SUNDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER 2023

Tinubu Leads Six Govs, Seven Ministers to UNGA

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu will today lead six state governors, seven ministers and some senior aides to the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States. This would be President

Tinubu’s first outing at the UNGA.

A statement yesterday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, gave a detailed outline of President Tinubu’s plans in New York, including various sidelines businesses and bilateral meetings.

“President Tinubu will be

accompanied by Governors Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State; Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State; Hope Uzodimma of Imo State; Uba Sani of Kaduna State; AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State; Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi

Gbajabiamila.

“Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun; Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Mohammed Pate; Minister of Defence,

Abubakar Badaru; Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr. Dele Alake; Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu; and Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite.

“The National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; Chairman

of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa and other senior government officials will also be present”, the statement said.

The theme of this year’s UNGA is: “Rebuilding trust and Reigniting

DMO: $20.79bn Multilateral Loans Account for over 48% of Nigeria's External Debt…

Soyinka: Atiku, Obi Voluntarily Contributed to Outcome of 2023 Presidential Poll…

Page 6

Akpabio: Alleged Plot to Remove Me, a Complete Imagination

Senate president's loyalists behind removal plot allegation, says Senator Abbo

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has dismissed an alleged plot to unseat him, saying that the

Senate under his leadership is stable, harmonious, and working towards a greater and better Nigeria. The Senate has also described as a ruse, the rumour of

Vows to

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, yesterday declared that the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) remained in support of sustained democratic rule in the country.

Speaking at a meeting with military commanders in Abuja, the defence chief, who vowed to deal decisively with threats to national security, said security forces must do all it takes to ensure that democracy thrives in Nigeria.

Musa warned that terrorists, armed bandits, and kidnappers will not be spared.

The defence chief also hinted

impending moves to remove Akpabio from office.

But Senator representing Adamawa North Senatorial District, Elisha Abbo, however, accused senators loyal to

Akpabio, of being behind the reports on the alleged plot to remove him. He accused Akpabio of running a one-man show, alleging also that the distribution

of standing committees in the Senate was lopsided.

In a statement issued yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon Eseme Eyiboh, the President of

the Senate, who was reacting to reports about an alleged plot to destabilise the Senate and its leadership, said that the reports

Continued on page 5

Nigerian Armed Forces Stand for Democracy, CDS Declares

deal decisively with threats to national security

at the restructuring of military operations in view of evolving threats and the need for new strategies even as he emphasised the compelling need for joint operations of the military and other security forces.

"Democracy remains what we stand for. We must do everything humanly possible to sustain democratic rule.

“We have the trust and support of Nigerian people. We must honour that thrust," Musa said.

He vowed that all threats to national security must be decisively dealt with.

"All threats will be dealt with decisively. No kidnappers,

Continued on page 5 Continued

First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu (left), and the Nigerian Ambassador to Portugal, Mr. Alex Kefas, at the Madeira International Airport when she made a brief stopover on her way to New York for the United Nations General Assembly…yesterday

DMO: $20.79bn Multilateral Loans Account for over 48% of Nigeria's External Debt

Says debt grew by $487m in three months

Ndubuisi Francis

Nigeria's total external debt grew by $487.49 million, from $42,671.70 billion in March to $43,159.19 billion at the end of June 2023, fresh statistics from the Debt Management Office (DMO) indicate.

Multilateral loans which accounted for 48.17 per cent of Nigeria's debt obligations during the reference period also rose from $20,658.41 to $20,790.74 million, showing an increase of $132.33 million.

With a total of $14,027 billion, the World Bank Group (WBG) accounted for the largest chunk of the nation's external debt stock during the period.

Nigeria is indebted to

such WBG members as the International Development Association (IDA) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD.

From $13,841.31 billion owed to the IDA in March, the figure increased to $14,027.20 billion at the end of June 2023.

It also owes IBRD the sum of $485.75 million as of June end.

Nigeria is also indebted to the multilateral lender- the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from $3,303.03 billion in March to $3,264.74 billion in June.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) is also one of Nigeria's external creditors.

With a debt of obligation

of $1.573 billion in March to the Pan-African development institution, the figure slowed down marginally to $1,551 billion in June

However, the African Development Fund loan grew slightly from $972.55 million in March to $980.86 million in June.

Nigeria owes the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) $265.51 million, while the Islamic Development Bank loans rose from $144.12 million in March to $153.36 million in June.

On the bilateral side, which accounts for 12.79 per cent of external debt, Nigeria's indebtedness grew to $5.518 billion in June 2023, from $5.163

billion in March 2023. The Exim Bank of China is Nigeria’s biggest bilateral creditor, accounting for the largest chunk of $4,336 billion as of March ending to $4,726 billion at the end of June.

Nigeria also owes France (Agence Francaise Development) to the tune of $572.61 million and KfW of Germany, $135.26 million.

Nigeria's commercial loans (Eurobonds) accounted for $15,618 billion or 36.19 per cent of the nation's total external debt stock of $43,159.19 billion at the end of June.

On July 12, 2023, Nigeria redeemed a $500 million Eurobond taken by the administration of ex-President

AKPABIO: ALLEGED PLOT TO REMOVE ME, A COMPLETE IMAGINATION

were complete imaginations and laced with malice to achieve what senators were yet to comprehend.

The statement noted that "the Senate has since gone past the experience of the keenly contested leadership election," adding that "the plot to drag in Senators who initially did not support the emergence of the present leadership into a conspiracy that does not exist was uncharitable to the senators and needless umbrage.

“Senators are presently concluding their holidays in their constituencies and other places they have chosen to spend their time after the rigours of the inauguration and ministerial screening and other constructive engagements,” the statement said.

“All senators are also refreshing themselves ahead of the resumption; therefore, any suggestion that they are presently engaged in other subversive plots against the institution is rather uncharitable. It is mostly uncharitable for those senators who initially did not support the emergence of the leadership but who have all unanimously endorsed the Senator Akpabioled leadership. Continuing to link these senators with needless conspiracy with barely disguised innuendo is rather unkind.

“We call on the media not to give in to the conspiratorial tales, and not to damage the reputations that they have built over time.”

We Have No Plan to Remove Our President, Senate Clarifies

The Senate has also described it as a ruse, the rumour of impending moves against Akpabio.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Yemi Adaramodu, said the alleged plot existed only in the imagination of the authors of the story.

The Senate statement read: "The Nigerian Senate is one united and fraternal family. This imaginative composition is in the realm of the fake and fallacious story of 100 million per legislator. It's apt to note that the 10th Senate, under the leadership of Senator Godswill Akpabio has carried out its legislative and constitutional duties diligently.

"Within less than 60 legislative

days, the Senate has passed life-enhancing bills and motions. It has screened and confirmed Service Chiefs and ministers, among others, apart from very essential oversight functions.

"We urge the fifth columnists, who operate undoubtedly outside the Senate, desperate to cause disharmony through media stunts and thus clipping the wings of Nigeria's democracy, to take caution.

"The Senate should be allowed fresh air to settle down for its national assignments so that the Nigerian project can move forward. The media too, should be discerning not to be used as a hand tool to these retailers of fake and bad news," the statement added.

Akpabio's Loyalists Behind Removal Plot Allegation, Says Senator Abbo

In his reaction, the Senator representing Adamawa North, Abbo, has accused senators loyal to Akpabio of syndicating stories of an alleged plot against him in the media.

Abbo, in a statement made available to THISDAY in Abuja, alleged that the plan was to set President Bola Tinubu against the North.

"As a Northern senator and an official of the Northern Senators’ Forum, I make bold to say that the news was deliberately planted and syndicated by the ‘camp’ of Senator Akpabio just to set President Tinubu against the North."

He called on Akpabio to call his camp to order, adding that "the seed of discord and deep ethno-religious division they are sowing will not augur well for the country."

He said: "If Akpabio and his camp wanted a united Senate just like Ahmad Lawan, they could have known exactly what to do during Senate Standing Committees allocation and supplementary budget resources allocation.

"But the camp of the Senate President continued to treat the Senate as a conquered territory where the winner goes home with the spoils of war. A classic example of a winner-take-all-all.

"How do you explain a situation where out of Category A Committees only two went to his perceived rivals?

"How will you explain a Senate where 83.1 per cent of

those made chairmen of Category A Committees are also vice chairmen of Category A?

"How do you explain a third-time senator denied the chairmanship of a committee? How do you explain leaders of the Senate are all vice chairmen of Category A Committees?

"You cannot treat us like conquered people and come back to blackmail us with planted and paid newspaper reports setting us against the President," Abbo added.

Abbo also alleged that the rejection of the nomination of former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, and two others as ministers was the exclusive decision of Akpabio and his team and not that of the entire Senate.

"During the ministerial screening where three ministerdesignates were refused clearance by the senate, which committee looked into the petitions against

them? Ethics and Privileges or Ad hoc Committee or Committee of the Whole?

“Was the report deliberated and debated during plenary? Was there any voting either, Ayes or Nays?

"The Senate President just absconded during Plenary and kept the Senate waiting in the Chamber for over three hours while he was in the Villa - something that never happened in the history of the Senate then came.

"He read out names of those cleared and waved papers in his hand, claiming security report from the National Security Adviser or the Department of State Services as the reason for not clearing some ministers.

"In my opinion, this is the lowest the Senate ever descended.

"Who gave NSA or DSS DG or IG the power to write to the Senate? What do you call that

Goodluck Jonathan in 2013.

July 12, 2023, was the due date of the 10-year tenored debt instrument.

Eurobond is a debt instrument that is denominated in a currency other than the home currency of the country or market in which it is issued.

Promissory Notes of $931.70 million also make up 2.16 per cent of Nigeria's external debt stock as of June end, according to the DMO.

Meanwhile, the IMF and World Bank will decide on Monday whether to proceed with October's annual meetings in earthquake-hit Morocco after completing a “thorough review” of the country's ability to host them, the IMF's Managing

communication? Executive communication or reckless communication?” Abbo queried.

Niger Delta Group Vows to Resist Plot against Akpabio

Meanwhile, a group in the Niger Delta has vowed to resist any attempt to remove Akpabio from office.

The leaders, in a statement signed by the Secretary, of Citizens Network for Peace and Development (CNPDN), Francis Wainwei, explained that no serious Nigerian should take the alleged threat seriously.

They said in the last 10 years, no Senate President had spread the chairmanship of standing committees like Akpabio.

The South-south leaders explained that the opposition members, as well as senators elected on the platform of the

Director, Kristalina Georgieva has said.

The IMF has reached a stafflevel agreement with Morocco to provide a $1.3 billion loan to bolster the country's resilience to climate-related disasters from the fund's new Resilience and Sustainability Trust, Kristalina Georgieva also said, in an exclusive interview with Reuters. Questions have swirled over whether the IMF and World Bank would still hold their annual meetings in Morocco's tourist hub of Marrakesh between October 9 and 15 since the devastating 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck in the High Atlas Mountains, killing more than 2,900 people.

ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) got influential committees. The pro-South-south group leaders said the senators pushing the narrative have a bigger plan to destabilise the administration of President Bola Tinubu, by causing unnecessary tension in the National Assembly.

The statement challenged the purveyors of the purported moves to show their faces and be ready to accept the dire consequences.

“We know the antecedents of these people and we know that they’re targeting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Once they weaken the National Assembly, they’ll go after President Tinubu. We won’t allow them.

“If you couldn’t win elections through the ballots, you can’t also take over power through the backdoor. Akpabio will remain the President of the 10th Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly,” the group said.

NIGERIAN ARMED FORCES STAND FOR DEMOCRACY, CDS DECLARES

terrorists, and bandits will be spared," he added.

Musa promised that the military high command would look into the issues raised, notably inadequate manpower, lack of support weapons, and drones, among others.

"Other challenges like the inadequate manpower, lack of support weapons, gun trucks, and drones, as well as the inadequate tracking equipment and the teams to operate them have been noted. The issue of inadequate personal rifles will also be addressed.

"Another crucial aspect that emerged from our deliberations is the need for innovation and adaptability.

“The security landscape is ever-evolving, and we must continuously assess and improve our strategies, tactics, and capabilities to effectively counter emerging threats.

"Embracing new technologies, fostering a culture of innovation, and promoting a learning mindset is essential for maintaining our operational edge. Let us encourage and empower our personnel to think creatively, to challenge conventional wisdom, and to embrace change as we strive for continuous improvement," Musa explained.

The defence chief told the commanders of joint task forces to embrace synergy of operations.

"One of the key takeaways from our discussions has been

the importance of unity of effort. As commanders, we must foster a culture of cooperation, collaboration, and synergy among our forces.

"By breaking down barriers, sharing resources, and leveraging each other's strengths, we can maximise our collective impact and achieve our shared objectives.

"Let us bring this spirit of jointness back to our respective task forces and integrate it into our daily operations.

“Similarly, the need to reform the structure of the various operations was keenly noted and will be considered," he said.

Musa further urged the commanders to priortise the welfare of personnel and foster relationships with communities

TINUBU

LEADS SIX

global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all.”

On September 19, the first day of the High-Level General Debate of the 78th UNGA Session, President Tinubu will deliver his inaugural national statement.

Before engaging in the general debate, the president will join other world leaders to participate in the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (UN 2023 Summit on SDGs).

in their areas of operation.

"Furthermore, we must prioritise the welfare and professional development of our personnel. Our greatest asset is our human capital, and it is through their dedication, expertise, and resilience that we achieve success on the battlefield.

"As commanders, we have a responsibility to ensure their well-being, provide them with the necessary resources and support, and create an environment that nurtures their growth and development," he added.

"Let us invest in their training, mentorship, and career progression, recognising that their success is intricately tied to the success of our joint operations.

“I would also like to emphasise

the importance of building and maintaining strong relationships with the communities we serve," the CDS said.

Musa added that "the trust and support of the local population are critical in our efforts to counter-insurgency, terrorism, and other security challenges.

"We must continue to engage with community leaders, religious leaders, and other stakeholders, listening to their concerns, addressing their grievances, and involving them in the decision-making processes.

"By doing so, we can gain valuable insights, foster cooperation, and build resilient communities that are actively involved in securing their futures," Musa added.

GOVS, SEVEN MINISTERS TO UNGA

President Tinubu’s address will encompass several issues, such as sustainable development, climate change, global cooperation, and the imperative to address inequalities and global humanitarian crises.

Additionally, President Tinubu is slated to participate in the High-Level Dialogue on Financing for Development; High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response; UN Secretary General’s Climate Ambition Summit; High-Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage; High-Level Panel on

Reform of the Global Financial Architecture, amongst others.

In New York, President Tinubu is also scheduled to hold several bilateral meetings with world leaders, including the Presidents of the European Union Commission, Brazil, and South Africa, amongst others.

The president will also advance his economic development agenda for aggressive investment attraction in meetings with the global leadership of transnational firms, such as Microsoft, Meta Technologies, Exxon Mobil, General Electric, and others.

GETTING SET FOR IMO GUBER…

NNPC Signs Deal to Supply Gas to Indorama’s $7bn Investment

Says FG will generate $18bn revenue from project

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) yesterday moved to boost its gas-to-industry programme, with the signing of a gas supply agreement with Indorama Energy PTE Limited, valued at about $7 billion in the short term.

Speaking at the event, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the national oil company, Mr. Mele Kyari, noted that the project will have a lifetime value of $18 billion, while it is expected to add $3 billion to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The deal, as directed by President Bola Tinubu, would also see the NNPC supply Indorama about 800 million Standard Cubic Feet (SCF) of gas.

“We are here on a Saturday to underscore the seriousness of what we are doing and our intention to deliver it and not just intention, but our determination to deliver this project.

“No doubt our laws are very clear. The Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) was specific that the NNPC must do everything possible to ensure that we harness the abundant gas resources in our country. So, it's a requirement of law for the NNPC. But more than anything, we are a gas country with associated oil.

“But we have always focused on oil and today, it is the moment of gas all over the world, not just because the world needs it, but it is also agreed that it is a transition fuel that everyone needs and everyone can rely on,” Kyari stated.

According to him, the directive of the president also aligned with the company’s plan to ensure that it delivers on gasification projects nationwide and makes it available for businesses and individuals on demand.

Kyari stated that when gas is made available, industries will then spring up, the power supply will be boosted and employment will be created, thereby leading to an economic boom.

“So, it's clear there's a huge connection between harnessing gas resources and this event. And therefore, when the president said we should find gas for Indorama, we had no difficulty coming up with a solution. And the solution is very simple.

“We have resources and we will make available the additional gas that is required. We will partner with Indorama so that we sweat the upstream assets and also produce the gas.

“We will go down the chain and create the midstream facilities for these industries. For urea, increased fertiliser production and of course, including the creation of a condensate refinery,” he added.

Kyari pointed out that the project will open more vistas for further agreements with other entities in its plan to deploy gas for Nigeria’s industries.

“They're very practical and we're happy at the commitment of Indorama that they are out to invest at least $7 billion on this project in

UK Increases Student, Visitor’s Visa Fees to N476,667, N111,878

Chinedu Eze

The United Kingdom Home Office has announced an increase in student visa fees to £490 (N476,677.59) from the current £127 (N123,537.58), representing a 286 per cent increment.

The fee for a visitor’s visa to the UK for less than six months will now cost £115 (about N111, 878.28 ) as opposed to £15 (14,592.70) effective from October 4, 2023, translating to about a 667 per cent increment.

The UK government made this known in a statement: ‘New visa fees set to come into effect next month,’ published on its website, following legislation being laid in parliament.

The increase, the statement stated, would enable it to pay for ‘vital services and allow more funding to be prioritised for public sector pay rises’, adding that the review would take effect on October 4.

“The changes mean that the cost for a visit visa for less than six months is rising by £15

(N14,592.70) to £115 (N111,878.28 ), while the fee for applying for a student visa from outside the UK will rise by £127 (N123,537.58) to £490 (N476,677.59), to equal the amount charged for in-country applications.

“Income from fees charged plays a vital role in the Home Office’s ability to run a sustainable immigration and nationality system. Careful consideration is given when setting fees to help reduce the funding contribution from British taxpayers, whilst continuing to provide a service that remains attractive to those wishing to work in the UK and support broader prosperity for all.”

The changes include fees for up to six months, two-, five- and 10-year visit visas.

The majority of fees for entry clearance and certain applications for leave to remain in the UK, including those for work and study were also increased.

The UK also increased indefinite

leave fee to enter and indefinite leave fee to remain; conventional travel documents and stateless person’s travel documents; health and care visa; fees concerning certificates of sponsorship and confirmation of acceptance for studies; the in and out of country fee for the super-priority service and the out of country fee for the priority service.

The statement noted that the settlement priority service would be reduced so it would be aligned with the cost of using the priority service.

Applications to register and naturalise as a British citizen and the fee for the User Pays Visa Application service were also increased.

However, the statement noted that subject to parliamentary approval, the immigration and nationality fees would increase from October 4.

“Today’s changes do not include the planned increase to the Immigration Health Surcharge, which is scheduled to be introduced later in the Autumn,” it added.

the short term. And perhaps this will open more gateway for us to do more business with others.

“And therefore this country is on the threshold of making value out of gas beyond any imagination. NNPC is currently pursuing many other large-scale gas projects that we could not take forward, but we're now more than ever before determined to ensure that this also progresses. Indorama, if you need more gas, talk to us.

“Ultimately, even on this project alone, we see an annual GDP contribution of over $3 billion and perhaps lifetime government revenues of up to $18 billion, even for this project.

“So, this is a huge project and

we in NNPC are committed to this. Me and my team will do everything possible to deliver it. There are no obstacles. There are no fences. We will work together to deliver on this and in the end, our country will prosper, not just that, our companies will make money,” Kyari noted.

In his remarks, the Chief Upstream Investment Officer of the NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services, Mr. Bala Wunti, who will lead the team to bring the project to fruition, noted that the programme would help support Indorama‘s expansion plan.

Noting that the deal will be mutually beneficial, he explained that it will assure gas delivery to meet the gas-based industry’s demand.

The scope of the project, he said, involves the delivery of gas, which will require the NNPC to drill and carry out development activities as well as place a robust gas delivery infrastructure through the pipelines.

“Most importantly, it will also incorporate a liquid management solution in the form of a condensate refinery. Overall, the anticipation is that at the peak of the project, about 800 million scf of gas will be made available for domestic use, part of which will be used to provide the needed quantity of gas by Indorama.

“And the balance will be supplied to the domestic market to meet power demand, commercial and other activities, particularly in eastern Nigeria.

Soyinka: Atiku, Obi Voluntarily Contributed to Outcome of 2023 Presidential Poll

Gboyega Akinsanmi

Nobel laurel, Prof. Wole Soyinka yesterday said the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Peter Obi, voluntarily contributed to the victory of President Bola Tinubu in the recent general election.

Soyinka insisted that the outcome of the election was a reflection of what would happen when a political party splits in two, especially very close to an election, apparently referring to how Atiku and Obi split the PDP on which they jointly contested the 2019 presidential election.

He made this claim in a statement he released from Stellenbosch, South Africa following the condemnations that trailed his earlier view about the outcome of the 2023 presidential election.

The statement entitled: ‘The Cape Town Re-entry,’ explained how Atiku and Obi jointly contributed to the victory of President Tinubu in the last presidential contest.

Soyinka had, in a video that went viral last Thursday, claimed that the leadership of the LP knew that Obi, its presidential candidate in the February 25, 2023 presidential election, lost the contest.

Soyinka’s claim elicited protracted criticisms from the leadership of the LP and Obidient Movement, a generation of young Nigerians who backed Obi’s presidential bid.

In his statement yesterday, Soyinka described the 2023 presidential poll “as a feast of voluntary donation of the spoils of war.”

He said: “The mistake we all continue to make is our insistence on regarding the recent Nigerian elections as an adversarial thriller. The contrary is the truth.”

He argued that the ballot tally accurately reflected “what happens when a political party splits itself in two, especially so critically close to an election.

“What promised to be a spectacular contest is transformed into a Feast of Voluntary Donation of the spoils of war,” the playwright wrote in his three-paragraph statement.

Soyinka further stated that the last decision concerning the contested outcome of the presidential election “belongs to the Supreme Court.

“Until that conclusive hour, wherever and whenever the subject turns to the Nigerian elections, my contribution can be taken for granted in advance: Peter Obi did not win the Nigerian 2023 elections.

“Jointly with his erstwhile colleague of the PDP, Abubakar Atiku, they donated the outcome, even before the voting. Let politicians and their cohorts learn to take responsibility for the consequences of their choices within democratic options.”

He also warned political actors, who suffered defeat during the 2023 general election, against calling for military interference, as currently manifested in some countries in Central and West Africa.

He said: “That, however, is not always the ultimate destination – the re-gifting may continue, prodded by a sudden surge of regret. There remains, lurking in the background, a far more potent beneficiary.

“In this case, we easily recall it as the unregistered, but loudly canvassed IPP – the Interim Peoples Party, usually to be found in bed with the military. The notorious Datti interview, menacing, intimidating, and unambiguous, sets the scene for such re-entry.

“Then, history repeats itself over and over again, as currently manifested along the West African sub-region. The call to arms is made literal by those whose trade is precisely that of arms,” Soyinka further expressed grave concern about the future of Nigeria’s democracy

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos

L-R: Chairman of All Progressives Congress Campaign Council and Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu; Governor of Ebonyi State, Hon Francis Nwifuru; National Chairman of APC, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje; Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma; Yobe State Governor Alhaji Mai Mala Buni; and Katsina St ate Governor, Alhaji Dikko Radda, at the inauguration of Governor Uzodimma Campaign Council in Owerri…yesterday

Shettima in Cuba, Rallies International Support to Resolve Global Challenges

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Vice President Kashim Shettima has identified international cooperation as the most realistic path toward maximising opportunities and resolving global challenges.

Shettima made this known in his address to world leaders at the ongoing G77+China Leaders’ Summit at the Palace Convention in Havana, Cuba.

Addressing an assembly of Heads of State and Government; the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, and delegates from over 100 countries from the global South, the Vice President emphasized the need to be focused on leveraging cooperation or partnership for finding realistic solutions to global challenges.

“We must not allow geopolitical tensions in any corner of the world to deter us from forging a collective and mutually advantageous path forward – a roadmap of shared prosperity and progress," Shettima

said.

He expressed Nigeria’s commitment to partnership with member-states of the G77+China towards addressing global challenges.

His words: "Allow me to reiterate Nigeria's commitment to partnering with our fellow member nations of the G77 and China.

“We shall champion initiatives that harness the potential of science, technology, and innovation to confront economic challenges, particularly within the global south.”.

Speaking to the theme: “Current Development Challenges: The Role of Science, Technology and Innovation” the Vice President underscored the prominent role that science, technology and innovation have always played in resolving challenges from the past to the present.”

In a speech titled: “From Pandemic to Paradigm Shift: Nigeria's Road to Reinvention,” Shettima said “Throughout history, science and technology have shaped the course of

BUA Plans to Slash Cement Price to N3,500

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, said his company intends to reduce the price of cement in the country.

BUA founder who stated this after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu on Friday, said the planned reduction is part of efforts to support the federal government’s quest to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians.

“I came to intimate His Excellency on the affairs of our cement business,” he said on Friday while addressing State House correspondents after meeting with President Bola Tinubu.

“We have two new lines of three million tonnes each that we will be commissioned by the end of the year.

“So, I came to intimate His Excellency and also to explain to him the efforts we’re making in trying to support again the efforts of the government in bringing down the price of cement.

“With the six million tonnes that we are commissioning by the end of the year; and by the way, His Excellency has agreed to

come and commission the plants, sometime in December or early January next year.

“So, I explained to him and we want to support the efforts of the government in bringing down the price of cement.”

Rabiu said the new plants will increase BUA Cement’s total capacity to 17 million metric tonnes.

“By the time these lines are commissioned, BUA Cement will be producing about 17 million tonnes per annum,” he said.

“And with that, we intend to bring down the price of cement from its current level of N5,000 or N5,500 per bag to maybe N3,000 to N3,500 per bag.

“And we can only do that because we’re producing cement locally — 80 per cent of the raw materials that we’re using to produce cement are in Nigeria. We want to support the government efforts in ensuring that the price of these commodities is brought down.”

The BUA Group founder said he will announce the reduction of cement prices when the plants are commissioned.

nations. The phases of the Industrial Revolution, from the first to the fourth, and from mechanisation to automation, have determined the prosperity of those nations.”

He also stated that “it is crucial to acknowledge that the developing world found itself at a disadvantage in the earliest phases of these transformations, struggling to compete fairly as these revolutions swept across the globe.”

The vice president further disclosed that Nigeria is contributing its share in leveraging science, technology, and innovation to resolving challenges such as

COVID-19 and the climate crisis.

He explained that Nigeria “understands that the key to advancing innovation in science and technology lies in fostering a vibrant knowledge economy and facilitating the unrestricted exchange of ideas.

This, the Vice President said, informed why “across the globe, one would be hard-pressed to identify a premier institution, even within the most developed nations, where a Nigerian, trained at home, is not contributing significantly, whether as a tech innovator or a medical specialist, in the noble pursuit of

improving the human condition.”

On the efforts of the federal government to combat COVID-19 in Nigeria using science and technology, Shettima said “The COVID-19 pandemic, while a tragic chapter, served as a catalyst for our brilliant minds in Nigeria to rejuvenate their pursuits in the fields of science and technology.

“Our scientists have successfully positioned our nation as a prominent global hub for mRNA vaccine production, a milestone currently in progress.”

The vice president who lauded the contributions of the

youth in the nation’s quest for science, tech, and innovation advancement emphasized that “Nigeria's demographic advantage is not limited to the absence of an aging population. Nigeria stands as a beacon of youthful talent and innovation.”

He noted that “these young citizens are not only dedicated to integrating human elements into the evolving technological sphere, but their efforts also extend to diverse fields, ranging from telemedicine to the automation of agriculture, all intending to make our daily lives more seamless.”

Obasanjo Must Apologise to Obas, Says Yoruba Council Worldwide

Ex-president denies meeting with Tinubu at Alake’s 80th birthday

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

The Yoruba Council Worldwide (YCW) has described former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s directive that traditional rulers in Iseyin, Oyo State should stand up and greet him and Governor Seyi Makinde, as sacrilegious.

This is as the former president yesterday described as fake, a purported video of him meeting with President Bola Tinubu and also seeking a job from the president during the 80th birthday reception of the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, in Abeokuta, on Thursday.

Obasanjo had on Friday at a public function in Iseyin, ordered traditional rulers to get up from their seats and greet him and the Oyo State governor.

The former president, who was the guest of Governor Makinde, was in Iseyin to inaugurate the Iseyin Campus of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Renewable Natural Resources of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Iseyin.

Obasanjo had expressed dismay at what he described as the monarchs’ disrespect and disregard for the office of the governor as they remained seated while he and

Makinde were being introduced. He told the monarchs that the Yoruba culture has regard for both age and position, adding that the position and authority of a governor or a president at any event supersedes that of any traditional ruler in attendance.

But speaking yesterday during a press conference held at the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Jabi, Abuja, the President of YCW, Oba Oladotun Hassan, called on the former president to apologise to the monarchs.

Hassan said, “The recent weeks have witnessed a barrage of monumental embarrassments, ridicules and brazen abuse of traditional royal Obas and most shocking to grasping with this well-intended orchestrated embarrassments by chief Olusegun Obasanjo who dropped the biggest bombshell taboo in the history of Yoruba land, perhaps most disturbing sacrilege in Iseyin, Oyo State when he addressed arrays of first-class royal fathers and other leading Obas like toddlers or a village headmaster or Army General talking profusely at his foot soldiers in a most depressing, disparaging and disrespectful manner.”

He urged Obasanjo to tender an

immediate apology within the next three days or face untold traditional and legal reprisal consequences.

“Furthermore, we shall mobilise all market women, youths, and leaders of thoughts against the Baba Obasanjo for desecrating the Yoruba ancestral cultural heritage, norms, tradition, and values. On this note, we wish to set the records straight that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is no longer the President of Nigeria, and he should stop parading himself deceitfully and impersonating or creating a scenario to command such ill-motivated authority.”

On his part, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, Telu I, has also described Obasanjo’s action against traditional rulers in Oyo State as a desecration of Yoruba traditional institution, noting that the Obasanjo cannot do a similar thing to emirs.

Oluwo, in a statement made available to journalists yesterday in Osogbo by his media aide, Alli Ibraheem, blamed the traditional rulers present at the event for obeying Obasanjo’s order.

The monarch said Obasanjo ought to have shown some respect in dealing with traditional rulers, saying monarchs were God’s representatives on earth, and that such a thing would not happen

if he were around.

Meanwhile, the former president yesterday described as fake, a purported video of him meeting with President Bola Tinubu and also seeking a job from the president during the 80th birthday reception of the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, in Abeokuta, on Thursday.

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, the former president condemned the fake video stating that the former President is now in South Africa for the burial of his friend and brother, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi.

The statement partly read: “One, I have not seen Bola Tinubu since he visited me in my house in Abeokuta when he was campaigning. Secondly, I was at the church and not the reception for Alake’s 80th birthday reception.”

“To put the content of the video in proper perspective, it happened that during Tinubu’s visit to his house last year, he met the former President playing his favorite traditional game (ayo) and he started the banter, jokingly telling the former President that, he was shocked to see him playing the ‘ayo’ game at that time of the day.”

Nigerian Airlines are Operating in Difficult Environment, NCAA Cries Out

Says no interference in its regulatory autonomy

The Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Musa Nuhu, has disclosed that it is difficult for Nigerian airlines to make a profit because of their difficult operating environment where access to funding is very challenging.

The NCAA boss has also debunked claims in some quarters that the Ministry of Aviation was interfering in its affairs in a way that erodes its regulatory autonomy.

Nuhu, who spoke to aviation journalists in Abuja at the weekend, said his agency and the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development were doing everything possible to support the airlines, adding that some of them are currently not in good financial state.

“Nigerian airlines are operating in a very difficult environment. An airline cannot operate in isolation of the economy it is operating in

and the Nigerian economy is in very difficult times. The cost of financing is 25 per cent (interest rate); that is killing to start with. You take a loan and you pay 25 per cent of whatever you make to the bank. You are not talking about your expenses, your costs, your current and long-term liabilities. Quite a few of them are in financial difficulties and some are okay. So that is the way it is. It is a very difficult environment for the airlines and we also do sincerely sympathize with them and we will try and see where we have flexibility to make life easy for them,” he said.

Nuhu further stated that Nigerian airlines pay high insurance premiums compared to their counterparts in other parts of the world.

According to him, these high charges are digging deep into their operating funds; so, the regulatory authority is supporting them in various ways by allowing them to adjust their payment of insurance

in ways that will enable them to survive.

“Like the issue of insurance, the insurance is from Lloyds of London while it requires a huge amount of foreign exchange. Normally, insurance they say, is for one year, but we know an airline that has 20, or 30 aircraft like Air Peace, to pay insurance for all the aircraft in one year will be difficult; that is why we say 'pay quarterly,' at least to reduce the financial burden, especially on the requirement of getting foreign exchange at a time. So, we try to assist the airlines in that area, and for those who have debts, we reach an agreement with them. If I have one billion with you, I am not asking you to pay that one billion to me, because if I do that, I am going to kill your business. So, we reach a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and they pay an amount that will not cripple their operation. But also, they have to pay a reasonable amount to clear those outstanding

debts. Those are the areas we have flexibility with the airlines,” he added.

On the allegation that the Ministry of Aviation interferes in the affairs of the NCAA in a way that erodes its regulatory autonomy, Nuhu said the NCAA still takes those critical decisions that ensure that Nigeria’s airspace is safe.

He insisted that the NCAA is a government agency that implements policies of the government.

He said: “Interference in the affairs of NCAA by the minister is not my experience as the DG NCAA. I cannot speak on what happened before me and we have to determine and understand what is the autonomy of the NCAA. NCAA is a government organisation, NCAA cannot exist in the absence of government. The autonomy of the NCAA is on its regulatory functions, our safety regulatory function, that is where we have our autonomy. But there

are other government regulations, financial regulations, and all that, the NCAA must comply with. The NCAA cannot exist on its own and we say nobody in the government talks to us. There is no civil aviation authority like

that. But when we make safety decisions, like grounding an airline X, then somebody will intervene and say we should reverse that action. Such never happens and that is interference with the regulatory function.”

Mohbad: Police Constitute Special Homicide Team to Unravel Circumstances Surrounding Death

Following the directive of the Acting Inspector-General of Police, (IG), Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Idowu Owohunwa, has constituted a special team to unravel the cause of death of Nigerian Musician, Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka Mohbad.

assurance while consulting with the state police boss earlier on Saturday on how best to ensure that the case was expeditiously investigated and justice delivered promptly.

He said an appeal was made to the deceased’s family, friends, business associates or anyone with useful information that could aid the investigation to kindly share same with the Homicide Section of the State CID on phone number: 08036885727.

Niger,

Burkina

Faso, Mali Sign Sahel Security Treaty to Counter ECOWAS

Gboyega Akinsanmi

The military leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger yesterday signed a mutual defence pact to counter the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Making the announcement in Mali’s capital, Bamako, the ministerial delegations from the three Sahel countries under the security pact, the countries promise to come to the aid of each other in case of any rebellion or external aggression.

The Liptako-Gourma Charter establishes the Alliance of Sahel States, Mali’s junta leader, Assimi Goita posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. Its aim is to “establish an architecture of collective defence and mutual assistance for the benefit of our populations”, he wrote.

The Liptako-Gourma region

- where the Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger borders meet - has been ravaged by jihadism in recent years.

“This alliance will be a combination of military and economic efforts between the three countries”, Mali’s Defence Minister Abdoulaye Diop told journalists.

“Our priority is the fight against terrorism in the three countries.”

A jihadist insurgency that erupted in northern Mali in 2012 spread to Niger and Burkina Faso in 2015.

All three countries have undergone coups since 2020, most recently Niger, where soldiers in July overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum.

The West African regional bloc ECOWAS has threatened to intervene militarily in Niger over the coup.

Mali and Burkina Faso quickly responded by saying that any such

operation would be deemed a “declaration of war” against them.

The charter signed on Saturday binds the signatories to assist one another — including militarily — in the event of an attack on any one of them.

“Any attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of one or more contracting parties shall be considered as an aggression against the other parties and shall give rise to a duty of assistance… including the use of armed force to restore and ensure security”, it states.

It also binds the three countries to work to prevent or settle armed rebellions.

Mali has, in addition to fighting jihadists linked to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State group, seen a resumption of hostilities by predominantly Tuareg armed groups over the past week.

The escalation risks testing an already stretched army as well

as the junta’s claims that it has successfully turned around a dire security situation. The secessionist groups had in 2012 launched a rebellion before signing a peace agreement with the state in 2015. But that accord is now generally considered moribund.

The renewed military activity by those armed groups has coincided with a series of deadly attacks attributed mainly to the Al-Qaedalinked jihadist alliance Support Group for Islam and Muslims (GSIM).

Mali’s junta pushed out France’s anti-jihadist force in 2022 and the UN peacekeeping mission MINUSMA in 2023.

French troops have also been pushed out of Burkina Faso, while Niger’s coup leaders have renounced several military cooperation agreements with France.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said in a statement yesterday that the team was drawn from the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). He said the team had already swung into action with its investigation into the case.

Hundeyin added that the special investigation team became necessary in view of the growing public concerns and the preliminary police review of the general circumstances surrounding the death.

“The team, which comprises seasoned homicide detectives, has been tasked to aggregate all allegations, suspicions and insinuations from various sources on the death of the singer.

“The team is to undertake a professional, diligent and timely investigation with a view to establishing facts, clearing all doubts and ensuring that justice is manifestly served through a meticulous process that will deploy all requisite protocols (which may include exhumation),” he said.

The image maker said that in aid of the initiative, the Lagos State Government had pledged its total support to the Special Investigation Team in all ways required, to guarantee a diligent investigative exercise.

Hundeyin said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu gave the

“The Lagos State Police Command assures that progress of the investigation will, as much as legally and professionally permissible, be shared with the general public accordingly,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on Tuesday, music lovers were hit with the news of the death of the singer, at the age of 27.

Egbetokun had directed Lagos police commissioner to initiate a swift and comprehensive investigation into the death of MohBad.

This directive was conveyed during a brief discussion at the Police Airwing Hangar, Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos yesterday.

A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi explained: “Nigeria Police Force hereby earnestly urges any family members or close associates possessing valuable information pertaining to this case to come forward and cooperate with the Lagos State Police Command to ensure that justice is served and the circumstances surrounding Mohbad’s demise are thoroughly examined.”

Chinedu Eze

15TH AGM…

Bandits, Herdsmen Still Unleashing Terror Nationwide, Catholic Bishops Lament

Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti

The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) yesterday lamented that insurgents, herdsmen militia, bandits, and the so-called unknown gunmen had continued to unleash terror in different parts of the country.

The bishops therefore called upon the federal government to address the fundamental defective structures that deepened inequality and poverty in the country.

They expressed grave concerns about worsening standard of

living among Nigerians in a communique at the end of the second plenary meeting held in Abuja yesterday.

The President of CBCN, Archbishop Lucius Ugorji and its Secretary, Bishop Donatus Ogun, signed the communique, though released by Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Bishop Felix Ajakaye in AdoEkiti yesterday.

The communique, titled Religion, Civic Responsibility and the Building of a Better Nigeria, said the hike in school fees has made it difficult for the

Tinubu Appoints Hakeem MuriOkunola Principal Secretary

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Hakeem Muri-Okunola as Principal Secretary in his office.

Muri-Okunola, until his latest appointment, served as the Head of Service in Lagos State.

Although his appointment was not made public, THISDAY, however, gathered from reliable Presidency sources that the new appointee received his appointment letter on Friday and is expected to resume formally on Monday, a day after President Tinubu would have departed Abuja for New York, the United States to attend the 78th edition of the United Nations General

Assembly (UNGA) meeting.

Aged 51, Muri-Okunola, the first son of the respected late jurist, Justice Muritala Okunola, holds a first degree in law from Lagos State University (LASU) and a Master’s degree in International Business Law, Queen Mary & Westfield College, University of London.

An experienced public administrator and technocrat, the new Personal Secretary to the President, was at various times Associate Solicitor, Adepetun, Caxton-Martins and Agbor, Company Secretary/ Legal Adviser at Ibile Holdings Limited, Personal Assistant to Governor of Lagos State, Executive Secretary, Land Use and Allocation Committee and Permanent Secretary in Lagos

Anambra Commissioner Adopts Embattled UTME Candidate

The Commissioner for Education in Anambra State, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh has adopted Miss Mmesoma Ejikeme, the embattled student of Anglican Girls Secondary School, Nnewi, who tampered with her 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), result to emerge the highest scorer in the examination.

The commissioner, who spoke in Awka, said she adopted Mmesoma to help her actualise her dreams in life.

Mmesoma made the headlines in Nigeria after the Joint

children of the poor to continue their education.

The bishops observed that human conditions had been aggravated by the removal of fuel subsidy which according to them, had led to spiralling cost of food items, transportation and meeting up with other essential needs.

At the plenary in Abuja yesterday, the bishops advocated for building of a

better nation, noting that moral regeneration of Nigerians was a key factor to building a new Nigeria.

The bishops decried the escalating insecurity situation in the country, saying it had remained a persisting problem as insurgents, herdsmen militia, bandits, and the so-called unknown gunmen had continued to unleash terror in different parts of the country.

“Kidnapping for ransom has

continued. Some of our communities have been completely taken over by criminals. The result is that many have fled their homes, abandoned their farms, shops, businesses and other sources of livelihood.

“The throng of internally displaced persons in our country is ever-growing, with many children out of school, making them easy prey to human traffickers,”

CBCN lamented.

Contrary to claims by the Nigerian military recently that it has ended the sit at home saga in the South-east of Nigeria, the bishops said insecurity in Nigeria has been compounded by the incessant sit-at-home orders in the South-east issued by non-state actors.

According the bishops, many have lost their lives for failing to adhere to such illegal directives.”

FG Mulls Termination Abandoned Road Projects Valued N6tn

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The federal government is considering the termination of some abandoned projects inherited from previous successive governments that have no clear source of funding.

The apex government revealed that President Bola Tinubu has approved the use of concrete technology instead of asphalt for the construction and rehabilitation of roads nationwide.

The Minister of Works, Mr.

Dave Umahi disclosed the figure at a session with the state house correspondents after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Umahi also disclosed that the president had approved some road construction projects and plans to toll some roads in the country. He argued that concrete will be more durable and cost-effective than any other alternatives, urging all contractors working in Nigeria to ensure that global

best practices are adhered to.

After a meeting with contractors handling projects in the North-east, Umahi reiterated that the ministry currently had up to N14 trillion worth of ongoing projects against about 18,000 kilometres of roads, adding that henceforth, contractors are not expected to stay on site for more than four years.

The minister frowned upon situations where some contracts had been ongoing for 20 years, stressing that it was not good for

the contractors for the projects and the clients.

“We are introducing concrete road technology and some of you are not happy about it. Some are saying it is too expensive, but we have to try the both and see which is better.

“In any case, any contractor with an ongoing project that is not willing to cooperate with us for a redesign with concrete road technology, with 50 years period free of maintenance, we’ll demand for performance bond.

Lagos Postpones Repairs of Third Mainland Bridge as Floods Sack Residents, Motorists Stranded

Barely 24 hours before the commencement of repair works on the Third Mainland Bridge, the Lagos State Government has announced its indefinite postponement.

The postponement, it was learnt, was due to the heavy downpour and the floods, which wreaked havoc in many parts

of the state yesterday.

The ravaging floods sacked many residents of the state and left many motorists stranded, after causing severe damage to the roads.

The Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, in a statement, explained that the rain affected the preliminaries of the planned palliative works

on the asphalt pavement of the bridge by the Lagos State Public Works Corporation.

“A later date, which will be subject to weather conditions will be duly communicated for the palliative,” he added.

Osiyemi urged motorists to continue to access the bridge with observance of safety measures.

Recall that the Lagos State Government, through the state Public Works Corporation, (LPWC), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, had concluded plans to embark on the palliative works on the failed sections of the Third Mainland Bridge for two consecutive Sundays.

Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) revealed that she manipulated her UTME score from 249 to 362, and falsely parading herself as UTME highest scorer for 2023.

In fact, JAMB slammed a three-year ban on Mmesoma to serve as a deterrent to others after investigating her. Chuma-Udeh had invited Mmesoma to her office in the heat of the controversy and subsequently handed her over to the men of the Directorate of State Security (DSS) who questioned her over the incident.

Delta Govt Calls for Sustained Pipeline Surveillance to Increase Crude Oil Production

Sylvester Idowu in Warri

Delta State Government has called for sustained pipeline surveillance to increase crude oil production.

Special Adviser to Delta State Government on Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Gritson Omatsuli, made the call at a press conference at the weekend convened by Communities Stakeholders Forum to Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) in Warri.

He described those calling for the cancellation of the pipelines surveillance services contract as “enemies of the country,” noting that the thrust of the meeting was to appeal to the federal government to allow the PINL to continue with its services of securing the pipelines.

The special adviser appealed to the federal government to allow PINL to continue with the good work following its outstanding performance in

securing the national assets.

PINL, a former Ocean Marine Solutions (OMS) 40, 42, and 30, renders various services across the Niger Delta to operators and key players in the oil and gas sector of the economy.

The indigenous company has been operating since 2017 providing security services in the Trans-Forcados, EscravosWarri, and OMS 40 (Trans Benin River-Otumara) crude oil pipelines in Delta.

The former commissioner

representing the Itsekiri ethnic nationality on the board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) noted that withdrawal of the surveillance services would amount to encouraging criminalities in the Niger Delta.

According to him, withdrawing the services of the surveillance companies will worsen the pipeline vandalism and by implication reduce revenue accruing to the federal government.

Peter Uzoho

L-R: Member, Board of Directors, Daar Communications Plc, Alhaji Gambo Lawan; Group Managing Director, Mr. Tony Akiotu; Chairman, Chief Raymond Dokpesi Jnr; Mr. Donathus Anopuo; Independent Director, Mr. Nonah Awoh, at the 15th Annual General Meeting at the Corporate Headquarters of the organisation in Abuja…recently ,

As Tinubu Inherits E-Customs Project of Controversy

Three years after the Federal Executive Council approved the E-Customs Project, aimed at automating the activities of the Nigerian Customs Service, the project is still marred by a legal battle over the allegation that the immediate past leadership of the NCS surreptitiously picked a different company to replace Bionica Technologies endorsed by the FEC, reports Festus Akanbi

Four months into the tenure of the current administration, controversies are still trailing some of the economic decisions taken at the twilight of the tenure of the immediate past administration, with economic watchers calling for a review of such controversial policy decisions.

Observers maintained that one of the best ways the current regime can endear itself to the people is to take steps to show that nobody is above the law in terms of the sanctity of the policies initiated

One of these controversies centred on a core developmental initiative of the Buhari administration –the Presidential Initiative on Custom Modernisation: E-Customs Project which began in 2015. The project, at full operationalisation, is a payment, border management, import, export, and transit processing designed to migrate the customs service from paper to a paperless system of operation.

However, there are reports that contrary to the approval of the choice of Bionica Technologies (WA) Limited by the Federal Executive Council after a painstaking process of evaluation, the former leadership of the customs last year decided to move said to have made nonsense of the FEC approval.

Industry watchers therefore challenged the Tinubu administration to wade in and ensure the sanctity of the Draft Concession Agreement that formed the basis of FEC approval of the E-Customs project on September 2, 2020. “Such gesture is critical in attracting investors and keeping their reviewing the project.

They also called for the recognition of Bionica Technologies (WA) Limited as the “Sponsor and captured in documents concerning the project before the incorporation of the SPV and therefore deserving such position of relevance based on the quantum of input towards securing FEC approval.

However, the Acting Customs Comptroller General, Mr.AdewaleAdeniyi, told THISDAY last week that unless there is an out-of-court settlement on the issue, the NCS is poised to follow the court process to the end.

“The update as you probably know is that the project is the subject of an ongoing litigation at the Federal High Court, Abuja. Except if there is an out-of-court arbitration, we will wait to see out

The Modernisation Project

THISDAY gathered that the NCS in 2015, conceived what it termed the “NCS Modernievaluation based on pass-fail criteria for bidding companies. The evaluation summary covered presentation, and experience.

revealed that NCS received presentations from Bionica Technologies (WA) Limited “to partner the NCS by direct capital investment to modernise

Bionica was said to have immediately swung into action by conducting a nationwide assessment of NCS land and marine facilities as well as ICT infrastructures in 51 land borders, 11 seaports, Field assessments indicated serious challenges

and gaps which centred on dysfunctional scanners and other gadgets, tax evasion, lack of monitoring systems, smuggling of goods across the borders, administrative processes, and lack of transparency.

With the guidance of the Presidency, the NCS reportedly issued a Request for Proposal to selected companies that demonstrated satisfactory records of expertise and experience in E-Customs deployment and implementation. The proposal and submission of Bionica and its partners, namely, Huawei Technologies (ICT) Nuctec of China, and Smith Detection of France (both for Scanners) were adjudged to be the best.

To show its commitment, Bionica was said to have invited three other original equipment manufacturers to join the consortium to cover the marine, surveillance, enforcement, and other border security infrastructures to attain the status of service that is obtained in ultramodern ports like Singapore, Shangai, California, Iraq, etc. This, according to sources, resulted in renaming the consortium ‘Huawei Consortium’ since digitalisation is common to all the other services and is central to the operation.

Public, Private Partnership

The choice of the Huawei Consortium as the proposed partner in the E-Customs project was said to have been communicated via a letter to the President by the NCS in which the Comptroller General of Customs reportedly proposed a Public Partnership Arrangement (PPP) concession arrangement to develop, design, implement and maintain the required E-Customs end-to-end ICT platform to digitalise Customs Business Processes and Procedures.

The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) got the directive of the Presidency in line with Section 33 of the ICRC Establishment Act to engage with the NCS to undertake full diligence of the Huawei Consortium’s Public Private Partnership proposal and conduct full negotiation with Huawei Consortium including the preparation of a Draft Concession Agreement and a Full Business Case for the E-Customs Project for the approval of the Federal Executive Council. Subsequently, the NCS Board appointed three

sets of Transaction advisers, namely: Technical –legal - Olaninwun Ajayi & Co, Perchstone and Graeys and Bola Ajibola & Co.

According to a source privy to the deal, after more than eight months of continuous engagement, the Transaction Advisers reportedly issued With representatives of NCS and ICRC, they also paid the Mandatory Due Diligence visits to the Original Equipment Manufacturers in India, China, and South Africa.

On its part, the IT Project Clearance Team of the National Information Technology Development Agency was said to have reviewed the E-Customs “All regulatory hurdles were cleared with distincwhich cleared the way for the Minister of Finance director of Bionica, Alhaji Umaru Kuta said in an Going further, the Federal Executive Council approved the PPP model for the modernisation of customs operations on September 2, 2020, thus ratifying the earlier September 17, 2019, anticipatory approval by former President Buhari.

The consortium decided to hit the ground runits foreign and local consultants, OEMS, African to work on a Document titled “Transiting from

Double Standards

the document which was addressed to the Comptroller General of Customs and dated October 9, was allegedly rejected. According to Bionica, the former Customs boss, Col. Hameed Ali refused to acknowledge it, with the allegation that he made sure that Bergman Securities and Supplies Ltd, a company where he allegedly has interest as the SPV was tipped for the job.

Justifying the claim that Bergmans and NCS were up to frustrate the execution of the concession agreement already approved by FEC, SPV/Bionica alleged that the duo caused substantial material alterations to the draft concession agreement to set outrageous preconditions for the execution of the concession agreement and with absolute model in the Business Case approved by FEC.

Also, the SPV/Bionica’s lawyer was said to have been banned from attending any future meetings called by NCS to highlight the more than 80 alterations NCS made to the FEC-approved Concession Agreement and requesting that they should be discussed item by item to understand the implication(s) of each alteration on the concession agreement

It was gathered that despite several representations made to the former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, the former Minister of Finance as well as the ICRC, the material alterations and preconditions were allowed to stay. The two ministers did not even respond to more than half a dozen letters sent by the SPV/Bionica.

Economic analysts have therefore called for a review of the entire process by the Tinubu administration to enable the government reap the maximising revenue from customs operations.

Adewale Adeniyi

SOFT FINANCE

Investing Right: The Mutual Funds Option

Sometime in 2008, Total E & P, now Total Energies, one of the leading oil companies in Nigeria, engaged me and my team at Moneywise, a personal finance company, to organise an investment education series for their staff in Lagos and Port Harcourt. After a successful session in their Lagos office, we were flown in one of their small private planes to one of their platforms in Port Harcourt for the second leg of the training. Riding on that plane to Port Harcourt was a very tough experience. The plane flew at a very low altitude and could not absorb the torrents of turbulence we encountered on the way. We were about 10 on the plane, and we all became nervous as the plane tore through the heavy winds. I did not partake in the small chops they were serving. Interestingly, while most of us were experiencing some inner turmoil, the lead pilot and his assistant were relaxed and chatting away. When we eventually landed in Port Harcourt (a big relief, indeed), I decided to corner the pilot and ask him what gave him confidence while the rest of us were panicking. His answer was simple but profound: knowledge. He said the more knowledge you have, the less you operate in fear. Put differently, ignorance is the major propeller of fear.

I have discovered that this statement holds true in every area of endeavour and more interestingly, in the area of investment. As a financial journalist since 1990, I have observed this truth in the area of investment. For instance, I have been close to a billionaire investor since that period who has raked in an incredible amount of money investing in stocks, real estate, gold etc. I noticed that his investment strategies were most times contrarian: when the majority of ordinary investors were selling in panic, he would calmly instruct his stock brokers to buy large quantities of the same stocks many were disposing of. His confidence, I later understood as I got closer to him, was based on his depth of knowledge in the area of investment. He had gone ahead to acquire certifications in stock broking, finance, and investment law, even though he was trained as an engineer.

Since the 2008 episode of stock market crash, a lot of ordinary investors have never looked in the direction of stock investment, unwilling to let go of their unpleasant experiences. Yet informed investors, including my billionaire investor, have continued to rake in cash investing in the capital market arena, not necessarily in stocks, but largely in their derivatives. How many people are aware, for instance, that with as little as N5,000, you can start to rub shoulders with big-time investors while the associated risks are largely attenuated?

In its mission to educate the investing public, THISDAY Economic Insights Unit, a newly created division of THISDAY devoted largely to market intelligence, has decided to start a series of special reports focusing on investment education. We are starting with the series on mutual funds slated for publication tomorrow Monday. In the process of putting the reports together, we decided to despatch our analysts and reporters into the field to pick the minds of investment experts on this investment option that is not quite popular among the ordinary investing public.

Apart from our research, which yielded some interesting insights, we also picked the minds of top fund managers, operators in the capital market and members of the Funds Managers Association of Nigeria (FMAN). We wanted to unravel so many questions on the concepts. We wanted to know, for instance: What is a mutual fund? How have they fared in Nigeria? What are the compelling reasons

people should consider investing in mutual funds? What are the strategies for deciding the best funds to invest in? What is responsible for the low level of awareness of the investment instrument? What are the prospects? We posed those questions to as many of the operators as we could get, and we got answers to all.

One of our analysts pinned down Mr Aigbovbioise Aig-Imoukhuede, President of the Fund Manager Association of Nigerian (FMAN), who is also Managing Director of Coronation Asset Management Limited, who broke down the concept for us: “There are no requirements to invest in mutual funds. In terms of age, anyone can invest in mutual funds including minors (those below 18), although for minors, their parents or guardians will manage the investment on their behalf until they are of age.

“In terms of capital requirements, one doesn’t need much to invest in mutual funds, with as low as N5000, you can invest in some types of mutual

funds, for example, money market funds. However, we do recommend that investors request and read available information about the funds they are interested in, which include the fund’s prospectus, trust deed, and fact sheets about the fund, before investing”.

Abimbola Olashore, former MD of Lead Merchant Bank and one of the experienced operators in the fund management industry stated that the beauty of investing in a mutual fund is that it gives the same rate of return to all investors irrespective of the volume of investment.

According to Olashore, Nigeria, where mutual funds are less accessible or established, has in recent times introduced this retail-friendly investment vehicle to a broader audience, democratising access to diverse portfolios and professional management.

Mr Yemisi Shyllon, an enlightened investor, however, warned investors not to invest in equity mutual funds because it has a very high risk amid the current business operating environment in Nigeria. According to Shyllon, the debt mutual fund has numerous opportunities, and he recommended it for investors at this period, stating that the money market mutual funds have low risk, and of course, investors with small capital can invest.

We also asked Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede about the implication of the fluctuating fortunes relative to other currencies on the prospects of those investing in the naira-denominated variant of mutual funds. His answers were very reassuring: “Yes, there are dollar-denominated mutual funds in the market, and as of the 25th of August 2023, there were 20 SEC-licensed dollar funds with a combined Net Asset Value or NAV of N584.92 billion.

“The objective of dollar-denominated mutual funds is to provide investors with currency diversification access to a consistent income stream and long-term capital appreciation in dollars.

In addition, it is pertinent to note that dollar funds are open-ended funds that invest in a broad range of tenure US dollar-denominated debt securities issued by the Nigerian government and reputable corporate institutions, such as sovereign Eurobonds, corporate Eurobonds, money market instruments, and other asset classes permissible by SEC.”

In the special report, we also featured the top 10 operators in the market and equally picked the minds of many other top-level operators in the industry. We highly recommend that you grab your copy of THISDAY tomorrow to find out what those gurus have to say about a concept that many believe is silently creeping into the investment arena in the country. Also, look out for the electronic version of the report.

Happy Sunday. See you tomorrow.

Special Report on Mutual Funds

“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

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.

Grab your own copy of

“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”

-Prince Yemisi Shyllon, A Successful Investor/Chartered Stockbroker

Aigbovbioise Aig-Imoukhuede

Bukola Jejelowo

Azubuike Emodi

Odiri Oginni

Michael Oyebola Subomi Plumptre

“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.

investors”

-Aigbovbioise Aig_Imoukhuede, President, Fund Managers Association of Nigeria

A

AS A CHEAP ALTERNATIVE

The general elections of 2023 have come and gone. Or have they? What with numerous litigations across the land and judgements and justice, and in some instances, alleged injustice, being dispensed in courtrooms and election tribunals. Winners become losers overnight, overt riggers getting judicial affirmation in some cases. There is gnashing of teeth and loss of investment being rued by all manners of politicians and pretenders. In some cases, the angst is directed, not at the political opponent, but at the umpire who shifted the goalpost while the penalty kick was being taken or the wigged and robed umpires at the temple of justice.

The electoral process has become a very costly undertaking in Nigeria. For a general election involving the House of Representatives, the Senate and the Presidency in a vast country like ours, the cost runs into several hundred billion naira. This is made up of costs of ballot paper printing, procurement of ballot boxes, polling booths, printing of various forms, inks and ink pads, reflective jackets and several other requirements. Then add on the costs of authentication equipment (BVAS), Irev, servers and bandwidth.

Consider the humongous logistics costs of distribution, storage and final across the length and breadth of this country with security requirements from arid parts of the north to the creeks of the Niger Delta. Aircraft, boats and canoes as well as lorries, cars and donkeys were all deployed. The crisscrossing of the country by air of INEC operatives and officials, meeting costs (venues, refreshments, posters, publicity etc.), Television appearances, advert placements and voter education engagements all cost a lot of money.

We must not forget to add other costs peculiar to Nigerian elections. We shut down the economy through statutory restriction of movements across the land. Shops close. Transportation businesses and markets close. So do flights, schools, railways, waterways, entertainment hubs and event centres. To enforce this and ensure public safety as well as to ostensibly curb cross-constituency violent rigging, the entire law enforcement arsenal of our country is mobilized and put on red alert with additional allowances for this special duty that lasts several days. These forces have to be moved around and so vehicles have to be hired, fueled and, in some cases, hotel or other accommodation provided. Is it any wonder that the cost of running our general election would be enough to run a geopolitical zone of six states for one year? Just to select our leaders!

the banks. Sometimes, recourse to appellate courts is embarked upon – a single appeal stage for Presidential candidates and two for Governors and Parliamentary candidates. All these steps burn millions of naira of our commonwealth and the resources of our compatriots offering to serve!

I have merely done a qualitative overview of the costs involved in our general elections and the list is undoubtedly inexhaustive. There are hidden ones that have the colour of bribery but, as such are never issued receipts, they are difficult to identify or quantify. The question is: are these costs worth it? Are there cheaper alternatives to the extant process that can give us qualitative leaders at less cost? This is imperative as this costly process does not even guarantee that thieves, vagabonds and drug pushers with deep pockets will not be thrown up as winners even after they lose at the polls. I have been thinking of such alternatives. But the recent judgement watched on national television which showed the mostly sleeping receivers of the judgement but hid the faces of the givers (had something to hide?) got me thinking again. I decided to borrow from our comedians this time. A lot of what we saw was funny in a very sad way. So, if you take my proposal seriously, you do so at your own risk. Caveat emptor the learned folks call it.

The Justices ensured those ‘eyes on the judiciary’ protagonists did not have a last laugh. The Justices did. They successfully hid behind the iron curtain erected judicially and put the lawyers and the journalists in the spotlight for ‘all eyes’ to see. They were shown sleeping and yawning and incapable of staying awake and alert for a mere 13 hours! Perhaps, the eminent jurists were suspicious or had ‘intelligence’ that some of those lawyers and their associates were behind the erection of the audacious ‘all eyes on the judiciary’ billboards. Did they not put a respected SAN, my very own brother and university mate and the most handsome lawyer in the room to task for daring to make a suggestion? Such temerity from the bar? Did that rebuke not stall any further attempt to interject into the virulent and acerbic-toned delivery of the judgement? Did the justices not do better than the defence lawyers in the defence of the election results that local and foreign observers declared as fraudulent? Sorry,

The article of the above title written by a staunch member of the Taiwan separatist clique and published in the THISDAY Newspaper is aimed at bringing the Nigeria’s long-standing and historic “One - China” policy to disrepute. Nigeria participated with 75 other countries in the world to vote for the expulsion of the representatives of Chiang Kai-Shek from “the place which they unlawfully occupy at the United Nations and in all organizations relate to it” and thereby entrenched the spirit of the historic resolution as a core cornerstone of its foreign relations and especially with People’s Republic of China.

Mr. Joseph Wu, an ambitious member of the Taiwan separatist clique, chose in the article to distort historical facts with the potential aim to stir ambiguity in the facts contained in the iconic UN resolution 2758, which has gone down as one of the core principles of contemporary international relations with the United Nations system as the central pillar.

Mr. Joseph Wu, who ostensibly think that the iconic UN resolution 2758 is too long in the past and therefore, can be so brazenly distorted as he sought to do in his article may just have to have a rethink. He claimed the “resolution neither states that Taiwan is a part of the PRC nor gives the PRC the right to represent the people of Taiwan in the UN and its specialized agencies.” For the avoidance of doubt, the resolution stated as follows: “Recalling the principles of the charter of the United Nations, “Considering that the restoration of the lawful rights of the People’s Republic of China is essential both for the protection of the charter of the United Nations and for the cause that the United Nations must serve,

“ Recognizing that the Representative of the Government of the People’s Republic of China are the only lawful representatives of China to the United Nations and that the People’s Republic of China is one of the five permanent members of the Security Council, “Decides to restore all the rights to the People’s Republic of China and to recognize the representatives of its government as the only legitimate Representative of China to United Nations, “ to expel forthwith the representatives of Chiang Kai-Shek from the place which they unlawfully occupy at the United Nations and in all the organizations related to it”.

To bring clarity and context to this historic resolution, which Nigeria voted, the reference to the “Government of the People’s Republic of China are the only lawful representative of China to the United Nations” is unambiguous and very categorical and there is no reference to Taiwan because Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and part of the totality of her sovereign expression.

Mr. Wu’s desperate attempt to distort both the letter and spirit of the UN historic resolution was a matter of recent separatist delusion, which even Chiang Kai-Shek did not harbor.

I was called to the Guinness bar in 1990. So, I have been in practice too for 33 years. In that bar, those elders on the bench usually allow debate even during the respected members. I cannot remember when the adjudicator sounded so onesided and loquaciously querulous as to be considered as the defendant’s representative. Even in the inebriated atmosphere of such an environment, we knew who was plaintiff (not plain thief, as that would be defending), who was defendant, and who was adjudicating. On the 6th of September, the lines were irredeemably blurred.

That is not the end of the costs. On the candidate’s side, only they can tell how much they spend on consultations, mobilization, primaries (buying and selling), campaigns and the elections itself. Leaders need to be settled; party agents must get paid else they change colours like chameleons on election day to your own detriment. Then results are released, and you would think that these costs will abate. That is not the case for those who genuinely feel shortchanged through non-adherence to electoral guidelines by the umpire (INEC) or illegal manoeuvres by his opponent. They head to the courts. Lawyers and sycophants convince even the candidates with the slimmest or no chances of victory at all to head to the election tribunals. The costs here are enormous. SANs do not come cheap. Especially the ones with high visibility in such endeavours. Some candidates sell their real estate in order to pay for this last-ditch effort at getting elected and lawyers smile to Isikhuemen writes from Lagos

Mr. Joseph Wu, claimed “Since the mid – 20th century, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has vowed to take control of Taiwan and refuse to renounce the use of force, despite never having ruled Taiwan.” This is rather disingenuous. Beijing has vowed that the reunification of China, is a historic condition for the rejuvenation of their homeland and it is a well known fact that the aspiration for unification is a common wish of all Chinese people living both in the mainland and the island. Mr. Wu and his separatist clique has deviated from the long claim of General Ching Kai-Shek, who maintained that there is only one China and his rebellious regime protected by the US armor is the legitimate representative of all the Chinese people. He held on to this illusion until the UN expelled his representative from the world body, while re- admitting Beijing as the sole and only representative of all the Chinese people. The argument of a separate Taiwan was recent and principally advocated by the extremist and ambitious Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) that has played into the hands of Washington geopolitical games to contain China.

For the record and clarity, China has never vowed to take Taiwan by force and this is simply because no country invades part of its own. Beijing has emphatically maintained that it would use force as a last recourse to deter any attempt to balkanize its homeland, in this case, if any foreign force dared to collude with local separatist hotheads to create “two China’s” or One China, One Taiwan”. In other words, The People’s Republic of China would not only resist but would decisively thwart any effort to infringe on her sovereignty by any attempt to create “independent”

Taiwan. Beijing has created enormous and conducive room for cross straits cooperation between the mainland and Island Chinese and has demonstrated strategic patience to accomplish national unification through peaceful negotiation. The 1992 consensus reaffirmed that both sides of straits belong to One China and should work together to strive for national unification.

China has emerged as a responsible power, playing important roles in shaping the emerging inclusive and law- based international order anchored on the principles of the United Nations. Beijing has been a foremost advocate of international understanding and in this regard, has consistently offered Initiatives to generate dialogue on global development, security and civilization and to be driven by the collective wisdom of all humanity.

The Taiwan separatist clique, driven by ambition to betray their homeland has chosen a path that leads to nowhere, as their future, if they have any, rests squarely in a dialogue with their compatriots across the straits on the basis of their national unification, a sentiment broadly and widely shared by all the Chinese people which view it as their most assured road map to rejuvenation.

RE: UNITE FOR PEACE IN THE WORLD AND TAIWAN INCLUSION IN THE UN CHARLES ONUNAIJU contends that the piece is mischievous JUDICIOCRACY

cost reduction strategy in Nigeria is not so funny a democratic journey, writes AUSTIN ISIKHUEMEN

Mr. Onunaiju, director of Abuja based Think

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA

Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

EDITORIAL

AU AND THE G-20 MEMBERSHIP

Africa should put its house in order. It should strive to run efficient economies as well as respectable political systems

The permanent membership status recently granted the African Union (AU) by the G-20 at their last summit in New Delhi, India, has continued to elicit debate across the continent. But it is important to understand the context. In his opening remarks at the summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had invited the AU, represented the table of G-20 leaders as a permanent member. What that confers on the AU, a continental body of 55- member states, is the same status enjoyed by the European Union - the only regional bloc with a full membership. The previous designation of the AU was “invited international organisation”.

Therefore, membership of the G-20 by the AU is not the issue. What Africa may be missing in the scramble by our leaders to join the ‘big boys’ in the global struggle by big powers. Between the West and the counterweight hemispheric recruitment race is on for allies. What is Africa bringing to the table of these clubs? Begging bowls and raw natural resources? Photo opportunities in the capitals of both condescending blocs without money and technology? Are our leaders presenting only ‘opportunities’ for either side to exploit without strategic demands? These are legitimate concerns. Besides, G-20 derives its nomenclature from comprising 19 sovereign countries, along with the EU. Now with the addition of AU, will it now become G-21?

Africa should stop presenting itself as geopolitical fishing ground without a direction. The continent should act as a bloc of economic consequence. If we must join these elite clubs, we must work to meet their requirements

idea of bringing their fragmented economies together through an integrated market. And since trade is a catalyst to economic development, a single market which enables free movement of goods and services within the 55 countries will boost the economy of a continent that increasingly lags others as it has the least percentage of intra-regional trade. Its inability to interconnect and pull resources together has cost when Africa should produce more and, perhaps more important, process more of what she produces, there should be a strategic plan even if we must join these groups. At present, there is none. With an African as the new Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), there is no better time than now Free Trade Agreement no efforts in that direction.

There is a measure of inferiority complex in the choices our leaders make. Africa should stop without a direction. The continent should act as a bloc of economic consequence. If we must join these elite clubs, we must work to meet their requirements. We should not ask for the standards or requirements for membership to be lowered for us to enter as it is currently the case. The clubs will seek our membership people from poverty and institute respectable political systems.

For decades, African leaders have toyed with the

DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI

SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI

CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO

TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

Letters to the Editor

African leaders have repeatedly made a compelling case for strengthening economic ties through the creation of a common market without success. They tried exploit the economies of scale, all in a bid to speed up the development of the continent and to curtail the deep-seated challenges of poverty. The Lagos Plan of Action which was adopted more than four decades ago set out with the ambitious target of integrating Africa’s market by the year 2000. The apparent failure of that plan gave rise to the Abuja Treaty of 1991, aimed also at the creation of a common African market, but which ironically is getting little or no attention by way of implementation. For decades, African leaders have not summoned the political will to enforce treaties and measures that would lead to the prosperity of their people.

Overall, the real race for Africa in the second half economic and political breakthrough nations that can compete on the global stage. It is such nations that can proudly enroll in the new big power blocs on their own merit. That is what Nigeria should aspire to by putting its house in order. Other interim concessionary gestures remain cosmetic and condescending token gestures.

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

SILENT MINISTERS AND SILENT EX-MINISTERS

Wada Nas stood out as a strong defender of the did during the administration and continued own death.

Another minister of education in the Abacha administration who was very vocal in defending the government he worked for was Dr. M T. Liman. He was opposed to certain issues

as inimical to university education. He stoutly defended the position of the government against Using his experience and skills as a former News Editor at Daily Times and Head of News

administrations of Military President General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and the Interim

and fearlessly.

The comrade successfully countered massive

June 12 actualisation. He pushed the narratives of the two governments convincingly, confidently Whatever he said got massive media coverage.

spokesperson of the IBB administration, selling devaluation of the Naira and true capitalism as necessary tools for national economic growth.

As Minister of Information and defended the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo as she was fiercely patriotic in fighting drug barons in the country as the public communication was so effective that it was not easy for government critics to have a free ride on the airwaves and newspaper pages.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala as Finance Minister under President Olusegun Obasanjo from 2003 to 2006; and President Goodluck Jonathan from 2011 to 2015 was robust in justifying the unpopular IMF-inspired fiscal and economic policies of the administrations. defended the administration he served as He projected, sold and defended government policies as a skilled former reporter, Political Editor, Member of Editorial Board and Deputy

Two Ministers that were communicative in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development were Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and Bukar Tijani. They promoted cassava bread, agriculture as business, introduced an effective mechanism for distributing agro-inputs and They defended the agricultural policies of the Jonathan administration effectively.

In the Muhammadu Buhari-led

administration of the All Progressives

and Digital Economy, Professor Ali Isa Pantami and the Minister of Information defended the policies of the administration adequately.

President Buhari was so impressed by the obvious efforts of Lai Mohammed and that he pitied Lai Mohammed for having the responsibility of explaining government’s actions or inaction to Nigerians.

President Buhari told the elite correspondents that, “One of the men I pity is Lai Mohammed. Every day he is on TV explaining our performance or lack of it.”

Salisu Na’inna Dambatta, former APC National Director of Publicity

OLUDOTUN OLOLADE

Zooming into the Life of a Filmmaker

His initial desire to become an artist and own an art gallery gave way to a burgeoning career as a filmmaker. His choice of exploring the world through the lens of his camera has placed him on the global stage and eventually earned him a fortune. The Nigerian filmmaker, Oludotun Ololade, was recently named the inaugural winner of the 2023 Native Shorts Creatives Competition for his short film ‘Lost But Found’ at the International Filmmaker Award with a cash prize of £1,500. Ololade tells Funke Olaode how his childhood experiences and creative inclination nurtured his path to greatness.

The Experience of Winning the Global Film-making Award Has Been Incredible

Oludotun Ololade’s name now rings a bell having been named the inaugural winner of the 2023 Native Shorts Creatives Competition for his short film ‘Lost but Found’ at the International Filmmaker Award with a cash prize of £1,500. His growing stature on the global stage alongside his exceptional creativity and ingenuity makes him tower above his peers.

Oludotun’s award-winning film is one that reaches across cultures and generations about gender prejudice and resulting gender discrimination that begins in childhood, and conflict, poverty and other forms of social disadvantage that magnify gender inequality.

“I am encouraged,” Oludotun said. “Winning a global award at a time of global crises when women and young girls everywhere face an immense range of challenges—from the inability to access food, education and employment to the threat of gender-based violence feels like a tremendous honour and an equally tremendous responsibility to do more advocacy with my films is humbling.

“The sooner any nation understands that girl children are equally important and that the lack of women in leadership roles holds back not only women, but all people, the sooner we will be able to advance society as a whole,” he added.

For his ingenuity, Oludotun won a cash prize of £1,500 ($1,918), ahead of Abdoulie B. Jarju, a Gambian who won the second prize for $500, while the third prize of $500 was awarded to another Nigerian Benjamin Olukoya for his film ‘The Nightmare.’

Still basking in euphoria of his latest exploits, Oludotun said the film, ‘Lost but Found’ holds a deep personal meaning to him as it symbolizes his own journey of finding his true calling in the world of film-making. The film also aims to shed light on the struggles and challenges faced by young girls worldwide, who often face barriers that prevent them from accessing opportunities. It tells the story of a resilient young girl forced to leave school due to difficult circumstances but who perseveres against all odds, demonstrating remarkable determination and resilience. The film serves as an embodiment of hope and resilience, encouraging individuals to overcome adversity and pursue their dreams.

Previously, Oludotun has directed

multiple short films, including ‘Stupid Finder,’ which officially premiered on YouTube in May 2022 by EbonyLife Creative Academy owned by the famous media entrepreneur Mo Abudu and supported by the Lagos State Government.

In his act of gratitude for the global accolades, Oludotun said: “The experience of winning the global filmmaking award has been nothing short of incredible, and it has opened new doors of opportunity and recognition for me and my work. I am truly humbled and honoured to have been featured in your publication, and I am deeply appreciative of the support and platform you have provided to amplify my story.

“I remain committed to using my craft to make a meaningful impact in society and contribute to the conversation on gender equality and empowerment.”

Delving into his early days with nostalgia, Oludotun, like other emerging filmmakers interest, was spurred by listening to folklore tales from his parents and comic books that were popular during the ‘90s. “During my favourite pastime, I fondly remember sketching characters such as Tom and Jerry, Fido Dido of 7Up, and Voltron. These childhood experiences, along with my creative inclination, gradually nurtured my passion for art. Since then, art has been an integral part of my life for as long as I can remember. I have been practising and honing my artistic skills since I was able to distinguish my left hand from my right,” he claimed.

Talking through some of his notable artworks and what makes them special, he said over the years, he has had a collection of notable standalone artworks and at this same time, he still incorporates them.

“My artistic abilities into my film-making projects to enhance the overall craft. As a filmmaker, I believe in the power of visual storytelling, and my background in art allows me to bring a unique perspective to the creative process. In my films, I utilize various artistic techniques such as composition, colour schemes, and visual symbolism to evoke emotions and enhance the narrative. By blending my skills as a filmmaker and an artist, I aim to create visually stunning and engaging cinematic experiences.”

While Oludotun’s focus has primarily been on film-making, he intends to further develop his skills as a visual artist and pursue it as a fullfledged career in the future.

“I believe that combining both disciplines will not only enrich my creative endeavours but also provide new opportunities for self-expression and exploration. In summary, while I may not have notable standalone artworks to showcase at this time, my artistic background plays a significant role in enhancing the visual elements of my filmmaking projects.”

While plying his trade behind the camera, he still draws inspiration from serene and quiet

environments. “I find solace in secluded places, such as bathrooms, where my mind can wander freely and creative ideas can flourish. Additionally, I draw inspiration from engaging conversations, whether they occur during my travels or in everyday interactions with people from diverse backgrounds.”

While assessing the art appreciation and culture in Nigeria, he said: “It is gradually gaining momentum and evolving positively. With the rise of art galleries, exhibitions, and cultural events, there is a growing recognition and appreciation for various forms of art in the country. However, there is still room for improvement, and efforts should be made to further educate and engage the public, especially in remote areas, to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of art.

“Nigerian art possesses immense creativity, cultural richness, and talent that deserve wider recognition and appreciation both locally and internationally. By promoting art education, increasing exposure to diverse art forms, and cultivating a supportive environment for artists, Nigeria can bridge this gap and fully embrace art appreciation on a global scale.”

On how art has impacted his life, Oludotun said through artistic expression, he has found a means to communicate his thoughts, emotions, and perspectives to the world.

“Art has provided me with a sense of purpose, allowing me to explore my creativity and push boundaries. It has given me the opportunity to connect with diverse audiences, evoke emotions, and spark conversations. Moreover, art has opened doors for collaboration, enabling me to work alongside talented individuals who share a similar passion. Overall, art has brought fulfillment, personal growth, and a deep sense of meaning to my life.”

Today, Oludotun is a globally acclaimed filmmaker and didn’t start his career as one.

Earlier on, his educational aspiration was tilted toward the study of sciences and had initially begun his career as a tech support and networking engineer. Further, he worked in web development despite having no prior experience in the field. Through extensive research and dedication, he quickly familiarised himself with web development and established a successful business in that domain.

“Seeking further growth, I realised the limitations of paper proposals and decided to explore more engaging visual forms of communication. With my expertise in Microsoft PowerPoint, I created animations, but whatever I created was ONLY viewable on the PC and not many people had it back

then. I wanted something people could view both on a PC and VCD. I stumbled upon the software. After Effects by Adobe and started creating better animations and motion graphics, but along the line, I realized I needed videos to complement them, which prompted me to delve into the world of cameras and cinematography.”

He offered his services as a free photographer and videographer to gain practical skills and experience. This led him to make a pivotal decision in 2022- enrolling at the Ebonylife Creative Academy to study directing. “I successfully graduated from the programme and embarked on my film-making journey, after the creation of my award-winning film, ‘Stupid Finder’ at the academy.”

Since his foray into film-making, Oludotun has been fortunate to be involved in a considerable number of projects, assuming various roles driven by his adventurous nature. “Primarily, I have served as a Director of Photography (DoP), leveraging my expertise in capturing visually compelling shots. Additionally, I recently ventured into directing and taking on projects. Each film offered unique challenges and opportunities for growth, allowing me to further develop my skills and contribute to the art of storytelling.

“Film-making is time-consuming, which may be an impediment to balancing family and work life but I am coping.”

He added that maintaining a healthy work-life balance is also important just as understanding and support from his wife and children are.

“While there are times when I have to be away for extended periods, shooting films that require my full attention, I make it a priority to dedicate quality time to my family when I am back. I spend over 90 per cent of my time at home, ensuring that we engage in activities together and create cherished memories.”

For relaxation, he immerses himself in nature. “Taking long walks, breathing in the fresh air, and enjoying the beauty of the natural world helps me find inner peace and clarity. Additionally, I enjoy reading books that expand my knowledge and spark my imagination.”

As the curtain fell on the conversation, Oludotun reminded this reporter of his two mantras, which had ordered his steps. “Anything worth doing at all is worth doing well. This mantra reminds me to approach every task, project, or endeavour with dedication, excellence, and attention to detail. It encourages me to give my best effort, regardless of the scale or significance of the undertaking. By embracing this mantra, I believe that I can consistently strive for excellence and achieve fulfillment in everything I pursue: endless enthusiasm, unlocking my full potential and achieving remarkable success,” he concluded.

Oludotun doing his craft behind the camera

HighLife

Things Fall Apart Between Donald Duke and Ita-Giwa

The Very New Private Lifestyle of Tunde Fowler

The life and times of a man are never up for debate or discussion until there is some stagnation. For Babatunde Fowler, the former Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), discussions continue to blossom regarding his present status. But nothing has changed about him for a while as he maintains his new lease of private existence.

Fowler is indeed an exceptional individual. Since December 2019 when he was unceremoniously booted out of office, he has kept a low profile, striving to be unbothered by anything and everything happening around him. It has worked, for the most part, except that media houses continue to circulate his name.

For those who remember the days of his peak, Fowler was a very warm figure, entertaining his high-ranking friends and being very generous. At that time, he was believed to have the backing of the former vice president of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo, as well as the current president of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu. Thus, nobody thought he would leave the juicy position of FIRS Big Man.

But Muhammadu Buhari, the immediate past president of Nigeria, requested that he vacate the FIRS number one seat, giving way to the emergence of Muhammad Nami. Since that time, Fowler’s name disappeared from the public scene, only appearing in 2021 when it was reported that he had been appointed to the eight-member board of the Pan-African Oversight Committee, a branch of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) of the African Union (AU).

The last time his name appeared in the federal limelight, it was rumoured that Fowler would collaborate with his FIRS’ successor, Nami, to present a book on taxation, “Understanding Nigerian Taxation” to the general public. Nothing has been heard from the man since that time, leading many to believe that he is resting from the public eye and would prefer to be forgotten.

Nevertheless, it is apparent to all that the taxman has mastered the art of living a private life.

Politics can cause a split between wetness and water, dryness and sand. Given the promise and prospect of power, it seems that personal convictions can be flushed down the privy, leaving nothing but ambition flaring brightly. This is the rumoured rationale for the fight between former Cross River State

governor, Donald Duke, and former senator from the state, Florence Ita-Giwa.

The quarrel between Duke and ItaGiwa is getting messier. Both of these political authorities in Cross River are going into great detail in a seeming attempt to slander themselves. However, the general public is split between the

power brokers, further muddling the battlefield. Given the current condition of their fight, it is doubtful that they will be able to stir respect in the hearts of onlookers in the future.

Nobody is really sure, but the ball of contention might have been set rolling by Ita-Giwa. According to Duke, she was offended at the fact that he organised a meeting of southern aspirants at his residence and did not invite her. However, being a gentleman, he apologised to her and explained that he could not have invited her seeing as she is not a member of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and is not from Cross Rivers.

Duke’s recounting of the incident is not verified, but it is rumoured to have caused sparks to fly between him and Ita-Giwa. Thus, she reportedly took drastic steps to correct him of the notion of her not being from Cross River. In a video, she vilified him greatly, narrating his emergence in the political field, and how he is inferior compared to the immediate past governor of the state, Ben Ayade.

In response, Duke accused Ita-Giwa of being a courtesan in her political dealings, someone he stood for when she underwent breast implants, liposuction, and cosmetic surgeries. He further argued that it is only right to respect one’s elders and not denigrate them and that he respects her as his elder.

The reactions to Duke’s supposed rebuttal have been brutal. Accused of being disrespectful and still padding himself as the rational party, the majority of these reactions vilify Duke, throwing the mud at him because he should know better than to sink so low to humiliate someone he recognises as an elder and a woman.

Has Rotimi Amaechi Gone on Political Siberia?

Human life is only so ordinary. For any individual that overextends themself in the pursuit of power, much disappointment is lying in wait. Such is the case of former Rivers State governor and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi. After several months of apparent rest, it appears as if all attempts to emerge as a phoenix from obscurity proved unsuccessful.

Critics are currently exhausting themselves as they scrutinise the life and times of Amaechi. Believed to be locked in a cave of self-examination and futile but reserved repentance, the former power broker from Rivers appears to have resigned to his new fate.

Since losing his political mandate to the current President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, Amaechi has virtually disappeared into obscurity. Initially assumed to be crouching so that he can spring back to political relevance, Amaechi remains inactive, leading attentive folks to think that he has reached the end of his rope.

A Father Indeed … Why Abdulkabir Aliu Does Not Joke with Buhari

Former president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, is a father to many. Among these beneficiaries of his grace, Abdulkabir Aliu, the Group CEO of Matrix Group, stands favoured.

Without a doubt, the current federal administration is very different from the former. For one, former President Buhari was known far and wide for his nontolerance of all things corruption. Secondly, and following the first point, nepotism is believed to have been nipped in the bud for the most part. Despite this, Aliu greatly benefitted from Buhari’s prestige and used it to open doors for himself, albeit without throwing it in anyone’s face.

Those in the know regarding these things argue that little was known about Aliu until President Buhari took over the

position of Nigeria’s number one citizen and Head Man. At that time, Aliu had been running the show in his integrated oil marketing and trading company for around 11 years. However, upon President Buhari’s arrival, Ladies Luck and Providence seem to have smiled at him, evidenced by his remarkable progress in the oil and gas sector. Aliu’s exact relationship with the Buharis is not a matter of public knowledge. Nevertheless, seeing as he was reportedly close to Buhari’s first Chief of Staff (CoS), the late Abba Kyari, it would not be odd that Buhari is a cherished father figure to Aliu.

Indeed, Buhari’s sheets are spotless with respect to preferential treatment. Nevertheless, his grace shined on many individuals, including the astute Aliu. Today, Matrix Energy is a leader in the downstream

Nigeria is acclaimed among its peers for many things, from its diverse ethnic groups to the assiduousness of its people. However, given the statistics released by several organisations, Nigeria also ranks as number one in Africa for paternity fraud and number two in the entire world for the same reason. But what does this mean?

A new report has emerged that claims that more than 25% of the men tested for DNA paternity have found that they are not the biological fathers of their children. The report, provided by Smart DNA, one of the most

Many would recall the glory and grace of Amaechi at his peak. Even before coming to the national scene, he wielded great authority in Rivers and handled everything with absolute domination, never retreating from a fight. This attitude intensified when he became the Minister of Transport, so much so that he is thought to have attempted to wrestle with his governorship successor, Nyesom Wike, for the position of Number One Rivers Person.

Critics of Amaechi will quickly point out scores of formerly high-ranking government officials that he booted out of power to pave the way for members of his coterie. Alas, those days are gone and may never return.

At least, this is the overwhelming belief. And if it so happens that Amaechi is only on a political holiday and will eventually find his way back to the top, well, he would have been left behind by former peers, all of whom are currently working their way to the top.

and logistics subsector. Given enough time, he will doubtlessly make Buhari smile, along with others who have blessed him.

prominent DNA testing centres in Lagos, covers testing sessions conducted between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023, a whole year.

If the report is anything to go by, out of every four fathers, one of them is training a child that is not their own. In other words, one of them is falsely convinced of the paternity of their child(ren). Of course, the data that Smart DNA used for the analysis was collected from individuals residing in Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, and FCT, with the majority from Lagos.

Fowler

Shocker! As New Findings Reveal Many Nigerian Men Are Not Biological Fathers

Duke and Ita-Giwa

Aliu

BOLA TINUBU: LONELY AT THE TOP

Shebi it was Asake who sang that wonderful song “Lonely at the Top.” It was the song that came to my mind when I saw the picture of our President Bola Tinubu standing alone at a table with nobody speaking to him and with no drink at the last G20 meeting in India. He must have been asking himself so many questions in that brief solitary moment. Only God knows what would have been running through his mind. So, after 30 years, I have emerged, was it worth it? This Atiku is still dragging me all over the courts in Chicago, what does he really want? This Buhari really scattered everything o, I did not know it was that bad.

All sorts would have been disturbing him at that moment.

Should I just leave it and run back to Iragbiji? Should I honker down and struggle to the end? 200million people are looking up to me oooo. Will I be able to make love again? Should I look

SHUT NYSC DOWN NOW!

One Nigerian’s life lost makes the remaining 200 million useless. That is a fact whether we like it or not. Go and see how Americans will shut down the country for one life. They will release 1,000 terrorists in exchange for one American life but here we are just playing ludo with our lives.

The Nigerian life is worthless to authorities. Doesn’t even worth a mention.

The youth corper is now a serial soft target of kidnappers, murderers and ritualists. Their bright white and brown khaki stand them out as targets for this set of people who drink blood on a daily basis.

Today we are struggling with news of 13 youth corp members from Akwa Ibom who were kidnapped in Zamfara on their way to Sokoto. The kidnappers have been reported to have asked for some money and the parents struggled to make N13m payment in two tranches only for the kidnappers to raise the ransom to N200m.

A call by one of the parents to authorities met up with a stern “I am in a meeting.”

See, if the NYSC cannot protect just one corper then there is no need abeg. Corpers are now targets for everything, they are the ones they beat up during elections, they are the ones they rape everywhere and murdered and all we here is “we will fish out…” fish out ko, snail out ni.

The whole idea of the NYSC is defeated. People are not allowing their children to leave Lagos or their immediate vicinity. Do you blame them? All sorts of things are being done to ensure that “na Lagos

we will all serve” so why continue the scheme?

Please shut it down NOW!!! I beg ooooo, shut it down now and look for these 13 children o!!! ohhhh mbok kai.

APC, NURTW, NLC: I BELONG TO NO ONE I got a call during the week. “Edgar, you are aware that there is a struggle for the leadership of the NURTW in Abuja which has led to loss of lives.” I responded ok... How does that concern me, thinking that maybe it is the picture I took with MC Oluomo at SanwoOlu’s inauguration that will be causing this one now o.

For me, NURTW is not in my consciousness. Whatever they mean to their leaders and their members and their champions doesn’t really bother me. But I listened.

“Edgar, we want to get on ARISE TV.

At a meeting of a faction of NURTW and NLC and APC it was agreed that we should take our case to the people and we believe that ARISE TV is the best medium.

“So, I mentioned your name at the tripartite meeting and immediately there was a wave of opposition. They say you are an OBIdient, that you are Rufai Oseni’s friend and that they are waiting for you.”

She continued: “I didn’t tell them I know you like that o as I listened. They said, is he not that one that used to do events in Lagos and was hyping Rufai all over the place, he is OBIdient o.” My people, laugh nearly killed me. See, I belong to no one. I belong to the very few in this country that are not liked by the three- APC, LP and PDP. Let me state it here very categorically, I

for one quick Indian person here and try? Kai, are these not the ones who brought apples to my former colleague? Aghhhhhhh!!!!

For me, as I scanned through that picture, I began to ask myself if it was officially released and if it was, the person should not only be sacked but be made a roommate to some of our elders at the DSS dungeon.

This picture is at the same level as Buhari’s which showed him seated on a sofa, his long skinny legs stretched and with a toothpick in his mouth.

To me, this was the most careless image of a president even as it perfectly connotes the carefree and less involved presidency that one ran.

This one shows the loneliness he faces at night when all the sycophants and praise singers have gone. This depicts his struggles with his conscience, a fight he will never win and finally it depicts the loneliness that comes with a lack of legitimacy in a grabbed position.

Make I keep quiet o, before dem come flog me oo!!!!

think all three are leprous fingers of the same hand. See what I heard recently, until the elections. Obi’s lawyers were INEC lawyers and Atiku’s lawyers represented Tinubu at the tribunal. You see my people; they are all the same and struggling to protect just one thing – self-interest and a continued hegemony and oppression of Nigerians. I can never be an OBIdient, at my age I will be a fool to be one. For me, PDP would have been my natural abode but the seeming headlessness, especially in the run up to the elections, just scattered my head. For APC, you all know where I stand. What we need in this country is true and robust reforms leading to genuine electoral reforms. If we do not reform the electoral process, we will continue to throw up feeble leadership. I think it’s time someone came and beat me because I will never agree with this one. Thank you.

DAPO ABIODUN: WHAT MANNER OF MAN?

That His Excellency is so unpopular in Ogun State is simply stating the obvious. Bros is so unpopular that he has started fighting enemies, both real and perceived.

The other day, we saw bulldozers bring down a huge plaza reported to be owned by Yeye Daniel, the wife of a sitting senator and former Governor of the state. The official position shows a litany of misdemeanours on the part of the developers but a quick uncover of the real reasons and you will begin to shake your head.

My brother, according to unsubstantiated gist I have heard in various amala joints in and around Abeokuta is that, Daniel, despite being gifted the senatorial seat went ahead to back Ladi Adebutu in his quest of dethroning Mr. Abiodun and for that he must suffer. Madam’s building must come down so that Chief Daniel will not be serviced in the other room.

Like I have said, this is an underground gist but the main gist is that Abiodun is beginning to look like one of the most unpopular governors in a state that has produced such sterling leaders like Osoba, Onabanjo, among others.

You want to know why, go watch that Channels TV where he was asked if he went to school….. kai, only in Nigeria.

MOHBAD – AN AMAZING KIND OF DEATH

Drugs, bullying, infighting is all I am hearing behind the untimely death of this 27-year-old musical genius. Before his death, I didn’t know him o. How can I, a 54-year-old? But since his passing, I have been digging and all I see is a sad underworld of bad behaviour, lack of orderliness and brazenly bad behaviour by a community although gifted with talent, remain on the fringes of sane society.

I wish his parents and family strength even as I plead that his death should signpost a new vista for the community he so well represented. RIP aburo.

Tinubu

Akinsanya a.k.a. MC Oluomo

Ahmed

Late Mohbad

Like Father, like Daughters: As Otedola’s Girls Rule Their Worlds

Most successful businessmen wish their children would follow in their footsteps. Businessman and oil magnate, Femi Otedola, however, is a liberal-minded individual who allows his beautiful daughters to walk their paths.

Society Watch gathered that his beautiful daughters: Tolani, Ife and Temi, under the guidance of their parents, have taken their passions to impressive heights within a short period.Tolani is having a sizzling romance with soul music. The ‘Don’t Break My Heart’ crooner went into music after her studies in Psychology and Philosophy at St. Andrews University and a Masters in Music at the Vocal Tech in the United Kingdom.

Florence, popularly known as DJ Cuppy, is a delight on the turntable. Her dexterity has earned her accolades as well as popularity across the continent of Africa and beyond. The talented young lady’s profile got a boost when she appeared in Forbes Magazine. Consequently, it did not take long before her critics realised that she was not riding on the crest of her father’s fame, but her God-given talent.

Akeredolu Goes for Deputy’s Jugular

Ondo State Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa is presently in a dilemma over what the future holds for him. The once rosy relationship between him and his boss, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, seemed to have been soured by recent developments in the sunshine state.

Those close to the deputy governor describe him as a man of character who believes in hard work, resilience, sagacity and loyalty. These, they say, are the reason for his astronomic rise in politics.

But the near-death sickness of the governor has definitely thrown a clog into the wheel that drives the two men in the state.

Society Watch gathered that the relationship between Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa became frosty after the governor came down with a terrible sickness that led to his being flown to Germany for treatment. A source in the government who pleaded anonymity said, that though the deputy governor had openly displayed loyalty to his boss, the governor’s sickness proved otherwise.

“The deputy governor always told his boss that he is loyal and a partner with the governor. But the governor’s sickness changed all that. Some people in the state probably thought the man would not survive and they cried that Aiyedatiwa be accorded the title of acting governor. All the while, the deputy seems to love the show and he was subsequently addressed as acting governor. Perhaps that singular act angered the governor,” the source said.

To confirm that all was not well between the two men, Governor Akeredolu resumed duty barely 24 hours after he returned to Nigeria after a three-month medical vacation abroad. This was contrary to speculations that the governor was going to spend some days resting in Ibadan, Oyo state. To prove that he is indeed in charge, Akeredolu declared: “I’ll be alive to complete my tenure.”

Two days after that statement, he went after his deputy and sacked the media team. He then directed the Ministry of Information and Orientation to provide adequate coverage for the activities of the deputy’s governor office henceforth.

Despite the uncertainty, Aiyedatiwa’s men continue to maintain that he is a principled man who believes anything worth doing at all is what is doing well. According to them, outside politics, Aiyedatiwa is a successful businessman with very sharp business acumen and highly cerebral prowess. He is notable for his sociable skills and ability to turn every misfortune into a wide range of opportunities.

For his unwavering acts of generosity, sharing love as a sacred devotion and giving back to the society, especially Ilara Kingdom in Lagos State, the revered monarch of the community, Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, has conferred chieftaincy titles on former Group

Like her two older sisters, Temi is also doing her father proud. As a fashion enthusiast, she owns JTO, a fashion blog, where she expresses her fashion, art and photography adventures. She shares the same love for the arts as her father, whose passion could be seen in his late father’s Impact Press, located on Randle Avenue. Recently, the girls proved they are stars in their rights with the rate they are shooting for

the sky. According to research conducted by Statisense, a data consulting firm, Cuppy came up top in August as the most Influential Female handle in X, formerly known as Twitter with 60.03 million followers, while her sister Temi was number four with 3.54 million. Also, Cuppy was number eight as the most followed Nigerian handles on X (Twitter) for August.

Managing Director and Chief Executive officer of First Bank Plc, Dr. Olabisi Onasanya and his wife, Helen.

The seasoned banker and chartered accountant was bestowed with the Akinrogun title, while his wife was conferred with Yeye Akinrogun of IIara.

The Onasanyas received the chieftaincy titles during the celebration of Oba Ogunsanwo’s third coronation anniversary penultimate Saturday in Ilara-Epe, Lagos. The couple was honoured by His Royal Majesty for their

contributions to the progress and development of Ilara.

A few months ago, Onasanya, alongside a local chapter of the Rotary International Club, in furtherance of their vision to support education through philanthropic works, donated a completed multi-million naira block of classrooms to the Ilara Community. The block of six classrooms, with a fullyequipped library at Ilara Model Primary School, was commissioned by Oba Ogunsanwo.

Inarguably, Tonye Cole, the co-founder of Sahara Energy, is an accomplished businessman and a leading name in the oil and gas sector in the country. He ranks among those few who know their onions in the industry.

His incursion into the industry has been a blessing, as the Sahara Energy he founded with some of his friends has contributed immensely to the growth of Nigeria’s oil sector. But beyond that, he also has other businesses scattered within and outside the country and he dazzles with beautiful ideas always.

Despite these accomplishments, he has yet to fulfil his age-long ambition to secure the number one job in the state. Since 2018, he has continued to aspire for the plum job of Rivers State without success and this, Society Watch gathered, has been a thorny problem that is accompanied by serious heartache for him.

You will recall that the Kalabari-

born top oil player had resigned his appointment in 2018 to pursue his aspiration for the number one job of Rivers State as the anointed candidate of a former Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi.

He has since been working hard to realise this dream, but his paths have been laced with more thorns than roses.

Though he got the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC after so much battle that would have swallowed him, he could not participate in the governorship election, as the Supreme Court nailed the coffin on his ambition.

The court had ruled that the name of the party should be expunged from the March 2, 2019 governorship election.

Also, in the last governorship in the state, he was unable to achieve the ambition as he couldn’t surmount his most difficult obstacles. The candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Sim Fubara, was declared the winner of the election.

Tonye Cole’s Heartache Friends

Though Cole is presently at the election petition tribunal to challenge the outcome of the election, the chances for a favourable outcome are slim as perceived by a few.

to build a solid image for the agency, Adeniyi once served as customs spokesman for almost a decade. He not only holds the record of the longest-serving National Public Relations Officer of Customs, from June 2003 to May 2011 but also won the Comptroller-General of Customs Award for the seizure of $8,065,612 million cash at the E-Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in January 2020 as the Controller of the MMIA Command, Lagos.

Tagged ‘A Celebration of Wale Adeniyi’s Odyssey,’ the soiree was put together by a committee of friends, including Chief Adedayo Ojo, and Mr. Soji Awogbade to mention a few.

The event had in attendance top monarchs, maritime chiefs, media moguls and corporate highfliers, including Karl Toriola, Femi Adesina, Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, Dare Babarinsa, Dele Momodu, and Tunji Olugbodi, who stepped out to honour the Modakeke, Osun State-born super Customs administrator.

Since the establishment of the Nigerian Customs Service in 1891, the new Acting Comptroller General, Adewale Adeniyi brings an unrivalled wealth of experience, expertise, and leadership skills into the esteemed position, having served in different positions in his sterling career in the Service.

A professional who is conscious of the need

In February 2020, he was promoted to the rank of Assistant Comptroller General and was subsequently posted to head the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada, Abuja as Commandant. In recognition of his service, former President Muhammadu Buhari, on October 11, 2022, conferred the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic, MFR on Adeniyi. There was a frenzy last Sunday at the prestigious Radisson Blu Hotel in Ikeja GRA, Lagos when friends of the accomplished Customs Officer hosted an exclusive dinner to celebrate his elevation to the topmost position in the Nigeria Customs Service.

Amidst thrills and frills, with the best of cuisines and choice drinks served, the distinguished guests were serenaded by the La’Vie Band, a multi-genre performing band. One after the other, these friends and associates poured encomiums and celebrated the accomplishment and remarkable career of elated Adeniyi flanked by his beloved wife, Kikelomo.

As the 14th indigenous CG and 31st, many Nigerians are full of expectations to see Adeniyi make a big difference and justify the applause that has trailed his appointment as a thoroughbred career officer and the helmsman of the agency.

Tonye

Adeniyi

The Otedola girls with dad: L-R: Tolani, Femi, Temi and Florence a.k.a DJ Cuppy

Newly decorated Akinrogun and Yeye Akinrogun of Ilara-Epe, Onasanya and his wife, Helen.

Akeredolu

Palliatives, Politics and SAP 2

My brother and friend, Kayode Komolafe (the man we all call KK) is an uncommon patriot. With an unassuming depth as a public intellectual, KK is equally disarming in his witty humour, a matter to which I shall return some day in the future. But he is unfailingly felicitous in his approach to national issues. In one of our a recent conversation about national affairs in general, he drew my attention to what I seemed to have overlooked. The two key economic policies of the hundred-day old Bola Tinubu administration may, in a limited sense, represent a second phase of the Structural Adjustment Programme in Nigeria.

Even Mr. Tinubu’s most ardent critics have since admitted that on the twin issues of fuel subsidy removal and unification of the exchange rate of the Naira, the new President had little or no choice. He had to take those decisions if indeed he was to have a country to preside over. The decisions were existential in essence. Predictably, the prime pontiffs of international free market capitalism have hailed him. The IMF and the World Bank have since variously endorsed Mr. Tinubu’s boldness in these policies. Key Western governments like those in Washington and London have, with measured optimism, welcomed these policy shifts as positive for Nigeria in the long run. In turn, the Nigerian business community has conditionally applauded the president while of course warning about high costs of doing business and the jobs that may be lost if costs continue to rise. But by and large, through the stock market’s initial positive response, corporate Nigeria has positively welcomed the policies as evidenced in an upward trend in market capitalization and volume of trade on the floor of the Lagos exchange. Nigerian Bankers, those hydra headed parasites are smiling or grumbling depending on the games they like playing with the foreign exchange market.

The huge proceeds of the fuel subsidy removal mean that governments at all levels are hugging huge troves of cash. It ought to mean that they can find cash to fund infrastructure and social investment programmes. And a massively devalued Naira now fetches huge baskets of relatively worthless Naira notes for government to pay its huge recurrent costs and may be fund a few capital projects. What is going on is a fundamental structural adjustment of the economy away from the subsidized regime of he immediate past Buhari profligacy to a market driven terrain. Government and its friends in pin stripe suits in the boardrooms of Lagos and Abuja may be smiling. Not quite so the vast majority of ordinary Nigerians and what used to be the now vastly pauperized middle class.

On the streets, the agonies, pains and pangs are becoming unbearable. Jobs are being lost as businesses contract or shut down because of impossible operational costs and tanking demand. Transportation costs for people and goods have shot through the roof in urban and rural areas. Costs in education, healthcare and basic living have skyrocketed as proprietors struggle to adjust operational costs to catch up with rapid inflation. Food inflation is sky high. In Lagos, a loaf of bread now goes for as much as N1.300, thereby limiting those who can fall back to the staple of white bread and akara balls for breakfast.

While the NNPC has been crowing that national consumption of premium motor sprit is down by 30%, the number of vehicles on the roads has shrunk by about that percentage. Freer traffic in the streets of places like Lagos also means a shrunken level of economic and a looming potential of lost income, joblessness and potentially more crime statistics.

The instant early warning of the coming crisis has come in the form of repeated labour wild cat strikes and threats thereof. Literally all unions are up in arms. So also are students unions protesting sharp increases in fees and living costs. Government’s response to these many streams of hardship has been a mixture of knee jerk reflexes, hasty panic reactions and astonishing confusion. Initially, a hasty proposal to dole out N8,000 to families of the poorest was dropped quickly as it had

Tinubu

no reliable statistical basis nor was it well thought out. As it turns out, previous social alleviation efforts under Mr. Buhari were based on dodgy statistics and phoney data on the basis of which billions of Naira disappeared into the back pockets government officials who seemed more interested in alleviating their own personal circumstances.

The admission by governments that these policies have triggered massive hardship has now popularized ‘palliatives’ as a new catch phrase of political correctness. It is one that has quickly been bastardized and trivialized by politicians. Government has been stampeded by the newly inaugurated state governors into signing off N5 billion to each state and the FCT to provide palliatives to desperate citizens. It does not matter if the state in question is Kano or Lagos with teeming populations or the FCT with a miserable demographics.

In line with Nigeria’s lazy school of governance, nearly all state governments have invaded the markets to buy up bags of rice for distribution to the poor and vulnerable as palliatives. It is uncertain how much the states are prepared to spend on this rice jamboree. Dangerous scrambles have ensued at the palliatives distribution centres, leading to a few broken heads and many other injuries requiring first aid that is hardly available in public clinics and hospitals. We are yet to hear the last from this new palliatives racket.

In the interim, there is as yet no comprehensive national policy on how best to alleviate the spiraling impacts of policies that are designed to fundamentally alter the way Nigerians live and pay their bills. You do not inflict fundamental structural changes in an economy and then address the consequences with stop gap and flip flop measures.

What is clear is that the twin policies of the Tinubu administration amount to a limited edition of the infamous Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) of the mid 1980s. At that earlier stage, the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) designed and inflicted

the same set of adjustment economic policies on nearly all distressed Third World countries. The elements included an end to subsidies and entitlement programmes, privatization of government enterprises, commercialization, import restrictions and the adoption of market determined exchange rates etc. The Structural Adjusrtment (SAP) produced protests and dislocations in many countries as these policies imposed severe hardship on the lower segments of the populace.

Many adult Nigerians will recall the introduction of the Structural Adjustment Programme(SAP) by the Ibrahim Babangida military administration. The nation was in a bad place economically and faced the option of accepting a killer loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The terms and conditions of the loan were considered rather stifling and Babangida threw the matter to a public debate. Nigerians rejected the option of an IMF loan but felt the government should accept the ‘conditionalities’ as self imposed package for a homegrown programme of economic recovery.

It meant the immediate adoption of free market principles in most areas of the national economy. The exchange rate was freed from official controls. Government enterprises were being privatized or commercialized. A previously planned and government controlled economy was jolted into an overnight transition into a free market economy. Aggressive competition and entrepreneurship replaced the entitlement state. Private enterprise was encouraged. In the process, living conditions hardened. The general cost of goods and services sky- rocketed. While opportunities opened up for the elite to venture into new enterprises, the broad majority of urban and rural masses were being left behind by the

rumbling train of the new market economy. A military government that came to power to alleviate conditions found that SAP was crushing the very people. Something needed to be done to re-establish the compassionate basis of government and cushion the people from the adverse consequences of economic structural adjustment.

In what has now become the most far reaching programme of systemic palliatives and hardship alleviation programme, the then military administration introduced a slew of poverty alleviation and palliative policies. An aggressive programme of rural development under the defunct DFRRI was introduced to incorporate the rural majority into the national economy through access rural roads, water supply, agricultural extension services , primary healthcare and public enlightenment.

To extend access to credit to the poor, a Peoples Bank was established. To further penetrate the rural communities with access to credit, a series of community banks were established. To accelerate job creation, a national employment agency, the NDE was established in the Ministry of Labour to facilitate job creation and access to job opportunities. An accessible venture capital mini credit scheme called National Economic Recovery Fund (NERFUND) was established to afford funding to bright ideas of youth who had no tangible collaterals other than their certificates. To address the public transportation needs of the masses, a Mass Transit scheme was established in collaboration with Labour unions to provide quick affordable transportation to the masses.

This entire gamut of palliative and ameliorative policies, programmes and institutions were all rolled out within a short space of time and even the harshest critics of the military conceded that these were well thought out and bold measures towards the creation of a fair society for Nigerians.

The significant feature of the palliative regime of the Babangida military administration is that there was a deliberate institutionalization of the structures of alleviation. They were not random or subject to the whims of individual state governors. Most of them birthed national institutions with state components following well thought out national guidelines.

In plain language, what the nation is going through are the pains and repercussions of a new phase of SAP, SAP 2 for short. It is therefore astonishing that the new Tinubu administration is going about the matter of palliatives as if it was a transient political contingency rather than a deep structural realignment of the economy. It is as though there are no extant pre-existing institutions, organizations and structures that have survived the passage of time on which we can build present efforts. The National Directorate of Employment is still in existence. A company called Labour Mass Transit Limited partly owned by the NLC is still alive. The federal Urban Mass Transit programme survived up to the Obasanjo presidency and bequeathed the ubiquitous Keke NAPEP rickshaws that are still active all over the country.

The urgent challenge of the moment is therefore how to identify the existing instruments and institutions of palliative, compassion and socio economic alleviation that have survive up to the present and deploy the proceeds of the fuel subsidy removal to reactivate them.

The present approach seems to be heavily weighted on the usual Nigerian politics of sharing. We now need to go beyond the degrading sharing of miserable bags of rice and boxes of Indonesian noodles to more lasting structured legacies of a fair society. Nor should we resort to random cash handouts that can neither alleviate suffering nor poverty but instead create and deepen an entitlement syndrome which could further deepen poverty.

If we are serious about alleviating poverty and ameliorating the impacts of recent policy adjustments, we must rise above silly tokenism and learn from the examples of countries that have embarked on genuine poverty alleviation and deliberate policies of addressing inequality in a sustainable way. I would recommend the examples of Brazil, India and China.

The models in Brazil and India

ARTS & REVIEW ARTS & REVIEW

By Street Creed, They are Bound

Bolaji Alonge, a Nigerian artist, and Ottograph, a Dutch artist, are collaborating on a bi-cultural project called 6 Hours that is motivated by their shared passion for street art. Yinka Olatunbosun reports

Alonge and Ottograph on a recently-transformed Freedom Park stage

A mural painting by Ottograph

The Tinubuplomacy of Nigeria-United Arab Emirates Relations: Addressing the More Critical Issues

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) placed a ban on travellers from Nigeria ten months ago. However, when the Ambassador-Designate of the UAE to Nigeria, Saeed Al-Shamsi, presented his Letters of Credence to Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT), the Nigerian leader instructed that the ban placed on Nigerian travellers be quickly looked into and resolved. More importantly, on his return from the G-20 Summit held in India, PBAT passed through the UAE to have a tête-à-tête with his counterpart in order to iron out in person the misunderstanding.

As Chief Ajuri Ngelale, the Presidential Spokesperson, explained the outcome of the peace-making visit to the UAE, ‘President Bola A. Tinubu and President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Monday (11th September, 2023) in Abu Dhabi, have finalised a historic agreement, which has resulted in the immediate cessation of the visa ban placed on Nigerian travellers.’

More important, Chief Ajuri Ngelale also has it that, by this agreement,‘both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines are to immediately resume flight schedules into and out of Nigeria, without any further delay. As negotiated between the two Heads of State, this immediate restoration of flight activity, through these two airlines and between the two countries, does not involve any immediate payment by the Nigerian government.’

Most importantly, Tinubuplomacy has enabled the establishment of an agreed framework ‘which will involve several billions of US dollars, worth of new investments into the Nigerian economy across multiple sectors, including defense, agriculture, and others, by the investment arms of the Government of the United Arab Emirates.’ Additionally, a joint, new foreign exchange liquidity programme between the two Governments, which will be announced in detail in the coming weeks,’was agreed upon, Chief Ngelale reportedly said.

Tinubuplomacy at this juncture is a good and welcome development. It is good because of the prompt effort being made to avoid the deepening of the misunderstanding, It is particularly welcome a development because PBAT’s diplomatic stopover in the UAE presents the second pillar of Tinubuplomacy, the first being the promptness of action in stopping oil subsidies without qualms at the domestic level and quickness in wanting to go to war with the Republic of Niger over the unconstitutional change of government in that country. Thus, the first two foundational pillars of Nigeria’s foreign policy under PBAT are quickness of action and consultative summitry, that is, acting directly in a tête-à-tête mania.

Current Issues in Nigeria-UAE Relations

The first, if not the more critical, issue in Nigeria-UAE relations under PBAT, is the same question of Tinubuplomacy. PBAT opted to go and meet with the UAE leader, Saeed Al-Shamsi, in his home country, apparently to go and plead with his counterpart. By implication, UAE is acting at the higher level of the continuum of diplomatic relationship. Nigeria is also saying that she is wrong with her policy attitude towards the UAE, hence the need to quickly go there and negotiate.

Besides, Tinubuplomacy does not appear to bother much about the other national interests and rules of reciprocity and fairness for the Nigerian airlines seeking governmental protection from both sides. Mention was not made about whatever was said about the challenges faced by the Air Peace in the UAE.Why was the unfair treatment meted out to the Air Peace not mentioned and addressed? These questions only point to the fact that Tinubuplomacy is yet to be defined by the rule of reciprocity on which international economic relations are largely predicated. While Nigerians are waiting for details of the new foreign exchange liquidity programme in the coming weeks, it is useful for the Government of Nigeria to also provide information on the policy attitude of the UAE government on Nigeria’s airlines that are seeking to fly to Dubai based on reciprocal treatment. How many scheduled flight can the Etihad Airlines and the Emirates Airlines have per week? To which airports or cities will they have access? Will the Air Peace aircraft be treated the same way? Will the rule of reciprocal treatment apply? Why shouldn’t it be applicable

when it is the standard practice in international relations? These questions are necessary in light of the many controversial issues in Nigeria’s ties with the UAE. They must be addressed in seeking better ties with the UAE in the longer time to come.

Visa ban is a second issue. Visa and passport are very important in international relations because they are means of authorisation to move from one sovereign state to another or of crossing international frontiers and borders. Passport and Visa are two sides of the same diplomatic coin, and therefore, they are inseparable. While a passport is the property of one government, recommending the holder to another sovereign government that the holder is its citizen and should be assisted, a visa is a conditional acceptance of the recommendation. It is a conditional acceptance in that it is a guarantee for entry at the immigration borders of the country issuing the visa.

In fact, the issuance of the visa is another recommendation to the home government, particularly to the home immigration authorities of the visa-issuing State that the holder of a passport has been interviewed and adjudged prima farcie qualified to be considered for possible admission to the visa-issuing country. In other words, the holder of the passport with an issued visa is not likely to become a landed immigrant following his or her admission. Perhaps more concernedly, the assurance from the issuance of a visa is that the holder of the visa given is not likely to be criminally. In many cases where such assurances were found out to have been

The Tinubuplomacy of Nigeria-UAE relationship is most unfortunate. It is operationally reactive, non-programmatic in design, underestimating and self-defeatist in strategic calculations, and unnecessarily presumptuous in attainment of foreign policy objectives. It cannot but be most unfortunate for PBAT to return from the UAE and tell Nigerians that a sort of an entente cordiale had been reached with the UAE government on the lifting of the one-year visa ban placed on Nigerians and citizens of 19 other countries, and then for the Cable Network News to reveal thereafter that the ban has actually not been lifted. This is most shameful and very embarrassing for a sovereign State like Nigeria. PBAT’s diplomatic style of always acting very promptly in matters of national interest is quite commendable but Tinubuplomacy must be predicated on making haste slowly in the area of dissemination of breaking news. Diplomacy as an art prohibits the exhibition of exuberances, and conflicting signals which are generally difficult to manage. There is the need to avoid a situation where the Presidency acts without carrying along the Foreign Ministry.

abused or misguided in whatever ramification, the holders of such valid visas have always been turned back at the border.

The point of emphasis here is that visas have their socio-political and commercial values. They are not issued gratis and many governments try to make issuances of visas more convenient to obtain by bringing consular services nearer to the people. The most recent case is the location of a United Kingdom Visa Centre in Enugu in the expectation that visa applicants will no longer need to go as far as Lagos or Abuja to be documented and interviewed for visa, but also that the new location will strengthen economic partnership and cultural exchanges.

It is within this frame of reasoning that the lifting of the visa ban placed by the UAE on potential Nigerian travellers to the UAE should be understood. Without doubt, UAE-Nigeria is a very important and profitable business route for the ETIHAD and Emirate airlines. It is on record that the Emirates operated two daily flights from Lagos to Dubai and one daily flight from Abuja. Thus, the visa ban has prevented Nigerians from travelling to the UAE and therefore from applying for new visas. Visas are generally not issued gratis, except we are talking about diplomatic visas which are issued freely on the basis of reciprocity. Hence any placement of a ban on issuance of visas is necessarily self-denial of revenue for the UAE embassy. And true enough, many diplomatic missions generate enough revenue to finance their activities in Nigeria, rather than depending only on their home governments for funding. Consequently, the lifting of the visa ban is mutually rewarding and this is why agreement was quickly agreed to during PBAT’s shuttle visit to Dubai.

Why the issue of visa in Nigeria-UAE relations is critical is that many Nigerian business people want to transact businesses in Dubai or use Dubai as a transit point to other countries. In the same vein, Nigeria is an internationally-recognised terra cognita big market which investors would want to take advantage of. Etihad and Emirate airlines find Nigeria as a very profitable aviation route. What should be done is to negotiate a no-visa agreement that will enable working out how to ensure crime-free movements from one country to the other. This is where the main challenge lies. Banning and unbanning visa issuance should not be the problem but what prompted the banning.

What is most unfortunate about the lifting of the ban on issuance of visas to Nigerians is another revelation that the reported visa lifting is misinformation. The Cable Network News (CNN) reported on Friday, September 15, 2023 in its report, entitled‘UAE official says there are no changes on the Nigeria/UAE travel status so far.’ The UAE official did not want himself identified. Could an agreement on lifting have been reached but for reasons of internal communication processes the UAE official is yet to know about it? Could it have been a misrepresentation by the Nigerian delegation of the MoU? Why will an official delegation led by PBAT mistake lifting with an intention to lift or not to lift? Whatever is the case there are still more critical questions to be addressed in the bilateral relationship.

A third issue is the $85m belonging to the airlines of Dubai but still withheld in Nigeria. In October 2022, the UAE not only issued a notice stopping the issuance of visas to Nigerians and citizens of 19 other African nations for one year, but also suspended the Emirates airline’s flights to Nigeria allegedly because the airline could not access and repatriate its $85m trapped in Nigeria. What is quite interesting about the official reporting of the‘historic agreement’by PBAT and his UAE counterpart is the diplomacy of silence over the truths. Nigeria says through Ajuri Ngelale, Presidential Adviser on Media, that ‘both Etihad Airlines and Emirates are to immediately resume flight schedules into and out of Nigeria without any further delay.’

The UAE government reportedly said both leaders ‘explored opportunities for further bilateral collaboration’ with the hope of ‘reinforcing ties between the UAE and Nigeria’but did not mention lifting the visa ban or flights restarting.’ This CNN report may be more correct because Chief Ajuri Ngelale later made it clear that the historic agreement is still subject to further articulation. Apparently, Chief Ngelale might have simply assumed that because a historic agreement has been reached, an immediate implementation of it would begin instantly.This is a wrong assumption forTinubuplomacy.

Tinubuplomacy and Foreign Relations

It is useful to put Tinubuplomacy on the correct track, especially following the principles of Professor Ibrahim Gambari’s concentric circles which placed Nigeria and her immediate neighbours at the innermost circle because of security linkages. Without doubt, foreign policy calculations ought to place a very special emphasis on the immediate neighbours of Nigeria. The use of the former Dahomey, and now Benin Republic by the Red Cross at the outbreak of Nigeria’s civil war in 1967 to undermine Nigeria’s war strategies provided the first lesson that the immediate neighbours of Nigeria must never be taken for granted. More important, the mere fact that the ECOWAS region is also Nigeria’s first and most important sphere of influence, and therefore similarly requires a greater focused attention on activities in the region.

In this case, if there is conflict of interests between Nigeria and her immediate neighbours on the one hand, and between Nigeria and the entire ECOWAS region, on the other, which should or ought to take priority of attention? This is one good basis for the articulation of Tinubuplomacy. For instance, the ECOWAS Authority is in disagreement with the Niger Republic, an original Member State of the ECOWAS.

Tinubu

IN THE ARENA

Nigeria’s Return to Global Stage

After a weeklong foreign trip, President Bola Tinubu returned home Tuesday night amid cautious optimism. The first arm of the trip took the president and his team to New Delhi, India where he attended the 2023 G-20 Summit. At New Delhi, the leaders of the world’s biggest economies converged to chart ways out of swirling challenges, threatening global peace and prosperity.

Nigeria is not a member of G-20, an intergovernmental forum of 19 countries and the European Union, which accounts for 85 per cent of the global GDP, 75 per cent of its trade and about two-thirds of the world population. At the summit, the African Union was accorded a permanent membership status of the G-20, now bringing its number to 21.

However, Nigeria was only invited to the summit based on a recognition that she is Africa’s largest economy and most populous country. Tinubu’s attendance is a clear statement that Nigeria is gradually regaining her place on the global stage after more than 25 years. This is evident in different deals and events that emanated from the sidelines of the summit with Nigeria in the centre of global conversation tailored at promoting a world where peace is a collective norm.

One of such events is the business roundtable Nigeria separately held with the leaders of India, Germany and South Korea on the sideline of this historic summit. The session with India’s conglomerates, multinationals and envoys no doubt epitomised Tinubu’s resolve to leverage foreign policy instruments in pursuit of the country’s national interests.

India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi was at the session. His presence attested to its centrality to the attainment of the national interests of both countries. At the end, Nigeria proudly secured investment commitments, valued at $14 billion from India’s investors willing to invest in communication, defence and manufacturing sectors, among others.

At the summit, also, US President Joe Biden specially acknowledged the renewed geo-political roles Nigeria has been playing in Africa, especially West Africa, to defend democracy and leverage her regional influence to deepen peace, order and security on the continent and by extension the world over.

Biden thus welcomed Tinubu’s efforts at reforming Nigeria’s economy, which according to reports, significantly contracted due to global recession in 2016 and outbreak of COVID-19 that sparked outright global economic lockdown in 2020. He also applauded the strong leadership he had provided during military interferences that recently truncated civilian governments in Gabon and Niger. For Biden, Tinubu has stood for democracy and the rule of law against all odds.

The second arm of the trip took place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which until recently, had frosty bilateral relations with Nigeria. The trip elicited protracted interests at home, especially among traders and tourists, who preferred to visit or buy goods at the UAE.

Under President Muhammadu Buhari, the diplomatic relations between the two countries became unduly contentious. Consequently, the UAE suspended visa issuance to Nigerians due to constraints to repatriating its funds from Nigeria. Also, Emirates and Etihad Airlines suspended their flights to Nigeria, costing both countries huge losses in investment and trade.

However, Tinubu ended the diplomatic impasse last Monday. At the bilateral meeting, the UAE agreed to immediately lift visa ban on tourists, traders and visitors from Nigeria. It also directed Emirates and Etihad Airlines to resume flight operations in Nigeria.

Since Tinubu’s inauguration four months ago, Nigeria has again been active and assertive on the global stage. This started at the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government in Guinea Bissau, where he openly spoke against coup d’etat in West Africa.

Also, at the fifth coordination meeting of the African Union (AU), he took exception to the new scramble for Af-

POLITICAL NOTES

rica, warning China and the West against plundering and exploitation of Africa’s resources. Under his leadership too, ECOWAS has threatened military action against the junta that ended Niger’s civilian rule.

With all her recent stands on issues that undermine regional stability and global peace, Nigeria is fast reclaiming her lost grounds whether in Africa or the world over. As shown in the outcomes of the last foreign trips, agreements have been signed between the two countries. Concessions have equally been made to inject life into dying bilateral relations, which previous governments did little or nothing to revitalise.

However, as foreign policy analysts have observed, signing investment and trade agreements, valued at $14 billion, is a huge success for Tinubu’s government. But there is little to rejoice over yet despite different investment commitments that have been secured. Transforming the agreements to tangible outcomes is what Nigeria requires to jumpstart her crawling economy. Is Nigeria really prepared to harness the gains of the agreements?

For critics, Nigeria is not yet prepared to play big on the global stage. They cited the country’s inclement business environment, which according to diverse reports, had been compounded by internal insecurity and regional instability. Also, they cited the country’s regressive economy, which analysts argued, should be repositioned before venturing into global politics. Other analysts largely agreed with the critics. But they blamed these challenges on bad leadership, which former Minister for External Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi claimed, had aggravated the country’s development crises and contributed to an acute infrastructure deficit that now plagued the federation.

Amid these shortcomings, Akinyemi warned against demarketing Nigeria now that President Tinubu had been networking with the global leaders to give life to Section 19 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), which espouses Nigeria’s foreign policy principles and objectives. At the core of these objectives is the promotion of national interests, which most experts believe, should be the primary pursuit of Tinubu’s administration.

Like other analysts, Akinyemi challenged the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar to set up “a taskforce that will follow up all concessions that have been made; ensure trade agreements are duly implemented and transform all investment commitments to optimal gains that will bring about tangible outcomes.”

Agreements, as analysts have argued, will definitely remain agreements if concrete measures are not taken to speed up their domestication and implementation at a time that Nigeria is scouting for investments worldwide. For them, attracting global capital is no doubt key to rejuvenating Nigeria’s ailing economy. But addressing the country’s critical domestic needs – human capital, infrastructure and national security – is central to attaining her foreign policy objectives.

Ugochinyere Suffers Miscarriage of Justice

TheImoStateNationalandStateHouseofAssembly Election Petitions Tribunal last Sunday nullified the election of a member of the House of Representatives, Ikenga Ugochinyere of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The tribunal, consequently, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a supplementary election within 90 days.

The three-member panel of judges, in a unanimous decision,heldthatUgochinyerewasnotvalidlynominated by the PDP to contest the Ideato North/South Federal Constituency election held on 25 February.

Justice Anthony Akpovi, who chaired the panel, concluded that the PDP and its candidate should be excluded from the supplementary election.

RecallthatinsecurityhadforcedthePDPtoconduct their primary elsewhere. Secondly, before the primary, Ugochinyere’s residence and personal and campaign

vehicles in his hometown were razed down by gunmen who were on a mission to assassinate him.

Insecurity had also forced the tribunal to sit in Nasarawa State instead of Imo State.

Yet, curiously, the same tribunal, had in its judgment sacked Ugochinyere, citing the failure of the PDP to hold the primary that produced him in his constituency.

Manylegalanalystscouldnotunderstandhowsome lowercourtswouldsoblatantlyignorelegalprecedence.

TheAppealCourtandSupremeCourthadonseveral cases on “not validly nominated” or “improper nomination” called the petitioners “meddlesome interlopers.”

They went further to rule that whoever a political party decides to bring forward during election, is its prerogative.

Very recently, the Presidential Election Petitions Court(PEPC)ruledinVicePresidentKashimShettima’s

case, that the issue of nominating or not nominating a candidate validly by a political party is a pre-election matterandaninternalaffairoftheparty,whichcanonly be challenged within 14 days of such nomination at a Federal High Court.

Theissueofchallengingthenominationofacandidate isanoptionusuallyleftforthecandidate’sco-contestant in the same party.

Inmanyofitspreviousjudgments,theSupremeCourt also described the likes of the APC candidates who challenged Peter Obi and Ugochinyere on the grounds of invalid nomination by their parties as a “busy body,” and a “meddlesome interloper,” who is “peeping into the internal affairs” of his neighbours.

Many believe that the tribunal judgment in Ugochinyere’s case will be quashed by the Appeal Court if there is not inducement or influence.

President Bola Tinubu’s approach to foreign policy might hopefully reflate Nigeria’s regressive economy and improve her battered image among nations if the real sectors are duly incentivised and reformed to take advantage of the expected opportunities, Gboyega Akinsanmi writes

Tinubu

BRIEFING NOTES

Rivers as Home of Deadly Cultists

From

the kidnap kingpins and cultists, Don Waney, Bobosky, and 32 others on whose information for their arrest the Rivers State government had offered N870 million as reward, to the most recent case of 2-Baba, on whose arrest the state offered another N100 million bounty, the state has continued to breed deadly cultists backed by politicians. Ejiofor Alike reports that the state government only declares these criminals wanted when they commit heinous crimes that embarrass the state and the country

Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Emeka Nwonyi, had on Monday confirmed what had always been known that prominent politicians were behind the deadly criminal gangs terrorising the state.

Speaking during a solidarity protest by a human rights advocate, Charles Jaja, at the headquarters of the state Police Command in Port Harcourt, the commissioner vowed that such politicians must be identified and prosecuted.

The solidarity visit by the rights advocate was in protest to the killing of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ahoada Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, SP Bako Angbashim, who was beheaded by a dangerous cult group led by one Gift David Okpara Okpolowu, a.k.a 2-Baba in Odiemudie community of the LGA.

Since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, Rivers State has become a fertile ground for breeding deadly cultists who enjoy the strong backing of politicians.

Security reports suggest that some of these cultists who are used as thugs during elections, also transform to militant leaders and masquerade as fighters for the emancipation of the oil-producing region to engage in oil theft, pipeline vandalism and other forms of criminalities.

In several videos that went viral, these criminals and their leaders were seen wearing police uniforms and military camouflage, wielding AK-47 rifles and threatening political leaders and ethnic groups who were opposed to the ambition of their politician-sponsors.

They engage in criminal acts unchallenged so long as they work for the powers-that-be.

Their assignment is to intimidate and kill political opponents and perpetrate electoral violence during elections to ensure the victory of their sponsors.

Ahead of the 2023 general election, these cultists were on hand to make the state unsafe for certain political parties and their candidates to organise rallies.

Heavy gunshots and other acts of violence used to disrupt a visit by members of two major political parties at the INEC office, in Port Harcourt, to demand for the Certified True Copies (CTC) of the March 18 election result sheets, shortly after the recent general election, were the hallmarks of these deadly cultists.

Records have shown that the state government only declares the leaders of these gangs

wanted when they commit heinous crimes that embarrass the state and the country.

Apparently miffed by such embarrassment, the state government had offered a N200 million bounty for the arrest of the kidnap kingpin and cultist, Don Waney, who was linked with the killing of 23 people in Omoku area of the state on January 1, 2018.

Few days later, former Governor Nyesom Wike had in a state broadcast, declared 32 cultists in 12 local government areas of the state wanted with a bounty of N20 million each (totalling N640 million) for information that could lead to their arrest.

Wike’s state broadcast was in reaction to the killing of Waney, whose real name was Johnson Igwedibia, at a hideout in Enugu by the military.

In August 2019, Wike also promised a N30 million reward for any useful information that would lead to the arrest of another kidnap kingpin and cultist, Honest Digbara, a.ka. Bobosky.

Bobosky, who was the leader of a notorious criminal gang in Gokana LGA of the state, was

among the suspects that killed a director with the state government during the Choba crisis.

Luck ran out on him in September 2020 when he died from gunshot wounds sustained in a gun battle with men of the state Police Command and vigilantes in Korokoro, Tai LGA of the state.

Bobosky died while being paraded along with his younger brother, said to be his driver, who was dead on arrival also due to the superior firepower of the police.

Just like the previous criminal gang leaders who were declared wanted after they had committed heinous crimes, Bobosky was declared wanted after he had committed grievous crimes considered embarrassing to the state.

Traditional leaders, top politicians and security agencies are believed to be familiar with the leaders of these criminal gangs.

The killing of Waney and other gang leaders in similar circumstances have fuelled the suspicion that they might have been silenced to prevent them from spilling the beans.

However, those familiar with military and

NOTES FOR FILE

police operations believe they died in actions that were not premeditated.

In a most recent case, Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has offered another N100 million bounty for information on the arrest of Gift David Okpara Okpolowu a.k.a. 2-Baba, suspected to have led the armed gang that killed the DPO for Ahoada, Angbashim.

It was a gory sight as a viral video surfaced showing the moment the dreaded cultists displayed Angbashim’s mutilated body, with his head, hands and private parts cut off and displayed in a very gruesome manner.

Many believe that only the Boko Haram terrorists in the North-east and the unknown gunmen in the South-east can treat their victims in such cruel, inhuman and dastardly manner.

Expressing sadness over the incident, Governor Fubara alleged that Okpolowu was the leader of the criminal gang that had been terrorising the area.

Fubara also suspended the traditional ruler of the area, His Majesty, Eze Cassidy Ikegbidi Eze Igbu Akoh II, for “ceding control of his territory to the notorious David Gift and his gang to freely operate and carry out their criminal activities.”

Acting Inspector-General of Police (IG), Kayode Egbetokun, in a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, described the DPO’s murder as “utterly mindless” and “despicable” and vowed to ensure the perpetrators of the murder were apprehended and prosecuted.

Security experts believe that security agencies had turned a blind eye to 2-Baba’s atrocities apparently due to the influence of his powerful sponsors.

The suspension and reported arrest of the traditional ruler were seen by these experts as face-saving measures and mere attempts to make him a scapegoat for the sins of the security agencies and the political leaders.

Analysts argue that if the cultists could behead a DPO who led a heavily armed team of policemen to confront them, they could have also roasted a defenceless traditional ruler who they considered an enemy like a beef.

With the revelation by CP Nwonyi that politicians were behind these criminal gangs and the interest shown in the case by the IG, will security agents allow 2-Baba to spill the beans? Or will he die in a shootout like others? These are questions agitating the minds of security analysts, and events of the next few weeks will provide answers to these questions.

Lessons Nigerian Police Need to Learn from US

What happened in Pennsylvania, United States of AmericalastWednesday,whereaconvictwhoescaped from prison two weeks ago was captured after a massive manhunt launched by the police, is a lesson for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) should learn from.

Danelo Cavalcante, 34, was arrested in a wooded area by a law enforcement dog after a heat-sensing aircraft located him as he tried to crawl away from officers who had surrounded him. More than 500 officers hunted him down after he escaped from prison on August 31.

Hewassentencedtolifeinprisonlastmonthforkilling his ex-girlfriend in front of her two children in 2021.

But just a week after he was sentenced, Cavalcante “crab-walked” between two walls and scaled a razorwire fence to escape Chester County Prison, about 50 kilometres west of Philadelphia, where he had been awaiting transfer to a different facility.

with the police advising the residents to lock their doors and stay inside.

When the efficiency of the US police is compared with their counterpart in Nigeria, it is a far cry from what is experienced here.

For instance, penultimate week, suspected cultists led by one Gift David Okpara Okpolowu (a.k.a.2-Baba),ambushedandkilledaaDivisional Police Officer (DPO), SP Bako Angbashim, in Odiemudie community, Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Angbashim beheaded and butchered by the suspected dreaded cultists. The incident has sparked outrage in the state, as Angbashim was known for his exploits against criminals in all the areas he was deployed to in the state.

General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, was a mere condemnation of the gruesome murder of the slain officer and a directive for the arrest of the killers.

For the state police command, it was a pledge to track down the gunmen.

This has always been the pattern any time gruesome attacks or killings take place in the Nigeria. There is no operational strategy put in place to arrest the perpetrators likewhattranspiredintheUSwheresomesecurityagencies came together to plot Cavalcante’s capture.

Instead what the police are allegedly doing in Rivers State is to randomly harass and arrest innocent youths.

The two-week manhunt spanned a large area of the state and put residents of Chester County on edge,

As the DPO in Bori, Khana LGA of the state, his gallant impact tamed criminal activities in Ogoniland.

AllNigeriansheardfromtheactingInspector- Egbetokun

As we write, Nigeria is struggling with news of 13 youth corps members from Akwa Ibom who were kidnapped in Zamfara on their way to Sokoto about four weeks ago.The kidnappers have been reported to have asked for some money and the parents struggled to make N13million payment in two tranches only for the kidnappers to raise the ransom to N200million. As usual, they have not been rescued.

Governor Fubara

Election Tribunal Judges on Trial in Plateau

Amajority of the people of Plateau State have rejected the recent judgments delivered by the National and State Houses of Assembly Elections Tribunals led by Justice M.B. Tukur, Justice Omaka Elewa and Justice O.A. Adetujoye in which they quashed most of the election results and gave victory to people the indigenes had rejected at the polls.

Describing the judgments as an infringement on their democratic mandates, the people are raising the alarm that the tribunals want to force leadership on them against their decisions, and are therefore protesting to the Court of Appeal to help reclaim their right of choice. They have also collectively decided to resist any further judgment that would subvert the popular will of the people, especially as the governorship election judgment comes up in a few days.

First, it was the judgment that sacked AVM Napoleon Bali and declared the former governor of the state, Simon Lalong, who was overwhelmingly defeated, as the winner of the Plateau South senatorial zone election. This was a man that the people of the state generally believed had disappointed them after eight years as governor, and therefore decided to vote him out of power.

In a similar manner, the tribunals also sacked House of Representatives members, Hon. Peter Gyendeng, Hon. Dachung Musa Bagos, and Hon. Beni Lar, representing Riyom/Barkin Ladi, Jos South/Jos East, and Langtang North/Langtang South federal constituencies respectively.

The people expressed worries that the tribunals are removing nearly all the choices they had made at the polls, and are imposing leaders on them, describing the development as worrisome and unacceptable.

Condemning and describing the judgment as arbitrary, a prodemocracy organisation in the state, Peoples Mandate Protection Vanguard (PMPV), warned that the development portends great danger for democracy.

Addressing a press conference in Jos, the group alleged corruption and political interference, calling on the National Judicial Council (NJC) and other anti-graft agencies to take immediate action and withdraw the tribunal judges from the state.

The leader of the group, Mr. Emma Zopmal, said: “Some of them (judges) have already compromised their job. The integrity of the judiciary must be safeguarded, and all those involved in selling judgments, whether the judges, lawyers, or political actors, must face severe consequences for subverting the democratic process.

“We, as a leading pro-democracy organisation in Nigeria, strongly denounce the blatant corruption observed within Nigeria’s election tribunals’ recent judgments on the highly contested election of the National Assembly in Plateau State held on February 25, 2023. The unjust verdicts, tainted by grave levels of corruption, underscores a disheartening setback for transparency, justice, and democracy in Nigeria.”

The group observed that the election petitions tribunals’ primary responsibilities are to ensure fair and

impartial adjudication in electoral disputes. “Regrettably, this sacred duty to uphold the sanctity of the democratic process has been compromised by the rampant influence of corruption and vested interests as clearly manifested by the way and manner the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Jos having gaged the duly elected members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”

Calling on Nigerians, civil society organisations and international orgaisation to join forces, stand up against corruption and demand justice for the people, Zopmal said it is only by reinforcing the rule of law and ensuring transparent and fair electoral processes that Nigeria’s democracy can truly thrive.

The PDP is even more upset with the judgments because all the candidates that have so far been sacked are elected on its platform, hence the belief that there’s a political connotation to the judgments.

The tribunals’ claim for the rulings is that the PDP in Plateau State lacks the structure and legal standing to present candidates for the 2023 elections because they did not conduct proper congress from where the candidates emerged.

But the party has dismissed the tribunal claim, noting that its congresses were properly conducted under the supervision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), adding that two previous judgments by other tribunal panels sitting in Jos had affirmed PDP’s victories in Plateau North senatorial election and Bassa/ Jos North Federal Constituency House of Representatives because there were sufficient proofs, including court judgment that the party held proper congress that produced their candidates. The state chairman of PDP, Mr. Chris Hassan, who addressed the press on the matter, said there was an initial claim of some irregularities raised regarding the party’s congress which led to a court judgment urging it to repeat the process which it duly complied with, through a repeat congress in September 2022, and was monitored by INEC as legally required. This congress was validated by the Federal High Court in Jos, as well as the Court of Appeal in Jos.

He said: “This same congress was affirmed by the Federal High Court Jos in a judgment delivered by Justice D. V. Agishi in the case of one Augustine Timkuk vs PDP validating the state executive of the party as duly elected and this same judgment was also unanimously affirmed by the Court of Appeal Jos in favour of the PDP by TY Hassan, Justice I. A. Andenyangtso and Justice O. O. Goodluck delivered on February 11, 2023. The fact remains that PDP has a valid and solid structure through which our mandate was given.”

The party affirmed that it has a valid and solid structure in the state through which the people’s mandate was given, and therefore described the rulings by the tribunals as baseless.

“We take great pains to tell you that the decision of the tribunal on this matter utterly falls far short of expectation; we are here to tell you that the judgments of the tribunal is a judgment that we refuse to accept because it is bereft of substantial justice and a diversion of the undiluted will and choices of the Plateau people.

“It is noteworthy that as we register our disappointment in the verdict of the tribunals, it can never destroy our confidence in the judiciary.

“Consequently, we have asked our lawyers to take the mandate of the Plateau people as their right of appeal to the Court of Appeal to reflect the wishes of the electorate. This will of the people, as freely expressed by electing Senator Napoleon Bali, Hon Peter Gyendeng and others must be respected. As a law-abiding party, we will explore all available legal means to restore the victories of the PDP.”

Describing it as a temporary setback, Hassan urged party stakeholders, supporters and the people of the state to be calm.

But pundits have advised the party to be watchful and remain optimistic that the governorship tribunal, consisting of Justice R. Irele-ifineh, Justice Sunday Olorundahunsi, and Justice A.Y. Joh, will uphold the will of the people of the state as they prepare to deliver their judgment on the governorship election this week.

Governor Caleb Mutfwang has already requ ested the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal to dismiss as baseless the petition filed by Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and affirm his own election as the rightful governor of the state. This request was made during the adoption of written addresses, with Mutfw ang’s lead counsel, Pius Akubo (SAN), arguing that the APC’s petition lacks merit and sufficient evidence.

Similarly, the counsel representing INEC and the PDP have also urged the tribunal to strike out Nentawe’s petition and validate Mutfwang’s election as the duly elected governor.

Plateau people have said that though they are confident that the tribunals’ rulings on the federal lawmakers would be upturned because they are baseless, they will resist a similar scenario in which their governor will be troubled to have to go to the Court of Appeal over a mandate that they freely and overwhelming gave to him.

Recent judgments of the Election Petition Tribunals in the Plateau State have stirred a hornet’s nest as the people, who have rejected most of the tribunal judgments, are alleging serious political interference. Seriki Adinoyi writes

Dongban-Mensem

CICERO INTERVIEW

Ibrahim-Imam: FG Has No Constitutional Backing to Run Secondary Schools

Over the years, one of the greatest desires of the King’s College Old Boys Association has been to take over the running of the school from the federal government, but has failed to reach a compromise with successive governments. As the association prepares to celebrate the 114th anniversary of the college on September 20 under a new administration, the old boys have again brought their desire to the frontburner. The President of KCOBA, Kashim Ibrahim-Imam reiterated the old boys’ readiness to effectively run the college, arguing that the federal government has other obligations, and no constitutional backing to run secondary schools. Uchechukwu Nnaike presents excerpts

King’s College will be 114 on September 20, what is your assessment of the college?

So far so good, it is wonderful, we have done exceedingly well and we are still doing exceedingly well. The old boys, the School Based Management Committee, the principal and management of the school have all done well in keeping the flag flying, in keeping the standards. So we excelled and we still excel. We were the best and we still are the best.

What is your projection for the college in years to come?

That it will even get better, in the sense that I believe the federal government will oblige our request. We came very close to achieving PPP under President Olusegun Obasanjo when Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili was the Minister of Education. I also raised the point that constitutionally, speaking, the federal government has no business running secondary schools. The federal government has much more important obligations like defence, security, foreign affairs, economy, among others, but secondary school is not on the exclusive list, it is not even on the concurrent list, it is on the residual list. States, yes, private organisations, yes, but the federal government, no. So it is our hope, desire and prayer that the federal government under President Bola Tinubu will hand over the management of King’s College to the old boys.

How prepared are the old boys to manage the school?

We are quite prepared for this. If you go round the college, all the improvement on the structures, was done by the old boys. I want to appreciate the different class sets who are undertaking these and various old boys who have been contributing to the upkeep of the college.

Are you agitating for the hand over of all unity schools to their old boys or King’s College alone?

It is an anomaly that the federal government is running secondary schools. At the time it was initiated, there was justification for it, but I think it has served its purpose and going forward, the schools will best be run by the old students on the public-private partnership arrangement. We will commit to all the ideals: national character, indigent students, we will not make it an elitist school; we will make sure that students from all the states of the federation are admitted, we will maintain standards and improve infrastructure. We will commit to all of these and more in writing. We will also create an endowment fund that we can tap into in the management of the school. What we are advocating is King’s College first and then Queen’s College and all the unity schools should be returned to the old students.

What would you say is the greatest challenge of the college currently?

The issue of overpopulation, we are gradually overcoming that. When I assumed office as president of the old boys, 600 students were admitted into junior secondary one (JS1). Today, a more manageable 400 students have been admitted. When I assumed office, there were 60 students in a class. Today we have a more manageable 40 students in a class compared to my time, we were just 30, but it’s still better than having 60 students in a class. So admission is one challenge, funding is another, but again we have old boys who have risen to the challenge to provide adequate funding for the improvement of all our infrastructure, so I won’t consider that a major challenge. We just want the federal government to believe in us and to hand over the college to us. I think that is our number one challenge.

Considering the moral decadence in the society, what is the old boys doing to ensure that the current students are properly groomed?

The theme of our annual founder’s day is always centred on issues that have to do with integrity, development, progress and unity of the country, this year’s own is not different. Secondly we have created a special programme as part of the anniversary this year on career guidance. We are inviting the successful old boys, people who have excelled in different

fields to come and talk to the young boys, most especially the senior secondary three (SS3) because they are heading to the universities. So we will not be talking to them only about career, we will also talk to them about integrity, hard work, productivity, character, and so on. So generally speaking, I think that we have done well.

Stakeholders have been clamouring for a state of emergency in education, what do you think should be the first issue to address in the sector?

The first issue is primary and secondary schools because I think they are the bedrock of education. After that we can address the universities. I think we are on track that we are talking about King’s College and the need for the federal government to hand over the management to us so that we can improve on the standards, we can also improve on infrastructure.

In the primary school section, I think the state governments should invest more. I have always advocated that education at both the primary and secondary school levels should be free, most especially at the primary school level. Not only should it be free, but it

should also be made compulsory. I am from the north and you hear people talk about the almajiris and the almajiri education, now just imagine if every school age child is enrolled in school, there will be no almajiris, it’s as simple as that.

I had the privilege of growing up in Lagos; as primary school pupils in Lagos, school enrolment was 100 per cent and I believe that school enrolment in Lagos today is 100 per cent. No matter the economic background of families, every child attended school, that is the fundamental right that the Lagos State government has guaranteed over the years and I think the states in the South-west generally speaking have also done very well. I want to advocate that all the other states, most especially the states in the north should take a cue from this and make sure that primary education is made a fundamental right for every school age child.

What are activities lined up to celebrate the college’s 114th anniversary?

The Kingsweek 2023 with the theme: ‘Dismantling the Barriers: Creating a Pathway for the Emergence of Effective Leaders in Nigeria’, commences with a first-of-its kind virtual conference on Monday, September 18 where King’s College old boys across the world would gather virtually to discuss pertinent topics on the future of the school.

Tuesday, September 19 will be the ‘Back to School Day’ during which old boys would visit the school, take a tour, and inaugurate projects and items donated to the college. The tour is expected to also serve as a state-ofthe-school assessment by old boys present.

The founders’ day lecture scheduled for Wednesday, September 20, is the highlight of Kingsweek. High-profile speakers, including APC gubernatorial candidate, Rivers State, Tonye Cole; ADC gubernatorial candidate, Lagos State, Funsho Doherty; APGA gubernatorial candidate, Abia State, Etigwe Uwa (SAN); House of Representatives member, Akin Rotimi and Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe would discuss the theme of Kingsweek. This session would be moderated by Tokunbo Shitta-Bey.

The future careers day will hold on Thursday, September 21, followed by a Jumat service on Friday, September 22. In winding down the week-long series of events, we shall have sporting activities on Saturday where old boys and their families would be expected to have fun, relax and share in memories from their respective times in the college. A cricket match is also scheduled to take place with old boys vs a team from the Nigerian Cricket Foundation.

In the evening of Saturday, 23 September, a dinner hosting old boys is planned with the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi as guest speaker. This will be the first dinner hosted by the association since the COVID 19 pandemic.

This will be followed by a thanksgiving service on Sunday, September 24. To end the Kingsweek, the association will hold its annual general meeting on Sunday, September 24, and this year’s AGM is an election AGM, which will usher in a new executive committee.

Ibrahim- Imam

Abbo to Akpabio

“If Akpabio and his camp wanted a united Senate just like Ahmad Lawan, they could have known exactly what to do during Senate Standing Committees allocation and supplementary budget resources allocation” – Senator representing Adamawa North Senatorial District, Elisha Abbo, accusing Akpabio’s loyalists of circulating reports on the alleged plot to remove him.

SIMON KOLAWOLE

simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com, sms: 0805 500 1961

On ‘Liberal Democracy’ and Coup-baiting

The upsurge in military coups in Africa is leading to curious propositions on the suitability of “liberal democracy” on the continent. Questions are being asked as to whether or not we need to tinker with our practice of democracy. In a recent interview with TheCable, former President Olusegun Obasanjo — who led Nigeria as a military ruler and also as an elected president — linked most recent coups to controversial elections and concluded that Africans need to discuss the way forward. He did not suggest any alternative, sure, but he insisted that we must begin to think of one. All attempts to draw him out failed as he scoffed at all examples cited as evidence of Africa’s progress in democracy.

Obasanjo said: “Out of the six countries that have experienced coups (in recent times), three of them are directly from elections. Burkina Faso, Guinea Conakry, and Gabon that we have just had are directly from elections. The other three are indirect, if you like.” He said he started noticing the trend in Guinea Conakry when Col Mamady Doumbouya overthrew President Alpha Condé in 2021, recounting his meetings with top officials of the junta. “I listened to them and concluded that we had a new phenomenon on our hands. I realised that they had the support of the youths and were not thinking of staying in power for four, five years. They are in for a generation,” Obasanjo recalled.

I do not agree with Obasanjo’s assertion that “the liberal type of democracy as practised in the West will not work for us”. For starters, democracy is a political system in which a government is periodically elected by the people and/or their representatives. In a democracy, there are constitutional guarantees of universal suffrage, rule of law, checks and balances, and fundamental human rights, such as freedom of speech and freedom of association, etc. Free and fair elections are central to constitutional democracy. There should be no intimidation of voters or political opponents. There should be no material inducement of voters and electoral officials. These are basic tenets.

Does Nigeria meet the barest requirements to be called a liberal democracy? After all, we run a multiparty system, which political scientists regard as a hallmark of democracy because it institutes the principles of freedom of choice and diversity of ideas. If there is only one party in the system, the aim of representative democracy is undermined. Also, we hold regular elections — since 1999, we have had a general election every four years. Minus hitches here and there, Nigerians have largely exercised their franchise. We also have democratic institutions, such as the legislature, the judiciary and the media. But can we truly say we run a liberal democracy like the West? That is the question.

In Nigeria, the use and misuse of state power and patronage is a major obstacle to democratisation. There are a million examples, but the most recent would be that of Mr Wale Adedayo, chairman of Ijebu East LGA, Ogun state, who accused Prince Dapo Abiodun, the governor, of hijacking the funds meant for councils. Councillors from Ijebu East thereafter apologised to Abiodun. Meanwhile, Adedayo was arrested and detained by the Department of State Services (DSS), which should ordinarily be dealing with security threats. He has now been impeached as council chairman. This is authoritarianism. In a liberal democracy, “as practised in the West”, there is room for dissent.

This calls to mind the seminal essay written by Steven Levitsky and Lucan A. Way entitled ‘The Rise of Competitive Authoritarianism’ (Journal of Democracy, July 2002). They did intellectual justice to the theme: ‘Elections without Democracy’. Any Nigerian who desires to understand the nature and texture of our brand of democracy would do well to read the essay, which the authors further developed into a book, published in 2010. They

Obasanjo

wrote that the post-Cold War world “has been marked by the proliferation of hybrid political regimes” particularly in Africa and the former Soviet Union, where many regimes “have either remained hybrid or moved in an authoritarian direction”.

They postulated: “Analyses frequently treat mixed regimes as partial or ‘diminished’ forms of democracy, or as undergoing prolonged transition to democracy. Such characterisations imply that these cases are moving in a democratic direction. Yet… this is not the case.” They termed it ‘Competitive Authoritarianism’, where “formal democratic institutions are widely viewed as the principal means of obtaining and exercising political authority. Incumbents violate those rules so often and to such an extent, however, that the regime fails to meet conventional minimum standards for democracy… they may be better described as a (diminished) form of authoritarianism.”

State institutions, such as security agencies and the legislature, are deployed to satisfy the whims of incumbents. Levitsky and Way noted: “Although incumbents in competitive authoritarian regimes may routinely manipulate formal democratic rules, they are unable to eliminate them or reduce them to a mere facade. Rather than openly violating democratic rules (for example, by banning or repressing the opposition and the media), incumbents are more likely to use bribery, co-optation, and more subtle forms of persecution, such as the use of tax authorities, compliant judiciaries, and other state agencies to ‘legally’ harass, persecute, or extort cooperative behaviour from critics.”

In “competitive authoritarianism”, there are four arenas of “democratic contestation”, namely elections, legislature, judiciary and media. “In competitive authoritarian regimes… elections are often bitterly fought. Although the electoral process may be characterized by large-scale abuses of state power, biased [government] media coverage, (often violent) harassment of opposition candidates and activists, and an overall lack of transparency, elections are regularly held, competitive (in that major opposition parties and candidates usually participate),” they wrote, adding that although legislatures tend to be weak, “they occasionally become focal points of opposition activity.”

My reading of this essay within the Nigerian nay African context is that we have not been practising liberal democracy. What we have been practising in the main is “competitive authoritarianism” as well articulated by Levitsky and Way. It is, therefore, out of place to conclude that liberal democracy will not work in Africa as “it does in

Western societies” when we have not given it a try.

A system where a council chairman cannot ask a governor for the release of statutory allocations is far from liberal. Even if the council chairman was handpicked by the governor, it is nothing short of authoritarianism for the governor to take a legitimate demand as an affront on his majesty.

In Nigeria, conventional wisdom is that “government will always defeat you”. From the time Obasanjo was president, state institutions have been routinely manipulated to intimidate and emasculate anyone considered out of line, regardless of the provisions of the laws and the dictates of democracy. Your passport can be seized, your property sealed or bulldozed, your tax bill inflated, your employment terminated, and so on and so forth, at any time of the day because of your political leaning or dissent. There is no way on earth we can classify this authoritarian culture as liberal democracy and then speed to the conclusion that it is not working or cannot work in Africa.

Another dangerous trend which undermines liberal democracy is the rule of the mob, which has become increasingly disturbing since the advent of social media as a centre for political mobilisation. The first time I noticed this was in the 2015 presidential poll when it was considered a mortal sin to support a particular candidate. It completely went out of hand in the 2023 presidential poll. People were classified as enemy of Nigeria for not supporting a particular candidate. Anyone with a different opinion became a subject of cyber bullying. Yet, freedom of choice is core to liberal democracy. These authoritarian mobsters on social media cannot be classed as democrats, much less liberal.

But what exactly is the option to “liberal democracy”? I am eager to know. Should we return to monarchy, where all powers belong to the king and he can decide to take your wife? Or is this a euphemistic campaign for military coup? I would ordinarily not be amused if not that many of those doing coup-baiting today were among those who talked the most about “Lekki massacre” in Lagos and “Shiite massacre” in Zaria. I take it that many are too young or naïve to understand how military juntas operated in Nigeria in the 1980s and 1990s — or they are so blinded by desperation and bitterness that they can no longer see beyond their nose. Military rule is never an option for me.

My conclusion is that we need more democracy, not less of it. What we need is to tinker with our current practice to make it liberal, more liberal. Democracy regularly faces stress tests even in the most advanced countries — such as the US and the UK — and what we should be discussing in Nigeria is how to deepen our practice, not how to replace it with authoritarianism. Whereas we have taken some important steps since 1999, our democratisation project is still obstructed by the authoritarian mentality of persons in power and the intolerant rhetoric of intolerant social media thugs. This is undermining our basic freedoms: of expression, of choice, of association.

May I, at this stage, point out that liberal democracy is an aspiration. Good can get better. No matter the obstacles on our way, the solution is to keep going, not backslide. I want to live in a society where civil liberties are the norm. I’m aware that other forms of government have yielded fruits elsewhere — China and most Arab countries do not practise liberal democracy and they are recording significant socio-economic progress — but the Nigerian reality has been that neither monarchy nor military dictatorship has turned us to world beaters. We’ve tasted it all. I would vote for democracy, knowing that I have a say in my destiny and I also have options if my choice lets me down. Priceless.

And Four Other Things…

AUTONOMY ACRIMONY

The Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) went on strike under President Muhammadu Buhari seeking, among other things, “university autonomy”. Now, the same union is rejecting “university autonomy” under President Bola Tinubu. That is why I think we are not yet having an honest conversation on the kind of university system we want in Nigeria. It appears, to me, that “autonomy” means funding without accountability. Pardon me but it will not work. Meanwhile, federal universities are already charging high fees without calling them “tuition” and we are still thinking we have tuition-free university education. Let us sit down and reason together. Sincerely.

ECONOMIC DIPLOMACY

I will raise up my hand and say I was one of those who criticised former President Olusegun Obasanjo for going round the world looking for “foreign investors” when he was in office. With the benefit of hindsight, I can see that there is a place for economic diplomacy. Some investors will come on their own but there are those who need assurance from the highest levels. After all, we are the ones who need them. The soundbites from President Bola Tinubu’s strips to India and UAE are music to my ears and I can now only sit in my house and wish words will become actions soon. We need every dollar that can come into Nigeria. We need investments. We need jobs. We need oxygen. Emergency.

AKINTOLA WILLIAMS, RIP

Mr Akintola Williams was one of those accomplished Nigerians I wish to live the kind of lives they lived. Williams lived life to the fullest, attained every height possible in his chosen path, managed to escape controversies and left a legacy that will be there for generations unborn. In 1949, while in the UK, he became the first Nigerian chartered accountant. In 1952, he set up Akintola Williams & Co, reputed as the pioneer chartered accounting firm in Africa. His younger siblings were well known — the late Chief FRA Williams, the first Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and the late Rev KJ Williams, a cleric. When he died on Monday at 104, Williams left nothing but blessed memories behind. Adieu.

AND FINALLY…

Mr Bayo Adelabu, minister of power, took to X on Thursday to explain the fire outbreak at the Kainji/Jebba transmission station. A lot of the posts were coated in technical terms that an average reader would not understand, even though the idea was to communicate to the public. I guess the posts were drafted by, understandably, a technical person. Nevertheless, the minister should continue to keep us updated via his X handle, preferably in the language we understand. Ironically, the only thing that some of us understood in the posts was the opening line of “fire outbreak with explosion sound”. A friend said he should have added “gboa!!!” to complete the sentence. Hilarious.