CBN: More Commodities Now Being Captured to Earn $200bn Forex from Non-oil Exports 200 exporters accounted for over 95% of $4.2bn earned in 2021, says UBA
Nume Ekeghe, Dike Onwuamaeze and Kayode Tokede The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has declared that its RT200
policy has begun to attract more commodities into the Nigerian export ledger just as the United Bank for Africa (UBA) has revealed that 200 exporters accounted for 95
per cent of the $4.2 billion Nigeria earned from non-oil export in 2021. The RT200 FX programme is an initiative of the CBN that aims to raise $200 billion in forex
earnings from non-oil proceeds over the next three to five years. A major anchor of the programme is the Non-Oil Export Proceeds Repatriation Rebate Scheme.
The apex bank noted that the scheme which incentivises export earnings has seen a record entry of players in the solid mineral space. The Principal Manager, Trade
and Exchange Department, CBN, Mrs. Anne Nnenna Ezekannagha, made the declaration yesterday in Continued on page 6
ADC Crisis Deepens as Ousted Nwosu Expels Kachikwu, Seven State Chairmen… Page 12 Sunday 18 September, 2022 Vol 27. No 10022
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NANS Vows to Ground Airports over ASUU Strike Fidelis David in Akure The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has said it will ground activities at the local and international airports across the country beginning
from Monday, September 18 over the lingering strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). It said its decision to ground airports activities was due to the successes recorded in its road
protest during which several highways were blocked. The leadership of NANS, which spoke in Akure, the Ondo State capital, said the grounding of airports was to make the rich share in the pains of the students
occassioned by the prolonged strike action. Chairman, NANS National Task Force on ‘End ASUU Strike Now,’ Ojo Raymond Olumide, said students were tired of pleading with both parties to
end the strike. Olumide cautioned ASUU not to call off the strike after any increment in their salary but to insist on other demands that led to the strike action. According to him, “We shall
begin another round of protest next week by storming the airspaces on Monday, 19th September 2022 to #OccupyTheAirports. We want to let the world know about the Continued on page 12
Udom Emmanuel, Tambuwal Move to Resolve PDP Crisis NWC begins reconciliatory talks, meets Ikpeazu, Makinde, Ugwuanyi Bode George denies ambition to succeed Ayu
Gboyega Akinsanmi in Lagos, Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Okon Bassey in Uyo As part of the renewed efforts to ensure a united party ahead of the September 28, 2022 date for the commencement of campaigns, the Chairman of the Presidential Campaign Organisation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Akwa Ibom State governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, as well as the Director General of the organisation and Governor of Sokoto State, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, have moved to resolve the crisis in the party, THISDAY has learnt. Emmanuel and Tambuwal were on Thursday unveiled as the chairman and director general of the campaign organisation, respectively. THISDAY gathered that Emmanuel yesterday commenced reconciliatory talks with a Continued on page 5
SEEKING FDI FOR KANO… L-R: Emir of Bichi, Alhaji Nasir Ado Bayero; Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Republic of Bulgaria, Mr. Georgi Sabev; and the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Nikola Stojanov, during the Emir’s visit to Bulgaria…recently
Labour Party Cries Out as Police Teargas Supporters in Ebonyi… Page 6
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WORTHY HONOUR... L-R: Chairman, STB McCann, Sir Steve Omojafor; Representative of Ogun State Governor/Commissioner for Information, Mr. Waheed Odusile; wife of the MD/CEO, Marketing Edge Limited, Mrs. Modupe Ajayi; Marketing and Innovation Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Mark Mugisha; and MD/CEO, Marketing Edge Limited, Mr. John Ajayi, during the presentation of award of ABIODUN AJALA Outstanding Political Brand Personality of the Year to Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, at the 10th Marketing Edge Summit and Awards in Lagos...weekend
Buhari Leaves for UN 77th General Assembly in New York Osinbajo leads Nigerian delegation to Queen Elizabeth II's burial in London Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari will today (Sunday) depart Abuja for New York, United States, to attend the annual meeting of world leaders, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA77). This is coming as Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday left Abuja for London to represent Nigeria at some events during the State Funeral for Queen Elizabeth ll of the United Kingdom.
According to a statement issued yesterday by the Media Adviser to the President, Mr. Femi Adesina, the theme for the 77th session, which opened on Tuesday, September 13, is: “A watershed Moment: Transformative Solutions to Interlocking Challenges.” The statement identified key topics of discussion at this year's UNGA including the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis, climate action, ending the COVID-19 pandemic, and a special
Interim BEDC Management Retakes Power Firm amid Tussle with Osibodu-led Investors Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
The Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) was at the weekend retaken by the interim management backed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Federal Ministry of Power. NERC, the sector's regulator had on September 3, 2022, thrown its weight behind the interim board comprising Messrs Henry Ajagbawa, K.C Akuma, Adeola ljose, Charles Onwera and Yomi Adeyemi. The core investors who were said to have defaulted on the loan repayment to a consortium of banks had earlier forcibly dislodged the interim board and management. But in new videos emerging from the scene of the takeover, it was observed that a coordinated team comprising mainly policeman, retook the Disco despite the protest from Mrs. Funke Osibodu-led BEDC management. Benin Disco covers Edo, Ekiti, Delta and Ondo states. The displaced management had taken back possession and chased away the interim board and management days after its takeover was backed by the NERC, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and the ministry of power. The Osibodu-led firm in a response to the latest development explained that around 6.15 pm after the close of work on Friday, September 16, 2022, when most staff had left the office, a “battalion” of about 30 fully armed policemen dressed in camouflage and normal police uniform invaded the headquarters of BEDC in Benin City. The erstwhile management stated that about eight vehicles
with the name of Edo State government on the vehicles came to take over the offices of the company and claimed a “forceful” mandate given to install Ajagbawa as Managing Director, “beyond the law.” "The unlawful invasion was notwithstanding the subsisting orders of the Federal High Court in Suit No FHC/ABJ/CS/1113/2022 in which Mr. Ajagbawa, K. C. Akuma, Adeola Ijose, Charles Onwera and Yomi Adeyemi were restrained from parading themselves as directors of BEDC Electricity Plc. "The said orders of the court also restrained Fidelity Bank Plc and Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission from taking over the business and premises of BEDC," the company said. The statement signed by Mr. Kunle Adegoke (SAN), explained that the private security men guarding the premises were threatened with forceful arrest if they did not allow the entry while the armed policemen 'positioned themselves in combat formation.' Last month, NERC reiterated its support for the takeover BEDC) by its creditor bank, disowning the recent actions taken by the former management of the firm. NERC insisted that it had a statutory responsibility to the electricity market, adding that the duty, which is exercised in the public interest outweighs any perceived private interests. “All stakeholders and members of the general public are enjoined to provide the required support to the interim board of directors as they work on ensuring continuity of service to end-use customers in the BEDC network area,” NERC had stated.
Transforming Education Summit. The statement disclosed that President Buhari will take his turn to deliver an address on the second day of the General Debates on Wednesday, September 21. Aside from his address, the President will also participate in high-level meetings and side events including the Nigeria International Economic Partnership Forum (NIEPF), convened by Nigeria in partnership with the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU); Strengthening Coordination through National Humanitarian Development Peace (NHDP)
Framework: A practical approach to sustainable durable solutions to ensure no one is left behind, organised by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development; and the EFCCNEPAD Programme on combating Illicit Financial Flows. The president will also hold strategic bilateral meetings with world leaders, renowned investors and heads of multinational organisations while in New York. On the entourage of the President are the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, some governors, ministers and top government officials. The president is expected
back in the country on Monday, September 26. In another development, Vice President Osinbajo yesterday left Abuja for London to represent Nigeria during the State Funeral for Queen Elizabeth ll of the United Kingdom. The vice president, according to a statement issued by his media assistant, Mr. Laolu Akande, would join members of the Royal Family, world leaders - including members of the Commonwealth Heads of State, Governors-General, Prime Ministers, and foreign royal families - at the ceremonies, including the funeral service scheduled to hold at Westminster
Abbey. Ahead of the service, Osinbajo would be among guests and dignitaries to be received by King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla, at a reception in Buckingham Palace today. The vice president would hold a bilateral meeting with the UK Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly. Queen Elizabeth II was the Head of the Commonwealth and the longest serving British monarch. She passed on at 96 on September 8, 2022, at the Balmoral Castle in Scotland. Osinbajo is expected back in Abuja after Monday's State Funeral.
UDOM EMMANUEL, TAMBUWAL MOVE TO RESOLVE PDP CRISIS meeting he held with the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party. In his capacity as the directorgeneral of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Tambuwal is expected to use his position to mobilise the governors to achieve peace and unity in the party. The NWC of the main opposition party will also meet Governors Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and other aggrieved stakeholders who are rooting for the resignation of the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu. Governor Emmanuel has also stressed the need for genuine reconciliation with Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and other feuding members of the party for them to bury the hatchet and work together for the success of the party in the 2023 general election. A former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George, has however denied nursing any ambition to succeed Ayu. THISDAY gathered that Ayu's trip to Europe was hurriedly planned to ensure his absence during the reconciliatory talks and save him from any embarrassment during the visit of the NWC to the aggrieved members. Sources close to the NWC told THISDAY that the National Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Samuel Anyanwu led a team of NWC to see Emmanuel. The NWC had earlier set up a committee to interface with
some aggrieved governors of the party over the continued stay of Ayu as the national chairman. An insider at the meeting told THISDAY that the outcome of the meeting was fruitful as the governor accepted his appointment as the chairman of the presidential campaign organisation. The source added that the NWC committee has scheduled to meet the Enugu State governor, Ugwuanyi and the Abia State governor, Ikpeazu within the week, while Makinde would also be visited later. The source also told THISDAY that when the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar, was scheduled to meet Makinde and other members in Ibadan, Oyo State, it was agreed that Ayu should leave the country so that his presence would not endanger the peace talks. "Since the crisis is revolving around him, it was agreed that he should take a vacation to give peace a chance and see how far we can go," the source added. Meanwhile, Governor Emmanuel has stressed the need for genuine reconciliation with Wike and other feuding members of the party for them to bury the hatchet and work together for the success of the party in the 2023 general election. Emmanuel, who expressed delight and gratitude to the PDP over his appointment as Chairman of the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Council, said it was time to forge a united front to reclaim the centre for the main opposition party in 2023.
Fielding questions from journalists upon his arrival at Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo, from Abuja at the weekend, Emmanuel thanked the leadership and members of PDP for finding him worthy to head the Atiku Presidential Campaign Council, noting that he could only deliver on the mandate through a holistic action plan. He extended his hands of fellowship to Wike, and other aggrieved members to be in the vanguard of ousting the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the centre and returning the PDP to power in 2023. “Let me thank all our party members across the country for this confidence they have in me. “I also want to say that no one person can do it alone. It involves everybody in all the units, all the wards and all chapters of our party to come together for the party to move forward. “I want to use this platform to appeal that if we had made mistakes in the past, we cannot turn back the clock. “We cannot recall what had passed yesterday. We can move forward in the spirit of oneness, unity, prosperity and progress for our party, and I will appreciate it,” he added. In a related development, a former Deputy National Chairman of the party, George has denied nursing any ambition to succeed Ayu. It was alleged that the Wike camp had started preparing for the 2027 general election, and was plotting aggressively to take control of the PDP’s NWC to
realise its plan. George, who is one of the leading voices seeking Ayu’s removal in the South, was said to have been pencilled “to replace the national chairman of the party provided they succeed in forcing Ayu to resign from the office.” But in an interview with THISDAY, George pointed out that he had already made public his plan to disengage from partisan politics by May 2023. He said: “I spent 25 years in the military. By next year, I will be 25 years in politics. It means I have put 50 years of my life into public service. I will be 78 years old in 2023. What else am I looking for at this age and after all I have been in this country? “People are so dishonest. Such positions no longer entice me. I am a true Christian. I do not subscribe to all their political intrigues. It is an absolute thrash. That is the level they are and it is difficult for them to see things the way they are. “I am simply concerned about the future of the PDP. In all modesty, I am a founding member of the party. I am crying out now because of Nigeria. If anything happens now, it will affect everyone irrespective of class and status. “At 78, I will be plotting to be the national chairman of the PDP for what purpose again? Even though God has blessed me with sound health, it no longer makes sense for me to start scheming to be the national chairman at the age of 78,” he explained.
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CELEBRATING 200 YEARS OF NATIONHOOD… L-R: First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; Chairman, LASACO Assurance Plc, Mrs. Teju Philips; and Consul General of Brazil to Nigeria, Ambassador Francisco Carlos Soares Luz, at the Bicentennial anniversary of Brazilian Independence dinner held in Lagos…recently
Labour Party Cries out as Police Teargas Supporters in Ebonyi State I did not order disruption of rally, says Umahi Peter Obi groups shut down Jos, Awka with massive rallies Seriki Adinoyi in Jos, Emameh Gabriel in Abuja and Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki Labour Party (LP) has condemned the attack on the supporters of its presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi in Ebonyi State yesterday, describing it as a declaration of war on members of the party by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. The party has also called on the APC to "be conscious of the fact that no one has the monopoly of violence." Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State has however, disclosed that he did not order the disruption of a solidarity rally by Obi’s supporters. This is coming as the Initiative for a Better and Brighter Nigeria (IBBN), a coalition formed by over 80 groups of individuals from different tribes, religions and walks of life, yesterday shut down Jos, the Plateau State capital, with a massive rally in support of the presidential bid of Mr. Peter Obi of the LP. The support groups also locked down Awka, the Anambra State capital, to drum support Obi, ahead of the 2023 general election. However, a similar rally organised yesterday by the ‘ObIdient Movement’ in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, was violently dispersed by operatives of the state police command. The security operatives stormed the Pastoral Centre where the crowd had gathered and fired teargas and shot sporadically in the air. This development caused heavy human and vehicular logjams in the capital city while people scampered for safety. However, the crowd relocated to the Peoples Club event Centre where they also marched along the ever-busy Abakaliki-Enugu expressway. One of the leaders of the group and Ebonyi South Senatorial Candidate of the Labour Party, Linus Okorie said it was a sad day for democracy in the state. Reacting to the attack, the Labour Party has described it as a declaration of war on its
members by the ruling APC in the state. In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Arabambi Abayomi, the party said it "condemned the unprovoked attack with guns on the supporters of Labour Party in Ebonyi State by the Nigeria Police on behalf of the ruling APC government in Ebonyi State. Abayomi said: "It is now very clear that APC is set to use its hidden and unhidden cells in the groups of the bandits and killers it has kept nurturing in troubling the peace and the wellbeing of Nigeria
against the marked opposition Labour Party as the only political party that gives APC worries and fears for the daily increasing level of massive and wide support LP enjoys across the nation.” But in a swift reaction, Governor Umahi has denied authorising the disruption of the solidarity rally by Obi’s supporters. In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media and Strategy, Chooks Oko, the governor also denied knowledge of the incident. “For record purposes, the
relevant government agencies had approved the use of Abakaliki township stadium for a rally by the Labour party subject to the payment of some specified fees. Rather than pay the fees, it was gathered, the organisers chose to empty into the streets causing some untold hardships on the hapless citizens going about their daily pursuits. “The police, we are told, had to step in to restore law and order,” the statement added. Meanwhile, in Jos, the mammoth crowd of Obi’s supporters, simply
tagged: ‘Obi Movement,’ adorned themselves in T-Shirts with various inscriptions in support of Obi/Datti presidential bid, and took over the entire Secretariat Junction in the city centre, before moving to other streets across the city. After the rally, the crowd converged on the Rwang Pam Township Stadium where they were addressed by the convener of IBBN, Prophet Isa El-Buba Sadiq. Earlier, on Friday evening, Obi’s supporters had gathered at the EBOMI International Conference
Centre, Jos, where they prayed fervently for the presidential bid of Obi/Datti. Addressing the crowd at the stadium, Sadiq stressed that a new Nigeria was possible because Nigeria is a nation that controls the black African countries. He lamented that Nigerians have been oppressed for too long by those who feel they own the country. He insisted that Obi will be the one to redeem Nigeria and give the people a life that Nigerians dream of.
CBN: MORE COMMODITIES NOW BEING CAPTURED TO EARN $200BN FOREX FROM NON-OIL EXPORTS Lagos at the annual workshop of the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN) with the theme: “Boosting Domestic Capacity for Sustainable Export Earnings.” Also, the Deputy Managing Director of the United Bank for Africa (UBA), Mr. Muyiwa Akinyemi, disclosed that only 200 exporters were responsible for 95 per cent of the $4.2 billion the country earned from non-oil export in 2021. The $4.2 billion recorded in 2021 did not include informal exports largely in the wholesale trading in some sectors such as information technology, entertainment and solid minerals. Ezekannagha said: “RT200 is an initiative that was launched by the CBN and is currently, anchored on our rebate scheme. So, the idea is that we want to encourage exporters to repatriate their funds. A lot of exporters do not repatriate their funds and the RT200 is to encourage the repatriation of non-oil proceeds. “We have seen a significant improvement not just in the figures that are being repatriated, but also in the number of exporters that are willing to come to the formal sector. Because a lot of our export has been happening informally, but with this scheme, we have found that a lot more players in the export sector are willing to come to the formal sector. “So, we are also noticing not just the increase in the figures but also in the increase of the
commodities that we are exporting that was reported earlier. Like the solid minerals, we are seeing more in the solid minerals and we are seeing more players in that sector, coming into the formal sector to report their exports and participate in the RT200.” Also speaking while presenting his paper titled “Boosting Domestic Capacity for Sustainable Export Earnings- the UBA Perspective, Akinyemi said: “Top 200 non-oil exporters control over 95 per cent of the $4.2billion of the industry volume in 2021." He added that the federal government had projected to increase foreign exchange earnings from non-oil to $200 billion within three to five years. He also disclosed that “major items of non-oil exports including cocoa, cashew, sesame seeds, hibiscus, fertilisers/chemicals, tobacco, hides and skin accounted for 85 per cent of total export.” Akinyemi stated that the UBA “facilitated $1.34 billion (31 per cent) in non-oil export volume in 2021,” saying that the feat confirmed the UBA’s status as Nigeria’s number one export bank for three years running. In her keynote address during the workshop, the Managing Director of the Fidelity Bank, Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, urged Nigerian commodities exporters to switch to the export of value-added processed commodity items to earn more foreign exchange and improve Nigeria’s balance of trade. Onyeali-Ikpe said transitioning
to value-added exports would provide immediate revenue uplift even without expansion of the primary commodity supply side. She said a step forward was to move from cocoa beans to cocoa butter or powder and also move from raw cashew nuts to kernels, to triple the foreign exchange revenues Nigeria earns from these commodities. According to her, “most of our raw cashew nut exports go to Vietnam where more value is added to it and then re-exported. In 2020, Vietnam imported $1.5 billion worth of raw cashew nuts from Africa, added value to them and exported $3 billion worth of processed kernels. The uplift of $1.5 billion represents jobs and tax revenue opportunities that we could have created if this value addition was done in Africa." Onyeali-Ikpe, who was represented by a Divisional Head in Fidelity Bank, Mr. Isaiah Ndukwe, said: “At three times increase in revenue, Nigeria can move cocoa exports to $3 billion per annum (currently about $1 billion) and cashew to $600 million (currently about $200 million) in the short term to medium term. "If we then double the capacity of our plantations as well as processing capacity, we can exponentially move the numbers. “This is not a reinvention of the wheel; it is a tried and tested lever for sustainable economic development. This is the same model that was used by the Association of South-East Asian
Nations (ASEAN) i.e. Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam to transform their economies into global manufacturing powerhouses.” Speaking in the same vein, the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr. Lamido A. Yuguda, noted the Nigerian capital market had a significant role to play in contributing to the country’s sustainable foreign exchange earnings by attracting more foreign portfolio and direct investments. Yuguda said the 10-year Nigerian Capital Market Master Plan (2015-2025) was built around four strategic themes, one of which is to “promote competitiveness by establishing practices that improve transparency, efficiency and liquidity and to attract sustainable interest in the capital market from domestic, as well as foreign investors and participants.” He regretted that over the past fifteen years, foreign transactions in the Nigerian exchange decreased by 29.38 per cent from N616 billion to N435 billion. In 2021, total domestic transactions accounted for about 77 per cent of the total transactions carried out in 2021, whilst foreign transactions accounted for about 23 per cent of the total transactions in the same period. “These are not the kinds of statistics we want, but they have been brought about by sustained forex illiquidity concerns which have resulted in many foreign
investors pulling out of the Nigerian market, leading to the decline in foreign participation in the equity market. “But we believe that implementation of the roadmap for vibrant commodities trading ecosystem in Nigeria by the commission will support the development of the agricultural sector and diversification of the Nigerian economy and ultimately, advance the country towards attaining sustainable foreign exchange earnings.” Other participants at the workshop included the representatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Bank of Industry, Nigeria Export and Import Bank and the Nigeria Shippers Council amongst others. The Chairman of FICAN, Mr. Titus Nwokoji, in his welcome remarks called on the government to provide incentives to the nonoil exports sector, which “holds a lot of potential for significant growth provided there is a lot more attention from policymakers in terms of enabling reforms and regulations to support valueaddition activities and generate employment. He said: “To optimise and sustain growth in the non-oil sector so that it can contribute significantly to government revenue rather than solely to GDP growth, consistent and supportive export promotion policies that will improve the business operating environment as listed below are required.”
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LET THERE BE LIGHT… L-R: General Manager, Mabon Limited, Dr. Kelechi Anosike; Assistant General Manager, Mabon, Ukomadu Kenneth; Managing Director, Mabon Limited, Mr. Biliaminu Ishola; Mr. Richard KINGSLEY ADEBOYE Madubunyi; and Mr. Bashir Sufyan; during the Mabon Limited’s 46th Bi-annual Hydro Generation Planning meeting in Abuja…yesterday
Nigeria Shouldn't Depend on Imported Petrol, NLC Tells APC Ruling party asks union to demand Obi's plan on subsidy Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday said it had not shifted ground on its opposition to the withdrawal of subsidies on
petroleum products, insisting that the country's refineries must work. The labour union said that what was contained in the Workers Charter of Demands mainstreamed into the Manifesto of the Labour Party (LP) is that the organised
labour will not support any government's policy that seeks to make the country continue to depend on the import of petroleum products at atrocious cost when they can easily be produced at home.
ADC Crisis Deepens as Ousted Nwosu Expels Kachikwu, Seven State Chairmen INEC keeps mum Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has shown no sign of abating as the ousted Chairman of the party, Mr. Ralph Nwosu has announced the expulsion of its presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu, from the party. Also expelled are seven state chairmen, including Mr. Kennedy Odion (Edo State); Kingsley Oggah (Kogi State); Bello Isiyaku (Sokoto State); Kabiru Hussaini (Jigawa State); Clement Ehigiator (FCT); Musa Hassan (Niger State), and Alaka Godwin (Nasarawa State). But in a swift reaction, the Interim National Chairman of the party, Senator Patricia Akwashiki, has described the action of the erstwhile National Chairman, Nwosu, as the antics of a sinking man clutching at straws. While the crisis rocking party is deepening, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has however, remained silent as Nwosu parades himself as the party’s chairman for over 17 years. The National Executive Committee (NEC) of ADC had recently constituted an eight-man caretaker committee to pilot the affairs of the party following the expiration of the Nwosu-led executive. The appointed caretaker committee was chaired by Akwashiki, who is the current Chairman of the Board of Trustees, while Hon. Kennedy Odion was to act as Secretary. Other members of the new interim national leadership of the ADC include Ms. Angela Johnson, Prof. Kabiru Dangogo, and Manzo Ibrahim, Hon. Lesanmi Omolayo, Hon Kingsley Temitope Ogga and
Mr. Emma Dibia as Legal Adviser. But in a counter move, the Nwosu-led National Working Committee (NWC) had suspended 17 state chairmen and some other party members for constituting an interim caretaker committee to pilot the party's affairs. However, in a statement issued yesterday, the embattled former National Chairman of the party said Kachikwu was expelled for anti-party activities and violation of the party’s constitution. Nwosu who had been fighting tooth and nail to remain in office after 17 years, said the seven-man panel constituted by the party's NWC sat for six days and submitted its report on Thursday. He explained that the NWC of the party met on Friday to deliberate on the report and accepted the report of the panel with modification. Nwosu stated: "The panel found Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu and others guilty of the allegation levelled against them, subsequently by Article 15 of the party’s constitution recommended that Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu and others be expelled from the party. "The NWC met on the 16th of September 2022 to deliberate on the report and accepted the report of the panel with modification," he added. He noted that NWC urged all the candidates and members to focus on the 2023 general election while rededicating themselves to the ideals of the party. However, Akwashiki has dismissed the purported expulsion of the presidential candidate of the party and seven ADC state chairmen. She insisted that the ADC would not be distracted by the actions of Nwosu and his hirelings who are
masquerading as genuine officers of the party. Akwashiki called on members of the party and indeed Nigerians to ignore what she described as the diversionary, divisive and destabilisation activities of Nwosu whom she said was presently lamenting over spilt milk like a whipped child. She said: “Nwosu is the former chairman whose tenure has elapsed who now seeks to pull the party down because he failed in his bid to extend his tenure after 17 years as party chairman. “All expulsions and suspensions from Nwosu and his cabal are merely diversionary and a face-saving measure as he faces investigation for fraud, forgery and impersonation by the Nigeria Police." To this end, Akwashiki called on the general public to ignore any statements emanating from Nwosu or any member of the former NWC. The Interim chairman said the embattled Nwosu had approached the court to challenge his removal, adding that he should wait for the court ruling and "stop making a fool of himself." She added: “Anything that has a beginning must have an end. Nwosu had been chairman of our great party for 17 years and we thank him for the services he has rendered.”
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) had challenged the leadership of the NLC and supporters of the LP to come clean on their stand on Peter Obi’s vow to remove fuel subsidy if elected president in 2023. The Spokesperson of PCC, Mr. Festus Keyamo in a statement issued yesterday said Nigerians deserve to know whether NLC supports and promotes a policy that the leadership of labour opposed when it was adopted by the APC-led federal government, saying they cannot be blowing hot and cold. He said: "We note that the leadership of the organised labour under the aegis of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Monday, September 13, 2022, at a national retreat of the Labour Party in Abuja, promised to mobilise its members across the 774 local government areas in Nigeria to ensure victory for Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, in next year’s presidential election. "We also note that in several interviews he granted in the last few months and weeks, Mr. Peter Obi has vowed to remove subsidy on petrol if elected president. We also note NLC’s long-standing opposition to the total removal of fuel subsidies. Other left-leaning supporters of the Labour Party were also present at the event to cheer Mr. Peter Obi." The spokesperson queried NLC leadership if it had a discussion with Obi on the issue of the removal of fuel subsidy. But in its reaction, the NLC in a statement signed by its President, Ayuba Wabba, said the labour movement still maintains its opposition to the removal of subsidies. It added that it has not shifted ground on its several decades of opposition to any policy that
imposes hardship on Nigerians forcing the high cost of imported petroleum products on them. However, the NLC said it believes that the only way to address the issue of the so-called petrol subsidies is to get the country’s refineries to work. "A major demand in the Nigerian Workers Charter of Demands is that our local public refineries must work. We have also demanded that we must stop 100 per cent importation of refined petroleum products," he said. The statement said that the labour movement in Nigeria has been vehemently consistent and that the only way to address the issue of the so-called petrol subsidies is to get our refineries to work. "The logic is very simple: it is atrocious to buy from abroad at very expensive prices a product that a country like ours can easily produce at home. "At the heart of our demand on the management of Nigeria’s mineral resources especially our downstream petroleum subsector is the issue of production economy," he said. NLC said that in furtherance of its avowed position on issue-based campaign in the run-up to the 2023 general election, "we wish to state that Nigerian workers through several painstaking processes have been able to articulate a Nigerian Workers’ Charter of Demands which the NLC and TUC are using to engage the political process. "A major demand in the Nigerian Workers Charter of Demands is that our local public refineries must work. We have also demanded that we must stop 100 per cent importation of refined petroleum products. "If any political party goes around saying that they plan to sell our refineries, remove subsidies, and further oppress long-suffering Nigerians, they should be ready
to defend such stance to Nigerians during the campaigns. The NLC, Organised Labour, and Labour Party position has not changed. It only got amplified," the statement added. NLC also added that the organised labour believes that rescuing Nigeria from the current ruinous path of consumption economy to production economy, "is the only way to resolve Nigeria’s economic nightmares of massive depletion of scarce foreign exchange reserve; continuous devaluation of the naira; significant jobs haemorrhage and destruction, deepening of poverty and downturn in the living standards of our people," NLC explained. On the retreat held at the behest of the Labour Party, the statement said that Labour Party and organised labour in Nigeria adopted and mainstreamed the Workers Charter of Demands into the Manifesto of the Labour Party. NLC commended the APC campaign Spokesman for dwelling on issues rather than the destructive lines of the ethnoreligious divide that fuels political tension. "First, we wish to commend the Minister of State for Labour for responding positively to earlier calls by the Nigeria Labour Congress that political parties must focus their engagement on the current electoral cycle campaigns on issue-based politics. "We believe that an issuebased campaign will help sieve the facts from fiction, address burning national issues, review the performance of those in government at all levels, especially on the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals, improve Nigeria’s public accountability frameworks, prepare voters behaviour on Election Day away from the destructive lines of ethnoreligious divide and defuse the looming political tension.”
NANS VOWS TO GROUND AIRPORTS OVER ASUU STRIKE pains and anguish students are going through. “Nigerian students whose parents create the commonwealth cannot continue to be suffering at home alongside our lecturers while the few who gain from our sweats and blood have their kids abroad. “We call on students to rise and join us as we take our
destinies into our hands. Our demands remain consistently clear and simple. We call on ASUU leadership for a meeting as soon as possible to discuss solidarity actions and plan for the next phase of the struggles.” He explained the students’ body need not inform the police about the planned protest to ground airports because they were not
subjected to security agencies “Grounding the airport is for us to get solidarity and we will keep on grounding the local and international airports and they know the effect of us grounding the airport. “The only thing we request for them is to open our campuses back. We call on the Buhari government to pay all outstanding
arrears and salaries of the lecturers. The policy of “No Work No Pay” is a fascist one. It is, therefore condemnable and non-acceptable to all the millions of students in Nigeria. “We will, by this statement, not beg again. We shall be mobilising all students to shut down the country. No Education! No Movement,” he said.
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2022 • T H I S D AY
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T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R • SEPTEMBER 18, 2022
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NEWS
GRASSROOTS MOBILISATION… L-R: Chairman, Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, Mr. Walter Ozioko; Enugu State Governor and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for Enugu North Senatorial District, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; and former state Chairman of the PDP and party's candidate for Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South Federal Constituency, Mr. Vita Abba, when the people of Obimo/Ikwoka Ward, Nsukka LGA, visited the governor to declare support for PDP candidates, at the Government House, Enugu… yesterday
US, Ex-envoy Keep Mum over Durbar Hotel Bombing in Kaduna Bayo Akinloye with agency report The United States has remained silent amid a damning allegation that it was behind the 1995 bombing of the Durbar Hotel in Kaduna. A journalist, Bagauda Kaltho, who was maimed, is accused of being an accomplice of the US government by Mahdi Shehu, a medical practitioner and activist. Speaking during an interview with ARISE NEWS Channel, Shehu also claimed that the American government offered him a bribe to carry out a terrorist attack against
the Nigerian government during the regime of the late dictator, General Sani Abacha (rtd), which he declined. He suggested that Kaltho could have accepted to carry out the bomb attack, claiming he saw the journalist when he visited the same American agent who had approached him to plant the bomb in Durbar Hotel. He identified the American agent as Russel Hanks, who was a political officer at the US Embassy in Nigeria. The American Embassy in
Nigeria has yet to respond to THISDAY's inquiry seeking comment on the allegation by the Nigerian activist. Efforts by THISDAY to reach Hanks to further comment on the issue also proved abortive. But according to media reports, Hanks declined to comment on the allegations, saying that the US Embassy in Nigeria should provide relevant information. “I can confirm to you that I am Russell Hanks. I can confirm to you also that I was in Kaduna, and I’m the man that has been accused to
Highest Paid Official Receives Less Than N1m Salary, PenCom Clarifies James Emejo in Abuja The National Pension Commission (PenCom) yesterday refuted allegations that the least employee of the commission earns a salary of N3 million per month, saying that the highest paid official earns less than a N1million a month. In a statement issued by the management, PenCom further pointed out that the clarification became necessary against the backdrop of the false and misleading information on the compensation package of the commission, which was being circulated on traditional and social media. The commission, therefore, appealed to the public to ignore the false and mischievous information on the staff compensation package, adding that PenCom has nothing to hide and will continue to run a transparent and accountable system. PenCom said: “We understand that there is an element of mischief and possible blackmail on the commission’s compensation package. “From our understanding, it appears someone calculated all staff costs, including training, staff exit benefit scheme, and employer’s pension contribution, and divided the total by the number of the commission’s employees and concluded that the least paid employee is on a
monthly salary of N3 million. There is a clear difference between staff costs and staff salaries.” The agency noted that the reports had fuelled all sorts of false allegations and unfair insinuations. The commission pointed out that right from its inception in 2004, the federal government mandated the board to adopt an employee compensation policy that favourably compares to comparator government bodies in the financial services sector, such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). It said Section 25(2)(b) of the Pension Reform Act 2014 also empowers the board of the commission to fix the remuneration, allowances, and benefits of the employees. The statement added, “more so, the Presidential Committee on the Consolidation of Emoluments in the Public Sector headed by the late Chief Ernest Shonekan, former Head of the Interim National Government, made some recommendations which guide the PenCom Board in its compensation review exercises. “One of the recommendations is that the pay structure of self-funded agencies should be benchmarked with their private sector comparators to ensure relativity in such agencies and
attract and retain high-calibre professionals.” It said, “The Shonekan Committee, which was set up by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2005, also recommended that the pay structure of regulatory agencies should be benchmarked against sectors they monitor to avoid regulatory capture and that an annual increase in pay should be undertaken to account for inflation/cost of living adjustment and establishments may strive to attain 50th percentile and above their comparators in the private sector. “We made all these facts known in a recent submission to the House of Representatives Committee on Finance over the compensation package of the commission. We also stated that the last compensation package review was done in 2017 with the approval of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF). “No review has been done in the last five years and this has affected the ability of the commission to attract, hire and retain staff with competitive skills. “The public is, therefore, implored to ignore the false and mischievous information on the staff compensation package. The commission has nothing to hide and will continue to run a transparent and accountable system.”
have masterminded the bombing at Durbar Hotel in 1995," Hanks was quoted as saying. "But I’m afraid I can’t help you much. I can’t say anything about it now until the US Embassy in Nigeria has spoken on the issue. "When they do that, and you are not satisfied or you need further clarification on some issues, you can then call me back and I will provide you with the details," he reportedly added. Shehu's revelation followed his claim that the Department of State Services (DSS), was usually envious of individuals with state secrets or classified information and would be willing to compromise their safety and reputation. He cited the case of Tukur Mamu, who was deported from Egypt and arrested and detained by the DSS. Mamu was a negotiator between the bandits who attacked the Kaduna-Abuja train and kidnapped victims' families. Following a court order, Mamu, an aide to the Islamic cleric Sheik Ahmad Gumi, is being detained. In the ARISE TV interview, Shehu claimed that Hanks offered him N500,000 to plant a bomb in a bookshop inside Durbar Hotel. "Let me tell you my experience 27 years ago. Between the 7th and 9th of June, 1995, 27 years ago in Kaduna, when the bashing of Nigeria’s image was at its own highest peak. A then-Governor, Lt. Col Lawal Jafaru Isa, he’s alive now, and he can confirm what I’m going to tell you now, put up a seminar between the Kaduna State government, New Nigerian newspaper, and NTA. The seminar was titled 'Not in Our Character'," Shehu explained. He added, "after my contribution, a tall, lanky, blue-eyed, blondehaired American man approached me outside the hall at Hassan Chiroma Katsina House, the venue of the seminar. He just handed over his card to me and left. What was the name on it? Russell J. Hanks, American Embassy, Political Officer. That was on the 9th of June, 1995." Shehu further told ARISE NEWS Channel that on August 11, 1995, he received a "courtesy" call from Hanks and another one on September 9, the same year. "Then 11th of December, he called me and said that ‘Mahdi, I’ll be
coming to Kaduna. Will you have a cup of tea with me?’ I said fine. He came in, he called, and I met him at Hamdala Hotel. We had a cup of tea. I think he was trying to size me up because he was busy asking me about the performance of Abacha’s government, and I was playing safe, but then came the big bang," the northern activist stated. Shehu claimed the American diplomat told him that the US government was on a "bomb campaign" against the Abacha regime and would want to enlist the activist to be part of the plot to oust the dictator. "On 21st December of the same year (1995), he came into Kaduna, and he called me. He said, ‘Mahdi, I have a business for you. And it’s very important. Meet me at Hamdala Hotel, on the last floor at the Hamdala Hotel wing, which I did. On arrival, Russel Hanks told me, ‘Mahdi, we are worried. The American government is doing a bombing campaign against Abacha. We don’t want him. We are promoting a regime change," Shehu told ARISE TV. "This parcel (holds out a phone in the description) is what I want you to do. See Durbar Hotel, just away there, 600 metres. Go into the bookshop and drop off this parcel, a small parcel. This is N500,000 for you and another N500,000 waiting for you. Once you drop the parcel, please come back to collect the second N500,000." Shehu said he rejected the offer and insulted the American. “I said, ‘Russel, you have miscalculated. When I addressed Adamu Ciroma as the Minister for Agriculture in that seminar, you’re referring to, when I addressed (Abubakar) Rimi as the communications minister when I addressed Ismaila Isa Funtua as the chairman of Newspapers Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria, I did that as a citizen, not because I don’t like my country. I dressed him down. I abused him,". ‘He said Mahdi Mahdi; now I know you’re a good citizen. I’m just trying to test you. You are a nationalist. We look forward to working with you to stabilise Nigeria.' And that was another fault. I held him because I saw the desperation in him. He wanted me to leave, but I refused to
leave. Then I heard a knock on the door." At the door, he claimed, was journalist Kaltho. "We went to the door together, and he wanted to see me off. At the door was Bagauda Kaltho, the journalist that was said to have been killed by Abacha. Bagauda was right at the door there. I think he gave him an hour before me. But I keyed into Bagauda’s hour. Bagauda went into the room, and I left. What happened? Not long after that, two hours later, bomb! Where? Durbar Hotel. Where? At the bookshop. When that happened, Lawal Jafaru Isa can confirm this," Shehu stressed. Shehu did not say if he immediately alerted the police or other security agency about the alleged plot until a bomb exploded inside the Durbar Hotel. However, after the bombing, he told ARISE TV that "I drove straight to the government house to see the governor." The activist added, "I was ushered into Lawal Jafaru Isa’s office, and I told him what happened. The following day, I was brought to Abuja. I was able to see Abacha in his residence, and I narrated to him. Before they could say, Jack Robinson, four days later, Russel Hanks flew out of Nigeria." Among Shehu's riveting claims was the response of Nigeria's secret police following the bomb blast. According to Shehu, the DSS was not impressed with his involvement in the case and allegedly warned him against speaking about it. "Ten days later, security operatives came to Kaduna to interview me. When I gave them the narrative, one of them took me to the side and said, ‘Mahdi, keep off. We are very jealous. Security agencies are very jealous institutions. You have done your own. Don’t ever give any public comments on it. Don’t give interviews, don’t give anything because if you begin to talk, our failure would have been seen very clearly,’" Shehu explained. He further stated, “From this following information, I called Mamu three times, and I said, ‘Mamu, security agents are more jealous than a woman whose husband is about to take a second wife. Keep off from them. They’ll injure you.’
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News Editor: Gboyega Akinsanmi E-mail: gboyega.akinsanmi@thisdaylive.com,08152359253
Imo Govt, PDP Clash over CUPP’s Claims on Electoral Manipulation Lawmakers declare coalition’s spokesman persona non grata Amby Uneze in Owerri and Udora Orizu in Abuja The Imo State Government and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday clashed over the claims of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) that a legal action had been instituted in the State High Court to stop the use of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in the 2023 general election. While the state government faulted the claims of the coalition, Imo PDP warned the state
government against attacking and harassing the spokesperson of the CUPP, Ikenga Ugochinyere, who made the allegations. Also, the members of the Imo State House of Assembly from Orlu Zone declared the spokesperson of CUPP, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere a persona non grata for revealing the plot to stop the use of BVAS during the 2023 general election. The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba; Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Chyna Iwuanyanwu and the Publicity
Secretary of Imo PDP, Collins Opurozor expressed divergent views in separate sessions in Owerri, Imo State capital yesterday. The CUPP had, at a news conference by its spokesman, Ikenga Ugochinyere, alleged the plot to stop the use of BVAS for the 2023 general and remove the National Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu. Worried about the consequence of the allegation, the state government called for the arrest of the spokesman of the CUPP for inciting
confusion into the political system. Addressing a session of journalists, Emelumba said Ugochinyere, a candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had a case to answer as to how he got the privy of the INEC on voter registration which according to INEC had not been concluded. Emelumba said ignoring the spurious and seditious outburst of Ugochinyere would amount to condoning criminality, thereby calling the relevant security agencies to
immediately arrest him and find out from him how he obtained the voters register he had been parading before the public. He explained that the electoral commission “has issued an official statement on the above and has gone further to list the names of the States that entered fictitious registration of voters and Imo State is not on that list. “Ugochinyere must have either hacked INEC Saver and doctored documents there-from or forged the document he was
brandishing. This is criminal and it is important that he should be immediately arrested for questioning.” At another media session yesterday, the lawmakers from Orlu Zone described Ugochinyere as onewhodoesnotwantdevelopment and progress of the zone. Speakingonbehalfofthelawmakers, Iwuanyanwu noted that Ugochinyere “has nothing to campaign with except to blackmail and tarnish the image of Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma. However, he is on a mission impossible.
Bichi Emir Visits Bulgaria, Shops for Investors Obi of Owa Kingdom Cautions Nigerians against Unguided Utterance Eromosele Abiodun In furtherance of his promise to make Bichi Emirate attractive to investors, the Emir of Bichi, Alhaji Nasir Ado Bayero has undertaken a purposeful visit to Bulgaria in South Eastern Europe to shop for investors. In a statement recently, the emir said the visit was fruitful, revealing that he held meetings with investors who would venture in a business partnership focused on agriculture, agro-allied industries and renewable energy. He noted that the emirate and Kano State Government “are committed to providing an enabling
environment for light industries to thrive.” The emir emphasised on the potential of the largest market in West Africa, popularly known as Dawanau International Grain Market located in Kano State. “The market warehouses and trades commodities for domestic consumption and export ranging from rice, millet, corn, wheat, sesame seed, ginger, chilli, amongst others. “Dawanau Market has the potential to provide inputs for agro-allied industries, enhance export of raw materials and finished goods, as well as boost domestic production.
Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba The traditional ruler of Owa Kingdom, HRM Obi Emmanuel Efeizomor II, has appealed to Nigerians to avoid insults and unguided utterances, especially as the 2023 general election draws closer. The monarch, who is the immediate past chairman of the Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers, also advised traditional rulers across the country to close ranks and play a moderating role to douse tension in the country. Obi Efeizomor gave the advice while fielding questions from journalists during the celebration
of the 63rd anniversary of his coronation, which took place alongside this year’s Owa New Yam Festival, held at his palace in Owa-Oyibu, the administrative headquarters of Ika North-East LGA of Delta State. He appealed to politicians across the political divide in the country to make the promotion of peace and harmony their watchword, especially as we move towards the general election. Efeizomor II said: “As the 2023 general election approaches, I appeal to politicians to play the game by the rules”, adding that the current “tide of events in the country demands that traditional
rulers in Nigeria closed ranks and play the brothers’ keeper role towards the successful conduct of the general election.” “Our people must support the leadership; we should stand by our leaders and correct them without resorting to insults. Even when they make mistakes, we should accommodate and tolerate them and help them to succeed. “You cannot be a leader if you are not in a position to accommodate and tolerate. Everyone is prone to mistakes sometimes. Because you are a leader, you can’t say you’re a genius once you become a leader. No! What you don’t know, you
can’t manage; what you don’t have, you don’t give. “I always ask my people to work with me; that is, accommodate me. And, if they want to correct me, it should be in a modest way, not by insulting me and claiming that you are correcting me. In other words, our leaders need support. If you insult the leader that does not do well at any time, he could leave you to do your worse,” the royal father explained. He kicked against the desire of everyone to lead at the same time, describing it as having more than a captain on a ship simultaneously.
T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾SEPTEMBER 18, 2022
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NEWS We Saved Nigeria from Total Collapse, Says Malami Alex Enumah in Abuja The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) has said that his ministry has played a
critical role in rescuing the nation’s economy from total collapse. The attorney-general also said the ministry has also aided the fight against the twin malaise of insecurity and corruption.
Okowa Blames APC for Extreme Poverty, Hunger in Nigeria Omo-Julius Onabu in Asaba Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday said rising hunger and poverty in the country was caused by poor management of the nation’s economy by ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Okowa, also the vice presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said Nigeria was troubled because people were hungry and out of job due to mismanagement of the nation’s economy. He stated this at an empowerment programme for the people of Ika Federal Constituency by the Member representing the constituency at the House of Representa-
The minister stated this at a retreat organised for the top management of the Federal Ministry of Justice with the theme: ‘Enhancing systems and structures in the Federal Ministry of Justice for effective justice sector service delivery,’ held in Kano. He explained that the Federal Ministry of Justice “is cardinal to
the agenda of the government to build a strong and diversified economy, improve infrastructure and combat the twin malaise of corruption and insecurity. Our duties as State Counsel or administrators are an amalgamation of law and policy. “We must therefore be conscious of the critical role the ministry
plays in the overall developmental agenda of the country. Indeed, the relevance of the rule of law to holistic development in any society can never be overemphasised. “As a practical demonstration of how your services in the ministry impact all areas of national development, I wish
to refer you to a few examples.” Malami explained. On the economic front, the attorney-general explained how the ministry had been able to: save the country’s domestic economy from total collapse which would have been brought about if P&ID had succeeded in enforcing an arbitral award of over $10 billion.
tives, Mr Victor Nwokolo, at Boji-Boji Owa, Ika North East Local Government Area of the state. The governor who was in company with the Speaker of the State House of Assembly and PDP governorship candidate in the state, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori and state Chairman of PDP, Chief Kingsley Esiso, commended Nwokolo for his gesture in giving hope to the hopeless, describing the event as “empowerment programme with a difference.” He said that Nigeria was troubled because people were hungry and out of job due to mismanagement of the nation’s economy.
Imo Project Commissioning Advertises Abdulrazaq’s Failure, Says PDP Candidate Hammed Shittu in Ilorin The senatorial candidate of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for Kwara South, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim has chided Kwara State Governor, Mr. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for watching without any clue while his fellow first-term governors in other states are commissioning projects completed by their administrations. Ibrahim, who represented Kwara South in the 8th Senate, expressed the concern in a statement by his campaign office in Offa, Kwara State yesterday. He made the comment against the background of the Tuesday commissioning of projects by the Imo State Governor, Sen. Hope Uzodinma who assumed office five months after Abdulrazaq. He noted that after almost
40 months in office, the Kwara State Government has not completed any project and has left the state in an abandoned state with heaps of rubbish on the streets, dilapidated school buildings that were only covered in new paints and crudely mended roads that have failed while social services have also collapsed, leaving many Kwarans unhappy about the level of service delivery by an elected government. “Sen. Hope Uzodinma, who was my colleague in the eighth Senate became governor seven months after Abdulrazaq took the oath of office and has serious security challenges in his state. Yet he has on two different occasions brought President Mohammadu Buhari to Imo State to commission different projects.
Chambas, Kukah to Attend Jonathan’s Pre-election Peace Conference Chuks Okocha in Abuja In a bid to promote a culture of peace and violence-free election ahead of the 2023 general election in Nigeria, the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation is set to host key political stakeholders and democratic actors for a one-day peace conference. The event tagged: ‘Nationbuilding; the role of elections in a multi-ethnic context,’ is scheduled for Tuesday in Abuja. This was contained in a statement by the foundation’s Executive Director, Ms. Ann Iyonu, noting that the 2022 Peace Conference would examine the trends and threats to a peaceful election and build a multi-stakeholder consensus toward a peaceful
general election. Iyonu noted that the former Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Amb. Mohamed Ibn Chambas would present the keynote address. She also listed Bauchi State Governor, Senate Bala Mohammed; Bishop, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Dr. Hassan Kukah, Regional Director for Central and West Africa, National Democratic Institute (NDI), Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh as part of the discussants at the event. Iyonu further said the rationale behind the conference “is to promote a culture of tolerance among different political actors and highlight best practices for credible and violence-free elections in Nigeria.
EMPOWERING CONSTITUENTS … L-R: A beneficiary, Joan Alauru; Chairman, Senate Committee on Industries, Adetokunbo Abiru; his wife, Fayisola; and another beneficiary, Anifat Adeniji, at the unveiling of the Lagos East Intervention Revolving Loan Scheme, in Kosofe, Lagos... weekend
ECOWAS Decries Preferential Treatment of Religious Bodies in W’Africa Michael Olugbode in Abuja
Members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament have expressed deep concern over the unequal treatment of religious matters in political decisions by the government of various countries in West Africa. The parliament, therefore, called on political and religious
leaders from member-states to ensure equity in the treatment of different religions existing within the community, as part of the efforts at addressing religious intolerance in the sub-region. Besides, the parliamentarians also called for the establishment of the ECOWAS Communication charter on religious tolerance. This came against the backdrop of religious crisis in the sub-region
in recent times, which has led to killings and wanton destruction of properties and gradually turning the Sahel into a theatre of war with the activities of various religious terrorist groups. The concern was raised at the end of the ECOWAS Parliament delocalised meeting of joint committees on education, science and culture, health, telecommunications and
Information Technology, in Praia, Capital of Cape Verde, with the theme, “Religious Tolerance and Harmony: Essential factors for development, peace and stability in ECOWAS region”. The draft report of the meeting, which had many presentations from scholars and religious leaders, was read by the meeting co-Chairman, Hon. Aime Assine, from Senegal.
Masari: Security Gulps Two-thirds of our Revenue Monthly Francis Sardauna in Katsina Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, has revealed that his administration allocates two-thirds of the state’s monthly revenue to security agencies to sustain their operations in the ongoing war against terrorists in the state. He stated this yesterday during the graduation ceremony of 600 vigilantes trained by the state government at the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Training College, Babbar
Ruga-Katsina. Masari, represented at the event by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Muntari Lawal, said the state government remained committed and determined to end banditry and other security challenges bedevilling the state. He said: “We are going to fight this (banditry) to an end. It has been a major challenge to us, especially to us as a government, to the extent that people don’t
believe that the government is doing everything to protect lives and property. “But the truth of the matter is we are doing more than you can see. Just last week, I signed a request to the state House of Assembly asking about N1.5 billion for security purposes. “The Assembly was gracious enough to approve it. And by this week we are going to start implementation. These are monies meant for all the security agencies in the state to beef up operations
to confront the evils before us. “So, we are doing more than you can see. We are not mentioning the amount of money we spent on security every month. About two-thirds of the state’s monthly revenue goes to the security agencies to sustain their operations.” Masari, however, said with the calibre of people trained and the type of training received by them, he does not doubt that in a few days, it will be bloody for the bandits in the state.
MSMEs Account for 50% Nigeria’s GDP, Abiru Reveals Sunday Ehigiator Chairman, Senate Committee on industries, Senator Adetokunbo Abiru has revealed that micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) account for 50 percent of Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) across all sectors of the economy. Abiru, currently Lagos East in the Senate, has also claimed that small businesses contribute 80 percent
to total employment nationwide, saying offer good channels for realising development objectives of job creation, economic inclusion and poverty reduction. He revealed these data recently at the unveiling of the N300 million constituency intervention revolving loans operating small businesses and entrepreneurs in Lagos East Senatorial District. Among others, the senator
unveiled the constituency loan scheme alongside Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Chairman, ChapelHillDenham Group, Mr. Olawale Edun Also, at the unveiling of the scheme were Director General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Mr. Olawale Fasanya; Managing Director, Bank of Industries, Mr Olukayode Pitan;
Chief Executive Officer, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr Muda Yusuf and Executive Secretary, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Tejumola Abisoye. Addressing the beneficiaries of the scheme Friday, Abiru explained the pivotal role of MSMEs to the country’s socio-economic development, adding that they contribute hugely to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
17
THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 18 , 2022
BUSINESS
Editor: Festus Akanbi 08038588469 Email:festus.akanbi@thisdaylive.com
Stripping Banks of Excess Charges Festus Akanbi ZULWHV WKDW WKH RQ JRLQJ VHQVLWLVDWLRQ HͿRUWV RI WKH &HQWUDO %DQN RI 1LJHULD RQ how aggrieved customers of banks can seek redress over excess charges and commissions, as well as the outright refund of such disputed charges by banks will drastically reduce the negative trend and deter non-conformists from the laid-down rules in the Nigerian banking sector
I
t is a fact that the Nigerian banking sector, like other sectors of the economy, is going through a very GLFXOW WLPH This is because, apart from the LQÁDWLRQDU\ HͿHFWV RI 1LJHULD·V current economic challenges which naturally discourage savings, the spike in the cost of operations amid the current energy crisis is putting undue pressure on banks to VLJQLÀFDQWO\ FXW WKHLU FRVWV DQG JURZ WKHLU UHYHQXH Analysts pointed out that notwithstanding the current unfavourable scenario in the banking VHFWRU ELOOV KDYH WR EH SDLG E\ WKHVH RSHUDWRUV Also, banks, that are currently losing some of WKHLU WHFKQLFDO VWDͿ WR IRUHLJQ FRPSHWLWRUV DUH struggling to make their employment conditions attractive, at a cost, while shareholders of the respective banks are putting the boards and managements on their toes for a robust dividend payout at a period when lines of RWKHU UHYHQXH VRXUFHV DUH WKLQQLQJ RXW Bank Customers Taking Heat As banks devise means of responding to the current challenges, banking industry watchers said it is the customers that are paying the SULFH 7RGD\ GHSRVLW PRQH\ LQVWLWXWLRQV DUH GHFODULQJ KXJH DQQXDO SURÀWV ZKLOH WKHLU FOLHQWV are groaning under excessive and arbitrary FKDUJHV Although complaints by bank customers cut across various issues, the CBN in its various $QQXDO (FRQRPLF 5HSRUWV FRQÀUPHG WKDW PRVW RI WKH FRPSODLQWV ERUGHUHG RQ ¶H[FHVV· EDQN charges including other deductions that no one is petitioning against because of the size of the amount, logistics and cost that will be LQYROYHG LQ IROORZLQJ WKHP WKURXJK Protests in Banking Halls Social media is lately replete with videos of angry customers, most of whom decided to FUHDWH VFHQHV LQ EDQNLQJ KDOOV )URP /DJRV WR Uyo, inAkwa Ibom State, to Kaduna, to Warri in Delta State, customers are daily expressing their IUXVWUDWLRQV RYHU WKH IDLOXUH RI VRPH DͿHFWHG banks to resolve issues regarding thefts from WKHLU DFFRXQWV DQG LOOHJDO FKDUJHV 5HFHQWO\ a female bank customer went live on social media inside a commercial bank branch in /DJRV YHQWLQJ KHU DQJHU RYHU PLVVLQJ ODUJH VXPV RI PRQH\ IURP KHU DFFRXQW $QRWKHU DIfected customer also on his Twitter handle said, “There is a high level of coordinated fraud in the EDQNLQJ VHFWRU ULJKW QRZ 6R PDQ\ FXVWRPHUV are getting debited from their accounts and banks are claiming it is PoS transactions even IURP DFFRXQWV ZKHUH FDUGV DUH EDUHO\ XVHG µ So disturbing is the menace that recently, a man was seen in a viral going almost naked in a banking hall to protest a series of withdrawals IURP KLV DFFRXQW Recovery by CBN The CBN said that as of June 2021, it had so IDU UHFRYHUHG 1 ELOOLRQ LQ H[FHVV DQG LOOHJDO charges slammed on customers by banks in 1LJHULD 7KH &%1 *RYHUQRU *RGZLQ (PHÀHOH represented by the Director, Corporate Communications Department, Osita Nwanisobi, at a two-day public enlightenment fair earlier in the year, said the amount was based on 23,526 complaints they received from customers ERUGHULQJ RQ FKDUJHV DQG RWKHU UHODWHG PDWWHUV 2Q FXVWRPHUV· FRPSODLQWV KH VDLG ´:KDW ZH do is that whenever we get these complaints, they are thoroughly investigated, if they are found to be true, the CBN makes sure that these customers are properly refunded and ZH KDYH VR IDU UHFRYHUHG 1 ELOOLRQ µ Speaking at another forum, Nwanisobi, who
CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele
advised aggrieved bank customers to forward their complaints to the CBN, explained that the apex bank has since issued a circular on its ZHEVLWH VKRZLQJ DOO OHJLWLPDWH EDQN FKDUJHV He added that any charge outside what is stated LQ WKH FLUFXODU LV QRW DOORZHG Responding to a barrage of enquiries by aggrieved customers, in a recent online media IRUXP WKH DSH[ EDQN·V GLUHFWRU UHLWHUDWHG WKH UHVROYH RI WKH DSH[ EDQN WR UHPHG\ WKH VLWXDWLRQ “What you should be asking them (bank customers) is if they have reported those LQFLGHQWV WR WKH &%1 :H ZRUN EDVHG RQ WKH LQIRUPDWLRQ ZH UHFHLYH µ 1ZDQLVREL VDLG “We have channels; we have educated them; we have said that you have the right to complain LI \RX JHW GHELWHG “You need to report to CBN and we will take LW XS $Q\WLPH ZH KDYH GRQH VHQVLWLVDWLRQ ZH showed them, in concrete terms, the amount we have recovered from banks and sent back WR LQGLYLGXDOV +H DOVR DGYLVHG FXVWRPHUV WR allow deposit money banks to resolve their FRPSODLQWV ZLWKLQ WZR ZHHNV “If after lodging your complaint, your bank still fails to engage you and resolve the complaint within two weeks as provided for in the ATM Help Desk Circular, you have the right to escalate your complaint to the Consumer 3URWHFWLRQ 'HSDUWPHQW &3' RI WKH &%1 µ WKH DSH[ EDQN VDLG 7KH DSH[ ÀQDQFLDO UHJXODWRU said customers can contact the CPD by sending DQ HPDLO WR FSG#FEQ JRY QJ FRQWDFWFEQ#FEQ JRY QJ RU FDOO
EDQNV· $70V ZDV UHGXFHG WR 1 IURP 1 IRU WKH WKLUG ZLWKGUDZDO ZLWKLQ WKH VDPH PRQWK Naira debit or credit cards linked to savings accounts attract a maximum of N50 quarterly maintenance fee while foreign currency denomiQDWHG GHELW FUHGLW FDUGV DWWUDFW IURP The apex bank said that the charge for hardware tokens is subject to cost recovery VXEMHFW WR D PD[LPXP FKDUJH RI 1 ,W ZDV UHGXFHG IURP 1 The issuance fee for naira debit card (s) is 1 RQH RͿ FKDUJH LUUHVSHFWLYH RI WKH FDUG W\SH HLWKHU UHJXODU RU SUHPLXP FDUG 7KH VDPH FKDUJH DSSOLHV IRU D UHSODFHPHQW RU UHQHZDO Also, sending to an account holder attracts a minimum of N50 subject to one per cent of WUDQVDFWLRQ YDOXH RU 1 ZKLFKHYHU LV ORZHU While for a non-account holder, it attracts a PLQLPXP RI 1 VXEMHFW WR SHU FHQW RI WUDQVDFWLRQ YDOXH RU 1 ZKLFKHYHU LV ORZHU )RU LQGLYLGXDO FDVK GHSRVLWV WKH UDWH LV WZR per cent for transactions above N500,000 while cash withdrawal is three per cent for transacWLRQV DERYH 1 The rate for corporate cash deposit is three per cent for transactions above N3million while ZLWKGUDZDO LV ÀYH SHU FHQW IRU WUDQVDFWLRQV RI 1 PLOOLRQ )RU RWKHU FDWHJRULHV ZKLFK LQFOXGH 6WDWXV (QTXLU\ DW WKH 5HTXHVW RI &XVWRPHU H J &RQÀUPDWLRQ /HWWHU (PEDVV\ /HWWHU 5HIHUHQFH /HWWHU /HWWHU RI ,QGHEWHGQHVV 1RQ ,QGHEWHGQHVV HWF HDFK RI WKHVH DWWUDFW D UDWH RI 1 SHU UHTXHVW The fee for Short Message Service (SMS) mandatory alert is based on cost recovery from WKH SUHYLRXV PD[LPXP FKDUJH RI 1 Banks Make Big Haul Bill payment via e-channels will attract a As bank customers continue to count their PD[LPXP FKDUJH RI 1 IURP SHU FHQW losses to excessive charges for bank services, of the transaction value subject to a maximum reports showed that nine major Deposit Money RI 1 %DQNV LQ 1LJHULD UDNHG LQ 1 ELOOLRQ IURP Special Request for Statement of a Bill of IHHV DQG FRPPLVVLRQV LQ 7KLV DPRXQW LV Some Approved Bank Charges SHU FHQW KLJKHU WKDQ WKH 1 ELOOLRQ The list of the approved bank charges includes DFFRXQW LV 1 Analysts said given the readiness of the apex WKH\ PDGH LQ (OHFWURQLF )XQGV 7UDQVIHU ZKLFK LV SXW DW 1 The banks are Access Bank Plc, Zenith Bank for transactions done above N50,000; N25 for bank to assist aggrieved customers from getting 3OF *XDUDQW\ 7UXVW %DQN /LPLWHG 8QLWHG %DQN N5,000-N50,000 and N10 charge for below a refund of their money illegally deducted by banks, the onus lies on individuals to take IRU $IULFD 3OF )LUVW &LW\ 0RQXPHQW %DQN 1 Stanbic IBTC, Wema Bank, Sterling Bank, The charge on ATM withdrawals from other DGYDQWDJH RI WKH ZLQGRZ RI RSSRUWXQLW\ DQG )LGHOLW\ %DQN 3OF According to reports, the sum of 1 ELOOLRQ ZDV DUULYHG DW DIWHU DJJUHJDWLQJ the net fee and commission income contained in EDQNV· DQQXDO ÀQDQFLDO VWDWHPHQWV WKDW HQGHG 'HFHPEHU The report showed that fees and commisVLRQV DFFRXQW IRU D VLJQLÀFDQW SHUFHQWDJH RI non-interest income for banks and represent income from account maintenance fees, electronic banking fees, and other credit-related FRPPLVVLRQV Net fee and commission income is the actual revenue generated from these charges after expenses incurred from providing the services KDYH EHHQ GHGXFWHG $FFHVV %DQN UDNHG LQ D WRWDO RI 1 ELOOLRQ DV DJDLQVW 1 ELOOLRQ JHQHUDWHG GXULQJ WKH VDPH SHULRG LQ 7KH EDQN·V ÀQDQFLDO UHSRUW DOVR VKRZHG WKDW LW PDGH 1 ELOOLRQ from electronic bank charges and the sum of 1 ELOOLRQ IURP H EDQNLQJ IHHV During the review period, Zenith Bank made 1 ELOOLRQ IURP IHHV DQG FRPPLVVLRQV UHVXOWLQJ LQ D WRWDO LQFRPH RI 1 ELOOLRQ DQG H[SHQVHV RI 1 EQ 7KH DPRXQW JHQHUDWHG E\ WKH EDQN LQ LV SHU FHQW KLJKHU WKDQ WKH 1 ELOOLRQ UHFRUGHG LQ WKH SUHYLRXV \HDU )RU )&0% UHYHQXH IURP IHHV DQG FRPPLVVLRQV URVH WR 1 ELOOLRQ LQ IURP 1 ELOOLRQ UHFRUGHG LQ WKH EDQN·V ÀQDQFLDO VWDWHPHQW VWDWHG 7KH UHSRUW DOVR UHYHDOHG WKDW WKH EDQN HDUQHG 1 ELOOLRQ IURP HOHFWURQLF EDQNLQJ IHHV DQG 1 ELOOLRQ IURP DFFRXQW PDLQWHQDQFH FKDUJHV Meanwhile, Wema Bank generated the VXP RI 1 ELOOLRQ IURP IHHV DQG FRPPLVsions in 2021, while Sterling Bank generated 1 ELOOLRQ GXULQJ WKH VDPH SHULRG
THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 18 , 2022
18
FINANCE
As Companies Turn Attention to Commercial Paper With the uncertainty surrounding access to capital needed to expand business operations, companies have found solace in the Commercial Paper (CP) of the FMDQ Exchange. Kayode Tokede writes on how leading companies have accessed the short-term fund to develop their businesses and contribute to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product
T
he likes of Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and MTN Nigeria Plc, among others, have announced raising Commercial Paper (CP) programme to expand working capital. The CP, championed by FMDQ Exchange, has contributed to business expansion lately and Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) companies have also utilised the platform to raise capital. CPs are short-term debt obligations of corporations. It can be issued for tenors of up to 270 days in WKH 1LJHULDQ ÀQDQFLDO PDUNHWV /LNH 7UHDVXU\ Bills, CPs are typically issued at a discount and redeemed at par (face value amount) upon maturity. CPs are similar to Treasury bills (“T-Bills”) because they are issued at discount rates, which may be paid upfront or capitalised. For instance, an investor could choose to receive N1m in the future (maturity amount/ face value), which would require an ‘upfront’ investment below that face value (for instance N980,000 for a 90-day instrument at 8.0%), or could choose to invest N1m today to receive a ‘capitalised’ return above the investment amount (for instance N1.02million for a 90-day instrument at 8.0%). The programme has played a critical economic role in bringing about reform in various ways as local companies have accessed the FMDQ market to raise fresh capital instead of borrowing from banks that come with high-interest rates. The FMDQ Exchange in 2022 had listed numerous issuances and the outcome has further enhanced corporate earnings and as a result, drive stock prices and boost investors’ FRQÀGHQFH An investigation by THISDAY revealed that in the seven months of 2022, companies have listed N524.84billion CPs with a total outstanding value of N2.52trillion. In July, about N21.16billion worth of CPs were quoted on the FMDQ Exchange market and were issued by institutions from various sectors including Financial Services (3), Manufacturing (2), Chemical Supply & Oil Field Services (1), Health & Pharma (1) and Real Estate (1). In June, a total of N40.85billion was quoted and it was issued by institutions from various sectors including Financial Services (2), Consumer Goods (2), Commodities Trading (2), Agriculture (1) and Real Estate (1), sectors. )XUWKHU ÀQGLQJV UHYHDOHG WKDW WKH WRWDO YDOXH of CPs quoted on the FMDQ Exchange in May 2022 was N166.48billion and the companies involved were in Financial services (4), Telecommunications (2) Real Estate (2), Retail (1) and Manufacturing (1), sectors. FMDQ Securities Exchange in September 2022 approved the registration of Union Bank of Nigeria’s N100 billion CP Programme, on the Exchange platform. This registration will bring the total number of securities admitted on the FMDQ Exchange to 110 with a total market value of N3.36 trillion. 7KH ÀQDQFLDO LQVWLWXWLRQ LV RQH RI 1LJHULD·V ORQJ VWDQGLQJ EDQNLQJ LQVWLWXWLRQV WKDW RͿHUV D portfolio of banking services to individuals, small and medium-scale enterprises, and commercial and corporate clients. According to a statement, the Company Secretary, Union Bank of Nigeria, Somuyiwa Sonubi, said: “Following Union Bank of Nigeria 3OF·V QRWLÀFDWLRQ LQ 'HFHPEHU RI WKH H[HFXtion of a Share Sale and Purchase Agreement (SSPA) between the Bank’s majority shareholders ² 8QLRQ *OREDO 3DUWQHUV /LPLWHG $WODV 0DUD /LPLWHG HW DO ² DQG 7LWDQ 7UXVW %DQN /LPLWHG (TTB), and the subsequent receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, Union Bank hereby QRWLÀHV 1LJHULDQ ([FKDQJH /LPLWHG 1*; the Securities & Exchange Commission and
members of the public of the completion of the transaction under the SSPA, which HͿHFWLYHO\ WUDQVIHUV SHU FHQW RI 8QLRQ Bank’s issued share capital to TTB. ´&RQVHTXHQWO\ LQ FRPSOLDQFH ZLWK 1*; 5XOHERRN DQG WKH $PHQGPHQWV WR WKH /LVWLQJ 5XOHV 8QLRQ %DQN KHUHE\ QRWLÀHV 1*; RXU esteemed stakeholders and the investing public of the following: ‘Union Bank hereby QRWLÀHV 1*; WKDW ZLWK WKH FRPSOHWLRQ RI the transaction, TGI Group, parent of TTB, now becomes the majority shareholder and core investor in Union Bank. ´8QLRQ %DQN KHUHE\ QRWLÀHV 1*; RI WKH completion of the divestment of the Bank’s entire shareholding interest (direct and indirect) in its subsidiary, Union Bank (UK) Plc (“UBUK”), to all the shareholders in the Bank’s records as of 4th March 2022, pro rata to their existing shareholding interests in the Bank. Consequently, UBUK is not included in the transaction with Titan Trust Bank”. However, MTN led with the issuance of a historic N127 billion Series 1 & 2 CP under its registered N150 billion programme. The issuance consisted of two tenors – a 184-day series issuance priced at a 7.50% yield and a 254-day Series 2 issuance priced at an 8.50% yield. According to MTN Nigeria, the issuance ZDV LQ OLQH ZLWK LWV VWUDWHJ\ WR GLYHUVLI\ Ànancing options, with the proceeds being deployed towards working capital and general corporate purposes. Speaking at the signing ceremony, the &KLHI ([HFXWLYH 2FHU 071 1LJHULD &RPmunication, Mr. Karl Toriola explained that the N127 billion CP issuance would go into the record books as the largest CP issuance in Nigeria. According to him, “The success of our CP issuance is a clear demonstration of the strength and acceptance of the MTN brand, and the trust placed by the investor community in MTN Nigeria’s company’s OHDGHUVKLS VWURQJ ÀQDQFLDO SHUIRUPDQFH and corporate strategy.”
He noted that MTN Nigeria with the completion of the N127 billion CP aimed at improving customer services and high-quality bouquet services that included a 5G spectrum that awaits regulatory approval. 2Q WKH ÁLS VLGH WKH 1*; KDV OLVWHG QHZ issuance worth N1.08 trillion and Eurobonds of $4 billion on its platform in H1 of 2022. These issuances listed across both the bonds and stock markets are essential in deepening the market, tradability, and improving liquidity as well as increasing access to capital to fund growth returns. $QRWKHU RUJDQLVDWLRQ LQ WKLV FDWHJRU\ LV /HNNL *DUGHQV (VWDWHV /LPLWHG ZKLFK UHFHQWO\ VLJQHG a N25 billion commercial paper approved for the company by the FMDQ Security Exchange /LPLWHG 7KH &KLHI ([HFXWLYH 2FHU /HNNL *DUGHQV (VWDWHV /LPLWHG 'U 5LFKDUG 1\RQJ GXULQJ the ceremony, described the approval for the registration of the commercial paper issuance programme by FMDQ Exchange on its platform as a big step for the company, saying it would KHOS WR GHHSHQ LWV PDUNHW RͿHULQJ WR FXVWRPHUV and unlock value for all stakeholders. According to a report by Nairametrics, others include NOVA Merchant Bank, which also announced the issuance of N20 billion Series 1 & 2 Commercial Paper issuance under the 1RYD 0HUFKDQW %DQN /LPLWHG 1 ELOOLRQ &3 Programme. Also, UAC of Nigeria Plc during the period under review completed its N18.7 billion Series 1 and 2 Commercial Paper issuance under its established N45 billion programme. There is also )%14XHVW 0HUFKDQW %DQN /LPLWHG D VXEVLGLDU\ of FBN Holdings Plc which issued commercial paper worth N15 billion to investors. The Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) Nigeria /LPLWHG VROG 1 ELOOLRQ LQ &RPPHUFLDO 3DSHU to investors. The exercise started on Friday, April 1, 2022, and closed on Wednesday, April 6, 2022. What Analysts Say The Nigerian economy in 2022 has witnessed
D KLNH LQ WKH LQÁDWLRQ UDWH DQG XQFHUWDLQW\ surrounding the global economy due to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.Also, increasing oil theft has impacted negatively on RLO UHYHQXH DQG 1LJHULD LV QRW EHQHÀWWLQJ IURP the current oil boom. In delivering on its mandate as a market organizer, FMDQ Exchange over the year expressed that it remains committed to articulating and pioneering, with the support of its key stakeholders, innovative ways to improve and PDNH WKH 1LJHULDQ ÀQDQFLDO PDUNHWV JOREDOO\ competitive, operationally excellent, liquid, and diverse. As is the corporate tradition for FMDQ Exchange, these Eurobonds shall be availed of all WKH EHQHÀWV RI )0'4 ([FKDQJH·V SUHVWLJLRXV listing and quotation service, including global visibility through the FMDQ Exchange website and systems, governance, credible price formation, and continuous information disclosure to protect investor interest, amongst others. Commenting, Vice Chairman, Highcap Securities, David Adonri said: “Issuance of CPs in 2022 has improved because interest rate fell drastically to a lower single digit. The FRVW RI ERUURZLQJ YLD &3V ZDV WR WKH EHQHÀW of corporate borrowers more than traditional bank credit. There was also an incentive for investors to invest in CPs due to their higher rates than deposit rate and Treasury Bill rate” Analyst at PAC Holdings, Mr Wole Adeyeye attributed increasing CPs to severe macroeconomic factors, stressing that a hike in production input has forced companies to raise capital. The minimum purchase amount in the primary market may vary depending on the issue size. However, the minimum limit is typically set at N5m, while in the secondary market there are no standard lot sizes, but a minimum of N100m should be prepared for any purchase. The major limitation for the secondary market trading of commercial papers is the illiquidity within the market, given that purchasers of these instruments typically only sell instruments in large volume sizes. Consequently, purchasing CPs is easier in the primary market.
THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 18 , 2022
19
INDUSTRY
Stemming Unbridled Export Rejections for Good James Emejo writes that the federal government has a rare privilege to frontally address the recurrent problem of agricultural export rejection by the European Union and other international partners to boost non-oil H[SRUWV HDUQ IRUHLJQ H[FKDQJH DQG DLG HFRQRPLF GLYHUVLÀFDWLRQ DV ZHOO as solve the socio-economic challenges facing the country
T
he rejection of Nigeria’s agricultural exports in the international market particularly the European Union, the United States and other trade partners has continued to linger for over a decade with no end in sight. Aware of the urgent need to diversify the base of the Nigerian economy from the vagaries of crude oil, the federal government has reeled out policy interventions targeted at reforming the non-oil export in recent times. Some of these reforms have also focused on the ease of doing business, including removing obstacles such as bureaucracies in business registration processes and reforming ports activities among others. But there are other pressing challenges in the non-oil exports sector – the inability of Nigerian entrepreneurs to export raw and VHPL ÀQLVKHG SURGXFWV WR WKH JOREDO PDUNHW Trend of Rejections Last year, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) lamented that over 76 per cent of Nigeria’s exported agricultural commodities are often rejected by the EU for not meeting required standards. Earlier in January this year, the Shippers Association of Lagos (SALS) also said 82 per cent of the country’s exported agro-allied products are either seized or rejected in Europe. The development has continued to unsettle the federal government and its relevant agencies in charge of export facilitation and
promotion. 7KLV LV EHFDXVH WKH JRYHUQPHQW·V HͿRUWV to diversify the economy as well as solve the persistent foreign exchange challenges emanating from oil price volatility will be in shambles if Nigerian businesses continue WR ÀQG LW GLFXOW WR H[SRUW WKHLU ZDUHV Triggers of Rejection Various reasons have been adduced for the jettisoning of Nigerians’ exports especially agricultural produce in the international market, ranging from standardisation limitations, unapproved chemical compositions in produce, and low quality among others. The resultant rejection often resulted in huge economic losses to the individual exporters and the country in general as lack of storage facilities, logistics among other constraints ensured that the rejected products are wasted. Government’s Responses Following the distasteful development, the federal government had over the years expressed its commitment to tackling the rejection crisis but with little or no progress up till now, Nigerian exporters still lament the rejection of their wares abroad. As far back as 2017, President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, while frowning at the mass rejection of goods exported to Europe and the United States, expressed its readiness to put the issue to rest. The then minister of industry, trade and investment assured that the government was addressing the issue through various mechanisms, adding that it had commenced
serious engagements with international trade partners to address the factors leading to the rejection of goods from the country. Also, last year, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, and stakeholders in the sector debated how to limit the rejection of the country’s agricultural commodities in their international market particularly the EU. The minister recognised the fact that adding value to agricultural exports would ensure that Buhari’s vision of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty was actualised. Despite all the past assurances, however, the challenges surrounding export rejection persist. Light at the End of the Tunnels? However, despite the failure of the governPHQW LQ WKH UHFHQW SDVW WR À[ WKH QDJJLQJ issue, there appeared to be a renewed commitment by the government toward HQVXULQJ D GHÀQLWH HQG WR H[SRUW UHMHFWLRQ going forward. Only last week, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) announced it was leading an Inter-Agency team to the United Kingdom (UK) as part of a strategic HͿRUW WR DGGUHVV WKH LVVXH ZKLFK FRQVWLWXWHV D major constraint to the growth of the non-oil export sector. Among the agencies participating in the IDFW ÀQGLQJ PLVVLRQ DUH 1$)'$& 1LJHULDQ Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), National Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO), Skypower Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL) Federal Produce In-
spection Service (FPIS) and Federation of Agricultural Commodities Association of Nigeria (FACAN). The Executive Director/Chief Executive of NEPC, Dr Ezra Yakusak, who led the team lamented that these cases of rejection had resulted in a stricter inspection regime on Nigerian exports in the importing countries and some cases led to the suspension or ban of some products. He said, “It also attracts unfavourable international media attention, gives the country a negative image as well as constiWXWHV D ÀQDQFLDO EXUGHQ WR WKH H[SRUWHUV ZKR have to bear the cost of either reshipping the banned product to Nigeria or destroying the product”. 7KH REMHFWLYH RI WKH ÀYH²GD\ YLVLW LV WR provide Nigerian export-regulatory and facilitating agencies the opportunity of observing the processes of agricultural commodities import procedures and interface with Port Health and Food Import Regulatory Agencies at the Border Control Points (BCPs) in the UK. Other areas to be visited by the team are, Southampton Port (the second busiest port LQ WKH 8. 6SLWDOÀHOG 0DUNHW ² D RQH VWRS aggregation and distribution centre for imported food in the UK as well as the Food Standards Agency (FDA), the parliament among others. During the visit, the team also held an interactive session with some Nigerian food LPSRUWHUV LQ WKH 8. DV SDUW RI DQ HͿRUW WR address the challenges encountered in importing food items from Nigeria to the UK. Also, worried about export rejection, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Niyi Adebayo recently inaugurated a Technical Committee to address the inciGHQFHV RI H[SRUW UHMHFWLRQ WR SURͿHU VROXWLRQV to the problem. Yakutsk, while providing THISDAY with a further update on the visit to the UK, said the mission provided NEPC and other regulatory/facilitating agencies the opportunity of observing the processes of agricultural commodities import procedures and enabled them to interact with Port Health and Food Import Regulatory Agencies at the Border Control Posts (BCPs) in the UK. He said apart from identifying the causes of rejection of imported commodities from Nigeria, the mission also served as a platform to interact with Nigerians in the UK and avail them of the export opportunities in Nigeria. The mission commenced an interactive session with Nigerian food importers based in the UK as the session provided a platform to interface with the importers where they aired the challenges encountered in importing food items from Nigeria to the UK. NEPC and the supporting agencies responded to the questions and mentioned new initiatives like DEW, ETH, and collaboration with NAHCO to ease export of fruit vegetable logistics constraints among others. The delegation also visited the Food Standards Agency (FSA) the major food import regulatory in the UK and was taken through the process and steps of food imports and emphasis was placed on compliance with regulation, he said. Yakusak, said the session provided a clear insight into the real causes of export rejects from Nigeria, pointing out that contrary to news in the Nigerian media space about the numbers of agricultural produce/products banned from import to the UK/EU, the FSA emphasised that only dried beans are banned for import while sesame seed and melon seeds are under tight scrutiny due to presence of contaminants but are allowed for import. Furthermore, the NEPC boss said the Products of Animal and Animal Origins (POAOs) OLNH VPRNHG ÀVK FDQ EH LPSRUWHG EXW PXVW be from approved facilities and accompanied by necessary competent authority health FHUWLÀFDWHV DQG RWKHU VXSSRUWLQJ GRFXPHQWV The inter-agency mission which also visited the Southampton port which is the second busiest port in the UK, further learned the process of food import inspection, documentation check, and assay checks, among others, lessons that would surely come in handy in repositioning non-oil drive back home. According to Yakusak, presentations by the FSA and the Port Health further deepen the know-how of the Nigerian delegates on food import procedures at the UK BCPs. 1R GRXEW LI WKH RXWFRPHV RI WKH IDFW ÀQGLQJ mission to the UK are well implemented, the age-long issues of export rejection would be a thing of the past.
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T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R • SEPTEMBER 18, 2022
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GOLD
INVESTING
Final Wrap-up: Honouring My Mysterious Billionaire Friend and Other Cheer-leaders (2) Act of 2007. N6.9 billion would be spent on recurrent with my colleague between Asaba and Agbor, leading his is the second and concluding part of my expenditure. That means that amount would be set several VVIP guests to the venue of the event. I had conversation with my first Billionaire Friend. It aside to pay the salaries of civil servants; pay estacode never seen such a concentration of billionaires in one is devoted to honouring that individual who to them when they travel; their health insurance is single event. More than 18 private jets landed in Asaba. has spent 26 solid weeks with me, sharing some For another reason I do not want to mention here, also tied to that. About N5.4 trillion would be spent to timeless wealth-building principles most of which create infrastructure, build roads and things like that. once I successfully received two billionaire partners and he had employed to build solid wealth for himself. “This is how enlightened wealth hunters would bankers who were at the event, and I handed them over In my introductory part published last week, I wrote interpret the same scenario you are complaining about. to my boss, I remained off the radar deliberately for a short note introducing my Billionaire Friend. For those They would scan the budget, analyse all the money the rest of the period. That allowed me to observe and who have not read that first series, here is the recap. My that would be flowing out of government into private study how Billionaires think and why they do what they Billionaire Friend is not imagined; he is a real investor, pockets and they would figure out how to create their do. The 26 frames provided by my Billionaire Friend a notable Billionaire in the country who has left solid own toll gates to magnetise part of the money. The helped me in no small measure. I am very grateful for footprints on the sands of this country and outside regarding entire government operation is based on inflow and this. I may share in the coming weeks some of the vital his philanthropic endeavours. He started building his outflow. I would worry about how some of the largesse lessons I learnt in Agbor by simply observing from the wealth right from his university days through deliberate would come into our pockets. The government is doing balcony, several billionaires who graced the occasion, investment, which has now grown into a web of wealth its own and we are doing ours too. We create our using the 26 pairs of binocular glasses I had collected portfolios covering real estate, stocks, gold, solid minerals own personal economies from which we attract part from my Billionaire Friend. and so on, spread across Nigeria and some parts of the of government expenditure. world. He has travelled to over 70 countries and has “In 2015, when a dollar was exchanged for N214, ISSUE #6: CONVERSATION WITH MY hosted several notable ambassadors and diplomats in ten of my wealthy friends came to this place and BILLIONAIRE FRIENDS: THE PATHWAY TO his house. I first met my Billionaire Friend around 1992 wanted me to give them tips on where to invest in THE NEXT PHASE when I was a cub reporter at The News magazine through In my last visit to my Billionaire Friend, after we had the coming years. We do this regularly. I gave them a close friend, and we have been very close since then. just one tip: that is, they should move 80 per cent of wrapped up the articles, we both agreed to sit down MY BILLIONAIRE FRIEND WEPT their cash into foreign-denominated assets. That was to review the entire articles from the beginning to the Something unusual happened last week. My Billionaire Artist Impression of my Billionaire Friend what I did when I analysed the government policies. last, and we came up a few several decisions. While Friend wept. In fact, he actually cried aloud. This is how It was a no-brainer. It was clear then that the only sharing the nuggets could be great, nothing would it happened. As I had done with every single edition direction the Naira would go was down because we change without people taking action. So, we agreed of the conversation we have done together, I had sent Our boss wanted the very best were not (and still not producing things that would to work on concepts that would focus on how to inspire the note below to him to review the first draft of my and left nothing to chance in earn foreign exchange). readers to practise what they have learnt. We are still valedictory article in this manner. “I calculated that the Naira might hit about N700 to brainstorming. But to start with, I will, over the next “Good morning sir. This final edition is dedicated to ensuring that his guests had a dollar. All my friends heeded my advice. And we are few weeks, share with you, notes and lessons I have you. Would you be kind enough to go through it and see all happy doing so. That is how we think. We don’t learnt observing billionaires over the past 20 years, or so if you can beef up the portion where I tried to describe the best experience. He worked sit back and rant about the government not doing this and probably we can move to the next phase together. who you are. You are also free to make contributions to with the committee day and and not doing that. We want to always look at how any aspect. Thank you sir,” the note reads. ISSUE #7: THE 21-DAY MENTAL we can benefit from the situation.” In less than ten minutes after I had posted that note, night to ensure we accurately It was clear that my frame was wrong and I needed CHALLENGE my Billionaire Friend sent this message to my WhatsApp. interpreted the vision he had When the series was on, my Billionaire Friend sent to work on it. Truly as my Billionaire Friend said in our “Ayo, you make me cry after reading your brilliant, this WhatsApp note to me: “Of all the series we have first conversation, wealth starts in your mind. innocently sincere appreciation of what God has used on his mind for the programme. done, which one has resonated more or impacted on us to SELFLESSLY do for others. This happens to me I must apologise very quickly ISSUE #5: YOU GAIN MORE INSIGHTS your life more?” every time I sit down to also watch those life-changing to those guests who could not INTO ACQUISITION OF KNOWLEDGE Without mincing words, I replied: “Series 1: Wealth YouTube Series of those programmes I sponsor to mentor WHEN YOU ARE RIGHT ON THE FIELD starts from your mind.” the upcoming youth for the good of our country and experience the best we had TAKING ACTIONS AS YOU OBSERVE I stumbled on a verse of scripture that startled me a humanity. I thank God for using ‘Nothing Me’, in these One great gift I collected from my friend as we bit. I had never come across it since I started reading my ways to do those things SELFLESSLY and unobtrusively planned for them for one reason rounded off our weekly engagement was the 26 pairs Bible. It is located in one obscure section of the Bible: for the good of others. This is a rare form of religion, as or the others. It was not planned of glasses he handed over to me through which I could It reads: “But without thy mind, would I do nothing.” can be found in the combined interpretations of King to be that way, I assure you. interpret how billionaires think and why they do what Philemon 1:14. James Version of the Bible, in James 1 vs 27; Mathew they do. Remember I said I have been busy taking I was in my hotel room at a hotel at Asaba International 22 vs 35 to 40 and Luke 6 vs 31. notes of my unobtrusive interaction with some of Airport, which my boss had reserved for a few of the “Ayo, you make me cry. I have nothing to add or my billionaire friends, right? My interpretation was organising committee members when that verse just subtract from your brilliant recap of our arduous and and circumstances you face and the frame you use is warped. But the 26 wealth nuggets I shared in the caught my attention. Before I knew what was happening, I stressful journey together for 26 weeks in my weekly crucial. When my Billionaire Friend asked me whether I wanted to make money or not, I made a statement past 30 weeks have equipped me with better frames found myself moving from one scripture to the other that written productions, your editing/additions and the to take more accurate notes. focus on the power of the mind in achieving anything, dedicated inputs of your backroom team (many of whom that he immediately countered. It went this way: “Okay, my boss. So tell me, why are you not interested This came in very handy about two weeks ago. the most notable being Romans 12:2I have not met but who know me, their masquerade). Between August 8 and 23, 2022, I spent almost 168 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye “Most importantly, I use this opportunity to thank your in making money?” he asked. “I never said that Sir. It might be a wrong impression. hours between Asaba and Agbor in Delta State, Nigeria. transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may great Chairman for setting up your successful newspaper, I like to make money. It’s just that combining that with Remember, my boss, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, lost his prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, ARISE TV and many other successful outfits in his group mother, Princess Margaret Obaigbena and the burial will of God” of companies. Thank you, Ayo, for making me cry this this journalism practice could be cumbersome. The event took place between August 16 and 21, 2022 My conclusion by the time I left that room was this: morning with tears of joy, fulfilment and appreciation economy is not even encouraging. All the possible in Agbor. By the special privilege, I was part of the Without a changed mind, no one can get his or her life to Almighty God for using me as a positive vessel for economic indicators are not promising at all. Inflation has been on the increase, and never looking back. The 15-member organising committee that took charge of transformed and without a transformed mind, your His glory. Thank you, Ayo. THANK YOU, MY BOSS.” guests’ flights, accommodation, room management, interpretation of events and circumstances in your life While I was still reading the note from my friend, he external reserve has dropped. Government is borrowing security, etc. Our boss wanted the very best and left would be warped. It is an inside job. So, at our parting placed a call through to me and was actually repeating left, right and centre, and it does not appear to make nothing to chance in ensuring that his guests had the meeting, my Billionaire Friend and I agreed that the what he had penned but this time around laced the sense to me to want to build wealth here,” I replied. My Billionaire Friend shot back thus: “I am surprised best experience. He worked with the committee day and starting point in wealth creation is to start thinking conversation with a cry. I was totally taken aback. I had you are talking this way. Enlightened wealth hunters night to ensure we accurately interpreted the vision he accurately and correctly. to diplomatically end the conversation abruptly while I don’t talk the way you talk. What is my business with had on his mind for the programme. I must apologise To get this on board, he threw in what he called THE sent this note in reply to his message: very quickly to those guests who could not experience 21-DAY MENTAL CHALLENGE which focuses on a “Wow! I am touched! I really appreciate your sincerity whether the government is borrowing or not? Only the best we had planned for them for one reason or the mental exercise that can create a mind revolution. He and commitment to the project. Since your motive for getting people with a poverty mindset analyse things like others. It was not planned to be that way, I assure you. got it from one of the books he also read, modified to on board is pure love, the universe will start rewarding that. Let me break it down for you. “This government has just got a budget of N17.136 But that is not the aspect I want to emphasise. By virtue suit his purpose, and we have decided to use it as a you in ways that are beyond your comprehension. We trillion approved by the two arms of the National of my position on the committee, a senior colleague and reward for any of our readers who is truly interested are all answering a distant call to use our skills to affect I on the committee were directly in charge of receiving in starting the wealth journey correctly. humanity. Thank you Sir. Thank you and thank you Assembly. Of that amount, N3.8 billion would be spent on debt servicing, which is already more than three the VVIP guests of our boss. For that weekend, Asaba very much indeed, Sir.” and Agbor were literally shut down. I was oscillating Read the full article at https://www.thisdaylive.com I think I understand why my friend was overwhelmed per cent recommended by the Fiscal Responsibility with emotion. Apart from the fact that he is being appreciated by many people he has touched while he is still alive for his uncommon acts of philanthropy, he was actually reflecting on what would have happened Would you like to have a copy of the document, What would happen? if two of us had abandoned the vision when the going was tough. I shared with him some of the positive 21-Mental Challenge? Then read the following Within 48 hours, the document will be sent to comments that came last week following the valedictory slowly and thoughtfully. either to your email or WhatsApp. edition. We now realised the importance staying on to If you would like to get a copy sent to you, simply share those thoughts. Let me now share the remaining four discussion points do either of these: Sample Format of the Message: for your reading pleasure. Send this message: “AA, I want a copy of your “AA: I want a copy of your Billionaire Friend’s 21-
T
21-DAY MENTAL CHALLENGE
ISSUE #4: WHEN YOU CHANGE THE WAY YOU LOOK AT THINGS, THE THINGS YOU LOOK AT WILL CHANGE One great lesson I learnt from my Billionaire Friend is the power of instituting proper framing to be able to interpret events and circumstances more accurately. I observed that we do not see things as they are, rather, we see things as we are. How you interpret events
Billionaire Friend’s 21-Day Mental Challenge Day Mental Challenge document now. Please send document NOW,” to my WhatsApp line it to my WhatsApp (put your number here) or my (08086447494). email (indicate your email here).” My name: John Ajanlekoko Required My Location: (Abuja) Indicate your name, email and your location My whatsApp Number: (put it here)
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2022 • T H I S D AY
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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾SEPTEMBER 18, 2022
GLITZ FOCUS
How Popular Will the Queen’s Funeral Be? Tomorrow, September 19, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch Queen Elizabeth II will finally be laid to rest at Westminster Abbey. Given the mixed feelings about her reign, Vanessa Obioha looks at how the late monarch’s funeral will be different from her predecessors and the level of popularity it will garner
Late Queen Elizabeth II
T
he 10-day mourning of Queen Elizabeth II will culminate tomorrow with a state funeral. It will be the first state funeral to be held in the UK since Sir Winston Churchill’s funeral in 1965. He was the former Prime Minister. The activities of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral will be largely drawn from similar rites of passage accorded to Queen Victoria who passed on in 1901. According to the funeral director Jeremy Field, there are “aspects of personalisation like any family; we can see Queen Victoria’s funeral, like her uncles before her, was at Windsor, not Westminster Abbey. “I think you can see the input of the Queen [Elizabeth] trying to return the funeral to the public eye – although the most private bit right at the end will be out of the public eye at St George’s Chapel,” he told The Independent UK. Some of the similarities from Queen Victoria’s funeral that would be replicated in Queen Elizabeth II include her coffin being carried on a gun carriage drawn by the Royal Navy from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey. This tradition, reports revealed, was adopted following an accident that happened on the day of Queen Victoria’s final journey. It was believed that the horses pulling the gun carriage got spooked, possibly by the crowds, and broke their traces. “The sailors from the Royal Navy that were part of the parade stepped forward, picked up the traces and pulled the gun carriage the rest of the way and that is now baked in as a formal aspect of what makes a state funeral – thanks to those horses,” Field explained. Queen Victoria’s funeral in 1901 sort of saw a departure from the tradition of the way royals have been buried in the UK. Funeral ceremonies of monarchs before her were private and within Windsor Castle. Given her long reign of 63 years on the throne, the ceremonies became more public as it was used to encourage greater popular attachment towards the royal family. A national mourning day was declared on her death as well as the Church of England for the first time issued special commemorative services for use in all its local places of worship, and the leaders of most other religious communities in the United Kingdom encouraged the organisation of local memorial services. Following her death, funeral ceremonies of royals became a public affair. From Edward VII whose funeral ceremony attracted nearly 300,000
The Queen’s coffin
members of the public, George V’s funeral was attended by 750,000 people to King George VI, whose memorial services and funeral procession in London became the first royal events to be broadcast by television as well as radio. While Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral will keep to traditions, there are a few alterations such as the return of state funerals to Westminister Abbey and the attendance of the new King and Queen Consort at national memorial services in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Other significant changes recorded so far include moving the national service of remembrance at St Paul’s Cathedral from after the monarch’s funeral to the day after the Queen’s death, the new king’s broadcast address, the first broadcast of an accession council and the unusually early televised message of the king’s receipt of the condolences and congratulations of Parliament. Also, a one-minute silence on Sunday evening before the funeral will be held, as well as a twominute silence on the funeral day itself. The day is expected to start with the gathering of heads of state and foreign royals at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, a home for retired soldiers in West London. From there, they will travel together to Westminster Abbey. The doors of Westminster Hall, where the queen is lying in state, will close to the public at 6:30 a.m., in preparation for the queen’s coffin to be moved to Westminster Abbey for her funeral and will only open at 8 a.m. for attendees who have been invited to the funeral. A less than 10 minutes procession will accompany the coffin from Westminster Hall to the abbey with the route lined by members of the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines. The procession will be led by about 200 musicians including the pipes and drums from the Scottish and Irish Regiments. The carriage will be followed by King Charles III and members of the royal family. The funeral service will be conducted by the Dean of Westminster, with readings by Prime Minister Liz Truss and the Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Justin Welby, will give the sermon. The service is to end at 12 p.m. after a two-minute silence. A procession will then follow the coffin to Wellington Arch, near Hyde Park, before being driven to Windsor. Some of the world leaders who have indicated an interest in attending the funeral include US President Joe Biden, Australia’s leader, Anthony Albanese, New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, Emperor Naruhito and his wife, Empress Masako,
King Charles III meeting with the public
of Japan, and Kenya’s new president, William Ruto. Members of the British royal family will attend as well as members of other royal families from across Europe including King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, King Felipe VI of Spain, King WillemAlexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, and the king’s mother, Princess Beatrix. Buckingham Palace in a statement disclosed that 200 people who were recognized in the queen’s honours list this year would also join the congregation, including those who made extraordinary contributions to the response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Royals’ funerals are often a spectacle and generate public interest. However, given the mixed feelings that have greeted the late monarch’s reign, there are concerns about the level of public interest her funeral will generate. Already, there have been long queues of people attending her lying-in-state for five days in Westminster Hall as well as at the lying-at-rest in St Giles’ Cathedral. Huge numbers are expected at the funeral to pay their last respect to the Queen. But a growing concern is accessibility to the monarchy. Field puts it this way in his
interview with The Independent UK. “But we are also seeing the new king do some things about accessibility to the monarchy, so whilst they have to follow certain protocols set out by the state funeral … will we see something personally from the family? “[Princess] Diana’s funeral was a ceremonial one, not a state one but we weren’t necessarily expecting Elton John to appear. “So whilst the hymns and readings are set out, who will participate is [not] set out, it will be interesting to see whether or not there will be just a few points that really reflect the relationship they have with the public but also the love they have for someone who right at the heart of it all is a grandmother, a great-grandmother, a mother and that really human aspect to the funeral which they have in common with every family that’s living through a bereavement at the moment.” Princess Diana’s funeral to date is still reported to be the most-watched. About 2.5 billion people from across the world tuned in to watch her funeral following her untimely death in a car crash in Paris, and at least a million lined the streets to watch the procession. Will the Queen beat this record or even that of her predecessor? The Queen’s funeral will be held at Westminster Abbey at 11 am on Monday following a procession starting at Westminster Hall.
OPI NION
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T H I S D AY MONDAYSunday MARCH 14, 2022 2022 18 September, Vol 27. No 10022
opinion@thisdaylive.com
www.thisdaylive.com
IKE OKONTA urges the Labour Party
LEVERAGING ON SKILLS FOR EMPLOYABILITY
Presidential Candidate to give ‘Nigerian Workers Charter of Demands’ significant space in his manifesto
AISHA SHUAIBU argues the need to instill necessary skills in students to enhance their employment
See Page 24
ADAMOLEKUN’S PRESCRIPTION FOR A NEW NIGERIA As Nigerians clamour for solutions to numerous challenges, Ladipo Adamolekun argues that we must first get our politics right, writes FIDELIS DAVID
See Page 24
EDITORIAL
FILLING SUPREME COURT VACANCIES
See Page 49
S
PETER OBI AND THE NIGERIAN POOR
onala Olumhense, the distinguished journalist, attended an event in New York last week where Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate, gave a speech. According to Olumhense, the presidential candidate was brilliant, articulate, and on top of the key economic and political problems DIÁLFWLQJ 1LJHULD (YHQ PRUH LPSRUWDQW WKH Nigerians living in the United States who attended the talk came from diverse ethnic backgrounds, illustrating the fact that the Obi phenomenon currently sweeping across the country is pan-national and not restricted to the Igbo as some mischievous critics of the candidate would have Nigerians believe. Another observation which Sonala 2OXPKHQVH PDGH WKDW , IRXQG VLJQLÀFDQW was that the ongoing debate on Peter Obi’s candidacy is about Nigerians truly debating among themselves the present state of the country and what steps to take to turn things around. It is a frank admission that Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari is in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital; that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has misgoverned the country these past seven years; and that the APC’s presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, who played a key role in foisting President Buhari on Nigerians in 2015, must take ownership of the Buhari disaster. This short essay is a contribution to this debate; an examination of Peter Obi’s policy platform to the extent that it bears on the Nigerian poor. The Labour Party presidential candidate has himself said that he will anchor his campaign on the estimated 100 million Nigerians presently living below the poverty line. He has also committed himself to rolling out policies and programmes designed to slay the monster of poverty in the country. Young Nigerians are the powerhouse of the Peter Obi movement. The overwhelming majority of these young people are either poor or unemployed or both. There is therefore a sense in which it can be said that they too are included in Peter Obi’s promise to confront poverty frontally. Another point to be noted is that Peter Obi is running for president on the platform of the Labour Party, an organization founded by the Nigerian Labour Congress in 1989. It is an open secret that the Labour Party has not been faithful to its working class origins these past 33 years. In fact it has repeatedly served as a ready platform for buccaneer politicians who use it to access power and as quickly abandon it. The party has however, been given a new lease of life of recent. Ayuba Waba, the Nigerian Labour Congress President, is leading efforts to re-position the party as a true and robust vehicle of Nigerian workers for the 2023 general election. Ayuba has declared that the NLC, working within the Labour Party, will campaign for Peter Obi because they see him as the instrument through which suffering workers in the country will be salvaged. At a retreat organized by the Labour Party in Abuja last week to which the noted human
rights lawyer Femi Falana was invited to speak, a case was made for a campaign strategy for Peter Obi that will be truly innovative and make a sharp departure from the cynical practices of the All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic Party that usually rely on stolen money, intimidation and open violence to muscle their way to power. The Peter Obi campaign, Femi Falana insisted, should be anchored on the true yearnings
It makes political sense to anchor a presidential candidate’s campaign on the poor in today’s Nigeria. The poor are in the majority, and when you sufficiently demonstrate that their welfare is uppermost in your mind, they usually reward you with their votes and loyalty
of the Nigerian poor as enunciated by the programme spelt out in the Nigerian Workers Charter of Demands. Peter Obi is yet to unfurl his manifesto but I argue that this manifesto must be informed by the contents of the Nigerian Workers Charter Of Demands. I am not saying that he should adopt the charter wholesale, but effort must be made to at least meet the document halfway. Such programmes as Universal Health Coverage modeled on Great Britain’s National Health Service wherein health care is free at the point of use, free education at primary and secondary school level supported with generous subsidies in higher education, and a vigorous policy of subsidized housing for the poor, must constitute the cornerstone of Peter Obi’s manifesto. In his public speeches so far, Peter Obi has tended to give more attention to getting Nigerians to be productive again, pointing out that the usual practice of consumption without production has been the bane of the Nigerian economy since independence in 1960 and that the time has come to get out of this rut. I agree with Obi’s position. It is important that steps be taken to revive the Nigerian economy as WKLV ZLOO EHQHÀW WKH SRRU DV ZHOO DV HYHU\RQH HOVH %XW , DOVR DUJXH WKDW VSHFLÀF SUR SRRU policies should be adopted by a future Peter Obi government for the simple reason that since 1960 successive governments in this country have treated the poor as irrelevant and powerless citizens whose needs are routinely ignored without consequence. It makes political sense to anchor a presidential candidate’s campaign on the poor in today’s Nigeria. The poor are in WKH PDMRULW\ DQG ZKHQ \RX VXIÀFLHQWO\ demonstrate that their welfare is uppermost in your mind, they usually reward you with their votes and loyalty. Malam Aminu Kano in his lifetime demonstrated this truth. In the 1950s DQG V $PLQX .DQR·V 1RUWKHUQ (OHPHQWV 3URJUHVVLYH 8QLRQ 1(38 UDQ RQ D SRRU peoples’ agenda and would have taken the northern vote from the conservative Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) but for the strategy of the British colonialists who were determined to hand over the north and indeed Nigeria to a craven and loyal Ahmadu Bello. During the Second Republic Aminu Kano’s Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) powered to victory in the strategic states of Kano and Kaduna, proving that a political campaign anchored on the poor yields dividends. If Peter Obi wants the Nigerian poor to turn out in their millions to vote for him in 2023, then he will have to give them something concrete in return. The social programmes I have spelt out in this essay, taken from the Nigerian Workers Charter Of Demands, must therefore occupy pride of place in Peter Obi’s manifesto. Dr Okonta was until recently Leverhulme Early Career Fellow in the Department Of Politics at the University of Oxford. He now lives in Abuja
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T H I S D AY SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2022
AISHA SHUAIBU argues the need to instill necessary skills in students to enhance their employment
LEVERAGING ON SKILLS FOR EMPLOYABILITY
(PSOR\HHV ZLWK WKH ULJKW VNLOO VHW DUH D PDMRU NH\ WR WKH VXFFHVV RI HYHU\ organisation. When hiring, employers tend WR SODFH D KLJKHU YDOXH RQ VSHFLÀF VNLOOV over others, creating room for competition DPRQJ QHZ HPSOR\HHV 6RIW VNLOOV DUH D EDVLF DQG FRUH VHW RI VNLOOV QHHGHG WR DFFHVV ZRUN RSSRUWXQLWLHV ZKLOH KDUG VNLOOV DUH VSHFLÀHG WHDFKDEOH DQG YDU\ GHSHQGLQJ WKH LQGXVWU\ $OWKRXJK ERWK DUH HVVHQWLDO D ZRUNIRUFH PLVVLQJ FRUH VNLOOV ZLOO FDXVH companies to struggle and fail to catch up to a rapidly changing world. In Nigeria, it is necessary to examine the educationWR HPSOR\PHQW MRXUQH\ WKDW HTXLSV VWXGHQWV ZLWK RQO\ WKHRUHWLFDO NQRZOHGJH DQG QRW ZRUNSODFH UHDGLQHVV VNLOOV $V a country that boasts of its resilient and FUHDWLYH FLWL]HQV HPSOR\DELOLW\ VNLOOV must be incorporated into all educational curricular to truly bring out the best from RXU YDVW SRSXODWLRQ RI MRE VHHNHUV DQG future leaders. There is a need to begin to instill and harness the most sought-after VNLOOV WR FUHDWH HPSOR\PHQW RSSRUWXQLWLHV and elevate the potential of the Nigerian masses. In examining the qualities that PDNH D SHUVRQ HPSOR\DEOH 1LJHULDQV PXVW EH DZDUH RI WKRVH VNLOOV QHHGHG WR VXFFHHG &RUH VNLOOV DUH QRQ QHJRWLDEOH LQ the pursuit of employment opportunities. Basic Comprehension and &RPPXQLFDWLRQ 0HDVXULQJ FRPSHWHQFH begins at comprehension. In order to GHWHUPLQH WKH NLQG RI YDOXH D SHUVRQ FDQ DGG WR DQ RUJDQLVDWLRQ WKH\ PXVW ÀUVW KDYH D EDVLF XQGHUVWDQGLQJ RI WKH RUJDQLVDWLRQ·V needs and how to present themselves DV WKH EHVW FDQGLGDWHV IRU WKH MRE 7KH average human resource personnel of a small and medium enterprise (SME) in Nigeria receives over a hundred CVs ZKHQ KLULQJ %DVHG RQ WKH MRE GHVFULSWLRQ alone, the most eligible candidates may EH VODVKHG GRZQ E\ IURP WKH WRWDO QXPEHU RI VXEPLWWHG DSSOLFDWLRQV $IWHU the interview stage, the best from the bunch may be further reduced and the HPSOR\HUV ZLOO EH OHIW ZLWK WKH WRS ÀYH RI WKH WRWDO DSSOLFDQWV ,W LV OLNHO\ WKDW WKRVH who had initially applied for the role KDG QR EDVLF XQGHUVWDQGLQJ RI WKH MRE DQG KRZ WKH\ ÀW LQWR WKH GHVFULSWLRQ RI WKH UHTXLUHG FDQGLGDWH $QRWKHU SRVVLEOH scenario is that during the interviews, WKH\ ODFNHG WKH SURSHU FRPPXQLFDWLRQ VNLOOV WR KROG D FRQYHUVDWLRQ IROORZ D straight line of questioning with straight answers, provide convincing facts on their capabilities, and prove beyond doubt that WKH\ KROG WKH TXDOLÀFDWLRQ DV ZHOO DV VNLOOV for the role. Enrolling in a comprehension and communication training program or ZRUNVKRS ZLOO KHOS GHYHORS D SHUVRQ·V FRQÀGHQFH VSHHFK DQG GLFWLRQ ZKHQ facing such opportunities. &ULWLFDO 7KLQNLQJ DQG 3UREOHP 6ROYLQJ )RU SURGXFW DQG VHUYLFH LQGXVWULHV SDUWLFXODUO\ WKHVH DUH NH\ VNLOOV
in understanding consumer behaviour, QDYLJDWLQJ XQIRUHVHHQ URDGEORFNV DQG gaining a competitive advantage over RWKHUV &UHDWLYH WKLQNLQJ LV WKH DELOLW\ WR come up with more than one way of getting things done and very often this entails a XQLTXH VWUDWHJ\ $OWKRXJK VRPH MREV FRPH ZLWK VSHFLÀHG UROHV DQG H[SHFWDWLRQV the level of innovation and creativity the digital world has introduced has created URRP IRU MXVW DERXW DQ\RQH WR DGG ¶FULWLFDO WKLQNHU DQG SUREOHP VROYHU· WR WKHLU MRE GHVFULSWLRQV 7KLV LV D VWURQJ VNLOOVHW WKDW can help organizations dominate industries, while also setting new standards for others to study and emulate. To compete and win is to be innovative and innovation is a driver of sustainable development. 'LVFLSOLQH DQG 6HOI $ZDUHQHVV $GRSWLQJ D GLVFLSOLQHG VNLOOVHW UHTXLUHV SUDFWLFH DQG introspection. Mastering the art of being disciplined with your time and habits is a pathway to a successful career. Employers ORRN IRU LQGLYLGXDOV WR HQWUXVW ZLWK FHUWDLQ levels of responsibility that will hardly JR WR WKRVH ZKR ODFN WKH GLVFLSOLQH WR appropriately manage those duties. There is a famous quote that says “discipline is the bridge between goal and accomplishment”, emphasising the importance of developing and maintaining the ability to be disciplined in order to attain success. The ability to EH VHOI DZDUH DOORZV D SHUVRQ WR ZRUN EHWWHU ZLWK RWKHUV NQRZLQJ KRZ WR EH PLQGIXO PDNH GHFLVLRQV ZLWKRXW ELDV and act responsively. By being self-aware, you are conscious of your strengths and ZHDNQHVVHV DQG KRZ WR PDQDJH WKHP LQ WKH ZRUNSODFH 7KH EHWWHU D SHUVRQ XQGHUVWDQGV WKHLU ZRUNLQJ FXOWXUH WKH EHWWHU WKH\ ZLOO be in managing themselves and others, which is critical in shaping a strong leader. 3URVSHFWLYH HPSOR\HUV ORRN RXW IRU WKLV VNLOO and tend to offer managerial positions to those who possess it. 2WKHU VNLOOV VXFK DV WHDPZRUN SHUVRQDO development, and capacity building are equally important for Nigerians to acquire LQ RUGHU WR PDNH WKHP PRUH HPSOR\DEOH It is integral that educational institutions and organisations forge a collaboration in introducing programs that can be embedded into learning curricular to best prepare a SHUVRQ IRU WKH ODERXU PDUNHW 7KH H[SHFWHG outcome of education is to be employable and self-reliant. Meeting classroom-learning ZLWK SUDFWLFDO ZRUNSODFH H[SHULHQFH ZLOO naturally increase professional competence, PDNLQJ DQ LQGLYLGXDO PRUH DSSHDOLQJ WR an employer. Intervention programs and ZRUNVKRSV WKDW WUDLQ RQ WKHVH VNLOOV VKRXOG be accessible, affordable, and promoted to the mass population, particularly youth who continue to be directly impacted by the education gaps in Nigeria. Shuaibu is a member of THISDAY Editorial Board
As Nigerians clamour for solutions to numerous challenges, Ladipo Adamolekun argues that we must first get our politics right, writes FIDELIS DAVID
ADAMOLEKUN’S PRESCRIPTION FOR A NEW NIGERIA To celebrate his 80th birthday, Ladipo $GDPROHNXQ D UHVSHFWHG 3URIHVVRU RI 3XEOLF $GPLQLVWUDWLRQ UHFHQWO\ KRVWHG IULHQGV DQG ZHOO ZLVKHUV LQ $NXUH 2QGR 6WDWH FDSLWDO Presenting his latest monograph titled ‘Nigeria DQG , *HWWLQJ 3ROLWLFV 5LJKW WR 0DNH 1LJHULD :RUN· DV SDUW RI WKH RFFDVLRQ $GDPROHNXQ noted that the country has made only limited progress towards achieving national goals. To change the narrative, according to $GDPROHNXQ FULWLFDO VWDNHKROGHUV PXVW ZRUN to get the politics right. $ UHVSHFWHG LQWHUQDWLRQDO VFKRODU ZKR KDV DOVR KDG VWLQWV DW ERWK WKH :RUOG %DQN DQG WKH 8QLWHG 1DWLRQV $GDPROHNXQ KROGV D EDFKHORU·V GHJUHH LQ )UHQFK )LUVW &ODVV Honours) from the University of Ibadan, D 0DVWHU·V LQ 3XEOLF $GPLQLVWUDWLRQ IURP the then University of Ife (now Obafemi $ZRORZR 8QLYHUVLW\ DQG 3K' LQ 3ROLWLFV from Oxford University in 1972. In a brilliant FDUHHU VSDQQLQJ VHYHUDO GHFDGHV $GDPROHNXQ KDV DOVR DXWKRUHG RU FR DXWKRUHG ERRNV and monographs and contributed to dozens RI MRXUQDO DUWLFOHV RQ SROLWLFV DQG SXEOLF DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ LQ $IULFD )URP -DQXDU\ WR -XO\ $GDPROHNXQ ZRUNHG DW WKH :RUOG %DQN LQ :DVKLQJWRQ ' & 8QLWHG 6WDWHV 3ULRU WR WKDW he taught at Ife for about 20 years, the last 10 as D 3URIHVVRU RI 3XEOLF $GPLQLVWUDWLRQ +LV RWKHU ZRUN H[SHULHQFH LQFOXGHV D RQH \HDU VWLQW DV D 3XEOLF $GPLQLVWUDWLRQ 2IÀFHU DW WKH 8QLWHG 1DWLRQV 1HZ <RUN EHWZHHQ DQG $GDPROHNXQ UHFLSLHQW RI VHYHUDO KRQRXUV DQG distinctions both at home and abroad, was in 'HFHPEHU FRQIHUUHG ZLWK WKH 1LJHULDQ National Order of Merit (NNOM)—the highest national prize for academic and intellectual attainment in the country. $W KLV UHFHQW VHVVLRQ LQ $NXUH $GDPROHNXQ listed three critical ingredients for Nigeria to JHW LWV SROLWLFV ULJKW $ GHYROYHG IHGHUDWLRQ good democratic practice and administrative FRPSHWHQFH ´)LUVW D PDMRU UHDVRQ ZK\ 1LJHULD LV QRW ZRUNLQJ LV EHFDXVH ZH KDYH PDLQWDLQHG a unitary federalism oxymoron inherited from the military at the inception of civilian rule LQ 7R HQKDQFH RXU FKDQFHV RI NHHSLQJ Nigeria one, consolidating democracy, WDFNOLQJ LQVHFXULW\ HIIHFWLYHO\ DQG DFKLHYLQJ accelerated socioeconomic progress, Nigeria needs to urgently adopt and function as a devolved federal system,” he stated. Such a proposed political system, $GDPROHNXQ DUJXHG ´ZLOO KDYH WKH IROORZLQJ GHÀQLQJ FKDUDFWHULVWLFV VL[ federating units, assignment of functions between the central government and the federating units based on the principle of subsidiarity similar to the assignment of IXQFWLRQV LQ WKH FRXQWU\·V &RQVWLWXWLRQ and allocation of resources that is consistent ZLWK ERWK WKH LPSHUDWLYH RI ÀVFDO IHGHUDOLVP and the proposed increased functions for subnational governments.” :KLOH FDQYDVVLQJ WKDW 1LJHULD·V FXUUHQW SRRU VFRUHV ZLWK UHVSHFW WR NH\ PHDVXUHV of good democratic practice need to be UHYHUVHG $GDPROHNXQ VDLG D ´FRPELQDWLRQ RI governments that are accountable to citizens and citizens that demand accountability is an important factor for enhancing national development” yet for Nigerians to EHQHÀW IURP DFFRXQWDEOH JRYHUQDQFH WKH improvements needed for strengthening electoral legitimacy must be introduced and LPSOHPHQWHG KH FRQWHQGHG ´$GRSWLQJ and faithfully implementing a devolved IHGHUDWLRQ LV FULWLFDO WR NHHSLQJ 1LJHULD one; it is a fundamental condition for PDNLQJ RXU PXOWL HWKQLF PXOWL UHOLJLRXV DQG PXOWL OLQJXDO FRXQWU\ ZRUN ,Q particular, a devolved federal system is YHU\ OLNHO\ WR HQKDQFH WKH DELOLW\ RI FHQWUDO and subnational governments to more effectively deliver goods and services to
citizens. In my considered opinion, the reality that the pace of socio-economic development would vary among the federating units is a better outcome than the poor development performance recorded nationwide under the prevailing over centralization and uniformity.” 6SHFLÀFDOO\ DFFRUGLQJ WR $GDPROHNXQ “improvements are required concerning electoral legitimacy (ensuring free, fair and transparent elections), functioning of the party system, scope of political participation, respect for the rule of law, protection of human rights, and freedom of speech and association. The goal should be to ensure the legitimacy of governments and a functioning law-based state that would help promote accountable governance.” 1LJHULD $GDPROHNXQ EHOLHYHV QHHGV a development-oriented political leader, one under whose watch the country can begin to record steady progress in growing the economy, reducing poverty, assuring security, and moving towards prosperity for all the citizens. “This would be a leader who, at the end of his/her tenure, would EH FRPSHWLWLYH IRU WKH 0R ,EUDKLP $IULFD Leadership Prize that was established in 2007. The Prize recognises and celebrates $IULFDQ OHDGHUV ZKR KDYH GHYHORSHG WKHLU countries, lifted people out of poverty and paved the way for sustainable and equitable prosperity. To the imperative of development-orientation, I would add four essential leadership attributes to the characteristics of the political leaders WKDW ZRXOG PDNH 1LJHULD ZRUN LQWHJULW\ intelligence, competence, and vision.” 1R GRXEW WR PDNH 1LJHULD ZRUN requires that both the people in power and the citizenry value education again DV LQ WKRVH HDUOLHU GHFDGHV $GDPROHNXQ argued so that “the primacy of the merit principle can be restored and applied in the same contexts as during those decades while priority is given to the rebuilding and strengthening of both the educational and governance institutions.” Meanwhile, to felicitate with $GDPROHNXQ LQ $NXUH ZHUH VHQLRU political editors and public intellectuals OLNH 0RERODML $OXNR D 3URIHVVRU RI Chemical Engineering and pioneer ViceChancellor of the Federal University, 2WXRNH DV ZHOO DV 3URI $GHOH -LQDGX 3URI 7XQGH $GHQLUDQ DQG 'U -RH $EEDK 3URI .HPL 5RWLPL 3URI 1L\L $NLQDVR 3URI ,VDDF 2EDVL 3URI %D\R $ERULVDGH 0U *EHQJD $GHID\H WKH *HQHUDO 0DQDJHU (GLWRU LQ chief, Vanguard Newspapers, among others. $W WKH HQG WKH PDLQ WDNH DZD\ IURP the session was the conclusion drawn E\ $GDPROHNXQ ZDV WKDW WDFNOLQJ WKH multifarious challenges facing Nigeria requires the return to a well-functioning federal system that would aid our development and foster national unity.
David writes from Akure
49
T H I S D AY SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2022
EDITORIAL
Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com
FILLING SUPREME COURT VACANCIES
L
Supreme court justices must be ‘fit and proper’ persons
practice as a legal practitioner in Nigeria and ast Thursday’s valedictory ceremony for KDV EHHQ VR TXDOLÀHG IRU D SHULRG RI QRW OHVV WKDQ retired Justice Abdu Aboki has raised ÀIWHHQ \HDUV µ several pertinent questions about the Such clear and unambiguous constitutional apex court in Nigeria. With Aboki’s exit provision has been subverted by the NJC that after serving only two years, the number routinely recommends only serving Justices of the of Justices on the Supreme Court bench Court of Appeal for appointment as Justices of the dropped to 13. Against the background that the Supreme Court. Since those so recommended are 1999 Constitution (as amended) prescribes 21 invariably senior Justices of the Court of Appeal, Justices as the full complement of the court’s bench, WKH\ XVXDOO\ VSHQG DERXW ÀYH \HDUV RU OHVV DW WKH the requisite number now falls short by eight with apex court. A case in point is Justice Abdu Aboki dire implications. “A single drop in the number of who retired on 15th September 2022 after serving justices here brings about a sudden increase in our in the Supreme Court for barely two years. workload,” lamented the acting Chief Justice of While the NJC must ensure that the apex court Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola. is fully constituted with However, beyond 21 Justices in line with the issue of depletion the provision of the in number, there While the NJC must ensure that the apex court is fully constituted Constitution, we suggest are other concerns. a quick return to the Initiating the process for with 21 Justices in line with the provision of the Constitution, we glorious era of the court appointments into the suggest a quick return to the glorious era of the court when it when it comprised of court is the prerogative vibrant judges appointed of the National Judicial comprised of vibrant judges appointed from the high court and court from the high court and Commission (NJC). court of appeal as well But many have also of appeal as well as law lecturers and lawyers in legal practice as law lecturers and observed that the lawyers in legal practice. SURFHVV LV ÁDZHG DE The apex court is the ultimate determinant of LQLWLR 7KH ÀUVW FRQVLGHUDWLRQ LV JHRSROLWLFV ZKLFK questions of justice in the land. Beyond it, the is about where such nominees come from. After next level of appeal is to God! Therefore, the right that comes the practice of elevating only justices of every citizen to justice, the entire principle of of the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court. The rule of law and equality before the law which are argument has always been that senior lawyers fundamental to the existence of a democratic order with pedigree and respected academics should reside in the apex court. Minimally then, those be appointed to the Supreme Court to make who are appointed must inspire in the citizenry and it more virile. Furthermore, this may be the WKH LQWHUQDWLRQDO FRPPXQLW\ D FHUWDLQ FRQÀGHQFH time to restructure the NJC in such a manner derivable from the meritocratic rigour of their that removes it from being an appendage of selection process. the CJN. :KHQ WKH OLVW LV ÀQDOO\ VXEPLWWHG WR WKH 6HQDWH The “appointment process appears to have the lawmakers must also recognise the enormity been designed and operated to exclude good of their responsibility especially when it comes and competent lawyers” from being appointed WR WKH FRQÀUPDWLRQ KHDULQJV 7KH REMHFW RI WKHVH Justices of appellate courts, according to the KHDULQJV LV ÀUVW WR UHDVVXUH WKH SXEOLF WKDW SHUVRQV Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN). nominated to become Supreme Court Justices This is despite that to be eligible, an applicant PHHW WKH FULWHULRQ RI ¶ÀW DQG SURSHU SHUVRQV· must be a legal practitioner of not less than In addition, such nominees must possess the 15 years. The same applies to whoever is to DSSURSULDWH UHTXLVLWH TXDOLÀFDWLRQV LQ D SURYHQ be appointed as the Chief Justice of Nigeria. manner. Reducing such hearings to the banality Section 231(3) of the Nigerian constitution of ‘take a bow’ or asking questions that require no VWDWHV ´$ SHUVRQ VKDOO QRW EH TXDOLÀHG WR KROG rigour is a gross disservice to the administration of WKH RIÀFH RI &KLHI -XVWLFH RI 1LJHULD RU RI D -XVWLFH justice in Nigeria. RI WKH 6XSUHPH &RXUW XQOHVV KH LV TXDOLÀHG WR
Letters to the Editor
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
INEC AND THE ONE MILLION INFRACTIONS
As the 2023 general election draws closer the Independent National Electoral Commission has been left in no doubt that when the electoral activities begin properly, taking on the frenzy of an anthill, it will ÀUPO\ EH WKH FHQWHU RI DWWUDFWLRQ In 1999, Nigeria returned to the path of democracy after decades of grueling military regimes left the country for dead. After a providential death brought to an end what was arguably the most brutal of those military regimes, Nigerians was due for a change. Upon Nigeria`s return to democracy, INEC was tasked with the conduct of the 1999 general election. It went as well as it did. The Commission did its bit given the circumstances but it was still haunted by the ghost of the iniquitous annulment of the 1993 presidential election which was done by its predecessor at the instance of the baleful military regime of Ibrahim Babangida. Over the years, INEC like many other
Nigerian institutions, has had a fair share of its struggles. Like many Nigerian institutions, it has been convulsed by the ineptitude of its staff and poor funding. To these formidable challenges of ineptitude and poor funding, Nigeria`s premier electoral institution has had to add suffocating interference by the executive. As INEC has struggled to deliver on its constitutional mandates, a toxic brew of suspicion has been whipped against the commission in the minds of Nigerians. For many Nigerians, INEC is a mere tool in the hands of whoever is in charge of the country. This perception of what should be Africa`s foremost electoral umpire has been enduring. It has a long history. It comes from those days when stories spilled into the public domain of how some staff of a body supposedly independent and impartial contrived to twist electoral results to favour people that were otherwise marked for humiliating electoral defeats. As judicial interventions began to sanitize
the country `s electoral process in the mid2000s, handing a string of jarring defeats to those who had stolen their way to electoral triumphs manipulating in the process a pliable INEC, the Commission had to sit up. With the advent of technologies that aid electoral integrity, and with the legal frameworks put in place to accommodate necessary changes, INEC`s performance has continued to improve. 7KH &RPPLVVLRQ UHFHQWO\ GHÀHG D ODWH voter registration surge to conclude the voter registration after more than a year of the exercise. The Commission is in the process of printing voter registration cards as well as cleaning up the voter Registrar all in a bid to improve the integrity of the 2023 general election which will be a supreme test of Nigeria`s will and preparedness to continue as a country destined for progress and prosperity. However, the recent revelation
by the Commission that it delisted many double, multiple and ineligible registration discovered in the Continuous Voter Registration held between January 1 and July 31 from the voter registrar raises eyebrows. Such a waste of human and material resources! The cost of the time, efforts and resources that went into what the Commission has now deemed infractions are incalculable. If the sanctity and integrity of elections are to be preserved in Nigeria, then it is imperative that the processes leading up to elections should be free of errors as much as humanly possible. INEC`s work appears cut out. But until the results of next year`s elections come in and public opinion satisfactorily collated, Nigerians will be watching closely and with not a little skepticism. t ,FOF 0CJF[V 5XJUUFS !LFOPCJF[V
A
WEEKLY PULL-OUT
18.9.2022
VICTOR IKEM FULFILLING HIS LONG-TIME AMBITION
Victor Ikem is a focused and talented individual whose only aspiration is to attain greatness. His personality and determination have been the propelling force in his life trajectory. From advertising to banking, wine industry and finally academics, the Delta State-born chief executive officer of Conversation Media Limited tells Funke Olaode about his journey to earning the highest degree in development communication ASSISTANT EDITOR OLUFUNKE OLAODE/victoria.olaode@thisdaylive.com.
T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾SEPTEMBER 18, 2022
51
COVER
My Primary Purpose is Communication and that is Where I Believe My Strength Lies
T
he excitement in his voice as he pointed at a large portrait of him on the wall of his office in Ikeja could not be mistaken. The photo was taken during a recent convocation of his doctorate from Babcock
University. Victor Ikem, the CEO of Conversation Media Limited is full of gratitude for attaining his long-time ambition of earning a PhD. No doubt, the Delta-born media mogul who hails from Ubu-Uku in Aniocha South has found fulfilment in his journey. Still excited about the new feat, he said, “I am elated having been through the most difficult parts of growing up and finding my course with all the difficulties that one could imagine in a country like Nigeria. That for me is a remarkable story that I like to tell.” Navigating through life aside, achieving his goal has been remarkable. “Being able to pursue my vision to the level of course, not only just earning the highest academic degree but also being able to contribute meaningfully in the small ways that I thought I have, giving myself and every other person around me that hope and that expectation that if you work very hard, determined and committed enough you would make a meaningful impact in life.” Ikem’s journey to career and academic attainment is not different from others looking for purpose and fulfilment. “While growing up, I had had that desire to be a lawyer. In my JAMB I had scored over 234, which qualified me to go for a Law degree but couldn’t pursue that dream. I took the option of studying Mass Communication at Delta State University. Thinking that in the middle of it, I will be able to switch back to studying Law, but after one year I just concluded that I was not going to bother myself.” Mass Communication might have been accidental but in Ikem’s case, it was partly by providence. Even before he started writing JAMB, he had been practising communication by doing voiceovers and a bit of writing. Also, he was exposed to a lot of newspapers which strengthened his reading habit. All of that added to his desire and interest in communication. And by the time he was through with his studies, he wasn’t waiting for society, society was actually waiting for his talents. Born in 1981, he lost his father in 1993 when he was 12. Ikem who is the last child in a family of 10 children faced a world of uncertainty. “Mine wasn’t really a struggle, but sheer determination. I was quite young, I was the youngest. And I was faced with the reality of living a life without one of the most important factors you could have, which is the influence of a father. That for me is the most challenging part. When I decided to study communication, I told myself that I was going to seek communication to the end. I was going to get a PhD. I had to also pay myself through getting a Master’s degree from the University of Lagos which I completed in 2010”. While navigating through life, Ikem considered himself to be lucky. He was exposed to the media during industrial attachment in his 300 level. He was lucky to have found himself in the Ministry of Information in Lagos state when Bola Tinubu was governor in 2002 and the then Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Dele Alake. After a brief stint at the press office, Ikem was moved to work in the Ministry of Environment. He would later find himself in Jos during youth service when again he was posted to the Ministry of Information and worked under a man called Ismaila Ransa in 2000. “This gave me another
Ikem in his doctoral regalia during his convocation ceremony at Babcock University where he bagged a PhD in Development Communication... recently
perspective, and of course, that gave me the opportunity to also understand public policy communication, communication within government and all of that, which was an added advantage, given where I have had the exposure with the Lagos State Ministry of Information.” Though he found himself in the job market after NYSC, Ikem’s life did not revolve solely around information ministry as his intelligence and leadership quality have seen him embrace bigger roles in the labour market. He had a three-month stint with a media production company and a few years down the lane, he found himself switching from one advertising company to another. Ikem is always ready to explore. He veered off the advertising industry when he was recruited to work for a company called Brian Munro in charge of the Campari business. “So, that was how I was recruited as a brand manager for Campari bitter. That was where the journey for wine and spirit started. And it was an interesting journey because you can see what we do now. Mixing and matching but it also gave me exposure to that industry which is a remarkable industry.” After working in the Campari business for a while, Ikem was on the march again, and his versatility was noticed by the marketing director at LG. He joined LG as a product marketing manager. “I didn’t quite stay too long. I moved to GDB advertising company which is the second most impactful advertising company in Nigeria after Insight Communication. And then I had the responsibility for MTN, Unilever
and a couple of other advertising accounts. “And then moving from GDB, I transitioned to work for Union Bank in the Corporate Affairs, being responsible for the retail product marketing section between the corporate affairs in 2015. It was from Union Bank that I started my PhD in 2017. By the end of 2018, I quit the corporate job and started Conversation Media Limited and also focused on doing the wine business. So it has been a long, long transition,” he recalled. Looking at Ikem’s transition in his career trajectory, one wonders what has been his staying power. “It is just being committed and looking at having the full view of what are the possibilities that exist in all of the choices that I have made. My primary purpose is communication and that is where I believe my strength is. Every other thing I have done has always been related to or impacted by that primary choice that I have made to stay in communication. “For instance, I have tasted both the public and private sectors meeting different people from different backgrounds, my takeaway has always been selfdevelopment. There is actually no difference in the public or private sectors or the small businesses or multinational internationals. It has always been the same experience, either as a small business or as a big
business. What you are required to do is about delivering value, creating value, and solving problems. Wherever you find yourself, do the right thing. And I find that also intriguing because people want to work for big multinationals. There is no difference. In any case, working in many multinationals, you absolutely, in some sense, are disadvantaged because you may not understand the basics of that business. You are only given a role to perform. You are regimented. I also say to people, if you are given an opportunity to work in any system, make sure you learn the business.” Ikem’s personality combined with his unparalleled commitment to beating odds has been his propelling force in his career trajectory, even when he became his own boss. “I think it is the most remarkable experience one can have. But it is also the most difficult experience because you wake up every day scared about the vision that you are pursuing. Would I be able to live and fulfil this vision? But more importantly, you also have that freedom to be able to think freely. A limit is not placed on you as to the size of your ambition. And I keep saying, the bigger you dream, the easier it is to actualize it. But if you have absolutely no dream, if you dream less, then you are shortchanging yourself. So, being in this position, what you are required to do is just to have faith, to be optimistic, but also remember that you are not expected to work less, you are expected to work more.” Ikem has learned over the years, that those who succeeded, or those who will succeed are not those who do only one thing. He said, “Multiplicity increases your viability. It increases your ability to also explore additional potentials you are created with. I believe that as human beings, we are created with so much potential, not just in one thing, but in multiple competencies. Calling him Victor Ikem PhD lits up his spirit as he roars with laughter. “I felt fulfilled. That is the simplest way I could put it. I felt fulfilled because it seemed as if it was never going to happen. Every year, I applied to the University of Lagos. I applied to the University of Uyo, I had even applied to foreign universities. And it is a desire that I had but it never happened until I finally met someone who worked for Babcock University and told me the institution has been training communicators since 1999. And the PhD has been on for almost 10 years. And when I got to Babcock, I liked what I saw, the lectures, the students and the environment were good. That was how the journey began.” Passionate about his career and committed to his studies, in the course of doing his PhD, he has been able to publish three articles in journals that are standard. “In 2019, I attended a global academic conference in Madrid, Spain, where I presented a paper, which I did as part of my work. So, it is an all-enriching, all-encompassing journey for me going through it. “But for me also, as someone who is specializing in development communication, I found it critical that a lot more work needs to be done. Of course, you talked about the days of Ugbajas and the rest of them who contributed a lot of knowledge to the area of communication and development. Not much investment is being done now. And I hope that one could have the opportunity also to contribute to development communication.” On his next step, Ikem said, “What next for me is about finding opportunities to contribute to the development of Nigeria. Now my research, my thesis focused on the issue of poverty in Nigeria. And I have written a couple of articles on poverty and development in Nigeria. And I have also come to the realization that part of our national development problem of failure of development of the country is our inability to design appropriate development policies, especially in the area of addressing poverty. The world is not poor, the world is rich, and it is just that people need to be able to access that. So those are the expectations that I have to be able to continue to contribute moving forward.”
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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾SEPTEMBER 18, 2022
GLITZ PERSONALITY
CHIKA IKENGA
Industrial Chemist Putting Natures Gentle Touch to Global Spotlight 25 years ago, Chika Ikenga, an industrial chemist, took the bold step to launch a made-inNigeria lifestyle product, Natures Gentle Touch, at a time when foreign products dominated the market. Vanessa Obioha reports on how the product has become a global brand through Ikenga’s sheer passion and vision
T
here was a time when foreign hair relaxing products were the go-to for Nigerian women. These products signalled class although they came with some consequences such as hair damage or loss. The reason for this is not far-fetched as the average Nigerian hair comes with its own uniqueness which many of the manufacturers of these products do not take into consideration. Their one size fits all strategy worked at the time due to the mindset that foreign products are superior to locally made products. Enter Charles Ikenga, an industrial chemist whose natural flair to solve problems related to women led to the launch of one of Nigeria’s leading hair care brands, Natures Gentle Touch. Ikenga’s foray into the hair care industry was spurred by the poor perception of made-in-Nigeria brands. “We went into business to bring a fundamental change to an attitude and perception that we felt was hurting our dignity as a nation. We wanted to change the poor quality perception of made-in-Nigeria brands,” he said at the virtual 25th anniversary of Natures Gentle Touch. This perception, Ikenga recalled, relegated made-in-Nigeria brands as poor quality products and consequently affected pricing as people expected such brands to be cheaper in comparison to imported brands. “We were intentional about creating a product that will identify a problem and solve that problem far better than products that were imported.” To turn around this perception, Ikenga set about identifying the problems that Nigerian women had with their hair. Already, a female friend had suffered hair damage and he was interested in creating an organic product that addressed these needs. This was in 1993. By 1995, he left his paid employment and concentrated fully on developing a product that caters to Nigerian women’s hair needs. This included hair breakage and hair loss to mention a few. “We discovered that up to 80 per cent of Nigerian and African women required tailor-made hair care solutions, because of the weather, the diet and other things, so the passion to solve these gave birth to Natures Gentle Touch,” he said. By 1997, Natures Gentle Touch was established. The company gave out its relaxer to 1000 people to sample and received positive feedback from 980. It also gave out its relaxer to the lady whose hair problem inspired the product and she lauded the product. While this signalled acceptance,
Ikenga
it was greeted with doubts from the market including hairdressing salons, a situation distributors compounded. Ikenga pointed out that when distributors appeared set to constitute a stumbling block for the brand’s market entry, as well as budget constraints, they avoided them and took on the market directly. The company achieved this by raising a platoon of influencers from an army of youths at universities across Nigeria. The University of Lagos served as a launch pad from where other universities were added. “Our story cannot be complete without mentioning Nigerian tertiary institutions, particularly the University of Lagos,” Ikenga noted. Convincing the teeming population of youth at tertiary institutions was always going to be tough. They were already used to foreign products and “our branding made them think that
Natures Gentle Touch brands were imported,” Ikenga said. However, once they were convinced about the quality, they embraced the solutions Natures Gentle Touch brands were offering with both hands. The ride between the brand and the young elite has developed into something which can be described as jolly and charming over the years, with the trust built seeing the solutions provided by Natures Gentle Touch earning global appeal and acceptance. Today, Natures Gentle Touch offers an array of personal care solutions to enable each woman to unleash her unique style and individuality. The company is even regarded as a trendsetter as it helped usher in the use of the term ‘hair stylist’ to elevate the status of those with a passion for
hairdressing. Although it started with hair care products, the company now owns a hair institute. “Our core offering is in personal styling solutions. In our business model, this is best delivered through our hair institute. We had just one at Isolo. We have added two others at Victoria Island and Ikeja GRA,” explained Ikenga. “Often we speak about the hair institute more than the products because we want people to experience it and discern for themselves. I cannot remember any hair or skin issue that was tabled that we Natures Gentle Touch has not solved.” The success story of the Natures Gentle Touch is that the personal style solutions it is offering have charmed several high-profile celebrities, beauty queens, and discerning ladies. The brand serves those who can afford it but delivers on all promises consistently. The United States of Americabased Nigerian supermodel, Oluchi Onweagba was among those to have been associated with Natures Gentle Touch. She showcased the customised style solutions delivered by the brand with pride. Another notable beauty queen who endorsed Nature’s Gentle Touch is former Miss World, Agbani Darego. Those who know Onweagba and Darego proclaim that for these icons to put their names and personal brands on anything, personal style, it must be worth it. On the global stage, beauty queen and supermodel, Leila Lopes is also known to have proudly embraced the marketing of Natures Gentle Touch’s personal lifestyle solutions some time ago. With its growing patronage, the pioneer of the business, Ikenga is focused on helping more and more women with personal style solutions across the world. This has seen the company acquire a cosmetic company in the Republic of South Africa with sights firmly set on other African countries and other parts of the world. According to Ikenga, Natures Gentle Touch is focused on replicating its unique service offerings in other markets across the world, having discovered that many, particularly Africans use their hair to express their style and identity. “We are at a point where we want more and more people to be able to access the solutions we offer across the world. The acquisition in South Africa is a signal of intent. We want to set our footprints in other African countries and other continents. “We might also consider availing members of the public the chance to be part of ownership by issuing and listing our shares,” Ikenga added. With more opportunities in the market today, Ikenga is keen on beauty tech. According to him, he is excited about how to use technology to improve customer experience.
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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾SEPTEMBER 18, 2022
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HighLife Corporate Amazon: Funke Okoya on the Move Again
with KAYODE ALFRED 08116759807, E-mail: kayflex2@yahoo.com
...Amazing lifestyles of Nigeria’s rich and famous
Diri’s Milk of Human Kindness
Diri
Genius and commitment will always mark one out for greatness, regardless of the era and area of human endeavour. It is the turn of Funke Okoya, one of the top Executive Directors at NOVA Merchant Bank, to daze her associates and dazzle the people that don’t know her very well. A few days ago, the non-profit organisation, Women in Finance Nigeria (WIFNG), announced the decision to make Okoya its Chairperson, evoking much awe and delight at the corporate Amazon’s impressively growing career profile. WIFNG’s appointment of Okoya to the position of Chairperson comes at a time when many corporate bodies in Nigeria are bewailing the privation of strong and genuine leadership. The demand for individuals like Okoya who would put work at the centre of their thoughts and activities and pursue objectives like a lioness fending for her children continues to grow. To this end, WIFNG has hit a jackpot and this says something about the vision of
It is always refreshing to see evidence of humanity in the lives of public officials. In the case of Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, this side of leadership is not always very clear. After all, Diri is renowned to be so committed to the growth and development of his state that he sometimes forgets to lean back and see who is following him. But this time, the death of a high official in his administration rattled him and let the nation see his kindness. The passing of Tolu Amatu, Chairman of the Bayelsa State Environmental Sanitation Authority came as a shock to many people. According to reports, Amatu slumped on the night of September 10, in his residence at Baybridge Road, Kpansia area of Yenagoa. Although he was rushed to a hospital almost immediately after, they were unable to revive him and that brought a wave of sadness to Bayelsa. Reacting to the event, Governor Diri grieved for the family of the late chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). However, as a show of consolation, Diri also offered Abudu an automatic scholarship to Amatu’s children, noting that In the beginning, age and time were supposed to be markers for the amazing their father passed away when things we achieved as a growing he was needed in Bayelsa the race. Unfortunately, things have been most. Perhaps they would be able to replicate their father’s contributions to Bayelsa in the future. True love is not that thing that is Indeed, Amatu was an perpetually depicted in Nollywood, individual with a strong presence. He came to prominence Hollywood, or Bollywood. True love is not catching the fancy of someone while serving under former else and belabouring them until they Governor Seriake Dickson as the become what you want. Genuine love Chairman of the Ekeremor Local is the kind of union that exists between Government Area. He was also a oil mogul and Oando Plc Deputy Group popular aspirant for the House of CEO, Omamofe Boyo and his wife, Nigerian actor, producer, and creative Representatives where he made entrepreneur, Ego Boyo. After spending attempts to represent the people 30 years together, it is evident to all and of Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal sundry that their union continues to Constituency. wax stronger and stronger, catching the Based on these achievements, admiration of the oceans below and the commendation of the stars above. Diri’s bestowal of the fortune of It is that time in September that we scholarship on Amatu’s children is the governor’s way of sending celebrate high-profile couples that are making their marriage work. For the off a comrade. Even more, it Boyo, marital bliss is an everyday thing shows Diri’s compassionate side, and not something to look forward to letting the people of Bayelsa once a year. Mofe and Ego still retain the sparkle of newfound love, going out of know that their governor is not their way to please each other. an insensitive person.
the organisation. To a few, Okoya is no different from the diligent, visionary, and exceptionally talented Nigerian women in corporate finance. However, this classification is not complete. Okoya is among those with a total command of her faculties and a clear direction for her future. Armed with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree which she obtained from Business School Netherlands in 2016, Okoya has been on the rise for years now. But it is her work with NOVA Merchant Bank and Coronation Merchant Bank that has established her as a corporate Amazon at the apex of the finance industry. Even though Okoya’s appointment was not the only recruitment decision that WIFNG made and announced, it is clear that she will be bearing the burden of ushering in a new era of progress for the organisation that was established in 2016 to strengthen the influence of women in the financial sector, and those handing financial tasks in both public and private organisations.
Mo Abudu Still Holds the Ace at 58 less than stellar on the universal front. Nevertheless, several seeds have managed to sprout very colourful leaves, mirroring the brilliance of the sun and the diversity of the rainbow. Media dynast Mosunmola Abudu (Mo Abudu for short) is one of such seeds, and she is still doing amazing things at 58. There are few individuals as impressively versatile as Mo Abudu. Forbes-acclaimed and well-balanced in virtually every aspect, her delectable personality is only slightly outdone by her successful career. A few days ago, she clocked 58 years and
Okoya
obtained the seal of veneration from her family, friends, and fans on social media. In her celebration of herself, Mo Abudu did not throw herself into the light or ask people to swoon with admiration. Instead, she posted a simple picture of herself and her grandchildren. That itself showed the kind of person she is, a happy, healthy grandmother who wants her grandchildren to reach the same height she has reached and exceed it. Of course, her wish is difficult to imagine considering that she only needs to reach out her hands and she would be plucking the stars. The EbonyLife TV (ELTV) founder is not a run-of-the-mill mogul. She is able to dominate the media industry because she has a strong character and will, vision and voice, and is not afraid to challenge the norms. She remains the apex for women in her industry in Nigeria and most of Africa, which is why even Netflix sought to create ties with her to ride on her coattails. At 58, Mo Abudu’s life is very brilliant and continues to be so. Hers is the kind of brightness that others can emulate, although doing so perfectly is another story. She is an inspiring person, one with few equals on the African continent.
After Three Decades, Oil Mogul, Mofe and Ego Boyo’s Love Still Getting Stronger
One might be tempted to assume
that Mofe and Ego are still holding down the fort because they cannot find love elsewhere. This rubbish thought is the driving force behind many high-profile divorces in Nigeria. In truth, Mofe and Ego are still very committed to each other because they love each other immensely and immeasurably. And that is enough. Life is good for the pair. Mofe is doing great things at Oando and Ego is not doing any less. In fact, Ego, despite being a Nollywood sweetheart, continues to use her influence to improve the lives of those around her. This is how she came to become a renowned advocate for education, even earning herself a position on the advisory board of the Oando Foundation and helping to deliver quality educational perks to Nigerian children in school. For a love so true, trumpets and bright lights are insufficient. For Mofe and Ego, their love is enough sustenance for them to live by.
Mofe and Boyo
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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾SEPTEMBER 18, 2022
HIGHLIFE
Access Bank MD, Herbert Wigwe’s Love for the Art World Having a passion that is unrelated to the need for survival and sustenance is a good thing. The average person cannot countenance the value of such passions and habits, but visionaries can relate. For Access Bank’s boss Herbert Wigwe, needless to say, such a passion is divorced from his well-known aspiration to take over the world of banking everywhere. But he has it. This passion is art and art collection, something shared by the brightest minds that ever lived. Wigwe stands at the peak of artwork collectors in Nigeria. He does not only favour foreign art but also indigenous creations. His offices in Lagos, Nigeria, and Cape Town, South Africa, are said to be alive and resplendent with works of art that titillate the enlightened mind to no end. You would think that someone of Wigwe’s standing would be unreservedly committed to poring over financial blueprints and investment portfolios. Not Wigwe. The Access Bank CEO has made it known time and again that artworks strike a deep chord in him,
leaving him with impressions that eventually become inspirations, thereby empowering him to see the world differently. Wigwe has also made references to the historical and cultural values of these artworks, helping him know a bit more about the real world. According to sources, Wigwe inherited his passion for gazing at and collecting special and rare artworks from his father, Pastor Shyngle Wigwe. Nevertheless, he has come to admire and adore art pieces for what they are, divine creations of other people such as Ben Enwonwu whose work Wigwe reportedly venerates to no end. Despite the seeming exclusivity of Wigwe’s passion, there’s no question that it makes him more humane and relatable. After all, if all he did was sip coffee in the morning and then devise plans to take over a bank in China, Russia, the US, or any other world power, he would be a monster of a man, unreachable and untouchable. But if he draws inspiration from art, then Wigwe is one of us. Still a peerless genius, but one of us.
Wigwe
Idowu Obasa: A Man with a Heart of Gold It is always obvious to those who live beyond 100 years and can retain their mental faculties that there is no end to surprises. The things commonly defined as amazing and miraculous can still buckle under the weight of newer developments. Consider the latest gesture of Hon. Idowu Obasa, two-term former Chairman of Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area, Lagos State, for example. Putting the said gesture in true context, Obasa is a dragon among men and worthy of emulation. Lagos is still in an uproar in response to the super charitable deed by Obasa. He donated a lithotripsy machine to the Urology Unit of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, Lagos, earning a deluge of gratitude and praise from Lagosians. Experts say that because of Obasa’s donation, patients with kidney stones and other kidney-associated diseases will no longer have to worry about enduring overly painful surgeries to treat their conditions. Witnessing the donation, the Lagos State
Obasa
Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, noted that things will be very different going forward, with a significant increase in
the survival rate of people going through surgical operations related to kidney problems. He said that Obasa’s gesture is evidence that biotechnology is reaching a level of solving all kinds of ailments without subjecting patients to critical pain. One can say that Abayomi is only halfright. In truth, it is extraordinary gestures by ordinary people like Obasa that are bringing succour to millions of people suffering from one ailment or another. But Obasa has always been very interested in health matters, being the founder of Biomedical Limited, the first company in Nigeria to develop fluids specially made to flow within the veins and thereby speedily and effectively treat illnesses. Indeed, the evidence of Obasa’s golden heart in this gesture has brought tears to the eyes of the ordinary man. He can only hope that Obasa’s peers will emulate his good work.
Seyi Tinubu: ANew Bridge-Builder Among the Youths There is a kind of strength in young people that is lacking in the old. Also, there is a kind of wisdom that is characteristic of old people that young people will never grasp. It takes a strong hand and a stronger mind to merge these two groups, having youthful strength and elderly understanding. This convergence of strength and wisdom has been credited to Seyi Tinubu time and again, making outsiders wonder exactly how the son of All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, is able to manage this miracle. There was a time when Seyi was only known as the son of Tinubu, a prominent politician. During that period, few individuals took the time to know Seyi and assumed that he was a spoiled brat that needed his father to be something in life. And then Seyi broke out as the CEO of the prominent advertising company, Loatsad Promomedia Ltd, gaining the respect of Nigeria’s marketing and
promotional industry. However, even after his profound instances of success and mastery at Loatsad, few would admit that Seyi’s brilliance came from inside rather than from his father. And then Seyi took on the world of Polo and dazzled his peers and opponents, raising the bar once again on what the public thought of him. It has been quiet ever since, with people admitting that there is much more to Seyi than his being a Tinubu. Recently, Seyi has begun to raise the bar again, this time, in the area of politics. With his father gunning for the mantle of President Muhammadu Buhari, come 2023, Seyi’s focus has been on the youths. So far, he has found few hindrances. In fact, because of him, Tinubu is getting more and more young people admitted to his camp and wishing to work with Seyi to make things better for everybody. In this new light, Seyi’s mediation is proof that he has a future in representative politics.
Tinubu
Shina Peller Celebrates Mother at 75 Time is such an incredible thing. It chronicles the lives we have led and helps us see the scope of the impact we are making. For Lady Silifat Adeboyin Abiola Peller, the wife of the renowned magician, Professor Abiola Peller, and mother of notable politician and socialite , Shina Peller, looking back 75 years is an enjoyable undertaking. And so her son, Hon Shina Peller, did not hold back from getting the true elite of Nigeria’s crème de la crème to celebrate her 75th birthday. It has been a while since magicians from Nigeria rattled the world. In an old age, Professor Peller brought great acclaim to Nigeria while performing magic arts. A brilliant and daring man, Peller had the assistance of a beautiful young lady, the charming character now reverentially referred to as Alhaja Silifat. Having brought up every single one of their children to be as brilliant as their father, Lady Silifat has what it takes to receive a deluge of praise from other people. For her 70th birthday few years ago, Hon Peller was unreserved. He made sure to celebrate her in an even bigger way than he ever had. This itself is incredible considering that he always gets monarchs such as late Oba Lamidi Adeyemi (the Alaafin of Oyo), Oba Saheed Elegushi (the Elegushi of the Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom), Oba Abdulganiyu Adekunle Salau (the Aseyin of Iseyin), and many others to rejoice with him on her behalf. Which mother would not want such things? So the days continue to be golden for Lady Silifat. Her children not only bear the success marks of their father but some are on the cusp of exceeding him. Hon Peller is a fine example with his many conquests in politics and business. Currently, he is the Ayedero of Yorubaland and the Akinrogun of Epe land, chieftaincy titles that others spend their entire lives pursuing. So, for Lady Silifat to have almost single-handedly raised her children, she is worth celebrating. In short, she is worth having mighty monarchs respectfully clink glasses in her honor.
Heritage Bank Appoints George-Taylor as Acting MD
George-Taylor
It marked the end of an era at Heritage Bank Plc with the retirement of the organisation’s acting Managing Director (MD), Dr. Ifie Sekibo. As Sekibo has completed his 10 years of service as the bank’s head person, the board of directors
is ready to hand over the reins of leadership to someone who can take things up a notch, continuing from where Sekibo stopped and raising the stats of the bank’s achievements in the years to come. And Akinola GeorgeTaylor is this person. With the appointment, George-Taylor is expected to immediately begin to direct the flow of resources and operations at the bank, driving the numbers up in Heritage Bank’s favour. Aligned with the old administrative staff, George-Taylor also gets to wield the abilities of Osepiribo Ben-Willie and George Oko-Oboh, two high-flying individuals who were appointed with him. According to reports, George-Taylor taking over from Sekibo was signed and approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), showing the kind of ability that the new Heritage Bank acting MD has. Considering the fact that he has been actively involved in revolutionizing the
Nigerian banking sector since the ‘90s is enough reason for him to take over an institution as stellar as Heritage Bank. Within George-Taylor’s 20-plus years in the banking and finance sector, the man broke a lot of records. He started working at GTBank in 1993, starting from the bottom and making his way to the top. His contributions raised the bank’s ratings so many times that he was made an Executive Director in charge of the Public Sector Group (at Abuja and NorthCentral Nigeria) in no time. Even more incredibly, he was soon sent to GTBank’s branch in Sierra Leone to head the place as MD, a position that he held until 2009. George-Taylor’s genius is still very active, which is why the board of directors at Heritage Bank is happy to hand over the reins of power to him. Truly, a new era is upon the organisation.
Peller
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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾SEPTEMBER 18, 2022
LOUD WHISPERS
with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)
Dele Alake: ‘Pinocchio’ on TV For those of you who do not know, Pinocchio is a fictional character of a wooden boy whose nose would grow longer each time he lies. Mr. Dele Alake’s nose grew so long in this interview that if it had continued, it would have grown longer than the Third Mainland Bridge. My egbon did not do well at all. I refused to watch this interview initially, because I expected nothing less. But the massive negative feedback from the public rushed me towards it. When I finished watching it, I just shook my head and went to the toilet because the thing gave me a bad case of diarrhea. This Tinubu thing has demystified people we thought were very brilliant. From Keyamo through Sam Omatseye and down to this Dele person, brilliant people have been falling flat on their faces in a lame attempt at defending, supporting and
selling this candidacy. Alake started strong. Bobbed and weaved like Mohammed Ali, made strong statements, took strong positions and engaged brilliantly. His voice quality was strong. He jumped up and smashed. He was happy with himself. Then the thing started going towards ownership of Alpha Beta and education and the voice started shaking. Confidence left and he started looking and sounding like a Muppet. By this time, it was clear Seun had gotten him in the corner. Seun started throwing punches and all Dele had to do was to cover his face with the hope that his growing nose would not be bloodied. He tried to throw in convoluting expressions like – he grew the IGR, he weeded out ghost workers. But Seun had gotten him – how would you not want to know the ownership of a company as strategic as Alpha Beta- and Dele countered
looking sillier – what concerns me, especially seeing that they are performing? The whole thing was like American wrestling, where someone will be in the ring and be beaten to a pulp, his partner will tag him and jump in and will also be beaten up, their manager will jump in and be beaten and it goes on and on. That was a terrible outing. Emotive, light on facts and logic often leading to bouts of frustration while showing a clear disbelief in what he himself was saying. His body language gave him out. He didn’t show conviction and ended up worsening the state of the campaign. He should have just stayed out of the whole drama. If Tinubu fails to clinch the Presidency, lay it firmly on Dele Alake. He killed it with that showing. Kai!
ASIWAJU BOLA TINUBU: SELL IT LIKE TRUMP I have been watching this candidate with keen interest. He is the forerunner hence the huge spotlight on him. His background, antecedents and all also throw him up for more scrutiny than all the other candidates put together. Too many moving shady parts. No real firm on any critical part of his life but he comes with a larger-thanlife characterisation and a firm push towards the presidency. So, how do you sell this candidate? Me, I can sell him o. I am very confident that I can sell Tinubu if given the opportunity. Let me state it here. All his handlers are missing it. You cannot be coming from the point of ‘good’ with a candidate that has an education qualification problem with a candidate that has no visible source of income but is one of the wealthiest in all of Africa and with a candidate that has had all those things we have heard about life in America. Coming with an anti-corruption stance, a morally just fighter and all that puritanical positioning will not work and it is not working. This is not a Buhari. Buhari was a real poor man, he looked it and sounded it. His frail,
skinny and long necked gaunt look went with the narrative. When he said, “I will fight corruption,” you believe it because he truly looked like someone whom corruption had dealt with. But with Tinubu, the same cannot be said. A bullion van was driven into his compound and when asked, he said, “Is it your money?” This candidate cannot be sold the way his people are selling him and this is why it is not succeeding and people like Keyamo and Alake are looking like spent clowns all over the place. Me, Joseph Edgar, I will sell Tinubu like Trump. Brash, bold and care-free. When Trump was outed for saying things about women, he owned it. Pushed harder on the narrative and positioned himself as a strong ‘devil may care’ purist white crusader coming to take back America and make it great again. What Tinubu’s handlers are doing is trying to sell his candidacy to the papacy. We are not looking for a Pope. This is Nigeria, this is hell, we need ‘agbero’ as President who will take hard decisions and who will move very aggressively not caring whose ox is gored as long as things get done. With Alpha Beta, Chicago, the fake Bishops, Amoda and all that, Tinubu is the best candidate for this jungle
called Nigeria. A country where a few people have stolen 80% of our oil straight from the pumps, where insecurity is the order of the day and where we have been adjudged fantastically corrupt, then we need a ‘Jaguda-Jagaban’ type president if we are going to have any hope’. Fair and simple. Obi is too weak, where will he start from? Does he even understand the real issues? Nigeria is not an economic class. He should go and vie to be President of the Lagos Business School. Atiku will be decimated by Wike. Wike will finish that candidacy unless a miracle happens. So, we are left with Tinubu. I will support him, if he comes out boldly and says, “Guys, I am what you need. You guys are all very corrupt and I understand it and will move aggressively against all of these things because I have been there, done it and lived it.” You will now begin to see how things will change dramatically. Try it, Mr. Tinubu. Try it. Don’t let fear catch you. Just remove the toga of purity they have tried to grab you with that is not working and stand naked in front of us and just say, “this is me. Deal with it.” If you don’t win, I will join Bode George to leave this
Tinubu
Amaechi
Wike
Alake
country. That’s how confident I am. SEYI MAKINDE: A JUDAS IN THE HOUSE I used to sha like this bobo. Tall, good-looking and calm. Emerging as Governor of Oyo State under PDP in the South-west threw up his reputation to the high heavens. He has performed creditably well and I must say remains a shiny example of what youth and vigour can bring to the table. But on this Ayu matter, I beg to disagree with him and his gang. So, Ayu was ok before the primaries. He was a respected Chairman during the primaries but immediately turned weeping child- Wike lost, Ayu suddenly became leprous. I really do not understand the issues around this matter but the timing of it all especially so close to the start of campaigns is making me feel like the PDP just may be dealing with traitors within. They seem to be looking at a tree and forgetting the full forest in view. The fact that this fight will not give them enough time to regroup and build cohesion to face the general elections seems lost on them. This
Fasoranti:
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LOUD WHISPERS na the real Brutus wey stab Julius Caesar. I expected much more strategic thinking from Makinde since he is not positioned as a cry baby like his brother Wike. I cannot imagine that these ones are fighting for chairmanship of a party when the presidency is staring at them. Funny. WIKE, AMAECHI, ALLOW ALABO TO REST Last weekend was the final burial rites for the very respected Alabo GrahamDouglas and our combatants still took the fight to the place. Amaechi who is the former Transport Minister and an APC stalwart had observed that the Wike government did not send any representative to the burial. He felt it was a slight on the memory and legacy of the great man. Wike in true fashion came back blasting that Amaechi was a total failure, also asking where was Amarachi when Alabo was ill? You see the kind of people we call leaders. People who can go to each other anywhere and at any time including the sacred burial rites of such a dignified and highly peaceful Alabo. I am sure Alabo would be turning in his grave seeing how these gladiators turned his grave site into a boxing duel. Let me state here however that it was very wrong for a state that had produced such a distinguished Nigerian who had contributed so much to the country and Rivers State specifically to have been ignored by the state no matter who was the governor or no matter what the situation was. So in this case, Amaechi was right to have berated Mr. Wike. Now, instead of that one to address the issue specifically, he goes into a tirade like an unruly market woman. Where Amaechi has become a huge failure in this matter eludes me. Amaechi not being able to enter Aso Rock is beside the point abeg. I am beginning to get irritated with Emperor Wike and certainly cannot wait for his tenure to be over so he can ride steadily into the political sunset like a castrated cowboy. Na wa. ZELENSKY: SHORT, STOUT AND BRAVE When they say he was a comedian, someone will be thinking it is them Alibaba and AY type of comedians o. This one is a comedian with a difference. A man who has kept faith with his country all in a green t-shirt. I have the same type of t-shirt and I wore it to give a talk to bankers at their last conference in Abuja. They were all looking at me, and one of them, Ade Adefeko, was bold enough to ask why I was wearing a green t-shirt at such an auspicious moment. I told him “I be Zelensky.” It just dawned on me the other day that Russia has not been able to finish this fight o. I asked someone recently “Russia still dey struggle for this matter? “And the reply I got was amazing: they are not only struggling but Ukraine is even reclaiming land and that Putin has run to China to seek aid. How can a huge super power like Russia not be able to neutralise a tiny country led by ,, a comedian in a green t-shirt? My people, this is a mystery o. Before this fight, the way we used to fear Russia was out of this world. Some people in Shomolu used to even argue that it will not take Russia more than five minutes to finish America. My people, from what we are seeing today, even Nigeria can put eye in Russia’s eye. I am telling you the way they are going, even Boko Haram
can be ambitious and try them. This is what happens with bullies who go around beating their chest and thinking they can just stamp on everybody and everything. Watching my guy Zelensky in the green t-shirt last night on TV, I beamed with pride. As he emerged in the reclaimed city in his green t-shirt, I rushed to wear my own and stood to salute my brother. He refused to run away, he refused to take the bullying and with such a tiny army, stood and defended his homeland. No matter what happens going forward
he has made a point and has shown the world that it is not only to be shouting ‘Emilokan’ all over the place but it is the conviction of true pride and passion for the country that a leader makes. OLUDARE ALABA: A CURIOUS CASE OF A CERTIFICATE RETURN The video has gone viral. The video of this young man trying to return his certificate and ask for his money back. In a video interview with a leading national newspaper, he specifically asked for his tuition fees back citing
JOHN KERRY: A BEAUTIFUL SIGHTING My people, that was how they invited me to Abuja to give a talk at the Chartered Institute of Bankers conference. They lodged me at the famous Transcorp Hilton and gave me food and asked me to come and talk. Anyways, I spent the whole two nights dodging video calls from the Duchess who was determined to make my life a misery. Please, those of you who are not yet married, my candid advice is not to rush into the matter abeg. See the things that lined up Abuja and someone now made it her point of duty to be calling me on video every second thereby disturbing concentration and focus. Anyways, me too, I was determined to complete my mission despite the intrusion. So, at 5 am, I was expecting the video call- when I was younger, they didn’t call me Ajanaku for nothing. The call came, it was the Duchess calling me on video. I jumped up like a Ukrainian soldier, jumped into my jalabiya and dashed out of the room with the phone still ringing. I ran to ‘good boy’ Yemi Shodimu’s room. Knocked like a mad man and he opened, I jumped under his duvet and asked him to go and poo and then took the call. “Duchess,” I began, “you woke me.” She said, “Ohhhh sorry Duke, just wanted to be sure that you have taken your BP drugs.” See mumu, person wey no care about drugs- I said “yes o, I did.” She said, “oya call me when you wake up”, and I replied “ok dear.” She ended the call. I smiled and told Yemi thank you. As I came out of his room, I saw CIA. Complete with black suit, black eye glasses and that thing in his ear. I shouted “ahhhhh, Duchess don send people come catch me o.” Abi it is DSS? But DSS people no fine like this. DSS people, if you see them, you go know but this one fine well, tall and elegant. DSS suits no be like this o, those ones suit you can use it to catch fish in Ijaw land. I started to walk slowly and apologised as I got nearby. I said, “Good morning sir,” and he responded. I looked again. This is American o. This can never be DSS, dem no get this kind accent. Kai, then I looked up and saw another three. I begin sweat. I am in trouble today. So, I was in between the first and the other three. A small corridor, nowhere to run to. I cannot call Yemi, he is still taking a poo. I cannot call Duchess, she would catch me. I don die today. The next thing, the first man said something inside his jacket and things started to happen. Movements, I just siddon for floor and started to pray. Then I looked up and saw him. John Kerry, former American presidential candidate and Secretary of State. I stood up just as he was coming near me. I said, “Good morning sir, I am the Duke of …” I didn’t finish o. He smiled at me and gave me a salute as they walked past me and entered the lift. I shouted, “Yemiii come o, Yemi come ooo,” Yemi ran out with a towel around his big tummy, with a chewing stick in his mouth. I said “guess who I just saw,” and he said who? I said John Kerry. Yemi of Nollywood Yoruba section, looked at me and asked, “who is he?” I just gave up and walked away. Kai.
Kerry
that the certificate is of no use to him. Suffering from years of unemployment with its attendant debilitating trauma that comes with it, his mindset now dictates to him that the best recourse is to attempt a return of the certificate and cause a huge PR nightmare not only for the school but also for the educational system in the country as a whole. You see, Nigerians have taken this video to heart. They have debated on it citing it as just another example of the crashed systems and values of the country. But I see this differently. A full graduate with certification but with no real-life skills to navigate the meandering nature of life after campus. His inability to apply himself being dropped squarely at the feet of the system that produced him. Not only him, but millions have found it very convenient to drop the blame of their inability to find a footing on the system. You see, what we all lack most are life skills. We give up too easily and we become lazy and be waiting for government and where that fails, we rail and attempt something as stupid as this one. I failed out of secondary school. I have done mechanics and have been sacked three times by various banks. I have been arrested and put in custody for a weekend, I have lost money, made money and I have tried to run over five companies, all failed. I even ran two magazines’ that failed fantastically. I could have gone back to give Universities of Ibadan and Lagos their degrees. I did no such stupid thing because I realised that the system does not owe me nothing. All they owe me is the security of my life. Not even an opportunity. I will find my opportunity; I will struggle and I will not give up. I will fight, struggle and build a future for myself and that is why I am the Duke of Shomolu. I will not humour this person and join him in his pity party. He is lazy and those of us who are pitying him are not helping him or the millions who are waiting for a hapless government or a warped system to get a job or eke a living. ‘Smart hard work’ pays and that is what you should teach yourself and apply the academics you learn in school. So, this person has missed it and has failed woefully. He should take his ‘yeye’ certificate and go and use it to sell groundnut cos his failure is his and not the school. There are people in that school, who went through the same tutelage with him who are successful. So what gives? Abeg, he should go and sit down. A joker. TOPE FASORANTI: A WELL-DESERVED SHOUT OUT The other day, someone called me and said, “Duke, when will you do a shout out for me on your column?” I told him when Jesus comes back. You see in Nigeria, we have to continue to put on a pedestal those ones who despite everything are impacting our lives. Fasoranti is one such person. An Executive Director at Zenith Bank, he continues to blaze a trail with his exemplary life, his professionalism and his general outlook. Mentoring youths and providing leadership in one of the biggest and soundest financial institutions in Africa making him attain an iconic status can only be applauded. Happy birthday bro. I called him the other day and said, “Bro, where is my Afang?” and he said, “name the place and time.” I told him to “start saving o.” This is just to wish one of the most brilliant Nigerians that I have ever come across, a huge birthday celebration. God bless you, my brother.
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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾SEPTEMBER 18, 2022
Adebayo Adeoye bayoolunla@gmail.com; 08054680651
SOCIETY WATCH
Alpha Beach Loses Past Glory Alpha Beach, located along the Lekki Expressway, Lagos, is one of the numerous beaches that adorn the area. It used to be the darling of many residents of the state and visitors alike in those days when it had all the paraphernalia of a place of tourism. In fact, in the past, it had hosted one of the best parties, social activities and corporate events. But the beach has apparently lost its past glory. Speaking with Society Watch, visitors to the area appealed to both the federal and state governments as well as Governor Babajide SanwoOlu of the state to stem the tide of hooliganism in the beach area and return its lost glory, saying that the beach had the potential to turn the state into a tourism destination for fun lovers within and outside the state. They emphasised that visiting a beach should evoke a sense of relief, a feeling of relaxation, which brings out a measure of joy that escaping from the hustling and bustling of the city provides. The beach has reportedly become home to all kinds of miscreants, hoodlums, urchins, bandits, criminals, drug addicts and drug dealers. While visitors are made to part with some money before entering the beach at a makeshift gate manned by agents of “omo oniles,” (land owners), nothing has been done to justify the funds being released from the visitors with the uninviting environment of the beach. The beach is mostly occupied by fierce-looking young men, who have turned the place into a home and who allegedly torment members of the public, most especially at night. The bad road leading to the beach, which is under repairs, has also become an avenue for hoodlums to operate freely as they take advantage of this to double-cross vehicles with okada (motorcycle) and dispossess their victims of money, phones and other items. Another source also hinted that the beach had become a route of international drug cartels that are shielded by compromised security agents, who are also drug addicts and have turned the deal into a money-making venture. “The security situation in this area is a threat to Lagos State. The federal /state governments and security agencies should act fast before it is too late. Alpha Beach is breeding something close to Boko Haram, and once it becomes full scale, the state would be the loser,” said a source. “There is a need for the state government to urgently demolish the various shanties and slums that serve as hideouts for the miscreants, criminals and drug addicts in the area, as they have become security threats to visitors and residents of the area,” the source added. Past efforts to get the federal and state governments to intervene and clear the beach of miscreants and hoodlums reportedly had failed, which gave rise to the renewed call for the government to pay attention to the area before it gets out of hand.
Who Wants Senator Ifeanyi Ubah Dead? This is no fable from the heart of a crazy fiction writer. It is not a scene from Hollywood movies. It is as real as daylight. But what is most surprising is why anyone would want Nigeria’s businessman and politician, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, dead. This is the question troubling the minds of Nigerians and his loved ones. The businessman, who is also the Chairman of Capital Oil and Gas, was going about his normal activities last Sunday, travelling to his hometown with his aides when some dare-devil gunmen rained bullets on him alongside his convoy. Many scampered for safety while some of his trusted aides, unfortunately, fell from the bullets. It was learnt that if not for his bullet-proof car and the grace of God, the Anambra Stateborn Senator would have kicked the bucket. The gory pictures and video emanating from the scene would send chills down the spines of even a man with a heart of stone. It was such a dreadful and unpalatable scene to watch.
Many will recall that he has been at the forefront of the war against insecurity in his state. Last month, he donated N500 million to the state government to fight insecurity in the state. The wondrous donation from the philanthropist was received with applause from different corners, as no individual from the state has ever made such a huge donation. To further show his concern over the insecurity situation in the state, he jettisoned the plan to celebrate his 51st birthday on September 3, 2022. Ubah asked his family and friends to cancel plans to celebrate his birthday, saying he preferred a very quiet get-together. According to him, “I want to use this period of reflection to pay respects to those who in one way or the other have fallen victims or lost beloved members of their families and friends to insecurity.” His admirers, therefore, found it so shocking the attempt on his life by yet-to-be-identified gunmen.
Ubah
Family, Friends Remember Jude Rudolf Solomon the late Jude Rudolf Solomon still believe very much that he is “alive” with them. A year after his passing, his life and times remain indelible in the minds of his family and friends. In recognition of his profound magnanimity, a memorial mass service was organised for him on September 13, 2022, in Nigeria, Lebanon, the United Kingdom and Australia. Few people get to transit from being utterly indispensable to “eternally unforgettable.” This truth among so many others manifested in the manner in which friends and families have Solomon been mourning the businessman and generous As the late English novelist, George Eliot, philanthropist who lived life in line with the intoned, “Our dead are never dead to us until we teachings of his Creator. Until he breathed his last, Solomon have forgotten them”, the family and friends of never treated anyone as a minor, stranger or
competitor. He would forgo his own interests for the good of others. His impeccable accomplishments are clear to all who encountered him during his lifetime. Solomon was a good person who without a doubt has been rewarded with a smooth passage to heaven where he is with his Creator. He will never be forgotten. Through hard work and doggedness, he was able to climb the ladder of success when he worked with billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, at Zenon Petroleum, where he rose to the position of Head of Sales and Marketing. After working and building the Zenon brand for 11 years, he pursued his interests in the energy sector and real estate development until his sudden death last year.
Business Mogul, Taiwo Afolabi, Plans another Earth-shaking Shindig Billionaire businessman and maritime top player, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, is favourably inclined to the celebration of life. Last year, the Ogun State-born serial entrepreneur held some lavish shindigs. In May 2021, he inaugurated his eye-popping hotel, Marriott at GRA, Ikeja, Lagos. The event was witnessed by eminent personalities, including the Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, among others. Soon after, Afolabi sent out invites to his threein-one event: birthday, housewarming as well as church dedication. The three-day held earlier in June in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun, was another lavish one attended by the shakers and movers of the society. It was one party that set yet another standard for social events in Nigeria. Again, Afolabi is planning to throw a big party. This time, it is the wedding of his beautiful daughter, Mariam, scheduled for next month. Already, many members of Lagos social establishment are gearing for the soiree that will
Tokunbo Wahab: A Breath of Fresh Air in the Nation’s Politics
Wahab
Afolabi
definitely be one of the most-talked about this year. The exquisite wedding will be held at Marriott Hotel. The guest list, it was gathered, has been pruned to just 150. A source revealed that the boss of Lagos Marriott Hotel is sparing no costs to give her lovely daughter a wedding to remember. It was also gathered that the white wedding was originally planned to take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). But with the present travel restriction placed on Nigerians by the UAE government, Afolabi has opted for an undisclosed European country with an invitation to be delivered next week. Since Mariam, the bride-to-be, was appointed in 2018 as an Executive Director, SIFAX Group, she has recoiled into her cocoon and stayed off the radar. But with the decision to quit spinsterhood and tie the nuptial knots with her boyfriend of many years, her friends are upbeat and ready to groove with her.
Tokunbo Phillip Wahab, a lawyer, could be described as a breath of fresh air in the nation’s politics and public service. Immediately after he was appointed as the Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Education in 2019, the affable man hit the ground running. Of course, Sanwo-Olu had poached the hardworking 50-year-old to help drive the education arm of his THEMES agenda; and it has been a cocktail of accomplishments in the education sector of Lagos. This is surely due in part to his belief that anything worth doing at all is worth doing well. He first received applause for introducing Eko Excel. But he is now getting more adulation, following the recent official recognition and collection of certificates for the two new Lagos State universities at the National Universities Commission (NUC) in Abuja. There have been a series of applause trailing this step seen as an avenue to equip all the managers of the Lagos
State tertiary institutions to produce materials that will be of huge benefit to the position of Lagos as the hub of industries and technology in this country while helping to fast-track the state’s determination to transit into a knowledge economy. There’s no gainsaying the fact that his resourcefulness and mantra of having a digital approach to education have continued to endear him to many, especially watchers of the education sector in Lagos. This performance, particularly the Eko Digital Initiative, is aimed at guaranteeing access to modern/ technological resources that will foster learning at primary, secondary and tertiary institutions across the state. Wahab, a lawyer of more than 20 years, is a partner at Wall and Ace Law Firm. He has extensive experience across all strata of legal practice. He is also an alumnus of the prestigious Harvard Kennedy School of Government and the Wharton University of Pennsylvania.
THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 24 2012
ARTS & REVIEW A
PUBLICATION
18. 9.2022
The Things That Make Lagos Tick An eight-day visual feast featuring easily glossed-over everyday scenes in Lagos opened recently in one of the city’s leading galleries. Okechukwu Uwaezuoke reports
N
o, it’s not just the visual euphony of the beach, with its muted golden sands, contrasting with the cerulean backdrop of the sea and the sky. Something else—obviously, the sunny, carefree disposition of two topless kids, whose bodies appear half-buried in a heap of sand—seems to tug at the heartstrings and induce the viewer to experience the yearning tenderness of a reverie. Yet, this photograph by Bolaji Alonge, titled "Precious & Favour"—after the names of the frolicking pair—tells a refreshing story of Lagos, which belies its often-maligned international image. Hence, it’s not uncomPRQ WR ÀQG PDQ\ ÀUVW WLPH IRUHLJQ YLVLWRUV to this sprawling littoral city of well over 21 million inhabitants swooning under the spell of its hospitable charms. This is often in contrast to the cautionary tales of uninformed do-gooders. Another photograph, “Mushin Train Station” by Motolani Bello, though taken some time this year, dredges up the nostalgic memories of this Lagos neighbourhood’s buried history and long-lost innocence of the colonial years. Then, there is a painting by Akinsola Olamilekan that is primarily in monochrome and shows the front of a minibus taxi, known as “Danfo”, on the streets of Lagos with its three occupants, including the driver. One of the passengers is highlighted in russet or maroon in the foreground, while the other passenger and the driver blend into the monochrome background of the entire painting. These works are only part of the many featured at the exhibition, titled Iconic Lagos, which opened on Saturday, September 17 at the Didi Museum along Akin Adesola Street in the upper-crust Lagos neighbourhood of Victoria Island. An art project organised by Eyes of a Lagos Boy, which runs until Sunday, September 25, the visual feast is about the celebration of everyday life in this termite-dense mega city, which is arguably Africa’s most vibrant cultural hub. About 400 entries were received by the organisers when they published a call for submissions, which lasted from July 12 to August 15. Twenty artworks by artists from the US, India, South Africa, Belgium, Benin Republic, the UK, Abuja, Osogbo and Lagos eventually made it to the physical exhibition while the others are being displayed in a digital format. “The artists all capture the idea of Lagos that we intend to showcase and we are proud to work with these amazing talents,” enthuses Bolaji Alonge, the pivotal ÀJXUH RI WKH (\HV RI D /DJRV %R\ EUDQG “Over the years, I have encouraged young Nigerians to take up the camera to express themselves. Opening up my platform to others is a natural next step.” In his foreword of the exhibition catalogue, ace photographer Kelechi Amadi-Obi decries the incessant complaints about the XQÁDWWHULQJ GHSLFWLRQ RI $IULFD·V LPDJH LQ the international media. “My question has always been what happened to our storytellers,” he writes. “The ultimate responsibility for changing this negative narrative lies in the hands of Africa’s image makers. In pre-
Precious & Favour by Bolaji Alonge, 2022
Mushin train station by Motolani Bello
colonial times our stories were handed down from one generation to the next by the great griots and this formed their perception of self.” Meanwhile, besides Alonge and Jason Ogbazi, who are the show’s anchormen, the 20 featured artists are Adepegba David, Akande John, Akinsola Olamilekan, Awosola Michael Angello, Motolani Bello, Joydeep Bose, Buthelezi Mpumelelo, Tosan Dudun, Jean-Fidèle Ananou Ebenezer, Falore Olamiposi, Razaq Folami, Genco Sanli, OC George, Gaspard Linouenou Koutchika, Lanre Lawal, Holly Muse, Okechukwu Samuel, Olaosun Oluwapelumi, Oluwayemisi Onadipe and Kola Onifoto Orowale. Then, there is also the former editor of Happy Home Magazine, Muni King-Keazor, who is being featured as a guest artist. Several photographs made by the recently deceased multi-talented movie director Biyi Bandele are, as a tribute to his life, also included in the show, which is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Bandele, who had spent a lot of
Eyes of a Lagos Boy by Akinsola Olamilekan
Bolaji Aonge
time in Lagos in recent years, was known to have regularly chronicled Lagos Island on social media. $ WKUHH SURQJHG RͿHULQJ WKH H[KLELWLRQ
consists of photography by Bolaji Alonge; his mixed-media artworks with Jason Ogbazi; and those of other artists. The idea is for the artists, who easily warmed up to the task, to highlight what they consider to be their iconic Lagos. For this is a city that is not RQO\ WKH ELUWKSODFH RI WKH ORFDO ÀOP LQGXVWU\ known as Nollywood, but also of Afrobeat(s), Nigerian arts, and fashion, as well as a sort of melting-pot, where tradition and futurism coexist in the daily lives of its inhabitants, where rich neighbourhoods bloom alongside poorer ones, and where the scourge of poor infrastructure looms large. Alonge's Eyes of Lagos Boy has carved a niche for itself through its chronicling of history from an African perspective, with sights set, at the same time, on achieving fair representation. ´'HÀQLQJ RXU RZQ LPDJH LV RQH ZD\ of taking charge of our future,” says the dreadlocks-sporting artist. “We need to consciously move away from the poverty SRUQ LPDJHV WKDW WKH LQWHUQHW LV ÁRRGHG ZLWK ICONIC LAGOS presents a narrative that will remain tattooed on the viewers’ retina. Celebrating the beauty around us in spite of everyday challenges and the current global instability is not [a] luxury, it is a necessity.” Since May 2017, when he held his maiden solo exhibition, Eyes of a Lagos Boy, at the Freedom Park in Lagos Island, Alonge has wormed his way into the art community’s consciousness as a cultural activist with a predilection for documenting history. His subsequent exhibitions—Urban CultureHistorical Continuity at the Ikoyi, Lagosbased One Draw Gallery in November 2018; Baza Studio in New York, the USA in February 2019; and Black & White at Quintessence, Lagos in July 2019—established him as a cultural activist. Among his other professional highlights was his performance of “Afrobeat: The Legacy” at Freedom Park during Felabration 2019, which was dedicated to Femi Anikulapo-Kuti, Fela Kuti's eldest son. In November 2020, he and seven other photographers displayed “Nigeria Trending” at the Lagos Fringe Festival, covering the # EndSARS protests, and in February 2021, he showed “Street Flowers of Lagos” at Temple Muse. More recently, in September 2021, his Greener Pastures exhibition, dedicated to riverine communities in Lagos, was ÀUVW VKRZQ WR FULWLFDO DFFODLP DW WKH 'LGL Museum in Lagos, then as part of the Lagos Fringe Festival and ICAB Biennale from 1RYHPEHU WR 'HFHPEHU DQG ÀQDOO\ at the IREP 2022 documentary festival in Lagos. His collaborator for this project, Jason Nnamdi Ogbazi, is a Nigerian-born accomplished artist and designer, who, while in the UK for his higher education, had started working alongside top fashion photographers and designers. After the exhibition’s Saturday VIP opening, which was headlined by an opening performance by Wannixhandi and Jeanshiki Couture, a visual storytelling masterclass for seasoned photographers has been planned for Tuesday, September 20, while an art workshop IRU FKLOGUHQ EHWZHHQ WKH DJHV RI ÀYH DQG 15 will be held on Saturday, September 24.
EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com
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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 18 , 2022
ARTS & REVIEW\\POTPOURRI
NGA, SNA Try Abuja Art Market for Size Oji Onoko
professionalism of the galleries in selecting the art works for the exhibition. A colourful brochure complete with background notes on the participating galleries and the art works showcased, was produced to complement the exhibition. Also, inside the brochure, are LQVLJKWIXO DUWLFOHV RQ GLͿHUHQW DVSHFWV RI YLVXDO DUWV LQ 1LJHULD IRU WKH HGLÀFDWLRQ RI DUWLVWV and art connoisseurs: Abuja Art Fair: A big Art Market in the Northern Frontier by Dr. Simon Ikpakronyi; The State of Visual Arts today and the Reform for the future by Prof. Funke Ifeta and Thoughts on Establishing a 1LJHULDQ %LHQQDOH E\ 3URI -HUU\ %XKDUL Attendance especially at the opening ceremony was very impressive. The Minister of Information & Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. -DÀ\D /\GLD 6KHKX ZKLOH 'LUHFWRUV *HQHUDO IURP the Culture parastatals were duly represented. From the diplomatic community came: Cuban Ambassador, Clara Pulido, VenezuelanAmbassador, David Velasquez, Libyan Ambassador, Ayad Attayary, Deputy Chief of Mission, US Embassy, David Greene and Cultural Attaché, 6SDQLVK (PEDVV\ (YD %DUWKD $OVR SUHVHQW DUH WKH '* 1DWLRQDO %URDGFDVWLQJ &RPPLVVLRQ 1%& %DODUDEH 6KHKX ,OHOD DQG '* 1LJHULDQ Press Council (NPC), Francis Nwosu. The security services had high level representatives from theArmy, Navy,Airforce, Police, Nigerian Correctional Service, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Nigerian Security & Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The seven-day exhibition ZKLFK FORVHG RQ 7XHVGD\ 6HSWHPEHU KDG appreciable visitors to the stands. Still, four days into the exhibition when the writer returned, none of the works had been tagged. It is something that bothers the curator of the exhibition and head of department, curatorial services, NGA, Simon Ikpakronyi. “Tagging has to do with patronage,” he explained. Though he believes Art Fairs are not just for the sale of art works but for the artists to market themselves and leverage on contacts made during the exhibition, he is working on modalities to improve patronage for the next edition. This includes the possibility of changing the venue to a more accessible place and improved publicity among others. Indeed, the theme for his article for the forthcoming edition hinges on patronage at art exhibitions. “The concept of International Art Fair Abuja is to grow a big art market in the FCT and Abuja for the Nigerian art community,” he explained. Femi Coker of Orisun Art Gallery, however, does not see poor patronage at the present Fair as a draw back. “A lot of people have come and asked about our art works. I am optimistic on patronage. Very optimistic.” That should encourage the organisers as they plan for the third edition.
T
he rain came in torrents, testing to the limits the transparent covering of the exhibition booths. The open doorways, however, could not escape from the wind which splashed water on the precious art works. Curators from the participating galleries scampered to shield the works even as some art lovers sought refuge from the rain. For a while, the Arena of Cyprian Ekwensi Centre for Arts & Culture, venue, of the exhibition, was in apparent chaos. It was on this soggy note that the second edition of International Art Fair Abuja organised by National Gallery of Art (NGA) in collaboration with the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) took RͿ RQ 7XHVGD\ 6HSWHPEHU TheAmphitheatreArena, which served as space for the exhibition was maximally utilised by the 12 exhibiting galleries including the NGA and SNA. “Each rectangular booth, stood at 14 ft by 12ft” explained Chris Obadan, a sculptor DQG VWDͿ RI 1*$ As you step into the exhibition ground, a huge metallic sculpture at 8ft in height strikes you. It is one of the pieces by the gallery, International Institute for Creativity and Development. The skillfully executed work, shows a musician, blowing away on his saxophone. Titled ´$EDPLGDµ WKH ZRUN E\ 'DGD $EGHED\R is reminiscent of Nigeria’s music legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, fondly called Abami Eda, whose dexterity on the sax is non-parreil. Was this why the artist, deliberately made musician appear as a giant in this piece? Equally exciting is another sculptural piece from the Orisun Art Gallery stand, titled “Panthers in Motion” by Jimoh Ighodalo (2020). The ÀQHO\ VFXOSWHG ZRRGZRUN VKRZV WZR SDQWKHUV glaring at each other, fangs bared. The tension is palpable, a measure of the skill of the artist in sculpting hard wood to achieve the desired HͿHFW ´7KH DUWLVW LV DVNLQJ SHRSOH WR SUHVHUYH the habitats for wild life,” Femi Coker, Curator of the Gallery explained. Close to it is “Ode Ofe”, oil on canvas (2014) by Osaretin Eghosa, ZKLFK VKRZV D ÁXWLVW IHVWRRQHG ZLWK IHDWKHUV and ornaments playing his instrument with deep concentration. It is a colourful piece… For the second time, Nike Art Gallery announced its presence in the nation’s capital, Abuja. The stand had paintings and mixed media which reminds one of the iconic works at its Lagos headquarters in Lekki. Kobab House ofArt, owned by an expatriate and artist, Kobab )DUUXNK DGGHG DQ LQWHUQDWLRQDO ÁDYRXU WR WKH exhibition. Amidst the medley of works here, her acrylic on canvas, “Mama Africa” (2015) VWDQGV RXW 7KH $IULFDQ DQG 1LJHULDQ LQÁXHQFH is quite obvious in the works on display on her stand including “Spreading Colour”, acrylic
Abamida, metal, 2016, by Dada Adebayo
hope tucked near the top left of the work. There DUH DOVR ÀYH VFDUH LQGXFLQJ DUW ZRUNV E\ 61$ Secretary General, Prosper Akeni in what he refers to as the holocaust series. “The series is a major protest on the prevailing violence on canvas (2018) among others. At the SNAstand, the disorganised and rowdy against mankind,” the artist explained. Even Oshodi, a sad reminder of the old days of the the medium, ink shake and smoke on paper, DUHD WKDW GHÀHG GHFRUXP EHIRUH /DJRV 6WDWH are reminiscent “of tools of destruction and turned it into a modern transport hub in the EDFWHULVDWLRQ RI KXPDQLW\ ÀUH ERPEV EXOOHWV metropolis, stares you in the face. Titled “Old and missiles among others,” Akeni explained. Oshodi” by Yemi Oladipo, oil on canvas (2020), Also, noteworthy here, is the installation by the chaos and disorder are all too visible in this Helen Nzete titled “Fragile”. Other private galleries that participated are: well intricately painted piece. Close to this is “Illusions”, an acrylic on can- +RXVH +DUH DQG *URXVH $UW *DOOHU\ &UHDWLYH vas (2022) executed by SNA President and $UW DQG 9LVXDO ,PDJHU\ &HQWHU DQG %XUHDX GH painter, Muhammad Sulaiman on the stand Creativity. The Female Artists Association of of Matrix Gallery. Dripping with blood, the 1LJHULD ZDV HTXDOO\ RQ JURXQG ,Q DOO DUW SLHFH DPSOLÀHV WKH RQ JRLQJ EORRG OHWWLQJ LQ WKH works were exhibited which comprised metal country occasioned by banditry, kidnapping sculpting, wood, paintings and mixed media. and insurgency with just a tiny glimmer of The quality of the artworks attests to the 2QRNR ZULWHV IURP $EXMD
EXHIBITION
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D
eath, an eventuality before all humans, still causes shock every time it strikes. On Friday May 21, 2021, the unthinkable happened to the Nigeria’s 21st &KLHI RI $UP\ 6WDͿ /W *HQ IbrahimAttahiru and ten other PLOLWDU\ RFHUV DERDUG WKH $LU )RUFH %HHFKFUDIW DLUFUDIW ZKLOH HQURXWH WKH 1LJHULDQ $LU )RUFH %DVH in Kaduna. The aircraft swung out of control of its pilots and nosedived, killing all passengers onboard. The hope of attending a Passing out Parade was dashed as the General and those traveling with him passed on. The story of the life of bravery that Attahiru embodied formed the crust of the biography titled “The Man, The Soldier and The Patriot.’’ Written by Niran Adedokun, a lawyer, writer and public relations practitioner, the book is a FUHDWLYH QRQ ÀFWLRQ WKDW SURYLGHV QHDU SLFWXUHVTXH details of Attahiru’s childhood, education and military career.Aproduct of an imaginative mind, the story is a matchup of several episodes in the
BOOK REVIEW life of the late General as told by family, friends and associates. Oscillating between a tribute and a cinematic experience in print, the story is split along the lines of discipline, character, love and relationships, dedication and integrity. In his early military days, Attahiru was taught the rigours of a life of service by learning to serve others even when it is not convenient. The idea of being self-reliant, maintaining decorum and focus came naturally with his upbringing. The author delved into the past experiences, revealing howAttahiru-though an orphan-was raised by a loving neighbor. From a maternal love from a non-biological mother, he grew to become a man of courage. Some details of his personal life were sketchy in the book. However, his wife Fati Attahiru, who wrote the foreword to the book, describes the nature of her husband’s work
and the strain it exerted on relationships and marriage and the vast opportunities to make new IULHQGV %H\RQG PDNLQJ WRXJK FDUHHU GHFLVLRQV Fati proves to be a strong and supportive husband for her husband. With warmth, she shares her memories of the beloved husband, how they met, dated and married. Attahiru’s death becomes more harrowing when the reader imagines the scenario painted at the National Defence Academy. The respect for hierarchy is built during the training years which usually continues in future career as an RFHU ULVHV WKURXJK WKH UDQNV 5HIUDLQLQJ IURP making the reminiscences of his last days another trauma for his loved ones,Attahiru’s biographical account is hinged on the ideals he lived and died for namely patriotism, leadership, respect for humanity and integrity. Each chapter is preceded by a quote from a famous person to set the mood for the read. The story ends with tributes to the man of valour who recalled with some degree of regret their shattered plans and devastation occasioned by the loss. Still, ‘The Man, The Solder, The Patriot’ celebrates life, not the agony of loss.
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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 18 , 2022
CICERO
Editor: Ejiofor Alike SMS: 08066066268 email:ejiofor.alike@thisdaylive.com
IN THE ARENA
South-east’s Spiralling Insecurity: Whose Script? The killing of five security detail and aides of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah last Sunday from a bloody ambush by suspected assassins in Anambra State is a strong evidence of the worrisome deterioration of security in the South-east, Louis Achi writes
W
hen Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, representing Anambra South Senatorial District in the National Assembly drove into EnugwuUkwu Community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State with his convoy, last Sunday, September 10, little did he know that he had entered a carefully prepared kill-zone. Heavily armed, “unknown gunmen,” presumably assassins sprung a commando-type ambush and opened withering fire on the convoy. Three police officers and two aides of the senator were killed in the incident while Ubah escaped by the whiskers, with the aid of his bullet-proof vehicle. The five South-east Zone’s constituent states - Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo were considered Nigeria’s safest for many years out of the six geopolitical niches. But today, it’s a different story. According to the 2019 report by Nigeria Mourns, the South-east Zone recorded the fewest number of reported killings with 94 deaths. The Southwest came second - recording 157 deaths with the South-south coming third with 341 deaths. The North-central notched 469 deaths and the Northeast recorded 1009 while North-eest recorded a grisly 1,118 deaths. In their investigative analysis by Oluwole Ojewale and Freedom Onuoha which sought to deconstruct the spiralling bloody violence in the South-east Zone, the duo noted that while no zone or state in Nigeria is immune to violence, insecurity in the South-east is particularly worrying. They correctly held that structures, institutions and personnel responsible for providing security, management and oversight at national and local levels are lacking. In their words: “The significance of the Southeast to national development cannot be ignored, and conflict here risks destabilising the area’s economy. Cities such as Onitsha, Aba and Nnewi have emerged as manufacturing and commercial hubs, with export links to other Central and West African countries. Manufacturing makes up 31 per cent and 30 per cent of businesses in Onitsha and Aba. The unfolding violence in the South-east poses a serious threat to economic development and social stability. “The dramatic surge in the activities of the criminals described as ‘unknown gunmen’ has not occurred in a vacuum. It’s a result of separatist agitation and associated repressive state responses, and the designation by the federal
Baba government of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organisation “The deterioration of security comes amid a growing campaign for Biafran independence staunchly championed by the IPOB, led by Nnamdi Kanu, with a huge following of young people born after the Nigerian civil war. Their desire for an independent Biafra state is fuelled by a feeling of marginalisation and historical grievances against the government.” Oluwole Ojewale is ENACT Regional Organised Crime Observatory Coordinator – Central Africa, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Regional Office for West Africa, the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin, while Freedom Onuoha is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Political Science and Coordinator Security, Violence and Conflict Research Group, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Regrettably, the government has responded to separatist agitation through iron-fisted, aggressive militarisation, security crackdowns and mass arrests of supporters and youths. This approach provokes further extremism. Amnesty International documented at least 115 people killed by security forces between March and June 2021, with over 500 arrested after police and military raids in response to spiralling violence in the South-east. Since 2021, the relatively calm region has taken a violent twist with frequent clashes between government forces and pro-Biafra supporters. Even as concerns about the violence and kidnappings associated with bandits and rogue
herders mount, IPOB’s leader, Kanu, who is now facing terrorism charges, said the group needed to protect the South-east and launched a security outfit named the Eastern Security Network (ESN) on December 13, 2020. Emma Powerful, IPOB’s spokesman, had said the objective of the network is to protect the South-east from “criminal activity”, adding that ESN is a replica of Amotekun, a security outfit established by the governors of the South-west to cage insecurity in that zone. While ESN has been blamed for escalating attacks on civilians and government facilities and security personnel in the South-east, the outfit has consistently exonerated itself from these atrocities. But notwithstanding the launch of ESN theoretically to ensure zonal security, recent data from Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and media reports show that killings in the South-east zone scaled up by 555.7 per cent between 2020 and 2021. Media reports of violent attacks collated by CFR and other media platforms were analysed to ascertain the number of killings in the Southeast. The analysis was from January 1, 2020, to December 12, 2021. Based on the data obtained, the South-east recorded 97 deaths in reported violent attacks between January 1, 2020 and December 12, 2020, while 636 deaths were recorded in reported violent attacks between December 13, 2020, and December 12, 2021. Significantly, Imo State recorded the highest number of fatalities with 208 deaths, representing 32.7 per cent of the total figure within one year. Imo was followed by Anambra with 187 deaths; Ebonyi recorded 103 deaths, followed by Abia with 70 deaths. Enugu recorded 68 deaths, representing the least. The epicentre of violence in the region is Imo State. On April 5, 2021, gunmen attacked the Imo police headquarters and correctional service. According to authorities, the gunmen freed at least 1,844 inmates during the attack and also looted the police armoury. The palpable failure of governance has led to an increase in attacks in the South-east. It is the responsibility of state establishments (military, security and intelligence agencies) to accurately determine the true identity of those responsible for the violence and ensure they account for their criminal deviance. The “unknown gunmen” increasingly target security personnel at their stations or checkpoints, often eliminating personnel and burning
their vehicles and duty posts. More than 20 police stations were attacked in parts of the South-east in the first five months of 2021, with many police officers killed. With more stolen guns and other procured weapons in their hands, attackers have become bolder and have branched into other criminal activities such as kidnapping for ransom in the zone’s five states. In another development, Powerful, IPOB spokesperson, believes the federal government “sponsored” criminal elements committing atrocities in the zone. But he was not able to ground this claim with evidence. He further held that ESN’s mandate is to secure farmlands and forests, adding that the government was intimidated by the formation of the security outfit. Despite available intelligence on the camps and communities used by these hoodlums as their operational bases, the governors in collaboration with the federal government, have failed to mobilise security operatives to rout this menace once and for all and liberate the people of the zone. It is alleged that some of the political leaders in the region want to use their political thugs to eliminate their opponents ahead of 2023 general election and blame the crimes on unknown gunmen. For instance, the attack on Senator Ubah was suspected to be an assassination attempt. Which politician will be the highest beneficiary in the unlikely event of Ubah’s successful assassination? This is one of the questions investigators should answer. In two recent videos that went viral, gunmen allegedly sponsored by one of the major political parties, were seen attacking the supporters and members of the Labour Party in Aninri and Awgu LGAs of Enugu State. Some observers believe the region’s governors do not agree among themselves and this is the reason they do not work as a team. They identify the setting up a regional security outfit, Ebubeagu, as a clear example, noting that to-date all the five states have not set up the outfit. Each state of the zone has its own local security outfit in contrast to the South-west where Amotekun was set up across the states, which helps them to closely interface and tackle insecurity in their zone. In all, as Ojewale and Onuoha correctly observed, a holistic response to insecurity in South-east is vital to relieving separatist tensions and addressing local grievances, which should ultimately help rebuild trust in the federal government. The foggy poser of who is scripting this regional infamy would then be permanently put to rest.
P O L I T I CA L N OT E S
Ayu’s Inflammatory Comments
Wike Ayu
There is nothing to suggest that the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyorchia Ayu wants the crisis in the party to end any time soon. Almost on a weekly basis, he makes incendiary comments that worsen the disagreement. Last week, Ayu was said to have given reason why the presidential candidate of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, picked Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate above Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike. Speaking during the Northern Christian Youth Assembly Summit in Abuja, Ayu said Atiku, picked Okowa as his running mate above Wike, because of humility and more excellent performance in office.
“We looked around and we thought we have to give not just a vice president that will assist him (Atiku) but we did our homework to select a man who is highly educated, very humble, and who has done very well as a governor in his home state. Okowa is the most qualified running mate. It is on his own personal merit that he was selected by the party as the vice presidential candidate to Atiku Abubakar. I think Nigeria will be very lucky to have two such people who are committed to development, who are detribalised, who believe in uniting this country,” the PDP chairman said. Coming at a time when all efforts are in top gear to solvethecrisisinthepartybetweenAyuandWike,the comment by Ayu is unfortunate. It clearly shows that
he does not want the disagreement to be resolved ahead of the general election. Recall that similar comment by Atiku has infuriatedWike and his allies. Atiku had said that he chose Okowa as his vice presidential candidate for the 2023 election over Wike because of his desire to unite Nigeria. He he added that he chose Okowa because he wanted the person he would be able to work with. All these incendiary comments at a time when they are supposed to be seeking reconciliation will only further divide the party. They also leave many wondering if the PDP really wants to win the 2023 presidential election. Or have they been assured of victory?
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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 18 , 2022
BRIEFINGNOTES Complicity of Negotiators in Kidnapping-for-Ransom Negotiators who deliver ransom to terrorists without security agencies raising eyebrows have made kidnapping a very lucrative business in Nigeria, and frustrated the federal government’s efforts to fight terrorism. Ejiofor Alike reports that negotiating with bandits is akin to engaging armed robbers to help their victims to recover their stolen money and other items
T
he public was outraged early last year with the visit by renowned Islamic Scholar, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi, to some bandits in the forests of the North-west. The cleric specifically visited the terrorists in the forests of Shinkafi and Gummi local government areas (LGAs) of Zamfara State. Gummi was said to have first gone to the forest of Tubali and Makkai in Shinkafi LGA, which were under the control of armed Fulani herdsmen. At the Tubali Forest where Gumi and his entourage reportedly met with about 150 armed Fulani bandits, their commander simply identified as Bello, expressed their grievances. Also at Makkai Forest, where the cleric met with more than 600 heavily armed bandits, their top commander, one Kachalla Turji, welcomed the Sheikh, and expressed frustration at government attitude towards them. Many Nigerians were shocked that the cleric could visit terrorists who were involved in mass murder, kidnapping-for-ransom, rape and cattle rustling without the security agencies raising eyebrows. His campaign for the bandits to be given the same treatment that was accorded the Niger Delta militants further fuelled public indignation. It also raised suspicion that President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration was using the cleric to test waters for the eventual granting of amnesty to the terrorists. This suspicion arose from President Buhari’s use of kid gloves to handle the armed Fulani herdsmen, who were unleashing mayhem on farmers and indigenous population. It was not surprising that when Gumi came up with the strange idea of granting amnesty to the bandits, many believed that it was a case of the voice of Jacob and hands of Esau. They had wondered why bandits of Fulani extraction, should be singled out for such special privilege that was accorded the Niger Delta youths whose region is the cash cow of the country. Gumi’s campaign became more worrisome when he began to assist relatives of kidnap victims to negotiate with bandits for the release of their victims. First, the foremost Islamic cleric facilitated the release of 27 students of Government Science College, in Kagara, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State in February 2021 after meeting bandits in Bangi forest. He had also facilitated the release of 39 students of the Federal College of Forestry, Kaduna, who were abducted on March 12, 2021. While 10 of them were released in two batches of five after their parents reportedly
Gumi
Manu
paid N17million ransom, the remaining 29 students regained their freedom on May 5, 2021 after spending 54 days in captivity. Also, following the gory video images of four teenage children belonging to the same family released to the internet by abductors of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack, Gumi had on August 2022 secured the release of four children, their parents and a 60-year-old woman, according to a statement issued by Gumi’s Media Consultant, Tukur Mamu. The statement noted that the renowned Islamic scholar reached out to the abductors through his media consultant. Mamu, who was not worried by media reports that described him as the lead negotiator, had earlier personally secured the release of seven of the kidnapped train passengers. Before he secured the release of the seven passengers, he had announced his formal withdrawal from negotiating with the terrorists due to what he had described as the alleged government’s lackadaisical attitude. But he said he had
to backtrack because of immense pressure and appeal by the relations and loved ones of the victims. Gumi had in May 2022 advised the federal government to pay ransom to the terrorists holding the 62 abducted passengers of the Abuja-Kaduna train. Due to Gumi’s perceived closeness to the bandits, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) had in June 2021 met with him to seek the release of hundreds of abducted students all over the country. Nigerians were shocked that Gumi and Mamu would play such role without being arrested by security agents and charged for alleged complicity in the atrocities being committed by these terrorists. Security analysts were aghast at the unhindered access of the duo to bandits when the security agents claimed that they were searching for these criminals. As a demonstration of his closeness to the terrorists, Gumi had in May 2021 declared authoritatively that bandits were not responsible for the kidnapping and killing of students of Greenfield University in Kaduna. He hinted that members of the Boko Haram terrorist group were responsible for the abduction.
Twenty-two students and a member of staff of the Greenfield University were kidnapped from the school campus earlier. The role of Gumi and Mamu was believed to have made kidnapping by terrorists a very lucrative business and frustrated the efforts of security agencies to fight the crime. Relations of kidnapped victims who benefitted from Gumi’s gesture claimed that they paid ransom for the release of their loved ones, but the cleric denied the claims. In May 2021, a parent of one of the abducted Kaduna students narrated how Gumi asked them to contribute N800,000 for one of the negotiators. “They took us to Gumi’s house. He directed us to Ahmad who invited a Fulani from Kaduna. We contributed N800,000 for him. He told us that it was just for transport. I cried and pleaded with him, saying I’m a widow. He said it wasn’t his concern.” But in a swift response, Gumi told The Cable that he knew nothing about the N800,000, describing the allegation as “nonsense”. That was when the bubble burst. Analysts had alleged that the controversial cleric must have been benefiting from ransoms paid to the abductors for the release of their captives. The role of Gumi and Mamu was said to be akin to that of informants who help victims of armed robbery to recover their stolen items. It did not come as a surprise to many Nigerians when the lead negotiator, Mamu was arrested in Cairo, Egypt penultimate week. He was detained at the Cairo International Airport for 24 hours before he was repatriated to Nigeria. The Department of State Services (DSS) also confirmed his arrest. Public Relations Officer (PRO) of DSS, Dr. Peter Afunanya, said in a statement that Mamu, “as a person of interest, was intercepted by Nigeria’s foreign partners at Cairo, Egypt, on September 6, 2022, while on his way to Saudi Arabia. He has been returned to the country and taken into the service’s custody.” The secret police last Tuesday told a Federal High Court, Abuja, that Mamu, was part of an international terrorist network who used the cover of journalism to perpetrate crime. Gumi and Mamu’s fraternity with the bandits had emboldened these criminals to continue their heinous crimes. Without payment of ransom, there will be no incentives for bandits to engage in abductions. Negotiators who deliver ransom are major drivers of terrorism in the country. The DSS has even said by the time it concludes its investigation, Nigerians would be shocked at the revelations. Nigerians are anxiously waiting.
NOTES FOR FILE
Kudos to LAUTECH Alumni Association
Farouq
For Osunleke Oludare Alaba, an ex-student of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), who returned his certificate to the school and demanded refund of his tuition fees, mother luck shone on him when he received help from the school’s alumni. The Global Alumni President of LAUTECH, Solomon Onilede, presented a cheque of N500,000 to Alaba. While presenting the cheque to him, Onilede said the financial intervention was to cushion the effect of economic realities on him. In his remark, Alaba commended the association for coming to his aide in his trying period and assured them that the money
would be judiciously used. Recall that Alaba had recently visited his alma mater to demand refund of his school fees and returned the certificate because he considered it worthless and added no value to his life. Since the incident, many have been wondering where is the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, led by Sadiya Umar Farouq, which has been going about claiming using multi-billion naira to train youths across the country. Securing jobs after graduation from schools these days has been of serious
concern in Nigeria. At the beginning of the year, Statista released a report forecasting the unemployment rate in Nigeria for 2022. The report estimated the unemployment rate in the year at nearly 33 per cent, a 0.5 increase from the previous year at 32.5 per cent. Also, in 2020, Nigeria’s Statistics Bureau, NBS, said in its unemployment report that about half of the nation’s 76,562 doctorate degree holders within the labour force were either jobless or underemployed. This report means that having a school certificate, up to a doctorate level, does not guarantee employment in Nigeria.
THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 18 , 2022
65
CICERO/ISSUES
Lalong
El-rufai
State Police: As North Finally Commits to Restructuring Plagued by a severe threat to their jurisdictions, northern governors and monarchs have finally climbed down from their high horses, seeking urgent creation of state police to change the narrative. Louis Achi examines the crucial U-turn by the northern leaders
O
n Monday, September 12, 2022, the 19 northern governors and all the region’s conservative monarchs crossed an unaccustomed line in the unfolding agitation for a new Nigeria. They called for the amendment to the 1999 Constitution to give legal backing for the immediate establishment of state police. They resolved that the creation of state police was the only way to confront the continued insecurity in the region and country at large with kidnapping, massive killing and wanton destruction of property spiralling. The northern leaders made their position known in the communiqué issued at the end of the meeting of the Northern Governors Forum (NGF) and the Northern Traditional Rulers Council (NTRC) held in Abuja. Reading the communique, the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Mr. Simon Bako Lalong, explained that the meeting reviewed the security situation in the North and other matters relating to its development and resolved to support the amendment of the Constitution to accommodate the establishment of state police. According to him, this would effectively and efficiently address the security challenges of the region. It could be recalled that on June 25, 2012, the 36 state governors met in Abuja, under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), and called for the establishment of state police as a crucial strategy of tackling the spiralling security crises. For good measure, they also tabled a fresh demand for an increase in the controversial ‘security votes’
which they draw monthly from the federal purse. The routine security fund, a package the governors draw in hundreds of millions of naira monthly, has been criticised in the past as fuelling corruption since its deployments are never made public and not accounted for. Providing justification for their position, they held that it was as a result of the escalating violence by the terrorist sect, Boko Haram, which had overstretched routine allocations. The state chief executives also called for the creation of a special intervention fund to augment their monthly security votes. But rather curiously a few weeks after this milestone position was taken, on July 28, 2012, the 19 northern governors backtracked and rejected the calls for state police, a position they had earlier proclaimed alongside their southern peers. They made the U-turn in a communiqué issued by the 19 northern governors at a meeting presided over by the then chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu. The meeting was held at the Niger State Government House, in Abuja. According to the communiqué, “The forum was not in support of the creation of state police. It, however, resolved to prevail on the federal government to embark on police reform that will assist the states in control and management of police affairs, and further emphasis
on the sound philosophy for modern policing by amending the provision of section 215.” The northern governors and elite are rightly or wrongly perceived to have an unflattering history of resistance to progressive changes that should fast-track socioeconomic transformation of the country. For example, during the ENDSARS agitations, northern participation was marginal or zero. However, this was largely due to the fact that the region was largely free from police brutality and insulated from the impunity associated with corrupt police officers serving in the southern part of the country. Many also believe the region’s quirky position flow from political motivation to sustain the status quo, a scenario they believe restricting would undermine. But it must be acknowledged that some voice from the region have been chirping in support for restructuring. But these voices are seen to be too few. Against the backdrop of extreme insecurity haunting the nation and stunting socio-economic development, many believe it’s really about time to constitutionally unchain the governors to change the narrative Today, unparalleled, multifarious insecurity is driving extreme uncertainty in both the political environment and vital economic arenas. These days, every state in Nigeria is under the siege of terrorism, banditry, kidnappingfor-ransom, and ritual killings. Openly, state institutions are under attack from non-state actors. Worse, the level of insecurity across the
country not only jeopardises citizens’ safety and means of livelihood, but also impedes the exercise of the rights of Nigerians. Relevant human development metrics mirror significant socio-economic and political regression on this account. More curiously, many governors are even uncharitably perceived as being lazy crybabies in grappling with security situations bedeviling their jurisdictions. Some believe governors find it easier to hop into a private jet and take a less-than-one-hour flight on taxpayers’ money to the well-protected Aso Rock to complain to the president than summon their theoretical security chiefs and evolve a strategic plan on how to deal with security issues within their territory. But cut to the bone, the principal claim of the governors is that they are handicapped by the 1999 Constitution that ties security to the federal government. This is a fundamental issue that cannot be glossed over. Now that the northern governors and monarchs have aligned with their southern peers, fundamental changes are then indeed afoot. NGF Chairman and Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, fittingly captured this new, urgent thinking when he recently observed that, “As Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, I am happy to report that the Forum supports any effort to create a more inclusive and collaborative platform to mobilise an immediate national response to our country’s security challenges.” With the new momentum, the National Assembly is not expected to become cogs in the wheel of restructuring starting from the security arena.
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CICERO/REPORT
Brewing Crisis over N48bn Pipeline Surveillance Contract The renewed tension between two ex-warlords in the Niger Delta, Government Ekpemupolo (a.k.a Tompolo) and Mujahid Asari-Dokubo over a N48 billion pipeline surveillance contract has further reinforced the growing influence of non-state armed actors in the public space and the shrinking power of the federal government to discharge its constitutionally guaranteed obligations effectively, Gboyega Akinsanmi writes
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fter many years in the doldrums, the founder of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force (NDVF), Mujahid Dokubo-Asari last week hit the airwaves again to express his grievance over the N48 billion pipeline surveillance contract awarded by the federal government. The contract was awarded recently to Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, a private maritime security firm founded by Government Ekpemupolo (a.k.a Tompolo), an erstwhile Commander of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND). By the terms of the contract, the Tompoloowned firm will protect all oil pipelines crisscrossing nearly all the states in the Niger Delta. The scope of the contract also covers the entire Kingdom of Kalabari, the ancestral home of Dukobo-Asari, which is largely inhabited by the Ijaw people in Rivers State. At least, as the ex-warlord claimed, the kingdom hosts about a 83-kilometre stretch of the entire pipeline that Global West was engaged to protect. The award of the contract has stoked protracted disapproval, especially from notable public authorities, civil society organisations and repentant warlords in the Niger Delta, among others. In a viral video last week, Dokubo-Asari threatened to prevent the Tompolo-owned firm from executing the contract within the Kingdom of Kalabari, which he claimed, falls within the land of his birth, as well as his area of influence as a freedom fighter. Dokubo-Asari therefore raised two fundamental issues about the decade-long relative peace in the Niger Delta, which experts believed, calls for national concerns. He first pointed out the role of the ex-warlords in helping the federal government “to stabilise the Niger Delta from the era of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to date after decades of instability that cut oil production by almost 70 per cent.” Second, the ex-warlord accused the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, of playing with relative peace the oil enclave has been enjoying under President Buhari. He cited the role the minister played in the award of the contract in favour of Tompolo’s firm. Specifically, he alleged that the minister obviously influenced the contract for Global West to spite other former warlords from the Niger Delta. On these grounds, he argued that the federal government utterly erred by awarding the pipeline protection contract to Global West alone. Like Dokubo-Asari, a group of youths in Akwa Ibom, Ibeno Men-Clue Development Association, also opposed the award of the contract to the ex-warlord’s company. Its Coordinator, Mr Itam Ikotinye, in a communique recently, claimed that the host communities did not need former militants to safeguard oil installations within their territory. Given the growing opposition to the contract nationwide, tension has again started building up across the Niger Delta with the resolve of some ex-warlords and youth groups to prevent Tompolo’s firm from executing the contract within their areas of influence. Discerning the imminent relapse of the region’s relative peace, the Igba of Warri Kingdom, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor last Monday advised the federal government to revoke the contract with immediate effect. Ogbebor premised her argument on Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). Consistent with this provision, Ogbebor argued that it “is the onus of the federal government
Slyva
Asari-Dokubo
to manage the affairs of the Niger Delta and not an individual or a company.” This position conforms with the belief of Ondo State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, who argued that the contract “raises fundamental questions on the sincerity of the advisers of the federal government on security issues.” But why did the federal government award the contract to a security contractor linked to an ex-warlord? On behalf of the apex government, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited awarded the contract due to the vicious cycle of oil theft and illegal oil refining to which Nigeria lost $3.27 billion worth of oil in 14 months, a development that had plunged both federal and state governments into fiscal and liquidity crisis. In March 2022, also, Chairman, Heirs Oil & Gas, Mr. Tony Elumelu, put the loss at 95 per cent of daily oil production. At the same time, then Chief Executive, Seplat Energy Plc, Mr. Austin Avuru, corroborated Elumelu’s claim on the magnitude of oil theft in the country. Sharing his field experience, Avuru claimed that at least 80 per cent of crude oil produced from oil rigs never got to the terminals due to oil theft. Also, the government awarded the contract due to two fundamental challenges, which former Commander, Training and Doctrine Command, Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Ishola Williams (rtd) claimed, posed existential threat to the federation. The worst of the challenges relates to the worsening insecurity, which according to Global Rights, has cost no fewer than 5,708 lives in the last eight months alone. The second manifests in the widening deficit that has been dotting the expenditure-revenue exposure of the federal government. As illustrated in the recent economic reports of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), between January and May, the federal government generated about N1.94 trillion,
though its aggregate expenditure stood at N4.73 trillion. As a consequence, the apex government spent N2.78 trillion more than its revenue in the first five months of 2022. In response to these stark socio-economic realities, Group CEO, NNPC Limited, Mallam Mele Kyari justified the pipeline protection contract award to Global West. Kyari revealed that the contract was first and foremost aimed at ensuring end-to-end pipeline surveillance. Also, he argued that such an objective can only be accomplished through the involvement of private entities and community stakeholders in collaboration with security operatives. But is this the first time the federal government will award such a contract to companies linked to the ex-warlords? In 2011, for instance, the federal government under President Goodluck Jonathan first came up with this initiative. It subsequently integrated it the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP). Its objective then was to further de-escalate insurgencies in the Niger Delta, which according to reports, plummeted oil production by over 700,000 barrels per day when late President Yar’Adua assumed office in 2007. After Yar’Adua’s death, Jonathan introduced pipeline surveillance contracts as part of programmes designed to deepen the cessation of hostility in the Niger Delta. While the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) directly awarded maritime security surveillance contracts to the companies of the demobilised warlords then, NNPC Limited brokered pipeline protection deals. These decisions had ignited public disapproval, especially among the opposition parties. In 2012 as shown in diverse reports, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) awarded a $103.4 million contract for the strategic concessioning partnership between the NIMASA and Global West. In the same manner, the FEC brokered $9 million pipeline protection contracts each with Dokubo-Asari; former Commander, Niger Delta Strike Force (NDSF), Farah Dagogo and the Founder of People’s Liberation Force (PLF), Egberi Papa. Also, NIMASA signed a $3.8 million pipeline protection contract each with the Founder of Niger Delta Vigilante (NDV), Chief Tom
Tompolo
Ateke and a leader of the defunct MEND, Ebikabowei Victor-Ben mainly to mitigate armed attacks at offshore oil installations. Under the contracts, the ex-warlords were saddled with the protection of vulnerable oil pipelines and police the creeks as a strategy to stem oil theft, pipeline vandalism, maritime crimes and armed campaigns. Given this trend, the Buhari’s administration obviously adopted Jonathan’s policy response to managing highly contentious issues in the Niger Delta. Is the approach justified within the context of the country’s extant laws? As naval strategists argued, the contract evidently lacks legal basis under the 1999 Constitution. Its signing practically contravenes Section 217 of the 1999 Constitution and Section 2 of the 2004 Nigeria Armed Forces Act, which designates the Nigerian Navy as the sole authority empowered to defend and secure Nigeria’s core values from and at sea. Also, under Section 214 of the Constitution and Section 33(b)(v) of the 1968 Nigeria Police Regulations, 1968, Nigeria Force Marine was established to enforce law and order only within the country’s vast creeks, internal waters and swamps. With the recent award of the N48 billion pipeline protection contract to Global West, naval strategists observed that the federal government “only succeeded in ceding the statutory obligations of the Nigeria Navy and Force Marine to the non-state armed actors. This decision suggests the waning capacity of the federal government to secure its territory due to what they ascribed to the misplaced priorities of the political leadership. Besides its nullity legally, the signing of the contract further portrays a bleak future for a federation beset with heinous security challenges - terrorism in the North-east, armed violence in the North-west, rising cases of kidnapping -for-ransom in South-west and South-South, farmers-herdsmen conflict in the North-central and separatist agitation in the South-east. With the rising tension in the Niger Delta, as naval strategists observed, Nigeria unequivocally risks tragic implosion if the ex-warlords return to the creeks again
THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 18 , 2022
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Editor: Ejiofor Alike SMS: 08066066268 email:ejiofor.alike@thisdaylive.com
Will INEC Yield to Court Orders on Akpabio? Udora Orizu writes that the ruling by a Federal High Court in Abuja ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission to accept and publish the name of Godswill Akpabio as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress for Akwa Ibom North/West senatorial district for 2023, may be a breach of the Electoral Act
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ast week, a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accept and publish the name of Godswill Akpabio as the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) for Akwa Ibom North/West senatorial district for 2023. In the last three months, INEC had engaged in a battle of words with several critics and political analysts who believe that the electoral body may reinstate Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan and former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates for Yobe North senatorial district and Akwa Ibom North West senatorial districts come 2023. Akpabio and Lawan were both presidential aspirants on the platform of APC for the 2023 general election but lost out to Ahmed Bola Tinubu. Since then they have been making frantic efforts to claim the senatorial tickets of the party for the Yobe North and Akwa Ibom North West senatorial districts, respectively. But, Bashir Machina (Yobe North) and Udom Ekpoudom (Akwa Ibom North West) who had earlier emerged as candidates in the primaries supervised by INEC officials in their respective senatorial zones, have refused to withdraw from the contest to pave the way for the two party bigwigs. Though the APC submitted Akpabio and Lawan’s names to INEC, the electoral umpire had rejected the names, insisting that it would only recognise those who won the primary elections. However, there are fears and speculations that INEC may have doctored documents to allow Lawan and Akpabio actualise their senatorial ambitions despite not participating in APC primaries. A media report last month claimed that INEC had backdated Certified True Copies of reports of the APC primaries “to accommodate” Lawan and Akpabio. But in a statement by its spokesperson, Mr. Festus Okoye, INEC denied doctoring or certifying any document in favour of either of the two APC chieftains. The commission said it had followed through its timetable, adding that there was no point in its schedules where the names of the persons in question were published. “The forms of the two personalities in question were not published by the commission. The decision of the commission triggered legal actions which are still ongoing. It therefore defies logic and common sense to go around and submit doctored documents purportedly recognising the duo as candidates when the matter is clearly sub-judice,” the statement said. Okoye said the copy of the form uploaded on the online news platform as evidence, was not properly fact-checked and had thereby encouraged misinformation. He called for responsible reporting of the development just as he described the story by the online platform as an unwarranted attack on the electoral body. Meanwhile, delivering judgment in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1011/2022 and filed and prosecuted for the APC and Akpabio, Justice Emeka Nwite, held that INEC acted illegally by refusing to accept and publish Akpabio’s name when it was submitted to it by the APC as its candidate. Justice Nwite found that Akpabio was validly nominated as the Akwaibom North/West Senatorial District candidate of the APC from the primary conducted by the party’s National Working Com-
Akpabio
mittee (NWC) on June 9, 2022. The judge declared that INEC “is bound by the provisions of Section 29 (3) of the Electoral Act to publish only the personal particulars of the candidate of the first plaintiff for the Akwa-Ibom North/West Senatorial District elections in the person of the second plaintiff (Akpabio) as received from the first plaintiff. The judge also declared that INEC cannot publish any other name or particulars of any other candidate as candidate of the APC for the Akwa – lbom North/West Senatorial District elections, “except as nominated, submitted and received from the first plaintiff (APC). Justice Nwite held that INEC’s claim that it had monitored an illegal primaries and could not monitor the one conducted by the APC’s NWC, was not tenable and unlawful because it is only the NWC of a political party that can conduct valid primaries. He then ordered INEC to publish the name and particulars of Akpabio as the candidate of the APC for the Akwa-Iborn North/West Senatorial District in the 2023 general election as nominated and submitted to it by the party. Justice Nwite rejected INEC’s claimed that it declined to monitor the primary conducted by APC on June 9, which produces Akpabio as the party’s candidate, because it had monitored the one conducted on May 27. The judge faulted INEC for electing to monitor the May 27 primary, conducted by an illegal faction of the party led by Augustine Ekanem as against the June 9 primary authorized
conducted by the APC NWC, an organ of the party authorised by law to conduct such primaries. Justice Nwite said: “I am of the view that the defendant (INEC) cannot choose and impose a candidate on a political party. The fact that INEC chose to monitor an illegal primary and produce a report, cannot give it legitimacy. INEC cannot unilaterally pronounce a primary conducted by a political party or a candidate submitted to it as invalid, without a valid court order.” With this ruling there are concerns about the court being biased. The judiciary is an indispensable part of the institutional bulwark of every nation and its nation building efforts. Of all the branches of government, the judiciary is charged with dispensing justice according to law and facts, which must be done without bias or ill-will. Concerns are also mounting on the fate of Ekpoudom who legally won his election, what becomes of him if INEC decides to go with court ruling? Akpabio, from the onset broke the Electoral Act by standing for two positions in the same election period. Section 115 (D) of the Electoral Act, 2022 stipulates that no person shall sign, or obtain more than one form as a candidate for different elections. If found guilty the offender is liable to two years imprisonment. Despite repeated assurances by the electoral body that it had not altered electoral documents in favour of Lawan, and Akpabio, with this ruling by the high court, concerns have continued to mount on whether the electoral umpire will go against the rule of law and yield to the demand of the ruling party and the court to pave the way for the two party bigwigs.
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INTERNATIONAL Techniques of Institutional Corruption and Negotiations with Terrorists in Nigeria:The Falsity of Mediation
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orruption is a societal ill. So is terrorism. Negotiation and mediation are means of controlling societal ills and misunderstanding. But corruption has become systemic in Nigeria for reasons that are not far-fetched. Following General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida’s 1985 coup, he empaneled in 1986 a 17-man Political Bureau chaired by Professor J. Samuel Cookie‘to review Nigeria’s political history and identify the basic problems which have led to our failure in the past and suggest ways of resolving and coping with these problems.’ More than 27,000 memoranda were received from Nigerians by the Bureau. In the final report of the Political Bureau submitted in March 1987 to the military government of President Babangida, corruption and indiscipline was not only identified as the bane of the Nigerian society but its origin was dated back to 1967. The year 1967 is synonymous with the Yakubu Gowonian military era. Thus, indiscipline and corruption began with the military governments in Nigeria. Money was not Nigeria’s problem, and according to General Yakubu Gowon, it is how to spend it that was the major headache, hence one foundation for institutional corruption. In this regard, how do we explain the recidivist character of indiscipline and corruption to the extent that Nigeria has to be described in 2016 by a British Prime Minister, David Cameron, as fantastically corrupt?The fantastic character of corruption in Nigeria is more critical at the level of negotiations with bandits and terrorists, a situation that raises questions about techniques of negotiation, especially at the institutional level. For instance, only elected people can answer the title of ‘President’ in general diplomatic practice, but General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) who came to power by a coup d’état made it clear that he should be addressed as a president. This generated much controversy and as a way of compromise, intellectuals opted to qualify IBB’s presidency by adding ‘military’ to it, that is, ‘military president.’ This is one of the manifestations of the techniques of institutional corruption. Without any whiff of doubt, various techniques have been adopted to fraudulently sustain corruption despite the establishment of many institutions to combat the societal ills. As the ICPC, EFCC, and the Code of Conduct Bureau are working tooth and nail to prevent and sanction various societal ills, the response of the Nigerian political elite, who are actually politico-economic saboteurs, has been very interesting, particularly because the techniques are happily condoned. And most unfortunately, however, various concepts are used to confuse the public. They talk about mediating the misunderstanding between the Government and the terrorists. Has there really being a true Buhari mediation process in the spirit of international law?
Mediation in International Practice Mediation is one of the peaceful means of resolving inter-state disputes provided for in Article 33 of the United Nations Charter: Good Offices, Arbitrage, Conciliation, Diplomacy, judicial settlement, inquiry, regionalism, direct negotiations, etc. Mediation is a technique of negotiation generally initiated by a third party. All these methods are aimed at peacemaking but their operational principles vary from one another. For instance, the diplomatic method is essentially about negotiation in which there is no use of force. The negotiations can be direct or indirect. Generally, this method is adopted when the misunderstanding is still at the level of a crisis and not when it has reached the level of a conflict. As for the Conciliation method, it is derived from inquiry in which the inquirers are empowered by convention. Signatories to the convention accept ab initio to submit their disputes to a conciliation commission, implying that the conciliation becomes obligatory. A party to the dispute can ask the commission to hear the dispute or ask for inquiry into the dispute. In this regard, the powers of the Conciliation Commission are not limited to the examination of the facts. They extend to the examination of the dispute in all its ramifications before proffering an enduring solutions to the dispute. Additionally, conciliation is guided by two principles: collegiality and permanency. Membership of a Conciliation Commission is three but generally five. It is not established ad hoc for every dispute that arises, but established well in advance by convention. Conciliation method is not for resolving conflicts of law that require the application of legal rules but for resolution of conflict of interests. And more importantly, the conciliation process is of a political nature and not jurisdictional because the solution proffered does not have any force of law for the warring parties.
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In the same vein, the method of arbitrage has its own regulations. International arbitrage is for the resolution of disputes betweenandamongStatesbyjudgesagreedtobythedisputants. Besides, a member in dispute must consent to the jurisdictional competence of the arbitral court put in place based on their own choice. In this regard, Article 37 of the First Convention of The Hague of 18 October 1907 on peaceful resolution of international conflicts, provided a simple definition of arbitrage as follows: ‘l’arbitrage international a pour objet le règlement des litiges entre les Etats par des juges de leur choix et sur la base du respect du droit,’ meaning ‘international arbitrage is aimed at the resolution of disputes between States by judges of their choice on the basis of rule of war.’Thus, there is no material differentiation between judicial settlement and arbitrage. And perhaps most importantly is mediation about which we aremoreconcernedindiscussinggovernment’snegotiationswith the terrorists. Mediation approach is particularly important in the conduct and management of international disputes, especially in terms of its frequent adoption as a choice by warring parties. For instance, in addressing the dispute betweenTurquie and the Concert of European Powers, Article 8 of theTreaty of Paris, done on 30 March 1856 established a preliminary mediation principle to be complied with by all the signatories. In also addressing the disagreements over the territories of Congo Basin, Article 2 of the General Act of Berlin of 26 February 1885 imposed mediation as a first desideratum. And true enough, Articles 2-8 of the 18 October 1907 which were a direct reflection of the provisions of the 29 July 1899 Convention, also insisted on adoption of mediation method for containing disputes as a first step. In this regard, whether mediation has a spontaneous character
Institutional corruption is shamefully more glaring at the level of the Federal Government. Coincidentally and perhaps most unfortunately, the appointees of PMB are the ones generally involved in public embezzlement. PMB told Nigerians that he only appoints the people he knows well to public positions. There is nothing wrong with this policy but the people PMB knows well also recklessly loot the public treasury, meaning that something must be wrong. The case of the Accountant-General of the Federation is quite mind boggling. If the various governments of Nigeria since 1994 have not been fraudsters per excellence, how can a government collect financial deposits from the public in 1994 for possible allocations of houses and in 2022, none of the governments since then has bothered to deal with the issue? No houses built. No allocations and no refund of deposits. Economic saboteurs and those funding terrorists are also well known. But they are all untouchables under PMB whose policies are nepotistic. Consequently, for as long as the whole polity is predicated on dishonesty of purpose and policies of Fulanisation and Islamisation are pursued, insecurity cannot be arrested. Any mediation and arrest of negotiators with terrorists will be false in design and execution
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VIE INTERNATIONALE
or it is solicited, the outcome of any mediation exercise is necessarily advisory and not obligatory. The main purpose of mediation is to seek an amicable solution before the use of arms. It is important to also note at this juncture the existence of Special Mediation, which is also referred to as Bilateral Mediation, the origin of which is traceable to Article 8 of the Initiative of the American Delegation. In other words, the disputing parties nominate third parties to represent and negotiate on their behalf in the absence of agreement between the disputing parties. More interestingly, there is also the Pan-American Convention of Buenos Aires of 23 December 1936 which made it possible to appoint an eminent citizen from a list of pre-established names of people (two nominees from each Member State in America). Grosso modo, unlike in the case of Good Offices in which the third parties seeking peace do not participate in the peace negotiations or do withdraw from the process immediately the disputing parties accept to discuss, mediators necessarily take active part in negotiations. In this regard, to what extent can we talk about mediation in the matter of the dispute between the Government of Nigeria and the jihadist terrorists and the Boko Haram insurgents? Mediation in international practice is an exercise between sovereign states. In the context of the saga in Nigeria, the terrorists and the Boko Haram are basically armed bandits. They are not sovereign states in whatever manner they are looked at. Consequently, is it right to talk about mediation? In fact, going by the Pan-American Convention of Buenos Aires of 23 December 1936, who is the eminent Nigerian appointed to negotiate with the terrorists and armed bandits on behalf of the Government and people of Nigeria? Alex Enumah of ThisDay reported on 13 September 2022 of the arrest of Tukur Mamu by the Department of State Services (DSS) in Egypt on his way to a terrorist Summit. Tukur Mamu and Sheik Gumi have been negotiating with the terrorists but information on whose behalf the negotiations have taken place has not been made clear. So have the terms of the mediation not been made clear. What has been made clear is that Tukur Mamu has been negotiating on behalf of the detained Abuja-Kaduna Train kidnapped victims and that he is part of an international terrorist work. Based on this the DSS has gone to court seeking a ruling to allow for his detention for sixty days and to enable further investigations in the first instance. As ThisDay reports have it, Tukur Mamu ‘was intercepted by the Nigerian foreign partners at Cairo, Egypt, on September 6, 2022, while on his way to Saudi Arabia for a clandestine meeting with commanders and top leaders of terrorists organisations across the globe.’ On his deportation to Nigeria, ‘a duly signed search warrant was executed in his residence and office at No. 4 Ali Ladan street, Sabon Kawo GRA and No. 14 Mamona Road, Anguwan Sarki, Kaduna State and various exhibits and items to establish his complicity with terrorists were recovered.’ As good as the interception of Tukur Mamu might have been, it does not really mean much in terms of nipping terrorism in the bud. There are Boko Haram agents and terrorists in government. There is nothing to suggest any true intention of Government to fight the Boko Haram. The various dimensions of techniques of corruption in Nigeria make it difficult to have an enduring solution to the problem of insecurity in Nigeria. Nigeria is truly fantastically corrupt because many Nigerians have also chosen to be flagrantly and fantastically dishonest by acquiescence in the conduct and management of public affairs.
Techniques of Institutional Corruption The provision of conflicting policy instruments is a major technique of corruption generation.The controversy between the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Police force leadership over the recruitment of constables is a good case in point. ThePSCplacedanadvertasking for applications for recruitment into the 2022 constables’programme in its website but the police force authorities, in a counter-statement, told interested applicants to discard the PSC notice in the belief that only the Police Force has the sole responsibility for recruitment process. As told by the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, the PSC advertisement ‘has no connection with the Nigeria Police Force nor is it in tandem with the Police recruitment process and should be disregarded in its entirety.’This counter statement prompted the PSC to step back to ‘give the Commission the time to settle its differences with the police authorities in the interest of the nation.’ Legally speaking, the PSC has the sole responsibility for recruitment and not the police force authorities because theThird Schedule of the Constitution, in its paragraph 30, Part 1, provides that‘the Commission shall have powers to a) appoint persons to offices (other than the Office of the Inspector-General of Police) in the Nigeria Police Force; and b) dismiss and exercise the disciplinary control over persons holding any office referred to in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph.’ Additionally, in a Court of Appeal judgment on 30 September 2022, ‘Justice Peter Ige held that by the combined provisions of Section 153 subsection (10(m) Section 153 subsection (2) and Section 215 subsection (1)(b) of the constitution and paragraph 30, part 1 of the Third Schedule to the Constitution, as well as sections 6 and 24 of the Police Service Commission (Establishment) Act, the Police Service Commission is the sole statutory body exclusively empowered and responsible for the appointment, promotion, dismissal and exercise of disciplinary control over persons holding or aspiring to hold offices in the NPF except for the office of the IG.’ (“Buhari, resolve impasse over police recruitment,”The Punch editorial of 2nd September 2022). Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com
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Help, Our Future is Relocating Chidi Amuta
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erhaps unconsciously, a new sense of identity has crept in andisbecomingdominantamong many Nigerians. A curious sense of ‘anywhere is home’ is becoming commonplace among young Nigerians.Acompulsivemigration to other lands, a sense of “otherness” is beginning to define the aspiration of our youth in terms of wheretheycallhome. Prideinournationalidentity whichusedtodefinethosenowintheir50sand60s is gradually being replaced by a longing for other lands, a sense of ‘the grass is greener over there’ as the destination for the fulfillment of private dreamsandtheattainmentofpersonalhappiness and contentment. In droves, our youth are being attracted outwards by the order, peace and opportunity in other lands where good governance and orderly progress has created a home for all who treasure a better life. Relocation has suddenly assumed the status of a wild current and a common preoccupation. What began as a voluntary choice of place of abode has become a compulsive drive to flee to other lands in search of work, personal fulfillment and peace of mind. A cross section of Nigerians, mostly youth, are scrambling to leave the country, to relocate to some other country where they can find employment, security and contentment. A strange word has been coined from one of our languages to describe the spirit of the fleeing generation. Let us freely call them the “japa” generation, those who must flee in order literally to live. They are an army of young people who see no hope in our country. They leave school but cannot find work for their able hands, eager minds and willing souls. Even where they find the rare work opportunity, their earnings can neither buy them sustenance nor a better life than their ageing parents. Lives and limbs are too unsafe for their democratic rights of freedom of movement to be safely exercised. In today’s Nigeria, a certain indifference to the aspirations of the youth defines the doctrine of an insensitive regime. President Buhari was addressing the Commonwealth Business Forum on 18th April, 2018 and was reported as having made some distasteful remarks about Nigerian youth to interviewers. He had remarked that Nigerian, youth most of whom had not bothered to receive an education, felt entitled to free social services simplybecause Nigeria isanoil producing country. These reservations were quickly summarized as the president branding all Nigerian youth as lazy and unprepared for leadership and responsibility. A combination of opposition political hawks and social media sharks tore the president to shreds evenbeforehisplanelandedbackinAbuja.Realising that those aged under 35 constitute the bulk of Nigeria’s surging demographics, the president who was heading towards a bumpy second term campaign beat a hasty retreat. Ever since, hostility to youth has become one of the unsavoury trademarks of the Buhari presidency even as it prepares to leave office in 2023. A youth spiring angered by this attitude was to erupt in wild open protestsacrossthecountryinthe2020ENDSARS protests. Today,innearlyeverystatecapital,thepassport officehasbecomeathrivingmarketplace.Throngs of passport seekers, mostly youth aged under 35, besiege the offices either through touting agents or directly in a bid to acquire passports that can at least give them a fighting chance to escape from this place. Data recently released by the Immigration Department indicates that passport issuance increased by 38% in 2021 mostly as a result of more Nigerians seeking to relocate from the country. The direction of recent relocation migrations is predictable. A recent PEW research survey revealedthatabout45%ofNigeria’sadultpopulation is planning to relocate to another country in five years time. Of the 12 countries surveyed from Africa, Middle East, Europe and North America, Nigeriansrankedhighestamongcountrieswhose highest number of citizens want to relocate to some other country. In another study in 2021, it was revealed that 7 in every 10 Nigerians planned to relocate if the opportunity presented itself. The favorite destinations of relocating Nigerians are the US, the UK, Canada , Australia, Spain and South Africa. Among these destinations, Canada represents a new world of opportunities with profuse open-
Buhari ingsforNigerianssomuchsothat‘movingto Canada’hasbecomeasubindustryinNigeria. Officesforimmigrationfacilitationservices for those moving to Canada have sprang up in many urban areas. Recent official data from from Canadian immigration sources indicate that12,595 NigeriansrelocatedtoCanadaalonein2019. Applications for permanent residency by to Nigerians in Canada in 2015 was 4000. By 2019, the number had climbed to 15,595, an increase of over 214.9% in a period that roughly corresponds with the tenure of the Buhari presidency. Besides outright relocations in response worsening economic and security concerns, recentdysfunctionsinNigeria’s educational system have increased the outflow of Nigerian students going to study abroad. Following endless strikes and work stoppages by teachers in public universities, Nigeria’s public universities have remained largely closed for most of the last couple of years. This has put pressure on well to do parents to find the resources to send their children to foreign universities. Most of these educational migrants leave Nigeria with little prospect of ever returning home again after their studies. Here again, we can identify the United Kingdom as a favourite destination for obvious reasons. In the 2019/2020 session, the number of Nigerian students in UK universities was 13,000. By the 2021/2022 session, the number had grown to 21,300, an increase of over 64% in a little over one year. This can be attributed to the prolonged ASUU strikes and other disruptions in Nigeria’s tertiary education calendar. These educational migrants include the children of most of the senior government officials who have now made it part of their summer vacation schedules to travel abroad to attend their children’s graduation ceremonies in lavish phopt opportunities routinely beamed through the internet to their less fortunate compatriots whose children in public universities are marooned at home for endless strikes by their teachers. The number of educational migrants to the United Kingdom is projected to increase to over 30,000 in another year or so. This population of students would ordinary not qualify as immigrants but for the incentives being provided by the host country.From2020,theBritishgovernment
introduced an incentive for Nigerian graduates of British universities. Under the Tier 2 Visa programme, such Nigerian graduates are allowed to stay back and work in the uk for a further two years after which they can decide on whether they want to return home or stay on. Bymostinformedestimates,therecentwaveof Nigerians relocating out of the country represents thelargestmovementofNigeriansoutofthecountrysincetheendofthecivilwaroverfiftyyearsago. What is significant is the profile of those who are relocating. They are mostly skilled youth including doctors, nurses, IT engineers, university lecturers and technicians. They also include young people who complete their studies abroad and opt to stay backbecauseourcountryhasnothingtoofferthem either by way of jobs, opportunities or even basic safety. Some of them have been educated in elite universitiesathomeandabroad.Thisdemographics isthemoredebilitatingforournationaldevelopment prospects. They are the ones whom our elite have expended huge foreign exchange to train as well as the best from our public and private universities. Add to this migration of skilled persons the now familiar feature of illegal migrations across the Sahara desert and the Mediterranean mostly of unskilled youth, artisans, labourers and migrant sex workers. Tragicallyforournation,theareasworsthitbythe current wave of migration are the most strategic. We live in a world where the ranking of nations in the development ladder is being determined by competitiveadvantageinIT,engineering,medicine and the availability of a skilled work force. These are the youth leaving in droves. What it means is that in the y/ears ahead, our nation will not be able to compete with the rest of the world in the vital areasofspecializationinaworldruledbynewideas and novel strategies. Thepsychologicalprofileanddispositionofthose leavingisantitheticaltopatriotismandanyhopeof nationaldevelopment.Manyofthemareangrywith a homeland that many of them hoped and believed in but has turned their hopes into ashes. There is also palpable disdain for our national leadership which ahs continued to disappoint the hopes of the people. And yet beneath all this is as certain secret wish for a better nation, a more worthy patrimony and a place worthy of being called home. Our skilled work force migration is being fueled by an external pressure as well. There is a new common hunger among major nations of the world for greater diversity of skilled workers to drive their economies.Everymajornationnowhaboursasecret wish for greater demographic diversity. Envy of America’s prosperity fueled partly by its original
diversityandthemiracleofimmigrantcontribution to its greatness has driven the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and even Saudi Arabia to stretch out their arms to foreigners who have skills to contribute to their development efforts to come forth. A good number of these countries have increasingly ageing populations as a result of strict population control measures initiated a few years back. ThemassiverelocationofskilledNigeriansabroad has had a consequence of mixed blessings. It has created a Nigerian diaspora with considerable economicclout. Newrelocationshaveonlyswelled a pre existing diaspora. The economic dividend of this demographic development is significant. DiasporaremittancesreportedbytheCBNcurrently hover between $25bn and $30bn annually and still rising.Atsomepoint,diasporaremittancesdwarfed receipts from oil and gas combined. Increasingly, this economically enabled population is also becoming politically significant. They constantly gauge the political temperature at home, influence public opinion and have acquired a trenchant voice that is hard to ignore. The social media, enhanced by access to major media and informationhubsoftheworldhasmadetheNigerian diaspora a voice on matters that concern Nigeria. As recent instances have shown, the Nigerian diaspora has been ready to support causes they consider worthy at home and readily condemn those they oppose as well. At some point in the Buhari administration, diaspora Nigerians took to self help, assaulting and flogging visiting Nigerian officials in major centers of the world. In the current partisan frenzy in Nigeria, the diaspora may not exercise definitive influence on theelectoralprocessandoutcome.Thereisasyetno legislativeenablementfordiasporavoting.Buttheir public opinion input into the campaign especially throughthesocialmediawill besignificant.Similarly, their financial contribution to candidates of their choice will come in handy as a determining factor in a political system that has become increasingly monetized and transactional. The major strategic concern of our increasing demographic hemorrhage is the emigration of skilled Nigerian youth. The people on whom our future depends are leaving. Our best energies and brains are being drained. Our IT wiz kids, our medical scientists, economists, biotechnologists, academics etc. are flooding flights headed out to better climes. Many of them have no plans of returning home in any hurry. A certain disturbing pessimism that this place will bot get better any time soon pervades the attitude of many of these feeing youth. They are leaving because the place we all call home has degenerated into a hell hole of calamities devoid of opportunities or hope. When highly skilled Nigerian manpower trained abroad cannot come home, it is an economic and developmental misfortune. The sheer foreign exchange cost of training our children abroad is indirectly passed on to the very developed nations asinvisiblesubsidyorreversedevelopmentaid.Our national economy is denied the benefit of inputs by the best brains of the nation. For our population size, it is only natural that a significant number of Nigerians would be found all over the world. Other nations have culturally identifiable diasporas in major world centres- Chinese, Indians, Lebanese, Pakistanis, Jewish - have become identifiable features of the global cultural anddemographiclandscapeofmajorglobalpopulation centres. It is hard to get into Houston Texas and fail to feel the cultural imprint of Nigeria. The freedom to emigrate, to find an alternative place of work and abode remains a right of people in a free world. But the almost involuntary exodus of personsfromacountryinresponsetodireeconomic and security pressures is something else. What is going on in Nigeria is beyond normal voluntary migration of persons driven by the quest for exposure and opportunities. What we have on our hands is a mass migration of social and economic refugees, system dissidents and existential asylum seekers. These are people who would ordinarily remain in the country but for the dire circumstance in which we find ourselves. And there is no certainty that most of them will ever return to Nigeria even if our political and economic circumstances were to miraculously improve. When a nation compels its youth to turn into rebels and disguised asylum seekers abroad, it creates a hostility of would have been patriots and therefore a permanent breeding ground for an opposition of angry citizens.
T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R • SEPTEMBER 18, 2022
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B AC K PAG E C O N T I N UAT I O N FEDERALISM AND WHY PRESIDENTS FAIL every state and LGA to prosecute looters. But for some reason, for instance, President Goodluck Jonathan took all the blame for the corruption at all levels of government during his tenure. The universal conclusion was that it was Jonathan that failed to fight corruption. That is our special practice of federalism. I can go on and on, but my key point here is that no president can develop Nigeria singlehanded. All tiers of government must still do their parts for us to make progress. Only the military, or a unitary system, can enforce a single development agenda on the country. A democratic president in a federal, multiparty set-up cannot command states and councils to fall in line with his policies. Agreed, the president controls economic policy, but that is not all there is to good governance. Providing a productive environment for job creation is not the sole responsibility of the president. In fact, a president’s best efforts can be frustrated by uncooperative states in enforcing “federalism”. President Olusegun Obasanjo, a retired general, forced the excess crude account (ECA) on us — against every norm of federalism. From the savings, he forced us to build 15 power projects which we are relying on till today to achieve stable supply. Governors fought against the savings, insisting that ECA was unconstitutional (which is legally true). They wanted the money shared. Jonathan conceded to heavy pressure from the governors when he assumed power in 2010 and shared the ECA savings to fight “food crisis”. After Obasanjo, we never did anything substantial with ECA again. Jonathan met it at $20bn and left it at $2bn. “Cooperative
federalism” is not our thing in Nigeria. My third argument: the management of Nigeria’s socio-political dynamics can be a major factor in the success of a president. There are many dimensions to this particular argument which I am unable to fully explore here, but Nigeria is complicated. Ethno-religious emotions are at the centre of national life. Policies, projects and appointments always have ethno-religious flavours. Federal character, developed to create a sense of belonging, can mean different things to different regions at different times. Even a messiah can be destabilised by the agitations and may lose direction as different parts of Nigeria tear at him from all angles. A messiah will need more than wisdom! For instance, reflecting our diversity at the federal level can be cumbersome. There will always be cries of margination which can derail even the most focused government. Check some of the interests: north, south, Hausa-Fulani, Igbo, Yoruba, minorities, Niger Delta, middle belt Muslims, Yoruba Muslims, Hausa Christians, Catholics, Pentecostals, Protestants, northern Yoruba, south-south Igbo, women, youth, etc. When Mr E.L. Adamu, a Christian from Gombe, was appointed deputy governor of CBN in 2018, many northern Christians rejoiced while some southerners complained that it was “another northerner”. Identity politics can be very fluid and plastic. Also, if Alhaji Atiku Abubakar becomes president and launches an offensive against IPOB, the narration will be “Fulanisation”. If Mr Peter Obi wins and goes after bandits, it will be framed as an “Igbo president”
killing northerners. If Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu wins and does not get rid of Yoruba Nation activists, that is automatically “Afenifere agenda”. Many Nigerians oppose/demonise or praise/ idolise a president solely out of ethnic or religious sentiments. Every president faces allegations of bias. Whether true or not, perception becomes reality. Even Obasanjo that was generally thought to be fair to all was, at some point, accused of pursuing “Afenifere agenda”. My fourth argument: poor development thinking. Remember I am assuming that the president is competent, patriotic and purposeful. But he is coming into a settled system where he will inherit projects he did not start and will start projects he will not complete. Development stems from a plan covering policies and projects, along with timelines and deliverables. Some presidents with good intentions and a desire to do things right may stumble because they inherit things that look shady and they may throw the baby away with the bath water, thereby doing more harm than good. A well-intentioned move to “cleanse” the “rotten” system can pull back development by decades. I will give just one example. When President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, widely acknowledged as a very decent man, came to office in 2007, he was unhappy with the “unconstitutional” funding of power projects from the ECA as well as the sale of refineries to Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Mr Femi Otedola, whom he obviously saw as Obasanjo’s cronies. He stalled on the power projects and reversed the sale of refineries. His intentions appeared
altruistic, but his actions provided poor development outcomes and dragged us back. We are yet to recover. The overall plans for the power and petroleum sectors were in phases but Yar’Adua saw only the pixels and missed the bigger picture. My fifth argument: a good president can still get things wrong because of the mentality of the Nigerian elite inside and outside of power. There is the developmental elite — and there is the predatory elite. There are those who pursue policies and negotiations with the interest of Nigeria at heart — and there are those whose overriding interest is personal gain at the expense of Nigeria. The predators are everywhere: civil servants, politicians, political appointees, lawmakers, business moguls, etc. You can select a good team but can you change the system all by yourself? I’m told Yar’Adua often marvelled anytime a “big man” visited him without asking for favours. It was rare. I often blame leadership for Nigeria’s slow development, but I also recognise the limitations that can hinder even a messiah. In my book, Fellow Nigerians, It’s All Politics — now available for pre-order on the website of Roving Heights — I argue that whoever wins in 2023 will be flawed. The president may have good intentions but the terrain is full of landmines that he must skillfully tip-toe. He has to deliver the goods. Failure is not an option. No excuses will be accepted. If you can’t stand the heat, why enter the kitchen in the first place? Ironically, Nigerians are not so hard to please — just assure us, in word and in deed, that you are leading us on the right path to national development. Simple.
And Four Other Things… SUBSIDY SHOCKER How would Nigerians feel if a new president comes in and immediately removes petrol subsidy? That is exactly what President William Ruto of Kenya has done to relieve the crushing burden on public finance. It is a painful pill from someone who just got the people’s mandate, but there is no better time to administer this than during the honeymoon. If the gains are well managed, it will be to the benefit of the same people. I overheard some Nigerians accuse the UK of hypocrisy recently over its proposed gas and electricity subsidy. The difference, though, is that the UK is a productive, $3trn economy and the subsidy will eventually be recovered through taxes. No free lunch. Draining.
MAMU IN A MUDDLE Alhaji Tukur Mamu, publisher of Desert Herald, media consultant to Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi and hostage negotiator, has been charged to court by the Department of State Services (DSS) for allegedly aiding and abetting terrorism. The secret police alleged that Mamu is involved in the funding of “international and local terrorism” and that he shares information with terrorists. These are serious allegations. I hope the case is prosecuted diligently and justice is done. The Kaduna train hostage crisis was so irritating because despite claims that the bandits’ demands were painfully met by the federal government, they still collected huge ransoms to release their victims. Humiliating.
SAYS BUHARI President Buhari cut the picture of a disappointed man in Owerri, Imo state capital, on Tuesday. In his brief address while inaugurating projects, he lamented that his administration has done commendably well in the midst of dwindling revenue but those who should say so are not talking. He pointed in particular to the liberation of Borno state from Boko Haram and the construction of the new Niger bridge. “To be frank with you,” he said, “I blame the Nigerian elite for not sitting and thinking hard about our country.” To be frank with Buhari, it is not the job of his opponents to celebrate him. Their job is to say he has failed. It is left to his team to tell his success stories. Politics.
CYBER TIGERS Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, governor of Delta state and vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), beamed his focus on cyber bullying at a lecture on Tuesday. “We are beginning to see bullying in the cyberspace of our country, I think that everybody should have space, time, to be able to think, make comments without being bullied,” he said. I hate to disappoint him but cyber bullying is not going to have a solution any time soon, certainly not before the 2023 elections. Social media has considerably lowered the quality of public debates and the race to the bottom — who can say the vilest things? — has become more competitive than ever. It is the new world order. Tragic.
rallies where all they do is sing and dance and fire up their supporters. The voters, the media and civil society should have structured and non-antagonistic ways of scrutinising the plethora of promises from candidates. If someone promises to tackle insecurity, it will be necessary to see their specific plans, how much the plans will cost, where the funding will come from, the implementation timelines etc. This level of scrutiny will reveal how seriously the candidates have taken themselves, the assignment they seek and the electorate. It will also show how reasonable and realistic such plans are.
Most candidates got elected in the past merely on the basis of being more liked than their opponents or by simply being good at running commentary on the state of affairs or merely on the strength of sticky slogans. If we had such a luxury in the past, we don’t have that now. As we approach 2023, it is worth reminding ourselves that Nigeria is at delicate and desperate pass. Insecurity is more widespread, even after due acknowledgement of the recent advances by our gallant security forces. Our public finance is a shambles, hobbled by low revenue, high debt, and soaring deficit and subsidies. The rates for inflation, unemployment, and poverty keep rising. Despite record-high oil prices, there is little accretion to our foreign reserves due to precipitous fall in oil production and increasing subsidies on imported petrol. These are just some of the challenges today. We need to hold presidential candidates to a higher standard than in the past based on the enormity of the tasks at hand. So, as they get into the campaign groove, we should enjoy the colour, the drama and the entertainment, then ask for much more. It is important to ask them specific questions and go through their plans with fine combs. Yes, we need to know their antecedents and examine their records and fit for office. But we also need to weigh their plans against current realities. As this extended electioneering enters a critical phase, we need to move beyond the usual poetry of campaigns. We need serious interrogations of the promised prose of governance.
AS THE LONG CAMPAIGNS COMMENCE will want the spotlight only on their opponents, not on themselves. They and their supporters will play a lot of optical and mind games. Politicians cannot be stopped from doing what politicians do. It is left for the voters, the media and others to do their bit, and do it well. In trying to project themselves as the desirable ones, politicians go to great length to de-market their opponents. They coin funny names for the other candidates, expose their pasts, challenge their records, ridicule their ideas. While some may be squeamish about it, negative campaign is not illegal or immoral if the materials used are based on facts. We can’t legislate a mode of campaigning for politicians. The demand should be that they keep the engagements civil, given how verbal exchanges can easily spill into physical showdowns, especially among supporters in a tense and fractious environment such as ours. But lying to gain an advantage should be a no-no. However, if politicians and their supporters incur no cost from vending outright lies, why would they stop? Beyond asking politicians and their supporters to keep it clean, we need to start aggressively fact-checking claims and counter-claims, including scouring beneath-the-surface platforms like WhatsApp where false and dangerous messages can be easily circulated to devastating and dangerous effects. Campaigns are necessarily about promises. Candidates usually reel out what they plan to do if elected. In most instances, the candidates speak either in general
Tinubu, Obi and Atiku terms like ‘if elected, I will create jobs,’ or they merely state what everyone knows such as ‘inflation at 20.52% is too high’. Some of the candidates produce glossy manifestos or policy documents bursting at the seams with promises that are mostly pies in the sky. Many do not even bother to produce any manifesto, content with just mouthing soundbites and slogans. Whether or not they have manifestoes/ policy documents, candidates should be taken to serious task on what they plan to do in office. And this is not just during the usual two-hour debates that some of them still manage to dodge or through
THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER SEPTEMBER 18 , 2022
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SUNDAYSPORTS
Edited by: Duro Ikhazuagbe email:Duro.Ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com
Ndidi Poor, Iheanacho Blunt as Son’s Hat Trick Lifts Spurs Duro Ikhazuagbe
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hese are not the best of times for Nigeria’s duo of Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho in the English Premier League.They were part of Leicester City handed a 6-2 hammering at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday evening to stay rooted to the bottom of the English topflight. Defeats in their last six games with a total of 22 goals conceded, has created anxiety amongst Leicester fans. Yesterday, Ndidi in particular, who has been an integral part of Brendan Rodgers’ set up since crossing from Belgium to England, failed the Foxes. The drop in his form, since returning from the long injury spell, was clearly evident. Leicester however got off to the best start just six
minutes into the game thanks to Youri Tielemans who converted a penalty. Just two minutes after Leicester opener Spurs equalised through Harry Kane before Eric Dier made it 2-1 on 21 minutes. With four minutes left in the first half Leicester drew level as James Maddison got on the score sheet. Leicester did well to stay at par at 2-2 until the 47th minute, when Ndidi was dispossessed of the ball outside his box by Rodrigo Bentacur for Spurs to go in front again. Thereafter, it became Heung-Min Son’s show. He fired a 14–minute hat trick in the 73rd, 84th and 86th minutes to seal the emphatic win that sent Spurs level with Manchester City on 17points apiece at the top of the Premier League. The victory maintained Spurs’ unbeaten start
to the Premier League season. Leicester, meanwhile, remain at the foot of the table, still searching for their first win, despite having led in four of their seven matches thus far. Elsewhere on the night, Erling Haaland continued his impressive scoring run as Manchester City crushed Wolves 3-0 at the Molineux Stadium to step back to the top of the Premier League. The hosts had only touched the ball once before Jack Grealish put City in front after just 55 seconds. Haaland then scored for the seventh consecutive game and took his tally to 14 in the past nine when he doubled the visitors’ advantage with a long-range effort after 16 minutes. As at all Premier League games at the weekend, fans observed a minute’s silence for the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and a 70th-minute round of applause in honour of her 70-year reign.
FIFA Slams Four-year Worldwide Ban on Former Golden Eaglet Nigerian striker Orji Okonkwo has been suspended from football for four years after being found guilty of a doping violation, according to FIFA. The 24-year-old, who plays for Serie A side Bologna, was initially handed the ban by the nationalanti-dopingagency(NADOItalia)inJune. In February, Okonkwo - who is set to appeal - had tested positive for the steroid clostebol during a loan spell at Cittadella. Clostebol, which the player said he used to treat a problematic knee, is on theWorld Anti-Doping Code prohibited list. FIFA’s disciplinary committee has now extended the NADO Italia sanctions to have“worldwide effect”, according to its chairperson Jorge Ivan Palacio. “Consequently, the Committee decided to extend the sanction imposed on the player by the Italian NADO on 20 June 2022,” read a FIFA statement. “More specifically, the player is sanctioned with a four years suspension from all football-related activities in accordance with the decision.” His ban has been backdated to 25 February and he will be free to play again from 24 February 2026.
Lewandowski Again!
Heung-Min Son (right) scored hat trick in Tottenham Hotspur’s 6-2 crushing of Leicester City ...last night.
PHOTO: Getty Images
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Musa, Ekong, 23 Others in Peseiro’s Eagles for Algeria in Oran Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City
H
ead Coach, José Santos Peseiro, has opted for captain Ahmed Musa, deputy captain William TroostEkong and 23 other players to take on former African champions Algeria in an international friendly in the Algerian town of Oran on Tuesday, 27th September. Also called are goalkeepers Francis Uzoho and Maduka Okoye, defenders Kenneth Omeruo, Chidozie Awaziem and Calvin Bassey, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi, and forwards Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze,Taiwo Awoniyi and Cyriel Dessers. Only Richard Onyedika, of Belgian top team, Club Brugge, is a new face in the group. Germany-based defender Kevin Akpoguma also returns to the fold. Three-time African champions Nigeria and two-time African champions Algeria clash at the 40,000StadeOlympiqueinOranonTuesday,27th September, with the invited players expected to confluence in the city of Constantine today. ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho, Maduka Okoye, Adeleye Adebayo
Defenders: William Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo, Chidozie Awaziem, Olaoluwa Aina, Calvin Bassey, Zaidu Sanusi, Kevin Akpoguma, Leon Balogun Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka,
Alex Iwobi, Richard Onyedika Forwards: Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, Ademola Lookman, Henry Onyekuru, Taiwo Awoniyi, Chidera Ejuke, Cyriel Dessers, Terem Moffi.
FC Robo of Lagos celebrating winning the 2022 Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament in Benin City at the weekend
RobertLewandowskiscoredtwiceasBarcelona moved top of La Liga with a comfortable 3-0 win against 10-man Elche. The Poland international scored either side of the break to take his tally to 11 goals in eight appearances since joining Barca in the summer. In between, Memphis Depay opened his account with a powerful effort into the roof of the net. Visiting captain Gonzalo Verdu was sent off in the 14th minute for pulling Lewandowski down when he was through. From there it proved a routine victory for Xavi’s side, with 25 efforts on goal to Elche’s one. Alejandro Balde teed up Lewandowski for his first of the game, Depay added a second and Pedrihadathirdruledout afterVARintervened before the Pole scored his eighth goal in six matches in the Spanish top flight. Barca now sit a point above Real Madrid at the top of the table, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side travelling to play city rivals Atletico this evening at 8pm.
Robo FC Emerge Champions of Betsy Obaseki Football Tourney The second edition of the Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament (BOWFT), on Friday, came to a close amid pomp and pageantry with Robo FC of Lagos crowned as champions after defeating the host Edo Queens 1-0. The 10-day event came to a thrilling conclusion amid cheers and fanfare, featuring scintillating cultural displays, singing, dancing and drumming as well as exciting exotic displays by various groups to announce the end of the tournament. The tournament, which is Nigeria’s only preseason women football championship, is the brainchild of the Wife of the Edo State Governor, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki. The tournament themed,‘Say No to Drugs’ is aimed at raising awareness on the adverse effects of drug abuse among youths. A seminar/lecture was also organised as a part of the tournament, bringing over 10, 000 youths, eminent personalities, guests and representatives from Nigeria’s 36 states for a discourse to advance the campaign against drug abuse, its various manifestations, impact on the sports industry and the larger society and the imperative for collective action to tackle the menace for the betterment of society.
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“It is now very clear that APC is set to use its hidden and unhidden cells in the groups of the bandits and killers it has kept nurturing in troubling the peace and the wellbeing of Nigeria against the marked opposition Labour Party as the only political party that gives APC worries and fears” – Labour Party condemning the attack on the supporters of its presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi in Ebonyi.
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SIMONKOLAWOLE Federalism and Why Presidents Fail SIMONKOLAWOLELIVE!
simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com, sms: 0805 500 1961
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s I was saying, assuming we elect a messiah as president, could he still fail to deliver the goods? In my previous article, I argued that Nigerian presidents fail, or fail to live up to expectations, for a million reasons, out of which I listed five: one, excessive preelection marketing of candidates; two, our warped understanding of federalism which shapes our assessment of presidents; three, mismanagement of Nigeria’s socio-political dynamics which could be quite destabilising; four, poor understanding of development planning which hampers continuity; and five, domination of power by the predatory, rather than the developmental, elite. The limitations and complications are huge. My opening argument was that presidential candidates and their fans often resort to overmarketing during elections but Nigeria will not change overnight and national transformation will not be pain-free. Something has to give. I will attempt to compress the rest of my arguments into this article, but first a clarification: this is not an attempt to excuse the failures of our presidents. Rather, I seek to highlight obstacles that must be navigated, otherwise our presidents will
Yar’Adua continue to shoot off-target and we will keep classifying them as failures. Even if the best of us ascend to power, they can still fail to deliver development outcomes as a result of several intertwined and complicated factors. Now to my second argument: our warped
understanding and practice of federalism in Nigeria can be a major obstacle to the success, or perceived success, of any president. When we say “federalism” in Nigeria, it is obvious that we are not discussing the role of every tier of government in the overall development of the country. We are more focused on how rich states should keep their resources in the spirit of “true federalism” — ostensibly to spite the so-called “parasites”. The roles of the 774 councils and 36 states in delivering development in a federal set-up are often downplayed, and the president carries virtually all the responsibility. Yet, national development is the sum of all parts. Let me explain myself a bit. All federally collected revenues are shared monthly. While the federal government takes the lion’s share of 48.50 percent, states and councils take 26.72 percent and 20.6 percent respectively. The rest goes to other statutory allocations. Effectively, states and their appendage councils control 47.32 percent combined — which is completely out of the control of the federal government. While our primary interest in federation allocation has been the fight for derivation and fiscal federalism and all-what-not, we hardly discuss how much of the 47.32
percent that currently goes to the states and councils can be judiciously utilised for national development. In any modern human society, these are some of the basic indices of human development: access to quality education, sanitation and clean water, healthcare and roads as well as social inclusion. All tiers of government are allowed to promote agriculture, industry, technology and job creation. Education, as we know, is the bedrock of modern development. But when it is reported that 12 million children are out of school, the blame goes to the president, who is then adjudged to have failed. Yet, basic education is under states and councils, not government. When basic education is in a mess, what magic can a president perform in Abuja? This hardly features in the federalism debate. Let us talk about corruption. The average Nigerian is wired to think that it is only the president, or the federal government, that should fight corruption. You would think governors are barred from fighting corruption. It seems the deal is that the duty of government officials is to perpetrate corruption and the duty of the president is to fight it. The constitution empowers Continued on page 70
WAZIRIADIO As the Long Campaigns Commence POSTSCRIPT
I
n exactly ten days, the political space will become more electrified with the official kick-off of the presidential campaigns. The about four-month break between the primaries and the campaigns has an unusual, limbo-like feel, but it has been anything but boring. Clearly, the candidates and their supporters have been campaigning even if unofficially, doing just enough not to be in breach of the electoral law but devising creative ways of staying in circulation and signaling strength. The dress-rehearsals and shadow-boxings, which have given ample intimations of the temper of the coming campaigns, will soon give way to the real duels for the minds of the voters. This will go on for almost five months, not a mean amount of time. It is important to restate upfront that the overall value of having nine months between primaries and the general election is suspect. Yes, there is a compelling reason for giving the electoral management body enough time to organise credible elections. But the need of INEC has to be balanced with the direct and indirect burdens a
long electioneering period places on other stakeholders. The human and material resources that the candidates and the parties need for campaigns increase in proportion to the time allotted. Even if unintended, a longer campaign period invariably advantages the deep pockets and those who either have access to state resources or are in a position to dispense patronage. Also, a long electioneering period means elected officials will have to devote more time to campaigning for themselves or their anointed, and thus potentially reduces the time they have for governance. The no-campaign period will be successfully gamed by politicians and their supporters because it is difficult and useless policing it. The bandwidth of the electorate is also not infinite. All things considered, a six-month gap between primaries and elections is about right, and hopefully this will be addressed in the next amendment to the electoral law. Until an amendment, we should make the best of the novelty of this extended electioneering period. If the pre-campaign period is a good
guide, the coming campaigns are likely to be the most intense since 1999. For one, the 2023 general election is not likely to be the usual two-way contest that we witnessed in the past six election cycles. Also, the fact that the incumbent is term-barred, which is happening for the second time since 1999, makes the election a potentially more open one. The subtle and pronounced regional, ethnic, religious and generational factors and alliances at play in the coming election have increased the interests of many within and outside the country. These factors and others combine to fire up the candidates, their followers, and the electorate at large, raising the intensity profile of the coming landmark polls. We look set for five months of political theatre, with potential twists and turns. There will be smart and ludicrous packaging and messaging. There will also be subtle and savage attacks and counter-attacks, as competing camps project themselves ahead of others and battle for the hearts and minds of the voters and the general populace. There will be plenty of fake news, half-truths, twisted statements,
and outright lies. And there will be a multitude of vacuous prescriptions and promises. At the end, we may see a mix of heightened interests and old methods. The point here is that unless the voters signal that a different way of campaigning and politicking will determine how they will vote, the politicians will not have the incentives to dump their tried-and-tested strategy of merely telling the people what they want to hear or just appealing to their base sentiments and emotions. The heightened intensity and the long electioneering period may not necessarily translate to quality decision-making at the polls. And if that happens, it would amount to much benefit to the society. One clear upside of a long campaign period is having enough time to scrutinise the candidates, their ideas and their conducts. But the quality of scrutiny is not just a function of how much time is available. It is much more about how well the voters, the media and others are ready to carry out this important responsibility. An average politician Continued on page 70
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