TUESDAY 4TH OCTOBER 2022

Despite Global Volatility, Nigeria’s Stock Market Appreciated by N4.15trn in Nine Months Investors move to take advantage of high yields in fixed income securities Kayode Tokede The stock market of the Nigerian

Exchange Limited (NGX) maintained its positive momentum in the first nine months of 2022,

gaining N4.15 trillion to outshine global markets that have witnessed severe volatility.

The market capitalisation of the NGX had opened in 2022 at N22.297 trillion, gaining N4.15

trillion or 18.63 per cent to close at N26.451trillion as of September 30, 2022.

Also, the NGX All-Share Index Continued on page 32

Igini: It’s Impossible to Rig 2023 Polls, Elections’ll Be Won or Lost at Polling Units... Page 35 Tuesday 4 October, 2022 Vol 27. No 10038. Price: N250

www.thisdaylive.com TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

NDLEA Arrests Another Billionaire Drug Baron in Lagos... Page 33

2023: Aliyu, Shekarau, Haruna, Others Rally Support for Atiku Slam Tinubu over fitness video PDP crisis’ll be over soon, says ex-BoT chairman Edo stakeholders call for Dan Orbih’s sacking Chuks Okocha in Abuja, James Sowole in Abeokuta and John Shiklam in Kaduna The campaign of the Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, received a boost yesterday, as three former governors and leaders of the party stormed Abeokuta, the

Ogun State capital, to mobilise support for him ahead of the 2023 elections.

The ex-governors were Muazu Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Ibrahim

Shekarau (Kano), and Boni Haruna (Adamawa).

The event held at the PDP secretariat in Abeokuta witnessed no fewer than 20 volunteer sup-

port groups for Atiku, the party's governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, and other candidates.

PDP leaders at the rally mocked the presidential candidate of the

All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, over his recent fitness video.

Continued on page 32

Rivers APC to APC Govs: Visiting Wike An Embarrassment to Our Party Threatens to take matters into its own hands if national leadership fails to do something Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has said it is embarrassing and improper for some of the party's governors to visit Governor Nyesom Wike in complete disregard for the party’s state chapter.

The party warned that the governors were sabotaging efforts to reclaim the former APC-controlled state by parleying with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governor.

The warning came in the wake of repeated visits to Wike by APC governors from the South-west zone.

The Rivers State APC said it was disrespectful for the APC governors to continue to hobnob with Wike at the expense of the party in the state. Describing such act as anti-party activity, the leadership of party therefore urged the APC national leadership to prevail on the South-west governors to desist from what it called an inimical solidarity with the state governor.

It declared, "Visiting Wike is an embarrassment to our efforts in Continued on page 32

REDEFINING AGRICULTURE IN NIGERIA FOR THE FUTURE...

L-R: Hon. Minister of Environment, Mr. Muhammed Abdullahi; Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; Governor, Nassarawa State, Engr.

Abdullahi Sule; Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; Chairman Board of Directors, NSIA, Farouk Gumel and MD/CEO, NSIA, Uche Orji, at the official inauguration of PHOTO: KINGSLEY ADEBOYE Pandagric Novum Limited in Panda, Nassarawa State… recently

2

TUESDAY OCTOBER 4, 2022 • T H I S D AY

TUESDAY OCTOBER 4, 2022 • T H I S D AY

3

4

TUESDAY OCTOBER 4, 2022 • T H I S D AY

5

TUESDAY, ͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

Group News Editor: Goddy Egene Email: Goddy.egene@thisdaylive.com, 0803 350 6821, 0809 7777 322, 0807 401 0580

NEWS

CUTTING THE INDEPENDENCE CAKE...

L-R: Gombe State Police Commissioner, CP Ishola Babaita; Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi; Chief Judge, Justice Joseph Awak; Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, and Deputy Governor, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau cutting the anniversary cake to mark Nigeria's 62nd Independence day and Gombe State ...recently

OPEC Mulls Highest Cut in Two Years, May Reduce Oil Production by 1m bpd Underperforming Nigeria unlikely to be impacted Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) may cut oil production output by as much as 1 million barrels per day when they meet tomorrow, some delegates said yesterday.

If the international oil cartel makes good the decision, it would be the largest cut since 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic began.

The group is expected to make the resolution against the backdrop of falling oil prices and months of severe market volatility which prompted top OPEC+ producer,

Saudi Arabia, to back production cuts.

But the decision may have little impact on Nigeria which has been unable to meet even the quota allocated to it by as much as 800,000 barrels per day, going

by August data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

Last year, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mallam Mele Kyari, said Nigeria was most comfortable with an oil price of between $50 to $60. He hinged his reason on the

argument that Nigeria’s oil buyers may find alternatives if the price skyrockets.

OPEC+, which combines OPEC countries and allies such as Russia, has refused to raise output to lower oil prices despite pressure from major consumers, including the United States, to help the global economy.

But Prices have nevertheless fallen to below $90 per barrel from as high as $120 in recent months due to fears about the global economy and a rally in the United States dollar after the Federal Reserves raised rates.

"It may be as significant as the April 2020 meeting," a source said, referring to when OPEC+ agreed record supply cuts of around 10 million bpd, or 10 per cent of global supply, as the COVID-19 pandemic hit demand, Reuters implied.

A significant production cut is poised to anger the United States, which has been putting pressure on Saudi Arabia to continue pumping more to help oil prices soften further and reduce revenues for Russia as the West seeks to punish Moscow for sending troops to Ukraine.

Yesterday, the price of a barrel of West Texas International (WTI),

Osinbajo to Headline NEITI’s Energy Transition Dialogue Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will headline the national dialogue on energy transition convened by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), the organisation said yesterday.

NEITI is hosting the event in collaboration with the Natural Resource Governance (NRGI) and BudgIt Foundation, according to a statement signed by the Head, Communications and Advocacy, Obiageli Onuorah.

The event expected to hold in Abuja will discuss the Nigeria energy transition plan, explore the global challenges associated with energy transition and seek ideas from industry experts on managing the risks and opportunities for Nigeria.

The Executive Secretary of NEITI Dr. Ogbonnaya Orji disclosed that Osinbajo had been invited to deliver the keynote address.

Orji stated that the Dialogue was aimed at creating awareness on the implications of the energy transition on the economy and citizens of Nigeria, seek status updates on the country’s plan, and ensure the perspectives of Nigerian citizens and experts are incorporated into the plan.

“As a statutory body and a leading multi-stakeholder platform

for dialogue on natural resources in Nigeria, NEITI has a pivotal role to play in shaping the government’s policy on energy transition.

“It will ensure inclusivity of the process and sustainability of public discourse in the development of the plan. That is why we are hosting the dialogue,” Orji said.

The NEITI boss maintained that the dialogue will also develop a shared agenda that will include perspectives and data analysis

on how the transition will affect Nigeria’s economy and the approach to be adopted by the government.

“NEITI believes that government needs to make informed and evidence-based decisions to engage with the transition process in meaningful, impactful, and beneficial ways that will ensure the country is not left behind.

“Nigeria needs to avoid bad decisions and put in place an

appropriate policy response that mitigates the risks and enhances the benefits and diversification potential of the transition to the country,” he noted.

He confirmed that policymakers, captains of industries, regulators, host communities, leading civil society organisations, the media and other energy experts from within and outside the country are also expected at the dialogue.

crude oil had risen by nearly 4 per cent in the afternoon, with the price hovering at $82.35, while last week's low was set at $76 per barrel.

Before the current rebound occurred, however, the price of oil had been falling for four months in a row.

It fell in September to its lowest level since January 2022. Since the peak of the price, which occurred when the war in Ukraine began, oil prices have fallen by more than 40 per cent. But it seems that OPEC countries cannot afford such a big bump.

In the same vein, Nigeria’s crude benchmark, Brent futures popped 4 per cent to $88.54 per barrel, far below the $120 mark it hit at some point months ago.

However, Nigeria may be little impacted by the cuts as latest industry data showed production hitting a record low of 972,394 barrels per day in August.

The development marked a new low in the over a year-long downward spiral in Nigeria’s capacity to drill enough oil to boost its desperately needed foreign exchange even at a time that the commodity has continued to hover around a rarely seen price of $100.

The decrease below the 1 million bpd mark in production in August despite months of assurances of planned improvement by the Nigerian authorities, was more than 10 per cent compared to the

July 2022 production of 1.083 million barrels per day.

THISDAY’s checks showed that in June the country’s production was 1.158 million bpd; it was 1.024 million bpd in May; 1.219 million bpd in April, 1.237 million bpd in March; 1.257 million bpd in February and 1.398 million bpd in January.

The quota given by OPEC to the country for the month of August was 1.826 million barrels per day, meaning that Nigeria under-produced to the tune of about 853,606 bpd last month.

The country has recently taken a rash of measures to curtail the oil theft menace, which so far appears to have defied all solutions.

A few of the measures include the renewed deployment of security personnel in the Niger Delta and the real-time monitoring of activities around the pipelines by the NNPCL. In addition, the national oil firm has introduced the whistle-blower strategy as well as the handing over of a N4 billion monthly surveillance contract to ex-militant, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.

The federal government has variously blamed massive oil theft, vandalism of major assets, dilapidated infrastructure as well as declining upstream investment for its inability to drill more of the commodity.

ACOMIN: Exodus of Health Workers Affecting Nigeria's Malaria Control Efforts Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The continuous exit of young professionals in the health sector for greener pastures abroad is negatively affecting Nigeria's effort at controlling the malaria scourge.

The National Coordinator of the Civil Society in Malaria Control, Immunisation and Nutrition (ACOMIN), Mr. Ayo Ipinmoye who stated this at a meeting with journalists in Abuja, said migration of trained professionals to other parts of the world was also causing a drain on the huge investment made over the years to prop up the healthcare sector.

He said: "Strikes have become a fixture with healthcare workers

perennially complaining of unsatisfactory working conditions and to compound issues, we have exodus of trained healthcare workers to the advanced countries of the world.

"Any gains made through investments over the years is being leached through the emigration of our young and bright ones".

While giving insights into the prevalent level of malaria in the country, Ipinmoye said in 2019, Nigeria contributed a major percentage of global indices.

Quoting UNICEF figures, he noted that while Nigeria represents 2.4 per cent of world's population, it contributes 10 per cent of deaths from pregnant mothers.

"We have under five death rates of 113.8 per cent out of 1000 live

births, for malaria we deliver 27 percent of all cases 23 percent of malaria mortatility.

“Current statistics show that healthcare institutions rendering services in Nigeria are 33,303 General Hospitals, 30,378 primary healthcare centres and 59 Teaching Hospitals and Federal Medical Centres," he said.

In an apparent reference to the move by federal to privatise some healthcare institutions to secure better funding, Ipinmoye said partnership with the private sector rather than government's total hands off would be a better option.

"We need to understand, take ownership of our health outcomes and embrace health

care as a partnership between government, partners, private sector and individuals.

"We need to understand that health is personal to the individual.

And each person need to own their own health outcome and strive to be part of the process to deliver the expected outcomes.

"We cannot outsource health, government, private sector actors can play their roles but if there are no complimentary actions from communities and individuals, we will not see the expected outcomes.

So we are promoting that vital partnership required to ensure improved health outcomes," he said.

According Ipinmoye though the Nigerian constitution conferred on the government the core responsibil-

ity of securing lives, property and health of the citizens, it has become obvious now that it cannot deliver on alone.

He said that it had become necessary that government at all levels, whilst increasing the budgetary allocations to health, ensuring accountability and transparency in the implementation of the budget, also creates opportunity for the participation of the community and private sector.

"On the part of government, we expect them, among other things to take the following actions, acquisition of technology and development of the workforce to reduce medical errors and strengthen health systems,” he added.

6

TUESDAY, ͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

ADVANS LA FAYETTE MICROFINANCE BANK ESSAY COMPETITION PRIZE GIVING CEREMONY...

L-R: Head, Marketing and Communication, Advans La Fayette Microfinance Bank, Kayode Abraham; Project Manager, Fanny Belhomme; Head of Legal, Compliance and Governance, Jennifer HalimUbahakwe; winner of the Advans Essay Competition. Omidiji Dabira; Managing Director, La Fayette Microfinance Bank, Gaetan Debuchy; and Head of Business Development, Olawale Raheem, during PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN the Advans La Fayette Microfinance Bank Essay Competition prize giving ceremony held in Lagos…Friday

Take Ownership of AfCFTA, Afreximbank, Stakeholders Tell State Govts, Others

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and other stakeholders at the just concluded second edition of the African Subsovereign Governments Network (AfSNET) conference in Abuja have unanimously called on states in Nigeria and other sub-nationals in the continent to play their full role in facilitating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Organised by Afreximbank in collaboration with the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF), the conference was presided over

by President Muhammadu Buhari and was attended by leaders and senior representatives of states, provinces, regions, governorates, investors and financial institutions from across Africa.

Countries represented included Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali and Niger.

While commending Afreximbank and the NGF for “demonstrating innovative thinking by taking the AfCFTA to the grassroots,” Buhari said the AfSNET initiative, “if properly harnessed, is a significant step for Africa to begin carving its own niche in the global value chain, from the constituent units up.”

A statement quoted Buhari to have added: “This complements broader programmes such as the AfCFTA, which remains one of the most strategic pan African agenda to deliver inclusive and sustainable development.”

Buhari also called upon the leaders of African Sub-Sovereign Governments to accelerate their involvement in facilitating the implementation of the AfCFTA. “I am firmly convinced that with the right collaborative action, we will be able to record a much stronger pace of transformation.

Through shared knowledge, innovation and creativity, we will be better able to cater for the needs of the African continent’s population of over 1.4 billion people,” he stated.

In the same vein, the President and Chairman of the Board of Director of Afreximbank, Prof.

Benedict Oramah, emphasised the leading role that sub-sovereign governments were expected to play through the African sub-sovereign governments network.

“AfSNET is expected to fill an important void because it recognises that whereas trade and commercial policies are national, their implementation is usually sectoral and local. Involvement of regional and local governments will make it possible for the full benefits of the AfCFTA to be realised,” Oramah declared.

He also reiterated Afreximbank’s commitment to the success of the AfCFTA, highlighting the substantial funds as well as the numerous programmes, projects and initiatives that the bank was making available to facilitate the implementation of AfCFTA, stating that “Afreximbank will support AfSNET through vari-

ous other products and initiatives to facilitate intra-African trade, including financing, capacity building, export and investment promotion, linkages and partnerships, digital solutions, and policy advisory services. Sub-Sovereigns can also benefit from other initiatives that are being implemented

by Afreximbank such as industrial parks and special economic zones to promote industrial development and export development.”

Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman, NGF, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who kicked off the opening ceremony, explained in his welcoming remarks that, “the African Continental Free

Trade Agreement has provided us with an opportunity to deepen intra-African trade by promoting a liberalised market that permits freer flow of capital, goods, services and our people.

“It also encourages industrial development through diversification and regional value chain development.

“Working closely with our own federal government in Nigeria, we are collaboratively initiating and implementing strategic policies to better provision Nigeria for the AfCFTA by strengthening our entire export value chain, eliminating barriers to the ease of doing business, enhancing

infrastructure development, embracing anti-dumping and anti-discriminatory trade policies. As sub-nationals, with a huge potential for intra-regional trade, I know that all of us here stand ready to make this dream a reality.”

Delivering the opening address, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment and Co-Chair National Action Committee on AfCFTA, Mr. Adeniyi Adebayo, said against the backdrop of the progress being made in the implementation of the AfCFTA, the second AfSNET conference was, “a unique opportunity for us to take stock and reflect on how best to assist our citizens in realising the full

Oni Urges Judicial Heads to Monitor Ekiti Election Petition Tribunal Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

The Social Democratic Party's (SDP) governorship candidate in the last in Ekiti State, Engr. Segun Oni has assured Nigerians that the alleged fraud perpetrated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last poll won't stand, boasting that he would get favourable judgement in court.

The SDP candidate therefore urged the country's judicial head

to monitor the ongoing Election Petition Tribunal in Ekiti and prevent compromise and any form of inducement.

Oni said the call became imperative following the alleged boast by the outgoing governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, that he (Oni) was just chasing shadow and has no case at the Tribunal against the governor-elect, Biodun Oyebanji was an empty one, saying Fayemi has no power to decide for the

judiciary on how the litigation will go.

Oni said it was very disgusting and debasing for a governor to make such a statement that was capable of eroding the powers and respect of the judicial arm.

In a statement made available to journalists in Ado Ekiti yesterday, by the Director of Media and Publicity of the organisation, Mr. Jackson Adebayo, Oni said the action was, "primitive, barbaric

United Airlines Allegedly De-boards Nigerian Passenger over Complaint of Poor Aircraft Facility Chinede Eze A Nigerian passenger, Taylor Alfred Oladotun was allegedly de-boarded from a flight operated by United States mega carrier, United Airlines on Sunday because he complained about a non-functional lavatory in the aircraft.

The pilot of the flight approved his de-boarding with a threat that he would never be allowed to travel with the airline in future, except if United Airlines management reviews the incident and approved he could travel with the airline again.

Oladotun with seat number 48L and passenger name record (PNR) G5JWCK, said he complained about

the aircraft lavatory and expected apology, but instead of an apology he was allegedly asked to disembark from the aircraft.

“I complained about United Airline Faulty plane. But instead of an apology, I got thrown off the plane. The entire left wing toilet on the plane provided was not functional, which created a natural panic, as there was a crazy queue around the only functional toilets.

“There were no blankets, and there was no decent crewmember to pass on the message of this gross failure decently. I guess throwing passages that complain about terrible services is the only option available to the crewmembers.

benefits of the AfCFTA. “The global environment today is characterised by high geopolitical and trade tensions, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the increasing wave of protectionism, and rising food and commodity prices.

“Consequently, international cooperation between governments and sub-sovereign governments is required across Africa and other developing countries to positively respond to these challenges, especially in terms of harnessing the opportunities that they create, while mitigating the associated risk of marginalisation and increased inequalities both between and within countries,” Adebayo added.

“A crew member told me that your ‘fellow passenger’ spoilt the toilet so I should stop complaining about the wait. Sorry. I am not ‘fellow passenger’ to anyone that I have not flown with.

“The choice of word fellow, is ‘profiling’ insulting and generalising.

All I needed was a bathroom. He did not also, need to tell me that my Nigeria does not have engineers that can fix his clog toilet upon arrival, hence I have no reason to complain,” Oladotun said.

However, in a letter addressed to Oladokun, United Airlines in reacting to the allegation said, “United Airlines’ number one priority has always been a commitment to safety.

“As much as we value your business, United’s policy, in compliance with our contract of carriage and our legal obligations as a common carrier, is to delay or refuse to carry any passenger whose conduct or condition threatens the safety of our employees or other passengers.

“Based on the nature of the reported incident that occurred during boarding for flight 613 on October 2, 2022 this shall serve as a notice that you are not permitted to fly on United Airlines or any regional carrier operating as United Express until a review of this incident by United’s Passenger Incident Review Committee (PIRC) has occurred.

“Please be advised that no single United employee can change your status. Only the PIRC has the ability to review the incident and consider reinstatement of your ability to fly on United or United Express in the future.

“The PIRC would like to consider your version of what occurred in this incident in making its determination.

In order to ensure this information is considered a written report must be submitted within 96 hours of receiving this notice. Please include the following: Your name, address, email and phone contacts, flight number, date, and seat assignment of incident, summary of incident, witness names.”

and callous."

The former Ekito State governor said the statement further attested to the reign of impunity experienced under the APC’s leadership in Nigeria .

Oni stressed that Fayemi should explain to the whole world why his party's governorship primary was allegedly manipulated to bring out Oyebanji who was nominated by an illegal authority elected through front loading of election results.

He maintained that Fayemi and his party allegedly perpetrated the act, having the impression that they could manipulate their ways through the judicial arm.

He said: "The emergence of Governor Fayemi both in 2010 and 2018 also took the same route, hence, his belief in short -cut to the Ekiti government house, forgetting that some people in the judiciary can still protect their integrity.

"Fayemi who said that those challenging the election of Oyebanji in court and tribunal are mere entertainers meant something and such was condemnable.

"We want to remind the governor that the ground that is before the tribunal goes beyond an ordinary technicality and legal masquerading. They are constitutional issues which have been decided at all levels of court in Nigeria so any clandestine movement becomes suspicion. "

TUESDAY OCTOBER 4, 2022 • T H I S D AY

7

8

TUESDAY OCTOBER 4, 2022 • T H I S D AY

TUESDAY OCTOBER 4, 2022 • T H I S D AY

9

10

TUESDAY, ͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

ODUOZA HONOURED IN CANADA...

L-R: Award Recipient and Chairman of NOVA Merchant Bank. Mr. Phillips Oduoza; Wife, Jumai Oduoza; Minister of Labour and Immigration, Alberta, Canada, Kaycee Madu (QC); and President, Nigerian Canadian Association of Calgary (NCAC), Patrick Etokudo, during the conferment of 2022 Distinguished Citizen Award of Nigerian Canadian Association on Mr Oduoza to mark Nigeria's Independence Day, held in Calgary, Canada... on Sunday

IMF Calls for Rapid Response on Food Security Says Africa least prepared to face effects of climate change Segun James As the war in Ukraine intensifies, acute food insecurity is threatening the lives and livelihoods of 345 million people, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned.

According to the Fund, the suffering was worst in 48 countries, many highly dependent on food imports from Ukraine and Russia, adding that the financial costs of the crisis are rising, too.

In an article jointly penned

by IMF’s Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, Sebastián

Sosa and Björn Rother, that was published on the Washingtonbased institution’s website, they called for a rapid response to the unprecedented humanitarian challenge.

The article was titled: “Global Food Crisis Demands Support for People, Open Trade, Bigger Local Harvests.”

“We must all act now to ease the suffering of those experiencing hunger, by supporting countries who take strong policy action with the financing they need,” they added.

The IMF estimated that the rising cost of food and fertiliser imports in countries highly exposed to food insecurity would add $9 billion to their balance of payments pressures in 2022-23.

This, they noted, would erode their international reserves and ability to pay for food imports.

“In many countries, policymakers have introduced fiscal measures to protect people from the food crisis. Highly exposed countries will need as much as $7 billion this year alone to help the poorest households, according to staff

estimates.

“The international community must…take decisive action to ensure that the needed financing is in place,” it added.

It noted that strong and swift policy action was needed across four areas to mitigate the global food crisis and avert human suffering.

“First, rapidly and adequately support people vulnerable to food insecurity through humanitarian assistance from the World Food Programme and other organisations, alongside effective domestic

Hold Elected Leaders to Campaign Promises, Peace Corps Boss Tasks INEC Alex Enumah in Abuja The National Commandant of the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), Ambassador Dickson Akoh has charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure elected leaders are held to promises they made to electorates during campaign period.

Akoh was of the opinion that the country could only experience good governance, when there was a mechanism in place by INEC to measure performances of elected leaders alongside their different party's manifestoes.

Akoh spoke at a public forum to commemorate Nigeria's 62nd Independence Day celebration in Abuja.

The Peace Corps boss specifically tasked INEC to document manifestoes of all parties and use same to effect checks and balances on leaders that would emerge in the 2023 general elections.

He appealed to the electoral umpire not to limit itself to conducting of elections alone but must be in the forefront of doing follow ups that would make politicians abide and implement their manifestoes to the people.

The Peace Corps boss sought legal back up for INEC to have

powers to disqualify individuals and parties from subsequent elections upon being found liable of failure to adhere and implement promises made during electioneering campaign.

"Time has come for leaders to be made responsible through their actions. Holding elected leaders by their words and sanctioned when failed would herald positive responses to governance in the country," he said.

"Time has come for us as a nation to have well-tailored manifestoes and I challenge INEC to document the promises being made by politicians, those who fail to keep to their freely made promises must be sanctioned before subsequent elections for the country to forge ahead in socio-economic development," he added.

Besides, Akoh counselled elective office seekers across the country to give manifestoes of their political parties to Youths instead of guns that could disrupt peace and tranquility during elections.

He pleaded with politicians to depart from politics of killings, maiming and destructions and opt for that of development to make the country grow politically, socially and economically.

The Peace Corps Boss disagreed

that Nigeria has nothing to show for the 62 years of Independence adding that the fact that people of diverse ethnicity, religion, culture and tradition remain together for 62 years was worthy of celebration.

While observing that countries especially, USSR which was stronger than Nigeria collapsed and separated over little issues, he

argued that the fact that Nigeria remains intact in spite of security challenges, political, religious and ethnical differences, calls for celebration.

He therefore urged Nigerians to continue to imbibe and promote Nigeria's common unity warning that "if we divide, we will no longer have a country called Nigeria".

fiscal measures. “Policymakers around the world should prioritise fighting inflation and protecting the most vulnerable to alleviate the burden of the cost-of-living crisis.

Near-term social assistance should focus on providing emergency food relief or cash transfers to the poor, such as those recently announced by Djibouti, Honduras, and Sierra Leone. “Where this is not possible, second-best subsidies and tax measures can provide temporary relief. Second, maintaining open trade, including within regions, to allow food to flow from surplus areas to those in need. We should build on the progress made under the Black Sea Grain Initiative and at the 12th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation by urgently phasing out export bans imposed by major food producers.

“Protectionist measures only serve to make the food crisis worse, accounting for as much as nine per cent of the increase in world wheat prices, according to the World Bank,” it added.

Furthermore, it stated: “Third, increase food production and improve distribution, including through ensuring adequate access to fertilisers and crop diversifica-

tion. Increasing trade financing and reinforcing supply chains is vital to addressing the current food price shock.

“The World Bank and other multilateral development banks play a key role as they increase trade financing for agricultural commodities and other food products and their support to countries for critical logistics and infrastructure upgrades.

“Fourth, investing in climateresilient agriculture will be vital to increasing future harvests. More intense and more unpredictable climatic events are increasing food insecurity.

“Low-income countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, are among the least prepared to face the effects of climate change.

Solutions should be tailored to country circumstances, with a focus on low-cost, high-impact measures, such as investing in new crop varieties, improving water management, and information dissemination.

“For example, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Rwanda are leveraging mobile technology to provide farmers with rainfall forecasts to optimise the planting of crops and the purchase of crop insurance,” it added.

FCMB Celebrates Customers’ Service Week By ensuring the right blend of technology and people, First City Monument Bank Limited (FCMB) yesterday stated that it was creating a feeling of happiness and satisfaction for its customers across all service touchpoints as the world celebrates 2022 Customer Service Week.

This year’s theme for the customers’ service week is: “Celebrate Service.”

According to a statement from the bank, between January and August 2022, “about 95 per cent of customers that reached out to the bank got prompt attention, with most of their issues instantly resolved, accounting for a favourable Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 55 per cent.”

Managing Director of the bank, Mrs. Yemisi Edun said, "deftly combining tech with the human touch has helped us gain trust through excellent service experience and extraordinary customer journeys.

“Our customers provide positive feedback and are happy with every interaction. So, we celebrate our customers and people who serve and support them during this year's Customer Service Week from 3rd to 7th October" Also, the Senior Vice President and Divisional Head, Corporate Services & Service Management, FCMB, Ms Felicia Obozuwa, said, "We have lined up fun-filled activities to celebrate and reward customers and employees during this year's Customer Service Week.

“For customers, we will introduce a transaction-free day on the wavemaking FCMB Mobile App, give movie tickets and airtime and run a scavenger hunt on the FCMB Flexx zone, where winners will receive exciting gifts."

She added that this year's Customer Service Week would be a week-long celebration of talent, creativity, and camaraderie across the bank.

A hybrid (physical and virtual) party for employees of the Bank will hold on October 7, and the highlight will be the much anticipated "FCMB's Got Talent" competition, which provides a robust platform for employees to showcase their talents, and creativity and smile home with

exciting gifts.

“Other customer-focused celebratory initiatives of the bank are visits to top customers to present them with ‘thank you’ mementoes and get their feedback on how to continue to delight them.

“FCMB will also celebrate young customers by delivering gifts to those who operate kiddies accounts whose birthdays fall within the week of October 3 to 7.”

The annual Customer Service Week celebration started 38 years ago as a period set aside to recognise and appreciate the job done by people in service organisations. It emphasises the importance of customer service in running successful businesses and employees' role(s) in achieving this.

TUESDAY OCTOBER 4, 2022 • T H I S D AY

11

12

TUESDAY OCTOBER 4, 2022 • T H I S D AY

TUESDAY OCTOBER 4, 2022 • T H I S D AY

13

14

TUESDAY OCTOBER 4, 2022 • T H I S D AY

TUESDAY OCTOBER 4, 2022 • T H I S D AY

15

16

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY OCTOBER 4, 2022

POLITICS

Acting Group Politics Editor DEJI ELUMOYE Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com (08033025611 SMS ONLY)

House Moves against Religious Extremism

Udora Orizu writes that the concern by the House of Representatives about worsening religious violence in the country has made it to take legislative steps towards curbing the menace

T

he House of Representatives last week passed for second reading and referred to the Committee of the Whole a Bill for the establishment of a National Religious Harmony Commission.

The Bill if passed into law will, among other responsibilities, tackle religious extremism, discrimination and hate speech.

Nigeria is a religiously diverse nation, with two most prominent religions practiced being Islam and Christianity.

Religion has indeed served as an instrument of social harmony in the country, while it has also served as a motivation for violence.

Religious conflict in Nigeria goes as far back as 1950s. In the past two decades, religion has been at the centre of most violent conflicts in the nation, thereby gaining notoriety as one of the prime security challenges confronting the country.

Religious extremism as a global issue has raised questions and tensions in many countries. From time immemorial, extremists have attempted to legitimise violence.

In Nigeria, religion has been abused in many ways to suit the interests of some groups of people who consider themselves as defenders of religious values and faith.

Back in May, 2022, Rights Activist and Legal practitioner, Femi Falana, disclosed that 190 persons were killed by mobs in Nigeria in the last two years, and “Sokoto State is ahead with 13 cases.”

Also, Open Doors, a US non-profit organisation, declared that religious persecution in Nigeria “is simply put, brutally violent.

Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or

Gbajabiamila

private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Sadly, the reverse can be said to be the case in Nigeria.

Federal lawmakers in a bid to defuse the ticking bomb before the country is engulfed in an uncontrollable conflict, and find a lasting solution that will enable Nigerians overcome the problem and focus on their genuine religious progress, have given an accelerated passage to the Bill to establish the National Religious Harmony Commission to investigate cases of religious discrimination, victimisation and harassment in all facets of Nigeria and prosecute offenders.

The proposed legislation was jointly sponsored by the Speaker of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila

Fulata

and Chairman of House Rules and Business Committee, Hon. Abubakar Fulata.

According to draft of the bill, copy of which was sighted by THISDAY, it seeks to, among other things, ensure that every person and religious organisation enjoys equal treatment and opportunity without discrimination.

The Council to be established will monitor incidents of religious extremism, including hate speech and other actions and utterances intended to incite violent passions and prosecute offenders.

It will also provide an early warning system for government and law enforcement to detect and prevent actions liable to incite religious violence and breakdown in law and order and as well conduct research and advise the government and NationalAssembly on remedial measures to prevent religious extremism and the dangers that flow therefrom.

More functions of the Council include, “Review the safeguards provided by or under

the Constitution or any law for the time being enforced for the protection of religious rights and recommend measures for their effective implementation and enforcement.

“Review the factors, including acts of bigotry, stereotyping, religious profiling, terrorism, violence, discrimination and religious extremism that inhibit the enjoyment of the free exercise of religious rights and recommend appropriate remedial measures.

“Publish regular reports on the state of religious rights protection and promotion in Nigeria; Create awareness and promote advocacy through seminars, workshops and conferences on religious harmony and inter-faith peaceful co-existence and any other programmes.”

Others are, “Participate in all international activities relating to the promotion and protection of human rights especially as it relates to freedoms of religious beliefs and expressions; Maintain a library, collect data and disseminate information and materials on inter-religious harmony and coexistence; and promote InterReligious education at all levels of educational institutions.”

Membership of the Council shall consist of a Chairman who shall be appointed by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a permanent member who shall be a nominee of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs; a permanent member who shall be a nominee of the Christian Association of Nigeria; a permanent member who shall be a nominee of Eckankar of Nigerian extraction, a permanent member who shall be a nominee of the African Traditional Religion of Nigerian extraction; and a passive member who shall be a nominee of Jewish Religion.

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

Atiku Bonding with People to Keep Hope Alive Chuks Okocha reports that the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has launched his manifesto aimed at keeping Nigerian people’s hope alive

S

eptember 28, 2022 was a long awaited date by the 18 political parties that would be participating in the next year general election. It was the date slated for the commencement of the presidential campaigns by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar, kept a date with it because his campaign kicked off with the launch of his memoirs packaged in three different books.

Last Wednesday was full of grandeur as dancers, as well wishers and supporters of the PDP presidential flag bearer thronged the International Conference Centre, Abuja, to herald the official kick off of the campaign.

Nigerians, either resident or working around the venue, which is in the heart of the nation’s capital might not have bargained with the type of traffic on their roads leading to ICC. The various security agencies led by the personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, had an hectic time controlling traffic, as well as preventing the street urchins from gaining access to the venue.

However, despite the pomp and pageantry that heralded the occasion. It was nearly marred by the absence of some key participants including Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, his Oyo state counterpart, Seyi Makinde; Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State and former deputy national chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George. They are members of the Wike group.

Their absence notwithstanding, Atiku used the occasion to drive home his campaign manifesto and how he intended to move Nigeria and Nigerians forward, starting from the led to the leaders.

Atiku in his inaugural speech on the occasion, urged Nigerians to keep hope alive.

He said, “We have a duty to arrest the drift.

Atiku

Okowa

What is our task that we are gathered here today to undertake? It is beyond merely coming together to inaugurate a Presidential Campaign Council. No! “Our task today is to come together to rescue and rebuild our beloved country, Nigeria. That is the end goal. It is existential to us as a nation, and it is a task that history beckons upon us all to grasp with both hands and undertake with vigour and zeal.

“To rescue and rebuild our country, we must first takeover the mantle of leadership from the party that has driven us into this mess. To do this, we must all be united in purpose and come together to fight and win all the elections slated for next year.

“Every single person who loves this country, as I do, is needed for the arduous tasks that face us ahead as a nation, and this includes every member of the PDP. “It is my fervent hope and prayer that every man and woman of goodwill will join hands with us to help rescue, rebuild and reposition our beloved country, Nigeria.”

Atiku pleaded with the party leaders and the Presidential Campaign Council, to see the presidential election as a major task that is achievable despite the daunting challenges.

According to him: “The tasks ahead may appear daunting; they may seem a load too heavy to bear. However, for the sake of our country, for the sake of our children, and for the sake of generations yet unborn, we must not, even for one minute, shirk in the responsibilities that we have been entrusted with to come together to rebuild this beloved country of ours.

“I wish to congratulate all the men and women nominated to serve in the Presidential Campaign Council. You have been selected from among the millions of our party members to join this esteemed council because of your past contributions to the party.

“Naturally, not all members of our party can be in the Presidential Campaign Council.

Every single member of the PDP is an important member of the party and each one of you is still entrusted with the responsibility of leading our party to victory in next year’s elections.’

Atiku also took a step further to reposition his campaigns as he announced the decentralisation of the campaign structures as well as appointing zonal heads of his campaign organisation.

In announcing the decentralisation of the 600 membership of the campaign group, Atiku in a statement issued on his behalf by the party’s National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, said that the former governor of Bauchi State, Adamu Muazu, will head the Atiku Presidential Campaign Council for the North-East, while the former governor of Katsina State. Ibrahim Shema, will head the presidential campaigns in the North-West.

He equally announced a former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeha Ihedioha as the head of the South-East presidential campaign council.

The wife of the former leader of the PDP, Josephine Anenih, was announced as the head of the campaigns for the South-South zone, while a former national secretary and a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola was appointed as the head of the presidential campaigns for South West.

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

17

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY OCTOBER 4, 2022

POLITICS

HowYobe Court Ends Lawan’s 24-Year Sojourn in N’Assembly The landmark judgment by the Yobe State High Court, sitting in Damaturu last week, which disqualified the Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan, from participating in the 2023 National Assembly election, has ended his 24-year sojourn in the federal parliament, reports Sunday Aborisade

T

he decision of the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, not to appeal the judgment of the Yobe State High Court which disqualified him from participating in the next year’s National Assembly Elections on the platform of the All Progressives Congress did not come to many as a surprise.

This is because it was clear from the onset that he had no business challenging the outcome of an election he did not participate in.

Lawan in a statement he personally signed last Thursday, said he would not appeal the judgment delivered on Wednesday in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital.

The verdict had denied him the opportunity to represent Yobe North Senatorial District in the 10th National Assembly, thereby ending his stay in the National Assembly where he he started off as a member of the House of Representatives in 1999.

Justice Fadima Aminu of the Federal High Court sitting in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital had affirmed Mr. Bashir Machina, as the authentic candidate of the All Progressives Congress for Yobe North Senatorial District.

In her declarative judgment, the Judge directed INEC to immediately publish Machina’s name as the valid candidate for the poll on the APC ticket.

Reacting to the verdict the following day, the Senate President said he “has accepted the judgment of the court which disqualified his candidature and participation in the elections.”

His statement read in part: “Yesterday, Wednesday, 28th September, 2022, the Federal High Court in Damaturu delivered judgment on the rightful candidate for Yobe North Senatorial District for the 2023 National Assembly elections.

Lawan

Machina

“The said judgment disqualifies my candidature and therefore my participation in the elections.

“After due consultations with my political associates, supporters and well-wishers, I have decided not to appeal against the judgement. I accept the judgement.

“At this juncture, I deem it appropriate to thank His Excellency, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam for the leadership role in the APC political family in Yobe State.

“I also thank His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni for the support and brotherhood.

“To my constituents, I thank you all for your unflinching support, loyalty and unreserved commitment to the course of building our people

and Yobe North Senatorial District and indeed Yobe State.

“I want to assure you that I will continue to serve you in my personal and any other capacity at all times.

“We journeyed together for a long time, and this journey will remain a life long journey. It has been a wonderful relationship and it can only get stronger. I am indebted to you all.

Alhamdulillah.”

On his part, Machina in his reaction to the judgment, called on all his supporters, and indeed the people of Yobe North, to remain peaceful, and not to react in the face of any provocation.

Machina who declared the judgement as “no victor, no vanquished” equally called for immediate reconciliation among the two groups that exist within the party in Yobe North.

He said, “I welcome the decision of the Judge

of the Federal High Court, Damaturu, it is a victory that stands for justice.

“It is now time to set aside our differences and close ranks for the impending battle, the next war we must wage is the war for APC’s victory in the coming 2023 general elections “I am particularly happy that the administration of Governor Mai Mala Buni places much emphasis on reconciliation as a virile tool for peaceful co-existence, we must therefore embrace it and move forward”.

Machina also thanked all his supporters for their fervent prayers and unflinching support saying, he will work hard if eventually elected as Senator to touch the lives of his constituents in a very positive way.

There was serious apprehension since Justice Aminu reserved judgement on the tussle regarding the senatorial ticket after a heated argument between counsels to the plaintiff and the defendants on September 25.

Machina had emerged winner of the primary election conducted by the Yobe Chapter of the APC and supervised by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The Senate President did not participate in the primary election according to the Certified True Copy of the results made available by INEC which showed that Machina won the primary The INEC’s CTC report on the poll, indicated that Machina scored 289 votes out of 300 delegates that took part in the election.

Nevertheless, the Chairman of the APC, Senator Adamu Abdullahi submitted Lawan’s name to the electoral umpire as the authentic winner .

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

Makinde Facing Flaks over Political Jamboree Pitching tent with Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State in the crisis in Peoples Democratic Party, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, faces strident criticism over his political jamboree within and outside the country. Kemi Olaitan writes

F

or four months now that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) elected its presidential candidate in the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, at its national convention in Abuja, it is no longer news that the main opposition party has been engrossed in fracas with Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and his camp that include serving and former governors and other leaders, behind the threat to its unity.

From London to major cities in the country prominent stakeholders led by Atiku himself had continue to engage in various meetings to pacify Wike and his camp to no avail raising question about the self-acclaimed appellation of Atiku as a unifier. The governors with Wike who had consistently insisted that the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, must resign his position, for a member from the South,to take over to ensure inclusivity of members, are Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Samuel Ortom of Benue, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu.

With many analysts believing that redemption is becoming the last thing on top of the mind of the key dramatis personae in the party which held sway in the country for 16 years, the shocking but expected position of Wike and his group last Wednesday that they would not participate in the campaign council of Atiku Abubakar, until the resignation of Ayu, has further reinforced that. The former deputy national chairman of the party, Chief Bode George, who read the position, after a long meeting held at Governor Wike’s private residence, near Port Harcourt, maintained that their position was not negotiable as the chairmanship of Ayu undermined the unity and constitution of the party.

While accusing Ayu of compromising the May 28 and 29, 2022 presidential primaries of the party through his conduct, they said the published presidential campaign council list was tantamount to putting the cat before the horse, noting that they were worried over the

Makinde

division in the party and its internal mechanism need to brace up to the challenges.

George said, “We resolve that we are deeply concerned by the division in our party. We are aware that over the years our party has developed conflict resolution mechanisms that guarantee inclusiveness.The published presidential campaign council list translates to putting the cat before the horse. The pertinent issue remains the resolution of the leadership which is a departure of Senator Iyorchia Ayu must resign as the National Chairman of the party for an acting Chairman of the Southern Nigerian extraction to emerge and lead the party on the national campaign.

“Consequently, we resolve not to participate in the campaign council in whatever capacity until the resignation of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.”

Among the governors backing Wike, one person whose face has been consistent in all the meetings held with the camp within and outside the country, was Governor Makinde of Oyo state. Indeed, for political observers in the pace setter state, it is in the realm of conjecture not to believe that the engineer turned politician who is seeking a second term in office, has abandoned not only governance but the state as he is now more seen in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, than Ibadan, his own base. Apart from featuring in virtually all the meetings, he was to be part of those who spoke with journalists at the last meeting of the camp in Port Harcourt.

The governor at the meeting, said : “We hope that the powers that be listen to the voice of reason and do the needful.”

Indeed, to show that he meant business in facing political business rather than governance, Governor Makinde, was to in early August took three-week leave and handing over to his new deputy, Barrister Bayo Lawal. And abandoning the state for political meetings to many analysts is an unwholesome development portraying him as one who is does not care about the people who elected him into office.

It is also believed that Governor Makinde is wasting the state resources on most of the trips outside the state either within or outside the country with no benefit coming to the people of the state.

Worried by the development in the pace setter state, the main opposition party in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC), derided the Governor Makinde-led administration, stating that it has failed woefully. Apparently miffed that the governor has turned himself to a visitor, it accused Makinde of blindly following Wike with nothing to show for it in the state.

The party in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, charged prospective voters in the state to be wary of what it described as “fake and deceitful record of

achievements which Governor Seyi Makinde and his team have packaged with a view to using it as campaign documents and thus mislead the public including the hapless electorate.”

He said the quest for another term by the governor is an affront targeted at the good people of the state who have gained little or nothing from his administration in the last 40 months.

His words, “The governor had left no one in doubt of what his priority would be when he abandoned preparation of governance blueprint for inauguration day rehearsal as well as euphoria of occupying the governor’s seat. He would later nail it with his uninspiring inaugural address which got many people disappointed as he failed to convince the world that he was prepared to raise the bar from the legacies of the Sage- Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Bola Ige, Lam Adesina, Abiola Ajimobi and others.

“Forty months after, the full reality has dawned on the people that the PDP administration of Governor Seyi Makinde has nothing to offer except window dressing, grandstanding and misappropriation of scarce resources. We now have an administration which has brought governance to a ridiculous level as against the traditional sterling performances which almost all the chief occupants of Agodi Government House have recorded in their respective times.

“Today, we have a government which prefers empowerment of miscreants to creation of enabling environment for investors to engage our teeming unemployed youths. We have a government which does not only celebrate cosmetic projects done at inflated cost but also mobilizes hirelings and praise-singers for orchestration. As a matter of fact, Governor Makinde’s administration would occupy a good space in the history of bad governance and clueless government in the whole world.

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

18

TUESDAY, ͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

THE ALTERNATIVE

with RenoOmokri

The Bloomberg Obi Delusion I

t was fascinating seeing sections of the media go into an orgasmic frenzy at the news from Bloomberg that Peter Obi was going to win the February 25, 2023 election by a landslide.

Fascinating, because our media have still not purged themselves of the habit of leaning on foreign media to tell them what is happening in their own homeland.

I remember when Abacha died on June 8, 1998. The frustration many Nigerians had was that some Nigerian news outlets refused to confirm the rumour of his death until they confirmed it from either the BBC or CNN, and in so doing, they played newsreel from these foreign media.

Forty-six years after the late Head of State, General Murtala Muhammed gave his now famous ‘Africa has come of age’ speech on January 11, 1976, some might still raise the query, has Africa really come of age?

That question is very valid given that in the year 2022, in the month of October, some in the media can actually believe that a political lightweight like Peter Obi can win a national election, and with 72% of the vote at that!

His Obidients can be forgiven. They are groupies, and Peter Obi is their superstar.

So of course they will believe that he can squeeze out water from stone. They drank the Kool-Aid. It is the Jim Jones phenomenon.

But why would the media even allow itself to be so deluded?

First and foremost, even Bloomberg does not even believe that story. If you read that publication, as I did, you will see that they farmed out the poll to a San Francisco-based pollster who did an “app-based” poll.

Now, since they mentioned San Francisco, they very likely used Survey Monkey, whose offices I have visited in California.

The term ‘app-based’ was used deliberately to deceive the gullible, in much the same way as fancy restaurants use the term ‘omelette’ to describe fried eggs, so they can charge a higher premium. But an omelette, shorn of its sexed-up name, is just regular fried eggs.

The greatest mistake Peter Obi made was getting high on app-based polls that predict victory for him. And now, a section of the media has joined him.

In case you do not know what app-based means, it simply means the pollsters behind the poll did it on an app, like Twitter or survey monkey. Now, why does this matter?

Because Nigeria has a disproportionately higher number of Southerners than Northerners on social media.

Remember that English is used for most apps, which favours Southerners. That is why Northern Nigerian participation on Facebook was minimal, until Facebook integrated Hausa into its app in September of 2016, after Mark Zuckerberg’s August 2016 visit to Nigeria.

Other apps have yet to follow suit.

Look at states that did well in INEC’s online voter registration. The top 10 are dominated

by Southern states. Now, look at the states that did well in physical registration. Other than Lagos and Oyo, the top 10 are dominated

by Northern states.

If there is one platform Northerners dominate, that medium is radio. That is why the world’s major powers ALL invest in a Hausa language broadcast service.

BBC Hausa, for example, has a weekly audience of 17.7 million. Whereas the highest rating that the BBC has in The UK (its home country) is 14.8 million (BBC Radio 2). Appbased polls will always disproportionately favour Southern Nigeria, because Northerners are on radio, while Southerners are on social media.

According to Statistica, 30.9% of Nigerians speak only Hausa. Obviously, any app-based poll will not, and in fact, cannot capture that portion of our population.

As a Southerner, when last did you tune into radio? As a Northerner, when last, if ever, did you visit Twitter? You see? QED! It is just like Big Brother Nigeria. The craze fuelling BBNaija is not driven by

Obi television per se. It is fuelled by Southern Nigerian youths on social media. BBNaija hardly features in Northern Nigeria. It is a Southern thing.

Anyone who allows himself to get drunk on polls prepared by Southerners and foreigners, who have never lived in Northern Nigeria, as I have, and who assume, wrongly, that one size of poll fits all, is not very knowledgeable about Nigeria. What a great disappointment awaits them in 2023!

While no poll is 100% accurate, the best polls are those done by boots on the ground, going from door to door, and talking with real people, and verifying that they are on the electoral roll, or register, and then posing a series of questions to them. Those are usually the polls with the least margin of error.

The next-best polls are phone polls, wherein, the pollster gets a list of phone numbers in an area, and then compares them against the electoral roll or register, and calls selected people chosen due to their age, residence, gender and likely political persuasion.

The very worst polls are app-based polls, where you host a poll on an app and publish it for people to respond, without verifying who they are, where they live, and what their political persuasions are.

And another thing, it is almost impossible, some would say even impossible, to stop double voting on app-based polls.

Someone from Ukraine, who has been paid by one of the candidates, can vote 2000 times. And the sample size certainly made that cheaply possible.

Bloomberg admits that their pollster sampled only 3973 people, who may or may not even have been Nigerians.

Please note that the following is not meant to be a criticism of any of the Presidential candidates, or their followers. Rather, it is intended as an honest reflection of the state of the race as of October, 2022.

Of course Peter Obi will do well in the Southeast. Only an ignoramus would not concede that obvious fact. But beyond the

South-South states with a sizeable Igbo population, he will not do as well elsewhere, though there are a few areas where he might pull a surprise.

These so-called ‘one million man marches’ are mostly a gathering of traders in various Nigerian towns and cities, who close down their markets (that are HEAVILY dominated by people of Southeastern origin), to do what in the military is called a show of force.

Waziri Atiku Abubakar will win by a very large margin in the Northwest and Northeast. Whatever votes he does not get in the Northeast will be mopped up by Shettima, on behalf of Tinubu. Peter Obi is almost nonexistent in those zones, and his recent comments during his AriseTV interview that he will “negotiate with agitators” have not done much to endear him there. Bola Tinubu will win by a large margin in the Southwest, except in Lagos, where both Atiku and Obi will make inroads.

I suspect that Obi will do better than expected in the city centres of the Southwest (places like Ibadan, Akure, Abeokuta, etc). The only reason Tinubu will carry the Southwest is because of the rural areas. Obi is not doing much to capture the votes of people who do not speak either English or Igbo.

All three major candidates will divide the democratic spoils in the North-Central, with Benue possibly going 50-30-20 in favour of Atiku-Obi-Tinubu, and Plateau perhaps going 50-30-20 in favour of Atiku-Tinubu-Obi. Niger will definitely go to Atiku, while Kwara and Kogi will be split between Atiku and Tinubu in a margin that is presently difficult to predict. It is possible that Obi will do better than expected in Nasarawa, and the Federal Capital Territory.

A lot of people allowed their outrage at Tinubu’s Muslim-Muslim ticket blind them to the pragmatism behind the decision.

Tinubu’s calculation in picking a Northern Muslim as running mate was against the background of the emergence of Obi as Labour’s candidate and the fear that Northern

Christians may go for Obi. If Obi had not emerged, a Northern Christian running mate would have been more saleable for the APC. Peter Obi cannot win the 2023 Presidential elections. He knows it. I know it. And you that are about to insult me know it in your subconscious, though your conscious mind is rejecting what your unconscious is telling you.

The main beneficiary of his campaign is not even the Southeast. Toe to toe, Tinubu would be eviscerated by Atiku. But with Obi in the race, more of PDP’s votes will go to Obi, compared to the number of APC’s votes going to him.

The most sophisticated voters in Nigeria (and the most sophisticated people perhaps in Sub-Saharan Africa), are the Yoruba. Their leaders know what they are doing. It is called ‘softly, softly, catchee monkey’. They don’t do gra gra. If what happened to them in 1993 had happened to some other people, it would have led to war. But see how they handled it and still put Obasanjo in Aso Rock for eight years. The end justifies the means!

The Yoruba understand the true meaning of the word strength. While some others think strength is just physical power, the Yoruba understand that strength is any skill that you can use to assert your will. They use what they call ‘ogbon’.

That is why in 1998, a very powerful Yoruba political gladiator told his son ‘Let us split ourselves. You go to PDP. I will stay in APP. If PDP wins, you will help me. If APP wins, I will help you.’ If they were from elsewhere, all of them would join the same party!

They are not an emotionally excitable people, who cannot see beyond their noses, and believe that they can put out the sun by blowing at it with their mouths. Without Peter Obi in the race, Bola Tinubu would have had no chance. Peter Obi is not the Southeast’s chance. He is Tinubu’s chance!

He has helped him level the real race, which is between him and Atiku. For Tinubu, Obi is the best early Christmas gift ever!

Yes, David brought a stone to a sword fight and still defeated Goliath, but David was powered by faith, not by delusion. Faith is very different from delusions fuelled by app-based polling in a country where the majority of the electorate are not even on social media. With faith, you depend on the voice of God. With delusion, you depend on the voice of men who do not know what they are doing.

I urge Nigerians to elect a leader that is capable. Forget about whether you like him or not. You are not voting for a best friend. You are voting for someone to clear the mess created by the APC in the last 7 years. Whether you like the person is not as important as whether he can perform.

Congratulations!

The simultaneous Obidient rallies at Festac, Amuwo, Lekki, Kaduna, and other towns and cities across Nigeria, were AMAZING. They are a great achievement, and anyone who tries to belittle them is not politically astute. It is not just the sheer number of attendees. Imagine the logistics behind organising people at different ends of the nation. Commendable. Very commendable.

While Obi will not win in 2023, he has successfully disrupted politics in Nigeria. Take Kaduna state, on August 15, 2022, Nasir El-Rufai boasted that Obi won’t get “two hundred persons on the street.” Today, we saw close to 2000. Yes, a lot of them are persons of Southeastern origins. But for one man’s ambition to mobilise them in such mesmerising numbers is something to be admired. Politics without bitterness should be encouraged. Well done Obi. Well done Obidients! Just a little piece of advice: Tone down the insults and aggressiveness, then the number of people of non-Southeastern origin in your movement will increase. Remember your goal. You are preparing for an election, not an insurrection.

TUESDAY OCTOBER 4, 2022 • T H I S D AY

19

20 T H I S D AY TUESDAY OCTOBER 4, 2022 TR

UT H

& RE A S O

Tuesday October 4, 2022 Vol 27. No 10038

N

opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

HYENAS GIGGLING AT DOG AND BABOON

VICTOR C. ARIOLE writes that the future of Africa lies in educating the youths

See page 21

WHERE IS THE NIGERIA GOVERNORS’ FORUM HEADED?

The Forum is on the cusp of a historic trend, writes DELE OLOWU

See page 21

EDITORIAL

FEMALE GENDER AND INHERITANCE RIGHTS

See page 22

1

Yes, they can, argues KINGSLEY OGBONDA

CAN NIGERIAN YOUTHS BE THE HEROES? In the aftermath of the ENDSARS protests in Nigeria in October 2020, the head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, the Most Reverend Dr Justin Welby, and the Archbishop of Canterbury wrote an article to Nigerians. The article was titled ‘Time for Heroes’. In it, the Archbishop writing as a friend of Nigeria sent out an invitation to all Nigerians, inviting those who have the capacity either as individuals or as groups, to step up and help in healing the festering wound of injustice and anger in the country.

Following on the message of the Archbishop, I humbly wrote an open letter to you, the Nigerian youths. My letter was also published in THISDAY newspapers, in February 2021. It was an open invitation to you, to become the key change agents in Nigeria. Unlike the Archbishop who perhaps, through his personal convictions, but certainly from his vocational training and diplomatic sensibilities, was generous in his expectations of where the heroes might come from, I was not so restrained in pointing to where I thought the Nigerian heroes are to be found – in you.

Your current political activities in the country, has given me the cause for yet another open letter to you, to remind and encourage you to ensure that the hope in you should not be a misplaced one. From your phenomenal voters’ registrations drive, voters’ education campaigns, your unprecedented information sharing activities especially on the social media, and the huge peaceful political rallies you have freely and voluntarily been organising across the major cities in Nigeria, you are demonstrating that you are now willing to become change agents and that you are no longer content with being RQORRNHUV LQ WKH QDWLRQ·V DͿDLUV ,I WKLV QHZ found enthusiasm and energy are maintained, you would be rewriting the country’s political history for good in 2023.

Your surprising political engagement has prompted a number of comments and questions from both political commentators and observers in Nigeria. They ask – what has ÁLSSHG WR SXVK D QRWRULRXVO\ ZLOOLQJ HOHFWLRQ rigging machine who are easily seduced with measly sums of money to become interested in the struggle for political emancipation?

I cannot provide the entire answer to that particular question. But, I feel that most of you have gone through a personal, even a FROOHFWLYH FRQYHUVLRQ FRXUVH RQ WKH EHQHÀWV of living in an ordered society. The 23 years of civil rule characterised by unrestrained plundering of public money, which has LQÁLFWHG XQLPDJLQDEOH KDUGVKLS RQ RUGLQDU\ Nigerians, is bound to elicit a reaction.

The doubt being expressed about your goings-on is whether you would be able to translate your impressive streets rallies and social media activities into actual votes on the Election Day for your respectively obvious candidate and party, Mr Peter Obi and the Nigerian Labour Party. There is no way of knowing the answer to that question until

after the elections. But, on the basis of the current evidence of your involvement and the soundings of most political observers in Nigeria, Mr Obi’s candidacy is the one that is gripping not just your (the youths’) imagination, but that of Nigerians in general.

The other questions being asked that some believe might make your dreams unrealistic are on: Lack of structure – some political commentators echoing the forces of resistance question how your chosen candidate can possibly succeed without structure. I can help in answering that question by inviting people to study the organic nature of your ENDSARS protests. The framing of your message, the civility of it, and its sustenance were exemplary. There were things to be admired in your planning and execution of those protests.

With digital technology you are proving a match for your counterparts across the world in political organisation and mobilisation.

Sadly, what most of the commentators fail to say is that the referred political structure is a euphemism for election rigging and in truth, a labyrinth for funnelling stolen money to oil elections rigging machines which enables the maintenance of a disastrous grip on power.

Take away the PDP and APC’s access and ability to circulate stolen money, and watch how quickly their so-called structures will collapse. Perhaps, in turn, you may ask those who think that your lack of “structures” will inhibit your preferred candidate’s progress in the elections – what positive and credible messages does the PDP and APC hold that really resonates with Nigerians? Can there really be structures, if they are not actually sustained with resonating messages? You should continually retort that the people are the structure. If you are prepared to pound the streets and get the votes out you would have proven that indeed you are the structure. Yes, you can be the structure.

Lack of money – the popular wisdom is that your candidate, Mr Obi, lacks the fund to run for the presidential election. The question asked is, with Nigerian elections being notoriously money-driven, how is he going to navigate that hurdle? It is true that elections require the spending of money on the essentials and related activities which aid the

conducting of fair and transparent elections campaigns. But, where are the election monies mostly spent on in Nigeria? They are spent in paying for cajoling people to attend campaign rallies, buying the electorate, on HOHFWLRQ PRQLWRULQJ R΀FLDOV WR LQÁDWH WKH ÀJXUHV RQ VHFXULW\ R΀FHUV WR JXDUG DQG supervise ballot box snatching, on senior election managers to authenticate false results and on the judges in the courts to pronounce pervert judgements. A large proportion of the public resources stolen in Nigeria are for election purposes, with those who have stolen the highest amounts becoming the king makers. Currently, all are watching this play out as some of the state governors who have blatantly snatched their states’ treasuries for their sole political ambition are now the alpha and omega of Nigerian politics, for the things that rogues spend monies on, you are already freely providing for your candidates.

For instance, you are freely organising rallies to drum support for Mr Obi, sensitising the SXEOLF RQ WKH YDOXH RI YRWLQJ ZLWKRXW ÀQDQFLDO inducement. In the process you have been reminding Nigerians that vote-selling and buying has stymied the country’s political development.

Mr Obi and you deserve applause for saying that he wouldn’t give shi-shi and for you, to be willing to work without receiving shi-shi. If Mr Obi gets elected, he would have changed the nature of Nigerian politics and you would have greatly contributed in giving SROLWLFV LWV SURSHU GHÀQLWLRQ LQ 1LJHULD 7KH notion in Nigeria that everything done in the name of politics is politics is baloney. Politics is etched on key fundamentals. These include: providing service for the people, holding enduring principles and values that contribute to the overall wellbeing and happiness of all in the society. For if it were not so, then democratic societies would be governed by gangsters, thieves, hooligans and downright fraudsters. Your honest earned shi-shi is all that Mr Obi needs. And, yes, with your shishi he can win. Ask former US President, Mr Barack Obama – the cents he received from the army of American youths helped to send him to the White House. Yes – if American youths can, with Mr Obi, you can too.

If this is a fad – you are labelled as being ephemeral in your beliefs, a group that is unreliable in sustaining long term any progressive activity they embark on. In defence, you should remind people again to study your ENDSARS protests and the organic nature of your support for Mr Obi. It has been solid four months since you have been organising for Mr Obi, without let. Unless you are about to commit the greatest political fraud visited on Nigerians, LW LV GL΀FXOW LPDJLQLQJ WKDW \RX OHDYH 0U 2EL politically dry in 2023. Be cautioned though, you have now put your reputation on the OLQH WKHUHIRUH \RX PXVW DYRLG FRQÀUPLQJ your stereotype.

Ogbonda writes from London, United Kingdom

T H I S D AY

321

TUESDAY OCTOBER 4, 2022

The Forum is on the cusp of a historic trend, writes DELE OLOWU VICTOR C. ARIOLE writes that the future of Africa lies in educating the youths

HYENAS GIGGLING AT DOG AND BABOON /LIH DQG GHDWK PDLQWDLQ D FXUYH LQ human beings – eastward, the extreme of life; westward the extreme of death. It is like water and land struggling to give life or death to the Earth. However swinging, or negatively skewing, to one side could be undesirable; curiously, it is admitted that swinging eastward makes for a gain; and it happens with a very great cost…

- Kaydara, Amadou Hampâté Bâ Every election in Nigeria over the years LV OLNH LJQLWLQJ D ÀJKW IRU WKH GRJ DQG the baboon; and 2015 that brought All Progressives Congress to power showed that very well. To some Nigerians, it is a depressing moment as the hues and hypes

of elections and “winner-takes-all” outcome, create fears and further enslavement period for the depressed.

Elections should not be occasion to create “banniyas” and “waades/horso” (slaves and captives) in Nigeria like it has been seen throughout the years of APC where the executive has made winner-takes-all as occasion to either enslave or banish anyone who the “dogari”, the warrior/hunter sees as a threat in his way – the then Senate President felt it in 2016, the then Chief Justice felt it in 2019 and the academics and the youths are facing it now. The hunter and the dog are friends, not the baboon that is protecting its youths. All through members of the business community are feeling it with closure of borders and hard business operating environment.

Again, the baboon protecting its young ones is at stake, hence hyenas giggling.

When leaders divide themselves as collective dogs or collective baboons and expect their followers to act as hyenas, it behoves the followers to know that hyenas in their collective attitude are the fear of any predator, and in their persistent giggling and prodding of the dog and the baboon in their ÀJKW LW LV HYHU SUHJQDQW RI XQFHUWDLQWLHV The north of Nigeria is populated by over 200 ethnic groups who relate very well with the Sahel and Savannah cultures as well as divided among those who see pets or meats in either baboon, dog or hyena. So, when \RX KHDU GRJ DQG EDERRQ ÀJKW LW LV DQRWKHU GHSUHVVLQJ ÀJKW ZKLFK UDUHO\ IDYRXUV DQ\ of them unless the hunter/dogari decides who to shoot and make a meat out of it.

Divide them thus: hunters and delicacy seekers and you know who makes meat or pet out of any of the animals. For example, from north-west axis you have over 50 ethnic groups with the main ones being Fulani, Hausa, Zarma, Gourounchi, Mooré, etc. They are part, dog meat eaters group; and part, hyena pet lovers. At the north-east axis with over 150 groups, with the main as Kanuri, Badé, Shuwa, Mandara, Jukun, etc.

They are not dog eaters but partially hyena

and baboon pets’ lovers.

So when 2015 made it an election of “do or die”, and El-Rufai warned of possible development of the language of bodybags and Shettima sent more of the Borno people on exile starting with his insistence of holding exam in Chibok zone – one of the “nyamiri”, inspired zone that is not favourable to making any of those animals as pet – the barking dog was helped by the hunter, a human being to eliminate the baboon while the hyenas went on giggling in either Cameroun, Chad or Niger Republic.

The hyenas are assembling again while the baboons are now getting knitted in what Shettima terms the tripod heritage: Fulani – Hausa – Kanuri heritage.

However, it seems a better tripod to herd the north for a win in the 2023 election, if only over 200 other groups in the north admit that it is an inclusive heritage. As long as those groups remain led by a hunter who does not see a hyena as a delicacy, the question remains: are the hyena friendly group going to be allowed to eclipse again or are they going to giggle and disturb the hunter out of his dining table like you see horde of hyenas disturbing hunter-lion (Djata/Jeliba/Zaki) out of his dining table?

Hunting hyena could be out of place for D GLJQLÀHG KXQWHU DQG WKH K\HQD LWVHOI KDV all it takes to scare the hunter away – is it its dung or its erectable organs – penis and clit alike, same size for male and female, that could prick the hunter like a spear.

APC and PDP were the initiators of dog DQG EDERRQ ÀJKW LQ +RZHYHU LQ the hyenas in their giggling mood will become the main spectacle, and both the youths and returnees from exile are getting ready for the giggling. This time, for sure, it could really be a true “dog and baboon” ÀJKW LQ ZKLFK FDVWOLQJ LV H[SHFWHG DQG WKH giggling hyenas as pawns could take the center stage. /LNH 6KHWWLPD·V WULSRG KHULWDJH OLNH political tripod enactment – APC – PDP – /DERXU Nigerians should know that the Savannah and Sahel culture is just part or sub-set of a Nigerian culture exhibited by the main three animals, and that another sub-culture is that of rain forest and creek habits with their wild animals and sea creatures, hence a clear jungle: both land and sea, contest ground.

So, even if hyenas, dogs and baboons are quite present in Nigeria, they are mere subset culture that ought to transcend for Hyena ² (OHSKDQW ² /LRQ PHGLDWHG FXOWXUH 7KHVH three create better checks and balances. No human hunter could claim to help hyenas to do their giggling or distractive act when faced by a lion, or elephant – a non-hurting animal until provoked.

Somehow, it is not a digression transmuting animal culture or habits to the political arena. Humans, unconsciously, exhibit, in dire cases, animal instincts.

That is why in a Malinké setting a Keita RU .DPDUD KDYLQJ /HRSDUG RU &URFRGLOH respectively as totem could kill any hyena in their midst; not necessarily as a delicacy but to avoid investing their noble manners or attitude with carcass eating habits of the hyenas.

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

WHERE IS THE NIGERIA GOVERNORS’ FORUM HEADED? When the Governors’ Forum was founded in 1999, it gave strong notice that it was established on the principles of non-partisanship to promote cooperation amongst executive governors and uphold the general good of the citizenry. Even so, there was cynicism in many quarters, and one unimpressed critic, described the organization as “a trade union for the aristocracy”. This was an error of judgement but at the time it did not sound so unreasonable. This is because eminence and political success attract popular hostility and envy in Nigeria.

There is also an inverted tyranny in Nigerian conversations which customarily presumes,

straits.

The Forum is an important institution and proclaims a large vision on behalf of all Nigerians. It is also very complex and beholden to politics. Indeed it is a derivative of politics. And yet surprisingly, only few organizations are better managed in the country today. Its Director General LV WKH PLOG PDQQHUHG DQG VHOI HͿDFLQJ Asishana B. Okauru. He has provided proof that politics and astute governance can be stable mates. The Governors’ Forum is perhaps an unpublished example of what a United Nigeria can be.

The entity as it stands today has Alhaji

even in the face of terrifying evidence to the contrary, that the big man in government is always wrong and impure. Watching the mighty fall has therefore become an enduring parlour game. Our politics is considered unworthy because rather than provide true service, it has instead served as the springboard of excessive self-help. At no level has criticism been harsher or more relentless than when it concerns our Governors. It is often suggested that even though our politics has been poorly managed, the heresies at the state level amongst our governors have been simply unbearable. But the truth is that this caricature has been frequently overdrawn.

There is enough rascality to be passed round.

But we however seem to ignore the mounds of idealism and instances of reordering that have been unfurled by these same governors that we regularly rebuke or vilify. Now and again the lopsidedness of the Nigerian Federal experience comes under attack.

What most people hanker after is a radical devolution of powers such as will make the federal union more sustainable. Because our governors have been so routinely slandered, we have been unable to acknowledge the very valuable amount of institutional change that the Governors’ Forum is prosecuting in this direction. But before highlighting the devolution matter, it is important to UHFRJQL]H WKH RXWVWDQGLQJ HͿRUWV SXW XS E\ WKH *RYHUQRUV· )RUXP WR ÀJKW WKH FRURQD virus pandemic. The pandemic came in the disconcerting company of the oil price crash of 2020. As this was the main source of revenue, VHYHUDO 1LJHULDQ VWDWHV ZHUH FDXJKW RͿ EDODQFH leaving the Governors’ Forum to provide support and guidance. Budget dislocation and huge price rises pushed the economy into recession. Many state governments under the impetus of the Forum took early response measures, imposing state level lockdowns and in some instances, even closing borders.

Other states were forced under this imperative to embrace the preparedness and Response project CoPREP through which the federal government deployed World Bank grants to the states and the federal capital territory. The Governors’ Forum appears to have released new energies, allowing our states to work more optimally even during periods of dire

Aminu Tambuwal as Chairman and Governor Atiku Bagudu Of Kebbi State as Deputy. Both are from the north west and no hackles have been raised. The entity has had various chairmen over the years but among its most iconic is Dr Kayode Fayemi, the Ekiti State governor who has MXVW \LHOGHG R΀FH DV WKH )RUXP KHDG WR Alhaji Tambuwal. Kayode Fayemi carries the reputation of a democracy warrior but his tenure as leader of the Forum may have earned him an added superlative as a promoter of regional integration and development through the deployment of sub-sovereign and sub-national governments. Fayemi’s last function was to host a sub-sovereign conference in collaboration with Afreximbank.

Fayemi who is also President of FORAF has continued to push the sub-national agenda with fulsome enthusiasm. The Abuja conference which was personally attended by President Buhari was a huge success. The notion of regional integration through the agency of sub-nationals and sub-sovereigns is not entirely new. It exercised the imagination of some of our pioneer leaders. It also famously haunted the consciousness of Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah and in a less organized form was part of the political lexicon of late 0XDPPDU *DGGDÀ 2I /LE\D 7KH WUDQVIHU of power or devolution of functions has had an uneven reception in Nigeria.

Buhari once remarked that those calling for restructuring are naive even though his party the APC set up a committee to examine the issue.

However the favour which the promotion of development through the agency of sub-nationals now enjoys amongst Nigeria’s governors, may perhaps be some indication that restructuring is upon us in a revised edition. The idea of patronizing subsovereigns and sub-nationals is an attempt WR UHGLUHFW WKH WUD΀F RI GHYHORSPHQW E\ avoiding, reducing or breaking the old hegemonies.

Olowu, a veteran journalist, writes from Abuja

22 4

T H I S D AY

TUESDAY OCTOBER 4, 2022

EDITORIAL

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

FEMALE GENDER AND INHERITANCE RIGHTS Women, like men, have right to inherit property

T

he customs in some cultures relating to the status of women and inheritance rights are repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience. These customs ought to be jettisoned and that is the import of many court pronouncements on the issue. Critical stakeholders in Nigeria must come to terms with the fact that our women and girls deserve a better deal. They have proved wrong the erroneous notion imposed by patriarchy that women are inferior to men while gender equality is not just a human rights issue, it is essential for the achievement of sustainable development and a peaceful, prosperous society.

In signing the bill into law, the ‘Rivers State Prohibition of the Curtailment of Women’s Right to Share in Family Property Law No. 2 of 2022’ recently, Governor Nyesom Wike said he couldn’t comprehend why it is considered a taboo in many parts of the state for female children to share in their family inheritance. “Because you’re a girl, you’re a woman, you’re not entitled to inherit what belongs to your father. It is not you who decides having a girl or a boy. It is God. So, put yourself in their shoes today where, by God’s mercy you have three children, all girls and you struggle in life to see what you can keep for them,” said Wike. “Tomorrow, one of their uncles comes, and says, ‘my friend, girls don’t LQKHULW WKHLU IDWKHU·V SURSHUW\· :LWK DOO \RXU HͿRUWV in life, somebody comes to discriminate against them, why?”

Unfortunately, this matter was settled by the Supreme Court in 2014. The judgment of the apex FRXUW UHVXOWHG IURP D VXLW ÀOHG E\ 0V *ODG\V $GD Ukeje at the Lagos High Court claiming that being a daughter she was equally entitled to administer and inherit the property of her late father. The Lagos High Court had given judgment in her favour, prompting DSSHDOV WR WKH &RXUW RI $SSHDO DQG HYHQWXDOO\ WKH

Supreme Court, both of which ruled in her favour. ,Q D΀UPLQJ WKH +LJK &RXUW DQG &RXUW RI $SSHDO MXGJPHQWV WKH 6XSUHPH &RXUW KHOG WKDW the Customary Law which barred a female child, irrespective of the circumstances of her birth, from inheriting or partaking in the sharing of the property and estate of her father, was a violation of her right to freedom from discrimination enshrined in section 42 (1) (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, who read WKH OHDG MXGJPHQW RQ WKH DSSHDO ÀOHG LQ E\ 0UV /RLV &KLWXUX 8NHMH ZLIH RI WKH ODWH 0U /D]DUXV 2JERQQD 8NHMH DQG WKHLU VRQ 0U (Q\LQQD\D /D]DUXV 8NHMH KHOG WKDW WKH $SSHDO &RXUW ZDV right to have voided the aspect of Igbo native law and custom that denies female children such LQKHULWDQFH $OO WKH RWKHU Justices concurred with him.

Disempowering women who constitute about 50 per cent of the Nigerian population is counterproductive to the development of our society.

The impediments to the enforcement of the right RI ZRPHQ WR LQKHULWDQFH WKDW DERXQG LQ GLͿHUHQW states of the federation should be removed to pave ZD\ IRU WKHLU H΀FDFLRXV DQG HͿHFWXDO HQIRUFHPHQW Governments at all levels, NGOs and members of the civil society should rally to the assistance of oppressed women and widows who lack access to justice. Traditional rulers, especially in many of WKH VRXWKHUQ VWDWHV VKRXOG FDUU\ RXW HͿHFWLYH PDVV enlightenment in their respective localities on the importance of upholding women’s inheritance rights. $FFRUGLQJ WR WKH 6XSUHPH &RXUW LQ WKH FHOHEUDWHG FDVH RI 0V *ODG\V $GD 8NHMH ´DQ\ FXOWXUH WKDW dis-inherits a daughter from her father’s estate or wife from her husband’s property by reason of GodLQVWLWXWHG JHQGHU GLͿHUHQWLDO VKRXOG EH SXQLWLYHO\ dealt with.”

It is a declaration to which we concur.

Disempowering women who constitute about 50 per cent of the Nigerian population is counterproductive to the development of our society T H I S D AY EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

Letters to the Editor Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-300 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 (750- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive. com along with photograph, email address and phone numbers of the writer.

LETTERS

TRAGEDIES OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IN EDO Kafayat Died! It was a cold morning as it had rained cats and dogs the night before. I lay on my bed thinking of what to prepare for breakfast when the thought of the ugly incidence that KDSSHQHG LQ P\ QHLJKERUKRRG ÁDVKHG WKURXJK P\ PLQG 0\ neighbor’s security man, Yusuf, had beaten his pregnant wife to death.

Prior to her death, I always noticed scars and swells on her face. She always had a story to tell anytime I asked about the marks. I would never have suspected that those scars were aftermaths of series of beatings from her husband. Besides, Oga Yusuf appeared to be a very peace-loving fellow. They would smile at each other and even call themselves sweet names whenever they were around people. This was a very rare thing WR ÀQG DPRQJ FRXSOHV OLNH WKHP ´7KH\ PXVW UHDOO\ ORYH HDFK other, I used to think. No one would ever have imagined that the supposed ‘cute couple’ had series of battles going on behind FORVHG GRRUV .DID\DW ZDV VXͿHULQJ DQG VPLOLQJ Kafayat was heavily pregnant as at the time of her death. She ZDV D IXOO KRXVH ZLIH $SSDUHQWO\ KHU KXVEDQG ZDV KRW WHPpered and always unleashed his anger on her anytime she made a little mistake.

On the day she died, she had served her husband dinner but just because the soup was a bit salty he pounced on her as usual.

He beat her mercilessly and hit her head on the wall. She passed on some days after at the hospital. :H RQO\ JRW WR NQRZ WKDW VKH KDG ORQJ EHHQ VXͿHULQJ IURP domestic abuse from her friend Rashida. Yes, Yusuf got arrested and has been charged to court for assault and murder of his wife.

Kafayat would have been alive today had she taken adYDQWDJH RI (GR 6WDWH YLROHQFH DJDLQVW SHUVRQV SURKLELWLRQ ODZ which stipulates a penalty for any reported case to the police, RU D JHQGHU EDVHG YLROHQFH UHIHUUDO FHQWHU RU RWKHU RUJDQL]DWLRQ working on the issue. .DID\DW LV QRW WKH RQO\ YLFWLP RI JHQGHU EDVHG YLROHQFH LQ (GR State and even across Nigeria. There are many other victims who have lost their lives after domestic squabbles with their spousHV $QRWKHU H[DPSOH ZDV %LOL\DPLQX %HOOR ZKR ZDV VWDEEHG WR GHDWK E\ KLV ZLIH 0DULDP 6DQGD 2U GR ZH QRW UHPHPEHU RXU YHU\ RZQ 2VLQDFKL ZKR ZDV VDLG WR KDYH EHHQ VXͿHULQJ DEXVH in silence until she was allegedly beaten to death? We cannot DOVR IRUJHW WKH GHDWK RI 0HUF\ \HDU ROG ZKRVH VWRPDFK ZDV

allegedly ripped open by her husband some months ago. Gender-based violence issues are on the increase daily.

In spite of this though, we can curb the prevalence thereof if we keep at constantly raising the level of awareness and sensiWL]DWLRQ RQ JHQGHU EDVHG YLROHQFH :H FDQ GR WKLV E\ SHUVLVWHQW DZDUHQHVV DQG VHQVLWL]DWLRQ QRW RQO\ WR WKH PDOH IRON EXW WR WKH generality of womanhood as well. )URP WKH 1HZ $SRVWROLF &HQWUH IRU 'HYHORSPHQW 1$&' we make this appeal: do not end up like Kafayat and thousands of other persons who die every day as a result of domestic vioOHQFH 0RVW SHUVRQV PD\ KDYH FDULQJ SDUWQHUV ZKR PD\ DSSHDU LQFDSDEOH RI KXUWLQJ HYHQ D Á\ EXW LW FDQQRW EH WKH VDPH IRU other people around you. The next victim could be your sister, brother or friend. We encourage you to speak up and save a life, if you are to witness any case of gender-based violence.

7KH 1$&' KDV D XQLW RI JHQGHU EDVHG YLROHQFH 5HSRUW FDVHV of abuse to us.

Ekoh Eloho Angel, New Apostolic Centre for Development, Oguigo Street, GRA, Benin City, Edo State

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2022

23

MILESTONE

Abimbola Yakubu: My Dream Is to See Poverty Eradicated One of her dreams as a young girl is to see people free from the shackles of poverty. That dream is gradually becoming a reality through the launch of her foundation. Vanessa Obioha writes about Abimbola Yakubu, a pastor and public servant who recently turned 50 and is keen on making the world a better place

A

t 50, life has been fair to Mrs Abimbola Yakubu. She is happily married to the pastor of Prevailing Life Ministries (Prevailers’ Arena), and their union is blessed with children. More than that, Yakubu is grateful to the Supreme One for ordaining her steps right from childhood. Her closeness to God started from an early age.

“I have always loved God. I still do and will always do,” she said in a recent chat.

“Looking back to where I am coming from and where God has brought me to, I can see the faithfulness of God.” An indigene of Ise in Ekiti state, Yakubu grew up in Ado-Ekiti and loved playing volleyball. She is a Sociology graduate from the Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti (now Ekiti State University EKSU). However, she is guided by the principles her disciplinarian father taught her. To date, one of her cherished memories is her father’s efforts to ensure that she and her siblings were educated.

“My father would drive us from Akure to Ado Ekiti and wait for us until we finished classes and would drive us back to Akure.

During exam periods, my father would grind pepper with a grinding stone in order for us to have enough time to read our books,” she recounted passionately.

As much as she is reaping the fruits of her father’s discipline today, Yakubu recalled that growing up under him was not fun.

“He hardly allowed us to have friends, let alone visit them, but he was a very honest and contented man. I remember him writing at the back of our notebooks back then, ‘honesty is the best policy’. I didn’t just see him write that as it were, he also lived it.”

Her father was more than just a sire.

He was her lesson teacher.

“All play ceases when he returns from work. He attended all the PTA meetings; he would take us to and from school. He was involved and so intentional in every aspect of our lives,” she recalled. “He ensured we attended church. I got confirmed in Anglican Church at the age of 13. I saw him fast often, and he prayed as well. He was a Christian model for us to emulate.”

His strictness came in handy in some areas of her life. As the third child with two older brothers and a younger sister, Yakubu said she nearly became a tomboy, but she stuck to the etiquettes expected of a girl because of her father’s iron hand.

Nevertheless, she would not have traded her father for anybody else. She described him as her hero and a soft-hearted man who wanted the best for his children. He passed on in 2011, and she still dearly missed him.

Her mother was the opposite of her father. She was a businesswoman and indulged them.

Yakubu unknowingly inherited her father’s tough stance. She is always amazed when her children tell her she is very disciplined.

Growing up in a family where injustice and abuse are not allowed in a way prepared her for the woman she is today. As a mother, wife and pastor, Yakubu has become adept at combining the roles she plays with excellence.

“It’s not easy having to combine motherhood, work and ministry,” she admits.

“But having a clear understanding of each role and setting my mind on doing it and

Yakubu

excelling has been my driving force.

But most especially by the grace of Almighty God.” Yakubu strongly believes that women make good leaders. She noted that “women, because of their nature and motherly instinct, love and know better how to put things together.”

She added, “The stuff a woman is made of is just simply unique. Because of their emotional disposition, they yearn for the well-being of their people rather than abuse their office. They love to see things put together and in order.”

Given the fact that “truly we have

“It’s not easy having to combine motherhood, work and ministry.

But having a clear understanding of each role and setting my mind on doing it and excelling has been my driving force. But most especially by the grace of Almighty God.”

had bad and corrupt women in places of power and leadership in the past and there might still be some here and there, generally women are less corrupt when they assume leadership roles,” Yakubu stressed.

“I was listening to the radio the other day, and the topic for discussion was fraud in the health sector. The overall places where the male folks are leading had the worst cases, with minimal cases where we had women as heads,” she explained. “Where cases of misconduct were reported in the sectors headed by women, it was still the males that were the culprits.”

She is convinced that there “is more sanity and sanctity where women are in charge,” stressing that women are “more disciplined in leadership than their male counterparts.”

“I, therefore, urge that women be given more room to lead in our nation,” Yakubu stated.

Yakubu may have achieved many dreams in her five decades of existence, but none matters to her deeply as her dream of eradicating poverty in her community.

“It is my dream to see poverty totally eradicated in my community. I may not be able to reach the world or the nation as a whole, but my immediate community is a good place to start,”

said Yakubu. “I know it is a wild dream and a fantasy, but I wish it were possible to put an end to the sufferings of the people I see from day to day. I hope to put in my best to see this happen or at least nearly happen at worse. My community is a good place to begin.”

Indeed, she has begun making that dream come true by launching her foundation, Bee & Bee Foundation, on July 10, 2022.

“The goal is to reach out to the needy,” she explained. “The Bible says in Deuteronomy 15:11, ‘For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land’. It is on the premise of this command that the foundation was launched.”

The foundation has its first outreach on the launch day, catering to hundreds of people. Divided into different services, Yakubu clarified that the first outreach was specifically designed to meet the welfare needs of the poor. Subsequent outreach would cover health, education, housing and travel. She is also looking at providing international and local scholarships and training.

Her ultimate desire, she said, is to see a Nigeria “where people from other nations would want to come and visit because of stability in all facets of life and boom in the economy.”

24

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY OCTOBER 4, 2022

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT Oni: Professionals Necessary in Government to Reconstruct, Revitalise Nigeria Bennett Oghifo

A

s Nigerians prepare for another democratic election next year, they have been reminded of the imperative of professionals getting involved in governance for national development and poverty reduction.

Prof. Iyiola Oni stated this in his lecture, “Professionalism, Democracy And Good Governance In Nigeria”, at the 38th annual general assembly

(aga)/public lecture, organised by the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN) in Lagos, recently.

Prof. Oni stated that “Good governance for Nigeria should be a process of measuring how public institutions manage public resources and affairs.

“Good governance using professionals in Nigeria can be sustained as a model. Professional organisations, as part of the civil society, must be alive to the responsibility of instilling and maintaining professional values

among its members.

“Poverty and illiteracy must be eradicated in the country to maximise its democratic potentials and guarantee professionalism.”

He said professionals in governments must be ready to meet the needs of the masses, stating that “all sets of requirements for good governance must conform to the government goals sustained by professionals heading various sectors.”

However, he said, “The dearth of professionalism in Nigeria has contributed in no small

measure to the defective nature of governance that has pervaded the polity the deepest root of development failure is lack of good governance – the inability or unwillingness to apply public resources effectively to generate public goods.

“These include physical infrastructures – roads, bridges, potable water, telecommunications, public transport to mention but a few. development requires appropriate government policies and institutions that improve human capital, foster social trust

and thereby stimulate production and exchange.

“The importance of good governance comes from its relationship with the development of a country and the reduction of poverty. Good governance is a pre-requisite for successful development which every country craves for. Democratic administrations should ensure good governance in Nigeria.”

He said, “Nigeria’s democracy can only be strengthened through a revolutionised political system, better quality political parties, a

stronger electoral management body and well-resourced judiciary “Nigeria’s democracy needs to serve the rights, aspirations, and potential of its citizens for a good, dignified and fulfilled life.

“Sustaining democracy in Nigeria will require more than just free and fair elections, but no corruption. Democracy remains the only system of government which can offer the hope of reconciling the extraordinary plurality of religions, ethnicities, and political traditions of its large population.”

Gidi, Riel, Koen, Others Unveil Eko Beach City Bennett Oghifo A new community known as Eko Beach City is evolving at Abijo Lekki on the Lagos-Epe axis of Lagos.

Eko Beach City is strategically located in the tranquil environment of Abijo, Ibeju Lekki, which is popularly referred to as the emerging new Lagos, due to the massive developments of outstanding projects such as the Dangote Refinery, the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Lekki deep seaport, and Lekki international airport among others.

Abijo is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, and Eko beach city sits right at the point where land meets the sea which makes this city one of a kind among its peers. This environment offers lots of benefits as a commercial hub to both residents and investors, according to its promoters.

Eko Beach City is a convergence of technology, commerce, stunning architectural design, and soothing greenery, an ideal community for modern-day executives. It features top-ofthe-line amenities, such as a technology hub for work, a mini-golf course, and a leisure city to make it easy for you to enjoy a great work-life balance.

There are residential and commercial plots, including a technology hub, and all of these are available for purchase by prospective buyers to live in or use for investment.

At the launch of this exquisite development at the weekend were the promoters: Kolade Adepoju, MD/CEO of Riel Homes; Ajewole Oluwatobiloba Akerele, MD/CEO of Gidi Real Estate & Investment Ltd.; Ejioye Ayorinde Isaac, COO Gidi Real Estate & Investment

Ltd., and Ogunjobi Oladunni, MD/CEO, Koen Homes.

“This is a vision, a mission and a movement,” said Akerele Tobi, MD/CEO of GIDI Real Estate Investment Limited, Developer of Eko Beach City, “We are creators of the first green and aqua city in Nigeria, and we are changing from the normal.”

He said they are “in partnership with a firm that has over 40,000 consultants. People believe in the vision to be able to enjoy a healthy environment they would love to be part of.”

The nation’s real estate sector, he said, has the potential of contributing to its development but that it has some challenges, particularly in the area of policies. “The main challenge is that our policies in the country can be changed overnight and investors would not want to come into a country that does not have regulated policies.

“If the government is ready to partner with the private sector the more, it would do a whole lot. Apart from that, the issue of land grabbers, being able to process your title would help us a lot. Also, to bridge the gap in housing deficit can only be done when the economy is good. Then many people would be able to afford homes.

Like what we are doing in the private sector, for example, Eko Beach City.

“What we are doing is that at least, you do not have to break the bank, you should be able to afford a healthy environment.

There is a difference between just buying land and buying comfort and peace of mind, where you can sleep at night and have the best feel.

“So, what would help us in

Nigeria is our ability and the individuals themselves being able to collaborate. We are in business to make money, but the only thing that makes the difference with Eko Beach City is that we put the difference and the value before the money. That is the difference between us.”

Eko Beach City, he said, would have a helipad. “So, once there’s traffic, we are trying to say that there is a way we can beat this traffic.

Also, we are working with our waterways.”

They plan to make the green, “that is why we are planting about 5,000 trees in Eko Beach City to get a purer air. That is why I would say that Eko Beach City is the answer and the future. With high return on investment.”

Discussing the new city, Ayorinde Ejioye, the COO of GIDI Real Estate and the Director of Finance of Eko Beach City, said, “Our value is healthy living and this is a project that has a beach and a lake, and if you look at Lagos, Lagos is a place that is becoming an industrial hub with a lot of companies, like the Dangote refineries, Dangote Fertilizer Plant and other industrial areas.

“Now what this would cause is to bring a lot of carbon into the air and we need to start living clean in Lagos that is why the project intends to have trees to create a cooler and a cleaner city.”

He said Nigeria’s economy is sustained by the private sector, where real estate happens to be one of the strong players, adding that Eko Beach City intends to provide affordable housing, to grow the GDP of

L-R: COO, Gidi Real Estate & Investment Ltd, Ejioye Ayorinde Isaac; MD/CEO, Gidi Real Estate & Investment Ltd., Ajewole Oluwatobiloba Akerele; MD/CEO, Riel Homes, Kolade Adepoju; and MD/CEO, Koen Homes, Ogunjobi Oladunni

Nigeria.

The first solution in bridging the gap in housing deficit in Nigeria is to provide more affordable homes, “and that is what GIDI is about to do.

GIDI is about giving you luxury, and healthy-living in a healthy environment.”

Ejioye appealed to the federal government for mortgage loans for real estate companies, through the Central Bank of Nigeria, stating that this would enable them to provide affordable homes.

According to Kolade Adepoju, the Managing Director/ CEO of RIEL Homes said the collaboration among the real estate companies to develop Eko Beach City was deliberate.

Adepoju said, “When you want to do big things, you cannot do them alone. This 400 acres of land is a city, not an

estate. All the partners believe more in collaboration than competition, so it’s better we collaborate to build something that would solve Nigeria’s real estate problem.

“This is why we came together to build something massive.

Here, we are going to have a golf course, a helipad.

One of the slogans we have is that from Eko Beach City, nowhere is far, and by the time this place is fully functional, we have a helicopter station to take people to where they want if they are residents of this city.

“On the long run, we want to make this place a green and aqua city. This place is the first green and aqua city in Nigeria, humbly I would say in West Africa.

“Everybody has their exper-

tise, and all of these brands have something unique, so all of us are bringing our expertise together to create something huge.

“By the time this place is functional, we are going to put up barricades. When it comes to security, we are partnering with international brands which we won’t mention now, of which one is in the U.S. They are the ones incharge of our security, they have their way of mounting CCTV cameras, and advanced drones that you won’t know are there to curtail any security glitch.

“So, when this place is opened, there is a way this place would be that you won’t have access to this place, we are taking that into consideration.

When it comes to the ocean flowing to this side, we are also putting many things in place.”

ATCO Homes Bags Top Real Estate Awards Fadekemi Ajakaiye ATCO Homes, a top Nigerian real estate company, has been recognised for its excellent performance in the real estate sector. The firm emerged as the most promising emerging real estate company and exceptional real estate company of the year at the real estate excellence awards, held at the Admiralty Conference Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Sunday, September 25, 2022.

The real estate excellence awards highlight the progress made by the players in the Nigerian real estate sector in advancing the sector’s contribution to the national gross domestic product (GDP) rating and shared prosperity in the year under review. It celebrates the successes of the players while encouraging them to do more.

Commenting on the award recognition, Mr Bartholomew Egbochie, the Chief Executive Officer, ATCO Homes, said, “We prioritise robust market operations that yield positive impacts on the economy and the lives of our customers.

Most of our sprawling real estate products are located around the fast-growing Free Trade Zones, IbejuLekki and Eti-Osa Corridor, Lagos, which promise huge returns for buyers; they are quite affordable considering the payment plans that we

have put in place for all classes of buyers.

“Our customer satisfaction rating is unrivalled. We continue to provide affordable housing for the population while creating jobs for the active segment in line with the Federal Government’s economic development agenda. These double real estate excellence awards validate our impressive market performance. We thank the organisers of the awards for recognizing our contribution to the growth of the sector and the economy. We won’t rest on our oars. The awards certainly will motivate us to do more.”

Speaking on the industry awards, Mr Felix Nnuji, the event director of real estate excellence awards, said, “The real estate excellence awards continue to galvanize the players in the sector to deliver excellent products and services. This focus has yielded great results as players keep improving on their value delivery efforts.

We congratulate the winners of this year’s awards for spearheading growth in the economy and generating jobs for the active segments.”

Remarkably, ATCO Homes has been attracting top recognitions for its robust productivity.

L-R: Executive Director, ATCO Homes, Dr Rehanet Egbochie; Chief Executive Officer, ATCO Homes, Mr Bartholomew Egbochie; Event Director, Real Estate Excellence Awards, Mr Felix Nnuji; and Managing Director, Cambridge Security Nigeria, Barrister Godson Ikhinobele, at the 2022 Real Estate Excellence Awards in Lagos… recently

25

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

FOREIGN DESK

COMPILED BY BAYO AKINLOYE

Bolsonaro, Lula Head to Runoff after Tight Brazil Presidential Election

Brazil’s top two presidential candidates will face each other in a runoff vote after neither got enough support to win outright Sunday in an election to decide if the country returns a leftist to the helm of the world’s fourth-largest democracy or keeps the far-right incumbent in office.

With 99.9% of the votes tallied, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva had 48.4% support, and President Jair Bolsonaro had 43.2 per cent. Nine other candidates were also competing, but their support pales to that of Bolsonaro and da Silva, who is commonly known as Lula.

The tightness of the result came as a surprise since pre-election polls had given da Silva a commanding lead. The last Datafolha survey published Saturday had found a 50 per cent to 36 per cent advantage for da Silva. It interviewed 12,800 people, with a margin of error of 2 percentage points.

“This tight difference between Lula and Bolsonaro wasn’t predicted,” said Nara Pavao, who teaches political science at the Federal University of Pernambuco.

Speaking at a post-vote press conference, da Silva referred to the scheduled October 30 runoff vote against Bolsonaro as “extra time” in a soccer game.

“I want to win every election in the first round. But it isn’t always possible,” he said.

Bolsonaro told reporters in capital city Brasilia that he understood there was “a desire for change” among the population, hard hit by the economic crisis and high inflation. “But certain changes can be for the worse.”

US to Send Mobile Rocket Launchers to Ukraine The Biden administration’s next security assistance package for Ukraine is expected to include four High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers, munitions, mines and mine-resistant vehicles, two sources briefed on the $625 million package told Reuters on Monday.

The package, expected to be announced as soon as Tuesday, is the first aid package since Russia’s most recent declared annexation of Ukrainian territory and the second Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) since Ukraine made large battlefield gains in mid-September.

Russia’s declared annexations followed what it called referendums in occupied areas of Ukraine. Western governments and Kyiv said the votes breached international law and were coercive and nonrepresentative.

By using drawdown authority, the four HIMARS launchers and associated rockets, some 200 Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, ammunition for Howitzers and mines can be sent to Ukraine in the coming days.

Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) allows the US to transfer articles and services from stocks quickly without congressional approval in response to an emergency.

This is the first package of the US government’s 2023 fiscal year, which is currently functioning under a stopgap funding measure and allows President Joe Biden to draw down up to $3.7 billion in surplus weapons for transfer to Ukraine through mid-December.

Last week, the United States unveiled a $1.1 billion arms package for Ukraine that included 18 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launcher systems, accompanying munitions, various types of counter-drone systems and radar systems.

Australia Imposes More Sanctions on Russia for Annexing Ukrainian Territories Australia has hit Russia with a fresh round of sanctions over Moscow’s claimed annexation of four regions in Ukraine. Travel restrictions and financial penalties are being imposed on Russian-backed separatists and senior officials.

Campaigners are urging Australia to supply more weapons to Ukraine.

The new sanctions imposed by Australia will target 28 Russian-appointed separatist ministers and officials. The government in Canberra has said they are trying to legitimize Russia’s actions in Ukraine through “sham” referendums and disinformation.

Friday, President Vladimir Putin declared that four regions of Ukraine, including Donetsk and Luhansk, would be absorbed into Russia.

Australia has joined a chorus of global condemnation of the annexations. Defence minister Richard Marles told reporters Sunday they were illegal.

“The unprovoked aggression from Russia in respect of Ukraine is such a flouting of the UN Charter, of the global rules-based order it must not be allowed stand,” he said.

Ukrainian groups in Australia continue to urge the Canberra government to provide more military assistance to Ukraine.

Australia has provided missiles and Bushmaster armoured personnel carriers.

Somalia Bombings Kill 20 Including MPs, Ministers At least 20 people were killed in a triple car bombing attack Monday in central Somalia, among them two local government officials.

Witnesses said two vehicles loaded with explosives detonated in the morning and a third in the afternoon.

The three explosions rocked the city of Beledweyne in central Somalia, killing at least 20 people and injuring dozens more.

Beledweyne police commissioner Bishar Hussein Jimale confirmed the attacks and the death of some local officials.

Jimale said the attacks were planned by al-Shabab, killing officials, civilians and soldiers. He said the victims included the deputy commissioner of finance in the Hiran region and MPs and ministers in Hirshabelle.

Jimale added that rescue operations were still in progress, working to find injured people who are trapped as well as to recover bodies.

“We mourn, but we do not cry,” he said in Somali, “and we will take revenge against al-Shabab.”

The UN office in Somalia said in a tweet it condemned the attack and sent condolences to the families of the victims.

Two of the bomb attacks struck the Lama Galaay military base, which hosts the offices of the regional president and several local government officials.

One car bomb detonated near the entrance gate, then witnesses said a truck rushed toward the headquarters building and exploded. The third car bomb exploded while heading to the same target.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said Friday’s powerful blast in the capital, Kabul, had killed at least 53 people, including 46 girls and women, and wounded more than 110 others.

“Girls and young women [were] the main victims. Casualty figures likely to rise further,” the UNAMA tweeted Monday. “Our human rights team continues documenting the crime: verifying facts and establishing reliable data to counter denial and revisionism.”

The attack targeted the private Kaaj tutoring centre in Dasht-e-Barchi, a western Kabul neighbourhood home to the Afghan minority Shia Hazara community.

Survivors said there were 400 boys and girls, separated by a curtain, in line with Taliban instructions, taking a mock university entrance exam when the bomber detonated his explosives in the girls’ section.

Critics Fear Saudi Prince Seeks Legal Cover with PM Title Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s new title of prime minister could prove more significant abroad than inside the kingdom, where he already wields enormous power.

The appointment by royal decree comes as the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden is debating whether the crown prince qualifies for immunity from lawsuits filed in American courts.

Before the crown prince’s new title was announced, a judge gave U.S. lawyers a deadline of October 3 to file a “statement of interest” on the immunity question. But on Friday, citing the crown prince’s new position, the administration requested an additional 45 days to make up its mind, according to a court filing seen by Agence France-Presse.

The 37-year-old de facto ruler of the world’s biggest crude exporter has been targeted in multiple lawsuits in the United States in recent years, notably over the 2018 killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom’s Istanbul consulate, which temporarily turned him into a pariah in the West.

His lawyers have argued that he “sits at the apex of Saudi Arabia’s government” and thus qualifies for immunity.

Human rights activists and government critics immediately speculated this week that making the crown prince prime minister was a bald-faced attempt to strengthen the immunity claim and skirt legal exposure.

Afghan Protests Continue Against School Attack as UN Raises Death Toll to 53

Taiwan Condemns Russia’s Annexing Ukrainian Territory, Slams China over Straits

Female students in Afghanistan took to the streets for the third day in a row Monday to seek justice for victims of last week’s suicide bombing of an education centre in Kabul, as the death toll continues to rise.

Taiwan has condemned Russia’s annexing of Ukrainian regions through sham referendums, protesting “in the strongest possible terms Russia’s blatant violation of the United Nations Charter, military invasion

of Ukraine and forcible occupation of its territory, and aggressive actions, which have eroded the rules-based international order.”

In a statement by its foreign affairs ministry, Taiwan reaffirmed its stand with “like-minded countries in neither recognising the outcomes of the sham referendums held by Russia nor accepting the actions taken by Russia to illegally annex Ukrainian territory.”

It announced its support for appropriate countermeasures jointly adopted by the US and European countries.

Meanwhile, the Taiwanese government has reiterated its sovereignty, insisting it is subordinate to China.

“China’s government should not make erroneous political interpretations of the resolutions and rules of the United Nations and its specialised agencies, nor should it play up political issues that have no connection with aviation safety or impose the ‘Chinese dream’ of annexing Taiwan on international organisations,” said a statement from Taipei.

Taiwan slammed China for its “recent deliberate escalation of military threats and live-fire drills targeting Taiwan,” becoming a source of “flight safety risks in the region and the world while also disrupting the peaceful status quo across the Taiwan Strait and security in the Asia-Pacific.”

While declaring that China was working with other countries to promote the recovery of the civil aviation sector, Chinese delegate Cui Xiaofeng, deputy administrator of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, “repeated the so-called ‘one China principle’, falsely claimed that China’s ‘peaceful unification’ mission has the widespread support of ICAO’s contracting states,” and challenged Taiwan’s right to participate.

Taipei said it “refutes and condemns Mr Cui’s false narrative,” stressing the international community should “unanimously” condemn China’s claims.

“The PRC has never governed Taiwan, and Taiwan has never been a part of the PRC. Only the democratically elected government of Taiwan has the right to represent the Taiwanese people in the UN system and elsewhere on the international stage,” the statement from Taipei added.

“China’s government has no right to speak on behalf of the Taiwanese people, nor should it interfere in Taiwan’s participation in and contribution to the UN system.”

Ethiopia Tigray Rebels Withdraw from Parts of Amhara Ethiopia’s Tigray rebels have said they are withdrawing from parts of the neighbouring Amhara region, which they entered shortly after renewed hostilities broke out with federal government forces in August.

In a statement, the leadership of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) described the move as a “tactical” redeployment of its forces and said it was necessary to counter an “invasion” from the north.

The fresh fighting has seen Eritrea renew its involvement in the war on the side of Ethiopia’s federal government. Last month the Tigray forces said Eritrea had launched a “full-scale” offensive across the region’s northern border.

“Accordingly, we have made geographical adjustments by withdrawing from Amhara areas we had entered in the direction of the south,” the latest TPLF statement said.

It added that the withdrawal had been underway for three days and could be reversed if pro-government forces made further attacks on the southern fronts.

Separately, Tigray spokesman Getachew Reda said on Twitter that his region’s forces had inflicted “tens of thousands” of losses on pro-government units.

Ethiopia’s federal government has remained tight-lipped amid the recent fighting and has not commented on the Tigray force’s latest statement.

26

TUESDAY OCTOBER 4, 2022 • T H I S D AY

LAWYER A

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2022 TINUBU

ATIKU

TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

WEEKLY PULLOUT

KWANKWASO

TR

UT H

& RE A S O

OBI

What Nigerians Expect From the Next President

N

II

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

IN THIS EDITION

Entitlement of an Employee on the Wrongful Termination of His Employment Page IV

Jurisdiction of the National Industrial Court and ASUU Strike

QUOTABLE ‘There is no way you can just be issuing meaningless, empty press statements, which is what they have become in the face of the crisis of insecurity. There is physical insecurity, food insecurity and social insecurity in the country.’ - Femi Falana, SAN, Human Rights Lawyer & Activist; Recipient of the Bernard Simmons Award of the IBA

LAWYER

Page V

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE: EDITOR, JUDE IGBANOI: DEPUTY EDITOR, PETER TAIWO, STEVE AYA: REPORTERS

III THE ADVOCATE

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2022

Seven Questions for Presidential Candidates

I

n Nigeria, the period running up to general elections are usually euphoric, exciting and full of hope for a better future. Because most administrations do not do particularly well, people are tired of them before the end of their tenure, and are idealistically looking forward to a Messiah who will take over at the end of that cycle and turn things around for the country.

Unfortunately, these hopes are usually dashed by the performance of the new governments, be it Federal or State Governments. Those who can boast of doing well in this Fourth Republic, are few and far between. This time around is no different. I hate to be a bearer of bad news, but, something tells me that our hopes may once again be dashed, if what we are seeing in the political arena is indicative of what is to come.

The two major political parties, APC and PDP (and even some of the smaller ones like ADC), seem to be more interested in in-fighting and aspirants taking each other to court to secure party tickets than publishing their manifestos, especially now that campaign season opened last Wednesday.

Sloganeering Fatigue: Discharging the Burden of Proof Sections 4, 5, & 6 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) set out the role of the three arms of government, the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary, respectively; while Chapter II of the Constitution, Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy, sets out the aims and essence of government and governance. We are tired of sloganeering - ‘Change’; Next Level’; ‘Fight Against Corruption’; ‘From Consumption to Production’ etc. What Nigerians are expecting from all candidates, whether Presidential, Gubernatorial or otherwise, are robust manifestos which not only describe how they intend to achieve the Chapter II constitutional goals, but also give us a road map on how they intend to bring solutions to the myriad of challenges which Nigeria is facing. Nigerians are now becoming like the great Philosopher, Socrates, who liked to ask why and how! It is also trite law that, he who alleges must prove. See the case of Lead Merchant Bank Ltd v Salami & Ors (2007) LPELR-8600 (CA) per Monica Dongban-Mensem JCA (now PCA). In the case of political candidates, while their campaign promises can be likened to allegations, how they intend to make good on these promises can also be likened to the discharging the burden of proof.

Enquiring Minds Want to Know!

I think the three most important issues that Nigerians want to know about presently are security, fuel subsidy (economy) and education. I use the word ‘presently’, because some priorities could change. For instance, in 2020, handling the Covid-19 pandemic effectively became an unplanned priority, over and above many other issues.

Security The security and welfare of the people are primary purpose of government - see Section 14 (2)(b) of the Constitution. Security is also closely tied to the economy, in that where there’s insecurity, it is unlikely that an economy can thrive. I often find it amusing when the first thing politicians say when they are asked how they will create employment and increase exports, is that they will boost farming/the agricultural sector. Pray tell, who will venture out to the farm, mines etc, while facing the risk of being murdered or assaulted therein by herdsmen, kidnappers and terrorists? After all, self-preservation is the first law of nature. The environment must be secure.

While we do not expect the candidates to reveal the nitty gritty of their security plan, we want to know some of the basics. Are they going to recruit more people into the Police and Army? Presently, the Police to Citizens ratio in Nigeria is grossly inadequate, at about 1:648 or so in 2018 (according to RipplesMetrics). Do candidates support State Police? How do they plan to secure our porous land borders, which non-Nigerian criminals are said to use to gain access into the country illegally? What are they going to do about the forests where the terrorists and kidnappers reside? Are they going to seek

out of money, I would just enter a particular Bureau de Change located at Marble Arch in London, and exchange my Naira for Pounds Sterling; will those days ever come back again?

Or do they just intend to continue borrowing, without creating an atmosphere that will put Nigeria in a position to repay her debts and develop? How do they plan to harness our untapped resources like gas and other precious minerals deposited all over this richly endowed country? Are they just going to leave them to lie fallow as they have been doing? How do they intend to reduce the cost of governance, and make the Civil Service more efficient?

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE onikepo.braithwaite@thisdaylive. com onikepob@yahoo.com

The

Advocate ‘We are tired of sloganeering - ‘Change’; Next Level’; ‘Fight Against Corruption’; ‘From Consumption to Production’ etc.….. Nigerians are now becoming like the great Philosopher, Socrates, who liked to ask why and how!” foreign assistance in fighting insecurity? Are they going to continue with open grazing which has been part of the reason for the incessant violence, especially against farmers and farming communities, or encourage ranching by actually creating a favourable environment for it? For instance, even though some States have recently enacted anti-open grazing laws due to the alarming increase in herdsmen attacks, the Federal Highways (Prohibition of Livestock and Handcarts) Regulations of 15/7/1972 under Section 27 of the Federal Highways Act, in Section 1(1)(a) & (c) has long since prohibited and criminalised movement of livestock other than in a motor vehicle and open grazing on Federal highways and immediately adjacent land, prescribing a fine or sentence of up to three months imprisonment or both upon conviction (see Section 1(4)).

Unemployment What are the candidates’ realistic plan to reduce unemployment, which is another cause of insecurity? Nigerians know the questions; we want the answers, so that we can make informed choices on who to vote for, based on their responses at least.

And, we are not accepting any motivational speeches that are just that, motivational speeches with no concrete action plan.

What is the road map to development?

Fuel Subsidy & Economy The day after President William Ruto of Kenya resumed office, he removed the fuel

subsidy, citing subsidies as costly and prone to abuse. We now know that even if, initially, fuel subsidy was introduced in the 1970s to make petrol more affordable for Nigerians, with the government paying the difference between the international market rate and the Government fixed price of fuel, fuel subsidy has since metamorphosed into a scam of phenomenal proportions where the quantity of Nigeria’s true fuel needs are shrouded in secrecy, so that ‘some’ are making a fortune by presenting inflated falsified figures of imported fuel, even presenting fake documentation without importing anything at all, and collecting from government on same. The funds that should be expended on infrastructure, healthcare, education and development generally, are being wasted on enriching those who are involved in this fraudulent enterprise. It may be time to bring an end to the subsidy regime. We want definite answers from the candidates on this issue; no more skirting around it. It will also be of no use, if the savings made from ending fuel subsidy, end up in individuals’ pockets, instead of being made good use of.

How do the candidates intend to revamp the economy? We need to attract FDI; what plans do they have to boost our manufacturing industry and exports (trade credit) in order to get a favourable balance of trade where our exports exceed our imports, and help to strengthen our seriously weakened currency? I remember a time when if I ran

Education & Healthcare When it comes to education, the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria has hit an all time high - 10 million or so, while it has become a yearly ritual for ASUU to go on strike and keep public University students out of school for months on end, annually. How will States and the Federal Government get children back to school? What is the proposal for a lasting solution to the ASUU crisis? For example, if the fuel subsidy is removed, instead of lining the pockets of a few conscienceless corrupt people, part of the funds saved can be channelled to education, healthcare and other important infrastructure. What plans do the candidates have for providing security in schools, because of the regular kidnapping of students from their schools en masse?

Many of our medical personnel are ‘checking out’ to greener pastures because of poor working conditions and inadequate facilities in our hospitals. Infant and maternal mortality rate is higher than it should be. What are the candidates going to do about revamping our healthcare sector, in terms of physical facilities and Human Resources?

Administration of Justice Sector What are the candidates going to do about the administration of justice sector? It is only in the twilight of this administration, that President Buhari seems to be showing some concern about the poor conditions of service of judicial officers. He mentioned in his remarks at the Commissioning of the Body of Benchers Complex last week, that these conditions are being reviewed. What are their plans for Judiciary funding, for prison conditions and decongestion?

Youths & Women How do the candidates intend to give the much needed relevance to youths and women, who constitute over 50% of the voting population in Nigeria? The Youths also make up about 60% of our population. It is bizarre that those who form the majority of our population, have little say in the affairs of our country. Men, especially the older ones, who are responsible for reducing Nigeria to the terrible state she is in today, are the same ones who rotate government amongst themselves. We cannot do things the same way, and expect different results.

Fighting Corruption & Workers’ Remuneration Just as insecurity kills development, so also is corruption a destroyer. Is it going to be business as usual? For one, inadequate remuneration for workers is synonymous with corruption and crime. How do the candidates plan to attack corruption from all angles? What are they going to do to improve the plight of the Nigerian worker, and make society more equitable?

Conclusion Do the candidates have a restructuring agenda, or do they intend to continue with this unitary system that is not ideal for a heterogeneous country like ours? How do candidates hope to foster unity amongst Nigerians, who have never been so divided as they are today, in terms of tribe and religion? These questions are just a tip of the iceberg, regarding what the candidates should be showing and telling Nigerians as we get closer to the next general elections in 2023, instead of trying to distract us from asking these crucial questions with their pointless bickering. How do people who cannot even keep their parties intact, think they can keep Nigeria whole and strong? Charity, they say, begins at home.

IV LAW REPORT

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

Entitlement of an Employee on the Wrongful Termination of His Employment Facts The Appellant was a former staff of the Respondent, prior to the termination of his appointment vide a letter dated 8th January, 2001. Consequent upon the termination of his appointment, the Appellant commenced a suit at the High Court of Ekiti State against the Respondent, claiming inter alia, a declaration that the termination of his appointment is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

The trial court gave judgement in favour of the Appellant. The Respondent was dissatisfied, and thus, appealed against the said judgement of the trial court. The appeal was successful.

The appellate court overturned the decision of the trial court. The Appellant then appealed to the Supreme Court.

At the Supreme Court, the Respondent raised a Preliminary Objection challenging the competence of the appeal on ground that the Appellant’s originating processes at the trial court were incompetent, having been issued and signed by a law firm and not a legal practitioner known to law, in line with Section 2(1) and 24 of the Legal Practitioners’ Act. Issues for Determination The following four issues were considered by the court for determination of the appeal: 1. Whether the Court of Appeal was right to have held that the appointment of the Appellant was validly terminated because he cancelled his signature of an internal voucher of the Respondent, which cancellation amounts to misconduct and disobedience to the instruction of a superior, when there was no appeal against or argument canvassed by any of the parties on the issue before the Court of Appeal.

2. Whether the Court of Appeal was right to hold that the alleged payment and receipt of a month’s salary in lieu of notice as provided for under Exhibit D (Conditions of Service), amounted to a valid termination of the Appellant’s appointment.

3. Whether the Court of Appeal was right when it overruled the Appellant’s Preliminary Objection on failure of the Respondent to seek leave of the Court of Appeal to argue issue B2 covering Ground 5 of the Respondent’s Appeal before the Court of Appeal.

4. Whether the Court of Appeal was right when it set aside the award of damages made by the trial court in favour of the Appellant.

Arguments On issue one, counsel for the Appellant argued that the Court of Appeal was in error when it suo motu, considered the issue of cancellation of the Appellant’s signature on the internal voucher of the Respondent, when there was no Ground of Appeal against the findings of fact on the issue. He argued that the matter which had been treated administratively and the Appellant absolved by the Respondent, seriously prejudiced the Appellant’s case, and occasioned a miscarriage of justice thereby. Reacting to the submission, counsel for the Respondent argued that the issue is clearly a misinterpretation of the findings of the court below. He argued that the appellate court did not base its decision on the appointment of the Appellant being validly terminated, because he cancelled his signature on an internal voucher of the Respondent. The Appellant’s conduct rendered the determination of his employment with the Respondent, mutual.

Arguing issue two, counsel submitted on behalf of the Appellant that his case is based on Exhibit D - the condition of service between the Appellant and Respondent. That based on Exhibit D, a valid termination is a condition precedent to payment of a month’s salary in lieu of notice for a validly terminated employment.

The court below having agreed that Exhibit D was the binding condition of service between the parties, was under an obligation to give maximum effect to the provisions of Exhibit D. He posited that the termination of the Appellant’s employment was not in compliance with Exhibit D, and therefore wrongful. Responding, counsel for the Respondent argued that the court below was on firm ground when it held that, the alleged payment of a month’s salary in lieu of

Honourable Ibrahim Mohammed Musa Saulawa, JSC

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Friday, the 10th day of June, 2022 Before Their Lordships Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun John Inyang Okoro Abdu Aboki Ibrahim Mohammed Musa Saulawa Tijjani Abubakar Justices, Supreme Court SC./79/2009 Charles Olusola Toyinbo

Between

Appellant

And Union Bank Plc

Respondent

(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Ibrahim Mohammed Musa Saulawa, JSC)

notice was proved and accepted by the trial court and relied upon by the court below.

Counsel argued that there was no cross appeal on the finding of the trial court, which the court below rightly relied upon.

On issue three, the Appellant argued to the effect that the Respondents’ issue B2 covering Ground 5 of its Grounds of Appeal at the court below, is incompetent, as the trial court did not make any pronouncement on the issue of payment in lieu of notice. He argued that a ground of appeal must flow directly from the judgement complained against; thus, the Court of Appeal was in error when it dismissed the Appellant’s Preliminary Objection on the issue and allowed the Respondent to argue Ground 5 of its appeal without leave of court.

Counsel for the Respondent argued per contra, submitting that the court below was in order when it overruled the Appellant’s Preliminary Objection on the Appellant’s failure to seek leave to argue issue B2 covering Ground 5 of the Respondent’s Appeal. He submitted that, in showing the termination of the Appellant’s appointment was not illegal, unconstitutional, null and void, the Respondent was entitled to rely on a new line of argument.

Submitting on issue four, it was argued for the Appellant that the award of special

“The law is well settled, beyond per adventure, that where an employee successfully establishes a wrongful termination of his employment, he should be entitled to the payment of what ought to have been due thereto for the period of the notice”

and general damages by the trial court did not amount to a double compensation. That the Appellant made a case for both, and his evidence on both was not contradicted, challenged, controverted, or debunked. Responding, counsel for the Respondent argued that the court below was not in error, when it set aside the award of damages by the trial court. He argued further that where an employee successfully established wrongful termination of his employment, he would only be entitled to what would have been due to him for the period of notice.

Court’s Judgement and Rationale The Supreme Court considered first, the Preliminary Objection of the Respondent to the competence of originating processes filed by the Appellant at the trial court, on the authority of OKAFOR v NWEKE. The court noted that the Respondent who did not file a Cross-Appeal, did not also deem it fit to give the court and the Appellant notice of the Preliminary Objection which was argued in its Brief of Argument. Determining the objection, their Lordships, held that it is obvious on the record that the originating processes were filed at the trial court pursuant to the provisions of Order 2, Rule 6 of the High Court of Ondo State Rules, 1978 (applicable to Ekiti State). By the said law, the Appellant’s solicitor was allowed to either personally endorse the processes in his own name or the name of his law firm. That was the applicable rule prior to the enactment of the Uniform High Court Rules and the Legal Practitioners Act 2007, pursuant to which laws the decision in the

case of OKAFOR v NWEKE, cited by the Respondent, was determined. The authorities are to the effect that enactments regulating practice and procedure of courts are usually constructed as imperative – OJUKWU v YAR’ADUA (2009) All FWLR (Pt. 482) 1065. The court, therefore, agreed with the Appellant that the instant case is quite distinguishable from OKAFOR v NWEKE. The Preliminary Objection was adjudged to be unmeritorious, and it was accordingly dismissed.

Deciding issue one, the Supreme Court held that contrary to the Appellant’s misconceived submission, the Court of Appeal did not predicate its decision on the Appellant’s appointment being validly “terminated” because he cancelled his signature on an internal voucher of the Respondent. Rather, the Court of Appeal was satisfied that by virtue of Exhibit A, the Appellant was duly given a letter of Termination of Employment. Also, by virtue of Exhibit O, it is evident on the face of the record, that the Appellant had indeed, been paid his terminal benefits and the action leading to this appeal was filed after two years and ten months of payment of the Appellant’s terminal benefits. The court cited the decision of MOROHUNFOLA v KWARA STATE COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY (1990) 4 NWLR (Pt. 145) 506, where it was decided that if the Appellant therein had rejected the payment of salary in lieu of notice, then the unilateral repudiation of his contract of service would not have operated to determine the contract.

On issue two, the court held that the Appellant’s case is based on Exhibit D. It was the finding of the court below that Exhibit D is the contractual document that binds the parties, particularly where there is no other agreement.

It was the ultimate finding of the court below that, since Exhibit D incorporates the procedure for determination of the contract, which in this case, is by service on the Appellant of a month’s notice or payment of salary in lieu of notice, all that the Respondent needed to do was to serve the Appellant with the requisite notice or pay the salary and terminal benefits - HARRY SHULMAN: REASON, CONTRACT, AND LAW IN LABOUR RELATIONS, 68 HARVARD REVIEW (1995) 999. Given the above, the decision of the court below is cogent, unassailable, and duly supported by the pleadings, evidence, and trite authorities relevant thereto on the record.

Regarding issue three, the Supreme Court held that the finding of the Court of Appeal on the issue is undoubtedly cogent and unassailable and as aptly posited by the Respondent, having established that the termination of the Appellant’s appointment was not illegal, unconstitutional, null and void, the Respondent was entitled to rely on a new line of argument - CEDAR STATIONARIES LTD v IBWA LTD (2000) 15 NWLR (Pt. 690) 338.

On issue four, the Apex Court held that the law is well settled, beyond per adventure, that where an employee successfully establishes a wrongful termination of his employment, he should be entitled to the payment of what ought to have been due thereto for the period of the notice - COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT BANK v ESSIEN (2001) 4 NWLR (Pt. 704) 479. In the instant case, it was the finding of the court below that the trial court awarded damages to the Appellant upon the assumption that the Appellant’s appointment was wrongfully terminated. And that, if at all that was the case, the damages should not have exceeded his salary and perquisites of office as at the time notice was not given to him. In other words, the principle “of restitution integrum would have applied on the computation. The court held that in view of the pleadings and evidence of the respective parties on record, the foregoing findings of the court below are cogent and unassailable.

Appeal Dismissed.

Representation Ayodeji Olurotimi Odu for the Appellant.

Kolawole Esan for the Respondent.

Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited, Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Reports (NMLR)(An affiliate of Babalakin & Co.)

V

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

Jurisdiction of the National Industrial Court and ASUU Strike A Case of How Not to Resolve a Trade Dispute

This article by Professor Abiola Sanni, SAN attempts to interrogate and reconcile the apparent conflict in the provisions of the Trade Disputes Act 2004 (TDA) and the National Industrial Court Act 2006 (NIC Act), with regard to jurisdiction on trade disputes ntroduction rades disputes are sui generis, and not suited for adversarial proceedings where the parties appear in the court and engage in contentious arguments and rigorous legal subtleties to win.

Rather, a preferred approach is the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism including mediation, conciliation, arbitration and administrative enquiry, where the adjudicator(s) adopts an inquisitorial method of fact-finding to understand the parties and help them come to a decision. This is contrary to what is playing out in the Federal Government of Nigeria v Academic Staff Union of Universities (FGN v ASUU), where His Lordship, the Honourable Justice Polycarp Hamman, a Vacation Judge speedily heard and granted the FGN’s application for injunction, despite the Preliminary Objection of ASUU challenging the jurisdiction of the Court to entertain the matter. The trial Judge became functus officio after reading his order, as the case had to be re-assigned to another Judge who is yet to be known. Aggrieved, ASUU has appealed to the Court of Appeal against the interlocutory order. With this background, the substantive case has lost momentum and aggravated the situation, while the students, lecturers, parents and the nation are suffering the consequences.

Sequel to my earlier intervention available at https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ ascolp_asuustrike-nigeriaeducation-asuuactivity-6980139209390985216-ahbu?utm_ source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop, I attempt, in this piece, to interrogate and reconcile the apparent conflict in the provisions of the Trade Disputes Act, Cap T8 Laws of Federation 2004 (TDA) and the National Industrial Court Act 2006 (NIC Act), with regard to jurisdiction on trade disputes. The former leans in favour of ADR mechanisms and only permits a recourse to the NIC in limited special circumstances. The latter echoes proceedings of a regular court, with pockets of provisions on ADR mechanisms as exceptions to the rule. The question is, how may the apparent conflict be resolved in the overall interest of the society?

T

The Laws The TDA is trade disputes-specific legislation, which expressly prohibits commencement of cases in respect of trade disputes in a court.

Section 2(1) of the TDA provides: “……….. no person shall commence an action, the subject-matter of a trade dispute or any inter or intra union dispute in a court of law, and accordingly, any action which, prior to the commencement of this section is pending in any court shall abate and be null and void”.

Sections 4-9 of the TDA establishes a framework for a bouquet of ADR mechanisms from which the parties and the Honourable Minister of Labour and Productivity may choose the option that is most suitable in the circumstances, to avert a particular trade dispute. In TIDEX (NIG.) LTD. v NUPENG (1998) 11 NWLR (Pt. 573) 263, the Court of Appeal held the jurisdiction of the court on trade dispute is ousted. According to the Court: “Since the commencement of the TDA, no civil proceedings whether intra or inter union in respect of trade disputes can be entertained, such pending actions will abate and shall be null

President, National Industrial Court, Hon. Justice Benedict Bakwaph Kanyip and void. [Udoh v Orthopaedic Hospital Management Board (1993) 7 NWLR (Pt. 304) 139 at 148 referred to]”.

It is remarkable to note that, the NIC initially owed its existence to the TDA, Part II of which established the NIC and vested it with limited jurisdiction in respect of trade disputes. The NIC under the dynamic leadership of retired Honourable Justice Babatunde Adejumo, the former President of the NIC, had repositioned the NIC to play a more dynamic role in labour matters, by leading the efforts which culminated in amending the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 vide the Third Alteration. Section 7(1) (a) of the NIC Act vests the NIC with exclusive jurisdiction on civil cases relating to “Labour, including trade unions and industrial relations”, which of course is wide enough to include trade disputes.

However, the words “trade disputes” were employed in Section 7(c)(ii) & (iii) thus: 7. The Court shall have and exercise exclusive jurisdiction in civil causes and matters (c) Relating to the determination of any question as to the interpretation of (ii) Any award made by an arbitral tribunal in respect of a labour dispute or an organisational dispute, (iii) The terms of settlement of any labour dispute, organisational dispute as may be recorded in any memorandum of settlement.

(Emphasis mine) Section 17 goes further to vest the Minister of Labour and Productivity with power to take further pre-emptive action, by referring trade disputes to the NIC. A community reading of all the above provisions will clearly show that the general jurisdiction of the NIC under Section 7(1)(a) on labour-related matters is circumscribed

by Sectiobs 7(c)(ii) & (iii) and 17 of the NIC Act, thus, making the powers of NIC in respect of trade dispute practically limited.

“It is therefore, a fallacy to paint ASUU as rigid and uncompromising in the circumstances of this case. The FGN should accept the wise counsel of critical stakeholders under the headship of Professor Nimi Briggs, as a panacea for immediate resolution of the dispute pending the evolution of a more comprehensive framework”

Prof Abiola Sanni, SAN

The basis of this position is the principle of expresio unis non exclusio alterius.

Against this background, there is no conflict between the provisions of the TDA and the NIC Act, as far as jurisdiction on trade disputes is concerned. Trade disputes are usually resolved through negotiation, which essentially involves give and take. In my humble view, Section 17 TDA simply expects the Minister to refer the Mediator’s Report under Section 6 to the NIC, which would have helped to narrow the issues and speed up the resolution of the case.

Rather, the FGN proceeded to file originating processes together with an application for interlocutory injunction, thus, conflating the speedy and efficient inquisitorial mechanism of TDA with adversarial proceedings under the general jurisdiction of the NIC Act. It would appear that the FGN adopted this ‘ingenuous’ approach because there was indeed, no Mediator’s Report as envisaged

by Section 6 of the TDA. While Professor Nimi Briggs Committee’s Report which is acceptable to ASUU but rejected by the FGN could have served this purpose, the FGN chose, for obvious reasons, to keep mum about that milestone document which is a product of productive dialogue over the period of strike.

There is something to be said about Section 53(3) of the NIC Act, which provides that its provisions shall trump that of TDA in case of any conflict. A supremacy clause in a statute, is not unique to the NIC Act. It is regrettably now fashionable for the National Assembly to insert such a clause as a catha blanche to cover their deficiencies in overlooking possible inconsistent provisions in other laws which ought to have been specifically repealed, for example, as done

by Section 53(1) of the NIC Act which repealed Part II of the TDA. In my view, a supremacy clause is arguably unconstitutional, null and void, due to its inconsistency with the provisions of Section 1(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which entrenches the principle of supremacy of the Constitution. Furthermore, a statutory supremacy clause is tantamount to a naked usurpation of judicial power under Section 6 of the 1999 Constitution, and a transgression of the permissible boundaries of separation of powers and checks and balances. There are well-established rules on how to resolve a conflict between the provisions of two statutes, one of which is that specific legislation will override a general one. Thus, in ORUBU v NEC (1988) 5

NWLR (Pt. 94) 323 SC, the Supreme Court had this to say: “Where specific provisions of a statute are subsequent to general provisions the specific provision of the statute will prevail. [Akpan v State (1986) 3 NWLR (Pt.27) 225 referred to]; thus, the fact that the Local Government Election Decree, 1987 has made specific provisions on election to local government councils is sufficient indication that the unsuspended or modified provisions of the 1979 Constitution, including Section 220(i)(g)(ii) are not to apply to matters connected with local government elections. The maxim generalia specialibus non derogant applies”.

See also: MATARI v DAN GALADIMA (1993) 3 NWLR (Pt. 281) 266SC. In any case, section 53 of the NIC Act does not come into play at all since the NIC Act is complementary to and not inconsistent with the TDA as argued above. Assuming without conceding that a conflict exists, I submit that it will be counter - productive to interpret section 7 of the NIC Act in a manner that will tolerate NIC to entertain jurisdiction on trade disputes beyond the limited scope allowed under sections 7(c)(ii) & (iii) and section 17 of the NIC Act. Thus, it is incongruous for the FGN to secure an injunction restraining ASUU in respect of a strike which unfortunately had commenced, and in its eight month running. The average gestation period of a civil case in a Court is about 18 to 24 months. While time could be abridged to accelerate the hearing, the dimension introduced by the pending appeal at the Court of Appeal is another kettle of fish. The unintended consequences of the ‘spin’ by the FGN in approaching the NIC, must be manifest by now. It is not too late for the FGN to retrace its step and revisit the recommendations of Professor Nimi Briggs Committee, a Committee established by FGN under a credible Elder Statesman with cognate experience, to broker a compromise between the parties.

Conclusion It is therefore, a fallacy to paint ASUU as rigid and uncompromising in the circumstances of this case. The FGN should accept the wise counsel of critical stakeholders under the headship of Professor Nimi Briggs, as a panacea for immediate resolution of the dispute pending the evolution of a more comprehensive framework. Enough of the FGN’s cutting its nose to spite its face.

Professor Abiola Sanni, SAN, Professor of Commercial Law, University of Lagos; Available for feed back at asanni@unilag.edu.ng, 08033958020

VI

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

IMAGES

O

n Thursday, September 29, 2022, the Body of Benchers Complex, Abuja, was officially commissioned by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari. Here are some of the personalities who were present at the event….

PHOTOS: KINGSLEY ADEBOYE L-R: Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN; President Muhammadu Buhari; Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN; Minister of Works & Housing, Babatunde Fashola, SAN; Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola and the Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Hon. Onofiok Luke

CJN Ariwoola (left) and Chief Wòle Olanipekun, SAN (right) looking on as President Buhari cuts the L-R: President Buhari; Chief Olanipekun, SAN; Babatunde Fashola, SAN (behind) and Rivers State tape and commissions the Body of Benchers Complex Governor and Life Bencher, Nyesom Wike

President with Supreme Court Justices past & present; Rivers State Governor; President of the Court of Appeal; Senior Advocates; Benchers and some Members of the Building Committee

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola

President of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem

L-R: NBA President, Yakubu Maikyau, SAN; Hon. Onofiok Luke and Governor Wike

Former NBA President and Life Bencher, OCJ Okocha, SAN Immediate Past Chairman, Body of Benchers, Hon. Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour JSC (Rtd)

L-R: Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami,

Vice Chairman, Body of Benchers, Hon. Justice SAN; Chief Wòle Olanipekun, SAN and Chairman of Council Mary Peter-Odili JSC (Rtd) of Legal Education, Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN

Former NBA President, Okey Wali, SAN (left) and Editor, This Day Lawyer, Onikepo Braithwaite

VII IMAGES

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

Former Chairman, Body of Benchers, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu

Prof Epiphany Azinge, SAN (left) and former Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, SAN

L-R: Life Bencher & Member, Building Committee,Rafiu Lawal-Rabana, SAN; Yakubu Maikyau, SAN; Life Bencher & Member, Building Committee, Mrs H.A. Turaki and Hon. Onofiok Luke

Chief Joe Kyari Gadzama, SAN

Emir of Lafia, Hon. Justice Sidi Dauda Bage JSC (Rtd) and Yusuf Ali, SAN

Life Bencher, Albert Akpomudje, SAN

Attorney-General of Sokoto State, Suleiman Usman

Life Bencher & Member of the Building Committee, Hon. Justice Suleiman Galadima JSC (Rtd) and Hon. Justice Rhodes-Vivour JSC (Rtd)

L-R: Hon. Justices Mary Peter-Odili & Bode Rhodes-Vivour JJSC (Rtd) and Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN

L-R: Life Benchers, Rafiu Lawal-Rabana, SAN; Lady Debbie Obondokwu and Ibrahim Eddy Mark

Abdulwahab Muhammad, SAN

Life Bencher, Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun

VIII

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

COVER

What Nigerians Expect From the Next President Last week, Nigeria’s electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lifted the ban on political campaigns. As this administration’s tenure draws to an end, the nation is in search of a new President, and come May 29, 2023, a new one shall be sworn in. Given the complexities and present realities of the country, it will not be a tea party for the next President of the Federation. But what do Nigerians expect from their next President? Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi spoke to a cross-section of senior Lawyers on their expectations of the incoming President My Expectations from the Next President Funke Adekoya, SAN For Nigeria to survive economically, we need to remove the petrol subsidy, deregulate the exchange rate, downsize government’s payroll and widen the tax net. We all know that our economy cannot stand the financial burden of its present governance structure, and the next President must be prepared to tackle that issue.

He must also respond to the calls for greater State autonomy, and be prepared to give up Federal ‘oversight’ powers over areas such as education which truly belong to the States.

The decisions that need to be taken to reset the country are painful ones, and whoever wins the election will not have a honeymoon period before he faces the response from the electorate.

Issues of internal security need to be addressed, I hope by decreasing the current state ofº internal militarisation and increasing the ability of the Police Force to combat crime and insecurity issues by massive investment in surveillance

“For Nigeria to survive economically, we need to remove the petrol subsidy, deregulate the exchange rate, downsize government’s payroll and widen the tax net. We all know that our economy cannot stand the financial burden of its present governance structure…..”

and investigative technology and related infrastructure.

I expect the next President to hit the ground running and announce his cabinet within 14 days of taking office; and his plans for revamping our economy and restructuring our polity within 30 days. In choosing a cabinet, the President needs to focus more on merit and competence, rather than political rewards, even though heightened ethnic and regional tensions need to be eased and restructuring the country, both politically and economically, is the only way forward.

I do not envy whoever wins the election. I hope that the next President will not be expecting to be re-elected for a second term after taking such tough decisions, and so he should focus on a four year period used in implementing the reorienting and restructuring policies which are required, if Nigeria is to survive as a political structure.

Mrs Funke Adekoya, SAN

Nigeria Needs a President to Pull Her Back from Being a Failed State Ferdinand Orbih, SAN As far as security is concerned, Nigeria is in dire straights.

Unless something is done urgently about security, the economy will collapse totally. The economic problems currently bedevilling the country are tied to the security issues of Boko Haram, kidnapping for ransom, terrorism, banditry, armed robbery and the like.

Direct foreign investment has taken flight, as a result of insecurity. Our farmers cannot go to their farms as a result of insecurity.

There is no money for capital projects, because a large chunk of the nation’s earnings is being used to service its debts. The manufacturing

IX COVER

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

What Nigerians Expect From the Next President sector is lying comatose. Factories have folded up. The Naira has collapsed as it currently exchanging at the rate of N720 to $1.

Our hospitals are worse than useless. In fact, the health sector itself is sick.

The education sector is not faring better. Our students in tertiary institutions have been at home for almost eight months, as a result of the ASUU strike.

The country itself is heading for the iceberg, unless it is restructured.

The long and short of this narrative, is that the country needs a President who can confront these issues headon, otherwise Nigeria will inevitably become a failed State.

Sir Ferdinand O. Orbih, SAN, FCArb, KSG, former Chairman of Midwest Lawyers Forum

Nigeria Expects a President that Will Restructure the Country Ikeazor Akaraiwe, SAN The first task for a new government then, is to restore regionalism, whether six, eight, but not more than twelve regions.

The Punch Newspaper of December 4, 2021 had the following startling headline: “Cost of Governance: Restructure Nigeria into Six Regions, Budget Office tells FG”.

May I quote the report?

“The Budget Office of the Federation has said restructuring Nigeria into six regions, is pivotal to reducing the high cost of governance.

“It noted that the number of Ministers also needs to be pruned, and the number of political office holders and their aides reduced, lamenting that the huge recurrent expenditure had constrained the provision of good roads, steady power supply, health care services, quality education and quality shelter etc.

“This, it said, had contributed to observable underperformance of the economy, slow growth and current infrastructural challenges.”

In suggesting as it did last December, it would appear as if the Budget Office of the Federation has set an agenda for the government.

I couldn’t put it better. To focus on security, education, infrastructure or health as the primary problems of Nigeria, is to focus on cracked walls, broken windows, and leaking roofs in a building, whereas the problem is the foundation of the building.

The foundation of this building was made faulty by the January 15, 1966 military coup, and the unintelligent

unification decree which annulled the regional system bequeathed to us by the British after tough negotiations for independence spanning several years.

In bequeathing a three region Federation to Nigeria, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland were actually adapting their structure to Nigeria. In consideration of their differences, the various regions which constitute Great Britain, vis. England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland, run their own affairs while retaining certain commonalities like a common crown (Monarchy), rights system, military, currency and foreign and home affairs system.

This independence of operations has permitted each region to have their own flag, while all submit to the Union Jack which is the overall flag of the union. The different regions of the UK also have different heads of government, called First Ministers.

Great Expectations: What Nigerians Should Demand and Expect from Our Next President

My Expectations from the Next President of Nigeria Come May 2023

Chinua Asuzu

Emeka Ejikonye Ph.D

Security The most urgent task is security, and none of the Presidential candidates has exhibited any plan to deal with it. None even has an eligible team advising him on security. Each candidate should urgently seek expert input from local and foreign intelligence, law enforcement, military, and security professionals. They should then publish a security manifesto, before the end of this year.

Upon inauguration, our next President should begin to implement an aggressive, no-holdsbarred, and robust anti-terrorism and anti-kidnapping program, anchored on sound advice.

Devolution of Powers in Great Britain/UK: Background to devolution in the UK Following referenda in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in 1998 and in Scotland and Wales in 1997, the UK Parliament transferred a range of powers to national parliaments or assemblies.

The Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales and the Northern Ireland Assembly were established, and affirmed responsibility for devolved matters in 1999. The arrangements are different for each, reflecting their history and administrative structures.

The UK Government remains responsible for national policy on all matters that have not been devolved, including foreign affairs, defence, social security, macro-economic management and trade. It is also responsible for government policy in England on all the matters that have been devolved to Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

Within the UK government, the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are responsible for the Scotland Office, the Wales Office and the Northern Ireland Office.

Only a regional arrangement as bequeathed to us by, and currently existing in the UK, will save Nigeria from looming implosion. And this is what should occupy the minds of the next administration.

Fiscal Discipline Nigerians are emotionally, morally, and spiritually exhausted from decades of watching government functionaries display and waste stupendous wealth in this desert of penury. Our next President should, immediately after inauguration, begin installing a system of decency, discipline, and modesty in government.

This is not only about fighting corruption, but also about entrenching visible prudence and thrift.

The incoming administration should manage and deploy public funds and resources with transparent frugality, and ensure regular audit of all agencies, departments, and ministries.

The incoming administration should slash executive and legislative emolument packages to follow civil-service pay structure.

It should curtail international travel, in costs, frequency, and team strength. It should ban sirens, except for law enforcement and paramedics on urgent duty. It should severely limit entourages and motorcades, almost to extinction. It should withdraw Police escorts from private individuals and entities, as well as most public officers.

As we approach May 2023, I am anticipating a President who will recognise that the root problem of governance in Nigeria is the persistent inability of our elected officials to account to the citizenry on the uses of our common wealth to deliver services for improving the quality of our livelihood. This inability issues from the lack of an effective operation-control device, for constantly and consistently checking-up on the administrative performance of our civil servants. The existing scenario is one of huge discretionary-authority and little operation-control, wherein top-level civil servants wield vast decision-making powers that often conflict with their self-interest, while the elected officials lack a formidable device for the continuous and holistic monitoring and evaluation of the public service delivery venture.

This breeds the ubiquitous public sector corruption, and allied unethical tendencies that obstruct the optimal performance and disconnection of the Government from the citizenry.

In the light of the foregoing, the next President of Nigeria must be that individual who will recognise that the Civil Service is not an integral-part of the Government, but a support-institution that is functionally located in-between the Government and the citizenry.

Further, he must understand that the Civil Service is characteristically structured into different sectoral fields of responsibility, that are managed by human beings who pursue the task from their individual parochial and primordial points of view and interest. Therefore, the only way his Presidency can hit the ground running to achieve optimal performance is by initiating a Reform Agenda from the onset, that will institutionalise effective coordination of the Civil Service through constant and consistent monitoring and evaluation of the public service delivery process for the aggregation and feedback of administrative-performanceinformation. This is a sine qua non.

Ikeazor Akaraiwe, SAN, former NBA 1st Vice President

“Only a regional arrangement as bequeathed to us by, and currently existing in the UK, will save Nigeria from looming implosion. And this is what should occupy the minds of the next administration”

Infrastructure The incoming administration should prioritise infrastructure, especially educational facilities, healthcare facilities, transport (airports, bridges, rails, roads, and waterways), and utilities (electricity, gas, sewerage, and water). The administration should start with rail and roads: building new ones and repairing or maintaining existing ones.

The incoming administration should modernise and upgrade Nigeria’s educational institutions, so that they meet the highest international standards. It should also require private institutions to meet these standards.

Chinua

Asuzu,

Principal

Partner, Assizes Law Firm, Lagos

Dr Emeka Ejikonye, Abuja

Obeisance to the Rule of Law is Non-Negotiable Anthony Aikhunegbe Malik, SAN Legitimately, I expect that the next President will be one who is sufficiently imbued with the ability to properly appreciate the twin realities of governance scope and governance responsibility. The first entails having a full grasp of the enormity of the challenges confronting and bedevilling the nation, some of which, sadly, have now transmuted into existential cont'd on page X

X

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

COVER

What Nigerians Expect From the Next President cont'd from page IX

threats in terms of insecurity, endemic corruption, poor, if not non-existent healthcare, comatose state of education and infrastructural deficiency, among others. The second is acknowledging that the buck stops on his desk, such that he must ready and willing to commit himself to creating solutions, rather than insult our sensibilities with the usual blame game rhetoric.

The security situation in the country is so dire, that everyone expects that the next President will prioritise it. I do too.

Equipping the Police and other allied agencies, providing the right leadership that stimulates, motivates and inspires, are key to addressing the security challenges confronting us.

Over the years, the education and health sectors have, in my view, not been accorded the deserved attention under successive administrations. I expect that the next President will engender a paradigm shift, so that the neglect being experienced by virtually every stratum of these sectors will come to a screeching halt. Prioritising investment in education and health, should go beyond rhetoric.

My expectation, of a truth, is that the next President will declare these sectors as national emergencies, on a par with security. A President that is genuinely committed to revamping Nigeria's parlous health sector, must possess the political will to proscribe overseas medical trips for public office holders, himself inclusive. I expect the next President to take this course of action, immediately upon assumption of office.

On infrastructure, a genuine commitment to solving the malignant electricity problem will be, by far, the easiest way of attaining immortality in the hearts of Nigerians.

In sooth, it is beyond any argument that electricity (and availability thereof) is sine-qua-non or a condition-precedent to all developmental activities.

Above all, paying due obeisance to the rule of law is non- negotiable. Without it, the dream of attaining greatness or, at least, putting Nigeria on that path will remain only but a fleeting illusion. The next President must and ought to bear this in mind. God bless Nigeria.

Anthony Aikhunegbe Malik, SAN

Next President Must Possess the Ability to Unify Nigeria Tolu Aderemi With the commencement of electioneering campaigns in Nigeria, the three major Presidential candidates will be vying for the office of Nigeria’s President come 25 February, 2023.

The 2023 general elections scheduled for February 2023 will be the seventh

since the country returned to democratic governance 23 years ago.

This is the longest period of democratic governance, in the history of Nigeria. Nigeria’s next President will be elected using a modified two-round system; to receive a majority of the votes and over 25% of the votes in at least 24 of the 36 States in Nigeria. Where no candidate passes this mark, a second round will be held between the leading candidates, and whoever receives a plurality of votes in the highest number of States, becomes the next President. The incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, will not be contesting being term-limited. It therefore, means that in the next few months, the leading candidates will attempt to market their vision and intention to Nigerians; ostensibly to take Nigeria and Nigerians out of the economic doldrums that it has found itself.

Nigeria, a multicultural, multiethnic, and multi-religious country operates a Presidential system of government, as provided for by its Constitution. This means that from 1999 to date, the management of the Nigeria’s diversity, the allocation and distribution of its resources, has often been challenged and has persistently thrown up agitations form the various ethnic groups, on the fair allocation of resources. This has birthed several initiatives including the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act (2021) and several other initiatives of objectively allocating Nigeria’s resources. Whoever emerges therefore as the next President, beyond any economic improvement, must deliberately unify Nigeria.

Nigerians must be made to feel, first, as a Nigerian before identifying with any of the ethnic groups. This is underscored by the details in the Nigerian passport (there being no reference to any particular ethnic group affiliation).

The second and most important task for the next administration, must be to lean on Nigeria’s comparative advantage. In Mauritius, the mainstay of the small but impressive country, is tourism and sugar cane. The country has focused its economic and political prowess in growing these markets and has singled itself out for it, ditto for the Republic of Kenya and other African countries. One common denominator is security, and cleanliness of the country. These are core denominators of identifying a country that intends to attract foreign investment into it.

Of course, entrenching the rule of law and improved access from justice (as opposed to access to justice) is a sine qua non to economic growth.

Whoever emerges as Nigeria’s next President must re-tool the work-force to deliver a truly giant

“A President that is genuinely committed to revamping Nigeria's parlous health sector, must possess the political will to proscribe overseas medical trips for public office holders, himself inclusive”

of Africa otherwise, countries such as Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, Mauritius etc, will replace all of Nigeria’s economic and political relevance, not only on the continent, but across the world.

Tolu Aderemi, Visiting Professor, Afe Babalola University; Partner, Perchstone & Graeys

requisite capacity to sincerely tackle the current challenges, and who will hit the ground running with a team of competent and incorruptible Ministers.

Ikechukwu Uwanna

Going into 2023, considering the myriad and multifaceted challenges facing the nation, I expect to see a Nigerian President, and not a regional one. In fact, someone with the mental capacity to appreciate where we're coming from, where we are stagnated now, and where we ought to be. Such a President must see beyond the primordial ethnic fixation that has stunted Nigeria's growth, and recognise the interconnect between the regions, and mobilise the vast human resources that abounds countrywide, and bring it to bear on our developmental infrastructure deficiency, for renewed progress.

Ikechukwu Uwanna, NBA Lagos Branch

Chairman,

Nigeria’s Next President We Need a President that Should be Able to Reason Will Lift Nigeria Out of Above Primordial Interests the Present Doldrums Ed Malik, A It pleases me that the Electoral Act of 2022 has given the politicians ample time to tell us about themselves and their manifestos, if elected. The timing also gives us, the electorate, the opportunity to probe the politicians’ capabilities, manifestos, and sincerity of purpose. I hope that the politicians and the electorate will maximise this opportunity, to move Nigeria beyond its current state.

We do not need any external force, to tell us that Nigeria is virtually at its lowest ebb. From a micro-economy point of view, Nigerians are feeling the heat like direct contact with the scorching sun. There is scarcely a safe area in the country. The level of corruption seems unimaginable, and the wastage of public funds is alarming. The current government appears to be cajoling Nigerians on welfare and security, and its attention to education is abysmal. Nigeria seems to be more polarised on diverse grounds. The rule of ,law appears to be playing second fiddle. Simply put, we are at a crossroads.

Where the electorate appreciates their current inglorious state, they should use their PVCs wisely, devoid of monetary and other ephemeral influences from politicians. This is necessary, so that we do not regret our choice of President tomorrow.

If we, the electorate, do what is right, we should elect a President who possesses a sincerity of purpose.

A person that will not tighten the noose on the necks of Nigerians, but one that will turn Nigeria around from the current debilitating security, dwindling economy, inadequate infrastructure, corrupt practices, and disregard for the rule of law.

I hope to have a President that will promote sincere policies and will be available for the people; who will not play politics with the welfare and security of Nigerians and other nationals that are resident in Nigeria.

There is currently a high level of distrust among Nigerians, and inadequate attention to the health and education sectors. These are leading to a massive brain drain. I hope for a President who will attract Nigerians in the diaspora, and influence the inflow of foreign investment into our country.

It is not that I am expecting a Messiah to pop out of this Presidential election. But, I hope to have a President who has the

Ed Malik, A, Abuja

My Expectations from the Next President of Nigeria Dr D.D. Makolo 1. I want to see a Nigerian become the President of Nigeria from among the indigenous people of Nigeria, not 1st or 2nd generation Nigerians.

2. I want to see a Nigerian President who has the love of Nigeria and Nigerians at heart, not the one who will deliberately take pleasure in inflicting policies that bring pain and sorrow to Nigerians.

3. I want to see a President that is not going to covertly support genocidal and ethnic cleansing of smaller tribes by any other group.

4. I want to see a President of Nigeria that doesn't steal from Nigeria’s resources with impunity.

5. I want to see a President who can sanction his lieutenants who steal from the public resources in his custody.

6. The President who picks members of cabinet from among Nigeria’s best at home and anywhere in the world.

7. These people selected will feel for Nigeria and Nigerians, because they know body, soul and spirit that they are Nigerians, and what affects Nigeria will affect them too for good or bad, be it security, infrastructure, education and health and wellness of anything Nigeria.

8. The President who can ensure the mopping up of both light and other assault riffles in the hands of the enemies of Nigeria, majority of whom are not indigenous people of Nigeria.

9. If the next President of Nigeria does these things, Nigeria and Nigerians will return to be part of growth, development and greatness of our country.

Dr Makolo, Principal Partner, D.D. Makolo & Co., Abuja

XI IMAGES

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2022

O

n Monday, September 26, 2022, the Lagos State Judiciarycommencedits2022/2023 legal year. Part of the activities to mark the new legal year, commenced with a Church Service and Reception at Tafawa Balewa Square.

Here are some of the personalities who were present at the events….. PHOTOS: KOLAWOLE ALLI L-R: Hon. Justice Jumoke Pedro; Admin Judge Lagos, Hon. Justice Toyin Oyekan Abdullahi; Chief Judge, Lagos State, Hon. Justice Kazeem Alogba and Admin Judge Ikeja, Hon. Justice Atinuke Ipaye

L-R: Attorney-General, Lagos State, Mr Moyo Onigbanjo, SAN and Chairman, NBA Lagos, Ikechukwu Uwanna (far right) A cross-section of Lagos High Court Judges

L-R: Dr Richard Ahonaruogo, SAN; Toyin Pinheiro, SAN and Olusegun Fabunmi, SAN

L-R: Babatunde Ogala, SAN; Sir Kayode Adeluola, SAN and Kunle Oyesanya, SAN

Deacon Dele Adesina, SAN (left) and Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN L-R: Chijioke Okoli, SAN; Lotana Okoli, SAN and Chuka Ikwuazom, SAN

Judges with Bishop Odedeji L-R: Hon. Justice Adebajo (Rtd); Hon. Justice Ishola (Rtd) and Hon. Justice Hunponu-Wusu (Rtd)

L-R: Officials of Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Mrs Folake Fakolajo; Mr Kola Samuel and Mr Kayode Oladehinde

L-R: Mrs Folashade Alli; Olusegun Fabunmi, SAN; T.A.B. Oladipupo, SAN; Babatunde Ogala, SAN; Hon. Justice Christopher Balogun; Abimbola Akeredolu, SAN; Prof Bankole Sodipo, SAN and Mrs Oyinkan Badejo-Okusanya

XII

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2022˾ T H I S D AY

IMAGES

Judges of the Lagos High Court

L-R: Hon. Justice Oyindamola Ogala; Bishop James Olusola Odedeji and Babatunde Ogala, SAN

L-R: Harrison J; Opesanwo J; Akinlade J; Okunnu J; Pedro J; Oyekan-Abdullahi J; Lagos CJ, Alogba J; Ipaye J; Nicol-Clay J; Oyebanji J and Oyefeso J

L-R: Fadipe J; Akinkugbe J; Alakija J; Adebiyi J; Coker J; Ogunsanya J; Harrison J and Akintoye J

L-R: Hon. Justice Alogba; Hon. Justice Adenike Coker; Hon. Justice Lamide Akinkugbe and Hon. Justice Buki Adebiyi

Magistrates with Hon. Justice Oyekan-Abdullahi and Hon. Justice Kazeem Alogba

Senior Advocates of Nigeria with Hon. Justice Kazeem Alogba L-R: Mrs Bukola Salawu; NBA 3rd Vice President, Amanda Asagba and Dame Mojisola Sodipo

Former Attorney-General of Lagos State, Adeniji Kazeem, SAN (left) and Babatunde Ogala, SAN

L-R: Ogala J; Alakija J; Coker J; Ipaye J; Oyebanji J; Akinlade J; Nicol-Clay J and Ogundare J

Hon. Justices Adenike Coker (left) and Idowu Alakija

L-R: Hon. Justice Atinuke Ipaye; Hon. Justice Toyin Oyekan-Abdullahi and Chairman, Legal Year Committee, Hon. Justice Buki Adebiyi

4.10.2022

/XIII

XIV/

4.9.2022

XV

T H I S D AY ˾ DAY Ͳ˜ 2022

FEATURES

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, 07010510430

Bolstering Women’s Economic Contributory Role for National Development To empower and even bolster the financial independence of women, Crown Flour Mill Limited launched the Crown Flour Angels initiative, an empowerment and gender-upskilling initiative targeted at local women. It seeks to help them acquire baking skills or improve on their current baking skillset while strengthening their capacity to build successful businesses and become successful entrepreneurs, Uzoma Mba reports

A cross section of successful trainees of the Crown Flour Angels’ Free Baking Training in Lagos

A

lthough still an undergraduate, Ms. Oluwaseun Oluwatosin Samuel’s prospects for the future seemed bleak. The bars for survival are always so high and scary considering her gender and the number of fresh graduates groping under the high rate of unemployment in the country.

Oluwaseun, 27, started learning baking in school as a way of providing a bulwark for the future. This future-proofing strategy didn’t seem to be working out initially.

There was no way of learning the top skills that she needed to make satisfactory, competitive cakes that people would be willing to pay for. Evidently, she didn’t have the right baking equipment either.

She graduated with such a bleak outlook. Her forecast was right. There was no job. Each day would break with a sombre feeling. Uncertainty lingered like sullen skies. She was in this pessimistic, depressed state when she received a call from a friend who informed her about the Crown Flour Angels (CFA) initiative, the women empowerment initiative of Crown Flour Mill (CFM) Limited that trains and equips indigent women to become professional bakers, completely free of charge.

It was too good to be true. But she decided to give it a try. She sent the required email. She filled out the right forms. Eventually, she was invited for an interview. She was selected and placed in one of the accredited training centres in Lagos.

The lady was finally cut loose from her sombre post-graduate experience. She had a project to devote her energy. The new skills she learned in the baking academy stimulated a vision of a better future in her mind. The Bleak prospect of the future faded away like a distant dream.

Presently, the young graduate is a professional baker with outstanding skills in the order of top global bakers. CFM also equipped her with an electronic mixer and bags of flour to start off her entrepreneurial journey during graduation.

Oluwaseun is not alone. About 14 other women, some of whom didn’t even have any formal education to bank their future on have been equipped with income-generating baking skills and National Business & Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) certificates. They were also exposed to

business management skills such as inventorying, prospecting, product development techniques, financial planning, and social media marketing at the baking academy. In sum, they were fully equipped to add value to themselves, their family, their community, and the economy.

Imagine the future of Oluwaseun and the rest of her colleagues without the requisite skills to play an active role in the economy. Imagine the valuable contributions the economy and the family would have locked up unexplored if these women’s precious energy and aspirations were untapped.

The contribution of women to the growth of a nation is receiving attention globally.

Expert research reveals that a one per cent increase in women’s contribution to an economy often raises the level of GDP by 58.4 per cent. These explicit data underpin the race across countries to raise the level of women’s participation in the economy.

While Iceland leads the rest of the world, Rwanda and Namibia are two of a few countries on the African continent that are raising the level of women's participation in the economy.

Rwanda especially has seen an outstanding economic recovery in recent times, recording a double-digit growth to position itself as the second-best place to

President, International Cake Exploration Société (ICES), Omolara Ikpen; Country Head, Olam Agri Nigeria, Mr. Ashish Pande; Lagos State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Cecilia Bolaji Dada; with successful trainees of the Crown Flour Angels’ Free Baking Training in Lagos

do business in Africa - thanks in part to a smart pivot to women empowerment.

Nigeria can push its economic growth level to an enviable position by uncovering and utilizing the value tucked in its massive female population. The Nigerian population comprises a strong female population of around 104 million. This is roughly around 49.31% of the total national population according to a research report byTrading Economics in 2021.

Precisely, by equipping a larger portion of this sizeable population segment with the right skill set, and given the right opportunities to function across sectors, more value would be generated within the economy. This gender empowerment effort will have a rich impact on the country’s sagging Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rating.

This of course is the reason behind the Crown Flour Mill (CFM) Limited’s Crown Flour Angels (CFA) initiative. As the flour milling unit of OlamAgri, a global agribusiness transforming food, feed and fiber, CFM continues to explore innovative ways to support the Federal Government's economic growth agenda. The business initiated a value chain development initiative, the Seeds for the Future program in 2021, with women empowerment as one of the valuable levers to be pulled to deliver on the nation’s economic growth agenda.

Hence in Q4 of the same year, it launched the CFA gender-upskilling initiative. The initiative is targeted at local women. It seeks to help them acquire baking skills or improve on their current baking skillset while strengthening their capacity to build successful baking businesses and become successful entrepreneurs. This empowerment

The contribution of women to the growth of a nation is receiving attention globally. Expert research reveals that a one per cent increase in women’s contribution to an economy often raises the level of GDP by 58.4 per cent. These explicit data underpin the race across countries to raise the level of women’s participation in the economy

focus aims to position the women to tap into the impressive $42.94 billion global cake market to improve their income levels.

To execute the project, CFM partnered the International Cake Exploration Société (ICES) to train the women. Remarkably, a good number of the participants selected for the program were indigent citizens, from the lower rung of the socioeconomic ladder.

Besides enrolling the women in its academy where top baking experts served as facilitators, the business was also able to scale its support framework for the gender by equipping them with relevant national certification in the form of the National Business & Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) examination certificates.

It further provided useful baking equipment such as mixers for the beneficiaries.

The NABTEB certification qualifies the women to take up working roles in the hospitality sector or set up their baking businesses after graduating from the academy.

Ms. Oluwaseun Samuel’s experience is an indication that the CFA initiative will achieve even more than envisioned originally. The lady exemplified the previously hopeless states of many women in the country, their thirst for relief, and the joy that wells up when such interventions come in handy.

In the words of Ashish Pande, the Country Head for OlamAgri Nigeria, “When you empower a woman, you empower a generation. Women are the bedrock of the economy; they raise and train the children, and add value across every segment of the economy. They are the first teacher a child would know. So, they are strategically positioned to make more impact in the society.”

CFM has led the way in upskilling Nigerian women. The CFA first set of graduates were formally presented their certificates by the Lagos State Commissioner for Women’s Affair and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Cecilia Bolaji Dada, at an event that held on Friday, September 23, 2022. She thanked CFM for making her job easier by providing succour for the women.

The impact of the economic contribution of Oluwaseun and her colleagues would certainly be felt somewhere along Nigeria’s GDP matrix.

XVI

T H I S D AY ˾ DAY OCTOBER 4, 2022

FEATURES

Concerns over Transition by Chartered Institute of Transport Administration The leadership of the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria, CIOTA, is rounding up its tenure. However, the transition programme is generating concerns as the outgoing leadership announces a fresh exercise, writes Precious Ugwuzor

Dosunmu

T

he transportation sector in Nigeria is huge. Aside from road transportation, it encompasses other areas, including the lucrative maritime corridors. Its affairs are handled by the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria (CIOTA).

The body was incorporated in Nigeria in September 1986 under the Land Perpetual Succession Act Cap 98. It became chartered in 2019 and its name was changed to reflect its new status. Its National Executive Committee (NEC) is led by the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh. He is expected to cede the leadership at the body’s next Annual General Meeting (AGM) next month.

The Council of the Institute chose Prof Innocent Ogwude as the head of an electoral panel to handle the transition process. According to the panel, the nomination of aspirants would take two weeks, complaints would be addressed in a week and campaigns would take four weeks starting from September 30.

The election was scheduled for October 29 and the result was to be out on October 30. The swearing-in ceremony would take place at the AGM in November. The panel explained that the timetable was to enable it to conclude election matters before the AGM. After the screening, 16 successful candidates emerged. They were Prince Segun Obayendo, who was cleared unopposed for President; and Aminu Muktar, who was cleared unopposed for National Auditor. Others were Umar Iya and Emeka Ogwara, for the office of Deputy President, Chinda Ogbuji and Philip Okorokwo, for the office of National Secretary. Others were cleared to run as Assistant National Secretary, National Provost, National Financial Secretary and so on.

A former NIMASA DG, Ade Dosunmu, joined the race for the President at some point, but the panel screened him out because he didn’t meet the requirements. He was said to have been offered the Fellowship of the Institute last December but he did not pay the acceptance fee until he showed interest in becoming the president.

“There has been no induction ceremony, and he has no certificate,” a source said.

On October 1, the outgoing NEC met and suspended the exercise. It came up with a new timetable, a development seen by some

Jamoh members as a usurpation of the power of the Council. Because some members of the outgoing NEC are also running for offices, it is considered an interested party.

NEC, in the statement suspending the exercise, said: “In compliance and fulfilling this mandate, the Electoral Committee on 31st August, 2022 officially kick-started their activities by publishing the Election Time Table, Guidelines and Eligibility Criteria. The published guidelines drew uproars and generated negative reactions from well-meaning and concerned members of the Institute.

Some grey areas spotted therein are omission of some key elective positions like National Auditor, National Provost and Assistant National Secretary, imposition of mandatory payment for the purchase of the Nomination Forms by interested contestants without a formal approval, one Week duration for the purchase and submission of Nomination Forms, instead of five (5) weeks to the election as stipulated in paragraph 8(c) of First Schedule of CIOTA Act 2019 and non-full disclosure of constitutional provisions on eligibility criteria to appropriately guide interested aspirants and prospective voters, especially as stipulated in Paragraph 9(a-c) of First Schedule.”

“The National Executive Committee on noticing these complaints and cries from members, and in order to ensure that due process are followed and the that no aspirants were treated unjustly; swiftly moved to assuage the confidence of members by convening a joint meeting between the NEC and Electoral Committee. The meeting was held on Saturday 10th September, 2022 and chaired by the Deputy President at the instance of the President/Chairman of Council.

After extensive deliberations, the meeting saw reasons with the cries

and complaints of the members, especially as some of the published guidelines contravenes and in total disregards to the provisions of the establishment Act and the Constitution of the Institute on election matters.

“On the purchase and submission of Nomination Forms, Barr Osuala Nwagbara emphasised that in accordance with the provisions of the enabling Act, submission of nominations forms would elapse 5weeks prior to the election instead of 31st August 2022 as earlier published by the electoral panel.

Consequent to the foregoing, the meeting resolved as follows: a. That the nomination fee be reduced to N50,000 for Presidential nominations and N20,000 for other category of nominations as against the sum of N100,000; N75,000 and N50,000 earlier published. “b. That all vacant elective positions should be included and re-advertised in accordance with Section 5(2) (a-f) of the establishment Act, and Article 19 and 22 of the Constitution “c. That the provisions of Paragraph 9(ac) of First Schedule and Section 6(1) of the enabling Act on the eligibility criteria for the election of the President, Deputy President and other elective positions be strictly adhered and complied to accordingly. “d. That submission of Nomination Forms is open to five (5) weeks to the General Meeting for election (i.e, September, 24th 2022) in compliance to the provisions of paragraph 8(c) of First Schedule of the enabling Act, 2019.”

The statement added: “On Sunday, the 25th of September, 2022, the Electoral Committee published the names of the candidates they selected for the election. This was cheering news to NEC until members started petitioning the EXCO on perceived gross anomalies and breach of extant rules on including threats from certain quarters. The above situation compelled the National Executive Committee to convene an emergency meeting on Thursday, 29th September, 2022 to deliberate on the perceived gross anomalies and Constitutional breach as alleged by some members. On the foregoing, the two senior staff of the Secretariat were equally invited by the NEC to know their involvement in the election process and why the electoral panel undermined the Council’s authority by going public with its decisions (twice) without recourse to the established

Extant Laws of the Institute as enshrined in paragraph 6, subparagraph 3 of First Schedule of the CIOTA establishment Act 2019.

“In a swift response, the Registrar stated that he was called upon by the Electoral Committee to furnish them with the information on the aspirants with a directive that it should be treated confidentially. The Registrar further stated that he attended to the request, and as well dispatched his findings to the Committee accordingly.

In the same vein, the Admin manager when asked responded that he was not aware of any such request regarding the aspirants’ status. On further enquiry why the Registrar did not consult the President / National Executive Committee for further information before reverting to the electoral committee; he maintained that there was an instruction from the Electoral Committee that it should be treated confidentially.

“Not satisfied with the above seeming usurpation of powers / gross violation of the provisions of paragraph 6, sub-paragraph 3 of the First Schedule of the enabling Act (with special notice on the powers of the Committee), the National Executive Committee through the President /Chairman of Council expressed shock over the brazen negligence of the Electoral Eligibility Status as enshrined in Paragraph 9(a-c) of First Schedule, and condemned the inability or refusal of the Electoral Ad-hoc Committee to screen aspirants who have applied for their respective positions of interest pursuant to item No. 2 of the published electoral time table,” the statement said.

The fresh exercise expects all aspirants to sign undertaking barring them from suing the Institute. It wants all grievances to be addressed to the Institute Disciplinary Committee. They are to also undertake to accept the outcome of the elections and adhere to the provisions of the establishment Act and the Constitution of the Institute. Failure to sign the undertaking is automatic disqualification.

With disqualification hammer dangling on their heads if they go to court, aggrieved contenders are in a fix over their next line of action. They see the NEC as interested party and since the Disciplinary Committee is put in place by the NEC, their confidence in it is shaky.

Time will tell how the drama in the institute plays out.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2022

27

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

REPO

A T

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Email oriarehu.eromosele@thisdaylive.com

08056356325

O C T O B E R

S & P INDEX

3 , 2 0 2 2

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OPR

11.25%

CALL

10.25%

INDEX LEVEL

613.31%

1/4 TO DATE

-0.85%

N416.86/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

11.50%

1-MONTH

9.56%

1-DAY

0.16%

YEAR TO DATE

7.64%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

10.52%

MONTH-TO-DATE

0.44%

Discos’ Revenue Collections Hit N772.7bn in 12 Months Despite Mounting Power Supply Challenges

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The electricity Distribution Companies (Discos) in Nigeria made a total revenue of N772.7 billion in 2021 in spite of mounting power supply challenges nationwide, a Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) report has revealed.

An analysis of the four-quarter report released by the sector’s regulatory agency showed that in the first quarter, the Discos raked in N183.73 billion while it collected N185.29 billion in the

second quarter.

In addition, in the third quarter, invoice from billed customers stood at N193.53 billion and was N210.17 billion in the last quarter of the year under review.

Nigeria has for over 40 years grappled with severe shortage of supply of reliable power supply despite past and the present administrations’ expending trillions of naira to resolve the problem.

The Muhammadu Buhari administration alone has spent over N2 trillion in offsetting some of the financial obligations in the

power supply system, even with data pointing to a decline in the availability of electricity available.

Nigeria has less than 5,000 megawatts of supply daily and an installed capacity of about 13,000mw, compared to for instance, 57,000mw by Egypt, but even at that, the meagre supply is hobbled by transmission and distribution challenges.

Electricity consumers in the country have complained of ‘crazy bills’ and estimated billing, although operators believe that customers are billed far less than

what it takes to generate, wheel and distribute electricity to their homes.

But the NERC report stressed that collection efficiency, which is an indicator of the proportion of the amount that has been collected from customers relative to the amount billed to them by the Discos, remains a challenge.

“For various reasons, many customers continue to default in payment of their billed amounts resulting in commercial losses,” it stated.

However, N210.17 billion was

the total revenue collected by all Discos in Q4, out of N303.11 billion billed to customers, translating to a collection efficiency of 69.34 per cent.

The total billing by Discos to customers in Q4 also increased

by N30.12 billion (+11.03%) from N273.00 billion recorded in Q3 while the revenue collected by Discos in Q4 rose by N16.64 billion (+8.60%) from N193.53 billion recorded in Q3. This indicated a further reduction in collection efficiency in Q4 relative to Q3.

The Discos’ collection efficiency,

NERC stated, decreased by 1.55 per cent from 70.89 per cent in Q3 to 69.34 per cent in Q4, largely driven

by Ibadan, Jos and Kano Discos.

On the contrary, Enugu, Ikeja, Yola and Kaduna Discos recorded increases in collection efficiency between the two quarters, the sector regulator added.

Although the amount collected

by Ibadan and Jos Discos increased between 2021/Q3 and 2021/ Q4, their collection efficiencies declined by 10.48 and 6.24 per Continued on page 28

N120bn CBN Intervention: Experts Seek Focus on Local Meter Manufacturing Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Various stakeholders in the Nigerian power sector have lauded the intervention of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over its recent N120 billion intervention to close the wide

electricity metering gap in the country.

The CBN had begun the disbursement of the fund for the procurement and installation of the electricity meters across the country under the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP)

in the phase zero of the scheme.

A number of experts have observed that the best results, which will impact the economy the most is to begin local manufacturing, rather than continuing with importation.

President, Nigerian Consumer

FOOD

COMMODITIES

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

RICE

100KG

ABUJA

N23,000–N25,000

SORGHUM

50KG

OYO

N22,000-N25,000

50KG

PLATEAU (JOS)

N23,500-N25,000

50KG

KWARA N24,000–N27,000

50KG

LAGOS

50KG

RIVERS N23,000–N26,500

50KG 50KG

Protection Network and Member National Technical Investigative Panel on Power System Collapses, Kunle Olubiyo, in his comments, expressed his support for local production of the electricity asset.

He expressed concern over the cost of meters as well as the

SIZE

PRICE

STATE

100KG JIGAWA

NAME OF COMMODITY

N9,000

C O C OA

BENUE

N8,500

100KG

KADUNA

N8,500

50KG

ENUGU

N23,000

50KG

LAGOS

N17,000

SOKOTO N11,500–N13,000

100KG

DELTA

N23,000

N17,000–N20,000

100KG

ABIA

N23,000

EDO

fiscal incentives, like metering intervention by CBN. CBN can provide sovereign guarantee. CBN should encourage indigenous manufacturers of meters, not importers.”

Continued on page 28

T O D AY

PRICE

100KG

N23,000–N26,500

tendency of some distribution companies to short-change consumers by importing meters which may not even read accurately.

He added: “Privatisation is still in its infancy. All over the world there are fiscal and non-

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

1 TON

ONDO

N740,000 – N760,000

1 TON

OSUN

N730,000 – N750,000

1 TON

EDO

N720,000 – N740,000

1 TON

CROSS RIVER

N700,000 – N720,000

1 TON

AKURE SOUTH, ONDO

N730,000 — N755,000

28

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS FOOD

NAME OF COMMODITY

PALM OIL

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

25CL LAGOS N20,000-N25000 25CL

PH

NAME OF COMMODITY

TOMATOES

N19,500 – 25,000

COMMODITIES SIZE

STATE

40KG BENUE

PRICE

N15,000

40KG

KADUNA

N5,000

40KG

ABIA

N18,000

25CL IBADAN N18,000-N22,000 25CL

IMO

N21,000–N24,500

25CL

EDO

N19,000–N21,000

25CL ABUJA

N19500- N25000

25KG LAGOS

N9,500

40KG DELTA

N17000

PRICE

T O D AY

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

ONIONS

100KG

IBADAN

N25,000

100KG

KANO

N10,000

100KG

BENUE

N27,000

100KG GOMBE

N12,000

100KG DELTA

N21,000

100KG LAGOS

N25,000

100KG ENUGU

N15,000

100KG

N29,000

ABIA

NAME OF COMMODITY

MAIZE

LOCATION

PRICE

100KG JIGAWA

N9000

100KG ENUGU

N24000

100KG DELTA

N15000

100KG ABIA

N14000

50KG LAGOS

N13500

SIZE

NUPRC Re-launches Programme to Reduce, C onvert Gas Flare for Economic Use Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has re-launched the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme (NGFCP) 2022, to reduce the flaring of the resource and ramp up its deployment for economic use.

The initiative introduces a bankable commercial structure

for the monetisation of flared gas by providing flare gas buyers with title and access to collect the molecules from the prescribed fields.

Speaking during the programme re-launch, Chief Executive of the NUPRC, Mr Gbenga Komolafe, said it was coming on the back of a submission by the NUPRC programme management team set up to coordinate the

implementation of the NGFCP. According to him, the formal rework of the programme was to realign it with the objectives of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), and refocus the NGFCP to reflect current flare disposition, operational realities as well as prevailing market, environment and global dynamics.

He reiterated that the commission was committed to

the successful completion of the NGFCP which will drive the attainment of Nigeria’s pledge to end routine gas flaring within the decade and contribute to the reduction of global emissions, consistent with President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration at COP 26.

Describing the NGFCP 2022 as a hybrid of opportunities to preserve value for existing bidders

and expanding avenues for new investors in the first-of-its-kind flare auction, Komolafe said it represents a critical pathway to the achievement of Nigeria Energy transition plan .

“The auction process has been streamlined to enable an accelerated delivery schedule for this exercise with the announcement of winners planned for December 2022,”

he explained.

While requesting bidders to visit the NUPRC website, he noted that existing applicants would derive value from their previous endeavours on the NGFCP and would be deemed pre-qualified once they meet the basic requirements for status validation as stated in the Request for Qualification (RFQ).

FG to Revitalise Nigeria’s Textile Industry with Bt Cotton Gilbert Ekugbe The federal government has announced plans to revitalise Nigeria’s textile industry with the introduction of Bt Cotton, noting that the move would create massive employment particularly for Nigerian farmers in the country.

The Director-General, National Agricultural Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Abdullahi Mustapha, stated this at a one day cotton farmers’ and other stakeholders training workshop in Abuja.

Bt cotton contains genes from Bacillus thuringiensis that make the cotton plant resistant to the cotton bollworm complex as the inbuilt insect resistance can lead to savings in chemical pest control and higher effective yields in farmers’ fields.

He stated that the federal government determining to solve the challenge, has introduced commercialised Bt cotton in Nigeria, maintaining that that the initiative is already been accepted by farmers.

He added that: “Statistics indicate that at its peak, between 1970 and1990, it comprised about 130 modern factories and supported numerous other ancillary firms, providing about 350,000 direct jobs and 1.2 million indirect jobs among farmers, suppliers, transporters, dealers, traders and exporters. Only about 33 factories

remain standing and the local cotton industry is comatose, primarily due to lack of good seeds, low yields and high production costs associated

with insect damage. These pests reduce yields by up to 60 per cent which has implications on farmers’ profits and have also been found to be detrimental to

the environment.”

Also speaking, the Country Coordinator, Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB), Dr. Rose Gidado, said

the workshop was designed to keep farmers and stakeholders abreast with new trends in the cotton industry.

Gidado also noted that there

was need to collect the experiences of farmers who already adopted the Bt cotton, so as to know how to help them achieve better results in the production of cotton.

‘ThriveAgric Targets 1 Million Smallholder Farmers with Agri-Tech Solutions Gilbert Ekugbe ThriveAgric, a fast growing technology-driven agricultural company, has unveiled the first of many initiatives, the ThriveAgric Marketplace, under its new strategy of ‘Farmer Obsession’ to empower over 1 million smallholder farmers in the country.

According to the company in a statement, the company seeks to champion total wellbeing for

smallholder farmers, with the end goal of promoting commercial over subsistence farming, and in turn, food security.

Commenting on the initiative and new strategy, the Chief Executive Officer, ThriveAgric, Uka Eje, expressed the company’s desire to transform agricultural infrastructures in Africa.

He said: “In recent times, experts argue that agricultural production in Sub-Saharan Africa remains lower than the rest of

the world due to factors such as limiting regulations, climate, soil quality, disease, and a reliance on subsistence farming. Yet, in time past, our continent boasted of thriving agricultural systems, which enabled food production and security.

“At ThriveAgric, we aim to overthrow this current trend and rebuild Africa’s agricultural systems through our new strategy and attendant initiatives which will encourage scale by positioning

our smallholder farmers to derive more value for their efforts. In the long term, this will contribute to the sustainable growth of Africa’s agricultural sector and support food security, manufacturing, and trade.”

While commenting, the company’s vice president, Commercial, Adetoro Akindele, said, “ThriveAgric has identified a huge gap in our agriculture sector and has begun to provide necessary & expedient solutions for Nigerians

and Africa as a whole, particularly with skyrocketing food prices.

Towards implementing these solutions, we will continue to seek avenues to achieve our organisational objectives and grow through vertical and horizontal integration.

“Our vision is to build an Africa that feeds herself and the world, and it is well within reach with the right support and financial backing. The agriculture industry has so much to offer.”

REA Launches Four-year Africa Mini-grids Programme to Expand Energy Access Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has officially launched the Africa Mini-grids Programme (AMP), a four-year project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Nigeria.

The programme, accord-

ing to a statement, aims at supporting access to clean energy by increasing the financial viability and promoting scaled up commercial investment in renewable energy mini-grids.

Speaking at the launch, Mr. Mohamed Yahya, the UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria said that access to reliable, sustainable, affordable energy

remains a catalyst to socioeconomic development, and in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He further added that by scaling up solutions such as renewable energy mini-grids, Nigeria will be able to close the energy access gap and unlock opportunities for people in Nigeria and across the region.

The GEF Operational Focal

Point at the Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr. Jonah Stanley, emphasised, in his comments, said the programme was central to issues such as security, climate change, food production and strengthening economies while protecting ecosystems.

Also, the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Ahmad Sa-

lihijo Ahmad disclosed that programme will serve as another catalyst for improved access to sustainable energy.

“This sectoral approach is in line with the agency’s focus on programmes to advance the electrification targets and broader social and economic development objectives of the Federal Government of Nigeria,”he added.

development of a metering ecosystem, aimed at resolving Nigeria’s metering problems, but advised that it should also be independent of the Discos.

To reduce the metering gap, ensure transparent billing system and close the debt profile in the power sector, the CBN had launched the N120 billion

programme where about 6 million meters were expected to be delivered to consumers.

So far, only about 900,000 meters have been given while stakeholders are asking the CBN to overhaul the scheme in a manner that will halt the importation of meters and focus on local manufacturing.

N120BN CBN INTERVENTION: EXPERTS SEEK FOCUS ON LOCAL METER MANUFACTURING In his intervention, PricewaterhouseCoopers’s Partner, Energy, Utilities and Resources, Habeeb Jaiyeola, said the support rendered by the CBN in addressing the gap was critical.

According to him, the CBN intervention will facilitate investment and ensure that

the electricity market thrives, stressing however that the fund is a loan with a set period for repayment. “Its application has to be strictly monitored to ensure project objectives are achieved,”he noted.

Also, an expert, Joseph Tsavsar, said metering of customers became an issue because of the

liquidity crisis the distribution companies are experiencing.

He explained that that crisis was due to inability to recover costs, in relation to generation capacity that is transmitted to the Discos against what was provided in the privatisation agreement.

Also, Executive Director, Power Up Initiative, Adetayo

Adegbemle, said that there was the need to ascertain the accurate number of consumers connected to the national grid and their demography. “Without this, any intervention policy will always be short,” he argued.

He stressed that the CBN could provide funds for local meter manufacturers and for

DISCOS’ REVENUE COLLECTIONS HIT N772.7BN IN 12 MONTHS DESPITE MOUNTING POWER SUPPLY CHALLENGES cent respectively.

“A decrease in the collection efficiency can be explained by the fact that the increase in collection is lower than the increase in billing. This highlights a problem most Discos face because increasing their billing efficiency usually means increased billing of rural/smaller customers who are often less likely to pay,” NERC stated.

In the second quarter, N185.29 billion was collected out of the total bill of N268.97 billion billed to customers, recording a marginal increase of 0.34 per cent in the Discos’ collection efficiency.

NERC attributed the overall improvement to the combined effect of the commission’s regulation that placed caps on the amount of energy that a customer in a given tariff class or band

may be billed on estimation and the mass metering programme.

“The capping regulation addresses customers’ displeasure with estimated billing which often resulted in an unwillingness to pay. The increased share of customers on prepaid meters reduces the incidences of unpaid bills, ”it added.

In Q2, the overall average Aggregate Technical and

Commercial Collection Losses (ATC&C) for all the Discos was 50.01 per cent.

The NERC report added that there was the imperative for Discos to intensify efforts in revenue collection to improve on their cash flow, operational performance and in meeting their contractual obligations.

In the same vein, In Q1, N183.73 billion was collected

out of the total bill of N273.38 billion, in contrast to the preceding quarter, with a marginal improvement in the Discos’ collection efficiency.

In appraising individual performances, Enugu, Abuja and Eko Discos had the highest collection efficiency of 84.96 per cent, 84.95 per cent and 80.29 per cent respectively while Kaduna Disco had the lowest collection

efficiency of 36.59 per cent.

Also, in Q3, N193.53 billion was collected out of a total of N273.00 billion billed to customers and the collection efficiency stood at 70.89 per cent.

The total revenue collected in Q3 rose by N8.24 billion representing a 4.44 per cent increase in total revenue collected as compared to Q2, which was N185.29 billion.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

29

BUSINESSWORLD

ENERGY

NIPP: Taking Advantage of Nigeria’s Wasting Power Assets Emmanuel Addeh writes that the National Integrated Power Project, which appears to have been relegated by the authorities, could hold the key to solving Nigeria’s electricity supply challenges

F

or years, especially in the ones leading to 1999, it is believed that the Nigerian power sector virtually lacked any major investment, reflecting in the declining supply of power in the country.

As a result, in 2004, under the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration, the government floated the idea of a National Integrated Power Project (NIPP), with an initial funding of $2.5 billion from the country’s Excess Crude Oil Account (ECA).

There was therefore the need to establish a national firm, which would manage the assets and serve as the legal entity to oversee the facilities. That initiative gave birth to the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC).

Today, the seed sown close to two decades ago now has 10 gas-powered plants, which include Olorunsogo , Geregu , Gbarain , Alaoji , Omoku , Egbema , Sapele, Omotosho, Ihovbor and the Calabar power plant.

In addition, under the scheme, several transmission assets have been completed, plus a number of facilities under the distribution the part of the network, including injection substations.

But today, all those investments seem to be endangered. The NDPHC, which oversees the projects that were expected to push out about 5,000mw into the grid, can barely operate at half its capacity because the market is largely tilted against the company.

For one, the National Control Centre (NCC) located in Osogbo, a unit of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has tended to favour the Independent Power Producers (IPPS), who come under the protection of their Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).

Whereas the NDPHC owned by all the federal, state and local governments should ordinarily be the industry’s backbone, it has become an entity that is resorted to after other interests have been satisfied.

For instance, it is always the first to be directed to shut down its operations when there’s a fluctuation in the system, leading to massive loss of revenue.

In addition, one would expect that the Independent Power Plants (IPPs) which are even more expensive than the power generated by the NDPHC should be asked

to disengage when there’s need to shut down plants for any reason.

But no, the cheapest to operate and dispatch to Nigerians is always the one to bear the brunt. Aside that, the firm says it’s currently owed circa N150 billion by the market.

So, while the over 3,000mw generated by the NDPHC is left stranded, the IPPs are always the first priority because they must recoup their money while the government-owned entity is being used to simply subsidise them. The authorities have simply declined to sign a binding PPA with their own company, further elevating its problems.

While it continues to deploy its spinning reserve to help the network, the company says it does not also get anything as compensation for gas and other expenses going into maintaining its turbines when its power is rejected.

A TOUGH BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT The Managing Director of NDPHC, Mr. Chiedu Ugbo, believes that the firm deserves more, given all the investments that have gone into it and the efforts to keep it afloat despite its many challenges.

The chief executive of the national power firm believes that if allowed to operate like other firms in the sector,

“NDPHC is providing interventions in transmission across the country. Aside that, it is playing a big role in improving the transmission capacity of the transmission company.”

the NDPHC has the capacity to rival its peers all over the world.

“I am managing generation assets: I have tariff that is 28 per cent lower than my peers, meaning that I am subsidising the sector by 28 per cent,” he said.

According to him, the company has approached the industry regulator a number of times to say that government has to take a decision on whether NDPHC is a social company or a business entity. He notes that the decision will literally decide the future of the company.

“Because if they increase our tariff, it will lead to overall increase in revenue judging by the capacity of 4,000MW that we have, ”he added.

Although the company has a record of over 3,500Mw capacity, it is only allowed to supply 700mw, Ugbo notes.

“Again, I have over 3,500 mw capacity but I am told to supply only 700mw and it is on that that I get paid. Now, Discos remit about 50 per cent. It means that I get paid 50 per cent.

Right now, what is owed to NDPHC by the industry is somewhere around N150 billion. Which company survives with that level of debt?, ”he queries.

But Ugbo adds that the company remains undeterred, raising the hope that that the problems with the electricity sector would soon be resolved with the various interventions.

“NDPHC is providing interventions in transmission across the country.

Aside that, it is playing a big role in improving the transmission capacity of the transmission company, ”he stresses.

More so, the President, Nigeria Consumer Protection Network, Mr Kunle Olubiyo, believes that the federal government should halt the renewal of the retrogressive undertakings or the take-or-pay arrangement.

“Government is not paying NDPHC and is even buying electricity from them at a lesser price compared to other power generation plants...The existing ones that they have vesting contracts with, the vesting contracts will soon expire. So, we are not praying that those ones that have vesting contracts with

the government be renewed, ”he argued.

In his comments, the Convener and Forum Director of the Nigerian Power Consumers Forum (NPCF), Mr Michael Okoh, urged the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to accelerate the process of assigning real value to the NIPP intervention projects.

He stated that this was especially critical in power transmission and distribution so that the federal government could be part of its investments, and then, re-invest it into other power sector infrastructure.

“From a rough estimate, if the NERC does this valuation, the NDPHC can recover nearly $4 billion or about N1.725trillion, which can be re-invested in providing meters, transformers and power lines, especially on the distribution networks as a soft loan to Discos’ operators,” he maintained.

TAKE-OR-PAY AS ALBATROSS A major issue that has challenged the operation of the company is that there is no single take or pay contract with the company’s plants like Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) Plc has with some other generation companies.

The situation has therefore left the company unable to sign contracts with oil companies that would guarantee gas supply to the plants.

So, in essence, given the importance of take-or-pay clauses to the bankability of long-term energy projects, it is essential that the NDPHC is brought into the fray to firm up its business survival in the long term.

Typically, typical take-or-pay clause requires the buyer to either take or pay the contract price for a minimum contract quantity of the commodity, that is electricity or gas or in the alternative, pay the applicable contract price for such quantity if not taken in the applicable period.

As has been variously argued, in a market that works, no one needs a take-or-pay arrangement. For now, the fair take is that if the phenomenon must continue it should be done across board, rather than the current discriminatory practice.

30

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

L-R: Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo; Managibg Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello Koko and Chairman Board of NPA, Chief Akin Ricketts during Sambo’s visit to NPA in Lagos… recently

Agribusiness NG Sensitises Youths on Available N22bn Fund for Agriculture Devt Gilbert Ekugbe The Founder, AgribusinessNG, African Farmer Mogaji, has sensitised youths on the available funding of N22 billion meant for agriculture development in the country.

According to him, the fund made available by MasterCard Foundation in

care of Sterling Bank, is a fund available for aspiring young farmers interested in agriculture, noting that the N22 billion has been lying fallow for almost two years.

At a sensitisation forum aimed at empowering 5000 youths with agric funding and empowerment at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, he said Agribusiness

NG has been organising youths and other people in its bid to expose them to opportunities in the nation’s agricultural sector.

“So today is just to create awareness to lead them know how to access the funding and the logistics involved, what the money is for, and different aspects of agriculture that they

can go into. So primarily, we need our youth to be more exposed to know the opportunities are available,” he said.

He noted that if the youths have deployed or accessed 12 billion of the available fund in the last few years, Nigeria would have not been faced with scarcity and rising cost of

food prices currently being experienced in the country.

“We are saying there is no food, cost of food is rising, the cost of living is rising, but this money is down there. So if we have deployed the first batch of 12 billion actively in the last few years, it would have reduced the pressure that we are having on food

prices and demands, so it is very crucial that we bring the youths together and across the value chain. So it is not just for production, if you want to grow tomato grow anything. If you want to do transport you want to do logistics, and we have also brought various aggravators who are very crucial to this event,” he said.

ICAO, Qatar to Partner with Nigeria on Aviation University TICT Commissions Chinedu Eze The President of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council, Salvatore Siacchitano has reiterated the commitment of the organisation to partner with Nigeria in the establishment, provision of funding and faculty for the African Aviation and Aerospace University (AAAU) in Abuja.

The ICAO President gave the assurance when Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika led the country’s delegation to the 41st General Assembly of the organisation to his office at the

ICAO headquarters in Montreal Canada.

According to him, ICAO would always be part of every effort geared towards addressing the manpower needs of membernations in order to service and manage the ever-expanding aviation industry, asserting that Nigeria’s decision to establish the university was a welcome development.

The University, he said, would represent a new channel for the training of professional managers for the industry, especially within the African region, being the first of its kind in the continent.

In a statement signed by the

Special Assistant (Public Affairs) to the Minister of Aviation, James Odaudu, Siacchitano promised to personally visit the site for the University during the forthcoming ICAO Air Negotiation event (ICAN) being hosted by Nigeria in December.

The visit, according to him, would give him a clearer picture of the immediate needs and the level of participation of the organisation.

Responding, Senator Sirika expressed Nigeria’s gratitude to the ICAO Council President for his reassurance of the Council’s earlier pledge to be involved in the University project, informing him

that all the necessary regulatory requirements have been met and approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

In a similar development, the government of Qatar has also expressed its readiness to participate in the establishment and running of the African Aviation and Aerospace University located in Abuja.

According to the Minister, the government of Qatar is excited to partner with Nigeria through providing some funding and training of its manpower in the university, noting that it will be a better option for his country.

Data Breaches Top List of Security Concerns for Nigerian CIOs Emma Okonji The consequences of security breaches from data attacks have become something of great concern to Chief Information Officers (CIOs) of organizations, as they look to navigate an increasingly complex threat and regulatory landscape.

This is according to the Enterprise Security Trends in Nigeria survey, conducted

by IDC and commissioned by Microsoft, which highlights the latest cloud security developments in Nigeria.

According to the IDC survey, 72 per cent of organisations in Nigeria have increased security budgets by 10 per cent or

more over the last few years.

This is not only the result of accelerated cloud adoption levels, but also increased awareness of security in senior management and rising new threats.

The research reveals that the pace of enterprise-wide cloud adoption is rapidly increasing as business leaders look to ensure flexibility, agility and business continuity throughout their daily operations. Almost half of organizations surveyed, which is about 41 per cent, said they will be using a combination of on premises and cloud solutions in just two years’ time. Already, six per cent of organisations prefer to use the cloud; and

this number is expected to grow to eight per cent over the next two years. This increased adoption speaks to the confidence companies have in cloud solutions as they prepare to navigate a post COVID-19 world.

According to the survey, data hackers have noticed that more data is being processed in the cloud and there’s been a noticeable increase in cyberattacks.

“FBI ranked Nigeria 16th among the countries most affected by cybercrimes in 2020. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic forced more people to learn, work, shop, bank and connect online than ever before.

More devices, networks

and connection points have resulted in the expansion of the threat surface, bringing the need for a robust security strategy to the fore.

“Security remains a major focus for Nigerian organizations with around 61 per cent of companies prioritising endpoint security solutions as endpoints increasingly move beyond the enterprise core. Another 41 per cent are implementing VPNs and virtual desktop infrastructure to secure remote workers. In line with the growing threat of phishing and ransomware, half of organisations are deploying identity and access management (IAM) solutions,” the survey report said.

Ultramodern Building for Dockworkers

The management of Tincan Island Container Terminal (TICT) has commissioned an ultramodern Labour Building for the use of dockworkers at the port.

Speaking at the commissioning of the new building at the terminal in Lagos, the Managing Director of TICT, Mr. Etienne Rocher, said the facility will provide a safe and conducive work environment for the dockworkers.

He said the building is fully furnished and equipped with air-conditioning system, constant electricity supply, water, showers, meeting rooms, rest rooms and cloakrooms.

He said, “The new building is designed for the use of our dockworkers. The TICT new Labour Building will provide a safe environment for our dockworkers; a place where they can lodge in preparation for work, thereby putting them in the best state of mind to work. It will also ensure the safe housing of dockworkers’ properties. We anticipate that some 300 dock labour staff will make use of the building daily.”

Mr. Rocher said the new Labour Building reflects the importance TICT places on providing the most conducive environment to its dockworkers and other employees.

“As long as this new building sets a new standard and milestone for our industry, we stand committed to remaining a driving force towards achieving further improvements in the port

sector. This we expect to drive collaboratively as a common/ shared ambition with other key stakeholders in the same spirit that has prevailed since 2006 to date,” he said.

Also speaking, the PresidentGeneral, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, commended TICT for providing the new ultramodern building for the use of dockworkers at the terminal.

Adeyanju charged the dockworkers to ensure proper use and maintenance of the building.

The union leader also charged the dockworkers to eschew illegalities and acts that could tarnish the reputation of the terminal operator. He said the union will not shield any dockworker caught engaging in illegal or criminal activities at the port.

The representative of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mrs Victoria Medupin and the representative of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mrs Chizoba Anyika, who delivered goodwill messages at the event, both commended TICT for prioritising the welfare of its dockworkers.

Medupin assured that as the landlord and technical regulator of the port, NPA will continue to collaborate with terminal operators to deliver the dividends of port concession and protect the interest of port workers.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

31

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

NANDRUM, NDLEA Reads Riot Act to Hard Drug Users, Combs Lagos Markets Gilbert Ekugbe The National Association on Nigerian Drug Manufacturers (NANDRUM) and the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have sounded a note of warning to hard drug users in the country, saying that both agencies would leave no stone unturned till drug abuse is reduced to the

barest minimum.

The Executive Secretary, NANDRUM who also doubles as Ambassador, Joint Committee on Drugs and Narcotics, National Assembly (NASS), Dr. Christabel Okoye, at a sensitisation exercise to Idumota market in Lagos, said the National Assembly is disturbed by the incessant prevalence of narcotics and hard

drug use in the country According to her, letters have been written complaining about the activities of drug markets indulging in nefarious activities, saying that the association would be embarking on a series of nationwide sensitisation exercises to combating drug abuse.

“After here we will be visiting other States to carry out the

sensitisation exercise. We are working directly with the NDLEA and the Ministry of Justice to rid this country of hard drugs, “she said.

Also speaking, the National president, NANDRUM, Alphonsus Okoroji, said NANDRUM is an association inaugurated last year in the Senate house in Abuja to help all government agencies and

the federal government fight drug abuse in the country.

“Illicit hard drugs if cannot be exterminated, can be minimised to the barest minimum. The association was also set up to checkmate people dealing in hard drugs while also sensitising them on the need not to indulge in the business of hard drugs,” he said.

On her part, the Drug Demand

Reduction Directorate, NDLEA, Lagos State Command, Stella Amechi, said NDLEA is committed to public enlightenment, saying that most of the over the counter drugs in the markets can be bought from the pharmacy meant for healing diseases, but stated these drugs are now being abused by users due to ignorance and self control.

Stakeholders Urge FG to Stop Massive Brain Drain from Nigeria Emma Okonji Stakeholders in the Information Technology (IT) space have called on the federal government to address the issue of outward migration of brains, also known as brain drain from the country.

The stakeholders made the call at a technology event organised in Lagos by Nigeria Information Technology Reporters’ Association (NITRA), tagged ICT Growth Conference 2.0, with the theme, ‘Creating A Digital Ecosystem In Nigeria: The Hurdles, The Gains.’

The Chairman of the occasion, and Founder, Mobile Software Solutions, Mr. Chris Uwaje, said brain drain had become a very serious issue that should be put on the front burner by the government.

Uwaje said there was need to develop a knowledge-based park that would encourage local content grooming and development, adding that such park would encourage local technology development.

“We need a park where we

can talk tech, where we can gain knowledge and so on. Nigeria can be built, we do not have to run away,” he said.

The President, Association of Licenced Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, said government should address the issue of brain drain by making available necessary amenities.

He said that the sad reality of brain drain was that those leaving are not needed where they are migrating to.

Adebayo said governments should urgently address the brain drain because there are no available jobs.

President, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Ike Nnamani, said that the telecom industry had lost close to 2000 staff due to outward migration.

Nnamani said that outward migration of professionals was part of the challenge faced by the industry and the country as a whole.

RMRDC, UNILAG Task Manufacturers to Embrace Meta, NAPTIP Launch Alert System for Missing Children Additive Manufacturing for Global Competitiveness

L-R: Director General, National Council on Climate Change,Dr. Salisu Dahiru; Founder, Fight Against Desert Encroachment (FADE Africa), Dr Newton Jibunoh, and Managing Director, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Limited, Matthieu Seguin, at the 2022 NBC Stakeholders Forum themed, “Combating Climate Change Through Resource Efficiency,” held in Lagos… recently

James Emejo and Anwuli Umunna in Abuja

Global technology company, Meta yesterday launched the AMBER Alert Programme on Facebook and Instagram to help track missing children in Nigeria.

Working in partnership with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the programme is aimed at helping to find abducted children by sending the alert to the local Facebook and Instagram community in the country.

The solution is designed to

increase the chances of finding missing children by putting more people on the lookout for them.

Speaking during the launch in Abuja, Meta’s Director of Trust and Safety, Emily Vacher, said Nigeria is the second African country to deploy the technology.

She said, “Already available across 28 countries globally, we are proud to partner with NAPTIP to make AMBER Alert available in Nigeria – the second African country to join this programme.

“When there is a reported case of a missing child, the most

valuable thing one can do is share information as quickly as possible. By working with law enforcement in helping to share the right information with the right people, we hope that missing children will be safely reunited with their families faster.”

Also, speaking at the occasion, Director General of NAPTIP, Dr. Fatima Waziri-Azi, said, “Today we are partnering with Meta to launch the AMBER Alert Programme on Facebook and Instagram to help ensure faster response in finding missing children. With these

alerts, more people can be on the lookout for kids reported missing in their vicinity and report all leads to relevant authorities. NAPTIP cherishes every aspect of the intending collaboration and we are indeed glad to be on board with Meta”.

According to the company, when an AMBER Alert is activated by law enforcement, the alert will appear on the Facebook and Instagram Feed of users within the designated search area, enabling them to share the information instantly with friends or contact the authorities if they have leads.

African Business Aviation Association Makes New Appointments Chinedu Eze The African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA) is pleased to announce two new appointments aimed at driving growth and providing increased support to AfBAA members.

The new appointees are Mr Dawit Lemma, as AfBAA Vice President, International, based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Ms Samantha (Sam) Keddle, AfBAA Manager, based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Dawit Lemma is the Founder and CEO of

Krimson Aviation, an aviation services company based in Ethiopia and Malta. He has a degree in Aeronautical Engineering and Flight Technical from Purdue University, USA, and an MSc in Aviation Management and Marketing from Basel Business College, Switzerland. He has close to 20 years of experience in the aviation sector across four continents.

Dawit serves on the AfBAA Board of Directors and is the first African representative to sit on the International Business Aviation Council’s

IS-BAH Standard’s Board.

He also represents Krimson in the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) Ambassadors Programme, and actively engages with the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) in the USA. Nick Fadugba, Chairperson of AfBAA and CEO, African Aviation Services, says: “Dawit has been an ardent supporter of AfBAA and we are delighted that he has officially taken on the important position of Vice President, International. His key focus will be to promote

AfBAA within Africa and internationally, strengthen ties with government regulators and industry stakeholders, and help the association to achieve its numerous goals.”

Ms Sam Keddle joins AfBAA from The Commercial Aviation Association of South Africa (CAASA) where she has served as Office Manager since April, 2016. She brings a wealth of experience and expertise to AfBAA particularly in managing association affairs, addressing the needs of members and arranging conferences, exhibitions and meetings.

Gilbert Ekugbe The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) and the University of Lagos (UNILAG) have charged manufacturers to as a matter urgency embrace Additive Manufacturing (AM) to remain competitive globally.

The Director General and Chief Executive Officer, RMRDC, Hussaini Ibrahim, represented by the Director, Lagos Office, Mr. Tokunbo Habeeb, at the first international conference on additive manufacturing in Nigeria, said AM could not have come at a better time than now when the fourth industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) demands manufacturing to promote the integration of smart technologies in production systems, noting that additive manufacturing plays an essential role in meeting some of the most essential requirements of the fourth industrial revolution.

Also speaking, the Director General, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Segun Ajayi Kadir, represented by the Director, Corporate Services, MAN, Ambrose Oruche, said the conference

is expected to promote an active dialogue between the academia and the industry and consequently bridge the gap between the academia and needs of the industry.

“To this end, a key objective of this conference is for technology and industrial practioners to rub minds on this emerging technology, share practical experiences with members of the academia and design a road map on the forward,” he stressed.

Earlier, the Chair, Conference Organising Committee, Prof.

Funso Falade said AM or 3D Printing is the construction of a three-dimensional object from Computer Aided Design (CAD) model or a digital 3D model that is accepted worldwide in revolutionising the industrial production landscape.

The Vice Chancellor, UNILAG, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, represented by Deputy Vice Chancellor, Management Services, UNILAG, Prof. Lucian Chukwu said additive manufacturing is one of the new concepts that has brought transformation in aerospace industry, provided supply chain opportunities to 3D printing.

32

TUESDAY, ͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

THIRTY-TWO

Navy Confiscates 40m Litres of Stolen Crude Oil, Diesel, Kerosene in Niger Delta Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Nigeria Navy said it confiscated 18 million litres of stolen crude oil, 23.5 million litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) also known as diesel and 6.2 million litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) in the Niger Delta region.

Speaking in Port Harcourt, the Commander, NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Suleiman Ibrahim,

said the continued efforts by security agencies led to the confiscation of the 23.5 million litres of AGO. “This volume is split between crude stolen and production deferment (shut-ins) due to legitimate fear of losing substantial volumes in transit," he said.

According to him, over 6.2 million litres of DPK and 18 million barrels of crude oil were confiscated.

Speaking after undertaking

an aerial assessment of some hotspots along the Right of Way of the Trans-Niger Pipeline, he said NNS Pathfinder had conducted several missions in pursuant of the objectives of Operation Dakatar Dabarawo aimed at eradicating the menace of crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering activities within the base area of operations.

The missions conducted during the operations led by include Joint

Air Recce, Riverine Anti COT, Swamp Buggy Ops and Rescue/ Clearance Op on identified sea robbers/camps.

The commander, who conducted newsmen around the Nembe Creek Trunk Line leading up to the Bonny Oil and Gas Terminal that had remained under force majeure since March 2022.

He noted that the activities of vandals and economic saboteurs

severely affected Nigeria’s crude oil and natural gas production.

In a bid to check the activities of the saboteurs, the commander said the Navy had set up a new security architecture to serve as a solid response to detect, deter, and respond to the activities of vandals.

He re-echoed the position of the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, who recently affirmed that there was

a lot of disinformation about oil theft in the creeks of Niger Delta, explaining that, "oil theft meant siphoning crude oil from vandalised pipes, into barges while oil losses occur when there is non-production, especially, during shut-ins and force measures as the federal government does not earn the desired revenue it should."

PDP to always show good example in party activities, stressing, "Once an issue has been discussed and agreed upon, all members must abide by it." He urged them not to allow anybody or group to use them.

Jibrin stated, "All members of the party, no matter what, must accept the decisions taken by the NWC and avoid a situation whereby some few members will come out to make contrary statements. All members of our party, no matter their positions, must accept that PDP constitution which is supreme and above all party members."

The former BoT chairman commended Governors Emmanuel Udom (Akwa Ibom) and Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), among others, for accepting to lead the PDP presidential campaign. He said he resigned his position as BoT chairman to promote unity in the party.

Jibrin told his fellow PDP members, "We should never be sectional at all. If I left my position to allow others, based on my concern for Nigeria and our party to be stronger, so, I have no regret of relinquishing my position.

“I am happy to announce that Nasarawa State has appointed the state chairman of the presidential campaign.”

PDP does not mean well for the party as his public statements and conduct has revealed.

“The polarisation has been actively fuelled by Chief Dan Orbih for his personal gains and that of the dark interest he represents. When we expected that peace will return to Edo PDP after the avoidable litigations that climaxed at the Supreme Court and setting up of the reconciliation committee by the governor of Edo State, Chief Dan Orbih and his cohorts have called meetings of their people to intimate them on their own moves, which negates the party's constitution.

“The party constitution says no member or officer of the party should engage in any activity that will ridicule the party but Chief Dan Orbih went on air and social media space to ridicule the party and damage the image of the flag-bearer of the party for the 2023 general election by sowing anger and doubt in the minds of both party members and the voting public.

“It is common knowledge that Chief Orbih and members of the National Working Committee agreed among themselves to draw housing allowance from the account of the party while trying to denigrate the PDP national chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu. “We are calling for the immediate sack or suspension of Chief Dan Orbih within seven days or we will, in conjunction with other stakeholders across the South-south region, occupy the state secretariat and put party activities on hold until our request is granted.

“Members will also converge at the party secretariat along First East Circular Road in Benin City to shut it down and lock it up if our demand is not attended to.

We are committed to working for the success of our presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and his running mate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.”

Continues online

2023: ALIYU, SHEKARAU, HARUNA, OTHERS RALLY SUPPORT FOR ATIKU In a related development, the immediate past chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jibrin, said the crisis plaguing the party would be over soon. Jibrin said this in a statement in Kaduna.

But in Edo State, PDP stakeholders called for the immediate removal of Chief Dan Orbih as South-south Vice Chairman of the party over alleged anti-party activities.

Aliyu, while addressing the crowd of supporters in Abeokuta, insisted that Atiku remained the healthiest candidate among those vying for the presidency. He said if things had worked well, Atiku ought to have succeeded his boss and former president, Olusegun Obasanjo.

The former Niger governor took a swipe at Tinubu, whose fitness video went viral yesterday, saying APC and its presidential candidate cannot deceive Nigerians. He said Nigerians knew the candidate who was mentally and physically capable of leading the country.

Aliyu said, "I was looking through the newspapers today and I saw a picture of somebody trying to prove he is healthy. If one is healthy, we don't need to tell people that we are healthy, but we are aware that Atiku is the healthiest of the presidential candidates in this country."

He believed only Atiku could rescue Nigeria from Boko Haram, bandits, and other security challenges.

The former governor stated, "We need security and only an Atiku presidency can reclaim our land from Boko Haram, can reclaim our land from bandits, from IPOB and all other bad people that are making our lives difficult. It is only an Atiku presidency that can restructure Nigeria. There must be a state police so as to ensure security in the local areas; only an Atiku Abubakar presidency can do that.

"The economy is bad, there is extreme poverty in the land.

Therefore, members of PDP and fellow Nigerians, on the day in February, elect Atiku Abubakar, because the development of any nation depends on the education of that country.

"You have seen what has happened to us today. Our students in

the public universities have been at home for more than seven, eight months. Our secondary schools, many of them are so dilapidated that they cannot serve as secondary schools. Our elementary schools, there is no country that has over 20 million children out of school and you expect to be developed; only an Atiku Abubakar presidency can help us solve this problem.

"We have become the poverty capital of the world, that should not be. We are expected to produce everyday 2.1 million barrels of crude oil, but only last month, we were able to produce 900,000, it has gone as low as 600,000. What is happening to the rest? Some people are stealing it. Are we saying the current government does not know those who are stealing it? They know. Therefore, voting for Atiku Abubakar is saving, is rescuing, is developing Nigeria."

Haruna told the crowd, "I want to appeal to you to join us as you make a commitment towards the primaries to support him and you delivered, we want to also appeal to you that now that the campaigns have started, we plead that this campaign should go to the wards, should go to the units."

In his address, Adebutu urged the South-west to support Atiku's candidacy, saying, "PDP is the party that can take you to the mainstream of Nigeria."

The Ogun State PDP governorship candidate said, "Before the primaries, I told people that for the peace of Nigeria, let us all support Atiku Abubakar. Some people were adamant, they insisted that it was the turn of the Yoruba.

But I told them the Yoruba have ruled previously.

"But some people, because of their selfish interest, don't want Atiku to emerge as our candidate.

You cannot lose your integrity because of a pot of porridge.

We cannot take Yorubaland out of the mainstream of Nigeria.

Yorubaland must remain in the mainstream of Nigeria and PDP is the party that can take you to the mainstream of Nigeria.

"I believe in one Nigeria. All those calling for the break up of Nigeria cannot withstand the destruction of war. We don't want war, we cannot afford to be refugees, what we want is peaceful resolutions of our problems. We

have to move away from the concept of breaking Nigeria, we will not divorce, our children will not suffer.

"Even the countries that have stronger institutions than us cannot not afford to break up. From the recent developments, it has shown that Atiku is a true leader; he has put himself in the position of a true elder. We want an elder that can rebuild the party and the country."

A spokesperson of the Atiku Abubakar campaign, Daniel Bwala, and some other Nigerians also criticised the eight-second bicycle exercise video of Tinubu in Twitter comments, describing it as a make-believe circulated to try to impress the public.

Bwala, who recently defected from APC after the emergence of a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, pointed out features that tended to confirm that the Tinubu fitness video was a mere pretence.

Bwala tweeted: "8 seconds of sitting on a spin bike, no sweat on the face, eye glasses intact, awkward sitting posture, all goes to show a photo-op, as against a real exercise. We are not in a banana republic please."

Supporters and critics of the APC candidate also had their say. #DefendNIGERIA, Je’ N Wi Temi! @TheOtitokoro, said, "Is this a normal outfit for exercise.

Haba! When will all these deceit end. From fake bishop to fake exercise.”

Imma Ogbonn@CeenOgbonna, wrote, "See how they’re all manipulating your sensibilities. Sometimes I ask myself if all of you are even normal on how all these people get away with impunity and deceptions.”

Chigozirim Aliyu Emeakayi @ GoziconC said, "8 seconds of sitting on a spin bike, no sweat on the face, eye glasses intact, awkward sitting posture, all goes to show a photo-op, as against a real exercise.

"We are not in a banana republic please bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla ...."

But, Azeez Adeniyi @Adeniyi66, damning the stance of the Atiku spokesman on the Tinubu exercise video, said, “Just a single video of 7 sec of him exercising, the internet is set into frenzy. That’s how a President rolls. Who talks about Atiku’s dance that was released earlier in the day?.. Nobody!”

RIVERS APC TO APC GOVERNORS: VISITING WIKE AN EMBARRASSMENT TO OUR PARTY

trying to reclaim the state."

Rising from a one-day consultative meeting with stakeholders in the South-south zone, held at the APC secretariat in Port Harcourt, Chairman of the party in Obio/ Akpor Local Government Area, Sydney Nyeche, said, "We find it disrespectful that while we are toiling for the party in the state, some group of governors from the west (South-west) will come to the state, go to Rumueprikom and be negotiating with Nyesom Wike.

"The attention of the national chairman is drawn to this because we will not tolerate this anymore.

We have had enough.

“We urge the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to warn these governors from the west to desist from coming to the state to negotiate with the governor.

This level of embarrassment we have suffered should stop.

"I cannot be threatened everyday because of my political leanings and somebody will come from the west to rubbish our efforts. If they

cannot come to the state to show solidarity with us, they should stop coming to the state."

In his own remarks, the state APC chairman, Emeka Beke, flayed the non-remittance of 25 per cent of funds generated from the sale of forms to candidates in the state during the party primaries to strengthen the party.

Beke demanded support from the national leadership of the party. He emphasised that the state chapter would reciprocate in the same manner it was being treated.

He said, "Please, we urge the national chairman that Rivers State bought forms worth over N1 billion and we are requesting that they should remit to the state 25 per cent of funds generated through the sale of the forms.

"If the money is not remitted to the state, they should forget about coming to the state to canvass for the presidential candidate.

“If the national body does not listen to us, we will take our destiny in our hands, vote for our House

of Representatives members and Senate and put our focus on the governorship of the state, and we will win.

"The national body needs to support us, if not, we will not support them. We are loyal party men and we believe in the leadership of the party at the top, but they should support us."

Earlier, convener of the meeting and Vice Chairman, South-south zone of APC, Victor Giadom, said the essence of the meeting was to understand clearly the challenges of the party in the state and areas to improve on. Giadom promised to collate the report of the meeting and send to the national leadership of the party to ensure solution to the complaints raised.

"We have come, we have listened to them, we have heard them clearly, and we will put them together and report to the national leadership to ensure that we find solutions to all the things that we know will help us win election in the state," he said.

John S Kamale @JohnSol18494748, said, "That makes it real that the man is hospitalised as said. Why this nonsense?”

Ajibola Y Owodunni @jibolaowo wrote, "The person that did and released that video did a better job than you have been doing since you got your job with Atiku. That's good PR timing, when everyone would be online after BBN. Work on your skills.”

Babatunde Temitope @ Tsquare1422, stated, "If properly checked, it’s not even plugged.”

Tony4Real @Aeberonwu said, "Are you well! What has sitting on an exercise bike got to do with a Banana Republic. Abeg!”

PDP Crisis Will Be over Soon, Says Jibrin

The immediate past chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jibrin, stated that the crisis rocking the party would be resolved soon.

In a statement yesterday in Kaduna, Jibrin said what was happening in the party was a normal family affair that would soon be settled.

He stated, "I want to assure Nigerians that what is happening in PDP is never a problem, but a normal family matter that would be solved very soon. Never, ever mention that PDP has any problem.

We shall soon take over from the ruling party. Nigeria shall move forward."

Jibrin called on PDP members to remain calm, strong, and speak with one voice. He said they should be focused on the 2023 elections, especially, winning the presidency.

While calling on all organs of the party to be united and work towards ensuring success for PDP during the elections, Jibrin said, "All our elders, leaders, youths and all women groups in the party must speak with one voice and avoid creating any division."

Jibrin also called on the National Working Committee (NWC) of

Edo PDP Stakeholders Want Dan Orbih Sacked

Stakeholders in the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) called for the sack of Chief Dan Orbih as Vice Chairman, South-south, of the party.

The stakeholders made the demand during a meeting in Benin City, attended by party leaders and chieftains from all the senatorial districts in the state.

A leader of the party, Omoregbe John, said, “Critical stakeholders have discovered that the vice chairman, South-south of the

DESPITE GLOBAL VOLATILITY, NIGERIA’S STOCK MARKET APPRECIATED BY N4.15TRN IN NINE MONTHS appreciated by 14.8 per cent yearto-date (YtD) to 49,024.16 basis points from 42,716.44 basis points the stock market opened in 2022 for trading.

For the global stock markets, the NASDAQ Composite Index has depreciated by -20.95 per cent YtD, while the United Kingdom FTSE 100 - London Stock Exchange - has depreciated by -6.44 YtD performance.

Other notable stock exchanges which have also recorded decline in performance included: the CSI 300 Shanghai Shenzhen -16.91 per cent in YtD performance and LuxX Luxembourg Stock Exchange Index -25.64 in YtD outcome.

However, in the nine months under review, investors in the Nigerian stock market have witnessed double-digit inflation, scarcity of foreign exchange, uncertainty in global economies, and of course, a hike in the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to 15.5 per cent.

Investors in the stock market reacted to Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) hike in MPR, leading to the aggressive movement of investors to the fixed income market that comes with low-risk investment and modest yield.

The stock market between June and September witnessed investors’

aggressive profit-taking amid the apex bank’s policy to tackle the steady increase in the inflation rate.

For instance, the stock market in September depreciated by N429 billion or 1.6 per cent month-onmonth to N26.451 trillion, from the N26.88 trillion it opened for trading, while the NGX ASI was down by 1.63 per cent to 49,024.16 basis points from 49,836.51 basis points it opened for trading.

Speaking with THISDAY, the CEO Wyoming Capital and Partners, Tajudeen Olayinka attributed the decline in market performance in September to prolonged repricing of securities across markets and instruments by investors.

According to him, “Investors reacted sharply to three quick successions in MPR hike, beginning with 13 per cent in May, 14 per cent in July, and 15.5 per cent in September. September 2022 was quite spectacular because investors exercised extreme caution by holding back further investment in equity, in reaction to the aggressive rise in inflation (20.52 per cent) in the month of August, 2022.”

Also, the Head, Retail Investment, Chapel Hill Denham, Mr. Ayodeji Ebo, in a chat with THISDAY, stated that the decline

was due to the continued rise in fixed income rates due to the persistent hike in MPR. According to him, “investors prefer to keep funds in dollars due to the persistent exchange rate depreciation.”

On his part, Analyst at PAC Holdings, Mr. Wole Adeyeye said, “Some investors migrated from stock market to fixed-income market in a move to take advantage of high yields, which was triggered by the recent hike in the policy rate.

“Also, foreign investors avoided Nigerian stock market due to the upcoming general elections, weak local currency and insecurity in the country.”

The Vice President, Highcap Securities Limited, Mr, David Adonri said the stock market commenced declining performance when the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of CBN increase the interest rate.

He noted that other macroeconomic indicators such as inflation rate, and scarcity of foreign exchange have also diminished demand for stocks as investors moved to fixed income markets.

According to him, “The fundamentals of foreign and domestic macro economy indicators in three months have impacted negatively on the stock market.”

33

TUESDAY, ͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

WORD CONFERENCE 2022...

L-R: Presiding Bishop at iCan Community Church, Bishop Wayne Malcolm; Founder/CEO and Senior Pastor of The Lighthouse Church & Ministries, Pastor Keion Henderson; First Lady of The Lighthouse church/ CEO Of Amirah Inc, Lady Shaunie Henderson; The Metropolitan, House On the Rock, Pastor Paul Adefarasin; Founder and Senior Pastor of Kingdom Church, Dr. Dharius Daniels, at the Word Conference 2022 where Adefarasin hosted a quartet of renowned leadership speakers…recently

NDLEA Arrests Another Billionaire Drug Baron in Lagos Recovers N8.8bn worth of tramadol from mansion in residential estate Rebecca Ejifoma The National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recovered no less than 13,451,466 pills of tramadol 225mg worth N8.860 billion in street value from one of the mansions of another billionaire drug baron, Ugochukwu Nsofor Chukwukadibia, in the highbrow residential estate, Victoria Garden City (VGC), Lagos.

The arrest of Ugochukwu who is the Chairman of Autonation Motors Ltd came barely two months after NDLEA uncovered a methamphetamine clandestine laboratory in the residence of another drug kingpin in the estate, Chris Emeka Nzewi, who was arrested on Saturday 30th July along with a chemist, Sunday Ukah, who cooked the illicit drug for him.

A statement from the agency explained that at least, 258.74 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and various precursor chemicals used for the production of the toxic drug were recovered from Nzewi’s home during his arrest.

It pointed out that following credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives on Friday, September

30, stormed the Plot A45 Road 2 home of the 52-year-old billionaire drug kingpin.

“A search of the expansive mansion led to the discovery of 443 cartons of Tramadol Hydrochloride 225mg, which contains 13, 451, 466 pills of the drug while some cartons were already burnt in a fire incident in the house same day.

“Before his arrest, Ugochukwu

who hails from Ihiala local government area of Anambra state has been on the agency’s watch list as one of those behind the tramadol drug cartel in Nigeria.

Preliminary investigation shows that he has about six mansions within the VGC, one of which he uses to warehouse the tramadol consignment, while he lives in the one at Plot Z-130 Road 67 and

another as his office.

“Five exotic vehicles have also been located in two of his mansions, out of which two SUVs including a bullet jeep have been successfully removed to the Agency’s facility,” it added.

Reacting to the latest drug haul, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), was said

to have commended the officers and men involved in the operation for their diligence while also appreciating Nigerians for supporting the agency in its arduous task of ridding the country of the menace of drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

According to him, “I’ll like to reassure Nigerians and other stakeholders wherever they are

APC, PDP Trade Tackles over Benue’s Voting against LG Autonomy George Okoh in Makurdi The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition People Democratic Party(PDP) have started trading tackles over the failure of the passage of the local government autonomy bill, which required state assemblies to pass.

The Benue State APC chapter, said it “views with dismay, the rejection of the proposed autonomy bill for local governments by the Hon. Titus Uba-led Benue State House of Assembly. Votes by state houses of assembly are a key requirement in the constitutional

amendment to grant autonomy for local governments in the country.”

According to APC, the vote against the autonomy bill by the assembly showed total disconnect between the assembly members and the plight of people at the grassroots, which they were supposed to represent.

In a press statement by the party's publicity Secretary, Mr Dan Morgan Ihomun, the party said the development also “goes to show that members of the current Benue state house of assembly dominated by the Peoples Democratic Party have deliberately refused to have

anything positive to do with history and posterity, which ironically is the desire of every public official.

"Amongst the three tiers of government, the federal, states and local governments, the local government system is closer to the people and its projects and policies have direct bearing and impact on the people in the grassroots more than the other two.

“Over the years, the local government system in Nigeria have been gagged, annexed and destroyed by the state governors across the country. The local governments have, therefore, been unable to

carry out their roles as specified in the Constitution of Nigeria, thereby reducing their powers, performance and development at the grassroots."

However, the PDP while countering APC’s allegations, said the APC was rather responsible for the failure to pass the LG autonomy bill and not Uba or the state assembly.

The PDP, through its publicity Secretary, Bemgba Iyortyom, viewed as most unfortunate, a statement credited to the local chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in which it accused the Benue State house of assembly and its Speaker,

NLC: Workers,Youth Determined to Change Nigeria for Better Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said the reason workers and youths are participating in the ongoing electioneering process is to fix the country's politics in such a way that it would, “deliver the Nigeria of our dream.”

In a goodwill message to workers to mark Nigeria's 62nd Independent Anniversary, signed by NLC President, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, the congress said the working people of Nigeria have refused to give up on their dreams for a better and greater country despite the challenges they were facing.

The NLC said it was this same reason, “that most of our talented and dedicated workers have refused to leave the country

located across the country and beyond of our preparedness to work with them on this onerous task of saving our people from the drug scourge.

“This partnership is a further warning to the drug barons and cartels that there is no hiding place for them anymore, because we remain on their trail and we’ll always get them.”

despite the allures of better pay and living conditions abroad.”

It further stated that it was the dream of better Nigeria that has kept many of, “our health workers in Nigeria despite the fact that their counterparts earn a fortune.”

Also it stated that many, “of our lecturers and other university workers whose services are highly sought after outside the shores of our country have remained in the country despite several disappointments from the system.

"School teachers, our pilots, our farmers, our traders, our artisans, our engineers, our surveyors, our lawyers, our civil servants, our armed services personnel.

“We can say the same for our resilient youth who have refused to join the outbound caravan in search of greener pastures.

Instead of leaving, our young people have taken seriously the dream of a greater country.

"This is the reason they have dared fear in this season of political contestation. They are asking the right questions. They are making effective demands.

"They have taken their own destiny. They said they are not giving or accepting ‘shishii.’ They say they are marching the path trod by our heroes past who delivered the Independence we are celebrating today. Nigerian youths have led the way in showing us that the politics that will deliver the Nigeria of our dream is the type that must transcend religious and ethnic bias," it said.

NLC said part of the desire of Nigerians was to have a country where there are actual

and affordable public services and infrastructure including well maintained roads with decent drainages, potable public water supply, and a clean environment.

The labour movement further said that Nigerians are yearning for a country where public transport works and where there is zero tolerance for out-of-school children and where no mother needs to die trying to give life.

"The Nigeria of our dream is a Nigeria where university students will not stay at home for seven months simply because elected public officials prefer to send their kids abroad and forget the kids of workers and the poor at home.

"Despite the mounting challenges, we do not only celebrate epochal moments such as the political Independence of our

country in light of present afflictions but in reminisce of the giant footprints of our forebears, heroes of our liberation from colonial rule and great men and women particularly workers whose sweat and blood provided us a basis for a dream of a great Nigeria – a dream that will never die.

"Dear Nigerian workers and compatriots, it is to this dream that we must address our minds on an occasion as the celebration of our 62nd national independence.

“The truth is that however dark the night is, the day will surely break. The organised labour has no doubt that Nigeria’s daybreak is just ahead of us. We say so because the dream of a great Nigeria which is beating heavily on our chest will never die," it added.

Titus Tyoapine Uba, of scuttling passage of the local government autonomy Bill.

"APC particularly sought in their statement to label Engr. Titus Uba as an enemy of the people over the matter, and this we understand to be motivated by politics being that he is the 2023 governorship candidate of our great party, and naturally a target for such attacks.

"Yet, the opposition party's diatribe is pathetically ineffective as a weapon against the weight of facts, which places the blame squarely at its doorsteps for the failure of the local government autonomy bill.

"According to a March 5, 2018 report carried in Vanguard Newspaper, 15 different bills on constitution amendment were sent

by Nigeria's National Assembly to the 36 states houses of Assembly, including the Local Government Autonomy Bill, which only 10 states voted on, out of which 8, Kwara, Benue, Niger, Plateau, Bauchi, Cross River, Bayelsa and Ogun States, voted in support of, while two, Edo and Imo States, rejected it" "The report further averred that Lagos and Rivers States, had not even worked on the Bill, while the remaining 24, which joined the other 10 states to transmit it to the National Assembly, said they had stepped the Bill down for further consultation,” it stated.

Conversely, the Benue PDP held that it was APC with majority control of the legislative arms of government, both at the national and state levels, that stood as an obstacle to local government autonomy.

34

TUESDAY, ͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

CAPITAL MARKET...

L-R: Head of Department Banking and Finance University of Abuja, Dr. Yekeen Abdul-Maliq; Director, Centre for Undergraduate Research University of Abuja, Dr. Taibat Atoyebi; President, Association of Capital Market Academics of Nigeria, Prof. Uche Uwaleke; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Alhaji Aliyu Ahmed; 2nd Vice Chairman, Association of Capital Market Academics of Nigeria, Dr. Hussaini PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI Mohammed, and Secretary, Association of Capital Market Academics of Nigeria, George Robort Ibekwe, during their visit to the Permanent Secretary, in Abuja...at weekend .

Gbajabiamila: Nigeria Needs Leaders with Capacity, Character to Manage Change Says youths losing patience Udora Orizu in Abuja The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila yesterday said that the country was in desperate need of leaders with the capacity and character to manage change.

Gbajabiamila who stated this during the opening ceremony of the Legislative Mentorship Initiative (LMI) in Abuja, said the consequences of the changes happening in the world today would depend on how, “we respond, the decisions we make,

and the ideas we choose to invest in.”

While noting that Nigeria and across the world, rapid and relentless changes were being experienced, the Speaker said some of the changes were technological while others were

economical and political.

The Speaker underscored the need to reform the approach to policy-making across all levels of government in Nigeria.

According to him, it was unrealistic to expect the youth to commit to sustaining a de-

Nigerians Expect Positive Changes in 2023, Says Emir of Kano Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Emir of Kano, His Eminence Aminu Ado Bayero has expressed optimism that things would get better in the country despite the present challenges.

Bayero, who was represented

by Maaji Kano, Lamido Umar Yola, at an event organised by the civil society groups in

Abuja, in preparation for the 2023 general elections, said Nigeria wants positive changes in the country as well as leaders who could stand for their people.

“So, I think we need to do so much from top to bottom because the population of Nigerians downwards, those are the decision makers. And the people can use their votes to

Firm Partners NHF to Promote Heart Health

Mary Nnah

In its quest to promote wellness for a sustainable living, iFitness, one of the leading fitness and wellness platforms in Africa has partnered with the Nigerian Heart Foundation (NHF), working with the Cycling Federation of Nigeria (CFN) to hold a ‘Bike-a-Heart-Shape-Route.

Bike-a-Heart-Shape-Route is to be organised to commemorate the World Heart Day 2022.

The ride event which is scheduled to hold between October 8th and 15th of October, 2022, in Abuja and Lagos, would witness cyclers from cycling clubs ride a mapped-out heart-shaped route, carrying banners with healthy heart messages and having predetermined publicity stops to educate and enlighten the citizens.

The Lagos mainland ride would begin and end at the iFitness Acme Branch Gym. Speaking at a media briefing held in Lagos, the CEO, iFitness, Mr. Folusho Ogunwale, expressed excitement about the partnership and considered it a worthy cause to pursue, saying, “this is going to

be beneficial to millions of people.”

“This partnership is not about iFitness, it’s the bigger picture, it’s about the fact that if we are partnering with anyone who is driving a good cause, it means we are going far and beyond the gym.

“I don’t see an end to this because it’s for a good cause and we are going to be partnering with other initiatives that have a similar agenda of helping mankind stay healthier and live happier.

“We are ready to go the long haul and partner with as many foundations as possible as long as the cause is for the benefit of all,” Ogunwale said One of the highlights of the press conference was the presentation of a Spinning Bike by the CEO of iFitness to the First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu who was represented by Mrs. Patience Olamide Ogunbiyi, Member, Committee of Wives of Lagos State officials.

In response, Ogunbiyi commended the Nigerian Heart Foundation for the initiative and also expressed gratitude to iFitness for the partnership.

come and vote and select good leaders,” Bayero said.

On its part, the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations on Gender Equality, Child Protection, Leadership and Good Governance (CCSLGG) said the nation must get it right in 2023, as far as elections were concerned.

The group which said its aim was all about how to get it right in Nigeria in terms of leadership of the country and governance, also said its aim was to ensure that the people’s voice was heard.

The National President of CCSLGG, Elizabeth Oziri, while speaking with journalists said: “We have had enough of just the normal ways. We want the people’s voice to be heard.

“The people should be able to decide who will lead them in 2023. The people should be

able to take a decision on who their leaders should be.

“They should go out and google and search the history of these leaders. They should go and check them through and confirm the stuff they are made of.

“As far as we are concerned, we have to get it right this time.

We are no longer ready to go for vote buying, vote selling and mediocre, people who just come in and help us destroy the nation the more.”

Oziri further said as the country moves closer to the elections, the civil society organisations would be playing major roles such as advocacy, enlightenment of the society about their right to vote and partnering with the government as far as monitoring and observing elections are concerned.

mocracy that hasn’t lived up to their expectations, “hence, young people are losing patience with the incremental approach long adopted and adhered to.”

He therefore advised that to nurture democracy in Nigeria, concerted effort must be made to reconceptualise how politics was practiced.

The Speaker added that the LMI mandate was to develop the leaders who would shape the future of the country and the world.

Gbajabiamila added: "There is also a great deal of demographic and population change. All are happening at the same time. It is clear to anybody paying attention that the old equilibrium is unsettled, and the rules of the old order no longer apply.

“What is less clear is what happens next. The quality of our decision-making in politics and governance will define the course of our country. Whether we achieve progress, prosperity, peace, and security for all our people depends entirely on the capacity and competence of our political leadership.

"A significant portion of our population today are young people who have no experience of a military government and are not conditioned to see democracy as an absolute good for its own sake.

“They bear no allegiance to politics and politicians, and their judgment of governing systems

and institutions is determined by whether those individuals, systems and institutions meet their expectations.

“For these young people, Nigeria has been a democracy for all or most of their lives.

As more of them come of age, they are questioning the systems and structures of politics of governance and challenging flaws and limitations as they see them.

“They are not as inclined as generations before them to excuse the failures of democracy because the alternative of military rule is worse. And they will not accept incremental progress when radical reform is necessary and possible."

In his remarks, Director General of National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Suleiman Abubakar expressed concern over the poor perception of parliaments among the three arms of government.

He said as the direct representatives of the people, the institute of the legislature was not only the cornerstone of democracy but the most accessible and accountable to the people.

Earlier, LMI Director, Dapo Oyewole, explained that the 74 participants were selected out of over 4,000 applicants from the 36 States of the Federation, for the Legislative Mentorship Initiative programme.

Edo Recommits to Workers’ Welfare, Charges on Diligence, Hard Work The Edo State Government has urged workers in the state to be diligent and committed to effectively discharging their duties so as to complement the government’s efforts at improving the livelihoods of the people and ensuring economic prosperity for the state.

The Edo State Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa Esq. gave the charge when he received officers recently sponsored on a training by the state government at the National Institute for Policy, and Strategic Studies (NIPSS),

Kuru, Plateau State between August 1st and 26th, 2022.

Okungbowa who reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the welfare of workers in the state, said the government is resolute in rewarding hard work with the view to encouraging productivity in the public service, adding, “That can only be achieved through concerted efforts at developing the manpower in the service.”

The Head of Service noted that the NIPSS course was part of the government’s effort at repositioning the civil and public Service through

training and retraining of the workers to enhance productivity with a view to achieving greater efficiency in the implementation of government ‘s policies and programmes aimed at bettering the lives of the people.

He urged the Officers to treat their assigned duties with the benefit of a broader horizon, leveraging the experience gained to impact the service.

Okungbowa said the Obasekiled administration’s impactful investments in the public service is to keep its personnel in the

position to effectively respond to the changing dynamics in global public administration, noting that “the training is an investment to ensuring that every civil servant is equipped with the needed tool to be able to contribute their quota to the Making Edo Great Again (MEGA) Agenda.”

Earlier, Mr. Ehigiamusoe Emmanuel, a beneficiary of the training programme, hailed the Governor Obaseki-led state government for the unprecedented reforms in the civil and public service.

35

TUESDAY, ͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

AT NIGERIA ENERGY EXHIBITION CONFERENCE...

L-R: Group President, Skipper Seil; Mr. Jitendar Sachdeva; Exhibition Director, Energy Portfolio, Middle East and Africa, Informal Markets, Mr. Ade Yesufu; Governor, Kaduna State; Mallam Nasir El-Rufai; and Former Member, House of Representatives, Nigeria, Dakuku Peterside, at the Nigeria Energy Exhibition and Conference held in Lagos...recently

Igini: It’s Impossible to Rig 2023 Polls, Elections’ll Be Won or Lost at Polling Units Chuks Okocha in Abuja Former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Barrister Mike Igini, has advised those planning to rig the 2023 general election to bury the thought, because the elections would be won or lost at the polling units.

This is as he has applauded the current National Assembly for passing the new Electoral Act Amendments Bill, which President Muhammadu Buhari gave his assent to become the 2022 Electoral Act. Igini, who recently retired as the Akwa Ibom State REC, spoke on television programme, which was monitored in Abuja yesterday.

According to him, the 2022 Electoral Act, has made polling units the “Center of the Universe”, pointing out that the new Electoral Act has given INEC unfettered powers to deploy technology in the conduct of the elections, the introduction of the Bimodal Voting Accreditation System (BVAS) and its

sister (iREV) would make it highly impossible to rig the elections at the polling units level anymore.

“The 2022 Electoral Act, has made polling units the Center of the Universe. This means that elections will now be determined in the Polling Units. The era of fraudulent electoral officers, changing election results may have gone, because the results harvested in the polling units must be declared right there and results transmitted to the INEC elections viewing portal,” he said.

Igini posited that the use of Form EC8A, where the Presiding Officer would fill in the results into the form and transfer or transmit same to INEC, iREV has become a game changer as the results could no longer be manipulated at collation centers.

“In line with Section 60 of the 2022 Electoral Act, the POs must transmit and also physically take Form EC8A, where the results harvested in the Polling Units have been entered to the Collation Centers. Woe betide anyone, who will alter the results already transmitted to the INEC election

results viewing portal,” Igini stated.

Igini, a chieftain of Civil Society Organisations (CSO), however, said that there were elements in Nigeria, who were not comfortable with the 2022 Electoral Act and were

hell bent to sabotage it.

His words: “It has to be said that there are those who are not comfortable with the 2022 Electoral Act and are hell bent to sabotage it.

In any system, there are those who

Health commissioners across the country under the auspices of the Nigeria Health Commissioners’ Forum would be having a 2-day workshop beginning today in Abuja.

The event titled: ‘Primary Healthcare Financing Forum,’ was meant to discuss the role of states in Primary Health Care Financing in Nigeria.

According to a statement by the Forum, it would be a hybrid event with in-person and virtual participation.

The Nigeria Health commissioners’ forum is Nigeria's community of practice and learning platform

created by the 36 States’ health commissioners across Nigeria.

This year, in collaboration with the Nigeria Governors' Forum, they would be hosting the first collaborative event which would focus on Primary Health Care financing, particularly the role sub-national systems must play in the process.

It said that primary health centres all over the world, require adequate financing and service delivery, according to an invitation issued by the Ekiti State Commissioner for Health and Human Service, Dr. Filani Oyebanji.

The statement added that high performing health systems

Bill into law and President Buhari to assent to it to give Nigerians the 2022 Electoral Act, which has granted INEC more powers to give Nigerians free, fair and credible elections going forward.

Group Faults Kaduna Govt over Alleged Killing of ‘Herders’ John Shiklam in Kaduna Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressive Union (BEPU), Kaduna State, has faulted reports alleging that two herders were lynched by angry mob on Sunday in Birnin-Gwari community, saying those killed were terrorists’ mercenaries from Sudan.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, had in a statement by the commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said the two herders were

killed by a mob in Birnin Gwari community.

“The mob forcefully seized the two herders from security personnel on unsubstantiated claims that they were linked with banditry. The mob then lynched and burnt the herders, though they had not been found complicit of the allegations," he said.

However, in a statement yesterday, Chairman of the BEPU, Ishaq Kasai, said, information available to the BEPU showed that, the lynched 'herders' were

Health Commissioners Meet on Primary Healthcare Financing Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

want to sabotage it, the Electoral Act is not spared.”

Igini poured encomium on the current National Assembly members for working hard to pass the new Electoral Act Amendments

recognise the importance of having an effective PHC service as a key driver of achieving universal health coverage (UHC), adding that strengthening PHC strongly relies on the Primary Health Care (PHC) structures across Nigeria, to deliver individual based care and essential public health functions to all.

Although Nigeria has seen marked improvements in service delivery of primary health care, increasing financing and improving current financing arrangements can catalyse the country’s goal of achieving UHC by 2030, the statement emphasised.

Filani enumerated the objectives the event to include; taking stock

of approaches to financing PHC in states, identifying common challenges and policy responses, and developing a shared understanding on the way forward for financing PHC in a comprehensive and sustainable manner.

According to Filani, “The event looks promising, which shows the importance the ecosystem places on this type of activity. We are grateful to all our partners and everyone that has registered.”

He said the Primary Health Care financing forum would attract participants from the public sector, organised private sector, development partners, the academia, civil society organisations and the media.

terrorists mercenaries from the Republic of Sudan.

Kasai said the alleged lynched persons were not herdsmen as falsely reported earlier but international criminal syndicates that have been terrorising Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area.

He said the BEPU, was a peaceful union and against any form of mob action under any guise, warning the citizens not to resort to taking laws in to their hands irrespective of frustration and provocation.

The statement urged citizens to always channel their grievances to appropriate authorities and above all, continue to devote themselves to prayers for divine intervention in the current insecurity situation.

"Clearly, while the lynching of suspected bandits is highly condemnable, the union observes with deep concern the way the issue has been reported to deliberately portray Birnin Gwari in the bad light and targeted to prove a false narrative on the issue to endanger the helpless innocent citizens of Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area.

"While we appreciate government’s resolve to investigate and bring perpetrators of this primitive act to book. We equally observe that, government officials seem to be so in haste in issuing the sensitive statement without scrutiny of the identities of the 'alleged herders' that were lynched by mob action.

Available records which BEPU are privy to, shows that, the lynched 'herders' were terrorists mercenaries

from the Republic of Sudan.

"Therefore, the alleged lynched persons are not herdsmen as falsely reported earlier but international criminal syndicates that have been terrorising Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area ( ID cards attached).

BEPU findings revealed that the alleged lynching occurred after the suspects forcefully snatched a motorcycle from a farmer at the outskirts of Birnin-Gwari main town.

"Therefore, BEPU is concerned to observe that, the statement issued by government on the issue did not equally captured and commiserate with the innocent citizens of Birnin-Gwari that were attacked at different locations for the past five days. More so, on the same day, when the mob action occurred, one driver was killed and scores were kidnapped at Dogon Hawa and Tabanni areas.

"This is in addition to killings and kidnapping of innocent citizens of Birnin-Gwari on the roads, in farms and their homes, which have become a daily occurrence.

BEPU once more, appreciates the effort of security agencies towards restoring peace in our area and urged Governments officials in showing concerns to any ugly situation to always be in a cautious mood in issuing any statement that is capable of undermining the peace-loving, helpless people that are under siege by the terrorists.

This is with view to averting further escalation of the situation," the group stated.

36

TUESDAY, ͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

SECOND EDITION OF EKITI ONI UYI HONOURS AWARDS...

R-L: Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; presenting an award to a former Deputy Governor, Prof. Kolapo Olusola-Eleka; and his wife, Mrs. Janet Olusola, during the second edition of Ekiti Oni Uyi Honours Awards in Ado-Ekiti…on Sunday.

NNPP: Kwankaso in Race to Win, Not Playing Spoiler's Game Atiku, Obi, Kwankwaso no match for Tinubu, says Opeifa Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The New Nigerian People's Party (NNPP), has its presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, was in the race to win the February 18 presidential election and not playing spoiler’s game.

National Secretary, Mr. Dipo Olayoku, in a statement yesterday after an emergency meeting of the

National Working Committee (NWC), dismissed insinuations that Kwankwaso was a spoiler in the next year's presidential election.

The party maintained that Kwankwaso was the one to beat in the 2023 presidential contest and therefore could not be a spoiler or a pretender.

A weekly newspaper had raised the question: "Kwankwaso, a

2023: Daniel Stresses Need for Peaceful Poll James Sowole in Abeokuta

A former Governor of Ogun State and All Progressives Congress (APC) Senatorial Candidate for Ogun East, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has flagged off his campaign with a call on the people of the state, to be peaceful about the exercise and shun any act that could cause violence before, during and after the poll.

Daniel, at the event held at the Akarigbo Palace, Sagamu and attended by top APC leaders and politicians from Ogun and Lagos States, also used the occasion to empower his constituents with distribution of a tractor, a Sport Utility Van, grinding machines, generators, sewing machines, hairdressing equipment and others materials in conjunction with Gateway Front Foundation (GFF).

The Senatorial candidate, said the Electoral Act, has put a stop to violence during elections, saying, the use of Permanent Voter Card (PVC), was the magic that people now need to choose their leaders.

"My sincere advice to everyone here is that you should go and collect your PVC, if you have not done that because that is the only instrument that you can use to elect, who will represent you.

"It is not enough for you to collect the PVC, on the day of

election, take your card and go to your polling unit and vote for APC candidates. This is the right thing to do. Do not engage in any act that can cause violence, which may lead to cancellation of your votes," he said.

Daniel, who was delighted by the large turnout of people at the rally, said he was elated by the presence of the representative of the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Chief Wale Edun.

The Lagos APC delegation, also included Senator Ganiyu Solomon and Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, just as one of his predecessors in Ogun East, Senator Gbenga Kaka, former deputy governors: Alhaja Salmot Badru and Yetunde Onanuga, and Chief Joju Fadairo, of Ogun State APC, were also in attendance.

Daniel, who said he had been with Tinubu, for a long time, enjoined the people of the state, to vote for him because it was by voting him that the people of the state, could benefit substantially.

The candidate said Tinubu, who was the Governor of Lagos State, from 1999 to 2007, influenced his performance, when he was the governor of Ogun State, adding that, many of his projects scattered around the state were still standing the test of time.

contender or spoiler"? But Olayoku, who also dismissed report on the storm in the party said, journalists and media houses should refuse to be used by some candidates to run the NNPP and its presidential candidate down.

"The report alleged that a chieftain of the party is a mole, working for another party and its presidential candidate. According to the report, this has placed the chieftain against the NNPP presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

"However, l want to state that nothing can be further from the truth than this. We, in the National Working Committee, consider these reports as the handiwork of fifth columnists, who have been trying

to cause disaffection in the party and they will never succeed.

"They had tried in the past to plant such discord that our presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, was going to step down for another presidential candidate. Since that couldn't fly, they have resorted to planting sundry stories against the party.

"As a political party, our mission and vision and that of our presidential candidate is very clear.

That mission and vision is to win the presidential election next year and to take the country out of the woods, which it has been in the last seven years.

"The meritorious and distinguished credentials of our presidential candidate, Sen. Rabiu

Musa Kwankwaso in public service and all the political offices that he held are indisputable and no one can fault them,” he said.

Meanwhile, a former Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, has said the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, his Labour Party (LP)opponent, Peter Obi as well as Kwankwaso were no match for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Opeifa stated this yesterday in Abuja at a Capacity Building for Affiliated Support Groups and Independence Day Celebration, with the theme: Tinubu/Shettima, A Pan Nigeria Project organised

by Asiwaju Beyond 2023 Project.

He said the Tinubu/Shettima ticket presents the kind of leaders Nigeria has never had before, saying this was the first time in history that the country would have a presidential and the vice presidential candidates coming from private sector backgrounds.

The APC Chieftain noted that in the case of Tinubu, he worked in the private sector; he worked for international companies like Deloitte and Mobil, saying no international company would hire someone, who is not brilliant, while Senator Kashim Shettima worked for Zenith Bank.

"Our candidate is a brilliant Nigerian. It tells you we are not bringing a man without shoes and without a brain,” he said.

Bishop Onaga Replaces Mbaka as Spirit Director of Enugu Adoration Ministry Priest wasn’t removed, would return after observing solitude, says catholic secretariat Gideon Arinze in Enugu The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu, Callistus Onaga has replaced Fr Ejike Mbaka as the Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministries, Enugu, Nigeria (AMEN).

Mbaka, who made this known during the Sunday Mass, disclosed that the bishop also appointed Fr. Anthony Amadi to serve as the new spiritual director of AMEN in his stead.

He said that the bishop also directed him to proceed to the monastery where he was expected to stay for some time.

"I wouldn't know how long; but the church has appointed Fr Anthony Amadi, one of us, to be overseeing all affairs of the ministry, to be assisted by other priests, pending my return, by the

grace of God," Mbaka said during the mass.

Thousands of faithful had thronged the adoration from everywhere following an earlier announcement that Bishop Onaga had lifted a ban on the ministry.

They were however disappointed when Mbaka announced that he had been replaced.

Earlier in the service, Mbaka explained that the ministry had not fully opened as some programmes, including the weekly Friday all-night adoration remained suspended till further notice.

He said, "Our Sunday Masses and Wednesdays' 'E No Dey Again' programmes would continue, while others such as Friday all-night adoration remains suspended."

As soon as Mbaka mentioned the new priest's name, the congrega-

tion shouted in expression of their disapproval of the bishop's decision.

Eyewitnesses say that Amadi was nearly lynched by angry worshipers who already got hold of him after the announcement. He was however rescued by security personnel who were present at the time.

Meanwhile the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) has, through its National Director of Social Communications, Padre Mike Nsikak Umoh clarified that Mbaka would return after observing some period of solitude.

This followed the protests that greeted Mbaka’s announcement that he had been replaced on Sunday.

In a statement on Monday, Umoh said Amadi would only oversee the ministry in the interim, adding that it was recommended that Mbaka take time away in solitude, in order

to listen to what the Spirit of God has to tell him, While quoting the Director of Communications, Enugu Diocese, Fr. Benjamin Achi, the CSN spokesman said Mbaka was also allowed to propose a priest to administer, in the interim, to the faithful at the Adoration Ministry.”

“He added that what every true Christian, and especially every true Catholic, should do at this moment is to commit our dear brother and priest, Fr. Mbaka, to God in prayer so that he may, through this moment, encounter God specially, come out stronger and better in recognising his will for him and gain more graces to channel those rare gifts for His glory and for the sanctification of the people of God and society at large,"Umoh said in the statement.

TUESDAY OCTOBER 4, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

37

NEWS

SET FOR GENDER AND INCLUSION SUMMIT…

L-R: Head, Strategic Communications and Advocacy, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Mr. Yinka Iyinolakan; Deputy Director, Policy Innovation Centre (PIC), Dr. Osasuyi Dirisu; Chief Executive Officer(CEO), NESG, Mr. ‘Laoye Jaiyeola, and Gender and Inclusion Advisor, PIC, Kemi Omole, at a press conference on the PIC’s upcoming Gender and Inclusion Summit 2022 in Abuja…recently

Bandits Demand Farm Produce, Cattle as Ransom in Niger Community Laleye Dipo in Minna

Bandits operating in the Mariga Local of Government Area of Niger State have resorted to demanding farm produce and cows from communities

to stop being attacked by the Gunmen. Each household in four communities in the local government are to give five bags of any of their harvests in addition to five big cows.

This latest development

Many APC Supporters Defect to PDP in Bauchi Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi Ahead of next year general election, thousands of All Progressive Congress (APC) members in Bauchi State have dumped the party for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which is in power in the state.

The defectors in their thousands were officially received and welcomed into the party by the Senior Special Assistant (SSA), Domestics Affairs to the State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, Alhaji Muhammed Abubakar Adamu Barde, during a ceremony held in Duguri District.

The SSA to the governor led other stakeholders from Alkaleri and Kirfi Local Government Areas to receive the defectors from the APC to the PDP. Leaders of the APC members said that they decided to dump the party in order to support the re-election efforts of Governor Bala Mohammed as their son who has executed many developmental

projects in all the nooks and crannies of the local government and Duguri District in particular.

They pledged to support the governor for the success of the PDP at all levels in the 2023 general elections.

The SSA told the mammoth crowd that Bala Mohammed as their son has done excellently well in the last three years of his stewardship and that as people who benefited immensely from many laudable projects they must set the pace for other people to emulate.

Those that spoke at the ceremony included, PDP candidate for House of Representatives Alkaleri/Kirfi , Hon Abdulkadir Dewu , PDP Candidate for Duguri / Gwana and that of Pali State Constituencies, Hon Bala Dan, Hon Yusuf Bako and Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed”s Special Adviser on Special Services, Yakubu Hashimu Kumbala among others.

Nigeria Re-elected as ITU Council“TheMember Nigeria was yesterday re-elected re-election of Nigeria as a as a Council member of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations specialised agency that oversees global telecommunication operations.

The country will serve on the Council again from 2023-2026.

The election of Nigeria and other countries into different regional groups that constitute ITU Council, was the highpoint of the Plenipotentiary Conference 2022 (PP-22) ongoing in Bucharest, the capital city of the Republic of Romania.

Commenting on Nigeria’s reelection as ITU Council member, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Prof. Umar Danbatta, thanked the ITU member states for the confidence it has in Nigeria expressed by the re-elected into the ITU Council, in which the country has been playing critical role over the years.

member of ITU Council for the next four years, again, points to the globally-recognised leadership role Nigeria is playing in Africa and at the level of ITU Council in the area of telecommunications policy formulation and technical regulations development to drive ITU’s mission and vision.”

The Nigerian delegation was successfully led to the global event by the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami. Other members of the delegation include the Chairman, Board of Commissioners of NCC, Prof. Adeolu Akande and Danbatta.

At the conference, which started on September 26, 2022 and will end on October 14, 2022, member states at the event voted on the composition of the next ITU Council and the 12 representatives to serve on the Radio Regulations Board (RRB) for the next four years.

is coming on the heels of an attack on a community in Lapai local government area of the State where 12 villagers were abducted.

It was learnt that the bandits sent the demand notices to villagers in Gulbinboka, Dusai, Ben’s and Bangi last week after the village head of Muhoro Alhaji Usman Abara and 14 of his subjects were killed when they refused to pay a N50 million ransom to the bandits to stop their being attacked.

The village head was said to have been killed when he refused to direct his subjects to contribute the N50 million ransom.

After he was murdered the bandits reportedly sacked the village, killing 14 people and abducting several others.

The demand of the bandits has already created fears in the villagers making them to start moving out of their villages in droves.

The state Police Commissioner,

Mr. Monday Bala Kuryas, who was contacted on the demand of the bandits said the command was yet to receive such report, but was quick to add that the command “will not leave any stone unturned to fortify every part of the state” adding that men of the police tactical squad will be dispatched to the said communities.

A report from Lapai indicates that gunmen attacked Angwan Yusif in Kpada ward of the local government area in the early

hours of yesterday kidnapping not less than 12 villagers.

The gunmen also rustled several cattle and dispossessed the villagers of their valuable items.

A community leader in the area, who preferred anonymity, told newsmen in Minna that the raid by the bandits have become a daily affair.

According to him, the bandits had set up not less than 10 camps in the Azza forests from where they launch their attacks.

NDLEA Arrests 121 Suspects, Seals 13 Properties in Kaduna Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kaduna State Command, have arrested 121 suspected drug traffickers and sealed 13 properties belonging to them.

The NDLEA Commander, Mr. Umar Adoro, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Kaduna that the operation was conducted in

September.

Adoro said 27 notorious drug joints were dismantled across the state.

He said the illicit drug outlets were located in Kawo, Kabala Costain, Numba Zango, Zaria City, Sabon gari, Nupe street and Unguwar Muazu. Others are Unguwar shanu, Maraban Jos, Dan Magaji, Hayin Banki and Kafanchan among others.

He added that among the 121 suspects, 13 were females.

The commander said the drugs seized included 247,172kg Indian hemp, 0.041kg Cocaine, 0.004kg of heroin, 0.363kg of Tramadol, 74, 441kg Psychotropic substance and 0.001kg Methamphetamine.

“The grand total weight of drugs seized was 322,476kg within the period under review,” he added.

The Commander appealed

to citizens for timely and useful information on illicit drug dealers, to enable the agency to take prompt action.

He advised parents and guardians to always be watchful of their wards on the friends they moved with all the time.

He said the war against drug trafficking and consumption would continue until it was brought to a standstill in the state.

Soldier Rescues Obidient Supporters from Jungle Justice in Lagos Rebecca Ejifoma A Twitter user and “OBidients” supporter, John Chinweolu, popularly known as ObiFlagBoy has narrated how a military officer saved him and his friend from being lynched by thugs in the Oshodi area of Lagos on Sunday.

ObiFlagBoy said he was hoisting the flag of the Labour Party(LP), showing

the presidential candidate, Peter Obi and his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed as part of his weekly flag awareness movement.

He tweeted: At Oshodi, some group of guys were calling us from the terminal.” He, however, took to his heels upon sensing danger. While I ran, I didn’t know they captured my friend who is the cameraman. I got to the bus park, but I couldn’t

escape because the bus was still loading.

“They captured me like a thief.

They dragged us to the terminal.

Their chairman snatched the flag from us and used the stick to beat us,” he recounted.

As seen in a video trending on the internet, the victim claimed that the thugs poured petrol on his friend. “A soldier, who saw them dragging us to that spot, followed us and immediately

rescued us from them.

“I don’t know what would have happened to my friend and me right now if not for the soldier,” he bemoaned.

As seen in the video, ObiFlagBoy has a cut on his lower lip and fresh bruises on his left wrist. He and his friend sustained injuries and swollen faces on both victims. “We are seriously having internal bleeding,” he tweeted.

Osun APC Primary: Court Judgment Dead on Arrival, Says Oyetola’s Counsel Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo The counsel to Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, Mr. Ibrahim Lawal, has described as charade and preposterous the ruling of a Federal High Court nullifying the nomination of the governor as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the July 16 governorship election.

He said the judgment was dead on arrival, noting that a final verdict had been pronounced by the Supreme Court in a similar matter last year.

Lawal described the case filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a nullity, distraction and deliberate plot by the PDP to scuttle the substantive case of the petitioners, Oyetola and the

APC, before the tribunal.

The legal practitioner stated these while reacting to some issues raised on a radio programme in Osogbo yesterday.

Lawal expressed confidence in the ability of the legal team of Governor Oyetola to overturn the judgment of the Federal High Court, saying: “We are 100 percent convinced that this decision of the

court against our client cannot see the light of the day.”

The counsel argued that the decision and the consequence of nominating a candidate rests on the congress of the party at the state level as affirmed by the Supreme Court in the case of Eyitayo Jegede and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 2021.

Keep Phones Aside, Read Books, Author Advises Youths The author of the ‘Power of the Secret Place’, Kingsley Onigbo, has called on young people to keep their phones aside and read books in order to gain knowledge and wisdom.

Onigbo made the appeal in Abuja at the launch of the book -“Power of the Secret Place” ,which dwelt on spirituality and

promoting societal values.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the author started working on the book in 2012 and was able to put it together through prayers and wisdom.

The author said promoting reading culture and growing individual spiritual life was

necessary for the advancement of society.

Onigbo called on writers and publishers to ensure that books were gender-sensitive and not negatively stereotyping others.

He said that reading enhances deeper knowledge and makes one more educated.

“It is a re-awakening call to

every individual to imbibe the culture of reading.

“I had gone to the mountain and prayed; I asked God for knowledge and wisdom to help the church and society.

“Whatever we see in the physical has a spiritual meaning and we have to connect with God to get the right meanings.

TUESDAY OCTOBER 4, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

38

NEWSXTRA

CATCHING THEM YOUNG…

L-R: Head, Marketing and Communication, Advans La Fayette Microfinance Bank, Kayode Abraham; Project Manager, Fanny Belhomme; Head of Legal, Compliance and Governance, Jennifer Halim-Ubahakwe; winner of the bank’s Essay Competition, Omidiji Dabira; Managing Director, Gaetan Debuchy, and Head of Business Development, Olawale Raheem, during the prize-giving ceremony in Lagos…recently SUNDAY ADIGUN

Flooding: CLO Calls for FG’s Intervention in Anambra The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has appealed to the federal government to come to aid of the suffering victims of devastating floods in Anambra.

This is contained in a statement

tagged “Matter of Urgent Public Importance”, issued yesterday in Enugu by Mr. Vincent Ezekwueme and Mr. Chidi Mbah, Chairman and Secretary of the organisation.

It said that flood had ravaged

‘2023 Opportunity to Change Narratives of Poor Leadership in Nigeria’ Hammed Shittu in Ilorin A former Minister of Sports and Youths Development and now Kwara Central Senatorial Candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 General Elections, Mr. Bolaji Abdullahi, has said that the elections must provide opportunity for the teeming voters to change the narratives of poor leadership in the country.

Abdulahi, who is fondly called “Omoluabi” by his teeming supporters in Ilorin, Kwara State’s capital, made the remark yesterday in Ilorin during a political debate programme that was organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Kwara State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

He said that it is no over statement that the current leadership in the country have broken the fabrics of the people in view of the alleged insensitivity to the plight of the people.

He stated that the poor handling of the nation’s economy

and insecurity among others have brought untold hardship to many people and caused disaffection among many families in the country.

Abdullahi opined that the next elections would provide a chance to reset the nation’s growth by rejecting politicians that have brought untold hardship to the populace by electing people with good capacity and capability so as to move the nation forward.

The former editor of THISDAY Newspaper also said that his agenda at the national assembly if elected is to bring quality representation that would transform the lives of the people of Kwara Central Senatorial District into economic prosperity.

He said that his big ideas of leadership would go along way to initiate laws that would add more values to the lives of the people.

The PDP’s due to present challenges in the area, adding that youth in the district should be encouraged to do science courses in order to boost economic development.

more than five local governments, mainly in Anambra East, Anambra West, Ayamelum, Ogbaru and Awka South.

It added that the menace also displaced more than 30,000 persons, destroyed many farmlands, crops, schools, hospitals and houses.

“We commend the relentless efforts of Anambra Government, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Anambra

State Emergency Management Agency and other public spirited individuals in ameliorating the pathetic sufferings of victims.

“We extol the on-the-spot assessment of flood-ravaged areas by NEMA, SEMA and government officials to enable government know the extent of damage and proffer immediate and permanent solution to the menace.

“Federal government should

kindly dispatch palliatives and relief materials to the victims and their families,” it urged.

The statement said the CLO commended the government for constructing 13 internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps recently.

It called for immediate and urgent evacuation of displaced families to the IDP camps, to save lives, give hope and succour to the victims.

He said: “Government should

devise a means of continuous education for the children of victims of devastating Floods that had submerged many houses.

We equally seek for more help from NEMA, SEMA, political officers from affected local governments, public spirited individuals and stakeholders to work assiduously and contribute immensely towards ameliorating the pathetic problems of victims of flood disaster.”

Farm Manager Raises the Alarm over Threat to Life by Kidnappers in Kwara Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

A Farm Manager at Pampo village in Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State, Mr. Sogo Emmanuel Ogunmola, has raised the alarm over an alleged continuous threat to his life by the kidnappers who earlier abducted him before he was rescued by the combined efforts of the security agencies.

Ogunmola in a statement

issued in Ilorin and made available to journalists, however, called on the security agencies to come to his rescue so that he would not be kidnapped again.

He noted that following his release from kidnappers den, he has been receiving various calls threatening his life and that of his family that they would be kidnapped again.

According to him, “I’m calling on combined security agencies

to protect my life and that of my family towards ensuring that we are not kidnapped again.”

Suspected gunmen on June 24, 2022, had kidnapped the Farm Manager, Ogunmola, at Pampo village of Kwara State and demanded N20 million as ransom from his family before he could be released.

The victim and 10 workers of the farm were said to be working on the farm when

the gunmen stormed the farm.

It was gathered that upon invading the farm, the criminals were said to have shot sporadically in the air and kidnapped of the victims.

Sources closed to the village told journalists that the kidnappers were said to have abducted eight persons while the remaining two persons were said to have escaped into the bush.

Baptist Convention Urges Christians to Pray for Right Leaders Segun AwofadejiinBauchi The Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC) has challenged Christians in the country to pray earnestly for God to intervene in the situation of the country, especially against the myriad of self-inflicted challenges militating against the development of the country.

The Christians were particularly challenged to pray for the success of the 2023 general election so that

the country will remain a united entity beyond 2023.

The President of the NorthEast Baptist Conference of the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC), Rev Musa Likita, presented the challenge while delivering exhortation titled: ‘Let the new King Come’, at the 2022 Baptist Day held at the First Baptist Church, Yandoka Road in Bauchi last weekend.

Likita declared that Nigeria

found itself in the present precarious situation because it completely abandoned God and rely on self-will coupled with the selfish disposition of the leaders.

He took his reading from 2 Samuel 9:1-10, stressing that self-reliance always lead to selfdestruction because, according to him, “Any nation that abandons God will not make significant progress.” The clergyman lamented that 62 years after

Independence, Nigeria is still crawling, bedeviled by challenges that are not making it to move positively in all ramifications.

Likita lamented that: “Christians and Christianity has been relegated to the background in the scheme of things in the country, particularly in the northern region, as Christians are now being treated as second class citizens in the country, and they hardly get what belongs to them.”

A Chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Don Etiebet, has called on the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to step down for a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr. Udom Ekpoudom (rtd), to run for the Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District in

Etiebet, who is an elder statesman and former Minister of Petroleum, warned that a disgraceful defeat awaits Apkabio if he would contest the election.

He reasoned that “the four Federal Constituencies of Ukanafun/Oruk Anam, Ikot Ekpene/Essien Udim/Obot Akara, Ini/Ikono, Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika, making Akwa

Senatorial District had produced senators.”

He claimed that it is the opinion of all peace loving people of Annang land that “brother dey chop, brother no chop” is not good.

“And that this time around the Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency, which has not gone to the senate since 1960 should

The former petroleum minister noted that the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), has agreed to the arrangement hence Senator Christopher Ekpenyong from Ikot Ekpene/Essien Udim/Obot Akara Federal Constituency has stepped down for Mr. Emmanuel Enoidem from Etim Ekpo and Abak Federal Constituency to be the PDP’s senatorial candidate.

Bible Society Organises A’ Ibom APC Threatens to Vote another Party if Akpabio is Fielded Bible Quiz for the Blind Okon Bassey inUyo the 2023 general elections.

Ibom North West (Ikot Ekpene) be given the ticket.”

Students with visual disabilities Foundation, Mrs. Kalango Koko, from seven schools will gather at The Apostolic Church, Palmgrove, Lagos on Thursday October 6, 2022, to participate in the annual Bible quiz organised by The Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN).

In a release by the BSN’s Manager, Media and Public Relations , Benjamin Mordi, “Two students will represent each of the following participating schools in the 4th edition of the Bible quiz: Bethesda Home for the Blind, Mushin; Nigeria Farmcraft Centre for the Blind; Vocational School for the Blind, Oshodi; Kings College, Obalende; Lagos State Senior Model College, Agbowa-Ikosi; Lagos State Junior Model College, Agbowa- Ikosi, and Federal Government College, Ijaniki all in Lagos’’.

The Bible quiz, which will be chaired by Founder of Rainbow

is designed to provide a platform for people with visual impairment to engage with the word of God. The winner of the competition will go home with a cash prize of N100,000, the first runner-up will get N75,000, while the second runner-up will get N50,000.

According to Mr. Mordi, “Apart from organising the Bible quiz, the BSN also provides Braille Bible which costs N50,000 free of charge to any person with visual disabilities who can use it’’. ‘’The BSN is a not-for-profit interdenominational Christian organisation that translates the Bible into Nigerian languages, publishes, distributes, and raises funds for the Bible work. The organisation also organises programmes that engage people with the word of God to transform their lives.”

‘Edo APC Leaders, Members are the Land-grabbers’ Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie, has lambasted the state’s chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for faulting the government’s determination to end land-grabbing in the state.

He noted that the party and its leaders are afraid because they

are the main culprits in the illegal enterprise and are scared that they will be caught in the web as the exercise progresses.

Osagie, in a statement, said the party has no moral authority to speak on the matter as they are the land-grabbers.

He said: “The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State are

jittery over the determination of Governor Godwin Obaseki to end land-grabbing in Edo State because they are the land-grabbers.

“The party and its leaders are throwing tantrums today over the repossession exercise in Irhirhi-Obazagbon-Ogheghe Road because while they held office, the APC and its chieftains promoted

the appropriation of community land with the use of non-state actors and overlords, who in the run-up to the 2020 Edo State Governorship election were popularly known as lions and tigers.

“This was one of the major reasons why Governor Obaseki parted ways with the APC, chiefly due to such ideological differences.

39

TUESDAY, O ͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

TUESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Rashidi Yekini to be Conferred with Posthumous MON on Tuesday

Former Nigerian football icon, Rashidi Yekini, is amongst the 437 eminent citizens and foreigners to be conferred with national Honours next Tuesday in Abuja.

Yekini who scored Nigeria’s first ever FIFA World Cup goal at USA ‘94 died 10 years ago

in Ibadan in a controversial manner. He is to be conferred with a posthumous Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) national award by President Muhammadu Buhari at the ceremony scheduled to hold on October 11 at the State House

in Abuja.

Fondly called Ye-King by his adoring fans, Yekini was Nigeria’s all-time top scorer with 37 goals for the Super Eagles.

He represented Nigeria in seven major tournaments including two World Cups. He was named

African Footballer of the Year in 1993.

Apart from top politicians and retired military officers, three entertainers were also listed amongst those to be honoured.

They include, Burna Boy, Tuface Idibia and Teni.

Rashidi Yekini...to be honoured posthumously with MON

Inter and Inzaghi at Crossroads ahead of Barca Clash Tonight

James Maddison (on the turf) celebrating his brace in the 4-0 defeat of Nottingham Forests at the Kings Power Stadium...last night

Ndidi Subbed, Iheanacho Absent as Leicester Crush Awoniyi’s Forest Duro Ikhazuagbe Wilfred Ndidi played 45 minutes before he was substituted in Leicester City’s 4-0 crushing of Nottingham Forest last night. The first win lifted the Foxes from the bottom of the English topflight for the first time in the eight-week old league.

Before the Super Eagles midfield enforcer left the pitch, Leicester were three goals up through James Maddison in the 25th, 35th and Harvey Barnes 27th. Patson Daka

sealed the win with the fourth goal deep into the second half.

The crushing defeat has returned pressure on Steve Cooper as Forest Boss.

His Nigerian forwards Taiwo Awoniyi and Emmanuel Dennis went blank on the day they were needed to save the team at Kings Power Stadium.

For Forest, this first top flight East Midlands derby since 1999 was a night to forget.

Cooper's side never recovered from conceding twice in as many

Glitz as PwC Chess4Change Grand Slam Ends in Lagos The curtains were finally drawn on the seventh edition of PwC Chess4Change Secondary Schools competition at the Indoor Sports Hall of Molade Okoya Thomas’ Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere Lagos on Friday.

18 Schools across four education districts in Lagos State competed in the team and individual categories of the tournament.

In his remarks, the Country Operations Partner, PwC Nigeria, Mr. Pedro Omontuemhen, reiterated PwC Chess4Change's support and commitment for the collaboration with Lagos State brand and plans to reach all the Education Districts.

Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC) Director General, Mr. Gafar Oluwatoyin, highlighted the importance of Chess as well as Sports to the body and mind.

He urged the students to play sports and be good ambassadors.

The Chess4Change programme is an initiative that uses chess as tool to reach-out to secondary school students in Lagos by improving their critical reasoning and thinking skills while equipping them with life skills.

The Opening ceremony had in attendance an International Master who is also the current National Champion, Oluwafemi Balogun. He was on ground to share his chess experience and encouraged the students to seize the opportunity the initiative is availing them.

Meanwhile, Ireti Senior Grammar School emerged the winners of the Team Category, Lagos City College Sabo Yaba winner of the sixth edition came second while the third position went to Falomo

minutes not long after striker Taiwo Awoniyi had struck a post when clean through on the home goal.

The Forest fans bellowed their support for Cooper as they sang songs of defiance with the game gone and their team slipping to a fifth straight defeat in a single season for the first time since January 2004.

However, after celebrating a long-awaited return to the Premier League after a 23-year absence, owner Evangelos Marinakis did not sanction the outlay on 23 summer signings in a belief Forest were about to go straight back down.

Cooper must hope his boss shows him more patience than former Huddersfield manager Carlos Corberan, who was sacked after 11 games at Marinakis'

Greek club Olympiakos earlier this month.

Inter Milan are teetering on the brink of full-blown crisis as they prepare for the visit of Barcelona to the San Siro this evening, which will likely have a huge bearing on their chances of making the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Saturday's home defeat at the hands of Roma, guided by Inter legend Jose Mourinho no less, left Simone Inzaghi's side eight points off the pace in the Serie A title race and wondering what shape their season will take.

It was their fourth loss of the league season and dreadful preparation for tonight’s showdown at the San Siro, where Inter and Barca will tussle for second place in Group C. Both teams are three points behind leaders Bayern Munich and the upcoming double-header will decide whether their European adventure continues as Bayern have the chance to make the last 16 with their two games against bottom side Viktoria Plzen.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Defeat would leave Inter and Inzaghi way off their objectives for the season and increase the dissenting voices around the coach despite recent assurances from the club that his job is not at risk.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (Today) @8pm Ajax v Napoli Liverpool v Rangers C’Brugge v Atletico FC Porto v Leverkusen B’Munich v V’Plzen (5:45pm) Inter v Barcelona Marseille v Sporting (5:45pm) E’Frankfurt v Tottenham

Pro Golfer, Olapade Shine as Lakowe Lakes Golf Classic Ends The 9th edition of the Lakowe Lakes Golf Classic was concluded Sunday at the Lakowe Lakes Golf Estate with Osun State-born Sunday Olapade emerging star of the 54-hole event with multiple awards.

The event featured top professional players across the country and invited international pros from a number of West African countries.

Olapade who is ranked as the second-best pro in Nigeria on the Professional Golfers’ Association of Nigeria Order of Merit dominated in most segments of the three-day event.

His seven-under score on the marshy course trumped the field, beating Femi Olagbenro, to the second place while the duo of Gift Willy and Oche Odoh were in joint third place with five-under par apiece.

Also, in the three-day aggregate score for professionals on the championship course, Olapade again, fired 73 (+1), 69 (-3) and 71(-1) to lead the field with three strokes margin, leaving Francis Epe and Kamalu Bako in the second and third place respectively.

“My game is in the right place now. I am scoring well and the

layout and the standard of the Lakowe Lakes Golf Course has always fascinated me. I always look forward to playing it and it is the best course by far. So I think a number of factors came together for me. I am really honoured,” stressed the champion in the post tournament speech.

In the team event that paired professionals and amateur players, Sunday Olapade’ s partnership with Peter Eben Spiff, Fatumata Soukouna Coker and Baxter Scott fetched a second place finish behind Kalamu Bako’s led team that also had Vitus Ezenwa, Paul Watton and Ebruwiyor Omaruaye.

New NFF Boss, Gusau, Promises Inclusive Administration Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The new President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has given his pledge to run an inclusive administration, in which all stakeholders will be welcome to make suggestions and recommendations on the best way to deal with knotty and not-so-knotty issues.

“Administration at every level, that of football inclusive, requires the wisdom to be able to listen to everyone who has an idea and then pick the very best to deal with

each situation at hand. Those of us in the Executive Committee are only privileged to be representing the entire fraternity.

“We will run an inclusive administration in which ideas and advice will be welcome from all quarters, and will be guided in our resolutions. It is very important to resuscitate the League and engender a massive football economy from which every stakeholder can benefit and also be happy to contribute to its growth.”

A former Chairman of the Zamfara State Sports Commission, Ibrahim Musa Gusau served

as a Member of the organizing committee for the African Nations Championship, and is today a Member of the CAF organizing committee for youth competitions, viz U17, U20 and U23. He is also a Safety and Security Officer of the Confederation of African Football.

Having served two terms as Chairman of Chairmen and Member of the NFF Executive Committee under the Amaju Melvin Pinnick administration, Gusau says he is determined to focus hard on the welfare of players and officials of the various National Teams, in order to ginger

and motivate them for podium appearances at international competitions to the glory of the country.

“It is important to prioritise grassroots football and youth development, and that we will take to heart. It is also important to win trophies, and both can go side-by-side. Winning trophies is good for our country’s image in the international sphere and also helps to motivate the upcoming stars at the grassroots level.”

The new NFF Executive Committee will holds its first meeting in Abuja in a few days.

TR

Tuesday, October 4, 2022

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Price: N250

MISSILE

Peter Obi to Opponents

“We want to stop hunger in Nigeria. We want to stop the stealing of public funds. They (opponents) want to bribe you so that they can continue to oppress you. When they come, ask them where they got the money they are sharing. It is your money and we want to stop it and use the resources to make Nigerians happy” --- Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, promising to stop hunger and stealing of public funds, if voted into power.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI abati1990@gmail.com

Of National Honours, Politics andValue “F

or First Time, Buhari Excludes Ex-Senate President, Saraki, from National Honours”. This was how the ThisDay newspaper of October 3, 2022, reported the story of the 2022 National Honours ceremony scheduled for October 11 at the State House in Abuja. Other newspapers also wrote the story from the Saraki angle. Before the ThisDay report, the media had reported that the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) had raised alarm that there was a deliberate attempt to deny Senator Saraki his place in history by excluding him from the National Honours list. The CNG also pointed out that whereas Saraki served as 13th Senate President of the Federal Republic, and Chairman of the 8th National Assembly from 2015 -2019, three years later his portrait is not on display in the main gallery of the National Assembly. In the various reports in ThisDay newspaper, The Punch, The Cable, The Sun, Leadership, Blueprint and others, quoting the CNG and also, another group, the Arewa Think Tank (ATT), the suggestion was that Saraki is legitimately entitled to the second highest national honour in the land, namely the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), since the convention had been to honour certain categories of persons for having served in certain capacities.

It was even clearly stated that Saraki is being denied his entitlement because of his political rivalry with President Muhammadu Buhari. Saraki emerged as Nigeria’s Senate President in 2015, on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) under circumstances that suggested that he simply outsmarted the party hierarchy that did not want him. He turned out to be a Senate President from the ruling party with a mind of his own. Under his watch, the Senate passed about 201 bills, and claims the distinction of being far more productive than other National Assemblies since the return to civilian rule in 1999. Saraki refused to act as the ruling government’s rubber stamp. It was therefore a question of time before he ended up leaving the party. He returned to where he came from: the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and to say that his political fortunes have changed since then, especially in his native Kwara State is to state the obvious.

The way these things go, it was obvious that someone was deliberately pushing the Saraki side of the story to make a point. But what is the worth of a national honour in Nigeria? It is a nice chieftaincy title which comes with a medal, a certificate and a pin on your chest, to which anyone who has ever served Nigeria feels entitled. It doesn’t matter if you were a houseboy in the corridors of power, the thrill of the recognition is in itself the thing, and while the honour does not come with a salary or pension, you can get a seat, and a cup of coffee or tea at the state VIP lounge at the international airport whenever you are travelling and you can flaunt the suffix after your name to show that you are above the ordinary run. Those who want Saraki to be given a GCON have managed to establish that the National Honours List has been politicized. It has always been so. I also agree with them that there should be no pettiness in the award of national honours. Other former Senate Presidents got the GCON, there is no reason why Saraki should be denied his, going by convention.

Should he, or any one decide to turn down the honour, it should be their prerogative to do so, and not that they have been chosen for deliberate humiliation for partisan reasons. Every human being craves respect, recognition and relevance, and if they are so deserving, they should be so honoured.

But the point needs to be made though that Senator Bukola Saraki is not undecorated, nor can a GCON make much difference to his pulse rate. In 2010, he got the CON award: Commander of the Order of the Niger, for his services as Governor of

President Muhammadu Buhari Kwara State. The CON is one of the top national honours usually reserved for Ministers, Governors and Justices of the Supreme Court. Within the established order, however, persons can be promoted from one level to the other. Saraki’s supporters want a GCON, the second highest honour in the land, for him. Perhaps because of the furore that the 2022 National Honours List that was in circulation in the last few days has generated and concerns raised by some stakeholders, the Federal Government has now disclaimed the list of 437 persons on display. A statement from the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs stated yesterday, that whatever list that was in circulation was a fake list, and the government was yet to release any list to the public. In the light of this, it would be premature to condemn or endorse the list that has now been disowned.

October 11, the scheduled date of the National Awards ceremony is barely a week away. It would be nice if the Federal Government can finalize the process and release the authentic list for public scrutiny and commentary. When the “authentic list” is then released, it would be our duty to compare and contrast, and seek to differentiate between what is fake and true, but before that is done, we can safely make the following observations.

Nigeria’s National Honour is a creation of the National Honours Act of 1964 with the following established categories: GCFR, GCON, CFR, CON, OFR, OON, MFR, MON and service medals – FSS, GSS, DSS, MSS, CMH and CM for service to the nation and individual distinction, to honour, celebrate, inspire, express appreciation and to promote bilateral relations/international friendship.

But the big problem that has been observed with the National Honours Warrant is that it has been reduced to the level of an award of chieftaincy titles whereby anyone with any form of proximity to power is decorated with the highest honours of the land. In other jurisdictions, the Honours List is used to make a statement about values and contributions. In Nigeria, it got reduced to such a ridiculous level, it became an award for any Dick and Harry including concubines and housemaids.

Even traditional rulers who are of no value to their own people are routinely decorated with national honours and not a few persons of shady persona go about adding national honours to their names., not to talk of Governors who in other societies would never be allowed to show up in decent company after their tenure of office. In Nigeria, you find all sorts on the National Honours List.

The pattern needs to change.

The closest that the Buhari government has gone to getting things right was the refusal to turn the National Honours ritual into an annual jamboree.

In 2018, the administration announced post-humous national honours for Chief MKO Abiola, and Chief Gani Fawehinmi and others. I shall come to that later. Also, when recently, the administration gave out National Honours in mid-September, I thought it struck the right notes by focusing strictly on athletes who did the country proud at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, United States and at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, UK. Nobody would question why Ese Brume, Tobi Amusan, Blessing Okorodudu, Favour Ofili and others got national awards. Their example shows commitment, hardwork, excellence, and patriotism. What rankles, and here is my point, is the usual tendency to turn Nigeria’s National Honours into the equivalent of souvenirs at a jollof rice and pepper soup party. It is not right that a Governor of a state whose only notable achievement is the erection of a few electricity poles in the state capital and the digging of a couple of boreholes in his mother’s village, gets a National Honour or that incompetent Service Chiefs who cannot provide security receive recognition as heroes, or that faceless and idle traditional rulers are given the national recognition they do not deserve. The emphasis should be truly on service, honour and values. When the Federal Government releases its “authentic list”, this is what we should look out for.

The Buhari administration has restrained itself before now from giving out national honours like

“Nigeria’s National Honour is a creation of the National Honours Act of 1964 with the following established categories: GCFR, GCON, CFR, CON, OFR, OON, MFR, MON and service medals – FSS, GSS, DSS, MSS, CMH and CM for service to the nation and individual distinction, to honour, celebrate, inspire, express appreciation and to promote bilateral relations/international friendship. But the big problem that has been observed with the National Honours Warrant is that it has been reduced to the level of an award of chieftaincy titles whereby anyone with any form of proximity to power is decorated with the highest honours of the land...”

a jamboree. But it seems it now wants to do so on October 11. Why now? Out of pressure? End-oftenure blues? Whatever it is, a list of 437 honorees as has been suggested is unwieldy. Elsewhere, the number of persons to be awarded a category of honour annually is capped. We should introduce such a cap to confer more seriousness and dignity on the awards.

Before now, it had been argued that the National Honours Warrant of Nigeria does not accommodate the conferment of the national honour on the dead.

In the now disclaimed 2022 list, there were a few post-humous indications – late Abba Kyari, Chief Anthony Enahoro, Professor Bala Usman and late Gambo Sawaba. Section 2 of the law says that the national honour must be received “in person at an investiture held for the purpose.” The Buhari administration broke the convention when it conferred the national honours of GCON and GCFR post-humously on the late Chief MKO Abiola and Chief Gani Fawehimni in 2018 respectively, citing Section 3 of the same law which grants the President “unqualified discretion” to grant National Honour as he may deem fit. Femi Falana, SAN defended the legality of post-humous national awards at the time in the public domain against the position of Justice Alfa Belgore, CJN, 2006 -2007, and Chairman of the National Honours Committee in 2016, who along with others, had raised the issue then. What is probably required is a simple review of the National Honours Act or an Executive Order to lay this matter to rest and thus remove whatever ambiguity may be attached to the interpretation of Sections 1-3 of the National Honours Act even when the action of the government appears to be in alignment with public expectations as in the 2018 cited cases. The word “expedient” in Section 3 of the enabling Act may be open to differing interpretations, especially as no one has deemed it necessary to seek judicial intervention.

The point, at the risk of repetition, is that the National Honours selection process, while a prerogative of the Executive arm of government, needs to be subjected to greater scrutiny in order to protect its integrity. We must ensure that whoever goes about with Nigeria’s national honour indeed deserves it. It is not only in Nigeria that the selection process attracts controversy. There have been similar arguments such as we have here in Jamaica, India, and Bahamas, and other places.

There is nothing wrong in making the selection process more transparent and participatory. One obvious way to avoid unnecessary controversy is to make the list short and specific, and ensure the greater participation of the civil society. It also seems to me that the usual practice of relegating artistes and performers to the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) and Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) categories is unacceptable. If indeed their names are on the list, the likes of Damini Ogulu (Burna Boy), Innocent Tuface Idibia, and Teniola Apata deserve a higher placement on the list than many others for having done more to place Nigeria positively on the global map, and for promoting happiness in the land.

As to the controversy about the list that is in circulation and the Federal Government’s disclaimer, a week to the awards ceremony, just a few questions would be in order: is the published date of October 11 also fake? Did the Federal Government send out letters of award/invitation or not? Is it possible for likely honorees to talk to the media and inform friends and family, if they are not sure that their names are on the list? Is it true as alleged that some people who are responsible for the continued closure of Nigerian universities, and the agony of Nigerian students are actually on the Honours List? Nigeria at 62: with all the problems that we have- is this the right time for celebration, or shame or reflection? It is not enough to blame “overzealous reporters whose aim is to break news even when such news is fake” as has been said. It won’t be too long before the truth is known.

Printed and Published in Lagos by THISDAY Newspapers Limited. Lagos: 35 Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos. Abuja: Plot 1, Sector Centre B, Jabi Business District, Solomon Lar Way, Jabi North East, Abuja .

All Correspondence to POBox 54749, Ikoyi, Lagos. EMAIL: editor@thisdaylive.com, info@thisdaylive.com. TELEPHONE Lagos: 0802 2924721-2, 08022924485. Abuja: Tel: 08155555292, 08155555929 24/7 ADVERTISING HOT LINES: 0811 181 3085, 0811 181 3086, 0811 181 3087, 0811 181 3088, 0811 181 3089, 0811 181 3090. ENQUIRIES & BOOKING: adsbooking@thisdaylive.com