Sunday 15th October 2017 by THISDAY Newspapers Ltd

Mobilise Resources Aggressively to Enhance Weak Revenue, IMF Tells Nigeria Kunle Aderinokun, Chika Amanze-Nwachuku, Obinna Chima and Nume Ekeghe in Washington DC The International Monetary Fund has advised the Nigerian government to vigorously pursue strategies that would strengthen its weak revenue

base in order to develop critical infrastructure needed for the growth of the country’s economy. The Director of IMF's African Department, Mr. Abebe Selassie, said this while responding to questions at a media briefing on the sidelines of the IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings in

Washington DC. Selassie applauded the government’s effort to increase tax revenue and urged it to continue to the current tax reforms so as to raise the country's non-oil revenue. According to the IMF director, "There is going to be need for tax policy changes for Nigeria,

which has a very low level of revenue mobilisation, to improve that. Again, I come back to the point that these resources are needed to help strengthen infrastructure gap in Nigeria and many schools that have to be built and the conditions of schools as well as improving healthcare delivery.

"Now, in terms of designing tax policies, there is a way to do it. We indeed advise countries and provide technical assistance in a way that is progressive, so taxes are collected by people of the richer segment of the society. There is a lot of technical work that needs to be done. "The decision on the tax

policy changes would be the governments’ and their parliaments’, but we would be providing a lot of support on policy advice. I cannot stress again that the key remains Nigeria needs to do a lot more investments in human capital.” Continued on page 9

Runoﬀ Increasingly Likely as Votes Counted in Liberian Election Reach 75%... Page 9 Sunday 15 October, 2017 Vol 22. No 8214

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CELEBRATING ROYALTY… L-R: Snr. Mgr. Corporate Communications, Aiteo ,Ndiana-Abasi Matthew; Group Executive Director, Legal, Andrew Onyearu; Snr. Vice President, Commercial & Gas, Victor Okoronkwo; Chief of Staff to Executive Vice Chairman, Onochie Haffner; GMD, Chike Onyejekwe; His Eminence, Amayanabo of Nembe Kingdom, King Edmond Daukoru; Chief Operating Officer, Emmanuel Ukeagbu; MD, Nembe Creek Trunk Line, Tunde Akinpelu; Regional Mgr., Port Harcourt, Chioma Alero; and Chief Financial Officer, Mitchel Uchegbulam, during the 74th birthday anniversary/courtesy visit to King Daukoru by Aiteo Eastern Exploration & Production Company Ltd management team ...yesterday

Oyegun: Akande’s Comment on APC Presidential Ticket His Personal Opinion Ex-chairman’s remark that party’s presidential ticket is open to all unsettles South-west APC Clashofinterestspolarisesparty's panel on restructuring Olawale Olaleye in Lagos and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has said the statement credited to his predecessor, Chief Bisi Akande, that the party’s presidential ticket for 2019 election was open to all was his personal view. Although Oyegun who had declared in May that the party would give Buhari right of first refusal for the party's

presidential ticket in 2019 was unperturbed byAkande's remark when responding to a question from THISDAY on telephone last night, that was not the situation with some South-west leaders of the party, who were taken aback by the development, as they maintained that the former national chairman of the party spoke outside the agenda and resolutions of the zonal leaders’ meeting. Continued on page 9

BUILDING ENTREPRENEURS… R-L: The Founder, The Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr. Tony Elumelu; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; former Ogun State Governor, Aremo Olusegun Osoba; and CEO, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mr. Segun Awolowo, during The Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Forum 2017 - the largest gathering of African entrepreneurs – supported by United Bank for Africa Plc, in Lagos ...yesterday

T H I S D AY SUNDAY OCTOBER 15, 2017

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2017 • T H I S D AY T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

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Runoff Increasingly Likely as Votes Counted in Liberian Election Reach 75% Demola Ojo with agency reports Former football star George Weah, 51, and Vice-President Joseph Boakai, 73, held commanding leads in provisional presidential election results announced yesterday in Liberia. Weah and Boakai lead the 20-candidate field to succeed Nobel Peace Prize winner Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in what would be Liberia’s first democratic transfer of power in more than 70 years. Weah, a former world, African and European footballer of the

year, received 39.2% of nearly 1.2 million ballots cast in nearly three-quarters of polling places, leading Boakai who had 29.6% of the vote, the commission said. Charles Brumskine, a lawyer, was a distant third with 9.7%. The country’s electoral body had registered 2.18 voters for the Presidential and legislative polls in the country of 4.5 million people. A candidate needs more than 50% of the votes for outright victory If no-one achieves that, a second round will be held in

November, which is increasingly looking likely between the two leading contenders. The final certified results from last Tuesday’s poll must be announced by October 25, although provisional results from the remaining precincts are expected in the coming days. The commission said that ballots would be re-cast in two polling places in Nimba County due to irregularities, although that measure only concerns a few thousand votes. Brumskine has said the vote

was marred by fraud and that he would request a re-run of the vote. However, he has yet to produce evidence of cheating and international observers said they saw no major problems. NEC Chairman Jerome Korkoya had earlier hit out at false reports announcing an outright win for Weah and said his officials were doing their best to get accurate official results out as quickly as possible. "This commission has not declared any winner," he stressed. International election observers

said they had not identified any major problems with Tuesday's voting. However, parties supporting three of the 20 candidates have alleged irregularities and said they would contest the result, Reuters reported. Ms Sirleaf, 78, who is stepping down at the end of two terms, hailed the election as a success. "We believe that all Liberians are ready for this process. I thank them for participating in this process," she said. Liberia, which was founded

by freed US slaves in the 19th Century, has not had a smooth transfer of power in 73 years. Ms Sirleaf took office in 2006, after her predecessor, Charles Taylor, was forced out of office by rebels in 2003, ending a long civil war. Taylor is currently serving a 50-year prison sentence in the UK for war crimes related to the conflict in neighbouring Sierra Leone. Weah has chosen Taylor's ex-wife Jewel Howard Taylor as his running mate.

the governor over a committee work that has not quite advanced in its operations, adding that there was no truth to the allegations so far raised against him. “Why are they hiding if they have serious and genuine concerns? Why can’t they come to the open? At the very least, they could wait till the reports are put together and they would have the opportunity of authoring a minority report if they feel strongly about these allegations and accusations

against the governor. “But I find the allegations preposterous because a committee with other governors as members cannot claim the governor of Kaduna is imposing his views on them. That cannot be true. Are you saying the Kaduna governor will intimidate or shout down the Osun State Governor? Governor Aregbesola cannot be intimidated and that is the truth. So, I do not think it makes any sense debating with a faceless person.”

OYEGUN: AKANDE’S COMMENT ON APC PRESIDENTIAL TICKET HIS PERSONAL OPINION Akande had at the end of a stakeholders meeting of South-west APC last Thursday, involving governors, National Assembly members, ministers and other party members, held at the Agodi Government House, Ibadan, Oyo State, declared that the presidential ticket of the party was open to all in the 2019 general election. Responding to a question about the position of the party on Buhari’s speculated second term ambition, Akande had stated thus: “He has not told us he is running in 2019. Anybody in our party is free to become the president of Nigeria as long as he indicates interest. We have a process through which a candidate will be selected. If he is lucky to get the ticket, then we have no option than to present him as our candidate.” The meeting, which lasted four hours and held in the executive council chambers of the governor’s office, had in attendance Governors Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo State), Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos State), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun State), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo State), former Governors Adebayo AlaoAkala, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Olusegun Osoba, Adeniyi Adebayo, Kayode Fayemi, who is also the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Minister of Communications Adebayo Shittu, Minister of State for Niger Delta, Claudius Daramola, Senator Olusola Adeyeye, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Lasun Yusuff and House Majority Leader Femi Gbajabiamila, among others. Speaking last night, Oyegun, who was not keen on commenting, said there was really nothing to say as far as the reportage of Akande’s statement was concerned, because it was his personal position and he had a right to it. “That’s his personal view. He said what he felt. There is really nothing to comment about – nothing. That is his personal view,” Oyegun said. But THISDAY learnt last night that the statement had since unsettled the South-west APC as a majority of stakeholders, who attended the Ibadan meeting were dismayed that Akande would go completely off the thrust of the meeting and create avoidable controversy for the party in the zone. A governor at the meeting, who confided in THISDAY, said those of them who were there felt so “thoroughly embarrassed” by the development that they had begun to ponder the need to come out to set the record

straight as far as the essence of the Thursday meeting was concerned. “That didn’t come up at our meeting at all. It was just a question asked him by a journalist and he answered off-the-curve. Everyone is angry now. The only thing we discussed was what was in the communiqué read by Governor Ajimobi and essentially the meeting was about restructuring. “What we said at the meeting was that the word restructuring is not in our manifesto. What is there is that we would initiate a process that would lead to a bill or an act that will define the governance structure of the country. So, basically, we insisted we never used the word restructuring. “So, that should be it as far as the meeting was concerned. But he really embarrassed us and we didn’t expect it from him, although it must have been inadvertently, because when he was asked after the interview, he said the question was on the spot and that he just gave an on-the-spot answer. Everybody is really angry now and sadly, he is President Buhari’s number one fan. So, I don’t know where this came from,” the governor said. “He has a lot of respect for Chief Akande and they get along really well. But as it is, we may have to salvage this situation with one of us coming out to address the issue more pointedly,” he added. In his reaction to the development, a chieftain of the APC and Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Osita Okechukwu, said regardless of Akande’s view on the party’s presidential ticket for the 2019 election, a majority of the state chapters in South-east have endorsed Buhari for reelection. Okechukwu said Buhari had “more than a right of first refusal” as far as the 2019 presidential election is concerned. "Well, Akande was our first interim national chairman and a highly respected elder of the party but Chief Oyegun is today our current national chairman of APC – substantive – so we align with Oyegun's submission, because he is the current chairman. “Even some state chapters of the party like Enugu, Ebonyi and Kaduna had endorsed the president for a second tenure. To be honest with you, the good luck is that his miraculous recovery has encouraged us to endorse him. He has more than a right of first refusal.” Okechukwu, a close ally of President Buhari since his

days in the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, spoke to THISDAY on telephone last night, noting: "From my understanding of what Chief Akande has said, I think he meant that President Buhari has not formally informed the party and it is only when he tells the party. I don't think what he is saying is that the issue of the right of first refusal be discountenanced. For me, I am one of those, who is saying we should support him to finish what he is doing to set the nation on a solid foundation." Meanwhile, the restructuring committee set up by the party leadership may have run into operational difficulties. At the heart of this brewing discontent, however, is the crisis of confidence amongst the committee members. THISDAY has also learnt that when the committee tried to meet with the leadership of the National Assembly on the issues of restructuring, it was rebuffed following what a source at the legislature described as a rejection of the committee’s mode of operation. According to sources, both the Senate and House of Representatives leaderships were not pleased with the manner in which the committee appeared to be taking positions on the issues they were meant to seek the opinions of even the ordinary party members. Particularly disturbing to some members of the committee is the disposition of their chairman and Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasiru El-rufai, who has openly expressed reservations over restructuring and continued to preach the same message at the various public hearings organised by the committee. A committee source also told THISDAY at the weekend that some of their members were getting increasingly uncomfortable with the governor's posturing, which they claimed was tantamount to imposing his position and ideas on the others. The source cited a recent statement credited to El-rufai at an interactive meeting with some APC youths in Abuja, where he allegedly told the audience that the agitation for the creation of more states was not an answer to the issue of marginalisation or perceived imbalance in the country. He said such agitation amounted to enthroning injustice and akin to seeking to make unequal equal in a country that has unequal population and resource distribution. "The greatest injustice is try-

ing to make equal unequal and unequal equal. Things are not done like that. What do I mean by that? There are those who have said Nigeria and Unites States are same. It is just like saying everyone, who is six feet, five can play basketball. “As human beings, we are equal but you cannot come and stand here and say we should create nine states in each zone. Nigeria is not equal likewise the population and resources. You can't do that," el-Rufail had said at the interactive meeting. But while some members have shown that they are opposed to restructuring by openly speaking against it, other members are in support of the idea. It was however learnt that the not-too-agreeable positions among the members are affecting the work of the committee as they are yet to sit down together to consider the feedback from the various zones of the country as mandated by the party. "We are yet to receive reports from different parts of the country on the outcome of the zonal public hearing. Whatever the chairman of the committee and governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-rufai has said with regards to restructuring is nothing but his own personal opinion. It does not represent the position of the committee, even as the chairman". Some of these committee members have also disassociated themselves from the governor’s recent statement made at the Chatham House in London, where he criticised those seeking a restructuring of the country. One of the committee members went on to accuse the governor of using the platform to try to position himself ahead of the 2019 general election by making statements that are clearly outside the terms of reference of the committee. "Not that the governor has no right to hold his personal view on the issue of restructuring but as the chairman of the committee, he should not be seen imposing opinion on the audience during the public hearing. The job of our committee is to listen and collate the views and positions of Nigerians on the demands for restructuring of the federation and to advice the party accordingly. "At present, we have not received reports from various parts of the county; we have not even met to discuss the issues raised, so we still have works to do in that direction," he said. But a close source to El-rufai has dismissed an attempt by “faceless people” to shade

MOBILISE RESOURCES AGGRESSIVELY TO ENHANCE WEAK REVENUE, IMF TELLS NIGERIA Selassie stressed the need for the Central Bank of Nigeria to ensure that reforms in the foreign exchange market were geared towards narrowing the gap between the parallel and interbank forex rates. He urged the apex bank to create a liquid, single forex market regime going forward. Commenting on activities in Nigeria's agricultural sector, Selassie noted that given the large size of the economy and its huge potential, the sector should be doing much better than it is doing presently. He stated, "On the macro side, I think what is needed in Nigeria at this moment is mobilising more revenues. That is important to help the government invest more in health and education and building infrastructure that is going to be important for other sectors, like agriculture and manufacturing to take off. "Without energy it's difficult to have higher productive activities. Some processing is going to be important. So, addressing the energy issue, all of this, I think requires a lot more public investment and so the revenue mobilisation angle is important. "Second, I think also other policy uncertainties are there. But on the fiscal side, there is also a need to further improve the allocation of foreign exchange systems. There has been a strong improvement in that. But I think just creating liquid and deep foreign exchange markets, financing the reforms that have been taking place encouragingly in the last couple of months is going to be important. I think once the macro environment is stable then policies can shift to how to better promote the specific sectors.” On his assessment of activities in the continent, the IMF official said, "If they fail to do the

adjustment that they have already planned, we will see public debt going up at the same elevated pace that it has been growing in the last couple of years. Beyond fiscal policy, there are a number of things that can be done to strengthen the recovery. First, in terms of the way fiscal reforms are to be pursued, adjustment is on the cards in many countries now. So we've been asking ourselves and looking into how best these reforms can be designed to minimise the negative effect that they can have on growth. "And what the experience in the region has shown is that adjustment based on revenue mobilisation is generally likely to have smaller effects on growth than those adjustments based on cutting spending. Importantly, there is ample potential to raise additional revenue in many countries from 3.5 to five percentage points of GDP in many cases, and emphasising revenue mobilisation in coming years, I think, will have the benefit of containing fiscal deficits while maintaining spending envelopes to help address development spending. "We've also been looking at what is needed to help diversify the region's economies given that reliance on commodity prices has again been a source of difficulty in many countries. In general, the picture of the region's economic diversification record to date, average numbers show that diversification has been limited. "But this is mainly being driven by developments in commodity exports, which have seen their economies increasingly more concentrated and relying on natural resources over the last decade or so due to the higher commodity prices and discovery of new natural resources."

OCTOBER 15, 2017 ˾ T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

SUNDAY COMMENT

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

JUSTICE FOR ABUJA WOMEN ThevictoryofNjemanjeandothersatthecourtisawake-upcalltoactwithinthelaw

e feel vindicated by last Thursday’s judgment of the ECOWAS Court which imposed a fine of N18 million on the federal government for violating the rights of three Nigerian women who were in 2011 labelled prostitutes. Dorothy Njemanze, a popular actress, Justina Etim and Amarachi Jessyford are to be paid the sum of N6 million each as compensation for the humiliation and inhuman treatment to which they were subjected in the course of their arbitrary arrest six years ago. While we applaud the judgment on an issue in which we had earlier intervened, we also reiterate our call on the Abuja authorities to end the barbaric practice that criminalises our women and girls. In April 2011, Njemanze parked her car and was walking towards her brother’s house one evening when she was roughly shoved towards a parked van by someone in a ‘Man-oWar’ uniform. She was assaulted and beaten up for no just cause. No matter how hard she tried to identify herself as an actress, they refused to let her go. Branded as a prostitute, Njemanze was eventually thrown inside the van just because she happened to be taking an evening walk in the city of Abuja. Similar real life but incredible stories have been told by women standing in front of their residences or offices: from law school students, bankers to employees of a telecom company attending a colleague’s birthday party. According to many survivors of this ordeal, after being harassed, the women were then ‘arrested’, molested, and subsequently detained in a choked cell in Area 11. No phone calls to family and friends were permitted, and no lawyers could be alerted. Prolonged humiliation and torture followed, and finally, a ‘confession’ was obtained under duress, along with a public statement denouncing prostitution. This option was

reserved for the lucky few, those who were able to ‘cooperate’ and were therefore allowed to ‘financially negotiate’ an exit. Otherwise, they were reportedly transferred to a ‘rehabilitation’ camp for the purpose of ‘reformation’, located at Arco Estate, Sabon Lugbe, operated by a curious NGO called the Society Against Prostitution and Child Labour in Nigeria (SAPCLN).

There are clear and definite constitutional provisions that entrench the rights of women to their dignity, liberty, privacy, freedom of movement and expression

Letters to the Editor

S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR TOKUNBO ADEDOJA DEPUTY EDITORS VINCENT OBIA, OLAWALE OLALEYE MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN

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 GROUP FINANCE DIRECTOR OLUFEMI ABOROWA DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS PETER IWEGBU, FIDELIS ELEMA, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH, PATRICK EIMIUHI ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS HENRY NWACHOKOR, SAHEED ADEYEMO CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI GROUP HEAD FEMI TOLUFASHE ART DIRECTOR OCHI OGBUAKU II DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: ﬁrst name.surname@thisdaylive.com

hat all this could be happening in a city intended to be Nigeria’s convergence point for commerce, business, innovation, ingenuity, creativity and social development beggar belief. After all, Abuja was conceived not for some Talibans but rather as a place where the human rights of all residents would be safeguarded. Unfortunately, the rights of women and girls are frequently trampled upon by the tyrannical activities of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board Task Force. Indeed, for several years now, women in the Federal Capital Territory have been assaulted, intimidated and incarcerated by this all-powerful task force on the pretext that that they have a mandate to ‘eradicate commercial sex workers in Abuja’. These so-called enforcers of the law are unidentifiable (wearing neither uniforms nor badges) and they lurk around the street corners in Abuja. A woman needs only be out in the evening, no matter the reason, for her to be arrested, humiliated and detained. As we stated in an earlier editorial, there is no justification for these despicable acts of violence and intimidation against ordinary law abiding citizens. Indeed, there are clear and definite constitutional provisions that entrench the rights of women to their dignity, liberty, privacy, freedom of movement and expression. Unfortunately, these ‘law-enforcement’ personnel have refused to acknowledge these fundamental guarantees. As far as they know, women have no business being outside after dark. Strident attempts have been made to draw attention to these atrocities and outrageous violations of the constitutional rights of women. The Nigerian Women’s Trust Fund, in conjunction with the National Human Rights Commission, has written to the Honourable Minister of the FCT on the issue while court cases have been filed by many survivors with the means to do so. Yet the intimidation, arrests and unlawful detentions continue unbated. We hope the recent judgment will help to curb this most outrageous and criminal practice in the FCT.

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.

AISHAH AHMAD: A BREATH OF FRESH AIR

hen news broke recently of the nomination of Mrs Aishah Ahmad as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria by President Muhammadu Buhari, though elated, I was conscious of our antecedents as a people. One will think that after all these years we would have risen above political and ethno-religious sentiments on matters of national importance. Alas, somehow we continue to get it wrong! Not surprisingly, this nomination has, like many before it, good or bad, been greeted with dissenting voices that tend to betray nothing other than political emotions.

Some people parading themselves as well-meaning Nigerians have alluded to the fact that the CBN requires an older person in the role of deputy governor. To my mind, Mrs Ahmad’s appointment represents a breath of fresh air, considering the level of financial experience she has garnered even at such a young age. Her over 20 years cumulative experience if brought to bear can contribute immensely to the much needed fresh perspective at the apex bank. Further noise in the social media speaks to her experience and competence. Section 8 (1) of the CBN Act states, “The Governor and Deputy-Governors shall be persons of recognised

financial experience and shall be appointed by the President subject to confirmation by the Senate on such terms and conditions as may be set out in their respective letters of appointment.” Some legal practitioners have made social posts, contrary to this express provision of the law. This borders on intellectual fraud; taking undue advantage of ordinary people that trust their knowledge as lawyers is tantamount to defrauding those following them and invariably conspiring against Nigeria. This nomination can be viewed in the context of appointments over the years by successive Nigerian presidents, dating back to Chief

Olusegun Obasanjo. I can safely compare this to the emergence of Chukwuma Soludo, an academic, as the governor of the apex bank. If a young Nigerian woman gets the presidential nod to occupy a position, Nigerians are right to ask if she is qualified. And this is irrespective of who is involved. That would be serving national interest. But to deliberately trade falsehood is sad. Having a 41-year old female support a 56-year male as deputy governor and governor of the CBN, respectively, can only portend a bright future. Specifically, if a young lady of 41 has served her sector for almost two decades, she should be eminently qualified to aspire to any position in that industry. Mrs Ahmad, in addition to being well educated (she holds two Masters Degrees and belongs

to leading professional bodies in the banking and finance industry), parades “recognised financial experience” as provided by the CBN Act 2007. In addition, Mrs Ahmad’s path has crisscrossed the financial services sector which means she can bring from each bit of experience to bear on her position as deputy governor of the CBN. That can only serve national interest better. Given the plethora of attacks, informed, uninformed and dubious comments in the social media since the news of her nomination broke, one wonders why political leaders will not continue to ignore public outcry, knowing most of it is borne out of mischief. –––Edozie Onyekachukwu, Ikeja, Lagos.

T H I S D AY SUNDAY OCTOBER 15, 2017

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ ͹ͽ˜ ͺ͸͹Ϳ

SUNDAYNEWS

News Editor Abimbola Akosile E-mail: ËÌÓ×ÌÙÖË˛ËÕÙÝÓÖÏ̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙ×˜ ͸΀͸ͺͻ͹͹Ϳ;ͻ΁ ̙Ý×Ý ÙØÖã̚

CELEBRATING UNILAG L-R: 1st National Vice President, UNILAG Alumni Association, Otunba Seni Adetu; Mrs. Olugbolawan Babalakin; Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN); Special guest of honour Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN); National President, UNILAG Alumni Association, Dr. Sonny Kuku, at the 2017 distinguished alumni awards to mark 55th anniversary of UNILAG Alumni Association in Lagos...at the weekend Photo: Mubo Peters

Obasanjo: Citizens Must Pay Tax, But Responsible Govt Should Spend Revenue Judiciously Abimbola Akosile

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday asserted that every responsible citizen of Nigeria must pay tax, which he described as a major source of revenue to fund and drive the nation’s economy. Obasanjo, however, added that if the people are faithful in their payment of tax, then a responsible government should spend the accrued tax revenue judiciously. The former president was the chairman at the launch and public presentation of a book titled ‘A Review of Effective Tax Regime in Nigeria’, which was written by former Assistant Inspector General of Police, Tunde Ogunsakin. Ogunsakin was a member of the Presidential Task Force on Education Tax Funds (1999 2000), also known as the Federal

Government Panel on Education Tax, which was constituted by Obasanjo. Speaking at the book launch which took place yesterday at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) Victoria Island, Lagos, Obasanjo agreed with Ogunsakin’s writings which described tax evasion as a crime. He also stressed that one of the major challenges of Nigeria was because he nation has not been able to actually determine the amount of tax revenue it loses annually. According to Obasanjo, “This book is very readable. In a way, it is technical but more of a layman than technical. If one writes a book on taxation and I am able to understand, then anybody can understand it. “According to the author, tax avoidance is legal but tax evasion

is both criminal and civil. The African Union reported that it loses $50 billion per year from tax revenue. In Nigeria, we have not been able to determine how much we lose from tax revenue annually,” he said. Meanwhile, the author, Ogunsakin, in his address said the event marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to ensure a flourishing tax regime that would drive formidable economic growth and development in the country. The former police chieftain said the “decision to publish the book was borne out of his desire to evolve a literature that will be of intellectualvaluetotaxauthorities in the area of tax collection and enlightenment campaign as well as encourage Nigerian populace and institutions to pay tax. “I am very inspired by the

book and the launch to call attention to a global debate on alternative to oil as the world leading nations are inventing cheaper alternatives to oil as producing nations are undergoing retrogressive variables which are receding purchase and sales of oil in their various categories world-wide. “Before my brief on the intervention of tax as alternative to oil in contemporary revenue drive in developing nations, you will first wonder what a policeman desires in an analogous terrain like taxation. I did not study business administration nor accounting but political science, history and law,” he added. Ogunsakin noted that he was opportune to have served as a member of the then Federal Government Panel on Education Tax set up by Obasanjo to investigate

Osinbajo: Govt Alone Cannot Fund Universities Tobi Soniyi ËØÎ Shola Oyeyipo

ΩVice-President Yemi Osinbajo; the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Dr. Wale Babalakin, and the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof.Rahmon Bello, have said that government alone cannot fund education. They all spoke at the UNILAG at 55 anniversary and 2017 Distinguished Alumni Awards held at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. Osinbajo said attaining the best level of university education, which would enable Nigerian universities to compete favourably internationally, could not be left for government alone. He said private organisations such as alumni and others must assist government to develop the higher institutions of learning. Commending UNILAG alumni which had a multibillion naira fund raising for the purpose of infrastructural development on the campus, the vice president said: ‘It is important that we do so because just as the pro-chancellor pointed out, government alone cannot sup-

port universities to the extent that is required, to keep them even at the current levels. A lot will have to come from the alumni and the private sector. That’s how great universities all over the world are run. “I am so excited to see that our project today, the fund raising project, is one that has clearly shown the way to go with respect to developing our university.” The VP, who was a law lecturer in the university, commended the school for pioneering innovative means of making the institution best among its peers. “I want to say that UNILAG has proved time and time again to be not just a university of firstchoice but also the University of firsts! So many firsts in different areas; just reading about Doctor Olukoya, he was the first to clone genes. Hardly anyone would know that the pastor and founder of Mountain of Fire and Miracles was also the first to clone genes. That is an absolutely outstanding thing. “The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God was also the first Nigerian to

get a PhD in a Nigerian university in Applied Mathematics and Engineering. I think that there are so many other firsts, but the most important thing today is to ensure that those firsts do not become the last. “We must ensure we continue in the great traditions of the University of Lagos and this is why I am so excited to see a lot of committed alumni who want to see to it that our university goes from glory to glory.” Babalakin, who had spoken earlier, commended the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration for setting up a committee to explore alternative funding for higher institutions of learning. He expressed regret that no university in Nigeria was rated among the best 800 in the world. According to him, that is unacceptable. Babalakin noted that the nation’s educational system was at a crossroads saying, “We have to change the structure of the universities structure to do better.” Relying on statistics from the Nigerian University Commission, Babalakin said the nation

needed N1.6 trillion to finance universities annually. He said: “If the government is to fund all the federal universities, it would require about N1.6trn. Government cannot spend money on one single item. So, we have to find a creative way to fund university education.” Also speaking, the Vice Chancellor said coping with the increasing students’ population remained a challenge. He said there was challenge of hostel accommodation. He said: “Funding is a serious challenging. We are therefore calling for alternative sources of funding for university education. We are looking forward to government allowing us to seek alternative sources of funding.” Some of the award recipients were Dr. John Abebe; Mr. Mustafa Chike-Obi; Senator Victor Ndoma Egba (SAN); Mr. Godwin Obla (SAN); Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita; Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu, Dr. Daniel Kolawole Olukoya; the Vice Chancellor, Prof Rahmon Adisa Bella, and Dr. Wale Babalakin.

and recover all unpaid education tax by companies registered in Nigeria, stressing that this fired his enthusiasm to research more in taxation. “It is heartwarming to state that as a sub-committee chairman on operation of the then Federal Government Panel on Education Tax, I travelled widely within the country and gathered immense experience in the course of the Panel’s work. This enormous experience greatly inspired me to publish this book,” he said. Ogunsakinsaidasoilrevenue continues to dwindle, Nigerian leaders must harness the taxation potential, maximising the advantage of the nation’s huge population and the reduction of tax evasion. He noted that by 2025 or 2030, oil might become obsolete as a

source of energy and revenue to nations, and added that only visionary nations would be able to cope or survive by then. He further stressed that this was a warning signal to Nigeria to explore taxation as an alternative to oil. “Itishopedthatdrawinggreat insights from the expositions in this book will invariably assist us in advancing the course of reducing tax malpractices in Nigeria through voluntary compliance with taxation,” he said. The special guest of honour at the launch and public presentation of the book was Vice President Yemi Osinbajo SAN, an event attended by captains of industries, politicians, academics, notable gurus in administration, governance and banking sectors, including royal fathers from all the geo-political zones.

HollywoodReporterListsMoAbudu as One of the 25 Most Powerful Women in Global Television Hollywood Reporter Lists Mo AbuduasOneofthe25MostPowerfulWomeninGlobalTelevision The Hollywood Reporter has released its annual list of the “25 Most Powerful Women in Global Television” and Mo Abudu is the onlyAfricanwomanlisted,amongst those from North America, Europe, Asia,SouthAmericaandAustralia. The category recognises female executives from around the globe who are rewriting the rules of TV, during a time when “women have to work twice as hard for the same recognition”asmen. The article describes Abudu as a woman who “has been at the forefront of media innovation on the continent” and whose goal for the coming year is “to successfully produceAfrica’sfirstsci-fiTVseries”.The first time she was included in this list was in 2013, immediately after the launchofEbonyLife TV. Sincethoseearlydays,EbonyLife TV has created over 4,000 hours of original, high-quality content, including landmark drama series The Governor, Sons of the Caliphate and Fifty (the series), along with the first

pan-African talk show, Moments, with different versions hosted in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa. EbonyLife Films made its debut in 2015 at the 59th BFI London Film Festival with Fifty, the highest-grossing Nollywood movie that year. In 2016, EbonyLife co-produced The Wedding Party, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and went on to become the biggest movie in the history of Nigerian cinema. Abudu does not take the recognition from the renowned entertainment magazine for granted. “It’s an honour and privilege to be acknowledged again by The Hollywood Reporter. I am proud to representNigeriaandthethousands of womenin Africa,strivingtomake their mark in a male-dominated industry,”shesaid. The Hollywood Reporter publishes its list of Most Powerful Women in Global Television annually, with luminaries deemed by its editorstohavemadeasignificantimpactonwhataudiencesarewatching worldwide, and how women are representedonTV.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 15, 2017

NEWS Dogara: Inadequate Funding, a Challenge Facing Security Agencies Says security challenges may not easily abate

Abimbola Akosile in Lagos and James Emejo in Abuja Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Dr. Wale Babalakin, and the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Rahmon Bello, have said that government alone cannot fund education. They all spoke at the UNILAG at 55 anniversary and 2017 Distinguished Alumni Awards held at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. Osinbajo said attaining the best level of university education, which would enable Nigerian universities to compete favourably internationally, could

not be left for government alone. He said private organisations such as alumni and others must assist government to develop the higher institutions of learning. Commending UNILAG alumni which had a multibillion naira fund raising for the purpose of infrastructural development on the campus, the vice president said: ‘It is important that we do so because just as the pro-chancellor pointed out, government alone cannot support universities to the extent that is required, to keep them even at the current levels. A lot will have to come from the alumni and the private sector. That’s how great universities all

over the world are run. “I am so excited to see that our project today, the fund raising project, is one that has clearly shown the way to go with respect to developing our university.” The VP, who was a law lecturer in the university, commended the school for pioneering innovative means of making the institution best among its peers. “I want to say that UNILAG has proved time and time again to be not just a university of firstchoice but also the University of firsts! So many firsts in different areas; just reading about Doctor Olukoya, he was the first to

clone genes. Hardly anyone would know that the pastor and founder of Mountain of Fire and Miracles was also the first to clone genes. That is an absolutely outstanding thing. “The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God was also the first Nigerian to get a PhD in a Nigerian university in Applied Mathematics and Engineering. I think that there are so many other firsts, but the most important thing today is to ensure that those firsts do not become the last. “We must ensure we continue in the great traditions of the University of Lagos and this is why I am so excited to see a lot

of committed alumni who want to see to it that our university goes from glory to glory.” Babalakin, who had spoken earlier, commended the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration for setting up a committee to explore alternative funding for higher institutions of learning. He expressed regret that no university in Nigeria was rated among the best 800 in the world. According to him, that is unacceptable. Babalakin noted that the nation’s educational system was at a crossroads saying, “We have to change the structure of the universities structure to do

better.” Relying on statistics from the Nigerian University Commission, Babalakin said the nation needed N1.6 trillion to finance universities annually. He said: “If the government is to fund all the federal universities, it would require about N1.6trn. Government cannot spend money on one single item. So, we have to find a creative way to fund university education.” Also speaking, the Vice Chancellor said coping with the increasing students’ population remained a challenge. He said there was challenge of hostel accommodation.

In Brief Caleb College Wins Anti-Corruption Debate Masters Adegbohungbe Ayomide and Abiola-Awe Oluwatise of Caleb International College, Magodo, Lagos State, have emerged the overall winners of the 2017 National Anti-Corruption Debate Competition for both public and private secondary schools in the South-West zone of the country. The schools’ debate competition was organised by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to test students’ understanding of the government’s anti-corruption crusade, the citizens’ role in the crusade, the students’ debating skills and mastery of English Language pronunciations in accordance with global standards. Over 500 schools from the six South-West States of Nigeria participated in the competition at the preliminary stages, while Caleb International College, Magodo, Lagos State and other 50 schools scaled through to the finals, which produced the college as the overall winner.

HONOURING KACHIKWU R-L: The Oshimiri of Ahaba, representative of Asagba of Asaba, Chief Onyeagoli Chizea, presenting the NESH Peace Honours plaque to Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, as Founder, NESH, Mr. Emeka Ugwu-Oju, looks on during NESH Oil and Gas Roundtable & Dinner Reception held at the Grand Hotel, Asaba, Delta State...at the weekend

Boko Haram Militants Surrender GAC Motors Partners Conference 57 DHQ: Disregard Alleged Spread of It was a gathering of eagles at He noted this shows that for GAC Monkeypox by Military Medical Outreach to Authorities in Cameroon Restaurant 1415, EKO Signature Motor, it’s not just about selling Paul Obi inAbuja The Nigerian Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday urged Nigerians to disregard allegations about the spread of Monkeypox through military medical outreach, describing such rumours as mischievous. Director of Defence Information, Major General John Enenche explained that the medical exercise in the South East was merely a normal medical operation that had been replicated in other parts of the country. He said, “The Armed Forces of Nigeria has been in the global best military practice of impacting on the lives of Nigerians through medical outreaches. “In this regard, quick impact medical outreaches are usually conducted during deliberate operations such as the war against insurgency and ter-

rorism in the North East and routine training exercise like Egwu Eke II in the South East among others. “Particularly, the Nigerian Army on several occasions as afore-stated carried out medical outreaches in virtually all the geo-political zones of Nigeria without any observation in the past.” Enenche explained that “the same goes for the Nigerian Navy that does same during all its exercises in southern parts of the country. Similarly, Nigerian Air Force is equally in the limelight of medical outreaches including victims of natural disasters all over the country. “Categorically, the practice of reaching out to the general public medically is akin to the key task of securing the lives and property of Nigerians. Therefore, it has and can never be done with ulterior motive.”

Anayo Okolie No fewer than 60 men who said they were captured by the Boko Haram terrorist group and forced to fight have surrendered to authorities in northern Cameroon. According to reports, after spending two years with Boko Haram, the men decided to flee with their families and hand themselves in, according to several men who had surrendered and spoke to journalists at a ceremony in the town of Mozogo on Friday. A total of nearly 400 people originally from Cameroon - 58 men, 86 women and 244 children - said they had been taken hostage by Boko Haram fighters during attacks on their villages and taken to Nigeria, where they were forced to join the jihadist group. The men told reporters they had fought for Boko Haram and

were laying down their arms of their own will. They surrendered at the border with Nigeria to a village vigilante group formed to combat the jihadists. The vigilantes then handed them over to the authorities. Head of the group, Ousmane Kouila, said they had been out on patrol in the border area when they met the fleeing Boko Haram fighters. “They said they were returning, and that they were surrendering,” he said. The local governor went to meet them and ordered them to be moved away from the border to avoid any reprisals by Boko Haram. “We are counting on them to also convince others who are hesitating (to surrender) and there are a lot of them they tell us,” said governor of the Far North region, Midjiyawa Bakari. Authorities would provide the escapees with psychological help, he said.

and Suites in Victoria Island as GAC Motors hosted all 57 Local Government Chairmen in Lagos State recently. The event began with the vehicles speaking for themselves in a Test Drive session where each of the Local Government Chairmen took their turns in test driving the GAC Motor GS8, GS4 AND GA3S vehicles. According to the Secretary of ‘Lagos Conference 57’ (the name adopted by the council of Local Government Chairmen in Lagos) Mr. Ariyo Bolaji after his Test Drive, ‘GAC Vehicles are not bad at all’ he said. Another participant, Mukandasi Ogidan noted that GAC vehicles offers more value than many known auto brands in Nigeria. The Marketing Manager CIG Motors, Mr. Kayode Adejumo, in a presentation took the delegates through the different events and sponsorships partnerships by GAC Motor in the music, film industry, sports and politics recently.

cars, it’s about impacting lives Mr. Scofield Wu in his remarks enlightened the delegates on the technological makeup of GAC Vehicles with top parts suppliers used in the assembly of the vehicles. He noted that for GAC Motor, safety is a major consideration when designing the vehicles. According to him, the steering of GAC Motor vehicles disintegrates in the event of a front collusion by accident which makes a GAC vehicle safer to drive than many other vehicles in the market General Manager Access Bank a financial partner, Mrs. Iyabo Ogunsanya reiterated this as the most interesting feature of GAC vehicles in her opinion. She mentioned that the involvement of Access Bank in the partnership is to further highlight how highly the bank takes the GAC brand. According to the Bank executive, GAC motor vehicles are in the bank fleet used for the daily banking movement.

ͯͳ˜ Ͱͮͯ͵ ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

OPINION Akwa Ibom: The Past As The Present Edo Ukpong writes on how governments take the people down a familiar dead end

n the era when the ‘uncommon transformer’ held sway as the governor – or executive governor, as was his decreed preference – of Akwa Ibom, there was a buzz around the country about how he had transformed the state to an Eldorado. The overwhelming response in private discussions and to my articles critical of the squandermania that defined the era was usually that of consternation. I still remember the questions often asked: “Edo, what has Akpabio done to you?” “How can you be the only one who doesn’t appreciate his good works?” etc. Perhaps, because of his reputation as a ‘generous’ man, some more cynical people thought I was looking for ‘settlement’ and in fact, a mutual friend offered to take me to meet Akpabio so that, in his words, “we can settle this matter once and for all.” But I declined all the overtures because it was nothing personal, even if I personally felt the agony my people were going through as a result of wanton corruption and maladministration, despite all manner of awards, including “best governor in Africa”, that came the way of Akpabio. In reality, most of the highly touted projects (’world class’, as he often boasted), like the Ibom Tropicana entertainment complex, the five-star Uyo Hilton Hotel, the four- star Ikot-Ekpene Sheraton, just to name a few, are now abandoned after several billions have been committed! Billions that, in many instances, came from interest bearing commercial bank facilities; billions, that should have been applied more sustainably towards, among others, creating world class educational institutions and training world class teachers! The question as to why the then richest state in Africa should resort to bank loans for vanity projects is an open one but closed to public debate because the finances of Akwa Ibom belong to the realm of abracadabra: the more you look, the less you see! But since Akpabio has been out of Akwa Ibom for over two years, I should, perhaps, focus on the present. That is true, but focus on the present makes more sense, especially for the future, when situated in the previous because continuity is key to good governance. I was very vocal about my reservations on the last election cycle in Akwa Ibom. At the time, I concluded that a process lacking in the free participation of the people is devoid of legitimacy since whoever is declared winner under such arrangement will not be answerable to the people. I have been proved right, even though that is a matter for another day. Meanwhile, my misgivings about Akpabio’s government were so deep that I dismissed all the noise about the establishment of

the ‘world class’ specialist hospital or Quaternary hospital as it was described, as usual grandiose deceptive boastfulness. Providentially, the driver of the project and its managing director was a secondary school senior. Notwithstanding his reputation as an honest man and excellent doctor, I harassed him at every opportunity that he was facilitating the looting of my state’s money through what I and many believed was a bogus project. Irritated by my cynicism, the managing director challenged me to come and see things for myself. On the appointed day, he painstakingly took me on a guided tour of the facilities, explaining the various impressive looking pieces of equipment. I also got to interact with the mostly Asian doctors and nurses and being the free treatment week, they all looked happy to be putting some of the equipment and their expertise to use. Everything looked so promising even though I expressed my sadness at the near total absence of Nigerian doctors and nurses. I proudly took so many photographs, which I later posted on WhatsApp groups to eat my words and to show evidence that there indeed was a hospital with ‘world class’ equipment in Uyo and only 15 minutes’ drive from Ndiya, my hometown! Thereafter,

The last few times I have driven past the hospital building have been very agonising. In the daytime, it is now a picture of desolation with only dusty unmanned ambulances parked within the premises. At night, it is total darkness! My heart bleeds because the talk in town is that the hospital ‘has closed’ due to paucity of funds. Yet this paucity of funds did not affect the state government from prioritising the construction of a new governor’s lodge in Ikoyi, Lagos!

every time I drove past the hospital, especially at night, I would stop and proudly take pictures of the brightly lit edifice and post to friends. Unfortunately, the last few times I have driven past the hospital building have been very agonising. In the daytime, it is now a picture of desolation with only dusty unmanned ambulances parked within the premises. At night, it is total darkness! My heart bleeds because the talk in town is that the hospital has closed due to paucity of funds. Yet this paucity of funds did not affect the state government from prioritising the construction of a new governor’s lodge in Ikoyi, Lagos! It is my strongly held view that this is symptomatic of how tomfoolery has taken the place of proper governance. There is no legitimate government exercising powers in the general interest of the people that will abandon a hospital project that has reportedly gulped N41 billion! There is simply no logical explanation for that! There is no doubt that Akwa Ibom has witnessed some level of development under successive governments, especially in terms of the road network and an ‘empowered’ political class that has beautified the state with new hotels and ‘world class’ residential buildings. There is also no doubt that there is only little evidence of people oriented developmental initiatives to justify the huge resources available to the people. That is essentially because the electoral process in Akwa Ibom is notorious for subjugating and hijacking the sovereign rights of the people to elect its leaders. Such a dysfunctional process, no matter the personalities involved, will only result in serious mis-governance, the consequences of which we, the people, have to suffer. The way it works is simple: governments are only accountable to those who elect them. On the other hand, the people are entitled to a government accountable to its needs but this will only happen when the people collectively come to this realisation and exercise its people’s power. All said, we cannot rely on the conscience or godliness of individual politicians to govern right and neither should we invest any hope that the complicit elite will rearrange its selfish interests and side with the people. The evident transition from squandermania to egomania is not our destiny and we must redirect our journey to a destination of sustainable development. It will not be an easy task but it is one that must be done. And it will, in due season. ––Ukpong a legal practitioner, wrote from Lagos

Nigeria: What Are We Restructuring? (1) No far-reaching decision on restructuring can be made by the National Assembly as presently constituted, argues Bernard Balogun

he word restructuring used to be commonly associated with the civil engineering profession. Recently, the word has crept into the political lexicon, and has assumed such currency that each day in the media the word is so emotively used and bastardised that its true meaning is lost in the myriad of the current conversations in the country. Permit me to digress momentarily. Last Saturday, October 7, 2017, there was a football match, World Cup Qualifiers, they call it, that was played at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom State. Let me confess, I am not a fan of football. The unison, the euphoria and commonality of purpose prevalent before and after that match were, indeed, electrifying and delightfully cut across the various nationalities in Nigeria. That World Cup qualifiers (appropriately called Russia 2018) brought every tribe together. It was no longer Igbo versus Hausa person or Yoruba versus Edo person. It was, indeed, and evidently so, Nigeria versus Zambia. Everyone in Nigeria, the old, the young, men, women, the educated and uneducated, tall or short, black or not, were all united in their determination and collective prayers for Nigeria to outplay the visiting team. Strikingly enduring was the venue of play, it was not in contention – why is it always Godswill Akpabio International Stadium and not Kaduna Stadium or Liberty Stadium in Ibadan or National stadium in Eko-Ile, though the Nigerian team once lost to South African Bafana Bafana team ab initio in June 2017 in that stadium and since then it has been spectacular success and luck all the way. Nigerians agree, we need a reservoir of that goodluck to get to World Cup 2018 in Russia. That unity of purpose brought our desire and prayers to fruition. Nigeria won. The rest is now history. Can we replicate this wonderful team spirit in the political sphere of our country? That is the task this narrative seeks to achieve. In an exposition such as this, that tends to treat an explosive, emotive, and indeed sensitive issue as restructuring, it will be impossible to exhaustively treat or address all shades of opinion in one article. My effort, therefore, is to put up “a random synopsis of ideas” about this national burning issue – the way forward. That

does not make me “an embodiment of wisdom” in a matter as sensitive as this, but it is important to get an understanding of the issue, however synoptic it may sound, and the narrative must be future based. As a follow up to this exposition, I have met and interviewed quite a number of proponents of restructuring. These proponents are in three broad categories. The first category is those who just join the bandwagon of clamouring for restructuring without an understanding of what it is. The argument of this category of people, largely, is “return to regional system of government as obtained in the 60s”. End of discussion. The second category of people sounds reasonably convincing with an element of seriousness and freshness in their arguments. I think I want to align myself with this class of thought. I shall explain shortly. The third category are people of mixed understanding of the word “restructuring and agitation “. I have said in my previous article that restructuring and agitation for the balkanisation of the country are not same. Need I remind us that there was (and still is) agitation for resource control, courtesy our brothers from the South-south region. Of course, agitation for the balkanisation of Nigeria is healthy, but agitation for balkanisation that has “warfare” intonation, forming another army within a republic, soliciting for arms and ammunition to wage war, calling your compatriots from other regions “cows” and “animals”, and regarding Nigeria as a “zoo”, simply because they do not buy into your own idea and approach to issues? It is not a good thing to say. It is derogatory and it debases and ridicules the very essence of their own narratives, which are certainly not healthy and progressive thoughts that could bring about cohesion and appreciation of our collective worth. Such inane remark must be repulsed and totally condemned by all right thinking persons, who genuinely appreciate the value of a united country like Nigeria with its huge population. In that sense, it means they have nothing to bring to the table for a scrupulous national discourse. However, the point must be made, agitation in any form that recognises and follows legitimate and constitutional processes are welcome and, indeed, supported. That is my position.

There is a fourth voice and that voice seems to stand alone. Our distinguished Senator David Bonaventure Mark, the immediate past Senate President, calls for attitudinal change. And I agree with him, again attitudinal change (this is more of a personal mind-set) is not the same as restructuring on a broad perspective. That must be clearly understood. Attitudinal change can be applied at home, on our roads, in our schools or workplaces. For instance, I may decide to be more responsive and present cordial relationship with my wife and children, and indeed my neighbours as against my previous barefaced and stern looking dispositions. It is an improved trait transition from negativity to positivity. On traffic, I solemnly resolve to obey and respect traffic lights and traffic personnel on our roads, and not to beat traffic lights with impunity. No over-speeding, no phoning while driving, no driving against traffic, respect for other road-users, etc. These are fine attributes of attitudinal change. At school or workplace, we do the right things, timeously report to school and/or work, display some level of discipline, show respect to our teachers and constituted authorities. That in a sense is a personal overhaul of attitude. When these traits are replicated by all male and female adults across our respective homes and we extend such wonderful traits across the country, of course, we shall have a saner society, a society where things work well with a deeper propensity to contribute to the growth of the country. With attitudinal change, PHCN officials shall be dedicated, responsive and efficient. No inducement before PHCN meters are assigned to homes. NNPC officials, with a changed heart, will diligently approach their duties with dedication, promptitude, efficiency, and honesty devoid of corruption, not with the notoriety of corruption associated with that organisation. Ditto the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigeria Immigration Service. And that is, in a nutshell, the attitudinal change being canvassed by our distinguished Senator David Mark and it is a welcome development that should be embraced and, indeed, encouraged by all. However, this narrative is not about attitudinal change but about restructuring, the emotive issue in the political space for now. –––Balogun wrote from Wuse, Abuja

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 15, 2017

LETTERS Nigeria And The Metaphor of Football

he most popular sport in this clime is football. At one time or the other, every child has kicked a football. In elementary and secondary schools as well as institutions of higher learning, football ranks as the most famous sport. It is, perhaps, for this reason that the sport is famously referred to as the ‘King of Sports’. On a private note, I find the allure of the game of football somewhat irresistible, though my famous team, Arsenal FC of England, sometimes turns the sport into a traumatic experience for fans. But then, once you catch the bug of football, you might just not be able to get off it. Globally, football has become a money spinning enterprise. The organisation and management of football in Europe, for instance, is a multi-million dollars venture with all the teams running other sports related businesses. Indeed, all sorts of professionals – doctors, physiotherapists, psychologists, grass men, scouts, etc. – are employed by the various teams in their drive for soccer glory. Therefore, football, in Europe, has gone beyond the mere recreational activity that it is in other climes. As a result of the excellent manner it is managed in Europe, youths across the world have found in football a means through which they could use their talents to escape poverty.

Pinnick, NFF Chairman

The FIFA World Cup remains the most important football event across the world. Since Uruguay hosted the first edition of the World Cup in 1930, during the era of revered FIFA President Jules Rimet, the competition has continued to grow in leaps and bounds. From a 13-team event, it grew to become a 32-team affair during the1998 edition, which was hosted and won by France. Today, the World Cup commands a global TV audience in excess of one billion. Every nation desires to be represented at the quadrennial international football tournament. The

event has become more than a football affair. It is now a huge public relations platform for nations. Hence, the sheer ecstasy and electrifying jubilation that greeted the 74th minute goal of Super Eagle’s in-form striker, Alex Iwobi, in the recent gruelling decider against the Chipolopolo of Zambia is a sure expression of what participating in the World Cup means to our compatriots. Before Iwobi’s eventual clincher, the “Nest of Champions” where the decisive encounter took place in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, was full of tension as soccer

fans agonisingly watched as the obviously ambitious boys from Zambia held their own against the star-studded Super Eagles. With Iwobi’s goal came a huge relief and suddenly the stadium and, indeed, the whole nation came back to life. As Nigerians continue to savour the joy of the hard won victory against Zambia, one thing that keeps ringing in my mind is the unifying power of football. It is quite mystifying how a nation that was before now faced with numerous tribal and ethnic agitations suddenly decided to bury the hatchet in order to pursue a common goal. While various groups complain about marginalisation in political appointments, resource control, among others, it is hard to see anyone complain that a particular section of the country dominates the Super Eagles. Nobody cares about that. No matter where the players come from, the song on every lip remains: “Halleluiah, Eagles are winning today!” Muslims, Christians and Atheists were united in singing this song. Now, the question: How come we easily unite when it comes to the passionate matter of football and the Super Eagles and yet don’t seem to see eye to eye on other major national issues? Well, while there might not be a straitjacket explanation for this, my take is that the ordinary Nigerians from diverse walks of life don’t really care about most of these

IKPEAZU, IPOB AND DOOMSDAY PROPHECY

cannot explain the relief I felt on October 4, 2017, when it finally dawned on me that Nigeria’s independence celebrations had actually come and gone and the country was intact. The celebrations by individuals and institutions across the world were beautiful, all the doomsday prophets were silent and locked away in their shameful caves. In all of my adult life, I have not seen a year as dramatic and precarious for Nigeria as 2017. I really thought 2015 strained the cords of our unity, but 2017 came with more threats to Nigeria’s harmony. Arewa youths had promised doomsday for October 1. The Niger Delta militants assured us retaliation and reprisal attacks. To aggravate the issues at hand, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) took a pledge to rain brimstone and fire on the Nigerian state. In my opinion, the federal government did not handle it well. As all these regional tensions raged on, President Muhammadu Buhari sent a voice note to Nigerians, celebrating the end of the Ramadan season in Hausa language. The president’s speech — rather than douse tensions — added some heat to the polity. The rest of Nigeria felt left out by the president’s deliberate segregation. Upon return to the country, the president made another address, where he said Nigeria’s unity was not negotiable. This time around, the president went

beyond words to show his leadership as the commanderin-chief of the armed forces. Three weeks to the October 1 “doomsday” we had operation Python Dance II in place; and in no time, the military was already clashing with civilians in a democratic state like Nigeria. As October 1 drew nearer, the tensions got more palpable, and the uncertainty of a country’s unity was playing out in the South-east more than in any other part of the country. In all of these, very few politicians stood out for me: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the acting president of the country at that turbulent time, and Okezie Ikpeazu, the governor of Abia State, who I see as the man who kept peace in the midst of a raging storm of disunity. Ikpeazu particularly vied for peace, despite every incentive to let violence reign. At a time when Arewa youths were busy giving ultimatums and IPOB was keen to match violencefor-violence, the governor maintained the message our founding fathers held dear: unity and faith, peace and progress. For him, there was pressure from the federal authorities to handle the Abia crisis like the military was doing, leading to avoidable deaths. There surely was pressure from IPOB and Nnamdi Kanu, who had gained so many foot soldiers in the last two years. There was also pressure from the

anti-IPOB camp within the same state he governs. In the midst of all that, Ikpeazu still hosted northern governors and said the country is one and “we won’t allow an infinitesimal few to separate us”. Calling for conversations around marginalisation and infrastructural deficiencies in the South-east, the governor still placed necessary attention on Nigeria’s fragile peace. “I want to announce that the population of Igbo outside the Igbo enclave is about 11.6 million; you don’t play with the lives of 11.6 million people,” he had said. “We all have to be careful, the press, the leadership at the state level and at the federal level, everybody. We are still working on stabilising and sustaining the fragile peace that we enjoy now. “I swore with the Bible to protect lives and property; because I take such oath very seriously, I will continue to protect the lives and property of our brothers and sisters irrespective of where they come from.” In an interview with Osasu Igbinedion on The Osasu Show while the potential crisis of October 1 had been averted, Ikpeazu revealed that despite his position as the governor and chief security officer of Abia State, he was not privy to the incursion of the army in Abia State. He said he had a letter that the military were coming for operation Python Dance on Friday, “but they decided to test

their pieces of equipment on Sunday,” earlier than the agreed date. He added that he had discussions with high-profiled military officers who assured him that the military will withdraw troops from Abia State, only to be countered by the same military, less than 24 hours after. Despite all this and the political underlining of the Python’s Dance, the governor knew he had only one job which he said “is to secure life and property of not only Abians but everybody that is doing business within the geographical space called Abia. “So at that time, I should protect even those agitating for an independent country called Biafra. I come from a part of the country where the lives and property of wvisitors within your gate is perhaps more important than your own life. “My duty and my responsibility are to make sure that I avert bloodshed of monumental proportions.” Nigeria’s recent political history teaches that as a governor in the Peoples Democratic Party — a party at variance with the party at the federal level — Ikpeazu was expected to politicise the crisis in favour of his political ambitions or that of his party. But rather than do that, he supported the proscription of IPOB, that peace may reign. In all, I’m delighted that the October 1 doomsday prophecy is now behind us, but we all must work together towards a peaceful and united Nigeria. ––Mayowa Tijana, Lagos.

seemingly divisive stuffs. The ordinary compatriots don’t really bother much about religion, tribalism and other such conflict-ridden tendencies. This much was demonstrated in the botched June 12, 1993 presidential election when they overwhelmingly voted for the defunct Social Democratic Party Muslim-Muslim ticket of the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola and Ambassador Babagana Kingibe. The bane of our nation is the elite. Be it political, religious, traditional, bureaucratic, academic, professional, etc., the Nigerian elite through pointless egotistic, parochial and avaricious tendencies have continued to hold the nation by the jugular. Whenever it suits their selfish predisposition, they could agree to work together, intermarry, preach tolerance and generally act as harbingers of all that is good. But then, when their egos are bruised, business interests and political concerns collide, they don’t mind setting the country on fire. Yes, the nation could burn, for all they care. Sadly, whenever they decide to go on the rampage, it is the hapless commoners whose rights and privileges they so deliberately and viciously trample upon that are often used as canon fodders. When some of the most tumultuous socio-political crises that have engulfed this nation are properly scrutinised, major victims of such crisis have always been the common folks on the street who are subtly hoodwinked into

being active participants in a skirmish they know nothing about. Ours is a nation where ‘warlords’ trick the ordinary folks into coming into the battle front, unarmed and ill prepared, only to flee at the slightest prospect of trouble. The Nigerian elite need to come to terms with the reality of the time. The times are changing and very soon, there would be no more guinea pigs available for exploitation. One foresees more of “OurMumuDonDo” kind of movements across the country as compatriots are fast ‘wising up’. Rather than continually engage in destructive selfish agenda that will do our nation more harm than good, the elite need to allow the metaphoric message of football sink deep into every sphere of our national life. We should allow the football process serve as model and reflection to our real life in the society. Being a team sport, every player in a football team, including the coaching crew, pursues one common goal: victory. The Super Eagles achieved victory against Zambia because everyone worked together. Everyone worked to ensure that the weakness of the team was not unduly exposed. Everyone worked to ensure that the strength of the team was fully maximised. Team spirit and focus, which are the main forces in football, are the hallmarks of nationbuilding. ––Tayo Ogunbiyi, Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Lagos.

SUSTAINING WAR AGAINST CULTISM IN IMO

he reported killing, on Thursday, October 5, 2017, of the two most wanted cult leaders and kidnappers in Imo State, Tochukwu Egbelu, aka black face, and Enyia Iwu, aka Sparrow, by operatives deployed by the state police command to the Assa, Obile and Awarra communities of Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area brought unspeakable joy and much needed relief to the traumatised villagers who have been under a siege for years now. According to reports in the media on Friday, October 6, the two suspected criminals, “leaders of the Iceland cult, which had been credited with the killing of over 20 people and the destruction of over 30 houses”, were killed during a shootout in the Nwagbakobi forest in Assa community. The state police commissioner, Chris Ezike, deserves all the accolades because his determination to stamp out crime and criminality in the state has been yielding huge dividends in our communities. Following the success recorded so far in the fight against cultism, violent crimes and banditry in Assa, Obile and Awarra by the police personnel, civil life is gradu-

ally returning to our communities that were hitherto deserted following an orgy of killings and destruction of property by rival cult groups that held the communities hostage for years. Markets, schools and churches that were closed for a long time are being reopened. However, CP Ezike and his men should not rest on their oars until all the suspected criminals arrested so far by the various security agencies, according to media reports, in connection with cult activities in the area are properly investigated and made to face the full weight of the law so as to serve as a deterrent to other deviant elements in the communities. In particular, the 35 suspected kidnappers, cultists and criminals handed over to them by the operatives of the Operation Python Dance Two on Wednesday, October 11, should be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted where found culpable. Besides, the police should not succumb to pressure of any kind or campaign of calumny from any quarters but should take the fight to its logical conclusion. We cannot afford another round of the heinous reign of cultists in our communities. ––Emenike Uzomba, Ohaji, Imo State

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͯͳ˜ Ͱͮͯ͵

INTERNATIONAL

Nationalism versus Regional Integration and the Increasing Quests for Self-reliance and Self-identity

lobal peace and security is gradually, but also increasingly, threatened by one major factor: quest for self-reliance. Self-reliance is one of the first cardinal objectives of severalAfrican countries, which acceded to both national and international sovereignty in the 1960s. The accession to national sovereignty was first preceded by the people’s quest for self-determination. The principle of self-determination was ab initio conceived for the purposes of dependent territories, to liberate them from the clutches of colonial exploitation. Put differently, the people wanted to be independent. With much help from the government and people of the United States, most dependent countries have moved from the level of struggle for self-determination to that of independence and sovereignty. However, the independence and sovereignty of mostAfrican countries constitute a more difficult problem than the various problems under colonial dependency. Bad governance, especially driven by institutional corruption, perversion of justice, political chicanery, ethnic chauvinism, undermining meritocracy, sit-tight presidents and intervention of foreign powers in the day-to-day management ofAfrican countries, has not only militated against development but has also prompted a loss of hope in many countries. Many constituent parts of some countries feel that they are being marginalised, that they are not having their own fair share of government’s developmental allocations, and therefore, have engaged in renewed nationalism. Nationalism necessarily raises other issues: autonomy, which can be limited or full; separation or disintegration, type of federalism to adopt, etc. And true enough, nationalism is also increasingly competing with multilateralism in contemporary international relations. The current general belief of integration experts is that economic growth and development can be faster with regional integration approach. This is one major rationale for the making of the European Economic Community of Six with the signing of Rome Treaty in 1957. Membership of the community has not only increased to 28 but has also led to the restructuring of the economic community into a union following the Maastritch Treaty. For instance, British nationalism has given birth to what is now known in the political integration studies lexicon as Brexit (withdrawal of Britain from the European Union). Scotland is currently struggling to be carved out of the United Kingdom as an independent state. The people of Catalonia have the same objective in Spain. California once threatened to secede from the United States. Here inAfrica, the Casamance province in Senegal remains a recidivist source of insecurity for the Dakarois authorities. The cases of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Movement for theActualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) in Nigeria remind us clearly that there is now nationalism as a concentric circle within other outer concentric circles of nationalism in Nigeria. The IPOB circle is within a larger outer circle, even though the long term objective of the two is the same. The IPOB and the MASSOB circles are located within the Nigerian circle of nationalism that has been generating much of division in the polity, particularly in the area of its management for the purposes of national unity. In this column, it is observed that there has been an evolution from the conception of the principle of self-determination as a dynamic of and guide to decolonisation, and to self-determination as an instrument for secession from existing states. In this regard, secession can be synonymous with rearrangement, and therefore, not necessarily implying withdrawal from being a constitutive part of an existing state. This rearrangement is called ‘restructuring’ in Nigeria. The proponents of restructuring want a review of the derivation formula, power structure in which more powers will be given to the constitutive states of Nigeria. More importantly, they want some other critical issues promptly addressed. They include the questions of land tenure system; form of government, especially in terms of whether it would be better to return to regionalism and parliamentarianism as it was in the 1960s with possible adaptations to respond to contemporary challenges or to evolve a true federal system; the problems of states creation, particularly in the light of the insolvency of many of the existing states and quests for six geo-political zones; fiscal federalism and revenue allocation. Basically, the apostles of restructuring posit that the federal

VIE INTERNATIONALE with

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

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Buhari

government, or what is also called the centre, is too strong to the detriment of the survival of the member states of Nigeria. They simply want the federal government to be responsible for national currency, national defence and security, with particular emphasis on the need for state police and community police, as well as foreign policy. Again, secession can imply limited or full autonomy, and outright total separation. The Eritrean war with Ethiopia led to the carving out of Eritrea from Ethiopia. The same is true of South Sudan from Sudan. What is particularly noteworthy about the foregoing is that it is increasingly becoming clearer that, for a longer time to come, the state cannot but continue to remain the first and most important unit and stakeholder in international relations. Secondly, the partitioning ofAfrica by fiat à la 1885 Berlin Conference has the great potential of seriously generating violence in the future if we reckon with the reasons often given for the renewed and growing nationalism in Africa. And perhaps most disturbingly, future threats to Nigeria’s national security have a critical character. The threats are more likely to be sub-regionally and regionally driven, with the potential of also being aided and abetted by powerful countries that are friendly with Nigeria. Consequently, Nigeria cannot but need to learn from the experiences of others in the management of quests for autonomy, restructuring and secession.An explication of the cases of Catalonia in Spain, Casamance in Senegal, andAnglophone Cameroon is good enough to draw lessons for Nigeria in the handling of the IPOB and MASSOB saga.

Self-determination Driven Nationalism The cases of nationalism in Catalonia, Casamance andAnglophone Cameroon are recidivist in character. They do not respond to any legal logic or law. The main point of interest for the nationalists is simply their recognition of the need to chart a new future in a particular manner and in the strong belief that sovereignty is theirs. In Spain, for example, Catalonia has been part of Spain for almost 300 years, and yet, the Catalans are still insisting on independence.

And perhaps most disturbingly, future threats to Nigeria’s national security have a critical character.The threats are more likely to be sub-regionally and regionally driven, with the potential of also being aided and abetted by powerful countries that are friendly with Nigeria. Consequently, Nigeria cannot but need to learn from the experiences of others in the management of quests for autonomy, restructuring and secession.An explication of the cases of Catalonia in Spain, Casamance in Senegal, and Anglophone Cameroon is good enough to draw lessons for Nigeria in the handling of the IPOB and MASSOB saga

It should be recalled that the quest for Catalonia’s independence dates back to more than 200 years. There was a time in the 17th Century when Catalonia, was not only an autonomous community, occupying a triangular area in the north eastern corner of Spain, but also the centre of a separatist movement that dominated Spanish affairs at times, There was also the time in 1137 when Catalonia andAragon were united under the same ruler and Catalonia had to monopolise trade in the Western Mediterranean in the 13th and 14th Centuries, as well as “dominated the Union withAragon until 1410, when the male line of the Courts of Barcelona became extinct. More importantly, dissatisfaction in Catalonia developed into a full-scale but unsuccessful rebellion that lasted from 1462 to 1472 As pointed out by Vicente Rodriguez in Encyclopaedia Britannica, “after the marriage of John II’s son, Ferdinand, with Isabella of Castilla (1469) had brought about the unification of Spain, Catalonia became of secondary importance in Spanish affairs. Though it retained its autonomy and Generalitat (Assembly) by the 17th Century, its conflict of interest with Castilla, along with the decline of the Spanish Monarchy’s prestige, ‘led to the first of a series of Catalan separatist movements.’ In fact, Rodriguez further noted, ‘in 1640, Catalonia revolted against Spain and placed itself under the protection of Louis XIII of France, but the revolt was quelled in the 1650s’. Quelling the revolt did not prevent the resurgence of Catalan separatism in the 1850s, especially with the establishment of Renaixenca (Rebirth).Again, by 1913, Catalonia was given a limited autonomy but the legislation that conferred it was repealed in 1925 by Miguel Primo de Riviera, who also fought Catalonia’s nationalism. The hostility of Primo de Riviera prompted the establishment of Esquerra, a left wing coalition party, which not only won the 1931 municipal elections but whose leader had to proclaim a Catalan Republic. This proclamation promptly warranted negotiations by the central government and the adoption in 1932 of a Statute of autonomy. However, the legal autonomy would not last with the coming to power of General Francisco Franco, who related repressively with Catalan. From the foregoing, there is no disputing the fact that the use of force has not in any way suppressed the quest for self-determination, nor prevented the resurgence of Catalan nationalism, even after General Francisco Franco’s death. Limited autonomy was given to Catalonia in September 1977. Two years after, full autonomy was granted with the establishment of theAutonomous Community of Catalonia. In fact, in 2006, Catalonia was not only granted a ‘Nation status’ but was also given the same level of taxation responsibility as the Spanish Central government. Even though the Spanish Constitutional Court ‘struck down portions of this autonomy statute in 2010’ on the premise that the Catalans constituted a “nationality,” but Catalonia was not, itself, a ‘nation’, the Catalonian regional parliament still passed a bill in 2013 calling for a referendum.Artur Mas, the Convergence and Union leader, proposed to hold the referendum on November 9, 2014. The call for a referendum was largely influenced by the Euro-zone crisis and also by the September 2014 Scotland’s referendum on independence from the United Kingdom. The Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, challenged the move and the independence campaign was suspended for the umpteenth time to allow for consideration of the legality of the vote. In spite of this,Artus Mas held the referendum as an informal poll of Catalan opinion. One third of the registered voters participated in it and over 80% of them voted in favour of independence but the Madrid authorities frustrated the outcome.Again in September 2015,Arthur Mas held regional parliamentary elections as a plebiscite on independence, he led the Jungs Pel Si (Together for Yes)Alliance which won 62 of the 135 Seats. He entered into alliance with the Popular Unity candidacy, which won 10 Seats in order to have majority. As usual, Madrid vehemently opposed it for various reasons ranging from the conviction by a Spanish Court in March 2017, of Arthur Mas as Catalan President by the Popular Unity Candidacy, Carles Puigdemont, the Mayor of Giroma, was settled for. Most unfortunately for Madrid, Puigdemont again began to work for independence of Catalonia. He announced in June 2017 that Catalonia would surely hold a binding referendum on October 1, 2017.And true enough, it took place. Prime Minister Rajoy, who described the referendum as a mockery of democracy, responded repressively, but, unfortunately, severely damaging the international image of Spain.And most unfortunately too, the repression involved police assaults on Catalans. The assaults were reported worldwide and are currently attracting much sympathy from the international community. This is an interesting case from which many lessons could be learnt. Use of force or violence can kill people, destroy property but cannot neutralize any will of the people. The people’s will is indestructible. Consequently, it is a matter of: when will the rejection of the people’s will degenerate into guerrilla terrorism over which no individual state has monopoly control or effective defence mechanism? President Muhammadu Buhari must never allow himself or theArmed Forces to be wrapped in the glory of military strength. There is the need for change in the attitudinal disposition of government to the calls for restructuring and agitations for secession. (See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 15, 2017

BUSINESS

Business Editor Vincent Obia Tel: 08054681757 Email: vincent.obia@thisdaylive.com

LAST WEEK Power Sector The federal government plans to review the privatisation of power plants in the country to enable the government restructure their ownership and capacity to deliver value to the people.PresidentMuhammaduBuhari said this at the closing of the 23rd Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja. He said the review would involve the restructuring of the ownership of the power plants to ensure that owners who do not demonstrate sufficient capacity to operate the facilities cede their stakes to new investors. The president said negotiations would soon commence with power generation companies where the country is having the most difficulties in ensuring adequate power supply. Economic Growth A new World Bank report projected a modest one per cent growth for the country’s economy in 2018 against Sub-Saharan Africa’s estimate of 3.2 per cent in 2018 and 3.5 per cent in 2019. The projection was contained in a report in Africa’s Pulse, a biennial analysis of the state of African economies conducted by the World Bank. South Africa, which is the other top economy in the region, is expected to grow about 1.5 per cent. Although the bank said there was nothing wrong with Nigeria’s foreign borrowing plan, it expressed concern that the country’s debt service to revenue ratio was raising sustainability issues capable of negatively impacting efforts to sustain growth in the economy.

Oil workers working on a rig

World Bank: Crude Oil Prices to Average $53/bbl in 2017 Projected average represents 24% increase over 2016 figures Nigeria’s GDP growth expected at 1% this year, 0.2% lower than April forecast Kunle Aderinokun in Washington DC, USA

The World Bank has projected that crude oil prices would average $52-$53 per barrel (bbl) this year- an increase of 24 per cent over 2016 - owing to the strong demands, The Bretton Woods institution which gave the forecast in its October 2017 issue of Africa’s Pulse, one of its publications, noted that while the prices of crude oil had been under downward pressure throughout the year, the prices had recovered. According to the bank, “After dropping to $46 per barrel (bbl) in mid-year amid a rebound in US crude oil production, crude oil prices have recovered. Crude oil prices rose in the third quarter owing to strong demand and improved compliance by Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC producers with production agreements. The World Bank explained that for the next year and beyond, the oil price path will reflect the pace of demand, the degree of decline of stocks, and production restraint among OPEC and non-OPEC producers. It, however, indicated that, the global market was unlikely to tighten significantly because of

ENERGY

large projected increases in US shale production The World Bank Africa’s Pulse, which is an analysis of issues shaping Africa’s economic future, recalled that, “After a marked slowdown in 2016, growth in Sub-Saharan Africa strengthened in 2017, as global activity and trade gained momentum, commodity prices recovered, and global financing conditions remained favourable. Growth in the region”, it added, was expected to “pick up from a two-decade low of 1.3 percent in 2016 to 2.4 per cent in 2017, slightly below the April forecast of 2.6 percent. Crude oil prices rebounded toward the end of 2017 on strengthening demand and falling stocks, and are projected to be 24 per cent higher than in 2016.” The bank alluded to several factors that prevented a stronger recovery in the region in 2017. “Nigeria and South Africa exited recession in the second quarter of 2017 as expected. A recovery in the oil sector, partly due to a decline in militants’ attacks on oil pipelines, helped Nigeria pull out of five consecutive quarters of negative growth but the rebound was softer than expected. Growth in Nigeria in

2017 is now expected to come in at 1.0 per cent, 0.2 percentage point below the forecast in the April 2017 issue of Africa’s Pulse.” Nevertheless, it said, “The increase in oil production was below projections, due to maintenance work, and growth in the non-oil sector has remained subdued.” However, Africa’s Pulse, a report from the Office of the Chief Economist for the Africa Region, acknowledged that, “Currencies in A recovery in the oil sector, partly due to a decline in militants’attacks on oil pipelines, helped Nigeria pull out of five consecutive quarters of negative growth but the rebound was softer than expected

the region have stabilised in real effective terms. In oil exporters, pressures on the exchange rate have eased due to higher oil prices, increased oil production, and a weaker dollar.” However, the spread between the parallel and official rates has persisted in Nigeria and Angola, reflecting continued foreign exchange restrictions, the bank indicated. While in April 2017, the Central Bank of Nigeria introduced a new investor and exporter window,

which has helped improve businesses’ access to foreign exchange, the report also noted that, in Angola, exchange rate controls introduced in the wake of the collapse of oil prices in 2014 had remained in place. It acknowledged that, “The recent increase in export receipts has helped stabilise the level of reserves in the region, although reserves remain low. “The median level of reserves in the region is expected to account for 3 months of imports in 2017, the same as in 2016, but below the peak of 4 months of imports in 2014. In several countries, the level of reserves provided less than one month of imports coverage. “The prospects of stabilising commodity prices, together with financial inflows, should enable commodity exporters to accumulate international reserves, but the low import coverage will weigh on the ability of central banks to continue managing their currencies,” it stated. Stating that, the slowdown in inflation was more gradual in Nigeria, the World Bank Africa’s Pulse said, “Over the same period, consumer price inflation in Nigeria fell from 18.6 to 16 per cent, remaining unchanged at that level for several months.”

Capital Market The volume of shares traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in September dropped by 43.72 per cent, as investors transacted 4.21 billion shares worth N64.79 billion in 64,854 deals. A monthly data obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria from the NSE indicated that this was against a turnover of 7.48 billion shares valued at N198.45 billion achieved in 97,071 deals in August.The Financial Services sector was the toast of investors, accounting for 3.38 billion shares valued at N37.56 billion transacted in 37,103 deals. Consumer Goods came second with a total of 223.42 million shares valued at N18.44 billion traded in 12,103 deals, and Industrial Goods accounted for 213.14 million shares valued at N5.53 billion in 3,362 deals. Maritime Sector The Nigerian Port Authority, acting on a directive by the federal government, terminated the boats pilotage monitoringandsupervisionagreementthat the agency had with Intels Nigeria Limited, a leading integrated logistics and facilities services provider in the maritime and oil and gas logistics sectors of the country. NPA claimed the contract was void ab initio. Intels also said it would resort to arbitration if the decision was not rescinded. Single Tariff Window Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said the proposed single tariff window system by the federal government will curb the high incidence of multiple checkpoints by the Nigerian Customs and Nigerian Ports Authority. “It might not be tomorrow. But, we need to do more to check the problem. We have established the single tariff window process for import and export for Customs through the sea and airport borders. We will be able to see the impact in the next couple of months,” he said while speaking at the first plenary session on “Access to Capital” at the Nigerian Economic Summit, NES 23, which held in Abuja.

Ëœ Ëž OCTOBER 15, 2017

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

Economic Summit Offers New Options for National Devt The 23rd Nigeria Economic Summit (NES) organised by the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) in collaboration with the Ministry of Budget and National Planning ended in Abuja on Thursday with fresh recommendations, which are expected to be integrated into governmentâ€™s development programmes. Ndubuisi Francis reports

ince its inaugural edition in 1993, the Nigeria Economic Summit (NES) has become the undisputed platform to harness and share ideas for national development. In recent years, recommendations from the NESG-organised summits have become ready tools to support the government in national planning. That the annual NES fora have continued to provide veritable platforms for the pubic and private sector players to interface, dissect socio-economic challenges and proffer solutions to advance national development cannot be over-emphasised. The 23rd edition, with the theme, â€œOpportunities, Productivity & Empowerment: Actualising the Economic Recovery and Growth Planâ€?, which ended in Abuja on Thursday recorded three days of intense sessions from top public and private sector players traversing every sectoral groups. Among several recommendations, which the 23rd NES endorsed, the federal government has promised to implement. Part of the recommendations is the establishment of a research data bank for indigenous patents and products, the harmonisation of the 14 critical bills that have already been passed and transmission thereof to the president for assent. Also recommended was the imperative for increased involvement of members of the private sector in Legislative Reformed activities through increased participation in the 10 working groups of NASSBER. The summit equally called for the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Nigerian Governorsâ€™Forum (NGF) and NESG to create a collaborative framework that will promote sub-national economic competitiveness and ease of doing business. The summit saw the need to reduce the complexity and cost of securing CertiďŹ cates of Occupancy (CofO) and increased funding to universities, research-based organisations on seeds development. The 23rd NES event rolled off the ground with a welcome address by the Chairman, NESG, Mr Kyari Bukar, who recalled the recommendations and outcomes of last yearâ€™s edition, including the call for strategies that promote inclusive growth and thus higher levels of local production and consumption. According to him, one of the key points from last yearâ€™s NES was the consensus by participants for government to craft a clear and comprehensive framework for economic diversiďŹ cation, which the federal government responded to by articulating the four-year Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) which formed the focus of this yearâ€™s summit. Mr. Bukar also highlighted some of the current activities of the NESG, including its work with NASSBER on legislation deliberations, working with the National Assembly to review acts through the 10 policy commissions, among other activities. In his opening remarks, the Minister of Budget and Planning, Senator Udoma Udo alluded to the current administrationâ€™s commitment to working with the private sector in achieving the goal of restructuring the Nigerian economy. While applauding the NESG for providing the platform for engagement between the public and private sectors to improve their working relationships, he acknowledged the governmentâ€™s acceptance of the private sector as partners. Udoma, who endorsed the choice of the theme of this yearâ€™s summit stated that with the ERGP, the government aims to achieve buoyant economy, providing maximum welfare for all citizens. The goal, he said, was to begin with a growth rate of 7 per cent by 2020 and thereafter continue on that trajectory, ultimately reaching 10 per cent in succeeding years. He acknowledged the concerns over the proper

L-R: Director General Electric, Mr. John Rice; Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Mr. Tony Elumelu; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Moderator Kadara Ahmed discussing during 2017 Economic Summit held at Transcorps Abuja

implementation of the ERGP and assured that the current administration was committed to the faithful implementation of the plan, further supporting the NES23 theme and focus. In his speech, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, said one of the critical things that the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) had proposed to the government in support of the local content initiative was what they described as margins of preference for local content goods. He said:â€œIn order words, what they are saying that if you prefer locally made goods then you must take care of the problems that local content goods have, in order words, they are usually more expensive than the imported made goods, so you have to take care of that by what they call margins of preference.â€? He disclosed that the government was looking at that proposal and the percentage for procurement purposes, adding:â€œBut we do agree with the principle that if we are going to promote local content goods, then we must ďŹ nd ways of preferring them to imported ones and we think that the margins of preference is a sensible way to do so. Osinbajo noted that while the federal government on its part was determined to build a modern economy, its ability to do so was hamstrung by the fact that its annual budgeted expenditure of N7 trillion is only a small part of a multi trillion naira economy. â€œThe private sector is clearly the bigger contributor to the economy. It thus follows that the private sector must be enabled and encouraged to play its decisive role if our development efforts are to succeed,â€? he stated. According to him, the economy has now returned to the path of growth after a continuous slide from 2014, adding: â€œAs is now well known, we exited recession in the second quarter of 2017 with a GDP growth rate of 0.55 per cent while inďŹ‚ation has similarly declined continuously from its peak of about 18 per cent in January 2017 to about 16 per cent today. He also noted that last year, there were concerns about the availability of foreign exchange and a

rapidly deteriorating exchange rate, noting that the situation has been turned around and stabilised. Osinbajo stated that foreign exchange reserves had risen to about $33 billion and end-users have increased access to foreign exchange partly due mainly to increased export earnings and remittances as well as the introduction of a dedicated transparent window for Investors and Exporters (NAFEX). He said:â€œThe results have been encouraging as the inďŹ‚ows of capital in the second quarter of 2017 of about $1.8 billion were almost double the amount of $908 million imported in the ďŹ rst quarter of the year The VP also spoke about the ease of doing business initiative, saying it was a key achievement for the government since last yearâ€™s NES. With the initiative. Osinbajo noted that so much efforts had been committed to improving the business environment, including registration of business, obtaining construction permits, fostering trade across borders, and the visa-on-arrival process that has been quite effective. Other key achievements, he noted, included investment in railway to ease transportation of agriculture products across the country and the commencement of the presidential quarterly business forum where key issues that affect the

private sector are discussed with private sector stakeholders. Actions Towards Economic Revitalisation/ Growth The summit plenary commenced with a panel discussion, which centered around aspects of the economy and the governmentâ€™s actions towards revitalidation. Among the panelists were the Vice President, Prof.Yemi Osinbajo; Chairman, Heirs Holdings, Mr. Tony Elumelu, and Mr. John Rice,Vice Chairman, General Electric (GE). It was moderated by Ms. Kadaria Ahmed, Director, Daria Media. Osinbajo stated that the current administration rechanneling emphasis from resources dependence to productivity. According to him, governmentâ€™s focus was on driving productivity in agriculture and manufacturing, and had made progress in infrastructure and investment, especially in railways. The administration, he observed, is driving productivity through the passage of executive orders for government agencies to deliver on mandates. See concluding part on www. thisdaylive.com

RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SUMMIT r&TUBCMJTINFOU PG B SFTFBSDI EBUB CBOL GPS JOEJHFOPVT QBUFOUT BOE QSPEVDUT r)BSNPOJTBUJPO PG UIF DSJUJDBM CJMMT UIBU IBWF BMSFBEZ CFFO QBTTFE BOE USBOTNJTTJPO thereof to the President for assent r*ODSFBBTFE JOWPMWFNFOU PG NFNCFST PG UIF QSJWBUF TFDUPS JO MFHJTMBUJWF SFGPSNFE BDUJWJUJFT UISPVHI JODSFBTFE QBSUJDJQBUJPO JO UIF XPSLJOH HSPVQ PG /"44#&3 r*NQMFNFOUBUJPO PG UIF .FNPSBOEVN PG 6OEFSTUBOEJOH TJHOFE CFUXFFO UIF /JHFSJBO (PWFSOPST 'PSVN /(' BOE UIF /&4( UP DSFBUF DPMMBCPSBUJWF GSBNFXPSL r(PWFSONFOU TIPVME TUPQ EJSFDU QSPWJTJPO PG DBQJUBM CVU SBUIFS HJWF DSFEJU HVBSBOUFFT through development finance institutions. r(PWFSONFOU TIPVME DPOEVDU UIF NBSHJOBM Ă FME CJE SPVOE XJUI USBOTQBSFODZ UISPVHI diligence on bidders. r/FFE UP BDDFMFSBUF JOWFTUNFOU JO HBT BOE SFOFXBCMF FOFSHZ CZ QSPWJEJOH Ă TDBM JODFOUJWFT r5IF .JOJTUSZ PG #VEHFU BOE /BUJPOBM 1MBOOJOH XBT BTLFE UP FOTVSF UIF UBLF PGG PG TFDUPS GPDVTFE .BMBZTJB TUZMFE MBCT

Ëœ Ëž OCTOBER 15, 2017

BUSINESS/MONEY

As CBNâ€™s FX Teller Points Ultimatum Expiresâ€Ś Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) directing Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) to open teller points for retail FX transactions as well as electronic display boards in their banking halls, or risk sanctions expired Friday, will the apex bank bare its fangs on defaulting banks? Ndubuisi Francis asks

Customers transacting business in a banking hall

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had on March 3, 2017 issued a directive to banks, instructing them to, among other things, open teller points for retail forex transactions and to have electronic display boards in all their branches, showing rates of all trading currencies. The CBN had said the directive was a reafďŹ rmation of its willingness, capability and determination to meet foreign exchange demand in the market. Over six months after the directive was issued by the apex bank, compliance appeared to have been largely observed in the breach, prompting the CBN to come up with a four-week ultimatum and threat of sanctions for likely offenders. A circular issued by the CBN warned that it would mete out stiff regulatory sanctions to banks that fail to comply fully with the directive by October 13, 2017. The circular signed by the Director, Banking Supervision, Ahmad Abdullahi, stressed that the bank would bar erring DMBs from all future CBN foreign exchange interventions, at the expiration of the ultimatum. In March when it directed banks and authorised dealers to open teller points for retail FX transactions (PTA/BTA and SME), including buying and selling, in all locations in order to ensure access to foreign exchange by their customers and other users, without any hindrance, the apex bank did not come up with threat of any sanctions. However, poor compliance by banks elicited CBNâ€™s recent ultimatum, which ended on

Friday. A visit to a number of banks in Abuja, to assess the level of compliance to the directive, showed that most of them had already created special points for forex transactions as well as electronic display boards to show current FX rates. However, banksâ€™ branches visited around AYA in the Asokoro area of Abuja showed that although most of them had electronic monitors for rates, some posted insufďŹ cient information on the rates. For instance, while some of them displayed only their selling rates, there was no information on the buying rates, just as others displayed the rate they buy and not selling rate. THISDAY further observed that most of the banking halls visited had only a few customers conducting FX transactions. Reacting to the CBN directive, Associate Professor of Finance and Head of Deparyment (HOD), Department of Banking and Finance, Nasarawa State University, KefďŹ , Dr. Uche Uwaleke, said the apex bankâ€™s move was in order. He recalled that the essence of the directive to open teller points for retail FX transactions as well as electronic display boards in their banking halls was to ensure thĂĄt end-users have access to FX. â€œOf course, the reason for CBNâ€™s directive is to ensure access to forex. Thereâ€™s no doubt that there is improved liquidity since April due to accretion in the foreign reserves. â€œ Unfortunately, the banks are not helping matters. Having a number of teller points will improve access and reduce complaints

by costumers, who ďŹ nd it difďŹ cult to access forex,â€? Uwaleke said. He recalled that the CBN ďŹ rst issued the directive in March but was largely ignored by the banks. Uwaleke said he was fully in support of the CBN visiting sanctions on errant banks at the end of the ultimatum, noting it was not enough to talk tough. He said the CBN should walk the talk at the end of the ultimatum, adding that besides the issue of teller points, a whole lot of problems associated with corporate governance among the banks should be addressed.

The circular signed by the Director, Banking Supervision, Ahmad Abdullahi, stressed that the bank would bar erring DMBs from all future CBN foreign exchange interventions, at the expiration of the ultimatum

â€œThe CBN should go beyond the threats of sanctions on those who are culpable. It should walk the talk,â€? Uwaleke said. The CBN had on March 3, 2017 directed banks and authorised dealers to open teller points for retail FX transactions (PTA/BTA and SME) including buying and selling, in all locations in order to ensure access to foreign exchange by their customers and other users, without any hindrance. The March 2017 circular also directed DMBs to have electronic display boards in all their branches, showing rates of all trading currencies, which it urged customers to insist on in processing their foreign exchange transactions for invisibles and the SMEs window. While noting that the objective was aimed at creating awareness among members of the public regarding the availability of such facilities in branches of the banks at clearly disclosed prices, the CBN frowned on the banks for not fully complying with its directives. Accordingly, the CBN on September 12 issued a month-long ultimatum to defaulting banks which elapsed on Friday, October 13, 2017, to fully comply with its directives or face regulatory sanctions. Such sanctions, it noted, include but not limited to being barred from all future CBN foreign exchange interventions. THISDAY investigations show that most banks visited in Abuja had substantially complied with the CBN directive. However, what is not clear is whether this is a true reďŹ‚ection of all the banksâ€™ branches across the length and breadth of the country. Will the CBN dish out appropriate sanctions should there be defaulters?

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 15, 2017

BUSINESS INTERVIEW

Adio

Adio: Nigeria Does Not Have Independently Veriﬁable Metering Infrastructure for Oil Production Figures The Nigeria’s extractive industry, over the years, has not been able to deliver the benefits to the people deservedly, owing to its opacity and corruption. However, the advent of NEITI has changed the narrative, opening up the industry and enforcing disclosures, but a lot of grounds still need to be covered. The NEITI Executive Secretary, Mr. Waziri Adio, who speaks with Kunle Aderinokun, addresses issues bordering on accurate volume of the country’s crude production, transparency in the operations of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the perennial non-remittance of monies by the corporation to the treasury as well as sanitising the solid minerals sector

here is a common notion and it has become a worrisome fact that Nigeria does not know how much crude or the accurate figures of crude that is pumped; it’s even more worrisome that the IOCs are the ones giving whatever figures that are out there as the official figures because they’re the ones that have

the instruments for measurement - they dictate to DPR what the ﬁgures are. Is NEITI not worried that the federal government does not have control over the amount of crude that is pumped? Has NEITI ascertained the correct ﬁgures? This is an issue that should bother all Nigerians, not just NEITI. And this is not simply because of the right, the need and the duty to know, but

more because of the wider revenue, welfare and security implications. The very first NEITI audit report flagged this issue. The NEITI audit report for 1999 to 2004 stated unequivocally that, Nigeria knew only the volume of oil it was selling, not the exact volume it was producing, that we did not have a comprehensive and independently verifiable metering infrastructure in place, that we depended only on the say-so of the operators

for our production figures. More than a decade after that first report was released, and despite that NEITI consistently flags this issue in report after report, nothing much has changed. At some point, DPR said it had ordered operators to install multi-phased meters not just at the point of custody transfer and at the terminals but also at the well-heads and the flow-stations. That is yet to be done. The operators always say they

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 15, 2017

BUSINESS INTERVIEW

Adio: Nigeria Does Not Have Independently Veriﬁable Metering Infrastructure for Oil Production Figures Cont’d from Pg. 20 are ready once government decides on how to proceed and the issue of how to handle the cost is sorted. We believe them. So the government, as the sovereign, should decide on what next. We are losing a lot to theft and vandalism. According to NEITI audit reports, the value of federation share of crude oil lost to theft and deferred production on account of sabotage was $16.7 billion between 2009 and 2013. As I have said repeatedly, these are losses at almost industrial scale. Imagine the difference that the money could make to all tiers of government and to welfare of citizens. Imagine also the security implications for the country. The House of Representatives is investigating an issue of stolen crude amounting to over $17 billion between 2011 and 2013. This is the value of the discrepancies between what vessels declare to our authorities here and what they declare as originating from Nigeria at their destinations. So we need to sort out not just the issue of metering but also effective monitoring of our oil assets from end-to-end. I am sure you have seen that CBS clip of the command centre of Saudi Arabia’s ARAMCO where they can monitor and account for every drop of crude oil in their country. There is no point why we should not have such. NEITI is doing a comprehensive study on this metering issue. We will continue to talk about it until action is taken. But this is an issue for all Nigerians, not just for NEITI alone.

Over the years, there were cases of missing billions of Naira in crude oil revenues that came in through NNPC as a result of discrepancies in the ﬁgures between the corporation and Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission and later between the corporation and the CBN led by the former governor, now Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. Have these discrepancies been resolved? Is NEITI on the same page with NNPC in terms of oil revenue accruing to the treasury? Our work is actually about ensuring there are no discrepancies between payments by companies and receipts by government. If you have followed our more than dozen audit reports, you will notice massive improvement in level of discrepancies. But this does not mean there are no outstanding issues. You will recollect that we published a policy brief in March on monies unremitted or owed by NNPC and its subsidiaries, particularly NPDC, totaling $21.8 billion and N316billion. We published the breakdown, ranging from NLNG dividends of $15.8 billion between 2000 and 2014, the consideration for 12 federation assets divested to NPDC from the Shell JV and the NAOC JV, NPDC’s legacy liabilities, refund of cash-calls mistakenly paid on divested assets, and outstanding refund from domestic crude sales. We are aware that some people in NNPC are not happy that we are raising these issues. But our job is not to make people happy. We have been accused of naivety by and obsession with NNPC. But it is not about us or even about the people attacking us. By the way, such attacks go with the terrain. Attacks on NEITI used to be more pronounced, more direct, and more aggressive because they knew they had political cover. As I was saying, we need to focus on what this is about. It is about our country and our common wealth. It is about doing right by our country and our compatriots. It is about ensuring that things are done properly. It is not personal and should not be personalised. Some of these issues are legacy issues; they did not happen under the current management of NNPC. But an institution is a continuum. We need to come to closure on the outstanding issues and ensure that we

Adio… the value of federation share of crude oil lost to theft and deferred production on account of sabotage was $16.7 billion between 2009 and 2013 have a robust mechanism to prevent relapse. It is possible some issues have been addressed, that some refunds already made. It is possible we are not right in every material particular. We look forward to sitting down with the affected agencies to iron out the issues. The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has offered to get all the parties to sit to look at all the issues. We thank him for the initiative and we look forward not just to the meeting but also to a comprehensive resolution of the issues. Our job is to resolve issues. We also think the onus is on those managing public resources to give account publicly. NNPC has started doing that, and we have commended them for it. We look forward to the day our reports will not have question marks about past or present issues in NNPC. But until then, I am sorry, we cannot look the other way.

It is also good that an attempt is being made to address the issues around cash-calls. But on both DSDP and the reported cash-call exit, there is need for more information about the details of these arrangements. Without enough details, it is difficult to comment on these issues in an informed manner. But having said that, we are impressed with NNPC’s monthly disclosures. The same NNPC that used to be the very definition of opacity is opening up, doing pro-active disclosure and on a monthly basis, and is even far ahead of us in terms of period covered. We welcome that. But we also call on Nigerians to take more interests in the disclosures and interrogate the data. We did a joint report with BudgIT on a year of NNPC’s disclosures. BudgIT also tracks the disclosures month to month. We need to encourage NNPC to do more by giving them feedback on the disclosures and showing there is active demand for that important stream of work.

Could you rate the transparency levels of the NNPC in its transactions and operations - DSDP, JV cash call exit, etc? Have they met certain transparency marks you expect?

Is NEITI involved in any of the oil sectorrelated probes and prosecutions, and to what extent, if at all?

As I said earlier, there is a new spirit in NNPC. They open up more. They cooperate more. They engage more. You could also sense an attempt to take corrective measures. The DSDP, direct sales direct purchase, was introduced to address the opacity and losses around Offshore Processing Arrangements (OPA) and Product for Oil Swap. NEITI’s 2013 audit report showed that Nigeria lost $518 million to OPA and SWAP. So it is good that DSDP has been introduced to address such uneconomical arrangements that we got into because of the state of our refineries.

Yes, to a large extent. We have been approached for invitation and interpretation by both the executive and the legislative arms. In fact, we are constantly deluged with requests by the National Assembly. We spend a significant amount of time responding to their requests or appearing before them. We welcome this. We need the legislative arm to be more engaged to be able to perform its oversight, legislative and representative functions better. Also, we are consulted for information and clarifications on most of the prosecutions going on around issues in the oil and gas sector.

The NEITI audit report for 1999 to 2004 stated unequivocally that, Nigeria knew only the volume of oil it was selling, not the exact volume it was producing, that we did not have a comprehensive and independently verifiable metering infrastructure in place, that we depended only on the say-so of the operators for our production figures. More than a decade after that first report was released, and despite that NEITI consistently flags this issue in report after report, nothing much has changed. At some point, DPR said it had ordered operators to install multi-phased meters not just at the point of custody transfer and at the terminals but also at the well-heads and the flow-stations. That is yet to be done.

NEITI has in addition to its annual audit reports, included quarterly reports of extractive industries expenditure and earnings - these are lots of information, yet the industry is still challenged with transparency as recently conﬁrmed by Minister Ibe Kachikwu. Are you bothered about this? Yes, we are. But we also have to acknowledge that there is a sense of progress. We would love the changes to be faster and better institutionalised. It also depends on your preferred mode of change. Do you subscribe to the big-bang theory or to the incremental theory? I think it will be unrealistic to think the desired state will come overnight. And if it happens overnight, it is probably not sustainable. At the same time, if you opt for the gradualist approach, you need to ensure that you are building on and sustaining the gains. Change is going to be a work in progress, but you need to ensure that there is both work and progress. To go back to your question, it is precisely because we have not had as much progress as we want that we asked ourselves what we need to do differently and what new things to take on board. We have a new strategic plan now. And as part of that plan, we made the deliberate decision to play more in the policy space. That is why we have introduced the quarterly review that you mentioned but also the policy brief and the occasional paper series. We still do our audits. But in addition to the audits, we have created these three policy instruments that allow us to focus on critical issues around prudent, optimal and accountable use of our extractive resources.

There is still a lot of work to do in accounting for operations in the solid minerals sector, NEITI seems not very upbeat on this, and this is a sector that is easily accessible to average Nigerians. Why is this so? Are you lacking capacity for proper accounting for the sector? We have actually been focusing on the solid minerals sector. We have done five audit reports on solid minerals. We usually present the reports together with the oil and gas reports. It is understandable if people miss them because of the amount of money involved and the low contribution of the sector. We have always advocated that Nigeria should focus more on the solid minerals sector because of the potential of the sector for job and wealth creation and diversification of our export, revenue and forex base. We have always made recommendations about what needs to be done

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 15, 2017

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun

Minister for Budget and Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma

Will Timely Submission, Quick Passage End Cycle of Low Budget Performance? The inability of the federal government to fully implement its annual budgets is cause for much concern, as delay in the passage of appropriation bills and the signing of such bills into law have become despairing attributes of the budgeting process. Vincent Obia reports

he Senate is worried. With less than three months to the end of the year, only about 14 per cent of the N2.177 trillion capital component of the 2017 budget has been released by the executive. The 2017 budget of N7.441 trillion was signed into law by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo – then acting president – on June 12. The legislators are “concerned that since the 2017 budget was assented to by the president, about N310 billion has been released by the federal government to ministries, departments and agencies as funding for capital projects, which is far too low to stimulate the economy to address our present economic challenges,”according to a motion passed by the upper chamber on September 26. The motion sponsored by Senator Gbenga Ashafa, who represents Lagos East on the platform of All Progressives Congress, and six others, also says the Senate is, “Worried that the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, in line with the prevalent concern of financial analysts, stated during the Monetary Policy Committee meeting of the bank, which took place on 25th July, 2017, that ‘the government needs to move quickly to start capital expenditure spending as contained in the 2017 budget to reflate the economy in a way that will impact Nigerians positively’.” Dilemma The federal government seems to underscore the challenge of budget implementation with its recent pronouncements. Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, highlighted the problem recently when she announced plans by the government to rollover about 60 per cent of the capital projects in the 2017 budget to next year’s budget. “We had a rollover from the 2016 to the 2017 budget,”Adeosun told the Senate Joint Committees on Finance and Appropriation on October 3.“There was no stoppage in terms of capital spent as projects simply continued.” She said,“The way in which we allocated the fund, the priotisation was according to the objectives of the economy and growth plan. We were focused on project completion. So we priotised projects

that were nearer to completion, that were critical in the first releases of capital. “We need more of your support. We have a number of resolutions that we need to complete international borrowings.” Economic progress on all fronts in the country has been hampered by poor budget performance. Since the beginning of the Fourth Republic in 1999, the average performance of national budgets has remained below 50 per cent. There seems to be no end in sight to the problem of poor budget implementation. Successive administrations have taken various steps to try to implement their budgets. But there has not been an effective strategy to fix the terrible shortfalls in budget execution. Hamstrung by Rollover In the 2017 second quarter and mid-year budget implementation report published by the Budget Office of the Federation, the government said it delivered over 1.2 trillion in capital budget in 2016. It said this significantly contributed to the country’s exit from recession with a real GDP of 0.55 per cent in the second quarter of 2017, after five consecutive negative growths. According to the report, “The sustenance and strengthening of these reform initiatives is therefore the driving force of the 2017 budget implementation.” The government has upped attention to capital expenditure. But there are fears that the poor release of funds for capital projects and the adverse effect on economic activities may result in the country’s return to recession. The government said it faced difficulties in the implementation of the 2017 budget in the second quarter mainly due to the extension of the 2016 capital budget to May 5, 2017,“effectively halting execution of the 2017 capital budget in the first half of the fiscal year. The execution of the 2017 budget was also adversely impacted by the late passage of the budget as well as the shortfall in expected oil and non-oil revenue receipts.” The rollover of capital projects to the next year’s budget has been largely caused by the late commencement of the budget year. This is a function of the late submission of the Appropriation Bill

to the National Assembly by the executive and the subsequent late passage of the budget by the federal legislature. The Nigerian constitution defines a financial year as,“Any period of 12 months beginning on the first day of January in any year or such other date as the National Assembly may prescribe.” By this provision, the budget year is expected to run from January 1 to December 31, but it may be adjusted to any other period, as long as it runs for 12 months. Records show that except in 2001 and 2007, when the budgets were passed before January 1, the country has seen a tradition of late submission and late passage of budgets since the Fourth Republic. The budget submission and assent period has run from October to July. Even when budgets are submitted before January 1, the processes of passage and assent have dragged on for between two and six months. Poor Budget Formulation Experts have attributed the weak capacity of government to implement its budgets to various

The government has upped attention to capital expenditure. But there are fears that the poor release of funds for capital projects and the adverse effect on economic activities may result in the country’s return to recession

causes, principally, sloppy budget formulation, especially, lack of credible income projections; extra-budgetary spending; inconsistency in actual and reported expenditure; and corruption and diversion of funds. The President Muhammadu Buhari government has placed a lot of emphasis on capital expenditure since coming to power in May 2015. In the 2016 budget, capital expenditure increased from N557 billion in the 2015 budget to N1.8 trillion, taking 30 per cent of the 2016 budget. Capital expenditure took 29 per cent of the 2017 budget. Both cases represent the biggest allocations to capital spending the country has seen in several years. But only about 40 per cent of the 2016 budget was actually implemented. New Borrowing In an attempt to improve the performance of the 2017 budget, the president has asked the Senate to approve a loan of $5.5 billion to fund the budget. The 2017 budget has a deficit of N2. 356 trillion, with a projected quarterly fiscal deficit of 589.19 billion, to be financed through privatisation proceeds ( 2.50 billion), foreign borrowing ( 266.88 billion), domestic borrowing (FGN Bond of 313.57 billion), and sale of government properties ( 6.25 billion). “However, none of the financing items materialised in the second quarter of 2017,” according to the Budget Office of the Federation. Buhari’s letter to the Senate, which was read at Tuesday’s plenary by Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said,“Accordingly, the Senate is requested to kindly approve the following external borrowings: Issuance of $2.5 billion in International Capital Market through Eurobonds or a combination of Eurobonds and Diaspora bonds for the financing of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s 2017 Appropriation Act and capital expenditure projects in the Act. “Issuance of Eurobond in the ICM and/or loans syndication by the banks in the sum of $3 billion for refinancing of maturing domestic debts obligations of the Federal Government of Nigeria, while looking forward to the timely approval of the National Assembly to enable Nigerians to take advantage of these opportunities for funding.” The National Assembly is still considering the

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 15, 2017

BUSINESS/ECONOMY/BUSINESS INTERVIEW

Will Timely Submission, Quick Passage End Cycle of Low Budget Performance?

Cont’d from Pg. 22

president’s loan request. The Buhari government has done a lot of borrowing in the last two years in what it explains to be an effort to execute its infrastructural and economic recovery programmes.The National Bureau of Statistics said last month that Nigeria’s total domestic and foreign debt stocks as at June 30 was about $15.1 billion and N14.1 trillion, respectively. The total foreign debt profile of the federal and the 36 states governments and the Federal Capital Territory rose from $10.718 billion in 2015, to $11.406 billion in 2016, and $15.047 billion in 2017. The federal government accounts for $11.106 billion (about 74 per cent) of the current total figure of $15.047 billion, while the 36 states of the federation and the FCT owe $3.94 billion, or about 26 per cent. The federal and state governments’shares of the debt stock grew from $7.349 billion and $3.369 billion in 2015, to $7.84 billion and $3.568 billion in 2016, and $3.94 billion and $11.106 billion in 2017, respectively. There have been reservations about the rationality of the government borrowings, especially considering recent increments in the excess revenue (crude) account, with crude oil sales above the budget benchmark price of $44.5 per barrel, as well as rise in tax revenues and other revenue sources. Need for Effective Strategy The federal government blames the poor implementation of its budgets on revenue shortfalls. But experts say the problem is not so much the lack of funds as sloppy budget formulation. “A budget is not a public relations statement,” says Professor Pat Utomi, a professor of political economy and former presidential candidate. “A budget is a document that matches resources to targeted goals. If you say the problem is resources, it means that you didn’t have a budget. A budget must have where the resource is coming from and where it is going to.You cannot project what you are going to do without the resources. You can’t call that a budget, that is a joke.” To overcome the effect of uncertainty in revenue sources, which is often adduced to explain the poor implementation of government budgets in the country, Utomi recommends the zero-based budgeting method. Under the current incremental budget approach in the country, the budget is prepared using a previous year’s budget or its actual performance as basis, with incremental amounts added for the new budget. But zero-based budgeting justifies all expenses for each new budget year starting from a zero base. t analyses every item for its needs and costs and

then builds the budget around the needs for the forthcoming year, irrespective of whether the new budget is higher or lower than the previous one. In September 2015, during a courtesy visit by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was quoted as saying that the government was planning to adopt the zero-based budgeting format for the 2016 budget to overcome the lapses of incremental budgeting. It is hard to determine how far that intention was pursued. Related to the zero-budgeting strategy, according to Utomi, is the “repetitive budgeting” method

recommended by Naomi Caiden and Aaron Wildadavski in their book, Planning and Budgeting in Poor Countries. Here, countries are advised to deploy resources to their budgets as they come in, so that periodically, within the budget year, the budget is revised according to the availability of resources. It does seem Nigeria needs to move away from the current incremental budgeting method to a more effective budgeting strategy that would help to eliminate the recurrent problem of poor budget implementation.

Stakeholders Involvement Utomi also advocates involvement of critical stakeholders in the entire budget making process. “In recent times, there is a team they are putting together to work out of the office of the national planning minister to drive the economic recovery programme implementation. I think that is the way to go,”Utomi says. “However, ministers need to be educated to give room for their senior special assistants to help in the coordination, monitoring, and mobilisation of stakeholders for the attainment of the goals that have been set.”

NEITI’s Job is Not to Make People Happy, but to Do the Right Thing

Cont’d from Pg. 21

to clean up and open up the mining sector. It may interest you that the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, is the chairman of the NEITI board. The ministry has a roadmap for the development of the mining sector and some of the inputs came from our reports/ recommendations. We are aware of and happy with efforts by the ministry to have a one-stop regulatory commission for the sector, de-risk mining, provide accurate geological data, build a portal that can be accessed all over the world, provide incentives for operators, states and host communities, encouraging processing and value addition, improving security and aggressively marketing Nigeria as viable mining destination.

We work well with other government agencies under different platforms. I will mention two: the Inter-Ministerial Task Team (IMTT) and the Inter-Agency Task Team (IATT). The IMTT is the platform for remedying the institutional gaps highlighted in our audits; while the IATT is coordinating platform for all agencies that have something to do with anti-corruption. We coordinate IMTT and serve as the secretariat of IATT. We engage with state governments on a case-by-case basis. But we are also working with the Nigeria Governors Forum on issues of common interests.

The NEITI Act gives certain room for prosecutive actions for economic sabotage, how far have you explored this?

NEITI is the Nigerian chapter of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a coalition of governments, companies and civil society groups for the promotion of prudent, transparent and accountable management of extractive resources. Nigeria joined EITI in 2003 and we started implementation in 2004. Nigeria is seen as one of the leading countries among the 51 EITI-implementing countries that include the US, UK and Germany. Nigeria actually won the best EITI implementing country in 2013. Many countries have come to Nigeria to understudy our EITI implementation. But we are not resting on our oars. We still have a lot of work to do. We joined EITI to ensure that we use our natural resources more prudently, avoid the negative dimensions of resource dependence, which is widely known as resource curse, and ensure that the generality of our people benefit from these resources. So it is not a public relations stunt. So until we are all able to work together using EITI as one of the instruments to bring about shared and sustainable prosperity to Nigerians, our work is not done.

The NEITI Act criminalises certain offences. But they are mostly around not giving us accurate information or not giving us such information on time. There are fines and prison terms. But the law did not give us prosecutorial powers. That’s why we are sometimes called toothless bulldog; that we can only bark and not bite. We have been trying to amend the Act to address this and other issues. As part of that process, we will soon hold a roundtable on 10 years of the NEITI Act. We will look at what we need to add, delete or reword. But power to prosecute is not everything. We also have the power to persuade, to engage and, some will not like this, to name and shame. These are soft powers, but they can be as potent, or even more potent, that the hard power. Recently, we introduced a public ranking of companies and government entities in terms of the timeliness and completeness of their template submission. We could have threatened them. We could have even taken them to court but the matter

What is the place of NEITI in the global EITI?

Adio could be tied up in court forever. Besides the fact that there is no predetermined outcome, some of these entities are better resourced than we are. So what did we do then? We took them to the court of public opinion, providing implicit incentives and sanctions for compliance. You need to see the reaction. Next time we ask for information and give a deadline, I can assure you we will have a better response as those that came tops will want to remain on top and those who fell behind would want to do better. Sometimes, you

might not be as powerless as you think, especially if you have clever way of impacting reputation and potentially bottom-line. Another power that we have is the power of partnership. Since we cannot bite, we look for those who can bite. So we are partnering EFCC and others to see how they can use our outputs as inputs for their work.

How is the cooperation and coordination between NEITI and inter-government agencies/ natural resources-rich state governments?

Ëœ Ëž OCTOBER 15, 2017

BUSINESS/MARITIME

Understanding NPAâ€™s Termination of Intelsâ€™ Contract Following the dust raised by last weekâ€™s decision of the Federal Government to terminate the boats pilotage monitoring and supervision agreement that the Nigerian Ports Authority had with Intels Nigeria Limited, Eromosele Abiodun looks at the issues that led to the decision. Olaseni Durojaiye provides additional report

hortly after the current Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms. Hadiza BalaUsman, was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari, petitions began to ďŹ‚ood her desk against Intels Nigeria Limited. Some of them were written by Intels competitors who claimed Intels collaborated with ofďŹ cials of the NPA and Federal Ministry of Transportation to run them out of business. They accused Intels of being a monopoly and demanded that Bala-Usman review existing contracts so as to give all operators a level playing ďŹ eld. While the NPA under Bala-Usman was yet to meet the demand of Intelsâ€™ competitors, another challenge - ďŹ nance - drove the Bala-Usman led management to begin to search for leakages to plug. Given the barrage of complaints against Intels, the NPA decided to investigate contracts with the company and at the end concluded that there were infractions. As a result, the NPA in early February this year wrote a letter to Intels, threatening to sanction the company for failing to fully comply with the Treasury Single Account (TSA) while keeping $68,499, 838 (N20.892 billion) NPA money in its custody. In a bid to ďŹ ght back, Intels wrote a letter to the Chairman Senate Committee on Marine Transport, claiming that the NPA owes it a whooping sum of $840 million out of the $1.29 billion (N395.20 billion) revenue it collected for the agency from January 2010 to September 30, 2016. For those who donâ€™t know, Intels is a terminal operator and concessionaire of Onne Port, Rivers State. To ensure safe passage of ships within Nigeriaâ€™s seaports, the NPA, through Intels as its agent, provides pilotage services to guide ships into and out of the ports. The rule of thumb in the maritime industry is that pilotage must be compulsory for all ships of 35 metres overall length or greater unless a valid Pilotage Exemption CertiďŹ cate is held by the ship master. In return for the service, ship owners/companies are required to pay a pilotage fee, which Intels collects on NPAâ€™s behalf. More Allegations In its reply to Intels letter to the House Committee, the NPA claimed that the jointly reconciled service boat revenue collected by Intels for the period from January 2010 to September 30, 2016 was $1.25 billion. In addition, it said the sum of $41.039 million being revenue for the period October to December 2016 had yet to be reconciled, bringing the total revenue for the period of January 2010 to December 2016 to $1.295 billion. During the same period, it said Intels remitted a total sum of $343.35 million from service boats revenue collection to the NPA, representing 27 per cent of total service boats revenue collected by Intels on behalf of the NPA. The NPA added that the total agency commission to Intels computed in line with executed agreements was $353.066 million (N107.685 billion). This amount, it added, was deemed to have been deducted electronically from service boats revenue by Intels in accordance with subsisting agreement, still credit notes were issued to regularise the deductions. The NPA claimed Intels was indebted to it in Onne and Warri Ports in respect to rents, lease and throughput fees. The debt, the NPA revealed, was computed to the sum of $1.03 million (N316.60 million) for lease and throughput fees while debt owed by Intels in respect to rent at Onne was put at N3.343 billion. NPA added that its only exposure to Intels was limited to the portion of projects costs not yet amortised which is the sum of $682.4 million. â€œThis exposure, upon payment does not involve any cash outďŹ‚ow from the Nigerian Ports Authority,â€œ it stated. Competent sources told THISDAY that the executed agreement between NPA and Intels provides that the contractor executing various projects shall source funds for the purpose of implementing the projects. â€œIt was on this recognition that the agreement provides for a ďŹ nance cost computed at 180 days plus 6 per cent LIBOR and 180 days plus 6.5 per cent LIBOR for some of the projects, â€œa source told THISDAY. THISDAY learnt that the NPA was not involved in the negotiation for loans/loan amounts by Intels with ďŹ nancial institutions to appreciate the portions liable to ďŹ nance cost. â€œThe NPA pays interest to Intels on interim certiďŹ cates submitted but not amortised, whereas Intels does not pay any interest on revenue collected which has not been applied for amortisation due to budget ceiling. These unutilised sums are held tenaciously by Intels which is believed to be utilised for construction of some projects for which the NPA suffers ďŹ nancial cost. â€œReconciliations between the NPA and Intels showed no clear distinction between the NPAâ€™s revenue being held back by Intels

Bala-Usman, MD NPA and the purported loan being sourced privately towards project execution. The NPA suffer from two-edged ďŹ nancial sword of losing huge revenue that negatively affects its liquidity and paying for ďŹ nance cost that ultimately increases the original contract price, â€œ a source stated. Over a year ago, the NPA, in a letter jointly signed by its former Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mr Olumide Oduntan and General Manager, Finance, Mr Simon Anobi, and dated June 28, 2016, had expressed reservations about the non-remittance of revenues collected on its behalf by Intels into the TSA account. The letter with the title: â€œTransfer of service boats pilotage revenue accruing to Nigerian Ports Authority to its Treasury Single Account domiciled in Central Bank,â€? said: â€œit has been observed that revenue accruing to the Nigerian Ports Authority from service boats pilotage operations is not being remitted into the Authorityâ€™s Treasury Single Account domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Consequently, we hereby direct that all revenues accruing from Service Boats movement be paid directly to the Authorityâ€™s Treasury Single Account sub-account at the Central Bank of Nigeriaâ€? There were series of correspondence between Intels and NPA after this 2016 letter from which culminated in a letter from Intels dated May 5, 2017 at which point the NPA sought the legal advice of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN). The request to the AGF, which was through a May 31, 2017 letter signed by Bala Usman with the title: â€œRequest for clariďŹ cation of conďŹ‚ict between executed contract agreement and federal government Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy,â€?explained the situation that had transpired between the two organisations since 2010 and efforts made to ensure compliance with the TSA. It concluded by praying as follows: â€œarising from the observable conďŹ‚ict between

the executed Managing Agent Contract Agreement on service boats pilotage operations and TSA policy implementation, the Authority is constrained to humbly seek the professional legal advice of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice on the refusal of Intels to comply with the Federal Government TSA policyâ€? Before this period, the parties had agreed that the NPA should draft a supplemental agreement. This agreement, presented to Intels through a letter on March 15, 2017, incorporated the TSA requirement and designed a standard operating procedure to guide the relationship between Intels and NPA thenceforth. The agreement stated that revenue generated on behalf of the NPA in each of its pilotage districts must be paid directly into a TSA account. It explained that these accounts will be available to the NPA and Intels for online viewing only without withdrawals and that there would be monthly reconciliation meetings to determine the level of monthly revenue. The document also committed the NPA to paying interests on any payment made to Intels outside of an agreed seven-day window in answer to concerns the company had raised about delays that may result from operating a TSA account. Intels however responded in a letter dated March 27, 2017. Addressed to Bala Usman and signed by Andrews Dawes, Intels Chief Executive OfďŹ cer. In that letter, the company thanked the NPA for itsâ€œongoing engagement and support in reaching a resolution regarding this matterâ€?stating however that it would only accept that payment of 28% as agency commission on service boat revenues and the 30:70 per cent ratio split of the remaining 72 per cent of the collections as indicated in the SOPâ€Śsubject to the resolution of four issues. These issues include payments into the TSA account which Intels said would be difďŹ cult for it to comply with due to its loan commitments to some banks, the issue of interest rates on loans

Ëœ Ëž OCTOBER 15, 2017

BUSINESS/MARITIME

Understanding NPAâ€™s Termination of Intelsâ€™ Contract

Contâ€™d from Pg.. 24

A ship approaching Onne container terminal

obtained from banks, reconciliation of outstanding payments on the development of Phase 4B and mechanism for loan repayment. The inability to resolve these issues amicably forced the NPA management to seek clariďŹ cation from the AGF. Constitutionality of the Contract The federal government in response to the NPAâ€™s letter seeking clariďŹ cation on the issue directed the NPA to terminate the boats pilotage monitoring and supervision agreement that the agency had with Intels, saying that the contract was void ab initio. Conveying the decision of the federal government to NPA, the AGF, in a letter dated September 27, 2017 to Bala-Usman, said that the agreement, which had allowed Intels to receive revenue on behalf of NPA for 17 years, violates the Nigerian Constitution, especially in view of the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy of government. Drawing the attention of Bala-Usman to the illegality of the agreement, Malami made it expressly clear that the agreement violates Sections 80(1) and 162(1) and (10) of the constitution, and wondered that the parties â€“ NPA and Intels â€“ did not avert their minds to the relevant provisions when they were negotiating the agreement in 2010. Section 80(1) of the constitution states: â€œAll revenues or other moneys raised or received by the Federation (not being revenues or other moneys payable under this Constitution or any Act of the National Assembly into any other public fund of the Federation established for a speciďŹ c purpose) shall be paid into and form one Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.â€? Section 162(1) states: â€œThe Federation shall maintain a special account to be called â€˜the Federation Accountâ€™ into which shall be paid all revenues collected by the Government of the Federation, except the proceeds from the personal income tax of the personnel of the armed forces of the Federation, the Nigeria Police Force, the Ministry or department of government charged with responsibility for Foreign Affairs and the residents of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.â€? While sub-section 10 of the same section states:â€œFor the purpose of subsection (1) of this section, â€˜revenueâ€™ means any income or return accruing to or derived by the Government of the Federation from any source and includes: (a) any receipt, however described, arising from the operation of any law; (b) any return, however described, arising from or in respect of any property held by the Government of the Federation; (c) any return by way of interest on loans and dividends in respect of shares or interest held by the Government of the Federation in any company or statutory body.â€? In the letter titled:â€œRequest for ClariďŹ cation of ConďŹ‚ict Between Executed Agreement and Federal Government Treasury Single Account Policy,â€? the attorney general said: â€œI refer to your letter dated 31st May 2017, ref: MD/17/MF/Vol.XX/583 in respect of the above subject matter wherein you sought clariďŹ cation on the legal issues implicated by the continuous implementation of the Managing Agent Contract Agreement dated 11th February 2010 executed between the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Intels Nigeria Limited for the provision of boats pilotage operations, in

the light of the Federal Government of Nigeriaâ€™s Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy. â€œUpon my review of your letter under reference and the relevant agreements, I have been able to conclude inevitably that the terms of the agreement as agreed by parties and the dynamics of its implementation which permits Intels to receive revenue generated on behalf of NPA ab initio, clearly violates express provisions of Sections 80(1) and 162(1) and (10) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). It is thus curious that parties did not avert their minds to the above provisions of the constitution whilst negotiating the agreement. â€œThe inherent illegality of the agreement as formed has since been expounded by the TSA policy issued by the Head of Service of the Federation on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria directing all ministries, departments and agencies to collect payment of all revenues due to the federal government or any of her agencies through the TSA. â€œThe objective of the presidential directive (TSA policy) in exercise of the executive powers of the president under Section 5 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) was in furtherance of the spirit and intent of Sections 80 and 162 of the constitution and to aid transparency in government revenue collection and management. â€œNPA being an agency of the federal government is bound by the TSA policy and has not howsoever been exempt therefrom. Due to the constitutional nature of the TSA, where there is a conďŹ‚ict between the TSA and the terms of the agreement, the TSA shall prevail. â€œTherefore all monies due to the NPA currently being collected

Over a year ago, the NPA, in a letter jointly signed by its former Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mr Olumide Oduntan and General Manager, Finance, Mr Simon Anobi, and dated June 28, 2016, had expressed reservations about the nonremittance of revenues collected on its behalf by Intels into the TSA account

by Intels and any other agents/third parties on behalf of NPA must henceforth be paid into the TSA or any of the sub-accounts linked thereto in the Central Bank of Nigeria (information of the account will be communicated in due course) in accordance with the TSA policy. â€œFor the avoidance of doubt, the agreement for the monitoring and supervision of pilotage districts in the Exclusive Economic Zone of Nigeria on terms inter alia that permits Intels to receive revenue generated in each pilotage district from service boat operations in consideration for 28 per cent of total revenue as commission to Intels is void, being a contract ex facie illegal as formed for permitting Intels to receive federal government revenue contrary to the express provisions of Sections 80(1) and 162(1) and (10) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which mandates that such revenue must be paid into the Federation Account/Consolidated Revenue Fund. â€œIn the premise of the above, the conďŹ‚ict between the agreement and the TSA policy presents a force majeure event under the agreement, and NPA should forthwith commence the process of issuing the relevant notices to Intels exiting the agreement which indeed was void ab initio.â€? Intels Fights Back In a swift reaction, Intels kicked against the termination of its Pilotage Agency Agreement by the NPA, describing the action as â€œpreposterousâ€? and highly injurious to Nigeria. Intels, in a statement made available to THISDAY, disclosed that following the letter from the AGF, to the Managing Director of NPA, directing NPA to terminate the pilotage agreement, NPA promptly ended the contract on Tuesday, October 10, 2017, without inviting it as the other party to the agreement for negotiation or due recourse to the terms of the agreement that specify conditions precedent before a party can exit the contract. In a strongly worded response, Intels said NPAâ€™s action would force it to reconsider its multibillion dollar investment at the Badagry deep seaport in Lagos, adding that the investment would have created thousands of direct and indirect jobs for Nigerians. It said it had invested too much in the country and if the Nigerian government was not prepared to respect the sanctity of its contract, it was ready to head to the courts to challenge NPAâ€™s action. Intels, which alleged that the NPA was indebted to it to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars, gave the agency seven days, from last Wednesday, to reconsider the residual critical areas of their relationship and to agree, to the possible extent, on a common solution, failing which it would head to arbitration. Though political motive is being alleged in some quarters, which is the usual narrative in in Nigeria, Intels has not suggested any extraneous intent to the termination of the contract, and had even assured NPA that it would invoke the arbitration clause in the agreement if the termination was not reversed. With government insisting that its decision is in line with the constitution and in the interest of the nationâ€™s economy, there are no indications that it would reverse its decision, thus setting the stage for arbitration as Intelsâ€™ seven-day ultimatum expires this week.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ ͹ͽ˜ ͺ͸͹Ϳ

MARKET NEWS

Redstar Express Shares Hit New High on Renewed Demand Goddy Egene The shares of Redstar Express Plc rose 14.9 per cent last week following investors’ renewed demand as they key into the future of the logistics solution firm. The stock appreciated by 71 kobo from N4.75 to N5.46, a development stock dealers attributed to moves by investors to take position in the company in preparations for improved performance. The company recent rewarded its shareholders with a dividend

of 40 kobo per share for the year ended March 31, 2017. And there are strong indications that investors will reap higher returns going forward. Director/CEO of Redstar Express Plc, Mr. Olusola Obabori last week projected a revenue of N8.079 billion and PAT of N618 million for the year ending March 31, 2018. Obabori made the projection to stock market operators while presenting the company’s facts behind the figures at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return. An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

According to him, Redstar Express is a logistics solution company with competencies in domestic and international express mail deliveries, mailroom administration, haulage, freight, warehousing services, agro trade services and providers of technology driven solutions. “Our mission is to provide superior returns to stakeholders through investments in companies that provide logistics related services and the group has successfully maintained an upward trend in dividend

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg. Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 12-Oct-2017, unless otherwise stated.

payment over the last 5 years, with the highest record of 40 kobo in full year (FY) 2017,” he said. Speaking on the performance of the company, the GMD said revenue grew by 10 per cent from N6.6billion in FY 2016 to N7.2billion in FY 2017 as a result of consistent increase in revenue drive, through increase in customer base, innovation and investment in assets. “Gross profit rose by 12 per cent from N1.9billion in FY 2016 to N2.1billion in FY 2017. PBT increased by 14 per cent from

N572million in FY 2016 to N653 million in FY 2017, this is attributable to our efficient cost management approach in the year under review. As a percentage of revenue, the group has consistently maintained a PBT margin hovering around 8.6 per cent and 10.3 per cent with PAT margin hovering around 5.0 per cent and 6.3 per cent in the last five years which is above industry average of 4-5 per cent,” Obabori said. He listed the key success factors to stable board

and vibrant management; experienced and dedicated workforce; advanced technology, network and spread. Going forward, he said the company will invest in new ventures to unlock long term value, explore new growth opportunities in pharmaceutical logistics, agro trade, prints and packaging. He added that the company will increase coverage and visibility by establishing more offices in underserved locations and branch office in Niger Republic.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors. Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return. NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 1 270 1680 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 177.42 178.29 39.77% Nigeria International Debt Fund 233.25 234.24 10.33% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.81 0.82 15.98% ACAP Income Funds 0.63 0.63 78.62% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 18.20% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 17.42 17.95 41.10% ARM Discovery Fund 366.72 377.78 27.70% ARM Ethical Fund 25.75 26.52 15.24% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 17.75% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 144.19 145.21 37.09% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 18.36% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 19.04% Paramount Equity Fund 11.57 11.87 23.63% Women's Investment Fund 94.94 97.47 12.28% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 19.70% FBN CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,097.15 1,098.24 8.39% FBN Heritage Fund 145.91 147.15 30.88% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.70% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $113.09 $114.15 9.96% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $112.36 $113.42 10.01% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 154.48 156.74 37.21% FIRST CITY ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD fcamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcamltd.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Equity Fund 1.37 1.39 46.81% Legacy Short Maturity (NGN) Fund 2.89 2.89 12.62% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 2,889.77 2,929.66 31.42% Coral Income Fund 2,383.74 2,383.74 14.39% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.85% INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 18.00% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.08 2.10 23.66% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 18.48% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 111.22 111.22 14.62%

LOTUS CAPITAL LTD ﬁncon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.14 1.16 15.67% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,025.28 1,025.28 8.93% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 13.01 13.12 34.61% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 18.82% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.19 1.21 19.73% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 10.84 10.88 4.19% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 13.95% SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 120.97 123.09 19.37% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.39 1.39 11.34% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 2,193.76 2,206.98 19.82% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 170.20 170.20 10.55% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.98 0.99 27.92% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 212.31 212.31 13.60% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 171.08 173.29 31.77% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 18.21% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 9,521.67 9,632.53 25.56% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.04 1.04 4.00% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.32 1.33 18.01% United Capital Bond Fund 1.45 1.45 18.69% United Capital Equity Fund 0.85 0.87 26.90% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 18.50% ZENITH ASSETS MANAGEMENT LTD info@zenith-funds.com Web: www.zenith-funds.com; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 12.53 12.72 28.92% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.15 13.29 19.82% Zenith Income Fund 18.61 18.61 12.46%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41 131.15

1.01% 5.79%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

10.89 136.28 106.79

10.99 139.23 108.80

26.16% 37.76% 40.93%

Fund Name FSDH UPDC Real Estate Investment Fund SFS Skye Shelter Fund

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Grifﬁn 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

4.50 8.99 17.09 20.47 138.72

4.54 9.07 17.19 20.67 140.72

62.50% 27.72% 44.39% 28.16% 9.43%

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 15, 2017

UT H

& RE A S

could produce the machines, they paid money. It was their money that I used to open my First Bank account and opened another shop. I was able to deliver the orders to their satisfaction. That opened more doors for me as those people spread good reports about me. I have never looked back since then. Another lesson I also learnt is that you have to keep an open mind to receive ideas from God. One single idea can make all the difference in the pursuit of your vision.

spouse in one’s business especially if one is a man. There are certain decisions you will need to take alone but your spouse may not understand. I have also discovered that many workers don’t like to be bossed around by couples. They would see the business as family business with little room for advancement for them. On family finance, I believe strongly that a man should be solely responsible for the upkeep of his household. So, I don’t buy into the idea a husband and a wife keeping joint accounts. I believe a man must be a man. When everything is coming from the same purse that belongs to you and your wife, how would your wife acknowledge that you are the one taking care of the home? For her, it is our money. The man has lost his headship. You build the house together, you bought the car together, you train the children together, you even buy food together. Where is the role of the man? The dignity of the man is in that, he brings money from his pocket and gives it to the wife and says this is for food.

LESSON

Use your business/career to fund God’s work. The spiritual part of the man is the reason God created him in the first place, the other reason God created man is for marriage because there is a need for reproduction. If the world will continue, then people should reproduce and the final reason is to work for God. My business enhances the spiritual part of me because it is from here I built the church, from here I pay tithe. So the business supports the church work so we can win souls for Christ. My purpose here on earth is the ministry work, but I need the business to be able to carry out the work of the ministry. Many people don’t get this right. I have what I call business class inside the church, where I teach men and women on how to become successful entrepreneurs. I see my business as the Apostle Paul in the Bible saw it - as a tent to generate cash to enable me to fund the work of God.

LIFE LESSONS ayo.arowolo@thisdaylive.com

WITH AYO AROWOLO

THERE IS A LION WITHIN YOU; LET HIM LOOSE

– Samson Makinwa Samson Makinwa, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Techo Quip Limited, Lagos, did not discover his real life purpose until he was 40. But with that awareness and N600 in his pocket he launched an engineering company which in less than 27 years has grown into a multi-billion Naira enterprise touching lives across the country also picking awards/recognitions from six Nigerian Heads of State. In this life lessons interview with me, Makinwa says: “Once you discover the lion inside of you, nothing shall be impossible.” Enjoy his notes on the journey. LESSON

With a clear vision nothing is impossible. Until I was 40, I never believed I could amount to anything. I was after many meaningless pursuits and I was scared that I could die without any meaningful achievement. I discovered later that God created everyone for a specific purpose and nothing would make sense until this is discovered and is pursued. It can happen at any age. My own discovery came the day I was 40. I was just reflecting on my life generally alone in my room, asking many personal questions, and suddenly, I discovered that I had a passion in me that must be pursued. I was trained as an engineer in India but I had never used that skill until that time. I suddenly began to see that I could start a company that specialises in fabricating machines. The pictures were just coming in flashes. It was like a sleeping lion in me suddenly came alive. The moment God showed me my vision, I decided to push it with everything inside of me. At the time, I had just N1000 in my pocket but I discovered something very interesting: When you have a vision that you are passionate about, many obstacles will give way. I gave my wife N400 out of the money and I used the balance of N600 to rent a shop in an uncompleted building. I had the shop, I was ready to work, but customers were not coming. I didn’t have money to place advertisements. In fact, it was only Daily Times and Business Times and Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) that we had then. There was no way I could get myself into the newspapers or appear

on Television. I kept thinking of what to do until one day I just stumbled on the letters to the editor column in Business Times. Some of the letters were actually about people requesting contacts of people who could supply one product or the other. I got hooked to that, I realised that I could use the maiden name of my wife to write to the editor requesting some products. I did that and it was published. Then, I wrote another letter in my name, positioning myself as the specialist who could supply those equipment I had listed. I put the physical address of my office in the paper and it was published. The following day four rich businessmen who wanted the machines traced my office. Once they were assured that I

09067059433 (SMS only)

Not many people would believe in your vision initially. I usually tell people that with any vision you have, you must come to the hard reality that not many people would believe in it initially. I witnessed this first hand. When I shared the vision with my wife, she just dismissed it with cynical comments. I could understand where she was coming from. The vision I was describing did not match the reality on the ground. We were in a one-room apartment, I wasn’t achieving anything. I could hardly take care of my responsibility as a husband. When I told her that morning that she was standing in front of a millionaire and I shared my vision of building an engineering company that would be a force to be reckoned with in the country, she just laughed, dismissing every single thing I said. I was not discouraged. In any case I relocated from the areas we were staying, moved away from friends and associates to a remote area where I could pursue my vision. I eventually opened the shop; I was sleeping inside the shop; and I wasn’t going home. She came there one day and stood at the entrance and looked at me and said ‘so this how you want to end your life?’ I told her to come in, she asked, come in where? My wife refused to join me until about 8 months later when I had made my first million. That is the way of vision.

LESSON

If you cannot ﬁre, don’t hire. I had a brother; he is my half-brother. We are of the same mother but not the same father. I brought him to Lagos to join my business. I trained him and I was taking him with me whenever I was going out to prospect for business. He learnt the job and was doing very well and I began to trust him. Sometimes I would send him to go and see a customer and things like that. Then a friend of mine introduced me to a retired Central Bank of Nigeria official who wanted to do some machines that I should see him. I did and we quoted N35 million to do the job for him. I thought that was a big break. The man asked for some documents which I sent to him through my brother. The two of them were age mates so it was easy for them to get along. Unknown to me my brother went there and told him he was the one that would eventually do the job and convinced the man to give him the job which he promised to deliver at N20million. That was how my brother cornered the business. He left and started his own business and even built a factory like mine. This is my own relation. Can I fight him? Of course no, because he is my brother. The lesson here is anybody you cannot fire or take a legal action against if need be, don’t hire him or her. In the case of my brother the next thing I should have done was to fire him and publish a disclaimer. But if I had done that it would affect me negatively. If you want to protect the person, you will be damaging your business.

LESSON

Limit the involvement of spouse into your business. From personal experience I would say that one should limit the involvement of one’s

LESSON

Take care of your health. I was sick for about four months in 2015, it was a serious one. The medical tests showed that my systems had collapsed. The doctors said I was not having enough rest. We must pay serious attention to our health. We need to have a good rest and good sleep. Don’t allow depression to take over you; always free your heart by forgiving those that have offended you. Before that sickness, I was not taking care of my health because I was not given to being sick, but that taught me that when we get to the age of 40 and above. We should be mindful of our health. You have to be careful when you are treating high blood pressure because the medicine you take has side effects on the heart. While you are listening to the doctor, use your sense. Eat well, if you are advanced in age, eat well but very little, avoid carbohydrate, you should also eat fruits a lot. Please read the full article and the past editions of THISDAY LIFE LESSONS at http://tinyurl.com/y8bodjaa

BOOKS The Bible The Richest Man in Babylon

MAJOR MISTAKE One major mistake I made was bringing somebody so close to the point of making the person almost a partner in this business. I don’t have a partner, but I got someone that I raised to the level of partnership and he caused me so much damage emotionally and financially. I trusted him so much; I left virtually everything in his hands, but he disappointed me and set me back many years.

BEST ADVICE One of the things he told me is that I should not go into politics, not just partisan politics, but even in the church or any place and the place is becoming political, leave.

T H I S D AY SUNDAY OCTOBER 15, 2017

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

IN JOâ€™BURG, A COLOURFUL FESTIVAL OF FOOD & MUSIC

15.10.2017

T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R ˾ ͯͳ, Ͱͮͯ͵

COVER

American rapper and actor, Common on stage

IN JO’BURG, A COLOURFUL FESTIVAL OF FOOD & MUSIC In one exciting weekend that featured international artistes like Common, Omar and Femi Kuti; and local acts Black Coffee, Thandiswa Mazwai and TKZee, Johannesburg came alive with a themed festival that holds a lot of promise. Nseobong Okon-Ekong reports

Caron Wheeler of Soul II Soul

nknown to the Air Hostess on the South African Airways flight from Lagos to Oliver Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, her cheerful announcement held out promises for an incentive filled trip to more passengers than she would ever know. By any means, the reality of having 56 Lifetime Platinum customers (a club of privileged frequent fliers with exclusive benefits) on a single flight was unprecedented and worthy of repeated proclamation. What she did not know, however, was that members of Afrobeat King, Femi Kuti’s Positive Force Band, were on board, as well. More than that, there was a party of 10 travellers in the aircraft at the behest of DStv. For them, the journey was the beginning of a reward package for loyalty to the pay TV company as Premium clients. In many ways, it was a special trip with different travellers who carried special status. Travelling all night from a tropical country like Nigeria to South Africa in winter had the prospects of a shocking welcome. The temperature was 11 degrees that morning. Only a few were prepared for the biting cold. The weather was so unkind. Not a few preferred to go back into the arrival hall while the personnel from the tour company who had welcomed us earlier excused himself to bring his bus closer. We were soon on our way to the Southern Sun Hotel in Hyde Park. The lavish buffet breakfast in the hotel was a good hint of what we were in for. Whoever invented the idea of placing so much food

in intimidating portion, perhaps, set out to encourage gluttony. Anyway, it was a good reminder that our primary purpose for the visit was to participate in the DStv Delicious International Food and Music Festival. But the sponsors of the trip was generous to throw in a wholesome experience that would leave lasting memories. So we spent the hours after breakfast visiting Soweto, in the South-west of Johannesburg, most famous for its townships and the 1976 uprising against the use of Afrikaans in schools which led to the killing of school children, resulting in a global outrage against the apartheid system of government. We saw the Freedom Monument, where the values and charter that bind the country are summarised on a concrete to serve as reminders to generations. The next port of call was the Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum opened in Soweto in 2002, not far from the spot where 12 year-old Hector was shot on June 16, 1976. The museum houses a combination of photographs, handwritten letters and memes. Audio-visuals relating to the Soweto Massacre was running on different screens. Outside in a courtyard were stones with names of different victims and the day they died inscribed on them. As many of the dead could not be traced, there was a stone dedicated to the Unknown. To reach this commemorative building, we drove past the imposing Regina Mundi Catholic Church which had the distinction of shielding the clandestine activities of the freedom fighters who opposed apartheid. Peter, the tour guide from South Africa

OCTOBER 15, 2017 ˾ T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

COVER THE MAIN INGREDIENTS OF THE FESTIVAL INCLUDE INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL ARTISTES ON THE MAIN STAGE, INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL CHEFS FEATURED IN VARIOUS POP UP RESTAURANTS AND COOKING THEATERS, CHANNEL ACTIVATIONS, BRAND ACTIVATIONS AND SA’S BIGGEST GOURMET STREET FOOD MARKET. IT IS KNOWN AS SA’S BIGGEST FOOD AND MUSIC FESTIVAL Femi Kuti and the Positive Force Band

Tourism proudly pointed out the shanty towns. Although many of them have been transformed into modern apartments, it seems more downtrodden people keep popping up to raise new shanties. Eradicating the shanties in Soweto completely is a war that the South African government is eager to prosecute, for the very important reason of dislodging suspected criminals. Everyone was eager to get to the next stop Dr. Nelson Mandela’s house! No. 8115 Vilikazi Street, Orlando West, Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa is fast becoming one of the most popular addresses in the world. The street has a global reputation for being home to two Nobel Peace Prize winners; Mandela and his compatriot, Archbishop Desmond Tutu who was celebrating his 86th birthday at the time of our visit. Our group members were excited to run into Femi Kuti at the Mandela house. They eagerly posed for photographs with him and other visitors who could not understand the flurry around him looked askance. Lunch was at Sakhumzi Restaurant down the road. The eatery prides itself as promoting the authentic Soweto Lifestyle. That definitely includes the entertainment fare from itinerant cultural troupes. On the way back to the hotel, Peter pointed at the home of the Orlando Pirates Football Club. Incidentally, it was the weekend of the World Cup qualifying matches involving Nigeria and South Africa in their different countries. Banters on which country was likely to win and move ahead were exchanged between the Tour Guide and us. But largely, discourse on the journey back to the hotel was dominated by memories from the Hector Pieterson Museum and how things could have been if Nigerians had the courage to confront their ‘oppressors’ like the Soweto school children. We set out early on the first day of the DStv Delicious Food and Music Festival. The Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, venue of the event looked so magnificent. Normally, a motor racing circuit, it received a wonderful make over to accommodate a different kind of occasion. As we drove closer to the point of disembarking, the splendid arrangement became more inviting. One of the exhibiting food companies was waiting with a welcome pack of meat immediately we went through ticketing formalities. The Public Relations Manager, Multichoice Nigeria, Jennifer UyaiAbasi Ukoh had a VIP ticket for everyone. We were first received at a DStv activation Pavilion, for a short while to enable her locate the tent for dignitaries close to the stage. Predictably, the general public areas provided the ground for the food market and exhibitions. The festival which started in 2013 entered its fifth edition this year. It has witnessed major progression since inception, becoming a major annual calendar event. In 2014, it held twice with an event held in Cape Town. Last year, it held over two days for the first time, attracting over 40,000 visitors to Kyalami. This success influenced a return to the same venue for the same number of days, this year. The DStv Delicious International Food and Music Festival has spurn a unique payoff, becoming known as ‘the music festival for food lovers and the food festival for music lovers.’ It is common knowledge that food, drinks and music are the major ingredients that ensure the success of a good party; multiply those in huge proportions and you have a festival. With so many partners like Liberty, Ciroc and Cocacola; DStv, the headline sponsor ensured that its brand identity was visible everywhere. Looking down from the VIP pavillion on the general access area of the music arena with so many DStv branded umbrellas, you may not be

DStv Premium customers from Nigeria at the event

wrong to think DStv owns this country (or at least, this space) The line-up for the weekend featured international artistes Common, Omar, Femi Kuti, Imagination feat. Leee John and Alexander O’Neal; and local acts Black Coffee Live, Thandiswa Mazwai and TKZee. The main ingredients of the festival include international and local artistes on the main stage, international and local chefs featured in various pop up restaurants and cooking theaters, channel activations, brand activations and SA’s biggest gourmet street food market. It is known as SA’s biggest food and music festival. Mr. Gavin Bahn, a chef with Horn and Phillips, a company that cooks on site told this reporter that his company was contracted to cater for 800 guests, serving varieties of foods for two days in the DStv lounge. Serving drinks in the same pavilion, Chantel Baewaed, a manager with drinks providers, Thirst, said her company hired the services of 12 barmen, two supervisors, three cleaners and four support staff for the two days. According to her, 88 bottles of Champagne were consumed on the second day alone. Businessman, Mr. Khulu Nsibanyone who attended the festival with his friends was up and dancing as soon as TKZee, the opening act on the first day came on stage. Apparently, the member pioneering Kwaito group has been off the scene for a while. Bringing TKZee at the beginning of the show worked well for the likes of Nsibanyoni who confessed that watching the group live was one of his considerations for attending the show. “This is the sound we listened to when I was growing up. It takes me back to 20 years ago.” World famous DJ Black Coffee is another artiste who has been able to endear himself to both the young and older generation, particularly in South Africa. For the Delicious Festival, he elevated his appearance above a regular DJ by having a percussionist and keyboardist accompany him. However, the amazing working of his fingers, turning this knob and that knob on the mixer ensured a steady beat that kept people dancing on their feet. Since he did not say a word, much of what kept people glued to his act was his ability to simulate the motions of a skilled chef who was dropping different spices into the pot to come up with a tasty dish. As he was shuffling to his own mix, it was infectious and you could not but move to the beat as well. Indeed, Black Coffee had most people eating from his palm as they moved to his beat. Even as I write this piece that stable sound is playing in my head.

Bongo Maffin generated much love from the audience with their performance, especially when a former member of the group who has gone solo, Thandiswa Mazwai, joined them. She had earlier performed a fabulous show all by herself. But the performer most people were waiting for on the opening day was American musician and actor, Common. And he did quite a few things to increase the enjoyment of the crowd. He was the only one who went into the crowd and slap their hands as they reached out to touch him. One lucky lady had the opportunity to be serenaded on stage as the musician poured a glass of wine, kissed and danced with her as the crowd cheered. He was not done. He had more surprises up his sleeve as he dropped on the floor and spurn, round and round in a dance motion that attracted more jubilation. He continued to make appealing acts and statements like saying, ‘Sawubona’ which is Hello in Zulu. Perhaps, what attracted him more to the people was his ability to communicate his concerns for some of the things that connect to their existence like spirituality, justice and rights. They were bouncing and dancing as he passed these salient messages. Many in the audience like Mr. Lawal Ashafa, a trader from Nigeria who was on his first trip to South Africa courtesy of DStv, did not have to remember the name or title of any song. Having been a Premium customer of the pay tv company for 20 years, he was happy to be rewarded with the trip to experience South Africa. For Mrs. Gloria Adaobi Millar who has been a Premium customer since 2006, every bit of the trip was enjoyable and she could not have exchanged it for anything (not even money). Mr. Sikiru Kaka’s relationship with DStv is so important that he remembers the exact date on July 12, 17 years ago when he became a Premium customer. Although he has only been a Premium for seven years, Yohana Bako, an architect, said he values the South African experience made possible by DStv. Others on the DStv sponsorship train from Nigeria were Mustapha Kaka, a civil servant, Amaka Cynthia Abia and Alex Oyije. They were all happy to make new friends and have their eyes open to new possibilities, particularly the synergy of cultures. There was this South African man named Ike. Upon enquiry he said that his father named him after a Nigerian friend but he does not know the meaning of the name. He was very excited to learn the name means ‘God’s power’. We met

another Xhosa lady named Chuma. She said her name means prosperity. The DStv Delicious Festival grabbed people with a dimension of cultural ties that resonated with the essence of their values. It was, for instance, easy for Femi Kuti to appeal to their senses when he sang, ‘Africa for Africa’. There was a lot of drama to feed the eyes on. Anywhere you looked on his set, the horns men moved in a certain formation. The dancers and chorus girls were feisty and set the stage on fire with sexy dance steps. Femi, as usual, exuded so much energy. One of the ways to find out if there are Nigerians in the audience, or at least, his regular fans is to issue his signature call, ‘ararararara’! Yes, they were there, but not in teeming numbers. Their response of ‘orororororo’ was not as resounding as if he was in his home turf at the New Afrikan Shrine. He went on to sing, ‘Politics Na Big Business’ which ignited something in the crowd at a time there is ongoing probe of a scandal involving some big business and politicians in that country. An adept at handling crowds, he threw a challenge that got them to react more. “I thought you could move,” he roared. They move in Paris. They move in New York. We get to Africa and you can’t move.” The crowd got the hint and was ready when he threw down the gauntlet. They simply obeyed when he ordered them to move. He took the lead in demonstrating what he demanded of them. The song in the background was the boisterous and irreverent, ‘Beng Beng Beng’ in which he urges them to follow his instructions to achieve a more fulfilling love making. Femi ended his session with the thought provoking song, ‘Sorry Sorry’. But for the resilience of the crowd and the organisers, the festival was nearly marred by bad weather. At this time of the year, the weather in Johannesburg was standing on its head; very unpredictable. A burst of unexpected rainfall often followed a period of sunshine. It got so bad on the second that the show was halted for long spell of time and a notice went on the screen alerting people to seek safe shelter away from the lightning and storm. Many of the corporate sponsors anticipated the rain and handed out branded umbrellas to daring fans who were eager to connect with their favourite stars like Soul11Soul, Alexander O\Neal and Omar. Standing at over 30 feet, the stage and the lighting were imposing and impressive. The organisation was near perfect. The conveniences were sparkling clean till the end despite the number of people who had to use it. In the DStv VIP lounge, food and drinks were never in short supply. The DStv Delicious International Food and Music Festival is a pioneer event that recommends the great thinking behind the project. It is an edgy festival that attempts to redefine culture, particularly in culinary and fashion sense. In the years to come, it is possible to place a bet on its potential to revolutionise the continent, as it appears that the creation of a new formula that brings food and music together on a large scale in one venue is working well. What is required is continuing diversity in moderation of the entertainment mix to broaden the scope of participation by a larger audience. If the veneer of a festival is stripped and it is laid bare, it is a concert that offers loads of food. In future, the people in charge of programming may consider bringing an artiste like Femi who has so much energy to close the show so that more people can stay and the concert ground will remain packed to the end. The same consideration may be made for the foods on display as South Africa has a wide mix of nationalities.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž ÍŻÍł, Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

Ě“ ÍŽÍśÍŻÍŻÍ˛Í˛ÍˇÍłÍąÍ°Í˛Ëœ nseobong.okonekong@thisdaylive.com

Brymo

Brymo Walks with Johnnie on a Night Filled with Flavour and Jazz Beat Nseobong Okon-Ekong reports that Afrojazz artiste, Brymo recently delivered a high-energy performance at an exclusive show tagged Johnnie Jazz and Whisky at a Victoria Island-Lagos venue called The Backyard

f he had any premonition, it was not entirely his. It may be argued that the supposed feeling of gloom was the general mood coffered by the organiserâ€™s insistence that guests be dressed in black. Apparently inspired by the brand, Johnnie Walker Black Label, the revelry was to honour Nigeriaâ€™s independence and it was tagged, Johnnie, Jazz and Whisky-- the first in a series of quarterly jazz fusion music nights. The maiden experience held at the exclusive bar and grill The Backyard, in the heart of Victoria Island, Lagos. But Brymo started his performance with an announcement that he was feeling sad, having lost a dear one. There was not going much talking. His songs are already loaded with striking narratives, anyway. He needed to launch into it fast. Many had waited for this moment. He read the mood correctly. He was ready, but not before teasing them. The instrumentalists struck the tune for â€Õlekuâ€™ the Ice Prince in which featured, but wait for it! He took them as far as the hook and dropped it off. As they thundered in encouragement (and perhaps in disappointment), he started singing â€Ãraâ€™. This was a satisfying substitute. They turned away from the previous destination of sound that he was leading them and followed him down the new path chanting, â€ãra mbe e ti mo fe daâ€™. Incidentally, his band had no backup chorus girls. However, seeing the enthusiasm of the womenfolk in the audience, no one missed the official chorus party. Whatever song he came up with, they were ready to go with his lead and haul back the chorus. This was more evident in the tune, â€˜Good Morningâ€™ with the refrain, o ya sebi ayongeâ€™ (show off like a younger woman). His current single, â€Ãlajo Somoluâ€™ also attracted a lot of excitement as did other

songs that he delivered in his inimitable style. Perhaps, the only hint that he was mourning was that he restrained himself from his usual tendency to take off his top on stage and expose his bare chest. Brymo delivered a high-energy performance singing as if he could never lose his voice and as if heâ€™d spent years taking detailed notes on what historyâ€™s greatest afrojazz performers had done before him. But the show was not all about Brymo. Guests were also entertained by Mavin artiste, Johnny Drille. The Jazz Band opened their set with a scene-setting instrumental before wading into their repertoire of original and cover materials. Drille opened his set in an unapologetically soulful fashion, spreading a sense of an intimate living room performance around the venue. Label boss, Don Jazzy sat front row encouraging the crooner with every vocal note. Guests were seated facing an art installation stage where The Jazz Band, Johnny Drille and Brymo performed. In between performances, guests indulged their palates with the Everest of the whiskies, Johnnie Walker Black Label, perfectly-paired delicious canapĂŠs. Each treat was designed to open the taste buds, bringing the flavours and aromas in the whisky to the fore. The guest experience started at a custombuilt whisky bar where World Class Regional Champion bartender, Kelvin Oduntan treated guests to a bespoke tasting experience. The one-on-one exercise started with a quick nosing of the Johnnie Walker Black Label designed to encourage guests to discern the unique characteristics of the whisky. From the scenery to the music to paired canapĂŠs, every moment of â€˜Johnnie, Jazz & Whiskyâ€™ was carefully curated to deliver a blissful night under a starry sky.

Mo Abudu, Adenike Adebola, Marian Omatsone, Eunice Omole

Eniola, Nicole Mofe-Damijo & Chika Uwazie

OCTOBER 15, 2017˾ T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

ENTERTAINMENT MAJOR MATT OUT WITH TWO SINGLES An award winning UK based Nigerian born artiste, Major Matt, returns to the music scene with two singles ‘Papi Don’t Go’ and ‘New King’. Produced by Kentee, the video was shot by popular cinematographer, Adasa Cookey. The young man otherwise known as Mathew Olatomi Alajogun who is also an actor is currently signed to Mataan Entertainment. He teamed up with Samklef on 2 singles “Baseline & Banana Love” in 2015. He was nominated for (Best Pop Single, Best Recording and Best Commercial Single) at the Top Naija Music Awards (TNMA). His collaboration with Dj Shabsy on the song titled ‘Jobi Okoto’ recorded in 2016, sealed his endearing presence on the music scene. The very industrious and articulate thespian started off as a basketball player before becoming the coach of a team called ‘ICMB’. Major Matt began his acting career early in Manchester United as he also bagged the City People’s Revelation of the Year award (Actor) in 2016. He then enrolled at the Met Film School London where he is acquiring the needed knowledge to be a successful actor. Major Matt also featured in a couple of UK weekly TV series including the popular “The Red Garrote Strangler,” “Hunger Games” and many others. He has also acted alongside Hollywood star actor and director, Desheiles, an experience he says made him a better actor, ready to tackle challenges in making movies. ALTERNATIVE MUSIC CONCERT 2.0 On Sunday, October 29 all roads will lead to the Hard Rock Café at Landmark Plaza in Oniru-Lagos for the second edition of the Alternative Music Concert, a platform promoted by Efizzi Worldwide Entertainment Company in conjunction with BmitchPanache, a bespoke brand consulting agency. With South Africa’s MI Casa as headline act, it promises to be one of the most talked about concerts of the year. Featuring on the bill as well are Nigerian Neo soul acts like Aramide,Lindsey Abudei,Chiny Izuka and Tomi Owo. This is the second edition of the concert the first having successfully held at the garden of Nakenohs boulevard last easter that featured performances by Falana,Temi Dollface,Diana Bada, Moyeen and Maka.

Aramide

‘LARA AND THE BEAT’ STARS SEYI SHAY AND VECTOR Following the successful debut of Banana Island Ghost (B.I.G), Biola Alabi Media in collaboration with Skylar Pictures has embarked on another production with an all-star cast that is set to be Nollywood’s most glamorous and thrilling movie yet. Starring music superstars Seyi Shay and Vector, ‘Lara and the Beat’ is a coming of age movie about the young and beautiful Giwa sisters caught in the center of a financial scandal with their late parents’ Media Empire. The sisters are forced out of their privileged bubble, and must learn to build their own future and salvage their family’s past. According to Biola Alabi, Founder and Managing Partner of Biola Alabi Media, “Lara and the Beat is a special project beyond what we accomplished with Banana Island Ghost. This is a movie with many layers and experiences for everyone. We and our partners are putting our best into this production. We want this production to be appealing to both our local and global audience.” AFRIFF ANNOUNCES FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES Organisers of Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) have announced the return of the festival for 2017. Scheduled to run from October 29 to November 4, 2017, the annual event marks AFRIFF’s 7th season of celebrating African cinema in Nigeria. It is a season of international collaborations for AFRIFF with the French government coming in to strengthen its commercial and artistic exchanges with Nigeria. “The importance of AFRIFF, that is growing year after year, is a wonderful showcase for us,” says French Consul General, Lagos,

Miss Goodwill Ambassador

Yemi Alade

Mega Music Takes Yemi Alade, Olamide, Timaya to Ibadan Globacom recently gave residents of Ibadan a night to remember as it held its flagship music concert,Glo Mega Music Nationwide Tour, with Olamide Adedeji, Runtown and other music superstars. The Jogor Event Centre, Ibadan, welcomed a capacity audience which seized the opportunity of the show to celebrate the Independence Anniversary with their music idols including the Egberi Papa 1 of Bayelsa, Inetimi Alfred Odon (Timaya); Yemi Alade and the new Rhythm and Blues sensation in Nigeria, Axterix. While Nollywood legend, Richard MofeDamijo (RMD), most celebrated Yoruba movie actor, Odunlade Adekola, and another popular Yoruba movie star, Bolaji Amusan, known popularly as Mr. Latin, came as celebrity guests, the remarkable show had DJ Tops on the jukebox as the delectable duo of Nollywood divas, Ebube Nwagbo and Mercy Johnson-Okojie, compered the show. Mercy dazzled the audience when she spoke flawless Yoruba language interlaced with humorous Ibadan inflections and the trademark Ibadan call and response greeting line, kini soo to which the excited crowd responded Soo nsure!. Axterix kicked off the show closely Mr. Laurent Polonceaux, who described the annual event as “one of the most important film festivals in Africa.” Interestingly, AFRIFF 2017 is dedicating two days - November 2-3, 2017 to French films This is just as British Council, UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities is bringing the London BFI (British Film Institute) into a new partnership with AFRIFF. Tagged ‘Film Connections’, the British Council’s partnership also aims to share knowledge and give pep to co-production opportunities between filmmakers from Nigeria and the United Kingdom. AFRIFF Founder/Executive Director Ms. Chioma Ude announced ‘Waiting for Hassana’, a short film by Ifunanya ‘funa’ Maduka (Nigeria/US) and a feature, ‘I Am Not a Witch’ by Rungano Nyoni (Zambia) as the opening night films while ‘Felicite’, an Oscar contender by Alain Gomis (France/Senegal) is the closing night film. Ude said AFRIFF is well prepared to host filmmakers and actors from around the world this year, noting that the festival continues to attract interests with a record of 3,232 film entries received this year alone. She announced the films in competition which include 24 shorts, 11 documentaries and 14 feature length films, while all the films in official selection will be uploaded to the festival website on October 9. According to British Council Head of Arts, West Africa, Ojoma Ochai, “As part of the Film Connections project, the 2017 AFRIFF will open with the screening of the Rungano Nyoni

followed by the energetic female vocalist, Yemi Eberechi Alade, who came to the city with the full complement of her band of talented choreographers. Douglas Jack Agu, a.k.a. Runtown, left no one in doubt that he had what it took to musically run the town as he put up such a beautiful performance that got the entire audience on their feet shuffling and gyrating to the rhythmic beats. His tracks, The Activity Pikin andSuperwoman, were the clincher as the crowd sang excitedly along with him. King of the streets, Olamide, literally set the hall on fire when he sauntered onto the stage with his band as he hailed the ‘’Omo Hobe’’ who surged forward to bond with the Shakiti Bobo and Skekeloboske exponent. As he traversed the full repertoire of his music from First of All, Voice of the Streets, Stupid Love, Durosoke to Alowomajaye and other hit tracks, the audience called for more. Timaya put the icing on the show when he came on stage to join Olamide with whom he did a collabo before moving to his hit tracks and adding some spiritual flavour to the evening with some church choruses which got the crowd in a praise mood into the opening hours of October 1. film ‘I Am Not a Witch’, on the 29th of October. There will also be screening of several acclaimed British feature and short films during the festival – showing for the first time in Nigeria, including ‘Whitney ‘Can I Be Me’ by multi-award winning British Documentarian, Nick Broomfield; ‘Under the Shadow’ by Babak Anvari, winner of the 2017 BAFTA award for outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer; and ‘A Moving Image’ by Shola Amoo.” “During the two days devoted to French cinema,” says Polonceaux, “we will welcome here in Lagos, high level professionals working in the production and distribution, and last but not the least, because it is a fundamental element in the funding of the cinema industry, I particularly would like to mention the participation of David Kessler, the Managing Director of Studio Orange and the Director of Orange Content. He’s a leading figure in the French cinema industry. He was among other important positions, the former director of the CNC.” MISS GOODWILL AMBASSADOR PAGEANT The Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja was the venue of the recent Miss Goodwill Ambassador for Peace Beuaty Pageant. The event was also used to recognize men and women who have contributed to building a more peaceful Nigerian environment. Award recipients included Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu who was represented by Alhaji Umar Farouk. Other awardees were Williams Babatunde Fowler, Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Services, Lt. Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai, Chief of Army Staff who was represented by

Major Gen. M. Mohammed. From the entertainment sector, the awardees were Seyi Law, Ice Prince, Moses Nowkedi, better known as Big Mo of Wazobia FM. Awardees from the private were John E. Mukoro, President and Founder of McCarthy and Martha Mukoro Foundation among others. The entertainment package at the event included a session f comedy and musical rendition by Stylplus. The contestants provided a different kind of entertainment each time they made an appearance on the stage-at different times in Nigerian ethnic costumes and evening wear. Contestants for the top prize were reduced to 11. Miss Edo emerged Miss Ambassador for Peace in Africa, while Miss FCT went home with the most valued crown as Miss Ambassador for Peace Nigeria 2017. WOLE OJO, ODUNLADE ADEKOLA, OTHERS STAR IN ‘HASHTAG 40 MILLION’ Nollywood actors Hafiz Oyetoro (Saka), Odunlade Adekola, Wole Ojo, Kunle Bamtefa, Mary Lazarus, Niyi Johnson, and a host of others are some of the faces that will be seen in the new production of ADDPEC Media World International ‘Hashtag 40 Million’. Already in production, the film is directed by Tunde Olaoye and shot in the serene environment of Lekki, Lagos. According to the executive producer, Mr. Adeshina Akinyosade, the production which engaged about 35 experienced and notable film crew members, 10 Nigerian rated actors and approximately 20 additional upcoming movie talents promises to be an industry hit in content, production and all ramification. “ ‘Hashtag 40 Million’ is a strong metaphor for human unending chase for what is not real at the expense of reality. The product is embedded with great details, quality characters, comedy, action, suspense,great expectations and didactic lessons”,he enthused. Akiyosade added that the movie which happens to be the company’s third production in Nigeria was supported by the likes of Growing Circle International Limited, Wesco Pools, Lotto and Peculiar Properties Limited. In his remark, Olaoye described the flick as perfect for the cinema. “We have very good actors on set. The title of the story is more or less like a decoy to the story itself. The crux of the story is how genuine love triumphs over infatuation, how hatred can transform to love, how love heals the past,” he said. Popular actor, Wole Ojo, plays the role of Ola, a young man who finds himself at crossroads. “Ola is a regular guy, but there’s more to him than meets the eye. Due to circumstances, he finds himself doing certain things that compromise his beliefs and views about life. It’s a character that did not necessarily have much dialogue, but more of expressions”, Ojo hinted about his character. SIMI CELEBRATES WITH #CHILLWITHSIMI EVENTS The first one held last month to celebrate notable feats of her new album Simisola which ranked No. 5 on USA Billboard World Albums Chart, topping iTunes and Apple Music charts in Nigeria, Ghana, and Gambia. At the maiden meet-and-greet session titled #ChillWithSimi, the singer spent time with her loyal fans, staying true to her promise to keep her fans - The SimiArmy happy through her music. Subsequently, #ChillWithSimi took place on Independence Day - October 1 - at The Palms Shopping Mall, Lekki to commemorate the country’s special holiday, as well as entertain and interact with her fans in a truly enchanting musical atmosphere. The gifted and charming singer plans to continue to captivate and expand her fanbase with her fascinating vocals and songs, along with more upcoming #ChillWithSimi events within and outside of the country. She will be taking the event to Ghana, Uyo, Abuja, Ibadan, and Ilorin in the coming weeks.

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TRIBUTE

The Legacy of Chief Nathan Udogwu Vanessa Obioha

f there was one word used to describe the late Chief Nathan Udogwu, it was kind-hearted. He was an embodiment of that word even till his untimely death in September. Anyone who encountered him during his lifetime spoke highly of his generosity. From his immediate family to his community AwoOmamma where he was once chairman of his Local Government, Oru in Imo state, Chief Udogwu touched many lives. His sudden death on September 3 was a great shock to many. Not many believed the sad news when it first broke. The widows in his community Awo-Omamma in Imo state refused to accept the news. His sister Ify Felix felt her world stopped moving. Chief Executive of J.Green Mbadiwe and Sons Ltd, Chief Victor Mbadiwe, who shared a special bond with the deceased was thoroughly heartbroken. Unfortunately, they had to accept the bitter truth that indeed the man who many described as a man with the golden heart has departed the earthly plane. Nath as his loved ones called him was born on July 21, 1948. He was the second son of his parents who were great philanthropists. When his father passed on in 1979, Nathan, together with his six siblings created a familial bond that stood the test of time. Nath and his two brothers paired themselves with their younger sisters. Each played a fatherly role to the sisters while the oldest sister played the motherly role to all of them. The youngest Ify and Nath were very close. She described him as a very compassionate man who was always there for her. â€œHe was so compassionate. If I havenâ€™t heard from him in a while because he was busy, I will just send a message to him that Iâ€™m not doing well and the next minute he is calling me. He was my 911 call. Always there for me. I donâ€™t know what to do to fill the gap. We talk all the time. He was the loveliest person on earth,â€? she said in a plaintive tone. She has lovely memories of him. From those happy moments when he would playfully dance in front of his siblings or children, or when he would jokingly tell her to crack the knuckles of his toes. So close were they that the only way she could effectively convey her emotions was to write several poems about him. The late Nath met Victor during his secondary school years. The two immediately got on each other like a house on fire. Their relationship rubbed off on their parents and soon the two families became very close. In fact, in his tribute to the deceased, Victor revealed that they were called â€˜Siamese Twinsâ€™ because of their close relationship.

Nathan Udogwu

They both went to United States of America to study, although to different locations, they however kept in touch. On returning to Nigeria after graduation, Nath stayed in Owerri while Victor stayed in Kaduna. Yet, the distance never affected their relationship for they visited each other. At one time, they had a close brush with death. â€œWe were both on the same flight travelling to Kaduna and there was turbulence. The turbulence got so bad that Nath at a point asked me â€˜So this is how we are going to end upâ€™, but God miraculously saved us and we landed safely.â€? The last time Victor would see his friend was during the yuletide season in 2016 when the departed dedicated the Anglican church in Awo-Omamma- which he renovated for his community- in a thanksgiving service. Before his untimely passing, he sent a voicemail to Victor to tell him he was on his way to America and would probably stopped by in New York where Victor is based to see him. Nathâ€™s philanthropy knew no bounds that his sister, Ify wondered how the orphans and widows who have been beneficiaries of his kindness through his Nathanâ€™s Foundation would cope with his death. He gave each and every one of them including the poor and the

needy a monthly salary. Just last Christmas, she revealed he empowered many of his community members through cash, skill acquisition programme, as well as machinery such as motorcycles and sewing machines to start a trade. It was not the first time he did such monumental work for his community. During his tenure as the local government chairman in the late 90s, he ensured that every indigene of his hometown was empowered either through employment or education. â€œThere was this time I came home and one of my uncle who was a palm wine tapper had his suit on, and I asked him where he was going, he said he was a government worker. That everyone is now a government worker. Truly, that was what Nathan did when he was the local government chairman. He gave employment to everyone in his community, and the ones he could not give jobs, he gave them cash. Nathan was very loved by all.â€? Indeed he was very instrumental to the development of his community through his philanthropy and patriotic service. His source of wealth was not questionable for Victor described the graduate of Business Administration as a very shrewd and successful businessman with businesses in importation, real estate and other trades. He

was also a staunch Christian who loved and obeyed God with all his heart, according to Ify. Nath died of a heart surgery in Denver, Colorado, USA. He is survived by his wife, siblings and six children. Blade Runner 2049 storms cinemas After a grand premiere, a new Hollywood sci-fi movie, Blade Runner 2049, has hit the cinemas across the country, and since then it has been attracting film aficionados to the box office. The premiere, which held amidst soft music, drinks and canapĂŠs at the prestigious Silverbird Cinema, Victoria Island, Lagos, attracted celebrities including Mr Jonathan Murray-Bruce , executive director, Silverbird Group; Ugochi Ihezue, Most Beautiful Girl Nigeria (MBGN) 2017; Emmanuella Yaboh, MBGN Miss ECOWAS, and Stephanie Agbasi, MBGN Miss Universe, who all dazzled on the red carpet, posing for the paparazzi and fielding questions from the press. Murray Bruce was all smiles having thoroughly enjoyed watching the film, describing it as â€œquite fantasticâ€?. And for MBGN Miss ECOWAS, Emmanuella Yaboh, the â€œsci-fi movie is thrilling. The flying cars particularly got my attention,â€? she enthused. Visually stunning and narratively satisfying Blade Runner 2049 will strike a chord in the hearts of movie lovers, as they throng the cinemas when the film officially opened across the country. Distributed by Silverbird Film Distribution, Blade Runner 2049 deepens and expands its predecessorâ€™s story while standing as an impressive filmmaking achievement in its own right. 30 years after the events of the first film, Blade Runner unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge whatâ€™s left of society into chaos. Officer Kâ€™s (Ryan Gosling) discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former LAPD blade runner who has been missing for three decades. Kâ€™s job is to track down bio-engineered human beings also known as replicants. But heâ€™s beleaguered by erroneous childhood memories that he imagines to be real. Kâ€™s hologram, Joi, who goes with him everywhere through the help of a mobile projector, dies when the projector is destroyed. Does K survive in the search for his identity? Why is Niander Wallace so engrossed with the idea of creating replicants? What are replicants? The movie aptly answers these questions. Set in California in a futuristic year 2049, Blade Runner is a remake of Riddly Scottâ€™s 1982 movie, Blade Runner, which in itself is based on Philip K. Dickâ€™s novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Aside Harrison Ford and Rhyan Gosling, the film parades other season actors like Robin Wright, Ana de Armas, Lennie James, Dave Bautista, Carla Juri, Jared Leto, Mackenzie Davis, and Sylvia Hoeks.

nly five women are mentioned in the lineage of Jesus Christ. Even more interesting is the profile of these privileged ladies. First is Tamar, her husbandâ€™s wickedness attracted the wrath of God, resulting in his death. When she was not given to her brother-in-law as a wife, according to custom, Tamar posed as a prostitute and got pregnant by her father-in-law. Next is Rahab. You may remember her as the Canaanite prostitute who hid the spies Joshua sent to Canaan. For this kind act, Rahab and her family were spared when Israel took over the land. Next is Ruth the Moabite, who insisted on following her mother-in-law, Naomi, back to Bethlehem after the death of her husband, her brother-in-law and her father-in-law. There Ruth

A Lineage of Grace met and married Boaz, a wealthy relative of her deceased husband. Then there is Bathsheba, with whom King David committed adultery. When his plans to cover his tracks failed, the King had Bethshebaâ€™s husband killed and married her. Finally we have Mary, who was engaged to Joseph but rumoured to have gotten pregnant outside wedlock. Mary actually conceived by the unction of the Holy Spirit and the baby in her womb was Jesus, the Son of God and saviour of the world. Neither of these women would have received an award for good behaviour. Check out their resume â€“ Tamar and Rahab; women of easy virtue, Ruth; a woman seemingly plagued with bad luck and one who warmed her way into the life of her husbandâ€™s wealthy

relative. Bethsheba; an adulterer and perhaps an accomplice in murder. And Mary, an alleged fornicator. If anything, these five women would have been the subject of hot gossip in their society. But God grafted them into the lineage of the messiah. These five were beneficiaries of grace; Godâ€™s unmerited favour. In scripture the number 5 stands for grace. â€˜By grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works lest any man should boastâ€™ (Ephesians 2:8,9) We are saved by grace when we sincerely repent and believe in Jesus as the son of God. Normally our sins should disqualify us before God. Rather it qualifies us for grace.

We are not saved by our good works as many of us erroneously believe. By Godâ€™s standard we would never be good enough. That is why He took the punishment for our sins by dying on the cross. Now if we forsake our sins, believe in Him and follow Him, we too get grafted into this lineage of grace and we embark on the most exciting journey of our lives; a relationship with God that brings us joy, peace, fulfilment in this life and hope for the life to come. So, if we feel unworthy before God, let the example of Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba and Mary be an encouragement that notwithstanding how society sees us, to God we are candidates for mercy. When we respond to His love we too will join the lineage of grace.

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Adegbola, Bola Ige’s Daughter, Takes after Dad Recently, wife of the Ondo State Governor, Mrs. Betty Rotimi-Akeredolu led other eminent Nigerians to Ibadan, the Oyo State capital to commission a modern four-storey edifice on the new permanent site of The Vale College, founded by Mrs. Funso Adegbola, nee Bola Ige. Funke Olaode reports

n his life time, the late Cicero of Esa-Oke and former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Chief Ajibola Ige, SAN was an advocate of qualitative education for all, irrespective of your parental backgrounds. His legacy still resonates in the old Oyo State, which comprised Oyo and Osun, where he held sway as governor over three decades ago. Outside office, Ige continued the gospel of free education. It was on record that Ige’s benevolence in providing free education paved the way for many eminent Nigerians, who are making waves in their endeavours. Last year September, in celebration of the life and times of the late orator, Educare Trust in Collaboration with The Vale College Ibadan, organised the First Bola Ige Inter-Faculty Oratory Contest to mark his posthumous birthday. Ige died 15 years ago but one of his children has kept the light burning in the last 23 years, providing qualitative education to the teeming young Nigerians. Thus, on Sunday September 17, 2017, dignitaries from all walks of life led by the wife of the Ondo State Governor, Mrs. Betty RotimiAkeredolu converged on Ibadan, the Oyo State capital to witness another milestone in the life of The Vale College, as it commissioned a modern four storey edifice on its permanent site located at Plot 6 & 7, Adebo Avenue, Iyaganku GRA, Ibadan. The Vale College is a foremost coeducational institution founded by the eldest daughter of Bola Ige, Mrs. Funso Adegbola and has been in existence on Adetokunbo Ademola Avenue within the Iyaganku GRA. The management decided to extend its tentacles to its present permanent site in order to continue its history of excellence and knowledge. Established by the Solemilia Educational Trust on November 7, 1994 as a private coeducational secondary school, it is designed to cater to the educational and pastoral needs of individuals from Grade 7 to Grade 12 (JSS1SSS3). The college is a Bible-based Christian school that values character building in young ones. The school also set out to make itself the first choice of parents and children, who seek excellent education – boarding or day – in a co-educational environment, based on its curriculum, discipline, independence of mind and service to the community. And as part of its process to fulfilling its mission statement, the school runs broad curricula – the Nigerian and the British curricula – while public speaking and elocution, christian fellowship, leadership training and charitable activities have been part of the school programmes since inception in 1993. Over the past 23 years, the school which resumed with 13 students and 10 teachers at its first premises in Old Bodija, where it remained till 1998, when it moved to Adetokunbo Ademola in Iyanganku GRA has recorded many feats. Recalling the journey thus far, elated Adegbola said, “We have expanded over the years as new hostel facility, spacious enough to house 300 students was commissioned in 2007 as boys’ hostel and in 2013, another three storey building was commissioned in April 2013, which is currently the girls’ hostel. Today, we are celebrating the completion of a modern four-storey edifice which will accommodate all

L R: Member Board of Governors,Mr.Gbenro Adegbola; Director, Vale College, Mrs. Funso Adegbola; Wife of Ondo State Governor,Mrs Betty Akeredolu and Venerable Gabriel Daramola at the Dedication of The Vale College Permanent site held at Iyaganku GRA Ibadan... recently PHOTO: Felix Ademola

the classrooms, laboratories and offices.” Adegbola, a lawyer-turned educationist, who has two degrees in Spanish and French from the University of Essex and a law degree from Bristol University both in United Kingdom, said The Vale College is a result of a dream given by God to raise men and women of knowledgeable and be of service to the community. “I started my school as a 33-year-old with two little children: One is three years and the second is 11 months. I didn’t start it because of my children but God sent dream helpers all along the path of my life. I first shared the vision with my immediate late brother, Mr. Babatunde Ige, who died in his sleep in 1993. He never saw the physical manifestation of the college. And that is why I do a scholarship on his behalf every year. “But after God, the greatest benefactors of this project were my parents. My father gave me the capital seed to start the school and my mother gave me her building to start the hostel. When I look back, it was a huge sacrifice on their part. This is a child, who is a lawyer coming out from doing law to dabble into education. So, they had faith in me and believed it was going to succeed. They supported me all the way. The next people I would say God has used to bless me is my staff. I have phenomenal staff. “There are not many school owners that have a kind of committed and dedicated staff that I have. They run with the vision, which shows the hands of God. I have staffers that have worked with me for 20 years, 17 years and 16 years. The average number of years of my staff is eight years. I am blessed and count myself as extremely fortunate by the staff God has given me. The other people are the parents to have entrusted their kids in my care. It is an awesome responsibility that I don’t take for granted.” Over the past two decades, the Adegbola wards have demonstrated excellence in their endeavours. A few years back, The Vale College had partnered a Balyesa State governor, who

later became President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to provide education to Balyesa indigenes. Those under-privileged kids did not only excel at the college, they equally moved abroad for further studies. Also, fifty per cent of her former students are in Ivy League universities abroad, while a couple of them have graduated with First Class Degree in Law, Medicine, Engineering, Pharmacy and still counting. “I am proud to say my students are making waves globally. One of them, Yewande Akinola received Queen Elizabeth II Award in 2012, as one of the best female engineers under 30 in the whole of UK. They do leadership programmes at the African Leadership Academy in South Africa. Two of my students have gone for the Yale Summer School. One took place in Ghana and the second took place in Rwanda, both scholarship funded. I have been to Harvard Business School, I have been to Lagos Business School, and I have sent my staff to Cambridge for training, Ghana for training. So, we do a lot of international exposure for both our students and teachers,” On the efforts being made in impacting her immediate community, Adegbola said a few years ago that she started annual scholarship scheme in memory of her late parents, Bola/ Atinuke Ige for children in public schools. “Bola Ige scholarship is for students in public primary school in Oyo and Osun States. Every year, we give a scholarship for the best boy and girl through examinations: written and oral. The best two gets scholarship worth N12 million for the six years post primary education. “Then I do another one under the Atinuke Ige Scholarships for students in public secondary schools. The best outstanding boy and girl in both Oyo and Osun States receive a scholarship worth N2 million to come to The Vale Tutorial College for their ‘A’ Levels for a period of one year. We have been doing that now in the past five years. They have done excellently well. I have three of them studying medicine in University of Ibadan.

“Maryam Adeyanju is currently studying medicine. Of significant note is that it is not an ordinary scholarship but an award that has transformed lives. For instance, the N12 million awards have benefitted pupils whose parents are bricklayers, tailors, bread seller. One of the students, Boluwatife, whose mother sells bread with a capital of less than three thousand naira made headlines in the papers last year when he won a scholarship worth N12 million.” All these achievements, Adegbola said were made possible by exemplary Board of Governors that believes in her and her vision. The board of governors, for the first 20 years, was chaired by Chief Mrs. Christies Ade-Ajayi and now by Dr. Tony Marinho. Her husband, Mr. Gbenro Adegbola; the current governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu; Dr. (Mrs.) Ogunsanya, Mr. Asue Ighodalo, Mr. Niran Fafowora, Mrs. Tokunbo Ige, Dr. Titi Akingbogun and others too numerous to mention have stood by Adegbola, giving valuable advices and support – spiritual, financial and professional especially, architect Sukky Onadeko Giving testimonies on how the school has transformed their lives, current students of the school, Oloni Oserogo and Biyi Campell commended the founder for keeping the vision of standard education alive. For Campbell, who came to the school timid in 2014, the excellence and knowledge he received has transformed him to be a leader and to raise his head high. Speaking on behalf of the alumni, Jide Salami, who joined the school 17 years ago said apart from academic excellence inculcated into him, the family value system which TVC is known for has equally had positive impact on him. The vice-principal administration, Mr. Billy Oladimeji said the school has not only helped some of them to give their children sound education, it has also involved their lives positively. The well attended ceremony was rounded up by Ven. Godwin Daramola, who admonished the management to keep the flag flying as it continues to churn out stars.

T H I S D AY SUNDAY OCTOBER 15, 2017

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PRIZE AND PREJUDICE PAGE 65

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20 YEARS AFTER FELA: YESTERDAY’S MESSAGE ASTODAY’S REALITY Fela

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

OCT ͯͳ˜ Ͱͮͯ͵ ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

ARTS & REVIEW\\TRIBUTE

20 YEARS AFTER FELA: YESTE MESSAGE AS TODAY’S REALI

Fela's message remains relevant today as it was 20 years ago, says Lanre A

rom the second week of this October the power of the Fela persona will surely resurface as the annual Felabration comes alive. Some extra flavour to this year’s Felabration should be expected being the 20th anniversary of the passage of the afro beat originator and revolutionary artist. As usual there will be live performances by international and local bands; there will be rendition of many of Fela’s tunes; and more importantly there will be turnout of thousands of Afrobeat faithful at the epicentre of the celebrations —the New Afrikan shrine in Ikeja – and elsewhere in Lagos and Ibadan. Also as usual, the dominant faces in the Felabration crowd will be hundreds of youths who had not been born or probably were infants about the time the Abami Eda was taking his final bows from stage and mother earth. Yes, they did not and could not have seen Fela in person not to talk of ever watching any of his live shows but they will be there all the same because they have come to know him through his many lyrics that speak to today’s reality almost beyond imagination. My generation shares similarity with the younger generation in the above sense for it was Fela’s lyrics that first connected us with him. The added advantages which some of us enjoyed included the fact that we later got to know him at lectures and live performances on campuses as well as at the second Afrikan Shrine on Pepple Street in Ikeja. We also met him through journalism pursuits and engagement in common political struggles. In this regard I do recall that my brother, Ayodele, and I first knew Fela as teenagers while simultaneously working as laboratory attendants and retaking WAEC at Ijebu-Jesa Grammar School. That privilege came our way courtesy of the fact that Bros Dandy, an Uncle of ours operated a radio repairs and music shop uptown and we were always there to listen to varieties of music including that of Fela. Those were the days of record cassettes and anytime we listened to any of Fela’s new albums, we would freely obtain the cassettes to replay and replay on our sound system at home. Prior to this period, Fela’s Kalakuta Republic had been razed in 1977 by soldiers from Abalti barracks in Surulere, Lagos acting on the orders of the then Obasanjo/Yar' Adua military government, which was obviously infuriated by the record Zombie in which Fela’s made scathing attack on uniformed men. The lyrics that flowed from that brutal experience were full of expression of anger against the injustice in the society, especially as meted to him by the powers that be. And so we listened to Sorrow Tears and Blood, Run Run and much later as undergraduates, Unknown Soldier, in which Fela’s lamentation about how ‘dem kill my mama, 78 year old mama, ideologically mama’ won wide spread sympathy for him. As young boys we were also able to energetically gyrate to the danceable beats. Neighbours started thinking that we had really gotten possessed when we started doing so in underwear having seen Fela in briefs on the back of his album and in newspapers. Living then at the boys’ quarters of another Uncle, late Salau Ojelabi, within his Country Hotel premises we were becoming some spectacle and I also do recall that a Ghanaian teacher who lived upstairs would always drag his wife inside anytime our noisy live performance (in underwear only) of the Ijebu-Jesa version of the Kalakuta show attracted her to the balcony. Now with the benefit of hindsight, it invariably meant that through Fela we the then

Fela Kuti playing piano teenagers had begun part of the political journeys that would take us into the world of radical and revolutionary activism for the socio-economic transformation of Nigeria. Indeed, I had become an undergraduate at the University of Ife in the 1980s and was already a students’ union activist when I had my second encounter with Fela by watching him perform live at the amphitheatre on the campus and later by getting involved in the struggle to free him after he had been jailed for alleged currency trafficking offence by the Buhari-Idiagbon military government in 1984. At this later stage of the second encounter, I was already President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and it had been the idea of Fela’s Lawyers, late Kanmi Isola-Osobu and Femi Falana (FF) that on the day of judgement over the currency “offence”, I would be invited to enter a mitigation plea on behalf of millions of students and youths before the Justice Okoro Idogu tribunal. Preparatory towards this, I was privileged to accompany Kanmi and FF to meetings with the Kutis at late Prof. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti’s Alaka, Lagos residence where I first met Femi Kuti and Keji Hamilton, one of Fela’s legendary key-boardists. But I never made it to the Tafawa Balewa Square venue of the tribunal on judgement day as armed soldiers forcefully turned me back because I was not a lawyer. There were outbursts of tears once the verdict became public knowledge and there was commotion at Fela’s Ikeja residence where Fela’s boys and girls were already giving Prof. Hindu, the Ghanaian magician who had become Fela’s oracle diviner, the beating of his life for allegedly failing to use his black magic to prevent Fela’s arrest and

subsequent imprisonment. Our presence saved Prof. Hindu as he rode with us in Kanmi’s car to Ikeja under-bridge where he gladly dropped off. The struggle to free Fela took off in earnest and we students played major roles in this. I was later invited to deliver a lecture at the Afrikan shrine as part of the “Free Fela” campaign. That invitation meant that for the first time, I had to attempt a political and social analysis of Fela’s musical messages. I did this by examining about 10 of Fela’s songs including the already mentioned Zombie, Sorrow Tears and Blood and Unknown Soldier as well as International Thief Thief, Vagabonds in Power, Shuffering and Smiling, Yellow Fever, etc, explaining in the process how they dealt with the whole gamut of malaise afflicting our society including police and military brutality, abuse of human rights, social and economic injustice, pervasive corruption, artificial beauty, etc as one would strive to do again in this short series. A copy of that lecture should be lying somewhere among late Beko Kuti’s archives. Beko was the central figure in that struggle and he became quite disturbed when the military authorities decided to seize copies of “Army Arrangement” alongside promotional vests and other materials while Fela continued to suffer in prison. At a stage he decided to seek the assistance of Prof. Wole Soyinka and requested that I travel to Ife to help enlist his support and fix an appointment. Soyinka obliged and few days later the three of us met over a lunch of Eba and Okro complete with bird and bush meat, the products of the

Nobel Laureate’s famous hunting expeditions. It was a much relieved Beko that travelled back to Lagos following Soyinka’s pledge to intervene. The third encounter with Fela came in the post-1984/85 detention period. Now living and working as a journalist in Lagos one became a fair regular at his Friday night and Saturday “yabis” night comprehensive shows, press conferences and other activities including album launch. At some point, one was privileged to have witnessed the public launch of Confusion Break Bone (CBB), Overtake don Overtake Overtake (ODOO), etc sometimes as Master of Ceremony. I can recall that it was at the launch of CBB that Fela’s in his remarks humorously attested to the prophetic nature of his own music. “You see when I dey compose dis song, dat time those who dey rule Nigeria dey call demselves head of state but as I dey record the song the word President just enter my mouth. I no know say Babangida go come and call himself president. Na so my music be, e fit wait for you for ten years o, hin go just catch you ni pemu’,” he had said to loud cheers. Fela was referring to the verse – “dem come dey hold Shagari, dem say president Shagari him steal, se Shagari alone dem go hold, about the other presidents too” – in the album. Starting with the immediate post-detention block buster, Beast of No Nation (BONN), Fela’s lyrical narratives at this phase were politically sharper, deeply reflective, highly intuitive, more conversational about the issues of the day and decisively more critical about various manifestations of power abuse. Thus, from BONN to CBB; from Overtake don Overtake Overtake (ODOO) to Country of Pain (COP); from Underground System (US) - recorded as a tribute to assassinated radical military leader of Burkina Fasso,

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ BER 15, 2017

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ERDAY’S ITY

Arogundade

late Captain Thomas Sankara – to Teacher Don’t Teach Me Nonsense and from Government of Crooks (GOC), Chop and Clean Mouth Like Nothing Happen Na the New Name for Stealing to Condom Scallywag Nonsense, the hot numbers came rapidly as if Fela knew the end was near and he had to download for posterity. Interviews with the Abami Eda, often after midnight, during this period were also livelier and full of more jibes. “Arogundade, you said you dey do human rights and Martins Luther King grandson came to Nigeria. Him no visit me Fela, wey don dey fight government so tey wey Nigeria police, not American police don beat; Nigeria police sabi beat o. Him no even visit Beko who talk say him dey do human rights for Anthony but he come go visit policeman for Benin (jocularly referring to Chief Igbinedion). Me I no understand dis your human rights o”, he once told me during an encounter that would lead to a cover story for the Weekend Concord under the editorship of Mike Awoyinfa in the early nineties. To go back to the beginning: If Fela’s music connects generations, if his music fills the air during mass movements as witnessed during the anti-fuel price hike protests and rallies of January 2012 and if his music would dominate the airwaves again this October, it is because in the final analysis he remains the ultimate prophet that saw our tomorrow and perhaps beyond as we shall seek to demonstrate in our own little way through the re-visit of one or two of his numbers. –––Arogundade writes from Lagos

The Inverted Pyramid; Adapted from a novel by Emeka Dike

OCTOBER 15, 2017˾THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

ARTS & REVIEW\\LITERARY CAFÉ

SETTOPARTYWITHDIE-HARDBOOKWORMS Yinka Olatunbosun

t's a common belief, albeit sometimes erroneous that bespectacled people are bookworms or nerds. If you hang around committed readers, you'd know better than that. Recently, at the soon-to-be rejuvenated Nimbus Library, Ikoyi, a non- bespectacled avid reader, Georg Nakanda was spotted. If his name rings a bell, it’s either owing to his radio show or his affinity for books and Nigerian authors. Just as a good reader never judges a book by its cover, Nakanda can’t really be judged by his looks or his voice on radio. From Frederick Forsythe to John Grisham, Nakanda's list of read books is very much elastic. The conversation with Nakanda began with his name, Georg without the usual last letter “e”. If your device auto-corrects the name, you may get in trouble with Nakanda who has a very strong yet hilarious argument for spelling his name without the “e”. “George means farmer and I’m not a farmer,” he argued. “I failed agriculture in school and my mum said I should take over my grandfather’s farm if I want to go to school again. So I struck out the ‘e’.” Adjusting in his bamboo-made chair whenever the topic changed, Nakanda seemed very much excited to talk about books. He could have been just another on-air personality, dropping hot singles, reviewing music albums. But he demonstrated that reading is an essential element of being human when he introduced a special 30-minute segment in a two-hour reggae show called, “Reggae One Drop” on Top Radio. “I started the segment to review Nigerian authors who tell Nigerian stories. As long as you can write and publish something good, you can come on the show,” he disclosed. In his experience as the host for the show, Nakanda had seen great authors who were poor orators. Some authors can’t read fluently. This OAP thinks there is a very deep connection between the ability to write and ability to sell one's self through the published works. “There are authors who just write a little story and when they come on air, they set the whole studio on fire as everyone likes to call in and talk to them. There are authors who have wonderful stories and when they come on air, read they end up killing their stories. I think it is the responsibility of publishing houses to groom the authors for public reading.” Meanwhile, Nimbus Library, domiciled in Bogobiri, a cultural hub in Ikoyi, will soon begin fantastic book parties – unprecedented and far from

boring. It will feature celebrities who will participate in the book reading sessions with light refreshment, music and performances. “I want something that we can infuse young people into,” Nakanda added. “Authors hardly target young people. But if you say a Wizkid or Davido is going to read, they'll come because they are not really interested in the books but in seeing the artistes. So when the artistes say that their brand is not just about shaking the ‘bums’,

taking alcohol and drugs but also about adding value to yourself, I am sure it will be interesting. We need to push the young generation to a better place not just getting soaked in the lifestyle of get-rich quick.” The rapper who made this line popular, “Get rich or Die Trying,” 50 Cent is an avid reader and an author with a book reviewed positively by Wall Street Journal. But most music fans hardly pay attention to the intellectual side of their favourite artists. Most recording artists

whose lyrics are philosophical have read wide and sometimes tap from their favourite books to write lyrics. The pop diva, Beyonce recently brought excerpts from one of Chimamanda Adichie's books in one of her music videos to highlight the theme of feminism. The Nimbus book party will draw more artistes to the literary circles, all things equal. It is often argued that this generation hardly reads. But Nakanda thinks it is because people want incentives to read. “I don’t think Nigerians don’t read, I think what they read is the problem. People want to read certain materials that won’t do them any good especially on social media. They don’t read articles in newspapers. They just want to read what is viral.” Another burning topic was the kind of prize money attached to literary contests. It is often a paltry sum especially when compared with the prize money that await reality show winners. Nakanda explained how Nigerian authors can get ahead of this poor value placed on the literary efforts in Nigeria. “There was a time when little value was placed on Nigerian music but now, foreigners want to collaborate with Nigerian musicians,” he said. “Nigerian authors need to rebrand. Some authors don’t have soft copies of their works handy at book readings. And they don’t target young audience. Some write only one book in ten years. Readers want to go on adventure. Feed your readers with books, don’t let them go. That way, the audience will grow bigger.” Nakanda also argued that authors and publishing houses don’t advertise newly-released books the way movie producers market their movies. Without the support of corporate bodies, most books are never advertised. “Authors need cult following and that is what Corporate Nigeria wants. How many times have you seen a billboard advertising a book? I believe that anything can be sold.” In the meantime, Nimbus Library will soon become readers’ hub and the book parties will be a monthly event at Bogobiri. That way, real readers can meet, talk about books they have read, wine and dine while those pretending to read will be motivated or intimidated. “Everybody will tell you that they like to read, just so they can look prestigious,” Nakanda added. “It is an elitist thing to read for those who don’t like to read. Some will buy the books and keep them at the back of their car so that passers-by can think they read.” By the end of November, the Nimbus book party will bridge the gap between the real and fake readers. And ultimately, the love of books will prevail as more reading audience will be generated in a fun-filled atmosphere of bookworms. Who says reading can’t be fun?

ART GALLERY

ARTYRAMA LAUNCHES ONLINE ART GALLERY Yinka Olatunbosun

rtyrama has launched an online African art gallery. The gallery hopes to grant aﬁcionados from across the world access to a variety of African art, leveraging cutting-edge technology to provide a seamless, carefully curated online experience. Also, Artyrama’s digital catalogue will host a wealth of contemporary art collections; including paintings, photographs, sculptures and mixed media that document Africa’s rich culture. The outﬁt will also provide advisory services for anyone looking to buy and sell art, drawing on strong industry experience in the African art market. According to Artyrama's general manager, Sola Masha, Artyrama aims to introduce art to people who have never experienced or

acquired art from Africa as well as people who have an interest in the African art world but do not have a user-friendly platform from which to experience it. “We are passionate about African art and are committed to giving these works a global stage, promoting the development of art and culture in Africa but more importantly,showcasing the amazing talent that exists on the continent. Artyrama intends to capitalize on its pioneer status to become the number one gateway for African art online," he adds. "Africa is home to a thriving art culture," says Artyrama's art manager and curator, Akinyemi Adetunji. "Its enormous diversity of ethnic groups and cultures is captured beautifully in the art created by her artists. We are heralding a new age for African art by giving it a platform and giving people all over the world access to and advisory on the diverse range of African art available."

Lemi

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž T ÍŻÍłËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

ARTS & REVIEW\\THE NIGERIA LITERATURE PRIZE

PRIZE AND PREJUDICE Ă™Ăœ Ă’Ă“Ă? ĂŒĂ™Ă–ĂŽ Ă‹ĂšĂšĂœĂ™ĂšĂœĂ“Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? ĂžĂ’Ă? Ă™Ă–ĂŽ Ă?Ă‹Ă˜Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă? ĂšĂ™Ă?ĂžĂœĂŁËœ Ă•Ă?Ă™Ă‘Ă&#x; Ă•Ă? Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ˜Ă? Ă’Ă“Ă—Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă? ĂžĂ’Ă? Ă™ĂšĂšĂœĂ™ĂŒĂœĂ“Ă&#x;Ă— Ă™Ă? Ă?ĂœĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă? ĂŒĂ&#x;Ăž Ă‘Ă?ĂžĂ? ĂœĂ?ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽĂ?ĂŽ ĂĄĂ“ĂžĂ’ Ă’Ă? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă“ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ? ĂœĂ“Ă¤Ă?ËŞĂ? Ă–Ă‹Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă– ĂĄĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ’Ëœ ĂĄĂœĂ“ĂžĂ?Ă? Okechukwu Uwaezuoke

ke has made ancient forms new again.â€? These words, pronounced by Professor Abena Busia, drip with compliments. Besides, the Nigeria Literature Prizeâ€™s International Consultant had prefaced them with the assertion that Ikeogu Okeâ€™s The Heresiad is â€œa bold and wonderful experiment whose great strength also could have been its great weaknessâ€?. It is precisely the â€œgreat weaknessâ€? side of the coin that Odia Ofeimun â€“ a political activist, who admittedly has earned his stripes in poetry â€“ chooses to see. Unequivocal was a statement credited to him in an article published a week ago in these pages by a Lagos-based journalist Mike Jimoh. â€œThe Heresiad is a particularly ambitious work,â€? Ofeimun was quoted as saying. â€œIt comes at you as a laboured text in pursuit of the kind of 18th century poetic diction that Henry Wardsworth Longfellow damned in his Introduction to the Lyrical Ballads (sic). [Ikeogu Oke] has turned his back on the poetry of everyday speech to rummage in what he calls, but I would not accept as, heroic couplets. What he has done yields a stylistic dead end that I would not recommend as a model for Nigerian or African poetry in 2017.â€? Not even Jimoh could restrain himself from taking on Ikeogu Oke, whose efforts he likened to â€œtaking writing, poetry this time, several centuries back, to the time of Popeâ€?. This opinion, however, is one the Nigeria Literature Prizeâ€™s panel of judges didnâ€™t seem to share. Otherwise, Ikeogu Oke would not have been announced the winner last Monday (October 9) by the Advisory Board of the Nigeria Prize for Literature and Nigeria LNG Limited â€œafter an intensive process of adjudicationâ€?. Still curiouser: Ofeimun hastily and erroneously attributes Introduction to the Lyrical Ballads to Longfellow rather than to William Wordsworth.

Ikeogu Oke with Nadine Gordimer Now, doesnâ€™t this gaffe diminish his assumed scholarly status as an omniscient critic? Obviously, this high priest of the local literary scene thinks highly enough of his poetic credo to have it engraved in tablets as the holy guide and text. And woe betide that dissenting unknown outsider, who refuses to adhere strictly to them! Back to the more pertinent issue. Itâ€™s now stale news that Ikeogu Oke is the $100, 000 prizeâ€™s latest poet laureate. His entry, The Heresiad, emerged winner from among 184 entries received for the competition. Thus spake the Advisory Board chairman, Emeritus Professor Ayo Banjo, at a press conference held at Eko Hotel & Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos. â€œPoetry competition for the prize is always very fierce and very interesting,â€? Professor Banjo observed. â€œWe couldnâ€™t have been more reassured about the process because the panel of judges did a painstakingly thorough job in selecting the best from the final shortlist of three entries.â€? Equally reassured were the Panel of Judges chairman, Professor Ernest N. Emenyonu, and the General Manager, External Relations at NLNG, Kudo Eresia-Eke, whose statements were plain endorsements of the judgeâ€™s choice. To Professor Emenyonu, â€œOkeâ€™s poetry collection reveals a conscious /deliberate manipulation of language and philosophy in the style that reminds us of the writings of great Greek writers of Homeric and Hellenistic periods.â€? Meanwhile, EresiaEke declared: â€œWe are pleased with the judgesâ€™ verdict and Mr Ikeogu Oke has demonstrated that he is a fine poet and Nigerians need to rally

around and celebrate him. We must begin to build cultural icons, the likes of Professor Wole Soyinka and Professor Chinua Achebe, and this prize is the leading project doing this right now.â€? Three entries, from the initially shortlisted ones by 11 poets, had survived the judgesâ€™ scrutiny. The judges â€“ Professor Ernest Emenyonu (professor of Africana Studies at the University of Michigan, Flint, USA), Dr Razinat Mohammed (associate professor of Literature at the University of Maiduguri) and Tade Ipadeola (poet, lawyer and winner of The Nigeria Prize for Literature, 2013) â€“ had earlier chosen 11 from out of the 184 entries. Thus, Ogaga Ifowodoâ€™s A Good Mourning, Tanure Ojaideâ€™s Songs of Myself: Quartet and Ikeogu Okeâ€™s The Heresaid made it to the competitionâ€™s final stage. Privileged information from the judges suggested that the competition was further narrowed down to a choice between two entries: Ojaideâ€™s and Okeâ€™s. The latter, which â€“ published by Kraft Books Ltd â€“ â€œprobes metaphorically the inner workings of societies and those who shape themâ€?, finally emerged winner. Oke said it took him 27 years to write The Heresiad. The University of Nigeria, Nsukka MA holder in literature had informed Jimoh: â€œI started writing it in 1989 in Calabar.â€? To think the award hadnâ€™t even been conceived by then! â€œWith each passing day, week, month, year, Oke wrote lines upon lines, like a bricklayer adding a few more blocks until the building is completed,â€? Jimoh wrote. Noteworthy is the fact that the prize

money seems to have played a role in stirring up more interest in poetry. A quick scan through the facts and figures corroborates this assertion. The increase in the number of entries for the literary genre has grown from 13 in 2005 â€“ the first time poetry was in focus â€“ to 160 in 2009, then to 174 in 2013 and later to 184 this year. Recall that the value of the prize had first been upped from $20, 000 to $50, 000 before stabilising at its present value: $100, 000. Poetry is, meanwhile, just one of the four literary genres, amongst which the prize rotates annually. The other three genres are prose fiction, drama and childrenâ€™s literature. Eminent writers have featured prominently among the prizeâ€™s past winners. After the maiden edition in 2004, which had no winner, the iconic poet Gabriel Okara and Professor Ezenwa Ohaeto were co-winners of the 2005 edition, which was devoted to poetry. The 2006 edition, which focused on drama, was won by Ahmed Yerima for his work, Hard Ground. The prize was again split between two winners â€“ Mabel Segun (for her collection of short plays Readerâ€™s Theatre) and Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo (for her book, My Cousin Sammy) â€“ in 2007, when the spotlight was on childrenâ€™s literature. With the resumption of another four-year cycle, winners like Kaine Agary (2008, prose), Esiaba Irobi (2010, drama) and Adeleke Adeyemi (2011, childrenâ€™s literature) emerged. The third cycle produced the winners: Chika Unigwe (2012, prose), Tade Ipadeola (2013, poetry), and Sam Ukala (2014, drama) while the fourth cycle, which only started last year with the focus on prose, had Abubakar Adam Ibrahim as the first winner. Apparently wired to court controversy, the prize was reviled for producing no winners in 2004, 2009 and 2015. It was also once derided as a â€œghetto prizeâ€? for initially daring to exclude the hordes of Nigerian writers in the diaspora. Yet, not even its eventual inclusion of the excluded foreign-based writers and concerted fence-mending gestures with the aggrieved members of the literati could appease its diehard acerbic critics, among whom are those with a predilection for courting the limelight through needlessly stirring up the dust of controversy. Even so, the prize â€“ which belongs to the worldâ€™s most valuedâ€“ deserves the Nigerian literatiâ€™s commendation, not condemnation. They have, after all, never had it this good. Eresia-Eke enthuses, with good reasons, about the fact â€œthat the prize has inspired writers to want to deliberately advance the cause of Literature and win laurelsâ€?. But, did it really lead â€œto the proliferation of books and increased the quality of booksâ€? as he also said? Perhaps. Indeed, there is no doubt about the NLNGâ€™s lofty aims when it instituted the prize to lead to â€œa direct boost to literacy and education in the country, the foundation of cultural and socio-economic revolutionâ€?. Yet, tackling the countryâ€™s literacy problems calls for more incisive measures.

T H I S D AY SUNDAY OCTOBER 15, 2017

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 15, 2017

CICERO

Editor Olawale Olaleye Email wale.olaleye@thisdaylive.com, SMS: 08116759819

IN THE ARENA

Monkeypox Not for Political Point-scoring The spread of a new disease called monkeypox is disturbing and government must avoid its politicisation, writes Olawale Olaleye

he Monkeypox outbreak was first recorded in Bayelsa State. And since then, suspected cases of it have been reported in more than six other states, including the federal capital territory, Abuja, bringing the total number of suspected cases so far to about 33.The states currently with reported cases of the virus are Bayelsa, Rivers, Ekiti, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Ogun and Cross River, for now. The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said samples had been collected from each of the suspected cases for laboratory confirmation and results were still being awaited. NCDC’s executive officer, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, who gave an update on the development, said no deaths had been recorded so far as a result of the virus, adding that it remained unlikely that many of the suspected cases were actually monkey pox. “All the suspected cases are currently receiving appropriate medical care and the patients are all improving clinically in their various states.The Federal Ministry of Health, through the NCDC, is supporting the affected states to ensure the outbreak is brought under control and to limit further spread. “NCDC has activated an Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) to coordinate the outbreak’s investigation and response across the affected states. The EOC is currently supporting state ministries of health in their response to the outbreak through active case finding, epidemiological investigation and contact tracing. “Measures have been put in place to ensure effective sample collection and testing to enable laboratory confirmation. Risk communication activities have been heightened to advise the public on preventive measures. All 36 states and the FCT have been notified for preparedness,”he said. Apart from Ekiti State with two new suspected cases, the case in Enugu State is somewhat different as tension reportedly gripped residents following an unconfirmed case of the disease at the State University Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu. A female patient at the hospital was said to have shown signs of the disease as some strange pox were seen all over her face. The discovery made other patients to panic as they feared the disease might have finally got to the state. But the state government had swiftly denied

any such thing. In the same spirit, the Senate has urged the Federal Ministry of Health, state governments, local governments and community-based organisations to be proactive in containing the spread of the diseases. It also called for sustained enlightenment and education of citizens on efforts to take to reduce exposure to the virus. The Senate resolution, however, followed a motion sponsored by Senator Ali Wakili (Bauchi South), who expressed worry that the unavailability of vaccines or speciﬁc treatment for the virus had caused panic amongst the Nigerian people. It is therefore safe to say that both at the states and federal levels, efforts are still being made to halt the spread of the disease. Whilst government must not relent on these efforts as well as explore other options to keep the nation safe, the possibility of a descent to politics must be avoided otherwise

the concerted initiative at arresting the situation would be jeopardised. For instance, the allegations that the disease was introduced by the federal government through vaccination were a bit beneath logic and off all possibilities of what may have happened.Those who propounded this story and are selling it are not patriotic in their position, because the degeneration to political irrelevance is not in anyone’s interest. Although the federal government had described as fake and sinister, the report that the disease resulted from a free medical care exercise it allegedly administered in some parts of the Niger Delta, the need to come together as a people to support each other at a time like this is very instructive in the interest of all. Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had said in a statement that Nigerians should disregard the report, adding that“The federal government has not conducted

any free medical service or care in either Bayelsa or Rivers State, as alleged in the fake report being circulated. So, that could not have been the cause of the outbreak of Monkeypox in both states. “Monkeypox is a virus found only in monkeys and it is rare in human beings. It belongs to the same family as Chickenpox and Smallpox. It is suspected that someone may have contacted it by eating monkey meat, thus triggering the current outbreak,” Mohammed said, explaining the side of the government. As it is, the likelihood of a spread is worrisome and so, engaging in needless distraction through unfounded allegations is the last thing government wants to do. The need for a well-coordinated sensitisation, education and enlightenment of the people on this disease is also not debatable. Government must put its resources together and make this very health challenge go away once and for all.

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

Shall We Let Osinbajo Be?

Osinbajo

sked recently if he had his eyes on the presidency, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, last Monday in London at the Financial Times Africa Summit, said he had no plans to contest the 2019 presidential election. “None of that is on the cards,” said Osinbajo, who had earlier disowned a group known as Osinbajo Volunteers, campaigning for his election as pres-

ident in 2019. The professor of lawturned politician has remained one of the most loyal and honest deputies any Nigerian president has had. He has continued to face his assignments as Buhari’s deputy conscientiously as well as holding the fort where necessary. At this point, he should be left alone to face his current mandate. Distractions such as these are not his craving and not good for the team work that has been the hallmark of the Buhari presidency.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 15, 2017

BRIEFINGNOTES Atiku: Firing up His Last Presidential Bid Lately, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has been a guest of many prominent political, traditional and religious leaders across the country, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, advancing and consolidating his presidential bid through nationwide consultations. Iyobosa Uwugiaren examines his strategic political moves

ven President Muhammadu Buhari knew long time ago that a former vice-president and one of the national leaders of the All Progressive Congress (APC) at its formative stage, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, is a man to watch out for in the 2019 presidential election calculations. And apparently aware of his nerve-racking political structures across the nation, those with similar tall ambition are already building wedges on his way, including attempting to block the perceived source of funding for his presidential bid. Just last Monday, the Muhammadu Buhariled federal government directed the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to terminate the boats pilotage monitoring and supervision agreement that the agency had with Intels Nigeria Limited, a leading integrated logistics and facilities services provider in the maritime and oil and gas logistics sectors of the country – a company largely owned by Atiku, saying the contract had been voided ab initio. Conveying the decision of the federal government to NPA, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN), in a letter dated September 27, 2017 to the Managing Director of the NPA, Ms. Hadiza Bala-Usman, said the agreement, which has allowed Intels to receive revenue on behalf of NPA for 17 years, violates the Nigerian Constitution, especially in view of the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy of government. Based on the directive to terminate the agreement, Intels, stands to lose several millions of dollars in commissions for the monitoring and supervision pilotage services it handled on behalf of NPA on the Nigerian coastal waters. But trust Atiku Abubakar, those who know him very well said he had continued to walk along the blustery, stormy political pathway with huge strength and determination. Indeed, the move might have emboldened him the more as far as his presidential bid is concerned. A senior presidential aide told THISDAY recently how at the early days of the present administration, Atiku had approached Buhari with “a solid economic blueprint”, detailing how the country could immediately absolve the shock of the fall in oil prices in the global market, which has consistently threatened the economy of Nigeria in the last two years. Oil accounts for about 95 per cent of the nation’s earnings, and by extension, the livewire of her economy. Atiku was said to have comprehensively come up with a plan on how the administration could create a “competitive market” that would attract the big foreign investment players into the country, with assurances that their proposed billions of dollars investments in the country would be saved. “Atiku’s economic blueprint, which contains detailed policies and implementation strategies, was handed over to the President. And President Muhammadu Buhari was initially pleased with the suggestion”, the presidency source added. “But few weeks after the document was presented to the President,” he continued, “some political hawks around him (Buhari) strongly advised him not to allow Atiku Abubakar to indirectly bring into the country his billions of dollars. The fear of these political hawks was that Atiku Abubakar would use the huge fund to fight Buhari in the 2019 presidential election.” In spite of the fear of Atiku, many political analysts hold the view that the on-going political conversations and calculations are pointing to the fact that the Adamawa born politician would be part of other strong political choices Nigerians would have to make in 2019.

Atiku Like the governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-rufai, noted some time ago, the former vice president had long started his presidential campaign ahead of the 2019 election. To be sure, in the last few months, Atiku has been a special guest of many prominent politicians, traditional rulers, religious and influential groups across the nation, in what an insider described as “strategic political moves” to reactivate his political structures across the country. The insider told THISDAY that already, some very powerful political forces and groups, including many loyalists of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki; a former Head of States, General Ibrahim Babangida; APC national leader, Senator Ahmed Tinubu, and groups of both former and serving governors have been in different discreet political conversations with Atiku, who is reputed to have sauntered into the fourth republic with huge but measured democratic credentials. THISDAY reported recently that the push to get the former vice president to dump the APC and return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and enhance the opposition party’s bid to return to power in 2019 may have gained traction with a recent tactful meeting between him and Jonathan. The meeting was said to have been held at the instance of Atiku, who was said to be seriously considering offers made to him by a section of the leadership of the opposition party to return. The meeting with Jonathan was said to have also looked into the possibility of this condition with both of them said to have agreed that all options should be kept open as the political dynamics of the country remained fluid, requiring a more pragmatic approach to the upsurge in politicking. The early calculation may be based on the noticeable signs that President Buhari will not re-contest and the need for the core North to present a formidable candidate, who will be acceptable to the six geo-political zones, taking into consideration the burning ethno-religious

and political question in the country. Atiku is a strong advocate of restructuring of the nation’s defective political and economic structures. Even though some loyalists of Buhari said Atiku is politically damaged and may not pose any threat to APC’s presidential candidate in 2019, Atiku’s followers are of the view that the former vice-president had established himself as a democrat immediately he left the public service and became a political devotee of the late Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, the acclaimed political tactician that trod the country like a colossus. Atiku’s political history is desirable. A politician, businessman and philanthropist, he was born on November 25, 1946, and in the beginning of his national political career, served as the second elected Vice President from 1999 to 2007 under the umbrella of the PDP, with President Olusegun Obasanjo. He worked in the Nigeria Customs Service for 24 years, rising to become the DeputyComptroller-General. He retired in 1989 and took to full-time business and politics. He ran for the office of governor in the Gongola State (now Adamawa and Taraba States) in 1991 and for the presidency in 1993, coming third after the late MKO Abiola and Babagana Kingibe in the disbanded Social Democratic Party (SDP) primaries. In 1998, he contested and won election as the governor of Adamawa State. But whilst still being the governor-elect, he was picked by the PDP Presidential candidate, Obasanjo, as his running mate. They went into the election and won in 1999. Atiku’s second term as vice president was characterised by a squally relationship with Obasanjo. His attempt to succeed Obasanjo did not receive the latter’s support, and it took the judgment of the Supreme Court to allow him to contest in 2007, after he was initially disqualified by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over an alleged financial misconduct by an investigating panel set up by Obasanjo.

The apex court later ordered the electoral commission to restore Atiku’s name onto the presidential ballot and he ran on the platform of the Action Congress (AC), having quit the PDP on account of his issues with Obasanjo. Not surprisingly, he lost the election, coming third after the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Buhari of the then All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). As a consummate businessman, Atiku is the co-founder of Intels, an oil servicing business with wide-ranging operations across the country and outside the country. He is also the founder of Adama Beverages Limited, and the American University of Nigeria (AUN), both in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, where he hails from. Born to an itinerant Fulani trader and farmer, Garba Abubakar, Atiku was said to have started out in the real estate business during his early days as a Customs Officer. History has it that in 1974, he applied for and received a N31,000 loan to build his first house in Yola, which he put up for rent. From proceeds of the rent he was reported to have purchased another plot, and built a second house. He reportedly continued that way, building a considerable range of property in Yola and beyond. A “go-getter in investment”, he was said to have later moved into agriculture, acquiring 2,500 hectares of land near Yola to start a maize and cotton farm. The business fell on hard times and closed in 1986. “My first foray into agriculture in the 1980s ended in failure,” Atiku was quoted as saying in one of his media interviews. Later venturing into trading, buying and selling truckloads of rice, flour and sugar, Atiku’s most important business move was to have come while he was a Customs Officer at the Apapa Ports. One Gabrielle Volpi, an Italian businessman in Nigeria, was said to have invited him to set up Nigeria Container Services (NICOTES), a logistics company operating within the Ports. Those who knew him well said NICOTES provided immense wealth to Atiku. Atiku’s first expedition into politics was in the early 1980s, when he worked behind-thescenes on the governorship campaign of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, who at that time was managing director at the Nigeria Ports Authority. He canvassed for votes on behalf of Tukur, and also donated to the campaign. Towards the end of his Customs career, he met late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, who had been secondin-command in the military government that ruled Nigeria between 1976 and 1979. Atiku was drawn by Yar’Adua into the political meetings that were now happening regularly in Yar’Adua’s Lagos home. In 1989, Atiku was elected a National Vice-Chairman of the Peoples Front of Nigeria, a political association led by Yar’Adua, to participate in the transition programme initiated by the Ibrahim Babangida regime. Atiku won a seat to represent his constituency at the 1989 Constituent Assembly, set up to decide a new constitution for Nigeria. The People’s Front was eventually denied registration by the government and found a place within the SDP, one of the two parties decreed into existence by the regime. Many of his followers have said time and time again that a “tested hand” like Atiku is the type needed to coordinate the proper integration of the youths into the economic mainstream. The argument is that Buhari came at a time he was needed to abridge the nation’s drift towards excessive insecurity and anarchy, and that Atiku is the man to build the country for the contentment and richness of all citizens of Nigeria. But for sure, Atiku has Buhari’s team and Obasanjo to contend with in this last battle to occupy the number one political office in the country.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 15, 2017

CICERO/ISSUE

Kachikwu vs Baru: It’s Time to End the Public Spat! The unscheduled rapprochement between the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, and the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mr. Maikanti Baru, following their initial public spat has necessitated the need to move on from this phase in the nation’s interest. Olawale Olaleye writes

here is no contesting the fact that even the jury in this matter has taken sides. The depth of interest involved in the supremacy battle between Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and the General Managing Director of NNPC, Maikanti Baru, is incredible and worthy of anyone’s attention. From those protecting their personal interests as against the collective stake to those guarding the involvement of the establishment, whose going concern they must shield as against the collective standing of the Nigerian people, it is clear that this particular debate, which bothers on right and wrong, is open ended. Coming from this understanding, it is therefore instructive that all those concerned should cease fire – personally or by proxy – and move on, especially that the truth of the matter may never come to the open, if the body language of the leadership suffices. But before a closure is embraced in this matter, for posterity sake, more so that they have both embraced in public, feigning that all is well, it is imperative to review the crux of the issue again, particularly as they address the allegations of lack of adherence to due process in the awards of contracts at NNPC. Whilst Baru tried to address the contentions raised in Kachikwu’s letter without any pungent knockout points, the arrogance of the delivery is a clear indication of where the jury stands and the import of this is that should the debate continue with such propensity, the possibility of slanting into ethnic abyss is more than likely. But first, what are the issues as far as due process in the awards of contracts is concerned? The first thing to point out is that the NNPC, in its response, missed the central theme in Kachikwu’s letter, which dwelt on the elements of governance, transparency and due process in the parastatal, directly pointing at the inability or outright failure of the NNPC leadership to make this available to the architecture of the institution, meant to serve as some form of check and balances in NNPC’s administration for the benefit of all. With this template, it is imperative to mention that the original intent of the letter was not to insinuate fraud or theft against Baru or anyone at that. On the contrary, it was meant to acquaint the president with the implications of sidelining the Minister of State, whose role is to supervise the NNPC and sector agencies, evidently on behalf of the president, especially as it addresses governance in the critical sector. If this is seen in the light it represents, what then is the crux of disagreement? For example, many would like to know, given Baru’s response, what roles the Board of Directors of NNPC play in supervising its management? What with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, who is the Chairman of the Board or his role in relation to the governance of the corporation? So, let’s look at the role of the directors as clearly stated in Section 1(2) of the NNPC Act, which provides a mandate for them, statutorily. Here: “The affairs of the Corporation shall be conducted by a Board of Directors of the Corporation…” What this means is that the law recognises the Board as an essential element for governance and grants it the power of oversight over the affairs of the corporation. This is clearly stated and does not need to be debated.

Baru, Kachikwu in a hand shake Further up, the NNPC Act in Section 3(1) pegs the role of the Managing Director of NNPC. This is only in the area of the execution of the policy of the Corporation and the day-to-day running of the activities of the Corporation. To that extent, the role of the Board in this regard, is to design the policy and strategic focus of NNPC and oversee the execution role of the management. The Board oversight has therefore become an important sifter and protection for the President on key decisions within the NNPC, given the demands on his time and contrary to the GMD’s preference to always want to bypass the Board. This, of course, is an essential filter in the governance corporation, believed to have informed the need for the Board in the first place. In that context, Kachikwu represents the President as Chairman of the board and in line with the president’s mandate as the Minister of Petroleum Resources under the Petroleum Act for supervision of the industry. Here, he is to ensure proper administration of the policy of government and her strategic navigation of the NNPC as a corporation. In fact, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance plays a significant role in ensuring that NNPC’s activities do not affect the treasury, and to represent and protect the interests of the public as a whole and other appointed directors on the board.

To better understand this, it is important to note that there was no such thing as Board of Directors throughout the Kachikwu era as GMD of the Corporation. Of course and for emphasis, this was not ideal, both in form and content. Nevertheless, Kachikwu weekly reported the activities of the corporation to the President and ensured that major contracts were brought to him for approval. This tradition he upheld throughout that period he held sway. But, with a Board in place, NNPC’s governance structure changed significantly. By law, therefore, Section 1(2) of the NNPC Act mandates the Board to oversee the Corporation. There is no question about that. By implication, issues related to NNPC governance, decisions of the Tenders Board, being an organ appointed by the GMD should not question the need for a Board approval or its responsibility for oversight as defined by the Act. This much was given fillip to in the period that Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo acted while Buhari was away on medical vacation. In this period, Baru had reportedly sought certain approvals from the vice president, who knowing the process as a lawyer, directed him back to Kachikwu for approval. But Baru would rather wait for Buhari to return and indeed, the president did the needful upon his return without as much checking with Kachikwu.

But as Board Chairman appointed by the President himself, Kachikwu or any minister of state at that has a dual role in his capacity and with respect to the NNPC. First, he is to make sure that the NNPC is always consistent with approved policies of the government, and provide leadership on policy initiatives to the NNPC. The other role is ensuring that the NNPC functions stricto sensu with its Act, both in the area of governance and management. Suffice it to say that for the appointment of a Minister of State to act as alternate chair of the NNPC Board, there is a worthy precedent. It is common knowledge that Dr. Edmund Daukorou, for example, was appointed Minister of State and NNPC Board Chairman when President Olusegun Obasanjo held sway as the substantive petroleum minister. And in enhancing clarity of the respective relationships between the Minister of State and GMD NNPC as well as creating the room for more effective governance, the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua actually clarified their schedule of duties, which included the supervision of NNPC and other related agencies. Unfortunately, in the time of Buhari, it seems that the NNPC is unable to tag along with the changes initiated to prove a better administration for the sector. Indeed, for NNPC’s benefit, survival and sustainability, it is sacrosanct it functions transparently and conform to the articulated governance structure. Perhaps, NNPC can take a cue from agencies like PEF, PPPRA, PTI and NCDMB in terms of their governance structures. These ones ensure that approvals are sent to their Boards, first for consideration and presented to the Minister of State for further review. But in the case of PPPRA, there is actually no board, although its management agrees and patently so to oversight from the Minister of State’s office. The question this raises is that if other parastatals under the petroleum ministry still submit to the minister of state, why is NNPC difficult or an issue? Efficiency in the petroleum sector requires that agencies or parastatals under it must be transparent and embrace the governance structure and this is binding, particularly for the future of the corporation. But without an effectively articulated governance structure of any sector agency, nonetheless the NNPC, corruption prevention remains a mirage, because it naturally becomes a problem identifying what really constitutes corruption. There is no doubting the fact that the president desires a transparent legacy of governance in the petroleum sector, as a result, any disposition that erodes the functionality of the NNPC Board is inimical to collective interest and at cross-purposes with the anti-graft stand of the Buhari administration, if at all it is serious. It is therefore in Buhari’s interest that the NNPC and other agencies work together in a more coordinated manner with discipline and consistency in policy as their focus. That said, enough of the diatribe. Let all sides sheath their swords as they have done publicly recently and move on as a team. The administration has a lot to lose if this matter is mishandled. While it is safe to assume that the Buhari government is not ready to get to the root of the matter or set an example with this development as it already appears an interested party, it will be edifying to protect the institutions of state and the laws that set them up, otherwise, change might as well remain a fantasy of both the leader and the led.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 15, 2017

CICERO/REPORT

Kogi in a Permanent State of Crisis Since Alhaji Yahaya Bello assumed office as Kogi State Governor, the state has known no peace, writes Yekini Jimoh

ogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has since assuming office been facing serious challenges, all of which portray the state as one of the most controversial states in the country, especially given the way he emerged governor. And on his first day in office, he made it clearly known that his administration would be known as the “New Direction Government.” Whatever that meant, the people are beginning to see under his leadership in the mold they had never seen before. Soon after settling down, most leaders and supporters of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), have nearly all deserted, him including the state executive council of the party, because of some of his leadership style, which appears to discountenance the role of the party in the affairs of the state. The reconciliation between him and some aggrieved members of his party is yet to be achieved by the committee set up by the National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun. Unfortunately, for him, the first baptism of fire that his administration encountered was the leadership crisis that rocked the foundation of the state House of Assembly. The crisis, which lasted many months, was later suppressed after series of meetings with the lawmakers, the governor and some stakeholders from the state. Just as that was settling down, the issue of conducting screening exercise for all workers and pensioners came on board, although considered a reform initiative that would help reposition the state’s civil service. The exercise indeed, might have led to some startling discoveries, but the handling of it is believed to have shown inexperience and lack of capacity to handle serious challenges of state. To follow this is the feud between the governor and Senator Dino Melaye, which has now climaxed with a subsisting recall process of Senator Melaye. But how a senator, who was one of the right hand men of the governor, when he newly came on board, suddenly became an enemy and target remains a puzzle, such that Melaye was reportedly physically attacked in his country home, Iyara-Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Council Area of the state by an armed gang. Melaye, who alleged that the governor was after his life, was again attacked in Lokoja during a peaceful protest. It was the crisis that would later lead to the recall process of the Senator by the

Bello...can he change the narrative? people of Kogi West senatorial district of the state, albeit a move believed to have been instigated by the governor. As it is, today, the governor is having a rough time with the organised labour in the state over unpaid salaries, compounded by the recent introduction of the clock-in system for all workers in the state. This development has led to indefinite strike by workers in the state, because the electronic system designed to help bring down wage bills after the screening exercise is seen largely by the workers as anti-people and ill-conceived in a state like Kogi, more so with the introduced electronic attendance register. The state workers are already lamenting the clocking system, which they said would further impoverish them with the recent introduction of 50% salaries payment. With the new system, workers

have to clock-in between 7.30 and 8am for resumption, 12pm for break and 4pm for closing every work day. The initiative is being used to determine how many days and hours a worker spends in a month for the purpose of calculating his salary. The machines, which have the imputed workers’ bio-data, have been installed in all the ministries, departments and agencies (MDA) and are to be controlled from the office of the Accountant General of the state for the purpose of computing salaries on an individual basis. The Kogi State government is the first in the country to introduce the clock-in time regulations system for its workers. On the other hand, the government said it has done its best to satisfy the demands of Labour in the state, including the settlement of salary arrears met

on assumption of office. Director-General of Media and Publicity to the governor, Mr. Kingsly Fanwo said, “The staff verification exercise was inevitable and even the civil servants supported the idea and were part of the process. The state wouldn’t have continued to waste resources on unintended beneficiaries. “The clock-in, clock-out system has come to stay and it is connected to the electronic payroll in the state. Those who do not come to work stand a risk of being omitted from the payrolls.” However, the man at the center of the storm, Governor Bello, has indicated that his administration has had the singular record of having the most malicious opposition in the history of the Fourth Republic in Nigeria. “It does not matter to them that Kogi State belongs to all of us. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred,” he urged, adding that the fortunate aspect of his challenges is that their animosity merely gives his government more reasons to work harder in order to prove them wrong. “It does not matter to them that the fire they kindle among our tribes and zones today will burn them if they ever arrive at Lugard House in the future. They do not care that the young people they give arms today or indoctrinate with hate to make Kogi State ungovernable for Governor Yahaya Bello will become the security threats of their own period if they ever become governor,” he said. Bello said they get on the Television or any other media platform to raise false alarm that Kogi State has been overrun by kidnappers, armed robbers and other violent criminality at any slightest opportunity. “It does not matter to them that the investor they scare away with their lies today is an employer of labour and a tax-player they will not have in their own time, assuming God gives them the opportunity to lead the state. It is now a proven fact that they can have no joy in whatever does not paint Kogi State as the Hobbesian society of ‘continual fear, and danger of violent death…(where) life…(is) solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” Ironically, his philosophical but rather pedantic sermon hardly travels beyond the walls of the venue of delivery. The opposition to his government is believed to have been rather stiff and potent by his divisive leadership style. And until the style changes, Kogi is unlikely to savour a better administrative environment till another election bout.

NOTES FOR FILE

Kaduna Teachers as a Case Study

Governor el-Rufai

It was disturbing to read in the week that about 21,780 out of 33,000 teachers in Kaduna State failed the primary four examination administered to test their competence by the state government. This, of course, has forced the state government to be shopping for 25,000 new teachers in a bid to restore quality to education. Governor Nasir el-Rufai of the state spoke about the planned recruitment when he received a World Bank delegation in the state last Monday, saying after testing 33,000 primary school teachers with primary four examination, 66 per cent of them failed to get the requirements. That is pathetic. The cancer militating against the education standard in the country is heavily reflected here. This, however, is not peculiar to Kaduna State but in almost all the states of the federation. When former Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, was in office, he came up with a test assessment idea for teachers as part of moves to improve the education standard in the state. But the teachers bluntly rejected it and that became the starting point for the brushes that would later come between him and the civil servants in the state.

Not long ago, the immediate past Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, did a random test for some teachers in the state while in office and a few of them could not read. The video of a particular teacher from that experience went viral on the social media and forced the governor to act in the interest of the kids. Inthesamebreath,whenformerRiversStategovernor,Rotimi Amaechi, was in office, and there was to be a reading to some of the students in the state by the Best of Nollywood, which had planned to hold its award in the state that year, a random test for some of the teachers also elicited huge disappointment. This cannot go on. Assessment test for teachers is now sacrosanct and must be held so. Governors must come together and salvage the educational system, especially at the primary level. It is also important to say that the various labour unions are a major contributor to the mess in the education sector. Rather than see the sense in the assessment initiative, they are always quick to queue behind their people and chant “we no go gree”. We cannot run a country like, especially the education sector.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 15, 2017

CICERO/ANAMBRA 2017

Obiano

Obaze

Nwoye

Ezeemo

Anambra’s Top 5 and the March to November 18 Across the camps of the major contenders for the November 18 governorship election in Anambra State, campaigns have reached fever pitch, writes David-Chyddy Eleke, who presents some of the activities of the candidates in the past week

s the November 18 governorship election draws closer, candidates of the five major political parties in the state have commenced fresh campaigns and are making plots to outdo one another. While some candidates have begun political campaigns, others are still consulting on what shape their political campaigns would take and the strategy they would deploy to sell their parties and candidates to the people of the state. For some other parties, however, it was time to commence underground moves to woo back lost persons in their political party. Below are some of the highlights in the week that just ended in the respective camps.

Willie Obiano

The governor of Anambra State kicked off his campaign last Monday, which was attended by a mammoth crowd from all over the state. Director General of his campaign organisation, Chief Victor Umeh and former national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, had at the event said, “We are by these mammoth crowd gathered here for the flag-off of our campaigns, putting other parties on notice, that Anambra belongs to APGA. If you are from Anambra and you are not here, then you are nowhere.” Obiano, who took to the stage amidst chants of Akpokue Dike, which is his traditional title, regaled the people with what he termed his superlative performance in the state. He promised that when he returns for the second term, it would be time to consolidate on his achievement and ensure that Anambra was made a first class state, where no governor would afford not to perform. Having made a bold statement with his campaign kick-off, APGA has gone back in to re-strategise on ways of taking its campaigns to all corners of the state. First is to ensure the endorsement and in other cases re-endorsement of the governor by all the communities ahead of his visit to the communities, so as to ensure soft landing as he visits. The Old Aguata Union (OAU), a strong political block in the state had fired the first salvo early in the week with the reaffirmation of the earlier endorsement of the governor. The meeting, which had in attendance Prof Chukwuma Soludo, a former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria; Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, first civilian governor of the state; two former deputy governors, Mr. Emeka Sibeudu and Dr. Okey Udeh, and several well-meaning persons of the area, resolved to support Obiano’s re-election. The resolution was a clear testimony that the union, which consists of three local governments in Anambra South Senatorial Zone, namely; Orumba North, Orumba South and Aguata may have secured

the agreement of the governor for one of their own to succeed him after his second term, when power would be shifting to the Southern zone of the state. In an attempt to counter the choice of the daughter of the former vice president of Nigeria, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, as the deputy governorship candidate of PDP, the duo of Sibeudu and Udeh, both former deputy governors testified that producing a deputy governor again was not the wish of the people as it was more of less like being ‘a spare tire’. They testified further that all their years as deputy governors, they could not impact their people as they would have wanted to, therefore, it was better to wait for just four years and clinch the governorship position.

Oseloka Obaze

His opponents initially sought to water down his strength, when they took to the social media to publish an interview granted by a former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, in which he was said to have endorsed the APGA candidate, Obiano, as against that of his party, Obaze of the PDP, who incidentally is running with his daughter, Chidi Onyemelukwe. Ekwueme is one of the pillars of the PDP, and his acceptance among the people of the state was considered in the choice of a running mate for Obaze, but that open declaration of endorsement had created ripples within the party, especially in Anambra South, where Obaze and Obiano are currently fighting for support. While Obaze is wooing them with a deputy governor slot and a pledge to do only one term in line with his commitment to rotational governosrship, Obiano is doing so with the promise of handing them power after his second term. Obaze, knowing the importance of having Ekwueme on his side fixed a meeting of the Old Aguata Union (OAU) on Wednesday in the home of the former vice president, where Ekwueme publicly endorsed the PDP and his candidacy. The former vice president said his earlier endorsement for Obiano was because of the crisis in the party, but having seen the unity that now exists in PDP, he had no option but to throw his weight behind the party’s candidate. As if this was all that was needed to kick-start the campaigns, Obaze on Thursday, a day after netting the endorsement of Ekwueme, inaugurated his campaign organisation, which is to be headed by Joe-Martin Uzodike. The party will also commence its campaigns in the commercial city of Onitsha. THISDAY gathered that arrangements had been made to ensure that the kick-off was done in grand style with a huge crowd that would expectedly cow those of other parties that have had their kick off.

Godwin Ezeemo

The candidate of the Progressive Peoples Alliance

(PPA), Godwin Ezeemo, is one candidate, who is more popular than his party. As a result of his flying the party’s flag in the election, the party has garnered huge following from politicians of other political parties. He enjoys cult following from his supporters. Though he is yet to kick off his campaign, his works and lifestyle are enough campaign for him as he ranks as one of the candidates seen to be running on their integrity. He has also been meeting with various stakeholders, especially in Anambra South zone, where he hails from. He has received several endorsements from most of the communities. In a recent gathering in his honour at Ajalli in Orumba North Local Government Area, Ezeemo reminded the electorate that they have been deceived for more than 19 years since the creation of the state. The longest serving monarch in Igboland and the custodian of Nnewi traditions, Igwe Kenneth Orizu has also in a recent visit to his palace proclaimed Ezeemo as his choice candidate amongst those running for the office of governor in Anambra State. “If it were left for me to choose, I would choose Godwin Ezeemo, because he is the only one who has conquered the western world economically but instead of settling there to enjoy the rest of his days, came back to his motherland and started establishing systems that empower his people,” he said. Ezeemo, who has been taking the gospel of his political aspiration to every part of the state, was also in Onitsha within the week, where over 1,500 Umuchu people gathered to welcome him to the commercial city. The rousing welcome Ezeemo received was not only from Umuchu people, where he also hails from, but from traders in the famous Onitsha main market, who accepted to having been touched in one way or the other by the businessman-turned politician. Ezeemo is also a major supplier of chainsaws in the entire West Africa, and nearly all dealers in the product owe their existence in business to him.

Osita Chidoka

Since he adopted the unique campaign tactics of favouring the Igbo struggle, which brings to the fore the alleged marginalisation the Igbo face in Nigeria, Chidoka’s followers have risen. Most of his followers are those, who believe in the actualisation of the Biafran project, while a large number are also youths, who are inspired by Chidoka’s courage, and which makes him come across as one who would not compromise the good of the people for fear of the powers that be in Abuja or even accept pecuniary gains to dump the interest of his people. He is seen as a very intelligent young man, who has Continued on Pg. 72

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CICERO/INTERVIEW

Manu: Calm Has Returned to Mambila Taraba State Deputy Governor, Mr. Haruna Manu, recently led a high-powered delegation sent by Governor Darius Ishaku to Atta, Adamawa province in Cameroon, where the displaced people aﬀected by last June’s crisis between the Fulani and Mambila had taken refuge, to access the situation preparatory to their return. Manu ﬁelded questions from reporters after the visit. Excerpts:

The Fulani and Mambila have been living together even in Cameroon. In some of the villages, the Fulani are the majority, while in some, the Mambila are in the majority. Like the community that we visited in Cameroon, the paramount ruler of that village where the displaced persons are hosted is a Mambila man. This goes to show you that the Fulani and Mambila will continue to live together. Like I said the Fulani left Taraba state as a result of the crisis with the Mambila, but when they now came here in Cameroon, they are being hosted by the Mambila. This shows that they will continue to live together

ecurity was one of the many issues raised by the displaced people from your state during your visit to them. What is the security situation right now in Mambila? Right now I can tell you that the security situation is calm in Mambila. There has not been any kind of trouble since last June. We have not had any disruption of peace of any kind, no crisis since what happened towards the end of June. I can safely say there is calm in Mambila Plateau. How soon do you expect the refugees back to the state? When the delegation was there, apart from the general assembly, I also discussed separately with individuals asking them this same question, asking them precisely when they will come back. It’s not really easy when somebody is uprooted and you ask him to just come back. We have heard their presentations, we have heard their demands and one of their requests to the state governor is for security in the area. I have assured them that by the grace of God there won’t be any insecurity again. This is something the government and their leaders will discuss. I told them the governor has created an enabling environment for dialogue with their leaders so we can continue to engage them and that the process of bringing them back home will soon start. Hopefully, by the time I get back home we will initiate this process with their leaders. Remember we have the Walikin Fulani and representative of the Mambila with us. We will now sit down together and try to address these areas of their concern. Can you put an economic value on the crisis; how much it has cost Taraba state? Quite frankly I cannot tell you the economic cost offhand. We should be able to get it from the relevant authorities, from the state emergency management agency. They have gone there, visited some of the affected villages to access the situation. They have firsthand information about the damage done in the area. Needless to say the destruction is enormous. What has been the response of the federal government to the crisis? We are collaborating with the Federal Government regarding the crisis. We have had about two or three delegations from the Federal Government, just like the state government

Deputy Governor Manu did; they also sent some relief materials to the affected areas. Although before the Federal Government came, we had already intervened. The governor sent me to Gembu, Sardauna LGA with relief materials. Also relief materials were taken to those who fled to Gashaka LGA. Preliminary reports regarding the extent of damage and destruction of properties and loss of lives were done by SEMA. To this end, the governor has also given materials to returnees so that they can reconstruct their damaged houses. All these are positive responses by the governor. What advice do you have for both communities involved in the crisis? You heard my speech at the camp. The Fulani and Mambila have been living together even in Cameroon. In some of the villages, the Fulani are the majority, while in some, the Mambila are in the majority. Like the community that we visited in Cameroon, the paramount ruler of that village where the

displaced persons are hosted is a Mambila man. This goes to show you that the Fulani and Mambila will continue to live together. Like I said the Fulani left Taraba state as a result of the crisis with the Mambila, but when they now came here in Cameroon, they are being hosted by the Mambila. This shows that they will continue to live together; nobody will leave the land for another person, since Nigeria belongs to all of them and I believe they will continue to live together. I can tell you that majority of the Fulani and majority of the Mambila want peace. What happened is just a minor misunderstanding between two people and then it erupted into violence. Of course you know there are miscreants who want to take advantage of situations like this and I can tell you this is exactly what happened in Mambila. Majority of the people didn’t want this crisis and the perpetrators are a small group of people, not more than two percent or so.

Have these perpetrators been identified by government and the security agencies? Government is doing everything to do just that. A committee has been set up to identify the genesis of the crisis and that committee is already at work. They have started identifying some of the problems. I really don’t want to preempt the work of the committee. How do you foresee the future on the plateau? Although, you never can predict human beings but we are certain that the people want peace for real. I foresee a plateau with different people inhabiting it and tolerating one another and working collectively towards making it a prima-ballerina of tourism to be reckoned with in the whole world. I also foresee a plateau that is an investors’ haven in Nigeria

t‘ANAMBRA’S TOP 5 AND THE MARCH TO NOVEMBER 18’ tContinued from Pg. 71 the capacity to lead the state. The recent kick off of his campaigns, which saw him move the event to Amorka, the community that housed the Uli Airstrip, seen as Biafra’s gateway to the world, further endeared him to the people. Chidoka declared during the campaigns that, “This airport was the only way from which relief materials came to Igbo land during the war. It was our only hope of beating starvation. It was also from this airport that Ojukwu left for exile, with the assurance that as he left through it, he would return through it with message of hope. That is why I choose this place to bring Anambra message of hope again.” Chidoka has been busy with a medical outreach he launched for the people of Anambra, and through the week, he has been going round diagnosing and treating people, who are ill in various communities. The medical tour ended on Thursday after a visit to all the local government areas. He said, “To me, the health of my

people is paramount. They have to be healthy to come and vote. I cannot be calling on them to come and vote for me without trying to ascertain their health status and also proffering solution to it. We have been to all the 21 local government areas scouting for sick people and giving drugs to them.

Tony Nwoye

Chidoka

Weeks to the election, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate is still making consultations, and meeting with the relevant stakeholders of the state in his party. Nwoye, during a recent meeting of stakeholders of the party, regretted that he had lost close to two months of campaigns to internal bickering in the party as a result of protest by some fellow aspirants in the party, whom he beat to the ticket. The Nsugbe-born medical doctor turned politician has even after unveiling his campaign team not fixed a date for the commencement of his campaigns. Nwoye has however been

holding series of meetings at ward level with various groups in the party, including youth groups, students’ union members, stakeholders and others. A source said the delay in the commencement of his campaign may not be unconnected to the appointment of Dr. Chris Ngige as the chairman of his campaign in the state. The source said, “Have you ever seen Ngige commence early campaigns in all the elections he has participated in? He simply leaves his opponents to wear themselves out and spend all their money, then a week or two to the election, he jumps in and starts visiting every part of the state. I think that is the strategy he has sold to Nwoye. A visit to his campaign office however showed that Nwoye is always in a meeting with one group or the other, while a whole building, which is just close to the campaign office at Udoka Housing Estate, Awka, has been packed full with campaign souvenirs.

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CICERO/INTERVIEW

Adeniran

With a New Face of Leadership, Nigerians’ll Trust PDP Again A former Minister of Education under the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, Professor Tunde Adeniran is one with name recognition in the academia. A student of Political Science and product of the University of Ibadan, he is also an alumnus of the Columbia University, in the United States. An erstwhile staff of the United Nations in the mid-seventies, Adeniran once served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany and has been a recipient of many honours for his excellence in public service. Interestingly, the self-effacing cognoscente has his eyes set on the Peoples Democratic Party national chairmanship and has been working tirelessly to realising this dream. Thus, as the party gears up for a convention later in the year, where it intends to elect its new national chair amongst other officers of the executive, Adeniran is leaving nothing to chance either. In this interview with Olawale Olaleye, he took down some of the growing concerns in the PDP, the state of the nation, the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari and the future of Nigeria as 2019 beckons. Excerpts:

our interest in the PDP national chairmanship has not declined. But a lot of people see you from your academia background. Do you think you stand a chance on this murky turf? My chances are very bright. Yes, my interest has not declined simply because the circumstances that prompted my interest ab initio have not changed. We saw a party that we laboured so much to found being directed away from the mission and vision for which it was set up and the party is not being run in an ideal way and we felt that in fairness to the polity; in fairness in particular to the members of the party, we need to come in to do the needful – take over the

leadership and redirect the party in such a way that it will be able to do what it was supposed to do. We have to take power back to the people by ensuring that certain things are done. The motivation for the founding of the party was to ensure that we broaden the base of political participation in a manner that at the end of the day, many people will find in it a vehicle to actualise their potential and ultimately an instrument with which to serve the Nigerian people but the party has run into seriously turbulence simply, because so many things went wrong. The party became characterised by impunity, imposition, little regard for due process, the rule of law and we felt that things must change. That was what prompted our interest and of course, with what the party went through, one will see justification in

actually coming out to want to help in redirecting the party. There is no debating your standing within the political class, having served in different capacities, but you are also up against some very heavy forces in the race to PDP chairmanship. Do you think they carry more clout than yourself when it comes to political contest? You said earlier that because I was coming from the academic background it might delimit my capacity to really achieve dominance within the political class. I believe that because of the experience that I have gained over the years and the fact that I came into politics initially as a participating observer and later on as a resource

person, before I even became very active, the network that I have established over the years speaks for itself. I am not going to mention some specific names but none of those aspiring to the same office has acquired practical experiences as mine. I can say that in the last two republics, I have been involved while it is in this present republic that these people have been involved and of course, my involvement has not been on the peripheral; it has been deep. Many people do not know that when you talk about the past, I have played very prominent roles. When you mention the Unity Party of Nigeria for example, when the late Dr. Tai Solarin was chairman of the electoral team that went to old

Continued on Page 74

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CICERO/INTERVIEW t 8*5) " /&8 '"$& 0' -&"%&34)*1 /*(&3*"/4 -- 53645 1%1 "("*/ t Continued from Page 73 Bendel State, I was the secretary of that particular electoral panel and so many other areas of operations in the political arena. And of course, by virtue of my training, I understand the internal workings of a political party, the ideals and what we have been having, and it is easier for me than any other person to appreciate what ought to be and what is. So, it is like some people come in gambling. As far as I am concerned, I don’t have to gamble, because I know the variable intensity of mass political party and what they are capable of doing and why things are not the way they should be and so, based on that I am now able to really go in and do for the people what ought to be done. And of course, because of the roles that I have played in the society – outside the academic world – I have been exposed to quite a number of interest groups, a number of individuals – the lowly and the highly placed and of course, the dynamics modulating the Nigerian political process. One particular experience that I should like to mention, when people refer to whether one will have sufficient influence, connection and all that is that I was for some years involved in mobilising Nigerians to be involved in the political process and raising their level of consciousness. In the process, those of us who were involved at that time, there was not a single local government area in this country that we did not visit. That is why it is possible for me today, after being part of the formation – some people will say founding father, but I will call it founder or foundation member of the PDP. It is possible for me today, when you mention any particular local government across the country, I can always tell you such and such things are there and of course, when it comes to my zone, I will even move it to ward level and it goes a long way in enhancing one’s chances. The PDP crisis started a year or two before the 2015 elections and for those who have closely monitored developments, the truth is that in spite of the Supreme Court ruling lately, the crisis have not completely subsided in the party. Now, you are coming in to reorganise the party so-to-speak and it is more like inheriting a huge burden on yourself. How do you intend to tame the crisis in a way that will reposition the party ultimately? I am mindful of the fact that we have challenges – very serious challenges, but what I found particularly challenging that really interests me is the fact that by virtue of my background and training, I am expected to be, and I assume I am one of the very keen students of crisis management and conflict resolution. I have taught it over the years. I have been involved in resolving crisis and managing it, not just among people and groups, but among nations. I have been on some panels. So, to now handle challenges within a political party, I do not consider it to be a burden as such. I find it fascinating. It is quite exciting. There is not a single crisis going on or afflicting the party that one could not foresee. I foresaw them and I know why they are happening. I know where they are coming from and I know what the consequences will be if they are not properly managed and of course, because certain things have been left undone over the years, that is why we had to face this type of problem. It could have been nipped in the bud but because our people took so much for granted, which was unfortunate. Now, the present leadership of the party has done quite a lot in trying to resolve some of these crises but they still need to do more. Wherever they stop, at whatever point they stop, I have the feeling and I believe God will grant me the wisdom and the capacity to be able to handle them. I do not feel that it is something that should scare anybody. I believe I have the capacity to cope with these challenges. Before moving on to getting PDP back on the track, it is important to look at what went wrong. You know the party was in power for 16 years and all of a sudden, an emergency coalition uprooted it. At what point do you think the PDP got it wrong? The party has done quite a lot in trying to resolve some of these crises but there is still need to do more. Whenever and wherever they stop, I have the feeling and I believe God will grant me the wisdom and capacity to be able to handle them. I do not feel that it is something that should scare anybody. I believe I have the capacity to cope with these challenges. The PDP got it wrong as far as I am concerned right from the very moment we deviated from the principles and goals of the party. The goal was to ensuring that we create a mass movement that will be based on due process, rule of law, justice and equity, and above all, internal democracy but when we introduced some elements of imposition, disregard for the party constitution, then of course, problems were bound to come in. That was when it started gradually. When we started by getting things confused, when people thought that they could arrogate certain powers to themselves by virtue of the position they occupied – disregarding the constitution and many people went along. It is like drawing attention to those things and in less than five years of our operations, the things started gradually and then it spread and of course, at every level, people now started to take a cue from what was going on and the

Adeniran problem of the party, all along, has been that of leadership. If we had the right leadership, we would not have found ourselves in this situation. At the time it started and it started festering, it would have been arrested and of course, redirected in such a way that the crisis that was brewing would not have gotten out of hand. Since the APC government came into power, there have been several allegations of monumental corruption and this in a way was believed to have pitted the people against the PDP in many ways than one actually. Coming in to correct some of these anomalies, do you think Nigerians can still trust your party again, given the kinds of corruption said to have been perpetrated under the immediate past administration of PDP? I believe Nigeria people are very discerning and sometimes we underrate them. They know what is going on, they could make a difference between reality and mere perception. What went wrong was undertaken by Nigerians, who are in leadership positions and these people, you will see that those of them, who could be accused as being corrupt, in office and so on, Nigerians know that it is not the exclusive perception of the PDP. In fact, a majority of those who were the key actors in the perpetration of such absurdities have moved to the APC. But Nigerians know that and they know very well and we do also appreciate that we made some mistake. We are not perfect and there were a few people that you can say are corrupt. We want to put that behind us. And why the Nigerian people will have confidence and trust us is the fact they could see some soberness, they could see that we have shown some penitence. We have been able to come out and admit. We are not saying that there was no corruption in the land, no! But what we are saying is that the corruption presently in in this country is alarming – worse than what used to be. And in any case, when you look back, the institutions for tacking the corruption were put in place by the PDP regime and this will convince anybody that with where the party was coming from at the time, it was aware that there was corruption in the land and this corruption was something that was bee hiving before the party came in and the party felt this should not continue that was why those things were introduced. Two other issues I should like to point to on why the Nigerian people will trust the party is that by time they see a new face in

Two other issues I should like to point to on why the Nigerian people will trust the party is that by time they see a new face in terms of the leadership, because they will know that these people have realised their mistake, now they are not bringing back those old faces

terms of the leadership, because they will know that these people have realised their mistake, now they are not bringing back those old faces. Secondly, when they see what will be put in place by the new leadership, definitely, they will trust us. They will say these are new faces; they have some pedigrees and this is what they are trying to do and all these will happen before we go for the next round of election and the way we are going to go about it, the kind of candidates that we are going to throw up and particularly the process that will throw up those candidates will show that we are now serious and we have learnt from the mistakes of the past. Is that your selling point for the PDP – the new face of leadership? That is part of it The nation is going through a lot of crisis and challenges now. How do we situate this? Do you think it is a function of the style of the administration or they are challenges, whose time has just come? I believe what we are facing now derived from the fact that we have some key people in government, the leadership of the present administration, who came to power without actually knowing what they were going into. In other words, these was insufficient preparation and what has compounded that is the fact that on getting this and realising that it is the inability or unwillingness to accept the depth and the extent of the challenges they faced, instead of facing them and being realistic and bringing on board Nigerians, because Nigerians are so very resourceful. We have so many people in various parties and those who are not even in parties. That is the essence of a presidential system. You bring in materials that you can use to get result but there isn’t any willingness or interest and the leadership simply doesn’t really care what the consequences of their action and inaction would be and you see discordant tunes coming – wrong signals, terrible signals, frightening signals – coming from the seat of power. Of course, problems will not run away unless you tackle them and once you do not also apply the right approach, you are not going to get it right. That is part of the problem of the present administration that we are facing and when you have a problem, you do not appreciate the problem or you do not understand it, then you will have a more serious problem, because the very moment you have a problem and you realise and appreciate that this is a problem, then that is the beginning of the solution to it. One of the burning issues in the country today is what people have termed restructuring. What is your idea of restructuring? I have listened to many people on restructuring. I have watched many debates and so on. I have also heard people talk about it, but one thing that comes out clearly is what I regard as conceptual conclusion. Many people don’t seem to understand what they are talking about when they are talking about restructuring and all that.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ OCTOBER 15, 2017

CICERO/INTERVIEW t WITH A NEW FACE OF LEADERSHIP, NIGERIANS’LL TRUST PDP AGAIN t It scares some people and some people even trivialise it. Structural problems have been with us in this country over the decades, whether you talk about the economy, the politics, even social relation but reduced to fundamentals, when we are talking about restructuring. What does it mean? I will just take two examples, not to take too much time. One is that education is the key of the development of any region. So, if you have restructuring, it will make it possible to put an end to strikes in this country. There is no reason whatsoever for lecturers of University of Lagos or Bayero University, Kano or Port Harcourt earning the same salary and some lecturers either in Ekiti State or Kogi State and so on. People should be able to have that independence. That is the autonomy we are taking about. So, that is part of restructuring. When things go wrong in Calabar, those who are lecturing or workers in Niger State University or some other places, will not down tool. That is part of restructuring. A lecturer or a professor in a university even within the same state can be earning different salaries. Vice chancellors do not have to be earning the same salaries. But when you have these straight jacket types of arrangement, of course, there are bound to be problems. That is why people ground everybody. The other area I will like to talk to is in the political arena. Why for goodness sake, should a governor in some states that can hardly generate enough to maintain basic needs and the civil services be earning the same salaries as those of the others? Restructuring will make you cut your coat according to your cloth and you develop at your own pace and you will be able to manage your affairs the way it should be managed, not depended on what is going on in other places and there will be very healthy competition and it should be possible for people to move around. But when you put everybody in a situation that you do not have what could be regarded as true federalism, you have a situation that is akin to having a military type of structure and governance. I mean it is not in the interest of the country. So, without restructuring, we are joking! We are not going anywhere. We should be able to restructure meaningfully and liberate the energies of Nigerians to actualise their potential and encourage people to develop at such pace that would be to the benefit to the people. You don’t tie people down here and there and you do not generate unnecessary tension, because it leads to tension when you bottle up everybody unnecessarily. Restructure doesn’t mean separating. It doesn’t mean confederation, no! You will have federating units and certain things will be done centrally. There will be less wastage, simply because by the time you limit what is handled at the centre, states and local governments do quite a lot and of course, people will be challenged to tap their internal resources because opportunities will be there for them to tap what has been left dormant. The governors come cap-in-hand to Abuja and once they collect whatever, they go back and share and that is because you are having free money. So, that is the essence of our restructuring. What is your take on the recent proscription and subsequent desigation of IPOB as a terrorist group? Do you think it was a decision taken in good faith? I don’t believe that such a decision ought to have been taken. The people in the South-east have great leaders who are patriotic, who are nationalistic and who want to build a strong nation and who really could easily handle what has been going on in that part of the country. And of course, I also believe that if they had been encouraged, they would have done quite a lot in terms of getting the IPOB people to realise the futility of what they are trying to do, because you do not necessarily need to have witnessed the war that took so much out of Nigeria in terms of human life and resources to appreciate the fact that whoever claims to be proud of being an African and is based in Nigeria is doing that, because of what Nigeria represents presently in terms of size, in terms of resources and in terms of image. When you now say you want to go ahead and be on your own, what it means is that you are not thinking through the implications all along. So, those people are now agitating based on their own perception of what they would like to be. What we needed to do at that time was to have moved in early enough. Why are these people agitating? Address those issues, because they will not go away and the leaders there too will be encouraged to look into all these problems. The Ohaneze has been very wonderful in looking into the issue and taking position and other leaders too. But it shouldn’t have been allowed to degenerate to the level that it did but then, having degenerated to that level, you do not use the sledge hammer to kill an ant. It is not right categorising such people with their agitations here and there and of course, by the time we deal with the situation approximately through dialogue and so on, people with the type of sentiment that it generated would not have been generated. Again, one other thing that we should always appreciate in this country, a multi-ethnic society, is that we have to interact and rotate, bearing in mind some underlying differences – that we are trying to transfer allegiance from local peculiarities; ethnic groups to the new nation, and once some people feel rejected, external rejection leads to internal solidarity and people will now see themselves as disadvantaged and it leads to so many things. Nigeria recently turned 57. Do you think her unity as a country is truly settled and not negotiable? Nigeria is an ongoing project, we should take it as such and realise that there are serious challenges ahead that we still need to face. I believe that by now we are supposed to have reached a situation, whereby those who are born outside their so-called states of origin, should be regarded as bonifide. I wouldn’t call it indigenes but residents of where they are. They should have equal rights to vie and do whatever they want to do.

Adeniran Indigenship, I believed that is one of the things that is creating problems for this country and so long as you make distinctions, some people whose parents came from Ogbomosho and have been living either in Jos or Kaduna or their parents are from Kano, they have been in Ibadan for decades and they still will be regarding such people as belonging to some other places, I do not think it is right. We should be able to integrate in such a way that people will have this common bond that this is our nation and that because you regard yourselves as more or less equals, the love that one generates will have a spillover effect on the harmony within the system and the nation, of course, can only grow on that basis. But, until we take those things that appear to be little things seriously, we will not be getting the type of nation that we should be building and of course, when there is no bond, people will be talking about negotiating relationship. They will be talking about Nigeria still not there. When will Nigeria be there? We have to start taking steps. Some steps were taken on the part by our fathers but we did not build on them. It was possible in those days for someone from the north to be a mayor in Enugu and in some other areas. Of course, in Oshogbo, there was a northerner that won election and in some parts of the north so many southerners. That we should develop. We should have built on that and type of relationship that existed when you talk about Kaduna, Lagos – those are cosmopolitans areas, the way people are developing and even in the rural areas too. People were integrating, they are seeing themselves as Nigerians, but all of a suddenly, because of the selfishness of politicians, they started using elements that divide people as weapons of electioneering simply, because they want to gain some supports instead of basing their campaigns on issues they are now using such factors as ethnicity, religion and so on and so forth, of course, that further divides the nation and it is not good for us. So, in summary, I believe that we will get there once we begin to seriously take appropriate steps, but this is not something that can be imposed; it is a way of life and we have to appropriate that and take necessary steps to cement that in the education sector, in the social relations and some other areas and more particularly in the political area. The leadership matters a lot in this regard. The leaders can make or mar, the unity of this country and whether indeed we have a strong nation that we can be proud of and that we can continue to build and pass on to the coming generation will depend on what the leaders do. One of the issues that were raised during the 2015 election against your party was the matter of security and precisely that of Boko Haram, herdsmen killings, kidnappings and the rest of them. Now, if you look at the APC administration since 2015, do you think it has done anything better than the PDP did? We all got it wrong initially, because there was this assumption that the phenomenon will fizzle out and there was what I at some point regarded as failure of intelligence. But the very moment it started shaking the country, then of course, the government started doing certain things about it and I could say categorically that the approach was based on the limited appreciation of the dimension that it could take. Those of us who have studied conflicts in societies and terrorism and all that know that the way it was going, it could consume the whole country.

We thank God that in spite of some other short comings here and there, President Jonathan was able to really face the challenges appropriately at some point and he did his best at that time. But then there was need to build on it, but there was disconnect – a gap – shortly after the change of power. If it took some time before the new administration realised that they could not politicalise this thing, we really need to tackle it and then they now started doing something concrete about it. My own approach would have been slightly different anyway and this is something that you have to defeat the Boko Haram, you also have to win the heart of the people and do those things that led to Boko Haram in the first place and make sure that we do not have Boko Haram in the future or the ones that are on row we clean up effectively. So, what some people regard as regular war will not arise. How will you rate the current fight against graft? Are you of the view too that it is selective? I believe that it is selective, because we know what has been going on in this country all along and I believe that people should do things not based on personal interest, what will suit them politically or even economically, but what is good for the country; what is good for the future. The coming generations are watching and in this country, the things that are done today have consequences for the future. Once you decide to be selective, you are sending a very wrong signal to the society and those, who are coming behind and this is why I have been worried and say we really need to tackle corruption no matter whose ox is gored. And until that is done, I will not applaud whatever is going on, and people are watching and people have been very disappointed about the way it has been handled. Lastly, as you journey towards the PDP chairmanship, what is your biggest fear and why? As we are moving forward, there is nothing I can say or consider major or minor fear. Each time I wake up and I am praying, my mind is always drawn to the book of Isaiah that says “fear not, for I am with you” and on the basis at that, I just go on. I do not see any challenges as insurmountable. We have a Caretaker Natural Executive Committee that is anchoring what is happening. I have every confidence that they are going to do a very transparent election. I also have the confidence that we have all learnt from our past and that everything will go very well. The concern that I have, which I also put into prayers is the fact “that a tree does not make a forest”. I am going to work with a team. May God throw up candidates, party faithful that will be passionate about this party, the way I am passionate so they will be committed to doing the right, to put an end to the absurdities of the past and we will together start a new beginning. I have no control over that but I know that God has control and he would lead our leaders to encourage people, who will truly serve in a different style following due process, the rule of law, promoting internal democracy and making sure that the love of the masses is paramount in their minds. Above all, that by the grace of God, when we take over power, we’ll truly serve the people, so that people will know that government is there to serve them and that the shortcomings of the past become part of our history.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ ͯͳ˜ Ͱͮͯ͵

PERSPECTIVE Amosun: Leading the Fight Against Cancer Nduka Nwosu

rom Ogun Central to Ogun East and to Ogun West Senatorial Districts, the story is the same. Cancer scourge is no respecter of colour, religion, age or social status. The alarming threat of cancer cases coupled with unavailability of dedicated hospitals to address and tame the deadly disease have succeeded in leaving many in permanent fears and uncertain future. And the death toll arising from cancer cases is highly discouraging. There’s low awareness and no medical navigational routes to assist and support people with these cancerous issues. At best, the general interpretations and explanations of most people are boorishly painted in religious and cultural beliefs. The regular storyline usually shared is that anyone with cancerous development has suddenly suffered a spiritual attack or has been baptised with the firepower of an arrow. These were the unfavourable situations in Ogun State until the intervention of the Wife of the State Governor, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, who believes something must be urgently done to address this deadly scourge. Thus on October 4, 2012, Mrs. Amosun through her Uplift Development Foundation, organised the first major Free Breast and Cervical Cancer Awareness and Screening programme in four different locations in Ogun State, free of charge. The programme, which was organised in collaboration with the Ogun State Medical Women Association (MWAN), berthed at the Primary Health Care Centre, Olorunda in Abeokuta North Local Government in Ogun Central Senatorial district of the State. Mrs. Amosun’s campaign train against cancer moved from there to the Primary Health Care Centres in Sagamu, Sagamu Local Government; and in Idari in Ijebu North-east Local Government respectively, all in Ogun East Senatorial district of the state on October 18, 2012. The next point of call was the Primary Health Care Centre, Ilaro in Yewa South Local Government area of Ogun West Senatorial district on October 24, 2012. Emboldened by the huge turnout and gigantic successes recorded in 2012, the wife of the governor embarked on another round of Free Breast and Cervical Cancer Awareness and Screening Exercise in October 2013. From the Primary Health Care Centre in Ikenne to that of Alapo in Ijebu-Ode in Ogun East Senatorial district on October 21, 2013; to the Primary Health Care Centre in Adedero in Obafemi-Owode Local Government in Ogun Central Senatorial district to the Primary Health Care Centre, Ibile in Yewa North Local Government in Ogun West

Mrs. Amosun Senatorial district on October 23, 2013, Mrs. Amosun intensified her effort to take the message to the nooks and crannies of Ogun State. The campaign was also sustained in October 2014 but in October 2015, Mrs. Amosun’s Uplift Development Foundation focused on tertiary institutions in Ogun State and gave the students the rare opportunity to get screened free of charge. Female students in tertiary institutions like Moshood Abiola Polytechnic in Abeokuta and Olabisi Onabanjo University in Ago-Iwoye were given information on breast and cervical cancer and benefited from the free cancer screening exercise by the Wife of the Governor between October 12 and 14, 2015 respectively. The campaign was also taken to the rural women at the Primary Health Care Centres in Itori and Sango-Ota in Ewekoro and Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government areas of Ogun State. More than 1,200 people were screened and various degrees of breast lumps were discovered. Moved by the increasing numbers of women with lumps in their breasts, Mrs. Amosun felt highly disturbed and said something must be done about these women, rather than abandoning them to their fate. Thus, she discussed the matter with her husband, the Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, and he graciously ap-

proved to foot the bills of the affected women for the excision of these lumps. The most surprising aspect of the 2015 programme was the discovery of a man with a breast lump. In all, about 40 cases of breast lumps were discovered in women and after screening by surgical experts 30 breast lumps were removed on December 18, 2015 and histology done. The good news was that all the beneficiaries were able to heave sighs of relief and become free from any form of cancerous issue. In October 2016, Mrs. Amosun took the bolder step in her quest for finding lasting solution to the cancer scourge by establishing and commissioning three Uplift Development Foundation Cancer Screening Centres across the three senatorial districts of Ogun State. Mrs. Amosun’s position is that the three centres located at the State Hospital, Ijaiye in Abeokuta; Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) in Sagamu; and the State Hospital in Ota, in Ogun Central; Ogun East; and Ogun West senatorial districts respectively, should provide free breast and cervical cancer screening for all and sundry in the state on a daily basis. Even with the commissioning, the wife of the governor organised a free cancer screening exercise for market and rural women at the June 12 Cultural Centre in Abeokuta, between October 4 and 5, 2016. It was indeed

Mrs. Amosun (2nd right) interviewing a woman during the screening exercise recently

a huge success. More than 2,000 people were screened and about 70 cases of breast lumps were discovered in women. After the regular screening by surgical experts, 40 breast lumps were removed during the Second Edition of the Annual Free Lumpectomy Surgery which took place at the OOUTH in Sagamu between October 20 and 21, 2016, and histology was done hereafter. In addition to this, 20 cases of women with cervical lesions were discovered and were treated immediately through cryotherapy. This year, Mrs. Amosun’s Uplift Development Foundation focused on female professionals and civil/public servants. The programme was organised at the Uplift Development Foundation Cancer Screening Centres in Ota, Ijaiye and Sagamu respectively between October 2 and 4, 2017. At each of the centres, Mrs. Amosun harped on the need for women to examine their breasts regularly and seek prompt medical attention in case of any abnormality in order to reduce the prevalence of breast cancer in the society. She added that early detection is the only prevention for cancer. She said “due to the prevalence of breast cancer among women, the Uplift Development Foundation took the initiative to launch a massive cancer sensitisation campaign to raise awareness about the disease, which a survey by the World Health Organisation (WHO), revealed that by 2020 there would be 10 million new cases of cancer every year in developing countries, out of which six million will die.” She explained that breast and cervical cancer diseases are very serious health challenges that mainly affect women irrespective of age, status and religion. She urged women and ladies from age 16 and above to carry out self-breast examinations on themselves every month after their menstrual period or any other time if they feel uncomfortable with their breasts. Mrs. Amosun charged participants at the events to take action to curb breast and cervical cancer by availing themselves of the free screenings to know their health status so that the risk of these diseases could be drastically nipped in the bud. She enjoined women across the three senatorial districts to visit any of the Uplift Development Foundation Cancer Screening Centres closer to them throughout the month of October, 2017 and beyond for free screening and treatment. At the end of the three-day free cancer examination, more than 3,000 women were screened; about 50 cases of various lumps were detected; and three cases of advanced breast cancer were established. Besides, about 100 cases of cervical lesions have been discovered so far. The wife of the governor assured that all the cases of the breast lumps will be attended to during the Third Edition of the Annual Free Lumpectomy Surgery scheduled to take place between October 26 and 27, 2017 at the Uplift Development Foundation Cancer Screening Centre in Sagamu. She also said all the cases of cervical lesions would receive appropriate treatment immediately like the women with breast lumps. She added that the three advanced cases of the cancer reported will be given optimum attention. She commended all her sponsors thanking them for the breakthroughs in the cancer awareness and screening exercise in Ogun State in the last five years. She challenged individuals and corporate organisations to always support laudable initiatives aimed at societal developments. Mrs. Olufunso Amosun through her Uplift Development Foundation has graciously rescued children from becoming motherless untimely; husbands from losing their wives and becoming widowers; and communities from being thrown into regular mourning as a result of cancer attack. Indeed, the wife of the governor has raised the stake on cancer awareness and screening campaign in Ogun State and the nation at large. ––Sowunmi, a media aide to the Wife of the Governor of Ogun State, can be reached via: idowusowunmi@gmail.com

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ ͯͳ˜ Ͱͮͯ͵

PERSPECTIVE

Kachikwu

Baru

NNPC: It’s About Law and Corporate Governance Sam Akpe

hat statement by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had long been expected. And when it came, it did not fail to impress us—in the negative. There was no part of that statement that clarified or appropriately responded to the serious issues of insubordination raised by Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu. Instead, what we saw was a collection of denials and deceptions that ended up raising more questions than answers to the serious issues raised by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources. It made some of us weep for this country. Two clear issues were raised by Kachikwu in his petition to the President. The first was that of arbitrary award of contracts by the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Maikanti Baru, beyond the threshold allowed by government policy. The second was the issue of disrespect and insubordination to the board of the NNPC constituted by President Muhammadu Buhari with Kachikwu as the chairman. Yes, there were other little matters contained in the petition but these two attracted more media attention than others. The expectation was that in responding to these issues, Baru would be more articulate and focused. He refused to. On the issue of award of contracts, Kachikwu had noted that: “The legal and procedural requirements are that all contracts above $20m would need to be reviewed and approved by the Board of NNPC,” and that “over one year of Dr. Baru’s tenure, no contract has been run through the Board. This is despite my diplomatic encouragement to Dr. Baru to do so to avoid wrongfully painting you as a President who does not allow Due Process to thrive in NNPC. “Given the history of malpractices and the public perception of NNPC as having a history of non-transparency, the NNPC Tenders Board (NTB) cannot be the final clearance authority for contracts it enters into. The NTB which is a collection of top level NNPC executives and COOs, with the GMD as Chairman, cannot continue to be the final approval authority for multi-million dollar contracts and transactions involving NNPC to the exclusion of the Board. Board members have singularly and collectively raised these issues to no avail.” He went ahead to cite the major contracts awarded by the leadership of the NNPC which were never reviewed by or discussed with the Board of NNPC: “The Crude Term contracts- value at over $10 billion; The DSDP contracts- value at over $5 billion; The AKK pipeline contract - value approximately $3 billion; Various financing allocation funding contracts with the NOCs – value over $3 billion; various NPDC production service contracts – value at over $3bn--$4 billion” The minister informed the President that: “There are many more Your Excellency, in most of these activities, the explanation of the GMD is that you are the Minister

of Petroleum and your approvals were obtained. However, the correct governance should be that the Minister of the State and the Board review the transaction and give their concurrence prior to presentation to you. As in many cases of things that happen in NNPC these days, I learn of transactions only through publications in the media. “The question is why is it that other parastatals which I supervise as Minister of State or Chair their Board are able to go through these contractual and mandatory governance processes and yet NNPC is exempt from these?” The summary of the explanation offered by Baru and his team was that since Buhari is the Minister of Petroleum Resources, all they did was to ignore the board of directors headed by Kachikwu, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and get the President’s approval. The team stated that it was important to note from the outset that the law and the rules do not require a review or discussion with the Minister of State or the NNPC Board on contractual matters. That is not true. It went further: “What is required is the processing and approval of contracts by the NNPC Tenders Board, the President in his executive capacity or as Minister of Petroleum, or the Federal Executive Council (FEC), as the case may be. There are therefore situations where all that is required is the approval of the NNPC Tenders Board while, in other cases, based on the threshold, the award must be submitted for presidential approval.” This is what the NNPC Act says about the conduct of activities at the NNPC. In Part I of the Act which deals with Establishment of the Corporation, it is stated: “There shall be established a corporation by the name of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (hereinafter in the Act referred to as “the Corporation”) which shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal and may sue or be sued in its corporate name. The affairs of the Corporation shall, subject to Part II of this Act, be conducted by a Board of Directors of the Corporation which shall consist of a Chairman and the following other members....” In his petition to the President, Kachikwu did state clearly that the President had appointed him as Minister of State to serve as the chairman of the board of the NNPC. This is because the Act permits the President to delegate that office to whoever he wishes as long as that person is a minister of petroleum. This is stated in Section 3 of the Act. It is not the duty of the GMD or anybody to assume that since the President is the senior minister of petroleum resources, therefore approval of management decisions has to go to him directly irrespective of what the law says. The issue is not whether Kachikwu is senior or junior minister. The question to be answered is: is he a minister of petroleum resources as stated in the act; and in that capacity, is he statutorily qualified to head

the board; or was he appointed by the President to head the board? The answers to these questions are as follows: yes, Kachikwu is a minister of petroleum resources; yes, in that capacity, he is statutorily qualified to head the board; yes, he was appointed by the President to head the board. This therefore implies that any attempt by anybody to ignore the board simply because it is headed by a junior minister is a breach of the NNPC Act. Without being a lawyer, it is not difficult to understand what the NNPC Act means when it states that: “The affairs of the Corporation shall, subject to Part II of this Act, be conducted by a Board of Directors of the Corporation which shall consist of a Chairman...” Taking a cue from other federal corporations or commissions, no management team is expected to by-pass the board and make its submissions directly to either the President or the Federal Executive Council. As a matter of fact, even where there is no board of directors in place, such commission or corporation must submit its proposals to the supervising ministry first; which in this case is the Ministry of Petroleum Resources. As observed in an informed commentary last week by Dr K. A. Familoni, by appointing the Minister of State as the NNPC Board Chairman, “it is ultra vires for the GMD (who is also a member of the board) to circumvent the Board and its chairman in the conduct of the affairs of the NNPC. By his appointment as chairman, the President has delegated the authority of the Minister of Petroleum Resources to the Minister of State, as chairman with respect to the conduct of the NNPC corporate affairs; simplicita. All arguments to the contrary are futile and pure balderdash.” The informed gentleman went ahead to state that the GMD and his partners in the Villa who have constituted themselves into an oil cabal and usurped the functions or the authority and powers of the NNPC Board are guilty of economic crimes and sabotage and should be prosecuted by the appropriate anti-crime bodies without further delay or rigmarole. He stated: “The cabal has been able to sidetrack the NNPC Board on the pretext that the President is the Petroleum Minister and is therefore the substantive chairman of the board. This pretext is false, self-serving and symptomatic of kleptocratic governance.” This pretext is completely at variance with the position of the NNPC Act. The explanation by Baru and his team has raised more questions than answers. It has trapped them in a tight corner than they ever envisaged. By attempting to ignore and sideline Kachikwu based on personal reasons, the team, led by Baru has ended up breaching an Act of the National Assembly and deserve to be sanctioned. The good news is that the Senate investigation is already in progress. In a more civilised society, Baru should have resigned his office long before now. –––Akpe, a former Assistant Editor at The Punch. Lives in Abuja.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ TOBER 15, 2017

PERSPECTIVE/PHOTONEWS

Nigeria: Between Spirituality and Nation Building Ugo Aliogo, whowasatalectureheldtocommemorateNigeria’s57thindependenceanniversaryinLagos,reports

t was a huge gathering and the purpose was to commemorate Nigeria’s 57th independence anniversary. The venue was Ebenezer Baptist Church, Lagos. Dr. Tunji Olaopa, Vice Chairman Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy (ISGPP), a think tank dedicated to research and governance and public policy, was the guest lecturer. His task was to dissect the state of the nation using the topic; ‘Ruling in the Affairs of Men: God, Spirituality and Good Governance in Nigeria.’ With a rich profile, which include his spell as Permanent Secretary, federal ministry of communications, where he contributed to fashioning key institutional framework such as the Development of National Public Service Reform Strategy and the Conception of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) in 2003 and the National Strategy for Public Service Reform (NSPSR) in 2009, Olaopa was good choice for the lecture. Arecipient of many honours and awards, including the 2012 Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Distinguished Public Service Order of Merit Award, Olaopa began the lecture with a deep reflection on issues bordering on the national question, noting that ‘on account of nation building, the country is referred to as a project.” Olaopa’s view on the term ‘project’ is that it is something not to be interpreted in different dimensions, but the underlying tensions in the polity have made it so. One of his interpretations of the term is that it is a weak commitment to the entity known as Nigeria by ethnic nationalities who have kept almost intact their deep fears and insidious biases with regard to their future in a fledging federation. Amidst the various interpretations which he outlined, his stance is positive and logical because of his conviction that Nigeria’s manifold problems are solvable as they are man made. “The challenges are however confounding only because the core political elites seem to have an incredible misconception of what leadership responsibilities are by dodging in the precipice of a salient dimension. If Nigerians will continue to stay together, they must similarly have honest conversation on the how, the terms and the conditions of continuing co-existence,” he noted. To buttress his point further, he took an introspective look at the difference between insurgency and religion, his assertion is that there is the classic social dimension where there is a direct proportion of the relationship between the proliferation of churches and mosques to the level of corruption and poverty in the society. Olaopa argued that when logic is applied to politics and the Nigeria state, it is easy to observe that whereas the country is a secular state, yet her constitutional etiquette and nationalist rituals are religious rhetoric. He posited thus: “Our national anthem and national pledge

Buhari contain invocation of God. The 2nd stanza of the national anthem is a direct prayer to God. But it does not seem that we are in spirit and truth willing to allow the God we are calling when we sing the anthem to rule in our affairs. “The state of politics has become so disagreeable and disturbing that for many, politics is something we do not want to think about yet we wish daily that God should take our nation to the place of greatness. “Whereas the religions are supposed to be the moral compass, but what do we find? We have religious leaders who have equally joined in that free-for-all corrupt enterprise, as well as those who have turned the pulpits into a business venture in the name of prosperity message and miracle mentality. “In October 2014, a New York-based online media survey revealed that five of the top 10 richest pastors in the world are Nigerians. While some religious leaders worldwide are serving

humanity by providing spiritual and moral guidance to people across religious and social divides, others are becoming suspiciously rich through their churches and investments.” Olaopa’s final analysis on the subject-matter of religion and politics is that both have not made significant impact in the issue of good governance, “the good that religion and politics ought to have done have been destroyed in the hands of those who ought to know better.” He said that the politics is too important to be left to politicians all alone; therefore citizens have a role to play instead of complaining about the antics of corrupt politicians. Despite the myriads of problems facing the country in these trying times, Olaopa posited that there is hope for the country, if public office holders and the citizens are desirous of transformation from the past to a better future. He argued that Nigerians should first understand that the country’s trajectory to the present predicament is not ingrained in superstition, therefore the fault is “in us as a people irrespective of our social standings. We are morally responsible for most of our failings even if a number of these problems are ingrained in our colonial history.” He added: “We must start from the basic fundamentals. We must go back to God, purge ourselves so He can use us. We must then bear fruits of the spirit that then supply enablement to overcome the culture of impunity. “We need to drop the culture of waste that drives corruption among us. We must overcome the virtual lack of fear of God that creates in us a mismatch between what we say with our mouth and what are in our hearts, a culture of religiousity that is bereft of spirituality, an instrumental perception of success in the short-term rather than the long-term or the absence of a culture of deferred gratification. “Christianity makes no room for crooks and fraudsters. It has no place for those who offer or receive bribe. It has no place for those who would lie and cheat. It is a challenge. The challenge consists in standing as a Christian without what we have dubbed the ‘Nigeria Factor’. “We need to constantly nurture in ourselves and those coming behind us a sense of history, through critical reflection on how we got to this point as social history and what it will require to salvage it. “We need to overcome the virtual lack of fear of God that creates in us a mismatch between what we say with our mouth and what are in our heart; a culture of religiosity that is bereft of spirituality; an instrumental perception of success in the short-term rather than the long term or the absence of a culture of deferred gratification, the ‘now and here reward’ mentality that discounts the value of eternal reward.”

LG CAMPAIGN L-R: Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (left) being received by his deputy, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo SUMMIT DELEGATES L-R: Executive Director /CFO Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Suleiman Abubakar; National Senior Partner, KPMG and the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu during the flag-off of the Local Government Election Campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ezeagu Local Government Area yesterday.

Nigeria, Mr. Kunle Elebute and Chief Marketing Officer Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Henry Bassey during the 23rd Nigerian Economic Summit held in Abuja recently.

HEALTH CAMPAIGN CULTURAL DAY L-R: Chairperson, Harvest 2017, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Apapa, Mrs. Gloria Ihenacho; Parish Priest, L-R:Fitness Instructor, Kaffy Kaffy (2nd left); and Convener, Walk For Life, Siju Iluyomade with the Arise Rev. Father Mark Nkulu; Sir. Henry Muogho and his wife, Lady Jacklyn Muogho during the cultural day celebration of the church in Lagos...recently

Women, at the Walk for Life Healthy Living Campaign organised by Arise Women in Lagos...yesterday PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

T H I S D AY SUNDAY OCTOBER 15, 2017

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 15, 2017

IMAGES

he Benin monarch, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, recently hosted former Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, to a grand reception in Benin City, for his outstanding achievements while in office. Oba Ewuare II described the tenure of Oshiomhole as eventful and an era that opened the way to social-economic development of the state.The colourful occasion which was held at the palace was graced by serving governors, captains of industry and other important personalities. Photos: Abiodun Ajala

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Governor Godwin Obaseki and wife, Betsy

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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 Ëž OCTOBER 15, 2017

IMAGES

L-R: Otaru of Auchi, HRH A.Y. Dirisu, and Aidonojie of South-lbie Kingdom, HRH Alhaji Aliyu Danesi

L-R: Onojie of Ewu Kingdom, HRH Razak Ojeifo lll, and Onojie of Opoji Kingdom, HRH Zaiki Ehidiamen

L-R: Hon Mathew lduoriyekemwen and Chief Oseni Elamah

L-R: Hon Roland Asoro and Hon Justice Francese lkponmwen

L-R: Comrade Musa Aremu and Captain Hosa Okunbo

L-R: Prince Kassim Afegbua and Senator Matthew Urhoghide

L-R: Sulaiman Argungu and Hon. Abdulsamad Dasuki

A cross section of palace chiefs

L-R: Mr. Ken Emozia and Oluwole lyamu

L-R: Alhaji M.A. Kadiri and Anselm Ojezua

T H I S D AY SUNDAY OCTOBER 15, 2017

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ OCTOBER 15, 2017

SUNDAYSPORTS

Edited by Demola Ojo Email demola.ojo@thisdaylive.com

Federer, Nadal Renew Rivalry in Shanghai Final

heworld’stoptwotennisplayers,Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, will contest the Shanghai Masters final today after both secured hard-fought wins yesterday. Top seed Nadal, seeking a seventh title of 2017, beat Croat Marin Cilic 7-5 7-6 (7-3) in two hours, 11 minutes. Federer showed great resolve to thwart Argentine Juan Martin del Potro 3-6 6-3 6-3 in just under two hours. It will be the elite pair’s fourth meeting of the year and the 24th time they have faced each other in a final. Wimbledon champion Federer beat Nadal to win theAustralian Open in January and has won the last four matches between the two legendary players, who have 35 Grand Slams between them. Cilic, who will rise to a career-best fourth in the world rankings, created three set points in the first set but Nadal took it in 67 minutes. The Croat’s first two service games comprised 30 points, while Nadal conceded only three points in his first four games on serve. But Cilic, the 2014 US Open champion and beaten finalist at Wimbledon this year, gradually imposed himself on proceedings and a crunching forehand down the line from the back of the court earned two break points. He was unable to take those as Nadal demonstrated his powers of resolve and the Croat, having saved six break points, eventually conceded the only break of the set. Cilic saved three break points in game nine but then a stunning whipped Nadal forehand down the line on the run created a break that he duly seized. Nadal, bidding to win the Shanghai title for the first time, calmly served out to force a tie-break and the Spaniard completed his fifth victory in six matches against Cilic, his 16th consecutive victory in all tournaments. “The way doesn’t matter,” said Nadal, 31, with a

Nadal and Federer have won two Grand Slams each this year smile. “We are at the highest level of our sport so nobody wins easy.” With rain falling, the roof was closed for the second semi-final, in which Del Potro was able to participate after a test on the wrist he injured during victory over Viktor Troicki in the previous round. Del Potro saved a break point in the third game and then claimed the decisive break in the opening

set, clinching it in 38 minutes with his eighth ace. Federer’s patience was rewarded in the next, however, as he finally secured a break with his fifth chance of the fifth game. Del Potro had persistent exchanges with the umpire about the exuberant crowd, the majority of which were emphatically in favour of the Swiss maestro, which eventually resulted in a request from the

official for quiet on serve. Federer claimed a key early break in the decider and, as Del Potro began to show signs of fatigue, he meticulously maintained his advantage to complete a 17th win in 23 matches against the Argentine. The 19-time Grand Slam champion now turns his attentions to Nadal, who holds a 23-14 record over him.

EPL: City Score Seven, United Suarez Helps Barca Salvage Point at Atletico Earn Draw at Anﬁeld

anchester City maintained their blistering start to the season as the Premier League leaders demolished Stoke City 7-2, while champions Chelsea crashed to a shock 2-1 defeat at lowly Crystal Palace yesterday. With second-placed Manchester United settling for a drab stalemate at Anfield earlier in the day, it was their Manchester rivals who provided the thrills as City moved two points clear at the top. Capping a dramatic day, Arsenal trail nine points behind City after Watford came from behind to snatch a surprise 2-1 win. Pep Guardiola’s free-scoring City struck three times in the first 27 minutes at Eastlands, securing their sixth successive league win in swashbuckling style. City took the lead through Gabriel Jesus in the 17th

minute and Raheem Sterling doubled the advantage two minutes later with a tap-in that capped a flowing move. David Silva got City’s third with a simple finish after another incisive raid in the 27th minute. Stoke’s Mame Biram Diouf reduced the deficit with a deflected effort in the 44th minute and City’s defence was breached for just the fourth time in the league this season when Kyle Walker scored an own goal two minutes after the interval. But Jesus’s second goal in the 55th minute restored order and his compatriot Fernandinho put the result beyond doubt five minutes later. City reached six goals in a game for the second time this season as Leroy Sane netted in the 62nd minute. Bernando Silva’s first City strike, in the 78th minute, made it 24 goals in his team’s last five league games.

uis Suarez scored an 82nd-minute equaliser as La Liga leaders Barcelona maintained their unbeaten start to the season against Atletico Madrid. Saul Niguez had put the hosts ahead on 21 minutes with a 25-yard curling drive into the bottom corner. Lionel Messi hit the post with a free-kick early in the second half, before Suarez connected with Sergi Roberto’s cross to head in at the far post. Barcelona are five points clear of Real Madrid, who earlier beat Getafe. Atletico are third on 16 points, a point behind their city rivals. The game marked Barcelona’s first visit to the capital since the Catalan independence referendum on October 1, which was op-

posed by Spain’s national authorities. Atletico fans waved hundreds of Spanish flags inside the stadium and booed every touch by Barcelona and Spain defender Gerard Pique, who had given his public support for the referendum. Barcelona did not have any “official” fans in the new 68,000 capacity Wanda Metropolitano due to “logistical problems” in the stadium. It is the second La Liga game in a row that Barcelona have played without any fans, after their home game against Las Palmas on the day of the referendum was played behind closed doors. Barca won at an empty Nou Camp amid widespread political unrest in Catalonia, after a request to have the game postponed was turned down.

Pam, Markus,Torgah Earn 3e Actuaries’ Caps to Mongomo 2017 From Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

aniel Pam, Elisha Markus, Sunday Odegha and Torgah have been capped to denote their qualification for 3e Actuaries Equatorial Guinea Open Championship in Mongomo, Equatorial Guinea. They secured their berth at the Ibadan Mesiogo Open which was one of the international qualifying tournaments leading to Mongomo on the eastern flank of Equatorial Guinea from December 13 to16. Chief Executive Officer of 3e Actuaries, Olawale

PREMIERSHIP RESULTS Liverpool Burnley Crystal Palace Man City Swansea Tottenham

0-0 1-1 2-1 7-2 2–0 1-0

Man United West Ham Chelsea Stoke City Huddersfield Bournemouth

Opayinka decorated the players with famous blue caps at the Ibadan Golf Club. Fifty professional players will gather in Wele-Nzas region for a share of the $250,000 prize money attached to the tournament. Apart from Ibadan, qualifiers were also staged in Sao Paulo, Dubai and Los Angeles to expand the global outlook of the tournament to be held over the amazing Presidential Golf Course, Mongomo. In total, 94 international professional golfers from 17 countries, including Gabon, Cameroon, Trinidad &Tobago, South Africa, Zimbabwe, UK, Ghana, Senegal and Morocco among others, attended the Ibadan Mesiogo Open which offered a prize fee of N10million. The event was an acclaimed success for Nigerian golfers as they grabbed three of the four places, leaving the last slot for Ghanaian Vincent Torgah, who advanced at the expense of compatriot, Kojo Barnini, via the sudden death. Oche Odoh, Gift Willy, Sunday Olapade and Mike Ubi held their tour cards from last year’s event, to ensure Nigeria will line up seven top plight players in Mongomo.

Daniel Pam, Vincent Torgah, Elisha Markus and Sunday J. Odegha, led the international pack at Ibadan Mesiogo Open to qualify for 3e Actuaries E/ Guinea Open Championship

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž ÍŻÍłËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

High Life

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...Amazing lifestyles of Nigeriaâ€™s rich and famous

The Mother Of All Weddingsâ€Ś Bukola Sarakiâ€™s Daughter, Tosin, Marries Olatunde Olukoya in Few Days

agos will throb and the cityâ€™s coastlines would heave with rumblings of an unprecedented epic celebration on the day Senate President Bukola Saraki and his darling wife, Toyin, marry off their daughter, Oluwatosin, to her fiancĂŠ, Adeniyi Olatunde Olukoya, the son of Omooba Tokunbo Olusanya. To make her day a memorable one, the happy parents, plan big for their daughter and her man. The event is set to take place on October 28th in Lagos. Saraki is certainly leaving no stone unturned to host a super wedding ceremony for his daughter. Tosin is the first of the four children of Bukola and Toyin. She clocked 25 last December. While her father wanted a glamorous destination wedding, Tosin has reportedly kicked, preferring to have it in Nigeria. She might have had her way on the choice of location, the young lady would have no say, given the

background of her parents and grandparents, in the grandness of the wedding. Tosinâ€™s mother, Toyin, is the daughter of boardroom guru and businessman of note, Otunba Adekunle and Erelu Ojuolape Ojora. For the past six decades, the Ojoras have been a looming and respected fixture on Nigeriaâ€™s high society. And they are not retired from attending or throwing parties that remain indelible. Tosinâ€™s father is Bukola, the son of Oloye Olusola Saraki, Senate Leader in the Second Republic, and until his death, the deciding factor in Kwara State politics. Also a two-term governor of Kwara State, Bukola is the third in the order of precedence in Nigeria. However, not a few people have been jostling to lay their hands on a copy of the invite. But unfortunately, it would be easier to embark on a round-trip through the Bermuda triangle than to get the invitation card. That is how scarce and exclusive the wedding party would be.

Ahmed Uwhu

LAGOS TO ATLANTA...AHMED UWHUBETINE TURNS KING OF NIGHT LIFE IN THE US Like the proverbial panther with myriad lives, Ahmed Uwhubetine has bounced back on his feet from the dust and intrigues of his fall. There is no gainsaying the former boss of now defunct 11.45 nightclub, located on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, waded into troubled waters. Things got extremely rough for him a few years ago and the fun loving dude decided to relocate to Atlanta, USA. There he picked the broken pieces of his life back together. But while many of his friends and associates

wrote him off thinking he would never bounce back from his misfortune, a select few believed in him. And the latter stood by him through thick and thin. Today, Ahmed has bounced back in Atlanta. He has re-established his club, called Elleven 45, in Atlanta Georgia, USA. Ahmed is very popular in Atlanta and he effortlessly draws the finest species of womenfolk ranging from blacks, blondes, brunettes, to Asians. Back when he was the toast of the Lagos party crowd, Uwhubetine rocked Lagos from the eaves to the foundation. No sooner than he established his 11.45 nightclub on Awolowo Road, his place was assured in the pantheons and circuits of Lagos high society. The entrance of the Delta state indigene into the Lagos party scene earned him unparalleled rave reviews and in a short while, his nightclub became the favourite hang-out for many a celebrity and the Lagos party crowd. Then suddenly he lost his magic touch and his business suffered rapid deterioration and eventual collapse. Letâ€™s hope he will do better by his second outing in the US. EYO EFFIONGâ€™S QUIET 50TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION Like the early dew which moistens blooming

Tosin Saraki

bougainvillea, Abuja wellconnected man of style, Eyo Effiong, ornamented Nigeriaâ€™s high society with uncharacteristic verve and aplomb. Indeed, we must not measure greatness from the mansion down, but from the manger up. Many a rich man giddy with power, carry himself with a false sense of modesty but Eyo Effiong is remarkably different. There is no gainsaying that Eyo is a modern man with wisdom of the ancients. Eyo who lives for the glitter and noise of the celebrity arena, yet, kept his 50th anniversary low profile just like his former

Eyo EďŹƒong

business partner, Yemi Ishola. Long before now, Yemi and his erstwhile partner, Eyo Effiong, used to run the popular but now defunct Made on Earth boutique on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi; Mega plaza and GRA Ikeja, before the fashion business became an all-comerâ€™s affair. They were the go-to-guys for high street fashion accessories and all. And they made good in the business before they parted ways. Though Yemi still runs Formular, Eyo has since moved into real estate. What Eyo lost in Yemi, he has regained in many other high profile friends including Folly Coker. Not surprisingly, many friends still gathered round him, popping champagne and downing expensive cognacs in celebration of the coming of age of a man who they described as genial and generous and one of the most stylish in his generation. Another question that has been begging for an answer is; where is Apinke Effiong? Have you seen her lately? OCHOLIâ€™S KIDSâ€ŚFRIENDS AND FAMILY DESERT SURVIVING CHILDREN OF BUHARIâ€™S EX-LABOUR MINISTER Death is never endearing. It is never splendid or replete with bliss. Thus everywhere it visits, it devastates, like the brute end of a bloody saber. Tragedy invaded the

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‘DJ Olu’… And Dapo Abiodun’s Son, Gbemiga, Passes Away Leaving Behind a Devastated, Inconsolable Family

ere an outpouring of eulogies and tears potent enough to rouse a dead man, Oluwagbemiga Abiodun, the son of the chairman of Heyden, Dapo Abiodun, who reportedly died inside his car penultimate Saturday, would have reconsidered spending a few more days before plunging into his eternal sleep. He was gangling, gregarious and had a good head on his shoulders; every parent’s pride and hope for grey days. In fact, he was already being groomed by his father to take over his business conglomerate. That would never be again. But as family and friends converged at his parents’ house in Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos, last Thursday for the burial, affirming, albeit sadly, the young and fun-loving dude who was a popular DJ, would never resurrect for a brief parting repartee. Very sad! The eyes of many were bloodshot and not a few fought back tears. The rain was at its peak; they felt cold and walked with arms akimbo. It often said, death,

we have since come to accept, is man’s most inevitable end. But when it does happen, it leaves in its trail anguish and sorrow. Nothing can be more bonechilling than the sight of a once vibrant and intense person lying down there unable to ever walk or get up again. But alas, Gbemiga, boyfriend of Ajijola Ajimobi, the daughter of Governor Abiola Ajimobi, died unannounced! He was a young man without guile. Despite being involved in the fickle and fractious world of high society, he retained a sweetness of character and good nature till the very end. Throughout his 24 years in life, Gbemiga retained his essential humility and a sense of perspective and proportion. He was as gracious as he was polite and immensely clubbable. Always ready with fresh schemes for entertainment, DJ Olu was as savvy as he was street smart. The Lagos in-crowd has been thrown into deep mourning. His family and friends are distraught and disoriented, even as you read.

Sadly, the story has changed and they are on their own.

James Ocholi

lives of the Ocholis like a medieval brute, painfully and quite unexpectedly. It claimed the lives of James Ocholi, a former minister in President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet, his wife and son. However, since their sad demise in a terrible accident over a year ago, life has become harder and the days longer for Ocholi’s surviving kids. Besides feeling the absence of their late parents and sibling, friends and relatives that swore to stand by them in the wake of their loss, virtually deserted them. Their house is no longer a Mecca of sort. Friends and family who promised the Ocholis’ surviving kids heaven on earth have disappeared into thin air.

WHITHER THE LANIHUN BROTHERS? “The wary bird lives longest,” so goes a popular Yoruba adage. This adage, probably informed the newfound modesty of the Lanihun brothers. The brothers were once notable for living out loud but no sooner than the EFCC started questioning and clamping down on moneybags in the country with suspicious sources of income, the Lanihun brothers quickly quietened down. The three brothers had painted the town red and rocked every city they visited to the hilt back when they traversed the fast lane in the 90s. The brothers partied hard and wild at home and abroad. Notable among cities they rocked back then were Amsterdam, Brussels and Berlin. Although the source of their wealth remained a contentious issue in the 90s, they remained prime favourites of high society as the society courted them and local Fuji artistes sang their praises to high heavens. Party planners and celebrants sought their presence at their parties as their presence always assured all and sundry that crisp notes in foreign and local currency would be sprayed extravagantly. Predictably, the brothers became the toast

DJ OLU

of women of every class and stature as both old and young ladies jostled to have their love and attention for as long as they could savour it. But those days are long gone now; the Lanihun brothers have retreated into their shell and they are not eager to reemerge any time soon. TEN YEARS AFTER MARRIAGE... ATIKU ABUBAKAR’S SON, AMINU, AND ESTRANGED WIFE, FATIMA BOLORI, FIGHT DIRTY OVER CUSTODY OF THEIR DAUGHTER Bliss soured under the roof of Aminu Atiku Abubakar and his wife, Fatima Bolori, daughter of Maiduguri businessman, Alhaji Bukar Bolori, in unexpected hours. Then rancour sowed wild oats and harvested discord like yam tubers. All is not well in the home of the scion of Nigeria’s former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar. Since his marriage with Fatima hit the rocks, he has known no peace. The estranged couple who got married in 2007 at the Abuja Sheraton Hotel and Towers, last Thursday, engaged in a fight over the custody of their eight-year-old daughter, Amirah. As the story goes, after their breakup, Aminu went with their daughter. Consequently, Bolori filed a suit for the custody of her daughter as provided under Islamic law. Promptly, Aminu countered her by also filing

a suit seeking the custody of the kid. But while the impasse aggravated between the duo, Bolori won and was granted custody on Wednesday, October 11th. She went to her daughter’s school to pick her up and on hearing that she was there, Aminu and his police escorts stormed the school and prevented her from taking the child. Miss Bolori spat into the air and received it in measured cadence, vowed to not leave the school premises until she was allowed to take her child with her. It would be recalled that Aminu and Fatima got married in an epic wedding ceremony in the wake of an enviable and surreal courtship. So sizzling was their romance that Aminu was ready to do anything to impress her and make her his bride. However, few years into their marriage, bliss developed wings and vanished into thin air. Love took a long vacation and discord erected a massive structure in their abode. Eventually, the couple separated after a protracted marital crisis. Although the sordid details of their relationship was an open secret in high society circles, Aminu, his family and friends tried to keep the news as a closely guarded secret. MILLION DOLLAR HIT? DJ CUPPY AND TEKNO GIVE

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ ͯͳ˜ Ͱͮͯ͵

HIGHLIFE

‘Girls Just Want To Have Fun’… Lingerie Party For Ifeoma Williams At 40

hink Cindy Lauper! That American singer’s hit song back then, ‘Girls Just Want To Have Fun. Yes, Ifeoma Williams is 40. Thus she could shake her head like the flowers in spring and let her hair glow like the fireflies that light up the fields and quiet meadows. Some days ago, Mo Abudu hosted the ex-beauty queen, Ifeoma, to a classy pre-40th birthday party. It was an exclusive ladies only soiree with the theme “pyjama jammy jam”. Expectedly, it was classy. Everybody had fun. The celebrant took charge of the party herself, and endeavoured to treat every guest to a good time. The ecstasy of the event and innumerable treats made available to every guest at Mo Abudu’s behest tinged the atmosphere with a euphoric hue of sort; it all felt surreal. And not a few guests could attest to that. Some of

those in attendance were the likes of Ifeoma’s friends of many years, Banke Balogun, Karen Koshoni, Tundun Abiola, Pat Faniran, Mercedes Richards, Ndidi Obioha, Uche Nwandison, Funmi Okigbo and Lanre Da Silva Ajayi. According to the source, come Sunday, October 22, a more elaborate 40th birthday shindig will hold. Ifeoma has every reason to celebrate and be thankful for being alive and successful in an age when the odds stacked against the average Nigerian continually prevent many from surviving their third decade on earth. But she is celebrating her fourth decade and with lots of gratitude too. Now, she is 40 and authentic prime, she knows she can do anything and she is not one to apologise for that. She would probably keep questioning herself as she continues the ascent up the steep of celebrity and acclaim.

as the leading female DJ in Nigeria, Cuppy is a familiar name across the music scene, having successfully gained recognition both in Nigeria and overseas; however, with her new single, she reveals a completely different perspective to her artistry and brand. Green Light, a certified hit, co-stars Tekno, the brain behind one of the biggest Afrobeats global hits last year, “Pana,” a bouncy beat to which DJ Cuppy lends her smooth tones and artistry. With her musical talent, Cuppy is already known as a gifted DJ and creative, but ‘Green Light’ ushers her into the world of daring vocalist, brilliant songwriter, and producer. DJ Cuppy The catching resonance of Cuppy’s new release truly enthralls, captivating her fans, US THE GREEN LIGHT! critics and music enthusiasts, t#JMMJPOBJSF NBHOBUF all alike to varied states of 'FNJ 0UFEPMB T IFJSFTT pleasure and exaltation. SFMFBTFT IJU NVTJD TJOHMF First samplers of the single, Lyricism and charm make enthused that it will be an Ifeoluwa Otedola a.k.a DJ Cuppy, an artiste to love. Her unprecedented favourite in Afrobeat playlists around artistry is pure genius, the kind of electrifying smarts that the world. DJ Cuppy, despite her father’s stupendous no mortal element can tame. wealth, and the comfort of a Having established herself billion dollar fortune, seeks as no hostage to fortune, the heiress of billionaire magnate, to prosper by her own merit. The young adult would rather Femi Otedola’s expansive command the applause of fortune, further emphasises her brilliance and presence in listening peer and succeed by her own merit. Wearing her the music industry courtesy, ‘Green Light,’ her first official beauty like a satin bow, she engages in feverish pursuit single. Featuring awardof her dreams, with the winning artist, Tekno, ‘Green determination of a huntsman Light’ is an enthralling Afrobeats melody that will no seeking to catch tiger cubs by doubt command rave reviews trashing the tiger’s lair. One and ceaseless airplay in clubs, of the heiresses to Otedola’s Forte Oil conglomerate, she broadcast stations and DJ circuits. The single is projected understands perfectly that in to rule music charts across the the pursuit of dreams, even if her strength should fail her, world. her boldness will excite praise. Widely acknowledged

Ifeoma Williams

WORLD EXCLUSIVE... IS DAVIDO’S FATHER DEJI ADELEKE INTERESTED IN OSUN GOVERNORSHIP ELELCTION? This is still hush-hush. In fact, it is known to only a few privileged insiders. As you read, however, the jigsaw of the plot is now in place; billionaire Deji Adeleke, the father of music superstar, Davido, is being pressured to seek the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State in the 2018 elections. The wealthy and widely connected businessman has reportedly been coaxed into seeing reasons why he should take the offer. You would recall that the eldest of the Adeleke brothers, Isiaka, was a serving senator who mysteriously died in April. Senator Adeleke was the first

Deji Adeleke

elected governor of Osun State until his administration was truncated by the military intervention of Sani Abacha. In his first term as Senator in 2007, he was a member of the Action Congress which transmuted into the APC. Until his death, Adeleke was a frontline APC member and he had put plans in place to run for the governorship election after the expiration of the incumbent governor’s term in 2018. For those conversant with Osun State politics, Adeleke was the lead contender as he had the structure and resources to win the election. Death, however, cut short his plans. The Adeleke family fingered the APC government in the state as the mastermind of the senator’s death. The party didn’t help matters when it decided to queue behind a former senator, Mudashir Hussein, in the senatorial bye-election as against supporting Ademola, the younger brother of the deceased Adeleke who had thrown his hat into the ring. Ademola crossed to the PDP, got the ticket and trounced the APC candidate. With the growing popularity of PDP following the activation of the Isiaka Adeleke structure within the party and sensing that his eight years might come to nought if he did not install a successor, sources said Aregbesola and the APC hierarchy had made overtures to some of Davido’s father’s friends to prevail on him to seek the APC ticket therefore nullifying the growing influence of his new senatorbrother in the state.

T H I S D AY SUNDAY OCTOBER 15, 2017

Sunday, October 15, 2017

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MISSILE Buhari to South-east Leaders “I gave South-east four substantive ministers in the ministries of Foreign Aﬀairs, Trade and Investment, Science and Technology and Labour. Seven states in the North got ministers of state and of the two ministries headed by your sons. I cannot take any decision on foreign policy and investments without their input.” - President Muhammadu Buhari debunking allegations of under-representation of Igbo in his government

Teach Me to Fish, Please

wo weeks ago, or a little more than that, I was at the midweek service in my church when the testimony of a member was read on the pulpit. The budding entrepreneur said something like: since he won a $10,000 grant from the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), his story had changed. I wouldn’t normally use my phone during service but I couldn’t hold myself: I whipped it out of my pocket and sent a “God bless you” message to Mr. Tony Elumelu. I was particularly emotional because earlier in the day I had gone through some scary statistics about the youth unemployment situation in Nigeria. I had been wondering: we are in serious trouble — where do we go from here? In my previous article, “The Forgotten Conversations” (October 8, 2017), I did ask questions on what happens to the children who don’t go to school at all, those who drop out of primary school, those who finish primary school and do not proceed to secondary school, those who fail their O’Levels, those who fail university entry exams, and those who graduate and end up unemployable, underemployed or unemployed. I wish I had the answers. To lament is the smallest part of the problem. Everybody can lament. After all, lamentation is free. But how can we confront this present danger which has enormous implications for our future? One thing easily comes to mind. Any strategy, or programme, to tackle these multidimensional problems must factor in multidimensional solutions. Not all of us will go to the university. Those who are not good academically can be good in other areas, such as sport. You have many “area boys” throwing punches for free on the streets when they could be groomed to become professional boxers. Some potential athletes are hawking inside traffic and sprinting like Usain Bolt to chase payments for their wares. Many young people are best suited for technical and vocational education: that is how they will end up making something out of their lives. I have always thought, too, that not all graduates will become employees. Some will be employers within a short time. When I was in the university, my ambition was to start my own business after graduation. I was not planning to apply for a job. I had garnered considerable journalism experience in my undergraduate years. I was even involved in setting up a national campus magazine with my friends and course mates, Lanre Issa-Onilu and Clement Aigbogun, at 200 Level. Further armed with on-the-job experience as an intern at Complete Football magazine under my mentor, Mr. Mumini Alao, I believed I was ready to take the plunge after national service. In 1993, I conceived the idea of producing a special publication for the 1994 African Cup of Nations in Tunisia. Nigeria was a favourite to win, having just qualified for the World Cup for the first time with the golden generation of Rashidi Yekini, Emmanuel Amuneke, Jay Jay Okocha, Finidi George and Sunday Oliseh. In my head, I had a good product that could do very well in the market, more so with the renewed enthusiasm of Nigerians in football. There was also the little matter that the publication could turn me into a millionaire in my early 20s. I was over the moon. But there was only one problem: I did not have one kobo to push my idea.

Elumelu And that is actually why the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme fascinates me. I was a young man with plenty ideas and no money. I had packaged a beautiful proposal — according to those who saw it — but there was no such thing as TEF to run to. My proposal got me a job, though, against my wish. Thankfully, through Elemelu’s philosophy of “Africapitalism” — which focuses on private sector-led empowerment of African entrepreneurs through capacity development, seed capital, mentoring and networking — many young people are becoming employers rather than employees. Where was TEF in 1993 when I badly needed it? In 2015, Elumelu ushered in the “Decade of the African Entrepreneur” by committing $100 million to the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme — a first in concept and scale on the African continent. The goal, he said, is to empower 10,000 entrepreneurs who will collectively create one million jobs and generate $10 billion during the period. The third annual TEF Entrepreneurship Forum was rounded off in Lagos yesterday. It brings together business leaders, established entrepreneurs and policy makers for networking. They are expected to forge partnerships, share insights and develop made-in-Africa solutions as the continent continues to seek transformation. This is my line of thought. The exploding population of unemployed youth offers different opportunities to different people. To some politicians, it offers a big market to recruit thugs for electioneering. It also offers a massive market to recruit voters and “buy” votes — give them fish, don’t teach them to fish; give them bread, don’t teach them to bake. They will become your slaves. I hate this feeling that I have — the feeling that some of our leaders are happy to see people continue to live in abject poverty and ignorance because that way, they remain pawns on the political chessboard. When we discuss poverty and unemployment, it’s Greek to these politicians.

Yet, this youth “market” offers positive opportunities to turn around the fortunes of the country, as the TEF programme seeks to do. There are enormous opportunities to empower both the educated and uneducated in virtually all sectors of the economy. Teach them to fish. Teach them to bake. Don’t give them fish. Don’t give them bread. We can look at the youth with all their bubbling energy, make entrepreneurs and employers out of them to create a prosperous society. Rather than give up on the youth situation, the government, at all levels, can concentrate policies and programmes on capacity development, seed capital, mentoring and networking — like TEF. The National Directorate of Employment (NDE), started in 1989 by the military government of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, has faded away. YouWiN! Connect, started by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2012, provides support to young entrepreneurs through three stages: from planning and starting to growing businesses. The aim is to promote entrepreneurship as “a viable career option for young Nigerians which in turn will create jobs and wealth”. On paper, these are great ideas. But, in truth, the government itself could be overwhelmed. We are discussing millions and millions upon millions of unemployed youth, not just a few thousands. That is where Africapitalism makes sense — it is about the private sector working with governments and other stakeholders for the economic and human development of Africa. How many people can the government employ? How many can MTN and Shell employ? But there is no limit to how many self-employed people and entrepreneurs we can make out of Nigerians. Government must actively encourage entrepreneurship. I would further suggest that government should make it easy for people, especially young people, to do business, rather than harassing anyone that opens a company with all sorts of taxes and levies, forcibly enforced by police and touts as if we are at war. The idea of encouraging men and women of means to empower the youth should be part of our overall strategy to tackle unemployment in Nigeria. Elumelu himself was barely 34, and largely unknown, when he acquired a distressed financial institution, Crystal Bank, and became the country’s youngest CEO in the banking sector. He changed the name to Standard Trust Bank which later became Nigeria’s fifth largest bank and acquired the mammoth UBA, which has now moved from being a single-country bank to an institution with operations in 19 African countries. There are plenty Elemules waiting to be unearthed, mentored and empowered all over Nigeria. I summarise. As gloomy as things appear to be for the youth — both the formally educated and the uneducated — there are opportunities to build and empower them to become entrepreneurs in their own corners, as TEF is doing. Government policies must factor in the private sector and other stakeholders as we seek to tackle the daunting challenges. Men and women of means, beyond being just billionaires and philanthropists, should look in the direction of youth empowerment. We are in a society where some people think they are insulated from poverty and all this talk about youth explosion is none of their business. They need to rethink. We are all in this together.

And Four OtherThings… NORTHERN STAR President Buhari is as constant as the northern star. Or, rather, that is the perception out there. He has been consistently accused of heavily favouring “northern regions” in his appointments since he came to office in 2015. So his case was worsened when Dr. Jim Yong Kim, World Bank president, revealed last week that Buhari asked him to focus on “northern regions”. Presidency has clarified that Buhari said the “north-east” which, in fairness, makes sense to me. Even if Mazi Nnamdi Kanu becomes president of the Nigerian “zoo” today and tours the north-east, his heart will melt. It is a dead end. But Buhari’s “97% vs 5%” Freudian slip will never fade away. Baggage. NNPC QUANDARY I have two quick takes on the NNPC controversy. One, President Buhari lost it from the beginning when he decided to make himself minister of petroleum resources. Those who know about corporate governance have been laughing. Two, until NNPC is liberated and run like a proper business so that it can begin to play globally like Norway’s Statoil and Malaysia’s Petronas — as envisaged when it was set up in 1977 — it will continue to be a giant toddler perpetually stewed in crises and scandals. Unfortunately, the lawmakers are more adept at such things as anti-gay laws and anti-NGO bills while perennially dancing around the all-important PIB. Sad. THE ACTIVIST Say whatever you like about her, but I have become a fan of the first lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari, over her activism in the public space. We have an Aso Rock clinic with billions of naira in its budget and an empty pharmacy on its premises. No cotton wool. No syringe. No paracetamol. The X-ray machine does not work. And this is a clinic dedicated to the most powerful people in Nigeria. If Aso Rock clinic can be that dismal, what do we expect of other hospitals that “cater” for the tomato sellers and shoe shiners? That is why I am with the first lady in her crusade. We need people high up there to keep saying what we down here have been saying fruitlessly for years. Aluta. ON PROF OYEBODE… In my article, “This Thing Called 1999 Constitution” (August 27, 2017), I wrote: “Prof. Akin Oyebode, the well-respected legal luminary… was a key player in the finalisation of that document in 1999.” From the follow-up comments and analyses, many readers apparently concluded that the “key role” meant he was a member of the Constitution Debate Co-ordinating Committee (CDCC). For the record, he was never a member of that committee. The professor of law has always played a key role in debates around Nigeria’s constitutional development. He still does. I do apologise if any embarrassment was caused the legal scholar by this misinterpretation. Clarity.

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