SUNDAY 28TH NOVEMMBER 2021

CBN Set to Establish Int'l Financial Centre at Eko Atlantic City Targets pool of global funds

Nume Ekeghe The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, has disclosed plans by the apex bank to set up an International Financial Centre at the Eko Atlantic City

in Lagos to be operational in the second quarter of 2022.

Emefiele explained that the facility is expected to serve as a hub for attracting domestic and external capital which is much-needed to strengthen the Nigerian economy post-

COVID-19.

The CBN governor stated this in a keynote address he delivered at the 56th Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) annual dinner held in Lagos at the weekend.

“The International Finance

Centre when fully operational in the 2nd quarter of 2022, will help to position Nigeria as a key destination for investment in Africa,” Emefiele added.

The CBN governor noted that a key challenge to supporting growth in key sectors of the

economy was access to large pools of cheap investment capital, adding that over $100 trillion was being held by institutional investors in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries.

According to him, most of the funds were invested in low-yielding assets relative to high-yielding opportunities in Nigeria.

Continued on page 8

Again, Police, PSC Set to Clash over Recruitment of 10,000 Constables... Page 5 Sunday 28 November, 2021 Vol 26. No 9729

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In a Tribute to De Klerk, Gusau Highlights Nigeria’s Role to End Apartheid Regime Says Thatcher asked Nigeria to ascertain S’African leader’s commitment to majority rule Ejiofor Alike A former National Security Adviser (NSA), Lieutenant

General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau (rtd), has highlighted Nigeria’s role to end the apartheid regime in South

Africa.

In a tribute to the former President of South Africa, the late Frederik Willem de

Klerk, which was obtained by THISDAY, Gusau disclosed that the then British Prime Minister, Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, had

specifically asked the former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida to ascertain the commitment of De Klerk

to majority rule.

De Klerk, who was the last Continued on page 5

New COVID-19 Strain: Concerns Mount over Planned Visit of Ramaphosa to Nigeria 27 EU countries, US, six others ban flights from Southern African countries Ejiofor Alike Following the outbreak of a new strain of COVID-19 in South Africa and the travel restrictions imposed on Southern African

countries by several countries, concerns have been raised over the proposed visit of the South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, to Nigeria.

Barring any last-minute

change, President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to receive Ramaphosa and other top government functionaries of his administration, who are scheduled to undertake a three-

day visit to Nigeria between November 29 and December 1.

South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases had revealed that there were 22 positive cases

linked to the new strain of COVID-19, adding that the percentage testing positive was “increasing quickly”.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) had

declared the strain identified as B.1.1.529 as a “variant of concern” and named it “Omicron.”

Continued on page 66

CONDOLENCE VISIT… L-R: Children of the deceased, Mrs. Somto Akunyili-Asuzu; Ms. Ijeoma Akunyili; Mr. Obumneme Akunyili; former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi; deceased's daughter in-law, Mrs. Ogochukwu Aguluka-Akunyili; daughter of the deceased, Mrs Njideka Akunyili-Crosby; and deceased's daughter in-law, Mrs. Ogochukwu Madueke-Akunyili; when the former governor paid the family condolence visit a day after the burial of their father, Dr. Chike John Akunyili, at their residence in Agulu, Anambra State...weekend

Abdulsalami: Africa Must Stop Using Force to Maintain Peace...

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ECONOMY ON THEIR MINDS… L-R: Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello; President of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Mr. Bayo Olugbemi; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele; Group Managing Director, Access Bank, Mr. Herbert Wigwe; and Group Managing Director, Wema Bank, Mr. Ademola Adebise, at the 56th Annual Bankers' dinner in Lagos…weekend

Again, Police, PSC Set to Clash over Recruitment of 10,000 Constables PSC vows to resist attempt to hijack its mandate Force yet to approach S’Court after losing at A’Court Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The last has not been heard of the tussle between the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Nigerian Police over the recruitment of 10,000 police constables, as both organisations are planning separate exercises for 2021.

The PSC, had on Wednesday, in Abuja, disclosed that as soon as the 2020 recruitment exercise for which the aptitude test was conducted last week, was concluded, the commission would begin the 2021 exercise.

But the Inspector General of Police (IG), Usman Alkali Baba, at the weekend called for applications from suitably qualified applicants for the 2021 recruitment exercise.

President Muhammadu Buhari had in 2018 given approval for the recruitment of 60,000 police constables for six years.

The 2020 recruitment exercise, however, ran into troubled waters when the police insisted that it had the mandate to recruit constables.

But the PSC had stood its ground, also insisting that it was constitutionally empowered to conduct recruitment for the police.

The exercise soon became a subject of litigation with the police under the former Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, winning the first round at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The ruling of the high court was later set aside by the Court of Appeal which declared that the Police Service Commission was constitutionally empowered to conduct recruitment of police constables.

While the police authorities had given the impression that they would challenge the judgment at the Supreme Court, they were yet to approach the apex court.

On resumption of duties as the new police chief, Alkali Baba had visited the PSC, and in the spirit of reconciliation, called on the PSC to resume its duties giving the impression that the litigation saga was over.

The two agencies later held a one-day retreat at the Force Headquarters on the way forward.

But at a briefing in Abuja,

Chairman of the PSC, Mr. Musiliu Smith, a retired Inspector-General of Police, stated that as soon as the 2020 exercise which was delayed by the litigations, was concluded,

the commission would embark on the recruitment of another 10,000 for 2021 and subsequently kick-start the 2022 edition in fulfillment of the presidential directive for the recruitment of

60,000 police constables.

He said the position of the commission became necessary following repeated calls and inquiries from Nigerians on whether the commission was

part of the process of the ongoing completion of the 2020 recruitment exercise.

He said aptitude tests for shortlisted applicants from the earlier suspended 2020

recruitment were held on Friday, October 29, and Saturday, October 30, 2021, across the 36 states of the federation and the Continued on page 67

IN A TRIBUTE TO DE KLERK, GUSAU HIGHLIGHTS NIGERIA’S ROLE TO END APARTHEID REGIME minority president of South Africa, later became the late President Nelson Mandela’s deputy under the majority rule.

Gusau stated that Thatcher had in 1989 visited Nigeria twice within one week where he told Babangida that de Klerk was working to bring an end to minority rule in South Africa.

According to the former NSA, Thatcher also sought the help of Nigeria to ascertain the level of de Klerk’s commitment and also strengthen de Klerk’s efforts.

Gusau noted that while Babangida believed that Thatcher was an honest broker on the issue, the former military leader had doubts as to whether de Klerk meant business or that he would get the support of the white establishment in South Africa The former NSA described the late former president of South African as a towering figure who was determined to right historical wrongs without minding the consequences.

Gusau said Nigeria’s strategic role to end apartheid started on March 28, 1989, when, on her way to South Africa, the then British Prime Minister, Mrs. Margaret Thatcher decided to do a stop-over in Lagos to see Babangida.

The former NSA quoted Thatcher as telling journalists at the airport that she was very “happy to accept President Babangida's invitation to stop over in Lagos to have talks with him.

“I do this because I have great admiration for the leadership he is giving here and for the courageous way in which he is tackling the economic problems of the country,” she had added.

Thatcher had also disclosed that since she and Babangida would be attending the Commonwealth Conference CHOGM scheduled to hold in Malaysia in October of that year, her visit was an opportunity to chat with the Nigerian leader ahead of the conference.

Gusau said the former British

Prime Minister also took a few questions after her brief remarks, which were all centred around the situation in South Africa and the role of Britain at the time.

“While she was evasive in her responses, Mrs. Thatcher alluded to a meeting between Soviet and British academics and the ANC ‘in which they urged that the problems of South Africa be solved not by confrontation, not by violence, but by negotiation. That is our objective too.’ By her return itinerary, Mrs. Thatcher was to do a brief stop-over in Accra, to see President Jerry Rawlings of Ghana, before heading for London. But she again routed her flight from South Africa through Lagos where she met President Babangida for a second time within a week,” Gusau explained.

Gusau stated that Babangida later invited him for a briefing after Thatcher’s visits and saddled him with what he (Gusau) described as a delicate assignment.

Revealing what transpired between him and Babangida, the former NSA stated that the former military president informed him that Thatcher had told him (Babangida) in their two meetings that de Klerk was working to bring an end to minority rule in South Africa.

Gusau also disclosed that Babangida told him that the former British leader sought the help of Nigeria to ascertain the level de Klerk’s commitment and also see how Nigeria could strengthen de Klerk’s efforts.

“While President Babangida said he believed Mrs. Thatcher as an honest broker on the issue, he had doubts as to whether President de Klerk meant business or that he would get the support of the white establishment in South Africa on such idea. The assignment President Babangida then gave me was to ascertain how serious President de Klerk was on ending apartheid in South Africa as well as what

Nigeria could do to help that process,” Gusau said.

The former NSA also disclosed that after Babangida had given him a list of contacts within the South African government, including close aides of President de Klerk, he decided to co-opt his Chief of Staff, Colonel Kayode Are into the assignment given to him by the former military ruler.

“Colonel Are was not only my chief of staff at the time but also a close friend whose opinion I deeply valued. The two of us embarked on this extraordinary mission with no time to spare. We first met with the then Director-General of South Africa’s National Intelligence Service (NIS), Dr. Niel Barnard, in London on 15th January 1990. That marked the beginning of a long and enduring partnership between our two institutions, and I visited South Africa several times thereafter to discuss the way forward. I also had direct sessions with President de Klerk who, in our first meeting, made it clear that he wanted to be the last minority president. I was a bit skeptical about that even though he sounded genuine,” Gusau explained.

“On 2nd February 1990, while we were still working underground with their security officials, President de Klerk took the world by surprise. In his address at the opening session of parliament, he announced the end of segregation of public facilities in South Africa, recognised the African National Congress (ANC) as a legitimate political party, and set a date for the release of Mr. Nelson Mandela from prison after 27 years of incarceration. Not surprisingly, as de Klerk made his speech, there were shouts of ‘traitor’ from several MPs within his own Conservative Party, who staged a dramatic walk-out. One of them, Koos van der Merwe later addressed the media where he described de Klerk as a traitor to his people’

because, by the declaration, the then South African president was “trying to kill the Afrikaner nation,” Gusau added.

Gusau said de Klerk’s historic speech had led to far-reaching political reforms and had also marked the beginning of the end of the apartheid regime in South Africa.

He said he visited de Klerk four weeks later in Cape Town with a letter from Babangida, adding that the culmination of their discussion was a meeting between both presidents in Windhoek on March 31, 1990, at the sidelines of Namibia’s Independence Day celebration.

“Much more significantly, however, five senior Nigerian journalists were in Namibia for the event. When I sounded them out about whether they would like to visit South Africa, they were excited.

I discussed the idea with South African officials, and it was agreed that they could undertake a visit. A vehicle was provided for the long journey that took almost 20 hours from Windhoek to Johannesburg. The reports filed by these top journalists when they returned to Nigeria validated most of what Colonel Are and I had witnessed which confirmed that De Klerk was moving in the direction of majority rule,” Gusau said.

Gusau noted that at some point, he discovered that while Nigeria’s engagements with South African officials were cordial and fruitful, it was also necessary to brief the leader of Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Chief Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi.

He said he had received the feedback from reliable South African contacts that Buthelezi was aware of Nigerian mediation, stressing that as a critical factor in the country, Buthelezi needed to be carried along.

“President Babangida wrote him a letter. Having welcomed the idea, the South African

Government provided the plane that took me to Ulundi, capital of Zulu Kingdom where Chief Buthelezi was happy to receive me. He called his entire cabinet before reading President Babangida's letter.

There and then he asked the Cabinet Secretary to draft a reply. I then drove with him to the statute of their ancestral warrior, Shaka Zulu where we took photographs before I flew back to Johannesburg,” Gusau explained.

Gusau said although he and Colonel Are worked underground in their engagements with the South African government, some of their colleagues within the continent alleged that highranking Nigerian officials were collaborating with the apartheid regime, adding that a few African leaders were uncomfortable with the information.

He, however, stated that the problem was left for Babangida to handle with his colleagues.

“In April 1992, President de Klerk undertook a threeday State Visit to Nigeria at the invitation of President Babangida. The visit was the first by a South African head of state to our country, and President Babangida—who was at that period chairman of the Organisation of African Unity (now African Union)—signaled to the continent and the rest of the world that Nigeria supported President De Klerk in his efforts. This certainly was the key to South Africa’s acceptance by the rest of the continent.

“Following President de Klerk’s death on 11th November this year, his office issued a prerecorded posthumous video where he tendered an apology for “the pain and the hurt and the indignity and the damage that apartheid has done to black, brown and Indians in South Africa.” I believe he genuinely meant what he said.

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PROJECT INAUGURATION… L-R: Chairman, Ekiti State Traditional Council/Onisan of Isan Ekiti, Chief Gabriel Ayodele Adejuwon; Kebbi State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; and Jigawa State Governor, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, during the inauguration of the Ijan-Igbemo-Ilupeju Ekiti Road…weekend

House Passes Bill Seeking to Regulate Broadcast Practice Udora Orizu in Abuja The House of Representatives has passed for second reading a Bill seeking to regulate the practice of the broadcasting profession in Nigeria.

The proposed legislation titled, ‘A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Regulation and Conduct of the Practice of Broadcasting Profession in Nigeria and for Related Matters (HB.1150),’ is sponsored by Hon. Olaifa Jimoh Aremu.

Aremu who presented

the Bill for second reading at the plenary on Thursday, said it seeks to establish a regulatory authority to regulate broadcasting in Nigeria, set required academic qualifications and ethical standards for broadcasters, broadcast journalists or broadcasting practitioners.

He also said it the Bill proposes that a person shall be qualified to practice as a broadcaster or be identified as a broadcaster only if such person has acquired or attained the

prescribed academic or standard of training set by the council and such person has been so certified and registered to practice as a broadcaster by the council.

On qualification to practice as a broadcaster, he explained that one can also be qualified if prior to the commencement of the Act, such person has acquired requisite practical knowledge, training or experience in a recognised academic institution or broadcasting station or organisation, which shall entitle

the council upon verification, to certify him or her as a broadcaster and register him to continue to practise as such.

According to him, "there shall be established a body to be known as the Broadcasting Practitioners Council (in this Act called ‘the Council’) which shall comprise of broadcasting practitioners of the highest distinction in the broadcasting profession in Nigeria. The council shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal.

The council shall be charged with the responsibility and performance of the following general duties.

"Formal admission, certification and registration of persons seeking to become broadcasting practitioners.

Formal admission, conferment of recognition or certification on deserving persons who have been trained or have been practicing or working as broadcasting practitioners prior to the commencement of this Act. Prescribing, determining

and setting the standard of knowledge and skills to be attained by persons seeking to become members of the broadcasting profession and reviewing those standards from time to time. Regulating and controlling the conduct of the practice of broadcasting profession."

The Bill was voted on, approved for second reading and referred to the House Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values

deficit, which is the estimated amount required to build an efficient infrastructure ecosystem in Nigeria, the Central Bank of Nigeria working in partnership with critical stakeholders such as the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and African Finance Corporation (AFC) set up Infracorp. Infracorp is expected to raise over N15 trillion to support investment in critical infrastructure in Nigeria.

“So far, N1 trillion has been provided as seed funds by the promoters to support the operations of Infracorp. We recently appointed four fund managers, and a Management Team has been selected to run and manage Infracorp.

“Over the next two months, Infracorp will kick off its operations by targeting strategic infrastructure projects that would help catalyse further growth of our economy. Infracorp is expected to set the standard template that will help in enabling greater private sector funding for public infrastructure projects in Nigeria.”

On the outlook for 2022, Emefiele revealed that CBN’s in-house model, after an exhaustive simulation with various oil price possibilities and numerous scenarios of other macroeconomic metrics, indicates a continued and strong rebound of the domestic economy.

He said the near-term outlook of the Nigerian economy was brightening significantly, with improvements projected into the short- and the medium-term.

He projected that the real GDP growth rate would remain robust and strengthen within the short

term.

“Output growth rate is projected to remain positive from 4.03 per cent in 2021q3 to nearly 2.91 per cent in 2021 fourth quarter, implying a total growth of about 3.10 percent for 2021. The short-term projection indicates a continued strengthening of the growth rate.

“Deliberate structural policies and reforms are needed to raise this projected trend higher towards the desired five per cent average growth level.

“Output growth rate for the Nigerian economy is broadly estimated by key institutions to consolidate in 2021. The IMF and the World Bank project real growth rates of 2.6 per cent and 2.4 per cent, respectively while the estimate by the Federal Ministry of Finance and National planning stands at 3.0 per cent.

“Generally, the real GDP growth rate is projected to remain robust and strengthen within the short-term, regardless of the immanent vulnerabilities. With this continued strengthening, real GDP could recover beyond the pre-pandemic levels by the first quarter of 2022. Further simulations of the mediumterm projections suggest that Nigeria’s real GDP could surpass pre-COVID trends by 2024.

“The business environment remains optimistic given the sustained policy interventions in the economy. The overall business confidence index is projected to rise significantly from -9.2 index points as at end-August to over 37.7 index points in November 2021 and surpass 57.6 index points by mid-2022,” he added.

CBN SET TO ESTABLISH INT'L FINANCIAL CENTRE AT EKO ATLANTIC CITY Furthermore, Emefiele noted that although uncertainties remained around the mutating Delta virus, prospects of a broadbased economic recovery in Nigeria were bright as efforts were being made to improve access to vaccines for Nigerians, in addition to measures aimed at implementing safety protocols to curb the spread of the virus.

He, however, pointed out that “our economic growth remains fragile, as our unemployment and inflation rate remains at levels that are not very supportive of growth. Second, continued implementation of our intervention efforts would need to be undertaken to sustain the recovery efforts and stimulate further growth of the economy.

“Third, given population growth at about 2.7 per cent annually, it is important that we continue to deploy measures that will enable our economy to attain annual growth rates of over five per cent.

“Through the pandemic, we are aware that our policy responses are often more effective when we work with the private sector. For example, the CACOVID alliance played an instrumental role in reducing the negative effects of the pandemic, by providing palliative support to families affected by the virus and in rebuilding our healthcare institutions.

“Leveraging the strength of the private sector will be critical in mobilising funds that are needed toward building a more resilient and stronger economy. We intend to strengthen collaborations with the private sector to support investments in critical sectors

such as infrastructure, and ICT, in addition to ongoing efforts to build a stronger agriculture and manufacturing base in Nigeria.

“As a result, all efforts in 2022 must be made to ensure that we maintain our focus on improving access to finance and credit for households and businesses, mobilising investment to boost domestic productivity, enabling faster growth of non-oil exports, and supporting employment generating activities,” he explained.

Commenting on the recently introduced 100 for 100 policy on production and productivity, he reiterated that the programme targets credit of up to N5 billion to be provided to 100 firms every 100 days, provided that the firms are investing in projects that are Greenfield projects.

Secondly, projects would be assessed on their ability to generate significant employment opportunities in critical sectors of the economy, he added.

Thirdly on the 100 for 100 policy, he pointed out that eligible firms must show evidence of their efforts to harness available local raw materials towards the realisation of their intended investment.

Emefiele also said efforts would be made to support firms geared towards producing goods for the export market.

“Let me add that routine audits will be conducted on firms that receive funding, to ensure that they are complying with the terms of the program.

We believe this program will significantly help to catalyse growth in critical sectors of our economy while aiding our

efforts to create employment opportunities and reduce our dependence on imported goods.

“A key focus of the Central Bank of Nigeria under my leadership has been enabling the build-out of a robust payment system in Nigeria that will provide cheap, efficient, and faster means of conducting payments for most Nigerians.

“With the growing pace of digitisation globally, it is essential that we leverage digital channels in fulfilling this objective. Total transaction volumes using digital channels more than doubled between 2018 and 2020, as volumes rose from 1.3 billion to over 3.3 billion financial transactions in 2020.

“Digital payment channels also help to support continued conduct of business activities during the lockdown. Our robust payment system has continued to evolve towards meeting the needs of households and businesses in Nigeria.

Reflective of the confidence in our payment system, between 2015 and September 2021, about $900 million has been invested in firms run by Nigerian founders.

“Notwithstanding these gains, close to 36 per cent of adult Nigerians do not have access to financial services. Improving access to finance for individuals and businesses through digital channels can help to improve financial inclusion, lower the cost of transactions, and increase the flow of credit to households and businesses.

“It is in this vein that the Central Bank of Nigeria recently deployed the first central bank digital currency in Africa, the

e-Naira, which would help in attaining our goals of fostering greater inclusion using digital channels, supporting cross border payments for businesses and firms, and providing a reliable channel for remittance inflows into the country.

“The e-Naira will ensure that Nigerians in remote areas can conduct financial activities using their digital devices at little or no cost. It will also help to strengthen the effectiveness of government intervention programs, as funds provided will get to the intended beneficiaries. In less than four weeks since its launch, almost 600,000 downloads of the e-naira application have taken place.”

He added: “Efforts are ongoing to encourage faster adoption of the e-naira by Nigerians who do not have smartphones. The support of the financial industry will be critical in the ongoing deployment of the e-naira and efforts are ongoing to encourage continued partnership between the CBN and stakeholders in the financial industry.

“With the decline in revenues due to federal and state government as a result of reduced receipts from the sale of crude oil, alternative ways of funding infrastructure are critical if we are to ensure sustained growth of our economy. As we are all aware, the cost of logistics is often seen as a significant impediment to the growth of businesses in the country.

“In recognition of the role improved infrastructure could play in the development of our economy, along with the need to leverage private sector capital in funding the over N35 trillion

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EDITORIAL

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

SUBSIDY REMOVAL AND THE N5000 PROPOSAL The deregulation of the downstream oil sector has become inevitable. But the palliatives to cushion the impact must be well thought-out

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he federal government will most likely remove its long-standing fuel subsidy in the coming year. It is a decision that has been forced out of its hands. The various levels of Nigeria’s burgeoning bureaucracies are in a desperate bind on how to find the cash to meet recurrent obligations. In almost all states of the federation, primary school teachers in public schools as well as health workers and pensioners have gone for months without payment. The fear that the machinery of government at all levels could grind to a halt if the cash cannot be found quickly is growing by the day.

The slump in oil prices arising from Covid-19 coupled The subsidy with a general removal project disruption in economic and its implicit activities economic and has put severe social dislocations pressure on require more serious government revenues.

Nigeria is homework on the not alone part of government in this.

Governthan the current ments around the world have found usual knee-jerk creative ways of addressing these model dislocations through sound economic policies. But as things stand in Nigeria today, the last remaining cash cow is the massive subsidy on petroleum products. The optimistic projection is that its removal will enable the downstream sector of the oil industry operate more competitively and eventually manage the price regime to the advantage of the consumer. While that outcome remains speculative, the public is gripped by fear of the economic consequences of subsidy removal.

Predictably, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and its affiliates have threatened a showdown with government as they often do. But the greater fear would seem to be a spontaneous eruption of social unrest in a country where increasing poverty and inequality has aggravated a raging insecurity. A pent-up tension has lately given rise to more insecurity characterised by prison breaches and sustained banditry.

Letters to the Editor

Perhaps in anticipation of the social and economic consequences of subsidy removal, the federal government has put out a strange proposal. It is planning to pay a monthly subsistence allowance of N5,000 each to about 40 million poorest Nigerians.

It is not clear yet how these figures were arrived at. By a simple arithmetic, it seems that the money to be paid out as subsistence allowance is arguably higher than the net receipt from the subsidy removal.

What then is the rationale for the subsidy removal?

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S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR DAVIDSON IRIEKPEN DEPUTY EDITORS FESTUS AKANBI, EJIOFOR ALIKE MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

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

o put it mildly, the proposal to pay out N5,000 to 40 million poorest Nigerians requires better homework. For a government that spends a frightening 98% of its revenues on debt servicing, the numbers simply do not add up. Besides, there are already considerable concerns about the transparency of many of the social alleviation schemes under the current administration. These include the School Feeding Programme, the 774,000 Special Public Works Programme, the Trader Moni, the Covid-19 Palliative fund. etc. The relevant agencies have remained rather opaque about the parameters, modes of payment, and beneficiaries of these programmes.

With these unresolved gaps around social alleviation schemes, there is a real fear that an arbitrary decision to dole out cash to such a large population of Nigerians without adequate statistical preparations and accountability parameters could lead to massive corruption. It is even more curious that there is no plan for any such money in the 2022 appropriation bill before the National Assembly.

Overall, the subsidy removal project and its implicit economic and social dislocations require more serious homework on the part of government than the current usual knee-jerk model. So far, we do not have an update on the progress with fixing the refineries even after the approval of billions of dollars for their repairs and rehabilitations.

The position of THISDAY is clear. From inception more than 26 years ago, we have been consistent in highlighting the fact that subsidy in the downstream sector of the petroleum sector is a by-word for waste and corruption.

So, we wholeheartedly endorse any attempt to remove it. But a major economic decision with implications for the social wellbeing of most Nigerians should not be handled with levity.

Creating another slush fund for some people to mismanage in the name of subsidy removal is not the way to go.

TO OUR READERS 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.

NIGERIA AND THE WIDENING GULF OF INEQUALITY

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or long now, Nigerians have known true poverty.

With the swell in the ranks of those for whom poverty has become a companion has come the evisceration of Nigeria`s middle class. With their disappearance, what now obtains is the top rungs, and then the bottom rungs of Nigeria`s feeble wealth ladder. The middle rungs have since disappeared leaving a steep disconnect in the country.

Inequality in Nigeria has been around for as long as the country has existed. At once, it is both economic and political with many Nigerians sidelined, economically, as well as politically.

For the discerning, it was in 1914 that the dice was cast for the dire straits Nigeria is currently mired in. It was in that year that Lord Lugard, ill-advisedly lumped

the southern and northern protectorates together to birth Nigeria. With the benefit of hindsight, if that birth had turned out to be a still-birth it would not have been such a disaster after all.

But, no. Because the British, ignoring their own difficulties back home, the hideous avarice of the 1886 Berlin Conference, and the uncertainty of the future, preferred the convenience of short sightedness, two diametrically opposed protectorates, bearing strikingly little in common, were forced into a marriage of convenience that was doomed from the beginning. Today, it has birthed a problem child – an extremely irritable one at that.

The sulking was no secret. It has continued in spite of the fact that oil came to quench the thirst of a struggling country. Once the British handed over power in

1960, the cracks of the marriage, long papered over by oil and a feigned decorum at the presence of strangers, widened uncontrollably.

Inane and infantile power struggles stoked by ethnic suspicion were soon to convulse a newly independent country. Like hyenas in heat, Nigerian soldiers, showing masterful opportunism, were to abandon their barracks, move in and take turns in ruling the country, doing incalculable damage in the process. It was not long before the Nigerian Civil War ensued in 1967, tearing apart what little stability a thoroughly troubled marriage had found.

Things have never been the same since then. With howls of secession, rising from sections of the country, and drawing reply howls from other sections, things

appear, at this point, irreparable. is a kind of living death. This is even In today`s Nigeria, a severe power without taking into consideration the imbalance is worsened by savage corspectacularly obnoxious capacity of ruption. Two major political parties, public officers to abuse power for their the ruling All Progressives Congress personal gain. and the opposition Peoples Democratic So, for many of Nigeria`s poor and Party hold sway, determining who unequal – and they are many – the occupies what office. In that time, some striking Orwellian observation of some parts of the country have been ignored animals being more equal than others by the parties in their twisted power rings true, trapping entire generations sharing arrangements while aging in intergenerational cycles of poverty. politicians with embarrassingly little to Then, with poverty and inequality show are recycled with glee. come jarring realities: law enforcement Corruption has ensured that kowtows to wealth and power; so, economic opportunities are severely does education; so, does healthcare; so, limited. The little that is available do employment opportunities. Even is used as stakes in Nigeria`s insecurity. Even the crumbs falling egregiously exclusionary economics from the children`s table are denied the of corruption. The vulnerable hideously emaciated dogs of Nigeria`s underserved have especially felt the inequality. strangulation of man-made poverty.

––Kene Obiezu, keneobiezu@ Because unemployment is rife and gmail.com education poor, because infrastructure is poor and social security Read the full article online - www.thisdaylive.com practically non-existent, being poor

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 28, 2021

OPINION

JONATHAN AND THE 2023 PRESIDENCY Why the north wants former President Jonathan to run, writes Harrison Odoh

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ince the governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held a private meeting with former President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja sometime in November 2020, tongues have been wagging that the visit was the plot of the northern political elites to woo him to contest for the presidential seat during the forthcoming 2023 general election.

The governors were led on the visit by Yobe State governor and Acting National Chairman of the APC, Mai Mala Buni.

Those on the visit include Ebonyi State governor, David Umahi, who dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and defected to the APC; Atiku Bagudu, governor of Kebbi and Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum; and Abubakar Badaru, governor of Jigawa State. Former presidential liaison officer to the National Assembly, Kashim IbrahimImam also made the team.

Although the purpose of the visit was not clear, it is not unconnected with the “2023” permutations which is already taking shape. Coincidentally, Jonathan hosted the duo of Badaru and Bagudu at his Otuoke residence in Bayelsa in 2019.

In a show of solidarity and also in the bid to woo former President Jonathan to contest again in the 2023 general election, the Northern Governors Forum (NGF) sent him warm felicitations on his birthday which took place within the period.

In a statement, Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong said the former president has continued to serve the country with zeal and commitment.

He described Jonathan as a true democrat whose “passion for the growth of democracy is reflected not only in his records while in office but also of his current engagements where he has travelled round the world to monitor elections and also engage with stakeholders”.

Lalong also saluted the former president’s patriotism and dedication to the unity, peace and development of Nigeria as well as offering counsel on various issues and asked him to

remain focused on his life of service that has brought honour and goodwill to Nigeria. President Muhammadu Buhari also felicitated with Jonathan, saying he has brought honour to Nigeria.

Apparently reacting to statements that the plan of the northern political elites is to lure him into contesting for president again, the APC declared that former President Jonathan will be allowed to contest for presidency in 2023 if he joins the party.

National Secretary of the party’s National Caretaker Committee, John Akpanudoedehe who made the declaration said the former president would “strengthen the party” if he joined. He said Jonathan will be given the opportunity to contest for the office of the president in 2023 under the auspices of the party, just like any other individual who is interested to run for office. “I am hearing that for the first time that we are expecting the former President. That will be great news. We will welcome him.

“The last National Executive Council (NEC) of the party actually gave blanket approval to any individual that if you join APC today, it is as if you are a founding member of the party. So, anyone who joins today has the same opportunity to run for any office in this party. It has always been so, so I am not speculating”, the National Caretaker Committee Secretary said.

All these moves by the APC are to have Jonathan run in 2023 on the platform of the APC with the permutation that it will, among other things, satisfy the increasing clamour for power shift to the South.

Buhari’s close loyalists believe that Jonathan would be harmless to their group interest and as such the right person

Buhari’s close loyalists believe that Jonathan would be harmless to their group interest and as such the right person to take over if power shifts to the South

to take over if power shifts to the South. “He handed over power peacefully and nursed no bitterness against anyone and therefore will not be a threat to the interest of the north”, a source said.

From which angle one looks at the moves, the attraction to Jonathan’s possible candidacy from Buhari’s camp is that he will serve just one term of four years and a large number of influential northern leaders of thought are favourably disposed to the idea of Jonathan’s second coming.

In July, campaign posters littered the streets of the country bearing the caption #JonathanMalami2023 and the images of Jonathan and the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami. The posters had the logo of the APC, further fuelling speculations that the ruling party leaders were determined to convince Jonathan to run for president.

The posters suggested that Jonathan and Malami would present a joint bid for the APC ticket for the 2023 presidential poll.

Political analysts are of the opinion that Dr. Jonathan is being pushed by political strategists from Northern Nigeria who see him as a unifying force around which a government of national unity could be built after eight years of Muhammadu Buhari presidency.

Though President Jonathan had earlier this year denied any pressure on him to contest, very reliable sources say that the momentum for him was building up irrespective of him not speaking up at the moment. However, as things are now, the plot is now being actively sold among the Northern establishment desperate to find a comfortable ally after Buhari’s eight years.

–Odoh wrote from Abuja

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A CASE FOR FUNDING OF PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES Francis Wale Oke argues why the support offered public universities by TETFund should be extended to privately-owned tertiary institutions

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here is no way the history of private universities in Nigeria can be written without generous reference to Archbishop Benson Idahosa. The seed of faith known as Christian Faith University, for which he applied for licence to operate in 1992, which would later become the Benson Idahosa University in his honour, received approval by the National Universities Commission in 2002 to operate as a full-fledged University, being one of the first seven so licensed by the NUC. Between then and now, the private sector, including many faith-based institutions, has invested in tertiary education.

For faith-based institutions, the drive has primarily been that of fulfilling the mandate of transforming young minds towards engendering national development.

It is important to establish that the increasing involvement of the private sector involvement in university education coincided with a decline in the fortune of public university education in the country, as stakeholders lamented the deplorable state of facility, overpopulation, poor condition of service and a number of other factors that culminated in incessant strikes by workers, with universities repeatedly shut down, at a time, for almost a year, with the academic calendar continuously facing disruptions.

Twenty two years after the first set of private universities were licensed, not only has the number grown to 99, constituting half of the number of universities in Nigeria, the institutions have stepped in to fill the gap in terms of enrolment and provision of quality education for Nigerians. The quality of facilities at many of these private institutions is comparable to only the best in the world. The huge and sacrificial investment in human and material resources by the proprietors of these institutions has not only created a more conducive teaching and learning environment in these private universities, it has made for a stable and predictable academic calendar, which must, in part, be responsible for the success being recorded there.

Faith-based universities have become major drivers of economic advancement in Nigeria, with products of these institutions playing outstanding roles in different sectors of the economy. Graduates of faith-based universities have particularly distinguished themselves in financial technology solutions and entrepreneurship development. Evidence of the quality of learning and all-round development available at these institutions is found in the impact being made by Sola Akinlade and Ezra Olubi (Paystack), Babatunde Akin-Moses and Onyinye Okonji (Sycamore); Joshua Chibueze, Odin Eweniyi, Somto Ifezue (Piggyvest), among others.

There is no doubt that private universities, especially faithbased ones, have played a significant role in national transformation and development. This has not only been buttressed by reports of the accreditation exercise conducted by the NUC

with private universities doing better than their publiclyowned counterparts, recent results at the Nigerian Law School have also strengthened the argument for the quality of education in private universities, with their products emerging among the best in the bar examination.

Given the giant strides that have been made by the private universities in only two decades of operations, there is no doubt that development there offers us, as a country, an opportunity to further move in plugging identified gaps in tertiary education and leapfrog our drive towards technological advancement. That is only possible, if we will address some of the challenges being faced by these private institutions, which has to do with lack of access to long-term funding. Unlike government-owned universities who receive subventions from government, private universities’ source funding from private ventures, investors and tuition fees. Unlike in other parts of the world where the culture of endowment is firmly entrenched, with private universities benefiting from that, along with grants, while tuition fees are paid through student loans, the private universities in Nigeria are reliant on funding from the investors and/or loans obtainable at high interest rates.

Time has come for a review of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Establishment, etc.) Act of 2011, so that privately-owned tertiary institutions in Nigeria can benefit alongside their government-owned counterparts from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND). The mandate of TETFUND for the rehabilitation, restoration and consolidation of Tertiary Education in Nigeria can only be partially met and hard to fulfil if its focus continues to remain exclusively on government-owned universities while private universities which constitute 50% of the universities in Nigeria are left out, whereas the fund itself is generated through contributions by the private sector, by virtue of the 2% education tax paid from the assessable profit of companies registered in Nigeria. Greater progress can only be made in the development of tertiary education with support as offered by TETFUND extended to privately-owned tertiary institutions.

The argument that the institutions being privatelyowned cannot benefit from funding is erroneous. In the same way private sector players in banking, aviation, agriculture and other sectors have received different forms of support and funding, so should private operators in the education space, which is even a more critical sector, with foundational role in driving national development be accorded same consideration. The argument is even more strengthened by the fact that the bulk of investors in tertiary education are social entrepreneurs, whose primary interest is not profit. Indeed, the statutes that govern the establishment

of private universities already insist on being not-for-profit ventures: “The Federal Government or its Accredited agency shall ascertain and be satisfied that (C) the proposed university is registered or incorporated in Nigeria as a charitable company limited by guarantee and the proprietors or operators, owners, trustees or directors are disentitled from drawing profits from the university”.

The federal government has to take into cognisance the fact that the circumstances have considerably changed from the time when the Education Trust Fund (ETF) was established in 1993, with private universities now entrenched and significant players in the tertiary education space. With the inclusion of private universities as beneficiaries from TETFUND, the institutions, who have, over time, developed robust governance systems that make for greater accountability and transparency will be able to access funds for essential physical infrastructure for teaching and learning, institutional material and equipment; research and publications and academic staff training and development, as well as other critical needs that would help with the overall improvement and maintenance of standards, helping TETFUND fulfil the mandate for which it was established.

The executive and legislative arms of the federal government should work in concert on the amendment of the TETFUND Act for the expansion of the window to accommodate private tertiary institutions. It can only be a win-win for everyone in the tertiary education space.

Public-private sector collaboration is key, it is the way to go in driving the nation forward and achieving the objective of rapid transformation.

The African Centres of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID) instituted in 2013 by the Governments of Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Republic of Benin, Ghana, Cameroun, Togo and Senegal, with support from the World Bank, to promote regional specialisation among participating universities and address particular common regional developmental challenges as well as strengthen the capacities of the participating universities to deliver high quality training and applied research within the fields of Agriculture, Health, as well as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) is domiciled in Redeemer’s University, Ede. – Bishop Oke is National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and Chancellor, Precious Cornerstone University

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 28, 2021

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LETTERS

EMBRACING DAVIDO’S HELPING HAND “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and He will reward them for what they have done”.

Proverbs 19 verse 17 (New International Version)

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ermit me to wax religious right from the outset. The Holy Bible provides profound and inspiring admonitions, injunctions and unfailing principles on the power of giving out to the needy, by those who have the economic, material and financial resources to so do. For instance, in Deuteronomy Chapter 15 verse 11 it is unequivocally stated that: “For there will never cease to be the poor in the land; that is why I am commanding you to open wide your hand to your brother and to the poor and needy in your land.”

(New Living Translation).

That happens to be stated in the Old Testament.

In a similar vein, in the New Testament it also explains that: “You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. But you will not always have me” (Matthew 26:11 and Mark 14 verse 7). What’s more, it is clearly there in Psalm 41 verses 1 and 2 that: “Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the

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Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies”. What a great assurance!

Interestingly, it is also there in the Holy Bible, precisely in Deuteronomy 26 verse 12 that: “When you have finished tithing … you shall give them to the Levite, the stranger, the orphan, and the widow, so that they can eat to satiety in your cities”. It means therefore, that even the much sought after tithes in our churches are not meant for the self-acclaimed pastors, prophets and prosperitypreaching profiteers but for the orphans, the widows, the homeless and Levites who had no inheritance.

It is in light of the abovestated that one critically looks at the recent exhibition of the rare offering of the milk of human kindness by multiple award-winning music icon and entrepreneur, David Adeleke, aka Davido.

In what began more like a joke, he openly challenged all those who claimed to love him-including his friends and fans- to show that by donating One Million Naira each to his WEMA bank account. The reason he gave was that he needed some cash to clear his newly

acquired Rolls Royce from the ports ahead of his 29th birthday, on November 19, 2021.

Though he added that the goal was to get N100m, the singer received over N53m in cash transfers in less than one hour! And a few days later he received the unexpected N200m from fans and friends and added N50million. He donated the N250million to all orphanages across Nigeria. This is a feat.

And to disburse the money, he constituted a fiveman committee to take care of the logistics. The singer

also revealed that he intends to do such fundraising every blessed year to celebrate his birthday and give back the donation to the poor.

It all reminds one of similar acts of giving to the needy by the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson. He donated over $500 million to charity over the course of his life, even reportedly earning the title of “Most Charities Supported by a Pop Star” in the 2000 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records for supporting 39 charities.

In fact, the one act that stands out was when he

ISSUES IN COVID-19 VACCINATION ORDER

ecently, the federal government issued an order that from December 1, 2021, all federal employees must present evidence of taking Covid-19 vaccines shots or negative Covid-19 test (PCR) result—valid for only 72 hours!—as a condition for accessing their offices. In this piece, I will examine the rational and moral issues in this order.

I begin from the premise that Nigerians were told that genetically modified foods (GM foods) are safe while this is false. Nigerians have been told that the vaccine which will be injected into them is safe and will provide them immunity against Covid-19. It is based on this statement that millions of healthy Nigerians freely and confidently submitted to vaccination. More Nigerians are likely to accept the vaccines because of the orders of the federal and state government.

It is noted that just as no independent safety study was carried out on any GM food, NO independent safety and efficacy (immunisation) study has been carried out on any Covid-19 vaccine.

Therefore, the concern of Nigerians about the safety of the vaccines is rational, moral, and right.

Consequent on these, the question that must be answered is: Are the Covid-19 vaccines safe and efficacious—provide immunisation? This question demands that Covid-19 vaccines given to Nigeria must be subjected to thorough long-term animal and

clinical study by independent actual researching experts and not by the companies that produced them, their consultants, US FDA or US CDC, anyone or group of people having economic, monetary or political interest in the administration of any of the vaccines. The simplest way ‘safe’ can be explained for the purpose of this piece is that the vaccines must not trigger or cause any actual, side, or unintended harmful or deadly effect or chronic allergenic effect, directly or indirectly, to any cell, tissue, organ or system.

The simplest way to explain efficacy or ‘immunisation’ is that any Nigerian injected with any of the vaccines should not develop Covid-19 when infected by the virus that causes it.

Because Covid-19 vaccines were produced in months while it takes a minimum of five years of very hard and consistent work in laboratories to develop a vaccine and because the virus and the diseases it causes are novel, very rigorous, detailed and novel method must be used to study the safety and efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines, just as Dr. Arpad Pusztai and the independent group that he headed did in 1998 which revealed that the GM Potato that they worked with was not safe for consumption by animals or human beings.

But, disappointingly, in spite of the novelty of the virus and the disease, the safety and efficacy studies carried out on the vaccines in the USA and other countries fell short of the established animal and human population sizes,

method and duration for known or familiar viruses and diseases. Moreover, NO safety and efficacy study has been done by any independent actual researching expert in the USA or any other country, while this is a requirement under verification rule and the findings of this group is historically and generally honest and more reliable than studies done by the US FDA and the US CDC. What these facts demand is that Nigeria’s federal and state governments must carry out independent, very thorough and specially designed long-term safety and efficacy study of the vaccines on the cells, organs, and tissues of rats. It should go the extra mile because of the novelty and lethality of the virus and the effects so far discovered in the USA and other countries, including blood cloth, inflammation of the heart muscle and deaths after taking two shots. There should also be clinical study guided by the results obtained from the study with rats. Studies by the federal government are the lesser of two necessary safety and efficacy studies.

The greater necessity is studies by combined independent Nigerian actual researchers who have expertise or specialisation in virology and infectious diseases. Disappointingly, none of these two studies has been done in Nigeria! In the USA, exgovernor Cuomo did it for his state, New York.

Historically, vaccine administration has had mild or severe effects; vaccination does not mean immunisation and does not logically or

always provide immunisation.

It is worse now!

Based on the discussion so far, the order to vaccinate or be locked out of office from December 1, 2021, which effectively imposes Covid-19 vaccination on Nigerians, is neither rational nor morally right. Nigerians preserve human and existential right and freedom to reject it until safety and efficacy—immunisation—are established beyond scientific, rational and reasonable doubt.

History can help us come to the conclusion that the order is not rational or moral. In this regards it is noted that the polio vaccine administered globally caused many children to have polio which they did not have before they were vaccinated, others suffered additional or other effects and some died. This is true for the USA. Concerning Africa, in a report in Guardian online titled Polio outbreaks in Africa caused by mutation of strain in vaccine has noted, ‘New cases of polio linked to the oral vaccine have been reported in four African countries and more children are now being paralysed by vaccine-derived viruses than those infested by viruses from the wild’.

The countries named are Nigeria, DRC, CAR, and Angola. Nigeria’s 2003 case was settled politically and not scientifically. Something similar to Pfizer's 1996 Trovan trial should not be allowed.

– Prince Pieray Odor, Independent Researcher and Public Good Promoter Read the full article online www.thisdaylive.com

suffered some horrific burns to both his hair and face during the filming of a Pepsi commercial on January 27, 1984. But he donated all the $1.5 million of the pay to establish the Michael Jackson Burn Center at Brotman Memorial Hospital, where he received treatment!

Similarly, Cristiano Ronaldo is another worldrenown superstar who is an ambassador for three major charities, Save the Children, UNICEF and World Vision, and has spoken up for countless more. At his 2014 Ballon d'Or speech, Ronaldo made a point of mentioning a group of children he had met with leukemia. He also made a secret donation which he asked Save the Children not to reveal.

In August 2015 he came top amongst the "Top 20 Athletes Gone Good" list named as the most charitable athlete on the planet, beating out the likes of John Cena (No. 2), Neymar (No. 5) and Maria Sharapova (No. 8). Ronaldo once donated $83,000 to pay for a child's brain surgery and used $165,000 to fund a Portuguese cancer center.

Similarly, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has for over 20 years been committed as a nonprofit organization, actively engaged in fighting poverty, disease and inequity around the world.

And what do we make about Mark Zuckerberg charitable donations, based on his pledge to donate 99 percent of his wealth to charities over the course of his life? At a point this was put at a staggering $45

billion!

Before we get carried away by these astounding acts of charity let us get back to Nigeria. Yes! Lest we forget, our dear nation, Nigeria remains the world’s poverty capital. According to Oxfam Report 2018 economic inequality in Nigeria has reached extreme levels, despite being the largest economy in Africa. But it is now back deep into the pits of unemployment, insecurity, hunger and of course, the clearly avoidable debt trap!

Going by the Gini Coefficient, the gap which still exists between the richest and the poorest Nigerians is inexcusable. According to government data from 2020, the Gini Coefficient in Nigeria was 35.1 points. But that for Denmark was 28.2, the lowest and Namibia, 59.1 the highest in the world.

As of 2018 it was estimated that the combined wealth of Nigeria’s five richest men put at - $29.9 billion - could end extreme poverty at a national level. Yet, five million face hunger. More than 112 million people are currently living in poverty in Nigeria, yet the country’s richest man would have to spend $1 million a day for 42 years to exhaust his fortune!

Perhaps, it is time for us all to learn from God, our maker. He has amply demonstrated the richness in the attitude of helping to pull out those still enmeshed in the quagmire of hunger and poverty.

– Ayo Oyoze Baje, Lagos Read the full article online www.thisdaylive.com

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WAZIRI ADAMAWA

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ormer Vice President and Waziri Adamawa, Atiku Abubakar turned 75 years on November 25.

An opportunity to celebrate 75 years is a rare gift from the Almighty Allah - few humans celebrate it in good health, vigor and in a privileged status. Atiku is one of the blessed Nigerians in that regard.

Atiku is a true democrat and a true Nigerian, a leader in the North, a shining example from the Northeast, and the beloved son of Adamawa State. Adamawa people and Jimeta-Yola citizens, in particular, are appreciating the Waziri Adamawa for bringing more development to Adamawa State. We appreciate Atiku for bringing productive employment to Adamawa youths and stimulating the local economy through Faro bottling company, American University of Nigeria (AUN), ABTI Printing and Publishing, Rigo Gado Farms, Gotel TV and Radio, AUN Hotels, Standard Micro Finance Bank,

the Woven Sack Plant and Shrink Laminate Plant of the Prim Group, Chicken Cottage and the foundation for the less privileged in the society including several philanthropic ventures.

At 75, Atiku’s politics, energy and synergy are waxing stronger.

He is the candidate to beat in the PDP 2023 Presidential ticket - so far, it appears like 2019; 2023 PDP presidential ticket is Atiku’s. Love or hate him, Atiku has an immense war chest and enjoys a vast political network and connections nationwide. Atiku is adventurous in politics, a lover of democracy and a promoter of new ideas for the development of human capital.

One salient thing about Atiku’s 75th birthday is that so many individuals from Atiku's immediate constituency, the North and Adamawa State are celebrating with him.

This is showing how more and more people are supporting Atiku.

Musa Garba, President Madugu Group of Companies, Yola, Adamawa State

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 28, 2021

BUSINESS

Editor: Festus Akanbi 08038588469 Email:festus.akanbi@thisdaylive.com

MPC: As CBN Opts for Rate Retention in Support of Growth Recovery /ast week, Nigeria’s central bank kept its benchmark interest rate unchangeG at . for a seventh straight time, an action which Ànancial analysts saiG woulG consoliGate the moGest gains achieveG in the area of economic stability as the new year beckons, reports Festus Akanbi

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consiGerations that the MPC consiGereG in making their Gecision, these incluGe the global economy, oil price Gynamics, foreign exchange market, equities market anG Àscal sustainability among others.”

efore the meeting of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Monetary Policy Committee last week, some bookmakers in the Nigerian Ànancial market haG SlaceG bets, insisting that the committee was very much unlikely to change any of its rates.

The thinking among watchers of the nation’s economy was in tanGem with the popular saying that no one changes a winning team formula. $nG true to their permutations, the committee retaineG all the rates by the time the CBN Governor, GoGwin (meÀele aGGresseG the press after the two-Gay meeting in $buMa. $t the enG of the meeting, the committee resolveG to holG the monetary policy rate anG all other policy parameters constant.

Maintaining the Status quo Governor GoGwin (meÀele saiG the Gecision to keep rates steaGy was unanimously supporteG by members of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). “MPC believes that the e[isting policy stance has supporteG growth recovery anG shoulG be alloweG to continue for a little longer,µ (meÀele saiG. Nigeria’s economic rebounG, after a C29,'- -inGuceG recession in , was being Griven by Àscal anG monetary interventions, he saiG. +owever, the security situation in Nigeria was hampering business conÀGence anG foreign investor sentiment, (meÀele saiG. The Gecisions reacheG are as follows the benchmark interest rate (MP5) retaineG at . the asymmetric corriGor remaineG at - bps arounG the MP5 the cash reserve ratio retaineG at . , anG the /iTuiGity 5atio retaineG at . ,n Geliberating its Gecision, the Committee noteG that inÁation has continueG to Gecline, anG the economic recovery has seemingly gaineG traction in the seconG anG thirG Tuarters. ,t stateG that a rate hike woulG weigh on private-sector creGit growth, anG thus hinGer the recovery. 2n the other hanG, an easing of Ànancial conGitions coulG Gerail the GownwarG path of inÁation anG e[acerbate capital outÁows amiG more negative real interest rates. $ll in all, the Committee GeciGeG that there was no room to either tighten or loosen the Bank’s stance.

Period of Recovery The Committee commenGeG the continueG recovery in output growth following the growth recorGeG in 4 - . $ccorGingly, the Committee applauGeG the continueG eͿorts of the Àscal anG monetary authorities in supporting the recovery process Gespite persistent security challenges amiGst inaGeTuate infrastructure.

The Committee highlighteG the continueG moGeration of the heaGline inÁation in line with the slower pace of increases in fooG prices anG the non-fooG basket. +owever, the Committee acknowleGgeG that the inÁation rate remains above the CBN’s target range of . - . anG the MP5 of . .

The CBN Governor noteG that the committee was faceG with whether to ease its accommoGative stance, maintain the status Tuo or tighten to bring Gown inÁation closer to the bank’s meGium-term target of . - . .

The committee also felt loosening woulG leaG to further wiGening in negative real returns anG magnify price Gistortions in the Ànancial market. $s a result, the

Monetary Expansion $Gemola believes that to stimulate the Gomestic economy in the face of Geclining inÁation, there is a neeG for monetary expansion by lowering the monetary policy rate. “+owever, the instability in the foreign exchange market anG the uncertain Àscal sustainability woulG require monetary tightening. The global economy is also experiencing signiÀcant uncertainties hence a wait-anG-see approach appears the easier way to go,” $Gemola stateG. (xplaining further, the CorGros Capital Director, saiG that “It shoulG be noteG that the +O/D position is not an inGication that all is well with the Nigerian economy.

Rather, it is an attempt to aGopt a wait-it-out approach to appraise the implications of the unfolGing global Gevelopment arounG policy tapering anG normalisation by aGvanceG economies on the one hanG anG Gistilling the Giverse contributions of the existing monetary policy stance for a little longer to appraise its eͿects price stability anG ultimately on economic growth sustainability.

“This is the last meeting of the MPC this year hence except for any requirements for emergency intervention, there is no expectation of any maMor change in the Girection of the economy until the enG of . :hile it is not likely to experience any exigencies that woulG require any Grastic action from the monetary authority, an unexpecteG crash in oil price or foreign exchange crisis woulG require an emergency action of the Committee anG the Central Bank.”

Emefiele

committee believeG maintaining the status Tuo woulG allow gains from its accommoGative monetary stance to continue to permeate the economy.

Market Expectations In their reactions, analysts from CorGros 5esearch e[plaineG that the Gecision of the committee to maintain the status quo on monetary policy parameters is in line with market expectations, pointing out that the unGerlying tone of the committee suggests the apex bank is bracing up for a change to a hawkish policy from 4 - , a perioG that we think the committee will MuGge that substantial progress has been maGe in supporting economic recovery.

Justifying the vote to maintain the status quo, analysts from CorGros Research, in their response to the MPC meeting saiG, “:e Go not expect material Geviations from the current Gynamics of the )I market, consiGering that the MPR is increasingly becoming a signalling tool for market rates. :e believe meGium-term expectations on a hike in interest rates will continue to Grive aversion for long-GateG instruments. $s a result, we believe bonG investors are likely to maintain the strategy of playing at the short to the belly of the yielG curve.

“:ith the attractive returns on ÀxeG Geposits anG upsiGe risks to inÁation on the hori]on, we expect investors to resist the DMO’s attempt to bring Gown rates at bonG auctions to improve inÁation-aGMusteG returns.

NotwithstanGing, we believe Geliberate eͿorts by the DMO to reGuce borrowing costs for the government will keep the yielG curve below . levels.”

ResponGing to T+I6D$< inquiries on the outcome of this month’s MPC meeting, (xecutive Director, CorGros Capital /imiteG, Mr. Olufemi $Gemola listeG other consiGerations for the MPC’s Gecisions to have incluGeG the global economy, oil price Gynamics, foreign exchange market, equities market, anG Àscal sustainability. +e saiG, “$t the enG of the meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which helG on November rG, , the committee voteG unanimously to retain the benchmark interest rate (MPR) at . , whilst keeping all other monetary parameters constant.

The MPC consiGereG the growth of . real GDP anG the consistent Gecline in heaGline inÁation as the maMor reasons for retaining the monetary parameters.

“There are quite some other

Fx Policy +owever, some analysts faulteG the MPC Gecisions because they GiGn’t give a clear-cut message on the Girection of Nigeria’s foreign exchange market.

This was the position of Chief (conomist anG +eaG of Research, MiGGle (ast $frica, 6tanGarG ChartereG Bank, Ra]ia .han in an interview with T+I6D$<. $ccorGing to the /onGon-baseG international economist, “Markets are likely to have been GisappointeG by the lack of mention of ); policy.”

6he believes that “$heaG of , Gelivering a better functioning ); market will remain a key reform, on which the rest of Nigeria’s reform eͿort - accelerating growth, safeguarGing Àscal space, aGGressing fuel subsiGies anG moving to cost-reÁective power tariͿs - are likely to rest,” aGGing that getting ); policy right remains key to allowing for an accelerateG recovery in the Nigerian economy.

The CBN haG given no explicit forwarG guiGance on rate movements in its accompanying statement, but noteG that “a holG stance will enable the continueG permeation of current policy measures in supporting the recorGeG growth recovery anG macroeconomic stability”. $s such, the maMority of panelists see the Bank holGing the rate at . until year-enG, although some pencil in a hike, before the beginning of a tightening path next year.

It is hopeG that the current momentum woulG be improveG upon in the Àrst quarter of when attention will be shifteG to political campaigns aheaG of the elections.

18

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 28, 2021

ECONOMY

Averting Risk of Social, Economic Backlash in Subsidies Removal Bowing to pressure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Nigeria is set to end subsidy regimes in fuel and electricity sectors but analysts have challenged the relevant stakeholders to come up with a policy transition strategy that is sustainable, realistic, and pragmatic, reports Festus Akanbi

I

f there is anything on the minds of ordinary Nigerians today, it is the anxiety over the planned removal of fuel and electricity subsidies.

While the former is billed to commence in the Àrst quarter of next year, the latter is expected to take eͿect from December this year.

Both plans were parts of the recommendations of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and according to the multilateral body, the earlier Nigeria accepts the reality the better for the country.

In its preliminary Àndings at the end of its o΀cial staͿ visit to the country under the Article IV Mission, IMF also called for reforms in the Àscal, exchange rate, trade, and governance aspects of Nigeria.

This, it said, was necessary “to alter the long-running lacklustre growth path.”

The Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed had disclosed that the federal government will remove fuel subsidy and replace it with a monthly N5000 transport grant to poor Nigerians.

The minister said the transport grant will target about 30 to 40 million Nigerians who make up the poorest population of the country.

Bowing to the overwhelming complaints from the human rights societies, the federal government had hatched the plan to remove fuel subsidy by the Àrst half of next year. The subsidy removal has been on the front burner for a long time as a result of the undue pressure the programme was bringing into the nation’s foreign exchange market. The subsidy regime has also been vulnerable to corrupt practices which have left Nigerians shortchanged at the end of the day.

IMF, therefore, stressed the need for Nigeria to fully remove fuel subsidy and move to a market-based pricing mechanism in early 2022 as stipulated in the 2021 Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) while making case for adequate compensation for the poor.

Pressure on Fuel and Electricity Subsidies The IMF, in its 2021 Article IV Mission statement released last week also projected that despite high oil prices, Nigeria’s Àscal deÀcit would widen in 2021 to .3 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The Àscal deÀcit is projected at 3. 3 per cent and 3.3 per cent of GDP in Nigeria’s 2021 and 2022 budgets respectively.

Consequently, the IMF called for the immediate removal of fuel subsidy and electricity subsidies.

“The complete removal of regressive fuel and electricity subsidies is a near-term priority, combined with adequate compensatory measures for the poor. The mission stressed the need to fully remove fuel subsidies and move to a market-based pricing mechanism in early 2022 as stipulated in the 2021 Petroleum Industry Act. “In addition, the implementation of costreÁective electricity tariͿs as of January 2022 should not be delayed. Well-targeted social assistance will be needed to cushion any negative impacts on the poor particularly in light of still elevated inÁation.

According to the IMF, over the medium term, without bold revenue mobilisation eͿorts, Àscal deÀcits are projected to stay elevated above the pre-pandemic levels with public debt increasing to 43 per cent in 202 .

It stated: “With the emergence of fuel subsidies and slow progress on revenue

A fuel station attendant dispensing fuel to a customer

mobilisation, the Àscal outlook faces signiÀcant risks. Continued reliance on administrative measures to address persistent foreign exchange shortages is negatively impacting conÀdence. ” The Fear Although a majority of Nigerians agree that the removal of fuel subsidy is long overdue, the fear is that full removal of subsidy, which is programmed to come at the same time with the removal of subsidy on electricity will worsen the feeling of uncertainty among the Nigerian workers.

Already, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) has hinted that a litre of fuel may sell between N320 and N340 in 2022. (conomic aͿairs watchers said when one factor in the planned increase in electricity tariͿ, the hardship will be too much for Nigerians to bear.

Nigerians are today battling with prohibitive costs of commodities, food items, and services. Analysts said it easy to imagine the ripple eͿects of subsidy removal on the cost of livings, prompting some analysts to call for caution.

This is just as the federal government is contemplating the replacement of fuel subsidy with a monthly N5,000 fuel grant to the nation’s most vulnerable citizens.

Group Managing Director, NNPC, Malam Mele Kyari, revealed this at the launch of the World Bank Nigeria Development 8pdate (ND8) November 2021 edition, entitled, ‘Time for Business 8nusual’, in Abuja on Tuesday.

According to Kyari, the new Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) provides that by the end of February 2022, Nigeria should be out of the subsidy regime.

“There will be no provision for it legally in our system, but I am also sure you will appre¬ciate that government has a bigger social responsibility to cater for the ordinary and therefore engage in a process that will ensure that we exit in the most subtle and easy man¬ner,” he said.

Kyari gave assurances that fuel subsidy removal would “deÀnitely” be achieved in 2022 as it is now fully backed by law and that the price of the product may range between N320 and N340 per litre. At the moment, petrol (PMS) in Nigeria sells for N1 5.

Managing Transition to Full Deregulation An economist and Chief Executive O΀cer, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprises, Dr. Muda <usuf warned that there is the need to creatively manage the transition from the current pricing regime to a fully deregulated arrangement. <usuf, a former Director-General of Lagos Chamber of Commerce of Industry (LCCI) said “It is a tricky issue which could pose a serious challenge to the government if not tactically managed. The reality is that the sentiments among the citizenry are not favourable to the deregulation of petroleum product pricing or petroleum subsidy removal. Even some elites are curiously not persuaded on the justiÀcation for the subsidy removal,” According to him, “If the policy transition is not properly managed, the risk of a social and political backlash could be quite high.

He maintained that “No doubt there is a sound economic and business case in favour of fuel subsidy removal,” noting however that the social and political contexts are equally critical.

“Certainly, the subsidy is not sustainable, which is why there is a need to accelerate engagement with the relevant stakeholders to come up with a policy transition strategy that is sustainable, realistic and pragmatic,” advising that conversation should not only be economic but also social and political.

Speaking on electricity subsidy, the economist stated that the subsidy argument is slightly diͿerent in the case of electricity.

He stated that “Already some progress has been made towards a market-driven

electricity framework. We already have the willing buyer willing seller policy. There is also a market segmentation model that has been adopted by the DISCOs. DiͿerent pricing applies to diͿerent segments. This is also a move towards a purely marketdriven electricity market. It is true that to sustain private investment in the electricity sector, the subsidy should be discontinued.

But the transition needs to be strategically managed because of the political and social contexts.”

The Time is Now In her response, Chief Economist and Head of Research, Middle East & Africa, Standard Chartered Bank, Razia Khan, said the anticipated pain to the people notwithstanding, now is the time to fully deregulate the Nigerian oil sector. She nevertheless shared the fear that being a year to the next general election, there is the tendency for the federal government to develop cold feet as far as fuel subsidy removal is concerned.

She said, “History has demonstrated that there has never been a politically convenient time to address fuel subsidies in Nigeria. However, the economic cost of the subsidy, which is deeply regressive, is now so large that it does require urgent reform if Nigeria is to safeguard its Àscal space for development priorities.

“The move to safeguard the poorest Nigerians from the impact of the subsidy removal, with a cash transfer, is sound policymaking. Most likely the subsidy removal is planned for H2-2022 in order to allow time to get the systems in place.

Observers might be concerned that the closer we get to elections, the less certainty there is that fuel subsidies will be removed.

From this perspective, the sooner subsidies are removed, the better.”

Having established the urgency of the need to end the subsidy regime, we must also not lose sight of the need to ensure the implementation of such a programme doesn’t drive the citizens to a social crisis.

19

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 28, 2021

BUSINESS INTERVIEW &+8.:8.$ 021<(

:H &DQ·W *URZ (FRQRP\ without a Responsible Culture Chukwuka C. Monye is a social innovator who has been committed to making lives better in Nigeria for over 20 years. He is a 8niversity of Oxford-trained innovation strategist and has dedicated his career to building businesses, mentoring leaders and impacting lives. He is the founder of Ciuci Consulting, one of Africa’s foremost operations management consulting Àrms through which he has transformed numerous private and public institutions. As a social innovator, he has led and supported several social impact initiatives ensuring the projects he gets involved in ultimately lead to sustainable socioeconomic development. He is an Amazon, Wall Street Journal and 8SA Today best-selling author for his contribution in the book ² Business Success Secrets. In this interview with )HVWXV $NDQEL Monye speaks on his award- winning book and the concept of responsible culture

N

igeria is today facing harvests of economic challenges, ranging IURP LQÁDWLRQ WR insecurity and infrastructural challenges.

How will you want WKHVH WR EH H;HFWLYHO\ WDFNOHG" I always say that a lot of the issues we face require that we rethink and reset our foundation as a nation. Positive economic outcomes are results of e΀cient institutions. Therefore, a country that works is powered by institutions that work. Oftentimes, we try to build lasting institutions on faulty foundations. 8ntil we Àx the foundation, no system will stand.

To tackle insecurity, we need two things: the will to make the necessary decisions and a reorganisation of our security apparatus and infrastructure, empowering our forces with relevant trainings and incentives.

Alot of our infrastructural issues are a result of greed and incompetence of some of the stewards of our country. That said, if we really want proper infrastructure, we will engage competent people to deal with it. For goodness sake, Nigerians have built and managed diͿerent types of infrastructure abroad.

To fully address the economic challenges, we must reconsider the kind of leadership we require as a nation. Economic transformation requires skill, there is no way a politician without these skills can lead such an eͿort ² Impossible Your contribution in the award-winning ERRN ¶%XVLQHVV 6XFFHVV 6HFUHWV· LV WLWOHG “Responsible Culture”. What do you mean E\ ´5HVSRQVLEOH &XOWXUHµ" Responsible culture is where there is mutual respect between people. It is a culture that demonstrates that people matter. We’re losing our humanity as we are becoming increasingly selÀsh ² less concerned about culture and its implications. In a responsible culture, employers respect the skills and capacity of their employees and help them to maximise their potentials, with employees also respecting the vision, resources and growth of their employers by contributing to the achievement of the organisation’s goals.

A responsible culture is where a government respects, protects and serves its citizens, whilst the citizens honour and serve the best interests of the nation, with each person seeing themselves as an ambassador. This culture cannot be built

culture that other nations of the world can model.

You are involved in a lot of humanitarian DFWLYLWLHV :K\ LV WKDW VR GHDU WR \RXU KHDUW" After having lost several loved ones to poor healthcare, I decided to spend time providing support to healthcare institutions. I also see so many people who only need a little help to improve their lives. From scholarships to small business grants, to learning monetizable skills, to free healthcare, to a roof over their heads, I have come to realize that a lot of people don’t need much to improve their lives, they just need care That’s why I do what I do ² to make people’s lives better, one person at a time.

by only one stakeholder, it is the responsibility of every stakeholder to build it. A responsible culture is the pillar of development ² without pillars, structures crumble and without a responsible culture, systems fail.

A factor that fosters responsible culture is a sense of ownership ² treating every venture and community where you are like you’re truly a part of it, a key player that is vital for its success.

,Q WKH ERRN \RX VD\ \RXU EHVW GHFLVLRQ ZDV PRYLQJ EDFN WR 1LJHULD WR HVWDEOLVK &LXFL &RQVXOWLQJ DQG LQÁXHQFH PDQ\ \RXQJ SHRSOH" :KHUHDV 1LJHULDQ \RXWKV KDYH EHHQ blamed for many things, how come you are WKLV SDVVLRQDWH DERXW WKHP" I am Àrst a Nigerian youth before anything else, so I am very intentional about helping my fellow youth develop into the best version of themselves. As an individual that is surrounded by countless young people, I have seen Àrsthand the level of distrust that young people have for national leaders. 8nfulÀlled promises, unmet expectations, failure to acknowledge them, their skills, abilities and ignoring their voices have created a gulf between generations. <oung people may be blamed for many things, but when you give them opportunities and help reset their mindsets, the outcome is mind blowing. I have seen young people who felt misunderstood metamorphose when they got the right mentorship.

The youth are an outcome of what the society has created. You cannot blame them for the rot in the society if you have not equipped and empowered them. If this country is to change and be the giant it is so fondly called, it has to acknowledge, embrace and nurture the youth and stop blaming them. Without them, innovation is almost impossible, a young person’s mind is a limitless world with endless possibilities and solutions.

I am passionate about young people because we are the future and whatever tomorrow becomes is our decision. I believe that these relentless and vibrant individuals are powerful

Monye

systems that work. The capacity and tenacity of the average Nigerian and their contribution to the development of other countries indicate that the ingredients for success are innate. I’m passionate because all Nigeria needs is the right combination of leaders to maximize its potentials.

When Nigerians become intentional about choosing our leaders, we will see the remarkable diͿerence that the nation will undergo.

How can Responsible Culture assist in UHVROYLQJ 1LJHULD·V FKDOOHQJHV ZLWK LWV RYHU HWKQLF JURXSV DQG PRUH WKDQ 6SRNHQ Languages. Is it possible to have a “national FXOWXUHµ" A national culture is very possible, and it integrates the various elements and values of Despite its many challengers and chal- the diͿerent cultures that make us a nation.

OHQJHV \RX FRSLRXVO\ FHOHEUDWH 1LJHULD LQ A national culture begins with the leadership and embraces the peculiarities of all the ethnic \RXU ZRUN :K\" I celebrate Nigeria because my blood is groups, giving each citizen a sense of belonging, green, and proudly so. As a social innovator ownership and responsibility for the nation’s and an expert in systems thinking, I have seen, advancement. With proper national consciousas we all have, countless Nigerians thrive in ness and orientation, we can create a national

%HKLQG WKH JOREDO DFKLHYHPHQWV ZKR LV WKH PDQ &KXNZXND & 0RQ\H" I am a social innovator committed to making lives better. I am a passionate Nigerian and an “Africanist” ² I believe that Nigeria and Africa by extension, will begin to realize its potential when we elect competent leaders. I am a mentor and coach to several young leaders and entrepreneurs.

I am passionate about gaining knowledge and I am committed to lifelong learning. I attended Federal Government College Lagos, Ijanikin, which was one of the best secondary schools at the time, before heading to the 8S on a scholarship for my BA (Hons) in Business Administration from Warner 8niversity, Florida. I have an MBA and a PGD in Strategy and Innovation, both from 8niversity of Oxford, and I am currently pursuing my Doctorate in Business Administration at 8niversity of Warwick, researching the factors that aͿect the commercialisation of ideas in Africa.

I am a member of the prestigious and worldrenowned Oxford 8nion and the co-founder and Director of the Oxford Family Business Network, a global platform for members and advisors of family run businesses and family o΀ces. I am also an Associate of the Nigeria Leadership Initiative Member, Institute of Directors and Fellow, Institute of Management Consultants.

I have been described as an outlier and a bridge between generations, understanding and helping both sides of the divide understand each other better. I have a deep appreciation of the wisdom and experience of the seniors and I appreciate the capacities and potential of the youth. I am a lover of the arts ² I sing, dance, and play the conga drums. I love playing golf.

I am married with 2 children.

20

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 28, 2021

CAPITAL MARKET

Ecobank Battles FMN over Acquisition of Honeywell Flour Mills The acquisition of Honeywell Flour Mills, which Flour Mills of Nigeria and Honeywell Group Limited thought was a done deal has been challenged by Ecobank Nigeria Limited on the grounds that the company is hugely indebted to it despite denials, writes Ugo Aliogo

T

he announcement by Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN) and Honeywell Group Limited (HGL) last Monday that they had signed an agreement to which FMN would acquire Honeywell Group’s portfolio company, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc (HFMP) has hit a brickwall as Ecobank Nigeria Plc has challenged the move by placing a caveat on the deal.

The two companies, in a joint statement, said Honeywell Group would dispose of a 71.69 per cent stake in its listed subsidiary to Flour Mills at a total enterprise value of N80bn.

Flour Mills announced in a separate statement that it had entered into an agreement with First Bank of Nigeria Limited to acquire the bank’s 5.06 per cent equity in HFMP. “Consequently, upon completion of the acquisition, and subject to obtaining all requisite regulatory approvals, FMN is set to hold a circa 76.75 per cent equity interest in HFMP,” it said.

According to the joint statement, the proposed combination is subject to approval from the appropriate regulators.

“The complementary transaction combines FMN’s market-leading oͿerings that include grain-based foods, sugar, starches, oils, spreads and breakfast cereals with HFMP’s market leading diverse and diͿerentiated range of carbohydrate products,” it said.

It stated that stakeholders would beneÀt from the more than 85-year combined track record of FMN and HFMP as well as their shared goal of making aͿordable and nutritious food available to Nigeria’s population.

The agreement enables Flour Mills to purchase 71.69 per cent stake in Honeywell, while a separate pact with FBN Holdings Group allows the miller to acquire the Ànancial services group’s stake of 5.06 per cent in Honeywell, bringing its consolidated holding in Honeywell to 76.75 per cent, according to a regulatory Àling at the Nigerian Exchange Limited last Monday.

That could mean FMN will be taking over about 6.09 billion units of Honeywell’s 7.93 billion ordinary shares, priced at an opening price of N3.39 per unit last Monday.

But the disposal of the 71.69 per cent stake

by Honeywell will be conducted on the basis of an enterprise value N80 billion.

The deal marks the third major merger and acquisition transaction involving a quoted company this month, following Rainoil’s buyout of more than 60 per cent stake in Eternal Oil and Ardova’s takeover of Enyo Oil. Honeywell has returned 182.5 per cent in the past one year, according to Financial Times data.

FMN reported revenue in the sum of N771.6 billion for the Ànancial year ended 31st December

2020, bigger than what was recorded by Nigeria’s biggest bank Access Bank for the same period, standing at N764.7 billion.

Commenting on the transaction, the Managing Director, Honeywell Group, Obafemi Otudeko, said, “Today’s announcement is in line with the evolution of Honeywell Group and our vision of creating value that transcends generations. For over two decades, we have supported Honeywell Flour Mills to build a strong business with a production capacity of 835,000 metric tonnes of food per annum.

“Following the transaction, Honeywell Group will be strongly positioned to consolidate and expand its investment activities, including as a partner of choice for investors in key growth sectors.”

On his part, the Group Managing Director of FMN, Omoboyede Olusanya, said, “The proposed transaction is aligned with our vision not only to be an industry leader but a national champion for Nigeria. We believe that this will create an opportunity to combine the unique talents of two robust businesses.

“As a result, we will have a better-rounded and more comprehensive skill set available to us as a combined diversiÀed food business, thus enabling us to better serve our consumers, customers and other stakeholders, whilst providing employees with access to broader opportunities.”

While the two companies were looking forward to sealing the deal, Ecobank Nigeria Limited on Tuesday placed a caveat on any share of HFMP on the grounds that the company is hugely indebted to the bank and that the debt is currently a subject of litigation.

The buyers beware was contained in a statement released by bank through its counsel, Kunle Ogunba & Associates, titled “Purchase of Honeywell Group Limited’s 71.69% stake in Honeywell Flour Mills Limited- “Caveat Emptor” .

Ecobank in the statement said that consequent upon a press release circulating in several online publications and as further contained on Honeywell Group Limited’s website: “honeywellgroup.com” wherein notiÀcation of the proposed divestment of Honeywell Group Limited’s 71.69% stake in HFMP, cautioned the general public and the corporate bodies on the danger inherent in dealing in any shares of the company.

Ecobank while narrating its interest in the company, said it advanced several loan facilities which included working capital disbursements to HFMP and that due to the failure of the company to liquidate the said loan facilities, it was constrained to commence winding up proceedings against Honeywell Group Limited at the Federal High Court, Lagos in suit no:

FHC/L/CP/1571/2015.

The bank said that Honeywell Group Limited, being respondent to the winding up petition, objected to the jurisdiction of the trial court to preside over the said suit, this the bank said was upheld by the trial court.

Aggrieved with the decision of the trial court, Ecobank said it Àled an appeal (with appeal No: CA/L/1041/2016) at the Court ofAppeal, Lagos Division and that upon review of Ecobank’s case, the appellate court found merit in the appeal, and held that the winding up proceedings against Honeywell Group Limited was properly commenced and that the Federal High Court had jurisdiction to hear the said petition.

Ecobank said that while the said decision of the Court of Appeal has been appealed to the Supreme Court, the Court ofAppeal’s judgment remains valid and subsisting till date. It added that the eͿect of the Appeal Court judgment is that there is currently a winding-up action/ proceeding pending against the said Honeywell Group Limited.

It drew attention to the provisions of Section 577 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020 which says: “Where a company is being wound up by the court, any attachment, sequestration, distress or execution put in force against the estate or eͿects of the company after the commencement of the winding up is void.”

The bank said the estate or eͿects of Honeywell Group Limited includes (but is not limited to) its 71.69% stake in HFMP which it now seeks to divest to FMN contrary to the express provisions of the law which prohibits the said sale/transfer or divestment during the course of the winding up proceedings. It added that it is clear that Honeywell Group Limited is legally estopped from sequestering and/or disposing any of its assets pending the Ànal determination of the winding up action commenced against it.

“Furthermore, the HFMP in which the shares are held is also currently indebted to Ecobank by virtue of the Court of Appeal judgment delivered on the 14th day of December, 2020 in appeal number: CA/LAG/CV/975/2019, wherein the Appellate Court held that the company did not repay its debt to our client in line with the agreement of parties. While the said judgment is subject of a further appeal to the Supreme Court.”

Consequently,thebankdemandedthatFMNin its best corporate interest immediately cease and desist from consummating the subject transaction which aims to divest the assets of a company being wound-up (Honeywell Group Limited).

“Please be further informed that the assets of both Honeywell Group Limited and HFMP are the subject of the winding-up action and thus based on the doctrine of “lis-pendens” (in addition to the provisions of CAMA supplied

above) you are advised to refrain from dealing with the subject asset which forms part of the subject matter of litigation. ” The bank said that while it believes that Flour Mills or any other interested person or group will adhere to its wise counsel and comply with its demands as a responsible and publicly listed entity, it stated that it shall not hesitate to deploy all available legal options to prevent this audacious illegality from coming to fruition. It noted that it was constrained not only to demand an urgent reversal of the alleged “divestment processes” as epitomised by a counter publication, notiÀcation or caveat in that regard.

Determined to proceed with the deal, FMN and HFMP in a their response on Wednesday, said the proposed acquisition is not in breach of any court order.

FMN, in a statement obtained from the Nigerian Exchange Limited signed by its Company Secretary, Joseph Umolu, said the announcement by the group to assume majority shareholder status of Honeywell was made after carrying out necessary due diligence and obtaining appropriate legal guidance.

It said: “Consequently, FMN conÀrms that this agreement is not in breach of any subsisting order of court in matters relating to any third party. This further assurance has become necessary in view of the publication captioned ‘Ecobank warns against acquisition of Honeywell Flour Mills, alleges company facing winding up proceedings’.

“Stakeholders are, therefore, urged to maintain their trust in FMN’s management, whose actions are guided by global best practices, as we work diligently to maintain the group’s sterling reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading and oldest agro-allied companies.”

On its part, HFMP, in a statement signed by its Company Secretary, Yewande Giwa, said: “It is pertinent to set the record straight that there is no winding up petition currently pending or live against HFMP in any court in Nigeria. There is also no pending court order restraining trading in the shares of HFMP or inhibiting HFMP or its owners from dealing in its assets.

“The issue as to whether HFMP is indebted to Ecobank is still before the courts and the Ànal decision remains the exclusive preserve of the courts. It is also important to state that the Court of Appeal judgement being referred to in the reports did not declare HFMP to be indebted to Ecobank.”

The company assured investors, regulators and stakeholders that in all of its engagements with FMN, it received independent legal advice.

For now, both investors and market watchers are looking forward to how the issue would be resolved.

22

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 28, 2021

THE EXECUTIVE /((021 ,.3($

Ikpea

)URP IW &RQWDLQHU WR 2ͿFHV LQ :DUUL /DJRV ,WDO\ DQG 86$ Chief Executive Officer of Lee Engineering & Construction Company Limited, Dr. Leemon Ikpea, founded the company on November 11, 1991. In the last three decades, the organisation has undergone phenomenal transformation anchored on its philosophy of honesty, integrity and transparency. Celebrating its pearl anniversary, Ikpea, in this interview with %D\R $NLQOR\H, gives insight into the company’s beginning, his personal exploits and the positive impact of Nigeria’s local content policy on the nation’s oil and gas industry. In addition, he discloses the secret of business longevity and success, giving young players a roadmap to staying in the game and Lee Engineering Group’s commitment to job and wealth creation. Excerpts...

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RZ KDV WKH MRXUQH\ EHHQ LQ WKH ODVW \HDUV" To the glory of God, the journey has been successful. Without being told, the journey is riddled with various circumstances and uncertainties of the political and economic climate. By special grace, we believe God is seeing us through thick and thin. We are grateful that the journey continues amid hopes and prospects, not minding the challenges. We continue to trust in God, who has made all things possible. He has guided and guarded us through the years. :KDW ZLOO \RX VD\ LV WKH ELJJHVW FKDOOHQJH VR IDU" Funding of our various projects is very challenging; not getting the much-needed support for our ventures. However, by special grace, we are able to get to where we are today. We have looked for more pragmatic ways to get the needed funding. In addition,

like other big enterprises working in a Nigerian economy that is dollarised, prices of materials rise unpredictably within a few days or weeks. It’s di΀cult to go back to a client to discuss new terms regarding changing prices.

:KDW LPSDFW KDV WKH ORFDO FRQWHQW SROLF\ KDG RQ \RXU EXVLQHVV" I must acknowledge that before the local content policy, to put it simply, things were not really favourable. With the advent of the local content policy in 2010, a new window of opportunities was open for local players in the oil and gas sector. The capacity of local companies has been enhanced. It is hoped the government will keep to the philosophy of the local content board and allow the technocrats to continue to implement the policy fully. It’s beneÀcial to local businesses and the country; more revenues are generated, and other beneÀts spread across the value chain. If the local content policy continues to be fully implemented in the next Àve to 10 years, we would have built

our capacity to a large extent. Imagine what the oil and gas industry will be like for local players without the local content policy. With the advent of the local content policy, Nigerian companies have been strengthened to play important roles in the industry. With the establishment of the local content policy given teeth by law, operating as local companies in the oil and gas industry is now a diͿerent ball game. Local companies have been given a platform to excel. We are working directly with the IOCs and multinationals.

The Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board have proved invaluable. They ensure that local players in the industry receive adequate training. The agency also encourages us to establish fabrication workshops. Today, Lee Engineering Group’s fabrication yard is undergoing construction. It will be inaugurated by the Àrst quarter of 2022. At least 100 million has been sunk into it. When it’s ready, it will serve as a hub for local manufacturing of various equipment. We are convinced

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 28, 2021

THE EXECUTIVE Lee Engineering Group’s Pearl Anniversary: How We Have Stood the Test of Time youngsters today. It is also true that in all of this, humanity is more than well-equipped than ever before in humankind’s history to face any challenges headlong. The way the world responded to the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that, stopping the virus in its track. We got the vaccine produced at record time. Today, we have the booster vaccine and are talking about the anti-COVID pill. The frontiers have become boundless for the youths, and only the diligent and intelligent can fully explore that. Right from day one, human society abhors laziness. Nigerian youths should be inventive and channel their energy for the good of themselves and society.

They live in exciting times.

the federal government will support this project and ensure that high-quality materials are no longer imported when they are locally produced.

This will have a multiplier eͿect on the country and its citizens, reducing the burden on foreign exchange, not to talk of job creation. In other words, it is hoped the government will make it mandatory for the OICs and multinationals to patronise us.

/RRNLQJ EDFN WR ZKHQ \RX VWDUWHG WKLV FRPpany 30 years ago, what’s the story behind it?

It’s a long story. This company started with a 40ft container. The container is still there 30 years after. It’s still there in Warri. It was demarcated and insulated to avoid too much heat. At its front, we were selling safety tools and at the back was my o΀ce. Looking back, one is Àlled with nostalgia and gratitude. God is great. Moving away from the container, we rented a four-bedroom bungalow, got another apartment and before you know it, we realised that our capacity was growing and the o΀ce space was no longer big enough for the staͿ. It was soon obvious we needed our own facility.

In 2012 we got our own place and set it up on a space of Àve acres, including o΀ce, warehouse and fabrication yard. The fabrication yard in Warri is about 10,000sqm. Work is ongoing to complete the fabrication yard and get it ready by the Àrst quarter of next year. As of today, we have a staͿ strength of 2,000. Several of them have spent decades in the company. We have one of the staͿ, who started as a secretary, who has spent 30 years with us; now a manager in the organisation. She is a repertoire of the company’s history and corporate information.

What has kept them for that long?

The work ethics, culture and camaraderie, have kept a number of them to remain with the organisation for more than a decade. They Ikpea believe in the system we run, which is not just a commercial concern. It is a venture with a human face. We have come to see work as an extension played a vital role; I wasn’t stubborn. I listened of a social contract for the good of all. While I to him. While a manager at Snamprojettif, I did encourage hard work, I have led by showing a not just sit down in my o΀ce. I took time to good example in humility. It is heartwarming understand how the company operated; in when you have genuine, hard-working and that time, I noticed that many Nigerians were loyal employees. performing various tasks as electricians, welders and so on. The foreigners were mostly there as What motivated you to go into this line of supervisors. There were many skilled Nigerian business? workers around. I have a couple of them still I am an administrator. But today, I’m into working with me today. engineering construction work and have ventured into aviation. The company has also Thirty years from now, where do you see diversiÀed into exploration and production, Lee Engineering Group? travels and tour. In the beginning, I was just a Big oil companies that we know of today had Àeldworker, a timekeeper. I applied to work in humans as their founders; the likes of Shell, the NPA and got the job in 1977. At that time, I Mobil, Chevron, etc. Some organisations have also applied for jobs in other organisations. I was lasted more than a century. In light of this, I want excited on my Àrst day at work at the NPA. I was to build a company that will outlive me with a employed as a clerical o΀cer. On the evening legacy to be continuing being a source of gainful of my Àrst day at work, I got another oͿer from employment and capacity building. I want Lee Whessoe, a UK-based Àrm. Its headquarters Engineering Group to endure into the future. is in Darlington, UK. They had some job to do with the Warri ReÀnery. Despite the di΀cult Do you want to speak a little more about terrain of my area, the Àrm searched me out \RXU RUJDQLVDWLRQ·V GLYHUVLÀFDWLRQ GULYH" and oͿered me a job that evening. They wanted The main driver of the diversiÀcation inime to start the next day. It was quite intriguing: tiative is to provide gainful employment to I just assumed duty with the NPA today, and Nigerians who are willing to work to sustain another company came knocking asking me themselves and their immediate families. The to start a job with them the next day. I sought idea is to build people. We have engaged in the opinion of my associates. They suggested I civil works, water factory, travel and tours, stick with NPAbecause there is job security there aviation, exploration and production; Tribet being a civil service. But I went a step further to Ltd (travels and tours), Tribet Aviation, Tribet seek the advice of my father. He had been a civil PuriÀed Waters, and Lee Oasis. Yes, we expect servant until his retirement. He counselled me returns, but the main purpose is to help the to work with Whessoe. My obedience to my common people. father’s suggestion laid the groundwork for what I had become today. So, I joined Whessoe 7HOO XV ORRNLQJ DW WKH WUDMHFWRU\ RI /HH the next day. The rest is history. From Whessoe, I (QJLQHHULQJ *URXS ZKDW SURMHFW KDV WXUQHG joined Snamprogetti. That’s another story. Before the tide for you in the last 30 years?

I joined Snamprojettif, my appointment with Nigeria is a gas haven. Honestly, we have Whessoe had come to an end. My then boss, found breakthroughs in our gas projects since Mr Peter Wagner, was returning to his home 2007. We have never looked back since then country and I was seeing him oͿ at the airport. with God’s support. The current major project Before he boarded his Áight, he handed me an is the gas project, domestic gas, and gas to supply envelope that he said I should give personally to the LNG Train Seven. There is also a gas project Snamprojettif’s general manager, Mr Sampaoli. in Imo. It is a gas transmission facility. Once This happened in May 1980. I gave him the the project is completed, we are convinced that letter. With the departure of Mr Wagner, I was many moribund IPP projects will come back to between jobs. But to my pleasant surprise, Mr life. We also foresee the price of domestic gas Sampaoli, having received the letter, took me crashing too. to an o΀ce prepared for me to start a new job as wages supervisor immediately. Apparently, :KDW ZLOO \RX VD\ PDNHV \RXU FRPSDQ\ Mr Wagner had written a good recommenda- stand out? tion on my behalf. In no time, I was promoted The group’s philosophy is based on patience, to be the personnel manager. I consider these honesty, transparency and integrity. It’s important episodes a special grace, apart from the fact that to be patient in life. Hard work always pays I was honest, diligent and forward-looking. It is oͿ in the long run. When you honestly apply also important that being obedient to my father yourself to the job at hand and work hard, you

This year is a testament to how far your FRPSDQ\ KDV FRPH It is a glorious 30 years. The group was founded on November 11, 1991. With an o΀ce at inception in 1991 at Warri, Lee Engineering Group has acquired the necessary technical capabilities that have enabled us to execute major projects in the industry successfully. Lee Engineering now has its operational base at Warri, Delta State, branch o΀ce at Port Harcourt, and Headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria. In addition, we now have overseas o΀ces in the United Kingdom, Italy and the United States of America (Houston). Integrity is our watchword. We run an honest business. We have honest and hard-working staͿ. We are not honest and hard-working some of the time. We are honest and hard-working all the time. The company is transparent. For the 30 years of being in business, there is no stain on the company’s name. Every member of staͿ has demonstrated ingenuity and integrity. I have used my life as an example in honesty, hard work, integrity, and transparency. These are values everyone in the group holds there. Our continued existence in the past three decades calls for thanksgiving.

We will do just so on Sunday, this Sunday. The least we can do is to be thankful. Things haven’t been all that rosy, but we give thanks. are more likely to succeed. The least product of hard work is dignity. The satisfaction that you work for what you earn. Closely related to that is integrity. One must have integrity. You must be known not just for being hard-working, but you must let integrity permeate every process of your hard work, your operations. For Lee Engineering and me, personally, integrity is the key. You may have all the technical knowhow, but without integrity, one may not go far. Integrity is the key in our business. For us, integrity is not a concept. It is who we are. With integrity, every business partner, client, supplier, or vendor looks for you because they trust you.

We have honest and hard-working staͿ. We are not honest and hard-working some of the time. We are honest and hard-working all the time. The company is transparent. In the last 30 years, we have demonstrated those qualities without a measure of deviation. I have used my exemplary life of honesty, hard work, integrity, and transparency to demonstrate the importance of honesty and integrity to my staͿ.

<RX DUH SDVVLRQDWH DERXW MRE FUHDWLRQ DQG 1LJHULDQ \RXWKV PD[LPLVLQJ WKHLU SRWHQWLDO :KDW DGYLFH GR \RX KDYH IRU WKHP" I will urge them to identify who they are; what their talent is. Despite life’s challenges, if one can identify where their talent lies and diligently pursue it, they will more likely succeed and Ànd fulÀlment in life. Nigerian youths will fare better if they demonstrate patience even in this fast-paced world. They should be willing to understudy successful persons, whether young or old. While staying humble, they should know what they want.

Who will you say has inspired you the most in life?

That’s a British man, Jim Calderwood. He was inspirational to me. ‘Work hard Work hard ’ he would always tell me back in the days. He was unrelenting in keeping me on my toes. But he was never short of encouraging words that always Àred my spirit, my determination to continue to do well. He would stress the need for me to be honest, and I remained steadfast and kept my $Q\ VXFFHVVLRQ UHWLUHPHQW SODQV" There will always be a succession plan; if you integrity. From that past to the present, I have may like, call it retirement. But I will only turn 65 always kept my head high, remaining honest in December this year. There’s still much energy and keeping my integrity. to expend. I love being active, and I believe with What’s your regret in life?

God’s support, I still have many more years to My regret is that my parents did not live long contribute to the development of not just the enough to enjoy all the blessings I have had today.

Lee Engineering Group but humanity.

I would have loved them to see how far the :KDW·V \RXU DGYLFH IRU \RXQJ SOD\HUV ZKR values they impacted in me have carried me.

They did not live long to see me achieve success.

ZDQW WR FRPH LQWR WKH LQGXVWU\" They have got to be patient. They shouldn’t I regret it, but I give God the glory.

I will want to improve on my legacy: my be in a rush and be willing to learn, and for them to learn, they must be honest and transparent. integrity and honesty, and continue following They must have integrity. Anyone who wants God’s way. I will continue to be who I am, no to succeed must demonstrate those qualities. matter the success I attain in business.

If you’re in a rush, you’ll rush in and rush out. :KDW ZLOO \RX FKDQJH LI \RX KDYH WKH RSIt’s heartwarming that some Nigerian youths are very intelligent and ready to learn. Some portunity to live your life all over again?

I will want to improve on my legacy: my are on the fast lane. integrity and honesty, and continue following 'RQ·W \RX WKLQN WKH HFRQRPLF FLUFXPVWDQFHV God’s way. It’s a thing of beauty to improve WRGD\ KDYH ZRUVHQHG WKH FKDQFHV RI 1LJHULDQ whatever good you’ve done, to create something and make it even better. I am convinced I have \RXWKV FRPSDUHG WR WKH SDVW" You only need to look at how many of today’s worked so hard to have come this far. But I am youngsters are willing to get their hands dirty also convinced that the things I have done over beyond the few diligent and intelligent ones.Are the years could be improved. What do people say all those with bright ideas and energy willing about improvement? There’s always room for to go through the whole hog? Some of them improvement. That’s what makes the world go aren’t ready to work. But the bottom line is the round. It’s breathtaking to consider the various window of opportunities is still open for them. innovations and improvements the world has We must admit that things are more fast-paced witnessed since the turn of the century in terms in today’s world; no doubt about that. We must of travel, communication, exploration, health also admit that there are more challenges facing care, and defence.

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WEEKLY PULL-OUT

28.11.2021

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BASHORUN KOLA DAISI INSIDE STORY OF AN INDUSTRIALIST TURNED EDUCATIONIST Looking regal, charming with a mien of contentment in white apparel, the Ibadan High Chief Bashorun Kola Daisi always made an impression on his visitors with his incredible voice. A leading industrialist of his time, his fortune spans over six decades. Following his great antecedents in business, he floated Kola Daisi University with the aim of impacting the lives of Nigerian youths and leaving a lasting legacy. The octogenarian billionaire tells Funke Olaode how his humble beginning stimulated his interest in education.

is sprawling mansion is tucked inside a secluded area in Iyaganku GRA in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. Inside the palatial edifice, a first time visitor is immersed in the air of affluence of the owner. Daisi’s childhood photograph in a neatly-cut coat is in itself a throwback on his early years before becoming a young successful lawyer and a corporate titan. His older pictures in big traditional robe alongside the ‘who’s who’ in Nigeria and abroad attest to his broad spectrum of friends and influence in high-class social circles.

Looking regal in white apparel and with a charm irresistible, the Ibadan High Chief Kola Daisi impressed this reporter with his incredible voice.

He has come a long way in his life trajectory. Advancing age hasn’t slowed him down as he continues to make his mark as a lawyer, industrialist and now an educationist. Like an old wine which tastes better with age, Daisi has such amiable persona built on the benefit of hindsight.

Born on September 14, 1932, in Ibadan, Daisi rose from humble beginnings. With sheer brilliance, he brought the family to prominence.

His academic strength was first tested at Christ Apostolic School where he had his primary education from 1938 to 1943. Here, Daisi demonstrated his skills and embraced the philosophy that ability to succeed in the game of life as an individual lies in your hands. At age seven, the young Daisi embraced his studies, becoming a ‘Star Kid.’ He proceeded to Ibadan Boys’ High School where eventually graduated under the watchful eyes of the school principal, the late T.L. Oyesina in 1951. He was also tutored by the late Professor Okonjo, the father of Director –General of World Trade Organization, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala. Daisi led the school and the whole of Ibadan Centre with his outstanding Grade ‘1’ Certificate and the young man became a sensation as the results of his school certificate was published in the Nigerian Tribune. This was 70 years ago when he was only 19 years.

His parents didn’t have money to send him abroad, but his brilliance stood him out. After winning the Native Authority Scholarship, he went to England to study Economics and Law at the University of London after which he was called to the bar at Middle Temple. Daisi had an early rise in life as he became a legal celebrity shortly after he was posted to Ibadan by the law firm of Ayo Rosiji and Company following the victory he had over a legal icon in a celebrated case.

By the time he was 28, Daisi already had the world in his pocket, Sadly, he had a few setback and redirected his focus. He joined Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI)

ASSISTANT EDITOR OLUFUNKE OLAODE/victoria.olaode@thisdaylive.com.

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How My Humble Background Stimulates My Interest in Education

and worked with the organization for 11 years where he became the Chief Executive. He also served as Executive Director of the Nigerian Association of Chambers Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and co-founded the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce- serving as its first Executive Director.

Working with LCCI and by extension NACCIMA was indeed the game changer for Chief Daisi and that experience turned him into a thoroughbred businessman.

While at LCCI, he interfaced with many local and foreign businessmen and by the time he left the organization, he had

Daisi

been thoroughly schooled in the art and science of doing business. However, he still had some doubts in business owing to his earlier experience but he knew he could always go back to legal practice. In time, his instinct paid off. He stayed with business and blossomed with stupendous wealth. Daisi started many business organizations, including Ibadan Civic Centre and would later invest in real estate and blue chip companies.

That Daisi is a philanthropist per excellence is an understatement. He uses his means to help the poor while ensuring a

proper coordination of his philanthropic activities. Daisi established the Kola Daisi Foundation (KDF), a nongovernment, non-profit, non-partisan and non-sectarian organization in 1993 to “help Nigerians in the areas of health care, poverty alleviation and children education.”

From inception, the foundation has made serious impact in the three core areas of its intervention. In the area of healthcare, KDF has as its objective, the provision of healthcare “to everyone particularly at the grassroots level. To achieve this objective, the foundation set up “The Itunu Fund” at the University College Hospital

(U.C.H.), Ibadan. The fund is devoted to treating indigent patients irrespective of age, ethnic group or gender. Later, the foundation put up a model primary and community health care services. It has partnered the UCH, Ibadan to provide the required manpower and specialist equipment at the clinic. The clinic was commissioned in 2011 by former military head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar.

In poverty alleviation intervention of the foundation, KDF has empowered thousands of traders and artisans to improve their vocation. Many trade associations have benefitted from its interest free loans of up to N20,000 to invest in their businesses. In fulfillment of its education mandate, Kola Daisi Foundation, in 1998, donated a two-storey Computer Centre to the University of Ibadan. The building consists of a lecture theatre, several tutorial rooms, many offices for lecturers and administrative staff as well as a computer laboratory.

The foundation also donated a threestorey block of 15 classrooms, including a fully equipped computer classroom with six new computers and printer to the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Nursery and Primary School, Itabaale Olugbode, Ibadan, his alma mater. In addition, two blocks, housing male and female toilets were also built, complete with borehole for potable water to which the whole community also has access “I am delighted to go back to Christ Apostolic Church School. We did new blocks of 15 classrooms and knocked down some old dilapidated parts of the school. Most of it were built with clay, we removed the roofs and replaced them with aluminum roofs in all cases. We provided a borehole, in that particular area which has rocks. It cost quite a few naira to build the borehole. And we have almost always gone back there to make sure that the borehole is working. When we were there in 1938 to 1943, we used water from the stream for all our purposes. There was nothing like water system for toilets at that time. Children who are unfortunate to come to school without having a bath were immersed in that water like you are doing a baptism,” he recounted.

Apart from scholarships for indigent pupils and orphans, KDF has also endowed prizes in three Nigerian universities for Medicine, Law and Humanities; setting up vocational skills acquisition centre to address mass youth unemployment, underemployment and restiveness.

In 2016, the federal government granted a license to the Kola Daisi Foundation to operate the Kola Daisi University, Ibadan with focus on vocational education to tackle unemployment. To actualize this, the university has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Highbury College, Portsmouth, on the establishment of a vocational/skill acquisition centre at the university.

“I am fulfilling my destiny of touching the less privileged through education. My background was enough to simulate my interest in education. My parents never had the privilege of seeing the inside of a school at all. Their background was within a farming community, a family of farmers.

And they migrated then in the late 18th century to Ibadan. As a complete illiterate, they decided to send me to school,’’ he recounted.

Out of 150 families of single boys, his father made his family stand out with his effort to get the children educated formally. The opportunity that education brings his way in conquering his world to become successful has a ripple effect in touching the lives of others.

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ometimes referred to as the Big Masquerade’, ‘The Oracle’, ‘Cicero of Law’, ‘the King of Jurisprudence’ or ‘Legal Wizard’, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) boasts of several appellations earned from his antecedents in legal practice.

On the occasion of his birthday penultimate week, President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, governors, lawmakers, judges, lawyers, associations, corporate organisations, universities, churches and mosques all congratulated him for attaining the milestone of 70 years.

In his 45 years’ post-call to the Bar, Olanipekun has espoused the causes of justice and freedom.

Born in Ikere Ekiti, Ekiti State on November 18, 1951, Olanipekun attended Amonye Grammar School, Ikere Ekiti between 1965 and 1969 where he obtained the West African School Certificate (WASC). His academic brilliance laid the foundation for his appointment as the Senior Prefect. He proceeded to Ilesa Grammar School in 1970 from where he obtained the Higher School Certificate (HSC) in 1971.

At Ilesha Grammar School, the young Olanipekun manifested his innate leadership qualities, thus becoming the Editor-in-Chief of the school magazine (The Spike). He was also the chairman, Students Representative Committee in 1971. In 1972, he gained admission into the University of Lagos where he bagged the Bachelor of Law degree in 1975. Like light-drawing moths, Olanipekun attracted many friends and admirers with his enchanting brilliance, which led to his election as the Secretary-General of the Students’ Union between 1973 and 1974.

The senior lawyer had once revealed how he resolved to study Law. While in Amoye Grammar School, Ikere Ekiti, he became extremely close to one of his seniors, Prof. Niyi Osundare, an internationally acclaimed poet.

Before and during his days at Ilesa Grammar School, where he did his A-Level, Olanipekun’s only ambition was to study English like Osundare. On Osundare’s resumption at the Christ’s School, Ado Ekiti, where he had just been posted after bagging his first degree in English from the University of Ibadan, young Olanipekun was one of the first visitors from Ikere to visit him in Ado-Ekiti. His mission was clear– to tell the young teacher of his determination to follow his (Osundare’s) career path.

Osundare had hardly allowed Olanipekun to finish his rhetoric before telling him frankly that the future belonged to the professionals.

The mentor thus advised his mentee to aspire towards studying Law. Reluctantly, the young Wole, quietly haunted by the dashed dream of exploring English and Literature, agreed with Osundare. After settling down in Ikere, where his father was already waiting, Wole relayed the news of his mentor’s preference for Law but Pa Isaac Olanipekun kicked against it. As a staunch Christian, the senior Olanipekun was not ready to raise a son who would later become a member of a secret cult. As at then, he believed one must necessarily belong to a secret society to excel in Law. He later settled for Mass Communication and actually attempted to pursue it at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka or Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

In his first attempt, he passed the examination, gained admission. However, he missed the admission letter. The following year, he was offered Law at the University of Lagos but he quickly approached the university authority to convey his decision to change the course in deference to his father’s wish. In the process of changing the course, he encountered a senior management staff of UNILAG who was an old student of Ilesa Grammar School, where Olanipekun did A-Level. The man didn’t only advise Wole against changing from Law to Mass Communication, he sent him to his father in Ikere that the young Wole had gotten the best opportunity with Law admission.

He attended the Nigerian Law School, Lagos from 1975 and 1976 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1976. He was a junior counsel in the Messrs Oniyangi & Co in Ilorin between 1977 and 1979. In 1980, he became the Principal Partner of Messrs Wole Olanipekun & Co. Since then, there is now no looking back for this great lawyer who today has become not only a household name in Law in Nigeria, but one of the most sought after lawyers by presidents, governors, lawmakers, businessmen, politicians and corporate organisations.

Olanipekun has ascended to the level of such eponymous figures recognised only on a first name basis such as Awolowo, Balewa, Zik, Soyinka, Chief Frederick Rotimi Alade (FRA) Williams, among others on account of his professional achievements and the noble values that he represents.

The colossal name, Olanipekun was also

Cheers to A Legal Collosus, Olanipekun, at 70 Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) means many things to many people: a husband, father, grandfather, principal and a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association. His 70th birthday celebrations had been loaded with the outpouring of goodwill messages from the Presidency, National Assembly, the bench, the bar, professional associations, top universities and corporations, as well as churches and mosques for his contributions to the law, jurisprudence and humanity, Davidson Iriekpen writes

Olanipekun

built on his humanitarian gestures through the years. Long before Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) became an intrinsic part of corporate philosophy in this part of the world, Olanipekun had been in the forefront of humanitarian services and philanthropism.

Within and outside his Ikere Ekiti country home, he has launched interventional projects in education, health, information technology and the Law profession.

When he was appointed Chairman, University of Ibadan (UI) Governing Council in 2009, he did an excellent job. His contributions were both largely interventionist and redemptive, expending his personal money on assisting UI. He never took a dime from UI. To mark his tenure in UI, he built a 400-seat capacity lecture theatre; brought a private orientation into the public sector in UI and changed the operational styles.

A Spartan, abstemious in lifestyle, Olanipekun has been found to be honourable and noble in personal outlook who never waivers in his ideological commitment. He is gracious, generous and a man of sterling integrity with zero tolerance for corruption.

He is a great man that has been used by God to raise many men. Thousands of children of the poor have been raised through his scholarship scheme worth millions of Naira every year. Many have equally benefitted from his scholarship for their Ph.D programme.

The former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the old Ondo State has assisted many lawyers in their careers with his uncommon largeness of heart. Clearly, when some people are committed to self and selfish interests, Olanipekun is committed to the good of the generality.

He is generally respected for his great humility in spite of his intellectual exploits and professional achievements. He has no time to think about petty subtleties of unethical conduct.

This legal panjandrum has always maintained a dignified silence and quietly tucked in his rather intimidating corner. He believes it is better to react to some life’s irritations with no reaction.

With him, you are assured of wise-cracks, profound thoughts, spiritually ennobling insights, sublime statements and words of wisdom.

Interestingly, it is on record that not long after finishing his tenure in UI as Chairman of Council, Olanipekun was also appointed the Chairman of Council of Ajayi Crowther University (ACU) Oyo. He is still there, replicating all the good work he did in UI. He has built several structures for ACU, tarred roads and keeps spending his money freely on developmental projects that fetch him happiness.

This legend’s charity surely begins from home having done so much for his ancient town, Ikere Ekiti. He built a multi-million Naira ultra-modern church for the Anglican communion; donated computer centres to some 323 secondary schools in addition to the Health Centre. Wole Olanipekun Scholarship scheme has also been the path through which many indigent yet brilliant students across the country get support for the past 20 years.

Yet, this suave gentleman does not demonstrate egomaniacal pomposities. He is prudent and parsimonious, preaching the virtues of humility, dedication and nobility.

Without a doubt, Olanipekun who is no less a paladin of moral, legal, social and political rectitude lives a life of sacrifice and service with his deep benevolence finding expression in his genial looks. To me, a life that touches others’ lives forever. From his sartorial preferences to his leadership style, he stands pretty tall and far away from the archetypical lot. His signature smile is attractive, sparkling and memorable. His is a story of decency and dignity.

Call him a deft minefield walker, you will probably not be wrong. Olanipekun has successfully meandered through some of the many traps of life, characterised by treachery, betrayal and outright envy. He is an institution of learning, school of wisdom and a mobile library.

A rare embodiment of courage, Olanipekun has charisma and credibility.

Chief Olanipekun is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb.), Fellow, Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (FICMC), Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (FNIALS) and Fellow, College of Education, Ikere (FCEI).

He was awarded with the degree of Doctor of Letters, Honoris Causa (LL.D) by the University of Ibadan, in November, 2014 and on 4th November, 2021, he was conferred with the degree of Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) by Redeemers University, Ede, Osun State. He holds the National Honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (OFR).

Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), within and outside Nigeria has mentored hundreds of lawyers, who see him as a teacher, counsellor, role model, father and shepherd. Several lawyers have also passed through his Chambers, starting from 1982 to date, and a good number of them occupy high and vintage positions at the Bar, Bench, in politics and the corporate world. Ten distinguished learned colleagues who cut their legal teeth under him, including his two sons, Dr. Dapo Olanipekun and Bode Olanipekun have both attained the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

Olanipekun is happily married to Princess Omolara Olanipekun (Erelu), and the marriage is blessed with four children who are all lawyers; two sons and two daughters, all of whom are also happily married. His two sons, like their industrious father, are also Senior Advocates of Nigeria.

As he celebrates his 70th birthday, one can only say, well done to the legal icon, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), in whom we are well pleased.

May you continue to be sensitive to the leading of the Lord as greater grace and glory befall you.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ NOVEMBER 28, 2021

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GLITZ ENTERTAINMENT

Tems to Headline Novel Concert at Livespot X Festival Stories by Vanessa Obioha The newly Grammy-nominated artist and Nigerian music star, Tems, will be headlining a concert at the Livespot X Festival. The concert is her first in Nigeria since 2019.

Tems global status was affirmed in her recent nomination at the Grammys. Her collaborative single with Wizkid ‘Essence’ was nominated in the ‘Best Global Music Performance’ for the 64th Grammy Awards. The song fetched rave reviews for the young female musician and reached platinum status in the US. ‘Essence’ is also the first Nigerian song to spend a year on the Billboard World Album charts.

Still reeling off of the excitement of her album ‘If Orange was a Place’, a Billboard Hot 100 hit song, several nods from BET, MTV, The Headies and a Drake feature, Tems is one of the fastest-rising acts out of Africa.

Tems

Chris Ihidero’s TV Series to Debut in December Filmmaker and director Chris Ihidero recently announced that his new TV series will be coming to the screen in December.

The 26-part series named ‘Man Pikin’ tells the story of a man’s daily struggles with raising his kids after his wife’s passing. ‘‘This is one of many to come. In September 2019 we cranked on the content machinery we had been working on for a year and hit the set to deliver the first product off our production line, season one of ‘Man Pikin’, a family comedy series.

‘Man Pikin’ is my nod to Fuji House of Commotion, Nigeria’s longest-running and highly popular family comedy series I was privileged to direct for five years,’’ says Ihidero.

The first season of Man Pikin features an impressive cast list, including Uche Odoputa, Olakunle Abounce Fawole, Ogechi Aniegboka and Nonso Ibiakwuma, as well as Amanda Iriekpen and King David Akpakwu. Crew credits include Grace Babasola, Chiemeka Osuagwu,

The artist born Temilade Openiyi will build on the success of past editions of Livespot360’s produced concerts featuring Kim Kardashian, Ciara, Cardi B and more as she has assured that her music lovers and fans will be treated to her best performance yet at the concert ‘A Place Called Orange,’ taking place at the Livespot Entertainment Center in Lagos.

Livespot360 has also revealed that the Livespot X Festival will give Nigerians an exciting end to the year while being fully compliant with the current pandemic era. The concert series, which is targeted at a diverse audience, will feature concert days tailormade to suit different categories of attendees with exciting multisensory experiences and several established artists billed to perform.

The six-day event will also feature other music superstars due to be announced soon.

A Big First for Made Kuti

Ihidero

Taiwo Adeleye, Wole Ajetomobi, Halima Bakenne and Chike Egwuaka. Ihidero serves as the executive producer and lead director.

Ihidero who is also the owner of PinPoint Media, a Nigerian film and media company working to industrialise content creation and distribution in Africa disclosed that PinPoint is on a mission to help the industry create a system that scales without compromising on quality and compensation.

“It’s what Hollywood was built on, and we are excited about the opportunity to join all other visionaries around

Arguably, the year has been a successful ride for Made Kuti, son of Afrobeat maestro, Femi Kuti. From staging his own concerts to bagging global and continental nominations, he is stamping his identity on the music industry. Fresh from his AFRIMA nomination, Made earned a nomination alongside his father at the 64th Grammy Awards. Their collaborative album ‘Legacy+’ was nominated in the Best Global Music Album category.

“My mind is blown!! A Grammy nomination from my debut album! All those years I spent practising all those instruments by myself to record an album, I would play every instrument by myself! Notating the music, recording it, editing it! Thank you to everyone that was involved,” he enthused.

The Kutis were nominated in the same category alongside Angelique Kidjo for her album, ‘Mother Nature,’ Rocky Dawumi for the album, ‘Voice of Bunbon Volume 1,’ and Wizkid for his album, ‘Made In Lagos.’

Made, the first son of Femi Kuti and Funke Kuti has been walking on a familiar path of music since he was young. He was a member of his father’s Positive Force band for a while after he graduated from London’s Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in 2018.

The nomination is a big first for the young Kuti and a fifth for his father. He is now the third generation Kuti to earn a Grammy nomination. Neither his father, Femi nor his uncle, Seun Kuti, have won the award. Perhaps, Made will bring a lucky charm.

2Baba, Wande Coal, Johnny Drille Enchant at Schweppes New Flavour Launch

2Baba

Nigerian music icon 2Baba, joined by WandeCoal,ReekadoBanks, and JohnnyDrille,dazzledguests atthe recentlaunchofSchweppes’ newZobo and Gingervariants.

Marking the occasion, the OX Restaurant and Lounge located in

Victoria Island, Lagos, was transformed into a visual spectacle using bright lights, a DJ stand, a mini-stage, and a sitting arrangement that accommodated an impressive number of guests.

To truly savour the unique flavours of ginger and zobo, guests were treated to popular Nigerian music and several servings of canapes that blended well with fizzy cocktails and mocktails concocted using both variants as the base.

Not long after the event kicked off with

Nancy Isime and Ebuka Obi-Uchendu as hosts, Johnny Drille took to the stage to perform a medley of his top-charting songs including ‘Hallelujah, and the evergreen ‘Romeo and Juliet’. The afterparty event was anchored by 2Baba, Wande Coal, and Reekado Banks, all thrilling guests until dawn.

Attended by industry’s favourites like duo Schweppes ambassadors Sharon Ooja and Mike Edwards, Derin Odugbesan-Thomas, Mimi Onalaja, Idia Aisien Jemima Osunde, the event could easily be termed as a gathering of the stars in an evening filled with mystic and magic.

Made Kuti

Evergreen Musical Company Partners National Theatre for Musical Contest

Bimbo Esho of Evergreen Musical Company

Through a strategic partnership, Evergreen Musical Company and the National Theatre have birthed the inaugural edition of Thrillerbandz@ Theatre, a musical contest spotlighting musicians of different local Nigerian genres, with the sole purpose of elongating the legacy of Nigerian music and attracting global music executives.

Thrillerbandz@Theatre is a two-day event scheduled to hold Friday, December 17, and Saturday, December 18, and will have special appearances from the likes of Ebenezer Obey, Mike Okri, Stella Monye, and Yinka Davies.

Speaking recently at a press conference, the CEO, Evergreen Musical Company Bimbo Esho reiterated the purpose of the competition.

“The primary objective of the programme is to showcase an important aspect of our musical heritage for development into a viable cultural product.

It is to ginger our local musicians and boost their compositions to reflect meaningful lyrics, stage appeal, as well as excellent music to delight music patrons, even beyond the shores of Nigeria.”

The contest will come on the heels of the second edition of Festival of Unity organised by the National Theatre.

The festival is aimed at preserving, promoting, and presenting Nigeria’s cultural heritage through an exhibition of music, dance, drama, comedy, film shows, and street carnival.

Themed ‘Enduring, Optimising,’

the sophomore edition will reflect the collective spirit of Nigerians who strive to project the nation in positive lights.

According to the GM/CEO of National Theatre, Prof. Sunday E. Ododo “the tag is apt,” especially after the events of last year that was marked by the global shutdown of economies caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. “We have remained optimistic,” he pointed out, referring to the unflinching spirit of his team.

Also, Garnering positive responses, both events have gained the support of the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, as affirmed by the Special Adviser to the Governor, Mr Solomon Bonu.

Festival of Unity is slated for Friday, December 10, and will run through to Sunday, December 12, 2021.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ NOVEMBER 28, 2021

HighLife

with KAYODE ALFRED 08116759807, E-mail: kayflex2@yahoo.com

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

Road to 2023 Presidency: How Feasible is Saraki’s Game Plan?

Peters’

Benny Peters’ Love for Humanity It is the 21st Century of man’s recorded history. The times have changed as the earth and humanity have gone through amazing eras of refinement and modernity. However, something remains unchanged, and that is the human heart. Sometimes, it cares for itself and nobody else.

Other times, it goes out of its way to comfort, reconcile and restore others to health and good fortune. This is the narrative between the founder of Aiteo Group, Nigeria’s largest indigenous oil-producing firm, Benedict ‘Benny’ Peters, and the littleknown Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Since the beginning of November 2021, folks have raised alarm over the fact that a non-producing wellhead in Nembe LGA has been leaking and gushing its contents all over the place. Expectedly, there was some delay over who will be the first to help the residents and fix the problem. Thankfully, Peters’ company has taken this step and gotten other influential companies to join him in cleaning up the mess.

According to reports, Aiteo reacted immediately to the problem of the leaking wellhead. However, this was largely unknown to most people because the company had resorted to working underground first, collecting information, alerting regulatory agencies, and mobilising their resources to contain the problem.

Recognising that the spillage could potentially devastate the natural environment for years to come, Peters’ company also organised a Joint Inspection Visit (JIV) and went about setting up proactive measures to fix the spill and save the environment and people. So far, Aiteo has even gotten Clean Nigeria Associates (CNA) involved, alongside the most prominent well-controlling company in the world, Boots & Coots.

Considering Peters’ moves, it is only a matter of time before the faulty wellhead is fixed. In the meantime, Peters’ entourage has paid visits to affected communities, bringing relief materials and helping the people survive the harrowing experience.

That is a businessperson with a heart for you. Quite a rare sight in these modern times.

The march towards the 2023 general election in Nigeria is getting more and more interesting.

The major political parties, All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), are taking long strides in direct and indirect campaigns. Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki has now broken the discussion board by declaring his intention to enter the presidential race in 2023.

Saraki made his move while on a courtesy visit to Benue State. Inspired by Governor Samuel Ortom to appreciate and strengthen PDP leaders in Benue, Saraki shared, among other things, his desire and determination to become the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Not unexpectedly, pundits have begun to analyse Saraki’s decision, debating its feasibility.

Of course, to those who might have assumed that the Kwara man was joking, the presence of mighty dignitaries—including the former Governor of Kogi State, Idris Wada; former National Chairman of the PDP, Kawu Baraje; Senator Suleiman Adokwe; and the Chairman of

Council for Saraki’s President Campaign, Prof.

Iyorwuese Hagher—at the event is enough to put a lid on that assumption.

Saraki is serious and intends to claim the mantle of President Muhammadu Buhari using the PDP umbrella. First, assuming that Saraki can sweep through the opposition in PDP during the primaries and then successfully take the first position at the end, what can he offer Nigerians?

Taking a step back, besides his party, what charm or past achievements will he use to convince Nigerians to vote him in?

These are questions that simple-minded folks are asking.

As Ortom and others like him have noted, Saraki might secure the trust and vote of folks in the North Central region. However, the odds of success are no less for any other PDP or APC candidate from the region. Moreover, the Northcentral region is only one out of six others. Is Saraki’s past prestige as Senate President enough for a grand momentum towards the presidential seat?

Citizen of Humanity: Sholaye Jeremi and Philanthropy

Jeremi

On his LinkedIn page, Chief Abiodun Atobatele describes himself as “an experienced InfoTech Expert, Serial Investor, Entrepreneur and Fintech expert, TechLaw Expert.” What he does not mention is that he is involved with myriad initiatives and programs to stabilise Nigerian society and help young people actively contribute to the growth of the economy. What he does not say is that he has a heart of gold that others can only ogle from a long distance.

Humanity’s goodness is so rare that we celebrate every act of kindness to the point of forgetting that compassion is man’s second nature. This is why there are so many philanthropists in Nigeria, but a few people with the welfare of the people on their minds. Like Atobatele, these few individuals do not carry gongs and carve their deeds on their foreheads.

No! But people can see them, regardless of how tenaciously they try to hide.

And this is the case with Atobatele. He tries to hide his good deeds. Humble to a fault, the man is a visionary who cares for others as much as he cares for himself. As far-reaching as his personal and business interests are, so is his concern for

Say what you want about Nigerians, there is something inherently special about us that keeps us dedicated to our pursuits. For some, the goal is to climb into the azure and build a name there. For others, the goal is to erect an everlasting kingdom on earth. For someone like the billionaire businessman, Jeremi Sholaye, the goals are the same since he only wants to help other people.

No ordinary man can shoulder the burden of all humanity, but that does not mean that people like Sholaye are not trying to. With wave after wave of philanthropic gestures, many looking on from the outside are inspired to contribute their quota. With people who treat underprivileged strangers as they would their own immediate relatives, everything is possible with a heart that believes and feels for others.

Abiodun Atobatele: Midas with a Heart of Gold

Atobatele

Saraki

Truth be told, Sholaye is not the most outstanding philanthropist because he does the biggest things, or because he has touched the most lives. What stands him out most of the time is that he gets it. Sholaye understands that generosity is heartfelt when it is private, not screened through the lenses of a mobile device. So, yes, Sholaye may be described— and he has been described—as the most tightlipped philanthropist in Nigeria.

Despite this, those from his native Delta State, regard him as a benefactor. Too many of the youths from that region have taken part in Sholaye’s empowerment schemes.

Some of these have even gone on to become benefactors and philanthropists themselves. What is better than feeding and clothing others? It is empowering them to feed and clothe themselves and do the same for their neighbours and outsiders. That is what Sholaye has accomplished.

People say that Nigeria is a place with several thousand citizens of humanity. True or otherwise, Sholaye stands out even though he tries not to. others, especially young people. This is why the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, happily conferred on Abiodun the chieftaincy title of Bada Bobagunwa Egba earlier this year.

How many youths in Lagos and Ogun States have benefitted from Abiodun’s largesse? How many families have seen their dinner tables stockpiled with food and drink because of Abiodun’s generosity? How many scholarships have gone out with the names of strangers inscribed within and Abiodun’s seal in one tiny corner, even though he is the sponsor? It is no surprise that things are going so well for Abiodun.

Since setting up his ATB Techsoft Solutions in 2007, Abiodun has gone from being a tech enthusiast to the champion of the tech industry in Nigeria. Besides ATB, he also founded X3 Leasing limited, a consumer lending business, in 2016. Each of these businesses ensures that Abiodun’s reputation precedes him. However, as the patois goes, his business strides are brilliant, but it is generosity for us.

Best Legacy: How Governor Sanwo-Olu Builds the Best Secondary School Libraries in Nigeria American educational reformer, Horace Mann, said that “Education, then, beyond all other divides of human origin, is a great equalizer of conditions of men—the balance wheel of the social machinery.”

This is a fact that the governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has taken to heart. As the man has always insisted since coming to office in 2019, that education is the best tool to close societal gaps, whether these gaps exist in personal growth, regional development, or wealth distribution.

Lagos has seen quite a few governors, some of whom have expressed a desire to transform the state and city. None of these governors under the new democratic dispensation stand on the same dais of achievements as Sanwo-Olu. Within two months, the man has fleshed out Lagos and renovated both its human and physical components.

The primary point of concentration in Sanwo-Olu’s government has always been the

maximisation of human capital. This has driven every project and programme that the governor and his team of progressive leaders have ever initiated or implemented. Of these projects, the one that stands out the most, that has the most direct impact on Sanwo-Olu’s overall goal, is the transformation of secondary school infrastructure.

Other state leaders might let one or two students be governor for a day. Sanwo-Olu gives every student the chance to be whatever they want to be, regardless of the height of their aspirations. He does this by availing the best infrastructures for learning and studying, for example, ultramodern and digital libraries.

Thus, thanks to the governor’s progressive thinking, many of the secondary schools in Lagos are undergoing needed phases of transformation.

Students are taking a fancy to quality books because Sanwo-Olu has made them available.

And this is a state-wide project.

Sanwo-Olu

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ NOVEMBER 28, 2021

HIGHLIFE

Great Times for Reverend Mother Esther Ajayi The year 2021 has been awesome for many people. Besides the harrowing struggle to get out of the shadow of 2020 and the COVID-19 experience, many grew out of their skins and reached for the azure. The founder of the Love of Christ Generation Church C&S (Worldwide), Reverend Esther Ajayi, made the list of Nigerians who reached the heavens and made her home among the stars.

Based on the information from credible sources, including photos that were recently posted online, Ajayi has gotten herself a brand-new private jet. With this acquisition, the illustrious ‘Iya adura’ has not only placed a colourful lid on an otherwise bland year; she has also joined the Nigerian clergy class who must be breeding a Brobdingnagian bucks-bearing tree in their backyards.

Reacting to this achievement, social media in Nigeria is currently fired up and celebrating the prophetess. She has become the subject of a new variant of the old ‘where una dey find this love’ cliche. For Ajayi, the jolly query has been “where una dey find this money?” This

Rev Ajayi

is even more phenomenal considering that she only concluded a building massive, what, two

months ago?

Many will recall that the assembly of the Love of Christ Generation Church in Nigeria and outside was all of a flutter in September when the most prestigious personalities joined them and their Reverend Mother in dedicating a massive and ultramodern cathedral. Erected on the waterfront of Victoria Island extension, the building is reported to have gobbled up N5 billion. Needless to say, it was a big day for everybody, especially members of the C&S group.

And now, there is an even bigger achievement, placing Ajayi on the same dais as the most noteworthy global-figure pastors of Nigerian origin.

One might argue that the acquisition of Ajayi’s private jet says something about the prestige of clergywomen all over the world, C&S congregations, philanthropists, etc. For all of these groups, Ajayi has broken through a bottleneck. Perhaps now that she has done it, others like her will bravely follow.

Well Deserved: Olubadan Honours Wole Arisekola with Chieftaincy Title These are the best days for notable journalist, publisher of Ireland-based journal, The Street Journal, and happy businessman, Bowale Oluwole Arisekola. Following the traditions of the land in recognising its most active and valued sons, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso, conferred on Arisekola the title of Mogaji Ajenigi-Eye of Yemetu-Oje, Ibadan.

The installation ceremony was held at the palace of the Olubadan in Popo Yemoja, Ibadan, Oyo State, on Monday, November 22, 2021.

Besides being fired up at the thought of getting a new position from which he can better serve his people, Arisekola was also distinctly excited over the fact that the title corresponds to his fixation on improving a lot of Ibadan indigenes, whether they be underprivileged or otherwise.

Arisekola was not left to celebrate the appointment alone. Apart from a few others who were also assigned chieftaincy titles, Arisekola was joined by some of the most respectable characters in the country. These

include Honourable Sina Alabi, Alhaji Tunde Ologburo, Seun Fakorede (the Oyo State Commissioner of Youth and Sports), Prince Eniola Oyeyode Oyesosin, Mogaji Adekunle Kare, and several others.

In response to the appointment, Arisekola did not become overconfident or complacent.

Instead, he thanked his monarch, the Olubadan, for the privilege to serve in a higher capacity.

He stated that the promotion is evidence that his commitment to the community—and the accompanying—is not wasted. Convinced that his path is true and impactful, Arisekola promised to do more.

In his own words, “This is just the beginning of greater things to come to my family and Ibadan land. My plan is to consult around to know what my people lack which I’ve already been doing through my foundation by supporting Ibadan indigenes, widows and the less privileged in society.”

Indeed, Arisekola has not spared any effort in supporting his people. In fact, some reports

Arisekola

claim that he commits a sizable fraction of the proceeds from his media businesses, especially, to this cause. If such a person is not deserving of a top chieftaincy title in his hometown, who is?

Stop the Rumour: Seyi Tinubu is Not Contesting for Governor

Tinubu

A few things are out of anybody’s control: when to be born, when to die, when a fire razes your apartment and turns everything inside into ashes. This is a fact that is very wellknown to Zainab Adejumoke Adedoyin (aka JMK), one of the popular housemates in the just-concluded Big Brother Naija (BBN) show.

Reports are spreading like wildfire regarding the incident that claimed her belongings, including her certificates and international passports.

According to JMK’s father, Raheem Adedoyin, a Nigerian journalist, the fire started in his daughter’s apartment in Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos, at about 4 am. Resulting from an electrical fault (which JMK later confirmed to be from her air conditioner), the fire blazed for quite some time, laying waste to her clothes, certificates, and international passports, phones, electronics, and much more.

Even more frightening than the loss of JMK’s certificates was the fact that she was

In many ways, having a remarkable father is a burden. If that person is not significantly more brilliant, they are likely to live in the shadows of that heritage. In many ways, this is the life of the son of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Seyi Tinubu.

Being the eldest son of one of the most impressive and high-status politicians of our time, Seyi is always thrown into his father’s clothes to measure his growth and ambitions. A new rumour has emerged with this tactic in place.

Reports of several colourful banners bearing the name of Seyi and claiming that he is out to contest for the Lagos State governorship seat have been making rounds recently. According to the bearers of this news, Seyi’s eyes have always been set on the seat, but the time was not always right to declare his gubernatorial ambitions.

Until now. So, come 2023, if the reports are to be believed, Seyi would ride on his father’s coattail to claim the mantle of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Contrary to this report, however, Seyi himself has declared his lack of gubernatorial ambition.

According to him, the report is fake, did not stem from him or anyone close to him, and should not be considered by the general public as anything other than a failed ploy to distract them.

For those who know the Tinubu family, false reports are always swimming around them. Being the first son of a past Governor, this news of Seyi’s supposed bid for SanwoOlu’s chair is not altogether strange. In fact, it is not the first time that Seyi’s smiling face will be placed on a campaign poster. This is only the most recent.

For the man in question, these are times for business expansion. Apart from being Tinubu’s heir, which is a passive role, truth be told, Seyi has built an enterprise in advertising for himself. Thus, even though he represents the family many times, Seyi remains the proud CEO of the out-of-home advertising company, Loatsad Promomedia Ltd, and the founder of the Noella Foundation.

So, the rumours of a potential gubernatorial contest with Seyi at the helm are false.

Fire Guts Big Brother Star, JMK’s Apartment

asleep in the same room on that day. She woke up when the smoke had begun to choke her and tried as much as she could to put out the fire. However, it was for nought. Even the firefighters who were assigned to the Estate in case of such incidents could not make it in time before everything was burnt to the ground.

Thankfully, JMK was able to get out of the room on time. As her father assured her many fans, she was not injured. Although the incident proved to be a tad bit traumatic, JMK eventually pulled through and is nearly back to her cheery and chummy self.

A few days ago, JMK was able to get back online to provide detailed info on the incident. She thanked those that reached out to her, stating that she was hopeful that she will recover all that she had lost. Against those who accused her of exaggerating the incident to garner sympathy from people, JMK responded that she would not even wish such a thing on her enemies, let alone test it out for clout.

Adedoyin

Liadi

Ayoku Liadi’s Latest Moves

Human expectations are not easy to follow, the same with our ambitions. At the end of the day, the ones that come on top are the ones that see the farthest. This is one of the takeaways from the recent development in the United Bank for Africa (UBA) when the outstanding banking institution lost one of its best brains and strategists to Taiwo Afolabi and his SIFAX Group.

The changeover took some folks by storm as they did not expect UBA’s Deputy Managing Director (DMD), Ayoku Liadi, to find greener pastures in the courtyard of the prestigious businessman, founder, and SIFAX Chairman, Afolabi. Based on the reports, Liadi will be resuming as the Group Managing Director of Sky Capital and Financial Allied International, the financial subsidiary of SIFAX Group.

Liadi’s decision to continue the corporate marathon wearing Afolabi’s colours has been construed as a big loss for UBA. This is because the former DMD was one of the brightest stars in UBA Nigeria, looking after about 500 branches of the bank nationwide. Besides this, he used to be hailed as among the top five most resourceful managers in the bank. None of these recognitions is surprising considering Liadi’s stellar career profile.

For those who remember the brilliant man, he was a notable figure in Sierra Leone around 2013, maintaining Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), Sierra Leone, as its MD/CEO. He pushed GTB Sierra Leone onto the frontiers of profitable banking before he became a member of the UBA family. Now, he is a member of the SIFAX Group.

There is no doubt that Afolabi is out to intimidate his peers with a renewed march of progress. Not so long ago, he inaugurated the multibillion-Naira five-star Marriott Hotel, claiming the top spot among hospitality centres in West Africa.

Reports indicated that he overthrew Jim Ovia, the Chairman of Zenith Bank when he did that. Now, it is UBA’s turn to stare at Afolabi in the distance.

Overall, as Liadi takes over Sky Capital Group and manages all its subsidiaries and affiliates in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and the Gambia, one can hear Afolabi cackling in the background. Another big achievement, another big step forward for him and his SIFAX Group.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ NOVEMBER 28, 2021

LOUD WHISPERS

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

Albert Okumagba: Day I Lost N3.2bn It is one year since we lost this icon. As expected, a lot of tributes, messages and prayers were sent out. The pain of this loss still rankles especially if you consider the circumstances of his later years.

Well, as I read all the messages, what came to mind was the role he played in the capital market and much more specifically in my life as an investment banker. So, I dropped a post on the role he played the day I lost a whopping N3.2 billion in one transaction.

The post went viral and a lot of people reached out in tears and support.

As a young stockbroker, I had just joined his firm, the mercurial BGL. I was enamoured by his confidence, his world-beating ambition and his never-say-die attitude towards transactions and the vision that was BGL. So, I emulated it. I got a N3.2 billion transaction to purchase First Bank shares – this same First Bank o. That was how we started buying. The traders were in a frenzy and the market started responding. A transaction that size, if not carefully

managed, could overheat the market and send prices skyward. This was what actually happened as the price for the shares kept moving.

We kept buying but one of my ogas — the great and wise Henry Laraiyetan — sounded a note of warning. “Edgar, are you sure they will pay?” He kept asking. Me wey don smell blood. I said to him “Oga ‘fogerraboutit’.” We have a mandate and the clients are credible.

By the time we finished, we had spent N3.2 billion and I was happy. A young stockbroker, fresh start in a new career, laughing at the ‘mumu’ banks who would be giving me aptitude tests before they employ me.

Now, in less than two years as a fresh and handsome stockbroker, I had delivered one of the biggest mandates in the market at the time.

Anyways, Henry called. “Edgar, oya go and collect the money.” I said “no problem, sir.” I went to the client’s office and he told me, “Edgar, we have sent the instructions, before you get to your office you guys will be credited.”

Brilliant. I hugged the mallam and entered my car on a glorious ride back to the office.

My people, we have not reached the CMS bus stop when I saw text from the oga. “Edgar, we are sorry we can no longer go ahead. Our own clients have pulled back.”

I piss. I literally died. I screamed and my oga beside me, Mr. Nwozor, almost fainted. He started sweating and calling on the Lord for rapture.

Let me explain further. BGL’s shareholders’ fund was about N3.5 billion at the time – some have argued that it was higher but for the sake of this gist, let’s just say it was the figure so you can imagine the loss.

Sack him!! Sack Him!! The Roman mob screamed but then Daniel came to judgment. Albert sent for me and said, “Oga we need lion-hearted people like you at this time, well-done go and bring bigger deals, I’ll sort this out.”

Should I say more? Albert was a giant and the market was the better for it. I know he is resting in peace and in the Lord’s bosom.

TINUBU VS OSINBAJO: MY HONEST STAND Well, I have been forced to take sides and sides I must take. I was recently asked who I prefer between these two gentlemen. I have tried to dodge to no avail. These people have really boxed me into a corner. “Edgar”, they scream, “who do you prefer?”

Well before I make my choice, let me analyse them first.

Tinubu comes from the old school, he had his training during the military era, fighting in the trenches and wreaking havoc at their plans of transmuting into what we don’t know. He came back from that and emerged the best serving Governor of Lagos State drawing up the masterplan that Ambode could not read and which is being used till now to govern Lagos until maybe his son emerges.

He remains the talking point in Nigeria’s politics. He fought vehemently and some have said singlehandedly dropped our present messiah thereby immortalising himself. He deserves statues in every airport in the nation.

Osinbajo on the other hand is a professor, a very erudite one. He has ‘chest’; he once sacked a dreaded and very powerful Intelligence Chief and I have been told by no less a personality than the former Senate President Olubukola Saraki how he repelled an attack on the National Assembly. A great stunt man who has been known to jump out of crashing helicopters and a wonderful speaker with

very beautiful anecdotes which makes his speeches a pleasant listen.

Recently, he has been looking at a second career in skit making in case all of these do not work. He has married well and that has pushed him this far, but this time the stakes are very high.

So, Mr. Duke of Shomolu, the question is very clear – between Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Jagaban and Lord of all and erudite Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who would you prefer to join you as you move to take your new wife? I don run o.

See una head. Lol. Who go follow me beg when LASTMA catch me? Mbok, make una leave me o.

set up to look at the whole thing and see what they have done.

People have been saying, ‘Duke won’t you comment? Wetin concern me. If not that I need more stories to complete this column I won’t even say a word at such shame.

Good thing is that a motion is in place and the long-awaited redemption of our country is on the way and nothing can stop it. If they like, let them be submitting ‘Amala’ report and be jumping up and down. We will not be bothered. The renaissance is here and that is a fact.

Igbokwe

L-R: Tinubu and Osinbajo

#ENDSARS REPORT: A MISSED OPPORTUNITY We sha like to mess up where and when it matters the most. Why am I not surprised at the shenanigans surrounding the submission of this report.

That one is running around and shouting that they want to kill him when he supervised the submission of the shabbiest report since the amalgamation of Nigeria. Listing living people as dead? Among other inanities and inconsistencies that have made the report worth far less than the paper it was written on.

That event was a watershed moment.

Youths for the first time stood up in unison, not forced, not bribed but in genuine love for the country seeking sustainable change, marched on the Toll gate and took a stand.

The movement was hijacked and we saw the worst kind of violence in peace time Lagos unleashed on our city. A panel was

JOE IGBOKWE: HE NEVER GETS IT At times, I used to wonder if my brother used to think well before he spews.

Some of his statements used to give me headaches, until I pushed him to the realm of skit making. So, I tell my subconscious mind, that this one is doing skit, that way I don’t connect too much to what he is saying.

But this latest one beat my imagination.

On the back of - greatest one alive Davido’s massive pull on the system with the magical N200 million donations he received within hours, our brother, fresh from his beer parlour was reported to have said that Buhari would have pooled much more if he tried it.

Let me attempt an education. Of course Buhari would pool in trillions if he ever tried. But the fundamental difference is legion. First, why won’t contractors, rent seekers and political jobbers fight to contribute? To these sets, this na investment, this na to ensure continued access to patronage and then will you even remove the subtle compulsion that

Late Okumagba

will come with that push?

But on the Davido side, this was pure social influence at play. A major test of his popularity and socio-economic power.

Pulling this kind of stunt portends so many different things to the careful watcher. It shows his hold on a critical demographic, his selling power and his ability to move people without traditional authority.

Davido cannot be compared to Buhari by any stretch of imagination in this area.

Strip Buhari of the traditional authority and ask this question again, then the answer will be staring right in your face.

So, my brother, let’s remain circumspect and let’s keep praying for our country.

Isn’t it time you retired?

SEUN KUTI: MORE THAN HIS FATHER I recently watched Seun Kuti speak.

Remove the Hare Krishna look, the darkened lips and the menacing montage, what you get there is a thoroughbred philosopher.

I listened for over ten minutes as he postulated and ended his missive by stating very equivocally that we had a collective responsibility to our misfortune as Nigerians. I smiled. He said: “If you give a very poor man power, he will use that power to frustrate people as revenge for his frustrations.” Very true.

When I listen to Seun, I see and hear very deep philosophical musings. A clarity that I think most critics do not have. He goes beyond the, ‘we dey suffer

Ndah

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LOUD WHISPERS and dem don thief our money’ mantra.

He goes much more deeper looking at class, society, power and its many manifestations in a deeply fragmented and demonised system.

I like him. Really do. Well-done.

FEMI OMOTOSHO: PEACE BE STILL Femi is my friend and brother. A man of God and one of those very close friends that people keep asking what has brought you and Edgar together?

His passion for humanity and his selflessness is the glue. Anyways, recently he lost his older brother, Elder Omotosho.

The senior Omotosho lived and worked in Abuja. That fateful day, he had asked his driver to leave early so that he could finish up with some work. Having completed his work, he took the steering wheel and drove himself to heaven. A waiting truck on the road, in the middle of town in Abuja was the cause of the accident.

Sad, because he had so much promise.

Sad because we will all really miss him.

His smile, his warmth and his zest for life.

We remain consoled that he has gone to stay with our father and right now he is in the bosom of the Lord. In this, we take heart and remain consoled.

My brother Femi has just returned from the US to begin the slow and very painful yet engaging process of bidding our egbon farewell. God will be with you and the family at this time my brother TONY NDAH: AN ‘IBIBIO’ GOLFER My brother is the Chairman of the very influential Association of Quantity Surveyors in Nigeria. Recently, he took his people to the wonderful IBB Golf Course in Abuja for their maiden Golf Tournament.

The event was highly successful as they were able to pull out of retirement some very talented golfers. Such prominent golfers like Senator Daggash, past presidents of the association like Mr. Abba Tor, Mr. Agele Alufohai and Arc. Ola Garuba all showed skills that would have made the great Tiger Woods green with envy.

Even IBB Golf Course past Captain Mr Oseni Ahmed and the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors President, Mr. Yemi Shonubi, all joined the party.

Let me give you guys a little gist about Mr. Ndah. I met him during the search for funding for my last play in Uyo, ‘Ibiom’. Someone had said, “that man is a passionate Nigerian, go see him.”

I went and he looked into my eyes and said, “Edgar, people are doing far less in this country and are getting all the accolades, I will support you.” Ever since, he has drawn me closer. I have seen his passion for Nigeria and the way he carries this Nigerian matter on his head.

At times, when I go to see him, we will talk ooo. The egbon will totally forget to offer me the afang he promised, going to two years now. Not a problem, little sacrifice I can make for this our country.

Well-done sir and God bless.

IFE KILLINGS: SAMSON ADEBAYO, LEAVE ME Samson Adebayo, what do you want me to say? Are you too not shocked?

Me, I am shocked to the marrow that I have been numbed to silence. How can a young man in pursuit for career excellence fly into Ife to start work on his exams for a Master’s degree now end up in the grave just like that?

What else is there to say, Samson? Asking me if I will not comment is not the point my brother. When things like this happen what are all the commentaries in this world going to change? This system is carnage. It’s bestiality in its purest form, where lives are no longer worth a penny.

You check into a hotel; you feel safe and secure and the next thing you are

explaining to your maker exactly what you are doing knocking the gates of heaven to be allowed in.

Samson, my brother, we have been beaten black and blue by the happenings in this country to a point where helplessness seems to be our only companion.

I will never have said anything about this matter, especially as it is still being unraveled by the police until I saw a post by my respected brother, Dr. Boniface Chizea.

Hoping that he was the one who really posted it, let me quote the post – the famous Prince of Ile-Ife, an ‘educationist’, had his first degree in 1983 and founded a polytechnic in 1984. Could a Youth Corper found a Polytechnic? He had his masters in a non-existent university in California, he then proceeded to get his PhD in 1996 also in a non-existent university in New York with no traceable thesis. From all these, he was licensed by our NUC to run a university in 2009.

Samson my brother abeg leave me make I dey eat my afang dey go. This was truly a country.

EFOLI EKOT: PRIDE OF CROSS RIVER Efoli is unassuming and warm. Efoli works with the very powerful Herbert Wigwe which makes him influential by extension and proxy. He is the gatekeeper and the pathway to meeting and engaging one of the most influential bankers of the 20th century – kai, I can hail.

Anyways, I have decided to celebrate Efoli for his humility, professionalism and engaging personality. Some of you will be asking why I am doing this. Well, those of us who are sales people and who have to break through the cordon built around some of these our big men to get things done will understand why I am celebrating Efoli this today.

Aides and personal assistants to our Ogas can be devilish and wicked. Their shakara used to pass their Oga’s own. I have been pushed and kicked at my own show by one o. Because I looked ‘small’ the man mistook me for a miscreant and grabbed me and shoved me aside. His Oga screamed, “Why are you always so overzealous, that is our host.”

In Uyo, they even locked me out of

ZAINAB AHMED: I AGREE, BUT… Me, I sha like this our Minister of Finance. There is something very calm and studious about her. So, when she speaks, I tend to listen. She has been reported to have said that we can no longer match the N250 billion monthly subsidy bill. Mbok, be like say she just wake up.

Is this not the same thing that her oga shouted in 2015? Is this not the same thing that everybody has been paying lip service to? Subsidising one product for egotistic reasons is one of the most banal things to do. For me, the subsidy should have been removed long before I had my first born.

The sector should be fully deregulated.

Let the thing find its bearing with the forces of demand and supply. All these government regulations and involvement we all know the where and the why. So, we will not be fazed. How many people even enjoy the subsidy sef. Please remove the damn thing, open up the space and allow more competition and recede back to effective regulation in the area of monitoring and quality control but let the pricing find its equilibrium.

So, we are in support. If you have the mind, do it. The only problem we have with this plan is the so-called N5,000 you want to be giving the poor. That one is dead on arrival for so many reasons. One,

Ahmed

you say you want to use the e-money portal. How many of the poor of the poorest have even heard of that one Secondly, you want to give them N5,000. Mbok, is that not moving subsidies from one side to the other? When you give people N5,000 monthly and they use the money to drink ‘kparanga’, is it breeze they will now use to ‘enter’ bus which pricing would have gone through the roof before the equilibrium pricing we are waiting for.

Mummy, you see the problem with you guys is simply the fact that everybody is dancing to his own tune. You need cohesive and robust engagements of all sectors both fiscal and monetary to build a structurally penetrative strategy that would involve infrastructural development, welfare enhancement – health, education and the rest in engaging the economic situation.

This one that CBN will do one side, you will do one side, Adebayo at Commerce is attending conferences, Amaechi is building railways to Timbuktu with no coordination at all, na suffering and smiling – sorry, Fela will continue to be our lot.

Mbok, I hope my name is on the list for the N5,000 because all that one they shared during COVID I didn’t see one o.

the theatre as their madam was inside enjoying my hard work. Aides are just a breed totally different. Their snootiness and sense of importance is out of this world. They revel in their luxurious servitude that you will even begin to fear them more than their Oga. Efoli is totally different. His professionalism shines through.

His warmth and understanding are unmatched. It is easier to see three virgins at the Island Maternity than to see Herbert Wigwe understandably so.

But once you secure the appointment, you can be sure that Efoli will handhold you for those six years it will take you to get face time. He will call you, admonish you to be patient, give you coffee, encourage you, gently explain to you why Oga will not see you and in some cases explain Oga’s itinerary and suggest how you can be slotted in. The only thing that remain na to give you Afang.

Even after the meeting, he will still work with you in achieving whatever Oga has agreed to do and in the case where Oga says no, you can be sure that Efoli will be there to cry with you.

What some of our Ogas do not know is that these ‘monkeys’ are a reflection of their personalities. When your aide turns to ‘jerubal’, it is your reputation they are damaging not theirs and this is why I have taken time out to celebrate this young man because his activities are impacting very strongly on peoples’ perception of his boss, Herbert Wigwe unlike others who I won’t mention their names.

Well-done bro and keep up the good work. God bless.

CHIDI AJAERE: AN EMERGING LEADER I am sure most of you do not know this name but you would have heard of GIG. They are a major logistics and transport company. They also have a plethora of businesses.

Chidi is still in his very early thirties and has built a family-owned business from the fringes to a major conglomerate, giving well known international multinational firms a run for their money. With over 2,000 workers under his direct employ, he remains one of the youngest Nigerians with that capacity.

Now let me tell you why I am talking about him this morning. I wrote an article recently published in Ripples and titled it ‘The fading Igbo Presidency.’

The kernel of my argument is that Nigerians should begin to look at an emerging posse of leaders who understand the economy and its dynamism to lead, being that what we face today is not a political struggle but an economic one which continues to throw up a vicious struggle for control of the centre where all power over resources are concentrated.

With a diversified control base, tension will drop politically hence the need to throw up leaders with strong economic credentials into the fore.

I had now zeroed it down to the quest for Igbo relevance at the centre and had written, Igboland should look inward at a younger emerging grouping of economic leaders as their contribution to the mix.

I had suggested people like Valentine Ozigbo, the PDP candidate in the just concluded Anambra elections, Charles Soludo and someone mentioned Chidi Ajaere.

I have met with Chidi several times, his clarity is unmatched. Nigerians will do well by throwing these kinds of people into the fray. Let’s look at these young titans from all over the nation and begin to prepare them for 2027.

Let us hunker down and suffer for this 2023 and after that, we say no more.

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Adebayo Adeoye bayoolunla@gmail.com; 08054680651

SOCIETY WATCH

Femi Otedola: Citizen of the World

Tamuno

Ambassador Maureen Tamuno’s Rising Profile Since she assumed office as Nigeria Ambassador to Jamaica, Dame Maureen Tamuno has not given anyone reasons to doubt her capability to deliver on her official assignments. The wide acceptance she enjoys did not fall on her laps; rather it is as a result of her consistency, honesty, humility and the grace of God. In the past years, she has continued to deploy her talent to the service of her country and her people, whom she has served in different capacities. Following her appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Jamaica, she immediately hit the ground running. The string of awards that litter her ornate office is evident of her brilliance, intelligence and ingenuity.

Despite her astonishing achievements in life and her intimidating educational background, the woman of substance does not court publicity unnecessarily.

Born into the family of Elder/Mrs. Clement Chepaka of Alawari in Agbabiri in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State, she has featured prominently in several areas of our national life with impressive records. She holds a degree in Management Studies from the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi, Bauchi State; a Post- Graduate Diploma (PGD) in Management; Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Marketing and PhD in Strategic Marketing and Consumer Behaviour.

Ex-Lawmaker, Jubril Abdulmumin’s New Dream In 2015, Jubril Abdulmumin staked his name, integrity and ambition to literally market his preferred candidate, Yakubu Dogara, during the hot contest for the Speakership of the House the Representatives. Those who underestimated him knew better by the time Dogara emerged the Speaker before their eyes. But they later parted ways in controversial circumstances, after Abdulmumin accused Dogara and others of padding the national budget, a development that led to Abdulmumin’s suspension for a year.

Four years later, Abdulmumin, a member representing Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency, Kano State, re-enacted his winning strategies when his preferred candidate, Femi Gbajabiamila of the All Progressives Congress (APC) expressed his interest to contest for the Speaker of the House of Representatives. During the campaigns, he deployed his timetested strategies to ‘brand and market’ Gbajabiamila among his colleagues and stakeholders.

No doubt, his actions were based on a personal conviction in his capacity as the Director-General of the campaign organisation. And his efforts contributed to the emergence of Gbajabiamila as Speaker eventually. However, in 2019 the Kano State-born politician couldn’t return to the Lower Chamber, as he was defeated by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alli Datti-Yako.

Though he was initially re-elected in the last year’s election, he was later sacked by the court that ruled that a fresh election be held in the constituency.

He went back home with his tail between his legs in the end. Sadly, his political odyssey took a new twist, as his supporters and friends allegedly abandoned him, leaving him like flotsam on the sea of politics in Nigeria.

Otedola

Prominent businessman Femi Otedola is not only successful in the businesses, but also a dedicated philanthropist who has channelled his resources to providing generous contributions to a wide array of local and

national projects. His charitable footprint can be seen in many landmarks, and judging by his accomplishments, the Executive Chairman of Geregu Power Plant is expected to be pompous but the reverse is the case.

The internationally recognised mogul has been a pillar of support to many, and only a few can match him in philanthropy.

In 2019, he shattered all records in charity in Nigeria with a humongous donation of N5 billion to the Save the Children Foundation.

To some, the gesture sounded so “unbelievable”; and to others, it was a publicity stunt. But it was obvious that those who doubted his sincerity of purpose were not aware that philanthropy is like a second skin to him, as he does it without blinking an eyelid.

Otedola, in giving to the cause of humanity, believes it is far better and more gratifying to make a difference in the lives of the poor. He was quoted to have said then that “God has been so kind to me in life. I feel highly privileged. The only way I can show my gratitude to Him is to use my resources to support those who are underprivileged.

This I intend to do for the rest of my life.

“In a world full of conflicts, diseases, calamities and inequality, we all need to show

the milk of human kindness, to reach out and comfort the sick and give a helping hand to the weak. A lot of people think when they die, they take their money with them, we’ll see.

“In my journey of life, I have taken the risk, I’ve done the chase, I’ve enjoyed the thrill and I have achieved success and recognition. What next? You give it back!”

Little wonder, he was appointed as the Vice President of the UK-based Save the Children.

According to the aid group, “Mr. Femi Otedola’s addition to the Vice Presidents’ group is a testament to his long-standing support to the organisation.

Since 2019, Otedola has supported Save the Children’s programmes on the prevention and treatment of malnutrition and on advocating for access to quality education for Nigerian children, impacting over 6,000 children in the states of Adamawa, Borno and Katsina.”

A great man by all standards, Otedola, who can be described as a citizen of the world, in the past years, has made donations to a countless number of people; and has no plans to quit. He has promised to do this till the end of his life.

Senator Olamilekan Adeola 6RORPRQ·V *URZLQJ ,QÁXHQFH To say that Senator Olamilekan Solomon Adeola is the most-talked-about politician in Ogun State at the moment is, to put it mildly.

Aside from the recognition, the profile of the senator, who is presently representing Lagos West Senatorial District, has been on the rise, even to the envy of his political traducers. Already, his growing influence is said to be putting fears in the hearts of his political enemies, as none of them can reportedly match him in terms of popularity and financial war chest.

Towards the build-up to the 2019 Ogun State governorship election, the senator, otherwise known as Yayi, was considered as the likely successor to the then incumbent governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, owing to his financial war chest, connections, popularity as well as his sound political experience.

But he was confronted with many hurdles and the odds against him were literally mountainous.

Initially, he remained unfazed. Just like the popular saying that “He who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day”, the senator

abandoned the race, as the odds against him grew beyond control. He hurriedly ran back to Lagos to reclaim his Lagos West Senatorial position, which was a piece of cake for him.

At the moment, he is said to be working behind closed doors to realise his most cherished ambition. Although we gathered that the former House of Representatives member is nursing an ambition to represent his people at Ogun West Senatorial District.

He is working hard and putting all it takes into consideration towards this.

It was also gathered that the Yewa-born Senator had secured the endorsement of many of the top eminent personalities in the constituency. Even so, he has been honoured with the title of Aremo of Yewaland by the Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, the Olu of Ilaro and paramount ruler of Yewaland. The title as gathered is the most prestigious in the kingdom He was presented with the certificate of installation a few weeks ago, while the chieftaincy party is expected to hold in April 2022 during the 10th coronation anniversary of the Olu of Yewaland, who is

Abdulmumin

also the Chairman, Ogun State Council of Obas.

Sujimoto Boss, Sijibomi Ogundele, Breaks New Ground

Ogundele

Even as the year 2021 is literally gradually screeching to a halt, real estate wizard, Sijibomi Ogundele, has not stopped involving in projects that will further

engrave his consciousness in the minds of Nigerians.

‘The road to success is not the path you find but a trail you blaze’- says Robert Brault.

The property merchant has continued to blaze the trail and he is not resting on his oars, not anytime soon. He is someone that believes the sky is his starting point.

For some time now, Ogundele has increased both human and vehicular traffic to the Epe area of Lagos State, where he has set up Sujimoto Smart City (SSC) to make lands and housing available for as many as possible.

With a focus to give Nigerians the opportunity to own lands in a Sujimoto inspired Smart City, enjoying all super amenities that are synonymous with 21st-century cities and more, at an affordable cost.

It was gathered that the SSC brings three key elements to contemporary cities together in one place that has never been seen anywhere before. They are strategic location, 21st-century infrastructures and affordable pricing.

This revolutionary project will definitely change the way Nigerians live totally. It also has a plaza with retail shops, cinema, offices, rooms, hotels, casino, rooftop pool, spa and restaurants.

It is evident that the priority of the billionaire property giant, in line with his well-guarded resolution this year, is

to diversify his business interests, to perpetually remain a household name.

Having done so well for himself in the property business, Ogundele has now unveiled his Suji Water, which is already being enjoyed by people in and outside the state because it is clean and safe for drinking.

As his impact is already being felt in the table water sector of the economy, Ogundele is impressively changing the narrative in the lottery business as well. The 1k billionaire home win lottery is not just a kind lottery but a world-class one. Since he opened the business, many lovers of the game have begun to beat a path to his doors.

While Ogundele is living his dreams, promoters of the existing brands in each of the sectors, where he has now ventured into, are said to have gone back to the drawing board.

This is not unexpected considering Ogundele’s track record, and his ability to sell ice in the winter.

For those who have been wondering about his rising profile as a businessman, one of the things working for him is that he always sees opportunities, where others are bogged down by morbid fear of failure. Besides, he likes to pursue his dreams with unbent resolve to succeed, irrespective of the challenges that may come his way.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 24 2012

ARTS & REVIEW A

PUBLICATION

28.11.2021

FOR LIMCAF, IT HAS BEEN SO LONG A PROMISING OUTING… Stopped from holding last year by the pandemic, the long-running annual Life in My City Art Festival returns this year, albeit online, with great expectations. Okechukwu Uwaezuoke reports

W

ith that Áeeting moment of perplexity soon dispelled, the painting begins to assert itself more forcefully. By this time, notions about the artist’s rights to the unrestricted free expression of his fantasies have taken the front seat. So, further lingering misgivings about a magnifying glass growing out of an otherwise headless muscular human body clad in a white sleeveless singlet would have long been quietened by specious allusions to artistic licence.

“Smudged Vision”, as the charcoal on paper painting is titled, curiously beat oͿ over 550 other arguably strong contenders to be adjudged the overall winning work at the just concluded Life in My City Art Festival, which is often referred to by its acronym LIMCAF. Perhaps, the fact that its originator Chichetam John Okoronta ² a 24-year-old information technology graduate of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri ² is a self-taught artist adds more sheen to this feat. And as for the disclosure of his avowed adherence to hyperrealism, it ² for all it is worth ² only aids an informed academic appraisal of this work which won the overall prize worth N500,000.

The Dr Chijioke Onuora-led LIMCAF jury ² saddled with the expectations of fairness ² this time outdid itself with its choice of other category prize winners and the recently-instituted Hitch Prize’s lucky 10. Thus, listed as the other winners of LIMCAF’s 14th edition are: Abuja zone’s Segun Victor Owolabi, for his thread and nails on board work, titled “Resilience”, for the Best Sculpture/ Installation prize; Lagos zone’s Adewuyi Olusola Samson Arojinle’s terracotta, “Deep Thought”, for the Best Ceramics prize; Abuja zone’s Paul David Enyi’s “Safety” for the Best Graphics/Digital Art prize; Port Harcourt zone’s Godfrey Godstime Uche’s print on wood board work, “How We Roll” for the Best Photography/Video prize; Lagos zone’s Elizabeth Motorola John’s thread on board textile art, “The Chronicle” for the Best Textile/Fashion prize; Enugu zone’s Samson Ejiofor’s wood sculpture “Played” for the Justice Aniagolu Prize for Originality; Auchi zone’s Ismaila Jimoh Odera’s sculpture made with Áat metal bar and bottle covers and titled “Ozi ema Apapa na nahe eza” (As you sow, so shall you reap) for the Pius Okigbo Prize for Technical ProÀciency; Uyo zone’s Umoren Edidion Akpanta’s mixed media sculpture “Save the Wild” for the Mfon Usoro Prize for the Best Uyo Entry; Lagos zone’s Ifechukwu Ugonabo Stanley’s oil on canvas painting “Gold Mine” for the Lawrence Agada Prize for the Most Promising Young Artist and Enugu zone’s Abigail David-Ase’s installation made with noodle packs, titled “UnfulÀlled Promises”, for the Vin Martin Ilo Prize for the Best Enugu entry.

Then, there are also the Hitch Prize winners, who are listed as follows: Abuja zone’s Peter Eneji Ebem for his acrylic on canvas painting “Chronicles of Despair”;

Elder Kalu, right, presenting the cash prize to the overall winner Chichetam John Okoronta Auchi zone’s John Adegbite’s oil on canvas painting “The Circumstance”; Enugu zone’s Ahumaraeze Ekeoma Itah’s oil on canvas painting “Deep Thought”; Owerri zone’s Chibuikem Benedict Okpala’s charcoal and graphite pencil on paper work “Puzzled Vision”; Ibadan zone’s Isaac Ademola Ojo’s oil on canvas painting “What’s the Update?”; Lagos zone’s Gbenga Samson Bakare’s acrylic on canvas painting “The Recycling”; Ondo zone’s Temitope Oyeyemi Adewuni’s charcoal on canvas painting “Verge of Freedom”; Port Harcourt zone’s Michael Onyekachukwu Okoye’s oil on canvas painting “The End Will Tell”; Uyo zone’s Isiah Victor Daniel’s charcoal pencils on FFB paper work “A Creative Mind” and Zaria zone’s Mathias Ameh’s “Poor Education”.

Thus, LIMCAF ² arguably Nigeria’s longest-running annual art festival ² stomps back this year into the industry’s consciousness as a mainly online event. This was after the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic forced its organisers to suspend the annual festive gathering of its participants in Enugu despite their having received several entries for the competition.

Hence, it was in compliance with the COVID protocols that only 25 winners out of the top-100 competitors were invited to physically attend the awards night, which was held on Saturday, November 20 at the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu’s International Conference Centre.

Other participants, meanwhile, had the opportunity to follow the night’s event on their social media timelines or through a Zoom link. As for its theme ² “Vision 2020: So Far, So What?” ² it was a carry-over from the last year’s, which couldn’t hold.

This year’s LIMCAF ² which would have been the 15th had the pandemic not obtruded ² continued to carry the torch of art activism.

And this was why its highly-revered chair-

The winning work man Elder K. Uke Kalu reiterated the fact that it remains “the biggest and most impactful art event in Nigeria’s today.”

Welcoming the guests on behalf of the other trustees and the festival’s organising committee, Elder Kalu acknowledged the contributions of such major sponsors as the Institute of Management (IMT), Enugu, the Enugu State Government under the watch of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, First Bank Nigeria Holdings, MTN Foundation and the new gold sponsor Pinnacle Oil and Gas Limited.

Talking about sponsors, the Canadabased NGO HITCH has upped the ante by breathing new life into the annual art Àesta with its introduction of 10 new prizes ² each worth N250,000. Excited about “this strategic partnership with Hitch”, the LIMCAF’s executive director Kevin Ejiofor said it would “encourage and promote art education,

accelerating exposure for the young artists it seeks to empower.”

This chimes in so well with what the HITCH’s co-founder and CEO, Uche Onuora, explained as his organisation’s mission, which is “to apply impactful technology to address severe education inequality.” The selected beneÀciaries of the NGO’s largesse will be spotlighted in the arts education series, which is to be featured in HITCH’s digital video library and educational resources.

Still on sponsors, no individual sponsor in the festival’s recent memory has been as impactful as the renowned Ghanaian-born artist and the former University of Nigeria, Nsukka lecturer Professor El Anatsui. This year’s top six winners will join the previous edition’s top six winners on all-expensespaid participation in the Dakar Art Biennale ² a. k. a. Dak’ Art ² in the Senegalese capital in May 2022.

Professor Anatsui, in his remarks as the LIMCAF patron, pledged to continue his support of the annual event and was hopeful that it “will become famous internationally and those emerging through it will help to make Africa proud on the world art stage.”

Recalling his attendance of the Àrst edition in 2007 at the Nike Lake Resort Hotel, Enugu, he expressed his delight that the art event was back this year.

From modest beginnings as the brainchild of Chief Robert Orji’s advertising and printing Àrm Rocana Nigeria Limited, which was supported by the Alliance Franoaise network and the French Embassy, it has gained enough clout in the visual arts scene to attract the attention of such industry greats as Bruce Onobrakpeya, Obiora Udechukwu, the late Okwui Enwezor, the late Olabisi Silva, Kolade Oshinowo, Jerry Buhari, Kunle Filani, Sani Mu’azu, Peju Layiwola, Joe Musa, Chijioke Onuora and Tonie Okpe, among others.

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 28, 2021

ARTS & REVIEW\\MOVIES

ELECTRO-SOUL ACT, IBEJII, TACKLES SOCIETAL ILLS WITH NEW EP, “INTERMISSION” Yinka Olatunbosun

T

he electrosoul act, Ibejii has addressed the lingering issue of human rights violation and the impunity trailing the abuse of power by law enforcement agencies in his newly released EP titled ‘Intermission’.

The six-track project is a collection of songs with themes of police brutality, intimidation, harassment, and torture. ‘Gonto,’ one of the songs on the project, is an afro-orchestral track that takes the listener on a journey that captures the insensitivity of the powerful and the daring nature of a new generation of protesters. The track is Ibejii's

celebration of the ultimate victory of ordinary people over those who seek to oppress and silence them.

He describes it as a tale of the victory of small masquerades in the face of a selfish big masquerade that will not let other voices rise.

Ibejii said of the EP: "Intermission is a sixtrack electro-soul EP that explores the emotional rollercoaster imposed by a global health pandemic, a global movement for racial justice, a campaign to end police brutality that ended in a crushing emotional event, and the daily challenge of keeping it together in aloneness, social isolation, and physical lockdown."

The EP includes other soulful tracks such as ‘Running’, ‘Dae Soleil’, ‘EndPunity’ and ‘Happy Me.’

Ibeji

PARTNERSHIP

NGA AND SNA PLEDGE STRONGER PARTNERSHIP

T

he National Gallery of Art (NGA) and the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) have pledged to work together for the beneÀt of Nigerian artists. This was disclosed during a courtesy visit of the leadership of SNA to the NGA corporate headquarters in Abuja recently. The SNA President, Mohammed Suleiman solicited the support and partnership of NGA in carrying out its programmes slated for next year. Poised to make Nigeria an art destination, the present SNA executive has mapped out ambitious programmes. These are: African Art Summit; an annual art exhibition; publication of a deÀnitive Art Journal and on-going eͿorts at establishing the Artists Registration Council among others.

Responding, the Director General of NGA, Chief Ebeten William Ivara said he is willing and ready to strengthen the existing relationship between NGA and SNA. He tasked the Society to partner with NGA in its eͿorts to get a beÀtting ediÀce to house the numerous works of art in its custody. “How Nigerian artists can beneÀt from what we do here is our concern,” he said, pledging the commitment of NGA to partner with SNA on their programmes. “SNA will also be part of our programmes,” he announced. “This is a strong bond. I’m strongly behind SNA,” he added.

The DG subsequently presented copies of the Harmonized Bill for the Repeal and Re-enactment of NGA Establishment Act and the current edition of NGA in-house magazine, Artivity to the SNA President. He requested the Society to work with NGA as

L-R DG, NGA, Chief Ebeten William Ivara, President, SNA, Mohammed Suleiman and Secretatry General, SNA, Prosper Akeni the Bill moves to the National Assembly for legislative action. The Society also donated an interesting well framed painting to the Director General.

The SNA was led on the courtesy visit, the Àrst since the inauguration of the 11th executive by

its President, Mohammed Suleiman. Others in team are: Secretary General, Prosper Akeni; National Treasurer, Vera Chijioke; Chairman, SNA FCT Chapter, Aderinkonmi John Adeleye; immediate past chairman, SNA FCT Chapter, Chike Emembo and an artist and PA

to the President, Queen Eno Nkantia.

Members of the NGA team are: DG, NGA, Chief Ebeten William Ivara; Director, Documentation and Monitoring, Ngozi John-Uyah; SA to the DG, Mike Ayim and DD, PR, Oji Onoko.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 28, 2021

CICERO

Editor: Ejiofor Alike SMS: 08066066268 email:ejiofor.alike@thisdaylive.com

IN THE ARENA

#EndSARS Report: Situating Lai Mohammed’s Defence Last week, Minister of Information and Culture, Mr. Lai Mohammed dismissed the leaked 309-page report of the Lagos State Judicial Commission of Enquiry on Lekki toll gate infamy as “tales by moonlight.”

Does this presage a federal government response to the impending White Paper? Louis Achi asks

C

onsistency is a respected attribute in the human personality, especially when engaging variables in the fluid environment of governance and human relations. But to stand the verdict of history, this vital trait needs to be undergirded by a bold, enduring philosophy. Significantly, one of the most consistent presidential appointees of the current administration is the Minister of Information and Culture, Mr. Lai Mohammed.

Human rights activist,Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) has provided some insight into this quirky consistency. “In December 2015, the Nigerian Army massacred hundreds of Shiites in Zaria and hurriedly buried their bodies in a mass grave at Mango in Kaduna State on the orders of the then Chief of Army Staff.

“Even though Mr. Mohammed said that the report of the genocidal attack was a hoax, the Justice Garba Judicial Commission of Enquiry instituted by the Kaduna State Government confirmed a casualty figure of 348 Shiites. Six years thereafter, the authorities have ignored the recommendation of the Judicial Commission that the culprits be prosecuted.”

As it were, another opportunity for Mohammed to project his famed regime loyalty dressed up as consistency presented itself last week. Not one to miss opportunities, he grabbed it, describing the 309-page report of the Lagos State Judicial Commission of Enquiry, constituted under the Tribunal of Enquiry Law, as “fake.”

Mohammed who spoke at a press conference in Abuja, last Tuesday, described the leaked report as one laced with discrepancies and inconsistencies, tagging it unverified fake news. He insisted that nobody was killed at the Lekki toll plaza on October 20,2020. The minister argued that the panel only wasted taxpayers’ money by coming up with such a “nonsensical report” and likened it to ‘Tales by Moonlight’, a 1990s television programme where children were told fictitious stories.

According to Mohammed, “Never in the history of any judicial panel in this country has its report been riddled with so many errors, inconsistencies, discrepancies, speculations, innuendos, omissions and conclusions that are not supported by evidence. What is circulating in the public space is simply a rehash of the unverified fake news that has been playing on social media since the incident of October 20, 2020.” But Mohammed’s position essentially contradicts President Buhari’s and hints at some curious in-house dissonance.

It could be recalled that on November 18, 2021, President

Mohammed Buhari met with US Secretary of State, Mr. Anthony Blinken, in Abuja where he clarified that state governments in the country would have to take steps on the EndSARs reports of their panels, before the federal government acts on the recommendations.

More specifically, in the President’s words: “We at the federal have to wait for the steps taken by the states, and we have to allow the system to work. We can’t impose ideas on them. Federal government has to wait for the reaction of the states.”

But by openly expressing his controversial position, apparently on behalf of the federal government, Mohammed has seemingly overruled the President by rejecting the report of the Lagos Panel. The emerging consensus is that the minister should have waited for the White Paper to be made available to the Lagos State government that set up the probe panel before making the federal government’s views known.

Clearly, the report of the panel is not akin to a judgment of the court. However, because the panel was established by the Lagos State government, it is believed that the state government has confidence in the panel in the first place.

According to a miffed Falana, “as a lawyer of many years’ standing the minister ought to have known that it is the height of arrogant contempt to describe the report of a Judicial Commission of Enquiry constituted under the Tribunal of Enquiry Law as “fake”. It is regrettable to note that the minister has failed to realise that the Lagos State Government is not an extension of the federal government but a sovereign entity under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

For the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)’s Publicity Secretary, Dr. Rapulu Nduka, the Information Minister has always given the impression that nothing happened at the toll gate. “Condemning the report even before the issuance of the White Paper shows that the government is not open-minded and does not want to know the truth about what happened at the toll gate,” he said.

“The response of the federal government is premature and prejudicial. If a panel was set up, the law expects that a white paper be issued. It is premature to condemn a report before a white paper has been issued,” he further noted.

According to Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), the minister is a ‘propagandist’.

“He speaks for a government without integrity, honour and dignity. They denied eyewitness accounts by Amnesty International, CNN, BBC, VOA, all TV stations across Nigeria, and now, the report of a whole Judicial Commission of Inquiry.”

Clearly, the position of topmost information manager in any administration should be appreciated because it carries considerable weight, especially in charting the course of informed engagement with the critical elements in a democratic mix. Perhaps pleading that his hands are tied may definitely cut little ice with an angry populace.

That the inherent power of that office, its responsibility and authority have apparently been watered down and often caged by forces out of sync with transformative politics doesn’t mean the occupant must jettison plucky, principled and disciplined conduct. Regime loyalty is certainly not a substitute for a philosophy-anchored consistency, a feature which has aided the genuine elevation of human societies – previously and currently.

P O L I T I CA L N OT E S

Anambra Emerging the Bankers’ State

Soludo

Either by providence or sheer happenstance, something pretty enviable is happening to Anambra State and it is worthy of mention. In fact, it should be celebrated. Ironically, this beautiful path the state is walking could also have strong negative markings at the end of the day. In the last 16 years, the state has had the opportunity of being governed by bankers cum economists, while the next four to eight years have also been secured and sealed for another banker and economist.

Since the return to civil rule in 1999, apart from Mr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju, a political science graduate; Senator Chris Ngige, a medical doctor; Mrs. Virginia Etiaba, a teacher and Andy Uba, a man without any identifiable calling aside being a presidential aide, and who with Etiaba, had rather ignominious stints at the Government House, the rest have been bankers and economists.

Peter Obi, Chairman of the Nigeria Security and Exchange Commission, had chaired many banks and financial institutions, including Next International Nigeria Ltd, Guardian Express Mortgage Bank Ltd, Guardian Express Bank Plc, Future View Securities Ltd, Paymaster Nigeria Ltd, Chams Nigeria Ltd, Data Corp Ltd and Card Centre Ltd. He was the youngest chairman of Fidelity Bank Plc. Governor Willie Obiano, outgoing governor of the state, began his banking career with the First Bank of Nigeria before he left to join the services of Chevron Oil Nigeria Plc as an accountant and rose to the position of Chief Internal Auditor. In 1989, he was one of the auditors that audited Texaco Refinery in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and in 1991, joined Fidelity Bank as Deputy Manager and head of Audit unit before rising to become the executive director.

Incoming governor, Chukwuma Soludo, before his May 2004 appointment as Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, was Chief Economic Adviser to former President Obasanjo and Chief Executive of the National Planning Commission of Nigeria. He is currently a member of President Muhammadu Buhari’s 8-member Economic Advisory Council (EAC).

Put together, these are some enviable profiles from one state and evidently so. Unfortunately, as well-off as they may seem, such a blessing comes with rather huge responsibilities, which if they are unable to discharge, leaves them, the state and their banking constituency scarred for good.

You can’t have such people govern a state for cumulative 24 years and not have the basis to canvass a replication of their feats in other places.

So, Anambra, all eyes on you!

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 28, 2021

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BRIEFINGNOTES

Ofili-Ajumogobia’s Long Walk to Freedom After going through four judges, from the Lagos High Court to the Federal High Court, the joy of Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia knew no bounds when she was set free from money laundering charges preferred against her, Wale Igbintade writes

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or Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, there is certainly every reason to heave a sigh of relief. For over four years, she was traumatised. From the Lagos High Court where she was first set free to the Federal High Court where she appeared before three other judges, it was palpitation galore.

But her joy knew no bounds on Friday when Justice Ambrose Lewis Allagoa of the Federal High Court in Lagos he set her free from money laundering charges preferred against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Allagoa discharged her while granting an application to quash and dismiss the charges as argued by her councel, Mr. Olawale Akoni (SAN).

The EFCC first arraigned Justice OfiliAjumogobia and a senior lawyer, Mr. Godwin Obla (SAN), before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos High Court in 2018.

It filed a 31-count charge bordering on an alleged perversion of the course of justice, unlawful enrichment and forgery against the duo.

But her counsel, Chief Robert Clarke (SAN), challenged the jurisdiction of the court to try his client. In moving his application on the preliminary objection, he told the court that his client was still a judge of the Federal High Court and as such could not be tried in line with the precedent set in the case of Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa.

In his ruling, Justice Oshodi in 2019 freed Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia and Obla by striking out the 31-count charge against duo, stressing that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the suit.

The judge also said the EFCC did not follow the procedures set by the NJC in disciplining erring judicial officers. He held that based on the judicial precedent set by the case of NganjiwaV. FRN, the High Court lacked jurisdiction to hear the suit as the EFCC “jumped the gun” in filing the first amended charge.

“As at Monday, December 11, 2017, the EFCC was aware of the decision reached by the court of appeal in Nganjiwa vs FRN,” the judge said. As at that date, the amended information was yet to be filed and the 12th prosecution witness was still giving evidence.”

As soon as the judgment was delivered, EFCC officials re-arrested Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia as she was making her way out of the court.

In a statement later by the then EFCC’s spokesperson,Tony Orilade, the agency said in view of Justice Oshodi’s ruling and having complied with the NJC procedure, the commission was set to prefer fresh criminal charges against the 59-year-old judge.

“The commission re-arrested Ofili-Ajumogobia in line with the decision of the Appeal Court, Lagos Division, in a case involving Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa, where it said that a judge could not be prosecuted until he or she had either been dismissed or compulsorily retired by the NJC,” the statement read.

“Consequent upon the fact that the commission had presented Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia before the NJC for disciplinary action and that the NJC had taken a position, the commission would now approach the court to prefer fresh charges her.”

Soon after, the anti-graft agency re-arraigned the duo before Justice Rilwan Aikawa on an 18-count.

The anti-graft agency alleged that at various

Ofili-Ajumogobia times, the judge indirectly concealed different sums of money, in the Diamond Bank account of Nigel and Colive Limited, a company alleged to be operated by her.

She was also alleged to have on different dates in 2014, retained sums of monies like N5million, 150,000 dollars, 20,000 dollars, 30,000 dollars, 50,000 dollars, and 55,000 dollars in the Diamond Bank account of Nigel and Colive.

The EFCC also accused Ofili-Ajumogobia of indirectly concealing the sum of N12million in the same account, and making a false statement to the EFCC that the money was a payment for the sale of landed property.

The alleged offences contravene the provisions of Sections 15 (2) (a) and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011.

Again, on May 18, 2019, her counsel, Clarke (SAN), challenged the jurisdiction of the court to try his client. In moving his application on the preliminary objection, he told the court that his client was still a judge of the Federal High Court and as such could not be tried in line with the precedent set in the case of Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa.

A month later, on June 28, Justice Aikawa

dismissed the preliminary objection. He held that Justice Ajumogobia was no longer a judicial officer and could therefore be tried on any criminal offence for which she is accused. Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia went to the Court of Appeal to challenge the ruling which is still before the court.

But following pressures for Justice Aikawa to withdraw from hearing the case, the defendants were re-arraigned before Justice Mohammed Liman of the same Federal High Court in Lagos on an amended 15 counts on March 3 2021.

During the pendency of the case before Justice Liman, counsel to the EFCC, Suleiman Suleiman, applied to the court to withdraw the name of the second defendant, Obla from the charge.The court granted the request and Obla was accordingly acquitted and discharged.This paved the way for the re-arraignment of Justice Ajumogobia as the sole defendant in the amended charge.

No sooner had Justice Liman commence hearing the case than he was transferred out of Lagos and case was assigned to Justice Allagoa.

When the case came up before Justice Allagoa last Friday, her counsel, Olawale Akoni (SAN), in urging the court to dismiss the money laundering

charge, said his application to dismiss the case was sequel to an order of Justice Binta Nyako of Abuja Division of the court, which he said had quashed all the recommendations made by the NJC. Akoni also told the court that by virtue of judgment of Justice Nyako, delivered on November 28, 2019, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/638/2018, between Justice Rita Ngozi Ofili Ajumogobia and NJC, the judge had quashed NJC’s report and recommendation. He added that following the judgment, Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia had been reinstated.

Responding to the application, counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, informed the court that his commission had responded to the application through a counter affidavit.

The EFCC in a counter-affidavit deposed to by John Michael Idoko said he was informed by S. I. Suleiman, counsel handling the matter that Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia had filed an application dated March 23, 2021, seeking the court to strike out or quash the charge against the applicant for being incompetent and lack of jurisdiction to try same by the court.

The deponent stated that the court had the requisite to hear and determine the allegation of money laundering levelled against the defendant.

He added that by a petition dated December 28, 2017, to the NJC, the commission accused Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia of various acts constituting misconduct under Code of Conduct of Judicial Officers The deponent averred that on September 18, 2018, the NJC’s investigating committee, upon the conclusion of the hearing of the petition submitted its report to the Chairman of the Council recommending appropriate sanction to be imposed on Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia by the council, adding that on November 7, 2018, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces exercised his constitutional power pursuant to section 292 (1) (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and dismissed the applicant as a judge of the Federal High Court.

The deponent stated that upon the exercise of the aforementioned constitutional power, the president equally transmitted a letter to the NJC informing the council of his decision. He said Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia had never been acquitted of the offences contained in the instant charge in any court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction within and outside the shores of Nigeria.

He also stated that NJC’s findings and the recommendation to the president and the president’s letter to the council are all on the record before this court.

He stated that his commission has seen the defendant/applicant’s exhibit wherein Justice Nyako on November 28, 2019 in Suit No, FHC/ ABJ/CS/638/2018 between Justice Rita Ngozi Ofili Ajumogobia and NJC held thus: “Consequent on the above finding, I hereby set aside all that the respondent did in respect of this matter premised on the same issues as in the subject matter of the trial before the High Court of Lagos State.”

Ruling on the arguments canvassed by the parties, Justice Allagoa held: “I have looked at the application. I have also looked into the counter-affidavit of the prosecution, it is not indeed controvert the application. I am satisfied that the application has merit, the prayers sought for are hereby granted as prayed”.

NOTES FOR FILE

FG’s Penchant for Disobeying Court Orders

Isa Idris

The rate at which the agencies of the federal government disobey court orders and judgments under the current administration is really a cause for concern.

Whether it is Army, Navy, Air Force, police, Department of State Services (DSS), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or some parastarals, the story is just the same.

To know that the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has joined the fray is not only perplexing and baffling, but shows how irredeemable the situation is.

On October 18, 2021 Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja had ordered the NIS to return the seized international passport of former Rivers State Governor, Dr. Peter Odili, to him.The judge held that the seizure of the passport in the first place in June was unlawful.

However, 38 days after the initial directive, the NIS was yet to comply, making the court to renew the order.This time, it gave the NIS a five-day ultimatum to comply with its directive.

Recall that shortly after the October 18 judgment, the NIS through its lawyer, Ibrahim Etsu, had filed an application seeking an order staying the execution of the judgment, pending the determination of their appeal.

But after listening to the arguments of Etsu last Wednesday, the judge said the court would only hear the application on the condition that the applicants, the NIS and its Comptroller General, first comply with the directive by releasing Odili’s passport and depositing it with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court within five days.

What is really difficult in obeying a simple court order if not that some persons in high places just want to use their positions to embarrass others?

What the NIS has done has further confirmed the government’s penchant for disobeying court orders.

What is clearly playing out shows how members of the opposition are treated in the country where those who are standing trial for corruption have had their charges dropped because they simply defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and their “sins” forgiven.

Some questions for the NIS are: Can they tell Nigerians why they are still holding on to the passport despite a court order against their action? How will holding on to Odili’s passport benefit the Nigerian people?What is NIS trying to prove?

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CICERO/REPORT

Why PDP Needs Urgent Re-branding Akin Adeoya writes that as the Peoples Democratic Party looks forward hopefully to the 2023 elections, it certainly needs to re-brand

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or Nigeria’s former ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the big question should be: To re-brand or not to re-brand, as it looks hopefully forward to the national elections of 2023.

Sometime in 2019, the then beleaguered leadership of Nigeria’s one-time ruling party, the PDP, made an announcement that it was “re-branding”.

If you read that story, you will notice the singular emphasis on “name change” as the understanding of what a re-branding effort constitutes. A former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu was penned down to head a committee to “walk the party leadership through the process.”

Despite immediate questions regarding the party’s understanding of what rebranding truly means, I thought this was a great idea and silently congratulated whoever gave them the idea and those that agreed to push for the programme.

However, if you look at any penny thesaurus for synonyms of re-branding (let’s not even get technical), you will see words like reinvent, remodel, revamp, revitalise, and even overhaul.

Visual Identity and Name Change: A Tip of the Iceberg There is a lot of confusion out there; it seems to me, about the very concept of rebranding. The brand design industry has been able to create the impression that re-branding is mostly about shapes, colors and forms - basically identity issues.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

I remember sitting through a lecture on branding delivered by one of Nigeria’s leading brand strategists in one of the M2 Brandwagon events sometime around 2010 where he illustrated his paper with the powerful imagery of an iceberg. The mighty iceberg sits on the ocean but all you can see is the peak. Imagine if an inexperienced lookout officer on a ship assumes that the peak is all there is to it?

Disaster!

The entire project of renaming and identity overhauling which I earlier referred to as shapes, colours and forms development are the mere tip of the iceberg. The real deal is right under, buried in corporate culture. Back to Peter “the rock” Drucker; we will examine some of these items in this essay.

It is therefore very clear that rebranding an organisation like PDP must go beyond renaming and redesigns of identity collateral. The party needs a complete overhaul of its corporate practice and values. This is a difficult task given the nature of Nigerian politicians and even politics but there can be motivation to do the right thing if they realise that it’s a sink or swim. A professionally executed re-branding effort can make a significant difference in a major national election.

APC vs PDP: Who owns Corruption?

The jury is out! At the moment, PDP and its archrival, the All Progressives Congress (APC) are in deep competition for who has a greater and more authentic claim to the word: “corruption”. In the days when PDP was in power, the APC made it its business to attach that word to PDP in such a way that it has become a noose around the neck of the PDP. In fact, I can conclude that it meets all the criteria listed by Ries and Trout for “owning a word or phrase” in their all-time classic: Positioning, the battle for your mind.

Unfortunately, even though the PDP, in the opposition has not been as devastating in the propaganda frontier as the then opposition APC, the current ruling party’s countless goofs and gaffes has helped it to acquire the toga of a truly corrupt party

PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu too. Fortunately for them, they are in power and the opposition PDP will have to do more than mouth expletives and elect good looking leaders.

To my surprise, this effort, which promised to mitigate PDPs image crisis was unfortunately abandoned in the run up to the 2019 elections. The media speculated that perhaps many leaders of the party were not comfortable with the proposed changes. Well, they went on to lose the election for many reasons. The good news is that a new opportunity is presented with the coming national elections. Fortunately, they just had a very successful national convention, which culminated in the election of the charismatic and experienced Senator Iyorchia Ayu. Party leaders must be told that the days of depending on extraneous activities to win elections are fast disappearing and the time has come to build parties that not only engage citizens but involve them in envisioning the hope for the future. A re-branding process can make this happen. Some of the key action points to give the party a new, more acceptable image and to prepare it for possible victory are articulated in the following six imperatives.

First, PDP needs to review its name and come up with a name that refreshes its reputation. This will create some challenges in a situation where many members are not literate and reside in the rural areas. The challenge is not insurmountable. The gains far outweigh the troubles. The thoughts and ideas associated with the party have nothing to do with good governance, leadership and prosperity.

Again, have you ever asked yourself why the rallying cry of PDP is “PDP power?”. What exactly is that supposed to communicate? That they are the party of power or the party in power?

If so, how relevant does it still stand now that they have been out of power for many years? What emotions does it inspire in old and especially new members? What hope does it kindle in the hearts of the teeming millions who follow the party? The party needs to drop this antiquated rallying cry and invent a call to arms that inspires and projects members to a future expected.

Third, PDP must overhaul its internal processes and systems including carrying out reforms in support of internal democracy. They must demonstrate to Nigerians that the new PDP, whatever new name it will be called, means business and is no longer willing to embrace impunity.

The fourth point that this is the time to compile the achievements of PDP governors and local government chieftains (Those who did well) and celebrate those achievements to high heavens. The job must not be left to the governors or LG chairmen alone, it must be co-ordinated by the national secretariat and should always demonstrate what the party has achieved in places where it holds sway.

Fifth, the re-branding should set forth a strategy for communication that is agenda setting and predictive rather than reactive. A party in opposition, in the tradition of the inimitable Chief Obafemi Awolowo, can always step forward with proposals and warnings

about the critical sectors of the economy.

They can commission reports, researches and present alternative solutions to poor policies by the government in power. Such a serious-minded approach to opposition politics raises the level of the conversation and helps to position the party as a thinking organisation with the ideas and capacities to take charge. A serious political institution should demonstrate rigor beyond the banalities of celebrating careless acts of government functionaries that have to significant impact just for the purpose of scoring cheap points.

Finally, I think it is time for the PDP to look for a professional event design and execution consultant to design an original event template for all their events such that even their event methodology becomes a branding tool for the party. I am sure most Nigerians are not too impressed with the lack of imagination displayed during public outings of all the major parties. They don’t operate with any template or formalised style. There is no guide to speaking which can help brevity and enhance communication. Guides can help speechwriters determine mandatory information that must be in every speech by a party official. You can determine that intros and speeches should be within certain agreed time limits. Event branding methodology will be pre-designed and formally adopted. This will deliver a consistent brand experience in ALL party events.

Members begin to have a more emotional connection with the party because of the consistent branding, messaging and discipline.

Adeoya, an imaginative strategist and communicator, can be reached at thelettermachine7@gmail.com

ͺ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

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B AC K PAG E C O N T I N UAT I O N ‘HOW MANY SLOTS ARE YOU GIVING US?’ when there were no vacancies or any ongoing recruitment processes. The first of such letters came from a ranking traditional ruler from the Southwest, introducing someone from the Northwest for employment in NEITI. I was mindful of the unemployment situation in the country which most certainly pushes people to desperate lengths, but I also wondered if people actually got employed this way. On my part though, I ensured we replied to such letters promptly by saying that we were not recruiting at that time, and that they would be notified whenever there were positions to be filled. We also never failed to mention that such future recruitments would be done through an open, competitive process.

It is important to state that these were not requests for their candidates to be given a fair chance to compete but to be favoured, for the process to be bent for them, or for their candidates to be employed without any process at all. The volume of the letters increased and replying to all of them would have been some work all by itself. I used to promptly minute on the letters to the appropriate departments, just for their information. However, I made a few exemptions for accepting candidates for NYSC and internship postings, but not for jobs. Even the exemptions did not apply to anyone personally known to me.

But it is not seen as unusual or unexpected for public officials, especially CEOs, to employ their relatives and others from their clans, communities, states, or tribes. Even some who are not CEOs manage to wangle such. In some instances, it is easy to know where the head of or the most powerful person in an organisation is from based on the state with the highest number of staff in the organisation or the language or the dialect mostly spoken as if it is the official language. In fact, one of the warped metrics for measuring the performance of public officials in their communities is the number of ‘their people’ that they employed.

Apart from violating the tenets of conflict of interests and advantaging those already privileged, this and other preferential approaches to recruitment invariably create a lopsided workforce, reduce the faith of young people in their country, and shut out the best and brightest where they are sorely needed. As the head of NEITI, I had relatives and siblings looking for jobs, not to speak of friends and others. The most I could do was to point them at opportunities or provide them with financial support.

The fact that you choose not to bend the system for your relatives and friends would not discourage others from pressing you to employ their own friends and relatives though. In fact, some of those making requests could be quite daring. I

EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa remember one of the traditional rulers of the FCT mounting vigil at our office gate in Asokoro with the full paraphernalia of office. He drove straight after me into the compound. I had been out in the official car, so it was difficult to claim that I was not in the office or that I was in a meeting.

So, I had to see him.

He started out speaking to me in Hausa (many people do so because of my first name), and when he realised that I was Yoruba, he switched to impeccable Yoruba. He came to hand-deliver letters that he had sent earlier with CVs of his subjects that must be employed in NEITI. I respectfully explained our situation to him

and promised to inform him anytime there was an opening. He sounded impressed by my explanation. I saw him off to his car, half-prostrated in respect for him, and even waited till his car left.

There were occasions when my explanation of our tight financial situation and the need to follow due process fell on deaf ears. Those seeking favours would promise to talk to higher ups in government to get our budget increased and released in full so that we could employ more people, especially their candidates. Since these were things that would happen in the future, and which I knew were likely not going to happen, I would often play along as arguing with such

people would have been a waste of time anyway. There were also those who took it upon themselves to advise me to employ my own people, as ‘that is what everyone does.’ It was made clear to me that if you don’t help your own people, you would be reminded of it when you need them in the future, possibly if you are seeking elective office. A cleric once told me that I should assist people of the same faith because “this is Nigeria, everyone assists their own.”

I remember vividly an encounter with the chairman of a National Assembly committee who had sent for me. Based on prior encounters, I knew there had to be something. I went to see him with one of the directors to make sure I had a witness.

Before we could finish exchanging pleasantries, he brought out an envelope and called in a man who had been waiting in the outer part of his office before our arrival.

“I know how much I put in your last budget for your audit,” he stated, matter-of-factly.

“This is the man that will do the audit and here is his proposal. Go and work it out with him.”

This was the budget before I assumed office and luckily for me, the contract had been awarded. I disclosed this to him, adding that the procurement of the NEITI auditors was an extended, open process that would be difficult for anyone to control. The only thing I could do was to get our team to explain the process to his candidate so that he could submit a competitive bid in the future. He grudgingly accepted.

I developed different ways of handling these requests, from offering to visit VIPs who would have requested to see me, through painting a very grim but truthful picture of our financial situation in ways that would evoke pity, to taking time to explain why we had to do things in an open and transparent way or promising to help in other ways or when things improved. But I guess it also helped that there was nothing they could use to force my hands. Abuja is a very small place with little secrets. If I had been helping myself and those close to me, they would have got a whiff of it and there could have been investigations, especially from those with oversight powers, to put me on the spot and possibly to extract concessions out of me.

I had been in some meetings where those with oversight powers would start with aggressively picking holes in our performance, putting us on the defensive, only to end with: “we got information that you are employing. How many slots are you giving us?” r"CPWF JT BO FEJUFE FYDFSQU GSPN i5IF "SD PG UIF 1PTTJCMF u B NFNPJS CZ 8B[JSJ "EJP PO TBMF GSPN TU %FDFNCFS

MY MEETINGS WITH DE KLERK OVER APARTHEID South Africa on such idea. The assignment President Babangida then gave me was to ascertain how serious President de Klerk was on ending apartheid in South Africa as well as what Nigeria could do to help that process.

After my meeting with President Babangida who gave me a list of contacts within the South African government, including close aides of President de Klerk, I decided to coopt Colonel Kayode Are into the assignment.

Colonel Are was not only my chief of staff at the time but also a close friend whose opinion I deeply valued. The two of us embarked on this extraordinary mission with no time to spare. We first met with the then Director-General of South Africa’s National Intelligence Service (NIS), Dr. Niel Barnard, in London on 15th January 1990. That marked the beginning of a long and enduring partnership between our two institutions, and I visited South Africa several times thereafter to discuss the way forward. I also had direct sessions with President de Klerk who, in our first meeting, made it clear that he wanted to be the last minority president. I was a bit skeptical about that even though he sounded genuine.

On 2nd February 1990, while we were still working underground with their security officials, President de Klerk took the world by surprise. In his address at the opening session of parliament, he announced the end of segregation of public facilities in South Africa, recognised the African National Congress (ANC) as a legitimate political party and set a date for the release of Mr Nelson Mandela from prison after 27 years of incarceration.

Not surprisingly, as de Klerk made his speech, there were shouts of ‘traitor’ from several MPs within his own Conservative Party who staged a dramatic walk-out.

One of them, Koos van der Merwe later addressed the media where he described de Klerk as “a traitor to his own people” because by the declaration, the then South African president was “trying to kill the Afrikaner nation.”

That historic speech inaugurated a season of far-reaching political reforms and marked the beginning of the end of apartheid regime in South Africa.

Four weeks later, I visited President de Klerk in Cape Town with a letter from President Babangida. The culmination of our discussion was a meeting between both presidents in Windhoek on 31st March 1990 at the sidelines of Namibia’s Independence Day celebration.

Much more significantly, however, five senior Nigerian journalists were in Namibia for the event. When I sounded them out about whether they would like to visit South Africa, they were excited. I discussed the idea with South African officials, and it was agreed that they could undertake a visit. A vehicle was provided for the long journey that took almost 20 hours from Windhoek to Johannesburg. The reports filed by these top journalists when they returned to Nigeria validated most of what Colonel Are and I had witnessed which confirmed that De Klerk was moving in the direction of majority rule.

Meanwhile, at some point, I discovered that while our engagements with South African officials were cordial and fruitful, it was also necessary to brief the leader

of Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Chief Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi. I got the feedback from reliable South African contacts that Chief Buthelezi was aware of Nigerian mediation and as a critical factor in the country, he needed to be carried along.

President Babangida wrote him a letter.

Having welcomed the idea, the South African Government provided the plane that took me to Ulundi, capital of Zulu Kingdom where Chief Buthelezi was happy to receive me.

He called his entire cabinet before reading President Babangida’s letter. There and then he asked the Cabinet Secretary to draft a reply. I then drove with him to the statute of their ancestral warrior, Shaka Zulu where we took photographs before I flew back to Johannesburg.

However, although Colonel Are and I worked underground in our engagements with the South African authorities, some of our colleagues within the continent picked up the information that high-ranking Nigerian officials were collaborating with the apartheid regime and a few African leaders were uncomfortable. That was a problem we left for President Babangida to handle with his colleagues.

In April 1992, President de Klerk undertook a three-day State Visit to Nigeria at the invitation of President Babangida.

The visit was the first by a South African head of state to our country, and President Babangida - who was at that period chairman of the Organisation of African Unity (now African Union) - signaled to the continent and the rest of the world that Nigeria supported President De Klerk in his efforts. This certainly was the key to South Africa’s acceptance by the rest

of the continent.

Following President de Klerk’s death on 11th November this year, his office issued a prerecorded posthumous video where he tendered apology for “the pain and the hurt and the indignity and the damage that apartheid has done to black, brown and Indians in South Africa.” I believe he genuinely meant what he said.

In their tribute, the Mandela Foundation said that President de Klerk would “forever be linked to Nelson Mandela in the annals of South African history” while President Cyril Ramaphosa said de Klerk “took the courageous decision (as president) to unban political parties, release political prisoners and enter into negotiations with the liberation movement amid severe pressure to the contrary from many in his political constituency.”

As I reflect on the legacy of the late President de Klerk, I am reminded of the extraordinary things ordinary people can achieve. It took great courage for President de Klerk to stand up to the white establishment in South Africa after which he accepted the position of a deputy in President Nelson Mandela’s ANC-led Government of National Unity. He will therefore be remembered as a peacemaker who changed the course of history in his country. And I am grateful for the part that Nigeria played in supporting his efforts while I salute the courage of President Babangida for taking the right decision at the time.

May God grant President De Klerk eternal rest. r(FOFSBM (VTBV SUE JT GPSNFS /BUJPOBM 4FDVSJUZ "EWJTFS

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 28, 2021

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INTERNATIONAL Terrorism in the Sahel and Blockading French Military Convoy: Neo-colonialism or African Solution?

T

he use of terror in international relations is dated to the time of French Revolution in 1789 when the word, terrorism, was first coined. Terrorism began as an instrument of protesting great power policies: sending letter bombs and parcel bombs to the diplomatic agents of the United States, France, and United Kingdom in particular; putting bombs under or near their diplomatic vehicles and detonating it from far away when the targeted person enters the vehicle. And true, it is mainly because all diplomatic agents are protected internationally by the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations that the diplomatic agents are always violated.

Additionally, when efforts were made by various embassies to contain letter bomb attacks, kidnapping of people was introduced by the terrorists. This was later followed by hijacking and skyjacking of planes. Hijacking is about illegal attachment of aircraft, ship, and vehicles while in transit or on the ground.

Skyjacking is about the illegal use of force to commandeer and rerouting an aircraft when it is already airborne. In these cases, many Euro-American ambassadors have been brutally killed, meaning that terrorism has an international character in design, execution, and effect. Its preparation can be national, its operation can be national and transnational. Terrorists have different nationalities and do not carry any name tags. They are anti-societal orderliness. Their tactic is hit-and-run and therefore do not have any specific battlefield. Their objective is political and religious. They are very brutally, brutish, inhuman, and very indecent in their attitudinal disposition. This is most unacceptable.

More disturbingly, from their uncivilised attacks on targeted individual countries, terrorists are now asking for a change in, if not a change of, world order in which Christianism is seriously being threatened and Westernisation is unwanted.

Contradictorily, terrorists used and still use Western education and weapons to conduct and manage their battles against the same western world. Currently, in Nigeria, Boko Haram has compelled parents to withdraw their wards from schools and has displaced 151,380 villagers in 30 communities. (Daily Trust of 24th November 2021, p.8). This development supports Samuel P. Huntington, an American political scientist, who has theorised that future war, particularly in the post-Cold War era, may not be fought between countries but between cultures.

He is right and cannot be more correct.

The world is currently playing host to Islamic terrorism, a major security challenge in the Sahel, which does not constitute a region in Africa as defined in Articles 1(d) and 1(e) of the 1991 Abuja Treaty Establishing an African Economic Community. Sahel is the area between the Sahara to the North and the Sudanian Savanah to the South. It comprises portions of northern Senegal, southern Mauritania, central Mali, northern Burkina Faso, southern Algeria, southwest Niger, northern Nigeria, central Chad, central Sudan, and northern Eritrea.

Terror in Sahel raises how to battle terrorism: neo-colonially or African solution?

French Neo-colonialism and Africa From the foregoing, the Sahel comprises seven Francophone countries out of ten. All of them are former colonies of France, and are currently under recidivist terrorist attacks, particularly in Nigeria, a non-Francophone, prompting calls for international help on all sides. Attitudinally, African leaders once told the world that they wanted African problems to be given African solutions, and there is nothing to suggest that Africa has the capacity to do so alone. It is in this regard that the blockade of the passage of a large French military army logistics convoy in Kaya, the capital of Burkina Faso’s north central region, should be understood: neo-colonialism or African solution? Is the al-Qaida-driven terrorist jihad in the Sahel meant to dislodge former colonialists or to ensure the establishment of Islamic Caliphates? Is the current jihad in Africa not between Islam and all others? The Boko Haramist insurrection in Nigeria clearly shows an Islamisation agenda and the quest to throw any other religion, culture and mania into the garbage of history.

On Tuesday, 2nd November 2021 terrorists attacked Banibangou in the Tillaberi region of Western Niger and several dozen civilians were killed. France, showing much concern for the dastardly attacks, made it clear that she would stand, along

VIE INTERNATIONALE with

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

Macron with the members of the Coalition for the Sahel, with Niger to combat terrorism and protect the people by supporting Nigerien defence and security forces.

On 20 November 2021, several thousands of people demonstrated against the passage of a large French military army logistics convoy in Kaya, Burkina Faso. The convoy was coming from the Côte d’Ivoire and was en route Republic of Niger. As reported by the Africa News and relying on the Agence France Presse (AFP), ‘French Army get out,’‘Free the Sahel’, ‘No more French invasion and recolonisation military convoy,’ could be read on signs and banners held up by demonstrators, gathered at the entrance of Kaya.’

From the banners, the Burkinabe want the French to ‘free the Sahel.’ If the people of Burkina Faso want the French to free or liberate the Sahel, how can the French accomplish this objective if their military convoy is blocked from operating? Is this blockade not counter-productive? This question is necessary because the same demonstrators are complaining that the French are not doing enough to protect them in the country’s five-year fight against al-Qaida jihadists. They complained that thousands of people had been killed and more than 1.4 million people displaced internally.

Additionally, anti-recolonisation is one of the critical objectives of the Burkina demonstration, but French military presence in Africa goes beyond the myth of neo-colonialism or recolonisation and seeking African solutions to terrorism.

Islamic jihad in the Sahel uses terror as their main tactic and strategy and terrorism is a global phenomenon with uncontrollable tentacles in the whole of Africa. In this regard, and without jot of exaggeration, Africa does not have any magical power to use in helping to contain terrorism in the continent.

Africa therefore needs international understanding, solidarity, and active foreign support in nipping terrorism in the bud. This is where the issue of non-interference and non-intervention in the domestic affairs of Africa constitutes another irritant.

In this regard, many points are noteworthy about the

In essence, the challenge of blockading French military convoy in Kaya, Burkina Faso is how to reconcile conflicting national interests on the one hand, and how to reconcile national and foreign interests, especially in the context of the international struggle against international terrorism, on the other. The Burkinabe do not want French military presence on their soil while the French military convoy was only passing through Burkina Faso to Niger Republic by agreement. The military convoy is to strengthen its anti-terror war, which is in the interest of France, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic. If this is so, is French intervention a recolonisation agenda or a resultant of pacta sunt servanda? The Burkinabe want a review of the agreements based on the belief that the French are only interested in their resources but not in them as a people. Good observation.

However, preventing the French from protecting the same resources against terrorist exploitation and preventing the people who are to take advantage of the resources from reckless killing by the terrorists ought to be the top priority. African leaders have no good and constructive response to the current Islamic jihad, which is worst than re-colonisation. In ending recolonisation and terrorism, the approach should not be through demonstrations, but learning how to respond to foreign exploitations, how to take advantage of them. Crying about exploitation is not a solution

blockade of the French convoy. First, the convoy had earlier, on Wednesday, 17th and Thursday, 18th 2021, been blocked in Ouagadougou, the Burkinabe capital but Government tear gassed the protesters to force them away and allowed a free passage for the convoy. As explained by the Agenced’Information du Burkina (Burkina Faso Government News Agency, AIB), ‘the French army was cornered and carried out some warning shots in the middle of the day on Saturday (13th). But demonstrators who had left, returned on their steps, determined to turn back the French military convoy coming from the Côte d’Ivoire to Niger.’ Demonstrators alleged some of them were killed during the warning shots, but the French have denied any killing but admitted possible injuries when people run helter-skelter into safety.

The demonstrators did not know the exact destination of the French convoy but simply did not want any French military presence on the territory of Burkina Faso. Put differently, they do not want recolonisation in whatever form again. Apart from this, they rightly or wrongly believed that France was aiding and abetting terrorism in the Sahelian region. They suspected that the French military convoy, which is the French anti-terrorist force, were carrying weapons and motorcycles in their containers which are likely to be used by the terrorists. As reported, the demonstrators stated thus: ‘we are not against the French people. The French people are our friend. We need France to come back so that we can revisit our agreements. We have the feeling that they are interested in our resources and not us.’

This statement is important in the sense that, even though the Burkinabés see the French as friends, the friendship cannot be to the extent that the existing agreements with France should not be reviewed. It implies that something is wrong with the agreement that has to be put right.

The reason given by the demonstrators is thought-provoking: ‘we decided to blockade, because despite the agreements signed with France, we continue to record deaths and our countries remain under armed.’ In other words, the purposes of the agreements have not been fulfilled. In the eyes of the people of Burkina Faso, the French are only interested in the Burkina resources but not in the people.

If, on last Tuesday, 16th November, several hundreds of people demonstrated in various parts of the country to demand the resignation of the Burkinabe president, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, the reasons should not be far-fetched: He is seen to have not been able to stop recidivist terrorist attacks since 2015. Whereas one major reason for the French military convoy in transit to Niger Republic is related to the antiterrorism struggle. In this regard, will the blockade in Kaya put an end to the terrorist attacks? Is the blockade an expression of an African solution to African problems? Is French effort to contain terrorism an expression of neo-colonialism or recolonisation? Why invite France in the first instance or sign defence agreement with France?

Apart from Djibouti, which is still territorially considered as part of France, France only has military cooperation in training and peacekeeping agreements with most African countries.

This cannot but be so because Nigeria used to be vehemently opposed to foreign military interventions and bases in Africa.

Nigeria is against the use of Africa ordinarily as a source of raw materials for the development of Europe. And true, Dr OkoiArikpo, Commissioner for External Affairs under General Yakubu Gowon, was always at logger head with France on this matter. But, France, in this regard, also had valid explanation for her military presence in Africa. She argues that she is in Africa on the invitation of sovereign countries like Nigeria. Besides, France had signed defence and military cooperation agreements with many Francophone countries, and on the strength of the agreements, France has a legitimate basis to interfere and intervene in countries with which she secured a military understanding. This is one of the pillars of France’s military presence or recolonisation in Africa. It is also in this context that France’s military convoy en route to the Niger Republic should be explained.

Ending Recolonisation and Terrorism Neo-colonialism, as defined in The Britannica, is the control of less developed countries by developed countries through indirect means. It is about foreign dependency of former countries. Wikipedia has it that neo-colonialism is ‘the practice of using economic imperialism, globalisation, cultural imperialism and conditional aid to influence a developing country instead of the previous colonial methods of direct military control or indirect political control (hegemony).’

In this regard, has French colonisation really come to an end? It is only if we admit that it has ended that we can begin to rightly posit about recolonisation. We do not believe that French colonisation has ever come to an end based on the foregoing definitions. It has only been mitigated, especially in terms of domination and scope of areas of cooperation.

The transformation of the European Economic Community to European Community and eventually to European Union largely contributed to the mitigation.

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

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NEWS

Sirika: With AMCON’s N235bn Debt Exposure, NCAA May Not Certify NG Eagle Allays fears of private airlines over new national carrier Explains Nigeria’s suspension of Emirates Airlines Chinedu Eze Despite the efforts the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has made so far to obtain an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) for its new airline, NG Eagle, the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika said the over N235 billion debt owed by the corporation may not allow the new start-up to be certified by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority of Nigeria (NCAA).

He has also allayed the fears of Nigerian airlines that the emergence of the national carrier would not guarantee a level-playing field in the way government relates with the operators.

Sirika also explained why Nigeria suspended Emirates Airlines before the United Arab Emirates (UAE) removed the Rapid Antigen Test (RDT) for Nigerian travellers at the weekend, prompting the federal government to also lift the ban on Emirates Airlines.

In an exclusive interview with THISDAY at the weekend, Sirika identified some of the debts to include AMCON’s N200 billion exposure to Arik Air and the airline’s N35 billion debts owed aviation agencies.

The minister said that NCAA would not likely give AOC to NG Eagle while these huge debts remained unresolved.

“Well, my understanding of AMCON is a company set up by the government. And I am also aware that AMCON is trying to set up another airline.

How they are going to do it I do not know. But what I want to assure you is that the NCAA, which is the regulator, will ensure that everything that needs to be done to establish an airline, AMCON would have followed it.

“Anybody who wants to set up an airline today in the country, whether a state government or federal government or whatever, they want to set up an airline, they will go and set up an airline but NCAA will do the needful. I am not sure if AMCON intends to raise another airline out of Arik, because I do know AMCON itself has over N200 billion exposure in Arik. And I know also that Arik owes all the agencies of government in aviation, over N35 billion.

“So, I am not sure if a company that has a N235 billion deficit can start-up and become another airline. I am not too sure that can happen.

So, I am not the regulator, I am the minister, but I don't think that it will be possible for an airline to start with negative N235 billion,” the Minister told THISDAY. Sirika also allayed the fears of Nigerian airlines that the emergence of the national carrier would not guarantee a level-playing field in the aviation sector.

The minister said that there would be no favouritism because the national carrier would operate as a private airline, just like the others.

He promised that there would no preferential treatment for the new national carrier.

“Well, as I said, this is a private sector-driven airline; the only difference between this Airline and Max Air or Azman, or Air Peace or any other, is the

government is saying that, for the first time, we are going to set a framework. We are going to create an airline the way we think an airline should be run and driven. But 95 per cent of it is private sector-driven, so there is no favouritism here.

“There is a level-playing field and they are free also; if they like to either take part of their capital and invest in the new airline or compete with them. There is competition now between Air Peace and Ibom Air. I don't think if you have your business plan right and you are doing it right, you should have any fear. In every single market, you go to today how many people are selling petroleum products in Nigeria?

So, many and everybody is competing in the same market.

“NNPC as a government entity was also selling petroleum products, but that does not stop Total from selling their petroleum products. Neither did it stop Azman oil from selling their own. They sell gasoline; they sell diesel in the same market as NNPC and they are making a profit. So, I think it is dependent upon

their planning their business and then they are getting it right. I don't think there is any fear if the company is doing it right,” he explained.

Sirika also threw more light on why Nigeria suspended Emirates Airlines until the United Arab Emirates (UAE) removed the Rapid Antigen Test (RDT) for Nigerian travellers on Friday, prompting the federal government to also lift the ban on Emirates Airlines.

He said that every country adopted its COVID-19 protocol but some airlines, including Emirates, insisted on a different protocol from what Nigeria has for its citizens so the Nigerian government insisted on its policy.

“At the beginning of this COVID-19 challenge, every country puts its protocol on how to control the virus. We, as a country had our protocol.

We put our protocol in place, but Emirates, Lufthansa, Air France, and KLM, decided not to observe the protocols put by Nigeria. And it was decided by the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) to suspend

these airlines.

“So, it wasn’t Aviation Ministry that suspended these airlines, it was PSC because they have flouted our rules governing COVID-19. Once that was done, Lufthansa, Air France-KLM, withdrew their position and toed the line of Nigeria and Emirates refused.

Instead, Emirates introduced new rules that did not make scientific sense to us.

“For example, we do know that this virus once it catches your body, it takes four days to incubate and begin to show in your system. So, which means that if you have the virus today, up to four days when you test you will show negative. But from four to 14 days, you are likely to show positive.

So, they put a protocol that if you are going to UAE, you should test yourself 48 hours before the flight, test yourself at the airport before departure within 48 hours. And then you fly seven hours to Dubai and test yourself.

“And go to your hotel or residence and test yourself. So, we thought that if you have negative 48 hours before and

you have been negative before you board, you are certainly going to show negatively as you land. So, we thought that that was a commercial decision because they will be causing Nigerian passengers to be paying $200 per test, times four within two days,” the minister said.

He said that PSC did not see the wisdom in that decision, adding that despite the pressures from Nigerians who travel to Dubai or are resident in Dubai, the Presidential Ministerial Committee insisted that the position of Nigeria on COVID-19 protocol must be adhered to.

“Nigerians were so eager to travel to Dubai and we feel their pains. Some of them were traveling back to their jobs. Some of them were travelling for school, some for a medical reason, some even for leisure, which is allowed. But we thought that this is unfair treatment and this measure was only applied to Nigeria.

They singled out Nigeria; they discriminated against Nigeria. So, discriminating against a country was not

acceptable to us. They cannot discriminate against 200 million people. And they cannot have their rules country-specific to be specific to Nigeria.

“If they had applied it to our region and their reason was that there were fake covid-19 results from Nigeria, but there were also fake results in Germany, in UAE, in France, in England, in the UK, US and everywhere. So, that was not a reason and if the reason was that they were afraid that we would come and infect passengers, we would say that we have managed COVID-19 extremely very well in Nigeria. Until today the death is below 3000. So, when we put that across to them, they said no, because we were not testing. Well, even if it is so that we were not testing, we were also not seeing people go into graves in Nigeria unexplained, unusually dying. And we know that in one day, 3,000 people were dying in Italy and France, and UK. And when they opened their borders in Dubai, we saw how many people were dying per day.

HANGING OUT… L-R: Group Head, Corporate Banking, First Bank Nigeria Limited, Mr. Osahon Ogieva; Chief Executive, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Mr. Gbenga Komolafe; and former Director-General, Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, at the New Telegraph's Awards ceremony in Lagos…recently

NEW COVID-19 STRAIN: CONCERNS MOUNT OVER PLANNED VISIT OF RAMAPHOSA TO NIGERIA The heavily-mutated new variant has so far been detected in South Africa, Botswana, and Hong Kong.

This development has prompted the ban of travellers from Southern African countries by the 27-member European Union (EU), and the United States, Britain, Canada, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and UAE. The EU’s executive “will propose, in close coordination with member states, to activate the emergency brake to stop air travel from the southern African region due to the variant of concern B.1.1.529,” EU chief, Ursula Von der Leyen, had tweeted on Friday.

The EU countries are: Austria,

Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.

The US announced on Friday that it would be restricting travel from eight southern African countries over fears of the new variant, which some had expected to be named Nu but which has now been dubbed Omicron.

Travel would be mostly banned starting Monday (tomorrow) from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini,

Mozambique, and Malawi, a senior official in President Joe Biden’s administration, had reportedly said However, only US citizens and permanent residents will still be able to travel from the eight countries.

Canada also banned travellers from seven African countries - Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe - over concerns about the variant.

The United Kingdom had also placed South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Eswatini, and Zimbabwe on its red list, which means that direct flights from the six countries were banned from Friday until Sunday (today) at 4 am.

Passengers arriving from these countries from today, at 4 am, would have to book and pay for a government-approved hotel quarantine facility for 10 days.

Ramaphosa’s planned visit has raised concerns in Nigeria following the new strain of COVID-19.

“What is the federal government’s dilemma over the visit? Is Nigeria going to receive the South African President and other officials when other countries are banning travellers from South Africa? Is the federal government going to tell them not to come? Under what structure are they going to come?” a top official of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) queried.

The visit will be President Ramaphosa’s first visit to Nigeria in his official capacity as the substantive president since he was elected some three years ago.

He had visited Nigeria in 2018, as the acting president, following the exit of former President Jacob Zuma from office.

There are about 120 South African firms in Nigeria, including the telecommunication giant, MTN, DSTV whose parent company, Multichoice, remains the number one leading player in the cable TV ecosystem in the country.

However, only a few Nigerian firms are operating in South Africa.

67

ͺ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

NEWS

Abdulsalami: Africa Must Stop Using Force to Maintain Peace Jonathan urges Nigerian leaders to build united country Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa Nigeria’s former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), has said African countries must change the approach of using force to maintain peace.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has also urged Nigerian leaders to value the interests of every section of the country to build a united nation devoid of agitations, disunity, and disenchantment among the citizens.

This is as the Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Rev. Matthew Kukah, said Abdulsalami has given respectability to Nigeria’s electoral process through the National Peace Committee, adding that he deserves Nobel Prize for bringing honour to Nigeria’s electoral process.

Abubakar said this yesterday at a conference organised in his honour in Abuja.

The former head of state said the continent is still battling “conflicts of diverse kinds,” which he said is one of the greatest challenges of the continent.

He encouraged African leaders to embrace “constructive engagement” in resolving conflict rather than force.

“Africa as a continent has not been freed from conflict; indeed conflicts of diverse kinds are still one of the greatest challenges in Africa,” he said.

“Conflicts persist in Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Southern Sudan, Central African Republic, Mali, Mozambique, Libya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, among others.

“Consequently, as African leaders, we must be resolute and have the strong political will to resolve these conflicts and other developmental challenges confronting our continent.

“Therefore sustaining peace should be a continuous work in progress and we must change our approach of using force to maintain peace.

“But rather seeking constructive engagement with diverse stakeholders to broaden our perspectives of the issues in contention.”

He commended the National Peace Committee (NPC) for the roles played in bringing sanity to the country’s polity while appreciating Nigerians for believing in the committee.

Meanwhile, Kukah said Abdulsalami has given respectability to Nigeria’s electoral process through the National Peace Committee, adding that he deserves Nobel Prize for bringing honour to Nigeria’s electoral process.

Kukah said the mandate of the peace committee was for the 2015 elections, but the committee continued with its mandate because of the credibility of the former head of state.

The bishop, who is also the secretary of the committee, said all stakeholders in the country’s political process agreed that the committee should continue with its mandate after the 2015 elections.

“On behalf of the peace committee, we want to thank General Abdulsalami because he has given respectability to the election and electoral processes,” he said.

“Because we work very closely with INEC and now we are finding ourselves being called from left, right, and centre.

“When the peace committee was set up, the name was peace committee for the 2015 elections.

“The idea was that after the 2015 elections everybody will go home. When we finished we decided to say ‘are we to shake hands and go home?’ We said ‘look, let’s sit down together.’

“Truly, General Abdulsalami was gracious enough when we suggested that why don’t we hear from Nigerians what they think about the work of the peace committee.

“We called the media, we called civil society, we called the BOT of the two parties, we went to see the president, we went to see the speaker, we went to see the senate president and President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Everybody said the peace committee must remain and we could have gone home but I think that it is to the credibility of General Abdulsalami that we are still going.”

He also tipped the former head of state for the Nobel Peace Prize, saying it is long overdue

for Abdulsalami to clinch the prestigious prize.

“I believe but I don’t know how but I think the next campaign that all of us must now wait for is to work hard because the Nobel Prize for peace is long overdue,” he added.

“As far as we are concerned, General Abdulsalami is a Nobel laureate, all we need to do is for those who took the award to have the decency to stamp their stamp of authority over what we have already agreed on.”

Jonathan Urges Nigerian Leaders to Build United Country Meanwhile, former President Jonathan has urged Nigerian leaders to value the interests of every section of the country to build a united nation devoid of agitations, disunity, and disenchantment among the citizens.

He spoke at Opume, Ogbia

Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, when he led members of the 1981 pioneer set of the University of Port Harcourt Alumni Association on a visit to King Amalate Turner, Obigbo Mikimiki 1, the Obanema (traditional ruler) of Opume Kingdom.

Jonathan said Nigeria is blessed with both human and natural endowments, which could only be enjoyed in a peaceful atmosphere.

He urged leaders to focus more on building a united nation where no one society or tribe should be more valued than the other.

Jonathan stated: "Leaders should focus more on uniting Nigerians. If one society or group of people or tribe is more valued than the other, then there is bound to be disunity and disenchantment from those who feel not being accorded their rightful respect and value."

The former President, who is an alumnus and a member

of the pioneer graduate class of 1981 of UNIPORT said the reunion programme was part of activities of the alumni aimed at fostering bond among old classmates.

He also said the reunion was a platform to deliberate on issues affecting their Alma mater and to give back to the school and society in general.

The first former military governor of old Rivers State and Amayanabo (King) of Twon-Brass in Bayelsa State, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, who spoke during a lecture on Unique UNIPORT '81 Reunion at Aridolf Hotel in Yenagoa, said the founding of the University of Port Harcourt was not an easy task as a lot of interests worked against it at the initial period.

He, however, praised General Yakubu Gowon (rtd.), former military Head of State for his audacious and courageous actions to make the establishment of UNIPORT a reality.

DONE DEAL… L-R: Legal Adviser, Vento Furniture, Mr. Sadiq Mahmood; Kannywood Actors, Mr. Ramadan Booth; Mr. Ali Nuhu; and Business Manager, Vento Furniture, Mr. Moaz Elhad, at the sponsorship signing ceremony between Vento Furniture and FKD Productions for the upcoming ALAQA WEB Series in Abuja…recently

AGAIN, POLICE, PSC SET TO CLASH OVER RECRUITMENT OF 10,000 CONSTABLES Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

"Mr. President, had, in 2018, approved the recruitment of 10,000 Nigerians annually into the constable cadre of the Nigeria Police Force for six years. This is to inject needed additional personnel and to bridge the manpower gap in the force, especially with the resurgence of banditry, terrorism, and kidnapping in different parts of the country and regular loss of personnel through dismissal, retirement, natural death, accident, and others", he said.

The retired IG said the 2020 recruitment exercise which was suspended midway was the third edition after the successful 2018 and 2019 exercises.

"It is necessary to state that the ongoing completion of the suspended 2020 edition was a joint decision of the commission and that of the Nigeria Police Force and it was meant to further fast-track the injection of required personnel into the force. A joint committee of the commission and that of the Nigeria Police Force met severally in the commission and approved a timeline for the completion of

the exercise," he said.

He noted that with the completion of the aptitude tests across the country recently, successful candidates were undergoing medical examinations at the 17 zonal police headquarters in the country after which fit and proper 10,000 candidates would be recruited by the commission and sent to the police colleges/ training schools for training.

"The commission is aware of the manpower gaps in the Nigeria Police Force especially with rapid wastages of officers and men due to many reasons earlier highlighted.

"The commission wishes to commend Mr. President for his kind and gracious approval for the recruitment of 10,000 Nigerians into the constable cadre of the Nigeria Police Force continuously for six years. We are grateful to the National Assembly for the support in approving releases of required funds for this exercise," he added.

On the litigation, the PSC chair hinted that the police might still be forging ahead with the court matter.

"The Appeal Court delivered

a favourable judgment to PSC. They (police) have given the impression that they want to go to the Supreme Court.

"We will encourage them to go there because that is the highest court in the land", he added.

But the police high command at the weekend called for applications from suitably qualified applicants for the 2021 recruitment exercise.

The public notice titled: "2021 Recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force," said in the first paragraph that "the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in conjunction with the Police Service Commission (PSC) invites applications from interested and qualified Nigerians for enlistment into the Nigeria Police Force as Police Constable (Recruits)".

However, a top official of the PSC told THISDAY yesterday that the commission would resist any attempt to hijack or undermine its mandate.

"The commission is amazed and disappointed by the development but will resist any attempt to hijack or undermine its mandate," the source said.

The Court of Appeal had in its judgment, declared that

the Police Act 2020, enacted in September of the same year as it affects the constitutional mandate of the Police Service Commission is unconstitutional and void.

The provision of the Act, it ruled, was obviously in conflict with paragraph 30 Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution, which empowers the commission to appoint persons into offices in the Nigeria Police Force except for the office of the Inspector General of Police.

The details of the Appeal Court judgment in the appeal instituted by the commission against the ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja, was contained in the Certified True Copy (CTC) received by the Commission on Tuesday, October 13, 2020.

Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, one of the three Justices of the Court in his concurrent judgment, ruled that Paragraph 30 of Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution gives the power to the commission to appoint persons into offices in the Nigeria Police “and did not exclude constables and cadets to

Nigeria Police Academy from offices in the Nigeria Police into which the appellant can appoint persons” He further declared that no Act of the National Assembly or law can take away or curtail such power.

Justice Agim noted that even if the Nigeria Police carried out the disputed enlistment under a directive or approval of the President of the federation, “the enlistment would remain contrary to the Constitution and therefore unconstitutional and void. Such a directive cannot repair its unconstitutionality and illegality”.

In the lead judgment delivered

by Justice Olabisi Ige, the Court of Appeal gave a declaration that by Section 1 subsection 3 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) “any piece of legislation or instrument relied upon by the defendants (including but not limited to the Police Act and the Police Regulations) in exercising or purporting to exercise the powers to appoint, promote, dismiss or discipline persons holding or aspiring to hold offices in

the Nigeria Police Force, being inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution particularly section 153 subsection (1)(m), Section 153 subsection (2) and section 215(1)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and Paragraph 30 part 1 of the Third Schedule to the Constitution, is invalid, null and void and of no effect whatsoever” It also gave an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Police, and other defendants, jointly and severally, from interfering or further interfering in any manner howsoever with the commission’s discharge of its constitutional and statutory functions in “respect of the appointment, promotion, dismissal, or exercise of disciplinary control over persons holding or aspiring to hold offices in the Nigeria Police Force other than the Inspector General of Police”.

Attempt to reach Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Frank Mba, a Commissioner of Police, was unsuccessful, as he did not respond to text messages sent to his mobile phone on the issue.

68

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 28, 2021

with ChidiAmuta e-mail:chidi.amuta@gmail.com

ENGAGEMENTS

Nigerians Good or Ugly, Great Exports All the Same Chidi Amuta

T

he Nigerian diaspora has lately graduated into both an economic proposition and a grave strategic concern. Our diaspora home remittances have ballooned to anywhere between $24 to $30 billion since 2019. Many Nigerian professionals and entrepreneurs are making positive headlines for their successes in good things and in key places of the world. Yet plane loads of not so fortunate Nigerians are periodically being deported from bad places or hundreds of us are being tossed into jails around the world for acts that unsettle their host countries and embarrass our government. But love or hate us, our face has become an unmistakable international brand and a perpetual road show of who we are at home. Out there in the world, we are a sea of inherent goodness spiced with a few bad guys.

An evacuation flight earlier this week landed in Lagos from Libya. It disgorged 350 Nigerians hurriedly evacuated from Libya, a transit country for desperate Africans risking the Mediterranean crossing into Europe in search of a better life.These ones are lucky to return home alive. Others have perished in the process while many who made the great crossing ended up in punishing jails in Europe.

For good or bad reasons, Nigerians are streaming out through legal and illegal routes. While some seek legitimate livelihoods and are going to other lands through the front door, others are trekking across the Sahara or joining bad boats to cross the Mediterranean in search of scraggy livelihoods in Europe. The make shift dangerous boats are not exactly the slave ships that took our kith and kin trough the middle passage to America in the days of the slave trade. Those were forced cargoes; the new boat people are voluntary exiles who believe that dangerous journeys in search of a better life are better than death in installments at home.

YetthebulgingNigeriandiasporaisadualheritage.

Ever so frequently, we learn of collections of worthy Nigeriansdoinggoodthingsforthemselvesandthus glorifying the nation in the process. Some of them have risen to the pinnacle of enterprise, research and technocracy in the countries where they have settled. In our new embrace with the world, we have exportedtheveryexceptional,thosewhowentoutto study and pursue the highest levels of perfection in almost every field. Some are top scientists in NASA andleadingresearchlaboratories.Othersareleading lights in the best branches of academia, some of the best brains in public and corporate bureaucracies in the West. There are also plain ordinary honest Nigerians who went out there in search of the good life for their families and for work environments in whichproficientmenandwomenseekaccesstothe best facilities for honest work and dignified labour.

There are the new breed of tech entrepreneurs for whom there are no limits.

But the ones that make most of the news are the nasty oases of shame and ugliness that look more like exaggerated versions of our ugliness at home.

TheuglyNigerianisperenniallyoutthereondisplay.

Theinternetfraudsters,theviolentrobbers,therough ladies of the night, the common thief in search of an unguarded victim and the loud and loquacious crookandconmaninsearchofprey.Thedesperation of some of our nationals in the diaspora has been increased by the economic adversity and poverty at home. This has created a hunger for quick material and financial ‘arrival’. This is what is driving the new spirit of insane money ‘spraying’ at parties and the bandying of financial figures in billions that has led many unguarded youth into internet scams and all mannerof“Yahoo…Yahoo”exploitsforquickquantum wealth. Dark offshoots of this macabre acquisitive instinctincludeanewspateofritualmurder,trafficking in human body parts and of course the fashionable industry of kidnapping for ransom.

Inevitably, the news is dominated by the ugly Nigerians who get into trouble in foreign lands for criminal infractions and acts of lawlessness. A few weeks ago, four Nigerians were arrested in Dubai for daylight bank robbery in the Sharjah principality. Those familiar with the order and tranquility of Dubai would readily testify that this is an aberration, a pattern of crime that is strange to the United Arab Emirates in general. Other Nigerians have similarly been arrested in the UAE for offences ranging from prostitution to sundry theft and fraud.

Easilythebiggestsingleincidentisthemultimillion dollar internet fraud syndicate involving Mr. Ramon Abbas, alias Hushpuppi for which he was arrested in Dubai and is standing trial in the United States.

Dabiri-Erewa The tourist haven of Dubai was until recently the favourite trading and holiday destination for a number of Nigerians. Bilateral air services arrangements are in distress just as the work permitsofwellover500Nigerianswererecently not renewed for reasons not unconnected with thegeneralconductofuglyNigerians.Asat2019, theNigerianAmbassadortoUAEMr.Mohammed Rimi revealed that 446 Nigerians were in Dubai prisons.Today’sfiguresaremoredisconcerting.

Similarly in India, incidents involving law enforcementhaverecentlycaughtquiteanumber ofNigeriansonthewrongside.Clashesbetween IndianpoliceandmembersoftheNigeriancommunity have been quite frequent. In one recent incident, a Nigerian died ostensibly after an encounter with Indian police. An officer from theNigerianHighCommissionwenttoinquire.He was attacked and his official vehicle destroyed.

When the Indian police intervened, there was a revoltbytheNigeriancommunityinthearea.They wentasfarasblockingahighwaywhichledtothe mass arrest of Nigerians. As it turned out, most of the Nigerians involved in the rampage were illegal and undocumented immigrants. Some were already wanted by the police for sundry offences.Currently,thereisanestimated5050600 Nigerians in jails scattered all over India.

Over time, the Indian mindset which thrives on profilingandstereotypinghascometoassociate Nigerianswithcriminalbehaviorespeciallyillegal immigration, racketeering, fraud and cultism.

China has recorded many similar incidents of criminalityinvolvingNigerians.Unfortunatelyfor the ugly Nigerians, China has no pretensions to liberalnicetiesorthefinerpointsofhumanrights observances.Those who affront Chinese laws know the consequences.The Nigerian Consul in Guangzhou recently disclosed in 2018 that an estimated 600-700 Nigerians were in Chinese prisons. The current estimate is anywhere between 850 and 1000. The offences range from visa overstays to narcotics trafficking, cultism, forgeryandbusinessfraud.Anestimated1000 NigeriansarelanguishinginThaiprisonsforsimilar reasons.IntheUnitedStates,theJusticeDepartment has a huge trove of Nigerians currently undergoing criminal investigation or trials for sundry offences ranging from credit card fraud to bank wire transfer and internet fraud.

In response to these developments, governmentathomehascomeunderincreasedpressure to go out more aggressively in defense of our citizens.Criticsofgovernmenthaveinsistedthat ourgovernmenthasdisplayedthesametardiness in addressing the problems of our distressed citizens abroad as in its treatment of citizens

at home. But it is a truism that the image that a nationprojectsabroadismoreareflectionofits identity and character at home. We are abroad whoweareathome.Buttheactivitiesoftheugly Nigerianstendtooverwhelmtheessentialnobility of the Nigerian national identity and character.

Above narrow moral qualms, there is a new positivityaboutourbulgingdiaspora.TheNigerian diaspora has in recent years become a strategic propositionofnationaleconomicsurvival.Inward diaspora foreign exchange remittances has become a major source of foreign exchange. The Central Bank of Nigeria and independent data sourcesindicatethatbetween2019and2020, inward diaspora foreign exchange remittances wasinexcessofanannualaverageof$34.5billion.

The population of the Nigerian diaspora is 1.7 millioneachremittinganaverageof$38,428.15 which comes to a total of $65.34Bn over the three up to 2020.

Our oil and gas revenue was $34.22 billion in 2019.

This means that our aggregate diaspora remittances are currently at par with earnings from oil and gas. Oil and gas reserves are natural resources and fairly fixed and may not be increased or expanded at will. But the quality, productivity and size of our diaspora population can improve and increase in relation to our overall population. Apart from the Indian (17.5 million)andChinese(10.7million)diasporasthat reflect their obvious demographic advantages over Nigeria, other countries with comparable demographics or even less, have far larger diaspora populations. Comparative diaspora figures for Mexico (11.8 million), Russia (10.5 million), Syria (8.2 million) and Bangladesh (7.6 million) speak for themselves.

Since our diaspora population has become a strategic economic asset, it needs to be more consciously grown and jealously protected than our oil wells and gas fields. The diaspora is human capital. Protection of our oil and gas fieldsispartofournationaldefenseandsecurity responsibility. The actions required to protect andgrowourdiasporapopulationareacomplex combination. First, Nigerians require maximum diplomatic protection wherever they may be in the world. Second, the quality of Nigerians out therecanonlygrowifeducationathomeimproves dramatically. Perhaps President Buhari read his realizationupsidedownwhenherecentlycrowed inEuropethatNigeriansaredoingsowellabroad because of the sound education at home. Not quite yet Mr. President!

But the improvement of the quality of the manpower that migrates from Nigeria to the

rest of the world is an aspect of social investment at home. We can only grow this asset through greater investment in education. India has done well in this regard. India is currently the leading “exporter” of IT executives, and ITengineers to the US and Europe.

Both our annual education budget (7.2% in 2019) andoveralleducationstandardsremaindisgracefully low. Even worse is our competitiveness in tertiary education especially in the areas of cutting edge scientific research and innovative technologies. As a consequence, the bulk of the Nigerian diaspora consists of middle to low level manpower and an assortmentofpettytradersandothermenialoperatives.

Theundergroundactivitiesoftheselowlevelgroups aggravates the country’s negative perception.

Wecanincreaseoilexplorationactivities,investin better extraction technologies or expand the fields of exploration. But fossil fuels as an energy source is an endangered resource. The global race is for cleaner, cheaper alternatives energy sources. The global clamour for climate change awareness and heavy investment in cleaner and renewable energy alternatives mean that our over reliance on oil and gas is a dead end. But investment in higher quality human resources and skills is a road not yet traveled byNigeria.Nigeria’slongtermsalvationliesinmassive investment in human capital development than in dying extractive industries.

Yet grappling with how the Nigerian state discharges its obligations to its citizens scattered all over the world remains a burning concern. It is part of an ancient definition of the reciprocity between the sovereign state and the individual citizen.There is no escape from a proper grasp of that ancient relationship.

Mynationrightorwrongwastheclassicdictumof thegoldenageofWesternnationalism.Theemergence of the nation state as a republican entity was the ultimate repudiation of the absolutist monarchical state. In that state, the necessity of patriotism was dictatedbythewillofthemonarchwhodefinedwhat constituted patriotic conduct. But with the toppling of the monarchy and the rise of the popular democratic state, the concept of patriotism was similarly democratized. Thepatrioticcommitmentofcitizens was now guaranteed by an elected sovereign with a corresponding obligation to protest every citizen equally. The unflinching loyalty of the citizenry and their faith in the nation was guaranteed by the social contract between citizen and ruler.

Therefore,anunquestioningbeliefintherightness of one’s country in its encounters with other nations was the mark of patriotism for which people earned state honours, medals and other sovereign decorations.Underlyingthatbeliefwastheassumptionthat the leadership of one’s nation, being democratically elected, were persons who embodied the wisdom of the state as a reflection of the best wisdom and interest of the populace.

Citizens were therefore presumed good ambassadors of their nations because they embodied the values of a ‘good’ nation. Between citizens and their government, there was a reciprocal goodwill which energizedcitizenstobereadytodiefortheirnations whilecompellinggovernmentstogoallouttodefend and protect their citizens wherever in the world they may be in distress. In whatever circumstance, governments acquired a bounding obligation to defend and protect their citizens when they get into trouble in other lands but within the bounds of the laws of those alien places.

Quite often, the Nigerian state fails in its responsibility to its citizens in the more obvious instances where diplomatic and legal intervention can save a Nigerianlifeorsecureavaluedfreedom.Thatisamatter more of competence and diplomatic astuteness than resources. But ‘ugly’ Nigerians who flagrantly violate the laws of the places where they go to seek livelihoodcannotexpectthegovernmenttoturnintoa multinationalpoliceman.Afterall,therearelessthan two million Nigerians in the diaspora as against the over 200 million Nigerians living in the homeland. In apportioningattentionandresourcestothewelfare ofitscitizenryathomeandabroad,governmentsare usuallyguidedbythesameprincipleofproportionality in relation to resources and capacities.

The governing consideration in dealing with our good and bad citizens abroad ought to be guided by current economic considerations. Both noble and ugly Nigerians bring back good money which we desperately need to survive. It is better to adopt the attitude of the Chinese leader Deng Xiao Ping when he set out to engage the free capitalist world.

He placed China’s economic interest above all else anddeclared:“Itdoesnotmatterwhetheritbeablack cat or a white cat. If it catches mice, it is a good cat.”

69

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 21, 2021

NEWS

News Editor: Gboyega Akinsanmi E-mail: gboyega.akinsanmi@thisdaylive.com,08152359253

Buhari: Nigeria Has No Reason to Import Food, Raw Materials Urges universities to develop COVID-19 vaccine Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia and Francis Sardauna in Katsina President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday expressed his frustration with the continued reliance of Nigeria on imported food and raw materials, despite the abundant resources and knowledge available in the country.

Buhari also admonished Nigerian universities to intensify their research to develop the COVID-19 vaccine to tackle the dreaded virus afflicting the country.

He made these remarks at the convocations of the Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU), Abia State.

Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Mohammed Abubakar at MOUAU, said the agricultural sector, apart from helping the nation to attain food security, “remains the major driver in industrial development and diversification from heavy dependence on non-renewable mineral oil.”

The president added that the expectation of his government was for the universities of agriculture “to drive the rapid development of the knowledge and skills (needed) to increase local production of food and raw materials”.

“We can and should be able to feed ourselves on the rich soils and diverse ecologies that God

has endowed Nigeria with. We should be determined to wisely exploit the natural resources and inheritance of our nation to feed our people and possibly export to other nations.

“Government expects that universities of agriculture should bravely confront the heavy dependence of our nation on imported food and raw materials with the view to reducing it to the barest minimum at the shortest possible time,” Buhari said.

Buhari, also the Visitor to MOUAU, said that the agricultural policy of his administration was focused on achieving a sustainable green economy.

But he emphasised that the universities of agriculture “must play their crucial specialised role in catalysing the development of the agricultural sector” to achieve the government’s stated goal.

Buhari promised that efforts were being made by his government “to put in place policies and programmes to strengthen agencies and parastatals to provide the enabling environment for increased production”.

“To this end, NALDA has been re-constituted and re-established to promote mechanised agriculture,” he said, adding that “Government expects that specialised Universities of Agriculture will collaborate with NALDA to ensure increased local production of food”.

Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, in his remarks, commended MOUAU for its immense records of achievements in manpower training,

research, and innovation since its inception.

Ikpeazu, represented by his deputy, Sir Ude Chukwu, said the abrogation of some courses that were hitherto part of the academic programmes of MOUAU has adversely affected the chances of Abia youths hungry for university education.

Earlier in his address, the Vice-chancellor of MOUAU, Prof. Maduebibisi Iwe, said 5,817 graduands were found worthy to be awarded first degree certificates of the institution with 92 graduating with first class.

At Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Buhari admonished Nigerian universities to intensify their researches to develop a COVID-19 vaccine to tackle the dreaded virus afflicting the country.

He explained that Nigerian universities were supposed to be centres for scientific and technological discoveries, inventions, values, and character formation as well as drivers of societal development.

The president who disclosed this yesterday in Katsina during the 5th and 6th combined

convocation of the Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, said the development of the vaccine would fortify Nigerians’ immune system against the virus.

Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Chukwuemaka Nwajiuba, noted that his administration remained committed to tackling the challenges of sustainable funding for research, capacity building, and employment creation.

He said: “You all know that in the year 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic began its devastating

effect on the education subsectors leading to the destruction of university academic activities.”

He, therefore, urged the universities to intensify their researches “to come up with a more potent vaccine to fortify our immune system against this dreaded virus”.

Buhari also tasked the universities to explore available opportunities, including research collaboration with allied industries and development partners to create other sources of revenue generation to support his economic diversification drive.

DELIVERING MORE DECENT HOMES… R-L: Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Moruf Akinderu-Fatai; Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Mrs Toke BensonAwoyinka and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the inauguration of 480 homes at LagosHoms, Ibeshe... weekend

Missing Crowns: Ayiri Emami Writes IG, Demands Thorough Investigation Sylvester Idowu inWarri Billionaire businessman and embattled Ologbotsere of Warri of Kingdom, Chief Ayiri Emami, has called on the Inspector-General of Police (IG), Alhaji Usman Alkali Baba, to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged invasion and missing royal crowns belonging to the

Warri Kingdom.

Ayiri also insisted and denied his alleged involvement in the invasion of the palace and the stealing of the two royal crowns.

The Nigeria Police Force had on Wednesday arraigned the embattled Ologbotsere and two others before a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Warri on three-count charge of conspiracy, burglary and stealing of the two royal

crowns valued at N2 billion.

But Ayiri in a statement yesterday following viral media reports alleging his involvement in the invasion of the palace and stealing of the royal Itsekiri crowns, demanded an independent investigation into the incident.

He said though he has refrained from commenting on the case which is in court, it is

imperative for him to clear his name over some publications linking him with the alleged invasion and theft.

While describing the allegations levelled against him as mere falsehood, Ayiri insisted that he remains the Ologbotsere of Warri.

He further stated that the Assistant Inspector General of Police Zone 5, Benin City, acted

as a collaborator by not carrying out a proper investigation of the matter.

“Actually, I don’t want to speak on this matter because the case is in court. But my family and associates have urged me to speak out because of some sponsored publications where it was alleged that I was arraigned for breaking into the Olu’s palace

and stealing a crown. I know nothing about the stolen crown or any other allegations they have made,” he said. Irrespective of whether the case is in court or not, Emami urged the IG to carry out a proper investigation on the matter and let anyone involved in the case be brought to book, adding: “On my part, I am also ready to pursue it to a logical conclusion.”

NCC Decries Rising Fraud Cases on Telecom Platforms

FG, Roche Agree to Offset 80% Cancer Treatment Bills

Nigerian Army Laments Loss of Personnel to Police Brutality

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

Gboyega Akinsanmi

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) at the weekend decried the growing concerns over the rising cases of fraud on the telecom platforms across key sectors of the Nigeria economy.

NCC Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, Mr. Efosa Idehen condemned this act at a sensitisation programme held under a theme, “Shine Your Eyes, No Fall Mugu” in Benin City, Edo state.

The programme was organised to inform, educate, enlighten and sensitise consumers nationwide on the need to protect their SIM Cards and other vital information from the Internet fraudsters.

Idehen, who was represented by the Head, Consumer Protection and Advocacy, Clement Omife, appealed to the consumers not to give their phones and ATM Card, Password, PIN to people

they don’t know and trust.

NCC’s director said: “Guard your SIM, your SIM is you. Some can use your SIM to do negative transactions, which will be traced to you.

“Please, decline any request demanding for your private information, code, OTP, ATM PIN or numbers from anyone calling.

Texting or sending links to click, claiming to be a Customer Care from bank or service providers.

“Don’t send any of your bank details or SIM details or personal details to anyone for any update, through phone.

“The development and deployment of robust infrastructure to support innovative technologies and services have no doubt positively transformed our socio-economic space. Today, Telecom consumers are enjoying broadband and other services driven by the quest to establish a digital economy.

Nigerians may soon begin to pay as low as 20 per cent of the entire cost for cancer treatment, as the federal government has partnered with a pharmaceutical company – Roche Products Nigeria Limited, to reduce catastrophic costs.

The partnership will ensure that the cost of cancer management for Nigerians subscribed to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is substantially reduced.

THISDAY learned that Nigerians may now pay as low as 20 per cent for cancer management and treatment because apart from the NHIS making part payment of the bill for oncology drugs, Roche has agreed to take a large share of the cost.

According to a statement

by the Head of Media Relations of the NHIS, Emmanuel Ononokpono, both parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cancer Care Reimbursement initiative.

It further stated that the partnership will be piloted in designated centres across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

It stated: “Broadly, the document outlines key areas of partnership between the two organisations along three main themes aimed at significantly improving patients’ access to innovative cancer medicines. Critically, the arrangement allows both parties to partner on an innovative cost-sharing mechanism, by way of sharing a proportion of the cost of the medicines. Expectedly, this will ensure the affordability of the drugs for patients at the treatment centres.

The Nigerian Army has lamented frequency of brutality against its personnel by operatives of the Nigeria Police, noting that such ill treatment has led to some cases of death.

Consequently, the army requested all its corps, formations and establishments to compile details of its fallen officers lost to police brutality in different parts of the federation.

This was disclosed in a circular with Ref. No.: AHQ/ DASE/G3/240/55 signed

by Maj.-Gen. J.A. Ataguba and dated November 23.

The circulated was titled “Evaluating Incidence of Police Brutality against Personnel of the Nigerian Army.”

The circular noted that the Nigerian Army “is constitutionally tasked to provide aid to civil

authorities when called upon.

“This responsibility has occasioned conducting joint activities with members of the civil and paramilitary organisations,” the circular pointed out the army’s involvement in internal stability.

It explained that the joint operations with other security agencies particularly the Nigerian Police had created occasions for the police to equate its hierarchy with the Nigerian Army.

With a bit of retrospection, the circular said the operation “has often led to friction especially at the lower levels. This friction has occasionally led to bodily harm and in some cases death to our troops.

“This is in spite of the fact that the victims have been identified and established to the serving personnel,” the Nigerian Army lamented the ugly trend of police brutality against its personnel.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 21, 2021

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NEWSXTRA OPEC May Ditch Oil Output Hike as Producers Worry Over Pending Surplus Inventory Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Strong indications have emerged that the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) may abandon its planned 400,000 barrels per day supply increase in January when its members meet next week to set inventory policy for the month.

The 13-member cartel and its allies were known as OPEC+ are worried as a new virus variant triggered oil’s worst crash in over

a year, coupled with, although to a lesser degree, the United States-led coalition’s resolve to release over 80 million barrels from their emergency reserves to cool rising prices.

On Friday, oil prices plunged about $10 a barrel, their largest one-day drop since April 2020, as the new variant of the virus scared investors and added to concerns that a supply surplus could swell in the first quarter.

The World Health Organisation

(WHO) has also designated the new variant as “of concern,” while Britain, Guatemala, and European countries are among those to restrict travel from southern Africa, where the variant was detected.

Brent crude fell $9.62, or 10.5 per cent, to $72.12 a barrel in the afternoon, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was down $9.36, or 11.9 per cent, at $68.15 a barrel, raising concerns

over another massive fall in the coming months.

Before the sudden turn of events, OPEC had been struggling to meet existing targets under its agreement to gradually increase production by 400,000 bpd each month.

But Nigeria, a very active OPEC member had said that even if prices fell to between $50 to $60, it won’t

be much of an issue, with the country’s oil benchmark for the 2021 budget being $40.

Nigeria has failed for months to meet its allocation, due largely to waning investment, ageing upstream infrastructure, and disruptions by some local host communities.

But the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)

last week assured that by the year’s end, Nigeria should be able to produce about 1.7 million bpd.

However, OPEC delegates told Bloomberg that the 23-nation alliance led by Saudi Arabia is now leaning toward abandoning the plan for a modest production hike as the group was already considering a pause after the US and other high consumers announced the release of the emergency oil stockpiles.

Nigeria Loses 40,000 Registered Doctors to Foreign Nations Onyebuichi Ezigbo The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) at the weekend said less than half of the total number of doctors registered with the Medical and Dental Council (MDCN) are practising in the country.

The President of NMA, Prof. Innocent Ujah made the disclosure Friday at the virtual eighth biennial and scientific conference and annual general meeting of the Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Kaduna state chapter.

At the conference, Ujah called on the federal government to look into establishing an institution like the Bank of Industry (BoI) in the health sector as part of efforts to boost service delivery.

According to Ujah, such a bank will provide support for private health practitioners and also curb brain drain.

“We have seen how the Bank of Industry and Bank of Agriculture are transforming the industrial and agricultural sector,” NAN quoted him as saying.

“It is time that the gesture is extended to the health sector to boost service delivery and curb

brain drain and health tourism.”

While noting that 40,000 doctors are practising in the country out of over 80,000 who registered with the MDCN, he expressed concern about the “lack of investment” in the health sector, adding that “paucity of equipment and frequent strikes’ prevent health practitioners from carrying out their duties efficiently.

“The current doctor to population ratio in the country is about one doctor to between 4,000 and 5,000 population,” he said.

“This falls short of the one doctor to 600 population as recommended by the World Health Organisation. This means that we need about 303,333 medical doctors now, and at least 10,605 new doctors annually to bridge the manpower gap in the health sector.

“This is particularly disturbing because Nigeria only graduates about 3,000 to 3,5000 medical doctors across medical schools in the country annually.

“Human resources for health, one of the pillars of a strong system, is depleted by brain drain, making the system weak to face pandemics.

DataPro Assigns Babban Gona Farmer Services “BBB+” Rating DataPro, the technology-driven credit rating agency has assigned Babban Gona Farmer Services Nigeria Limited a long-term rating of “BBB+” with a stable outlook for 2021/2022.

In a statement by its Client Service Manager, Kehinde Rasheed yesterday, DataPro explained that the “BBB+” indicates slight risk.

He said: “It shows fair financial strength, operating performance and business profile when compared to the standard established by DataPro. “This company, in our opinion, can meet its ongoing obligations, but its financial strength is vulnerable to adverse changes in economic conditions.”

It pointed out that the DataPro

rating committee approved the rating after assessment of the company’s financial performance, corporate governance and risk management, risk factors, and future outlook of its current healthy profile in the medium to long-term period.

The statement said the rating of Babban Gona Farmer Services Nigeria Limited is supported by its strong earning profits, profile, good asset quality, very good liquidity, and experienced management.

“Babban Gona Farmer Services Nigeria Limited had a short-term rating of “A1,” which indicates good credit quality and satisfactory capacity for timely payment of financial commitments,” it said.

Buhari Congratulates Lee Group at 30 President Muhammadu Buhari rejoices with major indigenous player in the oil and gas industry, Lee Engineering Group, as it marks 30 years of its establishment.

The president greets the Chairman of the Group, Dr. Leemon Ikpea, the management and staff, as they celebrate the milestone with a thanksgiving service, November 28.

He saluted the commitment and resourcefulness of the engineering group, undertaking key projects in the oil and gas industry that used to be the exclusive preserve of multinational companies.

Buhari wished Lee Group greater successes, urging it to ensure that local content remains a focal area, while providing jobs for teeming Nigerians.

IN HONOUR OF OYEBAMIJI… L-R: Wife of the awardee, Dr. Sekinat Oyebamiji; awardee/Osun Stae Commissioner for Finance, Mr Bola Oyebamiji; Osun State Governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola and Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Mr. Timothy Owoeye at the conferment of honour on Oyebamiji at the Islamic Lifetime Achievement Awards in Ikire, Osun State... recently

Two Executives Emerge as Zamfara APC Holds State Congresses Matawalle lifts suspension on telecom services Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State deepened yesterday as the two factions elected separate executives to pilot the affairs of the party for the next three years The faction loyal to Governor Bello Matawalle conducted its congress with a mammoth crowd celebrating and cheering him as its new leader.

Matawalle has also announced the suspension of embargo on

telecommunication services in the state beginning from tomorrow (Monday).

The representatives of APC from the 14 local governments in the state elected AlhajiTukur Danfulani, along with 35 others as the newly elected executive members of the party for the four-year term.

Addressing a mammoth crowd of the party’s supporters shortly after the elective congress, at the Trade Fair Centre, Gusau, the Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the party sent by the national headquarters of the

APC, Hon. Ibrahim Kabir Masari, described the congress as one of the best, peaceful and credible exercises.

In his address of solidarity and support to the new elected party leaders, Matawalle described the Congress as divine intervention for unity, peace and cohesion among APC supporters and people of Zamfara State.

Matawalle promised to give the new executive all the needed support and cooperation towards achieving their targeted goals.

“We will work together with you in peace and understanding

so as to move our great party to greatness, we must adhere to the rules and regulations governing the affairs of this great party in order to get much support ahead,” the governor said.

Meanwhile, the APC faction led by Senator Kabiru Marafa has elected Alhaji Surajo Garba Maikatako and 31 others executives to pilot the affairs of the party for the next three years.

The affirmation was announced yesterday during the State APC Congress held in Tsafe town, the headquarters of Tsafe Local Government Area of the state.

We Are Not Fighting N’Assembly over Direct Primary, Says Kebbi Gov Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The Governor of Kebbi State, Senator Atiku Bagudu, has clarified that the controversy surrounding the amendment to the Electoral Act to accommodate Direct Primary for all political parties does not connote that the governors are out to fight the National Assembly

members.

Bagudu described the divergent views exhibited by the governors and federal lawmakers on the matter as democracy in action and no division between the states’ chief executives and federal parliamentarians.

Also, the governor of Sokoto State and Vice Chairman of

the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGE), Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has canvassed for unity among all Nigerians for radical development, saying the development of any nation does not recognise political parties, ethnicities, and religions.

Governors Bagudu and Tambuwal, accompanied by their

counterpart from Jigawa State, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, visited various locations in Ekiti, on Friday, to inaugurate the road projects initiated by Governor Kayode Fayemi to mark the third anniversary of his administration.

The roads are the Ijan-IgbemoIlupeju, Aramoko-Erinjiyan, and Oye-Ayede-Isan-Otun roads.

Mustapha: Why North Central Should Produce Next APC National Chairman Chuks Okocha in Abuja The All Progressives Congress (APC) national championship aspirant, Saliu Mustapha, at the weekend said that the North-central geopolitical zone of the country is most qualified to produce the next National Chairman of the party.

Mustapha spoke to a select journalists in Lagos, where

he also said that if given the chance to become the next national chairman of the party, he would ensure that imposition of candidates during elections is brought to an end as such is one of the main reasons for rigging during elections.

Giving a brief history of the ruling party, Mustapha said: “The APC as a political party

was formed by a coalition of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) led by the former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, the Congress of Progressives Change (CPC) led by President Muhammadu Buhari, the New Peoples Democratic Party (NPDP), a faction of the PDP led by the defecting governors of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri

Tambuwal. Chibuike Amaechi and Bukola Saraki, and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) “So far, the CPC has taken the presidency with President Buhari, the ACN produced the vice president in the person of Prof.

Yemi Osinbajo and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. while the ANPP produced the Senate President with Ahmad Lawan”, he said.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER NOVEMBER 28, 2021

SUNDAYSPORTS

Edited by: Duro Ikhazuagbe email:Duro.Ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

PREMIER LEAGUE

Saka, Martinelli Score as Arsenal Gun Down Newcastle ȱ ȱ ȱę ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Duro Ikhazuagbe

B

ukayo Sakaand Gabriel Martinelli were on the scorers’ sheet as Arsenal eventually broke Newcastle United down 2-0 to leave Eddie Howe’s side bottom of the Premier League without a win.

Howe, in the Magpies dugout for the first time after missing last weekend’s 3-3 draw with Brentford because of Covid, set up a team to try to contain Arsenal and eke out a point.

It appeared as if the strategy might be working until Bukayo Saka slotted home from Nuno Tavares’ through ball in the second half.

Saka went off injured and his replacement Gabriel Martinelli scored with his second touch, a wonderful volley from Takehiro Tomiyasu’s clipped pass over the top.

“He wasn’t comfortable. He felt something,” said Gunners boss Mikel Arteta of Saka as they await news of what is wrong with the England international.

Both sides had hit the woodwork in an otherwise uninspiring first half.

Jonjo Shelvey’s long-range drive was tipped on to the bar by the diving Aaron Ramsdale - and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit a sitter off the post from six yards out.

Arsenal remain fifth in the Premier League, while Newcastle are five points adrift of safety with just over a third of the season gone.

Newcastle are on their longest ever winless run from the start of a league season. Only one side has ever stayed up in the Premier League after failing to win their opening 13 games - Derby County in 2000-01.

The Magpies know the further adrift they are on 1 January, when they have a chance to spend some of their Saudi owners’ money, the harder it will be to attract quality players.

It is unlikely though that Howe will have identified Emirates Stadium as a place to pick up points. The Gunners have won their past 10 home games against Newcastle in all competitions, and have never lost a Premier League home game against the team bottom of the table.

Elsewhere, Diogo Jota scored twice as Liverpool thrashed Southampton to move up to second in the Premier League, one point behind leaders Chelsea.

Southampton arrived at Anfield clearly determined to attack the hosts but their bold intent was punished after less than two minutes when Andrew Robertson was allowed to get away down the flank and cross for Jota to poke in.

Bukayo Saka savouring his good fortunes after helping Arsenal to maximum points against Newcastle... yesterday

But a second goal duly arrived just after the half-hour mark when the unmarked Jota tapped in from Mohamed Salah’s square ball after good link-up play between the Egypt international

Unilag Flags-off NUGA 2022 with Mascot, Torch Lighting Ceremony Funmi Ogundare

TheUniversityofLagos(Unilag),weekend,flaggedoff the Nigerian Universities Games Association (NUGA) 2022, with the relaunch of Mascot (KADDI), lighting of theTorch of Unity, as well as a theme song.

This year’s edition tagged,‘ City NUGA’, scheduled to kick-off from March 16to 26, 2022, will feature 10,000 students athletes and officials at the games from 136 universities.

Speaking at the programme, theVice Chancellor, Prof.OluwatoyinOgundipe,notedthattheinstitution planstotakesomeelementsofthegamesoutsideit’s confines to create awareness within the community so as to afford athletes, officials, fans and visitors to watch the various sporting events, as well as enjoy its spectacular ambiance.

He added that the torch will commence a tour to the length and breadth of the country to various organisations, sporting philanthropists and stakeholders.

“This is geared towards drumming support for the games and creating the necessary awareness to herald the commencement of UNILAG- NUGA 2022,”Ogundipe said.

The Unilag brand, he noted, remains the premier brand in the frontiers of learning as witnessed by its landmark achievements in diverse fields of scholarship.

“Ourzealto hostaworld-classsportingeventsthat showcase the talents of Nigerian youths motivates us to call on our alumni and friends of the university found in all various strata of human endeavour to join hands with us to make this happen,”he said.

TheVC expressed optimism that the NUGA 2022 will be a reference point for all NUGA’games to come, adding that with the facilities it is currently putting in place, talents will be unearthed to represent Nigeria in future international competitions.

“TheNUGAgamesofferusanopportunitytobridge the daily burgeoning gaps between the peoples of Nigeriaespeciallyouryouthsandwhichgapsthreaten our national unity. The games will foster goodwill and friendship through the common passion of sports,”the VC stressed.

The Minister ofYouths and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare who flagged-off the ceremony, said history is being made in Unilag with the games, adding that the torch signifies the commencement of the games.

and Jordan Henderson.

Those two strikes took Liverpool to 700 goals scored since Jurgen Klopp arrived at Anfield - they have also become the first top-

flight team in English football to score at least twice in 17 straight matches in all competitions since Sunderland in 1927. Thiago Alcantara and Virgil van Dijk completed the 4-0 crushing of the visitors to Anfield.

LIGUE 1

Moses Simon Subbed as Nantes, Lille Share Points Super Eagles winger, Moses Simon as usual produced an impressive performance in Nantes’ 1-1 draw against Lille in Saturday’s France Ligue 1 fixture.

Simon who was making his 13th appearance for Nantes threatened the host with his pace and darting runs from the right flank.

However, it was Lille who took an early lead in the 9th minute through Burak Yilmaz’s brilliant finish before Ludovic Blas leveled parity for Nantes in the 24th minute to silence the home supporters.

Dennis Appiah came on for Simon in the 81st minute after showing signs of tiredness.

The draw moves Nantes to 11th spot on the Ligue 1 table on 19 points while Lille sit 12th on 18 points.

Moses Simon...remains an integral part of the Nantes set up in the French Ligue 1

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UT H

Emami to IG “I don’t believe in the investigation carried out by the police in Benin.

The AIG in Benin is a collaborator. He did not do a thorough investigation on this matter at all. He appears to be acting a script” – The embattled Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Ayiri Emami, asking the IG, to investigate the alleged invasion and missing royal crowns of Warri Kingdom.

UT H

& RE A SO

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26 years

ALIYUGUSAU GUEST COLUMNIST

My Meetings with De Klerk over Apartheid

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ometimes life affords us opportunity to witness and participate in significant moments in history. Such an opportunity came my way in 1989. As the Coordinator of National Security, President Ibrahim Babangida appointed me as a special envoy to follow up on a discussion he had with the then British Prime Minister, Mrs Margaret Thatcher on a plan by President Frederik Willem de Klerk to end apartheid in South Africa. The experience that followed provided me rare insights into the workings of the apartheid regime and the character of the late South African president - a towering figure who was determined to right historical wrongs without minding the consequences. As I therefore reflect on the period leading to the end of apartheid in South Africa and the role Nigeria played, I cannot but pay this tribute to a courageous man whose place in African history is assured.

It all started on 28th March 1989 when, on her way to South Africa, the then British Prime Minister, Mrs Margaret Thatcher decided to do a stop-over in Lagos to see President Babangida. Addressing the media at the airport, Mrs Thatcher said she was very “happy to accept President Babangida‘s invitation to stop over in Lagos to have talks with him. I do this because

General Aliyu Gusau (left), and the late then South African President, De Klerk I have great admiration for the leadership he is giving here and for the courageous way in which he is tackling the economic problems of the country”.

She added that since both would be attending the Commonwealth Conference CHOGM scheduled to hold in Malaysia in

October of that year, it was an opportunity to chat ahead of the conference.

The British Prime Minister took a few questions after her brief remarks and not surprisingly, they were centred around the situation in South Africa and the role of Britain at the time. While she was evasive

in her responses, Mrs Thatcher alluded to a meeting between Soviet and British academics and the ANC “in which they urged that the problems of South Africa be solved not by confrontation, not by violence, but by negotiation. That is our objective too.”

By her return itinerary, Mrs Thatcher was to do a brief stop-over in Accra, to see President Jerry Rawlings of Ghana, before heading for London. But she again routed her flight from South Africa through Lagos where she met President Babangida for a second time within a week. Not long after those visits, President Babangida invited me for a briefing before he saddled me with a delicate assignment. He said Mrs Thatcher had told him in their meetings that President de Klerk was working to bring an end to minority rule in South Africa.

She therefore sought the help of Nigeria to ascertain the level of his (de Klerk’s) commitment and then see how we could strengthen his (de Klerk’s) hands. While President Babangida said he believed Mrs Thatcher as an honest broker on the issue, he had doubts as to whether President de Klerk meant business or that he would get the support of the white establishment in Continued on page 64

WAZIRIADIO GUEST COLUMNIST

‘How Many Slots Are You Giving Us?’

A

major manifestation of our prebendal attitude to public office is the expectation that office holders must help themselves and others around them with jobs, contracts, and sundry favours. This expectation expands to include regular and hefty cash donations obviously beyond what the salaries and allowances of the office holders could cover. It should be said that the idea of ‘bringing home the pork’ or the concept of patronage politics is not peculiar to our clime. But ours verges on the extreme, and in most cases amounts to a clear abuse of office.

To be sure, there are many laws and regulations aimed at preventing or limiting abuse of office. There is also the open and often-mouthed commitment by most citizens that government exists solely to advance the interests of the collective, not the narrow interests of the lucky few; that public officials should serve the public, and not themselves; that things should be done rightly, and everyone should be given a fair shake.

But these laws and regulations and open commitments are easily undermined and trumped by the prevailing and pervasive culture, a culture that sees public office as

a conquered territory, a conquered territory where the conquerors are at liberty to treat themselves to the spoils of war, and be magnanimous enough to sprinkle the largesse either to those lucky to be close to them on account of kinship, religion or ethnicity or to those who contributed in cash or in kind to their victory. This prevailing culture explains why people hardly raise eyebrows when office holders evidently live beyond their means.

Public office has thus almost become a sure path to wealth for many in our society.

Families, friends, and associates of different ilk also expect such wealth to rub off on them, as having one of their own in a position of power is their rare chance to partake in the ‘national cake’. It is their chance to ‘chop’.

For most people, the posturing about doing the right thing collapses under the weight of the hidden commitment that they have a right to benefit from being proximate to a person of or in power.

Those who don’t help themselves or others are seen as either stupid, naïve, wicked, or selfish. Also, refusing to help others or to ‘be useful’, especially to patrons and to real or assumed constituents could set a limit to how long office holders can hold on to the

seats or how far they can go. So, layered into these dynamics is not just the nature of the expectations but also the potential costs of not meeting those expectations.

During my five-year stint as the head of NEITI, I opted to tackle this deeply entrenched value system by starting with myself. My reasoning was that not favouring myself or those close to me would give me the moral right to insist on due process and help me secure the understanding, even if grudging, of others. I insisted that procurements and the few recruitments must be done fairly, competitively, and transparently.

Steering clear of conflict of interests remains a big deal for me. I left a standing instruction that the office must never buy food or pastries from my wife who runs a bakery and a food business in Abuja, and that if anyone did, I would not approve the payment. Occasionally, I asked my wife to supply cakes, pastries, and food to the office to mark occasions such as the International Women’s Day or Christmas or the achievement of a major milestone like achieving Satisfactory Progress in EITI Validation. But I paid for these from my pocket, or it would be my wife’s contribution to my work.

On a few occasions, someone that I know

would apply for a contract or a job. While I could not stop them from applying, I did nothing to enhance or influence their chances.

On such occasions, I would declare my conflict and recuse myself from the process. Of the few people employed under my watch, not one was from my state, my geo-political zone or of the same faith as me. Not that I deliberately stopped anyone from these groups though. But I did not deliberately go out of my way to smoothen the path for anyone either. The only person I had any sort of prior relationship with who got employed while I was in NEITI was my erstwhile special assistant, a Christian from Cross River State. He emerged through a competitive process, and I excused myself from the board’s committee that interviewed the candidates when it was his turn, to the surprise of other committee members.

This attitude did not stop many people from asking me to employ or give jobs or contracts to their candidates, constituents, or relatives. I received a steady stream of letters from members of the National Assembly, from presidential aides, traditional rulers and others introducing candidates for employment, even Continued on page 64

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