SATURDAY 15TH AUGUST 2020

21.77m Nigerians now Jobless as Unemployment Rate Rises to 27.1% James Emejo in Abuja The number of unemployed Nigerians rose to 21.77 million in the second quarter of this year (Q2 2020), compared to 20.93 million in Q3 2018, according to figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), yesterday.

The data on the nation’s unemployment rate released after a 20-month interval, also showed that the country's unemployment rate increased to 27.1 per cent in the second quarter of the year (Q2 2020), compared to 23.1 per cent recorded in Q3 2018.

The NBS noted that the

figure represented an increase of 836,969 persons who were without jobs when compared to Q3 2018.

However, unemployment rate is estimated at 11.7 per cent, using the international definition.

The number of people with jobs stood at 58.52 million,

while 22.94 million people were engaged in time-related jobs or underemployed, as well as 35.59 million persons who had full-time employment.

The working age population is estimated at 112.39 million with an active labour force of 80.29 million, while 32.10 million people are not

currently in the labour force.

According to the Labour Force Statistics’ “Abridged Labour Force Survey Under COVID-19” report, which was released yesterday by the statistical agency, underemployment rate increased to 28.6 per cent from 20.1 per cent in Q3 2018.

The NBS pointed out that unemployment rate among young people (15-34 years) was 34.9 per cent, up from 29.7 per cent, while the rate of underemployment for the same age group rose to 28.2 per cent from 25.7 per cent Continued on page 5

NJC Recommends Justices Garba, Aboki, Two Others for Supreme Court… Page 6 Saturday 15 August, 2020 Vol 25. No 9259

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Babalakin: We Followed Due Process in Sacking UNILAG’s VC Committee of Nigerian VCs opposes removal, rejects acting VC Bennett Oghifo, Uchechukwu Nnaike and Funmi Ogundare The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, University of Lagos, Dr. Wale Babalakin,

yesterday said the Council followed due process in the removal of the university’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe.

Babalakin stated this when he briefed journalists in Lagos, adding that under the laws

of the university, voting on contentious issues was either done in secret or in the open.

Regardless, the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Universities in Nigeria (CVCUN) has condemned the removal of Ogundipe,

saying it was done without due process and that he was not given fair hearing.

Also, after an emergency meeting during the week, the University’s Senate, rejected the Vice-Chancellor’s removal, saying in its resolution

that “due process was not followed,” and passed vote-of-no confidence on the Governing Council.

However, on the process leading up to the VC’s removal, Babalakin, who said the VC was removed because

he allegedly misappropriated the university’s funds, added, "We agreed to have a secret ballot that we have always had when there are contentious issues. The votes Continued on page 5

El-Rufai Hopeful about End to Killings as Special Forces Arrive Southern Kaduna Begs citizens to embrace lawful means of resolving grievances John Shiklam in Kaduna The Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has expressed optimism that the Special Forces deployed in the southern part of the state yesterday would help to end the senseless killings and restore peace in the area.

The Forces approved by the Defence Headquarters, arrived Kafanchan in the morning ahead of their deployment to the various Kaduna flashpoints today.

Addressing the Forces that arrived the Sector 7 Headquarters of Operation Safe Haven in Kafanchan (OPSH) in the morning, the Kaduna State governor said he was pleased with their deployment.

The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Internal

Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said the state government would continue to place a premium on security as the backbone of sustainable development.

“We came to formally welcome you to Kaduna State and to Southern Kaduna in particular after your induction.

You are courageous and outstanding officers who have done well in Faskari, Batsari and other flash points in the country," the governor said.

He said he was optimistic that the Special Forces would do well in consolidating the gains already achieved by soldiers, police and other security agencies in the affected areas.

The governor said: “Beyond the boots on the ground, the Kaduna State Government is conducting Continued on page 5

COURTESY CALL...

L-R: Delta State’s Deputy Governor, Kingsley Otuaro; Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and the new President, Ijaw Youth Council, (IYC), Comrade Peter Igbifa, during a courtesy call on Okowa by the new IYC Executives in Asaba... yesterday

DSS: Mailafia’s Claim on Boko Haram, Attempt to the Breach Peace… Page 5

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DSS: Mailafia’s Claim on Boko Haram, Attempt to Breach the Peace Former CBN deputy gov apologises, says he got information from Fulani traders Kingsley Nwezeh ÓØ ÌßÔË The Department of State Security (DSS) yesterday accused former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Obadiah Mailafia, of attempting to breach the peace with his claim that a northern governor was one of the commanders of the terrorist group, Boko Haram.

This is coming on the heels of the interview Mailafia granted the BBC Hausa late on Thursday, where he said he got the information about the alleged involvement of the said governor from “some Fulani traders” and did not know that his statement would go viral.

A statement issued by the DSS in Abuja, said that in spite of the channels available to Mailafia as a former government official, he chose to cross the line of decorum.

Mailafia had, during an interview he granted a radio station, Nigeria Info 99.3 FM alleged that a Nigerian governor was one of the commanders of Boko Haram.

He said the group planned to start a second civil war with the movement of arms to parts of the country during the COVID-19 lockdown.

He further alleged that armed gunmen had moved into rainforests and other locations in readiness to carry out their nefarious plans, even as he disclosed that part of the plans included moving into the cities to kill prominent citizens.

Following the development, the Nigerian Broadcasting Commision (NBC) said the interview breached the ammended Nigerian Broadcasting Code and fined Nigerian Info N5 million.

The fine triggered a national outrage, beginning with the board of the NBC which declared the fine illegal.

The statement signed by the Spokesman of DSS, Dr. Peter Afunanya, said that in spite of the apology tendered by Mailafia at the DSS office in Jos, Plateau State, he continued to stick to his position as the truth.

"Mailafia, as a former Deputy

Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and currently, a Directing Staff at Nigeria’s foremost Policy Research Institute, the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, has unhindered access to government's platforms. It is expected that he should be conversant with official information management protocols.

"But regrettably, he chose to cross the lines of decorum and conduct expected of a personality of his status. It is disappointing that he never took advantage of these to reach any of the security or related agencies to share the so called information at his disposal," the statement said.

Afunanya said Mailafia admitted the error in his outburst but chose the part of mischief after a six-hour interrogation.

"This, he has agreed to be a grievous error on his part. It, however, suggests his mischief and determination to use the fake news he spewed to incite

the people under his control.

"It is even more condemnable that Mailafia, who had profusely apologised during his visit to the Service’s Plateau State Command for his ignoble statement, would, afterwards, announce to the world that he stood by his misguided eruption."

The Department of of State Services, therefore, warned individuals or groups planning to tow the same line to desist from doing so.

"Similarly, the service also wishes to warn others, who in the guise of political mobilisation and supposed pursuit of group interests, engage in hostile and subversive activities, to desist forthwith from advancing their inimical and parochial causes.

"The service will not stand idly and watch disgruntled and aggrieved elements take laws into their hands and cause mayhem in the polity," he said.

The statement maintained that "in line with its mandate of detecting and preventing threats and crimes against the internal security of Nigeria, the Service

hereby reiterates its previous warning that it will henceforth not condone unruly conducts of persons and groups that ought to know better.

"In this regard, it will not hesitate to, within the confines of the law, decisively deal with such persons and/or groups, no matter how highly placed, that may wish to test its resolve."

It implored law abiding citizens to go about their normal businesses without fear, while assuring them of protection even as it pledged to strengthen existing measures designed to achieve the objective.

Mailafia Apologises, Says He Got his Information from Traders Mailafia Thursday said he got the information about a northern governor leading Boko Haram from Fulani traders in a market.

However, he did not disclose the name of the market.

After his release from DSS

custody, he said he was ready to lay down his life for the country like Nelson Mandela, the former president of South Africa, did for his country.

But in an interview with BBC Hausa on Thursday, Mailafia said he got the information from “some Fulani traders” in the market and did not know that his statement would go viral.

According to him, his words were misunderstood and that he did not even know he was recorded on video.

Mailafia said he told the DSS what he knew about the incident and would not repeat what he said. He apologised for any comments he made that offended others.

He added that he is a fan of President Muhammadu Buhari, “but there are bad people who don’t give him the advice to help him.”

The Northern Governors Forum (NGF) had asked security agencies to investigate Mailafia’s claim, saying the allegation was too grave to be swept under the carpet.

EL-RUFAI HOPEFUL ABOUT END TO KILLINGS AS SPECIAL FORCES ARRIVE SOUTHERN KADUNA series of engagements with traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders, civil society and other agencies, and we are making progress.

“Our consistent appeal is recourse to the law. No one should take the law into his or her own hands. Failure to recourse to the law only worsens the situation at hand, and as such, citizens must resort to available lawful means for arbitration and amicable resolution of grievances.”

The governor called on nonstate actors, especially residents of the affected communities to give their maximum support to the troops during the period of the operation through intelligence sharing mechanism.

He expressed gratitude to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin and the service chiefs, as well as the Commander of the Operation Safe Heaven for their immense commitment in containing the situation.

Reacting to the deployment of the Special Forces, spokesman of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), Luka Binniyat, said it was a welcome development.

He said with the arrival of the troops, the people expect that the 24-hour curfew, imposed on them over two months ago, would be reviewed so that they could go out in search of their means of livelihood.

He also called for the

expulsion of the bandits who have taken over some communities in Southern Kaduna.

Binniyat said: “The deployment of troops is a welcome development. We hope that this will bring an end to the invasion of our communities resulting in brutal killings and destruction of property.

“With the arrival of the troops, we expect the curfew imposed over two months ago to be relaxed for our people to commence economic activities.

“We wish to state however that it is not enough to deploy troops, there must be the political will to allow them do their work. We expect

our lands that had been taken over by Fulani militias to be returned to the owners who were chased away.

“For example in Zangang District (Atakad Chiefdom) in Kaura LGA, eight communities were overrun by these militias who took over the place. We expect the military to expel them so that the people can return to their homes.

“We also expect that the 15 communities in Kajuru LGA Kallah and Rimau wards taken over by Fulani militia in the past three months should be recovered.

“The Fulani leaders who masterminded the attacks and who are well known to the villagers should be

investigated and prosecuted We are grateful for this kind of massive deployment of troops, but it will mean nothing if there is no political will to use them for effective results.”

The southern part of Kaduna State has been under siege for years by rampaging gunmen who kill, maim and burnt houses.

In the past two months, communities in Zangon Kataf, Kauru, Kaura and Jama’a Local Government Areas have been under constant attacks by gunmen believed to be Fulani militia.

The state government had imposed a 24-hour curfew in the four LGAs to stop the killings, but the attacks

continued despite the curfew.

The latest of the killings took place on Wednesday, August 5, 2020, when 33 people were killed in five communities in Zangon LGA. The killings have been widely condemned by groups and individuals, including human rights orginsations across the country.

Hundreds of people, mostly women and children, were said to have been killed following the attacks, which El-Rufai and the Presidency said, were caused by reprisals.

Thousands of people have been rendered homeless with many of them currently at the various camps for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

Ochefu, told journalists yesterday that UNILAG has three Deputy Vice Chancellors and that the appointment of an acting Vice Chancellor, outside the three deputies was another problem for the university.

“The council has gone ahead to announce a new (acting) Vice Chancellor; the extant laws state that one of his Deputies should be appointed to act.

UNILAG has three Deputy Vice Chancellors, none of them was appointed as the acting Vice Chancellor and somebody else entirely was appointed.

“This is going to pose another problem because the Senate will not allow such a person to chair their meeting because they don’t know him within the context of laws establishing Universities,” said Prof. Ochefu.

He said the ugly situation in UNILAG would not augur well for the administration of Nigerian universities, saying the issues presently favoured the institution’s Senate which is demanding that due process be followed in the removal of the Vice Chancellor. “It is a funny situation,” added Ochefu.

willing or able to work, but who are now available and actively looking for work.”

On states level however, Imo State reported the highest rate of unemployment with 48.7 per cent, followed by Akwa-Ibom 45.2 per cent and Rivers 43.7 per cent.

States with the lowest unemployment rate include Anambra, Kwara and Sokoto with 13.1 per cent, 13.8 per cent and 13.9 per cent, respectively.

Bauchi recorded the highest rate of underemployment with 43 per cent followed by Yobe

and Adamawa, which both recorded 38.4 per cent.

In terms of both unemployment and underemployment, Imo recorded the highest rate with 75.1 per cent followed

by Kaduna 72.8 per cent, Kwara 34.2 per cent and Oyo 34.5 per cent.

The report moreover estimated that 2.73 million persons or 3.4 per cent of the labour force did not work during the period but had secured jobs to return to after the COVID-19 lockdown.

BABALAKIN: WE FOLLOWED DUE PROCESS IN SACKING UNILAG’S VC were counted, they were not just votes, everybody wrote their own comments and I read it out to everybody. " Reacting to Ogundipe's law suit against the governing council, he said when a VC is removed and he wants to complain, he can write to the visitor, he cannot on his own declare that he has not been removed, neither can he confront his employers. He cannot while still in office, institute an action against his employers. In law, apart from being removed, he has resigned. I think Ogundipe's

legal advisers have not done a thorough job. He needs to go and read the law properly."

On the resolution of the institution’s Senate, Babalaki said, “The Senate did not have a meeting, because it could not have had one. The authority to call a meeting rests with the Vice-Chancellor and, as at the time he called the meeting, he was no longer Vice-Chancellor.

“Most people don’t know what the powers of the Council are vis-à-vis the removal of the Vice-Chancellor. I assure you that there was full compliance

with the law in the removal of the Vice-Chancellor.

“Series of attempts were made to reconcile, but the plain truth is that Professor Ogundipe has been looting the University, and looting it recklessly. That’s the plain truth; we shouldn’t hide it.”

Babalakin further alleged that Ogundipe had been indicted for forging documents in recruitment processes.

He said members of the Council decided to remove Ogundipe because they “want the best for the university.”

He added: “There is no crisis in UNILAG. What you have is a vocal minority benefiting extensively from the resources of the university.”

But the Committee of Vice Chancellors said Prof. Ogundipe should have been given an opportunity to defend himself, adding that the appointment of an acting Vice Chancellor outside the three deputy Vice Chancellors of the institution, goes against the laws establishing Nigerian universities.

The Secretary-General of CVCUN, Prof. Yakubu Aboki

21.77M NIGERIANS NOW JOBLESS AS UNEMPLOYMENT RATE RISES TO 27.1% in Q3, 2018.

It added that unemployment rate among rural dwellers increased to 28 per cent compared to 23.9 per cent in Q3 2018, while urban dwellers reported a rate of 25.4 per cent up from 21.2 per cent.

Underemployment among rural dwellers, further rose to 31.5 per cent from 22.8 per cent, and for urban dwellers, it increased to 23.2 per cent from 13.7 per cent in Q3, 2018.

According to the statistical agency, the labour force, which is the number of people who

are able and willing to work (within the ages of 15-64) increased to about 80.29 million, compared to 90.5 million in Q3, 2018, representing 11.3 per cent decline.

However, those within the age bracket of 25-34 represented the highest number in the labour force accounting for 23.32 million or 29.1 per cent of the work force.

In addition, 32.09 million of the population were said to be out of the labour force currently.

It added that the number of

economically active or working age population (15 – 64 years of age) also rose by 1.2 per cent to 116.87 million from 115.5million in Q3, 2018.

The NBS, however, cautioned that "a rise in the unemployment rate is not entirely equivalent to an increase in job losses. Rather, an increase in unemployment can occur as a result of several reasons, of which loss of an existing job is just one. A rise in unemployment generally means the number of people searching for jobs has increased.

“An increase in labour force size can lead to rise in unemployment rate. What causes an increase in labour force? The labour force does not change simply from job losses, since those people previously had jobs and were already in the labour market, which does not change as a result of them losing their jobs. Rather, what causes an expansion in the size of the labour force is the increase in the number of persons within the working age population, who were previously not

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ AUGUST 15, 2020

NEWS

News Editor Ahamefula Ogbu 08116759810 (sms only) Email ahamefula.ogbu@thisdaylive.com

NJC Recommends Justices Garba, Aboki, 2 Others to Supreme Court

Alex Enumah in Abuja The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended the elevation of four Justices of the Court of Appeal to the bench of the Supreme Court.

The recommendation was part of decisions reached at the 2nd virtual meeting of the council held on August 11 and 12, 2020.

Information posted on the website of the NJC on August 14, gave the names

Enugu Pulls Down House of Man who Demolished Airport Fence Bennett Oghifo The Enugu State Government yesterday pulled down a twin duplex belonging to a man, Jonathan Emejulu who allegedly demolished the fence of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport during the week, while executing the judgment of Enugu State High Court.

The demolished twin duplex was located on Eziokwe Street, Community Estate, off Nike Lake Resort Road, Trans Ekulu, Enugu.

The court is said to have ceded an expanse of land in Airport Road Layout, Phase IV and V to Emejulu, who in Suit No. E/ 165M/2020 returned to the court through an application by Motion on Notice for the court to compel the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State and the Inspector General of Police to

execute the court judgment.

However, the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, which demolished the duplex at about 10a.m. yesterday, said it was blocking waterways, and flow of storm water.

A Notice of Violation served by the Department of Building Inspection, ECTDA also stated that the building violated building standards.

But Emejulu said he was unfairly targeted by the government for daring to execute judgement of the court to reclaim his property.

Also, the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, who visited the site during the week, condemned the demolition of the perimeter fence at the airport.

of those recommended to President Muhammadu Buhari for appointment to the Supreme Court as; Justice Tijjani Abubakar (North-east Zone), Justice Mohammed L. Garba (North-west Zone), Justice Abdu Aboki (North-west Zone) and Justice Mohammed M. Saulawa (North-west Zone).

Current Supreme Court Justices are Tanko Muhammad, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justices Rhodes Vivour, Mary Odili, Musa Datijo, Kudira kekere-Ekun and Sylvester Ngwuta. Others are Justices Inyang Okoro, Olukayode Ariwoola, Uwani Abba-Aji, Amina Augie, Cletus Nweze and Ejembi Eko.

The information signed by the Director Information, NJC, Mr. Soji Oye, noted that the Supreme Court of Nigeria currently have a total number of 12 Justices including the Chief Justice of Nigeria, consisting of two (2) Justices from North-central, one (1) from the North-east, one (1) from North-west, three (3) from South-east, one (1) from the South-south and three (3) from the South-west.

It would be recalled that the NJC had last October recommended the appointment of Justices Adamu Jauro (North-east); Emmanuel Agim (South-south); C. Oseji, (South-south) and Helen Ogunwumiju, (South-west).

However, nearly one year

after their recommendation, the president was yet to approve.

Outside the Supreme Court, the NJC also announced the appointment of Justice Gunnar Kaigama as Chief Judge of Yobe State and Kadi Muhammed Abubakar as Kadi, Sharia Court of Appeal, Katsina State, while Justice Mathew Njoku, was recommended for appointment as President of Customary Court of Appeal.

The council also recommended; Jamilu Suleiman, Maryam Sabo, Sanusi Ma’aji, Abdu Abubakar, Zuwaira Yusuf and Hafsat Sani, for appointment as judges of High Court of Kano State, while it recommended Clara

Kataps and Kazera Kodiya as Judges of the High Court of Taraba State.

Those recommended for appointment as Kadis, Sharia Court of Appeal, Kaduna State are; Muhammad Danjuma, Mustapha Umar, Muhammad Rashid and Muhammad Sidi, while Gabriel Okafor, Grace Ibiye and Jessica Gberevbie, were recommended as Judges of Customary Court of Appeal, Delta State.

Oye said, all recommended candidates are expected to be sworn-in after approval by President Buhari and their respective state governors and confirmation by the National Assembly and the respective State House of Assemblies.

Otti Declares for APC,Vows Continued Struggle to Liberate Abia Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia Former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State, Mr. Alex Otti, yesterday formally declared for the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying that he was still committed to the struggle to liberate Abia from bad governance.

Otti was received into his new party at his Nvosi Ward 5 in Isiala Ngwa South local government with party leaders and members in the ward and local government enthusiastically welcoming him into APC. He was first received by the ward chairman. Francis Nnamdi, who took him to the leader of the party in the w ard, Chief Victor Amata, who then presented “the big fish” they caught to the local government chairman of the party, Ezinwa Nwuzo.

In his speech entitled ‘Always for the good of the people’ Otti explained that he joined APC to further seek ways to give a new lease of life to the people of Abia which the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had failed to do since 1999.

But he acknowledged that quitting APGA after being its flag bearer in 2015 and 2019 was a very tough decision which took long in coming but nonetheless came at the right time.

“My decision to leave APGA was not an easy one and it was

not taken overnight,” he said, adding that “it was a decision based on my unshakable belief that it was for the good of the people and my great state of Abia.”

Alluding to his governorship ambition which he was yet to realise, the former bank boss said that he hadn’t given up chasing his dream because “if you embark on a journey, you’ll keep on walking until you get to your destination.”

According to him, when he left his top position in the banking sector to join politics, he was “never under any illusion that the journey would be long, rough and treacherous” hence he vowed that liberating Abia from bad governance remains a task that must be done.

“We sincerely believe in a dream - the dream of improving the circumstances of our people.

That dream will not die,” he assured.

Otti lamented that Abia had remained in the choking stranglehold of “a monster called PDP” which was making it difficult for the state to breathe.

He said that the vicious grip of bad governance had only yielded negative development indices for Abia as the state had continued to move in circular motion under the control of incompetent leaders without vision.

PROVIDING INFRASTRUCTURE. . .

L-R: Chief of Staff to the governor, Mr. Nnamdi Anyaehie; Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma and former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu during the inauguration of the five new roads in Owerri, the state capital ...yesterday

Ogun Lifts Weekend Lockdown, Reopens Worship Centres Bennett Oghifo The Ogun State Government yesterday lifted the ban on socio-economic activities on weekends and has reopened worship centres.

The state Governor, Dapo Abiodun said this in a statement issued after giving an update on the government’s efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that the decision to lift the weekend lockdown and reopen worship centres was taken after thorough deliberation, consideration and resolution with stakeholders.

According to the statement, the governor said, “After thorough deliberation, consideration and resolution, we

decided to reopen the worship centres with effect from Friday 14th August, 2020 as indicated in my last address.

“This decision was made in line with an agreement reached by the committee set up to develop guidelines for reopening of the religious centres.

“The Committee includes the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN); the League of Imams and Alfas and Government representatives. “I am delighted to note that reports reaching us indicate varying but encouraging level of preparedness by the worship centres.

“Therefore, today, Friday, 14th August is hereby confirmed for the commencement

of operations of the worship centres, subject to the guidelines.

“Let me say that now that our worship centres are open for activities, the restrictions on weekends are lifted, but the limitation on social gatherings not exceeding 20 people at any place at the same time is still very much in force.

“Observation of dusk-todawn curfew as directed by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) i.e. between 10.00 PM and 4.00AM daily.

“Wearing of face masks in the public is compulsory and failure to do so is punishable.

“Only one passenger is still allowed for motorcycles and two passengers only for tricycles. Taxi cabs and buses

still have 60 per cent limitation on their carrying capacity and non-adherence attracts sanction.

“The COVID-19 Task Force in markets must continue to ensure physical distancing, availability of handwashing facilities, and use of gloves and face masks for traders.

Decontamination will continue in our markets and other public places.”

However, event centres, bars, casinos, cinemas, and night clubs were still shut, he said, adding that protocols were being considered for the reopening of facilities like barber shops, beauty salons, golf courses, public parks, Gyms, arcades, swimming pools, and spas.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ AUGUST 15, 2020

NEWS Wike Signs N15.8bn Contract for 5th Port Harcourt Flyover, Roads Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt

ENDORSEMENT. . .

Chioma Davido and MD of PayPorte Mr Eyo Bassey after appointing Chioma as PayPorte brand ambassador ... yesterday

We’re Phasing out Manual Electoral Processes, Says INEC Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said it was phasing out manual electoral process in line with global trends in election management and communication.

Chairman, Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye who represented INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu at a virtual workshop on INEC Communication Policy, said “existential challenges occasioned by a pandemic” necessitated the change.

Okoye said transparency in the result transmission process led to the development and deployment of the INEC Result Viewing Portal wherein the Commission uploads Forms EC8A for public viewing.

“The INEC Communication Policy is a composite document designed to address both internal and external communication processes and procedures of the Commission and for the Commission.

“It is designed to eliminate ‘ad-hocism’ in the entire gamut of the Commission’s communication system,” he said.

According to him, it was difficult getting individuals, groups and organisations to focus on the conduct and management of elections in a period of fear and anxiety.

“It is difficult getting individuals and groups to focus on elections when the dominant issues in global lexicon relates to a virus and protocols relating to managing it.

“It is difficult getting people to focus on elections and electoral matters when there is looming danger that they may be out of job or already

out of work or are in Internally Displaced Persons camps. It is difficult getting people to focus on elections in a period of uncertainty,” Okoye added.

He charged the media to familiarise themselves with the intentions of the document and see it as a tool not only of understanding the commission’s communication policies.

“Consequently, information/ communication experts and managers must design ways and means of getting the people to focus on messages that are related to the electoral process.

Work with S/South Govts to Develop Niger Delta, Okowa Charges IYC Omon-Juluius Onabu in Asaba Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday, charged the leadership of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) to partner with governors and stakeholders in the South-South to fast-track transformation of the region, especially in peace and development.

Okowa made the call when he received the newly-elected executive committee members of

IYC at the Government House, Asaba.

While congratulating the new leadership of the council on their successful election, he assured that he would work with them in stimulating human capital development for the people of Ijaw extraction of the state and other Deltans.

The governor said that the ongoing Ayokoromo Bridge project would be completed during his tenure, in addition to

House Rules out Relocation of Tank Farms from Lagos Communities Ugo Aliogo and Rebecca Ejifoma The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Tank Farms has ruled out plans to relocate tank farms in Satellite Town, Kirikiri and Ijegun-Egba communities in Lagos State.

Furthermore, the committee also appealed to all stakeholders, including operators, regulatory agencies and host communities, to continue to engage themselves harmoniously in order to find solution and common ground to the crisis in the area.

A motion was recently moved on the floor of the House by the representative of AmuwoOdofin federal constituency, Hon. Oghene Egoh, for the relocation of tank farms in the aforementioned areas to another area in the state.

Speaking at a town hall meeting in Lagos recently, the Chairman, House Ad-hoc Committee, Sergius Ogun, said there were obvious questions that the House needed to put before the approving agencies, as “the tank operators have told us that

they have done so much for the areas,” adding however that the communities still wanted more Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities.

The chairman further explained that they had informed the operators to present what they had done so far as CSR, stating that they would also engage the state government over the matter.

According to him, “The tank farms operators also pay tax, therefore, there should be harmony and collaboration among the state, federal, operators and the communities to see how we can ensure that everyone is satisfied. If we all seek common ground, the businesses can live side by side with human beings (residents), which now brings us to the issue of safety.

“We have told the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to give us the safety audit because they claim they have it. We are insisting that operators must carry out everything in the recommendation. We believe the communities can live side by side with tank farm operators.

bringing the needed infrastructural projects to Ijaw area of the state to consolidate the tempo of sustainable development in the state.

Okowa noted that the facelift being recorded in Oporoza, Ogulaha and other towns of Ijawland in the state under his administration was part of measures aimed at addressing basic challenges and should be sustained support of us people so as to stimulate consistent growth of the state.

On the crisis in Diebri community in Warri South-West Local Government Area, the governor said “Government will take some decisions and see what can be done’’.

He disclosed that efforts were being made by the South-South governors to give flesh to the proposed regional security outfit as well as the full reactivation of the BRACED Commission for the overall good of the people of the region.

Uzodimma Inaugurates Roads in Owerri Key roads within the Owerri municipality were inaugurated

by Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State who said they would help to stimulate the economy and improve the life of the people.

The roads include: Dualised Douglas Road (Emmanuel College to Bank Road Junction), Thomas Moore/JP Ajelu, Dozie Nwachukwu Road, Assumpta Cathedral to General Hospital Port Harcourt Road Junction, Aladinma Estate Roads, Archdeacon Dennis Road on Ikenegbu, among others.

Inaugurating the roads, Governor Uzodimma said that though some of the roads were federal roads, they were nonetheless part of the integral programmes of the state government meant to stimulate Imo economy in the COVID-19 pandemic era and beyond.

He said the roads were historical to their locations and were meant to restore the urban status of the areas where they were sited.

The governor commended the contractors for delivering quality jobs and thanked the people living in the areas the

roads were located for allowing conducive working environment for the contractors which helped in delivering the work on record time.

He seized the opportunity to inspect several other on-going road projects, including canals, and promised that soon, most of the projects embarked upon by the State Government would be delivered appropriately.

Chief Bob Njemanze who witnessed the ceremony recalled how the administration of Rochas Okorocha set out to destroy everything historical to the Owerri people, and said Governor Uzodimma may not know what he had done by not only completing the Douglas Road but pledging to rebuild the Eke Ukwu Market.

In an interview with reporters after the occassion, former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu commended the efforts of the governor in delivering good governance to Imo people through infrastructural development in a very short period of his administration when other leaders are using COVID-19 to make excuses.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, yesterday signed a contract worth N15.8 billion for the construction of the GRA Flyover and also the dualisation of the Ezimgbu Link Road and Tombia Road.

This is as he said he would not politicise the development of the state.

The flyover is the fifth to be constructed in Port Harcourt by the present administration.

While signing the contract, Wike reiterated his commitment to providing quality infrastructure that would enhance the development of the state.

He said the provisions of critical infrastructure would not be politicised because Rivers people deserve the best.

“Today, we have signed the papers for the award of N15.8 billion contract for the GRA Flyover and also the dualisation of the Ezimgbu Link Road up to Stadium Road, and from Genesis Eatery Axis of Tombia Road up to Ikwerre Road.

“It is unprecedented that a state can dream, commence

and complete construction of five flyovers within a year.

“We will pay Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, 70 per cent of the contract sum up front. This will make them to keep to the terms agreed on delivering the job within 12 months.

“The rains cannot be used as an excuse because we are going to pay them. I trust the capacity of Julius Berger and I believe that Rivers State deserves the best,” he stated.

The governor dismissed comments by critics that he was concentrating development on Port Harcourt to the detriment of other parts of the state.

The governor maintained that any investment made in the state capital goes a long way to boost the image of the state.

“We are providing infrastructure and roads in all the 23 local government areas. We are also at the point of constructing a road from Woji Town connecting Aleto- Alesa up to Port Harcourt Refinery junction.

“That road will help the people of Okrika to access Port Harcourt within 10 minutes without going through the East West road,” he stated.

PDP Condemns Media Clampdown

by FG over Nigeria Info Station Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday condemned and described the National Broadcast Code as a renewed clampdown on the media and gagging of free speech in the country by the federal government.

The party insisted that, without prejudice to the allegations or claims that the federal government had against Nigeria Info, a broadcast station, on issues of content, the federal government could not, on its own, impose sanctions against a media house or individuals for expressing their right to free speech.

According to a statement

by Kola Ologbondiyan, the National Publicity Secretary, PDP holds that if anybody, be him the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a state governor, a Senator of the Federal Republic, a Member of the House of Representatives, a public entity, or even the most ordinary Nigerian, have been

libeled or infringed upon by any other Nigerian, the process for redress is clearly stated in the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and should be followed.

Accordingly, Ologbondiyan said, “As a party, the PDP stands against draconian methods or underhand measures which this administration has set out to gag the media and erode the rights of Nigerians as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“Our party holds that due process must be followed for redress in instances where violations are alleged and not by extra judicial sanctions and clampdown on the media, as being witnessed under the APC administration,” he explained.

The PDP, said it was standing in solidarity with Nigerians, therefore condemns any attempt to gag the media and asks the APC federal government to rescind its draconian actions and reverse to due process, as provided by the 1999 Constitution, in handling issues relating to the freedom of the media.

You Saved us from Destruction, Tiv People Tell Gov Sule Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia The Tiv people of Nasarawa State yesterday told Governor Abdullahi Sule for saving them from immeasurable destruction of their lives and property upon his assumption of office as governor of the state.

The Tiv people said this through their spokesman, Prof Emmanuel Kucha, when they paid a solidarity visit to the governor in the Goverment House, Lafia.

According to them, “in the past five years before your assumption of office as governor of Nasarawa State, we saw no peace. “We were exposed to immeasurable devastation and destruction of lives and

property, and left in the state of total disrepair. However since your assumption of office, you left no stone unturned to restore and sustain peace in Nasarawa State.”

A situation the Tiv people attributed to the relative peace been enjoyed in the state as they (Tiv have massively resumed farming and can now sleep with eyes closed without fear of attack and molestation.

“In the same vein, you have not lost sleep in brokering peace with neighbouring states. Indeed, by this posture you have become the shelter of the people of Nasarawa State tagged ‘Zege-Mule U Tiv Nasarawa State’,” they said.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹ͽ˜ 2020

08054699539

Oshiomhole’s Boys Should Calm Down in Edo

H

ow can members-elect of the Edo State House of Assembly, most of whom are yet to be legally inaugurated, impeach a properly elected and inaugurated speaker and his deputy? That is the scenario playing out in this once peaceful state, troubled by so much tension and violence. The truth that must be told is that 12 of the 17 pro-Oshiomhole members-elect opposed to Governor Godwin Obaseki, who carried out the purported impeachment of Francis Okiye, were surreptitiously and illegally sworn in last week. So, all their actions are a nullity. The law of our land does not make provision for the swearing in of lawmakers in private homes. The purported inauguration of pro-Oshiomhole members-elect was even done by the deputy clerk of the Assembly. Is the clerk lifeless?

I can also clearly remember that the Supreme Court, in the case involving the former governor of Oyo State, Rasheed Ladoja, declared as unconstitutional, legislative sessions held outside the parliamentary building to impeach him. Justice Niki Tobi, who read the lead judgment, said: “It appears to me from the intention of the Constitution that the House of Assembly will sit in the building provided for it and for that purpose.” So, we can confidently say that the inauguration of the 12 pro-Oshiomhole lawmakers-elect is invalid.

The 1999 Constitution is very clear on the route to becoming a legislator. There has to be a proclamation by the governor for the commencement of the legislature for four years. An elected lawmaker is expected to present his certificate of return from INEC to the Clerk for admission into the Assembly. The Clerk conducts elections for the office of the speaker and the deputy.

They are then sworn in with other elected members. The bulk of pro-Oshiomhole members-elect are yet to go through this process and they cannot do this again because they have violated provisions of the Nigerian Constitution by not making themselves available to the Clerk for over 180 days. I will go back to this later.

Governor Obaseki and pro-Obaseki lawmakers did not breach any law regarding the proclamation issued for the commencement of the Assembly on June 17, 2019 and the subsequent elections of the principal officers of the House. Well, the governor’s antagonists may argue that he deliberately issued the proclamation to exclude elected lawmakers opposed to him and that the inauguration was done at odd hours. Notwithstanding, Obaseki did not breach any law. He was just tactical and that should be expected in politics, particularly, when he is trying to ensure that Oshiomhole does not control the Edo State House of Assembly. Our constitution did not specify the precise time of the day that such proclamation should be made.

Besides, the pro-Obaseki law makers met the legally required quorum to sit and conducted an election. Chapter V Part II 96 (1) of the 1999 Constitution explicitly states that “the quorum of a House of Assembly shall be one-third of all the members of the House.”

In this case of Edo State, the quorum required for sitting is eight of the 24 elected members. Nine members sat and elected their leaders last year. Constitutionally, the sitting was legal. This is the truth those challenging the legality of the swearing in of the minority of members always run away from. They have also been arguing that the majority were excluded from being sworn in. This is also contentious. It is a fact that three members from the pro-Oshiomhole camp later made themselves available for swearing in and they were sworn in. That was why, at a point, the Edo State House of Assembly had 12 members sitting. The remaining 12 members-elect relocated to Abuja to join their godfather, claiming threat to their lives in Edo State. They did not make the slightest attempt to enter the Assembly.

Why didn’t they create a scene then, by

Oshiomhole

trying to force their way in, if indeed, they were being prevented from being sworn in as claimed? Then, it was 12 to 12 on the two sides of the gulf and it was impossible to achieve their mission. They snubbed the Assembly, giving all manner of excuses.

Now that the pro-Oshiomhole faction has the number required for achieving its aim, it is now working to force its way into the Assembly illegally.

It is pertinent to also note that the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, in a

judgement delivered on September 12, 2019, decided that Obaseki’s proclamation on the commencement of the Edo State House of Assembly was lawful and that the National Assembly could not take over the function of the Assembly as the circumstances for doing so did not exist. The Federal High Court affirmed that the Edo Assembly was duly installed and held that Obaseki or any other person could not issue another proclamation. This has not been dismissed by a superior court. Those arguing for a fresh proclamation by Obaseki always mask this fact.

Let’s flip back to the declaration of the seats of the 12 pro-Oshiomhole lawmakerselect vacant by pro-Obaseki lawmakers.

After the Port Harcourt judgement, the pro-Oshiomhole members-elect stayed away and declined to be inaugurated to perform their roles of representing their areas. After failing to sit for over 180 days, the leadership of the House declared their seats vacant and asked INEC to conduct replacement polls.

Of course, Oshiomhole boys went to court to challenge the constitutionality or otherwise of the declaration. This suit is still undecided at the Abuja court. Their next action was to try and force their way into the Assembly while the case is pending in a law court.

Haba! Does this make any sense?

Even our Attorney-General of the Federation/Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, is unaware that when a case is in court, all parties to the dispute must await the court. I was shocked when Malami

wrote to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, asking him to assist the pro-Oshiomhole members-elect to enter the Assembly, following a petition from their counsel.

Malami, in his August 5, 2020 memo to the IG, said: “The law firm has requested that the affected members-elect, who were willing to discharge their constitutional roles, should be inaugurated or sworn in by the Clerk of the House. Kindly provide adequate security measures for the inauguration of the assembly members and the subsequent sittings of the Edo State House of Assembly.”

That was absolute lawlessness by Nigeria’s chief law officer. A case is pending before a competent law court and Malami asked the IG to circumvent it. What a country!

They actually tried to enter the Assembly by force on Friday August 7, but the large number of pro-Obaseki protesters prevented the police from enforcing Malami’s illegal instruction.

The pro-Oshiomhole members-elect must learn to be law abiding and stop heating up Edo State. Pending the determination of this case, they can no longer be talking about forcing their way into the Assembly premises. The police can also no longer talk about aiding them to get sworn in. We must learn to respect the laws of our land.

For those pummeling Obaseki for tactically shutting the Edo Assembly for repairs, my question to them is a straight forward one: If they were in Obaseki’s shoes, will they just sit back and allow Oshiomhole to hijack the Assembly? This is food for thought today.

Cantankerous Ruling on Sacked Political Parties Rulings of our courts often daze Nigerians. These judges remain one of the weakest links in this country’s democracy.

One of such weird rulings came early this week when the Court of Appeal ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to re-list 22 political parties it had deregistered for falling short of its registration regulations, particularly failing to win any elective office in the 2019 elections. Last February, INEC deregistered 74 political parties, leaving Nigeria with wieldy 18 recognised ones. It exercised its powers in conformity with Section 225A of 1999 Constitution (as amended). The same Court of Appeal, in another judgement early this year, had upheld INEC’s power to deregister political parties.

One of the 74 parties, the National Unity Party (NUP), went to court in February 2020 to seek a declaration that “INEC does not have the constitutional power to deregister NUP or any other political party for failure to win any of the offices mentioned in the constitution or score a certain per cent of the votes mentioned therein.”

Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Abuja Federal High Court dismissed NUP’s case and affirmed INEC’s power to deregister the party and others. In the same year, the Court of Appeal concurred and avowed the right of the commission to deregister political parties. Yes, this same Court of Appeal with another set of justices. The NUP appealed at the Supreme Court and the case is pending.

Before NUP’s case, some other parties went to court in 2019 to challenge INEC’s power to deregister them. They ended up being 22 in number and filed a suit before Justice Anwuli Chikere of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to challenge their deregistration.

Justice Chikere dismissed the suit, ruling that INEC validly exercised its constitutional powers, adding that the parties provided no evidence that they met the criteria for them to remain registered.

It is this Justice Chikere’s judgement

Yakubu

that the Appeal Court set aside early this week with bizarre reasons and ordered the reinstatement of the 22 parties. President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, who read the ruling, held that the sack of the 22 parties was illegal because due process was not followed.

They ruled that INEC failed to comply with Section 225(A) of 1999 Constitution (as amended) because it did not provide reasons for sacking the political parties.

Justice Dongban- Mensem states further that the rights conferred on a political party could not be taken away except by due process. According to the Appeal Court, the appellants challenged the process of their deregistration and not the act itself.

It was an inexplicable ruling. The issue of due process and clarification were never before the court. Which clarification is Justice Dongban-Mensem and her team asking INEC to provide the sacked parties that was not provided? Which due

process did INEC fail to follow? I can clearly remember that INEC evidently followed the legal process of deregistration, with detailed explanation attached to the notice.

I was further shocked that the Appeal Court judges agreed with the 22 appellants that “INEC cannot exercise its power as provided by Section 225A until it had conducted elections into all elective offices listed in the section.” Is there still any election listed in Section 225 that was not conducted in the 2019 general election? The commission waited for all the elections to be completed before delisting the parties that failed to meet its requirements. This is indeed an uncanny ruling.

Good that INEC decided to appeal this ruling. INEC’s National Commissioner in charge of Voter Education and Information, Festus Okoye declared: “It is in the interest of the electoral process for both matters to be consolidated. The electoral process will be better served through a final resolution of the issues surrounding deregistration of political parties.”

I spent years, canvassing for the reduction of the political parties in our dear country.

Deregistration of the 74 political parties was good riddance to rubbish. One of the biggest problems INEC created for itself in the 2019 elections was the large number of political parties it registered. It was the first time in the country’s history that ballot papers had 91 political parties, which evidently created logistic glitches for the umpire. For the voters, it was horrendous, as they spent time sifting through the long list on the ballot papers clogged with all manner of political parties. Yes, it is part of democracy to allow as many political parties as possible, but for now, this country lacks the capacity to manage such a large number. Our election umpire does not even have the capacity to monitor the large number of political parties.

The constitution amendments carried out by the 8th National Assembly substantially addressed the problem of multiple unusable political parties in Nigeria. For me, there should be further reduction of the number of political parties to not more than five.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPA P PER ˾ AUGUST 15, 2020

SUPER SATURDAY Adama Indimi Settles for Kogi Prince Adama, the flamboyant y daughter g of Maiduguri g billionaire, Mohammed Indimi, has finallyy married tycoon Kogi g Prince, Malik Ado-Ibrahim. The lovebirds dated for over a year y before deciding g to g get married. The Henan night g held in Maiduguri, g August g 7 while the Nikkai took place the following day. Ferdinand Ekechukwu captures all the showiness at the ceremonies

Adama

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPA P PER ˾ AUGUST 15, 2020

11

SUPER SATURDAY Adama Indimi Settles for Kogi Prince

I

slam stretches across a diveerse terrain of politics and culture and p a common feature of the Islamic religious g obligation g is marriage. g Ag gathering g of such Islamic marriage g is replete p with beauty y in ways which accords the ceremony y its respect. p It was such observance that p played y out at the Nikkai (wedding) ceremony y of billionaire daughter, g Adama Indimi, and rich Kogi g Prince, Malik Ado-Ibrahim, at her father’s palatial home in Maiduguri, Borno state on August g 8.

It was celebration g galore for two wealthy y and popular p p families from the Northern part of Nigeria p g following the jjoining g of their son and daughter g as husband and wife. The traditional marriage g rites of the couple p commenced on Friday, y 7th August g 2020 with the Salalle ceremony y in keeping p g with their kanuri tradition.

Adama’s father is an oil magnate g and chairman of Oriental Energy gy Resources, while her husband is the founder of Bioernergy. gy Malik is the heir of the Ohinoyi y of Ebiraland in Kogi g Central, HRH Dr Ado Ibrahim.

Malik was accompanied p to receive his bride by y other members of his family. y Adama and Prince Malik dated for a little over a y year before making g the decision to move their relationship p to the next level. Photos and videos from the ceremony y trended on social media while the ceremony y lasted and it was replete p with visual spectacle. p Another interesting g video captured p the moment some women were washing g the hair of the new bride as they sang g in unison. Similarly, y some family y members and guests p g present p posted p photos from the ceremony y using g the hashtag: g #shesaidiado.

The bride’s p parents have also been documenting g and prattling p g about the bride on their Instagram g handles with the hashtag g #shesaidado.

Light g skinned Adama Indimi is half Nigerian g and half Swiss-Chadian.

She’s is a model and runs a travel agency, g y Kauna Solutions. Her mother is half Swiss and half Chadian.

Adama studied at Lynn y University y Florida, USA. She was first noted in the news when she dated music star – Dabnjj – some y years back. Some months ago, g Adama celebrated the birth of her sister’s son with a heartwarming g post p shared on her social media p page.

Malik was born in Nigeria, g educated in the UK and US and has a strong g background g in automobile.

Adama’s hubby y is the CEO and Chairman of Nigus g Enfinity, y Malik lik Ad Ado-Ibrahim Ib hi and d Adama Ad a company p y in collaboration with M BYD of China. He is famous for his role in the F1 Lotus by y the Malaysian y g government on 1999. In late design. g He once owned Arrows, an F1 team. Malik 2000s, he began g to focus on renewable solar, hybrid, y was the first black man to work in Formula 1 and and started looking g at the possible p ways y to develop also worked for Hyundai y for 6 y years. Since he left non-hydro y carbons based global g economy. y He is Formula 1, no black man has been able to replace p the one behind the construction of 100 megawatts g him. He was among g the most interesting g characters power station in Katsina State from solar and also to tread the grand g prix p paddock. p A man whose true p the building g of 100 megawatts g in Adamawa which reasons for immersing g himself in g grand p prix racing go directly y into the grid. g were still not entirely y clear almost 20 something In 2016, his company, p y Nigus g Enfinity, y did the first years after his involvement began g and ended. solar show in NNPC and NNPC helped p p pushed Malik has been involved in the automotive sector the agenda g of the firm by y exposing p g renewables since early y 1990s had worked with Proton and to the Nigerian market and was successful at the Lotus and helped them to develop the position of

end. Since then, Nigus g Enfinity y has been involved in renewable projects p j in South Africa and in the UAE. As developed p countries like UK and France declared their intention to g go off hydro y carbon by y 2040, there would be no more hydro-carbon y energized g cars, as internal combusting g engines g will be no more; he has declared his readiness to flood Nigerian g market with electric cars anytime y soon.

Last Thursday, y shortly y after their wedding, g Adama paid a thank y p you visit to her father-in-law, the Ohinoyi y of Ebiraland, Ado Ibrahim, in his p palace.

She was accompanied by her hubby, Malik.

12

͹ͽ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

BETWEEN COVID-19 AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Charles C. Osuagwu writes that opportunity beckons on the office of the surveyor-general to make a giant leap in digital dynamic maps

C

urrently the impact of climate change on the environmental resources of nations could be likened to the rampaging effect of COVID-19 on both the economies and social lives of nations.

Just as COVID-19 is changing the way we’re used to living and creating new normal, climate change is equally causing seasonal changes that are upturning and fiercely disrupting the ecosystem/eco balance which impacts is affecting the way we live.

Recently, July 15th, 2020, former Vice President of United States and a co-Nobel Laurette, Mr Al Gore, Gavin McCormick of WattTime and a host of others expanded their continued engagement with climate change challenges with the launching of climate TRACE; “Today, we are honoured to announce that a powerful new tool will soon be joining the climate fight. Along with us — Al Gore and Gavin McCormick of WattTime — we join leading organizations Blue Sky Analytics, Carbon Plan, Carbon Tracker, Earthrise Alliance, Hudson Carbon, Hypervine, OceanMind, and Rocky Mountain Institute as founding members to unveil Climate TRACE, a coalition creating a high-tech solution to independently detect emissions and where they’re coming from, everywhere in the world, in real time. It’s a feat that’s never before been possible — until now”. This sounds familiar but similar to “Contact Tracing” of index cases of COVID-19. Now what is Climate TRACE and where do we (OSGoF) come in as Nigeria’s foremost mapping agency?

“Climate TRACE — which stands for Tracking Real-time Atmospheric Carbon Emissions — comprises organizations from the tech sector that have pioneered some of the most-powerful software-based emissions-monitoring solutions in the world, in part using artificial intelligence (AI) and remote sensing. As the climate crisis deepens and our technology advances, we felt the time was ripe to join together and put these resources to work in powerful new ways. Our first-of-its-kind global coalition will leverage advanced AI, satellite image processing, machine learning, and land-and sea-based sensors to do what was previously thought to be nearly impossible: monitor Green House Gas emissions from every sector and in every part of the world. Our work will be extremely granular in focus — down to specific power plants, ships, factories, and more. Our goal is to actively track and verify all significant human-caused GHG emissions worldwide with unprecedented levels of detail and speed”. How can we leverage on this new global coalition to further deliver on our mandate?

Recently, the Surveyor General of the Federation, Mr Samuel Adeniran Taiwo was on one of Nigeria’s national television stations where he eloquently presented the important part the Office of the Surveyor General of the federation has continued to play in publishing up- to- date map of the real time COVID-19 situation in Nigeria. This intervention is exploring the windows of opportunity presented by this emerging Global coalition “Climate TRACE” in expanding the frontiers of services provided by the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation (OSGoF). To track the defaulters or significant human-caused GHG emissions in Nigeria to the unprecedented details and speed as envisioned by the coalition is a job already cut out for OSGoF. The

OSGOF HAS OVER THE YEARS SIGNIFICANTLY UPGRADED ITS FACILITIES TO DELIVER DIGITAL MAPS FROM THE ANALOGUE PAPER ONES IN TRYING TO MEET THE DICTATES OF A DEMAND-DRIVEN GEOSPATIAL INDUSTRY MARKET

combination of Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) are tools that will ensure that such details are achieved while the desired speed and details also will be assured by the deployment of AI in survey drones equipped with Global Navigational Satellite Systems (GNSS) equipment.

In the deployment of GNSS equipment that is capable of capturing and tracking satellites that simultaneously beam on all the systems available, GPS (USA), GLONASS (Russia), Galileo (EU), BeiDou (China), QZSS (Japan) and IRNSS or NavIC (India), issues associated with satellite geometry (high PDop) are eliminated for good while accuracy and reliability are greatly enhanced to sub centimetre. The system ensures that the twin targets of the Climate TRACE, speed and detail is achieved effortlessly as is also required in contact tracing as both, of essence, must be ascribed spatial attributes to make any sense.

It becomes imperative therefore that the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation keys into this coalition early enough as a key player having been fully equipped to deliver on the desired objectives of the partnership.

This window of opportunity presents OSGoF the leverage to implement the complete digitalization of its products and services as being championed by the Office of Head of Service. OSGoF has over the years significantly upgraded its facilities to deliver digital maps from the analogue paper ones in trying to meet the dictates of a demand- driven geospatial industry market. However, to meet the particular needs of Climate Trace and in fact the current needs of the geospatial industry, it must take another giant step by upscaling its activities; her maps cannot just be digital, it must be dynamic or intelligent. To be able to go “down to specific power plants, ships, factories, and more and actively track and verify all significant human-caused GHG emissions worldwide with unprecedented levels of detail and speed in real time then our methods of data capture must continue to change and adapt to meet the changing times. The efforts of the Surveyor General in this direction is highly commendable and must be encouraged and sustained. There’s really nothing new being advocated here but rather this intervention is only speaking to the need for us to refocus our attention and deploy the tools already in our arsenal in line with the vision of the SG. In capturing data in order to meet the needs of dynamic mapping, both spatial and non-spatial attributes must begin to be acquired and geospatial database created to populate the database centre. This window will deliver flexibility to our products and OSGoF will be satisfying the immediate and future needs of the society if it expands its frontiers along the suggested lines and will become a major player in the geospatial world while delivering enhanced products and services that meets the needs of a demand-driven geospatial market as envisioned by the Climate TRACE coalition. Therefore, between Covid-19 and Climate Change, the opportunity beckons on the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation to make the giant leap from digital static maps to digital dynamic ones.

Osuagwu is Ag. Director Planning, Research and Documentation at OSGoF, Abuja

BORN TO RULE TO THE GRAVEYARD

Solomon Asemota traced the root cause of the crisis in Nigeria - from the era of slavery through the jihadist conquests

T

he black man has always been a ‘sufferhead’ since the 15th century when slavery was introduced and sanctioned by European countries in the 17th century. In between, slaves were transported to the Americas but when slavery stopped it took some time before the practice was halted in Africa. The last race to accept that slavery was a crime against humanity was the Arabs but they continued in the trade until amalgamation. Lugard wrote,“Slavery in Northern Provinces: I cannot here deal at any length with the subject of slavery, but the question of labour supply so intimately affects the development of Nigeria, that a few words regarding it will not be out of place.

It was mentioned in paragraph two that in 1900 when the administration of Northern Nigeria reverted from the Chartered Company to the Crown, large armies led by Fulani chiefs annually raided for slaves, and had depopulated the country. With the conquest of the Moslem States, these organized raids were put to an end. By the abolition of the ‘legal status’ of slavery, a slave had power to assert his freedom. It was not; however, illegal to possess a slave, but the status was a voluntary one. All children born after March 31st, 1901 were free at birth. The sudden abolition of the institution of domestic slavery would have produced social chaos, and the wholesale assertion of their freedom by slaves was therefore discouraged. A slave freed by redemption was, in native opinion and in his own eyes, truly a freeman, while one who was arbitrarily emancipated by government (unless for good cause), or who asserted his freedom by desertion, was not. Redemption with the co-operation of the native courts was encouraged.” [Lugard and the Amalgamation of Nigeria AHM Kirk-Greene pg. 120]. We hope that the Fulani do not now regard other Nigerians as voluntary slaves.

It would appear that our British colonial masters because they were few decided to use local materials in this case, the Fulani as partners under indirect rule. Margery Perham wrote about Islam thus, “the many centuries of unopposed opportunity which

it had enjoyed, Islam has made singularly little progress in Africa except among the Hamite and Negroid tribes and, generally speaking, has not been adopted by the Negro race. It is therefore unconscionable that the Caliphate will try, in the 19th century to convert native tribes in Nigeria, with fund as proved from its mineral resources.” [Dual Mandate pg. 77]. Hamite is the name formerly used for North African people by European anthropologists in the context of a now outdated model of dividing humanity into different races favoured by supremacists. It has now become very clear that racism still exist in the world and it is only a racist that would treat other Nigerians the way Fulanis treat other Nigerians in the 21st century aided by the British men on the spot in Nigeria before and after independence. The Hamite, as can be seen in this essay, is the eye of the British man on the spot left to complete what they began before the interruption of the British - conquerors of the Negros in Nigeria.

The land dispute concerning Ilorin is a good point to begin.

The Negro race has had to endure the indignity of organized slavery from the 15th until the 17th Century when the Europeans sanctioned it. Even after it ended, the Arabs kept at it. The attitude and arrogance of slave traders is behind much of the acts of inconsideration and disrespect of the Fulanis in the 21st Century. During the period of Amalgamation, Lugard was the “man on the spot” for the British Crown. After Independence in 1960, the Fulanis became the “man on the spot” representing British interest with the arrogance of a slave master.

It is pertinent to refer to the history of Ilorin and Kabba boundary dispute and how it was resolved in favour of the Emir and the role played by GovernorGeneral Macpherson to show that the British had a deliberate policy to ensure that the North remains a dominant Region with the South as its extension of the “North” whose Northern system must apply to the South. One can say without fear of contradiction

that the British handed Nigeria at independence in 1960 to the Hamite Fulani and since then both the British and the Fulani have continued to see Nigeria as their colony.

In September of 1949 the Western Regional Conference met in Ibadan to discuss the question of constitutional changes, and recommended that states should be formed within a federal system on an ethnic or linguistic basis. As an example of what they meant by this, they referred to the Yorubas of Kabba and Ilorin and the Ibos of Asaba and Aboh, both of whom they considered should be united with the majority of their tribe. The Western House of Assembly towards the end of 1950 restated their views that a settlement of boundary disputes was an essential condition of any satisfactory constitution for Nigeria. In September of 1952, eighteen months later, the Governor, Sir John Macpherson, announced his decision, which was published as Extraordinary Gazette No. 46 of the 3rd September. All the British was interested in is to decide in favour of “man on the spot” (the Fulani) for future dominance after independence though, a minority. The result is what we now see in the Fulani “born to rule” mantra.

Kwasi Kwarteng wrote, “it is a mistake to think that (colonial) administrators were motivated by liberal ideas of democracy. In many cases they chose careers in the empire precisely because they were not democrats. They were elitists … and had sought to wield power without having to go through the inconvenience of being elected.” [Ghosts of Empire pg. 5] From all that has been written about Lugard in addition to what he wrote, Lugard was definitely not motivated by liberal idea of democracy.

The Times of Nigeria in the middle of 1914 accused the British government bluntly of subjugation, with a caption, “The Hidden Meaning of Amalgamation”. The amalgamation was synonymous with a sell-out of the South, part of which reads “The amalgamation of 1914 is broadly speaking, the conquest and subjugation of Southern

Nigeria by Northern Nigeria …” [Lugard and the Amalgamation of Nigeria, AHM Kirk-Green pg.

24]. All that was intended was to destroy Western civilization nurtured over the years in the South for Islamic model - Sharia North.

It is this subjugation that continued up to independence in 1960. Thereafter the subjugation continued by the Fulani to this date when the leader of the Miyetti Allah - Alhaji Bello Bodejo, an Association of which President Buhari is the patron, moved to say that North Central States of Nigeria belong to them - the Fulani, by conquest. This is complete falsehood.

The facts show that the Fulani were immigrants to Nigeria in the 18th century and whatever claim to any land in Nigeria was extinguished by the British conquest of Northern Nigeria in 1900.

Lugard in his book the “Dual Mandate in British Tropical Africa” wrote: “… Moreover, a large part of Northern Nigeria had never been conquered by the Fulani, and was unconquered until it submitted to the British.” It is surprising that until now, the Land and Native Rights Ordinance, which was born out of expediency, still remains the central pivot of land policy in Northern Nigeria. It is a matter of regret that this policy was subsequently introduced to the rest of Nigeria, in 1979, as the Land Use Decree. Thus the conception of trusteeship of all undeveloped land being vested in the government of the country is causing much embarrassment and hardship to the people of the South who have always held their own land as owners under Native Law and Custom, and since the colonial era, as freehold owners in possession, in accordance with the English law adopted by Nigeria. Nigerians now have to discard their title-deeds and apply for a Certificate of Occupancy – a bizarre type of leasehold tenure. [Memoirs: H. O. Davies, QC, SAN, Chevalier de Courdre National du merito pgs. 52 – 54].

Asemota, SAN, is Chairman, Board of Governing Council, Christian Social Movement of Nigeria

13

͹ͽ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

In praise of local content...

Obadiah Mailafia’s ‘Original Sin’

Managing Hajj Affairs Despite COVID-19

T

he year 2020 will be remembered in history as the year COVID-19 upturned global economic, social and customary routines. Though certain modes of religious worship were also affected by the coronavirus pandemic, timing of religious events auspiciously remained constant. So was the case with 2020 Hajj, which nevertheless took place at the appointed time despite all odds. Apprehension from the lethality of the virus was discernable from the regimental manner in which the Hajj was conducted.

The COVID-19 upset had crushed many worshippers’ yearnings on Hajj, yet many had remained undaunted until the last minute. The anxiety that accompanied Saudi Arabia’s much awaited decision on the 2020 pilgrimage was disturbing to Hajj organisers all over the world. But when it finally came, the Muslim world, and health experts too, commended the Kingdom’s decision.

Health concerns arising from the current pandemic had crippled activities of many institutions. The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) was not left out though it remained resolute on its calculated goals for year 2020. This focus yielded fruits. NAHCON’s management under the Zikrullah Kunle Hassan’s leadership was able to make a significant number of headways on its plans despite the pervasive condition.

Most significant among these foci is chasing the Hajj Savings Scheme (HSS) commencement with unalloyed fervour. Already, its birth is in the horizon, to be delivered on the fixed day. Actualising the dawn of Hajj Savings Scheme in Nigeria has been the goal of successive Hajj administrators. Its significance is not only for the financial stability that will permeate Hajj management in Nigeria, but also for the chances it provides intending pilgrims to enrich their pockets as well as to be better schooled in civic and religious acts of Hajj. Among the immediate upshots of the HSS is improved international image from an orderly Hajj contingent; job creation as a result of extended time frame for training of pilgrims; increased gross domestic earnings to depositors, federal and state governments; long term Hajj preparations that will eliminate last minute rush, to mention only a few.

One accomplishment that would have thrilled 2020 potential pilgrims in Nigeria was the prospective reduction in cost of Hajj services that in turn would have translated into reduction in cost of 2020 Hajj fare. The bargain was a done deal before the international Hajj suspension. The Zikrullah-led board was able to negotiate a reduction of states Hajj accommodation costs; negotiated the reduced cost of air ticket, lobbied a discount for some services rendered in Saudi Arabia and it was granted. Cumulatively, the reduction had reached the tune of about N3 billion and counting.

For work on Hajj Development Levy project to accelerate, Alhaji Kunle Hassa remained undeterred by the COVID-19 palaver. The NAHCON Chairman invited all contractors handling the Hajj Development Levy projects for assessment of job carried out.

Recently, the chairman followed up this meeting with on-the-spot assessment of structures. It is the hope of NAHCON that the buildings will ease transition of pilgrims during Hajj operations and at the same time, be a source of revenue generation for an autonomous Hajj industry.

Similarly, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan has already set the commission for a digital transformation of Hajj affairs in response to 21st century technological realities. The phenomenal change will automate service provision for Hajj starting from time of registration to flight allocation, room allocation and other services. The end result is for better Hajj organization, prudent management of resources and ease of performing pilgrimage from Nigeria.

Though COVID-19 might have been a setback to the commission’s plans, however, the NAHCON leadership is determined to accomplish all the goals it has set in sight as its 2020 milestone.

Fatima Sanda Usara is a staff of NAHCON

I

should begin by stating that Dr. Mailafia is one of the most profound shining lights of Nigeria.

He’s an intellectual giant who can stand his own anywhere in the world.

His economic and socio-political analyses of international, Third World, African and Nigerian affairs reflect the depths of his well-grounded intellectual judgements garnered from one of the world’s most prestigious citadels of learning, Oxford University.

Unlike most of us in this part of the country who have chosen to comfortably adopt the defeatist attitude and give in to the threats and domination of the northern oligarchy, Dr. Mailfia believes that his ivy league education would amount to naught if he doesn’t deploy it to speaking out against obvious state-sponsored injustices, especially those against his immediate communities.

Communities that are being flagrantly despoiled daily through an agenda cooked up by the conspiracy of some of his fellow Middle Belters and many others in the core north, under the very watch of the Buhari government.

This erudite economist, scholar and social commentator’s views and opinions are still being

T H E SAT U R DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE

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

sought after and respected today within Nigeria and internationally, even after his tenure as Nigeria’s Central Bank Deputy Governor.

Also, he has been one of the most vocal, strident and powerful voices shedding light and exposing the truth behind the unabated and unwarranted violence and brutality being unleashed on the minority peoples of the Middle Belt and other parts of Nigeria.

In his analyses, which have elicited widespread support, he has been able to point out the horrible truth that there’s a deliberate and well-orchestral plan by forces and interests in Northern Nigeria to decimate the Middle Belt’s minorities in order to achieve an agenda that Uthman Danfodio started in 1804.

Plateau, Benue, Taraba, Southern Kaduna minorities, etc., are still bearing the brunt of this today as their innocent peoples, especially women and children, are being massacred in cold blood and dispossessed of their ancestral lands.

Mailafia’s ‘original sin’ is that he pointed accusing fingers at the Buhari-led federal government for, first, deliberately turning a blind eye to these heinous murders, pogroms, goings on against the minorities.

Second, Buhari’s government has taken exception to the fact that Mailafia, just as other Nigerians who have been bold enough to speak out, has unequivocally maintained that the federal government may be complicit in the on-going killings because they have refused to accept that it’s Fulani herdsmen that are responsible for most of the bloodletting being perpetrated in Southern Kaduna and other parts of Nigeria’s central region.

That’s why we, the wretched of Nigeria, especially in the Middle Belt, hold him in high esteem and will stake our necks for him in this his most trying moments.

Paradoxically, we are committed to following Dr. Mailfia in every step he takes as he’s being persecuted by the powers that be because we equally share and have a huge stake in his ‘original sin’.

To be sure, we believe that his uncommon moral courage shall prevail over all of today’s powerful but effervescent forces of religious and ethnic cleansing and hegemony.

And, above all, history shall, as usual, ultimately vindicate Dr. Mailfia and eternally shame our persecutors. It’s just a matter of time.

Chris Gyang, Jos, Plateau State

14

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾AUGUST 15, 2020

NEWS

COVID-19: Delta Relaxes Curfew, Restores Market Activities Cases hit 48,445 with 35,998 discharged and 973 deaths Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

Amid widespread complaint among citizens that certain security personnel were taking advantage of COVID-19 restrictions to unduly extort the people, the Delta State Government yesterday said that it was relaxing the dusk to dawn curfew imposed on the state in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, the 329 new cases of COVID-19 recorded in Nigeria yesterday, took the number of confirmed cases to 48,445 with 35,998 discharged and 973 deaths.

The Delta State Government also announced the restoration of the traditional market days across all the 25 local government areas of the state even as government insisted that restrictions on operations of certain businesses and public gatherings would remain in force towards checking the spread of the virus in the state.

“Delta State Government has adjusted the curfew earlier imposed in the state due to the COVID-19 pandemic from the earlier period of 7:00p.m. to 6:00a.m. to a new period of 10:00p.m. to 5:30a.m.,” the

Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Chiedu Ebie, said in a statement in Asaba on Thursday.

The state government, however, maintained a rigid stance against the reopening of certain public business places including cinemas, clubs and beer parlours, warning of severe repercussions for defaulters.

The statement, which appealed to the people “to continue to adhere strictly to all the COVID-19 protocols and guidelines,” also announced the lifting of restrictions on different local market days introduced in the wake of

the Coronavirus.

“Furthermore, Government has approved the resumption of normal trading activities in all markets across the 25 local government areas of the state.

“However, cinemas, bars in hotels and beer parlours remain closed while restaurants and eateries are to continue to serve their customers on take-away basis, even as Government would not hesitate to shut them down if they are observed to be in breach of the COVID-19 safety guidelines,”,the statement said.

PPN Guber Candidate Charges IG to Remain Neutral in Edo Elections Chiemelie Ezeobi

The Gubernatorial Candidate of Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) in Edo State, John Darlington Iyoha, has charged the Inspector-General of Police (IG), Mohammed Adamu, to remain non-partisan in the forthcoming Edo governorship elections.

According to Iyoha, the calls had become imperative given the acerbic atmosphere that had trailed the electioneering process in the state.

He said: “It has become imperative for the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to openly declare his position as a non-partisan boss of the country’s number one of internal security outfit.

“Look at the attack on the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and his guests at the palace of the Oba of Benin shortly before the flag off of the Peoples Democratic Party governorship campaign in Benin City on July 25.

“Also, the attempt to take over

the state House of Assembly through the support of some policemen and other security agencies, has necessitated this call.

“Since the commencement of electioneering ahead of the September 19 governorship election in Edo State, there had been tensions occasioned by the threats from the sacked National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, and the party’s governorship candidate in the state, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who at various times had incited the public against the Governor Obaseki-led government.

“There had been allegations of using federal might against the people of the state. The support given by the federal might via security operatives, including the police, to the three lawmakers who teamed up with 14 others whose seats were declared vacant to elect a factional Speaker of the House is a case at hand that calls for serious concern ahead of the election.

PDP Resolves Anambra Crisis, Says No Zoning for 2021 Guber Election Chuks Okocha in Abuja

CANDIDATE AT LAST ...

L-R: The Chairman of the Zenith Labour Party, Ondo State, Hon. Joseph Akinlaja and the party’s Gubernatorial candidate, Agboola Ajayi, during the latter’s formal defection yesterday

Vote, Stay, Defend your Vote, Runsewe, Culture Commissioners, Appeal to Lalong over NAFEST Hosting Obaseki Tells Supporters Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, yesterday urged voters in the state to go out en-masse and cast their votes for the PDP in the September 19, 2020 governorship election and ensure they defend their votes by keeping an eagle-eye on the process and the results as they unfold.

Obaseki made the call when addressing party faithful in Ward 6, Ukhuse in Owan West Local Government Area (LGA) during his reelection campaign rally in the LGA. According to him, “On the 19th of September, 2020, come out and vote massively for the PDP and make sure you stay back in your polling units to defend your vote to avoid manipulation.

“Don’t listen to them when they ask you to go home or even threaten you. If you obey them, they will manipulate the results.”

The governor continued: “My coming to Ukhuse is homecoming; Four years ago, I couldn’t get to you people because of the bad road, but I made sure I constructed the road for easy transportation. Now you can move your commodities to the market and the next village for sales.

“The development of Edo is in your hands. Come out with your Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) and vote for the PDP and I will make sure I keep all my promises to you all.”

On his part, Chieftain of the PDP

and former governorship aspirant, Kenneth Imasuangbon, charged Edo electorate not to be intimidated despite threats of violence by the All Progressives Congress (APC), urging them to turnout en-masse with their PVCs to vote for the PDP and ensure that their votes count.

Imasuangbon, who painted a grim picture of how he was victimised by political godfathers in the state for 16 years, urged the people to remain vigilant and support Governor Godwin Obaseki in the fight against godfathersim in the state.

Imasuangbon said: “For 16 years, I, Mr. Kenneth Imasuangbon have been contesting elections in Edo State; I have been a victim of the godfathers. This is why I am supporting Governor Godwin Obaseki for having the courage to defeat the godfather in Edo politics.

Charles Ajunwa At the first National Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST) virtual meeting held in Abuja, stakeholders in the arts and culture sector appealed to the Plateau State Governor, Simon Bako Lalong, to consider hosting the cultural festival in November rather than December this year.

The stakeholders made up of 36 state Commissioners of Culture, permanent secretaries, special advisers and directors of culture and tourism in the 36 states of the federation including Abuja, decided that November was a better date to host the national festival as December is usually full of activities.

The meeting which was held to review the syllabus for the festival

was hosted by the Director-General National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe.

In his welcome address at the technical stakeholders visual meeting in preparation of the National Festival for Arts and Culture, Runsewe told all the stakeholders and participants that the advent of COVID-19 had made it imperative for everybody to think outside the box in order to invent new ways of making the Arts and Culture sector busy and relevant.

He informed his audience that the National Council for Arts and Culture in May this, year organised the first-ever government Drive-in Theatre in Nigeria to demonstrate that even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, entertainment was still possible.

Why Nigeria has Performed Poorly for 5 Years in SDGs, Expert Mary Nnah Co-Founder/ CEO of Development Nigeria, Mr. Michael Ale, a development expert, has lamented Nigeria’s deplorable performance on the scale of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Speaking to stakeholders on development at a forum organised by his development platform, Development Nigeria recently in Lagos, Ale identified lack of finance and failure by government to properly domesticate

the SGDs development model to meet our peculiar development status, as factors inhibiting Nigeria from realising the goals after five years.

The SDGs is a 15-year development strategy designed by the United Nations (UN) as an improvement on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for member nations to effect development in all areas, particularly the grassroots.

SDGs target development and growth in fighting poverty through empowerment, job creation, provision

of clean and safe water, roads, power, as well as provision of other social amenities for meaningful development and growth. But Nigeria has not fared well in the foregoing areas.

The Aiyegbaju-Ekiti born Ale who is also the National President of the Association of Water Well Drilling Rig Owners Practitioners (AWDROP), said Nigeria’s late entry into the earlier Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), model, had adversely affected the country’s socioeconomic development pace.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-east Friday announced that it has resolved the intractable leadership crisis in Anambra State, stating also that there would be no zoning in the election of the governorship candidate for the 2021 gubernatorial election.

This is coming as the party said that it would commence sales of senatorial and House of Representatives forms for the bye-elections slated for October 31 between August 17 and 22.

Addressing a pressing conference at the national secretariat of PDP, the National Vice Chairman for Southeast, Austin Umahi, said that the state’s Working Committee headed

by Ndubisi Nwobu is the duly elected and recognised Anambra State Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Umahi also charged the Anambra State executive committee : “You are by this NWC resolution directed to recognise and enter into official party business with the

Anambra State Chapter through the State Working Committee as stated above.”

Also, in another statement, the National Secretary of the PDP, Senator Umaru Ibrahim Tsauri, charged the Ndubuisi Nwobu to proceed to use all legal and official means to disband all parallel executive body, as such is illegal, null and void.

The National Secretary of the PDP said that the National Working Committee (NWC), in her 502nd session of Wednesday, August 12, 2020 resolved to uphold the decision of the South East Zonal Working Committee of July 3rd 2020.

On the forthcoming governorship election in the state by 2021, the national vice chairman said, “While reiterating that the PDP is not Zoning the Governorship, we wish to commend all the Gubernatorial Aspirants of our party in Anambra State, for their matured politicking, we bring them the assurances of our National Chairman of a level playing field and the conduct of a most transparent primaries.”

N’Assembly Will Soon be Upgraded to E-parliament, Says Clerk Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr. Olatunde Amos Ojo, has assured that the federal legislative body would soon be upgraded to operate e-parliament in line with global best practices.

Ojo who spoke yesterday while hosting the leadership of the Centre for Legislative Engagement - an arm of YIAGA Africa - in Abuja, stated that the Assembly management under his watch would work to ensure that the National Assembly before long operates an e-parliament.

He emphasised that his administration has a goal to transform the National Assembly “for better deliveries of constitutional responsibilities that is of international standard in lawmaking, representation and oversight.”

According to him, the National Assembly’s management under

his leadership would work to ensure that anybody that comes to the National Assembly to seek information can get it at the click of a button.

His words: “We want to make sure that the National Assembly operates e-parliament and to operate e-parliament, we have to develop our ICT so that when anyone comes into the National Assembly, whether as a media man or you belong to one group or the other, you can easily log on and access anywhere in the world and we will make accessibility to lawmaking and everything on National Assembly free for everybody, the moment you enter into this place.

“I believe that by the time we are able to achieve this with discipline and integrity, there will be a proper transformed National Assembly to be able to deliver our purpose and objectives.”

15

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ AUGUST 15, 2020

PERSPECTIVE

Amaechi, Nigeria and Chinese Loans David Iyofor

O

verwhelmed with disbelief, I chuckled multiple times as I read the ‘monumental’ Reuben Abati’s THISDAY back page column of August 4, 2020 titled: Nigeria and Chinese Loans. Unfortunately, the piece was a monumental misadventure in dissecting the trending issue of Nigeria and Chinese loans and the terms of the loans. More tragic was Abati’s inglorious, uncalled for, cut and join attempt to portray the minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as the shady villain that has plunged Nigeria into his imaginary intractable apocalyptic debt mess with China.

Why Abati decides to tow this insidious path in this discourse is indeed befuddling. While I am open to give him the benefit of doubt that he may have been innocently ignorant of the facts of the Chinese loans and the nature and import of the terms of the loans, many I know are ready to swear by Amadioha or Sango that Abati’s piece was a disingenuous attempt to conflate and obfuscate the issues, muddy and distort the discourse and deliberately mislead his readers. With Amaechi as his prime target in his barely concealed hit man piece.

First, lets look at the obvious and known facts of the matter of the Chinese loans, the terms of borrowing and its import; as against the beer parlour gists and pepper soup joint arguments of Rueben Abati. Data from the Debt Management Office(DMO) shows the total borrowing from China of $3.121 billion(USD) as at March 31, 2020, are concessional bilateral loans(not high interest rate commercial loans) with interest rates of 2.50% per annum., tenor of Twenty (20) years and Moratorium(grace period) of Seven (7) years. The China loans represents only 3.94% of Nigeria’s total public debt of $79.303 billion(USD) as at March 31, 2020.

The Chinese loan terms are compliant with the provisions of Section 41 (1a) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007. In addition, the low interest rate reduces the interest cost to government while the long tenor enables the repayment of the principal sum of the loans over many years.

These two benefits make the provisions for debt servicing in our annual budget lower than they would otherwise have been if the loans were on commercial terms.

The rigorous process of taking any loan at the federal level, inclusive of the Chinese loans involves the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning working with the MDAs under whose portfolio a proposed loan falls and also with the DMO. Thereafter, the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) is sought. It is only after the approval by FEC that Mr. President requests for the approval of the National Assembly (NASS) as required by Section 41 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007. Carefully not that it is only after the approval of the National Assembly that the loans are taken and Nigeria begins to drawdown on the loans. In summary, borrowing seems to be a joint activity between the Executive and the Legislative arms of Government. Additionally, the loan agreements are reviewed by the Ministry of Justice and the legal opinion of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice is obtained before any External Loan Agreement is signed. The $3.121 billion(USD) Chinese loans are project-tied borrowing. The projects in the ministry of Transportation, which Amaechi superintends, include the Nigerian Railway Modernization Project (Abuja to Kaduna section and Lagos to Ibadan section), amongst others.

The infrastructural and economic impacts of these projects are evident and visible. The Abuja to Kaduna rail line has become a major source of transportation of commuters and cargo between Abuja and Kaduna, while the Lagos – Ibadan rail line when completed will ease human and cargo traffic on the busy Lagos -Ibadan expressway.

The projects also have the added benefits of job creation, not only by themselves but also through direct and indirect service providers, a number of which are Small and Medium Enterprises. It is widely accepted that investment in infrastructure is one of the most effective tools for countries to achieve economic growth and development.

Using loans from China to finance infrastructure is thus in alignment with this position. We should also not forget that like all other external borrowing, the loans from China were approved by the National Assembly.

The contentious issue of waiving of Nigeria’s sovereign immunity and providing sovereign guarantee by Nigeria to China for the loans is a standard clause in this type of foreign borrowing. The citizenry should understand that there is a difference between international diplomatic immunity, which has to do with a nation’s sovereignty, independent existence; and commercial immunity, which has to do with a nation’s commitment to ensure repayment of foreign loans taken by that country. The misconception of those arguing against the waiving of sovereignty clause in the loan agreements are looking at the diplomatic immunity as against commercial immu-

Amaechi nity of a country when it has to do with loans, as there is no concession whatsoever made as it concerns Nigeria’s diplomatic immunity. Concessions relating to immunity for the purpose of provision of commercial guarantee are not uncommon in loan agreements between sovereign countries.

So commercial immunity is in essence a mere guarantee that allows a nation that provides the loan, an opportunity, right and power to claim back the financial advances made to another nation. It does not extend to concession of diplomatic immunity or sovereignty, by which you now surrender the rights, privileges and independence of a nation state. But it is a commercial term that is restrictive, exclusive to an asset, a commercial asset for that matter in the event of default in the loan repayment terms. Nobody had signed out Nigeria’s sovereignty. A sovereign nation is a sovereign nation, no nation can re-colonized Nigeria on the basis of any China loan agreement. As of today, there’s no credible evidence of any danger of Nigeria losing its sovereignty to China because of the loans. Nigeria explicitly provides for debt servicing of foreign loans in its annual budgets. This means payment of loans is planned for.

Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, Professor of Political Science and former External Affairs Minister, explained the waiving of sovereignty clause in loan agreements between sovereign nations in a recent interview. He said, “Let us not be emotional about it, and there’s a standard clause in these agreements. The clause says: ‘Country X cannot plead his sovereignty, to protect it, if there is a need to go to arbitration. You cannot say because I am a sovereign country, you cannot drag me to court for arbitration. That is standard procedure. Economic relations are different from political relations. In political relations, you can plead your sovereignty to protect you but in economic relations, you cannot plead your sovereignty to stop you from paying back your foreign loans.”

Also, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana who is usually a very harsh critic of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, in a television interview explained that the sovereignty clause is a standard one in every international loan agreement between countries and no one has traded off the sovereign rights of Nigeria. He said: “In every International commercial agreement, that clause is a standard one. In other words, every nation has the sovereign right, sovereign immunity, not to be dragged to any court of arbitration. But if you are taking a loan, it is a standard agreement that if you default in the payment of the loan, you cannot invoke your sovereignty to prevent you from going to court or arbitration, no more, no less.

It has nothing to do with trading off the sovereignty of Nigeria… Again, this is meant to confuse Nigerians and mislead Nigerians. Nobody has traded off the sovereign rights of Nigeria”(in the Chinese loan agreements).

It is undeniably disconcerting that Rueben Abati on a serious national discourse like this, found it more convenient to quote and propagate the propagandist views and comments of his partisan, opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) and his fellow party member and

2019 PDP Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar while he completely avoids the unbiased, non-partisan contributions of the likes of Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi(a former External Affairs minister) and bright legal minds like Femi Falana and even Olisa Agbakoba.

Abati’s ill-fated attempt to make Amaechi the fall guy before Nigerians for the Chinese loans is unacceptably irresponsible. He tried to depict Amaechi as the alpha and omega when it comes to taking the loans related to the rail projects in his ministry when that is not actually the reality.

The supervisory minister role in foreign borrowing is limited and only complementary to the ministry of Finance that takes the loan on behalf of the Federal government, and the Ministry of Justice that reviews and vets all foreign loan agreements. Above all, any foreign loan has to be approved by the National Assembly.

Besides, Abati’s allusion to unethical practices against Amaechi in the borrowing process is indeed a sad commentary of his understanding of the issues. Reducing a serious and rigorous government business of the borrowing process that involves several parties in the executive and legislative arms of government to his pedestrian “my brother, bring money make we do business, chop together”, says a lot about his ignorance or willful mischief on this matter. Perhaps, that’s the way government business was done and conducted in the previous administration Abati was a significant member of. And not unexpected, that is the only way he seems to know and think government business can be conducted. What a sad trajectory. Is it not curious that some of the loans (about $2.473 billion, in total) from China were signed and taken during the same previous President Goodluck Jonathan government that Reuben Abati was the Spokesman of, with similar borrowing terms? Yet, Abati did not write a long treatise to condemn the loans, it terms and criminalise borrowing from China, then. Maybe he was keeping to the truism of not to talk while ‘chopping’. One can only imagine the mind-blowing hypocrisy. For Abati’s information, as it concerns the loans related to Amaechi’s ministry of Transportation, the agreements do not have or make provisions for ‘bring money, let’s chop together.’ The contract money is paid directly to the contractor by the lender after each specified milestone is certified to have been satisfactorily completed by different organs of the Federal government.

Disingenuously, Abati tried to draw comparisons between the Chinese loans and the well known pending $9.6 billion Process & Industrial Development (P&ID) matter. That was like comparing apples to oranges. Like most right thinking Nigerians, I see no bases to put these two disparate matters on same pedestal, apart from the purpose of fear mongering and to galvanize unwarranted public animosity against borrowing, whether from China or anywhere else. While one is about bilateral concessional borrowing between two sovereign nations, Nigeria and China, for infrastructural projects(completed and ongoing); the other, the P&ID case is a completely different ball game of an alleged contract gone awry that is now being disputed in court. Even more fatuous and ludicrous was Abati’s reason for drawing a similarity between both matters because of the presence of words as “arbitration”, “property”, “enforcement of arbitral award” in both matters. Haba! Even a sophomore law student would tell you for free that those words and phrase are not unusual in most standard contract and/or loan agreements.

To buttress his arguments, Rueben Abati wrote about his class at the University of Maryland, in an American Foreign Policy Process class taught by Hodding Carter III, where he learnt or read about “The Coming Conflict with China”. In contrast, I want to let Abati know that in my class at Oxford University, Said Business School, in a Globalisation module taught by Marc Szepan, we learnt how the world has evolved over the years into a global village, where sovereign nations are largely interdependent on each other and also borrowing from each other and foreign financial institutions. Nigeria borrowing from China or from Western nations or foreign financial institutions for infrastructural development should not be criminalised or reduced to an Amaechi punching event, at least until we change our laws and agree as a country that Nigeria should not borrow anymore.

Agreed, as a nation we need to have this discourse, a holistic conversation about our foreign loans/debts, but constricting the discourse to be about this present Buhari administration, about one arm of government, about one minister and government official(Amaechi), or only about Chinese loans/debts, is not the right way to go about it.

And further reducing the dialogue to “a Chinese getting license to sell roasted corn by the road-side in Nigeria” or “a certain Amaechi has signed off Nigeria’s Presidential Villa to the Chinese to get cheap loans to build a rail line to Port Harcourt”(quoting Abati), only exposes the dubious motives of Abati. These, especially the latter, will provide no value to the conversation but would only deem Abati a wailing child, who is embittered, and fixated on Amaechi for supposedly taking away his lollipop – Iyofor, a close Associate of Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi wrote from Abuja.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ AUGUST 15, 2020

PERSPECTIVE

Eliminating Banditry in N’west with Operation Sahel Sanity Francis Sardauna writes that the inauguration of Operation Sahel Sanity in Katsina State is a right step in tackling banditry and kidnapping in the state and the entire North-west area of Nigeria

T

he Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Tukur Yusuf Buratai on July 6th, 2020 flagged off another military operation codenamed, Operation Sahel Sanity, to tackle banditry and other nefarious activities in Katsina, Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto and Niger states. The aim of the operation is to support Operation Hadarin Daji in dislodging bandits, kidnappers and cattle rustlers in the North-west region of the country. The operation was launched as part of activities commemorating the 2020 Nigerian Army Day Celebration, during which the Nigerian Army Super Camp IV was established in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The military operation, headquartered at the Special Army Super Camp IV, is comprehensively stemming the wave of insecurity bedeviling Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger and Sokoto States.

Buratai, who flagged off the operation, also launched the newly acquired 10 Mines Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles (M-RAP) which were part of the military hard wares for Operation Sahel Sanity. The chief of army staff during the launching, said the M-RAP vehicles were conceptualised, designed and fabricated in Nigeria by the 107 Division Equipment Support of the Nigerian Army, Maiduguri.

Prior to the commencement of the operation, killings by bandits had crippled the activities of the people of the Northwest zone.

However, barely two months into the operation, the people of the zone, particularly those living in rural communities have started witnessing changes due to tremendous successes recorded by troops of the operation. The troops, within the period under review, carried out series of successful clearance operations, ambushes and other aggressive and confidence building patrols within Sokoto, Katsina and Zamfara States.

Theses multiple and coordinated operations led to the killing of over 81 bandits and the arrest of over 54 suspected bandits, informants, food and arms suppliers and their collaborators in the affected states.

Also, the troops rescued over 18 kidnapped victims, recovered 983 rustled cattle, seven Ak-47 rifles, one GPMG and 20 dane guns within the first month of the operation in the affected states.

Similarly, numerous bandits’ camps and their logistics bases, including that of the notorious Katsina Dangote, were completely destroyed by troops of Operation Sahel Sanity fortnight after its inauguration. The Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig.-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, told journalists that the troops had also destroyed eight other major bandits’ camps at Lebi Fulani village in Batsari Local Government Area

Buratai

of Katsina State.

Onyeuko, who briefed journalists in Faskari on the achievements recorded by troops of Operation Sahel Sanity, added that the destroyed camps were under the supervision of a notorious bandits’ leader known as Abu-Radde. He said: “Troops on clearance patrol destroyed 8 major bandits’ camps owned by notorious Abu-Radde at Lebi Fulani Areas in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina. Troops during the operation recovered 4 dane guns and other items.”

Onyeuko explained that the troops apprehended several armed bandits, their informants and logistics suppliers in Zamfara and Katsina states. He said the troops also arrested a suspected bandit’s informant and logistics supplier named Saifullahi Adamu at Garin Dodo village in Katsina State. The suspect, according to him, was arrested following credible information about his elicit engagements with suspected bandits and his wife, Mrs Hauwa Abubakar, alleged that the suspect forcefully married her.

Onyeuko said: “His (suspect) wife Mrs Hauwa Abubakar said bandits, whom her husband associates with, usually accuse her of reporting their activities to security agencies and subject her to several abuses. Mrs. Hauwa was rescued from

her husband and has been handed over to the Katsina State Government while the suspect is in our custody for further interrogation.”

In another development, he said: “On 9 August, 2020, troops deployed at Mara arrested two suspected bandits named Jamilu Mani and Aminu Lawal along Danmusa – Runka Road. The suspects were terrorizing the area. In the same vain, troops deployed at Bingi while on patrol arrested a suspected bandit and impostor named Sani Saidu wearing a police uniform with the name tag bearing ‘James Oname’.”

He said preliminary investigation revealed that James Oname a Police Sergeant was killed in 2015 by bandits at Tunga Rakumi in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State, adding that “the suspect is undergoing further interrogation”.

Onyeuko affirmed: “On 10 August 2020, troops deployed at Yarsanta while on routine patrol intercepted a kidnapped escapee named Auwal Yusuf wandering aimlessly along Yarsanta-Kabuge general area. The victim was promptly rescued by the troops and taken to safety. Similarly, troops on patrol encountered suspected bandits with rustled cows along Bagega-Sabon Birni, they opened fire on sighting the troops but fled into the bushes as troops responded with superior firepower. During exploitation, troops found traces of blood along bandits’ escape route while 12 cows were recovered by the troops.”

He said the troops had on August 5th, 2020, foiled a coordinated bandits attack on residents of Zamfarawa Kagara village in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State. Onyeuko added that the bandits invaded the village and rustled several cows but while attempting to escape with them, troops arrived the vicinity and engaged the bandits, neutralized one, while others escaped with gunshot wounds and recovered all the rustled cows.

He said the chief of army staff has commended the troops for their gallantry, successes and the professionalism exhibited within the short period of Operation Sahel Sanity and urged them not to rest on their oars.

Meanwhile, there is no gainsaying therefore that within 44 days of Operation Sahel Sanity in Katsina and other North-west states, troops have recorded tremendous achievements in line with the aim of the operation. These achievements are further evident by the gradual return of peace and resumption of farming, social and economic activities by the locals with reduced fear of threats in their communities. However, there is need for the gallant troops to continue to dominate volatile villages and communities within the region with confidence building patrols and clearance operations in order to completely flush out the marauding bandits for peace and development to thrive.

In Enugu, Ugwuanyi Charts Sure Course for Steady Water Sunday Orji

N

o doubt, access to pipe borne water has been a major challenge to Enugu metropolis for very many years. The long years of military rule bequeathed decrepit social infrastructure, including broken, rusty, and dried water pipes across the nation and Enugu was no exception.

Since 1999, successive civilian administrations have, therefore, shown various degrees of commitment and adopted various approaches to breaking the jinx of perennial problem of water supply in the Coal City. However, despite all the huge investment made by the World Bank and State Government in the past years, various factors, including topography, which makes it impossible for individual home and policy inconsistencies, etc. means that the quest for adequate water supply, particularly in Enugu metropolis, has not been met. Of course, this has negatively impacted the living standards of the people.

For instance, Enugu State implemented the 1st National Urban Water Sector Reform Project along with Ogun and Kaduna States between 2004 and 2013 when the project closed. Areview of the Project Implementation results was carried out by World Bank independent group and discovered that while the project achieved some results in the areas of production and revenue, a lot of gaps existed.

At the time this project closed, there was an existing portfolio from French Development Agency (AFD) to support the 3rd National Urban Water Sector Reform Project (3rd NUWSRP). But whereas Kaduna and Ogun States quickly keyed in and were considered for additional financing to sustain the investments recorded under the 1st National Urban Water Sector Reform Project (1st NUWSRP), Enugu suffered a setback due to the sudden change in government policy direction by the last administration, wherefore it concessioned the Enugu State Water Corporation (ENSWC) to a private firm. Consequently, the State was unable to access the fund at that period.

However, upon the coming of the Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi administration in 2015, it adopted a short-term approaches (which

will be highlighted towards the end of this article) and a long-term approach, which resulted in the revival of the Urban Water Sector Reform Project due to the strong political will of the Governor and the commitment of the administration to reform the Water Sector.

Thus, Enugu State was selected along with other new states (Ondo and Plateau), which did not benefit from the 1st National Urban Water Sector Reform Project (1st NUWSRP) to enable the Coal City State to sustain and improve upon the investment recorded under the 1st NUWSRP. In this support by the French Development Agency (AFD) to the 3rd NUWSRP to the tune of $158 million, $50million goes to each of Enugu and Plateau States, while $57 million and $1million will be lent to Ondo and Federal Ministry of Water Resources (FMWR), respectively.

This support will help Enugu State to develop its water supply infrastructure in the capital city of Enugu in order to supply more people. The other objectives are to improve the financial viability and the performance of the Enugu State Water Corporation (ENSWC) and also improve the water sector governance. This project will holistically address the challenges in the areas of water production, transmission, distribution, metering, revenue generation and revenue recycle management for sustainability and return on investment.

The hard components consist of investments to rehabilitate, upgrade and expand Enugu City water supply system. In particular, it will see to the rehabilitation of Ajali and Oji River waterworks and installation of a dedicated power line for Ajali; up-grading of the water transmission system by the installation of a second pipeline, 12.8 km long, 700 mm dia; replacement of around 240 km of asbestos cement pipelines (40 km in the primary distribution network and 200 km in the secondary network); expansion of the secondary network over about 60 km, to supply nearly 5000 new domestic connections; replacement of all the 16,000 existing connections with new piping as well as installation of a meter on each connection; and the equipment of a central maintenance workshop to provide ENSWC with the resources required for the sustainability of operation of the water system. Considering the 35,000 new connections, which can

Public water in Enugu be developed on the existing network, the pipe born water coverage ratio will now increase from 8 percent of the population, which this administration in 2015 to 37 percent by 2025 if the ENSWC is able to install 5,000 connections per year.

The soft components of the project consist of support to sector reform and capacity building to improve ENSWC’s technical, commercial, financial and managerial performance. These will include technical assistance to ENSWC, focusing mainly on revenue improvement, Non-Revenue Water (NRW) reduction, operation and maintenance improvement, change management to achieve a successful transition to autonomy and performance; and financial management and cost control improvement.

––Orji writes from Enugu

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

Plus Sekinat Elegushi

My Love Story with Oba Seheed Elegushi

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ 15, 2020

PLUS

My Love Story with Oba Seheed Elegushi Sekinat is the wife of Oba Saheed Elegushi, the 21st monarch of Ikate-Elegushi, in Lagos State.

Olori Sekinat, a mother of three, is renowned for her humanitarian work across the state. The queen of Ikate-Elegushi talks with Azuka Ogujiuba about her relationship with the Kabiyesi and their love trajectory. She also sheds light on her foundation, QSE Foundation, which caters for women and children and her position on sexual violence How would you describe your style?

I

don’t think there is any special definition for my style. I have just been stylish from when I was young and while still in school because I like to look good and dress up in anything good.

How do you combine all your looks? Do you have a beauty team?

No, it’s just on my own. I just love

to always look good without the help of any stylist or assistance. I don’t have anybody. It’s just me. I create my style for my designers to make. I come up with the colour and the mood for the event or party I am getting ready for.

My designers knows that when they are done with my cloths, I’ll ask them to bring it to me and still do some touches to make it come more alive and pleasant for the eyes. I don’t like to copy what someone else has done and even if the need arises, I’ll still look

Sekinat

for another way to make it look more original.

You can work as a fashion designer with all what you have explained

You have added glamour to the looks of an Olori...

Yes, I can but my husband, the king will not allow me.

Well, it is just to add some new concept. I don’t really like the traditional Iro and Buba. So, I just change the sleeves. If you noticed, anytime I wear Iro and Buba, there is always some difference from the regular ones.

You are one of the most stylish queens in Nigeria. Has anyone inspired you among older queens?

I just try to create my own style but over the years, I liked Olori Ladun

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ 15, 2020

19

I Hope to be Part of a Society Where Women are not Allowed to Suffer

Sekinat with Oba Elugushi and children

Sijuade and the Tejuosho Oloris.

should have a boyfriend. At that time, he was already on NYSC, outside Lagos. When he came back after three months, we knew what we wanted and we were ready to get married. My dad was not in a rush, so gave me another month to think through it. After a month, I went back to him that we were ready to get married and the marriage plans started. My father was even particular about where we will be living because we are still young. We had a big wedding; you know what you people call society wedding. We started from there and today, we thank God for how far we have come.

What was the attraction to your husband the king and how did you meet?

We didn’t meet in school as some reported. We met at my mum’s shop in Lagos Island, precisely the popular Moshalashi Jimoh fabric market.

He had a friend close to my mum’s shop at that time and I’ll just come to stay at my mum shop when I am on holiday and he just approached me suddenly like that and I turned him down. I tried to avoid so many of the young men around that area then. So he went to meet his friend that he saw one fine young girl that wore glasses and reading magazine and the friend told him not to come closer because he knows I’ll not respond to him but he summoned courage. We became friends, we see often, we gist and play.

I actually find him funny and jovial.

As we went on, he later asked that we start dating; and I said ‘I thought we are friends already, what else do you want?’ Of course I liked him already, so I couldn’t resist for much. It may interest you to know that I didn’t even know he was a prince and from there we started moving together. I remember he once convinced me to ride a Molue, something I never did because I had a car. He took me to board a molue, it was even so full that I had to sit on his laps!! It was weird but I liked the experience and it formed part of our memories of growing and developing together. I think I even lost a jewel during the molue ride!

What were the attractions to Kabiyesi that made you decide to marry him?

He was always all over me and there was no breathing space for me and there was no way I could have let him go.

The bedrock started as friends.

At what point did you guys know you would get married?

I just knew because I had to take him to my dad to introduce him as my boyfriend and he was stunned, asking me all those questions a parent would ask. I reminded him I was in my final year at the university. So I

How has it been as a queen for over 10 years?

It was a bit difficult at the beginning. I remember when he told me he was to be made king, I was begging him not to take it; that I don’t want and he told me I would be fine and part of my fears was

Does he have a nickname he calls you?

We all call ourselves SA cause it’s our initials – Sekinat Aramide and Saheed Ademola.

All our children bear the same SA initials - Sofiat Adeteniola, Soliat Ademide and Sarina Abisade. so we all have the same initials.

What’s your favourite food?

I’m not much of food person like that but I would say Dodo.

him taking another wife but which finally happened. I was even pregnant with my third child at the time he was crowned and I had to come back early after birth to be with him. It was a bit challenging from the beginning, as there were many demands, which I wasn’t used to but since I was familiar with some of the palace processes and the people there, we were able to settle down and 10 years after, we thank God for how well we have come.

When you heard about your husband marrying a second wife, how did you take it?

It was a tough one for me at that time and because I just lost my mum and I had to manage. It was really hard at that time; but some of these things come with the demands and pressure of the throne. I can’t continue to worry about it. The moment he became a king, I knew things like that will spring up. But you know I didn’t marry a king, I married a young man, that I love and we were growing together, managing and planning. Then the kingship fell on him, I had no choice but to support and stand by him. So here we are. All is fine. We are good.

When you are not busy, how do you relax?

I sleep a lot; I would say sleeping is my hubby.

Who is your favourite designer?

Ha! I don’t have any I just love everything good and nice.

What’s your take on violence against women and advice to abused women?

Domestic violence, especially violence against women is what I frown at anytime I am able to

add a voice. I don’t encourage women to stay in abusive relationships under any guise. Anyone in an abusive relationship should rather run to stay alive than dying prematurely. I also wish that we could have stronger laws to punish offenders, as this will serve as a deterrent.

How long has your QSE foundation been and what do you cater for?

Well, I have been involved with different charities for over five years, supporting their activities and giving back to the society. About two years ago, the need to have our own platform became more important and that was how QSE Foundation came to life.

We desire to give Quality and Selfless Empowerment (QSE) to our women and also support their children. We are doing that and we thank God that we are able to achieve our goals.

What’s your greatest fear in life?

Death is it but I thank God for his abundant mercy and grace. My husband, my girls and family are all doing well.

Is there anything you still desire in life?

I pray for long life to see my husband continues to do well, his kingdom peaceful and developing.

I pray to see my girls achieve great feats and become great women in the larger world. In the area of style and fashion, I want to start producing my own perfume and sell them to the bigger market and I also plan to open a fabric shop too, which is to continue the legacy of my mum. I also pray I am able to achieve more with the Foundation. We want to reach as many vulnerable women as possible within and outside our kingdom.

I hope to be part of a society where women, regardless of their social or marital status are not allowed to suffer.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹ͽ˜ 2020

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Burna Boy is ‘Twice as Tall’ Burna Boy’s new album “Twice as Tall”, with guest appearances from a number of music legends and icons, including the legendary Senegalese Youssou N’Dour, is a pure, unapologetic African body of work, as it boasts of a global contemporary sound that is for everyone. Ferdinand Ekechukwu reports

A

fro-fusion artiste, Burna Boy, has got the whole world listening. As you read this, his fifth studio album “Twice as Tall” which was released at midnight, August 14, 2020, is being streamed online across music platforms.

“It’s about to be an interesting couple of days #TWICEASTALL,” the Nigerian songwriter, singer and rapper declared prior to the album release. The terse statement followed an earlier post shared via his Twitter page that the album would be drop on August 14.

Although so many mistakably variegated the album release date for August 13 due to the fever pitch mood his announcement drew, it was sooner checked.

Burna Boy’s 15-track album hold echoes of Nigeria, South Africa, Jamaica and the United States, with guest appearances from a number of music legends and icons, including the legendary Senegalese Youssou N’Dour, America’s Naughty By Nature, and Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Kenyan Sauti Sol, and UK-Ghanaian rapper Stormzy.

On this album, the ‘Jara Ara E’ crooner enlists American music executive Sean combs, a.k.a Diddy, Timbaland, Telz, Leriq, and so forth as producers. The three-time Grammy winner, Diddy was brought in to provide “fresh ears” when the album was 80 per cent complete. Exclusive sources reveal that 11 songs from the 15 track album were produced

by Nigerians, eight of whom are from the Spaceship Collective.

“Twice As Tall” is a follow up to his critically acclaimed 2019 album “African Giant”.

While this album is believed a pure, unapologetic African body of work, it boasts of a global contemporary sound that is for everyone. With the first single from the album, “Wonderful” garnering widespread acclaim from major media publications including Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, Time, Entertainment Weekly and many more, Burna Boy described

the song as being “about the ‘wonders’ of seeing the impact of my music on people’s lives while touring, and it also serves as a note that no matter how far you go, or how hard you work; you must be ready to come home.

Above all, Africa is home, it is the motherland to all people.”

In the 15 songs, the singer/ songwriter takes stock of his accomplishments, his vulnerabilities and at the same time, encouraging ambition, perseverance in the face of uncertainty and against all odds. One of the album’s most haunting songs, ‘The Monsters You Made’ sees Burna Boy and Coldplay bring to life echoed roots reggae and rock fusion. This track condemns miss-education, addresses historical and social injustice on the Niger Delta in Nigeria to the pillage of African land and resources to global systemic racism, police brutality and corruption. It was delivered perfectly in a sound that’s bound to question and resonate.

“Wetin Dey Sup” is the 13th track on the album, produced

by Telz and co-produced by Timberland; punctuated by gunshots and sirens that warn: “They only respect the money and the violence,” speaks to the pulse of the Nigerian youth.

Other tracks to look out for on the ‘Twice As Tall’ album are ‘Level Up’, produced by DJDS, featuring legendary Youssou N’dour. Bebo’ and produced by Rexxie. ‘Onyeka’ and ‘Naughty

by Nature’ were both produced

by Telz. ‘Comma’ was produced

by Rexxie, and ‘No fit Vex’ was another one produced by LeriQ. Over the past two years, the 2019 Grammy nominated artiste has released three solid bodies of works. Real name Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, Burna Boy, 29, has assembled an international since he released his 2013 debut album, “L.I.F.E.: Leaving an Impact for Eternity.”

He sold out Wembley SSE Arena in London last year, and the year before and songs from his 2019 album, “African Giant,” have drawn tens of millions of streams and views worldwide.

Burna boy

Canon Unveils EOS Camera, Knowledge-Sharing Initiative Ferdinand Ekechukwu Canon has unveiled its new cinema EOS Camera range. The unveiling was done last Tuesday to an exclusive media audience virtually. The latest model in Canon’s Cinema EOS Camera range features Canon’s newly developed Super 35mm 4K CMOS sensor and comes with 16+ stops of dynamic range, professional codecs in a compact, modular body.

Alongside the unveiling, Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) launched a knowledge-sharing initiative for the African filmmaking community called ‘Canon Tech Talk Series’, during a webinar which discussed filmmaking to support aspiring and established filmmakers in the Africa market.

The opening session explored the features of the Canon C500 Mark II, where the filmmakers shared

their experience with the camera during their recent high-profile productions, which were fortunately concluded just prior to the coronavirus outbreak. The new initiative will extend for three months over 42 pro-video webinars for the film market in Africa and will be conducted in various languages including English, French and Arabic with the aim of reaching a larger audience.

The first webinar featured Canon’s Sales and Marketing Director for Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA), Amine Djouhara, alongside leading African filmmaking practitioners including Hamoudi Laggoune, Kunle Afolayan and Algerian Merzak Allouache. They hailed the EOS C500 Mark II for elevating their latest productions. Speaking at the unveiling, Afolayan who has used the new camera to shoot his upcoming film, ‘Citation’ said before his

collaboration with Canon, he had acquired the A50, Mac 1, 2 and 3 which he still uses until now.

“Alot of the documentaries we have done, we shot with these cameras. There are some elements I see in Canon; I wanted a camera that is not heavy. I reached out to Canon and they agreed on the collaboration to shot ‘Mokalik’ my last film with their cameras” he explained. After using the new EOS C500 Mark II to shoot his gritty, hard-hitting movie, ‘Citation’, he bares testimony. “I first saw the Canon EOS C500 Mark II at IBC 2019 and I was amazed at its capabilities”.

The Nigerian actor, producer and director, added: “Normally it’s not a director’s place to tell a director of photography (DOP) what kit to use, but I always wanted to shoot in 4K full-frame, and I knew that this camera would make it to the Netflix approved list, which was vital for this production.”

Algerian cinematographer, Hamoudi Laggoune worked alongside legendary 86-year-old Merzak Allouache on a new cinematographic masterpiece ‘Une Famille’, which plunges the audience deep into an intensely real political and family drama.

“The film benefited from the technology provided by Canon. The production team was provided with a Canon EOS C500 Mark II camera and a range of Cine Lenses and accessories so that the film could be shot entirely in 5.9K at 24 fps. The EOS 5D Mark IV and EOSR were also used throughout, to shoot the film and to photograph the behind-the-scenes footage. The camera provides complete flexibility and freedom to choose the image formats, bokeh effects and lenses that are best suited to the filming conditions,” Hamoudi Laggoune added.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹ͽ˜ 2020

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SHOWBIZFLAIR

Kayode Peters Releases Trailer for ‘Excuse My African’ In upcoming movie titled “Excuse My African”, seasoned producer Kayode Peters plays up culture, love and adventure. Ferdinand Ekechukwu reports

A

ce television and Nollywood movie producer, Kayode Peters has released trailer for his upcoming movie “Excuse My African”. Starring Bolanle Ninalowo and Stella Damasus, the one minute forty four seconds trailer gives a peek into the life of an American lady who meets her ‘Nigerian prince’ and she isn’t ready to let him go. But his flustered mother wouldn’t want a white lady from him, saying… “I said we don’t want a white woman. You can’t get married to a white woman. Do you want to kill me?”

Shot in New York City, the movie was directed by Daniel Ademinokan.

‘Excuse My African’ follows the story of a successful Nigerian man Tunde who meets a beautiful boogie white woman Shirley. They get talking and she tells him she has a Nigerian roommate. After a few dates, she invites him over to her house and he eventually meets her roommate Ijeoma. Tunde who is a high flyer has not been in touch with his Nigerian roots so meeting Ijeoma brought back his interest and love for Nigeria.

Even though she was a local Nigerian girl, not of the same class as him at all, they still seemed to get along very well. They spoke Pidgin English together, talked about things only a true Nigerian will be able to relate with, and when she cooked, he would always want to eat her food because it reminded him of the good old days back home. Along the line Shirley started to notice that Ijeoma and Tunde were beginning to get very familiar, out of jealousy she starts to act differently towards her roommate.

Then she decided that in order for her to keep her man, she would have to learn to be a ‘local Nigerian girl’; she dressed differently, tried to speak Pidgin English and even tried to make some Nigerian foods but it was a disaster! After a while, even Tunde started to feel a little cozy with Ijeoma and would want to get intimate but she turns him down.

He was not her type. At this point, he was at a crossroad because when he was around her he felt a certain warmth and familiarity that made him happy.

On the flipside, while Tunde was trying to figure out what his heart wants; Ijeoma was falling in love with Tunde’s white friend Brian who is very adventurous and intrigued by the African culture and lifestyle.

Their unlikely love is brewing behind the scenes. Eventually, Shirley and Tunde end up together while Ijeoma ends up with Tunde’s friend, Brian.

Talking about his experience on

Jackie Ball, Stella Damasus, Daniel Ademinokan (Director), Bolanle Ninolowo and John Billman on set of the movie

set of the movie in an interview, Kayode Peters said: “It was a whole new experience shooting ‘Excuse My African’. I was going on holidays with my family.

“I didn’t write it. But we fine-tuned it. I found myself in New York City.

We shot everywhere, outside, at train stations, which was a mind-blowing experience for me. Though, I’ve shot in London before, to shoot in the US, you need a permit. I had a director that had that, Daniel Ademinokan.

So, it was easy for us to shoot anywhere in the city. We were able to get the best unhindered in whatever we wanted to do. We had an audition.

Lots of Americans came for it. We picked the ones we wanted and some Nigerians too. I can say it’s one of the best movie projects I’ve done so far. I’ll do something of that nature again.”

Fondly called KP, Kayode Peters is famous for his long running television comedy series, “Flatmates” now “My Flatmates” where he plays the character Koko, alongside top Nigerian actors and comedian such as Basketmouth, Yaw, and Okey Bakassi.

“Excuse My African” packs dose of humour and brings to bare the Kayode Peters element. The movie is expected to premiere soon.

Daniel Ademinokan, Kayode Peters and Stella Damasus

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹ͽ˜ 2020

SHOWBIZFLAIR

‘Juju Stories’ Coming Soon Upcoming anthology film “Juju Stories” explores magical and supernatural tales from contemporary Nigeria, writes Ferdinand Ekechukwu

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roducers of “Juju Stories” are still keeping under wraps official materials for the sophomore anthology feature film by Surreal 16 Collective, a film group that includes Abba Makama, C.J ‘Fiery’ Obasi and Michael Omonua as they intend to drive the film with just teasers for now. The film, which explores superstitions and myth around juju, is divided into three chapters – Suffer the Witch, Yam, and Love Potion – directed by each member of the collective.

“We are taking it slowly, so we can tease the audience,” C. J Obasi, one of the makers explains following a one on one chat with this writer. “But it is essentially an anthology feature film comprising of three stories exploring juju and supernatural tales from contemporary Nigeria.” An anthology film is a subgenre of films consisting of several different short films, often tied together by only a single theme, premise, or brief interlocking event (often a turning point).

Sometimes, each one is directed by a different director as is with the “Juju Stories” anthology written and directed by the Nigerian new wave cinema collective known as Surreal16. While they aren’t “eager to release official synopsis yet” they would prefer maintaining exclusivity.

Few days back, the team gave a first look of the work, which is in post-production phase, in a less than thirty seconds teaser.

The teaser’s opening scene shows off an exciting cast some of which include Timini Egbuson, Adebukola Oladipupo, Paul Utomi, Belinda Agedah Yang, Adebukola Oladipupo, Elvis Poko, Nengi Adoki, Seun Kentebe, amongst others. In striking visual offering, fast paced, each sequence of the teaser gives a face to each subgenre of the series and repeatedly showing the characters in various modes, capturing totality of the upcoming stories rooted in Nigerian

Timini Egbuson

folklore and urban legend.

The shots devoid of dialogue, shows a semblance of an Ifa priest in the first scene, in another scene a young man who appears to be running out of danger and in another scene some young hip lovers having a stroll and in another sex scene. Fear, happiness and excitement captured in the teaser which described in one word, weird. Although the teaser is one

of a kind, its being a trend by the Collective to mouth their hype with terse tagline “Juju Stories is coming”.

Produced by Francis Nebot, Oge Obasi, and Adaugo Uzoma, audience would have to rely much on visual details to connect with the narratives in this body of works. Shot by Femi Awojide, the Surreal16 Collective production thrives on the intents to create artistically

minded films that move away from the reigning domination of Nollywood aesthetics and production practices. Authors of this film are responsible for Nigeria’s first Zombie movie Ojuju (2014); and Green White Green, a 2016 coming of age satire of Nigerian society. It widely toured the seventh annual Africa International Film Festival in Lagos circuit following its premiere at TIFF’s Lagos City to City Spotlight.

Animation Channel, DreamWorks, Launches on StarTimes Pay-TV platform, StarTimes and NBC Universal International Networks (NBCUIN) have announced the launch of DreamWorks, a 24-hour channel dedicated to kids and family entertainment exclusive to StarTimes.

DreamWorks joins other kids’ favourites like Toonami, Cbeebies, Nickelodeon, ST Kids and Jimjam, among others showing at the most affordable and flexible subscription rates in pay-TV market, and making StarTimes the heart of entertainment for children.

The DreamWorks channel, available from 3 August, brings the best in animated TV series to viewers.

DreamWorks offers quality animation and storytelling, taking viewers on fantastical adventures as they come face to face with more dragons than anyone has ever imagined in Dragons: Race To

The Edge; whilst over in Madagascar, the party continues with the world famous dancing lemur, in All Hail King Julien.

To celebrate DreamWorks channel’s launch in Africa, StarTimes is offering customer the opportunity to test their knowledge of DreamWorks TV shows.

Between August 11 and August 15, StarTimes will post three questions on its Facebook page every day. Two lucky winners will be selected on a daily basis and will be rewarded with one week of StarTimes ON VIP access.

DreamWorks is available on SUPER bouquet Channel 301 and CLASSIC bouquet, channel 354.

Viewers can join adrenaline-fueled snail, Turbo, and his snail crew in Turbo FAST; and follow the world’s favorite feline hero, Puss, as he protects the hidden city of San Lorenzo in The Adventures of

Puss in Boots.

In Dawn of the Croods, the world’s first family navigates their way through modern-day life. And entertaining families across the country, The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show will see the world’s smartest dog and his boy, Sherman, host their zany late-night comedy program, jam-packed with great musical acts and very special historical guests.

Younger viewers can look forward to a world of giant creatures that are ‘half dinosaur, half construction vehicle in Dinotrux and follow Noddy and his friends as they solve cases in in Toy Land, in Noddy Toyland Detective!

Meanwhile, young viewers can get ready to roar with Raa Raa The Noisy Lion, cub and his friends in the Jingly Jangly Jungle.

Speaking about the upcoming

launch, Lee Raftery, Managing Director, NBCUniversal International Networks, EMEA commented: “Collaborating with StarTimes on bringing DreamWorks channel’s award- winning shows and beloved characters to Sub-Saharan Africa is a key milestone for our business. We look forward to bringing young viewers the DreamWorks experience, with its compelling slate of adventurous and imaginative animated series, all in one family destination.”

Lily Meng, head of StarTimes Media Division, said, “We are excited to bring DreamWorks to Africa. This launch demonstrates our continuous commitment to providing premium content to African families. And it comes at a very timely moment, while most kids and parents are staying home.”

SATURDAY AUGUST 15, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPA P PER ˾ AUGUST 15, 2020

POLITY

Let Unive niversity versitty off Ibadan Ibadan Be e

Eddie Mbadiwe

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n her column in Punch of Thursday y August g 6, Abimbola Adelakun seems to be stoking g the request q by y Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes g to Appoint pp p Ibadan Indigenes g as the Vice Chancellor of the University y of Ibadan and also Chief Medical Director of University College Hospital (UCH).

I do not know if Abimbola is an indigene of Ibadan for she argued in support of the central council and probably attended their meetings. Her piece bore the trade mark of an insider. This contribution will be limited to University of Ibadan and not the other issues raised by this elders council. The other issues are not very clear and should be analysed on their merits.

The President is the visitor to UI and all Federal Universities. The final decision as to who becomes Vice-Chancellor rests with him as a person. There was a mathematical calculation not long ago in which it was shown that the Nigerian President has about 2000 appointments he can make without reference to anybody and Vice Chancellors of Federal Universities is in that umbrella (subject to three recommendations from council). The appeal by Ibadan elders is therefore in order. People of Nsukka Senatorial zone made a similar request vis avis University of Nigeria Nsukka but on that occasion superior wisdom prevailed and their request fell on its belly.

Many years ago when I was still a PhD student in the University of East Anglia Norwich, a New Chair for Marine biochemistry was created in the school of biological sciences. The post was advertised nationally and internationally. After a very rigorous interview process, the job was offered to a biochemist from Chile. He had three publications but they were very solid. That is the way to run a university. Merit must be the leader.

Sometime towards the end of President Jonathan’s regime, he wrote a letter to parliament to the effect that he was going to change the name of University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University. He was targeting Yoruba votes. I was in parliament then. When that letter was read, Parliament nearly erupted as alumnae of

Unilag raised such a thunderous opposition that the very foundation of parliament shook. The Executive Committee of Unilag Alumni Association pronto filed court papers of objections to challenge government. The various State branches followed in double quick march.

That matter died a natural death and University of Lagos is still Unilag.

Now let us return to the premier University of Ibadan which without a shadow of doubt is primus inter-pares.

The founding fathers had the vision of a world class university and that is why so many world class research institutes (too numerous to document) are situated close by and are refreshed by the sheer aura of UI. Let nobody misunderstand the arguments put forward so far. If

Ibadan Indigenes are the most qualified by all means, let them have the jobs but let no body try to create a breed of sacred cows that could convert UI to an ethnic puny University.

Let us remind ourselves of a few facts.

The university of Ibadan is the only University in Nigeria to be ranked among the first 1000 in the world. UI stands at 991. Some Universities in South Africa and Egypt are better ranked. When we were undergraduates in UI the only university in West Africa to come close was University of Ghana Legon which is now ranked 1307.

Is there a problem with Nigeria that we cannot nurture our natural treasures a shining example of which is Ibadan? Let us not forget that it was because of Ibadan Standards that medical doctors going to the U.K for post-graduate fellowship were given exemption from PLAB. Since we started to muddy the waters that exemption has been withdrawn. The same also applied to people who went for PhD and got exemption from Master’s degree.

The ancient Greek who gave the world democracy stratified society into three classes.

The first were the idiots (not like idiots of today) but they were only interested in their personal welfare and would not contribute anything to society.

The second were the THE TRIBES PEOPLE who were myopic and concerned with only those things that touched their tribe. They are prepared to fight and die for their tribe. The citizens were the third group and they were the ideal and took interest in the overall orderly development of society, paid attention to law and order and promoted the growth of civilization.

The ideal of the Greeks was to make everyone a citizen.

University of Ibadan was built to produce citizens so elders of Ibadan council Let University of Ibadan be.

––RT. – Hon. Dr. Eddie Mbadiwe writes from Abuja

Covid-19: A Call for $50bn Reparation from China Soyombo Opeyemi

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hina cannot live while the world dies. If maxii mum compensation p is not exacted from China for corona virus p pandemic, it’s only y a matter of time!

In the next one or two decades, another infectious disease will break out from China and bring the world to its knees once again!

It’s high time the China’s blight was removed from humanity. There is so little to choose bee tween World War II and corona virus plague. The distinction is of no moment. Whether the lethal weapon was deployed through machine guns, armoured tanks, scud missiles, intercontinental ballistic missiles or the bomb came from a market or laboratory in Wuhan, China, the consequences are the same for humanity: cataclysmic devastation of world economies, (Covid-19) mass deaths, (fear of Covid-19) mass deaths, mass infections, mass job losses, mass social dislocations, mass miseries, etc.

The fact of a natural transmissible disease cannot even avail China. The right to life is guaranteed by every constitution in the globe. And your freedom ends where my own begins. If your way of life poses an existential danger to your neighbours, then you are guilty of a crime and ought to be arrested and charged accordingly. For instance, in the Nigerian Criminal Code Act, 2004, Section 247 provides that, “Any person who - (a) vitiates the atmosphere in any place so as to make it noxious to the health of persons in general dwelling or carrying on business in the neighbourhood or passing along a public way; or (b) does any act which is, and which he knows or has reason to believe to be, likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life, whether human or animal, is guilty of a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for six months.”

Section 343 provides that, “(1) Any person who in a manner so rash or negligent as to endanger human life or to be likely to cause harm to any other person - (d) omits to take precautions against any probable danger from any animal in his possession; is guilty of a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for one year. According to Section 344, “Any person who unlawfully does any act, or omits to do any act which it is his duty to do, not being an act or omission specifi ified in section 343 of this Code, by which act or omission harm is caused to any person, is guilty of a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for six months.”

In Section 308, “Except as hereinafter set forth, any person who causes the death of another, directly or indirectly, by any means whatever, is deemed to have killed that other person.”

All this points to the fact that we are individually accountable to one another and our neighbours. Any way of life that may endanger the well-being of my neighbours should be avoided at all cost. Not doing so will attract severe consequences. If China were an individual in Nigeria, he would have been on the road to jail and ultimately face the hangman’s noose!

How much more guilty of ‘crime against humanity’ are you, if your way of life results in mass deaths and mass miseries of your neighbours! Chinese ecological interactions with animals have been proved by scientists to aid the emergence of microbial threats, such as the corona virus which has now collapsed the world on our heads. China is aware of the danger its interactions with animals pose to itself and its neighbours. Even if you don’t take measures to protect yourself, you have a bounden duty to take measures to protect your neighbours who may be affected by your acts of omission or commission.

By its act of omission (negligent/ reckless conduct/ interacc tions with animals) and act of commission (cover-ups/ refusal to disclose to the World Health Organisation accurately and timely the corona virus outbreak - a health emergency), China is guilty, criminally guilty!

China cannot live while the world dies. Other nations cannot continue to bring peace on the table while China brings death.

China is a major contributor to the worldwide contagious disease yoke. The world cannot continue to bear such an insuff ferable burden. It’s thus far and no further. Enough is enough!

The Black Death or The Pestilence of 1350 originated in China and consumed about 200 millions lives, about a third of the world population at the period. It’s the deadliest pandemic ever recorded in human history! The Third Plague Pandemic started in China in 1855 and led to the death of 15 million people across the world. The Spanish Flu of 1918 claimed the lives of 50 million victims worldwide. Scientists believe China is one of the countries suspected to be its origin. The 1957 Asian Flu started also from China and killed over one million people across the globe. In 2003, the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) originated from China and wiped off the lives of 774 people.

Bird Flu came from China in the same year. Is China the only country in the world? China must bear the consequences of its negligence and a way of life that sends millions of its neighbours to untimely graves.

China is one of the signatories to the International Health Regulation (IHR) (2005). According to Article 2 of IHR, “The purpose and scope of these Regulations are to prevent, protect against, control and provide a public health response to the international spread of disease in ways that are commensurate with and restricted to public health risks, and which avoid unnecessary interference with international traffi ffic and trade.”

Under Article 6 of IHR, “2. Each State Party shall notify WHO, by the most effi fficient means of communication available, by way of the National IHR Focal Point, and within 24 hours of assessment of public health information, of all events which may constitute a public health emergency of international concern within its territory in accordance with the decision instrument, as well as any health measure implemented in response to those events... 2. Following a notifi ification, a State Party shall continue

to communicate to WHO timely, accurate and suffi fficiently detailed public health information available to it on the notifi ified event, where possible including case definitions, fi laboratory results, source and type of the risk, number of cases and deaths, conditions affecting the spread of the disease and the health measures employed; and report, when necessary, the diffi fficulties faced and support needed in responding to the potential public health emergency of international concern.”

There is suffi fficient evidence to establish that China is guilty of internationally wrongful act by engaging in cover-ups rather than complying with its obligations to the World Health Organn isation (WHO). According to Article 12 of the Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts (2001) “There is a breach of an international obligation by a State when an act of that State is not in conformity with what is required of it by that obligation, regardless of its origin or character.” Article 31 provides that, “1.

The responsible State is under an obligation to make full reparaa tion for the injury caused by the internationally wrongful act. 2.

Injury includes any damage, whether material or moral, caused by the internationally wrongful act of a State.”

In Article 46, “Where several States are injured by the same internationally wrongful act, each injured State may separately invoke the responsibility of the State which has committed the internationally wrongful act.”

China is a closed society. It is a communist state and freedom of speech is abridged. Everything begins and ends with the state. As I have had cause to observe, if man’s lust for acquisition and retention of power ever needed a platform for expression, then Marxism provided one. Communism railed against the concentration of wealth in the hands of capitalists but was never able to appreciate that the greatest evil to humanity was the concentration of power in the hands of communists. In fact, communist ideology simply dovetailed into man’s greed for power. The present Chinese president, Xi Jinping, is clearly on a mission to become a life president. He has centralised power.

There is now a cult of personality around him. He is the book that every Chinese reads. He’s the song that Chinese must sing.

Even universities are not left out in the human worship of Xi. His political musings, Xi Jinping Thought, has been enshrined into the constitution of the Communist Party. His re-election in 2018 saw members of the castrated National People’s Congress “cryy ing in happiness”! Xi Jinping Thought is said to have provided “solution for the modern problems of humankind”! That Xi “unique solution” to the problems of mankind is now playing out before our own eyes!!!

––Soyombo, author of Buhari v.Yar’Adua (2008), media practitioner and public affairs analyst, sent this contribution from Abeokuta via densityshow@yahoo.com (08060177135) Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 24, 2011

GLOBAL SOCCER A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

15. 08.2020

NEWS

CITY TEST LYON CINDERELLA RUN PAGE. 29

Eberechi Eze Dreaming Emirates Stadium

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ AUGUST 15 2020

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GLOBAL SOCCER

Eberechi Eze

Dreaming Emirates Stadium If wishes were horses, Eberechi Eze would be a Gunner next season. Nine years after leaving Arsenal, the English-born Nigerian is dreaming of a return to the North London club in spite of strong interest from West Ham United. However, many Arsenal fans are urging their side to seal the deal

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ngland-born Nigerian and Queens Park Rangers playmaker, Eberechi Eze, is reportedly dreaming of a move to Arsenal this summer given he supported the Gunners during his early years and Arsenal fans have responded on Twitter.

Eze, 22, has been in stunning form for QPR of late – scoring 14 goals and creating eight more for the Championship side, playing in all 46 league games for Mark Warburton’s men. He has however entered the final year of his contract.

Several Premier League clubs have been linked with a move for Eze who left Arsenal’s youth academy in 2011 aged just 13. The Sun claim Palace made QPR an offer but were unwilling to match his £20 million asking price.

Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol has claimed in his transfer column that Eze’s dream move would be transferred to Arsenal – despite his exit as a teenager. He has supported Arsenal since he was a child.

The Gunners are likely to want an attacking midfielder with Mesut Ozil linked with a summer exit and Mikel Arteta side have been strongly linked with Barcelona’s Philippe Coutinho and out-of-contract Willian.

But a new threat to West Ham’s hopes of landing the 22-year-old QPR playmaker emerged in the shape of Arsenal last week.

According to The Daily Star, Eze ‘dreams’ of a move to Arsenal.

That’s despite lifting the lid on his heartache at being released by his boyhood club when he was just 13.

So West Ham boss Moyes will be encouraged by a claim from Sky Sports’ self-styled ‘insider’ Solhekol this week, he dismissed any chance of Arsenal shopping for players at QPR and also revealed any bid matching QPR’s £20m valuation will be accepted.

“Ebere Eze will leave QPR this summer if one of the clubs who are interested in signing him offer £20m,” Solhekol said in his Sky Sports column.

“He grew up supporting Arsenal and spent some time in their youth set up so his dream move would be to the Emirates Stadium.

“The days, when Arsenal went shopping at QPR, are long gone though. The last time they signed someone from Rangers was 30 years ago when George Graham paid £1.3m for David Seaman.”

Now all that remains to be seen is whether West Ham can raise the funds necessary to secure the player’s signature.

West Ham do have an ace card in striker Jordan Hugill who is wanted back at Loftus Road next season after scoring 15 goals on loan from the Hammers last term.

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace have held further talks with QPR over Eze. Palace had a bid worth around £12m rejected last month.

Palace have been discussing a number of wingers as they consider all options for the England U-21 star.

Eze, who started his career with QPR,

enjoyed a superb season in 2019-20, scoring 14 goals in the Championship.

Manager Mark Warburton will be desperate to hang on to Eze, who finished just one goal behind team-mates Hugill and Nahki Wells in the scorer’s list.

Meanwhile, Queens Park Rangers director of football Les Ferdinand has backed Eze for an England call-up following his outstanding form this season.

The 21-year-old has been capped by England at U-20 and U-21 level, but would also be eligible to play for Nigeria and has trained with their national team.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Ferdinand said: “A lot of the time you need to be in the Premier League to be recognised but he has shown the kind of form and, if he continues to develop in the way he is developing and keeps showing the type of football he has been playing, he is certainly going to put himself in the frame.

“People are going to start talking about him playing for England.

“We have got a few young players coming through the system now who we are really excited about.

“They are helping us in our campaign this season to finish as high up the league as we possibly can.”

Ferdinand has previously stated that the R’s could be forced to sell Eze this summer as they still look to recover from the £17m fine they were hit with in 2018.

Ironically, youth football was far from plain sailing for Eze, and a number of clubs are

now counting the cost of letting the player slip through their grasp. He struggled upon being released by Arsenal as a 13-year-old and endured unhappy spells at Fulham and Millwall as he began to seriously consider quitting the game to go to work in a supermarket. But Eze impressed then QPR boss Chris Ramsey during a trial in 2016 and the rest is history.

Eze is convinced he struggled in his junior career because too many coaches took his easy-going style for inherent laziness.

Ramsey took a different approach and that belief has been replicated by Rangers boss Mark Warburton, who has given him freedom to express himself fully in his number 10 role, despite his relative lack of experience.

Warburton’s confidence has paid off handsomely, with 11 goals this season and a host of high-profile assists.

Eze made his international debut for England under-20s in October 2018, and for the U-21s the following year.

There is every indication that Eze’s days at Loftus Road may be numbered. Tottenham are the club most frequently linked with the player but Chelsea have also been keeping close tabs, and Sheffield United too have been linked. With QPR showing few signs of shaping up into play-off contenders if and when the season resumes, Eze could be on his way sooner than later. After all, QPR’s own director of football Ferdinand described the player as someone who is destined for a “top six” club.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ AUGUST 15,, 2020

GLOBAL SOCCER

Very few would have put their money on Lyon to get past Juventus when the UEFA Champions League second round fixture pitched the French side against the Italian giants. But Les Gones did the unthinkable by dumping the Turin side out of the competition. Against Manchester City in today’s quarter final paring, Lyon, which of course would be boosted by last Friday’s win in Turin would be hoping to continue the run against the Citizens

Lyon got the better of Man City at the Etihad Stadium when both sides met in the group stage of the Champions League last season

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anchester City take on Lyon in the last of the Champions League quarterfinal ties in Lisbon today, aiming to reach the last four for just a second time.

The Citizens knocked out perennial winners Real Madrid over two legs in the last round, while Lyon stunned Italian champions Juventus to progress.

The winners of the match at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, which will be played over just one leg, will face either Barcelona or Bayern Munich in next week’s semi-finals.

Given the unique nature of this season’s Champions League, with the quarter-finals onwards being played out in Portugal over the course of a

couple of weeks, City’s focus is solely on this competition.

Pep Guardiola had previously joked that he would be nothing more than a “failure” if he fails to win the competition during his time with City, and on the face of it, there is no better time to lift the famous trophy than this season.

After finishing second in the Premier League and exiting the FA Cup at the semi-final stage, Guardiola knows that there is even more weight on his shoulders to go all the way this time around.

The Citizens certainly have momentum on their side following their 4-2 aggregate victory over Madrid in the first knockout round, following up their 2-1 first-leg triumph with a win by the same scoreline in last Friday’s

return fixture.

City may have been helped by some shocking defending from the usually reliable Raphael Varane, but they took their chances when they arrived and were comfortable winners in the end.

That famous victory made it three wins in a row for City in all competitions, and six victories in their last seven, scoring 23 goals and conceding only four during that run.

It will ultimately count for little if they fail to overcome Lyon, however, and Guardiola will need no reminding of his side’s struggles against the Ligue 1 opposition when they met twice in last season’s group stage.

Maxwel Cornet and Nabil Fekir were on target as Les Gones secured a 2-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium, followed

up with a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture - another match that saw Lyon dominate the midfield battle.

Guardiola has a habit of overthinking knockout ties, trying to get into the opposition’s head with his team selection, and it may well be that he focuses closely on those two matches - even if there has been a small turnover of players at both clubs.

Rudi Garcia’s men showed exactly what they are capable of against Juventus in the last 16, edging through 2-2 on away goals despite Cristiano Ronaldo’s best efforts in the second leg last week.

Lyon looked a little rusty against Juve last time out and that is not at all surprising given that it was just their second competitive game in five months, the other being a defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Coupe de Ligue final on July 31.

This will be Lyon’s first appearance in the quarter-finals of the Champions League since 2009-10, and they have progressed from just one of their previous four games at this stage, eliminating Bordeaux in 2009-10.

City are competing at the last-eight stage for a fourth time in five seasons, meanwhile, but they have advanced from just one of those previous ties - knocking out PSG in 2015-16 - and will certainly not take anything for granted today.

Meanwhile, Manchester City continue to carry on without the talismanic Sergio Aguero, who has spent a long time on the sidelines due to a knee injury. Gabriel Jesus, arguably the team’s best forward in the Champions League this season, should deputise in his place.

However, Benjamin Mendy is back from suspension but Guardiola is unlikely to tinker the back four.

Lyon on their part have a fully fit squad for this encounter, Moussa Dembele, who was on the bench against Juventus, could be the only change to a winning combination that has worked well for Lyon, while former Manchester City defender Jason Denayer will also have a point to prove against the Premier League club when he mans the back three.

A lot is on the line in this fixture, and it’s hard to look beyond a Manchester City win simply due to their attritional style and greater quality.

They should find the first goal hard to come by but once the deadlock is broken, the English giants will see it out comfortably.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ AUGUST 15, 2020

GLOBAL SOCCER

Manchester United duo of Fred and Bruno Fernandes celebrating with Odion Ighalo

Bayern Munich players celebrating one of the eight goals scored against Barcelona on Friday night

PSG in Shock Move for Ighalo as Replacement for Cavani Man City Keeping Tab on Nigeria Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly considering a move for Nigerian forward Odion Ighalo.

The 31-year-old joined Manchester United on loan from Shanghai Shenhua in January and has been in good form for the Red Devils, scoring five times in 18 appearances in all competitions.

The striker is due to remain with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side until January 2021, when he is expected to return to his parent club.

However, according to Fussballtransfers, PSG are lining up a move for the attacker as they look to bring in a replacement for their all-time leading goalscorer Edinson Cavani.

Ighalo only has little over a year left to run on his current deal with Shanghai,

although the Chinese outfit are said to be hopeful of agreeing fresh terms.

The Nigerian has scored twice in four Europa League appearances this term but is still waiting for his first Premier League goal for Solskjaer’s side.

Manchester United signed Ighalo on loan in January, with many criticising the Red Devils for that decision.

However, the Nigeria international has done little wrong for the club since moving and has scored five goals in the time since his arrival.

United extended Ighalo’s loan spell in June to run until January 2021, with the former Watford star acting as cover to Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood up.

PSG have been linked, however, with Thomas Tuchel impressed by Ighalo and wanting him to deputise for the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Mauro Icardi next season.

There are claims in some quarters however that PSG have yet to touch basewithIghalo’scampaboutapotential move to the Parc des Princes.

However, the Nigeria international is said to have no interest in swapping Old Trafford for the Parc des Princes.

The striker in currently in Cologne with Manchester United squad and is preparing for their Europa League semifinal clash against Seville tomorrow.

Ighalo will be hoping for a chance to make an impact in the game as United look to move a step closer to the trophy.

UEFA Champions League Bayern Pummel Barcelona 8-2, Book S’final Ticket Bayern Munich sent out an emphatic and ominous message to their Champions League rivals with an absolute demolition of fellow European heavyweights Barcelona in a gloriously chaotic and utterly one-sided quarter-final tie in Lisbon.

The high-pressing, energetic and ruthless German champions were on a different level to their Spanish rivals, as they have been for pretty much every opponent they have faced in Europe this season and in every competition since football restarted in June.

They scored four times in the first half, addedanotherquartetinthesecond,and could easily have netted more against a shell-shocked and shambolic Barca side whose defensive errors were too numeroustorecountandwhonowhave a new and embarrassing record defeat in European competition to their name.

Bayern were not entirely infallible, though, with Barca’s forward players - inevitably led by Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez - regularly finding space in behind to cause problems and test Manuel Neuer.

In a dizzyingly madcap opening 10 minutes, Thomas Muller fired Bayern ahead following a one-two with Robert Lewandowski and DavidAlaba wildly sliced a Jordi Alba cross into his own net to restore parity, before Suarez was denied by Neuer and Messi hit the post with a curling cross through a packed box.

The following 22 minutes took the game away from Barca, with Ivan Perisic smashing in a deflected second for Bayern before Serge Gnabry finished off a delightful ball over the top from Leon Goretzka, and Muller poked in his second at the near post.

Aneat turn and finish from Suarez after the break gave the Spanish side hope, but this was snuffed out by arguably the pick of the goals - a Joshua Kimmich side-foot finish following some stunning skill and speed and excellent delivery from Alphonso Davies.

Robert Lewandowski headed his 14th Champions League goal in just eight games before salt was poured into Barca’s deep wounds as Philippe Coutinho - on loan from the Spanish side - netted a seventh and eighth after coming off the bench.

Bayern are by far the most decorated side left in the competition, having won the European Cup/Champions League on five occasions, most recently in 2013.

They will find out their semi-final opponent tonight, when England’s last remaining challenger Manchester City face French side Lyon.

Europa League: Man U, Inter \Matches Live on StarTimes StarTimes has lined up exciting top-flight soccer events to the delight of football fans.

In terms of European events, StarTimes, the exclusive broadcaster of the UEFA Europa League, will broadcast the semi-final matches between Sevilla and Manchester United on Sunday at 8 pm; while Inter Milan will battle Shakhtar Donetsk on Monday at 8 pm.

The final will be played on August 21.

Manchester United’s pace is something Sevilla must be wary of heading into their semi-final, according to Sevilla captain, Jesus Navas. Navas spent four seasons playing for Manchester City in between spells at Sevilla and is no stranger to the Red

Devils.

From September 3, StarTimes will air the UEFA Nations League. The second edition of UEFA’s newest national-team competition will begin with great clashes such as Germany vs. Spain, Sweden against France and titleholder Portugal vs Croatia.

The digital TV operator recently acquired LaLiga broadcasting rights (French commentary). The exciting Spanish league will be shown on the StarTimes sports channels starting from the first 20120/21 season matchday on September 12.

StarTimes will also broadcast other European Cups like the Coppa Italia, exclusive in SubSaharan Africa, the Spanish Copa

del Rey and The Emirates FA Cup, among others.

Through ESPN, StarTimes also broadcasts The English Football League Championship (EFL), Major League Soccer (MLS), Belgian Pro League, Netherlands Eredivisie; Basketball tourneys – NBA and the EuroLeague.

“We are excited to bring more sports offering to our subscribers.

Football lovers in Nigeria can now look forward to uninterrupted actions on their screens,” explained StarTimes PR Manager Lazarus Ibeabuchi.

“Active subscribers can watch on the go by downloading StarTimes ON mobile app and linking it to their decoders, at no extra cost, to access the same content they subscribe for on their decoders.”

Winger, Alli

English Premier League side Manchester City are keeping tabs on highly-rated Nigerian winger Wale Musa Alli, with a view to a transfer in future.

Alli currently plies his trade for Austrian 2.Liga side SKU Amstetten, whom he joined from Estonian outfit Kalev Tallinn in February 2020.

Manchester City talent spotters scouted the promising teenager several times during his time in Estonia and have also asked for a second opinion on the player.

Tipped as one for the future, he was involved in 14 goals (10 goals, four assists) from 35 matches for Kalev Tallinn, including a hat-trick against JK Volta II, and has already opened his goalscoring account for his Austrian club.

According to a City scout, Alli possesses all the characteristics they are looking for in a winger and has been likened to England star Raheem Sterling due to his playing style and small stature.

The 19-year-old is fast, strong, changes direction with ease, draws a lot of fouls and has excellent movement with or without the ball.

Alli has a contract with SKU Amstetten until the end of the 2021-2022 season.

Three Nigerians Named in Genk’s First Season Home Game Three Nigeria-eligible players have been named in Racing Genk’s provisional squad list for their first home game of the 2020-2021 season against OH Leuven this afternoon.

Racing Genk coach Hannes Wolf has selected Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu, Belgian-Nigerian striker Cyriel Dessers and Belgium youth international of Nigerian parentage Shawn Adewoye in a 20-man squad.

For the second consecutive match, there is no place in the Genk squad for former Mountain of Fire goal poacher Stephen Odey fueling speculation that he’s not in the plans of the manager for the new season.

Dessers making the roster is good news as he had been rated as doubtful previously after suffering a head injury during Wednesday evening’s workout but it remains to be seen if he will be named in the starting lineup.

If promising center back Adewoye is given a run-out against OH Leuven, it would be his professional debut for the Limburg club.

Genk came from behind to beat Zulte-Waregem 2-1 in their opening match of the season last weekend courtesy of goals from Onuachu and Dessers.

Djokovic to Play at the US Open Novak Djokovic has announced he would play at the US Open, which starts on August 31.

The world No 1 said in a statement: “I’m happy to confirm that I’ll participate at #CincyTennis and #USOpen this year.

“It was not an easy decision to make with all the obstacles and challenges on many sides, but the prospect of competing again makes me really excited.” Djokovic revealed he tested positive for the coronavirus three weeks ago after competing in theAdria Tour which he helped to put together.

Inastatement,JohnObiMikelinactionforTrabzonsporagainstAnkaragucu in the Turkish league he apologised and admitted he was wrong to organise the Adria Tour events in Serbia and Croatia after becoming one of four players to test positive for coronavirus. The news confirming Djokovic’s involvement at Flushing Meadows comes as a surprise after he said in June competing at the US Open would be “impossible” due to “extreme” coronavirus protocols.

The three-time US Open champion says he is fit and accepts this year’s tournament will be rather unusual.

“I am aware that this time around it will be very different with all the protocols and safety measures that are put in place to protect players and people of New York,” he added.

“Nevertheless, I have trained hard with my team and got my body in shape so I am ready to adapt to new conditions.

“I’ve done all the check-ups to make sure I am fully recovered and I am ready to get back on court fully committed to playing my best tennis.”

The decision comes after a host of top players, including defending champion Rafael Nadal and women’s No 1 Ashleigh Barty decided to skip the event in New York due to fears over coronavirus.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͹ͽ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

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NEWSXTRA

Obiano, Traditional Rulers Disagree over Infrastructure in South-east David-Chyddy Eleke ÓØ áÕË The last is yet to be heard of the rift between Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano and some traditional rulers in the state who went to Abuja to commend President

Muhammad Buhari over some infrastructural project in the South-east, including the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.

This is because while the monarchs who had also travelled to report the governor to the president are still in Abuja after

failing to meet President Buhari, the Anambra State House of Assembly has backed Obiano, saying that there was nothing to commend the president about.

The lawmakers pointed at the state of Enugu-Onitsha Expressway being constructed

by the federal government, saying that it has been abandoned.

The Assembly in a resolution it passed yesterday, urged the President to direct the Ministry of Works to cause the contractor, Reynolds Construction Company, to return to site.

The lawmakers in the resolution said the EnuguOnitsha Expressway had been abandoned and it had become a discomfort to road commuters.

"We urge the federal government to direct the construction firm handling the contract to go back to site to alleviate the sufferings of the road users.

"The expressway is an important Trunk -A highway, known for its heavy vehicular traffic. It was abandoned and became dilapidated for several

years and left the users of the deplorable road in griefs."

Contract for the reconstruction of the Anambra State section of the Enugu -Onitsha Expressway was awarded to RCC in November 2018 with a completion period of 42 months.

The lawmakers expressed worry that the lockdown and interstate border closures had been lifted by the federal government several weeks ago, yet the contractor had not gone back to site.

Osun NDLEA Seizes 821.94kgof Cannabis Yinka Kolawole ÓØ ÝÙÑÌÙ

According to him, during the period the Command equally arrested 112 males and 9 females totaling 121 drugs suspects.

He made it clear that the weight of drugs exhibit seized during the period was 821.94kg,made up of 820.6kg of Cannabis Sativa and 1.34kg of Psychotropic substances.

The Commander equally stressed that the Command discovered Cannabis Sativa planted in Osun State of which 14.73 hectares of Cannabis Sativa farm land were destroyed.

Also in terms of convictions, the

L-R: President, Actor Guild of Nigeria, Ejezie Emeka Rollas; and Founder of Quickraiz, Bayo Adeokun, signing their partnership to raise N50 million for ailing actors and aged actors… recently

Osun State Command of the National Drugs Law enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said that the Command seized over821.94kg,ofCannabisSativa and arrested 121drug suspects in the state.

The State Commander, Mr. Egbeola Samuel who gave report of the Command’s activities in Osun State between January and June, 2020--COVID-19 period also noted that there was an upsurge in the use or abuse of drugs as a result of idleness.

Broadcast Code: We Don’t Know Why Lai Mohammed Ignored Us, Says NBC Board Chair

African Voices to Star Mr. Eazi, Nigerian Music Sensation

HEARTS OF GOLD...

Chairman, Board of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Alhaji Ikra Aliyu Bilbis, has stated that the commission needs to know why Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information, ignored the Board in the process leading to review of the recently released national broadcasting code.

Bilbis, a former minister of state for information, stated this in Abuja on Thursday while responding to questions at a press conference addressed by the Board on the 6th NBC Code, which it described as an illegality.

Responding to a question on the relationship between the Board

and Moahmmed in the run-in to the code amendment, Bilbis said he discussed with Mohammed many times.

“I personally met the minister many times and we discussed so many things. I believe that as a former minister in the same office, we have something we can advise him on. So, the commission needs to know why he cut off the Board. We have written to him,” he said.

At the press conference, members of the Board said the Code unveiled by the minister is of no effect, as the NBC Code had been finalised and presented in

Kano last year. They branded the one presented by the minister as his own version, saying it has no legal force to regulate the industry.

Bilbis said aside from the board, the minister and a few loyalists excluded relevant stakeholders from the amendment process, which he said yielded dangerous provisions that could damage the industry. One of the most vexatious provisions in the code is the one prescribing a N5million fine for hate speech or fake news.

The provision looks like it has claimed its first victim in Nigeria Info FM, which has been fined for a broadcast deemed inciting.

Many commentators have branded the provision antidemocratic and even illegal.

Former Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Professor Tony Iredia, described the provision as dangerous, as it easily lends itself to abuse.

Iredia also accused the minister of teleguiding the NBC running the commission, something that should be Idachaba’s job.

A former General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nimi Walson-Jack, described the hate speech/fake news provision in the code as illegal.

Dickson Congratulates Buhari, Diri, on NCDMB HQ The immediate past Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Henry SeriakeDickson,hascongratulated President Muhammadu Buhari and the Bayelsa State Government on the commissioning of the 17-storey building head-

quarters of the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board in Yenagoa.

The former governor also congratulated, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, under whose tenure

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as SHAIBU WAHAB, now wish to be known and addressed as SHAIBU ABDULWAHAB. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as GRACE UCHECHI AJAERO, now wish to be known and addressed as AJAERO UCHECHI GRACE-MARY. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as OGUNAMHE OMEGIE JENNIFERT, now wish to be known and addressed as ISHOLA JENNIFER MARY OMEGIE . All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NSINE MATTHEW USORO, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS GIFT PROMISE PAUL. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME 7KLV LV WR FRQ¿UP WKDW )DQD 0XVD %DVKDU DQG %DVKDU 0XVD )DQD LV RQH DQG WKH VDPH person. I henceforth wish to be known and DGGUHVVHG DV %DVKDU 0XVD )DQD $OVR P\ correct date of birth is 10 - 10 - 1985 as against 11 - 6 - 1985. The general public please take note

I, formerly known and addressed as OBI ONYEJE CHRISTIAN, now wish to be known and addressed as EKEAMAKA ONYEJE CHRISTIAN. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

the major project was completed and the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Dr. Simbi Wabote, for the successful completion of the multi billion Naira structure.

He commended the federal government for the structure which according to him has added to the beauty of the fast growing Yenagoa metropolis in addition to its economic benefits to the society.

The former governor said that the state government under him dualised the Isaac Boro Road which passes through NCDMB headquarters and constructed the Restoration Flyover to decongest traffic in anticipation of the world class developmental projects planned for the area which also plays the host to the beautiful Oxbow Lake.

Chief Dickson said in a statement by his Media Advisor, Mr Fidelis Soriwei, yesterday that the state Government under his leadership collaborated with the NCDMB by donating the land for the 10 MW Power Plant designed to supply uninterrupted power to the building.

The former governor said that the state government gave the land to the NCDMB as part of its contribution to the project.

He said that it was rather heartwarming that the Buhari administration saw to the completion of the beautiful project, the first of its kind in the oil industry in Bayelsa.

He described the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Wabote, as a proud son of Bayelsa who should be commended for the feat.

He called on the youth and indeed Bayelsa populace to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the new projects.

He supported the call by Governor Diri on the oil firms to relocate their headquarters to Bayelsa, stressing that the government had created the enabling environment for business growth in the state.

He said, “that now that the state now has a golf course, an airport, good roads, peace and stability, and a befitting office complex, the oil firms have no excuse to stay away from the Bayelsa.”

Nigerian songwriter and music entrepreneur, Oluwatosin Ajibade, popularly known by the stage name, Mr. Eazi, will this week grace African Voices Changemakers, a personality magazine programme of the Cable News Network (CNN) sponsored by Globacom.

Born July 19, 1991, in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, the 29-year-old read Mechanical Engineering at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, from where he began his musical career in 2012 with his rhythm and blues single entitled “Pipi Dance”.

The single garnered huge traction online culminating in more high-profile recordings for him. These included "Skin Tight" which featured Efya in 2015. This gave rise to further collaborations with other notable artistes including Ghanaian R&B star, Sarkodie;

Lil Kesh, and Burna Boy who are both successful Nigerian music merchants.

In 2017, Mr. Eazi released the mixtape, Life Is Eazi, Vol. 1: Accra to Lagos, which featured guest appearances by Big Lean, Tekno, Phyno, DJ Cuppy, and others.

The album contained singles like “Leg Over" and "Tilapia" which became instant hits with music lovers across the African continent.

According to Globacom, he would be telling viewers how his music traversed Nigeria to Ghana leading to him pioneering Banku music which is a rare fusion of Ghanaian highlife and Nigerian chord progressions and rhythms.

African Voices Changemakers will be on DSTV Channel 401 on Saturday at 9.00 p.m. and on Sunday at 4.30 a.m., 7.30 a.m., 12.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. The programme will be repeated on Monday at 5.30 a.m.

TRANSITION With gratitude to God for a life well spent, the family of late Pa John Ibekwe announces the passing unto glory of our beloved wife, mother, sister, in-law, aunty and grandmother, Mrs. Ugwunma Adanma John Ibekwe.

Service of Songs takes place on August 21, 2020, at her residence in Umuokoroafor, Umuyota, Umuawa-Alaocha, Umuahia North, Abia State, followed by Funeral Service on August 22, 2020, at Methodist Church, Nigeria, Umuawa-Alaocha, and interment at Ibekwe’s Compound and Thanksgiving Service on August 23, 2020, at Methodist Church Nigeria, UmuawaAlaocha.

She is survived by her

Late Ugwunma Ibekwe sister, children, grandchildren, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law and numerous relations amongst whom is Mrs. Princess I. Ugorji of THISDAY Newspapers.

TR

Saturday, August 15, 2020

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MISSILE

SOKAPU to Special Force “The Fulani leaders who masterminded the attacks and who are well-known to the villagers should be investigated and prosecuted.”

– The Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), reacting to the the deployment of the Special Force to the area by the military.

PENDULUM DELE MOMODU

dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

Chief Bode Akindele: From Ibadanman to Global Citizen

F

ellow Nigerians, I’m back this week to the story I started two weeks ago on the life and times of The Parakoyi of Ibadanland, Sir Chief Bode Akindele, the business colossus who passed on weeks back and has since been buried. There is so much I’m sure most Nigerians don’t know about one of the greatest African businessmen that ever lived. Believe me, this is not an exaggeration as you will discover shortly.

I have been interacting with many of the movers and shakers of Africa for over three decades and can confidently confirm that Chief Akindele was in a class of his own.

Here was a prodigiously gifted gentleman who grew his business organically. God truly blessed this iconic figure so much that he was still working at over 87 and died peacefully in his Apapa home, the morning, after a family dinner, reminiscent of the Last Supper, the evening before.

Let me now continue to regale you with the amazing takes of his sagacious and roller-coaster stunts in the unpredictable world of business, as personally revealed to Ovation International magazine about 17 years ago. Sorry, if you missed my previous article but even this second part is powerful enough to inspire, educate and entertain you. Chief Akindele was very bold and daring. He was a consummate businessman who invested in whatever he felt was, or would, bring profits.

His first major foray into the business of produce and commodities was to deal in shea nuts which was needed in Japan and Denmark. He then added chilli and Gum Arabic which he sold all over England.

Everything was running smoothly in the mid-sixties before the Nigerian civil war came to tear Nigeria apart. By then Chief already had 16 branches in the North alone for his business. According to him: “Shea nuts in what is now Niger State was so abundant that they were falling from the trees and there was no one to pick them. Nobody talked about crude oil then. Then the civil war came, and some Northern leaders started feeding their people with wrong information that the Southerners were coming to the North to exploit and plunder Northern produce. So, people who had been friendly suddenly became hostile...”

He had opened his first store in what is now known as Abuja as far back as 1964/65. Abuja was not yet in this state.

It was just a small village and there was unity, safety and peace. He could travel day and night carrying huge sums of cash without any fear of encountering armed robbers or bandits. Nigeria was one family.

The leaders then were better educated and certainly more cerebral. As soon as some selfish leaders started fanning embers of distrust and disunity, things began to fall apart, and the country has been no longer at ease since then.

Chief Akindele continued, “there is something called castor oil seed, from which you make oil, and this is abundant in places like Igala. Every part of the country had its own produce. But the civil war brought down a lot of things and discouraged people... Until that war

Chief Bode Akindele

started, there were no roadblocks... One night I was travelling from Lagos to Minna (which I usually did every weekend to be back before Monday), and I approached Jebba. We used to leave Lagos by 9:00 p.m. in order to get to Jebba by 6:00a.m. and in good time to patronise a lady who prepared Eja Osan (fresh fish) at a roadside restaurant. As I was entering Jebba, a police officer flagged me down and said he wanted to search my car. I asked him what he had lost that he could be looking for in my car. I was baffled. I had never been stopped at a police checkpoint. He asked to see the boot of my car and I asked if he had put anything there. It was strange to me. I asked my driver to open the booth of the car for the officer.

There was 75,000 pounds inside the boot of the car. In those days, they hated paper money in the North and when we got to our destinations we always had to change all the money to coins and hire labourers who would carry bags of coins on their heads and follow us about. So, the police officer saw the bags of coins in the cars and was shocked. ‘Sir, what is this’, he asked. I told him it was money and said ‘Bature para’, meaning shea nut dealer, which was a very respected title in those days because the Europeans were also involved in the business...” There was no harassment and no bribe demanded.

After the civil war, Chief decided to expand his business mightily. He had established a lot of contacts internationally and had foreign partners. For example, he knew the famous Rothschild family and a few others. He wanted to establish industries at home while doing business abroad. So, he went to his Mum who told him no one makes enemies with water.

He translated that into the business of food and beverages. He decided to go into fishing which was quite new in Nigeria.

He went to different European ports where fishing was being carried out. He had no experience and he knew he needed some understanding of the trade: “So, I went to Ghana because Ghana was much more advanced in fishing. I studied what they were doing there and the FAO (Food and Agricultural Organisation) was

building ships for Ghana at the time, so I ordered for four ships. I brought them to Nigeria... This was in 1968. At that time, I made a mistake. My advisers were the Nigerians who studied fishing; they were my consultants. Later on, I started referring to them as ‘fishermen on the table’ because they can’t go inside the water, but they can lay down all sorts of scenarios for you sitting at their table. Within six months of bringing the ships here, every account was in red and I nearly lost my shirt. Why? Because in the fishing vessels we put a kitchen and some comfortable beds. So, what happened was that whenever the fishermen caught any fish, they would take the fish into the kitchen, grill the fish, and eat. After eating they would go to the comfortable beds and doze off...”

After losing so much money in a particular business, most people would probably have absconded and run to other terrains. Not Chief. He soon found a Spanish guy by the name Joseph Farcha who had a smaller boat but was making money. So, Chief offered to buy his business off him.

The man was surprised that Chief was still willing to invest in fishing despite having heavily lost money already: “He asked if I really wanted to buy his business. I told him yes, I wanted to buy. I knew that eventually I was not going to buy the business. So, he told me how much he was going to sell. He said he wanted foreign currency not the Nigerian one. He told me that before we started any negotiation we should fly to his house in Spain and that before starting discussions, I should deposit 50% of the sum in his account. So, we flew to Spain and I deposited the money in his account.

We came back and then he said he was ready to sell to me. I said okay, but before I paid the 50% balance he also had to agree to my terms. He asked me what my terms were. I said he had to run the business for me for six months, so that I would know how he did it. He said whatever money we made in that time had to be put in a joint account in both our names. I agreed to that...

“The second condition I gave Mr Farcha was that I would bring my first ship into his business, so that he would manage both vessels for the six months. He looked at me and said I was a clever man... The first thing he did on the first day was to remove the kitchen from my ship. On the second day he removed all the beds. So, my staff who were used to the easy life, started to grumble. When he saw them grumbling, he sacked all of them. He then sent my first ship to sea with five men, instead of the usual twelve we used to send. When they came back, the catch was more than double what we used to get. In the first month, he had made half of the money I used to buy the whole company.

The agreement was that whatever money he made during that period he would get half. A Nigerian of today might not agree to the deal but I knew I had to make a serious sacrifice in order to make it. After five months, the profit I had made was more than all the loss I made in one and half years...”

At that stage, Chief asked if the man still wanted to sell his business and the man said he already sold it off to Chief.

Chief said he was ready to make him a permanent partner and would treat the earlier payment agreement 100 percent as a loan. Mr Farcha agreed. Chief told Ovation International about a popular Spanish saying that when something is going good, you do not adjust it: “So since 1968 it is still going fine. After one and half years of operations we went to do the thing that gave Nigeria a name in Spain. We went and bought sixteen fishing vessels and five big trawlers that are used for getting prawns for export to Spain. Later on, I went into breweries and quite a few other things...”

Chief later made his biggest cash from the flour mills, which cost him 80 million dollars in 1985-86. But he said he enjoyed the fishing business more because he had 500 registered customers in Nigeria apart from 2,000 marketers globally. He derived pleasure from seeing that some of the traders made it greatly from the business and were even able to send their children to schools abroad from the substantial amounts of money they were making.

Let me give a few more examples of how audacious Chief was. Chief was able to raise a loan of 40 million dollars in Switzerland alone through his connection to the Rothschild family. His own contribution was about 10 million dollars. He had some credit facilities from the suppliers of the equipment he required and awarded Julius Berger a contract of 30 million dollars for the filling of the site of the Mills at Apapa, Lagos.

Chief was not done. He started a real estate business in the United Kingdom with his partner and they built quite a formidable portfolio that included seven large Sainsbury Stores buildings and ASDA also. According to Chief: “I remember the last one we did. ASDA is the biggest supermarket (we always go for the big ones) in the UK. It has a car park for 675 cars. We approached them and told them we wanted to buy their real estate off them since they were into trading and not real estate. It cost about 25 - 27 million pounds to buy their property off them. We then leased it back to them: first for 25 years. I think we are charging something like 4 million pounds a year on the properties. We have five other big departmental stores like that...”

Let me confess that apart from the Jerry John Rawlings interview (spanning five days and a total of 18 hours) we conducted in Accra, about the Ghanaian revolution, this unforgettable session with Chief Bode Akindele is one of our best ever. Due to space constraints, I will continue next week because it is simply a veritable and astonishing biography of an uncommon entrepreneur who stood the test of time. His next escapades were even more dramatic.

This is quite an unusual phenomenon in African business circles. I venture to opine that Chief Akindele’s business style should be a topic for case studies and possibly a PhD thesis at Oxford and Harvard Business schools...

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