SUNDAY 8TH OCTOBER 2023

Report: Emefiele’s Removal Smacked of Political Revenge

Says Nigeria’s economic reforms need to regain momentum

Ejiofor Alike

The Financial Times (FT) of London has stated that the manner in which the former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin

Emefiele, was removed from office was odd and smacked of political revenge. Emefiele was initially arrested over allegations of illegal possession of firearms.

In an editorial published recently, FT noted that on assumption of office, President Bola Tinubu had moved quickly to raise expectations. The report, however, pointed out that four months into

Tinubu’s administration, Nigerian economic reforms needed to regain momentum as there are signs of things going awry. According to the report, Tinubu started off with a bang.

“In removing a costly fuel subsidy and in shifting towards a market-driven exchange rate, which has sharply weakened a previously overvalued currency, he has gone some way towards

persuading investors he is serious about reform. But four months into his presidency, there are signs of things going awry,” the report said.

Wabote: Divestment of Assets by IOCs Hurting FG’s Tax Revenues…

Floods Loom in Adamawa, Bayelsa, Kogi, Six Others as Cameroonian Dam Releases Water

NEMA urges states along rivers Niger and Benue to activate emergency response plans

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

The National Emergency

Management Agency (NEMA) has alerted Nigerians to expect floods as Cameroonian authorities

release water from the Lagdo Dam. The agency noted that nine states could be affected by the recent

release of water from the dam, which is expected to last till the end of this month.

This was disclosed yesterday by the Director General of NEMA, Mustapha Ahmed, during an

emergency meeting where he

Continued on page 5

At Supreme Court, Atiku Files Fresh Evidence, Seeks Tinubu’s Disqualification

Says CSU disclaimed certificate president submitted to INEC Urges apex court to accept new evidence

Alex Enumah in Abuja

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has filed what he termed as fresh evidence against President Bola Tinubu at the Supreme Court.

The former vice president, who has also urged the Supreme Court to accept the new evidence, specifically sought the leave of the apex court to tender Tinubu’s academic records, which he said were handed over to him by the Chicago State University (CSU) on October 2, 2023.

In a motion, he filed through his team of lawyers led by Chief Chris Uche (SAN), the PDP presidential candidate said the evidence he is seeking to tender before the court would establish his allegations that Tinubu submitted forged documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in aid of his qualification to participate in the presidential election.

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri (left), and his Delta State counterpart, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, acknowledging cheers from supporters at the inauguration of some projects in Yenegoa…yesterday

INEC HQ Overrules Kano Office over Withdrawal of Appeal against Kano Guber Tribunal Judgment Gov Yusuf

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

There was confusion yesterday as the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) disowned its Kano Zonal Office on the withdrawal of the commission’s appeal against the judgment of the Kano State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.

The Head of the Legal Department of INEC in Kano State, Suleiman Alkali, had in a letter dated October 6, 2023, stated that the electoral umpire had withdrawn its appeal against the judgment of the tribunal.

But in a swift reaction, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, in a statement issued last night in Abuja, said the letter written by the commission’s Legal

hires Tinubu’s

Officer of Kano State Office was not authorised.

This is as the state governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has hired a renowned legal luminary, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) to prosecute ‘the redemption of his mandate at the Court of Appeal’.

During the sitting of the election tribunal in the state, just like in other petitions across the country, the commission had defended and justified the electoral victory of Governor Abba Yusuf of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPC).

But in the letter dated October 6, Alkali stated that INEC had withdrawn the appeal because it had no reason to appeal the judgment.

“I have been instructed by the commission headquarters that INEC as an umpire has no reason to appeal any judgment.

“Consequently, the National

AT SUPREME COURT,

Atiku argued that Tinubu, by his action, committed forgery and perjury, and therefore deserved to be removed from office by the Supreme Court.

He said the 32-page document he is seeking to tender was released by the CSU on the orders of Judge Nancy Maldonado of the District Court of Illinois, Eastern Division, Illinois, United States of America.

Atiku predicated his motion for leave to file fresh evidence against Tinubu on Order 2, Rule 12(1) of the Supreme Court Rules 1985, Section 137(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as the inherent jurisdiction of the apex court as encapsulated in Section 6(6)(a) of the 1999 Constitution.

The PDP presidential candidate prayed the court for an order granting him leave “to produce and for the court to receive fresh and additional evidence by way of deposition on oath from the Chicago State University for use in this appeal to wit: the certified discovery deposition made by Caleb Westberg on behalf of Chicago State University on October 3, 2023, disclaiming the certificate presented by the 2nd respondent, Bola Ahmed

lawyer to regain mandate

Commission in charge of Legal Services and National Commissioner in charge of Kano zone directed that the appeal be withdrawn and all processes for all appeals should be forwarded to the Kano Office,” the letter addressed to the secretary of the Kano Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, read.

On September 20, a three-man panel sacked Governor Abba Yusuf and declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nasiru Gawuna, winner of the March 18 governorship poll.

However, Yusuf filed a 42-ground of appeal before the appellate court asking the court to set aside the judgment of the tribunal.

Before the controversial announcement of its sudden withdrawal, the electoral commission had earlier filed a 33-ground appeal against the

judgment, saying the trial tribunal erred in law by declaring the candidate of the petitioner, who is not a party to the case, as the winner of the election.

It also said the tribunal “erred in law and fell into grave error when it failed or neglected to properly evaluate the evidence before it especially evidence elicited during cross-examination by the Appellant which had a far-reaching consequence on the resolution of the issues in the petition thereby occasioning a miscarriage of justice to the appellant.”

Reacting to the decision of its Kano office to withdraw the appeal against the decision of the tribunal, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Olumekun, said the letter written by the Legal Officer of the Kano State office was not authorised.

He said: "The attention of the commission has been drawn to media reports based on a letter written by the Legal Officer of our Kano State office indicating that the commission had withdrawn from the appeal process in the ongoing Kano governorship election petition case.

"We wish to state categorically that the letter was not authorised. It has since been withdrawn and the officer reprimanded.

"The public is therefore advised to discountenance the insinuation that the commission has withdrawn from the case or even worse abandoned the appeal.

"We wish to state categorically that where litigants join INEC in a case, the commission is under obligation to respond accordingly. We have therefore instructed our lawyers to proceed in line with the extant policy of the commission.

ATIKU FILES FRESH EVIDENCE, SEEKS TINUBU’S DISQUALIFICATION

Tinubu to the Independent National Electoral Commission.”

He equally prayed for the apex court to “receive the said deposition in evidence as an exhibit in the resolution of this appeal,” and to further make orders the apex court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of the case.

The application was predicated on 20 grounds, among which included a claim that the deposition sought to be adduced along with its accompanying documents, “would have important effect in the resolution of this appeal.”

“The deposition is relevant to this matter, having confirmed that the certificate presented by the 2nd Respondent to the Independent National Electoral Commission did not emanate from Chicago State University and that whoever issued the certificate presented by the 2nd Respondent, did not have the authority of the Chicago State University, and that the 2nd respondent never applied for any replacement certificate nor was he issued any replacement certificate by the Chicago State University.

“The deposition which is on oath and deposed to in the presence of the 2nd respondent’s Attorney is

credible and believable, and ought to be believed.

“The deposition is clear and unambiguous, and no further evidence is needed to be adduced on it.

“The evidence is such that could not have been obtained with reasonable diligence for use at the trial, as the deposition required the commencement of the suit in the United States of America before receiving the same. It was not possible to obtain the said evidence before the trial at the court below.

“The deposition was made on October 3, 2023, after the conclusion of the trial at the Court below, and was not available to be tendered at the trial,” Atiku added.

Atiku, who came second after Tinubu in the presidential election, had raised allegations of irregularities, non-compliance with the electoral laws, and corrupt practices against the conduct of the poll.

The former vice president also insisted that Tinubu ought not to have contested the poll ab initio for alleged violation of Section 137 of the Nigerian Constitution, which forbids anyone who presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission

(INEC) from participating in an election.

But his allegation of Tinubu’s alleged non-qualification was struck out by the panel of five justices of the Presidential Election Petitions Court in Abuja led by Justice Haruna Tsammani because it was filed outside the 21 days required by law.

Atiku and his party, the PDP had on September 18, filed their joint appeal at the Supreme Court against the judgment of the Presidential Election Petitions Court, which had in a judgment delivered on September 6, dismissed their petition against Tinubu’s victory for lacking in merit.

In their 35 grounds of appeal filed by their team of lawyers, the lead counsel, Uche (SAN), told the apex court that the tribunal erred in law by concluding that they did not prove their petition.

Meanwhile, before the determination of their petition, Atiku had approached a US court for an order compelling the CSU to release Tinubu's academic records so that he could establish before the court that the diploma certificate the president presented to INEC was not genuine but forged.

Uche, in a written address filed before the Supreme Court alongside

the motion for leave to file fresh/ additional evidence, submitted that "a successful proof of the said allegation will render the 2nd respondent (Tinubu) unqualified to have contested the said election ab initio for presenting the forged certificate to the INEC pursuant to the provisions of Section 137(1)(j) of the Constitution, being a weighty matter of constitutional importance."

He cited the apex court’s judgment in the case of Saleh vs Abah (2017), where it was held that: "The Constitution intends that anyone who had presented a forged certificate to INEC should stand automatically disqualified for all future elections if, as in this case, a court or tribunal finds the certificate to have been forged, and it matters not whether or not such fact is further fraudulently or desperately concealed in subsequent elections or declaration forms.

"No decent system or polity should condone, or through judicial policy and decisions, encourage the dangerous culture of forging certificates with impunity to seek electoral contest.”

The policy has not changed," Olumekun explained.

Meanwhile, Governor Kabir Yusuf has hired renowned legal luminary, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) to prosecute ‘the redemption of his mandate at the Court of Appeal’.

According to a copy of the notice of appeal made available to journalists on Friday, Olanipekun, who led the legal team of President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT), is now the counsel for Governor Yusuf.

Other members of the legal team of the governor are Bode Olanipekun (SAN), Ibrahim G. Waru, and Akintola Makinde, with Wole Olanipekun & Co as the legal firm handling the appeal. Meanwhile, Chief EOB Offiong (APC) remains the counsel for the APC.

important that it can be raised at any time and in any manner in the course of the proceedings or on appeal", Uche urged the apex court to, "resolve this issue in favour of the appellants/applicants and grant this application."

Uche submitted that the Supreme Court, "has the power, the jurisdiction, and the discretion to grant an application for adducing fresh or additional evidence on appeal.

"My Lords, we submit that the requirements for the grant of applications to adduce fresh or additional evidence on appeal have been established by this honourable court in a plethora of cases, and they are as follows:

"It must be shown that the evidence sought to be adduced in evidence could not have been obtained with reasonable diligence for use at the trial.

"The fresh evidence must be such that if given, it would probably have an important effect on the result of the case, although it need not be decisive; and

"The evidence must be such as is presumably to be believed; in other words, it must be credible," Uche explained.

FLOODS

The states that may be affected are: Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Anambra, Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa states.

Ahmed said the recent release of water by the dam has led to the displacement of 48,100 persons in 13 states of the federation and could lead to the destruction of crops and other infrastructure.

He added that since August 14 when the dam was opened, 28 deaths have been recorded and 159,157 persons have been affected.

The NEMA DG called on all heads of State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to cushion the effects of the disaster.

He said: “NEMA has been alerted on sudden increased inundation of riparian communities and farmlands along the banks of River Niger in Adamawa, Taraba and Benue states in the past 48 hours.

“The sudden situation is attributed to the rapid release of waters from Lagdo Dam in the Republic of Cameroon and has resulted in the displacement of several inhabitants of the affected communities.

“Furthermore, croplands and valuable infrastructure are at risk of getting washed away by the flood waters. Situation reports from Adamawa State confirm the upsurge of flood waters along the flood plains of River Benue.

“The situation is expected to be replicated in downstream states of Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Anambra, Edo, Delta and Bayelsa as the River Benue joins River Niger and flows to the Atlantic Ocean through the Niger Delta.”

The agency cautioned authorities of state and local governments along rivers Niger and Benue basin areas to immediately activate their emergency response plans to avert potential damage and losses that will arise due to the flooding of communities.

"I want to use this opportunity to alert authorities of state and local governments along rivers Niger and Benue basin areas to immediately activate their emergency response plans to avert potential damage and losses that will arise due to inundation of communities by flood waters,” he said.

NEMA promised to give further updates as it expects to receive updates from the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), NIMET, NEMA

situation

LOOM IN ADAMAWA, BAYELSA, KOGI, SIX OTHERS AS CAMEROONIAN DAM RELEASES WATER gave an update on the release of water from Lagdo Dam and the consequential flooding of communities along the banks of River Niger and River Benue.

In urging the court to grant his client leave and subsequently accept the new evidence, Uche explained that the "deposition sought to be adduced is, along with its accompanying documents, such as would have an important effect in the resolution of this appeal."

While submitting that "a weighty constitutional issue as the one raised in this matter is akin to a jurisdictional issue, which is so fundamental and

REPORT: EMEFIELE’S REMOVAL SMACKED OF POLITICAL REVENGE

The report, which described the changes at the central bank as halfcooked, however said Emefiele’s removal was overdue.

In his inauguration speech in May, the report said Tinubu scrapped petrol subsidy that had cost the Nigerian government $10 billion in 2022.

It stated that the previous administrations had tried, and failed, to remove petrol subsidy.

The report, which hailed Tinubu’s decision, added that because Nigeria imported most of its refined petroleum products, the subsidy had become a licence for middlemen and crooks to profit from arbitrage.

It said with the removal, the Nigerian government is $10billion better off.

FT, however, insisted that the government needs to explain how it is going to use the money to improve people’s lives.

“It could make direct payments to the most vulnerable or set out plans to bolster public services such

as health and education. So far, it has been silent,” the report said. The report argued that Tinubu has not done enough to explain the “rationale of a policy that, to many Nigerians, seems like the withdrawal of the only thing the state had ever done for them.”

“As petrol prices rise, millions of people - already under pressure from rising food prices - are having to walk miles to work. Changes at the central bank are similarly half-cooked. The removal of Godwin Emefiele, the previous governor, was overdue. But its manner, initially via a charge of firearms’ possession, was odd and smacked of political revenge. More substantively, the new exchange rate regime has yet to be properly explained,” the report added.

It argued that after a signal was given in June that banks could bid freely for foreign currency, the naira fell nearly 30 per cent, pushing inflation up still further to an 18-year high of nearly 26 per cent.

“Still, the move to a more realistic exchange rate was a vital step in persuading investors that they could obtain dollars, either to invest in manufacturing inputs or to repatriate as profits. But dollar liquidity has since tightened as investors seek to clear a backlog of $7billion in previously unsatisfied demand.”

According to the FT, after a convergence of the official and black-market rate, a gulf has reopened: Parallel rate has fallen to N1,000 versus an official rate of N785. Opacity about the true level of net foreign reserves — by one estimate as low as $4 billion — has exacerbated the problem.

It attributed Nigeria’s inability to sell its full OPEC quota to “chronic oil theft”.

Curbing the looting of Nigeria’s patrimony, the report said is one of Tinubu’s most urgent tasks.

The report added that the Senate’s recent confirmation of Olayemi Cardoso as the new CBN governor may steady the ship at

The appellants said from settled cases by the apex court, it is obvious that the only single requirement, "is the need to do justice fairly, equitably and justly.”

Though the application was dated October 5, Atiku’s legal team perfected the filing process on Friday night.

The Supreme Court has yet to fix a date for the motion to be heard.

that institution.

“Markets consider Cardoso, a former Citibank Nigeria chair, to be a sound appointment. (The same cannot be said of all of Tinubu’s picks.) The incoming governor will probably need to raise rates at the next policy meeting to establish his inflation-busting credentials. It is vital that Tinubu restores institutional independence by leaving the bank to get on with its job. In other areas the president needs to be more active - and more articulate.

The report advised that Tinubu to spell out his policies to the public, adding that he should also refrain from announcing plans - including the restoration of democracy in Niger - without any real idea of how to implement them.

“Only four months into his presidency, what started out with a bang risks becoming a whimper. Tinubu needs to regain the momentum,” the report added.

Operations Office in Yola Adamawa state, and from State Emergency Agencies of the frontline states. On the number of those that have been affected so far by flood this year, he said: “The NEMA

room dashboard indicates that this year’s flood scenario has affected 159,157 persons, resulted in the loss of 28 persons and the displacement of 48,168 individuals in 13 states across Nigeria.”

ENERGY AFFAIRS…

Enough of Killings in Zaria, Other Parts of Nigeria, Says House Speaker, Abbas

Charges security agencies to descend on killers

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has condemned in strong terms, the attack by suspected bandits on Anguwar Dankali community in Zaria

Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State, during which four people were reportedly killed and five injured.

Bandits had on Friday night killed five residents of Zaria and abducted six other residents in an attack.

The incidents happened around 11 p.m. when the bandits stormed the Unguwar Dangali, under the Danmagaji area of the city to abduct innocent residents.

A resident said that among those abducted were housewives. He said those killed were at a social event when the bandits opened

fire on them.

“I can confirm five dead, while the six that sustained gunshot injuries are in critical condition, and the women kidnapped were also whisked away,” he said.

He described the situation as terrible, saying the security agencies arrived after the attackers left the scene.

Reacting in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Musa Abdullahi Krishi, the speaker said "enough is enough" on the killings in Zaria and other parts of the country, charging security agencies to "descend on the killers."

He noted that the suspected bandits reportedly attacked the community, shooting nine people and abducting five others, who later escaped on the arrival of security operatives that engaged the attackers in a gun duel.

Speaker Abbas commiserated with the families of the victims and the people and government of Kaduna State on the spate of attacks and killings of innocent Nigerians by bandits.

Abbas recalled, with pain, how some of his constituents were similarly killed in an attack earlier in August.

The Speaker lamented the reported killings not only in Zaria

but also in other parts of the country, insisting that the lives and property of Nigerians must be protected and safeguarded as provided in the country's constitution. He said the security agencies

should go after the suspects, apprehend them, and bring them to book. He further charged them to prevent the loss of more lives and property across the country.

Jonathan, Jega Lead West African Leaders to Monitor Liberian Elections

Chuks Okocha, Kuni Tyessi in Abuja and Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

Former President Goodluck

Jonathan and former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Attahiru Jega are to lead separate teams of West African leaders to monitor the Liberian presidential, senatorial, and parliamentary elections scheduled to

be held on Tuesday, October 10, 2023.

While Jonathan will lead West African leaders under the aegis of the West African Elders Forum (WAEF), Jega will lead the short-term ECOWAS Election Observation Mission (EOM) to observe the polls. An estimated 2,471,617 voters out of Liberia's population of 5.4 million are expected to elect the new President of Liberia, 15 Senators,

Wabote: Divestment of Assets

by

IOCs Hurting FG’s Tax Revenues

Says indigenous operators flout Nigerian content law

Ejiofor Alike

The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Simbi Wabote, has raised the alarm that the divestment of onshore oil and gas assets by the International Oil Companies (IOCs) is depleting the federal government’s tax revenues due to the refusal of some of the indigenous players who acquired the assets to pay tax.

Wabote, who also enumerated the enormous gains of the ongoing divestment of assets by the multinational companies, noted that while the IOCs that operated the assets paid tax as at when due, some of the indigenous Nigerian companies that bought the assets have stopped paying tax.

Speaking in Abuja during a breakfast meeting with editors of newspapers and directors

of broadcasting stations at the weekend, Wabote accused indigenous operators of flouting the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act of 2010.

Wabote, however, disclosed that with the implementation of the NOGICD Act and divestment of assets by the IOCs, indigenous players have moved from near-zero participation in the oil and gas sector to the point where they are now responsible for 15 per cent of Nigeria’s oil production and 60 per cent of the country’s domestic gas supply.

“But beyond the positives, it must also be observed that the divestment of producing assets to indigenous players poses significant challenges for the implementation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act. The worries are predicated on research

findings and our experience in implementing the NOGICD Act in the past 13 years which indicates that indigenous firms, especially the indigenous operating companies are serial violators of the Nigerian Content Act.

“In many instances, international operators tend to comply with the Nigerian Content because it is in their DNA to obey laws or they have to show evidence of compliance to their home offices.

“On the contrary, many indigenous companies feel entitled and assume they can get away with non-compliance. At other times they want to save costs to the detriment of the local economy,” Wabote explained.

Wabote further disclosed that with the divestment of assets by the IOCs, the government’s tax revenues are depleting.

“We also found out that the government's tax revenues are

dropping because some of the indigenous players who acquired the onshore assets have refused to pay tax,” he added.

According to him, some indigenous firms have also argued that they should be excluded from the implementation of the NOGICD Act since their primary investors are Nigerians.

Wabote listed some of the common violations by indigenous firms including executing projects without obtaining prior approvals, non-execution of mandatory Human Capacity Development Initiative (HCDI), non-utilisation of vendors without approved Nigerian Content Equipment Certificate (NCEC), and utilisation of the services of contractors that are not registered on the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Joint Qualification System Portal (NOGIC JQS) and several other violations.

and 73 members of the House of Representatives.

Jonathan, who left Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital to Abuja en route to Monrovia yesterday afternoon, has in his entourage, other members of the mission, including former Burkina Faso Prime Minister and one-time President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Kadre Ouedraogo and members of staff of the WAEF secretariat.

The team would be on hand to monitor the elections and offer their support towards peaceful elections, consolidation of democracy in the country, and leveraging their experiences as former leaders of the sub-region.

They will meet with critical stakeholders, including President George Weah, who is seeking re-election, opposition leaders, the electoral management body, and the security agencies.

Members of the WAEF Mission, which is billed to be in Liberia for about 10 days, would visit polling stations in Monrovia to observe Election Day procedures and the results collation process and remain engaged until the results are declared.

Communications Officer of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, Wealth Dickson Ominabo, in a statement yesterday, quoted the Executive Director of Goodluck Jonathan Foundation and Head of the WAEF Secretariat, Ms Ann Iyonu, as saying that the members of the mission would “be holding consultations with the candidates, managers of the elections, and observer missions and other key stakeholders towards ensuring peaceful and successful outcomes.”

The statement also explained that

“the role of WAEF Mission is to provide advisory, mediation, and conflict resolution support services to the political leaders of the subregion,” adding that the members would “remain in the country until the election procedures are peacefully concluded.”

The mission’s engagements in the country would be guided by the experience and wisdom of its members who, as former presidents and leaders in the sub-region, had managed elections and overseen successful conflict resolution and peace processes.

WAEF had conducted similar missions in The Gambia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.

Meanwhile, a statement issued yesterday by the Executive Director of The Electoral Hub, Princess Hamman-Obels, the former INEC boss arrived in Monrovia, the Liberian capital, on Monday, October 2, 2023, and was welcomed by Ambassador Josephine Nkrumah, ECOWAS Resident Representative to Liberia.

During his stay, the Head of the ECOWAS EOM and his team would hold working sessions with different stakeholders, including the National Elections Commission (NEC), government, civil society organisations, the media, security agencies, as well as political parties and candidates, to ensure the smooth conduct of the electoral process.

"In accordance with the provisions of the Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance relating to the observation of elections and ECOWAS assistance, the West African Organisation has deployed a 95-member election observation mission, comprising 80 short-term observers and 17 long-term observers.

Juliet Akoje in Abuja.

L-R: Representative of Managing Director/CEO of Falcon Corporation, Godwin Okoduwa; General Manager, Government Joint Venture and External Relations, Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited, Rev Sola Adebawo; Deputy General Manager, Corporate Business and Relations, First Exploration, Mrs. Anita Edo-Osagie; Chairman, Association of Energy Correspondents of Nigeria (NAEC), Mr. Olu Phillips; President, Nigerian Gas Association and General Counsel/Company Secretary, NLNG, Mr. Akachukwu Nwokedi; and Executive Chairman, AA Holdings, Mr. Austin Avuru, at the energy correspondents’ annual international strategic conference in Lagos…recently

PENGASSAN Confirms Return of Subsidy on Petrol

Peter Uzoho

The National President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Festus Osifo, at the weekend, said the federal government had restored the subsidy on petrol, despite the official government policy of breaking with the subsidy regime since May.

Osifo, who is also the president of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), disclosed this while featured on a live television programme

“The government has to come clean. In reality today, there is a

subsidy because as of when the earlier price was determined, the price of crude in the international market was somewhere around less than $80 a barrel. But today, it has moved to about $93/94 per barrel for Brent crude. So, because it has moved, then the price (of petrol) also needed to move,” Osifo said.

President Bola Tinubu had announced the removal of fuel subsidy in his inaugural speech on 29 May. But Osifo said due to the cost of crude oil in the international market and the exchange rate, the government still pays subsidies on petrol.

Ezekwesili Identifies Bad Leadership as Africa's Greatest Challenge

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

Former Minister of Education, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, has linked bad leadership to a myriad of challenges affecting the economic development of Africa as a continent.

She suggested urgent structural transformation of African politics by leaders of thought across governments, the private sector, and civil societies who are determined to start that journey of change.

Ezekwesili, who stated this yesterday in Abuja at the 2023 School of Politics, Policy, and Governance (SPPG) graduation ceremony, said data had proven that development would not be feasible with the current state of affairs on the continent.

She said Africa has chosen the path of democracy, adding that if historical numbers are looked at, proofs are showing that countries that have enjoyed prosperity have come through the democratic path.

"As you listen to our brothers and sisters from various countries on the continent, you can see that it is a common denominator for Africans to mourn the absence of quality leadership.

"Africa has chosen the path of democracy and if you look at historical numbers, more countries that have enjoyed prosperity have come through the democratic path.

"So, democracy is a very important thing because democracy comes with political freedom. With political freedom, there is a rule of law and that rule of law is the cornerstone of economic freedom.

"It is economic freedom that leads to the proliferation of ideas, innovations, creativity and therefore, the two most important economic agenda for countries is to get solved faster and better.

"Competitiveness and productivity

are all based on empirical data. So, if we know all those things as evidence abounds, we cannot then sit back and hope that somehow change will come.

"So, if Africans need to transform our politics and we just sit back as citizens, hoping that those who have entrenched poor governance as a matter of political culture will someday fall in the kind of Apostle Paul and have a Damascus experience we will wait forever and that is not something that this generation should do," she stated.

In addition, a Kenyan activist, Boniface Mwangi, said Africa's biggest problem is leadership and that has to be fixed, noting that too much concentration on religion has contributed to the continent's underdevelopment, which must be addressed.

Mwangi stressed the need for young people to take over power from the older class, which has not helped the continent but are mere neocolonial stooges as African stolen wealth is stashed in advanced countries.

"Africa's biggest problem is its leadership and we have to fix that.

Driving from Abuja Airport to the Hotel I saw the biggest buildings and very magnificent ones were not schools, good homes but churches and there lies our problem. We focus a lot on religion and we need to fix that.

"Our leaders have copied the white man’s ways. When the white man colonised our continent, he took our lands; he took our minerals; he took everything and we kicked them out and then we took the bad habits. Our continent - our land was communal but now we have become very Western in our ideals. So, we have 10 billionaires and a billion poor in Africa and that needs to be fixed.

“The speculation has been there looking at the fundamentals because two basic things that contribute to the pricing today are the exchange rate and the price of the crude in the international market.

“You know, in the last few weeks, the price of crude has been going up, and inches towards $95 per barrel. Based on this, there are speculations that there may be an increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) but behind the scenes, we have been engaging the government and trying to make them understand that there is no basis for that.

“Because for us, you know when they floated the exchange rate, you would recall that the exchange rate was moving at a very fast speed before some interventions came,”

Osifo said. He also said: “Today the official exchange rate is around N770 per dollar. So, what we have told them is that all international agencies, if you look at JP Morgan, Bank of America, and all, have said that our naira today is undervalued. What that means is that our naira should be exchanged somewhere around N600 to N630 for a dollar.

“And if the government can push it down to that range, then we would be buying PMS (petrol) at a little reduced rate compared to where it is today.

“So, we have told the government that there is no basis for us to be buying petrol at a price higher than what we have today. But instead, it should go down. But the controlling

factor is the exchange rate so if they could work on the exchange rate. Today it is somewhere around N770 to a dollar. But if the true value comes to bear around N600 to a dollar then we would even buy PMS at a cheaper rate,” he added.

Responding to the question of whether the government is still subsidising petrol since the removal of the fuel subsidy, Osifo said, “We have to be honest to Nigerians. As of today, I can tell you that if you look at the crude oil price, there is what they call Platts; so, if you google it, you will see the Platts index, and if you check the Platts index, that will give you the ex-depot price from Rotterdam.

“So, if you look at it and you convert it using our current exchange

rate you know that the landing cost in Nigeria today ought to be more than what we are dispensing at the pump,” he said. He said what that means is the additional cost is being catered for by the government.

“But our cry is this, we should manage our FX more effectively compared to the way we are managing it today. If the true value of our exchange FX is around N600 to a dollar, if that is the true value, the government should find a way to manage it. There is no need to pay subsidies.

“The reason we are paying subsidy today is because our exchange rate has run away and if we continuously allow it to run, it will be a nightmare for everyone.”

NDLEA Tackles Police on Mohbad’s Death, Says It Never Detained the Singer

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has debunked the claim by the Lagos State Police Command that it had not responded to an inquiry sent to it on the deceased singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka Mohbad.

The Lagos State Police Command had told a news conference on Friday that the NDLEA had yet to confirm social media posts that it arrested and detained Mohbad on February 24, 2022.

The reports also claimed that Mohbad was given a substance to drink while in NDLEA detention.

But dismissing the police claims in Abuja, the Director of Media and

Advocacy at the NDLEA, Mr. Femi Babafemi, stated that the anti-drug agency had responded to a police inquiry on September 28.

He stated that “to show the seriousness the NDLEA attached to the police inquiry, its formal response dated Thursday, September 28 was sent to Lagos by air; delivered and received by the police the same day.

“The summary of our response was that we also heard the unsubstantiated allegation on social media that the NDLEA arrested and detained Mohbad on February 24, 2022, and he was given a substance to drink.

“In response to the allegation, we state categorically that Mohbad was neither arrested nor ever

detained in the custody of the NDLEA on the said date or any other date before or after.

“The foregoing being the case, the issue of giving him any substance to drink does not arise.’’

Babafemi attached an acknowledged copy of NDLEA’s response to his press statement, showing that the police received it in Lagos on September 28.

Mohbad (27) died in controversial circumstances on September12 and was buried on September 13.

However, following the controversy surrounding his death and a public outcry, his corpse was exhumed on September 21 for autopsy.

Many fans and celebrities in

some states took to the streets in protests following the singer’s death.

They demanded that justice be done as they suspected that there was more to Mohbad’s death than met the eye.

Police have since arrested Mohbad’s music promoter, Balogun Eletu, aka ‘Sam Larry’ and Azeez Fashola, aka Naira Marley; over multiple face-offs they had with Mohbad before the deceased parted ways with Marlian Records. Marlian Records is owned by musician, songwriter, and music promoter, Naira Marley.

Also in police detention over Mohbad’s death is his close associate, Owodunni Ibrahim popularly known as “Primeboy.’’

FG Suspends N-Power Indefinitely, Begins Investigation

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu has announced that the federal government had suspended the N-Power programme indefinitely.

The N-Power programme was launched by President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to address the issue of youth unemployment and help increase social development.

But speaking in an interview on a television programme

yesterday, Edu said the indefinite suspension became necessary because of some irregularities within the scheme.

The minister said the government had launched an investigation into the utilisation of funds since the inception of the programme. She stated that some of the beneficiaries are not found in their place of assignment, yet they expect monthly stipends. The minister said some of the beneficiaries ought to have exited the programme in 2022 but are

still on the payroll. She said: “We must go back to look into N-Power and understand what the problems are, so, we will suspend the programe for now until we are done with a proper investigation into the utilisation of funds into the N-Power program.

“We want to know how many persons are basically on the programme right now, how many persons are owed, and the amount they are owed. We are totally restructuring N-Power and expanding it.

“There are lots going on. We met people who were supposed to have exited the programme last year and they are still claiming that they are still teaching.

“Sometimes we contact the school or the places where they are working and they are not there. They are not working yet they keep claiming that they are being owed eight or nine-months stipends.

“About 80 per cent of them are not working yet they are claiming salaries,” Edu added.

Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Adebo Edward Ogundoyin; Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye; and State TUC Chairman, Mr. Sola Adigun; during the celebration of the 2023 World Teachers’ Day at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion in Ado-Ekiti…recently

Outrage over NBC’s Warning to ARISE TV

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

Condemnations have trailed the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC)’s warning to ARISE NEWS Channel over what the commission perceived as “offensive and inflammatory comments” made on the network.

NBC had on Friday issued a last warning to the television station regarding their alleged use of offensive and provocative language on their channel.

The warning was conveyed

through a letter titled “Prevalence of Offensive and Inflammatory Comments: Final Warning,” signed by the Director General of NBC, Dr Balarabe Shehu Ilelah.

But in its reaction, Amnesty International (AI) has criticised the federal government for using regulations to suppress press freedom.

While expressing its disapproval on its social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), the international rights group asserted that the federal government was unwilling to be

held accountable, and had resorted to employing regulations as a means to target and exert influence over the media.

“Amnesty International condemns the ‘final warning’ issued to @ ARISEtv by the FG through National Broadcasting Commission (NBC). Targeting Arise TV simply for doing their work sends the wrong message that Nigerian authorities are not prepared to be held accountable.

“Nigerian authorities must stop the unrelenting quest to silence media organizations like @ARISEtv, which

are crucial to ensuring independent and diverse media space in the country and fulfilling people’s right to information.

“Using regulations as a way to silence independent journalism is completely unacceptable. The media in Nigeria should be free to exercise their right to freedom of expression as protected by international law,” the international rights group explained. Also reacting, Nollywood actor and legal practitioner, Mr. Kenneth Okonkwo, has also cautioned the Director General of the NBC

Tinubu to Reconstitute Varsities’ Governing Councils

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has said he will soon reconstitute the governing boards of the federal universities to reinvigorate them.

Tinubu said this yesterday at the 27th Convocation Ceremony of the University of Abuja.

Represented by the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Hon. Zephaniah Jisalo, the president said that the incoming boards would prioritise the implementation of the reports of various visitation panels in the universities.

“Efforts are ongoing to reconstitute the governing councils of the universities to

reinvigorate the institutions in line with the renewed hope mandate of my administration.

“When inaugurated, the councils will be expected to commence, immediately, the implementation of the white paper on the reports of the various visitation panels in their respective universities.

“Let it be known that the government will neither accept nor condone any shoddy performance in the implementation of the white paper nor the overall mandate of the new governing councils,” Tinubu said.

He said he was impressed that the management of the University of Abuja had sustained the momentum in

all its operations in appreciation of his administration’s modest efforts to reposition the nation’s political economy, thereby restoring the hopes of millions of Nigerians.

The president also commended the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for their maturity, cooperation, and understanding that led to the resolution of the threat to embark on a nationwide strike last week.

He noted that universally, strikes were accepted as legitimate means deployed by workers in fighting for their welfare and better conditions of service and that his administration was

conscious of this fact.

“However, our administration would like to caution that incessant strikes and sustained industrial unrest have crippling effects on the well-being of any society. Our public universities are living testimonies of the disruption, instability, and irreparable damage, caused by strikes to the tertiary education sector.

“Indeed, the humongous cost of unending industrial actions on the nation’s overall well-being is unquantifiable. That is why the government is deeply appreciative of all those who have contributed to the resolution of the last prolonged industrial action in the nation’s public universities.

Nigeria Calls for De-escalation of Hostilities between Israel and Hamas

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The federal government has called for the de-escalation of violence and hostilities between Israel and Hamas.

Gun battles raged into the night after Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise large-scale attack against Israel on Saturday, firing thousands of rockets from Gaza and sending fighters to kill and abduct soldiers and civilians.

“We are at war,” Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, told the stunned nation as the army retaliated by pounding targets in the blockaded enclave, where several residential tower blocks were reduced to rubble.

About 80 people were killed in Israel, medical services said, while Gaza authorities released

a death toll of 232 in the conflict’s bloodiest escalation in years which also left many hundreds wounded on both sides.

“The enemy will pay an unprecedented price,” Netanyahu vowed after Hamas had launched its first such combined ground, air and sea offensive, half a century after the outbreak of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war.

As night fell, the Israeli army said its forces were still engaged in live gun battles in 22 Israel locations, in an ongoing operation labelled “Swords of Iron,” as reservists were being called up.

“There are still 22 locations where we are engaging with terrorists that came into Israel, from the sea, from the land

and from the air,” said army spokesman Richard Hecht on what he labelled a “robust ground invasion.”

As global concern grew and the United Nations Security Council called an emergency meeting for Sunday, President Joe Biden voiced “rock solid and unwavering” support for the United States ally and warned, “against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation.”

But the Federal Government of Nigeria in a statement personally signed yesterday by the Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassdor Yusuf Tuggar, pleaded for the immediate ceasefire between the two parties.

The statement read: “The Federal Government of Nigeria

is deeply concerned about the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Hamas in the early hours of Saturday, October 7, 2023 and calls for de-escalation and ceasefire.

“The cycle of violence and retaliation that the current escalation has assumed, only serves to perpetuate an unending cycle of pain and suffering for the civilian population, that bear the brunt of every conflict.”

The statement added that: “The Federal Government of Nigeria, therefore, calls on both sides to exercise restraint, prioritize the safety of civilians and give room for humanitarian considerations.

“We are therefore calling for a peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue.”

against using his (Okonkwo’s) name “disrespectfully” in his communication with media houses.

Okonkwo insisted that the Ilelah must publicly apologise to him for infringing on his fundamental right to hold views, without let or hindrance, on issues of national importance.

Okonkwo, who made his position known in a letter entitled, ‘Open letter to Mr. Balarabe Shehu Ilelah, DG National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC),’ however, said Ilelah should be sympathised with.

The letter read: “I read the letter written by Mr. Balarabe Shehu Ilelah, DG of NBC, and wish to state as follows:

“I sympathise with him in this unfortunate journey intended to please his employers, but state that he would have been wiser and more circumspect in going about it.

“Maybe he is not aware that the court has decided that NBC has no power to fine or sanction any media house. Intimidating or manipulating the media house is a form of sanction and is unlawful.

“He ill-advisedly mentioned my name in his letter as making an unguarded utterance simply because I confirmed that the Chicago State University certificate, which BAT submitted to INEC, was forged, for

the simple reason that the university has expressly stated that the certificate did not come from them, which is the condition necessary to prove forgery.

“This statement is an outright infringement on my fundamental human rights as enshrined in Sections 38 and 39, which provide that “every person shall be entitled to freedom of thought…; every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information, ideas and information without interference”.

“It’s unfortunate that when all media houses condemned Mmesoma for forging her Jamb certificate, and rightly too, without being convicted by a court, simply because JAMB disowned her certificate, and rightly too, the DG didn’t write to any TV station or mention the name of any guest on TV who condemned such forgery. Now that the certificate of the President is disowned by the university that purportedly issued it, the DG has suddenly found his mouth to mention the names of the people who condemned such forgery of the certificate after the university disowned it and even wrote to the media house to threaten it.

$1.476m Theft: Court Martial to Sentence Maj-Gen on Tuesday

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

A Special Court Martial set up by the Nigerian Army, which found the former Group Managing Director and Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian Army Properties Limited (NAPL), Major General Umar Mohammed, guilty will deliver judgment on Tuesday, THISDAY has learnt.

The Special Court Martial sitting in Abuja had found Major General Mohammed guilty of 14 out of 18 counts of charges, including stealing and other sundry offences, which are all contrary to service laws.

The charges brought against the general border on stealing, forgery, conspiracy, theft, unauthorised diversion of Army property, among others.

In one of the charges on which he was found guilty, General Mohammed was alleged to have collected the sum of $1.045,400 paid by shipping companies for the use of Nigerian Army Jetty

located at no 6 Marina, Victoria Island, Lagos

He was also found guilty of a theft of $430,800 monies paid into the Nigerian Army Domiciliary account at Unity Bank, Abuja for the use of Nigerian Army Jetty, Marina, Lagos.

The court martial also found him guilty of withdrawing and confiscating the sum of N74 million out of N75 million paid for a property belonging to the Nigerian Army at Ikoyi, Lagos.

The general was however found not guilty on allegations that he sold Army property worth N200 million in Lagos as well as stole the sum of another N750 million out of the sum of N2.5 billion secured from banks as well as contributions from subscribers for Army housing estate in Asokoro, Abuja.

He was also not found guilty of charges of forging a Deed of Agreement document pursuant to confiscating another Army property in Lagos.

FCBN Governor, Cardoso

NDIC MD, Hassan

FINANCE

Tackling Obstacles to Foreign

There is no doubt that the symbolism of President Bola Tinubu’s investment drive played out just before he rang the Closing Bell of NASDAQ, New York, a ceremony organised by the United States Chamber of Commerce, Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group) and Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC) recently.

Calling on foreign investors to bring their capital into Nigeria, the president, in an emotion-laden voice and determination said his government is working on easing his administration is actively working on of capital for investors.

“It is not about if Nigeria is open for business, it is about who wants to do business with Nigeria. Our administration has moved and removed fuel subsidy. I call on you to come and invest in Nigeria,” the president

The closing bell ceremony was part of events lined up in the NGX Roadshow, supported by Stanbic IBTC, CardinalStone

At the same event, the chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group), Umaru Kwairanga, urged the president to lead the capital market reforms that will drive the actualisation of his mandate of double-digit economic growth for Nigeria.

“Under President Tinubu’s leadership, said the chairman of NGX Group. and liberalisation of the foreign exchange capital market, with the Nigerian Exchange Limited’s All-Share Index surging by 29.04 per cent since inauguration.” -

and the capital market is in more need of reforms that can further unlock increased prosperity for the Nigerian economy. Citing the reforms, the chairman highlighted legislative adjustments that will make listing more attractive and urged the president to champion the reforms.

Making Nigeria an Investment Destination

Leaving no one in doubt about his eagerness to make Nigeria an investment destination, President Tinubu’s shuttle diplomacy has also taken him to the doorsteps of some world leaders including the G20 Leaders Summit in New Delhi, India, on September 9, 2023, while he deployed his deputy, Vice President Kashim Shettima to world leaders Government in Johannesburg, South Africa from August 22 to 24, 2023.

Nigeria irresistible to investors played out in some of his presentations in New York, where he admitted that there are knotty issues to be resolved.

supervision on my part. Despite many contending obligations, I will sit down and oversee the process of removing these encumbrances to job and wealth creation for the Nigerian people. We know the industry.

We grew up in it. We are positioned to solve the problems, and we are pragmatic, and we will solve the problem.”

As it is, one of his takeaways is the commitment of the ExxonMobil President of global upstream operations, Liam Mallon, assured President Tinubu that he is aware of the new and personal commitment that the president, as well as his barely four-month administration, is bringing to bear on behalf of Nigeria and asserted that he (Liam Mallon) is well placed to reciprocate the President’s new production of nearly 40,000bpd in its Nigerian operations in phase one of a new investment push in Nigeria.

In India, where the president was able to secure the commitment of Indian investors to commit nearly $14billion to the Nigerian economy, he once again promised to make life comfortable for intending foreign investors.

“We are ready to give you the best returns for investment possible; there’s nowhere returns for investment today, so invest now,” Tinubu told Indian business leaders from the pharmaceutical, power, petrochemical, and agricultural sectors.

“Among these new investments, Indorama Petrochemical Limited has pledged a new investment of $8bn in the expansion of its fertiliser production and petrochemical facility in Eleme, Rivers State,” the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, revealed in a statement.

Removing Obstacles to Investment

As impressive as the current drive for foreign investors is, analysts believe the government still has a long way to go in removing all the anti-investment factors currently scaring away foreign investors from the country. One of them is corruption which has been described as a serious obstacle to Nigeria’s economic growth and is

often cited by domestic and foreign doing business. Nigeria has moved up four places in the latest 2022 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) although the country did not improve on its previous year’s points, according to a new index released by Transparency International (TI). Despite maintaining its previous score of 24 out of 100 points in the 2021 assessment, Nigeria’s position went up to 150th in the new index compared to its 154th position out of 180 countries assessed in the 202 rankings.

Perhaps, one of the leading factors to the apathy of foreign investors in Nigeria was the instability in the nation’s foreign exchange market. Analysts observed that although the current administration is trying to bring sanity into the market by putting an end to multiple exchange earnings and the corresponding fall in the foreign reserves are making repatriation of dollar revenue by

To tackle this problem, Chief Middle East & Africa, Standard Chartered Bank, Razia Khan said that a more liberalised foreign exchange market will be a key priority for the incoming leadership of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

tion and overseeing a transition to a better-functioning, more liberalised

She explained that “Both will like-

policy backdrop will be needed.” She added “As an almost si-

multaneous step, all autonomous supply (including from oil companies) should be needed to reduce (hopefully once and for all), the importance of the parallel market,” she submitted.

Encouraging Local Investors

Observers said while there is nothing wrong with the campaign to bring more foreign investors, there is an urgent need to encourage the indigenous ones by putting in place the needed infrastructure. They argue that unless there is law and order in place, no foreign investor will commit his resources in a jurisdiction where he cannot rely on the court to settle disputes.

Another issue begging for urgent attention is the instability in the power sector. Analysts say Nigeria’s underdeveloped power sector is a bottleneck to broad-based economic development and forces most businesses own electricity. Reform of Nigeria’s power continues to be weakened by regulatory uncertainty and limited domestic natural gas supply.

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They also raised the fear that the unabated security lapses remain a concern to investors in Nigeria due to violent crimes, kidnappings for ransom and terrorism in certain parts of the country. Up till last week, members of the Nigerian security forces continued to lose their lives in virtually all the regions of the country, an indication that the battle against terrorism is far from being won. Analysts said, that until the issue of security is settled, all the investment drive of the incumbent administration cannot yield the desired results.

It is until after these bottlenecks are effectively tackled that the gains of the current foreign investment drive can become manifest.

As President Bola Tinubu continues to expect the gains of his foreign investment drive, economic analysts said his administration should also resolve the myriad of problems militating against businesses in Nigeria, writes Festus Akanbi

President Tinubu and his team at NASDAQ, New York, United States ... recently

SOFT FINANCE

The Millionaire Next Door: How Would He Invest N50m?

I threw a challenge on the Life Lessons Platform, asking this hypothetical question: ”If you were given N50 million to invest in the next 12 months on any instrument of your choice to generate an attractive return on investment, where would you invest the money?”

Several members had sent in contributions within the stipulated time, and the entries are being reviewed. But I was curious to find out how Adegboyega Adewusi, the man we had featured as Millionaire Next Door, had made a startling success of his ice cream business with returns that surpassed what many white-collar executives would earn.

When I posed the question to him, his reply was fast and straightforward: “I will invest the whole money in my ice cream business by buying more machines. There are so many machines I need to buy. So the entire money will go there, and a handsome return is guaranteed.” Below, we serve again the story of Adewusi:

The numbers appeared, initially, too startling to be true. An old classmate of mine staying in a very small but nice estate in the Alimosho area of Lagos State had asked me to keep him company one weekend. Surprisingly, the estate is surrounded by a ghetto-like dwelling place. On a Saturday morning, I decided to take a familiarisation walk around the estate. On one of the streets adjacent to the estate, I noticed a middle-aged man sitting on a plastic chair clutching a notebook and a biro while a retinue of individuals alighting from a convoy of tricycles, milling around him were dropping different denominations of the naira notes in his hands. I was curious. While returning to the estate two hours later, I decided to engage him. I wanted to know what kind of business he was engaged in that was attracting such an endless flow of cash. What I found out beat my imagination. This guy is engaged in a small ordinary business that fetches him an income that is far higher than what medical doctors, professors, high-ranking police officers and, wait for this, bank MDs earn in a month.

I asked Vanessa Obiora, one of THISDAY’s most diligent and award-winning investigative journalists, to engage the uncommon millionaire. Read her account below and see if you will not be taken aback. Enjoy, please. Success often comes packaged in unexpected ways. In the world of business, appearances can often be deceiving. Adegboyega Adewusi, a businessman in the ice cream and biscuits manufacturing industry, is a perfect example of this. Despite his unassuming appearance and limited formal education, Adewusi has achieved remarkable success in his business, earning a daily revenue of about N300,000 during peak periods and N200,000 during off-seasons. With an annual revenue of approximately N100.8 million and a gross profit of N60.5 million, Adewusi’s business has flourished in an estate in the Alimosho area of Lagos State, where he owns two buildings dedicated to ice cream and biscuit production. The streets are lined with tricycles bearing his business name, Baba Yato, ready for pickups and deliveries. Besides, Adewusi owns two shops in one of the Lagos State shopping Arcade in that area from which he earns decent yearly rentals; he stays in his house and cruises around town in his SUV.

At first glance, Adewusi, who is in his 50s, may seem like an ordinary individual. On any given day, he can be found wearing a white polo shirt, blue jeans, and sneakers, appearing like a young man going about his daily routine. However, what Adewusi lacks in formal education, he more than compensates for with his business acumen. His journey into the ice cream industry was somewhat accidental. Growing up in Ibadan, Oyo State, he faced academic challenges that hindered his progress. He is the third of his parents’ five children. Of all his siblings, he is the only one who is academically challenged.

“I used to be brilliant while in primary school, but suddenly I could no longer concentrate on my studies. Even while in secondary school, I tried to pick up like my siblings but realised that I just could not catch up. So, I dropped out.”

Despite his parents’ initial disappointment, Adewusi’s father eventually recognised

Adewusi

his limitations and stopped investing in his education. To be sure, Adewusi’s parents were comfortable and lived modestly. He never lacked anything as a child but still saw his father as a poor man. He could not understand why his father, who seemed financially comfortable, always complained about his financial situation.

“I used to call him a poor man because, among his siblings, he was the only one in Nigeria. Others were doing successfully abroad. And he had a knack of always complaining despite all the money he made.”

This perspective led Adewusi to believe that poverty is a state of mind and that taking action rather than complaining to address financial challenges is crucial.

To explore new opportunities, Adewusi delved into carpentry, learning from local workshops and sometimes going to sawmills, observing the furniture-making process. His father suggested he work at Narrow Way Furniture in Ibadan, but Adewusi received an enticing offer from a top furniture gallery that promised a higher salary — N200 — a rented apartment and a Vespa motorcycle. At the time, his father’s take-home pay was N150. He was so thrilled by this opportunity that he made plans to move out of his parents’ home immediately. But his father disapproved of the offer, believing that

his son’s true worth would be undervalued in that position.

At first, Adewusi felt it was an act of jealousy, given that he would be earning more than his father.

“He told me that if I accepted the offer, I would be selling myself short. He knew my capabilities and felt the company was going to take advantage of me. He wanted me to fully understand my worth, but I was young and angry with him. Many nights, I would cry bitterly, wondering why my father did not support me. I wondered why he could not see that the job offer was a turning point in my life, that I would be living in Bodija and able to take care of myself. My mother would come in and advise me to heed my father’s words. That he was more experienced than I am.”

Despite his initial anger and frustration, Adewusi has now realised that his father’s guidance was wise, and he is grateful for not accepting the job.

The Adewusi household was a large one that accommodated extended family relatives. One of them was an uncle from his mother’s side. Adewusi’s introduction to the ice cream industry came through his uncle, Femi, who was involved in ice cream sales. He accompanied him to the Zoo, where they sold ice cream, and their four-day venture yielded a profit of over N100,000. This was over 30 years ago.

“Despite all the stress of those four days, he only gave me N5. I felt cheated and complained to my mother.”

Eventually, his mother intervened, and the uncle paid him N20, which he used to buy new clothes.

This experience opened his eyes to the business potential of ice cream sales, leading him to approach ice cream manufacturers for an opportunity to sell their products. He also collaborated with the wife of the late Ibadan Chief Lai Balogun, who was involved in ice cream manufacturing, to help hawk their products. Femi, of course, noticed his nephew’s ambition but never held it against him. Instead, he paid him a commission each time he helped him in sales.

For a while, Adewusi relied on his furniture business and ice cream sales, but the former was more demanding and made little gains. His father advised him to concentrate on the ice cream and that a better tomorrow was on the horizon. Adewusi would travel to villages to sell his ice cream and would later add biscuits to it. He started making gains that could afford him a modest lifestyle.

Through hard work and determination, Adewusi became successful in his ice cream and biscuit sales, catching the attention of his friends who were graduates. They became interested in becoming distributors and, with

ADEWUSI’S MASTER CLASS ON ENTREPRENUERSHIP

To succeed in business and life, Adewusi says these habits and virtues are essential:

1. You must delay gratification: work now and enjoy later.

2. You must create multiple streams of income.

3. You must cultivate saving habits in your system.

4. You must know that turnover is not the same as profit.

5. You must work on your business personally.

6. You must separate business from friendship.

7. You must use your business to help other people.

Adewusi’s help, established a direct buying relationship with the company.

Over time, Adewusi saved enough money to purchase his first ice cream-making machine, a significant milestone celebrated by his proud father.

“I bought my first machine for N70,000. My father was so elated. He called everyone to come and witness my success.”

Eventually, Adewusi relocated to Lagos and expanded his business, which now employs around 100 contract workers and five permanent staff members. Adewusi takes pride in not only running a successful business but also rehabilitating young men who were previously involved in drug abuse. He shares his own success story to inspire them to pursue a living and avoid wasting their lives on drugs.

“I see many of them. So, I usually talk to them about making a living instead of wasting their lives on drugs. I use myself as an example. Yes, I didn’t go to school, but I have had remarkable success in my business. If, at this age, I’m still working, what is stopping them? The Holy Bible even encouraged work so that one can be able to eat. I don’t give them money because I know they would spend the money on drugs.” Some of his previous workers have also become bosses of their own.

Today, Adewusi’s business ventures have expanded beyond ice cream and biscuits. He is now involved in real estate and car sales, and his business partner, Lekan Aderibigbe, speaks highly of his honesty and trustworthiness.

“I can leave all my wealth with him and go to bed. I know they are safe in his hands,” says Aderibigbe.

Despite the challenges faced in Nigeria, Adewusi once considered exploring opportunities abroad. Not that the hardships affected him directly. He just wanted to try a new environment. He closed down his business and sold some of his machines, but given his poor educational background, the opportunities available required him to live a life of servitude.

“I could not do that because over here (Nigeria), I have many people serving me. I could not just find myself in that situation,” he said.

He, therefore, decided against it. With that, he returned to his business and started afresh. Again, the profits rolled in, and he even expanded to selling machines.

In the 30 years of running his business, Adewusi has never taken a loan from any financial institution until recently.

“Banks used to come to me to persuade me to take loans, but I didn’t because I did not want to be under pressure. However, I had to take a loan now because my business has expanded. I needed to get new machines.”

Adewusi has gotten to a state where money is no longer a worry. He has never lost sight of the importance of financial discipline.

“When I started, I did not spend money extravagantly. I was very focused. I inculcated the habit of self-discipline so that I would be able to achieve my goals,” he said.

He emphasises the virtues of focus, delayed gratification, and having a savings plan as fundamental pillars of his success. Adewusi’s remarkable achievements serve as a testament to the fact that determination and business acumen can overcome educational limitations and pave the way for extraordinary success.

www.thisdaylive.com opinion@thisdaylive.com

REFLECTIONS ON NIGERIA AT 63 Nigeria will stand tall among nations, reckons ALIYU TANIMU

For the calm and calculating Atiku Abubakar, the struggle continues, writes TUNDE OLUSUNLE

MUSINGS ON ATIKU’S ‘ALUTA’CAREER

See Page 20

TINUBU AND THE INVENTIONS OF PROPAGANDA FREDRICK

NWABUFO contends that the main opposition is desperate for power

Permit me to commence by recommending the publication titled: *Atiku: The Story of Atiku Abubakar* to those with peripheral understanding of Nigeria’s charismatic former Vice President who was deputy to Olusegun Obasanjo. There’s been quantum misrepresentation underscored by plain political mischief, debauchery and chicanery in the public sphere, about the man. The book under reference was authored by Onukaba Adinoyiwriters in his time, who, very sadly and tragically departed in year 2017. Onukaba had the distinction of having authored full length, painstakingly researched and brilliantly rendered biographies on Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria’s former military Head of State and later, democratically elected President, and Atiku. The 338-page book on Atiku was published in 2006. It remains a key reference document on Atiku whose name has been a recurring decimal in national politics in the last four decades.

We are generally cognisant of developments in our most recent political experience. The phenomenal failure of the preceding administration of Muhammadu Buhari could only have negatively impacted the fortunes party, the All Progressives Congress, (APC), at the presidential poll. A rehash of the failings and faltering of Buhari who contested twice on the springboard of the APC, evokes palpable sighs, teary emotions, even gnashing of teeth. Those years of the locusts are best shifted to the depths of distant memory. The song and slogan on the streets encapsulated mass discontent and a steely determination to excoriate that insensitivity, insecurity and gloom in totality. Nigerians were poised to speak, loud and very clear with their voter’s cards at the polls.

See Page 20

The APC superstructure, however, resorted to what the unforgettable Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, revered as precursor of *Afrobeat,* described as “government magic,” in one of his trademark political compositions. “White was turned into blue, red transformed into green,” as Fela’s song continues. Technological innovations acquired by INEC for humongous sums at the collective expense of taxpayers to facilitate seamless electoral processes, were summarily opposition parties were bludgeoned, ballot boxes grabbed, tallying sheets mutilated and in the wee hours of Wednesday March 1, 2023, announced a presidential result when votes were still being added together. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of INEC, proclaimed results which didn’t send Nigerians to the streets in freestyle jubilation. Conversely, Nigeria was swaddled by cemetery-type quiet and has remained so ever since.

See Page 21

In his continuing quest to ensure strict adherence to the rule of law in a democracy, Atiku immediately approached the highest court in the land, the Supreme Court, to take another look at the suspect and hazy pronouncements of the PEPT. Side by side with this, Atiku, a veteran and hero of many expedition. The question of document

adulteration, forgery and scamming has recurred in instances over time since the early Speaker of the House of Representatives back in 1999, Salisu Buhari, was forced to resign of Toronto” in his quest for a seat in the lower parliament.

Kemi Adeosun, voluntarily resigned from upon the completion of the mandatory oneyear National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC). A quintessential *omoluabi,* the well groomed and well mannered within the Yoruba context, she quietly exited and moved on. She refused to be sucked in by the razzmatazz of Nigerianthemselves handling all manner of chores for the “oga at the top,” a phrase which became familiar years back. Adeosun demonstrated un-Nigerian grit to have chosen the path she did, despite serving under a President, Buhari, who himself could not present his “ordinary West African Examinations Council, (WAEC). News out of Chicago State University, (CSU) in the United States, in the inquest into the matter of alleged forgery instituted by Atiku against Tinubu, seems to validate previous presumptions. The President might just have documents submitted to INEC ahead of the presidential election, Tinubu made no entries for his primary and secondary schools, got admitted into the Chicago-based citadel for his tertiary institution and posted a blank the controversy about his gender during his studentship in CSU. Was he male or female? plausibly appropriated the social security number and sex of a female Nigerian student with that identity. The photograph of a lady by the name: “Adenike Abimbola Tinubu” has been trending on the internet in recent days.

with known Yoruba christening patterns. Atiku’s *pakute,* the Yoruba expression for “trap,” seems to have clapsed Tinubu’s ankle. Sadly, very tragically sadly, sections of the

Nigerian elite are hailing, supporting and serenading Tinubu as the “actor” or “bad guy” in an action movie. He seems to have outwitted his adversaries in the plot of the screenplay, deploying a combination of street smartness and crookedness. He is adulated as the *baba’sale,* the don of the backwaters, in the storyline. And because the mythical Tinubu is involved in this mire, identity theft and proper. Some of us have indeed been “e-rats” on the social media. I’ve serially maintained though that he doesn’t equate the values, qualities and standards of archetypal Yoruba forerunners.

The Obafemi Awolowos, Samuel Akintolas, Abraham Adesanyas, Adeniran Ogunsanyas, Lateef Jakandes, Adekunle Ajasins, Bisi Adebanjos, Bola Iges, Reuben Fasorantis, Ayo Adebanjos, Olu Falaes, authentic Yoruba frontiersmen, were substantially transparent and respected. The contemporary *Asiwaju,* however, might just have been found to be something of a perjurer. His hero-worshippers and cult followers, however, want him of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s uncanny distinction between “stealing” and blinded to the spiral effects of this national and global embarrassment. The Nigerian President should be largely overboard in many ways.

Like my brother journalist and scholar Tivlumun Nyitse said at a forum, “those who made us believe that they were champions in the pursuit of truth, justice and fair play have suddenly lost their moral compass.” They have turned a blind eye to the discovery of a career impostor who has conned his way to the marketplace as lead performer in the community orchestra. They have spontaneously become the cheerleaders of a grievously this development can impact the worldview of the younger generation. Those our generation is frantically attempting to wean off fatalistic subscriptions to cultism, truancy, alcoholism, drugs, and so on, now have a ready-made model. They now know they can get to the very top irrespective of the crookedness of the route they ply.

Social media reports are already proffering some Nigerian professionals abroad will be re-evaluated. Previously, Nigerians across the world, especially in the United States and United Kingdom, always headlined the

As deliberate government policy, Nigeria indeed once exported excess human capacity to needy African and Caribbean countries under the “Technical Aids Corps,” (TAC), initiated by the government of former military President Ibrahim Babangida, three decades ago. We are now susceptible to hurtful taunts by cheeky immigration clerks in Johannesburg and Dubai, asking us for updates about President.

PhD, poet, journalist, scholar and author is a Member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, (NGE)

EDITORIAL ON THE ‘STATE OF ORIGIN’ PALAVER

Olusunle,

REFLECTIONS ON NIGERIA AT 63

Nigeria will stand tall among nations, reckons ALIYU TANIMU

Sunday, October 1st marked Nigeria’s 63rd Independence Day. The celebration was low-key as far. It comes at a time when Africa’s largest economy has long been in freefall since the Muhammadu Buhari administration. Youth unemployment, high and continue to climb. More than 60 percent of the country lives in what is called ‘multidimensional poverty.’

Electricity is still abysmally poor; the national grid has collapsed multiple times this year, and uninterrupted power remains a myth. It also comes at a time when Nigeria is still grappling with violent extremists, such as Boko Haram and ISWAP in the North East, IPOB separatists in the South East, as well as bandits in the North West and North Central. Nigerians of all ages are disillusioned with the country’s progress over six decades, leading to a

No one cared to know what the President had to say, except for pundits and analysts who were glued to their TV screens to dissect and analyze the president’s speech. We should never forget the efforts made by our founding fathers who fought relentlessly; their be forgotten.

Nigeria gained independence in October 1960 amidst fanfare and wild attained independence from their colonial masters. At that time, Africans looked up to Nigeria, which was Africa’s shining armor, as we looked after our brothers in times of need. We fought to liberate Liberia and Sierra Leone. We fought against apartheid in South Africa, bankrolled the freedom dissidents. Nigeria is a nation of high prestige. Dubai was a mere desert. Dubai used to borrow from Nigeria. Everywhere you go, once you mention Nigeria, you’re treated with respect.

Sadly, Nigerians are now treated with disdain by their own neighbors, Ghana and across the globe, simply for being Nigerians. Being a Nigerian is not a crime; not all Nigerians are criminals. We have great minds and talents who have put Nigeria on the global map due to their achievements music and movie powerhouse, but we haven’t been able to manage and brand it as effectively as South Korea’s KPOP and KDrama. This represents a form of soft power because we can tell our own story to the world, rather than relying on the Western media’s version of Nigeria. With the surging popularity of Korean entertainment overseas, it challenges Hollywood’s long-standing dominance in the industry. Moviegoers now have an alternative to Hollywood, and other streamers), that not only promotes LGBTQ rights but also savior. Kidnapping for ransom has become the new lucrative goldmine for crude criminals. Almost every day, we hear reports of kidnapping across the country, draining Nigerians of their hard-earned money and sabotaging the economy. The government must rein in these evildoers, and kidnapping must be nipped in the bud.

TINUBU AND THE INVENTIONS OF PROPAGANDA

political maneuvering over its location, was constructed at Warri, opening in 1978 with a capacity of 100,000 barrels per day. This plant was entirely owned by a parastatal, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), which, starting in 1979, also held an 80 percent interest in the earlier plant. Technical problems and shutdowns for routine maintenance reduced production, and the combined total of petroleum processed by the two plants in 1979 averaged 89,000 barrels per day—about 83 percent of the domestic requirement. 100,000 barrels per day, began operations at Kaduna but did not become fully productive until the mid-1980s. A fourth at Alesa Eleme, increasing Nigeria’s day.

currently dormant. We still haven’t hence, we sell and import fuel overseas.

It’s not all doom and gloom. Nigeria is still a great nation and the envy of many, blessed with abundant human and natural resources.

Is there nothing to celebrate? Yes, made to attain this day. We will never forget General Murtala Muhammed’s infamous speech: ‘Africa has come of age.’ We will also never forget the speech of Late Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa as Nigeria marked her independence.

We can never forget General Yakubu Gowon’s speech at the end of the war. The victorious Yakubu Gowon famously declared, ‘No victor, no vanquished,’ and made it clear that the aim of the federal reintegration of the former citizens of the Republic of Biafra into the Federal never be forgotten.

Solving Nigeria’s problems requires a multifaceted approach:

Governance: Promote transparency, accountability, and good governance to combat corruption; invest in quality education to empower the workforce; reduce dependency on oil, stimulate agriculture and industries; develop critical infrastructure to boost economic growth; improve healthcare access and quality for all citizens; address security challenges through law enforcement and community engagement; foster national unity, tolerance, and social cohesion, and seek global partnerships for development.

It’s a complex task that demands concerted efforts from government, citizens, and the international community.

We are still hopeful that Africa’s sleeping giant and superpower will one day stand tall and wake up to reclaim its rightful place in the comity of nations— the Nigeria of our dreams. With the right visionary leader at the helm, this is possible.

Bias, desperation, delusion, and deception govern the outputting of the distortionist mob. Mob distortions are purposive fabrications. They are oddly designed inventions pulled from come in the cloak of truth and certainty. They come in the swaddle of history and records. But in actuality, they lies, propaganda, disinformation, and misrepresentation.

What the crocheters of the yarns of distortionist hypotheses seek to achieve may be to cause a breakdown of trust, to blackmail, poison perception, stoke crisis, cause disaffection, and ultimately, spur an uprising.

In the case of President Bola Tinubu, fruitlessly so, to poison public perception against him. They invent ahistorical accounts, contort records, fabricate stories, and think up utter ridiculousness.

During the campaigns, detachments of distortionists worked the mill of propaganda overtime. They invented tales and doctored videos. Time has revealed the falsity of those videos as well as the dark entrails of the promoters. Today, the President is seen speaking extempore, clearly, intelligently with poise, panache, and a sprightful gait.

The traducing did not let up after the elections – even when it was expected that those in the adversarial phylum would form an opposition established on unrelenting issues of governance as they affect all Nigerians -- and not on inanities and delusions. The fixation has been, laboriously, on the pursuit of a will-o’-the-wisp -- not substance.

Despite indisputable evidence, punitive expeditions to the US were undertaken in furtherance of the smear campaign. There was nothing to be had from such endeavours ab initio, but to stir disruptive controversies and excite supporters whose morale is waning. The outcome of the Chicago State University expedition is an indictment on the species of opposition and their disposition of resistance.

This dimension of opposition is tears down without building; it talks down without uplifting; it attacks without reason; it claims without evidence; it lies without let; it defames opposes without a cause. All it seeks is to pull down and destroy – for as long as its longing for the chief seat remains a pipedream.

At the heart of Nigeria’s troubled and enchanted existence are wild and patriotism and national interest; politics vacant of soul and righteous purpose; politics of predation and degradation. Politics of gladiatorial contests and duels. Destructive, dangerous politics. We cannot make progress if our politics persists to be cancerous and a contest of absurdities. We seldom debate policies, and even when we do, it is usually from insular, dopey, and blighted lenses.

our conversations when there are critical matters seeking attention. We keep going through the same foundry every cycle and expect a change. We have to be more purposive about governance, and less obsessed with thrilling distractions.

play in educating citizens, mobilising consciences, and activating the right discourses. The opposition holds a decisive place in any democracy. Should this value be expended on asininities and on guerrilla warfare? If the essence of seeking power is corrective and righteous, where is the sense in efforts to bring down the roof with every

No one is saying the opposition should be the consort of anyone, but patriotism dictates citizens must commit to the peace, unity, and progress of the country regardless of who is president.

The Tinubu administration has been expansive and sensitive to Nigeria’s complexional complexities, blurring the lines between ‘’supporter and opposition’’ in appointments and in the provisioning of public goods. This clearly says it is all about governance and building a cohesive country for this administration. This is patriotism -- what has been essentially lacking in governance in Nigeria.

However, it has become evident that debate in the next four years will be on the absurd. Perhaps, there is a cavity in the intellectual domain of the administration; vicious conspiracy theories of ethnic domination and ethnic cleansing were noised as imminent truths. Ethnic epithets, slurs to that administration. All for what reason – politics. It was all politics.

Conspiracy theories are the animating force of Nigeria’s political discourses. They give taste to falsehood, tension, eaten, digested, and regurgitated by the unwary. It is only four months in the life of this administration, but the crocheters of conspiracy theories are returning to their accustomed vocation. I would not give oxygen to the plot of lies and tall tales by reproducing them here.

But it is important that Nigerians understand that those desperate for power will do anything to keep them hooked on the opium of lies, fear, and Be discerning.

of 38,000 barrels per day, enough to meet domestic requirements at the

Political parties, especially those in the opposition, have seminal roles to

FREDRICK NWABUFO contends that the main opposition is desperate for power

Tanimu, freelance architect and writer, writes from Kaduna

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA

EDITORIAL ON THE ‘STATE OF ORIGIN’ PALAVER

It is imperative to give Nigerians a sense of belonging anywhere they choose to live in the country

In the past few weeks, there have been media reports of directives by some governors that certain jobs should be reserved only for ‘origins’ of their states. While we understand the motive behind this desperation, our governors should spend more time talking to one another about how to solve a common problem of dwindling opportunities. For the record, there is no section of Besides, given that allocation to states from the Federation Account is based on head count, there are also moral issues involved. The simple argument is that a state that collected revenues on behalf of these people (and where they were counted), cannot then turn round to deny them opportunities. Regardless of their ‘state of origin’, we must fashion a way to give Nigerians a sense of belonging anywhere they may be domiciled in the country.

However, the major test in any serious attempt to abolish this dichotomy between residents of a state in Nigeria would hinge on the fact of where we continue to fail as a nation. Although we know who a Nigerian citizen is, it is something else a different location other than his/her ‘state of origin’ which may not even be where they were born. Even when such a Nigerian may have no problem ‘settling’ and doing business anywhere within the country, being accepted as a bona fide resident in the adopted state or community is another matter altogether. While this was not the situation in the past, the recent triumph of ethnic (and sometimes clannish) politics and bigotry is denying Nigerians the benefits of reaping from their contributions outside their ‘state of origin’.

The application of the sentiment may be more pronounced in some states or regions than others. But the fact remains that almost every Nigerian is today a ‘settler’ outside his or her ‘state of origin’. In many states, even children are denied things as basic as admission to academic institutions based on

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Letters to the Editor

their ‘state of origin’ notwithstanding the fact that their parents may not have defaulted in payment of their taxes and in meeting other obligations where they are domiciled. Unfortunately, while it may be easy to enact a law that anyone who had been domiciled in a place for between 10 and 20 years would automatically become a citizen of the state, as it has been suggested several times in the past, giving practical effect to such enactment is where the real challenge lies. Therefore, in lending our support to whatever measures are considered necessary to help confront the monster of indigene/settler dichotomy while promoting national integration and common citizenship, there has to be a change in mindset and a total reorientation of the people.

It ought to be emphasized that of the myriad challenges that confront the nation today, the management of our diversity ranks at the top. We are divided along all conceivable lines more than ever. Our governors cannot hide under budgetary constraints to deepen this crisis of inclusive nationalism. Instead, they should collectively work towards addressing whatever constitutional adjustments that can remove constraints to an all-inclusive citizenship. We cannot have our political leaders pay lip service to ‘one Nigeria’ while condoning executive decisions by states that deepen divisiveness.

As we have continued to reiterate on this page, such recourse to alienating citizens based on where their parents were born is detrimental to our national cohesion. That our political parties have refused to take a definitive position on this issue which borders on national unity and the larger interest indicates that they do not understand their roles. We therefore urge authorities in Abuja and the 36 states to explore all the possible impediments and come up with practical solutions. In an era where people of Nigerian ancestry are getting elected and United Kingdom and other countries, no Nigerian should face discrimination anywhere in the only nation they know as home.

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

LETTERS

NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES AND THE BRAIN-DRAIN CHALLENGE

When Lucio Tan, the Chinese-born Filipino business magnate, investor and philanthropist stated that: “We cannot as a country, improve economically, socially and culturally without quality education,” he might not have had Nigeria in mind. But the sad scenario that has been playing out in the critical education sector over the decades

With the news media raising genuine concern on the crisis looming in Nigerian public universities, caused of course, by the massive exit of several lecturers seeking greener pastures in foreign land, some urgent actions should be embarked upon by the federal government to reverse the trend.

As recently made public, about 50 per cent of lecturers in our public universities have at the University of Ilorin, it is about 40 per cent, and about 50 per cent at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, etc.

Indeed, recent data gathered by the media pointed to the fear that as much as 80 per cent of the remaining lecturers are preparing to leave. That is, if the current situation remains as it is. This is worrisome. the lecturers’ exodus, include “the desire for insecurity, poor salaries and inadequate funding”. But that is not all. Other pertinent reasons adduced include the non-payment of outstanding salaries of university teachers, as earlier agreed by the federal government. Not left out also is the current harsh economy, triggered by the removal of fuel subsidy leading to the unprecedented hike in the pump price of petrol, diesel and cooking gas. This has had a spin-off effect on the costs of transportation and sundry consumables. The movement of lecturers to seek their fortunes beyond our shores has continued despite the efforts of the President Bola

Ahmed Tinubu-led government giving approval for the implementation of 35 per cent and 23 per cent salary increment for staff of all federal tertiary institutions. To members from what the university lecturers had been negotiating for over the recent years. Looked at from a broader perspective, the obvious disregard of the important role the lecturers play in our children’s educational development by the powers that be at the federal level throws up some is the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC always ready to approve jumbo pay packages for the already rich politicians and defend such while the lecturers are left in agony for months to get paid their peanuts? government ever think of increasing tuition fees in public tertiary institutions at this perilous time of an economic

over 25%?And why should our policymakers wait for issues and demands from the workers to escalate before addressing such money at them for short-term, instead of long-lasting solutions?

Besides, why should we, as a country, be more interested in giving out crude oil, agricultural products such as yam, cassava, cocoa, coffee and even solid minerals like lithium, iron ore, gold to other countries for processing? And now, we are ignoring our best brains’ demands for better working conditions, allowing them to move to other lands where they wil become great inventors, innovators and critical thinkers. That is, with the products of their creative of Nigeria? In all honesty, we cannot keep running the country this way.

Ayo Oyoze Baje, Lagos

In an era where people of Nigerian ancestry are getting elected and appointed into critical

in the United States, United Kingdom and other countries, no Nigerian should face discrimination anywhere in the only nation they know as home

DENNIS IDAHOSA

STEADILY CLIMBING THE POLITICAL LADDER

Hon. Dennis Idahosa, the Chairman, House Committee on Healthcare Services is one of the youngest lawmakers in the House of Representatives, where he represents Ovia South-west/North-east Federal Constituency of Edo State. A passionate, cerebral and compassionate politician, his foray into politics and the grace that came with it was far from being automatic. He had deployed some years in real estate in Canada before he was spotted by the then Edo State Governor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole. The rest is history. In a recent encounter with Funke Olaode, he delved into his political trajectory and how Oshiomhole’s trust and commitment to his people have pushed him thus far.

If Proper Policies are Injected into the Health Sector, It Will Reduce Medical Tourism

With a friendly gaze bearing a warm smile, this young politician, Dennis Idahosa in a recent encounter with this reporter at a highbrow hotel somewhere in Ikeja, Lagos, talks about his life and political trajectory. Surrounded by his political allies from the House of Representatives, he offers a glimpse of hope to the topic under discussion. Prior to his foray into politics, he was into real estate in Canada where he migrated as a teenager for further education. Visionary and purposeful, he immersed himself in what North America would offer. True to himself, he carved a niche for himself and became successful. While his fortune in the foreign land didn’t attract much noise, it was his political journey that propped up his name several times as a young man. He became the youngest commissioner in Edo State under the then Governor, Adams Oshiomhole. Serving as commissioner for Investment, Public and Private Partnership. It is on record that he donated all his salaries to the people of Ovia South West Constituency while he was in office as Commissioner. As the CEO of Eagle Denco Company Limited with an interest in construction, mining and real estate, he also employed several youths. His act of kindness constantly keeps his name on the lips of many who know him.

Representing Ovia South-West/North East Federal Constituency of Edo State in the House of Representatives, his political exploits have roots in his passion for the job

“I left the shores of this country to Canada to further my education before the “japa syndrome. This was in 1998 immediately after secondary school. And I was doing an exhibition on real estate in Canada in 2012 when my path crossed with him. He asked me, ‘Are you a Benin man’? I said yes. ‘And you are doing so much abroad? Why can’t you come home and support us and also contribute your quota?’ And immediately he said that, I said okay, fine Sir, I will get back to you. After our conversation, I did research on him and I noticed that he was a man that is trying to impact life and contribute to society. At that point, I put a call across to him that I was definitely going to come home. And when I came, he made me a commissioner, becoming the youngest commissioner in Edo State.”

A Yoruba adage that says ‘a child who washes his hand will dine with his elders’ is suitable for Hon. Idahosa. His loyalty aside, his track of excellence while serving under Oshiomhole paid off. When his tenure ended, Oshiomhole nominated him as the Federal Board member representing the South-south region in the Nigerian Great Wall under the Ministry of Environment, which gave him national experience and exposure.

Again, while serving as commissioner in Edo State, Hon. Idahosa did something uncommon in the history of the state. One hundred per cent of his salary was donated to widows. This again opened a new vista in his political journey.

“When my tenure ended as a commissioner, the women in my community called me. They contributed what they had, about N13,000, based on their level, that I should come and contest for the House of Representatives. I saw it and I was very, very moved. Before I got home, the leadership of my party went to meet my governor, and Oshiomhole agreed that for us to win that federal constituency, it should be the likes of Hon. Dennis Idahosa. I handed the ‘N13,000’ and some clothes the widows contributed to my ambition. And I was able to purchase the form and the rest was history. I was able to unseat the daughter of one of the richest men in my state.”

He gives more insight into his political foray.

“Yes, I first ran my election in 2019, I was just 38 years old. I was young. I was one of those using that to campaign in my federal constituency and it actually helped me and I benefited from it. I am a young man, with modesty who commands a lot of respect in my community. And considering my antecedents, the young and old adults believed in me. And in the first tenure within four years, I was able to attract a minimum of 100 projects to my federal constituency. That is why they trusted me to give me the second term.”

Hon. Idahosa studied sociology as a first degree in Canada and earned a master’s degree in Legislative Studies in Nigeria. While in Canada, he had a brief stint in health and allied sectors. During his first tenure, he

was chairman of the House Committee on Legislative Compliance, which gave him room to interface with all the agencies across Nigeria.

Commenting on the state of Nigeria’s health sector, he had this to say: “Like I said earlier, considering my exposure in the 9th assembly as the Chairman House Committee on Compliance, I have actually interfaced with all the agencies and so these are familiar people to me. They are people that I have interacted with. Most of the challenges that we face in the health sector now, will be addressed. You should be mindful of the fact that I was once based in Canada and health is number one priority. We will ensure that most of our senior citizens, highly placed people will not be going overseas for medical treatment. We will fix our health sector so that we can reduce medical tourism.”

Although it seems the budget allocated for the health sector is still very low compared to other countries, he is leading talks on how to chart a way forward for the

sector.

“That is one of the conversations that I will be having with the leadership of the house. I am going to have a very reasonable conversation with them, to let them see the reason why the budgetary provision for health should be higher in line with the World Health Standard.”

On his recent stakeholders’ engagement in Lagos themed: ‘Fortifying Nigeria’s Future: Towards Promoting Fortification Compliance and Workforce Nutrition,’ Hon. Idahosa said the importance of workforce nutrition cannot be overstated.

“A lot has been said. A healthy workforce will provide a healthy result that will bring development to the nation. On food fortification, I have been able to put a lot of things together, one of which is, in `1999, the law gave birth to NAFDAC. And in 2004, there was a little bit of amendment. But in the 9th assembly there was a comprehensive amendment that gave room to NAFDAC to delve into all these food fortifications

and a lot of monitoring had to do with those manufacturers, but it wasn’t assented to by Mr. President. By the grace of God, in this 10th assembly, we are going to revisit it and we will ensure that it is passed and is assented to.”

Nigeria is currently losing its brain drain to the ‘japa syndrome’. The movement wasn’t popular in his younger days. But he has a different view. “I think if you want to visit abroad, you are free to do so in a legitimate way. And for those that just believe that the green pasture is only abroad, they will do whatever it takes to get there. And when you get there, you find out that you are a secondclass citizen. And there are some good jobs that will not be exposed to you, that will not be given to you. Some professionals can go there and start their lives, I don’t have a problem with that but you cannot abandon your country. This is your country, you were born in Nigeria and you should be able to contribute back to your country. I would discourage some of those people who want to go there without purpose. This is your country and I believe that there is a reason why God gave you Nigeria, why you were given birth in this country. No foreigner will come to fix our country, it is we Nigerians that will be able to fix it.”

Hon. Dennis Idahosa was born into a well-cultured family from Iguobazuwa, Ovia South West Local Government Area. His comfortable background many would say helped him in his early life.

“Not really. Actually, I think what really shaped my life at an early stage was my commitment to God. I lost my dad when I was six years old, and my mum took care of us, six of us. I am the last of the family. I came from a very humble beginning and God has been faithful. So I won’t say I came from a comfortable home but a humble home.”

Hon. Idahosa is happily married and blessed with four children. His understanding spouse has enabled him to flourish.

As he got up to catch up with his flight, this reporter threw an unexpected question at him about his ambition to climb the political ladder. “Yes” was his response.

“In my state, there will be a gubernatorial election next year and I think I have gotten everything necessary to fight the battle and to further give opportunity to my state. And also to bring to bear what God has exposed me to both outside the country and within the national level to impact lives. I will get the ticket by the grace of God and I will be the winner,” he said with confidence.

Idahosa on legislative duties in the House

Idahosa

HighLife

...Amazing lifestyles of Nigeria’s rich and famous

How Ondo is Gradually Transitioning to a State of Gloom under Akeredolu

Ondo State boasts one of the brightest mottoes in Nigeria. Known as the Sunshine State, it relies on the generally sociable disposition of its natives as the origin of this byword. However, things are not looking very bright at the moment. Some comments suggest that the governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has allegedly cast a veil of gloominess across the state.

Change is not always a bad thing. But when change turns the smiles of ordinary people into frowns and scowls, something is wrong. This is the alleged outlook of Ondo citizens and residents, and this is believed to be the response to the condition of the state.

Happy Moments for the Osibodus

Leo Tolstoy was correct in his assertion that happy people are all alike. One can easily recognize some of the deciding tokens of happiness in the family of business mogul and Chairman/CEO of Vigeo Group, Chief Victor Osibodu. These tokens became especially glaring during the wedding ceremony of Chief Osibodu’s son, Tolu.

The wedding ceremony was held in Lagos and had all the Osibodus in attendance; from the bridegroom, Tolu, to his charming mother, Chief (Mrs.) Funke Osibodu. Having brought nothing short of his best to the table, wedding guests were not surprised upon seeing the bride, the beautiful and brilliant Joanna-Michelle Mogo.

The wedding guests could only admire the couple from a distance, recognizing the harmony between them. To those who had inside information on the accomplishments of either, the displayed brilliance was not altogether uncalled for.

Tolu, the proud son of the Osibodus, has both of his parents’ genes for corporate excellence. Currently serving as the Lead Product Manager at Citiserve Limited, his work portfolio includes his stint at reputable organisations like Chapelhill & Denham Group, Standard Chartered Bank, and IROKO Partners Limited.

His bride, Joanna, is no less brilliant. She is a renowned consultant and is currently serving as the Business System Specialist at WorQulture as well as the Human Resources Consultant at Roadlers. She occupies the same position at GSO Facility Management, Stephanie John & Associates, and Bounce Networks. With these, it is clear that Joanna’s passion is fleshed out and she is a woman that commits.

Such an individual is the perfect fit for the Osibodu family, a household of highflyers and overachievers. The matrimony is thus a blessing and the latest cause of celebration for the Osibodus and all those who wish them well.

From the submissions of social media activists, Ondo has become a hodgepodge of infrastructural failure and mismanagement. Roads are damaged, traffic is affected, and the economy is gradually jerking and stagnating. Consequently, the people are reportedly gloomy, having grown weary of the state of things and believing that positive change is not an

immediate reality.

When a ship leaves the ocean to travel on land, the captain is blamed. Thus, Governor Akeredolu is the person that commentators are looking to as responsible for the current state of things in Ondo. Two things are especially cropping up as the perceived root of the state’s underdevelopment: his long absence from governance and the political instability caused by his return.

Akeredolu’s absence from governance can only be blamed on his infirmity. It is on record that Ondo citizens prayed that he would recover his health, and he did. However, his return after a necessary hiatus from governance has greatly affected the political quasi-stability in the state, allegedly worsening it greatly.

With Akeredolu’s deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, at risk of being impeached, and Akeredolu involved in this, it is believed that the governor has no time for governance. As a consequence, commentators acknowledge the governor as chiefly responsible for the gloom in Ondo.

Two Upper Cuts and One Haymaker: Abiodun Knocks out Adebutu

Boxing is exciting to watch. The thrill is welcome because the observer is outside the boxing ring. In Ogun, Governor Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress(APC) has recorded a new victory as he triumphs over his political rival, Honourable Oladipupo Adebutu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the tribunal.

It is no secret that Ogun is one of the states previously involved with the Election Petitions Tribunal over the results of the governorship election. Opposing the announced victory of Governor Abiodun, Adebutu was convinced that there were skeletons to be unearthed regarding the conduct of the election. Adebutu believed that once these skeletons were exposed, the tribunal would recognise him as Ogun governor The tribunal has concluded its investigations and decided that Adebutu’s suspicions have no basis. It has therefore announced that the results

of the March 18, 2023 governorship election in Ogun are and remain valid. Abiodun’s victory at the tribunal has brought much delight to many citizens of Ogun. Granted, Abiodun is not a perfect governor. Even so, casting aspersions on the results of the March 18 electoral exercise is also challenging the choice of the people.

Of course, Adebutu is not altogether concerned. Recent reports show that he intends to head to the Appeal Court since he has rejected the judgement of the tribunal. Given that he challenged the initial election result and lost at the tribunal, who knows what will happen when he commits the issue to the Appeal Court?

Considering that this is not the first tango between Abiodun and Adebutu, the former’s validation as Ogun governor is a strong blow to the latter. Abiodun’s knockout punch, like all the blows to Adebutu in the past, has been recorded.

Will Ambode Get a New Appointment?

Persistence has proved to be a more reliable virtue than skill. Indeed, things are starting to look bright and beautiful for former Lagos governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, especially with his renewed relationship with former godfathers and friends. People are starting to wonder if there’s a new appointment around the corner for him.

In Lagos history, Ambode may just be one of the most peculiar figures. For one, against the trend of double terms, he only got to govern the state once before being forcefully retired. Secondly, after disappearing from the public’s eye for a long time, he returned at the peak of his rival’s popularity, and surprisingly received a warm welcome.

Ambode’s political career has doubtlessly rendered many self-proclaiming social analysts speechless. After all, one would have expected that when his former godfather, Bola Tinubu, declared his presidential ambition, Ambode would ingratiate himself. But the latter did not.

Furthermore, when Tinubu

became president, one would have expected Ambode to appear and begin to beg to have a place in the former’s administration. But Ambode held himself back, likely wishing the president well from a distance. That eventually paid off and President Tinubu reached out to him, reconciling past differences and promising to collaborate in the future.

At present, observers are stumped at Ambode’s fortune. Given that many of Tinubu’s capable right-hand men have been given positions to oversee in order to demonstrate their boss’ visionary prowess, Ambode remains one of the few left. The question thus arises: will Ambode get something or have the duo agreed to a deal without anyone being the wiser?

Whatever the case, one thing is clear: there is no longer any bad blood between Ambode and his old principal, President Tinubu. Even if there is no immediate appointment for the former Lagos governor, the president most certainly has him in mind and will give him his due when the time comes.

Abiodun

Akeredolu

The Osibodus, Victor and wife, Funke

Sanwo-Olu’s Matchless Feat … How He Became the Most Visible Governor in Nigeria

What is the reward of good work if not more work? This is the destiny that Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has accrued to himself. With his most recent accomplishments, Sanwo-Olu gives more credit to the long-held view that he is the most visibly committed governor in Nigeria.

It is no longer a big deal that Sanwo-Olu has both a progressive and conservative side. A visionary man for sure, the man holds the view that development should be conservative steady and stable, but no less progressively ground-breaking and innovative. This view has paid off greatly, returning to him in the form of cheers from Lagosians big and small.

Sanwo-Olu’s completion of the Blue Rail project in Lagos is the most recent proof that his diligence is not for show. As readers would recall, the project sent Lagosians jubilating upon its completion on Monday, September 4, 2023. With Lagosians having converged at the Marina railway station, Sanwo-Olu took his place as the conductor for the first conveyance by train.

Without a question, the unfeigned rapture that accompanied Sanwo-Olu’s completion of the Blue Rail project is no less widespread than the joy that has accompanied many others before and after. From transportation to education and many other sectors of the economy, Sanwo-Olu’s place as the captain of progress in Lagos is unshakeable.

It has to be said that Sanwo-Olu’s approach of compendious governance is being cheered on by all and sundry. Some governors focus on security alone, and others on health. But Sanwo-Olu is as dedicated to one area as he is to the other, recognizing the value of holistic management and development.

Indeed, Sanwo-Olu is growing more popular by the day. Unlike many governors, his second term is looking no less dazzling compared to the first. Considering this level of dedication, the man might just be transplanted to the federal level upon completing his second term as Lagos governor.

How Bisi Onasanya Became One of the Biggest Players in Property Business in Nigeria

There was a time when the average Nigerian endeavoured to ‘find x’ and prove it. Granted, it was an educational thing, the notion demonstrated the difficulty of finding one’s path and walking it. By every indication, former First Bank GMD/CEO, Olabisi Onasanya, has found his ‘x’ in real estate, displaying great mastery at it.

When Onasanya retired from First Bank as the top figure, many observers assumed that his corporate journey had reached a timely end. After all, Onasanya was one of the most influential figures in one of the most prominent banking institutions in Nigeria. What could have topped that in the imagination of commentators? Apparently, the property business.

In truth, no one is certain whether or not

Onasanya always knew that he had a natural flair for the real estate business. However, considering what he has accomplished with his property business outfit, The Address Homes, Onasanya is undisputedly one of the principal supremos of Nigeria’s real estate sector.

Patience Jonathan Regains Her Groove

Sometimes, the light that an individual gives to the world does not appear until that individual is out of the limelight. It is starting to look like the former First Lady of Nigeria, Dame Patience Jonathan, has much of this light in store. Bearing in mind some of her latest moves, it is clear that the former Nigeria Mama has regained her groove.

Dame Patience will always be remembered as one of the most forthright and sensitive First Ladies of Nigeria. Supporting her similarly compassionate husband, former President Goodluck Jonathan, Dame Patience manifested a different type of leadership conscience. It is currently looking as if she is not out of the

At present, The Address Homes boasts an awesome array of residential homes in Banana Island, Lagos. These high-class architectural beauties were designed to reinforce Onasanya’s ideal of the marriage of luxury and convenience. Touched with the man’s genius, The Address Homes has recorded significant success since it launched, gradually arriving at the zenith of businesses involved in the acquisition, development, and management of luxurious contemporary homes across the country.

The Address Homes is highly regarded in Lagos, especially. This is where it has delivered projects such as The Luxuria, Dan and Dan Apartments, Aunty Ayo, and Harold Shodipo. For each of these projects, Onasanya’s aim was unparalleled luxury, elegance, and exquisiteness—and the hands at The Address Homes realised these goals.

Few can boast of standing on the same step as Onasanya in Nigeria’s property business. Having started The Address Homes from the bottom and taken it to the top, he is one of the movers and shakers of the industry.

Royal Rumble: Olubadan Threatens to Disown His Children Pitching Him Against His Younger Brother, Senator Balogun

Virtually everything has both advantages and disadvantages; blood relations are no different. In the royal palace of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Lekan Balogun (Alli Okunmade II), these relations appear to have become the origin of contention. The result of this is that the children of the monarch might lose their royal rights as their father favours his younger brother over them.

Royal rumbles in the truest sense are not always fun to watch. Sometimes, as in the case of the Olubadan, his children, and younger brother, it is a sad thing. No one knows this sadness better than the people of Ibadan as they watch the king threaten to disown some of his children for allegedly reporting false narratives about his younger brother, Senator Kolawole Balogun.

The matter recently came to the limelight when the Ibadan monarch released a statement to counter some of the negative things that had been said about his brother.

According to Olubadan, the latter is his only surviving brother and has played significant roles in his life despite being the younger one.

The monarch further stated that he is aware that the rumours can be traced to some of his children, led by Prince Femi Balogun. He also noted that considering the contributions of Senator Kolawole in his life, it would only be improper that he should place him above his children regarding the care and attention shown to him. But the point is made.

Oba Balogun also pleaded with his younger brother to forgive Prince Femi. He went on to give a strong warning against the actions repeating themselves, explaining that he would not hesitate to disown his children or wives should they resort to dishonourable methods to show their discontent.

All in all, it is a sad and troubling thing for such matters to be brought to the attention of the public. Perhaps this is the end of it and no such issue will crop up again.

Jonathan

In recent days, Dame Patience has been up and about such that there are speculations that she has returned to the limelight. A good pointer to this assertion is her recent visits to top dignitaries in the country, including the current First Lady and a governor in the South-east.

Dame Patience’s visit to First Lady Remi Tinubu made the news. The reports displayed a gentle-looking Patience beside a happy-looking Remi. Patience declared her support for the present administration, committing the fortune of Nigerian women to Senator Remi and asking all and sundry to support Remi’s husband, President Bola Tinubu.

Patience also visited Abia State and waxed lyrical at the accomplishments of the governor, Alex Otti. According to her, Abia is doing well under Otti and is gradually transforming into a state of dreams. Bearing in mind that Dame Patience traces her maternal origin to Abia, her concern for the citizens of the state is justified.

These visitations and the waves caused by them are the foremost proof that Dame Patience is back. Her motherly disposition and emotive tendencies are likely going to sweep across the nation in the coming days.

Tokunbo Wahab Works Round the Clock to Make Lagos Cleaner

Hope is a delicate thing, fragile and requires constant reinforcement. Fortunately, experts proficient in propping up hope, like Tokunbo Wahab, are around. To make Lagos state a superstructure of cleanliness, Wahab has clung to his duties as his custom and is already making waves in the direction of this goal.

Lagos, the commercial centre of Nigeria, is a big and busy place. Disarray and untidiness are expected variables in such a

place. Knowing the importance of keeping these variables in check, Lagos governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, appointed Wahab as the Commissioner for the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources.

Sanwo-Olu’s fundamental point in having Wahab lead the ministry is to utilise the latter’s expertise in polishing whatever is committed to him. Indeed, Wahab has started to do this, clearing out the rubbish in the state to establish something that is progressive man’s ideal, a utopian

dream, a cleaner Lagos.

Based on reports, Wahab has been doing a lot of inspections, including his recent checkup of the Lekki Water channels. R ecognizing the value of preparation, Wahab’s checks are expected to grant him deeper insights into waste and water dynamics. With these insights, he can revolutionise the state’s environmental condition.

Lagosians are confident in the abilities of Wahab. This is not the first time the

man has been placed in such a position. Before now, Wahab was Sanwo-Olu’s Special Adviser on Education. It is on account of his dedication and capabilities that the sector received a thorough revival, enrolling it as one of the premier sectors for which Lagos is lauded among its peers. Thus, with Wahab’s track record of good works, the Environment and Water Resources ministry will soon rise to the top and Lagos state will be cleaner than ever before.

Sanwo-Olu

Onasanya

Oba Lekan Balogun

NIGERIA AND THE EPIDEMIC OF SUICIDE

During the week, the grim video of a young Nigerian trying to hang himself from a bridge in Lekki greeted Nigerians. This is just the latest in a rash of suicides in Nigeria. Some have succeeded in taking their lives, while others have failed, with people rallying round and rescuing them. One dis turbing thing about these things is the reactions of Nigerians to these sad occurrences. It is like we have all lost our humanity. It is like the desolation and frustrations of being Nigerians at this time, have made us all thick and very insensitive to the others. The other day, a very old man was attempting to jump off the bridge and into the Lagos Lagoon and people were watching and taking pictures, others goaded him, a few were crying, and the Baba finally jumped. Thankfully, a passing boat rescued him. My sadness is the way we mock these poor people who seem not to have the mental strength to fight

this thing. The Lekki attempt was met with deriding comments such as “why would he come out in “broad daylight”, why Lekki, why not some bush path in Iwo, why was the rope so long and all sort of wicked and insensitive talk which was just so sad.

The government and other relevant bodies have not shown any resolve to tackle this malaise even in preventive or post attempts. We all just look on and then move on, waiting for the next attempt. The other day, I thought about asking government to set up a suicide watch team that would ply the Third Mai nland Bridge and other hot suicide spots and also open up centers that would offer free therapy that would work with potential victims in a bid to work them out of their issues. Private bodies can also unilaterally do the same. Suicide is not a joke. Let’s take it very seriously, please.

BOLA TINUBU: HEAR NO EVIL, SEE NO EVIL AND SPEAK NO EVIL

I got two frantic calls last Sunday from two highly respected individuals. The first a traditional ruler: “Edgar ohhh my God, you hit it. The fit and proper narrative, you hit it. You even pulled in Edun and that was a master stroke. But let me advise you to stop using your normal lines, be using only signals and WhatsApp. They will be listening to your phones now.” I laughed. “Kabiyesi I am shameless, if they listen, na porn dem go hear. I no get shame, nothing you fit do me.”

The second one was from a very sweet and very influential investment banker.

“Edgar, I have never called you before on all of these things you

write. Nobody sent me and I don’t really know these things, but do not position yourself as an enemy. This country is tough o”. People, even me, when I finished writing that piece, I shake my head. The thing hit. Nobody is looking at “fit and proper” in this struggle. We have seen people resign in other climes for coming to work late for a second. We have seen people step down because their staff had done something wrong. Conscience and morality being the guiding principles of democracy. The rush for the good for all being the main thrust of public service. This one na lie. We go rough am, we will bully our way through, not minding the effects of these on democratic institutions being the safeguards in a democracy. All these

dramas - Chicago, GCI, Iragbiji, Isale Eko - are enough for one with a strong passion for the country to sit back and say, you know something, let me do a Jonah. Toss me out for peace. Na lie o, this one, we go rough am to the end even if it means stressing the bounds that hold us together as a people to its seams. Whether we like it or not, we must accept this presidency by force, by fire. Saviour has come and it has taken him over 30 years to come so we have no choice no matter the moral baggage, we must accept. My people, I don keep quiet. Na siddon look I dey now- see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. If we like, let us go and bring certificate from University of Sodom and Gomorrah or we show primary

school certificate from Pompei, na here we dey.

Beautiful thing is that history and time will always remain strict. Nothing will shake those two, absolutely nothing. So, God will keep us all alive and even if we are all gone before all of these unravels, history will still do its job. I just tire. Kai. Last, last, I will do stage play on the whole thing.

FOLASHADE TINUBU-OJO: IYALOJA GENERAL OF WHERE?

While we are still struggling in Chicago, Folashade is doing a national broadcast. I did not bother to listen in and as such cannot say for sure if the National Anthem was played before her broadcast. But from the pictures

Alison-Madueke

that I have seen, I saw two flags by her- the national flag and one other one.

If not that we are in pain in this country, one would have laughed out at this barely literate performance. The whole thing is now looking like a pantomime: is this a constitutional role? Mbok, why am I even asking sef when the answer is very obvious to the blind. It’s as if we now have a pseudo monarchy. First, they say, “ohh we have been preparing for 30 years to save you. It is our turn to save you,” and now they say “ohhh we are not magicians,” and then instead of calming down and reflecting on this huge baggage of Nigeria that they have loaded upon themselves, this one is going around behaving like a queen.

We now have the Tinubu Royal Family, complete with their own Buckingham Palace and all cadre of royals running around the place and expecting subservience.

I will be in Uyo over the weekend and I will go to Udua Mkpafi – the market in my father’s village to see if our Iyaoloja sovereignty reach there o. Does she even know the price of Afang or periwinkles in that market? Circus.

DIEZANI ALISON-MADUEKE: CHICKENS HAVE COME HOME

When you get mercurial in public office, this is how it ends. You are appointed to serve the people and you immediately turn yourself into a monarch, it always ends like this. Meanwhile, have you guys noticed that it is in this Tinubu’s regime that we are beginning to see a real and credible fight against corruption unlike Buhari who only mouthed it with lily-livered moves and then started shouting that corruption is fighting back?

Anyways, the good thing is that madam will be exposed to a very transparent trial with all of her rights protected, thereby giving her a fair fighting chance. Let us not forget that an arraignment is not “guilty” by any stretch of the imagination.

For me, the lesson that I have learnt from this case and other such cases like this is the fact that public office is something you hold in custody on behalf of the people and as such a very high level of responsibility is needed in discharging your duties. This is not to say that there will not be some small kurukere moves on the side but this kind thing that we are hearing today? Na wa.

We have truly come a long way from the days of Prof Tam D avidWest who drank tea and collected wristwatch. Today, we have gone madddd. Na wa.

JULIUS RONE AS THE GAS CZAR

The other day, I had the opportunity to have a session with Mr. Rone. He is pushing the most ambitious gas project in Africa. He is promoting the uniquely designed Floating Gas initiative. This project, according to him, will employ over 7,000 Nigerians and begin to overtake crude oil as the largest revenue generating platform for the country. This project is very pivotal for our economic resurgence that not only did our president receive him in his office, he also took him with 20 other powerful businessmen to India and asked him to join him at

DAVE UMAHI IRRESPONSIBLY

BULLIED

As I watched that “person” speak, I felt like walking towards him and giving him a knock or even a slap- Editor don’t vex, please don’t remove this talk about slap abeg. So, the Honourable Minister gets to the office and meets 95% of staff as reported not on their seats and he does the right thing by locking them out and they go “union” on him?

As if that was not enough, they gathered around him and allowed this goon to speak and he was spewing things and the minister was standing there and listening and later apologised. Kai, make I twist as we used to say in Shomolu. Make I fall down and vomit instead. That day, I have gone as minister o. That day, before that irresponsible and ill-mannered fellow finished his speech, he would have been on the floor with me on the road to the airport headed to my side chick in Banana Island.

Kai, I have never seen this kind of thing before. You come late for work, you come carry microphone and you are talking, carrying you along? Carrying you along to where? You are talking civil

service rules? Which civil service rule allows for such rascally behaviour and the minister is begging?

How will Mr. Umahi now reclaim his authority? Can he even now move against just one staff without having the crowd come at him again with the microphone tyrant leading the procession once again.

Me? That day, I have blocked Tinubu so he will not call me to beg. He will get my resignation with a caveat than for me to come back, every staff of that ministry be sacked and they give me youth corper to work with. Which civil servant? Civil servants that cannot even open a laptop. This is the problem with career politicians. Baba don look say, kai, if I resign where will I go, I cannot win election again, mbok let me siddon and be taking this crap from this people, it is well. It is not well anything o egbon, you have just been rubbished, better move against those unpatriotic people or resign. Me, I know you will do neither and that is your problem and not mine. Kai!

the structure for multiple listing on multi-tiered exchanges globally including our NGX, then you will not be surprised at the strong possibility of the NGX asking him to come ring the closing Bell on the floor. Honour usually reserved for the very distinguished.

WELL DONE OKEY BAKASSI

Okey celebrated 30 years in the industry October 1st and pulled down Lagos. Everybody that was everybody was there o and he filled up the massive Eko Hotel hall. It was a wonderful testimony to a man of words.

Okey has been a very strong pillar in our industry. Sometimes a singer, TV host, actor, comedian, public servant and generally a man of trouble. If you listen to his radio programme Talk Lagos or something like that, you will understand why I am calling him talk trouble.

He sits with his band of comedians and lampoons the government in the harshest terms and I will be cringing in traffic. The other day, I sat with him at the Lagos Airport on our way to a Mudi shop opening in Abuja and asked him very simply, “ohh boy, you no dey fear?”

And he went on and on about his bravery and his readiness… so my people let us place a challenge. I hereby call on the DSS to please pick up Okey Bakassi for just one day and let’s see if he no go cry. If he no cry, I will donate N1m to one widow in his village but if he cries, he will donate N1m to a widow in my village.

Oya, abeg who get address of DG of DSS. Send quick, before Okey run go Canada. Happy anniversary bro.

NAIRA MARLEY, SAM LARRY, MOHBAD: A TEST OF WILLS

I have just heard that Naira Marley has been picked up. This is after the reported arrest of his friend and collaborator, Sam Larry all in a bid to unravel the e vents that led to the death of the unfortunate music star, MohBad.

My fear in things like this is for the authorities not to get carried away by public outrage and begin to fail in their duties of upholding standards as we seek answers.

The stories around this young boy and events leading to his passing is enough to ca use deep anger and disgust and rightly so, Nigerians have been in a collective rage. From bullying, to actual being beaten up, to the seizing of his royalties, disruption of his concerts all leading to him battling medical challenges and from there to his death.

Na wa. But in all these, the rights of the detained p ersons must continually be protected. What we should be looking for are the direct causes of his passing and the people involved in that and not in the circumstantial talks that litter public discussion of “Naira abused him yesterday and he died today so therefore Naira is guilty.”

I am happy at the aut opsy that has been carried out and I certainly do believe that authorities will do everything within their powers to ensure fair play and justice and professional representation for the arrested.

We owe the late music star this. Thanks.

Umahi

the NASDAQ as he rang the bell. If you understand the role of gas in green energy, climate change and in opening new markets for Nigeria, you will understand why

Julius is the new kid on the block. Securing partnerships from much sort after global players, pushing powerhouses like Qatar in securing strategic berthing and positioning

Araoyinbo Scores Another Beautiful Goal

Olumide Araoyinbo, President of the Ondo State Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ONDOCCIMA), is a known thoroughbred businesswoman of high repute and an astute politician.

The highly influential dude is known for his Midas touch. Popularly known as Sokoto (trouser) among his large followers, Araoyinbo has scored another great goal once again, with the completion of his new three stars hotel and apartments, located in the highbrow Ijapo Estate, Akure, the Ondo State capital.

The Chairman/CEO of Olart Global Plus, who is also a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a former majority leader of the Ondo State House of Assembly, has his hands in many pies: security, agriculture and hospitality among several others. Surely, if you call him a consummate businessman and strategist, you won’t be far from the truth.

Self-made and hardworking, Araoyinbo can be said to have cracked his destiny early in life when he joined hands with an uncle to establish a security outfit. But with so much confidence, hope and clear vision, he laid the foundation of his business.

For him, this Igbo proverb encapsulates his entire life- ‘looking at a king’s mouth, you’ll think he never sucked at his mother’s breast.’

Araoyinbo’s alias, Sokoto, was a derisive name coined for him while in secondary school because his school shorts had several patches. But with determination and dedication, Araoyinbo broke whatever pact he may have had with poverty in his school days.

Today, the lanky serial businessman is a success that has continued to inspire several younger ones from far and near. The business organisation that he started with a shoestring budget has grown bigger. He has metamorphosed into a business magnate with several awards to his credit, while his sterling profile continues to rise higher. His has become the biblical mustard seed that was sown years back, and he is now reaping bountifully.

And he has swiftly climbed the ladder to become a leader in the very unpredictable business climate. His unique ability to see opportunities where others see impossibility has earned him accolades from far and near.

At the moment, preparations are in high gear for the formal launch of his latest baby, Olart Hotel and Apartments, in Akure. Not one to do things in half measures, Araoyinbo is leaving no stone unturned in his desire to make the launch as grandiose as possible.

Businessman, Rabiu’s Bond in Words

Moral authority comes from following universal and timeless principles like honesty, integrity, and treating people with respect.” –Stephen Covey.

In the challenging business landscape where the primary aim of everyone is to make maximum profit without minding the pockets of consumers, the founder and chairman of BUA Group, Abdulsamad Rabiu, has maintained and kept faith with his philosophy that business should be done with human face rather than profit- making all the time and enabling better mission praxis to give out better packages to his customers.

For the Kano State-born magnate, his word has always been his bond, and he wears integrity like a badge of honour.

Over the years, he has been unrelenting in his drive and determination to rescue the nation, particularly the common man from the clutches of the oppressors without fear or favour.

Stupendously wealthy, powerful and influential. Despite all these, oil top player, Barrister Dumo Lulu-Briggs, is quite unassuming and always showcases the traits of someone with good character, humility and respect. He is a man who respects the rights of others.

Those whose paths have crossed him testify that his gentlemanly disposition would definitely sweep you off your feet at first meeting.

When the lawyer-turned-businessman stepped into the murky water of Nigeria’s politics, many warned him against it, saying politics is not for the gentle soul; but he has always responded that the game should not be left for the fools; it is a game in need of outright overhauling.

Lulu-Briggs, who owns Platform Petroleum and a couple of other choice investments in the petroleum sector, continues to preach against politics with bitterness.

His philosophy is that politics should be practised in harmony.

Although he has always dreamt of securing the number one job of Rivers State, he believes this should be done without rancour, acrimony and venom.

Lulu Briggs, candidate of Accord Party, lost the state governorship election last March to the candidate of People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Sim

“We make a Living by what we get, we make a life by what we give. Together, let’s continue to make impacts and touch lives positively.” -Winston S. Churchill.

This timeless quote by the former British prime minister has been the driving force behind the convener of LawrenceGrace Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, Mrs Yinka Adewoye.

The stylish woman is living up to her belief that regardless of where you are in life, there is something that you can offer, and that you mustn’t wait to be rich to be able to save the world. For her, the act of generosity must first start from our willingness to develop a kind spirit.

A few weeks ago, through her foundation, Adewoye took her generosity to another level when she visited some schools in the Ikosi area of Lagos State, where she empowered over 200 children in an event tagged, ‘Day out with Ikosi Children.’

This, Society Watch gathered, is part of

When he told journalists during his visit to President Bola Tinubu at Aso Rock Villa that he would crash the price of cement, many naysayers sneered at him, insinuating that it was all balderdash. However, what they forgot was that if Rabiu promises you a hill, better be sure you are getting a mountain.

He holds in high esteem the deathless quote of the late Jamaican-born reggae star, Bob Marley that says “The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.’’

Recently, he made good on his vow as he announced a new price for cement, which crashed to N3,500. To say that the news was received by Nigerians with thunderous applause is an understatement. It’s undoubtedly one of the best news so far in the year 2023.

With this announcement, he has instilled hope and optimism among Nigerians that there is light at the end of the tunnel for the country and its citizens.

ballot is all for developmental politics and not personal abusive politics. He believes that everyone in Rivers are all brothers and should not allow politics to tear them apart. Society Watch gathered that despite his loss at the polls, he has remained unperturbed, and carries on with his usual philanthropy gestures that have endeared him to the hearts of his numerous supporters and admirers.

Lulu-Briggs, the son of the highly respected Kalabari High Chief, businessman and politician, Chief O.B. Lulu Briggs, has proven to have inherited not only his father’s wealth but also his large heart for philanthropy. Following in his father’s footsteps, he has taken it upon himself to make a significant difference in the lives of the people around him.

Fubara, although he contested the result at the tribunal to exercise his constitutional right. He tells whoever cares to listen that his incursion in the

the foundation’s commitment to put smiles on the faces of the less privileged and impact them positively.

Adewoye, as revealed, said LawrenceGrace Foundation is founded primarily on touching lives positively, reaching out to widows and indigent school children in less privileged societies, by providing healthcare, free medications, empowerment programs and gifts to support them in their livelihood.

It was further gathered that this is the second of its outreach to schools. The first was at a school in the Ajegunle area of Apapa, Lagos State, where over 2,000 school children in the deprived community went home with joy and positively impacted after the event.

“We would be impacting the lives of over 200 school children in Ikosi Community. In a world where moral decadence and loss of self-esteem have become a norm, it is important to be in the faces of these young ones, to mentor them, counsel them, show

Despite not having the power to singlehandedly transform the entire economic landscape of the state, he understands the importance of making every small effort count. He firmly believes that even the smallest act of kindness can have a profound impact on the lives of individuals facing economic difficulties, especially in his immediate community.

them love and also give them gifts that would support their well-being in their studies,” she said. The generous woman also appreciated partners and sponsors for their continual support in putting smiles on the faces of several families across different locations.

Head of State, General Sani Abacha need any introduction? Undoubtedly, she is one of the most popular daughters of the Kano State-born late soldier.

Ordinarily, Gumsu would not court controversy. But it is strange how controversy has always literally dogged her steps and actions.

Many say she is a misunderstood person; and that it requires spending quality time with her to understand she is an angel in human form and an all-around interesting woman who loves to be surrounded with positive energy.

The outspoken woman has friends around the globe who always join her in the celebration of life whenever she has cause to do so. She is known to have organised several shindigs that turned out to be the talk of the town.

Little wonder, expectations were high recently when the light-skinned joined the golden club. Many had looked forward to seeing her put up another superlative party in celebration of this

landmark attainment

Despite the enormous resources at her disposal, the woman who is also a women’s advocate, literally trod the unbeaten path; she opted for low-key celebration. It was gathered that the event was held in her Abuja residence with her family, siblings, close friends and business associates.

According to a source, she thoroughly enjoyed the day. Fitted in a green patterned flowing Abaya, and a velvet green scarf tied around her neck, the glittering celebrant posed with over ten gigantic cakes, cards and other gift items as friends and family made a toast to good life for her and sang birthday songs. Those opportune to grace the gold and white themed house party were lavishly treated to an array of high-cost meals, assorted drinks and champagne with good and solemn music.

Abacha

Rabiu

Lulu-Briggs

Araoyinbo

Does Fatima Abacha, better known as Gumsu, daughter of Nigeria’s former Military

Tobi Bakre, Hermes on Featuring in ‘Slum King’

Stories by Vanessa Obioha

A new drama series ‘Slum King’ will be premiering today, October 8 on Africa Magic and features two alumni of the Big Brother franchise in Nigeria and Africa, Tobi Bakre and Hermes Iyele.

‘Slum King’ delves into the life of Edafe ‘Majemijesu’ Umukoro, portrayed by Tobi Bakre, a character who endured a tragedy at the tender age of 11 when his family fell victim to armed robbers. This traumatic event sparks an ambition within the young Edafe, leading him to despise his humble origins and crave power. Trapped in a cycle of guilt and trauma, ‘Slum King’ takes viewers on Edafe’s remarkable journey from a troubled figure in the slums to becoming Maje, the charismatic king of the underbelly.

Bakre, who rose to fame from participating in the Big Brother Naija Double Wahala season, is no stranger to the crime drama genre, having played lead roles in a few productions. Playing the lead role Edafe in ‘Slum King’, he explained the elements that made the character compelling to him in a recent chat.

“Each character has a different backstory and a lot of it is just about life choices and happenings. It just kind of keeps me grounded in the sense that we are a result of our life’s happenings, our society and community, and sometimes our choices. I really find it interesting that these people end up in this kind of life but given certain circumstances, it could have been totally different. The series humanises these characters who are often seen as bad guys in society. Perhaps if given a second chance, they can make things right.”

Hermes Iyele, a former housemate of Big Brother Titans, resonates with the opportunity to portray a character he understands intimately:

“Having grown up in a similar community, I had the opportunity to experience this sort of life: gang and violence. And as much as people want to generally ascribe violence to this set of people and label them, we, the people who get to live in communities like that get to experience the human beings outside of these environments. They’ve got brothers that they care so much about, you see them with your sisters or children and you won’t believe that these persons are worthy to even constitute that level of intelligence, and to be able to experience their humanity gives credit to how good

and complex these characters are.”

Produced by Chinenye Nworah, known for ‘Shanty Town,’ ‘Slum King’ unravels the ambitions of young men who rule over the gritty slums of sprawling metropolises. Bakre believes that the series is a mirror reflecting the pressing societal issues in the country:

“It ties to some of the things that happen in our society. Right now, there’s an increase in drug use generally in the country, there are also political issues and how all of these tie to the series

about slums. Viewers will get to see the social construct these characters had to deal with.”

The star-studded series features notable Nollywood characters like Kanayo O. Kanayo, Elvina Ibru, Gideon Okeke, Sonia Irabor, and Olarotimi Fakunle, among others.

The 10-part Africa Magic Original will immerse viewers into a world of ambition, redemption, and the rich humanity hidden within characters often misunderstood by society. It airs every Sunday on Africa Magic Showcase.

Actor Fabian Adeoye

Lojede Eyes Energy Sector, Partners with TNL

Fabian Adeoye Lojede, the famed star actor of Africa Magic’s popular series ‘Jacob’s Cross’ has made a significant move into the energy sector through a partnership with Taranis Novus (TNL), an innovative investment holding company. Together, they aim to introduce LithTech’s cuttingedge renewable energy solutions to Nigeria and the broader African market.

Lojede’s motivation stems from a belief in harnessing solar technology to address Africa’s energy challenges. “With TNL and LithTech,” he said, “we can bring positive change to Nigeria and Africa’s energy landscape.”

as part

Ikoyi Club 1938 Marks 85 Years With Vision for the Future

As Ikoyi Club 1938 recently commemorated its 85th anniversary through a series of week-long activities, the distinguished social and recreational institution, leaned inward to review its longevity plans that include wooing and absorbing new generations of members.

Over time, the club has maintained this tradition of evolving, just as it did with transforming the once strictly European establishment into an inclusive entity. The milestone anniversary saw it seeking the expert ideas of leaders drawn from different sectors, to provide insight at its symposium tagged ‘Managing Change in Ageing Institutions.’

Former governor of Lagos, Babatunde Fashola, who spoke at the occasion, emphasised the role teamwork plays in shaping an organisation, noting that it boils down to “the ability to get a large number of people to work according to a specified rule of engagement and action.”

To attract a new generation of members, Partner, People & Change KPMG Advisory Service, Boluwaji Apanpa reiterated the need for the organisation to be creative in their all-round approach.

“In the aspect of recruitment, we need to get creative, that’s how we attract them. Now, when they come in, how do we support and help them flourish in their careers? We need policies. Policies are the principles. The policies show all the activities from end to end, and all these must be aligned to our objectives.”

Apanpa further noted that the Ikoyi Club must find a way to cross-fertilise ideas between old and new leaders, with performance compensation in mind.

In a similar vein, Deputy Head, Operations, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Mrs. Olufunke Amobi, advised that the institution must take into account evolutions in the workforce and what forges them. She explained that the existing members must take into cognizance the role technology plays on the ‘global platform,’ and how it influences the exchange of ideas and blurs the geographical boundaries of global business. In her presentation, she emphasised that the transition they seek is the responsibility of leadership.

CEO of Corporate Shepard, Idy Enang, highlighted the significance of diversity and inclusion as essential elements for Ikoyi Club 1938 to thrive in our globalized world. In line with this, Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, Lead Partner at CMC Connect LLP, suggested that conducting periodic surveys would be a valuable approach to achieving these goals.

CEO, Kennings Home Ltd., David Majekodunmi surmises that for Ikoyi Club 1938 to continue to play a prominent role in the cultural and social life of Lagos, a review of its physical and digital infrastructure must be prioritised.

LithTech, known for superior quality and advanced technology, operates with an R&D base in Germany and a production line in Shenzhen, China. Their success in other markets positions them to meet the growing demand for renewable energy solutions in Nigeria and Africa. TNL holds distribution rights for LithTech products in Africa, except in South Africa.

Lojede’s transition from entertainment to renewable energy underscores the potential for collaboration and innovation in addressing global challenges. This move sets an inspiring example for artists and actors looking to contribute to environmental and societal issues.

R-L: Chairman, Ikoyi Club 1938, Mr Tafa Zibiri-Aliu; Deputy Head, Operations, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Mrs Olufunke Amobi; Chairman, Anniversary sub-committee, Ikoyi Club 1938, Mr Rufai Ladipo; Partner, People & Change, KPMG Advisory Services, Mr Boluwaji Apanpa; CEO, Corporate Shepherd, Mr Idy Enang; and Catering Adviser, Ikoyi Club 1938, Abimbola Ajayi, at the Symposium recently held

of the week-long series of activities to mark the 85th anniversary of the Club.

Iyke Bede

L-R: Hermes and Tobi Bakre

Lojede

Beyond the Diplomacy of Leadership Certificate Forgery: Political Governance as a Magouille in Nigeria

In 1987, Professor J.S. Cooker traced the genesis of the bane of the Nigerian society to corruption and indiscipline which began in 1967. He made this observation in the report of the Political Bureau, of which he was the Chairman and which was set up by military president Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. Since 1967, in other words, since more than 56 years ago, Nigerians have been living with societal indiscipline and corruption. Corruption deepened to the level of its being institutionalised without strenuous to meaningfully containing it.

A British Prime Minister once described Nigeria as ‘fantastically corrupt.’Is the description of Nigeria as fantastically corrupt an insult, a compliment, or a request for readjustment? Whatever it is, Nigerians generally and consciously acquiesce to it, implying that being a thief, a criminal, professionals of public embezzlement, document forgers, etc., does not mean much as a condition for eligibility to serve in the public service. Dishonesty has become an accepted way of life, particularly in political governance of Nigeria. It is against this background that we do not see the alleged certificate forgery by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT) as a big deal. Political governance in Nigeria is more than 80% predicated on deliberate acts of corruption and specifically rewarded with undue promotions, award of traditional chieftaincy titles and political appointments.

One common saying amongst struggling Nigerians is that ‘if you cannot beat them, join them.’One truth about this saying is that it is not even easy to join them for various reasons: new comers are seen as threats, as not trust worthy to be initiated. The religious people fear their relationship with God, and hence want to stay off.Those who are on the periphery fear that they would be killed. It is only the corrupt people and their relations that are often allowed to be engaged in such sharp practices. Explained differently, Nigeria’s polity is fraught with fraud and corruption by design and we can justify this observation with some examples at the federal and state levels at this juncture.

Political Governance as a Magouille

First, at the level of the Federal Government, how do we explain the fact that Government advertised the construction of housing estates in April 1994 and invited applications from interested Nigerians to purchase? The houses were scheduled to be allocated in December 1994 and the then Minister of Housing and Works was the incorruptible Alhaji Lateef Jankande. I paid fully for the first initial and second deposit for a medium detached bungalow in Festac town. Up till this time I am writing, nothing is heard from Government. I paid a deposit of N165,000, thanks to my wife’s UTB loan. No construction of such houses in Festac. No information. No attempt to refund. No attempt to provide another alternative in the event of governmental challenges. Yet, the Federal Government is claiming to be fighting armed and pen robberies in Nigeria, when the first robber is actually the Federal Government so to say. What does the Government want me and others in the same category to do? People say, if you cannot beat them, follow the corruption approach, but I will never follow.

In 2004, the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo administration came up with themonetisationpolicyprogrammedbywhichtheFederalGovernment wanted to discontinue responsibility for housing public servants and by which public servants who had lived in their Government-funded accommodations were given the first priority to buy or reject. I was lucky to buy my own flat in Wuse Zone 1. My payment was well receipted for. However, Government has not bothered to issue a Certificate of Occupancy to that effect. People again tell me to go and sort out the problem the Nigerian way. What is this Nigerian way?

Perhaps more interestingly, is the allocation of land to people in Abuja based on merit or who knows you and who you know? Abuja is designed to be a federal territory, implying that every Nigerian by ius sanguinis (blood descent) or by ius soli (place of birth) has the right to seek a place for shelter. This was never so when I applied in the mid-2000s. I did not bother as I will never bribe or beg any government official put in place to serve the people.

Even at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, where I did my NYSC, and served as Research Fellow II, passing through Research Fellow 1 and Senior Research Fellow 11 and 1 and becoming a substantive Professor in 2001, the General Ike Nwachukwu-led Governing Council

compelled me in my capacity as the Director General of the NIIA to follow very fraudulent practice in the assessment of professorial candidates. In fact, I was instructed not to send the publications for professorial appointments outside of Nigeria for evaluation unless I could not find assessors in Nigeria. The Council dictated the contents of the letter to be sent to assessors.

In the academic tradition, papers are normally sent to leading specialists or experts to evaluate the extent to which a candidate is suitable for professorial appointment. Professorship is a very serious business. It is governed by meritocracy and not by Federal Character. Most unfortunately and perhaps, more disturbingly, a Member of the Ike Nwachukwu Council exaggerated his position by speaking directly with one of the assessors. Imagine how the Council could intimidate me and dictate the writing of a second letter to be sent to all the assessors to replace the one I sent out earlier which was 100% in line with the academic traditions of the University of Lagos. The NIIA had been applying the academic conditions for promotion 17 years before the appointment of the Ike Nwachukwu-led Council. Today, those who laid the foundation for two categories of professorship at the NIIA (NIIA Professors and Governing Council-enabled Professors) are now pontificating in national politics as patriots. The foundations of dishonesty laid down and the ethnic jingoism left behind is still hunting the NIIA as at today. The Director of Administration and Finance, Miss Agatha Ude, not only changed the dates of birth for many members of staff, especially from her area, but also removed

The trending perception today is that PBAT forged his certificate of entry into the Chicago State University (CSU), based on the submission of the CSU and on the attitudinal disposition of PBAT, who has vehemently opposed the release of his academic credentials to the public, fearing that such a release might permanently damage his political career and taint his personality. Another implication is that every Nigerian in various educational institutions will be suspected henceforth. PBAT cannot earn any international respect anymore without reservation. His international image has been damaged beyond repair. Domestically, we contend here that PBAT’s personality is not and cannot be damaged in Nigeria because, a friend sleeping with the wife of another friend, engaging in public embezzlements, whose lifestyle is corruption- and indiscipline-driven, and whose behaviour is irrational are generally always celebrated regardless of government’s anti-corruption agencies which are fighting crimes, societal corruption and indiscipline selectively. The handling of whether President Muhammadu Buhari has a West African School Certificate is a mute question. People not found guilty of corruption and crimes in Nigeria are tried, convicted, as well as sentenced to imprisonment abroad. Why is Nigeria’s polity built on dishonest infrastructures? Why should anyone not happy with the situation told to go to the court in which people do not have much trust? After all, Salisu Buhari was pardoned. Is it not a life of magouilles in Nigeria which goes beyond the diplomacy of certificate forgery?

all the queries in her confidential files contrary to the Public Service Regulations. I drew the attention of the Governing Council to it but the Council protected the Director.Yet, many Members of the Council now have the effrontery of preaching the sermons of non-corruption, patriotism, and even reportedly condemning PBAT for certificate forgery. Indeed, Nigeria’s problem is more than‘Oluwole Certificates.’ Secondly, at the state level, there is little or no difference when compared with the Federal Government’s corrupt and inefficient services. Let me give another case in which I have been involved. When Brigadier-General Buba Marwa was Governor of Lagos State in 1996, he came up with the Isheri North Housing Project. The size of a plot was 800 square metres. The project could not be completed before he left. When Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu succeeded him, he reduced the size of the plot to 700 square meters. The payment for a plot was about N500,000 under Brigadier Buba Marwa. Governor Tinubu raised the cost price even though he had reduced the size of each plot. What was not questionable about the new policy was that all those who had made full payments were exempted from paying the new rates.

Good enough, I was not affected by the new policy as I had fully paid before the advent of the Tinubu administration. Most unfortunately again, the Lagos State Government collected our monies and kept quiet. Reasons of water lockage were given and we can understand this to an extent. However, what is the situation of the project? No one is talking about it. Is there any need for lobbying, bribing in order to know what is happening? Letter of allocation was first given. Reallocation was done but no further paper notification to that effect. No fresh letter, no land. Who is the thief in this case? Is it the citizen applicant or the Government? The political system is rotten in the rivers of corruption and indiscipline in Nigeria. It is by these rivers of corruption and indiscipline, flowing around every nook and cranny of the world of politicians that we should analyse the many other cases of magouilles in political governance in Nigeria.

There was also the 1999Toronto certificate saga of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Salisu Buhari. He was born on 3rd January, 1970 and elected on 3rd June, 1999 as Speaker. On 16th February, 1999 The News Magazine informed that Salisu Buhari was actually born in 1970 and not in 1963 as he claimed.The Magazine also reported that Salisu Buhari never attended the University of Toronto as claimed. If the honourable Salisu Buhari, so to say, claimed to have been born in 1963, one reason might be the provision of Section 65(1) of the 1999 Constitution which disqualifies any candidate less than 30 years of age for membership of the House of Representatives. As at 1999, he was less than 30 years old.

Salisu Buhari threatened to sue The News Magazine but to no avail. The Magazine made enquiries at the university and tendered the reply to its inquiry from Carlo Villanueva of the Toronto University who said ‘regarding your request for confirmation of degree for Ibrahim Salisu Buhari, we have searched our records and could not find anybody with the name you are inquiring with’ (vide Segun Akande’s article, www.pulse,ng, February 22, 2018). More disturbingly, Salisu Buhari also claimed to have done his NYSC at the Standard Construction in Kano but which was false.

On 23rd July, 1999 Salisu Buhari not only resigned his membership of the House of Representatives, but also apologised publicly. As he put it, ‘I apologise to you. I apologise to the nation. I apologise to my family and friends for all the distress I have caused them. I was misled in error by zeal to serve the nation, I hope the nation will forgive me and give me the opportunity to serve again.’By resigning, he lost his immunity. He was arrested, tried and convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option of fine. He opted to pay the fine and President Obasanjo eventually pardoned him, thus condoning criminal offences.What is particularly noteworthy is that in 2013, Salisu Buhari, described in the media as the‘face of a liar,’was later appointed a Member of the Governing Council of the University of Nigeria by President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. This was a complete bastardisation of the academia for a non-university graduate to serve as a Member of a Governing Council.

Additionally, former Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning of Nigeria, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, forged the exemption certificate of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) which she presented for her appointment in 2015. Mrs Adeosun, born on 9th March, 1967 in London and educated at the University of London, was compelled to resign her appointment on 14th September, 2018 following the report of PremiumTimes in September 2018. She presented the same fraudulent certificate for her earlier appointment as Commissioner for Finance of Ogun State in 2011.

PBAT’s Certificate Forgery and Foreign Policy

PBAT’s alleged certificate forgery is a tip of the iceberg in the political governance of Nigeria. In fact, on 20 February 2023, eighteen Nigerian nurses were charged to court for certificate forgery. On 13 March 2023, TheVanguard newspaper (Lagos, Nigeria) reported another case of 43 Nigerian nurses charged for certificate forgery. They were accused of engaging in a scheme to sell false and fraudulent nursing certificates. And perhaps more disturbingly, the Texas Board of Nursing has also charged more than 75 Nigerian nurses to court for engagement in falsification of certificates. This situation shows clearly that PBAT’s case is not really a big deal at the Nigerian domestic level, but more than a big deal in terms of foreign policy implications. Certificate forgery is now both for educational and political survival. It is now very rampant. But why?

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

Tinubu

ARTS & REVIEW ARTS & REVIEW

A Master, an Octet and Visions of Vibrant Diversity

A group exhibition featuring a coterie of the local art scene’s leading lights alongside the iconic Bruce Onobrakpeya complemented the official opening of a gallery in the upscale Lekki Phase I neighbourhood of Lagos. Okechukwu Uwaezuoke reports

Anot-so-freakishly wet, drizzly evening in Lagos’ posh Lekki Phase I neighbourhood could easily have dampened—punauguration of the Iwalewa Art Gallery on Friday, September 29. However, despite the fact that such weather has a history of ultimately wrecking events in Lagos, a record-breaking turnout of enthusiasts at the event, which centred around a group exhibition titled Beyond the Eye, allayed

There was indeed no shortage of surprises at this much-anticipated event, audaciously put together by a curatorial team led by Temitope Oladeji and consisting of co-curators like O. O. Kukoyi, Robinson Oseghale, Juliet Oluchi Ahuekwe, and Maryanne Obiora. To its credit, this curatorial team was able to highlight the vibrant diversity of the local art scene while also relishing the thrill of assembling a “dream team” that included Abdul Jabba, Ato Arinze, Duke Asidere, Don Barber, Edosa Oguigo, Nathalie K. Djakou, Odogwu F. Eze, Olusegun Adejumo, and Sam Ovraiti.

Featured as a guest artist—and not unlikely also as the gallery’s trump card—was the exhibition of the nonagenarian iconic artist Bruce Onobrakpeya, whose lustrous antecedents make him a favourite of the industry’s cognoscenti. His mixed-media sculptural and “Eweka,” which held court amid potted plants along the gallery’s paved entrance way, are eloquent testimonials of his steadfast devotion to upcycling discarded materials. This is besides the obvious visual tribute it pays to the old Benin Empire’s rich historical and cultural heritage.

The towering, larger-than-life-size semiabstract sculptures of these historical individuals, which amply reward patient viewing, pulled a little portion of the curtain on this ancient empire’s enduring cultural legacies for the uninitiated visitor.

Onobrakpeya, an artist with a long studio overlook, remains one of the most soughtSo, despite all odds, his physical presence as guest artist that evening at that event would have upped the ante.

Ditto the presence of the renowned Nigerian dancer Peter Badejo, the retired University of Benin art lecturer and the gallery’s founder’s father Professor Ademola Williams, the Luxury Network's CEO SamuelAbiola-Jacobs, the art collector Kayode Aderinokun and the respected gallerist Olaseinde Odimayo. Even a perfunctory glance—amid the hubbub of the chit-chatting guests, who were -

tion’s breath-taking leaps across art mediums. It’s impossible, for instance, to gloss over Don Barber’s three photographs, “Wait for Me”, “Something Fishy” and “Deckland”. Ato Arinze’s fried clay sculptures, “Tolerance & Survival”, “Iroko Tree 2,” and “Tree Form,” are powerful testaments to his mastery

same could also be said about the Cameroonian-born Nathalie Djakou Kassi’s glazed clay works, “Transactions” and “The Farmer”, as well as her bonded stone sculpture, “1000 Questions.”

Odogwu’s welded metal sculptures, “Masquerade Dance” and “Ballerina,” are works that deserve to be cooed over by his wide-eyed devotees. Similarly, Abdul Jabba’s scrap metal works, “Agboghonma,” “The Spirit of the Bull,” and “Obatala,” are works that can lull the viewer into those teary-eyed moments of awe before

the fog of daily living dulls his aesthetic sensibilities.

Asidere’s oil on canvas works, “Strange Sisters” and “Thirty-Four Hours Later.” As for Riders” I and II and “Simple Rest”, the viewer easily senses the liveliness bubbling at the Olusegun Adejumo’s untitled oil on canvas included in the exhibition to serve as reminders to the audience that he is a self-assured dedication to the time-honoured tenets of

draughtsmanship.

Meanwhile, Edosa Oguigo’s oil on canvas paintings “Brand Ambassador” and “Edo Queen” are candid, visually appealing social documentary pieces that deserve to be numbered among his best.

As for the exhibition Beyond the Eye, had successful opening, it could easily have been numbered among the also-rans.

Perhaps one of its unsettling features and downsides was some visitors’ inability to tell it apart from the gallery’s permanent exhibition. Nonetheless, its impressive assemblage of the local contemporary art scene’s leading lights compensates for its oversights and places it as one of the month’s most important art events.

8.

Another section of the exhibition hall

A section of the exhibition hall.

Bruce Onobrakpeya's sculptures at the gallery's entrance way

Milestones for Progress for a Nation at 63

Rebooting Nigeria: Nigeria 2.0,

Bukar Usman

The 164-page publication titled Rebooting Nigeria: Nigeria 2.0 being the Report of the Citizens Summit for National Integration, Peace and Security held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja from August 2324, 2022 embodied the outcome of the discussions at the Summit with recommendations on several critical areas of concern including:

BOOK REVIEW

get gainful employment, acquire appropriate skills, or live independently… (p.24).

f.Nowadays, people hardly travel freely, especially by road, across the country… (p.29).

g.poor public perception of the readiness of law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies to bring perpetrators to book (p.29).

between governments at all levels and the people:

ii.Widespread corruption, scandals, and abuse

iii.Inequitable distribution of resources and

v.Deteriorating quality of service by public

vii.Insensitivity to the needs of the people by the political leaders (p.36). their allegiance naturally lies with their funders (p.47).

Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) to organize the Summit at which it gathered opinions at zonal levels including diaspora and at the national level to get the feel of 93 organisations and of Nigeria, a country of great diversity. Truly, our diversity is both a source of strength and from the ethnic-religious diversity and the need for careful management.

As the Report rightly concludes, though Nigeria is far from where it ought to be, greater number of Nigerian Citizens still have faith in the federation and that rebooting Nigeria is a joint task (p.103).

The following points among others in the Report were well made:

a.widening trust gap among citizens, divisive leadership, exacerbating frictions across sociopolitical divides… (p.01).

b.discipline, integrity, dignity of labour, social justice, religious tolerance, self-reliance, and patriotism as core national values, not many citizens have internalized them… (p.08).

c.encourage local processing of raw materials and value chain addition… (p.12).

d.challenges of insecurity, corruption, unstable industrial climate and policy inconsistencies are disincentives… (p.13).

e.inability of educated, able-bodied youth to

how it is received… (p.68).

k.A nation’s core values are ultimately shaped by its culture, traditions, social norms and practices (p.69).

l.The journey towards a new Nigeria lies in good leadership and good followership (p.72).

m.increasing ungoverned spaces in Nigeria require the presence of traditional authorities and institutions (p.74)

n.deployment of huge amounts of scarce national resources for the purpose of securing the nation…is at the expense of other, and actually productive, sectors of the economy (p.78).

more than half a century have come a long way in achieving some degree of unity and integration in Nigeria (p.81).

p.tinkering with governance models has still not met the expectations of citizens and stakeholders (p.85).

q.presidential system or model of government, we adopted has saddled us with a bloated buvalue (p.86).

r.there are no access roads for many communities and States …coupled with inadequate power supply… (p.89)

s. Food security is controlled by lack of security in the food-producing areas… (p.89).

t.The lack of ease of doing business, lack of roads, inadequate power supply, and rise in oil prices have led manufacturing companies to close shops and leave Nigeria (p.90).

u.Nigeria has a massive Diaspora population (p.92).

v.prevailing political, economic, and social

The main problem areas are fairly known over quite a long time. It is the solutions that are taking time to come. Hence, the restiveness, anxiety and agitations in the society. To cite a few examples:

i.Energy and Power supply -

was also commissioned with fanfare by the last importation remains problematic with all its wider implications.

With lack of gas to power the plants installed several electricity Distribution Companies transmission lines to carry power supplies, the problem of power supply is still overwhelming.

ii.Iron and Steel Industry

The backbone of a nation’s economy is a functional iron and steel industry. For upwards of 40 years since the Ajaokuta and associated

A Fiesta Set to Connect the Dots

Yinka Olatunbosun

The seventh edition of the much anticipated Quramo Festival of Words (QFEST)

8 at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. The has a line-up of events for attendees, including workshops, panel discussions, the word slam contest, and stage plays. There will also be ‘Siamsa’ evening, which is an Irish interactive folklore similar to Nigeria’s popular ‘Tales by Moonlight’. The high point of the event will be the announcement of the 2023 Quramo Writer’s Prize (QWP) winner, who will receive a cash prize and a publishing deal with Quramo Publishing.

QFEST and co-founder of Quramo Pub-

mitment to improving the literary society by encouraging people to read and write as well as equipping creatives for the expansion of the creative industries while fostering visibility for literary works that mirror real Nigerian and African experiences.

-

cable reasons. Add to that is the fate of the alluminium smelting plant at Ikot Abasi while the repositioning of the Defence Industries matter of touch-and-go.

iii.Transportation

Rehabilitation of rail lines appears to be at a standstill not to talk of rail lines expansion. Air Nigeria launched with fanfare in the twilight of the last administration tenure is bogged down by controversy. And no where do we have a functional water transportation to be proud of. The concept of mass transit is virtually nil despite our huge population.

iv.Forex Managementernment may have a lot of Naira. However, the major problem is availability of forex to meet up international transactions against depleted reserves, heavy foreign debt, with no immediate prospect of rise in earnings from oil export.

v.Agriculture

Rain was late in coming in several parts of the country and although some people have managed to till the land there is loud cry of access to farm input aside from the lingering insecurity in the countryside to overcome.

vi.Social

access to loans by underprivileged students.

Several months have since lapsed with no machinery on the ground while students go about cap-in-hands begging for money for registration.

about downward reduction in electricity and petrol pricing, societal concerns remain high.

For sure people’s response to policies and programmes on the ground is the barometer for an assessment of the impact of government performance. So far much of the response is in the negative.

The resolve of NIPR leadership to present the Report to relevant stakeholders across the board (p.100) is quite in order and should be pursued with vigour. In that respect, it is advisable for the NIPR leadership to still deliberate on the key elements of the recommendations that can be vigorously pursued to make the greatest impact.

a good manuscript we can give to our independent judges.”

She also observed that manuscripts are the books fare in the market, she said, “Most books have their own market. That is why this year’s theme is very key. ‘Connecting the dots’ which is about distributing those books is something we have to address and what we are addressing at this conference. The primary intention for those winners is let everybody know that everybody has a story to tell and we are here to tell the story at Quramo. Distribution within Nigeria is not easy much less within Africa.”

explore likely collaborations across the board.

entries received this year, she said, “We got entries has not dwindled, but the quality has. enough is done in our educational system. because, year in and year out, it’s getting

Just like its past editions, participants of this year’s QFEST are expected to learn from inspiring personalities such as Femi Eyinade (co-founder of Rovingheights). the Society of Book and Magazine Editors of Nigeria), Prof. Karen King-Aribisala (author and lecturer at the University of Lagos), James Murua (Kenya literary blogger) and Peter Ryan, the Irish Ambassador to Nigeria among others.

According to Shasore, the theme “Connecting the Dots” is a subject that brings opportunities for creatives and stakeholders among other players in the creative and media spaces, to interact, identify, and

judges: Lechi Eke, Dr. Eghosa Imasuen, and Anote Ajelorou.

Shasore addressing the media at the event BOOK FESTIVAL

IN THE ARENA

US Justice System and Lessons in Speedy Judgment

The transparency and speed with which the United States justice system dispatched former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s judicial quest to access details of President Bola Tinubu’s academic records from the Chicago State University (CSU) is indeed a sharp contrast with what is largely obtainable in the Nigerian justice system.

One can say that it is reminiscent of the speed with which the UK court tried and convicted the former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu alongside his wife, Beatrice, and a medical doctor, Obinna Obeta over alleged human organ transplant issues, as well the ex-Governor James Ibori’s UK trial.

Atiku had requested documents for use in Nigerian courts to support his argument that President Tinubu allegedly forged a diploma certificate he claimed to have obtained from CSU in 1979 and submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2023 presidential election.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the February 25 election argued that the matter goes to the root of Tinubu’s qualification to contest the last presidential election.

However, Tinubu mounted stiff opposition to the release of the documents to Atiku, arguing that Atiku’s request “is unduly intrusive because it allows applicant (Atiku) to conduct a fishing expedition into the intervenor’s private, confidential, and protected educational records.”

He also held that releasing the documents sought would cause him severe, irreparable damage.

But dismissing Tinubu’s objection on Saturday, September 30, Judge Nancy Maldonado of the US District Court in Northern Illinois, said she was only affirming Atiku’s right to have access to the CSU documents, not confirming the merit of his allegations against the Nigerian president or his comments on the validity of the country’s presidential election.

She said: “In reaching this conclusion, the court emphasises that it is expressing no view on the merits of Atiku’s underlying claims regarding President Tinubu or his graduation from CSU, or on the validity of the Nigerian election,” a summary of the judgement read in part.

Magistrate Judge Jeffery T. Gilbert, of the Northern District Court of Illinois had earlier given a ruling on Tuesday, ordering the CSU to produce “all relevant and non-privileged documents” to Atiku within two days.

Given the time allowed for Atiku to file the CSU documents at Nigeria’s Supreme Court, Judge Maldonado cautioned Tinubu not to bother applying for a stay of the order, as such application would be denied.

She said: “Given the October 5, 2023 filing deadline before the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the court will not extend or modify these deadlines.

“Further, the court notes that at the recent emergency hearing, the possibility of a stay pending an appeal to the Seventh Circuit

Court of Appeals was raised. The court cautions President Tinubu that any request for a stay before this court will be denied, as the court finds any stay impracticable in light of the fast-approaching Supreme Court of Nigeria deadlines.

“President Tinubu is, of course, free to request a stay directly from the Seventh Circuit should he file any appeal. Judgement is entered in favour of Atiku Abubakar.”

In effect, within nine weeks, the requests filed by Atiku seeking the release of President Tinubu’s academic records by the CSU were granted. At the end, the released records came on October 3 and a deposition by CSU came on October 4.

The procedural history of Atiku’s US judicial pursuit shows that from its jump-off point to its conclusion, it took less than nine weeks to resolve.

On August 2, 2023, Atiku filed his application (ECF No. 1) and Memorandum (ECF No. 4) in support of his application, seeking discovery from the respondent on the CSU documents at issue. The presiding District Judge referred the application to this Magistrate Judge for resolution. (ECF No. 7).

The day after the application was filed, President Tinubu (Intervenor) filed a Motion to Intervene (ECF No. 10), which the applicant did not oppose. The District Judge granted the Motion to

POLITICAL NOTES

Intervene on August 7, 2023, and the court set a date for Intervenor to file a response to the application and for applicant to file a reply.

On August 23, 2023, CSU filed its response to application Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1782 (CSU’s first response) (ECF No. 20), and Intervenor filed his response to application under 28 USC § 1782 (Intervenor’s response)

On September 6, 2023, applicant filed his reply (ECF No. 22) and notified the court that the Nigerian Court of Appeal reportedly issued a ruling on his election challenge that same day, finding in favour of Intervenor and against applicant.

Atiku further explained that he had until September 27, 2023, to file his appeal of that ruling to the Supreme Court of Nigeria, which he stated he intended to do. CSU filed its response to court order dated September 8, 2023 (CSU’s second response)

The right to a speedy trial is codified in fundamental legal documents in several jurisdictions, and may be further defined by statutory law.

In jurisdictions with strong rule of law, the requirement of a speedy trial forces prosecutors to diligently build cases within a reasonable amount of time commensurate with the complexity and seriousness of the crimes or civil infractions of which suspects are accused.

Many Nigerians have argued that if it were in Nigeria, not only would the case not have commenced, one of the parties would definitely have headed to the Court of Appeal and probably the Supreme Court to stall it.

Nigeria has enough laws to guarantee speedy trial of cases but judges lack the political will to move against the powerful and influential people who contravene the laws.

Corrupt senior lawyers also aid guilty parties to frustrate speedy trials through frivolous applications, requests for adjournments and appeals to appellate courts to stall the proceedings at the lower courts.

Though judicial officers blame lack of technology for protracted court cases, the fact remains that the Nigerian judicial system protects the rich and powerful.

While in most developed countries, the high and mighty are prosecuted and appropriately convicted and sentenced to prison, the same cannot be said of Nigeria where the rich and famous frequently compromise the law enforcement officers and the judiciary to evade arrest, prosecution and conviction.

This is why many analysts feel that what happened in the US is not just a slap on the face of the Nigerian judiciary but law enforcement and intelligence agencies. They posited that the US court in two months uncovered what the Nigerian law enforcement and intelligence agencies combined could not do in 24 years.

Irrespective of how it is viewed, the speedy conclusion of Ekweremadu and Atiku cases by the United Kingdom and United States’ courts, respectively, are a big shame to the Nigerian judiciary.

Has El-Rufai’s Ministerial Bid Finally Crumbled?

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday nominated Abbas Balarabe as a ministerial replacement for the former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.

The replacement was conveyed in a letter read by the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, at the plenary.

Balarabe’s name was read alongside Dr. Jamila Ibrahaim and Ayodele Olawande, who were earlier nominated as Minister of Youths and Minister of State for Youths, respectively.

In August when El-Rufai’s name was missing from the list of the ministerial nominees confirmed by the Senate, many believed his ministerial bid had crumbled following the withholding of his confirmation due to securityrelated concerns.

But before Tinubu submitted Balarabe’s name to the Senate, there were speculations that elRufai was lobbying the president secretly for his name to be resubmitted to the National Assembly.

In what many described as a face-saving effort, the former governor had, after his rejection by the senate, declared that he was no longer interested in becoming a minister.

Over the years, El-Rufai had gained notoriety for divisive utterances on religious and other national issues.

It was not surprising that a couple of petitions, including those sent by Senator Sunday Karimi (APC, Kogi West) were presented against the former governor during the screening.

Apart from his controversial comments on sensitive national issues, the former governor

is accused by his critics of betraying all those who assisted him in his political career, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former President Goodluck Jonathan, and very lately, former President Muhammadu Buhari.

One of his greatest critics and former senator from Kaduna State, Shehu Sani had stated that his political career is characterised by switching loyalty and allegiance, political sycophancy and crass opportunism.

Other critics had also warned Tinubu not to give him influential portfolio as he is allegedly capable of stabbing his benefactor at the back. The former Kaduna State governor had also in the past publicly declared that he did not believe in President Tinubu’s style of politics.

Unlike in the United States, many court cases that demand speedy trial and justice instead of ‘judgment’ in Nigeria are often drowned under the weight of contrived time, technicalities, judicial hocus-pocus, as well as lack of institutional capacity, writes Louis Achi

Ariwoola

BRIEFING NOTES

Eyes on IG over Police Extortion Scandal in Rivers

A recent allegation by a Delta State-based rights advocate that an Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the Rivers State Criminal Investigation Department claimed that he shared the N80million seized by the police from a pipeline surveillance contractor with top officers at the Force Headquarters in Abuja and the state police command, has put the Inspector General of Police on the spot, Ejiofor Alike reports

Barely three weeks after cultists murdered the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ahoada Division in Rivers State, SP Bako Angbashim, in a most gruesome manner, the state police command is in the news again.

However, unlike the news of the killing of the DPO, which sparked nationwide outrage and elicited sympathy for the police due to his exceptional display of gallantry in tackling acts of criminalities in the state, the latest reports of allegation of extortion against top officers of the force in the state has scandalised the entire police hierarchy.

Despite the efforts of the police authorities to remove the bad eggs from the force, some of the operatives, including very senior officers, have continued to act like common criminals.

It beats the imaginations of many Nigerians how some police officers managed to rise to senior positions with their criminal tendencies and unprofessional conducts.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Prince Olumuyiwa Adejobi, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) announced recently that the Monitoring Unit of the Inspector-General of Police (IG) had commenced an investigation into the allegation of extortion levelled against the Rivers State Police Command following a petition by a Delta State-based rights advocate, Israel Joe.

In the petition, Joe accused the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCIB), and two other officers of extorting N80 million from a surveillance contractor, Atubi Davison John.

Joe, in the petition dated September 21, said the police on September 14, 2023, invaded Davison’s residence at Peace Avenue Road, Egbelu, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state, searched the house and carted away local and foreign currencies totalling N100 million meant for payment for men securing pipeline facilities in Niger Delta.

The activist said the police also took away two cars, and gold necklace, and arrested four persons seen in Davison’s house, including a female. He said that despite an investigation showing that the money was for payment of securing an oil facility, it was not returned.

But Adejobi said the police were interrogating the officers who according to the petitioner, claimed that they would give the sum of N30 million to the Inspector General of Police (IG), Olukayode Egbetokun, and N16 million to the Rivers State Commissioner of Police (CP), Polycarp Abonyi, out of the booty.

Trouble began for the surveillance subcontractor when he reportedly showed his friend the balance of about N100 million he allegedly made after paying his boys, which he kept in his house.

Shortly after showing his friend the money, his house was allegedly invaded by a team of heavily-armed policemen who were allegedly shouting, ‘where is the money?’

After taking him along with a huge chunk of the money to the Cyber Crime Unit in Port Harcourt, the policemen allegedly took him back to his home, demanding for the rest of the money, which they collected from the ceiling.

In the petition to the IG, Joe said, “I met with the Assistant Commissioner, State CIID, and asked him what are you investigating the man for; the ACP told me that it is for an alleged kidnap case that he doesn’t know if somebody will come and report that his money is missing or is a ransom money, that all they need to do is to see how they can manage the situation that the money is about N100 million.”

Joe further disclosed that the police later released the two cars and asked Davison to manage any amount they would release to him because they were going to send N30 million to the IG, and N16 million to the state CP.

“At the end of the day, they (the policemen) released the two cars; they released the Chevrolet and Toyota Camry car to him, released only N12 million to him and took away a whopping N80 million along with his gold chain valued about N4 million, the two plasma television, shoes and clothes they carried from his house.”

But in a swift reaction, the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, who denied the allegations, said Davison’s inability to provide a satisfactory account for the source of the money, led to his transfer to the SCID for further investigation.

“However, it came to light that the suspect had a urinary catheter in his

NOTES FOR FILE

Obaseki’s Controversial Legacy

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, last week charged residents of the state to protect and preserve the environment for a sustainable future.

Receiving the state Commissioner for Urban and Physical Planning, Isoken Omo, members of staff of the ministry, environmentalists and school children, who embarked on an 8.5km walk to mark the 2023 World Habitat Day, at the Government House, the governor charged parents to plant trees for their children to celebrate their birthdays, noting that if one million children plant trees in a year, the state would have successfully planted one million trees.

It is sad that with the deplorable state of roads in the state, Obaseki’s focus is on planting trees.

Today, 12 local government areas out of the 18 in the state are completely cut off from

Benin City, the state capital. In fact, the people of the state have never had it so bad. They are really suffering moving from one community to another.

As a transportation hub, Edo State connects several parts of the country. In the last four years, the major roads leading to the state and outside are in deplorable conditions. These roads include the Benin-Sapele Road, BeninAgbor Road, Benin-Auchi Road, Benin-Lagos, Benin-Abraka Road and Benin-Akure Road.

The state used to have some of the best road networks in Nigeria, but today, almost all of them - federal and state roads - are in deplorable conditions. Obaseki has not

stomach, necessitating a medical assessment.”

She said Davison’s father acted as his surety and also requested financial assistance for his son’s medical needs.

“The Deputy Commissioner of Police granted a partial release of the funds on compassionate grounds for the suspect’s healthcare, while the remaining amount was meticulously documented and entrusted to the exhibit keeper.

“Additionally, a gold necklace, reportedly obtained from an undisclosed woman, was also registered with the exhibit keeper.”

The statement was, however, silent on the exact amount confiscated or registered with the exhibit keeper and the amount they gave to the accused, and these have aroused suspicion that the police were hiding something.

However, in his reaction, Adejobi noted that to ensure fairness and impartiality, the complainant who made the allegations would be contacted to come forward and cooperate by providing more relevant information regarding the matter.

The Rivers State Police Command has gained notoriety for impunity and alleged acts of criminalities, including abductions and extortions.

Early last month, the state police command arrested four police officers who allegedly abducted three men and extorted N6.5 million from them.

The four policemen were said to have arrested the men from Omoluwabi in the Ogba-EgbemaNdoni Local Government Area of the state, tagged them Internet fraudsters and ferried them to Delta State where they reportedly collected the money from them after detaining them for two days.

The state Commissioner of Police, Nwonyi, who paraded the four officers, also paraded another set of four policemen, including three inspectors arrested for allegedly assaulting a female commuter.

He said the policemen were on a stop-and-search operation when they allegedly assaulted the lady around Arcania Junction, Ada George Road in Port Harcourt.

Since his assumed office, Egbetokun has taken deliberate steps to rid the police of criminal elements that tarnish the image of the force.

Under Egbetokun’s watch, the police have purged itself of criminal elements more than any other security agency in the country but the bad elements are still unrelenting.

The IG should expand the scope of the ongoing investigation to other state police commands to fish out the unscrupulous elements who drop his name as a cover to commit all kinds of atrocities against the members of the public.

fixed strategic state roads, let alone volunteering to construct federal roads and requesting for a refund from the federal government.

Not even the all-important Benin-Auchi Road that leads to 12 out of the 18 local government areas of the state has caught his attention.

Obaseki’s critics have challenged him to name the strategic state roads he constructed or rehabilitated since he came to power in 2016 but he has not taken up this challenge. Obaseki has been blaming the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government for playing politics and abandoning federal roads in the state.

However, what he failed to realise is that he was a member of the APC in his first term and still failed to successfully attract the attention of the federal government to the federal roads. His opponents wonder what enduring legacy he plans to bequeath in the state when he leaves office.

Obaseki

Egbetokun

Controversy Persists as Akeredolu Governs Ondo from Outside

Since Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State returned to Nigeria from a three-month medical leave in Germany over a month ago, the controversy over his failure to return to the state or make public appearance has persisted, fuelling the suspicion that the state is being governed by proxy, Wale Igbintade writes

On September 7, 2023, the Chairman of the Southwest Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu returned to Nigeria from a three-month medical leave in Germany but since his return, he has not been seen either in public or anywhere in the state.

No man should be mocked over his health condition because illness is beyond the control of any man. But the questions agitating the minds of the opposition elements in the state are: What is the hurry to resume all about if his ill health won’t allow him to come to the state? Why did he say he has resumed when indeed he has not?

Akeredolu was last seen briefly in public shortly after he returned to the state from his 15 working days annual leave on May 1, but his ill health generated a lot of anxiety.

The governor had embarked on a 21-day medical leave on June 7 and was expected to return home on July 6, 2023 to start performing his duties after he had written to the state House of Assembly in line with the constitutional provisions.

When he proceeded on medical leave, he handed over power to his deputy, Mr. Lucky Ayeditawa to act in his stead, as required by the constitution.

However, on the expiration of the vacation, the state assembly received yet another letter from the governor requesting the extension of his medical leave but this time, a date of return was not included.

Although there is no official statement specifically giving details about his illness, unofficial sources said the governor was battling with an ailment said to be leukemia.

A day after his arrival from Germany, the governor at the meeting with his close aides at his residence in Ibadan, according to a statement by his media aide, Richard Olatunde, said: “We are here, and we are back. I am back, and by the grace of God, I will be alive to complete my full tenure in office. I want to tell you that I am back, and I will resume work immediately. This is my letter of resumption.”

However, since his return to Nigeria, he has not visited his state, despite claiming to officially resume duty, and this has greatly affected the political quasi stability in the state, allegedly worsening it greatly.

But capitalising on his long absence from the state and his performing his official duties from outside his state, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has wondered why Akeredolu is being kept at his residence in Ibadan. The party posited that it is an indication that he is not yet fit to resume work.

The state Publicity Secretary of PDP, Kennedy Peretei, questioned the rationale behind his failure to return to his office, saying: “The Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, (SAN) is still nowhere to be found, since he claimed he has resumed duties as governor after his three months medical leave in Germany. The governor was reported to have signed the creation of 33 LCDAs bill into law, sacked the media aides of Deputy Governor Aiyedatiwa all from hiding.”

A week after Akeredolu’s arrival,

the PDP also challenged the rationale for calling for a meeting in his Ibadan residence, instead of Ondo State where he was elected to govern.

“Up till this moment, the governor has not been seen anywhere near Ondo State. Akeredolu is beginning to fuel media speculations that, against the advice of his doctors, he was hurriedly brought into Nigeria to foil an impeachment process.”

The party alleged that Akeredolu also ordered an upgrade of his Ibadan residence to include a replica of Executive Council Chambers, from where he intends to hold exco meetings.

“Does Akeredolu want to make Ibadan the capital of Ondo State? What is the hurry to resume all about if he cannot come to Ondo State? Would it not have made more sense if he was still attending to his health abroad? Why did he say he has resumed when indeed he has not?

“Our party wishes to advise Akeredolu to come to Ondo State to complete his tenure. But if he does not feel fit enough to resume, he can proceed on another medical leave instead of trying to pull wool over our eyes in Ondo State.”

There are also rumours that it is not the governor that is currently administering the state but his wife, Betty and son, Babajide.

However, responding, the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) described the PDP’s statement as an indication that the opposition party wished the governor would not come back from his medical vacation. The spokesperson for the APC in the state, Alex Kalejaiye, said the governor has been attending to state matters since his arrival.

“It is unbelievable that the PDP is having a grouse with the location of our governor,

Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. This is a clear indication that the opposition party never wanted Arakunrin back alive.

“The crux of the matter is that Mr. Governor has been attending to state matters since his arrival the way he ought to, irrespective of location. This is an indisputable reality. I sympathise with the PDP; it is a crisis-ridden political party that is bereft of ideas and no longer coherent and constructive.”

The late President Umaru Musa Yar‘Adua had spent at least 109 days of 32 months for medical reasons in foreign hospitals abroad, after he was inaugurated on May 29, 2007.

The number of days he spent in Germany and Saudi Arabia on medical grounds were almost a quarter of the number of working days he spent as president.

Like every other public office holder and civil servant in the country, the former president also enjoyed about 295 days of weekends and public holidays during the same period; which means he spent more than 400 days in total out of office.

Akeredolu was the National President of the Nigerian Bar Asso- ciation (NBA) at that time and he was one of those who protested against the former president’s action.

Akeredolu was said to have declared that going by the number of days Yar’Adua spent away from his duty post, Nigeria had no president legally. He also reportedly argued that the leadership vacuum in the country prompted the NBA trustees to file a suit before a Federal High

Court in Abuja. He said: “The Nigerian state is autopiloted. We now have a president whom we are told can rule from anywhere. But the president himself has announced through the BBC that he is in a hospital, indisposed and unable to perform his functions. And this development prompted the trustees of the NBA to file the suit because we feel that what is going on is not right and may lead to a constitutional crisis.

“Nigeria, at present, has no president legally speaking, since it is now confirmed, via the BBC interview, that Yar‘Adua is incapacitated. Until Vice President Jonathan takes over as the acting President in the absence of Yar’Adua, we shall remain sheep without a shepherd,” Akeredolu reportedly said while reacting to Yar’Adua’s illness.

Amid the uncertainty over Akeredolu’s ill health and absence in the state, the state House of Assembly last week formally began the process of sacking the deputy governor over alleged “abuse of office.”

If the state assembly succeeds in removing Aiyedatiwa from office, it means Akeredolu would have served with three deputy governors for his two terms in office, having fallen out with two of them at different times between 2020 and 2023.

While the drama between the governor and his deputy has raised concerns among residents of the state and Nigerians, Akeredolu’s failure to resume physically in his state capital has also fuelled suspicion in the state.

With Akeredolu’s deputy at risk of being impeached, and his involvement in this, it is believed that the governor has no time for governance. As a consequence, commentators acknowledge the governor as chiefly responsible for the gloom in Ondo.

Akeredolu

Mele Kyari, NNPC Not the Problem in Oil Sector

Tajudeen Suleiman

In an open letter to President Bola Ahmed TinububyoneAbbaMuyiwaOsenipublished by some newspapers on Friday, October 6, undertheheadline“Nigeria’sOilIndustryon Life Support,” the author made a pathetic attempt to knock down Mele Kyari as the ineffective leader of Nigeria’s oil industry. Relyingonlyonhisskewedimaginationandwhathe wasobviouslyinstructedtowritebyhispaymasters, hecondemnedNNPCunderKyarias“utterdisaster” bereft of “any meaningful leadership.”

Forsomeonewritinganopenlettertothepresident, it’sexpectedhewouldbuildacogentcasebyadvancing convincing arguments supported by available data before concluding that the NNPC is a failure underKyari.Butthewriterdidnotmakeevenafeeble attempt to discuss facts, but instead regurgitated familiar sentiments to make sweeping conclusions.

His letter, without a doubt, is unlikely to get the attentionofthediscerningpublicduetoitspervious logic. But for the sake of putting the record straight, this piece will interrogate the writer’s allegations and conclusions, and attempt to provide evidence thatshowshowtheNNPChasactuallytransformed under Kyari’s leadership who mounted the saddle less than a year before Covid-19.

There are three or four issues thrown up by the letterwhichIintendtoaddress.HestatedthatNigeria’s oil industry is on life support due to alleged low production of crude oil. Secondly, he claimed that Kyari inherited a production baseline of 2.4 million barrels per day on average when he was appointed GMD but NNPC is now “struggling” to hit 1.5 million barrels.

Thirdly, he claimed that Abu Dhabi’s ADNOC was producing in the average range of 3 million barrels perdaywhenKyariwasappointedfouryearsagobut is now at 4.5 million barrels per day while Nigeria’s NNPCwasonthedecline.Perhaps,hismostridiculous argument is that the Covid-19 pandemic, oil theft, and pipeline vandalism are mere “excuses” given by Kyari for low oil production in Nigeria.

Finally,heinadvertentlyshowedtheobviousmischiefbehindtheletterbyrevealingtheoutcomeofa non-existentpollamongNNPCstaffwhichallegedly shows that Kyari is considered by the employees as the “worst GMD in NNPC’s history.” On the basis of these, he called on the president to fire Kyari.

“An informal poll of staff determined that a lot of NNPC employees consider him the worst GMD in NNPC’s history. That is a damning rebuke from the employeeshepurportstolead.Intheirestimationand assessment,alltheactionsheisproposingcurrently amount to no more than shuffling deck chairs on a sinking ship,” he stated.

Nowtosettherecordstraight,Kyarididnotinherit a production baseline of 2.4 million barrels per day. Accordingtoa2020reportoftheNigeriaExtractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), the total crude oil production in Nigeria in 2019 when Kyari wasappointedGMDwas735.24millionbarrels.This represents an average of 2 million barrels per day.

But in 2020 when Kyari was barely six months in office,Nigeriawasabletorecord2.33millionbarrels perdayinJanuary2020.HoweverbyFebruary2020

Covid-19 descended on the world and crippled oil production globally, leading to OPEC curtailment of Nigeria’sproductiontolessthan1.5millionbarrelsper day.ButNigeriastillrecordedatotalof646.79million barrels in 2020, which represents a daily average of 1.7millionbarrelswhichwasabovetheOPEC-capped production figure. For those who are familiar with crude oil production, shut-in production to comply withtheOPECquotacreatesasignificantdistortion andconsequentialchallengeofproductionramp-up post-restriction cap. Nigerians cannot forget in a hurry the leadership offered by Kyari and his team which provided institutional support for the fight againstthepandemicwhileensuringthatproduction was kept stable.

Under Kyari’s sterling leadership, over N21bn was raised by the oil industry to support the fight against the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria. Funds were deployed for the provision of logistics and in-patient support equipment such as ambulances, ventilators,isolationcenters,etc.Donationofmedical consumables, which included drugs, sanitizers, masks, protective gear and equipment, and others were made to all the states of the federation.

It is important to note that 2020 was the lowest productionfigureforNigeriacomparedtothepreviousyearswhenNigeriawasabletobuildproduction momentum through the protection of oil assets. FormerpresidentGoodluckJonathanhadcontracted a former Niger Delta militant, Chief Government Ekpemupolo,popularlyknownasTompolo,toprotect oil pipelines from crude oil theft and vandalism. It was a multi-million dollar pipeline surveillance contract that drastically reduced oil theft and led to increased market production.

Itisnoteworthythatoiltheftrecordedanunprecedented figure of 101.05 million barrels in 2016, a year into former President Muhammadu Buhari’s first tenure, due to the cancelation of the pipeline surveillance contract to Tompolo. For the first four yearsoftheBuhariadministration,oiltheftwentto an uncontrollable proportion. Production declined to less than 800kbpd due to the combined effects of theft and shut-ins.

OPEC recently revealed that due to oil theft, Nigeriahasconsistentlybeenunabletomeetitsdaily production quota, which it said, hovered between 1.7 million to 2 million barrels per day (mbpd).

So, it is clear that oil theft is hurting Nigeria’s oil industryandisrobbingthecountryofhugeamounts inforeignexchangeearnings.ButwhenKyaricamein asGMDin2019,heinstitutedamulti-securitycontrol roommannedbytheNNPC.Allassetsofthecompany werelinkedinreal-timetothecommand-and-control center. The Center was responsible for monitoring, locating,andreportingsuspiciousactivitiestovarious security agencies for intervention. The effort led to oil production recovering to 1.6 million barrels per day at the close of 2022.

But afterseeingthe damages oil theftcontinued to wreck on the country’s earnings, Kyari pushed the Buhari administration to re-introduce private security arrangements which eventually led to the revalidation of Tompolo’s pipeline surveillance contract. Since then, oil production has continued to stabilize and seen a steady increase.

Kyari came at a time when disputes, aside from oil theft and pipeline vandalism, were paralysing oil production. But within a few months of stepping into office, Kyari was able to resolve them. These include the dispute between Shell and Belema Oil that shut in over 30,000barrels per day production in OML 25, and over agreements with SNEPCo and other PSC partners to resolve the disputes around another deep offshore block, OML 118, leading to the renewal of that acreage with the prospect of a new $10billion investment in the development of the Bonga South-East Field.

Among the resolutions was the execution of the Abo OML 125 Heads of Terms leading to the resolution of the issues around most of the deep offshoreProductionSharingContracts.Thispaved the way for the renewal of OML 125 and further investment.

Therewasalsothesuccessfulresolutionof1993

PSC dispute which holds over 90% of Nigeria’s deepwaterproduction,pavingthewayforunlocking over 7 billion barrels of oil, 20Tcf of gas reserves, and potential investment of up to US$40bn over the next five (5) years, and at the same time relieves NNPC of almost US$10bn in contingent liabilities.

He also achieved the commercial discovery of hydrocarbonintheGongolabasinoftheUpperBenue trough and attained the Presidential flag off of the Kolmani Integrated Development Project (KIPRO) on22ndNovember2022,withover1bnbarrelsofoil and 500BCF of gas addition to existing hydrocarbon reserves, which will go a long way to enhance national energy security, create jobs opportunities and stimulate balanced economic growth.

As part of the strategic drive to shore up national reserves, Kyari expanded hydrocarbon exploration campaigns to the Sokoto and Bidda basins and achieved a spud-in for the ongoing exploration projects in the Nasarawa and Chad Basins.

Within this year alone, Kyari achieved first oil in OML 13, restored production in OMLs 11 and 18, and currently working to achieve first oil in OMLs 83/85 amongothers.Kyariisalsotakingmajorinitiativesthat willmovetowardsachievingFIDformajorprojectsin thedeepwaterandfrontierbasinssuchastheBonga Southwest Apraro, Bonga North, Prowei, KIPRO, Owowo, Bosi, and so on.

In terms of investments in infrastructure expansion, it’s hardly an exaggeration to say no GMD has done as much as Kyari within the short time he has been in office. Many significant investments have been made which have turned around the industry.

HewrappeduptheFinalInvestmentDecisiononthe NLNGTrain7ProjectinDecember2019.Theproject isexpectedtogenerateover$20billionofrevenueto the Government over the project’s lifecycle, 10,000 direct and 40,000 indirect jobs.

Under Kyari’s leadership, NNPC as the largest shareholder of NLNG enabled the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract of the NLNG Train-7 project with the SCD JV Consortium comprising affiliates of Saipem, Chiyoda, and Daewoo. The execution of the EPC contract signals theeffectivecommencementofthedetaileddesign and construction phase of the multi-billion dollar project which, on completion, is expected to raise the NLNG production capacity by 35 per cent from the current 22 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 30 MTPA.

He also flagged off the construction of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano(AKK)gaspipelineprojecton 30th June 2020. The project, an integral part of the Trans-Nigeria Gas Pipeline (TNGP) with a capacity to transport about 2.2 billion cubic feet of gas per day, has been described as a game-changer.

To address domestic gas challenges, the NNPC GMDcommissionedtheOredoIntegratedGasHandlingFacility(IGHF)andtheLiquefiedPetroleumGas StorageandDispensingUnit.Thefacilitiesarewholly owned and constructed by the Nigerian Petroleum

DevelopmentCompany(NPDC),andcurrentlydeliver over 200 million standard cubic feet of dry gas per day and 330 metric tonnes of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (cooking gas) which is equivalent to 16 units of 20tonnes LPG trucks per day into the domestic market.

OtherlandmarkachievementsoftheNNPCunder Kyari include the execution of a JV agreement with NIPCO to market and distribute CNG, and a Final Investment Decision (FID) on Brass Gas Hub with the Brass Fertilizer and Petrochemical Company for the $3.6billion Brass Methanol Plant in Odioma, Bayelsa State.

Aprojecttodeliver300millionstandardcubicfeet of gas per day and 1,200 megawatts of electricity to the domestic market was achieved with the signing ofa$260mfinancingagreementfortheAssa-North Ohaji South (ANOH) Gas Project with Seplat.

To boost gas production, NNPC under the leadership of Kyari also executed a Gas Development Agreement(GDA)fortheOilMiningLease(OML)143 withitspartner,SterlingOilExplorationandProduction Company (SEEPCO). The project will boost the nation’s gas production by 1.2 trillion cubic feet (tcf).

The NNPC also secured the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) Grant and commenced the upgrade of the 1350MW Abuja IPP project development to World Bank Standard for bankability and signed the Trans-Atlantic Pipeline Project(NigerianMorroccoGasPipeline)MOUwith African NOCs, with ONHYM and ECOWAS.

Under his able leadership, NNPC has succeeded in keeping the nation wet with petroleum products throughanefficientsupplyframeworkwhileworking to restore downstream infrastructure through the emplacement of the Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) model for the depots and pipeline network.

He also achieved execution of an agreement with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board(NCDMB)andZedEnergyfortheconstruction of the N10.5bn Brass Petroleum Products Terminal. The facility will serve as a strategic reserve for the country as it is expected to provide a depot for 50 millionlitresofpetroleumproducts,twowayproduct jetty,automatedstorageandautomatedbayforAGO, PMS, DPK and ATK. It will close the infrastructure gap in the distribution of petroleum products and also help to stop illegal refining activities.

Todeepengascommercial,KyariledNNPCachieved expansion of the LPG logistics business via the joint venture company WAGL acquisition of two LPG Vessels: MT Sapet and MT BaruMK.

As typical with visionaries, NNPC under Kyari’s leadership acquired OVH adding over 380 retail stationstotheexistingretailnetwork,a240,000MT capacity per annum jetty, 3 Lubes blending plants, 3 aviation depots, 8 LPG plants, 38 LPG skids and 12 warehouses which positioned the NNPC Retail as the single largest downstream network in Africa.

As part of Kyari’s commitment to make Nigeria a netexporterofpetroleumproducts,on April6,2021, NNPC signed the $1.5billion Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) Contract Agreement withTecnimontSpA,forthecompleterehabilitation of Port Harcourt Refinery which will be managed throughastructureoperations&maintenancemodel

He also achieved the WRPC and KRPC Quick Fix contracts awarded to Daewoo for the restreaming of both plants by 2024.

He also took a strategic investment decision through equity investment in Dangote Refinery, AzikelRefinery,andthreeunitsof10kbpdcondensate refineries.

If Kyari’s leadership of the industry had been ineffectiveanduninspiringastheletterwriterwantsthe presidenttobelieve,howcouldhehavesucceededin accomplishingsomeofhisachievementshighlighted above? If NNPC partners had lost confidence in the leadershipofthecorporationashestated,howcould he have achieved the above?

WhenKyariwasappointedGMDinAugustof2019, itgeneratedexcitementandoptimismintheindustry duetohistrackrecordoftransparencyandindustry experience.Stakeholdershailedhisappointmentas that of a round peg in a round hole. Four years after, Kyari did not disappoint. No scandal has been linked to him since he came on board, and he has continued to demonstrate leadership in an industry beset by challenges.

Suleiman writes from Abuja

Kyari

BUSINESS PROMOTION…

Army Officer Writes Tinubu, Seeks Intervention over Compulsory Retirement

Wale Igbintade

One of the 38 army officers arbitrarily sacked in 2016, Lieutenant Colonel Abdulfatai Mohammed (rtd), has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene following the refusal of the Nigerian Army to obey the court injunction ordering his reinstatement.

Mohammed and 37 other senior officers were forced to retire by the army in June 2016. The mass dismissal affected nine major generals, 11 brigadier generals, seven colonels, and 11 lieutenant colonels.

However, the National Industrial Court (NIC) had ordered the reinstatement of Mohammed

and others.

But despite the court order, the Nigerian Army and former President Muhammadu Buhari refused to ensure justice by reinstating the soldiers, who are some of the country’s brightest in internal and external security operations.

One of the officers, Ojebo Ochankpa, died in 2017 while awaiting justice. Their statutory appeal for redress to the then President Buhari within 30 days of their sacking, and other letters subsequently, were neither acknowledged nor replied to.

But Mohammed in his letter to President Tinubu, urged to prevail on the army to obey the court orders that declared his

All Criminals Must Leave Benue or Risk Arrest, Says Gov Alia

Benue State Governor Hyacinth

Alia has ordered all criminals currently operating in Benue State to leave or risk arrest.

This is contained in a press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Sir Tersoo Kula, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makurdi yesterday.

According to the statement, “Governor Alia is serious about securing the state and ridding it of criminal elements.”

The statement stated that no criminal in the state would escape punishment, adding that nobody is above the law as long the person is resident in the state.

On the Kwande attack on cattle traders, he stated categorically that “no Fulani person was among the

two traders that were unfortunately killed by criminals as alleged by the Benue PDP.”

He advised the PDP to join him to bring development to the state instead of continuously stoking the embers of hatred and sparking ethnic tensions.

The statement indicated that the governor has directed security agencies and traditional rulers within the area to ensure that the criminals, who attacked and killed two Katsina-Ala LGA-based cattle traders are arrested and prosecuted.

“The allegation by the PDP that it was Fulani herders that were attacked and killed is patently false and a figment of its blurry imagination, which is obviously a decoy to mislead the unsuspecting public.

ECOBA Lagos Branch Doles out Cash and Plaque Awards to 2023 Graduating Students

The Lagos branch of Edo College Old Boys Association (ECOBA) presented awards and cash prizes to 24 graduating students of the college to encourage excellence in academic work, sports as well as other extracurricular activities.

Making the presentation during the Edo College Prize giving day 2023 in Benin City, the Chairman, Board of Administrators, ECOBA Lagos, Education Trust Fund, Prof. E.S Akpata, in a goodwill message disclosed that to emphasise the importance of good character in

retirement illegal.

In the letter, which was also copied to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, the aggrieved officer said he wrote the letter based on the “avowed commitment to justice” the president indicated in his “inauguration speech” on May 29, 2023, when he assumed office.

Mohammed described his compulsory retirement as a “malicious and wrongful” action that was followed up with

“reputational damage actions in the media.”

THISDAY gathered that the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (rtd), attempted to revisit the issue in 2021.

In a memo to the former Minister of Defence, which was acknowledged on 7 July 2021, Irabor sought the endorsement of the minister for “voluntary retirement of the 38 senior officers with effect from 1 January 2018.” However, the appeal was not

approved.

Mohammed said he is now appealing to the Commanderin-chief, Tinubu, current Chief of Defence Staff and Army chief to order his “(1) immediate reinstatement into the Nigerian Army as ordered by the court with effect from 9 June 2016. (2) Full restoration to the current rank and seniority of my course mates (47 RC) and (3) Payment of all my salaries and emoluments from 9 June 2016 till date,” he wrote.

“I am confident in your leader-

ship and steadfastness for justice/ rule of law and optimistic that you will grant me full restoration to put my career back on course as I never deserved the ill-treatment of over 7 years of compulsory retirement that was meted to me,” Mohammed added In 2016, the Nigerian army cited “service exigencies, corruption in arms procurement, and partisanship” as the “serious offences” that warranted the compulsory retirement of the 38 officers.

Nigeria Needs Electricity to Drive Economic Growth, Industrialisation, Says Minister

Peter Uzoho

The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has described the power sector as the energy needed by Nigeria for economic growth and industrial development.

Adelabu made this assertion at the weekend while addressing a delegation of the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE) led by the President of the association, Tasiu Sa’ad Gidari-Wudil, to the ministry in Abuja.

The minister, who emphasised the need to give the power sector appropriate focus and attention, said there is no transformed economy throughout the world that did not put power as a priority.

He stated one of the major crises Nigeria experience is not being able to produce what is consumed, thereby being dependent on other parts of the world as a consuming economy.

“A large percentage of what

we consume as a nation is imported and any country desirous of transformation should eschew such scenario”.

While charging the NSE to throw its weight into the power sector in order to achieve its desired goal, Adelabu said one of the major challenges the country has in moving forward stems from the inability to synergise.

“Nigeria needs an abundance of power supply and

the challenge doesn’t lie on any other institution other than the Nigerian Society of Engineers,” he said.

The minister stated that factors like leadership, commitment, focus, and passion, are instrumental to achieving the desired success in the power sector, while gaps in mobility, infrastructure, and inability to build roads and proper railways despite funding from developmental partners remain challenging.

It’s Time to Sheathe Your Swords, Otti Tells Opponents

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

With the affirmation of his mandate by the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, the Abia Governor, Mr. Alex Otti is waving the olive branch at his political opponents asking them to sheathe their swords.

The three-man Tribunal had on Friday dismissed the petitions filed against Otti by the two major Abia opposition parties,

the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) for lacking in merit.

Reacting to the outcome of the legal battle, Otti declared that there was no need to continue the political war, urging his opponents in rival parties to join forces with him in the task of rebuilding Abia.

“My advice to my opponents is that this is a good time to sheathe their swords and join

hands with me to develop our state, Abia,” he said, adding that “any way you slice and dice it, it costs a lot of money to engage in litigation”.

He said that instead of Abia politicians expending huge amounts of money on litigations they should deploy such resources for the development of the state, starting with their own localities.

“I will not ask them to bring the money to me, I would advise that each of them have villages that

are dilapidated; without roads, without water, and I believe that their communities will appreciate it if they would channel those resources to building roads in their villages and communities,” he said.

Otti reasoned that if his opponents could channel the resources spent in waging legal battle on provision of social amenities, Abia would not only have dividends of development but also peace and stability.

the success of the student’s life, a prize is awarded for the student with the most exemplary character.

“In recognition of the role of environment in shaping human behaviour, there is also an award of a trophy to the cleanest boarding house. A trophy was presented to the best class in French, as well as the cleanest boarding house.

According to him, “These prize awards are made possible by the benevolence of old boys of Edo College resident in Lagos.

Biafra: We’re Ready for Talks

David-Chuddy Eleke in Awka

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has said that it is now ready to negotiate with the federal government on peaceful exit of Biafra from Nigeria through a United Nations supervised referendum.

The pro-Biafran group said the peaceful agitation for Biafra Independence started in 2012 without any violence or criminality, but the federal government has

on Referendum, Says IPOB

continued to attack its members.

It stated this in a statement issued yesterday by the group’s spokesman, Emma Powerful.

Powerful said IPOB has lost over 5,000 members and properties worth over $1billion as a result of the extreme use of force from the Nigeria security forces.

The statement read: “We the global family and movement of IPOB wish to reiterate once again that IPOB remains peaceful and

open for negotiations and dialogue on peaceful exit of Biafra from Nigeria through a UN supervised referendum.

“IPOB’s peaceful agitation for Biafra Independence started in 2012. Never has IPOB been associated with violence or criminality in all our years of rallies and protests. Nevertheless, Federal Government, through its security forces, has levied war against IPOB. Our members have been brutally

attacked while on peaceful protest by the Nigeria security forces at many locations in Biafra Land.

“As a result of these unwarranted attacks, many IPOB members have been murdered in cold blood, some have been permanently handicapped, some forcefully taking away by the security forces whereas some are still illegally detained in various detention facilities across Nigeria.

L-R: President, National Institute of Marketing Nigeria, Mr. Idorenyen Enang; Sales Manager, Absen, Ellen Zhang; Convener, Location Marketing Awards, Kingsley Onwukaeme; Business Development Manager, BroadSign, Miguel Castanon; President, Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria, Femi Adelusi, during the 2023 Location Marketing Awards in Lagos…recently

Tinubu’s Buhari Burden

President Bola Tinubu’s success or failure in office may not be the result of his own making. It would be the weight of a political burden he is so far carrying apparently quite willingly. Every policy pronouncement he has so far made and measures he has hinted at taking is an inherited yoke from the immediate past Buhari presidency. In a sense, Tinubu’s presidency so far is looking more like a reactive incumbency. He has merely been reacting to what his predecessor left in the in-tray at the Aso Villa office. Insecurity. Monumental poverty. Economic hopelessness. Subsidies and entitlements. A critically divided nation. Unprecedented corruption. Name it. It is all inherited from Mr. Buhari. But Tinubu and his cohorts seem reluctant to say so.

The most elementary lesson of the presidential systems and indeed every democratic succession is that the new leader is elected not just to clean up the mess made by his predecessor but also to leave room to make his own peculiar mess. So far, Mr. Tinubu seems too preoccupied with the baggage left by his Daura friend instead of getting ready to make his own mess or landmarks.

In some sense, President Tinubu has carried on literally like a beast of burden. He has not complained to the nation about the burden he inherited nor the extent of the mess on his plate. One or two random arrests have been made and a probe of the Central Bank has been instituted. It is of course true that government is a continuum. Each new leaders is chosen to deal with the trouble he finds on the plate. Leaders are elected to lead, not to lament or offer excuses on behalf of those gone by especially when the past and the present are born of the same party. But it is also an elementary responsibility of leadership to name the source of present headaches so that the public can minimally understand and empathise.

And this is where Tinubu’s publicity machinery is failing. They are busy constructing political enemies from among the opposition of Atiku Abubakar’s PDP and Peter Obi’s Labour Party. This is quite excusable. But it is lazy public relations. Tinubu’s existential adversaries are not the current opposition. They are not yet a full blown opposition figures since they are still in court. His most consequential political enemies might lie in his ruling party and the devotees of his predecessor. His greatest enemy is to be found in the inner cultic followership of his immediate predecessor. It is Mr. Buhari that laid all the booby traps that are likely to fell Tinubu or keep him busy for the next four years. The best test of party solidarity would be to try and upset Buhari’s apple cart. The political fangs and jack knives will come out.

And yet so far, the Daura general is comfortably savouring his cozy retirement in his ranch. He has even had the temerity to unleash his megaphones on the public to justify his actions in office. The most disastrous leader in the whole of Nigerian history is being revised as a man without regrets and who took the best decisions in the best interest of the nation. It is either being trumpeted that he has no regrets for the disaster he unleashed on the nation. And because we live in a nation where leaders face no consequences for their actions in office, Buhari is sufficiently shameless and immune as to use every occasion to preach to or lecture Nigerians on patriotism, good governance and the value of good leadership. In every other self respecting republic, a man with Buhari’s record in office should either be in jail, facing trial at The Hague or quarantined in disgraceful internal exile for the rest of his life. And here is just a tip of why.

Under Mr. Buhari’s eight years, close to 90,000 citizens were killed by bandits or kidnappers. Fewer than 100 known bandits and kidnappers were either

arrested or brought to book for these crimes. Many of our young daughters, wives or female relations were abducted, raped, abused, carted off into forceful matrimony or sold off into direct slavery. Under Buhari’s watch, insecurity forced an estimated seven million Nigerians to become Internally Displaced Persons, sequestered from home, kith and kin and livelihood for an indefinite period.

In this period, Nigeria climbed up the global insecurity index. We became among the top five most dangerous nations of the world in the league of Somalia, Syria, Yemen, Libya and Sudan while our police force is now grouped among the worst in the world.

Under this illustrious Daura general, the national economy was literally eviscerated. Arguably, we have been set back a good three decades in economic terms. An external debt of anywhere between $80 billion and $100 billion hangs over our collective neck with over N30 trillion in domestic debts. Our external reserves, long brandished as $34-$37 billion was surreptitiously used to leverage clandestine external loans from American banks to the extent of over $18 billion with neither parliamentary approval nor other statutory due processes. We are now spending over 98% of our total revenue on debt servicing. Only this week, the World Bank designated the Nigerian Naira as one of the worst currencies in sub Saharan Africa. As we speak, over N1000 is equivalent to $1 USD!

Not long before the 2023 presidential elections, a dubious Naira re-design project was suddenly unleashed on Nigerians by the duo of President Buhari and his Central Bank Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele. People’s bank deposits were literally confiscated by the government. An unanticipated cash crunch hit the nation. People could not access their own hard earned money. Others went through untold hardship to get into banks that had no money- ether new or old currencies- to dispense. People died of poverty, disease and hardship. Up to this moment, hardly more than a trickle of the new currencies on which huge public expenditure had been incurred is in circulation. And no questions are being asked.

Still on money matters, close to N29.3 trillion of worthless currency was printed and pumped into the economy by a colluding Central Bank through a dubious Ways and Means mechanism, thereby fueling further runaway inflation which today hovers above 27%.

Under Buhari’s eight years, Nigeria witnessed the largest migration of citizens into multidimensional poverty than at any other time in our history. An estimated over 130 million Nigerians now live in poverty being the largest ‘poverty republic’ in the world, more than India with a population of over 1.4 billion people.

As Petroleum Minister, Mr. Buhari presided over the emergence of oil theft, illegal bunkering and illicit refineries as an industry and a sector of Nigeria’s expanding insecurity sub sector. At its worst moments, close to 30% of Nigeria’s daily oil production was being creamed off by oil thieves often with official and security knowledge and enablement.

Under Buhari, the nation witnessed the institutionalization of corruption. The leadership of the very agencies established to fight corruption (EFCC and ICPC) were themselves investigated and found culpable of condoning high level corruption and there were no consequences. No arrests. No prosecutions. No recoveries. No reasonable forfeitures.

Mr. Buhari presided over a deliberate and reckless mismanagement of our national diversity through aggressive nepotism, nativism and divisive politics.

In response to irritations from secessionist movements in the South East, Buhari could not hide his allergy to the Igbos as a nationality. He threatened on Twitter to unleash genocidal violence on them by speaking to them “in a language they understand

from the civil war years.” He capped this xenophobic vituperation by describing the Igbos as a mere ‘dot’ surrounded by ‘a circle’ of Nigerian security viciousness. Twitter scrubbed this twit as ‘hate speech’ for which Twitter was banned from the Nigerian web space for close to a year!

Back to Tinubu’s self -imposed Buhari burden. It is true that faithfulness to party demands that Tinubu should remain silent on the culpability of Mr. Buhari for the myriad burdens he has to contend with. Faithfulness to party perhaps dictates that he should gloss over some of Mr. Buhari’s excusable lapses. But we are not dealing with casual lapses but fundamental acts of epic incompetence or deliberate misdeed occasioned by ignorance or patent wickedness and insensitivity. We are dealing with acts and policies that have literally destroyed the nation we all call home.

Within the rubrics of faithfulness to party solidarity and policy continuity, it is perhaps understandable that President Tinubu has continued to own the highpoints of his predecessor’s infamous rule. He may have been emboldened in this regard by the outcome of the 2023 presidential elections. After all, he ran under the platform of the APC and was declared winner. This may indicate that the Nigerian populace saw nothing wrong with Buhari’s or the APC’s rule. That would be a conventional democratic wisdom. Ordinarily, the electorate should ‘punish’ a party with a defective performance record at the next election. The controversial result of the 2023 presidential election indicates widespread public hesitation to endorse the return of the APC after the Buhari infamy. It stops short of a wholesale rejection of the APC. A vote tally of less than 9 million in a registered voter population of over 83 million and a population of over 200 million cannot by any stretch be described as an endorsement of a ruling party.

Even at that, President Tinubu needs to understand the dividing line between faithfulness to party solidarity and his own political self-interest. While party solidarity dictates a rhetorical commitment to continuing with the Buhari legacy, real politik dictates that he distances himself, as much as possible, from the worst of Buhari.

As Buhari and his jaded acolytes continue to bring him out for occasional airing, his plight reminds me of Joseph Stalin win his last days. Towards the end, he was adjudged as somewhat unhinged by the public and his close lieutenants. But he insisted that he was acting rationally and in the best interests of the nation. Somehow, his derangement had progressed so far that he could not distinguished between illusion and reality. He mistook each act of deluded autocracy as illustrious service to the nation.

He noticed that the attendance at his weekend garden parties was getting unusually scanty. On one occasion, when he made his usual grand entrance, he asked aloud: ‘Where have all my friends gone?’ An aide leaned over and whispered into his ears: ‘All gone, all purged…’ Stalin, in his delusion, failed to see that his sweeping purges of ‘anti revolutionary elements’ had also wiped out majority of his friends and allies. Close to 6 million had perished on Stalin’s orders. The man of power had eroded and destroyed the very nation in whose name he was wielding the power of the state. But the suffering and death of the masses meant little to him.

As he famously said: “The death of one man is a tragedy. But the death of many is statistics…”

To Buhari in his final days in power, Nigerians were no more than mere subjects and statistics. The nation was a playground. The nation of his legacy is best described as a field after a locust invasion. For President Tinubu to see his presidency as a continuation of this legacy is political hara-kiri. He needs to choose now.

Tinubu

SUNDAYSPORTS

Iheanacho’s Fourth Goal Keeps Leicester at the Summit

Duro Ikhazuagbe with agency report

Nigerian international, Kelechi Iheanacho, was named Man-of-theMatch after Leicester City defeated Stoke City 2-0 yesterday to hang on to the top of the second tier English Championship on 30 points from 11 matches.

Iheanacho fondly called ‘Senior Man’ scored his fourth Leicester City goal of the season as Foxes continue their push to regain their Premier League status.

Iheanacho opened scoring for Leicester in the 24th minute, when he found the bottom corner from a tight angle to put the high-flying hosts ahead with the game’s first shot.

His fellow Super Eagles teammate, Wilfred Ndidi, who came into the game as a 77th sub for Cesare Casadei, assisted for the second goal barely two minutes into the match.

Nathan Lowe had the best of Stoke’s few chances to level, while Mark Travers made it tense for the Foxes by denying Yunus Akgun and Kiernan DewsburyHall before Jamie Vardy came

off the bench to add a second with a tap-in finish.

The former England striker’s 175th goal for Leicester completed the win, but it could have been a more comprehensive result as the hosts created late chances in a strong finish.

The victory saw the Foxes became the equal-fastest team to amass 30 points in a Championship season, matching Sheffield United in 2005-06, with their 10th win in 11 games.

A point at Swansea after the international break would be enough for Leicester to break the record for the best start to a second-tier season after 12 games since it was rebranded as the Championship 19 years ago.

Stoke’s sixth defeat in eight games - a run that includes just one win - saw them slip to 21st in the table.

Leicester City now have 30 points from 11 matches, two points ahead of second-placed Ipswich Town.

Both Iheanacho and Ndidi are due to fly into Portugal for the friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique.

McTominay’s Stoppage- time Goals Secure Dramatic Win for Man Utd

England snub, Sterling, brilliant as Chelsea hammer Burnley 4-1

Manchester United needed two stoppage-time goals from Scott McTominay to secure a dramatic 2-1 win over Brentford as Tottenham Hotspur went top of the Premier League with a 1-0 victory at Luton Town on Saturday.

Chelsea claimed back-to-back league wins for the first time since March after thrashing Burnley at Turf Moor and Everton climbed to 15th with their second victory of the season at home to Bournemouth.

Boos rang around Old Trafford at halftime as United went into the break trailing Brentford, staring down the barrel of a seventh defeat this season in all competitions.

Defensive frailties were exposed in the 26th minute when Casemiro gave the ball away and Victor Lindelof failed to clear, allowing Mathias Jensen to slot the ball under the body of keeper Andre Onana, who should have saved it comfortably.

Onana redeemed himself late on, pulling off two tremendous saves in quick succession to set the stage for McTominay’s late intervention.

Substitute McTominay rattled home the equaliser after a goalmouth

scramble in the 93rd minute and he was not done yet.

The towering midfielder netted again with a header in the seventh minute of stoppage time to send the home fans wild and grab all three points for his side who climbed to ninth in the table on 12 points, five ahead of 14th-placed Brentford.

Elsewhere, Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has challenged Raheem Sterling to consistently play well and prove Gareth Southgate was wrong to leave him out of the England squad.

Sterling had a hand in all four goals as the Blues romped to victory after falling behind at Burnley.

The veteran of 82 caps last played for England at last year’s World Cup and has just been left out of a fourth successive squad for a friendly with Australia and a Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy.

“I think a player with his experience knows he needs to perform and to show the manager of the national team he was wrong in the decision,” said Pochettino after Chelsea scored four goals in a Premier League match for the first time since April 2022.

Edited by: Duro Ikhazuagbe email:Duro.Ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

Awoniyi Sidelined for One Month, to Miss Saudi Friendly

Taiwo Awoniyi has been ruled out of the Super Eagles friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique preparatory to 2026 World Cup qualifiers after his Premier League club announced he will be sidelined

for a month due to a groin injury.

Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper said Awoniyi will be out of action for several weeks on account of the injury. The Super Eagles striker

missed last night’s Forest’s goalless draw at Crystal Palace because of the injury. His Nottingham Forest and Super Eagles teammate, Ola Aina, is also injured and likely to miss the friendlies.

The Super Eagles will take on Saudi Arabia on Friday and then play Mozambique four days later. Both matches are to be played in Portugal as part of Nigeria’s preparation for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Spalletti Invites Nigerian-born

Udogie

for Italy’s Euro Qualifiers

Italy national team Head Coach, Luciano Spalletti, has included Nigerian-born Tottenham Hotspur defender, Destiny Udogie, for the first time in their squad for this month’s European Championship qualifiers against Malta and England, the Italian football federation (FIGC) announced at the weekend.

Spalletti who was instrumental to Victor Osimhen’s switch from Lille of France to Napoli two years ago, included the former Udinese left back in his second squad selection as Azzurri manager after the 20-yearold started for Spurs in all seven of their Premier League games so far this season.

Midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini is

sidelined after suffering a muscle injury in AS Roma’s Europa League game against Servette on Thursday. Italy are in second place and trail England by six points with a game in hand on all of their Group C rivals. They host bottom side Malta on Oct. 14 in Bari before travelling to face England at Wembley three days later.

ITALY SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris St Germain), Alex Meret (Napoli), Ivan Provedel (Lazio), Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham Hotspur)

Defenders: Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni (both Inter Milan), Cristiano Biraghi (Fiorentina),

Matteo Darmian (Inter), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Federico Gatti (Juventus), Gianluca Mancini (AS Roma) , Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta), Destiny Udogie (Tottenham)

Midfielders: Nicolo Barella (Inter), Giacomo Bonaventura (Fiorentina), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Davide Frattesi (Inter), Manuel Locatelli (Juventus), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle United)

Attackers: Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo), Federico Chiesa (Juventus), Moise Kean (Juventus), Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta), Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio), Nicolo Zaniolo (Aston Villa)

Bendel Insurance Dim Shooting Stars to Open NPFL Campaign

Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin picked up from where they stopped last season, handing out a brilliant 2-0 defeat to rivals Shooting Stars of Ibadan in their 2023/24 Nigeria Premier Football League Match-day one class at the Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.

Interestingly, the Benin Arsenal were gifted their opening goal courtesy an own goal by Shooting Stars’ Garli Falke who unintentionally cleared the ball into his own net. It was the result of pressure on the defence of the Oluwole Warriors by Insurance frontline who were desperate for early goal.

The Federation Cup holders enjoyed the goal advantage in the remaining part of the first half until Tamara Ezekiel got injured in the midfield. Insurance went into the dressing room at half time with the 1-0 advantage.

The hosts came out in the second half with early attempt to increase the tally but Jude Ebhohon’s strike went wide in the 56 minute.

The Gbenga Ogunbote managed Oluyole Warriors later came out of their shells to level up with some good attempts but Amas Obasogie was up to the task in goal mouth for Insurance.

Coach Monday Odigie’s tactical switch, following 72nd minute tripple substitutions, removing Jude Ebhohon, Vincent Augustus Paul Obatan for Austin Ogunye,Akpos Godness and Evans Ogbonda changed the complexion of the game to Insurance advantage.

The combined force of the three substitutes paid off when Evans Ogbonda picked up a pass from Stanley Okorom and beat two men before he released the stunner from 25 yards to send the home fans at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium into wide jubilation.

RESULTS

Kelechi Iheanacho fired his fourth goal of the season for fourth of the season for Leicester City...yesterday Leicester

Destiny Udogie...gets first time call to the Italian Azzurri

Amnesty International to FG

SIMON KOLAWOLE

The Chicago Bullfight between Atiku and Tinubu

May I, at this point, humbly retract certain claims I made in my article, ‘Tinubu and Atiku: Birds of a Feather’ (THISDAY, June 12, 2022), months before the 2023 presidential election. In it, I claimed that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar “are friends, associates and two peas in a pod”. I traced their bond to the annulled third republic. I said they had been there for each other during political upheavals. As simple as it was, I didn’t remember that there are no permanent friends or foes in politics. Just permanent interests. All gloves are off now. Atiku is on an all-out war with Tinubu whom he wants disqualified and removed as president for alleged certificate forgery.

On Thursday, Atiku revealed that he had parted ways with Tinubu as far back as 2007. I hereby confess that I did not know this. In separate private conversations I had with both men before 2007, they came across as David and Jonathan. What we have today is nothing but Cain and Abel, although I’m not sure who is the Cain and who is the Abel. As Atiku has now told us, they cut political ties when he refused to make Tinubu his presidential running mate in 2007 because of the Muslim-Muslim ticket complications. I recall Tinubu opposing Atiku’s election petition against President Umaru Musa Yar’Adau in 2007 on the ground that all of them were from the same political family.

To be sure, this is not the first time Atiku is seeking a judicial decision on the basis of certificate in a presidential election. In 2019, he fought President Muhammadu Buhari all the way to the Supreme Court, maintaining that he did not have the requisite educational qualification to be president. Buhari had listed secondary school education on his INEC form but did not attach the West African School Certificate, which he claimed was with the military authorities. He eventually received a replacement from Cambridge, which used to conduct the WASC exams, and presented it to the tribunal. Atiku’s petition was dismissed. He also lost in the Supreme Court — but Buhari was hurt.

This time around, Atiku is seeking to prove that the Chicago State University (CSU) certificate presented to INEC by Tinubu is a forgery and, therefore, he was not qualified to run in the first place. Many people did not really give serious attention to this allegation in Atiku’s petition until he went to file for “discovery” at a US court on August 2, 2023, seeking an order to compel CSU to release Tinubu’s academic records. This was a day after the presidential election petition court (PEPC) had announced that it was adjourning to deliver judgment after all the petitioners, Atiku inclusive, and respondents had concluded their submissions. The US case, thus, basically went under the radar.

The PEPC actually prevented Atiku from arguing the forgery allegation on a technical ground. Atiku’s lawyers introduced the triple allegations of Tinubu’s conviction in the US, forgery of documents and dual citizenship long after they had filed the petition. The certificate was notably not on their list of proof of evidence. However, as the proceedings went, they introduced the issues. Tinubu’s lawyers said the time for filing new facts was over. Atiku’s lawyers said they were only providing further details. The PEPC, in its judgment, held that the electoral law provides that all evidence must be frontloaded and since this was not contained in the petition itself, Atiku had missed the timeframe.

In truth, Atiku did not have what he could present as evidence as at the time the PEPC sat and gave judgment. Maybe the lack of evidence contributed to the little attention paid to Atiku’s moves in the US. With the PEPC judgment going against Atiku on September 6, he decided to head to the Supreme Court — this time hoping that he could file a new evidence on the authenticity of Tinubu’s CSU certificate, known as “diploma” in the US. Still, many did not give much attention to this case until September 19 when the US court ordered CSU to release the academic records in time for Atiku’s appeal at the Supreme Court. It was

Atiku

at this stage that the internet caught fire as interest ballooned.

What did Atiku want to prove by demanding all these records? From all that I have read so far, I would summarise his intentions as follows: (1) to prove that the certificate Tinubu presented to INEC was forged (2) to argue that this is not the real Bola Tinubu (3) to create a moral crisis for Tinubu home and abroad. When Tinubu’s lawyers protested against the release of his records claiming it could hurt their client, even his own supporters began to panic. Many of them asked: “What is Tinubu trying to hide?” My first reaction was that his lawyers were trying to be dramatic. I had always believed Tinubu attended and graduated from CSU but that the devil is in the details.

Tinubu’s records were finally released. The CSU registrar, Caleb Westberg, made a deposition as a witness and representative of the university. He had previously sworn to an affidavit as well. If you lie under deposition, it is called “perjury” and you will have no option than to go to jail. So, it is not a joke. We all looked forward to the deposition as the final stage of the US leg in the post-election litigation. Atiku’s lawyers questioned Westberg extensively on the affidavit and the records. Westberg said so many things that, at a stage, my head was steaming from information overload. At the end of the deposition, the camps of Atiku and Tinubu both claimed to have won. It got more interesting.

I will try to summarise the testimonies as I understand them. Westberg swore to an affidavit that Tinubu graduated and was awarded a degree with honours from CSU on June 22, 1979. He said CSU awarded him a diploma and subsequently provided a certified (that is, official) copy of that diploma. He said both are “valid and authentic” diplomas from the university. He said there are differences in font, seal and signatories on the diplomas because many things had changed over the decades from 1979, when Tinubu graduated, to the 1990s, when he got a replacement. He said the discrepancies in the dates on the documents were possibly human since they were entered manually.

In the affidavit that accompanied the academic records, Westberg said the format of Tinubu’s replacement diploma dated June 27, 1997 matches the format of diplomas produced in the 1990s and 2000s. From the deposition, it appears there are two different CSU diplomas. There is the CSU diploma issued in 1979 when Tinubu graduated and there is the replacement dated 1997. Meanwhile, a diploma was released to Mike Enahoro-Ebah, an Atiku supporter, based on a court order. It is either Enahoro-Ebah was given the original 1979 version (which Tinubu presumably did not pick up then) or Enahoro-Ebah was given a replacement Tinubu ordered and didn’t pick up.

The one presented to INEC by Tinubu was dated 1997. The date was declared an error by the university. Michael Hayes, who also testified for CSU, took personal responsibility for the error and said he meant to type 1979, not 1997. I recall that in my journalism school days when typewriters were a thing, we called this “error of transposition” — when you mistakenly hit the second key before the first, meaning “9” would come before “7” in 79. It appears that the certificate Tinubu presented to INEC was another version entirely — produced in the 1990s or 2000s. Westberg, in his deposition, said he did not see what was presented to INEC and could, therefore, not comment on it.

So, why did the university certify the documents? He said the university does not usually certify documents but this was at the insistence of Tinubu’s lawyer. “It seems to be a Nigerian thing,” he said. (By the time this got into social media, the registrar was reported to have said: “Forgery is a Nigerian thing.”) Westberg also addressed why they had copies of diplomas for 1979 but didn’t have one for Tinubu. He said some students don’t pick up their diplomas — tying it back to the fact that it is the transcripts, not the diplomas, that really matter in the US. It is copies of unclaimed diplomas that he released to Atiku’s lawyers with the names of the students redacted for privacy reasons.

What else? Westberg said Tinubu attended Southwest College (now known as Richard Daley College), a feeder school for CSU. He said the Tinubu that attended Southwest College and transferred to CSU had the same social security number (like the NIN in Nigeria), and that it is the same person that is now president of Nigeria. On why the gender of the student that attended Southwest was written as “F” (female), he said it was possibly a clerical error as he himself did not know whether Bola Tinubu is the name of a male or female. But he pointed out that Tinubu filled “male” in his application form and was addressed as “Mr” in the letter offering him admission.

Overall, I think Atiku’s team conclusively proved at the deposition that the diploma presented to INEC by Tinubu was not the one issued in 1979 — as Enahoro-Ebah had obviously collected it or whatever version was in the file. And I think this is why Atiku’s supporters believe they won the tug-of-war. On the other hand, what Tinubu presented to INEC was not the 1979 diploma but a replacement. Westberg did not answer questions on the “INEC diploma” on the ground that it is not in the school’s possession. But he said Tinubu indeed applied for a replacement and if a 1979 diploma was to be replaced, there would be changes in format, font, seal and signatories as seen in the “INEC diploma”.

All eyes are now on the Supreme Court. Atiku’s lawyers will hope to use the academic records and the deposition to make a compelling case against Tinubu. There are still obstacles. One, they have to convince the court that a new evidence can be filed at this stage. If the Supreme Court exercises discretion and decides to allow new evidence, that will be a major hurdle scaled. The next hurdle will be the evidential weight the court attaches to it and if it is convinced beyond reasonable doubt that Tinubu actually committed forgery. These are the matters to be pursued and argued by the lawyers before the court. I can’t wait for all this to be over so we can face the core business of governance.

Whatever the case may be, this is a fight to the finish. No retreat, no surrender. I am, however, astonished at how Atiku has overtaken Peter Obi, the LP candidate, in the election petition race. Obidients had clearly dominated the airwaves in claiming Obi won the election and that Tinubu stole his mandate. Atiku, who officially came second, was always playing catch-up. But with a single burst of pace in September, Atiku has — like a seasoned marathoner — surged to the front in the race to upstage Tinubu. All the Obidients that I know are now rooting for Atiku. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Remember: there are no permanent friends or foes in politics. Just permanent interests.

And Four Other Things…

ONE CHANCE

The death of Greatness Olorunfemi appears to be attracting needed attention to the notorious “one chance” robbers. They usually lure their victims into a bus claiming only one seat was left, whereas other occupants are criminals. They would rob the victims and dump them in the middle of nowhere. In Olorunfemi’s case, she was pushed out on a highway and was fatally injured. Social media claims that she was denied treatment at a general hospital are being disputed. I am hoping that this tragic incident will make the authorities pay more attention to passenger safety and emergency medical care on highways. I feel so sad. I sympathise with Olorunfemi’s friends and family. Heartbreaking.

BAD VIBES

Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, the rap artiste known as Mohbad, reportedly died from an injection administered by an unqualified nurse. There are documented cases of nurses (qualified and unqualified) and chemists prescribing medication — something that is clearly above their paygrade. Some ailments go from bad to worse in the process. It is an open secret. It is also an open secret that Mohbad had been complaining about being bullied by Naira Marley, the CEO of Marlian Records, his former label. Bullying is one thing we are yet to understand in Nigeria. It can cause serious mental health issues. It can kill. Mohbad’s cheap death offers us much to chew on in this country. Pathetic.

ALL-PURPOSE DSS

Am I the only one noticing that the Department of State Services (DSS), alternatively known as the secret police, has been involved in investigating virtually everything? Not sure how it started, but I remember when they raided the homes of judges some years back looking for evidence of bribery and corruption. Today, if there is allegation of rape, they are involved. If it is CBN, they are there. If it is local government chairman asking a governor to account for allocations, they are in the mix. Some of these things may be legally justifiable, but in a country facing serious internal security threats from terrorists and bandits, extending the DSS mandate so far and wide may hurt us badly. Distraction.

AND FINALLY…

My attention has been drawn to a tantalising rumour on social media that I have been paid N500 million to support President Tinubu in his fight with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. I would have ignored the exciting gossip if not that more people are now making heavy financial demands on me, including those asking me to buy private jets for them. Up till now, I have not seen any Ghana Must Go or received one kobo. Could it be that it is another Simon Kolawole and that fella decided to eat alone? Is it fair to all concerned? Using social media mathematical formula, I can give N1 million each to 200 million Nigerians from the N500 million and still have N300 million left. Yes, let’s all be mad. Clowns.

“Using regulations as a way to silence independent journalism is completely unacceptable. The media in Nigeria should be free to exercise their right to freedom of expression as protected by international law” – Amnesty International (AI) criticising the federal government for using regulations to suppress press freedom.