Lalong
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its partners yesterday signed renewed Production Sharing included 128, 130, 132, 133, and 138. But with the resolution of all pending issues, the assets are expected to unlock over Contracts (PSCs), in a deal that could potentially boost Nigeria’s oil production substantially. Aside from the PSCs, other subcontracts at the event, which took place at the NNPCL headquarters in Abuja, included Dispute Settlement Agreements (DSAs), Settlement Repayment Agreement (SRAs), as well as EscrowPartiesAgreements.tothecontracts, which saw the Group Chief Executive Officer, Mallam Mele Kyari, sign on behalf of the NNPCL, were: Total Energy, Chevron, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO), Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, China’s Sinopec, Equinor, Sapetro, among others. The hitherto disputed five Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) which had lingered for almost 30 years,
President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that Nigeria's current security challenges have overstretched the deployment of security agencies and the nation's resources.ThePresident, who spoke yesterday at the State House, Abuja during the launch of the National Crisis Management Doctrine (NCMD), also noted that the evolving state of insecurity, with the emergence of the Boko Haram terror group and other forms of criminal activities, had worsened fears among Nigerians. He said: “The emergence of the Boko Haram terrorist group, as well as bandits and kidnappers in Nigeria considerably changed the country’s security situation, leaving panic in the minds of the“Thesepopulace.and other security challenges confronting the nation tend to stretch the deployment of our security agencies, resources and national security apparatus." He was, however, of the view that the newly launched NCMD would strengthen the nation's security by bridging the gap created by extensive deployment of security services through fostering collaboration amongst Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). According to him, the NCMD, which was developed by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), in coordination with relevant MDAs, would ensure greater successes in tackling
Okowa: Nigeria Now Badly Fractured, Too Polarised to Have an Untried President in 2023 Begs Catholic Bishops for Pope Mention while Defending Choice as Tinubu’s Campaign
GODWIN OMOIGUI
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
Renews
Presidency: FG Freed Wife, Children of Train Terror Leaders without Result... NNPC Production Contracts with Partners, May Unlock $500bn Revenue, $4bn FDI for Nigeria
‘There are loads of problems and if we do not elect the right person, we'll find ourselves with somebody who is going to get to the seat and become confused because the problems will overwhelm him; he will not even know how to start’
Security Agencies, Nation's Resources Overstretched By Terrorism, Laments Buhari
Continued on page 5 national crises. The President lauded the efforts of the National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno (rtd), his staff and members of the working group from various responder MDAs DEALING WITH NATIONAL CRISIS…
www.thisdaylive.com Saturday 13 August, 2022 Vol 27. No 9986 TRUTH & REASON Continued on page 5
Page 5 Continued on page 5 After 29 Years,
Kuni Tyessi in Abuja Delta State Governor and the vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa says Nigeria is currently too fractured and too polarised for an inexperienced person to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023. Speaking yesterday in Abuja at an event organised by Green Assembly Initiative (GAI) to mark International Youths Day 2022, where about 60 Nigerian youth groups declared support for the actualisation of Atiku Abubakar's presidency in 2023, Okowa said if an inexperienced person is elected president, “he will become confused on that seat, because the problems will overwhelm him; he will not even know how to start.” He then declared that only N250
DG... Page 5
L-R: Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao; Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor; President Muhammadu Buhari; National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Major General Babagana Monguno; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya and the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Awaal Gambo, during the unveiling of the “National Crisis Management Doctrine” at the Presidential Villa, Abuja…yesterday.
SATURDAY AUGUST 13, 2022 • THISDAY2
SATURDAY AUGUST 13, 2022 • THISDAY 3
SATURDAY AUGUST 13, 2022 • THISDAY4
Presidency: FG Freed Wife, Children of Train Terror Leaders without Result
Lalong Begs Catholic Bishops for Pope Mention while Defending Choice as Tinubu’s Campaign DG
OKOWA: NIGERIA NOW BADLY FRACTURED, TOO POLARISED TO HAVE AN UNTRIED PRESIDENT IN 2023
The letter reads: “I have followed with some shock and deep regret the reactions that have trailed my appointment as the DirectorGeneral of the Campaign Council for the Presidential Candidates of our party, the All Progressive Congress (APC), Ahmed Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima. “The appointment, understandably was received with mixed reactions across the Christian community who genuinely feel aggrieved by the decision of our party to settle for a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Okowa said the building process would start in 2023 "when Atiku is elected President." The PDP vice-presidential candidate said: “I do not believe in all those running for the presidency. The way we look at what is going on today in Nigeria, there are loads of problems and if we do not elect the right person, we'll find ourselves getting somebody who is going to get to the seat and become confused on that seat, because the problems will overwhelm him because he will not even know how to start. "It's much easier to govern in nations where the rule of law is not taken for granted because institutions are already working. But in a country like Nigeria and in most African countries where the issues are different, it requires a lot of deep talk, requires a lot of experience, positive experience that can truly enable you to govern and to be able to bring everybody on the table and be inclusive in governance. "Not too many people have such experiences. I believe that in Nigeria of today, there are too many fractures and there are so many contending voices. People are speaking in different directions. Our oneness is being threatened. Why? Not because of the North or South, Muslims and Christians, but because there's frustration everywhere, there's poverty everywhere. We don't seem to have the answers because everything just appears to be going downhill. "And then the issue of social security is no longer there. The security in the land is worsening, our economy is in terrible shape. We cannot continue in that state. We must prioritise our priorities. We must continue to look at the right things, what we ought to do." On the same day in Abuja, 60 Nigerian youth groups declared their support for the actualisation of Atiku Abubakar's presidency in Okowa,2023. while thanking the youth groups, said: "Youths have a role to assist or to work with the leadership of this country, to begin to re-educate our people to re-emphasise education, to reemphasise family management, population management and other issues that can truly help us. "There are barriers everywhere in our lives, we cannot continue to frustrate the youths. So, we need to begin a consensus together. That is what Atiku Abubakar and I stand for. "In Nigeria today, we do not have the depth of knowledge, the only man who seems to have that depth of knowledge to take us out of where we are is Atiku Abubakar."He'sthe only one that has had a similar experience in 1999. Together with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, they were able to take us out of a difficult situation.
Atiku has what it takes to right all the wrongs done to the nation by the present administration. According to the Delta State Governor, Nigeria, today, appears very frightening, "but we cannot lose hope. It is possible, working together, trusting in ourselves, to begin the rebuilding process.”
kidnapped.Heinsisted that it was wrong and untrue that the government left the victims to their fate, pointing out that as a responsible government, it took positive and practical steps in demonstration of the value it placed on Nigerian lives to free them but unfortunately, the kidnappers reneged in the understanding.
Ahamefula Ogbu President Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesman, Garba Shehu, has said people should stop blaming the administration and alleging it did nothing to free passengers kidnapped on the Kaduna-bound train as it met all conditions of the kidnappers who allegedly reneged on the agreement to free the Respondinghostages.toquestions in an interview with BBC Hausa service yesterday, Shehu said the problem was that the deal did not yield the expected result as the terrorists failed to keep to the agreement after the government had kept its own part of the bargain. Going into details, Shehu narrated all the conditions it met to ensure that the victims were released alive while the kidnappers kept shifting the goalpost and finally made monetary demands. He said: “Don’t forget that right from the start of it, the leader of the terrorists demanded that his pregnant wife should be released from“Thecaptivity.federal government took the woman to the hospital where she gave birth to twins, and after she gave birth, he was shown that both his wife and children were in a good health condition and then they were handed over to his “Afterparents.handing them over, they came up with a different issue that there are about six or seven of their children in Yola, Adamawa, who the government sent a plane to pick up. “We expected that if we gave them the children, they would release all the victims in their custody. Then, they demanded money.“So,people should not say the government is doing nothing." The government had been railed at by many people who felt it was insensitive for the government not to have freed the hostages who were kidnapped by their attackers on March 28, 2022 after the rail track was blown up with explosive and passengers Seriki Adinoyi in Jos Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State and Director-General of the Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council yesterday tendered an apology to the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) for his recent reference to Pope Francis while defending his appointment as the Director General of All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, stating that he had now realised it was an error.
Needless to say that there are still ongoing activities of vandals and oil thieves on our assets in the form of illegal refineries that are visibly put up in some locations,” heKyaristated.stressed that the TNP, one of the most vulnerable assets in the Niger Delta, was being pulled back, explaining that Nigeria’s crude is being refined illegally outside the country. He noted that henceforth, any nation that buys illegal crude from Nigeria will be treated as crime collaborators, maintaining that action will be taken appropriately. “We have created a platform where members of the communities and other Nigerians can report whenever instances of theft occur. We will also reward them. We'll also keep it confidential and private. “And I am guaranteeing absolute privacy of any such report that comes and I am directly managing this process and no one will be exposed,” heAlsoassured.speaking, the Group General Manager, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), Bala Wunti, recalled that PSCs started in Nigeria in 1993 and were subsequently followed by the ones in 2000, 2004, 2005, 2007 andHe2010.stressed that the PSC in Nigeria was mainly motivated by funding challenges faced by the joint venture arrangements that led to reduction in production and“Sincerevenue.theintroduction of the PSC into Nigeria’s hydrocarbon production algorithm, over 5.9 billion barrels of oil equivalent has so far been produced and monetised by the various PSCs arrangements. Over the last two decades, the PSCs have cumulatively accounted for about 40 per cent of Nigeria’s oil production,” he stated. However, he said the implementation of the PSCs in Nigeria was characterised by disputes over the years between the contractors/operators and the concessionaire (NNPCL).
"It is not about the PDP or APC, it is about who can salvage us at the moment, we must think around, so that we will not allow the trauma in our minds to make us take the wrong decision.” Okowa wondered why the country would not allow the much talked about state police to secure lives and property or embrace the needed National Health Insurance policy for all, promising that Atiku's government would do it for the benefit of Nigerians.Hesaid: "When it comes to security, today you hear Amotekun. You hear various voices, even the governors are crying. And they have begun to equip themselves with weapons, even"So,unlawfully.therightthing is to ensure that the states are able to have their own police where they are officially equipped. And then they can go out in support of whatever the federal government police are doing to secure the land." While declaring the support of the 60 youth groups for Atiku and Okowa, the Chairman of GAI, Comrade Duke Alamboye said: "Anyone in victmised shoes will be dampened by the vociferous suggestion that what we need is to unite and maintain solidarity. However, the advocates of Nigerian problems posit religion, ethnicity, and the issue of restructuring the Nigerian federal system as the bane of our problem but the real problem lies with not maintaining a strong and progressive bond between generations in the midst of these differences."
“The execution of the revised PSCs today will deepen investment and development of Nigeria’s rich petroleum resources and ensure that the trifold mandate of the NNPC Ltd to ensure security of energy supply, sustainability of energy supply, and accessibility is achieved,” he stressed. Cumulatively, he said that the brownfield projects would bring about $4 billion in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), as well as bring additional volume of 170kbbls/d of oil and 560MSFD of gas. “Today, we are on the verge of making history, the history to resolve all pending disputes in our PSCs with a potential to develop and monetise over 10 billion bbls and potentially generate revenue in excess of $500 billion to stakeholders, and attainment of energy security for the country,” Wunti added. Also speaking, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, expressed his support for the efforts by the NNPCL, stressing that the goal was to ensure the NNPCL competes favourably with the best-run oil firms worldwide. “The nation looks up to the NNPCL and the NNPCL should lead in turning our weaknesses into strengths and we are very confident that as a regulator, the NNPCL is fully prepared to lead “Withoperators.thereports that we see happening with the new NNPC, in no time, it will have a presence expanding its portfolios like Petrobas and Aramco,” he noted.Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr Farouk Ahmed, in his comments, stressed the need to devote more attention to the exploration of Nigeria’s gasKeyresources.government officials who attended the event included the Chairman of the NNPCL Board, Margery Okadigbo; the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mohammed Nami; and the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the national oil company, Umar Ajiya, among several others. PSCs are contracts between E&P and the government concerning how much of the resource extracted from the country each will receive and how much each will contribute to production.
In the letter addressed to the President of Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, titled, “Letter of Apology” and dated August 12, 2022, Lalong restated his commitment to the Catholic faith, and promised to continue to uphold the banner of the Christian faith in public life.
The governor had stated during an interview with State House correspondents last Wednesday after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari that the Pope, who is the head of the Catholic Church to which he belongs, had not faulted his decision to accept the job of ensuring the victory of Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima, in the 2023 election. In a letter signed by him, Lalong admitted that it was an error on his part to have linked the Pope with Nigeria’s politics, and begged for forgiveness and understanding from the Catholic Church through the Bishops’ conference.
SECURITY AGENCIES, NATION'S RESOURCES OVERSTRETCHED BY TERRORISM, LAMENTS BUHARI
PAGE FIVE 5THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER • SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2022
“The important thing is that the government, since the occurrence of the incident, has been working very hard. Some are visible, while some are not. “It is to the advantage of the relatives and to the country at large to see all the victims are rescued.“Whoever says the government isn’t doing anything or isn’t making any effort to rescue them perhaps doesn’t know the effort the government is putting in order to rescue the abductees," said Shehu. Families and relatives of the victims have severally protested pressing for the government to take action towards freeing their loved ones even as President Muhammadu Buhari met with the relatives of the victims in Abuja, where he assured that efforts were on to ensure the safe rescue of the 31 persons still in captivity.
$500 billion in revenue for the country, attract Direct Foreign Investment of around $4 billion and put an end to a continent liability of about $9 billion. At the official signing ceremony, Kyari underscored the enormous losses, both in cash and goodwill that had ensued in the course of the dispute, but noted that with the matters finally settled, there would now be a boost in production.“Asyou all know that in businesses, disputes are inevitable, disagreements always come when there's no clarity of understanding of the agreements that businesses go“Veryinto. often this is also complicated by laws that may not carry the necessary clarity that is required for businesses to go into contracts. And that's how we landed in the 1993 PSC debacle. It became a major issue for all of us in the space leading to arbitration and all forms of litigation.“Andof course, as you do this, it does two things. It damages relationships, and more than anything, it stifles investment. That's exactly what that situation brought to the table,” Kyari said. With the signing of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), Kyari stated that the right environment now exists for all parties, noting that the PSCs have better clarity with minimum ambiguities.“Wewill have clearer agreements in a new PSC that must have recognised all issues that we have in the 1993 PSCs, and those clarities are there. All ambiguities have been reduced to a minimum. Of course, you can never take out ambiguities from the contacts,” he added. During the second leg of the event, which was the launch of an application to monitor Nigeria’s oil assets real time, Kyari stated that he was personally overseeing a new approach to curbing oil theft which will also see the NNPCL reward in cash persons who report cases of oil theft and sabotage through a new platform created by the national oil firm. He vowed that the confidentiality of such persons would be kept under wraps, stressing that he was superintending over the process in person to ensure that things are done in full confidence. “What you have learned within the last four years is consistent underinvestment by partners, including us, leading to where we are today. No doubt that issues around vandal actions on our infrastructure, particularly our pipelines, have become a very difficult thing to deal with. “But we're not helpless. As an industry, we are collaborating to ensure that we respond to the situation and this also we cannot do without the government's involvement, particularly the security agencies, and also members of the communities. “We have put up a robust framework for ensuring that we contain this menace and we're already seeing the results.
AFTER 29 YEARS, NNPC RENEWS PRODUCTION CONTRACTS WITH PARTNERS, MAY UNLOCK $500BN REVENUE, $4BN FDI FOR NIGERIA for the remarkable work in developing the Doctrine. He described the feat as a significant milestone in recognition of the need for collective efforts towards achieving coordinated, effective and efficient national crisis“Thismanagement.showsthe renewed promise and commitment of this administration to managing the crisis in the country,” the President said, urging ONSA to continue to play its coordinating role amongst crisis response stakeholders, to achieve greater successes.President Buhari also appreciated the British Government for its collaboration in the development of the Doctrine, as well as the United States Government for its support, urging them to sustain the relationship.ThePresident recounted that at the inception of his administration, Nigeria was faced with multiple security challenges ranging from terrorism, kidnapping, to armed banditry, ethnic militia attacks, oil theft, rape, gun running and various acts emanating from violent“Owingextremism.tothedynamics of these crises, the Office of the National Security Adviser revised the National Counter Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST) which I endorsed in August 2016. “Within this strategy are certain works streams which include preparing and implementing strands that seek to mitigate the impact of terrorist attacks by building resilience and redundancies to ensure continuity of business; and a framework for the mobilisation of coordinated cross-government efforts respectively.“Iamglad that the Office of the National Security Adviser has not relented in its efforts to implement the NACTEST by coordinating relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies to develop the National Crisis Management Doctrine,” he said. Earlier in his remarks, the NSA explained that work on the Doctrine started in 2014 but was given impetus after the President endorsed the revised NACTEST, which has five work streams, namely: Forestall, Secure, Identify, Prepare and Implement. Monguno also added that the NCMD, which is a subset of the NACTEST, fulfills the work streams to ‘Prepare’ and to According‘Implement.’to him: “The Doctrine provides a detailed methodology for national crisis response, outlining how the various relevant MDAs should interact at the strategic, operational and tactical levels. “It is to be noted that the NCMD can be used to manage both malicious threats and civil emergencies owing to the general principles set out within it.”
09157401421 ( sms only) SaysnogoingbackonLabour’squestforpoliticalpowerin2023
Chinedu Eze
Ogun Empowers 50,000 Women through Oko’wo Dapo Scheme
“The kind of profligacy we have in government is too much. If government is serious, I can tell you that they will resolve this issue of ASUU within 48 hours.“So it is not about the finances. How much do we pay today as far as fuel subsidy is concerned? And how much of that money actually gets to the masses. How much of that money is actually spent on us? “Today if you see what goes through the budget. If you see the different budget heads. So it is a value that is placed on education. The value that is placed on our university system. That is why we are here today,” heOnsaid.insecurity, TUC said that the federal government should stop lamenting and take decisive action to arrest the dangerous situation. Usifo further said that TUC x-rayed the poor state of the economy, especially growing expenditure on fuel subsidy. He said that the union believes that the huge spending on fuel subsidy could be curtailed if the country’s porous borders areAccordingblocked. to him, a huge amount of money will be saved from curtailing subsidy and it can be used to fix our education sector.“So this shows that out of the trillions of Naira we spent the subsidy, a substantial part of it ended up in subsidising the entire West Africa Sub-region. If the only thing government can do is to manage the border or secure the border, you are going to reduce the quantity of products that we consume on a daily basis,” he said.
Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja As concerns mount over the continued closure of the country’s federal universities, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has demanded immediate action by the federal government to end the dispute with striking university workers and reopen the institutions shut down close to six months now. The union also said that it will not relent in its resolve to work in concert with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to support the Labour Party’s quest to win the presidential election in 2023. Addressing journalists at the end of its National Executive Council meeting held in Abuja yesterday, TUC President, Festus Osifo, expressed dismay over the lingering face-off between federal government and university based unions which has resulted in the complete shut down of the institutions nationwide. It also raised the alarm over detororiating state of security in the country, urging President Muhammadu Buhari to act decisively to prevent a situation where terrorists and bandits will
TOWARDS PROJECT
James Sowole in Abeokuta No fewer than 50,000 women in Ogun State have benefitted from the financial empowerment scheme tagged ‘Oko’wo Dapo’, introduced by the incumbent administration to lift women out of poverty. The state Governor, Dapo Abiodun, who made this known at the validation exercise of ward facilitators of the scheme, held at the Oba’s Complex, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, yesterday, equally disclosed that over N500m has been saved via contributions by the beneficiaries in three local government areas of the state. Abiodun charged the ward facilitators to advertise benefits of the scheme to their fellow women, saying he expected that the number of the participants should have increased to over two hundred thousand across theHestate.said, “In three local governments, we have over 50,000 women participating in this scheme, they have saved over five hundred million naira. The three local government areas are Odeda, Ijebu North East and Yewa North. We just started the one for Ikenne “Our ward facilitators should go all out to advertise this programme, educate more women about the benefits of this programme, I am confident that in the next three to four months, we would have had over 200,000 women in this programme across the state,” he said. The governor, while noting that the scheme isn’t different from a cooperative scheme, said that his administration would give loan to each participant fourfold of whatever she might have contributed in four weeks. “This is not different from your various contributions, it is a cooperative scheme. Our ward facilitators will go all out and bring together those women who will be part of the scheme, about 20 or 25 women in each group and start contributing. “You will now start to contribute for four weeks, you will attend weekly meetings, after contributing for four weeks, government will now give you loan that will amount to four fold of what you contributed. “So, if you contribute N2,000 weekly and you now have N8,000 in the fourth week, our government will give you N32,000 loan. If it is N5,000 you contribute weekly and you now have N20,000 at the end of the four weeks, our government will now borrow you N80,000,” he said.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) Sokoto State command yesterday paraded two terror kingpins terrorising Silame, Binji, Gudu, Tureta and Dange/Shuni local government areas of the state. Addressing journalists at the command’s headquarters at Federal Secretariat, Sokoto, the state Commandant Muhammad Dada, said Alhaji Koire and Alhaji Buba were terror leaders with over 300 men in theirMuhammadcamps. further disclosed that the duo had been terrorising some communities in Silame, Binji, Gudu, Tureta and Dange/Shuni local government areas of the state.He explained that the duo are high profile terrorists that operate in Niger Republic and Nigeria, stressing that Koire escaped severally from their custody using magical power.Hestated that when he got the tipoff of their whereabouts in Silame local government, he personally led the team of his men spending two days in the bush before they succeeded in arresting them. Muhammad said after the arrests their gangs attempted to bribe them with the sum of 10 million naira to secure their freedom.Speaking to journalists in an interview Buba said he was involved in kidnapping at Dabegi in Dange/ Shuni local government where they collected four million naira as ransom.
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 13, 20226
NSCDC Parades
Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Ahead of 2023 general elections, former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, yesterday counselled youths in the country to shun politicians that possess questionable integrity, credibility and good character so as to have good governance in the country. Also, Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has urged persons with good character to shun apathy in governance and politics of the country. The duo spoke in Ilorin, Kwara State capital at a summit organised to celebrate this year’s International Youths Day and birthday of the former Minister of Youths and Sports Development and Kwara Central senatorial candidate of Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) for 2023 polls, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi.Thesummit with the theme ‘Leadership As Character’, was organised by Omoluabi Foundation established by Abdullahi.Sarakisaid that, “Nigeria is in its current mess as a result of choice of leadership,” admonishing followers to always vote for politicians with good character.“Iimplore the youths to go out and do what is right in 2023 by voting for the candidates that have character, courage and“Wecompetence.areluckythat in a few months time we will have an opportunity to press a reset button. It is time we look at ourselves and ask which of our leaders has character.” He added, “The time for propaganda has gone. We should look at the character of the person that wants to lead us. If we get the character right we will get the economy, security and cost of living right. “If we the voters don’t have character to do what is right this country will not move forward. We should not always blame the leaders, the followers have a role to Governorplay.”Fayemi, who was represented by the state Information and Value Orientation Commissioner, Akin Omole, said “in our contemporary Nigeria, persons with good character and integrity should not be apathetic to politics and governance process. We should also retool our leadership recruitment. “Every person that has character (Omoluabi) in Nigeria must from now be part of governance process. “We should not leave the governance system to charlatans. If people with character participate in politics, the country will have the needed change. “And we must demonstrate good character in fixing the society.”Earlier, Abdullahi said Nigeria faced a very dangerous future “if we do not make right investment in our “Nigeriayouths.has a youth population that is more than the entire population of several West African countries put together.” Two Terror Kingpins in Sokoto
L-R: Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Executive Secretary of Federal Capital Development Authority, Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmed and the Project Manager, Salini Nigeria Limited, Engr . Gennaro D’Itria during the inspection of ongoing work on the Abuja Culture Centre and Millennium Tower Project, in Abuja…Thursday. Ajunwa charles.ajunwa@thisdaylive.com
Politicians with Questionable Character COMPLETION…
Resolve Varsity Strike Now, TUC Tells FG
NCAA Has Capacity to Sustain Safe Flight Operations in Nigeria, Says DG
Saraki, Fayemi Urge Youths to Shun
The Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Musa Nuhu, has said that the regulatory authority has the capacity of sustaining safe flight operations in Nigeria. Nuhu attributed the good safety record in the last 10 years to the efficient oversight of the authority. Speaking with aviation journalists in Lagos at the weekend, the Director General assured that the regulatory agency would continue the implementation of its statutory responsibilities and duties to retain the confidence of the flying public. Nuhu stated that investigations were still ongoing into the operations of the suspended Dana Air, insisting that the airline would remain grounded until all the identified issues have been resolved in compliance with Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs). He explained that NCAA had carried out a Financial and Economic Health Audit in addition to Technical Safety Audit of the airline, disclosing that the outcome of the two audits revealed a weak financial position and grave violations of Nig.CARs which prompted the immediate suspension of the airline’s Air Transport License (ATL) and Air Operators Certificate (AOC). However, he expressed dismay at some negative comments on the regulatory body in some social media platforms based on interview that took place on a television network. He observed that almost the entirety of the comments during the interview were direct quotes of NCAA findings of the two audits. “The details of these investigations and proactive action showed the professionalism of the apex regulatory agency. So I encourage industry experts to seek clarification from the authority in order to make informed and balanced comments. NCAA is open to informed criticisms geared towards improving the industry,” he said. Nuhu said the detailed report of the two audits on Dana Air showed the determination of the Authority’s staff in ensuring that the safety and security of flights is foremost and overrides all other considerations.Reactingtothe reports on its suspension, Dana Air in a statement said it is in full support of NCAA’s efforts to sanitise the industry and as a responsible corporate citizen, Dana Air is not only cooperating fully with the NCAA on all the recommendations, but working towards resuming very soon and very confident of the end result. become an occupation force. In addition, TUC expressed opposition to the planned privatisation of government-owned hospitals, saying the move will worsen the hardship and sufferings the citizens were going through.According to Osifo, the school closure was becoming an embarrassment to the country’s image. “You will agree with me that where there is a will, there is always a way. Recently the Nigerian government spent about N1.4 billion to buy vehicles and donated to the Government of Niger.
Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto
NEWS News Editor Charles
SATURDAY AUGUST 13, 2022 • THISDAY 7
Uzodinma: Insecurity, Oil Theft More Pressing Issues Than APC’s All Muslim Ticket
The governorship hopeful, who is the founder of Gregory University Uturu(GUU) challenged the Ikpeazu administration to explain to Abians how the resources of the state are being utilised as the government has to borrow money before it can save Abiapoly.
Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has stressed the readiness of his administration to continue to support entrepreneurs in the bid to grow the nation’s economy. The President, who spoke yesterday at the State House, Abuja while receiving in audience the Management of BUA Group led by the Chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu, said entrepreneurs and the business community, whose investments align with the priorities of the government in value and job creation, will continue to receive the full support of his administration.“Letmeassure you and the entire business community that this government remains ready, willing and able to support all well-meaning Nigerian entrepreneurs whose investments align with our import substitution and domestic job creation policies and programmes.”According to him, the huge growth experienced by conglomerates like BUA Group is evidence of the correctness of government policies. He said the government’s focus on import substitution to encourage local production and export stimulate growth and stability, urging investors to take advantage of the vision. President Buhari commended the Chairman of BUA Group for concentrating investments in the country, and transiting from trade to manufacturing. “I am impressed and proud of the transformation BUA has made from trading concern to a manufacturing conglomerate. “A key pillar of our administration’s policy thrust is import substitution especially when it comes to essential items such as food, household consumables and shelter. A nation of our size and with our natural and human resources is exhibiting its weakness if it continues importing essential commodities. “For every grain of rice, wheat or maize we import, we destroy the livelihoods of our local farmers while creating jobs abroad. It is because of this that seven years ago, our Government introduced numerous laws, executive orders and incentives that support businesses with import substitution projects,’’ Unease in Abia as Ikpeazu Takes Fresh Loan to Bail out Abiapoly We Will Continue to Support Entrepreneurs to Grow Nation’s Economy
Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has disowned a suit seeking the disqualification of Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Supporters of Wike had taken Atiku, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court over the conduct of the PDP presidential primary election which took place in May. But Speaking in an interview with THISDAY yesterday, Wike said he did not authorise anyone to file a suit on his behalf. He said, “I don’t know anything about the so-called suit. I did not ask anyone to file any suit for me. “I don’t know the lawyers. Am I a kid to be filing a suit at this time? I had 14 days after the primary within which to have filed any suit. I didn’t do that then, is it two months after primary I will file a suit? “Just yesterday they came up with the claim that I ordered my chief security officer to pull down the PDP flag in Government House. This is all false, it’s all propaganda. Some people are trying to use me to win the election. Please disregard all these lies.” In the suit marked FHC/ ABJ/CS/782/2022, Newgent Ekamon and other plaintiffs asked a federal High Court in Abuja to order INEC to remove Atiku from “its list of candidates in the 2023 presidential election”. The plaintiffs asked the court to direct “the first respondent (PDP) to declare the second applicant (Wike), a presidential aspirant in the May 28 and May 29 primary as the winner of the aforesaid primary with a corresponding order directing the first respondent (PDP) to forward his name as the candidate to contest the presidential election in Also2023.”speaking on the issue during the inauguration of the new Rivers State House of Assembly Quarters in Port Harcourt yesterday, Wike declared: “Let
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday said its leadership would soon make its position public on the allegation that some public tertiary institutions were preventing Christians from erecting prayer chapels like their Muslim counterparts. It noted that though the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, had requested all Governing Councils of Federal Government institutions of higher learning to, without delay, ensure that Christians have space to build chapels where they will worship unmolested, the ministerial directive had not been fully adhered to in parts of the country.Inaletter signed by the General Secretary of CAN, Joseph Daramola, the apex Christian body directed all its Zonal and State Chairmen to submit the names of public institutions which still practice discriminatory policies against Christians in their domains.
He said, “I want to use this opportunity to invite you people to prioritise our area of interest. First, the mood of the country today is not about who the candidates are. The mood of the country is that two or three years ago, we were producing 2.1 million barrels of crude oil every day. For over 12 years, that has been our main source of foreign exchange. Suddenly, because of the activities of those who are anti-national interest, we’ve lost over a million barrels and barely managing to produce 1 million.“Ithink we should rise in unison to condemn the activities of crude oil theft by anti-Nigerian interest groups and bring back the economy of the country. Because you have to have a country first before you have a president.“Lookat the quantum of banditry going on in Nigeria today. To the extent that bandits are courageously even coming into the capital city. We should rise in unison and condemn these activities.“Weshould make emphasis on things that will unite the country and by the grace of God abandon those things that are capable of dismembering the country. Our national interest is important. Our national unity is important. Our ability to live together as brothers and sisters is also “Theimportant.primary purpose of government is for the security of lives and property and the welfare of our citizens. To what extent have we supported federal government in achieving this primary purpose? Those are things that should occupy our minds now. But if you throw Nigeria into a situation where religious dichotomy, ethnic jingoism will be at the front burner, it means you are working against Nigeria. “So let us allow political parties who have chosen their candidates, no matter the religion where they come from, to go out and do their campaign. It is left for the electorate to reject the ticket by not voting for them. Or accept the ticket by voting for them. But if we continue to make these things headlines, you are heating up our polity unnecessarily. I want to beg you in the name of God, let us save our country.”
me say and to let Nigerians know that people have called me through-out this morning saying all kinds of things; that I went to court against Atiku Abubakar.“Iwantto say categorically if I have reason to go to court, I will go to court. But I did not go to court. I just want to say it for Nigerians to know. I have kept quiet and I am busy delivering dividends of democracy for my party to win elections in Rivers State. People are busy plotting how to win election, rather, our people are busy trying to see how they will lose election. “If they lose election, nobody should call my name. I have told the candidate, ‘you will lose or win this election because of people around you.’ Anybody around me know too well that if I will be going to court, I will go to court within two weeks after the primaries. Because it is a pre-election matter and after two weeks you can’t go to court again. “The legal office of the party called me and I told him that he knows that there is a mischief going but you know me very well, if I am going to court it is not kind of lawyers I would have“Butused.Iwant to tell the candidate, it is his group that are doing all these things. Let the world hear that there are the ones plotting these things thinking that they will spoil my name. Yesterday, they said that I removed all PDP flags in Government House. “We are supposed to be talking how to win election it is not about these human seekers around him. They are not doing him any favour while they are trying to make sure for him not to win election, but if that is what they wish, I wish them goodGovernorluck.” Wike thanked Gbajabiamila for the role he played to ensure the state received the Paris Club refund from the federal government, even when he plotted against him for Speaker position.
Wike Distances Self from Suit Seeking to Disqualify Atiku
Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
N450m
Buhari:
NEWS THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 13, 20228
Deji Elumoye in Abuja Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, yesterday lent his voice to the current issues in the nation’s polity saying the recurring incidents of insecurity and crude oil theft across the country are more challenging to the nation’s survival than the all Muslim presidential ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The governor also took a swipe at the World Bank for its prediction that the nation will in a matter of time break up. Answering reporters’ questions after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, Uzodinma stressed that the current insecurity as well oil theft which he described as anti-national interest, were more pressing than the controversy over the one faith presidential ticket of the APC.
The letter reads in part: “I have been directed to write to all Zonal and State Chairmen of the Association to kindly submit all names of public institutions in their states, on or before 19th August 2022, where Christians are being prevented from having a chapel, a place where they can gather to pray or worship during the weekdays and Sundays. “The CAN’s Headquarters is about to take a stand on the discriminatory policy. “May God continue to bless your areas of leadership. Accept our esteemed regards as we await your swift Nevertheless,response.”the national leadership of CAN also assured Nigerians of its commitment to work peacefully with all stakeholders to ensure that every religious group enjoys equality in the safety and accessibility of spaces allocated to them by relevant authorities.
He argued that there was no rationale for the Ikpeazu’s government to take additional loan having grown the debt portfolio of the state to an alarming level of over N90 billion. Professor Ibe likened the new loan to “digging a hole to fill a hole”, adding that government was using it as a guise to surreptitiously obtain more loans after it was blocked from taking a N60 billion loan it had craved for. He argued that with a modicum of sincerity the government can really provide a lifeline to Abiapoly without running to the bank to borrow money. “Why plunge the state into further debt? Abia already has almost N100 billion debt hanging on its neck. How will the school operate if their debt servicing will take all the revenue collected from school fees?”
The governor expressed happiness that President Buhari has assured that the request for the Federal Medical Center Owerri to be converted to Federal University of Technology Teaching Hospital and for Alvan Ikoku College of Education to become Federal University of Education Owerri, would be looked into.
ON GLOBAL STAGE…
CAN Threatens to Tackle Institutions Exhibiting Religious Bias
Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has sparked angry reactions over a new loan of N450 million he allegedly secured to pay part of the 25 months salary arrears owed the staff of Abia State Polytechnic (Abiapoly),OppositionAba.leaders have also expressed grave concern over the government’s decision to allegedly use the single treasury account (TSA) it forced on Abiapoly as collateral for the loan secured from a new generation bank. The Commissioner for Information, Mr. Eze Chikamnayo, had in a statement threatened the Abiapoly bursar with sanction over his “refusal or negligence” to open a TSA in “a reputable bank” as directed. But the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Prof. Greg Ibe kicked against the new loan, saying that Governor Ikpeazu should rather fund his bail out of the state polytechnic from monthly receipts of federal allocations.
Senior Director, Africa Investment Forum, AfDB, Chinelo Anohu, speaking at the third High-level Meeting for Africa Sovereign Funds organised by the Brown Capital Management Africa Forum at the Woodrow Wilson Centre, Washington DC., USA
SATURDAY AUGUST 13, 2022 • THISDAY 9
10 NEWS THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 13, 2022
FCTA Raids Uncompleted Buildings, Arrests 480 Criminal Suspects
The Indian-born novelist who spent years in hiding under death threats from Iran because of his writing, Salman Rushdie, yesterday was stabbed in the neck onstage at a lecture in New York State and airlifted to a hospital, police said. He was alive and “getting the care he needs,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul said. An eyewitness said a man rushed to the stage at the Chautauqua Institution and attacked Rushdie, 75, as he was being introduced to give a talk on artistic freedom to an audience of hundreds. A New York State Police trooper present at the event took the attacker into custody, policeStatesaid.police said the condition of Rushdie, who wrote the novel ‘The Satanic Verses’, was not known and did not give a motive for the attack and it was not clear what kind of weapon was used. Andrew Wylie, a spokesperson for Rushdie, said in an emailed statement that “Salman is in surgery,” but did not have further details to share. The author fell to the floor when the man attacked him, and was then surrounded by a small group of people who held up his legs, seemingly to send more blood to his upper body, as the attacker was restrained, according to a witness attending the lecture who asked not to beRushdie,named. who was born into a Muslim Kashmiri family in Bombay, now known as Mumbai, before moving to the United Kingdom, has faced death threats for his fourth novel, ‘The Satanic Verses’, which some Muslims said contained blasphemous passages. The novel was banned in many countries with large Muslim populations upon its 1988 publication. A year later, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, then Iran’s supreme leader, pronounced a fatwa, or religious edict, calling upon Muslims to kill the novelist and anyone involved in its publication for blasphemy.Rushdie,who called his novel “pretty mild,” went into hiding for many years. Hitoshi Igarashi, the Japanese translator of the novel, was murdered in 1991. The Iranian government said in 1998 it would no longer back the fatwa, and Rushdie has lived relatively openly in recent years. Iranian organisations, some affiliated with the government, have raised a bounty worth millions of dollars for Rushdie’s murder. And Khomeini’s successor as Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said as late as 2017 that the fatwa was still valid.
Peter Obi Makes First Visit to Redemption City
Salman Rushdie Stabbed Twice in the Neck, Survives Attack
Aisha Wakil, Co-defendants Bag 5-year Jail Term for N66m Fraud
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, was at Redemption City for the first time recently to attend the 70th Annual Convention of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. “We welcome to the Redemption Camp for the first time Mr. Peter Obi,” said the announcer, and this was followed by loud applause from the congregation. Other dignitaries were introduced at the 70th Annual Convention with the theme ‘Perfect Jubilee’. They include, the Bishop of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries and President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Wale Oke; the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel; the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, who was represented by his wife; and the National Superintendent of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria and National Treasurer of the PFN, Reverend Sam Aboyeji.
Court Restrains Kwara Govt from Interfering with Artee Industries’ Land
John Shiklam in Kaduna
According to a statement by the EFCC yesterday, “The convicts on September 7, 2018, while serving as promoter and managers of a thethattheirandEFCCtheyknownprocessedplyGlobalhisinducedCareorganisation,non-governmentalCompleteandAidsFoundation,oneAliTijjani,andcompany,AMTMATVenturestosupN51millionworthofmaizegrainalsoas“biski”forwhichrefusedtopay.AMTMATGlobalVentures,said,furtherprocessedpaidN15millionforjourneytoMoroccobuttheyrefusedtodefraycost.
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (right), welcoming the people of Ishi-Ozalla Autonomous Community, Nkanu West Local Government Area, when they visited him at the Government House, Enugu, over the Igweshi tussle in the community, yesterday.
Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
Dariye: I Don’t Intend to Contest for Senate in Plateau
2023: Forget Religion, Elect Competent, Credible God-fearing Leaders, Idowu-Fearon Tells Nigerians
The combined security Joint Task Force of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has arrested 480 suspected criminals in a pre-dawn raid on uncompleted buildings and undeveloped plots in Maitama and Wuse II districts of TheAbuja.Commander of the task team, Bennett Igweh, said the suspects were apprehended after the team combed some of the black spots within the FCT. He said the suspects, who were mainly men had coveted the green areas, undeveloped plots and unoccupied houses into a hideout for criminal activities. According to him, the said items that were recovered from them included police uniforms, mobile phones, loaded pistol, machetes andHecharms.vowed the suspects would be profiled and handed over to the appropriate authorities for necessary actions. Igweh asserted that the suspects lived in unauthorised places in the FCT, including the shanties and black spots in order to commit havoc in Abuja. “We will do thorough profiling because we are suspecting that there could be escapees from Kuje Correctional Centre. “We are starting from the city centre, and we will expand it to other areas, the exercise will reach 21 satellite villages and towns; from Kabusa, Gishiri, Waru, Wasa and others. We have told them to find where they will go or find a lawful settlement that they can live. We have agreed that if you fight us, we will fight you,” he said.
A High Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, underJustice Nureni Kuranga has given an order restraining the Kwara State Government, their agents, privies, assigns “and whosoever deriving or claiming the title from or under them, from further interfering with Artee Industries Limited’s peaceful possession of the parcel of land covered by right of occupancy No. KW 17223, measuring 4.371 hectares and situated along Wahab Folawiyo (Unity) Road, Ilorin (Old Amusement park).”
Former governor of Plateau State, Joshua Dariye, has said he does not intend to contest the senatorial seat in Plateau State in 2023, as is being speculated. It was speculated that Dariye was set to defect to the Labour Party to contest for the senatorial ticket of Plateau Central zone. However, the rumour was doused in a statement issued yesterday by Mr. Macham Makut, the Director of of Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, after the governor led a delegation from the state, including his wife, Regina, on a solidarity visit to Dariye and to former governor of Taraba State, Rev. Jolly Nyame, for being pardoned by the federal government. “He (Dariye) narrated his ordeal in prison and said it God saw him through and made him survive. “Dariye also debunked the rumour that he was running for Senate, describing it as unfounded and untrue as he has not bought form or “He advised politicians in Plateau to unite and rally around the governor in promoting the interest of the citizens, saying governance is an opportunity for those in charge to do their best and leave posterity to judge their the business of government in a Dariyeday.” was serving 10 years’ imprisonment after being convicted for N1.126 billion fraud, but served only four years before he was released. Aisha Alkali Wakil, also known as Mama Boko Ha ram, and her co-defendants, Tahiru Saidu Daura and Prince Lawal Shoyede, have jail terms each for conspiring to steal N66m. The Borno State High Court under the trial Justice Aisha Kumaliya handed down the sentence to them yesterday, in a suit brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Com mission (EFCC) Maiduguri Zonal Command. The count two of the threecount charge against them states, “That you, Tahiru Saidu Daura, while being a programme manager of Complete Care and Aid Foundation, and Aisha Wakil, being the CEO of Complete Care and Aid Foundation on the 7th September, 2018, in Maidu guri within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly induced Ali Tij jani, the CEO and alter ego of AMTMAT Global Ventures to deliver to you, processed maize grains (biski), valued at N51,000,000.00 (Fifty-one Million Naira) which you are yet to pay and thereby trary to Section 320(a) and punishable under Section 322 of the Penal Code Cap 102 Laws of Borno State.”
INTERFACING WITH THE LED…
The court also gave an order restraining the Kwara State Government from continuing to trespass on the parcel of the land pending the determination of the substantive suit and or such further order or orders as the honourable court circumstances.Acopyofthe order of the suit No: KWS/322/21, which was made available to journalists on Thursday also granted an interlocutory injunction restraining both parties, the claimant (Artee Industries Limited) as well as the defendant, (the Kwara State Government) from doing anything further on the subject matter namely property covered by right of occupancy No. KW17223 and situate along Wahab Folawiyo (Unity) Road Ilorin, Kwara State pending the determination of the case.
The Secretary General of the Anglican Communion (Worldwide), Most Rev. Josiah Idowu-Fearon, has asked Nigerians to do away with religious sentiments and elect competent, credible and God-fearing leaders who will address the challenges facing the country. The former Archbishop of Kaduna Anglican Communion who spoke in an interview from the United Kingdom, via Zoom with select journalists, also called on Nigerians to support the terrorists.Hesaid what Nigeria needs is a competent and God-fearing leader, not a Muslim-Muslim or Christian-Christian President and Vice “Nigerians,President.particularly, those of us from the North, let’s move away from religious sentiments. “That thing is killing us and people from the South are using it to divide us more, whereas they don’t do the same in Yoruba land.“The Yoruba people are very close whether you are Muslim or Christian. We need to do the same,” he Idowu-Fearonsaid. who declined to comment on the raging controversy over the MuslimMuslim presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said he has been praying for Christians for the spirit to direct them.
SATURDAY AUGUST 13, 2022 • THISDAY 11
There is a very popular but unusual English Show series titled Stranger Things. Really strange in conception and rendition, and very frightening, full of suspense but equally entertaining. So it was with the series of things I saw in my vision recently, and I felt I should share them with readers. These were not things seen in a dream and they were not products of clairvoyance or divination. It was like relaxing in a sofa and things start showing up like in a reel of a movie. The first to appear in my vision was the change of name of what seemed to be the left over of what used to be a country called Nigeria. I saw someone who resembled Dr Muhammad Gumi in a full regalia being turbaned as the Ayatollah of the new country named Islamic Sultanate of Fulasoka. In attendance were members of his Supreme Military Council and Supreme Islamic council. So many strange and ferocious looking soldiers were also in attendance. The soldiers, all sorts, looked like they had been fighting long-drawn Guerilla war. I saw someone who was chased out of the Government House and was given a bicycle to ride on. The man did not look surprised or perturbed. It appeared in that vision that he was expecting the change.Isaw some presidential candidates. One of them was strapped to his wife’s laps. The wife held a feeding bottle. Another presidential candidate had books, computers and laptops stacked on his head. He had pens and pencils attached to his over-sized coat. He was sweating profusely as he reeled out strange words which sounded like English language. There was another presidential candidate, his name sounded like Kwashiorkor or coconut, or the combination of the two words. He looked like someone lost in the crowd. My vision brought out another presidential candidate who seemed to have lost his bearing. He had ice cream pot on his laps. He was not talking. One other presidential candidate I saw didn’t know why he was contesting or what office he was running for. He only knew that the country he thought he was living in had been chopped off and a chunk of it was under the control of the Ayatollah. I remember seeing Mr. Macaroni being chased out of the Palace Elyse’s the French Presidential Lodge. He was followed by his grandmother, sorry, his former teacher who fell in love with him when he was a mere 13-year-old and later became his wife. The woman’s children from previous marriage who were much older than Macaroni carried some boxes on their heads. I saw a full-blown revolution playing out in Sri Lanka. Many houses belonging to Ministers and Parliamentarians were being burnt down. Several politicians were also burnt alive. It was a gory spectacle.Isawthe Egyptian President Al Sisi. He converted to Christianity and moved to Rome. He told his country men and women that he was fascinated by the Catholic rituals and their fetish figurines. He drove away his wives and swore to the oath of celibacy. He was baptised as Monsignor SylvesterCoincidentally,Toro.
This building is sophisticated. Maybe that is a mild way to put it. Some visitors say it is avant-garde, trailblazing and even futuristic. According to the Germans experts from Julius Berger, painstakingly overseeing the detailed construction of this International Worship Centre (ICWC), in Uyo, the serene and pleasant capital of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, this building is the first of its kind in the world. To locals who are trooping daily to catch a glimpse of the unique structure, it is a marvel. For Udom Emmanuel, Governor of Akwa Ibom State and visioner of the project, it is building only fit for God. When he stopped over to inspect the project that is nearing completion last week, the joy expressed on his face indicated his ambitious task of building one of the most iconic interdenominational worship centres in the world, was fast becoming a reality. “People see a building. That’s not what I see. What I see is the Altar of the Almighty God, which I am raising for my people and for generations yet unborn,” Governor Emmanuel said. Many visitors lining the streets around the building, as the governor inspected it, argued that the worship center is shaped like a jumbo jet plane. Others say it is the shape of a blue whale, the largest living mammal in the world. Yet there were locals who call it an ark of covenant. Incidentally, the interdenominational worship center is located in Afaha Ibesikpo, the home of a legendary priest, Rev. Jonathan Udo Ekong, the patriarch of Lutheran Church to Nigeria, the father of Professor Donald E. U. Ekong, the founding vice chancellor of the University of Gambia, founding vice chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt and founding vice chancellor of the University of Cross River State, now University of Uyo. To lay hold on designers who could translate his concept of the worship center into reality, Governor Emmanuel went beyond natives to the uttermost parts of the earth as it were. After many months of search and trials, an all-Indian architectural designers and expert consulting firm called Kalayojan, were able to successfully interpret the governor’s concepts with the help of state-of-the art technologies. “We were highly privileged to have been offered and be associated with the design of one of the biggest and most beautiful worship centres of the Christian faith worldwide”, Kalayojan boasted on its website. The advantage Kalayojan had was that its core team leaders, spearheaded by Architects Sanjay Porwal, Abhilasha Joshi, Pathik Joshi and Kshama Rane, were already exposed to some of the largest Worship Centres in the world such as the Notre Dame at Paris St. Paul’s Cathedral, London; St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City; The Duomo, Milan; Hagia Sophia, Istanbul and the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. In spite of that, this designing team relocated their base to Uyo for six months to study the living conditions, terrain, geological and climatic conditions of the city including the site, before the design began. Designing the worship center was just a fraction of the challenge. Finding a builder of such complicated design and complex structure became a different ball game altogether. When Julius Berger Nigeria was contacted, they did not jump at it as expected. Instead they took the design to their Wiesbaden-based international headquarters in Germany for a closer study and analysis with cutting edge technologies available. It took another six months before Julius Berger said yes. That was when contracts were signed and work began in earnest, soon after the Pope of Nigerian Pentecostals, Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), prayed and laid the foundation of the building on January 21, 2018. Concrete construction was day and night. “The engineering is very challenging and constructed to the best international standards...The roof and roof members had to be produced in Europe and shipped to Nigeria...so we are roofing now as you can see...It is a matter of great pride to us and the State”, Juergen Fischer, Regional Manager of Julius Berger Nigeria, said. He was speaking along the line with Sanjay Porwal, the Principal Architect of Kalayojan who described the job as “a world class project of unprecedented scale and complexity...that is a matter of great pride for us Indian developers and construction industry”. At the center of this architectural wonder is a virtual cross. Every other component of the structure is connected to and derives its strength from the cross, in such a way that the cross is enveloped in a flowing rounded transformation in appearance. Other tourist attraction and components of the worship center that visitors would go for include the Entry Point, Podium, Auditorium, Atrium, Canopy, Concourse, Church & Chapel, the Chancel, Altar & Choir Space, Priest & VIP Area as well as the Museum and gallery for exhibition of local and international art forms related to Christianity. There are also prayer rooms, a clinic, snack shops and water fountains. Expectations are high for the formal opening of the worship center by the end of the year. Hopes are that the ICWC would not only serve a religious purpose but add to the growing reputation of the State as a destination of choice in Nigeria. Akwa Ibom is a 99 percent Christian State. It is deep in the Bible Belt of Nigeria and is often called the North Carolina of Nigeria. State government functions such as the anniversary of its creation are usually preceded by religious worship. Whenever the oil rich State encounters any political or socio-economic crisis, the usual resort is to summon what Dr. Udeme Udofia, an Associate Professor in the University of Calabar called a Solemn Assembly, “where all natives come out in droves to a central location to humble themselves and cry unto God for help”. These occasions, according to Dr. Udofia are usually carried out, on playgrounds, stadia, various churches and in some cases uncompleted buildings. Thus the justification for the ICWC. To Pastor Bassey Sanders of Qua Iboe Church: “This is a project that is very much desired by all. It is a unity ground for all Akwa Ibom churches, including fathers, sons and daughters of faith”. These and other reasons legitimize the building of this central interdenominational worship center. Yet Governor Emmanuel is not short of critics who accuse him of misplaced priority and waste of more than N10billion on a 5,000 seater religious hall, when many have no jobs in the State. “I’m not a sadist, anti-government or anti-Christian but I think this is one of the misplaced priorities we keep having in this country. No government should spend public funds building worship centres whether church or mosque”, Okon Jackson said in response to Governor Emmanuel’s Facebook post on the project. A deeply committed Christian, Emmanuel has fended off his critics by saying that the State government has only facilitated the project while the bulk of the funding is sourced from corporate organizations, NGOs and wealthy individuals.CaptainIniobong Ekong, a retired army officer and Emmanuel’s commissioner of lands, who is supervising the project, makes no apologies about the cost of the project. “What are they saying? Are they saying that N10billion is too much for God in a country that one public officer has been recently charged to court for allegedly stealing N109billion…It was King David who said that he would not offer to God what cost him nothing…Udom Emmanuel is a king like David. The international worship center is very close to his heart and his heart is very close to God…’’, Ekong said.
‘GOD IS HAPPY WITH US’
AUGUST 13 , 2022 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER12 COMMENTARY
Akwa Ibom Basilica, an International Worship Centre, is something else, writes Anietie Usen
Tola Adeniyi shares his weird and entertaining ‘vision’
Pope Francis converted to Islam. He said he preferred the heavy turban to the tiny cap which looked like a dot on his head. He relocated to Saudi Arabia with his meagre belongings and changed his name to Sheikh Fareed Al-Qudus. It was a big win for the Royal House of thePutiniSaudis.or Mr. Short Put, in my vision was flying high in the sky. His bald head was shining and he wore his trademark grin. I saw Joe Burden being pulled out of a shithole. Some of the firefighters in the struggle to recue him were arguing among themselves that it was not necessary to save an 80-year-old. ‘’Common’’ I heard one scream ‘’these guys targeted aged people with their biological weapon euphemistically named Covid so as to avoid paying heavy Old Age Pensions.” I saw the Yorubian people celebrating their hard-earned Sovereignty. They were in their bright colours. Most of the women I saw were very ecstatic. They danced and danced and danced. It was as if they had been infected by a popular dancing politician from the land of Oduduwa. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was in full regalia as the leader of his new nation. Elders of the land in their red caps and animal skin fans exchanged banters as gaily attired women danced throughout the city of Arondizuogu. “I told you, you would be free some day. I promised you freedom. I promised you emancipation. I saw you as the people of the rising Sun that can never be put down or put out. This is the new dawn” he croaked. He looked like immortal Mohammed Ali after his victory in the ring.Back to the international scene, I saw someone who very much looked like the recently disgraced British Prime Minister, the Turkish descendant named Boris Johnson. I didn’t get a clear view of the guy, but I saw that the man was carrying the corpse of a Queen on his refurbished head. I saw a man who looked twice his biological age and a woman by his side who also looked twice her age. It was not clear whether they were relations of the Queen.Isaw pastors in Sierra Leone fighting with another set of pastors. I observed that they were members of Pentecostal Church or Prosperity Church as they call them in Nigeria. I also saw some Islamic clerics with loads of turban on their small heads, made large by unshaven beards. The Islamic clerics were laughing at the pastors. All manners of images and imaginations kept flashing on my face. I was not sleeping. I was not dreaming. I just kept seeing strange things. I saw well-known faces of Ministers in Europe and the Americas who were carrying beggar bowls in long queues in front of Food Shelters. I recognized them. Azenga people were free at last. Ibom people were free also. The long suppressed and enslaved Hausa people recovered their lands and kingdoms in a new Hausa Bokwai federation. I saw the Izons, the people of Kwararafa and other indigenous nations rising out of the ashes of Nigeria, and so many newly branded flags flying high in the sky. The people of Palestine were drumming and dancing.Myeyes were wide open. My brain was at 1000% alert. My mind was entrapped in its journey of vision and seeing stranger things. Otunba Adeniyi, Jagun Oodua Adimula ll adetolaadeniyi@hotmail.com
ABA SAHEED: STRANGER THINGS
AKWA IBOM’S FULL NAME, ACCORDING TO NATIVES, IS AKWA ABASI IBOM STATE, WHICH MEANS GOD ALMIGHTY STATE. THESE PEACEFUL AND HOSPITABLE PEOPLE THEREFORE PRIDE THEMSELVES AS THE ONLY STATE IN NIGERIA NAMED AFTER GOD. IF SO, SAID GOVERNOR EMMANUEL: ‘THERE MUST BE SOMETHING TO SHOW FOR IT’
THE NEWSPAPER EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE DEPUTY EDITOR AHAMEFULA OGBU MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE NEWSPAPERS LIMITED EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com
Must the entire nation wait for another dastard killing of a prominent Nigerian before the law enforcement agents and security forces swing into action and pick Auxiliary for questioning and perhaps prosecution for the havoc he and his group have committed in the state so far, as well as threats of killing that they’ve issued to their perceived political enemies?
THISDAY
Nigeria Governors’ as Counsellors
Who Is This Auxilliary?
Kola Amzat, FCA, FCIB, Lagos
Over the last three decades, Oyo State has always been notorious for bloodletting, maiming and high profile killing whenever general election approaches. Some hoodlums would just offer themselves as ready-made tools and instruments of human destruction onto the hands of political leaders. Tokyo reigned supreme during the PDP era of Senator Rasheed Ladoja/Otunba Alao-Akala. The NURTW warlord was indeed lord unto himself. For many years, he was inciting violence, chaos and pandemonium in the pacesetter state. On behalf of politicians, he maimed and destroyed at will. He was in control for so many years until his regime of horror was brought to a close by late Abiola Ajimobi.
SATURDAY
As Nigeria continues to experiment with a burdensome federalism which in its many imperfections is as flawed as they come, the experience with the governors of the 35 states in Nigeria has been a difficult one. For many of them, within their states, they do whatever they feel like and get away with it, for who would question them? Is it the state legislatures they usually have under their heels or the state judiciaries they have increasingly been known to manipulate as they see fit to tighten their grip on power? When they manipulate the power structures within the states to relegate their local government system to the background in defiance of the constitution, it is because they are dictators within their states. For many of them, performance brings up the rear on the list of their priorities. They are usually more interested in remaining in the good graces of the government at the center. So, many of those that become governors on the platforms of opposition parties usually defect. In their defence, they say it is to attract benefits to the state. Nigeria`s joke of a federalism would seem to lend some credence to this by giving too much power to the government at the center. Aligning with the center has also been known to bring with it a wide range of benefits over time. The recent release of two former governors jailed for stealing billions of naira from the coffers of their states when they were governors provides an example of the benefits camping with the center could bring. So, to instill fiscal discipline and prevent the nation from imminent economic collapse, State Governors in Nigeria recently advised the federal government to retire Civil Servants who are older than 50 years by offering them a one-off retirement package to exit the civil service. This proposal also included urging President Muhammadu Buhari to begin the implementation of the updated Stephen Orosanye Report, which recommended mergers and shutdown of agencies and parastatals with duplicated or contested functions as a way to address bureaucratic inefficiency and reduce the cost of governance.Expectedly, the backlash has been swift and cutting, especially from the labour unions in the country, and given the circumstances, the criticisms are well founded. Because dubiety is a national disease in Nigeria, the message has come to matter as much as the messenger. If the governors had a point in arguing that the cost of governance should be whittled down, the force of their argument was diminished by the fact that many of them have done nothing to reduce the cost of governing their states by abolishing many of the offices they have created in their states serve as rewards for their thugs, cronies and concubines. For the governors, it is very much a case of kettle calling pot black. It is a known fact that many of them absolutely lack any form of fiscal discipline whatsoever. Under their indulgent watch, public funds are reduced to the expense accounts of their family members. That two former members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum who stole their states blind between 1999-2007 recently walked away from Kuje prison four months after they received a dubious presidential pardon tells a sufficient tale in this wise. Yet, they it is who would advise the federal government to pay off many hardworking civil servants. If their counsel is to be considered worthy of any credit whatsoever, they have to heed it first. Kene Obiezu, Twitter: @kenobiezu
The man who thousands of people of the ancient city dread so much like a plague is lucky to be alive today.After Tokyo came another king of hoodlums, Eleweomo. The modus operandi is the same. They create pandemonium and confusion and in the ensuing battle, they snuff life out of the perceived political foes. Eleweomo also established an imperial reign of terror for years in Ibadanland and beyond, until he met his waterloo in a crunchy battle. Presently, another warlord with the name Auxiliary has emerged in the ancient city. His stockin- trade is to always threaten fire and brimstones reminiscent of Tokyo and Eleweomo days and also, drumming it to the hearing of whoever cares to listen of his capacity to kill, destroy and maim. The strategy is essentially coercing political opponents intoMeanwhile,submission.the news in the public domain is that, he’s working for the PDP government in the state, a fact that the government have not denied. He has not only picked on the APC gubernatorial candidate for the forthcoming general elections, Senator Folarin, he’s also promised to dispatch him to the great beyond. The pertinent question we need to ask here is that, when has our nation turned into the land of blood suckers, hyena, hit-men and cannibals who at slightest provocation snuff life out of fellow countrymen simply for political reasons? It’s also tragic that this threat to life is being directed to no less a person than a distinguished senator of federal republic and governorship candidate of the nation’s ruling party in the state.
AUGUST 13, 2022 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER 13 INSIGHT
Thank God for His Mercy...
The IGP as a matter of urgency needs to declare state of emergency on the security situation in the state by dispatching special squad into all the nooks and crannies of the state with a view to smoking out Auxiliary and his boys who have constituted menace and threat not only to the life of APC candidate, but also the entire citizenry of the state. This is the only way that the police authority would not only attract the trust and confidence of Nigerians, but also reassure the people of the state that they’re alive to their constitutionally recognized responsibility.Nigeriademocracy has come of age since the turn of fourth Republic in 1999. Politicians ought to have reconciled themselves with the new ethos of seeking and canvassing for support at polls instead of threatening fire and brimstones, as well as sending hoodlums and miscreants to would-be voters to forcefully attract their supports which is the present situation in the state.
Francis Sardauna in Katsina The Katsina Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has generated over N99.7 million revenue in less than six weeks despite the spate of attacks by terrorists on its corridors of operations in the state. The Command’s Area Comptroller, Dalha Wada Chedi, who revealed this while showcasing the achievements of the command to journalists in Katsina, said the revenue was collected between 1 July to 11 August, 2022. He explained that 10,827.40 metric tonnes of cement, hibiscus flower, chilli peppers, beverages, animal feeds and tamarind with free on board (FOD) of N538,406,126. 45, were also exported within the period under review. Chedi reiterated that the incessant attacks on its area of responsibility (AR) by the marauding terrorists, would not deter the officers and men of the NCS from tackling smuggling and other illegal businesses in order to enhance import and export activities. He said, “In spite of incessant attacks by bandits along the Jibia axis, N99,777,343.00 revenue was collected within the period under review. I am sorry for smugglers because a new strategy has been put in place to checkmate smuggling, and we will follow them from nooks and crannies of the state.
Atiku Berates FG over ASUU Strike
He added that the “ultimate objective was to answer the question of what would it take to transform Nigeria. It discussion by all Nigerians, especially young Nigerians on what the future of our of unity to heal the wounds and rekindle the hopes, yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians who continually strive for a better tomorrow.TheNCAC boss stated that the time is ripe for a strong collabora tion between the National Council for Arts and Culture and PMAN in developing and promoting a strong Nigerian brand through music adding that in other parts of the world, music is an important tool to drive home the demands of the people at the same time get the attention of the government of the day.
L-R: Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe, presenting a gift to the President of Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Pretty Okafor, when a delegation from PMAN paid a courtesy visit to the NCAC headquarters in Abuja...recently
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate for the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, has berated the federal government over the continued strike by the that he takes strong exception to the lecturers strike.
Atiku, who stated this at the International Youth Day seminar hosted by the PDP Youths in Abuja, said that if he is elected president by next general election that he will run an all inclusive government where the youths would be a thing of the past.
Atiku described education as the fundamental rights of all youths that will not be He said, “Now the most important and fundamental rights of any youth, whenever is the right to education. Therefore, I take very strong exception inability of the government to resolve that crisis. “It will never happen under a PDP government or under my administration when I am elected.“Doyou know why I say that? I have been investing in education for the past 30 years. In nursery school I started primary, secondary, and university. We have never gone on strike for even one day. So, if me Atiku Abubakar can establish nursery primary, secondary school, university and yet no strike for one day, why should we have strike by university teachers? “I want to pledge that I will work with university authorities and government to make sure we end this is because it is fundamental to your growth. It doesn’t matter whether you are in politics, whether you’re in business, in whatever sector you are. The fundamental right of every youth or every citizen is to be“Andeducated.therefore it is the responsibility of any responsible government to make sure that right is given to every Nigerian every youth in this country. I have the public pronouncement of my intention to have a youth inclusive government. “This is because it is our responsibility to provide you the opportunities to acquire the training and also the experience to take over from us, your parents just as the Chairman said.
The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Chief Ikechi Emenike, has called on Abia youths to be the vanguards in the struggle to enthrone good governance in the state. He made the call in a message he sent to the young people of Abia on the occasion of the International Youth Day 2022, which was marked yesterday with the theme, ‘Intergenerational Solidarity: Creating A World For AllChiefAges’.Emenike noted that youths of Abia had always been the first victims of the maladministration that has plagued the state under successive governments of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He stated that there has never been any clear-cut policy to harness the potentials of Abia youths to make them and release their creative energy and positively contribute to the development of their own state and Nigeria in Thegeneral.Abia APC leader promised that if APC takes control of Abia next year, good governance would take root in the state and the youth of Abia would be the first to feel its positive impact just as the negative impact of bad governance had affected them before others. “You should devote your energy and time to work for good governance to germinate he told the young people of Abia, adding, “It is in your best interest for Abia to be programmed to The APC governorship standard-bearer, who is a development economist assured, Abia for them in the development agenda he has put in place to make Abia a first world state in a third world nation. He identified unemployment as the major problem confronting the young population of Abia, saying that he would create real jobs for youths and birth would sustain employment opportunities for the teeming youths.Emenike reminded youths of Abia of the sufferings they have endured over the years because bad leaders were put in Government House with the attendant frittering away of the resources that would have been invested in the development of the state.
The federal government in collaboration with the has launched the Imagine Nigeria report under a larger development framework that explores alternative pathways to further the country’s development.Theinitiative is a bold and unfettered look into Nigeria’s future in the coming decades rather than a national plan
The Director General National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe gave the charge in his office when he received in audience the executive members of the association who paid him a courtesy visit. Runsewe, who expressed delight over the visit, said the association has a big role to play in spreading the message
The federal government has lauded the support of the Chinese government in ensuring that Nigeria’s infra structural deficits are reversed under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, who spoke yesterday at the State House, Abuja, while playing host to the Chinese Jianchun and the new Deputy Chief of Mission/Ministerial Councilor, Zhang Yi, declared that when the history of the Buhari Administration’s efforts to reverse Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit is written, the role of China will not be forgotten. The spokesman, who received the envoy in the company of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, thanked the Chinese government for sustained efforts to improve Nigeria’s infrastructure develop ment in several areas including power, rail, and aviation, among others.According to him, “President Buhari has very great respect for China. Many times he has spoken about the support from China and he deeply appreciates it. President Buhari and President Xi Jinping share respect and friendship.‘‘Nigeria appreciates the mutual cooperation with China and we pray that diplomatic relations will continue to be strong and mutually beneficial. President Buhari has visited China twice and also participated in the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) meeting Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia
The Command in the statement signed by its Richard Metong, described the report as fake, baseless and an attempt to drag the corporate image of the service to the Metongmud.stressed that the human rights lawyer was safe, secure, unhurt and not tortured or humiliated. “His dignity and human rights are ainsisted.onemonth imprisonment the Chief Judge of the state for contempt. Ugo Aliogo
Okon Bassey in Uyo
Chuks Okocha in Abuja
UNDP, FG Launch Roadmap for Inclusive Future Runsewe Charges PMAN to Develop Stronger Nigerian Music Brand We Won’t Forget China’s Role in
WORKING TOGETHER…
Speaking at the event, Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, said the The Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) has been charged to utilise the music platform at their disposal to develop a strong brand that will unify the country.
14 NEWS THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 13, 2022
Despite Insecurity, Customs Generates N99.7m Revenue in Katsina A’Ibom Correctional Centre Denies Torturing Jailed Human Rights Lawyer
Be Vanguards in Struggle for Good Governance, Emenike Urges Abia Youths
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
The management of Ikot Ekpene Correctional Centre has said that jailed human was not tortured and assaulted capital.Thecommand in a statement yesterday said reports assaulted and bundled the Command in a bid to secretly transfer him from Ikot Ekpene Custodial Centre to misleading.
Imagine Nigeria report is a bold, unblinkered, and exploration of the great possibilities of the country. He stated that the project provided the licence to imagine a Nigeria freed of its past, “and current challenges and able to engage the future with the best possible tools in
Adesina:
Gen Irabor’s Absurd Disdain for Mercenaries
Wike, Rivers People are Happy?
is why roads in other parts of Rivers State are largely ignored. When will he start work on the road to Okehi in Etche Local Government that leads to Okpala in Imo State? . There is a long list of dilapidated public schools across the state begging for attention. Wike should renovate the likes of Okrika Grammar School, Okrika LGA; Government Comprehensive Secondary School Nkoro, Opobo Nkoro LGA; Community Secondary School, Kalibiama, Opobo Nkoro LGA; UPE School, Ahoada and State School, Ihugbogo, Ahoada. Some Rivers St ate institutions are dead and begging for revival like Joinkrama Grammar School, Ahoada West LGA and Kalabari Girls High School, Buguma, Asari Toru LGA. Because of Wike’s tribalism, the Sports Institute of Rivers State (former Sea School) in Isaka, Okrika LGA, is as good as dead. “Governor Port Harcourt” should just divert some flyover funds to these places. Irabor
Malami and the $418 million Mess The manner the Attorney-General of the Federation/Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has been campaigning for the payment of $418 million fees to some deceptive Paris Club loan refund consultants leaves much to be desired. As Attorney-General of the Federation, the interest of the public ought to be uppermost. This has not been the case. This minister has been functioning as the lead advocate of the consultants. Governors insist they don’t have any contract with the consultants and have already appealed the judgement that favoured the consultants. They even doubt the services the consultants claim to have rendered. The governors have found holes in the so-called services rendered. But Malami was raucous last Thursday, insisting that the state governors had no right to complain about the planned deduction of $418 million from states and local government funds. President Buhari has directed that the payment be stopped until the case is decided by the court, yet, the AGF is still canvassing for the consultants. Perhaps, he was the one that hired the consultants on behalf of the governors. Malami needs to show Nigerians documents indicating that all the 36 state governors signed a contract with his consultants. He needs to tell Nigerians if all the 774 local government chairmen signed any contract with his consultants. The $418 million professional fees being demanded by Malami’s consultants remains one of the highest in the world for such a job. These guys just want to rip off Nigeria. Malami should at least shut up if he is not prepared to defend public interest.
C
15 O
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 13, 2022 RingTrue 08054699539 yemi.adebowale@thisdaylive.com Yemi Adebowale
with drones. The drone that destroyed late Muammar Ghadaffi’s convoy was fired from a station in Alabama, United States. Our security agencies are not in any way close to this. So, this country needs help from climes that can provide these military necessities. Nigeria’s security chiefs won’t admit this because of ego and personal interest. The Nigerian government must seek help from climes that have successfully tamed terrorists. This country must seek help from private military contractors from these climes. I will always recommend Israeli military contractors. This is the way forward for Nigeria. Irabor, during the media parley, also said resources that would have been used to hire mercenaries should be channeled to building the capacity of the military, “which has the responsibility of protecting the country.” Haba! When did it become a crime to have military contractors joining a standing army to tame terrorists? How has close to a billion USD spent on importing Tucanos helped the Nigerian military to tame terrorists? Irabor pretends to be unaware of unending security glitches across Nigeria. In July, an estimated 300 well-armed ISWAP fighters strolled into Abuja unhindered ne of the reasons terrorists are having a free rein across Nigeria is because many, whose opinions would have helped this country, have become merchants of lies, rolling out imaginary security achievements. They are unwilling to speak truth to power. As a result, killings and kidnappings by terrorists have persisted in beloved Nigeria. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Lucky Irabor left me further depressed last Tuesday. His rejection of the clamour for the engagement of foreign military contractors (mercenaries) to support the military in the fight against the terrorists was disturbing. The CDS remarked during a media forum in Abuja: “Mercenary is not an option; it is a half story. Mercenaries are commercial entities moving from one place to the other. We should rather use the resources to build the capacity of those that have the responsibility to protect the country.” From the onset as the CDS, Irabor showed he would not be different. The fact that he completely ruled out engaging military contractors shows there is something we are not being told about this unending war. Is there a hidden agenda? Does it mean some people truly do not want this war against terrorists to end? Is it ego by the military chiefs, combined with personal interest? I’m shocked that Irabor presents mercenaries as an army of occupation. This is not true. They are engaged by countries for specific purposes, with deadlines. Even the United States engaged military contractors for its war in Iraq and some other locations. Is Irabor not aware of this? A people-oriented government will seek help from anywhere to protect its people against terrorists. The truth is that our security agents lack the capacity to tame these terrorists and end the killings of innocent Nigerians. We can all see the result of Irabor’s claims that the military can do the job alone. Only this truth can set Nigeria free from the servitude of terrorists. It is pertinent to state that technology, intelligence, quality equipment and quality manpower are necessities for taming terrorists. Use of drones for intelligence gathering and attacks is also vital. Our security agencies lack these. They obviously lack the capacity to effectively monitor the movement of terrorists. This is why these guerrillas move around in hundreds undetected. The advanced world is in an era of fighting and straight to Kuje to free 64 of their members. It is even more shocking that the Kuje Prison attack lasted over an hour without reinforcement from security agencies around the facility. Bombs and other explosives were used on the facility’s fence and its main entrance to gain access. The ISWAP also deployed Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) and General-Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) for the operation. The massive explosions did not attract security agencies with offices that are a few minutes’ drive to the Thefacility.terrorists even had time to record their attack. A footage released a few hours after the attack showed ISWAP men shooting their way into the facility; tens of fighters were seen marching in groups while vehicles and buildings were on fire. The scale and the audacity of the attack are startling. Irabor is still telling Nigerians that the military is up to the task; that no help is needed from abroad. About this same period, Captain Attah Samuel and four other soldiers attached to the Presidential Guards Brigade were killed in an ambush by terrorists in Abuja. The killers have not been spotted. Has Irabor suddenly forgotten how terrorists attacked a Kaduna-bound train on March 28, killed eight passengers and abducted dozens of people, yet, there were no consequences. The emboldened terrorists have been holding the abductees for almost five months, while traumatising them. At a point, they openly flogged these hapless Nigerians. Those so far freed, paid about N100 million each. He ought to be mortified that scores of abducted passengers are still in the prison of the terrorists, with families and relations frustrated. An advance presidential team to Daura, hometown of President Buhari, was attacked by terrorists in Dutsinma, Katsina State and Irabor is not talking about arresting the assailants. Even the nation’s foremost military training academy, the Nigerian Defence Academy was attacked by terrorists and there were no Earlypenalties.inthe year, the Divisional Police Officer of Nasko Station in Magama LG of Niger State, CSP Umar Dakingari, and six of his men were killed by terrorists without consequences. About the same time, the terrorists attacked a tomato processing company in Ngaski Local Government Area of Kebbi State and killed four policemen at the premises. These happenings are really depressing.
omical Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State never ceases to amaze me. Call him a bully and you would be right. I always add “modern day Benito Mussolini” to his depiction. This man rules the state with an iron fist. I just laughed after watching his reaction to my expose of him on this page last week. I clearly heard Wike saying Rivers people are happy with his horde of flyovers in Port Harcourt. Contracts have been awarded for the 11th and 12th flyovers. Those happy with this garbage are clearly not Rivers people. Wike and his contractors are the people truly happy in Rivers. This governor knows what I am talking Thousandsabout.ofRivers State pensioners struggling to survive due to huge unpaid annuities by Wike can’t be among the happy Rivers people this governor is talkingWikeabout.isbuilding very expensive flyovers and multi-lane city roads while public hospitals and schools are largely in tatters. This governor should visit the tattered State Primary School, Sangana, at his doorstep in Port Harcourt, to see his so-called good performance. There is also massive shortage teachers in public schools. For over seven years, the state chapter of the NUT has been begging Wike to recruit teachers, without result. Existing teachers are poorly motivated. The citizens lack access to things as basic as public water supply and drivable inner streets, while billions are sunk into flyovers by Wike. How many homes have access to public water supply in the whole of Rivers State? Perhaps, less than one per cent. Please, visit some public hospitals in Rivers State and you will weep for this state. Communities in Tai, Ogu/Bolo, Oyigbo and many other areas outside Port Harcourt are gasping for breath. Call him Governor Port Harcourt and you would be right. Wike spends a huge chunk of the state’s resources on the Port Harcourt /Obio Akpor axis. This Irabor is not even worried that soldiers are being killed by the terrorists without consequences. Few weeks back, Terrorists killed 30 soldiers, seven mobile policemen and two civilians in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, a direct assault on Nigeria, without repercussions. The Commander-in-Chief vowed that the attackers would not go unpunished. Several weeks after, the killers are yet to be apprehended. Irabor can’t even avenge the killing of his men. Last March, terrorists killed 22 soldiers when they ambushed the convoy of Kebbi Deputy Governor, Sama’ila Dabai in Kanya, Danko/Wasagu LG of the state. Nothing has happened in terms of ensuring the killers pay a heavy price. Our gallant soldiers were overwhelmed by the guerrillas roaming in hundreds in Kanya. Besides, the guerrillas were equipped with much heavier weapons than AK-47. Morale is evidently low among officers and men of the 223 Light Tank Battalion, Zuru, the camp of the slaughtered soldiers. The policeman attached to the Kebbi Deputy Governor, ASP Idris Libata was also killed in the Kanya attack. If Irabor’s job is tied to results from the battlefield, he won’t be there today opposing the use of mercenaries. Unfortunately, for over seven years, the Commander-in-Chief, President Buhari has failed to do this. Buhari has refused to dispassionately scrutinise these very poor results in the battles with terrorists. It is shocking that the endless unpalatable terror attacks did not touch the heart of Irabor, else, he would have moved for the needful. Our gallant soldiers are doing their best but they need to be assisted. We must be talking about using military contractors now. Anybody interested in ending terrorism must be talking about seeking help in fruitful climes. Irabor must stop telling Nigerians that this country doesn’t need help from abroad.
Ononuju(FAAN);SecretaryKalejaiyeEvangelistNwaejuProfessor(late);PartyNationalAdmissionsTheMinisterChikwe,ExecutiveOlusegunNigeriaAdministratorChinyeredifferentwivestheconferredreference9erstwhilewritingvocationalprintFederalPlanAbroadComparativehecatorsFoundationEducation.by1940s.massmediaasaNewspapercorrespondentintheIn1985,hewashonouredpost-humouslytheFederalGovernmentforhisworkinAdultAlongwiththelateDr.AdamSkapski,theFordAdviserinLagosandafewotheredu-likeDr.TaiSolarinandProf.BabsFafunwa,co-authoredareporttitled:“TheReportofTechnicalEducationSeminarandRecommendationsforANationalofVocationalandTechnicalEducationintheRepublicofNigeria.”ThereportwasabluefortheimprovementanddevelopmentofandtechnicaleducationinNigeria.Hison“OwerriMbariHouses”publishedinthejournal,TheNigerianTeacher:Vol.1(4)pp–11(1935)remainsagloballyacclaimedresearch/materialonculturaltourism.HewaswiththeNationalAward–OfficerofOrderoftheNiger(O.O.N.)in1963.Aswascommoninhisdays,hewasmarriedtofourandhad22childrenwhoareallsuccessfulinprofessions.TheyincludethelateChiefAsika,wifeoflateAjieUkpabiAsika,ofdefunctEastCentralStateofandFormerSpecialAdvisertoPresidentObasanjo.ShewasalsoformerChiefofNEPADinNigeriaandDr.KemaformerMinisterofTransport,formerofAviation,AmbassadorofNigeriatoRepublicofIreland,formerChairmanJointandMatriculationsBoard(JAMB)andWomanLeaderofPeoplesDemocratic(PDP).HisotherdaughtersincludeBeatriceOnyeakaziEvangelistOgechiOrdu;ChiakaOjogwu,ainEducation;PastorNgoziNnadi;MrsNjei;UgboakuOkasi;AgbakuAgba(late);UkwuomaChukwunta;Barr.NnennaformerDirectorofLegalServicesandFederalAviationAuthorityofNigeriaOluomaEjirika;AkufoAtukpawu;Anagam(late);ApostleBarristerObiiPax-Harry
MbahforStatecloselybeforeaboutPeacepreciatechallengesmentappreciateddescribedHausawan,governorattheGovernmentHouse,Enugu,theSarkinEnugu,SarkiAbubakarYusufSambo,Ugwuanyias“adetribalisedleader”andhimforprovidingtheenablingenvironforpeacetoreigninthestateinspiteofalltheinthecountry.“YourExcellency,wewanttotellyouthatweap-theplatform(EnuguStateSecurityandCommittee)youestablishedthatbroughtthepeaceweareenjoyinginEnuguState.“ThatcommitteewasthefirstinSouthernNigeria,otherstatesstartedemulatingit.“WeareheretosaythatwearewithyouandwearemonitoringthepoliticalsituationinEnuguandtoalsosaythatwearethankingAllahyouandyourparty,PDP,tohavebroughtPetertotakeoverfromyou.Iwanttotellyouthatthe
and Ijeoma Agbontaen.
Pa Nathan was blessed with six men among the “GodattendedClark,haveiansandNdigbo,hisNathanspecificallydevelopmentpositivelyConsultant.aUcheEjiogu,aLeader;22children,includingKelechiEjiogu,aCommunityIbeEjiogu,anAgronomist;NnamdiEjiogu,BusinessConsultantinOilandGas;ChimdianEducationistandSportsAdministrator;Ejiogu,anAccountantandNedumEjiogu,US-basedAttorneyandInternationalAffairsNathanOkeomaEjiogudiedonAugust4th1972.ThisColossusofamanindeedimpactedveryonthesocialeducationalandeconomicofOldEasternRegionofNigeriaandtheNigeriannationgenerally.Ejiogu’slifewasindeedablessingandmemoryatreasuretotheEjiogufamily,theEducationCommunityinNigeriahumanityasawhole.AnumberofprominentNigeriansandoctogenar-whorelatedwellwithPaEjioguinhislifetimeverygoodmemoriesofhim.ChiefEdwin95theforemostIjawLeader,recallsthathePaEjiogu’sfuneralinEgbu50yearsago.ElderNathOkoro,92,inhisrecollectionsstates:givesfriendlysensitiveandskillfulnatureforsupportandencouragementofothers.NathanwasawonderfulgifttoEasternNigeria,aRoleModeloftheFatheramongFathers,andhisstandingimageofstrengthandsecondlyasguardianandgatekeeper.”ChiefOzichukwuChukwu,aprominentIgboleaderdescribedhimasaquintessentialcom-munityleaderandforemosteducapreneurandaccomplishedPublicServant.Asthefamilymarksthe50thanniversaryofhisdepartureinthismonthofAugust,2022,letusremembertheremarksofHenryLongfellowthat,“livesofgreatmenallremindus;wecanmakeourlivessublimeand,departing,leavebehindus,footprintsonthesandsoftime.”
Sam Ekpe TRIBUTE THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 13, 202216 atPaatbecamedevelopmentofthehensiveUmuahiaandMiddlePrincipal,andadultUyoAfricanEducation,(formerfoundercategoryandFounderofArachukwu,Ikoku,manyOkpara,theEasternEveryCommunityhasinitshistoryandamongitsheritage,personalitiesandsymbolswhichremaineternalinitsmemoryasareferencepointinoutstandingachievements.HenceonecannotdiscussthepoliticaldevelopmentofIgbolandinOldRegionofNigeriawithoutacknowledgingexploitsofDr.NnamdiAzikiwe,Dr.MichaelDr.K.O.Mbadiwe,Dr.AkanuIbiamandothers.IntheEducationSector,thenamesofAlvanFounderofAggreyMemorialCollegeDr.EnochOli,Founder,MerchantsLightSchool,ObaandHon.V.CIkeotuonye,ofZixtonGrammarSchool,Ozubulumanyothersreadilycametomind.AnamethatwilldefinitelynotbemissedinthisisthatofNathanOkeomaEjiogu,theofAlvanIkokuCollegeofEducation(ATTC)Owerri);founder,InstituteofUniversityofNigeriaNsukka;FirstPrincipal,TeachersTrainingCollege,(nowUniversityofUyo);theinitiatorofeducation,massliteracy,comprehensivevocationaleducationinNigeria;FirstAfricanGovernmentSecondarySchool(formerSchool,Owerri);aTeacherinGeographyLatinintheprestigiousGovernmentCollege,andFounder/ProprietorofEgbuCompre-SchoolinEgbuOwerri.PaEjioguwasalsoEducationalConsultant/SoleRepresentativeFordFoundationoftheUSAinNigeria.PaEjioguwasindeedapillarofeducationandinNigeria.Moreover,asaforemostCommunityLeader,hetheSecretaryGeneralofOwerriUniontheageof17.BornJuly1911inUmuayaluvillage,Egbu,Owerri,EjiogureceivedhisprimaryschooleducationtheGovernmentSchoolOwerriandsecondaryschooleducationatBonnyNormalCollege.HeobtainedGradeIIITeacher’sCertificatein1928andhisSeniorTeacher’sCertificatein1933beforeproceedingtotheUniversityofLondonInstituteOfEducationwhereheobtainedtheAdvancedStageoftheAssociateDiplomainEducationalOrganisationandAdministration.Helaterat-tendnumerousspecialist(overseas)coursesinEducationalSystemsandPractices,AdultEducationandLocalGovernmentAdministration.Inthefieldofeducation,herecordedalegendarycareerascendancy,risingfromaprimaryschoolteacherinthelate1920stobecomingthepro-fessionalheadoftheEducationMinistry–ChiefInspectorofEducationofthethenEasternNigeria(1960–1965).In1935,hebecamethefirstHeadMasterofGovernmentMiddleSchool,OwerriandworkedtowardsitsevolutionintoGovernmentSecondaryschoolin1949.HewasthefirstandonlypersoninEasternNigeriatopasstheLondonMatriculationExaminationwhenitwasfirstadministeredin1944(therewereonlyfivesuccessfulcandidatesthroughoutNige-ria).HelatertaughtinGovernmentMiddleSchoolAbaandGovernmentCollegeUmuahiainthelater1940s.HesubsequentlyservedasaTravelling/VisitingTeacherandRegionalAdultEducationOfficerintheearly1950s.From1953to1958,NathanEjioguservedasthefirstAfricanPrincipalofateachertrainingInstitutioninEasternNigeria(T.T.C)–thepresentdayUniversityofUyo.HewaspromotedtoPrincipalInspectorofEducationinthesame1958beforehisappointmentin1960asthefirstAfricanChiefInspectorofEducationforEasternNigeria–thegeographicalequivalentofthepresentdayEnugu,Ebonyi,Anambra,Imo,Abia,AkwaIbom,CrossRiver,RiversandBayelsaStates.Heretiredin1965butcontinuedserviceasEducationalConsultanttotheAmericanFordFoundationandUNESCO.AttheendoftheNigerianCivilwarin1970,hewasappointedChairmanPublicServiceCommissionofthedefunctEastCentralStateofNigeria.Inthiscapacity,heworkedtirelesslytorehabilitate,reconstructandrestorestabilityandintegrity
Members of the Hausa community in Enugu State have nancebroughtleadershipUgwuanyicommendedGovernorIfeanyifortheexemplaryattributeshehastobearinthegoverofthestate.
Pa Ejiogu Ugwuanyi to the Civil Service. He was a member of the American Association of School Administrators and served as a Research Fellow at the Institute of Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka until the outbreak of the Nigeria Civil war. In the non-formal sector, he was a committed and revered community leader, serving as the General Secretary of Owerri Divisional Union (1934-1945) and providing inspired and stable leadership to his Egbu town union until his death. He was a strong leader in the Boys Scout movement, serving as a Scout Master (1929 – 1946) training the Youth in leadership and community development. In recognition thereof, he was appointed Vice Chairman Baden Powell Guild of Old Scouts and Patron in1970. He was in the programmeforefrontofpromotingAdultLiteracy(Education)whichhealsopropagatedthrough
Remembering Legendary Nathan Ejiogu, 50 Years After His Passage
Ekpe is an Abuja based Media and PR Consultant. Northern community is solidly behind that project and we are going to deliver 100 percent,” he said. They, therefore, offered special prayers for Gov. Layout,EnuguandandUgwuanyiandbeseechedGodtocontinuetoelevatebestowhimwithwisdom,goodhealth,protectionprosperitytorendermoreselflessservicetoStateandhisfatherland.Inanotherdevelopment,youthsofIndependenceEnugu,alsovisitedUgwuanyiattheGovernmentHouse,Enugu,toappreciatehimforentrenchingpeaceandgoodgovernanceinthestate.TheyouthsequallyapplaudedthegovernorforthenumerousroadprojectshisadministrationhasexecutedinIndependenceLayout,Enugu,stressingthatnopastadministrationpaidspecialattentiontotheareathewayhe(Ugwuanyi)hasdonesofar.Speaking,theleaderofthegroup,SolomomNnaemekaNwobodo,toldUgwuanyithat“the
way Independence Layout is now, is not how it was before,” adding: “You built for us Valley Crescent, andForesteverybutpastBureauMinistryTrinity-BishopUgwuobaMountDrive,LinkRoad,UkeheStreet,Isi-Uzostreet,Street,NwafiaStreet,IbuzaStreet,HolyMichaelEnejeStreet,amongothers.“YourExcellency,yourecruitedthepeoplefromtheofTransport,MOT,(TrafficEnforcementCadets)tocontroltrafficinEnugucity.Duringgovernments,therewastrafficgridlockinEnugu,nowtheMOTcontrolseverywheremakingsureplaceisfreefromtrafficcongestion.“Asifthatisnotenough,youestablishedforusGuardsandNeighbourhoodWatchgroupsgavemaximumsupporttothesecurityagenciestodischargetheirdutieseffectively.AndthereispeaceandsecurityinEnugutodaythatwenowsleepwithourtwoeyesclosed,amongothernumerousachievements.“YourExcellency,youbroughtanopendoorpolicytoyourgovernment.Youhavegivenouryouths,ourmothersandourfatherstheopportunitytoparticipateinpoliticsandmostofthemhaveachievedtheirpoliticalaspirations.“Wesayweshouldcomeandthankyouandpromiseyouthatcome2023,wewillsupportyoutogototheSenatebecausesomeofuscastourvotesinNsukka.“WearealsopromisingyouthatwearesolidlybehindBarr.PeterMbah,tobeyoursuccessorin2023.AllofusareforthePDPandbythespecialgraceofGod,IndependenceLayouthasneverlostanyelectionsince1999.“YourExcellency,thankyouonceagainforunitingtheindigenesofEnuguStatethroughthePDPbyaccommodatingeverybody,andanybodywhocomestotheGovernmentHouse.OurmottoistalktowhoyouknowinyourpollingunitandwardtomakesurethatPDPwinscome2023.Alwayscountonourunalloyedsupportandsolidity,sir.”
Enugu Hausa Community Hails Ugwuanyi on Peace, National Integration, Good Governance
Members of the Hausa community appreciated Ugwuanyi for promoting peace and national unity, and for showing them love and care through the appointments of their members in government at the state and local government levels as well as identifying with them during their festivities, among others. They also declared their support for Ugwuanyi’s senatorial bid to represent Enugu North Senatorial District in the National Assembly in 2023, adding that they are solidly behind him, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Barr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, and other candidates of the party. Speaking when they paid a solidarity visit to the
I’m
Chike Ferdinand Ekechukwu
Chike Collaborates with AU on Covid-19 Song
‘Collision Course’ from Bolanle Austen-Peters Premieres on Netflix
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 13, 2022 SHOWBIZFLAIR17Ferdinand Ekechukwu 08035011394 Email: ferdi_adthisday@yahoo.com
Balloranking Singer and songwriter Balogun Olamilekan, popularly known as Balloranking, is one of the young artistes leading the new generation of Nigerian Afro-Sounds. Born on November 20, 2000 in the Surulere area of Lagos, Balloranking started pursuing his career at the age of 17 and has stopped at nothing to be more than a street artiste. With million streams and downloads on digital platform reflect his large fan-base and it is evident that Balloranking keeps growing. In this chat with Ferdinand Ekechukwu, the fast rising act shares among other things, his journey, current project and plans Fela, Burna Boy, Wizkid. Are there challenges you face as a rising star? Yes, just usual challenges every artist at my level faces. just trying to make music and trying to ensure the fans love it. What is it that you feel stands you out from the rest of the current artistes right now? Well, I am just different and I have my own sound, I think that makes me original. What’s your process of song making? My music comes with feelings. I sing with reality. I could sing about what has happened to me or around me in the past or what is going on at that moment. What kind of song do you do? I make Afro-music, conscious music and Hip-pop. What’s your current project and plans for the rest of year? I just released new music off my forthcoming EP, titled “Realize” featuring Seyi Vibes. My EP is one to watch out for because I am sure my fans will love it. I have some amazing artists on it including international artists, so I can say it is nothing like what is expected, it will be way more than expectations. My fans will be proud of me. What do you enjoy the most about being an artist and creative? I simply enjoy recording and performing on stage.
with my Own Sound Balloranking
November 4). Anikulapo (NG, September 30). Blood & Water (ZA, November). How to Ruin Christmas: The Baby Shower (ZA, December 16). South African film iNumber Number: Fool’s Gold (ZA). Netflix also revealed a wide variety of licensed films and series that will make their debuts on Netflix this year. These include Office Invasion (ZA, August 10), Lockdown (NG, August 5), The Razz Guy (NG, August 12), Wild is The Wind (ZA, October 28), and Disconnect 2 (KE, December). During the first half of 2022, Netflix released an exceptional slate of content from the sub-Saharan Africa region across multiple genres.Thepan-African reality show Young, Famous & African, the South African action film Silverton Siege, the South African soapy drama series Savage Beauty, Netflix’s first Kenyan licensed branded series Country Queen, the first Netflix-owned Nigerian series Blood Sisters, a riveting South African crime documentary Senzo: Murder Of A Soccer Star and most recently, Justice Served. To further delight fans of Nigerian stories, Netflix announced bringing back 31 fan favorite’s films from Nigeria which will be launched every day throughout the month of August. Netflix also reaffirmed its commitment to reality by confirming the return of ‘Young Famous and African’ (pan-Africa) which will start production soon to showcase some of Africa’s biggest stars as they go about their everyday fabulous lives. As part of its ongoing commitment to creating sustainable relationships with African storytellers, it disclosed a multi-project partnership with acclaimed South African filmmaker Mandlakayise Water Dube. This partnership joins other multi-title agreements between the company and African creatives including Mo Abudu and Kunle Afolayan. The event also gave a glimpse into the progress of the various projects being created by emerging filmmakers from the various initiatives the company introduced in the past year. Dorothy Ghettuba, Netflix Director of Series in Africa, said: “We believe that Africa is one of the major creative centres for great storytelling that resonates around the world so it only makes sense for us to increase our investment with our slate with an even more exciting slate. We’re proud to continue creating global opportunities for the talented creatives of this great continent and sharing their authentic stories with our members in Africa and around the world.” Just Different
Singer-songwriter and actor, Chike Ezekpeazu simply known as Chike, has revealed plans with the African Union (AU) for a song aimed at inspiring people to take the COVID-19 vaccine. The music star spoke about the forthcoming project in Lagos during a press engagement organised by AU and Bingwa Initiative that drives 70 percent vaccination target across Africa before 2023. Chike stated that using familiar faces to get the information passed leads to more trust in the process and gives more credibility to the essence of getting vaccinated. “I’m so excited to be part of this, when people talk about vaccination, there’s a lot of myths. I’m happy that Bingwa is doing that sensitisation which they want me to champion by getting people to get vaccinated,” the ‘Boo of the Booless’ said about the plans on the COVID-19 song. The Initiative aims to engage the creative community in creating more awareness content to promote Covid-19 vaccination across the continent. Creatives in attendance include popular TikToker Jennifer Onyekwelu, social In addition, the initiative seeks to establish a network of champions that aims to scale-up the rate of covid-19 vaccination across Africa by 70 percent before 2023 through youth engagement. Tagged AU COVID-19 vaccination Bingwa Initiative is a public-private-youth initiative driven in partnership with Trace TV, Mastercard Foundation, GIZ, UNICEF, and many others. The event was graced by Ngwenya Prudence Nonkululeko, the acting director of Women, Gender and Chrys Promesse Kaniki, Senior Technical Bolanle Austen-Peters
Ferdinand Ekechukwu Netflix Ramps-up African Stories with Exciting Titles Itwas a gathering of talent, filmmakers and press from South Africa and Nigeria at a recent Netflix exclusive preview of its programming for the year end 2022 and the start of next year 2023. The event, ‘See What’s Next Africa’ content, showcase to spotlight its increased investment in Africa’s rich heritage of storytelling through exciting new projects that span a diverse range of genres and formats that will be available in 190 countries. The event presented a diverse range of bestin-class exciting African titles coming to the streamer soon. Among the titles are: Ludik (ZA, August 26). The Brave Ones (ZA, September 16). Kings of Queenstown (ZA November 4). Elesin Oba, The King’s Horseman (NG, Bolanle Austen-Peters (BAP) Productions’ multiple award-winning blockbuster, “Collision Course”, is set for premiere on Netflix. A statement issued in Lagos last Wednesday by BAP, the producers of award-winning films - “93 DAYS”, “Bling Lagosians” and “Man of God” - said “Collision Course” would be available on Netflix from Friday September 2 for a universal release. The film was directed by Bolanle Austen-Peters, and produced by Joseph Umoibom and James Amuta.Featuring Chioma Akpotha, Daniel Etim Effiong, Kelechi Udegbe, Ade Laoye, Kenneth Okolie, Bimbo Manuel, Gregory Ojefua, Bamike Olawunmi-Adenibuyan (BamBam), Kalu Ikeagwu, and Nobert Young, Collision is a heart thumping story told in 24 hours that dives into the lives of a police officer, a young up and coming artiste and some rogue element in the society. The movie is set against the background of widespread agitations against police brutality in Nigeria and how youths were ready to make their voices heard. Regarded as one of Mrs. Austen-Peters’ most accomplished works, ‘Collision Course’ has earned national acclaim since its Nigerian premiere last October 2021 as the closing film for the prestigious African Film Festival (AFRIFF), where it earned Kelechi Udegbe the Best Actor in A Lead Role award.Italso picked two out of the four awards for which it was nominated at the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA). And early this year, the film emerged as West Africa’s Best Movie at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA).
When did music start for you? I started my musical career at the age of 17 and the motivation to do music started at my place of work where I learnt graphics designing. My boss constantly played musical instruments at work and since then, my drive to make good music has been a never ending one. Can you take us through your background? I am from a middleclass family. I am the last born and the only boy of the family and I have five elder sisters. My dad works as a welder. Who are your biggest inspirations? Musical influences?
Deborah Gold’s Debut Single is Ready
SHOWBIZFLAIR18FerdinandEkechukwu
Adesoga Hits Stardom with ‘Vibrate’
Kunle Afolayan, Bimbo Ademoye, Kunle Remi, and Sola Sobowale take out time during the shoot of ‘Anikulapo’
Peeved by his absence, some Tanzanians were seen in viral video throwing objects on the empty stage after they had waited hours for the singer. Revelers were also seen walking out angrily while expressing their dissatisfaction. Kizz Daniel was then taken to Oyster Bay Police Station Civil Police in Dar es Salaam. Addressing the issue at a press conference on Tuesday in Tanzania, Kizz Daniel apologized to fans, gave his side of the incident, and promised to make up for the show. He said he had agreed with Str8up Vibes (the event coordinators) to go on with the show. “We agreed to put up a show on Friday (August 12). A free show. So, I will be partnering with Str8up Vibes. Also, I must apologise to the fans. None of this was intentional. I love my job. Mainly, I love performing. “I didn’t mean to disrespect the fans. It was never intentional. I wanted to perform. I came to Tanzania to perform, but due to some circumstances Kunle Afolayan’s latest production, ‘Anikulapo’ will premiere on September 30, his birthday. Starring Kunle Remi in the lead role, ‘Anikulapo’ is a one of a kind mystical folklore drama revolving around the life of Saro, a young zealous man seeking for greener pasture in the great Oyo Kingdom. However, unfolding wife, Arolake leads to his untimely death and encounter with Akala, a mystical bird believed to give and take life.
Afro pop and R&B artiste, releaseDeborahwithDeborahOjugbanaGoldNdidithestagenameGoldisandunveil-
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 13, 2022
Multitalented and Trinidadbased Nigerian artiste, Odunbamku Adesoga Somorin has hit the airwaves with his debut single, titled ‘Vibrate’. Vibrate was released August 1, to coincide with Trinidad and Tobago Day of emancipation. Adesoga said his latest drop is simply telling everyone to follow there intuition. He said: “It is about energy and feeling vibes. Religion calls it spirits, science calls it energy, in the streets we call it vibes and we trust it. Everything my team and I are doing is guided by energy. Yes we want to do music for people to dance but at the same time, we want to be current, as we know that we are in a world and a period where we need to trust our energy and intuition before making decision. Vibrate also reminds us on the need to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery”.The19- year old singer who says he draws inspiration from Fela Anikulapo Kuti hoped to influence governance and societal change with his songs. “There is a problem bigger than the government presently, no doubt, government is also a problem which we can reach through lyricism, but my work will look at what has been institutionalised in form of religion, governance and how people relate to each other in terms of not having grasp of their own language”.
ing of her debut single titled “Mister”. Her sojourn into music started when she was a member of a little girls’ musical group at the age 11. However, amazingly at age 14, she started putting lyrics together and writing her own songs. Inspired by acts like Madonna, Toni Braxton, Lady Gaga & Beyoncé, after her studies at the North American University, Houdegbe; she made the decision to pursue her career in ageGoldProfessionally,music.Deborahstartedrecordingat21assheisnowsetto
How Kizz Daniel Failed to ‘Buga’ Tanzanians
Kunle Afolayan’s Epic ‘Anikulapo’ Premieres on His Birthdate
Ferdinand Ekechukwu Tosin Clegg for Kizz who refused to take them. Uwa, a Tanzanian-based Nigerian show promoter, said it was a premium show. He explained how he contracted Kizz Daniel through his agent, Paul O. “My company is new here. I had all contract with Paul O is the one I booked Kizz directly from. Paul O cried all night trying to beg this guy ‘Please go to this show’, he called from America! “I paid this guy $60,000 to perform on this show. I knelt down on my knees. I was like ‘Bro, you are damaging me. . . I’m a Nigerian.”
Uwa Kizz Daniel KizzDaniel
Ferdinand Ekechukwu
Adesoga, a culture enthusiast and student of psychology hails from Ogun State. He sees himself attaining legendary status and grabbing nominations and award of highly coveted Grammy and others. The new release was produced by Oshé Phillip Lewis of Xia records. Vibrate audio version is presently available on all streaming platforms, with the video version set to hit the space next year. Adesoga Deborah way beyond my power, we couldn’t make that happen. I apologise once again to the people of Tanzania, and I hope you guys give me another chance to give you a show, to give you a proper show, a beautiful show,” the ‘Buga’ crooner said. Explaining his absence at the show, Kizz narrated how he arrived in Nairobi, Kenya from Kampala, Uganda where he had performed. already departed. He said he got there by 12pm and was delayed in Nairobi for eight hours before es Salam, he said he discovered that some of his belongings had been forgotten. “The organisers assured me we’d get other equipment. We arrived at the hotel at 9 p.m. and sent my band to the hall to practice. Unfortunately, the band failed because the fans had already entered the venue. I tried contacting the designers here to get clothes. When I decided to leave the venue, I was told it was unsafe already. The fans got angry. “We agreed with the organisers that we will apologise to the fans and organise another show. On the second day, news spread and the police followed me to the hotel, not to arrest me but to question me about what happened,” he said. Uwa would later in another session with Daddy Freeze, alongside Kizz Daniel’s brother, Folu, recant his earlier statement while admitting that there were technical issues that could have hindered the singer from performing at the show if he had gone on. When asked by Daddy Freeze why he claimed Kizz Daniel insisted that he won’t in a teaser shared via his Instagram handle earlier. “Exclusive. Anikulapo the 30th of September,” he wrote. Fresh details on Anikulapo - which exclusive premiere of its forthcomingThetitles.production packs a brilliant cast of Nollywood actors of the Yoruba genre for this historical story. Sola Sobowale, Hakeem K. Kazeem, Kunle Remi, Bimbo Ademoye, Taiwo Hassan, Fathia Balogun, Adebayo Salami, Moji Olayiwola, and Kareem Adepoju are among the cast in shot at KAP Film Village and Resort run by Kunle PrincipalAfolayan.photography for the epic bedazzled especially as it would explore similar themes as the hit series ‘Game of Thrones’ but with a representation of the YorubaAfolayanculture.wrapped up 2021 with a of makeviewers.herimpact in the entertainment industry and as well bless the world with her beautiful vocals. Speaking on the debut song, she said the song is about love, heartache, about strength, self-knowledge, and it embodies a strong sense of self perform because he didn’t have his gold chain, he stated that “emotions were high that night”. Uwa also admitted that Kizz Daniel tried to salvage the situation by actually getting to the venue where his band had rushed to rehearse but on getting there, the situation had gone out of hand. The singer’s brother disclosed that Kizz Daniel was not paid in full, in response Steven claimed that $60,000 was earlier paid, but it was not paid to Kizz Daniel directly, but through PaulHeO.also stated that the singer was not arrested but taken in for questioning to know what really happened. Uwa admitted that all these happened, but said they were only trying not to have issues with authorities because they are new in business in the country and also didn’t know how to tell the concert-goers that it has been postponed.
Raving on the success of his mega hit single ‘Buga’, Afropop star, Oluwatobiloba Daniel, popularly known as Kizz Daniel was enmeshed in a saga this week following his purported arrest in Tanzania. The singer’s absence at a well-publicized concert he was said to have been paid for was the reason. Kizz Daniel Concert at the Warehouse Arena (Old Next Door Arena) in Dar es Salaam, the country’s capital, last Sunday night. As part of his Afro Classic World Tour, ‘Vado D Great’ was scheduled to perform in Tanzania August 7, Rwanda August 13, and Malawi August 27. The singer had arrived in Tanzania but was said to have failed to appear at the show that featured Tanzanian singers such as Mario, Saraphina and Mabantu. According to the show promoter, Stephen Uwa, Kizz Daniel’s luggage which had his clothes and a particular gold chain in it could not be delivered by the “He said the airline didn’t bring his bag. That is why he could not perform because his gold chain is not there and he had a gold chain on his neck. He wanted the gold chain to perform, he wanted everything,” Uwa said during a live Instagram chat with OAP Daddy Freeze.
RE: Wike, a Governor Possessed By Spirit of Flyovers
averse to appreciating the benefits of these flyovers. They remained remarkable achievement. The record set would not be beaten for a long time. In contemporary times, no State government could dare. Yemi Adebowale also had enthused that these flyovers are the only projects that are being executed. He lied. His assertions are robed with pale claims. It only proves that he had not been to Rivers State before or, maybe lately. If he had, he would be en thusiastic to do an independent search for facts. Such efforts would have espoused him to evidences of other shades of devel opment ongoing. This is because, some levels of development are intangible. But he could still berth at shores of tangible others different from flyovers. Governor Wike’s administration has turned and transformed not less than 20 major single lane roads into dual carriage. They include Igwuruta – Chokocho road, Saapkenwa – Bori road, Tam David West Boulevard, Rumuokwurishi – Eneka – Igwu ruta road, Rumuepirikom – Rumuolumeni road, Rebisi – Trans-Amadi – Oginigba road, Justice Iche Ndu road, Eagle Island – Illoa buchi road, Elelenwo – Akpajo road, Birabi road, Emeyal road, Tombia road, Forces Avenue, Olumeni road, Abacha road, and Harley street, Tombia Extension, Eastern bypass, Ogbum-nu-Abali/Eastern bypass road,and the Ezimgbu road. They have street lights, pedestrian walkways and coveredAlready,drains.alotof roads connecting and interconnecting several communities across the State are ongoing. They include Phase one of the Ahoada – Omoku dual car riage way, the phase two Saakpenwa-Bori – Kono dual carriage way, the dualisation of Egbema- Omoku road, the Woji – Aleto – Alesa road and the Wakama – Ogu – Bolo road, are underway. It is worthy to noted that Opobo axis of the Ogoni- Opobo-Andoni road has achieved, Andoni community is next and would soon be completed so that coastal communities of Ngo, Ikuru and other towns along that way can be accessed by road after decades of failed promises by the previous governments. It is in similar vein that the construction of phase one of the Trans-Kalabari road has commenced. Governor Wike has also provided over 1200 classrooms and nearly 14,000 desks to over 200 primary and junior secondary schools. His administration has also reconstructed, furnished and equipped several secondary schools with modern classrooms, laboratories, libraries, sports facilities, staff quarters and paved interconnecting road networks.
WWikeike
Our attention was drawn to an article titled: “Wike, a Governor Possessed By Spirit of Flyovers” published by Yemi Adebowale. It was in his ‘RingTrue’ column of the ThisDay Newspaper of August 6th, 2022. The writer exhibited distasteful notoriety with his recluse to illogical offerings in public space of what he least knew about. The development audacity of Governor Wike has remained all inclusive. The writer hardly grasped that extent. His piece depicted him as a sad minded and bitter man. Evidences of one soaked in skewed social media snippets. Publishers of such snippets, always, were backward looking critics. They feared to seek out the fact that would help them cease from misinformation. Yemi Adebowale, unfortunately so, had showed himself to be among such political opportunists and hack writers who politicise and trivialise issues of development with puerile logic.Astheir stock-in-trade, they criticise blindly every genuine intention of Governor Wike. It is therefore, imperative for us to overcome the temptation of being silence over such snide and provocative innuendos in that obviously sponsored pervasive rant. Stating it as it is, from inception of his adminis tration on May 29th, 2015, up until now, Governor Wike has been dogged with issues of develop ment . He started off with such urgency and accomplished so much within first few months in office. The drive was predicated on repairing the rot in all sectors that he inherited. The giant development strides were to rebuild the broken walls of social trust and vitalise the economy of the State. So, the well thought out development plan and its implementation remained in focus and encompasses all sectors. Perhaps, Yemi is oblivious of the fact that all across the globe, service oriented governments are reinventing many cosmopolitan cities like Port Harcourt to become people friendly and sustainable.Perennialtraffic congestions in major cities like Lagos and Port Harcourt have been identified as major bottleneck to economic growth and development.Andaspartof his integrated urban renewal programme, governor Wike decided to embark on the construction of flyovers to solve traf fic snarls in major intersections within Port Harcourt and Obio-Akpor LGAs. Until the Wike’s infrastructure revolution, residents of Port Harcourt and its environ will attest to the fact that driving or better still, commuting along the busy Port Harcourt-Aba expressway, was harrowing due to traffic congestion.Atenminutes drive today along Port HarcourtAba expressway, could take two to three hours until the construction of Rumuogba, remodelled Rumuola,Orochiri-Worokwu (Waterlines), G.R.A junction, Rebisi, Oro-Abali flyovers. This was the reality of those who live and do business in the State capital within the Wike’s administration began to proffer solution to this problem in 2019. The seven out of twelve flyovers already inaugurated have helped to streamline the traffic in Port Harcourt and its environs. A lot of irretrievable time, which is unit of life spent in congestion is avoided through these flyover. We are confident that these flyovers will tremendously help business community to grow its business. These flyovers have contributed significantly to the aesthetics of the Rivers State city capital. Anyone driving through the flyovers any time of the day can relish a panoramic view of the Garden city. Only narrow-minded people and those who must remain blind to any meaningful, genuine and concrete development take to mischief. They refused to see the connecting strings of each development towards the overall development of the state and its people. But, why is the construction of 12 flyovers by Governor Wike a pain to Yemi Adebowale? Without any contradiction, he is particularly
Kelvin Ebiri RIGHT OF REPLY THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 13, 2022 19
Ebiri is Special Assistant on Media to Rivers State governor.
The facts abound that at the tertiary level, the governor has elevated the structural quality of State’s tertiary institutions with new faculty, administrative and other buildings, strength ened the governance systems and enhanced staff welfare with the new salary structure. Apart from the College of Medical Sciences, the Wike’s administration has also implemented a multi-campus structure for the Rivers State University with the establishment of new campuses at Emohua, Ahoada and Etche Lo cal Government Areas, thereby increasing the carrying capacity of the University and providing more access to quality tertiary education for Rivers people and other Nigerians. The restora tion of the multi-campus status of the Rivers State University opened a vista of engagement of more personnel. In the health sector, the Wike’s administration has built some new primary healthcare centres for under-served communities, renovated some existing primary health centres and general hospitals, commissioned the 132-bed Mother and Child specialist hospital, established the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, built the Senior Doctors’ Quarters and rebuilt and upgraded the Government House Specialist Clinic, while a Junior Doctors Quarters is also under construction The scholarship scheme established for Rivers indigenes studying at PAMO Univer sity of Medical Sciences subsists. Currently, over six hundred students are benefiting. This had ultimately provided medical education to Rivers children and other Nigerians. Notably, there were separate approval for an automatic employment of all Rivers State indigenes who bagged Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) during the 2018 Convocation Ceremony of the Rivers State University.Wewonder why these are not human capital development to Yemi Adebowale. Maybe, he would need to be reminded that in 2021, em ployment of teaching and non- teaching staff was concluded at the Rivers State University. There is an ongoing recruitment of teaching and non-teaching staff at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education. On the 15th April, 2016, the State Urban Water Sector reform programme was launched. The programme encapsulated the Port Harcourt Water Supply Scheme and the Sanitation Project.Precisely on August 31st, 2020, the Rivers State government signed contracts for the rehabilitation and upgrading of water supply for Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Govern ment Areas. 496 kilometers of pipeline which will produce 330,000 cubic metres of potable water per day are currently being upgraded. This project will equally create over 1,200 direct jobs and 5,000 indirect jobs for Rivers people. The Wike’s administration rehabilitated moribund water projects in 18 of the 23 Local Government Areas of the state. These water projects are targeted at improving access to potable water in the respective communities. The significance of these deliberate, yet strategic interventions in a critical sector of the State inclusive of the Flyovers underscores the determination of a leader who has changed the narrative of leadership that is committed to good governance. Yemi Adebowale in his penchant for ped dling falsehood, claimed governor Wike has not been paying salary, pension, even when ThisDay published this report in May, 2022, ‘Wike Orders Immediate Payment of Gratuities, Pensions to Rivers Retirees.’ Yemi Adebowale’s suggestion that governor Wike ought to have completed the abandoned monorail project clearly depicts him as someone possessed by spirit of ignorance. Is Yemi Adebowale aware that the immediate past administration which started this conten tious project had spent over N34 Billion on just 2.6 km of the over 19 km project. It is on record that the Managing Director of ARCUS GIBBS Nig Ltd, technical partners to then Rivers State government on the Monorail Project, Wiero Viguezang, in April 2015 declared that the project was no longer tenable. ARCUS GIBBSS, had in a letter made a sixpoint recommendation to the Rivers State government on how to unbundle the monorail project by approaching the manufacturers of the mechanical components and rail tracks in Germany and exploit the possibility of reselling components at a lower price to the manufacturers.ItwillinterestYemi Adebowale to know that no Rivers State government will ever contemplate the completion of this white elephant project.
SATURDAY AUGUST 13, 2022 • THISDAY20
I think it would be on a good note to start with security, because I saw that you had a meeting with some of the security chiefs in in Lagos. In addition, you came to assure Lagosians that all is well. What would you say to Lagosians about your proactive measures in stopping the potentials and the capacity of these elements that want to infiltrate the state? You know, security is also seen as a bedrock of any good governance, because what we preach is that we want to ensure that we save the life of people, properties and life, you know, and this was one of the things that we campaigned on. In addition, if you look at my THEMES agenda, the last word here, you know, which is S is security and governance. So, it’s not something that is just waking up to, it was something that we thought of, was something that we dreamt, and we knew what to do with it. However, to answer the question is to look at the security architecture in Lagos, you know, I was opportune to be the first interim chairman of the security trust fund, and I was part of the board for four years, you know, when we set up that in 2008. Therefore, what you see in Lagos, outside of the regular Lagos State Police Command, you know, is that our government have been able to strengthen, you know, the Rapid Response Squad (RRS). We have about 2500 men that are in the RRS we also have about 500 - 600 men in the task force, apart from the fact that we have access to two three MOPOL formation in Lagos. Lagos also has over 15 Area Commanders about 110, Division of Police Officers (DPO). Therefore, what it means is that, you know, in that small space of 3,650 square kilometers, you have this whole entire, gamut of security architecture. Therefore, we have three layers of interventions in Lagos; the regular Police in the event of day-to-day issues that everybody wants to relate to. However, when you have tactical interventions, men of the RRS are usually the ones that you see coming out first. When it has to do with a direct intervention from the Governor’s Office, you can also see the men of the Task Force. In the last three years are three and a half years, We have also been supporting all the security architecture in the state, not only the police, we’ve given them over 260 vehicles in the last two and a half, three years. We have also extended similar gestures to other security architecture, like the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, and Nigerian Air Force under operation OPMESA. We also support with equipment because we know that security is not something that is cheap. Hence, it is not something that we are starting today. It is something we have started since day one. We are not waiting for anybody in ensuring that we do what we need to do in Lagos to make sure that they are motivated, with the required equipment to work with, as well as logistics support, and wherewithal and access to me. Therefore, that is what has helped us to speak to the issues and deal with it in the aspect of architecture. As I said, what we have done is to come out of the regular police architecture to other security agencies in Lagos like NDLEA, Civil Defense Corps, Correctional facilities, Nigerian Immigration Service and the Neighborhood Watch that we also have. The entire tripod is now activated to see something and say something. This is to ensure that everybody has a responsibility to ensure that whatever is noticed or you observed in our respective neighbourhood is escalated to the appropriate authorities.
Sanwo-Olu INTERVIEW 21THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 13, 2022
Those are some of the things that we agreed to two days ago. We need to share information. It is not about one person presiding on all the information. We are also taking it to the citizens, especially via CDCs and our CDAs, so that we could have access to intelligence. The #EndSARS violence gave Lagos out on how porous the city could be. When we talk about security’s intelligence, what other digital means are being deployed to secure the city? For obvious reasons, I will not go into details about this, but we are working with the Department of State Security (DSS), who have the primary role for intelligence. They are the ones that comb the nooks and crannies. I get telephone calls, text messages almost on a daily basis that I share with them. We are deploying a smart city intervention in the state. We are about the only one that is doing it aggressively and to-date we are installing close to 2,000 CCTV cameras all around the city. We are turning some of them into traffic management. We are just building a new data center for this kind of implementation. However, I cannot begin to give the full details for obvious reasons. We are going to be making this available to DSS so that they can also review some of these things and can have access too. It is a walk in the park, and it is something that the citizens need to be reassured about. Is the Command and Control Center at Ikeja still there? Yes, it is still there.
Sanwo-Olu
I have had to report security at some point in Lagos, and I have been taken on a tour of that facility. You can almost see the whole of Lagos on one screen. That was years ago. I built that facility when I was the chairman of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF). Therefore, I know everything that was put in there. We need to retool a few things, which we are currently doing. Some system needs to be changed, which we have done. We have actually changed the orientation and the location of the Howeverplace.,beyond even all of that, in our ministry, we are building a new data center that will be specifically be for security. It is coming to the system already. We have shipments of about over 21 containers that have arrived about two months ago. All those deployments are happening gradually, and we have spent a lot of money. We are not just waiting for anybody to help us. Is this from security vote or the budget? It is from the budget. It is a two-layer because we can also deploy the infrastructure for other things. Technology for example, using it in school. Once a fibre is there what carries it can be not only for security, it can be used in hospitals, can be used in schools can be used to ensure that government services are running. We are building the architecture; we are building the backbone and security will be one of the users of that barcode. That is how it works. That is why it is on a budget. Now, you did a ban on Okada, and security is one of the reasons. Are you sticking to that, stretching or extending it further? Do you see any more danger in the usage of Okada in Lagos? The only land border I have is with Ogun State. The other one that I have is the Atlantic Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu recently spoke on a television programme about the strides of his administration in the last three years and two months. He also talked about the nationwide security challenges and his proactive measures against infiltration of Lagos State. Excerpts: Ocean. We have a joint Commission where we do things around fiscal planning approval, transportation approval, and security issues. However, to speak directly to the Okada thing; we have seen tremendous improvement in the areas in which it has been banned. In fact, people have written to me to commend me. Not only are we seeing a drop-in issues around security and traffic robberies etc. We do not see people being maimed, cutting of limbs in hospitals again, because these were reckless driving that usually terminates people’s lives unexpectedly. Therefore, we have seen tremendous improvements in that area. Do you have the statistics to support that? In terms of rate of mortality in the last two months, at the peak of it, we were seeing about 550 Okada related accidents in January-February per month. Now, it has come down to 100 direct accidents that we have seen from our hospitals. It has significantly gone down. One thing we have told the RRS is that we need to have a lot of pin down positions, because it is easy to maneuver and do all sorts with Okada. Therefore, they do a lot of pin down and pedestrian monitoring, they just need to park and walk around. You have been criticized as perhaps the only governor in the whole of the southwest region to downplay the role of Amotekun security network, which some have said that have worked very well in other parts of the region. The reason, according to speculation, is because of politics. Would you be considering activating the security outfits? It is a great initiative. It is a great idea and I was part of it. I gave them, even the template, in terms of the Law. We have the Lagos State Neighborhood Watch. These almost 7000 men have been trained and energized. They are working on a day-to-day basis in the state. It is not about the color of the uniform. It is about efficiency and effective security thing. We believe that almost 7,000 of them are working closely with the Nigerian Police Force. I get important information on a weekly basis in almost all nooks and crannies. You know, they escalate these things to the Nigerian Police. And that’s one of the things that has helped us to be able to directly intervene and meet some of the things that you probably also would not have been aware of because I get the report on a daily basis. Now, it’s interesting that you have clarified that, because a lot of people will say oh, I mean, he’s basically talking politics. They are like my brothers and we both conceived it and as I said, we thought of it as a boundary intervention. That you know, the issue there was something happen in Ekiti, you run into Ondo. We said okay, let us set up something where you can police the border patrols. We are not throwing away the Police. In fact, I am borderless with Ogun. We are closer to Kara and Mowe than Abeokuta. We do the interventions actually. The last time we had a broken-down truck, it was handled by our own LASEMA. Just this morning, at 4:35, in Sango Ota there was a massive 40 feet truck that slipped off. It was LASEMA that sorted that.
How do you detect if there is an infiltrator that is coming into Lagos, for example. There was a time that we were alerted that there is a truckload of possible infiltrator? One of the things that we did at the last security meeting is that we have actually pushed a physical stop and search into Ogun State because there is no place on the express route where they can do anything.
We Are Deploying Smart City Security Intervention in Lagos State
L-R: Programs Manager, Kibo School, Oluwaseun Hamzat; Director, Edu Fun Technik, Uche OnwuamaegbuUgwu; CEO, Future Software Resources Ltd, Nkemdilim Uwaje Begho; Co- Founder, STEM METS, Jadesola Adedeji; Founder, Bowjow Learning,Tele Aina; Commissioner for Establishments and Pension, Lagos, Ajibo la Ponle and the Co- Founder, 9ijakids, Titi Adewusi at the 2nd STEAM Fun Fest conference and exhibition, sponsored by Access Bank Plc in Lagos .... recently
Nigeria’s dairy brand, Hollandia, recently partnered the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) and the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to raise awareness on lactose intolerance, and highlight the Milk for those with lactose sensitivities. Speaking at the 41st ACPN Annual ter) recently, Dr. Bisi Abiola, Health Development, Wellness, and Human Capital Development Consultant, and a health & wellness advocate of over 22 symptoms such as bloating, diarrhoea, after consuming dairy products. She stated that while many Nigerians have the challenge of lactose intolerance, the inability of the body to digest lactose, the sugar present in milk, most consumers are unable to connect the symptoms products to lactose intolerance. “If you have lactose intolerance, even a small quantity of milk may trigger digestive distress with symptoms like diarrhoea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Those who are aware of this condition may avoid milk altogether nutrients contained in milks such as calcium, proteins, and vitamins which help eliminate many of the unpleasant symptoms of milk consumption,” she said.She encouraged members of the ACPN and NMA to help spread the word on the challenge of lactose intolerance and to patients who have been diagnosed with lactose sensitivity or lactose intolerance. to digest, low fat, and great tasting milk that is ideal for direct consumption, or use with beverages and milk-complementary Toyinmeals/foods.Nnodi,thanked the Association of Community Pharmacists and the Nigerian Medical Association for the opportunity to partner with them in a collaborative challenge of lactose intolerance.
L-R Mrs Taiwo Olusesi , Registrar CEO of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria, (ICSAN) Mr. Tom Isibor Country Head ACCA Nigeria, Mr. Taiwo Owokalade President and Chairman of Council ICSAN and Mrs Aderonke Adebule Senior Business Development Head ACCA Nigeria during a courtesy visit to the National Headquarters of ICSAN in Lagos recently
LASAA Unveils Guidelines for Elections Branding, Campaign guidelines that would guide on placement of campaign materials as 2023 elections Director,approach. Mr Adedamola Docemo, issued in accordance with the agency’s responsibilities on the use of billboards/ wall drapes, banners, A-frames, and posters, to establish sanity and protect He noted that the guidelines were issued without prejudice to any political party, association or aspirants.
Signage & Advertisement Agency Guidelines on the Use of Election directed that billboards and Wall Drapes structures owned and operated by Outdoor Advertising practitioners, and have permits for such sites and maystructures.only be placed on road verges, medians on inner streets and must not “It must have a distance of not less than 100 meters between each sign deployed which must be made of standard and sturdy materials to ensure that they do not drop or block the“Bannersroads. may only be displayed on inner roads and streets, subject to the following conditions: Only if the banner is attached to the wall of a particular building with the consent/agreement of the building owners, limited to inner streets. Not to be tied to poles or public utilities (electric and telecom poles). Docemo urged all parties and their aspirants to embrace other creative and innovative platforms, including stick in the ground, billboards, Mobile A-frames, mobile adverts, which must be made He also warned against placement of poster on the highway major, roads, high streets and public utility structures. “Posters can only be pasted on designated surfaces on inner streets only, Docemo informed in the statement. for all political parties and aspirants, he warned against breach of the guidelines which he said will be duly sanctioned.
Firms Tasked on Baby Friendly Workplace to Enhance Productivity
The organised private sector has been urged to embrace baby- friendly initiatives as part of the implementation of family friendly policies. Stakeholders, who gathered at the unveiling of “toolkit on workplace breastfeeding support programme in Nigeria,” maintained that adopting the initiatives would be mutually and employers in the long run. The programme, being an initiative of Alive & Thrive, in partnership with Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) was held in commemoration of occasion of World Breastfeeding Day, 2022 themed: ‘Step up Breastfeeding-Educate and Support’.Shedding more light on the initiative at a wellattended programme, Nutrition, Bill and Melinda policies as one “that helps to and family life that typically provide three types of essential resources needed to parents and caregivers of children, namely -time, resources and services.”Henoted that the policies which required organisations to support mothers to breastfeed their babies while at work to ensure optimal breastfeeding practices, would tackle malnutrition and save cost for both organisations and country at Consideringlarge. that onechildren are reported chronically malnourished, Ajieroh urged cooperation with the government to adopt the revised baby-friendly initiative guidelines on the workplace He said, “In 2021, working closely with Alive&Thrive, we launched the guidelines, maternity and paternity leave, on site or near site lactation rooms/ crèches, protection from discrimination and guaranty of job security while onProjectleave”. Director of Ogbodo asserted that making workplace parent friendly has proven to increase productivlowering healthcare cost. He noted that the programme aimed to strengthen relationship with partners in the private sector towards the success of the initiative. Plc. in collaboration with four indigenous edtech companies have channeled efforts and resources towards promoting and inspiring STEAM education among youngsters.
STEAM which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics education, provides essential 21st-century knowledge to equip students with futureready skills for innovative and tech-driven workforce.Thebank’s commitment to this cause was further demonstrated as a major sponsor at The initiative was birthed through the collaborative effort of Jadesola Adedeji of STEM-MET, Uchenna Onwuamaegbu-Ugwu of Edufun Technik, Titi Adewusi of 9ijakids and Wale Ogunjobi of SabiTeach. Classroom to the Real World,” gathered no fewer than 6000 children and led participants reality in an interactive and fun-filled environment.Participants from across public and primary schools were equipped with relevant practical skills such as robotics, coding, and drone technology to complement their classroom learning. speakers including Tarebi Alebiosu, Charles Emembolu, Co-founder of Tech amongstRemarking,others.Head Sustainability at Acrestated the bank’s commitment to children’s development as a child’s friendly and future-oriented institution. “We are passionate champions of educational causes and we are pleased to be a that equipped over 6,000 children who are to succeed in the future. We believe that STEAM education is indispensable to the sustained growth and stability of the nation’s economy and in building a workforce that is relevant for the future.”
22 THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 13, 2022 MARKET PLACE with Omolabake Fasogbon... 08155131874
Coca-Cola Begins ’Believe and Win- Under-The-Crown’ Promo
Beverage brand, Coca-Cola Nigeria has kicked - off ‘Believe and Win- Under-The-Crown’ promo to reward and delight consumers during the 2022 Qatar The promo packs reward worth over N400 million, an lucky winners to watch the world cup in Qatar. Marketing Director of CocaCola Nigeria, Bunmi Adeniba stated that the promo will cover 35cl/50cl RGB and 35cl/50cl/60cl PET of core brands which include: Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Sugar, Sprite, Sprite Zero Sugar andSheSchweppes.informedthat five lucky winners would be selected from Central, and North regions at national draws. “To participate in the promo, consumers are required to purchase any of the Coca-Cola products with a white cap and look under the crown for the unique code. On finding a code, a designated code, using their mobile devices at no cost to them. “With the promo set to end on October 31st, 2022, football lovers are encouraged to enjoy the refreshing taste of these CocaCola beverages and enter the promotion for free”, she said. the white crowns would have unique codes underneath them as all participating entries would be entered into the draw for the grand prize, based on terms and conditions.“Thepromotion is about bringing people together, refreshing our communities, and being there for our consumers at all times”, she added.
Hollandia Lactose Free Milk Partners ACPN, NMA Access Bank, Edtech Firms Equip Youngsters with STEAM Skills
Gov Abiodun’s Strides and Amosun’s Flight of Fancy
Vehicular Support to Niger: Critics Got it Wrong of Security“security”.or lack of it in the Sahel, for which, Niger Republic with a landmass of nearly 500,000sq mi, constitutes, a substantial part, should be a major concern to Nigeria. In sheer size, it is the second biggest country in West Africa. It is bigger than Nigeria by a staggering 148,000sq mi. 80% of Niger Republic is arid and its population is one quarter of Nigeria’s. This means despite its enormous size, it is scarcely populated. Its 25 million inhabitants are mainly engaged in subsistence agriculture. It is a highly indebted Country (HIPC). Nigeria shares border in the north with this vast country. Apart from providing vast land cover for cross border criminals and bandits, Niger Republic provides sanctuary to insurgent elements of the dreaded ISWAP. It is also a smuggling route. A lot of Nigeria’s refined petroleum products. A 2019 report by the Guardian said that Nigeria loses over one trillion naira daily as a result of fuel smuggling across borders to West African states. The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) put Nigeria’s daily fuel consumption at 52 million litres but the actual fuel consumed is 45 million litres. A litre of petrol sells at N400 in Niger Republic Niger Republic pose as a threat to Nigeria’s security on account of illegal migration. Several illegal aliens find their way into the country under cover of the free movement and trade under the ECOWAS Protocol on free movement and Trans border security.Increasingly nation states realize the importance of cooperation and integration. Nigeria with the biggest economy on the continent of Africa appreciates the import of sub regional integration and having secure neighbours. The country is battling with raging cocktail of insurgency and banditry. States have realized that they can’t live in isolation. Rich and poor nations appreciate the importance of corroboration in boosting commerce, trade and security. The goal of any national security is the protection lives, property and promotion of the country’s enduring needs. One of such is enduring security. And in the final analysis, a serious country will always create and maintain an enabling environment for the prosperity of the nation. Informed critics know this. But they will choose to misinform and misguide mainly for mischievous political reasons. This latest opposition didn’t come as a surprise.
The fact that governors are considered the chief security officers of their states but do not, in reality, have powers over police personnel deployed there is easily among provisions that rankle the most about Nigeria’s federalism. However, nothing highlights some of the confounding points of Nigeria’s federalism as starkly as the classification of roads in a manner that literally causes a dilemma for governors with regard to fixing federal roads in their states.
POLITY Ismail Rasheed
Aliyu Mohammed There is, currently, a national hysteria over the recent vehicles purchased by the federal government of Nigeria and donated to Niger Republic to boost security in that beleaguered nation. Since the “scandal” blew open, Nigeria’s tribe of the informed, the misinformed and the mischievous are united in lacerating and whipping the government of the day on this account.Columnists, writers of all hues, breakfast shows’ hosts, panelists on radio and of course, the ubiquitous social media “influencers” all, without reprieve, are exacting their pound of flesh on what they all concluded is a misplaced priority. As I write, editorials are being churned out condemning the purchase of these vehicles. One editorial by a major newspaper with a history of subjectivity and promoting regional divide described the act as that of a “Santa Claus” doling out moneys to other sovereignties whimsically.The government’s defense, so far, has been feeble and lackluster. It merely justified the purchase on the grounds
23THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 13, 2022
I read a statement recently wherein the Ogun State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, said that his administration will commence the reconstruction of the LagosSango Ota-Abeokuta road if the federal government failed to do so in two weeks’ time. In an age where nearly every action is cynically reduced to the shenanigans of politics, there are certainly some who would think it was mere posturing. But the governor was apparently speaking in the context of the president’s comment made about three years ago, urging governors not to fix roads owned by the federal government as the latter would no longer reimburse states monies spent fixing such roads. To users of such roads, however, the distinction between state and federal roads makes little sense. This state-federal roads dilemma will, understandably, be felt more in Ogun State, reputed to be the state with the highest number of federal roads in the country. The brunt of collapsed roads is essentially borne by the people who, predominantly, reside in states where such roads exist. Not surprisingly, their rage is often directed at their governors - not the presidency. Governor Abiodun clearly understands this. His comment during an inspection tour of the said road underscores that: “At its expiration, the state government would, putting the safety and comfort of its citizens first, have no choice than to immediately intervene through total reconstruction.”Hewouldreinforce this compelling sense of obligation to the people’s welfare one week later when he approved the reconstruction of the 32-kilometre Sango-Ijoko-Akute-Yakoyo and the 8-kilometre Mowe-Ofada roads. It did not matter that these were federal roads. His concern was how their deplorable conditions would be adversely impacting the people’s lives, both their daily commute and their businesses. So for the Ogun State governor, the sustained zeal that has characterized his upgrade of collapsed infrastructure, public healthcare and education is not influenced by a vain desire to earn public acclaim. For him, it is all about fidelity to his social contract with the electorate. From the Igan-Ishamuro Road in Ago-Iwoye, Ijebu North Local Government Area to the 4-kilometre Oba Erinwole road that was once a nightmare for travellers heading to Ikorodu from Sagamu, the steady stream of robust infrastructure projects being commissioned further amply demonstrate this. Amid all the remarkable turnaround that has birthed projects like the reconstructed Ijebu Ode-EpeSagamu-Benin (federal) Expressway Interchange and 42-Sagamu Interchange-Abeokuta road, however, there is yet a sprinkling of cynicism that could be gleaned, especially on the social media. It does appear that for each road fixed by the government, there is an online hound gleefully pointing out a bad road elsewhere that similarly requires some makeover. Perhaps it just might have been commendable if the motive of this online brigade was altruistic. The puerile nature of their civic
Aliyu Mohammed writes from No 23, Wushishi Road, Kaduna
Amosun Abiodun received the kind of attention the Abiodun administration has devoted to their upgrade. Performance cannot be deemed impressive simply on the basis of sycophantic eulogies of acolytes. It is often based on concrete social indicators, not a self-pronounced achievement like Amosun’s ridiculous claim that his record was comparable to the “work of four or five governors”. Such an achievement would have been self-evident like Abiodun’s accomplishments. As the National Bureau of Statistics’ most recent report (2020) of the Most Fully Employed Population Shows, Ogun State has the best ranking among Nigerian states, including the FCT. Besides having the country’s fourthleast poverty headcount ratio, Ogun State has since 2020 recorded the fourth-highest IGR performance. Those feats were achieved without putting an unnecessary tax burden on the people. I can attest to that. Equally significant is the fact even in 2020, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and the associated economic catastrophe it wrought, data from the NBS reveals that Ogun was among the only 10 states that attracted foreign direct investment. It is instructive though that Senator Amosun’s scurrilous attacks on Governor Abiodun are not premised on his perceptions of the latter’s governance scorecard. They are fueled by an insatiable lust for power, a primitive urge to make a totem of oneself and demand an eternal obeisance. So, Amosun’s fuss is not about the Ogun State people; it’s all an egotistical rage. And, to paraphrase Chinua Achebe in Arrow of God, when an oracle becomes excessively irrational in its demands, the people would have no qualms showing it the tree from which it was carved. As it was in 2019 when he was undone by a self-defeating quest, Amosun’s latterday flight of fancy will certainly fall back to earth with a thud in 2023. Rasheed writes from Abeokuta.
monitoring gives them away as partisan agents of some disgruntled politician, who increasingly seems like a relic from an ancien regime. It is thus not mere coincidence that Senator Ibikunle Amosun, a former governor of Ogun State, is dredging up an old grudge as the plaudits for his successor’s stellar performance become even more resounding. Sounding, as he always does, as though his words were a holy writ, Amosun proclaimed that Abiodun “must be removed from office in 2023”, alleging that the latter’s electoral victory in 2019 was rigged. The former governor made the claim at the Abeokuta Club which conferred an award on him on the occasion of its fiftieth anniversary. “When you are in a place and they are telling you that you have done the work of four or five governors altogether. I feel elated. I am happy that they appreciated our little efforts,” he told journalists afterwards.Onecanonly react to this delusional quip with the words of the Danish philosopher, Soren Kierkegaard: “There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.” As a resident of Abeokuta for many years, I have no doubt that if Amosun truly worked like “four or five governors altogether” like he claimed he did, the incumbent wouldn’t have inherited the kind of terrible development deficit that he encountered on assuming office. Also, the number of ambulances in the state would not be be a paltry five if he had done as much work as he claimed. So it is just as well that Governor Abiodun described his predecessor’s pronouncements, fittingly, as “self-delusion”. Indeed, even beneath the shenanigans and posturing of his online brigade, it is interesting to note a tacit admission of failure of their principal. The current intervention offers a glimpse of the sort of incremental turnaround that would have occurred in Ogun State’s public infrastructure had they been over the past years
Chairman/Managing Director of Anambra State Physical Planning Board (ANSPPB), Barrister Chike F. Maduekwe masterfully organised the conference that attracted highbrow stakeholders such as the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami; the Government of the United Kingdom; Kaduna State Government; Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON); the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON); Government of Anambra State and its agencies.According to Barrister Maduekwe, “For purpose of clarity and better understanding, Broadband is like the expressway. It is the highway of information and communications. Just as the volume of goods an entity is able to move can determine its wealth, the volume and rate information (text, speech, sounds, static or motion images) can be transferred and received can shape prosperity. Broadband penetration (through laying of additional fibre or other wireless form of making broadband available) is similar to the expansion of express roads into the nooks and crannies of Nigeria. The availability of broadband, will enable people to access information they require to improve the quality of life lived, through participating in online economic activities, learning new skills, be more enlightened to participate in governance and for government to be able to provide public online services.”
In the first place, how do you appease an implacable person who thinks the best way to resolve any disagreement is to bring down the roof? How do you reign in a belligerent individual without regard for the constituted authority? In spite of several months of intrigues and hide-and-seek, APC in Ogun State has remained one big family. A family that is big, strong, dependable, liberal, and reliable enough to accommodate all shades of opinions and interests. But it has no place for a double-standard; it has no room for the recalcitrant who flirts with the opposition to achieve their selfish and personal ambitions. With the current state of things in Ogun State APC, Amosun is neither here nor there, which is why Governor Abiodun has decided to keep him and his cohorts at an arm’s length. But again, one cannot but empathise with the embattled former governor for the fundamental error of judgement he committed by thinking that he could unilaterally on his own anoint his successor; whether popular or unpopular and force it through the throats of everybody. Such a brazen and bare-faced impunity doesn’t work in a democracy, for democracy is about the people, it is about inclusiveness and consensus-building rather than narrow self-exclusivity. That is where the rain actually started to beat Amosun. The second but greatest of all mistakes he made is this delusion that he could fight a sitting governor and win the battle. As a former holder of the office, Amosun knew the enormity of power in the hand of the incumbent governors but he thought he could reinvent the wheel by lording it over his successor. He got it all wrong. As they say, “To err is human and to forgive is divine”. No one is infallible. We all make mistakes. But the successful man will profit from his mistakes and try again in a different way. But he doesn’t feel the need to review his strategy as he continues to do things in the same old way and expects Ogun and Amosun’s Grandiose Delusion to get a different result. He is so much in love with power that he dwells only on emotion and sentiment rather than reality. Whereas, as Robert Greene, the author of the 48 Laws of power says, “To succeed in the game of power, you have to master your emotions”. The Ogun Central Senator lacks the capacity to control his emotion. And for being so overwhelmed by sentiments, he has pushed himself to the edge. He has developed an undue penchant for controversy lately. This past week, he roused the rabble again. He said he would do everything possible to ensure that Governor Abiodun does not win the coming governorship election to actualize his second-term ambition. He said those who rigged the election against his anointed candidate in the 2019 election had apologised to him. In a nutshell, this is a product of impaired nervous system and chronic hallucinations. Fast forward, I burst into uproarious laughter because he wants to unmake what he cannot make. He wants to play the spoilers’ game by propping up another of his former protégé, pitching him against the governor in the coming election. He did it when he was in power; he lost woefully despite the advantage of incumbency. Despite the enormous state resources at his disposal, his candidate suffered a crushing defeat at the hand of Governor Abiodun. Ask me, what has changed in his favour between then and now as for him to think that he can upturn the mandate of the people? Absolutely nothing! Governor Abiodun’s victory in the last election was purely the handiwork of God. It was the collective will of the people. The same people who endorsed his candidature for the 2023 general elections. The same good people will vote again in the coming election. The same people who are the means and end of the developmental agenda of his administration. The same people who have passed a vote of confidence on his leadership for inclusive governance. The news is all over the place that he and his loyalists in the APC have concluded plans to refloat the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) ahead of the 2023 elections. For the benefit of hindsight, Amosun had formed the APM to push for the candidature of Adekunle Akinlade, who failed to clinch the ticket of the APC for the 2019 governorship election. But while he led the APM campaign train across the nooks and crannies of the state, he stayed put in the APC, contested the Ogun Central Senatorial District on its platform, and won the election.Once again, they want to tread the same path of failure. But they are opting for Otegbeye as the candidate of the APM since his estranged political son, Akinlade, has defected to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to be the running mate of the standard bearer of the party, Ladi Adebutu. In all applications of human life, sincerity is the master key to success. Former governor Amosun is known for political mischief. He is at it again. On one hand, he is pledging his support for the Presidential standard bearer of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom he confronted during the campaign for the primary but had to step down for him at the eleventh hour apparently to save his face from an impeding disgraceful outing. Back home in Ogun State, on the other hand, he wants to confront the incumbent Governor Abiodun, his sworn enemy, using APM as a vehicle of attack. They are a thousand miles away behind the game. To be sure, Governor Abiodun is not alone in it, but the entire wellmeaning citizens of the state. Traditional rulers, key political stakeholders, community leaders, religious leaders, student bodies, civil servants as well as market women have thrown their weights behind the crusade for continuity. So, fighting against the collective will of the people is a road that leads to nowhere. It is a straight path to perdition. Presumably, this is the reason the APC in Ogun State has called on the general public to pray for former governor Amosun in order that God might recall him and his co-travellers from the current political wilderness. Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com
Femi Ogbonnikan The immediate past governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, is back in the trenches. This time around, he wants to extract his pound of flesh in the coming 2023 general elections because, according to him, his anointed candidate was “rigged” out in the 2019 governorship election won by Prince Dapo Abiodun. He is also bellyaching that he has lost out on the new power equation in the state even though he fought hard to wrest the structure of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from the incumbent Governor Abiodun but to no avail.
24 THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 13, 2022
Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com
2023:
31, 2022, with the Anambra State Unified Duct Infrastructure Project (ANSG UDIP) - an Open Access Model for HighSpeed Broadband Delivery throughout Anambra State. The initiative is for the private sector to build – at their own cost - a Unified Fibre Duct Infrastructure Project in Anambra State, using the Open Access Model that separates the ownership of the Physical Infrastructure, to wit, Specialised Ducts and Manholes, from the active Fibre services that will run through the underground duct network. In the words of Barrister Maduekwe, “This will entail building up to 2,000kilometers of underground ducting network throughout Anambra State, thus making possible the swift, State-wide implementation of High-speed, Fibre Optic Broadband services. The Open Access model of High-speed Broadband deployment proposes a ‘Dig Once’ Policy, a policy that requires the trenching (digging), laying of ducts, and backfilling of all dug up trenches or paths, only once.” Several reasons are adduced for the implementation of the Open Access Model of High-speed Broadband services, such as: Standardization, Neutrality of Players, Security, Avoidance of Conflict of Interest, Basis for Fair Pricing for All Parties, and Independence. This process will ensure multiform Infrastructural gains for Anambra State within six months to of year of implementation, including: Direct Job Creation, Contribution to GDP Growth, Emergence of New Services and Industries, Workforce Transformation, and Business Innovation. Maduekwe stresses: “The ICT sector cannot but be one of the largest employers. For example, in Australia, building and running the new super-fast National Broadband Network will support 25,000 jobs annually. In Nigeria, for each job in the high-tech industry, two additional jobs, on average, are created in other related sectors. By the end of 2022, the global tech market will grow by 22%, creating jobs, salaries and a widening range of services and products. Anambra State can tap into this worldwide phenomenon and experience the exponential growth rates recorded by States like Lagos, two years after the launch of the Lagos Unified Duct Infrastructure Project in June, 2020. A 10% increase in High-speed broadband penetration is associated with a 1.45% increase in GDP growth in emerging markets. The doubling of mobile data use caused by the increase in 4G connections boosts GDP per capita growth rate by 1% globally. The Internet accounts for 3.4% of overall GDP in some economies. Most of this effect is driven by e-commerce – people advertising and selling goods online. Through the increase in High-speed Broadband penetration, ease of doing business will be improved a great deal as Government establishments will gain directly from the improved digital economy. This will be assured by the inflow of Foreign Direct Investments to AnambraNumerousState.”public services have become available online and through mobile phones. The transition to cloud computing is one of the key trends for modernization. If Anambra State follows suit, it will embrace such cloud-based data infrastructure, and would be an outlier in the creation of Data Centre Opportunities in the Southeast. Fibre Optic communications through wired (fibre), and wireless (fibre radio) connections has enabled the emergence of a completely new sector: The APP Industry, supported by ICT. Incidentally, Google’s submarine Broadband cable touched land in Nigeria in the second quarter of 2022 and runs across Nigeria and five other African countries and connects them directly to Europe. This is a $1Billion investment that Anambra can tap into in the quest to achieve the State’s Digital Transformation. The investment focuses on enabling fast, affordable internet access for more Africans by plugging into already existing metro and last mile duct fibre to provide even more capacity. They intend to also support entrepreneurship and small businesses. Anambra can key into these strategic multinational partnerships. Maduekwe elaborates: “Microwork platforms allow entrepreneurs to significantly cut costs and get access to qualified workers. Anambra can become the hub of freelance work force that would see the provision of thousands of jobs for undergraduates and graduates alike. A typical case study in the amount of funding received by Nigerian start-ups in 2021 shows that total of $1.37b (One Billion, Three Hundred and Seventy Million Dollars) was raised for Nigerian tech start-ups for the year 2021 and 95% of this amount was given to Lagos State Based tech start-ups. With the adoption of High-speed Broadband Opportunities for the youth and tech savvy individuals to develop Fintech Solutions and other solutions, commerce would be boosted in Anambra state. This would attract international Venture capitalists and angel investors to those start-ups, thereby providing much needed Foreign Direct Investment for the state.”The Mobile network operators are interested in reducing their costs and will be more than willing to go into long term Right of Way Agreements with Anambra State. The fibre to the tower opportunity halves the power cost requirements of TELCOS or MNOs by almost half.
– Ogbonnikan wrote from Abeokuta, Ogun State. Abiodun
A critical update of the broadband drive happened on July
Anambra’s Broadband Drive and the Megacity Goal
POLITY
Uzor Maxim Uzoatu Broadband installation holds aloft the promise of turning Anambra State into one megacity. Just last year, on March 30, Anambra State scored a remarkable feat by becoming the first state in Nigeria to bring together eminent stakeholders in a conference to singularly address the obstacles facing broadband deployment and expansion in the country. The well-attended conference rallied stakeholders and investors to Anambra State’s readiness and willingness to expand broadband infrastructure for accelerated socioeconomic development of the State celebrated as “The Light of the Nation”.Anambra thus took pride of place as the first state in South-East Nigeria to implement the waiver of the per linear meter Right of Way (RoW) charges as opposed to the N145 per linear metre recommended by the National Economic Council.Thesuave
The NAHCON Intervention in Nigeria’s Diplomatic Profiling
L-R: Chief Veterinary Officer, Ogun State Ministry of Agric, Dr. Tunde Adeniyi; President, Nigeria Veterinary Medical Association of Nigeria, Dr. Olutoyin Adetuberu; Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Agric, Mrs. Olatokunbo Omopai; Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr. Maimuna Abdullahi Habib; and the Chairman, Conference of Directors of Veterinary Services, South West , Dr. Taiwo Jolaoso; at the South West Directors of Veterinary Services Conference held in Lagos…. yesterday SUNDAY ADIGUN L-R; Captain, South Football Team, Access Bank, Olusegun Adegbola; midfielder, Super Eagles, Ogenyi Onazi; Deputy Managing Director, Access Bank, Victor Etuokwu; former Super Eagles winger, Victor Ikpeba; and captain, North football Team, Norbert Udeh at the Access/Visa FIFA Campaign #roadtoqatar held in Lagos…. yesterday.
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 13, 2022 25
Tunde Akanni Together with the rest of over four hundred other pilgrims from Lagos and Abuja, we made it with great sense of gratitude to Allah, into the King Abdul Azeez International Airport July 5, 2022. So much grateful because just as we were about flying out of Lagos, there was a loud shout to the medics in the aircraft to quickly show up for some emergency. One of us-potential pilgrims, a middle aged Lagos State pilgrim, had a failing health. She was promptly surrounded by medics and others alike for sundry support. Her lower limbs were too weak to support her upper trunk. The dropping head pitiably betrayed a failing neck as medics tried to work her up. This unpleasant inside-aircraft incident went on for more than 30 minutes but no one was in a hurry as we all wished she could bounce back to endure the six-hour journey. She couldn’t. She had to be helped to disembark. The Jeddah pilgrims arrival point secured by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, for Nigerian pilgrims offered inexhaustible yet refreshing facilities as we had all we needed to bath and don our Ihram so we could head straight to the Holy Masjid Haram in Makkah for the first leg of the holy pilgrimage. Just before the walk to Haram from our hotel, we had to drop our light bags Muslim pilgrims advisedly travel light. Nema Mawadda Hotel was to be my abode and that of my eight media colleagues from Lagos. Accommodation fixing over, we hastened to the Holy Mosque with the relentless chant of Labaykalahuma Labayka Back at the hotel after the initial rites at Haram, not a few of the officials in the same aircraft with me were excited by the facilities broadly described as a clear departure from the past. One of them volunteered: The hotel for officials used to be like a school dormitory with mattresses on the ground without basic adornments for comfortable sleep. That way, you’re immediately made to fully activate your senses for the hajj seasons characteristics of endurance, patience and tolerance Really for this writer, its been a reasonably fair Makkah accommodation since I started performing hajj many years back dating to 1990s. From our Nema Mawwada Hotel on Ibrahim El Khalil Street to Masjid Haram is barely 30 minutes of healthy trekking on well paved road side-walks. What with the beckons from both left and right of generous givers of refreshments including full meals to pilgrims? On my first day, I had assorted offers including a full meal with chicken. I had barely savoured that when my friend and colleague, Mikhail Mumuni, ex-Tell editor, threw a joke bothering on culinary adventure saying he would like to look for a place to get shawarma. Pronto, a guy sauntered to our side and handed out just that and for free! Allah Akbar,
SUNDAY ADIGUN L-R: Special Guests, Greg Okojie; Queen Igbineweka; Deputy Commissioner of Police, Miller Dantawaye; and Past Assistant Governor, Rotary club of Benin, Nosa Edo-Osagie during the installation ceremony of Emmanuel Okpeaifo as President of Rotary Club of Benin held in Benin city …..recently. Dan Ukana we both chorused! In the course of my repeated visits to the the holy masjid, I got to appreciate the quality of the vision and taste of the new NAHCON leadership headed by the tested, trans-generational leader, Zikrullah Hassan, as hinted on the first day of arrival. That hotel for NAHCON officials presented a spectacular signpost for all Nigerian pilgrims. Its been so visible to locate and can be used as a landmark to determine the location of hotels of the pilgrims of all Nigerian states. All one needed do was to ensure entering Haram via Gate 79 otherwise referred to as King Fahad Gate. When you are also done at the most expansive, mega masjid, endeavour to locate the two wide roads separated by the ultra modern, underground toilets-one for men and the other for women-to find your way home. El Khalil Street is a household name in Makkah.Awayfrom Haram into the street, a highway actually, you’re tempted to look into shops of assorted wares adorning the ground floors of many hotels occupied by the pilgrims from different countries. The line up of the hotels is a reminder of the situation in Joa Pessoa, a northwestern, beach city of Brazil which played host to the 2016 edition of the Internet Governance Forum, IGF, the global convergence dedicated to discussing internet and all related issues. In Makkah at night, billowing flags of the countries whose pilgrims stay in each of the hotels become more visible as they unfurl as if in cautious dance for the festive month of Dhul Hijjah as a special month.Tohead in the direction of where Nigerian pilgrims are concentrated, there are there are three overhead bridges and a set of three twin, big, blue coated road sign boards between Haram and our own Nema Mawadda Hotel. The first bridge welcomes you to the feet of the marbled staircase descending from the platform of the vast male and female washrooms. As you gradually head into Nigerian quarters, right before the second bridge there is often a preponderance of pilgrims from Turkey with their national emblem all over what they wear and carry. But Hajj being an inimitable facilitator of convergence of races, here to your right is the Palestine Hotel occupied obviously by the pilgrims from Palestine. A massive, yet glittering structure parades invitingly set tea tables and chairs for hotel occupants outside of its lobby. You can then imagine the allure of the elaborately furnished lobby with conspicuous expression of hospitality. Shortly after the bridge is the hotel occupied by pilgrims from Bangladesh. It isn’t any less attractive than the one for the Turkiye pilgrims. Indeed, one recurrent feature of all cadres of facilities here is the adherence to the use of best quality materials in the face of tough, indeed hard to conquer, hilly environment. Behind each of all the hotels are huge mountains but the hotels too appear to be in competition with them in heights in addition to flaunting extremely beauteous architectural designs hardly available in other parts of the world I have been including the US, UK, Netherlands. Dubai is probably next in parading such spectacles. If you function in environments like tertiary institutions where architects are supposed to indulge patrons with their expertise but fail to so do, Saudi hotels will make you think of such architects as criminals. Towering structures everywhere flaunt indescribably detailed aesthetics.AsIwent further to see hotels for Indonesians and Pakistanis, the hotels for Turkiye and Bangladesh pilgrims readily reminded me of Nigeria’s membership of D8 countries whose current executive secretary, Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam, is a Nigerian, a diplomacy veteran who used to be Nigeria’s ambassador to Brazil. D8 otherwise called Developing-8 is an organization for development cooperation among Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkiye. Its secretariat is in Istanbul, Turkiye. Our hotels share same street as if to say EL Khalil Street is D8 Street. Nigeria therefore ranks impressively with the location choice especially as I later learnt that the new NAHCON leadership did what was humanly possible to get far better accommodation rate for pilgrims this year just that the global dollar ranking has not spared our Naira. Several other currencies including those of strong economies like Yen and Euro have not fared better in the recentBeyondtime.enabling Nigerian pilgrims to rub shoulders with those of Turkiye and Bangladesh, Europes fastest growing economy and the worlds largest producer of garments respectively, the NAHCON leadership finally seized a golden moment for us all when African countries hajj administrators had to meet with the Saudi authorities to review this years hajj. NAHCON Chair, Ustaz Zikrullah Hassan spoke on behalf of all Africans to the appreciative audience. The honour for Nigeria, most recently heightened by athlethe Tobi Amusan was palpably perceived at the beautiful event in Makkah. The honour that came the way of the NAHCON boss, Hassan, was well prepared for. His charity began at home. The previous week, he had set up a most transparent Hajj 2022 review session for select stakeholders, also in Makkah, where issues though critically discussed still earned him plaudits. The lesson: Colleagues from within and without can only accord you honour if only youre self respecting. Hassan earned his!
POLITY
–Akanni, Associate Professor and Head of Journalism Department at LASU, is a member of the National Media Committee of Hajj 2022
L-R: MX Marketing Manager, Samsung Nigeria, Mrs. Omolade Agbadaola; Master Trainer,Samsung Nigeria, Mr. Solomon Osibeluwo;Head of Retail MX, Joy Tim Ayoola;Marketing Lead, Samsung Nigeria, Mrs. Chika Nnadozie;and MX Business Manager,Mr. Nathan Lee, at the launch ofSamsung Galaxy Flip4 fold and Galaxy Buds Pro in Lagos yesterday ETOP UKUTT
please) universities, OAU is arguably the one that was able to preserve its known ideology for the longest.” I do not agree with the usage of ‘arguably’ by a majority of Nigerian writers. The explanation I got from one of the country’s frontline editors a fortnight ago was not convincing: when you have points to justify your claims, it becomes arguable and when there are no justifications, you employ ‘unarguably.’ If you are sure of your statement, make it declarative by jettisoning ‘arguably.’ And if you are unsure, do not make claims. If you do, be ready to argue it elsewhere whenconfronted (not in your contribution). Forthe avoidance of doubt, ‘arguable’ (adjective)and its adverb (arguably) mean: ‘…for which good, if not necessarily convincing, reasonsmay be found/open to doubt/not certainly,but reasonably held to be.’ (Source: THE NEW LEXICON WEBSTER’S DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, 2020) My grouse about this excerpt is the intrinsic element of doubt. “Guinea elected a president in an election that witnessed series of crises and postponements.” (Blueprint, July 23) The long road to democracy: a series of crises and postponements.THISDAYofJuly 19 contained a gaffe: “In one breathe, there are those who are still….” Take a fresh breath before we continue. “…it was a soothing balm.” (THE GUARD-IAN, July 19) What else do balms do apart fromThesoothing?nextthree blunders are from THISDAY of July 20: “It is however a consensus opinion that the home, that is parents, should bear the prime responsibility of introducing the subject.” For grammatical sanity, jettison ‘opinion’ from the extract. “The occasion was held in Victoria Island.” Get it right: on Victoria Island.
‘Assure’ Can’t Stand Alone “WE commend the President for taking the bold step, (on)thatconsideringespeciallyheisnotinthesame political platform with Adeleke.”
Classical writing: on the continent “Conspicuously absent at the wedding reception was former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida and his children….” Three issues: ‘Conspicuouslyabsent’ is sheer illiteracy! (Absent at the….). ‘Military president’ can only come from a confused head. We can talk of militaryleader or military ruler (not the contradictory and vexatious extract). Finally, IBB and hischildren deserve plural treatment (were, notwas).THE NATION of July 23 offered its readers an incorrect line: “…Ciroma will continue to advocate for a Northern president.” Delete ‘for’ in the interest of our diseased“Producingdemocracy.ice-blocks without tears”(Source: as above) English without tears: icecubes (not blocks). Nigerian Tribune of June 30 advertised two offensive lines: “Unfortunately, the reality in Nigeria today is: who will throw the first stone?” The hard fact: cast the first stone. Some expressions are fixed/ stock—not subject to any rewriting or editing in whatever circumstance. “Customs intercept tanker load (whathappened to the hyphen?) of drugs” The Nigeria Customs Service is an entity. So, NCS intercepts….“Amasquerade cooling off with pure waterafter a street show….” (BUSINESSDAY, July23) Just this: sachet (or packaged) water. ‘Pure water’ is Nigerian English and smacks of cerebralTHISDAYinfantilism.ofJuly3 contained two blunders:“…is aspiring for the gubernatorial (governor-ship, preferably) seat in the state under (on) the platform of ANPP.” “Fayemi orders for reduction of fees at UNAD” Let us delete ‘for’ in the interest of scholarship.FEEDBACKTHANKSfor your very educative column. It is a shame that newspapers publish all these gaffes. What is the work of their editors? I used to advise students to read novels, magazines and newspapers. Not anymore!(Dr. Inyang Etoh, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State) YOUR lengthy reaction to the anonymous respondent on the issue of the count and uncountable nature of ‘property’ was rather gratuitous, as his assertion on the subject must be a reflection of his shallow knowledge of English language. At best, he should have been referred to the dictionary meanings of the word as you did in your paragraph two, and hope that he and others like him would learn something this time. Considering the plethora of ludicrous assumptions and views of the numerous arm-chair critics that abound in Nigeria on every subject under the sun—from football to astrology—are you prepared to be upset every week? Do not allow anyone to frustrate your laudableefforts. (Max Uzor/Abuja/07067789391) .
F logged daily by national indiscretion and absurdism, we often ventilate our thoughts on several issues in spurts of interventions so as to somehow retain our sanity, and maintain a sense of balance. Here is a collection of sporadic thoughts and reactions to the Nigerian drama of the moment - some sort of rebuttals of emerging inglorious efforts of state actors to threaten the sanity of already traumatized citizenry…and other matters.
fajalive1@gmail.com 08182223348 - (SMS Only) AKINTUNDE-FEMIJOHNSONCOUNTERPOINT
Contagious Tears of a Champion ‘I cried with Tobi Amusan... with gold on her neck, and eyes fixed on the sound of Nigeria’s national anthem... Oh, that lovely Monday morn, July 25, 2022 was a momentous day forWeNigeria.cried together in that brief moment under God’s countenance. We cried at the hope and possibilities that a thriving and prosperous Nigeria can produce. We cried with our hearts bursting with hope that those who make peace, unity, progress and prosperity impossible to flourish in Nigeria will soon fritter away and whither intoWe,oblivion.allthemillions of Amusans...and several other millions groaning under unimaginable maladministration and political opportunism, our time to stand on high pedestals and lift the glory of Nigeria high and proud is getting close. Yes, very close. Time to truly say, “Good morning, Nigeria”! NEWS: We didn’t increase petrol price, marketers did - FG (Punch) My POINT: Hmmmm...upon the unsustainable subsisting SUBSIDY that has made a mockery of our Somebudgets?peopleare surely sleeping on duty! Everyday, we receive one amazing revelation from the incredible throne near Zuma Rock. al-Zawahiri: Al-Qaeda leader Nigeriana
I don NEWS:tire….Ayman
voter turnout - when you consider those who collected PVCs, and not just registrants. There is a story and a warning behind that percentage, and the final result. Let the winners and losers NOT rejoice or mourn too deeply. They should not overly praise or condemn their strategies and pointmen. The people of Nigeria - nay the people of Osun - appear to have regained their voice with the help of the new electoral act… and a fresh sense of self-determination… despite the dirty incentive of cash-for-votes scaling up. Let those who have ears hear what the times are saying…and avoid class suicide… or mass disgrace. Why I Like The Choice Of Kashim Shettima! It is high time we put to test the opportunity to bury the nonsensical political ruse of using religion and regions to divide us - the political correctness of choosing a Christian/Muslim or Northern/Southern tickets in national elections. Add also the expediency of rotational political offices (states and national) without regard for merit, integrity and competence…and such political gimmicks entrenched long ago in our body politic. So, let Nigerians decide, freely and fairly, whether Bola Tinubu’s pick (of Kashim Shettima as running mate) is political astuteness marked by leadership courage, or ill-reasoned presumptuousness wrapped in Hubris. So, let the politicians tell the electorates what they like, and let the critical sectors of the civil society mobilise and sensitise according to their consciences - so that the people may choose aright. Let February 2023 come quickly - so Nigeria may survive by her decision.
Miscellaneous Thoughts
killed in US drone strike - BBC My POINT: In the other news, what we see are local leaders having breakfast meetings, prayer sessions, chieftaincy ceremonies, amnesty appeals and such soul-dispiriting intercourses with murderous bandits, terrorists and such violent miscreants.So,whatare we doing with our own Tucanos, sting drones, and such stealth ops…to knock off their strategic operatives in those forests? And save our infantry needless deaths. Tiredness just tire me for my country! The Madness of 2023 In a nation which has been for long misled by rogues and raped by bandits - to be brutally blunt, we are now basically left with three options in whom to vote for: the Robber vs Kidnapper vs Pickpocket. Irrespective of your sentiments, choose who is likely to hurt your future the least. Remember, you can’t eat your cake and still desire to showcase it. Just pick the least self-centered, the least entitled, and the least polarising, in your estimation. And if you’re wrong, your children will be the angry beneficiaries… while your memories are thrashed in the passage of history. Unless something ginormous happens…especially to those who dream of the miraculous! Who Is Your Candidate’s Mouth? As a result of our colonial experience, many Nigerians today are unconsciously multilingual - that is, some of us can speak our mother tongue, English, Pidgin, etc, interchangeably.Withinthecontext of geo-political interactions, it is expedient, and a clear case of enlightened self-interest for smart politicians to project an aura of detribalised and cosmopolitan mindsets... in their actions, disposition, and visceral optics.Ifyou desire to operate on a national or subnational scale, one of the obvious and deliberate ways to reflect this, and inject some atom of inclusiveness, is in the choice of the politician’s spokesperson. It speaks well of you when your spokesman is of a different tongue or tribe from you... further projecting the universality of your persona, ideology and worldview…as the campaigns begin by the end of next month. So, who is your candidate’s spokesperson? Is your candidate a thinker or a tanker? Is he mindful of perceptions or simply insensitive and obtuse? Are you supporting your candidate indiscriminately - warts and all? Or do you want your candidate to represent the best of you? Pause. Think before you answer. Audacity of Hubris Political leadership is not about tribal superiority, longevity, how old you are, your elite connections, and such mundane parameters of estimating political pedigree. If you see a seeming groundswell of support and brand magnetism being enjoyed by a younger, more acceptable co-contestant, and you desire the best for your country, you should step down your ambition, and subsume your interest under the weight and history of a lifetime opportunity thrown up by a movement and momentum capable of dislocating the suffocating status quo. If you truly care for your country… It doesn’t matter if you have the entire Kano and Jigawa in your pocket… you should have read the signs of the times, and acceded to run behind the fellow igniting fresh passion and credible hope in the younger generations. Some actually nursed the belief that a miracle wasNow,afoot.you’d rather chop off your nose so as to spite your face… And you really expect to win something? Hubris.
The Gathering Unimagined Storms The other day, Osun witnessed 54% of ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948 WABARAEBEREMEDIAGAFFES
“The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System(BVAS) performed better than in (on) previous occasions.”“West Africa (Africa’s) stability tied to free, fair, credible elections—Buhari” “Awoniyi, Aribo EPL debut end (ends) in disappointment”“ASUUstrike:Buhari gives Adamu2-weeks (either 2-week or 2 weeks’) ultimatum to resolve impasse with varsity unions”“KLTCustoms generates N23bn revenue,intercept (why the discord?) container of mosquito coils” “Buhari unveils NNPC Ltd, assures of value with global best practices” Who did the President assure? ‘Assure’, definitely, cannotstand (function) alone or independently. “Zara, Queen’s granddaughter, wins Olympics silver” 2022 CommonwealthGames (adjectival circumstance—onlybefore noun): Olympic silver. The Guardian of July 31 intervened this week with four flying contributions: “TheCBN had, while injecting the fund to (into) tothe sector, said that (sic)....” “There is no doubt that the aviation industry is facing very severe financial crisis.” Conscience, Nurtured by Truth: a very severe financial crisis or severe financial crises. “...ageing aircrafts and high operating costs.” ‘Aircraft’ is non-count. “Of all the first generation (a hyphen, “The accused policeman was said to have actually demanded for N10,000 before he was….” Simply yank away ‘for’ from the excerpt.“Lawan advocates for more states” ‘Advocacy’ in the verbal context does not take“Two‘for’.arrested over heroin seizure at LagosPort” (THISDAY, July 20) Very soon, I willarrest THISDAY editors for (not over) juvenile mistakes.TheJuly 30 edition of THE NATION ON SATURDAY entertained four unwholesome lines: “…she opens up on how she gained entry into the world of make-belief….” Grammar is not make-believe. “…the food situation in the continent….”
26 THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 13, 2022 EXPRESSION
3THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER APRIL 24, 2011 NEWSSOCCERGLOBAL 13.8.2022A WEEKLY PULL-OUT LONDON DERBY PAGE. EmmanuelfromLiningSilver29theForestDennis
28 THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 13, 2022
In spite of Emmanuel Dennis having joined his Watford’s teammates in the Championship and was even involved in the two matches played by the club in the new season which was against his earlier stand not to sink with the Hornets, the Nigeria striker could still achieve his aim of staying in the English top flight after Nottingham Forest showed interest in the Super Eagles forward
the Premier League despite their Nigerian talisman giving them the lead. Dennis fired a rising shot into the top corner to break the deadlock after evading the challenge of Craig Dawson, taking his tally in the top-flight to eight goals in the process. Speaking to BBC Sport post-match, the Hammers captain said: “They started with a great goal from Dennis but then I think we controlled the half and deserved to go 2-1Onlyup.”Liverpool’s Egypt winger Mohamed Salah has had more goal involvements than Dennis in the Premier League last season. Indeed, Arsenal icon, Ian Wright highlighted the importance of Dennis to the Watford side after the red-hot striker scored again in a 4-1 loss to West Ham United in a Premier League clash at Vicarage Road. With his strike against the Hammers, the Nigeria international had a hand in 66.7 per cent of the goals Watford scored in the Premier League last season. Statistically, those numbers clearly show Dennis’ importance to Watford. Speaking on Premier League Productions’ Premier League Wrap, Wright said: “At the start, Tim Sherwood mentioned that Dennis is the one if anything could happen it’s probably going to come from him. “That’s beautifully taken, composure, he’s not rushing that.” The Super Eagles striker joined Watford from Club Brugge last summer on a five-year deal worth £4.5 million.
fromSilverEmmanuelDennisLiningtheForest
Dennis has emerged as one of the bargain signings of last summer transfer window, with Watford paying four million euros to Club Brugge to sign the striker.WestHam hero, Mark Noble had labelled Dennis’ early strike in the Hammers’ 4-1 rout of Watford a great goal when the Hornets suffered their fifth successive loss in to fruition, would be to pair Dennis with fellow Nigerian, Taiwo Awoniyi, who signed from Union Berlin. Premier League newcomers, Nottingham Forest have agreed a £20 million deal for the Watford striker. The Athletic reported yesterday that Nottingham Forest had an opening bid for the Nigerian rejected last month.ThePremier League newcomers have now agreed a deal in principle with personal terms already struck with just final negotiations ongoing.Nottingham Forest will be paying an initial fee of €17 million and they are now finalising the details of the final deal with Watford. According to French sports daily L’Equipe, Watford have also managed to convince Nottingham Forest to include a sell-on clause as part of the deal as well. The figure is unclear but Watford would get a fee if Nottingham Forest sell Dennis for a bigger figure in the coming years. Cooper has been keen to add more firepower to their front line this summer and Dennis will soon become the latest attacker to join NottinghamForest. Forest were given a cold entrance in their first game after they returned to the Premier League in more than a decade. Newcastle defeated Forest 2-0 and the owner, Evangelis Marinakis is still willing to invest in the squad. Forest got Taiwo Awoniyi for £17.5 million earlier in the window and have gotten Orel Mangala, Neco Williams, Jesse Lingard and
GLOBAL
SOCCER
Emmanuel Dennis celebrating his goal against Everton with teammates
Nottingham Forest have made an opening bid for Watford forward Emmanuel Dennis, though the exact structure of the proposed transfer is unclear but the total fee inclusive of add-ons is understood to be in the region of £20 Forestmillion.along with West Ham United had over the weeks shown interest in the 24-yearold who scored 10 goals and recorded six assists for Watford in the Premier League last season. It is however believed West Ham’s interest in the player has now ended. Watford are ready to sell at the right price, as they have been since relegation wasDennisconfirmed.expects to leave this window but played against Sheffield United and West Bromwich Albion as he continues to work in a professional manner at the club he joined from Club Bruges in 2021. Watford owner, Gino Pozzo had been determined to land the right fee for the player and Forest look set to meet the club’s valuation. Club Bruges will receive a five per cent sell-on fee but Watford still stand to make a significant profit on a player they bought for £4 Forestmillion.headcoach, Steve Cooper has overseen a major summer revamp to prepare for the top flight, making 12 signings so far. But Cooper wants to further boost his forward line and the aim, if the deal comes Omar Richards since then. They’re however in the hunt for Dennis, the Nigerian forward who scored 10 goals in the Premier League last season and shot to prominence in the league. Dennis was voted in the Championship Player of the week in the opening week and hasn’t looked out of place so far, playing with much Nottinghamsharpness.Forestare however reluctant to sanction a permanent transfer yet as Dennis is valued at £20 million. With six assists last season, his 16 goal contributions was one of the highest in the league and by far, Watford’s best. The Nigerian has four years left on his contract and Watford are in a comfortable position.Theformer Cologne star took the Premier League by storm last season, scoring 10 goals and registering six assists, directly involved in almost half of Watford’s goals last term. Indeed, his performance caught the eye of a number of big clubs, including Spanish LaLiga side, Villarreal, according to a report on Daily Mail.
Maintaining that momentum at home against the champions will be a tall order indeed for the BournemouthCherries.didend the 2021-22 Championship season unbeaten in four away games - keeping clean sheets in three of them - but Parker is still awaiting his first scalp against City as a manager after four successive defeats while in charge of Fulham. Furthermore, Man City head into the game aiming to claim an 11th win from 11 Premier League clashes with Bournemouth, which represents the best such 100 pe cent winning streak for a club against a single Premier League opponent in the tournament’s history. Meanwhile, Manchester United will be bidding to bounce back from their openingweekend defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion when they resume their Premier League campaign against Brentford in today’s late start.The Red Devils lost 2-1 at home to the Seagulls in their campaign opener last Sunday, while Brentford came from two goals behind to draw 2-2 with Leicester City in their first match on the same afternoon. Brentford looked to be heading for a loss at King Power Stadium last weekend, with Thy Castagne and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall on the scoresheet for Leicester, who led 2-0 in the 46th minute, but van Toney halved the deficit just past the hour before Josh Dasilva came up with a late leveller for the Bees. Thomas Frank’s side will now play their first home game of the season, while a busy end to the month will also see the team take on Fulham, Everton and Crystal Palace in the Premier League, in addition to a trip to Colchester United in the EFL Cup. The Bees were excellent in the Premier League last season, picking up 46 points from 38 matches to claim 13th, 11 points clear of the relegation zone, and they will now be bidding to consolidate at this level of football. Last season, Man United won both league fixtures between the two sides, recording a 3-1 victory in London before winning 3-0 at Old Trafford towards the end of the campaign.ManUnited were looking to get off to the
Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur square off at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon looking to build on their victories on the first weekend of the new Premier League season. Spurs comprehensively defeated Southampton by a 4-1 scoreline before Chelsea edged a closer game away at Everton later in theWithday.Chelsea still looking to move players in and out of the club, there was a vulnerability about the Blues as they faced Everton at Goodison Nevertheless,Park.Thomas Tuchel watched his side come through by a 1-0 scoreline, Jorginho scoring the only goal of the game from the penalty spot. There were aspects of Chelsea’s performance which would have disappointed their head coach, but this was a fixture where only the end result mattered as Chelsea look to keep pace in the title race. In terms of new arrivals, little has changed ahead of this London derby aside from Marc Cucurella being provided with a full week alongside his new teammates. That said, Tuchel will expect a far more efficient display from his team, who will be aware that they have to develop a ruthless streak in their game similar to that of their opponents.Underthe guidance of Antonio Conte, Spurs have been transformed from a club struggling to secure Europa League football to a team which look the most capable of challenging Manchester City and Liverpool thisFulfillingseason. that potential is far easier said than done, but Conte has assembled a squad that will be bitterly disappointed if they do not finish in the top three or achieve silverware come the end of the campaign. Despite making a slow start against Southampton last weekend, Spurs responded by netting four times without either of Son Heung-min or Harry Kane getting on the scoresheet.WhileConte will take a certain level of satisfaction out of that, he will acknowledge internally that a game of this magnitude will test the credentials of his players. Spurs head into this contest having lost five successive games against Chelsea and failed to defeat their rivals in the Premier League sinceMeanwhile,2018. having both enjoyed 2-0 successes on the opening weekend of the Premier League season, champions Manchester City and newly-promoted Bournemouth prepare for battle at the Etihad Stadium this afternoon. The Citizens got the better of West Ham United at the London Stadium last time out, while the Cherries ran out convincing. Erling Braut Haaland won and converted a penalty in the 36th minute of the contest before latching onto a perfectly-weighted pass from Keven De Bruyne in the second half, and he did the rest to kick off life back in England with a brace. The Norwegian staked an early claim for the Golden Boot with his efforts at the London Stadium as City began the defence of their top-flight title in perfect fashion, and the opening home games of Premier League seasons are generally kind to Guardiola’s side.Indeed, the reigning champions have won each of their last four Premier League games at the Etihad and have racked up at least two goals in each of their last eight, which spells optimism for Haaland and danger for Bournemouth.LastSaturday’s contest at the Vitality Stadium pitted a rather frugal Bournemouth against big-spending Aston Villa, but the two teams’ respective signings list counted for nothing as Scott Parker’s side put another blot on Steven Gerrard’s managerial notebook.Jefferson Lerma struck within just two minutes for the quickest goal ever scored by a newly-promoted side on the first weekend of the season, and in the second half, Kieffer Moore headed home past Emiliano Martinez at a bouncing South Coast stadium.
Chelsea defenders ward away threat from Tottenham Hotspurs at Stamford Bridge
29THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 13, 2022
SOCCER
Can Spurs Break Chelsea Hoodoo in Season’s First London Derby?
Having lost five successive games against Chelsea and failed to defeat the Blues in the Premier League since 2018,Tottenham Hotspur would be hoping to complement their impressive start in the season opener as they visit Stamford Bridge in season’s first London derby tomorrow
GLOBAL
Premier LeagueTODAY Aston Villa v Everton 12:30 Arsenal v Leicester 15:00 Brighton v Newcastle 15:00 Man City v Bournemouth 15:00 Southampton v Leeds 15:00 Wolves v Fulham 15:00 Brentford v Man Utd 17:30 SUNDAY Nott. Forest v West Ham 14:00 Chelsea v Tottenham 16:30 MONDAY Liverpool v Crystal Palace 20:00 best possible start in their season opener against Brighton last weekend, but the Red Devils suffered a 2-1 defeat, with Pascal Gross’s first-half double proving crucial for the Seagulls, who were deserving of the three points in Manchester. There is now pressure on new head coach Erik ten Hag to deliver a positive result today, especially as this match comes just nine days before a home fixture against Liverpool in the Premier League. Man United had a largely impressive pre-season, but their issues from last term were on display again against Brighton, and there will need to be huge improvements if they are to challenge for a return to the top four, with Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur all winning last weekend.Allthree of their new signings, Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia and Eriksen, were involved against Brighton; the club continue to work on more new additions, with Juventus’ Adrien Rabiot and PSV Eindhoven’s Cody Gakpo the latest players to be linked with switches to Old Trafford, but there remains uncertainty surrounding the future of a certain Crstiano Ronaldo.
Others are Alexandra Popp, Aitana Bonmatí, Wendie Renard, Alex Morgan, Beth Mead, Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Millie Bright, Trinity Rodman and Ada Hegerberg.Oshoalafaces a strong list of great female footballers who have had excellent accomplishments in the year 2022. The Super Falcons star is expected to lead Nigeria to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Anthony Joshua celebrates his 2012 Olympics medal
According to The Athletic UK, Championship club Watford have reportedly turned down an offer from a Turkish club for Nigeria international, William Troost-Ekong.Trabzonspor wanted to sign the Nigeria international on a season-long loan with an option to buy included in the deal but it was rejected by theTheHornets.offerfrom the Super Lig club was worth 1.7 million pounds.Troost-Ekong was sparingly used by manager Roy Hodgson in the second half of last season and the situation has not changed under new coach Rob Edwards in the early stages of the 2022-2023 season, with seven minutes played in two competitive matches.Hewas also omitted from the matchday squad yesterday when Watford take on Burnley at Vicarage Troost-EkongRoad.has played in Turkey before, making thirty-two appearances for Bursaspor, before moving to Italy in the summer of 2018.Signed from U dinese in September 2020, the central defender still has three years left on his Watford contract.
Wilfred Ndidi
30 GLOBAL SOCCER THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 13, 2022
Ahead of Leicester’s visit to the Emirates today against Arsenal, Super Eagles defensive midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi has said they hope to pick something from the game while he also improves on his fitness. Ndidi added that Arsenal are a big team and will be difficult to play against but believes they’ll be high on confidence if they snatch a good result. “Every game is a difficult game, home or away – as long as you’re playing any team in the Premier League. It just depends on your tactics and is based on what you are going to present in the game and the way you go about it,” Ndidi told LCFC TV. Arsenal defeated the Foxes in both legs last season but their Nigerian midfield enforcer expects more this time around. “I think it’s one of those games where you go there, and anything can happen. If we stick to our tactics and then do everything properly, I think we can get something out of the“Itgame.wasa good win for them against Palace and I think they’ll have the confidence now. So, it’s just for us now to look for our confidence. If we can get something out of this one, it is very good for the confidence moving forwards.” Leicester lost a comfortable 2-0 lead against Brentford to draw the game and Ndidi said they have to be focused on the came. “Of course, Arsenal is a big team. As players, we know every game we want to achieve a certain goal. We have our aims this season also and for every game we know we have to do our best to get something out of it. So, I think it’s another game that we look forward to and see what comes out of the game.” Since joining Leicester City in January 2017, Ndidi has faced Arsenal eight times and managed only two wins from those games, five matches were lost and one drawn.
Hag Vows to Restore the Glory Days to Man Utd Anthony Joshua: 10 Years after London 2012 Olympics Gold
It is 10 years to the day since Anthony Joshua defeated Roberto Cammarelle to win gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games.Itwas the ultimate reward for a glistening amateur rise and the launchpad for a professional career that would take Anthony Joshua to the pinnacle of boxing Yesterday, August 12 marks 10 years since AJ set his pursuit of world title stardom in motion as he clinched Olympic super heavyweight gold with victory over Roberto Cammarelle at London 2012. It fittingly glossed Team GB’s most successful boxing return since 1920 and marked the host nation’s final medal of the Games, Joshua having since established himself as an honorary member, perhaps even chairman, of the ‘where are they now?’ bunch. A day earlier, Oleksandr Usyk had toppled Clemente Russo to win heavyweight gold after fending off household names in Michael Hunter and unified knockout merchant Artur Beterbiev to preview a decade as one of the sport’s most enthralling technicians.
From introduction to culmination, the pair now find themselves gearing up for a career-defining night at the top of boxing’s most celebrated division when they meet in this month’s Saudi Arabia-staged rematch. Reflection warrants recognition, and Joshua’s Olympic glory can account for demanding the investment and laying the foundations of a belt-collecting ascent that collectively galvanised British“He’sboxing.gotme in this position, getting his gold medal, he may not know it but he carried on the funding, he’s put the face of boxing in England,” Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Ben Whittaker told Sky Sports at his Boxxer unveiling in May. The AJ-spangled persona was mid-manifestation, the Lion’s Den was recruiting its pride in view of a sizeable feast, Britain’s celebrity heavyweight behemoth of today was something of an unknown on the international stage; here was the late-bloomer that had only taken up boxing aged 18 and the merit-overmoney, success-over-sterling advocate that had declined thousands of pounds to turn professional early, too early, in his“Icareer.didn’t grow up with loads of money around me anyway, and I’m happy with the way things are,” he said at the time. “These memories are priceless. I want to go on and win world and European titles and dominate in the amateurs.” Four years earlier, his gold medal opponent Cammarelle was celebrating victory at the 2008 Beijing Games, at which point Joshua had not yet been introduced to boxing. Such was his accelerated rise that Joshua would defeat the Italian on his way to silver at the 2011 World Championships in Baku to cap a year that had also see him named best Amateur Boxer. “I thought AJ started to show a bit of maturity and there was just something there,” said Paul Walmsley, the former World Class Programme Coach at Team GB that took Joshua to Baku. “All along, he was very novicey, he hadn’t had schoolboy and junior grounding in the sport. He had come into it late, so he was still a bit raw, novicey. Once that Cammarelle fight was over, I thought he had got it there. He’d got the tactics. “He was showing signs of something special.”
Oshoala Makes 2022 Ballon D’Or Nominees List Watford Turn Down Trabzonspor’s £1.7m Offer for Troost-Ekong
Ndidi Backs Leicester for Success against Arsenal at the Emirate Today Assist Oshoala’s year hit another high as she was announced as one of the nominees for the 2022 Ballon D’Or. Oshoala had some weeks ago been awarded the African Women’s Player of the Year for the fifth time, breaking her own achievement. Her scintillating year saw her become the Pichichi winner in Soain despite not being in action for two months. She sustained an injury during Nigeria’s opening game against South Africa at the 2022 WAFCON where the Super Falcons ended in fourthOshoalaplace.was nominated alongside 19 other players including; Selma Bacha, Fridolina Rolfo, Vivianne Miedema, Lucy Bronze, Sam Kerr, Christiane Endler, Lena Oberdorf, Kadidiatou Diani, Catarina Macario and Alexia Putellas.
The new Manchester United manager was responding to a question on how long he needs to bring the glory days back to Old Trafford and his answer had echoes of that which Jurgen Klopp gave in his first press conference after being appointed Liverpool manager seven years ago. On that occasion, the German caused a few raised eyebrows when he predicted: “If I sit here in four years, I am pretty confident we will have one title.” But will Ten Hag - who won three Eredivisie titles, including two league and cup doubles in four full seasons as Ajax boss - be afforded such time at United? “I cannot ask the fans to be patient - I hope they will be - because they want to see a winning team and that is why I am here, but I have to produce it,” he said when we sat down to discuss his team’s start to the new season. “But the process takes time, it is what it is.” This is five days after United laboured to a 2-1 home defeat to Brighton - the Seagulls’ first-ever victory at Old Trafford - to kick off the Ten Hag reign, although luckily the Dutchman operates a “24-hour rule - you celebrate, or moan, after that you move on”. “I cannot ask the fans to be patient - I hope they will be - because they want to see a winning team and that is why I am here, but I have to produce it,” he said when we sat down to discuss his team’s start to the new season. “But the process takes time, it is what it is.” This is five days after United laboured to a 2-1 home defeat to Brighton - the Seagulls’ first-ever victory at Old Trafford - to kick off the Ten Hag reign, although luckily the Dutchman operates a “24-hour rule - you celebrate, or moan, after that you move on”. There was much that still pleased the new man, even in defeat, including his side’s response to going 2-0 down in the first half and how they improved on the ball in the second period, while the source of the goal that gave United hope of a comeback also encouraged him.
A certain Ukrainian was watching and studying Joshua as he was forced to settle for second after defeat to Magomedrasul Medzhidov at the World Championships. Usyk knew gold awaited him further down the line. “I remember very well,” he told Sky Sports in 2021, reflecting on his earliest memory of Joshua. “He lost his final fight against Mahommedrasul Majidov. “I said to my team: ‘This guy is the future Olympic champion’. Next year, in 2012, Anthony was the Olympic champion. “Why did I think this? I watched his fight. I watched Anthony. I saw him progress, progress, progress.” How right he was. Baku served as a roadstraightening ‘blinkers up’ response to self-inflicted adversity earlier in the year after Joshua was arrested for possession of cannabis with intent to supply that resulted in a suspension from the GB squad, a 12-month community order and 100 hours of unpaid paid. As much had threatened to torpedo the glistening potential displayed in 2010 when he became British amateur champion at the Great Britain Championships. Upon London 2012’s arrival, the devotion was unwavering, the maturity cultivated and the hype gradually substantiating. Joshua will, and often does, admit today that boxing deviated his path, and has sought to repay the sport in the form of not only poster boy success but charitable interaction with the communities that helped shape him. From a significant donation to the Amateur National boxing federations of England, Wales and Scotland during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, to his Clean Herts Community foundation that offered local companies in his hometown of Watford the opportunity to promote their business on his social media channels, to visiting swarms of fans in Nigeria in recognition of his African background and vast support network. A reminder of his Olympic journey has a sense of timeliness: Joshua had been trailing by three points heading into the final round against a stern and experienced Cammarelle, before clawing his way back to 18-18 on the scorecards with a dogged final round and securing gold on forhimful,another.secondYokasDavidwhileexperiencePovetkinstudent’flourishedawkwardwastheynamentheavyweightswasthe“thedescribed10youandafterJoshuaChina,hisinsinceJoshua-UsykwillabouttoagainstasNewstunningthethesporadicallythemeThecountback.down-but-never-outhaspresenteditselfinJoshua’scareer:mistakesmadeasateenager,Cammarellefightback,thedefeatbyAndyRuizinYork.AndhereitisagainhestrivestoputthingsrightUsykonAugust20.Joshua’sobstaclesenroutegoldhavenotforgottenhim.ZhangZhilei,whofightFilipHrgovicontheundercard,hasexpressedhisinterestanotherstabatJoshuainefforttoelevateboxinginIvanDychkosign-postedasanimmediatetargetturningprofessionalin2017,CammarellewillstilltellhebeattheBritonthisdayyearsago.CammarellewasoncebyWalmsleyasoldwisefox”;foraperiodtwo-timeworldchampionthenamefellowamateurlookedforintour-draws,quietlyhopingmaynotcrosspaths.Hefundamentallysound,tobreakdownandwitha‘teachervsauthority.Alexanderwasoneoffewtojoyagainsthim,theKubratPulevs,Prices,Hunters,TonyallfoundthemselvesbestatonetimeorTheaggressionofayouth-raw,imperfectJoshuagaveanewproblem.Asitwouldsomanyothers.
first African (male or female) to claim two long jump medals at the World Championships after winning silver with a season’s best (SB) of 7.02m in the final of her event. While competing in Doha in 2019, Brume took the bronze medal, making her the second Nigerian and African woman after Blessing Okagbare to make the podium in the long jump. This time around in Oregon, she started out with a jump of 6.61m and then improved on her mark to 6.88m, before launching out to an impressive season’s best of 7.02m which put her in theHowever,lead. Germany’s Malaika Mihambo who is the defending champion, responded with a superior leap of 7.09m which was good enough for gold, with Brume taking the silver and Brazilian Leticia Oro Melo the bronze withSpeaking6.89m. after the victory, Brume, gave thanks to God and said, “I’m super super excited you know bronze turns gold I’m so happy to God I’m grateful God did it, it wasn’t by my power neither was it by my might but because of His grace which He has bestowed upon my life.” Brume explained the significance of her achievement, adding, “I came here to impact the lives of younger ones and those who believe in God and those who are still trying to find themselves and thankfully God answered my prayer I’m super grateful to God.” The silver from Oregon is the African record holder’s fourth global medal since 2019, underlining her consistency as No.1 on the continent. Brume claimed a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics last year and silver at her first ever outing at the World Indoor Championships held in Belgrade, Serbia back in March. She is now one of three Nigerians to win two World Championships medals. First on the list is Francis Obikwelu who won a silver in the men’s 4x100m in 1997 and then bronze in the 200m in 1999. Okagbare clinched silver and bronze medals in the long jump and 200m respectively at Moscow 2013, while Brume won bronze and silver respectively in 2019 and 2022. She is also the only athlete (male or female) to win three back-to-back long jump titles at the African Championships. The 26-year-old reclaimed her long jump title at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham after she set a new Games record with a leap of 7.00 metres to win, adding a second Commonwealth gold to the one she claimed in Glasgow eight years ago. Brume indeed hopes the gold rush by Nigeria’s women on the last day of the Commonwealth G ames will inspire girls in the country to take up sport.The 26-year-old reclaimed her long jump title on a day when Tobi Amusan won 100m hurdles gold and they also triumphed in the women’s 4x100m relay.That took Nigeria’s Games tally to 12 gold medals, making them Africa’s top performers in Birmingham, England. “I know this will be an inspiration for them,” Brume told BBC Sport Africa.Sheadded: “Of course, when you see someone you look up to doing well, you want to definitely be like them. So this is going to motivate and inspire them. “I hope it Three-timeworks.”African champion Brume set a new Games record with a leap of 7.00 metres to win, adding a second Commonwealth gold to the one she claimed in Glasgow eight yearsAfterago.two jumps of 6.99m and one of 6.96m - which would all have been enough to secure top spot on the podium - Brume said her record jump demonstrated her consistency in her discipline.“Thisisone thing I really wanted - to get the Games record,” she added. “This is special for me, because it shows consistency. It shows the hard work of all those that have supported me, and my coach who has been backing me “Sometimesup. it’s about how you’re able to show that what you’re doing is not a fluke.”
But for Tobi Amusan’s world record feat in the 100m huddles, Nigeria would have been celebrating Ese Brume after her 7.02m leap in the final of the long jump at the 2022 World Championships in Oregon, not only won her a silver medal but became the first African (male or female) to win two long jump medals at the championship Ese
Brume
BrumeEse
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 13, 2022 31 GLOBAL SOCCER
ASSISTANT EDITOR KUNLE ADEWALE THISDAY ON SATURDAY EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE DEPUTY EDITOR AHAMIFULA OGBU THISDAY NEWSPAPERS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU GLOBAL SOCCER
O n the final day of the 2022 totheBrumeNigeria’sinChampionshipsWorldOregon,Eseleaptintohistorybooksbecomethe
HeroUnsungAn
32 THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 13, 2022
33THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 13, 2022
Step 2: Cool and allow the engine to cool for at least 15 minutes. Hot engine components can not only burn you, but they can also be damaged by rapid contraction if sprayed with cool water.
AERO is equipped with a powerful lithium-ion battery with a net energy content of 77 kWh. Thanks to the interaction of the efficient drive system and the excellent aerodynamic properties, the ID. AERO achieves ranges of up to 620 kilometres (WLTP)05, making it suitable for longElectricdistances.offensive in China: With the close-toproduction ID. AERO concept car, Volkswagen is stepping up its electric offensive in China as
Step 8: Dry If you have compressed air available to you, you can blast air in the nooks and crannies to remove excess water. If not, wipe everything you can reach with a shop towel or rag. This will not only remove water but will also help remove any remaining grime.
34 THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 13, 2022 AUTO WORLD Bennett Oghifo 07052343083 Email:bennett.oghifo@thisdaylive.com
Volkswagen Premieres ID. AERO01, First Fully-electric Sedan
Dynamic, powerful and with pure aerodynamics: with today’s world premiere of the ID. AERO concept car in China, Volkswagen is providing a foretaste of the brand’s first global fully-electric sedan. The future model will be positioned in the premium mid-size sedan segment. Its progressive, stylish and aerodynamic design allows the vehicle to impress with generous space in the interior. The production version for China is expected to go on sale in the second half of 2023. Volkswagen is also planning to start production of a European series version in Emden in 2023. “With the ID. AERO show car, we are revealing a preview of the next member of the ID. family. A car with an emotional and at the same time extremely aerodynamic design, a range of over 600 kilometres, an extraordinary amount of space and a premium interior,” says Ralf Brandstätter, Chief Executive Officer of Volkswagen Passenger Cars. “With our ACCELERATE strategy, we are intensively driving forward the electrification of our model range. Following the ID.4, this model will be our next global car for Europe, China and the US. ” The concept vehicle is almost five metres long and was designed based on aerodynamic principles. The roof slopes elegantly to the rear in coupé style and contributes to achieving an excellent drag coefficient of 0.23. Volkswagen’s modular electric drive matrix (MEB) additionally permits short overhangs, a long wheelbase and an exceptionally spacious vehicle interior. The ID.
How to Clean Your Car’s Engine
Step 5: Degrease Thoroughly spray the entire engine compartment with degreaser. Any household degreaser will work, whether it’s a kitchen cleaner or a purpose-made engine degreaser. We’ve used Simple Green (we like its eco-friendly formula). Don’t hold back—every square inch should be covered. Step 6: Scrub Depending on how dirty your engine is, you may not need to scrub. However, some areas, like the valve cover, may have years of caked-on oil and dirt. A small brush with synthetic—not metallic—bristles will go a long way toward working the degreaser in and cleaning away the gunk. Add more degreaser if needed.
Step 7: Rinse If you have a power washer, you can use it on a light setting, but a standard hose will work as well. Or you can use the sprayer at the local DIY car wash. Rinse the entire compartment, working from back to front, washing away all degreaser. Try not to directly spray electrical components, and try to prevent spraying much water into areas that won’t dry easily.
Step 3: Remove Remove any plastic covers under the hood. These can be scrubbed separately. Also remove the negative terminal from the battery. This will help protect the electrical components from getting damaged if they get wet. You can also remove the battery if you’d prefer, but we’ve cleaned many an engine bay without doing so.
Coscharis Motors Promises Customers Increased Value for Money
Speaking at the retreat, held recently in Lagos, the President/CEO of Coscharis Group that has Coscharis Motors Plc as one of the subsidiaries of the Group, Dr. Cosmas Maduka, CON charged the team to continually delight all customers by going extra mile to deliver the actual value for money as the company’s pay off line states. He said, “In the present dispensation where all the customer demand for is excellent service and value for their hard earned money, we do not have a choice rather than to go extra mile at all times not just to win a new customer but to retain them and earn their respect to naturally become our brand ambassadors. For us to remain an institution that is timeless in relevance as our vision, we have to constantly be driven by our brand promise to deliver value for
TIPS OF THE WEEK (Caranddriver) part of its ACCELERATE strategy. Following the ID.303, ID.403 and ID.603, the production version of the ID. AERO will already be the fourth fully-electric model series in China, with expected availability in the second half of 2023. Two versions are planned there – one for each Volkswagen joint venture. Based on its regional strategy, Volkswagen is aiming to become the leading supplier of sustainable vehicles in China.
From the robust and engaging strategy sessions, the entire team resolved to continue to deliver excellent customer experience in all ramifications of product and service delivery towards remaining the leading and preferred brand of choice to stakeholders.
Follow these 10 simple steps, and you’ll be Don’t you feel good when your car is clean and all shined up? A well-kept car looks great rolling down the street or sitting in your driveway, and you’d swear it even drives better. But if you want to take your ride all the way to beautiful, you also should address the dirt and grime under the hood. Even though the engine bay is not exposed to the elements—at least not from above—debris and dust creep in from openings around the hood and the vehicle’s front end. Cleaning your engine might sound daunting—how do you wash a big hunk of metal and plastic?—but following these 10 steps can turn the job into a simple afternoon task, and a very satisfying one. Here’s how to clean your engine quickly Ideally, pick a warm day. Warmer weather, especially low humidity with some wind, will help dry the engine and components after cleaning.
The Volkswagen ID. AERO concept car R-L: President/CEO, Coscharis Group, Dr. Cosmas Maduka, CON; and Group Managing Director, Coscharis Group, Josiah Samuel, at the company’s retreat in Lagos… recently money at all times in all our engagements with our stakeholders in all ramifications”. In the same vein, the Group Managing Director of Coscharis Group, Josiah Samuel equally charged the entire team that drives the Coscharis Motors business to always leverage on every opportunities that arise to make a positive impression on every customer. According to him, “explore all the customer touch points to deliver a top notch customer service experience to the customer in a way that shows you truly cherish their patronage and remain relevant for all their automobile needs at all times.”
Step 4: Cover Using plastic bags, cover any sensitive electrical components, such as the battery, ignition wires, and engine control unit. If there’s an exposed engine air intake under the hood, you’ll want to cover that as well. If you feel like you’ll be particularly careful with your rinsing, then you can skip this step. However, protecting these electronics will allow you to clean more thoroughly with less risk of damaging anything.
Rising from a two day strategy retreat session, the top manage ment team of one of the leading auto player, Coscharis Motors Plc has resolved to further deliver value for money to their numerous stakeholders in all ramifications of their customer engagement.Accordingto a statement issued by Abiona Babarinde, General Manager, Marketing and Corporate Communication, Coscharis Group, “From the sales of their brand new vehicles down to the aftersales service offerings and the total brand experi ence, Coscharis’ promise is to give top notch customer experience that will further endear all their brands represented in Nigeria to various customers across board.”
Independent, striking, yet unmistakeably part of the MG family MG Motor follows a clear strategy for vehicle design. Each model is developed to harmonise with the preferences of the relevant target group, while retaining the key features of the MG Motor family. “For almost a century, MG Motor has been developing innovative cars for sporty, young-hearted customers. Even in the current era of purely electric vehicles”, said Mr. Shao Jingfeng, Global Design Director of SAIC Motor Passenger Vehicle Company. “The task now facing designers is how to embody the brand’s concept and values with intelligent products to the outside world. With this mission in mind, we have involved our global design studios – the SAIC Design Center in Shanghai and the Advanced Design Studio in London. We also worked with the Royal College of Art and other institutions. The goal was to conduct global market research and use this knowledge to jointly develop the MG4 Electric.”
However, with data showing that 23percent of car occupant fatalities in 2020 were not wearing a seatbelt, the Department for Transport says those who do not wear a seatbelt are ‘disproportionately likely to be killed in road collisions’. This underscores my call for a reconsideration of the current penalties in our clime to deter continuous infractions as Truth is that seat belts save lives. It can’t be put simpler than that. Seat belts have been adjudged the prevention of death and injury in the event of a crash. Wearing a seat belt can reduce risk of crash injuries by 50 per cent according to the Global National Safety Council. For those who insist that the use of seat belt is not an issue that merit the kind of attention being given to it by the FRSC, for those who believe that it is another money spinning venture for FRSC, for those who believe that we are making much about nothing, it is hoped that by the time FRSC commences and concludes it public enlightenment activities preparatory to enforcement opinions and perception would have changed. Remember that on January, 1st 2003, the Corps launched a decisive enforcement on the use of front occupant seat belt nationwide. One could say without fear of contradiction that the launch was extremely successful with about 90% compliance level recorded all over the country. Thirteen years down the line, the need arises to take another long look at the issue of seat belt usage in the county. Evolving times comes with evolving technologies, which in turn comes with associated complications and risks factors, which in their own turn requires commensurate strategies to combat. As technology improves on vehicles be employed to examine ways to minimize crash causative factors inherent in these.
SAFE DRIVING with Time to Review Seatbelt Usage and Penalty
Production of Mercedes-AMG ONE Customer Vehicles Has Started
The MG4 Electric
Jonas Agwu amnipr, FederalZonalAssistantmcipr,mprsa,arpaCorpsMarshalCommandingOfficerRoadSafetyCorps.
The hypercar with Formula 1 technology has gone into exclusive small-series production. Only 275 units will be built in total, and job#1 of the exclusive production of the Mercedes-AMG ONE hypercar (fuel consumption weighted, combined: 8.7 l/100 km; combined weighted CO2 emissions: 198 g/km; combined weighted electrical consump tion: 32 kWh/100 km)[1] has now begun. The second half of 2022. The Formula 1 based hybrid powertrain with a 1.6-litre V6 turbo engine and four electric motors is being built by the motorsport experts at Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains in Brixworth (England), who are also responsible for de veloping and producing the Power Units for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 racing cars. The production of the complete vehicle will be implemented in Coventry, UK. For this purpose, AMG worked with manufacturing partner Multimatic to set up a dedicated small series production facility. “The Mercedes-AMG ONE is the most ambi tious project we have ever undertaken - from development to production. It marks another high point in Mercedes-AMG’s successful strategic Driving Performance. The production of the exclusive small series is a truly unique challenge. Formula 1 hybrid technology almost one-to-one from the race track to the road and combines overwhelming performance with exemplary reality thanks to the great teamwork between experts at Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains in Brixworth and our production partner Multimatic. We as a whole team are very proud to have now started production Schiemer, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-AMG GmbH. Mercedes-AMG ONE hypercar Agility in aluminium and steel, the all-new MG4 Electric is set to enter the European market in autumn 2022. Thanks to its distinctive and sporty appearance, its already drawing nothing but admiring glances. The C-segment hatchback E-car’s appeal comes from and sharp lines, a lively and multi-layered rear end, and a two-tone roof that boasts sophisticated MG model to be based on the new MSP platform (Modular Scalable Platform). The electric hatch enjoys a correspondingly fresh appearance. “The MG4 Electric sees MG Motor take another key step in its long history”, said Xinyu Liu, CEO of MG Motor Europe. “The MG4 Electric is not just represents the unfettered, youthful and cool spirit embodied by the brand as it forges a path to the of the MG4 Electric. Designers, engineers and the entire management team are looking forward to
MG4 Electric Agile, Dynamic, Fresh, Exceptional Design the market launch this autumn and we can hardly wait to see how the customers react to our new model.”
I was privileged to be part of the three-man team that muted the idea and kick-started the campaign to tilt driving behavior in the country. The process was fully owned by me as the spokesperson of the Federal Road Safety Corps. As the spokesperson for the Corps, I was privileged to work with the former Corps Marshal Boboye Oyeyemi, as well as Kayode Olagunju who was then the Sector Commander in Lagos. As Sector Commander, Lagos, Olagunju’s responsibilities was to coordinate my movement with Lagos and Ibadan to curry the buy-in of my media colleagues. The cost for the movement to Lagos and Ibadan, the Oyo State capital was borne by the former Corps Marshal. Although it sounds strange but a good number of people within the Corps were not even aware of the campaign drive until the Guardian did a beautiful editorial commending the Corps for the initiatives but advising that the six months deadline given be extended by another six month which we obviously did before we went full blast with the enforcement of seat belt usage by driver and front seat passengers. The novel initiative remains a key success story for the Corps unlike the campaign on the compulsory use of crash helmet by motorcycle operators as well me wear the robe of my learned colleagues and attempt to put the facts on the burner for better understanding. The seat belt and crash helmet anything in the vehicles. Therefore it did not place or the passengers. All that the Corps asked was for occupants to strap themselves while in motion as However the crash helmet enforcement in my view did not consider varying realities that ended up as the albatross. These factors include the level of poverty, illiteracy, religious sentiments, and the cost components involving purchasing a crash helmet as well as the health scare or implications of multiple usage of a crash helmet which was drummed by most motorists. These factors in my mind created a gap which I am glad the current campaign is addressing for better results It is now almost twenty years since the seat belt level of compliance has been huge across the board despite certain limitations. First, is the fact that we are yet to navigate to the enforcement of the usage by front seat passengers? The preponderance of commercial vehicles numbering about 4867217 which mostly serves in the transportation needs is a challenge. I do believe that the time to up the ante in this redress crash trend is now. But while we consider tinkering with this thought, it is interesting to share with you the concern in a developed clime like the United Kingdom where despite the level of success recorded and the amount invested in raising the level of awareness, government is being urged to reinforce seat belt messages. Interestingly, seat belt usage by seating position in the United Kingdom will marvel you. For starters, driver usage is ranked 97percent while front seat passengers stands at 96percent. Rear seat passenger ranking is 92 per cent. The question being asked by observers is whether the existing penalties for seat belt infraction are the results of an observation survey, carried out in the autumn of 2021 which found out that more passengers is almost similar as it found out that non-compliance rates rose to more than eight percent among rear seat passengers. Observers have reacted to this decline describing it as “shocking” noting that seatbelts are probably the single biggest life-saving device ever introduced into vehicles and therefore requires a reinforcement of the messages while enforcement must be stepped questions which include whether the existing laws roll out a new awareness campaign strategy. My thoughts are fully aligned with these concerns as I believe that we need to do a postmortem on seat belt usage. I am sure you will be wondering what the penalty is for this infraction in the UK. Presently drivers hundred pound which is about forty-nine thousand naira and if prosecuted can face a maximum of 500 pounds which is equivalent to over two hundred thousand naira while the cost for similar infraction in our clime is two thousand naira. Despite this lamentations, seat belt wearing is high as estimates in 2021 stands at 94. 8 per cent for drivers, 94.6 for front seat passengers and 91.5 for rear seat passengers. Among car drivers, the compliance rates were slightly greater at 97.2 per cent for drivers, 96.8 per cent for front seat passengers and 92.2percent for rear seat passengers.
35THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 13, 2022 AUTO WORLD
SATURDAY AUGUST 13, 2022 • THISDAY 36
Are We Cursed or We Are the Cause?
Egbaran
Veritas Kapital Assurance Pays N0.626bn in Claims
PERSPECTIVE 37THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 13, 2022
Paul BennettJatauOghifo
The deputy governor described the defection as the beginning of a movement that would sweep victory for the PDP in Edo North and the state as a whole in the forthcoming 2023 general elections.“You’re welcome to the PDP; together we will change the face of Edo North and the state in general. “This is definitely a reunion to rescue the country. While I am very excited today, the aspect that gladdens my heart most is the invitation to Edo North to witness a tsunami of defection that will coast PDP to victory at all levels of government come 2023. Representatives of the defectors from the six local government areas that made up the district said they wished to join Alimikhena in the PDP due to his unmatched achievements.Theysaidtheir coming to the PDP was to seek a refugee, and the beginning of good things in the party.They assured that their entrant into the party had signified an end to the APC and resounding victories in the subsequent elections in the area.
In fulfillment of its pledge to promptly settle claims to the delight of its customers, Veritas Kapital Assurance Plc, has paid N0.626 billion in claims for the period ended June 2022 (H1 2022). According to the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Kenneth E. Egbaran, Veritas Kapital Assurance Plc will continue to exceed customer expectations in claims settlements. The recently released H1 2022 result showed that total assets grew by 13% within the period under review, from N14.4 billion to N16.4 billion. Though the group’s result showed a loss after tax of N170.4million, a sum of N4.08 billion was reserved to take care of policyholders’ liabilities, while shareholders’ fund grew to N10.7 billion from N9.8 billion reported in HI 2021 as the company keeps its focus to remain one of the leading insurance companies in Nigeria. Just a year ago, the company launched two E-Product channels to bring affordable protection products to the easy reach of our growing customers, on-the-go; an e-commerce website and WhatsApp channel as one-stop shop that ensures seamless/convenient buying and delivery of insurance solutions. These
Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City
The Senator representing Edo North Senatorial district, Senator Francis Alimikhena and several others were yesterday received by the Edo State Deputy Governor of Edo, Philip Shaibu, as new members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The defectors who were formerly of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said they left the party as a result of the injustice against Senator Alimikhena’s ambition to return to the Senate. Alimikhena was denied a return ticket to return to the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly for the third time and was replaced by former governor of the state and APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiohmole. Alimikhena said he decided to leave the APC for PDP because the former party is made up of deceitful persons who do not march their words with their actions. He also described the APC as a dead sinking ship that cannot be salvaged even by the best of sailors, hence the decision to dump the party before it dragged them into a bottomless pit. At the reception in Benin City, S haibu said he was elated to reunite with the people with whom he had shared politi cal affiliation in the past. parents’ pensions, which are sometimes not paid? Are you pleased that our university students have been confined to their homes for the past five months as a result of the ASUU strike, with no guarantee of resumption? Are you pleased that a single man has taken billions of naira from our treasury and nothing is done about it? May I ask, are we cursed or are we the cause? In 2020, young people in Lagos protested the Special Anti-Robbery Squad’s (SARS) continuous use of torture and other ill-treatment to execute, punish, and obtain information from suspects. During the rally, some innocent people were killed and injured. Today, some who participated in innovative E-channels offer affordable retail insurance products such as: Householder; Accident; Fire; and Third-Party Motor insurances. The products cost between N1,750 and N7,500 and provide coverage of up to N3 million and can be purchased within 5 minutes from any internetenabledEgbarandevice.saidthe company will keep improving its business offerings to all prospective insureds and customers whilst delivering a seamless customer experience. the protest are lobbying for people who are most likely responsible for what happened to their colleagues. Some graduates who have been unemployed for years are preparing to work as political thugs in order to maintain or support the continuity of those who have sunk or squandered their future.Igrieve as I watch, read, and listen with dismay to how people, particularly youths from Southern Kaduna, Plateau, Benue, Taraba, Borno, Imo, Zamfara, and Niger, quarrel on social media about PDP and APC loyalties. I weep! Have you soon forgotten the past? What happened to our ancestral/ farmlands? What happened to our fathers, mothers, sons and daughters who are IDPs in their homelands? What happened to our Institutions? Is there any government presence in your area? Has anyone been arrested or prosecuted for the killings going on in your locality? The President Nigerians Need: Nigerians have experienced a lot since the country’s democratic transition in 1999. Instead of a president who is nepotistic, ethnocentric, and bigoted, Nigerians need a leader who is on ground, has the fear of God, proven record, impeccable character, knowledgeable, intelligent, physically fit, and able to unite the nation and make Nigeria a safe haven.Nigerians need a president who will create a variety of work opportunities for them to survive; a good and qualitative primary and secondary education system; a well-funded university education system; a good and qualitative health care system; good and motorable road infrastructure; affordable housing; a stable power supply; cheap but high-quality food; and the security of their lives and Nigeriansproperty.needapresident that will put an end to the activities of terrorist groups such as ISWAP, Boko Haram, bandits, herdsmen, kidnappers, and other criminals terrorizing innocent citizens. Also, the country needs a president that will fight corruption to a standstill without partiality, a president that will put the right peg in the right hole when appointing the ministers and heads of government parastatals. A president that will create equal opportunities for all the citizens irrespective of whether they are from affluent homes or poor family backgrounds; someone that will respect the rule of law, encourage criticism and peaceful protests. Enough of voting for selfish politicians, money bags or candidates imposed by godfathers or political jobbers; some of these politicians when elected only carry out the bidding of their godfathers, they are selfish and lack integrity. This must stop. Our Mumu E Don Do. Get your PVCs and vote wisely a team that is academically, socially, economically, religiously and humanly oriented. Rev. Fr. Paul Danbaki Jatau, Ph.D can be reached on stdanbaki4u@yahoo.com
“Nigerians need a president who will create a variety of work opportunities for them to survive; a good and qualitative primary and secondary education system; a well-funded university education system; a good and qualitative health care system; good and motorable road infrastructure; affordable housing; a stable power supply; cheap but high-quality food; and the security of their lives and property”
Senator Alimikhena, Others Dump APC for PDP N igeria is in an intensive care unit and needs urgent treatment. The elections in 2023 will either make or break us as a people. While you have the right to do what you want, keep in mind that your actions should be in the best interests of Nigeria as a whole. From the beginning of democracy, the road has been topsy-turvy. Thanks to all who have contributed in different measures to get the country where it is today, though not without pains and tears. We have gone to the polls at various times to vote individuals into various elected posts on the platforms of various political parties, particularly the frontline ones, the PDP and APC. The PDP’s logo is an “umbrella,” while the APC’s is a “broom.” During the PDP’s 16-year reign, we realised that the umbrella only covered a few people, their relatives, and cronies. Because the majority of Nigerians felt left out and battered by “the rain of life,” they bought into the change mantra given by APC via social media propaganda demagoguery. Unfortunately, they’ve used the broom to sweep away our unity, economy, security, education, infrastructure, health care etc. They’ve enthroned corruption, nepotism, sectarianism, religious bigotry ethnocentricism and so on. Are You Happy? Are you happy that for the past 23 years of democratic rule, a specific group has rotated in the citadel of power without carrying the masses along? They quarrel and call each other names on national television, then meet to play golf, dine and wine, and attend their children’s graduations from foreign institutions. When the country heats up or the masses become agitated because of their ineptitude, they jet off to the US, UK, Germany, Austria, Dubai, or wherever they have mansions, cross their legs with juice or wine by their sides, and watch us kill ourselves on television. Are you satisfied that some of our graduates who have nothing to do still rely on their
shareholdersapprovedofNigeria,manufacturingpharmaceuticalcompanyinwillreceiveadividend50kobopershare.Thiswasunanimouslybythecompany’satthe23rdAnnual
Rev. Fr. Nicholas Nwaneto Nwachukwu Laid to Rest
General Meeting, which was held recently at the company’s This dividend is a 100 per cent improvement on the 25 kobo per share declared in the 2020 It was also reported that the company in the year ended 31st December 2021 recorded a turnover of N30.860 billion, compared with N18.275 billion in 2020, representing an increase grew from N3.097 billion in 2020 to N5.862 billion in 2021, representing an increase of 89 increased from N1.205 billion in 2020 to N3.097 billion during the year under review, representing an increase of 157 per cent.
The remains of late Fr. Nicholas Nwaneto Nwachukwu have been laid to rest Rev. Fr. Nwachukwu succumbed to heart disease on the 6th of July 2022 in Lagos.
Rejects Governors’ Call for Mass Retirement
Sustainable Impact and Development Initiative (SID) has trained 50 adolescent girls and young women in Abesan, a community in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State on sexual and reproductive health andSID,rights.a non-governmental organisation, has said the training was part of its plan “to increase awareness on the issue as well as help them make the right choices and avoid sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancy at a young age.” The representative of SID initiative, Blessing Ashi, explained the at the training recently. Ashi explained the need to engage adolescent girls and young women “to become powerful agents in improving their own sexual and reproductive health, and crafting solutions that may achieve their full potential and rights to health and well-being.” She lamented that adolescent girls and young women in marginalised communities had limited understanding of and access to information on sexual and reproductive health andSherights.said, “This makes it challenging for them to make healthy choices, which exposes them to risky sexual behaviours such as unprotected sexual intercourse, early sexual debut, and multiple sexual“Thispartners.canresult in unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortion, and sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS. Unfortunately, most existing programs focus on adolescent girls and young women in school and very few programs target outof-school girls in marginalised communities.”Sheexplained that the girls were trained by seasoned experts on sexual and reproductive health and rights discussing bodily autonomy, consent, and access to contraceptives, including sexual and gender-based violence.
NLC Buhari, of Workers
L-R: Charter president, Rotary Club of FESTAC Central, Rotarian Tonia Aguguesi, Chairman of the new Rotary President, Hon. Folorunsho Ola Segun, the newly inducted President, Rotarian Eucharist Nkechi Ndudirim, her husband, Rotarian Bertrand Ogu Nududirim and the immediate past President of the club, Rotarian Olufemi Oladimeji, at the induction of Rotarian Eucharist Nkechi Nududirim as the current Rotary Imaginative Club President of FESTAC Central, Lagos…recently Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to discard the recommendations by state governors on how to halt drift of the economy, including compulsory retirement of civil servants aged 50 years and above from service. The Congress said that the economy, Buhari should direct the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate and make public how the governors diverted and misused funds allocated the states with a view to ensuring full recovery. In a letter addressed to President Buhari and signed by NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, the Congress said that it found most of the suggestions by the governors distasteful and repugnant.Intheletter titled ‘Reviving the Economy: Our Response to Governors Prescriptions’, the NLC said though it agrees that the economy is in need of revitalisation, it felt disappointed with some of the prescriptions of the governors as they smack insensate cruelty”.
SERVICE TO HUMANITY…
Writes
Fidson Grows Profit After Tax By 157% 50 Girls Trained on Sexual Reproductive Health
The late Fr. Nicholas was until his death the Parish Priest of St. Michael’s Parish Ikembara, Ikeduru Local Government Area for over 13 years ago and had survived an earlier health scare. Prior to his death, he had on medical recommendation, travelled to two specialist Soul Hospital, Port Harcourt Lagos, where expert-surgeons carried out a relatively success ful laser surgery to give him back his health. But sadly, he died the next day after the surgery.
CEO Vintage Deluxe Interior Commiserates with Abutex over Mother’s Death of Vintage Deluxe Interior Chief Francis Nwaogwugwu Mune, has commiserated with the Managing Director of Abutex Food Equipment Abuchi Vincent Iloanya over the mother’s death, Mrs. Ifeoma Iloanya. Mrs. Ifeoma Iloanya died on Thursday, after a brief illness. In a condolence message signed by the interior king, Mune asked Abutex to take solace in the fact that the mother lived mentored and guided him to the path of Accordingsuccess.toMune, “I received the news of the demise of your beloved mother Mrs. Iloanya with shock but we are consoled by the fact that she lived an exemplary life as a greatFurther,mother.”Mune said: “As my family and I join the entire family of Iloanya and the entire people of Awkuzu in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State in mourning this great soul, we pray that God almighty her eternal rest, amen.”
Mary Nnah Shareholders of Fidson Healthcare Plc, the leading indigenous
NLC said that the governors had proposed amongst others, the elimination of intovertingbudgetaryOronsayeimplementationfromretirementestimatedsubsidy/under-recoveryPMSatN6-7trillion,earlyofcivilservantsage50andabove,theofthereviewedReport,puttinganexpenditures,con-itsN19trilliondebta100-yearbond.
Fr. Nicholas Nwachukwu was born on the 21st March, 1954. The 5th of 11 children born to the late Louis Onyenegecha and the late Juliana Nwachukwu of Obodo Amaimo in Ikeduru LGA of Imo State. Between the years 1964 and 1979, Fr. Nicholas acquired basic edu cation from various primary and secondary institutions that helped prepare him for advancedRemarkably,studies.itwas at Alvan Ikoku College of Education Owerri, where he success fully acquired NCE course in Education, that his desire to be a Catholic priest fully manifested, especially seen in his devotion to regular attendance of the Morning Mass and reception of the Eucharist.
38 NEWSXTRA THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 13, 2022
Willian Leaves Corinthians after Receiving Death Threats
Moses Simon’s Goal Fails to Lift Nantes
The Brazil international has already been linked with a return to the Premier League with Fulham “Willian asked us for his contract termination,” said Corinthians president Duilio Monteiro Alves. “We are sad not to have him any more and also because it didn’t go the way we expected. But we have to keep those here that are happy.” Corinthians have lost five of their past nine games, and Willian played in the second leg on Wednesday as the Brazilian side were knocked out of the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals by domestic rivals Flamengo. “Whenever Corinthians lost and I didn’t play well, my family received threats and insults on social media - my wife, my children, and recently they also started attacking my father, my sister,” Willian told the Globo Esporte website.
Fury Reaffirms His Retirement from Boxing on His Birthday
Tyson Fury has reaffirmed his retirement from boxing in a statement on his social media accounts, saying “bon voyage” to the sport on his 34th birthday. Fury announced he was retiring from the sport after his win over Dillian Whyte to retain his WBC title at London’s Wembley Stadium in April. But in June ‘The Gypsy King’ announced he would “100 per cent” return to the ring, although he stressed “big pockets” would be required for a potential unification bout against Anthony Joshua or Oleksandr Usyk. Just two days ago Fury announced a return to the ring with his sights set on a third bout with Derek Chisora. However, Fury now seems to have called it a day for good, posting: “Massive thanks to everyone who had an input in my career over the years & after long hard conversations I’ve finally decided to walk away & on my 34th birthday I say Bon voyage.” His UK promoter Frank Warren had been consistently optimistic that he would be back. “I speak to him all the time. If he wants to fight, he’ll fight. I’m not going to tempt him. Because if he needs that then he shouldn’t be fighting,” Warren told Sky Sports. “It’s got to come from him and his heart.
Super Ea Eagles forward Moses Simon scored the opener for Nantes, but his effort was not enough as Nantes had to settle for a 1-1 draw after Ismaily’s 76th-minute equalized for NantesLille.had a great campaign last season, as they hoped to continue their run. Simon was unable to guide his side to victory in their opening fixture against Angers last week. However, the Nottingham Forest-linked forward could fancy a victory for his side in their first game at home, albeit against a strong Lille side.Itlooked like Nantes were on their way to victory after Simon’s strike put them ahead in the 27th minutes. Nonetheless, Lille responded, showing urgency. They finally got rewarded in the 76th minute as Jonathan David sent a food pass to find Ismail, who finished with aplomb from close range.Lille had five shots on target, but a 1-1 draw was all they could get from the Stade de la Meanwhile,Beaujoire.Simonhas reportedly agreed to personal terms with newly-promoted English Premier League club Nottingham Forest. It was gathered that the swift winger is looking to play in the English top-flight, where he will join international teammate Taiwo Awoniyi. The 27-year-old has also been linked with other English teams, including Brighton & Hove Albion and Leeds United. Simon joined Nantes from La Liga outfit Levante in 2020 after a year on loan at the club in 2019. The winger has scored 21 goals and provided 22 assists in 102 appearances for the Canaries. Last season Simon helped the side win the Coupe de France and secure a ninth-place finish in France’s top tier. Moses Simon tries to beat an opponent
Madrid Loan Out Nigeria-eligible, Akinlabi to Las Palmas Spanish La Liga 2 club UD Las Palmas have completed the signing of Spanish-Nigerian-South Korean right-back Marvin Akinlabi and this is official.Akinlabi, also known as Park in Spanish football circles, will be spending the entirety of the 20222023 season on loan at Las Palmas, who have included an option to buy the versatile defender permanently nextThesummer.former Spain U19 international has been described as a player that can provide speed, technical quality and range from his natural position as an attacking right back, although he could also play as a right or left winger. Akinlabi was presented to the media and supporters of Las Palmas this afternoon at the Ciudad De portiva de Barranco Seco. Speaking at his unveiling ceremony, Akinlabi was quoted as saying by Las Palmas’ official webpage: “I’m very excited about this project, it’s a historic team and I’m really looking forward to it. I fit in well with the style of play and I can contribute defensively and offensively”.
Messi Snubbed for 30-man Ballon d’Or Shortlist
Super Eagles hopeful Fortune Bassey has joined six-time Czech 1. Liga champions Viktoria Plzen on a season-long loan. Bassey left Nigerian shores for the Czech Republic in 2018. And since then, he only featured in the Czech league, featuring for the Bohemians youth team, Olympia, Usti and Labem, Vlasim, and Ceske Budejovice.The23-year-old striker left Czech football earlier this year, after Hungarian giants Ferencvaros paid Ceske Budejovice €1.5million for his services.Since his switch, Bassey made 16 appearances for Ferencvaros, registering four goals. However, the Benin Cityborn attacker has returned to familiar territory, as Viktoria Plzen have confirmed that they have secured Bassey’s services for the remainder of the 2022/23 season, with an option to buy. For Bassey, it is a return to familiar and favorable territory. During his time in Czech Republic, he scored 46 goals in 89 appearances. He would look to help his new side defend their trophy, as Slavia Prague and Sparta Prague would capitalize on anyHehiccups.would also look to post performances that would earn him a maiden Super Eagles call-up.
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER AUGUST 13, 2022 39 SPORTS XTRA
Reigning Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi has sensationally missed out on the 30-man shortlist for this year’s award following his disappointing debut campaign with PSG. Longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo did made the cut but team-mate Neymar did not as France Football’s ceremony on Friday provided a some bigTheshocks.seventh came last year, Messi rewarded for a fine final season with However,Barcelona.thingshave not quite gone to plan since his shocking departure from the Nou Camp, the Argentine managing just six league goals in his first year in France. Elsewhere, English trio Trent Alexander-Arnold, Phil Foden and Harry Kane were among the 30-strong line-up. Foden is one of six Manchester City players on the list including new signing Erling Haaland while Liverpool quintet Mohamed Salah, Luiz Diaz, Fabinho, Virgil van Dijk and Darwin Nunez - as well as the recently departed Mane - were alsoSonincluded.Heung-min joins his strike partner Harry Kane, completing the 17 Premier League players included. Benzema is looks certain to claim the prize for the first time after leading Madrid to Champions League glory, scoring 15 goals in the competition and 44 in all last season.
Former Chelsea and Arsenal winger Willian has left Corinthians after claiming he and his family received death threats on social media. The 34-year-old has scored once in 45 games since rejoining Corinthians from Arsenal last summer.
Super Eagles Hopeful, Fortune Bassey Joins Czech Champions
Is it the same religion that wasn’t an issue during the Yakubu Gowon administration nor in1979 when the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Phillip Umeadi, both Christians, ran on the ticket of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, as presidential candidate and running mate that is now supposed to be the main issue for the 2023 elections and the destiny of our country, going forward? Religion didn’t matter when late Bashorun MKO Abiola, a Muslim, and Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, another Muslim, won with a landslide in the 1993 presidential election yet we are expected to be willfully such an utter basket case of a nation so pathologically incapable of making progress that religion must be on the front burner, 30 years later! What do we even really want for this country? I cannot imagine how bad Tinubu must feel that anyone could possibly see him as capable of posing any danger to Christians or Christianity. The very closest and dearest people to him - his very flesh and blood - are Christians! I think religion was the farthest thing from Tinubu’s mind when he picked Shettima as running mate. He simply saw a man, much like himself, who had similarly excelled as Governor, stood through thick and thin with him in prosecuting his vision, and, one still clearly with much to offer to a nation desperately in need of able and tested leadership. If my Lord Jesus, were to be taken out of my life, I most probably would become suicidal, seeing not much point in continuing with a life without my Saviour and Redeemer. Yet, as a Christian, I am very, very comfortable with the Tinubu/Shettima ticket. Perhaps, since I’m not a Muslim, I will not pretend to know who a good Muslim necessarily is but I certainly know who a good human being is and I would most probably feel far safer, and more at ease, in the company of either a Tinubu or a Shettima than I would feel beside quite a few of my fellow Christians - well-known and quite close to me - who are usually the very first to be in church on SundayIndeed,morning!ifIhadnever heard of either Tinubu or Shettima before, and someone where to describe them, based on their antecedents and disposition, to me, without mentioning their names or their religion, and, then asked me what religion I thought they belonged to, I would, in all likelihood, conclude they were both Christians! Kashim Shettima is very possibly the most qualified person to run for Vice President in this country. While that is profound, in and of itself, it makes perfect sense that he would end up as the preferred choice of Tinubu, on his part, and without a doubt, the most qualified man to run for President in Nigeria. In the Tinubu/ Shettima ticket Nigerians easily have the most evidentially and unassailably qualified duo to run for President and Vice President in our entire history. That should be good enough for any country. It is certainly more than good enough for me.
Printed and Published in Lagos by Leaders & Company Limited . Lagos: 35 Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos. Abuja: Plot 1, Sector Centre B, Jabi Business District, Solomon Lar Way, Jabi North East, Abuja . All Correspondence to POBox 54749, Ikoyi, Lagos. EMAIL: editor@thisdaylive.com, info@thisdaylive.com. TELEPHONE Lagos: 0802 2924721-2, 08022924485. Abuja: Tel: 08076290487, 08076290488
What is Kashim Shettima Even Bringing to the Table?
0811
ENQUIRIES & BOOKING:
sustaining public services with war constantly raging around him! Not only is Kashim Shettima most eminently qualified to be Vice President, if truth be told, Shettima is arguably even more qualified to be President than Peter Obi for it is difficult to see how Obi performed better as Governor of Anambra, even with the Ubas and their cohorts after him, than Shettima performed as Governor of Borno with Boko Haram and ISIS, its global terror partner, to contend with. What’s more, Shettima is also more qualified than Atiku Abubarkar to be President. Atiku won election to be Governor - the one and only election he has ever won - but never served as Governor, has no real executive or similar experience and frittered away his entire eight years as Vice President scheming against his boss and plotting to take his job! Tinubu’s choice of Shettima is, of course, also clearly geared at the goal of maintaining regional balance and achieving geopolitical equilibrium in a country in which each choice a politician makes must come with its pluses and minuses. Unfortunately, while way too much baseless and utterly unfounded attention has been focused on the fact that Tinubu and Shettima happen to be both Muslims, far too little focus has been invested into assessing the duo regarding their core values, worldview, approach to life, in general, and, approach to religion, in particular. Even ordinarily, otherwise, intelligent people would seem to be rather fixated on mere labels and surface categorizations instead of interrogating the character of these two well-known personalities. Are they ethnic jingoists or religious irredentists, for instance? Do these two gentlemen wear their faith on their sleeves? If, indeed, we are truly exercised by the welfare of our country and the future of our children in it, these are the questions we should be raising and seeking answers to! Is it Tinubu who ran the governorship of Lagos with neither reference to, or, preference for religion that anyone is supposed to be bothered about with respect to the faith he
0811
JESUTEGAONOKPASA GUEST COLUMNIST
0811
MISSILE TRUTH & REASONSaturday, August 13, 2022Price: N250 “The business of the Nigerian president is not to grieve for victims of terrorism, but to ensure that terrorism, kidnapping and allied crimes do not occur at all in the country.” –The Pan Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere expressing concern about rising insecurity. Afenifere to Buhari
Former Borno Governor, sitting senator and Vice Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Kashim Shettima, came into politics from the private sector. While Governor of Borno, Senator Shettima was one of the most talked about politicians in Nigeria. In the still unfolding run-up to the 2023 elections, he has not disappointed and is easily the most newsworthy of all the presidential running mates. But why did Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu pick Senator Kashim Shettima as running mate? I will not pretend to know the exact reasons or precise criteria for Tinubu’s choice but there are many, not only glaring but quite difficult to ignore, factors that might account for his preference for Shettima. For one, there are actually many striking similarities between Tinubu and Shettima. Both men are widely, credibly and creditably adjudged to have performed excellently well as Governors of their respective states. But they didn’t just perform; they managed to do so with the most daunting odds stacked, sky high, against them! In Tinubu’s case, he had to strive for eight years against a particularly and most virulently hostile President who saw capturing Lagos State from the opposition Alliance For Democracy, AD, and bringing it into the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, fold, as one of his famous “do-or-die” affairs. The same President Olusegun Obasanjo also illegally withheld funding for the entire local government setup of Lagos, furious at Tinubu and the Lagos State House of Assembly for daring to create local council development areas.Tothe absolute shock of all, Tinubu somehow managed to keep the local government councils going without any noticeable dent to governance at state level! I do not think any state Governor has been as harangued and harassed by a President as Bola Tinubu was by Obasanjo and co. Indeed, from a steady barrage of subterfuges to naked hostility and open subversion, the Obasanjo presidency, in cahoots with the Lagos state PDP, spared no pettiness or shenanigan in trying to make Lagos ungovernable for Tinubu. In spite of it all, Tinubu did not only emerge unscathed, he successfully retrieved the remaining South-west states that Obasanjo had taken by sleight of hand for PDP in 2007. Indeed, despite being the number one target of the center throughout his eight years as Governor, he still succeeded in emerging the very best Governor we’ve had thus far, while leaving a legacy that has established Lagos as the reference point and pacesetter for good governance in this country till date! Kashim Shettima, on his part, ran Borno for eight years with Boko Haram and later, ISWAP, constantly aiming for his jugular, determined to render government nonexistent in the state. It is simply astounding that in the midst of conditions in which it is extremely difficult, if not quite impossible, to imagine any possibility of governance, Shettima still kept delivering project after project while happens to profess? The same Tinubu who had more Christians than his fellow Muslims in the front row of his much-talked about cabinet of tested technocrats? Is it the Tinubu that returned mission schools to their original owners, the overwhelming majority of whom areWhichChristian?Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu are we even really talking about, for God’s sake? The same Tinubu that would always attend mass with Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas on the latter’s birthday? These were usually masses celebrated by His Eminence Anthony Cardinal Okogie, someone who relates with Tinubu as a fellow Lagosian from the same neighborhood! Is it really this same Tinubu that any Christian who truly knows his onions as a Christian would be able to discriminate against?While it is clear to me that Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima are essentially two of a kind who showcased uncommon openmindedness in governance while studiously running their administrations in accordance with an unyielding cosmopolitan outlook on public affairs, it is also clear to me that we are quite ignorant about one another in this country. Northerners barely understand their Southern countrymen and Southerners hardly really know their Northern compatriots. We then tend to fill in the blank spaces with the wildest conjurations and most hideous confabulations.Ihappentohave had dinner on several occasions with His Eminence, Saad Abubarkar III, the Sultan of Sokoto, who, as far as I’m concerned, is the number one Islamic leader, globally, given that he has more subjects than any other Islamic ruler I can think of, world over (and, lawyer though I am, I certainly know my geography and demography well enough to say this)! Dinner was served by a chef who turned out to be a fellow Southerner, who was also a student at the University of Abuja under a scholarship from the Sultan! Can anyone claim to be more Islamic than His Eminence, himself, or, what are we trying to make of one another in this country that we all share and yet refuse to get along with one another in? Is it really someone like Kashim Shettima, who as Governor of Borno, built several churches for Christians in the state at a time it was being relentlessly hounded by Biko Haram whose sole objective was full islamisation of the North-northeast, that any Christian would, in good conscience, suppose should ever pose any danger to his or her religion? Kashim Shettima the city banker? Kashim Shettima who adopted a Christian into his family? Kashim Shettima who has Christian relations right there in his native Borno?Why are we letting anyone wield religion as a knife to now pry us apart and sever us from one another, all in a clear bid to deceive and then divide us like a nation eager to be taken for a ride? Why is anyone even listening to these political desperados, whose one and only mission is to score even the very cheapest political points obtainable?
•Onokpasa a lawyer writes from Warri
Shettima Printed and Published in Lagos by THISDAY Newspapers Limited. Lagos: 35 Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos. Abuja: Plot 1, Sector Centre B, Jabi Business District, Solomon Lar Way, Jabi North East, Abuja . All Correspondence to POBox 54749, Ikoyi, Lagos. EMAIL: editor@thisdaylive.com, info@thisdaylive.com. TELEPHONE Lagos: 0802 2924721-2, 08022924485. Abuja: Tel: 08155555292, 08155555929 24/7 ADVERTISING HOT LINES: 0811 181 3085 0811 181 3086, 0811 181 3087, 181 3088, 181 3089, 181 3090. adsbooking@thisdaylive.com
