SUNDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER 2023

Tinubu Leads Dangote, Otedola, Elumelu, Ovia, Onyema, 33 Other Business Leaders to India

Ejiofor Alike

President Bola Tinubu will lead 38 businessmen and industry leaders to attend the NigeriaIndia Presidential roundtable

and conference in New Delhi, India.

The event, which is organised by the Nigerian High Commission in India in collaboration with the

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the NigeriaIndia Business Council (NIBC), is expected to be addressed by President Tinubu.

Prominent businessmen and

investors in the delegation include: Africa’s richest man and Chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote; Chairman of the Femi Otedola Foundation, Femi Otedola;

Chairman/CEO of the GIG Group, Chidi Ajaere; and Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema.

This was made known by the Nigerian High Commissioner to

India, Ambassador Ahmed Sule who, in a letter addressed to the Indian High Commission in Abuja, requested for entry visas

Continued

The 36 state governors have resolved to demand for the payment of stamp duties

Tinubu Recalls All Ambassadors, Gives Them October 31 Deadline to Return to Abuja

Exempts Nigeria's UN permanent representatives in New York and Geneva

Deji Elumoye and Michael Olugbode in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has directed the immediate recall of all career and non-career ambassadors from their duty posts worldwide.

The president, who gave the ambassadors October 31 deadline to return to Abuja, however directed that Nigeria's Permanent Representatives to the United Nations in New York and Geneva be exempted from this total recall, in view of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly, scheduled later this month.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari had in January 2021 approved the posting of a total of 95 ambassadors, including the

42 non-career ones whose nomination was ratified by the Senate in July 2020.

Tinubu’s directive, according to a statement issued yesterday in Abuja by his spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, was sequel to his careful study of the present state of affairs at Nigerian Consulate Offices and Embassies worldwide.

The statement added that the latest move was also in tandem with the President's Renewed Hope agenda as he is determined to ensure that world-class efficiency and quality, will henceforth, characterise foreign and domestic service delivery to citizens, residents and prospective visitors alike.

Continued

DEEPENING COLLABORATION…

L-R: Former vice president and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the last general election, Atiku Abubakar (left) and the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, at the Nikkah ceremony of Musa Jamilu Jibrin, the son of the Chokalin Adamawa, Alhaji Jamilu Jibrin Lamido, at the Annur Mosque in Abuja…yesterday

L-R: Groom's mother, Mrs. Sola Oworu; former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; newly-weds, Oyefolabi Oworu and his wife, Oluwatamilore (nee Bamidele); and Groom's father, Fola Oworu, at the Engagement Reception of Oluwatamilore and Oyefolabi at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos...yesterday

KUNLE OGUNFUYI Continued on page 5

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Gabon reopens borders Protesters Demand for Withdrawal of French Ambassador, Troops from Niger

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

In what was regarded as the biggest gathering since the July 26 coup in Niger, tens of thousands of protesters gathered yesterday outside a French military base in the country’s capital, Niamey, demanding

that its troops leave in the wake of a military coup that has widespread popular support but which Paris refuses to recognise.

The protesters also demanded that France withdraw its ambassador from the West African country as its new military rulers have accused

GOVS WANT PRESIDENT TO HONOUR AGREEMENT ON STAMP DUTIES

from President Bola Tinubu’s administration in line with their agreement with former President Muhammadu Buhari, THISDAY has learnt.

THISDAY gathered from sources close to the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF) that barring any unforeseen circumstances, the governors will, in their next meeting, make a formal request to President Tinubu’s administration for the payment of the stamp duties said to have accumulated to trillions of naira.

The governors argued that the trillions of naira that have accumulated from the payment of stamp duties would cushion the effects of petrol subsidy removal better than the “token” being given to the states by the federal government as palliatives.

Some of the governors, it was learnt, have also threatened to reopen the case at the Supreme Court, if the federal government fails to honour the commitment of the immediate past administration.

The Attorneys-General of the 36 states of the federation had in September 2021 dragged the then Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), before the Supreme Court over the failure of the federal government to remit the funds generated from stamp duties into state accounts.

It was however gathered that the governors and former President Buhari reached an out-of-court agreement where the former president made a commitment to pay the governors the unremitted funds, which run into trillions of naira.

In the suit marked SC/ CV/690/2021, the 36 attorneysgeneral prayed the court to determine whether or not the states have the sole authority to administer and collect stamp duties on all transactions involving individuals/persons within their respective states.

They also asked the court to determine “whether having regard to the provisions of Section 4(2) of the Stamp Duties Act Cap. S8 of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria read in conjunction with the provisions of Section 163, items 58 and 59 of the Second Schedule part I and items 7 (a) and (b) of the second Schedule part II and other provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the defendant (AGF) could claim, retain, distribute or in any other manner deal with the monies or sums collected as stamp duties on individual persons transactions within the respective states of the plaintiffs without reference to, concurrence of, input or agreement of the plaintiffs?”

The state attorneys also asked the court to compel the AGF to give account and pay back the monies generated from stamp duties from the states between 2015 and 2020 and thereafter till the time of judgment.

The states also asked for: “An order of this honourable court directing the defendant to pay over to the plaintiffs all the sum of monies amounting to one hundred

Niger’s former colonial ruler of “interference”.

The protests came as the Gabonese junta yesterday announced the reopening of the country’s land, sea and air borders, claiming that it took the decision based on its “concerned with preserving respect for the rule of law, good relations with our neighbours and all states of the world.”

calling for France to leave.

Al Jazeera reported that the protests that have taken place over the past few days have been “relatively calm and organised,” but yesterday, the demonstrators were seen “breaking the barriers set up by the security forces, the police and the military” and approaching the army base with some trying to force their way in.

relationship.

Al Jazeera reported that the demonstrators expressing frustration that there is still a French presence in the country were beginning to take matters into their own hands.

The takeover in Gabon follows coups in Guinea, Chad and Niger as well as two each in Mali and Burkina Faso since 2020, worrying international powers with strategic interests at stake.

and seventy six billion, sixty seven million, four hundred thousand naira (N176,067,400,000,00) representing ascertained and admitted collected stamp duties on individual persons’ transactions within their respective states for the period of 2015 to 2020 and thereafter till the time of the judgment of this honourable court or any other sum as the plaintiffs may be found entitled by the honourable court.”

However, the out-of-court settlement halted further actions at the apex court as former President Buhari was said to have made a commitment to pay the governors an agreed sum of money.

THISDAY gathered that all the efforts by the governors for Buhari’s administration to pay the money before it handed over power to President Tinubu proved abortive.

But following the precarious economic situation in the country, which forced the states to depend on palliatives from the federal government to cushion the effects of the removal of petrol subsidy on the people, the governors have resolved to ask President Tinubu to pay the money.

“A lot of money in trillions of naira is involved. Buhari’s administration had agreed that all the states would share N2.3 trillion. It was almost paid before those governors left. It is just a delay because nobody can stop the payment. The authenticity of the money is not in doubt. States will eventually collect the money.

The governors have resolved that the issue will come up in their next meeting in view of the issue of subsidy palliatives,” one of the sources close to the governors told THISDAY.

The source said due to the present economic situation and the need for palliatives to cushion the effects of the removal of subsidy, the governors are threatening to go back to the apex court for a definitive pronouncement on the stamp duty money.

The source added that several trillions of naira were collected by the federal government from 2015 to date.

The governors, the source said, are particularly disturbed that proceeds from stamp duty have been withheld by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the federal government, noting that “this is money every state can use now especially now that the citizens are facing hard times instead of the token that the federal government is handing out to the states as palliatives."

The source said the issue would be a major agenda of the governors at their next meeting.

Another source close to the governors also confirmed to THISDAY that at the twilight of the Buhari’s administration, efforts were made by the governors for the payment of the agreed amount to no avail.

In their suit filed at the Supreme Court, the states are contending that they are legally vested with the authority to administer and collect stamp duties on all transactions involving individuals and persons within their territories, and not federal government.

Most impacted by the July 26 coup in Niger is France, whose influence over its former colonies has waned in West Africa in recent years just as popular vitriol has grown.

Its forces have been kicked out of neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso since coups in those countries, reducing its role in a region-wide fight against deadly Islamist insurgencies.

Anti-French sentiment has risen in Niger since the coup but soured further last week when France ignored the junta’s order for its ambassador, Sylvain Itte, to leave. Police have been instructed to expel him, the junta said.

The protesters gathered near a base housing French soldiers after a call by several civic organisations hostile to the French military presence. They held up banners proclaiming, “French army, leave our country.”

Outside the military base, the protesters yesterday slit the throat of a goat dressed in French colours and carried coffins draped in French flags as a line of Nigerien soldiers looked on. Others carried signs

Reuters reporters said it was the biggest gathering yet since the coup, suggesting that support for the junta – and derision of France – was not waning.

“We are ready to sacrifice ourselves today, because we are proud,” said demonstrator Yacouba Issoufou. “They plundered our resources and we became aware. So, they’re going to get out.”

France had cordial relations with ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and has about 1,500 troops stationed in Niger.

On Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron said he spoke to Bazoum every day and that “the decisions we will take, whatever they may be, will be based upon exchanges with Bazoum.”

Macron has backed ousted President Bazoum and refused to recognise the new rulers.

France’s ambassador, Itte, has remained in Niger despite a 48-hour deadline to leave the country given more than a week ago, a decision Macron said he “applauds”.

Niger’s junta denounced Macron’s comments as divisive and served only to perpetrate France’s neo-colonial

France is not the only country with concerns. West Africa’s regional bloc ECOWAS has slapped sanctions on Niger and threatened military action as a last resort. The United States and European powers also have troops stationed in the country.

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, who holds ECOWAS’ revolving chairmanship, said last week that a nine-month transition back to civilian rule could satisfy regional powers.

Niger’s junta had previously proposed a three-year timeline.

Gabon Reopens Borders Three Days After Military Coup

Meanwhile, the Gabonese junta yesterday announced the reopening of the country’s land, sea and air borders, claiming that it took the decision based on its “concerned with preserving respect for the rule of law, good relations with our neighbours and all states of the world.”

Speaking on national television, the army spokesperson said the decision was also to keep its “international commitments.”

The army closed the borders during Wednesday’s military coup, which ousted President Ali Bongo.

Military officers led by General Brice Oligui Nguema seized powers on Wednesday, placed Bongo under house arrest and installed Nguema as Head of State, ending the Bongo family’s 56-year hold on power.

The military officers had cited institutional, political, economic, and social crises as reasons for the coup.

The soldiers, who identified themselves as members of the Committee of Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI), said they were dissolving “all the institutions of the republic.”

After announcing that they had seized power, the soldiers also announced the closure of the country’s borders.

The coup – the eighth in West and Central Africa in three years – has raised concerns about a contagion of military takeovers across the region that have erased democratic progress made in the last two decades. Coup leaders have come under international pressure to restore civilian government but said last night that they would not rush to hold elections.

Bongo was elected in 2009, taking over from his late father Omar, who came to power in 1967. Opponents say the family did little to share Gabon’s oil and mining wealth.

TINUBU RECALLS ALL AMBASSADORS, GIVES THEM OCTOBER 31 DEADLINE TO RETURN TO ABUJA

By the directive of the president, the recall of the affected officers takes immediate effect.

It was earlier reported that Nigeria's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola, had been recalled.

But the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, yesterday clarified that the federal government recalled all ambassadors from Nigeria’s foreign missions.

The minister said the action affected all career and non-career ambassadors, and not a witchhunt.

The minister communicated the information through his Special Adviser on Media, Al-Kashim

Abdul-Kadir.

“Sequel to the inquiries on the letter recalling the Nigerian ambassador to the UK, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has reaffirmed that all career ambassadors and noncareer ambassadors have been recalled on the instructions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the minister said.

The minister explained that: “Ambassadors as representatives of the country, serve at the behest of the president and it’s his prerogative to send or recall them from any country.”

The ambassadors are expected to commence the winding down of their

affairs in their countries of deployment, and take formal leave of the host government within 60 days and to return to Nigeria by October 31, 2023 at the latest.

Tuggar, while thanking them for the service they have rendered in their capacity while representing the country in their host countries, said he was looking forward to welcoming them in Abuja on their return.

Former President Buhari had in January 2021 ordered that a total of 95 ambassadors, including the 42 non-career ones, be posted out.

A statement signed by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Ambassador Gabriel Aduda, said: “The Ministry

of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform that His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, has approved the posting of ambassadors-designate to Nigerian Missions abroad.

“The list includes 43 career ambassadors and 52 non-career ambassadors.

“With this development, the process of requesting agreement from the prospective host countries has commenced.

“The ministry also wishes to inform that there will be an induction course for the ambassadors-designate and their spouses, which will hold on a date to be announced shortly to prepare and facilitate movement of the envoys to their respective missions.”

TINUBU LEADS DANGOTE, OTEDOLA, ELUMELU, OVIA, ONYEMA, 33 OTHER BUSINESS LEADERS TO INDIA

for the leading businessmen and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs).

Other prominent businessmen expected to attend the event include: Alhaji Abdul Sama Rabiu, Kola Karim, Julius Rone, Hajiya Bola Shagaya and Folurunsho Alakija.

Others are Mohammed Indimi, Prince Arthur Eze, Chief Razak Akanni Okoya (Eleganza), Sir Emeka Offor, Cosmas Maduka, Jim Ovia, Adewale Tinubu and others.

The letter to the Indian High Commissioner in Abuja was titled: “Request for appropriate entry visas to members of the Nigerian private sector to enable them attend the Presidential Round table and conference, Le Meridian Hotel, New Delhi, on 6th September, 2023.”

In the letter, Sule said: “I write to inform you that the following members of the Nigerian Private sector will be travelling to

New Delhi to attend the Nigeria-India Presidential roundtable and conference organized by the High Commission in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Nigeria-India Business Council (NIBC) to be addressed by his Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Sule listed the business leaders to include: “Alhaji Aliko Dangote – Chairman/ President, Dangote Group; Mr Tony Elumelu – Chairman/ Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation; Alhaji Abdul Sama Rabiu – Chairman/Founder, BUA Group; Mr. Femi Otedola – Chairman/Founder, Femi Otedola Foundation; Mr Kola Karim – GMD/CEO, Shoreline Natural Resources; Hajiya Bola Shagaya – Founder/CEO, Balmus Group International; Mrs. Folurunsho Alakija – GMD,

The Rose of Sharon Group; and Alhaji Mohammed Indimi –Chairman/CEO, Oriental Energy Resources Ltd.”

Others include: “Sir Emeka

Offor – CEO, Chrome Group; Chief Razak Akanni Okoya –Director, Eleganza Industrial City Ltd; Prince Arthur Eze –CEO, Atlas Oronto Petroleum Ltd; Mr Allen Onyema – CEO, Air Peace; Mr Cosmas Maduka – President & Chairman, Coscharis Group Ltd; Alhaji Dr Musbahu Mohammed Bashir – Althani Group of Companies; Mr Jim Ovia – Chairman, Zenith Bank Plc; Dr Oritsedere Otubu – Chairman, EKEDC; Mr Adewale Tinubu – CEO, Oando; Mr Gbenga Agboola – CE, Flutterwave (FinTech); Olamide Diekola Aina – Venture Platform (FinTech); Mitchel Elegbe – CEO, Interswitch (FinTech); Idris Bamidele Saliu – Ceviant Finance (Tech); Dr Fidealis Ayebae – Fidson

Healthcare Plc; Dr Okey Okoli – SKG Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd; and Dr Stella Okoli – Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.”

Other members of the delegation are “Mr Tosin Jolayemi – Daily Need Industries Limited; Seun Omobo – Eko Pharmacy Limited; Mr Patrick Ajah – May & Baker Nigeria Ltd; Mr Bayo Odugbemi – McOLIVIA Limited; Dr Monica Eimunjeze – Dedoo Bio Plus Pharmaceutical Ltd; Affiong Williams – Founder/ CEO Reelfruit; Dr Lazarus Angbazo – CEO & MD of The Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria; and Abdulfatai Yahaya – CEO, Kursi Investment Ltd.”

Meanwhile, Tinubu is also expected to be in India on a special invitation to attend the upcoming G-20 Summit in New Delhi, scheduled to hold between September 9 and 10.

RESPECT FOR ROYALTY…

APC will Take over Rivers, Ganduje Boasts

Says party will open functional offices in 8,813 wards

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has boasted that the party is set to take over Rivers State from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The former Kano State governor has also revealed that the ruling party will establish functional party offices in all the 8,813 wards across the country to bring the party closer to the people.

Ganduje disclosed his party’s plan to take over Rivers State when he hosted the leadership of Senator Magnus Abe’s group in the party in his office at the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja.

The former Kano Governor said with the agreement by the three major blocks of the APC in the state to work together, the ruling PDP in the state would soon be on the way out.

According to the APC national chairman: “We have now come to the end of the problem in APC Rivers State, as the three major blocks have now come to work together to build APC that we know in Rivers State.

“The first of the three blocks are the APC members that have been there despite all that happened. The second is the group of those who broke away from APC for one reason or the other and have decided to come back to the fold. That block is very strong and that shows hope and the third block is the block coming from the PDP. This is from the wind that we have seen so far.”

In his speech, the leader of the delegation, Senator Wilson Ake, expressed confidence in the ability of the party’s National Chairman to rejig the party, particularly in Rivers State which he said had faced many challenges leading to disaffections and seeming disintegration.

Ake assured the party leadership of the group’s readiness to support every effort to rebuild the party.

He noted that the Magnus Abe group worked for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s success and

was desirous of a stronger and better APC under the leadership of the National leader and the chairman.

The delegation had former members of the National Assembly, former commissioners, former state assembly members, council chairmen and some aspirants who worked with Senator Magnus Abe.

Meanwhile, Ganduje has also revealed that the APC will open functional offices in 8,813 wards in the country.

Ganduje also disclosed that the APC is at the concluding stage of establishing a National Institute of Progressive Studies.

Speaking yesterday in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, during the inauguration of the leadership and members of the APC National Gubernatorial Campaign Council for the state, Ganduje called on all party members and stakeholders to rally around the APC governorship candidate, Alhaji Ododo Ahmed Usman to succeed in the forthcoming election.

According to him, the ruling party believes that progressivism as a political ideology can be deployed to improve the lives of millions of Nigerians and improve society through appropriate political actions and social reforms based on advancement in science, technology, economic development and social organisation.

Ganduje said: “It is pertinent to also note that we have initiated and concluded plans to structure our party into a truly grassroots progressive party by opening full-fledged and functional offices in all 8,813 wards in Nigeria.

“This is to enable our members across the country to have both a symbolic representation of our party in their neighbourhood and a place for active interaction between and among members on one hand, and members and leadership at different tiers of government on the other hand.

“In addition, our vision is to institutionalise the progressive ideology in the body politic of our country. We indeed believe that progressivism as a political

ideology can be deployed to improve the lives of millions of our compatriots and improve our society through appropriate political action and social reform based on advancement in science, technology, economic

development and social organisation. To crystalise this vision, we are at the concluding stage of establishing a National Institute of Progressive Study.

“This Institute, going forward, will facilitate the channelling

and integrating the nation’s progressive-minded politicians into the substance, orientation and practice of progressive ideology and political best practices. This will certainly amplify our differences from

other political parties that are only interested in capturing power.

The inauguration was attended by six governors of Kogi, Ogun, Lagos, Niger, Benue and Kwara states, respectively.

EFCC Blames Loss of High-profile Corruption Cases on Frivolous Court Judgments

John Shiklam in Kaduna

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has decried its inability to secure convictions in corruption cases, including high-profile ones, attributing it to frivolous court judgments.

The spokesman for the commission, Wilson Uwajaren, in an interview with journalists in Kaduna State, highlighted some of the challenges impeding the speedy prosecution of corruption cases and securing convictions.

According to him, the losses are due to what he described as frivolous court judgments based on technicalities rather than the facts and national interest, as well as arbitrary adjournment of corruption cases, among other factors.

Uwajaren, who shared the insight at a one-day workshop for media practitioners on Effective Reporting of EFCC activities held in Kaduna State, also disclosed that the commission secured about 7,700 convictions across the country in 2022.

In his remarks, the acting Chairman of the commission, Abdulkarim Chukkol, expressed concern over the rising internetrelated fraud among the youth in Kaduna State.

The EFCC boss, who was represented by the acting Zonal Commander in the state, Aisha Abubakar, lamented that the active involvement of youths in internet-related frauds had the tendency to smear the image of the country and consequently discourage hard work and legitimate means of livelihood.

He urged the media to beam its searchlight on the menace of internet crimes and adequately inform the public about the activities of such criminal elements in order to safeguard them from falling victim to fraud.

Chukkol also restated the “unwavering” commitment of the EFCC towards eradicating all forms of economic and financial crimes in the country, noting that such efforts had led to the conviction of over 100 financial crime offenders in the Kaduna zonal office alone.

Ensure Overwhelming Victory for APC in Kogi, Say Sanwo-Olu, Abiodun, Others

We’ll

Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

The Chairman of the National Campaign Council for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State Governorship Election, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, yesterday, promised the party’s supporters that the national leaders of the party across the country would work together and provide all the necessary support to ensure overwhelming victory for the party’s governorship candidate, Usman Ododo, the November 11, 2023 election.

Describing Kogi as an APC state, he said, from the reality on the ground, Abiodun said it was clear that there was no vacancy for any other party in Lord Lugard House.

Governor Abiodun spoke at the inauguration of the Kogi State National Gubernatorial Campaign Council held in Lokoja.

He noted that, with the inauguration of the Campaign Council, election victory had begun in Kogi State, and commended the resilience and hardwork of Governor Yahaya Bello, which he said had led to the restoration of peace and security in the state.

“Governor Yahaya Bello’s outstanding achievements in virtually all the critical sectors of the state are visible for all to see and I assure you the next APC governor will build on these achievements in the interest of the good people of Kogi State,” he added.

The National Campaign Council Chairman said with the result of the last general election held in the state, it was certain that the APC would beat any opposition party in the governorship poll.

Governor Abiodun expressed satisfaction with the caliber of people nominated into the

campaign council, describing the election as the first test for President Bola Tinubu and the National Chairman of APC, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje.

Also speaking, Co-Chairman of the Campaign Council and Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, urged the opposition political parties to look elsewhere for votes, insisting that Kogi was a no-go area for opposition parties.

The Lagos State governor urged the people of the state not to be deceived by the rantings of opposition parties, saying there was no alternative to APC, describing it as “a party that has the interest of the people at heart.”

On his part, the Chairman of the APC Governor’s Forum, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, said the people of Kogi State had resolved to stay with the APC.

He said the state had fared better under the APC-led administration, adding that the opposition parties were being driven by those who did not mean well for the state.

In his remarks, Governor Bello of Kogi State appreciated President Tinubu for leading the way in the sustenance of the nation’s democracy and promised not to disappoint him in the provision of gains of democracy to the people of Kogi.

He described the APC flagbearer in the state, Usman Ododo as one “who is coming with a whole lot of experience to consolidate on the unity and achievements recorded in the State under our administration.”

Governor Bello urged supporters to campaign based on issues and shun violence, stressing that the state would remain united before, during and after the election.

L-R: Welfare Secretary, Isale Eko Descendants Union, Mr. Yomi Suenu; General Secretary, Prince Adewale Ojora; Vice Chairman, Mr. Aderemi Bashua; Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwanu Akiolu; IDU’s Chairman and former Attorney General of Lagos State, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem (SAN); and Assistant General Secretary, Mr. Dale Ajayi-Bembe, at the visit of IDU's new executives to the monarch at Iga Idunganran, Lagos Island…recently

CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY…

Obaseki Moves to Remove Deputy’s Office from Government House

The frosty relationship between the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, has taken yet another twist with an attempt by the

governor to relocate his deputy’s office to a building outside the Government House.

The new office, it was gathered, is situated on No. 7 Dennis Osadebey Avenue, close to the Government House.

UK Seeks Ways to Build Stronger Trade and Investment Ties With Nigeria

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Mr. Jonny Baxter, has said his country is seeking ways to build stronger trade and investment ties with Nigeria.

Baxter spoke in Enugu State when he attended the recent inaugural edition of the state’s Diaspora and Investment Roundtable, hosted by the Governor, Mr. Peter Mbah.

The stakeholder roundtable was an opportunity for high-level discussions on how to advance viable investment, boost trade and create more economic opportunities in the state.

Delivering the opening remarks and highlighting the UK’s new trade scheme, Baxter said: “My thanks to the Enugu State Government for putting together this timely gathering, which I hope will deepen investment and trade in the state. The UK wants to encourage UK companies to invest into the region. Building a stronger and more conducive business environment is crucial to this, and we look forward to working with the Enugu state government to do so.

“The UK’s new developing countries trading scheme harnesses the power of trade to help Nigeria, including Enugu State achieve its private sector-led economic transformation agenda. The UK is keen to maximise uptake of the DCTS. Crops such as cashew and plantain predominantly farmed in Enugu and other southeastern states, could be among the products exported to the UK based on market demand in both Nigeria and the UK.”

The Enugu State Investment Roundtable was attended by

development partners, senior-level executives from public and private sector, and other domestic financial institutions.

Also in Enugu, Chevening Programme Officer, Boma Amieyeofori facilitated a workshop at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, to teach participants how to apply for the UK’s fully-funded Chevening scholarship.

Speaking during the workshop, Boma Amieyeofori said: “The Chevening scholarship seeks to provide a fully funded Master’s Degree scholarship for Nigerians with aspirations to deliver change for Nigeria. The scholarship has built an international community of people who are committed to working together to create a better future. We do this by bringing together inspiring individuals from around the world and supporting them, through education, to achieve their goals.”

During his visit to Enugu State, the Deputy High Commissioner, Baxter also met private sector businesses from the Scholars Center for Commerce and Industry (SCCI), and former Director General, South-east Governors Forum to discuss business opportunities for both the UK and Nigeria.

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, was in June for high-level discussions with the state governor, key stakeholders, civil society, business and traditional leaders, in the state on how to attract investment, boost trade and create more economic opportunities.

The UK through the Department for Business and Trade is positioned to provide access to UK expertise and investment partners across priority sectors of the state.

The building was formerly the office of the Edo State Public Procurement Office, which was inaugurated by former governor Adams Oshiomhole on December 16, 2014.

THISDAY gathered that a signpost with the inscription, ‘Office of the Deputy Governor’ has been erected at the entrance and workers were seen renovating the building and clearing the compound.

One of the workers handling the renovation who did not give his name, said that the job is expected to be delivered on Monday.

He added that he was not

aware of what the building was going to be used for and had no idea about how the signboard was placed at the entrance.

"I work for the company handling this renovation of this building. Our job is to deliver the project on Monday as agreed. I do not know how the sign board got to the entrance of the building and I don't have any idea of what the building will be used for," he added.

Reacting to the development, the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, said: "If there is a government signboard saying so, then it must be so."

The relationship between Obaseki and his deputy had collapsed following Shaibu’s alleged clandestine plots to undermine the authority of the governor.

Recall that the state government had last Monday disbanded the media crew attached to the Office of the Deputy Governor, with a directive to Shaibu to henceforth request the Ministry of Communication and Orientation for media coverage of activities of his office.

Before then, there was a mild drama last Sunday at the church service to mark the 32nd anniversary of the creation of the

state, as a security operative attached to the governor, stopped Shaibu from approaching his principal.

As the deputy governor approached Obaseki who was seated beside his wife, Betsy, and the representative of the Delta State Governor, Charles Aniagwu, to greet them, he was embarrassed by a security operative who stopped him within two metres away from the governor.

Governor Obaseki looked the other way as Shaibu explained himself to the security operative who firmly, but in a friendly tone, kept the deputy governor away.

Tompolo’s Firm Accuses Navy of Shielding Oil Thieves

Ejiofor Alike

Tantita Security Services Nigeria

Limited, owned by a former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Chief Government Ekpemupolo, better known as Tompolo, has accused the Nigerian Navy of shielding some suspected oil thieves being pursued by its personnel.

The firm, which is an oil pipeline surveillance firm contracted by the federal government to fight oil thieves, alleged that the Navy arrested four of its personnel chasing the suspects on the high seas towards a naval base.

The Nigerian Navy had on August 31, 2023, in a press statement credited to the Commander, NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Kolawole Olumide Oguntuga, stated that it arrested four Tantita personnel for alleged crude oil theft.

But in a statement issued yesterday, Tantita described the Nigerian Navy’s statement as “a tragicomedy of errors,” insisting that it was nothing but a smear campaign.

The statement reads: “The Navy has been sharing pictures in social media of the Tantita staff in their custody in various shades of undress but kept silent about the names of the boat crew whom they were chasing. In short, where is the crew that the Tantita personnel chased into Ibeju Lekki?”, Tantita

queried.

Tantita maintained that the arrest for four days and parade of its staff by the Nigerian Navy as common criminals should “be deprecated by all right-thinking members of society, at a time when our nation is in dire straits with the unparalleled loss of revenue from a monocultural export-based economy”.

“These family men put their lives at risk for the good of the nation and are now being made to suffer ridicule for doing the right thing. It serves to demoralise good men everywhere who have sought and are seeking to do something to better our nation”, the firm stated.

It noted that “As soon as these men were arrested, the management of Tantita reached out to the Nigerian Navy seeking clarification of the situation. For four days, the Navy said they were investigating and that the men would be released”.

Tantita claimed that it had known the outcome of the Navy’s investigation on the incident, saying “there are even more damning revelations, which out of courtesy to the Navy hierarchy and the needs of national security we will not divulge on the pages of a newspaper”.

The firm however stated that the continued detention by the Nigerian Navy of the selfless Nigerians who risked their lives on the high seas to protect the

country’s commonwealth is a disservice to our nation.

According to Tantita’s press statement: “On Monday, the 28th of August, 2023 at about 0130hours, one of the company’s patrol teams operating in the Ondo State area received credible intelligence that a motorised wooden boat was illegally loading crude oil from an Offshore Oil Well Jacket, the same Well Jacket in OML 110 operated by Cavendish Petroleum Nigeria Limited, where the MT TURA II was caught stealing crude oil a few months ago.

“Based on the intelligence, an advance team was dispatched to find the wooden boat while a back-up team consisting of Nigeria Civil Defence and Security Corps component of the government security agencies was assembled to follow through on the lead.

“While we cannot name the NSCDC personnel for obvious reasons, they were six in number and our personnel were eight, not four in number.

“The advance team with the help of local fisherfolk was able to determine that the motorised wooden boat was heading in the direction of Lagos and gave hot pursuit.

“Upon noticing the approaching Tantita teams, the crew of the motorised wooden boat abandoned the wooden boat for their speed boat. One team of Tantita and NSCDC personnel

boarded the wooden boat to secure the evidence while another team gave hot pursuit.

“There is video evidence of the Tantita team together with NSCDC personnel coming alongside the wooden boat, boarding and attempting to secure the boat.

“There is also evidence of the Tantita and GSA team giving chase to the crew of the boat. How then did the Nigerian Navy get involved in this operation?

“The video also shows the Tantita crew trying to secure the wooden boat which was taking in water (this could have resulted from an attempt to scuttle the boat by the escaping crew; anyone who understands Yoruba can listen in on the conversations).

The statement added, “surprisingly the escaping crew of the motorised wooden boat fled in the direction of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operation Base at Ibeju-Lekki; so, the Tantita and NSCDC personnel followed in hot pursuit believing that the criminals would meet their Waterloo there. They were wrong. Instead of the fleeing crew being arrested, it was the Tantita personnel who came down to apprehend the fleeing crew that was arrested. After arresting Tantita personnel and freeing the crew, the Nigerian Navy personnel then went to the motorised wooden boat and drove out the combined Tantita/ GSA team trying to keep the boat and the evidence afloat.”

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, being accredited to vote at Ward 4, Unit 19, during the local government elections at the Emokpae Model Primary School in Benin-City …yesterday

Soldiers, Police Comb Forests as Bandits

Kill Seven Worshippers in Kaduna Mosque

State govt commences training of 7,000 vigilantes

John

Shiklam in Kaduna

A combined unit of military and other security personnel have besieged forests in Kaduna State in search of bandits who pretended to be members of the Ikara community and killed seven Muslim worshippers in a mosque.

This is as the police authorities in the state have blamed the members of the Ikara community for not alerting security personnel of the presence of strange persons in their community, who were seen in the market and other places by the Ikara natives before they struck.

Five of the victims were gunned down in the mosque, while the remaining two other victims were killed at different locations within the area.

The incident happened around 8p.m. when the villagers were performing Isha’i (Sunset) prayers at a local mosque, according to local sources.

A resident of the village, Dan Asabe, said two other villagers who sustained gunshot wounds were rushed to the hospital for

treatment.

The village Head, Malam Abdulrahaman Yusuf, confirmed the incident, saying the head of the vigilante in the village was among the victims killed inside the mosque.

“We suspected they traced him (vigilante boss) to the mosque to attack him. We were inside the mosque praying when they arrived and started shooting.

Five persons were killed at the mosque, while a driver who brought food items to the village was also killed. The other person was killed at a nearby village,” he said.

He said security agencies comprising soldiers and police from Ikara town and Palgore area arrived at the scene around 12:30am, but by then, the bandits had already left the village.

According to him, one of the victims with gunshot wounds was taken to Aminu Kano Hospital for treatment.

He said the village was thrown into confusion.

When contacted, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Uba Sani, Mohammad Lawal Shehu,

declined comment, saying he would confirm the issue from the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs.

But the acting Public Relations Officer of the state police command, Mansir Alhassan, who confirmed the incident, said security personnel had been mobilised to nearby bushes to fish out the perpetrators.

According to him, the police and other security agencies were not informed of the attack until after the attackers had left the area.

He urged the members of the public to always report suspicious movement within their communities to nearby security agencies at the right time.

The police allegedly blamed the Ikara natives for failure to inform them of the presence of the bandits in good time, so as to thwart their mission, and disclosed that “the bandits were spotted in the village on surveillance earlier in the day but none of the villagers could alert the appropriate security agency before the hoodlums

struck in the night.”

“The command is not happy with the situation. The bandits went to the village around 4 p.m., buying things from the villagers. Seeing strange faces, the villagers were supposed to communicate with the police in the area.”

“The Commissioner of Police is drawing the attention of the public that whenever they see strange faces, they should alert security agencies that are close to them. The public should assist the police in giving prompt information for quick response,” Hassan said.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna State government has commenced the training of 7,000 recruits of the State Vigilance Service (KADVS)

Speaking while declaring the training opened on yesterday at the Police College, Kaduna, the state governor, Senator Uba Sani, said the recruitment was done to assist security agencies with actionable intelligence in tackling the security challenges facing the state.

He said with their knowledge of the local environment, bandits

SEC: Ongoing Economic Reforms Will Rejuvenate Nigeria's Economy

Festus Akanbi

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has commended the ongoing multi-layered economic reforms by the current administration, saying the new dispensation is capable of rejuvenating the economy and improving the standard of living of Nigerians.

A statement issued by the commission yesterday quoted its Director General, Mr. Lamido Yuguda, as saying that the remarkable 5.23 per cent surge in market capitalisation at the NGX on the first day in office

by President Bola Tinubu was driven by optimistic anticipation of market reforms.

According to Yuguda, “It is a fact that there are prevailing challenges arising from demanding macroeconomic conditions, constrained consumer spending, and rising operational costs. Despite these challenges, there remains a shared sense of optimism that ongoing rigorous reforms will rejuvenate the nation's economy.

I therefore pledge the resolute support of the capital market to the federal government in navigating these challenges for

the country’s brighter future.”

Yuguda stated that Nigeria had outperformed global indices on gains in the All Share Index (ASI) and market capitalization in the first half of 2023, an indication that the economy is being reflated.

He noted that the exceptional performance is attributed to several factors, such as; the appealing dividend yields offered by certain stocks, the recovery of corporate earnings, and a notable improvement in sentiments among domestic retail investors.

“All the indicators reflecting

investors' involvement –including volume, value, and the number of transactions – had demonstrated consistent monthon-month increases throughout the first half of 2023,” he said.

The director-general also stated that the Investments and Securities Bill (ISB) 2023 which aims to align regulations with the modern dynamics of the market is presently being considered by the 10th National Assembly and expressed the hope that if passed into law, it will enable optimal contribution of the capital market to national development.

will have no hiding place.

According to him, the recruits were drawn from the 23 local governments areas of the state.

Sani said his administration is committed to strengthening the manpower and overall operational capacity of KADVS to compliment the efforts of security agencies in combating crime.

“Since its establishment, KADVS has been working with security agencies to degrade criminal elements.

“But we face the challenge of inadequate personnel to successfully wage the battle against bandits and other criminal elements.

“It is for this reason that our administration decided to recruit 7,000 personnel into the Kaduna Vigilance Service (KADVS)”, the governor said.

According to him, the recruitment and screening of the trainees was the collaborative efforts of council chairmen,

traditional and religious leaders, key stakeholders at the grassroots level, and security agencies.

“The screening was very thorough. We have here energetic young men and women of transparent honesty who are committed to securing our local communities.

“The Kaduna Vigilance Service is a complementary security outfit. It will assist the security agencies with actionable intelligence.

“With its knowledge of the local environment, bandits will have no hiding place,” Sani said. He, however, warned the recruits against violating the rights of citizens, stressing that KADVS was set up to protect the people, not to violate their rights.

“We shall not hesitate to discipline any person that flouts the operational guidelines or code of conduct of the service,” he warned.

DSS Releases CBN Deputy Gov, Kingsley Obiora

The Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in charge of Economic Policy, Dr. Kingsley Obiora, has been released by the Department of State Services (DSS).

This development was confirmed yesterday afternoon by a source close to Obiora, who also admitted that the apex bank’s deputy governor spent some days with the DSS.

The source, who is an official of the CBN, said he had no knowledge of what transpired between Obiora and DSS while in detention.

He said the deputy governor’s release from detention was welcomed by the staff of the apex bank, many of whom were already worried that they were being specifically targeted.

The CBN official said the Jim

Obaze-led Special Investigations Panel had “requested for several documents from many departments as part of its investigation to unravel what transpired in the CBN under Godwin Emefiele”.

He also disclosed that the Special Investigation Panel had requested for documents from Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL Plc) and the NIRSAL Microfinance Bank (NMFB).

Following the arrest of Emefiele, President Tinubu appointed a special panel led by Jim Obazee to investigate the CBN.

As part of this ongoing audit, the panel has been questioning the deputy governors of the CBN and other senior officials of the bank.

Okpe, Major-General Felix Mujakperuo (rtd); former lecturer and Secretary of Nigeria Law School, Mr. P. C Anaekwe; Director-General Nigeria Law School, Prof Isa Chiroma, SAN; Secretary, Lagos State Government, Mrs. Bimbo Salu-Hundeyin; and Deputy Leader, Law Class of 1985, Chief Charles Edosomwan, SAN, during the presentation of the Class Award to Anaekwe at the class reunion in Abuja…recently

LEGAL ICONS…

Edo LG Polls Free, Fair, Says Obaseki as APC, LP Describe Process as Charade

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has commended the state Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) for the smooth conduct of the local government election.

Obaseki gave the commendation after casting his vote at Ward 4, Unit 19, in Emokpae Model Primary School, Oredo Local Government Area of the state.

However, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Labour Party (LP) in the state have

described the exercise as a charade.

The governor arrived at his polling unit at about 1.48p.m. and voted at exactly 1.51p.m.

Addressing journalists after casting his vote, Obaseki said he was impressed with the turnout of voters across the state.

“The turnout was very impressive in spite of the rain. There was quite considerable turnout and it showed the interest in the local government election. This means that the political parties did well by going round sensitising and mobilising the electorates and the

MainOne Reinstates Commitment to Internet Growth in Africa

Emma Okonji

MainOne has reinstated its commitment to the growth of internet in Africa by successfully hosting the 12th edition of the African Peering and Interconnection Forum (AfPIF) in Accra, Ghana last week.

The event, co-hosted by the Internet Society (ISOC) and the African IXP Association (AFIX), drew an impressive gathering of global and local industry leaders, regulators and stakeholders advancing Africa’s digital landscape and strengthening connectivity across the continent.

Ghana’s Country Manager, MainOne, Emmanuel Kwarteng, emphasised the significance of AfPIF 2023 in fostering col-

laborations across Africa’s digital ecosystem.

Kwarteng said: “In an era of rapid technological advancement, the Internet and content have emerged as two major pillars of modern society, transcending geographical boundaries and revolutionising the way we do business, communicate, learn, and interact with the world around us.”

“We cannot overemphasise the critical role that peering plays in enhancing the reach, reliability, and efficiency of this new digital lifestyle. By collaborating with the Internet Society on the shared vision of an inclusive and interconnected Internet society for the continent, we believe that the transformative partnerships formed here will drive value for a more connected Africa.”

We Want Nigeria to Progress as One Entity, Says Cleric

The founder of The New Seraph Church, Dr. Oluwaseye YomiSholoye, has called for a united Nigeria that is progressive as one entity.

She spoke at a special prayer organised for the country at the just-concluded Night of Divine Experience – NODE 5.0.

The Iya Aladura General reiterated that The New Seraph would continue to pray for the unity, progress, prosperity of Nigeria.

She said: “We want Nigeria to progress as one entity, not a dismembered nation and we

know that besides hard work and effort, there is more.

“Psalm 127 says, unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labour in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.

“This is why we saw the need to gather as a people to cry to God for mercy over the affairs of Nigeria and that is what we have just done.

“It is, however, our prayer that God Almighty crowns the efforts of this administration, so that Nigeria can be great again.”

people,” Obaseki explained. He added: “The process has been smooth and peaceful as a lot of people are still hanging around to see the end and conclusion of voting. I am very impressed by what has happened as the organisation by EDSIEC has gone fairly well. You have so many people still here at almost the closing of the poll, which shows that we have a fairly decent turnout.

“I have been getting updates from across the state and this seems to be the trend all over. I have not received any report of violence yet and pray everything goes smoothly.”

Also speaking from Jattu, in Etsako Local Government Area of the state, the state deputy governor, Mr. Philip Shaibu, described the poll as peaceful, calm and the most-important of all the elections.

According to Shaibu, the local government elections are the most important to the people because it is the only election that affects the people directly at the grassroots.

Shaibu, accompanied by his wife, spoke with journalists shortly after casting his vote at his polling unit in Ward 12, Azama Primary School, Jattu. He said he was happy

that the process went well as planned without hitches. However, the opposition APC and their LP have criticised the exercise just as the LP even protested to the premises of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) where the party complained about the undersupply of electoral materials.

LP described the election process as a charade.

Zamfara Reels out Roadmap to End Insecurity, Governance Deficit

Gboyega Akinsanmi

The Zamfara State Government yesterday disclosed that the administration of Governor Dauda Lawal had reeled out a new road aimed at ending years of banditry and utter neglect of governance in the state.

The state government further disclosed that the roadmap placed emphasis on rebuilding communities shattered by years of insecurity and engaging in projects of urban and

rural development that will fast track recovery.

The Commissioner of Information and Culture, Hon. Mannir Haidara revealed the effort of the new administration at a session with journalists in Ikeja GRA, Lagos yesterday.

After his inauguration, Lawal had revealed how his immediate predecessor and Minister of State for Defence, Malam Bello Matawalle left N3 million in the coffer of the state, compelling him to run the state on credit.

He had also revealed how the Matawalle administration defaulted the payment of salaries to all civil servants and pensioners in the state three months before the end of his tenure coupled with intractable insecurity that engulfed the state during the period.

At the interaction yesterday, however, the information commissioner confirmed that the Dauda Lawal administration“hasstatedimplementinga road map that will see the state emerge from years of banditry and utter neglect of governance.”

Haidara noted that the state government under Governor Dauda Lawal “remains firm on its position of not negotiating with bandits and supporting all the security agencies in the effort to rid the state of rampaging bandits.

“For Governor Dauda Lawal, there is no going back on never negotiating with bandits and putting all commitment to making sure that the people of Zamfara state live without the fear of being attacked.

Immigration Establishes Taskforce to Ensure Timely Passport Issuance

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has established taskforce to ensure timely issuance of international passports, warning that no excuse would be entertained for backlogs.

The Comptroller General of NIS, Mrs Caroline Adepoju gave the directive during her end of month parade at the Immigration Headquarters, Abuja at the weekend.

A statement issued by the spokesperson of the service, Mr. Dotun Aridegbe after the parade

quoted Adepoju saying continuous stay of passport control officers in all passport offices across the federation depends on their ability to issue passport as and when due.

According to the comptroller general, backlogs have to be cleared with no excuses as the booklets are regularly issued to the passport offices.

To ensure compliance of this directive, the Nigeria Immigration Service noted it had established a taskforce to monitor activities of the passport offices and give

daily reports to the Comptroller General.

Adepoju noted that the process of obtaining the Nigerian passport had made seamless for people who applied for it.

She gave the assurance that no stone would be left unturned in order to make it possible for Nigerians to get their passport with ease.

Meanwhile, the Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service has intercepted 61 illegal migrants, including 60

Cameroonians and one Burkinabe, from two locations in the Ibafo and Sagamu areas of the state.

The command, in an interview by the state Comptroller of the Immigration Service, Olufunmilayo Olayemisi, added that 51 others believed to be accomplices from Nigeria were also arrested.

Parading the suspects at the command’s office along the Presidential Boulevard in the state capital, Olayemisi said the suspects were without valid travel documents.

Fix Infrastructure Deficit on Lagos Island, Akiolu, IDU Tell Govt

Segun James

The Isale Eko Descendants’ Union (IDU) has paid a visit to Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwanu Aremu Akiolu 1, seeking his support for the union’s programmes on education, urban regeneration, culture and health.

IDU, established as far back as 1939 to secure a better future for sons and daughters of Isale-Eko origin, observed infrastructure deficit in the indigenous com-

munity, thereby calling upon the State government to address the infrastructure deficit in the area.

The Chairman of IDU, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem (SAN) made the observation recently when the newly inaugurated members of IDU’s executive committee paid courtesy visit to Akiolu in Iga Idunganran, the traditional residence of the Lagos monarch.

Other members of IDU’s executive committee on the visit include its Vice Chairman, Mr.

Aderemi Bashua SAN; General Secretary, Prince Adewale Ojora; Assistant General Secretary, Mr. Dale Ajayi-Bembe; Welfare Secretary, Mr. Yomi Suenu and Chairman-designate of the IDU Culture Committee, Mr. Akinwale Irokosu. Alongside the monarch, who is also the patron of the union, several white cap chiefs led by the Olori Oloye and Opeluwa of Lagos, Chief Lateef Ajose, equally attended the meeting.

Speaking at the meeting, Kazeem acknowledged His Royal Majesty for his leadership and sought his support for the union’s programmes on education, urban regeneration, culture and health.

Kazeem, also former Attorney-General of Lagos State, observed that Isale Eko was in dire need of attention as its roads were collapsing due to poor drainage, flooding and poor sanitation.

L-R: Associate Partner, Citipoint Legal Practitioners, Mr. Bayo Alabidun; Managing Partner, Folorunso Ilori & Co; Mr. Folorunso Ilori; Managing Partner, Femi Falana Chambers, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN); Mr. Dele Alesinloye of Alesinloye & Associates; and Managing Partner of Jeleel Olayinka & Co., Mr. Jeleel Olayinka, at the 2023 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association in Abuja...recently

lasting solution to the problem of oil theft and low production will bring the desired results and improve the much-needed revenue that will boost the country’s economy, writes

For most of last week, media attention was focused on the ongoing tour of the nation’s oil and gas fa- cilities in the oil-rich areas by a special presidential team led by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, amid a cocktail of measures being put in place to plug the loopholes in the nation’s revenue sources.

Analysts described the latest onslaught against oil thieves as a low-hanging fruit in the face of the current revenue crisis, foreign investment in the country.

On the delegation with the NSA were Christopher Musa; and the Chief of Army

Others include Minister of Defence, Muhammed Badaru; Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle; Minister of State (Oil), Petroleum Resources,

Also, senior management team members of the Nigerian National Petroleum other top security personnel made the delegation.

Currently, the government is battling to check the activities of economic saboteurs bunkering operations.

boggling revelation of unrelenting oil theft and the sheer estimation of the corresponding revenue losses have position on the urgent need to plug the loopholes in the nation’s oil revenue.

According to Ribadu, Nigeria currently loses 400,000 barrels of crude oil daily to criminals and economic saboteurs. At the current crude oil price of $87.99 per dollar, the losses translate to $35,196,000

Nigeria loses almost N10 trillion to oil thieves every year.

Ribadu made the shocking revelations after the inspection of the oil and gas facilities at Owaza in Abia and Odogwa penultimate week.

He maintained: “Nigeria can produce two million barrels of crude daily, but we are currently producing less than 1.6 million barrels due to theft and vandalism of pipelines. “So, we are talking about 400,000 barrels of crude oil going to waste. to ending the menace at whatever cost in the interest of the government and the people.

“We have the marching order by Mr. President to stop crude oil theft and all other vandalism around our installations and that we promised to do.”

Speaking on the visit, the Minister ofpobiri, said the federal government was

committed to putting a stop to pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta.

“We are here because of the problem of pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering that is going on in the Niger Delta. I believe that it has become an existential

became manifest in the oil production data for the second quarter of the year which recorded an average daily oil production of 1.22 million barrels per day (mbpd).

of Statistics (NBS), was much lower than the daily average production of 1.43mbpd recorded in the same quarter of 2022 quarter of 2023 production volume of 1.51 mbpd by 0.29mbpd.

13.43 per cent (year-on-year) in Q2 2023, indicating a decrease of 1.66 per cent points relative to the rate recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2022 (-11.77 per cent points when compared to Q1 2023 which was -4.21 per cent.

It said 20 illegal pipeline connectionsies were destroyed in the Niger Delta recently.

Oil industry watchers believe much still needs to be done by the federal government to halt the rising cases of vandalisation and outright theft in the -

enough to eliminate the problem of oil theft in the country.

According to an energy expert, Prof. Wumi Iledare, Nigeria has tolerated a lot of criminality in the energy sector in a way that encouraged criminality to fester for a long time. He dismissed calls for the government to approve theing that such would be an exercise in futility.

to run these illegal facilities now because they are not paying for crude oil that is stolen.

culprits are not paying for their crimes,” he said. Iledare added that communities should also take up the challenge of policing such oil facilities and that the constitution should be reviewed in such a way as to give states control of the assets. He stated: “States should be allowed to take care of their oil resources because they know their people,” he suggested.

by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria,

punish criminals in the oil sector, anyone found stealing the nation’s resources.

be enough desire to achieve the aim

means there should be a way out.”

He dismissed the call for the set-up of another security agency to monitor the maritime sector, and argued that the existing security apparatus can do

troversy over the N48 billion crude oil pipeline surveillance contract awarded to State governor Siminalayi Fubara saying it was wrong to award such a contract to ‘one man’.

He said the decision would not serve because, in his view, an individual should not have control over the assets in another’s territory. His view was corroborated by the Ikwerre Peoples Congress (IPC) which said there was no reason for the government to exclude critical stakeholders like the Ikwerre people whose land hosts a large percentage of the pipelines.

But some other Niger Delta leaders and stakeholders under the aegis of Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change (NDIMRC) took an opposing should be renewed as it has helped in checking oil theft in the region. Fubara, who mentioned no name, told the highpowered federal government delegation that “Security of pipeline should not be given to one man or one person. How can

it will work.

It is hoped that the ongoing assessment of the oil and gas facilities will be followed to a logical conclusion and all the indicted individuals behind oil thefts will be made to face the law as anything short of this will amount to playing to the gallery as usual.

-

An illegal refinery

DONALD TRUMP AND THE ELECTORAL INSTITUTE

Dr. Kole Shettima, the Africa Director of MacArthur Foundation, injected, what he called a ‘’Political Economy’’ of electoral contests, to Professor Jinadu’s call for a new DNA of politicians. When politicians regard politics as a means of ‘’economic survival’’, it is to be expected that they will become ‘’bad’’ people.

The seemingly cynical and repeatedly inciting use as a campaign slogan the that votes cast for him were stolen, was echoed in Jinadu’s assertion that the call for the ‘’Rule of Law’’ is futile if there is no ‘’shared values’’ in the political arena.

Most American voices reported by ‘’liberal’’ American media, lament that sector of society, fans intolerant and violent political actions.

On January 6th, 2020, a mob that foamed- in- mouths with rage and chants for hanging the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, and Trump’s Vice President, Mike Pence, exposed the latent civil war that the lack of ‘’shared values’’ arouses during election contests.

In Nigeria large quantities of guns are imported in seasons of voting.

FREDRICK NWABUFO

SHIFTING FROM THE STATUS QUO

Governance is serious business. It demands gravitas, rigour, diligence, and urgency. Those saddled with the responsibility of managing public trust must do so with circumspection, sobriety, and solemnity. The mood of the country, today, dictates temperance and moderation entrusted with public utility.

At a time of national disquiet, wild celebrations over public responsibility are simply not the way to show attunement to prevailing concerns. Public service, ordinarily, should command less festivity and more solemnity.

On 28th August, 2023, Professor Adele Jinadu ritually preached to a youthful audience about ‘New Hope’ for achieving virtuous elections in Nigeria. His pulpit was INEC (‘’The Electoral in tribute to intellectual leadership of Professor Abubakar Momoh, a deceased former chief executive of the institution.

The date was without an intended coincidence with legal troubles of former American president, Donald Trump, for the possible crime of demanding a reversal of votes for Candidate Joe Biden. election results in the State of Georgia was captured on television refusing to an arithmetical ladder for him to climb over a cruel wall of defeat mocking his ambition.

Professor Jinadu did not mention Trump’s struggle against a judicial regards as daylight robbers of votes cast for him. He gave prison cameras a photo him glaring like a fuming buffalo. His propagandists gladly printed it on T-Shirts. It instantly sold for seven million dollars for his election campaign.

He was a model for the Opposition Party in Zimbabwe and coupists in Gabon who rejected victories of incumbent presidents Mnangagwa and Bongo, respectively in Zimbabwe and Gabon.

Jinadu had fumed at the behavior of Nigeria’s politicians over electoral competition. He declared that it was imperative that there be a change ‘’in the DNA’’ of politicians. There must be a ‘’TWIN’’ of changes: a change in the ‘’ATTITUDE of politicians’’; and in that of voters.

Jinadu’s dictum that the ‘’best law in the land’’ without corresponding internalized good attitudes is valueless, hinted at desperate ‘GAMBONIAN’ change. A celebration of passive voters surging forth to vote in the 2023 elections, did not reach for exposing what was at the root of past anomies. A cold silence which met a claim that politicians are passionate patriots, gave a hint of ‘sleeping disgust’.

Jinadu had bashed political parties for falling back to sins which Justice Uwais and his team of holy political surgeons had recommended as remedies for faults which President Umaru Yar’Adua had boldly promised to dredge out. These included the merit of each political party allocating 35 per cent of candidates to women as insurance for breast feeding Nigeria’s democratic process.

WRAPA (Women Rights And Political have published researched high quality studies to support lobbies for the inclusion of women in elected and appointed bodies that make government policies. Male-owned political parties remain blind, illiterate haters of women’s access to money pots.

‘’Lack of honesty’’, fraudulent mathematics (which calmly reduced one thousand votes cast for women to was reported by Eniola Cole, a female Election Observer from Lagos. A ‘’Code of Conduct’’ to be used vigorously by a body inside each political party was suggested.

A major unstated target of Jinadu’s criticisms was disgust with the roaring popularity of Donald Trump ahead of debate Republican Party contestants lacked courage to criticize Trump due to fear of annoying his adoring supporters. In Nigeria those who use Trumpian appeal to tribalism and religious hatred in election contests, have shed blood as a language of debate.

Jinadu and Shettima also punched Media and Civil Society activists for partisan loyalty, and facing the truth with fractured dark glasses of corruption when bashing election officials. Hope has costs.

The voting public must learn to rebuke and punish politicians who act as ‘’rogues’’. ‘’We must all be Policemen’’ to defend the growth of ‘’good election culture’’, he thundered. Prof Oculi writes from Abuja

But there seems to be a shifting from the status quo. On Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesman, said the President would not hesitate to sack any underperforming appointee. He said: ‘’The President has set the benchmarks. The question now is about enforcement, and the President has shown, as he did during his time in Lagos State as governor, that he is not He is not somebody that is afraid to levy quick sanctions to ensure that they get the results that he wants, because, ultimately, if this administration fails, they will not say a minister failed or a set of ministers failed. They will say President Bola Tinubu failed, and he will not accept failure.”

Ngelale’s statement stirred reactions – I believe for its unorthodoxy. In the past, them self-confessed, enjoyed uninterrupted tenures, and even re-engagement. An anomaly that hangs over the national consciousness like a wraith. But there are knowing signs that there is a shifting from that status quo.

At the inaugural federal executive council meeting, President Bola Tinubu gave members of his cabinet their marching orders. A statement issued by the presidency quoted the president to have said: ‘’Emphasizing that anyone thinking that are mistaken, the President expressed members know that his government is a new one with a new approach and a new mandate to deliver for Nigeria without any lamentation or excuses.’’

The President was also reported to have told his ministers: “You and I know that expectations are high, and these are tough times. We must work hard and move ourselves to create a buoyant economy that will serve Nigeria.’’

And clearly discerning the mood of country, the President directed the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs to freeze the processing of visas for all government the United Nations General Assembly without proof of direct participation in This was said to be a part of measures to reduce the cost of governance. Under a tonnage of hardship effectuated by some very necessary and compelling reforms, Nigerians have asked the government to show concern by cutting the cost of governance. I believe the government’s gesture will be a continuum.

Things should be done differently and are beginning to be done differently. A new order from what it used to be. The otiose status quo should not be re-invented or perpetuated. Nigerians deserve a breath of

crisp oxygen.

This shift from the status quo should advance further, bringing vibrancy, fecundity, and vigour to our system.

A shift from the status quo implies as servants of the people, and not their sovereign; submitting to transparency and accountability.

A shift from the status quo means the business of governance must be done with private-sector discipline; goal-oriented, performance-driven, and with clear targets. The administration is already bringing this inclination to governance.

A shift from the status quo dictates and competence in the management of implies the pursuit of the national interest, unity, and peace of the country at all times.

A shift from the status quo dictates sustaining the stimulus of Renewed Hope. And it is a good start.

Good governance is the kernel of Nigeria’s development. Effective leadership will address a good number of today’s nettlesome challenges. The vexing problems with education, healthcare, security, unemployment, and electricity can be managed or palliated with responsible leadership.

But there is also the need for citizens to shift from the status quo. There is the place of leadership and there is the place of followership in building a country. Citizens have as much responsibility as the leadership. But it is fundamental for the leadership to be the rallying crucible; to be the trigger and nucleus for nation-building.

Nigerians across stations, persuasions and ideological and political leanings will need to play their role to keep the wheel steady and in forward motion. The civil society, the media, and we, occupiers of the office of the citizen, have our part to play. Nigeria is our collective patrimony. It is our responsibility to make it work. It is our responsibility to help the country blossom.

argues that it is the responsibility of Nigerians to make the country work

The voting public must learn to rebuke and punish politicians who act as ’rogues’, writes OKELLO OCULI

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA

Email

OIL THEFT: BEYOND THE LAMENTATIONS

The authorities must do more to stem the economic haemorrhage

revenue depletion while begging for foreign loans to

oil thieves who now operate most disturbing is that the federal government Delta; it revealed to me lamentations about the magnitude of the theft

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

that raised questions now trading damaging allegations over a boat with

Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief(150-200 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (950- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive. com along with the email address and phone numbers of the writer

Letters to the Editor LETTERS

AFRICA, DEMOCRACY AND BARREL OF THE GUN

hand and the regrouping of the Austen Akhagbeme, Abuja

At a time Nigeria needs all the resources it could muster to tackle the challenge of infrastructure and unemployment, it is rather unacceptable that the government seems helpless on how to deal with what clearly threatens the economic well-being of the nation

SOFT FINANCE

“I Cannot Come and Kill Myself: Let Me Chop Life Small”

There is this Billionaire friend of mine; we have been close for more than two decades. I have always been awed by the meticulous ways in which he handles all aspects of his wealth. He believes that you must not just make money, but that you must learn how to manage it; how to multiply it; how to make it last and how to make it count. Each time I enter his sprawling compound inside an enclosed edifice that stretches to almost half of the street it is located in, I always marvel how an individual can be such painstaking in the way he allows wealth to speak, so to say .

He told me he wrote his will when he was 35 years of age and he also purchased his final resting place(where he would be buried when he is gone) at the same age. I got to know not too long ago about the massive stuffs he accomplished in philanthropy, most of them not to the knowledge of the general public.

For reasons I have not been able to explain, every time he asked me how I was building my own wealth , I have not been able to answer the question and he has refused to drop the ball. In fact, one very nice sweltering afternoon, he had

placed a call to me and wanted to know if he could see him and when I got to his house the reason he called had to do with the same question he has always been asking me.. The first time I met my Billionaire friend, the calendar read 1989. He was then, in a conversation with one of my friends. Back then, I was a cub reporter,

oscillating between writing, editing and re-editing. One thing led to another, and the conversation spilt to my corner. We got talking, and we have built a solid relationship, ever since.

When I got to his home, he had some visitors. He reached out for me, to give him ten minutes, and he stayed true to his words. I guess enlightened billionaires (he likes to the word enlightened are men of their words. I sat in silence till his fine voice broke the serenity:

“Yes, my boss, thank you for honouring my invitation. I have two concerns about you that I want us to discuss, but I had just not been able to get around to doing so. My first and main concern is this; we have known each other for over three decades, and there is possibly nothing I am doing that is secret to you. I want to ask a simple question: ‘Is it that your profession prevents you from building a personal wealth or you are not just interested?’”

The question shocked me. Who does not like to build Wealth? However, my reply was pious.

I am a journalist. We are trained to observe what people do and make news and features out of such.

“And that prevents you from building some savings and investments, in the process of your reporting

on others?”

Not exactly, sir.

“I understand you are a pastor, but I’m curious. Does your religion forbid you from building Wealth, or is it meant only for sinners?”

By no means, sir. I am not a pastor. I am not even a deacon ( by God’s grace I am now a deacon) , just simply Ayo Arowolo. But more accurately, in our church parlance, you could call me Brother Ayo.

“That brother one is beyond me. Let me stick to the one I know. You are my boss.” – his voice was lighter. I felt it was the perfect opportunity to move the spotlight on him.

Sir, I am just wondering why you would be calling me your boss? You have all the money and the things money can buy, for your family’s reasonable comfort.

“Well, you are a journalist of repute. I like your writing style, and would have liked being able to write like you.”

Let everyone abide by his calling. And we will all be fine.

Read

Special Report on Mutual Funds

“Investing in mutual funds is a game changer: it is like engaging the services of the very best experts in investment to work for you without being asked to pay for the real values they deliver. It is like eating your cake and still having it back”

-Abimbola Olashore, Director, Lead Advisory Partners Limited.

“One key advantage of investing in mutual funds is the low investment threshold: You can invest in Nigerian mutual funds with as little as N5,000. Due to the relatively low investment threshold, the market has grown because of the industry’s appeal to retail and individual investors”

-Aigbovbioise Aig_Imoukhuede, President, Fund Managers Association of Nigeria

On Monday, September 18, 2023, THISDAY ECONOMIC INSIGHTS UNIT (TEIU) shall be publishing a special supplement on Mutual Funds in Nigeria. With many Nigerians now more aware of the dangers of Ponzi schemes, guided investments have now become a clear alternative investment option for individual and corporate investors.

The report will be answering these questions:

1. What is a mutual fund?

2. What differentiate investment in mutual funds from investing directly in stocks and financial instruments?

3. How can one invest intelligently in mutual funds?

4. And many more...

In the report, top fund managers will be sharing their views and perspectives on the concept. Don’t miss it.

To participate, Contact: Editorial: Oluchi THISDAY-08164722713 Adverts: Dare FMAN-08023922582

“On the question of why you think wealth builders should be willing to hire quality advisers, the straightforward answer is that if a wealth builder prefers to be selfdependent, he would be heading for failure in his quest. Human successes are best achieved through the utilisation and coordination of the expert input of others to optimally achieve set goals”

Olashore

Aig_Imoukhuede

Shyllon

Democratic Autocracy àlaGabonaise : International Politics, Double Standard, and Implications

Autocracy, politically or legally defined, is political governancebyonepersonwithunlimitedpowerand authority. It is a system of government also referred to as unlimited monarchy. Monarchy is similar to autocracybecauseitisalsoaone-personruleinwhich the powers vary from absolute dictatorship to the merely ceremonial.True, there is limited monarchy in which the monarch’s power is either limited by the constitution or other restraints. Political governance in Gabon has been monarchical and autocratic since more than fifty years of sovereign existence of the Republic of Gabon.

Gabon is geopolitically located on the Atlantic coast of the Central African region of Africa and has a population of about $2.5bn as at 2021. In the period from 1839 to 1841, France established a protectorate over the Gabonese coast. The slaves released in 1849 from a captured slave-ship founded Libreville (Freetown), the modern day capital of Gabon. In fact, France not only extended her control to the interior of Gabon from 1862 to 1887 and acquired full sovereignty over Gabon, but also made it part of the French Equatorial Guinea in 1910.

Gabon acceded to national sovereignty in 1960. There were then only two political parties: Gabonese Democratic Bloc (BDG), led by Léon M’Ba and the Gabonese Democratic and Social Union (UDSG), led by Jean Hilaire Aubame. The main problem then was that, in the first post-independence election, none of the parties had the majority under the parliamentary system to be considered elected. This situation compelled the two party leaders to reject the idea of a two-party system but to accept to run with a single list of candidates. It was on this basis that Léon M’Ba became the president and Hilaire Aubame became the Foreign Minister in the February 1961 election.

Perhaps more problematic was the fact that the one-party solution became unworkable as from 1963 and that the first coup d’état took place in 1964. However, Léon M’Ba and Omar Bongo were both elected President and Vice President in March 1967. Mr. M’Ba died in 1967 and Mr Bongo declared Gabon a one-party state by creating the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) to replace the BDG. This was how Bongo remained in power until his death in 2009. Explained differently, there was no plural democracy in Gabon from 1960 to 2009. This is the background to the current coup in Gabon. It has been more of democratic autocracy if we are to admit of democracy in Gabon. The African Union has, most unfortunately, been acquiescing to this situational reality until the people’s current revolt.

Gabon as a Democratic Monarchy

Opinion on the announcement of the results of the Gabonese election on Wednesday, 30th August, 2023, especially in terms of who was the winner, varies. Many observers believe that the presidential elections, held on Saturday, 26th August, 2023, were responsible for the coup. Without any whiff of doubt, however, the election can only be one of the dynamics but not really the main causal factor. It is necessary to differentiate between the profound cause, incidental cause, and immediate causal factors. In other words, the election controversy can is, at best, an incidental and an immediate causal factor of the coup.The profound or remote reason is the intolerance of democratic monarchy in Gabon which appeared to have reached its crescendo with the announcement of re-election of President Ali Bongo Ondimba on August 26. This profound cause is made clear in the statement of the coupists.

Besides, there is also the observation that the Gabonese coup should not be likened to the coup in Niger in the sense that the coups in Niger Republic and in otherWest African countries are driven by security and governance concerns while the coup in Gabon is driven by election results. As much as we do agree that the announcement of the election results generated controversies, and by so doing, constituting an accidental factor, we strongly believe that the profound reasons for the coups in Niger Republic, as well as in Mali, Guinea (Conakry), and Burkina Faso are the same. In fact, the attitudinal disposition of the international community and many other political stakeholders has been the same.

And perhaps more importantly, it has been argued that the coup in Gabon is not really a coup d’état because the coup leader is a relation of

the incumbent president.The first implication of this observation is that, for a real coup d’état to exist, the sponsors must not be related to the incumbent president. We do not subscribe to this type of logic. It is because of this factor of closeness that coups have been taking place. In fact, Shakespeare explained it better in Macbeth that‘the near in blood, the nearer bloody.’ The unconstitutional change of government in Gabon is a coup d’état per excellence, especially that the act involved the use of force and also enabled a change of government. Additionally, the election is a pretext or an immediate dynamic for the coup and not the main reason for it. As made clear in the statement of the coupists, they are‘forced to admit that the organisation of the general election of 26 August 2023 did not meet the conditions for a transparent, credible and inclusive ballot so much hoped for by the people of Gabon.’Put differently, the interest and aspiration of the Gabonese is to have electoral transparency, credible election, and an inclusive ballot, but this hope appears to have been dashed, hence the need to protest. Besides, the coupists also complained about the‘irresponsible and unpredictable governance, resulting in a continuing deterioration of social cohesion with the risk of leading the country into chaos… People of Gabon, we are finally on the road to happiness. May God and the spirits of our ancestors bless Gabon. Houses and loyalty to our homeland.’In this regard, the Gabonese people want the ousted government of Ali Bongo Ondimba to

For us, we contend here that the Gabonese coup has not been, stricto sensu, aimed at simply changing the Ali Bongo administration but, on the contrary, to actually sustain the Bongo dynasty by adopting tactical new policies of making changes-in-continuity, which simply means changing the leader of Gabon, but still sustaining the Bongo dynasty. It is apparently because of the concerns about the likelihood of an entrenchment of a Bongo Dynasty that the military and the people of Gabon found a common interest to want to put an end to the administration of Ali Bongo. There is nothing to suggest that the chief coupist will act differently as times goes on. In fact, we also note here that President Ali Bongo, at 64 years of age, and having suffered a stroke in October 2018, was unable to perform his official functions as required. It is probably in light of his deteriorating health that a coup d’état might have been organised as a cover up to remove him and still ensure the continuity of the Bongos. Consequently, the public support for the coupists might have been misguided and, therefore, should be taken with caution, as Gabon still remains a democratic autocracy with the visible intra-Bongo disagreements.

be responsible and predictable. They want a stop to the deteriorating social cohesion. In other words, they do not want chaotic governance. They have faith in their country and they not only invoke the spirits of their ancestors but also want the intervention of God.

However, the expectations of the people were neutralised with the announcement of the re-election of the incumbent President, Ali Bongo. In other words, the people never expected such re-election announcement. Again, there is nothing to suggest that the Gabonese military were not already hostile to the government of President Bongo Ondimba before the announcement of the controversial election results. Bongo Ondimba was announced to have won 64.27% of the votes cast, while the main challenger, Albert Ondo Ossa, reportedly scored 30.77%.

Thus, it was within one hour following the announcement of the re-election of the incumbent president that the soldiers came to announce on the State Television, Gabon 24, that the government of President Ali Bongo had been removed. In this regard, the immediate reaction of the military suggests an existing determination to resist any announcement of victory of the president. It couldn’t have been within the one hour following the election result announcement that the decision to plan a coup would have been taken? Planning of a coup, especially in terms of mobilisation, cannot but require more time.

More interestingly, the coupists made it clear that they were speaking on behalf of the ‘Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions.’ Is the Committee representative of the generality of the people? The answer can be positive because the moment announcement was made that there had been a change of government, people spontaneously began to show support in various parts of the country. This type of public support should not be confused with the rent-a-crowd mentality in the mania of Nigeria. The people of Gabon apparently are saying enough is enough of the Bongos. The coup is a call for a true democracy in which the votes of the people will always count and that an end will be quickly put to the country’s political chicanery and rampant corruption. It should also be noted in this case that bags of cash were attached from the homes of Gabonese Cabinet officials. The very officials that are required to protect the people and prevent societal indiscipline, as well as punish acts of corruption, are the first same people engaging in the acts of misdemeanour.

The coup in Gabon is not different from that of Niger Republic in character: the coupists include regular soldiers, army colonels, and members of the elite presidential guards in both countries.The coupists enjoy popular support in both countries like they did in Mali. Niger Republic is very big territorially while Gabon is not big. However, they are both rich in mineral resources and their people are not rich in spite of their reported GDP per capita income. Gabon has a small population of 2.3 million and a GDP of about USD 21.64 billion in 2023. The GDP is projected to attain USD 22.24 billion in 2024 and USD 22.89 billion in 2025 according to the Trading Economics Global Macro models and analysts.

The per capita income of the Gabonese is put at $9,294.28 in 2023 compared to $10,147.63 in 2022 and $9,482.51 in 2021. As high as this per capita income may be, the disturbing aspect is that a third of the population still live below the poverty line of $5.50 per day according to the World Bank. This is in spite of the fact that Gabon is adjudged as one of the richest countries in Africa. This scenario is not different from what obtains in Niger which is rich in uranium but is still considered one of the poorest in the world. Again, France remains the former colonial master of the two countries. What really is the problem with France and with her former colonies in Africa?

Politics, Double Standard, and Implications

Many things are wrong: the politics at the national and international levels is wrong.The policy attitude is that of double standard.The implication of the politics and double standard attitude is multidimensional and the international observers care less about them. This has now ignited hostility against the current international or world order politically, economically, and culturally. In the mania of the BRICS protesting against the policies of the Breton Woods institutions, so are many countries, beginning with Francophone Africa, protesting against their colonial masters and the Western world-dominated global governance, but which is being taken with kid gloves.

First, France has never shown any preparedness to be disengaged from Africa before and after decolonisation. The statement made by General Charles de Gaulle at the January 1944 conférence africaine française, a meeting of very prominent Free French leaders, is a good pointer. It was a meeting of the representatives of all French territories in Africa, convened to determine the role and future of the French colonial empire. And true enough, critical decisions were taken at the meeting: forced labour was stopped; French citizenship was granted to the colonial subjects; some powers were decentralised; and election of colonial subjects was allowed. The colonial Régime de L’indigénat was abolished. Not only were traditional institutions maintained, access of natives to all jobs was approved and local assemblies were also established. Several opportunities were created to sustain one French Community. The only opportunity not allowed to exist was the possibility of autonomy or political independence of any of the colonies. It was never part of the political calculations of General De Gaulle. It couldn’t have therefore been a surprise that the French Fifth Republic, under General Charles de Gaulle, the French Community was established to which many Francophone Africans happily joined and those who made reservations or who actually rejected it, like Guinea (Conakry), were severely sanctioned.

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

Nguema

Taiwo Akinkunmi’s Flag Flutters on

Beyond the green and white stripes that flutter in the wind lies the compelling story of the late Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi, the national flag designer, whose life, much like his creation, bore the colours of unity, but remained unjustly tucked away in the shadows of history, Vanessa Obioha writes

I Have Always Dreamt about Nigeria Being at the Front of Every Good Thing

Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi, the national flag designer who died on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, lived a life of historic feats. His last heroic achievement before his passing was in 2021 when he embarked on making the world’s largest flag. The flag, unveiled at the Polo Ground in Ibadan, Oyo, covered an area of 3,275.6 square metres, a length of 75.3 meters and a width of 43.5 meters.

With pride emanating from his accomplishment, the national icon, widely known as Mr. Flag Man, remarked: “I have always dreamt about Nigeria being at the front of every good thing and I’m delighted to be part of this historical event.”

Akinkunmi’s aspiration to showcase the unity and richness of the country predates Nigeria’s independence. He grew up in an era where education was prized and brilliance rewarded. His journey led him to Norwood Technical College in London, where, in 1958, he encountered an advertisement in a daily in the college’s library. This advertisement sought out talented artists who could design Nigeria’s flag as the country embarked on its journey to independence. In his twenties at the time, Akinkunmi embarked on a mission to design a flag that would resonate with the country’s fight for freedom and its abundance of natural resources.

“I took details of what and what is expected to design a flag that would be used by a country that was about to witness independence,” he said in an interview.

With every brushstroke, he painted a canvas that spoke volumes to millions, reminding us that our diversity is a strength to be celebrated. The outcome was the iconic greenwhite-green flag that has come to symbolize the essence of the nation. The original design featured a red glowing sun within the white stripe, a concept later set aside by the committee responsible for the flag’s creation.

Among the numerous submissions reviewed by the committee, Akinkunmi’s design shone brightest for its ingenuity. It eloquently captured the spirit of the people, with the white stripes signifying the peace and unity of the nation and the twin green stripes representing its wealth of natural resources. Despite his background in engineering, Akinkunmi’s flag demonstrated how art and vision can weave a tapestry of shared identity, stripe by stripe. His ingenious effort was rewarded with a sum of 100 Pounds.

Thus, on October 1, 1960, Akinkunmi’s flag was raised as the official Nigerian flag, unfurling its vibrant colours in place of the British Union Jack. This event marked a new era for the nation and brought the work of a young Abeokuta native who matured in Ibadan into the national spotlight.

But that was as far as his fame would go. For many decades, Akinkunmi’s name was only mentioned in history classes with little or no relish as the country navigated through military rule and the pursuit of democracy.

Born as Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi in Ibadan, the flag designer spent his early years under his father’s care until the age of eight, after which he moved to Northern Nigeria. He began his education in the North before returning to the West, where he resumed studies at Baptist Day School, Idi-Ikan in Ibadan. After graduating from Baptist Day School Idi-kan in 1949, he proceeded to Ibadan Grammar School (IGS) in 1950,

acquiring a strong educational foundation.

In 1955, he left IGS to assume the role of an agriculturist at the Western Region Secretariat in Ibadan, serving as a civil servant. Following his studies in London, Akinkunmi returned to Nigeria in 1963 and rejoined the secretariat, dedicating his efforts to the agriculture department until his retirement in 1994 as Assistant Superintendent of Agriculture.

His relative obscurity persisted until he made a surprise appearance on a special edition of the popular TV series ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’ in 2008. Here, Nollywood star Kate Henshaw and musician Tee Mac participated on his behalf, securing a cash prize of N2 million. This appearance was fuelled by earlier speculations about his financial struggles and even his demise. In fact, back in 2006, during an interview with Al Jazeera, Olawale Sunday Olaniran, a researcher, reported that many told him the flag designer was dead while seeking to document Nigerian history.

Reports circulated that the man who brought honour to Nigeria through his flag design had faded into obscurity and was leading a life of hardship. Visitors to his home penned empathetic notes, describing his situation as pitiable and unjust. This outcry spurred a call for the government to acknowledge and reward national icons like him.

Therefore, in 2014, former president Goodluck Jonathan conferred upon him the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR). He was also appointed as a lifetime adviser of the Nigerian president with a compensation of about $4,000 (approximately N800,000 at the time).

Additionally, during the deceased’s 85th birthday celebration in 2021, former President Muhammadu Buhari lauded him as “an honourary life presidential adviser, who upholds the values that every citizen should emulate for nation building.”

During his lifetime, Akinkunmi held steadfast to his vision for Nigeria. He proudly adorned the colours of the flag, and even his humble abode bore its identity. Whether his former residence on Emerald Street, Dugbe, Ibadan, or his house in Aiyepe within the Academy area off Iwo Road, Ibadan, each structure radiated the brilliant colours of white and green.

Born on May 10, 1936, according to his Wikipedia page, Akinkunmi’s passing was attributed to a brief illness, as confirmed by his family. His departure ignited a national discourse on the tendency of the nation to overlook its national icons while celebrating less worthy figures.

He was however remembered by the President Bola Tinubu who in a statement through his special adviser, Ajuri Ngelale

hailed him for working for the greatness of the country with a “generational legacy and a place of honour in Nigeria.”

“The president affirmed that the green and white flag is a legacy that has consistently reflected the fruitfulness, resilience, and harmony

enjoyed by the nation. He said that it represented the boldness and uniqueness with which Nigerians characteristically reach for and achieve success around the world,” he said.

As Akinkunmi’s flag continues to flutter in the wind, it symbolises the unity he envisioned for Nigeria — unity in every stripe.

Former President Jonathan (right), honouring Pa Akinkunmi in 2014

Akinkunmi (middle) presenting the flag in 1960

HighLife

Vindication Times for Dozy Mmuobosi

In a landscape resonating with the cacophony of claims and counter-claims, a triumphant crescendo has emerged from the headquarters of Tingo Group, Inc. A chapter of suspenseful scrutiny draws to a close as the flourishing fintech, agrifintech and food company unveils the results of its meticulous investigation into the allegations hurled its way. August 30, 2023, stands etched as the day when Tingo Group and its founder Dozy Mmuobosi mounted a platform of clarity, embracing the world with the truth that resonates as unequivocal as a high note.

Chiedu Ebie: Right Peg in Right Hole

A new dawn of governance is settling over Nigeria. Many of the individuals now tasked with bearing Nigeria’s glory forward have led brilliant lives and are now committing themselves to the nation’s progress. Chiedu Ebie is one such person, whose obligations regarding community and country distinguish him from his peers.

The voice of President Bola Tinubu has sounded forth from the place of power, appointing Ebie as the Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). With this appointment, Nigerians are looking into every news source to determine the qualifications of the new head of the NDDC.

To the informed, Ebie is not a new name. A 51-year-old lawyer and corporate figure from Delta State, Ebie has made many marks in civil and corporate outfits. An outstanding figure for sure, Ebie’s experience as an oil and gas executive, coupled with his life’s work as one serving his nation, qualify him for the NDDC chair.

Ebie’s life may have started in Delta, but the man has touched most of the regions of Nigeria. He graduated from the University of Benin and corroborated his studies at the Nigerian Law School. Afterwards, he joined the civil service as a corporate and commercial lawyer in Lagos state.

Apart from that period of civil service in Lagos, Ebie worked as a company secretary for one of Nigeria’s big newspapers. He also afterwards became an active partner at two major law firms: Okonjo, Odiawa & Ebie, and Punuka Attorneys & Solicitors.

These experiences enabled Ebie to grasp the opportunity to work as an MD for Millennium Oil and Gas Company Limited, after a period of transitory part-time service. He also served as a Commissioner in Delta, supervising the area of Basic and Secondary Education in Delta State.

Ultimately, Ebie’s appointment is not coincidental but a recognition of ability and dedication. Nevertheless, time is going to demonstrate the wisdom of President Tinubu’s choice of Ebie over others as NDDC Chairman.

Nestled in the serene heart of Montvale, N.J., Tingo Group’s announcement resounds like a victorious anthem, echoing across the corridors of global markets. After sifting through the labyrinthine threads spun by short-seller Hindenburg Research, the curtain of uncertainty has been lifted. The auditors’ torchlight exposed the dark corners, weaving an intricate narrative that casts away doubts like a rising sun dispels the morning mist.

Guided by the North Star of transparency, Tingo Group’s independent directors summoned a symphony of expertise. Independent counsel took centre stage, investigating the Hindenburg

Mmuobosi

allegations with the precision of a maestro’s baton. Their findings, a masterpiece of impartiality, prompted the company’s own counsel to join the sonorous ensemble, harmonising the strains of truth.

In the spotlight, Dozy Mmuobosi was beset and buffeted by roaring waves of lies and character assassination. But he emerged unsullied from the sea of calumny. He stands resolute, casting his gaze over the shadowed alleys of the allegation. The allegations stand dissected, each thread under scrutiny. A tapestry emerges, woven from threads of truth: AgriFintech Holdings, Inc., stands as a tale of distant echoes, not a protagonist on the stage; Tingo Foods’ revenues and margins resonate with reality; the connection with the All Farmers Association of Nigeria dances in clarity like a well-choreographed waltz.

And as the investigation finds its crescendo, it’s not just a symphony of vindication, but a serenade of possibility. The notes of victory resonate, promising a golden dawn where Dozy soars aloft as a Titan of technology and industry with unstoppable ambitions to penetrate even more frontiers under the vast umbrella of Tingo group.

Amid this symphonic unveiling, the baton is passed to the world. The stage is set for Tingo Group to take its well-deserved bow, as it stands as a testament to the power of truth in an era that demands nothing less. With the spotlight on, Tingo Group holds its head high, ready to pen the next verse in its saga of growth and resilience.

The Gospel Truth According to Tony Elumelu

Africa’s brightest lords of industry and founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, recently made his will known regarding nation-building. Elumelu’s words, radiating deep understanding, add spice and sparkle to his doings in Nigeria.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) recently invited Elumelu over to its Annual General Conference. The members of the association, led by the president, Yakubu Maikyau, recognised in Elumelu a master of exercised potential. Thus, the association requested that Elumelu give a lecture at the conference, and he obliged.

endeavours, raising questions on the global scene about our matchless uniqueness and talents.

However, Elumelu also admitted that Nigeria’s are running well below their abilities. He explained that many of the issues that remain as dark clouds over the nation are symptomatic components that mask an underlying problem. With widespread disillusionment and a mentality that promotes the prosperity of the individual over and above all else, it is no surprise that issues such as the mass exodus of gifted youths, oil theft, and pipeline destruction are prevalent.

Elumelu pounded soberness into the hearts of his listeners, pointing out the importance of deliberate nation-building. It takes time and requires sacrifices, he mentioned, but also requires a dedication to the nation’s components, from its people to its resources and the governance of these elements.

Given enough time and the accumulation of wisdom, all roads of work and expertise can lead to mastery of life. Tony Elumelu, one of

Elumelu noted at the conference that Nigeria’s potential is vaster than the most meticulous minds can account for, particularly within the framework of the nation’s human and natural resources. It is on account of this that Nigeria shines brightly in all

…If Other Billionaires Can Be Like Femi Otedola

Nigeria is a blessed nation, no grand philosopher or master of words can argue this fact. From having the best grade of natural resources and the best minds on the planet, Nigeria has much to be proud of. Yet, there are even higher marks of accomplishment in front, where only selfless individuals like Femi Otedola can guarantee passage.

It is not news that Otedola is one of the brightest corporate giants in Nigeria. Despite not being the wealthiest, one might say that his accumulations have proved the most useful time and again. However, being only one man, Otedola has committed so much of himself that he has continued to bless Nigerians as one would expect from a thousand good men.

Otedola is widely recognised and celebrated for three big things: his philanthropy, his family, and his corporate adventures. There is no question that this is the order that the majority of people appreciate him. After all, even though his businesses and investments have borne majestic

fruits, the difference between these fruits and the appreciation of his children is the difference between earth and heaven.

Yet, no matter how grand the appreciation of his children, it pales in comparison to the appreciation from Nigerians that have had their lives changed because of Otedola’s generosity. This is why he is fondly referred to as having the biggest heart in the country.

Hundreds of Nigerians have benefitted from Otedola’s open-handedness. One cannot begin to count the number of medical bills that the man has settled or the number of opportunities for family comfort and prosperity that he has guaranteed. All of this because he dares to care for strangers as he cares for relatives.

Without question, having more billionaires like Otedola taking up the care of the masses could change Nigeria’s narrative. We would go from being pitied by the rest of the world to being envied.

Even though Elumelu’s words were lightly spoken, they communicated a sense of seriousness. They also inspired a determination to change in the hearts of his hearers. Moreover, as Elumelu has and continues to demonstrate the validity of his words in his life, his words are enough to inspire true change.

Ebie

Elumelu

Otedola

Mudashiru Obasa: Let’s Not Throw Stones

If there is anything I hate with a huge passion is being bullied. I do not like being bullied or anybody around me to be bullied. Mr. Obasa is a bully; simple and straightforward. What he just did, leading his assembly to reject 17 commissioner-nominees submitted by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is nothing short of bullying and an act designed to embarrass the governor in the public space. One can understand rejecting may be two or three, but a whole 17 shows nothing but a huge disrespect of the office of the governor and a dare for that one to do his worst.

sha falls flat.

GABON AND THE COUP NEXT DOOR

You see, this particular coup weak me. We have to pull back and study it well before we shout. Mr. Tinubu has done well to announce that he is consulting with the African Union before making a pronouncement, because this one no straightforward o.

So, the Bongo family has held down the oil rich country for 50 years. They had even started grooming a successor and superintended a “baroo” election holding the country down to ransom and forging on it one of the most inept and corrupt regimes on the continent.

Yes, coups cannot be accepted and will not be encouraged but when the people have strangulated all democratic institutions in this their 50-year misrule, what other hope do the people have? What we had in Gabon, was it a democratic government? It was an illegality and as such we must see this coup in a very different light.

This one hard o. We cannot support the coup even though it seemed to have kicked out an evil family with the support and full joy of the people, but supporting it will be laying a very bad and confusing precedent.

See us trying to fight in Niger Republic against the same thing and are here now in Gabon wanting to support the aberration that is a coup d’état. This one pass me, so I will not say anything. Let me pass on this abeg. It’s not everything I will comment on.

NYESOM WIKE: PDP, CALL THIS BLUFF

Mr. Wike is very dangerous to democracy. His position and public postulation serve to weaken very key institutions of democracy. Bestriding both political parties the way he is doing and with such pomp and arrogance will weaken both parties, throw up very spurious precedence and eventually lead to the collapse of democracy if we are not careful.

He has been appointed to the campaign council of both parties to the elections in Bayelsa State even though the APC has its own. He claims to have taken permission from the party to serve the government. He claims to serve Tinubu and not APC and has been making very dangerous utterances that remain very divisive and inimical to cohesion and growth.

My thinking is that, PDP should rise up and expel him. This should be done immediately. There is no other

damage that Wike can do to PDP that he has not done. He has disrespected their rules, campaigned against them, funded opposition all in public glare and without any remorse. Why is PDP afraid? Can someone ask them why?

OBA OTUDEKO: LET FIRST BANK BREATHE

Ordinarily, Baba should be resting in his villa. Instead of doing this, he is however orchestrating what is looking like the “last fight” of a very colourful career. His career over the long years has left many institutions gasping for breath and has majorly left “our” First Bank gasping for breath too.

When I think of First Bank and its unfortunate romance with Chief Oba Otudeko, the image that comes to my head is that of the wildlife documentary where a very beautiful and delicate gazelle is caught in a fight for its life with a very hungry lion. The gazelle will just be struggling, knowing fully well that it is a futile fight that would eventually end in victory for the lion who needs its flesh to survive.

That Oba Otudeko needs First Bank like that lion to survive is not something that can be disputed, hence his life-threatening battle to maintain control despite the many challenges he faces in this quest.

First Bank under his stranglehold has moved from a very vibrant and proud Nigerian heritage institution into a limp and very sickly baby. This humiliating turn for this once proud brand can be traced directly to the overarching influence of this lion king and all attempts to rescue this “our bank” over the years always

This is more telling especially if you consider the fact that they both belong to the same party which is now the ruling party both at the state level and also at the centre.

In response to very strong feelers from all quarters railing against the historic faux pas, he went on air and reportedly said “If you live in glass houses, don’t throw stones.” Na wa. Well, we have heard all sorts of reasons as to why this happened. Reasons from religion, lacklustre performance during the last elections to even the very childish reason of being the governor’s friends. All of these fail very badly in

The sad thing is that, chief’s holdings in this bank is so negligible that one is beginning to think how can one wield so much influence with less than 20% shareholding?

With trillions of naira in bad loans, a shaky standing in the system and a loss of leadership, First Bank has to be rescued. The rescue mission has started and is evidenced by the announced Rights Issue. This will give very credible stakeholders the opportunity to finally pull the bank out of the evil clutches of the “jerubabel” that has held the bank to ransom all of these years. Let me quote an influential shareholder that spoke to me last week, “Edgar, leave the 80-year-old man alone. FBN means a lot to him and his family and I do not know whether to share sympathy or pity.” My people, I cannot sympathise o. FBN means much more to Nigerians than one family. The jobs at risk, the fortunes of Nigerian shareholders at risk, the integrity of the financial system and the economy at large. First Bank must be rescued. Simple. Thank you.

PATRICK DOYLE, I AGREE NOT WITH THEE

Veteran actor and bi-racial personalityPatrick Doyle has looked for trouble. Why I call him bi-racial? Na Itsekiri and Calabar man at the same time. Anyways, that is not the point, he just came out with a bold but very ineffective statement. He has been reported to say that there is nothing that Burna Boy has done

covering the real reasons behind this mess up – a personal vendetta on the part of Mr. Speaker - a fight for the hold of the power structure within the party, thereby exposing its weakness and inordinate ambitions towards succession. No matter what it is, Lagosians should be watching very closely because the state is just too important economically and otherwise to be enmeshed in a needless struggle between the Executive and Legislature. The consequences would be too dire to cont emplate for the common man.

that has amounted to greatness. He claimed that before we call Burna Boy great, we should recognise such greats like Sunny Ade, Fela , Majek Fashek and the rest.

You see this argument used to lead to fights. That was how the other day, I argued that Bolanle Austen-Peters is the mother of modern-day theatre, the people nearly cut my balls. They were arguing this Patrick Doyle lame argument and calling Hubert Ogunde and Duro Ladipo.

See, much as I respect and recognise very succinctly the role these late greats played in their fields, their contributions cannot in any way be compared to what we are seeing here o.

Apart from Fela or maybe Sunny Okosun at some point, most of these people — and also maybe Majek — never cracked mainstream. They all went abroad to play at small Nigerian concentrated venues and birthday parties which they called tours. They struggled but never ever got the world acclaim recognition that we are seeing today.

Even Fela never cracked mainstream but was very popular in the alternative music festivals that littered Germany, France and other such musical backwaters but never the huge arenas like Madison Square Gardens that these boys are filling up today. Burna has achieved greatness in all its ramifications. Greater than Fela or any other African artistes of anytime. Filling up giant stadiums, generating millions in dollar sales, global facial and branding recognition and eventually winning the Grammys. Baba Doyle abeg that na greatness my brother.

He came into Lagos last December and pulled in over 30,000 people to Eko Atlantic City for example. Please, how do you even define your greatness? Let’s start from there first. No matter the definition, Burna Boy has ticked whatever boxes you want to throw at him. His influence is global and not limited to a region.

Abeg, let me stop here before one Baba from una generation come and beat me. Please let’s not denigrate these boys, they are doing far, far and above anything anybody has done in the past. Go and watch Asake, Davido, Wizkid at the O2, pulling a crowd like the world cup final. Mr. Doyle, abeg mind yaself.

Lagos Speaker, Obasa.

Bolaji, Subomi Balogun’s Son, Steps into His Shoes

“There is no greater bond than the one between a father and a son - strong, unyielding and everlasting!”

Without a doubt, this popular quote depicts the love that existed between the late Subomi Balogun and his first son, Bolaji, an investor and boss of a financial advisory service company, Chapel Hill Denham.

Although many may not know the extent of this until the passing onto eternal glory of the banking wizard in May 2023.

The high-flying businessman was not only a wizard but also a colossus in the Nigerian money market. He was a man of excellence and integrity; a trailblazer and pioneer extraordinaire in the sector.

He left a very big-sized shoe that would be difficult for anyone to fill. A source revealed that the eldest, Bolaji, has been handed control of the family empire the elder Balogun left behind. Contrary to the thought of many, this was done harmoniously without any rancour whatsoever.

Wesley Ogude’s Empowerment

The remarkable story of Wesley Ogude, the renowned Nigerian-born Canadian business executive, entrepreneur and philanthropist may not be simply fortuitous. It was a well-laid-out intentional right from 2001 when he immigrated to the North American nation to pursue further career opportunities. He honed his skills by attending the SAP Academy in Toronto, becoming a Certified SAP Application Consultant, and subsequently leading the implementation of large Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software for multinational companies.

His illustrious professional career includes leading roles in corporations, such as General Electric, CGI Consulting, and Purolator Inc.

In 2012, Wesley embarked on his entrepreneurial journey, establishing startup companies in Canada, the United States, and Nigeria.

He currently serves as the Group Finance Director of Canaccede Financial Group, a consumer financing group; the Head of Cash Treasury at Oxford Properties, a major Canadian real estate empire and Group CEO of Springwells Group of Companies, a prominent Canadian private equity group.

Today, he has been recognised as one of Canada’s top business leaders for his visionary leadership and exceptional achievements in the corporate world. Wesley has successfully helped numerous high-net-worth Canadian professionals achieve lasting wealth through strategic initiatives and visionary leadership.

As a testament to his commitment to empowering others and fostering growth, Wesley is hosting an exclusive international conference aimed at equipping seasoned professionals at the senior management or executive level in the fields of oil and gas, banking, IT, or telecommunications, with strategic insights to seize new opportunities and elevate their careers in Canada.

The conference, to be hosted by Wesley’s Springwells Consulting in collaboration with its affiliate company in Nigeria, EMC International, will be held over six days, starting from September 12 to 20, 2023, in Lagos, Abuja, and Port-Harcourt.

In the eyes of some, the two-time commissioner in Enugu State, Rita Mbah, is beauty personified. But many prefer to describe her as brainy. However, those who know her well say she is blessed with some other rare

The source further revealed that Bolaji’s other three brothers, Ladi, Jide and Gboyega would also assist him in running the vast empire and assets left behind by the stylish business mogul.

Another source revealed that before his death, the Ogun State-born billionaire had carefully planned his succession in such a way that it would be rancour-free. Being the eldest and the most mature of all his kids, the late FCMB founder had made his stand known that Bolaji was to step in and amicably manage the family and his vast investments.

He also indicated who gets what and what should go to the church and philanthropy.

It was also disclosed by the source that this was done to make the transition seamless with minimal rancour. The structure put in place by the late Otunba is for all his children to continue to manage all the arms of business they are currently managing and for the returns on those investments to be put in the general purse for equitable sharing.

quantities beyond the externals.

Hardworking Mbah is known for working wonders wherever fate had placed her in public service in the past years. And by all measures, she is no doubt an accomplished woman.

Even in her everyday life, her profile is continually on the rise. It is easily agreed that she is blessed with the proverbial Midas touch! Little wonder her recent appointment as Executive Chairman of Enugu State Tourism Board was met with great applause. Even her critics are aware of her brilliance and past achievements.

It was gathered that many who are familiar with her sterling record and achievements at the Tourism ministry applauded the announcement.

It was not surprising when immediately after her appointment, she hit the ground running with innovations that would turn the state into a great tourism destination.

Mbah has introduced the brand Destination

Enugu with the main objective of focusing on destination marketing to reposition Enugu tourism by creating a positive destination identity. While they intend to animate Enugu story to define 042 brand as well as partner with broadcasters and other media agencies to market the State and bring it to an optimal touristic visibility level. As hinted, she is poised to work with stakeholders across the value chain to achieve their goals while being resolute in their resolve to brand and sell the brand to the world.

Those conversant with her terms as Commissioner for Tourism and Culture under the former governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, would definitely attest to the fact that her impact was well felt. She also broke grounds with innovations and re-invention in the institution, just as she didn’t relent in her unwavering effort to take the sector to evitable heights.

Aminu Suleiman: A Grassroots Mobiliser of Repute

Founder and National Coordinator of Tinubu Support Organisation (TSO), Hon. Aminu Suleiman means different things to different people. To some, he is a man with a charming character, while others see him as a leader with an uncommon leadership quality and a detribalised Nigerian with a circle of friends cutting across the various Nigerian tribes.

Many others see him as an optimist and hard-working man who would move mountains with his sanguine view. For him, no mountain is too high to climb.

But beyond all these, he is also someone who believes water can be fetched from a dry well, according to a source.

The Jagaban Gwandu, according to the source, is someone who believes and acts on the saying of Cicero, that says

“Nothing is more noble, nothing more venerable, than loyalty.”

Despite not being a random rabblerouser, no doubt, he belongs to the notable class of great philanthropists and he has greatly impacted his immediate environment. This and many more have attracted many to him like nectar to bees.

His experience and leadership quality have earned him a few followers in far-flung corners of the country. Little wonder there is a cry in some corners calling on President Bola Tinubu to consider Suleiman for a position in his administration.

The group hinted that the very intelligent and deep thinker is definitely a round peg in a round hole needed by the current government and must not be left to waste.

When Adebola Williams Hosted Women of Influence

Chairman of AW Networks and author of African Power Girls, Adebola Wiliams recently hosted Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations, Ahunna Eziakonwa; Lagos Commissioner Designate, Solape Hammond; President of Transcorp Plc, Owen Omogiafo; beauty entrepreneur and lawyer, Tara Fela-Durotoye, and other notable personalities to an African Power Girls event tagged ‘Power Table for Twelve Power Brunch.’

The event was organised to bring together women of influence to discuss charting a course for the advancement of women in all sectors and promoting investment in girl’s empowerment and education.

Eziakonwa, who was a special guest at the exclusive brunch, spoke about the importance of women in politics,

and why representation matters from the boardroom to the parliament. She presented data evidence on how women’s inclusion at the highest levels of engagement accelerates growth in nations and encouraged everyone to do all they can to commit to empowering girls and women within their spheres of influence.

The host, Williams, averred that the media has a massive role to play in changing societal stereotypes and narratives and showing young girls that they are capable and free to be the best version of themselves.

“Women in key leadership positions must be projected by the media as the norm so that young girls in Africa and the world can see role models that not only look like them but also know and understand the challenges that they go through daily,” he added.

Balogun

Mbah

Ogude

On July 15, Battery Dance Company, a New Yorkbased dance studio, along with The Krump Studios and support from the U.S. Mission, unveiled an extraordinary show as part of Dancing to Connect Abuja 2023.

A hundred and ten youths were picked by six Abuja dance companies, Hearts Heartist, Tru Dance Art, Capital Dancers, Ehmi Khid Art Foundation, Bravehearts Ballet Academie, and Krump Studios.

cross-cultural dance production. This production happened on July 15 in the amphitheatre hall at the National Universities Commission in Maitama, Abuja.

As part of Dancing to Connect Abuja, a community outreach drive was designed into the programme, and on July 30, Heart Heartist led Stepping Stone to its third annual edition.

Stepping Stone is a programme set up to interact with the Saburi community in Dei Dei, an outer suburb of Abuja, FCT. A day of dance, music, poetry, free medical check-ups for women, and

Out of the 110 youth, 43 were selected by Oluwabukunmi Olukitibi of Hearts Heartist She guided 20 youth from previous Saburi outreach programmes to instruct 23 new performers communities.

The administrative director and community engagement lead, David Olukitibi, says “this project is centred on community for the community... It’s a paradigm shift that is changing the narrative. When we came here before, nobody wanted to listen to anything [about] dance. Now, people are open minded to it; people are accepting it and believing in it.”

Fallilat Shittu, a ballet dancer and instructor who was once a medical laboratory technician, organised the medical part of the programme.

“I’m really glad for what dance is doing,” she says. “We get to touch lives with our dance; it’s a positive thing to do. I’m really grateful for it.”

We have to go back three years, to January 2, 2021, to trace the roots of this outreach. Hearts Heartist went into the Saburi community, Dei Dei, an outer suburb of Abuja, FCT. And started on a quest to pick youth from the community to enter the professional dance and art scene. Over the years, Hearts Heartist has not only sustained

DANCE

its relationship with the community but grown with it as well.

Inspired by the overwhelming interest from the community, Olukitibi and Hearts Heartist evolved the initial programme, where 32 young people were selected to train every week. From dance instruction came one-on-one counselling, mentoring, and support for expenses, especially tuition. She says, “All of a sudden, that’s how I became a mummy.”

July 30 unfolded with the preparation of medical practitioners organising themselves and their materials. The clothing donations were fully active as well, while the young performers warmed up with the DJ playing their curated playlist.

As the afternoon wore on, participants from other dance troupes came in while community members trickled in looking to get their vitals checked and watch the dancers get into the groove.

Just as the place was starting to bubble with life and the show was in full swing, the heaven’s opened with considerable rainfall. However, it did not deter the performers or the audience, who huddled under canopies, eyes glued to the dancing.

The adults of the Saburi community were enamoured by the performances because their the youth in the community gave mixed signals.

CULTURE

The City of Mississauga in Ontario Canada was agog recently with the display of Nigeria and Africa’s rich cultural heritage at the maiden edition of The Drum Festival, (Ayan-Agalu) with the theme “RejiggingYoruba Cultural Heritage: As Catalyst for National and International Unity, Progress and Development.’’

Organised by The Drum Online Media Incorgovernment functionaries, royal fathers, political and religious leaders, cultural enthusiasts, socialites from The North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, especially from Nigeria.

The inaugural festival was celebrated uniquely with the massive turnout of residents, tourists, fun seekers as well as journalists to witness the thrilling performances by various dance groups from Brazil, Iran, Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria communities in Canada.

In his welcome address, the publisher of the Drum Online Media Incorporation and convener of the Drum Festival (Ayan-Agalu) Festival, Prince Segun Akanni, said the event could not have come up as a better time and moment given the avalanche of social, economic, political and religious challenges plaguing Africa as a continent.

“Celebrating culture through the drums reinforces our collective desire and zeal to rejuvenate our moribund cultural heritages,” Akanni said. ‘My involvement in the preservation, restoration, and promotion of Africa’s and Yoruba’s cultural heritage

and values dates back to over twenty years, an exploit that has taken me to over thirty countries of the world.’’

The occasion was also used to honour prominent Nigerians and Canadians who have shown support for Nigeria’s culture and heritage. Some of the awardees include Governor Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke, Executive Governor, Osun State; Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi, the Elegushi of Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom as well as a post-humous

They constantly made crude comments about the performances, particularly the female performers. However, their excitement betrayed their seeming disdain. These male youths were impressed with the performances because they cheered when their favourite routines were performed.

Art has a wonderful way of awakening something immense within us. In the Saburi community, dance has brought enlightenment.

Although this enlightenment may seem basic development. The community knows that health is wealth and will strive to improve it.

The community knows that a rich education can change their fortunes. Funmi Coker, a mother ofist’s community development programme, says, “I’m really happy that my children are a part of the programme." This is because her eldest child committed to achieving basic literacy when he had missed out on it, as it was a condition to participate in the dance education with Hearts Heartist.

The "Dancing 4 Impact" initiative demonstrates that dance is a powerful tool for community development. Krump Studios founder Jemima community outreach programmes. Despite the immense challenges, this should inspire and encourage people to believe that true grassroots growth is achievable and worthwhile.

Prodigies of Africa is Bold. Exciting. Unique. A genuine tour de force! Thirteen dynamic young artists truly living up to their genre; vibrant voices collection of over 70 paintings and sculptures, is an artistic celebration of the entire cohort of the Blue Palette. The theme is Blue; every shade of Blue. The hue of Blue. The result is an eclectic collection of great depth, breadth and diversity, which remains true to the culture, people and ambience of the Africa experience.

Akintola Hezekaiah crafts metal into intricate forms, as a way of ‘giving life to visions that reside within’. With every weld, he navigates the delicate balance between intent and interpretation; between strength and vulnerability. Driven by a desire to explore the possibilities of metal as an artistic medium, he crafts each piece with dedication and precision. His world of welded expressions is a realm where metal metamorphoses into art. For Anayo Achike, each painting is a memorial of a happy past or a prophesy of a greater tomorrow. His creative instincts chant as the subconscious is awakened. From the thick clouds of vagueness, he says, fell the keys to the getaway car! To paint the poignant pictures of the personal past, while framing and fertilising the most freeing fantasies. Even more; Chioma Okoli ‘sees beauty in everything’, and preaches change, acceptance and inclusion. She nothing’; and acknowledges the movement of time through the careful and colourful strokes of her brush. She believes that art has no limits; so creation continues.

Being an artist often transcends the profession and becomes an obsession. Esther Onwukamuche simply considersArt as her ‘lifestyle’. She creates art with an open mind, being ‘willing to experiment’ while focusing on engaging with her audience through selective symbolism. Growing up, art was her key communication tool because she would often create, and answer questions about her paintings as a way of introducing herself through her artistic expression. While Kola Adedeji is steeped in a traditional African style, he showcases vibrant He attempts to convey experiences through architectural ideas and symbolic forms, shapes and patterns.

award for late Chief Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi, Founder, DAAR Communications Plc.

Others are Gerry Weiner, former Canadian Immigration Minister and Secretary of State of Canada; Adebo Edward Ogundoyin, Speaker, Oyo State House ofAssembly; Dele Momodu, Publisher, Ovation International Magazine; Musiliu Akinsanya Oluomo (MC), Chairman, Lagos State Parks and Garages; Nura Sani Kangiwa, Director General, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism; Dr. Oludare Akande, Chairman, Bellagio Air and founder, American Polytechnic of Nigeria, Lawal Quadri Obawole. Baada of Otta, Awori Kingdom,

Ogun State and Senior United States of America’s

The Prime Minister of Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau commended Prince Segun Akanni and commitment for cultural exchange. He added that Canada is truly a multicultural nation, made stronger and more resilient by diversity. to celebrate the richness, beauty and diversity of African and Nigerian culture, and highlighted many contributions that Canadians of African descent have made, and continue to make, to Doug Ford, the Premier of Ontario also remarked: “Ontario is proud to be home to a vibrant African and Nigerian population. This festival is an opportunity for Ontarians to celebrate the many contributions these communities have made to the cultural and economic fabric of our province. I thank The Drum Online for organising this event, and for everything you do to keep African communities connected and informed.”

The Nigeria High Commissioner to Canada, Adeyinka Asekun expressed his delight at the festival and commended the organisers for the rare show of resilience and creativity.

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State also said: “I am indeed proud of the organiser and his team for this noble and legendary initiative aimed at revamping our indigenous tradition and culture from a state of near oblivion to a realm of global pedestal of fame, relevance, and glory”.

Nduka Nwosu

Yinka Olatunbosun

Segun Ade-Martins

One of the dance performances

A cross-section of the Nigerian delegation at the event

Now that Nigeria Has Ministry for Maritime Affairs

The establishment of a ministry of maritime affairs has long been the desire of Nigerian maritime stakeholders, a sentiment which has been echoed at various fora. This is due to the numerous potential that lie untapped in the ocean resources, while also assisting the federal government to achieve its diversification drive and reduce over reliance on the oil sector.

Many stakeholders have predicted that the establishment of a specialised ministry for the maritime sector will help the government harness the resources in the ocean, while also boosting the revenue of the government and creating more jobs for Nigerians.

Globally, the maritime sector accounts for over 80 per cent of trade, thereby making it crucial to the survival of the global economy. This sector portends wealth for nations, while also creating employment opportunities for nations to thrive economically.

Suffice to state that the Nigerian maritime sector remains an untapped goldmine with numerous resources including a coastline of about 853 kilometres in addition to about 3,000 kilometres of navigable inland waterways. Nigeria is home to an abundance of natural resources ranging from natural gas, iron ore, zinc, limestone, mines, lead, coal, tin, columbite, asides petroleum resources. These resources give rise to fisheries, tourism, shipping, aquaculture, mining among other revenue generating activities.

The realities of the need to diversify the economy as a result of over-dependence on oil has become imperative, thereby resorting to the blue economy regime pointing to the sustainable use of ocean resources.

Importantly, the seas and the oceans are crucial to the existence of humanity with the entire earth’s surface mostly covered by water. Several commercial activities, like underwater mining, fishing, oil drilling and explorations and aquaculture, among others, take place on the seas and there is the need to consciously preserve it for the future generations in order to be able to harness the resources embedded in the seas, hence the current global discussion on sustainability.

Gunter Paulin in his journal entitled; ‘The Blue Economy’, said: “Let us not demand more of the earth. Let us do more with what the earth already provides”. This quote heralds the awareness ofThe blue economy concept, which aims to promote and encourage sustainable uses of ocean resources.

Furthermore, the need to integrate ocean economies alongside developmental strides and across national boundaries adequately describes the concept of the Blue Economy (BE), which formed the crux of the discussion at the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) held in 2012. The conference focused on pertinent issues aimed at eradicating poverty by developing a framework that will encourage sustainable development and use of ocean resources as an alternative model for economic stimulation.

This noble concept tallies with the ideals of sustainability, as it is aimed at defining the basic needs of humanity, bearing in mind future demands and the need to preserve ocean-based resources. Therefore, it will be apt to state that sustainability is the heart of the concept of blue economy.

Discussions on the blue economy have continued to evolve, while also gaining global recognition, as it is futuristic, which will transcend from one generation to another. More so, it has given room to the consciousness and the need to lay a foundation for the long-term usage of the oceans for economic growth and development globally, while also putting in place viable policies that will help protect the oceans.

Meanwhile, Climate Change being a global threat has huge effects on the sustainability of oceans resources; as experts say the effects can lead to rising temperature, rising sea levels, including severe weather conditions like flooding, drought among others. All these can have negative effects on the oceans and

the environment, thereby affecting human health and oceans health.

To underscore the importance of this concept, the Conference of the Parties (COP 25) under the auspices of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC) was codenamed the “Blue COP” in Paris, just as mitigating the effects of Climate Change formed the crux of the discussion with about 192 countries in attendance. Blue COP refers to the link between the health of the climate and that of the oceans.

To forestall these occurrences, countries are to come up with a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) strategy aimed at reducing the effects of climate change through emission control, and to be reviewed every five years with more ambitious targets in succeeding years.

Therefore, harnessing the blue economy ideals requires the involvement of governments at all levels, national, regional, continental and international, towards achieving the quest to build stronger economies, bearing in mind the effects of climate change to the realisation of the blue economy. This will also foster economic growth and prosperity, while also ensuring the preservation of the environment to enhance and achieve the goal for a sustainable ocean with government paying close attention to the aforementioned areas.

Fundamentally, Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is very crucial to the actualisation of the blue economy ideals, which is an area government must place priority. Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) is the tool to manage the use of the seas and oceans in a coordinated manner, while also ensuring that human activities take place in an efficient, safe and sustainable way.

Spatial planning consists of four major phases, problem analysis; assessment of alternatives; decision and implantation, which coincides with the dictates of the policy circle, aimed at helping decision-makers have tailored direction towards the implementation of a policy, which is the last stage of decisionmaking.

This concept of Maritime Spatial Planning helps better communication between the

various users of the seas and oceans, thereby leading to better collaboration among the users, as it will encourage evidence-based information gathering to engender sustainable usage of the resources embedded in the oceans.

Furthermore, Maritime Spatial Planning will help balance ecological, social, economic, and governance objectives, with the main objective being increased sustainability through proper utilisation of the oceans resources.

An MSP-based initiative would synchronise with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) 14 and 17 on Life below Water and partnership as it aims at ensuring conservation of the oceans and its resources through partnership and cooperation among member states.

Therefore, it will be apt to say; the blue economy concept aims to create a balance in the actualisation of sustainable economic benefits, in addition to the long-term ocean health in consonance with the sustainable development goals, geared towards intra and inter-generational equity.

The awareness of this noble global concept underpins the need to educate the public and stakeholders across board, intimating them of the benefits of the oceans, while bearing in mind that it will no longer be business as usual, where dumping of waste and overexploitation of resources can take place on the oceans.

Now that the federal government has listened to the yearnings of stakeholders to establish a standalone ministry for maritime affairs, all hands must be on the deck to actualise this mandate.

The author of this piece is of the opinion that establishing this new ministry shows government’s determination to diversify the economy, while also depending less on the oil sector. The Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is like naming a new “Ministry of Petroleum Resources”, as stakeholders believe that shipping is next to oil, and can even surpass it, if the right policies are in place.

Coincidentally, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, has been

at the forefront of promoting the ideals of blue economy. “There is no green without blue. When you do not have water, you cannot have food. I want to see Nigeria Blue through the Blue Economy”. These are the words of Dr. Jamoh, which symbolises the importance of the oceans resources to the green economy.

Under Jamoh’s leadership, efforts to mainstay the blue economy for sustainable development has seen the Agency meet with the organised private sector under the auspices of Academy for Maximum Achievement to galvanise their support towards actualizing the robust ideas behind the initiative.

Still on the Blue Economy, he highlighted key areas such as shipbuilding, ship repairs and recycling as areas that will benefit the economy in the establishment of businesses within the value chain, create employment and boost foreign exchange earnings for government and private concerns. In addition, the vast resources in about 28 coastal states in the country with navigable inland waters will make wealth creation possible, but with much sensitisation and advocacy.

In 2022, Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Kitack Lim visited Nigeria to attend a summit organised by Nigeria International Maritime Summit (NIMS) and supported by NIMASA with the theme focused on “Igniting the Blue Economy”. This underscores the importance attached to this initiative.

At the summit, the IMO Secretary General in his address spoke on the need for the subject of the Blue Economy to be in the spotlight, noting that the world needs a sustainable and efficient shipping industry to enhance global trade, with safety and sustainability at its focus. At the summit, stakeholders from the private sector gave the assurance on the need to support NIMASA’s quest in maximizing the Blue Economy, especially as the initiative of The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) provides such opportunities.

On his part, a renowned environmental consultant, Professor Oladele Osinbajo at a forum emphasized the need to preserve the oceans as it holds numerous opportunities in developing the nation. He stated further that there is the need for inter-generational equity of our resources, which means the survival of the ecosystem is dependent on this present generation, as it will affect the future generation. He said, “The environment is not a gift from our parents, but a loan from our children”. We must therefore do all we can to preserve it.

On assumption of office, the Honourable Minister of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, called for collaboration and teamwork among all stakeholders and agencies in order to harness the resources in Nigeria’s vast coastal resources. He also assured Nigerians that part of his vision is to ensure that inland rivers, lakes, and waterways are properly utilised, in terms of both cargo shipment and passenger transportation.

“Our oceans cover more than two-thirds of our planet’s surface, holding the key to sustainable economic growth, environmental preservation, and technology innovation. As we look ahead, my vision is rooted in the responsible management and utilisation of our marine resources to benefit not only our economy, but also the health of our planet,” the minister said.

Upon this premise, it will be apt to say it is a new dawn for Nigeria with the establishment of the new ministry, as the contribution of the maritime sector to the economy will be visible.

Asides collaboration, government must deliberately invest in research and development to harness this noble sector, while also relying on professionals to assist in making tailored policies that will help in the realisation of the blue economy.

While congratulating the new minister on his appointment, we all look forward to a smooth sail in the affairs of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

Kumuyi Oluwafemi

Oyetola

IN THE ARENA

Beyond NGF’s Retreat in Rwanda

The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) is in the news again for the wrong reasons.

The NGF in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), convened a three-day “Executive Leadership Retreat” for first and second term Nigerian governors in Kigali, Rwanda from 24 to 26 August 2023, reportedly on the invitation of President Paul Kagame.

The retreat was “dedicated to fostering dialogue on reimagining leadership and leveraging innovative technology, drawing inspiration from Rwanda’s transformative journey.”

Rwanda’s idyllic capital city of Kigali and President Kagame who hosted the retreat hardly diminished the trip’s considerable negative public perception.

Themed ‘Reimagining leadership in a fast-changing world’, the participants, representing 19 Nigerian states, engaged in sessions that explored Rwanda’s successful investment destination transformation in digital technology, urban planning and socioeconomic transformation, capping off with private dialogue with President Kagame.

A communique from the retreat, signed by NGF Director of Media, Abdulrazaque-Bello Barkindo; as well as Christabel ChandaGinsberg, and Michelle Mendi Muita, both of the UNDP, significantly identified Nigeria’s challenges as a complex web.

“Nigeria faces a complex web of interconnected development challenges stemming from a huge trust deficit, an economy highly dependent on oil exports, a job crisis and growing youth population, rising insecurity and separatist agitations, and a growing number of multi-dimensionally poor,” said the communique.

Director General of NGF, Asishana Okauru, in the same statement, explained that: “As a non-partisan organisation and policy arm, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum organised this gathering with the objective of fostering transformative leadership and facilitating honest, frank and open dialogue to shape the discourse on these cross-cutting themes.”

According to the UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Mohamed Yahya, “recognising these complexities and aligned to UNDP’s mandate as the lead UN agency on development, the retreat offers an opportunity to reimagine Nigeria’s leadership to achieve transformation and nationwide sustainable development.”

The three-day retreat also focused on learning through dialogue - with sessions on rethinking leadership, leading systems, leading self and leading to deliver, as well as learning through observation – with an interactive programme exploring Rwanda’s emergence as an investment destination through visits and exchanges with innovation hub, Norrsken House, the Rwanda Development Board and the Mayor of the City of Kigali.

Described as a “jamboree” by some critical stakeholders, the governors’ retreat in Kigali has come under intense criticism by many Nigerians who sharply disagree with both its timing, venue, expenditure implications and even its conceptual outline.

A clearly miffed ex-Foreign Affairs Minister, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi described the NGF/UNDP-organised governors’ retreat in Kigali, as shameful and humiliating for Nigeria. Akinyemi, also a former director-general of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), while speaking on ARISE NEWS Channel on Tuesday, said the retreat should have been organised within the country by relevant Nigerian institutions.

His words: “When you think things cannot get worse, then they do get worse. I can’t believe we will fall into the pit of shame by 19 of our governors going to Kigali, Rwanda, to learn how to govern. Our governors have no business - the UNDP has no business taking our governors there. In any case, the UNDP has no business putting on a training programme for our governors.

“Is the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) not there? We have several training institutions – the National War College is there, the Nigerian Defence College is there. These are Nigerian institutions that could put up training programmes or retreat programmes for our governors. They didn’t need to humiliate us by going to Rwanda.”

Questioning the reasons behind the decision to stage the retreat in Rwanda, Akinyemi noted that the East African country was not a model for democracy.

“What is the UNDP up to? Are they sending a signal to Africa that they prefer development to democracy? Is that the message they are sending to Africa? And is that the message that our governors are going to Rwanda to embrace? Kigali of all places?

“Yes, I do admit and I concede that the President of Rwanda inherited a terrible situation when he came to power and he came up with his own system of dealing with that terrible situation. And what did he come up with? Not allowing human rights, not allowing civil rights, one-man rule, one-man narrative and it seems to be working in Rwanda.

POLITICAL NOTES

“But a word of caution here: We saw one-man rule in a lot of the Francophone African countries and when the strong man died, they descended into civil war. I think the answer is still out there about whether it is going to be a successful experiment in Rwanda,” Akinyemi added.

According to notable columnist and public affairs analyst, Comrade Wole Olaoye, “the only thing on which members of the forum have ever reached any sort of unanimity is the need for the federal government to cede more money to the states. Beyond the Kigali faux pas, next time, they should insist on Obudu Cattle Ranch, Yankari, Ibeju Lekki, certainly not foreign soil.”

Though the existence of the governors’ club is accommodated in a democratic milieu, the association nevertheless must face-up to the core developmental imperatives that underpin its conceptualisation.

The Nigerian governors should stop ridiculing Nigeria and focus on giving real hope to their people and lighting genuine candles in the stark darkness of their turfs.

As unhappy and disgusted as many Nigerians are over the trip, it hope that the governors will not only replicate the orderliness and infrastructural development they saw in Kigali, but also implement to the letter the communiqué of the retreat.

They must be ready, more than ever before, to do all it takes to free up resources for the provision of infrastructure, and ultimately boost investments that will have attendant positive impact on employment.

To demonstrate minimal modicum of seriousness, cutting cost of governance must begin with or include a drastic reduction in the number of political appointees and the number of vehicles governors and other appointees use in their convoys.

APC’s Lamentations and the Blame Game

Lately, Nigerians have been inundated with lamentationsbysomeprominentmembersoftheAllProgressives Congress (APC) in the new government over the state of theNigerianeconomy.WhatstartedfromtheSenatorrepresentingtheEdoNorthSenatorialDistrictintheNational Assembly, Adams Oshiomhole is spreading like wild fire. TheMinisterofFinanceandCoordinatingMinisterofthe Economy,WaleEduaswellastheVicePresident,Senator Kashim Shettima, have joined the list of those lamenting the state of the economy publicly.

ItwasOshiomholewhofirstpubliclyadmittedthatthe economic situation in the country was dire, and insisted thatPresidentBolaTinubuinherited“aterribleeconomic situation.”

Thenlastweek,VicePresidentShettimadeclaredthat Nigeriawasinadifficulteconomicsituation,andcharged

membersofthePresidentialCommitteeonFiscalPolicy andTax Reforms led by the chairman, Mr.Taiwo Oyedele, at State House, Abuja, to develop a robust roadmap that would transform the economy and take the country out of the woods.

EventheMinisterofFinanceandCoordinatingMinisterof theEconomy,Edu,aftertheFederalExecutiveCouncil(FEC) inAbujalastweek,whilefieldingquestionsfromjournalists, wasaskedtobespecificonthekindofeconomytheTinubu administrationinherited,andhesaid:“Wemetabadeconomy and the promise of Mr. President is to make it better.”

Recall that immediately former President Goodluck Jonathanlostpowerin2015ontheplatformofthePeoples DemocraticParty(PDP),membersoftheAPCwastedno time in letting Nigerians know that the PDP wasted 16 years in power.

At every forum, it became a recurring decimal for membersoftherulingAPCtoblametheoppositionparty for the country’s woes as if it was not what they came to power to correct and fix in the first place.

Inallofthese,throughouttheeightyearsoftheformer PresidentMuhammaduBuharigovernment,atnotimedid theyblamehisgovernmentformismanagingthecountry. Instead,theywerehailinghim.Butnow,theyareusingevery opportunity to tell Nigerians that President BolaTinubu inheritedabadeconomy.Fromwho?Ofcourse,fromBuhari.

AllNigerianswanttoseefromthenewadministration isanimprovedlivingstandards.Iftheselamentationsare goingtobetheexcusesfornotperforminguptoexpectations, it is really going to be sad.They cannot say that they did not know the state of the economy when they were campaigningforofficeandpromisingNigeriansgoodlife.

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum has come under fire for snubbing the facilities of the one-time Giant of Africa to travel to the once war-torn Rwanda, to ‘seek leadership tutelage’ at a time when President Bola Tinubu’s administration is seeking investors and Nigerians are being encouraged to patronise made-inNigeria goods and services to cut costs and revive the ailing economy, writes Louis Achi

A cross-section of governors and President Kagame of Rwanda in Kigali

BRIEFING NOTES

How Judiciary Condones Illegal Detentions

Appeal Court justices should be empowered to order the detention of persons longer than the ‘reasonable time’ prescribed in the 1999 Constitution

The Administration of Criminal Justice Bill 2015, which was passed by the Senate on May 5, 2015, and signed by former President Goodluck Jonathan barely two weeks before he handed over to former President Muhammadu Buhari, contains a provision on detention of persons, which runs contrary to the spirit of the 1999 Constitution and is increasingly being abused by security agencies.

Section 35 (4) & (5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), prescribes that any person who is arrested or detained shall be brought before a court of law within a reasonable time.

Susbsection 5 defines a “reasonable time” to mean between 24 to 48 hours, depending on the availability of a court of competent jurisdiction within the place of arrest and detention.

But while Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution contemplates that persons arrested or detained shall be charged to court within a reasonable time, there are cases when a suspect is detained but the process of commencing trial is yet to be completed.

The Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, prescribes that in such cases, application is made to the Magistrates’ Court requesting that the suspect be remanded in custody pending the completion of the investigation and arraignment.

Specifically, Section 293 (2) of ACJA prescribes that such application shall be made ex parte to a Magistrate for the suspect to be committed into custody upon the establishment of a probable cause and also the linking of the suspect to the alleged offence.

Before issuing the order, this law provides that the magistrate must be satisfied that there is probable cause to remand the suspect pending legal advice from the Attorney General.

Section 294 (2) of the ACJA clearly listed the determinants of probable cause to include: Nature and seriousness of the alleged office; reasonable grounds to suspect that the suspect has been involved in the commission of the alleged offence; reasonable grounds for believing that the suspect may abscond or commit further offence where he is not committed to custody; and any other circumstances of the case that justifies the request for remand.

By the provisions of Section 296 of the ACJA, 2015, a remand warrant issued under Section 293 to last for the initial 14 days in the first instance, can be renewed for 14 days each in the second, third and fourth instance, making it a maximum of 56 days in which a

suspect can be detained without trial.

After the lifespan of the remand order is extended for the final 14 days in the fourth instance, the suspect is unconditionally released or a charge preferred against him before a competent court for his trial to commence.

From the foregoing, it is evident that the ACJA of 2015 runs contrary to the spirit of the 1999 Constitution, which presumes that an accused is innocent until otherwise proven guilty.

ACJA has been abused over the years by unscrupulous and overzealous law enforcement agencies and compromised magistrates, who connive to detain innocent Nigerians for 56 days without consequences.

Before the enactment of the ACJA, most of the suspects who were detained beyond 48 hours by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other agencies were arrested during weekends and charged to court on the following Monday.

But as soon as Buhari took over, the agents of his administration took undue advantage of the ACJA to detain Nigerians without trial and this impunity has continued under President

Bola Tinubu-led administration.

Many consider it as an act of indiscretion on the part of those behind the ACJA of 2015 to grant junior members of the judiciary the power to grant ex parte application to detain a person for 56 days when his offence is yet to be clearly established.

ACJA empowers magistrates to imprison Nigerians through the backdoor for 56 days without trial.

Though the Act provides that the suspect shall be released unconditionally after 56 days if no offence is established against him, it does not prescribe any severe punishment for the detaining authority.

Security agencies which have no regard for human rights take advantage of the ACJA to go behind their victims to obtain remand orders from compromised Magistrates to detain Nigerians who committed no known offence.

In Fawehinmi v. IGP (2002) 7 NWLR (pt.767) 606, the court held that it is not proper for the law enforcement agency to keep a suspect in detention while

NOTES FOR FILE

fishing for evidence to charge him to court.

In a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by the former Director General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Prof. Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke, to restrain the EFCC and the police from arresting her, Justice Ayotunde Phillips of the Lagos High Court had in her judgment in 2011, chided law enforcement agencies in the country for not always taking a cue from their counterparts in other countries, and always in a hurry to arrest suspects when investigations are has not been concluded, adding that it would afford them sufficient evidence to secure conviction of suspects, whenever they are arraigned.

According to the judge, no responsible court would restrain law enforcement agencies from performing their statutory duties, but that there was no facts before the court to support that the anti-graft agency and the police exercised their rights to validly arrest the plaintiff.

Why then should magistrates be empowered to issue detention orders of up to 56 days over an offence that has not been established?

Magistrates and judges of lower courts should be stripped of the power to order the detention of persons without putting them on notice except when the prosecution is ready to arraign the suspect in a competent court.

In order to make it difficult for security agencies to detain innocent Nigerians unjustly, only the Supreme Court or Appeal Court judges should be vested with the power of issuing detention orders if the prosecution is not yet ready to go to court.

The law must also provide for a severe penalty if the detaining authority fails to establish any offence against the suspect.

The Department of State Services (DSS) had once framed the now suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele with terrorism financing offence to secure an arrest and detention order from a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja in December 2022.

But in rejecting the application by the DSS for an ex parte order, the presiding judge, Justice John Tsoho, who saw through the trick of the secret police, had declared: “If the applicant believes that the evidence available to it so far is sufficient, then it can as well arrest and detain the applicant, even without the order of this court. If, however, the applicant desires to still pursue this application, then it should place the respondent on notice, considering the sensitive public office that he occupies.”

Obaseki Should Temper Justice with Mercy

There is no doubt that Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, is taking his fight with his deputy, Philip Shaibu, too far. Though many analysts were disappointed with Shaibu’s alleged clandestine plots to undermine the authority of the governor, which led to a disagreement between them, many also believe that the new steps taken by Obaseki to punish and embarrass him at every opportunity should not be the best way to go.

Last Sunday, there was a mild drama at the church service to mark the 32nd anniversary of the creation of the state, as a security operative attached to the governor, stopped Shaibu from approaching his principal.

Charles Aniagwu, to greet them, he was embarrassed by a security operative who stopped him within two metres away from the governor.

Governor Obaseki looked the other way as Shaibu explained himself to the security operative who firmly, but in a friendly tone, kept the deputy governor away. Shaibu shamefully returned to his seat as the service continued.

What many in the hall expected was for the governor to ask the security man to give the deputy governor access to him.

to have realised his mistakes and is retracing his steps. There is nobody who does not make mistakes.

Incidentally, speaking on their frosty relationship recently, Obaseki had described the rift between him and his deputy as unfortunate, sad, and avoidable because “the people know where we are coming from and what we have gone through.”

“What has happened in the last few months is strange. I thought we came together and will leave together and let the people say you have done a great job and they will now make the decision themselves. They are the ones to say that come rain or sunshine, we must continue.”

As the deputy governor approached Obaseki who was seated beside his wife, Betsy, and the representative of the Delta State Governor,

There is no doubt that the scene was embarrassing and unnecessary especially when Shaibu was believed Obaseki

As painful, unwarranted and unnecessary as the disagreement is, the governor has to put it behind him and move on. After all, he himself fell out with his former principal, Adams Oshiomhole who made him governor against all the odds.

With the reckless abuse of the remand order contained in the Administration of Criminal Justice System of 2015 by overzealous and unscrupulous security agencies and junior members of the judiciary in Magistrates’ Courts who aid the prolonged detention of Nigerians without trial, Ejiofor Alike writes that only the Supreme Court and

Justice Ariwoola

Now that Gabon Has Joined the Pack

While the African Union (AU), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and western powers are still ruminating on what to do about the military takeover of power in Niger Republic, Gabon, a Central African country with a population of 2.43 million, last Wednesday, fell to the iron fists of soldiers.

The military takeover, obviously unconstitutional, put paid to the reign of President Ali Bongo Ondimba, who governed the oil-rich country since October 12, 2009.

The putschists did not just truncate Ondimba’s 14-year government that was encumbered with acute legitimacy crises. They equally ended the dynasty of Omar Bongo that had been in control of Gabon for 55 unbroken years. The dynasty came into being in December 1967 when Bongo first became the president of Gabon.

Until his death on June 8, 2009, Bongo governed Gabon for 42 years, leaving behind legacies of abject poverty and untold miseries. His son, Ali Bongo Ondimba, sustained these horrible legacies, starting from the heavily flawed election that brought him to power on October 12, 2009 to scathing economic woes that had destroyed the purchasing power of the country’s currency.

The legacies crystallised into the coup plot that occurred on August 30, four days after Gabon’s general election was conducted. As a result, the putschists placed the ailing Ondimba, under house arrest. Likewise, one of his sons, Noureddin Bongo Valentin and Chief of Staff, Ian Ghislain Ngoulou were apprehended for alleged treason.

The fall of Ondimba brought the number of countries currently under military rule in Africa to seven within three years. From Mali to Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea, Sudan, Niger and now Gabon, military rule is on a steady rise on the continent. No fewer than 12.72 per cent of independent states that constitute the AU are currently under military rule.

The coup had immediately elicited stern responses from the diplomatic and international communities, especially AU, Commonwealth of Nations, ECOWAS, European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN). The great powers - China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States - also reviewed the coup with discordant tones.

While France, UK and US reaffirmed strong opposition to coups, China and Russia viewed it differently with separate messages of cautious optimism to all parties without expressing concern about the proliferation of military regimes on the continent.

For many analysts, the response of China and Russia depicted outright disregard to civil rule, a system of government that had brought relative stability to Africa’s political space in the last three decades. Rather, as shown in their statements, both China and Russia simply called the key actors to embrace dialogue without condemning the seizure of political power through coercion, guns and violence.

But what triggered the August 30, 2023 coup, the first successful military incursion that Gabon has ever witnessed since it became independent on August 17, 1960?

General Brice Nguema, the Commander of the Gabonese Republican Guard that truncated Gabon’s 63-year civil rule, partly provided justifications for the incursion in a nationwide address he delivered after he led the rebellion.

Nguema first cited irregularities that characterised the August 26 presidential election. He, specifically, noted “a serious institutional, political, economic and social

crisis,” which the country has been going through. The crisis was compounded after the conduct of the last presidential election. For the putschists, the process lacked transparency, credibility and inclusion that Gabonese hoped for.

Besides deep-seated discontent about the presidential election, the putschists cited Ondimba’s ailing conditions, which they claimed, resulted from a stroke he suffered in 2018. Yet, with this condition, as the putschists observed, Ondimba, now 65 years old, but practically invalid to discharge the duties of his office, refused to steer the process that would end up in democratic transition.

Despite his ailing condition, Ondimba sought a third term in contravention to Article 9 of the Constitution of the Republic of Gabon, 1991 (as amended to 2020). The article simply stipulates that a president is elected for a term of seven years, by universal and direct suffrage with a right to seek a second term.

Are these grounds sufficient for the putschists to truncate civil rule? Experts in international affairs largely shared the concern of the putschists. However, they argued,

truncating civilian administration is not an antidote to diverse concerns the putschists have expressed about an uncertain future confronting Gabon and its people.

Though coup d’etat is not an antidote to Gabon’s irresponsible government, former Minister of External Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi observed that the military “is the only institution that can check Ondimba’s unconstitutional conduct and disrupt his plan to perpetuate himself in off by hijacking the state and its institutions.”

Will Gabon’s coup be the last in Africa? Like Akinyemi, Professor of African Studies, African Leadership Centre, King’s College, London, Prof. Abiodun Alao foresaw more military incursions in Africa, which according to him, should be expected in countries that were noted for authoritarian regimes, regime protection and self-secession.

From Equatorial Guinea where President Teodoro Obiang has been ruling since 1979 to Uganda where

President Yoweri Museveni has been holding forth since 1986, Africa is still a home to at least 10 civil regimes, which according to Akinyemi, have no regard for their constitution and treaty obligations that emphasise adherence to democratic principles.

The checklist of such countries include Cameroun, where President Paul Biya has been in control since 1982; Eritrea where President Isaias Afwerki has not transited power since 1993; Congo Brazzaville where President Sassou Nguesso has dominated political space since 1997; Rwanda where President Paul Kagame has resorted to self-succession since 2000; Togo where Président Faure Gnassingbé succeeded his father in 2005 and Cote d’Ivoire where President Alassane Ouattara has refused to transit power since 2010.

Perhaps in response to the gradual return of military rule in Africa, Biya carried out major changes in Cameroon’s armed forces to further strengthen grips on the presidency. Kagame too promptly retired 83 senior officers including 12 generals. But will these exercises stop military interference as envisaged?

The Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Bola Tinubu has pledged to defend Africa from “autocratic contagion.” But he did not explain how he planned to reverse the rise of autocrats on the continent, especially in countries where bad governance has become a norm in the last two decades or where the presidents have altered the constitutions to elongate their administrations.

For decades, the AU has been a participant observer of gross infractions to its own treaties and protocols by authoritarian regimes. Yet, it has been treating the regimes with kid gloves, which analysts believed, had been a recipe for the spread of military incursion in Africa.

Until the AU starts placing stringent sanctions on their members for failing to honour constitutional term limits and ensure accountable governance, the military will not stop usurping political power on the continent rather than focusing on their core objectives.

The recent military takeover in Gabon was obviously a rebellion against tenure elongation and acute misgovernance the Central African country witnessed in the last 63 years of its independence, Gboyega Akinsanmi writes

Coupists in Gabon

President Bola Tinubu has pledged to defend Africa from “autocratic contagion.”

But he did not explain how he planned to reverse the rise of autocrats on the continent, especially in countries where bad governance has become a norm in the last two decades or where the presidents have altered the constitutions to elongate their administrations

From Libreville, an Ugly Postcard

The immediate past president of Gabon, Mr. Ali Bongo Ondimbo, has joined the new crop of videoposting toppled rulers. The luxurious expanse of his gold plated presidential mansion in Libreville has shrunk into a tiny sitting space surrounded by book shelves and inconsequential furniture. From here, he has posted an online video that casually urged the world to ‘make some noise’ to draw attention to his altered circumstances. He of course pretends to be unaware of what is happening around him as he admits he is confined to a room while the whereabouts of his wife and family are yet uncertain.

In the last couple of months, some of the footages of Mr. Ali Bongo’s public appearances before the coup showed an infirm man recovering from a debilitating stroke but still firmly in power as the c heir to a family political dynasty that has presided over Gabon for the last 55 years. The younger Bongo is the son of former President, Omar Bongo who often wore high wedge shoes covered by a baggy James Brown -style ‘bongo’ trousers to enhance his diminutive proportions.

Inspiteofhispersonalinfirmityandtheobviously dysfunctional state of Gabon, Mr. Bongo went ahead to prepare for last weekend’s presidential election. He predictably ‘won’ the election. Opposition parties and groups throughout Gabon however dismissed the election as a fraudulent sham. Mr. Bongo clung to his victory and power nonetheless but was quickly toppled in a palace military coup, barely four days after. The election would have given him a third term in an office he assumedin2009.Hehadtweakedtheconstitution to give himself room for a third presidential term.

Soon after the election of last weekend, it was predictable that his party, the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) which he inherited from his late father would win. With a time tested combination of rigging, violence and official intimidation, the perpetual victory of the ruling party was fairly muchguaranteed. Butoppositionforceshadoflate increased in strength and been joined by masses of disenchanted youth and the urban poor. Gabon, a nation of a little over 2.4 million people has the fourth highest GDP per head in sub Saharan Africa but lately wracked by unemployment and poverty.

Mounting political opposition led to a belated coalition of 16 opposition parties into an electoral alliance that presented a joint candidate to challenge Mr. Bongo at last weekend’s presidential election. That did not alter what was a foregone outcome in what has become a typical African sit -tight tradition of democratic persistence disguised as succession.

IncontinuationofarecentfashionamongFrench speaking African countries, Gabon has fallen to the new coup contagion. The military struck barely four days after the election results were announced. In a televised photo opportunity that has become typical of the recent Franco-phone coups, a group of soldiers appeared on Gabonese national television to announce that they had decided to topple the democratic order ‘in the name of the Gabonese people’.

Predictably, they declared last weekend’s presidential elections as flawed, dubious and therefore annulled. Typically, the soldiers have suspended the constitution and all institutions of the state. They have also placed the ousted president under house arrest while taking in one of his sons on a charge of ‘high treason.’ As it turns out, the cop leader and transitional president is Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, commander of the presidential guards and a cousin of Ali Bongo.

The coup in Gabon comes barely two months afterthatinNigerwhichisstillthecentreoffeverish activity within ECOWAS and the African Union. The Gabon coup merely increases the tally of a series of coups that have ravaged Franco-phone Africa. In quick succession, Sudan, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger and now Gabon have all literally fallen onto the sword. Previous coups in the countries under review have been advanced and marketed as the result of a series of identical causes ranging from insecurity caused by Sahelian jihadistterroriststoeconomic adversity and political misrule by leaders enthroned by democratic elections.

The Gabonese coup has pointedly indicated an open political dimension. The Gabonese military has added its voice to that of African opposition parties who have of late decried abuses in recent African democratic elections. The Gabonese coup

makers have been clear and direct in joining their voice to that of opposition parties and groups. They have openly rejected the conduct and outcome of last weekend’s presidential election in Gabon as well as the long misrule under the Bongo dynasty. Without doubt, all the coup makers in French -speaking West and Central Africa have acquired their audacity as a result of one single factor: the reduction and even outright decline in French presence and influence in the region. The disengagement of France from its former African colonies is the direct result of a latter day revolt by African countries against certain extant exploitative colonial era arrangements between France and its former African colonies. This arrangement which has gained recent currency defines an

essentially exploitative economic relationship between France and its former African colonies.

According to the outlines of the arrangement, France has retained tight control over the international financial transactions of these former colonies as well as curtailed the autonomy of their central banks. This has made these countries subject to French supervision and ultimate financial authority. Therefore, the political storm at the bottomoftheserecentcoupsseemstobeageneral revolt of former African French colonies against the last vestiges of a colonial relationship that has left these countries politically independent but financially and economically dependent on Paris.

The progressive French disengagement from Africa has also removed the safety switch of ready

French intervention and stabilization forces which used to be the guarantee against instability and wider insecurity in these countries. In the absence of standby French intervention and stabilization forces, the frail armies of these countries have taken to an easier recourse to coups to assert some authority.

ThefrenzyofcoupsinWestandCentralAfricawill destabilize the region strategically in the near term. It may end up destabilizing not just the region but also upsetting an already stressed global order. The decline of French influence and military presence in the region exposes Western oriented countries in West and Central Africa to direct jihadist terrorist threat. More dangerously, West and Central Africa are now under the direct threat of recent Russian ambition and influence through the conspicuous presence and activities of the Wagner Group of mercenaries in the region.

For Africa, the recent spate of coups challenges our leaders to increase confidence in democracy by ensuring that the processes and practice of democracy meet the hopes of the people. But this is not just an African challenge. For the free world, there is a clear and urgent task of restoring confidence in democracy by using diplomatic pressure to roll back the specter of coups in Central and West Africa.

For the West, there is an immediate issue of defending a vital sphere of western influence from the ills of authoritarian rule and potential Russian influence. The ultimate question for the West is not merely diplomacy as usual. It is also an overarching moral burden. When and where does democracy deserve and qualify to be defended by its global champions? There must be a clear indication that global democracy has a guarantor that will stoutly defend it whenever and wherever it is under threat. Democracy is clearly under threat in Africa today. How the West responds will determine whether the forces of authoritarianism championed by China and Russia will prevail in the contest for a new world order or beat a retreat.

From Abuja, Fanfare of Ministerial Bluster

The great national festival of the last fortnight was the swearing in and deployment of Tinubu’s mammoth ministerial assembly. The event was preceded by the comedy of curious confirmations. While the nominees werefacingtheSenate,nooneknewwhatportfolios theywerebeingprocessedfor.So,ablindfoldedSenate was interviewing a series of equally blindfolded ministerialnomineesinacharadethatservedmostly anentertainmentfunctionforNigerianswhowatched on television.

The poor senators were in no position to ask any pointed or specific questions. For the more familiar faces among the nominees, especially those who hadservedasstategovernors,itwastheusual“Bow and Go!” comedy. No questions asked. No answers required.Justshowupandproceed.Forthelessknown ones, there were no challenging probes. Just show face and mutter something, confirmed! Go onto the mountain and proclaim thyself: Distinguished Honourable Minister!

Onfirstappearance,someofthemoreanonymous nomineesseemedsomewhatlikesorryshycreatures. Imagine an innocuous fellow appearing in blindfold in front of the hallowed chambers of the Senate full of strangers with arrows and darts aimed at you. In the end, it was a typical Nigerian ‘mass promotion’ oral examination. Everybody passed including the gentlemanprodigywhocompletedsecondaryschool by age nine and an ingenious young lady who got appointed minister as a serving NYSC member!

AfterlastMonday’sswearinginceremony,however, somethingnovelhappenedamongthenewministers.

As if by consensus, straight from the inauguration hall, most of the ministers addressed the media at their disposal on their mission. You would think the feverish campaigns of the 2023 elections were still raging. Promisesandcommitmentscametumbling over one another.

Each new minister, as if on a prompt, addressed the media to market their priorities and advertise their unique selling points. It was like an advertising contestforself-promotion.Itendedupadayofhyper bluster, mostly a fanfare of ministerial fantasies. Someoftheministerssoundedmorelikepoliticians on the soapbox all over again than as prospective

departmentalchiefexecutivesofgovernment.Just a sample from the copious parade.

The new Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu,boastedthatthefederalgovernmentispoisedto migrate136millionNigeriansoutofpovertyinashort time. I guess she needed to be reminded that even theworstestimatesofNigeria’spovertypopulation hasputthefigureatnomorethan130millionpeople. By this ministerial bluster, before she leaves office, there will be no more poor people in Nigeria. On the more immediate matter of equitable distribution of hunger palliatives among Nigerians, she even surpassed herself. She promised that government will deploy GPS for the distribution of bags of rice and packs of Indomie noodles. No reporter had the presence of mind to ask her the meaning of GPS! Nottobeoutdone,thenewMinisterofInformation whohasjustsucceededtheubiquitousLaiMohammed promisedthathenceforth,governmentwillstoplying to Nigerians. As it were, this minister will reinvent governmentpublicityandcommunication.Ifgovernment were to stop lying to us, what other business will be left for government?

YetanotherMinister,Mr.AdebayoAdelabu,whois MinisterforPowerpromiseduninterruptedpowerto all Nigerian homes and businesses within the shortest time, precisely within one year. Many Nigerians recall that a similar promise was made immediately onassumptionofofficebyPresidentObasanjo’s then newministerofpower,thelateBolaIgewhoprobably didnotquiteknowthedifferencebetweenanelectric pole and a transformer. He promised uninterrupted powersupplyinsixmonthsin1999!Wearestillwaiting.

On his part, Mr. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, the new MinisterofBudgetandNationalEconomicPlanning used the occasion to promise that he will “unlock the vast economic potentials of the nation” through his ministry.Itishardtodecipherwhataministerlocked away in an office with a pile of statistics and Power pointprojectionsofgovernment’seconomicscenarios will have to do to ‘unlock’ the nation’s prosperity in themidstofanarmyofeconomists,centralbankers and drivers economic drivers. There is information on good authority that Mr. Bagudu has a key to free some long missing resources!

Notonetobeleftoutofablusterfestival,myfriend, Mr.DeleAlake,thejournalistturnedMinisterofSolid

Minerals,usedtheopportunitytorationalizehisnew role.Foramanwhoinlessthan90daysoftheTinubu administration has rapidly exchanged choice roles with fancy titles so many times, it was pretty easy to market his new role. He predictably praised the wisdomofthepresidentinrecognizinghisgeniusand universal versatility by sending him to help diversify the nation’s revenue and foreign exchange sources through the Solid Minerals sector as an alternative to the long standing dependence on hydrocarbons.

Similarly,the Ministerfor Steel Development,Mr. Shuaibu Audu, committed to the completion of the moribund Ajaokuta Steel Mill which was started by the Shagari administration since the 1980s. There is no indication of where Nigeria ranks among steel producing countries today and where we fit into the global steel market today.

Not to be sidelined by his colleagues, the new MinisterofForeignAffairs,AmbassadorYusufTigard promised to initiate what he called a foreign policy of 4-Ds: Development, Democracy, Demographics andDiaspora.Hewaswiseenoughtoleavehispolicy initiative at the level of just those four key words. In the context of the mass emigration of Nigerians to Canada,UnitedKingdom,Rwandaandotherplaces, the nation awaits the unfolding of this word based foreign policy against the background of the Buhari administration which uttered not a single word on foreign policy in all of eight years.

Predictably the most dramatic and boisterous of the lot was the new Minister of the FCT, former Rivers Governor Mr. Nyesom Wike. In his characteristic disruptive boisterousness, Wike promised to demolish as many buildings as possible in Abuja for as long as they violate planning approval in strict compliance with the original Abuja master plan. Of all the ministers, Wike has been the first to move into an ‘action’ phase. He has already demolished some fancy mansions and ordered their owners arrested. He has indicated a desire to complete the long abandoned Abuja light rail project. He has orderedallFCTcontractorsbacktositeandpromised to pay indigenous land owners nearly a trillion Naira in compensation for a 4 kilometer new runway at the Abuja airport.

Soldiers jublilating in Gabon after the coup

had taken another route. When Obasanjo was president and we had considerable savings from oil revenue, I campaigned vigorously that we should invest in a new refinery. I was lectured by neo-liberal fanatics that government should not run a refinery, that it should be the business of the private sector. I conceded but with a request: let us build a refinery (since no investor was willing to do so), lease out the management and sell it off after some years. Let us just stop fuel importation by any means!

The cost of the decisions we took — or failed to take — yesterday is coming back to bite us hard today and threatening to pull down the already fragile economy. With dwindling oil output and export, we are currently facing a double whammy: we export little oil and spend the little income to import petroleum products because we do not refine at home. Things got so bad at a stage that we did not have enough crude to exchange for products, so we mortgaged future oil production in order to import petrol for today. We are digging one hole after the other to fill the other holes we have dug everywhere. It is difficult to understand how we do things here and expect positive outcomes.

Help me make sense of this. A farmer produces yams and sells a tuber for N2,000 to Mama Put. But because he does not have the mortar and pestle to pound the yam, he goes to the Mama Put to buy a wrap of pounded yam for N1,000. Mama Put can probably make N10,000 per tuber, selling it as pounded, fried, boiled or

GABON GARRISSON

Gabon is the latest African country to come under the jackboot with the overthrow of President Ali Bongo Ondimba shortly after he was declared winner of a flawed election that returned him to office for a third term. He had succeeded his late father, Omar, in 2009. I was amused that father and son had ruled Gabon for a combined period of 56 years before the military coup — only for me to read reports that the new military ruler, Brigadier General Brice Oligui Nguema, is the ousted president’s cousin. I didn’t know whether to be angry or burst into laughter. I now can’t say what is more odious — the father-and-son stranglehold on Gabon or the incursion by their extended family. Africa!

roasted yam, or making yam flour and amala from it. Mama Put can sell the peels as feed for goats. There are several products from yam! Now, wait for this: our farmer friend runs into a harvest problem and starts buying pounded yam on credit, promising to pay with next year’s harvest. That is Nigeria for you: selling crude oil and spending the revenue to import petrol.

The country should be exporting petroleum products — such as petrol, diesel, low pour oil fuel, and jet fuel — and earning billions of dollars, in addition to the little matter of jobs and tax revenue. We want the naira to exchange at N1/$1 (whatever the merits are) but how can you spend all your forex on importing petrol and still expect the naira not to keep losing value? What else are you exporting to earn dollars? Where are the dollars? If income from your biggest export, which used to account for 90 percent of your forex earnings, has been going down for years, what else are you doing to get more dollar inflow into your economy? It seems we are expecting the dollar to fall from heaven.

Let us go to Singapore briefly. The country is less than the size of Lagos state and has a population of 5.6 million. But we are not here to discuss land mass and population. My interest is the size of the intellect. The country does not have oil but it has some of the biggest refineries in the world with the capacity to refine 1.5 million bpd. Nigeria, one of the world’s richest in crude reserves, has been having the capacity

for 445,000 bpd since 1987 and rarely refines a barrel. Singapore is regarded as Asia’s oil hub and earned $40.8 billion from exporting refined petroleum products in 2021. Yes, $40.8 billion! It is not about resource wealth or political system. It is the brain. Vision. Mission. Passion.

What more can I say? Ajaokuta Steel Mill has become a centre of stealing since it was conceived in 1979. Up till today, we have not finished stealing through Ajaokuta. If it was a country where our heads were properly screwed on our necks, we would be earning billions of dollars from exporting iron and steel, to say nothing about the jobs and the value chain in the economy. According to data by CEPII, the leading French centre for research and expertise on the world economy, China earned $61 billion from iron and steel exports in 2021. Japan earned $35 billion, Germany $32.8 billion, Russia $30.5 billion, and South Korea $28 billion. These things start from the brain. It is not magic.

Don’t let us get started with palm oil. Forget the legendary story of how an Asian country came to take palm seedlings from Nigeria some decades ago and is now a world leader in the production of the cash crop. As far as I am concerned, that is history and we should move on for Pete’s sake. The part I cannot understand for the life of me is why we keep lamenting as if lamentation ever solved any problem. There are more depressing statistics to share with us but I think we can chew on this for a while: in 2022, Indonesia earned $27.8 billion from

And Four Other Things…

COUP CONTAGION

Military coups are back in full force in Africa and I must be one of the least excited. I will say this one more time: military should stay out of politics. By their training and orientation, soldiers are not primed to govern the civil populace. Most of Africa was ruled by soldiers in the 1970s and 1980s and if they were geniuses, Africa would be competing with the rest of the world today. I will never argue against the notion that there is a general leadership problem on the continent. I will also not deny the fact that liberal democracy has not delivered the dividends as it should. But the military has not proved itself to be better either. Let’s give democracy a chance, no matter how imperfect. Liberties.

MIXED SIGNALS OF TINUBU’S FIRST 100 DAYS

window and that decisiveness should have been extended to what happens next. But there seemed to be no clear plan or strategy in place on what to do the moment after the announcement, by whom, when and how. The impact of petrol subsidy removal was immediate and far-reaching. On the other hand, there was little clarity or surefootedness in the immediate on how government would provide needed relief or how it will repurpose the savings from subsidy removal. The palliative plan had to be literally forced out of the president, and when it finally came in bits and pieces, the plan was—and is still— all over the place.

A more thoughtful approach would have aimed for better calibration, preferably with the reliefs frontloaded to coincide with and make the pains more bearable. The decisive Tinubu was absent on cash transfer to the most vulnerable. He folded too easily on giving cash to the poorest of the poor and allowed the governors and others with outsized voice to gratuitously rubbish the National Social Register. They eventually settled for CNG-buses, distribution of grains and rice, and other measures that pandered mostly to public sector workers. (By the way, government assuming that rice is what the poor need is not only unduly paternalistic but also counterproductive: it drives up the price of rice and grains because of surge in demand. This is a consequence that is clearly foreseeable with just a little attention to the forces of supply and demand.)

Also, a more considered approach would have favoured spacing the two reforms, allowing the consequences of one to settle in well before embarking on the other. Nigeria imports the petrol it consumes. Floating the exchange rate means that price of petrol will continue to rise anytime the value of the Naira weakens. How much and what frequency of price increase (and associated pains) can people tolerate? Is there a threshold to trigger circuit breakers? It is clear that not enough thought was invested into these critical questions. Now, there is a risk that petrol subsidy may re-appear. In a related vein, it seems the floating of the

Naira was done by faith. The assumption was that devaluing the Naira would automatically lead to improved forex supply. Even if a model had predicted this, the natural thing to do is to have a backup plan. Investors are known to be fickle, and they would not necessarily pour in here simply because we have devalued our currency. (As an aside, eliminating the corruption-prone, multiple official exchange rates and devaluation are not necessarily the same.) A more cautious and more deliberate approach would have leaned towards securing adequate forex supply before floating the Naira. As long as there is a supply crunch, which is the real problem of our forex markets, there will be pressure on the Naira at both the official and parallel markets.

Both the petrol subsidy removal and forex

ALL EYES ON P&ID

There are underground moves by some selfish Nigerians to cut a deal in the P&ID case by seeking to arrest the British high court judgment. The facts, according to our lawyers, are positive for us. More so, we have a right of appeal if we lose, so it is difficult to understand why some fellows are trying to stampede President Bola Tinubu to go for out-of-court settlement. If we win, P&ID and its backers will not get a penny. Instead, the court may ask them to pay our costs. It is already a good signal that a court allowed us to challenge the $6.6 billion (plus interests) award because of allegations of corruption in the contracting process. Tinubu must not cave in to these commission chasers. Greed.

reforms that looked like genius moves less than three months do not appear so bright again. The lesson here is that courage and swift actions are good, but when not backed with a clear-headed strategy, they could pass for impulsiveness. It is important to rescue these reforms. Abandoning them now would set the country back by many years. It is not too late to proceed in a more methodical way.

The second episode I want to highlight is Tinubu’s handling and selection of his cabinet. Tinubu got some decent applause when he changed the security service chiefs and this was sustained when he appointed his first set of advisers. But it took him almost forever to send his ministerial nominees to the Senate and he sent the second and third lists after the constitutional deadline. A decisive Tinubu was absent on this front. He had more than ample time to put his list together even ahead of the deadline. He was declared the winner of the 2023 presidential election on March 1st. That effectively granted him a five-month window.

But the major issue is not just about sending his list late but more about the number and quality of his nominees. A late list would have been more tolerable if it creaked with sparkling resumes. Tinubu nominated 48 people to serve as ministers. This is a historic number and not a good look in any way given the dire state of our finances. To compound matters, not up to a quarter of the nominees have the statures, networks and antecedents that speak to the gravity of the moment. For someone with a reputation for assembling great teams, this is some form of self-demystification. The Senate confirmed 45 nominees who were later assigned portfolios. In another record, Tinubu undertook a reshuffle before inaugurating the ministers (and he just did same with the NDDC list).

The third episode I want to highlight is Nigeria’s response to the recent coup in Niger.

I am one of those who believe that a coup in the subregion should elicit a strong response from Nigeria. I also believe that despite our internal challenges, Nigeria cannot afford to

palm oil exports alone. I am attracted by the enormous forex earnings for sure, but I am more smitten by the associated economic activities.

Let’s be frank: the solution to our economic and security challenges are hidden in plain sight. It is no rocket science. Nigeria can be one of the biggest exporters of palm oil, petrol, solid minerals, name it — if we use our brains positively. We have no business with being a net importer of petroleum products, so much so the aviation industry is sometimes paralysed because of fuel scarcity. Nigeria is the only country that experiences this constant affliction. Some things are too weird about us. That is why some think the country is under a spell. I can’t say if it is a spiritual problem because spiritual matters are above my paygrade, but I am sure that we don’t know what we are doing. We’re lost.

But when you see that some sectors are doing well — fintech and entertainment, for instance — in spite of the government, you cannot but conclude that the political leadership has questions to answer. We have a warped concept of governance. When you run a system where the unwritten code is that leadership is all about personal comfort and there are no consequences for bad behaviour, what you get is a Nigeria. We know what ails us. It’s been well diagnosed. But we have refused to take our medication: competent and patriotic leadership at all levels. Our capacity for shortsightedness and selfishness is legendary and damaging. Do I really need to spell that out again?

AND FINALLY…

Mr Wale Adedayo, chairman of Ijebu East LGA, Ogun state, bluntly told Mr Dapo Abiodun, the governor, that the “emperor has not clothes”. He accused the governor of hijacking the funds meant for councils — a major obstacle to the proper functioning of the local government system in Nigeria. The emperor was very angry. Councillors from Ijebu East quickly visited the emperor with their tails between their legs, apologising for Adedayo’s misdemeanour, and wailing: “We are sorry sir! The emperor has clothes! The emperor is not naked!” Seven councillors proceeded to suspend Adedayo for three months over allegations of maladministration and financial mismanagement. Nigeria!

continue to be a bit player in the region, on the continent, and on the global stage. The fact that Nigeria leads ECOWAS at the moment also imposes an additional responsibility. I am fully with Tinubu on the need for Nigeria to be fully back on the international stage and for us to lead the process to firmly stop the coup contagion in our neighbourhood.

However, it is now clear that Tinubu could have steered ECOWAS towards taking a more nuanced approach. I have a feeling that the president is surprised by the reaction of Nigerians in the north generally, especially from the residents of the states that border Niger. Three gaps are evident here: one, not having a special adviser on foreign affairs on his team when the putschists struck in Niger; two, lack of a sophisticated understanding of the cultural and historical dynamics at play between northern Nigeria and Niger; and three, the failure to consult adequately within before taking a firm position. Increasingly, ECOWAS and Nigeria appear to be walking back. Hopefully a sensible solution can still be worked out for all concerned.

On the positive side, Tinubu has shown some strength in the last three months. He has appeared more healthy and more articulate than the Tinubu of the campaigns. As president, he is more accessible, more responsive and more engaging than his predecessor. He seems on top of the political process, though he needs to resist the urge to play too much politics. He has shown that he has the stomach for tough decisions.

But he needs to improve on his weak points. He needs to improve the quality of decisionmaking and the quality of advice he gets. It is becoming evident that his inner circle has little federal executive experience and that he is rusty for being out of executive position for 16 years and for lacking federal executive experience himself. He needs to speed up on the learning curve. And most importantly, he needs clear, robust and sustainable strategies for his key interventions. A strategic and surefooted president is what Nigeria needs at this very critical period.

President Tinubu

Falana to Foreign Airlines

SIMONKOLAWOLELIVE!

I

Alhaji Abubakar Lawal Yar’Adua, appointed the NNPC group managing director by President Yar’Adua, told the world in September 2007 that all our refineries would start working at “near full capacity” by December 2007 after “rehabilitation” which, you may want to know, cost us several billions of naira. In preparation for the magic, he said government had awarded a $52 million contract for the repair of the Chanomi Creek pipeline, the main feeder pipeline to Warri and Kaduna refineries blown up by militants in 2006. All was set for the amazing revamp of the 445,000 barrels per day (bpd) refineries, after which we would stop importing petroleum products and live together happily ever after.

simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com,

sms: 0805 500 1961

n the dying days of his administration in 2007, President Olusegun Obasanjo sold 51 percent of federal government’s stakes in two of Nigeria’s four ailing refineries to Bluestar Oil Services Ltd — a consortium floated by Dangote Oil, Zenon Oil and Transcorp Plc — for $761 million. Shortly after the inauguration of a new administration, the oil industry unions — apparently prompted — kicked that Obasanjo sold the refineries to his cronies, insisted that one of the refineries alone was worth over $5 billion, and staged a four-day strike. President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua gleefully reversed the privatisation and returned the refineries to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).to have secretly bought an £890,000 house in London in 2008 while serving as the NNPC GMD, using a company he registered in the British Virgin Islands — but there is nothing to see there). Sixteen years after the unions said the Port Harcourt refinery alone was worth $5 billion, no one would buy it for N5 million. Sixteen years after we bungled a major victory for local refining of petroleum products, we are still helplessly and hopelessly hooked on fuel imports.

still here waiting patiently and enthusiastically for Godot. We are still promising to get the refineries to work “by December” (why always December?) and have no clue when this bizarre bazaar will be over. From the time of Gen Sani Abacha till date, all the presidents have played the same card of getting the refineries to work. It appears there is a hymn sheet at the Presidential Villa from which they all sing: the harmony is enduring and unbelievable.

President Tinubu

What happened next? We are now in September 2023 — on the 16th anniversary of Yar’Adua’s monumental promise — and Nigeria is still waiting for the magic to happen. (As an aside, Yar’Adua was named in the Panama Papers

WAZIRI ADIO POSTSCRIPT

But Yar’Adua was not alone. Every single president after him promised to get the refineries working at “near full capacity”. President Goodluck Jonathan vowed to raise the dead. Between 2013 and 2015, he reportedly spent $396 million on turnaround maintenance (TAM) — and the refineries have still not worked, although I admit that the fortune of a few individuals experienced turnaround miracles. In April 2021, Mallam Mele Kyari, the CEO of NNPC Ltd, followed the enviable tradition of his predecessors by signing a $1.5 billion contract to rehabilitate the Port Harcourt refinery. President Bola Tinubu has now customarily promised that the refineries will be back by December 2023.

In summary, 16 years after we reversed the sale of the refineries because they were bought by Obasanjo’s “cronies” and promised to get them back to “near full capacity”, we have burnt billions of dollars on TAM contracts and we are

But you know what? If you take a proper look at the financial and economic implications of fuel importation in Nigeria, you will find a damning explanation for some of the woes overwhelming us today. Shall we discuss the billions of dollars we have burnt on demurrage and storage charges on fuel imports since 1999 (because our ports do not have the adequate reception capacity and the NNPC does not have sufficient storage facilities)? Shall we discuss the fact that the resources we have burnt on demurrage and storage expenses over the same period could have built the biggest refineries in the world and turned us to exporters of both crude oil and petroleum products?

Does anyone ever calculate how much of our forex earnings we burn on fuel importation? This is the largest single consumer of forex today. I wonder what might have been if we

Continued on page 31

Mixed Signals of Tinubu’s First 100 Days

T

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s 100th day in office as Nigeria’s president. In a way, it feels as if he had been in the saddle for much longer. This is understandable, given the key shifts and the series of expected and unexpected activities of the last three months. The take-off, for him and for the country, has been uneven—at turns smooth and bumpy, bright and dreary.

Beginnings matter: for tone-setting, for insights and projections, and for the opportunity to learn and reposition. As he approaches the 100th day mark at the helm of affairs, Tinubu needs to take a pause, reflect on the positives and the negatives of his beginning, and undertake early course-correction where necessary. For the sake of emphasis, Nigeria at its current state doesn’t have the luxury of time.

The Tinubu of the first four weeks surpassed expectations of even sceptics on a few fronts. He came out of Eagle Square raring to go. He went out of his prepared inauguration speech to decree the end of petrol subsidy, a ruinous policy that gulped $10 billion in 2022, benefited mostly the rich, the smugglers and corrupt government officials, and crowded

uesday, 5th September 2023, marksout needed investments in health, education and other areas critical to poverty reduction and economic growth. He also signalled the end of the regime of arbitrage-ridden, multiple exchange rates. Then, he appointed a new set of service chiefs, and it seemed some careful thought went into the selection.

In those very early days, Tinubu largely appeared prepared and decisive. He got effusive admiration from his fan base and earned the grudging adulation of some of those who didn’t give him a chance or who had reckoned he was beyond his prime. A foreign news agency even labelled him as Baba-Go-Fast. The word reformer increasingly appeared next to his name in generous endorsements by multilateral development agencies and foreign investment banks. But before long, the mystique started falling apart. Another Tinubu quickly emerged: ponderous, overtly political, and curiously indecisive. Most people, including leaders, have two competing sides. But Nigeria, especially now, will be better served by a president who consistently puts on his better side, his A-game.

In this intervention, I will use three episodes to illustrate the unhelpful duality of Tinubu’s presidency so far, and conclude with a call for greater clarity and more decisiveness.

Let’s start with his two signature reforms: petrol subsidy removal and foreign exchange market reforms. Without a doubt, both policies were necessary for our public finance and the overall health of our economy. Tinubu scored massive points as a bold reformer for moving swiftly to end one and nudging the monetary authority to take action on the other. However, these reforms—like most reforms— are not painless. It is a no-brainer that the removal of petrol subsidy would definitely lead to hike in costs of transportation and food, and spike in both headline inflation and food inflation. Also, removal of foreign exchange subsidy (devaluation or floating of the Naira) would not only lead to general increase in the prices of goods and services (because we import most things) but would also translate to further increase in prices of petrol, and subsequent hikes in costs of transportation and food. The removal of the two subsidies within a short space of time introduced two shocks, and both shocks introduced multiple pain-points for all. But the poor, who constitute a significant chunk of our population, are disproportionately impacted precisely because they have little room for manoeuvre. The rich irony is that those who benefitted the least from the wrong-headed

subsidies are saddled with the bulk of the pains of reform.

The problem here is not the reforms themselves. Or that they should not have been introduced because of the accompanying pains. Let’s be clear: Nigeria was headed for the ditch, and the reforms helped in averting an accident that many can’t feel because it did not happen. Also, the problem may not be the near simultaneous introduction of two inflationary shocks on an inflation-weary system. There is indeed a reform school of thought that argues for taking and implementing all the difficult decisions early in the life of an administration.

The problem with the Tinubu approach is that there seemed to be little thought spared on how to meaningfully manage the consequences (beyond the usual negotiations with organised labour), on how to minimise the pains on those disproportionately affected, and on what to do if unforeseen complications set in or the expected gains do not materialise early or at all.

Yes, it takes quite some guts for Tinubu to announce that ‘petrol subsidy is gone’ at Eagle Square. It is a great use of the honeymoon

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