SUNDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER 2023

FG Announces $13.5bn Investment Commitments to Boost Oil Output,Targets 2.1m bpd by 2024

Concludes engagements with 15 major producers

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The federal government yesterday announced that it had secured

a $13.5 billion investment commitment from International Oil Companies (IOCs) as well as independent producers to boost

the country's crude output in the next 12 months.

The Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Mrs. Olu

Verheijen, in a statement posted on the State House’s website, said the partnership was carried out alongside the Nigerian Upstream

Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). Explaining that the engagements, which began recently have now

been wrapped up with 15 leading operators, Verheijen noted that the

Continued on page 5

Atiku’s Camp Urges Tinubu to Resign over His Chicago Academic Record

… Page 5

Zamfara Gov Issues Shoot-on-sight Order against Illegal Miners

… Page 6

Lawyers Raise the Alarm over Depleting Number of S’Court Justices

Alex Enumah in Abuja with agency report

Concerns have continued to mount over the depleting number of justices on the bench of the Supreme Court.

Following this development,

some senior lawyers have called for the immediate appointment of judges to fill the vacant positions.

By law, the apex court is supposed to be composed of 21 justices. But the last time the court came close to realising that feat

was in 2020 when the bench had 20 justices.

At the beginning of last year, there were 17 justices on the bench of the apex court.

However, between May 2022 and September 2023, about six justices of the apex court either

retired voluntarily after attaining their mandatory retirement age or died.

Currently, there are only 11 justices in the court, including the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.

Others are justice are: Musa

Muhammad, Kudirat KekereEkun, John Okoro, Uwani Abba-Aji, Garba Lawal, Helen Morenikeji Ogunwumiju, Ibrahim Saulawa, Adamu Jauro, Tijjani Abubakar and Emmanuel Agim.

THISDAY gathered that by the time the CJN would constitute

the seven-member panel that would hear the appeals filed by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart,

Continued on page 5

Akpabio: Tinubu Steering Nigeria Through Turbulent Waters

Pledges N’Assembly's support to take nation’s ship to harbours of bliss, development

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja and Okon Bassey in Uyo

President Bola Tinubu-led administration is steering the country through troubled waters, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has said.

Akpabio spoke yesterday at a retreat organised for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.

He, however, promised the president and Vice President Kashim Shettima that the 10th National Assembly would collaborate with the executive arm of government to deliver on the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda, pledging that the "President will not walk alone.”

The Senate president said the 10th National Assembly would collaborate with them to take the ship of the nationa to “harbours of bliss and development.”

Continued on page 5

COMING TOGETHER FOR HUMANITY…

L-R: Former President of the United Republic of Tanzania and Chair of the Board of Directors, Global Partnership for Education, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete; Founder/CEO, Human Capital Africa, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili; and Founder/CEO, Great Green Wall of Africa (GGWoA) Foundation, Ramatoulaye Diallo N'diaye, at the Foundational Learning Roundtable during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA… recently

Atiku’s Camp Urges Tinubu to Resign over His Chicago Academic Record

Chuks Okocha and Adedayo

Akinwale in Abuja

The camp of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, yesterday urged President Bola Tinubu to resign from office over the non-release of his academic record by the Chicago State University (CSU).

A US District Judge, Nancy Maldonado, had on Thursday agreed to stay an order directing Chicago State University to make Tinubu’s academic document available to Atiku’s legal team.

The court’s hearing came up late Thursday night after the president’s lawyers filed an emergency motion seeking a delay

in the implementation of the selfeffectuating order directing the CSU to comply with Atiku’s subpoenas till Monday.

Ahead of the resumption of the case on Monday, however, Atiku’s Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, in a short statement made available to THISDAY last night, asked President Tinubu to resign from office to save Nigeria from embarrassment.

Ibe declared that no matter how long Tinubu tries to stall the process of releasing his academic documents, the records would be released.

“If Tinubu is a first-class graduate like he claims, it will be in his best interest and that of over 200 million Nigerians, for him to take a first-class decision of resigning.

This is the only way that he can save Nigeria and its people of this embarrassment and laughing stock that it has become.

“He is a national embarrassment, a regional embarrassment, a continental embarrassment, and an embarrassment to the Black race. If he still has any modicum of respect for himself and the people he claims to be leading, he should resign as President with immediate alacrity. No matter how long he tries to stall the process, the records that he has been hiding from Nigerians for decades will be discovered. He needs to be reminded that the United States is not Nigeria” Ibe explained. Ibe, who also spoke to THISDAY, noted that Nigerians were going

through a lot of economic difficulties as well as socio-political challenges. He claimed that nothing was happening, adding that the economy is gradually grinding to a halt.

"Look at the issues of the value of the Naira and the exchange rate. The meeting of the Central Bank Monetary Committee has been postponed. Things are just grinding to a halt. Nothing is happening because the committee that is supposed to provide the economic policies is not working.

"Nigeria is now on auto pilot and like a sick person receiving drips in the hospital. Things are just bad,” he added.

When asked how the economic

AKPABIO: TINUBU STEERING NIGERIA THROUGH TURBULENT WATERS

He said: “The Vice President of our dear country, Your Excellency, Senator Kashim Shettima, thank you for honouring the leadership of the National Assembly with your presence in this retreat.

“We know that the executive arm is steering our country through turbulent waters. The mark of a great sailor is not how he fares in calm waters; it is in how he powers through the rough seas.

“If His Excellency, Senator Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and your good self must take the ship of state to harbours of bliss and development, then you must

steer us out of the sheltered shore, through the rolling waves and stormy gales, and set the sails to weather every storm, safe in the knowledge that you are not alone.

“Tell Mr. President, that the leadership of the Tenth National Assembly (and by extension the entire National Assembly) says that he will never walk alone.”

Akpabio said the President Tinubu-led executive and the National Assembly have been destined to “give hope to our nation.”

He said: “My dear colleagues, when John the Baptist heard about the works of Jesus Christ,

he sent his disciples to ask him, ‘Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?’

“It was not a religious question; it was a generational and rhetorical question. This question defines the hope and expectation of every nation, every people, and every group when change occurs.

“This is the question in the streets and highways of our dear country; ‘Is this the government that should come, or do we look for another?’

“The follow-up question is, ‘Is this the National Assembly that should come, or do we look for another?’

“We believe that this is the government that should come to change the fortunes of our country. We believe that this is the National Assembly that should come to change our destiny.

“We believe that this National Assembly has come to give hope to our nation. There is an Italian proverb that says that the right man comes at the right season.

“We must not only be worthy leaders but also dealers of hope for the entire membership of the National Assembly in particular and our nation in general.

He called on the leadership of the National Assembly to

LAWYERS RAISE THE ALARM OVER DEPLETING NUMBER OF S’COURT JUSTICES

Mr. Peter Obi, the remaining four justices of the court would not be enough to form a quorum to adjudicate on any matter.

While Justice Ariwoola had in a recent function lamented that the bench was over-laboured partly because of the litigious nature of Nigerians, a newly retired justice of the apex court, Amina Augie, disclosed that the apex court, because of some of the kinds of cases in its docket, was being distracted from its primary function.

According to Ariwoola," political cases, especially, are taking a monumental toll on our dockets. Indeed, the times we are in are not pleasant, to say the least.

In the same vein, Justice Augie at a valedictory court session held in her honour last Thursday, argued that: "Something must change. This court is the apex court, and its final decisions shape society's social order. Justices should be able to focus on what truly matters”.

Meanwhile, some senior lawyers have argued that the excruciating conditions of the justices of the apex court would only be ameliorated with the appointment of more justices to fill the vacant positions.

Speaking on the issue, Prof. Yemi Akinseye-George, (SAN), said the depletion of the court does not augur well for the administration of justice.

He noted that there are many excellent justices of the Court of Appeal who should be elevated to the Supreme Court.

“The justices are obviously overworked. The CJN and Justice Augie who has just retired highlighted the problem associated with the depletion of the court. The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi has equally hinted that efforts are underway to fill the vacancies. I’m aware that the process has started.

“There are many excellent justices of the Court of Appeal who should be quickly processed for elevation to the Supreme Court. The depletion of the court does not augur well for the administration of justice.

“The names being considered

are well known to the bar. These are excellent individuals who will strengthen the court, make weighty contributions to the administration of justice and make the legal profession and the nation proud. The earlier the processes were concluded the better for the administration of justice.”

Also, Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN), described the situation as unfortunate.

He, however, pointed out that the appointment of justices to the bench of the apex court follows some processes and procedures.

Raji expressed the hope that relevant authorities are currently in the process of doing the needful.

"It is a bit unfortunate because of the heavy workload on the remaining justices. But appointment to the court entails a process which must be on by now. I believe the relevant authorities are fully aware of the situation," Raji said.

Another senior lawyer, Mr. John Baiyeshea (SAN), said this depletion is not good for the adjudicatory system at all.

"The truth is that even if the court has the full strength of 21 justices, it is still not enough for the tremendous workload in that court", he said.

While describing the development as a catastrophe, he expressed concern about the welfare and well-being of the justices.

"Imagine the election cases alone are taking a toll on them because as you know, Nigerians don't let go of anything until they end litigation at the apex court.

“The present election cases from 36 states on election will go up to the Supreme Court, on appeal, so also the presidential appeal. The justices certainly cannot cope.

“The normal cases are no longer being heard at the Court because of the priority given to election cases that are timebound. And before we conclude the election cases for this season, another election year will set in, and the vicious cycle continues".

While calling for immediate reform of the system, Baiyeshea charged the President and the

National Judicial Council (NJC) to immediately start the process of appointing more Justices to the Supreme Court, adding that otherwise, the whole legal system of the country would collapse.

"We don't want our Judges and Justices to die prematurely because of the horrendous pressure of litigation.

"Former President Muhammadu Buhari promised to upgrade the welfare of justices and judges before he left but he failed woefully as he ran the country to a 'failed' state on all fronts", he said.

On his part, Mr. Abdul Balogun (SAN), called on the NJC to do the needful by replacing the justices to aid speedy dispensation of justice.

According to him, the apex court justices already have so much in their hands and can no longer afford to have their numbers reduced.

“The NJC should do the needful by screening and appointing more justices to the apex court to aid justice delivery. Already, they are not many, and to further have them

reduced is a problem to justice delivery in the country for the apex court”, he said.

On his part, Mr. Aham J. Nweke said the problem created by the vacuum cannot be quantified.

“The vacuum should be quickly filled in the interest of justice for all Nigeria,” he said.

Also, a former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary, Onofiok Luke, appealed to the federal government to appoint more justices to the Supreme Court.

Luke said the decrease in the number of Supreme Court justices has taken a toll on justice administration and delivery as it has stalled the determination of matters of importance with adverse effects.

He noted that with the sad demise of Justice Centus Nwezeh, the number of justices of the court has again dropped; making it nine short of its full complement of 21 justices.

The former lawmaker, in a statement in Abuja, noted, as it stands, the docket of the court is full and parties cannot have new dates for matters this year.

crisis in Nigeria is related to the President's academic credentials, the media aide to Atiku said: "Nigerians have become the butts of the jokes. Mind you that one out of every five black men in the world is a Nigerian.”

According to him, Tinubu’s academic record has monumental implications for Nigerians. You went to a university; when has it become a problem that the school you attended will not release your school credentials on demand?” Ibe queried, adding that Tinubu has something he wants to hide from Nigerians and the international community.

"If for any reason you want to change or get a new job and the

be united and of one purpose in proffering solutions to the myriad of challenges confronting the country.

He added: “Check the history of the world and you will discover that the world has always been changed by a few thoughtful, patriotic, selfless, concerned citizens armed with faith and conviction.

“They led the charge, the masses followed. Friends and colleagues, we can lead the charge in our country.

“Let us be united in purpose. It does not matter which political party you used to get to the Red or Green Chamber, right now we are in the Nigerian boat.

“If we all put our hands on deck, the 10th Assembly shall surmount every challenge. It is in our hands to make this Assembly the last hope of the common man or the lost hope of the common man.

“The choice is ours. As leaders let us see every problem through the broad windscreen of national interest; not through the tiny side mirror of politics. Let us be the symphonic voices of reason; not the raucous echoes of tribal or religious sentiments.

“My friends and colleagues, let us not make the mistake of thinking that our problem is APC or PDP or LP or SDP or any other party.

“That is an error. We face a collective action problem because relevant groups and stakeholders in our country fail to connect, cooperate, and collaborate. But if we, the leadership of the 10th National Assembly, can properly understand and effectively use collective action processes in the official conduct of business, we would achieve positive outcomes for our country.

“As leaders of those who represent our people, it behooves us to set collective

new employers want to do due diligence, you write your alma mater to release your credentials to your would-be new employers. This is the case with the APC presidential candidate in the last presidential election, why should Bola Tinubu stop his school from releasing his credentials to the public?

“This is what should agitate the minds of Nigerians,” Ibe added. The National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Felix Morka, did not respond to a phone call and a message sent to his WhatsApp on the issue, by THISDAY.

However, his deputy, Hon. Duro Meseko, said the party would respond later.

action templates for our nation’s developmental efforts and a collaborative legislative agenda for solving our nation’s challenges.

“A template that would eschew such issues in collective action problems like the tragedy of commons, senselessly exploiting common resources and depleting them; free riding, being inordinately concerned with consumption and not the production of our wealth; information asymmetry, hoarding information to have an imbalance of power; and opting for a sub-optimal equilibrium where we could go for agenda setting.”

He noted that the retreat seeks to identify priority business for the Tenth National Assembly and develop strategic objectives for the Legislative Agenda of the respective chambers.

He added: “I believe our priority, as leaders, should be people. We represent people whose pains we should alleviate; whose concerns we should address; whose hopes we should not betray.

“Therefore, listening to the people in order to feel the pulse of our nation should be a critical component of our legislative agenda. But no matter the problems we face, let us never forget that what is morally wrong cannot be politically right.

“We must remember that in every democracy, the legislators are the foot soldiers marching for the masses.

“We are also here to share experiences, bond with each other, and have candid exchanges on critical issues before the National Assembly.

“I urge us to be frank and open because a chain is as strong as its weakest link. More so, the candle does not lose anything by lighting another candle.”

FG ANNOUNCES $13.5BN INVESTMENT COMMITMENTS TO BOOST OIL OUTPUT,TARGETS 2.1M BPD BY 2024

sessions where the multi-billiondollar pledges were secured were held in Lagos and Abuja.

Nigeria has been unable to meet its Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) quota for over 36 months, prompting the group to slash the country’s allocation from over 1.8 million barrels per day to 1.742 million bpd for this year and then to 1.38 million bpd in 2024.

The situation has heavily impacted the liquidity in the foreign exchange market in Nigeria, as the country earns over 90 per cent of its FX from the export of crude oil. Nigeria blames massive oil theft and incessant asset vandalism for the challenge.

The last THISDAY’s analysis of the oil sector’s underperformance earlier in September, showed that the nation was losing as much as 560, 000 bpd to prolonged underproduction.

But in the latest move to halt the

dwindling production, Verheijen pointed out that the conclusions were arrived at after a detailed review process by NUPRC and her office, alongside major operators like Chevron, Total, Shell, NAOC, Exxon Mobil, Seplat, Heirs Holdings, Waltersmith, First E&P, among others.

A key objective of the discussions, she said, was to advance a presidential initiative aimed at addressing the nation’s revenue emergency while contributing to stabilising Nigeria’s economy.

“Results of these talks disclosed significant investment opportunities with an estimated $55.2 billion in investments projected by 2030, of which $13.5 billion is expected to be invested by these companies within 12 months from now.

“During these consultations, participating operators shared insights into the challenges and barriers affecting their investment strategies and the swift rollout of

planned projects.

“Collectively, they also pinpointed key strategies that will ensure the delivery of 2.1 million barrels per day by December 2024, positioning Nigeria well ahead of President Tinubu’s campaign promise of the 2.6 million barrels by 2027,” Verheijen stated.

The proposed measures, she disclosed, are also expected to cause a 100 per cent increase in gas production by 2027, exceeding the president’s campaign pledge of 20 per cent growth in that sector.

She noted that the federal government remains committed to overcoming the current challenges, to make Nigeria the top choice for energy sector investments.

“We are faced with a revenue crisis, which is impacting all Nigerians. To urgently address this, President Bola Tinubu is actively seeking ways to grow revenue and forex to stabilise our economy and currency.

“The oil and gas sector remains critical to our ability to do so despite current production levels falling significantly short of our potential.

“These strategic, high-level engagements with oil and gas producers will help fast-track bold reforms that will unlock investments required to restore and grow oil and gas production in the short, medium, and long term,” she explained.

According to her, Tinubu is dedicated to enhancing the investment environment in Nigeria, positioning the country as the preferred destination in Africa for the energy sector.

“With the conclusion of these consultations, it is anticipated that the $13.5 billion in short-term investment components, currently in the pipeline, will pave the way for the delivery of 2.1 million barrels per day production by December 2024, barring any unforeseen challenges,” she added.

LEARNED COLLEAGUES…

Zamfara Governor Issues Shoot-onsight Order against Illegal Miners

Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, yesterday issued a ban on illegal mining activities and ordered law enforcement officials to take stringent actions against violators.

Over the years, illegal mining in Zamfara State has fuelled banditry and other criminal activities.

Governor Lawal, in a statement by his Spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, noted that it’s time to end this destructive activity and implement measures to protect the safety and well-being of the people.

He stressed that security operatives had been given strict orders to take bold action and shoot on sight anyone found engaging in illegal mining.

He said: “The directive is necessary to ensure the safety and security of the good people of Zamfara and deter potential wrongdoers from committing such acts.

“It is also a swift action to enable the State Government to be in total

control of state resources and block activities that endanger the lives and properties of the people.

“Illegal mining is undeniably one of the driving forces behind the rampant banditry plaguing Zamfara State. We must take swift, decisive action to curb this menace and restore peace and security to our communities.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr. Dele Alake, had earlier this month given all miners engaged in the illegal extraction of mineral resources in the country an ultimatum of 30 days to join notable mining cooperatives or face the full wrath of the law.

The minister also unveiled a plan to set up a surveillance task force that would include policemen and other relevant agencies to secure the mines in the country.

While announcing that the 30-day ultimatum to miners and plan to introduce security operatives were parts of his seven transformation agenda, the minister said he was baffled that a country

Yoruba Council Seeks Return of Akintoye, Igboho, Others from Exile

Segun James

The Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) has urged the federal government to create an enabling environment for the return of all involuntary exiles, who are victims of past draconian regimes.

The Yoruba elders said that those in exile include “the personages of Professor Banji Akintoye and Chief Sunday Igboho, who were harassed for advocating proper and dignified treatment of their law-abiding kinsmen”.

The elders spoke in a communique signed by YCE scribe, Oladipo Oyewole and Publicity Secretary, Niyi Ajibulu at the end of the council’s meeting of the Secretary-General and state secretaries, which was held in Ado Ekiti.

Oyewole and Ajibulu, who said YCE had been miffed about the degenerating level of acceptance of Yoruba language, culture, and civilisation, said that the meeting also deliberated on the presentation of a book, ‘Yoruba Renaissance, Challenges and Prospects’.

The Yoruba elders, who took

exception to the action of the former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, against some traditional rulers in Oyo State last week, said that the former president “should certainly apologise and make restitution”.

The elders stated, “The YCE takes exception to the humiliation recently meted out to various traditional rulers of Oyo State by Chief Obasanjo upon the claim of status as a former Head of State.

This malfeasance constitutes a shameful affront to the dignity of Yoruba tradition and culture and thus stand condemned”.

Oyewole and Ajibulu stated that “to start with, the book presentation visits shall be made to the governors of the Yoruba states in due honour of their statuses as the chief executive officers of their various states.

According to them, the book, ‘Yoruba Renaissance, Challenges and Prospects’ “is a compendium of efforts made to ensure the enviable leadership position of the Yoruba in the ‘arrangement’ called Nigeria. It delves into many aspects of frontline activities (historical, social, economic, political (etc)”.

with precious minerals like gold, bitumen, lithium and uranium in massive proportions could fail to use the resources to liberate its citizens.

“I am giving illegal miners in this country just 30 days' grace to

join cooperatives or find another vocation. Also, the proposed task force will be domiciled in the ministry and will comprise operatives of all the relevant security agencies.

“For the last time, let me declare

again that the ministry is giving such persons 30 days grace to join a miners’ co-operative or find another vocation to do.

“On the expiration of the period, the full weight of the law will fall on anyone seen

on a mining site without a determinable status. This message will be interpreted into Nigerian languages and broadcast on the radio to ensure no one is ignorant of this directive,” Alake had reportedly explained.

Adesina: AfDB’s $25bn Fund will Help Overcome Africa’s Food Insecurity in Five Years

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The programmes being supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB) in over 30 African countries have helped produce some $12 billion worth of food, and the bank’s $25 billion objective is well on track, AfDB President, Akinwumi Adesina, has said.

"As far as I'm concerned, we shouldn't be talking about food security in Africa more than five years from now. There's no reason for it," he told Reuters at the weekend.

"We have the technology and the financing to do it at scale," he added.

Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, one of the world's top grain exporters, sent tremors through global grain markets, threatening food supplies for some of the most fragile nations,

including many in Africa.

The emergence of the ‘El Niño’ weather pattern and the breakdown of an agreement to transport Ukrainian food through the Black Sea have added to global woes on food security, the report added. Adesina, speaking on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meetings in New York, pointed to the uptake of special agro industrial processing zones, which in Nigeria alone could expand from covering eight states to 35 after a recent request.

Those zones are rural areas targeted for infrastructure investment that allow for food and agribusiness companies to move in, he said.

"Twenty-seven more states in Nigeria made a request to us to continue to support them in this particular area," Adesina said.

According to the AfDB, under-

nutrition and stunting impact 216 million children in Africa and poor nutrition is linked to nearly half of the continent's child deaths. It pegs the economic cost of bad nutrition at 11 per cent of Africa's gross domestic product.

Adesina said he expects the International Monetary Fund (IMF) board to advance plans to channel $100 billion in lending to vulnerable countries via multilateral development banks before governments convene in late November for global climate talks in Dubai.

"This is the way for us to crack how to get more resources, at scale," he said. "For the African Development Bank, a $20 billion allocation channelled into us, automatically becomes up to $80 billion for Africa," Adesina said, pointing to the bank's threeto-four-times leverage capacity.

Adesina did not give details

on the status of a hybrid note for which investor calls kicked off earlier this month with what he said was a "very optimistic response," Reuters said.

S&P Global, which rated the notes AA-minus compared to the bank's AAA rating, said it expects the issuance to be between $250 million and $1 billion "subject to market conditions." Adesina said pricing of the note will be "very, very soon."

Without giving an amount, Adesina said there is a need for recapitalising the bank after the last round in 2019 and looking to eventually become a $100 billion lender. Its lending portfolio closed 2022 at $27.5 billion.

"The ambition is there with our shareholders. Now we've got to make sure that we just work this out and see where there's a comfort zone for everybody," he noted.

Fagbemi Advocates Constitutional Role for Traditional Rulers

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has reiterated the need to create a constitutional role for traditional rulers in the country.

Fagbemi stated this while speaking at the turning-of-thesod ceremony of the Bar building project of the Ibadan branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Friday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

He said this was necessary because traditional institutions remained the most accessible and closest to the citizens.

“The traditional rulers play an important role in communicating

government policies and programmes to members of the community, and also help in the provision of succour during crises,” Fagbemi added.

The learned silk noted also that traditional rulers play a great and vital role in maintaining peaceful co-existence in their various communities.

“They are the closest to the grassroots, which makes it possible for them to conveniently prevent violence in their domain, ” he said.

The attorney general urged members of the Bar to always uphold and strengthen the disciplinary procedures of the law profession.

“As legal practitioners, we are meant to set a good example for

others to follow. We should not throw caution to the wind because of the situation in society.

“The behaviour of members of the Bar, by virtue of the position they find themselves in the society, will mirror their position,” he said.

In the same vein, a former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice in Nigeria, Akinlolu Olujinmi, urged lawyers to always behave in accordance with the ethics of the profession.

“The business of the reform of the country’s laws is an ongoing process.

“There should be continuous efforts at every level of government to ensure that there is law in place at all times to meet up with the increased criminalities

in the society,” Olujinmi, also a SAN, said.

Speaking on the building project, the Chairman of NBA’s Ibadan Branch, Folashade Aladeniyi, said it would be the second legacy project of the branch’s 2022-2024 executive committee.

“This is our second legacy project, after the launching of the Bar book.

“It is a two-floor secretariat building which will comprise a gym centre and office space,” she said.

The project has been scheduled to be completed before the expiration of the tenure of the current executive committee in June.

L-R: Mr. Etigwe Uwa (SAN); Dr. Babatunde Ajibade (SAN); Mr. Kunle Ogunba (SAN); and Mr. Chukwuka Ikwuasom (SAN), at the valedictory session in honour of Justice Amina Adamu Augie of the Supreme Court at the court in Abuja...yesterday

INVESTMENT PROGRAMME…

At UNGA, Nigeria Launches Talent Export Programme, Targets One Million Jobs

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

The federal government has launched a national talent export programme tagged: 'National Talent Export Programme (NATEP)', designed to create not less than one million jobs in the next five years as a special purpose vehicle.

The Minister of Industry,

Trade, and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, disclosed this on the sidelines of the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), at an event tagged “Positioning Nigeria as a Global Talent Hub0 in New York, United States.

The initiative, she explained, was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda to diversify the Nigerian

Hand over Unity Schools to Old Students, Ibrahim-Imam Tells FG

Uchechukwu Nnaike

The outgoing President of the King's College Old Boys Association (KCOBA), Alhaji Kashim IbrahimImam, has called on the federal government to hand over the unity schools to the old students of the schools.

He argued that the old students of the unity schools would manage the schools better, pointing out that the admission process to King's College is tainted with corruption, just like everything else in the country.

Ibrahim-Imam said these in Lagos, at the 114th Annual Founders' Day lecture of the college with the theme: 'Dismantling the Barriers: Creating a Pathway for the Emergence of Effective Leaders in Nigeria.'

He accused some officials of the Ministry of Education and their agents in the school of selling admissions to the college, adding that this ugly practice has made it an elitist school.

This, he said, also runs contrary to the federal government's purpose of establishing and funding the school to foster unity in the country.

He said during his time at the college, there were 60 students in his class, four of whom were from Borno State, adding that each state of the federation had a maximum of four students admitted and a minimum of three.

"Thanks to King's College, Lagos; I am a northerner by ascription, I am a southerner by achievement. Thanks to King's College, Lagos, the geography of where you come from does not matter to me in our relationship at all. I am at home in every hamlet in this country; I have forged friendships, relationships, even family more from the south than from the north," he said.

He lamented that when he

assumed office as president of KCOBA six years ago, 600 students were admitted, with only three coming from Borno, and three from Bauchi states, respectively.

According to him, out of the three students from Borno State, two were Yoruba, while one was Igbo.

He said of the three students from Bauchi State, two were Igbo and one was Yoruba.

Ibrahim-Imam also argued that no student from any of the 19 northern states was among the graduates at the recent graduation ceremony of the college.

While reiterating the old boys' desire to take over the running of the school from the federal government, he said it would do the unity schools a lot of good, adding that the federal government has much more important obligations like defence, security, foreign affairs, economy, among others.

He added that constitutionally, the federal government has no business running secondary schools as secondary schools are not on the exclusive list, and the concurrent list, but on the residual list.

Ibrahim-Imam stated that the old boys are advocating that King's College should be handed over to the old boys, followed by Queen's College, and then all the other unity schools.

"We will commit to all the ideals: National character, indigent students - we will not make it an elitist school; we will make sure that students from all the states of the federation are admitted; we will maintain standards and improve infrastructure. We will commit to all of these and more in writing. We will also create an endowment fund that we can tap into in the management of the school."

economy, create sustainability opportunities, and generate about 50 million jobs for the youths.

She said: “NATEP is a key national initiative that will serve as a special purpose vehicle to position Nigeria as a leading global hub for service export, talent sourcing and talent export.

“As part of our strategy towards achieving this, President Bola Tinubu whose agenda for job creation, we have initiated a national talent export programme for Nigeria, which targets the creation of one million jobs across Nigeria over a five-year period. NATEP is a key national initiative that will serve as a special purpose vehicle to position Nigeria as a leading global hub for service exports, talent sourcing and talent export.

“The Nigerian government under the leadership of President Bala Tinubu as part of the renewed hope agenda is committed to diversifying the economy and creating sustainable employment opportunities, especially for youth by creating 50 million jobs. This is in tandem with the theme of this year's UNGA, rebuilding trust and igniting global solidarity, accelerating

action on the 2030 agenda and the sustainable development goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all”, UzokaAnite told a gathering comprising officials of the World Economic Forum and the Microsoft group.

According to her, NATEP will be dedicated to addressing the unique needs and challenges faced by the talent and service sector export industry, laying emphasis on enhancing competitiveness, fostering innovation, and driving sustainable growth through trade in services.

Available data indicate that the global talent sourcing industry is valued at $620 billion as at 2020 and it is forecasted to be valued at about $904 billion by 2027.

Uzoka-Anite stressed that Nigeria has the ability to supply top talent for the global service export and outsourcing business, with over 1.7 million graduates from higher education institutions entering the workforce annually.

“NATEP will serve as a dedicated entity to address the unique needs and challenges faced by the talent and service export industry. The programme will lay special emphasis

on enhancing competitiveness, fostering innovation and driving sustainable growth through trade and services. It is noteworthy that the global talent sourcing industry was valued at $620 billion in 2020 and is forecasted to be valued at $904 billion by 2027. With a youthful population and over 1.7 million graduates from the higher educational institutions joining the workforce each year, Nigeria has the potential to provide high quality talent for the Global Service export and outsourcing industry.”

While stating that Nigeria is ready to become a global hub for talent export, the minister said the government will take full advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (ACfTA) to penetrate the continent’s huge market and target job opportunities in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, among others. Her words: “As a country we have a significant value proposition for regional and global markets for the export of services. We will actively target Greenfield and brownfield job opportunities in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, among others.

“We will take advantage of the African continental free trade agreement to access the African market.

“The four-pronged objectives of the NATEP initiative as follows: One to deliver one million service export jobs over the next five years; to increase foreign exchange earnings and revenue for Nigeria; to create economic growth and to stimulate the growth of ancillary industries and support services and to improve skills and strengthening the Nigerian brand.

“To put it succinctly, the message from today's launch of the national talent export programme is clear. Nigeria is ready to become a global hub for talent experts. We have the vision and commitment and we seek your partnership and trust as we embark on this mutually beneficial journey. We look forward to partnering with you.”

Also speaking, Minister of Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, while welcoming the initiative, noted that it was extremely timely as Nigeria was losing out of the benefits countries like India enjoy.

Tribunal Upholds Election of Benue Governor, Alia

PDP rejects verdict

George Okoh in Makurdi

The Benue State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Makurdi, the state capital, yesterday upheld the victory of Governor Hyacinth Alia of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the March 18, 2023 governorship election.

Delivering the judgment, the Chairman of the panel, Justice Ibrahim Karaye, held that the tribunal lacked jurisdiction to entertain pre-election issues raised by the petitioners, Titus Uba and his political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Karaye, who read the unanimous judgment, stated that only the Federal High Court had the exclusive jurisdiction to entertain issues bordering on pre-election matters.

He further said the petitioners’ case was also an abuse of court

processes because the same case was filed by the petitioners before the Federal High Court Abuja Division and its judgment was not challenged by the petitioners.

He said the petitioners lacked locus standi to challenge the nomination of the 2nd and 3rd respondents by the 4th respondent since they were not members of the 4th respondent.

Justice Karaye further said that the petitioners failed to prove their allegations of forgery against the 3rd respondent before the tribunal.

He said the 2nd and 3rd respondents were qualified to contest the March 18 governorship election and therefore, dismissed the case.

The petitioners, Titus Uba and the PDP, had dragged the respondents, INEC, Hyacinth Alia, Dr. Sam Ode, and the APC before the tribunal, challenging their declaration as winners by the Independent

National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The petitioners argued that the 2nd and 3rd respondents, Alia and Ode, were at the time of contesting the election, not qualified to contest the March 18 Governorship Election.

They averred that the 4th respondent – the APC – did not follow the provisions of the law in the nomination of the governorship and deputy governorship candidates.

They also alleged that the 3rd respondent had presented a forged certificate to the 1st respondent, INEC, and therefore, should be disqualified.

They, therefore, prayed among other things, for the nullification of their election and the declaration of the petitioners as winners of the election, having scored the second highest lawful votes.

The also contended that having

not qualified to contest the election, their votes should be declared invalid and certificates earlier issued to them by INEC be withdrawn.

The petitioners in the suit did not challenge the result of the March 18 Benue governorship election but qualifications of the candidates.

However, the respondents in their counter arguments, urged the tribunal to dismiss the suit in its entirety as it was an abuse of court processes.

The respondents stated that the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, had before the election, delivered judgment on the same matter, which was filed by the petitioners but they did not appeal the judgment till date.

They also said that the issues raised were all pre-election matters and only the Federal High Court had the exclusive jurisdiction to entertain the same.

L-R: Google ITU Representative to the United Nations, Ursula Wynhoven; Chairman, US-Nigeria Business Council, Mr. John George Coumantaros; Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris UzokaAnite; Minister for Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani; Managing Director, World Economic Forum, Saadia Zahidi; and Senior Technical Adviser to the Minister of Trade, Dr. Femi Adeluyi; during the official launch of the National Talent Export Programme in New York, USA…yesterday

AUGUST VISITORS AT VIBRANIUM VALLEY…

Petrol Price Rose by 230.78% in One Year, Says NBS

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), at the weekend, disclosed that the average retail price of a litre of petrol in Nigeria rose year-on-year from N189.46 in August 2022 to N626.70 in August 2023, representing a 230.78 per cent increase during the period.

In its ‘Petrol Price Watch’ for August 2023, the NBS also stated that month-on-month, comparing the average price value with the previous month of July 2023, the average retail price increased by 4.39 per cent from N600.35.

Nigeria, which had for years

been burdened by a costly petrol subsidy regime, on May 29 ended the unsustainable scheme, resulting in skyrocketing energy, transportation, and food prices.

Last week, the NBS said that headline inflation had jumped to 25.80 per cent from 24.08 per cent in July, an increase of 1.72 per cent points.

In the latest figures released by the body, it noted that on state profile analysis, Taraba State had the highest average retail price for petrol at N680.00, with Borno and Benue states coming next, with N657.27 and N649.14, respectively.

On the other hand, it explained

that Adamawa, Rivers, and Delta states had the lowest average retail prices for the product at N594.81, N596.80, and N604.63, respectively.

On the zonal profile, the Northeast zone, the NBS report said, had the highest average retail price of N636.93, while the South-south zone had the lowest price of N616.95.

Also, as the price of diesel continues to skyrocket, hitting over N1,000 per litre in September, the NBS stated that in August, the average retail price for the commodity was N854.32 per litre.

Oil marketers have recently decried the rising diesel price, which is mainly used to power many

industrial concerns in the absence of a reliable source of power supply in the country. Diesel is also used by heavy-duty vehicles to transport products around the country.

The federal government recently began the implementation of a 7.5 per cent VAT on diesel despite an outcry from oil sector operators that it will further cause price increases and worsen the current inflationary trend.

For instance, the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), called on the government to stop the Value Added Tax (VAT) on diesel, insisting that the product was fundamental to

FG: Abuja-Lagos Superhighway to Last 100 Years

Segun James

The federal government yesterday said the proposed 470-kilometre Abuja-Lagos Greenfield superhighway, which would be completed in four years, would last 100 years.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, told journalists in Lagos that the road would be built by a private sector consortium at no cost to the government.

The consortium will operate the facility for a yet-to-be-determined period on a build, operate, and transfer deal, he said, adding that it will be tolled at different points to enable the investors to recoup their investment.

He assured that the four-and-ahalf-hour travel time for vehicles plying the route at 100 kilometres per hour was achievable.

“When I first introduced this to the public, many doubting Thomases were saying ‘it is impossible, Lagos-Abuja that is done in 14 hours cannot be

done in four and half-hours’, that is the renewed hope of Mr. President,” he said.

The minister explained that President Bola Tinubu approved that the project be speeded up, adding that the contractor should be on site in three months.

Umahi said: “The president has approved that I fast-track this project. This project is going to be two lanes but each lane is going to be a two-carriage way and it is going to be 14 metres.

“The only carriageway that is equivalent to this is the Third Mainland Bridge where each carriageway is 14 metres. It is going to be built on 275-millimeter-thick concrete.

“The live-shelf design of this project is going to be 100 years. It is going to be completed within four years and this is doable. Some bridges will be built. Many tolling points are going to be there.

“We are not putting any kobo but we will assist them in every

direction.”

He explained that from Lagos, the road would pass through eight states in the South-west and North-central before it gets to Abuja.

The states are Kogi, Ekiti, Oyo, FCT, Lagos, Ogun, Niger and Kwara.

He praised the private consortium, Advance Engineering Company, which is behind the deal, saying he was “very satisfied with their concept and what they have put in place.”

Umahi added: “So, the next thing is to bring the business proposal so we can negotiate on what the cost of the project is going to be. Then they go to the Ministry of Finance and negotiate on the issue of their money.

“The good thing is that we are building this road on concrete so we can predict the cost. In asphalt, you cannot predict the cost. The cost of asphalt roads changes every month.

“Concrete roads are more

durable and cheaper than asphalt and I have directed all ongoing projects that have not advanced up to 80 per cent to change the remaining to concrete.”

The minister added that plans were underway to make the road a business and industrial corridor with hotels, factories, and housing estates, among others, on the route.

Emphasising the seriousness of the project, Umahi said the contract would be watertight such that if the consortium backed out unreasonably, it may have to pay a fine of $10 million.

Chairman of the consortium, Kenny Martins, described the project as “the first of its kind in Africa”, saying it would be ICT-compliant with a fibre optic connection, solar-powered street lights and security points on the entire stretch of the road.

Martins said in Lagos, the route would begin from the proposed 4th Mainland Bridge in Epe to Abuja.

UNICEF: Over 50% of Girls in Nigeria Not Attending Basic School

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

More than 50 per cent of girls in Nigeria are not attending school at the basic education level, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said.

The Education Manager at UNICEF, Jutaro Sakamoto, disclosed this at the weekend at the education conference organised by the French Institute in Nigeria.

He said 7.6 million girls are out-ofschool (OOS) in Nigeria, representing 3.9 million at the primary school level and 3.7 million at the junior secondary level.

Sakamoto also said 48 per cent of OOS girls are in the North-west and North-east, adding that gender parity in net attendance ratio is below 1.0 in 10 states (primarily in the North)

but is decreasing in 15 states.

According to him, nine per cent of the poorest girls attend secondary school compared to 81 per cent from the richest quintile.

While lamenting that Nigeria accounts for 15 per cent of OOS children globally, Sakamoto said: “If we can’t address the situation in Nigeria, we can’t solve the situation in the world.”

He said those who are going to school are not being taught well due to a lack of facilities, adding that UNICEF’s Education Opportunity for Out-Of-School Children (OOSC) project had made some impact.

Speaking earlier, Prof. Mufutau Tijani – a French and Applied Linguistics professor at the University of Abuja – raised the alarm that more

children would be out of school if the government failed to act now.

Speaking on the topic: “Demographic dynamics and access to basic education in Nigeria: Challenges and prospects”, Prof Tijani linked the challenges of increasing OOS children to the population explosion in Nigeria.

Quoting figures by the World Bank and United Nations, the University lecturer said Nigeria’s population was estimated to be 224,991,917 as of 21st September 2023, adding that it is projected to be 400 million by 2050, making Nigeria the third most populated country on earth after India and China.

He pointed out that the more population in Nigeria, the more the number of OOS children as the government struggles to provide

the smooth supply of petrol.

It observed that before the introduction of VAT on diesel, the cost of the commodity was barely above N600/litre, but had increased to almost N1,000/litre currently.

But in the data released at the weekend, the NBS explained that the August 2023 price of N854.32 per litre amounted to an 8.57-per cent increase over the N786.88 per litre paid in August 2022.

However, on a month-on-month basis, it said that the price increased by 7.53 per cent from the N794.48 per litre recorded in July 2023.

On state profile analysis, the report said the highest average price of diesel in August 2023 was recorded in Abia at N970 per litre, followed by Niger at N960.14 per litre and Abuja at N950.22 per litre. On the other hand, the lowest price was recorded in Bayelsa at N700 per litre, followed by Katsina State at N771.43 per litre and Kaduna State at N775.42 per litre.

Besides, the analysis by zone showed that the North-central had the highest price at N907.86 per litre, while the South-south recorded the lowest price at N820.02 per litre.

Tinubu Meets Ramaphosa in November to Strengthen NigeriaSouth Africa Relationship

Emma Okonji in Johannesburg, South Africa

President Bola Tinubu will meet with President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa in November for a business-to-business interaction that will further strengthen the relationship between Nigeria and South Africa.

The meeting is under the auspices of the Bi-National Commission formed in 1999, to strengthen the trade relationship between Nigeria and South Africa.

The Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Muhammad Haruna Manta, disclosed this yesterday to the second MTN Media Innovation Programme (MIP-2) fellows from Nigeria who are currently in South Africa, on a training programme, sponsored by MTN Nigeria, in collaboration with Pan Atlantic University (PAU), Lagos.

Manta said President Tinubu would discuss business matters as they affect both countries, including visa permits for Nigerians travelling to South Africa.

visa-on-arrival in South Africa, Manta answered in affirmative, explaining that several other issues, including trade relationships and cross-border financial transactions, would be addressed at that meeting.

Confirming the November BiNational Commission meeting, the Deputy Minister, Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), Republic of South Africa, Mashego Dlamini, said the meeting would be an avenue for both the Nigeria and South Africa presidents to discuss bi-lateral trade relationship and enter into some agreements that will further strengthen the relationship between both countries.

She further said the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, would also be looked into, to enable small businesses to thrive in Africa.

infrastructures to meet the needs of the rising population.

He also said despite significant investment and key measures (some of them radical, such as punishing parents who neglect their children’s schooling), Nigerian institutions responsible for education were struggling to cope with a galloping demography.

The 2004 law on free and compulsory basic education guarantees in principle the right to education for every child in Nigeria but Prof Tijani noted that there was no enforcement.

He also said the schools were not enough to take care of the large population of children in the country, calling on the government to enforce its law on compulsory basic education while also providing more funding to the education sector.

According to him, the NigeriaSouth Africa relationship was cordial under the leadership of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, which he said, led to the formation of the Bi-National Commission between both countries in 1999.

He however said the relationship started losing bond years after both leaders left the stage as presidents, leading to the relocation of many South African businesses in Nigeria, back to South Africa.

The strained relationship between both countries, according to him, is currently affecting Nigerians who are regularly denied visas to travel to South Africa.

Asked if e-Visa would be discussed at the meeting, in a manner that would allow Nigerians to get

“South Africa values the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and South Africa, and we are committed to building relations and strengthening cooperation with African countries and other countries of the world. We consider African countries as strategic in developing the African continent for several reasons. For us, Nigeria is a strategic partner in pursuing mutually beneficial cooperation and development of the African continent. Africa, as a continent, suffers when the relationship between Nigeria and South Africa is not balanced. One of the key pillars of South Africa’s foreign policy is the consolidation and implementation of the African agenda. This means that South Africa will continue to support regional integration, and intra-Africa trade and support people-to-people progression, in 2015, the African Union adopted the African Agenda 2063, which intends to build Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, shared values, and ethics and respect for religious diversities,” Dlamini explained.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

L-R: General Manager, Vibranium Valley, Ms. Moyosore Asubiojo; Board Member, Venture Garden Group, Mr. Tolani Talabi; Consul-General, US Consulate General, Lagos. Mr. Will Stevens; US Deputy Secretary of Treasury, Mr. Wally Adeyemo; and Principal, Venture Garden Group, Mr. Dara Osibo, during Adeyemo’s visit to Vibranium Valley, Ikeja, Lagos…recently.

ETOP UKUTT

PRODUCT LAUNCH…

UNICEF: Over 50% of Girls in Nigeria Not Attending Basic School

The Michael Olugbode in Abuja

More than 50 per cent of girls in Nigeria are not attending school at the basic education level, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said.

The Education Manager at UNICEF, Jutaro Sakamoto, disclosed this at the weekend at the education conference

organised by the French Institute in Nigeria. He said 7.6 million girls are out-of-school (OOS) in Nigeria, representing 3.9 million at the primary school level and 3.7 million at the junior secondary level.

Sakamoto also said 48 per cent of OOS girls are in the Northwest and North-east, adding that gender parity in net attendance

Insecurity: Failure Isn’t an Option, Army Tells Troops

The Nigerian Army has asked troops to always be on the guard in tackling the myriad of security challenges, saying failure is not an option.

Commander Corps of Artillery, Major General Marcus Kangye, said this yesterday while addressing the troops during a familiarisation visit to the 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala Barracks, Ogun State.

Kangye emphasised constant training and discipline among soldiers, saying an untrained force is bound to fail.

Flanked by Brigadier General Mohammed Aminu, the Commander of the 35 Artillery Brigade, Kangye said the leadership of the Nigerian Army always prioritises

the welfare of soldiers in order to enhance their performance.

According to him, the Chief of Army Staff’s philosophy is to drive a well-trained, equipped and motivated Nigerian Army ready to accomplish its constitutional responsibilities.

Kanye said: “Any soldier that does not train, any force that does not train is deemed to fail and he (Chief of Army Staff) is not ready to fail. There is no failure for us at all.

“Despite the myriad of security challenges bedevilling our country, we must rise up to the occasion to ensure that we rid this country of the criminal elements that are disturbing the peace of the nation.

Ekpo Celebrates Unity, Peace on A’Ibom’s 36th Anniversary

Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Gas), Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, has lauded the government and people of Akwa Ibom State for the unity and peaceful co-existence of its various peoples and the socioeconomic developments recorded over the past 36 years.

The minister stated this in a statement yesterday to mark the 36th anniversary of the creation of the state.

He said the creation of the state

has allowed the spread of health, education, electricity, roads, and other infrastructural developments to more communities across the 31 local governments in the state.

He therefore commended successive governments that have administered the state since its creation in 1987 for working assiduously in growing infrastructure and human capital in line with the vision and aspirations of its founding fathers.

September 3 Media Makes Debut

Beginning today, Sunday, September 24, an online media platform, September 3 Media, publishers of charlesokogene.com, will begin publication.

Driven by a time-tested entertainment journalist, Mr. Charles Okogene, the publication promises to give heavy coverage to the nation’s

ratio is below 1.0 in 10 states (primarily in the North) but is decreasing in 15 states.

According to him, nine per cent of the poorest girls attend secondary school compared to 81 per cent from the richest quintile.

While lamenting that Nigeria accounts for 15 per cent of OOS children globally, Sakamoto said: “If we can’t address the situation in Nigeria, we can’t solve the situation in the world.”

He said those who are going to school are not being taught well due to a lack of facilities, adding that UNICEF’s Education Opportunity for Out-Of-School

Children (OOSC) project had made some impact.

Speaking earlier, Prof. Mufutau Tijani – a French and Applied Linguistics professor at the University of Abuja – raised the alarm that more children would be out of school if the government failed to act now.

Speaking on the topic: “Demographic dynamics and access to basic education in Nigeria: Challenges and prospects”, Prof Tijani linked the challenges of increasing OOS children to the population explosion in Nigeria.

Quoting figures by the World Bank and United Nations, the

University lecturer said Nigeria’s population was estimated to be 224,991,917 as of 21st September 2023, adding that it is projected to be 400 million by 2050, making Nigeria the third most populated country on earth after India and China.

He pointed out that the more population in Nigeria, the more the number of OOS children as the government struggles to provide infrastructures to meet the needs of the rising population.

He also said despite significant investment and key measures (some of them radical, such as

punishing parents who neglect their children’s schooling), Nigerian institutions responsible for education were struggling to cope with a galloping demography. The 2004 law on free and compulsory basic education guarantees in principle the right to education for every child in Nigeria but Prof Tijani noted that there was no enforcement.

He also said the schools were not enough to take care of the large population of children in the country, calling on the government to enforce its law on compulsory basic education while also providing more funding to the education sector.

FG Threatens Fuel Operators with Sanctions over Pump Adjustment

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has said it will sanction petrol stations operators who adjust their fuel pump meters.

NMDPRA Chief Executive, Mr. Farouk Ahmed, gave this warning at the weekend during an interactive session with commissioners of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) in Abuja.

According to him, petrol sta-

tions caught dispensing fuel with adjusted fuel pumps would face heavy sanction. He listed the sanctions to include revocation of operating licenses, suspension from operation or shut down depending on the gravity of the offence.

Ahmed noted fuel pump adjustment was a major concern to the oil regulatory bodies and the Federal Government.

“What we are doing now is that we have some of our staff going

round to take on-the-spot checks of some of the petrol stations.

“If you drive into a station, drive out, you will not know if you have been cheated until you do a measurement.

“Sometimes we do a physical measurement where we go to some stations and buy one litre, look at that environment to see whether that one litre is really one litre.

”Then we will know whether or not they have tampered with

the pump,” he said.

Ahmed gave the assurance that the authority would continue to collaborate with the RMAFC to generate more revenue for the federation.

“We have started the engagement but this is just a formal collaboration on areas where we can improve the revenue generation for the federation.

“There are two areas we have to look at which are either to generate revenue or cut costs,” he said.

Bello: I’ve No Political Ambition, But to Support Tinubu

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has declared that he had no other political ambition than to help President Bola Tinubu to succeed in office.

Speaking about his next move after office as governor in January 2024 and being one of the presidential aspirants during the primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in June, 2022, the governor pointed out that all

Nigerians would have succeeded, if President Tinubu succeeds.

Bello, who spoke with newsmen yesterday, at the 3rd Annual GYB Seminar for Nigeria’s Political & Crime Correspondents/Editors in Abuja said he was all out now to ensure that Tinubu is a success story in the history of Nigerian politics.

He said: “I thank God for where He has taken me to. The only thing I’m doing now is to support President Tinubu to succeed. If President Tinubu succeeds all Nigerians would

have succeeded.”

While stressing that God has been kind to him, the governor said, “I thank God for my successes and achievements as governor of Kogi. I know where I met the state and I am happy for where I have taken the state to.

“I believe that the APC candidate, Usman Ododo, will build on the solid foundation we have laid down for Kogi.”

According to him, the November, 2023 Kogi state governorship

election will be a landslide victory for the APC.

Reacting to a question on ensuring that all members remain in the APC fold in the state, Bello said the APC remained solid in the Confluence state.

His words: “Our unity is why APC wins in Kogi and will continue to win. Our party is one. You cannot satisfy everyone. However, there are internal mechanisms in the APC to resolve issues and we always utilised that.”

FG Restores Over 2,000 Degraded Landscapes in W’Bank Project

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

budding entertainment industry with interviews and a special focus on those who had shaped the industry over a long period.

Okogene, according to a statement from the media house, has spent a better part of his journalism career reporting the Nigerian music industry and musicians.

The federal government has said it started restoring degraded land in desert-prone states of the North.

The National Project Coordinator, Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project, National Project Coordinator, Abdulhamid Umar,

disclosed this at the delivery of pick-up vans to different MDAs to monitor landscape degradation and restoration projects in the North.

Umar noted that as at the last count over 2,000 degraded landscapes had been restored with over 1,900 direct beneficiaries from the scheme.

According to him, states like

Yobe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto and Borno which are arid with desert systematically taking over the area have had immense interventions.

He explained that the ACReSAL project financed by the World Bank had an investment portfolio of $700 million to intervene and address issues surrounding landscape

resurrection, landscape degradation arising from desertification and deforestation that had been brought about by climate change challenges, natural and human.

He noted that “the World Bank has made available the fund essentially to address challenges that have been brought about issues surrounding climate change.

L-R: Director, Lab Services, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Richard Adewumi; German Deputy Consul General to Nigeria, Jachen Schindelarz; Director, Federal Ministry of Power; Mr. Abubakar Alli Dapshimi; Project Officer, EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Godfrey Ogbemudia; and Head of Programme, Nigeria Energy Support Programme, Mr. Duke Benjamin, at the inauguration of Bioclimatic Testing Chamber for Air Conditioners by SON in collaboration with UK and federal government in Lagos …yesterday SUNDAY ADIGUN

Explosion Kills 34 at Illegal Fuel Depot in Benin Republic

At least 34 people died in Benin near Nigeria’s border yesterday when a contraband fuel depot exploded into flames, sending up a black cloud of smoke into the sky and leaving dozens of charred bodies at the site, a government official and residents said.

The blaze erupted at a warehouse for smuggled fuel in the southern Benin town of Seme Podji, where cars, motorbikes and tricycle taxis came to stock up on fuel, according to local residents.

“I am still in shock. We heard people screaming for help. But the intensity of the flames was too much for people to try to approach,” said Innocent Sidokpohou, a local carpenter.

“I got gas for my motorbike to go do my shopping. I left and barely five meters away I heard an explosion. When I turned around it was all black smoke.”

Benin’s Interior Minister Alassane Seidou told reporters a serious fire had occurred in the town, but did not give details about exactly how it had happened.

“Unfortunately we have 34 deaths including two babies.

Their bodies are charred because the cause of the fire is smuggled fuel,” the official said.

The minister said another 20 people were being treated in hospital, including some in serious condition.

“I live not far from the tragedy,” said Semevo Nounagnon, a local bike driver.

“I can’t really give you the cause of the fire, but there is a large gasoline warehouse here and cars, tricycles and motorcycles come from morning to evening.”

For decades, Nigeria’s lowcost subsidised gasoline was transported illegally by road to

neighbouring countries, primarily Benin, where it is resold on the black market by informal sellers.

When he came to office in May, President Tinubu abandoned the long-standing subsidy meant to keep petrol prices artificially low for Nigerians.

The subsidy cost the government billions of dollars a year and Tinubu made it his first of a series of reforms aimed at revamping Nigeria’s economy and attracting more investment.

That decision caused a tripling in petrol prices in Nigeria, but also impacted the price of black market fuel smuggled over the border into Benin and other countries.

Nigeria’s subsidy decision illustrated Benin’s deep economic dependence on its giant neighbour, with 215 million inhabitants, the continent’s largest economy and status as one of Africa’s top oil producers.

Edo 2024: Jettison Power Rotation, Panel of Discussants Tells Parties, Electorate

A three-man panel of discussants on a television programme has charged political parties and the electorate in Edo State to jettison the notion of ceding the governorship in the 2024 election to any particular zone.

The panel rather suggested that the contest for the state’s plum position be thrown open to all the aspirants, irrespective of the zone they came from.

This, according to the discussants, who shared the same position on the matter, would ensure competition and emergence of the brightest and the best candidate within the context of sound democratic culture of popular participation.

The three discussants - Tony Erha from Edo South, Hon. Zibiri Mohammed (Edo North) and Abraham Momoh (Edo Central district also called Esan land) also unanimously agreed and reiterated that an ideal governor

for the state in the election should be competent, reliable, imbued with sound mind, have good pedigrees and be well conversant with the state, to be considered for the post.

The positions were canvassed while dissecting the topic, ‘Democracy and its Dividends,’ on a weekly current affairs programme on the Nigerian Television Authority, Auchi.

Responding to the question of the benefits of democracy to Nigerians and the Edo people, since inception of the Fourth Republic in 1999, Erha, a journalist and civil rights activist, scored the benefits low at 48 percent, adding that the outcone had not met the expectations of Nigerians.

Zibiri Mohammed, a politician and former secretary of Etsako West local government council of the state, aligned with Erha, excepting Mr. Momoh, a

business man, from Uromi in Edo Central, who scored it much lower.

However, the three discussants agreed that Edo State and the people had benefitted most from the immediate past state government under Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomhole, explaining that it was a golden era of huge democracy gains, in which the state’s electorate and the public had a say, because they were the ones who truly voted it to power.

Apparently referring to the current state government, led by Governor Godwin Obaseki, the trio berated its slow pace of development, where avoidable disputes and fights continued to impede progress.

They cited, as an example of such avoidable disputes, the current face-off between Governor Obaseki and his deputy.

‘32 Years after Creation, Kogi People Still Wallowing in Poverty’

Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

Ahead of the November 11 governorship election in Kogi State, the candidate of Accord Party, Rear Admiral Jibrin Usman, yesterday, lamented that the people of the state were still wallowing in abject poverty

32 years after the state was created.

Usman, also a former Chief of Naval Staff, further noted that Kogi had no reason to be poor considering huge mineral and human resources at its disposal.

He expressed the concern while addressing party’s stakeholders and supporters from Kogi West at a town-hall meeting held in Kabba, the headquarters of Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, Kogi State yesterday

He, therefore, assured the people that his administration in the state “will ensure that our people are lifted out of poverty completely if voted

as the governor of the state.

“Accord Party is on a mission to emancipate our people from poverty to prosperity. Given its human and mineral resources, Kogi State has been hindered by infrastructure deficits in the past 32 years.”

He, specifically, urged his supporters to work hard for the success of the Accord Party in the next governorship election, calling on the electorate to support his candidature.

He noted that the Accord Party “is out to address all the problems confronting Kogi State,” expressing determination of his party to reposition the state to the next level in the next four year.

The governorship candidate also promised to establish the Kogi Information Technology Agency to address youth restiveness among the state’s teeming

young population and ensure that the youths were gainfully employed in the State

He pledged to employ all the students with distinctions into the state civil service, while those with lower qualification would also be empowered one way or the other.

Usman pledged that within a few months in office, no fewer than 50 women would be empowered to become millionaires across the state through government interventions.

If elected, Usman noted that his administration “ was determined to reposition the state civil service. Salaries would be paid promptly while pensioners would be adequately taken care of.

He also pledged that the education sector would be geared toward technology driven economy to enable the state to harness resources for the overall development of Kogi State in general.

Your Mind is Your Most Important Asset

“But without thy mind would I do nothing…”

- Philemon 14a

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God”

- Romans 12:2

“What I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. … I obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.

It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge. I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question?”

- Romans 7:14-24

It would help if you would pause a bit and read the three starter quotations above slowly and allow the message to sink. On a couple of occasions, I asked Dr Sam Adeyemi, leadership expert and presiding pastor of Daystar Church, what he would consider the most important lesson he had learnt in his personal development journey. He had always responded with the same answer, though couched differently most of the time. It is that “Your mind is the most important asset you have.”

This is how he put it in a THISDAY LIFE LESSON interview I had with him in 2017: “Candidly, the most difficult problem I have encountered is changing my thinking. I teach people that they need to change their thinking. If their thinking can change, their lives will change. But I always add that the reason many people’s lives don’t change is that it is hard to change one’s thinking. In fact, it is warfare. Thoughts have a way of strengthening themselves in the mind over time to the extent that the Bible describes a mindset as a stronghold. You see, when thoughts come into our minds, they are in a fluid state. If they stay there long enough, they solidify. I found out that with persistence, mindsets do change, and with that success, beyond imagination, follows.”

That statement had not really sunk until a few weeks back when, for one reason or the other I started to ask myself a few strategic questions.

One question that I asked that threw many things up was: How did I get here?

I had taken a hard look at my over 34 years in journalism, and I was thinking about the network of dots that got me to this very place where I am at the moment.

Like Paul of the Bible would say, “Not that I have achieved anything” but I felt it was important to pause and give glory to God. The Bible says that the only qualification you need to show gratitude is that you are still breathing.

I discovered amazing insights while still deep in that process of contemplation, and a series of questions popped up: What would have happened if I had not connected with some strategic dots prearranged on my path? What would have happened if I had not run into those rough waters (very plenty, including some life-threatening ones) along the path? What would have been the endgame if I had not made some of the mistakes (plenty) I made along the way? Would I have still found myself at this very point that I am at now?

On deeper reflection, I came to one hard conclusion: What we regard as mistakes are part of the process if only we can trust that there is an invisible hand directing the affairs of men and that He sure knows what He is doing. If you doubt that statement, go read the stories of David and his ordeals with King Saul; of Joseph and the mindless troubles he encountered on his way. Was God not aware of those challenges? He was and was silently using the same difficult circumstances to manufacture breakthroughs in their lives. That is the way of God! His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are far higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-12).

I also took a hard reflection on the statement by Dr Adeyemi on the importance of the mind, and it dawned on me how this had played out in a few aspects of my life. One of such came readily to mind.

When I started my journalism career back in 1989, as a proofreader with the Concord Press, I had secured a one-room apartment at a place called Mafoluku in Lagos, located just at the back of the media house. The room, which was at the back of the main building, was a peculiar one. It had no window, so there was no ventilation and every time there was rainfall, I had to arrange for a basin

to be put by my side to prevent being drenched by water inside my room!

I complained to the landlord repeatedly, but he did nothing about it. Eventually, I was moved to the main building, a room and parlour apartment (thank God for His mercies). My encounter with the landlord in the main building was worse than my experience in the windowless boys’ quarter apartment.

Every three months, the landlord would knock on my door and when I opened, he had only one phrase: “Mr Ayoola, Orowa o.” He meant to say that we needed to discuss, and that discussion always centred on two things: either to increase the rent or the electricity tariff, which he determined by himself.

I got frustrated with his antics, but I could not leave because of my financial reality then. I was in that house from 1989 till 1996. I counted those years as the most frustrating in my entire career journey. But despite those challenges, I continued to put in my best in my job.

I later moved from the proofreading section and joined the magazine (African Concord) section of the media company. One thing led to another, and I found myself moving with Mr Bayo Onanuga and his team, including Mr Dapo Olorunyomi, Mr Babafemi Ojudu, Mr Kunle Ajibade and Mr Seye Kehinde, to pioneer The News Magazine and its subsidiaries: Tempo, AM News and PM News.

Something happened while at The News that changed the trajectory of my journey.

While with that magazine, I introduced a business column to satisfy my area of interest since the magazine

had a bent on general interest stories. It was a pull-out designed to focus on business reporting in an interesting way. The concept caught on immediately. Advertisers latched on to it.

Unknown to me, a lady at the United States Information Service (USIS), known as Katherine Reilly, had read every edition of the pull-out and was impressed. One morning, in 1995, I got a note from this lady inviting me for a breakfast meeting. I honoured it.

She asked me generally about financial journalism, an area in which she said she had an interest. I was there prepared. At the end of the chat, she asked whether I had been to the U.S. before. I laughed, telling her I had not even been to the neighbouring Benin Republic. We both laughed. And we parted.

The following month, I got a handwritten note from the lady, asking me to forward my curriculum vitae (CV) to her. I did. To my surprise, three months later, she sent another note saying that she had forwarded my work and CV to the U.S. and was happy to announce that I had been picked to travel to the U.S. to participate in a programme they call the International Visitors’ Programme.

Words could not express my feelings. I was literally floating in the air! She asked that I forward my passport to allow her to process the visa for my trip. Unfortunately, it was the time the Nigerian passport was difficult to get. I did not have any then. I ran everywhere to secure a passport without success. By the time I got one in Abuja eventually, it was already too late for me to travel for the programme. I was demoralised. My dream of jetting to America was fizzling out before

my very eyes. But the lady made a promise: that as long as she was there at the US Embassy in Nigeria, she would not recommend any other person for the programme until I went. She kept her promise.

The following year, in 1996, I got her invitation again. This time around I had everything I needed. So, I travelled to the United States after overcoming some difficulties with the Nigerian Immigration Service (journalists had a tough time under the military government of Gen Sani Abacha travelling out of the country for whatever reason) in April of 1996 to join 12 other individuals from around the world for a tour of the U.S.

I was the only Nigerian on the programme, and it was a fascinating experience.

We were each given $10,000 as our stipends. We toured six states. We visited several U.S. government agencies. I had the opportunity to meet journalists in different parts of that country. We were accommodated by many interesting families in different parts of the U.S. In all the states we visited, we were quartered in five-star hotels, all expenses borne by the U.S. government, outside our stipends. It was a life-changing experience.

Altogether, we spent five weeks as guests of the U.S. government.

We were meant to return to our countries to put into use the insights we had gained during the trip. We were at a five-star hotel in Louisville Kentucky on the last day of our programme. We were to be taken back to our destination airports on our way back to our different countries.

Panic struck me that night: I was in deep meditation, and my mind was travelling back to that “Orowa” room in Nigeria. So, I made a decision. I decided to stay back in the US to accomplish two things. One, to cool off a bit and stay away from the harsh journalism environment at home and, two, to see if I could get a good job to take care of my embarrassing financial position then. After the programme, I toured seven other states different from the ones we had visited. I still had some good money from what I saved from the stipend we were given by our host. I was so excited about what I was seeing and felt good about myself. Eventually, I settled down in Boston, Massachusetts, with an uncle.

REALITY DAWNED ON ME

Then, a few things started to happen. My uncle had managed to get a job for me in a supermarket as an attendant, on trial! While in the shop, my eyes strayed into a book on a shelf: Awaken the Giant Within by Anthony Robbins. I bought the book. It was a Friday.

On Saturday, I went to the poolside of my uncle’s house to read the book. I had not read more than two chapters in the book before I began to feel some unease in my spirit. I just could not contain the insight oozing out of the book. Then suddenly, it appeared as if I heard a voice saying: This is not the place of my assignment for you. The voice echoed again and again. I could not read any longer. The key message of the author is that whatever you are looking for outside is right inside you, waiting to be mined. I just stood up and returned inside the house. I locked myself inside the room. I read more of the book and took time to reflect on so many things. What dampened my spirit the more was when I saw a former deputy managing director of a mortgage firm in Nigeria doing a security job in a shoe shop in the US. He had sold his property to relocate. Unfortunately, he died while in the US. I encountered a few married Nigerians who had arranged kangaroo marriages with mismatched white ladies hoping to increase their odds of securing their green cards. Most of the calculations did not work. They could not secure the green cards and they could not travel back to Nigeria. They were stuck.

I also saw a few professors from top Nigerian universities doing menial jobs. Before travelling to the US, I had distinguished myself as a business writer and reporter. I obtained my master’s degree and obtained relevant training in financial journalism.

I was just thinking aloud: Does it mean that I am going to throw away all my experience, all the goodwill I have built, bury my dream of becoming a journalist of note and begin to work as a waiter? There was a revolt inside me. And that voice came again: This is not my place of assignment for you. I have a role for you in Nigeria.

My uncle came in shortly after that. I told him without mincing words, that I would be leaving for Nigeria the following week. He was shocked beyond words. He told me to my face that I was being manipulated spiritually. I told him it was not so but that he would not understand what was happening. I stopped going to that supermarket. We used the weekdays to shop. And the following Saturday, he drove me to Logan International Airport, where I boarded a Lufthansa plane to Nigeria.

You can memorise the entire Bible; your General Overseer can pour bottles of anointing oil on your head ( was a beneficiary of some!) and lay hands and legs on you; but until you take the development of your mind as one of the most important daily assignments, you are not going anywhere

Cardoso and Tasks ahead in CBN

Last week, the acting govenor of the Central Bank of Nigeria Dr. Olayemi Cardoso resumed duties, alongside the four deputy governors. His major tasks, according to economic analysts, should be on how to stabilise the currency, root out corruption, defend the integrity of Nigeria s nancial system, and develop a scal strategy that would free up resources for investments in important sectors of the Nigerian economy, writes Festus

Akanbi

For obvious reasons, the recent appointment of Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, a banker and chartered stockbroker with over 30 years of experience in private, public and not-forpro t organisations as the next governor of the Central Bank of Nigerian (CBN), has sparked interest and debates among observers of the nation’s economy.

Unlike in the past, the selection of the top bank governor was this time around accompanied by the nomination of four deputy governors of the bank, a step that analysts say will provide the new helmsman with a clean slate to start with without the baggage of the previous administration. Emem Nnana Usoro, Muhammad Sani Abdullahi Dattijo, Philip Ikeazor, and Bala Bello are the newly appointed deputy governors.

As he awaits the screening and endorsement of the National Assembly, analysts said Cardoso’s experience in the scal space suggests that he may be more amenable to driving policies that could speed up the realisation of set the federal government’s targets.

Secondly, with his impressive track record in policy development and execution, given his pioneering role in the origination of the Lagos 10-point economic agenda, analysts said his experience ts the current context, with Nigeria embarking on its biggest policy reforms in decades.

Perhaps these were the expectations summed up in the charge given by the United States of America’s (USA) Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. Wally Adeyemo, in an address he delivered last week, at the Lagos Business School (LBS), which was titled ‘US-Nigeria Economic Relations: People, Entrepreneurship and Investment.’

Low Hanging Fruits

He outlined the urgent need for a stable currency, the need to root out corruption, defend the integrity of Nigeria’s nancial system, and develop a scal strategy that would free up resources for investments in important sectors of the Nigerian economy.

To some analysts, Nigeria needs to resolve the confusion in the foreign exchange market, with Chief Economist & Head of Research, Middle East & Africa, Standard Chartered Bank, Razia Khan saying that a more liberalised foreign exchange market will be a key priority for the governor of the CBN.

According to her, Tackling in ation and overseeing a transition to a betterfunctioning, more liberalised FX regime will be the key priorities for the governor.”

She explained: “Both will likely require substantial meaningful tightening, to restore con dence. As a rst step on FX, a tighter monetary policy backdrop will be needed.”

She added: “As an almost simultaneous step, all autonomous supply (including from oil companies) should be allowed on the o cial FX market, to create more FX liquidity where it is most needed.

“Price-discovery on the o cial market that is, more FX exibility will also be needed to reduce (hopefully once and for all), the importance of the parallel market,” she submitted.

No Quick Fix

A nancial analyst, who is also the Executive Director and the Head of Investment Banking at Cordros Capital Limited, Mr. Femi Ademola said Nigerians should not expect a quick x to the nation’s economic woes, saying the responsibility of stabilising the economy is not that of the CBN alone.

“The responsibility is more with the scal authority. The activities of the CBN are short-term in nature and at this point, there is no quick x to the issues at hand.

“The most signi cant issues at hand are revenue shortages, in ationary pressures, and exchange rate instability. All three issues are more linked to scal policies than monetary at the moment since their root cause appears to be security challenges in the country. Revenue shortages are due to insecurity and oil theft while in ationary pressure is mostly due to food shortages and infrastructure de ciencies as a result of the continuous insurgency in the

agrarian parts of the country. Exchange rate problem is also linked to revenue shortages due to insecurity,” he stated.

Ademola explained that what the above suggests is that the continuous use of interest rates to ght in ation may not be optimal as it continues to put pressure on costs and thus lead to more in ationary pressure.

He added: “The use of high-interest rates to attract foreign investment may also be counterproductive as it may only succeed in attracting ‘hot monies’ rather than the needed FDIs. In addition, the high-interest environment also discourages domestic investment in the productive sector which has been sustaining the economy since foreign investments start to dwindle. It would appear that exchange rate stability will require an improved supply of foreign currency which can only be achieved through improved export of goods and resources out of the country.”

The Cordros Capital boss said the immediate priorities of the new CBN administration would be to assure the public that the country has a strong plan to meet all short-term obligations and to

clear the backlog of “genuine” foreign exchange requests.

According to him, the monetary authority would need to channel investments into the productive sectors rather than encourage trading activities only.

MAN Calls for Closer Collaboration

From the manufacturing sector came the call for the CBN governor to pay close attention to the dynamics of the economic environment and engage critical stakeholders ahead of monetary policy incubation as well as evaluation and monitoring.

The Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr. Segun Ajayi-Kadir, who appealed in an interview with THISDAY last week, recalled that his association sought to meet with the former CBN governor on several occasions to express their concerns over the BDCs management of the forex disbursements. He recalled such e orts were rebu ed. “But we never got a chance, neither did we get any responses to the fact-based submissions we made on manufacturers forex application and receipts.

Other issues he raised include those of the current unimpressive forex reserves; high in ation rate; low possibility of raising market rates to more attractive levels; high debt pro le and increasing debt servicing costs and public aversion to more borrowing. The manufacturers’ body therefore said better attempts should be made to ensure a strategic balance between tackling in ation and engendering economic growth through e ective funding.

The MAN President said he believes the change will create an atmosphere that is conducive to the promised reform in the nancial sector of the economy. He expressed anticipation for more transparency and e ective management of the exchange rate and; quite importantly, a regime of production-supportive interest rates and robust initiatives to engender price stability. “We are anxious to have a restoration of con dence in the system and the possibility of economic growth in the short to medium time,” he said.

Commenting on banking supervision, the Chief Executive O cer of Dairy Hills Limited, Kelvin Emmanuel, said Cardoso must reverse the holding structure for banks to focus on their core businesses.

Emmanuel, who expressed his desire for a non-banker to take over the reign of leadership at the apex bank, insisted that Cardoso must take immediate steps to amend the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA), especially section 3(3).

“The new CBN boss must amend the BOFIA sections 3(3) to change the authority to award banking licence, unilaterally from the o ce of the CBN Governor and the Chairman of the Board (that happens to be one) to a council that comprises of the CBN governor, deputies, members of the non-executive board, the Finance Minister and the Accountant General of the Federation.”

He also charged Cardoso and his team to wind down the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCOM), which has outlived its usefulness while its functions should be fused into that of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).

Cardoso

THE MORNING SHOWS THE DAY

Alex Otti is off to a good start in Abia, reckons KALU OKORONKWO

If his performance in the first 100 days of being in office is an augury of what is to come, then Abia State is on a great voyage of redemption and renaissance.

Dr. Alex Otti’s first 100 days in office, has been remarkable not just in infrastructural transformation of Aba, Umuahia and other towns but in policy direction of the clear path Abia State will thread in the next four years of his administration.

Dr. Otti’s has drawn from the reservoir of knowledge and experience as an erudite economist and seasoned banker to launch economic reforms that is breathing life into Abia State’s hitherto comatose economy.

Otti has hit the ground running making fiscal accountability a cornerstone of his administration. He embarked on a comprehensive audit of the state’s finances, uncovering some misappropriation and of mismanagement and initiating measures to block all loopholes. By promoting transparency and prudent financial management, Otti has paved the way for financial stability in Abia State, a state so blessed yet suffers a steady hemorrhage occasioned by bad governance of successive administrations.

The Governor’s first 100 days in office symbolizes a promise of a better future, one where Abia State would thrive economically, socially, and educationally.

As the state continues to reap the benefits of Otti’s early efforts, it is expected that his tenure will be a turning point in Abia State’s history, setting the stage for a brighter and more prosperous future for all its citizens.

Abia State, fondly referred to as “God’s Own State” and once a beacon of hope, found itself ensnared in a web of wasted years and the persistent clutches of bad governance. As the years rolled by, the promises of development, progress, and prosperity remained elusive for the people of the state. It is a tale of immense potential held back by a recurring cycle of mismanagement and poor leadership.

The state that boasts of rich arable land, creatively gifted population, industrious people, a commercial hub east of the Niger and rich culture, yet, despite these advantages, Abia State and its people have struggled to tap into its full potential. The past years have been the years of locust marked by willful plundering of the commonwealth of the state by a few privileged individuals in government and their accomplices. This led to stagnation and numerous missed opportunities that could have propelled the state into greatness.

One of the most glaring signs of Abia’s wasted years was its crumbling infrastructural facilities: roads riddled with potholes, dilapidated public buildings, collapse health and education sectors, dysfunctional civil service with years of unpaid salaries and pensions, among other rots in the system.

The backwardness of Abia State that preceded Otti’s administration is a stark reminder that successive administrations have failed to prioritize the basic needs of the people.

Abia’s economy, once promising, was in a shambles. The state’s industrial hub, Aba, which was once a thriving centre for trade and commerce, grappled with myriad of issues like inaccessible roads, inadequate power supply and lack of access to credit for small businesses. As a result, the economy was stagnated with unemployment rate alarmingly high.

AGENDA FOR THE INFORMATION MINISTER

EMMANUEL NZOMIWU urges the minister to promote press freedom as well as the welfare of the media industry

The appointment of Mohammed Idris as the Minister of Information and National Orientation came as a surprise to many Nigerians, especially those who were not aware of his humble contributions to the growth and development of the Nigerian media industry as an investor and public relations practitioner.

Before the announcement of Idris as the chief information officer of the country, most Nigerians thought the appointment of former presidential spokesman, Dele Alake for the position, was already a fait accompli. However, for reasons best known to the President, he deployed Alake, a seasoned journalist, to the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals and assigned Idris to the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation.

goods. Some of the newly commissioned roads are complemented with other road infrastructure in Aba such as street solar lights including; Emelogu, Shallom and Cemetery. Otti is said to have rehabilitated, awarded contracts and commissioned 11 roads in Aba within his first 100 days as governor. Other parts of the states are not left out in this infrastructural drive to create a livable state.

Abia’s education sector faced its fair share of challenges. Neglected schools, unqualified teachers, and a lack of modern teaching aids hindered the growth of the state’s youth. Lecturers and other non-academic staff in the state’s institutions of higher learning such as Abia State Polytechnic Aba, Abia State College of Education (Technical), Arochukwu, State University and teaching hospital have gone for upward of 24 months or more without salary. Even the Teachers and students in the lower rung of education: primary and post-primary were abandoned to their fate. This bred a population of de-motivated teachers and demoralised students. The results were unaccredited courses in some of the state tertiary institutions by the relevant bodies and very poor performance in external exams such as WAEC and NECO by the students.

The healthcare system in Abia was also in crisis. Decayed hospital infrastructure, underpaid medical personnel, and lack of essential equipment jeopardized the health and well-being of the people. Access to quality healthcare remained a luxury for many Abians, a state where a governor proudly gave out N500 to a nursing mother after delivery. What a shame!

All over the world, bad governance thrives where corruption and mismanagement persist. Abia was no exception. The misappropriation of public funds, embezzlement, and lack of transparency perpetuated a culture of impunity in Abia State. The culture of corruption eroded trust in government institutions.

However, while Abia State may have experienced wasted years and bad governance, there is now hope on the horizon. The people of Abia are beginning to experience change since the inauguration of Governor Alex Otti as the new Sheriff in town. His 100 days in office is a proof to his unwavering commitment to transformative agenda aimed at securing a better future for Ndi-Abia.

The Alex Otti’s administration in just 100 days have brought with it a renewed sense of optimism as welfare for Abians, development of the state, and the eradication of corruption are now being prioritized above parochial sentiments and personal braggadocio.

While resuming duties, the new Information Minister made two key promises to Nigerians. One, is to give them true information about various government programmes and projects of the administration in all sectors and two, a Ministry of Information and National Orientation that is open, transparent and accountable to Nigerians.

Idris also revealed that national orientation will form the core of his ministry’s mandate, in addition to information dissemination. He, however, cautioned Nigerians against spreading fake news, urging members of the press to crosscheck their information before dissemination.

While I wish him success in his new assignment, it is important to let him understand that he could achieve very little or nothing, without a vibrant media industry in the country.

As the government spokesman, he shoulders the responsibility of ensuring that information is available and accessible to the citizens through the media. For him to succeed, he should learn from the experience of his predecessor, Lai Mohammed, who was once described as a failure by former deputy spokesman of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Yakubu Nabena.

Since1960whenNigeriagainedIndependence from Britain, no minister under a civilian government has a track record of infringement on press freedom more than Lai Mohammed. Under Mohammed, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) flagrantly sanctioned media houses at the slightest provocation. The sanctions include fines and suspension, and in some cases, outright revocation of license. The climax of Mohammed’s adversarial disposition to the media was the controversial ban on twitter, now known as X. The rest is history.

At this juncture, let me point out that conflict between the media and government is not unexpected in any democracy. While the government tends to be cagey and politically sensitive, journalists are always prying into the affairs of the government. This makes the job of the Information Minister well cut out. To spokesman should apply ingenuity and not crude power.

As the government spokesman and chief image maker, the Information Minister needs the media as much as the media need his cooperation in order to do their job effectively and efficiently. To underscore the importance of the media in a democracy, Thomas Jefferson, statesman, lawyer and the third President of the United States of America, once said that “if he had to choose between government without newspapers and newspapers without government, he would not hesitate to the US Constitution protects the freedom of speech and press, among others.

associated events and analysis of their importance and implications.

They also engage in investigative reporting, especially as it concerns matters of public interest. Ample evidence from research has shown that quality media reportage of public interest issues, engages citizens in governance and helps to check the excesses of the three arms of government.

As an active player in the media industry like President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I don’t think that Idris needs further sensitisation on Press Freedom and Freedom of readers who may not be conversant with both concepts, let me offer explanation here. Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression are guaranteed in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended). Section 22 of the Constitution States the obligation of the mass media. It says: “The press, radio and television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times, be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people.”

Also, Section 39 (1) of the same Constitution recognizes “freedom of speech” and advocates the formation of the media as an instrument of democracy. It says “Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression including freedom top hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference....” Section 39 (2) accords every citizen the right to own, establish and operate any medium for the dissemination of information, ideas and opinion.”

The interminable advancement in technology in the world today has taken the functions of the media beyond its traditional role of educating, informing and entertaining the public. Not only have they become important tools for surveillance and mobilization in the society, the advent of the new media has made the role of the media in the society boundless.

Press freedom allows journalists to report freely on matters of public interest without encumbrances from any quarters. It is essential in a democracy to protect human rights, promote transparency and accountability in government, and curb corruption and other forms of abuse of political power.

In Otti’s 100 days, Aba is wearing a new look; streets previously decorated with refuse are now cleaned up and wearing a better look. In Aba, roads that were hitherto abandoned are now being macadamized and commissioned for the smooth movement of people and Okoronkwo writes from Aba

The long-awaited transparency, accountability, and good governance in Abia State has now berthed with the Otti’s administration.

Often, we refer to the media as the Fourth Estate of the Realm. Just like the legislature makes laws, the executive enforces laws and the judiciary interprets the laws, the media have the role of informing, educating and entertaining the public. How do the media perform these multiplicity of roles? They offer interpretative reporting, with relevant background information to the news, explanation of

Given his background as a newspaper publisher, I expect Idris to join the crusade for press freedom, which is key to entrenchment of good governance and public accountability in the country . He must not follow the footstepsofhispredecessor,LaiMohammedwhotried tostifle press freedom while in office.

Nzomiwu, a journalist and public affairs commentator writes from Awka, Anambra State

THE STATES AND FOREIGN DEBTS

The states must cut down on cost of governance and free resources for development

Amid continuous depreciation in the value of the naira, state governments across Nigeria have ramped up their borrowing from international lenders. In just about six months, bilateral borrowing has soared by 64 per cent were secured by 23 states from various international sources, including China’s Exim Bank, France’s Agence Francaise Development (AFD), Japan International Cooperation Agency, and others. If these loans were driving development and economic growth in the states, there would be less outcry. The rising debt portfolio is causing increasing anxiety because they are mostly huge liabilities for the people.

According to the Debt (DMO), Abia, for instance grew its bilateral loans to $3.82m; Adamawa grew to $4.75m; Akwa Ibom grew to $3.82m while Bauchi went up to $3.82m. The frail economy of Cross River is in the red to the tune of $46.85m; Ebonyi, $31.29m; Enugu, $4.75m; Imo, $26.04m; Jigawa, $864,535; Kaduna, $91.47m and Kano, $24.39m; Ogun, $32.29m, and Lagos, $130.67m. There is no doubt that the value of the dollar-denominated loans is increasingly exponentially because of the steady decline in the value of the naira.

The directive from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to remove the rate cap on the naira at the foreign exchange market last June has plunged the exchange rate from 471/$ to 750/$ by the end of June and has continued its downward trajectory.

In addition to foreign loans, domestic debts in many of the states are mounting. From N3.03 trillion that of the FCT climbed to N5.28 trillion in the second quarter of 2022. While borrowing could be healthy for the economy as it may help to ramp up vital infrastructure for economic growth, there is little evidence on ground that the funds are being properly utilised. Most of these debts being incurred for future generations of Nigerians are expended on projects

SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI

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

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

Letters to the Editor

that bring little or no returns on investment. Yet, things will likely get worse with the ever-declining revenue from Abuja.

most of the states have feeble revenue base, too weak to service the debts. The governments actual revenue can hardly cover the recurrent budget, which implies that the entire capital budget and part of the recurrent expenditure are being funded from borrowing. This is not sustainable. For many of the states, the situation is so dreary that they cannot even take care of half their needs. The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), the umbrella body for the 36 states governors, admitted last year that most states were already in their revenue from the federal purse might cause crisis in meeting their recurrent expenditures. So many of them are not only owing backlog of workers’ salaries, but they are also yet to implement the national minimum wage of N30,000 signed into law since 2019. Despite the misery in their doorstep, many of the states are still on a spending binge. The travel budget of a state governor is in many cases far bigger than the education budget of their state even when the schools within their jurisdictions operate under trees or are at best ragtag enclosures with squalid infrastructure. Many of the state governments have scores of agencies and commissions which add no value to governance. Besides, public funds are diverted to political activities while the burial and wedding ceremonies into state carnivals at huge expense to the public. What the current challenge calls for is not to borrow more money but rather to have a serious re-think of the fundamental assumption of the on the enormous costs of governance and free resources for development and payment of salaries. They must create wealth to run their states as the template under which redistributing the monthly proceeds of oil rent from Abuja is fast outliving its value.

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

DRBS AND REWARD FOR EXCELLENCE

The Divine Rays British School (DRBS) Obosi, Anambra State, may not easily provoke the attention accorded a few schools presumed to be the best in Nigeria. But the school, which is relatively new, barely six years old, has no less grooming skill than the best. It has since its inception, attained a grandeur yet to be equaled by its contemporaries.

Founded in 2017 by the spiritual director of the Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry, Uke, Reverend Father Emmanuel Obimma, the school is always listed among performing schools in Nigeria. It has won awards, state and national, and has represented Nigeria in a couple of international competitions.

In 2022, the school competed for and won the Horn Entrepreneurship Award, organized by Diamond Challenge of the University of Delaware, Dover, United States of America. It beat Mater Amabilis Secondary School, Umuoji (First runner-up), Caleb British International School, Lekki, Lagos; African Church Model School, Ifako, Lagos; Vetland Senior Grammar

School, Agege, Lagos; Iju Senior Grammar School, Iju, Lagos among others to clinch the coveted prize and represent Nigeria at the Global Summit in the University. It also competed in Kampala, Uganda, for African Spelling Bee, CRUX Mathematics competition, Ikeja, Lagos, et al, and has continued to win awards in academics, sports, and moral formation.

This piece is not so much about the school’s academic record as it is about its ability to spot talents, nurture and sponsor them. The emergence of Ernest Ofoama as one of the 36 state champions in the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), administered by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), and the best in Enugu State, was as much of his effort as it is the school’s commitment to excellence.

Ofoama is brilliant and his performance was not a flash in the pan. As a matter of fact, his academic record predates Divine Rays British School. But it took more than just his brilliance to unleash his genius. It took the effort,

encouragement of the principal of the school Mrs. Stephanie Ezeibeanu and her teachers to spot Ofoama, groom him, and put him on the school’s scholarship program. Ezeibeanu had had a taste of fame as a winner of Peter Obi’s First Class Graduate Award.

Consequently, he was placed on Rev. Fr. Obimma’s scholarship scheme throughout his Senior Secondary School as were many others who excelled in their studies. He was consistently exposed to many science competitions within and outside Nigeria, most of which he won and currently defends the prizes. Ofoama is the twotime defending champion of the highly competitive Archbishop Valerian Okeke Science Competition (AVOSCO), sponsored by the Onitsha Metropolitan See. He is the sort of student that teachers don’t put in reach of competitions because he would participate and win.

In addition to Divine Rays British School’s academic records, it upholds a standard of

ethics in grooming its student. The school frowns at intemperate behavior among its students, and indolence on the part of its teaching staff. To its credit, it produced in its first year of graduation the highest JAMB scorer in Enugu. With 347 marks, 13 short of the national overall highest scorer, Ofoama towered above other competing students in Enugu.

Ofoama who was on scholarship before the UMTE result has received more grants and cash rewards since. His performance has opened him up to more scholarship grants and offered him great opportunities to study anywhere he pleases. Shortly before he was invited and hosted by the Enugu State governor, Peter Mbah, on account of his performance, he left DRBS with a Lifetime Scholarship award to any level he wished to attain in education. Impressed by his pioneering excellence, Rev. Fr. Obimma offered him the Lifetime Scholarship in order to enable him study for as long as he could.

Ejike Anyaduba, Abatete

While borrowing could be healthy for the economy as it may help to ramp up vital infrastructure for economic growth, there is little evidence on ground that the funds are being properly utilised

CREATIVE HEART

After a busy morning at the Lagos Business School, US Deputy Treasury Secretary, Wally Adeyemo, unwound with a leisurely tour of Ogidi Studios in the evening. During his visit, his warm and approachable nature shone through as he engaged with young talents, shared witty remarks, and openly expressed his fondness for party jollof rice, Tiwa Savage’s music, and his belief in the vast opportunities for US collaboration within Nigeria’s thriving creative industry, Vanessa Obioha writes

There’s so much potential for talent amongst the next generation of Nigerians

If the infamous traffic along Lagos State’s Lekki-Ajah axis had any effect on the US Deputy Treasury Secretary, Wally Adeyemo, it certainly did not show in his demeanour when he embarked on an evening tour of Ogidi Studios. Adeyemo had spent the earlier part of the day delivering talks at the Lagos Business School, passionately identifying economic reforms and expressing the United States’ willingness to collaborate with Nigeria in forging a brighter future.

As he entered the serene surroundings of the studios, he exuded an air of composed grace, taking deliberate yet unhurried strides as he explored the premises with Idris Olorunnimbe, the Group Chief Executive of The Temple Management Company, the owners of Ogidi Studios.

It was Adeyemo’s first time in Nigeria since his family’s migration to the United States over four decades ago. His parents, a nurse and a high school principal, had crossed the ocean in pursuit of the American dream for their toddler and his siblings. Little did they know that Providence would guide Adeyemo’s path to greatness.

Raised in a two-bedroom apartment in California, he graduated from Eisenhower High School and earned a bachelor of arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley. Later, he would receive a juris doctor degree from Yale Law School.

“It’s good to be back in Nigeria because in so many ways Nigeria has changed since my family left more than 40 years ago,” he said during an exclusive chat with THISDAY. “But things remain the same. It’s just the entrepreneurial spirit and in the midst of that the Nigerian people, I think that is the most powerful thing in Nigeria.”

Born Adewale Adeyemo in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Adeyemo’s remarkable career within the US government has earned him heroic status both in the United States and Nigeria. His appointment to President Joe Biden’s cabinet in 2021 was celebrated in the Black community and Nigeria. As the highest-ranking Nigerian-American official and the highest-ranking member of the African diaspora in President Joe Biden’s administration, he also holds the distinction of being the first black man to occupy a prominent position in the US Treasury Department. This achievement gave his three-day visit to Nigeria a homecoming aura.

Wally Adeyemo’s rise in the US. government began during his university years, marked by leadership and compassion. He led students in mourning after 9/11 president of the Associated Students of the University of California (ASUC). He organised a campus vigil, offered free phone calls, and provided words of consolation to 12,000 people at Memorial Glade, reflecting his humanity and kindness.

He later joined John Kerry’s presidential campaign, held roles in the Obama White House, and was the inaugural Chief of Staff for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. After leaving government service, he served as Obama Foundation president and advised various organisations on economic equity. His return to the Treasury Department marked his second tenure, where he played a key role in trade negotiations like the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

His visit to Nigeria aimed to deepen cultural and economic ties between the two countries. Despite his towering status, Adeyemo remained approachable during his interactions with the young people he met at Ogidi Studios. For every young individual he encountered, he displayed genuine interest in their work and established rapport with them in a friendly manner. For instance, he commended two artists working on graffiti on one of the outside walls of the studios—artists Jahlove and Chima, who were among a select few mentored by seven American artist-educators from Next Level - the U.S. Department of State’s dance and music exchange program - during their twoweek residency at Ogidi Studios.

“The greatest opportunity you have is that three out of five Nigerians are under the age of 25, doing things like being engaged in the creative industries, where today Nigerian culture is not only viewed in Nigeria but it’s viewed in the United States and around the world because of studios like Ogidi Studios,” he remarked.

Ogidi Studios, renowned for its cuttingedge technology in audio recording and video production, is a multifunctional facility encompassing all aspects of the creative industry. Olorunnimbe provided a detailed account of the studio’s successful projects, including contributing to the soundtrack for the film ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,’ as took Adeyemo around.

“We hope that if and when the third sequel comes out, we will fully partake in production.”

He also highlighted the laudable achievements of creatives in the music and film industry.

Each creative unit in Ogidi Studios resembles a maze, where one creative door leads to another, from animation to recording studios—each unit is a marvel. The units are also named after popular African cities. For example, one of the rooms is called Eko, a gallery with orange-coloured walls adorned with portraits of African musicians and influencers who have contributed to the growing popularity and relevance of African music.

As Adeyemo gazed at the images, which included afrobeat legend Fela AnikulapoKuti, veteran juju musician King Sunny Ade, Angelique Kidjo, Wizkid, Burna Boy, Davido, Tiwa Savage, and veteran music promoters and broadcasters Kenny Ogungbe and Dayo Adeneye, one wondered if he was overwhelmed by nostalgia.

“You know, I remember growing up as a kid with my father playing King Sunny Ade and Fela,” he said. “And now you look at all of the afrobeats artists, including people that I know personally and others who are continuing the tradition of telling Nigerians stories through music, culture and art.

“And it’s great to see how that culture and art is no longer only being enjoyed by Nigerians but being enjoyed all over the world. I have friends not only in America but in Europe and Latin America, who today get to listen to afrobeats and hear the stories that are told by African artists. And I think that it helps people see the holistic story that is Nigeria and Africa.”

Olorunnimbe played the perfect host, introducing each member of his team

and creative talents who are signed to his management company to Adeyemo, adding humour that lit up the atmosphere. During a tour of one of the recording studios, he gave Adeyemo a quick tutorial on music editing and even asked him to play the role of a producer, posing as if he was editing sounds on a mixing console. Adeyemo gladly indulged him, and for a moment, he assumed the role of a music producer while listening to Tiwa Savage’s ‘All Over.’ It turned out that the song held a special meaning for him.

“It was the entry song at my Nigerian traditional wedding ceremony,” he revealed.

Adeyemo’s playful side was fully glimpsed when he toured the green room where BBNaija alumni Bisola Aiyeola and Lilo Aderogba were preparing for a shoot. He engaged with them and even agreed to an impromptu interview. Excitedly, they quizzed him on his favourite Naija food. Take a guess. It’s jollof rice, of course, but not just any type. Adeyemo emphasised that he preferred party jollof rice. When he was asked to speak Yoruba, he skillfully deflected the question with a witty remark.

As Adeyemo continued the tour, navigating through the creative maze, he couldn’t help but ponder on how the revenue generated from the creative industry could be profitable for practitioners.

“Yesterday, I had a chance to have dinner with some young Nigerians and talk to them about what they’re doing in terms of being part of the creative industry. And one of the questions they asked was, ‘What can we do to make sure that Nigeria benefits more from the work that I’m doing in the creative industry?’ And part of that is by having Nigeria invest in building institutions, like Studios, where Nigerian artists have the ability to record in Nigeria and Nigerian studios, where you build up the entire ecosystem so that more of the value from creativity is captured by the Nigerian economy.

“Ultimately, that’s in Nigeria’s interest because it allows you to build industries that support your young talent, but it’s also in our interest because we care deeply about making sure that Nigeria is economically successful, and that young people regardless of what they want to do, they have the ability to do it here Nigeria. There’s so much potential for talent amongst the next generation of Nigerians. The question is, how can we meet that talent with opportunity? And that includes building small medium-sized businesses to serve their needs.”

During his three-day visit to Nigeria, where he met with leaders, creatives and entrepreneurs, Adeyemo discovered the number of unicorns that are emerging in the country.

“I think the thing that I’ve discovered while being in Nigeria, is that, the ecosystems that feed on building technology giants in places like Kenya, and Silicon Valley, now exist here. You see the number of unicorns that are starting in Nigeria, and for each unicorn, just in my conversations, there are hundreds of other Nigerians, young people who are thinking about starting businesses that can be tomorrow’s unicorns, that will help create jobs here in Nigeria. And the key is how do you make sure that they get access to both the customers, but also the capital that allows them to grow their businesses.”

He added: “Ultimately, the thing that I’ve been so impressed by is the building of Nigerian small and medium-sized businesses that are serving the creative community, be it studios like the one that we are in here, and also different parts of the ecosystem. And things that I look forward to seeing the Nigerian government do is investing in that ecosystem because investing in that ecosystem will not only create jobs but also the creatives for all the different industries that help serve them. And that’s a great way to help grow the economy.”

Adeyemo’s visit underscored the immense opportunities for collaboration between the United States and Nigeria, particularly in light of the newly created Ministry of Art, Culture, and Creative Economy by President Bola Tinubu.

“I think it’s going to offer a great deal of opportunity because the Nigerian people are creative, the American people are creative, and ultimately, unlocking the economic potential of creativity is one of the things that Nigeria is doing and needs to do more of. Let it go through the exchange of people-to-people contacts between the United States and Nigeria, but American investment can help unlock that type of creative economy here in Nigeria,” said Adeyemo.

Adeyemo (middle) being welcomed at Ogidi Studios

Adeyemo being welcomed at Ogidi Studios

Adeyemo and Olorunnimbe inside Ogidi Studios

Photos: Kunle Ogunfuyi

HighLife

...Amazing

‘This is Who I Am’: Florence Ita-Giwa Lectures Donald Duke

The persistence of malice, in friendship squabbles to be precise, is mainly the result of a vast mass of habitual, petty malevolence, egotism, recklessness, and trivial gaffes. Only a residual fraction manifests from thought and superior intellect. In the amphitheater of Cross River politics, two luminaries have ignited a spectacle that dances on the precipice of incivility. Dame Florence Ita-Giwa, a venerable figure in the political terrain, now stands resolute, unyielding against the torrent of calumny. This is her story - a tale of grace, dignity and purpose, as she takes centre stage to lecture Donald Duke, a former compatriot turned antagonist whose recent barrage of calumny erodes his already questionable legacy.

Dame Florence Ita-Giwa’s life is a testament to resilience and achievement, a symphony composed of relentless determination and a commitment to service. Born to the union of an Efik journalist mother and a Bakassi traditional ruler, her trajectory began in nursing, honing her skills in Aba before taking up the mantle as a Medical Secretary in London. Her foray into the pharmaceutical realm bore fruits of success, birthing Flobett

Pharmacy and Med-Equip Limited in Lagos—a testament to her entrepreneurial spirit and foresight.

In the intricate world of Nigerian politics, Dame Ita-Giwa has shone as a luminary. Her name resonates with victory in four elections as a candidate from an opposition

party. But her pursuit of excellence did not waver; she sought further enlightenment in Legislative Management at a renowned London institution. Presently, she labors on a literary endeavor, crafting a book entitled “Legislative Management and Parliamentary Lobbying” with the intent to educate the next

Makinde’s Expensive Silence after Obasanjo’s Outburst to Oyo Obas

It has been a merry week, starting with several news points from Dubai, Niger Republic, and other places where governmental power is confused about what should come next. In Oyo, it was a case of a former president successfully ordering around a group of traditional leaders to the chagrin of many. Even now, the waves have not settled and many people are still expecting the former president and his half-step godson to apologize to the traditional rulers.

Governor Seyi Makinde had invited Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to oversee the inauguration of some projects. Included in the guest list were several traditional monarchs, all of whom were already seated as they awaited the arrival of their host and the former president. However, upon arrival, Chief Obasanjo noticed that the monarchs did not rise to acknowledge the governor’s presence, and berated them upon getting the mic.

The event has caused much discussion as

people fault one party or the other. It also raised the question of whose authority is superior: constitutional or traditional?

One group insists that Chief Obasanjo should have been more cordial in his approach instead of ordering the monarchs as if they were beneath him. Another group insists that the monarchs got what they deserved since they have made it a habit of taking Governor Makinde for granted.

Interestingly, Governor Makinde has not uttered a word since the arguments began. Even with some individuals asking that he also apologise to the royal fathers, the gentleman governor has refrained from off ering a public statement on the matter. This attitude has been interpreted through different lenses, but none of them can be validated until Governor Makinde says something.

generation of politicians.

Beyond the corridors of power, Dame Ita-Giwa’s maternal instincts are vividly apparent. A mother of 16 children, her embrace extends indiscriminately, transcending bloodlines. She has rescued some of her children from the challenging clutches of Bakassi, ensuring their access to quality education in private schools. It is an investment in the future, an act of benevolence that creates pillars upon which Nigeria’s promise can be fulfilled.

Amidst the cacophony of controversy, let us address the issue of alleged cosmetic surgery. Such procedures, often private matters, do not inherently involve third-party participation. Accusations of vanity and unethical advantagetaking remain unsubstantiated. The fatreduction surgery, for which Dame ItaGiwa was criticised, was not shrouded in secrecy; she openly shared her motives with the public. It was a choice made to alleviate the fat around her waist, a decision not alien to Efik women due to their physiological proportions.

Contrary to the narrative cast by her former compatriot, Donald Duke, ItaGiwa stands as the Mother of the female folk of the Efik Eburutu Kingdom, bearing the prestigious title of Eka Iban Esien Efik Duop-iba. Within the royal palace of the Obong of Calabar, she commands respect and admiration. Even as her age is weaponised against her, she remains an unwavering force, impacting countless lives and shaping a brighter tomorrow.

Donald Duke, once an ally, has chosen to partake in the unsavory theater of character assassination. His actions reek of pettiness and egotism, driven by motives veiled in darkness. Instead of addressing issues with civility, he has resorted to mudslinging and baseless accusations. In a world where chivalry and respect for one’s elders should prevail, his actions stand as a stark antithesis.

In the end, as Ita-Giwa rises above the tumult, her legacy remains untarnished. She is a paragon of grace, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to the betterment of her community and nation. Her story serves as a beacon of hope, reminding us that even in the face of adversity and malicious intent, one’s true character can shine through, undiminished by the shadows of falsehoods. Donald Duke would do well to heed the lessons of civility and integrity that Dame Ita-Giwa exemplifies, for her narrative is a testament to the enduring power of authenticity.

Tokunbo Wahab Becomes New Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources

The true reward for good work is more work. The truth of this understanding has manifested in the call for more service extended to Tokunbo Wahab, the immediate past Special Adviser on Education to the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Taking into account his amazing accomplishments in the area of education, Governor Sanwo-Olu has seen fit to have Tokunbo take on the role of Environment and Water Resources Commissioner.

Without a doubt, Wahab is up there among the individuals who made the most impact in Lagos in the last four years. Wahab can compete with almost any other public servant, excluding the governor and his deputy. The secret behind this ranking is simply Wahab’s diligence which easily crowds out the apathetic keenness that others have expressed towards serving the good people of Lagos.

It is consequently not surprising that Governor Sanwo-Olu considers Wahab worthy of a new lease of serving the public. Specifically, Sanwo-Olu has

charged his former Special Adviser on Education matters to oversee the affairs of the Environment and Water Resources ministry.

Wahab’s appointment as commissioner comes on the cusp of increasing concern regarding this aspect of the Lagos State government. The ministry hitherto revealed that its mandate revolved around ensuring that the natural environment was clean and healthy, and had a sustainable condition upon which Lagos might enjoy some proceeds from tourism. Understanding the need for a capable mandate bearer, Wahab has arrived on the scene.

The watchword for the Environment and Water Resources ministry is #GreenerLagos. Wahab, pulling together the personnel and assets provided by Sanwo-Olu, can definitely ensure this mandate. Thus, by appointing Wahab as the Commissioner, the heavy lifting is out of the way. It is time to sit back and watch him introduce life into the dream of #GreenerLagos.

Makinde

Ita-Giwa and Duke

Wahab

(second left), surrounded by his aides on an inspection tour in Lagos

OBASANJO AS VILLAGE HEADMASTER

When you wake up and see over 100 people made Oba, why won’t the whole thing begin to look one kind? In some states in the South-west, you will see like two Obas in one street. Baales being promoted up and down for political purposes, the whole prestige and reverence of the institutions gone. There used to be one in our estate and he will be sending his Olori to attend estate meetings. His palace is one small house in Igbobi Sabe, near Fadeyi bus stop. And we would be stressing him for estate dues. He even entered the matter when we were fighting the Estate Chairman, making me wonder which kind Oba is this one sef. It is this degeneration that Chief Obasanjo in his usually blunt and rough manner was trying to stop. It was reported that he had gone for an occasion and when the governor walked in, the Obas refused to stand up and even when the National Anthem was played, they all sha sat in their seats. In anger, the civil war hero, the prisoner of conscience and the only headmaster that Nigeria has, in righteous anger berated them. He didn’t even stop at that, he commanded them to stand up and those ones also stood up and sat down. The whole thing looked like something that used to happen in primary schools. The way the Obas

all stood up with not even one refusing and in total obedience to the headmaster. My question remains, what would Obasanjo have done if even one didn’t stand up? Well, he was saved that embarrassment as they all in “fear” stood up with their crowns on their hands or held on their heads so that they would not fall down.

As expected, Chief Obasanjo has faced a lot of flak for that action. He has been called an Onitsha man again. He has been said to have lost relevance and is using all of these antics to get back his relevance. All sorts of names and abuses have been hurled at him. One traditional ruler who himself has done much more than anyone in desecrating the institution has also risen up in righteous anger and one Yoruba council of Obas or “something like that” has stood up to ask for an apology in 10 TV stations and other media.

One would have remained in shock if we got an apology from the old soldier. What we have seen is an explanation that sits very well with me.

In a few words, he reaffirmed the supremacy of political power over traditional stools and that is where I stand. Any other thing na water under the bridge. I stand with the Village Headmaster on this one, thank

DAPO ABIODUN: PLEASE DON’T BEAT ME

Last week, I had made a slight commentary of my thoughts of this gentleman on the back of the demolition of Yeye Daniel’s property somewhere in his state and immediately went under fire o. One Tunde came at me o. He said he is the Publicity Secretary of APC. My people, this brother started calling me names o. That me I am amala journalist. This one does not even know me. Who will associate me with amala? Me, na afang king. He accused me of being a puppet of Gbenga Daniel. Which Gbenga Daniel? That one that me I don’t like? Gbenga Daniel, that will be smiling at you and will never answer you? His face is permanently etched in a smile even when he is kicking you, he is smiling. Now, instead of Ogbeni Tunde to face the main issues that bedevil his Ogun State, na me he come dey see for amala joint, raving and ranting and abusing me all over the place. Then, I started receiving calls that I should be careful o. A lot of anonymous calls.

The thing is that our leaders must be very receptive to criticism, not everybody will be on your side and be singing for you even when it is very clear that you are failing in your duties to the people.

Trying to muzzle me, moving against this column and querying its existence is not the way to go. If you are really angry with me, ban afang, ban porn, suspend all light skinned women from talking to me, then we know you mean business and you will meet my own wrath in its naked form. Sending threats, and calling me with strange numbers and warning me, will not shake me o.

My brother, please go and face the task of good governance, probity and sincere love of the people. Relocate to Shagamu and work very closely with authorities in bringing development to that town. My brother, Ibi’s mother lives there and I used to go stay with her to enjoy the peace

of that town. All that is gone now and what we have is an orgy of violence. This is really not the best, the issues that face your government are real. Please focus sir.

THE EMOTIONS OF MOHBAD’S PASSAGE

Me I came to write my own in national Newspaper where I know most of those crying blood over the unfortunate passing of the music star do not come. They concentrate on that thing called X where emotions and not logic, reign free.

That Mohbad has passed is quite sad. He was said to be 27 years of age and a budding music super star. Never heard of him till the day I saw him on a stretcher and they said he was battling blood pressure. We that are in the matter, already know that this is not a joke so I was very interested because of his age. Why would a young man be suffering from BP at that age, I wondered?

Then they said, he has died. Aghhhh. Then all hell broke loose. We started hearing names like Naira Marley, Sam Larry and Marlian Label. Aghhhh twitter and social media went crazy. Ohhh Naira Marley’s head, Sam Larry head. They have to be crucified, the digital mob went on an overdrive and the Lagos State Government in their usual anywhere belle face, jumped in with the deputy governor taking excuse from always escorting the governor everywhere to visit the family and promising investigation.

Now everybody is on the matter. Even DSS whose job is national security has been asked to jump in by the governor but one question we are all failing to ask is, what is the direct cause of death? Is it bullying, royalty, abuse, drugs? That we are now attempting to hang people’s heads on poles in a rabid push to crucify them before their time.

Thankfully, an autopsy has been ordered and

investigations have commenced. Let’s all calm down first and see the results before we resume the hang “Naira Marley” campaign.

ASUE IGHODALO AND OLU AKPATA - BE LIKE EDO WAN BE LIKE LAGOS

During the week, I wrote a major piece on social media about these three brothers and our Edo State. Asue reached out and said, “bro, I never come out o but be rest assured if anything like that happen, I go let you know.” Olu on his own reached out and said, “Bro we dey the matter,” and then Obaseki’s people also reached out and basically said, “hang on to your boots, it’s going to be an exciting ride.”

My people, Edo politics is at its frenzied best especially if you now come and add Phillip Shaibu’s matter in the mix, you will simply be watching a drama, more sensational than the Big Brother fiasco. My brother and In-law, Ohimai came out with an expert analysis. I don forget most of the things he said, but it looks like he didn’t give Obaseki any chance at imposing his willing successor. In his words, “Edo State cannot wait to see his back.” Me I agree because this Obaseki is a huge let down. He didn’t try at all. So he would be lacking a very strong moral platform to attempt at imposing a candidate. Maybe this is why he is trying to drag erudite and very clear headed Asue into the matter. Asue is a corporate titan, well respected and with very strong influence within corporate Nigeria. Highly incorruptible and with the clarity of an intellectual, his strong points may just be what Obaseki would need to give him a seat at that table.

Olu no go fall down easily. Well-connected and looking like holding the grassroots together. He is easy going, a peoples’ person lacking in the airs that comes with his elitist background, making him easily likeable. Olu will make

a major push. Philip na the joker, dem go push am back to APC and he will gang up with Oshiomhole to either throw up a strong candidate or throw himself up.

One man don kuku call me to ask question, “Edgar, how come Edo State has never been ruled by people who have teenagers as children? How will they connect with the aspirations and youths who are laying around directionless in the state?”

That question is not for me to come all the way from Akwa Ibom to come and answer in Benin. This is the question Edo people should ask themselves as they move towards the elections. We in Akwa Ibom, we get our own. Exciting, I swear.

Amaju Pinnick: A Lily in the Field

I have followed Amaju’s trajectory from Delta FA to the peak at FIFA where he coordinated the last world cup which was held in Qatar and I have come to the realisation that this is not an ordinary Nigerian. I have interacted with him severally and have come out of each engagement with the conviction that this is one Nigerian, that has his head screwed right. The other day, I saw a report of the huge farm he was cultivating in Osun State. I watched the video in awe and marvelled at what he was doing exactly especially at these times. You will agree with me that going into agriculture with all the challenges that come with it is not something for the weak hearts. The huge facilities, its potential for job creation and infrastructure development not to talk of food security makes one to step back and look at Amaju with one kind eye.

I hail him o and every time I engage with him I used to secretly wonder if he remembers that I once lost his money as a stockbroker. Abeg no remind am o, make he no come ask for refund this one that Naira is looking like “agbo jedi jedi” beside the dollar. Kai.

Obasanjo

Akpata Abiodun Ighodalo

City Businessman, Habeeb Okunola’s New Architectural Masterpiece

Blessed with the gait of a perfect gentleman, Habeeb Okunola connotes the proverbial goldfish with no hiding place.

The prominent businessman and socialite blooms like a shining star among his peers. Apart from his kind heart, he is a man who loves to live a luxurious lifestyle. He is also a man-about-town, who storms social gatherings with his pockets lined with different currencies.

Indeed, the happy-go-lucky dude has everything at his beck and call. With great business acumen, Okunola, who is also the Akosin of Yorubaland is a lucky young man who made a name for himself early in life.

The Managing Director of TILT Group is also a man with the proverbial Midas touch. He is one of the most successful individuals in the country, only a handful of people have an idea of how he was able to grow a business empire with at least ten different but equally strong business interests.

Specifically, Okunola’s TILT Group has its fingers in every sector of the economy. These include construction, engineering, real estate, energy, oil and gas, dredging, agriculture, trading, asset management, and technology. If making money is an art, Okunola is definitely a maestro.

For his outstanding contribution to the nation’s economy, he was recently honoured with the national honour by the regime of ex-President M uhammadu Buhari.

Society Watch gathered that the billionaire business has sown in sweat and reaping bountifully. And to say that he loves every good thing in life is stating the obvious. Who doesn’t?

Society Watch gathered that Okunola would soon take delivery of a new mansion, described by a source as an architectural masterpiece. The building, according to the source, is located in the highbrow area of NICON Town estate, Lekki Peninsula. The structure, which will be completed in the first quarter of 2024, has gulped several hundreds of millions of naira. “Everything about the structure oozes wealth, opulence and power,’’ the source said.

Top oil merchant, Dr. Ernest AzudialuObiejesi, is the brain behind Nestoil Group, one of the biggest indigenous oil and gas servicing companies in Nigeria. You cannot mention great business minds in Nigeria without mentioning his name. In fact, the trajectory of the man, fondly called ObiJackson, is worthy of a blockbuster biopic.

The billionaire and shrewd businessman is always driven by a strong passion to expand his business empire, a development that has enabled him to give jobs to thousands of people across the country.

He has nurtured the conglomerate into a versatile indigenous entity, with interests in various sectors of the economy, including telecommunications and power generation.

His Nestoil Tower, an architectural masterpiece that straddles both Akin Adesola and Saka Tinubu Streets in Victoria Island, Lagos, illuminates the skyline of that swanky neighbourhood. Despite these phenomenal runs, not many are aware that Azudialu-Obiejesi started as a humble petty trader.

He learnt the rudiment of business early enough while managing his father’s business. It was that experience that prepared him for the volatile business climate in Nigeria when he set

Azudialu-Obiejesi

up Obijackson West Africa Limited in 1982. That little mustard seed has now grown to become a business octopus of sorts. And growing from that little beginning to become one of the biggest oil and gas CEOs today is laudable.

As Nestoil boss and a player in Nigeria’s oil industry, Azudialu-Obiejesi basked in luxury accruable from his investment. Wealthy and

Adedara S. Oduguwa alongside his siblings are pulling all the stops to celebrate their mother, Mrs. Bolanle T. Oduguwa, who turned 60 yesterday, Saturday, September 23.

The children, on this special occasion of their mother joining the Diamond Club with great joy and happiness, played host to some family members, friends and political associates at the celebrant’s Sagamu, Ogun State residence, in appreciation of her enduring spirit, love and unwavering dedication to their upbringing.

influential, he has always dazzled his competitors and delighted his admirers. No doubt, his success story is such that it will make anyone green with envy. He works hard for his money, so he spares nothing to spoil himself with the good things in life.

He developed a taste for expensive luxury from vintage cars to private jets. Society Watch gathered that he has recently increased his fleet to accommodate an additional gulf stream, thereby bringing the number of his private jets to four. The new Gulfstream G-700 was acquired at a whopping cost of N60 billion.

Azudialu-Obiejesi is revered by his kinsmen in Okija for transforming the town into a mini-cosmopolitan city with dozens of eye-popping properties. The 63-yearold tycoon has spent and is still spending billions of naira of his money to build quality infrastructures including roads, a hospital and a mini stadium.

His Obijackson Foundation has dispensed scores of scholarships and grants to indigent students and skilled people. The Obijackson Women and Children Hospital is another initiative of his that has quickly become the place to be for those seeking medical attention in Igboland.

She has been actively engaged in various political activities from 1991 to 2021, serving as a Woman Leader, Coordinator, Polling Agent, and Ex-officio within different political parties, including the National Republican Convention (NRC), United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP), and PDP. In 2022, she was the Sagamu PDP Vice-Chairmanship candidate.

“There has never been, nor will there be anything quite so special as the love between the mother and her son.”

This momentous phrase best underscores why young entrepreneur and writer, Dr.

It will be a carnival of sorts as media icon and Chief Executive Officer of Tingo Media, Ebuwa Agbonwaneten, concludes plans to hold the funeral of his mother, Princess Karina Namikpoh who passed on to eternal glory recently.

As gathered by Society Watch, Agbonwaneten, who is also the CEO of The Dozy Mmobuosi Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, said the matriarch would be laid to rest in Port Harcourt, Rivers State from September 29 to October 1, 2023.

As revealed, the programme is expected to commence with a service of songs and tributes in her honour on Friday, September 29 at Azny in Port Harcourt Rivers State.

Also, the funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 30 at Vaults & Gardens,

The loving mother is regarded as a woman of great strength and resilience. Her children take great pride in her accomplishments. An astute businesswoman and politician of note, Mrs. Oduguwa ventured into active politics under the guidance and leadership of her late husband, Chief Kofoworola Oduguwa JP, whom she married in 1984.

Oil Merchant, Azudialu-Obiejesi’s Wondrous Taste Media Guru, Agbonwaneten,

Aggrey Road, off Cemetery Road Port Harcourt while intermittent reception will take place at The Palacios Event Centre, Woji Road, Phase 2 Port Harcourt.

On Sunday, October 1, the Thanksgiving service will take place at Hilltop International Christian Centre, Waterlines/Elekahia Link Road, Port Harcourt.

It is hinted that Agbonwaneten’s associates and business partners have indicated their interest in an event that promised to be an unforgettable experience. Our source revealed further that the event is not just a sombre occasion; it’s a celebration of a remarkable life and a chance to bid farewell to an extraordinary woman. As the host, who is known not to do his things in half measure, Agbonwaneten has promised his guests topnotch and premium hospitality.

By all standards, Modupe Olusola, CEO of Transcorp Hotel, is a woman that members of her gender should be proud of. She is someone who is successfully thriving in a maledominated world with her God-given assets, brilliance, intelligence, suave and finicky nature.

No doubt, her ability to deviate from the norm has made her one of the most sought-after in the sectors where she earlier found herself, banking, agriculture and now hospitality.

Olusola, who attended the University of Leicester and the University of Kent both in the UK, has a very sociable and affable personality. While many who see her thrive now are envious of her success, they are not aware of the hard work and resilience she put in before she could attain her current height in life. Many just see the glory, but have forgotten the process that led to the lifechanging story.

She has indeed proved that creating streams of opportunity and thriving well

Aside from her political endeavours, Mrs. Oduguwa is actively involved in numerous social clubs and holds several chieftaincy titles. She is also known for her philanthropic efforts, her dedication to helping the less fortunate, and her active participation in social gatherings. She is blessed with five children - Dr. Adedara Oduguwa, Dr. Adegbuyi Oduguwa, Dr. Adebanke Oduguwa, Adesewa Oduguwa, and Mr. Adekoyejo Oduguwa.

in any field you are in is not just by fluke but by putting the right operational elements to work.

As the head of Marketing at the United Bank for Africa (UBA), Modupe was a workaholic who invented innovative ways that contributed to the bank’s leap in fortune.

She ensured she drove the marketing of the bank with impeccable ideas. This saw her rise to being the second woman to attain the position of CEO in the prestigious hotel while investors were super excited with the spike in return on investment, while customers of the hospitality hub in Abuja have commended the innovative ways of service delivery all facilitated by Modupe.

If you think her status is supposed to have padded shoulders and remain inaccessible to people, you are mistaken. The beautiful CEO is an open book maintaining a respectful and humble nature. Little wonder she is loved by her subordinates, and business associates and admired by all.

late Karina Namikpoh

Olusola

Oduguwa

Okunola

MohBad’s Death and the Cost of Fake News

Stories by Vanessa Obioha

In an era when information travels at the speed of a click, the tragic death of Nigerian rapper and singer MohBad serves as a stark reminder of the perilous consequences of fake news.

Born Ilerioluwa Aloba, MohBad, a talented artist who once graced the stage under Naira Marley’s music label, Marlian Records met an untimely demise that sent shockwaves through the music industry. However, what followed was a whirlwind of speculations and unverified claims.

Ever since news broke of MohBad’s passing, a plethora of theories emerged, each proposing a different cause of death. Even after the police exhumed his remains for autopsy, the relentless churn of theories refused to cease.

MohBad’s musical journey, marked by a debut EP titled ‘Light’ in 2020 and a subsequent departure from Naira Marley’s label in 2022 to establish his own, Imolenization, has been overshadowed by disturbing allegations.

Following his departure from Marlian Records World, it was reported that he was bullied by the singer Naira Marley and music promoter Sam Larry. Although he reported the attack by Sam Larry to the police, the latter in their defence claimed that the deceased never attended a subsequent meeting to address the allegations.

These attacks which took place a few months ago resurfaced after his death, fuelling accusatory fingers pointed at his former label owner.

The first theory surrounding his death cited an alleged ear infection. Later, it was claimed that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency had poisoned him during his custody, a charge vehemently refuted by the agency’s

spokesperson, Femi Babafemi on X (formerly Twitter). He shared an online report detailing the arrest and detention of some artists from Naira Marley’s label, emphasizing the distortion of facts by purveyors of fake news.

“This is an authentic account of the arrest and detention of some Marlian artists in Feb 2022, an incident that has now been twisted by purveyors of fake news to say Mohbad was poisoned or detained by the agency. I hope they’ll be bold enough to defend their claims when the hand of the law catches them,” Babafemi tweeted. As MohBad’s demise continued to dominate social media, speculation ran rampant. From the mundane to the bizarre, claims ranged from questioning his paternity to portraying Naira Marley as the leader of a drug cartel exploiting young artists. Concurrently, fake accounts were created in his name, deceiving

Kabaka’s ‘Abialam’ Achieves Remarkable Success on Apple Music

In an astonishing turn of events, highlife veteran Kabaka and His Oriental International Brothers’ latest album, ‘Abialam,’ has achieved unprecedented success on Apple Music within days of its release.

In just 24 hours, the album catapulted to the 50th position on the Apple Music Top 100 chart worldwide. Within 48 hours, it climbed even higher, securing the 27th spot. By Monday, September 18th, ‘Abialam’ had solidified its place at an impressive 19th position on the chart. This monumental accomplishment etches ‘Abialam’ into the annals of music history as the first highlife album from Africa to attain such a global milestone.

Band leader Godwin

“Kabaka” Opara expressed his gratitude, stating, “It’s an honour to represent highlife

music on a global stage and make history with this album.”

“We are beyond thrilled to see this level of engagement and support from our fans around the world,” added Anyanwu Glory Ammarachi, COO of Derda Promotions, the promoters of the album.

Released on September 15, the album has received positive reviews from critics who hailed its rich instrumentation, lyrical depth, and innovative sound. This landmark moment serves as a testament to the rising global appeal of African music

genres, and highlife music, in particular.

‘Abialam,’ which translates to “I have returned,” is an intricate tapestry of traditional rhythms and modern beats, capturing the essence of highlife music while resonating with a broad international audience. The album features six tracks that pay homage to the highlife genre’s rich history, while also incorporating contemporary elements that make it accessible and relevant to today’s music scene.

The Macallan Exclusively Launches

Double Cask 30 Y/O in Abuja

Renowned Scotch whisky brand, The Macallan, on Friday, September 15, introduced the world of sophistication and craftsmanship of its Double Cask 30 Years Old to an exclusive gathering of Nigeria’s business elites and celebrities.

Held at the upscale Tar Tar Restaurant in Abuja, the grand event showcased The Macallan’s heritage in craftsmanship and unwavering commitment to delivering the ultimate sensorial experience for whisky enthusiasts.

The Double Cask 30 Years Old is a testament to The Macallan’s devotion to the art of whisky distillery. Matured for three decades, the exceptional spirit combines the finest handpicked sherryseasoned European and American oak casks, resulting in a complex character that narrates the perfect harmony of the two distinct worlds.

The distinguished guests, which included Business

Partner, Paper Hospitality, Adegbe Ogbeh; Founder Africana Couture Nigeria, Charles Oronsaye; Edoro Abebe, Group CEO, The Vanilla Group; CEO, Zod International, Samer Zod and more, were taken on an immersive journey of the whisky brand.

Exhibiting a natural golden acorn hue, the Double Cask 30 YO offers a unique combination of fresh honeycomb, sweet toffee, and red apple aroma, while delivering a rich and smooth melody of cinnamon, ginger, and Madagascan vanilla on the palate. As guests sipped the single malt whisky, they were enveloped in the lush forests of Europe and America where these fruits were harvested.

“The Macallan Double Cask 30 Years Old is a truly exceptional whisky that is sure to delight even the most discerning palate,” said the Brand Manager of Edrington Portfolio in Nigeria, Hammed Adebiyi. “The expert blending of the finest sherry-seasoned

L-R: Chief Operating Officer, Kohath Investment Group, Thomas Eloramo; Trade Marketing Manager - The Edrington Portfolio (NBC), Tsolaye Everett-Eleoramo; The Macallan Brand Ambassador, Abuja, Adeyinka Adepetun; and Brand Manager, Edrington Portfolio, Nigeria, Hammed

oak casks from Europe and America has created a whisky with a complex and balanced flavour profile that is simply unmatched. We are delighted to launch this exceptional whisky in Nigeria, and we are confident that it will become an instant favourite among all whisky lovers in the country.”

The Macallan distinguishes its Double Cask range with extraordinary

fans and concerned citizens, while misinformation clouded the actual amount of donations received by the deceased’s family. For instance, social commentator Japheth Omojuwa, popularly known as J.J. Omojuwa had to clarify the amount of donations made by President Bola Tinubu’s son. Seyi. It was alleged that Seyi had donated N15 million to MohBad’s family, but in his X’s post, Omojuwa clarified that the former made no such donation.

The dangers of fake news are manifold. It can be categorized into three distinct forms: misinformation, spreading falsehoods without harmful intent; disinformation, deliberately disseminating fake news to manipulate or harm; and malinformation, sharing information with malicious intent or out of context.

MohBad’s case highlights how fake news can lead to unfounded accusations, public outrage, and even distractions from legitimate investigations by the police. A good pointer to this was the case of the young man who had to make a video to clarify that he was not Sam Larry, given the public outrage on the promoter. MohBad’s untimely death and the subsequent surge of fake news underscores the critical need for media literacy in today’s digital age. Individuals must learn to scrutinize information sources, verify news from multiple credible outlets, and exercise caution before sharing unverified claims. Moreover, the responsibility does not rest solely with the media; social media users play a pivotal role in curbing the spread of misinformation. Promoting responsible social media practices, promptly reporting fake accounts, and encouraging fact-checking can collectively mitigate the detrimental effects of false information.

As Nigerians and the late singer’s fans await the release of the autopsy results, the role of social media in facilitating the spread of falsehoods becomes apparent. Ethical reporting, and public awareness campaigns about the dangers of fake news, should be encouraged.

oak casks. These casks are the primary influencers in the quality, natural hue, and distinctive aromas and flavours that define the brand’s premium single malt whiskies.

The Double Cask 30 Years Old’s breathtaking allure was masterfully delivered through The Macallan’s collaboration with renowned American artist and photographer, Erik Madigan Heck.

In a captivating fusion of music and fashion, Nigerian music sensation Teniola Apata (MON), popularly known as Teni, has joined forces with Abuja-based designer SHUSHI to introduce a limited-edition eyewear line, SS23: SHUSHI x Teni.

With a global release of only 200 pieces, the SS23: SHUSHI x Teni collection showcases two exclusive designs named “Makanaki’’ and “Sugar Mummy.” The “Makanaki’’ frames, inspired by Teni’s iconic moniker, feature chic rectangular styling with moulded nose pads for enhanced comfort, UV protection, and dark-tinted lenses. These frames are exclusively available on the SHUSHI website and at select 41 Luxe stores in Abuja and Lagos. On the other hand, the “Sugar Mummy” designs make a bold fashion statement while prioritizing eye protection. Crafted as unisex pieces, they boast steel metallic frames and UVprotected lenses.

Teni expressed her excitement about the collaboration, emphasizing how SHUSHI’s style perfectly aligns with her aura. She noted her admiration for SHUSHI’s designs, dating back to when she received the pink coral Alté pair from their inaugural collection in 2019.

Founder Aisha Sambo shared her enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “We’re thrilled to be working with Teni on this collection. It’s been in the works for some time now, and this collaboration is inspired by both our cultural heritage and the fun-loving spirit of young African creatives. Teni is a true street fashion icon, the original sugar mummy of the world. We’re honoured to have her as part of our brand and to be a part of her story now.”

Notably, the SS23: SHUSHI x Teni collection made its debut on the silver screen through Teni’s latest music video, “Lanke.” In the vibrant video, the eyewear pieces adorn the faces of female models, enhancing the overall burst of colour and personality.

The late MohBad

Teni the entertainer

Adebiyi.

Kabaka

The Supreme Court on Trial

The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal has since reaffirmed the declarationofMr.BolaTinubuasour dulyelectedpresident.Inresponse, thetwomajorcontendersPeterObi and Atiku Abubakar of the Labour PartyandPeoplesDemocraticParty respectively have scaled up their legal objections to the Supreme Court. It is more like a slovenly walk up theladderofjudicialcorrectness,notalegalbattleto assertarightorclaimanentitlement.Theopposition politiciansareprobablymorepreoccupiedwithadherencetotheruleoflawandacommitmenttoorderand due judicial process. That is a minimum requirement of responsible democratic conduct.

Without prejudice to the wisdom of the Supreme Court,thehighpossibilityisthattheyarelikelytoaffirm therulingofthetribunal.Itwilldosoforadifferentset of reasons that run contrary to conventional street wisdom. It will not be because the judges are under corrupt influence. It will not be because the judges arecompromisedorcowardly.Onthecontrary,itwill bebecausetheexistinglawsleavethemnoroomfor escape.

Understandably, the incumbent does not seem perturbed by the judicial rituals. He is digging in in terms of ruling Nigeria, making a litany of strategic appointmentsandflipfloppingthroughabarrageof keypolicydecisions.Thelawgiveshimtheheadstart of waging his legal defenses of his much contested mandate from the comfort place of power incumbency. The other contestants are merely throwing legal stones at the glass house of power from the external wilderness of forlorn hope.

Onitspart,thepublicislessimpressedbythelegal drama. The finality of a Supreme Court verdict has since lost its celestial awe. Most Nigerians doubt thattheSupremeCourtwilleverupturnMr.Tinubu’s incumbency. Public doubt about a judicial outcome fromtheSupremeCourtisembeddedinthetradition ofskepticismthathascometosurroundthereputation of the Supreme Court and the Nigerian judiciary in general in recent years.

Rightly or wrongly, ordinary Nigerians doubt the integrityoftheSupremeCourtletaloneexpectthat it can possibly rule an incumbent out of office at any time in the near future. Common people believe the judges are corrupt, compromised and cowardly. In otherwords,thereisanoverwhelmingpublicverdict thatneitherPeterObinorAtikuAbubakarwillsecure the reliefs they are seeking from the apex court.

PeoplehavealreadyconcludedthattheSupreme Court will merely reaffirm the verdict of the PEPT.

To buttress their skepticism and general distrust of the Supreme Court, people cite a string of such verdicts in recent times. Challenges to presidential election outcomes from 1979 to the present have returned verdicts in favour of the incumbent. No one believes this instance will be different. In a few stategovernorshipcasesthatwentuptotheSupreme Court, the verdicts have followed the same pattern. Ithaseitherbeenanaffirmationoftheincumbentor a toppling of the existing order based on disguised partisan pandering. Easily the most embarrassing instance cases is the Supreme Court judgment that chaperonedMr.HopeUzodimmaintotheGovernment House in Owerri while returning Mr. Emeka Ihedioha to the pool of unemployed privileged citizens.

The adverse estimation of the Supreme Court by theNigerianpublicisnotnecessarilyinformedbyany understandingofthefinepointsoflegalitythatinform thecourt’sjudgments.Itisinsteadavaluejudgmentby aperceptiveandpoliticallyconsciouspubiconcases thattouchonthewiderdemocraticimplicationsofour elections. More often than not, assessments of the judgmentsoftheSupremeCourtarevaluejudgments thataremerespilloversofNigeria’spervasivecorruption rhetoric. A pervasively corrupt culture has bred perennialdistrustabouttheconductofpublicofficers andfunctionaries.Thereisaconventionalwisdomout on the streets that the quality of judgment available tothosewhoapproachourcourtsisafunctionofthe quantum of money and other material inducement on offer by litigants.

In this regard, people point to the many cases in whichundertheBuharipresidency,anumberofjudges homesweresearchedandhugetrovesofcashfound. Securityagencieswentaftersomejudgesandtraced hugesumsofmoneytotheirbankaccountswhichcould notbeaccountedfor.Inotherwordsatrailofcorruption follows our judges like their politician patrons who in any case are the financiers of the wealthy judges. In goingafterthecorruptjudges,politicalleaderswere merelyseekingtoretrievepartoftheirlootdoledout to some judges.

Therefore, the general doubt as to whether the Supreme Court will deliver a contrary verdict from

thePresidentialElectionTribunal hasaconstitutional andlegislativebasis.TheSupremeCourtandindeed allthecourtsinthepostelectioncourtprocesseshave beencagedbytheexistingconstitutionalstipulations and applicable Electoral law on the matter of post election petitions.

HereistheConstitution:Section285(6)ofthe1999 ConstitutionofNigeria (as amended) statesthat“an electiontribunalshalldeliveritsjudgementinwriting within180daysfromthedateofthefilingofthepetition”. Meanwhile, the petitioners have 21 days after the date of the declaration of the result of elections to file. The law further provides that “an appeal from thedecisionofanelectiontribunalorCourtofAppeal in an election matter shall be heard and disposed of within60daysfromthedateofdeliveryofjudgment of the tribunal or Court of Appeal”. This means that the declared winner would have spent no less than six months in office before the case is concluded. Since judicial systems hardly rule in favour of potential anarchy, the time lag makes it difficult to upturnapresidentialelectioninwhichtheincumbent hasalreadyspentmonthsinoffice.Foraslongasthis aberration persists, there can hardly be judgments that run counter to the interests of the incumbent at the presidential level at least.

Thepresentaberrationplaysinfavourofthebelief that order precedes law. You must have an orderly society that exists in stability before individuals can successfullypursuetheirlegalrights.Soinmostcases involvingthesecurityofthesovereignattheapexlevel, mostSupremeCourtsaremorelikelytoruleinfavour ofanincumbentalreadyinpower.Thedesirableideal is therefore a situation in which electoral petitions are concluded before the swearing-in of winners as obtains in many African countries.

In Kenya, for instance, the time allowed between thedateofdeclarationofpresidentialelectionresult and the decision of the Supreme Court on a petition is only three weeks. Article 140 of the 2010 Kenya Constitution provides that the petition should be filedwithinsevendaysaftertheresultisdeclaredand “withinfourteendaysafterthefilingofapetition,the SupremeCourtshallhearanddeterminethepetition and its decision shall be final”.

Over and above technical constitutional and legalisticissues,thereisamorefundamentalaspect of the reliance on the courts to determine electoral outcomes. An aberration seems to have been ac-

cepted as the norm. In a democracy, the essence of periodicjudicialinterventionsinelectionmattersisto promotedemocraticcultureespeciallytheprimacy oftheruleoflaw.Itisalsodesignedtostrengthenthe confidence of the people in the process and instill accountabilityinthepoliticalleadership.Reducingour courts,includingtheSupremeCourt,tovotecounting stations with Judges now deciding the outcome of elections,allegationsofelectionfixing,deal-making and corruption have become rife.

Theincreasedprominenceofandrecoursetojudicial outcomesinelectionmattersisadangerousomenfor Nigeria’sdemocracy.Politiciansnowgointoelectoral contests uncertainthattheelectoralbody(INEC)will returnafreeandfairverdict.Theythereforeprepare to duel in court, believing that tribunals and courts will give them the fairness and justice denied by the electoral body, namely INEC.

It has therefore become axiomatic that INEC declared results will be defective and unfair. Even INECitselfhasbecomecontentwiththerecourseto thecourtstocompletetheirjob,hencetherefrainof‘Go tocourt”.INECseemstohavetransferredconfidence initsowntechnicalcapacitytothejudgmentofcourts.

A democracy in which the umpire or electoral body lacks confidence in its own integrity and technical efficiency and instead transfers the burden of its fairness and integrity to the judiciary has serious fundamental problems.

The virtual transfer of the burden of determining electoral outcomes to the judiciary, especially the Supreme Court, has encumbered it with a political responsibilityandamoralburden.Nooneknowswhat codeofconductregulatestheconductofourSupreme Courtjudgesthesedays.Itremainsuncertainwhether ourSupremeCourtjudgesarebarredfromreceiving materialfavoursfromindividualsorcorporationseven where the givers have no case before the affected judge.Thisismademoreproblematicbythecivilservice fixed tenure if our Supreme Court judges. They are appointed and serve according to a pecking at the behest of the president. Their conduct is subject to a loose regulation by the National Judicial Council. Whateverthelatitudesinthepresentenvironment, the Judges of Nigerian’s Supreme Court and indeed the entire judiciary establishment now have a huge moral burden. They must first admit that there has been a major erosion of the ethical and professional standardsintheirfold.Nigerianscontinuetosearchin

vainforjudgesofstiffmoralandethicalstandardswho also embodied brilliant professional standards and intellecttoearntheepithet“learned”.Nigeriaoncehad JusticesDanleyAlexander,KayodeEso,Chukwudifu Oputa, T.S. Elias, Ayo Irikefe, Karibi White etc. These were men of solid conviction, profound intellect and impeccablecharacterandcommitmenttothehighest ethicalstandards.Intheirdays,Nigerianscouldswear by the judgments of the Supreme Court. Even the military stood in awe of the moral stature and intellectual sagacity of these men of law and letters. As Chinua Achebe lamented shortly before he passed on, “there was once a nation.”

Our situation contrasts with the United States. SupremeCourtjudgesservealifetenure.Theyeither sittilltheydieorvoluntarilyopttoretire.Everyvacancy ontheUSSupremeCourtisfilledbyanomineeofthe presidentsubjecttoSenateconfirmation.Moreoften thannot,presidentsnominatejudgestotheSupreme Court based on a combination of professional track recordinthefieldandideologicalleaning.Youareeither aliberaljudgeoraconservative.Thisconnotes implicit partisanship in broad terms as conservative judges tendtobeRepublicansandliberaljudgesareessentially Democratsintendency.Racialdiversityhasrecently beenthrowninasafactorthatinfluencespresidential nominations to the Supreme Court. There is no civil service pecking order to observe. It is a meritocratic system.

GiventhelifetenureofUSSupremeCourtjudges, theirethicalcodeismoreorlesslefttotheirindividual moraljudgmentsaswellastheperceptionofthepublic. Generally,thesystemfrownsatSupremeCourtJudges hitching a free ride in a private jet owned by a party financier or Wall Street influencer. Even enjoying a courtesyvacationorrentingpropertyasafavourfrom individuals or corporations with known political or business clout in Washington poses serious ethical problems.

Currently, the only black judge on the Supreme Court, Mr. Clarence Thomas, is under serious ethical scrutiny. Mr.HarlanCrow,afriendofhisandRepublican partyfunderboughtahousefromJusticeThomasand flewhimonaprivatejetandalsotookhimonacruise. Similarly, Justice Samuel Alito took a ride in a private jetpaidforbyanotherRepublicandonor.Thoughthere is no requirement under US law for these judges to report or disclose these private favours, there has been a public backlash about their conduct. This is against the background of the code of ethics in the US pubic service which bars public servants from receiving gifts in excess of $20!

In contrast, Nigerian Supreme Court judges are knowntoroutinelyreceivehugegiftsfrombusiness and political ‘friends’. Some of them have influenced choicepublicappointmentsfortheirfamilymembers andwards.Othershavereportedlyreceivedholiday flightticketsandluxuryhotelbookingsfrompolitical andbusinessfiguresinreturnforundisclosedjudicial favours.ItwasrumouredthataChiefJusticeofNigeria wasretiredprematurelyforfiddlingwithofficialfunds to the tune of billions of Naira.

Another was similarly investigated, briefly prosecuted and then compulsorily retired because officialdomfoundanincrediblebalanceinhispersonal bank account. One judge who became Chief Justice of the federation was so much in the back pocket of a former Governor that the governor would travel and bring back for the judge several suitcases full of shoes of different colours. While the judge was entitled to have friends, the problem was that the governor in question had numerous requests for judicialinterventionforwhichhedemandedthehelp of the shoe-loving judge. In an ecosystem where the definition of corruption is rather elastic, it becomes even harder to exonerate our judges from charges of possible graft.

On these post election cases, there is a need to urgently rescue the Supreme Court from imminent irrelevanceandoblivion.Thechallengeistounfetter thecourtsbyreviewingtheconstitutionalprovisions and legislative enablement that relate to the timing and completion of post election petitions. Once we can free post election judicial processes from the burden of incumbency, then the judiciary will be free to dispense justice according to law and in pursuit of natural justice and fairness to all. Thus freed from theencumbranceandblackmailofincumbentpower, all aggrieved contestants can approach the law in meekness as equal seekers for justice.

Butthemostimportantroutetosavethejudiciary from being killed by politics is to focus attention on evolvingafoolproofelectoralsystem.Whenelection outcomesdeterminedbyINECbecomeimpeccably reliable,therewillbelittleorneedforrecoursetojudicial absolutism.Thejudgeswillregaintheirintegrityand the Supreme Court will reclaim its faded glory.

Ariwoola

ARTS & REVIEW ARTS & REVIEW

Riveting Tale of a Legend in Reel Life

Uwaezuoke writes

First, it’s the opening scene that grabs the viewer’s at- tention. That is the scene in which a horde of soldiers— otherwise reputable sources append the adjective “un- known” to them—storm Fela’s home, which self-proclaims as the Kalakuta Republic. The incident eventually climaxes with Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, then 77, being hurled from a two-story building. Then, as the narrative unfolds, ashbacks to her past come thick and fast. Really, it was about time someone did a biopic of the illustrious mother of the late Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti! This is one reason why this long-awaited movie that ended its theatrical run on Friday, September 1 , and brought this in uential gure of Nigeria’s pre-independence his- tory, who passed away 45 years ago, back into the public’s consciousness, should be praised for its historicity and relevance.

After its initial screening at the Silverbird Galleria in Victoria Island, Lagos, the feature lm, which the creatively-e ervescent Bolanle Austen-Peters directed and coproduced with Joseph Umoibom, was shown to a select audience on Tuesday, September 12, at the 400-seater Terra Kulture Arena in another part of the same upscale neighbourhood. Seemingly heavy on Ransome-Kuti’s activism years and appropriately light on her marital life, it portrays her as a woman of iron will, cast in the mould of the legendary Yoruba queen and folk heroine M rem j or , or a modern-day equivalent of the French patron saint, Joan of Arc.

Narrated by a now-hospitalised Mrs. Ransome-Kuti (played by Joke Silva), the inspiring tale unfolds in a sequence of ashbacks sparked by interview sessions with a young French woman journalist— a Reuters news reporter—identi ed as Isabelle. The protagonist’s ability to sit through her confessional and expository hospital ward narrative speaks a lot about EDITOR

her unshakable spirit, albeit unin- tentionally. She tells her interlocutor that she was previously known as Frances Thomas but decided to only use her Yoruba name, Olufunmilayo, going forward as a protest against colonialism.

The viewer easily attributes her de ance to both the traditional and colonial authorities, which culminates in the mobilisation of the women into the pressure group Abeokuta Ladies Club, which eventually morphed into Abeokuta Women Union, in order to make them more relevant to the cause of the market women and to the ever-present rebellious streak in her, which was already evident in her younger years (played at di erent times by Iyimide Ayo- Olumoko and Kehinde Bankole).

The fact that she was headstrong and inclined towards non-conformism was already evident during her pioneering days as the rst female student at Abeokuta Grammar School, her meeting with young Israel Ransome-Kuti (Iremide Fatasticks Adeoye), and her eventual marriage to him.

Of the many scenes of Ransome-Kuti’s clash with the authorities, one in particu- lar elicits chuckles from the viewer: her repeated reference to the District O cer (DO) as Mr. Dundee—an obvious double entendre in the local vernacular, which suggests an un attering allusion to his intelligence—during her encounter with him in his o ce over the tax imposed on market women.

If, despite the predictability of the pro- tagonist’s character, the biopic has a few dull moments, it’s thanks to the rst-rate performances of its actors. For the lead- ing roles of Kehinde Bankole and Joke

Silva, others like Jide Kosoko, Jide Kosoko, Ibrahim Suleiman, Dele Odule, Adebayo Salami, Keppy Ekpeyong, Adunni Ade, Omowunmi Dada, and Patrick Diabuah were a delight to watch. No less delightful was the thoughtful inclusion in the cast list of some members of the Kuti clan, like Dotun Ransome-Kuti taking on the role of his father, Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, and Kunle Ransome-Kuti portraying his own father, Fela Kuti. Yeni Kuti also makes an appearance as her aunt, Dolupo Ransome-Kuti, even when the role of Bekolari Ransome-Kuti is conceded to Shawn Faqua.

No doubt, this cinematic tour de force of Bolanle Austen-Peters Production, better known in the industry by its acronym BAP, deserves its slot in the race for an Oscar. Having met the Oscars Award’s guidelines, which require submitted lms to screen commercially for at least seven days, it has been submitted to the Nigerian Of- cial Selection Committee for the Oscars Academy for consideration despite its brief theatrical run.

Besides, the biopic, which tells the view- ers the essentials about the life and times of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, a woman who de ed the odds and challenged the status quo in her quest for freedom, equality, and dignity, is a logical follow-up to the production house’s other lms, such as The Bling Lagosians, Collision Course, and Man of God. Mrs. Austen-Peters, in her brief remarks about the lm’s submission for Oscar’s consideration, stated that the whole production crew poured their hearts and souls into this project, and that the submission was “a testament to their unwavering dedication.”

Despite the fact that the biopic only seems to skirt around Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti’s life as a wife and mother, it does highlight her husband Israel (later played by Ibrahim Suleiman) as her pillar of strength and support during her persistent ght against injustice.

A new Bolanle Austen-Peters Production’s biopic about the mother of the Afrobeat legend Fela

Anikulapo-Kuti leans heavily on her activism years, even as it offers glimpses of her matrimonial life. Okechukwu

A scene from the biopic, showing the protagonist leading a women's revoltAnother scene from the biopic, showing the Alake in council with his chiefs

The younger Funmilayo (Kehinde Bankole) leading the charge against injustice in another scene

Obafemi Awolowo and Olusegun Obasanjo versus Yoruba Obas:

In official and diplomatic outings, emphasis is generally placed on observance of protocol and etiquette, and hardly on traditional culture. Protocol and etiquette are normally observed, by following established order of precedence. In Nigeria, many masters of ceremonies in non-official outings say they‘observe all protocols.’It is wrong to claim any observation of all protocols because protocol is a convention. It is an agreement duly negotiated and done by the signatories. There are thousands of protocols in international relations. Consequently, it is ridiculous to claim an observation of all protocols.

Secondly, when protocol, as established in any given stratum of society, is observed, it is generally about the protocol of the host state or community as officially established. In other words, when discussing protocol in the context of order of precedence, it varies from one country to the other. Whenever an order of precedence is not duly followed, diplomatic rows can be easily kick-started. In fact, the training of fresh diplomats often underscores protocol at the beginning. Protocol is very critical as an instrument of diplomacy and must, therefore, be taken very seriously by teachers, lecturers, and professors of diplomatic studies.

The 1957 disagreement between Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the traditional rulers and chiefs in the old Western Region and the 2023 misunderstanding between Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and traditional rulers in Iseyin are similarly protocol related. They not only generate much animosity, they also raised the conflict between local cultural traditions and international best practices. And more concernedly, in Nigeria, protocol is embarrassingly respected in public outings. Imagine how an event hall is paid for, and for only two hours, and observance of protocol takes thirty minutes out of the two hours. Talking and talking to the extent that the cardinal purpose of the event is lost. Protocol and etiquette is what is required in conducting and managing a good and well-organised event.

Most unfortunately, however, protocol and etiquette which is Western-oriented in definitional terms, is more often than not disregarded in diplomacy by the big powers. The disregard is not even in terms of who takes precedence, or who is senior, who should first be given the due honour, but in terms of utter disrespect to the local culture. This is the source of the conflict between culture and protocol in Nigeria.

The Awolowo and Obasanjo Experiences

It is useful to begin with the conflict between local culture and international protocol from the international perspective in order to show a clearer understanding of the attitudinal dispositions of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo at the national level. The two of them are both traditional chieftaincy title holders, meaning that they do not need any special lessons on cultural diplomacy. The visit of US President, Joe Biden, to Saudi Arabia is a good illustration at the international level of the flagrant disrespect for the Saudi tradition.

Before going to Saudi Arabia in July 2022, President Biden first officially visited Israel where he, on arrival, broke the official protocol of‘no-hand shake policy put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Probably because of the warm entente between the two countries, the protocolar breach was not taken seriously. In Saudi Arabia, the story is quite different. The report of Armstrong Williams, entitled,“Biden’s Middle East Trip Met with Controversy, Disrespect,” (nbcmontana. com, July 18th, 2022), tells the story beautifully.

As Armstrong put it ‘upon arrival in Saudi Arabia, Biden and the White House congregation seemed to repeatedly breached protocol. It is generally deemed extremely inappropriate to schedule a meeting such as this on Friday, the day being a sacred day in the Muslim tradition. This created a crisis with Saudi Arabia, as white gowns are traditionally worn on Fridays, while the diplomatic protocol calls for wearing of black, formal robes for meetings with Heads of State. Since they felt their religious tradition to be more important, they wore white which is the utmost disrespect to the President and team.’

In this case, why was the Saudi-US meeting fixed for Friday? Can such a meeting be fixed without the collaboration of the Saudi government? If no, why was there disregard for the religious culture

of the people? Apparently, the US President might have insisted on a Friday either because of very tight schedule especially that President Biden had two other countries to visit after Israel and Saudi Arabia.

The United States might have also wanted to score some politico-diplomatic points: American hostility to the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi dissident journalist by agents of the Saudi government on October 2, 2018 at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey; Saudi’s rapprochement with the Russo-Chinese interests, especially within the context of the BRICS; disagreement over Saudi’s oil production cut, etc. The killing of Jamal Khashoggi was very brutal as he was ambushed, strangled by a 15-member squad of Saudi operatives, with his body completely dismembered and disposed of.

But most interestingly but also disturbingly, the Turkish government had secretly bugged the Khashoggi’s final moments in the Saudi Consulate, thus revealing the extent of involvement of the Saudi Crown Prince. How should the United States relate with the Saudi government and monarch? Condoning manifest brutality in order to protect US national interest? Even though the Biden administration gave a legal opinion on 18 November, 2022, about four years after the assassination, that the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had immunity on his alleged role in the assassination, US policy attitude towards Saudi Arabia has been suspiciously cautious. This might have informed US disregard for

Why should someone elected for a tenure of four years be more important than a traditional ruler permanently on the throne until he dies? It is only in Nigeria that a retired public official is given a political appointment for four years after his retirement and he is still entitled to another retirement benefit for serving a term of four years. This is why Nigeria’s political system is not only fantastically corrupt but also very criminally.

Traditional rulers are leaders of leaders. The Constitution should be reviewed to reflect the appropriate status of traditional rulers in Nigeria as a whole. Chief Obasanjo should be assigned the responsibility of ensuring the status elevation of the traditional rulers. In this regard, the Achievers University, Owo, should be specially commended and encouraged for newly establishing an Institute of International Diplomatic Studies and Practice, with emphasis on international protocols, etiquettes, and development of traditional and cultural diplomacy in its 2023-2024 academic session. Such an institution has now become a desideratum not only in light of the relationship between political leaders and traditional rulers in Nigeria, but also in the conduct and management of global peace and security

Saudi’s cultural protocol. This might also explain why the Saudi Crown Prince might have accepted in an attempt to play down the killing of journalist Khashoggi.

When we also consider Saudi Arabia-BRICS’s Rapprochement, as well as Saudi Arabia’s refusal to cut its oil production as requested by the United States, there is no way the United States would not be expected to take the bad end of the stick in its attitude towards Saudi Arabia. The victim of all these disagreements cannot but be the cultural protocol.

In fact, relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia deteriorated to the extent that the Washington government contemplated taking sanctions against Saudi Arabia.

Steve Holland, in his“Biden Vows Consequences for Saudi Arabia after OPEC-decision”(reuters.com), on October 22, 2022, reported that US officials had been quietly trying to persuade its biggest Arab partner to abandon the idea of a production cut, but Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was not swayed.’

And perhaps more interestingly, Armstrong William noted further that ‘to make matters worse, the Saudi sent a delegation led by a regional governor, as opposed to the King or Crown Prince. Indeed the White House seemed oblivious to this. In all, foreign policy commentators are calling the trip a huge failure.’ Failure or success, what is of essence here is that the people of Saudi Arabia completely disregarded the diplomatic protocol that required the wearing of formal black dresses and opted to place priority on their religious culture. Their wearing of white gowns contrary to wearing black dresses was considered the highest level of disrespect for the Americans. In this regard, in which way is the 1957 experience of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the recent Chief Olusegun Awolowo different?

In 1957, Chief Obafemi Awolowo was Premier of the then Western Region.The traditional ruler, who confronted Chief Obafemi Awolowo, was Oba Ademuwagun Adesida II. He was not only installed as the Deji of Akure on 28th October, 1957 but also laterbecame a member of the Western House of Chiefs, There were five (5) Obas from Ondo Province who attended a meeting convened at the instance of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. They were Olowo of Owo, Osemawe of Ondo, Ewi of Ado, Elekole of Ikole and Deji of Akure, who attended such a meeting for the first time.

What happened on the day of the meeting again raised the issue of conflict between cultural and state protocols. As “@ Richard Afolayan of the University of Lagos has it, ‘at the meeting, all the Obas were already seated before Awolowo walked in majestically in his usual way. Immediately he arrived, all the Obas stood up except Oba Ademuagun, Ekun Oko Eyesorun.’More interestingly, @Richard Afolayan says ‘the other Obas were surprised, seeing this new and young Oba from Akure seated when Awolowo came in. Awolowo himself was surprised and asked who he was and he replied, “I am the Deji of Akure land, Ademuagun Adesida II.”

Expectedly, Chief Awolowo queried him and Oba Adesida II also queried Premier Awolowo by asking him questions: was it polite seeing the likes of Kabiesi Adesoji Aderemi or Alaafin Ladigbolu who are older than us, standing up for you while you walk in, in London? Oba Adesida II queried further that ‘in London where we both studied law, have you ever heard that someone walked in and the Queen stood up? In fact, Queen will enter a venue last. Even if Nigerian system of government is different from theirs, respects must be given to whom it is due. We here, inherited our father’s stool and it is only death that can remove us, but you, your time on this seat will soon lapse. You got there by thumb and through thumb you shall be removed. Me, Ademuagun will never stand up for you.’

The aftermath of the altercation was noteworthy: Oba Ademuagun ‘had to remove his cap (Crown), handed it to Awolowo and dared him to put it on if he could so as to prove he deserves the respect he demanded from him. The other Obas took it from Awolowo and before they could turn back Oba Ademuagun had then left the venue… The feud between both of them was later settled here in Akure by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe after many years… Olori Asake Adebola Adesida, the then Eyesorun, witnessed this and Regent Adesida Adebusola Alice confirmed it.’ The declaration by Oba Ademuagun, as recalled by @Richard Afolayan, is therefore more than thought-provoking.

First, there is evidence of validity of the story. Second, there is truly a conflict between traditional protocol and state protocolar practice. Third, how do we reconcile the conflict between the two? Fourth, why have lessons not been learnt from the 1957 experience? Fifth, most importantly, how do we explain the 2023 renewal of the problem?

Traditional versus State Protocols

On Friday, 15th September 2023 Chief Olusegun Okikiola Obasanjo attended a public event in Iseyin, Oyo State. The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, played host to the event. On climbing the podium at the commissioning of the LAUTECH’s College of Agriculture, Science and Renewable Natural Resources in Iseyin, many Obas were seated and did not stand up to honour the former President of Nigeria and incumbent Governor of the State. Apparently angered by the perceived disrespect for him or them, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, in a manu militari fashion, ordered all the sitting Obas to ‘stand up,’ which they did immediately. He re-ordered them to ‘sit down.’They again complied.

Obasanjo

IN THE ARENA

Weighing in on Serial Proclamations of Loyalty

Against the backdrop of recent military coups in West and Central Africa, Nigeria’s military high command is serially pledging its loyalty to the constituted civilian authority and warning its rank and file against any coup thoughts. But these pledges are putting Nigerians on edge, Louis Achi writes

Aformer Chief of Army Staff, and ex-Nigerian Ambassador to Benin Republic, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd) had on December 4, 2020, sternly warned officers and men of the Nigerian Army to perish the idea of any coup attempt in Nigeria. Did he foresee the series of military coups that would sweep out civilian administrations and put the West and Central African regions on edge?

According to the ex-army boss, the Army hierarchy was aware that some generals were being approached, adding that his eyes were on them. “Democracy has come to stay. We will not tolerate any agent of destabilisation. The years of military misadventure in politics have never carried us anywhere. It is over…Don’t hobnob with politicians,” he had declared.

Buratai, who many believe missed a ministerial portfolio under President Bola Tinubu’s administration by the whiskers, spoke as if he had a premonition of the coup storms sweeping Nigeria’s continental neighbourhoods.

More recently, the current Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, had declared that the Nigerian military would always defend the nation’s democracy at all costs using every constitutional means.

Lagbaja spoke at the recent Passing Out Parade of officers of Executive Commission Course One of the Army School of Infantry, Jaji, Kaduna State.

“He emphasised that the desire of every Nigerian is a flourishing, uninterrupted constitutional democratic governance, that promotes national values and the interest of every wellmeaning Nigerian, irrespective of ethnic or religious affiliation,” the Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, reportedly said in a statement.

“I, therefore, charge all Nigerian Army personnel to be proud champions of our flourishing democracy and remain apolitical in discharging their constitutional duties,” the COAS added.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Usman, had also recently warned those he labelled disloyal soldiers to quit the army and affirmed that military personnel must remain loyal to the president, Chief of Defence Staff, down to their brigade commanders.

Usman who apparently prioritised loyalty to President Tinubu and the Chief of Defence Staff over loyalty to the constitution, charged soldiers to be professional and exhibit total loyalty to constituted authority.

Addressing soldiers at the 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta, Ogun State, the GOC noted that there were some challenges, but added that they were not peculiar to Nigeria.

“You have to be loyal. There is no room for soldiers that are not loyal to constituted authority. If you are not going to be loyal, then, leave, go and do other work. But the armed forces cannot stand it if you are not loyal,” he said.

This spate of warnings and declarations of loyalty to the

President is making many nervous because of its deeper connotations. Are these self-serving, rhetorics or genuine resolve to defend the constitution?

Penultimate Saturday, it was the turn of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, who declared that the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) remained in support of sustained democratic rule in the country.

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

“Democracy remains what we stand for. We must do everything humanly possible to sustain democratic rule. We have the trust and support of Nigerian people. We must honour that thrust,” Musa said.

The military has been an important institution for protecting the country from external threats since antiquity.

It has been widely observed that military intervention in politics appears to be often associated with perceived electoral illegitimacy, economic crisis and stagnation of growth. In a study of intervention in politics by the military in Latin America, Martin C Needler, author of Mexican Politics and former Dean of the School of International Studies at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, suggested that governments

POLITICAL NOTES

were more likely to be overthrown by force when economic conditions deteriorated. When conditions were improving, the military was unlikely to intervene in politics.

It is estimated that there have been at least 100 successful coups in Africa in the past four decades, with more than twice the number of coup attempts. Most military takeovers are initiated by disgruntled junior military officers, who are later supported by a few senior officers. Within days or hours they capture power by detaining or forcing the leaders to step down – as in the case of Mali.

Instructively, four of the recent coups were staged by close guards meant to protect the presidents in their various countries. The alleged coup leader in Gabon, Brice Oligui Nguema, was the head of the Gabonese Presidency’s Republican Guard, the country’s most powerful security unit.

In Niger, the Presidential Guard led by General Abdourahmane Tchiani launched the coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, and had since July 26, detained him and his family.

Guinean Colonel Doumbouya, then a 41-year-old and former French legionnaire and commander of the country’s elite Special Forces Group shot his way to power in September 2021.

On August 18, 2020, a young group of officers in Mali’s armed forces led by Colonel Assimi Goïta, staged a coup d’état, arresting the beleaguered President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse. He was head of the Malian Special Forces before staging the coup that brought him to power.

In January 2022, Burkina Faso’s army ousted President Roch Kabore, blaming him for failing to contain violence by Islamist militants. A second coup in September 2022, brought the current junta leader, Captain Ibrahim Traore to power.

Chad’s army took power in April 2021, after President Idriss Deby was killed on the battlefield while visiting troops fighting rebels in the north. Deby’s son, General Mahamat Idriss Deby, was named interim president and tasked with overseeing an 18-month transition to elections.

It has been observed that pattern of reacting to military takeovers with optimism expresses a deep-seated frustration with civilian leaders in Africa, some experts say.

“The seeming support of the militaries taking over is an indirect support, it is not support for the military,” Leena Koni Hoffmann, an Africa programme associate fellow with Londonbased think tank, Chatham House, told Al Jazeera.

“It is an opportunity to say that the government that has been overthrown is a government that does not represent our interest fully,” she said.

In all, the emerging consensus points to good, empathetic governance and focused leadership as crucial factors to assure state stability. In addition, the political class needs to play by the rule and strive to improve the living standard of the people. If these conditions are fulfilled, any attempt to thwart democracy will be resisted in Africa.

As Plot to Sack Aiyedatiwa Thickens

What is happening in Ondo State has further revealed the kind of weak democracy practised in Nigeria. The Ondo State House of Assembly last week commenced the process to sack the state’s Deputy Governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa. So far, no fewer than 23 lawmakers have been said to have already appended their signatures in support of the impeachment notice.

Though the specific allegations or offences listed in the impeachment notice are yet to be made public as of press time, a source disclosed that the deputy governor was under investigation for alleged gross abuse of office, when he was acting governor.

Gross abuse constitutes an impeachable offence and this might provide a solid ground for the assemblytoremoveAiyedatiwa’sremovalfromoffice.

According to the source, trouble started when

Aiyedatiwa reportedly approved the sum of N300 million for the purchase of a bulletproof SUV for his personal use. The approval for the purchase of the vehicle was allegedly given while the state governor was recuperating in Germany, and it was approved without the knowledge of the governor.

The source said the deputy governor further complicated matters when he ordered that the N300 million should be sourced from the palliative fund.

But from what was gathered from the supporters of the deputy governor, his alleged offence is his rumoured ambition to succeed Governor Rotimi Akeredolu by the time his tenure expires in 17 months’ time. Even though election is not expected until the second half of 2024, political alignment and realignment have commenced.

There are others who also feel that should the governor not survive his ailment, the deputy governor, who is constitutionally required to succeed him, should not step in.

This is against the backdrop of the fact that since the governor returned from his medical vacation in Germany over two weeks ago, he has been governing the state from Ibadan, Oyo State, fuelling speculations that he has not fully recovered from his ailment.

For this reason, the deputy governor must be stopped at all cost before it becomes too late.

In countries where democracy is being practised, a deputy governor shouldn’t be persecuted on account of his ambition. But this is not the case with Nigeria where state lawmakers are rubber stamps and political tools in the hands of governors.

Musa

BRIEFING NOTES

Before NURTW’s Habitual Violence Desecrates FCT

Some leaders of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, whose violent activities have traumatised residents of many states in Nigeria, have spread their acts of lawlessness to the Federal CapitalTerritory with the tacit support of security agencies and political patrons of the various transport unions. Ejiofor Alike writes that political interests should draw a distinction between politics and criminalities and halt the ongoing attempt to subject the FCT residents to another nightmare

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioner of Police, Haruna Garba, had recently confirmed that one person was killed in a violent clash between the factional groups of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the Sapele Crescent, off Ladoke Akintola Boulevard, Garki II, FCT.

Garba, who said the police arrested 23 suspects, added that three rifles were recovered.

The violence did not come to many Nigerians as a surprise as some NURTW leaders have gained some notoriety for acts of violence, extortion, violation of traffic rules, political thuggery, gestapo-style leadership change, and other acts of lawlessness, particularly in states where the union is used as a political weapon by the leaders of the major political parties.

Incidents of violence and other acts of lawlessness by NURTW in many states, had forced some state governments to ban the activities of the union.

What, however, came as a surprise in the latest violence that erupted in Abuja was that political leaders and security agencies allowed the union to breach the peace of the country’s seat of power with its habitual violence, which has traumatised the residents of many states where the words of leaders of the union are law.

The violence reportedly broke out when suspected supporters of the factional president, Tajudeen Baruwa, attempted to enter the NURTW’s headquarters, which was forcefully occupied by the members of another transport union from Lagos, backed by the former NURTW Vice President, Tajudeen Agbede.

The FCT police command which is supposed to clear the country’s capital city of these troublemakers and encourage them to take their leadership tussle to the court, allegedly displayed partisanship in handling the crisis by aiding one faction.

Following the violent clash, the command arrested the National President of the union, Baruwa and over 20 other members over conduct that borders on public disturbance and breach of the peace.

Before the violent clash, the FCT police had last month arrested Baruwa and the union’s General Secretary, Anthony Asogwa Chukudi;

National Trustee, Olayi Odion; and the Principal Assistant Secretary, Abdulrasak Yemi.

The police were said to have invited Baruwa and Agbede for investigation on August 11, following alleged plans by some groups to stage a protest at the National Secretariat of the union located at Garki 2, Abuja. Baruwa and other NURTW officials were detained at the Wuse Zone 3 Division in Abuja and later granted freedom.

The complicity of the political leadership and security agencies in the NURTW crisis has become worrisome.

In detaining the leaders of one faction and leaving the other faction, the police have been accused of dancing to the tune of some political leaders who have failed to draw a distinction between criminalities and politics.

These political leaders have over the years used some leaders of the unions to perpetrate violence in some states during elections.

The leaders of many state chapters of the NURTW have since deviated from the primary

objective of labour unions, which is to protect the interest of its members.

While some NURTW leaders in some states have continued to adhere to the ideals for which labour unions are known, several others have become political weapons in the hands of politicians.

This category of leaders feed fat at the expense of drivers and vehicle owners who are harassed and extorted at every bus stop and motor park. It has become a nightmare for many Nigerians to invest in vehicle transport business in many states in the country due to the extortion of transporters by some leaders of the NURTW who earn huge income daily for doing no business, except hiring thugs to extort drivers.

With bandits, kidnappers and armed robbers already terrorising the residents of the FCT, NURTW’s

NOTES FOR FILE

acts of lawlessness on the roads should not be added to their miseries.

Reacting to the NURTW crisis, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had raised the alarm over what it described as illegal interference by the acting Inspector General of Police (IG), Kayode Egbetokun in the internal affairs of the NURTW, which is one of NLC’s affiliates.

In a statement by its president, Joe Ajaero, the NLC said the NURTW has had its lawful activities restricted and shackled in Lagos State and other South-west states of Oyo, Osun and Ondo despite the pronouncements of the courts to the contrary.

NLC argued that having felt unchallenged, the same forces that forcefully took over the union in these states and renamed them in some as Lands and Parks, are seeking to expand their reach nationwide.

The labour union threatened to picket the police headquarters and police stations nationwide if the acting IG, Egbetokun does not end what it described as the illegal action.

“Nigerians should be aware that some forces seek to completely take over the leadership of the union, which they hope to use to seize the nation’s civic space, muzzle voices of opposition and undermine democratic practices and aspirations in Nigeria.

“NLC does not understand where the IG derives the power to meddle in the affairs of trade unions when it is neither a court as stipulated in the Constitution. Our laws are very clear on how industrial disputes should be settled in Nigeria and we are sure that the IG as the chief law enforcement officer is conversant with that process. We wonder why he has refused to submit himself to the supremacy of the law.

“What is happening demonstrates a further extension of the same brutal power play at work, which was used by the same actors to forcefully take over the union which was established under the instrumentality of the law.”

“It is an unholy quest at expanding the hegemony of impunity originating from these same powers who may want to deploy the instrumentality of the IGP to spread this illegality around the nation. This definitely raises yet another ugly scepter in our nation’s democratic space and must be condemned by all patriots,” NLC explained.

NLC warned the IG to tread with caution and stop meddling in affairs that are clearly beyond the purview of his powers.

Mohbad: Can Police Boost Public Confidence in Criminal Justice

Can anything good come out from the attempt by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to unravel the mysteries surrounding the death of the 27-year-old fast-rising artiste, Ileri-Oluwa Oladimeji, popularly known as Mohbad?

This is the question begging for answer since the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Idowu Owohunwa, constituted a 13-man special team to unravel the cause of his death.

Mohbad died on September 12 amid suspicious circumstances that have sparked widespread controversies and outrage, with many alleging that he was killed by his estranged allies who are backed by powerful political forces.

The panel is to carry out a discreet investigation, which covers exhumation, autopsy/toxicology/ histology, scene visit, hospital/ medical report, records of suspects/witnesses’ statements.

But in view of alleged powerful political forces said to be backing the suspected killers and the shoddy handling of criminal investigations by the police, many Nigerians suspect the investigation will provide a cover-up.

life, but the police did nothing. It was after his death and hurried burial that the police swung into action, following a public outcry.

His fans argued that the action of the police is equivalent to administering medicine after death, pointing out that if the police had acted on his petition, the young man would still have been alive.

Many also argued that the police, which failed to give him justice by saving his life while he was alive, cannot be trusted in his death.

This culture of negligence of petitions by the police promotes a culture of impunity and encourages a society where criminals feel untouchable.

The criminal justice system in the country is in dire need of reform.

Following the directive by the acting Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Owohunwa, constituted the panel to investigate the death.

Mohbad’s fans believe that police should have set up such an investigative panel when he raised the alarm that his life was under threat.

Mohbad had sent a petition to the police about threats to his Egbetokun

The right to life should not be a concept that only exists in print and imagination; it must be upheld by the state.

Nigerians are anxiously waiting to see what will come out of the investigation.

Garba

Rivers APC Groping in Political Wilderness

One state where members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are not happy with President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of the party is Rivers State. Ever since the days of the presidential campaign for the 2023 general election, the party’s prominent members have felt relegated following the president’s romance with former governor Nyesom Wike, a key figure in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Tinubu had reportedly snubbed prominent APC members in the state to parley Wike. The party’s leadership under Abdullahi Ganduje seems to have aggravated the situation with its disregard for the APC in the state.

Wike was alleged during his tenure to have made extensive efforts to undermine the APC and its members in the state. Despite the party’s participation in state elections and the presence of its governorship candidate, Mr. Tonye Cole, who is currently contesting the election outcome in court, not one of its members was considered for federal appointments.

During the president’s visit to the state for his presidential campaign, the APC leaders, including Cole were present to receive him. The only notable member absent was the former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who had contested for the party’s presidential ticket with Tinubu.

However, after the presidential campaign rally, APC members felt sidelined as Tinubu chose to visit Wike at the Government House, Port Harcourt, where they had a private discussion. He was accompanied by the then APC national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and other top officials of the party.

After he won the presidential election, Tinubu visited Rivers again, to honour an invitation by Wike to unveil some state government projects. The state’s APC leadership was notably absent. The APC leadership had previously clarified in a statement that the president-elect was on a private visit based on Wike’s invitation. The statement, which was signed by the party’s publicity secretary, Darlington Nwauju, reads in part: “While the Rivers State Chapter of the APC wholeheartedly welcomes our president-elect and appreciates his work ethics

of getting firsthand knowledge of the various sub-nationals, we however wish to clarify that this is a private visit on the invitation of the Rivers State Government controlled by the PDP and has nothing to do with the APC in Rivers State.”

To the party’s governorship candidate, Cole, the members of the APC in the state were absent from the two-day visit of the president-elect because no invitation was extended to them.

Speaking on a national television, Cole had reportedly said: “Where the issue is, is that the governor of Rivers State, Wike, ought also to be the governor of all Rivers people. And one of the things that he should have done if he is inviting the president-elect, who is the president-elect of all Nigerians, would have been to call us as APC in Rivers State to inform us that he is inviting the president-elect and would want us to be part of that programme.

“We never got any invitation. I was never invited personally, I was not invited in my private capacity as a candidate of the party, neither was our party, the APC in the state, invited to any of those things.”

During the election, many APC supporters were reportedly killed, while others suffered injuries and humiliations. Today, APC members are said to be disenchanted with Tinubu for neglecting them despite all they had suffered in the hands of the PDP.

Many analysts in the state ponder what will become of the future of APC members in the state against the backdrop of the ongoing romance between Wike and President Tinubu.

An official of the APC in the state, who did not want his name on print told THISDAY that after the APC members sacrificed their lives to keep the party since 2015, Tinubu seems to have turned his back on them rather than give them succour as was the case under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

APC members in the state are lamenting that the appointment of former Governor Wike of the PDP into Tinubu’s cabinet as Minister of FCT was strong evidence of the total disregard he has for the party members in the state.

The source said: “Tinubu’s actions have finally crushed what is left of the APC or are driving the nail into the coffin of the party in the state.

It is unlikely that the president has forgotten

so quickly that it was under the Wike-led PDP in Rivers State that the APC was almost frozen and given several death blows which significantly paralysed activities of the party in the state from 2015 up until 2019 and beyond.

“Several observers who are very familiar with the political history of the APC in Rivers are worried about the sudden romance of President Tinubu with PDP’s Wike to the detriment of his own party in the state which he personally courted in 2014.”

The source added: “It is well within the president’s right and powers to appoint anyone who he considers fit into his cabinet irrespective of political, social, ethnic or religious leanings.

“However, it is equally imperative for the president to understand that such moves shouldn’t be done at the expense of his party and that such actions should have been guided by conscience and the constitutional provisions of his party. Article 9 (3) (iii) of the APC constitution clearly provides for rewards and compensation to party members by APC-led governments at all levels.

“The president as leader of his party is bound by conscience and constitution of his party to give members of his party a sense of belonging in his government whether or not he feels their efforts were not enough to have contributed to his victory.”

But many analysts believe the Rivers APC is paying for the sins of former Transportation Minister, Amaechi, who was not only locked in a bitter political rivalry with Tinubu during Buhari’s tenure but also contested against him in the APC presidential primary.

Amaechi built the current APC structure in the state and political analysts believe that it is unlikely that Tinubu will work with members of Amaechi’s political structure.

It is being speculated that Wike might have resigned his membership of the PDP and officially joined the APC but chose not to make it public so as to continue to inflict collateral damage on PDP’s fortunes.

Recently, a group, Concerned Youths of Rivers State APC, took to the streets in a protest, claiming that “we have observed with total dismay, shock and a deep sense of abandonment at the continued neglect of members of the APC in Rivers State; most especially we, the

younger generation.”

In an open letter handed to journalists, they expressed regrets over the appointment of non-party members by President Tinubu, saying it amounted to rewarding people who had used everything within their reach to fight APC’s growth in Rivers State.

The open letter, signed by the concerned youth party members from across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State, went further to enumerate the sad situations that had befallen members of the party since 2015, particularly during the last general elections.

“It is important to note that what we have as APC in Rivers State today is a combination of individuals who joined your journey from the Action Congress (AC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) or even the grand merger of the APC. These individuals exist, and have over the years devoted their time, energy, and resources to ensuring the progressive spirit remains resolute in Rivers State.

“Years have passed and today our efforts have now yielded fruits in your election as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; sadly, rather than relax and enjoy the fruits of our labour in your victory, we are faced with what we consider as total disregard, neglect and victimisation by the same system we have toiled and suffered for over the years.

“We are amazed that under our government, card-carrying members of the PDP, in Rivers State are being appointed and nominated into federal boards, parastatals and agencies at the detriment of our party, the APC in Rivers State. This is a party that has severely suffered the high-handedness of the PDP and its leaders in the State who committed every resource at their disposal against us. These actions over the years have caused us pain, agony and loss. Most recently, we lost our fellow party member Chiosom Lennard, during his attempt to defend the mandate of our great party from the hands of overzealous members of the opposition; properties damaged, and dreams shattered all because we stood for this party,” the youths explained.

They lamented that recent developments in appointing non-party members have left APC members in the state “nonplussed and extremely perturbed.”

Blessing Ibunge ponders what will become the future of the members of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State against the backdrop of President Bola Tinubu’s romance with the Peoples Democratic Party in the state

Tinubu Wike Cole

QUESTIONS AGUNLOYE FAILED TO ANSWER ON MAMBILLA

And now another critical question is: why did Agunloye still go ahead to write to Sunrise on Thursday, May 22, 2003 — a day after the FEC meeting — declaring that he was “pleased” to convey the “approval” of the Nigerian government for the award of the BOT contract at a “provisional sum of $6 billion”. Was that the position of the government? Where did he get the authority to write the letter from? Does he have the power to commit the government of Nigeria to a $6 billion project, whether or not it is BOT, without approval? Agunloye avoided answering these critical questions in his response because there would be a naked contradiction to his claim that he got necessary approvals.

Agunloye also appeared to muddle up issues on the liability of a BOT contract. He wrote: “The former president was not correct when he referred to the award to Sunrise simply as a $6 billion contract under his watch. In truth, it was a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) contract in which the FGN did not need to pay any amount to the contractor, Messrs Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (Sunrise).” It would appear Agunloye was suggesting that the N25 million limit of approval did not apply to a BOT contract. That means he could commit the government of Nigeria to any amount as he tried to do by awarding the $6 billion contract to Sunrise. Whose liability is it now?

More so, if “FGN did not need to pay any amount to the contractor” as claimed by Agunloye, why did Sunrise write to Senator Liyel Imoke, his successor, seeking the payment

THE TINUBU MOMENT

President Bola Tinubu’s address to the UN General Assembly is, in my view, one of the boldest yet by an African leader. My takeaway: “Foreign entities that are abetted by local criminals, who aspire to be petty warlords, have drafted thousands of our people into servitude to illegally mine gold and other resources. Billions of dollars meant to improve the nation now fuel countless violent enterprises... Given the extent of this injustice and the high stakes involved, many Africans are asking whether this phenomenon is by accident or by design. Member nations must reply by working with us to deter their firms and nationals from this 21st century pillage of the continent’s riches.” #Word.

of N6 billion for “pre-EPC development of Mambilla”? The letter, dated August 20, 2003, was signed by Engr Tunde Akinbode as Sunrise’s executive director. He said federal government’s commitment of N6 billion, as contained in Agunloye’s contract award letter with ref. no FMP/S/6145/S.T/2, was not enough and “there will be need for government to budget an additional N10 billion in the next budget year”. Yet, Agunloye claimed “FGN did not need to pay any amount to the contractor”.

Is N16 billion a joke to Agunloye?

In his reply to Sunrise, dated September 3, 2003, Imoke wrote: “This is to inform you that the Federal Executive Council did not approve the Memorandum recommending your Company for the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project. In line with the directives of the Federal Executive Council, the Federal Ministry of Power and Steel is to revisit the development of the project. Fresh documentation will be made available to all prospective developers in due course… you are advised to tender for the project when it is advertised.” Agunloye knew what he was doing when he carefully left out the part that he sought approval to award the contract and FEC turned it down. He should be man enough to own up.

My final comment to Agunloye, for now, is on his claim that since no government had queried him in the last 20 years, that means he did no wrong. He wrote: “In all of these, spanning 20 (twenty) years, none of the Presidents (Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Malam Musa Yar’Adua, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan or Gen. Muhammadu Buhari) asked me or questioned me about

issuing any unauthorised Mambilla contract. This is because all the Nigerian Presidents, including Chief Obasanjo, were aware that I did nothing wrong.” Well played, but so also was the P&ID “contract” not queried by any government until the bubble burst. As new facts emerge, you will always have to answer your father’s name.

I did not miss Agunloye’s innuendo that we at TheCable were “contracted” to report on his Mambilla mess. It’s a cheap shot but we are used to that. In 2018, when we reported the questionable payment of $17 million as legal fees to the lawyer friends of Mallam Abubakar Malami, then attorney-general, for the repatriation of $321 million Abacha loot, President Muhammadu Buhari was told that we were “contracted” by the “opposition” to discredit his government. Same thing happened over the World Bank guarantee that the Nigerian government recklessly signed for Azura Power in August 2015 and which has today become a monthly $30 million albatross on our neck.

Journalists who choose to demand accountability are always blackmailed. Thus, there is nothing strange in Agunloye saying a former minister “contracted” me to write a series of articles on the Mambilla mess. Those who know me very well will just laugh it off. But why was he afraid to specifically mention Mr Babatunde Fashola, the former minister of power? Afterall, Leno Adesanya, Agunloye’s friend, pointedly accused me of being “sponsored” by Fashola in a WhatsApp message he sent to me on April 22, 2020 at

And Four Other Things…

KANO VERDICT

A tribunal has upturned the election of Alhaji Abba Yusuf (NNPP) as Kano governor, declaring Alhaji Yusuf Gawuna (APC) as the winner of the lawful votes. Yusuf was originally credited with 1,019,602 votes and Gawuna 890,705. The Gawuna team argued that 165,663 of the ballot papers recorded in favour of Yusuf were not stamped, signed or dated as required by law. This would suggest ballot stuffing, as we call it in Nigeria. Gawuna’s lawyers got the tribunal to examine each of the 165,663 ballot papers. It seems Yusuf’s lawyers put up a feeble fight and did not challenge Gawuna’s votes as well. The tribunal agreed with Gawuna’s lawyers and nullified the 165,663 votes. Clinical.

DOUBLE TROUBLE

The price of diesel has now crossed N1,000/ litre as crude oil prices keep on rising. Nigeria deregulated the pricing of diesel nearly 20 years ago, so we have never really had to argue over it. But those who run their businesses and homes on diesel know the implication of what just happened: harder times. Diesel is a major running or input cost. Sadly, there is no real option: rising energy prices will also impact on the cost of gas and, consequently, electricity. In other words, our suffering is far from over. To be sure, it is a global issue: energy prices are rising everywhere. But because of our peculiar mess in Nigeria, it is “double wahala for dead body”, as Fela sang. Snookered.

ON PRESIDENT TINUBU’S FOREIGN EXPEDITIONS

also helped is showing the potential value of a reawakened Nigeria. But we need to consistently make this case, and there is no one better placed to make the case more than the president himself. He is the country’s chief salesman.

To be sure, Tuggar, our other diplomats and envoys, and the other ministers need to do the groundwork and the heavy lifting. But the presence of the president in the room can make a lot of difference. His personal touch and commitment can reassure investors. His outreach to and relations with other leaders can work wonders. It is thus not enough for Tinubu to prioritise foreign relations but he must constantly bring on his A-game to ensure that the opportunities are sufficiently optimised.

Just to be clear, Nigeria needs serious help in material and non-material ways: to win the more than a decade-old and ever-expanding war on terror, to attract portfolio and direct investments, to put its people to meaningful work, and to boost forex inflows. On the last point, we need immediate dollar inflows of between $10-$20b to stabilise the value of our currency and stem the attendant negative impacts on prices, especially of petrol, and on cost of living in general. There is a risk that the president’s early and well-received reforms on petrol and forex subsidies may unravel without an urgent resolution of the dollar supply challenge.

It is clear that the world powers and the multilateral financial institutions are not too keen in putting their money where their mouth is, and that the Nigerian elite and populace are sceptical about an IMF bailout. Rising prices of crude oil is a double-edge sword for us, and will not immediately translate to the quantum of dollar inflows needed to clear the forex backlog and calm the market. It is therefore important to seek immediate

lodgement support from countries like UAE and Saudi Arabia. In 2022, Saudi Arabia agreed to deposit $5b into Turkey’s central bank and earlier this year committed to buying drones worth about $3b from Turkey. Similarly, UAE signed agreements worth $50.7 billion with Turkey. This is the kind of significant support we need, and it is better to target those likely to provide it than those offering just endorsements and promises. We don’t have drones to sell and may not be as strategically important to these gulf countries as Turkey is. But we should make our pitch and press the needed buttons.

Our foreign engagement must be strategic and clear-headed. That era of engaging in the international arena just for the sake of it or just for being a big brother should be over. We should be very clear about we want from each relationship in the short, medium and long terms and what our bargaining chip is.

I fully endorse Tinubu taking international engagement seriously. But as he re-engages Nigeria with the world, he needs to factor in a few things as well as manage certain things better. The first thing is that we need to manage our expectations. Investors will not start pouring into Nigeria just because the president has reached out to or reassured them. Or because they like or want to help Nigeria. Investors are rational economic agents and will only go to and stay where they can get decent returns on their investments.

Even when you bend over to meet investors’ demands, there is no guarantee they will stick with you if they can get better returns elsewhere. We are competing with others for a limited pool of investment funds. So, we need to stay competitive and we need to stay the course. It is not a surprise that most foreign investors are currently adopting a wait-and-see attitude. They want to see how the reforms will hold out and learn from how we treat our current investors. We need to make Nigeria super attractive to investors (starting from local and current investors), remove constraints to investments and avoid dissonance between what we say and do to investors. Also, we should be mindful that there will be a time-lag between investment commitments and actions, and manage that accordingly. This is why it is easier to get more quickly from those already locked in or doing business here.

We need to constantly review what our foreign relations goals are based on changing dynamics within and without. As a country,

7.49pm. Till today, Adesanya tells anybody who cares that Fashola is “sponsoring” me. It is obvious that Agunloye and Adesanya are singing from the same hymn sheet.

The truth, of course, is that I spoke to Fashola only once on the Mambilla issue. That was on December 28, 2018, after TheCable published its first story on the mess under the headline, ‘Nigeria risks $2.3bn fine as Mambilla power project faces crisis’. Adesanya was elated over the report. He called and thanked me for bringing the issue to the front burner. He did not say I was “contracted”. Fashola later called to say he read our story and all what Adesanya had been saying about him in the media. Fashola and I have never discussed Mambilla or Adesanya again — not even by proxy — since that day. I later read in the papers that Fashola had sued Adesanya to court for alleged defamation.

I am proud of my colleagues at TheCable for staying on the story. Normally, many news outlets would report and move on. Prof Lai Osho, the respected journalism teacher who recently died in a car crash, was fond of saying: “You must stay on the story and see it to a logical conclusion.” Agunloye is pained that we have stayed on the Mambilla story, hence his cheap insinuations. I sympathise with him. But his PhD is in physics, not journalism. He can teach us physics, not journalism. His intention is to blackmail and silence us, but he chose the wrong customers. This I promise: we will stay on the Mambilla story and see it to a logical conclusion. That is the contract we have with our conscience.

AND FINALLY…

When I read a claim by the presidential media team that President Tinubu was the first African leader to ring the closing bell at the Nasdaq Stock Market, my first question was: and how does that affect the price of agbado? I was not even questioning the veracity of the claim. It turned out to be false. It immediately brought back an earlier false claim that the UAE government had lifted the visa ban on Nigerians “with immediate effect”. I know that we are in the age of hot propaganda and everybody in the race — either as protagonist or antagonist — is always trying to be ahead of the other, but we should never get to the stage of preposterous claims from presidency. Damaging.

it is good to be a good global citizen. But the global game is driven by national interests. It is not an arena for altruism. We need constant clarity about what we stand to gain from each partner, engagement and partner, when and how. Without a doubt, we have traditional allies and values, and we should stay loyal to those as much as possible. But international relations is just another arena of politics: there are no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests. The challenge then is how to position ourselves well enough to ensure we can always protect and project our national interests.

The presidency also needs to manage its communication better. The prior internal consultations on the situation in Niger could have been better handled. The announcement about UAE’s lifting its visa ban on Nigeria and Emirates Airlines resuming flights to Nigeria immediately is a diplomatic gaffe. The statement about the president being the first African leader to ring the NASDAQ closing bell is a plain embarrassment that had to be walked back. Mistakes happen, especially in the management of public communication. It is important to learn from early mistakes, and put in place mechanisms to prevent reoccurrence. It seems there is an internal pressure to show quick results. Such pressures and temptations should be reined in and definitely should not be at the expense of facts. Credibility is critical to both domestic and foreign relations.

Lastly, the president must strike the needed balance between internal and external engagements. As stated earlier, retrieving Nigeria from the margins of international affairs is a needed task, especially now. But that should not be prioritised over the heavy lifting needed at home. A sense of proportion is vital. For President Tinubu and for Nigeria, home is where the bulk of the work is.

President Tinubu

The Historian as Public Intellectual

SamailaSuleimanreviewsTheHistorianandSociety:SelectedHistoricalWritingsofYusufuBalaUsman, published by Yusufu Bala Usman Institute

Incommemorationofthe18thanniversary ofthedeathofYusufuBalaUsman(19452005),theYusufuBalaUsmanInstitutein Zaria assembled and published a corpus of his papers into a book. The book is a collection of 12 carefully selected and thematically assorted essays from the rich private archives of Bala. These were originally public lectures delivered at conferences, workshops and seminars, but whose tone and textureareconsistentwiththecredentialsofBala as a public intellectual who spoke truth to power. The editors of this book, George Kwanashie and Norma Perchonock, deserve commendation for pulling together these essays into a single monograph with the enthralling title The Historian and Society: Selected Historical Writings of Yusufu Bala Usman. Despite their thematic variation, the chapters are methodically organized in a chronological sequence to show the historical trajectory of Bala’s ideas and the ways in which “they are applied in different contexts and to different subject matter”.

The title of the book, The Historian and Society, is apt as it reflects the radical intellectual stance of Bala as a scholar-activist whose discourse transcends the traditional borders of history, the gulf between the town and gown, or theory and praxis, and the conceptual disjuncture that conventional historians impose between the past and present. As rightly observed by Howard Zinn, “the work that radical historians do in archives and at the typewriter is central to their understanding of advanced capitalism and basic to their commitment to social change. Since the mainstream historian is not going to engage in this task, it is left to the radical scholar to apply himself-- with the tools of scholarship, commitment,andintegrity--tothistask”.Thiswas precisely how Bala understood and approached histaskasahistorianinconstantengagementwith right-wing intellectuals and critique of systems of oppression. Armed with the hindsight of a historian, Bala’s scholarly exhortation allowed him to “put knowledge at work in the noble task of improving the human condition”.

The editors the book open with a well-crafted introduction that outlines the biography of Bala and situates his ideas and works within the broader institutional and social contexts of their production. From the onset, the reader is given a general sense of the social responsibility of historians in a country like Nigeria where corruption and prebendal politics prevail. Bala was one of the most ideologically resolute and methodologically consistent intellectuals whose ideas and perspectives derived essentially from the bottom of his heart. Indeed, the tenacity of his ideas, consistency of his analytical framework, and the force of his epistemic pluralism is evident throughout the 221 pages of this book.

In order to appreciate the significance of the ideas and arguments presented in this book, it is imperative for the reader to recognize, at the onset, the distinctive discursive signature running through the text – that is the clinical deconstruction of colonial historiography and the concomitant racial essentialism and stereotypes with which African history was interpreted as a movement or relations between races or tribal groups in perpetual conflict and warfare. Bala spent most of his career not only decolonizing this racist interpretation of history, but also elaborating the subtle ways in which it was used as instrument of colonial and neocolonial domination. The reader is, therefore, confronted with powerful scholarly expositions that seek to confer agency and power to the lower class as opposed to writing history through the lenses of great men.

The first chapter of the book, “Some Aspects of the External Relations of Katsina before 1804 A.D.”, is one of Bala’s earliest application of this decolonial approach to the historiography of Katsina, The chapter is a critique of the published accounts on Katsina‘s external relations with Kano, Songhay, Gobir, and Kebbi among other states from the 15th century to the 19th century, in which he argues that the widely accepted historiography of Katsina‘s external relations are not supported by evidence in the primary

sources. He further argues that this approach consists largely of speculations informed by certain notions regarding the nature of intergroup and inter-state relations in pre-colonial Africa, which focused on warfare as the primary factor that shaped external relations. Instead, Bala emphasizes the significant role of migration, economic and cultural exchanges as the key factorsresponsiblefortheformationofcosmopolitan political communities, their identities and their interactions. To be sure, Bala acknowledges the fact that warfare was part of these precolonial relations, but argues that “diplomatic exchanges and armed conflicts between governments took place against a background of more basic and regular forms of external relations”.

Extending the critique of colonially-inspired historiography even further, the second chapter, “The Dimensions of Political Communities: A Note on the Ethnic Interpretation of Nigerian Historical Development”, unpacks a more nuanced version of it in the wider context of Nigeria’s historical experience. In this chapter, he shows how the works of leading scholars, including J.F.A. Ajayi, A.E. Afigbo, and Billy Dudley, were inadvertently clouded by this ethnic historiographical outlook. While noting that the emphasis they give on links andcontactsrepresentsadeparturefromcolonial historiography, he is of the view that we must go beyond the simple claim of proving harmonious links between the units of precolonial Nigeria to establishing the essence and nature of the substantive units and the complex historical processes that produced them. “It is not enough”, he states, “to negate colonial and neocolonial historiography and anthropology; we must supersede them”. A closer look at the complex historical processes that produced the polities and social identities of Nigeria, as postulated by Bala, situates us in a good a vantage point to produce effective histories that truly represent our realities beyond colonial stereotypes and misconceptions.

The intellectual agenda of Bala was not limited to decolonising perceptions of Nigerian and African history. In order to come to grips with the contemporary challenges and realties facing us as a nation, we need to go beyond the critique of colonial legacies. Thus, during the 1980s economic crises of the Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) in Nigeria, he presented a seminal lecturewhichinterrogatesthenatureofthecrises, focusing on the role of middlemen, consultants, contractors. The lecture is reproduced here as chapter three with the same title “Middlemen, Consultants, Contractors and the Solutions to the Current Economic Crisis”. In this chapter, Bala turns into a radical economist to deconstruct the myth and fallacy of the official explanations of the origins of the economic crisis of the time around the notions of “world economic recession” and “oil glut”. Instead, he emphasizes the role of consultants, middlemen and contractors, in causing the crises, especially in terms of their role in the appropriation and expatriation of the huge profits generated in Nigeria to the advanced capitalist countries. This approach to explaining away the real causes of economic underdevelop-

ment and poverty in Nigeria by locating it within broader global economic processes is still used by government officials as a strategy to mask or undermine the role of underlying local factors. However,itisnotonlytheeconomiccrisesthatBala dissected in the chapter. He also offers solutions to these economic predicaments, thus: the abolition of contract system and its replacement with direct labor; nationalization of all foreign trade; the establishment of new cooperatives of producers and consumers in agriculture and commerce; as well as the reorganisation of commerce to link directly the organisations of producers with those who process, consume, or somehow utilise, the products,byensuringthatallbankcredit,transport and other facilities controlled by governments serve this new system of commerce.

Although Bala was explicitly against the image of a doctrinaire Marxist scholar ascribed to him, as I have shown in my Masters thesis on his historical writings and methodology, this type of analysis reveals his radical-leftist leanings and preference for Marxist approach to interpreting the current realities of Nigeria. In conclusion, Bala cites the texts of some of his previous lectures to stress his position that only “fundamental social and economic changes can deal with the problems of poverty and establishing a democratic system in this country, and that no amount of the usual constitution making will.” The ideas of Bala on the role of middlemen, consultants and contractors in the Nigerian economy ignited the famous Bala versusYusufBanguradebate,mirroringthefallout of the division within the radical left in A.B.U. in terms of their approach to understanding and applying Marxist theories in their explanation of economic crises and causes of underdevelopment in Nigeria.

ary paradigm. The chapter begins with a deconstructionoftheconceptsofpower,people,people’s power and worker’s power and their significance in the history of liberation movements in different parts of world. For Bala, “when we look at the question of power, we should not just examine power purely at the level of the machinery of government and the exercise of these things, because this is one of the very basic problems of the powerful bourgeoisdemocraticculturethatimbuessomany of us.” Drawing upon examples from countries like Angola, Nicaragua, Cuba, Vietnam among others, Bala concludes that the working class is the only class capable of overthrowing capitalism and building a socialist society.

The focus of chapter five is the nexus between political power and economic recovery within the turbulent years of SAP under the military government of Babangida. Here too, like chapter four where he advances a Marxist interpretation of the notion of people’s power, Bala exposes the official propaganda and make-believe analysis of the impact of government policy on economic recovery in Nigeria. He argues that, contrary to the official claims that SAP had resulted in increase in production and productivity, the reality was that there was no economic recovery at all especially in the critical sectors of the economy – agriculture, trade and manufacturing. He goes on to tease out the relationship between politics and the economy using empirical evidence to show a steady decline in agricultural productivity, trade and purchasing power. Bala concludes by arguing that, in order to have economic recovery, political power should be located in the hands of producers and workers. ThischapterrepresentsoneofBala’sopenadvocacies of socialism as the only viable alternative to Western capitalism.

In chapter six, Bala wears the garb of a historical geographer to explore the ecological dimensions of the historical forces that shaped political transformation in the Central Sudan from C.900 to 1850 A.D. He posits that the processes of political transformationindifferentpartsoftheregion,from the plains of Kanem, north-east of Lake Chad and on the plains of Kano, to the Kotoko area, the Biu Plateau, from the plains of Daura to the plains of Zazzau and extending to the Bauchi/Jos Plateau, resultedinsignificantamountofintegrationofcommunities in the region. He stresses the importance of migration and ecology in these transformative processes, which created larger polities and bonds of political community that transcended kinship and family ties. It is important to remember that this analytical framework is the hallmark of Bala’s historiography and methodology of repudiating the simplistic view of African as a land inhabited by natural and autochthonous races and ethnic nationalities.

In both chapters seven and eight, the reader is redirected to a different, albeit crucial, theme –the important place of archives, as primary historical source materials, in nation building and the promotion of African unity. The chapters share the common thrust of demystifying, through a critical engagement with archives, the notion of historical tribalism and its various manifestations in historical discourse. They also show how the neglect of archives undermines the capacity of Nigerians and Africans to comprehend the complex origins of their identities and limit their capacity to tackle the problems associated with identity conflicts. For example, the central thesis of chapter seven is that the primary sources of history available in the archives are essential to the task of nation building because they “provide one of the bases for our coming to terms with the complex and dynamic nature of our nations and nationalities, as they were, and as they are changing”. While chapter seven focuses on the role of archives in nation building, chapter eight broadens the scope of the discussion on the social relevance of archives in the promotion of African unity. To be sure, even historians have the habit of treating archives as mere repositories of docile records.

Similarly, the vocabulary of the text and the premises of submissions of chapter four, “The Protracted Struggle for Workers’ and Peoples’ Power”, are framed within the Marxist revolution- Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

Suleiman,PhD,isoftheDepartmentofHistory, BayeroUniversity,Kano

Late Bala Usman

Atiku’s Aide to Tinubu

“If Tinubu is a first-class graduate like he claims, it will be in his best interest and that of over 200 million Nigerians, for him to take a first-class decision of resigning. This is the only way that he can save Nigeria and its people of this embarrassment and laughing stock that it has become” – Media aide to Atiku Abubakar, Paul Ibe, urging President Tinubu to resign from office over the non-release of his academic record.

SIMON KOLAWOLE

simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com,

Questions Agunloye Failed to Answer on Mambilla

My former neighbour, a civil servant, used to tell me how he was preparing carefully for retirement.

“I am very cautious with everything I do in the office,” he would say, “because I do not want to be going to the EFCC after retirement. I make sure I follow due process, get all necessary approvals in writing and stay above board to the best of my ability.” He told me this more than 10 years to his retirement. He finally retired in 2021. These days, he looks fresh and relaxed and seems to be at peace with himself. I am silently praying that there will be no reason for him to be ordered to come and defend himself over an action or inaction of 20 years ago. I would be really sad for him.

God knows I have nothing but pity for Dr Olu Agunloye, who was minister of power from 2002 to 2003. He is at the centre of a storm over his curious last-minute award of a build, operate and transfer (BOT) contract to Sunrise Power and Transmission Ltd in May 2003 for the construction of the Mambilla hydro power plant in Taraba state. He awarded the contract one week to the end of President Olusegun Obasanjo’s first term. Although he was re-appointed by Obasanjo, he was moved to the ministry of state for defence (navy). I feel

for him that at a time he should be playing with his grandchildren in the garden, he is being quizzed by the EFCC about his stewardship after 20 years.

In a recent interview with TheCable, Obasanjo

WAZIRI ADIO POSTSCRIPT

had challenged Agunloye to show evidence that he got the presidential approval to award the $6 billion contract. He said while he was president, no minister could approve more than N25 million. In his response, Agunloye insisted he got approval and also denied some of Obasanjo’s claims against Mr Leno Adesanya, the promoter of Sunrise Power. Agunloye also took a swipe at me as well as TheCable, of which I am the founder and CEO, for our unrelenting coverage of the Mambilla mess as Nigeria faces a $2.4 billion arbitration instituted at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), France, by Sunrise over an alleged breach of contract.

Agunloye’s defence left many questions unanswered. He said the Sunrise proposal was already in progress before he became minister and that he got approval in November 2002 to award the contract. He wrote: “On the very day (28 Nov 2002) that I resumed (assumed) office as Minister of Power, Pa Obasanjo himself, in a formal letter, handed me his presidential approval on the Sunrise proposal with an instruction that Sunrise be invited ‘for the final negotiations for the execution of the Mambilla Power Project’…” Read that again. By his own admission, what he got was an instruction for “final negotiations”. If it was still subject to final negotiations, was that an approval to award? My primary questions to Agunloye are: did he send a memo to the Federal Executive Council

(FEC) on Wednesday, May 21, 2003, seeking the go-ahead to award the contract to Sunrise? This is a “yes” or “no” question. If indeed he had secured the necessary approval “on the very day” he assumed office as minister of power on November 28, 2002, why did he send a request for approval to FEC six months later? Most importantly, what was the decision of FEC on his memo? Was he asked to proceed and award the contract? Or was he directed by FEC to withdraw the memo? These are important questions he failed to address. I think he should do Nigerians a favour by explaining more.

It is on record that when Agunloye presented the memo to FEC, Obasanjo wondered why he still did so despite their previous extensive discussion that he should hold on because there was going to be a comprehensive plan for power sector reforms. Obasanjo used the opportunity to ask ministers to be cautious in negotiating government participation in all projects with investors because of the financial and legal implications for the country. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, then vice-president, supported Obasanjo’s position and suggested that all options should be considered by the ministry. This is on record. It is also on record that after the discussion, FEC asked Agunloye to withdraw the memo.

On President Tinubu’s Foreign Expeditions

Under four months of being in the saddle, President Bola Tinubu has signalled that foreign relations will be a major focus of his administration. He has undertaken official trips to five countries, assumed the leadership of the west African economic bloc, made strong pitches for Nigeria, the subregion and the continent, and delivered a well-scripted and thoughtful first speech at the UN General Assembly. However, the real work is at home, and the urgent work within is clearly much more important than the charm offensive directed at foreign investors and leaders. But Tinubu’s strong focus on foreign relations is not misplaced. Nigeria needs to reassert its place in the world. And crucially too, now more than ever, Nigeria needs urgent and meaningful outside support.

Tinubu has a foreign affairs minister who knows his onions and is a perfect fit for the job. Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar is an international relations expert and he put in a stellar shift as Nigeria’s ambassador to Germany. His is one of the few ministerial appointments that Tinubu got right. Incidentally, the other minister from

Bauchi State, Professor Mohammed Pate, is top-notch too—which supports the argument that if Tinubu could find two solid ministers with major portfolios from just one state, he could have done better with the quality of his unwieldy cabinet. But we digress. The point is that with Tuggar, Nigeria appears to be in safe and competent hands on the international front. But at this time, we also need a president who is actively present on the international scene. Nigeria’s current commander-in-chief must be its marketer-in-chief.

Nigeria remains a natural leader of the subregion and overtime, our country also asserted itself as a major voice of the continent and of the black race. The size of our population and our economy, and our sense of responsibility and commitment made an eloquent case for us. Even when in a different subregion, Nigeria became a frontline state in the fight against apartheid and for decolonisation in southern Africa. In the west African subregion, Nigeria was the big brother and the guarantor of security—and even of democracy at a time we ironically lacked same at home. And Nigeria was consistently a big voice for a fairer and more balanced world order. But the

past and natural advantages are not always good predictors of things. Nigeria fell off the international space in the last decade and a half, consumed by its internal economic and security challenges on the one hand and, on the other hand, enfeebled by leaders without the consciousness or the capacity to balance the internal and the external. With so much going in the world and in our immediate neighbourhood at the moment, Nigeria as a state needs to return to the global stage. Yes, we have Nigerian citizens playing prominent roles in key global and regional organisations like the United Nations, World Trade Organisation, and the African Development Bank. But these are individuals working and speaking for those organisations and not for Nigeria. The world and our neighbourhood need us to play a leadership role in addressing the burning issues of an evolving multipolar world order. A case can be made that Nigeria needs to get back on its feet first before it can start thinking of taking on additional burdens, and as such Nigeria should concentrate more on resolving its pressing internal challenges. This is a compelling argument. The argument is reinforced by the fact that the

time the president spends on foreign affairs is the time he is not spending on domestic issues. However, the argument assumes that Nigeria and its president do not have enough bandwidth to walk and chew gum at the same time. Not necessarily. Besides, the two domains—the domestic and the foreign—are not mutually exclusive. In actual fact, they are intertwined, mutually reinforcing even. Focusing more on tackling insecurity and halting the coup contagion in West Africa are in Nigeria’s enlightened self-interest. Besides, we also need the world to help us get back on our feet. We need help and should not be shy in, or ashamed of, asking for help. We need to make a strong case that a stronger Nigeria is good for itself and for its neighbours but also for the globe. The world is better off with a Nigeria that can take care of itself and its immediate surroundings. We need to position or reposition Nigeria as a country of strategic importance and practical utility to the world in general and to key power centres in particular. Tinubu’s speech at UNGA did a good job of this. On the balance, his leadership of ECOWAS has

Continued on page 54

Agunloye