SUNDAY 11TH AUGUST 2024

Gov Alia Fumes as Police Confirm Killing of

George Okoh in Makurdi

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has condemned in strong terms, the attacks on the innocent indigenes of the state, just as the state Police Command confirmed the killing of 15 people by bandits terrorising Ayati in Ukum Local Government

Area (LGA) of the state.

Governor Alia expressed worry that such heinous acts have continued despite the strong presence of security agents and the regular dialogue sessions his administration has been holding with stakeholders, and traditional rulers to restore peace in Sankera.

Among those killed were two policemen, who tried to repel the attacks.

The bandits were said to have attacked the community on Friday night.

The attack on the community was contained in a statement issued yesterday by the State Police

Command’s Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene.

Anene explained that on August 8, at about 16:30 hours while normal daily activities were going on in Ayati village, Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, a large number of armed bandits invaded the village and started

15 in Benue

shooting sporadically at members of the community.

She maintained that police officers within the community responded immediately and were able to repel the bandits.

“However, 15 people had already sustained gunshot injuries from the attack and were confirmed dead on arrival at the hospital.

“The unfortunate incident also claimed the lives of two police officers who were among the team that responded to the distress call.

“Corpses have been deposited at General Hospital Ukum and

Atiku Warns against Alleged Plots to Frustrate Dangote Refinery…

Air Chief Reads the Riot Act to Agents of Violence, Says Military Duty-bound to Defend Democracy

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS),

and other sister

the Nigerian Air Force

agencies are duty-bound to defend democracy in the country. Abubakar, who noted that Nigeria's democratic institutions, values, and principles were the foundation upon which the nation

was built, stressed that it is the constitutional responsibility of the NAF and sister services to protect and strengthen these values and principles.

The Air Chief stated this

yesterday in Gombe State while interfacing with Governor Muhammed Yahaya. Abubakar further noted that though the burden of providing security rests squarely on the

shoulders of state governors, the Armed Forces and other security agencies are willing partners in ensuring that the freedom and rights of all Nigerians as enshrined in the Constitution are upheld in

Peace Returns as Protesters Shun Nationwide One Million-man March

As several states count their losses from the #EndBadGovernance protest, which ought to have lasted for 10 days, the nationwide one million-man march scheduled to bring the protest to an end yesterday did not take place in the states as protesters shunned the exercise, THISDAY has learnt.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has, however, vowed that the military would counter any violent and subversive actions disguised as protest.

While insisting that it would not condone any attempt veiled under the toga of protest to demand a regime change, DHQ also advised those who felt they had superior ideas on how to solve the nation's socio-economic challenges to sell that to the electorate and acquire power through legitimate means.

Continued on page 5

PARTNERING FOR MARITIME SECURITY…

Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla (left), and Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, during the governor’s visit to the naval chief in Abuja…recently

Ikechukwu Aleke in Abuja

Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, yesterday said

(NAF)

line with the rule of law. A statement issued yesterday by NAF Spokesperson, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, said Continued on page 5

Chuks Okocha, Olawale

Ajimotokan, Ikechukwu Aleke in Abuja and Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

Nigerian Company, Venezuela Agree to Develop Two Offshore Natural Gas Prospects

Venezuelan state-owned PDVSA and a Nigerian company, Veneoranto Petroleum Limited., have signed an agreement to develop two natural gas prospects in the areas of Barracuda, located in territorial waters of the Gulf of Venezuela bordering Colombia and a territory under claim by Guyana.

"I am pleased that the investment process for gas production from the Deltana platform has been accelerated.

Very soon we will be exporting gas to Africa," said Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who was present at the signing of the agreement in Caracas.

The agreement was signed by the Minister of Petroleum and President of PDVSA, Pedro Rafael Tellechea, and the representative of Veneoranto Petroleum Limited, Arthur Eze.

Veneoranto is the subsidiary created in Venezuela by Atlas Oranto, a Nigerian company in the oil and natural gas area, S&P Global reported yesterday.

The offshore prospect called Barracuda in the Gulf of Venezuela, is estimated to have reserves of 20 Tcf of natural gas and about 2 trillion barrels of condensate, according to available official information.

According to studies PDVSA carried out between 2013 and 2014, this prospect could be larger than the Cardón IV

field, where the Italian ENI and the Spanish Repsol made an important gas and condensate discovery in 2009.

PDVSA is seeking investors for 25 development opportunities in offshore Gulf of Venezuela waters, which have the advantage of nearby onshore infrastructure, the Paraguaná Peninsula, where the two major refineries Amuay and Cardón are located, according to previous reports.

Colombia and Venezuela share an extensive 2,219km land border. They also share a maritime border over which there are territorial disputes, S&P said.

Details of the Boca de Serpiente prospect, located in the area known as Plataforma Deltana, were not available.

The prospect is located about 200 km from the neighbouring island of Trinidad and Tobago, and borders the Atlantic Ocean and the area under claim with Guyana.

In addition to the new agreement with Veneoranto, Venezuela signed with Trinidad and Tobago five agreements related to gas exploration and production to develop offshore gas reserves, according to previous report July 24.

Official figures show that Venezuela has massive proven reserves of 303 billion barrels of oil and 200 Tcf of natural gas. Nigeria has 37 billion barrels of oil in reserves and about

Military Nabs Oil Thieves in Niger Delta, Destroys 13 Illegal Refineries

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

In a bid to stamp out economic sabotage, troops of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army have intensified the war against illegal oil activities in the Niger Delta, where they arrested some oil thieves and destroyed 13 illegal refineries.

It was gathered that the troops carried out a clearance operation at the fringes of the Imo River, a thickly forested area known to be a haven for illegal bunkering activities.

The Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations at the 6 Division, Lt. Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, confirmed at the weekend that the operation took place at a border between Abia and Rivers states.

He said the place was concealed from air reconnaissance as criminals engaged in large-scale economic sabotage without being detected.

Danjuma said the intelligence-led operation was conducted by the 29 Battalion, in conjunction with other security agencies.

He said the operation led to the successful deactivation of over 13 illegal refining sites, with massive dugouts.

The military spokesman said seven of the dugouts were filled with over 250,000 litres of stolen crude, 10,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), as well as other associated products.

Danjuma also confirmed that the troops of 2 Brigade, acting on credible intelligence, intercepted a Toyota Bus with Reg No UYY 962 MJ, at Abeapo Community along Road Onna – Eket in Onna LGA of Akwa Ibom State.

“The bus was conveying over 20 bags of products suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil, estimated to be over 1,000 litres. Three suspects have been arrested in connection to the crime and are currently being interrogated,” he said.

He added: “The General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Jamal Abdussalam commended the troops for the successes recorded.

“He called on the criminal elements in the region to embrace legitimate means of livelihood or be ready to face the full wrath of the law. He also called on them to shun any act capable of sabotaging critical national infrastructures and assets,” the statement added.

GOV ALIA FUMES AS POLICE CONFIRM KILLING OF 15 IN BENUE

investigation is ongoing,” Anene said. According to her, the Commissioner of Police, Hassan Steve Yabanet, visited Ayati for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.

While commiserating with the families of the deceased, Yabanet assured the people of his commitment to fight criminals in the area.

The CP also commended the officers for their response and encouraged them not to give up on the operation as more teams have been sent to the area for wider coverage and better engagement of the bandits.

Meanwhile, the state Governor Alia has expressed deep sadness over the news of another unprovoked attack on the Ayati settlement.

209 TCF in gas reserves.

"With these investments we will be the fourth natural gas reserve, it is important that investments keep flowing. We are reliable safe partners," Maduro was quoted as saying. Maduro was re-elected in presidential elections July 28, but the results have been contested, triggering protests. The opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez declared himself presidentelect, based on results of tally sheets that give him a victory with 67 per cent of the votes.

The National Electoral Council (NEC) has not published the electoral

This is just as Plateau youths under the aegis of the Coalition for #EndBadGovernance# in Plateau State also yesterday met with Governor Caleb Mutfwang to mark the end of the 10-day protest and presented their demands to the governor.

However, a large number of protesters yesterday defied the heavy security lockdown in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, and mobilised for the last day of the protest, despite the heavy presence of the military, police, and personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in several parts of the city, particularly in the Central Business District.

However, instead of gathering at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, the protesters, bearing different placards, moved to Lokogoma and Apo District, both in Abuja.

Meanwhile, the police in Ondo State yesterday arrested some protesters, including the candidate of one of the political parties in the forthcoming governorship election in the state, a member of the Take It Back (TIB) movement, and at least three others.

At the Galadimawa area of the FCT, the police fired canisters of teargas to disperse them as they moved towards the roundabout, which leads to the Stadium and Garki areas of the city.

The nationwide protest, which started on August 1 and was scheduled to end yesterday, was characterised by widespread violence in Sokoto, Kano, Kebbi, Borno, Yobe, Kaduna, Katsina, Yobe, Bauchi, Plateau, and other northern states.

Peaceful protests were, however, held in Lagos, Oyo, and Rivers states, while residents of the South-east shunned any form of protest.

However, the momentum of both the violent and peaceful protests was not sustained beyond the first few days.

Though the organisers planned to end the protest on its 10-day yesterday with a nationwide one million-man-march, THISDAY gathered that it was only in the FCT that protesters gathered but were dispersed by the police.

He, however, restated his firm determination to continue to use lawful procedures to protect Benue people, particularly those on Ukum, which has been on the front line of attacks lately.

The governor called on security personnel to improve their surveillance and also ensure that vulnerable communities are not left unguarded while the government awaits the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry.

He condoled the families that lost their loved ones in the attack, saying his thoughts of comfort and prayers were with them and with the entire people of Ukum Local Government Area. Governor Alia added that his administration would continue to explore both discrete and open measures to ensure peace.

results, as established by the electoral law, alleging a cybernetic attack on the system.

The Carter Centre, an international observer that the Maduro-controlled CNE invited, confirmed that Edmundo Gonzalez won the elections in Venezuela and that there is no evidence of hacking, according to media reports from August 8.

"With investors, we have no problem. To investors from Europe and the United States I say, hurry up, here are the opportunities, but if they let yourselves be disturbed by the political noise, well, welcome

countries of BRICS," Maduro added. Maduro, as he faces political pressure from Western countries, said August 2 that Venezuela may transfer rights to develop oil and gas projects to BRICS countries.

"If these people from the north and their partners in the world make the mistake of their lives, then those oil blocks and those gas blocks that were already signed will go to our allies in the BRICS," Maduro said.

BRICS includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

From the beginning of 2024, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab

Aruwan said: “Criminals disguising as protesters will not get chance to unleash terror, loot properties, Kaduna Security Council warns

“The Kaduna State Security Council under the leadership of Governor Uba Sani, has reviewed the present security situation arising from the existing 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. curfew, and other issues on public safety.

“Based on this review, the security council hereby announces that criminal elements disguising as protesters, with the intent to generate unrest in the state, will not be spared,” Aruwan stated.

He added that the government recognised the fundamental rights of the citizens to freedom of expression, lawful assembly, and other constitutional rights enshrined in the 1999 Constitution as amended.

The commissioner, however, argued that the security forces cannot permit a situation wherein criminals masquerade as protesters to loot and vandalise public, and private properties and unleash terror on innocent citizens as experienced from August 1 to 5.

According to him, processions not verified and cleared by the security agencies, therefore, remained prohibited in the light of the public security considerations highlighted.

In Kafanchan, there was no sign of any protest as the residents went about their normal activities, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Residents of Zaria were also seen going about their normal businesses as there was no protest.

However, the increased number of security personnel at the PZ area was said to be due to the passing out parade at the Nigeria Military School.

In Kano, the residents of Kano metropolitan local government areas did not participate again in any form of protests in the state.

Commercial activities were also gradually resuming in all the metropolitan local government areas of Kano, though the ongoing curfew from 6 am to 6 pm was still effective.

In Kaduna, the state government said unverified processions were not permitted in the state to ensure public safety and security.

The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, gave the warning in a statement issued yesterday in Kaduna.

the CAS also disclosed that when the authorities realised that the protest was hijacked by unscrupulous elements, the need for extra security measures became necessary.

He told the governor that: "Your commitment to infrastructural development, healthcare improvement, and upliftment of educational standards has

Business activities were also returning in markets such as Sabon Gari, Singer Market, Kantin Gwari, and Ahmadu Bello Way.

In Katsina, the organisers of the protests complied with the order issued by the Police and the state government that banned all forms of protests and unlawful assembly across the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer,

brought about substantial progress, enhancement of quality of lives, just as your investment drive has placed Gombe State tops for ease of doing business in Nigeria, for two consecutive years".

According to him, this situation led the NAF to deploy an aircraft for reconnaissance over the metropolis and other parts of the state, while regiment forces

ASP Abubakar Aliyu, said that the order was still in force across the state.

In some local governments such as Daura, Malumfashi, and Kankia, residents were seen going about their lawful activities without any hindrance.

Property estimated at billions of naira were vandalised by the miscreants who hijacked the protests during its first day.

The government imposed a 24hour curfew on Dutsin-ma Local Government Area for some days, and 7 pm to 7 am in the remaining 33 local government areas to address the situation.

However, the curfew in Dutsin-ma was reviewed from 7 pm to 7 am, like in the other local governments.

Plateau Youths Meet with Gov Mutfwang, Demand Accountability

Meanwhile, to mark the end of the protest yesterday, the youths of Plateau State yesterday met with Governor Mutfwang, who expressed his commitment to making the state a better place for citizens.

The governor, who acknowledged the frustration of the people, noted that his administration inherited a challenging situation but assured that he was doing everything to improve the condition of the citizens.

Sam Ode, who spoke for the coalition, also presented their demands to the governor, and another set of demands to the federal government, through the governor.

For the state government, the youths’ demands included accurate accountability of federal government funds allocated to the state, reducing tuition fees at Plateau State University, reducing the cost of governance, and publishing detailed information on the state’s expenditures.

In Rivers State, the organisers of the protest said they decided not to gather at the two designated venues to avoid hoodlums hijacking the protests.

The spokesperson of the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, in a statement on Friday night, said anyone protesting outside the two designated areas ‘The Isaac Boro Park and The Pleasure’ both along Aba Road, would be arrested.

Several units of policemen moved around major areas in Port Harcourt in a show of force.

joined sister security services in quelling the unrest.

In his response, Governor Yahaya said though these were trying times for the nation, the commitment of the NAF and other security agencies to subduing the various security challenges has guaranteed the free movement of citizens without much threats.

Emirates joined. Saudi Arabia was also invited to join, but has yet to officially confirm membership. If Saudi Arabia became a member, the group would control 42 per cent of global oil production and 35 per cent of total oil consumption, US Energy Information Administration (EIA) data indicated. Maduro had said previously that Venezuela was considering joining BRICS. Russia holds the BRICS presidency for 2024 and has invited Maduro to the BRICS leaders summit due to take place in the Russian city of Kazan from October 22 to 24.

DHQ Vows to Counter Subversive Actions Disguised as Protests

Meanwhile, the DHQ has vowed that it would not condone any attempt veiled under the toga of protest to demand a regime change.

Giving the routine update on operational activities of the military and other security agencies, the Director of Defence Media Operation, Major General Edward Buba, said as part of its constitutional responsibilities, the armed forces would not relent in tackling these threats to ensure the stability of the nation.

"Importantly, the military stands firm and resolute in preserving the nation's hard-earned democracy and opposes any form of unconstitutional change of government. Indeed, we will work assiduously to provide the enabling environments to support the government in the attainment of objectives in addressing the issues of poverty and hardship in the country," he said.

He, however, noted that troops across all theatres of operations killed no fewer than 108 terrorists, and arrested 172 others during operations, within the period under review.

Police Arrest Governorship Candidate, Other Protesters in Ondo

Meanwhile, the police in Ondo State yesterday arrested some protesters, including the candidate of one of the political parties in the forthcoming governorship election in the state, a member of the Take It Back (TIB) movement, and at least three others.

The protesters were arrested in Akure, the state capital, during the grand finale of the nationwide protest against hunger, hardship and poor governance.

In a swift reaction, the TIB Movement condemned the action of the police and demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the protesters.

In a Twitter post, the TIB movement wrote:

“It’s unfortunate that the @ PoliceNG is yet to learn. The continued clampdown on peaceful #EndBadGovernceInNigeria protesters is a total shame,” it said.

He applauded the NAF 109 Combat Reconnaissance Group for their swift reaction in quelling the recent cases of looting and theft that accompanied the protests. The governor assured the CAS of his government's commitment to assist in providing some infrastructure to the 109 CRG to enable the unit to function effectively.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

OPERATION ‘FEED ENUGU’…

L-R: Enugu State Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, Mr. Patrick Ubru; Coordinating President-General of Town Unions of Enugu State, Comrade Nnia Ogbodo; Governor Peter Mbah; and the President-General, Amechi Awkunanaw Development Union, Chief Paul Agbo, during the flag-off of the distribution of N4.6billion worth of farm inputs and grants to farmers, MSMEs, and communities in the state by the governor in Enugu…yesterday

Atiku Warns against Alleged Plots to Frustrate Dangote Refinery

Ejiofor Alike

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar, has warned against any deliberate attempts to delay the progress of the Dangote Refinery.

The former vice president stated that the refinery is a significant private sector project positioned to meet the country’s energy and foreign exchange needs.

Atiku said this yesterday in a post via his official X handle

while reacting to the war of words between the management of the refinery and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) over crude oil allocation.

Atiku wrote: “Each parent eagerly awaiting the arrival of a child will dutifully undertake the necessary measures to ensure that the nurturing and development of this precious blessing remain a primary focus. This fundamental principle applies equally to investments, whether they be

local or international.

“With this understanding, I am cautious in considering any deliberate attempts to impede the progress of the Dangote Refinery, a significant private sector project positioned to meet our energy and forex needs.

“Alongside numerous fellow citizens of goodwill, I call upon all Nigerians to take resolute actions to provide reassurance that both internal and external forces are not collaborating to prevent us from reaping the benefits promised

by this eagerly anticipated transformative endeavour,” he added.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Dangote Refinery accused the NUPRC of failing to enforce the Domestic Crude Supply Obligation (DCSO), a provision that requires crude oil producers to supply domestic refiners with a portion of their production.

"Our concern has always been that the NUPRC is pushing, but the international oil companies are

Edun Hosts US Envoy, Chinese Delegation, Explores Enhanced Economic Collaboration

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja

In a bid to fortify bilateral relations and unlock new avenues for economic growth and socioeconomic development in the country, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, has received the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, in his office in Abuja.

The meeting aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries and exploring avenues for economic collaboration also addressed socioeconomic challenges in the light of recent protests.

In a landmark move to bolster economic ties and unlock new investment opportunities in the

country, the minister also played host to a high-level Chinese delegation led by Minister Counsellor Wang Yingzi, setting the stage for a strengthened Nigeria-China alliance.

During the meeting with the US envoy, Edun emphasised that Nigeria, through his ministry, remains dedicated to cultivating international collaborations that would enhance the economic well-being of the citizenry, stressing that the visit marked a significant step forward in achieving that goal.

With a shared commitment to driving economic prosperity and proffering socio-economic solutions, Nigeria and the United States are poised to strengthen their partnership, fostering a brighter future for their citizens, he said.

This strategic engagement, therefore, comes at a pivotal moment, as both nations seek to navigate the complexities of global economic dynamics and address pressing socio-economic challenges, a statement issued by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Mohammed Manga, said.

The statement disclosed that Edun's meeting with the Chinese delegation focused on next month's Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and explored strengthening Nigeria-China relations.

Minister Counsellor Wang expressed China’s commitment to increasing investments in Nigeria and he pledged continued support from Chinese financial institutions.

While welcoming the partnership,

Edun highlighted the importance of Chinese investments in promoting economic growth, job creation, and poverty alleviation across the nation.

This strategic engagement sets the stage for a stronger NigeriaChina alliance, fostering mutual economic benefits and cooperation, the statement added.

It stressed that with a renewed commitment to cooperation, both nations are poised to harness the vast potential of their bilateral relations, driving prosperity and development for the benefit of their citizens.

"The ministry looks forward to a fruitful outcome from the forthcoming Forum on ChinaAfrica Cooperation (FOCAC) and a strengthened Nigeria-China alliance," the statement said.

Protesters’ Demands are Legitimate, Obasanjo Tells FG

James Sowole in Abeokuta

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said the federal government should listen to the demands of citizens protesting against the country’s economic crisis. Obasanjo said most of those occupying public offices in Nigeria lacked the character to lead the country, adding that they should rather be behind bars or gallows.

He spoke in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital when he hosted some members of the House of Representatives led by the lawmaker representing the Ideato North and South constituency of Imo State, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere.

On August 1, Nigerian youths in many states kicked off the #EndBadGovernance protests

to demand an end to economic hardship, insecurity, and other challenges facing the country.

The former president said the youths took to the streets because the government failed to attend to their concerns.

“You are what you are today because you’re a Nigerian,” Obasanjo said.

“I am what I am also because I am Nigerian. So, why should they be Nigerians and be languishing in poverty?

“As I have warned earlier, we should know that we are all sitting on a keg of gunpowder if we fail to begin to do the right thing.

“For instance, what the youth are demanding is very legitimate and should be listened to, or why should they be denied what rightfully

belongs to them?

“They make demands, and we are not listening to them. Many of them are frustrated, desperate, angry, and unemployed.

“What do we expect? They deserve to be given listening ears,” Obasanjo explained.

He said fixing term limits for public officeholders is not the issue, insisting that the mentality of government functionaries should change.

“The issue is not whether Nigeria should adopt a single six-year term or maintain the status quo,” Obasanjo said.

“If the mentality of the people in governance does not change, then Nigeria will remain where it is.

“For me, the issue is for us to get it right. Whether we have one

term of six years or two terms of four years, where it’ll work is our mentality,” he added.

Obasanjo insisted that while electing leaders, Nigerians should consider their character, a quality he said most of the public office occupants lacked.

He said beyond rethinking Nigeria’s democracy, there’s a need for leadership with good character. According to him, until leaders change their mentality the country can never see the change they desire.

He said “Our main problem is ourselves and until we are taking care of ourselves it doesn’t matter, we may have one term of four years, one term of six years, one term of seven years if it’s the same people and the same mentality and way we do things then it won’t change.

not following the instructions," said a Dangote Refinery spokesperson, Anthony Chiejina, in the statement.

"Consequently, we often purchase the same Nigerian crude from international traders at an additional $3-$4 premium per barrel which translates to $3-$4 million per cargo," he added.

Chiejina said the refinery was expecting to receive 15 cargoes for September out of which NNPC had allocated six.

But in a swift response, the NUPRIC debunked the allegation that it was failing in its duty as the upstream regulator to effectively enforce the Domestic Crude Supply Obligation (DCSO).

In a statement in Abuja, the NUPRC disclosed that in the first six months of 2024, it facilitated the supply of 29 million barrels of crude oil to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals despite claims by the Dangote’s team that the regulator was complacent in enforcing crude

supply to the firm.

“Consequently, the commission rejects insinuations that it has poorly enforced the domestic crude supply obligation,” NUPRC said.

The commission added that as part of its commitment to ensure the enforcement of section 109 of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021 which provides among others, the domestic supply of crude to local refineries on a ‘willing buyer, willing seller’ basis, it ensured that nine refineries were supplied crude despite low oil production.

In a response to NUPRC’s clarifications, the refinery on Friday, urged the commission to enforce the domestic crude supply obligation as specified in the PIA, insisting that refineries in Nigeria should be allowed to buy crude oil directly from companies that produce it in the country, rather than from international middlemen, as enshrined in the legislation.

Dogara: Gov Bala Mohammed Turned against Tinubu after President Saved Him from Election

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has berated Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed for making a sudden U-turn on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Dogara claimed that after allegedly rigging his way into office, Governor Mohammed sought Tinubu’s help to avoid legal trouble while singing the president’s praises at the time.

He, however, said just months later, the governor has now labelled Tinubu as “inept, incompetent, and incapable of running Nigeria.”

Governor Mohammed had criticised the president’s policies, saying they were inflicting hardship on the people.

But reacting to the governor’s outburst in a statement entitled: ‘On Governor Bala Mohammed’s Latest Tirade and Truculent Buffoonery,’ the former Speaker stated that the governor’s recent utterances were uncalled for and unnecessary.

His words: “To buttress the point being made, when Governor Bala Mohammed was in court after rigging himself into office and desperately needed PBAT (President Bola Ahmed Tinubu)

Petitions

to save him, he was busy singing his praises to the highest heavens and telling the world how amazing PBAT was, not even minding the fact that he is the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum.”

Dogara further stated: “Just months after PBAT saved him, he has turned around to describe the President as ‘now inept, incompetent, and incapable of running Nigeria.’

According to Dogara, the governor also said that he would invite Tinubu “to chair our 2027 presidential campaigns if he continues this way.”

“No doubt, these are trying moments in Nigeria, with lots of nerves in the air and lots of spitting into the political wind. The job of leaders, irrespective of the political tribe they belong to, is to ensure that we bring this crisis to a responsible end by appealing to governments at all levels to scramble to meet some of the legitimate demands of the protesters, most especially hunger and pervasive insecurity in the national interest.”

The former Speaker stressed that “it is certainly not a time to engage in blowing all the dog whistles at once in the irresponsible manner Governor Bala Mohammed did.”

Kano Anti-graft Agency Uncovers N18bn Fund Siphoned by Politicians

Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano

The Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and AntiCorruption Commission, Mr.

Muhuyi Rimingado, yesterday said the commission uncovered N18 billion funds siphoned by politicians in connivance with the civil servants in the state.

UK Visa Applications Drop Below 40% after New Immigration Rules

Segun James

Indications have emerged that the United Kingdom recorded a significant drop in visa applications following the introduction of stricter immigration policies in December 2023 to restrict international students from bringing their dependents.

Official figures released by the Home Office at the weekend showed that the number of visa applications fell from 141,000 to 91,000.

The drop, which translates to over 30 per cent, was recorded after the new rules came into effect in January 2024.

The policy changes restricted international students from bringing dependants unless they were enrolled in postgraduate research courses or government-funded scholarship programmes.

The changes were part of the government's efforts to curb immigration, which reached a record high of 1.22 million last year.

The impact of these restrictions has been particularly pronounced in the education sector.

Between January and July 2024, study visa applications dropped by 16 per cent compared to the same period in 2023.

More significantly, there was an 81 per cent decline in visa applications from the dependants of students, reflecting the sharp effect of the new rules.

The healthcare sector has also been severely affected, with applications for Health and Care Worker visas plummeting by 80 per cent during the same period.

This followed a surge in applications aftercare workers were added to the skilled worker visa category in 2022.

However, the trend reversed after August 2023, with the number of applications falling to just 2,900 in July 2024.

“Monthly numbers of Health and Care Worker visa applications from main applicants increased from 4,100 to 18,300 between February 2022 and August 2023, following the addition of care workers to the skilled worker visa. Applications have decreased since August 2023, falling to 2,900 in July 2024,” the report said.

Glo Delights Subscribers with My-G Data Bundles

To further give its customers a delightful experience on the network, Globacom has unveiled a new offer, My-G Data Bundles, which gives subscribers the opportunity to access favourite music and entertainment apps online at unbeatable rates.

In a statement released in Lagos yesterday, Globacom said, “My-G Data Bundles are exciting and affordable packages which can be used to browse music and entertainment apps including WhatsApp, Tiktok, Snap Chat, BoomPlay, Audiomack, Instagram and GloTV”, adding that all Glo customers are eligible to enjoy the offering.

Under My-G Data Bundles, subscribers who opt for the N100 plan, which is valid for one day, will receive 400MB and one-hour extra data.

Those who subscribe to the N300 plan will receive 1GB and extra one-hour data to browse, with 3 days’ validity. Also, a N500 subscription which comes with 7 days’ validity will give the customer 1.5GB and an hour extra data, while 3.5GB plus extra one hour data goes to a customer who goes

for the N1,000 plan which is valid for 30 days. The one-hour extra data can be used on WhatsApp, Tiktok, Snap Chat, BoomPlay, Audiomack, Instagram and GloTV.

It explained that subscribers on My-G Data plan without any other special data plan will be able to access WhatsApp, Tiktok, Snap Chat, BoomPlay, Audiomack, Instagram and GloTV.

Globacom stated that subscribers will be able to auto-renew the My-G Data Bundles when they have sufficient balance while unused data will be rolled over.

‘Subscription will be auto renewed on the day of expiry as long as they have enough airtime, but they will receive a notification message before renewal and after renewal if they opt for Auto-renewal, while subscribing to the plan”, the company added.

On how to enjoy the offer, Globacom said customers are to dial *312# and go to My-G Data Bundles to subscribe to the package, adding that the plan can be gifted or shared with family, friends and loved ones.

Rimingado disclosed this during a one-day capacitybuilding workshop organised by the commission in collaboration with the office of Kano State Head of Civil Service and International Idea (ROLAC II Programme) for Kano State Civil Service Directors on Anti-Corruption.

He said the civil servants were caught in the middle of corrupt practices in all cases investigated by the commission hence the need to organise the capacity- building workshop for civil servants to sensitise them not to be used by politicians to perpetrate corrupt practices.

Rimingado said 90 per cent of corrupt practices were perpetrated through procurement processes by politicians, which were done in

connivance with the civil servants.

He said henceforth, the commission would penalise any civil servants found involved in any case of corruption in the state.

“We intend to sensitise the civil servants against being used by politicians against the law. They are caught in the middle of corrupt practices. All the corrupt practices the agency is investigating in Kano, civil servants are the ingredients and tools in the hands of those elements who operate at a high level.

“Again, 90 per cent of corruption cases are perpetrated through procurement services. When politicians want to steal, they use procurement as cover-up.

“So, we are here to sensitise

them on anti-corruption law, public procurement and financial management laws. We are here to detail them on how to deal with the public finances of Kano State and anti-corruption laws and other relevant laws that will guide them on their mandates

“We also have the local government staff here because we have a case where the politicians used local government cashiers’ accounts to siphon public funds.

The cashiers volunteered to withdraw the monies, take them to Bureau De Change and make returns.

“We want to warn them and warn them about the consequences of corrupt acts. Whoever is found in any case of corruption will be penalised.

We are determined to impose the zero-tolerance to corruption principle of the state government,” the anti-graft agency Chairman, Rimingado, stated.

In his remarks, the Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, lamented how the immediate past administration looted the state’s treasury dry, saying “They spent all the eight years looting the state’s money”. Governor Yusuf who was represented by his deputy, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, said the government would not condone corruption while urging the state civil servants to shun all forms of corruption and embrace honesty, dedication and selfless services for the development of the state.

Ogun Says EFCC’s Invitation Not Linked to Ex-LG Chair’s Petition

The Ogun State Government yesterday stated that the invitation of its officials to the Ibadan Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday was not connected to a petition allegedly filed by Wale Adedayo, a former Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government, who was removed from office over allegations of financial misappropriation.

The government clarified that contrary to claims made by certain media outlets, the officials were not summoned over any alleged diversion of local government funds.

This clarification was provided in a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the State Governor,

Hon. Kayode Akinmade. Akinmade stated that the government officials were not presented with any petition from Adedayo, saying, “The EFCC, being a responsible body, would have provided them with the petition if it were truly the basis for their invitation.”

The statement further read, “Ordinarily, there would be no reason to respond to the antics of a known provocateur and rabble-rouser, who has made salacious, evidence-free allegations against Governor Dapo Abiodun and his administration, with the intent to sow discord among the people and destabilise Ogun State.

“While we continue to respect media organisations as partners in progress, we categorically

state that the report in question is nothing but fake news and should be disregarded.

“As with officials from other state governments, Ogun State officials are not exempt from invitations by anti-graft agencies if clarification on any matter is needed. It is reassuring that the EFCC confirmed our officials, as law-abiding citizens, honoured the invitation and have since returned to their duties.

“It is, however, a complete fabrication to claim that they were invited due to a petition by Wale Adedayo.”

The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, confirmed this development in a phone conversation with our

correspondent on Wednesday. Oyewale said, “I just called our Ibadan Zonal office and it was confirmed that some officials of the state government were invited for a chat in respect of an ongoing investigation and they have since returned to their state. Nobody was also detained.”

Adedayo, however, claimed that the invitation was in connection with the petition sent to the EFCC regarding allegations of the diversion of about N10.8 billion meant for the development of the 20 local governments. He said: “Yes, I heard about it on Tuesday. I am sure it is about the petition I sent to the EFCC. Lies can travel a thousand miles, but the truth will catch up with them within a few seconds.”

NLC Faults Police’s Account of Raid on National Secretariat, Fumes over Arrest of Its Official

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday disputed the police’s account of Wednesday’s raid on its headquarters in Abuja.

The union, which met yesterday over the police invasion, also fumed over the arrest of its Vice Chairman in Kogi State, who is also a Zonal Secretary of the Nigerian Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) over the allegation of sponsoring the recent nationwide protests.

Contrary to the claim by the police authorities that their operatives only visited a bookstore within the same building as the NLC to arrest a foreign national,

the labour union said the invading police officers forced their way into its offices during the raid.

“The police claim to be conducting a nationwide investigation that comprises other countries, yet their so-called intelligence led them to our building well after office hours.

“If they were acting in good faith, why did their investigation take them specifically to the 10th floor, where the offices of the NLC President and General Secretary are located? This is nothing short of harassment under the guise of an investigation,” the NLC’s General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, told PREMIUM TIMES over the telephone.

He insisted that the police intentionally raided the NLC offices but did not disclose if they went away with anything.

“You said you were looking for one man, but you went to the 10th floor and asked the security guard if you were at the Nigeria Labour Congress office. How does that sound? Does that sound like people who don’t know where they are going?” he said.

Ugboaja condemned the police operation, describing it as “shameful”.

He said the NLC leadership had scheduled an emergency meeting yesterday to deliberate on the incident and chart a course of action.

However, before the commencement of the NEC meeting, a report the labour leaders were informed that one of their colleagues was allegedly picked up about a week ago by security operatives over alleged sponsorship of the nationwide protest. He was identified as a Zonal Secretary of NUEE and also Vice Chairman of Kogi State Council of NLC. A source from one of the unions said that the official had been in detention for a week and was not allowed access to his family. THISDAY gathered that the NLC was spoiling for a showdown with the federal government.

L-R: Directors of NIPCO Plc, Sani Yau; Grace Idowu; Tunji Adeniji; Managing Director, Suresh Kumar; Acting Chairman, Aminu Abdulkadir; Company Secretary/ Managing Partner, PC OBI & Co, Paul Obi; Directors, Ramesh Virwani, and Habu Jajere, at the company’s 20th Annual General Meeting held at Abuja Continental Hotel …recently

MARITAL BLISS…

L-R: Chairman of United Airlines, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo; former President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. Nnia John Nwodo; Uncle of the bride, Chief Peter Nweke; father of the groom and Chairman of Orange Group, Chief Tony Ezenna; mother of the groom and Vice Chairman of Orange Group, Lady Lizzy Ezenna; the couple, Mr. Ernest and Adaobi Ezenna; parents of the bride, Chief Paul and Lady Nneka Nweke; and Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial Zone, Victor Umeh, at the wedding reception of the couple at the Eko Hotels and Suites in Lagos…yesterday

Edo 2024: At Town Hall Meeting, Ighodalo, Akpata

Unveil Plans on Security, Healthcare, Education

Wale Igbintade

Ahead of the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, two of the three leading governorship candidates, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) at the weekend unveiled their plans at a town hall meeting organised by Unuedo Renaissance, an association of professionals of the state extraction in Lagos.

The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Osarenren Derek Izedonmwen, also unveiled his agenda for the state at the occasion.

The two candidates answered questions bordering on security, economic growth and how to

tackle unemployment, among others.

The conversation, which took place at the Black Diamond Hotel in Lagos, was moderated by the Director of Public Sector, Lagos Business School, Prof. Franklin Ngwu.

Asked why he was vying for the governorship position, and how they intend to transform the economy of the state, the PDP flag-bearer, Ighodalo promised to improve school enrolment and strengthen security if given the mandate on September 21.

According to him, the foundation had been laid already by the current government of Governor Godwin Obaseki, adding that he would build on that foundation.

He said he had been associated with policymaking in Edo State since 2008, and the federal level since about 2005.

He further stated that he had discovered that "when you give advice, the people you advised most times don't implement your advice the way you pulled it out.”

On his economic plan and the avenues he would explore to increase the state’s revenue, he said if elected, his administration would attract more investors into the different sectors of the state’s economy, with a focus on agriculture.

On education, he stated that he would return schools back to their original owners, who have the capacity to provide quality education, and provide enough

funding at the higher institutions to enable the lecturers to work on solutions to the common problems through research.

The PDP candidate also promised that he would lead by example in promoting transparency and accountability and ensuring that government money does not go to private coffers.

On security, Ighodalo said he would improve the security of the state by collaborating with the federal government, and train local vigilante groups to protect the people.

On his part, the Labour Party’s candidate, Akpata, said: "I have been successful in legal practice; I even went as far as becoming the President of the Nigerian Bar Association. As we say in Edo,

ICPC Confirms Arrest of NAHCON Officials over FG’s N90bn Hajj Subsidy

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has confirmed an ongoing investigation of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) over the N90 billion Hajj subsidy.

According to TheCable, the spokesperson of ICPC, Demola Bakare, said some NAHCON officials were arrested by the commission on Wednesday for “refusing to honour an invitation” by the anti-graft agency.

Bakare refuted reports that NAHCON’s office was shut down

by the ICPC, emphasising that the commission operates within legal boundaries.

He declined to name the arrested officials but noted that they were assisting the commission with useful information.

“We are investigating officials of the National Hajj Commission because they either failed or refused to honour the invitation.

We, therefore, paid them a friendly visit,” he said.

“We didn’t shut down the commission as reported by some journalists. ICPC operates within the confines of the law.

“Officials arrested, which I can’t

name, were released on bail and would henceforth be helping the investigation process until concluded,” he added.

NAHCON’s spokesperson, Fatimah Usara, said it was not unusual for officials to be queried after hajj operations.

“Some of the commission’s relevant staff had been making presentations to the ICPC when demanded,” she said.

“And this is a thing that the commission considers normal because it happens after every hajj until any doubt is cleared. It’s nothing new.

“The Head of Procurement had an invitation which he didn’t honour. So, two days ago, on Wednesday

precisely, the ICPC sent the relevant officers to him, him alone.

“In fact, NAHCON accommodated them to wait for him to report to work, which they did. And when he came, they left together. No one entered any office at all. They waited outside.”

In July, Jalal Arabi, NAHCON’s chairman, said the N90 billion fund approved by President Bola Tinubu for the 2024 hajj was used to subsidise pilgrims’ fares.

In the same month, the chairman was invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over investigations into the approved fund.

if only one person is wealthy in the family, we are all poor. How successful can I be when those around me continue to wallow in poverty and continue to be unable to access success? I cannot count myself as being successful.

"This has propelled me to leave my comfort zone to try as much as possible to pull as many as possible out of poverty as it were.

That is the motivation factor. The people of Edo State have been taken out of the equation. So, the motivation is to return the people to the centre of governance".

According to Akpata, the economic situation at the centre is shaking, and under a precarious situation, stressing that his main objective is to return the people of Edo State back to the centre of governance.

"My mission as governor of Edo State is to take our people out of poverty, to take our people into prosperity, and to create a world-class state. To create an environment where there is truth and trust, and where there is fairness, equity and prosperity."

Also, addressing the citizens of the state during the debate, the governorship candidate of the ADC, Izedonmwen, expressed his commitment to turn things around by implementing ambitious programmes on agriculture, industrialisation and infrastructure.

He noted that the people of the state have every cause to partake in the good things of life, adding that the state is blessed already for its inhabitants to be comfortable, but needs a good leader to make things work properly.

"There is no reason for any person in Edo going to bed without eating a three-square meal.

But today, we see it happening. So, when we come into office by God’s grace, we are going to turn things around and use technology and fresh thinking to cultivate our land primarily for feeding our people and then for export", he added.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the President of Unuedo Renaissance, Mr. Nuhu Yakubu, urged the candidates to articulate their visions for the state, propose concrete strategies for driving growth and prosperity, and demonstrate their commitment to upholding the values of integrity, transparency, and good governance. He said: "Today’s talking points would include strategies for accelerated socio-economic development of Edo state for the well-being of its residents. Policies and measures to encourage businesses, improve ease of doing business and further improve FDIs to deepen and expand the development of processing cottage industries, taking due advantage of our rich human capital, mineral and agro raw materials endowments”.

"We will examine the candidates’ perspectives around promotion of the right ethics and values, as enablers for sustainable development. We will address matters arising from on-going electioneering campaigns, leading to the forthcoming elections and extract commitments from the candidates to promote issues-based campaign and transparent conduct of free and fair elections, not only to the pride of every Edo son and daughter but for emulation by other states across Nigeria,” he added.

FG Terminates Kano-Maiduguri Road Contract over Delay

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The federal government has terminated the contract for Section 1 of the Kano-Maiduguri Road project due to prolonged delays.

The decision was announced by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, in a statement issued yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media, Uchenna Orji.

The contract, awarded to Dantata & Sawoe Ltd in 2007, has faced repeated setbacks, leading the Minister to describe it as the “effluxion of time.”

According to the statement,

Umahi expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of work on the project, emphasising the impact of the delays on road users.

He stated: “My position as the Minister of Works is that everybody must take responsibility. We will no longer fold our hands and allow the projects we have awarded and even reviewed to continue to linger. Nigerians are suffering on these roads, and President Ahmed Bola Tinubu is doing everything possible, giving the road sector special attention.”

The termination of the contract for Section 1 follows a series of

evaluations and reviews by the Ministry of Works, which has been actively monitoring the progress of various road projects under its jurisdiction.

The Kano-Maiduguri Road is a critical artery in Nigeria’s transport network, linking major cities in the north, and any delays in its completion have significant economic and social repercussions.

In addition to the termination, the minister announced that a technical team has been dispatched to assess a separate section of the Kano-Maiduguri Road within Bauchi State, which was recently cut off

by flooding.

“I’m directing the Director of Highway Rehabilitation to liaise with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works to immediately deploy some technical personnel to evaluate what can be done over there,” he said.

The minister also revealed plans to hold the original contractor, Mothercare Ltd, accountable for the failure of the road to withstand the flood, despite its recent completion.

The minister also highlighted the progress made on various other road projects funded under the Road Infrastructure Development and

Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.

The minister met with representatives from Dangote Group, BUA Group, and Mainstream Energy Solutions Ltd to review the status of ongoing projects.

Umahi stressed the importance of ensuring durability and value for money, stating that the liability period for all Federal Government projects would be reviewed to prevent premature deterioration.

The minister also called for patience and partnership from all stakeholders, including the contractors and the general public.

“The president means well for this nation. We must play our part, and this is very important. So, to our contractors and every staff member of the Ministry of Works, and of course to myself, we all must sit up and play our part to support the divine vision of Mr. President to retake our country,” he said.

The minister urged all contractors involved in the Tax Credit Scheme to expedite their work and meet agreed-upon milestones. The affected projects include major roads in Lagos, Kaduna, Borno, Kwara, and Niger states, among others.

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

LEADERSHIP AND BUSINESS SUMMIT …

Israeli Strike Kills Nearly 100 in Gaza School Refuge, Officials Allege

An Israeli airstrike on a Gaza City school compound housing displaced Palestinian families killed around 100 people, the Gaza Civil Emergency Service said yesterday, while Israel said the toll was inflated, adding that 19 militants were among the dead.

Video from the site showed body parts scattered among rubble and more bodies being carried away and covered by blankets.

Empty food tins lay in a puddle of blood, and burned mattresses and a child’s doll lay in the debris.

In another video, men prayed over a dozen body bags laid on the ground of the Tabeen school complex.

The Israeli strike drew condemnation from Arab states, Turkey, France, Britain and the European Union and an expression of deep concern from the United States, which has been working with partners to prevent the 10-month-old Gaza conflict from escalating into a regional war.

Gaza’s Civil Emergency Service, which has a credible record in stating casualty numbers, and the Hamas-run government media office said in separate statements that the complex had been attacked while its

occupants were performing dawn prayers.

“So far, there are more than 93 martyrs, including 11 children and six women. There are unidentified remains,” Palestinian civil defence spokesperson, Mahmoud Bassal told a televised press conference.

Tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians have sought shelter in Gaza’s schools most of which have been closed since Israel’s war against Hamas began.

Around 350 families had been sheltering at the compound, Bassal said - some of the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced by Israel’s onslaught on Gaza.

The upper floor housing families and the lower floor, used as a mosque, were both hit, he said.

The Israeli military said the death toll was inflated.

“The strike was carried out using three precise munitions, which cannot cause the amount of damage that is being reported,” the military said in a statement.

It added that no severe damage was caused to the compound, and provided aerial photos and videos which it said proved this.

The compound, and the mosque that was struck within it, served as an active Hamas and

Islamic Jihad military facility,” Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani said on X, without providing evidence.

An Israeli army official said the part of the mosque that was struck was reserved for men.

Israel said the Palestinian militants embed themselves among Gaza’s civilians, operating from within schools, hospitals and designated humanitarian zones - which Hamas and its allies deny. Hamas said the strike was a

horrific crime and a serious escalation.

Izzat El-Reshiq of Hamas’s political office said the dead did not include a single combatant.

A separate strike on Saturday killed three Palestinians in AlNuseirat in central Gaza and another killed one person in nearby Deir Al-Balah, medics said.

Later in the day an Israeli strike killed three Palestinians in Rafah, near the border with Egypt, medics said.

Separately, the Israeli military said the head of general security in Hamas’ military wing, Walid Alsousi, had been killed in southern Gaza. There was no immediate Hamas comment.

With regional tensions high after the July 31 assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, US President Joe Biden urged Iran not to attack Israel. Iran, which supports Hamas, has blamed Israel and vowed to “punish” it. Israel has not confirmed or denied respon-

sibility.

When a reporter asked yesterday for his message to Iran, Biden mouthed the word “don’t”.

The Iranian-backed Hezbollah armed group in Lebanon said it launched a drone attack against military positions in northern Israel.

Kano APC Demands Investigation into Alleged Diversion of FG’s Palliatives

Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State has called for an investigation into what it described as the recurring incidents of diversion of palliatives by officials of the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) government in the state.

A statement issued yesterday by the state chairman of the party, Abdullahi Abbas, called for an independent investigation and prosecution of the culprits, threatening legal action in the event of failure of the authorities to probe the allegation.

He said it was unfortunate that last week, hundreds of bags of rice labelled “Federal Government Food Security Programme” were allegedly discovered at a private school, Wada Sagagi Islamic School, said to be owned by the Chief of Staff, Government House, Kano, Shehu Wada Sagagi.”

But in his response, Sagagi strongly denied the allegations, insisting that some of the bags of rice were donated to him, while he bought the remaining ones with his money, for the daily free feeding of the Islamic school children.

Sagagi, who offers free education for the orphans, described as unfortunate how some hoodlums attacked the school and carted away the rice, meant to feed the orphans and other students.

However, the APC Chairman insisted that no convincing argument was put forward by Sagagi as to how the bags of rice were found in his private residence-turned-Islamiyya school.

The chairman stated: “In December last year, one Tasiu Al’amin-Roba, allegedly working for the Secretary to the State Government, Baffa Abdullahi Bichi, who was identified as

Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Cabinet Office, was arrested over alleged diversion of the state’s palliatives.”

He said the suspects were found repackaging the rice and maize at a warehouse located at Sharada and were subsequently arrested with a promise to drag them to court. According to him,” In September, last year, the Managing Director of the state Agricultural Supply Company (KASCO), Dr. Tukur Dayyabu Minjibir was suspended for alleged involvement in an inappropriate sale of grains belonging to the Kano State government.”

Israel’s military said unspecified damage was reported but no casualties, adding that it struck several Hezbollah military structures in southern Lebanon. Tinubu Celebrates Ex-NBA

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has felicitated former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Augustine Alegeh, as he clocked 60 on August 10, 2024. The president in a statement issued yesterday by his Media Adviser, Ajuri Ngelale, rejoiced with the learned silk and chartered arbitrator, who has devoted his career to upholding

justice and serving the people through the instrumentality of the law.

President Tinubu commended the senior advocate for distinguishing himself as a quintessential lawyer and enjoined him to continue to be an unimpeachable voice for justice in society.

He wished the former NBA President good health and strength to continue to excel in his service to God and humanity.

PDP NWC Intervenes in Kogi Chapter Crisis, Writes Caretaker Committee

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has intervened in the crisis of confidence between major stakeholders and the party’s Caretaker Committee a ppointed to handle affairs in its Kogi State chapter.

This was the sequel to a vote-of-no-confidence passed on the caretaker committee by 18 out of the 21 chairmen of the party in the LGAs in the state.

According to a letter signed

by the PDP National Organising Secretary, Capt Umar Bature (rtd), which was dated August 7, 2024, the party has directed the caretaker committee to desist from taking further actions inimical to the interest of the party.

Bature reminded the committee that the power to conduct congresses resides with the NWC and not any other committee.

“My attention has been drawn to the press release you issued on the above subject; for your information, elected state chapters or appointed caretaker committees do not have any right to conduct congresses/primaries – this is

the constitutional powers of the National Working Committee (NWC).

“In view of this, you are advised to immediately withdraw the statement and refer to Article 4 on Page 4 of the Guidelines for the conduct of Ward, LGA, State, Zonal Congresses, which states that: ‘For the avoidance of doubt, the actual conduct of elections at the Ward, Local Government Area, State and Zonal Congresses shall be by the Congresses Committee at each level appointed by the NWC.”

Meanwhile, a pro-PDP support group, the PDP Frontiers

hailed the NWC for averting what it described as an attempt by a few persons to cause an implosion in the Kogi State chapter of the party. In a statement signed by the trio of Alhaji Hussein Mohammed (President), Mr. Moses Abidemi (Secretary) and Mr. Dan Okafor (Publicity Secretary), and made available to journalists in Abuja yesterday, the PDP group accused the Caretaker Committee Chairman, Senator Laah Danjuma and Secretary, Senator Philip Gyunka, of trying to subvert the will of Kogi PDP members.

L-R: President, African Children Talent Discovery Foundation, Dr. Noah Dallaji; Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Mashonaland, East Province, Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr. Aplonia Munzverengwi, Governor of Zamfara State, Dr. Dauda Lawal; and founder, Asian-African Chamber of Commerce, Dr. GD Singh, during the 100 Most Notable Africans Leadership and Business Summit in Kigali, Rwanda...recently

Editor: Festus Akanbi

08038588469 Email:festus.akanbi@thisdaylive.com

Beyond New Equity Investment in 9Mobile

telecoms sector, Emma Okonji asks

Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Limited (EMTS), operating under the trade name 9mobile, two week agos, announced the successful completion of an equity investment by LH Telecommunication Limited, which saw the new investor acquiring 95.5 per cent shares in 9mobile, to take over the telecoms company.

The new owners had since reconstituted the board of 9mobile, with plans to inject fresh funds into the telecoms company.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission approved the acquisition, as required by law.

Transition

9mobile has passed through some transitional stages, which include a name change in Nigeria in 2008.

Being the fourth entrant into the Nigerian telecoms space, the company, which started with the brand name Etisalat in 2008, had to change its brand name in 2017, following the pullout of Mubadala Development Company of United Arab Emirates, which was Etisalat’s largest shareholder as at then.

At that time, Mubadala, an Abu Dhabi Government-owned investment and development company, controlled about 70 per cent of the shares in Etisalat along with Etisalat UAE mobile, with Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services (EMTS), promoted by a Nigerian, Hakeem Bello-Osagie, owning the remaining 30 per cent.

The exit of Mubadala in 2017, gave rise to a new investor that changed the brand’s name from Etisalat to 9mobile in 2017. The new investor that took over Etisalat in 2017, however, could not provide the much-needed funds for 9mobile, a development that gave rise to another acquisition of 9mobile by a new capacity to turn around 9mobile for stronger market competition.

Subscribers’ Reaction

Pleased with the announcement of the new ownership of 9mobile, coupled with the plans by the new investors to inject fresh funds into 9mobile, telecoms subscribers across networks have expressed their excitement about the development, saying that the decision to allow new investors to take over the telecoms company, is in the best interest of 9mobile subscribers and the Nigerian economy.

President of the NationalAssociation of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS), Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, who spoke to of 9mobile, expressed happiness about the acquisition.

According to him, the acquisition will deepen competition, and ensure better service quality for 9mobile subscribers.

“Since Mubadala, the parent company of Etisalat, which later transformed into 9mobile, pulled out of 9mobile in 2017, the telecoms company has been services and to compete in the market, a development that caused it to lose a substantial chunk of its subscribers to other networks. In the last few years, 9mobile lost about 50 per cent of its subscribers and has struggled to maintain the remaining subscribers.

Telecoms subscribers are optimistic about the calibre of the new investors to reposition 9mobile on the path of growth, which include former CEO of MTN, Nigeria, Mike Ikpoki.

“Our advice is that the new investors should release the needed funds that will make 9mobile roll out customercentric solutions that will attract customers back to its network. We also advise that 9mobile should begin to consider the rollout of value-added is obtainable in the telecoms market today,” Ogunbanjo said.

The acquisition of 9mobile, he further said, remained a welcome development for the Nigerian telecoms industry, because it will boost competition among telecoms operators telecoms services to Nigerians.

Although 9mobile has passed through a lot of challenges in the investors will be able to inject fresh funds that will make 9mobile bounce back again much stronger into the Nigerian telecoms space, Ogunbanjo further said.

Economic Implications

Speaking on the economic implications of the acquisition of 9mobile, telecoms industry analyst and subscriber to 9mobile network, Mr. Philip

acquisition of 9mobile would further empower 9mobile subscribers, attract new subscribers and further boost telecoms contribution to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

According to him, if adequate funds are injected into 9mobile, it will help the telecoms company to roll out services that will enable existing subscribers to do more and also attract new subscribers to the network.

“In the area of GDP growth, telecoms industry has been contributing immensely to Nigeria’s GDP.According to the latest statistics released by the NCC in the last three years, telecoms contribution to GDP has continued to increase. The statistics showed that in Q1, 2021, telecoms contribution to GDP was 11.66 per cent, and in Q2, 2021, it increased to 14.42 per cent, but dropped to 11.94 per cent in Q3, 2021, before it increased again to 12.61 per cent in Q4, 2021. So if new funds are injected into 9mobile by its new owners, 9mobile to explore new areas of telecoms service delivery, and that will further increase telecoms contribution to GDP,” Azuka said.

The New Board Composition

Following the recent acquisition of 9mobile, telecoms company has been reconstituted.

The new board members, who are Nigerians, are also part of the new investors of 9mobile.

Under the injection of capital, the new investors for 9mobile have nominated a new board of directors for the telecoms company, with Thomas Etuh as the Chairman of the Board.

Other members are Nahim Abe Ibraheem, Femi Edun, Senator Daisy Ehanire Danjuma, Michael Ikpoki, Ibrahim Puri, Gloria Danjuma, and Emmanuel Etuh.

In a statement released by 9mobile and signed by the new board of directors, the new of the new management team led by Obafemi Banigbe as the managing director and chief company through this transition stage and take it on the path of recovery.

According to the statement, Thomas Etuh is the Chairman of the Board. He is an accomplished and versatile entrepreneur with over 36 years of experience in strategic sectors of the African economy, including agriculture, fertiliser production, mining, banking, telecommunications, power and aviation.

Nahim Abe Ibraheem has over 30 years downstream oil trade, procurement, and

manufacturing professional with over 35 years of experience across assurance, consulting, credit ratings and research, investment banking and proprietary investment, from a variety of roles in Akintola Williams & Co (now Deloitte), Price Waterhouse, (now PricewaterhouseCoopers), rating agency and Frontier Capital Limited. Senator Daisy Ehanire was elected as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2003 where she served on numerous committees, most notably as Chairman of the ECOWAS Parliament’s Women and Children’s Rights Committee and Chairman Senate Committee

Michael Ikpoki is an accomplished Multinational Business Executive/Leader with over 25 years of experience across regulatory, commercial, operational management/leadership and consulting/advisory roles in the African Telecom Industry. He was a former MTN Nigeria.

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sional who possesses over 30 years of cognate banking experience encompassing operations, marketing, retail, corporate banking, and human resource management. He was an Executive Director with the United Bank for Africa (UBA), with responsibility for the bank’s operations in Northern Nigeria. Gloria Danjuma, a dynamic and resultoriented professional with a proven track record of leadership and strategic vision across multiple industries. She has over 20 years of experience driving growth, maximizing shareholder value, and leading organisations through periods of transformation.

Emmanuel Etuh is a professional and business executive whose experience covers industries. He currently serves as Executive Director, Corporate Services at Lighthouse Capital, overseeing the operational aspects of the business, including investments, client service, risk and technology. Similarly, the Board has approved the appointment of John Vasikiran as the

“The reconstitution of the board of directors and the executive leadership of the company has brought the 9mobile transformation programme to a momentous phase in readiness to compete strongly in the market,” the statement further said.

A regional office of 9Mobile Telecoms masts

Solidarity-Driven Diplomatic Rupture and Africa’s Recidivist

Insecurity: The Mali-Niger Ukrainian

Diplomatic rupture is synonymous with strained relations which inhibit cooperation at various levels. It is an expression of misunderstanding, which, more often than not, is a resultant from serious foreign policy disagreement. In an attempt to prevent such disagreements, the 1963 OAU Charter sought ‘a common determination to promote understanding among our peoples for brotherhood and solidarity in a larger unity transcending ethnic and national difference.’ This was what was considered as an ‘inspiration by common determination’ in the fifth paragraph of the preamble to the Charter of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU).

More importantly, in pursuance of this determination and translating it into ’a dynamic force in the cause of human progress, conditions for peace and security must be established and maintained.’ And perhaps most significantly, Article II (2a and 2b) of the Charter stipulated that the OAU ‘shall coordinate and harmonise their general policies, especially in the fields of ‘political and diplomatic cooperation’ and ‘Cooperation for defence and security.’ In other words, defence and security was taken as a top priority, not simply as an objective, but also as a means of sustainable development in Africa.

With the transformation of the OAU to the African Union (AU), cooperation for defence and security is still maintained as a top priority. As noted in the preamble to the AU Constitutive Act, the AU is ‘conscious of the fact that the scourge of conflicts in Africa constitutes a major impediment to the socio-economic development of the continent and of the need to promote peace, security and stability as a prerequisite for the implementation of our development and integration agenda.’

In spite of these provisions, governance has been fraught with recidivist insecurity in Africa. And to a great extent, it has not only engendered foreign interference and intervention, the foreign intervention has also prompted solidarity-driven diplomatic rupture in the foreign relations of many African countries.

Diplomatic Rupture in Practice

Diplomatic rupture, as noted above, is lato sensu an offshoot of misunderstanding and disagreement. Rupture can exist as a result of legitimate self-defence, reciprocity, and abuse of diplomatic privileges and immunities. The increasing concerns about diplomatic ruptures in international relations has apparently prompted the 11th European Workshop in International Studies (EWIS) to focus its attention on ”Workshop on Deviation: Ruptures and Changes in/via Diplomatic Encounters,” and to also call for papers. In explaining diplomatic rupture as a noisome problem and a resultant of faux pas in a particular situation, the EWIS noted in its concept note that diplomatic rupture ‘is produced performatively for the purpose of signalling to the other and to wider observing audience. It can also be deployed with the objective of disruption, of upending existing hierarchies and social relations, or of initiating a broader recasting of order and international politics. But it may also emerge unexpectedly, as a result of a variety of aspects affecting diplomatic intercourse, either as fleeting, irrelevant diplomatic incidents, other times fuelling old rivalries or provoking new ones.’

Without iota of doubt, several examples of diplomatic ruptures have existed since classical to contemporary times in international relations. For example, Mexico strained its diplomatic relations with the United States in 1845 when the United States annexed Texas. This led to a dispute over the southern Texas-Mexico border. While Texas argued that its southwest boundary extended to the Rio Grande, Mexico claimed that the boundary was the Nueces River, which is about 160 km eastward. Based on this disagreement, Mexico strained its diplomatic ties with the United States. This lends credence to the observation that any type of disagreement can precipitate rupture in diplomatic relations.

It is on record that Yugoslavia and Albania strained their diplomatic relations in July 1927 when an attaché of the Yugoslav Legation in Tirana was arrested based on allegations of espionage. In the words of Professor Frederic A. Ogg of the Political Science Department of the University of Wisconsin, ‘the Yugoslav Chargé d’Affaires, with his staff, left Albania Minister at Belgrade, Cena Bey, was handed his passport with forty-eight hours’ notice… The French Legation agreed to protect the Yugoslav interests in Albania and Italy consented to act in a similar capacity for Albania in Belgrade.’

More importantly, Professor Ogg had it that ‘both Albania and Yugoslavia laid their respective versions of the case before the League of Nations, the former immediately, the latter on June 12, on the eve of the forty-fifth session of the League Council… At all events, the Italian press openly denounced the attitude of Yugoslavia, and unquestionably the action of Belgrade played directly into Italian hands, especially because of its precipitateness and its uncertain justification.’ It is clear from the foregoing that several reasons can account for diplomatic rupture. There is the allegation of espionage. There is also the catalytic factor of the Italian media in the matter. This simply means that the media can always in a significant manner impact on diplomacy.

Again in 1948, there was another diplomatic rupture as a result of border conflict which lasted from 1948 to 1954. When the border was closed, 7,877 border incidents occurred out of which there were 142 substantive clashes that led to armed conflicts at the border. For more than 40 years, AlbaniaYugoslavia border was closed.

The OAU’s directive to all its Member States following

Besides, most African countries are expressing discontentment with Ukraine’s attack on its enemies on African, sovereign territory. The emerging challenge for global governance is the internationally non-condemned Israeli military policy of killing opponents on foreign soil which Ukraine is now following. Anywhere, everywhere is global theatre of war for Israel. This policy derogates the principle of non-intervention enshrined in Article 2(7), non-threat and use of force in Article 2(4) and collective self-defence provided for in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. Without jot of doubt, diplomatic rupture is the crescendo in the continuum of peaceful methods of conflict resolution. Diplomatic rupture is an escalator of tensions and a pointer to possible military confrontations. When there is diplomatic rupture, it simply means putting a stop to all direct bilateral or plurilateral official communications and cooperation. As we have seen above, reasons for diplomatic rupture can vary from sanctions, aggression, violations of human rights and humanitarian law to politico-economic disputes and competing influences. The new development in Africa’s international relations is the issue of sympathy, or diplomatic rupture by solidarity. Will Burkina Faso not join by solidarity? How will the ECOWAS respond? What is the policy attitude of the ECOWAS towards unprovoked aggression and abuse of the sovereignty of African states on their own soil?

Dimensions

Ian Smith’s Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) is quite relevant here. As revealed on 18 December, 1965, by the Directorate of the Central Intelligence Agency in its declassified report with reference number OCI NO 2956/65 on ‘Implications of Ghana’s Diplomatic Rupture with the UK,’ ‘although Nkrumah’s speech in the National Assembly on 16 December kept open the door for Ghana to participate in any early Commonwealth meeting on Rhodesia, such as Nigeria has proposed, Nkrumah had officially informed British Prime Minister Wilson on 14 December that a break with Britain “would mean Ghana’s withdrawal from the Commonwealth.” UDIis the reason for diplomatic rupture in this case.

Like many others, Mexico strained its diplomatic ties with Ecuador on 6 April 2024 following the Ecuadorian government’s abuse of international diplomatic law: the law enforcements agents, particularly the policemen of Ecuador forced themselves into the Mexican Embassy without the consent of the Ambassador of Mexico, in order to arrest the Ecuadorian Vice President, Jorge Glas, who was accused of several acts of indiscipline.

The Vice president went to the Mexican embassy in Quito to seek diplomatic refuge and, as well to take the opportunity to check out of Ecuador. The Ecuadorian government did not want its Vice President to escape and therefore opted to use an extraordinary force to enter the Mexican Embassy and arrest Mr Jorge Glas who had been in the embassy since December 2023. Breaking into the diplomatic premises of Mexico in Quito is a very serious violation of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The Mexican President, Andrés Manuel López, announced the severance of diplomatic relations with Ecuador in protest and with a promise to also refer the matter to the International Court of Justice.

The Vice President was quickly removed from the Office of the Attorney-General the following day to the maximumsecurity prison in the port city of Guayaquil. Sonia Vera, the attorney to the Vice President, narrated the brutality of the arrest thus: the Ecuadorian policemen broke into his room, Jorge Glas resisted when they attempted to put his hands behind his back, then they ‘knocked him to the floor, kicked him in the head, in the spine, in the legs, in the hands,’ and when he couldn’t walk, they dragged him out.’ In this case, Mexico has the full responsibility to protect an asylee in his diplomatic premises in compliance with the obligations created by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

What is noteworthy in this case was that when President Daniel Noboa of Ecuador considered Glas ‘imminent flight risk’ and the difficulties in having any dialogue with Mexico, he gave instruction on the need to violate the Embassy of Mexico. The argument given by the Ecuadorian Foreign Minister, Gabriela Sommerfield, was that, ‘it is not legal to grant asylum to people convicted of common crimes and by competent courts.’ This argument is surely ridiculous in light of the consideration of a diplomatic mission as exterritorial, and therefore inviolable.

On August 9, 2024 Soner Cagaptay, in his “Israel-Turkey Relations Nearing a Rupture,” (vide the Washington Institute’s Policy Watch no 3910) explained the many pointers to the nearing rupture in Turkey’s relationship with Israel because of Israel’s assassination of a Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran. While Israel-Turkey relations are yet to resort to diplomatic rupture, that is, while the relationship is still at the level of diplomatic crisis, and reportedly just nearing diplomatic rupture, it should be simply said that vested national interest generally defines the parameters for straining diplomatic ties. It is only the nature of the national interests involved that also defines the rigidity, sophistication, duration, modalities for resolution and implications.

What is observable here is that the world is currently witnessing a shift from espionage, disputes, wars, disagreements, economic sanctions, etc. as excuses for resorting into diplomatic rupture to political solidarity as a new rationale.

Niger’s Solidarity-Driven Diplomatic Rupture

One immediate rationale for Niger’s solidarity-driven diplomatic rupture with Ukraine is the new entente cordiale predicated on the Alliance of Sahel States (ASS), a defence and security pact. Three complementary factors largely explain the development of the ASS. First is the rejected roles of France, their former colonial master, whose efforts through Barkhane Operation to contain the Jihadists and the Tuareg insurrection are perceived to have failed. Besides, rather than seeing France as a helper and solution to their problems, France is seen as an exploiter of their national resources for the development of France and Europe and not for their own development.

The second rationale is the factor of the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), from which the three Member States of the ASS have given notice of withdrawal. The ECOWAS has zero tolerance for unconstitutional changes of government in Africa and particularly in the West African region. Article 30 of the Constitutive Act of the African Union on Suspension, says ‘Governments which shall come to power through unconstitutional means shall not be allowed to participate in the activities of the Union.’

Tiani

Tony Elumelu: America was Colonised Too and Look at Where They Are

In this report, Tony Elumelu, the proponent of Africapitalism and Chairman of United Bank for Africa Plc, Transcorp Plc, Heirs Holdings and Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, opens up on issues bordering on his vast investment empire, his role as a member of the Presidential Economic Advisory Committee, and the futility of the blame game for the current economy challenges in Nigeria. Excerpts:

Tony Elumelu, one of Africa’s richest men, is a tycoon for the social media age. Flick through the Nigerian banker turned investor’s Instagram account, where 2m people follow him, and you’ll find him glad-handing heads of state and famous musicians, holding yoga poses, kicking a ball around with legendary ex-footballers Robert Pires and Claude Makélélé.

There are stops in Biarritz, Rome, Abu Dhabi and everywhere in between, all accompanied by the hashtag #TOEWay. “Soft Like Tony”, a song by the Nigerian rappers M.I. and Lord Vino about aspiring to a comfortable “soft life”, is a testament to the aspirational figure he has become to many of the country’s youth.

Now 61, Elumelu first made his name in banking, one of a cohort of moguls who embodied Nigeria’s full-throated embrace of go-go capitalism in the 1990s as the country transitioned from a blood-soaked military dictatorship ruled by a despotic general to a slightly less manic democracy in the early 2000s. He oversees a family trust whose vast portfolio includes interests in financial services, oil and gas, power generation and an assortment of other sectors; he was worth $700mn in 2015, according to Forbes, and likely more now. He preaches “Africapitalism”, the idea that Africa’s private sector needs to actively contribute to the continent’s growth, to anyone who’ll listen. “We need to run government like a business,” is his formulation of how African governments should work, with administrations held accountable by legislatures as shareholders do chief executives.

The Promenade is quintessentially British: grand without being gaudy, with tasteful carpets and walls dotted with contemporary art. A piano plays gently in the background as waiters in smart jackets scurry about the place. We get our orders in before he makes a confession that bodes ill for the afternoon. “Most times, I’m not a dining person,” he admits. “I love buffets because you don’t waste time. Everything is laid out and you can select what you want and go.” Elumelu describes himself as a “choosy” eater and, despite some gentle encouragement from me, declines a starter. He opts for a chicken and langoustine pie with a side of quail eggs. He wants mushrooms and vegetables, but no bacon or potatoes. I plump for a roast rack of lamb, medium, with a side of mashed potatoes. We stick to sparkling water.

“I had a very fast career,” says Elumelu, whose father was a builder and mother a caterer. At 26, having earned a master’s in economics at the University of Lagos, he became a bank branch manager where he began his career. “It was unheard of . . . I like to take my destiny in my hands.” After eight years of rising the ranks at his old shop, Elumelu displayed a savvy streak in 1997 when he, alongside a group of investors, took over Crystal Bank, one of Nigeria’s many distressed banks. A liberalisation of the financial services industry in the late 1980s had lowered the barrier to entry, leading to an exponential growth in the number of licensed banks, many on shaky ground. A number of them would later go bust, with customers losing their deposits.

Elumelu and his band of young bankers renamed the entity Standard Trust Bank and cleaned up the mess they had inherited, turning it into one of the more stable banks in the country. In 2005, his bank merged with United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Elumelu came out on top in an almighty struggle

to become the chief executive of the new operation. Elumelu was at the helm of UBA for another five years until a central bank edict that turfed out long-serving bank bosses put him out of a job.

“2010 was a pivotal year for me,” he tells me of his ouster as UBA boss.

“The central bank ruling was a complete surprise . . . Was it fair? Look, as someone who believes in governance, it probably makes sense, but it was a shock. But it was also liberating, catalysing.” By the end of that year, he had formed Heirs Holdings, the investment engine that launched the second act of his career and turned him from a banker to a multi-sector magnate. I dig into the complimentary bread. Unsurprisingly, Elumelu doesn’t indulge in excess carbohydrates; he is broad-chested, with biceps that would not look out of place on a middleweight boxer or retired Premier League footballer.

As one of the few Nigerians who made their fortunes outside of oil, the headline act of the Nigerian economy, Elumelu’s decision to buy a 45 per cent stake in an oilfield three years ago surprised many. International oil companies such as Shell, Total and Eni are selling off their shallow water assets in Nigeria, with local companies taking charge. Does it feel like getting in at the end of the party, buying an oil asset in the age of energy transition and environmental, social and governance investing?

He lets out a hearty laugh. “We wanted to become a Fortune 500 company and we estimated what we needed. It’s not naira, it’s huge dollars,” he says. Energy security is crucial for a country that doesn’t produce enough electricity for its roughly 200m citizens, he adds. Heirs Holdings had been looking to purchase an oilfield since 2017, he tells me and says he raised $2.5bn to purchase a different one. But in a twist, never previously disclosed, he claims that former president Muhammadu Buhari and his chief of staff, the late Abba Kyari, blocked the deal. He says he was told Nigeria couldn’t allow something of such strategic importance to fall into the hands of a private operator. This defied logic, he adds, since he would

have been purchasing it from a foreign company. He soon discovered first-hand why international oil companies were partly divesting from onshore assets, after criminal gangs began stealing crude from his pipelines. In 2022, when things got to a point where his company had to shut down production, Elumelu vented his frustration on social media, tweeting: “How can we be losing over 95% of oil production to thieves?” Today, though, business is looking up.

Elumelu shows me the status updates he receives on his phone from the field: 42,000 barrels of crude are pumped out daily. Theft still takes away about 18 per cent of production, he tells me. Who is behind the theft, I ask? It’s a question that has confounded many Nigerians. “This is oil theft, we’re not talking about stealing a bottle of Coke you can put in your pocket. The government should know, they should tell us. Look at America — Donald Trump was shot at and quickly they knew the background of who shot him. Our security agencies should tell us who is stealing our oil. You bring vessels to our territorial waters and we don’t know?”

We’re working our way through our meals. My rack of roast lamb is slathered generously in balsamic jus but seems untouched by herbs or spices. Elumelu, who practises intermittent fasting, has gone through the chicken and quail eggs: the rest of his meal is untouched. After all, Elumelu has an image to uphold. He has transcended the business world in a way that none of his Nigerian peers has, and at lunch, I watch the consummate operator at work.

One minute he’s sharing an embrace with the restaurant’s manager, the next he’s dishing out advice to a waiter on how to button his double-breasted jacket while asking about his family. A Nigerian couple came over. More photographs are taken. “I don’t live for myself or my family alone, I know people look up to me,” he says of his fame outside of the boardroom. “I try to make sure I don’t disappoint people.

Young Africans need role models, they want people they can look up to.”

If Elumelu is thriving, his country decidedly is not. Nigeria is in the grip of its worst economic crisis in a generation, with growth stalling and inflation at levels not seen in almost three decades. Elumelu’s philosophy of “Africapitalism” is based on the premise that the continent cannot grow solely through the government, and that the private sector should actively invest even when — especially when — socio-economic conditions are tough. “We can sit here today and the easiest part of the conversation would be to talk about all the things that have gone wrong, all the things that people have failed to do. “But therein lies the philosophy of Africapitalism. For far too long, we have blamed foreign powers. We have blamed our leaders. But what are we as the private sector doing to make things better? It’s a call on the private sector to stand up and show the way. Let us show the way through what is in our power. We have the power to make investment decisions.”

With investments in 20 African countries and thousands of employees, he believes he is playing his part. And through grants from his eponymous foundation, he says he is “democratising luck” for young entrepreneurs. But it’s difficult to invest when the socioeconomic conditions are unwelcoming, I say. “It’s true,” he concurs. “But we’re still managing to pay dividends to shareholders and to succeed.” When I suggest he seems to have faith in Nigeria that many others don’t share, he is quick to acknowledge that “the environment is very tough”. “I have my frustrations across the continent but I also have my wins . . . what I’m saying is we need to do something to have a better society.”

A series of economic shock therapies being delivered by Bola Tinubu, who became president last year, to jolt a decrepit economy back to life have further complicated matters, driving more Nigerians into grinding poverty. A malaise hangs over Africa’s most populous nation, and once its largest economy, and many of its bright young things are voting with their feet, seeking greener pastures abroad. I’m curious what Elumelu makes of it all. As a member of Tinubu’s newly minted presidential economic advisory committee, he is one of a handful of business leaders close to the administration.

The reforms that Tinubu -whose “courage” Elumelu likes - has embarked on are necessary for long-term growth, Elumelu says, but he wonders if the sequencing of removing costly but popular fuel subsidies and a sharp devaluation of the naira currency could have been implemented better to first provide a social safety net for the most vulnerable in society. “I support it, totally,” he says of skilled young Nigerians emigrating. “I don’t have a problem with people saying ‘I’m going to Canada, UK or US.’ “Joblessness is the betrayal of a generation. You’ve gone to school and come back with your dreams and aspirations and you don’t have the opportunity . . . People who decide to find solutions elsewhere, no one should stop them. But for those who decide to stay, they should try to create an impact and build a legacy.” Why has Nigeria largely failed to live up to its postindependence potential, I prod. I don’t expect him to give much away, given his closeness to the country’s leadership. His younger brother was a member of the national parliament for more than a decade before losing his seat in last year’s vote. “Leadership,” he says, without hesitation, becoming animated for the first time. “It’s leadership in all facets.”

Elumelu

Debate is a critical quality control mechanism, argues AUSTIN ISIKHUEMEN

RAGE DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA, BRITAIN AND NIGERIA THE VALUE OF DEBATES

Ifirst made this argument through an essay I wrote on 29th November 2022. I called attention to need for a debate among the candidates contesting for the Presidency. My suggestion was not heeded. Our politics and its outcomes have been worse for it. Those who did not want any debate, a forum for sharing of plans and interrogating feasibility and fitness, won. So INEC and the courts said. The unsavory outcomes on the polity were what the streets passed judgment on in the last few days starting from 1st August 2024. The embers are still hot in the north.

As the Edo elections draw near and campaigns are at fever pitch, I will call attention again to the need for candidates’ debate as a quality control mechanism to allow us choose the very best for our state. The three front runners are the candidates of the LP, APC and PDP in no particular order. They must come out and face the cameras and the people and tell us what they would do if elected. They need to show us their road maps and articulate its feasibility. They would then answer questions that would indicate their ownership of their manifesto and that they are not just reading what some forces in the shadows wrote for them.

Below were my arguments in 2022. They are still valid today.

Nigeria has been through a lot. She has seen a lot and is currently a nation in transition. Some would argue that it is just a country and not yet a nation. Never mind those semantics or hair splitting. But we are all agreed that we are not exactly where we should or want to be. We are not anywhere near what the resources in man and materials we were disproportionately endowed with ought to have placed us in development terms. Insecurity, economic situation and social divisions have pushed Nigeria to the edge of a cliff. This is why the general elections of February 2022 have existential implications for the polity.

A democratic election, when wellmanaged, is like a manufacturing process of which I am fairly familiar. It involves various inputs passing through processes that ultimately turn out outputs made up of finished products and some byproducts. A key component of a manufacturing concern that wants to produce quality products that meet and exceed customer and consumer requirements is a quality control system. That is the system that guarantees that only products that meet specification are passed as fit for purpose and are shipped to market. It is that system that ensures reproducibility of desired product attributes and reduces variability to the barest minimum. This is what ensures that the taste of a bottle of Malta Guinness bought at Nnewi tastes the same as that bought in Kaura Namoda or Iseyin.

Quality control as a part of the overall quality assurance system requires sampling. The removal of some workin-progress at different stages for testing in order to ascertain their fitness that will guarantee that the finished product will be in specification. Quality control tests are of various types. Some are destructive in nature and this means the removed samples are not returnable to the production line while in other cases the tested sample can be reworked or returned to the process. Quality assurance is costly but lack of it can be catastrophically so, for, without it, you can end up with a product that is unfit for purpose and a business can die as a result.

The electioneering process, like all processes, has inputs and outputs. It is the quality of input and the robustness of the process that determines the quality of the final output. The purpose of elections in a democracy is to select the best fit for leadership positions through a process that is democratic and ultimately representative of the choice of the majority. It ought to be as simple as that. But it is not. This is because those who are inherently unfit would

always want to pass themselves off as fit, and to achieve their aims they subvert the system using various stratagems and shenanigans. It is the desire to catch these rogue inputs and counterfeits that some quality control strategies have been gradually built in over the years in more enduring democracies. One of these quality control measures is the use of debates by candidates aspiring to electoral positions. Some variants of this is the Town Hall format which has become popular over the years especially in the United States from where Nigeria copied its presidential system of government. In a debate, the candidate gets a chance to sell him/herself and his ideas personally to the electorate. The electorate see him/her directly, hears from him directly and gets a chance to experience his fitness or foibles firsthand. Unlike in the primitive democracy of Greece where everybody turned up in the village square to participate and vote, the typical debate is now able to reach an audience that runs into millions through the use of technology. Television and social media spurned by the internet has made it possible for Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to watch such debates live or later at their own convenience.

Such Debates or Town Hall events are not for entertainment. They are primarily meant to provide opportunity for the voters to assess the candidates through the answers they provide to questions asked by seasoned journalists and the ordinary participants. Comperes sometimes collate questions from the public in other to compile the relevant questions to ask at such fora. The questions are designed to probe the depth of the candidates thinking and knowledge of the problems facing the country or constituents which he/she is asking to be elected to solve. It is also an opportunity to drill into such candidates’ pasts and antecedents to draw a correlation between what he has done in the previously and what he is promising to do if elected. People watch the temperament and demeanour of the candidate while tackling provocative questions. All these are done to enable voters make informed judgments on the suitability, or otherwise, of candidates seeking elective offices.

In the light of the foregoing, a debate is definitely an opportunity to be grabbed with both hands by a candidate who has capability, integrity, oratory, antecedents and bonhomie to demonstrate. Participation is a sign of confidence in your ability and it is also a sign that you have nothing to hide or you are ready to defend your past actions in a convincing way that will not hurt your chances. Debates can greatly improve your chances. Conversely, it can ruin it too. Especially if you are unprepared, have lots of skeletons that may be exhumed at such a forum or you have aspects of your character or physical wellbeing that may get exposed at the podium. I am not sure a stutterer would gladly accept a debate invitation, for example. There is the saying that it is better to keep quiet and let people think you are a fool than to open your mouth and remove all their doubts! Debates can therefore be a double edged sword which can cut both ways!

IOKELLO OCULI argues for a communal arrangement for parties

t is a season of governance rage. In Bangladesh, Nigeria, and cities across Britain, angry crowds put

In the United States of America, a defeated President stagemanaged violence to block a ritual for power to pass to president-elect Joe Biden. Windows of Congress, the federal legislature, were smashed and chants to hang Vice President Pence roared along its corridors.

bullets hit their homes. Threats of a civil war if Trump lost the 2024 elections became a cliché. A bullet tore the earlobe of Candidate Donald Trump. He matched it with bombs of vulgarities.

The 2019 election campaign had been repeatedly punctuated by the police killing of an African-American male as if their blood would wash away footprints of Barack Obama and his family from the White House and the Presidency of America ‘’USA’’.

An explosion of violence across towns in England and Northern Ireland followed a false rumour that three little girls had been murdered by an ‘’immigrant’’. What Prime Minister labelled as ‘’Rightwing Thugery’’, had, according to Dr. Wallace, followed ‘’damage done over years by racist rhetoric and anti-Muslim and immigrant rhetoric and policies’’..

In Nigeria, angry youths in Northern towns torched a printing press in Kano City, public transport buses, private vehicles; looted shops, homes a computer training centre. In Zamfara State the roof removed, while concrete slabs covering a drainage trench were carried away.

The rage was triggered off by high increases in the price of petrol following government ending subsidy in costs skyrocketed prices of food products; transport and medical drugs (including medicine for endemic malaria disease), and water in plastic bottles and in ‘’jerry cans’’. Boko Haram terrorists joined protests and detonated bombs in Borno State,’’killing many people’’.

There was widespread criticism that government’s subsidy on petrol was a drainage of public funds to patronage networks of top government and business elites. Its withdrawal was powerful elites; those Professor Cyril Whitaker described as ‘’modernizing aristocracy in Northern Nigeria’’; and their allies elsewhere in the country.

Television pictures of rivers of demonstrators in Maiduguri in Borno State and Zaria in Kaduna State were of teenagers who were denied education and skills for a modern industrial economy.

Dr. Yusuf Bala Usman described them as fodder manipulated with appeals to their religion and their ethnicity to make them hate other people but not the wealthy elites deepening their poverty, malnutrition, disease and illiteracy.

In Britain, decades of rule by the Conservative Party was marked by privatising money-making institutions, including: selling governmentowned and cheap railway transport to a huge number of passengers. Private companies made profit for their shareholders. Low wages paid to workers whose strike actions caused enormous suffering to users. Conservatives also denied funds

to the National Health System (NHS) which ensure access to the highest healthcare service paid for by government, and the decline of education in public schools attended by children from middle and lower class families.

The entry into Britain’s market of goods by multinational companies from Germany, France, Belgium and Scandinavia brought products sold at lower prices, thereby forcing neighbourhood shops to close and join the poverty line. Asian immigrants driven from Uganda kept family-run shops late into the night and took away customers.

Immigrants from former Communist Soviet Union countries took jobs in farms; were more educated and skilled for industrial work. They were willing to accept lower wages. These developments were preferred by large-scale farmers, industrialists and business owners who were members of the Conservative Party.

The huge victory by the Labour Party in July 2024 elections fed on a pool of frustration. The Conservative Government displaced racist hatred and antiimmigrants hatred. Loudly publicised plan to rent unwanted ‘’asylum seekers’’ to Rwanda contributed to racism.

The temptation for mischief came to angry election losers to put fire to the pool of frustration built by their administration. A strong Labour Party ensured that the ‘’Rightwing Thugery’’ was met by a storm of well-informed rejection of their manipulated violence.

In the United States ‘Trumpism’ has run into a new enthusiasm around the candidature of KAMALA HARRIS and her Vice-Presidential candidate.

Mwalimu Nyerere rejected the ‘’Westminster Model’’ of two-party elections, arguing that it turns electoral politics into a ‘’CIVIL WAR’’. In Communal Africa, a people ‘’TALK and TALK and TALK TILL THEY AGREE OR AGREE TO DISAGREE’’. All participants accept a consensus reached by community. The opposition to bitterness and violence that Trump fans; the ‘’rightwing thugery’’ with arson and attacks on the police in post-election Britain, and calls for military a coup in postelection Nigeria, recommends the communal African way.

Oculi

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA

Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

YET ANOTHER OLYMPICS TO FORGET

The country’s performance at the Paris Olympics is a problem that runs much deeper

this is perhaps, Nigeria’s worst participation at the Olympics. Sports Minister, John Owan Enoh, has

For a budget of N9 billion with no medal to show, this

like the Olympics is nothing term preparations are key athletes with Nigerian also competed in the cycling track commissions. It started with the North

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SOUTH EAST DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MAY STILL

additional state.

Now, as I earlier said, what are the

Ifeanyi Maduako, Owerri via ifeanyimaduako2017@gmail.com

Coming from a lineage of lawyers, it was expected that Chief Jideofor Ezeofor would follow in his parents’ footsteps. However, he tells Vanessa Obioha that he found his true calling in the needle and thread business.

I Resigned from the Magistracy to Follow My Childhood Passion…

Providence always has a way of directing people to their true calling. Take, for example, High Chief Jideofor Ezeofor, a Barrister at Law and the brain behind the renowned Zeof fashion brand.

Hailing from a family with the highest noble rank of the legal profession - the body of benchers, Chief Ezeofor would have probably been sitting on the Bar as a Court of Appeal judge had he threaded the family’s traditional career path. Rather, Ezeofor who practised law for a while, switched to the fashion business. His label today is a toast of upscale fashion enthusiasts, captains of industry, political leaders, corporate eggheads and professionals of different hues, both at home and abroad. His story is a classical example of how far passion, dedication and hard work can help one achieve their dreams.

Fashion became an allure to Ezeofor as a child. Even though nobody in his family showed a proclivity towards the art, he embraced it wholeheartedly.

“I started designing clothes when I was very young, around 12 years old,” he recalled during a recent chat. “All through my senior secondary school and university, I designed and made clothes. My initial clients were my schoolmates at the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, where I studied law.”

Although he did not get formal training in the fashion field, his talents and ingenuity paved the way for him in the industry. Ezeofor, whose eyes glittered with pride, revealed how he found himself in the fashion field despite having parents who were prominent in the legal field. According to the softspoken entrepreneur, fashion and design are where his true calling lies.

“I’m a lawyer by training and a tailor and artist by inclination. I didn’t abandon the legal profession. I am a secondgeneration lawyer. My father and mother are lawyers. My father, Ichie Ezeofor is a life bencher of the Body of Benchers; it is a body of lawyers of the highest distinction in Nigeria.

“Law also is in my veins. I was once a Magistrate in the Anambra State Judiciary. I served for five years at the Chief Magistrate Court Ogidi and Onitsha respectively. The fulfillment I got when I dispensed justice without fear or favour cannot be equated. I became conflicted when it was our turn to be elevated to the High Court. The artist in me couldn’t keep still. Subsequently, I resigned from the Magistracy to follow my childhood passion which is designing clothes, house interiors and furniture. But my first love has always been designing clothes. I get my design inspiration from nature: I can get inspiration from watching the breeze impact a tree. Just looking at the way the leaves dance to the wind can turn into a design.”

With over three decades in the industry, Ezeofor has expanded his fashion business significantly. His designer label, Zeof Excluzioni, now serves a diverse clientele across all segments of society, establishing itself as a top-end brand.

“We clothe captains of industries, bankers, professionals, top public servants, businessmen, governors, African presidents and upwardly mobile individuals with great sense of style. Over the years, our attention to detail in our outfit is second to none,” he enthused.

Following the shift from foreign to local designs, Ezeofor sees it as a positive

trend, attributing it to the maturation of the Nigerian fashion industry. He noted that more Nigerians are embracing local fabrics and designs, which signifies the industry’s growing recognition and appreciation within the country.

“Nigerian designers have matured in their craft over the years. When I started designing clothes in 1985, it wasn’t popular; Nigerians preferred to buy ready-to-wear clothes imported from Europe and America. But now, we have matured in fashion content, just like our Afrobeat music. We have clients in Europe and America. The Nigerian fashion brand is international,” he explained.

The fashion Czar elaborated further: “We receive orders from abroad, package and ship them. Sometimes in 2007, I showcased how my Zeof tropical, hybrid and African suit is worn in the international fashion arena in the magic marketplace in Las Vegas, USA, organised by the US Commercial department.”

The top designer lamented that many young Nigerians today rarely learn and acquire artisanal skills such as tailoring, tiling, electrical, and mechanical skills. Instead, they prefer to leave the country in search of greener pastures.

In his opinion, the situation is twofold: the government’s failure to provide basic services and the issue of the young demographic being in a hurry to get rich quickly, which he believes is not the proper way.

To address this issue, Ezeofor advised the government to enhance the provision of enabling services. He also urged Nigerian youths to understand that success is a gradual process—it involves learning, toiling, making mistakes, gaining experience, and advancing over time.

“There is no quick fix, but the younger generation are in a hurry to make money which most times leads to unscrupulous situations where they find themselves in fraud or other businesses that are not within the ambit of the law.

“In Nigeria, such artisanal skills take about five years to master, but in

most cases after two years, you find the learner moves away and tries to establish his own. Just like a house without a strong foundation, fall is inevitable.

“The fashion business is tough; you have to have the extra passion to be successful in the fashion business. The early years can be frustrating, but if you persist, you will gather experience and tenacity and success will be yours. I am appealing to the young ones to be patient and learn a craft or trade; you can become a multimillionaire. There is money in tailoring, plumbing, painting, pop placements, electrical installations and other fields.”

Ezeofor also decried the many textile companies in Nigeria shutting down operations due to the unconducive business environment. He admitted that this unfortunate situation has forced Zeof to start sourcing most of its raw materials from China. According to him, the frequent power outages in Nigeria are a major reason textile industries are shutting down, as a constant power supply is crucial for fabric production. He urged the federal government to consider providing textile manufacturers with single-digit, long-term loans to help revive the industry and resuscitate the many textile companies that have closed.

Zeof, he said, was also a victim of Nigeria’s power paralysis as the fashion company suffered an epileptic power supply for 10 years, which hampered production. He, however,

disclosed that he has since veered off into alternative energy sources, thus providing Zeof Fashion the much-needed power respite.

“We suffered epileptic power supply for 10 years. It was very very unbearable for us, particularly putting gas in the generators and maintaining them. So, this was what gave rise to the Zeof Solar Solution company. We install solar systems for individuals and companies,” he explained.

While calling on the government to embed fashion designing and other vocational skills in the tertiary education curriculum, High Chief Ezeofor expressed optimism that in the next 30 years, Zeof will expand beyond its present status and become a global brand. He expressed the absolute conviction that Zeof Fashion will outlive him “as some of my children have shown interest in towing the fashion line.”

“My first son, who is an architect, is very much interested in continuing with the business. He has his design for the younger generation and his younger brother too. They created a label known as Denzel Blake Imperial, which is an offshoot of Zeof Excluzioni.”

An avid golfer and historian who carries his golfer bag wherever he travels, Ezeofor revealed that Zeof Fashion Training Institute is in the pipeline. The Fashion Training Institute, he said, will help mentor and train young Nigerians to acquire the fashion designing skills.

“It will offer mainly practical training, and when you graduate, you will be a more seasoned person. It will help a lot of our unemployed youths,” he remarked.

Law also is in my veins. I was once a Magistrate in the Anambra State Judiciary. I served for five years at the Chief Magistrate Court Ogidi and Onitsha respectively. The fulfillment I got when I dispensed justice without fear or favour cannot be equated

Ezeofor’s

HighLife ...Amazing lifestyles

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

Will Betta Edu Return Better?

The lens of scrutiny and suspicion does not seem to have left Betta Edu, the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs. At present, speculations abound as to the possibility of her being released from this ‘rope’ and returned to her position. Previously, critics thought that President Bola Tinubu had disregarded due process and restored her quietly to her office. But, considering new events, this may not be the case.

Edu was suspended in January 2024 over allegations of diverting 585 million in ministry funds to personal accounts. The public is not sure of this, but the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is still supposed to be investigating these things. However, she has not b een legally charged or officially removed from her position.

Since President Tinubu’s administration has remained tight-lipped on Edu’s fate, it was assumed that she had escaped the expected consequences of her alleged misconduct, but the president has started taking decisive actions in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. Recently, he appointed seven new individuals to lead various agencies under the ministry, a restructuring move that suggests a more open inclination towards integrity and efficiency within the ministry’s operations.

This development raises questions about Edu’s future within the ministry. With the president’s focus on reforming the ministry and appointing new leaders, critics are almost certain that Edu’s tenure is at its end. While there are still whispers of her potential reinstatement, the actions of President Tinubu suggest a commitment to addressing the alleged corruption issues.

Edu’s return seems increasingly uncertain as the government strives to rebuild trust in the ministry. After all, the public’s perception of Edu has been significantly tainted by the corruption allegations and ongoing investigations. The sheer scale of the alleged embezzlement was previously unheard of in this context, so, unsurprisingly, it caused widespread shock and disbelief.

Nigeria’s rich and famous Daisy Danjuma Radiates Elegance at 72

Lionesses are brave and tigresses are graceful. Striding both of these characteristics are amazons like Senator Daisy Danjuma, whose eyes sit above the clouds and her grace leaks beneath the heavens. For her, time is a polishing hand bringing outside what natural birth has kept hidden. Even at 72, she is dazzling and radiant.

As has become the custom this time of the year, Senator Daisy is celebrating her 72nd birthday, no less a prominent figure in Nigerian politics and high society today than she was in the past. Known for her enduring beauty, elegance, and class, she continues to inspire admiration.

Born in 1952 in Benin, Edo State, Senator Daisy has been a respected and admired woman for decades. But her status has not blinded her at all. Because she remains humble, this woman who earned her law degree from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, remains well-loved The graceful senator’s

career began as an executive assistant at NAL Merchant Bank and later as Company Secretary/ Legal Adviser at NTA. Her intellect and poise led her to chair positions at May and Baker Nigeria Plc and South Atlantic Petroleum Limited, inspiring others to follow in her footsteps. It is in favour of this noble ambition that, in addition to her business achievements, Senator Daisy is a member of several prestigious legal associations. These include the International Bar Association, the Nigerian Bar Association, and the International Federation of Women Lawyers.

Record keepers love to point out that from 2003 to 2007, the graceful senator represented Edo South Senatorial District in the Senate. They never fail to point out, rightly so, that her tenure was marked by dedication and service, further cementing her legacy. Today, she continues to inspire with her ageless beauty and unrelenting spirit.

Indeed, Senator Daisy’s life has been and continues to be one of grace, intelligence, and resilience. At 72, she still got it.

Owen Omogiafo: The Amazon Making a Difference

Are the rumours true? Does Owen Omogiafo exemplify exceptional leadership? Is she really making significant strides in the business world? A quick investigation will show that this is exactly the case. As the President and Group CEO of Transcorp Group, Omogiafo is just the kind of lady to shatter glass ceilings and redefine success for women in Africa. From every indication, her impact is profound, so she really is as remarkably awesome as her reputation suggests.

To start from where it most counts, at only 44, Omogiafo holds a stake worth over $4 million in Transcorp Power Plc. Is this too small? What if the reader’s eyes are further opened to the fact that under her leadership, Transcorp has become the 18th most valuable listed company on the Nigerian Exchange?

There is no secret to Omogiafo’s success, other than her career spanning over two decades, with her extensive experience

shadowing many different sectors. In the beginning, she had only a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Anthropology from the University of Benin. Then she earned a Master’s in Human Resource Management from the London School of Economics. The next thing onlookers knew, she had taken off into the spotlight of an illustrious career.

Omogiafo began her career at Accenture, specialising in Change Management. She then served as the HR Advisor to the Group Managing Director at the United Bank for Africa Plc. Later, she became the Director of Resources at Heirs Holdings. This is how she solidified her reputation as a strategic thinker and transformative leader.

As the first female and youngest leader in Transcorp Group’s history, Omogiafo has led the conglomerate to new heights. The company’s total assets now stand at $390 million, with impressive financial results like its revenue soaring by 114 per cent year-over-year by the first half of 2024.

As Bishop Oyedepo Commemorates His Extraordinary Life

Scriptures say that while men slept, the enemy came and sowed tares. But while the enemy is working, Bishop David Oyedepo is still very much active sowing seeds of faith and excellence. And the enemy can only stare from a distance. Thus, with a few weeks to go before he is 70 years old, the world is winding its gears to celebrate him.

Bishop, as he is fondly called, is most commonly labelled a Nigerian preacher and the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, also known as Winners’ Chapel International. This is not the only thing he is known for, but his ministry spans over 300 cities in Nigeria and numerous countries worldwide.

Among Bishop’s numerous feats, three accomplishments stand out in the public eye. The first is his pioneering of the Christian charismatic movement in Africa, an unprecedented feat at the time. He went on to establish the first 50,000-seat church auditorium, Faith Tabernacle, in Canaanland,

Ota, something that was unheard of in Nigeria until he did it.

The second is about Bishop’s trailblazing zest in education. He founded the super institutions known as Covenant University and Landmark University, which, under his guidance, have become leading educational centres in Nigeria. These two, alone, have set new standards and prepared many young minds for global challenges.

The third awesome thing about Bishop is the construction of the Faith Tabernacle in just 12 months, debt-free. When he started, he declared that it was a demonstration of faith. Through it all, it remained so. While many cannot understand how church building changes lives, the simple truth is that Bishop’s remarkable vision and leadership have inspired countless others to pursue bold and ambitious goals.

Moreover, the man’s achievements extend beyond spiritual leadership. He is a prolific author and publisher, with more than 70 titles

to his name, reaching millions globally. With his teachings consistently transforming countless lives, he is certainly one of the most influential preachers in the globe to emerge from Nigeria.

Fragile Life: Tragic Loss for Yobe’s Deputy Governor

Life is fragile, this much is true. In a heartbreaking incident, the Deputy Governor of Yobe State, Hon Idi Barde Gubana, has lost his 10-yearold grandson, Lawan Ahmad. According to reports, the young boy sustained a third-degree burn after accidentally spilling hot water on himself. Despite being rushed to the University Teaching Hospital Damaturu for immediate medical attention, he succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of Tuesday, August 6, 2024.

The tragic event has cast a pall over the Gubana household and the wider Yobe community. The funeral

prayer, which was led by the Chief Imam of Yobe mosque, Ustas Hudu Mohammed Yusuf, took place at the deputy governor’s residence. The ceremony saw the attendance of prominent figures, including members of the state House of Assembly, traditional rulers, and thousands of sympathisers.

Hon. Gubana is a respected Karai-Karai politician and has had a notable career marked by his service in various capacities. Born in 1960, he has held the traditional title of Waziri of Fune Emirate and has been a key figure in the state’s political landscape. His political journey began in 1997, culminating in his election as deputy governor in 2019.

The pain of losing a grandchild is immeasurable, especially one as young as

Lawan. The special adviser to the deputy governor on religious affairs, alongside several religious leaders, offered prayers for Allah to grant the young boy rest. Clearly, this loss has deeply affected not only the family but also the entire community who mourn with them.

The story of Lawan is a harsh reminder of the fragility of life. It is about the profound impact of unexpected tragedies. Nevertheless, in mourning his loss, the community also celebrates the strength and perseverance of a leader who has navigated both personal and professional challenges. Indeed, this sorrowful chapter in the deputy governor’s life adds a poignant layer to his storied career.

Danjuma

Gubana

Omogiafo

Oyedepo

Sanwo-Olu’s Vision: Elevating Lagos Through Sports Innovation

How much can one person accomplish?

Can one be bigger or more influential than many?

Adaobi Nwakuche is showing this to be the case, being the arrowhead pushing Veritas Kapital Assurance into new heights of growth. Under her leadership, the company’s profit after tax skyrocketed by 630% in a single year. Can this mean anything else, apart from that Nwakuche has sharpened the company’s operational efficiency with her strategic vision?

Nwakuche’s extensive experience in the insurance industry has been instrumental in Veritas’ success. With more than 25 years of experience, she has honed her skills in strategic partnerships, deal structuring, and team leadership and her previous roles at Heirs Insurance Limited and Heirs Holdings Group have prepared her for the challenges at Veritas. At present, as has always been the case, Nwakuche’s leadership style is marked by a relentless commitment to excellence and innovation. She introduced new strategies at Veritas which greatly boosted the company’s insurance revenue by 350% and its net insurance and investment results by 425%. The numbers can be confusing but what they signify is Nwakuche’s frightening ability to guide an organisation towards thriving in the face of challenging economic conditions.

Great things are happening over at Lagos State. The governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, ever suave, has initiated a new wave of excitement in the State. It is the Lagos Paris Olympics 2024 Esports and Sports Economy Roundtable. Held at the Africa Station Dome in Paris, this event showcased Lagos as a rising force in sports development. The roundtable which was themed “Exploring New Frontiers and Business Opportunities in Sports” showed just how ambitious Lagos has become as a major sports hub since coming into power.

The Lagos State Sports Commission, led by Mr. Lekan Fatodu, organised this significant event. The aim was to attract global attention to Nigeria’s sports industry and explore innovative ways to leverage both traditional and electronic sports. Unsurprisingly, the discussions attracted high-ranking officials, investors, and international sports representatives.

According to the reports, the event focused on esports, a sector that is growing rapidly on

Adaobi Nwakuche: The Driving Force Behind

Veritas’ Growth

Babajide Akeredolu: The Lessons and Transience of Power

Power is transient. At this point, this truth only floats on top of the heads of some people; it never really settles. Consider the case of Babajide Akeredolu, whose late father, Rotimi Akeredolu, was Ondo State governor. During that period, Babajide was the top dog. But now, things have changed.

When Babajide was appointed as DirectorGeneral of the Performance and Project Implementation Monitoring Unit by his late father, he fully stepped into a position of considerable influence. His role gave him significant sway in Ondo State and his name became synonymous with authority. His connections also became vital for anyone seeking to get things done.

At the height of his father’s tenure, Babajide’s power grew as he became the go-to person for political and administrative matters. With aides on his right-hand side, friends on the left, and associates going before him,

Babajide’s influence seemed unshakeable. This network of support not only elevated his status but also amplified his ability to walk through the corridors of power with ease and do as he wished.

But as his father’s health declined, the dynamics began to shift dramatically. The support that once enveloped Babajide started to wane, and his once-vibrant presence grew noticeably subdued. The aides and friends who once flocked to him began to vanish, one person after another, leaving him in a quieter, more isolated existence.

Now, the political tenure of the great Akeredolu has ended and the man himself has crossed to the other side. And Babajide has retreated into a more private life, far removed from the political limelight. This change has prompted speculation about the authenticity of his previous power and influence. Was his earlier prominence a genuine reflection of

the global stage. Panellists like Mr. Désiré Koussawo and Hon. Abiodun Orekoya discussed opportunities to build a sustainable sports economy. They examined how Lagos can use its prominence to attract investment in the sports sector.

The roundtable also featured insights from experts like Mr. Lanre Alfred and Dr. Kweku Tandoh. These explored strategies to advance esports and sports business in Nigeria, with contributions that demonstrate Lagos’ potential to become a leading player in the international sports arena.

The Lagos Paris Olympics 2024 Esports and Sports Economy Roundtable may well be a turning point for Lagos. The event marks the State’s entry into the global sports conversation and sets the stage for future achievements. The world will be watching how Lagos leverages this newfound prominence, as Sanwo-Olu continues to flex his leadership abilities.

Nwakuche’s educational and professional qualifications do bolster her credibility as a visionary leader. She holds a doctorate in Insurance, Risk Management, and Corporate Governance from European American University. This educational background, combined with executive training from Harvard Kennedy School and Lagos Business School, shows that she has just the right flavour of wisdom and talent to steer Veritas towards sustained growth.

With Nwakuche in the steering cabin, Veritas is meeting client and shareholder expectations the way the wind meets shy flowers. With such a customer-centric approach, she has greatly reinforced the company’s position as a leading player in the Nigerian insurance industry. Therefore, is it still a wonder that there are so many positive numbers showing Veritas’ newfound vigour and success?

Ultimately, Nwakuche’s strategic vision, vast experience, and dedicated leadership are the rails beneath the superspeed train that is Veritas Kapital Assurance’s growth. With her in charge, it is no wonder that the company is being positioned more consistently as a trusted and innovative leader in Nigeria’s insurance industry.

his capabilities, or merely a product of his father’s political clout?

As commentators have pointed out, Babajide’s affairs serve as a fundamental lesson about the nature of power and influence. As it turns out, power is like the reflection on the water. It soon goes away, leaving nothing behind.

Billionaire Businessman, Sholaye Jeremi Set to Give Mother a Befitting Burial

In a sombre moment, billionaire businessman Sholaye Jeremi prepares to bid farewell to his beloved mother, Mrs. Lilian Jeremi. The matriarch of the Jeremi family passed away at the age of 74 after a brief illness. Her death, confirmed by a statement from the family, marks the end of a life filled with dedication, faith, and community service.

The service of songs for Mrs. Lilian Jeremi will be held on Thursday, August 29, at her residence in Sapele, Delta State, by 4 pm. Friends and family will gather to honour her memory and celebrate her life. The funeral service is scheduled for the following day at the First Baptist Church in Sapele, a place that held great significance to her, by 11 am. The reception will follow at the Athletic Club, GRA Sapele, starting at 1 pm.

is Born Again

Politics, what a terrifying game. A smiling friend can turn into the most bare-faced adversary. What else, if not this fact, can the story of Senator Ali Ndume, representative of Borno South, teach readers?

The rumours are true. Senator Ndume, once a vocal critic of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, has publicly apologised to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Ndume’s apology came during a meeting with the party’s National Working Committee in Abuja and marked a significant shift from his recent stance, where he had openly criticised the president’s policies.

Ndume previously claimed that President Tinubu was being manipulated by unseen forces at the Presidential Villa. He expressed frustration over the lack of direct access to the president for wellmeaning discussions. These criticisms led to tension within the APC and even got him thrown out of his office as Senate Chief Whip.

Ndume has now returned to the party and acknowledged his mistake in not consulting the party before voicing his concerns. He emphasised that his actions were motivated by patriotism and a desire to see Nigeria prosper, and so, any other time he is moved by the plight of the common people, he will first consult the party before standing for them.

Ndume went on to explain that despite his criticisms, his intentions were not to insult the president or undermine the APC. Instead, they were only supposed to highlight genuine issues affecting the country. Those issues are now resolved, so everybody can go back to being happy again.

Madam Lilian’s legacy is one of hard work, courage, and unwavering commitment to her faith and family. Her life was spent fleshing out the values she held dear, which made her leave behind a legacy that will inspire generations to come. Jeremi, even with his remarkable achievements in the oil and gas industry, now faces one of his most personal challenges. For those who have experienced it, it is a difficult thing to prepare for one’s mother’s burial. But this is also the mark of a devoted son, which Jeremi is. Therefore, at the reception that follows the funeral service at the Athletic Club in Sapele, attendees will get the opportunity to offer their condolences and support to Jeremi and the others.

Of course, the APC was very satisfied with Ndume’s apology. They even expressed their intention to inform the Senate about the resolution of the issue, so it is highly possible that Ndume will be r estored to his position as Chief Whip.

Critics have much to say about the senator’s decision. The most pessimistic wonder if his previous outcry was a true act of patriotism or merely a strategic move within the political landscape. Only Ndume knows, but time will reveal the depth of his convictions.

Sanwo-Olu

Ndume

Nwakuche

Akeredolu

Jeremi

President Bola Tinubu: What was that Sir?

EBUN-OLU

ADEGBORUWA’S POLITICAL NAIVETY ON SHOW

Please, can I write this piece in pidgin, because I will not be able to really express myself in proper English with the way it is doing me? This is what in Shomolu we call “follow-follow.”

This padi, just wake up, wear a bow tie and start to do things wey he never do before. As he see Keyamo do am get Minister, himself carry him body go dey push protest. Na wetin dey dofollow-follow people be that. Dem no dey ever think things through. Nigeria in the last 10 years has changed in demographics and socioeconomic dynamics. We now have more self-employed people and more jobless people than ever before. Over 40% of those who are employable are jobless and what this means is that if you disrupt economic activities for just one day, you will lose their support. Secondly, the teeming amount of jobless and dislocated people allows for the incidence of violence and looting to be much more than inevitable, almost 100% of the time in protests.

Egbon wey be “aje butter” no understand all these one o, dey push for protest. Everybody talk to am, he no hear. E Carry bow tie like Fashola

It’s one week after your infamous speech which was meant to calm nerves, throw you up as a statesman and give you the very unique opportunity to look into our eyes and say “Yes, emi lo “really” kan.” I did not bother to watch the broadcast, like many Nigerians who had seen an advanced copy floating around the internet. A quick scan showed that this one was just you telling us all to “ef off” as Americans would say. You must understand that there are two major planks to the protests. One, your policies and the other its effect on the man on the streetthe ground zero of poverty. Our Daddy, what really concerns the man on the street is not whether

you have cleared the backlog of forex debts to airlines or that you have reduced ways and means by over 50%, or that you have signed an agreement with Ukraine to blow out Russian satellites or that you have signed agreements to stabilise the price of wigs that your Supreme Court justices wear on the bench. The man on the street is now buying bread at over 500% of its previous price. He sees his daily life eroded monumentally while his dignity is dragged to the floor as he resorts to demeaning actions just to feed his family. He is hungry and angry, and no amount of IMF-inspired economic jargon will placate him. You and your government’s body language

further exacerbate the anger. Like someone told me during the week, “Edgar, it’s like not paying your staff salaries, and asking them to be patient only to drive into the office with a new Bentley on Monday morning.”

My President, this is what we are seeing o with your body language and the attitude of your officials. Your man said we should be protesting while you guys are eating and this statement perfectly describes the posture of this “regime” and also the spirit of that your speech.

I’m sorry, you lost me that morning. You really lost me. Kai Baba, this no be what we were expecting o. Kai! Who will cry for us o?

dey shout “On protest we stand.”

Two days later, he ran back with his tail between his legs. No protest again ooo, this is not the plan o. Kai, there is violence ooo, we did not plan this one o. Too late, the genie has been let out of the bottle and the northern states have gone on fire. People have lost their lives, properties have been looted, carnage everywhere, and Oga, who cannot even stand the heat of his wife’s poor cooking, has run back to his mansion and is releasing press statements to almajiris that have not eaten in six weeks not to carry the Russian flag. Please, whatever the government wants to do to these people who lit the flame, you have my support. I have kuku looted “koboko” from the mallam that is selling “meshai” at Sabo bus stop, ready to flog Mr. Adegboruwa in case the punishment for childishness in politics is flogging. Next time, before they start shouting protest, they will do their homework and listen to advice. Follow follow no be work. Na wa.

GENERAL MUSA: NOT THAT RUSSIA SIR

My General, how are you today? I sure hope that these protesters have

not really stressed you. I saw you the other day speaking to the press on the dire consequences of carrying a foreign country’s flag during the protests.

That it is a grievous incident cannot be discounted. It is truly a treasonable offence but then again, will you now carry armoured tanks and the full force of the great Nigerian military to pursue young children you didn’t send to school? Young children who have not eaten for days, young children who have been dislocated, disenfranchised, dehumanised in a Nigerian state that has given you and your families all the opportunities you deserve and even those you don’t?

Mbok, let me ask you one simple question, if you are a local tailor, with shop rent and cost of materials now exorbitant, low patronage and your family has not eaten for days, the landlord has snatched your wife in lieu of accumulated rent and you are there hapless and someone works up to you and says you should sew for him one cloth with red, blue and white, would you google to find out if it is Russian flag?

My General, you that I am looking at so, will sew that flag in a way that the famous Aba tailors will be wincing in

envy.

Our problem is that we tend to treat pimples when we are actually dealing with leprosy. Going after hapless tailors and misguided protesters, who cannot even distinguish between a Russian flag and the colour of the prostitutes’ underwear they encountered, is a classic case of chasing shadows. This is why I have asked you to stay clear. This is not your concern, and this is why you always miss the mark.

This is the job of the police and the intelligence community. They should quietly unravel the sponsors and their motives and not go after people who don’t even know what they are carrying.

Secondly, my brother, as I watched Tinubu’s broadcast, I saw the flag ooo. I ask someone o, is that not the same flag? Aghhh and someone said it is a defence flag if you turn it upside down. My brother, confusion catch me o. How do you explain to the poor illiterate almajiris to hold the flag a certain way as he is running around the place? How do you tell him that if he holds it one way, it is Russia and if you hold it the other way, it is defence? My brother, I think what we need to do to really safeguard this democracy which is our prayer and goal is to go

Tinubu

Musa

Soyinka Adegboruwa Musawa

and sit down with your baba and say to him, “Daddy Emilokan, the only way we can save our heads is good governance. Let’s be truthful to the people, let’s feel their pulse and let’s work for them.” Forget that you are wearing khaki, can you give this advice if you have not been giving it as your true way of safeguarding this democracy and leave the Russian flag?

Has Russia been able to defeat tiny Ukraine, that they will now come to 200m angry and hungry Nigerians? With the kind of “Igbo” that oozed during those unfortunate protests, it’s a wonder they were not carrying Jamaican flags – illiterates. Mshewww.

WOLE SOYINKA: A PAUL OF TARSUS MOMENT?

When your number one supporter goes against you, even you too will know that you have hit pay dirt. Kai, Professor Wole Soyinka who had gambled his Nobel in support of Daddy threw in the towel this time. Prof started scratching what was left of his plenty grey hair, wondering what he was listening to. By the time the speech was over, he quickly called for his typewriter — Daddy has no time for a notepad — and scribbled away the first-ever critical comment against this government. Daddy must have been so disappointed and upset and would have asked his steward who would have been standing there with the cold “ogi” – what is this man talking about? Did I mortgage my international respect, reputation and stature for this? Why is he doing this? What kind of speech is this? Steward would have not dared to open his mouth because if he did, na slap. Prof. sent out a stinker. The statement was straight to the point and punchy. It hit the mark and all the “Obidients” in the land would have just hissed and walked away from Baba, saying “This one just wake up?” My advice is for Prof to finally just retire from public commentary. At 90, let him just recede and enjoy the rest of his life in tranquillity because what we are seeing is not that one that person will be carrying grey hair and three teeth to be defending o. Daddy, this is the time for quiet music, warm ewedu and amala with no meat and a shot of daily whiskey and humming to tunes as you sit and watch the sunset. You may even add a fresh virgin to the treatment. But what do I know? Am I not just a skinny Shomolu boy with uncombed hair? Na wa.

MELE KYARI: THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS

Someone just sent me a clip where this Oga was telling a huge audience during the Buhari administration that all “four refineries” would be up and running before the end of that tenure. Today instead of refineries, we are busy fighting the only one that seems to even make sense. Well, I have also heard that he has also given his word that by August 2024, the Port Harcourt Refinery will be up and running. This is almost the middle of August of the year of our Lord, 2024 and we have not seen one smoke from that refiner, let alone the possibility of one litre of fuel coming out of it.

You know I am surrounded by wicked people. Those people that Yoruba people call “ika”. Well, one of them sent me a timeline dating from March 2021 through to July 2024, giving over eight dates that the Port Harcourt

Refinery will come on stream.

The last one, early August 2024 was given by Mallam Kyari on July 16, 2024, and monitored on national TV seems to have already passed the deadline and Mallam is still there wearing a well-ironed babariga and cap bent to one side of his head like the late Maitama Sule who was a man of his words o. Only in Nigeria, I swear. Kai!

GOV ABIODUN OYEBANJI: A MAN OF THE PEOPLE

I am writing from Ekiti in one sweet hotel where the waiters refused to bring my pounded yam and vegetable almost one hour after I had ordered them. The inefficiency of the hotel aside, let me talk about this gentleman governor.

For some of you who have been following me, you would have noticed that Ekiti State is my adopted state and this is because of its topography- the hills and vegetation, the food, the people and most especially the governor who has allowed me to execute one of the biggest ever project in theatre- the Ekiti International Theatre festival which will pull in over 5,000 artists and generate over N2 billion into the economy of the state.

As I drove around the state, I was hit by the strategic works of development

championed by the state. The elegant airport has two of my friends AVM Makinde (rtd), and William Omotayo working there as consultants. The huge potential of the state as an education hub, the infrastructural support for my industry and the general feeling of the state being run by a homeboy who has the interest of the state at heart is making Ekiti an oasis of peace and growth.

Let me use this opportunity to say well done to gentleman Oyebanji and to let him know that his works are being appraised very positively in very strategic places. Can someone please tell these people to bring my pounded yam ooooo? Kai.

ALI NDUME: NOT A FAMILY AFFAIR

Please, when you were calling your colleagues kleptomaniacs, which money did they steal that you are now apologising for, and saying it is a family affair? Mbok, if you say you stand by your words but that you were procedurally wrong to go to the media, then we will have no choice but to say that we do not agree that it is a family affair.

It is not any family affair because our collective wealth is the target of the band of “kleptomaniacs” that you have called family. This is why we should all be very careful in the way we use words.

My brother, I am very sure that

your family members will accept your apologies and clarifications and readmit you into the fold as you continue with the chopping as we protest, the fact of the matter is that what you had said in that fleeting moment of sincerity remains the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

We thank you for that glitch even as we look for more of such from you in the not-too-distant future. Look at me even thinking that you were a man sef.

HANNATU MUSAWA: A BEAUTIFUL HEAD IN THE CLOUD

Our Minister says they are planning to build a creative hub in Abuja that will house the 49 sub-sectors in the industry amongst others and leverage the economic benefits of the creative economy. Reading the report sef was tiring. Since we woke up one day and a Nigerian was nominated for the Grammys and Afrobeat started making waves with bootleg, Nollywood movies crisscrossing the world, all sorts of funny projects and visions by our leaders continue to be thrown into the air.

I never got to meet this brilliant legal mind but spoke to him severally. Mr. Nwokedi was the producer of the massively successful ‘Kakadu the Musical.’ The play looked at the immediate pre and post-civil war highlife scene in Lagos. It was so methodically done that it has spurned many replicas. Even me, I follow copied it with my production ‘History Sings’ which was played last December. He was not only a brilliant art person but was also an extremely brilliant lawyer. He was an accomplished

SAN.

I have never met him but spoke to him twice when I begged him for money for one of my productions. He never gave me the money, but each time, we spoke for hours on theatre and Nigeria. I learnt a lot from those two occasions which marked him out as one gentleman I truly respect. Sadly, he passed recently and Lagos paid him a befitting farewell. Let me seize this opportunity to wish his family the fortitude to bear this loss and the strength to carry on his rich legacy. Amen.

This latest pie in the sky is another one. If I begin to count the number of film cities, movie towns, and creative hubs that litter the place, we will go to sleep and I am still counting. We have not finished with the National Theatre renovation talk less of how to manage it, we have run to Abuja to start building another giant hub. That same Abuja I hear houses a huge film city that is not being fully utilised. This our Musawa has been saying too many things that have not come down from the skies. Her beauty used to make me just calm down and not go after her aggressively but this one that she is talking about is really paining me as it shows the lack of understanding of what is required of her and her government in the sector.

The government should not be championing this kind of project but should instead provide support for the private sector to lead the way. This support could include guarantees, grants, tax holidays, and patronage when the project is ready. This approach would allow the government to divert funds to other critical areas, such as ensuring the widespread presence of Nigerian flags before Russian flags start appearing on our national monuments due to scarcity.

Madam Minister, kindly reconsider abeg, that is a white elephant project if there was ever one. Thank you.

BOBRISKY BACK IN THE MIX

The crazy Mama of Rebellion is out. He was sentenced to prison for six months for desecrating our naira. His conviction came with a lot of controversies as Nigerians started to analyse the whys and hows of his conviction. The arguments reached a crescendo especially when another socialite, the brash Barman – I have forgotten his name – was also arrested, charged but given a plea deal.

This pushed the grapevine into a frenzy. One big SAN even sat me down and tutored me on how the government needed to use him to send a strong signal to those of his ilk who live the “other life.”

Well, “sis” is out, complete with wigs and the likes, and immediately threw a boat party to celebrate his release with the photos splashed all over social media. The only thing I noticed was that at the party, I didn’t see a single naira note. Na wa, lessons learnt, I suppose.

Nwokedi

Walter Akpani: The Change Agent

With over three decades of unblemished experience in the banking sector, Walter Akpani is a respected figure within and beyond the industry. His strong interpersonal skills and deep industry knowledge have enabled him to cultivate an extensive network of contacts across various strategic sectors of the economy.

Akpani, who is the Managing Director and CEO of Providus Bank, is often likened to a fine wine that improves with age; an analogy that captures the essence of his remarkable career. Just as some wines become more appealing and sought-after over time, Akpani has only grown

in stature and influence with each passing year.

The top banker began his journey as a pioneer staff member of ICON Stockbrokers, and he has since played pivotal roles in several financial institutions, including serving on the restructuring team at Commercial Trust Bank, and contributing to the establishment of Standard Trust Bank Plc (now United Bank for Africa), and helping to launch Platinum Bank Limited.

Under Akpani’s leadership, Providus Bank has reached numerous milestones, evolving from the legacy of United Mortgage Bank Limited into its current form. His tenure is marked by a series of successful initiatives and

How well do you know Chief Akin Ricketts? To those who know him well, the ability of Chief Akin Ricketts as a surefooted strategist and winner has never been in doubt.

His many stories of happy endings have confounded many, leaving even his worst critics to acknowledge the abundance of God’s grace and wisdom in him.

Politically, he has never been a failure. He made significant contributions during his tenure as Commissioner for Information in Cross River State, ran as a senatorial candidate in the 2019 elections, served as Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), and, most importantly, is known for his kindness and generosity. He is a successful professional and a visionary.

The former NPA Chairman has his hands in many pies. These include maritime, construction and farming among several others.

Society Watch gathered that the Cross River-born has landed a new job. He was recently appointed to the board of directors of UTM FLNG Limited. The appointment was announced during UTM FLNG’s maiden meeting at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

With his new job, he is expected to contribute his experience as a maritime expert, as well as to the growth of the first floating liquefied natural gas facility in Nigeria.

strategic business deals that underscore his prowess as a finance manager and stockbroker.

Akpani holds a Master of Science degree in Finance from the University of Strathclyde in Scotland. In a field where expertise and relationships are paramount, Akpani continues to demonstrate that he is indeed a fine vintage, one whose contributions to the banking sector will be appreciated for years to come, while his legacy as a prolific finance manager and stockbroker remains unparalleled. He stands tall as a testament to the power of experience, expertise, and innovative leadership in the banking sector.

Double Joy for City Businessman, Habeeb Okunola

For the Chief Executive Officer of TILT Group, Chief Habeeb Okunola, August is a special month.

The man, who is also the Akosin of Yorubaland, started the month in a good mood as he carted home yet another award. He received the most respected CEO (business) at the African Most Respected CEO award in faraway Nairobi, Kenya, on the first day of August.

At the well-attended event held at the Concord Hotel, Nairobi, Habeeb, whose hands are littered across many pies of

business such as real estate, construction, agriculture, power, procurement, general contract, oil and gas, mining, logistics and a host of others, was ably represented by Bashir Hamzat who picked the award on his behalf. He thanked the organisers for acknowledging his giant strides in business and as a change maker in Nigeria’s business climate.

The award, which was presented to him

a day before his birthday, on the 2nd of August, signifies a promising omen for him.

To say he was honoured by the award is an understatement. He was full of gratitude and appreciation, especially to the people who made the award possible, as he considered it as a stimulator to do more.

Society Watch gathered that he also used the opportunity to advise African business magnates to continue to embrace collaboration as the cornerstone of innovation, recognising that together, “we possess the power to shape the future.”

It was also reported that the serial entrepreneur celebrated his 43rd birthday with special prayers, inviting clergymen to offer thanks for his life. Later that evening, he hosted his friends at his Lagos mansion.

Okunola, who is an alumnus of the famous Harvard Business School and London Business School, continues to express his love for philanthropy and development within his immediate environment.

When Folake Soetan Gave Late Mother a Befitting Burial

“A mother’s love is the strongest and most pure love there is. It is unending and will never change, no matter what happens’’ – reads an anonymous quote.

In appreciation of her undiluted and pure love for her children during her lifetime, Ms. Folake Soetan, the Chief Executive Officer of Ikeja Electric Plc and her siblings pulled all the stops to give their late mother, Madam Kofoworola Falegan, a befitting burial recently.

The deceased, who died at the age of 78 on May 29, 2024, was honoured by her family with a unique three-day burial ceremony, tagged ‘Celebration of Life’. It started with a service of songs and a wake, held on July 22 and 23, 2024 respectively. This set the stage for an extravagant commemoration on Friday, July 26, starting with a funeral service at the Yaba Baptist Church, SaboYaba, Lagos. The facilitating and lead minister, Bayo Aremu, delivered the sermon. The biography of the deceased was read to all, after which there were thanksgiving and

prayer sessions. It was followed immediately by a private interment with only close family members.

There was a lavish reception at the Harbour Point Events Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, where guests were treated to good food, choice drinks and quality entertainment.

Indeed, if the caring mother could turn in her grave, she would beam a winsome smile over the befitting burial held for her by her family.

Quite several prominent Nigerians, including Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, attended the wake keep, the burial service and the reception. These individuals’ presence despite their busy schedules and other commitments is not only a testament to Folake’s endearing nature but also because of the rapid transformation she has made possible since climbing the saddle as Ikeja Electric Plc CEO, where she has orchestrated some of the most significant commercial turnarounds in the industry.

‘Great leaders don’t set out to be a leader... they set out to make a difference.’

That Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has made a difference in leadership is stating the obvious. In this part of the world, there is widespread distrust of politicians, and understandably so. Many politicians and leaders fail to be honest and truthful to the people they represent.

However, Orji Kalu, the senator representing Abia North-east Senatorial District, has changed the perception of the electorate towards the electives.

He has proved that after all, hope is not lost. He has not only rekindled their hopes but also turned their dreams into realities.

Since his election into the senate, he has showcased great empathy towards his people, while also proving to them that he

knows exactly where the shoes pinch. He shared thousands of bags of rice and other food items and a good sum of cash to his people. Not only that, he personally supervised the sharing formula to make sure no one or group was short-changed. It was also gathered that he has empowered thousands of people, including students who have benefited from his scholarships. A source revealed that he has consistently provided this support for 38 years, starting in 1986, and has continued this commitment even when he was not in politics. This is just one example of his vision to create a thriving and prosperous Abia North, where individuals are given the opportunity to succeed and contribute to the overall development of the district.

Walter-Akpani

Okunola

Ricketts

Soetan

Uzor

From Rookie to Stardom with Sights Set on Greatness

Buoyed by the laurels and plaudits garnered by her debut film at this year’s Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival, the British-Nigerian filmmaker Kambili Ofili aspires to stir up conversations and empathy around typically stigmatised themes. Okechukwu Uwaezuoke reports

Surely, it’s not so often that

Troops Recover 118 Cows in Taraba

Troops of the 6 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Jalingo, have recovered 118 cows from bandits operating in the Karim Lamido Local Government Area of the state.

The Acting Assistant Director of 6 Brigade Army Public Relations, Captain Oni Olubodunde, in a statement, yesterday, said seven suspected terrorists have also been rounded up while caches of weapons were also recovered in separate operations

According to him, “Troops

of 6 Brigade deployed at Kambari acted on credible intelligence on suspected bandits attacking a Fulani settlement in Katlong Village of Karim Lamido council.

“They swiftly engaged the bandits who fled in disarray due to the heavy fire encountered by the troops.

“One suspected bandit named Yusuf Musa was arrested with one AK-47 rifle and 20 rounds of 7.62MM special ammunition. Also, 118 cows were recovered and handed over to the rightful

owners.

“Similarly, on 6 August 2024, troops received credible information on suspected bandits en route to Mashingi Village market in Karim Lamido Local Government Area to purchase food items.

“Troops strategically laid in wait and successfully arrested four suspected bandits named Yusuf Hassan, Mohammed Mamman, Haruna Illa, and Hammadu Shaibu.

“Items recovered from them include one motorcycle, four phones, and N57,000 only.”

Edo SSG, Osarodion Ogie, Formally Bows Out to Be Ighodalo’s Running Mate

Adibe Emenyonu in BeninCity

The Secretary to Edo State Government (SSG), Mr. Osarodion Ogie, has formerly resigned his position to pursue his political ambition.

Ogie who tendered his resignation on August 9, 2024, has already been nominated as the running mate to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo in the September 21 election.

Speaking, he said his resignation is in tandem with the Electoral Act which mandates political appointees who want to contest elections to resign 30 days before the election.

“It was in fulfillment of this requirement that had to resign to face my deputy governorship ambition in the forthcoming election in the state.

Reaction to the resignation,

the Publisher of Midwest Herald, Orobosa Omo-Ojo, described Ogie as a colossus who bestrode Edo State politics and shaped it like no other statesman.

Omo-Ojo who was in the cabinet class of 2012 with Ogie under the administration of Adams Oshiomohle, said, “Politics would not be in such perilous state if more players followed Ogie wise, but ruthlessly pragmatic approach to it.” He further said: “The humane, Clement and tolerant Osarodion Ogie, bows out of his office as Secretary to Edo State Government after a meritorious service that lasted two months short of 16 years.”

Also, the twin brother to former Chief of Staff (CoS) to Governor Godwin Obaseki, Taiwo Francis Akerele, Kehinde Ozeto Akerele while congratulating Ogie, described him as a great man who has always

Kola Adesina at 60: Celebrating the Subtle But Effective Leader

Adebola Williams

Afew days ago, someone asked me to mention the top five most influential mentors in my life, I didn’t bat an eyelid when I mentioned Sir K as one of them.

operated an open door policy both in the office and at home.

“The first time I had a personal encounter with you, (Ogie) I went home thinking so this is SSG like this. From the gate to your living room, nobody asked me who I was looking for. Next day you asked me to see you in the office with another person, it was still the same thing, all doors were open. Indeed you are a great man. I wish you well in your future endeavours, good health, long life and prosperity Sir,” Akerele said.

Before now Ogie was the Principal Partner, Osarodion Ogie & Co. He was also Chief of Staff (CoS) to Adams Oshiomohle in 2008 and later appointed Commissioner for Works from 2012 to 2016 when he became SSG Governor Obaseki, a position he held until his resignation on Friday, August 9, 2024.

Otti Reviews Retirement Age of Nurses to 65 Years, Sets up Committee on New Minimum Wage

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

As part of the efforts to stem the tide of ‘japa’ syndrome in the health sector in Abia State, Governor Alex Otti has announced an upward adjustment of the retirement age for nurses.

He said nurses in the state would now retire at 65 years instead of the existing retirement age of 60. The governor made known the new policy on Friday night during his monthly media interaction at the Government House in Umuahia, saying that the new retirement age would become effective next week.

Teachers working in Abia public schools have already been enjoying a new retirement

age and extended years of service since May 2023.

On the planned Abia Medical City, the governor stated the state-of-the-art city would be realised in partnership with two international medical groups - Extended Hands and Lifted Hands.

“We are committing everything to it because it is going to be one of our signature projects,” he said, adding the major aim of initiating the project was to reverse medical tourism.

Governor Otti also allayed the anxiety of the state employees over the implementation of the new minimum wage of N70,000, which was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu.

He said a committee had been set up to work out the modalities for the implementation of the

minimum wage in Abia State in a way that would take into account the “meagre resources” of the state.

Otti had earlier promised that his government would be among the first to implement any minimum wage agreed on based on the tripartite negotiation by the government, organised labour, and the private sector. However, he explained that a committee had become necessary for the implementation of the new minimum wage as it entails consequential adjustments across the board.

According to him, the committee was collaborating with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC ) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) “to work out a solution that is practicable,” which would not suffocate the state.

EndBadGovernance Protests: Patriots to Hold Town Hall Meetings Across Nigeria

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

Some eminent Nigerians have revealed plans to hold town hall meeting across the country to proffer solutions to the social and economic challenges being experienced by citizens which triggered the ongoing hardship protests in the nation.

The Convener of the parley, under the aegis of Patriotic Nigerians, Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu, disclosed this to journalists at a news conference in Abuja yesterday.

Kachikwu who was the presidential candidate of the African

Democratic Congress in the 2023 general election, said members of the group would fund the nationwide exercise without government involvement.

He explained that the essence of the parley, which would be physical and virtual was to draw government attention to the critical needs of Nigerians in the various geopolitical zones and the solutions to their challenges.

The former ADC presidential candidate whose brother, Ibe Kachikwu, was a former group managing director of the NNPC between August 2015 to July 4,

2016, also pleaded with the protesting youths to leave the streets and embrace the proposed Town Hall Meetings of the patriots.

He said: “In the coming days I and a few other patriotic Nigerians will be hosting townhalls and spaces devoted to aggregating solutions to our many complex problems from the best and brightest amongst us.

“I enjoin all well-meaning Nigerians, all opposition parties, the ruling party, and well-wishers and friends of our dear nation to join us at any of the solution roundtables that will be coming up.

One trait that all my mentors share is an enviable work ethic. They behave as though they have nothing but God and hard work. Privileges, networks and accolades are secondary to them. The work and the goal always come first. Sir K sees hard work as the true test of mettle. His story of grace to grace from Shomolu to the boardroom resonates deeply with my journey from Surulere and I have been privileged to glean from his incredible well of wisdom.

His work as an executive director at the Sahara Group has helped to position the multinational conglomerate as a market leader in the fossil and renewable energies industry. His impact is felt in Nigeria, where he advises on the boards of several influential companies including the largest power distribution business and the largest thermal plant in the region, serving thirty million homes and businesses in Nigeria alone. He also believes in knowledge sharing and routinely accepts opportunities to share his experience on energy-related issues with industry leaders. Sir K has leveraged years of experience in management and business diplomacy and his Harvard and Wharton degrees to help governments across Africa devise innovative solutions to the continent’s energy problems. His contributions to the development of Nigeria’s contemporary economy are inimitable, and he demonstrates his belief in the potential of our young talent by facilitating the employment of 1,000 engineers across different functions across his organisations.

During his time as the chair of our company’s board of directors, he demonstrated excellent interpersonal skills and offered uncommon wisdom that helped us push our business to new frontiers. He was always available for meetings, punctual with obligations, available to guide in crisis, nurture in private, and promote our cause in public. When I have been at a crossroads in recent years, I have turned to him for his invaluable wisdom and his words have illuminated my path.

When we began planning his 60th birthday, he made it clear, he wanted a small and solemn celebration. It was unexpected, especially for a Nigerian man of his standing. Here, it is expected that at 60, a man should receive tributes and praises that massage his ego and exaggerate his achievements. But not Sir K. He said, “I just want people to celebrate with friends and family, I just want them and also I to have fun. I want it to be a fun night. It’s not about me or my ego. It’s just a night to thank God who has made it all possible by feasting with friends.” Well, he isn’t winning that battle but that’s his desire and it shows the kind of man he is.

Sir K has a special gift of seeing a seed and the tree it can become. Many evenings, I have been invited to his dinner table to break bread with young entrepreneurs, tech, finance, oil and gas CEOs, comedians, and musicians; some upcoming, a few established. He always surrounds himself with young people especially those he can help up the ladder.

Tomorrow at his birthday celebration, the play to be presented is by a young group in his church. When we extensively discussed options, we had many groups with a proven track record to deliver excellent performances. Sir K was emphatic that this group should do it. He said, “I want to give them a chance”. Trusting his discernment, I encouraged the committee to let them audition, and if we were unsatisfied, we would make adjustments.

And boy did they deliver! When I watched the rehearsals, this little-known theatre amazed me, and tomorrow, because of this great man’s belief, they will present before presidents, captains of industry and the high and mighty.

One shy to take the centre stage, one not wanting to compete with God, one who just wants to be. I have walked into several rooms by his side where he insists I am accorded the same honour as he. He is a simple man who prefers subtlety to shows of power.

I remember one evening he had asked me to come with him to an event where he

Adesina

wanted me to meet a president of a country. It was a last-minute decision and he hadn’t had the time to inform the organisers. On getting there, there was a bit of chaos at the door because of the lack of prior notice. The organisers pleaded that he be seated whilst they made accommodations for me. He thanked them but refused to go in. He stood with me until arrangements were made to seat me.

This was a humbling and educational experience for me. A demonstration of the kind of consideration that has made him a friend to presidents. You would be hardpressed to find a photo of him with a global leader anywhere on the internet, except for the rare occasions when official duties necessitates. But Sir K is a trusted advisor to many global leaders and captains of industry, because he has earned their trust, proven his capacity and shown discretion.

I know this will upset Sir K, but I feel the occasion demands that I break the strict policy of silence he has about his philanthropy and talk about some of the many ways he has given back to his community. Sir K is a quiet doer, not concerned with optics, only impact. I will respect his embargo but I feel compelled to mention that his philanthropy encompasses infrastructural development, humanitarian work, education, access to healthcare, innovation and mentorship. There are thousands of us who are grateful beneficiaries of his limitless potential for charity.

Sir K is a present father to his children Oluwatimilehn, Oluwagbemisoke and Oluwafamimora, and an exemplary husband to Mosunmola, his wife. His devotion to his family and faith is only rivalled by his commitment to corporate excellence. Sir K would always say, “be nothing and God everything”. He never jokes with his prayers at dusk nor his vigils at dawn and plays an active role in his church. Unlike many, he also worships at a local church and supports all their projects. He believes that God is everywhere, but like Elijah, he hears God best where there is less noise. With national honours to his name and global recognition, I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor.

Today I thank Sir Kola Adesina for giving me unprecedented access to learn from his life, for using his candle to light mine, for holding my hand up as I climb the ladder of life.

Today I doff my hat to a leader, a friend, a nation builder, a mentor, and an exemplary husband and a father.

Happy birthday sir and thank you!

Editor

IN THE ARENA

#EndBadGovernance Protests as a Wake-up Call in the North

The inability of the northern governors to effectively interpret the #EndBadGovernance protests in their states, coupled with the prevailing poverty and illiteracy in the area, may have exacerbated the levels of anarchy and destruction witnessed in the region, Wale Igbintade writes

The #EndBadGovernance protests across the country may have come and gone, but they clearly have exposed the fact that northern Nigeria is on the precipice, which has the potential to spread to other regions.

While the protests affected many states in the South-west, their impact was particularly severe in some northern states, where massive destruction on public and private facilities, as well as loss of lives were recorded.

Though security agencies have debunked the reports that at least 40 protesters were killed by security operatives who were desperate to quell the protest especially in the region, the fact remains that several lives were lost.

While many believe that a timely broadcast by President Bola Tinubu could have helped douse tensions across the country, the level of anarchy and looting observed in the northern states exposed a troubling lack of crisis management skills among the governors.

The northern region is particularly hardhit by the current hunger and poverty in the country, exacerbated by President Tinubu’s removal of the fuel subsidy and the devaluation of the naira, which have driven up food prices. This situation is further aggravated by rampant insecurity and the inability of people to access their farms.

Despite producing the highest number of presidents and heads of state, the northern region remains the most backward in terms of development indices.

For instance, a recent report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) highlighted this stark reality.

Northern states rank among the poorest in Nigeria according to the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI).

Specifically, the index revealed that the region has a total of 86 million poor people across the three sub-regions. The number represents about 80 per cent of Nigeria’s poor people.

The MPI measures various deprivations at the household level in health, education, and standard of living, painting a grim picture of the region’s socio-economic conditions.

States such as Sokoto, Taraba, and Jigawa

consistently top the list of Nigeria’s poorest, illustrating the depth and breadth of poverty in northern Nigeria.

This enduring poverty is aggravated by low literacy rates, with many children out of school, while inadequate healthcare services, leads fuels high maternal and infant mortality rates.

The region has also been battling divergent security challenges, including the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-east, farmersherders, as well as religious clashes in the North-central and banditry across the Northwest. Thousands of people have as a result, been killed or displaced in the crises that seem unending.

From having the highest number of states that cannot sustain themselves without federal allocations to a growing number of outof-school children and a lack of sufficient manufacturing industries, northern Nigeria has been groaning in pain as the fight for survival continues, albeit in a difficult situation.

Unfortunately, the leaders, particularly the state governors despite huge allocations, have failed to address the problem of high illiteracy level or come up with a united position on ways to stop the killings and kidnapping of innocent citizens.

Added to the above challenges, some retrogressive cultural practices which have re-

tarded progress in the region, need to be abolished.

Speaking at the 4th edition of the Kaduna Investment Summit (KadInvest 4.0) a few years ago, Chairman of the Dangote Group of Companies, Aliko Dangote, berated northern governors for doing little to end poverty in the region. He added that northern Nigeria would continue to remain poor unless state governments collaborate with the private sector to create investments and close development gaps in the region.

According to him, “Nigeria is ranked at 157th out of 189 countries on the human development index. While the overall socio-economic condition in the country is a cause for concern, the regional disparities are, in fact, very alarming. In the northwestern and northeastern parts of Nigeria, more than 60 per cent of the population lives in extreme poverty.

“It is instructive to know that the 19 northern states, which account for over 54 per cent of Nigeria’s population and 70 per cent of its landmass, collectively generate only 21 per cent of the total sub-national IGR in the year 2017. Northern Nigeria will continue to fall behind if the respective state governments do not move to close the development gap,” Dangote explained.

The Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF) has repeatedly voiced deep concerns over the alarming increase in the number of out-ofschool children in the region, labelling it as a pressing issue that demands immediate attention, but has done nothing to check this growing trend.

Speaking at its meeting in Kaduna, the Chairman of the forum, Governor Muhammadu Yahaya of Gombe State, decried that northern Nigeria currently shoulders the unfortunate burden of hosting the highest number of outof-school children globally.

POLITICAL NOTES

He emphasised the urgency of addressing the ‘unacceptable reality,’ asserting, “Every child deserves access to quality education to thrive in today’s dynamic global economy.”

He stressed the moral obligation of investing substantially in education, healthcare, and social services to unleash the full potential of youth and empower future generations.

Northern leaders have continued to unwittingly encourage and promote illiteracy and poverty among the common people by encouraging certain practices.

Speaking after paying a courtesy visit recently to the Emir of Zazzau, in Kaduna State, Ambassador Nuhu Bamali, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, said the country needs to urgently tackle the devastating effects of poverty and insecurity in the northern region of Nigeria through agriculture and industrial revolution.

Obi lamented that the majority of the vast arable lands in the North are uncultivated while most of the industries in the region have shut down due to a lack of political will and inconsistent government economic policies.

“The way things are in our country today requires that all of us must get involved in one way or the other. Nigeria has nothing to do with poverty if those of us who are political leaders, including my humble self, had decided to serve the country faithfully. Because if we do, Nigeria will have nothing to do with poverty.

“Looking at the North; we can make more money from agriculture than we are making from oil. We have vast uncultivated land in the North, which can help pull people out of poverty, provide food for Nigeria, provide raw materials for industrialisation, and support export. We need to invest in the North. Insecurity is driven by poverty; the more you pull people out of poverty, the more you reduce insecurity,” he said.

It is hoped that northern governors and other leaders have learnt serious lessons from the #EndBadGovernance protests, which were fuelled by their failure to provide responsible leadership over the years. The time to rescue the region should start now because a stitch in time, they say, saves nine.

Finally, PDP’s Hammer Falls on Samuel Ortom

Former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, seems to have started paying for his role in weakening the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which contributed to the party losing the state under his watch.

Many political analysts are of the view that his recent suspension from the PDP by the state chapter of the party was due to his inability to install a successor after weakening the PDP with other members of the G-5 governors.

According to them, if Ortom had installed a successor like former Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, the party in the state would

not have suspended him.

Only Ortom and former Governor of Abia State, Okezie Okpeazu are members of the G-5 that could not produce successors.

In a statement issued recently, the Secretary of the PDP in Benue State, Joseph Nyam, alleged that during the Ward Congresses held on the July 27, 2024, the former governor led and abetted the snatching of election materials, resulting in the non-conduct of the congresses at Buruku, Gboko, Ushongo, Guma, Tarka, Rwande, and Ohimini LGAs. Ortom was suspended for one month in the first instance, and recommended to the State Disciplinary Committee for further actions. Ahead of the 2023 elections, Ortom was one of

the five governors of the PDP who formed the G-5 and weakened the PDP by working against the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar.

Other members of the G5 were Wike, Ugwuanyi, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, and Ikpeazu.

The G-5 members were led by Wike, who became disgruntled after he lost the presidential and vicepresidential tickets of the party to Atiku and former Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, respectively. Ortom had recently called on Benue PDP to vote for APC in the 2027 presidential election.

Unfortunately for him, he could not retain control the PDP structure in the state after losing the state to the APC, unlike Wike, Makinde and Ugwuanyi whose loyalists are effectively controlling the PDP in their states.

Ortom

Yahaya

BRIEFING NOTES

Awaiting N’Assembly’s Resolution on Mamman’s Retrogressive Age Limit

Nigerians are awaiting the decision of the National Assembly on the backward age limit for university admission imposed on stakeholders in the education sector by the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman to truncate the university education of young Nigerians within the ages of 15, 16 and 17, and potentially increase the number of out-of-school children in the country, Ejiofor Alike reports

Despite the enormous challenges that have crippled the public universities in Nigeria, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman has embarked on an unpopular agenda that will truncate the university education of young Nigerians with his backward age limit policy, which he rammed down the throats of other stakeholders in the education sector.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) have been embarking on industrial actions since 2009, which disrupted the academic calendar of public universities and encouraged the proliferation of private universities as more Nigerians boycott government-owned schools.

The age limit for admission seekers has never been part of the grievances of university lecturers and the non-teaching staff.

But in this 21st Century when young Nigerians within the ages of 16 and 17 years have demonstrated exceptional academic excellence and brought fame to their countries, Mamman is obsessed with a retrogressive policy of excluding students under the age of 18 from gaining admission into universities, citing the outdated 6-3-3-4 education system introduced about 40 years ago.

Many Nigerians, especially those from a certain part of the country believe that the minister’s insistence that very brilliant Nigerians should wait at their parents’ homes for two or three years after their secondary school education before gaining admission into the universities, is a deliberate design to push their children out of school.

Rather than being excited that young Nigerians are embracing university education, Mamman had while monitoring the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Bwari, Federal CapitalTerritory (FCT) early this year, announced that “the minimum age of entry into the university is 18, but we have seen students who are 15, 16 years going in for the entrance examination.”

“Parents should be encouraged not to push their wards too much. Mostly, it is the pressure of parents that is causing this.

“We are going to look at this development because the candidates are too young to understand what the whole university education is all about.

“This is the period when children migrate from controlled to uncontrolled environments, when they are in charge of their own affairs.

“But, if they are too young, they won’t be able to manage properly. I think that is part of what we are seeing in the universities today,” he reportedly said.

Curiously, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, Senator Muntari Dandutse, had subsequently promised that his committee would come up with legislation to support this policy.

More shocking was the fact that ASUU, which had never raised the issue of age limit as part of its grievances, threw its weight behind the minister as its President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, was quoted as saying that the proposal was a welcome development.

However, young admission seekers experienced a sigh of relief when the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Adeyemi Adaramodu, in an interview with a group of journalists in May this year, clarified that nothing would be done on the minimum age requirement until stakeholders in the education sector pushed for a bill.

Many were optimistic that the federal lawmakers would not succumb to the minister’s personal agenda and pass

any backward bill that pegs the age of admission seekers at 18.

But without waiting for any bill, Mamman has rammed his obnoxious policy down the throats of all the stakeholders in the education sector.

Speaking at the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) 2024 policy meeting in July, Mamman insisted on the 18 years age limit for admission into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, with effect from 2025.

The minister claimed that the decision was already a “policy” the federal government had keyed into, insisting that even candidates seeking admission in 2024 must be 18 years old.

His statements further fuelled the suspicions of hidden motive when he suggested that aggrieved parties should approach the National Assembly to amend the policy.

If the minister actually meant well, why should he dust off what seems like a long-abandoned policy and advise aggrieved parties seeking its reversal to approach the federal lawmakers instead of allowing the policy to remain in the dustbin where he met it?

When his pronouncement that the policy would be implemented in this year’s admission was greeted

NOTES FOR FILE

The Raid of NLC Secretariat

Thegestapostylewithwhichheavilyarmed policemen lastWednesday night invaded the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) headquarters inAbuja,commonlyknownasLabourHouse,is a sign of emerging dictatorship in the country.

During the raid, policemen were said to have ransacked both the second and 10th floors where they carted away some documents.

The action came on the heels of the union’s condemnation of the administration’s handling of the hunger protest.

Recall that the NLC had last Saturday stronglycondemnedthehigh-handedmanner that security agents treated protesters in many parts of the country, alleging that it was shocked that over 40 protesters were suspected to have been killed in just two days.

In a statement titled: ‘Stop this Mas-

sacre’, the President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, threatened that Organised Labour might be forced to declare an industrial action to protect innocent citizens if the wanton destruction of human lives by the police continued.

Though the reason for the raid has not been revealed, it clearly reminded Nigerians how Ajaero was in December last year, seriously beaten and detained in Imo State when the NLC enforced an industrial action in the state.

The police authorities did not take action against Ajaero’s attackers until the organised labour picketed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and further threatenedanationwidestrikeunlesspolice authorities fish out the officers involved in the shameful conduct.

with shouts of “no, no” by the crowd of education stakeholders, he gave one year of grace and agreed that the policy would take effect from 2025.

The Executive Secretary of JAMB, Professor Ishaq Olanrewaju Oloyede, recently gave an indication that there would be no going back on the implementation of the policy next year as he cautioned parents against falsification of age of their children and wards in an attempt to meet the 18-year minimum age requirement.

“Fortunately, the honourable minister has agreed that this year it’ll be 16. We should get our acts right and we should agree that abnormality is becoming normal,” he reportedly explained on the sideline of the presentation of the Academic and Research Excellence Award to a renowned Ilorin-based legal giant, Professor Yusuf Olaolu Ali (SAN), by the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Osun State. Oloyede’s statement confirmed the fact that the policy was a personal agenda of the minister.

Admission into the universities in many advanced countries is based on the academic achievements of the students and their capacities to cope as undergraduates, and not on archaic, retrogressive, and backward age limits.

Early this year, a 17-year-old Nigerian and member of the Class of 2023 of The Ambassadors College, Ota, Ogun State, Master Oluwafemi Ositade, secured 14 scholarships worth $3,5 million to multiple Ivy League universities in the United States, including Harvard, as well as other top-notch universities in Canada and Qatar.

The renowned universities that extended scholarship offers to Ositade were Harvard University, Brown University, Duke University, University of Toronto Lester B Pearson Scholarship, Wesleyan University, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, University of Miami, Howard University, Stetson University, Fisk University, University of Toronto, Mississauga Campus, University of Toronto St. George Campus, University of Toronto, Scarborough Campus and Drexel University.

With a score of 358 in the JAMB’s UTME, Ositade had ranked as the second-best in Nigeria in 2023. In the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), Ositade scored eight As and one B2

The National Assembly should rise to the occasion and save the university education of many other Oluwafemis before the education minister frustrates them out of school and retard their progress.

The minimum age for admission into the universities is not one of the challenges that destroyed public universities in Nigeria. There is absolutely nothing wrong when a child enters the university at 16.

That was when the Inspector General of Police (IG) ordered “investigation” into the incident and promised that “appropriate actions will be taken based on the findings of the investigation”.

Till date, nothing has been heard on the matter just like other investigations police had launched.

Last Wednesday’s action of the security personnel is not only condemnable, but a clear reminder of the days of military regimes. It portrays the federal government as being dictatorial, tyrannical and intolerant of criticisms.

This is why the federal government needs to be warned that the asphyxiation of the public space and channels for constructive engagement, dialogue and negotiations in light of the excruciating difficulties that Nigerians are going through right now would only make matters worse.

The federal government and its agents should retrace their steps.

Ajaero

Mamman

Deception Leads the Race in Edo Guber Election

As the governorship election in Edo State approaches, the Peoples Democratic Party has accused the opposition All Progressives Congress of deploying falsehood and propaganda to gain undue advantage over its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, writes Wale Igbintade

With the September 21 governorship election in Edo State just around the corner, political parties, their leaders and candidates have stepped up campaigns across the length and breadth of the state to seek the support of voters for their candidates. In the process, lies and propaganda have become widespread tools in their efforts.

It is against this backdrop that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Asue Ighodalo Campaign Organisation recently accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its leaders of pushing out falsehoods to gain undue advantage in the election.

A former governor of the state, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who recently appeared on ARISE NEWS Channel’s The Morning Show, criticised Ighodalo, declaring him unelectable following allegations of constitutional violations and fraud.

Oshiomhole criticized Ighodalo as a “double-breasted consultant” unfamiliar with local issues, stating that he cannot support someone he considers a stranger and cannot speak his mother tongue.

He said: “Asue Ighodalo is not electable. Right now, he fraudulently, according to the Federal High Court, manipulated and disobeyed the constitution. As we speak, he is not even a candidate. Nigerians don’t want a double-breasted consultant, transaction expert with one hand in their pocket.”

Oshiomhole, also a former National Chairman of the APC, described Ighodalo as unfit to govern the state, having been disqualified by the Court of Appeal.

Reacting to his outburst, the Director of Strategy, Asue Ighodalo Campaign Organisation, Ose Anenih, accused the former governor of shamelessly going to television stations to sell the candidate of his party, Senator Monday Okpebholo whom he described as a bad product.

He argued that instead of addressing the issues affecting Edo people, such as insecurity and hunger caused by policies from the APC-led federal government, Oshiomhole continues to focus on Ighodalo being a stranger who doesn’t speak the local language.

Anenih also accused Oshiomhole of backing a candidate with no pedigree. He stated that Oshiomhole knows too well that he does not believe that Okpebholo is competent to lead the state, explaining that that was why he supported Hon Idahosa during the APC governorship primary.

According to him, if not for President Bola Tinubu, who ordered a fresh primary election, Okpebholo would not have been on the ticket.

He added that if Ighodalo was unelectable and not in touch with his people, why did he appoint him as a member his economic team when he was governor from 2008 to 2016?

“Oshiomohole is a confused man. He did not initially support Okpebholo. It was Idahosa he supported in the first kangaroo primary election they held until President Tinubu ordered them to organise a fresh election, which was an embarrassment to him.

“Politicians like Oshiomhole should not be taken seriously. He tells lies freely. If he claims that Ighodalo is unelectable and not in touch with his people, why did he appoint him as a member his economic team when he was governor?

“I think comrade has transitioned from a comrade to a champagne socialist and has lost touch with the Nigerian people. That’s why, for instance, when he was talking about the protest, he would say, he doesn’t know Deji Adeyanju. So, I don’t think he’s speaking the truth. He came to push lies and propaganda.

“With all due respect, I think he did even

worse. He came pushing an ethnic agenda. I was truly disappointed that instead of speaking to the issue that affects Edo people, their insecurity, and their hunger caused by policies being pushed by the government he represents, he keeps talking about Asue being a stranger who doesn’t speak the language.

“It was an eyesore to see Oshiomhole lying shamelessly on national television in a futile effort to sell the candidate of the APC in the September 21 governorship election.

“From his body language during the live programme and with his

incoherence, it is obvious that the APC are at their wit’s end because they decided on fielding a candidate that can barely express himself in public and articulate his policy programmes to Edo people.

“What became apparent in the course of the interview is the fact that the APC has placed propaganda and fake lies at the heart of their campaign, with Oshiomhole making reference to a fake court judgment in defending the APC candidate.

“The APC and its chieftains have continued to peddle falsehoods, including but not limited to even fabrication of doctored Court of Appeal judgments in social media. This level of criminality shows their desperation to

‘capture’ Edo State by all means and return the state to darkness. Their frantic attempts should be rejected by all,” he explained.

Anenih stated further that Oshiomhole’s attacks on Ighodalo were unfounded and infantile, and do not speak to substance but only emotive given that the APC has no policy or agenda for Edo people.

“It is for this reason that the people must reject the APC come September 21, as they have nothing to offer Edo people other than suffering and gnashing of teeth. So, when the people troop out on September 21, they are going to reject the APC and their baggage of adversity and hardship and reward the PDP for its unwavering commitment to the growth and progress of Edo State,” he added.

Anenih faulted Oshiomhole for saying that Ighodalo had been disqualified by the Court of Appeal, wondering if he would come on air to lie against the judiciary. He added that there was no court verdict disqualifying the PDP governorship candidate from contesting the September 21 governorship election.

Highlighting a series of court cases and judicial pronouncements that ultimately resulted in the nomination of Asue as PDP flag bearer, Anenih said these include, Philip Shaibu vs Ighodalo, where Justice James Omotosho, held that Shaibu did not have the legal standing to challenge the outcome of the primary because he did not fully participate in the exercise, neither was he present at the venue on the day it took place.

“Also, in the case of Anselm Ojezua vs Ighodalo, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, in his judgment delivered on June 27, 2024, struck out the suit brought before him by the aggrieved PDP governorship aspirant.

“The court held that the suit, which was filed on March 6, was premature, stressing that the plaintiff failed to explore the internal dispute resolution mechanism of the party before instituting the action.

“Also, on July 4, 2024, the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, entered a judgment in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/165 of 2024 (Hon. Kelvin Mohammed & 2 ORS Vs INEC & 3 Ors), which was filed by some aggrieved persons who claimed that they were authentic delegates wrongly excluded from participating in the election of the PDP flag bearer for the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Edo State,” he said.

He also recalled that the judgment of Justice A. M Lamido-led three-man panel of the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja dismissed the case brought before it by the reinstated Edo Deputy Governor, Shaibu, thereby upholding the ruling of the trial court, which affirmed Ighodalo as the valid candidate.

The Federal High Court had ruled that the appellant did not satisfy the condition precedent (internal dispute resolution mechanism) before instituting the action and, therefore, declared that the suit was premature.

Upholding the judgment of the trial court, the panel held that the suit was premature, noting that the position of the lower court was unassailable.

The court, therefore, awarded a cost of N1,000,000 against Shaibu in favour of Ighodalo, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and two others.

According to Anenih, “After fruitlessly pursuing these cases, the APC has resorted to disruption of the political space in order to use chaos and violence as a strategy to forcefully take over government in Edo State.

“Their strategy will not work as the people are seeing through their lies and subterfuge. Come September 21, the people will prove to APC and their minions that it is good work that sells a candidate not intimidate, federal might or violence,” he added.

Oshiomhole

Ighodalo

would protesters invade the Kano government house? The state is governed by the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), not the All Progressives Congress (APC), so why should Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf be the target of protesters when the macro-economic policies are orchestrated by the APC-led government in Abuja? Why should Tinubu be asked to resign and be replaced by Atiku when the constitution is clear on who succeeds him?

Being president of Nigeria is no tea party. Challenges must come. Conspiracies must surface. Let us look back a bit. When President Olusegun Obasanjo was in power, he faced quite a number of crises in his early days. Perhaps, the biggest was the introduction of Sharia criminal code by 12 northern states. Shari’a had always been for civil affairs, but it was being scaled up to criminal matters which had been the exclusive preserve of our criminal laws. Zamfara state, which in 2000 became the first to adopt the Sharia criminal code, amputated the hand of Bello Buba Jangebe, a cow thief, to show that it meant business. Two women were sentenced to death for adultery in other Shari’a states.

MISS CHIEF

Ms Chidimma Adetshina, born in South Africa to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother, found herself in a nasty situation when she decided to contest for Miss South Africa. She ordinarily should qualify to be a South African — having lived there all the 23 years of her life so far — but she was branded a “foreigner” and now, one of her parents is being investigated for allegedly obtaining citizenship through identity theft. This is not a coincidence. We may talk all the legal jargons, but the fact is that this is indisputably another episode in the senseless cold war between Nigeria and South Africa, or should I say between Nigerians and South Africans. MTN, Multichoice and all that. Silly.

their savings. Prices of some commonly used or consumed food items have tripled or even quadrupled. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the prices of brown beans surged by 252% and tomatoes by 320% between June 2023 and June 2024. The corresponding months of the two years indicate this is not about seasonality. A country with such rapid hikes in food prices is just an orange-pip-spit away from trouble.

To be sure, there are different drivers of the current high prices in the country. But the major culprits are the after-effects of the signature reforms of the Tinubu administration: removal of petrol subsidy and floating of the Naira. Both reforms are necessary and should have been implemented long ago, as I have submitted here on many occasions. For instance, Nigeria splurged $10 billion on petrol subsidy alone in 2022, a year when debt service consumed more than 80% of Federal Government’s retained revenue. The country was simply burning the money it didn’t have and was hurtling towards a thinly-disguised ditch. So, petrol subsidy was unsustainable and an unwise way of allocating scarce resources. It needed to go.

However, while the president still deserves applause for having the guts to take on the subsidy that most Nigerians have become passionately wedded to, he cannot be absolved of the charge that he undertook this significant reform without adequate thoughts and provisions for those that would be disproportionately affected it, especially the poor. It is well documented that petrol subsidy removal would lead to a hike in the costs of transportation and food, two things that the poor spend almost all of their incomes on. More than a year after what has come off more like an impulsive than a considered policy action, we are still discussing how to cushion the effects of subsidy removal on the poor, and petrol subsidy, clearly, has crept back because of the next thing the government did.

On 14th June 2023, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), with a clear nod from above, introduced another major shock: the floating of the Naira. This can be termed the most egregious step taken by the administration so far. The gap between the official and parallel exchange rates has narrowed and forex-denominated revenue of the government has swollen to the extent that exchange gain is now the third highest component of revenue shared by FAAC (after

Obasanjo’s initial response was to fiercely condemn and threaten the Shari’a states but having seen the brick wall ahead of him (there were unconfirmed rumours that the Supreme Court was going to rule in favour of the states), he decided to calm down. It seemed to me that he realised, and accepted, that it was a political challenge that he needed to handle with tact. He changed rhetoric, saying that there was the “real Shari’a” and the “political Shari’a”. He predicted that the “political Shari’a” would soon fade out. Today, it appears only Kano is still operating Shari’a in a newsworthy format with the frequent breaking of bottles of beer and mass arrest of “immoral” mannequins. It was not easy for Obasanjo. The Shari’a riots between 2000 and 2002, mostly in the north-west, claimed thousands of lives. It was bloodshed upon bloodshed. As if this was not enough trouble, Jos, Plateau state, exploded. The riot of September 2001, sparked off by some seemingly innocuous development (they said one Christian lady walked past a Muslim praying ground or one Muslim politician got a political appointment ahead of a Christian — all sorts

of theories), led to the deaths of at least 1,000 persons. Jos has not known peace since then. Obasanjo also faced an impeachment process in 2002. His supporters blamed his travails on northerners who wanted power back in 2003. It may also interest us to recall that some anti-Obasanjo protesters called for the military to overthrow him, although they did not fly the Russian flag. Rather, pro-Osama bin Laden and “Death to America” rallies were common in Kano. When people make it look like Obasanjo had an easy time in power, I tend to think time has erased our memory. He had it rough and tough, some of his own making and some out of political intrigues. He survived and somehow got a second term. But he managed to unite almost the entire country against himself with the ill-fated third term agenda. Overall, he played the complicated politics of leading Nigeria and implementing economic reforms.

Tinubu is now facing his own baptism of fire. How will he handle it? Will he play the regional card by insisting it is a northern conspiracy against him in order to gain the sympathy of southerners, most of whom voted against him in 2023? Will

And Four Other Things…

CAMPAIGN PAIN

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state aimed hot shots at President Tinubu on Wednesday in what may be an effective kick-off of the 2027 presidential election campaign. Commenting on the nationwide protest, Mohammed — who was minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from 2010-2015 and is a staunch member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) — took aim at the government of the All Progressives Congress (APC). “It’s their programmes that have caused all these problems. If Tinubu continues like this, in 2027, I will invite him to be our campaign director because everywhere would be PDP, and we are going to win because it is self-inflicted injury,” he fired. Ouch!

I watched in pains as Ms Annette Echikunwoke represented the US in hammer throw at the Paris Olympics. It is not strange for athletes to fly “a flag of convenience” and win medals for their adopted countries. But Echikunwoke’s case is different and painful. Born in the US to Nigerian parents, all she wanted to do was represent her ancestral country where her heart was. But we messed her up. Because of an administrative lapse, she was disqualified from the 2020 Olympics over Nigeria’s failure to comply with the out-of-competition testing (OCT) requirement. Echikunwoke had already set the African record by then. Nobody can blame her for deciding to jump ship. Heartbreaking.

statutory revenue and VAT). But Naira has experienced a massive plunge, losing 53% at the parallel market and 71% at the official window. In an economy that imports a lot, businesses and individuals are reeling from the double and persistent whammy of price hikes and instability.

One of the things that the president and his team say so often these days is that the pains from the reforms are unavoidable. No, that is not exactly accurate. Yes, reforms come with pains, and delayed adjustments are accompanied by a higher order of anguish. But there is nothing inevitable about the quantum or the calibration of the misery inflicted through the reforms, especially the forex reform. One, floating the Naira was totally ill-advised. The CBN could have gradually devalued the Naira to what is now considered the fair value of our national currency. With that a dollar would still be below N1000 by now.

Two, floating the Naira without first securing adequate supply of forex to meet pent-up demands and muster enough firepower against speculators is a recipe for the rapid depreciation that we are living through. And three, floating the Naira shortly after removing petrol subsidy amounts not only to introducing double shocks

he engage in pragmatism — “give a little, take a little” — in order to keep his northern friends onside? There is no card he plays that will not come with a price. The regional card can backfire and make Aso Rock hotter for him (President Goodluck Jonathan definitely has a story to tell about this) but some southerners will be happy if it will eventually lead to balkanisation. The pacification card will require changing his style but it may hurt his ego.

Running a delicate country like Nigeria requires a lot of tact. Many presidents discover this too late, to their own hurt. As the US immigration officer told me, we have both economic and political problems. These are hefty weights. Fixing the badly broken economy is a monumental challenge on its own, but at least it is largely a technical issue. Managing political interests in a complex polity is another thing altogether. It requires a different skill set and mindset. What did Obasanjo get right (or wrong) when he faced his own baptism of fire in the games of policy, power and politics? What did other presidents get right (or wrong)? I am curious to see how Tinubu will handle his own baptism.

NO COMMENT

A state in the Federal Republic of Nigeria has not recruited into its civil service in 25 years. Those are not my words — they belong to Mr Erasmus Ekpang, commissioner for information, Cross River state. Governor Bassey Otu has now lifted the embargo. “As we speak, the state civil service is almost depleted and we are indeed happy that the governor has considered it necessary to recruit at this point in time,” Ekpang said. A quarter of a century? A whole generation? Civil service is the engine of government. It is where policies are formulated and implemented. Entries and exits are critical to keeping the wheel running. You mean a state has not replenished the stock in 25 years? Wonderful.

Government announced some consequential actions against soaring food prices. Those were good, emergency and time-barred moves that could have come at least three to six months earlier. Precious time had been wasted by key government officials in looking for scapegoats for high food prices. It is important not just to act, but also to act on time.

simultaneously on a long-suffering people but also to ignoring that there is a limit to the amount of pain the human body can tolerate. Pacing or sequencing is a key element in reform management. But it seems the reform team, if there was any, missed that memo.

So, it will be important for the Tinubu administration to acknowledge that it tried to do the right thing but in the wrong way or in the wrong order. It needs to own its mistake, make reasonable adjustments, and ensure that future actions are more carefully considered and undertaken with clear and robust strategies and plans. In terms of needed adjustments, it might be necessary, for example, to move from a free float of the Naira to a managed float. It is also worth considering freezing the forex rate used for imports or adjusting it on a quarterly basis. That will make for better planning and less fluctuation.

There are some areas where the government needs to take a hard look at itself. The first is its speed of response. Measures to cushion the effects of petrol subsidy removal should have been frontloaded or fast-tracked. There was a vacuous debate about the social register because some governors want to control the paltry sums meant the poorest households. In July, the Federal

The second is the need for the government to actively model the time we live in and take the lead in demonstrating the sacrifice that it is asking of or imposing on the citizens. Neither the pattern of budgetary allocations nor the way public officials carry themselves suggests that Nigeria is passing through a tough period. With the business-as-usual approach to budgeting in the main appropriation, with the mind-boggling extravagance in the budgets of the governmentowned entities, and with the talks about new presidential jets, the government either doesn’t get it or doesn’t care or is just plain insensitive. You can’t be inflicting pains on your citizens and be coasting around in obscene convoys, be prioritising new cars and new buildings, be fielding huge delegations to international meetings and be running a bloated, and mostly lacklustre, cabinet.

Third, the president needs to adopt a more inclusive, less alienating and more practical approach. He seems too eager to reward his Lagos loyalists with key appointments, without due sensitivity to the need for national spread. He is alienating key individuals and major sections of the country. Ruling a country, as with politics, is a game of addition, not subtraction. It is strange that this seems lost on someone regarded as a master political strategist. The triumphalist edge to his politics overlooks the point about the harm that a growing army of the alienated can do, especially in moments of real or concocted crisis.

President Tinubu, unexpectedly, has enjoyed a long honeymoon. But all honeymoons are like weekends: they don’t last forever. It is safe to assume that with the protests, Tinubu’s extended honeymoon has lapsed or is about to. He should brace himself for more confrontations. The right lesson for him to take from the protests this time will not be how to continue to win against those who confront or oppose him. But about the need to significantly address the underlying conditions that can make it easy for the genuinely hurting masses and various interested parties to join forces.

HAMMER BLOW

email:Duro.Ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

FALLOUT OF PARIS 2024 NO-SHOW

Enoh Plans Massive Shakeup of Nigeria’s Sports Federations

Says: “Federations are coming and it will be the perfect platform to get only those who have something to offer Nigerian sports to lead the various sports”

Duro Ikhazuagbe Live

Paris insisted here that there will of those to make up the new forthcoming elections later in the year.istry to prepare the athletesmance has not produced any

s curtains fall on the Paris 2024 Olymtoday after competitions, Minister of John Owan Enoh, has hinted that reconstitutions of theany medal here.

Stade de France to Host Paris 2024 Closing Ceremony Today

Snoop Dogg, Red Hot Chili Peppers, to feature in Los Angeles concert

heceremonywill take place today,

it will take place in a single locaplenty of surprises in store.

in the ceremony, it seems highly likely that Léon Marchand and closing ceremony

Producer Ben Winston, Closing Ceremony.

a terrorist attack plot during familiar with the planning for said security and crowd control

24 Athletes to Fly Nigeria Flag At 2024 Paralympic

Athletes and coaches depart for training tour in Germany

nlike the concluded Olympics, the2024Paralympicscommences of medals to 80.their training tour departure tosaid the two-day documentary

future occurrence of this Paris disaster and if this will entail elected to lead our sporting

Emphasizing the importance of upcoming federanoted, “I know that electionsplatform to get only those of these elections, he added, -

tions, their constitutions willempty handed as they did at

Team USA Stop Brazil, Win Fifth Women’s Football Gold

emerged as champions in 2024 yesterday after

legendary forward Megan Rapinoeanding on from the stands. in 2008. at either end of the pitch.

resident, of Olusegun Runsewe has sustained.

out of nowhere. of the park and played a pinpoint pass one, kept her composure to slot it home with 57 minutes on the clock. It was at this point Brazil turned to their third time since 2004. showing across all areas of the pitch,

of opportunity to organise a

the only place one could learn how to play golf in less than two weeks.-with a lot of rich history and artefacts as well as world-class

President, Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe with the IBB Ladies Golf Section (LGS) Retreat at the alluring Golf and Health Signature (GHS) in Abuja

in

Sports Minister John Enoh

Atiku to FG

“I call upon all Nigerians to take resolute actions to provide reassurance that both internal and external forces are not collaborating to prevent us from reaping the benefits promised by this eagerly anticipated transformative endeavour.” – Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, warning against any deliberate attempts to delay the progress of Dangote Refinery

SIMON KOLAWOLE

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

Here Comes Tinubu’s Baptism of Fire

An American immigration officer caught me unawares with a probing question. I was doing a research on five oil-producing countries on a comparative scale with Nigeria to draw out lessons for our leaders on policy environment, windfall management, upstream-downstream linkages, local content, and operations of national oil companies. I had travelled to Washington, DC to use the libraries of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In my hand was a book, ‘The Paradox of Plenty: Oil Booms and Petro-states’, authored by Terry Lynn Karl who explored why the oil boom of the 1970s produced disappointing outcomes in some countries, Nigeria inclusive.

“So, what do you think Nigeria’s problem is?” the immigration officer, who obviously saw the book, asked me. I was not expecting that. Until 2006, my answer to every question about “Nigeria’s problem” had always been “corruption”. I never had to think twice. The evidence was everywhere. However, upon deeper reflection — after studying the development trajectories of many countries across the world — I had come to realise that as big a problem as corruption was, incompetence would give it a run for its money. That was how I began to develop and peddle my pet theory that for Nigeria to break out of underdevelopment, our leaders must be BOTH patriotic and competent.

“Umm,” I stammered a response to the officer.

“I think it is—” He cut in, with a smile: “Let me help you. Some countries have political problems. Some have economic problems. Nigeria has both political and economic problems.” What a summary! The recent (or ongoing) protest in Nigeria

WAZIRI ADIO

POSTSCRIPT

reminded me of this conversation. There were clearly two aspects to the protest: there were those complaining about the economy and there were those playing politics. It was very glaring. Those interested in the economy were complaining about the price of garri and the cost of running government. Those playing politics were waving the Russian flag (ignore the lie that it was the flag of the Nigerian military) and calling for President Vladmir Putin to help overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government. Some of the protesters said Tinubu should resign and hand over to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who came second in the 2023 presidential election. Governor Uba Sani aptly captured this about the violent protest in Kaduna, his state. “When you see children within the ages of nine, 10 and 14 now raising the flag of another country, you will agree with me that it’s well designed, sponsored by some elements who are calling for anarchy in their own country. They took advantage by using the psychology of those children, knowing fully that here in Northern Nigeria, our people are close to our neighbouring countries, such as Niger Republic, making them to believe that what happened in Niger Republic can happen in Nigeria; what happened in Burkina Faso can happen in Nigeria and what happened in Mali can happen in Nigeria.”

I read several comments in WhatsApp groups and the platform formerly known as Twitter. Some suggested that the north was ganging up against Tinubu and would do anything to regain

political power in 2027. One commenter argued that northerners never protested over economic hardship under President Muhammadu Buhari but have suddenly found their voice because a southerner is president. The central theory, from what I can glean, is that some northern forces are moving against Tinubu because they cannot control him. Well, I am not a fan of conspiracy theories so don’t expect me to jump on the bandwagon. In any case, I also have my own issues with Tinubu’s leadership style. However, there is nothing happening so far that surprises me. I am well aware that the political and economic history of Nigeria did not start in 2023 or 2019 or 2015 — as you could be misled to think if you spend too much time on social media. Nigeria has always been complicated; the mistrust and competition between the north and the south has always been there. We went to war in 1967 basically as an aftermath of the 1966 coup which pitted a part of the country against another. More so, there is nothing strange about mutual suspicion in a multicultural society. Even in societies that are seemingly monolithic, there is still room for rancour. There is no perfect society in the world.

I am not suggesting that all conspiracy theories are false. Some things are too striking to be coincidental. Some of the protests and violence in the north are definitely politically motivated and have nothing to do with the inflation rate. Why

Taking Right Lessons from the Hunger Protests

In a way, the #EndBadGovernance or #EndHunger protests have not panned out exactly the way the organisers had planned. A few cities—notably Abuja, Lagos, Bauchi, Maiduguri, Kano and Kaduna—were grounded for a few days, and the president was dragged into making a national broadcast. But weariness and complications crept in, most citizens expectedly hurried back to their normal businesses, and the protests petered out.

Having weathered this storm—without sustaining more than a mere scratch—the President Bola Tinubu administration could be led to think that its containment strategy worked well, that it has developed a good template for handling future iterations, and that all is well and good. That will be a wrong lesson to take from these protests. As long as the underlying reasons for the protests remain or even worsen, all cannot be said to be well and good. The country will remain a tinderbox, and be vulnerable to the slightest spark. A few complications helped the government in taking the heat out of the hunger protests. The most obvious one is that the protests were

quickly infiltrated or hijacked by those whose agendas went beyond the cost-of-living crisis: those calling for a coup and for regime change; those trying to relitigate the outcome of the 2023 elections or positioning ahead of 2027; those calling for the president to resign and be replaced by one of his competitors in the last election; and those flying Russian flags and asking Vladmir Putin to intervene in Nigeria. Then, there was the looting of public and private property, and there was the fact that the protests were more pronounced in certain parts than others.

It became clear these other dimensions were clearly well-orchestrated and that some bad-faith actors were pulling the strings behind the scene. Not a few had to reconsider their stance and avoid becoming mere pawns in the high-wire political chess game they didn’t sign up for. This twist created a dilemma for even some of the leaders of the protests, divided the larger populace, and weakened support for the cause. Unwittingly, these became a boon to the government. However, it will be a mistake for the president and his team to think they will always be

presented with such a luck. The right approach will be for them to understand why many Nigerians were willing to participate in or to support the call for street protests that started on social media, how this administration contributed to that willingness from even among some ardent supporters of the president, and where and how the government needs to make quick course correction.

The simple truth is that even when most Nigerians have had it rough for a while, their suffering has been of a higher concentration in the past year or so. Times have become extremely hard—most Nigerians are struggling to feed themselves and straining to afford other key necessities of life. There is hunger mixed with angst in the land. The angst is so thick you can slice it.

So, this is not the time for the administration to congratulate itself on successfully sitting out the first major confrontation with the masses. The urge to declare victory may be tempting, but it will be clearly wrongheaded. If the status quo subsists, it is just of a matter when, not if, the next and the next confrontations will happen, and there is no guarantee that things

will not turn out in a totally different way. The administration will help itself and the country by taking this slight brush as a wake-up call, and as a major opportunity for rigorous introspection and for a step-change.

As said earlier, things were not particularly rosy when the president assumed office on May 29th, 2023. Headline inflation was 22.41% while food inflation was 24.84% as at May 2023. Inflation rate above 20% is a danger sign that should keep policymakers constantly awake and worried. Nigeria crossed the 20% barrier in August 2022 when headline inflation hit 20.52%, and has kept a steady climb since. But things have got rapidly and remarkably worse in the 14 months of the current administration. As at June this year, headline inflation had jumped to 34.2% and food inflation had soared to 40.87%, up from 22.41% and 24.84% respectively when the president assumed office. And by the way, the inflation rates are aggregate figures, and as such are not fully representative of the extent of the hit that Nigerians have taken in their pockets and in

Continued on page 54

Tinubu