultures: courtiers or equivalent domestics, for espionage or clandestine operations, castrato singers, concubines, or sexual partners, religious specialists, soldiers, royal guards, JRYHUQPHQW R΀FLDOV RU JXDUGLDQV RI ZRPHQ or harem servants’.

‘Eunuchs would usually be servants or slaves who had been castrated to make them less threatening servants of a royal court where physical access to the ruler could wield JUHDW LQÁXHQFH (XQXFKV VXSSRVHGO\ GLG QRW generally have loyalties… they were thus seen as more trustworthy and less interested in establishing a private ‘dynasty’. Because their condition usually lowered their social status, they could also be easily replaced or killed without repercussion’.

The current National Assembly is crowded by eunuchs, servants and slaves who had EHHQ FDVWUDWHG E\ JUHHG JOXWWRQ\ VHOÀVKQHVV political ignorance and stupidity. Except for a negligible few, the so-called parliamentarians are a bunch of shameless individuals who DUH QRW ÀW WR EH FDOOHG UHSUHVHQWDWLYHV RI WKHLU constituencies. Most of them only show up in parliament when there is money to be shared and whenever they show up, most of them are either sleeping, snoring or emitting silent odious farts. The tiny few who ever displayed DQ\ LQGHSHQGHQFH DUH XVXDOO\ VZHSW RͿ E\ the establishment.

I crave Dr Michael Owhoko’s indulgence to let me quote copiously from his recent comprehensive damnation of the Ninth Assembly: “In the absence of 11th hour miracle, when an assessment of performance of the Executive arm of government will be carried out on May 29 next year, using the economy, security and corruption as index, President Muhammadu Buhari may likely go down as a failed President.

If this happened, the Legislative organ of government should largely be blamed. Firstly, for failing to invoke the doctrine of checks and balances to ensure the President discharges his statutory obligations in line with national interest and aspirations. Secondly, for failing to halt breach of federal character principle by the President. Thirdly, for failing to interrogate the Executive for sliding economic indices, worsening corruption, rising insecurity, FDSLWDO ÁLJKW PRXQWLQJ ORDQV PXOWLSOH tax burden, unemployment, and decaying infrastructure, including poor electricity and education. )RU WKHVH ÁRSV WKH QLQWK 1DWLRQDO

Assembly is an accessory to current woes of the country, and cannot be absolved.

The Legislature is the second organ of government, free and independent from the control of the Executive, yet, the lawmakers have made it an extension, and apron string of the President.

“Signs that the ninth National Assembly will be a weakling and lacking a mind of its own, emerged when the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan said “any request that comes from Mr. President is a request that will make Nigeria a better

place”, and would therefore expeditiously ensure passage of legislation therefrom.

“With this declaration by the Senate President and head of National Assembly, the Legislature has violated the doctrine of separation of powers and checks and balances as enunciated by French philosopher, Charles Baron Montesquieu, in his book, The Spirit of Law. The intention of Montesquieu was the need to separate the three organs of government, namely, the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary, to enable each arm serve as check on the other to ensure equilibrium.

It is aimed at protecting their respective liberty, and preventing any organ of government from becoming too powerful as to transmute into tyranny and authoritarianism. The doctrine has become a template for good governance and global reference for protection and advancement of egalitarianisms. It forms part of constitution in countries where democracy is practiced.

For undermining this doctrine, Lawan KDV QRW RQO\ VDFULÀFHG WKH WUXVW RI WKH people on the altar of self-aggrandizement but projected President Buhari as allknowing and omniscient President who can do no wrong, and whose intellectual capacity is beyond the competence of the Senate and House of Representatives combined.

Besides, the National Assembly (NASS) has encouraged the creation and emergence of an all-powerful President ZLWK XQLQKLELWHG OLEHUW\ WR JR RͿ FRXUVH at will even on matters of national interest. For example, the federal character principle as contained in the 1999 Constitution is breached with impunity

by President Buhari, and despite criticism, has shown no remorse.”

Otunba Adeniyi Jagun Oodua Adimula ll, adetolaadeniyi@hotmail.com

317

T H I S D AY TUESDAY JULY 12, 2022

Tanko impoverished the Supreme Court to the point of making its Justice advocates for stomach infrastructure, writes CHIDI ANSELM ODINKALU

WHEN STOMACH INFRASTRUCTURE ARRIVED THE SUPREME COURT “The want of bread is terrible” Arthur Young, (1789) On Monday, 27 June 2022, General Muhammadu Buhari swore in Olukayode Ariwoola as Nigeria’s third Chief Justice in as many years, the fourth of his sevenyear-old tenure as president with electoral legitimacy. Ariwoola’s predecessor, Tanko 0XKDPPDG GHSDUWHG IURP R΀FH HDUOLHU on the same day, the second successive Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to be forcibly ´UHVLJQHGµ IURP R΀FH

7KH R΀FLDO UHDVRQ JLYHQ IRU WKH unceremonious resignation of CJN Tanko Muhammad was ill-health. This was true only as a metaphor for the state of the judiciary that he claimed to lead. In any other sense, ill-health was only a convenient cover for the un-mourned departure from R΀FH RI D PDQ ZKR ZDV XQLTXHO\ XQVXLWHG IRU KLJK MXGLFLDO R΀FH DQG ZKR ZRXOG KDYH VWUXJJOHG WR PDNH WKH R΀FH RI D 0DJLVWUDWH LQ D GLͿHUHQW VHDVRQ HYHQ LQ 1LJHULD +LV SUHVHQFH LQ WKH R΀FH RI &KLHI -XVWLFH HPEOHPDWL]HG HYHU\ D΁LFWLRQ WKDW KDV FRPH WR GHÀQH WKH WKLUG EUDQFK RI JRYHUQPHQW LQ Nigeria. /DVW 0RQGD\ ZDV QRW WKH ÀUVW WLPH FODLPV of serious ill-health had swirled around CJN Tanko Muhammad. In December 2020, he missed the ceremonial opening of the judicial year and was unavailable to perform the swearing in of the new Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), traditionally WKH ÁDJVKLS LQ WKH DQQXDO GLDU\ RI WKH &KLHI Justice.

One newspaper reported on 15 December 2020 that “the CJN had inaugurated eight justices of the Supreme Court on November EXW VLQFH WKHQ WKHUH DUH FRQÁLFWLQJ GHWDLOV on when he was last seen in public”, a duration of 40 days. On the same day, another medium reported that Chief -XVWLFH 7DQNR KDG ´EHHQ ÁRZQ WR 'XEDL for emergency treatment after suddenly contracting coronavirus in what appears to LQGLFDWH WKDW KH PD\ EH VXͿHULQJ IURP RWKHU DLOPHQWV µ 7KH IROORZLQJ GD\ D GLͿHUHQW publication said that the Chief Justice was “enduring a torrid battle with dementia and heart disease complications”, claiming that his “illness, ….has been kept under wraps VLQFH KH DVVXPHG R΀FH DV 1LJHULD·V WRS jurist in 2019.”

The reports and rumours about the illhealth of Chief Justice Tanko appeared to suggest that they were linked to advanced age. Under Nigeria’s constitution, a Chief -XVWLFH PXVW YDFDWH R΀FH DW 7KH SUREOHP with Chief Justice Tanko was that a good deal about his background was shrouded in opacity or worse.

In May 2019, the Federal High Court in

Abuja terminated a case instituted against Acting Chief Justice, Tanko Muhammad, ZKLFK DFFXVHG KLP RI KDYLQJ IDOVLÀHG KLV date of birth to 31 December 1953. Avoiding the issue, the court held that the claimant lacked the standing to initiate the case and levied him with punitive costs of N10 million.

Chief Justice Tanko paraded impressive DFDGHPLF FHUWLÀFDWHV LQFOXGLQJ D ÀUVW degree, Masters, and Doctorate degrees in Islamic Law from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria but could not quite account for his primary school education, FODLPLQJ LQ DQ D΀GDYLW VZRUQ WR ZKLOH KH was a Justice of the Court of Appeal in Jos in 1998 that “vicious termites destroyed his SULPDU\ VFKRRO FHUWLÀFDWH µ In one of those miracles for which Nigeria is very famous, Tanko Muhammad was appointed a judge in spite of these and went RQ WR WKULYH LQ MXGLFLDO R΀FH EHFRPLQJ WKH fourth out of the past seven Chief Justices of 1LJHULD WR GHSDUW R΀FH LQ D EOD]H RI VFDQGDO On 29 August 2011, Chief Justice Aloysius .DWVLQD $OX UHWLUHG IURP R΀FH D PHUH days after the National Judicial Council (NJC), which he chaired purported to suspend then president of the Court of Appeal, Ayo Salami.

For this sin, the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC), chaired like the NJC by WKH &-1 VRXJKW WR SDFN RͿ WKH 3UHVLGHQW RI the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court, presenting it as a promotion. When he resisted, the NJC entered the fray turning the matter into a disciplinary encounter.

To investigate the allegations, the NJC FRQVWLWXWHG D IDFW ÀQGLQJ FRPPLWWHH FKDLUHG

by Umaru Abdullahi, a former President of the Court of Appeal. The report of the 8PDUX $EGXOODKL IDFW ÀQGLQJ FRPPLWWHH ran into 23,952 words. It has never been R΀FLDOO\ SXEOLVKHG Before the Umaru Abdullahi Committee, a set of judicial elders led by former Supreme Court Justice, Bolarinwa Babalakin, had waded into the matter, portraying as an interSHUVRQDO NHUIX΁H DOOHJDWLRQV WKDW ZHQW WR the foundations of the judicial enterprise.

After Umaru Abdullahi’s committee, the NJC empanelled another chaired by then Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Ibrahim Auta, to determine punishment.

The end appeared pre-determined.

Dahiru Musdapher, who was in line to VXFFHHG .DWVLQD $OX DV &-1 WHVWLÀHG RQ behalf of Katsina-Alu before the Umaru Abdullahi Committee but declined to do so on oath, infamously claiming that in lieu of an oath he had done his ablutions.

An even worse fate befell the public standing of the judiciary. The tragic appearance crystallized that Nigerian judges could be bought and sold at the highest levels in a political marché ouverte.

The tenures of Aloma Mukhtar and Mahmud Mohammed as CJNs were mercifully devoid of scandal, which quickly returned when the tenure of Chief Justice :DOWHU 2QQRJKHQ VXͿHUHG WKH *XLOORWLQH DW WKH KDQGV RI DQ H[ SDUWH RUGHU SURFXUHG DW night from the Code of Conduct Tribunal in January 2019.

A lawyer and a teacher, Odinkalu can be reached at chidi.odinkalu@tufts.edu

RICHARD IKIEBE contends that the media has contributed to defining the ethno-political culture that has shaped Nigeria

THE MEDIA AND THE TASK OF CONSOLIDATING DEMOCRACY Since the colonial days, the essential ethos of the Nigerian political systems, as managed by the elite, has remained fundamentally unchanged. There were indicative signs in the early days to suggest that the patterns of political socialisations pointed in the direction of where Nigeria has now found itself. The nation has never recovered from the impact of established early structures, which by design were nurtured through ethnic diet in the press.

The genesis of organised politics in Nigeria is steeped in, and the direct result of press agitation. At every stage in the evolution of the Nigerian state, the role of the media has been prominent. Very early in organised politics in Nigeria, newspapers took the IURQW URZ SRVLWLRQV RI LQÁXHQFH (UXGLWH media historian, Alfred Omu, tells us that the publisher of the Weekly Record, Thomas Jackson and Herbert Macaulay, publisher of Lagos News were the initiators and promoters RI WKH ÀUVW DQG PRVW SURPLQHQW SROLWLFDO party – the Nigerian National Democratic 3DUW\ 11'3 7KH &OLͿRUG &RQVWLWXWLRQ of 1922 enabled organised electoral politics; as a result, the NNDP was formed, and two new newspapers, the Nigerian Spectator and the Nigerian Advocate emerged, purposely as what Omu called, “electioneering newspapers”.

Today, after 100 years since the nation’s YHU\ ÀUVW VWURSS\ H[SHULPHQW ZLWK HOHFWLYH democracy in 1922, it would not be entirely correct to say nothing much has changed. We KDYH JRQH IURP D WROHUDEOH H[SHULPHQWDWLRQ WR VRPHWKLQJ IDU ZRUVH ZH QRZ KDYH D ÀUPO\ established pseudo-democratic political FXOWXUH WKH ´QHLWKHU ELUG QRU ÀVKµ W\SH most of it curated through the media by VHOÀVK SROLWLFDO HOLWH 7KHUH LV OLWWOH GRXEW WKDW WKH LQÁXHQFH RI WKH PHGLD KDV FRQWULEXWHG LPPHQVHO\ WR GHÀQLQJ the ethno-political culture that has shaped Nigeria. According to Olatunji Dare, most SUH LQGHSHQGHQFH MRXUQDOLVWV ZHUH ´ÀUHEUDQG nationalists who wanted to use journalism to change society” and build a great nation.

Media scholars and professionals alike, have understandably paid a great deal of attention to the role of newspaper-press in the struggle for independence from British colonial rule; or in the mortal struggle against military rule, for which many paid with their lives.

1R GRXEW WKH SUHVV OHG LQ WKH ÀJKW against the British Colonial Government for independence. But as Omu tells us, quite early in the political history of Nigeria, newspapers became “outlets for electoral policies and propaganda”. The Lagos Daily 1HZV IRU H[DPSOH EHFDPH 0DFDXOD\·V “stormy mouthpiece”, and for the better part of 25 years, the NNDP and its leader, Macaulay, almost singularly dominated the Nigerian press and political scenes.

Politicians succeeded in stealthily dragging the media with them into ethno-partisan SROLWLFV WR ÀJKW UHDO RU LPDJLQHG SROLWLFDO opponents became apparent in the mid1094s. Later, after the nation’s long romance with militarism, a shadowy political elite also prodded the media to revolt against military rule; they did it as if with one voice for the return of the country to democracy.

In 1906, Lagos (which became a Colony of Britain in 1861), and Oil River Protectorate with Headquarters in Calabar, were joined WR EHFRPH 6RXWKHUQ 3URWHFWRUDWH (LJKW \HDUV

later in 1914, the patched work merged the contiguous British colonial Northern and Southern Protectorates – on paper. Thus, Nigeria is a geopolitical construct of the %ULWLVK E\ ÀDW WKURXJK DPDOJDPDWLRQ LQ name only.

In the three decades that followed, the colonial government continued to administer the protectorates separately.

Colonial policies by design “fostered social distance among ethnic and religious groups” (Abdu, 2010, p67). Then in 1947, an ethno-

regional federation of some sort in which Southern Nigeria was split into Western and (DVWHUQ UHJLRQV ZDV LQWURGXFHG DV D QHZV structure of governance.

Professor James Coleman, in his 1958 book on the background to Nigeria’s nationalism stated that the nation was birthed from “three separate, independent, DQG XQFRRUGLQDWHG IRUFHVµ (YHU VLQFH the nation has behaved more like cobbled patches of ethnic nationalities, and barely the image of one united nation. As such, forces that forstered geo-political cleavages that ZRXOG GHÀQH 1LJHULD·V SROLWLFDO VWUXFWXUDO contentions should not have surprised anyone; the surprise is that the entities have remained somewhat together, a perpetually unresolved problem.

The decade between the 1920s and 1940s PDUNHG D VLJQLÀFDQW HUD LQ WKH KLVWRU\ RI the media in Nigeria. Several momentous SROLWLFDO RFFXUUHQFHV LQ WKH SHULRG GHÀQHG the character of the Nigerian media and the nature of her politics, in the period leading to independence. A decade and half earlier, media power had gradually begun to shift from old and established elite – descendants of freed slaves – to emerging young, indigenous, educated elite. What the new OHDGHUV ODFNHG E\ ZD\ RI H[SHULHQFH VDLG Omu, they made up for in their unbridled zeal and adept use of the press to insistently demand for self-rule. The media of this SHULRG EHJDQ WR KDYH VWURQJHU LQÁXHQFH RQ SXEOLF GLVFRXUVH ,WV LQÁXHQFH DQG FRQÀGHQFH JUHZ EH\RQG D VPDOO FLUFOH RI urban elite to include a growing number of ordinary literate Nigerians; it was the beginning of what could have been a populist press.

It was during this period that Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and his newspaper, the West African Pilot, arrived from the United States of America by the way of the then Gold Coast (now Ghana) to set a new tone for the SUHVV DQG SROLWLFV UHGHÀQLQJ ERWK

Dr. Ikiebe, Chairman of the Board of Businessday, is an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the PanAtlantic University, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos

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T H I S D AY

TUESDAY JULY 12, 2022

EDITORIAL

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

REDUCING ROAD CARNAGE Regulators could do more to curtail the menace

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to walking through a dark alley because of lack of he rise in the number of crashes on our streetlights. Besides, the unpassable state of many of roads is both distressing and frightening. our roads have literally made them a den for robbers Just last week, no fewer than 28 persons and kidnappers, who waylay innocent passengers were killed in two separate accidents at any time of the day to carry out their nefarious on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun activities. We therefore call on the authorities at all State, and along Potiskum-Gombe OHYHOV WR IXOÀO WKHLU FRQVWLWXWLRQDO DQG FLYLO GXW\ WR WKH Road, Yobe State. In the Ogun incident, 18 persons SXEOLF E\ À[LQJ PDMRU URDGV WR PLWLJDWH WKH GLVWUHVVLQJ ZHUH FRQÀUPHG GHDG ZKHQ WZR 0D]GD EXVHV harvest of deaths. It amounts to criminal negligence and a Previa bus crashed around Isara Bridge. The that many lives are being wasted on our roads despite Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Assistant Corps the promises made by successive administrations.

0DUVKDO %LVL .D]HHP ZKR GHFULHG UHFHQW LQFHVVDQW In every four hours, going road accidents, said by available statistics, at motorists should avoid least two lives are lost to night travels because of If we must put an end to this preventable harvest of deaths, road carnage and every the inherent dangers. year, with about 20,000 of Particularly disturbing government agencies, including the FRSC, Vehicle Inspection the 11.654 million vehicles is that majority of these in the country are involved accident victims are Offices and Police traffic departments should take drastic steps in accidents. It is common people at the prime of to ensure that our roads remain safe all the time knowledge that there are their productive years. too many rickety vehicles Apart from the burden on our roads. The tyres of that road mishap places several vehicles plying the road are either worn out or on victims’ families, they take a huge toll on the are in a state of disrepair, just as their brakes are often national economy.

T H I S D AY suspect.

Some drivers operate in foggy condition EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU Available reports from both the FRSC and the DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA with bad functional headlamps.

But the tragedies and 1DWLRQDO %XUHDX RI 6WDWLVWLFV 1%6 KDYH DW GLͿHUHQW MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO mounting body count from accidents can be curbed times, listed major causes of accidents on our roads.

DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU by simple common sense and inexpensive remedial Accidents often occur when motorists drive under CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI interventions.

EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN WKH LQÁXHQFH RI DOFRKRO RU GUXJV RU DUH GLVWUDFWHG MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI If we must put an end to this preventable harvest Other causes vehicular accidents include street racing THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE of deaths, government agencies, including the E\ FKLOGUHQ RI D΁XHQW SDUHQWV HVSHFLDOO\ LQ $EXMD )56& 9HKLFOH ,QVSHFWLRQ 2΀FHV DQG 3ROLFH WUD΀F and capital cities, dangerous road curves, fog, tire departments should take drastic steps to ensure blowouts, fatigue by drivers, etc. With N450 billion T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D that our roads remain safe all the time. The federal estimated to be lost annually from goods and services EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA government should also consider enacting a WKDW SHULVK LQ WKHVH URDG DFFLGHQWV LQVX΀FLHQW VDIHW\ GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, National Road Safety Policy that will outline various ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI features in vehicles and speed limit violation by DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, policy measures pertaining to road safety. These reckless drivers, are some other factors responsible.

ANTHONY OGEDENGBE include raising awareness about road safety, creating Beyond the foregoing, driving on Nigeria’s DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI a road safety information database, promoting safer approximately 200,183 kilometres road network can SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH road infrastructure, encouraging safer vehicles, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI be risky and arduous as large swathes have broken CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI identifying needs of vulnerable road users, enforcing down and are ridden with potholes due to neglect.

DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO road safety laws, and ensuring medical facilities for Apart from many of the major highways that are TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com victims when accidents occur. littered with craters, driving at night is comparable

Letters to the Editor Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-300 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (750- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive.com along with photograph, email address and phone numbers of the writer.

LETTERS THE KUJE ATTACKS AND LAWAN’S LACERATING LINES For many Nigerians, the Ninth National Assembly has been an utter disappointment, having put in nothing close to the robust legislative shift of the Eighth Assembly which stretched the principles of checks and balances to its limits, keeping an indolent executive on pins and needles.

Leading the Ninth National Assembly has been Senate President Dr. Ahmed Lawan whose unimaginative leadership has in the last four years put to bed any hope that the legislature can force an inept executive to get its act together.

Now, fresh from a failed attempt to switch from the legislature to the executive despite having only very little to show for his time in the legislature, and his gripping battle to wrench the APC ticket of the Yobe North Senatorial District from the IHURFLRXVO\ WHQDFLRXV 0U %DVKLU 0DFKLQD 0U /DZDQ KDV DSparently been jarred awake by the July 5, 2022 attack on the 0HGLXP 6HFXULW\ &XVWRGLDO )DFLOLW\ LQ .XMH At about 10am on Tuesday July 5, 2022, heavily armed gunPHQ ZKR KDYH VLQFH LGHQWLÀHG WKHPVHOYHV DV PHPEHUV RI WKH ,VODPLF 6WDWH :HVW $IULFD 3URYLQFH VWRUPHG WKH 0HGLXP 6HFXULW\ &RUUHFWLRQDO )DFLOLW\ LQ .XMH ZKHUH WKH\ GHSOR\HG GHYDVWDWLQJ ÀUHSRZHU WR EUHDFK WKH SULVRQCV VHFXULW\ EHIRUH VHWWLQJ

free hundreds of inmates including 64 Boko Haram members VRPH RI ZKRP ZHUH UHVSRQVLEOH IRU WKH 1\DQ\D DQG 0DGDOOD ERPELQJ LQFLGHQWV ZKLFK FDXVHG WKH GHDWKV RI GR]HQV The attack which happened right in the belly of the Federal Capital Territory and on the heels of the brutal killing of over 30 soldiers and policemen by terrorists in Shiroro, Niger State, has harshly reminded Nigerians of how horribly precarious the situation has become in the country.

Shock has since slowly given way to a storm of questions.

1LJHULDCV 3UHVLGHQW 0U 0XKDPPDGX %XKDUL RQ D YLVLW WR WKH facility let loose a cannon of questions which caught many Nigerians cold, because if the one who should be interrogated about the security situation in the country has suddenly morphed into the one asking all the questions, who will reply him?

Why indeed does the Giant of Africa favour a reactionary posture when it is clear that it is only a proactive posture that can keep its many enemies at bay?

Why should those who should keep the barrage of questions coming to ensure things are working smoothly be as bewildered as all others when another attack happens? Why do the tough questions always wait until something horrible

happens?

An African idiom posits that it is the rat at home that tells the EXVKUDW ZKHUH ÀVK LV NHSW LQ WKH KRXVH 7KLV PXFK ZDV DOOXGHG WR ZKHQ 0U $KPDG /DZDQ OHDGLQJ D 1DWLRQDO $VVHPEO\ GHOHJDWLRQ WR WKH .XMH SULVRQ RQ 7KXUGD\ -XQH VSRNH 0U /DZDQ VDLG WKH DWWDFN FRXOG RQO\ KDYH EHHQ FDUULHG RXW with the active connivance of insiders within the facility while faulting the Nigerian Correctional Service for not providing Closed circuit Television(CCTV) cameras at the facility. He then asked the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Correctional Service to include a request for the provision of CCTV across maximum and medium correctional centers across the country in its 2023 budget proposal to the National Assembly.

Given the collective amnesia of those who occupy the corULGRUV RI SRZHU LQ 1LJHULD DQG WKH FRXQWU\CV HPEDUUDVVLQJ power situation, it will be a big shock if serious measures are taken to secure the other correctional facilities in the country and preclude future attacks.

Kene Obiezu, keneobiezu@gmail.com

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY JULY 12, 2022

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POLITICS

Acting Group Politics Editor DEJI ELUMOYE Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com (08033025611 SMS ONLY)

Controversial Water Resources Bill Back in N’Assembly Udora Orizu writes that the controversial national water resources bill which has resurfaced at the National Assembly is set for second reading at the House of Representatives

Buhari

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n June 29, 2022, a slight drama played out on the floor of the House of Representatives as concerned lawmakers frowned at the reintroduction of the controversial National Water Resources Bill slated for first reading.

The bill, which was initially introduced and rejected during the 8th Assembly, following public outcry, is believed by many to be Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) in disguise.

Specifically, the Bill as introduced in previous assembly and present 9th National Assembly seeks to empower the Federal Government to control all water resources in the country such as rivers, streams, lakes and underground water in all parts of the country.

The First Introduction of the Bill President Muhammadu Buhari had in 2017 presented the controversial bill to the eighth National Assembly. The proposed law seeks to transfer the control of water resources from the states to the federal government.

The bill was titled: ‘A Bill for An Act to Establish a Regulatory Framework for the Water Resources Sector in Nigeria, Provide for the Equitable and Sustainable Redevelopment, Management, Use and Conservation of Nigeria’s Surface Water and Groundwater Resources and for Related Matter.’

It partly reads: “This Act repeals the Water Resources Act, Cap W2 LFN 2004; River Basin Development Act Cap R9 LFN 2004; Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (Establishment) Act, Cap N110A, LFN 2004; National Water Resources lnstitute Act Cap N83 LFN 2004; and establishes the National Council on Water Resources, Nigeria Water Resources Regulatory Commission, River Basin Development Authorities, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, and the National Water Resources Institute.”

Re-introduction of the Bill in 9th Assembly Following the failure of the bill to sail through Eighth Assembly, the bill was reintroduced at the Ninth Assembly.

Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Abubakar Fulata (APC/ Jigawa), had moved a motion on July 23, 2020, calling for the reopening of 11 bills, including the Water Resources Bill, not passed by the Eighth Assembly. Speaking later in an interview, Fulata described the passage of the bill as a done deal, saying, the process would not be reversed.

According to him: “The bill can’t be stepped down, because the House has passed it already. The lawmakers that are saying they will step it down or that it was introduced illegally is because, may be, they were not there on the floor of the House when the members were given the opportunity to look at the bill not once or twice. Remember it was passed by the eighth Assembly”.

Lawan

Contentious Sections of the Bill Section 98 of the bill states that, “the use of water shall be subject to licensing provisions”. Section 120 of the bill makes it compulsory for Nigerians to obtain a driller’s permit before sinking a borehole in their homes. Section 107 says, a license might be canceled if the licensee fails to make beneficial use of the water.

Section 2(1) of the Bill says, “All surface water and ground water wherever it occurs, is a resource common to all people.”

Section 104 addresses emergency powers in case of shortage of water. The bill will empower the government to “direct a person, who has a supply of water in excess of his needs for domestic purposes to reduce the amount he is permitted to abstract under the terms of any licence or general authorisation.”

Stakeholders, FG Differ Reacting to the reintroduction of the bill, the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, accused the federal government of clandestine moves to revive the rejected Water Resources Bill, warning that such agenda would be inimical to the growth and development of the country.

In a statement by South-south leader, Chief Edwin Clark; Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; Ohanaeze leader, Chief John Nwodo, and Dr. Pogu Bitrus for Middle Belt Forum said, “Buhari like Mobutu Sese Sekou of Zaire wants to be succeeded by chaos, daily manifests in its reckless conduct of our national affairs.

This country has lived in peace for several years with its lands

Gbajabiamila

vested in the governors through the Land Use Act, which is part of the constitution.’’

On its part, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in a statement signed by its President, Ayuba Wabba, warned against legislative abuse or betrayal of Nigerians if the bill was passed without public engagement and scrutiny, adding that already, the sentiments expressed against the bill are too grave to be brushed off.

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State also alleged that the federal government was colluding with the National Assembly to allow herdsmen to grab land under the guise of the water resources bill.

However despite criticisms the federal government on September 22, 2020 said there was no going back in the passage of the Bill.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, had during a press briefing addressed with his Water Resources counterpart, Suleiman Adamu, said those criticising the Bill were either ill-informed or have not read it or do not understand its provisions.

He insisted that the bill was for the good of the nation and has no hidden agenda whatsoever, adding that it’s a deliberate mischief by some of those, who have been portraying the Bill as a new source of conflict.

A Legislative Coup Against the Bill In September 2020, following the raging controversies, debate on the bill succeeded in pitting Southern lawmakers against their Northern counterparts.

Spirited efforts by the Northern lawmakers to save the bill proved abortive as arguments by the members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other opponents of the bill forced the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, to order its withdrawal and reintroduction.

Ruling on the matter, Gbajabiamila pointed out that matters of privilege were not to be debated but he allowed comments due to the sensitivity of the matter.

His words: “I want you to recall that I had a Bill on the floor of this House (the infectious diseases Bill), being sensitive to the rule, I stepped my Bill down and sent it for public

You can object to any bill at any stage. I get your point I’m not by anyway saying the Governors will dictate to us. I’m saying that we work in a symbiotic relationship with the CEOs of the states and sometimes they are in better position to know what’s good for the states.

We are here to represent people and our voices must be heard, irrespective of what the governors say.

I hope we can work in tandem with the governors on the water resources bill

hearing. On the issue raised by Hon. Mzondu, he has backed it up by clear language of provisions of our rules, which states that any such bill must be regazzetted.

“The Chairman (of the Committee on) Business and Rules sought to rely on Rule 16, which gives a window of either re-gazette or clean copy. Unfortunately, it appears some people have done their homework. I think we should err on the side of caution. I think the bill should be sent back and re-gazetted and brought back to the floor, so that we can reconsider it and nobody will have any issues at that point – right thing would have been done. Chairman Business and Rules, please, send the bill for re-gazetting and bring it back to the floor.”

The Bill’s Reintroduction At the plenary, two weeks ago concerned lawmakers again kicked against the reintroduction of the Bill, when it was presented for first reading.

The Bill was reintroduced, but this time sponsored by Chairman of the Committee on Water Resources, Hon. Sada Soli (APC, Katsina).

Shortly after the Speaker Gbajabiamila called on the Clerk to the House, Yahaya Danzaria to read out the short title of the Bill, a member, Hon. Mark Gbillah (PDP, Benue) raised a point of order, reminding Gbajabiamila that the bill generated lots of controversies last year and shouldn’t be brought back.

Gbillah said, “We wonder why this issue is still being represented on the floor of the House. Some of use are not comfortable nor in support of this bill.”

Responding, Gbajabiamila said the sponsor, Hon. Soli has assured him that contentious issues in the former bill which bothered many last year has been addressed in this new bill.

The Speaker urged his colleagues to talk to their respective state Governors to get their opinion on how it affects their states.

He said, “I asked the chairman the same thing this morning and he told me that the issues that were raised then have been addressed by all the Governors. Apparently this new bill all the governors of the federation both south and north have input in the new bill. I will take him by his word. We live in a diverse country and everybody’s sensitivity should be taken into consideration. The governors govern their states and they know what affects them. We should leave it at that, be very vigilant, talk to your governors and get their opinion on how it affects your states.”

But, Gbillah countering the Speaker’s advise said whatever the Governors may have agreed on is not acceptable, adding that he’s very sure his State Governor, Samuel Ortom, didn’t agree to this.

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

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TUESDAY, JULY 12, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

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E-mail: yemielegance@gmail.com

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Finally, it’s Muslim-Muslim Ticket for APC

Tinubu (right) and Shettima

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After weeks of consultations and highwire politicking, the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and former governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Tinubu, ignored all warnings against a Muslim-Muslim ticket, and announced another former governor, Senator Kashim Shettima, as his running mate for the 2023 presidential election. The choice of Shettima ended scheming and maneuvering by quite a number of northern governors like Mallam Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State and Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, to be the chosen one.

Sources even told THISDAY that Ganduje was so sure of being the one to be chosen that he even took a traditional title in the ancient city of Ibadan. In the same vein, el-Rufai had been busy dismissing those raising concerns over a Muslim-Muslim ticket, saying they merely wanted to set the country on fire.

It was not known what informed Tinubu’s choice but one major factor against Ganduje and el-Rufai was the fact that both of them are from the North-west geo-political zone where current President, Muhammadu Buhari, hails from.

Earlier, six governors of the zone (North-west) had met and their plea was that one of them be chosen as the vice-presidential candidate. But it was all going to be a difficult sell going by the singular fact that same zone could not finish eight-year tenure as president and then another person from the zone would be sworn in as the vice president.

There was also a strong case for Atiku Bagudu, the governor of Kebbi State,

“As President, I hope to govern this nation towards uncommon progress. This will require innovation. It will require steps never before taken. It will also require decisions that are politically difficult and rare.” but Tinubu was said to have been favourably disposed to picking the current governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Zulum. But he was said to have taken so long in accepting or rejecting the offer before he eventually did and Tinubu had to settle for Shettima. And the rejection by Zulum might not be unconnected with the fact that Shettima was his former boss (he was commissioner before Shettima picked him as his successor) and that he was interested in the same vice-presidential slot. It was gathered that he did not want to offend him by accepting the offer.

As expected, the choice of Shettima has generated a heated debate among Nigerians with many saying Tinubu choosing a fellow Muslim was quite insensitive and that it might prove to be a hard sell in the South. But

Tinubu has defended his choice by saying that the task of saving the country was beyond religion. In a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, his campaign spokesperson, Tinubu said both sides of the argument had merits.

“I am mindful of the energetic discourse concerning the possible religion of my running mate. Just and noble people have talked to me about this. Some have counselled that I should select a Christian to please the Christian community.

Others have said I should pick a Muslim to appeal to the Muslim community. Clearly, I cannot do both. Both sides of the debate have impressive reasons and passionate arguments supporting their positions.

Both arguments are right in their own way. But neither is right in the way that Nigeria needs at the moment.

As President, I hope to govern this nation towards uncommon progress.

This will require innovation. It will require steps never before taken.

It will also require decisions that are politically difficult and rare.”

If religion is proving to be an albatross for Tinubu and might even cost him the Presidency, he should look no further than the way the current President has handled the issue of religion and ethnic balancing since he assumed office seven years ago. Buhari has never hidden his bias and preference for one religion and zone over the other; especially in the area of appointments to key positions. There were also those who felt the President has been deliberately treating Islamic insurgents and killer herdsmen with kid gloves due to his religious and ethnic loyalties to them.

Therefore, if Christians are worried that their interests would not be protected by a Muslim-Muslim presidency, perhaps, they have a point. It is now left for Tinubu and his handlers to convince those who felt he was insensitive with his choice of a fellow Muslim as running mate that he actually meant well for the nation. And this won’t be an easy task going by how polarised the nation has become under Buhari over the issue of religion and ethnicity.

No one can envy the former Lagos State governor right now.

WIKE’S LIKE BULL IN CHINA SHOP Since he lost the presidential ticket of the opposition People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has not failed to let anyone who cares to listen know that he was bitter about the outcome of the exercise. And if he could have let go of the ticket, the fact that current Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, beat him to the vice presidential ticket seemed to have added salt to the injury and he would not keep quiet after those ‘disappointments’.

First, Wike has not hidden the fact that his losing the ticket was rankling and even before then, he had fought an almost attritional war for the ticket to be zoned to the South to compensate it for sustaining the party. The party, after a series of meetings and discussions, decided to throw the ticket open and Atiku beat him (Wike) to it.

Last week, Wike played host to a number of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC’s governors. They included the Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, his Ondo State counterpart, Rotimi Akeredolu, as well as the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

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Staying Close With 2023 Joining them was former Ekiti State governor and apparent Wike’s sidekick, Ayo Fayose. The aim of the trip was to convince Wike to support Senator Bola Tinubu’s presidential bid. It was not known what he promised them. But such a meeting was enough to send further worries down the spine of the PDP leadership.

It could be recalled that after the primary election, sources had said Wike would be picked as Atiku’s running mate. The party had therefore set up a committee to screen potential candidates for the vice-presidential slot. Wike, Okowa and Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa-Ibom had appeared before the screening panel set up by the party to nominate a vice-presidential candidate.

At the end of the day, Okowa was picked. Though some loyalists of Wike have been claiming that it was Wike that was recommended, Atiku had gone ahead to pick Okowa.

Since then, it has been a cold war with Governor Wike openly meeting opposition politicians while his party frantically tries to bring him back to the fold as they consider him strategic to their plans if they want to return to power after eight years. But Wike does not seem to have been placated.

When told that a committee had been set up to reconcile Wike with the party, a top Wike associate and former member of the House of Representatives, Ogbomna Nwuke, said the reconciliation committee set up by Atiku was a contradiction.

“On one hand, somebody says he (Wike) is one who talks too much, who probably is uncontrollable. And then, on the other hand, you want him to help your cause. You want victory and you think he can contribute to your victory. Is that not a contradiction?

There was an attempt to draft a man who was not interested in the vice presidency to be the vice president; a committee was set up, the caucus spoke, the national working committee of the party spoke favourably about Wike and it was not honoured.”

He further said: “Atiku did what he wanted to do. So what committee is he setting up again? To do what?

It doesn’t make sense. When the convention was over, nobody showed him the way to Wike’s house. If he wants Wike to work with him, he should walk to the Governor of Rivers State and speak with him. We don’t need committees, what will the committee do? It doesn’t make sense to me.”

With rhetoric like this, it is obvious that Wike is far from being placated.

But will he be like the proverbial bull in PDP’s China shop? It remains to be seen.

To show that all is not truly well within the party, last week, all the eleven governors on the platform of the party stayed away from the inauguration of the National Campaign Council for the July 16 governorship election in Osun State. The governors were Nyesom Wike, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Okezie Ikpeazu, Samuel Ortom, Seyi Makinde of Rivers, Enugu, Abia, Benue and Oyo states respectively.

Also not present at the event included the Chairman of the Campaign Council and Bayelsa State governor, Diri Douye; Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal; Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed; Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, Akwa Ibom state governor, Udom Emmanuel and Adamawa State governor, Ahmadu Fintiri. It must be noted that all the

Osinbajo

“First, Wike has not hidden the fact that his losing the ticket was rankling and even before then, he had fought an almost attritional war for the ticket to be zoned to the South to compensate it for sustaining the party.”

Wike

governors were members of the Tinubu and Rotimi Amaechi who 128-man committee. But they were came first and second respectively.

It was a major blow to Osinbajo not present at the inauguration of who many had thought would the committee. succeed his boss and also the OSINBAJO’S POSSIBLE fact that many thought he had PRESIDENTIAL RUN the credentials and the carriage In terms of organisation and the as well as the exposure to make way he went about his campaign a better president than his boss. in the build-up to the presidential Sources also told THISDAY that primary of his party, All Progressives the confidence in his camp in the Congress, APC, Vice-President Yemi weeks preceding the convention was Osinbajo probably came head and due to the fact that he had told shoulders above others. He traversed his close aides that the President all the state capitals and he also got had actually endorsed him and had a lot of professionals to endorse been monitoring his campaigns. his aspiration. But all those were Perhaps, the Vice President was not enough to win him the ticket. to later learn that he was perhaps He came a distant third to Bola not the only person the President

had promised. Sources said he also gave his words to former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, as well as the charismatic pastor and his running mate in the 2011 presidential election, Pastor Tunde Bakare.

None of these made the cut. Tinubu polled a total of 1,271 votes to Amaechi’s 316 and Osinbajo’s 235votes.

Now, last week, words started coming out that the Vice President was under pressure to seek his presidential ambition on the platform of another party. Some even mentioned the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, being promoted by former governor of Kano State, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

Though aides of the Vice President have since dismissed the rumours, they won’t go away with some going to the extent of saying that Kwankwaso had accepted to be his running mate.

Beyond the rumour is the practicability of the push. Will the vice president accept the challenge and resign his position or keep it, but resign his membership of the ruling party?

Perhaps, Osinbajo has every reason to be bitter about the outcome of the APC’s presidential primary, but he is perhaps politically wise enough to know that trying his luck on another platform would be what it is: a wild goose chase.

22

TUESDAY, JULY 12, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

This Week In Tech Tech Top 5 News 08097710984

FLUTTERWAVE DENIES MONEY LAUNDERING ALLEGATIONS BY KENYAN AUTHORITIES igerian fintech, Flutterwave, has denied allegations of money laundering leveled against it by the Kenyan Asset Recovery Agency (ARA).

It was reported earlier that a Kenyan high court froze the tech company’s accounts and those of other companies over alleged money laundering.

However, in a statement on Thursday, the company said the allegations are entirely false.

“Claims of financial improprieties involving the company in Kenya are entirely false, and we have the records to verify this. We are a financial technology company that maintains the highest regulatory standards in our operations.

Our Anti-money laundering (AML) practices and operations are regularly audited by one of the big four firms. We remain pro-active in our engagements with regulatory bodies to continue to stay compliant,” said Flutterwave in a statement.

The Kenyan high court froze fifty-six bank accounts belonging to Flutterwave and other businesses connected with Nigerian nationals over money laundering allegations.

The accounts involved are in dollars, pound sterling, euros, and Kenya shillings, with a total holding of Sh7 billion ($59 million) suspected to be money laundering proceeds by foreign nationals.

On their part, ARA explained that investigations established that the bank account operations had suspicious activities where funds could be received from specific foreign entities, which raised suspicion, and the funds were then transferred to related accounts as opposed to settlement to merchants.

“Flutterwave is operating a payment service platform without authorisation from the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), and there’s little to no record of transactions from customers paying for goods and services,” ARA claimed.

A full hearing is expected to come up in November 2022.

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MICROSOFT RAISES ALARM OVER NEW ANDROID MALWARE Researchers at Microsoft have warned Android users of a malware called ‘toll fraud’ that disguises as normal apps on the Google Play Store and drains users’ wallets once installed.

Microsoft describes toll fraud malware as a subcategory of billing fraud in which malicious applications subscribe users to premium services without their knowledge or consent.

According to the company, this type of malware is said to be one of the most prevalent types of Android malware and has continued to evolve.

Toll fraud has unique behaviours compared to other subcategories of billing fraud, which include SMS and call fraud. Whereas SMS fraud or call fraud uses a simple attack flow to send messages or calls to a premium number, toll fraud has a complex multi-step attack flow that malware developers continue to improve.

Explaining how the malware operates, the researchers in a Microsoft blog said, “We saw new capabilities related to how this threat targets users of specific network operators.

It performs its routines only if the device is subscribed to any of its target network operators. It also, by default, uses cellular connection for its activities and forces devices to connect to the mobile network even if a Wi-Fi connection is available.”

They added, “Once the connection to a target network is confirmed, it stealthily initiates a fraudulent subscription and confirms it without the user’s consent, in some cases even intercepting

nosakhare.alekhuogie@thisdaylive.com

Nosa

Alekhuogie

Tech Personality of The Week IFEOLUWA DARE-JOHNSON

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his week’s tech personality is Ifeoluwa Dare-Johnson, the Founder and CEO of Healthtracka, a health tech startup decentralising access to medical diagnostics in Africa through at-home lab testing and digital results.

Healthtracka is a digital health platform that offers health screening tests and ensures that test results are carefully reviewed, confirmed accurately by medical professionals, and made available to clients within 48 hours.

The business recently raised $1.5 million in seed funding five months after it participated in the Techstars Toronto accelerator program held in October 2021.

Since starting operations, Healthtracka has recorded huge impacts that have affected many health and finances. Ifeoluwa, who believes people should not wait until they are 40 or 50 years old before checking their health status, is making life easier with Healthtracka’s seamless health services.

In a few years, Ifeoluwa hopes to expand its operations by bringing Healthtracka’s lab to every doorstep in Africa. They operate in Nigeria, with strong partnerships established in Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa.

Dare-Johnson revealed further that Healthtracka would launch a new line of products, including an API infrastructure for healthcare providers to offer home services to their patients. the one-time password (OTP) to do so. It then suppresses SMS notifications related to the subscription to prevent the user from becoming aware of the fraudulent transaction and unsubscribing from the service.”

ELON MUSK PULLS OUT OF TWITTER DEAL On Friday, Musk sent a letter to Twitter saying he plans to terminate their merger agreement, claiming the company is in material breach of the deal and accusing Twitter of “false and misleading representations upon which Musk relied when entering into the merger agreement.”

According to Musk’s lawyers, he pulled out of the deal due to Twitter’s alleged failure to provide accurate information about the amount of bot and spam accounts on the platform.

Twitter has claimed that less than 5 per cent of its total accounts are bogus, but Musk has stated on numerous occasions that he believes this number to be much higher.

After agreeing to the $44 billion deal in April, Musk began intimating that he was not happy with the current state of the deal on his Twitter and in official filings, adding that he specifically doubted Twitter’s claims that only about five per cent of its accounts were spam accounts. Musk had declared that the deal was “on hold” in May. There had been speculation that the concerns were a way to get Twitter to renegotiate the deal’s purchase price, but Twitter has been adamant that it was not budging from the agreed-upon purchase price.

Twitter board chairperson, Bret Taylor, has said the company plans to pursue legal action to enforce the merger agreement.

A breakup fee of $1 billion is what Musk would have to pay if he walked away.

But the contract’s clause says that Twitter could force him to pay the $44 billion if he decides to withdraw now.

After the report went viral, Twitter’s shares slid on Thursday by about 4 per cent in after-market trades.

REPORT: B2B PAYMENTS IN AFRICA SLOWED BY HIGH TRANSACTION COSTS According to a new report, high transaction costs and manual processes are the biggest hindrances to the growth of business-tobusiness (B2B payments) in Africa.

The report by Duplo, a fintech company dedicated to developing solutions for B2B transactions across Africa, explained that the challenging factors were derived from a survey conducted among more than 1,000 business owners from Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, and Egypt.

In the report, both challenges (high transaction costs and manual processes) dominated the list of challenges shared with a 50.5 per cent occurrence rate in respondents’ feedback (high transaction cost; 32.1 per cent, manual processes; 18.4 per cent.)

From the statistics gathered, 29.2 per cent of users of B2B platforms indicate that they will stick with service providers that ensure ease of use above all factors.

About 27.7 per cent settled for reliability above all other considerations, while 18.4 per cent will opt for a service provider that guarantees high speed.

9.8 per cent picked digitised solutions as a priority, while 9.7 per cent listed affordable processing cost as a leading point of consideration. Also, 5.2 per cent of the respondents said they would rather pick B2B platforms that provided customised offerings.

The report also revealed that across Africa, bank transfers are fast becoming the most common medium for making and receiving payments between businesses, far more commonly used than cash, cheques, and mobile money together.

Eighty-five per cent of respondents chose

bank transfers as one of the ways they made payments to other businesses, compared to 60 per cent for cash, 23 per cent for cheques, and 17 per cent for mobile money.

MED-DIRECT AFRICA LAUNCHES E-PHARMACY IN NIGERIA Med-Direct Africa has introduced e-pharmacy services in the country, targeted at reducing the prices of quality drugs in Nigeria while delivering essential medical supplies with speed to the last mile nationwide.

The online pharmacy services will be available to all Nigerians irrespective of where they reside to ensure everyone can access genuine and affordable medicines online, including high-value and life-saving prescription drugs with swift delivery to their location of preference.

Med-Direct Africa’s e-pharmacy services will also oversee last-mile deliveries for donor agencies, while Nigerians in the Diaspora can take advantage of its digital platform to supply quality drugs cheaper than they can buy overseas for their relatives situated in Nigeria.

The e-pharmacy services are available via an online pharmaceutical platform, enabling customers to purchase medicines, health supplements and nutraceuticals, among other essential medical supplies, without needing to visit a physical pharmacy.

According to the company, they will pay quality attention to prescription drugs, including high-value and life-saving drugs, to ensure genuine drugs are supplied to those who need it before they exhaust what they have, no matter where they reside.

“We shall also handle last-mile deliveries for public-spirited Nigerians and Donor Agencies, while Nigerians in the Diaspora can also take advantage of our reach to supply quality drugs cheaper than they can buy overseas for their relatives. We are dealing directly with manufacturers and distributors backed with the highest level of technologies and structured analytics to deliver without fail. We are prepared,” stated the firm’s head of retail operations, Mr Ifeanyi Ogbolu.

LAWYER TUESDAY, JULY 12, 2022

CHIEF J-K GADZAMA, SAN

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YAKUBU CHONOKO MAIKYAU, SAN

WEEKLY PULLOUT

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JONATHAN GUNU TAIDI

Gadzama, Maikyau, Taidi: Nigerian Lawyers Decide

II

TUESDAY, JULY 12, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

IN THIS EDITION

Trial and Conviction of a Minor for Culpable Homicide Punishable with Death Page IV

QUOTABLES ‘The Nigerian Judiciary has been rendered a slave to the Executive and Legislature.’ - Jibrin Okutepa, SAN ‘Could it be that the Judiciary is being pauperised, so that they will pander a certain way to those who have the responsibility of funding it? Maybe so.’ - Y.C. Maikyau, SAN

LAWYER

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE: EDITOR, JUDE IGBANOI: DEPUTY EDITOR, PETER TAIWO, STEVE AYA: REPORTERS

III THE ADVOCATE

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, JULY 12, 2022

Kuje: Of Sabotage, Inaction and Excuses Maximum Security Prison id you know that even though Nigeria has over 200 prisons (now rebranded and called ‘Correctional Centres' though they correct and rehabilitate nothing, bring about no positive change to the lives of inmates who mostly come out as more hardened criminals, and the conditions therein remain one of the most disgusting and deplorable in the world - see my 2017 editorial: “Imprisonment in Nigeria: A Fate Worse than Death”), only two of the prisons, Kirikiri, Apapa, Lagos and Gashua, Yobe State seem to be Maximum Security Prisons? Majority of the Nigerian prisons are Medium Security and Satellite Prisons, the latter being akin to Minimum Security Prisons.

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a maximum security prison is "a prison that does as much as possible to keep prisoners from escaping and watches them very closely''.

Such facilities are well guarded to prevent ingress or egress, and specifically designed to accommodate the most dangerous criminals like murderers, armed robbers and terrorists (who pose serious threat to society), while the Medium Security prisons are for less violent criminals, like those who may have been convicted for drug trafficking, or white collar offences like fraud and corruption.

D

Questions The first question that therefore comes to mind, is what hardened, violent criminals like Boko Haram terrorists et al, and such a large number too, were doing casually being housed in Kuje Prison, Abuja, a Medium Security Prison which is not secure enough for them, when they belong in an impenetrable Maximum Security Prison! Even the American Government that has Maximum Security Prisons all over the country, made use of Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp, a military prison located within its Naval Base in Cuba, to house terrorists who they captured. There is no escape from there.

The fact of the matter is that, unfortunately Nigeria now has an uncountable number of terrorists who are just as dangerous and violent as those who are found in Guantanamo Bay; and arrangements for their detention cannot be taken as lightly as it has hitherto been. Nigerian criminals have graduated from small time crimes and armed robbery, to the highest levels of criminality - our local terrorists have more sophisticated weaponry than our security agents, and they partake in all the activities foreign terrorists do, like kidnapping, gruesome murder, bombing, suicide bombing etc.

The Kuje prison attack of last Tuesday night, a prison break to release terrorists, is certainly not the first of its kind in Nigeria.

So, before the opposition PDP decides to take the hypocritical moral high ground, and start waxing lyrical about how negligent this Government is - the truth of the matter is that both the erstwhile PDP Government and this present APC administration, are both negligent - in 2012, there was a similar occurrence in Jimeta Prison in Damaturu, Yobe State, where 40 gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members attacked and orchestrated a prison break in which about 40 prisoners, mostly Boko Haram members, escaped. Seven inmates and one prison warden lost their lives during that incident, just as four inmates and one Civil Defence personnel were said to have been killed in the Kuje attack, and about 16 injured (including three prison staff).

Recently, there have been other prison breaks in Edo, Oyo and Imo State, maybe about 12 in total, which shows what easy targets Nigerian correctional facilities are.

My second question is, knowing that Kuje Prison is so porous, why was security not beefed up, with so many terrorists being housed there, and with some of their colleagues calling for a swap of abductees for their fellow terrorists? I laughed when I read a statement issued by the Minister of

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE onikepo.braithwaite@thisdaylive. com onikepob@yahoo.com

The

Advocate “This nonchalance…..and dereliction of duty

by Government and its the relevant security agencies, is an extremely troubling trend.

Governor Nasiru El Rufai alluded to the same thing, when he stated in a television interview that they had enough warning about impending attacks on the Kaduna Airport and Rail….Instead of Government taking any meaningful action…. the NSA…..simply denounced Governor El Rufai as nothing more than a parrot, or a canary who was singing more than he should!”

Defence, saying that security operatives repelled the attackers. Repelled Indeed!

So much so that, the terrorist attackers were alleged to have spent 15 minutes having a revival service - praying and preaching a sermon, before they continued with the attack and freed the inmates (as we say in Yoruba, ‘aye gba wòn’ - ‘they were comfortable/relaxed, they had space/ time’), while all the dangerous prisoners except the ones who opted not to escape, got away! The bitter truth is that, just like over 500 prisoners who escaped from the Imo State prison last year are yet to be captured, so also is it unlikely that these terrorists and other dangerous criminals that escaped from Kuje prison will ever be apprehended.

Sadly, in the next week or two, all the top Government officials having visited the ‘locus in quo’, this incident would be forgotten and consigned into the dustbin of history (like the Imo incident); and, because there’s a total lack of accountability in our system, nothing will be done to secure the prisons and provide a maximum security facility for dangerous

Nigerian Correctional Service Centre, Kuje, Abuja

criminals; no one will lose their jobs, nor will anyone resign; life will just go on as usual until another violent incident, possibly of a more serious magnitude, occurs (like this was more serious than the 2012 Jimeta Prison attack). See particularly Sections 14(2)(b), 33(1) & 35, and generally, Chapter II of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) (the Constitution). Also see the case of Samuel v Controller of Federal Prisons, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State & Ors (2013) LPELR-20707(CA).

The Troubling Issue of Nonchalance and Inaction What is even more troubling, is the allegation that the Prison authorities/ security agencies may have been warned about the impending attack, yet Kuje Prison was not fortified, and no extra precautionary measures were taken. I would like to believe that the allegation that there was a change of Army guards stationed in the area the day before the attack, with no replacements to take over and assume duty, thereby leaving the

Kuje facility as a sitting duck, is nothing but an unfounded rumour.

This nonchalance, omission, lack of concern, inaction and dereliction of duty

by Government and its the relevant security agencies, is an extremely troubling trend.

Governor Nasiru El Rufai alluded to the same thing, when he stated in a television interview that they had enough warning about impending attacks on the Kaduna Airport and Rail, as the Director of SSS had shown him a security report since January.

He said "It's not surveillance.….I get enough information about these people.

We know what to do. Those that are to do it, are just not doing it…..We listen to their conversations, we know what they are planning. But, who will go and respond to them, is the issue. The Army is afraid of killing them. The Air Force is afraid of bombing them, because of media, human rights...". Instead of Government taking any meaningful action after the Kaduna attack, the NSA (National Security Adviser), Babagana Monguno, simply denounced Governor El Rufai as nothing more than a parrot, or a canary who was singing more than he should!

Excuses One of the hallmarks of this administration, is making excuses for acts and omissions - a workman blaming his tools. So, it came as no surprise that the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in his statement, blamed the incident on the fact that Nigerian prisons are only designed to contain internal riots, and not to repel external attacks. Whose fault is that?

Interestingly, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, surmised that the terrorists were aided by collaborators on the inside - ex or current staff. I concur. This has always been my position. That our security agencies, have been compromised and infiltrated by Boko Haram terrorists and other undesirable criminals. And that, no matter how efficient or good our security operatives may be, with moles and betrayers within their ranks, their efforts will mostly be thwarted. This is one of the reasons why I am a proponent of external assistance, to quell the insurgency and the insecurity Nigeria is facing once and for all; independent, objective people whose only mission is to secure the environment.

Conclusion One good outcome of this recent Kuje attack, is the fact that it occurred in the nation’s capital and seat of Government. This may be the wake-up call that Government and all its security agencies need, to be up and doing. Hitherto, Abuja where most top officials of all arms of Government reside, had been a somewhat safe haven, with most of the violence occurring in other parts of the country. The fact that there are numerous violent terrorists on the loose, running around Abuja with gusto and relish, and Government functionaries and their families are now in clear and present danger of attack, may just be the trigger that is required for Government to take the issue of Nigeria’s insecurity more seriously.

How do you even justify the omission of Government/security agencies to heed advance warnings of possible attacks? A further pointer to the fact that they may either be incompetent or compromised. So, for now, the forward that made the rounds on social media over the weekend, remains mostly the truth in Nigeria of today - that while the Government is unable to rescue its citizens from terrorists, terrorists are able to rescue their members from Government!

Tragicomic. Let’s hope this ugly narrative changes “with immediate effect and automatic alacrity”, as Chief Eliyinmi of the Village Headmaster television series of the 1970’s was fond of saying, though this hope may be absolutely baseless if Government and its security agencies do not change their tactics.

IV LAW REPORT

TUESDAY, JULY 12, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

Trial and Conviction of a Minor for Culpable Homicide Punishable with Death

Facts The Appellant, who was a minor of 11 years of age, was arraigned before the High Court of Jigawa State on a one-count charge of culpable homicide punishable with death under Section 221(b) of the Penal Code Law applicable in Jigawa State. It was the case of the Prosecution that the Appellant caused the death of one Mohammadu Hamza, by hitting him on the head and other parts of his body with sticks.

The charge proceeded to trial, and the Appellant pleaded not guilty. In support of its case, the Respondent called five witnesses.

The Appellant did not call any witness, but rested his case on that of the Prosecution.

At the conclusion of the trial, the trial court delivered its judgement in which it convicted the Appellant and sentenced him to death by hanging, notwithstanding that as at the date of the conviction and sentence, the Appellant was a minor.

Dissatisfied, the Appellant filed an appeal before the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal affirmed the conviction of the Appellant; however, it substituted the sentence of death passed on him with an order for him to be detained during the pleasure of the Governor of Jigawa State. This was on the basis that, by the provisions of Section 270 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Jigawa State, the Appellant, who was a minor at the time of the commission of the offence, and at the time of his conviction and sentence, ought not to have been sentenced to death, but instead, ordered to be detained at the pleasure of the Governor in compliance with Section 272 of the said Criminal Procedure Code. Still dissatisfied, the Appellant appealed to the Supreme Court.

Issues for Determination The Supreme Court considered the following issues, in its determination of the appeal: 1. Whether the Court of Appeal properly considered and applied the principles for the defence of provocation, before affirming the conviction of the Appellant.

2. Whether having regard to the provisions of Section 270 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the Court of Appeal was right in law to have upheld the conviction of the Appellant, a minor, for culpable homicide punishable with death, and to have merely commuted the sentence to detention in prison at the pleasure of the Governor.

Arguments Arguing the first issue, counsel for the Appellant submitted that the Police failed to investigate the assertion by the Appellant in his extra-judicial statement that there was a fight between the Appellant and the deceased, which provided the defence of provocation. He argued that the failure of the Police to investigate the assertion, occasioned a miscarriage of justice against the Appellant. He contended further that the lower court failed to consider available evidence that showed that the deceased was the aggressor, when evaluating the evidence before it. He submitted that the facts adduced at the trial were consistent with a lesser charge of culpable homicide not punishable by death, by doing a rash and negligent act under Section 224 of the Penal Code. He submitted that the Appellant ought to have been sentenced on the said lesser charge.

Countering the submissions above, counsel for the Respondent argued that even though a court is obligated to consider the defences open to an accused person, such defence must only be such as is evident from what is before the court. He cited TAKIDA v

Honourable Ibrahim Mohammed Musa Saulawa, JSC

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Friday, the 6th day of May, 2022 Before Their Lordships Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun Abdu Aboki Ibrahim Mohammed Musa Saulawa Tijjani Abubakar Justices, Supreme Court SC.18/2015 Between YUSUF MUSA

AND

THE STATE

APPELLANT RESPONDENT

Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Ibrahim Mohammed Musa Saulawa, JSC)

STATE (1969) 6 NSCC; OJO v STATE (1973) 8 NSCC 590 at 594.

He submitted that the burden of proof of the defence of provocation rests on the Appellant, and the Appellant had failed to discharge same. He contended that there was nothing before the lower court, upon which it could have arrived at any other conclusion from culpable homicide punishable by death.

On the second issue, counsel for the Appellant argued that the two courts below did not apply the proper standard in considering the extent of criminal responsibility to be ascribed to the Appellant in the circumstance of the case. He posited that in both civil and criminal law, the legal capacity/criminal responsibility of a minor is diminished and can never equate to that of an adult by virtue of the mental capacity and level of maturity.

He cited NPF v OMOTOSHO (2018) LPELR – 4577 8 (CA). He submitted further that the charge should not have even proceeded to full trial before the High Court of Jigawa State, when it was clear that the Appellant was a juvenile at the relevant time. Responding to the line of reasoning, counsel for the Respondent

“….. it is only the High Court that can embark on trial where a juvenile/young offender is charged for the offence of homicide….. no sentence of death shall be imposed on a person under seventeen years of age…..and where such person is convicted with an offence punishable by death, the court should order that he rather be detained during the Governor’s pleasure”

argued otherwise that, the Appellant being a minor did not exempt him from the sphere of the relevant principle of law to determine whether or not he committed the offence.

Court’s Judgement and Rationale Determining the first issue, the Court held that although there is an obligation on the court to consider all the defences open to an accused person, however, such defences must only be those that are evidence before the court, and not such as are contrived or imagined.

TAKIDA v STATE (1969) 5 NSCC 270. The defence of provocation, like all other defences, cannot hang on the air, without supporting evidence. By virtue of the provisions of Section 139(1) of the Evidence Act, 2011 (in pari materia with Section 141 of the Evidence Act,2004), the burden of proving the defence of provocation lies squarely upon the accused to show that: (i) There was a sudden act of provocation by or from the deceased person; (ii) The Defendant lost self-control as a result of the sudden provocation; (ii) The Defendant acted in the heat of passion, and before there was time for his passion to cool; and (iv) The retaliatory acts were proportionate to the provocation. The Court referred to KAZA v THE STATE (2008) 7 NWLR (Pt. 1085) 125 and SHELDU v THE STATE (2014) LPELR -23018 (SC) at 24-25, Paras. G-C. The Court acknowledged that although the Appellant did not raise the defence of provocation at the trial court, the trial court properly considered same as a defence open to the Appellant in its evaluation

of the Appellant’s extra judicial statement, before it proceeded to convict the Appellant.

The lower court also properly considered and applied the legal principles relevant to the defence of provocation, before affirming the Appellant’s conviction. The Court referred to the unchallenged testimony of PW2 as to how she had separated PW1 from the Appellant, and how each of them left the scene of the fight and went their separate ways, and the testimony of PW1 who was an eye witness as to how the Appellant came back and started beating her and the deceased where they were sitting together.

The court agreed with the finding of the Court of Appeal that assuming there was provocation, between the time of the fight and when the deceased was sitting down with PW1, the heat of passion would have subsided for the Appellant to have regained his self-control, such that the retaliatory hitting of the deceased by the Appellant at that time was no longer instantaneous with the provocative incident purportedly offered by the deceased. There was nothing impulsive about the Appellant’s actions, that would justify a finding that the Appellant acted in the heat of passion. Furthermore, the Appellant had stated in Exhibit 1 that the deceased hit him once on his chest and twice on his elbow, and he went for the deceased’s head in retaliation. The retaliatory act of the Appellant and the extent of the injuries inflicted by the Appellant on the deceased whose skull was broken, established that the force used by the Appellant was disproportionate to the provocative incident alleged. It follows therefore that the defence of provocation is not available to the Appellant in the prevailing circumstances of the appeal, in light of the lack of evidential basis for the same.

Considering the second issue, the Apex Court held that the fact that a minor is treated as a person with diminished capacity, does not of itself change the nature of the crime that was committed. It is only a relevant factor, in determining the punishment to be meted out upon conviction.

Their Lordships held that the Appellant being a minor who is regarded as a person with diminished capacity at the relevant time, was not exempted from the sphere of the relevant principle of law to determine whether or not he committed the offence.

The court is only limited when it comes to the orders it can make, where as in this case, the Appellant has been convicted.

On the Respondent’s argument that the case should not have proceeded to full trial owing to the fact that the Appellant was a juvenile of 11 years of age at the material time, the Court held that it is only the High Court that can embark on trial where a juvenile/young offender is charged for the offence of homicide - AHMADU v STATE (2014) LPELR – 23974 (CA) and Section 12 (1) of the Children and Young Persons Law. By virtue of Sections 270 and 272 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Jigawa State, no sentence of death shall be imposed on a person under seventeen years of age, or on a pregnant woman, and where such person is convicted with an offence punishable by death, the court should order that he rather be detained during the Governor’s pleasure. The Court of Appeal having affirmed the conviction of the Appellant who was under 17 years of age, of culpable homicide punishable by death, was thus right to have commuted the sentence passed on the Appellant, and replaced it with his detention at the pleasure of the Governor.

Appeal Dismissed.

Representation J.Y. Pam for the Appellant.

Oluwaseyilayo Ojo for the Respondent.

Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited, Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Reports (NMLR)(An affiliate of Babalakin & Co.)

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TUESDAY, JULY 12, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

SERIOUS MATTERS OLAWALE FAPOHUNDA, SAN

08033142501 SMS ONLY

Kuje Jail Break: Is there Something Very Wrong With Us? Medication and Patriotic Nigerians very close friend of mine, who shares his time between debating national issues and attending to cancer patients in his hospital, once told me that it is impossible to be patriotic and passionate about Nigeria without being on medication. He went further to identify two common illness that are likely to afflict those he called the ‘die-hard I love my country’ category of Nigerians - Acute Migraine and High Blood Pressure. According to him, this category of Nigerians are best advised to use Gabapentin, an effective prophylactic agent for patients with migraine, and Exforge HCT, a much recommended drug for the treatment of high blood pressure. I belong to this category of Nigerians. Recent events in the country are beginning to affect my wellbeing. I am wondering whether this is not the appropriate time to seek medical advise on the desirability of placing myself on either of these recommended drugs. I am not unaware that for many of our country people, everyday hustling has turned most into reluctant drug abusers. Indeed, it will be difficult to find anyone living in any of our big cities who is not armed with the various types of Panadol. The physical toll on our bodies from just moving from one place to another, makes some form of medication a necessity. The mental agony of watching a country like ours so blessed with potentials for greatness, sinking in the mire of its own mediocrity, is enough reason for one to take comfort in drug prescriptions.

A

Gobsmacked by Ineptitude The more I think about what happened in Kuje correctional facility, the more I worry that I have been in state of self-denial all this while about the mental health of our nation. Something may actually be very wrong with us. Now which part of the unfolding Kuje drama is not a cause for migraine or high blood pressure? As bad as the circumstances surrounding the jail break were, it is the aftermath that has left me gobsmacked.

In the immediate aftermath, there was the visit by Mr President. Mr President’s visit will probably be the first time a sitting President has visited any of our correctional facilities. President Obasanjo was an inmate of the correctional centre.

He did not visit the as President. The only news that came from President Buhari’s visit, was an expression of disappointment with the intelligence gathering capacity of our security services. Then followed the flurry of visits by a motley crowd of top government officials including the echelon of the National Assembly, who collectively and individually expressed dismay at the state of the facility including ‘wait for it’ the absence of CCTV cameras. Shockingly, the question of how an army of Boko Haram terrorists could get into the heart of Abuja, escaped the attention of the VIP visitors.

So did the issue of how a facility that held tens of Nigeria’s most dangerous fellows, was poorly secured. It is mind-boggling that neither the VIPs not their handlers sought to address the lingering fear that the Kuje invasion is conclusive evidence that our critical national assets, including the lives and properties of our citizens who have made Abuja and its environs their homes, is now in a state of clear and

A Part of Kuje Correctional Centre, in the aftermath of the attack present danger. If these terrorists could audaciously invade Kuje correctional facility with almost zero resistance from our security forces, what stops them from invading the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport which is in close proximity to the facility?

Democratisation of Mediocrity Again, how does one respond to these very important government officials, who expressed shock at the general state of the correctional facility and the absence of CCTV? What this means is that none of the many reports on the state of correctional facilities in Nigeria, including ministerial briefing notes, caught the interest of our state officials, the members of the National Assembly being the most culpable. We now know that none of the several parliamentary public hearings on the state of our correctional facilities, meant anything to our parliamentarians. In essence, monies were simply appropriated, without the oversight parliamentary committee caring to find out the importance or relevance of the budgeted items to the security and other needs of the correctional facility.

Someone said that we have democratised mediocrity. I agree.

Reawakening of Penal Reform I guess the only bright side from this episode, if there can be said to be one, is the renewed spotlight on state of our correctional facilities in Nigeria. At least, the feedback from the several ‘tourists’ who visited the Kuje facility, has enabled a reawakening on the need for penal reforms. This Column in a number of its previous editions, has stated unequivocally that our Correctional facilities are the clearest evidence yet that all is not well with our criminal justice system, arguing that there should be more action than talk by politicians on penal reform. The absence of political will at the highest level of Government, has been an important obstacle to prisons reforms. Presidential interventions in prisons over the years have been ad-hoc, frequently unimaginative,

“If these terrorists could audaciously invade Kuje correctional facility with almost zero resistance from our security forces, what stops them from invading the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport which is in close proximity to the facility?”

and in at least one case, ridiculous.

There was the prisoner release exercise launched in 2000, with emphasis on the prompt release of those who should not be in prisons. The Presidential Prison Decongestion Exercise that focused on providing legal aid and representation for prisoners, followed this in 2006.

Poor implementation and the lack of continuity, ensured the failure of both initiatives. The idea of ‘decongestion by execution’, gained currency under the Jonathan administration. State Governors were urged to sign death warrants, as a prisoner reduction strategy. Thankfully, the hullabaloo that greeted that idea led to its non-implementation.

The Buhari administration, to be fair, has undertaken a number of major interventions in prisons. The Federal Executive Council adopted a memorandum by the Honourable Minister of Interior, on prison reforms.

The immediate result, was the increase in the number of prisoner transport vehicles available to the Correctional Service.

The second intervention was the high level briefing by the Ministry of Interior to the National Council of Sates, on the role of States in prisons decongestion. Many States see corrections as the exclusive preserve of the Federal Government. They readily point to the exclusive legislative list, in support of their position. It is difficult to rationalise the position of State Governments.

Most States provide vehicles and other logistics in support of the Police and other security agencies, without giving a thought to the needs of the correctional service. It seems simplistic enough to understand that effective policing may invariably lead to the arrest, prosecution and possibly, imprisonment of persons who come into conflict with the law. The prisons service is therefore, as important as other criminal justice institutions.

The other noteworthy intervention by the Buhari administration, is the enactment of the Correctional Services Act to replace the old Prisons Act. This was no mean feat, after almost 20 years of back and forth. Quite aside from the change of nomenclature from prisons to corrections, the Correctional Services Act provides the framework for progressive interventions in all aspects our penal regime.

Glaring Challenges Yet, as is now obvious, we still have problems; some of which should now

be obvious to those who visited Kuje Correctional Centre. The most glaring, is the issue of awaiting trial persons. The majority of persons in prisons, are remand prisoners.

Many who have spent an unreasonable long period, waiting for the courts to hear their cases. A combination of poor Police investigation and inefficient prosecution, has led to the inability of the courts to quickly process persons charged with criminal offences.

The second glaring issue, is that of poor facilities. Majority of prisoners are housed in squalid and congested cells, due to lack of appropriate structures. Then, there is the issue of poor conditions of service of Correctional Officers. The conditions of service under which the officers and staff of the correctional services work, are grossly inadequate. The pay is poor and cannot match the dangers, emotional stress and social isolation to which prison officers are exposed. It there was any doubt about the dangers correctional officers are exposed to, the Kuje Correctional facility jail break should focus minds.

Finally, is the controversial issue of oversight. The Correctional Services have for long been supervised by the Ministry of Interior (formerly Internal Affairs). The Ministry of Interior jointly supervises the correctional service and other paramilitary services like the Fire Service, the Immigration Service and the Civil Defence Corps. It would seem obvious to all, except the Ministry of Interior, that the duties of the Correctional Services are fundamentally different from that of the Fire service, Immigration and Civil Defence Corps. Therefore, a situation where they are treated in the same way and administered by one administrative body, will continue to militate against the efficiency and effectiveness of the correctional service. Maybe if the Ministry of Interior did not have too much on its plate, it would have paid closer attention to the security lapses in Kuje Correctional Centre.

Final Thoughts The jail break in Kuje Correctional Centre, was not the first of its kind. I guess what made this newsworthy and worthy of urgent VIP attention, is the Boko Haram dimension plus the reality that Abuja may not be a fortress after all. The Chicken appears to be coming home to roost.

To date, there has been no accountability - no admission of lapse, no resignations, no sackings. So, after all the noise, high flying visits, speeches and photo ops, life will return to normal, and it will be business as usual. That will truly be very sad.

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Chief J-K Gadzama, SAN

Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, SAN

Jonathan Gunu Taidi

Gadzama, Maikyau, Taidi: Nigerian Lawyers Decide Once again, Nigerian Lawyers are set to elect their national officers who will run the affairs of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for the next two years. Since the NBA adopted the electronic voting method by universal suffrage, the exercise has witnessed its fair share of challenges, which the Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the NBA, Ayo Akintunde, SAN, in a recent interview with THIS DAY LAWYER, gave assurance would be surmounted. In this year’s election, three eminently qualified candidates are in the race, namely Chief J-K Gadzama, SAN, Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, SAN and Jonathan Gunu Taidi. Who will Nigerian Lawyers select as their next President? Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi asked each of the contestants a set of probing questions, as to why they think Nigerian Lawyers should entrust them with the affairs of the Association for the next two years, and the highlights of their manifestos Chief J-K Gadzama, SAN – ‘I Have a Proven Track Record of Consistency, Commitment and Excellence’ Why do you think Nigerian Lawyers should entrust you with the running of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for the next two years? How do you intend to actualise and fulfil your campaign promises within these 24 months?

I am a man of verifiable antecedents. I believe strongly in what a man has done, as being a likely indication of what more he can do. If a man were to walk up to me and offer me cloth, I would take a keen interest in what cloth he is wearing. You cannot give what you do not have. You can only give as much as your ability.

The position of the NBA President, is a sensitive and serious position. It is not a job to learn on, neither is it a job for the absent-minded. It is a job for people with a proven track record of consistency, commitment and excellence. I am all this and more.

I am a prepared candidate, and my antecedents speak for me. I am a Bar-man through and through, who has consistently and unapologetically enmeshed himself in the service of the NBA.

I am the Pioneer Chairman, NBA-Section on Public Interest and Development Law; the Pioneer Vice-Chairman, NBA-Section on Legal Practice; the Pioneer Council Member, NBA-Section on Business Law; Pioneer NBA Golf Captain.

I am also the Chairman, NBA-Security Agencies Relations Committee; the Chairman, Mentoring Committee of the Body of Benchers for Young Lawyers; the Former Chairman, NBA- Abuja Branch [Unity Bar]; the Chairman, NBA National Electoral Committee (1998); and Member, National Executive Committee of the NBA from 1998-2016, 2018 to date. Therefore, with me, the Bar has a prepared candidate. One who can take the benefit of past experiences, and champion loftier paths for an all-inclusive Bar I have the needed experience. I am a known variable. I also believe that great policies have been introduced by the present administration, and that there is need for continuity. I am also a man of innovation and ideas, with the wherewithal to implement

“It is unjustifiable that, while the executive and legislative arms enjoy regular upward review of salaries, the emoluments of Judges have remained neglected for over a decade. Those charged with administering justice, cannot be treated so unjustly”

these great ideas. This and much more, I will bring to bear, when given the opportunity to further serve the Bar. What is the focal point of your manifesto?

The focal points of my manifesto stand on two broad pedestals: continuity and innovation. There are lofty policies presently being implemented by the current Akpata-led NBA, some of which include the Access to Finance Scheme. I have stated before now that the imperative of the instant pilot scheme of the NBA, created for Lawyers who may require loans for their working capital, operational needs and sundry purposes, cannot be overemphasised. This is especially true, given that Lawyers who meet the prescribed eligibility criteria can now access up to N2 million at a single-digit interest rate. This is indeed, a huge milestone for the NBA community, and a further testament to the waves of other lofty welfare initiatives of this present administration. I cannot but wholeheartedly commend this initiative, and urge every and any eligible member to key into the many benefits the scheme affords.

As one of my focal areas of interest is to promote viable fiscal policies that enable the financial security, growth and stability of legal practitioners across Nigeria, it is a desire of mine, as a matter of urgency, to see that this instant scheme grows, thrives, and impacts the quality and development of the practice of law and the legal profession in Nigeria through financial empowerment.

I intend to also grow this scheme by engaging other relevant financial institutions, on the need to cater for the preferences of our members who are more inclined

toward Islamic financial instruments.

Would you say the two-year tenure for NBA Exco is too short?

I do not think so. We have had past Presidents of the NBA, who did so much in so little a time. The present NBA President is doing the same. So, experience has shown that with the right attitude and motivation, so much can be achieved with the two-year tenure for NBA Exco.

It is doable, and empirical facts abound that prove this. So, I think performance is a function of a number of factors. Experience, Capacity, Ability, Support System, Ideas, Self-Motivation and whatnots. If you give a hundred years to a man without ideas and the wherewithal to gravitate the NBA to a greater height, it still would not be enough.

How do you intend to actualise and fulfil your campaign promises within these 24 months?

One word: All-Inclusiveness. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. This underscores the importance of teamwork, proper delegation, and having squared pegs in squared holes. The fact is that the right people must be assigned to do the right job. It will take superhuman effort, to single-handedly implement all that we seek to achieve. I understand these limitations, and even though I strive to do things as superhumanly as possible, I must admit that I am no superhuman and therefore, appreciate the need to constitute teams of like-minded persons, with whom I share the same value system, who are goal-driven and of impeccable character. I intend to achieve, fulfil and attain those objectives as outlined in my manifesto, through an all-inclusiveness leadership module.

While ideas and innovations are imperative, it is even more important to implement. We will set up appraisal systems to help gauge

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Gadzama, Maikyau, Taidi: Nigerian Lawyers Decide cont'd from pageVII

quarterly, our level of implementation of the promises we have made. Indeed, it cannot be business as usual. The NBA must work for all.

In the last few years, Lawyers complained that the NBA seemed to have lost focus, failing to play the role of a Bar Association.

The outgoing President, Olumide Akpata, has done a lot to refocus the Association, get it back to being the voice of the people and conscience of the society that it should be, to once more be a force to be reckoned with, and has set it on the right path.

How will you be able to keep up this momentum?

It cannot be overemphasised that, we have a rejigged NBA. The NBA now responds to issues of national importance, especially as it relates to upholding the rule of law, makes public statements on topical issues and takes a position. A ready example is the statement of the NBA on the raid of Justice Mary Odili’s residence by Security Operatives, and the emergency meeting of the NBA National Executive Council solely to discuss the matter. Mr Olumide Akpata also inaugurated the NBA- Security Agencies Relations Committee (NBA-SARC), a Committee I presently Chair, and whose mandate is the protection of Lawyers from harassment and intimidation by security agencies across the country. In line with its mandates, the NBA-SARC has successfully intervened in more than 15 cases involving Lawyers.

I have also, even prior to my appointment as the NBA-SARC Chairman, always been committed to public interest litigation which champions the cause of justice and rule of law. I am also the Pioneer Chairman, NBA-Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL) which amongst other things, ensures access to effective remedies for victims of violations of the law and abuse of power. May I also mention that I am the Pioneer Vice-Chairman, NBA-Section on Legal Practice, whose primary objective is the promotion and protection of Human rights, the Rule of law and good governance in Nigeria. I am also the lead Consultant to Mr Kolawole Isaac Abubakar, the legal practitioner who was brutalised by the Nigeria Customs Service in a viral video. I was also the lead counsel in the NBA Team, setup to challenge the dismissal of an unmarried female Police officer who became pregnant.

So, I have the right momentum, to sustain the present drive of the Akpata-led NBA. My antecedents are verifiable, and I will allow them to speak for me. Talk, as they say, is cheap!

The issue of welfare of young Lawyers has featured prominently in the litany of campaign promises by contestants. What will be your strategy to change the status quo with reference to Lawyers’ welfare, especially the young ones?

The welfare of young Lawyers in the profession, is of paramount importance to me. Inasmuch as there are young Lawyers that earn adequate salaries, the majority do not earn salaries that are commensurate with the work they put in their respective workplaces.

I am also aware that the Akpata-led administration tasked the Remuneration Committee of the NBA, to tackle this very issue. The Committee submitted a 126-page report to the NBA President, with recommendations on fees that Lawyers should charge, a proposed new scale of charges for the legal profession, and how law firms should remunerate their colleagues in different parts of the country, amongst others.

As a NBA-NEC Member, I am also aware that the report of the Remuneration Committee was presented to, and considered at, the NBA-NEC meeting of March 17, 2022. The NBA-NEC thereafter, directed that a White Paper Committee be set up to look into the recommendations in the Report of the Remuneration Committee,

Chief J-K Gadzama, SAN

reconcile divergent views, and map out modalities for implementation.

I also recall that during the NBA NEC Meeting held at Ilorin on June 9, 2022, which I also attended, the Report of the NBA’s Remuneration (White Paper) Committee was submitted to, and approved by the NBA-NEC. I have read the 126-page Report of the Remuneration Committee. I have also read the White Paper of the NBA’s Remuneration (White Paper) Committee. I, therefore, comment that the recommendations made are commendable and feasible. This is a fertile ground to build upon, and I am more than ready to take this drive, steps further. In consolidation to efforts made, we must now put in place, the necessary legal and administrative framework needed to give full effect to the recommendations in the Remuneration Committee report as accepted by the White Paper.

Do you support fixing and implementing minimum wage for Lawyers?

Given our depressing economy, what do you intend to do about this?

Preliminarily, I will consider the establishment of a National Minimum Wage Monitoring Committee of the NBA. It is essential to establish a Committee, that will oversee the enforcement of the minimum wage that will be prescribed.

The function of this Committee would be to routinely enquire from practising Lawyers if their firms are paying the established minimum wage applicable, and report their findings to the Secretariat.

It would be the duty of the Committee to recommend the appropriate measures to be taken, if the prescribed minimum wage is not paid by a firm.

Discipline at the Bar continues to challenge the profession. Many Lawyers have been brought before the Disciplinary Committee, including very senior Lawyers. How will you handle this?

“I am a prepared candidate, and my antecedents speak for me….I have the needed experience. I am a known variable. I also believe that great policies have been introduced by the present administration, and that there is need for continuity…..”(J-K)

Lawyers are the vanguard of democracy. The Custodians of rule of law. The watchdogs of the society and as such, should not be seen breaking the law, rules or regulations, howsoever described. Such is the standard expected of a Lawyer.

Therefore, when a Lawyer is arraigned before the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), it is only expected to let the process run its natural course. If innocent, one will naturally be exonerated.

Where one is found guilty, appropriate sanctions will and should be meted out, no doubt.

Encroachment on the legal profession by other professionals is a huge threat that the NBA hasn’t been able to exterminate over the years. Lawyers continue to lose revenue to Accountants, Surveyors and others. What is the way out? What about the influx of foreign Lawyers into our jurisdiction, which is on the rise? How will you handle this, if elected?

I recall that the Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State had restrained four accounting and consulting firms, popularly referred to as the “Big 4”, from invading the legal space by rendering legal services in Nigeria.

In the consent judgements in the following cases with Suit No: FHC/AB/ CS/71/2020, FHC/AB/CS/70/2020,FHC/ AB/CS/69/2020,FHC/AB/CS/72/2020, instituted by Olumide Babalola against these “Big 4” accounting firms and the Attorney- General of the Federation, all parties consented to the fact that they don’t have the right to offer professional legal services.

Though the “big 4” accounting firms were singled out in these legal actions, there are more incursions into the legal profession through other sources. And the NBA can do so much more to block all these leakages, that should ordinarily be a source of income for legal practitioners. Through public interest litigation, amongst others, I will ensure that the NBA champions the interests of its members.

Professional legal services, can only be rendered by legal practitioners. I will ensure that this position is further strengthened, through the NBA sections created. Such matters of incursion into the legal space by non-Lawyers will be pursued on its merit, and some measure of clarity and/ or orderliness will be restored.

Chief J-K Gadzama, SAN Y.C. Maikyau SAN – ‘I Will Bring Honesty, Integrity and Responsibility when elected as NBA President’

Why do you think Nigerian Lawyers should entrust you with the running of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for the next two years?

I have the track record, the character and the capacity to perform the functions of the office of President of NBA. I also have the understanding of who we are, where we need to be and what we need to do as a body.

Beyond my natural leadership abilities, I had the privilege and opportunity of running a law firm from the time I was only four years at the Bar; first as the Head of Chambers in my Principal’s law firm (Messrs. Danladi Bamaiyi and Company) and then as a principal of my own law firm (Y. C. Maikyau and Co.). These shaped my understanding of the business of law and the everyday challenges of the Nigerian Lawyer in practice.

Outside of my law firm, I have had the privilege of serving the NBA in different capacities at different points in time: I was a member of the Legal Practitioners Regulations Review Committee set up by the A. B. Mahmoud administration, which made far-reaching recommendations for the reform of the legal profession culminating in the Legal Profession Regulation Bill which is the basis for the current Legal Practitioners Bill. I served as Chairman, NBA Disciplinary Committee (North) between 2012 and 2014 under the Okey Wali, SAN administration. During the administration of Mr Paul Usoro, SAN, when Covid-19 struck with the attendant worldwide lockdown, I was a member of the ad-hoc Welfare Committee set up to attend to the welfare needs of members of the Association. The Committee raised over N100 million, which was distributed to our members to mitigate the harsh effects of the pandemic and the lockdown. Currently, I serve as the Chairman of the NBA Welfare Committee which has rolled out several welfare packages, in furtherance of its mandate to improve the condition of Lawyers in Nigeria. I served (and I am serving) in these positions with honesty, integrity and responsibility, and that is what I will bring to the table if I am elected as President of the Nigerian Bar Association come 16th July, 2022.

What is the focal point of your manifesto?

The prime focus of my manifesto is the Nigerian Lawyer – his welfare, professional development and prosperity. Lawyers, by their very calling, are the watchdogs and standard-bearers of the society. However, it is only a Bar that has placed a premium on standards, integrity and concern for the wellbeing, prosperity and empowerment of its members, that can effectively and adequately function in that primary role. It is this understanding that must motivate us to look after ourselves as a cont'd on page VIII

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Gadzama, Maikyau, Taidi: Nigerian Lawyers Decide cont'd from page VII

body of professionals, so that we can efficiently discharge our responsibility as identified above.

This is the driving force of my ambition to serve the Bar – The Welfare of Lawyers - and it is the focal point of my agenda.

Would you say the two-year tenure for NBA Exco is too short? How do you intend to actualise and fulfil your campaign promises within these 24 months?

It would appear that time is never really enough for meaningful leadership; yet, it has never been known to stand in the way of a visionary leader. In the time allotted by the NBA Constitution, I hope to build on programmes that are already working, and lay the foundation for reform and restructuring of the profession to meet our short, mid and long term aspirations. I quite appreciate the brevity of the time; in fact from the moment the administration is inaugurated, it will have less than two years to carry out its plans and programmes. Bearing this in mind, I have a detailed calendar of events designed to deliver on the promises made in my manifesto in phases, and working to deliver each aspect according to plan and on schedule.

In the last few years, Lawyers complained that the NBA seemed to have lost focus, failing to play the role of a Bar Association.

The outgoing President, Olumide Akpata has done a lot to refocus the Association, get it back to being the voice of the people and conscience of the society that it should be, to once more be a force to be reckoned with, and has set it on the right path. How will you be able to keep up this momentum?

I understand our duty to the Nigerian people; that we are entrusted with the responsibility of being the conscience of the nation, the moral compass for leadership, the voice of the people, the defender of the downtrodden and custodian of the rule of law. I have carefully looked at successive generations of Nigerian Lawyers, and understand fully what role the Nigerian people have required us to play per time. I agree that we have lost our way and seem to be missing our identity, and in the process we have lost the respect of the Nigerian people.

Sir Adetokunbo Ademola had noted that the respect to which the Bar in any country is held, is the best indicator of the freedom in that country – there is no gainsaying that freedom is almost non-existent in our country, and that is not unrelated to the fact that we as a body have lost the respect we enjoyed in the past, having lost our identity and our voice too.

The current administration, as you already highlighted, is doing a lot to restore the voice of the Association, and as I earlier indicated, I am going to build on the gains of the current administration. Consequently, the NBA under my leadership will be fully restored to its place as the watchdog of the society and the standard-bearer of the nation. We will do this by always speaking truth to power, irrespective of the persons or issues involved. Further to that, because I understand that those who live in glass houses cannot afford to throw stones, the Association under my leadership will do a lot of house-cleaning to put our act together, so that we do not have a case of pot calling kettle black. Thus, the discipline of errant Lawyers will not be trivialised, because, as noted earlier, only a Bar that has placed a high premium on integrity will be able to function in its primary role as standard-bearer of the nation.

In addition to the foregoing, my administration will work tirelessly to re-orientate and re-educate our members to understand their primary role in the society, and to be able to provide the leadership expected of us. We will do this, using the instrumentality of the Institute of Continuing Legal Education.

The issue of welfare of young Lawyers has featured prominently in the litany of campaign promises by contestants. What will be your strategy to change the status quo with reference to Lawyers’ welfare, especially the young ones?

As I see it, the challenge is twofold; first you have the poor remuneration of young Lawyers,

Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, SAN

then you have poor earning capacity of law firms. These challenges are attributable to several factors, which I cannot fully articulate here. To tackle these issues, the NBA under the current administration led by Mr Olumide Akpata, set up a Remuneration Committee which came up with several recommendations.

Another Committee was set up, which came up with a White Paper on the recommendations of the Remuneration Committee.

Upon assumption of office of President of the NBA, if the Bar will elect me into that office, I am committed to the full implementation of the White Paper on the recommendations of the NBA Remuneration Committee. To do this, I will activate the Legal Practitioners Remuneration Committee (pursuant to Section 15 of the Legal Practitioners Act) which has never sat in the past 30 years, to sit and give life to those recommendations for their full and effective implementation.

My manifesto also contains plans for several welfare packages that will benefit the young Lawyer. However, as an ardent believer of the principle that it is better to teach one to fish than to give him fish, I am firmly committed to improving the lot of young Lawyers in an organic manner, beyond occasional handouts.

Thus, the continuing professional development of young Lawyers is something my administration will prioritise. Also, we will work hard to protect our practice space from encroachments, so that our colleagues will not lose potential earnings to foreign Lawyers and other professions underrepresented.

Discipline at the Bar continues to challenge the profession. Many Lawyers have been brought before the Disciplinary Committee, including very senior Lawyers.

How will you handle this?

As an Association, we must deal with the growing cases of professional misconduct of our members, so as to be restored to our pride of place in the scheme of things in the country.

The present disciplinary procedure for legal practitioners, completely excluded NBA from the process of disciplining members of the Bar. While the rationale for the exclusion is the attitude of the Bar in times past in attending to complaints of misconduct against members, I am of the opinion that the total exclusion of the Bar from the process of disciplining its members is a rather extreme measure; it’s akin to throwing the baby away with the bath water, a situation which has only worsened public perception of the NBA with regard to the subject of discipline, and also undermined its ability to regulate the conduct

“I have the track record, the character and the capacity to perform the functions of the office of President of NBA…..The prime focus of my manifesto is the Nigerian Lawyer – his welfare, professional development and prosperity” (YC)

of members.

We must therefore, get involved in regulating conduct and discipline of our members. The current administration has made a case for the review of the existing LPDC Rules, to provide for the participation of the NBA in the disciplinary process of its members. Thankfully, the Chief Justice of Nigeria set up a Committee to look into NBA’s propositions. If I am elected President, I will follow this through to ensure that we have a more robust and effective disciplinary mechanism.

Do you support fixing and implementing minimum wage for Lawyers?

Given our depressing economy, what do you intend to do about this?

While I understand and appreciate that the conditions of service for Lawyers and most other professionals in Nigeria are a direct reflection on the state of the Nigerian economy, I am of the firm view that there are certain fiscal conditions below which the Nigerian Lawyer should not practice or live. For this, I support the idea of a threshold for payments to Lawyers, whether as fees or as remuneration in their places of employment. Again I commend you to the recommendations of the NBA Remuneration Committee in this regard, which I intend to fully implement within the ambits of the law.

Whether in or out of office, I believe that my primary duty to the Nigerian people is to work to improve our economy and the lives of all Nigerians, including Lawyers; this informed my involvement with the review of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act with the proposed Bill submitted to the National Assembly. Given the platform of the NBA, my administration will work even harder at influencing and promoting laws, policies and programs designed to create a stable and conducive business environment which is attractive to trade, commerce and foreign direct investment.

Encroachment on the legal profession by other professionals is a huge threat that the NBA has not been able exterminate over the years. Lawyers continue to lose revenue to Accountants, Surveyors and others. What is the way out? What about the influx of foreign Lawyers into our jurisdiction, which is on the rise? How will you handle this, if elected?

There has been an on-going debate about this for many years. Some believe we should find legislative solutions to the problem; others believe that we should explore new frontiers and expand our capacity to do more. I say we do both.

We improve on the quality of our service in order to remain globally competitive, and secure our legal space.

First, let me state categorically that, I do not believe that money, in and of itself, should drive or motivate our actions. So, I agree with the idea of finding legislative solutions to the problem, only to the extent that we owe it to ourselves and the Nigerian people to preserve and expand the role

of Lawyers in places where doing otherwise will negatively impact business or commercial interactions. This means that I recognise and appreciate the changing times, and its impact on the traditional roles of Lawyers. We will therefore, evolve with the times and retain our hold on commercial and other human interactions, as long as there is meaningful role to play in those spaces.

To ensure sustainability, we will advocate for a change in the curriculum of our Law Faculties in line with the changing times. To ensure that Lawyers remain relevant, efforts must be channeled towards developing course contents that will guarantee that the new crop of Lawyers graduating from our universities and the Law School are properly equipped and poised to meet the needs of the global society in the 21st century.

The legal profession globally is advancing at an incredible speed, especially with Information Technology. But, the average Nigerian Lawyer is not IT savvy, and many are not computer literate. How do you intend to handle this issue and ensure that Nigerian Lawyers meet up with their counterparts in other jurisdictions, especially in this environment where electricity supply is epileptic?

By now, we know that we cannot wait for one problem to be resolved before we tackle the other. So long as Nigerian Lawyers can find power to use their mobile phones and other devices, we can join the fourth industrial revolution and drive our own change from within. Neither ignorance nor incompetence, can continue to be an excuse. We must and will therefore, continue to teach ourselves to adapt to life in the 21st century. The older generation will look to the younger generation to drive this.

Are you going to do anything towards improving the welfare and condition of service of judicial officers in Nigeria who have not had a salary increase in well over a decade, or you do not believe that this issue falls within the purview of the NBA? The Bench and the Bar are members of the same body of the person or organism known as Justice; performing different functions to meet the demands of justice. They have symphony, harmony and must be concerted against any external force or influence that contends with the thresholds set justice. In furtherance of this relationship between the Bar and the Bench, the Bench assists in checking the excesses within the Bar to keep it within professional bounds, while the Bar defends the integrity of the Bench. One of the ways the Bar does this, is to advocate for better working conditions and wages for members of the Bench. So, Yes, the matter of the welfare and conditions of service of judicial officers is of concern to the NBA, and I intend to make a case for our judicial officers, if I am elected President of the Bar. More specifically, I will press for holistic reforms in the Judiciary. I will engage with the stakeholders in the justice sector, for cont'd on page IX

IX COVER

TUESDAY, JULY 12, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

Gadzama, Maikyau, Taidi: Nigerian Lawyers Decide cont'd from page VIII

the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Communiqué arising from the Justice Sector Reform Summit held on 25th January, 2022.

Secondly, the Bar under my leadership, if I am elected, will engage in serious advocacy for the review of the salaries and allowances of judicial officers, to bring them in line with current economic realities. It is instructive to note that, there is a pending litigation on the issue of salaries and allowances of judicial officers, and hopefully, a decision thereof will chart the course for the resolution of the problem.

How compliant have you been in running your campaign, bearing in mind the NBA Constitution and the 2022 ECNBA Guidelines?

100% complaint. We do not believe in operating outside the ambits of the law, and we have stayed within the ambits of the Guidelines.

Y. C. Maikyau, SAN Jonathan Gunu Taidi – ‘I Will Retool the Welfare and Well-being of Members of the Bar’ Why do you think Nigerian Lawyers should entrust you with the running of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for the next two years? What is the focal point of your manifesto? Would you say the two-year tenure for NBA Exco is too short? How do you intend to actualise and fulfil your campaign promises within these 24 months?

There is first, the urgent need to safeguard the independence of the Judiciary, restore its integrity and revive the trust of the citizenry in its operations. This is followed by the need to retool the welfare and well-being of members of the Bar. I will take deliberate and bold steps to resolve the issues around the earning capacity of members, particularly the young Lawyers who are more vulnerable. The current administration of Olumide Akpata has set the Bar on the right trajectory, and what is left is adding to the building blocks, starting from day one. The Bar cannot be allowed to become a despotic association nor a moribund one, and I believe twenty four months well utilised is enough for the NBA under my administration to impact positively on members.

Let's not venture into the area of tenure elongation like our politicians, who even when it was obvious they have nothing more to offer, just keep sitting tight and scheming to stay on!

In the last few years, Lawyers complained that the NBA seemed to have lost focus, failing to play the role of a Bar Association.

The outgoing President, Olumide Akpata has done a lot to refocus the Association, get it back to being the voice of the people and conscience of the society that it should be, to once more be a force to be reckoned with, and has set it on the right path. How will you be able to keep up this momentum?

Lawyers have complained, and rightly so, that the NBA seemed to have lost focus. The situation is reflected in how lightly NBA's position is respected by the Government. The perception reached its nadir, following the circumstances that led to the eventual voluntary retirement of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen. The Bar cannot continue to bury its head in the sand, given that scenario.

However, President Olumide Akpata has resurrected the Bar from slumber, given the manner he has handled issues confronting the legal profession in particular, and the nation at large. On several fronts and in various fora, he had always made the stance of the Bar clear on prevailing issues. This has not only been reassuring, but it goes a long way in showing that the Bar on rediscovering its critical role as the voice of the voiceless and conscience of society, has become alive to those responsibilities. As President of the Bar, I will go a step further by matching words with action, and upping the ante. I believe strongly that it is only when the Bar rises to its responsibilities, that our leaders at all levels will become accountable and deliver good governance.

The issue of welfare of young Lawyers has featured prominently in the litany of campaign promises by contestants. What will be your strategy to change the status

Jonathan Gunu Taidi

quo with reference to Lawyers’ welfare, especially the young ones?

The welfare and well-being of Lawyers is a reoccurring campaign item. For me, it is the basis of membership and therefore, mandatory. My approach will be to make it the primary purpose of belonging to the NBA, and it will cut across all strata: the young, the middle aged and the aged. For the young we shall take time to invest in their training, in order to equip them with the skills to diversify into emerging areas such as crypto currency, sports law, space law, renewable energy law, etc.

In addition, it is time to peg and implement a reasonable minimum wage for Lawyers, and as part of the implementation, our learned Silks must be made to retain the minimum number of juniors proposed at the time of application to avoid a situation where they sometimes list ten junior Lawyers when they first apply for Silk, and soon after conferment reduce the number to two as some do now. It is time the Bar takes keen interest in matters of this nature. The Bar must also support democratic governance at the third tier of government, by pushing for legislation to establish full fledged legal departments in the 774 local government councils with commensurate salary and other benefits as obtains in the official Bar. For the middle Lawyers, all obstructions to earning more income must be tackled, while the aged will be encouraged to mentor young colleagues gratia, and in return, they are entitled to attend Bar programmes at little or no cost, in appreciation. Under my stewardship, we will endeavour to touch all ramifications of welfare, because it is time to really go there!

Discipline at the Bar continues to challenge the profession. Many Lawyers have been brought before the Disciplinary Committee, including very senior Lawyers. How will you handle this?

The issue of discipline at the Bar is a core professional one, and requires priority attention. As General Secretary, 90% of the mail I received, were complaints in various forms and shades against our colleagues.

However, the petitioners always seemed to have condemned the Lawyer in question to a guilty verdict; so over the years, in the spirit of fair play, the rules gave room for the Bar to participate in the disciplinary process by setting up committees charged with the responsibility of sifting through the petitions, and reaching a decision on

“As President of the Bar, I will hit the ground running from day one, by sitting on the table with all stakeholders…..” (JT)

whether or not there is a prima facie case against our colleague. On assumption of office, I inherited almost 2,000 petitions, and coincidentally, there were two extant decisions of the Supreme Court with one touching on the juristic personality of the NBA, while the other bordered on consistency of the panel at the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) - both of which impacted on the proceedings and procedure before the LPDC. These decisions allowed us to see the real picture; first, that the tenure of NBA Trustees had long expired, and in law, the NBA was not a juristic personality.

The other burden was, the impression that the NBA was shielding its members from discipline. While we took steps to resolve the issue of juristic personality, the CJN made the 2020 Rules of Procedure before the LPDC, outrightly excluded the NBA from the disciplinary process and provided for the LPDC to receive, investigate and hear the petitions. The 2020 Rules was bound to birth another technical regime of breach of the twin principles of natural justice. Meanwhile, the ordinary citizen continues to retain the impression that the NBA is shielding her members, without knowing that the NBA has been excluded from the disciplinary process, which brings to fore the appetite of some influential members to seize every opportunity to control the Bar. As President of the Bar, I will hit the ground running from day one, by sitting on the table with all stakeholders and remaining there until the logjam is resolved. We must insist that the right procedure be put in place, otherwise we leave the public with a negative perception, which is not in the best interest of the legal profession.

Do you support fixing and implementing minimum wage for Lawyers? Given our depressing economy, what do you intend to do about this?

The first option is to regulate and enforce adequate remuneration for Lawyers, while the alternative is to make it possible for Lawyers to earn enhanced income for services rendered. Lawyers must earn the income they are entitled to because it is only fair that if Surveyors and Estate Agents can earn their prescribed percentage on land transactions, Lawyers should be duly compensated.

Encroachment on the legal profession by other professionals is a huge threat that the NBA hasn’t been able exterminate over the years. Lawyers continue to lose revenue to Accountants, Surveyors and others. What is the way out? What about the influx of foreign Lawyers into our jurisdiction, which is on the rise? How will you handle this, if elected?

It is worrisome that we have been unable to deal with the monster of encroaching into our legal space by other professionals

and foreign Lawyers, resulting in loss of huge income by our members. We cannot be suffering from increasingly shrinking practice space and progressively depleted income space, and do nothing. We must stem the tide with the urgency it deserves,l especially in the light of living in a depressed economy.

The legal profession globally is advancing at an incredible speed, especially with Information Technology. But, the average Nigerian Lawyer is not IT savvy, and many are not computer literate. How do you intend to handle this issue and ensure that Nigerian Lawyers meet up with their counterparts in other jurisdictions, especially in this environment where electricity supply is epileptic?

It is worrisome that well into the 21st century, most Lawyers are not IT savvy. Same with judicial officers who are still unable to adapt to the use of technology, for enhanced service delivery. While focusing on ICT training across the Branches, special attention would be paid to the issue of adequate power supply, which has eluded our country for so long, and without which we cannot deploy ICT effectively. It is obvious that ICT growth will remain dormant, until we can fix the power problem.

Therefore, the Bar has a responsibility to keep pushing for improvement to end the epileptic power supply - at least in court rooms and, by extension, the work station of members of the legal profession. The administration I served as General Secretary pioneered paperless conduct of National Executive Council (NEC) meetings, saving the NBA hundreds of millions of Naira annually, and retiring age worn NBA Printers.

Are you going to do anything towards improving the welfare and condition of service of judicial officers in Nigeria who have not had a salary increase in well over a decade, or you do not believe that this issue falls within the purview of the NBA? The issue of welfare, well-being and improved conditions of service for judicial officers will receive priority attention, especially since this particular group cannot speak for themselves.

It is unjustifiable that, while the executive and legislative arms enjoy regular upward review of salaries, the emoluments of Judges have remained neglected for over a decade. Those charged with administering justice, cannot be treated so unjustly.

How compliant have you been in running your campaign, bearing in mind the NBA Constitution and the 2022 ECNBA Guidelines?

I have always been compliant with the extant guidelines contained in the NBA Constitution 2015 (as amended in 2021), and reiterated by the ECNBA in the clearance letter issued to me. Our members know those who are not compliant. This brings to mind the core reason why people continue to flout laws, which is because of the sheer absence of sanctions on those who transgress. Since almost nobody has ever been punished for flouting these extant laws, impunity has become the new normal.

Jonathan Gunu Taidi

X

TUESDAY, JULY 12, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

TALKING CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY DR. MIKE OZEKHOME, SAN

0809 889 8888 SMS ONLY

When the Apex Court Rumbles, Quivers and Quakes (Part 1) Introduction It is not usual or commonplace to see the bastion of justice and the highest court of the land quaking, trembling and quivering. Remember the “Rumble in the Jungle” of the Mohammed Ali vs George Foreman in the epic heavy weight boxing Championship in Kinshasa, Zaire, in 1974? The Supreme Court had more than that. Ali was stinging like a bee, using the rope-a-dope tactic. The Apex Court Justices did just that.

How did this happen? A slumbering country had woken up on Monday, 27th June, 2022, to the shocking news of the resignation of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad. The Jurist said he was doing so, on health grounds. The resignation came about 18 months ahead of his official retirement date of December 31, 2023. Tongues wagged. Because the resignation, though predicated on health grounds, came in just barely two weeks after the other 14 serving Justices of the Supreme Court had frontally confronted the CJN over the abysmally poor welfare of Justices of the Supreme Court. He had denied the allegations through Ahuraka Isah, his spokesperson. Irrespective of Justice Tanko’s reason (s) for suddenly throwing in towel prematurely, let me state here that the step he took constituted a reinvigorating breath of fresh air that blew across the dark crevices of the nation’s judicial landscape and democratic space.

The 14 Justices in their “Book of Lamentations”, had insisted that no past administration since the birth of democracy in 1999 had ever treated Justices as shabbily as the erstwhile CJN did. This apparent vote of no confidence on Justice Tanko, is the first time that such would occur in 58 years of the history of the Supreme Court. Is it that they were crying wolf? Had they tried, but failed, in using inbuilt internal conflict-resolution mechanisms to settle the matter? I do not know. Or, do you?

My Earlier Intervention on this Brouhaha I had earlier written in support of the Justice’s cause, course and protest. Inter alia, I had said: “What I expected the CJN to have done is to have balmed their oozing bruises; bandaged their bleeding economic sores and say, ‘’Ok, I have heard you loud and clear. I am going to take up your complaints and champion your cause before the executive and legislative arms of government, arms that have turned themselves into rampaging bulldogs. As the head of the Judiciary which is the third arm of the government, I will make sure that you have more allocation, your welfare enhanced and your life made better.’’ Shikena.

“It was Alexander Hamilton in his Federalist paper number 78, who once said the Judiciary is the weakest of the three arms of government; and that it has neither purse, nor sword to enforce its judgements.

“Are we going to say that the Judiciary should remain forever in the doldrums,

trampled upon by the two other arms of government? I think not. When I read about the entire annual allocation of the Judiciary, I wept. My heart bled.

The entire allocation is like what some Governors in this country simply pocket as security vote, and walk away as if nothing has happened. The allocation is less than ¼ of what some ministries have in this country; and we have more than 30 Ministries in Nigeria. Yet, we are talking about the head of the whole third arm of government – the Supreme Court. Yet, we expect these Justices to be aliens from another planet, maybe from Saturn, Mars, or Jupiter, so that they won’t be corrupt. We expect them to act like Archangel Michael or Angel Gabriel, who must not touch money with a ten-foot pole, even when they are hungry and starved.

“So, when we are crying that some Judges are corrupt, we also have to look at it from the angle of the rotten milieu within which they operate. Whilst not advocating for corruption (God forbid; very far from it, because I believe that any corrupt element within the Judiciary should be kicked out and dismissed after proper investigation and trial), I also believe that we must not allow a system where corruption becomes so attractive as to form a clear and present danger and become a fundamental objective and directive principle of State policy.

We have a proverb in my language, which translates to say that you must keep away the white cloth from the palm oil, just the same way you must keep the palm oil away from the cloth.

If you bring an insect-infected piece of firewood into your house, you have requested for a visitation of a colony of lizards. So, you must not complain when you see a colony of lizards descend on you, because you asked for it.

“If you starve Judges and Justices, and you make them believe that they don’t matter and will never have a home to retire to, and some Justices of the Supreme Court, in spite of the danger inherent in their job are renting houses inside towns, living amongst people, some of whom have been tried and jailed by these same Judges and

“Irrespective of Justice Tanko’s reason (s) for suddenly throwing in towel prematurely, let me state here that the step he took constituted a reinvigorating breath of fresh air that blew across the dark crevices of the nation’s judicial landscape and democratic space”

Justices, then you are begging corruption to embrace them. You are not even giving them enough protection and security.

“The society must not appear to be telling the Justices to either take it or leave it; to either kow-tow and agree with their present perilous, impoverished, sorry situation, or they resign. It should never be like that. I expect the CJN to engage them more and pacify them. I want to believe that before they wrote that letter, they must have complained severally, and serially quietly in secret, in the underground, without being heard, or their complaints being remedied.

That must have been why they went so formal, by writing that historic letter.”

Is the Judiciary Now Naked?

No. the Judiciary has not been left naked, because the next most senior Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Olukayode Ayoola, has since been sworn in as the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria in line with Section 231(4) of the 1999 Constitution. He will act for three months pending when, cateris paribus, he will be made the substantive CJN, in accordance with Section 230(1) thereof.

Justice Tanko Muhammad did the Right Thing by Resigning Whatever reasons Justice Tanko Mohammad had for resigning (whether due to poor health as he said, or due to the ricocheting effect of the protest letter by 14 Justices of the Supreme Court which greatly embarrassed the Judiciary and country), the important thing is that he must be praised for his courage, masculinity and wise counsel in honourably resigning.

Resignation from office is a very scarce commodity in this part of the world, where public officials hold on to office, no matter the odious perception by the Nigerian people.

Justice Muhammad will therefore be remembered in history, as a CJN who walked away from his lucrative office whilst the ovation was loudest, albeit, being subjected to gradual muffling.

He has entered the pantheon of the few historical figures, who threw in the towel whilst in office.

A Peep into History As a Historian and Archivist, I love situating my discourse in historical perspectives. It helps to open up the topic under discussion. Let us therefore, take a look at history to see some instances of Justices and government officials who had stepped

down from office, for the greater good of the people.

In 1795, John Jay, a foremost Federalist, resigned as the US Chief Justice, to become the Governor of New York.

In 1800, Oliver Ellsworth, US Chief Justice, had to resign on grounds of illness and unpopularity, after negotiating the Convention of 1800.

In 1913, Woodrow Wilson resigned as the Governor of New Jersey to become the US President.

In 1955, Winston Churchill, the Second World War hero, resigned as the Prime Minister of the UK due to poor health, but remained in the House of Commons.

In 1963, Harold MacMillan resigned as Prime Minister of UK, after the profumo scandal (the third consecutive resignation of a Prime Minister under the watch of the present Queen Elizabeth II).

In 1967, Gamal Abdal Nassar of Egypt resigned as President, UAR. However, he later retracted his resignation. Sweet power, always an aphrodisiac and intoxicating liquor!!.

In 1969, Charles De Gaulle of France resigned following a defeat in the French referendum.

In 1974, Richard Nixon resigned as President after the infamous Watergate scandal that rocked US history.

In 1981, Hussein Onn resigned as Prime Minister of Malaysia due to poor health.

In 1984, Pierre Trudeau, the then Prime Minister of Canada, retired from politics due to unpopularity.

Bill Clinton in 1992, resigned as the Governor of Arkansas to become the United States President.

Sylvio Berlusconi resigned as the Prime Minister of Italy in 1995.

In 1997, Zhan Videnor resigned with his entire government as Prime Minister of Bulgaria.

John Major, as Prime Minister of the UK in 1997, resigned as leader of the Conservative Party.

Tony Blair, as Prime Minister of the UK, stepped down in 2007 as leader of the Labour Party.

It was the turn of President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt in 2011, when he threw in the towel resigned due to the Egyptian revolution.

In 2016, David Cameron resigned as the UK Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party due to the Brexit vote which allowed the United Kingdom to leave the European Union.

(To be continued).

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK “The rule of law and the independence of the Judiciary underpin our democracy and lie at the heart of our way of life.

They are the very cornerstone of our freedoms”. (David Lidington)

XI

TUESDAY, ͹ͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

THE ALTERNATIVE

with RenoOmokri

Unmasking The Core Militant Obidients T

his past week saw me receive some of the most horrid and underhand attacks I have ever received in my life. My friends and family have been converged, especially as these are coming from the well-oiled political campaign that Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has put together.

One of the most brutal attacks came from one Alloy Ejimakor, who made a frighteningly egregious allegation against me which I would not want to repeat here.

Mr. Ejimakor is the lawyer for the Indigenous People of Biafra.

First and foremost, the allegation by IPOB’s lawyer against me is false. But, why is it coming from IPOB’s lawyers? What is my business with IPOB? I have not said anything against or about IPOB. In any case, I have prayed over them. And some of them have been escalated beyond me.

However, on this week’s #TheAlternative, I want to address the issue of the threats to my one-year-old daughter by the use of her images by one of Peter Obi’s cyber bullies.

What do they hope to achieve by it? To turn the public against me and my daughter? That is not going to work. They can turn their obidients against me, but that is like preaching to the choir.

They are already against me. For what it is worth.

But it is my guess that the majority of Nigerians are fair-minded and objective, and are watching this lynch mob with interest. Real interest.

And it is becoming clear what awaits them in a Nigeria ruled (not governed) by Peter Obi. This is how Nigeria under Peter Obi will be governed.

Any critic will receive the Pastor Poju treatment If the critic is stubborn, they will receive the Reno Omokri treatment If they are still stubborn, they get threats If that doesn’t work, they will be escalated to cyber bullies and UGM. Who were the people insulting, abusing, and threatening other Nigerians before Peter Obi? Think!

You know. Are you still seeing them about as you once did? No. There is a reason why. They just changed their name from what you once knew, to Obidients. They changed name, but not behaviour!

Look at their strategy. Propaganda, insults, abuses and threats. They have always had a well-oiled social media propaganda unit. They are organised cyber bullies. They criticise others, but do not want to be criticised. They are worse than Buhari and his Buharists.

This is who they are! This is what they wish for Nigeria. They are violent. They are part of an organisation supporting violence. They brought their violent behaviour to Peter Obi and became his Obidients. They picked on the wrong person when they picked on me!

My daughter is one-year-old. She is innocent.

She is beautiful. She is the sweetest thing. These Obidients, led by their cyber bully-in-chief, have used her image so horribly in a failed bid to intimidate me. I urge the world to take note. This is how your life under Obi will be.

If the Peter Obi mob thinks getting their cyber bullies to use photos of my one-year-old daughter to make campaign against me on social media will intimidate me, they don’t know me.

Peter Obi Yes. Come after me. Use my photos. Use the photos of adult members of my family. Make your public and private threats. But when you resort to using the photos of an innocent one-year-old girl, rather than intimidate me, you reveal what life in Peter Obi’s Nigeria would be.

What has my one-year-old daughter got to do with Peter Obi? People are watching. They may not be able to talk, because of the fear of intimidation by the cyber bullies that have coalesced around Peter Obi, who call themselves Obidients. But they are watching.

Instead of the Obi camp to employ cyber bullies to attack my one-year-old daughter, and use her image to politic on social media, they should face the real issues. One of which is why they do not want anyone to even scrutinise their candidate.

Another is the fact that the suave, young, debonair figure that Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed cut, has now been shattered. Completely! A video of him has emerged, where he is calling for the summary execution of homosexuals and lesbians.

Now that the deputy of their god and messiah has been shown on camera shockingly calling for LGBTQ people to be killed, (I totally condemn that), I wonder what their cyber bullies think? Listen, using my one-year-old daughter’s image to politic is not your problem. This is your real problem.

With Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed’s statement calling for the summary execution of LGBTQ people (I totally condemn that statement) coming to light, they are shouting freedom of expression. Did Obidients give Rabiu Kwankwaso and me that freedom of expression that they now justifiably want for Datti

Baba-Ahmed? Of course not!

And it shocks me that Obidients are justifying what Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed said about the LGBTQ community. How could they have condemned the killing and burning to death of Deborah Samuel for blasphemy, and now they are defending Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed for saying that LGBTQ people should be killed? It shows that politics, not morality, controls their outrage.

I completely and totally condemn that statement.

It will instigate people to do to LGBTQ people what they did to Deborah Samuel. We thought Senator Baba-Ahmed was broad-minded. We praised him. And now this? And they want to elevate this man to power?

If elected as Vice President, Senator Datti Baba Ahmed will be a heartbeat away from the Presidency.

If as a Senator without executive powers, he publicly campaigns for LGBTQ people to be killed, then what will he do as an executive President? What about women? What about men with dreadlocks?

Will Hisbah start forcefully cutting their hair? What about youths that wear earrings?

Why were Obidients against Buhari donating $1 million to Afghanistan’s Taliban, when a Taliban is their choice for Vice President?

Their justification of his barbaric, Stone-Age and unacceptable statement is so sophisticated and shows you how strong their propaganda unit is.

Have they not summoned their propaganda arm to circulate all sorts of lies about my family and I, even to the point of circulating photos of my one-year-old daughter with the vilest messages?

All because I criticised Peter Obi. These people have successfully used cyber bullying strategies to silence all opposition to them, and they are not yet in power. What will they do when they are in power?

I have been threatened. My wife and daughter have been threatened. Pastor Poju has been threatened. And they are not in power. What will happen if Obidients control the military and police? Will unknown gunmen be unleashed on critics? Your guess is as good as mine!

When you raise issues about Bola Tinubu, Obidients will flock to you and celebrate you, while Tinubu’s BATists will respectfully explain and persuade. When they raise issues about Atiku Abubakar, Atikulated people either explain or convince. While Obidients will hurl invectives on a man who once made Obi his running mate.

But when you raise issues about Peter Obi, his Obidients will insult and threaten you. Search your conscience. Am I lying?

If Obidients are able to cyberbully, intimidate, insult and threaten anyone who gives even constructive criticism now, when he is not the President, what will happen if Peter Obi is elected and controls the security infrastructure. I shudder at the thought.

If these guys can go so far, and so low, as to use photos of my one-year-old daughter as a propaganda tool against me, they can kill. And if they ever smell Aso Rock, Abacha and Sergeant Rogers will be child’s play, compared to what they will unleash on Nigeria. Can they intimidate me? NEVER! I was in office under the All Progressives Congress as an opposition party. I read about my sacking multiple times in the media. The APC called for my arrest. I was cyberbullied by their trolls. Nasir

El-Rufai personally supervised a media attack against me. I survived that. And Peter, I will survive your Obidients!

Moreover, Peter Obi showed extreme dishonesty in saying those who insult and threaten are not his supporters, but are paid by his opponents. So pedestrian of him. Who pays this girl here on Twitter who we both complained about when you called me? Atiku? Tinubu? Be a man. Admit the truth!

Your supporters are notorious for insulting people.

They are intolerant to opposing views. And worse, they are cyberbullies of the worst order. If you really believed they were paid by your opponents, why did you tweet twice asking your followers to be less insulting? Or was that also your opponent’s paid work?

Peter just showed he shares the persecution complex and victim mentality of many of his supporters.

He should be apologising for the insults, abuses and threats his Obidients have heaped on other Nigerians. But here he is, accusing his opponents of sponsoring those who abuse in his name!

Let me end by saying that my premises are fitted with CCTV. I am sorry for any Obidient (you can deceive others, but we know who you people REALLY are, underneath your so-called Obidient veneer) who will physically come after my family and I. Insult and abuse me. Set your cyber bullies and your troll farm on me. Make your threats. But better not carry them out!

You think I am like pastor Poju, that you can cyber bully, and I will delete my tweets and stop exposing the militant group that has changed its name to Obidient? At the end of this season, I will choose whether to go to court. But for now, I am focused on my goal!

Meanwhile, let me say that I am really impressed with the fresh online registrations from Osun, Delta, Bayelsa and Borno during the continuous voter exercise. Without making noise online, these 4 states have individually registered more new voters than almost the entire SE combined. Very impressive!

Even more impressive is the fact that these new registrations are going on quietly in places where people do not have a lot of abusive and threatening behaviour online (we monitor IP addresses). Even before February 25, 2023, I am liking what I am seeing ahead.

Reno’s Nuggets Pray immediately you wake up in the morning, because at the point that you wake up, you are still in a state of body and mind known as Theta.

It is a semi-spiritual state of existence. During Theta, your prayers are most powerful. But once you reach for your phone, or talk to anyone, or do any carnal activity, you immediately snap out of Theta. And a lot of the anxiety many people feel during the day is as a result of snapping out of the Theta state to the fully physically conscious state, without a proper prayerful transition. If you notice, you have a vague idea of what you dreamt of during the night when you wake up.

But the minute you do any human activity, such as reach for a phone, or speak to someone, even that vague remembrance immediately evaporates.

That is you leaving the Theta state #RenosNuggets #FreeLeahSharibu

Major CHOGM22 Highlights as Rwanda Assumes Helm of the Commonwealth Chukwura Maureen

T

he Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM22) was concluded on 25th June, following six days of extensive dialogue, including four forums and special side events.

The event saw the participation of 53 out of the 54 family of nations at Head of State and Government level or senior representatives. To be underscored, H.E President Muhammadu Buhari led an all-important delegation from government, corporate and civil society leaders, who attended.

In line with the theme "Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming," the Heads of Governments deliberated on a wide range of subjects to address emerging global challenges in these areas: Governance, Human Rights and the Rule of Law; Sustainability relating to the Economy and the

Environment; Health; Youth; and Technology and Innovation.

Major outcomes from the Summit include: Adoption of the Commonwealth Living Lands Charter This Charter commits all 54 member countries to safeguard global land resources while taking coordinated action on climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainable land management. It stems from the realization that the sustainable use of land resources is essential for the attainment of growth and can contribute substantially to climate change mitigation, adaptation and resilience, including through the promotion of sustainable forest and oceans management, and the protection of other terrestrial, coastal and marine ecosystems.

Kenya and Eswatini Named Champions of the Action Groups on Geothermal Energy and Literacy Both countries will lead in forming voluntary coalitions of member

states willing to work together to develop this opportunity and to contribute to the global transition to low carbon forms of energy.

The initiative is Commonwealth’s flagship for accelerating the global energy transition.

Renewed Commitment to End Malaria and NTDs by 2030 and Mobilization of Over US$ 4 billion in New Funding At the Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases Summit (NTDs), a side event of the CHOGM22, the leaders committed to work towards ending the malaria epidemic by 2030, in line with global, regional, and national commitments. They also pledged over US$ 4 billion in new funding, and pharmaceutical companies donated 18 billion tablets.

Commitment to Continued Efforts in Accelerating Cervical Cancer Elimination The Meeting resolved to continue to take steps to ensure that by 2025, girls in the Commonwealth will

have access to vaccination against human papillomavirus infection by the age of 13 in accordance with country contexts.

Endorsement of the Kigali Declaration on Child Care and Protection Reform This declaration seeks to secure the prohibition and elimination of all forms of child labor, including the recruitment and use of child soldiers, by 2025.

Adoption of the Commonwealth Declaration on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment.

In this declaration, the leaders recognized that gender equality is fundamental to full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and committed to promoting women’s economic empowerment.

Formation of the Commonwealth Alliance for Quality Youth Leadership The establishment of the Commonwealth Alliance for Quality Youth Leadership follows the

signing of an agreement between the Commonwealth Secretariat and some of the world’s largest youth organizations on skill-building for young people. This partnership will see more than 250 million young people benefit from leadership and life skills.

Admission of Two New Members Gabon and Togo into the Commonwealth The Meeting approved the admission of Gabon and Togo as its 55th and 56th Members. These two add to the list of member countries with no colonial ties with Britain.

Reelection of Incumbent Secretary-General The Heads of Government reelected Baroness Patricia Scotland as the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. She will thus serve for a further two years to complete the balance of her period in office, as her first term was supposed to span four (4) years but stretched to 6 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Samoa to Host Next CHOGM Samoa was confirmed as the next host for the CHOGM in 2024. It will be the first Pacific member country to host the event.

Also important is the pronouncement by the Leaders of the need for more ambitious action to boost intra-Commonwealth trade to US$ 2 trillion by 2030.

As the CHOGM22 Host, Rwanda has assumed the Chair-in-Office of the organization for the next two years. In that capacity, it will be steering the implementation of agreed-upon decisions. Along that, H.E President Paul Kagame commits to work towards the strengthening of partnerships within the Commonwealth for the benefit of all its citizens.

In conclusion, the Summit was seen by the participants and global observers as a considerable success.

Chukwura Maureen is Communications and Research Officer of the Rwanda High Commission in Nigeria

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12.7.2022 ADVERTORIAL

XIII

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY JULY 12, 2022

FEATURES

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, 07010510430

Gearing up to Relieve FESTAC' 77 @45 Some 45 years ago, the second World Black and African Festival of Arts tagged FESTAC'77 was held in Nigeria and brought together over 15,000 participants from over 70 black and African countries and communities worldwide. It was indeed a showcase of rich cultural heritage that resonates till date. Which is why come December, 2022, the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation is set to commemorate the 45th anniversary of FESTAC'77 with more pomp and panache, Chiemelie Ezeobi reports

S

ome 45 years ago, history was made right here in Nigeria, Lagos to be precise, when the largest pan-African gathering took place named the Second Festival of Black Arts and Culture (FESTAC'77) from Saturday, January 15, 1977 to Saturday, February 12, 1977.

At the time it took place, it was the second celebration of World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture as the first edition was held in Dakar, Senegal in 1966.

Why was it the largest Pan-African gathering? The festival brought together over 15,000 participants from over 70 black and African countries and communities worldwide. Also, at the official opening ceremony at National Stadium, Lagos, contingents from over 47 countries paraded before government officials, visiting heads of states and crowd of over 100,000 persons.

At the festival, the major activities that took place were Dance, Music, Arts & Exhibitions, Drama, Colloquium, Boat regatta and the Durbar, which featured over 3000 horses in Kaduna State.

With the Grand Patron of FESTAC '77 as President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was then a Lt. General of the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Head of the Federal Military Government, the event was an assembly of Blacks and Africans all over the world that held for a whole month in Nigeria and brought people of all races and nationalities to Nigeria in celebration of their Arts and Culture.

Meanwhile, the President of the second World Black and African Festival of Arts was Cmrd. O.P. Fingesi, who was then Nigeria's Commissioner for Special Duties.

Herald of National Theatre In fact, according to information curated

by Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), the construction of the National Theatre was completed in 1976 in preparation for the festival in 1977.

The National Theatre was established, with regard to the presentation, preservation and promotion of Arts and Culture in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. Therefore, the theatre kicked off its operations with FESTAC '77.

However, while most of the events took place at the National Theatre, Iganmu, others happened at the National Stadium in Surulere, the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS)and the Lagos City Hall and even the Durbar at Kaduna.

Participating Countries Countries that participated came from worldwide and included most of the African countries such as Gambia, Senegal, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Ghana, Libya, Zambia, Togo, Guinea Bissau, Sudan, Algeria, Mali, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Zaire and Congo.

Others include Benin, Cameroun, Gabon, Mauritius, Niger, Somalia, Equatorial Guinea, Egypt, Malagasy, Mauritania, Botswana, Lesotho, Chad, Central Africa, Upper Volta, Morocco, and Angola.

USA came with representatives from several different states; South American countries included Brazil, Guyana, Cuba, Haiti; Europe had representatives from England, and Ireland.

Australia had representatives from their continent; Canada had its own representatives, while the Caribbean was represented

by Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Bahamas, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago.

Birth of Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation Essentially, the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC) was borne after the successful hosting and all the materials from the festival handed over to CBAAC to add to the pool of knowledge on African Culture and Civilisation.

Director-General; Mr. Julius Igiri, Curator, Mr, Dimeji Lawal; Mrs. Christiana Olugbenle and Mrs. Sinmiloluwa A. Adedeji Esq.

Artistic Director National Troupe of Nigeria and DG CBAAC, Hon. Oluwabunmi Amao (middle)

Hon. Amao with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama and their respective team members

Relieving FESTAC'77 @ 45 Now CBAAC is geared to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the festival. Which is why come December 5 to 11, 2022 at the Eagle Square, Abuja, CBAAC is hosting a program titled Celebrating Black and African Arts and Civilisation: Reliving FESTAC'77.

Championing this initiative is the cerebral CBAAC DG, Hon. Oluwabunmi Amao, who kicked plans in motion since last year but launched action early this year. One of the first salvo she drew was to make veteran actress and Nollywood favourite, Sola Sobowale the face of the festival.

On the festival she said: "Being the organisation established after (FESTAC’77), CBAAC is in custody of all the materials including Artefacts, Art Works, Footages of Performances and all other collections exhibited by the 59 Black and African Countries that participated in FESTAC’77.

"FESTAC’77 @ 45 is designed to be a weeklong event packed with activities to showcase diverse cultural expressions and entertainment which include Music, Dance, Poetry, Folklore, Drama, traditional Cuisines/Food Fair, Arts and Craft Exhibitions, Cultural Variety Night etc.

"This would afford artists and culture practitioners on both the African Continent, the Diaspora as well as other countries of the world the platform to promote and encourage their diverse creative expressions/elements, products and art forms."

Meanwhile, an Exhibition Pavilion will be made available for each participating Country/ High Commission at a token fee. Also, admissible are goodwill messages/adverts at different rates in the programme brochure.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Throws Weight Behind CBAAC True to type, the centre has tapped in on partnerships to ensure the event is a roaring success. One of such partnerships was with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During a courtesy call by Hon. Amao ans team, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama assured CBAAC of the support and partnership of his ministry.

The partnership with the ministry is quite strategic given that they intend to engage countries that participated at FESTAC'77 as well as other nations who now have bilateral relations with Nigeria, especially, in the areas of cultural exchange and development through their Embassies in Nigeria of which the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the institution responsible for the bilateral interface with other foreign countries.

Some CBAAC team in the delegation included Mrs. Agbi Patience, Deputy Director; Ms. Nwoye Henrietta. U, Head, Finance & Accounts; Mr. Emmanuel Anachuna, Head, Procurement; Mr. Odogu Simon, Mr. Manji Diyal, SSA to the

This would afford artists and culture practitioners on both the African Continent, the Diaspora as well as other countries of the world the platform to promote and encourage their diverse creative expressions/ elements, products and art forms

Fusion with the National Troupe of Nigeria Also in its kitty was the fusion with National Troupe of Nigeria (NTN). Led by its Artistic Director, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed, the NTN team paid a courtesy/official visit to the Abuja Liaison office of CBAAC to explore areas of partnership and collaboration in projecting the forthcoming event.

While expressing her delight at the unalloyed relationship existing between the two agencies since the Artistic Director came on board, Hon Amao said it has been one of mutual interests as the two agencies have depicted vested interests in the growth and development of Black and African Arts and Culture overtime.

In response, the A.D of NTN pledged his agency's support towards the forthcoming event and as well commended the D.G and her team for the great efforts that have been made so far.

South African Collaboration Still as part of measures to ensure a smooth event, the CBAAC train recently moved to the South African High Commission, Abuja.

After a warm reception by the South African Deputy High Commissioner, Dr Bobby J. Moroe, the D.G recalled to the ambassador some of the remarkable events of FESTAC while making references to the epoch performance of the South African Music ace, Miriam Makeba, as well the Epitombe Cultural Troupe and the Amandla symbol of struggle in the Centre’s archives, as testimonies of the brilliant contributions of the South African delegation at FESTAC’77.

Worthy of note also was Nelson Mandela’s visit to CBAAC office in Nigeria after his release from prison to collect his Certificate of Citizenship of Glasgow which was as at that time in the centre’s custody.

Therefore, the D.G sought for the full participation and partnership of South African Government at the centre’s forthcoming event to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the country and also to promote cultural dialogue between the Nigeria and South Africa.

In response, the Deputy High-Commissioner expressed the commission’s interest to collaborate with the centre towards the actualisation of the event, just as he promised to visit the Hall of Fame.

Also present at the courtesy visit was Mr Thabang Malope, the third secretary of the South African High Commission and key members of staff of CBAAC which included Mrs. Agbi, Ms. Nwoye, and Mr. Diyal.

Nigeria-Libya Partnership Meanwhile, CBAAC took the message to the Libyan Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Ayad M.F Attayary to explore areas of partnership and collaborations between Nigeria and Libya towards the success of the forthcoming event.

According to the D.G, the Libyan Contingent had some of the most remarkable performances and participation in different Art forms during FESTAC ’77, adding that "the footages and archival materials available in the centre’s custody are testimonials to the outstanding feats the Libyans achieved in Nigeria during FESTAC ’77 "In this regard, a replication of the country's historical performance 45 years ago would be something to look forward to this year".

The Ambassador, His Excellency, Ayad M.F Attayary responded in good faith and stated that the embassy would be glad to invite some other organisations to participate at the event.

He further promised to give their utmost support towards the programme as it would be an opportunity for African Nations to celebrate those aspects of our culture that unifies the continent.

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY JULY 12, 2022

PERSPECTIVE

The Rise of Afrobeats and Amapiano: How MTV Base Africa is Inspiring Wave of Success for African Music Monde Twala

N

ot many music lovers in Africa will forget where they were in 2005 when Tuface's monster hit 'African Queen' debuted as the first music video to be played on MTV Base's franchise on the continent. I am one of those who remember the moment vividly.

And it is impossible to forget the exhilarating reactions that heralded the arrival of Afrobeats on the global stage.

The euphoria was not misplaced.

Before that holy grail moment, the spread of urban music in Africa had largely been restricted to the confines of the continent due to broadcast stations' limited reach.

A vast broadcast capacity propelled African Queen to reach over 1.3 million global audiences within a few hours of its debut on MTV Base Africa, and other local music videos quickly followed, spurring the renaissance of Afrobeats as a front running music genre in the world.

Consequently, Afrobeats, as a prominent music genre today, has many offshoots, with a more inclusive Afropop genre-leading African artists' dominance on the global stage.

It has been nearly two decades since that historic moment in the Afrobeats' journey to global acceptance. What has changed? How has Africa capitalised on this exposure?

How has Afrobeats fared? And what role does MTV Base Africa, a Paramount Africa franchise, continue to play to create international exposure for pop-culture globally?

Since urban music in Africa began to penetrate a global market, the rise of Afrobeats and Amapiano has been phenomenal. Not many people would have envisaged the heights Afrobeats and its offshoots have attained in less than two decades, considering the peculiar challenges that faced the music industry 20 years ago. Interestingly, the rise of the genre has been financially and critically rewarding.

In Nigeria, which has one of the biggest music industries in Africa, for instance, an annual growth rate of 13.4 percent in total revenue generation was recorded in 2021 to reach $73m, indicating a staggering increase from a $39m total in 2016.

Such is the magnitude of the growth of the African music landscape that revenues from consumer spending on recorded music hit $43 million and $19 million in Nigeria and Kenya, respectively, in 2020, according to PwC. African music stars have also climbed the biggest stages in the world to receive music’s highest honours. Burna Boy and Wizkid have won the coveted Grammy Awards plaque.

Burna Boy, in 2022, became the first African artist to headline Madison Square Garden in New York. Davido, TiwaSavage, Sarkodie, Nasty C, Tems, Cassper Nyovest, Fireboy, Major League, DJz, Rema, Tems, and many more have also rocked the biggest arenas and appeared on Billboard charts.

Global music superstars – Drake, Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj, and many others have, in different capacities, incorporated the Afrobeats and recently Amapiano sound into their music, with Beyoncegoing as far as making an Afrobeats album.

Collaborations with international acts have even become a norm these days.

Twala

It is worth pointing out that throughout these groundbreaking achievements by African artists, MTV Base Africa has remained a resolute driver in propelling the rise of Afropop, continuing its mission to ’showcase Africa to the world’.

As it was with Tuface (now 2Baba) nearly two decades ago, the music channel is responsible for thrusting and unearthing new music talents to global stardom through its unmatched coverage of the Afropop and Afro-dance genres.

Over a decade ago, at a time when it was a tough ask for African artists with little to no label backing to fund their music videos, MTV Base's belief in the urban music coming out of the continent included sponsorship of high-quality music video shoots for some artists who lacked the financial wherewithal.

And before Burna Boy and Wizkid conquered the Grammys, MTV Base Africa, through MAMA Awards, presented African acts with the biggest pathway to superstardom.

The BET Awards, MTV EMA and Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards allParamount Africa franchise, has continued to provide African artists with similar honours in acknowledgement of their music.

Today, MTV Base Africa has intensified and expanded its exaltation of Afropop music to include a recently launched Africa Day celebration dedicated to giving talented emerging artists on the continent exposure. With this, the music channel is further inspiring a global acceptance of music out of Africa.

A rich lineup of music offerings on the channel such as the MTV Base Musicology, Yanos

In Nigeria, which has one of the biggest music industries in Africa, for instance, an annual growth rate of 13.4 percent in total revenue generation was recorded in 2021 to reach $73m, indicating a staggering increase from a $39m total in 2016

and Hip hop also continues to play a critical role in making African music even more appealing. Indepth discussions about different aspects of the continent's music landscape offer audiences a deeper understanding of the industry and how such modalities impact the music the world currently enjoys.

Indeed, as we celebrate World Music Day, it is important to reflect on how far we've come in pushing Afropop and dance genres from relative obscurity and marginalisation on the global stage to becoming a force to reckon with.

This will inspire us to evaluate the true strength and direction of the African music landscape and showcasing the next big wave.

There is no doubt, by all indications and projections, that African artists flying the flag of Afrobeats and its spinoffs – Afropop, Afrofusion, Afroemo and other sub-Afro genres like Gqom and Amapiano – are poised for greatness.

It is an exciting time to know that Paramount Africa and MTV Base Africa are will continue to be the music industry's trusted ally driving the Afro music genres to conquer more uncharted territories.

Happy World Music Day! -Twala is Senior Vice-President and General Manager for Paramount Africa and Peer Lead, BET International.

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY JULY 12, 2022

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT Payment of Gas Flare Penalties not Negotiable, Say Environmentalists Bennett Oghifo

E

nvironmentalists have expressed concern that oil producing companies are not interested in paying for their carbon emission through gas flaring as prescribed in the nation’s Petroleum Industry Act 2021.

The IOCs are of the opinion that penalizing them for gas flaring was not the best thing to do, rather they should be encouraged to convert and utilise gas locally and for export to grow the economy.

Making a case for the removal of penalties from the

Act, at the 2022 Nigeria Oil and Gas conference in Abuja recently, the Managing Director, TotalEnergies Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, Mike Sangster, said they are doing all that is necessary to reduce carbon emissions from gas flaring.

Sangster said, “I don’t think penalties are the answer to reducing gas flaring. Likewise we have a very active programme at the company to reduce carbon footprint.

“So every month we are looking at our fuel gas consumption, we are looking at emissions and also looking at ideas and ways that we can drive down

on carbon emissions. Therefore I don’t think penalties are the way to go.

“I think we have to make good business sense and I agree to the transition towards more gas development. We will maximise our oil production for sure, but I think we all want to move towards more gas for the domestic market and also for export.

“So anything that can be done to facilitate the demand for gas is encouraging. And I know there is an idea to move at some point towards a willing-buyer willing-seller model in the PIA.” However, an environmental-

ist, Franklin D. Magada, founder of Ecoh Monitors of the Niger Delta, said, “It’s disheartening and mind-boggling to hear that an international oil company like TotalEnergies Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, through its managing director, Mike Sangster, is opposed to the gas flare penalties contained in the Petroleum Industry Act 2021.

“The IOCs are preempting something that Nigerians, especially the Niger Delta people who bear the brunt of gas flare health hazards, should stand up and defend their environment and its laws, especially the Petroleum Industry Act 2021,

which should be complied with by the oil companies operating in the region.

“It’s not a foreign practice for polluters to pay, especially in the case of gas flare. The Polluters’ Pay Principle (PPP) is an international environmental law that has been gradually incorporated into international climate change law (Kodolova & Solntsev, 2020) and is operated all over the world.

“I am surprised that an international oil exploration and production company like TotalEnergies is opposed to it in Nigeria and will, in another breath, succumb to it in their international operating fields

in France.”

Magada said the Polluters Pay Principle (PPP) contained in the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, Sections 52 (7d), 104 (4) would reduce the constant reckless degradation of the Niger Delta environment by the oil companies operating in the region. The PIA act requires the setting up of an environmental remediation fund where the gas flare pollution penalties will be paid to that dedicated fund for remediation purposes.

He called on NNPC to appoint environmentalists in the region to the remediation fund utilisation.

NCF Engage Stakeholders on Protecting Kainji Lake National Park Bennett Oghifo The decline of species within protected areas have prompted the need to pursue species conservation and protection with the consideration of both the protected areas and the surrounding communities.

This informed the decision of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) to partner with the National Park Service on a series of engagement to enhance the protection of Kainji Lake National Park (KLNP) and the population of lions and leopards within the park.

To facilitate this, a workshop held recently, titled “Stakeholders Engagement to Identify and Design Solutions for Restricted Ranching to Reduce Livestock Grazing in Kainji Lake National Park” in New Bussa, Niger State.

This engagement session is a series of activities under the “Emergency Rescue of Nigeria’s Last Populations of West African

Wildcats - Lion Panthera leo and Leopard Panthera pardus” project supported by the IUCN Save our Species and funded by the European Union.

The stakeholders’ workshop was organised to identify the challenges and solutions to sustainable livelihoods practices in communities around the park.

The Director General of NCF, represented by Species Lead for NCF, Dr. Stella Egbe emphasised NCF’s delight in putting together a series of activities to improve the awareness and capacity of stakeholders within and around the park.

“The Nigerian Conservation Foundation is delighted to carry out this project which is part of a series of activities being implemented in Kainji Lake National Park. We have planned a series of activities aimed at improving capacity of stakeholders which mainly comprise communities surrounding the park.” She said.

The Conservator of Park, CP Jimoh Oladosu who was also present highlighted the importance of the meeting in resolving regular conflicts encountered with surrounding communities. He said, “This meeting will help us resolve some regular conflicts that occur between the conservation park and host communities, especially the support zones, because there are serious controversies ongoing, given the aim & objective of the initiative, which is to improve and conserve little population of the threatened lion species.”

In the build-up to the workshop, some sustainability challenges within the communities were identified through a community entry/awareness exercise. However, the interactive session created an avenue to go beyond identifying the challenges to proffering solutions for possible implementations.

These challenges include over

grazing, unsustainable farming, illegal logging, poaching and so on. These activities are often associated with the encroachment of the park habitat and often impact the species population within the park. Some of the solutions identified include

restricted ranching, sustainable alternative livelihoods, improved education and awareness, improved farming practices and so on.

Alhaji Yusuf Dauda, who represented the Borgu Emirate Council said “We don’t need a

prophet to tell us that we have a problem with this God’s given forest, natural resources for us people of Borgu emirate. Our farming is not sustainable right from time immemorial. Our land does not need fertiliser. We only need to think of the future.”

NCF officials and other participants at the meeting on conservation… recently

Ehiton, Monumental Works Collaborate to Render Homes in Ikeja Bennett Oghifo A new high profile estate, known as Monumental Castles Opebi, is being developed in Ikeja, through a collaboration between Ehiton Nigeria Limited and Monumental Works Limited.

The homes, mainly terrace duplexes, are being built off Opebi-Allen road in Ikeja.

Interestingly, they are not being

built with block works, as all the units are being cast from bottom up.

The promoters are using high-tech systems to render the homes. The estate roads have been paved with interlocking stones and the street lights are up, making the estate so serene.

Construction of the homes began in February 2022 and will be delivered in June 2023.

The estate is well-drained and

storm water is being channeled to the huge canal closeby. The estate is next to the Opebi link bridge and Ashade Market.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of Ehiton Nigeria Ltd., Mr. Anthony Ehiaghe, “Monumental Works fits into Ehiton’s plans perfectly, yes, plans of partnering with some indigenous but world class Architects/Property Developing Company; with

the underlying intentions of making Timeless Modern Structures (TSM) affordable to Nigerians and Africans at large (especially the 8 to 5 labouring/ saving working class).”

Ehiton, whose company has been involved in the markeing of BSEL AJMAN (Dubai) House Projects, and other Dubai Properties since 2007/2008. said “We intend to repeat or better BSEL AJMAN (Dubai) House

Projects in Nigeria.”

The 5 bedroom fully detached duplexes are N120 million each; 4 bedroom semi detached units are N65 million each; 4 bedroom terrace duplex, N85 million each.

They are all being sold off-plan (pay in instalments) or outright. On the payment structure, Ehiaghe said prospective buyers would make a deposit of 50 per cent and

spread the rest for a period not exceeding 12 months, and that terms would be agreed on with prospective buyers.

He said they are collaborating with a bank that is willing to match the 50 per cent deposit, stating that the bank “offered to match the balance 50% for interested buyers with initial 50% deposit (loan tenure and other risk factors to determine interest on loan).”

AWAMN Promises Good Services, Inaugurates Oyo State Chapter Fadekemi Ajakaiye The Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN) has inaugurated the Oyo State Chapter, tasking it to take charge of its destiny in conformity with the provisions of the Association’s Constitution.

President of AWAMN, Dr. David Oluwasegun Oriyomi, at the ceremony in Ibadan recently, said it was important that they work in the best interest of their members and the environment, stating that as an essential service provider, “we focus on servicing our clients, it is the quality of

service we provide that will prompt our clients to pay. We must aggressively deliver our services in the same aggression with which we drive the collection of our revenues.”

Stating that the industry was capital intensive, and highly sensitive to foreign exchange rates, the president noted that members were using naira to fund dollar-related costs, making it not a business for the faint hearted.

He pledged the national body’s support for the chapter, promising to avail them guidance, business support, local and international training,

access to funding, national and international visibility through a recognised strong brand and strong affiliation to international reputable organisations as ISWA. Oriyomi called on the Oyo State Government to give more attention to the waste and environmental sector in allocation of funds in their budgets, pointing out that “our job is essentially preventive healthcare, and as it is said, Prevention is better than cure. If our job is done properly, then, it prevents illnesses and diseases.”

He welcomed the new chapter to AWAMN, urging members

to be mindful of the challenges before them as they were not in it alone, just as he tasks them to show more than passing interest in Government policies, especially those relating to the environment.

“Be proactive rather than reactive, guide your job jealously by providing topnotch services to your clients and the environment because there are many predators ready to feed on your sweat!

“Note that the success you acquire on your job is closely knitted to the aesthetics of the environment. Remember that cleanliness is next to Godliness. He who tends the earth

actually does God’s will,” the AWAMN President counseled, welcoming the Oyo State Chapter to their fold on behalf of the association, and asking for continuous collaboration to lift the association to greater heights as he congratulated the leadership of past Associations that have decided to collapse their structures into one, believing and hoping that they can achieve more when they are together.

The president said they were pleased that in their pursuit of a national spread, they have the Oyo State Chapter as their latest addition, stating that they are

currently in discussion with Kano, Imo, Cross River and Akwa Ibom States to mention as potential Chapters to further enlarge their State Chapters, comprising Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, and now Oyo State.

Responding, Chairman of the Oyo State Chapter, Mr. Bbatunde Mosuro, welcomed members from the national headquarters, thanking the Chapter’s council of elders led

by Pa Stephen Ogundipe for successfully steering the ship of the Association from the early days of RCA, the feuding times of TCA Vs PSPs till now.

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12.7.2022

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, JULY 12, 2022

23

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

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Report: At 470bcm Potential Gas Output, Nigeria, Others to Compete with Russia in Coming Years

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Despite current low production levels, Nigeria, along with a handful of other African countries will from the next decade almost rival Russia’s current gas output at a peak production of about 470 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM).

The 470bcm will be roughly 75 per cent of Russia’s projected 2022 output, a report by the African Energy Chamber (AEC) said, stressing that numerous African countries are well positioned to plug the looming gas supply void in Europe.

On the back of its war with Ukraine, governments and com-

panies in Europe have been looking to scale back their dependence on Russian gas supplies.

Various European Union (EU) delegations have visited Nigeria in recent months, with a view to encouraging it to ramp up supply, although the country from all indications is hardly able to do that in the short term.

“Africa is conservatively forecast to reach peak gas production at 470 bcm by the late 2030s, equivalent to about 75 per cent of the expected amount of gas produced by Russia in 2022.

“2022 natural gas output from Africa is expected to reach about

260 bcm. While near-term forecast suggests drop in output to about 240 bcm by 2025. The trend is expected to reverse post 2025, with 2030 natural gas flows expected to reach over 335 bcm,” the AEC stated in its State of African Energy Q2 report.

In one of the visits, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Samuela Isopi, had disclosed that at least 40 per cent of Nigeria’s Liquefied Natural Gas was exported to Europe, calling for greater cooperation between Nigeria and the EU. “Nigeria is the fourth gas supplier to Europe. At least 40 per cent of the Nigerian LNG is currently exported to Europe. We are not

only major clients for Nigeria, we are also major partners in the oil and gas sector because some of the companies that are working with you are from Europe. So we share the same interest and objectives,” she told the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Mele Kyari, during one of the meetings.

A month earlier, during a similar meeting, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, had told the delegation that Nigeria was ready to step in as an alternative gas supplier to Europe.

However, he urged the EU to step up investments in gas and

hydrocarbons in Nigeria so that the country would be able to help meet the EU energy needs.

But the AEC report stated that main producers in the near term include Algeria, Nigeria and Egypt accounting for about 80 per cent of the entire continent’s natural gas production through the years 2022-2025.

Nigeria and Algeria together, it added, are expected to contribute to over 65 per cent of the LNG exports from Africa to international markets.

“Even with the number of gas projects being developed or currently delayed, Africa still has

significant production potential. If oil and gas operators decide to up the ante on their gas projects on the continent, near and mid-term natural gas production from Africa could surpass the above conservative forecasts,” AEC added.

According to the report, recent signals from oil and gas majors such as BP, Eni, Equinor, Shell, ExxonMobil indicate a shift in strategy towards further investment in Africa, as they consider restarting or accelerating previously shelved projects in response to rising global demand.

Continued on page 25

Experts: Africa May Lose $415bn Annually to Climate Change Impacts by 2030 Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Energy experts have said that Africa may risk $415 billion annual economic losses due to climate change impacts from the damage done by natural disasters to urban infrastructure by 2030.

Senior Director at Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and CEO of AFC Capital Partners, Ayaan Adam noted that climate change may significantly damage infrastructural assets, leading

to the loss of $415 billion by 2030 in Africa alone He was speaking at the virtual sustainable financing workshop organised by the African Refiners and Distribution Association (ARDA).

“With Africa being the most vulnerable continent to climate change, mainstreaming climate change is a key requirement for the long-term viability of its infrastructure,” Adam noted.

Adam said the effect of climate

change in Africa was disproportionate to its share of global emissions – with implications for future infrastructure requirements.

Future infrastructure developments, Adam said needed to be able to reduce, accommodate or recover from the effects of natural disasters and climate extremes, adding that this would require climate resilient infrastructure planning plus additional cost consideration for development.

FOOD

COMMODITIES

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

RICE

100KG

ABUJA

N23,000–N25,000

SORGHUM

50KG

OYO

N22,000-N25,000

50KG

PLATEAU (JOS)

N23,500-N25,000

50KG

KWARA N24,000–N27,000

50KG

LAGOS

50KG

RIVERS N23,000–N26,500

50KG 50KG

N23,000–N26,500

SOKOTO N11,500–N13,000 EDO

N17,000–N20,000

As such, the AFC official noted that the companies were promoting their Infrastructure Climate Resilience Fund (ICRF), which will drive investments in climate resilient infrastructure projects across the African continent in the AFC’s core sectors – transport & logistics, power, telecoms and industrial parks.

Also speaking, Executive Secretary of the organisation, Anibor Kragha, noted that strategic options were needed for financing energy transition

SIZE

PRICE

STATE

100KG JIGAWA

in the African downstream petroleum sector.

Kragha disclosed that sub-Saharan Africa’s import needs for transport fuels will continue to grow in the foreseeable future, making the region the world’s largest importer by 2030.

He lamented that complex, inefficient supply chains, intra-African trade challenges impede implementation of cost-effective clean energy solutions on the continent.

But he added that the African

Continental Free Trade Act (AfCFTA) presents an opportunity for the continent to address this issues and deploy an inclusive, equitable energy transition roadmap that captures the priorities, challenges and perspectives of Africa’s low-carbon emitting countries.

The ARDA chief stated that Africa’s share of global emission remained low, stressing that the roadmap for energy transition Continued on page 25

T O D AY

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

N9,000

C O C OA

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

1 TON

ONDO

N740,000 – N760,000

1 TON

OSUN

N730,000 – N750,000

1 TON

EDO

N720,000 – N740,000

100KG

BENUE

N8,500

100KG

KADUNA

N8,500

50KG

ENUGU

N23,000

50KG

LAGOS

N17,000

1 TON

CROSS RIVER

N700,000 – N720,000

100KG

DELTA

N23,000

1 TON

AKURE SOUTH, ONDO

N730,000 — N755,000

24

TUESDAY, JULY 12, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

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L-R: Deputy Managing Director, Ghana Stock Exchange, Ms Abena Amoah; Divisional Head, Capital Markets, NGX Limited, Mr. Jude Chiemeka; Director General, Securities & Exchange Commission, Ghana, Rev. Ogbarmey Tetteh; CEO, Central Securities Depository (GH) Limited, Ghana, Mr. Michael Mensah; Divisional Head, Business Services & Client Experience, Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc, Mrs. Onome Komolafe; Deputy CEO, CSD, Ghana, Mrs. Melvina Amoafo; during the closing gong ceremony at the NGX as part of activities of their tour to the CSCS, in Lagos… yesterday

670 Million People Facing Hunger in 2030, Says UN Gilbert Ekugbe The 2022 edition of the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World’s (SOFI) report of the United Nations (UN) has projected that nearly 670 million people, representing 8.0 per cent of the world population, would be facing hunger in 2030.

A UN report also highlighted fresh evidence that the world is moving further away from its goal of ending hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition in all its forms by 2030 as the situation is similar to 2015 when the goal of ending hunger was launched under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The report estimated that the number of people affected by hunger globally rose 828 million in 2021, an increase of about 46 million since 2020 and 150 million since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The SOFI report presented update on the food security and nutrition situation around the world, including the latest estimates of the cost and affordability of a healthy diet. It

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Deputy Business Editor Chinedu Eze Comms/e-Business Editor Emma Okonji Asst. Editor, Money Market Nume Ekeghe Senior Correspondent Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents Emmanuel Addeh (Energy) KayodeTokede(CapitalMarkets) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Reporters Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy) Ugo Aliogo (Development)

also looks at ways governments can repurpose their current support to agriculture to reduce the cost of healthy diets.

The report was jointly published by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

It said: “This report repeatedly highlights the intensification of these major drivers of food insecurity and malnutrition: conflict, climate extremes and economic shocks, combined with growing inequalities,” the heads of the five UN agencies wrote in this year’s

foreword.

“The issue at stake is not whether adversities will continue to occur or not, but how we must take bolder action to build resilience against future shocks.”

The report noted that worldwide support for the food and agricultural sector averaged $630 billion per year between 2013 and 2018, stressing that the lion share of it goes to individual farmers, through trade and market policies and fiscal subsidies,” the report added.

The Director-General of FAO, Mr. QU Dongyu, said: “Low-income countries, where agriculture is key to the economy, jobs and rural livelihoods have little public resources to repurpose. FAO is committed to continue working

PALM OIL

SIZE

STATE

Gilbert Ekugbe A report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has categorised Nigeria, Ethopia, South Sudan, Yemen, Afghanistan and Somalia among the hunger spot countries with “highest alert” for catastrophic conditions.

These global agencies in their latest acute food insecurity report stated that these six countries have population facing IPC Phase 5 ‘Catastrophe’ or at risk of deterioration towards catastrophic

PH

conditions, with up to 750,000 people facing starvation and death.

They warned that 400,000 of these people are in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, which is the highest number on record in one country since the famine in Somalia in 2011.

They also issued a stark warning of multiple, looming food crises, driven by conflict, climate shocks, the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, and massive public debt burdens exacerbated by the ripple effects of the war in Ukraine which has pushed food and fuel prices to accelerate in many nations

Gilbert Ekugbe The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) has announced plans to set up a regulatory framework that is aimed at sanitising the nation’s agro-chemical and pesticide industry.

The move, according to the FMARD, would checkmate the activities of unscrupulous individuals that cause grievous economic loss for the country

through the adulteration of pesticides and agro-chemicals thereby.

The Permanent Secretary of FMARD, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, stated that the Ministry has been working with relevant House Committees on Agriculture, to tidy up a regulatory framework that would sanitise the agro-chemical or pesticides business.

Umakhihe, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Farm Inputs Support Services

across the globe.

“These shocks hit in contexts already characterised by rural marginalisation and fragile agri-food systems.” they added.

The report warned that the war in Ukraine has exacerbated the already steadily rising food and energy prices worldwide, which are already affecting economic stability across all regions, pointing out that the effects are expected to be particularly acute where economic instability and spiraling prices are combined with drops in food production due to climate shocks in the form of

PRICE

N21,000 – 24,000

NAME OF COMMODITY

TOMATOES

25CL

IMO

N21,000–N24,500

25CL

EDO

N17,000–N20,000 N19500- N25000

Department, (FISS), Mr. Ishaku Buba, made the declaration at the stakeholder’s workshop on agrochemicals handling, marketing and distribution in Nigeria, with the theme “Agrochemicals importation, Production, Marketing and Distribution in Nigeria to safeguard humanity and the Environment.”

The workshop was held at Debbie’s Upper Class Event and Recreation Centre, Orozo, Abuja, recently.

COMMODITIES SIZE

STATE

40KG BENUE

PRICE

N15,000

40KG

KADUNA

N5,000

40KG

ABIA

N18,000

25CL IBADAN N18,000-N22,000

25CL ABUJA

destabilization, starvation, and mass migration on an unprecedented scale.

We have to act today to avert this looming catastrophe.”

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus: “Every year, 11 million people die due to unhealthy diets. Rising food prices mean this will only get worse. WHO supports countries’ efforts to improve food systems through taxing unhealthy foods and subsidising healthy options, protecting children from harmful marketing, and ensuring clear nutrition labels. We must work together to achieve the 2030 global nutrition targets, to fight hunger and malnutrition, and to ensure that food is a source of health for all.”

recurrent droughts or flooding.

The Director Generao of FAO, Mr. Qu Dongyu, said: “We are deeply concerned about the combined impacts of overlapping crises jeopardising people’s ability to produce and access foods, pushing millions more into extreme levels of acute food insecurity. We are in a race against time to help farmers in the most affected countries, including by rapidly increasing potential food production and boosting their resilience in the face of challenges.”

Similarly, the Executive Director of WFP, Mr. David Beasley, warned

that “we are facing a perfect storm that is not just going to hurt the poorest of the poor - it’s also going to overwhelm millions of families who until now have just about kept their heads above water. Conditions now are much worse than during the Arab Spring in 2011 and 20072008 food price crisis, when 48 countries were rocked by political unrest, riots and protests. We’ve already seen what’s happening in Indonesia, Pakistan, Peru, and Sri Lanka – that’s just the tip of the iceberg. We have solutions. But we need to act, and act fast.”

FG Moves to Sanitise Nigeria’s Agro-Chemical, Pesticides Industry

25CL LAGOS N20,000-N25000 25CL

the malnutrition crisis demands an unprecedented response. We must double our efforts to ensure that the most vulnerable children have access to nutritious, safe, and affordable diets - and services for the early prevention, detection and treatment of malnutrition. With so many children’s lives and futures at stake, this is the time to step up our ambition for child nutrition – and we have no time to waste.”

WFP Executive Director David Beasley: “There is a real danger these numbers will climb even higher in the months ahead. The global price spikes in food, fuel and fertilizers that we are seeing as a result of the crisis in Ukraine threaten to push countries around the world into famine. The result will be global

Food Crisis: Again, Nigeria, Five Others Remain at ‘H i g h e s t A l e r t ’ a s Hun ge r Hots p ots

FOOD NAME OF COMMODITY

together with these countries to explore opportunities for increasing the provision of public services for all actors across agrifood systems.”

In the same vein, the President of the IFAD, President Gilbert F. Houngbo, said: “These are depressing figures for humanity.

We continue to move away from our goal of ending hunger by 2030.

The ripple effects of the global food crisis will most likely worsen the outcome again next year. We need a more intense approach to end hunger and IFAD stands ready to do its part by scaling up its operations and impact. We look forward to having everyone’s support.”

Similarly, the Executive Director of UNICEF, Ms. Catherine Russell, said: “The unprecedented scale of

25KG LAGOS

N9,500

40KG DELTA

N17000

PRICE

He said: “Some products banned from use in other parts of the world, particularly in the European Union countries, have found their way into the Nigeria markets and due to the absence of legal framework to curtail the influx and marketing of such banned products, little has been achieved.

“In pursuant to this, the National Fertilizer Quality Control Act, 2019, was being repealed to incorporate pesticides bill to

regulate the rampant abuses in the agro chemicals operations.”

He said that agro-chemicals are inputs that played important role in the different stages of plant development, right from land clearing, cultivation to the storage of eventual farm produce, adding that the workshop was not only important to the ministry as the regulator of the products but to all relevant stakeholders operating along the Agro-chemicals value chain.

T O D AY

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

ONIONS

100KG

IBADAN

N25,000

100KG

KANO

N10,000

100KG

BENUE

N27,000

100KG GOMBE

N12,000

100KG DELTA

N21,000

100KG LAGOS

N25,000

100KG ENUGU

N15,000

100KG

ABIA

N29,000

NAME OF COMMODITY

MAIZE

LOCATION

PRICE

100KG JIGAWA

N9000

100KG ENUGU

N24000

100KG DELTA

N15000

100KG ABIA

N14000

50KG LAGOS

N13500

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Empowering Local Rice Farmers to Achieve Food Security Michael Ademola

W

hen we hear the words “local rice farmer”, we might imagine a rural dweller in a straw hat cultivating their crops in a rice paddy. As familiar as this picture might be, the story does not end there. Local rice farmers contribute a significant quota to the national effort towards achieving food security and a more productive economy.

With a rapidly growing population of over 200 million people, coupled with the prevalence of hunger and malnutrition, ramping up local production of dominant staples like rice is crucial for Nigeria to attain food security and lift millions of people out of poverty.

The need to empower local rice farmers is made even more pressing by a recent report of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) published in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development which warns that about 19.4 million people in Nigeria could face food insecurity between June and August 2022.

In another study titled, “Perceived Training Needs of Smallholder Rice

Farmers on Urea Deep Placement Technology in Benue State, Nigeria,” researchers at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State and Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State cited an urgent need to, “give utmost priority to the training needs of the smallholder rice farmers to improve their knowledge level and use of technologies for increased productivity.”

In spite of their important contribution to the agricultural sector, local rice farmers continue to face the challenges of limited access to land and credit facilities, inadequate farm inputs, training and guidance as well as the availability of modern technology.

These challenges highlight the importance of interventions like that of WACOT Rice Limited manufacturers of Premium Big Bull Rice, which is enabling local rice farmers across several states to close the food security gap by providing skills acquisition training, access to credit and access to modern technology to drive increased productivity. An increase in their production output will empower the farmers economically and ensure

sustainability in local rice production to address food security challenges in Nigeria.

Confirming this, Ibrahim Alhassan, a young rice farmer in Gidan Agoda, Kebbi State whose partnership with WACOT Rice Limited spans over seven years, stated that many farmers in his community have been able to increase their yield with access to the best fertilizers and other resources that guarantee optimum output.

“Thanks to WACOT Rice Limited, the problem of not having qualitative input has been solved, ”Alhassan said.

“We use to have a high incidence of farmers who could not afford reliable fertilizers, so they end up buying adulterated or inferior fertilizers and agro-chemicals. But with WACOT Rice Limited, there has been a turnaround and we are able to use top-quality fertilizers that have yielded excellent produce, ”he added.

He also commended WACOT Rice Limited for exposing local rice farmers to modern farming techniques through numerous training sessions over the years.

According to him, the intervention of

the rice manufacturing giant has played a monumental role in transforming rice farming from an ordinary way of life into a business that benefits an entire community.

“Working with WACOT Rice Limited for the past seven years, I have received assistance which has changed my life for the better such that I can provide food for myself and my loved ones, housing, and other forms of welfare for the family, ”Alhassan noted.

With deep reflection on his journey so far, the young rice farmer maintained that the same is the case for many others in my community.

“The impact is felt all over town and we are all grateful for these investments, ”he added.

As interest in rice farming continues to rise, companies like WACOT Rice Limited, producers of premium Big Bull Rice, are doing their part to provide the enabling environment for rice farmers across several states to increase their annual yield and profitability, while contributing to national food security.

Big Bull Rice is readily available in open markets, neighbourhood stores, supermarkets & modern trade stores and packaged in varying SKUs of 750g, 2.25kg, 5kg, 10kg, 25kg and 50kg.

Maritime Arbitrators Urge Port Stakeholders NCDMB Unveils Ministerial to Embrace ADR in Solving Trade Disputes Regulations,Want Strict Compliance The Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria (MAAN) has highlighted the importance of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in the promotion and sustainability of effective and efficient business relationships between stakeholders, port users, cargo owners and ship owners in the Nigerian maritime sector.

President of MAAN, Mr Bodunrin Adewole FCIArb, made the call in a press statement issued in Lagos.

Adewole also restated the commitment of MAAN to the promotion and sustainability

of international best practices in maritime arbitration and ADR through the creation and establishment of an International Maritime Arbitration and Dispute Resolution Centre in Lagos.

The MAAN President stressed that rather than resorting to litigation, stakeholders and port users should embrace ADR in settling disputes in trade contracts between themselves, publics and with the federal government.

He also urged parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Transportation especially; Nigerian Shippers Council, Nigerian

Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMAS) and Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) to also apply ADR in their agreements, adding that ADR is a much cheaper and faster way of dispute resolutions.

It is expected that when put in place, the International Arbitration Center would actually benefit the Federal Ministry of Transportation with all it’s existing contacts especially as it concerns disputes arising from execution of contracts.

The Theme for the seminar was, “ADR to the Rescue, Effective and Efficient Business Modes in the Maritime Eco Space.”

In his welcome address at the seminar, Mr Adewole informed participants that the topics in this year’s seminar focuses mainly on the recent developments in the operational activities of the collaborating stakeholders.

He also informed participants that MAAN and its collaborating stakeholders are committed to the promotion and sustainability of international best practices in maritime arbitration and ADR through the creation and establishment of an International Maritime Arbitration and Dispute Resolution Centre in Lagos.

Surveyor General Advises Operators to Deploy Geospatial Tech to Curb Oil Theft Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Surveyor General of the Federation (SGoF), Abudulganiyu Adebomehin has advised operators in the downstream oil sector to use geospatial technologies to curb theft and pipeline vandalism.

The SGoF said oil theft and

pipeline vandalism were doing much damage to the Nigerian economy in view of the regular loss of huge amounts of monies.

Adebomehin offered the advice in response to a question from an anchor, Funmi Ogbe, Managing Director of Zigma as one of the discussants of a panel on Funding the Nigerian Energy

Mix for Sustainable Economic Growth at the Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition held at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja.

He explained that the utilisation of geospatial technologies was a sure means of checking oil theft and destruction of oil facilities, adding that surveying

and geoinformatics deal with activities on the earth surface, positioning and movement of objects.

The SGoF reiterated that with geospatial technologies, facilities and its domains could be watched and drones deployed to build quick search through monitoring server for response options.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has unveiled seven ministerial regulations that it said will provide a proper framework for monitoring the implementation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act. The regulations were approved by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Timipre Sylva in April 2021 and were publicly unveiled at the Nigerian Content Seminar held at the recently concluded 2022 Nigerian Oil and Gas Conference in Abuja.

Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Mr. Simbi Wabote explained that the regulations were made in line with section 40 of the NOGICD Act, which empowers the minister to make them with a view to establishing the minimum standards in facilities, personnel, and technology for training in the oil and gas industry.

He noted that the regulation on training in the Nigerian oil and gas industry provides for “the minimum standards, facilities, personnel, and technology for training in the oil and gas industry and modalities for involving operators and service providers as partners in training and development”.

In addition, he noted that the regulation for the further growth of indigenous capacity sets out targets to ensure full utilisation and steady growth of indigenous companies engaged in exploration, seismic data processing, reservoir studies and other facilities.

“The regulation for the further growth of indigenous capacity reinforces the principle of first consideration for Nigerian-made goods and services and details compliance waiver management and the deployment of Capacity Development Initiatives (CDI’s) as a tool for the growth of indigenous capacity,” he said.

REPORT: AT 470BCM POTENTIAL GAS OUTPUT, NIGERIA, OTHERS TO COMPETE WITH RUSSIA IN COMING YEARS It cited BP, UK giant which recently booked pre-tax charges of $24 billion and $1.5 billion in its first-quarter 2022 financial results due to its decision to pull out of Russia and is now looking at African projects to seize the opportunity to target European markets with gas supplies.

“Nigeria is currently in the

process of ramping up capacity at the Nigeria LNG project from 22 million to 30 million Tonnes Per Annum (TPA) through its Train 7 scheme and debottlenecking, and Eni is a stakeholder in many upstream fields that provide feed gas to the LNG plant as well as in the processing plant,” the report said.

It added that Equinor, ExxonMobil and Shell, like BP, have significant LNG portfolios in Africa that are yet to be developed, and they can look to these massive gas resources to counter the potential gas supply deficit in the future.

“Algeria and Egypt are expected to lead the 2022 natural gas production charts with output

levels of over 86bcm and about 75bcm respectively. Nigeria’s overall 2022 monetised natural gas production, excluding the volumes pumped to the Eleme Petrochemicals Company Limited (EPCL), is estimated at about 50 Bcm. The overall LNG exports from Africa during the year are estimated at about 52 million tpa

with about 19 Bcm coming from Nigeria and Algeria estimated to export 15.5 million Tpa of LNG. “The overall 2022 to 2035 split between gas utilised domestically and exported via pipelines vs gas exported to international markets as LNG is 50-50. Nigeria leads the LNG producers over the years 2022-2025 with aver 120 Bcm from

an overall output of 205 bcm being exported as LNG,” it noted.

With talks of cross country long distance pipelines having picked up in the recent months, aiming at taking West African gas all the way to Europe, it explained that on the average 18 per cent of European gas imports over the last decade have come from Africa.

“Most companies already have plans for reducing emissions. These include measurement and reporting, operational improvement, and incorporating carbon-abatement objectives in investment proposals.

“Implementation, however, is in an initial stage and faces several barriers: resources are scarce, in terms of both capital and technical capabilities, and CO2 reduction

is not always a top priority,” the experts said.

While the refining sector contributes only 3 per cent to global energy sector emissions, there are significant opportunities for reducing these emissions especially in regions like Africa where demand for refined products will grow and emissions will grow accordingly, “they noted.

EXPERTS: AFRICA MAY LOSE $415BN ANNUALLY TO CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS BY 2030 sions reductions over support for economic development and energy transformation.

Global Head, Client Relations at Afreximbank, Rene Awambeng highlighted the impacts of growing urban population in Africa on energy demand for industrial production, cooling and mobility.

According to him, energy demand in Africa grows twice as fast as the

global average, and Africa’s vast renewables resources and falling technology costs can drive double-digit growth in deployment of utility-scale and distributed solar photovoltaics (PV), and other renewables, across the continent.

He noted that although clean energy and decarbonising international investment and finance seem to be dominating the development

discourse, Africa could leverage on its vast base of existing solid minerals, including rare-earth minerals and metals, that would fuel clean energy.

In a joint presentation, experts at Vitol, Michael Curran, Vitol Global Head of Carbon Tradiing and Maryro Mendez, Vitol Refineries Research Team Lead, noted that technologies already exist to

develop refineries that produce net zero carbon emissions.

But they noted that Environment, Social & Governance (ESG) investment mandates and capital reallocation away from hydrocarbons into renewables/energy transition amongst other issues have resulted in reduction in financing options and increased debt service costs for carbon -intensive sectors.

26

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L-R: CEO, Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp), Oguche Agudah; Managing Director, FBN Quest Funds, Ijeoma Agboti- Obatoyinbo; Managing Partner VEROD, Danladi Verheijen; Partner, Udo Udoma& Belo-Osagie(UUBO), Ozofu Ogbemudia; Executive Secretary,PEVCA Nigeria, Anna Evi-Parker; at a recent workshop for pension funds and private equity funds operators held in Lagos… recently

Africa Needs $424bn to Recover from Pandemic Devastation, Says Adesina Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja African nations need $424 billion this year to help them cope with the devastation caused by the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Head of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina.

After decades of progress in the continent’s fight against poverty, Covid-19 has niw plunged 30 million Africans into “extreme poverty” in 2020,

a Bloomberg report stated.

Meanwhile, Russia’s war on Ukraine has fuelled inflation and left millions hungry while surging prices along with slowing economic growth are also increasing indebtedness in the region.

“We should not minimise the impact of Covid-19 on African economies,” Akinwumi said in an interview on Bloomberg Radio.

“We have to expand the fiscal space for African

countries. Secondly, we must tackle the whole issue of debt, you cannot run up a hill while carrying a backpack of sand on your back,” he added.

From Ghana to Zambia, multiple African nations have tapped the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help revamp their debt and finance government budgets. The war on Ukraine worsened the situation just as countries in the continent were rebounding

from the pandemic.

Global food prices surged to a record after Russia’s February 24 invasion disrupted exports of grain and vegetable oil. That has exacerbated a hunger crisis affecting countries including Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia.

Africa depends on Russia and Ukraine for about 41 per cent of it’s wheat and maize, Adesina said.

The AfDB’s $1.5 billion plan to boost production will

help farmers on the continent produce 30 million tons of food, he said, adding that obstacles in importing fertiliser may hit productivity by as much as 50 per cent.

On the IMF’s reserves, he said: “The special drawing rights from IMF have helped a lot, but Africa still needs to have $150 billion channelled to it.”

“We are talking to the countries who hold the SDR’s in their reserves, so far we

have received positive signals from the UK and France but I cannot give you a specific timeline on when it will all be done,” he added.

According to him: “A lot of the debt in Africa is infrastructure-related debt but if we are able to get a sustainable way to do this that would be much better. That sustainable way is that the private sector has to have a role, it shouldn’t just fall on the government.”

Eroton Reports Second Wellhead Leak E x p e r t A d v i s e s o n i n O ne Month , B la me s Va n d a ls Cargo Claims, Limits of Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Indigenous Oil & Gas Company, Eroton Exploration and Production Company Limited, has announced a second wellhead leak at one of its facilities in the Niger Delta, less than a month after a similar breach on its Cawthorne Channel Well head 15.

Eroton E&P operates Oil Mining Lease (OML) 18 situated in the Eastern Niger Delta and covers a total area of 1,035 SQKM in an onshore swamp terrain on behalf of the NNPC/ Eroton/Sahara Joint Venture.

Decrying what it described as the incessant third-party interference on its facilities, amid fresh incident concerns, the company stated that the new spill on its wellhead 047 Long string, was observed on Saturday.

The company’s Head of External Affairs and Corporate Communications, Mercy Max-Ebibai, who confirmed the incident, stated that the fresh incident was noticed at about 0745hrs at the weekend, coming from the wing valve arm of the CAWC047L.

She added that the facility appeared to have been vandalised with the valves, control panels, bean-box, actuators all carted away.

“Following their recent oil spill incident in Cawthorne Channel Well head 15 barely a month ago, the wholly indigenous Eroton Exploration and Production Company Limited confirm that a second wellhead in their Oil mining acreage has suffered another incident suspected to be third-party interference.

“As was the case with the earlier reported incident, this recent spill also occurred in the Cawthorne Channel field, well head 047 Long string (CAWC047L). The CAWC-047 wild oil spill was observed in the morning hours of Saturday July 10, 2022,” the firm stated.

It added that CAWC047L/S, a dual string well, had its Long String arm shut-in in April 2020 due to flowline vandalism and in July 2020, the Short String arm was also shut-in for same reasons.

“A distant look at the well shows the absence of some wellhead valves on the body

of the Xmas Tree,” it noted In the extant case, Max-Ebibai, stated that the well was observed to be releasing uncontrolled flow of hydrocarbon to the environment from the long string due to the confirmed compromised and vandalised Xmas Tree containment valves of the wellhead.

She further confirmed that despite the high-pressure emission of crude, the Eroton Emergency Response Team had been working round the clock to abate the situation.

“A quick intervention initiated to shut-in the well through the master valve was abortive because the master valve appeared to have been compromised in a stuck position.

“The control line of the emergency downhole safety valve was also reported to be compromised, consequently affecting the activation and functioning of the emergency downhole safety system.

“Efforts are in progress to rectify all the faulty valves on the Christmas tree which were found stuck in closed position. A first response has also been activated for

containment and recovery,” the company disclosed.

Due to the administrative challenges occasioned by the public holidays, Eroton noted that statutory notification to regulators can only be accomplished by Wednesday July 13, 2022.

However, it pointed out that an electronic incident notification has been sent to the relevant regulators in the interim while wild well control experts are expected to visit the site shortly to have an assessment of the current situation and design a solution to keep the well under control.

Eroton said it had recently mobilised an oil spill control vendor to the previous oil spill site at CAWC15.

The company joins a long list of operators which has recently complained about the anti-economic activities and sabotage by vandals and oil thieves.

A recent report from industry regulator, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), confirmed that the activities of oil thieves in Q1 of year 2022 alone, amounted to $1 billion.

Admiralty Jurisdiction Act Kasim Sumaina in Abuja A maritime law expert, Dr. Emeka Akabogu has encouraged Judges to better appreciate the Admiralty Jurisdiction Act, which confers jurisdiction on the Federal High Court to determine admiralty claims.

Akabogu, Senior Partner, Akabogu and Associates, said this in an interview on Sunday in Abuja.

Admiralty Claims are claims, which arise from the carriage of goods by sea and all other aspects relating to maritime.

Akabogu noted: “I will like to advise and encourage all Judges at the high court level and appellate level to better appreciate the significance of foundational maritime laws, particularly the Admiralty Jurisdiction Act which confers jurisdiction on the Federal High Court to determine such matters.

He disclosed that the Admiralty Jurisdiction Act will enable them make better decisions that will impact on free flow of goods, quick vessel turnaround, trade facilitation and better business enablement at the ports.

According to him, A lot of port congestion and associated constraints arises from people who have rights which have been breached but which cannot be fully ventilated at that point.

“Some people have their cargoes stuck at the ports due to

breaches of their economic rights, but are constrained in dealing with it due to technical issues in the law and courts bordering on jurisdiction . Often, the value of the cargo will dissipate over time and they will not even have any encouragement or any desire to go and clear it from the ports anymore, leading to congestion.”

He stated that sometimes, it is not the Federal High Court that does it, saying: “Sometimes you may file a claim, it will be successful at the Federal High Court and it goes on appeal.

And when it goes on appeal either to the Court of Appeal or to the Supreme Court, the court will come up with the position that the Federal High Court did not have jurisdiction in the first place.

He said: ‘’These are some of the type of claims that Nigerians need to have adjudicated upon, to enhance business at the ports.

When you say that the Federal High Court does not have jurisdiction because the cargo has been discharged, then it means that many people who have their cargo lost or damaged within the ports after it has been discharged from the vessel will have their rights extinguished.”

He however said same happens to those who have losses occurring in the course of carriage to deliver to the consignee or in their ware houses or similar other things, adding that continuous enlightenment is necessary to resolve the challenge.

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PAYING SALLAH VISIT TO THE PRESIDENT...

L-R: Kano State Governor Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje; Nassarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule; Imo Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma; Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; President Muhammadu Buhari; Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari; Plateau State Governor, Mr. Simon Lalong; Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani PHOTO: SUNDAY AGHAEZE Bello, and Minister of State for Education, Mr. Goodluck Opiah, during a Sallah homage visit in Daura, Katsina State...yesterday

Crisis Hits Rivers APC as Former Lawmaker, Others Resign Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt A major crisis might have hit the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, following the massive resignation of some of its key members in the state.

While some other members of the party were yet to wake up from the shock posed by the resignation of strong supporters of the leader of the party in the state, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, a former federal lawmaker at the House of Representatives, Chidi Wihioka, has also sent in his resignation from APC. The former lawmaker, who represented Ikwerre-Emohua Federal Constituency said he would not remain in a party, where only one man predicts what happens without the opinion of other members.

Wihioka also declared his full support for the APC presidential

candidate, Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

In his resignation letter, Wihioka said, “My decision was taken based on the highhandedness of one man, who believes that he owns the party in Rivers State and his refusal to allow peace reign in the party by giving everyone in the party equal level-playing ground.

“I will announce my next political party, when I have found a suitable one to join. Nevertheless, my decision will not affect my support for the presidential candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as I will always drum support for him anywhere.”

Also, a former Commissioner and erstwhile member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Friday N. Nubari, has resigned from the APC. Nkee-ee, who sent his resignation letter through his APC ward 5 chairman in Khana Local Government

Area of the state, stated "It is very unreasonable to continue to remain in a family that does not value your person and contributions to the sustainability, stability and growth of the family.".

A former Caretaker Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC), Ibim Semenitari, had earlier sent her resignation letter to her APC ward Chairman, in Okrika.

Semenitari, well known as an ally of the immediate past Minister of Transportation, has yet to give reason for her resignation even when her resignation letter is already in the public domain.

Other APC members, who have left the party included Ogbonna Nwuke, a former House of Representatives members; Dr. Dawari George, a former Commissioner for Energy and Natural Resources under

Amaechi and was amongst the Chieftain that brought in Tonye Cole as the party Governorship Candidates.

Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Chris Finebone, has dismissed insinuation that the resignation of the members was a tsunami in the party.

"There have been some movements, though I cannot term it

Elon Musk’s silence over his attempt to bail out on purchasing Twitter for $44 billion is no more.

The world’s richest man went on the social media platform he claims he is no longer trying to buy and fired off a series of tweets suggesting he was gearing up for the legal battle

As gunmen assassinate pipeline surveillance boss The Paramount Ruler of Adagbabiri Community in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, HRH Alaowei Okee, has sent a save our soul letter to the State Commissioner of Police, Ben Okolo over the unlawful activities of suspected crude oil thieves in his domain, alleging that his refusal to agree with the shady activities led to threats to his life.

The Paramount Ruler, who also denied abandoning his throne and community due to the alleged threats from sponsors of the oil thieves, said he was duly elected by his people and gazetted by the State Government of which he receives their total support of not allowing such nefarious and dangerous activities in his domain.

Okee, while speaking with newsmen yesterday, in Yenagoa, said though the suspected oil thieves had approached him over the need to allow them set up an illegal oil bunkering site in the area and offered to pay him some certain amount monthly, he refused.

According to him “They approached me about two months ago in my palace and sought my cooperation with them to use my community as base for their illegal bunkering activities, and even offered to pay me N200, 000 per truck of oil offloaded from the

community’s water front, but I refused to oblige to their request.”

He further explained that he refused their offer because apart from the financial benefits offered him, the community would suffer serious environmental degradation and pollution, adding that it would further attract hoodlums with resultant cult clashes and unnecessary gun running activities that would bring about other security breaches as being observed in communities where such illegal activity takes place.

"To my chagrin, I discovered that the illegal oil activities were conceived despite my objections.

At this junction I would want to correct other reports going on this matter.

“I first put call through to the Deputy Governor and when he was unreachable I quickly reported to the State Commissioner of Police, Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corp and the Nigerian Navy.

"I never for once got through to the state’s Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo where he promised to relieve the appointees of their appointments if they are found culpable in the illegal trade” as reported in other reportage."

Okee said since he raised the alarm, he has received multiple calls from the accused political

appointee and unknown callers threatening to snuff life out of him.

“They have rained insults and other threats on me and therefore I wish all concerned authorities to wade into this matter to bringing the perpetrators to book as a stitch in time saves nine."

A similar incident had occurred in the Kalaba community of Yenagoa local Government council area of the State where the Paramount ruler and the CDC Chairman of Kalaba Community in Yenagoa LGA of Bayelsa State, Chief Francis Kolubo and Mr. Samuel Oburo, were brutally murdered by persons suspected to be goons of the barons of crude oil pilfering.

Meanwhile, three gunmen suspected to be hired assassins have killed the Head of Operations of Darlon Oil and Gas Limited, an oil pipelines surveillance company.

The management of the company that regrettably announced the death of Indukakpo Ogede, said he was killed in an execution style, by three armed men suspected to be hired assassins in a hotel, off Tamic road Okutukutu, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Indukakpo who hails from Gada's Compound in Igbomotoru 1 Community in Southern Ijaw LGA was shot twice by his assailants about 7.45pm on Sunday, leaving him to die in a pool of his own blood.

It was revealed that the killers

APC without success. They even caused us non appearance on the ballot in 2019.

“To the exit of these particular persons, we say good riddance, because they caused the party much more harm than good. Happily, some of them are having a second thought and taking advantage of the ongoing reconciliation effort in our party to retrace their steps,” he said.

Elon Musk Laughs Off Twitter Lawsuit Threat

Bayelsa Monarch Writes Police over Activities of Oil Thieves, Alleges Threat to Life Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

exodus because that is relative.

What is important is that such movements should be carefully appraised. The first individuals are those whom I can say added value to APC business while they were here. To them, we wish them well.

“However, there is also the few, who have left much to our relief.

These are persons leaving after a tortuous effort by them to kill the

who dressed in uniforms that resembled that of the security operatives, entered the hotel in the afternoon of that ill-fated Sunday and paid for three rooms. It was further gathered that after they lodged, they went to the bar of the hotel, where they drank beer while waiting for their victim who had gone out for an assignment.

According to eyewitness, the behaviour of the assailants raised suspicion and as a result, friends of the deceased decided to put calls through to warn him but he allegedly didn't take the calls because he was driving at the time.

Unfortunately, when he arrived the premises of the hotel about 7:45pm, the gunmen ran towards him, shot him twice, one on the chest and the other on his lower abdomen before he died.

The victim was eventually confirmed dead at the Gloryland Hospital at Opolo, Yenagoa, several minutes later, from where his body was moved to the morgue at the Federal Medical Center.

A statement by Chief Levi Wilson, Chairman, Darlon Oil and Gas Limited stated, "We wish to use this medium to appeal to the various law enforcement agencies to investigate the killing and bring the perpetrators of the dastardly act to book in a bid to ensure that such incident do not repeat itself in the nearest future.

his withdrawal from the sale was expected to spur.

One tweet contained a four-picture frame meme of him laughing, next to sentences reading: “They said I couldn’t buy Twitter. Then they wouldn’t disclose bot info. Now they want to force me to buy Twitter in court. Now they have to disclose bot info in court.”

Another tweet was a picture of the actor Chuck Norris sitting at a chessboard with his chin resting atop his folding hands. A reply to that tweet read “Chuckmate” – a clear pun for “checkmate”.

The tweets, from Musk’s verified account, served as his first comments on his legal team’s Friday disclosure that he intends to nix his takeover of Twitter, which the network first resisted but then warmed up to.

Twitter announced in late April that it would sell to Musk, but on Friday, lawyers for Musk publicly filed notice that he wanted out of the agreement, arguing among other things that the platform had failed to provide promised information on fake and spam accounts – so-called bots.

According to UK-based The

Guardian, the maneuver set off a firestorm of reactions, including from Donald Trump, who called Musk a “bullshit artist” and his deal to buy Twitter “rotten” while the former president stumped for Republican political candidates in Alaska over the weekend.

The move also seemingly leaves Musk destined for a lengthy fight with Twitter in court. Notably, Twitter’s chairperson, Bret Taylor, said his company was ready to sue Musk in a Delaware state court to enforce the purchase deal it had struck.

The agreement contained a provision that may compel Musk to go through with buying Twitter as long as he had the financing to do so, which the businessman indicated in May that he had.

Bloomberg reported on Sunday that Twitter had in fact gone ahead and assembled a team of attorneys to sue Musk.

Musk could also face a fine of $1 billion if he pulls out of the deal, although he is trying to avoid the penalty by alleging that Twitter breached “multiple provisions” of its sale agreement.

APC Denies Resignation of National Legal Adviser Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The All Progressives Congress (APC), has denied media report that its National Legal Adviser, Ahmad El-Marzuq, has resigned, in the wake of the announcement of a former Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima, as the vice-presidential candidate of the party.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Felix Morka, in a statement, yesterday, said the media report was either borne out of mischief or extreme negligence.

The party, therefore, urged the

general public to disregard the report.

"Our attention has been drawn to a false and misleading report circulating on some media platforms that the National Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has resigned.

"Barr. Ahmad Usman ElMarzuq is, and remains, the National Legal Adviser of APC. "Barr. Daniel Bwala was not the National Legal Adviser of the Party as erroneously reported.

The report is either borne out of mischief or extreme negligence.

We urge the general public to kindly disregard," Morka said.

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HERE IS OUR REPORT...

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, with members of the State APC Gubernatorial Reconciliation Committee (from left to right)- Deputy Governor/ Chairman, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi; a former Deputy Governor, Surveyor Abiodun Aluko; Hon Olubunmi Adelugba and Prof Bolaji Aluko, during the submission of their report to the Governor at his office, in Ado-Ekiti… at the weekend.

Osun 2022: IG Pledges Tight Security, Deploys Senior Officers Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has deployed senior police officers

for the July 16 governorship election in Osun State, promising tight security for the exercise.

He also moved the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Olokode

Taoheed Olawale, temporarily to the Force Headquarters until the conclusion of the election.

Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed

this in a statement, saying the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), DIG Johnson

SANWO-OLU TO YORUBA PEOPLE: CONSIDER TINUBU’S ASPIRATION YOUR PRIORITY The Christian Association of Nigeria in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (Northern CAN), has said it was not bothered about the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the APC as there are other political parties contesting for the 2023 elections.

Secretary General of Northern CAN, Mr. Sunday Oibe, stated this in an interview with THISDAY in Kaduna.

Oibe said, “As an organisation, we are not loosing sleep over the decision of a political party,who has no regards for our diversity and the ethno-religious tensions threatening our fragile peace and existence as a country.”

He said the APC was insensitive to the challenges of ethnic and religious tension that have continued to raise suspicion and keep the country divided.

“As a Christian leader, I will not support Christian-Christian ticket. I have many of my Muslims friends, who are opposed to Muslim- Muslim ticket. People are free to vote for candidates or parties of their choice,” Oibe said.

While calling on politicians to strive to unite Nigerians rather than adopting divisive tendencies to achieve selfish political ends, he said, “Any politician, who has no regards for the diversity of the country does so at his or her peril.”

Oibe said, the reasons advanced for Muslim-Muslim ticket were laughable, pointing out that competent people abound in every religious and ethnic group in Nigeria.

“We don't want religious bigots, who will promote nepotism over issues of fairness and equality. We need a leader, who will be fair to all,” he said.

Church Leaders Berate APC for Trampling on Christians’ Rights

The Council of Church Leaders and Ministers has expressed disappointment in the choice of a Muslim-Muslim ticket by the ruling APC. The group said the behaviour of the political class in the country most of the time evidently showed that personal ambition and interest were the overriding goal and not patriotism.

Speaking at a press conference in Ilorin, Kwara State, on the state of the nation, Chairman of the Council, Pastor Abel Aiyedogbon, said “our political leaders are not sensitive to the feelings of the citizens of the country.

“How will anybody think

about fielding candidates of the same religion for the first and the second place, when the constitution of the country recognises secularity?

"One will not be wrong to say that trampling on the religious rights of Nigerian is manifest in the idea of the Muslim-Muslim ticket, which some people are now championing.

"It should be noted that people maligned and presented as inconsequential are not likely to forget.

The suggestion of a Muslim-Muslim ticket is all about impunity and a callous and most importantly, it is a lack of consideration for others.

"It is a form of religious intolerance to even contemplate either a Muslim-Muslim ticket or Christian-Christian ticket. Any party that thinks or believes that the Christian population can be ignored without consequences will be doing so to her peril.

"One may ask: as the case presents, does it means that the Northern Christians have no electoral value? Contrary to the perception of some political leaders, who believe that religion will not be a factor in the choice of presidential running mate, we hasten to warn that any party that underrates our electoral value will be doing so to her disadvantage.

"The political class can decide to field whosoever they like just as much as we have our right to vote candidate of our choice," he maintained.

Sani: Linking Shettima to Boko Haram Mischievous

Rights activist and senator in the eighth National Assembly, Shehu Sani, has faulted those linking Senator Kashim Shettima, to the dreaded Boko Haram sect.

He, however, said those who were aggrieved over the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the ruling party have the constitutional right to express their objections.

Sani, in a statement yesterday, noted that the remarks that trailed the choice of Shettima including insinuations and allegations linking him to the formation, growth and deadly destruction by the Boko Haram group was condemnable and mischievous.

According to him, "Shettima as the Governor of Borno State, has invested his much time,energy and the resources of Borno State, in combatting, containing and curtailing the activities of the terrorists group.

"Shettima has no hand in the abduction of the Chibok girls.

He has done more than anyone

in contributing and supporting the operations of the Army and other security agencies in protecting the people of Borno state and by extension Nigeria.

"As a stakeholder and former chairman, Senate committee on the Humanitarian crisis in the North East, I’m privy to the fact that Shettima attracted massive presence and intervention of international NGOs and donor countries to the humanitarian situation in Borno.

"I’m not a member of the ruling party but the truth is that other than issues of religion, he is better qualified in terms of competence than many who were paraded.

Religion is a sensitive matter in Nigeria, other than that, Nigeria’s most important challenge is security, Shetima’s experience can be useful and is very much-needed."

Bago Backs Senator Tinubu’s Choice of Running Mate

The 2023 governorship candidate of the APC in Niger State, Alhaji Umar Mohammed Bago, has thrown his weight behind Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Choice of Kashim Shettima as his presidential running mate.

Bago, in a statement made available to newsmen in Minna, described the choice of Shettima as "The best thing that has happened to the political growth of the APC. "A highly trusted and committed party man, who has done a lot to reposition Borno as two term governor, Shettima played a major role during the special presidential convention, which brought to the fore his qualification, competence and exposure to lead the party and move country forward"

Babatunde Kokumo, would supervise the election.

To assist Kokumo are four Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, four Commissioners of Police, 15 Deputy Commissioners of Police, and 30 Assistant Commissioners of Police.

According to the Force spokesman, adequate police personnel of the rank of Chief Superintendents of Police and below has equally been deployed for the election.

“DIG Kokumo is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Operation Order evolved from the Election Security Threat Assessment, to ensure a peaceful and conducive environment devoid of violence and to guarantee law-abiding citizens in the state of a secured space to freely perform their civic responsibilities without molestation or intimidation.

“Other Senior Officers deployed are tasked with coordinating human and other operational deployments in the three senatorial districts, 30 local government areas and the 3,753

polling units in Osun State,” he said.

To replace the Osun State police commissioner is the Provost Marshall at the Force Headquarters, CP Julius Alawari.

As a means of boosting security for the exercise, the IG further noted that the personnel, comprising conventional police officers, Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Special Forces personnel, Explosives Ordinance Disposal Unit (EOD), Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB), INTERPOL, Special Protection Unit (SPU), Police Airwing, Public Relations Department (FPRD), as well as Police Medical Teams, would be on the ground to guarantee free, fair, credible and acceptable election.

This is in addition to the deployment of five Armored Personnel Carriers for a patrol as well as three helicopters and six Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for aerial surveillance among other unique operational assets that were also deployed.

DECADE OF GAS: FG TO SPEND $2BN INVESTMENT YEARLY ON INFRASTRUCTURE DEVT, SAYS NLNG If you were here yesterday (last Wednesday) and you listened to Philip Mshelbila, the CEO, it's just obvious that Train 7 is no longer ambitious for us.

"So we're looking at Train 8, but we're looking at it not from a capacity increase point of view. We're looking at it from one that enables us to reduce our overall carbon footprint. So the technology design that we're looking at for Train 8 is the one that lowers our overall greenhouse emission intensity at site. That's the technology that we're bringing into it.

"The design is going to be completely different. So while we work on decarbonising the existing assets, we're very conscious that that in itself is not going to take us to our ambition of net-zero emission.

We need to do something radical, something big and that's where technology comes in."

He added that technology would continue to play a dominant role as the world moves to achieve net-zero carbon footprint, insisting that technology remains relevant both in existing assets or new gas assets.

NNPC Intensifies Efforts to Block $1.283bn Seplat-Mobil Deal, Gets Court Injunction

Meanwhile, there seems to be no backing down on efforts by the NNPC to halt the completion of the $1.283 billion sales and purchase deal between SeplatEnergies Plc and MPNU. THISDAY learnt yesterday that

the national oil company has won a court decision temporarily blocking the parties from continuing with the transaction until all the contending issues are resolved.

The Seplat transaction involves the acquisition of the entire offshore shallow water business of ExxonMobil in Nigeria and was expected to deliver 186 per cent increase in production from 51,000 bpd to 146,000 bpd.

The assets include the Qua Iboe Terminal, one of Nigeria’s largest export facilities as well as a 51 per cent interest in Bonny River Terminal and Natural Gas Liquids Recovery Plants at EAP and Oso. But the deal ran into troubled waters when the federal government turned down the application for ministerial consent necessary to seal the agreement, citing overriding national interest as one of the reasons for rejecting it.

A leaked statement from Seplat and separate court records indicated that a judge in the capital, Abuja, granted NNPC an, “order of interim injunction” on July 6 barring Exxon “from completing any divestment” in the unit.

It showed that the state-run company sued Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited on July 5, asking the court to either to order that a dispute had occurred between the parties over preemption rights, or to order them to take the matter to arbitration.

But Seplat, which is not party to the lawsuit, said its deal with

Exxon was “still valid” and the company “remains confident that the matter would be brought to a proper conclusion in accordance with the law,” Bloomberg stated.

The contentious assets the court is interested in include Oil Mining Lease 68, oil 69, 70 and and Oil Prospecting License 94.

The statement added that the court barred MPNU and Mobil Development Nigeria Plc from disposing of their shares in the joint operating agreement (JOA) between them and the NNPC. “Seplat Energy PLC recently became aware that, on 5 July 2022, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) commenced an action at the State High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja, Nigeria (State High Court) in relation to the acquisition of the entire shares of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPNU).

“MPNU, its shareholders (Mobil Development Nigeria, Inc. and Mobil Exploration Nigeria, Inc.), and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission are named as defendants in the suit.

“NNPC has requested the State High Court to declare that a dispute has occurred between itself and MPNU in relation to the interpretation of pre-emption rights under their Joint Operating Agreement (“JOA”) and order NNPC and MPNU to arbitration as required by the JOA. “On 6 July 2022, the State High Court made an ex parte order of

interim injunction restraining the Defendants from completing any divestment in MPNU, including the Share Sale and Purchase Agreement signed with Seplat Energy Offshore Limited (the SPA),” the statement said.

The July 6 order restrains ExxonMobil from selling, trading, allocating transferring, or disposing of their shares in their interests covered by or connected to the JOA pending the determination of the claimant/applicant’s motion.

Marked FCT/HC/BW/ CV/173/22 m/203/2022, it was filed on July 5 at the high court of the Federal Capital Territory, in the Abuja division presided over

by Justice B. Belgore.

Last week, the Chief Executive of the NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, pointedly told heads of private oil companies that like them, the national oil company would henceforth go for the best and juiciest assets in the industry as it completes its transitioning to a fully commercial entity.

“We will be the biggest oil and gas company and therefore there will be no distinction between the NNPC and the rest of the partners (private oil companies) that we have in this business.

“And as you are also acquiring assets, and without mincing words, I am being very frontal, we will acquire the best of assets that is possible in order to build our assets base and also those that we can’t manage for our scale, we will give it to you,” Kyari stated pointedly.

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NEWS

Police Arrest Three Suspected Kidnappers in Ekiti Arrest two alleged notorious cultists in Edo

Police in Ekiti have arrested three suspected kidnappers in a forest at Ijan-Ekiti. DSP Sunday Abutu, police spokesman, stated in Ado-Ekiti yesterday that those arrested are Abdullahi Musa 38, Abdullahi Ali 25 and Abdullahi Suleiman, 19.

He said the feat was part of police’s renewed efforts to rid Ekiti of kidnappers and other criminals.

He stated that operatives, in collaboration with vigilance, trailed and arrested the three suspected kidnappers in a deep forest in the town.

Abutu added that the suspects confessed to have engaged in series of kidnaps in Ekiti.

“They mentioned two of such kidnaps at Ikere-Ekiti and said they had seven members, four of whom are still at large.

“Efforts are on-going to arrest fleeing members of the syndicate,’’ Abutu stated.

Meanwhile, Police said they arrested two notorious cultists and recovered ammunition along Auchi-Ekperi road in Edo. This is contained in a

statement by ASP Jennifer Iwegbu, the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin.

Iwegbu said operatives of the command attached to Fugar Divisional Police Headquarters were on routine Patrol/stop and search on Auchi-Ekperi

road when they accosted two young men on a motorcycle, one Emmanuel James, 25, and Matthew Oghode, 31, “Upon search on them, three

live cartridges were recovered from the bag in possession of James; the suspect took to his heels into the bush in a bid to dispose the cut-to-size gun in

his possession,” she said.

She added that the police operatives gave him a hot chase and maimed him on his foot before he was apprehended.

BEER SECTOR GROUP PROJECT...

L-R: Corporate Relations Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Rotimi Odusola; Corporate Affairs Director, Nigerian Breweries, Sade Morgan; Chairman, Beer Sectoral Group(BSG), and CEO Guinness Nigeria Plc, Baker Magunda, and Corporate Affairs Director, International Breweries Plc, Temitope Oguntokun, during the launch of the 4th edition of BSG Smashed Project in Abuja...recently

Buhari CondemnsAttack Four Die, Five Injured on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Adamawa Pastor

President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the attack by gunmen on Rev. Daniel Umaru of EYN Church, Njairi in Mubi Local Government area of Adamawa.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the gunmen on Tuesday shot the Pastor, killed two of his sons and kidnapped his 13-year-old daughter.

Buhari ,who was represented

by Boss Mustapha, Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), condemned the attack when he visited the National Vice President of EYN Church,

Rev. Anthony Ndamsai yesterday in Mubi.

He assured that government would definitely take action to ensure those who committed the crime were caught to face the law.

He prayed for the quick recovery of Rev. Umaru who is currently receiving treatment.

Buhari also solicited more prayers from religious leaders for lasting peace in the country.

In his remarks, Ndamsai thanked SGF for the sympathy visit and identifying with them.

Coalition Tasks INEC to Prevent Electoral Fraud in Osun Oluchi Chibuzor

Ahead of this weekend’s governorship election in Osun State, some members of a coalition of civil society organizations have tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that there is no vote-rigging during the gubernatorial race.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, yesterday, organised by the Civil Society Committee for Anti-Fraud Election Security (CISCAES), the Chairman of the National Consultative Front, Prof Pat Utomi, said INEC must tackle any form of vote-rigging or election fraud in the forthcoming

Osun governorship election in few day’s time.

Utomi said Nigerians and the international community must be alert to the ongoing conspiracy by the powers that be to recklessly rig the election.

He said: “It goes without saying that if the planned rigging of the “Osun 2022 guber poll is not prevented and stopped, it will ultimately impose a huge threat on the anticipated credibility of the 2023 general elections.”

“The direct immediate consequence would become voter apathy in 2023 for a lack of confidence in the ability of INEC, to conduct transparent, fair and credible 2023 polls.

‘Kwankwaso Still in Presidential Race’

The Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (RMK) Presidential Campaign Organisation has described as fake report that Kwankwaso, who is the confirmed presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) for the 2023 general elections, has endorsed Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

In a statement last night, the campaign organisation stated clearly that Kwankwaso is still fully in the presidential race, explaining that he is not distracted by the misleading report that he has declared support for Tinubu.

“Kwankwanso has continued to enjoy widespread support from vast majority of Nigerians.

For the records and avoidance

of doubt, in the interview with Dr. Reuben Abati of Arise TV where Dr. Reuben Abati asked Kwankwanso of his opinion about Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Kwankwaso stated clearly in his response that “Bola Tinubu is my friend of many years, if I had not contested, I would have recommended him. I do not play politics of bitterness.

We are both in the presidential race but I am a better candidate,” the organisation said.

The campaign organisation said it is unfortunate to see many people “taking the above statement to mean an endorsement of Tinubu and promoting such misconstrued message on the media.”

Four persons died while five others sustained injuries in an accident involving a Toyota Sienna space bus and a truck at old toll gate, Ogere on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

The Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC)in Ogun, Mr. Ahmed Umar, confirmed the incident

to newsmen in Abeokuta yesterday.

Umar explained that the accident occurred at about 3:22 p.m. and was caused by speeding and loss of control by the driver of the Toyota Sienna. The sector commander stated that the Sienna marked KJA 738 ET, lost control and

collided with the truck which was making a reverse on the expressway. ” A total of nine people were involved which comprised six men, two women and one child. Five people were injured and four persons died,” he said.

Umar added that the injured

victims were taken to Victory Hospital, Ogere for treatment while the deceased were deposited at FOS Morgue, Ipara.

He advised motorists to use common sense speed limit especially during the rainy season when visibility was always poor.

Demolition: Shop, House Owners Protest Non-payment of Compensation in Osogbo Residents of Osogbo, whose shops and houses were demolished along MDS, Ola-Iya and Fakunke axis of the town, yesterday staged a peaceful protest over non-payment of their compensation by the state government.

The protesters, in their large numbers stormed Government House at Oke-Fia, with placards, appealing to the

state government to pay their compensation.

Some of the inscriptions on the placards include: “Gov. Oyetola, We Waited Enough, Please Do The Needful, Pay Us Our Compensation,” “Pay Our Compensation, Many of Us Are Dead,” Addressing newsmen at the scene of the protest, spokesperson of the protesters,

Mrs Funke Afolabi, said their buildings were demolished in 2013 by the state government Afolabi said the affected owners of the building were promised compensation by the state government, but all efforts to get it had proved abortive.

She said Gov. Oyetola, who was the Chief of Staff to the then governor, Rauf Aregbesola, should understand their plight.

“We are begging the state government to listen to our voices.

“Our shops and houses were demolished by state government for road constructions and we were promised that we will be compensated.

“But since 2013 till date, we are yet to get anything from government.

Plateau PDP Guber Candidate, Mutfwang, Promises to End Incessant Killings John Shiklam in Kaduna The Governorship Candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State, Mr. Caleb Mutfwang, has promised to end the killings in the state if elected.

Mutfwang also promised to ensure that all communities displaced by terrorists would

return to their ancestral homes.

He said on Sunday during a reception that was organised

by Plateau Community in Kaduna that he would lay the foundation for a peaceful and prosperous Plateau State for generations to come.

He noted that Plateau state is blessed with good weather and good soil that can be harnessed

to build an economy that is beyond oil.

According to him, Plateau State was the first in Nigeria to generate electricity, stating that his administration would ensure that all the potentials for electricity in the state are revived and revamped to generate revenue for the state’s infrastructural development.

He, however, decried the heavy debt hanging on the state, saying that Plateau State is currently indebted to the tune of N220 billion.

“Destiny has bestowed on me the opportunity to come into the space of leadership on the Plateau and this responsibility is one that I am not taking lightly.

Stakeholders Support Abia APC Guber Candidate Emenike Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia Stakeholders from Arochukwu local government of Abia State have pledged full support to the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) High Chief Ikechi Emenike in his quest to free Abia from the vicious grip of bad leadership.

This commitment was expressed at Ututu where the stakeholders, including women and youth groups, gathered to receive the Abia APC leader during his visit to Arochukwu local government.

Emenike was at Ututu where he inaugurated branded campaign vehicles of the APC candidate for Arochukwu/federal constituency, Chief Dan Okeke, who said that he

had acquired the vehicles months before the primary poll because of his strong belief that Emenike would emerge victorious.

Several community leaders, party stakeholders and women leaders that spoke at the event vowed to work very hard to ensure that APC sustained its grip on Arochukwu/Ohafia federal constituency. They expressed their

joy at the emergence of Emenike as the governorship flag bearer of APC in Abia for the 2023 poll.

The host, Hon Okeke, appealed to the people of Arochukwu/ Ohafia federal constituency to come on board “the moving train” of High Chief Emenike and contribute with their votes to put Abia in the hands of a competent leader.

Court Restrains Firm from Trespassing on Land in Ibadan Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan An Ibadan High Court, presided over by Justice O.A. Adetujoye, has ordered a property development company, Adron Homes and Properties Limited and one other person from trespassing, developing,

meddling or interfering on a land measuring 594.757 hectares at Olawoyin Orogun family land in Agangan Olawoyin Oleyo in Odo - Ona area of Ibadan.

Also affected by the interlocutory injunction was one Mrs. Taibatu Oje, who was sued on behalf of herself

and the entire Oje family.

This is just as the court also ordered an accelerated hearing of the substantive case while ruling on a Motion on Notice filed by a legal practitioner, Olugbenga Makinde, on behalf of 10 families that include Adediran, Faniyi, Oke and

Ojokaro.

Other families involved are Baba Ode, Adewole, Oyarinde, Esugbohun, Oparayi and AbaN-gbe.

The families were contesting a land which they claim belong to their family but had been sold to other people.

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NEWSXTRA

Stop APC Thugs from Disturbing Osun Elections, PDP Tasks Security Agencies Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

The Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Osun State People Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Akindele Adekunle, yesterday alleged that political thugs mobilised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) now arriving at various parts of the state.

According to him in the countdown to the election day next Saturday, “Osun State is witnessing influx of armed men and women whose sole goal is to violently disrupt peaceful conduct of the election.

“It is already in public domain that thugs imported from Lagos are already lodged at various hotels in Osun State.”

In a statement issued by Adekunle, which was made available to THISDAY yesterday, he said: “We have reports that such daredevils have been deployed to various zones, including Iwo, where a PDP party agent was shot at, and Osogbo axis, where the

residence of the governorship candidate of the Labour Party was attacked.”

Adekunle noted that the increasing number of attacks and the unchecked activities of thugs across the state pose

serious danger to the peaceful conduct of next Saturday election.

He, however, charged the newly deployed Police Commissioner and the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG)

in the state to take judicious note and urgently act to arrest the situation.

Adekunle also urged security agencies not to wait until citizens resort to self-help before the menace of party thugs is

nipped in the bud.

He said: “We repeat the call of our governorship candidate for an urgent review of security architecture for the election. We call on the security agencies to conduct security audit and map

the state before next Saturday election. If various appeals from well-meaning stakeholders are not acted upon, the authorities should be held responsible for any breakdown of law and order in Osun State.”

CHOICE DENTAL UNVEILED. . .

L-R: Managing Director, Nubian Nigeria Limited, Dr. Azhinoto Ikpah; Director, Choice Dental, Dr. Tititope Goncalves; Managing Director, Mainone, Ms Funke Opeke; Managing Dentist, Choice Dental, Dr. Shade Akiode, and Chairman, Dr. A Smile and Sleep Spa,Washington DC, United States of America, Dr. Oluwole Ajagbe, at the grand opening of Choice Dental in Ikeja, Lagos…recently

Film and Video Censors Board Boss Gunmen Attack Residence of Osun Labour Party’s Candidate Urge Youths to Tap into Nollywood Yinka KolawoleinOsogbo

The Executive Director of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Alhaji Adedayo Thomas, has urged Nigerian youths to tap into the tremendous and massive job opportunities that abound in the Nigeria movie industry “Nollywood”.

Adedayo made the call during the Media Literacy and Capacity Building programme jointly organised by the NFVCB and the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Oshodi branch for youths and women on “Hate Speech and the Role of Film” in Lagos.

He said: “No matter your career, your services can still be utilized in the Nigerian film industry which is the largest

employer of labour globally.”

The Executive Director was full of commendation for the phenomenal growth of Nollywood, which has over the years served as a source of employment for many Nigerians.

He pointed out that part of the board’s mandate is to constantly engage and educate the public to understand the activities of the NFVCB and the proper use of the media through its media literacy and sensitisation programmes across the country.

One of the resource persons, a former NFVCB member/ veteran actor, Keppy Ekpeyong, while addressing the youths explained how the media influences peoples’ daily lives either positively or negatively.

Port Harcourt Disco Gets New MD

Blessing IbungeinPortHarcourt

Dr. Benson Uwheru has been appointed as the new managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution (PHED) Plc. Uwheru succeeded the former MD of the company, Dr. Henry Ajagbawa, who has been appointed to manage the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).

In a statement issued yesterday by the PHED Head of Corporate Communications, John Anonyai, the new development was sequel to the recent restructuring of five DisCos in Nigeria.

He disclosed that a new board has been constituted for the Port

Harcourt Electricity Distribution (PHED) Plc following the restructuring.

The new board members, according to Anonyai, are Iboroma Akpana, chairman of the board; Emmanuel Okotete, Eyo Ekpo, Ismaila Shuaibu, and Alex Okoh, who represents the Bureau for Public Enterprise (BPE). All the appointments took immediate effect.

Anonyai further disclosed that: “Until his appointment at PHED, Uwheru was a partner at Ernst and Young, a Banking and Capital Market sector leader for West Africa.

He has extensive experience in leadership, corporate governance, strategy, risk management and compliance.

Flourish Africa Fund Empowers 500 Female Entrepreneurs Flourish Africa, founded by Africa’s richest woman, Mrs Folorunso Alakija, has announced the graduation of the first batch of 500 female entrepreneurs of the Flourish Africa Business and Life Skills Training programme.

The programme, targeted at female-owned Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), is aimed to raise the next generation of economically empowered women on the continent, starting with Nigeria for the next five years.

Alakija established Flourish

Africa to act as a catalyst for the advancement of African women.

The movement was formed to provide female millennials and adults with access to information that will help them advance in their jobs, love lives, and relationships.

And in keeping with her passion to see women become truly fulfilled and empowered, Mrs Alakija launched the N1 billion fund to promote female-owned businesses in Africa on her 70th birthday, last July.

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Governorship Candidate on the platform of Labour Party ( LP) Rt,Hon, Lasun Yussuff yesterday alleged attack by some gunmen in his residence in Ilobu, in Irepodun local government area of Osun State.

The former legislator said the armed men shot randomly at his

residence.

Lasun, who is the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP), did not say if any person was shot or whether properties were destroyed in the shooting.

However ,Osun State Police Command yesterday said it had begun investigation into the unfortunate attack on the residence of Lasun Yussuf The police image-maker SP

Opelola Yemisi said that the police have received reports on the matter and visited the scene of the incident and had launched manhunt for the perpetrators of the dastardly act.

The yet to be identified gunmen Sunday night allegedly attacked the residence of the candidate of the LP. The gunmen reportedly shot at the building located at Oke Imma area of the town. It

was learnt by THISDAY that they came around 2am in the night.

It was further gathered that the security agents attached to the building were able to repel the attack with no one injured.

Lasun, who is a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, was present at the Governorship Debate organised

by Channels Television on Sunday night.

Insecurity: Oyo Goes Tough on Unregistered Motorcyclists Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has said his administration will go tough on any commercial motorcyclist who refuses to register with the state government.

He said the registration of commercial motorcycles and their riders became very important to prevent terrorists and other criminals disguising as okada riders from operating in the state.

Makinde, who spoke through his Executive Assistant on Administration and General Services, Idowu Ogedengbe, said this in Ibadan yesterday while featuring on the platform of the Oyo State Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists.

He explained that the registration included the biometric data capturing for all operators including

their names, phone numbers and addresses.

He said this would make it easy to track any okada used to commit crime anywhere in the state.

The governor’s aide said the Oyo State Road Transport Management Authority had been directed to apprehend whoever refused to register. He stressed that the first thing any commercial motorcyclist

had to do before starting operation in the state was to get registered.

He said: “What we want to achieve with this is to reduce the security threat that those people riding motorcycles could pose to our state. We don’t want to do it in a way that we will infringe on the rights of any law-abiding okada rider that is just looking for his means of livelihood.

Police Re-arraign Ex-Bank Manager over N179.4m Fraud Wale Igbintade

Men of Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID) Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos have re-arraigned a former bank manager, Fidelis Egueke, before the Federal High Court, in Lagos, over alleged N179 million fraud.

His re-arraignment was sequel to a 16-count amended

charge filed against him by the police.

In the amended charge, the police alleged that the former bank manager, conspired with others now at large and without any authorisation, allegedly removed the sum of N174.

498 million, from a company account, domiciled in Guaranty Trust Bank Plc. According to the Police, the

defendant committed the alleged offences between May 14, 2010, and December 31, 2019.

The offences, according to the prosecutor, Barrister Morufu Animashaun, contravened Sections 8(a), 1(1)(c) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006 and were punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

The offences also contravene section 383 (1) of the Criminal Code Act Laws of the Federation 2004 and punishable under Section 390 (1) of the same Criminal Code Act Laws of Federation 2004.

At the resumed trial of the defendant, the prosecutor, Barrister Animashaun, informed the court of the amended charge.

Nigeria Signs Agreement with Germany for Repatriation of 1,130 Benin Bronzes The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, yesterday said that Nigeria had signed an agreement for the repatriation of 1,130 Benin bronzes from Berlin in Germany.

Mohammed during inauguration of The Art Hotel in Lagos, said that the bronzes

were looted from the ancient city of Benin in 1897, 125 years ago.

He assured Nigerians of the federal government’s commitment toward recovering the nation’s priceless works of art.

“Let me restate our commitment to recovering our

priceless works of art which were looted from our country.

“Our efforts in this regard have started to yield fruits. Last week, in Berlin, Germany, we signed the agreement for the repatriation of 1,130 Benin bronzes which were looted from the ancient city of Benin kingdom in 1897.

“This number represents the single largest repatriation of looted works of art anywhere in the world.

“There is no doubt that the return of the most coveted Benin bronzes to Nigeria will help to stimulate domestic tourism in our country,” he said.

Man Arrested for Kidnap of Baptist Women Leader The Imo State Police Command on Monday said that they had arrested one person in connection with the kidnap of one of the women leaders of First Baptist Church situated on Wetheral Road in Owerri, the state capital.

The victim, Biola Abeoye,

was kidnaped after a church service on Sunday by gunmen who operated in a Camry Toyota vehicle.

The victim, who is the wife of Imo General Manager of Zoological Garden Park at Nekede was said to be in the midst of other worshipers

when the suspects struck, shooting repeatedly in the air before zooming off with their target.

The police, who confirmed the abduction of the woman yesterday, said that the command had launched an investigation into the crime.

The police spokesperson for the command, Micheal Abattam, told newsmen that one suspect had been nabbed and was being interrogated.

He assured the safety of the victim and said that the command was working for the swift return of the woman.

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TUESDAY, ͹ͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

TUESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

CAF Snubs Moses Simon in Final Nominees for Player of the Year Award

African football’s governing body, CAF, has released a list of 10 nominees for the Player of The Year award after pruning the initial list of nominees for various men's awards with no Nigerian in the run-in.

CAF had named just one Nigerian player from a list of 30 players initially nominated.

The criteria for selection of the nominees received widespread condemnation in Nigeria as Victor Osimhen, who is one of Africa’s most sought-after and best players was missing from the list.

Nantes winger, Moses Simon, who was Nigeria’s best player at the AFCON 2031 in Cameroon was the only Super Eagles player on the list.

Simon has now been dropped alongside 19 other

players with a list of 10 contenders to produce a further final three nominees.

The players in the final 10 are; Achraf Hakimi, Naby Keita, Karl Toko Ekambi, Sadio Mane, Riyad Mahrez, Mohamed Salah, Edouard Mendy, Vincent Aboubakar, Kalidou Koulibaly and Sebastian Haller.

In the Young Player of the Year category, Akinkunmi Amoo was snubbed in the final five nominees.

Amoo had made the top ten youngsters in Africa according to CAF but has been dropped in the final five nominations.

Senegal’s Pape Matar Sarr, Ghana’s Kamaldeen Suleymana, Hannibal Mejbri, Dango Ouattara and Karim Konate were the final nominees for the award.

Full List of Nominees Riyad Mahrez (Algeria & Man City) Karl Toko Ekambi (Cameroon & Olympique Lyon) Vincent Aboubacar (Cameroon & Al Nassr) Sebastien Haller (Ivory Coast & Ajax) Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Liverpool) Naby Keita (Guinea & Liverpool) Achraf Hakimi (Morocco & PSG) Edouard Mendy (Senegal & Chelsea) Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal & Napoli) Sadio Mane (Senegal & Bayern)

L-R: Sadio Mane IN, Moses Simon OUT, Mohamed Salah IN

Transfer: Onuachu Linked with Wolves Move

Paul Onuachu...on the radar of several Premier League clubs

Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu could be plying his trade in England next season having been linked with a move to English Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The striker has been outstanding for Genk in the last two seasons, but he could be on his way to the Molineux this summer Onuachu has been a standout performer for the Limburgers in the last two seasons.

Two seasons ago, the Nigerian striker recorded 34 league goals and his exploits did not go unnoticed, as he was awarded the best player in Belgium.

After his achievement, the Super Eagles striker was expected to seal a move away from the club. However, despite links to Lyon, Arsenal, and West

Ham, Genk kept him.

Onuachu never hid his desire to leave Genk for another club.

But he has been professional about it.

The speculation surrounding the big Nigerian striker have not ended, as he also performed well last season.

Onuachu recorded 23 goals in 41 appearances last season.

Atletico Madrid, West Ham, and Fiorentina have all been linked to the towering striker.

Nonetheless, they could face major competition, as SportsMole reports that Wolverhampton Wanderers are interested in Onuachu.

Bruno Lage’s side had a decent campaign last season.

But they are looking to improve on that. Wolves are set to loan striker Fabio Silva to Anderlecht

Banyana Blow as Kgatlana Ruled out of WAFCON 2022 Banyana Banyana suffered a massive injury blow after forward Thembi Kgatlana was ruled out of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco yesterday.

Kgatlana sustained a ruptured Achilles tendon in the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana’s group C match against Botswana on Sunday and had to be stretched off the pitch in the 69th minute. She had to undergo an MRI scan

which confirmed the extent of the injury yesterday.

Banyana Banyana physician, Dr Rodney Mokoka, confirmed the injury and said the player will return to South Africa for an operation.

“Thembi Kgatlana sustained a complete rupture of the left Achilles tendon against Botswana, which was confirmed by the MRI scan this morning. Unfortunately, she will be out for the whole Wafcon 2022 tournament and

she is due for an operation back home in South Africa,” Mokoka told www.safa.netyesterday.

“Post operation healing will be guided by certain milestones that we have to achieve. Of course, a comprehensive functional rehabilitation programme will be in place for her but the quicker we achieve those milestones, the quicker she will be back in the field of play.”

Dr Mokoka also gave an update on Jermaine Seoposenwe,

who also did not finish the game against Botswana due to an injury.

"Jermain Seoposenwe sustained a soft tissue injury of the ankle against Botswana.

She is doing well and will be available for training tomorrow [on Tuesday].”

Banyana Banyana return to action on Thursday when they face Tunisia in the quarterfinal of the WAFCON at the Stade Prince Moulay Al Hassan, Rabat.

and would be shopping for a replacement.

Also, Onuachu could provide Wolves with another dimension.

The 28-year-old is quite dogged and is dangerous in aerial situations.

Meanwhile, Onuachu averaged a much-more impressive 7.19 rating for his performances in Belgium; and while it is difficult to compare the two leagues given the difference in quality, he would certainly arrive at Molineux in confident goal-scoring form, which is exactly what Lage needs.

Still, for a move to go down, they would have to put down at least €20 million.he defending

champions lost their opening match 2-1 to South Africa’s Banyana Banyana.

But the coach Randy Waldrum ladies bounced back beautifully with wins over Botswana (2-0) and Burundi (4-0) to finish as Group C runners-up.

The team will be lodged at the Novotel Hotel in Mohammedia ahead of the face-off against Cameroon.

The Super Falcons are chasing a tenth continental crown, having won the WAFCON trophy a record nine times.

The Nigerians have the most potent attack at the championship, with seven goals from their first three matches.

Super Falcons Storm Casablanca for Q'final Clash with Cameroon Reigning African champions Super Falcons of Nigeria have arrived in Casablanca, Morocco, ahead of the quarterfinal clash against Cameroon at the 2022 Women Africa Cup of Nations.

The two West African neighbours will slug it out for a place in the semifinals of the competition on Thursday, July 14, at the Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca.

That is the same stadium where Cameroon played all their three group games,

picking a win and two draws to finish second in Group B behind Zambia.

The Indomitable Lioness forced Zambia to a stalemate on matchday one and followed it with a 1-1 draw against Togo.

Matchday three brought success for Cameroon as they forced a 2-0 defeat down the throat of Tunisia.

The Super Falcons, however, faced their three group opponents at the Stade Prince Moulay EL Hassan in Rabat.

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

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MISSILE

Pat Utomi to Ageing Oligarchs “People have awoken. They want to take back their country. The broad coalition of women, youth, professionals and the intellectuals which has adopted the leadership of the Labour Party and Peter Obi is serving notice that in addition to its agents which will number up to 15 in each polling booth, it will use technology to guard the votes of Nigerians in 2923” --- Chairman, NCFront, Pat Utomi, stating LP’s strategy for the 2023 elections.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI abati1990@gmail.com

Tinubu And The APC Muslim-Muslim Ticket T

he ruckus that has been generated by the announcement of former Borno State Governor, Senator Kashim Shettima as running mate of the Presidential standard bearer of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), for the 2023 Presidential election is a perfect illustration and yet another sharp reminder of how religion has driven a wedge among Nigerians. Religion, etymologically, is derived from the Latin word, “religare” which means “to bind together”, but rather than bind the people of Nigeria together, religion has divided them along sectarian lines. It is the oxygen of devious power politics, sectarian politics, mass murder, terror, instability, and the plague of amorality. This is ironic, for Nigeria is clearly one of the most religious countries in the world, with every street, every corner boasting of either a church, a mosque, a shrine or a temple. The business of religion is also perhaps the most lucrative in Nigeria, with many religious groups noted more for commerce, hustling and mass hypnotism rather than piety, with a yawning gap between private and public morality, as the people commit atrocities in the name of God. The evidence abounds in the weaponization of religion, even if the Nigerian Constitution states expressly that “the government of the Federation or of a state shall not adopt any religion as state religion”, the resort to violence on the basis of religion as has been witnessed over the years in the Middle Belt, Southern Kaduna and other parts of the country, the politics of Sharia, and the cruel exploitation of religion by political leaders. The easiest way to ignite violence in Nigeria is to play the ethnic or religious card as in Kafanchan, Kano, Jos, Zango-Kataf, Maitatsine riots, Kano, the slaughter of priests, incessant attacks on churches. Many have died for no just cause: Gideon Akaluka, Mrs. Christianah Oluwatoyin Oluwasesin, Deaconess Eunice Olawale, Mrs. Eunice Elisha, Pastor Bolanle Ibrahim, Deborah Yakubu Samuel, all made worse since the return to civilian rule in 1999, by “the religion-inspired war” unleashed on Nigeria by Boko Haram and a band of terrorists and their international partners. Nor does it matter whether the perpetrators of violence are educated or not. Indeed, once upon a time, the University of Ibadan nearly witnessed an open warfare between Christians and Muslims within the community over the location of a Chapel Cross, which the Muslims asked to be removed because it was visible from the direction of the University Mosque, hence allegedly hindering the faith of worshippers! Between 1985 and 1986, this became known as the Cross and Crescent crisis in Ibadan.

Religion is so sensitive that both Nigerian Muslims and Christians have learnt to live in an atmosphere of mutual suspicion. Such measures and groups as the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), Interfaith Mediation Centre (IMC) and Inter-Faith Dialogues have not necessarily promoted tolerance enough.

The fear of likely domination by the other worsens the situation. Every election season, religion plays a major role in the selection of candidates giving rise to the need for zonal, ethnic, and religious balancing.

This is the general context of the emotions attached to the kind of ticket which politicians present to the electorate most especially at the Presidential and Gubernatorial levels. The convention is to have a balanced Muslim – Christian ticket or vice versa, to do otherwise is to exhume and oxygenate religious passion and prejudices. This is exactly what the Presidential candidate of the ruling APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has done by choosing a fellow Muslim as his running mate. Virtually every Christian group in the country, including the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Arewa Christians and Indigenous Pastors Association, and the Christian Global Network has kicked against this. No other general election in this country in recent memory has attracted as much religious sentiment. Faced with unprecedented assault in the last few years, the Christian community has been vocal in seeking to defend itself physically, and by mobilizing the congregation to vote, and defend Christian choices.

Christians have been advised by some of their leaders to take up arms to defend themselves. Many churches have turned the possession of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) into an access card to church.

Those without PVCs have been told to stay away.

Tinubu

Shettima

Some major Christian denominations have also set up Departments devoted exclusively to politics and voter mobilization. Out of distrust and fear of the havoc that has been wreaked over time in the name of religion, Nigerian Christians want their own men and women in positions of authority. The other political parties that have announced their Presidential running mates so far have exercised great caution in this regard, more so as the churches warned before now that in 2023, a same-faith, Muslim-Muslim ticket would not be acceptable. The Bible enjoins Christians “to turn the other cheek.” Christians in Nigeria have since abandoned that injunction. They are on their way back to the Old Testament.

Is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APC Presidential candidate not aware of this? Of course, he is. He has been in politics long enough to know that politics in Nigeria is driven by sentiments. But in choosing a Muslim like himself as running mate, he provides a robust even if rhetorical, defence that has been questioned by members of his own party and outsiders alike. He has been accused, for example, of promoting the politics of exclusion and discrimination against Christians. An APC member, Daniel Bwala has resigned from the party in protest. Another APC member, Senator Elisha Abbo (Adamawa North) has resigned his membership of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Campaign organization.

Tinubu however says: “To re-envision and reshape the nation, I must compose the best team possible, a team put together with but one overriding purpose: to forever establish, just, capable and compassionate governance for the people of Nigeria without regard to religion, region or ethnic origin.”

The problem here is that it is impossible to do anything in Nigeria without “religion, region, or ethnic origin.”

Is this part of the candidate’s statement written by a foreigner? Nigerians, Christians and Southerners, have said they don’t want another eight years of Northern leadership or any arrangement that excludes Christians completely. A few paragraphs later, Tinubu says: “A dominant theme of my political history and my personal life is my staunch belief in our diversity…

My selection of a running mate comports entirely with this longstanding inclination.” So, how exactly does a Muslim-Muslim ticket promote diversity? He goes further to state that he is aware of the “energetic discourse concerning the possible religion of my running mate… today, I announce my selection with pride because I have made it not based on religion or to please one community or the other.” The counter-argument by Christians is that a Muslim-Muslim ticket will definitely please the Muslim community, and make Christians feel alienated. Asiwaju Tinubu’s attempt to discount the factor of religion is a hard sell. The Nigerian Christian community is not impressed.

Tinubu sells Shettima to the electorate: “as a man with the talent, maturity, strength of character,

and patriotism” and adds that “he has my implicit confidence and faith.” He obviously feels comfortable with Senator Shettima, and that is fine – compatibility, apart from electoral value is an important consideration in choosing a running mate. Shettima was a major player in Tinubu’s emergence as APC Presidential candidate. He was director of his campaign. Both men also have a good relationship: Shettima is after all, a major exponent of the “Emi Lo Kan” – “It is my turn” - agenda. He is being rewarded for his loyalty. Tinubu further talks about “the need to place competence above religious sentiment”. There is no doubt that Senator Shettima is a competent man. He is educated, brilliant, experienced, articulate and fit.

He holds a B. Sc. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Maiduguri, and an M. Sc. in the same discipline from the University of Ibadan. He has worked as a University Teacher and as a Banker. He has also served as a commissioner five times in his home-state of Borno in different Ministries, Governor for eight years and Senator of the Federal Republic for 4 years. He can read a book and understand what it says, he can even quote Shakespeare effortlessly.

Except that the biggest obstacle is the question of his faith. He is a Muslim, running a ticket with a Muslim.

Tinubu says that should not be a problem. He argues that “the spirit of 1993 is upon us again in 2023.” I have heard some persons in response to that saying Tinubu should speak for himself. The spirit of 1993 may be upon him as a person, but some people draw attention to the fact that we are in 2022, not 1993 and the times are different.

Tinubu is referring to the Muslim-Muslim ticket of Chief MKO Abiola and Alhaji Baba Gana Kingibe on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 1993 Presidential election. Tinubu has practically replicated the Abiola-Kingibe model. Kingibe like Shettima, to drive home the appropriation, is a Kanuri, from the same state of Borno in the North East geo-political zone. But that is only as far as the comparison should go. In 1993, the Muslim-Muslim ticket may not have mattered because Nigerians wanted democracy badly. They were tired of military rule. Besides, religious conflict had not yet assumed its current hydra-headed, octopoid shape. As Simon Kolawole pointed out earlier in a piece titled “The Awkward Muslim-Muslim ticket” (ThisDay, June 18, 2022) - “before the late 1980s, religion was not a defining factor in national politics.” Under the Shehu Shagari administration, Shagari was a Muslim, and Fulani, but the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and all his Service Chiefs were Christians. This was not an issue. In 1979, Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo, candidate of the Unity Party of Nigeria ran a Christian-Christian, all Southern, Ogun-Anambra ticket with Philip Umeadi.

Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Presidential candidate of the

Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP) picked his running mate from Southern Kaduna, Dr. Ishaya Audu, a Christian. That was once upon a time in Nigeria, but not anymore. Some observers have talked about Governor Nasir el-Rufai running a Muslim-Muslim ticket in Kaduna State and getting away with it, but Kaduna is not Nigeria. A state with a population of a little over 9 million cannot be compared to a complex country like Nigeria. In today’s Nigeria, it will be difficult for anyone to run an entirely Southern or an entirely Northern Presidential ticket with the candidates being of the same faith. Such a proposal would be dead on arrival – that is the extent to which religion has divided us. The APC proposal as it is therefore, seeks to test the established order and sentiments. It is a bold move. But what are Tinubu’s strategic thoughts? How strong are his propositions?

No 1: Electoral value. Politicians make choices in order to win not to lose. Senator Shettima is Kanuri from the North East. Would it have been better to pick a running mate from the North West which has more voters compared to the entire North East? A running mate to Tinubu from the North West would have meant picking from the same zone as the outgoing President and from a zone that had previously produced late President Shehu Shagari, late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, former Vice President Namadi Sambo and a couple of former military Heads of State (Murtala Muhammad and Sani Abacha). The North East has to date produced only Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa from Bauchi State. The Kanuris are not as populous as the Hausa-Fulani but would the Northern voter worry about that or be more concerned that the Presidential running mate of the APC is a Muslim? Besides, Senator Shettima is from the same geo-political zone as the PDP Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar. His presence on the APC ticket could swing significant votes in favour of the party and divide Atiku’s votes. I had in fact argued in a piece titled “June 12, 1993, Running Mates and 2023” (ThisDay, Tuesday, June 14, 2022) as follows: “If Tinubu must pick a Muslim running mate as has been argued, his best choice is Kashim Shettima, former Governor of Borno State.”

No. 2: Religion. We have established that this would remain an issue. The ready argument by those who do not consider it an issue is that Christians constitute a minority in the entire North where the population is predominantly Muslim. But is that why Northern Christians should be excluded? Are there no Northern Christians that have the clout and the credentials to win big-ticket elections? Or that is “competent, reliable, capable and able?” By choosing a Muslim as his strategists advised, and as he has done, Tinubu is obviously leaving himself open to the accusation that he has no regard for the Christian community. He is nonetheless considered by many a liberal Muslim.

His wife is even a Pastor in a Pentecostal Church. He also knows that whereas it would be easier for him to defeat his major opponents in the South West and parts of the South, the main battle ground for his candidacy would be in the North. A Muslim-Muslim team is an attempt to woo and win the votes of the Muslim majority in the North. Examined closely, this is a cold-blooded, Machiavellian move. But did Tinubu at any time make any effort to consult the Northern Christian leadership and try to carry them along, before making his announcement? If he has not done so, let him do so now.

No 3: Finally, does religion necessarily make our leaders good men and women? Absolutely not. Religion is that affective thing in our consciousness which may have no bearing whatsoever with our daily conduct or character. Some of the most religious people are also some of the worst human beings ever. Nigerians are looking for good leaders, leaders who can address the major issues that affect their lives, and who can make Nigeria a better and safer place for all.

The strongest value of democracy is that it offers the people an opportunity to make their own choice. In 2023, it is up to the Nigerian people to vote according to their conscience. There are options on the table.

The electoral umpires must provide the enabling environment for the people to vote freely, without any form of hindrance, and every opportunity to ensure that their votes count. In the end, that is all that matters.

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