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At Energy Transition Summit in US, Osinbajo Advocates Debt-for-Climate Protection Deal for African Countries Forgiven debt to be used for climate action programmes Deji Elumoye in Abuja In a move aimed at significantly advancing the course of global

net-zero emissions targets and facilitating clean energy access for the development of Africa, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo,

has proposed a Debt-for-Climate (DFC) Swap deal.

Explaining the DFC concept yesterday during a lecture on a

just and equitable energy transition for Africa at the Center for Global Development in Washington D.C, Osinbajo stated: “Debt for climate

swap is a type of debt swap where bilateral or multilateral debt is forgiven by creditors in exchange for a commitment by

the debtor to use the outstanding debt service payments for national Continued on page 5

Court Acquits Jang of N6.3bn Corruption Charges... Page 5 Saturday 3 September, 2022 Vol 27. No 10007

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PDP’s National Caucus, NEC Meet to Ratify Atiku’s Campaign Council Tambuwal, Saraki are leading candidates for DG Adoke: Ayu interested in self-preservation than party’s victory Chuks Okocha in Abuja Barring any unforeseen circumstance, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will

hold its National Caucus and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings in Abuja next week Wednesday and Thursday respectively, to ratify the Director

General and other members of its Presidential Campaign Council.

This is coming on the heels of the declaration by the former Minister of Justice/Attorney-General of the

Federation (AGF), Mohammed Adoke, that the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu is not interested in the party’s victory in next year’s presidential election

and should step aside.

Three weeks ago, PDP’s National Caucus and NEC meetings were called off because of agitations by some stakeholders to remove Ayu

on allegations that he was biased and had betrayed the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, who lost Continued on page 5

Kukah: People Have Understood They were Lied to in 2015 Polls Bennett Oghifo The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan Kukah yesterday said it was important for the political actors, particularly the 2023 presidential candidates to listen to the young people, understand their frustrations, and align their agenda toward assuaging their grievances.

Kukah said this was important because the passion that drove people during the 2015 elections had dissipated, and that the people had understood they were lied to “and we have all seen the consequences of religious manipulations.”

Kukah, who spoke on Arise News, said: “The passion that drove people in 2015, those passions have been dissipated because people realised that they were lied to. We have videos of many Northern clerics who confessed tearfully that they deceived their people by saying that these elections in 2015 were a jihad, whatever that meant. Now, we’re seeing the consequences of religious manipulations.

Continued on page 5

ROYAL WEDDING IN KANO… L-R: The Dein of Agbor Kingdom, Benjamin Ikechukwu Keagborekuzi l; the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero and the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse lll; when Emir Bayero gave out his daughter (Rukayya) to Amir, son of the Emir of Kibiya, Alhaji Umar Usman, in Kano…yesterday

Bodo Community Laments 4 Oil Spills in one Month from Faulty Shell Facilities... Page 6

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Court Acquits Jang of N6.3bn Corruption Charges EFCC vows to appeal ruling Seriki Adinoyi in Jos and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja A Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos yesterday discharged and acquitted former Governor of the State, Senator Jonah Jang over the N6.3 billion corruption charges against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The trial court under Justice Christy Dabup, also discharged and acquitted a former cashier in the office of the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Yusuf Pam who was accused alongside Jang.

Jang and Pam were arraigned by the EFCC in 2018 on 17 count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, misappropriation and conversion of public fund to personal use.

Counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs had alleged that while in office as the Governor, Jang received N2 billion loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) in the state but diverted the fund to another account from where it was misappropriated.

The commission also accused Jang of using part of the alleged misappropriated state fund to repay N250 million personal loan which he obtained from a bank.

EFCC also alleged that it found N10 million left in the personal account of Pam, which it claimed was part of the proceeds of the corrupt dealings, having been the one who withdrew in cash and took all the misappropriated fund to the former governor.

But Jang and Pam, through their lead Counsels, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and Sunday Odey respectively challenged the allegation, maintaining that their clients are innocent, and that allegations were frivolous and merely fabricated.

Delivering judgment yesterday, the trial judge dismissed the charges against the accused on the grounds that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond all reasonable doubts.

The judge said: "There is no doubt that from the testimonies that Plateau State Government applied for and received N2 billion from CBN for the disbursement to Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in the state. The ingredients of misappropriation, conversion and dishonestly too must be established

concurrently.

"It is necessary that the prosecution proves that there is misappropriation and conversion and that the said sum converted was done dishonestly.

"To the mind of the court, the first defendant admitted borrowing the fund for outstanding budgetary requirements, a memo was raised, he was advised to borrow the fund to be refunded; it was not discernible that there was any dishonest intention.

"The court does not find any evidence of dishonesty as to resolve the matter in favour of the prosecution. The prosecution has not discharged the burden of these counts to warrant the accused being found guilty as charged."

Jang in a reaction to the judgment said that truth will

always prevail over lies no matter how long it stays, describing his experience throughout the period of his trial as the prize of leadership.

In a statement which he issued shortly after the judgment, Jang said, "I hold no grudge against anyone as I consider whatever I have gone through as the price I had to pay for choosing the path of leadership. I give God the glory for bringing me through and I call on all Plateau sons and daughters, including people of goodwill on the Plateau not to wish our leaders bad.

"Let us close ranks and speak with one voice so that Plateau will emerge out of its current state to take its rightful place of pride as the envy of other states. The Plateau we have always known and been proud of has taken backstage, but

the onus is on us to reclaim our state and build it to the land of our dreams as was planned by our founding fathers and the generation of past leaderships."

EFCC to Appeal Judgment The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has said it would appeal the judgment discharging and acquitting Jang, and an ex-cashier, Pam. The commission stated this in a press statement posted to its verified Twitter page and signed by its Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, yesterday afternoon.

The EFCC said it had initiated processes for an appeal “immediately.”

AT ENERGY TRANSITION SUMMIT IN US, OSINBAJO ADVOCATES DEBT-FOR-CLIMATE PROTECTION DEAL FOR AFRICAN COUNTRIES climate action programmes.

“Typically, the creditor country or institution agrees to forgive part of a debt, if the debtor country would pay the avoided debt service in a local currency into an escrow or any other transparent fund and the funds must then be used for agreed climate projects in the debtor country.”

Justifying the rationale behind such a debt swap deal, the Vice President submitted that the commitment to it would increase the fiscal space for climate-related investments and reduce the debt burden for participating developing countries.

He said: “For the creditor, the swap can be made to count as a component of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).

There are of course significant policy actions necessary to make this acceptable and sustainable."

The Vice President also proposed the greater participation of African countries in the Global Carbon Market while exploring financing options for energy transition.

According to him, there is a need to take a comprehensive approach in working jointly towards common goals, including the market and environmental opportunities presented by the financing of clean energy assets in growing energy markets.

He said: “In addition to conventional capital flows, both

from public and private sources, it is also essential that Africa can participate more fully in the global carbon finance market.

“Currently, direct carbon pricing systems through carbon taxes have largely been concentrated in high and middle-income countries.

“However, carbon markets can play a significant role in catalyzing sustainable energy deployment by directing private capital into climate action, improving global energy security, providing diversified incentive structures, especially in developing countries, and providing an impetus for clean energy markets when the price economics looks less compelling, as is the case today.”

He encouraged developed countries to support Africa to develop into a global supplier of carbon credits, ranging from biodiversity to energy-based credits, “which would be a leap forward in aligning carbon pricing and related policy around achieving a just transition.”

While also addressing the concerns of the African continent and other developing countries regarding a just transition, Osinbajo noted that “the central thinking for most developing countries is that we are confronted on this issue of a just transition with two, not one, existential crises; the climate crisis and extreme poverty.

“The clear implication of this

reality is that our plans and commitments to carbon neutrality must include clear plans on energy access if we are to confront poverty.

This includes access to energy for consumptive and productive use and spanning across electricity, heating, cooking, and other end-use sectors.”

According to him, “nearly 90 million people in Asia and Africa who had previously gained access to electricity can no longer afford to pay for their basic energy needs.

The inflationary pressures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and other macroeconomic trends have been further exacerbated by the ongoing war in Ukraine.

“Countries worldwide have been hit by record prices on all forms of energy. Power prices are breaking records across the globe, especially in countries or markets where natural gas plays a key role in the energy mix.”

Osinbajo sounded a note of caution, saying: “In such a global reality, limiting financing of gas projects for domestic use would pose a severe challenge to the pace of economic development, delivery of electricity access and clean cooking solutions, and the scale-up and integration of renewable energy into the energy mix.”

Speaking on Nigeria's initiative to combat the unfolding crisis, the VP revealed that the country's

Energy Transition Plan "is designed to tackle the dual crises of energy poverty and climate change and deliver SDG-7 by 2030 and net-zero by 2060 while centering on the provision of energy for development, industrialization, and economic growth.”

He adds: “We anchored the plan on key objectives including lifting 100 million people out of poverty in a decade, driving economic growth, bringing modern energy services to the full population and managing the expected long-term job losses in the oil sector due to global decarbonization.”

Osinbajo observed that “Europe’s energy crisis has not been ignored, it continues to be met with support, and international resources. In stark contrast, the developing world is still being held to account for its emission reduction without adequate support and investment for its energy transitions.”

Acknowledging the contrast to the wider responses to the climate crisis on the African continent, the Vice President said, “We are

Adoke: Ayu Interested in Self-preservation Meanwhile, Adoke yesterday intensified the campaign for the resignation of Ayu, arguing that

“the National Chairman is not showing that he is interested in the party’s victory in next year’s elections.”

Amid the calls for his resignation, Ayu, while speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa on Wednesday, said those demanding that he should step down were children.

“When we started the PDP journey, we did not see these children. They are children who do not know why we established this party,” he said.

In a response yesterday, Adoke said, “Ayu’s statement is rather unfortunate and goes to show that he is more interested in self-preservation than the party winning the 2023 presidential election.

“I think he has grudges or scores to settle with the party’s candidate and as such would rather see to his defeat than help him win the election. If otherwise, why is he so determined to destroy the party by dividing rather than uniting it?

“Atiku should smell the coffee and take charge so this agent of destruction would not lead him and the party to doom.

“Wike is not the problem of the party. People should stand up and speak the truth rather than engage in doublespeak and name calling.”

Adoke is an ally of Wike of Rivers State, who is leading the campaign for Ayu’s resignation.

Wike and his associates are

demanding that the PDP national chairman should step down as a precondition for resolving the rift with Atiku.

They are angry that Atiku refused to pick Wike as his running mate and also openly disparaged him.

Also, this week, the former deputy national chairman of the PDP, Bode George also demanded that Ayu step down.

George said, “We can only go back to Aso Rock if we are united and not divided. The people that are abusing Wike that he is a trouble shooter, those abusing him, as an elder, as a father in this party, I am directing him to stop immediately because Wike is only fighting for Justice, for equity and fairness in our party.

“He is a strong pillar in this party, a mobiliser, a financier and an actualiser.”

Ayu Blames APC for ‘Mischievous’ Social Media Posts In a related development, Ayu, has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of sponsoring mischievous posts on the social media against him.

He also said that he had no intention of joining issues with Wike over demands for his resignation.

Ayu was referring to media

context, he added that it means “building sustainability into our economic planning, which we had developed in an Economic Sustainability Plan in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes an ambitious plan over the near term to provide 5 million homes and SMEs with cleaner energy through its decentralised solar power programme.”

Members of the Energy Transition Implementation Working Group (ETWG) present at the lecture included the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed; Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi; Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Uzoma Emenike; Director-General and CEO of the National Council on Climate Change, Salisu Dahiru; Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), Ms Damilola Ogunbiyi and the Managing Director, Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited, Chiedu Ugbo.

KUKAH: PEOPLE HAVE UNDERSTOOD THEY WERE LIED TO IN 2015 POLLS “Those who used ethnicity have now paid the price. Beyond the thousands of people who have lost their lives, one positive thing from what we have experienced in the last eight years is that anybody with a sense of discernment will appreciate

PDP’S NATIONAL CAUCUS, NEC MEET TO RATIFY ATIKU’S CAMPAIGN COUNCIL to Atiku at the presidential primary.

Those in Wike’s camp, also argue that Ayu must step down in line with his earlier promise to do so should a presidential candidate of the party emerge from the North.

It was gathered that by going ahead with the NEC and Caucus meetings next week, the PDP might have called the bluff of Wike's group who are insisting that Ayu should step aside to make way for a national chairman from the South, preferably, the South-west zone.

As things are in the PDP, it is not certain whether the Chairman of the PDP Governors' Forum, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State would be unveiled as the Chairman of the Presidential Campaign Council or Bukola Saraki, a former senate president, who is favoured by Wike’s camp.

So far, the party’s Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar has resisted pressure to move against Ayu. It is equally not certain that he would accept Saraki as his campaign DG, because, according to sources, he wants to compensate Tambuwal for stepping aside for him to win the ticket.

not seeing careful consideration and acknowledgement of Africa’s aspirations. For instance, despite the tremendous energy gaps, global policies are increasingly constraining Africa’s energy technology choices.”

On the subject of energy investments, he identified the mismatch in the volume of investments experienced in developed countries as opposed to developing countries.

According to him, “while representing just 15% of the world’s population, highincome countries received 40% of global energy investment in 2018. Conversely, developing countries with 40% of the world’s population received just 15% of global energy investment. This hasn’t improved much in recent years.”

Addressing what the ultimate goal of the global energy transition should be, Osinbajo stated that it was in achieving “reliable net-zero carbon energy systems to power prosperous, inclusive economies.”

Speaking on the Nigerian

reports credited to him that Wike cannot procreate and therefore not the biological father of his children.

A statement by Ayu’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Simon ImoboTswam, yesterday, said “One post purporting to be from the PDP national chairman states that Ayu says he cannot talk to a man who ‘cannot father a child!’

“Another post, with a photograph of Wike and a lady with some children claims that the governor is not ‘the biological father of his three kids.”

“Nothing can be more diabolical, senseless and amateurish.

Descending so low is neither in Ayu’s character nor nature.

“Those planting these stories against the PDP and her national chairman are simply showing their lack of intelligence.

“We state, categorically and without equivocation, that the posts are completely false. Even the inelegant construction of the posts puts them beneath Ayu. “Ayu never said anything after Wike’s statements yesterday, and does not intend to say anything in response.

“This is even more senseless as the national chairman has met Wike’s children on a number of times.

“We advise the APC and other mischievous people engaged in this shameful and criminal enterprise to be more professional next time.”

the fact that voting for any candidate because he tells you he’s going to establish an Islamic state or he’s going to establish a Christian state or privilege Christians, that should be your first sign of realising that this the worst fraud any politician can sell to you.

“Young people have become aware of that. I know hundreds, thousands of farmers who definitely have changed their perception of what Nigeria is and have an idea of whom they can trust. To hear ordinary Muslims in Northern Nigerians and other places lamenting and sounding nostalgic about President Jonathan’s frontal take on the Almajiri thing.

"And Jonathan not being a Muslim had the foresight to value education so much that he will spend billions of Naira building Almajiri schools and nothing came of that and that they have seen no critical effort by those who are Muslims themselves.”

The Bishop continued: “I encourage the politicians to go to the nooks and crannies of Nigerians to sell their convictions.

The energy in this coming election is tremendous and I am excited about the energy of the young people and their attention to the country’s election.

“I believe that Nigerians are energised and they have a choice to make. But we must ensure we see through the candidates and choose right to get the desired outcome.”

He also gave an insight into the type of leaders, particularly the person that should be elected

by Nigerians as the next president.

He said it was important for Nigerians to move away from voting based on ethnic, religious, or political sentiments and vote for someone who is capable of

tackling the perennial challenges facing the country.

He said that though the frontline candidates are individually qualified to lead the country, it was important for Nigerians to see through them and choose wisely.

The cleric said the era of rhetoric must be put behind and that the electorates must sieve and interrogate the presidential candidates on their ideology, plans and governance style before making their choice.

“The people must interrogate their presidential candidates’ ability and capacity to govern by sheer brain and not bribe. The point is that even the whole idea of leadership is often exaggerated because we are confusing political officeholders with leaders.

“It is only in Nigeria that there is so much focus on the centre.

Society can only grow when we extend the frontiers of knowledge and opportunities.

“Critical to all of these, we are looking for a president that has the understanding of the complexity of what is wrong with Nigeria. It is not just about people just aspiring without an understanding of the issues.

“My argument is that anybody who aspires to rule Nigeria and we have the opportunity to, we (Nigerians) must redesign the template of confrontation and you (presidential candidate) must be able to confront Nigerians and answer their questions.

“I am not and won’t be surprised if the candidates are moving up and down and convincing us by taking minimalist positions and telling us these and that are what they are going to do.

Continued on page 39

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ SEPTEMBER 3, 2022

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NEWS

News Editor Charles Ajunwa Email charles.ajunwa@thisdaylive.com

Bodo Community Laments 4 Oil Spills in one Month from Faulty Shell Facilities Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt Residents and indigenes of Bodo community in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State

have lamented the continuous crude oil spillages in their communities from alleged faulty facilities of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

THISDAY visit to the affected

Flood Claims 7 Lives, Destroys Several Property in Niger State Communities Laleye Dipo in Minna Floods occasioned by heavy rainfall has claimed not less than seven lives in communities in Magama and Rafi local government areas of Niger State.

Six of those that died are from Magama Local Government Area while one died in Rafi Local Government Area.

The flood also destroyed several properties including houses and farmlands with more than 2,000 people rendered homeless.

The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Ahmed Inga, said in a statement made available to journalists in Minna yesterday that the incidents have also affected the socio-economic activities of people in the communities.

“The state has started experiencing the negative impact of flooding with houses, farmlands, bridges and some linked roads washed away in some LGAs located at up and down streams of the four dams. These rendered many homeless and has affected the socio-economic activities of the communities.”

According to Inga, “The general assessment of the rainfall

impacts is still ongoing and periodic updates will be made public as it unfolds,” calling on, “all the stakeholders, the traditional institutions, wellmeaning Nigerlites and the media to help in propagating this information as disaster management is a business of all.”

According to him, Niger State is one of the five states where uninterrupted rainfall will take place for four days as predicted

by Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET).

He advised the people to heed the early warning signals announced by the organisation which include clearing of drainages and flushing away stagnant water to avoid breeding mosquitoes, use of treated mosquito nets to prevent malaria and switching off of all electrical appliances when not in use.

The NiMET boss counselled the people to stop indiscriminate felling of trees and plant more trees to serve and preserve the environment against desertification and flooding.

Inga further asked the people to limit their activities around river banks during this peak of the rainy season to avoid being flooded before asking those in the riverine communities to relocate upland for their personal safety.

Airtel Reaffirms Commitment to Creative Industry, Sponsors Headies Awards Emma Okonji Airtel Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to support talented Nigerians in the creative industry and has equally announced its intention to sponsor platforms that will inspire them to realise their full potentials and achieve their dreams.

The telecom company said the commitment informed its sponsorship of the 15th edition of The Headies music awards, a prominent and internationally recognised award platform, which is scheduled to hold at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, Georgia, United States on September 4, 2022.

Commenting on Airtel’s sponsorship of the award, Chief Commercial Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Godfrey Efeurhobo, said the company remained passionate about talented Nigerians and would always go the extra mile to support credible platforms that would help surface, recognise, and celebrate talented artistes.

“Airtel plays a crucial role in the Nigerian music industry, and we will continue to play that role because we believe talented Nigerians deserve all

the support and accolades.

We join in celebrating all the nominees even as we are rooting for all talented Nigerians,” he said.

Airtel is sponsoring the ‘Album of the year category’ in this year’s edition of The Headies Awards. Nominees under this category include Brymo (9:Esan), Ayra Star (19 & Dangerous), Olamide (Carpe Diem), Femi Kuti & Made Kuti (Legacy +), Wizkid (Made in Lagos Deluxe Edition) and Basket Mouth (Ayabasi).

Wizkid leads nominations with ten, Tems and Ayra Starr with eight each.

Davido and Adekunle received seven each. The Songwriter of the Year category included in the 2020 edition of The Headies, was renamed Best Song Writer of the Year in the 2022 edition.

Nominees were announced on 24 May 2022, ahead of the main event.

The 2022 edition has seven additional categories including Best Afrobeat Pop Single (Nigeria), Best Afrobeat Pop Album (Nigeria), Best African Collaboration, Best International Collaboration, African Artiste of the Year, International Artist of the Year, and Music Executive of the Year.

areas yesterday, observed that between August 3rd and 31st this year, there had been four spills from the Trans Niger Pipelines located at Sugi, Deebon and Kol-naana River in Bodo community.

As at the time of filing this report, the spillage in Deebon-Bodo was still on, as residential houses and farmlands have been soaked with crude oil from the boiling pipeline.

The current spill is the second incident occurring at a particular spot in Deebon village in less than one month.

It would be recalled that the recent JIV report had revealed

that Shell spilled five barrels of crude oil into Bodo community on August 2.

The report signed by NOSDRA, the host community, Rivers State Ministry of Environment and Shell had revealed: “The spill from the Bomu-Bonny section of the SPDC JV’s Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) in Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State on 3 August 2022 was largely water (98 per cent) from the ongoing flushing of the TNP, with residual crude oil of about five barrels as established by the signed report of the Joint Investigation Visit

led by regulators, and involving representatives of the Rivers State Ministry of Environment and the community.

“Owing to the high level of theft, the SPDC has not processed crude oil through the TNP since mid-June 2022. Cleanup of the impacted area and repair work on the pipeline are under way.”

Meanwhile, residents of Bodo community are presently distressed following the reoccurrence of spillage in different sections of the land.

Speaking with THISDAY yes-

terday, an indigene of Deebon in Bodo, Mr. Vikere Godfrey lamented that they were suffering from the incident, saying less than 11 days they have experienced two spillages from TNP operated by Shell.

“It is unfortunate the way we are suffering, what is happening to us and the federal government is not giving us any listening ear as if we are not human and this is becoming unbecoming. The spill is really disturbing our farmlands and our stream. Many of us are already sick because of the contamination of the air we are breaking, on the water we are drinking.

SENATORIAL ENDORSEMENT… Governor of Enugu State and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (right) welcoming market traders, tricycle (Keke) and motorcycle (Okada) operators from Udenu Local Government Area, when they visited him at the Government House, Enugu to declare their support for his senatorial bid and that of other candidates of the PDP… yesterday.

Buhari, APC Celebrate Kashim Shettima At 56 Deji Elumoye and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has joined leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to celebrate former governor of Borno State and Vice Presidential Candidate of the party, Senator Kashim Shettima on his 56th birthday.

The President, in a release issued yesterday evening by his spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, felicitated with the astute political leader and legislator, whose visionary and participatory style of leadership continues to awe, outstand and inspire, setting a standard of resilience that has turned Borno State into an example of social,

economic and infrastructural development.

Similarly, APC has described Senator Shettima, as a shining light of the party as he celebrates his 56th birthday.

President Buhari lauded Shettima for his courage, foresight, sagacity and intellectualism, providing strong leadership for his state by keeping

citizens unified and focused on the larger picture of a victorious and enlightened community, with clear results in education, health and road constructions.

The President believes Shetima’s experience as a banker, governor, Senator and scholar will prove relevant in governance at the national level.

Emir Bayero’s Daughter Marries Emir of Kibiya’s Son Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano The Kano metropolis went agog yesterday as the son of Emir of Kibiya, Alhaji Umar Usman, married the daughter of Kano Emir, Rukayya Aminu Ado Bayero as many dignitaries witnessed the event.

Shortly after the religious rites, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje who stood as representative of

the bride, prayed to Allah to bless the marriage and grant the couple pious children.

The wedding, Fatiha, was conducted at the Kano Emir’s Palace with the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, presiding after payment of N200,000 as dowry.

The Chief Imam of Kano, Professor Sani Zahraddeen also prayed for the couple and advised

them to live in peace and harmony.

According to him, “marriage is a very important institution in society. Allah has directed every Muslim adult who is gainfully employed or has a means of livelihood to marry a woman he loves and the two, start up their home in love and harmony.”

Dignitaries that attended the wedding included former Vice

President, Architect Namadi Sambo, Minister of State Works and Housing, Umar El-Yakub, Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle, former governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko.

Others include former Minister of Interior, AbdulRahman Bello Dambazau and Emir of Bichi, Alhaji Nasiru Ado Bayero among others.

Buhari Approves Upward Review of Duty Tour Allowances for Ministers, Perm Secs, Others Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the upward review of Duty Tour Allowances applicable to serving ministers, permanent secretary/equivalent and workers in the federal public service.

A circular signed yesterday

by Chairman National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, Ekpo U. O. Nta and addressed to the Chief of Staff to the President,

Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Ministers/Ministers of State, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Chairmen, Federal Commissions, Clerk of the National Assembly Secretary, Auditor-General for the Federation, and Director-General, Budget Office of the Federation, said the approval for a permanent secretary, which was N20,0000 is now N70,000, while the new duty tour approval for a Minister/

SGF/Head of Service of the Federation/Equivalent from N35,000 is now N80,000. He said the approval took effect from September 1, 2022.

He also gave the comprehensive list of officers and their Duty Tour Allowances in furtherance to the Circular No. SWC/S/04/S.6/11/208 dated February 2, 2022 on the same subject.

The new approved Duty Tour Allowances for other categories

of public workers is as follows: GL. 01-04 and its equivalent N10,000 per diem; GL. 05-06 and its equivalent - N15,000 per diem; GL. 07-10 and its equivalent - N17,500 per diem; GL. 12-13 and its equivalent N20,000 per diem; GL. 14-15 and its equivalent - N25,000 per diem and GL. 16-17 and its equivalent-N37,500 per diem.

He said all enquiries relating to the circular should be directed to the commission.

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NEWS Appeal Court Affirms Emenike as APC Guber Candidate for Abia, Dismisses Suit by Ogah’s Camp Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia The authenticity of Chief Ikechi Emenike as the 2023 governorship candidate of the All Progressives

Congress (APC) for Abia State was yesterday further affirmed by the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division.

The appellate court presided over by Hon. Justice B. Georgewill dismissed the appeal filed by the

PDP Crisis: Court Asked to Sack Ayu-led NWC over Alleged Unlawful Convention Alex Enumah in Abuja A Federal High court in Abuja has been asked to dissolve the Senator Iyiocha Ayu-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The plaintiff, one Chukwuma Chinye, premised the request on the grounds that the national convention of the PDP held in October last year that produced Ayu as Chairman of the PDP was invalid and that the process also violated part of the laws of the PDP. In the suit dated August 31 but filed on September 2, plaintiff is claiming that the convention of the PDP that produced the current leadership of the party was invalid, null and void and of no effect since it was not conducted under the former Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, who by law was the authentic Chairman of the party.

Plaintiff’s lawyer, Mr. P. T. Akan, is claiming that following the pronouncement of the National Judicial Council (NJC) condemning an interim order of two different High Courts that restrained Secondus from performing his function as Chairman of the PDP’s NWC, National Executive Committee (NEC), all activities of the NWC and NEC carried outside Secondus are unlawful and of no effect.

Amongst the issues for determination are that “Whether having regards to the fact that the interim orders of injunction made by the High Courts of Rivers and Cross River States in Suit No. PHC/2183 CS/2021 and HC/240/2021 dated 23” and 27” of August, 2021 respectively, by operation of the law were invalid, null and void as their lifespan had elapsed by effluxation of time and having regard also to the pronouncement of the National Judicial Council (NJC) that the same interim orders were granted by the trialJudges without the requisite jurisdiction and constituted an abuse of court’s process, the said orders were not rendered invalid, ineffective, null and void.

“Whether having regard to the fact that the orders mentioned in one (1) above were by operation of the law rendered invalid, it was proper and appropriate for the 1st Defendant to rely on them to exclude, prevent and remove Prince Uche Secondus the National Chairman at that material time from performing the Constitutional toles and duties vested in him by Articles 33(1) (a) and 35(1}(b) of the Constitution of the 1st Defendant which authorised and empowered him exclusively to be the Chairman and Presiding Officer in the affairs and conduct of the National Convention which took place on October 30 and 31, 2021.

Support for Ugwuanyi, Mbah, Other PDP Candidates Swell As political parties gear up for the commencement of campaigns ahead of the 2023 general election, market traders, motorcycle (okada) and tricycle (keke) operators and members of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State, comprising indigenes and non-indigenes of the state, yesterday, declared their unflinching support for Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Enugu North Senatorial District of the state. The market traders, keke and okada operators also declared their support for the PDP governorship candidate in the state, Mr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, his running mate, Mr. Ifeanyi Ossai and other candidates of the PDP, assuring that they were solidly behind them and the party.

They thanked Governor Ugwuanyi for the numerous developmental projects his administration has executed in the state in spite of the state’s lean resources and the nation’s economic challenges, stressing that the roads and other infrastructure provided by his government, especially in the rural areas have been aiding their businesses to

grow.

The traders also appreciated Ugwuanyi for the invaluable assistance his administration has rendered to them in safeguarding lives and property in their various markets including the distribution of fire extinguishers and palliatives during the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, maintaining that their support for the governor and the PDP is indisputable. Speaking when they paid a solidarity visit to Governor Ugwuanyi, at the Government House, Enugu, the Chairman of Orba Modern Market, Chief Charles Ezeugwu, said that they are proud of the governor as their illustrious son and leader.

Accompanied by the Chairman of Udenu LGA, Hon. Solomon Obah, Ezeugwu added that “We the Orba and the Udenu people, all the market traders, the keke riders, the okada riders, the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) came here today to pay a solidarity visit to our brother, our son and our father.”

He said that they are pleased with Ugwuanyi’s peace and good governance initiatives and the way he has been handling the affairs of Enugu State, describing him as a peace-maker and a great achiever.

former Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Uche Ogah and his followers who sought to nullify the candidature of Emenike.

In its judgment on the appeal No. CA/OW/269/2022: APC & ANOR Vs Ikechi Emenike & ANOR, the appellate court dismissed the appeal for lack of merit and endorsed the judgment of an Abia State High Court which recognised Emenike as the real candidate of APC. Following the emergence of

Emenike as the governorship standard-bearer of Abia APC at the primary election conducted by the panel sent by the national leadership of the party, Ogah and his co-travellers had engaged in strenuous efforts to stop him.

The former minister, who had claimed that he conducted a “direct primary and won” even without any authorisation or supervision by the APC national secretariat was parading himself as a governorship candidate.

Ogah went from one court to the other seeking to stop the party from forwarding Emenike’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and also for him to be recognised as the party’s governorship candidate.

All his efforts were fruitless.

Emenike on his part had approached the court to determine if having won the governorship primary, the party can refuse forwarding his name to INEC, more so as a court of competent

jurisdiction had dismissed his purported suspension from the party orchestrated by Ogah.

It was based on this that Justice Benson Anya in delivering his judgment in suit No HUM/31/2022, resolved the matter in favour of Emenike on June 24, 2022 However, Uche Ogah and members of his camp were not satisfied with the judgment and proceeded to file “a questionable appeal” as they used the name of the party to file the appeal.

IN HIS VINEYARD… L-R: National President of the Anglican Christian Fellowship in Nigeria, Bro. Babatunde Ogunjirin; the Bishop of Remo and Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos, The Most Rev Dr. Olushina Fape and Governor Dapo Abiodun during the 9th Annual National Convention of the Anglican Christian Fellowship with the theme, “ Go in this thy Strength”, held at the Mayflower School, Ikenne, Ogun State…yesterday.

Preach Peace Towards 2023 Elections, Abiodun Charges Clerics

James Sowole inAbeokuta

As the preparations for the 2023 general election are gathering momentum, the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has called on the church to be actively involved in the process of preaching peace towards the conduct of the poll.

Abiodun made this call during the 9th Annual National Convention of the National Council of the Anglican Christian Fellowship, held at the Mayflower School, Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State.

Speaking further at the conven-

tion with the theme, ‘Go in this Thy Strength’, he also urged the church to continue to support as well as encourage all tiers of government.

Abiodun, while also calling on the church to condemn the use of violence by groups in seeking redress, said that lessons must be learnt by everyone from the various violent situations around the country and the entire world.

“Permit me to use this opportunity to urge the church to be actively involved in the process of preaching peace towards the success of the upcoming

2023 general elections, I wish to call on the entire church of God to continue to support and encourage all governments of this country in prayer.

“I enjoin the church to also ensure that they assist us in condemning the use of violence by groups as a way of seeking redress or supporting the will of our people, lessons must be learnt from the various violent situations around the country and the entire world,” he stated.

The governor also noted that for the church to be able to play

its role as the conscience of the nation, “it must ensure that Godinspired sermons are preached on the pulpit,” adding that the church has a vital role to play in the spiritual reawakening of the people, especially the path of peace and truth.

“The church is a mixture of the larger society, apart from individuals serving the Lord, the church as a body has its own responsibility to society.

The church is the conscience of the nation, it is also the guiding light of any society that desires development.

81 Division Troops Intercept 792 Parcels of Indian Hemp Rebecca Ejifoma Troops of 81 Division have foiled an attempt to smuggle 792 parcels of illicit drugs suspected to be Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana) into Ogun State at a checkpoint on the Ilaro-Benin Republic border.

This was possible following an intelligence-driven operation,

according to Acting Deputy Director, 81 Division Army Public Relations, Major Olaniyi Osoba.

The parcels of Indian helm were said to be concealed in a truck coming from the Volta Region of Ghana.

It was estimated that the drugs were worth about N10 million and were to be delivered to a drug

syndicate based in Lagos and is currently on the run.

According to Osoba, a search on the truck conveying the consignment indicated that it was designed specifically to transport illicit drugs as there was a special compartment welded to the base of the truck for concealment purposes but could be discovered on scrutiny.

“It took the vigilance of the troops at the checkpoint to detect the concealed drugs after resisting the bribe offered by the suspected drug syndicates,” he added.

The suspected illicit drugs and suspects have been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Lagos Command for further action.

FG Inaugurates 15-man C’tee on 2022 Independence Day Anniversary Olawale Ajimotokan inAbuja The federal government has inaugurated a 15-man InterMinisterial Committee to organise the celebration of Nigeria’s 62nd Independence Day anniversary.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha inaugurated the committee yesterday.

He said the committee was

constituted to plan, organise and execute all approved activities befitting Nigeria’s 62nd Independence anniversary celebration on October 1, 2022, as well as document for posterity all planned activities for the anniversary.

Mustapha, who is also the chairman of the committee, said the committee would also co-opt organisations and persons relevant to the successful execu-

tion of the programmes and carry out other assignments as may be required towards the successful implementation of the programme.

He said that the committee would meet regularly to give necessary direction on all the activities earmarked for the celebration, while sub-committees would be constituted to assist in executing specific assignments from

the Inter-Ministerial Committee.

The committee is composed of the Minister of Information and Culture and his counterparts from Interior, Finance, Budget and National Planning; Foreign Affairs, FCT, Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs; National Security Adviser and Special Adviser to President on Policy and Coordination.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 3, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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SEPTEMBER 3 , 2022 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

COMMENTARY

THE ROYAL AS RADICAL

Tunde Olusunle pays tribute to Tunde Irukera, Director-General Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, at age 54

H

e is not the prototype Nigerian “big man” or politician who has erected barricades, boundaries and boulders between himself and the public he serves on one hand. He hasn’t placed hedges and gulfs between him and his constituents, either. He is not one of those who gloat in triumphalism and ego tripping as they take in images of guests in their waiting rooms, on the monitors of their close circuit cameras. He is available, accessible and amiable for that matter, demystifying protocol in many instances to underscore his pragmatism. He can be intolerant of red-tapism. And you are most likely to find him in his trademark corporate attire, which has defined his endeavours and enterprise, into the fourth decade now. He is humble, courteous, cosmopolitan as you will notice presently, even on your first encounter with him.

Until his appointment as Director-General of the erstwhile Consumer Protection Council, (CPC), January 2018, he was a private, quiet, diligent attorney and solicitor. He has since reengineered the CPC into a more pointed, more proactive, consumer-targeted “Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission,” (FCCPC). The new FCCPC is designed to promote market competition, protect consumers from errant service providers and to lead in seeking redress for the violation of consumer rights. The re-calibration of the mandate of the new FCCPC, necessitated the re-designation of his office to that of “Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission,” (EVC). Before he was invited to add value to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, he shuttled between Nigeria and the United States of America, where he had thriving practices and was regularly called up for intricate, knotty legal briefs.

At various times, he was affiliated with the defunct Rims Merchant Bank and Associated Properties and Trust Plc, both in Lagos. This was before he made forays into the USA where he first served as Partner, Thomas and Irukera, and subsequently with Partners, Attorneys and Counsellors LLC, both in Chicago. He will subsequently become a Partner with Simon Cooper Partners in Lagos, Nigeria’s economic hub and erstwhile administrative capital. Landmark matters he was engaged in, include those of the federal government’s privatisation exercise; the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, (NERC) and the oil block bid rounds, respectively. He has equally functioned as legal consultant to the federal government and oil companies in extraterritorial litigations, among a book-length of judicial participations.

Babatunde Ayokunle Irukera, however, lost his preferred unobtrusive anonymity following his appointment into the public service about three and half years ago. His schedule thrusts him on the frontlines in defence of the hapless consumer, from the searing claws and gruelling grips of a motley service providers. Ours is a sociocultural environment where people are attuned to merely shake their heads in disbelief and throw up their hands in despair in the face of glaring below-par service. Irukera’s brief principally, however, is to ginger consumers across the spectrum, to insist on being served properly and satisfactorily. He is thus giving our typically reticent folks a new voice, as different from the subsisting acquiescence. And he is also standing bravely up to the demands of his responsibilities like a real warrior in the line of battle.

Barely months in office early August 2018, Irukera led his organisation to partner with the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC), to seal off popular Lagos-based Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. The company was found to have extended the

THE SOUTHPAW THAT HE IS, HE PREFERS HIS OATMEAL AND ‘OKRO SOUP’ IN THE SAME BOWL, NOT SUCCUMBING TO THE CHEF-IMPOSED ‘SEPARATION OF POWERS,’ BETWEEN THE MEAL AND ITS ESCORT

expiry dates of its doughnut mix and fillings, which Irukera’s FCCPC believed unfair to consumers and potentially injurious to their health.

A few days later, the FCCPC secured the injunction of a federal high court, restraining the South African terrestrial television service, Multichoice Nigeria Ltd, from hiking the cost of its services. In other instances, the FCCPC has compelled banks to refund illegal deductions from the accounts of their customers, where monies so creamed off, constitute part of the ever-rising profits of such financial institutions.

Under Irukera, the FCCPC has also been in the trenches with the masses over poor services rendered by various electricity distribution companies, notably the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, (AEDC), and its Ikeja counterpart, (IKEDC). Sharing his personal experience in 2020, Irukera said he procured N50,000 worth of energy, but was not connected to electricity for several hours. Elsewhere, the FCCPC chief executive has also called out the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, (PHEDC), for disconnecting consumers from the source of power supply without a 10-day prior notice from the date of bill delivery. He described the services of the PHEDC to states under its coverage as “oppressive and outrageous.”

Irukera’s mantra has consistently oscillated around the deployment of all the powers in the law books to protect consumer rights. And he is never shy of taking the battles to the doorsteps of erring institutions, privately or publicly owned, irrespective of potential personal risks or misconceptions. He recently upbraided operators in power sector of non-compliance with the regulations of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, (NERC). Such is the novel vibrancy, maybe militancy too, which Irukera’s milieu has brought to bear on the FCCPC. More than ever before, the organisation equally hosts regular consumer complaints’ fora at various locations across the country. By so doing, government is brought closer to the people. They are also enlightened to know that their voices can be heard in high places, away from the deafening din of the marketplace.

Less than a year after his stint in the public service, Irukera’s good works had compelled attention towards him as a competent contestant for elective office in his home state, Kogi. His constituents wanted him to take a shot at the governorship of the state. Sober, clear-headed, erudite, passionate about his geocultural roots, he was considered a good fit to potentially elevate governance in a state so massively endowed, but which had serially put forward its dregs, even when the stakes were high. With the quality and diversity of human capital, with the abundance of mineral resources and agrarian capital, with the intersection of Nigeria’s two largest rivers right at the heart of Kogi State, he believed he could galvanise development in the state if given a chance.

In a state which has raised the bar of electoral barbarism tinctured by state- orchestrated, daylight aerial gun attacks from a police helicopter directed on innocent voters on queue, circumspection prevailed.

Yes, in a state where kinsmen of the sitting governor confirmed that his 2019 reelection was brazenly procured by the barrel of the gun, a “feat” popularised by the song with the *ta-ta-ta-ta-ta* refrain, it was better to err on the side of caution. There will be other opportunities in the future. The present, unfortunately, remains the innocent victim of the manner of gun-butt politics played in some parts of our beloved country.

Olusunle, PhD, poet, journalist, scholar and author is a Member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors

JAAPA, DECEIT ANDYOUTH DEVELOPMENT Government could do more by investing in the youths, writes Victor C. Ariole

When darkness sets-in in life and imagination seems dampened, somehow in that darkness, clearer images appear to the mind for the way forward.

Goethe, The Creative Arts.

F

rance’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Emmanuelle Blatmann in the midst of some Nigerian youths wanted to know what jaapa means. One of them holding the microphone was so confused in providing the answer and ended up with a creative answer – exporting all our being including our physical self and the entrepreneurial ingenuity therein. Her Excellency Emmanuelle burst out in laughter. It is like her President, Emmanuel Macron coming out of Fela’s shrine and declaring to French people who are battling with religious extremism that what happens in the shrine stays in the shrine.

Macron is still a youth well trained in Ecole Normale d’Administration to rule France like his predecessors and he knows what it takes to engage fellow youths like himself knowing that a well-trained youth is an asset for the nation whether inside or outside. Such seems not to be the disposition of Nigerian political elite, mostly not trained for governance, and seem to be inflicting their deceitful disposition on the youths and the resource management of Nigeria. Politicians in even the poorest environment like the Sahel region bordering Nigeria, and from where most of Nigerian political elite from the north identify their origin, do relatively well in making sure their youths with potential are provided with some kind of platforms to exercise their youthful strength.

Imagine a place like Burkina Faso of about

21 million people where about 1.2 million are displaced. Efforts are made to limit the effects on children and their university as about 20% of their budget is spent on education and, furthermore, if that of youth development is added it hovers around 26%. They suffer also from either herdsmen, kidnappers’, jihadists’ or bandits’ menace but their ruling class dominated by NAABBA’s protégés – the Mossi ethnic group’s king – mediates to enforce a fair justice process that allow the minorities including Fulanis, Bobos, Djerma/Hausas to be given equal opportunity to western education; as a surprise, even most Fulanis there are Christians like mixed blood Thomas Sankara, late head of state.

Nigerian political elite should know that depriving the youths of platforms for keeping their energy at work could portend greater danger for the nation, now and in the future.

Recently one learnt of the federal government kicking off vocational project in Lagos code-named T-MAX. It is commendable and needed to spread all over the nation like I witnessed in Brazil when Lula Da Silva and Yusef were in charge there; and no sooner they were replaced by Bolsanaro a feudalist-minded president than unsustainability of the project emerged.

Nigeria should enact a policy that should make it sustainable if the nation intends to reduce the phenomenon of Jaapa. It is a better option to counter the attitude of some elite in the north who do not seem to bother about over 20 million children out-of -school in their midst and even the current closure of universities that ought not to be.

Burkina Faso that admits about 60,000 students in their four universities with Ouagadougou’s

Ki-Zerbo University leading makes sure the students are either in full scholarship or financially assisted depending on their scores of entry to the universities without discrimination of ethnic belonging. No quota system; purely based on merit and they are also remote relations of people in the North West of Nigeria. Massari, Jallo, Matawalle and Ganduje remote relations are there also and they are, academically, on equal footing with others, no privileged treatment and no Almajiri approach to their education. What people see as primary functions of any government – protection of lives and property, and people’s welfare – cannot work without full engagement of the youths in any given activities that detract them from engaging in evil till their youthful age is exhausted; that is from cradle to about 35 years.

The two divides of Nigeria, north and south, engage in deceitful talks that seem to be grounding the progress of Nigeria; and with the current regime, as darkness sets in, their making and marring the Nation is getting them to think otherwise and adopt a clearer thinking pattern for the good of all. And, it has to be now that confusion is beclouding the Nigerian state.

Listening to the NNPC MD and the Minister of Education, one on oil pipelines vandalism and oil theft and the other on long closure of universities in Nigeria and for the youths to sue lecturers, Jaapa deceit and youth development misadventure seems the norm.

If, indeed, the youths, who are capable of exhibition of brutal force that must be tamed, see the reason in not allowing oil theft, knowing it does not benefit them, the NNPC MD could be freed of such

worries and Nigeria as a whole will be safe. It is all about education and youth development. President Umaru Yar’Adua was great in acknowledging that.

However, if you weigh not educating the youth with estimated 30 youths that die every day trying to cross the Mediterranean sea, of which six are probably Nigerians, you wonder what Jekalo pa or Jaapa stands for in its high risk move and who, indeed, is being slaughtered or killed. In contrast, if government puts money for the education of the youth like we enjoyed as students during Shagari era when with N36 (Not 36,000) one could buy meal ticket and feed for a semester, the collective youth could stall any attempt at oil theft or vandalism knowing how such activities negate their upbringing and interest. And, finally, during our time in school, it was never expected that anybody instigate students to have a face-off with lecturers when in effect it, rather, was students fighting for the well being of the universities and not the lecturers doing the fighting. Jaapa then, was at worse like Andrew-checking out, and not checking out with no quality. Checking out with quality yielded people like Olukemi Olufunto Badenoch who came 4th out of 22 people who started-off the race to replace Boris Johnson. She was a product of UNILAG International Secondary School. Her academic background was a leverage; hence government should do better leveraging of Nigerian youths with subsidized education enabled by lecturers’ poor pay; no matter the increment made it can never be up to $10,000 per month as earned in a best practice milieu, by acknowledged lecturers.

Ariole is Professor of French and Francophone Studies University of Lagos.

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SEPTEMBER 3, 2022 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

INSIGHT

The fury of flood...

Nigeria’s Dubai Debacle

Matthew Kukah: Vox Populi at 70 “Unbroken evolution of uniform conditions pleased every one - except curates and bishops; it was the very best substitute for religion; a safe, conservative practical, thoroughly common-law diety. “ - Henry Adam

M

ost Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, no doubt is an enigma; a pathfinder of sort, who for more than three decades has remained the open conscience of Nigeria’s troubling nationhood. Praise singing is unfitting to craft a tribute to his stellar persona. Rather, a deconstruction and interrogation of his many trades and expeditions will be more welcoming and receptive. From his days as a Roman Catholic priest finding his pathway in the newly created Nigeria’s capital city of Abuja, to his role as the Secretary General and Administrative Head of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), then headquartered in Lagos, Kukah both on the pulpit and secular Nigeria set out to rev up our national conversation from an equal prism of social thought and ecclesiastical philosophy.

His speeches often inundated by Middle Belt menthol; blended by latin and toughened by the rough edges of Efdom - Zango Kataf invokes both his rustic life and his advanced life of letters. A mixed bag where local wisdom meets and intersects with modernity. He is captivating, as much as he’s dignifying. Kukah’s understanding of the Nigerian nation, its history, the socio-political dynamics of its multiculturalness is legendary. And places him even at par with a national orator.

Beyond his oratory skills, it is the very salient and no-holds-barred issues that Kukah brings to the front burner in our national discourse that have created a niche for him. His interrogation of Nigeria’s fault lines; where ethnicity and religion are weaponized for political endgame situate Kukah as a daring shepherd unperturbed by the orgy of ethno-religious politics, vis-a-vis persecution. It is in Kukah’s fearlessness and unnerved gusto in tackling Nigerian wasteful and ravaging ruling elite that has contributed in elevating the Catholic Bishop as a colossus within the Nigerian discursive space.

Of a fact, this writer has met with a lot of Bishops, Cardinals; from Timothy Dolan of New York; George Stack of Cardiff then, to Papal Nuncios , among many others. Kukah adds to the chain of intellectual

Catholicism exemplified by Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger). Still, Kukah comes as a global figure, combining philosophy, theology, politicoreligious scholarship and intellectual grounding in a broader context that defines him as a pace setter in many respects. His intellectual craving, unlike some other Nigerian intellectuals, is supported by profound and testable scholarship and knowledge production that will remain timeless in the annals of history.

His works over time, since he published, Religion, Politics and Power in Northern Nigeria (1993) has provided the guide post for sane national discourse.

This was followed by Religious Militancy and Self-Assertion: Islam and Politics in Nigeria (1996); Democracy and Civil Society in Nigeria (1999), Witness to Justice: An Insider’s Account of Nigeria’s Truth Commission, The Church and the Politics of Social Responsibility (2011) down to Broken Truth: Nigeria’s Elusive Quest for National Cohesion (2022), there is a consciousness to interrogate the Nigerian crisis beyond the periphery.

Paul Obi, Abuja

C

omical events coming out of Dubai are highlighting the suspicion with which Nigerians are viewed abroad, and the imperative of fixing things back home so that Nigerian can stay back in their own country.

With the world steadily becoming a global village, foreign travel has become inevitable. The world has become so intertwined that people move from their countries to permanently live in other countries for a variety of reasons, some pressing and some just plain pleasurable.

At the heart of modern international diplomacy is the need to protect the interests of countries when they relate with each other. At the heart of efforts made by countries to protect their interests on the international scene is the need to protect their citizens at all costs.

In many countries of the world, the legitimacy accorded any government at any point in time is strongly tied to just how much their citizens who live in other countries are protected.

Consequently, a strong measure of the direction a country is taking can always be gleaned

T H E SAT U R DAY N E W S PA P E R 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

T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS 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

from how its treats foreigners and citizens within its country, and how strongly it advocates for the proper treatment of its citizens who live in other countries.

For the Giant of Africa, it is not much that remains of its reputation on the international stage. There have been enough incidents in recent times to ramp up the suspicion with which Nigeria is viewed in many countries around the world. Of course, one cannot discount racism, however, many unflattering incidents over the years have helped to firm up the perception that Nigeria is a country of crooks.

Consequently, there have been unpalatable experiences shared by many Nigerians including some global icons. There have been unpalatable experiences of rough treatment at international airports, and even rougher treatment even for some Nigerians who have diplomatic status in other countries.

Recently, the news media was awash with stories of how authorities in the United Arab Emirates decided to impose restrictions on Nigerians coming into and staying in their country after it emerged that some Nigerians there had engaged in unruly behaviour which drew the attention of the police.

Now, the effects of those restrictions are beginning to bite. On August 31, 2022, some Nigerians stranded at the Dubai International Airport angrily reacted to what they described as detention without any explanation from the authorities and the seizure of their passports.

Many of those caught in the ugly incidents lamented that they were detained in spite of the fact that they were in the country legally, valid visas having been issued. The incidents in Dubai have further highlighted the fact that for Nigerians, there is no place like home. It also reemphasises the point that Nigeria must do more for its citizens in the Diaspora. By all means, let there be consequences. When a Nigerian is not treated according to law in any country at all, let there be strong actions from Nigerians.

However, this remains a stretch for a country that does not know that charity should begin from home.

Kene Obiezu, Twitter @kenobiezu

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ SEPTEMBER 3, 2022

RingTrue 08054699539

yemi.adebowale@thisdaylive.com

Yemi

Adebowale

ASUU President Misleading Public University Teachers

T

he statement issued by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on August 28, declaring a total and indefinite strike, clearly indicates that the union is as deceitful as the Buhari government it is fighting. After inflicting so much pain on students in Nigeria’s public universities and their parents, the union turns around to say it is pained by its decision to declare an indefinite strike. A part of that provocative statement reads: “NEC noted with pains, its concerns for Nigerian students, who are also our wards and foster children, and condemned government’s seeming indifference to their plights. Were it within our control, our universities would never have been shut for one day.”

If students are indeed at the centre of ASUU’s so-called struggle, then, lecturers won’t be on strike at all, not to talk of shutting public universities for almost seven months. I am not sorry to say that the disjointed President of ASUU, Prof.

Emmanuel Osodeke is misleading the teachers. This man is a negative force.

Whatever the university lecturers are fighting for (no matter how good) amounts to nonsense, if the interest of students is not paramount. This is what these public university teachers have failed to recognise. Lecturers are permanently on strike, leaving the students they are engaged to teach in tatters and quandary.

They should be worried about the quality of their products. A four-year course is turned into six years by unending strikes.

Some students will never return after the strike. So, persisting with this current strike is unjustifiable.

ASUU wants the federal government to fulfill its 2009 agreements with the union.

They are also demanding revitalisation funds for public universities, promotion arrears, improved salaries and earned academic allowances. But the struggle can always continue without endless strikes. ASUU members are earning salaries to teach students. So, they must teach while clamouring for their desires.

They were not being owed salaries when they embarked on this current strike.

ASUU evidently cares less about the disruption of the future of Nigerian

Osodeke

youths through unending interruption of their academic life because most of them don’t have their children in these public universities. They care less about the bad impact of unending strikes on the education system and the nation at large.

The Public Relations Officer, National Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria, Dr. Ademola Ekundayo, was apt when he declared that the university teachers have persisted with the strike because most of them work elsewhere. He adds: “We have found ourselves in an unfortunate situation and, under normal circumstances, parents should not offer such incentives and help that they rejected, but we discovered that we are at the receiving end and bearing the effect of the problem between FG and ASUU. “And at the end of the day, ASUU will still collect salaries for the work they didn’t even do. Likewise, the federal government has nothing to lose. Children of most of those running the government are in private universities and abroad. Many of the ASUU professors are part-time

lecturers at private universities; they are behaving like this because they don’t have anything to lose. They will push parents and students to a level they won’t be able to tolerate.”

The main reason ASUU declared indefinite strike is because the federal government avowed that it would not pay their members for the period they were on strike. This is the truth that must be told. The no-work no-pay labour law is very clear as contained in Section 43 of Trade Dispute Act. These university teachers are experienced enough to know that strikes come with implications.

So, the strikes have mainly been about their pockets. That was why Osodeke said ASUU rejected the federal government’s pay increase offer because “it is miserable”.

Osodeke’s further comments after government’s decision to enforce the no-work no-pay labour law were depressing. He naively gave himself up. His eruption clearly shows that the strikes by the teachers were chiefly about money for them. He said, “The minister is joking.

If they fail to pay, we will not teach those students; we won’t make up for that period. We will start a new session.

We won’t conduct examinations; we will start a fresh session totally.

“Lecturers are not doctors. With doctors, once life is gone, it can’t be brought back. For lecturers, we can still resume where we stopped and still teach them and make up for lost time. Examinations and the period lost won’t be taught. If they want to do ‘no work no pay,’ we will also do ‘no pay no work.’ If they won’t pay the backlog, we won’t teach the backlog. We are not like other workers.

He (minister) doesn’t know what he is saying.”

That was Osodeke ranting about “no work no pay.” This man has lost touch with modernity when it comes to running and funding universities. He belongs to the stone age. You will find Osodeke making so much noise about how much university teachers earn in other climes but often quiet about deliveries, particularly teaching and research excellence. This is the substratum of universities in those developed climes often mentioned by

Police Still Looking for Killers of Deborah?

T

he Sokoto State Police Command says it is still searching for the killers of Deborah Samuel, the student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, murdered by extremists early in May this year. That’s the garbage the Command came out with few days back. Police still searching for the killers after about four months? It’s a big shame and can only happen in Nigeria. Deborah was stoned to death by some students believed to be her classmates, joined by outsiders, over allegations of blasphemy.

I doubt if there is any search ongoing for the killers of Deborah. Officers and men of the Sokoto State Police Command are evidently not bothered by the coldblooded murder of this innocent girl. They simply went to sleep after the killing. Not a single one of the killers in the viral video which captured the moment Deborah was killed has been arrested by the compromised police in Sokoto State.

Scores of extremists were seen in the video participating in the murder of Deborah. So sad; not even one of the

bastards arrested.

The police simply declared them wanted and sat back. It took the police in Sokoto State six days after the killing to even do this. Why did the police not go after the killers immediately the crime was committed? What have they been doing for almost four months to arrest the killers even when the murderers are easily identifiable as seen in viral videos cheerfully celebrating their crime?

This week, the spokesman of the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Sanusi Abubakar, brazenly declared: “Those arrested by the police are not the prime suspects. They were only among those who organised the riot. They are still in remand custody as ordered by the court. The prime suspects are still at large and efforts were ongoing to arrest them. We have circulated their pictures to media houses and sent our intelligence to every part of the state. We are still on the lookout for them and we are confident of arresting them wherever they may be hiding. We will flush them out and arraign them before a competent

court of law.”

That was the bosh from DSP Abubakar.

The Nigerian State has failed Deborah because of our current crooked and compromised leadership. This is the tragedy of the country called Nigeria.

The brutal murder of Deborah will not be the last. Terrorists and religious fanatics in Nigeria are emboldened because they are hardly made to pay for their atrocities. So, they confidently continue with their carnages. That was why the terrorists that killed Deborah matched on the streets of Sokoto, a day after, maiming and killing innocent people. A compromised leadership makes it difficult for security agents to arrest terrorists and religious extremists.

Killing in the name of blasphemy is punishable by death as affirmed by the Supreme Court in 2007. The killers of Deborah desecrated her fundamental rights guaranteed in Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution – right to life, right to fair hearing, right to freedom of thought, religion and conscience. They must be brought to justice. This is the only way to halt the endless cycle of killings in the name of religion in Nigeria.

Osodeke where remunerations are tied to achievement of distinction in teaching and research; where universities are independent and governments pay very little role in funding.

ASUU is also demanding the deployment of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution by the government for payment of university lecturers. They must look for another tool for this selfish part of their agitations. These teachers want to dictate to their employers how to pay them. I don’t know where that is done anywhere in the world. They are telling the government to throw away its platform and pay them with a platform they designed. Their colleagues in the private universities must be shocked by this hogwash.

University autonomy must happen for this endless drivel called “ASUU strike” to end. This is what Osodeke and other teachers must campaign for. Public universities must exercise independent control over their day-to-day operations.

Administratively, they should constitute their governing councils. Federal and state governments must hands-off these public universities so that they can be managed as non-profit businesses. They should no longer be funded from budgets. This is the meaning of autonomy. With this, the governing councils will be able to act clearly as defined i.e. the ultimate power. The employers of the academic and non-academic staff will be the governing councils and universities will remunerate according to their abilities.

With autonomy, the universities can charge fees enough to conveniently cover their expenses and a little bit more for further development. This will end their funding crisis. Government can then provide scholarships and student loans.

Autonomy also means public universities will be able to attract reasonable endowments. Donors are more comfortable with schools enjoying autonomy. There will be no bureaucratic bottlenecks. Endowments provide important financial stability for universities in sound climes. Nigerian public universities must not remain in darkness.

Autonomy implies operative freedom. It implies academic and managerial freedom which should result in higher quality of education and academic excellence.

The federal and state governments must be compelled to do the needful in this regard. This is the only way forward for our public universities and all other public higher institutions of learning.

On the flip side, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) now appears aware that Osodeke and his comrades in crime are largely battling for selfish interest. I want the ASUU President to spend quality time reading the missiles from NANS released last Wednesday.

NANS declared: “Some of them (lecturers) are not in any way affected by their attempt to collapse the sector for their selfish and inconsiderate gains. ASUU had succeeded initially to masquerade their strike action as being in the interest of Nigeria and in the interest of the teeming Nigerian students.

“Events of recent weeks have therefore made it abundantly clear that ASUU has an ulterior motive, which is to collapse university education system in Nigeria and systematically promote private universities where many of them have their children.”

This bullet from NANS is food for thought today for Osodeke and his infamous ASUU leadership.

16

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 3, 2022 • T H I S D AY

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 3, 2022

17

Ferdinand Ekechukwu 08035011394 Email: ferdi_adthisday@yahoo.com

SHOWBIZFLAIR

MI Talks about Love, Gratitude, Mental Health in ‘The Guy’ Ferdinand Ekechukwu

T

here’s this opinion that before Jude ‘MI’ Abaga took the Nigerian music industry by storm following the release of his debut album ‘Talk About It’ in 2008, local rap was as at a commercial low. Pop music was on the pedestal and no other genre of music even came close. MI’s ‘Talk About It’ made Nigerians confront and reassess their perception of rap music made.

The LP was succeeded by MI 2: The Movie in 2010.

Having gone from superstar rapper to iconic label executive years after, he released ‘The Chairman as his third studio album in 2014. Abaga released the playlist Rendezvous in February 2018. And in August of that year, he released his fourth studio album A Study On Self Worth: Yxng Dxnzl.

The Incredible Music boss appears to be reinventing himself once again with ‘The Guy’, a 12- track album which ushers in a new era/season for him, now in its second week of release.

His 5th studio album, ‘The Guy’, lyrically touches on his life as the guy, the

MI

artiste, the family man, and business revealing that he would be retiring his PRJXO LQ PLQXWHV 0, ÀUVW WHDVHG stage name “Mr. Incredible Abaga (MI about his new album in July 2022, Abaga)” in preparation for “The Guy’.

On this body of work, MI infuses hip-hop with elements of Afropop, Amapiano and Highlife.

In ‘The Guy’, M.I examines the subject of love, gratitude, masculinity, and mental health. The new project features several Hip-hop heavyweights such as Olamide, Phyno, Ice Prince, Jesse Jagz as well as American rapper, Nas. Wande Coal, Duncan Mighty, BNXN, The Cavemen, and others were also part of this Long Play. With ‘The Guy’, M.I has elected to showcase the man behind the superstar whose talent has for over a decade shaped the African Hip Hop scene. And everyone – the blogs, reviews, music critics, most especially his fans - is talking about it.

In April, MI urged his fans to anticipate a “classic body of work” which might win the Grammys. “And now that that it’s…music coming soon. Now I can focus so I release this album properly,” he wrote. “Because it is a classic…Might win a Grammy.

I appreciate your patience.” Reacting to the new album, MI’s fans took to Twitter to praise the rapper for maintaining KLV H[FHOOHQW ÁRZV DQG GHOLYHU\ VHYHUDO years after debuting on the Nigerian music scene.

Obara’M Stars Onyeka Onwenu, Osuofia, Isime Ferdinand Ekechukwu

A

thrilling musical ÀOP ¶2EDUD·0 0\ Blood), which tells a riveting story of, love, life and death opened in cinemas last week. Starring a mix of Nollywood favourites, music stars and comic actors, ‘Obara’M is D IDPLO\ ÀOP WKDW EULQJV WKH *HQ = adults, old people, and kids together WR PDNH DQ LGHDO ÀOP IRU HYHU\ERG\ A joint production of FilmTribe Media/Singularity Media and FilmOne Production, the movie follows the story of Oluchi, an up-and-coming musician who is forced to confront her

true self and her past mistakes after her estranged father’s death.

She reconnects with her daughter who she abandoned at a young age through their love for music. However, the echoes from the past, greed and bad decisions, spring from every corner, threatening to bring them down.

It sterling cast features the old and the young such as Onyeka Onwenu, Nkem Owoh, and Nancy Isime.

It also stars Deyemi Okanlawon, Bolanle Ninalowo, Bolaji Ogunmola, Sydney Talker, Waje, Ikponmwosa Gold, Darasimi Nadi, Ikekhua Anthonia, William Chinoyenem, The Cavemen and Angeloh LoveChild. The movie

director Kayode Kasum spoke about WKH ÀOP LQ D FKDW ZLWK 6KRZEL] Speaking on the cast and why a musical this time, Kasum said, “The Cavemen, Cavemen like is a band.

They understood what we trying to do. And if you follow Nancy, you know she has love for music. And apart from her just being the right FKDUDFWHU IRU WKH ÀOP , KDYH ZRUNHG with Nancy before in Kambili.

“Of course, she’s not a musician but she went through deep process of learning to get there. It was the right people for the characters. In trying to do that we found the right mix. Also, ZH ZDQWHG WR PDNH D IDPLO\ ÀOP WKDW ZLOO EULQJ *HQ = DGXOWV ROG SHRSOH and kids. We wanted to make an ideal ÀOP IRU HYHU\ERG\ µ

Nancy Isime and Onyeka Onwenu

Yung Bos Unveils Debut Album Akunna Electrifies Fans Ferdinand Ekechukwu

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amika Entertainment teen star, Ebosetale Gideon Solomon, popularly known as Yung Bos, KDV UHOHDVHG KLV ÀUVW DOEXP exquisitely titled ‘Nigerian Prince’.

The album, laced with 15 tracks, LV D ÀQH FRPSLODWLRQ RI PXVLFDO genres ranging from Hip-Hop, RnB, Afrobeats and Afropop. The talented 16-year-old ‘Spiderman’ crooner has spent considerable time working on this solo album.

After picking up the 2021 Top Naija Music award for Best Collaboration with his debut single ‘Smile’, he’s been overly FRQÀGHQW KLV GHEXW DOEXP ZRXOG JHW KLP more recognition and awards; “My aim has always been to win the Grammy, when I got signed to be part of the Jamika Force, I vowed to win it and I am determined.”

“Every song I worked on in this album comes from my heart; it is a way for me to share my thoughts with my fans and lovers of good music.

Some people have actually said some of my songs are quite mature but it just emphasises what my bosses have always said of me, that I am an old soul,” he explained.

Also speaking on the release of the

at Album Listening Party

F

rom her stellar performance at the Nigerian Idol Season Six, Akunna Okechukwu has broken new ground in her music career as she lights XS WKH ZRUOG ZLWK WKH ÀUVW music album launched on a recent Wednesday. This puts Akunna on the shortlist of many stars that have emerged from the Nigerian Idol show. The corporate and entertainment lawyer turned singer has attracted many opportunities since her appearance on the top-rated Nigerian music reality show.

Yung Bos Since her emergence as the 2nd runneralbum, the head of operations of Jamika up, Akunna has moved on to opening an Entertainment, Mr. Stanley Ihensekhien HQWHUWDLQPHQW ODZ ÀUP ZKLFK KHOSV KHU said the album had garnered considerable combine her passion and career. She has also listenership in the past few days of the become an events host and has released her release and there have been interviews ÀUVW PXVLFDO ERG\ RI ZRUN RQ D GDWH WKDW coincided with her birthday anniversary. lined up for the artiste.

“Yung Bos has really captured the air- “I feel so great and happy. This has been waves, with a lot of listeners keen to hear a long-time dream of mine and to see it more of his music and know about him. ÀQDOO\ FRPLQJ WKURXJK ZRZ “Hosting a listening party is the dream This clearly shows he is making an impact already in the music scene. Winning his RI DOO DUWLVWHV DQG WR KDYH ÀQDOO\ GRQH LW ÀUVW DZDUG ODVW \HDU LV MXVW WKH VWHSSLQJ with the backing of WAW, I am so elated,” stone for him winning bigger ones this Akunna Okechukwu said at the listening year and beyond with his Nigerian Prince party.

WAW is one of the sponsors of the album,” Ihensekhien.

Akunna

Nigerian Idol Season Six. Henkel Nigeria WKURXJK LWV ÁDJVKLS EUDQG :$: GHWHUJHQW has been committed to fostering creativity amongst the youth in Nigeria. Henkel aims to develop the youth, as well as make a positive and lasting impact in the lives of future talents and communities in Nigeria.

18

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 3, 2022

SHOWBIZFLAIR

Kenny Ogungbe

Naija Star Search is about Sustaining Afrobeats Kennis Music is credited with ushering in a new era of Afrobeats on the Nigerian music scene. After successfully making a significant impact with his Kennis Music, AIT Jamz, and later Primetime Africa Jamz, Kenny Ogungbe is set to mould a new generation of Nigerian music acts. He spoke with Chinedu Ibeabuchi about Afrobeats, and the Naija Star Search reality show set to premiere on StarTimes on September 4th

Ogungbe

W

hat exactly would you say about Afrobeats now?

Afrobeat is enjoying global acceptance from Jakarta to Niger. I don’t even want to mention London or New York. In every part of the world, Afrobeats is celebrated, and they dance to our songs.

That is why it should be sustained. How do you sustain it? You look for the younger ones that have not blown; we gather them together and pick the next ones. That’s what we want to do with Naija Star Search. We will discover, coach, promote, support and sell them to Nigerians. That is the essence of this competition. Naija Star Search is about sustainability, so we don’t get checked out on billboards.

Kennis music started the revolution that produced some of the most prominent artistes, but after a while, there was silence. Kenny Ogungbe now wants to produce new music stars, and many doubt he still has the touch to make stars.

Kennis Music has been there from the beginning. I started when I was very young from OGBC when I was in my early twenties.

I later moved to Raypower and then Kennis Music International. I never shifted my focus to Kennis banking or Kennis politics. It has always been entertainment. There were times when there was no money in Music. So, what time would you rather be in business? When there was no money compared to when there was money? I’ve been in the industry since

then, and I’ve been selling Music till now, and I will till I die. My radio station Kennis FM has been on for seven years now.

What is Asha Gangali bringing to Naija Star Search?

He has the experience. Some may know he started a talent show called Roc Da Mic Africa. I will mention one name or two that came to that talent show celebrated today globally - Wande Coal and Timaya. , ZDV ZLWK KLP WKHQ DQG ÀJXUHG KH ZDV DQ LGHQWLÀHU RI WDOHQWV OLNH PH $QG KH LV also an artiste. He understands the pains of an artiste. He can say follow me, and if you do and follow instructions, you will blow. That is why it is him. ID Cabasa is another judge on the show. ID Cabasa is a Music Maestro responsible for several musical hits from 9ice to Olamide and Wizkid, among others.

African Queen is one of your most VLJQLÀFDQW DFKLHYHPHQWV VR IDU GR \RX WKLQN \RX FDQ VWLOO JLYH XV DQRWKHU RQH" You are a journalist; can you create a work that is better than the best you already have? That answers your question. We are all ambitious. We are all humans, and we have things that we want to achieve.

I read one article that said he is judged by his African Queen performance, and he hopes every song he releases will be as good as African Queen. You put your best foot out and keep working hard and praying to God to make it click.

.HQQLV $FKLHYHPHQWV" Kennis Music has the highest number of songs in a catalogue, the biggest in Afrobeats till today. From 2000 to 2022, you won’t see any if you ask everyone to bring out their catalogue. Kennis Music has released over 80 albums in the last 20 years, an average of 12 songs per album. If you multiply it, how many record companies can come out and say I’ve produced such an amount of songs?

That is why we celebrate Music; we remix and rejuvenate them. Songs will never die.

Greatest albums?

The greatest album produced by Kennis Music is Face to Face by 2face Idibia. The second is Grass to Grace by 2face Idibia. We have Eedris Abdulkareem, he spent a long time in Kennis music, the longest, even till today we are still working together. We also had VIP from Ghana; we brought Ghana Music into the mainstream of Nigerian Music.

Then Tony Tetuila, Essence’s Facebook Love, Jaywon, and Joel. They all made classics and timeless songs under Kennis Music.

$UWLVWV GRQ·W GLH DV WKHLU ZRUN RXWOLYHV WKHP 'R \RX WKLQN \RX ZLOO EH UHPHPEHUHG" People are still singing and dancing to Lady by Fela Anikulapo Kuti to date, and Fela is dead. When I’m dead, they will still sing African Queen, and my hand is in that Music, my hand will forever be in that Music.

6RPH VRQJV KDYH RXWOLYHG WKHLU WLPH Are we hoping to get that from this new set while also keeping pace with trends, judging from artistes who gained prominence but cannot keep up with the trends?

You are right. Not everyone popular now ZLOO EH IDPRXV LQ WKH QH[W ÀYH \HDUV ,·P VRUU\ to say it, but it’s the reality. When African Queen was released, it was a slow song; at that time, nobody danced to slow songs.

It was the energy I put in and the love of Nigerians. That particular song can be done as jazz, or reggae, today. Even 2baba did a UHJJDH YHUVLRQ RI LW ,Q ÀYH \HDUV DQRWKHU W\SH of Music will come up, and they will sing the song to that genre. That is how versatile Music is. It depends on how versatile the artist is to identify it and turn it into the reigning beat of that era. Music is time, and the best thing is to write classic songs that will outlive you. Fela Anikulapo is a great example; he wrote so many classics. King Sunny Ade is another example; he wrote many classics that will outlive this generation. It will be heard in the next 50 years.

+RZ LV WKLV VHDUFK IRU QHZ VWDUV GL;HUHQW IURP \RXU SUHYLRXV VHDUFK" If my experience at that time put up a great song when I was younger, today, I’m mature; don’t you think I will be better like old wine? My biggest credit is identifying ZKDW LV JRRG , LGHQWLÀHG $IULFDQ 4XHHQ We just released Nfana Ibaga, a song by 2face at that time, and then he brought African Queen to me. I said this song is JRLQJ RQ DLU WRGD\ EHFDXVH , LGHQWLÀHG LW Usually, you wait for a song to go around a month or two before you release another song, but we released it even while Nfana Ibaga is still gaining momentum.

Naija Star Search reality show is quite GLͿHUHQW IURP RWKHU UHDOLW\ VKRZV DQ\RQH has seen before because this show is not about celebrating Foreign Music. It is about celebrating Nigerian Music. If you go to some talent show rehearsals, you will hear them singing Beyonce, John Legend, and Kanye West’s songs. There will be no foreign songs, only Naija sounds, Afrobeats precisely.

Let’s look at how Nigerian Music is widely accepted today, trying to gain worldwide attention. We have a population of about 200 million people; let’s look at Jamaica which has a population of about 6 million people; everybody knows it is Reggae music that is popular in Jamaica. It is popular among 6 million people in Jamaica; everybody worldwide sings Reggae music. I want everybody to be singing Afrobeats too.

It is time to take over the world with our language, pidgin English; people singing in pidgin English in Paris, China and everywhere. That is where we are going with this. I want to say a big thank you to StarTimes for bringing this up. Starting September 4th on ST Nollywood channels on StarTimes, we will begin to watch the making of new stars.

0XVLFDO YLGHRV DQG O\ULFV DUH VR OHZG QRZ DQG YHU\ GLVDSSRLQWLQJ $V DQ ROGHU man in the system, how can you compare the old times to this time? What do you think makes these artists go so crazy?

I want to add more to your question because I’ve heard people say that what they are writing now is nothing more than ‘your bum bum’.

Before we were born, they had been singing like that. When all of us here are gone, they will still be singing like that. That attitudinal problem that you mentioned is universal. If you have it, then you have it. If you don’t have it, then you don’t have it. The next set of musicians that are coming is going to have it. The best thing is to teach them before they blow because some of them come from not-so-good backgrounds, and when they see money being thrown at them, they get crazy DQG ORVH LW LW DͿHFWV WKHP D ORW ,W·V JRRG WR tell them early. I will go back again to the lyrics. You will wonder if King Sunny Ade, Sir Shina Peters, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, etc., all sang those songs that today’s musicians are singing. Every time has a trending word that they use in their songs.

19

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 3, 2022

SHOWBIZFLAIR

N10m up for Grabs as Naija Star Search Begins

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he maiden edition of Nigeria’s ÀUVW $IUREHDWV UHDOLW\ VKRZ WKH 1DLMD 6WDU 6HDUFK ZLOO FRPPHQFH RQ 6HSWHPEHU RQ 67 1ROO\ZRRG FKDQQHOV on StarTimes.

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L-R: StarTimes Nigeria COO, Tunde Aina; judge, ID Cabasa; StarTimes Nigeria GM, Eric Xiao; CFO, StarTimes Nigeria, Yingnan Liu; Lead Judge, Kenny Ogungbe; Show Director, Chris Zhou; and judge, Asha Gangali at the unveiling of Naija Star Search reality show in Lagos

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US Consul General Celebrates African Creative Market

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Don Crucifixto, Lele Latrice Delight Fans With ‘Superwoman’ Tosin Clegg

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SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 3, 2022 • T H I S D AY

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 3, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 3, 2022

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MARKET PLACE with Omolabake Fasogbon... 08155131874

SystemSpecs Unveils Fundraising Platform SystemSpecs Technology has come up with a fundraising VROXWLRQ ¶)XQG$&DXVH· DLPHG DW VLPSOLI\LQJ IXQGUDLVLQJ HͿRUW of individuals, non-government organisations (NGOs), religious organisations, and other concerned groups.

According to the company, the solution aimed to manage a donation-based fundraising, ZKLOH RͿHULQJ IXQGUDLVHUV HDVH WR generate funds, create awareness, track campaigns online and in real-time, as well as share donation progress with donors.

Explaining the solution, Managing Director of SystemSpecs Technology, Demola Igbalajobi stated that the platform would also enable fundraisers to enjoy prompt funds settlement, while

achieving other goals.

According to him, donors from within and outside the country can connect with any campaign that aligns with them, and donate through multiple payment options available on the platform.

He said, “With a focus on non-investment fundraising, )XQG$&DXVH LV WKH JR WR SODWIRUP for philanthropic individuals and organisations that seek to promote causes that touch OLYHV )XQGUDLVHUV FDQ VHW XS their campaigns securely on any cause – be it medical, education, political, social or community causes and others; tell a story about their cause with a picture or video; set a campaign target; create awareness for campaigns

and share the unique campaign link via email and preferred social media platforms.

“Moreso, fundraisers have full visibility over campaign performance and can also communicate with donors, whilst keeping them abreast of the donation progress.”

He noted that the solution was apt for many communities like Nigeria that work on social cooperation. +H VDLG ´)XQG$&DXVH ZLOO foster a community that thrives on impactful living, driving the much-needed positive change in society through fundraising activities and social interventions of well-meaning individuals and groups, who strive for overall societal good and advancement.”

Interswitch Pledges to Bridge Gender gap in Technology Integrated payments and digital commerce company, Interswitch has demonstrated its commitment to women’s participation in technology at the just concluded “WeTech Conference”, tagged, “WeTech 2022” The programme, said to be largest tech conference for women in Nigeria, had over 1,000 women in attendance who rubbed minds on prospects LQ WHFK VHFWRU DQG EHQHÀWV IRU growth in their individual career pursuits, as well as scalability of women-run tech startups.

The conference featured panel discussions, keynote addresses and talks from leading women in the Nigerian tech industry, sharing valuable insights into how they can break into the tech scene in Nigeria, and demystifying the IXWXUH RI ÀQWHFK LQ 1LJHULD

Interswitch, which was a silver sponsor of the event, was also on ground to enlighten women on GLͿHUHQW LQQRYDWLYH WHFK VROXWLRQV useful to their business growth.

Speaking on the programme, Executive Vice President, Group Marketing and Communications, Cherry Eromosele, noted that the organisation maintained a keen focus on empowering players in the tech ecosystem, adding that its sponsorship of the Conference was one of the channels to express its commitment.

She said, “We are excited to have collaborated with the WeTech 2022 Conference as it aligns with our vision of a more inclusive space for women in the Nigerian tech ecosystem.

“Through this initiative, women are always furnished with the knowledge needed to boost their careers in tech,

LW DOVR KROGV D GXDOO\ EHQHÀFLDO purpose for women-run startups.

The conference serves as an opportunity for these women to receive insights that will enhance scalability.”

Also commenting, Chief +XPDQ 5HVRXUFHV 2΀FHU RI WKH ÀUP )UDQNOLQ $OL UHLWHUDWHG the organisation’s dedication to creating a diverse and equitable workplace by espousing a genderbalanced hiring process.

He said, “Our resolve to provide our employees with an equitable workplace that fosters teamwork can be gleaned from the recent Hofstede report that ranked Interswitch among the top ÀYH OHDGLQJ FRPSDQLHV LQ 'LYHUsity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Nigeria. We look forward to bringing more women on board to drive the company’s goal of a more inclusive workplace”

‘Jade’ to Enhance Events’ Visibility An event- only hub, Jade has launched in the market to support businesses of eventpreneurs, while also bridging gap between events and event-goers.

According to the Chief ExecuWLYH 2΀FHU RI WKH RUJDQLVDWLRQ Adebola Olomo, the platform which is available both within and outside the country, would enhance event exposure to prospective guests.

She noted that Jade was set up to allow users to post events quickly and easily on the platform, giving them a way to easily connect with the appropriate audience for the event.

She said, “It’s fun how simple it is to use and navigate Jade only posts content relevant to each section as outlined above.

We cover events from the global stage to the local level, making

sure to cover every angle.

“Jadè serves as a hub for community-style event announcements, where users can learn about and interact with upcoming events in all cultures.

“So, if you have any upcoming events that you would like to share, please get in touch with us. You’ll be able to understand how we plan to publicise this event.”

As a way of supporting entrepreneurs, Truecaller for Business (TfB) has unveiled enhanced features to improve customers experience on the platform.

According to the organisation, some of the new features which included Video Caller ID, Call Me back-function, Call Ratings and Surveys would help strengthen its current HQWHUSULVH RͿHULQJ It stated that the new features aimed at protecting business’s brand and consumers from getting impacted by impersonation and fraud. &KLHI ([HFXWLYH 2΀FHU DQG Co-founder of Truecaller, Alan Mamedi explained further that

the new solution also helps to bring in contact center H΀FLHQF\ DQG UHGXFH FRVWV on the customer support front. +H VDLG ´7KH RͿHULQJ KDV been well received by a wide range of well-known global and local brands and is the relatively fastest growing revenue stream for Truecaller.

“Video Caller ID” capability is now rolled out fully to enable branded, contextual YLGHRV WR GLͿHUHQWLDWH EXVLness Caller Identity from the rest. After a successful early access program, the feature is live and has experienced an initial good response among consumer brands, automobiles, real estate,

ÀQWHFK DQG RWKHU VHFWRUV DV part of their business-calling communication lifecycle. ´)RU EXVLQHVVHV WR JHW actionable intent from their customers receiving calls, the “Call Me Back” capability is now live on the platform. The feature enables enterprises to get call-back requests from customers that might miss an important call. ´)XUWKHU FDSDELOLWLHV OLNH Call Ratings and Surveys are soon being launched as part of the expanded suite of EXVLQHVV RͿHULQJV WKDW ZLOO allow businesses to derive real-world insights from end customers to evolve their communication experience.”

L-R :Vice Chancellor, Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Professor Anthony Akinlo receiving a commutative plaque from President and Chairman of Council, Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), Mr. Taiwo Owokalade, FCIS during a courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor by the President in Osun State... recently

L-R: Tecno Brand ambassador,Tiwa Savage; Deputy Director of Transsion West Africa, Luke Pan and the General Manager, Nigeria Transsion Holdings, Chidi Okonkwo at the launch of the TECNO CAMON 19 Mondrian phone held recently in Lagos, Nigeria

Lagos Pledges Commitment to Tourism Growth The Lagos State government has restated its commitment to the development and growth of tourism in the state at the just concluded Kayokayo festival.

The festival held in Epe, further projected the richness and prospects of tourism in Lagos and Nigeria to the global society for more partnerships and investment.

In promoting the sector, the

Lagos State government recently committed a N1 billion seed capital to ease operations for players and consequently, drive new growth to the industry which was severely impacted

by COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, the state introduced a Community-Based Tourism (CBT) initiative action across six local governments, which included Epe local gov-

ernment area, to enable access and development of tourism potential in local communities.

Speaking on the feast that lasted seven days, Executive Chairman of Ibeju Lekki Local Government Area, Mr. Sesan Abdulahi commended the state government’s dedication, but also urged more support in publicising the festival to the world.

Hausa Series ‘Alaqa’ Premieres Truecaller for Business gets New Features Today on Africa Magic Hausa Popular Hausa web series, Alaqa, is set to premiere on Africa Magic Hausa on DStv and GOtv, the home of premium family entertainment, on September 3.

Directed by the multitalented Kannywood actor, Ali Nuhu, Alaqa is a story of friend and family ties, societal values, and a tangled web of deceit.

Commenting on the premiere, Executive Head of Marketing, MultiChoice Nigeria, Tope Oshunkeye, said the company is topping entertainment for its customers with Alaqa, a quality local content.

“Alaqa is another in-

digenous work that meets the high-quality standard that MultiChoice Nigeria is renowned for. As a major promoter of quality local and foreign content, we are adding this interesting and captivating Hausa series to the rich content available to DStv and GOtv customers,” he said.

Produced by Khalid Kherieeydo and Jamilu Awayman, Alaqa features an array of Kannywood stars such as Ali Nuhu, Ramadan Booth, Shamu Daniya, Bilkisu Abdullhi, Sadiq Ahmad, Jamilu Sani, Auwal Isa West and many more.

The series will air on DStv Channel 156 and GOtv channel

4, every Saturday and Sunday at 7:30pm, with a repeat on Mondays and Tuesdays, at 8am and is open to DStv customers on Premium, Compact Plus, Compact, Confam and Yanga and GOtv customers on Supa, Max and Jolli.

Customers can enjoy the series by downloading the MyDStv and MyGOtv apps to subscribe or upgrade or set up Auto-Renewal to stay connected without interruptions.

Customers can also dial *288# to recharge and experience other self-service options. New customers can purchase a new GOtv decoder for N6900 only and get 1-month free GOtv Max subscription.

23

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ SEPTEMBER 3, 2022

POLITY 2023: Bago Working to Ensure Victory in Niger Mohammed Aliyu

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he Niger State gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Muhammed Umar Bago, is focused on victory in next year’s election.

To ensure that his APC house is in order, he has been holding a series of meetings with aggrieved members of the party across the state. Bago wants to go into the election with a united house. He is wooing all those that contested against him for the ticket.

Bago is one of the longest serving members of the House of Representatives from the state, having spent two terms and about ending his third now. He is quite popular among the people, especially the downtrodden whose needs he meets on a regular basis. Bago is one of the few House members from Niger State who visits his constituency every other week, except when he is out of the country.

Outside that, Bago’s contact phone number is displayed publicly. Unlike the conventional traits of politicians, Bago picks his phone himself. The ease with which his people have unfettered access to him is one of the things that counted for him when it mattered most. This, perhaps, explained why he is the favourite among the populace, irrespective of party affiliation.

During the APC gubernatorial primary, against all expectations, Bago, who represents Chanchaga Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, polled 540 votes to get the ticket. In his acceptance speech, Bago acknowledged the God factor in his victory. He said: “We are not yet there; we still have work to do ahead. It is my prayer that APC forms the next government in the state.”

Unknown to his teeming supporters, what he actually meant was that there were a lot of frayed nerves that needed to be calmed, a lot of disaffection that needed to be assured and quite a sizeable number of major stakeholders that he needed to reach a compromise with.

Against the backdrop of his speech, he has completely relocated to Minna for the past two months, crisscrossing the entire state, looking and seeking forgiveness, compromise, assurance, support, encouragement and prayers, not only for himself, but also for the party and the state in general.

The Secretary General of the APC Supporters Network Nigeria, Captain Yusuf Abdullahi (Maikudi), and fellow Nupe like Bago, says he is not surprised that the governorship candidate is touring the state even before the campaign started proper. He said Bago is a very sensitive person, who understands the political dynamics of the state. Maikudi adds: “When God says it is your turn, it is. Remember that he has been in the National Assembly for about 12 years now. He has garnered experience as a result of his exposure over the years.

Bago He is probably one of the few Niger State members of the National Assembly who is hardly heard despite his enormous support to his constituency.“He doesn’t want his works in the media. He would tell you that once his constituency is happy with his performance, he is happy as the constituency is his report card. He prefers that the constituency talks about his performance instead of highlighting it in the media. That is one of the reasons my organisation is set up; to drum up support and canvass votes for him. We will continue to canvas support for him and the party. Our membership cuts across the state.”

The last two months has seen Bago touring Bida, Katcha and Edati local government areas, where he met the party loyalists, stakeholders, kings and traditional title holders, to seek their support in the task not only to retain APC but also to make the state more secure and economically viable. Fortunately, he has been widely received with tens of thousands of the people, across board, pledging their support to work for him and the party.

At all the local government areas visited, Bago reiterated his earlier commitment to make Niger State economically viable, stable security wise and also to be the first among equals. It appears the people, going by their confession, believe in Bago’s ability to deliver.

A businessman and indigene of Bida Local Government Area, Alhaji Abubakar Shettima, says that if God makes Bago

the governor, the state would be better managed, at least given the background of the candidate: “He has a finance background. He has worked with two banks, with sound records and performance trailing him. I strongly believe that if he becomes the governor, his experience and exposure would be handy. I truly share his optimism and prayers for the state. At the moment, I am yet to see a better candidate among the other parties. He is shoulder high above other candidates. I think this is the best time to be an indigene.”

For Hajia Fatimah Muhammed, a trader in Edati Local Government Area, going by what the APC governorship candidate said so far, she believes the state would return to its past glory. She said: “This is actually the first time I am seeing him one on one. I have seen him on television and in the pages of newspapers, but this is the first time I am seeing him talking.

I am impressed by what he is offering to the state. What he is trying to do, to bring everybody together, is also worth mentioning. It shows that he knows it is the people that make the party and the government which he wants to preside over.

We need conversation like this. More importantly, we need a listening leader. Throughout the event, he allowed everyone to talk, even when some were saying the question time should be stopped, he said we should continue. It was after many people had expressed themselves that he spoke. That is the kind of listening leader I want and the state needs. I pray he goes on like this even after he wins the election.”

For Kabir Abubakar, 32, banker, Bago’s youthfulness is what stands him out: “There is energy that comes with being youthful. The job of supervising a state isn’t a child’s play. It requires quite a lot. Apart from the experience, education, right contacts, the energy to be able to carry out his function which is 24 hours job, is crucial.”

On the chances of the APC continuing from where Governor Abubakar Bello stopped in 2023, Maikudi said: “Given what has happened so far, there is no doubt that the APC will return to the Government House. Check his antecedence; his track record, what he has done and still doing if he will not do better.

That is actually the joy of every mentor, parents or boss that their mentee or subordinate should be better than them. That is what is called leadership.

“Take Lagos State as an example, every governor that has succeeded Asiwaju Tinubu is always better than the previous one. That is why Lagos is miles ahead of other states. I have no doubt that Umar Bago will make the state proud. As to whether the APC can win the general election, the acceptance by the ordinary people which culminated in his victory during the primary election is a very big pointer to the fact that the people will rally round him to push and vote him into the Government House.”

ExxonMobil-Seplat Deal: The Limits of Propaganda Taiwo Adekunle

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lthough it is not given to dragging media organisations before the courts, the report that Seplat Energy Plc. had sued two online news stables for alleged libel against it over the $1.28 billion ExxonMobil’s shares acquisition deal did not come as a surprise to many, since it vowed to seek redress in court when this particular story was publish on 10th August 2022.According to news reports, the Nigerian leading independent energy company, dragged the news stable before the Imo State High Court for alleging a $100 million bribery scandal in the processes leading up to the approval of the deal by President Muhammadu Buhari.

One of the online publications had on 10th August 2022 said that it could “authoritatively report” that $100 million was given to bribe some top government officials “with a view to compromising the process leading to the point where the purported approval was announced on Monday by President Muhammadu Buhari”.

But Seplat swiftly denied the allegation and threatened lawsuit over over the matter. A statement by the company’s Chief Financial Officer, Emeka Onwuka said: “Seplat Energy has become aware of news and social media reports alleging impropriety in the process of securing ministerial consent to the acquisition of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited by Seplat Energy Offshore Limited “Such reports are wholly untrue and the Company will pursue legal action against any parties involved in disseminating false information related to its business”.

True to its threat, the company in a suit number HOW/901/2022 and a second suit with number HOW/902/2022 prayed the Imo State High Court to declare that the publications entitled “Seplat/ExxonMobil $100 Million Bribery Gate: Heads may roll as President Buhari orders investigation”, libelled it.

Seplat equally prays the court to direct the defendants to publish retractions of the offensive publications in a prominent part of two national newspapers and their respective channels with a written apology. Importantly, Seplat is demanding the sum of N50 billion in general damages for libel, another N50 billion in exemplary damages for libel, a cost of action in the sum of N100 million, and an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Defendants from publishing further defamatory articles on the Plaintiff through the Defendants’ website or

by other means or media.

Of course, Seplat has done what a responsible corporate entity should do by towing the path of civility and rule of law to seek justice for the company, its shareholders and stakeholders, who feel saddened and scandalised by the report. Seplat is a company founded on unimpeachable integrity. In fact, it was the first Nigerian company to achieve dual listing on both the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NGX) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE). $535million was successfully raised during that initial public offering (IPO), which was actually oversubscribed.

This could only be possible because the company thrives on impeccable global reputation in best corporate governance practices, a fact testified to by LSE’s CEO, Julia Hogget last June when the LSE celebrated recently outgone pioneer NonExecutive Chairman of the company in London.

Seplat equally has to its credit a good number of highly treasured local and international awards based on not just on its sterling performance and steady growth, but also awards on its sterling corporate governance credentials. So, it was understandable if it was pained by the offensive report, as it was preposterous for anyone to have even associated it with such despicable act in the first place.

Unfortunately, Nigerians and the global business community have been regaled with one propaganda after other ever since the news of the landmark shares deal between ExxomMobil, Delaware, USA and Seplat Energy Plc. broke in February this year. The transaction, which is the first major deal since the reform of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector vide the Petroleum Industry Act, saw the Nigerian leading independent energy firm acquire the entire shares of the ExxonMobil USA in Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPNU) after a competitive bidding process in the U.S. Instructively, the deadly propagandas are coming in the midst of Nigeria’s dwindling oil production that has consistently fallen short of the country’s OPEC quotas and has plunged her into grave economic crisis. The Excess Crude Account has hit an all-time low. There is no Forex anywhere and it so severe.

Yours sincerely was at the regional headquarters of one of the leading banks in Nigeria to withdraw a few dollars from his domiciliary account, but was told that the bank had no single dollar note and they were not sure of getting any in the near future.

But here is an ExxonMobil/Seplat deal that holds quantum promises for Nigeria’s highly troubled economy

being marred by needless propaganda. This is a transaction that would create one of the biggest independent energy companies on both the LSE and NGX and boost. Here is a transaction that is capable of not only bringing the strategic national oil and gas assets under Nigeria’s total control, but also delivering 186 per cent increase in Seplat’s production from 51,000 bpd to 146,000 bpd and engender 170 per cent increase in 2P liquids reserves, from 241 MMbbl to 650 MMbbl.

Yet, all some key managers and players in the Nigerian oil and gas sector and their media Rottweilers can offer are evil propagandas and dirty politics that will do no one any good, but rather sink the nation into deeper troubles.

Nigeria, in my estimation, is in its worst socioeconomic crisis since after the civil war. Some even insist that we are facing our worst nightmare since after independence. Whatever! The bottom line is that the economic outlook is so gloomy and we cannot afford to emulate the mad man, who was busy chasing rats while his house was being gutted by fire.

As a watchdog, it is both imperative and commendable for a media organisation to expose corruption, especially given the grave situation it has plunged Nigeria into.

However, such exposé should be a product of diligent, professional, and elegant journalism of which balance and objectivity are among the cardinal pillars. This becomes most pertinent, as there is no indication in the said report that any attempts were made to reach Seplat by phone call, text message, letter, or by any other means.

In any case, it is good that Seplat has approached the court. That will provide ample opportunity for he who alleges to also prove. But while that is expected, it needs to be reiterated that every right, including the right to disseminate information, comes with responsibility.

Also, propaganda, even in its nastiest and most rascally form must have limits. Like fire, journalism can be a good servant to the society, but it can also be a bad master, depending on the tact, professionalism, ethical standard, and responsibility applied in plying the noble trade. Therefore, only ethically solid, analytically strong, epistemologically sound, thematically broad, and highly responsible and patriotic journalism is good enough. t "EFLVOMF B QVCMJD BOBMZTU XSJUFT GSPN -BHPT

24

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ SEPTEMBER 3, 2022

POLITY

Malami’s Indelible Footprints in Justice Administration Sunny Hemebrim Amadi

J

ustice system has since the advent of civilization been seen as a barometer to measure advancement in standard of living and humanity index because without it, things will return to the Hobbesian times which people fear most. This accounts for the considered option of who handles such an all-important portfolio even in regimes that are adjudged most draconian.

In the present times, it appears the restraint that accompany courts and judges which place little capital on publicity and boisterousness but rely on doing the right things silently seem to have become the modus operandi of the Judiciary of Nigeria which has garbed it with the lost decorum which though having not been observed over time, appeared as if it had become the norm here but the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN has restored that.

Call it taciturn approach, but the effect is not lost on anybody as rather than being heard, the justice administration in Nigeria is sure being felt. Cases from High courts to the apex court are almost through with clearing the humongous backlogs while the sobriquet of justice going to the highest bidder is gradually disappearing from the lexicon of Nigerians.

Malami has spared no effort in ensuring that any suggestion of corruption at the bar and bench is expressly investigated and if found to have any iota of fact, dealt with. Modesty and decorum demure listing any of those. Suffice it to say that high profile corruption cases have received more expedited hearing and concluded with the highest frequency under Malami than any of other superintendent of our justice system in the history of the country.

Return of looted funds used to be an avenue to reloot since they were shrouded in secrecy but the strict adherence to openness and transparency has made it possible even for foreign countries to trust and enter into agreements for repatriation while forensic audits which have been at his instance are at present, going through hair-thin scrutiny in a bid to ensure that all leakages are tightly blocked. The results are massive seizures of proceeds of lucre as well as mind blowing recoveries which those that do not know, credit such to other governmental agencies and efforts whereas they were initiated and rammed through by the Chief Law officer of the country.

At the ministry of justice today, all attempts to railroad the government into a hogwash investigation of some agencies and commissions were resisted by Malami even to the point of threats and name calling. A pointer is that of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC which he has put

together a crack team to go through the gamut of papers and evidences so that when the final report is out with details of the heists and those behind them, recoveries and convictions when the cases go to court would be a walk through the park.

In the ministry of justice, some very important departments had been closed down and good hands to handle such desks went extinct but Malami has resurrected them even to the point of recalling good hands that had out of frustration, migrated to other interests. For long, training and retraining of personnel had stopped and honing of prosecutorial skills waned which accounted for failure of federal government cases which have now been revived. Budgets for such subheads were always captured but the monies either vired to other programmes or unaccounted for which Malami has seen to the restoration of such programmes and trainings done as and when due. All these are in sustenance of and entrenching of rule of law.

Previous assessment of Malami’s approach and performance observed: “Although no single regime perfects every facet of needed development, which itself is evolving, sure-footed administrators however are like track layers of a rail system with the understanding that once the superstructure has been rightly in place, would ensure a smooth run of other engineering needs of the entire effort. That is the reason that a clear vision with onerous mission, added to drive has stood the Justice Ministry and the Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami out of the lot.

“The list is long and the intention to do more is gargantuan, hence, with space-limiting realities, it would be like grabbing the wind to attempt listing all; however, I shall, within the possible time and space, touch some while others in the public domain might be left which makes this effort inexhaustive.

“For the first time in a very long while, Malami has steadily started an order that seeks to be systematic in doing things with the rule of law as the bedrock of the intention and efforts so that the style where rule of the thumb held sway is steadily being replaced by consistent order.

“His imprints span the project of reviewing obsolete laws to align them with current global realities and covers money laundering, tax, copyright and the greatest albatross of the country, anti-corruption legislations. Another area also is his push to make socio-economic rights of citizens justiciable while he strives for all parastatals under him to work seamlessly in accordance with global best practices.”

A proof of how trust has been created even with the international community is the regularity with which funds due Nigeria is being returned. He has so much restored confidence that funds repatriation has become hitch free. That is like taking the country from the near pariah status in trust

and transparency to a level where respect due to consistency is taken as given.

Prior to his term, there was lack of coordination in anti-graft fights of the country while the agencies adopted their separate styles which brought sneering remarks and odium to the general effort. Presently, Malami has successfully delineated duties and areas of operation so that we no longer hear of two anti-graft agencies going after same case. Also, for the first time in a very long history of Nigeria, such agencies have employed the global best practices of silently investigating and getting results before going public. We all know that it used to be trial by the press whereby such agencies announce ahead of time who they were going to investigate and lace such with little details and in the end, achieve little or nothing.

Another area that has manifestly benefited from the Malami order is the protection of government interest through posting of seasoned government lawyers to ministries, departments and agencies. Unknown to many, government loses most through shoddy handling of cases from those areas while it had become like a big business to take the government to court, win judgment debt which are easily enforced and huge sums paid in settlement. Now, qualified and experienced hands are posted to all ministries, some of which now have full-fledged legal departments to ensure that all flanks that give rise to such leakages are firmly blocked.

This led to the setting up of National Prosecution Coordinating Committee (NPCC) as well as Code of Conduct for Federal Prosecutors (CCFP) to monitor, evaluate and ensure that best standard practices that would ensure justice were in place, many derided it as a mere creation of an avenue to siphon funds; but looking back at what the effort has yielded has made converts of its critics. This accounts for steady progress being made on high profile cases some of which are being relisted for proper trial. He further sealed that effort with the drawing up of code of conduct for government prosecutors who had been known not to diligently prosecute cases; the result are the gamut of convictions being garnered.

The Independence of the judiciary had continued to be a mirage due to funding issues but under Malami, he pressed for judiciary to be put on first line charge. This he did through pushing for the Executive Order 10 which since then has gained traction and the judiciary has never had it so good. He followed that up with the proposal and implementation of the Access to Justice Funds to enable indigent Nigerians have access to protection and defence of their rights which is itself novel in these climes.

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

Senator Basiru: Working for Osun Central Hammed Shittu

I

n Nigeria, giving back to those that elected any representatives either to the state or national assembly remains a hallmark of good leadership. Such development promotes peace, unity, justice and fair play in the real sense of good governance.

Apart from the fact that it will enhance the socio economic, political and good governance of the areas where such elected representatives represent, it will go a long way in adding more values to the well-being of the electorate and thus serve as a future reference point for such elected leaders and also promoting quality representations.

Based on this premise, the senate spokesman and the lawmaker representing Osun Central Senatorial District Suraju Ajibola Basiru under the All Progressives Congress (APC) has showed a sense of high responsibility and leadership by ensuring that he gives back to the people that elected him. He has remained a game changer and an architect of modern Osun central senatorial, whose tentacle has continued to resonate across his senatorial.

Basiru remain a man of many parts, legal icon, patriot and a leader who switches easily between his legal works and devotion to the people of his senatorial and to the nation through his quality legislative representation at the senate.

There is no gain saying that the Senator has been up to the task where ever he finds himself since his debut in politics.

As a former commissioner for Special Duties and Regional Integration and Attorney General and commissioner for Justice in Osun State, Basiru is doing very well for his people in Osogbo, Olorunda and most importantly to the entire Osun central through provision of various kinds of empowerment, financial support and enhancing the socio-economic advancement of the society.

Basiru has been in the forefront of bills leading to the making of laws for the good governance of the country and his immediate constituency. During his campaigns to the senate in the build-up to the 2019 general election, the Osogbo born politician told the people that if elected, he would facilitate and execute laudable and impactful projects in all sphere of life in the Osun central, all-inclusive quality representation at the senate, accessible senatorial office, legislative interventions, sponsoring of bills to establish federal medical centre in the senatorial, establishment of skills/vocational training centers,

Senator Basiru annual employment/career training and retraining for graduates, annual medical check, facilitation of projects among others. There is no doubt that the lawmaker has been able to fulfill these mandates without any stress.

Among various bills initiated by the lawmaker from 2019 till date include a bill for an act to alter the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria 1999, to provide for the establishment of state police and to ensure effective community policing in Nigeria and for the matters connected thereto; a bill for an act alter the provisions of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria 1999,to provide for establishment of the political parties registration and regulation commission and for related matters 2019; a bill for an act to provide for the regulation and jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal and for related matters 2020; a bill for the establishment of Federal Medical Centre, Osogbo, and the Federal college of Education, Ila-Orangun establishment bill.

Basiru has been in the forefront of giving back the dividends of democracy to the people of his senatorial district, dotted all over the 10 local government areas that make up his senatorial area. The affected local government areas are Osogbo, Olorunda, Irepodun, Ifon, Ifelodun, Boluwaduro, Boripe, Odo-otin, Ila and Ifedayo.

These contributions of the lawmaker have changed the lives of many, from the provision of water, health, roads, education, agriculture, empowerment of highest magnitude, financial support among others. This has ranked him the best among his peers in the giving back to the people under this current political dispensation. Some of the projects are the construction of school and provision of chairs and lockers in the following schools: AUD Primary School, Oke-Oja, Igbajo in Boripe Local Government; AUD Pry School, Okela, Erin-Osun in Irepodun LGA; Methodist Primary School, Otapete, Iragbiji in Boripe LGA; Laro Grammar School; Osogbo, Muslims Grammar school, Isale-Osun, among others.

The lawmaker’s other milestones are: The construction entrepreneurship development center at Awosuru area, Osogbo; provision of 465 solar street lights and distribution of empowerment tools - motorbikes, tricycle, sewing machines, vulcaniser and pumping machines. Others facilitated by the lawmaker include provision of transformer at different communities like Osunlepo, Kuleya, Surulere Oke-Onitea and Omigade; training of farmers on rudiments of fish production, processing, packaging and marketing; training of graduates on employment opportunities and rehabilitation of roads like Aiyetoro-Abaku-Alaperin-Sabo road, among others.

In view of his performance so far, the APC, during the just concluded primaries, unanimously elected him to return to the Senate come 2023. Although, campaign is yet to commence, but the members of the party in the area have been doing underground work so as to ensure that the lawmaker returns to the senate. His quality representation since his election into the senate has served as a tonic for ensuring that the indefatigable lawmaker is returned.

In a chat with THISDAY, APC leader in Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state, Alhaji Kehinde Olamolu described Senator Basiru as a leader that knows his onions. He said Senator Basiru had lived up to the yearnings and aspirations of the people of senatorial district since he was elected into the upper house.

Corroborating this, some other leaders in Osogbo Local Government Area, Alhaji Razak Alaka and Alhaji Asa in Odo-Otin Local Government Area of the state respectively, stated that, Basiru remains a good Senator.

25

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ SEPTEMBER 3, 2022

POLITY

Isi-Uzo, Peter Mbah Foundation Empower 5,000 Households Bennett Oghifo Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State and Peter Mbah Foundation, the humanitarian outreach platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Mbah, recently empowered 5,000 households, widows, and displaced farmers in Eha-Ohuala, Eha-Amufu Ward 3 of the LGA. The collaboration saw to the distribution of food items such as hundreds of bags of rice, noodles, and cash to beneficiaries from Mgbuji and Abor Ishiala autonomous communities at Eha-Amufu.

Addressing the elated crowd, the Isi-Uzo Chairman, Obiora Obeagu, acknowledged the many challenges facing Eha-Ohuala communities, especially in the area of security, but assured that the LGA was collaborating with the Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi administration to address them.

The Chairman, while presenting the gift items and cash to the beneficiaries, thanked Mbah, for partnering with the Council to provide succour to the people.

“Leadership manifests best in the face of challenges and I must appreciate our governor for his commitment to finding solutions to the challenges facing us in Mgbuji and Abor Ishiala autonomous communities in Eha-Ohuala in particular and Isiguzo in general. “On behalf of the people of Isi-Uzo, I also appreciate the founder of Peter Mbah Foundation and our incoming governor, by God’s grace, for coming to our aid in these challenging times.

“Out of the abundance of the heart, the hand gives. If he could be this caring in his personal capacity, it is left to us to imagine how far he could go to improve our fortunes when elected governor, by God’s grace”, Obeagu stated.

While also announcing the approval of the construction of Ebe Mgbuji Bridge and reconstruction of Eha-Ohuala road

Chairman, Isi-Uzo LGA, Enugu State, Hon. Obiora (centre), accompanied by Member, Eha-Amufu East Development Centre, Isi-Uzo LGA, Hon. Obiora Atuogu, acknowledges cheers from appreciative crowd during the special empowerment and distribution of palliatives to 5,000 households and vulnerable persons by the Council and the Peter Mbah Foundation at Eha-Ohuala, Eha-Amufu Ward... recently.

Foundation for their show of compassion, promising to

by Isi-Uzo Local Government Council, the Council Chairman continue to support and pray for them. enjoined the people to continue to support his administration, The event was witnessed by wife of the Council Chairman, Governor Ugwuanyi, and the PDP, assuring that the empowerMrs. Onyinye Obeagu; the Police Area Commander, Mr. ment programme was just the beginning of more good things Edwin Egwuekwe; the Divisional Police Officer for Isi-Uzo, to come.

Mr. Emmanuel Nwancho as well as a host of community and The beneficiaries eulogised the Chairman for his uncommon political leaders. leadership and commended Ugwuanyi and Peter Mbah

Lawyer Wants PDP De-registered over Alleged N260m Debt

A

lso joined in the suit is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The claimants in the suit, Professor Yemi Oke, and his law firm, MJS Partners, in suit No, FCT/959/2020 are seeking for an order of court directing INEC to de-register or de-list the main opposition party for defaulting to pay its debt.

In the motion on notice dated August 25, 2022 filed by the applicants, they are seeking the following reliefs: an

order of the court to wind up the first respondent and an order of the court directing the second respondent to deregister first respondent.

The claimants are also asking for an order of the court entering judgment in favour of the applicants in the sum of N260m being the professional fees for the matters handled for the first respondent.

The PDP was said to have engaged the legal services of the first applicant to act as its counsel in about 17 cases without payment of professional fees for the services

rendered till date. The applicants claimed they had issued several letters of demand to the 1st Respondent including updates of the matters being handled by them “but the 1st Respondent failed to respond the demand.”

They also claim that the 1st Respondent is insolvent and incapable of paying its debts.

Although no date has been fixed for the hearing of the Motion to Wind-up PDP, copies of processes filed have gone viral, including the Writ of Summons, Statement of Claim and Motion for Judgement.

L-R: Co-founders SoFresh, Olagoke Balogun ; Abimbola Balogun; Creator of “How they did it”, Tricia Olufemi-Olumide; Principal Consultant, Adstrat, Charles O’Tudor; and Co-founder Trac- L-R; Marketing Coordinator, Burger King, Buzugbe Victoria; Operations Manager, Elie Youssef; Training Coordinator & Quality Assurance Manager; Bukunolami Adeosun; Project Manager ,Odution Apps, Dolapo Adejuyigbe, at the launch of “How They Did It”show in Lagos .... recently du Imeida; and IT Manager, Sholarin Busayo, at the grand opening of Burger King outlet in Festac Town, Lagos…. recently

:L-R: Sales lead, VFD Microfinance Bank, Ugochi Nwabuwa; Head sales, VFD Microfinance Bank Mr.Obinwanne Mordi; Senior Vice President West Africa, Autochek, Dr. Mayokun Fadeyibi; Managing Director, VFD Microfinance Bank,Mr. Gbenga Omolokun; and Chief Financial officer, Autochek, Mr. Olajide Adamolekun, at the partnership agreement between VFD Microfinace Bank and Autochek on auto loan product in Lagos recently ETOP UKUTT

L-R; Executive member,ADVAN, Seni Ogunkola; Daughter of the decease, Damilola Anifowoshe; CEO , Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN), Mrs. Ediri Ose-Ediale; and Son/Head of Digital Marketing Olam Nigerian Plc. Dotun Babatunde at the funeral reception for the late Niyi Babatunde Founding president of ADVAN held in Lagos on ….. recently

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 3, 2022

26

MEDIAGAFFES

EXPRESSION

‘Helm of Affairs’ Incorrect

T

HE NATION ON SUNDAY of August 28 welcomes us today: “Another British royal birth saga ended joyfully in 2015 with the announcement that the Duchess of Cambridge had been delivered on (of) a baby girl.”

Let us readmit Leadership to this column after a long time-out: “…who has been on (at) the helm of affairs in NDPHC since 2005 will continue in office.” Get it right: just ‘at the helm in NDPHC….’

“Yet, we know that subterranean moves are on to dispose it off (dispose of it) before the handover date.”

Still on the above medium: “ACF hopes that the newly elected (newly-elected) State Governors and Legislators (unnecessary capitalization) will justify the confidence reposed on (in) them….”

“Your victory at your elections symbolise (symbolizes) the hope and aspiration of Benue State and Nigeria in general.”

“Ekiti impeachment suffers set back (setback).”

“Gentlemen of the Press, the Concerned Professionals in the North East hereby congratulate the APC for (on/upon) a decisive victory….”

“Court frees ex-Lagos commissioner, others over (of) murder charges” “Taraba: APC/SDP in secret pact to cause chaos, Reps-elect (Rep-elect) alleges” “The giant strides you have taken in areas of… has (have) led to this land slide (landslide) victory.”

“Akwa Ibom Faithfuls” ‘Faithful’ is uncountable.

“PDP: We’re regrouping to takeover (take over) power in 2023” “House of Representatives pass (passes) N4.5tr budget without fund for subsidy” “And as they say, ‘he who pays the piper dictates (calls) the tune.’” (THE NATION, August 24) Vide elucidation on this below.

“For the general public (sic) who are also affected by the strike action (just strike or industrial action….)” ‘Strike action’ is padding. A reader

called me and declared that a particular dictionary (2010 edition) contains the faulty phrase. That listing/inclusion does not make it right. Personally, I interrogate many entries in dictionaries and bibles.

There is no written work that is perfect—not even my book entitled Media Gaffes & Essays.

“There has (have) to be consequences” “I lost my seven-year-old son…to the accident that occurred few (a few) months ago.”

“WikiLeaks: Ecuador president blows hot” Let us blow right: Ecuadorian president.

“Our hearts bleed, we lost a rare gem and a distinguish gentleman.” For the attention of Ukwa-Clan Abia State: a distinguished gentleman.

THE GUARDIAN of August 21 offered its patrons numerous infelicities: “Ogoni group wants FG to make public clean up (clean-up) execution plan” “Enugu joins oil producing states” What about ‘oil-producing states’?

“The fear we entertain about…vigilante groups” Politics of security: vigilance groups.

“One of the investment incentives available to industries in Nigeria is the industrial development (income tax relief) which grants tax holidays to companies that meet the conditions for been (being) designated as a pioneer industry.”

Lastly from THE GUARDIAN: “It is the error of regulation that gives opportunity (an opportunity or opportunities) for things like this to happen.”

Lexical law: things like these/a thing like this to happen.

THE NATION of August 16 committed four avoidable blunders: “…the state government will bring the culprits to justice and pledged that incidents like this would no longer be treated with kid gloves.” Rising brutality: incidents like these or an incident like this.

“A man wading through a flooded compound after heavy downpour in….” Just downpour— there is no need for any amplification (heavy) as it is implied.

“Very curious, indeed, was the fact that among those who made such an audacious demand were journalists from other media organizations where staff are being owed between six to 10 months salaries.” Still on THE NATION: between six and 10 months’ (take note of the two interventions) salaries. “…a case of throwing away bad (the bath) water and the baby in it (sic).” Idiomatic correctness: throw the baby out with the bath water. Also note that all the words after ‘water’ are redundant.

“Parents can pay more attention to their under-aged children and wards and prevent them from getting behind wheels” Celebrating health: underage children.

“These pieces of advice are equally useful for the matured (mature) new and old drivers” “No sooner had this happened than an argument ensured (ensued).”

“Eroding confidence on (in) accountancy worries don” “The failure of the Nigeria Police to play its (their) traditional role of maintaining peace and order in the country remains glaring.”

“Dame Patience Jonathan was represented at (on) the occasion by the wife of the governor....”

“It is not enough to point accusing fingers at one’s opponents....” This way: point the finger.

“Politics should not be a do or die affair” Fixed form: a do-or-die affair.

“As they say (a comma, please) whatever is good (sauce) for the goose is equally appropriate (sauce) for the gander.” Nobody has the whimsical right or poetic licence to change standard idiomatic expressions.

“Indeed, some gender sensitive (a hyphen, please) critics were to charge him for (with) not maintaining a high profile and sustained enthusiasm and support for their cause.”

“We congratulate Archbishop George Carey for (on/upon) holding his own acre of Christendom…”

“Students of University of Calabar yesterday demanded for the immediate and unconditional

Agonies of an Optimist - 2

P

erhaps the current administration is trying to save the nation from going down under the weight of criminality and cynicism, the crude clarity of current facts makes for a frightening read.

Here: “Youth Unemployment Rate in Nigeria averaged 25.87 percent from 2014 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 53.40 percent in the fourth quarter of 2020 and a record low of 11.70 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014” - data sourced from Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics by tradingeconomics.com.

It gets more distressing as it appears that the government could predict the unfortunate downward spiral, but apparently inept to contain or moderate it. Read this: “One in three Nigerians able and willing to work had no jobs in the fourth quarter of 2020, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

The bureau reported that Nigeria’s unemployment rate rose to 33.3 per cent, translating to some 23.2 million people, the highest in at least 13 years and the second-highest rate in the world…

Unemployment rate in the country has more than quadrupled since 2016 when the economy slipped into a recession. A second recession occurred in 2020.

The federal government in its Economic Sustainability Plan had predicted that the rate of unemployment would rise to 33.6 per cent at the end of 2020 IF URGENT STEPS WERE NOT TAKEN” - my emphasis - (PremiumTimes).

Now with more than half of our youth jobless and frustrated in a critical election cycle, it does not take much introspection to imagine the sort of plucky stacks of dynamite our political leaders are sitting over. The youth have serious resentment against the managers of the current economy, and by extension, the ruling political party. While we cannot speak with authority that the Buhari administration cannot achieve any magical turnaround, and somehow whittle the soaring economic hardship and unemployment

within half a year, when the trajectory of the rut has sporadically surged upward from 2014, unabated; it would make sense that the government urgently jack up its social intervention programmes across and among all strata of the country so as to forestall widespread public disorder or total collapse into chaos.

Our leaders must make haste at this misty dawn, for the sake of a fairly peaceable country. Our children are frustrated, demotivated, and angry. They look around and hardly see any heroes or heroines to give wings to their imaginations. All they see are traders and whorers of corruption and wickedness, roiling in abject opulence and glutinous acquisitions of illogical wealth.

The Nigerian youth have been thoroughly disappointed and disillusioned as people they had hoped would stand strong against forces of oppression and corruption have largely transfused into the same tribe of the corrupt. So they resort to the only available weapons at their disposal: they abuse, curse and lacerate any voice or vision that somehow represents a shadow of their “enemies”. Their anger and vituperations have no limit or peg - they lash out, and harangue any contrary voice or vision from any source assumed to share features or semblance of the older, decaying vestiges of their misfortune.

Consequently, we have begun to lose our long-held and cherished fabric of hierarchical order of discipline, communality and civilisation. When children no longer respect or revere their fathers; when mothers no longer swell the hearts of their children; when soldiers no longer see worthy commanders to storm the parapets with… the glory of that society, the posterity of that nation is grossly endangered. Urgent, curative and intensive care and concourses are needed today to re-evaluate, re-affirm and re-negotiate the foundation and future of our co-habitation and unity.

Fortunately, there are many optimists who believe in the capacity and flexibility of Nigerians to weather these dangerous storms, and somehow find a safe landing that would largely survive the supposed calamities. We are many who believe, or more precisely, hope, that though the Nigerian ship may suffer buffeting on all sides, it shall nonetheless berth in a glorious shoreline littered with goodies and game.

A note of warning though: optimism is not exactly a side effect of pragmatism. Both see the same picture, but make different interpretations.

Let the Nigerian politicians leave optimism to hard-knuckled nationalists, patriots and folks nourished by Nigeria of the decades preceding and immediately after the independence. Our politricians (people who take politics as a full time profession) should be pragmatic - you cannot eat your cake, and still expect it to survive in your ‘show-glass’. Do not assume that the currency of the moment would soon calm down - “it’s a matter of time…or cash”!

The overwhelming number of the Nigerian youth whom your colleagues lampoon as structureless, tweetzines, cyber-thugs, online voters without PVCs…may surprise the arrogant apple cart drivers, and tumble the rule book regimented over those years of electoral abracadabra - or they may fail.

Do not be so full of your self-deception and conceit to assume what happened in Zimbabwe and Kenya cannot happen in Nigeria. Read the times… information moves faster than the wind nowadays…and emotions and actions now transcend cultural and national boundaries.

My worry at the arrogant and delusional politicians who believe mass movements can hardly translate to national paradigm shifts based on some shifty data and old-fashioned shenanigans, is this: whether the unexpected happens, or the usual holds sway, there is potential for civil unrest and likelihood of massive geo-political disruptions. If a popular but ungrounded candidate wins, against the run of play, the inner-wheel structural challenges

EBERE WABARA

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

release of.…” (Source: as above) ‘Demand’ does no admit ‘for’ except when used as a noun.

“Six arrested over death of two cattle rearers” Still on this common solecism: Six arrested for (not over).

“According to the source, Shagari openly endorsed Buhari and enjoined Babangida and his supporters to do same (the same).” “…the mass exodus of members to other parties should be a source of worry to the leadership of the party.” (Source: as above) I am sure ‘exodus’ involves massive movement. So, ‘mass exodus’ indicates illiteracy.

Overheard on August 23, 2012: “I will be there 8 a.m. in the morning.” Sheer tautology: just 8 a.m. or 8 in the morning.

“You better get down on your knees and do what I am doing right now.” The end of illusions: you had better get down.…

“Every detail of our daily life furnish (furnishes) compelling reasons for pessimism.” “…as if it were some occupation force from outer space about to mete out extra-terrestrial justice on (to) an erring Iraq.”

“NNPP paths way with NDP” This way: parts (not paths) company….

“In fact when it is not a victim of communal clashes, it suffers fallouts of....” ‘Fallout’ is uncountable.

‘There is the erroneous tendency to blame all the shortcomings in the electoral process at the doorstep of the electoral commission.” Get it right: blame on (not at).

“Four years ago, when the former governor proclaimed his presidential aspirations with palpable bravado and fanfare under (on) the platform of the PDP”.

“His co-called grouse with President Muhammadu Buhari is not.…” This way: grouse about (not with) PMB. “As the governor observed during his tour of the troubled spots....” This way: trouble spots.

COUNTERPOINT

FEMI

AKINTUNDE-JOHNSON

fajalive1@gmail.com 08182223348 - (SMS Only)

will sorely test the sinews of this nation, and subject our politics and public institutions to gross attacks from traditionalists, “peace-makers” and international do-gooders.

Conversely, if either of the older establishment folks wins, he will be affronted by the sheer disdain, cynical distrust and undivided narcissism of the youth movement. A wise one will make efforts to persuade and ingratiate them, but their fury and aggravated injury that their failure was orchestrated by the old brigade would make rapprochement unsuccessful, and a lightning rod for more disruptions. Whereas, a brash but ultimately foolish approach to go martial and legalistic would provoke even more reprehensible reactions, and possibly conflagration - a good excuse for the itchy fingers to intervene “for the sake of the indivisible unity, progress and prosperity… of our only country, Nigeria”.

Therein lie the agonies of the optimist these times need the wisdom of the ancients who welded the original ideals and tenets of democracy. These times need the capacity of the intelligentsia whose hunger is to chisel a system of renewable governance structure fit and able to absorb the shocks and shivers of a diverse and developing country in a hurry to fulfill the aspirations and ambitions of its citizens. These moments need Nigerians who understand that a peaceful nation is a tolerant nation; a successful nation is a responsible nation; a prosperous nation is an organised nation. Whatever is your hope or optimism for the future or greater good of Nigeria, make up your mind today to scrutinise the pedigrees, programmes and postulations of the presidential candidates you have been offered, then vote, and convince others (not coerce nor conscript) to share your vision, and their votes with you.

May Nigeria survive, and outwit her troublers.

3

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 24, 2011

GLOBAL SOCCER A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

3.9.2022

NEWS

ARSENAL’S REAL TEST

PAGE. 29

Samuel Chukwueze Will He Join Super Eagles’ Struggling Contingent?

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ SEPTEMBER 3, 2022

28

GLOBAL SOCCER

Barcelona defensive duo of Jodi Alba and Clement Lenglet struggling to match the pace of Samuel Chukwueze

Samuel Chukwueze Will He Join Super Eagles’ Struggling Contingent?

Aside Anglo-Nigerian Fulham defender, Tosin Adarabioyo, whose team currently place eighth on the Premier League log, all other Nigerians playing in the English top flight are playing for struggling sides with high probability of getting relegated at the end of the season. With Samuel Chukwueze warming for a move to Everton from his‘comfort zone’,Villarreal, another Super Eagle may be coming to England not to win laurel but battle relegation

E

verton closed in on a blockbuster eleventh-hour signing as they’re set to acquire the services of Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the Toffees are just one step away from securing the signing of the 23-year-old.

The Toffees only intensified their negotiations from August 30 and reached an agreement in principle to sign the Nigerian.

The Toffees haven’t won a game in the Premier League so far this season. Frank Lampard is bolstering his squad to convert those draws and losses into wins, and Chukwueze could become one of their most exciting signings in a while.

The report from the Spanish outlet has revealed that a deal has been agreed between Everton and Villarreal for the transfer of Chukwueze.

The Nigerian winger is now set to join the Toffees on a season-long loan deal by tomorrow’s deadline. Everton, however, will be obligated to make this deal permanent next summer – for an already-agreed-upon fee of £38.8 million.

That’s not a bad sum at all for Everton, considering that he’s still only 23 and his current contract includes a release clause that stands at an eye-watering £69 million.

The report further reveals that Villarreal

hadn’t heard anything about Everton’s interest in Chukwueze until Tuesday. However, once contact was made, almost everything was agreed upon very quickly, and it looks like the deal will go through now.

Everton certainly need all the help that they can get, and Chukwueze would be a really exciting signing. This deal certainly raises alarm bells over the future of Gordon who himself has been linked with a big-money move to Chelsea.

It was understood that the Toffees were not keen on letting him go, but the fact that they’re looking at Chukwueze for astounding sums of money suggests that Gordon’s future may not be secured just yet.

It’s surprising to see Everton suddenly agree a deal to sign a player when he wasn’t being chased the entire summer.

Hopefully, the board are signing him regardless of what happens to Gordon and in an ideal world, the two can be on opposite flanks with Dominic Calvert-Lewin leading the line.

Everton really look to be making some big moves so late on in the window and we cannot wait to see if they manage to get this deal over the line. Only recently did they open contact with the La Liga club to sign him and things appear to have progressed at such a quick rate that an announcement may soon be imminent.

If so, he will undoubtedly be one of the biggest

signings in the club’s history in terms of finances.

The Nigerian is absolutely rapid and is a very good dribbler as well. He can score goals, create chances and the fact that he’s still only 23 means he will only get better in the coming years.

Everton have a fantastic left-winger inAnthony Gordon. The youngster is the Toffees’ biggest threat at the moment, and if Chukwueze comes in on the opposite side, the Merseysiders could become a really dangerous side.

If this deal goes through, it will be really exciting to see how Chukwueze will fare in the Premier League.

Chukwueze was snapped up by the Spanish top-flight team from Diamond FootballAcademy thanks to his impressive outing where he helped the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria win the 2017 Fifa U-17 World Cup in Chile.

There, he was named third-best player behind Johannes Eggestein and compatriot Victor Osimhen. Having impressed for the club’s reserves in the third tier, he was promoted to the senior team – making his debut in a Europa League game against Rangers – as manager Javi Calleja brought him in as a 79th-minute replacement for Nicola Sansone.

Since then, he has been a regular in the Yellow Submarine setup, while accentuating his importance to the team with eye-catching performances.

Days after winning the Bronze Ball - on the strength of three goals and three assists - and helping Nigeria win a fifth U-17 world title, football agency Stellar Group signed Chukwueze and three other players from the Nigerian squad.

The deal saw the highly sought-after star, who models his game onArjen Robben, sign for a top European club, as those before him had done.

The only snag that hindered a potential move abroad very early was his age, as the attacker 16, and would have to wait for two years before he could sign professional terms.

The teenager returned home while awaiting news from his agents about a potential career move and kept busy by shuttling between training and playing for Diamond Academy and the Nigeria U-20s, who were involved in the qualification for the ill-fated 2017 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.

After celebrating his 17th birthday, he seemed poised to join Arsenal alongside Nwakali, who signed a five-year contract with the Gunners.

However, DiamondAcademy pulled the plug on the deal at the last minute, and Chukwueze began to slip out of the limelight, a situation made more challenging by his Golden Eaglets teammates of lesser profiles securing moves to Europe.

Undeterred by those series of disappointments, Chukwueze eventually packed his bags and journeyed to Spain, first joining Villarreal’s U-18 team, before being promoted to the B team.

Chukwueze’s emergence came aspositivenews to Nigerian fans, with the national side lacking a naturally left-footed winger since the untimely retirement of EmmanuelAmuneke, who coached the wonderkid in the Eagles’ U-17 and U-20 teams.

Despite his relative inexperience, former Super EaglesManager,GernotRohr,identifiedthestarlet’s raw talent and handed him an audition in a team which,forallitsoutstandingattackingplayers,lacks a natural left winger to create panic and havoc on opposition defences with direct running, effective crossing and superb technique.

Chukwueze would certainly be a statement signing by Lampard’s team if they can get a deal over the line.

One thing that is however certain is that Chukwueze is not coming to England to improve on his medals haul but to try and rescue his team from sinking like his compatriots in the Premier League.

The duo of Nottingham Forest of Taiwo Awoniyi and Emmanuel Dennis are placed 15th on the Premier League log after amassing just four points from five matches, Alex Iwobi’s Everton with three points from five matches are occupying the 17th position, while Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho’s Leicester City with one point from five matches are rock bottom.

Anglo-Nigerian duo of Ebere Eze and Michael Olise’s Crystal Palace are placed 13th on the log.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ SEPTEMBER 3, 2022

GLOBAL SOCCER

Arsenal Stake Perfect Premier League Start at Old Trafford Arsenal remain the only Premier League side with a perfect start after five games-their best start since 2004 and that record would be put to test this weekend at Old Trafford as they face Manchester United who seem to have found their mojo since the victory against bitter rivals-Liverpool two weeks ago and have gone to with three straight matches Premier League Table Arsenal Man City Tottenham Brighton Man Utd Liverpool Leeds Fulham Southampton Chelsea Brentford Newcastle Crystal Palace West Ham Nottm Forest Bournemouth Everton Wolves Aston Villa Leicester

5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

9 14 6 3 -2 9 3 1 -2 -2 3 1 -2 -4 -9 -14 -2 -2 -5 -5

15 13 11 10 9 8 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 4 4 4 3 3 3 1

Premier League TODAY

Everton v Liverpool 12:30 Brentford v Leeds Utd 15:00 Chelsea v West Ham 15:00 Newcastle v C.Palace 15:00 Nott’ham Forest v Bournemouth 15:00 Tottenham v Fulham 15:00 Wolves v Southampton 15:00 Aston Villa v Man City 17:30 SUNDAY

Brighton Man Utd

v v

Leicester 14:00 Arsenal 16:30

Manchester United defensive midfielder, Frederico Santos tries to stop Arsenal Martin Odegaard when both sides met last season at old Trafford

A true test of Arsenal’s mettle commences tomorrow’s afternoon at Old Trafford, as an improving Manchester United side welcome the Gunners to the Theatre of Dreams.

Erik ten Hag’s side ran out narrow 1-0 winners over Leicester City on Thursday night, while the Gunners continued their winning streak with a 2-1 success over Aston Villa a day earlier.

Jadon Sancho’s finish on the 23-minute mark secured a third Premier League win on the bounce for Manchester United, who are seeking to consign their torrid start to the season to history, and the defensive

nous that Ten Hag’s side demonstrated on Thursday was a pleasant sight for the travelling fans of the Red Devils.

Three consecutive wins over Liverpool, Southampton and now Leicester have lifted Man United up to fifth in the table with nine points gleaned from the opening 15 on offer, but a mere five goals is the lowest tally out of any team in the top half.

Ten Hag may have spent all of Thursday preparing his players for battle in Leicester, but the Red Devils hierarchy continued to work behind the scenes until the 11pm transfer deadline and officially welcomed Antony and Martin Dubravka to Old

Trafford ahead of the visit of Arsenal.

Seeking to find the back of the net in a Premier League home fixture for the eighth game in a row, Man United ought to pay no attention to the fact that they have suffered three consecutive top-flight defeats in games played on a Sunday, even if Arsenal have been a different beast so far.

It was very nearly a whirlwind 24 hours for Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz, who scored direct from a corner against Arsenal before being involved in a deadline-day transfer saga, but the Gunners’ attempts to prise him away from the West Midlands did not bear fruit.

MultiChoice Nigeria: Custodian of Nigeria’s Football Viewership Culture Though a line in Nigeria’s old national anthem reads: ‘though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand’, an average Nigerian still thinks and acts along ethnic and religious leaning. However, one way the country still comes together as one is when football is on the front burner.

The astronomic rise of football as a tool for socio-economic development in Nigeria cannot however be discussed without mentioning the role MultiChoice Nigeria plays in bringing top football leagues to the screen of its customers, at an affordable price.

Since the launch of MultiChoice as the first digital satellite broadcasting service in 1993, sports, in Nigeria, has been taken to another level.

With football fans already salivating as the new football season gets underway, dependable pay TV company, MultiChoice, has promised sports loving Nigerians that it would be sports like never before as it will air live, 380 matches of the Premier League and La Liga, as well as Serie A, UEFA Champions League, FA Cup and the FIFA World Cup in Qatar on DStv, while GOtv will have a selection of top football games on specific packages.

With five matches just witnessed in the Premier League, football fans have already gotten a taste of what they are in for as far as

the most exciting football league is concerned after some scintillating encounters were on display.

Newly promoted Fulham in Week One showed that they are not in the Premier League to add to the numbers as the Craven Cottage side stood toe-toe with one of the title favourites, Liverpool, at Anfield and almost ran away with the three points but for some indecisive decisions by their backline that gave the Reds a share of the spoil.

Defending champions, Manchester City, at St. James’ Park found that it would not be business as usual as they had to dig deep before they could muster a point against Newcastle United despite the Citizens scoring first.

For fans of Arsenal, it been a new lease of life as they remain the only team with a perfect start and the Gunners faithful will be hoping their team maintains the momentum as they visit Old Trafford tomorrow.

Meanwhile, several scintillating fixtures in the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A are on the card on DStv and GOtv channels this weekend.

MultiChoice Nigeria holds the enviable record of contributing hugely to sport development in Nigeria. Improved sports viewership, facilitated by the company, has

been a veritable tool for social bonding among families as couples and their children can have family time at home on weekends by watching matches from top European leagues together on DStv or GOtv. Even in parts of the country where people are denied good roads, pipe borne water and other amenities, football has been a succour to the restive youths in these communities, all thanks to MultiChoice Nigeria.

A thing which also buttresses what former United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, once said, “Sport has become a world language, a common denominator that breaks down all the walls, all the barriers. It is a worldwide industry whose practices can have widespread impact. Most of all, it is a powerful tool for progress and for development.”

No doubt, MultiChoice Nigeria has been contributing significantly to the development of sports in the country through its support for not only football, but other sporting activities.

This is aside its wide coverage of local and international sports events that expose talents and sports administrators to global best practices.

“In sport, we’ve supported teams and national leagues to reach new audiences, grow revenues and build their capabilities. Through SuperSport, we have made significant invest-

Nevertheless, Mikel Arteta’s summer business has already paid dividends to the maximum in the Premier League, and while Luiz managed to cancel out Gabriel Jesus’ opener on Wednesday night, Gabriel Martinelli was on hand to tuck home the winner three minutes later.

The Gunners should have arguably been four or five goals to be good in the first half alone, but by continuing their theme of responding quickly after conceding, Arteta’s side remain the only team in the Premier League with a 100 per cent record still intact. ments to encourage the development of sports, from licensing to content production, sponsorships and skills training.” The company stated on its website.

MultiChoice Nigeria has notably committed investments estimated to be worth N9 billion ($58 million) on sports, training, production and broadcasting coverage and N135 million ($71000 in Nigerian basketball Sponsorship) through Supersport, its flagship sport channel on DStv and GOtv. It is however not all about football as DStv and GOtv subscribers also have the luxury of other sports, which includes rugby, cycling, golf, tennis, athletics, cricket, motorsport as well as international boxing. Also, MultiChoice Nigeria, through GOtv Boxing, has not only brought life to boxing which was practically dead in Nigeria but has succeeded in taking away a good number of youths from the streets.

Talents who were once roaming the streets, or at best fighting locally are now millionaires by virtue of winning the Mojisola Ogunsanya trophy and the huge cash prize that follows it for being the best boxer of the GOtv Boxing Night.

MultiChoice Nigeria prides itself in its commitment to providing quality and affordable entertainment to Nigerians and this promise has remained golden as they remain relentless in their efforts in developing sports in Nigeria and improving sports viewership.

30

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ SEPTEMBER 3, 2022

GLOBAL SOCCER

Ahmed Musa pens two-year deal with Sivasspor

Idowu

Musa Joins Sivasspor on a Two-year Deal

But for U17 World Cup, Nigeria won’t Have Age-grade Competition, Says Idowu

Ahmed Musa has joined Sivasspor on a two-year contract moments after leaving his former club on a mutual consent.

The former Vitesse and Leicester forward put pen to paper on a deal yesterday and will now join a host of other Nigerians in the Europa Conference League.

Musa, 29, joins another Nigerian forward Leke James at the club.

Olanrewaju Kayode also

played at Sivasspor on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk last season.

The head coach of Sivasspor, Riza Calimbay is believed to have personally requested for the Nigerian’s signature.

Musa has had a nomadic football career playing in the Netherlands, Russia, England, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

Sivasspor also face a race against time to register Musa for

the Europa Conference League as his experience is expected to count.

He has previously made 37 league appearances but has managed to score seven times.

Nigeria’s top scorer at the World Cup, Musa has also scored 88 times in 354 games at the club level.

He’s also one of the highestcapped Nigerian players with more than 100 appearances under his belt.

Balogun Nominated Young Player of the Month for Award Arsenal loanee Folarin Balogun has been recognised for his outstanding performances for Stade de Reims in the month of August.

The official Twitter account of the French Ligue 1 informed yesterday that the England U21 international of Nigerian descent is one of three players nominated for the Young Player of the Month for August.

Balogun received a nomination alongside Muhammed Cham (Clermont Foot) and Wilson

Odobert (ESTAC Troyes).

The Hale End Academy graduate has taken to the French Ligue 1 like a duck to water, scoring against all the teams he has faced with the exception of Olympique Lyon.

He has directly participated in five goals, having scored against Marseille, Clermont Foot and Strasbourg, before bagging an assist and netting against Angers SCO to help Reims record their first win of the season.

Balogun will be hoping to

continue his fine form in front of goal in Sunday’s meeting against Lens.

Apart from Balogun, Arsenal loaned out six other youngsters of Nigerian descent in the summer transfer window, namely Tim Akinola (Chesterfield), Ryan Alebiosu (Kilmarnock), Ovie Ejeheri (Chelmsford City), Mazeed Ogungbo (Crawley Town), Arthur Okonkwo (Crewe Alexandra) and Miguel Azeez (UD Ibiza).

Man Utd vs Arsenal, AC Milan vs Inter Live on DStv, GOtv SuperSport viewers on DStv and GOtv can look forward to live action from match day five of the 2022/23 English Premier League as the open sporting weekend continues.

The action begins with the Merseyside Derby between Everton and Liverpool today at the Goodison Park. The tie will be showing on SuperSport Premier League (DStv channel 203) and SuperSport Football (GOtv channel 31) at 12:30pm.

Chelsea will play host to its London neighbour, Westham United, on Sunday. The Stamford Bridge clash showing on SuperSport Premier League (DStv channel 203) and SuperSport

Football (GOtv channel 31) at 3:00pm.

Old Trafford is the venue for the clash of titans between a resurging Manchester United and an unbeaten Arsenal.

It will be showing on SuperSport Premier League (DStv channel 203) and SuperSport Football (GOtv channel 31) at 4:30pm.

This weekend will also feature a Serie A rumble between city rivals, AC Milan and Inter, at the San Siro.

The Milan derby will be broadcast live on SuperSport Variety 3 (DStv channel 208) and SuperSelect 1

(GOtv Channel 33) today at 5:00pm. Another game to watch out for is the clash between Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen’s Napoli and Lazio showing on SuperSport Variety 3 (DStv channel 208) and SuperSelect 1 (GOtv Channel 33) today at 7:45pm.

In the La Liga, Real Madrid will face a tough test from Real Betis at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium today at 3:15pm, this tie will be live on SuperSport La Liga (DStv channel 207 and GOtv Channel 32). Barcelona will pay a visit to Sevilla. The game will be live on SuperSport La Liga (DStv channel 207 and GOtv Channel 32) at 8:00pm.

US OPEN: Nadal Overcomes Shaky Start Rafael Nadal overcame a shaky start and later hitting himself in the face with his own racquet - to beat Fabio Fognini in the US Open second round.

The Spaniard lost the first set and was 4-2 down in the second before recovering to secure a 2-6 6-4 6-2 6-1 win over the Italian.

Nadal also drew blood after hitting himself in the nose with his racquet during the closing stages of the match.

“I was a little bit dizzy and it was a little bit painful,” said Nadal.

He was hurt when his racquet bounced back off the court as he stretched for

a ball and the 36-year-old needed a medical timeout after the incident.

“At the beginning I thought I broke the nose because it was a shock,” added Nadal. “[There’s a] little bit of pain but [I’m feeling] good.”

The 22-time Grand Slam winner did not let the issue impact him as he closed out the match comfortably - a contrast to the way he started against Fognini, who defeated Nadal from two sets down at the US Open in 2015.

Nadal made 27 unforced errors in the first two sets and dropped serve five

times, including four in a row, before improving and setting up a third-round tie against 36-year-old Frenchman Richard Gasquet.

“Happy after a terrible start. I don’t understand yet how I started that bad because the feeling before the match was good,” said Nadal.

“But these kind of things sometimes happen so you need to accept and keep going. That’s what I did.

“I was lucky that Fabio made some mistakes and I was able to start putting some balls in and finished the match playing obviously better,

t Says 10-year football masterplan will redirect Nigeria’s football The Minister ofYouths and Sports, Sunday Dare, recently presented the 10-year Football Master plan to President Muhammadu Buhari, along with committee members. In an interview with Kunle Adewale,Vice Chairman of the Committee,Yemi Idowu, gave an insight on how the Football Masterplan would help re-engineer the country’s football, some of the anomalies going in the NFF and indeed Nigerian football For some time now Nigeria’s football has scored many lows and setbacks culminating the Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Sunday Dare to set up a 16-man committee which was headed by former president of the Nigerian Football Association (NFA) Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima to come up with a football Masterplan development which will show the direction which the future of the country’s football will take.

Other members of the committee include former law maker, Ayo Omidiran, former national team captains, Segun Odegbami and Sunday Oliseh and foremost journalists Ikeddy Isiguzo and Ade Ojeikere.

According to the vice chairman of the committee, Yemi Idowu, recommendations of the Master plan’s two-volume report of the will help in re-engineering the game of football in Nigeria, while the intervention from government will help take the country’s football to its Eldorado.

The 10-year Football Masterplan according to the Chairman of Nath Boys, is targeted at re- engineer the country’s football from the foundation to the top using the bottom-top approach to achieve more robust development.

While acknowledging the role of government in the development of the game he said through the 10-year football masterplan it has become imperative to address some of the issues bedeviling Nigerian football stating that the intervention when fully implemented would attain it goals. “It’s like an architectural drawing. This is the house we want to build, this where we’re going. The short-term strategy which is that, let us start with what we have. Let us see how we can reallocate resources to make it a bit more efficient and effective,” Idowu said.

The masterplan makes some far reaching recommendations on laws and statutes guiding the administration of football and seeking to re-engineer the legal framework that will put to

rest the legality of the Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF), with more equitable and democratic representation in the congress of the NFF. “Nigeria is still a sovereign nation; you’re wearing the greenwhite-green of the country and singing the national anthem and you’re saying the sports ministry have no say in your football.

You say the EFCC has no say in your mismanagement and say the president of the country has no say in what you’re doing.

It’s not right.

“You have your budget; you collect money from FIFA and spend anyhow and nobody is asking you any question. I now give you government money and now ask you to explain how spend it and you say am interfering. Police is giving you support, immigration is giving you support, foreign affairs are writing letters for you to get visa and you maintain government should have no say in how you run your football. And when our footballers are stranded in another country it is government people will be attacking for your inefficiency.

“If we want to get football right in Nigeria, we need to have a template for urban and rural football. You need to put things in place by training people to be able to function well. Everybody complains that the government is interfering in football.

“The general feeling is that they should find a better approach for the government to oversee. This masterplan for football addresses the problem,” the Patron of National Schools Sports Federation expressed.

According to Idowu, “Our football is not focus to develop the sport but just to go and win competitions. If not for U17 World Cup, Nigeria would not have age-grade competitions.

“Whoever is going to be the next President of NFF needs to be mindful of the role they play and how they can influence the rest of the football fraternity. For example, if you want to play for the national team, you must have

at least performed at the division level, the regional level before you get to the national team.

Giving an insight into what the masterplan contains, Idowu said: “One of the things that we agreed is that we should start enjoying football and let the children play. We need to get the children, the youths back into football and we need people to start liking football. Let us go back to the grassroots, our local leagues operating optimally again. Let us have the school competitions working again with inter-school competitions, Principal’s Cup and Academicals.

“If you are having people who are stars from schools graduating into divisional leagues and then graduating into the national league, you are going to get followership as more and more people are going to come on board, “he noted.

“The competitive sports should be handled at the state level because of the way Nigeria is-handled by the FA or states associations, while amateur football should be handled at the divisional level and you have recreational like 5-aside. Some people can cross between the two or three categories.

“For each of these there is some form of organisation to administer each of these functions. That is the way it is supposed to be but overtime, because of the cannibalisation of the state we now have YSFON, Academicals, NSSF, Grassroots foundation. NOC and NFF started having their own camps and everything now got in a mess and everybody started going their own the way. And it was purely canibalised. The one that is eventually basically recognised was the NFF, which transformed from NFA. “The situation led to an ideological struggle which is a function of the approach we take as a country. In some countries they have the bottom-up approach to football pyramid where we have at the bottom the base which is the grassroots.

31

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ SEPTEMBER 3, 2022

GLOBAL SOCCER

William Troos-Ekong

Breather from The Greyhouds?

Troos-Ekong

Having dropped from the pecking order at Vicarage Road, solace may have come the way of the Super Eagles defender, William Troos-Ekong after Serie A strugglers, Bologna muted the idea of bringing the 28-year-old defender to help salvage their leaking defence which is yet to keep a clean sheet so far this season

H

aving barely featured for Watford since returning from the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations early this year, Super Eagles Vice Captain, William TroostEkong may be making a return to Serie A where he had once played for Udinese as Bologna side are courting the 28-year-old to bolster their leaking defence which is yet to keep a clean sheet in the four-week-old Italian league.

Bologna are considering a move for TroostEkong with the Nigerian dropping down in the pecking order at Vicarage Road and the Red and Blues see the 28-year-old as a good option to bolster their defence after Olympique Marseille’s Leonardo Balerdi rejected their offer.

The defender who missed 23 games last season as the Hornets suffered relegation from the English topflight, has only made two appearances this term in the English Championship.

“Bologna are keen to reinforce their defence and are evaluating making a move for TroostEkong,” Sky Italia reports.

“The defender currently at Watford knows the Italian league well from having played in Serie A with Udinese. Balerdi on the other hand, has decided to reject the Rossoblu’s proposal to stay at Marseille.”

Turkish Super Lig champions Trabzonspor are still working to sign Troost-Ekong on a seasonlong loan with an option to buy from Watford.

Trabzonspor had earlier made an offer for the Nigerian but it was turned down by Watford.

The Nigerian had previously spent a season in Turkey with Bursaspor, where he made 32 appearances for the Turkish side, scoring three

goals.

Meanwhile, Watford coach Rob Edwards has made it clear that should any player leave the club before the window is shut there is room for replacement.

“I’d still like to bring in someone that can play up top before the window shuts,” Edwards told Watford Observer. “We are looking at it, but it’s not a guarantee.”

Troost-Ekong received harsh words from Edwards after his team crashed out of the Carabao Cup following a 2-0 loss to League One side MK Dons on Tuesday night.

Ekong who was handed his first start of the season at the heart of Watford defence was blamed along with his partner, Edo Kayembe, for the goal which broke the deadlock in the 45th minute.

An error between the duo allowed Will Grigg near the touch line to latch onto the ball and pass to Louise Barry who slide it into the net for the opening goal.

Speaking at the post match, Watford Coach, Edwards, singled out Ekong and Kayembe as responsible for that goal. Another sloppy defending between the duo also resulted in the second goal that sealed Watford’s exit from the Carabao Cup. “There were some individual errors, and errors that we then couldn’t recover from.

Sometimes when you make a mistake then you want your mate to be able to help you out. We couldn’t do that so we got punished.

“You don’t expect that kind of basic error.

When they happen you hope you can recover from them, but we didn’t,”owngoal.com quoted the coach whose team got knocked out of the

Carabao Cup by Dons currently sitting 22nd spot in League One. Sadly, Ekong’s errors ruined Maduka Okoye’s first official game for Watford.

Troost-Ekong helped Watford to securing Premier League promotion before they got relegated the following season.

Playing in the top English football league was an age-old dream for Troost-Ekong, who was once on the books of Tottenham Hotspur but never featured for the club in the Premier League before returning to the Netherlands.

But after proving his mettle in the Eredivisie, the Belgian Pro League, the Norwegian topflight, the Turkish Super League, and the Serie A, the 28-year-old centre-back in 2021 achieved his dream of playing in Europe’s most glamorous league.

The 27-year-old centre-back began his career with Groningen.

He joined Udinese in 2018 and move to Watford in what was a series of summer deals between the two clubs.

“I believe in the project for Watford to get back into the Premier League,” he had told BBC Sport Africa.

“It’s always been my dream to play in the Premier League and Watford has given me the platform now to get there. Looking at the squad, I believe we have the quality to do it.”

Troost-Ekong made 66 appearances for Udinese.

“I’ve always made tactical decisions for my career and this felt like the right step now for me and my family,” he added.

Born in the Netherlands to a Nigerian father and a Dutch mother, Troost-Ekong played youth

football at Tottenham and Fulham in England before starting his professional career with Groningen and Dordrecht in Holland.

He subsequently went on to play top-flight football with Haugesund in Norway, Gent in Belgium, and Bursaspor in Turkey before completing a move to Udinese in the summer of 2018.

Troost-Ekong registered 66 appearances for Udinese in all competitions in over two seasons, establishing himself as a regular starter in the playing XI.

G LO B A L S O C C E R 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

32

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ SEPTEMBER 3, 2022

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ SEPTEMBER 3, 2022

33

34

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 3, 2022

AUTO WORLD

Bennett Oghifo 07052343083 Email:bennett.oghifo@thisdaylive.com

TIPS OF THE WEEK

Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Crankshaft Position Sensor

The Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV

Mercedes-Benz USA Announces Packaging Structures for All-new EQS SUV

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KH (46 689 UHSUHVHQWV WKH ÀUVW all-electric Mercedes-EQ built in the United States, and the third model series from Mercedes-EQ built on the new dedicated electric vehicle architecture.

7KH IXOO\ HOHFWULF 689 RͿHUV space, comfort and connectivity for up to seven SDVVHQJHUV SDLUHG ZLWK D KLJK OHYHO RI ÁH[LELOLW\ WR ÀW D ZLGH UDQJH RI FXVWRPHU QHHGV 6WDUWLQJ from $104,400, the all-new EQS SUV will arrive in U.S. dealerships in fall 2022, according to the automaker.

In addition to the EQS 450+ SUV and EQS 580 0$7,& 689 0HUFHGHV (4 ZLOO RͿHU D WKLUG model to the lineup that will be available at launch this fall – the EQS 450 4MATIC SUV. Each PRGHO ZLOO EH RͿHUHG LQ WKUHH KLJKO\ HTXLSSHG trim levels for the 8 6 PDUNHW 3UHPLXP ([FOXVLYH DQG 3LQQDFOH (DFK WULP OHYHO VKRZFDVHV (4 VSHFLÀF LQQRYDWLYH WHFKQRORJLHV DQG OX[XULRXV IHDWXUHV along with an array of additional options for further customisation.

The EQS SUV combines the progressive design, UHÀQHPHQW DQG FRPIRUW WKDW FXVWRPHUV ORYH DERXW the EQS sedan with the space and versatility H[SHFWHG IURP D ODUJH 689 7KH ORRN DQG IHHO LV D VXPSWXRXV IXVLRQ RI GLJLWDO OX[XU\ DQG LQnovative new trim elements, while the “purpose design” of the electric-vehicle architecture delivers H[FHSWLRQDOO\ JHQHURXV 689 LQWHULRU GLPHQVLRQV

Paired with the optional third-row seating and a standard electrically adjustable second row, DOORZLQJ FXVWRPHUV WKH ÁH[LELOLW\ WR EHVW ÀW their needs.

7KH (46 689 RͿHUV D JHQHURXV DPRXQW RI VWDQGDUG HTXLSPHQW WKDW PDNHV XS WKH 3UHPLXP trim which includes the entire suite of enhanced active and passive Driver Assistance Systems.

6WDQGDUG HTXLSPHQW KLJKOLJKWV LQ WKH PRGHUQ and progressive interior include a 12.8” OLED multimedia touchscreen portrait display for the EQS 450+ and 450 4MATIC SUV, while the revolutionary MBUX Hyperscreen with three displays merged seamlessly under a single 56-inch curved glass surface is standard on the EQS 580 4MATIC SUV. All three vehicles come HTXLSSHG ZLWK WKH ODWHVW JHQHUDWLRQ RI 0%8; ZKLFK QRZ RͿHUV DQ LQWXLWLYH QHZ ]HUR OD\HU concept, ensuring key applications are always at the top level of the screen so that the driver no longer needs to scroll through submenus or give voice commands to access commonly used applications.

With the EQS SUV, customers also receive DGGLWLRQDO 689 VSHFLÀF IHDWXUHV ZLWKLQ WKH ,QVWUXPHQW &OXVWHU VXFK DV RͿ URDG PRGH which shows the steering angle, suspension height, elevation, geo coordinates, power level and more. In conjunction, the Head-Up Display is also able to show the driver the all-new RͿ URDG GLVSOD\ IXQFWLRQV 7KH 0%8; V\VWHP FRPHV VWDQGDUG HTXLSSHG

with a new navigation system that incorporates (OHFWULF ,QWHOOLJHQFH 7KLV (4 VSHFLÀF QDYLJDWLRQ system seamlessly plans the fastest and most convenient route, including charging stops, and G\QDPLFDOO\ UHDFWV WR WUD΀F MDPV RU D FKDQJH in driving style. While a conventional range calculator utilizes past data, this navigation system with Electric Intelligence looks into the future. The energy demand is computed for the calculation of the route. The topography, route, ambient temperature, speed, heating and FRROLQJ UHTXLUHPHQWV DUH DOO WDNHQ LQWR DFFRXQW $GGLWLRQDO IDFWRUV LQFOXGH WKH WUD΀F VLWXDWLRQ along the planned route, as well as charging stations, including their availability, capacity and payment functions.

0HUFHGHV PH &KDUJH RͿHUV DGGLWLRQDO EHQHÀWV for customers as it provides a truly hassle-free FKDUJLQJ H[SHULHQFH (46 689 FXVWRPHUV DUH provided with convenient use of the charging stations from various providers through Mercedes PH &KDUJH ZKLFK RͿHUV D VHDPOHVV LQWHJUDWHG payment function with simple billing processes.

EQS SUV customers receive a complimentary two years of Mercedes me Charge, in addition, DV DQ H[FOXVLYH EHQHÀW RI WKH FROODERUDWLRQ ZLWK Electrify America, Mercedes-Benz USA provides EQS SUV drivers with an unlimited number of 30– minute DC Fast Charging charging sessions throughout the entire Electrify America network DW QR DGGLWLRQDO FRVW IRU WKH ÀUVW \HDUV IURP account activation.

Kia EV9 Undergoes Final Technical Testing Ahead of 2023 World Debut

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ia has revealed details of WKH ÀQDO LQWHQVLYH WHVWLQJ programme undertaken by the Kia EV9 ahead of its world debut in 2023.

According to the automaker, the all-electric Kia EV9 will EHFRPH WKH EUDQG·V ÁDJVKLS PRGHO DQG ZLOO revolutionize the large electric SUV segment, while accelerating Kia’s brand transformation DQG D΀UPLQJ LWV OHDGHUVKLS LQ VXVWDLQDEOH HOHFWULF mobility.

Developed over a period of 44 months to set new standards in design, performance, range, driving dynamics, technology and comfort, every facet of the EV9 is currently being pushed to the limits of durability at Kia’s global Namyang R&D center in Korea.

'XULQJ WKLV ÀQDO WHVWLQJ SKDVH WKH (9 LV UHOHQWOHVVO\ VXEMHFWHG WR D JUXHOLQJ YHULÀFDWLRQ program on a 4WD climbing hill and a rough

terrain track, as well as a deep-water wading WHVW WR HQVXUH PD[LPXP UHOLDELOLW\ HYHQ LQ the most challenging conditions. Kia’s highspeed, handling, and low-friction tracks place every element of the EV9’s performance and roadholding under the strictest scrutiny. At the same time, the unforgiving cobbles of the Belgian road enable Kia’s engineers to subject WKH (9 ·V ULGH FRPIRUW DQG EXLOG TXDOLW\ WR WKH harshest possible trials. In addition to the test program at Namyang R&D center, like every Kia model, the EV9 has also been subjected to a punishing testing regimen in locations all over the globe. .LD ÀUVW JDYH WKH ZRUOG D SUHYLHZ RI LWV QHZHVW ÁDJVKLS PRGHO LQ WKH IRUP RI WKH .LD &RQFHSW EV9, unveiled at AutoMobility LA in Los Angeles last year. Personifying ‘Opposites United,’ the brand’s groundbreaking new design language, the EV9 production model will represent the The Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV pinnacle of what is possible with an SUV.

Common signs of a faulty crankshaft position sensor include issues starting the vehicle, intermittent stalling, and the Check Engine Light coming on.

The crankshaft position sensor is an engine management component found on virtually all modern vehicles with internal combustion engines. It monitors the position and rotational speed of the crankshaft and sends the information to the engine control unit so it can make appropriate adjustments based on operating conditions. The crankshaft speed and position are some of the most important parameters used in engine management calculations, and many engines cannot run if the crankshaft position sensor is not providing an accurate signal.

Problems with the crankshaft position sensor can be linked to several issues. 2 common causes include: 2YHUKHDWLQJ (QJLQH 7KH H[FHVVLYH EXLOG XS of heat in the engine can lead to crankshaft sensor damage by melting the plastic covering.

Circuitry Problems. Faulty voltage or loose, worn-out, or damaged wiring can disrupt the signals sent to and from the crankshaft sensor, causing it to have issues.

Driving with a failing crankshaft position sensor can be difficult and potentially dangerous.

It could lead to long-term vehicle damage DQG H[SHQVLYH UHSDLUV RU HYHQ VWRS WKH FDU from working at all. Usually, a problematic crankshaft position sensor will produce any of the following 7 symptoms that alert the driver of a potential problem that should be serviced.

1. Issues Starting the Vehicle The most common symptom associated with a bad or failing crankshaft position sensor is difficulty starting the vehicle. The crankshaft position sensor monitors the position and speed of the crankshaft and other parameters that play an important role when starting the engine.

If the crankshaft position sensor is having a problem, the vehicle may have intermittent starting issues or not start at all.

2. Intermittent Stalling Another symptom commonly associated with a problematic crankshaft position sensor is intermittent stalling. If the crankshaft position sensor or its wiring have any issues, it can cause the crankshaft signal to be cut off while the engine is running, which can cause the engine to stall. This is usually a sign of a wiring problem. However, a bad crankshaft position sensor can also produce this symptom.

3. Check Engine Light Comes On Another issue of a potential problem with the crankshaft position sensor is an illuminated Check Engine Light. If the computer detects a problem with the crankshaft position sensor’s signal, it will activate the Check Engine Light to alert the driver of the problem. A Check Engine Light can also be set off by a wide variety of other issues. Having the computer scanned for trouble codes is highly recommended.

(Source: CarBlogIndia)

35

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 3, 2022

AUTO WORLD

Fans to Compete for Chance at All-New Ford Mustang GT Lease

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ord Mustang fans will get their first glimpse of the next-generation model on September 14, the automaker has said.

And to celebrate the first six generations of Mustang, Ford is hosting the Best Stang Decade contest as part of the reveal to celebrate every decade of the car’s existence.

Those attending The Stampede – the reveal of the all-new seventh-generation Mustang – on Sept. 14 are encouraged to wear attire inspired by their favorite period in Mustang history, from the 1960s through today.

A panel of Hour Detroit magazine editors and experts in fashion, arts and entertainment will judge the attire and select 12 finalists (two from each decade), with the top three costumes earning the following prizes: First place: A two-year lease of an all-new Mustang GT Second place: An early drive of the all-new Mustang

Third place: A hot lap in a new Mustang with a Ford Performance driver Mustang owners can register to participate in The Stampede, which kicks off with a parade of Mustangs driving from Ford World Headquarters to the debut event at Detroit’s Hart Plaza.

Ford will broadcast The Stampede live on its social channels, sharing the debut event’s excitement, highlighting owners roaring their engines, flexing their head-turning customizations and sharing their passion for the world’s all-time best-selling sports car. The main event begins at 8 p.m. EDT. Best Stang Decade entrants will need to be photographed at one of the photo booths at The Stampede between 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. EDT on Sept. 14.

Winners will be announced no later than Sept.

Open to legal U.S. residents who reside in the 8 6 VWDWHV DQG :DVKLQJWRQ ' & ZKR DUH years of age or older, and are invited attendees of The Stampede.

The All-new Ford Mustang GT

Arts Charity The Torch Gets Toyota’s Support

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rtists from charity organisation The Torch’s Indigenous Arts in Prison & Community (IAPC) Programme ZLOO H[KLELW IRU WKH ÀUVW WLPH DW D major art fair with an exhibition DW WKLV \HDU·V $ͿRUGDEOH $UW )DLU Melbourne, running from 1 - 4 September 2022 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

6HOHFWHG DV WKH R΀FLDO &KDULW\ 3DUWQHU RI $ͿRUGDEOH Art Fair Melbourne, The Torch exhibition will feature the work of eight Indigenous artists.

Four of those artists’ artwork have also been used to wrap The Torch’s four new Toyota RAV4 hybrids, one of which will be displayed adjacent the Torch H[KLELWLRQ VWDQG IRU WKH GXUDWLRQ RI $ͿRUGDEOH $UW Fair Melbourne.

Toyota Australia and Toyota Finance Australia are proud supporters of The Torch and have funded the wrapping and artist licence fees for the new RAV4 hybrids.

The Toyota RAV4s will be used by The Torch IndigHQRXV $UWV 2΀FHUV WR YLVLW SULVRQV DQG FRPPXQLWLHV across Victoria to carry out its arts programs with ,QGLJHQRXV RͿHQGHUV DQG H[ RͿHQGHUV 7KH 7RUFK &KLHI ([HFXWLYH 2΀FHU .HQW 0RUULV VDLG

Toyota RAV4 wrapped in art

he was extremely grateful for the support of Toyota $XVWUDOLD 7R\RWD )LQDQFH $XVWUDOLD DQG $ͿRUGDEOH Art Fair Melbourne in helping to raise awareness of The Torch program and give its Indigenous artists a major stage from which to earn an income. ´([KLELWLQJ DW $ͿRUGDEOH $UW )DLU 0HOERXUQH DQG having the four new wrapped RAV4s will give The Torch much greater visibility and increase awareness of WKH SURJUDP DV RXU DUWV R΀FHUV WUDYHO DFURVV WKH VWDWH providing participants with vital arts skills, opportunities, and cultural reconnection,” Mr Morris said.

“Indigenous Australians are over-represented in Victorian and Australian prisons and The Torch is providing an opportunity for them to build resilience DJDLQVW WKH UHRͿHQGLQJ F\FOH E\ KHOSLQJ SURYLGH D reconnection with culture and a vital income stream upon release,” he said.

The Torch has been delivering the Indigenous Arts in Prisons and Community (IAPC) Program since June 2011 with artists receiving 100 per cent of the proceeds from the sale of their artworks.

The programme has been hugely successful in reducing ,QGLJHQRXV UHRͿHQGLQJ UDWHV IURP DQ DYHUDJH RI per cent to just 11 per cent for program particpants,1 and last year supported over 600 artists across the state.

Death Penalty for Killer Drivers What is a revolving number plate? That was the poser my senior threw at me. I was hoping to focus on this today. Yet the temptation to round off my piece on killer drivers was too strong. I am again refreshing the piece as a follow up to last week’s write-up. The developments in the United Kingdom sometime in 2017 prompted me to guide my readers. The concern is over the move to introduce life sentences for those who cause death by dangerous driving, as well as for careless drivers who kill while under the influence of drink or drugs Following this development, new offences for causing serious injury through careless driving was created as part of strategies to make the roads safe and checkmate bad and dangerous driving by drivers and cyclists. According to the development, killer drivers now face behind bars after plans to stiffen penalties by increasing maximum sentences was applauded overwhelmingly.

We hear that drivers who cause death by speeding, racing, or using a mobile phone could face sentences equivalent to manslaughter, with maximum penalties raised from 14 years to life. Offenders who cause death by careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs will also face life sentences, and a new offence of causing serious injury by careless driving will be created.

Based on the seriousness of the worst cases, the anguish of the victims’ families, and maximum penalties for other serious offences such as manslaughter, we intend to introduce life sentences of imprisonment for those who wreck lives by driving dangerously, drunk or high on drugs.

The maximum penalty for the offence of causing death by dangerous driving is 14 years imprisonment, if the offence was committed before 28 June, 2022.

However if the offence was committed after 28 June, 2022, the maximum penalty is imprisonment for life I have never met His Excellency, Bello Mattawale, the Zamfara State Governor. Yet, I have become one of his numerous admirers since he stirred the hornet

SAFE DRIVING with Jonas Agwu

amnipr, mcipr,mprsa,arpa Assistant Corps Marshal Zonal Commanding Officer Federal Road Safety Corps.

nest with his pragmatic position on the fate of killer drivers. My pals on Sunrise Daily on Channels, whose ideas I quoted last week equally joined the discourse by giving thumbs up to the governor whose position must have assuaged the mind of parents and guardians in pain over the loss of their loved ones through avoidable road traffic crashes.

I know what it means to lose a friend or brother.

I have lost friends and I know of colleagues in the Federal Road Safety Corps who are either crippled, bedridden or dead and buried because of the act of a killer driver. In fact, my dear sister and friend, Maope Ogun-Yusuf as the only mother and wife on Sunrise Daily was damn too passionate when she expressed her support for the draconian ideas to checkmate killers on the wheels. The trio of Chamberlain Usor,Ayo Makinde and Kayode Okikiolu shared similar concerns and expressed the same support . After years of spending the better part of my life pleading and begging road users not to kill themselves or waste innocent lives, I must tell you that I share this crazy idea and position, if you would allow me to.

As a Christian, I know this position amounts to invoking the sixth commandants of God in the Holy scripture which in Exodus 20;13 says, “thou shall not kill” and in Exodus 21:12 says “whoever strikes a person so that he dies must be put to death” while

21: 14, says if a person schemes and wilfully acts against his neighbour to murder him, you must take him from my Alter to be put to death”. This commandment, according to commentators, is a moral imperative not to take a life. I am sure most Christians would kick against this hard-line position that amounts to an eye for an eye. I could not lay my hands on what the Holy Koran says buy I do hope that my Muslim colleagues will be kind enough to guide and help me out for the sake of my Muslim readers.

While I await the assistance from my Muslim colleagues, I must tell you that in trying to do justice to this topic as usual, I sought the position of my Law teacher and brother who has stubbornly insisted I become a learned colleague despite my reservations. During my first virtual lecture, I surprisingly discoursed that his ideas and mine are almost similar. To demonstrate my prowess as a successful participant in a virtual Law class, I threw the first poser on whether the idea of imposing death penalty for road deaths occasioned by dangerous driving amount to asking for the impossible?

I do not know what your thoughts are, especially if you have not lost a loved one through the mistake of a killer driver. But I know the mother who lost her daughter on July 26 in Lagos due to an unlatched container would perhaps ask for a much tougher penalty if there is any other penalty harsher than killing culprits. For the record, I must state here that the incidences of road deaths resulting from dangerous driving and other unsafe driving practices, according to my teacher, has for a long time remained recurring in Nigeria. Daily, the media is awash with reports of multiple crashes involving trucks, lorries, petroleum laden tankers and articulated vehicles with unlatched containers. The media reports also includes crashes involving passenger carrying vehicles as well as convoy drivers, in addition to bullion van drivers.

According to my teacher, the underlying factors

or common outcomes in every such occurrence are deaths, maiming of commuters, loss of valuable property and damage to public presence. Families such as the mother cited earlier, he told me are made to bear the pains of losing loved ones; wives become widows, husbands become widowers and children become orphans while in some instances, parents become childless. For greater emphasis, it is instructive, my teacher insists to cite just two or three most recent incidents which brought to bear the dangers road users are exposed to on daily bases plying Nigerian roads, no thanks to drivers who indulge in dangerous driving.

First is the case of Chidimma Ajoku who died alongside her colleague while returning from work.

The 27-year-old died on Sunday July 26 2020 when an unlatched container fell on the bus she was in which had stopped to discharge passengers at Ilasamaja bus stop. That crash led to the death of the late Chidimma Ajoku and one other passenger while three others sustained injuries. Another incident that left a very sour taste in the mouth of the country and specifically, the Nigerian Air Force and the victim’s biological families in particular is the death of the prodigy, reputed to be the first Nigerian female combat pilot, Tolulope Arotile. The circumstance that led to her death being an issue under investigation and already before the courts need not be over flogged here.

There is yet another; the death of 16 persons along the Gusau- Funtua road in Zamfara state. It was attributed to the loss of control by a truck driver who rammed into about four vehicles conveying the unfortunate passengers who became his victims.

The Governor of the state, His Excellency Bello Mattawale was so pained that he vowed to ensure that drivers who cause road deaths by dangerous driving are made to face the death sentence. This,my teacher noted, is amongst other stiff measures the Governor undertook to take to ensure that such incidents do not reoccur.

36

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 3, 2022

PEOPLE Kevin Mark

The World’s Coolest Billionaires and Their Schtick Until very recently, the mention of billionaires has evoked pictures of boring older individuals who have spent decades honing their craft. Now, times are shifting and much younger people have worked hard to amass wealth while maintaining their individualities and peculiarities. While tons of young billionaires have sprung up from music, tech, arts and many more sectors, there is the not so young who in the face of a vastly changing world continue to define their own sense of being and nothing could be cooler.

They all find intersection in their coolness. Here is a list of 10 of the world’s coolest billionaires in the world as compiled by Kevin Mark for Global Super Brands

J

ay-Z: Hip Hop’s first proven billionaire, Jay-Z is one-half of a power couple that symbolises wealth, beauty and style. The ‘B’ to Hov plays a double entendre defining his iconic cultural legend wife, Beyonce and his status as a billionaire. The billionaire who started out amassing his wealth through music has built an impressive portfolio that cuts across real estate, art, spirits, tech startups and a plethora of investments in multi-national companies. A rapper famous for his creativity with words, Jay-Z has revealed that he never writes his lyrics down but spits them straight from his head! His coolness derives from a plethora of sources but without playing to the obvious – say his music -, we would have to speak to the much bigger deal; the fact he can lay claim to the successes of at least 3 other billionaires; Rihanna, Kanye West and Lebron James. If you want to know what Hov did with these trio, you better listen to ‘God did’ on the latest DJ Khaled album. Jigga is as cool as they come.

into her role as a heart-breaker as she consistently ignores the pleas of her fans to make more music and rather chooses to face her Fenty business empire. When she’s not exuding Black Girl Magic at fashion shows with her unique style, Rihanna is being the coolest mum to her baby with rapper A$AP Rocky. With Rih, her coolness from just breathing, just living.

Elon Musk: Twitter-verse’s favorite billionaire is one who takes unconventional new heights. His fortune comes from the multitude of his inventions – the most popular being the Tesla Car, the vehicle of the New School.

The business magnate is contributing towards impacting our environment and sustaining innovations. Elon Musk made an appearance in The Simpsons episode, ‘The Musk Who Fell to Earth’.

When is not making trouble on Twitter, he is pretending or seriously looking to buy the platform. Many may not find his ways cool, but it’s super cool to watch the richest man in the world play around like his words don’t move stock prices for the fun of it.

Richard Branson: a British billionaire who founded the Virgin Group, Branson, capitalising on his business acumen and skills, launched the Elders, an independent group of top global leaders tackling key world problems. When selling the record label of Virgin in 1992 for over $1 billion, he is reported to have cried through the entire selling process.

It wasn’t about the money to him, it was more of how Virgin Records was his pathway to success. Richard Branson does what other billionaires do at times, he just tries to do it first.

Oprah Winfrey: staying true to her story and origin, Oprah Winfrey not only used her show - The Oprah Winfrey Show - to create the needed awareness about important issues but has also donated more than $400 million to charity. Oprah’s show ran for 25 years having in attendance notable individuals from all over the world. Her interview with the Meghan’s went viral and revealed a lot about royalty, and what it entails. Unknown to most people, Winfrey was named ‘Orpah’ after the biblical character in the Book of Ruth on her birth certificate, but people mispronounced it regularly and ‘Oprah’ stuck. From being a TV host to an actor, author, she earned the name ‘Queen Of All Media’ and has a networth of $4 billion to her name. And who got to read the letter from ‘All of us’ to Beyonce?

You guessed right.

Mark Zuckerberg: the media magnate alongside his wife, Priscilla Chan, is spending $3 billion in an attempt to end, cure or manage all diseases by the year 2100. Asides investing to end diseases, Mark splurges on real estate and sometimes cars. He currently owns real estate in Palo Alto and over 700 acres on the Island of Kaua’i in Hawaii.

Ad Adenuga denuga

His business practises continue to court controversies at times but his coolness finds expression from his physical activities, stuff he gets up to in different countries.

Mike Adenuga Jnr.: The Nigerian billionaire is the founder of daring and innovative telecoms company, Globacom. He also has interests across banking, oil, gas, telecoms, real estate, multinational construction etc. Forbes values him at $6.1b but with their methodology principally focused on stocks and most of Mike’s wealth hedged elsewhere, his wealth has been said to be understated by at least $10b. He is worth closer to $20b in real terms. That’s not where his coolness derives though. He is one of one billionaire in the sense that, you wouldn’t see him at any random event, you will not hear him quoted in the papers or on TV but his impact pervades philanthropy, business, sports and contemporary culture. Talk about a spirit; manages his space and energy and

also gets to make the universe move in the direction of his thoughts. In a world where billionaires crave the attention of the ruling class and the media, nothing could be cooler than to know that there is one that would rather everyone comes to him instead.

The important ones do.

Alexander Wang: Despite his surname being the same as iconic designer Vera Wang, Alexander is a tech buff who at 25 has built a $7 billion tech company. This remarkable feat has dubbed him the youngest self-made billionaire who, like many other billionaires in tech, is a college dropout. His company, Scale AI, which he started at 19, was a summer project that turned into a life-changing business. What’s could be more cool?

Rihanna: Riri, as she is affectionately called, is the youngest American self-made billionaire woman. The black female is the coolest thing to come out of Barbados, her ancestral home. The singer-songwriter leans

Kanye West: Ye is a hip-hop legend who is unafraid to speak his mind, a habit that is often met with mixed feelings and of course, his actions coming off the back of the $1.8 billion-dollar net worth he has amassed for himself.

The American billionaire rapper is not just a musician but a record producer, a fashion designer and a POTUS aspirant.

Kanye’s vision to change the world as president was the topic of conversation for several months owing to the fact that it came on the heels of his sudden pivot to gospel music and his unique campaign style. He is deemed to be crazy by many, the same level of craze that earned him an entry on this cool list.

Francoise Bettencourt Meyers: she is the world’s richest woman billionaire and third generation heiress of the world’s largest family cosmetics company, L’Oreal. Asides the fortune she has inherited, Francoise owns and runs various businesses which further rack up her stakes. An introvert who will do anything to avoid the spotlight, Francoise also serves as the president of her family’s philanthropic foundation, which encourages French progress in the sciences and arts.

There you have it, some of the world’s coolest billionaires at the moment.

One fact that rings true with them all is how in the midst of their wealth, they manage to not only be defined by their billionaires. That’s about the toughest thing for a billionaire and these ones have managed to crack it. So, for every aspiring billionaire out there, keep your dreams as big as they can be, but be cool at it. It just might you on a list like this soon.

From Global Super Brands

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 3, 2022

37

NEWSXTRA FG Inaugurates 15-man C’tee on 2022 Independence Day Anniversary Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

STRATEGISING FOR SERVICE… L-R: Imaginative Youth Director of Rotary Club of Ikeja, Rotarian Osato Osawaye; RYLA participant, Oyesanya Oluwademilade; Chairman, 2022 Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA), Rotary International District 9110, Henry Akinyele; His Royal Highness, Oba Babalola Michael Ajibola; Imaginative President, Rotary Club of Ikeja, Sola Akinsiku and RYLA participant, Okoye Favour at the RYLA 2022, held at Sea School, Apapa ...recently

2023: ICPC Warns Politicians against Frivolous Petitions against Opponents Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) yesterday warned politicians to desist from sending frivolous petitions against political opponents.

The ICPC Chairman, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye (SAN), stated this while hosting the leadership of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) at the commission’s headquarters.

Owasanoye noted that some politicians tend to weaponise anti-corruption agencies with

politically motivated petitions in order to outdo their opponents warning that such moves will not work with the ICPC. “Usually when the season for competition comes, there is a spike in politically motivated petitions for wild-goose chases.

Some are brazen enough to tell you that ‘we should make sure to stop Mr. A from contesting’ and they will bring a petition forward.

That is not our job, and we will not get involved in those things.

We pack those types of petitions aside basically. Even if there is implication of merit within the complaint, we will say ‘go and

compete first.

“We are not going to be the one to be used to give you the fair or unfair advantage. When the competition is over, we will decide on the merit or otherwise of what you have brought forward,” he said.

He, however, noted that ICPC has an existing understanding with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on how to go about genuine electoral petitions when the need arises.

“We do have an understanding with INEC that in cases where contestants challenge each other in court and the decision says

somebody forged a certificate for example, INEC will send those things to us, and we are prosecuting a few of them at the moment. Those are ways we will add value without compromising ourselves or exposing our officers to the compromise and desperation of politicians during the contest,” he said.

The ICPC boss also challenged political parties to do a self-check of candidates they field as the fortune of any nation relies on the type of leaders it gets, noting that the pruning process should start with political parties so that “charity should begin at home”.

Pharmacists Appeal to President Buhari to Assent PCN Bill Pharmacists under the aegis of Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately assent to the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN) Bill, to HQKDQFH HͿHFWLYH GUXJ GLVWULEXWLRQ and administration in the country.

In 14-point a communiqué signed by the National Chairman and Secretary of ACPN, Adewale Oladigbolu and Ezeh Ambrose Sunday respectively, at the end of its 41st Annual National Sci-

HQWLÀF &RQIHUHQFH LQ /DJRV WKH pharmacists expressed satisfaction with the contents of the draft bill which it believes would provide the enabling template to achieve the desired objectives.

Disturbed by the prevalence of fake and adulterated drugs in the country, ACPN also called on the federal government to urgently review the supply chain system for drugs distribution in 1LJHULD WR PD[LPLVH WKH EHQHÀWV of the supply chain platform that interconnects all pharmaceutical

entities in Nigeria initiated by ACPN. “The Premises to Premises or Pharmacy to Pharmacy (P2P) platform is a Pharmaceutical Ecosystem to make sure medicines ordering in Nigeria is from, and through PCN-registered facilities only.

The P2P platform is now operational to strengthen the supply chain system, reduce the prevalence of fake medicines and reduce the scare concerns associated with our industry.

Thus, products available at community pharmacies will be those without untoward supply chain excursions.’’

ACPN also recommended a policy reform that would incorporate herbal medicine in healthcare delivery. This can be DFKLHYHG E\ FUHDWLQJ D VFLHQWLÀF database of herbal products of primary health indications as well DV WKH LGHQWLÀFDWLRQ RI FRPPXQLW\ pharmacists as care providers for substance use disorders and mental health screening.

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said the state is investing hugely in the creative sector with the goal to become the home of culture and tourism in West Africa.

The governor said Edo is developing systems and infrastructure and is taking advantage of its unique opportunity in terms of location and natural endowment to harness the huge potential in the creative industry and boost the state’s economy.

Obaseki, who disclosed this while declaring the maiden edition of the Edo International Film Festival open in Benin City, the Edo State capital, reassured that the government will sustain HͿRUWV WR JLYH WKH DUW VHFWRU its pride of place in the state.

The governor said, “Edo State is not short of creative people. Over the centuries, we have been the cradle of culture, innovation and creativity in the African continent.

The festival is availing us the opportunity to showcase Edo to the world.

Obi Edozien Rues Low Naira Value, Relegation of Royal Fathers Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

The Asagba of Asaba, Prof.

Chike Edozien, has expressed concern over the low value of the Naira against major currencies in the world like the Dollar, Euro and Pound Sterling, saying to rescue or shore up the value of the Nigerian currency should be of primary concern to those seeking to take over the mantle of leadership as president of the country in 2023.

Obi Edozien, gave the challenge to the politicians when the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, visited him in his palace in Asaba yesterday, to intimate him of his political ambition and his blueprint

for addressing the dire social, economic and security situation in the country.

The traditional ruler, who commented on several issues relating to the current state of the nation, put the question of how to make the naira to at least stand shoulder-to-shoulder with notable international currencies directly to the SDP’s presidential standard-bearer.

Obi Edozien also wondered why no concrete steps had been taken in the country to SURYLGH VSHFLÀF FRQVWLWXWLRQDO roles for the traditional institution in the country, considering the closeness to the grassroots and being custodian to the people’s culture and tradition predating the British colonial incursion into the country’s political administration.

NACCIMA Appoints New Director General Dike Onwuamaeze

The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), has announced the appointment of Mr. Sola Obadimu as its new director general with HͿHFW IURP 6HSWHPEHU Before his current appointment at NACCIMA, Obadimu was the immediate past Director General of the Nigerian-American Chamber Olusegun Samuel He said the mariner had of Commerce (NACC).

His appointment followed the The Nigerian Navy Forward VZLWFKHG RͿ WKHLU $XWRPDWLF Operating Base in Bayelsa ,GHQWLÀFDWLRQ 6\VWHP DQG expiration on March 1, 2022, of yesterday handed over 13 violated the no trawling zone the tenure of former Director General of NACCIMA, Ambascrew members and one seized of 5NM from shoreline. ÀVKLQJ WUDZOHU WR WKH )HGHUDO 7KH FRPPDQGLQJ R΀FHU sador Ayoola Olukanni and the Department of Fisheries and urged all mariners to be law recent exit of the erstwhile Acting Aquaculture. abiding as they carry out their Director General of NACCIMA, The crew members and the activities within the Nigerian Mr. Opeyemi Alaran.

He would bring to his new trawler, MFV LADY TERESA maritime environment. were apprehended on August “All mariners and their appointment at NACCIMA his RͿ %UDVV ZDWHUV LQ agents must be aware that wealth of experience in Nigeria’s Brass Local Government Area the Nigerian Navy has the organised private sector garnered of Bayelsa. capacity to track any vessel from his rich background in the 7KH &RPPDQGLQJ 2΀FHU RI within the Nigerian waters up management of membership-based the Base, Capt. Muhammed to Exclusive Economic Zone institutions generally and chambers Alhassan, said those arrested through the FALCON EYE of commerce in particular.

He had also served, at various were 13 Nigerians. and RMAC system.

Obaseki: Edo Investing Hugely in Creative Industry Navy Hands over 13 Crew Members, Seized to Become Africa’s Culture, Tourism Hub Trawler to Fishery Agency in Bayelsa Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The federal government has inaugurated a 15-man InterMinisterial Committee to organise the celebration of Nigeria’s 62nd Independence Day anniversary.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, inaugurated the committee yesterday.

He said the committee was constituted to plan, organise and execute all approved activities EHÀWWLQJ 1LJHULD·V QG ,QGHSHQdence anniversary on October 1, 2022, as well as documents for posterity in all planned activities for the anniversary.

Mustapha, who is also the chairman of the committee, said the committee would also co-opt organisations and persons relevant to the successful execution of the programmes and carry out other assignments as may be required towards the successful implementation of

the programme.

He said that the committee would meet regularly to give necessary direction on all the activities earmarked for the celebration, while sub-committees would be constituted to assist in H[HFXWLQJ VSHFLÀF DVVLJQPHQWV from the Inter-Ministerial Committee.

The committee is composed of the Minister of Information and Culture and his counterparts from Interior, Finance, Budget and National Planning; Foreign $ͿDLUV )&7 6SHFLDO 'XWLHV DQG ,QWHU *RYHUQPHQWDO $ͿDLUV National Security Adviser and Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination.

Other members are the Permanent Secretary, State House, Permanent Secretary, Political DQG (FRQRPLF $ͿDLUV 2΀FH Permanent Secretary, General 6HUYLFHV 2΀FH ,QVSHFWRU *HQHUDO of Police, DG DSS and Commander, Guards Brigade.

times, “as the executive secretary of the Nigerian Society of Engineers; director general at the NigerianBritish Chamber of Commerce; founding executive secretary at the Nigerian-South African Chamber of Commerce and acting director general with the Institute of Directors, Nigeria (IoD) among RWKHU KLJK SURÀOH SURIHVVLRQDO and trade-development related responsibilities in the past.”

According to NACCIMA, “Obadimu is a proven and recognised institutional administrator with a proven track record and he is widely acknowledged accordingly within the Nigerian private/public sector circles.”

Obadimu had served as a part-time Investment Promotion and Business Development Consultant for the UNDP/Columbia University’s Millennium City Initiatives (MCI) project geared towards attracting foreign direct investments to Africa, which culminated in presentations at the Millennium City Day at KPMG House in London in December 2008.

38

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 3, 2022

NEWSXTRA Nigeria Drifted Politically When it Adopted Presidential NEMA Distributes Relief Materials to Flood Victims in 13 LGAs in Katsina System over Parliamentary Government, Says Edebri Francis Sardauna in Katsina Emergency Management Agency’s Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

A former member of the Zikist Movement and Esogban of Benin, Chief David Edebri, yesterday, declared that Nigeria missed its way to development and progress when it adopted the American presidential system of government, rather than parliamentary, adding that while adopting the presidential, it was not wholesome.

Edebiri, who was also member of the youth wing National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC), stated this on the occasion of his 93rd

birthday celebration and the unveiling of his three books ‘Tripod of Life: Essence of Benin Tradition and Culture’, ‘The Life and Times of Iyase N’Ohenmwen’ and ‘Immortalising Our Heroes Past: Nigerian Nationalists in Focus’ at his country home in Benin City, Edo State.

He said his mentor, Chief Anthony Enahoro, when he was alive had invited him many times to ask “is this the Nigeria we fought for?” He maintained that those who fought for Nigeria LQGHSHQGHQFH GLG QRW ÀJKW for Nigeria for what they will gain from the system, but rather for the love of the

country.

His words: “My mentor, late Chief Anthony Enahoro would invite me to his house and would ask,”is this what we fought for ?” This is part of the questions he will ask before we start any discussion. This is not the concept of the nationalists who fought for the independence of this country.

“We derailed long ago when we suddenly threw away the parliamentary system of government and embraced the American presidential system. But presidential system was embraced haphazardly, because what we are doing today is

neither American presidential system, British parliamentary system, nor Russian socialist system. Some of us have been agitating for a return of the parliamentary system of government.

“If you want to adopt a country’s system of government, you adopt it wholesomely and not haphazardly.

Today, our judiciary is British and we are operating an American system. What we have is people going into politics for what they are to gain. That is not how it used to be. We fought for this country so that we can be free not because we want to be senators.”

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has distributed relief items to flood victims in 13 local government areas of Katsina State as part of the federal government’s efforts aimed at assuaging the suffering of those affected by the natural disaster in the country.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, handed over the items to the Katsina State Government Thursday evening at the State

warehouse in Katsina.

She said the relief materials were 9,000 bags of rice, maize and beans, 1,000 bags of cement, 300 bundles of roofing sheets, 100 20litres of vegetable oil, 200 seasoning cubes, 300 bags of salt, 100 packets of zinc nails and 100kg bags of nails.

Others, she said, were 500 pieces of mattresses,1,000 pieces of blankets, 5,000 pieces of nylon mats, 2,000 pieces of mosquito treated nets, 4,000 pieces of guinea brocade, 500 pieces of wax prints and 1,000 pieces of children’s clothing.

Court Orders Immediate Reinstatement of Trucks Transit Parks’ MD Wale Igbintade Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered immediate reinstatement of the Managing Director of Trucks Transit Parks Ltd (TTP), Mr. Jama Onwubuariri.

Consequently, the court discharged an injunction, which temporarily restrained Mr. Onwubuariri from his position as Managing Director of the company following an ex parte application by Chinedu Anaje.

But Onwubuariri through his counsel, Mrs. Funke Agbor, SAN, ÀOHG DQ DSSOLFDWLRQ VHHNLQJ D stay of execution and discharge

of said injunction.

Agbor argued, among others, WKDW WKH SODLQWLͿ PLVOHG WKH court into granting the order by concealing several material facts.

She contended that the SODLQWLͿ GLG QRW GLVFORVH WR the court in the application for injunction, facts such as the existence of an order of status quo earlier granted by Justice Daniel Osiagor also of the Federal High Court on July 20, 2022, respect of the same facts and the violation of the status quo order by WKH GHSRQHQW RI WKH D΀GDYLW VXSSRUWLQJ WKH SODLQWLͿ·V H[ SDUWH application for the interim order, Mr. Temidayo Adeboye.

Ogun First Lady Tasks Mothers on Breastfeeding Sunday Okobi

YOU’RE WELCOME… Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (right) received by Nigerian Ambassador to United States of America, Dr. Uzoma Emenike, at the Andrews Joint Airforce Base... recently

Police Parade Housewife Who Arrange Kidnap of Husband in A’Ibom Okon Bassey in Uyo The police in Akwa Ibom State have arrested a 40-year-old woman, Mrs. Joy Emmanuel Sunday for conspiracy to kidnap her husband over neglect.

The State Police Command said Mrs. Sunday confessed that she did so because her husband starved her of sex and money for too long.

The kidnappers were said to have demanded the sum of N10m as ransom and later reduced it to N2 which was paid.

The kidnappers were arrested by the police at the point of

sharing the money paid.

The woman was among 29 others paraded yesterday for YDULRXV RͿHQFHV LQFOXGLQJ kidnapping, robbery and child theft by the state Commissioner of Police, Olatoye Durosinmi, in Uyo. She said had been subjected to doing all sorts of manual jobs to fend for herself and the children since her husband got married to another woman.

She added that when one of KHU FKLOGUHQ ÀQLVKHG VHFRQGDU\ education there was no money to send him for further studies.

Admitting her action, she said, “I arranged for my husband’s

kidnapping because for a long time, he had abandoned me with his children.

“Even when my father and mother in-laws were alive he abandoned me. He never cared for his children. I engaged in menial jobs such as weeding in people’s farms to feed his children and pay their school fees. ´2QH RI WKH FKLOGUHQ ÀQLVKHG from secondary school and I approached my husband to plan how to send the son to learn trade since the father refused to send him to university but my husband shunned me.

“The major reason I arranged

for his kidnapping is that my husband refused to have sex with me and does not take care of me and the children,” she stressed.

She disclosed that she never collected her share of the money before the kidnappers were arrested by the police.

“The kidnappers that collected the ransom of N2 million never gave me my share and I don’t even see the money.

“It was when the kidnappers were sharing the N2m that the police arrested them and they mentioned me. They never gave me any part of the ransom collected from my husband.

Olulani Chairs FirstCall Health & Kunle Awosika Appointed to Lead Microsoft’s Africa Transformation Office Wellness Foundation Board Pastor Ayodeji Olulani has been appointed Chairman, Board of Trustees of FirstCall Health & Wellness Foundation, an international non-governmental organisation dedicated to providing credible educational, advisory, and advocacy services in matters relating to health and wellness across the globe.

A statement yesterday by Board Secretary/Membership Coordinator of FirstCall Health & Wellness Foundation, Mrs. Adewunmi Siwoku, quoted Olulani as saying the organisation comprised students, scientists, scholars, and professionals in medical, nutritional, sports and

agricultural disciplines. He said the members were determined to deliver credible services that would ensure healthy habits and lifestyles that guarantee wellness and longevity for the generality of the people.

Olulani stated that the foundation’s first major thrust was a membership and human capacity development drive through training, seminars, and collaboration with research institutes and government agencies. He said this would aid policy formation and implementation in matters relating to food, health, and environmental security.

Bennett Oghifo Microsoft veteran and Africa expert, Kunle Awosika has assumed the position of Managing Director for the Africa Transformation Office, as Wael Elkabbany steps into a new role heading up the Africa Regional Cluster.

The Africa Transformation Office (ATO) drives strategic digital transformation initiatives across Africa to empower millions of Africans and foster economic prosperity.

With more than 22 years’ experience working in multiple countries

across the continent, Awosika has a deep understanding of, and passion for Africa. He was one of the three pioneer team members when Microsoft opened its Nigeria office, and has played various roles in the company, including Director of Enterprise Business, Country Manager: Microsoft Kenya and Director: Small and Medium Corporates, Emerging Markets. In these roles, he has had the opportunity to introduce transformational technology opportunities to a wide range of organizations in both the public and private sectors, enabling them to unlock significant value.

The First Lady of Ogun State, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, has again admonished nursing mothers in the state to practice exclusive breastfeeding for their well-being, healthy growth and development of their babies.

In a statement by the Press 2΀FHU .HPL 2\HOH\H $ELRGXQ gave the admonition at the wrap up of the 2022 breastfeeding campaign week organised by her Foundation, Ajose, in conjunction with the Ministry of Health which took place at Primary Health Centre in Ilaro.

According to her, “Breastfeeding provides every child with the best possible start in life and delivers health, nutritional DQG HPRWLRQDO EHQHÀWV WR ERWK children and mothers.”

She said exclusive breastfeedLQJ IRU WKH ÀUVW VL[ PRQWKV followed by continued breastfeeding with appropriate complementary foods for up to two years and beyond provide an infant the best start possible to life, adding that breast milk is safe and clean with adequate provision of energy and nutrients an infant needs for the few months of life.

Residents Laud LASG on Lekki Estate Ferry Terminal Residents of Lekki have lauded the siting of ferry terminal in the area, saying that it will aid easy commuting with other parts of the state.

With the aim of linking the axis with other parts of Lagos will not lead to any congestion in the area, they said Some residents of the area noted that those expressing fears about congestion in the locality were not looking at the many advantages ferry service would bring to the area and other places.

They thanked Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the laudable project which they said would alleviate the transportation gridlock in the area and its environs.

According to them, the ferry terminal would create jobs and boost the economy of the area.

The residents disassociated themselves from some aggrieved residents kicking against the project.

39

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2022 • T H I S D AY, T H E S AT U R D AY N E W S PA P E R

BACKPAGE CONTINUATION AKIN MABOGUNJE: GENIUSES NEVER DIE their elders. And could there be a better way to imbibe this truism than having the special privilege to listen to and learn from Professor Mabogunje? I do not think so.

Every encounter with him, even for a few minutes, offered a golden opportunity to drink from his eternal spring of wisdom.

But you don’t have to be a family member to drink from this ever-guzzling spring.

A scholar’s scholar, Professor Mabogunje enthusiastically shared his thoughts, insights and expertise with the whole world through the classroom, the lecture circuit, publications and policy advisory.

Born in Kano on October 18, 1931, he was educated at the then University College Ibadan and the University College London, where he earned his doctorate. Quite instructively, his dissertation was titled: “Lagos: A Study in Urban Geography.”

His early and abiding love for urbanisation took him right to the top. Today, even in death, he is regarded as one of the world’s pre-eminent urban geographers. In fact, when he turned 75 many years ago, UN-Habitat and other international agencies set up a commemorative committee called the Professor Akin Mabogunje Project (PAMP) “to celebrate his enormous contributions to urban development in general and Africa in particular.” One of the outcomes of that effort was a seminal book titled “Foundations of Urban Development in Africa: The Legacy of Akin Mabogunje”, jointly published by UN-Habitat and Cities Alliance.

Even though he studied geography, Professor Mabogunje became an authority on several other subjects. Through his research, teachings and books, he had a profound impact on fields as diversified

as urbanisation, local government, political economy, development policy, health, economics, and social policy that he has been rightly described as “an intellectual without borders”, in the process, earning him global accolades. The highest of these honours, is the Vautrin Lud Prize in Geography, which is the equivalent of the Nobel Prize. He was the first African to be elected President of the International Geographical Union. He was admitted to the American Academy of Sciences and was also admitted to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He served as the President of the International Geographical Union, Senior Adviser to the Secretary General for the UN Second Conference on Human Settlements, and President of the Pan-African Institute for Development etc.

His excellence in scholarship and service to humanity equally earned him other global recognitions such as the David Livingstone Centennial Gold Medal from the American Geographical Society; Anders Retzius Gold Medal of the Swedish Association of Anthropology and Geography; Murchinson Award of the Royal Geographical Society, London; the Research Gold Medal of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society; the Grand Medaille of the French Geographical Society; Foreign Associate of the U.S National Academy of Science; and the Scroll of Honour of the UN-Habitat.

Within Nigeria, he served as the Vice Chairman of the Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DFRRI); Executive Chairman of the National Board of Community Banks; Chairman of the Technical Board of Federal Mortgage Bank; Chairman of First Interstate Merchant Bank; Chairman

of Unity Bank; Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of Ogun State University (now Olabisi Onabanjo University); Chancellor of Bells University of Technology, Ota; Chairman, Lagos Megacity Development Authority; Chairman of the Governing Board of the Centre for Human Security of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library; and Chairman of the Presidential Technical Committee on Land Reform.

His accomplishments and service to fatherland also earned Professor Mabogunje Nigeria’s highest honour for excellence in scholarship, the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) and the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).

Professor Mabogunje made profound impression on all those who came in contact with him. I will cite just two tributes to him by two former heads of state. General Ibrahim Babangida described Professor Mabogunje as “someone who epitomises the intellectual as a constructively engaged citizen as well as a veritable agent and catalyst of development.” Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, a life-long friend of Professor Mabogunje, had this to say of him: “Akin Mabogunje is arguably one of the best-known geographers and social scientists in Africa, the third world and, indeed, the world at large. He has been a source of inspiration to millions of Nigerians and has left positive marks at all levels academic, policy-making, training, research, administration, and leadership.” When he turned 80, the Balogun of Owu described his friend as an enigma.

I am sure Dad cherished all these accolades, tributes, and honours. But I want to submit that his greatest achievement, and honour,

is his great family. Though deliberately out of the limelight, everyone is accomplished in his or her own right. Mom, Justice Titi Mabogunje, Dad’s beloved wife of 65 years and pillar of the family, in the words of the very eminent jurist, Prince Bola Ajibola, retired “as an erudite and incorruptible judge”. The three boys are all engineers.

The two girls are equally accomplished: one a medical doctor, the other an economist.

Sade Ogunsola, the eldest, is a professor of Medicine and was Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos (UNILAG). Seun is an engineer and a successful businessman.

Gboyega has a doctorate in mechanical engineering and he is an Assistant Dean at Stanford University, USA. Bimpe Oye, the economist, has an MBA and is a successful stockbroker. And our aburo, Sola is a mechanical engineer and pastor.

What more can a great man ask for? But it must be said that neither his reckoning in the world nor the accomplishments of his family occurred by happenstance. They are products of hard-work and dedication.

Here goes a Caesar; when comes another?

Only Heavens shall tell, for being a colossus, his shoes are too big for anyone to step into.

But the consolation lies in the fact that he planted countless nuts of benevolence and intellect, which will continue to flourish like palm trees by the riverside till eternity.

Death cannot diminish him, for geniuses never die.

Goodnight, erudite scholar. Adios, Dad.

this subdiscipline that he was invited, in the spring of 1970 by the University of Goteburg in Sweden to teach theoretical geography to its postgraduate students.

In recent years, I began to receive from him congratulatory messages on my birthdays to which I always responded. The last, which came on 14th July, 2020, read as follows: “My dear Jibola, Just to wish you many happy returns of the day. Keep well. God bless. Warmest regards. MABOGUNJE.” I mourn with Mrs. Titi Mabogunje on the departure of her dear husband of almost 65 years. I congratulate his children and his entire nuclear and larger family, of which my aburo, Olusegun is a member, for seeing

their Baba through beyond the age of 90, in relatively good health, since, as they say in classical Latin, in which the professor was proficient, “Omnibus Moriendum Est” – “we shall all end up in death “.

Nigerian history and the world of geography from which he has earned enormous and spectacular encomiums will remember him.

I join his entire family and all his Christian brethren and sistren in song and dance for the glorious life of a quintessential patriarch: “Alleluya, ogo ni fun Baba…”

is what we are as Christians.”

The next point, he said was that Nigeria is running a political system that is a combination of theocracy, a combination of feudalism, it is a system that is so complex and convoluting, it cannot pass the test of democracy.

“Now, the killers of Deborah proudly showed off the matches on television. The Sultan (of Sokoto) spoke eloquently, the governor spoke and I also added my voice, but in each of the interventions, we called for justice.

“Subsequently, the governor said we are going to try all these people and a group of people gathered themselves that this trial cannot take place because what has been done is in keeping with the principles of the Koran and the principles of Islam.

There are millions of Muslims who are ambivalent about all of this, but the only answer to that question is we are not in a Theocratic state.

“Nigeria cannot be governed on the principles of any religion. The faith that we profess, the cultures that we profess can be sources for feeding the Nigerian constitution, but the greatest of any governor or any president or any operator of the constitution is the extent to which the constitution is a mirror by which every citizen, no matter your position, has to gauge himself or herself.

Do you pass this test?

“Here we are, the president said nothing about the killing of Deborah, contrast that with the killing of (George) Floyd and contrast that with the picture of President Joe Biden, circulated in social media, kneeling in front of Floyd’s young son, and saying I’m appologising because America failed you.

“Sokoto mob “entered our church, they destroyed windows, we’re lucky that some

of the youths in our cathedral were able to repel them before the police arrived.

They went to our pastoral centre and burnt vehicles, they went to one of our churches and burnt down part of the building. That is not part of the popular narrative. It is assumed that churches have been burnt in Northern Nigeria for the last 30 or 40 years.

“As a Priest, my church can be burnt, my members can be killed. This is the only where people kill you in the name of religion, whether it is Christian or Muslim and the federal government and the state have nothing to say, you rebuild your church, you rebuild your mosque on your own and we’re supposed to be in a country. ‘The challenge for us is that there are certain distortions in the constitution and we have a National Assembly that has not even contemplated coming close to some of the issues or even understanding the pose we must put together to talk about justice.

“So, injustice persists and will continue in Nigeria because we’re just pretending to be in a democracy. We have a democratic scaffold because it appropriates resources. It has not been tested and allowed to function.

“This is the only country where you can kill 50 people, 60 people, a hundred people and nobody cares.”

Regardless, he said they would encourage their people to vote, “but many Nigerians are legitimate to ask ‘vote for what and vote for who. There will be no need to have a government if justice is not in the centre of it all. Nigeria is an unequal society, an unjust society, and an unfair society. This is why we continue to confront these bastions of injustice, because until there is justice for everyone there can never be justice for anyone.”

•Kashim Ibrahim-Imam is President, King’s College Old Boys Association and Director and member of the Editorial Board, Thisday Newspaper.

PROFESSOR AKINLAWON MABOGUNJE IN MEMORIAM are older than the fathers of these people), which was only partly true because he was in his 80s. As he followed me to the front, I could see some hesitation in his gait and a slight discomfiture on his face for jumping the queue, which I pretended not to notice.

On completing our mission, he seemed quite satisfied and was full of appreciation.

Then came his autobiography, which was an especial delight to read. In terms of his academic work, I was particularly struck by one element: his ability to grasp and eventually teach theoretical and quantitative Geography, which he subsequently introduced to transform

the Geography department at Ibadan, which required, among other things, his learning from scratch linear algebra, calculus, computer programming at the department of mathematics, and economics during a 9-month sabbatical at prestigious Northwestern University, Illinois, USA, learning at the feet of some of the “foremost pioneers of the theoretical and quantitative revolution in Geography in the United States”. His subsequent inclusion of theoretical geography in the curriculum at Ibadan caused the Geography department to be moved from the Faculty of Arts to the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Not only that, he had sufficiently mastered

•Chief Ogunshola is the Emeritus Chairman of PUNCH Nigeria Limited.

KUKAH: PEOPLE HAVE UNDERSTOOD THEY WERE LIED TO IN 2015 POLLS Continued from page 5

“I won’t also be surprised if the next president of Nigeria tells us he would tackle insecurity, increase power generation, and what have you.

“The critical question is that aspiring leaders must be subjected to a litmus test by the people. The people must ask questions like since you (presidential candidate) said you want to deal with insecurity, can we get a sense of how you want to do it and achieve success? Can you show us from your background how you will be able to do this?

“Fortunately for us, the frontline candidates have a track record and those track records must be what we must use to project the nature of the choice we have to make,” the cleric said.

He described Nigeria’s political structure “a glorified vanished form of feudalism.”

“In Nigeria we’re playing politics without political science. I set the tone for that conversation because politics is a science.

All these hit and miss, stumble, fall and get up that we are running… What we are running in Nigeria is a glorified vanished form of feudalism that has not been able to move from mere prebendalism to the strictness of political science. Now, we set the tone for this conversation and with the quality of the debate was such that I felt vindicated. This is exactly why I decided to set up the Kukah Centre.”

He said before the symposium, he had a conversation with former president Jonathan and that “in the course of our discussion, one of the things I raised with him was that the process of team selection in Nigeria is so severely flawed because it cannot pass the test of what you might call political science in terms of governance.

“We, for example, have turned this whole thing into a process and a platform for distributing privilege, because every minister who serves the Federal Republic of Nigeria, serves on the basis of being sponsored by a friend, a traditional ruler, by somebody who has the closeness to power.”

On the qualities he would like to see in the leaders of the future, particularly in the president that would emerge in 2023, Kukah said, “The concept of leadership is increasingly being redefined as a result of globalisation.

The world is no longer focusing on who your father or mother is or what your town is. The world is now focussing on what is in your brain- your brain power - your ability, your capacity to govern the world by sheer brain not brawn. This is also the reality of politics in Africa.”

When asked to react to a statement by the Sokoto State Police Command that the real killers of Miss Deborah Samuel, a student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, were still at large months after the gruesome murder, Kukah said: “With the struggle to justice, you have to wear the shoes of a long-distance runner. Our responsibility as Priests is to comfort those who are victims of injustice. The Bible admonishes us to comfort the afflicted but I also argue that we also have the duty and responsibility as Priests to afflict the comfortable with the contradictions that stare us in the face.

“First point, Deborah didn’t die in vain.

The first thing to say about the death of Deborah is for someone to say you’re a Christian and you die in the line of duty.

No Christian who dies witnessing to Christ dies in vain, so she’s a Martyr, like Leah Sharibu and tens of other young people who have died because of their faith. That

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Parent-Teacher Association to ASUU “Many of the ASUU professors are part-time lecturers at private universities; they are behaving like this because they don’t have anything to lose. I am telling you that they will push parents and students to a level they won’t be able to tolerate” –National Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria chastising the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over declaration of indefinite strike.

KASHIMIBRAHIM-IMAM Akin Mabogunje: Geniuses Never Die GUEST COLUMNIST

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hen Professor Akinlawon Ladipo Mabogunje transited to glory in the early hours of Thursday the 4th of August 2022, the mood in the family was one of thanksgiving. He was 90 years old. The doctors had given him only four weeks, but he defied the odds and lived for another 12 weeks. Above all, his mission is accomplished.

The great poet, Alfred Lord Tennyson philosophised about death. In “Ulysses”, he emphasises that “Death closes all”. However, he is quick to add: “but something ere the end/ Some work of noble note, may yet be done…” And Professor Mabogunje’s noble works will travel the ages. He is among those of whom the ancient Greek poet and scholar, Callimachus, said, “A good man never dies” and of whom Mahatma Gandhi equally said, “Great men never die”.

Even though Winston Churchill famously said “good and great are seldom in the same man”, Professor Mabogunje, provides one of those delightfully rare exceptions. A brilliant scholar. A legend. An icon. A genius. There is simply no adjective that can capture the

Akin Mabogunje essence of the man, Akin Mabogunje. He was simply sui generis, as he belonged in a

pantheon distinctively his own. The whole world already knows that he was a scholar par excellence. But beyond his greatness as a thinker, he was also an exceptionally decent man. He was an extra-ordinary patriot. He was very simple and approachable, and an outstanding father. I can bear personal testimony to the last bit because he was also my father.

Many years ago, Professor Mabogunje confirmed to an audience that had gathered to celebrate him at the Hallmark of Labour Awards that it was true that a certain Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, a full-blooded Kanuri, was his son. But he quickly added: “not out of any rascality on my part.” However, he is not above a unique generosity of spirit that allowed him to admit, nurture, and celebrate me as one of his own without hesitation.

It started by sheer coincidence over 40 years ago. His second son, Gboyega and I grew very close at King’s College. This relationship also extended to his first son, Seun and his last born, Sola. Through the generous and kind disposition of the patriarch and matriarch of the family, this series of associations has given me all the privileges of a bona-fide

member of the Mabogunje family.

Dad was a loving family man, always finding quality time for us. My earliest and subsisting impression of him is that of a man, who gave freely of himself to the world, but did not use that as an alibi to abdicate his primary responsibility to his family. For instance, he was religious about visiting days at King’s College and he always made every visit special. In his presence, you felt like the most important person in the world. He would hug and kiss you on both cheeks. I recall the fresh mint 50 kobo note. And above all, I recall his words of wisdom.

Dad loved folklores and drawing analogies from them. He would tell you stories that would impart wisdom. I can’t remember how many times he told me the Yoruba fable of the dog that refused to kill his father despite the command of the king that everyone should kill their fathers and how the dog’s father later saved the entire community through his wise counsel. The object lesson of that story is never lost on me: that the young need Continued on page 39

AJIBOLAOGUNSHOLA Professor Akinlawon Mabogunje in Memoriam GUEST COLUMNIST

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kinlawon Mabogunje, as he then was, started the year 1940 in Elementary Standard Two but halfway through the year, he got promoted to Standard Three and then got promoted again to Standard Four at the end of the year, thus showing flashes of early brilliance.

But it was from his later years in secondary school that he actually began to shine. In his time, the secondary school course was of six years’ duration. At the end of Class 3 in 1945, he won the Class prize in Geography and every year thereafter, and was in his own words, perhaps the youngest in his class.

In the end-of-year promotion exam from Class 5 to 6, he came first in the class, and in the Cambridge School Certificate Examinations the following year, he came second, with Bola Ige doing only slightly better than himself.

At university, he not only continued to excel but even spent a considerable amount of time on social activities.

On graduation, Akinlawon went on to marry his beautiful wife who eventually rose to the higher bench. He then went on to obtain higher degrees, had his children in quick succession, all of whom are doing

exceedingly well in their own chosen fields; won academic laurels at the highest levels both locally and internationally, including election as a Foreign Associate of the United States National Academy of Sciences (1999); election as Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2017); winner of the Vautrin Lud prize which is the highest award in the field of geography (2017); was a consultant to governments in rural and urban development matters; became sufficiently prosperous to maintain a dignified existence including being chairman of Unity Bank for several years; was blessed with unusual physical stamina practically throughout his life; lived beyond the age of 90 with all his children surviving him with their children; and capped it all with the final act of male chivalry by ensuring that his wife of nearly 65 years did not predecease him.

What else remains to constitute a fulfilled existence? Or, as Professor Adegoke Olubunmo, quondam Nigerian Professor of Mathematics titled his valedictory lecture at the University of Ibadan, “What does it all add up to?”

Professor Olubunmo, whose specialty was functional analysis, was a man unusually given to deep introspection, the introvert exemplar;

he smiled or laughed little, and when he did, he seemed to smile and laugh with caution.

He died at the age of 69, a year after his eldest child obtained a doctorate degree in mathematics, and his other two children are reported to be also mathematicians.

Before Professor Folasade Ogunsola, Mabogunje’s eldest child, got married to my aburo, my first cousin Olusegun Ogunsola, economist, chartered accountant and shrewd investor, I do not now recall having met him in person but his academic fame had well announced him.

The marriage of his daughter to my aburo brought me into his social orbit in respect of matters either concerning him directly or Folasade and their own children; I, therefore, began to pay more attention to all news items that included his name. At one of those family events when I went to sit next to him after the conclusion of the formal ceremonies, I broached the subject of the then proposed Nation Health Insurance Scheme.

I expressed my doubts about its sustainability and workability, at the time, beyond primary health care in the Nigerian context as most of the drugs and equipment have to be imported, continuing currency devaluations, high inflation,

and corruption in centralized government institutions. He, of course, did not agree with me, saying that a universal National Health Insurance Scheme is desirable.

I confess that my unusual admiration for his intellectual prodigy partly derives from the fact that I dropped Geography at the end of Class 3 in secondary school (in my time, the years spent in secondary school had been reduced to five). My brain did not appear to be specially wired for the extent of photographic memory work required to excel in such subjects.

By the time I knew him, Professor Mabogunje already had a reputation of being a careful and cautious man, who was generally unwilling or slow to cause offence.

At a buffet dinner organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce a few years ago, I spotted him at the far end of the queue which was moving rather slowly because the space was small.

I went behind to drag him straight to the front of the queue, muttering in Yoruba to his hearing “E ki s’egbe baba won”, (you Continued on page 39

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