SUNDAY 23RD JUNE 2019

Again, Obaseki, Oshiomhole Trade Tackles over Assembly Crisis Governor: You’re biased, hear all the sides APC Chairman: You violated every process known to law Olawale Olaleye The last has not been heard about the feud between Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State and his predecessor

and National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. Both at the weekend continued to dig their heels in on accusations

of wrongdoing, particularly, as it concerns the election of the state House of Assembly’s leadership. While Obaseki accused Oshiomhole of displaying

bias in the crisis rocking the Assembly by not listening to all sides in the feud, the APC national chairman said the facts of the case were staring him in the face.

Oshiomhole had fired the first shot on Friday in Abuja while playing host to the Bauchi State APC House of Assembly members at the party’s national secretariat.

The APC lawmakers had gone to complain to their national chairman that only 11 members, comprising eight Continued on page 8

No New Passport without National Identification Number, Says NIS… Page 84 Sunday 23 June, 2019 Vol 24. No 8840

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BREAKING: Emefiele to Unveil New CBN 5-year Policy Trust, Monday

Battle for Ministerial Appointments Rages as President Prepares Final List Fashola, Ambode, Amaechi, Tonye Cole, Akpabio, Adelabu, Akume under consideration Olawale Olaleye As the nation awaits President Muhammadu Buhari's ministerial nominees to help

him shepherd his second term, there is anxiety and uncertainty amid endless closed-door meetings by leaders of the All Progressives

Congress (APC), as to who will make the list. The president's silence on the issue has ratcheted expectations and fears amongst hopefuls.

The battle for ministerial appointments has peaked significantly in the last few weeks even as Buhari is said to be preparing a final list of

those he wants in his cabinet due for announcement anytime soon. The battle to make the Next Level cabinet has been

made particularly competitive, because of former ministers, who are itching to return to Continued on page 8

Osinbajo: Apapa Gridlock Still a Challenge Says ports now handle 46m tonnes above its capacity Gboyega Akinsanmi Despite the recent intervention of Presidential Taskforce on the Restoration of Law and Order in Apapa, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday acknowledged that traffic congestion and environmental nuisance in the business district were still a huge challenge.

Osinbajo noted that the Apapa and TinCan Island Ports were constructed “to handle 34 million tonnes of cargo. But they now handle over 80 million tons of cargo,” which by implication represented an increase of 235 per cent above its original capacity. Continued on page 8

NBA: No Part of HOMAGE TO THE GODFATHER… sworn-in Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (left), during a courtesy visit to APC Nigeria is Safe… Page 8 Newly Chieftain and former Lagos State Governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at his Bourdillon Ikoyi residence… yesterday

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ÍşÍťËœ ͺ͸͚Π˞ T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

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NBA: No Part of Nigeria is Safe Tobi Soniyi in Lagos The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has declared that no part of Nigeria is safe. NBA President, Mr Paul Usoro, SAN, made the declaration on Thursday while delivering an address at the association’s national executive committee (NEC) meeting, which held at the NBA secretariat in Abuja. Usoro cited three instances where members of the association were abducted and killed. He said: “My dear colleagues, as you would observe, I have given you three illustrative instances of the insecurity that pervades our

land from the three NBA Nigerian Zones – East, West and North – and that, by itself, makes the point that no part of our country is safe. “Just yesterday, 19 June 2019, the Nigerian Guardian newspaper reported that the United Kingdom had issued travel advisory warning against travels to 21 states in Nigeria. In the South-west region of Nigeria, it has been reported in the last couple of days that the son of the immediate past Minister of Health was kidnapped. No region is safe, and no tribe is safe. No one, indeed, is safe. “And yet, we have governments in place, at the Federal, State and

Local Government levels and the primary business of governments is the protection of lives and property. Indeed, without security of lives and property, everything else grinds to a halt. As the saying goes, ‘safety first’. “Only those who are alive can enjoy medi-care, educational facilities, infrastructure renewal, economic boom and all the other tangible and intangible benefits of a democratic society. And, by the way, not to be forgotten or diminished by our politicians in power is the fact that only those who are alive can vote in the next election. Only those who

afraid to perform their duties as expected due to fear and intimidation from the executive arm of government. He expressed worry over the “intimidation of judges by members of the executive arm and security operatives�, saying that judges now “operate under an oppressive and pervasive climate of fear and insecurity.� According to him, “Our judges are threatened, intimidated and blackmailed mostly by the executive arm of government and their agencies both at the federal and state levels,� he said. Usoro added, “Our judges

cannot deliver justice under a climate of fear and intimidation. Justice thrives where and when there is an independent judiciary. There can be no such independence when there is no security of tenure for our judges. There can be no independence of the judiciary when our judges are intimidated, threatened and blackmailed by state agencies and their officials. “There can be no independence of the judiciary when our judges are actively coerced by state officials to think and reason only in the manner that those officials and, presumably, government want them to think.�

ask you, if a similar thing was done in the National Assembly, would you be asking the question that since it has been done what needs to happen next? “If a foundation is faulty, you can’t roof the building. We must emphasise that processes need to be followed. We are cleaning up our processes. Once processes are clean, outcomes don’t matter. Outcomes should reflect the will of the people. I don’t know how inauguration that violated every aspect of the law, tradition, norms and values can stand. If you fail an exam, you re-seat. “There is no dispute about the fact that nine people were involved, some against their will to purport to have inaugurated the assembly. How is it that a governor of APC cannot allow people to vote? You carry

people by 9.30pm and purport to have elected a speaker? The danger of that is that if you can do it for speakership purpose, you can also do it to make law that is unpopular. “If as APC we condemned what happened in Bauchi, we cannot embrace what happened in Edo. It is more so, when it is the state the national chairman comes from. We cannot say the Bauchi man is PDP and on the other man in Edo is APC, we use different standards. It is imperative of APC to show leadership and uphold processes at all times. As a matter of fact, it is incumbent on the party that professes change to always uphold the law. We must show a different standard of doing things so we can send the right message by setting the right example," IssaOnilu added.

Currently, the Kano slot appears a solo run for the former Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Danbazau, except the president changes his mind, which many believed is unlikely. Former Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika and Senator Abu Ibrahim are the two top guns for the Katsina slot. While many believed that Sirika might return, there are those who believe the Senator is in Buhari’s serious consideration. Between the former Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Mustapha Baba-Shehuri and former Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, the slot for a ministerial slot would be settled for the North East state. Although now a senator, it is common knowledge that Shettima desires to be in Buhari’s cabinet, a situation that makes the choice for Borno also competitive. The battle for the ministerial choice in Kaduna State presents a rather interesting twist. While the name of Senator Shehu Sani, who fell out with Governor Nasir el-Rufai ahead of the 2019 election has been flying around, one Barnabas Bala Bantex has also come up strong in the equation. It is another competitive turf for the former senator. Ebonyi State has before it, its 2019 governorship candidate,

Senator Sunny Ogbuorji and the immediate past Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu. Apart from this being an APC affair, there is also the belief that the governor of the state, Dave Umahi might play a very serious role in the eventual choice for the state, because of his relationship with Buhari and APC. To slug it out in Bauchi are the immediate past governor of the state, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar and former Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, one of the closest allies of the president. The choice here is also a tricky one, which makes a pick somewhat difficult. The former Minister of Niger Delta, Usaini Usani and governorship candidate of the APC in Cross River, Senator John Enoh, had since taken their rivalry to the ministerial bout, having fought fiercely, over who was the authentic governorship candidate of the party in the state. The trio of Godswill Akpabio, Nsima Ekere and Udo Udoma are to battle for the Akwa Ibom slot. While Udoma is the former Minister of Budget and Planning, Ekere flew the APC flag as its governorship candidate and lost, same as Akpabio, who could not return to the senate. The battle for the slot here is considered a serious and tough one, because it

is more about political relevance. Although there is the belief that President Buhari might drop his former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, he appears the only candidate for the slot for Kebbi State. He is itching to return. Nothing is however cast in stone as far as his consideration is concerned. For the Sokoto State slot, the battle is currently being described as one between Aisha Abubakar, former Minister of State for Trade and investment and the APC candidate in the just concluded governorship election, Ahmed Aliyu. Although Aisha’s appointment created some upset initially, when she was picked in 2015, it is unlikely Buhari might want to go through another pressure for her. Former Adamawa State governor, Mohammad Bindow Jibrilla appears comfortable as the most plausible candidate from the state, having lost his election in March this year. Also in Taraba, Fatima Gambo is said to being positioned as the ideal replacement for Aisha Al-Hassan, the former Minister of Women Affairs, who openly declared support for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate, even while still serving in Buhari’s cabinet.

weeks expected to elapse this week. With the expiration of the taskforce’s ultimatum, the vice president inspected Apapa’s traffic sore points and admitted that the gridlock was still a huge challenge, citing space constraint, infrastructure deficit and ineffective call-up system

as major difficulties with the business district. He said, “As we are trying to ensure movement within the ports quickly, we must not forget that the port was designed to handle 34 million tons of cargo. But the ports now handle over 80 million tons of cargo. So, there are other things we are doing

to make the use of the ports much easier.� Osinbajo however observed that with federal government’s commitment to improving infrastructure and ensuring effective call-up system within the ports, the traffic challenges would be resolved in no distant future.

are alive can trigger boom and prosperity in our economy. Only those who are alive can benefit from and applaud the government for the war against corruption. It is therefore in the interest of the government as much as it is in the interest of the governed for lives and property to be secured and safe. “We, therefore, demand from our governments at all levels this basic minimum of their debt to us, to wit, security of lives and property in the land.� Usoro also spoke on the independence of the judiciary, saying judges in the country are

AGAIN, OBASEKI, OSHIOMHOLE TRADE TACKLES OVER ASSEMBLY CRISIS PDP, two APC and one New Nigeria People’s Party members, out of 31 members, elected a speaker and deputy speaker for the Assembly. Oshiomhole said: “Unfortunately, the situation in Bauchi is also similar to the one that is happening in Edo State. “I am ashamed to talk about it, but there is nothing to hide. We have a similar situation in Edo, where in our case we have 24/24, all of them APC. But somebody wants a particular person as Speaker, 19 out of 24 are opposed to this person.� Responding, Obaseki, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said Oshiomhole’s views on Obaseki’s alleged role in the emergence of the leadership of the Edo State House of Assembly exposed the

APC chairman’s prejudice. The statement said, “We read with utter astonishment a statement credited to the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, with respect to Governor Godwin Obaseki’s alleged role in the inauguration of the Edo State House of Assembly. “Apart from the fact that he based his conclusion on a totally false and baseless premise, we believe that he could have shown that he does not have a vested interest by simply inquiring from his friend, the governor, directly, or any official of the State Working Committee of our party as to what actually transpired.� Continuing, Osagie claimed Oshiomhole’s “failure to satisfy the basic tenets of natural justice,

which makes fair hearing from all sides of a matter mandatory, has clearly exposed his bias in this issue. “For the avoidance of doubt, all the decisions relating to the leadership of the Edo State House of Assembly recently elected by the house were taken by the State Working Committee and leaders of the party from across the state.� He also said, “In deference to the rule of party supremacy, which the national chairman so eloquently professes, the governor and all party members are obliged to respect the party's decision, as we expect the national chairman to also do.� However, in his second response on the matter, Oshiomhole, who spoke last night through APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Issa-Onilu, said, “There is no dispute about the fact that nine people were

involved in it. There is no dispute about the fact that what took place, took place at 9.30pm. So what is there to listen to? “Furthermore, there is no dispute about the fact that the proclamation was not published. The Constitution says you publish and you inform all members. So this is not something you need to do an investigation on. The facts are staring you in the face. This is not a quarrel between two people. It’s when two people are quarrelling about issues that you say, let’s investigate. The point is, was the law followed or was it not followed.� Asked what would happen now that the Assembly had been inaugurated, Issa-Onilu said, “The processes are regulated by law. We are not talking of an amorphous society or secret cult. Now, let me

BATTLE FOR MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENTS RAGES AS PRESIDENT PREPARES FINAL LIST cabinet, former governors who have either completed their two terms in office or those who lost re-election bid or lost the ticket to other candidates and other members of the APC, who feel a need to be compensated for their roles in the victory of the president in the just concluded 2019 presidential election which earned him a second term. Although unlike the 2015 approach, insiders have hinted that apart from selecting candidates each from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the president has also decided to appoint another six to represent each of the geo-political zones in order to actualise his promise of inclusive government. Unfortunately for a majority of party leaders, the president has kept the information about his Next Level cabinet to himself alone, the very reason the APC governors after a meeting last week conceded the choice of cabinet members as entirely the president’s prerogative. To that extent, the silence of the president and the obvious lack of clue on who might get what from other Villa sources have further stiffened the jostle for appointments, even as the nation is on tenterhooks about those that would make the cabinet. In Lagos State for example, while the appointment is strictly

between two former governors, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola and Akinwunmi Ambode, there is the understanding that, while Fashola, who was Minister of Power, Works and Housing may return representing the Lagos slot, Ambode is being considered for the South West slot. Fashola is said to be loved by the President while Ambode's case is being championed by the President's men in the Villa. The situation in Rivers State is still believed to favour former Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi. But there are those who feel the governorship candidate of the party, Mr. Tonye Cole, who was denied the opportunity of challenging Governor Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by different courts, is also being considered for a ministerial appointment. How to balance the two interests is what many do not however know. The slot for Delta State is a straight slugfest between former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and the President's Campaign’s spokesperson for the 2019 election, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN. Kachikwu is itching for a return while Keyamo feels he did well fending off the President's opponents without apologies and as such deserves a cabinet shot.

In Ogun State, the choice of candidate is Wale Edun, Pastor Tunde Bakare and one Mr. Kayode Odesola. But neither of the last two candidates is believed to have sweeping support of stakeholders in the state. They are however in the good books of the president. The choice between Mr. Adebayo Adelabu and former Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi makes the battle for the state a tough one. Adelabu is said to be eyeing Ministry of Finance. And further compounding this is the fact that the former Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu is also in contention for the slot from the state. But Buhari might have made his choice already. Alhaji Lai Mohammed is believed to be itching to come back as the Kwara State candidate for a ministerial post, but he does not appear to have the much needed support from home, as a majority of the people feel, the opportunity should go to other parts of the state for balancing. Former Governor George Akume of Benue State and the immediate past Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh are the two candidates for the Benue slot. Not only are the both of them qualified, they both also worked for Buhari’s re-election. The stakes are therefore high in Benue.

OSINBAJO: APAPA GRIDLOCK STILL A CHALLENGE He gave the figures at a session with journalists after inspecting traffic sore points in Apapa and its environs, noting that with improved infrastructure and effective call-up system, traffic congestion in the axis would be resolved. He inspected Apapa’s sore points alongside the Lagos State

Governor, Mr. Babajide SanwoOlu; the Managing Director of Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), Ms. Hadiza Usman and the Vice Chairman of the presidential task, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, among others. Soon after the 2019 general election, the federal government had constituted the presidential taskforce to intervene in the Apapa

traffic congestion, which had culminated in the deterioration of law and public order in the axis. The taskforce, which was mandated to restore order in Apapa within three weeks, could not effectively accomplish its core mission, forcing the federal government to extend its time of operation by two additional

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JUNE 23, 2019

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SUNDAY COMMENT

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

OBSERVERS’ REPORTS ON 2019 ELECTION There is need for fundamental reforms in order to restore integrity to the polls

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fter two decades of uninterrupted democracy, the challenge of holding free, fair and credible elections in the country is still overwhelming. This much was underlined by the recent damning reports of international observers who monitored the 2019 general election in Nigeria. Both the final reports of the European Union Election Observation Mission and that of the National Democratic Institute bear worrying resemblance to the challenge: that the elections fell far below expectations. The same conclusion was reached by the report of the International Republican We agree with the Institute (IRI). The EU, which recommendation had been part of the that INEC should country’s democratic update its data process since 1999, management and said in its report that communication except in few instances “systemic failings process to ensure seen in the elections… that information the need for about the election show fundamental electoral process and results reforms.” The EU chief are shared with the observer, Ms Maria Arena, public promptly added: “This needs to be and transparently urgently undertaken to allow time for debate, legislative changes and implementation well in advance of the next elections.” Similarly, both the NDI and IRI noted in their reports that the elections were weighed down by violence and intimidation amid other administrative challenges. The IRI President, Mr Daniel Twining said the elections “fell significantly short of the standard set in 2015” while admonishing that “election stakeholders should take concrete steps to address the concerns of citizens regarding the polls in order to rekindle their faith in the power and possibility of credible elections.” His NDI colleague, Mr Derek Mitchell also observed, among other things, that party agents overstepped their bounds while security agencies, particularly the military, disrupted the polls in many areas, especially in Rivers State, adding that the elections highlighted “the need for a national conversation about the nation’s democracy.” However, as disturbing and revealing as the reports are, they merely confirmed what is obvious and had been

Letters to the Editor

trending in the polity about the operational inefficiencies, flagrant partisanship of security agencies and lack of transparency during the exercise. In an earlier editorial, this newspaper underscored the fact that the 2019 general election was defined by violence and other irregularities. Even the re-elected President Muhammadu Buhari was courageous enough to admit that there were problems with the poll. “Election is not war, and should never be seen as a do or die affair,” he said.

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S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITORS OLAWALE OLALEYE, TOBI SONIYI MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE

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

ndeed, the elections were marred in some states by outright brigandage, abduction of election officials, card malfunctions, burning of election materials, vote-buying, ballotstuffing and snatching, voter intimidation and low turnout and shooting to death of some innocent citizens. In Lagos, Rivers and many other states, security agents, aided by thugs, invaded some polling centres, disrupted the process, manhandled voters, destroyed and burnt electoral materials. Even though the military authorities tried to deflect criticisms of its role by recently absolving its men of blame, the post-election statement by INEC and reports of foreign observers have confirmed the culpability of security agents in the malpractices that occurred in some states of the country. As we have canvassed in the past, we welcome the need for some fundamental reforms in the polity in order to restore integrity to our polls. We are worried about the resort to violence and impunity in the name of elections especially when there is really no evidence that the interest of the downtrodden is being served. We wholeheartedly endorse the need for better data management and transparent conduct of elections as it will certainly shore up confidence in the electoral process. We also agree that the military should be kept away from our elections. The purpose of democracy is to afford the people the opportunity to choose their leaders and subsequently participate in the way they are governed. The basic way this is done is through the ballot box. We therefore agree with the recommendation that INEC should update its data management and communication process “to ensure that information about the election process and results are shared with the public promptly and transparently,” while also ensuring “clear procedures for the transmission of results from the polling unit directly to its headquarters in Abuja or the state INEC office.” The controversy over the use of server in the last election would have been unnecessary if these measures were in place.

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.

Miyetti Allah and Southeast Security Strategy

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ecurity is everybody’s business. No individual, group, institution or organisation is nugatory in matters of security. All efforts are needed and all hands must be forged into one fist in the pursuit of peace. In fact, it imperils security if any stakeholder to the peace is “quarantined” and stereotyped. On Wednesday, I read a report on a security briefing by Audu Adamu Madaki, commissioner of police in Adamawa State. In that compte rendu , he revealed, essentially, the importance of working with critical stakeholders in retarding criminality. Madaki said three kidnappers, who surrendered their arms and divulged crucial information on the artifices and operations of their criminal genre, were led to his office by an official of Miyetti Allah

(a show of resolve in helping to curb the menace). Hear him: "Yesterday, we harvested three repentant kidnappers who voluntarily walked into my office, confessed to have been kidnappers; but have now repented and surrendered two AK-47s to the command. "The herdsmen explained to me that they normally concealed the firearms in sacks of personal effects and strap them on the back of a cow and then immigrate to a chosen destination. “They told me that they purchased them from the Republic of Cameroon and moved them into Nigeria through the bush path to beat immigration and other security agents along the border." I believe, there will be more gains in the effort to wrestle down banditry and kidnapping

if the people, who can prevail on or sway these outlaws, are involved in the “sumo.” It is the reason I am strained by the sectional condemnation of the request by Miyetti Allah to help in fending off the brigands from the southeast. At the Southeast Security Summit in Enugu on Thursday, Alhaji Bala Usman Ngelzerma, national secretary of Miyetti Allah, said the association was willing to help in strengthening the security architecture of the region through its vigilantes. He said: “The Fulani Youth Vigilant body will be working with the security, the neighborhood watch or vigilante to ensure security in all communities, as it was done in Enugu State. “We will solicit for your support and cooperation in adopting dialogue where problems exist

as a means of brokering peace and to report cases against our members to either the Fulani Youth Vigilante Group, state or local branch of the association.” Ordinarily, I see no distress in this imploration. To me, the hue and cry over Miyetti Allah’s entreaty are emotionally charged and sentimentally invoked. It should be considered as a gesture of good faith because it is commonsensical to fight criminality of this ilk with those girded with information and knowledge about the culprits. On the one hand, there is an outrage over killings by strayed herdsmen in some parts of the southeast, and on the other hand, there is uproar over the entreaty by the monolithic association for herdsmen to help in checking this scourge. So, where do we go from here? Although, I understand the concerns of those remonstrating, but is it not sagacious to involve some members of Miyetti Allah in the vigilante groups securing the southeast? I think, the

pickle is assuming that an entire group is a culprit in the crimes of a few. This is the corollary of stereotyping and the concomitants of conspiracy theories of “Fulanisation and Islamisation”. With the frightening level of insecurity across the country, no region should rebuff a gesture of help from any party of interest. The argument that the north is worse hit by insecurity, so, Miyetti Allah should centre its effort there is vacuous and irrational. These people have been profiled because of the crimes of a few, and now they are taking the pedal in the purge of their own; yet stereotyped and rebuffed? We must give no room for conspiracy theories - of domination, invasion or conquest. These are the byproduct of distrust and fear. And instead of running wild with emotions, let us give space to rational thinking and disciplined conversations. –Fredrick Nwabufo, fredricknwabufo@yahoo.com.

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NEWS We Killed 47 Terrorists, Captured Others, Claims Nigerian Army

Acting News Editor Gboyega Akinsanmi E-mail: gboyega.akinsanmi@thisdaylive.com, 08081986590

t Buratai urges troops to remain dogged, decisive

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Barely one week after the killing of a commanding officer and 25 soldiers in Borno State by the Boko Haram terrorist group, the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) yesterday said it had killed 47

fighters of the extremist sect at Doron Naira Island in the Lake Chad region. MNJTF said the casualties followed a fierce encounter with the terrorist sect, also known as the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP), during a clearance operation in which

one soldier also died while 10 others were wounded. The taskforce said it was the heaviest loss suffered by ISWAP in six months. The clearance operation came as the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, urged troops to remain

dogged and decisive in the fight against insurgency. Buratai’s admonition followed the killing of the Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. Azubuike, and 25 soldiers of the 158 Battalion located at Kareto Village, 130 kilometres from Maiduguri, the Borno State

UNLOCKING APAPA GRIDLOCK

L-R: Chairman of the Presidential Task Team on Restoration of Law and Order in Apapa, Mr. Kayode Opeifa; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, during the inspection of traffic sore points in Apapa Central Business District... yesterday

capital. The insurgents had earlier overrun three military bases in two months with high casualty figures. Following this, the army chief lamented the lack of commitment on the part of officers and men at the frontlines, a situation he said was stalling the antiterrorist campaign. Buratai had in a no-holdsbarred speech said: “It is unfortunate, but the truth is that almost every setback the Nigerian Army has had in our operations in recent times can be traced to insufficient willingness to perform assigned tasks: or simply insufficient commitment to a common national/ military cause by those at the frontlines.” His position had attracted severe public criticism, with different groups calling for his sack or resignation. But after the latest battlefield gains by the military, the MNJTF said in a statement, “In continuation of the ongoing Operation Yancin Tafki to rout Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) from the Lake Chad Area, the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF)

in conjunction with national forces yesterday inflicted the heaviest loss in six months on ISWAP.” Spokesman of MNJTF, Col. Timothy Antigha, who issued the statement, said, “About 6am on June 21, 2019, troops embarked on clearance operation to Doron Naira (an island in Lake Chad), in a bid to disrupt ISWAP’s activities on the island and adjoining localities. “Troops effectively suppressed ISWAP and successfully conducted the clearance operation. At the end of the engagement, the following statistics were recorded: 42 terrorists were neutralised, several others escaped with gunshot wounds.” MNJTF said items recovered after the operation included two gun trucks, which were destroyed, three motorcycles, two light machine guns, and two AK 47 riffles. “Unfortunately, the MNJTF lost a soldier while 10 others were wounded in action. The affected soldiers have been evacuated accordingly,” the statement said.

Fayemi: Policy Somersault Crippled Education System Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi yesterday lamented hydra-headed crisis challenges confronting Nigeria’s education system, noting that policy somersault “has been an impediment to the development of the system in the last four decades.” Fayemi,also,saidNigeriawould not achieve real growth and sustainable development without placing emphasis on technological and technical education, saying in the modern world, any countrythat“de-prioritisestechnical education will suffer collapsed economy.” He made the remarks at a meeting with the management staff of technical colleges in Ado-Ekiti, urging the state governors “to

prioritise technical and vocational educationforcitizenstohaveskills that can make them to economic growth.” Fayemi, who spoke through the Chairman of the State Board for Technical and Vocational Education, Hon. Kayode Babade, lamented that policy somersault “has been the major impediment to the development of Nigeria’s educational system. “We always have policy somersault. The government that brought in the 6-3-3-4 policy really meant well for this country. Under the structure, pupils at primary level will spend six years; students at junior secondary level (JSS I-III) three years and those at secondary level (SSS I-III) will undergo three-year training.” “When this policy was introduced, you will discover that

Flooding Forces Air Peace Flight off Runway at PH Airport Chinedu Eze

Air Peace Flight P47291 from Abuja to Port Harcourt yesterday skidded off the runway due to heavy downpour, thoughnocasualtywasrecorded. The Chief Operating Officer of theairline,ToyinOlajideconfirmed the incident, attributing it to floodingduetoheavyrainfallatthetime theaircrafttoucheddown. She said the flight, which was operated by Boeing B737-500, took off from Abuja and landed at 3:42 pm when the incident happened. THISDAY learnt that the aircraft was able to stop immediately it skidded off and that the runway was heavily flooded due to prolonged rainfall. Eyewitness account said that passengers in the aircraft

were petrified when the incident happened but nobody was hurt and there was no discernible damage on the aircraft. The General Manager, Public Affairs, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Henrietta Yakubu, also confirmed the incident yesterday. He said although the aircraft skidded off the runway, the pilot was able to stop the aircraft, saying despite the rain, the undercarriage of the aircraft did not sink into the soil. Yakubu added that from the feedback she received from Port Harcourt, none of the passengers or the crew of the flight was hurt. The aircraft has been grounded for inspection by aviation authorities.

most secondary schools were equipped with various kinds of workshops and tools. But today, none of them are in the schools. The greatest problem they had was when they have the tools, there were no teachers to teach and train the students,” he said. The governor, therefore, explained that any country that “will focus on that kind of a system would have to organise at regular training for technical teachers who will come and impact knowledge at the various levels of educational system.”

He, also, explained that the board had been mandated “to organise a one-day lecture to sensitise youths, graduates and artisans on technical education as a means to self reliance and sure employment. It is high time the public change its negative perception about technical trainees and education.” He disclosed that the State Board for Technical and Vocational Education “has been mandated to oganise a lecture on the significance of technical education. The lecture will focus on Technical Education:

Okara, Literary Icon, Buried in Yenagoa Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa

The remains of the literary icon, Dr. Gabriel Okara, was yesterday laid to rest in his Bomoundi, Yenagoa home, in Bayelsa, in a ceremony witnessed by the late writer’s friends, colleagues and government officials. Okara, first modernist poet of Anglophone Africa, died in March in a Port Harcourt hospital at 98 years old while the final burial rites commenced last Tuesday in Rivers. Across the federation, prominent Nigerians in academics, politics and literary world, among others, attended the commendation service and burial of literary icon in Yenagoa yesterday. The burial was attended by Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson; his Deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah; President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Mr. Denja Abudullahi, a prominent poet, Prof. John Pepper Clark and a renowned historian, Prof. Ebiegberi Alagoa,

among others. At the church service yesterday, Dickson, who described Okara in glowing terms, announced a donation of N25 million to a foundation dedicated to the memory of the renowned novelist and poet. Dickson took a swipe at political leaders, especially members of the opposition in the state who did not attend the ceremony, flaying the political class for their inability to identify with the people they seek to govern in times of need. He expressed displeasure that such group of Bayelsans “are only interested in imposing themselves on the people rather than identify with them,” particularly the passage of such a great literary icon who he said God used to bless the Ijaw nation. He explained that honouring both the living and the dead had been an essential component of his government since 2012 and expressed regret that they had failed to learn the lessons inherent in the virtues behind this philosophy.

Innovation and Change of Perception. It will be delivered by a product of technical education, who rose to the professorship cadre at the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Prof. Sam Adejuyigbe.” Fayemi explained the imperative of technical education to the country’s national development, noting that any developing nation that “despises technical education will suffer collapsed economy in this contemporary world.” Specifically, the governor noted that technical education “has a major role to play in

national development,” pointing out that all over the world, any nation that fails to imbibe technological education “will be relegated in economic ranking.” Realising the values of technological innovations, Fayemi said the state had invested heavily in the Technical College, Ado-Ekiti, where students were being trained in technical programmes like; ceramics, carpentry and joinery, electrical installation, motor building, ICT, garment making, shoe making, among others.

Resolve OML 25 Dispute in Seven Days, Wike Tells Parties Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike yesterday directed all parties in the dispute relating to Oil Mining License (OML) 25 to resolve all contending issues and reopen the oil facility within seven days Wike also directed the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo to convene a meeting of all stakeholders in the presence of security chiefs for the host communities to outline their grievances to Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and for the company to address such development concerns. He spoke at a meeting with the management of the SPDC, Belemaoil Producing Limited, host community leaders and security service commanders at the Government House, Port Harcourt yesterday. Traditional rulers, elected

leaders, youth leaders and Chairmen of Community Development Committees from Kula, Belema, OffoinAma, Opu-Kula and Ibiame of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area also attended the meeting. Addressing the meeting, Wike said he called the meeting because the closure of OML 25 “is negatively affecting Federal, State and Local Government funds.” He observed that OML 25 “has been shut down for one reason or the other. Some persons in the community are hauling insults at me. No matter the insult, nothing will make me not to perform my duty to the area. “The federal government, the state government and the local government are losing funds with the continued closure of the OML 25. If Shell is behaving wrongly, tell them and if Belemaoil is behaving wrongly, tell them.

SUNDAY JUNE 23, 2019 • T H I S D AY

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SUNDAY JUNE 23, 2019 • T H I S D AY

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JUNE 23, 2019 ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

with RenoOmokri THE ALTERNATIVE How Buratai and Buhari Are Leading From The Front

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was greatly distressed to read the words of the chief of army staff, Lieutenant General Turkur Buratai, who blamed the downturn in the war against terror on Boko Haram. Speaking on Tuesday, June 18, 2019, Buratai said: “It is unfortunate, but the truth is that almost every setback the Nigeria army has had in our operations in recent times can be traced to insufficient willingness to perform assigned tasks.” Boko Haram attacked 4 Nigerian Army bases last week and killed multiple soldiers and commanders. In response, the COAS, Buratai, accuses our gallant soldiers of cowardice. These men are fighting in bushes and trenches, and Buratai is sitting fat in his Abuja air-conditioned offices and he has the guts to call them cowards! When over 100 soldiers of the 157 Task Force Battalion, Metele, were killed last November, neither General Buhari nor pastor Yemi Osinbajo could even attend their funeral. No heroes burial. No public inquiry into the incident. After treating them like that, how would Buratai expect them to be motivated to fight Boko Haram? But, if it were to kill defenceless Shiites, this Buratai will be at the forefront. Soldiers, whether they are fighting a war or not, always need to be kept motivated. Morale is essential in the military and no other person should know this better than Buratai. Words, such as those spoken by Buratai, are very demotivating and will crush the spirit of our forces. Those type of words can never motivate our forces. Very, very few people are called upon to lose their lives in pursuance of their jobs like soldiers are. Our legislators are some of the most highly paid in the world, yet their lives are not at risk. Our soldiers are poorly paid and poorly fed. These issues have not been addressed. Rather than address them, you have Buratai adding salt to injury. Take the life of Jesus for example. Jesus never performed even one miracle, until God spoke these Words from heaven in Matthew 3:17 “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Immediately after those Words, Jesus started His Ministry of miracles and wonders. You see, when you motivate people, you activate them. This is a lesson that Buratai needs to learn. The famed American football coach, Lou Holtz, once said “Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.” Our military forces have the ability. They have displayed that ability right from the 50s in the Congo, to the 60s, during the civil war, to the 70s and 80s in Lebanon, and in the 90s in Liberia and Sierra Leone. The reason their ability has not been unleashed is that their motivation has not been supplied. Their attitudes are down.

Buratai We have a supposedly Nigerian Army. Now how do you expect Southerners in the army to be motivated when the head of the ENTIRE 10 law enforcement and intelligence services, including the NPF, NSA, DSS, NIA, DMI, DIA, NPS, NCS, NIS, and EFCC, are all headed by Northerners? This is even as the heads of the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary are Northerners! Our soldiers are first of all Nigerians before they are soldiers. Just a few weeks ago, Buratai and his incompetent boss, General Buhari, both claimed that Boko Haram had been defeated. Now Buratai is blaming soldiers’ cowardice for the ‘unending war’ with Boko Haram. Buhari and Buratai have forgotten his fallacy that they have been defeated. Truly, EVERY LIE has an EXPIRY date. Now, how do they expect the soldiers doing the fighting to feel when they hear lies like the ones told by Buratai and his boss? The truth is that it is not our soldiers that have “insufficient willingness to perform assigned tasks”, it is precise Buratai and his boss that are guilty of that charge. During the 2015 election campaign cycle, General Buhari promised to “lead from the front”. Has he done so? How many times has he gone to the front to lead our boys? He and Buratai ‘lead’ from air-conditioned offices in Abuja. And they have the guts to call soldiers facing Boko Haram ‘cowards’. Only in Buhari’s Nigeria. Only in

Buhari’s Nigeria! Addressing The Lies Being Spread About Me and My #FreeLeahSharibu Movement by Agents of the Buhari Administration I am currently enjoying the time of my life in Ethiopia and I am too BLESSED to be STRESSED by the DISTRESSED who are spreading rumours that I am benefiting from my Free Leah Campaign. I started the #FreeLeahSharibu movement and I‘ve not and will not make money from it. I wrote a book on Leah Sharibu and gave ALL the money to her mum. I uses my own money to make #FreeLeahSharibu T-Shirts and I sold them to the public and asked buyers to pay the money DIRECTLY to Leah’s father’s account. If there is anyone who has paid me money in public or secret, then be bold enough to EXPOSE me. I have NOT collected money from any CHARITY or FOUNDATION. Why would I? MONEY is not my PROBLEM. My PROBLEM is how to INVEST and SPEND the money I made LEGALLY from my Number One Bestseller. God APPOINTED me. My haters can’t UNDART or DISAPPOINT me. Because of the #FreeLeahSharibu movement, I have been to 27 countries in 2019 (so far) with MY OWN MONEY. I have met and convinced world leaders, including Boris Johnson, and pop stars, including Shalamar, to wear the Free Leah T-Shirts ON MY OWN DIME. I went to Mount Everest because of #FreeLeahSharibu and made the movement go global. My money and my money alone is driving the movement. I have not collected a DIME from any local or international agency. If you have proof to the contrary, EXPOSE me. I don’t mean to be vain. I only say this because of what these bitter haters are saying. But, God blessed me with: GOOD LOOKS GOOD BOOKS, and GOOD MONEY. So, of course, they will hate me. They want to be me. But it is not by power or might, but by God’s grace. Finally, if I have taken money from any agency or charity, then may God PUBLICLY punish me. But if these haters have falsely accused me, then my Father in heaven, please PUBLICLY avenge me. Meanwhile, #FreeLeahSharibu continues. Haters, think of new LIES.

Reno Omokri Thinker. #1 Bestselling author of Facts V Fiction: True Story of GEJ Years. Avid traveler. Table Shaker. Buhari Tormentor. Sharer of the Gospel, not the gossip.

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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 ˾ JUNE 23, 2019

OPINION How to Get Nigeria Out of Poverty Oluwatobi Ogunbayo argues that increased capital spending on infrastructure is strategic: it will attract investors and boost domestic productivity

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frica’s one billion population spends at least $25 billion on food imports every year; a continent that has 39 million hectares of agricultural land suitable for irrigation, but only 7% of this formidable land is currently irrigated. Nigeria represents 20% of African population of which 65% are small holder farmers (SHF) that derive their livelihood and existence from the produce of their farms. Nigeria’s outlook for poverty alleviation is currently weak with over 44% living under $1.90. This extreme poverty has been prevalent in Nigeria for decades, largely occasioned by scare resources. This is evident in the growing number of out-of-school children, high rate of hunger, increasing population without access to safe drinking water or basic sanitation and other developmental indices. This has been further compounded over the years by negative trade imbalances and the tragedy of armed conflict that has rendered over two million people displaced within Nigeria. Despite the abundance of vast natural resources, poverty still prevails and remains the order of the day. Currently, there is poor access to food and malnutrition is widespread in Africa’s largest economy. With concerted efforts at diversifying from a mono-economy based on oil, Nigeria’s mining (Iron ore, metals, minerals, gemstones and oil) outlook is weak and has been subjected to fluctuation. Smuggling has consistently slowed down our economic growth rate, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) making the government lose out on its domestic revenue due to serious leakages in this critical sector and has adversely affected our competitiveness in the global market. These and other leakages have further compounded the poverty crisis. Since the discovery of oil, two generations of Nigerians have not gone into farming, thereby making agriculture look as if it is going out of fashion. Production of stable foods such as maize, groundnut and other legumes have in the last three decades decreased by an average of 30 percent. Understanding that agriculture is, and will remain a significant source of employment opportunity, GDP growth is the driving force behind Godwin Emefiele’s presidential directive at financing Nigeria’s 10 essentials crops. Also, significant progress in alleviating poverty has been made by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme and other agricultural initiatives to boost local employment, increase productivity and agricultural output across their value chains — an effort that needs to

be complimented by other stakeholders in the development sector starting from the federal to states and local authorities. In developing the Nigeria Agricultural Action Plan (NAAP) to create a comprehensive agricultural road map that will end the challenge of entry and exit of small holder farmers as well as eliminate vulnerability, risk and other intrinsic or extrinsic factors, the key to unlocking production and lifting Nigeria out of poverty is to create an enabling market demand economy for the real sector, bringing in millions of employers and beneficiaries. With pockets of opportunities across various other sectors, fiscal transparency and robust economic frameworks, which are great assets as well as catalyst for a vibrant and competitive economy, Nigeria is on the right path. The struggle to lift more Nigerians out of extreme poverty is a task for the current and future administrations. There are, however, certain procedures that need urgent attention. Budget implementation through increased capital spending to finance infrastructure gap that is strategic and that will endear investors, boost domestic productivity is key. Raising capital expenditure to 40% of the annual budget consistently over the next five to 10 years is a form of financial restructuring Nigeria needs that will fix our deplorable roads, transform our medical and power infrastructure, fast-track nationwide rail development and open floodgate of innovation and industrialisation that will raise

In developing the Nigeria Agricultural Action Plan to create a comprehensive agricultural road map that will end the challenge of entry and exit of small holder farmers as well as eliminate vulnerability, risk and other intrinsic or extrinsic factors, the key to unlocking production and lifting Nigeria out of poverty is to create an enabling market demand economy for the real sector, bringing in millions of employers and beneficiaries

the standard of our local industries thereby moving Nigeria closer to being integrated internationally. Good governance indices — political, business, financial, economic and other enabling environment should be developed to create flexible labour markets and facilitate the development of labour-intensive sectors that can complete globally while opportunities for discussion on non-complex trade liberalisation should be pursued painstakingly through our multilateral development cooperation. Going forward, there is need to address as a matter of urgency the issue of high unemployment and mismatch of qualifications in Nigeria by increasing the labour force participation through the establishment of skillset trainings and creation of employment opportunities. With high quality jobs predominantly provided by the private sector, there is need for a paradigm shift to creating entrepreneurship. Constant engagement and supports of the informal sector as a deliberate policy to serve as incubators to big cooperation is important as they have their role to play in the emergence of a new generation entrepreneurs. Again, poverty, education and development are intertwined and as such proven as a tool to advance socio-economic development. Although emphasis has been made on achieving primary education in Nigeria, as a country, there is need for effective legislation aimed at ending the phenomenon of out-ofschool children. This should be one of the topmost priorities of President Buhari’s second term agenda. Such improvements and outcome of this education overhaul will massively shape Nigeria’s effort in alleviating poverty. Policy implementations in addition to social, cultural and attitudinal change are capable of providing foundations and unleashing the potential of an increasingly educated and cosmopolitan society. In conclusion, having received the mandate to serve Nigeria for another four years and the positive outlook for 2020 and beyond, this is a golden opportunity for the Buhari-led administration to restore hope and lift the citizens out of poverty by putting together a team that is goal driven, selfless, and energetic, that can drive Nigeria out from the current doldrums into prosperity. ––Ogunbayo is a Board Member of the National Cooperative for Commercial and Industrial Agriculture and a member of the non-partisan socio-political group, G57

FOCAC: Walking The Talk as Equals China and Africa hold coordinators’ meeting on outcomes of FOCAC Beijing Summit, writes Zhou Pingjian

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he coordinators’ meeting on the implementation of the FOCAC Beijing Summit outcomes will be held on June 24 and 25 in Beijing. Ministerial-level officials from China and 53 African member states including Nigeria and the African Union Commission will be attending the meeting. The upcoming event will consist mainly of an opening ceremony, a plenary session, a closing ceremony, a joint press conference, a welcome banquet and a dialogue between heads of Chinese financial institutions and African coordinators. Party and state leaders of China will attend important activities and hold group or bilateral meetings with African delegates. A joint declaration will be released regarding the outcomes and consensus reached during the meeting. Immediately after the coordinators’ meeting in Beijing, on June 26 and 27, the first ChinaAfrica Economic and Trade Expo, an outcome of FOCAC Beijing Summit, will be held in Changsha, the capital city of Hunan Province in central China. In September last year, the FOCAC Beijing Summit was held with great success, bringing China-Africa relations to a historical high. After the conclusion of the summit, China and African countries worked closely with each other to implement our leaders' consensus and outcomes reached at the summit. We have achieved important progress and reaped early harvests. As the international landscape undergoes profound and complicated changes, the two sides both believe it necessary to have a coordinators’ meeting to communicate over implementation and steer China-Africa cooperation along the direction of high-quality and sustainable development. Through this meeting, we will translate outcomes of the summit into more benefits for the people and show our strong will and firm resolve to strengthen solidarity and cooperation, uphold multilateralism and build a closer China-Africa community with a shared future. Following the principle of consultation and collaboration for shared benefits, China stands ready to work with the African side to make good preparation for a successful meeting and inject new impetus into the China-Africa comprehensive strategic partnership. China-Africa cooperation stands out with its pragmatism, effectiveness and resultsoriented, which are also the unique advantage of the FOCAC, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

The FOCAC was incepted in 2000. The past 19 years have seen fruitful progress in China-Africa practical cooperation across the board. As a key platform for the collective dialogue and cooperation between China and African countries, the FOCAC has become a model of South-South cooperation and a banner of international cooperation with Africa. The benefits of China-Africa cooperation are abundantly clear. China has proved itself to be a reliable partner of Africa by always walking the talk. China-Nigeria cooperation has always been a pacesetter for China-Africa cooperation. Under the strategic guidance of |President Xi Jinping and President Muhammadu Buhari, the implementation work of the FOCAC outcome has been going smoothly with prominent achievements in Nigeria in recent years. The commissioning of Abuja Light Railway and the new airport terminals in Port Harcourt and Abuja, the ongoing construction of Zungeru Hydropower Plant, Abuja-Keffi-Lafia-Makurdi Road, as well as Lagos-Ibadan Railway and Lekki Deep Seaport, the booming Ogun Guandong Free Trade Zone and Lekki Free Trade Zone, the fruitful promotion of the “Made in Nigeria with China” initiative, etc. Though the world economic growth remains sluggish, the international situation is exposed to prominent unstable factors, and even the trade war provoked by the US deteriorates, China has never unilaterally drawn rein in cooperation with Nigeria and other African countries. Last month, President Buhari, while receiving in audience the Chairman of China Railway Construction Corporation Limited, has expressed appreciation to China’s “genuine efforts to improve our infrastructural development”. The President said, “We are very grateful to China for the effort to rebuild our infrastructure, and for bringing technical expertise to the country. We will give the required support and cooperation, so that our old, out of date, and collapsed infrastructure might be turned around”. China highly appreciates the positive remarks on China-Nigeria cooperation made by President Buhari. China-Africa cooperation has always been open and transparent. China welcomes the concerted efforts made by the international community to support Africa in achieving peace, stability and development. Some allegations by some people in the international community however, are biased and not fact-based. Take the concessionary loan provided by China to African countries. Has it

increased the debt burden of countries concerned? Are there any political considerations behind it? The answers are definitely negative, contrary to the claim. That kind of claim, I should say, is full of groundless words with an attempt out of ulterior motives. When providing its financing support to African countries including Nigeria, China has always adhered to the following principles in the process: First, the response made to the development demand of Africa itself. Based on the wishes put forward by the African countries, China provides financing support within its due capacity and offers timely assistance to the economic and social development of the African countries, which has been unanimously recognized and welcomed by all countries. Secondly, never attach any political conditions. Like African countries, China had a painful experience of suffering unfair treatment and even being exploited and oppressed. Therefore, China will never do what the western countries have done or impose its will on others no matter in assistance or cooperation. Thirdly, stick to the principle of mutual benefit and win-win results. The nature of China-Africa cooperation is South-South cooperation, one of whose major characteristics is equal treatment, mutual benefit and win-win results. The financing support provided by China must undergo serious feasibility studies and market-oriented arguments. The current debt owned by some African countries was accumulated over a long period of time instead of occurring in recent years. China is not a main creditor of African countries. The solution to debt issues is to achieve diversified economic development by taking the path of sustainable development. China firmly supports this solution. China's financing support to Africa is mainly invested in infrastructure construction and the productive field. The Chinese companies have built a large number of infrastructure projects such as highways, railways, ports, airports and communications facilities in Africa, which greatly improved the environment for Africa's economic development, added to its appeal to foreign investment and enhanced its capability to achieve self-driven development. ––Dr Pingjian is Ambassador of China to Nigeria (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 ˾ JUNE 23, 2019

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LETTERS

Walking The Talk on THE ALMAJIRI Conundrum “Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.” -Malcolm X

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he recent presidential directive by Muhammadu Buhari for the North to do away with the long-established Almaijiri system, and more significantly get the millions of out-of-school children back to the classroom is highly commendable. That is, even as his diehard critics are asking why he is just waking up to the harsh reality of the social menace these denizens of the street constitute to the country, now. To his traducers however, he should have done the needful back in 2015. But as it is often said, “it is better late than never”. All the same, pitched against the swirling, violent waves of the Boko Haram insurgency, blood-letting killer herdsmen and banditry that have ravaged the Northern geo-political axis, education and a quality one at that should come in as the sine qua non to mitigate the spate of lawlessness. That the gambits of kidnapping for ransom and armed robbery have swept from the Atlantic coast over the Middle Belt states up to AbujaKaduna road and beyond are all enough to inform the

Buhari president’s wise decision. But then, what is the Almajiri social matrix all about and what is the best way forward? According to the online medium, thewillnigeria.com of July 10, 2015 “the traditional Almajiri system, which began in the 11th century after Kanem-Bornu Islamic tradition was primarily conceived in humility through austerity and borne out of intellectual necessity”. Notable however, is the cau-

tion it gave that “the North will never get it right politically and developmentally until it stops seeing the Almajiri system as a tradition and starts seeing it as the menace that it has become. It has become an affront to our religion, culture and civilization. No community will prosper by condemning its future generations to begging and all sorts of societal indignities”. Good to note that the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno is on the same page.

Of great importance is the fact that the federal government has identified the connecting chord between mass ignorance, joblessness and the escalating storm of all manner of crimes and criminality currently bedeviling the country. Even then, the evolving scenario triggers a lot of burning questions, literally begging for answers from the federal and concerned state governments. Who are those who have benefitted from the Almajiri system and have they been sufficiently enlightened on the compelling need for a paradigm shift? Will they key into the vision of the empowering nature of western education? How serious are the state and federal governments on funding of education in Nigeria? Oh, yes funding is critical to sound education delivery; in terms of provision of solid infrastructure, stable electric power supply, good access roads, learning materials, equipping the libraries and laboratories? Also important is staff welfare package and frequent training, especially in this era of technologicallydriven, global knowledge economy. The reality on ground is however, a far cry from what is promised and even expected. For instance, under President Buhari the funding of education has been paltry: in 2015, N392.2bn representing 7.74 %

Recurring Decimal of Formula Two

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onception occurs in sweet heart-to-heart talk at help-meeting, of wife and her husband, a richmans’ hand, helping self to meat-pottage, a fore, cast ration, otele-devised as venison, veryson-Isau ‘I Am’, eaten as ‘Ori iri Ajah’, Jah, the robbed ten Mal3:8, IS-sac, Isaacs’-Rib, aka-Sarah, Sara aka-Amu, Alms given in secret, name of ‘Olu-uwa’ Jacobs’-voice-out “in form of ‘ula’”. Formula of rich-mans’-thirst, IS quenched. Slaked testis drinking from his vas-difference ‘iche’ stone of ‘nku ume’, breath in his lung, longing to become a living-soul, of Lazarus in tomb. Tomb-stone, cast into a deep gulf, golf-course-hole of vagina, sore-mouth of ‘Orbo’, orb, a globe hemmed Mt9:20, hemo-globe, in carnationflower wreath, laid on Isaac by hand of Isau, called to his grey-head message Gen27:1 Lk16:20 Mt6:4 Dt25:11 Judg13:18 Eph5:32 Gen2:18. Grey-message for a quickcome in “ ‘Ajah’culation” returning from grave-yard, a world anew ‘uhu-ohuu’ in re-incarnation of ‘uwa-ozo bia nuhu-ohuu, zolari uhu-ochie nugbo’ anew-world of soul-income, on returning old-body, for-gotten in a farm-bed alike to ‘ILi’ the grave-yard. Yard of sex-garment, ‘igar’ meant to sheet as a multi-ply-Mesh, Eze deck-ed on farm, ILi-bed. Family-bed, on which Isaac on erection, sits-up-right of birth. Birthright of Isaus’ in-come to

womb, as left-Jacob, pi-voted and returned elected, in Oil-rig as mothers’-Wish, to cause him blessed by fathers’-Will, en-shrined in ‘Ogo’, the grey-Mess, age of feeling. Filling form ula-ozo and ula-uhu respectively, as formula one, of Isau the first and second being Jacob, as formula two. ‘Formula two’, a Biafra-refugee relief, corn mill-porridge. Pott, age-Mess in prep, a ready making for Isaac-father, Abrahams’-body-mass in ‘uze’ his faint, metaphor for Peter aside Acts 10:10, awaiting cooks, on layer-uza nna-bed-decked, as chamber, lain corpse, a sobriquet for limp-penis, corpus aroused sleep-walking-robot, ‘zombie’, come-forth-ed in Abrahams’bosom Jn11:43-23 Jn5:8 by loose-Sarah, as Lazarus, Amu let go-forth and back on vehicle, a test-icle-vey, con-pro fit for trance, ported to new site ‘uhu-ohuu-Mba’ starved in the-realm, of body in funeral mass-transit-motorkar, Ma wheeled. Whirl-pool “Mmoootor-‘Agbara’ “ the Power, stirring water re-source of Havilah-river-bank fish-catch. Cashed from the-realm to cheat in sex-climax, well on bed Jn5:1-8. Maxwell bed-sheet of papal-page to ask, tax and fee-males due, falling as an ask heard, head of the Ax of IS in depth, debt to shylock, creditors of their mother, that come calling into prison as in “ugwo na ‘Abia iku’ oku nkporo ejima”, of

twin Jacob-Isau, a cleft-seed of abi-john cleave-sewn. So-journ-Abi’ku in ‘obum puta-uwa’ motor car-racketeer, character trait from ILi, illiterate-son-resurrection ‘ntelite ‘isiji’-hiover’ a swim pass-over ‘a-cross river’ at ‘Ndja umena-rite’, of the Ax-head snapped, landing in prison-debt, depth of JehovahEl, IS of Land, Island 2kg6:5-6. Island-gal-Ax-iS of evil, plotted on scatter-gramophone call, heard as voice of Jacob serving mass as ill, trait of Isaus’-hair, heir-barbyisim, baptism by helping-hand, of Isaus’ in-come, as return of Jacob, to learn life-lessons, as time to take next-course of Abia-iku Lk1:5, at males-age-grade “ ‘Elia’ isa-bet”, Elisabeth, Abrahams’daughter “ ‘ulo’,-akwukwoAgbara-otor”, Power-IS of El, Mentary-school Gen6:14, of monopoly-technique building Gen11:1 at uni-verse-city walled. World of lesson-takenin, to womb from space as ‘Kar Chi Foe’ greeting by ‘nd’ILo bia ekele-ahia-ga’ a visiting-Tor, checked-out from lodge-layer uza-Nna, father in-law-upper-room, he checked-in for mothers’labour of love, made in oratory-prayer-diction-‘mbene’. Benediction by the FatherLand, I-Amu capitalizing on ‘Utu’, A-bra, aha-m, named in circumcised-Pen, IS-rod, He introd-uce at prep, prep-uce decapitated in Herodaver Jinn, vagina oil, rigging election at mess, age of female ‘ogbor-mmanu’-infraction

on loan ‘Nzi’ co-terminous with sperm, the apo-oint, meant for unction, function of male-factory product of multiplied goods left-over as dirt for gathering-duty-Tor in twelve basket, bask-in-earth of de-scaling python ‘ka-eke si anya anwu’, in ‘ikpor akworror’ dragon-dirt, not gathered by clitoris-less vagina-mouth of sore Lazy-rus sleeping on duty, instead of clitorismorgue ‘otutu ajah’ picking in tide-over. Over-tidying up-front for the twelve, dirty-dozen, dozing at dance to ‘nkwaumuagbogor’ drumming promise of daughters’resurrection “itelite ‘nku ume’ ” the stone exhumed as ‘iche-ogbanje avoror’ fit of Abi-girl, seizure-fit-‘mbene’ Mk5:41-42 Jn6:13-9. Benefit of male-factory, thunder-bolted, the-under-bolted Abrahams’thigh-in and out-check 2kg4:1-7 Gen24:2. Double-checking Jacobs-income as sad-return of Isau, to Isaacs’-birth-right-hand, helping self at birth-day-feast for land-lords ‘ndi Mmoootor’ Mk6:22-30, by Kingdomino-effect, from domain of the variable curses, causing name-numbers derived in up-stand-Dad. Standarddeviation of equation one and two, simulating superficial resemblance, in fraction of one same as two, figured in trance. ––Abili Willy, Lagos. (See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

went to the sector. In 2016 it was N369.6bn or 6.10%. In 2017 it was N550bn or 7.38% and in 2018 it was N605.8bn or 7.03 %. In fact from 2009 till date, the highest percentage budgetary allocation to education was N493bn, representing 9.94%. That was under former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014. The worst was in 2010 when N249.09 bn representing 4.83% was voted for the sector. It is instructive therefore to note that only the Premier of the then Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo (of blessed memory) ever aligned with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recommendation of 26 % budgetary allocation to education delivery. Out of the revenue generated from the export of raw cocoa (which could have been far higher if it was processed) his government still instituted the popular and impactful free education policy. Till date, no other government, either at the state or federal level has done the needful. Although the Second National Development Plan (1970-74) raised the allocation to 13.5 per cent, it fell to 7.5 per cent in the Third National Development Plan (1975-1980). Again, it jumped to 17.3 per cent in the Fourth National Development Plan (1981-85). However, it has not gone higher than 13.5 per cent since 1990 except of course, in 1997 when education was given 17.5 per cent.

Even current President Buhari during a visit to France in November 2018, assured the Nigerian community there that education would be better funded. “We are currently reviewing investments in the entire infrastructure of the country like road, rail and power, including investing more in education,” he had said. But while he proposed N61.73 bn to education, the Senate then under Dr. Bukola Saraki had to up it to N102.907 bn. That must have been in the national interest. According to the National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, the ruling class in Nigeria does not prioritize education. “Go to Ghana; in the last 10 years, they have never budgeted less than 20 per cent for education. There is South Africa, Egypt, among others”. Back to the Almairi conundrum. Kudos must go to ex-President Jonathan for establishing 165 Almajiri schools up North. “Over 80% of the 10.5 million children for which majority are known as Almajiri came from the northern part of Nigeria, where I recorded the least votes in the elections I contested. But knowing the value of education, I could see that the ugly situation was limiting the opportunities of these children and negatively affecting the development of my country”. ––– Ayo Baje, Lagos (See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

Nigeria And The OIC Protocol

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he sole voice of protest way back in 1986 when President Ibrahim Babangida pushed for Nigeria’s membership of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) was General Domkat Bali. The weight of Gen. Bali’s protest was not felt for almost 15 years because all that while Nigeria was predominantly governed by rulers who profess Islam (only the three-month Ernest Shonekan tenure in 1993 was a very short hiatus from this continuous MuslimGenerals rule). The OIC Protocol mandates that the head of government of any OIC member country must be a Muslim who should promote Islamic interests above everything else, especially vis-à-vis “decadent” Western mores and values and it does not matter if the end result is overall economic stagnation of that country. This protocol effectively kicked-in in 1999 when Olusegun Obasanjo, a Christian, was sworn in as the president of Nigeria; certain ones suddenly “remembered” that Nigeria, an OIC member nation, had “gone astray” and neglected Islamic values for “too long” and thus the “Sharia Fire” was ignited in 12 states of the North with the overall attendant consequence of widespread economic meltdown at the local levels and apathy to investments in these locales by Christian non-

natives who are, quite frankly, good economic movers. Soon state governments began chopping off the arms of their citizens and sentencing economically-distressed single moms to die by stoning for some ill-defined “fornication” whereas the enforcers of these crude codices busy themselves getting young and nubile pre-teen girls and other expensive foreign “brides” just to “cushion their souls.” Recall that it was in the first tenure of Olusegun Obasanjo, sometime in 2002, that Boko Haram formally announced its presence although it was inaugurated at the same time as the “Sharia Fire” in 1999 by “seed money” donated by Osama bin Laden, the terror supremo and financier. When Goodluck Jonathan picked up from the short tenure of Umaru Musa Yar’adua, Boko Haram transformed into a killing and kidnapping machine, and the Chibok incidence finally broke Jonathan’s resolve and he was swept away from office thus ensuring the keeping of the mandate of the protocol. Today, Nigeria is wretched because those who are supposed to make decisions to influence economic growth are not interested in building a free enterprise economy. ––Sunday Adole Jonah, Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State.

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SUNDAY JUNE 23, 2019 • T H I S D AY

SUNDAY JUNE 23, 2019 • T H I S D AY

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INTERNATIONAL Diplomacy of Passports and Visas in International Relations: United States and China as a Case Study

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he choice of the United States ofAmerica (US) and the People’s Republic of China (simply China) as a case study in the quest to understand the diplomacy of issuance of passports and visas is largely informed by three main factors. First, many people, regardless of their nationality, want to visit the two countries either for greener pastures in the US or for business in China because of its down-to-earth character and cost of doing so. Rightly or wrongly, many people hold the view that the US is a terra cognita for unlimited opportunities for self-development, progress, and general human survival.As for the Chinese, many people, especially inAfrica, see them as being sincerely more committed in their development assistance agenda. They also see them as possible successor of the US as global leader. In fact,African leaders consider that the Chinese are not saints but are still better than the Western allies in terms of preparedness to assist in the implementation of functional development policies inAfrica. Second, the issuance of visas to anyone by both countries is made difficult for some obvious reasons: need to prevent terrorists and others with extremist Islamic mentality from gaining entry into their countries; like every other country, no one wants criminally-oriented people or people capable of creating situations of unrest to mix with their citizens; nobody wants any visiting foreigner to become a landed immigrant; and true, nobody wants a visitor who will not be able to measure up or unable to adapt to the living standard of the host population. Thirdly, the US and China came up of recent with new visa policies. While the visa policy of the US is more of a review, adopted within the framework of President Donald Trump’s new immigration policy, that of China has a character of newness that goes beyond a mere review of policy. It is more of a political strategy aimed at laying a special foundation for a long-term influence inAfrica. This policy should also be understood from the perspective of China not having many Chinese-trained people at the helm of political affairs, particularly inAfrica. In both cases, however, it is still the play of politics and the quest to protect and advance the national interest. But before investigating the politics involved, there is the need for a clear understanding of what a passport and a visa means within the context of international law and relations.

Passport and Visa There are different types of passport as there are different categories of visa.Apassport, like a visa, is an important instrument of good and political governance, by the mere consideration of right to grant or not to grant it. Unlike military regimes under which governance is driven by decrees, governance is largely done by executive order, presidential proclamation, presidential memorandum and bargaining with other arms of government, especially the National Assembly, in matters of foreign policy. In this regard, the issuance of passports and visas constitute a major feature in and aspect of immigration policies. It is, in fact, the issue of non-reciprocal visa treatment that prompted President Donald Trump to seek a policy review. The categorisation of passports and visas is done on the basis of purpose: service, individual identification, citizenship identification, etc. For instance, as regards Nigerian passport, its issuance is to identify the holder, recommend him or her to whom it may concern in an accredited diplomatic mission in Nigeria to whose country the holder of the passport intends to travel. It also introduces the holder as a citizen of Nigeria. The introduction is done on the basis of trust in the holder. It is important to underscore, at this juncture, that both passports and visas are nothing more than a recommendation from one sovereign state to another, meaning that there is nothing like an exercise of a supranational authority, and therefore, an imposition

Donald Trump admits friendship with China’s Xi Jinping

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of authority by any state. More important, the holder of a passport holds it on behalf of the government. It does not belong to him or her. In fact, it can be withdrawn at any time. It is issued on the basis of trust in the holder that he or she would behave well, will not use the passport in a manner capable of embarrassing the issuing authority. In this way, the holder of a Nigerian passport is necessarily an ambassador of Nigeria. However, this type of ambassadorship is quite different from the category identified byAmbassador Nkem Wadibia-Anyanwu, former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of ForeignAffairs. Her category of ambassadors, which she said are ambassadors with small ‘a’, covers those who are sent abroad within the framework of Nigeria’s TechnicalAid Corps scheme.And perhaps more interestingly, The ambassadors with small ‘a’ should again not be confused with ambassadors with capital ‘A’ who are governed by the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. For purposes of this category of ambassadors and their diplomatic team, a special passport, referred to as Diplomatic Passport is approved for them. Diplomatic passports are issued to representatives of government given a diplomatic status. They are generally referred to as Foreign Service Officers. It should also be stated that the mere possession of a diplomatic passport does not make the holder a diplomatic agent to be given privileges and immunities in a receiving state. To be recognised as a diplomatic agent of a sending state, the sending state must have officially accredited the holder by stating his or her status and the receiving state must have not only accepted, but must have also inckuded the name of the diplomat on the official list of accredited diplomats normally published periodically for records order of precedence purposes. Apart from diplomatic passports, there are also official passports, normally issued to senior-level civil and public servants who are not Foreign Service Officers; standard passports, issued to other low-level government officials and the general public; service passports, etc. As regards visa, it is not only an acceptance of the recommendation by the passport issuing-state but also a further recommendation by an embassy concerned to its homeland border security that, to the best of its knowledge, the holder of the visa given by the mission is eligible to be further considered for authorisation to enter the country. This means that the mere possession of a visa is not yet a right, but a privilege issued to facilitate a trip. It is an instruments of administrative and security control, regardless of the type of visa: student, immigrant, tourism, business, etc. Espying these observations through the cases of the US and China is apt at this juncture.

US Visa Policy The US visa policy has its foundation rooted in Section 9 of an Execute Order on immigration signed by President Donald Trump in May 2019. The Executive Order provides that ‘the Secretary of State shall review all non-immigrant visa reciprocity agreements to ensure that they are, with respect to each visa classification, truly reciprocal insofar as practicable with respect to validity period and

fees, as required by Section 221(c) and 281 of the INA, 8 USC 1201(c) and 1351, and other treatment.’ More significant, the Executive Order also has it that, ‘if a country does not treat United States nationals seeking non-immigrant visas in a reciprocal manner, the Secretary of State shall adjust the visa validity period, fee schedule, or other treatment to match the treatment of United States nationals by the foreign country, to the extent practicable...’ The implementation of the policy took effect from May 14, 2019. Two points are noteworthy in the Executive Order: purpose and means. The cardinal purpose of the order is to protect US nationals. In this regard, the notion of US nationals must be understood in its appropriate context. In other words, there is a fundamental difference between a national and a citizen of the US. Citizenship is of two types in the US: the ‘natural-born’ or ‘citizens at birth,’ on the one hand, and ‘statutory citizens,’ on the other. Besides, citizens that are native-born and those born onAmerican soil, that is, by the principle of ius soli, do not enjoy the same privileges and rights. As we have noted in another publication (BolaA.Akinterinwa, Nigeria’s Citizen Diplomacy: Theoretical Genesis and Empirical Exegesis, Ibadan: BIP, 2010, 234 pp), all persons born in Puerto Rico betweenApril 11, 1899 and January 12, 1941 are considered native-bornAmericans and are not considered as being the same as those born onAmerican territory for a reason that is not far-fetched: ‘the difference is that the United States Congress is vested with the power to withdraw the citizenship of statutory citizens at any time, something that cannot happen with US citizens born on the mainland, as their citizenship is protected, not byAct of Congress, but by the US Constitution (The FourteenAmendment itself). More interesting is the case of other citizens. The non-citizen nationals are given passports in which it is written that the holder is a national but not a citizen of the US. In this regard, any non-citizen US national has the right to reside and work in the US without restriction and can also apply for the status of a citizen. He can vote in elections organised by the federal or state government. However, their status is still not the same thing as that of a citizen. As regards the means of attaining the purpose, the principle of reciprocal treatment is provided for. In the event US nationals cannot have a reciprocal treatment, the Secretary of State shall adjust the visa validity period, fee schedule, or other treatment to match the treatment of United States nationals by the foreign country, but this is subject to the factor of extent of practicability. Even though reciprocity, as a principle governing the conduct and management of international relations is of two types (retorsion and reprisal), the Executive Order falls squarely within the context of a retorsion and not reprisal. Put differently, the US cannot take any sanctionary measure that goes beyond the diplomatic level. Reprisal action necessarily requires the use of force.An act of retorsion can only be a tit-for-tat that will not be allowed to degenerate from a crisis into a conflict. What is particularly noteworthy about the implementation of the US Executive Order is the aspect of the Nigerian factor. The privilege of drop box policy was suspended either temporarily or sine die. The policy, before its suspension, was meant to facilitate the renewal of expired visas online and without having to go through the fresh interview hazards and visa application processes. But there is no disputing the fact that several holders of US visas might have, as reported, also abused the privilege in various ways. Besides, an expired visa in a passport, even though it has expired, is still ‘cancelled without prejudice,’ making the visa an over-kill, is an interesting element of the new policy review. One may be wondering what need is there to overkill a visa that has expired. One possible explanation can be the need to ensure that the visa is permanently made invalid. It is possible that an immigration officer may carelessly overlook it. In some cases, a visa may still have one or two weeks validity. Holders of such visas may be given a longer period at the point of entry in the US. Cancelling the original visa that prompted the issuance of a longer period of stay cannot but necessarily also invalidate the longer-stay visa. Whatever is the case, the suspension of the drop box policy is nothing more than a serious indictment on Nigeria and its foreign policy, especially in terms of incapacity to respond and negotiate with the Washingtonian authorities in order to either prevent Nigerians from illegal stay abroad or protect the genuine Nigerian visa applicants.As noted earlier, the policy took effect from May 14, 2019. All the Nigerians who had been given approval of submitting their application forms without having to be interviewed, lost the privilege and by so doing, became ordinary applicants, without respect. But true, many, not to say most Nigerians, are ignorant of the fact that Nigeria’s immigration rules, and particularly its visa conditions, are one of the toughest, not only inAfrica, but also in the world. For instance, while the Embassy of the US in Nigeria charges US$160 for a two-year B1-B2 (Business and Tourism) visa, The Embassy of Nigeria in the US charges US$180 for a one-year business and tourism visa, which is still different from the US$35 charged for visa processing. This means that the Government of Nigeria is charging the sum of US$215 (two hundred and fifteen naira) for a visa valid for one year. In the eyes of the US, this situation cannot be considered to be fair forAmericans travelling to Nigeria. This is why the US Executive Order provides that the Secretary of State should adjust the visa validity period, or adjust the fee schedule, or consider any other necessary treatment. (See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

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BUSINESS Where Will Mele Kyari Take NNPC ? 08033204315, 08111813084

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His appointment elicited a deluge of approval, suggesting Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari, recently appointed the next Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is well accepted by the industry. But where will he lead the corporation to?, asks Chineme Okafor

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n the first of the tweets he made from his official Twitter handle - @mkkyari, shortly after his appointment was announced and stakeholders applauded it, Kyari, who is expected to shortly take over from the retiring NNPC’s GMD, Dr. Maikanti Baru, perhaps pointed to the direction his management of the corporation would take. “Deeply challenged to do more on transparency and accountability aspirations of @NGRPresident, @AsoRock @ NNPCgroup, @nigeriaeiti #OOTT and the global transparency community,� Kyari, said in response to a congratulatory tweet made by the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Mr. Waziri Adio. Perhaps realising how important it is for the NNPC to wholly embrace the practice of transparency and accountability in its management of Nigeria’s hydrocarbon resources, Kyari, indicated he would put a lot of energy in making the NNPC come clean on all its businesses. This suggests he would respect and follow through the legal procedures of running the NNPC as enshrined in its 1977 establishing Act without getting entangled in needless power tussle with any member of the corporation’s board, or even circumventing the legal powers of the board in key decisions involving contracts and procurements. Kyari’s Experience Until the appointment which he is expected to take up from July 7 as the 19th GMD of NNPC, Kyari was Nigeria’s national representative at the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Country (OPEC), as well as NNPC’s Group General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing Division (COMD). According to a statement from the Group General Manager, Public Affairs of NNPC, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, Kyari, is a quintessential crude oil marketer with prerequisite certification and outfield pedigree in petroleum economics and crude oil and gas trading. He has in the last 27 years moved across the entire value-chain of the petroleum industry and has reportedly kept exceptional records of performance at areas he had worked. The NNPC spokesman claimed in the statement that under Kyari’s watch, the COMD recorded noticeable transformation in the management and sales of the various grades of Nigeria’s crude oil with transparency and automation of the processes at the centre of the transactions. Besides the claims of the corporation’s statement, the Secretary General of the OPEC, Mohammed Barkindo, in a congratulatory letter said Kyari’s appointment did not come as a surprise to him because according to him, he has an exemplary record in his works at the NNPC. “You have earned the respect of your colleagues in OPEC’s Economic Commission Board (ECB) where you have

Kyari

conducted yourself with gravitas and greatly contributed to the discussions and decisions of this body,� said Barkindo, in his letter. In the same vein, Adio, whose agency – the NEITI is extremely keen on transparent management of Nigeria’s natural resources including oil and gas, said Kyari was a well-known transparency champion and shared the same principles with NEITI on good governance of the oil and gas industry. Adio in this regard said: “As a member of the global EITI Working Group on commodity trading transparency, Kyari’s appointment has placed him in a vantage position to push the frontiers of openness and to work more closely with NEITI and the global EITI to implement remedial issues in NEITI’s reports.� He further suggested his appointment was an intimation of more openness and reforms at the NNPC. Industry experts equally affirmed this, stating the corporation would need such stated qualities of Kyari to become truly independent and efficient. Task before Him But beyond his stated work ethics and qualities of commitment to good processes, the real job before Kyari will centre around the implementation of the findings of NEITI’s reports which

are branded as remediation issues. According to years of audit reports of operations of stakeholders in Nigeria’s oil sector by the NEITI, the NNPC had over time the corporation has recorded differences in actual volume of crude oil lifted and actual volume of production. NEITI explained that over the years domestic crude oil was valued at $15.67 billion (N2.44 trillion) was lifted but only N1.36 trillion was received and N0.83 trillion deducted, thus leaving an unreconciled balance of N0.25 trillion. NEITI also said the corporation do not comply with the 30-days remittance rule by crude oil and gas traders, while no consideration was paid on four Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) in of the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) Joint Venture assigned by NNPC to NPDC in December 2012. It also noted that the NNPC owed an outstanding debt of N3.98 billion to the country as a result of over-recovery under the Petroleum Support Fund Scheme (PSF) in 2012. Similarly, it explained NNPC’s records of revenue were not consistent with the underlying records of sales transactions and that there were under-reporting of revenue receivable by the corporation which may have resulted to a loss of $439.71 million. Again, on poor transactional transpar-

ency, the NEITI stated that its review of some JV partners’ contributions revealed that cash call payments documented in cash-call schedule and template sometimes differed from actual payments reflected in JV operations bank statements. The corporation has also failed to remit about $1.8 billion worth of gas flare penalty as at 2014. Further with regards to specificity, the NEITI indicated that about N250 billion was the unreconciled balance from crude oil sales for 2014 that the NNPC has yet to deal with. It stated that N2.45 trillion was the value of the total crude oil sales in 2014 while the sum of N1.44 trillion was received. As at 2014, the NEITI said there is a prior year Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) liability of $1.18 billion that is yet to be remitted by NNPC’s subsidiary – the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), as well as another outstanding PPT liability of $1.12 billion. To underpin how important it is that Kyari takes the NEITI remediation issues seriously, Adio, in his congratulatory message to him said, “the implementation of the findings of NEITI’s reports will not just be effective for operations of NNPC but also for optimisation of benefits of the oil and gas sector to Nigeria and Nigerians.� Again, getting NNPC’s decrepit refineries in Kaduna, Warri and Port Harcourt to work in such manner that the country’s reliance on imported volumes of petroleum products which the NNPC is frequently fingered to manipulate the figures and make fraudulent subsidy claims, would be another focus for Kyari. In the last four years, NNPC expenditure or claims on petrol importation has risen and remained contentious. Such expenditure and importation activities have as claimed by experts placed the NNPC as a mere trader in the oil industry as against potentials as a national oil company capable of establishing and running profitable ventures in the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors of the industry. Kyari, thus would have to move the NNPC forward towards being a competitive player in petroleum products refining and sales especially as the Dangote refinery in Lagos looks set to begin operation; gas production and sales for power production and industrial uses; as well as rational oil and gas exploration to grow Nigeria’s reserves. And, all these he would have to do with transparency and accountability in focus. And, he would have to inspire his subordinates - Roland Ewubare, Chief Operating Officer, Upstream; Mustapha Yinusa Yakubu, Chief Operating Officer, Refining and Petrochemicals; Yusuf Usman, Chief Operating Officer, Gas and Power; Lawrencia Ndupu, Chief Operating Officer, Ventures; Umar Ajiya, Chief Financial Officer; Adeyemi Adetunji, Chief Operating Officer, Downstream; Farouk Said, Chief Operating Officer, Corporate Services, to tow the same path.

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Airtel Enters Nigerian Stock Market The Nigerian stock market is to witness the listing of Africa’s second largest telecommunications firm, Airtel Africa Plc, after the on-going Initial public offering and listing on the London Stock Exchange, writes Goddy Egene

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he Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) will soon witness the listing of the second largest telecommunications company in Africa, Airtel Africa Plc less than two months after MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, the largest telco on the continent, got listed on the local bourse. The NSE on May 16 listed 20.4 billion shares of MTNN at N90 per share, thereby adding about N1.8 trillion to the market capitalisation of the exchange. And the NSE will list the shares of Airtel Africa Plc in July. Unlike MTNN that was listed by way of introduction, Airtel Africa will be listed after an Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the NSE and the London Stock Exchange (LSE). Airtel Africa Plc is currently embarking on a global share offering to raise $750 million from United Kingdom and Nigerian markets. The Nigerian Offer Unlike MTNN that did not sell shares to the investing public before being admitted on the exchange, Airtel Africa Plc is making the IPO through a book building process to determine the eventual price and volume of shares to be sold to investors. A book building is a process of price discovery, through which the issuer ascertains the demand for the securities being issued and assesses the price at which such securities may be issued before ultimately determines the quantum of securities to be issued. Under the book building process, Airtel Africa Plc is eyeing between 501.125 million shares and 716.406 million shares, at price between N363 and N454 per share. The shares are being offered to high networth and institutional investors. The company is expected to announce the final offer price on June 28, allot the shares to investors on June 29 and list get listed on the NSE on July 4, 2019. It is expected that the mid-point market capitalisation of the offer will be about N1.5 trillion. Airtel Africa said the price range and the offer share size range is indicative only and may change during the course of the offer, and the offer price may be set within, above or below the price range. “All ordinary shares subject to the offer will be issued or sold at the offer price, which will be determined by the company, following a book building process and in consultation with the Joint Global Coordinators. A number of factors will be considered in determining the offer price, the offer share size and the basis of allocation, including the level and nature of demand for the offer shares during the book building process and prevailing market conditions,� the company explained. The listing on the NSE will be conditional on the listing of LSE, which is expected to take place on July 3, 2019. “The LSE listing shall not be conditional on NSE listing admission, whereas NSE shall be conditional upon LSE listing. There can be no assurance that LSE listing will occur on the July 4,� the company said. The Nigerian IPO has Barclays Securities Nigeria Limited and Quantum Zenith Capital & Investments Limited have been appointed Joint Issuing Houses, while Greenwich Securities Limited and Chapel Hill Denham Advisory Limited have been appointed receiving agents.

Nigerian Stock Exchange building

Purpose of IPO and Listing The directors of Airtel Africa Plc said offering the shares in Nigeria and listing on the NSE would encourage operational discipline through the establishment of an independent capital structure and governance framework following the successful turnaround of the group’s operations. “It will also facilitate measurement of the group’s continued positive performance against holistic, publicly disclosed metrics as it enters a strong free cash flow phase; introduce an optimal capital structure and enable improved leverage for greater flexibility in pursuing growth opportunities going forward; and provide access to the capital markets and diversification of the Group’s capital base to support the Group’s continued growth. The company intends to use the net proceeds from the offer principally on the reduction of debt, in particular to achieve a targeted leverage ratio of 2.5x based on underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation for the year ended 31 March 2019. Market Share and Performance Airtel Africa has been offering mobile services in Africa since 2010 and has leveraged this experience to roll out relevant products and services across its footprint. The group offers a range of country specific entertainment, lifestyle and general content through its VAS products. The group aims to continue positioning its non-voice businesses, in particular through its investments in value-added digital services and continued expansion of mobile money services, as an opportunity for long-term sustainable growth in response to the rapidly changing telecommunications environment in the

markets in which the group operates. As at 31 December 2018, Airtel Africa was the second largest mobile operator in Africa by number of active subscribers, according to Ovum. The group’s footprint is well diversified, serving an aggregate of 98.9 million subscribers and 14.2 million mobile money customers across its footprint as at 31 March 2019. Nigeria represents Airtel Group’s largest single country subscriber base, comprising 37.6 per cent of total subscribers as at 31 March 2019. About 43.4 per cent of subscribers are in East Africa and the remaining 19.1 per cent in the group’s rest of Africa segment. In terms of financial performance, as the year ended 31 March 2019, revenue in Nigeria was $1.106 billion (representing 35.9 per cent of the group’s revenue in the year) and underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) was $550 million. In the year ended 31 March 2019, revenue in East Africa was US$1,102 million (representing 35.8 per cent of the Group’s revenue in the year) and underlying EBITDA was $442 million. Revenue in rest of Africa was $888 million (representing 28.9 per cent of the group’s revenue in the year) and underlying EBITDA was $339 million A further analysis of the performance showed that revenue grew from $2.884 billion in 2018 to $2.910 billion in 2019. This increase was primarily due to mobile data revenue growth and Airtel Money revenue growth. Profit after tax rose from $142 million to $441 million. Airtel Africa operates in three main business lines, mobile voice, mobile data and Airtel Money. The mobile voice business line comprises pre- and post-paid wire-

less voice services, international roaming, fixed-line telephone services and interconnect revenue paid to the group by other telecommunications providers. The mobile voice business line is the largest component of the group’s revenue, representing 62.2 per cent and 66.4 per cent in the years ended 31 March 2019 and 31 March 2018, respectively. The mobile data business line comprises data communications services, including 2G, 3G and, increasingly, 4G data services, and other VAS for mobile subscribers. The mobile data business line accounted for 22.2 per cent and 18.9 per cent of the group’s revenue in the years ended 31 March 2019 and 31 March 2018, respectively. On an aggregated basis, the mobile business lines before inter-product elimination and including infrastructure tower sharing income accounted for 94.8 per cent of the group’s consolidated revenue and 92.7 per cent of the group’s underlying EBITDA in the year ended 31 March 2019 and 95.4 per cent of the group’s consolidated revenue and 95.2 per cent underlying EBITDA in the year ended 31 March 2018. On the other hand, mobile money services, offered under the Airtel Money brand, are an increasingly important part of the group’s service offerings. The Airtel Money business line comprises a mobile commerce service that is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week through customers’ mobile devices. The Airtel Money business line before inter-product elimination accounted for 7.6 per cent of the group’s consolidated revenue and 7.3 per cent of the group’s EBITDA in the year ended 31 March 2019 and 5.2 per cent consolidated revenue and 4.1 per cent EBITDA in the year ended 31 March 2018.

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Improving Foreign Capital Flow to Economy Economic managers would need to do more to raise the current levels of capital inflows into the country, write Kunle Aderinokun and James Emejo

Buhari

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pparently signifying a rare demonstration of the increasing confidence of international investors in the country, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) last week disclosed that total foreign capital flows into the country stood at $14.2 billion between January and May 2019. It further explained that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) accounted for $2.87 billion, representing 20.18 per cent of the total amount. According to CBN Director, Corporate Communications, Mr. Isaac Okorafor, in a statement, the increased capital importation for the period was contrary to a Reuters report which had indicated that the country’s FDIs slumped last year. But Reuters had quoted the World Investment Report, 2019, recently released by UNCTAD on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to African countries. “The attention of the Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN) has been drawn to the news item on Reuters quoting World Investment Report, 2019, recently released by UNCTAD on FDIs to African countries,� the statement said. The UNCTAD report had alleged a decrease of over 40 per cent in FDI inflows to Nigeria in 2018. According to the apex bank, while the CBN is not privy to the methodology used in arriving at the figures, we wish to state that available records show a significant increase in FDI in Nigeria during the period 2018, contrary to the Reuters’ report. “For instance, in 2018, the total capital inflows to the country stood at $19.07 billion out of which FDI accounted for $7.78 billion. “Furthermore, total capital flows to Nigeria, from January to May 2019 stood at $14.2 billion of which FDI accounted for $2.87 billion, representing a 20.18 per cent of the total amount. “The country continues to enjoy steady capital flows due to the prevailing stable macroeconomic environment and sustained investors’ confidence in the economy. “Against this background, we wish to urge the public to take advantage of several publi-

Sadiku

cations by the CBN and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which give adequate and accurate statistics on the subject matter.� Although, the CBN announcement was positive for the economy, not many analysts expected an improved inflows in the period under review. This is partly because of the general election which was conducted within the quarter as investors had pulled out their funds for fears of uncertainty as well as the investment appetite created the US Federal Reserves which had raised lending rates. Billions of naira had reportedly lost in the nation’s capital market in the build-up to the elections as well as post elections, particularly as investors await the economic direction of President Muhammadu Buhari following his re-election for a second term. The capital importation report for the first quarter of the year is yet to be released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). However, compared to inflows in 2018, the results appeared to be significant going by the CBN disclosure. According to the NBS, the total value of capital importation into the country in 2018 stood at $16.81 billion compared to $12.22 billion 2017, representing 37.49 per cent growth year on year. Portfolio investment, which accounted for 70.20 per cent ($11. 80 billion of total capital importation for 2018 followed by Other Investment, which accounted for 22.69 per cent ($3.81 billion of total capital, while Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), accounted for 7.11 per cent ($1.19 billion of total capital imported last year. Earlier in May, the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Ms. Yewande Sadiku had disclosed that about $90.9 billion worth of investments were recorded in the country last year, adding that there were 92 existing projects covering 23 states and the FCT. She, however, cautioned that the investment announcements were not actual investments, but nevertheless “give us direction and a sense of investor interest in Nigeria�. According to her, 33 per cent of the investments came from Nigerian investors, which according to her was consistent with government’s efforts to get Nigerians to invest in their own county.

Other investment sources according to her included the UAE, France and UK. She said: “We actually track it so that at the end of the quarter, half year, month or full year, we can say this is the total value of investment announcements that were made. We look at where the investments are supposed to be coming from. “Remember they are announcements and not investments. The announcements related to mining and quarrying and oil and gas, manufacturing, construction, transportation and storage.� Interestingly, Sadiku had joined other top government officials to draw attention to the fact that investor interest in the first quarter of 2019 could be less than the same period in 2018 because of election concerns. This same concern was re-echoed by the former Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, who also warned that first quarter growth estimates could be disappointing as it is often a difficult period for the economy. Nonetheless, some analysts who spoke with THISDAY found the news that foreign capital inflows picked up in the first quarter difficult to digest while others played down the figures. Commenting on the development, Founder/ Chief Executive Officer, Global Analytics Consulting Limited, Mr. Tope Fasua, said:�The CBN claim is untenable because if we all agree that the period of politics in any country is a period for investor caution, then it’s unlikely that investor confidence returned even as the elections went on. “The elections are even still in contention so the explanation for increased capital inflow is political and not economic. The macroeconomic environment is certainly not yet stable except we ignore our low GDP growth rate and rising inflation in the face of a healthy population growth. The government is only now just speaking about our out of school children. He said:�However, I am not doubting that capital flow may have spiked in the period. A singular transaction may have skewed the statistics in that manner. The inflows could also have gone into portfolio investments which are fleeting in nature. “The CBN should try and be more intellectual in theory pronouncements

and not be drawn into the politics of the day as we all work together to find an economy that truly works.� Also, economist and former Director General, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Mr. Chijioke Ekechukwu, said: “The Cash inflow was not as a result of increase in Direct Foreign Investments but inflow of funds for the purpose of funding and executing the elections. “Recall that 2018 ended with Nigeria having up to 36 per cent decline in DFIs. This was as a result of uncertainty of the economic and political space of the country. “Having a total capital inflow of $14.2 billion in the first five months of 2019 is not anything to celebrate. Our contemporaries in West Africa, Ghana, did more than that in investments, as against mere inflow.� Also, speaking to THISDAY, Director, Union Capital Market Limited, EgieAkpata said: “The capital inflows quoted by CBN on the surface look very impressive. Particularly in the context of the pre-election uncertainly in Q1. “However, the CBN would need to disclose the amount that was long-term FDI and short term FPI. 1 year treasury bills were yielding over 17 per cent until the March elections so it is easy to see why FPI would rush into this market to earn such rates. “When coupled with the drop in US interest rates driven by the Federal Reserve change in outlook, it is not surprising that FPI would flow into Nigeria where rates are over 10 per cent higher than similar tenor in USA. “The real test is to see what the inflows look like in the current lower interest rate environment. Judging by the trend of CBN foreign reserve movements, it is unlikely that the data of the first 5 months of 2019 would be repeated.� However, Professor of Economics and Public Policy at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Prof.Akpan Ekpo said while the accretion was positive for the country, efforts should be intensified to boost domestic production. He said:�I suspect that for a while now the exchange rate has been quite stable and the CBN opened another window for importers and exporters and there has been a lot of activities in the foreign exchange and that must have been responsible for the increased capital inflow.�

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EmeďŹ ele

Peterside

Dangote

How Govt Policies Stifle Small Businesses

Whilst government claims it is working round the clock to create conducive environment for businesses in Nigeria to thrive, business owners have said the immediate business environment is far from being accommodating as they still have to battle with challenges like excessive and multiple taxation, rising inflation, unfriendly regulations and power. Bamidele Famoofo reports

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he National President of Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria (ASBON), Dr. Femi Egbesola, recently voiced out his frustration over the increment of tariffs and regulatory service charges by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). The increment which he said became operational from June 1, 2019 was done without consulting members of business organizations which include ASBON. Egbesola, visibly disturbed, claimed that some of the fees introduced by NAFDAC went up as high as 600 percent and even higher in some other cases, which he said is unsupportive of growth of businesses and has the potential to impact very negatively on Nigerians and the economy at large . His words: “To us, this is ill-timed and unsupportive of businesses. If this hike is allowed to stay, it will impact very negatively on businesses. What this means is that a lot of small businesses would fold up, jobs will be lost, more fake products will emerge in the market. Very unfortunately too, the prices of NAFDAC regulated products will go up in the market.� The ABSON President argued that excessive charges introduced by regulatory bodies like NAFDAC will give room for more imported products to come into the country which will further weaken the Naira. “These are the harsh realities on Nigerians, and therefore we declare this unacceptable. We must join hands together to save our economy. If we don’t take action to stop this now, some other government agencies will also arbitrarily increase their prices and the consumers will bear the brunt�, he said. The outburst was not limited to small business owners as owners of established businesses are also saying the existing conditions of doing business in the country is not conducive for businesses to thrive. Atedo Peterside, an accomplished banker, entrepreneur and the founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, at a recent business forum organized by the Central Bank of Nigeria in

Lagos, said the economy was not growing because existing businesses are not allowed to survive while new ones are not permitted to emerge. Peterside accused government agencies that regulatory businesses of their overbearing tendencies, nothing that some of their policies have made it practically impossible for youth entrepreneurs to blossom with their business ideas. “The reason why the economy is not growing is because there is no investment. Just one massive investment in every sector won’t bailout the economy. We need multiple small investments to grow the economy. Not so much more turnover but for jobs. We can’t have a nation of 200million people with 40 million youth roaming the streets with no prospects and no job prospects, for sooner or later they will pull the whole house down,� he said. Peterside decried the situation where big business owners enjoy some protection on account of their positioning in society and perceived ability to call even the presidency to intervene in cases when regulators and the tax office come up with unreasonable demands. He called for a level playing ground for big and small players alike, saying, “We are looking for a system for those who don’t have such connections to be able to thrive.� He revealed that the big businesses are thriving because the owners have combative personalities. “No regulator can go to them and try nonsense. Most of them know how to deal with that regulator. But we have to move beyond that because those things are destroying the 22 or 25 years old entrepreneurs. This economy is rigged against the youth and it is not going to grow. When Aliko and I were 30, we were allowed to grow. But now we are killing the youth from growing. So, the economy is not going to grow.� Peterside said the case of MTN Plc was a clear example of the overbearing tendencies of regulators in Nigeria. He noted that MTN has become the barometer for foreign investors to measure the degree of conduciveness of Nigeria for foreign investors. “MTN was first investigated by DSS, Senate, and CBN and now Police has taken over, and after the

Police it could be the ICPC and then EFCC. But what we don’t understand is that people are also going forum shopping, they try one destination, and if it fails, they go to another. But in the UK, once a serious fraud office looks at something and says it is nothing, everyone else drops it. Economy won’t grow if we continue to do business this way.� Besides, the problem of business regulation, Peterside pointed out the menace of multiple taxation in the country; noting that it stifles the growth of business. “Some said tax in Nigeria too high but l say it is not only too high but also multiple in nature.� “The last time l had a conversation with the boss at the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, he told me that the company he considered the most tax compliant in Nigeria at that time was undergoing 88 parallel tax audits by all state governments�, he disclosed. Alluding to the saying that the rich also cry, AlikoDangote, Africa’s richest man and President of Dangote Group Plc who was also in attendance at the same CBN business forum said the big corporations also feel the pain of high tax in Nigeria. Interjecting Peterside’s speech, he said, “what l always say when it comes to tax issue in Nigeria is that on the judgment day, God will separate we entrepreneurs from Nigeria from others and grant us free access to heaven because of the high tax rates in Nigeria, so we won’t be punished twice.� The business moguls also called the attention of Mr. Godwin Emefiele, Governor of the CBN, to the need tackle headlong some monetary policy matters like inflation and exchange rate which hamper business growth in the country. Specifically, Peterside tasked the CBN to bring Nigeria’s inflation down to five percent from its current two- digit figure. “CBN Governors in Nigeria are very good at bringing down inflation when it gets to a level that it becomes politically unacceptable like 18 or 19 percent. But when it gets near 10 percent they get tired. It then stays at 10 or11 percent endlessly. There is no need for that because the same method that brought it down from 19 percent to 10 percent can bring it down to 5 percent.�

He explained that the reason why inflation must come down to a single digit of about five percent was because the current stability in exchange rate could be threatened by high inflation. “If you have an 11 percent inflation rate year on year while the U.S has an inflation of two percent, every year you don’t adjust, it is a nine percent differential. The solution is not to devalue the naira but to bring down the inflation rate. Also, the multiple exchange rates must be stopped while managed float should be allowed for the purpose of stability�, he argued. On power, pundits believe that all the stakeholders should be brought together in a round table to to sort out their differences rather than continuing in the blame game. “One third of the money that Nigeria squandered on AMCON would resolve the issue of power. The priority is to have an economy that works for every entrepreneur and not to fight each other�, they said. The outcry over the prevailing incondusive business environment by large and small entrepreneurs in the country therefore calls to question claim by government to be making effort to eliminate the bottlenecks that impedes business success in Nigeria. Government says part of its plans to accomplish the goals of its economic blueprint contained in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), a Medium Term Plan for 2017 – 2020, is to collaborate closely with businesses to deepen their investments in the agriculture, power, manufacturing, solid minerals and services sectors, and support the private sector to become the engine of national growth and development. Part of the focus of the document is to eliminate unfriendly regulations that hamper business growth. “Economic recovery and transformative growth cannot be achieved by the government alone. It is essential to harness the dynamism of business and the entrepreneurial nature of Nigerians, from the MSMEs to the large domestic and multinational corporations to achieve the objectives of this Plan. The Plan prioritizes the provision of a more business friendly economic environment,� the document read in part.

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Buhari

Bello

Boosting Non-Oil Exports through Innovative Intra-African Trade Considering the increasing vulnerabilities associated with over-reliance on crude oil as a major source of revenue for the economy, as well as the present administration’s drive to boost revenue from non-oil export, the proposed Sealink initiative will significantly enhance export trade among West African countries, as well as strengthen Nigeria’s chances for a big haul, writes James Emejo

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he dangers posed by an oil economy to fiscal conditions cannot be underestimated. In 2008, amid the global financial crisis, which witnessed the falling oil prices and eventual recession in some economies, particularly the developing countries, economies, which relied heavily on oil for survival were hard-hit by the crisis. This is so because, these countries are always vulnerable to price movements as a drop in commodity price meant less revenue to meet financial obligations to citizens. Nigeria was also cut in the web and remains susceptible to oil price fluctuation until the economy is fully or substantially diversified from oil. The latest Foreign Trade Statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that of the country’s total exports in the first quarter of the year (Q1 2019), crude oil still accounted for 74.45 per cent of exports while non-crude exports represented 25.55 per cent. This appears to be a far cry from the objective of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to broaden the base of the economy through diversification into non-oil activities. According to the NBS, although the value of exports in Q1 increased by 1.78 per cent compared to the preceding quarter, it decreased by 3.90 per cent when compared to the value recorded the corresponding quarter of 2018.

Experts have variously argued that the inability of Nigerian products to access international markets remained a major constraint to development aspirations. This is partly in realisation that most products for exports were often rejected because they do not meet standards in countries of destination, as well as the fact that the European markets have often times proven to be impregnable for Nigerian exporters. Notwithstanding, the continent has been criticised for the inability to trade among member countries, thereby losing out from the immense market opportunities that remained untapped. But this inability to trade among themselves is partly due to a myriad of challenges, chief of which is the maritime infrastructure. The development had necessitated the evolvement of proactive strategies to facilitate and enhance non-oil export activities in order to boost growth and employment, which remained a major challenge for government. The NBS estimated the country’s current unemployment rate at 23.1 per cent. However, to break the jinx and open up the waterways for increased trading among countries in the West African sub-region, a development, which will no doubt be of immense benefit to the country, the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), in 2011 successful sealed an agreement with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission to establish a maritime shipping company, which will connect the West African coastal ports including

Central Africa in order to boost trade within the region. Described as a major step in deepening trade within the sub-region, the initiative seeks to chart an efficient sea transportation system that would enable the ECOWAS sub-region to move goods from one member state to another as well as stop any capital flight within the region. As a trade policy bank and a trade facilitating agency also focused on deepening trade within the ECOWAS sub-region, NEXIM believes that one of the major trade barriers identified in export trade was to move goods by sea in view of the problems associated with land transportation including multiple checkpoints, harassment by security agencies among others. Consequently, the regional Sealink project was initiated by the bank at the prompting of MAN Export Group. Managing Director/Chief Executive, NEXIM Bank, Mr. Abba Bello, said the project on completion would further spur the country’s regional and global trade competitiveness as well as boost the country’s annual non-oil revenue receipts to between $500 million and $1.2 billion through bulk solid minerals exports. A former official who had worked on the project had told THISDAY that, “one of the major reasons why we have to embark on this is that, if you have to move your goods from Lagos to Tema port or any city in Ghana, it would take you about three days; but if you have to move your goods from Apapa Ports

to Tema Port, it’ll take you a minimum of 60 days and the simple fact is that we don’t have Cargo vessels here-they either move to South Africa or they move to Europe and do a trans-shipment. “Under that kind of scenario, there is no way you can deepen trade; there’s no way you can integrate what even the ECOWAS commission is trying to do.� However, in a development, which inches closer to the actual berth of the Sealink project, Sealink Consortium and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise and deepen the existing collaborative partnerships as well as bridge infrastructure gap in the maritime sector to promote and enhance trade connectivity among member states of the Economic Community of West Bello, speaking at the occasion, emphasised that the historic collaboration would promote and diversify exports as well as enhance trade connectivity in line with the present administration’s objective to diversify the economy. He stressed that bridging the maritime infrastructure gap will significantly enhance exports of bulk solid minerals, thereby enhancing the GDP contribution of both shipping and solid minerals sectors from current levels of about 0.2 per cent. According to him, the effective implementation of the Sealink project and the safe utilisation of the inland waterways would no doubt bridge logistics gaps that will attract and facilitate investment flows the two sectors. “This will contribute to the realisation of one of the broad strategic objectives of ERGP, which is building a globally competitive economy. “To this end, it will also contribute to improving Nigeria’s current World Bank ease of doing business and Logistics Performance Index (LPI) rankings.� He added that the MoU represented a significant milestone in ongoing collaborations with all key national and regional maritime stakeholders, which would be catalytic to the realisation of one of the priority projects under the ECOWAS Community Development Programmes. According to the Chairperson, Sealink Implementation Committee, Mrs. Dabney ShallHolma, the initiative is currently promoted by NEXIM, FEWACCI / NACCIMA and Transimex S.A. Cameroun through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), Sealink Promotional Company Limited (SPCL) with nominal shareholding sponsorship arrangement. Shall-Holma said the project was basically designed to bridge maritime transport infrastructure gap, among ECOWAS and CEMAC member states as well as promote inland waterways operations towards facilitating intra-regional trade and reduction of non-tariff measures; regional integration/ reduction in logistics cost, and movement of bulk cargo among other objectives- and is implemented in partnership with the NFIC to promote Nigerian Maritime Fleet. She stressed that the promotion of Sealink had become inevitable in order to bridge transport infrastructure gap among member states along the ECOWAS trade corridor, especially against the backdrop of frequent cargo losses arising from long transit period/ delivery delays due to trans-shipment arrangements and improving transaction cycle. Shall-Holma further stressed the need to promote as well as enhance ECOWAS regional trade percentage contribution and reduce informal trade, noting that Intra-ECOWAS trade had stagnated at about 12 per cent - 15 per cent over the years. She disclosed that based on the understanding reached among stakeholders to fast track the realisation of the regional sealink, implementation had been anchored in loops – namely the East, which included Nigeria and Cameroun; Central including Togo and Ghana and West, which had Senegal and Cape Verde. According to her, the implementation update from the Nigeria- Cameroun axis already indicated that pilot scheme arrangements were on-going with the setting up of sealink implementation committee (SIC) with membership across various agencies and key stakeholders. No doubt, the commencement of the pilot operations of the Sealink, which had been tentatively fixed for second quarter of the year, will lead to unprecedented increase in non-oil export activities with the attendant positive implications for growth and employment generation, assuming all other factors including policy play their roles to aid growth.

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Orolugbagbe

ISAAC OROLUGBAGBE

Nigeria’s Infrastructure Deficiency Makes Businesses Suffer Mr΂—søøú‚ÿr›Ûà»ùø»ùe‚Øs‚‚ø‚úhørßere¸‚øúú›ànßønß‚âØßh‚seáerøÛ‚¡eørs‚›º‚e~œerØenúe‚ Øn‚ßhe‚‚ú›rœ›røße‚â›r۸΂–e‚âøs‚ßhe‚Üønø»Øn»‚¸Øreúß›r‚›º‚`e¸‚|ßør‚Ö~œress‚{Ûú‰‚ º›r‚Ñ0‚¡eørs΂–e‚âøs‚øÛs›‚›n‚ßhe‚ù›ør¸‚›º‚ßhe‚ú›Üœøn¡‚øs‚áØúe‚úhøØrÜøn‚ànßØÛ‚ reúenßÛ¡‰‚âhen‚he‚Ù›Øne¸‚Ô›àrØer{Ûàs‚øs‚Üønø»Øn»‚¸Øreúß›r΂–Øs‚ßøsÚ‚Øs‚ß›‚Ü›áe‚ Ô›àrØer{Ûàs‚‚ß›‚‚øn‚enáØøùÛe‚‚heØ»hß΂ÿr›Ûà»ùø»ùe‚sœeøÚs‚âØßh‚‚Kunle Aderinokun‚ øn¸ Bamidele Famoof›‚øù›àß‚hØs‚œÛøns‚ß›‚øúhØeáe‚ßhe‚ßøsÚ

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Nigeria Won’t Progress Until it Recognises There’s No Value in Commodity

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s CourierPlus, how did you get here?

Well, I may not be able to tell the entire story, but l do knowthatCourierPlusstarted as a subsidiary of a bank or a registrar company and when the Central Bank made a new law that all banks should divest from their non-core businesses,thiscompanywasacquiredbySuperflux and ownership changed. This company is about 10 years now and the ownership is still essentially with Superflux.

Could you tell us more about Superux? Superflux is a very big player in the security prints industry. In the process of their business they realised the need for logistic capabilities- the need to distribute cheque leaves, bank statements etc. This is a company that has the capability to print one million bank statements at once. In an attempt to assist their customers to distribute all the print jobs, they went in search of a courier company as a subsidiary that will complement their business, that was how they came about CourierPlus.

Has it been rosy for you running CourierPlus? It’s been ups and downs, but we have decided to stay in the business as business is a continuum, hoping that it will be easy and rosy someday. We are all living for hope and CourierPlus is not an exemption. We are hopeful that it will become rosy and the company, customer and staff will grow someday. We are here because we are hopeful.

Since businesses operate in a very challenging environment in Nigeria, what are the challenges you face as a company? The challenge this company faces is a national challenge. Everyone is facing it. The road network is a big issue. Vehicles that we buy and think will last four years can run into a pothole and their lives will terminate. Security challenges like armed robbery on roads‌and we are on the roads every day, so we are suffering all those consequences every day. Infrastructure, in terms of health and education, affects our operations as the quality of graduates fall below standards. So we spend a lot of money to train staff when they graduate from school to make them suitable for our operations. More or less we are becoming a university of our self. Health is a big challenge as the public health system is grossly defective. So you see companies getting involved in the things they are not supposed to be involved in like creating health facilities for staff well-being. So, when you compare a typical managing director in Nigeria with his counterpart abroad, the one in Nigeria is more or less a president of a country because he runs his own water corporation, power generation, security system, we run a mini-government in every enterprise. And if you look at the manufacturing companies for example, the money they spend in providing everything needed to produce is often times more than the cost of the machinery needed to do the production or even setting up the company. Take for instance, if you want to set up a barbing salon, all you need is to rent a shop, furnish the shop with chairs and buy a clipper. The cost of a clipper is probably not more than N3, 000. But the things to makethesalonwork-power,securityandwater-are more expensive than the cost of the salon. This is the big challenge for all SMEs in Nigeria. If you buy a machine for your wife to grind pepper in front of your house, the machine will be N20,000 but the generator to power the machine will be N100,000. This infrastructural deficiency makes the small businesses suffer because it makes the cost of production high and the business becomes uncompetitive.

What then is the solution to all these challenges you have identiďŹ ed for existing businesses? There is no one solution to be proffered as you have to look at the problems from multiple angles. Starting from education, let’s ask ourselves, what kind of graduates are we producing? Are we consumers or creators of knowledge? What is the quality of the lecturers? Are they the type that can see the opportunities available in the markets? If they can’t see the opportunities, the students also will be blind. In the developed world, a lot of things that companies are using to make money come from academics. What are the academics in Nigeria contributing to enterprise? What are they contributing to the development of the society? And this is affecting the quality of the graduates. I mean we have mechanical engineers and you still see people climb palm tree in the villages to tap wine or harvest palm fruits.Are we saying we can’t design equipment that would allow the palm wine

Orolugbagbe

come down from the palm tree? Because when you talk about technology, it is adaption for application of knowledge for the benefit of your immediate environment. So, when we are still going to school and people are falling down from palm tree, then our intelligentsias have failed us woefully. We need to review our curriculum. Students should start doing projects that will enable them to go into enterprise after leaving school. We are all chasing a piece of paper that we call certificate, but we are not chasing knowledge. If you have knowledge you don’t need certificate. But here knowledge is secondary and certificate is everything. And that is why people cut corners to get the piece of paper called certificate, but you cannot cheat to get knowledge, you have to earn it. So, we need to go back to review the way we are training our students so that they can be useful to themselves and the society. That is about education. Besides, whilstgovernmentalloverunderstandthattheonly business they have is to give birth to companies because any business that is set up and registered in a country that turns out to become profitable, government owns 30 per cent of that company by way of corporate tax. Now, if you understand that success from business will be bring revenue to government, and then government keeps creating the space and incentive for businesses to come up. This is what you in the develop world. You are encouraged to set up a business with grants and withoutpaymentoftaxforaperiodforyourbusiness to grow before government begins to demand tax from you. The the kind of money that Britain is investing in innovation centres is massive.Anyone with a business idea simply goes there for advice and support to help him have a smooth take-off. That is the biggest job of government. Then they would make money through tax and employment would be created. Until enterprises are created and are successful, our children would never find jobs. Rather than all of us concentrating on the existing businesses, we need to create new ones. A lot of the businesses are not doing well not because of capital only but most of the times the problem is management competence. We don’t have people who can run companies. Management is scarce in Nigeria. Competency is rare. The reality on the field of business is different from the initial assumption that it will work. But if there are support systems that would create the opportunity for young people to have people to run to advice when business becomes tough, things would be different. The entire ecosystem needs to understand that there is a need for us to nurture our children if they must become successful. Also, our laws must not always catch, but facilitate.As you facilitate, you do compliance. For example, a very experienced customer office will tell you that the job of customer is facilitation of trade and compliance and revenue generation. If there is no trade facilitation there can’t be revenue. When you make a law that kill enterprise, there won’t be duties in the future.

CourierPlus offers diverse kind of services. Which of them is the company’s cash cow?

Really,wedonothaveacashcow.Rememberltold you this company started by rendering service to a registrar company, distributing dividend warrants and annual reports. Most of the other services we render came about from requests of customers. Everything is in response to the needs of the market and they are interlinked as every product drives the next product. Our aim is to be successful in everything we do.

CourierPlus operate in four countries beginning from Nigeria. What does the link look like and where is your next destination? This is a Nigerian company. All these places are where the mother company had inroads. They are places where documents are delivered for the customers of the company. We also have link to Kenya in the East Africa, and occasionally we have gone to Benin-Republic as part of our logistic business. The next thing we are doing is to develop our capability and to make it a truly international company.

What’s your strategy for growth? We are retooling everywhere. The biggest thing we are doing now is to train and develop our staff so that they attend to the needs of customers. We want to improve their ability to listen to customers and attend to their needs. We believe if we are good messengers, the company will grow and money will come.

What’s your opinion about the AfCTA? If you look at global trade, Intra-African trade constitutes only about two per cent to it. We don’t do anything about it. Everybody trades with their colonial masters simply selling commodities. You sell Coffee, Cocoa, and Crude Oil etc. You sell the Coffee for 80 cents, and it is brought back to you as Nescafefor$2.Untilweunderstandwherethevalue is, knowing that there is no value in commodity, we won’t move forward. Value simply is in experience management. African government needs to understandthattheirpriorityshouldbeinexporting finished product. People have turned Africa to a place for cheap raw material supply. We specialise in selling cheap things and indirectly specialise in producing poverty. If you have cocoa, you should thinkabouthowtosellchocolate,andifyoucan’tsell chocolate, process it up to a stage where it becomes an input so you look at taking some of the values for your country. You can grind and refine Coffee to a stage where you can sell for about $1.80 to those who will return it back to us for $2. When you retain one dollar by nothing selling crude coffee for 80 cents, you can create employment and generate wealth. But that involves sitting down to plan and have serious cooperation among all players. That is the way of the future. We have the population and if for instance, Nigeria connects its 200million people to the economy, the country will grow. For instance, why are we not paying househelps who constitute a big part of employment in the country a minimum wage? We must realise that until we protectthisgroupofpeoplewewillremainintrouble

as a nation. We do laws only to protect the educated and the professionals and neglect the people at the bottom of the ladder- the artisans etc. Until we protect the weak members of this society, Nigeria is not going anywhere. The truth is, that is where the employment is. You will make more money as a graduate if you go into metal fabrication or bricklaying than wearing ties and searching for white collar jobs. But these small jobs should be protected. There must be Institute of Bricklayers etc to make these small jobs protected and become more profitable. The bricklayers should be trained and certificated as it obtains in some otherAfrican countries and the world over to acquire necessary skills that will bring the money. Laws should be enacted for househelps to earn minimum wage, be entitled to leave and they would become part of the economy because of their enhanced earning power and poverty will be eradicated. Planning is needed in transportation to create wealth. Drivers should be certificated and allocated routes to ply so we won’t continue have some routes experiencing scarcity of commercial vehicles, while others have surplus, thus recycling suffering and poverty. This is the work that government should do. This is what l met in Lagos when l came as a young man.

Can you share with us your success secret as MD of RedStar Express and how you would deploy it here at CourierPlus? We really don’t have any secret but what we deployed is what called PSP-People, Service and Profit. You look for good people, train them, pay them well, and treat them well. When you treat your people well they would be happy with their jobs and that happiness will naturally transfer to the services they give to customers. And when the customers are dealing with happy people that give good services, they will come back. It is repeat patronage that translates to profit. But when people start chasing money before chasing people, it is on a short-term basis, before long, the company would shut down.

What’s the impact of technology on your business? Every business today whether you like it or not if affected by technology. When technology first came, we saw as a tool for enhancing business, but today technology is now business. When l first joined DHL in those days, technology was calculator, personal computer, but later it became a means of communication and later a means to make our business do well, but today, it is no longer a tool but a powerful force that has changed the entire business model. It has become a channel for selling. For instance, people can now click on your website to pay for goods and you go to deliver to them. It is no longer a tool, but a major revenue earner. Now you can make up to 50 percent of your revenue through technology. It has changed the business model, our platforms, and customers. People can now order for goods in their cars, homes etc. Technology is everything now, so you just need to find a way to understand it and ride with it.

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NLC President, Aliyu Wabba

Aliyu Aziz

Corporate Begging at NIMC Kingsley Nwezeh examines the reported allegations of “corporate begging� at the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC)

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oing by recent developments at the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the manpower requirements needed for the efficient management of the all important agency is not only unmet, but facing gross violations. There were reports of deaths of staff of the federal agency occasioned by what was seen as the refusal of the management to address welfare challenges of members of staff across the country leading to the demise of six staff members. The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) raised the alarm in a letter addressed to NIMC Management led by the Director-General, Engineer Aliyu Aziz Abubakar, saying, members of of staff were dying over manageable ailments, but poor conditions of service had compounded their health conditions, leading to untimely death. But the management of the agency had in response to the position of the ASCSN allegedly doled out harsh, punitive measures to the Public Relations Officer, of the agency, Mr Loveday Chika, over his admittance during a media interview that the welfare situation in the organisation and death of six members of staff were indeed true. The NIMC spokesman was instantly redeployed to Abia State. Affected members of staff had complained loudly over their conditions of service to the point of begging for survival as well as office equipment including toners, copiers and other office stationery thus earning them the sobriquet “corporate beggars�. On the alleged instruction of the DG, some operatives of Department of State Security (DSS) were detailed to arrest the Head, Corporate Communications Unit, Mr Loveday Chika and the Chairman of the ASCSN NIMC Chapter, Lucky Asekokha. The duo were said to have escaped arrest due to timely information and assistance of colleagues who had alerted them of the presence of DSS operatives at headquarters of the organisation in Zone 5, Wuse, Abuja.

Issues in Contention In a letter to NIMC Management entitled “Perceived refusal to address staff welfare in the commision�, ASCSN said it noted with dismay the continuous death of staff members over manageable ailments but poor welfare will not encourage them to seek medication in good time�. In the letter jointly signed by Chairman ASCSN NIMC Unit, Comrade Lucky Adekokhai and its Secretary, Comrade Odia Victor, the unionists named the late staff of the organisation to include Ogbogu Steve from the head office, Rufus Ajoyemi Oluwole from Ondo State office, Ekenze Udeoji of Anambra State office, Adamu Solami from Kano State and Joshua Eton Jema from Adamawa State and Mamuda Aliyu, a driver from Sokoto State. In another statement, Asekokha said the condition of service of the staff of the National Identity Database (NIDB) charged with housing the private data of all Nigerians and legal residents depicted the typical Nigerian corporate “beggars�. “NIMC staff are perfect examples of corporate ‘beggars’ who in order to populate the database have to beg members of the public generally and public-spirited individuals for fuel, data, toner, mouse, keyboards, etc. as if these items are not yearly budgeted by the Commission,� he said, while attributing it to

the DG’s “zero staff welfare policies�. Asekokha said since Aziz assumed office as NIMC DG, staff salaries were strangely reduced. “The salary has been going unexplainable anticlockwise, even after promotion, most staff are earning less than they were earning before the promotion, which is practically demotion.� Citing remuneration of staff, he said a level 8 staff of the organisation earned N84,000 in 2015 after which it faced a steady decrease and descent. “It reduced to N75,000 in 2016; N73,000 in 2017; N71,000 in 2018 then it became N48,000 in 2019 while their staff appointment letters read N54,000 when divided by 12 months�. “Since September 2018, after joining IPPIS till date, NIMC staff salaries have been without any allowances attached, even the Salah and Easter Bonuses enjoyed by most MDAs under the SGF did not get to the staff. The Union maintained that efforts to address the situation hit the rocks severally as management churned out failed promises. “If the Federal Government does not intervene to address the issues of welfare in NIMC, Nigerian privacy data in the NIDB is in a serious threat of compromise and misuse,� Asekokha said. He said several letters written over the non-inclusion of the salaries in the 2019 budget and the death of members of staff were not

NIMC sta are perfect examples of corporate ‘beggars’ who in order to populate the database have to beg members of the public generally and public-spirited individuals for fuel, data, toner, mouse, keyboards, etc. as if these items are not yearly budgeted by the Commission

attended to. “NIMC Nigeria’s key foundational identification systems suffer from low coverage, staff welfare crises induced by the DG who cares more of the enrollment figures into the NIDB without funding than for the staff who are working hard to populate the database and the security of such data.� According to Asekokha, NIMC is equivalent to United States’ Social Security Number (SSN), UK’s National Insurance Number (NINO), France’s INSEE Code and Indian UIDAI, among others. Alleged Mgt Onslaught against Staffers If the various security alerts issued on social media by staff of the organisation to colleagues is anything to go by, there are indications that the management of NIMC may have launched an onslaught against the unionists. One of the alerts alleged that “Management have started their onslaught already, we just got a report that the Head, Corporate Communication Unit, Mr. Loveday Chika has been removed and redeployed to Abia State simply because he had no comment during a media interview.� According to another alert “he is suspected to be sympathetic to the Union and he has to be removed. He is the only management staff that has been saying the truth in all the recent union/mgt meetings. “Before now, he was closely monitored and practically ordered to stop updating staff members on telegram. The wickedness in NIMC is so ripe that our oppressors are prepared to go to any length to keep us chained. We will also go extra length to have ourselves unchained.� It further disclosed that “management have also started hitting on our chairman and it’s no longer funny. Any moment from now, you may all be called out. We reject victimisation in its entirety and no amount of threat or punishment can deter us. We sympathise with the very good Mr Loveday Chika. God will vindicate him.� Efforts to reach the management proved as calls and messages put across to Aziz, the DG, were not responded to.

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ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ Demola Ojo Ă—Ă‹Ă“Ă– demola.ojo@thisdaylive.com

Qatar Voted World’s Best Airline, Ethiopian Best African, Lufthansa Best in Europe Demola Ojo

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fter losing its place to Singapore Airlines last year, QatarAirways is back on top of the charts with flying colours, after coming first in the at the 2019 Skytrax World Airline Awards. The Gulf carrier is celebrating its fifth win of the prestigious ‘Airline Oscars’ — having previously won in 2017, 2015, 2012 and 2011. Qatar Airways also won World’s Best Business Class, World’s Best Business Class Seat and Best Airline in the Middle East. Singapore Airlines — the carrier known for running the world’s longest flight — took third place but also won key awards including World’s Best Cabin Crew, World’s Best First Class, Best Airline in Asia and World’s Best First Class Seat. “It is a proud moment for the airline as our constant innovation and service standards set the benchmark in our industry,� says Qatar Airways Group CEO Akbar Al Baker. The Skytrax awards are seen as among the most prestigious in the business — and are voted for by consumers. Skytrax, the market research institute specialising in aviation, surveyed some 20 million passengers from over 160 countries worldwide. Ethiopian Airlines was voted Best Airline in Africa for the third consecutive year. It also won Best Business Class in Africa and Best

Qatar also won Best Business Class and Best Business Class seats at the Skytrax Awards

Economy Class in Africa. Regarding the awards, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines remarked,“We have grown to more than 120 destinations worldwide with 115 ultra-modern fleet, offering excellent connectivity with one of the best travel experiences that helped us become the best airline in Africa and one of

the front-runners in the world. “As a customer focused and market driven airline, we always strive to meet and exceed customers’ expectations through our signature service and world-class products.� Lufthansa chosen as Best Airline in Europe for the third straight year, is still the only European airline able to break the top 10. SWISS and

Austrian Airlines - who are part of the Lufthansa Group, also notched up successes and were each given one award. Austrian received the award for its catering in the Premium Economy Class – “Best Premium Economy Class Onboard Catering� and Swiss in the category “The Worlds Best First Class Lounge� for the outstanding SWISS Lounge in Zurich. “To be given four awards by our customers is both an honour and an incentive. In particular, our colleagues in the cabin, cockpit and on the ground can be very proud of this. They are the ones who keep our premium promise day after day,� said Harry Hohmeister, Chief Commercial Officer Network Airlines of Lufthansa Group AG. The Lufthansa Group continues to consistently focus on innovation. Lufthansa, SWISS and Austrian have launched the biggest product offensive of all time and are investing a further 2.5 billion euros in new seats in all classes, a significantly larger lounge offering and the expansion of digital services. The aim is to provide customers with an even more personalized service. British Airways, which failed to win any accolade in 2018, this year won Best Airline Staff in Europe, Best Airline Staff in the United Kingdom and Most Improved Airline in Europe. Last year, US carriers failed to win any of the global awards — but this year, United Airlines won World’s Best Business Class Lounge. Air France continues its reputation for haute cuisine in the sky with its win for World’s Best First Class Onboard Catering, while Best Inflight Entertainment went to Emirates.

Emirates Renews Robust Partnership with Seychelles, Mauritius Emirates has renewed its support to Mauritius and Seychelles by extending a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, which outlines joint activities to promote the two countries. H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group met a high-level delegation from the two countries at Arabian Travel Market, 2019.

An MoU was signed by Orhan Abbas, Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations for Africa and Sherin Francis, Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles Tourism Board, and Arvind Bundhun, Director of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority, in the presence of the Didier Dogley and Anil Kumar Gayan, Tourism Ministers of Seychelles and Mauritius respectively.

Boulder on Anse Cocos in La Digue Seychelles

“We have enjoyed long and fruitful partnerships with both Mauritius and Seychelles, and have taken an active role in boosting the tourism industry of the island nations. Our commitment to these destinations and the partnership forged with the respective government authorities, have seen great success,� said Orhan Abbas, Senior Vice President Commercial Operations, Africa. “The renewal of our agreements underpins our confidence that the growth of tourism to both Mauritius and Seychelles can be further developed, and we remain confident that we will continue to see these numbers grow,� he added. “The signing of this MOU with Emirates underpins the long-standing strong relationship, developed over a decade, between the Government of Seychelles and the leadership of this global airline. We value the services Emirates has provided and continues to provide to Seychelles and its tourism industry. “We look forward towards further deepening this relationship towards our mutual benefits,� said Didier Dogley, Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine of Seychelles. “I am happy that we are renewing this Memorandum of Understanding with Emirates as this is the basis on which we have built a very strong partnership. We have the same outlook and we share the same vision in respect to developing a mutually beneficial strategy. We look forward

to working with Emirates in the same friendly spirit that originally inspired the MoU,� stated Anil Kumar Gayan, Minister of Tourism of Mauritius. In 2018, 361,844 tourists visited Seychelles, while Mauritius welcomed 1,399,408 tourists. The destinations’ main markets include France, UK, Germany, India, Italy, China, the Russian Federation, and the UAE. The agreement will see marketing activities such as attendance of tourism trade shows and fairs, trade familiarisation trips, product presentations and workshops and other activities to be undertaken jointly by Emirates and the tourism boards. In June 2015, Emirates increased its capacity to the Indian Ocean Island of Seychelles, when it switched from the Airbus 330-200 used on one of the two daily services to a larger Boeing 777300ER. The introduction of the Emirates Boeing 777-300ER increased the overall capacity on the route by 1722 seats per week and made the route an all-Boeing 777 operation. Emirates started operations to Mauritius in September 2002 with three weekly flights. The daily A380 service was launched in December 2013 whereas the double-daily service was introduced in October 2014, following strong demand for Emirates’ flagship aircraft on this route. Emirates has a fleet of 271 aircraft and flies to 158 destinations in 86 countries and territories across six continents.

NCAC DG Voted Culture, Tourism Man of Year The Director General, National Council for Art and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, has been voted Culture and Tourism Man of the Year by the Africa Travel Quarterly magazine. It was explained that the DG of NCAC, who was once in the saddle as DG of the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation, was overwhelmingly chosen among voters across its African-wide readership due to his dedicated service, promotion of inter-African cultural understanding and for using the culture platform to drive tourism on

the west coast of Africa. As first recipient of ATQ’s premium Balafon award, Runsewe was also singled out and commended for changing the narrative of Nigerian culture economy through instituting skills acquisition platforms on art and crafts to empower the rural poor and also creating financial window for the creative community through partnership with the Bank of Industry (BOI). Responding, Runsewe appreciated the organisers, stakeholders and journalists across

the continent for finding his little contribution on culture and tourism worthy of continental recognition. According to Runsewe, the Balafon award is a call to duty, dedication and collective sacrifice as governments all over the world faced by economic challenges, look up to the culture and tourism economy to make needed changes. “We shall by this award redouble efforts to break the yoke of poverty, reposition culture and tourism as the mainstay of Nigerian economy.�

Runsewe

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NIMASA on Board with Gender Equality as World Fetes Seafarers Adiza Abu

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hen in 2010 the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) instituted the Day of the Seafarer, it was obviously an attempt to resolve an age-old economic irony. And when it chose gender equality as theme for the 2019 Day of the Seafarer, IMO apparently meant to attack an unfair workforce reality that seems even more intense in the maritime industry. The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has also been at the forefront of efforts to redress the imbalance in the traditionally maledominated maritime industry, where women make up only two per cent of the workforce. Seafarers are among the most unsung heroes of the global economy. Yet, the industry they man carry nearly 90 per cent of world trade. The United Nations, through the IMO, moved to resolve the seeming contradiction in 2010, when it established the Day of the Seafarer as an annual international event. The event seeks to make the unique contribution of seafarers to the global economy and human progress, generally, a focus of especial attention. It tries to encourage governments, shipping companies, and everyone associated with seaborne trade to promote and uphold sea trade and the work of seafarers. With the Day of the Seafarer, IMO has, undoubtedly, succeeded in bringing seafarers, seafaring, and the well-being of mariners into international public and official conversation. On the occasion this year’s Day of the Seafarer, coming up June 25, IMO is taking a step further to highlight the contributions of women in the global maritime industry and raise awareness about opportunities for women in the maritime world. IMO has chosen gender equality as its main campaign theme for this year’s event. “Throughout 2019 there will be a strong emphasis throughout the maritime world on the importance and value of women within the professional ranks,� an IMO statement reads. “Much of this is being driven by the World Maritime Day theme (Empowering Women in the Maritime Community). It is already clear that this theme has a very strong and far-reaching resonance.� IMO says the theme “provides an opportunity to highlight opportunities for women, as well as the contributions they are already making in a wide range of maritime careers and professions, but the focus will be very firmly on one aspect of that community — seafarers.� An IMO report in 1992 estimated women seafarers worldwide to be between one and two per cent of the total seafaring population. This included those in service sections onboard ships, such as hotel and catering workers. In 2003, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) commissioned a study on women seafarers, which similarly estimated that the percentage of women in maritime was between one and two per cent of the total seafaring population. Women seafarers on cargo vessels were even found to be less – about 0.12 per cent. The above were corroborated by the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), in their Manpower Report published May

2016, which studied the global supply and demand for seafarers in 2015. The report found that the percentage of women seafarers still revolved around one per cent. Women’s participation in seafaring and the maritime industry has remained generally low. Though, according to a 2015 edition of Maritime Women: Global Leadership, a publication of the World Maritime University (WMU), women now make up about 30 per cent of workers in various maritime organisations. This includes organisations involved in merchant marine, cruise sector, and onshore maritime cluster. Progress has remained generally slow in efforts to achieve greater gender equality in the maritime sector. And this has been attributed to an enduring perception that it is inappropriate for women to work onboard ships due to the nature of seafaring. NIMASA has supported attempts to challenge this negative perception of seafaring. It has not only supported the women in maritime, but also tried to attract more women to the industry. “NIMASA has been a blessing to us, because there is nothing we have asked NIMASA to support on that they did not avail us,� attests president of Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA), Nigeria, Mrs. Mary Hamman. “We just came back from a regional conference in Ghana and NIMASA sponsored about 10 of us to attend. And anytime we have events, we just call on NIMASA and we get sponsorship. We get the NIMASA public relations to cover our events,

which ordinarily is something very expensive. We get preference from the management of NIMASA. Dr. Dakuku Peterside has been very good to us, very supportive and encouraging.� On male dominance of seafaring and the negative consciousness that tends to create among women wanting to go into the profession, Hamman, who is also an Assistant Director in the Shipping Development Department of NIMASA, says, “That is why we are there telling the women that we are also in the system and we are women, mothers, and married, and they can also come into the industry and perform just like the men. “It won’t stop them from being mothers or getting married. As long as they know their job and they are qualified, there is a place for them in the maritime industry.� WISTA is an international organisation dedicated to promoting the interest of women in the shipping industry through networking and mentoring. The 45-year-old organisation got an Observer Status at IMO last year and it has a membership of about 3, 500 women in the maritime profession from across over 40 countries. In keeping with the global focus on enhancing the role of women in the shipping sector, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, had in February announced the Agency’s readiness to support initiatives aimed at getting more African women involved in the industry. Dakuku stated this when the president of WISTA, Ghana, Jemilat Mahamah, paid him a courtesy visit at the NIMASA headquarters in Lagos ahead of the 6th

WISTA Africa Region Conference held in Accra from April 2 to 4. Interestingly, the theme of the conference, “The role of women in harnessing the potential of Africa’s blue economy,� coincided with IMO focus this year, which is “Empowering Women in the Maritime Community.� Dakuku told the WISTA delegation, “It is interesting that this year is dedicated by the IMO to empowering women in the maritime sector, specifically, shipping. Your conference coincides with the thematic thrust of the IMO this year. Therefore, it is very easy for us to align with the global agenda of the international maritime community and support your initiative of hosting the continent in Accra. “You can count on the support of NIMASA and, by extension, Nigeria. We believe and support everything that would give women a role in the maritime sector. There is no sector that would exclude 50 per cent of the population and expect that sector to thrive. If we exclude women, we are excluding 50 per cent of our population from benefitting in the economic activities in the maritime sector.� Dakuku added that the focus of the WISTA conference also accorded with current efforts by African leaders to create economic activities in the continent by maximising the benefits of the blue economy. According to him, “The blue economy is one critical sector that will create employment for our people, contribute to economic growth, and give opportunities to all our people, whether they be men or women. So it is timely and most appropriate that you are focusing on how to get 50 per cent of the continent’s population involved in the blue economy, be it fisheries, fishing, or underwater mining, aquaculture or any of the activities that go on in the blue economy. That totally aligns with our vision of making the blue economy play a greater role in the economic growth of our country and our continent.� Last year, the Day of the Seafarer had the theme, “Seafarers wellbeing,� which tried to capture a strong drive within the industry to address seafarers’ wellbeing, particularly their mental health. “By addressing the issue of seafarers’ wellbeing and particularly mental health, this campaign helped inform specific strategies to tackle stress and other issues affecting seafarers’ mental conditions – and make the tools available more widely known,� IMO had stated. “The campaign sought to highlight and showcase best practices and good examples but also, inevitably, brought out areas of concern and examples of shortcomings.� NIMASA has trained many seafarers under the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP), which was conceived in 2008 to address the dearth of certified and qualified seafarers in the country, and their depletion due to age and the migratory instinct for greener pastures. The scheme was launched in September 2009 to complement the full implementation of the Cabotage Act, 2003, which is geared towards strengthening indigenous shipping capacity. Beneficiaries of the scheme have received the mandatory sea-time training on both Cabotage and ocean-going vessels under NIMASA’s sponsorship. NIMASA recognises the vital place of seafarers in national development. The Agency joins IMO and the entire maritime world to mark this year’s Day of the Seafarer, which specially celebrates women in the maritime industry.

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29

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍşÍťËœ ͺ͸͚Î

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In His First Term, Buhari Wasted the Energy Crisis

Toyin Akinosho

resident Muhammadu Buhari inherited an energy crisis in Nigeria when he took charge of the country in May 2015. Now elected for a second term of four years, it is safe to assume that the policies he worked with wouldn’t change significantly. Buhari took over an upstream sector gasping for breath: even as crude oil prices were crashing down as he took the oath of office, there were problems that were self-inflicted by the previous administration, which were wrestling with the sector’s legacy challenges. Operations in the oil fields of the Niger Delta had not entirely recovered from the historic MEND attack of February 2006, which had reset the dynamics in the region around the distinctions between licence to-and freedom to– operate. The state hydrocarbon company NNPC was owing cash calls in a way that effectively disabled work programmes of operating companies. And by insisting on operatorship without the wherewithal to do so (competencies, governance, processes and funding), the NPDC, the operating E&P arm of the NNPC, had strangled investment in assets that Shell & Co. had sold to five Nigerian independents since 2012. At the time Buhari came in, those companies had lost three years’ worth of aggressive investment to boost production. Midstream, the President met proposals to diversify the gas market from export led to an inclusive, part export, part domestic beneficiation, which could establish an industrial economy with huge absorptive capacity. A crucial part of the challenge here was that a disproportionate percentage of construction of the midstream infrastructure was financed by the state. And Project delivery had been consistently suboptimal. Downstream, Buhari met a huge refining gap that ensured that over 90% of petroleum products in demand were imported, and a commercial model that entitled NNPC to taking 445,000Barrels of Crude Oil Per Day of oil, while it was expected to beneficiate no more than 20% of it. Millions of litres of Gasoline were being imported at a cost significantly higher than what the government instructed the retailers to sell and as such the state was saddled with billions of dollars in subsidy claims by importers. In the power sector, Buhari met rolling blackouts, with power generation averaging 4,000MW, mostly controlled by private actors; transmission averaging 5,000MW, still run by the state and distribution averaging 3,000MW, in the hands of the private sector. On the new President’s table were frames of ideas around the Petroleum Industry Bill, which was first presented in Parliament in 2008. This set of laws had benefited from a robust national debate over the years; in its current form it engages every opportunity and threat in the hydrocarbon value chain, from state ownership and dispensing of oil and gas acreages, through community entitlements and responsibilities, to streamlining in the downstream-of

Buhari

sales, distribution and proceeds of petroleum products. Efforts and Results. Mr. Buhari’s government deserves credit for easing the bottlenecks in the cash calls for upstream work programmes and removing NPDC’s chokehold on Nigerian independents, allowing a more vibrant upstream segment. Investments have streamed into many Brownfield projects. There’s an uptick in drilling activity, a marker of the health of the industry, even if several actors remain cautious. The CEO of NNPC has been allowed a free hand, even though the President himself was the minister of petroleum throughout the tenure. Discussions have picked up around Financial Investment Decisions for new field projects, especially in deep-water, but while the momentum is higher with this administration than the former government, the old habits of sitting on proposals and approvals for pecuniary gains haven’t gone away and it is largely because, in the absence of structured, legislated reforms, individuals still see themselves as the processes! A significant let down of Buhari’s administration is the cold shoulder the President gave the passage of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill, the first of the four Petroleum Industry Bills. Buhari’s Ministry of Petroleum Resources has crafted National Oil and Gas Policy documents, but in the absence of an act of parliament reforming extant hydrocarbon laws and operational norms, with these policies at its heart, the documents have gone nowhere. In Buhari’s first term, there was private sector equity

investment in LESS THAN 250Million standard cubic feet per day capacity new gas processing plant for the domestic market. Project delivery timelines haven’t improved. None of the gas pipelines under construction by NNPC, before Buhari came in, will be completed before this current term of his Presidency ends. The private sector is, largely, not keen on midstream infrastructure, and has not been sufficiently incentivised to change its mind. The President has not been able to work the downstream sector anywhere close to the little he has achieved upstream. The revamp programme for the refineries was a spectacular failure. It has been a hard sell to convince investors to put money in the revamp without getting equity, then allow NNPC (which ran down the facilities in the first place) to operate the refineries after the revamp, and then hope they could make their returns from the sale of the products. Mr. President’s idea of reducing the billions of dollars lost to subsidising the cost of gasoline import has been to appoint NNPC as the sole importer of the fuel. The state hydrocarbon firm itself admitted it had incurred some $2Billion in “under-recovery�, the Buhari administration’s code name for subsidy, in the 11 months between January and November 2018. The Government has now set aside $1 Billion for underrecovery in the 2019 budget, a lame, wooden, uninspiring document that is filled with less hope than apologia. Buhari’s Ministry of Power has worked to untangle some of the knots created by the incoherent running of the industry by the previous

administration. The messy regulatory issues around Aba Power Plant, the access to meters, the retrieval of power equipment lying at the ports for several years. Still, it’s incredible that the President was not in a hurry to appoint commissioners to run the National Electricity Regulatory Commission, the sector’s regulator. The NERC Chairman was appointed only in April 2018. But the big ticket item remains adequate power supply. The Transmission Company is owned and operated by government. At the end of Buhari’s four years, the volume that can be transmitted on the Nigerian power grid reliably and safely is 5,500MW. More than this the grid collapses. Unlike Petroleum, Mr. Buhari has a minister in charge of the Power sector, who has been pushing the principle of “incremental power�, as a bold overhaul of the sector appears elusive. A key part of the problem here is that the regulators are challenged by what they interpret as the President’s body language; NO tariff increase. The minister has chosen a bully pulpit approach to engage investors, in the absence of a feisty, robust Regulatory commission. To Buhari, a cost reflective tariff means higher payment for the poor and so for four years, the several segments of the electricity value chain have been underfunded. A crisis always presents an opportunity for transformation. In his first term as President, Mr. Buhari will be remembered as wasting Nigeria’s energy crisis. rAkinosho is Publisher, Africa Oil+Gas Report.

30

˜ ˞ JUNE 23, 2019

MARKET NEWS

Tax Credit Lifts Lafarge Africa’s Q1 Profit to N3 Billion Goddy Egene Lafarge Africa Plc has posted a profit after tax of N3.14 billion for the first quarter (Q1)ended March 31, 2019, showing a recovery from a loss of N2 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2018. The Q1 performance is also an improvement on the N8.8 billion loss incurred for the 2018 full year. However, the N3.14 billion Q1

profit resulted from a tax credit enjoyed by Lafarge Africa Plc. An analysis of the result showed that the cement manufacturing firm recorded a revenue of N78.512 billion revenue in Q1 of 2019, compared with N80.643 billion in the corresponding period of 2018. Cost of sale was reduced from N62.642 billion to N60.328 billion, bringing gross profit to N18.184 billion, up from N18

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

billion in 2018. Sales and marketing expenses also fell from N1.505 billion to N1.454 billion, while administrative expenses was reduced from N10.259 billion to N8.351 billion. Finance cost increased marginally from N9.510 billion to N9.576 billion. Consequently, profit before tax stood at N122 million as against a loss of N2 billion. However, a tax credit of

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 20June-2019, unless otherwise stated.

N3.021 billion boosted the profit after tax in Q1 of 2019 to N3.14 billion. Commenting on the performance, Chief Executive Officer of Lafarge Africa Plc, Michel Puchercos, the company’s momentum is very positive and would be sustained in 2019. “Our Strategy 2022 , ‘Building for Growth’ in Nigeria is delivering the expected

results with strong increase in operating earnings before interest taxation depreciation and amortisation(EBITDA) and profit. Our momentum is very positive and is expected to be sustained in 2019. South Africa continued the turnaround plan with significant improvement in Q1 2019 compared to prior year. Our strategic decision to divest South Africa with a sale to another

affiliate of the LafargeHolcim Group, will strengthen our balance sheet,� he said. Puchercos explained that the Rights Issue (early this year) together with the divestment of its South African operations will deleverage Lafarge Africa by N246 billion, enabling to fully repay United States dollars Shareholder Loan and short-term naira overdraft.

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: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 146.62 148.77 -6.75% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 8.11% Nigeria International Debt Fund 277.51 277.51 1.57% 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 0.88 0.88 4.25% ACAP Income Funds 0.76 0.76 34.33% 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 13.21% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.32 2.35 4.47% 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 15.26 15.72 -8.01% ARM Discovery Fund 341.91 352.21 -4.13% ARM Ethical Fund 28.63 29.49 1.39% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.16% 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 96.61 97.29 -4.52% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.59% CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 1.83 1.83 13.49% 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 13.62% Paramount Equity Fund 11.97 12.07 1.35% Women's Investment Fund 105.90 106.63 2.30% 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 12.97% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 98.91 99.37 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 98.87 99.18 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.47% Coronation Balanced Fund 0.83 0.84 Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.20 1.20 7.41% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/A N/A N/A FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,197.10 1,197.95 7.19% FBN Heritage Fund 143.21 144.15 0.30% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.90% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 116.86 117.24 5.79% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 116.82 117.19 6.01% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 136.68 138.59 -8.88% 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 Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.28% Legacy Debt Fund 3.43 3.43 5.78% Legacy Equity Fund 1.11 1.13 -8.73% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.05 1.05 2.23% 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 3,021.77 3,050.34 1.22% Coral Income Fund 2,919.92 2,919.92 6.58% 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 11.12% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 109.11 109.64 1.16% GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 12.96%

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 100.00 100.00 11.17% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.16 2.18 0.41% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 15.83% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 131.73 131.82 5.41% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD ďŹ ncon@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 1.20 1.22 4.80% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,111.41 1,111.41 6.41% 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 10.74 10.83 -6.65% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 12.13% 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 1.28 1.30 4.04% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.57 11.64 3.94% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 12.49% 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 124.18 124.92 2.93% 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 1.03 1.03 6.64% 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 2,357.65 2,370.36 1.86% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 202.72 202.72 6.62% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.89 0.90 -5.79% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 257.29 257.39 6.13% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 152.64 154.37 -6.43% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.88% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,899.12 7,994.95 -6.94% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.11 1.11 2.86% 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 1.20 1.21 0.51% United Capital Bond Fund 1.71 1.71 7.43% United Capital Equity Fund 0.72 0.73 0.87% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.25% United Capital Eurobond Fund 111.32 111.32 3.79% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.13 1.14 3.63% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 10.61 10.78 -0.30% Zenith Ethical Fund Zenith Income Fund Zenith Money Market Fund

11.35 22.07 1.00

11.49 22.07 1.00

-5.99% 14.44% 12.09%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

5.40 121.48 52.39

-44.85% 3.19% 1.26%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

9.69 97.90 81.75

9.79 99.94 83.22

-8.14% -16.56% -7.83%

Fund Name FSDH UPDC Real Estate Investment Fund SFS Skye Shelter Fund Union Homes REIT

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 GrifďŹ n 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

3.64 6.04 13.02 10.51 142.68

3.68 6.12 13.12 10.71 144.68

-9.01% -20.63% -11.06% -14.87% 8.40%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

111.37

17.40%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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.

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

23.06.2019

KIKI OMEILI Why I Left Medical Practice For Acting ASSISTANT EDITOR OLUFUNKE OLAODE/funkola2000@gmail.com

T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R ˞ Ͱ͹, Ͱ͎ͯ͡

32

COVER

Kiki Omeili

KIKI OMEILI

Life Is Dynamic, I Don’t Want to Be A Statistic Nkiruka Omeili has a figure to die for. Her paradisiacal, dreamy eyes sparkle with brilliance and beauty. Filled with ebullience, she epitomizes excellence and diligence. With a warm heart, she expresses the essence of humanity with ease and compassion. Trained to operate in a theatre as a medical doctor, she has charted a new path for as a screen goddess that adorns the silver screen. Her story is replete with exhilaration, intuition, and devotion. From being an actress she has taken a leap to become a producer as she debuts with a feature film, ‘RUN’. Funke Olaode writes about the journey of a woman of substance and serendipity

S

he is a successful actress with an enviable academic record as a medical doctor at the prestigious University of Lagos. Nkiruka Omeili has a figure to die for. Her paradisiacal, dreamy eyes sparkle with brilliance and beauty. Filled with ebullience, she epitomizes excellence and diligence. With a warm heart, she expresses the essence of humanity with ease and compassion. Trained to operate in a theatre as a medical doctor, she has charted a new path for as a screen goddess that adorns the silver screen. Her story is replete with exhilaration, intuition, and devotion. From being an actress she has taken a leap to become a producer as she debuts with a feature film, ‘RUN’. The journey of a woman of substance and serendipity starts from her first step. Charismatic and graceful, elegant and intelligent, Nkiruka popularly known as ‘Kiki’ would later find her niche in the world of make-believe. With a physique to die for, the 33-yearold Anambra native also possesses a high sense of fashion in or off the screen. She had a brief stint practising as a medical doctor, but her name resonates beyond stethoscope or doctor

in white apparel attending to her patients, she is a Nollywood Diva. She first came into Nigerians’ consciousness for her role as Lovette in the Television series, Lekki Wives. She also acted as Blessing in crime caper ‘Gbomogbomo’ Express alongside Gideon Okeke. Since then she has acted in several movies, carting away numerous awards. “When I decided to toe this path, I was just stepping out in faith because I knew that I had what it took. I didn’t know whether I would actually succeed but I had to try because I knew it was what I wanted to do.� She might have stepped out in faith, her commitment to her calling and being true to herself is gradually paying off. Kiki was initially fascinated to the arts as a child and one would have expected her to tilt her career towards that direction but Nigerians obsession with professional courses moved her to medicine. “It was a decision that was made based on the fact that professional courses were very popular at the time. They were the rave of the moment and every intelligent person wanted to go to the university to study Law, Medicine, Architecture or Engineering. That’s all it was,� she recollects. Medicine is very time consuming and requires a lot of discipline and concentration, for Kiki, her love for

57

JUNE 23, 2019 ˾ T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

COVER

I Am Off To A Good Start medicine didn’t wane why looking for stardom in the arts. More than anything she gave all to medicine. “I wouldn’t say I combined it with anything else while in school. I would emcee the occasional programme or symposium and do a billboard shoot here and there but by and large, I was quite focused on my studies in school. So much so that I never sat for any exam twice. That’s something I’m still proud of till this day.” She continued: “By that time I wasn’t pursuing both careers simultaneously. I was practising medicine both clinically and administratively but my passion was calling out to me so I made a conscious decision to pursue my passion and it meant medicine had to take a backseat while that happened. But I always say that I try to bring a little bit of medicine into whatever I do. For instance, my debut feature film production ‘RUN’ which is out later this year has quite a few things to teach health-wise.” Kiki rise to stardom in Nollywood was slow but steady. She first landed a role at the first audition that she ever attended. And it was a lead role. Sadly though, that show never went past a pilot. Unperturbed, through determination and tenacity she has clicked to her dream. To hone her skills in an unknown terrain she attended classes and workshops and often relied on a few acting books. In her won word, ‘passion and talent probably had a bigger role to play in my story.” Kiki as a Nollywood actor hasn’t jettisoned her early calling totally. She once hosted the health segment on Smooth FM Saturday Morning Show called “Balancing Life” where she teaches healthy living. “At the time I was trying to break into media by any means possible and whenever anyone in charge at the radio or TV stations heard I was a doctor, they wanted me to come up with a health show. So I did a demo of s health show and took it to smooth FM and they liked it. So I started doing the health segment on the show. It was quite an interesting start for me. I enjoyed doing it but when acting responsibilities became very time consuming, I had to give it up and focus on acting.” Interestingly Kiki has blossomed as an actress, voice-over artists, emcee, etc. In 2016, she took a giant leap when she dabbled into production with a documentary ‘RUN’ directed by Uche Chukwu. How has the experience been surfing a tougher terrain? Her response: “To be honest, being a producer is a whole new ball game. As an actor, you give your best on a project and as soon as you are done, you walk away and the next time you know about the project is when it’s completed and ready for release. As a producer, however, you get to stay with a project from the inception to the finish and it’s really not easy in this terrain. There are so many things working against you but that’s no excuse to give up.” Before the likes of Mo Abudu, Biola Alabi came to the scene, it is strictly a terrain for men. Does she think Nigerian women are doing enough? “I do think that Nigerian women are holding their own and have become a force to be reckoned with. These are very interesting times for Nollywood because the women are here to stay and are making their presence felt, one step at a time. I would say women are already changing the narrative. Earlier on you

mentioned hardworking, powerful and intelligent women who are a force to be reckoned with and are doing big things in a world/field dominated by men. I’d say we are off to a good start.” With her head held high, Kiki has been able to win several awards within a short period of time: the Africa film Awards London 2012 for bestsupporting actress. The Golden Icon Academy Movie Awards in 2015 in the U.S.A for best actress; and the City People Entertainment award in 2016 for the best-supporting-actress; the in short film festival award for best actress in 2015; the Lagos 30 under 40 awards for best actress in 2016; the world music and independent film festival award for best actress in 2017; the MAYA award for best actress in 2017. Most recently the Eko International Film Festival Award in 2019 for the best-supporting-actress and so many more. The secret she said is genuinely love what she does. To stay true to it, you have to love it. That’s the only way to give it your all and to persevere regardless of challenges. A medical doctor turned actress, how has the knowledge as a medical doctor helped in her new pursuit? “Apart from the discipline which I bring into my current profession, my knowledge of medicine always comes in very handy. People who do things properly consult me even when they are writing certain scripts to determine the plausibility of certain storylines. And like I said, I bring a bit of medicine into whatever I produce because I want people to walk away having learned something new after watching·” From her obscurity as an undergraduate at Unilag 13 years as a medical student just trying to make good grades and graduate, fame wasn’t in the cards at all. But Nollywood has since thrown her off balance she had remained through to herself by shunning scandals. What she said has helped in that direction is being grounded the way she was raised and knowing what she wants are things that have informed her way of life and what she put out there. “I know that many entertainers talk about a lack of privacy and it sounds like a cliché but it’s true. Practically everywhere you go, you are being watched so there are certain things you really cannot do in public? I really do believe that everything we go through in life serves a purpose as regards molding you into the person that you are.” Kiki radiates beauty both within and outside. How does she stay beautiful? “I can’t take the credit for that one. I was born with it, although I do take care of my skin. No sleeping with makeup on and I cleanse and moisturize every day.” When Kiki is not the beauty on location she relaxes in the cozy of her home by watching a lot of movies. For those who might think her life

Kiki Omeili

revolves solely on medicine or the arts, Kiki’s passion goes beyond that because. If she hadn’t embraced the arts or entertainment industry she would have been a counselor for young girls or an activist for women’s rights generally.” ”I think this life is dynamic; my greatest fear is being a statistic. So I will

I studied medicine but when I decided to toe the path of arts , I was just stepping out in faith because I knew that I had what it took. I didn’t know whether I would actually succeed but I had to try because I knew it was what I wanted to do

keep evolving.” With her eyes fixed into the future of Nollywood by continuing to act big roles and exhibiting her talents as a producer, has she finally bided medicine goodbye? Her response was quick. “Definitely, not. Medicine is and will always be a part of me. It will always show up in whatever content that I am responsible for creating.” While Nollywood may be difficult to break even Kiki believes her staying power will continue to be a vehicle that will drive her to excellence. “My staying power will remain my passion for the job and my ability to give100 percent to whatever the project I am doing at any point in time. My ambition is to continually strive for excellence and to make and feature in movies that will educate as well as entertain,” she stated.

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Dayo Adedayo

I’m Using Photography to Document Nigeria Dayo Adedayo is an independent documentary photographer and a cultural anthropologist pursuing long-form visual narratives on Nigeria. Through his works, Nigeria has been placed on the global map. Having traversed, captured and documented over 10 out of 36 Nigerian states in over 30 years, he knows that Nigeria is the best-kept secret to the world. In this interview, he tells Adedayo Adejobi about his exploits across the country, challenges of documenting nature, monuments and people, the inspiring and captivating moments of his life

W

hat have you been up to lately? In the last two years, I have embarked on three major projects and I’ve since launched three books, Rivers State Our Proud Heritage, Tour Nigeria and Lagos StateA Visual Portrait. It’s been good and with new challenges but interesting. The landscape is changing and the reception has been very fantastic.

Your most recent work, Lagos State – A Visual Portrait, is acclaimed to be a masterpiece. What inuenced the project? I am influenced by the changing environment. We are losing a lot, and our children are looking to see another narration of the country. Eko Atlanic and Lekki are typical examples of the changing landscape. 25 years ago, Lekki was not on our landscape and 15 years ago, we were battling ocean surge on Ahmadu Bello Way. The Bar

Beach is no longer in existence and gone forever. In another 10 years, no one will recognise Lagos State again due to the ever-changing landscape.

What have been the highs and the lows for you? The greatest challenge is the financing of projects that I took upon. It cost a fortune to, for instance, document Lagos State. If I weren’t living in Lagos State, I can’t imagine how much more I would have spent. The bulk of the money went into logistics, top of the range from equipment to a great dose of creativity. I’ve been very lucky. I count myself an extremely lucky man because all that I am, and all that I have, I attribute to someone high up there who looks after me. For instance, I’ve been driving on Nigeria roads on these projects since 2003, and not for once have I had an accident. I’ve had to sleep sometimes on the road, and not for once have I recorded any incidence. The high points are getting to see

the most beautiful places around Nigeria: Sungbo Eredo, the burial site of the Queen of Sheba in Oke-Eri, Ogun State; Obudu Mountain Range; Mambilla Plateau; Riyom Rock; Damasak Sand Dunes; Awhum Cave; Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library; Ogbunike Cave; Ebomi Lake; Sun rise at the Yankari Games Reserve; the boat used by Bishop Ajayi Crowther from Sierra Leone to Bonny; St. Stephen’s cathedral Church; Grand Bonny consecrated in January 24, 1889, with the Bishop’s throne still standing; sunrise and sunsets on several water bodies around the country; and several others beautiful places I was lucky to have captured. On the last count, I have over four million images of Nigeria in my archives.

The quality of work that you churn out, shows great effort, passion, and creativity. What is the life of an ideal documentary photographer and what are the experiences that have remained with you?

Looking back, it’s been great. There are beautiful memories and wonderful moments. This is the best profession in the world because I go to places and meet people. No one has forced me to; I just want to do it. I can gladly say I’ve never worked in the last 30 years; I’ve just been having fun. It’s fun because I’ve seen Sunrise, sunsets, deserts, the lush greenery, monsoon rain, sandstorms streams, and rivers. Looking back, it’s been great. There are beautiful memories and wonderful moments. This is the best profession in the world. I can gladly say I’ve never worked in the last 30 years; I’ve just been having fun. It’s fun because I’ve seen sunrises, sunsets, deserts, the lush greenery, tropical rain, sandstorms, springs, and rivers. I’ve been to the longest and deepest caves in Nigeria. I’ve seen the highest and lowest waterfalls in Nigeria. I’ve been to the coldest part in Nigeria, Gembu on the Mambilla Plateau and the hottest, Yola in Adamawa State. I’ve been to the highest mountain; I’ve seen sources of so many rivers, I

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FOCUS How I’m Using Photography to Cover Nigeria’s Geography have captured countless exhilarating moments. Nothing is as good as nature. Nature doesn’t need us; instead, we need nature. And that’s what I’ve seen. These are things people pay for and travel thousands of miles to see. I have seen them for free. In all my life, I can tell you Nigeria is the most beautiful place in the world. I am so lucky to be a Nigerian. These 30 years of my life as a photographer have been the most inspiring and captivating moments. If I weren’t a photographer, I wouldn’t have been able to see a fraction of what I’ve been able to see. Having traversed almost the full length and breadth of Nigeria, could there still be new hidden treasures yet undiscovered? The beauty of Nigeria is inexhaustible. There are still lots of treasures to capture. We have foods, clothes, festivals, architecture, tribal marks, sports and personalities yet to be captured. The dream is for me to say, at the end of the day, that I’ve captured everything in Nigeria. There are still new discoveries. A case in question is Osun State, where two new waterfalls were discovered. Nigeria is vast and until we start seeing the beauty in this country, our economy will not be where it should be. Tourism is the largest employer of labour anywhere in the world. Nigeria should not be different from the rest of the world.

With the huge workload that comes with your job, what inspires you? I get inspired by looking out of my window; seeing trees in the raining season with green leaves and fruits, and in the dry season going brown to signify the end of life and time to rest; and come back to life in another season. The best time though, is when I’m having my bath that’s when ideas come. I spend most of my time in the bathroom, but my wife doesn’t like it. If I have to go out with my wife, she has to give me two or three hours’ notice. Most times, she’s always upset with me for never getting ready on time. Everything I’ve achieved in my life has been birthed in the bathroom. Would you say being a documentary photographer has been ďŹ nancially rewarding? Oh yeah, it’s been financially rewarding. I’ve been able to see two of my children and several other family members through university. All I have, and all I am, is from the same source. I don’t have another source of income apart from photography. So why do you think today’s generation is not looking to your genre of photography? Why they are not looking into the genre of photography I do is because majority of them are not trained photographers. They are also exposed to social photography and portraiture, which they think is photography. There are over 300 forms of photography, but we are yet to scrape the surface in Nigeria. Without proper education, you cannot achieve much in life in photography. With your experience and the wide gap that exists in your sphere of inuence, are you looking at bridging the gap by way of knowledge transfer? I’m thinking of that seriously, because I want the generation coming behind to be greater, better than me. That way, I will be happy I started a revolution, which wouldn’t end with me. Documentary photographers all over the world are rich. How much

Dayo Adedayo in an helicopter documenting Nigeria

I’m never tired when I’m doing my personal projects. I get inspired by looking out of my window, the seasons, the trees and especially when I’m having my bath that’s when ideas come. I spend most of my time in the bathroom, but my wife doesn’t like it.  If I have to go out with my wife to a function, she has to give me two or three hours’ notice. are you worth? If you put the budget of Nigeria together for the next 10 years, my work is inestimable because I captured yesterday and you can’t capture yesterday again. It’s gone. I don’t think I’m making money from what I’m doing now. The money would come when I’m long gone. My work will become priceless. In any case, money is relative. I am highly successful not in terms of naira and kobo, but I’m at peace with myself. Generally, I am at peace with family, my friends, neigbours and myself. Those are the things that matter to me most. I love my job and I love all the people around me without condition.

But in terms of billing, what would it cost to commission a ‘dayo Adedayo to undertake a project? Not as much as you think. Everything is relative in life. What is your assessment of the culture and tourism landscape?

Don Barber.

We are on ground zero. Those who are in charge of culture and tourism – Nigerian Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) and Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) - are not being funded at all. With funds, you will have a lot of advertisements, both for local and international markets and you will also be enabled to attend world tourism expos. Imagine the federal government of Nigeria giving both organizations $300m each for advertisements to market the country. The country can easily make twenty times or more returns on that investment. How? The blacks in diaspora are tired of where they are now, and they are looking to a black nation they can call their own, Nigeria being the largest black nation on earth, can use its size and influence to get this people back home to motherland Afrcia. Badagry, Ebonyi and Imo State States are full of slave relics. Until we start spending that kind of money, there is no way our unemployment, insecurity and economy will improve. Nigeria is the best-kept secret in the world.

Even if the government would make such investments in that sector, is the industry coordinated, organised and ripe for it? I would say yes, to some extent, because a greater percentage of Nigerians come from a village. From the villages, there are festivals. There is no need for foreign influences being imbibed into our heritage. Religion is a good example. Some churches burned artifacts in the South East some years back, because they think they were fetish. These are our cultural heritage that has been in existence for hundreds of years, and religion just came in yesterday. Our education also has a role to play. Without the teaching of history and civics in schools, how then do we value what we have? There was a day I saw an Ankara or Adire in Harrods being

sold for a thousand pounds. We must be patriotic. Till then, nothing will happen. Of what use is there in a Nigerian going on summer holidays in Europe and America, when it’s really hot and not conducive. Here, we have summer almost all year round. It would have been more ideal for going in winter that we don’t experience. There is a lot that the government needs to do, but without the government promoting our festivals, cultural sites and heritage, food, drinks, and clothing, we are going nowhere.

What new project are you working on or planning to work on? I am working on the first Museum of photographs in Nigeria to celebrate Nigeria and Nigerians. It is all for history. We are all passing through this space. How would they know about our civilization and our people? The whole idea is to document all these things to put them in a museum so that generation now and next would have a well of information about Nigeria. The largest man-made monument in the world is in Nigeria and nobody talks about it. What is the largest monument and where is it in Nigeria? It’s called the Sugbon Eredo, from the old Ijebu kingdom. It is in Epe. This is ten times larger than the Great Wall of China. It is over a hundred times more than the pyramid in Egypt. Those are parts of what I’ve been doing. I can gladly say I am the first person to bring the picture to life and that of Awhum Waterfalls in Enugu. I intend to bring more pictures to life for people to see our civilization. Being so passionate about Nigeria, you must be displeased with some aspects of its growth and development. What is the Nigeria of your dream? I would love to see a Nigeria that I’ll be proud of as a citizen. I want to see a Nigeria where opportunities abound for all. I want to see a Nigeria that brings dreams to life. I want to see a functional Nigeria, and one nation. In all, I want to see a Nigeria at peace with itself.

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10 Years On, Michael Jackson Still Misunderstood Vanessa Obioha writes about the deepening scrutiny of the life of the late pop icon, Michael Jackson, by his fans and foes following the ‘Leaving Neverland’ documentary How do you justify your love for an artiste? By his lifestyle or talents? This question seemed to be swirling in the minds of friends and fans of the late pop icon Michael Jackson since the scathing documentary ‘Leaving Neverland’. The two-part series documentary filmmaker Dan Reed did for HBO was released in January and generally renewed curiosity and interest in the life of the late pop icon. Based on the testimony of Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who accused Jackson of grooming and abusing them when they were his child companions, close friends of Jackson had found themselves questioning their belief in one of the greatest entertainer of all time in the world history. Media mogul Oprah Winfrey attempted to understand the Michael Jackson she knew and the one revealed in the documentary when she sat down with the victims and the director for an exclusive ‘After Neverland’ special taped before a live audience of sexual abuse survivors. That interview fetched Oprah heavy criticism, as fans felt she should have done the same to victims of Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced Hollywood mogul, who is supposedly her friend. However, Oprah defended herself in an interview on The Daily Show, telling the host, Trevor Noah that she needed people to understand that it’s not about one person, it’s about the pattern. “It’s about seduction. People called it molestation but there is a big seducing that goes on and the pattern of that seducing. And that was important enough for me to take the hateration.� An interesting angle to the ‘Leaving Neverland’ documentary that made votaries of the pop legend skeptical about the veracity of the testimony is the account of Robson, a young guy who defended Jackson during his child molestation trial in 2005. The director Reed later revealed that this piece of the puzzle was what propelled him to go ahead with the documentary. Though Wade’s change of heart was attributed to the psychology of child sex abuse, it didn’t deter die-hard fans of Jackson from lambasting him. It is not the first time that Jackson’s lifestyle had hugged headlines. As a global icon whose music mostly addressed humanity and children, Jackson was an enigmatic figure to the world. His artistry was and is still compared to none. An outstanding singer-songwriter and dancer, Jackson in his lifetime was a hero to many, particularly young ones who wanted to have the magic of Michael Jackson. Various glimpses at Jackson’s childhood revealed a man who was robbed of his childhood, suffered abuse from his father and literally left on his own to understand the world he was thrust into. Yet, in his reclusive state, Jackson grew to become a reckoning force in the music industry with his artistry, breaking norms, imagining the unthinkable, his ingenuity was remarkably outstanding. He was a voice for the lost children of the world, an ambassador for humanity. He was revered and envied. But like any man, he wasn’t without flaws. The press questioned his eccentricities, particularly his choice to live in a private amusement park called Neverland Ranch; and investigated his lust for children and skin colour. Just when Jackson who started his music career as the youngest member of the famous Jackson 5 was at the peak of his career, the tabloids descended on him. They started with his skin colour which Jackson clarified in his biography that he suffered from a skin disease known as vitiligo which causes white patches on the skin. The biographer J.Randy Taraborrelli corroborated the facts. Jackson further revealed that he had undergone two rhinoplasties, including creating a dimple. In 1996, there was widespread speculation by tabloids that Jackson slept in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber to slow aging,

Jackson

and pictured him lying in a glass box. The story was later debunked and was alleged to have been spread by the singer to gain publicity. Similar stunts followed but it was in August 1993 that the media dealt a heavy blow on Jackson’s growing fame. A 13-year-old boy named Jordan Chandler and his father Evan accused the singer of sexual abuse. The boy claimed that Jackson had engaged him in sexual activities. The case drew media attention. Though police findings revealed that Jackson had in possession of nude photographs and books of young boys, he was however exonerated from the crime for lack of evidence. The case had an adverse toll on Jackson as he fell into depression and relied on painkillers to cope with the stress. From there on, his life came under heavy scrutiny. His marriage to Elvis Presley’s daughter, Lisa Marie in 1994 was seen as an attempt to redeem his image while staff at his ranch supported the theory by claiming no woman ever slept in the ranch where Jackson lived. His second marriage to a dermatology nurse Debbie Rowe further deepened the mystery about the multi-award-winning singer. Rowe is the mother of Jackson’s first two children, Prince and Paris. Her marriage to the pop icon only lasted for almost three years. The second view into Jackson’s sexual life was revealed in a documentary filmed by Martin Bashir and his crew in 2002. The focus of the documentary was to capture the everyday life of the pop legend. But things went awry when Jackson’s confession of sleeping with younger boys

was taken out of context. In the film, he was seen holding hands and talking sleeping arrangements with a younger boy, and later stating that he saw nothing wrong with sleeping with boys. The scene renewed interest in the pedophile case about him in the 1990s and the safety of children around the singer resurfaced. The boy Gavin Arvizo in the documentary and his mother would later disclose that Jackson had behaved improperly, leading to an arrest in 2003. The people vs Jackson trial began on January 31, 2005, in Santa Maria, California, and lasted until the end of May. Jackson was acquitted on all counts, based on the testimony of his younger friends including Robson. The third round of sexual abuse against the singer was in 2013 after his death on June 25, 2009. Two of his former sleepover guests accused him of molesting them and brought a civil suit for compensation against the estate. The claim failed because too much time had passed since the alleged events. Interestingly, the timeline of Jackson’s accusation suggests a 10-year gap. The first was in 1993, 10 years later came the Arvizo’s accusation. Another 10 years and another allegation surfaced in 2013. Now 10 years to mark his death, came ‘Leaving Neverland’. Is this mere coincidence or is there a cosmic conspiracy playing out? However, none of the sexual allegations against Jackson had had such staggering effect like ‘Leaving Neverland’. The cultural legacy of the pop icon was plumbed and calls to boycott his music rose. Sony Music

Entertainment which In 2018, extended 2009 $250 million deal with the Jackson estate to distribute his recordings for seven more years was expected to be hit the most if radioplay and streams plummeted. Interestingly, the reverse was the case. Die-hard fans still clung to their idol. Despite most radio stations pulling down Jackson’s songs and listenership dwindling, Jackson still topped Prince and Madonna, who, respectively, attracted 64.5 million and 56 million average weekly listeners. And as the 10th anniversary of his death draws near, more sordid stories about the cultural icon is spreading like wildfire. There is the story about him spraying his ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley underwears with perfume to pretend they spent the night together. Another story suggested that his body was cremated and the ashes encased in the necklaces worn by his children. Also trending is the throbbing question of who exactly was the pop icon linger. A close pal of the King of Pop, Mark Lester recently in a documentary expressed regret that he wasn’t there for his friend during his last hours. Jackson died of cardiac arrest induced by an overdose of painkillers. “He was not his normal self. We had a long conversation. He kept repeating himself, you knew something was not right. I was really worried about him, to the point where I thought I should just go over there, and see what’s going on. I wish I had that done now,� he said. More soul searching is it for Margo Jefferson, the Pulitzer-winning writer who revisited her book on Michael Jackson recently in an opinion piece in The Guardian UK. She argued that Jackson, in trying to escape the psychological abuse of his father Joe, became a predator and seducer, “pretending to be the pure-hearted protector of innocent children everywhere,� she writes. She added: “When I wrote my book I was grieving for Michael Jackson the artist. The uncanny little boy; the charismatic, slightly mournful young man, the shape-shifting child-man-woman-cyborg-extraterrestrial. The cultural polyglot who studied – mastered, gloried in – so many styles and traditions; one to whom no form of popular music and dance was alien. I was grieving and I was confounded. Jackson’s acts and actions were like hieroglyphics we kept trying to decipher. We – for I was a fan, too – wanted him to explain himself in a way that could restore our trust. Child stars make us believe we understand them, that there’s mutual trust between us. We were baffled by our collective memory of Jackson the loving, lovable child who was now shutting himself off from us. I was relieved, I was grateful when he died. He can get it all back with his art now, I thought. We can glory in that.� Jefferson, like others in trying to grasp the recent allegations against Jackson, believed that she has lived in denial. But more important, is her question about how we justify our love for an artiste? She asks: “What makes us love or hate an artist? What makes us love and hate an artist, feel pleasure and unease, confusion and bliss all at once? What private needs and longings do we each bring to the work we love? When the dark materials of life pervade, even taint the work, does that mean we must cast it off?� “It might mean that, but it might also mean that we fight for the parts of it that matter to us. We gather our resources in all their plenitude and variety: intellectual, emotional, moral; aesthetic, political. And we use them to analyze and demystify the work, to probe its clashes and contradictions, feel their power without being at their mercy. No evasions, no simplifications. The task is to read the art and the life fully as they wind and unwind around each other, changing shape and direction,� she concludes.

JUNE 23, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

High Life Judith Olusola Soile celebrates God’s Faithfulness At 60 Lagos businesswoman Judith Olusola Soile is a living testament of what happens to those who keep going when the going gets tough. The consummate entrepreneur, philanthropist and devout Christian has partaken in more than her share of challenges, and the stumbling blocks along the way eventually became the stepping stones that helped catapult her to a higher plane. Few days ago, she gathered friends and family together for a simple and classy celebration as she turned 60. Her Omole Phase 1,Lagos home was turned into a temporary carnival of worship as songs of praise and edification rent the air. Rather than highlight the occasion with a display of pomp and grandeur which she is certainly capable of paying for, Judith chose to emphasize her thankfulness for the gift of life and a loving family. In attendance were her inner circle of loyal friends who have enjoyed and endured the journey of life together for so many years. Members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God were not left out either as they trooped en masse into her Omole home to congratulate her on her big day. The CEO PISON Table Water and Hope Multipurpose Liquid Detergent was beaming with undisguised joy as she surveyed the gathering. Despite her struggle in life , she’d taken deep roots in rocky soil and blossomed proudly into a stunning, tenacious flower. With her own steadfast determination leading her on, and the divine watching her back, Judith trod boldly through life’s terrain, safe in the knowledge that the rock of ages would cleft for her whenever she sought refuge from tremors she could not withstand. Cordial and kind in equal measure, Judith is of the firm philosophy that caring for the less privileged is a responsibility that must be embraced by those with means. Sue has always stringed to live those words and her birthday was no less different. She used the opportunity to show those in selected homes some much needed love with showers of gifts. Judith is a trustee of the Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation, a nonprofit devoted to humanitarian outreach in local areas.

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

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

Parting Gift: Florence Ajimobi Launches New Book It takes sunshine and rain to make a rainbow, and it takes a woman who has experienced the ridges and furrows of domestic and public life to write a riveting story of her life as one. Florence Ajimobi, the immediate former first lady of Oyo State launched her new book, My Life Like A Rainbow, a few days back. In what was a symbolic denouement to her time as a co-opted civil servant as the wife of a governor, the launch of the book fittingly took place at the serene and sedate America Corner, Bodija Ibadan. This was a far cry from her 60th birthday celebrations few months back which took place at the expansive and scenic Agodi Gardens, along Parliamentary Road, Ibadan. That event was a mother of all parties that attracted the creme de la creme of high society from all walks of life like the wife of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo; Mrs Nkechi Okorocha, the wife of the then Imo State Governor; Mrs Bisi Fayemi, wife of Ekiti State Governor; Mrs BAMIDELE Abiodun, the wife of Ogun then Governor-elect; Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola, the wife of former Governor of Osun; Pastor Agu Irukwu, the pastor in charge of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Jesus House, London; the state’s then Deputy Governor, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo; the then Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Joshua and so many

more. But the occasion of her book launch was a comparatively more

Muhammed Babangida’s New Lease of Life…

Babangida

Olusola

Ajimobi

reserved affair. Although it featured quite a sizable number of high calibre guests, it was nothing like the mammoth crowd that turned the Agodi Gardens into a carnival of colour back in April. It is perhaps not surprising that many are quick to jump aboard a winning bandwagon but few hang around for the conclusion. Everyone was excited to lay their hands on the dainty tome which vividly captures the life story of brilliant woman, activist and philanthropist, told in her own words. During her time as first lady, the Ibadan-bred lady of mixed heritage excelled with various initiatives and schemes that bought succour to so many that needed it. She floated the ABC Foundation, an NGO oriented towards basic healthcare. The foundation’s efforts have led to the detection of early onset cancer in many women, enabling them to get quick treatment. Educate a Rural Child Initiative is another scheme targeting the empowerment of children in the hinterlands. The Yeye Aare of Ibadanland runs a chain of departmental stores and has formed a habit of regular donations to women and children shelters and orphanages in Oyo State. With the launch of her new book marking the symbolic closure of a chapter in her life, Florence is poised to focus on her intended latelife career in God’s vineyard.

Muhammed Babangida, son of former military head of state General Ibrahim Babangida, is a man out of the news. After many months of fodder for juicy, even scandalous gossip, the coast is finally clear for the scion

of the Babangida dynasty to enjoy some repose and quiet. And it is an opportunity he has taken with both hands. The younger brother of Aisha Babangida is barely a factor on the social scene these days. It will not be forgotten in a hurry how Babangida’s “happily ever after” with daughter of Borno billionaire businessman Muhammed Indimi, Rahama, became a “happily never ever” as they freely threw mud and cans of worms at each other across social media. The matter degenerated to a point that the elders had to intervene and tell both belligerents to quieten the noise and take their fight to the courts instead. The good news for Muhammed is how the court eventually gave him custody of his four children with Rahama after a protracted legal tussle which took more twists and turns than the Mission Impossible movies. Rahama, kicking her wounds, continues to accuse Muhammed of using his connections to manipulate the legal process and deprive her of the kids but Muhammed doesn’t seem to give a hoot.

Since then, the polo-loving dude decided to put the sordid happenings behind and rekindle his romance with two loves. The first, with childhood sweetheart Umma Wali seems like a case of “so far so good” especially after the beautiful lady finally gave birth to a boy. The second, with politics, has not gone how IBB’s first son would have liked. Those in the know disclosed that Muhammed’sdreamtobecomethenumberone citizen of his native Niger State has been brutally cut short on several occasions. He was thought a political greenhorn without a political structure to call his own. Others claim it was his own father that instructed his son to jettison the idea of representing the state in any elective capacity. Little wonder that before, during and after the recent elections in the Confluence state, Muhammed was nowhere to be seen. He doesn’t want to be involved in any more drama whether of a domestic or political nature. He is enjoying his temporary release from the spotlight and throwing all his energy into his various businesses.

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HIGHLIFE

Fresh Plots Against Akinwunmi Ambode Given how former governor of Lagos Akinwunmi Ambode was practically chased out of the government house by the state’s political machinery, many of his aggrieved associates must have thought he would laugh last with indications emerging that he might be appointed a minister in President Buhari’s cabinet. But if recent developments in the polity are anything to go by, the darkcomplexioned dude might not even have a chance to laugh at all. Elements of the Lagos APC said to have the listening ears of godfather of Lagos politics Asiwaju Bola Tinubu are said to have erected roadblocks to stop Ambode from being confirmed as a minister were he to be nominated as expected. This is despite a resolution by the national chapter of the APC to offer all defeated governors in the last elections ministerial slots. Reviving the debate around Ambode’s origin which gripped the airwaves during his campaign for the governorship in 2014, the group insists he is not from Lagos State and is therefore ineligible to serve the state in the capacity of minister. Numbering corruption, disloyalty to the party, and nepotism among his alleged crimes as governor, they vowed to collect their pound of flesh by nuking his

Ambode

ministerial ambition. Sources close to the matter revealed

that rather than carry the party members along, Ambode gave them short shrift and appointed his people to plum positions. Juicy contracts were also allegedly dished out to Ambode loyalists willy nilly while only crumbs were reserved for the party mainstays who helped to sell his candidacy to a skeptical Lagos populace. Those in the Ambode camp who thought that if Lagos rejected him he would find a home in Ondo however got the shock of their lives as the APC in the Sunshine State have all but disowned him for doing the same thing to them when he was courting the Lagos number one seat. The chickens have come home to roost as Ambode is caught between a rock and a hard place, unwanted by either of the groups he could lay claim to. As the Lagos and Ondo chapters of the APC pass him back and forth like two tennis champions hitting the ball into each other’s side of the court with unflinching resoluteness, the man who once held sway over the most populous state in the country has become a relative bystander in his own state. He is now depending on President Buhari to prevail on party leaders in either state to allow his nomination to go ahead.

Seyi Tinubu Repositions‌ Gradually Becoming His Own Man

Tinubu

Seyi Tinubu, the son of APC chieftain Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been doing his best to carve a niche for himself that is not

associated with his father’s own sphere of interest, if not influence. The handsome dude who has been scarce for some time was back in the spotlight last week as he took part in the Atinuda Conference, the premium events conference for the events industry. Atinuda is the brainchild of Oaken Events boss Ayírí Oladunmoye. This year’s event was jam-packed with young speakers who came to share their experience in the education and masterclass sessions during the two-day event which was held from June 14-15 at The Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos. Seyi, the head honcho of rave-making advertising agency Loatsad Media occupied pride of place among the speakers who included the likes of Ty Bello, David Tutera, Ndidi Nwuneli, Ifeoma Williams, Samke Mhlongo, Anita Erskine, Bukky George, Chukwuka Monye, Mary Akpobome, Jacqueline Nwobi, Udo Okonjo and Dzigbordi among others. The US-trained lawyer was in his element as he thrilled the captivated audience with valuable nuggets and insights drawn from his own experiences navigating the business world.

Recall that his company Loatsad Promomedia has in just a few years grown to become one of the key players in Nigeria’s sprawling advertising industry with plans to expand to other African countries. Rumours making the rounds however claim that Seyi’s re-emergence on the scene is part of a calculated scheme to position him ahead of the 2023 elections. News filtering out from the Tinubu inner circle indicates that the lion of Bourdillon has laid down the law that his son must run for a top elective office in the next election cycle. To this end, Tinubu loyalists are said to be working behind the scenes to slowly and steadily plant the idea of another Tinubu making a play for the Lagos top seat in the not-too-distant future. The plan, it is claimed, is to present the younger Tinubu as a visionary carving his own path and building his own support base as he grows out of his father’s shadow. It is even claimed he was appointed as a financial consultant for all state and local government parastatals as a way to ease him into the political arena.

Obaseki, Oshiomhole Ti Enters Another Round The rift between the Edo State governor Godwin Obaseki and his predecessor Comrade Adams Oshiomhole became a yawning chasm on Monday as the governor orchestrated what amounted to a cunning coup as nine members of the House of Assembly loyal to him were hurriedly sworn in at night. The group swiftly proceeded to elect a speaker and deputy speaker. In a clime where the principles of simple mathematics are regularly upturned in political calculations, the governor’s camp pulled off an audacious heist that the Oshiomhole camp is yet to recover from. Transforming into political bats, nine members of the 24-member assembly converged on the Edo House of Assembly premises in the dead of night as the Clerk of the House Yahaya Omogbai read out the letter of proclamation from the governor formally inaugurating the house. Thereafter, two of the nine members present Hon Frank Idiye and Hon Yekini Idiaye were voted speaker and deputy speaker respectively. With this move, Obaseki has cemented his support base in the state legislature trusting that his people will checkmate any counter moves as the battle for the soul of the APC in the state approaches its endgame ahead of the 2020 governorship elections.

Dignity and Class as Alpha-woman, Ranti Johnson, Celebrates 60th

A

geless fashionista and one of high society’s most enduring names and faces, Ranti Johnson, is 60 years old. When Ranti clocked 60 last week, it didn’t come with the baggage of shrivelled skin and greyed mane. Rather, it met a woman whose self-esteem is high up there and whose smile has retained the allure and shine of a life of contentment. As a child, Ranti was a pretty girl whose sweetness benumbed even the most impervious soul and those in the know would attest to this. And now as an adult, she is simply stunning; she parades the kind of beauty that confound many. Not a few people, irrespective of age and gender, continually marvel at the surreal streak of loveliness that distinguishes her from the prettiest women in her class. And it gets better than even as she clocked 60. She is the darling of her peers, and even the younger generation love to be around her. They consider her a friend, benefactor, conďŹ dant and mentor to mention but a few. But even at that, she is hardly given to ďŹ ckle idolatry, unlike most of the women she shares the right to acclaim and celebrity status with. However, her heart is like a singing bird whose nest is in a watered shoot; her heart is like an apple-tree whose boughs are bent with thickset fruit; her heart is like a rainbow shell that paddles in a halcyon sea; and her heart is gladder than all these because she lives to be 60.Yes, Ranti clocked 60 last Tuesday, 18th June. Agreed, it was a milestone age, the celebration could jolly well have been postponed till the weekend; but who says the ways of rich people are like that of mere mortals? Same day, she had a high-octane party at Nativity Church Hall, Parkview, Ikoyi, Lagos. Her old friends of over 30 years and some family members. She was an epitome of unparalleled joy and grace as she hugged and shook the hands of her guests, moving around to ensure that everybody had a taste of her unique hospitality. The ushers were on ground, ďŹ lling and reďŹ lling champagne utes and ensuring the choice bubbly and other drinks never in short supply. The music was good and temperate, which segued from country to classics, and afro pop and contemporary gospel, effortlessly keeping the guests on their feet. We saw Alhaji Fatai and Buki Doherty, Sisi Abah Folawiyo, Pamela Adedayo, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, Kayode RotimiWilliams and wife, Bimbo, Arch Dada Marquis, Toyosi Johnson,Vikky Edozien, Jane Ijewere, the Johnsons, Braithwaite families , Dr Doyinsola Abiola, Toun Onibudo, Sherifat Aristo Balogun, Yewande Onile-Ere, Modupe Sagoe, Pamela Adeyinka Adedayo, Modupe Gbadamosi, Joko Oni and many others. A courteous woman, Ranti incontestably occupies respectable spot in the pantheons of Nigeria’s high society. She is enthrallingly beautiful,

Oshiomhole and Obaseki

Oshiomhole and his godson Obaseki have been in a tug of war since the latter became governor and abandoned ship to steer his own course. Oshiomhole, who is now the chairman of the national working committee of the party is said to have become angered as the governor replaced his godfather’s foot soldiers in important posts with his own loyalists. After the apparent setback, loyalists of

Oshiomhole have returned to the drawing board to plot their next steps against the governor who is proving surprisingly adept at staying one step ahead of the game. They are waiting on further instructions from the Comrade in Abuja who, sources disclosed is bidding his time as he cooks up a scheme that would put Obaseki in his place.

Johnson

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HIGHLIFE

Twenty Five Years After, Okoya Remembers Late Parents The Oluwanisola Estate home of the Aare of Lagos Chief Rasak Akanni Okoya came alive few days back as family and friends converged for a ceremony to commemorate the anniversary of the passing of the parents of the billionaire businessman Chief Okoya and his siblings. The remembrance occasion was well attended by the creme de la creme of high society and the political establishment. Even the governor of Lagos Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his deputy Obafemi Hamzat and their wives took time out of their busy bedding-in period as new office holders to support the pillar of Lagos as he relived the fond times and lifeshaping lessons bestowed by his late parents Alhaji Tiamiyu Ayinde and Alhaja Idiyat Abeke Okoya. The Fidau prayers were led by Sheikh Abdur-Rahman Olanrewaju Ahmad who is the Chief Missioner, Ansar-ud- deen Society of Nigeria,

supported by other prominent clerics who chipped in with various prayers and Quaranic recitations. Aare Okoya’s popular sister Wosilat Okoya and his lesser-spotted brother Alhaji Tajudeen Okoya served as co-hosts of the remembrance session. The Chairman, Eleganza Group and the apple of his eyes Shade Okoya were the picture of attentive hosts as they catered to the guests who exchanged solemn countenances and prayer mats for happy faces and tables piled with expensive food and drink as the prayer session gave way to a grand reception. Though the merriment was toned down somewhat to reflect the occasion, the guests still left feeling on top of the world after experiencing a day when they got to eat whatever they wanted while dance numbers soared into the air as popular acts dished it out from the bandstand.

Gbajabiamila

After Akinwunmi Ambode’s Exit, Niyi Makanjuola Goes Low ProďŹ le

Niyi mankanjuola

When the milk finishes the baby goes hungry is refrain that succinctly captures the current situation of Lagos big boy and head honcho at Visionscape, Niyi Makanjuola. Ever since his benefactor governor Akinwunmi Ambode lost favour with the Lagos political overlords, it has been one tale of woe after another. And now that Ambode has bid the state’s political arena an adieu that was anything but fond, Niyi has been left alone to face the music of his company’s many transgressions. Visionscape, the company he brought into the Lagos refuse management arena, now lies in ruins. Once an alpha dog in refuse collection backed up by government patronage, the company is now like a battered and bruised dog missing half its teeth and cowering in fear while surrounded by a mob of vengeful hounds

baying for its total annihilation. Little wonder Niyi has gone low profile. He has sought shelter to protect himself from the vengeful arrows of angered PSPs now that his defender-in-chief has bowed out from the scene. Recall that in 2017 Visionscape signed a contract worth billions of Naira with the Lagos government to collect and manage residential waste. The development did not go down well with the PSPs who had been entrenched on the scene and felt sidelined by the arrangement. They could only watch on in indignation as Niyi raked in the big bucks on a regular basis. But trouble, always brewing on the horizon, finally rained down in torrents, ruining Niyi’s permutations of uninterrupted glory. First, his company became the subject

of ridicule for failing to do its part to get refuse off the streets. Then Ambode became the sacrificial cow on the altar of continuous political control. Then the state House of Assembly waded in, ordering the state government to revert to the previous format of using the PSPs to collect residential waste. More and more trouble kept piling in; by the time Niyi realized this was one mountain too tall to scale, the ship had already left the dockyard. And Niyi, deciding that perhaps it is best to live to fight another day, has vanished from the scene as well. All the buses, staff, insignia and other paraphernalia of Visionscape have vanished from the metropolis as if they were never there. Niyi, meanwhile, has decided to mind his other businesses for now and wash his hands off the messy political terrain.

Enemies Within? As Rotimi Akeredolu Sacks Three Commissioners The tumultuous political scene in Ondo State turned even murkier on Monday as the state governor Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN gave the marching orders to three members of his cabinet who have been with him since 2017. Ever since the news broke, the scene has been awash with permutations and combinations as to the motives behind the governor’s actions and how the latest card affects the political game of chess in the state. Solagbade Amodeni, Commissioner for Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development was one of the unlucky three told he was surplus to requirements. His counterpart at the Ministry of Culture, Ismaila Olurimisi wasn’t so lucky either as he was given the boot. Taofiq Abdusalam, Commissioner for Works and Infrastructures completes

the unfortunate trio who were ordered to relinquish all government properties and documents in their possession to the permanent secretaries in their respective ministries. Insider sources intimated that the sudden development might not be unconnected with the perceived divided loyalties of the three excommissioners. Akeredolu, who is trying to put his own house in order to better face off against entrenched foes at the state and national level, is said to be carrying out a systematic review of purported loyalists in order to fish out the bad eggs and expel them from his camp. Recall that Akeredolu has been at loggerheads with the national exco of the APC following his alleged antiparty activities, especially as it pertained to

the choice of representatives at the national and state assemblies. His well-publicized tug of war with Senator Ajayi Boroffice representing Ondo North is one such instance that has brought the governor heat from the Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee of the party, not to mention sizeable portion of the state party faithful. Little wonder the governor is out on a ship steadying mission to know who his real friends are ahead of the wars to come. The three people relieved of their duties were perceived in certain quarters as men whose loyalties couldn’t be ascertained to a reasonable degree. The governor, unwilling to take any chances, allegedly decided to let them go with the excuse of repositioning “his cabinet for optimum performance, aimed at ensuring that the administration delivers on its mandate to the people�.

Akeredolu

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Adebayo Adeoye bayoolunla@gmail.com; 08054680651

SOCIETY WATCH

Ex-Customs Boss, Ibrahim Mera’s Waning Fame

Mera’s

If you ask any politically conscious indigene of Kebbi State about Prince Ibrahim Mera, a former Deputy Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service, you will most likely be inundated with some uninspiring stories that tend to put him in the picture of a serial loser. While he was still in the Service, he had aspired to become the number one customs boss in 2015. But the coveted position eluded him. Following the loss, he recoiled into his cocoon. He, however, ventured into agriculture business later. Like one who is down but not out, he soon came into the public ȱ ȱ ȱ ę ȱ interest to govern his state of origin. ȱ ȱ ȱĚ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ posters, his critics were quick to say that it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for him to become the number one citizen of the state. Though it was one dream he had pursued with determination, he failed to secure the All Progressives Congress’ ticket for the governorship election in the state. It was gathered that the billionaire ex-Customs top shot did not pass the screening organised by the party, thereby foreclosing his ambition of wresting power from the incumbent governor, Abubakar Bagudu. Again, he seems to have gone into hiding after his celebrated defeat. “Prince Mera disappointed some of his fans who believed in him ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱę ȱ ȱ ȱ rights. But they were shocked when he suddenly chickened out. He ran away like a dog with its tail between its legs,” a source said. Though many wonder the source of his stupendous wealth, those close to him maintain that It is not unconnected to the vast Estate bequeathed to him by his late father. Mera, who is also described as a car freak, has properties in some states across Nigeria including Argungu in Birnin-Kebbi, Lagos, Kaduna, Abuja and in the United Kingdom.

Kyari, the Name That Opens Doors! In Nigeria’s political landscape today, there is a certain family name that is almost above every other. The name is so strategically positioned, albeit by providence, that it could practically open every door, no matter who shuts it or holds the key. That name is called KYARI – a household name. At some point, the name wrestled with three conflicting personalities that also shared same first name. There was the Abba Kyari, a retired Brigadier in the Nigerian military. The second Abba Kyari, a top-ranking officer of the Nigerian police, Lagos command. And of course, the currently trending and third Abba Kyari is Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, who is about the most powerful individual in the government today.

It was not surprising, therefore, that there was an initial uproar, when the president recently named Mr. Mele Kolo Kyari as the Group Managing Director of NNPC. But unknown to many, while the new NNPC GMD is from the Kanuri ethnic stock in Borno State, the Chief of Staff is of the Shuwa lineage. But it is trite to say that currently in Nigeria, the name, Kyari comes with a bit of envy as many would like to be a Kyari especially, with the amount of power that is domicile in the office of the Chief of Staff. As the goto-man before seeing the president, Kyari wields the kind of influence that very few could ever imagine let alone exercise. This is why whenever Kyari sneezes, the entire political landscape catches cold. Would you rather not be a Kyari?

Abba Kyari

Thorns In Kogi Gov Yahaya Bello’s Flesh Power, especially political, is transient. Yet, it is also sweet. If Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has willfully chosen not to recognise the transient nature of power, he has tasted its proverbial sweetness so much so that he wants to continue to gorge himself on it. Perhaps, this explains his renewed aggressive moves to retain his current seat, as the next governorship election in the state approaches. He is, no doubt, doing everything within his power to actualise his dream - he is an incurable dreamer. Though he is motivated by the support coming from some top-notch politicians across the state, recent developments indicate he still has a lot of hurdles to cross, as the odds against him are literally mountainous. In other words, recent happenings in the state are a pointer to the fact that the much-desired power will not be thrust on his lap on a platter of gold. A source revealed that despite the endorsement from a section of the people of his immediate constituency, many are still opposed to his ambition. His dwindling popularity is attributed to his alleged non-performance in the state. An indication to his potential defeat emerged, last week, when stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, called on the National Working Committee of the party to ensure that the party’s candidate for the November 16 governorship election

Yahaya

in the state emerge from a direct primary poll. The stakeholders made the call at a meeting attended by 17 out of the 20 governorship aspirants. Addressing reporters after the meeting, Sen. Alex Kadiri alleged that an “illegal committee” loyal to Bello was planning to use an indirect primary election to pick the party’s candidate for the polls. He said: “We want to reiterate that APC Kogi State is divided and because of the division, we went to court. The case is still in court and we have not been able to fast-track the judgment like the one in Zamfara State.

Fifi Ejindu’s ‘Home, Sweet Home’ Song

Fifi Ejindu

Fifi Ejindu, an architect and a successful businesswoman, is well connected, influential and powerful. Her name evokes a lot of images in the minds of her fans: success, wealth, ambition, power, philanthropy and fellow-feeling, among others. She is usually driven by an abiding quest to change the lives of her compatriots for the better. Her passion transcends architecture, as she has invested heavily in other sectors of the economy. Interestingly, the welleducated and polished princess seems to have imbued the popular axiom that says “Work hard, play hard and have fun.” Society Watch gathered that the Cross River State-born businesswoman, who is a business consultant to many state governments across the country, returned to the country two weeks ago, after a two-month vacation.

Oyo Governor, Seyi Makinde, Revives First Love Failure, they say, is an orphan, while success has many fathers. This axiom surely fits into the current situation in the life of Seyi Makinde, the newly sworn in governor of Oyo state. Society Watch gathered that in 2015, before the Ibadan-born governor threw his hat into the ring for the number job of the state, his company, MAKON Group, an engineering services company located on Admiralty Way, Lekki, Lagos, was a beehive of activity. He would soon be engrossed in politics, while his business suffered. While those who knew the profile of this company were wondering why Makinde looked the other, he was neck-deep in his political ambition. He was unable to oversee the firm, which our source described as his cash cow. The engineering company lost some major contracts, thereby forcing it to lay off some top staff. Following his loss then, his various businesses, especially MAKON, reportedly went through hard times. Again, Makinde made his intention known in 2018 and he eventually became the governorship candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP.

Makinde

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SOCIETY WATCH

Bela Adenuga-Disu’s Newfound Love Earlier in the year, Bela AdenugaDisu, Executive Vice Chairman, Globacom, had dazzled at the 2019 Choose France International Business Summit held at the Chateau de Versailles, France. Her performance at the international event, which had over 150 global business leaders in attendance, was described as impressive. Indeed, it was another rare opportunity for the beautiful and brainy Adenuga-Disu, a 2004 graduate of Political Science and International Relations from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, USA, to prove her mettle when she represented Globacom. Those who watched the show affirmed that she is fast stepping into the shoes of her father, Dr. Mike Adenuga, Chairman, Bela Globacom. member of the prestigious Institute Between January when the event of Directors, Nigeria and the Nigerian held and now, Adenuga-Disu, a

Institute of Management, had proved her brilliance at different fora. Last week, the Chairperson of the Bella Disu Foundation, a nonprofit organization she established to improve the potential of children from less-privileged backgrounds, announced her readiness to publish a book targeted at children aged 5-7. The creative effort, a folktale that reflects Nigerian culture and characters, is in fulfillment of her desire to see the return of volumes of folktales she had read while growing up. Described as an art aficionado and a music enthusiast, she is said to have also taken after her father in the area of philanthropy. Adenuga-Disu, who is currently pursuing a Master’s degree at the Northeastern University, Boston, has also been tipped to take over her father’s business empire, given her level of managerial skills and prowess.

Konga Boss, Nnamdi Ekeh’s Vision

Nnamdi Ekeh’s

As a 19-year-old undergraduate of Economics at the University of Lancaster, Nnamdi Ekeh had nursed the dream of owning an online business. A few years after graduation, young Ekeh received the blessings of his billionaire father and Chairman of Zinox Computers, Leo Stan Ekeh, to set up the now thriving Yudala Online retail. Immediately he received the desired financial intervention from his father, he turned the business into a mega fortune a few months after. Indeed, within the first one year of operation, Yudala became the best online retail market in the country. Ambitious Ekeh shocked all when he acquired Konga in what was considered one of the biggest acquisitions in e-commerce sector in Africa. But the 26 year- old, who is today in the league of many successful young men who have turned their dreams into reality around the world, loves to keep a low profile. While some claim that the decision to keep a low profile is a conscious effort so as not to be seen as competing with his father who has always

hugged the limelight, some others say he is an introvert, who always buries his head in books. Konga currently boasts over 1000 staff and this figure is expected to increase substantially with its growing network of Experience Stores all over the country. Though it started with ICT products, it has since diversified into a one-stop online and offline retail outpost for a wide assortment of goods, including consumables, choice wine and staples. It is also considered to be the preferred channel for shoppers with eyes for quality, real time delivery and support. Ekeh, who holds a certificate in International Business and Economics from Harvard, is a savvy entrepreneur and online enthusiast. His mission is to ensure that Africa is not ignored during conversations on technology and innovation. The alumnus of the Lagos Business School (LBS) believes that the youth hold the key to unlock the full potential of the Nigerian economy and the only industry that will provide them with this opportunity is IT and Technology.

Top Cleric, Esther Ajayi, Plans To Celebrate “The Comforter” In and outside Nigeria, Rev. Esther Ajayi, General Overseer, Love of Christ Church, Clapham, London, is known for winning souls into the vineyard of God. For her, religious leaders have a duty to ensure that peace becomes a permanent feature of our society, while the youth, in particular, are encouraged to dissipate their energies on worthy deeds. In line with this abiding belief, the revered cleric and philanthropist is set to organise a programme tagged “Celebrate the Comforter 2019” on July 20, 2019 at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos. Speaking on the upcoming event, which will be holding for the first time in Nigeria, she said: “Religious, political and traditional rulers have a special role to play in ensuring that what remains of peace in the country is jealously guarded. Religious leaders should, however, readily accept blames for the present moral decadence among the youth because it appears they have failed in their roles as the set of people to mould the future for the youth. They should,

therefore, work in unison with the government in ensuring that those that visit places of worship have messages of moral uprightness consistently drummed into their ears.” Since the respected Rev. Mother Ajayi came up with the idea aimed at the global unification of the white garment churches three years ago, it has held in both in the United Kingdom, UK, and United States of America, USA. The last edition of the event held inside the 3,327-seater magnificent United Palace Theatre in Washington Heights. In the build-up to the US event, many hotels, including Park Central Hotels, Sheraton Hotels and other hotels in the heart of Manhattan in New York were said to have been fully booked by the attendees. The experience was infused with the rendition of soul-stirring hymns and spiritual songs by the mass choir, which was an assemblage of the choirs of the churches. Basking in the euphoria of the success of the New York event, the philanthropist has vowed that the 2019 edition will be bigger and better.

Esther Ajayi

Oil Magnate, Abdurazak Isa’s Next Move For Abdulrazak Isa, a businessman and an oil magnate, the journey on the boulevard of fame and success began some 22 years ago. Among his other sterling achievements, Isa had cofounded Savings and Loans Limited (now a subsidiary of Sterling Bank Plc. Besides, at the outset of his career, he had been responsible for the structuring and financing of several multi-million dollar transactions in the upstream and oil service segments of the oil and gas industry. At some point, Isa, together with his friend, Danjuma Saleh, had conceptualized Walter Smith and Associates, a leading oil exploration company in Africa - the company eventually merged with a Canadian company, Petroman Oil in Calgary, Canada, thereby becoming Walter Smith Petroman Oil Limited. Despite the loss recorded when the company suffered a major fire outbreak, God intervened and turned their sorrow inside-out. So, like phoenix, the company rose from its ashes in a surprising manner. In 2003, the new company won the bid for a marginal oil field known as Ibigwe OML 16; and five years after, it commenced production and export of crude oil. in 2011, the ambitious partners invested huge sums of money in drilling additional oil wells in the Ohaji-Egbema area of the South-East. By 2013, Waltersmith Petroman Oil Limited had raised $180 million to drill five wells and commissioned 15,000 barrels-per-daycapacity flow station to expand its 20,000-barrel capacity crude storage tank operations. Last year, he played host to several industry players in Ohaji/Egbema Council Area of Imo State during the launch his company’s 5,000 bpd refinery. Society watch gathered that the refinery is almost ready, less than a year after. Always in quest to break records, Society Watch also gathered that the oil magnate is planning another move which, again, will not only cause a stir but will be groundbreaking and innovative in the sector.

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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 ˾ JUNE 23, 2019

LOUD WHISPERS

with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791)

US Embassy – No, Thank You! I have just received an invite to the annul anniversary party which will be held by the United States Ambassador in his Ikoyi residence to mark the country’s independence or something like that. Firstly, the invite was not properly addressed. I am Joseph Edgar, the Duke of Shomolu and the Ekarika of Nsit Ibiom. If I will not be addressed properly please do not send the Invite. It is an insult. Can you address Prince Charles like that? Can you just call him Charles Windsor? What is that? Secondly why invite a whole Duke by email? Do you even know if I have data? Mbok, I am not attending, I will not go and please remove me from that yeye guest list. My reasons are very simple. Last year I attended and hated the fact that very prominent Nigerians had to queue from the Ambassador’s gate down the street almost to Ikoyi/ Lekki bridge to gain entrance and after all that wahala they did not even serve

LONDON EMBASSY ATTACK Our Embassy during the week faced what I would describe as a terrorist attack o. One Nigerian out of frustration just came out to be destroying cars parked in front of the Embassy. Reports have however said, that he did not succeed in damaging the High Commissioner’s car because it was bullet proof. This is where me, I have problem. He for take him time, do him homework and come back for better results abeg. You see, mummy as usual have come out with a rushed statement condemning the attack and rightly so. But for me and other rightthinking Nigerians, we are asking what led to this madness. The boy was criminally wrong for doing whatever they say he has done and the book should be thrown at him. However while doing that let us also look at the issues that threw this up before someone strip our High Commissioner naked for Trafalgar square. I’m telling you the way this thing is going, somebody will soon release the High Commissioner’s nude picture when he is taking his bath. The level at which these people frustrate our people overseas is quite detestable. I have seen another video this time in Canada where Nigerians were lamenting the treatment meted out to them while trying to either secure or renew their passports. See ehn, I

Oluremi

Afang and Fufu. All I was seeing was food I could not pronounce, hungry nearly kill me. Come and see the very prominent Nigerians that were in the queue o, you will think it was the queue leading to Heaven. Federal ministers, first class traditional rulers, bank managing directors all shamelessly queuing and diligently holding their invites and accepting to be stripped searched only to go and be eating salad. Not even better food. For me, I am really not interested in this American thing or their people. It is high time, we as a people simply decided to stop all these crap and take back our dignity. The way they have been treating us like a nation of 180m morons, disgracing and humiliating us on the visa wahala, revoking and cancelling, denying and rubbishing even after paying so much with no refunds. Shebi they say they are the biggest country in the world and the richest, oya when you refuse

person visa, return him money na. How can such a big country be ‘stealing’ from us abi you are using the money to reduce your national debt or budget deficit which is running into trillions? I do not even believe that people should be in this mad rush to get a visa except for health, educational and serious business reasons. Any other reason, we can calm down abeg. It’s too much, na wetin? So you revoke my visa for no just cause and then turn around come invite me for party, if I go what would that make me na? People will ask why Awolowo, Tafawa Balewa and Azikiwe waste their time fight for our independence. I will not go and all those who have been humiliated and maltreated by this their system and still find it fit to attend that kind party na mumu. Nigerians wake up, build your own country. America, no be Angel build am, na human being. Stop the mad rush, let’s respect ourselves.

Chantal Boluwatife Edgar – God Bless You Please people don’t vex. Let me use this opportunity to send a shout out to my beautiful daughter Chantal Edgar who has just graduated from secondary school. I had stupidly asked her for what she wanted as graduation gift and she said a trip to Seychelles - I have seized her phone, you see what internet is causing. How can this small girl know that know even the Embassy people are being frustrated by the system – budget cuts, no money for salary, etc. but that does not mean that simple customer service and empathy cannot be used to give Nigerians in need some comfort. Every time this Dabiri woman will just be throwing out meaningless statements, playing to the gallery and irritating people without looking deeper at the causative factors of some of these things and using her ‘exalted’ position to

kind country? Well I offered her N2,000 and a trip to Uyo. Be like say she dey vex but that na her business. With the kind of school fees I have paid if she no understand why she cannot go anywhere but Uyo then I go send am make she go work for INEC to help them look for Server. Congratulations my baby girl and God bless you. work with authorities in seeking solutions to these things. Me, I am tired for this madam and will be ignoring her going forward. My brother, yes the one who damaged cars, it is not good na, no matter what has been done to you, violence is never the answer. There are other ways in which you can peacefully show your resentment with maximum effect. You can strip naked and tie yourself to the Ambassador’s car? You can go tie yourself to the gate of

Sulaiman Al Mazro

Ambassador W. Stuart Symington

Buckingham palace. You can put a Buhari mask on your head and walk naked the whole of London, you can run into the pitch during a premiership match shouting ‘down with Nigeria’. All of these and more will give you the same effect if not more than to go serve a prison term and possible deportation. Mbok, violence is not good. Meanwhile, let the international disgrace continue, we are a great nation ruled by mumu and with mumu followers. It is not a problem. We are good. WHICH GORILLA AGAIN? Because animals cannot really defend themselves, we have started calling them bad names. First it was a snake now they say it is gorilla. So a gorilla was reported to have stolen over N6m at the Kano zoo. Well, I think the gorilla must have seen what they have been doing with people’s retirement fund and decided to secure his future very quickly o. You cannot trust all these people especially in a state where we have seen big men collect dollars in big babaringa with nothing happening. The gorilla just quickly held a meeting with his family and said, guys if we don’t act now we will suffer. Mbok, at a time like this you just laugh. Because if you don’t laugh, you will just go and be damaging cars the way that boy do for London.

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JUNE 23, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

LOUD WHISPERS

Babagana Kingibe

Mahmood Yakubu

Bolanle’s Bling of Lagosian

Alex Ekubo Biography

Thankfully, the managing director of the zoo has come out to say that there was no gorilla in the zoo and that it was a robbery attack and the governor not fearing a lack of moral justification has been spitting fire that he would probe. Please I think we should be ignoring some of these things if not someone will run mad in this country I tell you. This country is crazy oooooo. Gorillas, snakes, governors losing weight, same governors reneging on campaign promises barely three weeks into tenor, party men using EFCC to threaten prospective ministerial appointees in a state where bullion vans are moving freely in and out of private residences, me I just tire. I weak, I’m almost giving up on this country where we are having weak personalities in strong positions of power. Well, thankfully I do not have a gorilla near me, but that notwithstanding, I have been watching representatives of the Animal Kingdom round me with strong suspicion. You can no longer trust them o. All animals irrespective of tribe and religion must be searched thoroughly before coming and going from my house henceforth, I cannot shout.

to their faces that he would rather resign and go with me instead of taking their offer. That is how to be a MAN my brother. By the way, Chuka want sack me because of Buhari, I asked him, the Buhari wey I yab, no vex, he never arrest me na you Igbo man come siddon for Victoria Island dey vex for am. Laugh nearly kill me. But my brother, surely I think it’s time for you to just keep quiet and go and sit down. The history of June 12 is being written and rewritten and I tell you, you are not being painted in good light. I have seen the manuscript so all this your talk and roaming around will not change the fact that you keeled over when you were supposed to stand firm. I really do not like you. Thank you.

girls who are bewitchingly beautiful and smooth and we ended up talking for hours. Before I realized it, it was 4am o. Kai, Duchess had given me last warning that if I tried it again, that is sleeping out, she will kick my load out of the house and our Estate Chairman a very strict man, go carry the load. Kai, as I drove home, my heart was beating with fear even as I prayed to God to help me this last time. My daughter Chantal is graduating, I had to be there for her after all na me pay the school fees. Duchess is that powerful. I prayed for a story that would soften her heart, remind her of the love we had and also of the N2,000 I paid to her father as dowry. Well as I entered through the front door, God gave me a miracle. He put a sound story in my head and I delivered like a well-rehearsed script. I went down on one knee looking into her beautiful eyes, I said in very sincere terms, ‘darling as I was coming home last night, I fell into the Lagoon near Ereko bridge, and one fish carried me to safety. But the mistake was that the fish took me to Epe instead of dropping me at Makoko or Bariga. So SARS now helped me to get home, I am sorry it was really not my fault’. My people I dey Pastor Odukoya of Fountain of life Church on a forced 30-day deliverance service complete with sexual abstinence amongst others. Na the kind story INEC Chairman is telling 180m great and proud Nigerians. The man need to come join me for deliverance, I will put in a word for him so they can waive the sexual abstinence part. Kai, no let me laugh. Of all stories to tell, na this one he go dey talk? God go help us for this country.

the verbosity and hollowness of some other works that pervade the space. Now I have a tiny attention span, in 5 minutes I will know the story and move on, but this kept me especially the chemistry between Alex Ekubo’s semi-literate Igbo trader character and the Ikoyi brought up screen writer was for me the apogee of the movie. Alex easily drifted into character and not missing a beat showed us the beauty of quality acting and role interpretation. That story was a story well told. The suspense that greeted the realization that Pastor J’s character was not the villain unfolding at the last minutes of the movie was equivocally mad. Don’t let me talk too much, go see the movie, it is a class act. Bolanle you say I should not be calling you madam but what else can I call a maestro but my madam, I bow with two hands in the air. Well done.

AMBASSADOR BABAGANA KINGIBE – A GREAT MAN You see let me use this title to dribble the man. Which great man? Great man ko, great man ni. The day this man took up a position in the Abacha regime or was it Shonekan regime, I threw up. Yes, I ran into the toilet to empty my tummy. You won an election, you were cheated out of it and while the struggle to reclaim the mandate was going on, you aligned with the enemy. In my book that was Judas Iscariot and Brutus rolled up in one kanuri body. That betrayal would have killed a lesser man. You know be like my man Lami. Lami is my partner o and na yoruba man. I can go to war with both my eyes closed knowing full well, that he has my back. Many times he has been tempted to betray me but he stood firm. One time in our former office our directors – Chuka and Nnamdi called him aside and asked him to take over as MD after I had written an article critical of Buhari. He refused blatantly and told them

CHIEF MRS REMI TINUBU – ACCEPT MY CONDOLENCES I am just reading a report that you were the sacrificial lamb used to ensure the emergence of Gbaja baby. Well don’t fret too much about it because unlike the rest of us, you have limitless tenor and age is on your side. You will still be the Senate President as long as Jagaban remains on the thrown, mark my word. Me sef I feel that Deputy Senate President is even too small for a politician of your calibre. Do not worry the golden era is coming, Oga will be President, You will be Senate President and Seyi will be Governor of Lagos state and we will change Nigeria’s name to Tinubu land and we will all be Tinubrians. I am very confident that this will happen because we really owe you and your dynasty a whole lot for the little things we enjoy in the country. You guys helped with the amalgamation of the country in 1914, worked with the British to give us independence and ended the civil war, built the third mainland bridge and even helped us win the world cup, the one that Kanu won for us. So you see why the need for us to reward you is very critical. So do not lose hope, all these people will soon serve their tenure and go for us, we own the land. I tell you, it is only a matter of time. Thank you. INEC – LET’S BE SERIOUS You see this INEC talk of no Server reminds me of what happened the other day between me and the Duchess. So I had gone for one small party and met a pretty damsel. You know those young

BOLANLE’S BLING OF LAGOSIAN This my sister has dropped another bomb. When you are trying to catch her she will just pick up speed and fly leaving you behind in a haze of success and achievement. She had given me the privilege of viewing this movie privately somewhere in Oregun. As I sat in the darkened room with the editor and herself, I began to see the future of the film industry unfold. I kid you not, this work is a collector’s item. She took me through it scene by scene: the cinematography, the technicalities, dialogue and acting all devoid of

LAGOS BUSINESS SCHOOL PRESIDENT - CANCEL THE DINNER Since I left the Lagos Business School, I have never attended the President’s Annual Dinner simply because I do not see any reason for it. The School prides itself as the premier Business School churning out alumni abi na alumnae into an economic environment like this. What are we celebrating and back-slapping ourselves for when the school with all its mouth and big fees that they have been collecting has not really been impacting its immediate environment? In fact its alumni have contributed significantly to the rot that is our economy. You see their alumni everywhere in the economy and you begin to ask what are they teaching in the school and they will be doing dinner and party every year celebrating only God knows what. Mbok Mr President, you should look for ways of ensuring that your works better impact the society by producing better alumni who would impact very positively the economy and our people. I will attend this year own out of pity and if I mistakenly get the microphone en, party will end. What are we celebrating? Job losses, a weakened currency, low capacity utilisation, dead industries or what? Have you asked yourself what exactly your alumni are doing? How are they impacting the economy or society? Mbok this is no time for dinner, this na time for reflection. Please if you see me there next year, kick me out. Thank you.

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PUBLICATION

UNBREAKABLE MOVIE DEMYSTIFIES MENTAL HEALTH PAGE 71

23.06.2019

A SOLO VOICE FOR THE CAUSE OF OPERA Oparamanuike

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž JUNE 23, 2019

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ARTS & REVIEW\\CLASSICAL MUSIC

A TENOR EGGED ON BY HIS PASSION With his Comic Opera House, the tenor Joseph Oparamanuike, a. k. a. Mr Tenor, is set on turning around the fortunes of opera productions and appreciation in Nigeria, he tells Okechukwu Uwaezuoke

O

f course, nature couldn’t have possibly stood still. But, to the awestruck audience, it may appeared to have done so. All eyes were riveted on the slender ebony-complexioned tenor, whose age was somewhere in the early 20s. He was effortlessly and flawlessly belting out the familiar Neapolitan song, “O Sole Mioâ€? to the delight of the decorous gathering. This was at a private concert, organised by a music-loving entrepreneur at his residence in the upscale leafy Lagos mainland neighbourhood, known as Ikeja G. R. A. And the young tenor, who was holding court from a corner of the two-storey building’s living room, was Joseph Oparamanuike. So much has happened since then. The profile of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) graduate of chemical engineering has grown enough to make him one of the leading figures in the local classical music scene. Soon after parting ways with his engineering job to concentrate on music in 2007, he decided to sit for the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) and Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music (A. B. R. S. M.) graded examination. This was from Grade 8 until he got to the Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music (L. R. S. M.) level. In 2008 and 2009, he made Oparamanuike, centre, in a opera performance the best result in West Africa in both Grade 8 and the A. B. R. S. M. diploma in singing and became lot of subsidies can be put in place to help the classical the first Nigerian to sit for the A. B. R. S. M. diploma in music industries, the government should look more vocal teaching and licentiate in singing in the sub-region. into the music departments in our universities and help Thus, he was able to secure the Royal Conservatoire equip them with good facilities and bring more qualified of Scotland (R. C. S.) Trust Fund Scholarship with the lecturers to add to the ones we have.â€? intention of studying for an M. Mus in performance Talking about facilities, he says that there are “very singing and ended up studying for an M. Mus in opera. few good concert halls in Nigeria and the standard are This was after an PGDip in performance singing. quite good but can be better.â€? While in Scotland, he had the opportunity to regale his Besides, he believes his efforts so far are beginning to audience with Nigerian songs which he performed at his yield fruits. “On the scale of 1 to 10, I would say we are recitals. on 7. We still have more to do in the area of having full Oparamanuike, who in the classical music circles is orchestra for our productions.â€? called Mr Tenor, likens embracing music to answering to On this note, he sees a brighter future for classical the call of the essence of his existence. Passion, he adds, music in Nigeria, declaring that “things are actually is what eggs him on. Now, he can say with a sense of changing and I am so hopeful that things will definitely fulfilment and pride: “I am a full-time musician. And I come up well.â€? am currently the MUSON head of opera, singing teacher Already, since 2016, he has organised about 10 opera in both MUSON Basic School and Diploma School and productions so far. Among the highlights of these prothe founder of Comic Opera House.â€? ductions was his featuring at The Switzerland Consulate Fast-forward to 2016. He registered an opera General 2018 Opera Performance with the MUSON as company, which he named the Comic Opera House. Rodolfo in Puccini’s La Boheme and his singing as Tonio This outfit, which is commonly abbreviated as C. O. H., in Donizetti’s La Fille Du Regiment for the MUSON. was launched with an opera performance, titled Don He also sang as Tamino in Mozart’s Die ZauberflĂśte Pasquale. With the company, he hopes to train more for Opera Abuja in December 2016 and as Nemorino in opera singers and create more awareness for the genre in L’Elisir D’Amore for MUSON in April 2016. Nigeria. This would be possible with adequate training At the launch of the C. O. H. in September 2016, he given to those who are interested and gifted with appeared as Ernesto in Donizetti’s Don Pasquale. This operatic voices. was after singing, about two years earlier, the concert Even after having travelled far and wide for the cause version of Edgardo in Donizetti’s Lucia Di Lammermoor of classical music, he is not discouraged by the fact that with the Scottish Opera Orchestra in February 2014. Nigeria still has a long way to go. He is rather consoled In January 2018, he toured with the Chorakademie by the fact that “the gap has been reduced a bit with LĂźbeck and Bamberg Choir to Hong Kong for the many people seeking proper music education.â€? production of Wagner’s GĂśtterdämmerung with Hong “If we can create more awareness on grass root music Kong Philharmonic Company. Later in July that year, eduction and, also, if the government can come in, I will he conducted and directed Sullivan’s The Yeomen of say the gap can be closed up more,â€? he adds. the Guard. Earlier, he had conducted and directed two Still on the government’s support, he continues: “Yes, opera productions for MTNF/MUSON School of Music: the government has an immense role to play in music. A Sullivan’s Patience in July 2016 and Mozart’s Magic

Flute in July 2017. In addition, he had made two performance tours with the Chorakademie LĂźbeck. These tours saw him hop-scotching through Europe to Asia and to North America in 2015. This was a year after his performance at the Commonwealth Week as part of the 2014 Games held in Glasgow (Scotland) in the presence of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. He was subsequently invited to sing again at the 2014 Commonwealth Broadcasting Association Conference. Oparamanuike’s first exposure to music dates way back to when, as an impressionable child, he would listen and watch his late father sing along in an enchanting tenor voice to the LPs of a singers like Jim Reeves. Later, in 1988, he joined the school choir of St. Peter Claver Seminary, Okpala, Imo State. “I was an alto singer,â€? he recalls. “In 1995, I started singing tenor and this was my first time of singing solo as a tenor with the St. Joseph Catholic Youth Choir, Ulakwo, Imo State.â€? He would later become the choirmaster of both the youth and parish choirs. When he gained admission into the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) to study chemical engineering, he became a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Chaplaincy Choir (now called Golden Voices) at the tertiary institution. Three years later, he took over the reins as the choirmaster and held the first ever concert in FUTO. “I must also say I had a good musical moment with Cororosa as a member and one of the conductors.â€? It was after his graduation from the university that he moved to Lagos for his National Youth Service Corps in 2002. He joined the Sir Emeka Nwokedi-led MUSON Choir the following year and later won the MUSON Talent Hunt Competition, which gave him a new breakthrough in his musical career. As his sources of inspiration, he names Maria Aseeva (a former MUSON resident pianist), Professor Laz Ekwueme as well as the three tenors: Andrea Bocelli, Juan Diego Florez and Lawrence Brownlee, among others.

AWARDS

Runsewe Wins the Culture and Tourism Man of Year Award

T

he Director General, National Council for Art and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Segun Runsewe has won the prestigious Africa Travel Quarterly magazine (ATQ) award as the Culture and Tourism Man of the Year. ,Q D OHWWHU RI QRWLĂ€FDWLRQ WR 5XQVHZH by the management of the magazine dedicated exclusively to Africa travel narratives, it explained that the DG of NCAC who was once in the saddle as Nigeria's tourism marketer, was overwhelmingly chosen across the spectrum of its board

of directors, stakeholders and journalists across Africa as worthy of the award for his dedicated service and promotion of interAfrican cultural understanding and for using the culture platform to drive tourism in West Africa. $V ÀUVW UHFLSLHQW RI $74 V SUHPLXP %DODIRQ Award, Runsewe was also singled out and commended for changing the narrative of Nigerian culture economy through instituting skills acquisition platforms on art and crafts to empower rural poor and also creating ÀQDQFLDO ZLQGRZ IRU WKH FUHDWLYH FRPPXQLW\ WKURXJK SDUWQHUVKLS ZLWK WKH %DQN RI ,QGXV-

WU\ %2, According to ATQ management, which also drives the Accra Weizo, a West coast tourism fair, Runsewe's exceptional strategic drive using International culture marketing exposition(INAC) to build bridges of understanding and accelerate growth of African tourism, stood him out above RWKHU HͿRUWV DFURVV WKH FRQWLQHQW In a letter of acceptance, Otunba Runsewe appreciated the organisers, stakeholders and journalists across the FRQWLQHQW IRU ÀQGLQJ KLV OLWWOH FRQWULEX-

tion on culture and tourism worthy of continental recognition. $FFRUGLQJ WR 5XQVHZH WKH %DODIRQ Award is a call to duty, dedication and FROOHFWLYH VDFULÀFH DV JRYHUQPHQWV DOO RYHU the world faced by economic challenges, look up to Culture and Tourism economy to make needed changes. ´:H VKDOO E\ WKLV DZDUG UHGRXEOH HͿRUWV to break the yoke of poverty, reposition culture and tourism as the mainstay of Nigerian economy�, adding that a new drum beat on culture has just begun to fully engage the birth of Nigerian and African tourism.

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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 ˾ JUNE 23, 2019

ARTS & REVIEW\\ MOVIES

UNBREAKABLE MOVIE DEMYSTIFIES MENTAL HEALTH Yinka Olatunbosun

A

press preview of the movie, Unbreakable held last week at a private venue in Lagos hosted by the movie producer, Buky Campbell, a theatre-trained filmmaker. The movie starring O. C. Ukeje, A’rese Emokpae, Uche Mac-Auley and Richard Mofe-Damijo is an advocacy film that radically changes the usual narratives in Nigerian movie industry about mental health. Majority of Nigerian movies tell stories about mental health as a resultant effect of a past evil deed of a character. Most villains in our movies end up mentally ill; some good characters are portrayed as being under spiritual attack when mental illness strikes. While in reality, mental disorder is a health challenge that can be diagnosed and treated clinically. In this romantic movie, “Unbreakable,” the screenwriter, Sola Osofisan presents the viewer with a simple plot of a young newly-married couple based in Lagos, who are very much in love. The first hint about the character of Ikepo (A’rese) is the scene of paranoia. Her husband, Chidi (O. C. Ukeje) is beclouded by love and with the use of dramatic irony, he is portrayed as being slow to recognise the signs showing that his wife, Ikepo, is dealing with a mental illness. When his business partner, Mike (John Dumelo) shares a video of Ikepo in a manic episode on the social media with Chidi, the pace is set for this extraordinary story of unfailing love and tested loyalty. The 90-minute movie is like a level playing field for all healthcare providers for mental health patients, whether traditional or orthodox to have conversations about the issues surrounding mental health such as lack of adequate mental health facilities, stigmatisation, abandonment of patients and more. Unbreakable is a movie project executed by the Unbroken Partnership Limited made up of the trio of Buky Campbell (producer), Sola Osofisan (screenwriter) and Ben Chiadika (director) who is best known for directing the MNET multi award-winning soap, Tinsel. Campbell who is very enthusiastic about the project, remarked that it is a necessary project,

A scene from Unbreakable considering the situation in the country. “In the light of the present circumstance throughout the country, especially with all the stories about suicide, we think a story about mental health is very timely because it draws people’s attention and it starts a conversation,” she explained. “I think it is important to say that in terms of mental illness, what works for one may not work for the other. There is a peculiarity to seeking help because there are so many types and no one side fits all. The important fact is that the conversation has started about mental health.” Though the movie was not made solely for commercial gain, it requires funding for it to be screened at various venues. “We plan to show this movie for free across university campuses nationwide through sponsorships

from individuals and corporate organisations,” she continued. “As long as they are individuals who are thinking beyond themselves, this movie will get to where it should be. When we started this project, we wanted to be socially responsible. We wanted to tell stories that have meaning. We didn’t want to powder up out stories and make it pretty because life itself is not pretty. Mental health is one of the things we are targeting. Commercial success will come when we all realise that the topic is very important and timely. State governments can also come on board. Our aim is advocacy; reaching out to the masses and I know that the average undergraduate cannot afford to go to the cinema to watch a movie. That is why we want to meet them where they are; to benefit from the movie.” The first show is on September 21 at The

Crab, Department of Theatre and Film Studies, University of Port Harcourt, and then it will go on a tour of other universities afterwards. “UNIPORT is my alma mater,” she added. “One of our stars in the movie, Bimbo Manuel also graduated from the university. We feel that we owe that university something because it trained me to be who I am today and God bless Prof. Ola Rotimi who instilled in us the values that had taken us this far.” One of the partners of this movie project is Olamma Cares Foundation, a non-governmental organisation with a 24-hour hotline for people to call in case they are depressed or in crisis. “When a person you know is dealing with mental health crisis, they need a solid support. Most patients are abandoned by family,’’ she remarked.

DRAMA

3Some Play’s White-hot Romance Yinka Olatunbosun

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ayo Doherty’s (Patrick Diabuah) marriage is in trouble. He arrives from work one evening to find his wife, Chioma (Uzor Ozimkpa) in a very suggestive lingerie and panty-hose. Out of sheer curiosity, he checks her email and discovers that she has been chatting with a stranger on a very intimate subject.As a matter of fact, she shares her sexual desires and preferences with this stranger whom she calls master. Dayo was enraged. That was the conflict of the drama in 3Some Play, a theatrical piece that broke the box office record for the season at the MUSON Centre, Onikan. Produced by Joseph Edgar, alongside two co-producers namely, OlisaAdibua, and Foluke Edgar, the play was first performed at the Lagos Theatre Festival 2018 to a rave review. It came as no surprise that the consummate investment banker, Edgar would bring this show to a proper theatre space away from the amphitheatre at Freedom Park, Lagos where it was initially performed. Although Duke of Somolu Productions is known for historical drama, Edgar decided to take a calculated risk with this contemporary steamy drama. The plot remains the same: a young man allows his mother-in-law to move into his apartment while his wife moves out to be with her newly found lover. The mother-in-law,Asmau (Frances Bickersteth) is a divorcee yet very sexually experienced. She is quick to detect that the marital feud between her daughter and her son-in-law may have been sexual incompatibility. She decides to wade in, offering suggestions to Dayo on how to please a woman in bed. This scene was graphically portrayed on stage using a female character in sheer body suit, moaning and dancing centrestage, arousing wild imaginations.

A scene from the play, 3Some 3some raises very controversial subjects about sex and marriage; infidelity, sexual gratification, the role communication in marriage and separation. For instance, it is still very debatable that the preference for BDSM is not a psychological disorder. Of course,

it is argued that when it is consensual, it is not to be regarded as a sexual disorder. In the dialogue, Chioma also makes reference to “golden showers”. This practice is unpopular and should be carefully discussed in marriage if and when a marriage mate

has unusual sexual preference. The conflict becomes double-layered in the drama whenAsmau and Dayo forget moral principles, share a kiss and the forbidden fruit. The upper chamber of the stage which has a white foil at the bedroom window in place of blinds is well appropriated to give the audience a good view of the bedroom action. Call it a very artistic interpretation, the copulation scene is visually depicted by two silhouettes of the unlikely lovers, humping away. Alove and hate relationship existed between the audience and the plot. On the one hand, a lot of young married women in the audience were hurling verbal abuses at the character of the mother-in-law when she developed from being a concerned mother trying to save her daughter's marriage to an intruder in the marriage. Most of the men in the audience were thrilled to see Dayo as an expressive and dominant lover who tells his returnee wife, “Strip B**ch". Perhaps, the strongest part of the production is the mise-en-scène, that is the sound design, set design, lighting, costume and make-up. For Marvellous, who played the strip dancer role, her identity was protected with the skin painting. The overall sound system was also modulated to be audible but not deafening. Written and directed by Jude Idada, the production gulped above the initial budget of N8m for technical reasons. One of them is the use of premium cast.All the actors were paid above the average because of the demanding nature of their roles in this psycho-erotic drama. Areliable source revealed that the only male character in the play got the highest pay while all the women who had to strip got a little less than he did. It’s an indicator of the need for female performers to get good talent managers, who can do better on the negotiation table. Some proceeds from the play was donated to charity. The Executive Producer, Edgar observed that the box office success story of 3some came from support from the corporate organisations including PayAttitude. That is why the play is returning to the theatre inApril 2020.

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DIASPORA

A Mission in Disarray? Nigerian embassies across the world have been undergoing lots of challenges in recent times either due to wrong choiceand/orpostingofstaff, or due toadearth of funds.However,theworstistheconductofstaffatthecountry’s UK commission towards Nigerians in the course of passport and visa applications. Agha Ibiam in London writes

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igerian High Commission UK situated at the heart of London, Northumberland Avenue, Westminster, which ordinarily should serve as a ‘home’ to all Nigerians irrespective of where they come from is completely not so. At the moment, the commission is ‘good for nothing’. In fact, it has been likened to Jankara or Oluwole market located on Lagos Island where all manner of things happen. Surprisingly, on the commission’s website, it is clearly stated that “the work of the commission is to coordinate, promote and protect the national interests of Nigeria within the United Kingdom in ways that contribute to the enhancement of Nigeria’s security and socio-economic prosperity.” Other duties conducted by the embassy as noted on the website include, but not limited to the following: consular and welfare matters, immigration affairs, legal and education, bilateral political and multilateral relations, trade and economic affairs as well as information dissemination. And all general inquiries to assist Nigerian residents in the UK and the public. However, a handful of Nigerians resident in the UK dismissed those inscriptions on the commission’s website with a wave of the hand, claiming that those were the past glories of the commission when it was managed by responsible, dedicated and energetic diplomats and not what exists today, where postings are made not on professionalism, but on nepotism. “At the moment, I can’t say we have a high commission in the UK. A visit to the embassy cannot but force one to weep at how events are conducted and the behaviour of staff. Even the staff themselves are frustrated, and invariably passing the frustration to passport applicants and the entire public that come their way”, a Nigerian man in his 60’s explained. The recent happening at the commission in which a frustrated Nigerian, Mr. Jeffrey Apkovweta Ewohime, 32, who was said to have damaged about five Nigeria’s diplomatic vehicles speaks volumes of how the commission has sunk in terms of its management: no direction, no good customer service culture, no respect for passport applicants. It’s all kind of ‘cut and join’ service Nigerians are subjected to at the embassy, another passport applicant at the embassy told THISDAY. An applicant who applied for passports for all members of his household of five noted with regret that there was a delay in processing his family passport. He said every now and then, he received excuses that the embassy has to get clearance from Abuja to get things done. According to him, 64 pages of passport were paid for, for five people, the embassy processed and issued him 32 pages without explanation and no refund whatsoever was made. Not only that, he described the embassy as a place in commotion, as customer service is ranked zero. He said from the security post, the staff are rude and exhibit an inconsiderate attitude. Staff were still collecting postal order, even when it was stated on the organization website that postal orders are no longer required from applicants. This suggests that someone is pulling a fast one on applicants and money diverted to an unexplainable account. Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa could have stated her mind as the Chairman/CEO Nigerians in Diaspora, when she implored Nigerians abroad to exercise restraints and be good ambassadors of the country always in all circumstances. A counter argument trailed that statement as Mr. Uwakwe Emenike, a Midland-based scholar, maintained that Abike should as well urge embassies to provide timely, good and commendable services to all Nigerians at any given time. “In as much as the attitude of that young guy (Jeffrey) is condemnable, the embassy on its own is not measuring up and should receive its own side of the blame. Probably the man could have been provoked by the way the embassy officials addressed him because there are records of disorderliness at the embassy,” he said. Again, not holding brief for Jeffrey, Shile Akin, argued that even if he Jeffrey did not leave behind any self-addressed envelope for delivery is not an excuse on the side of the embassy. He requested that a proper investigation be carried out on why the perpetrator behaved in the way he did, “insisting that a delivery envelope is not needed to collect a passport when the person involved must have indicated willingness to pick it up at an agreed date and place. However, a cursory check on the embassy’s website, there is no evidence to suggest that applicants should hand in a self-addressed envelope to pick up a passport, except if that information is usually sent via email. Furthermore, a call to the Minister/Head of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Ahmed Sule on his Lyca number account to seek clarifications on the recent disorder was ignored. To press further, a text was also sent to his WhatsApp account. None of this communications was considered worthy of a reply.

Vandalised London embassy cars

Ambassador George Adesola Oguntade The many ‘sins’ of the embassy especially to contractors, staff and by extension to passport applicants are too innumerable to count. The same attitude of officials telling people and contractors ‘come today, come tomorrow’ was recently extended to a contractor in the UK who was engaged to repair the embassy lift. It was reliably gathered that the contractor, after completing repairs of the lift, was told that his payment could not be paid because money has not been approved and received from Abuja. The contractor, who found this kind of excuse and inconsistency strange in a country where things are planned ahead and budgeted for, locked up the lift and went away with the keys. It was after weeks, which could have stretched into months of staff climbing stairways and lacking in strength, that the embassy authorities later made the payment, necessitating handing in the keys. On the other hand, the working conditions of staff have been described as appalling at the embassy in recent times. Salaries are said not to be paid as at when due, and staff promotions withheld for years in Abuja. Recently about 50 local staff members of the embassy were laid off. Thereafter, some were reinstated through the back door and are now referred to as ‘self-employed’. Also, some staff that could have been sent back to the country after serving their official years in the UK, received an extension because of ‘godfatherism’ in the system. This extension has helped a lot of staff commence and complete either their master’s degree or engaged in other profitable ventures, an insider told THISDAY. Recently, the Head of Chancery, Mrs. Helen Ukamaka Nzeako, directed the transfer of all locally recruited staff from their current employment status as ‘employee’ to ‘self-employed’. The decision was contained in a circular titled, “Changes in Employment Status of Locally Recruited Staff” was sequel to “communication received from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on tax payment to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) Embassy unit”.

According to Nzeako, the ‘self-employed’ status entails that self-employed staff would be responsible for the national insurance contribution and income taxes; staff would enjoy salary increment as a gesture of goodwill and would retain all benefits they currently enjoy, such as holiday, sick and maternity leave. Not stopping there, Nzeako, obviously acting on behalf of the commission fired another letter titled, ‘Notification of Employment Status’ again directed the so-called ‘self-employed’ that their status will change from ‘employees’ to ‘Basic Pay As You Earn (BPAYE) effective from April this year. It was gathered that this kind of ‘dislocation’ did not go down well with some workers; and as a result, is apparently affecting their dealings with the mission. More so, the source revealed that workers are owed salaries for up to three months. “The management of staff and resources at the embassy is really appalling and disgraceful. There is no element of human regard and respect as staff do things anyhow and get away with it,” the source said. Furthermore, issuance of a passport in some countries is often carried out without following due process. THISDAY witnessed an occasion in recent past where a passport seeker paid a tout exorbitantly to obtain a passport but eventually was duped. The man in question constantly paraded himself as a staff of the embassy for years, brought the image of the organization into disrepute before the ambassador threatened him with a warrant of arrest if found near the parameters of the embassy again. “This kind of attitude will continue to persist in most of our embassies. In Italy, it is the same as applicants are charged very high to obtain passports that couldn’t have cost up to 300 Euro or so. Nigerian immigrants that want to process their papers to enable them to have permanent stay, pay through the nose. In London, people cough up a lot of money to obtain a passport through the back door, because of unnecessary delays, incomplete information and attitudes of some staff towards applicants,” Thomas David, a Nigerian turned British said. For years, the embassy has outsourced the country’s visa application to Online Integrated Solutions (OIS), an Indian company. This presupposes that an individual’s biodata are stored and retrieved from another country, as the database of Nigerians that apply for passports is domiciled in Malaysia. It was learnt that when the country wanted to claim ownership of the database, the Malaysian government claimed the country was indebted to it and refused to let go. As a mission in disarray, any payment made for passport or visa application has to go through a company in the US before a remnant of the fees is remitted to government account in the country, a source close to the embassy said. This accounts for why most visa applicants are charged twice. A certain amount of money is charged at the embassy, which is regarded as an administrative cost, while another amount is charged for visa application proper at Fleet street, London. Different venue, different charge, one product! At the embassy in London, there are all manner of foods sold at the basement hall. There is Hausa and Yoruba menu on display, each competing for customers. That means if someone who is not from either of the two ethnic groups mentioned but wants to eat ekpang-nkwukwo, an Efik delicacy, he or she must travel to somewhere in South-east London to have a taste of the menu as there is no Calabar or Igbo menu accommodated at the embassy. What a country, what a mission!

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CICERO

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

IN THE ARENA

Buhari with South-east leaders

Situating the South East Quest for Political Equity Time has come for the South East geo-political zone to do soul-searching and change style if it must take back its place in the body polity, writes Olawale Olaleye

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n every political community, there is a general principle that “power is not served a la carte”. This is because power, even in civilised democratic climes, thrives on the biblical saying that “the kingdom of God suffers violence and the violent takes it by force.” Interestingly, this cannot be the approach all the time. Even dictatorship sometimes applies suasion to secure understanding or approval in a seemingly difficult situation. Thus, the two approaches, in the game of power, are essential. It takes the wisdom of the individual or group at the receiving end to know which to apply at what time. Since the return to civil rule in 1999, the people of the South East have been somewhat uneasy about alleged conspiracy of the political elite to make them appear like second-class citizens in their own country, such that does not get them any close to the presidency. But whilst that remains in contention especially, that it is not going to be conceded to them by fiat or an act of the parliament, that they have to struggle for recognition in the sharing of other principal political offices seems to break them and disabuse their sense of patriotism, often times. Curiously, however, allegation of marginalisation has scaled up since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office in 2015, a situation, which makes a majority of the Igbo to think that the president dislikes them beyond comprehension. Interestingly, this was in spite of the fact that then Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu was

from the South East, although a position he earned through high-wire political chess game. Also, there were a few people from the South East, who by virtue of constitutional provisions, were appointed ministers. That’s inevitable. But this situation was not pleasing to the Igbo people, who feel not only alienated from the thick of national politics, but deliberately stifled from holding down their own in the scheme of things. Unaware of the thickening discontent, efforts were made by the presidency, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party and other stakeholders to tweak the narrative that the South East was precluded from the scheme of things essentially, because of the politics of her people. This of course went on to confirm that the region might have been truly relegated. Not only did President Buhajri promise to change approach and embrace an inclusive government, the card was also played on the South East that if they played along with the ruling party, they could get the presidency in 2023. But that bubble was soon burst when eminent personalities from the South West started the “It’s Our Turn” campaign, raising the fears that should the South East play along, it would have been played at the end of the day, more so that there was no reassuring proof directly from the president that he would support them in 2023 even though he traveled round the zone seeking votes. Indeed, events after the 2019 elections have shown that the South East was never part of the APC agenda, as the sharing of the offices so far totally

edged them out. From the President to the Vice-President, the Senate President, the Speaker of House of Representatives, the Deputy Senate President and the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives – everything was shared amongst other regions except with the South East. Of course, there is a counter argument that after the 2011 elections, the South West too was played out of the equation. But that argument does not suffice. The PDP, unlike the APC, had the South West in mind and had zoned the speakership to the zone before the South West by their own doing, traded it to former Speaker Aminu Tambuwal from North West. What this means is that the APC does not reckon with the South East and perhaps, does not give a hoot about the zone. Yet, this also does not cancel out the truth that the South East also needs to up its game and build consensus, because that is the soul of any successful national politics. Clearly, 2023 is for the taking and certainly not going to be served a la carte to anyone. In other words, whichever of the zones that is desirous of the office of the president must go all out and take it by networking, horse-trading and doing a whole lot of concession and compromise. While it may not be totally false that the South East has been technically reduced in the scheme of things in a sense that does not edify equity, justice and fairness; they too must stop complaining, change style and start to play productive politics realtime. And, again, they must realise that the journey to 2023 has already begun.

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

Revamping the Nation’s Security Architecture

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Buratai

t is no longer a joke, what the security of the country has become. Nowhere in the country is safe now and everyday Nigerians live in the fear of the unknown. If they turned to North, it is Boko Haram and bandits; South, it is kidnapping; West, it is armed robbery cum bandits and Middle Belt, it is herdsmen. Nothing however gives fillip to the seeming state of helplessness that Nigeria has found herself than last week, when three suicide bombers blew themselves up in a busy market outside Kondura, Borno State and the only thing President Muhammadu Buhari could say was to commit the bombers to God.

As if that wasn’t enough despair to contend with, the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai too came out to say the reason the insurgents were doing well against the Nigerian Army was because his men at the warfront were not committed. What a leader there is! Yet, insecurity has continued to escalate in all parts of the country, as parents, according to UNICEF, are now afraid to send their wards to school for obvious reasons. If Buhari does not know that he should rejig the current security architecture, those around him should say so for posterity. The bill he recently signed into law on National Institute of Security Studies is a long time approach. But something must be done in the immediate and fast too.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ JUNE 23, 2019

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BRIEFINGNOTES

YAHAYA BELLO AND GANG

How Not to Remove A Chief Judge A court in Kogi State has emphatically made it known to Governor Yahaya Bello and the state house of assembly that they could not jointly or unilaterally remove the chief judge, reports Davidson Iriekpen

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ttempts by Governor, Yahaya Bello and the House of Assembly to remove the Chief Judge of Kogi State, Justice Justice Nasir Ajanah, from office met a strong resistance when a high court sitting in Koton-Karfe ruled that the executive and legislature, jointly or unilaterally, could not remove him without recourse to the National Judicial Council (NJC). The presiding judge, Justice Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye, while delivering judgment in a suit brought against the assembly, the governor and three others by Justice Ajanah and the Chief Registrar, Yahaya Adamu, said to allow only the assembly and the governor of a state to remove a chief judge of a state or any judicial officer for that matter, without the input of the NJC, was tantamount to destroying the very substratum of justice and introducing a system of servitude, inconsistent with the constitutional independence of judges. The judge, who was very livid while reading the judgment, reemphasised that it was only the NJC, established under Section 153(i) of the Constitution (as amended), that has the power to recommend to the governor, the removal of a judicial officer. He noted that where a chief judge of a state is to be removed, for whatever reason, it is the NJC, not the state assembly that has the power to make recommendations to the governor of a state under item 21(d) of the Third Schedule to the Constitution. “It is also the NJC, established under Section 153(i) of the constitution (as amended), that has the power to recommend to the Governor, the removal of a judicial officer. Where a Chief Judge of a state is to be removed, for whatever reason, it is the NJC, not the state House of Assembly that is empowered to make recommendations to the governor of a state under item 21(d) of the Third Schedule to the Constitution. “To allow only the House of Assembly and the governor of a state to remove a chief judge of a state or any judicial officer for that matter, without the input of the NJC, will be monstrous and outrageous as it is capable of destroying the very substratum of justice and introducing a system of servitude, utterly inconsistent with the constitutional independence of judges,” he said. Justice Omolaye-Ajileye not only found merit in the suit and allowed the declarations sought, but granted all the reliefs and declarations sought by the claimants in the suit. “On the whole, I find merit in this action and it succeeds. All the declarations sought are allowed.” The case started when following the industrial action embarked upon by the judicial workers, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Folashade Ayoade-Arike, who had a pending case before the Chief Judge, addressed a letter to him on the orders of the state governor to release the payroll of judiciary staff for pay parade of civil servants in the state. The chief judge then instructed the Chief Registrar to reply the letter, as it was unethical for him to communicate directly with her while the case was pending. In the reply, the claimants declined to yield to the demand for staff payroll on the grounds that the request was contrary to the provisions of the state Public Finance (Judiciary Special Provisions), Edict No. 6 of 1991 and sections 81(3) and 162 (d) of the 1999 Constitution. The development led to a communication between the SSG and the assembly, alleging financial misappropriation on the leadership of the judiciary. The assembly subsequently constituted an ad hoc committee to investigate the Chief Judge and Chief Registrar on the matter. On April 2, the assembly recommended to the governor and the State Judicial Council, the removal of the Chief Judge and sanctions for the Chief Registrar after it adopted the report and recommendations of the ad hoc committee. Consequent upon this, the judicial officers approached the court with suit number: HC/KK/11CV/2018 to challenge the powers of the governor and the state House of Assembly to remove them from office over refusal to be investigated by the state assembly. Other respondents in the suit were the Speaker of the assembly, Bello Hassan Abdullahi, Chairman of the Ad hoc Committee and the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice. In their originating summons, they posed four questions for determination which revolved round whether the defendants had power to remove the chief judge as a “judicial officer” within the meaning of sections 292 and 318 of the 1999 Constitution. They also sought to know among others, whether the 1st defendants (Assembly) or its committee was vested with the power to invite the first claimant (Ajanah) to the floor of the assembly for the purpose of investigation. They equally sought declarations that the defendants were not vested with the power to remove the CJ or invite him

Justice Ajanah to the floor of the assembly for purpose of investigation; that the constitution of the ad hoc committee by the assembly on December 11, 2018 was unconstitutional, ultra vires and therefore, null, void and of no effect. They also sought orders of perpetual injunction setting aside the purported resolution and another restraining the defendants, their agents, privies or servants from investigating or exercising any form of disciplinary control or sanctions on the claimants. It was not only the chief judge who benefited from the judgment as Justice Omolaye-Ajileye, also declared that the chief registrar of the state High Court held a statutory position as the accounting officer of the judiciary and was therefore, not subject to the control and supervision of either the executive or the legislature. The above case is not the first time the court would halt the arbitrariness of a state governor and the House of Assembly in removing a chief judge from office. Since the enthronement of democracy in 1999, the NJC has consistently been telling state governors and their Houses of Assembly that they could not appoint or remove a chief judge without its input. But this constitutional provision has often been flouted. The most recent was on May 5, 2009 when the then Governor of Kwara State, Dr. Bukola Saraki, sacked the state chief judge, Justice Raliat Elelu-Habeeb, from office for alleged corruption, misconduct as well as high handedness in handling the crisis in the judiciary. Rather than notifying the NJC, Saraki wrote a letter to the state House of Assembly, complaining about the chief judge and the need to remove her from office. Upon receiving the governor’s letter, it took the lawmakers just 45 minutes to deliberate on the letter and gave a unanimous approval to the governor’s request. Before anyone could say anything, the chief judge was sacked. Justice Elelu-Habeeb then went to the federal high court in Ilorin, which ordered that she should be reinstated. But the state government appealed judgment and won. Consequently, Justice Elelu-Habeeb approached the Supreme Court. In 2012, the seven-man panel of justices of the apex court led by Justices Walter Onnoghen, Christopher Chukwumah-Eneh, Muhammad Muntaka-Coomassie, Olufunmilola Adekeye, Mary Peter-Odili and Olukayode Ariwoola, in a unanimous decision,

declared all the actions taken by the Saraki-led executive arm, acting in consonance with the state House of Assembly on Justice Elelu-Habeeb’s removal as a nullity. They held that both the governor-led executive arm and the state lawmakers lacked the constitutional powers to remove the chief judge without an input of the NJC. The court held that the NJC was by law a necessary party that must be involved in determining the fate of a judicial officer. Citing Section 271(1) of the 1999 Constitution, the apex court said: “It is not difficult to see that for the effective exercise of the powers of removal of a Chief Judge of a state by the governor and House of Assembly, the first port of call by the governor shall be the NJC. Although the governor of a state has been vested with the power to appoint the chief judge of his own state, that power is not absolute.” Justice Mohammed said: “That is to say for the purpose of emphasis, the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 does not give the Governor of Kwara State, acting in conjunction with the House of Assembly of Kwara State, absolute power to remove the Chief Judge of the state from his/ her office before the age of retirement without the recommendation of the NJC. “The NJC is the body that has been assigned the duty and responsibility of recommending to the governors of the states of the federation suitable persons for appointments to the offices of chief judges of the states and other judicial officers in the states. “The same NJC is also empowered under Sub-paragraph (d0 of paragraph 21 to recommend to the governors of the states the removal from office of the chief judges of the states and other judicial officers of the states, and also to exercise disciplinary control over such chief judges of the states and other judicial officers of the states. “Therefore, from these very clear provisions of the constitution, which are very far from being ambiguous, the governors of the states and the houses of assembly of the states cannot exercise disciplinary control touching the removal of chief judges of states or other judicial officers in the states.” Perhaps, with the Kogi example, governors would start to learn to appreciate the very essence of separation of power, which guarantees the independence of the judiciary and desist from attempting to exercise absolute power only to be put in their place by a court of law.

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CICERO/REPORT

Oyetola

Adeleke

Osun: Waiting for Judgement Day Nigerians and indeed, the people Osun State are on tenterhooks as they await the Supreme Court verdict in the case between Governor Gboyega Oyetola of the state and Senator Ademola Adeleke, writes Yinka Kolawole

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he controversy over the Osun State governorship election between Governor Gboyega Oyetola of the state and Senator Ademola Adeleke, will be laid to rest by the Supreme Court, on July 5, 2019. But this has naturally divided the people of the state along their political interests as they argue for and against both parties. Sam Segun-Progress, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) strategist and Atiku’s spokesman in Osun, held the view that the apex court would restore the hope of the masses and return the mandate the Osun people freely gave Senator Adeleke on September 22, 2018 According to the broadcast journalist, the ruling of the tribunal that validated Adeleke’s election was welcomed with spontaneous joy that engulfed the state simultaneously without any form of inducement He however said the surprise appeal court ruling, which left the meat of the case to treat technicalities left the state in sorrow and the organised but publicised rally of APC members led by Oyetola was a sign of the people’s rejection of the governor and his party. He contended that people’s hope in God that the

justices at the Supreme Court would shame those, who believed money could do all things and restore the people’s mandate by nullifying the charade and rape of September 27 that have become infamous with the slogan Osun template. Also speaking with THISDAY on the verdict, the APC State Director of Media and Publicity, Barrister Kunle Oyatomi remarked that the APC and the people of Osun State were expecting good news from the Supreme Court. Oyatomi stressed that what the APC candidate laid before the Court were facts, which were verifiable, adding that the truth would be upheld at the end of the day. He then advised Nigerians and the people of the state to remain unshaken. On his part, Chief Press secretary to the governor, Mr. Niyi Adesina contended that the people were confident that the judgment would be in favour of the APC in the state. He said all the facts are out there and that nothing could stop APC from winning at the apex court, because the position of the Court of Appeal would be upheld, a development he claimed would equally restore the people’s hope in the Judiciary. On his expectations, the Executive Director of the Advocacy for Advancement of peace and harmony in Africa Initiative, Comrade Olaniyi Ajibola said

the Court as the last resort and the arbiter for finality should give verdict that would reflect the sanctity of the electoral process, noting that in doing so, the process would guarantee sustainable solution and good governance. Equally, a social Crusader, Comrade Waheed Lawal urged the people of the state to allow the panel to decide the case without any interference. He noted that Osun State should be calm and allow the Supreme Court to decide the case as it is. Also another Social Crusader, Comrade Rufus Oyatoro said his expectations were that what happened at the Appeal Court should be upheld. Civil Societies Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun State (CSCEOS) also urged the Supreme Court in the land to do justice to the petition before it, saying the hope of the people of the state would be high ahead of July 5. Comrade Alimi Sulaiman adivised the Court not to dash the hope of good people of the State as done at the appellate court on the matter and cautioned the Apex Court on its judgment on technicality. “We would not fold our arms by allowing the wheel of justice to be scuttled by those who pretend to be custodian of the Temple of Justice on the altar of ruling party,” he submitted.

NOTES FOR FILE

A Planet of Money-eating Mammals

Ibrahim Magu, EFCC Chairman

Often, when certain folks dismiss the country as a joke, it is not because they delight in deriding Nigeria but because more often than not, some events in the country have inexplicably presented Nigeria as its own joke. Many months back, a certain woman, working with the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) alarmed the nation, when she claimed that a strange snake swallowed the sum N36million that was missing. Soon after, another strange monkey allegedly swallowed the sum of N70 million belonging to Northern senators in the farm of Senator Abdullahi Adamu. And now, the Gorillas have joined the fray. A fearful-looking Gorilla from Kano zoo

recently reportedly swallowed N6.8million belonging to the state, the lowest to be swallowed by any animal. How Nigeria arrived at this sorry state, to the extent that it now nurtures money-eating mammals is simply befuddling! There is no doubting the fact that this is merely taking corruption on a different scale and which appears to be effective and discreet. Although the woman, who claimed a strange snake swallowed N36 million is currently undergoing trial, if the two other scenarios are also not pursued to a logical close, more mammals would escape from different zoo across Nigeria to swallow money since this appears convenient for all. Balderdash!

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ JUNE 23, 2019

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CICERO/ONTHEWATCH

When A Governor And A Godfather Square in Edo State On the Edo State horizon are suspense, intrigues and power game that will define the shape of things to come in favour or against Governor Godwin Obaseki’s favour. Adibe Emenyonu writes

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rom all indications, the relationship between Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, and his predecessor and National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole has given way to animosity to the extent that supporters of both parties now clash at the slightest provocation. The problem between the two allegedly began, when the erstwhile political godfather admonished godson to stop alienating party faithful, who worked for his election in favour of his friends in Lagos, Abuja, and other places. As a way forward, Oshiomhole was said to have advised the governor to constitute boards as a means of ‘settling’ party members, who are crying of marginalization. But since then, the two have refused to see. Even at that Obaseki appears to be who does not like to mix politics with governance as he had said at different times that doing so would promote indolence. As a one who wants value for money, he appears not cut out for doling out money in the name of party patronage, a thing he wants to eradicate in the state. This has no doubt pitted him against his predecessor, who believes governance must come with a human face, because the welfare of the people is the sole aim of government anywhere. To wriggle out of this, the governor began quietly to create his own political structure so that he could be his own man. The first signs of a disagreement between the two began during the last party primaries in the state. It was gathered that the interest of the governor was parallel with that of Oshiomhole on the choice of candidates to fly the flag of the party in the state both at the State and national levels. To this extent, Obaseki was accused of not backing a majority of those chosen for the national assembly elections, because he believed they were Oshiomhole’s boys, which accounted for why they failed in the elections. Worst hit is his own senatorial district where APC lost abysmally in Oredo, his own immediate constituency as well as the senatorial seat to the rival PDP except for Edo North that came to the rescue. However, during the House of Assembly elections, and having learnt from the mistakes made in the National Assembly elections, more enthusiasm was shown and the state recorded 24 out of the 24 state assembly seats. Ordinarily, the electoral victory is supposed to be a blessing for the party in the state. But it has turned out to be a test of political strength by the two gladiators over who takes control of the legislature as the only tool of leadership. While Obaseki wanted a former Majority Leader, Frank Okiye, (Esan North East I constituency), Oshiomhole preferred Victor Edoro (Esan Central constituency). This created a division among the elected assembly members with five members backed by Obaseki; and 19 queuing behind Oshiomhole. Sensing the futility of going into a contest should the entire elected member be inaugurated at the same time and going into a contest for the position of leadership and other principal officers of the house, which could be best described as a coup was staged when nine assembly members met on Monday night and elected Frank Okiye and Yekini Idiaye as speaker and deputy speaker respectively with the inauguration of the House presided over by the Clerk, Alhaji Audu Yahaya Omogbai. Among members present at the inauguration are Nosa Okunbor, Orhiomwon II; Hon. Henry Okuarobo, Ikpoba-Okha; Hon. Uyi Ekhosuehi. Oredo East; Marcus Onobun, Ewan West; Ephraim Anehbosele; Orhiomwon South; Roland Asoro, Orhiomwon I; Eric Okaka; Frank Okiye, Esan North East I; and Idiaye, Akoko-Edo I. The inauguration, which followed a letter of the proclamation from Governor Obaseki to the Clerk of the House and dated June 14, was held between 9.30pm and 10.30 pm amid tight security. It came a few hours after the 19 members-elect protested the non-proclamation of the Assembly by Governor Obaseki earlier that day. To perfect the planned inauguration without the knowledge of others, three lawmakers among the 19 that protested earlier in the day were invited for a meeting and in the process, their phones were allegedly taken from them before they were driven to the Assembly and sworn in by the Clerk along with six other members who were already at the House of Assembly. Before the clandestine inauguration took place, a team of lawyers was allegedly assembled to study the implication. Soon after, the lawmakers adjourned sitting until July 17 before they were driven to meet the governor at his private residence. During the inauguration, 17 police patrol vehicles were parked in front of the Assembly complex while additional seven were strategically stationed in adjoining roads. About eight other security vehicles were also sighted around the governor’s

Obaseki and Oshiomhole residence. Upon completion of the process of swearing-in, the Speaker, Okiye took charge of proceedings and thanked all the members present for the confidence reposed in him, promising that he would work for the people of Edo State. He also called on members-elect who have not satisfied the process of swearing-in, which includes the completion of the asset declaration form, to do so speedily so they could be inaugurated to undertake the task for which the people elected them. The speaker also declared officially open, the lines of communication with the executive arm of government and all other organs of government. As it stands, the 16 members have not been sworn in and cannot be referred to as legislators. A source close to the party, who craved anonymity, said those who were not part of the swearing-in could not be regarded as members of the state assembly yet. He said until that is done and they meet all the requirements and were sworn in by the clerk, they are as good as ordinary members of society. Nevertheless, the 16 lawmakers-elect have denied knowledge of any invitation to the inauguration ceremony of the Assembly by the clerk, noting that whatever was done at the hallow chambers was null and void and of no effect before the law. Addressing journalists, spokesman of the 16, Mr. Washington Osifo (Uhunmwode), said they would have been present at the inauguration if they were invited. Osifo said the clerk called them at about 5:30 pm to inform them that he has been called from the government house and they were happy that the press conference has pricked the governor to do what the constitution demands of him. He said the clerk told them he would call back 30 minutes later but that they didn’t hear from him again, noting that some of their brothers, who were supposed to be at a meeting with then were absent and when they tried calling them, they could not pick their calls “until about 9:30 pm, when photographs began to filter into our phones suggesting that a kangaroo assembly was being inaugurated”. He added: “We were disappointed. One of us was spotted with a short and slippers taking the oath of office. That was an offence in the hallowed chamber. They humiliated him. Two of them were also kidnapped to make up the nine members. What they needed because they lack understanding of what a quorum could mean. “There can be no quorum until the House is properly inaugurated. What the law requires is inauguration of the entire members. They got eight and said they have a quorum. It was

for the Clerk to announce or cause invitation to be sent to us. That was missing. They gave information of the inauguration only to those they wanted to be there. We would have been there. “We have done the needful. We want to encourage Edo people to defend democracy and stand up for the right of men. We have 16 members present here. Others not here are still in shock after they were kidnapped. Two of them are still in shock. They are receiving treatment because their blood pressure went up.” Corroborating Osifo’s statement, two of the lawmakers, who were present at the inauguration ceremony, said they were abducted and forced to the Assembly premises to make the numbers for a quorum. Eric Okaka elected to represent Owan East and Nosa Okunbor (Orhionmwon East), said they were forcibly taken unto the hallowed chambers. He said he does not know where they brought a suit for him to wear, adding that the oath-taking at the chamber was an illegal one and that the inauguration was done under duress, because he was offered money, which he refused. To compound this, thugs suspected to be loyal to the state government, Tuesday night attacked the 16 members-elect. The thugs allegedly led by one Shaba was said to have unleashed mayhem on the lawmakers-elect, inflicting serious body injuries on them. The attack took place at lden Tulip Hotel, Etete, in Benin City, shortly after they held a press conference. From the video clip, watched, a staccato of gunshots could be heard as people ran helter-skelter in the ensuing pandemonium. Presently, the yet-to-be inaugurated members have gone underground, because of the stern warning coming from the governor and chairman of the party in the state, Mr. Anselm Ojezua. In a statement, Ojezua condemned the actions of the members-elect, who were throwing tantrums over the emergence of the leadership of the newly inaugurated 7th Edo State House of Assembly. He said the actions of the members-elect were a betrayal of the trust reposed in them by Edo people when they elected an APC-controlled House. He, therefore, called on the National Chairman of the Party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, whom he said should be aware of the issues, to call the members-elect to order, in the interest of the party in the state. Similarly, in a different statement, the governor sent a stern warning to those he referred to as individuals and groups with the intent to disrupt peace in the state by re-enacting the era of thuggery and civil disturbances to desist, because his administration would not tolerate any form of violence in the state.

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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 ˾ JUNE 23, 2019

CICERO/ISSUE

INEC’s Embarrassing Rigmarole, Somersault on Server The Independent National Electoral Commission would have to do more to pass on its current narrative over the server controversy, writes Chuks Okocha

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he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Atiku Abubakar/Peter Obi legal team applied to the 2019 Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, asking the court to permit the team to inspect the server used by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the February 23, 2019 Presidential and National Assembly Elections. INEC, in a counter affidavit filed at the Court of Appeal, denied that the commission had a server and in the words of the INEC counsel during the hearing, “The Appellant (The PDP and Atiku/Obi) is testing the waters with both legs. INEC cannot provide what they don’t have.” Few days later, the INEC headquarters in Abuja, in a bid to defend the obvious rigmarole and somersault of the commission, referred Nigerians to a speech of the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, sometime before the elections in February and March. In that speech, the commission’s Chairman explained the constraint of INEC in transmitting results to the SERVER, citing network coverage across the country and other logistics. The commission further explained that the SERVER was used in some off-season elections in Osun State and others, before the general election to test-run the system, but claimed it was not used in the February 23, Presidential and National Assembly Elections.

The Contradictions... First, INEC at the Court of Appeal through its legal counsel vehemently denied that the Commission transmitted the results of 2019 residential election, arguing that since the President did not sign the electoral act amendments into law, there was no way it could have transmitted the results of the election. Then it went on to deny that it had a server, reiterating that the commission could not provide what it didn’t have. Thirdly, the commission later made a U-turn, saying a certain server was used in the off-season elections before the general elections. Fourthly, INEC Chairman and other commissioners of the commission like Mike Igini, had told the world that in the 2019 General Election, the commission would transmit results to INEC server as a backup, in order to prevent rigging and sustain the confidence of Nigerians on the electoral process. Fifthly, there were reports showing clearly that INEC made budgetary provisions for the purchase of servers, and training of ICT Ad-Hoc staff for the purposes of transmitting results after collation to the said server. It further showed that INEC deployed the ICT crew on election day and honorarium paid to them.

INEC National Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu

Now, the BIG Questions Does INEC have a server (s)? Were results transmitted to the server during the February 23, 2019 Presidential and National Assembly Elections? Why is INEC denying the existence of its server? Can the court prosecute INEC for lying on oath, if it confirms that INEC indeed has a server? Will the Presidential Tribunal grant the PDP and Atiku/ Obi legal team access to inspect the said SERVER and electoral materials used in the February 23, 2019 Presidential Election? These questions and more are seriously begging for answers. The commission gave clarifications on the controversy over the non-electronic transmission of the 2019 elections, stating that President Muhammadu Buhari not signing the amended electoral act practically made it impossible for the commission to transfer the results electronically.

Enter the Blame Game The commission said it was indeed ready to transmit the results electronically, but the results could be declared a nullity for operating outside the dictates of the electoral act as amended in 2010. Why were ICT staff responsible transmission and data management deployed for the election? Why were they paid honorarium for election duty? If INEC did’t have a central server as it now claims, where were the data captured by Smart Card Readers stored? Is it some form of server or what? A Senior INEC official that spoke with THISDAY, said though he did not want to comment as it was an issue before the Presidential Election Tribunal, he however admitted that the commission has a server and was ready to transmit the elections electronically, if the amended electoral act was signed into law.

According to the INEC official, “Yes, we have a server or website. We have a website for the registration of voters. We have a server for political parties registration, where all data are stored. We also operated a pilot transmission of results in the Ondo and Osun States governorship elections. “But all our efforts came to naught with the President not signing the electoral act in the twilight of our preparations for the elections. So, we consulted on what to do and we were advised to stick to the subsisting laws on the elections. This is because to insist to go ahead with the transmission of the electronic elections could put the elections in great danger. “Someone could go to court and say we operated outside of the constitutionally recognised rules of the elections. Someone could go to court and the election would be declared null and void”, the INEC official said. He also referred THISDAY to what the Supreme Court said on the smart card reader involving election of Governor Nyesom Wike in 2015, where it was held that the smart card reader was not covered by electoral laws. “Another point is the non-coverage of the country by the Global Systems Mobile Communications (GSM). We discovered that over twenty per cent of the country is out the coverage of the major GSM providers. This is what we called the blind spot. “We consulted the National Communication Commission and the Computer and Satellites Communication Association and we were advised to avoid this controversy. So, the main problem was how do we transmit the election results electronically to this 20 per cent we refer as blind spot. “Another challenge is the fear of people hacking into the electronic results as it is being transmitted”, the INEC official said, adding the general election was too contentious to

enable anyone toy with it. On what happened to the N2. 27 Billion already appropriated for the Information Communication Technology, the official said, “I told you that we were ready for the electronic transmission, but for the non-signing of the electoral act. “It is worth mentioning that the word server is likewise used four times in INEC’s “2017-2021 Strategic Programme of Action.” Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), a nonprofit group committed to facilitating legislative advocacy and access to public policies said INEC’s ICT department was expected to award contracts by the first quarter of each year for the upgrade of existing mail server and expansion of INEC mail system to states and local government offices. PLAC also said that the department was to get approval by the second quarter of 2017 and 2018 for the procurement of servers for all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. It was also to upgrade the server version of Open VR for compatibility with the new Dell Server. The renewal and maintenance of cloud infrastructure as well as the development of data management tools “for archiving election results and other electoral activities” were also provided for in the programme of action,” it claimed.

Conclusion It is true that monies (over N2 billion naira) meant for the procurement and upgrade of servers, were approved for INEC by the National Assembly and it has had a long-term plan favouring the electronic storage of electoral results. The amount was also released to the INEC and the commission reported it as utilised. Therefore, if the agency insists it does not have a server, then it has some explaining to do on how exactly it spent the appropriated funds.

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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 ˾ JUNE 23, 2019

CICERO/INTERVIEW

Oye: South-east Will Seek Political Justice in 2023 The National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Chief Victor Oye says the Southeast would not give up on the quest for presidency in 2023. But to realise this, he said would not be based on the survival of the fittest but on appeal for equity and moral justice. In this interview with Onyebuchi Ezigbo, Oye, also spoke on the challenges before President Muhammadu Buhari and how APGA would fare in 2023. Excerpts:

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espite fears of possible turbulence during APGA’s national convention, the event, which held at Awka, Anambra State, went peaceful and you were reelected national chairman for another four years. How did this happen? For me, the victory is victory for all APGA members and supporters. It was a convention that was well planned and executed. We had enough time to plan, because the convention holds every four years, so, we knew it was coming and we put our acts together, gave INEC 21 days notice as demanded by our constitution and the electoral act, we held our NEC meeting to approve the guideline of the election and the agenda as well. So, after all that, we held our convention. Delegates from all over the country – over 1,700 delegates were present and we were able to accommodate all of them in Awka and the convention went smoothly, monitored by INEC, led by a commissioner, Professor Antonia Sinbena with two Directors and two administrative officers. It was a very big, beautiful and peaceful outing. One of the high points of that convention was the defection of the scion of the late Ikemba, Chief Emeka Ojukwu (Jnr) from APC to APGA and his subsequent appointment into the board of trustees of the party. How is this going to impact on APGA? Naturally, the Ojukwus are part and parcel of APGA and as far as we are concerned, Chukwuemeka Ojukwu Jnr. is the scion of the Ojukwu dynasty and everything about the Ojukwu family revolves around him, because he is the first son of the Ikemba. When he left for APC, we saw that as an adventure and we knew it wasn’t going to last. So, we are very happy that he has rejoined the fold and we are all working together towards making APGA truly the third largest political party in Nigeria and we are awaiting the new position we are going to assume in 2023. You once promised to make APGA a national party. A lot of people still believe that APGA has not achieved that task. How can you assess your performance? Is that your personal opinion or Nigerians? I said some Nigerians. How many Nigerians? Two can be some. Why I am saying that is because APGA is truly a national party. We have won elections in all parts of the country. We have three House of Representatives members from Benue State, one from Taraba, five councillors from Niger State and chairmanship of Gwagalada. So, this is no longer a local party or a regional party, it is now truly a national party in all ramifications. Going forward, what is your next challenge? We have challenges but these challenges border on our collective vision to enthrone a truly Nigerian political party. APGA is the only political party in Nigeria with a clear-cut ideology. No other party has that, only APGA. APC doesn’t have an ideology, PDP doesn’t have an ideology and that is why they quarrel almost every day. APGA is growing and we are guided by some degree of morality in the things we do and many of us who work in APGA have the fear of God in the way we administer the party and APGA is now the party to beat, globally. We are now a global party not a local party, not just a Nigerian party. It is a global brand, because we have offices in 35 countries beside Nigeria and if our plans pull through, I think PDP and APC will have a very rough time in 2023. This is because most Nigerians now see APGA as the viable alternative to the shenanigans of PDP and APC and you do know yourself as a renowned journalist that APC and PDP have nothing to offer this country. They are just grandstanding. For us in APGA, we have a shared vision to make Nigeria a truly progressive nation. It is only APGA that can do it, no other party. You talked about 2023. Every part of the country has had a shot at the presidency except the zone you come from, the South-east. As the chairman of APGA, what is your view about 2023

Oye politics? What will APGA do? Will the South-east get the ticket from APGA? Let me give you some background. You said the South-east has never produced a president, which is true and 2023 is in the realm of posterity, nobody knows what is going to happen. As for me, I am a very pragmatic and realistic person. For the presidency, when we get to 2023 God will show us the way. It is not a decision that I can take alone, it has to be the party, so the party will decide which way to go. But for me as an individual I believe justice should be done. It is not necessarily where the person comes from, we need a competent person to hold that office in 2023, because if you look at what is happening globally, you will see that Nigeria is not making progress, so we need to look inward. I believe between now and 2023, Buhari would have delivered his magic, which every Nigerian is waiting for. After that, the presidency should now move to a more experienced, intellectual person to run the administration of this country. Nigeria is a heterogeneous nation and it requires someone with tactical diplomacy with the education and exposure to run the affairs of this country. That is what we need in 2023. Let see how things are going to turn out in the next four years. The president has just been re-elected and we have the confidence that he will perform better in his second coming. The first thing the president is expected to do right now is to ensure that his cabinet is made up of men and women from all parts of Nigeria. Inclusive! I heard that he is going to appoint one minister from each state and one zonal minister from the six political zones, which will bring the number to about 43 ministers. If he does that, it will be the first step to equity and justice. Second, he should look at the composition of the Security Council. Every part of every geo-political group in this country must be a part of that council so that when decisions are taken, those decisions will represent our national spread. It’s very important! I have confidence in the ability of the president to do the needful between now and 2023 to reverse the course of history, because the way things have gone so far, Nigerians are not happy but I believe the first term of the president was a learning process and a period to lay the foundation of what he is going to do in 2019 to 2023. So, let us give him the benefit of doubt and see what is going to happen as we move on.

Before the 2019 election, Imo was one of the states regarded as ‘for the take for APGA’, but as it turned out, it didn’t work out that way. What really went wrong in Imo? Nothing went wrong. Imo election is not yet over. After all, the man sitting there didn’t win the election. He didn’t get the mandatory two third in 20 local governments. He had only 12 local government areas and what is the percentage? For me APGA will still win Imo State anytime any election is called and most of the people that came to contest for governorship ticket under APGA in Imo were just moles. They didn’t mean business. Many of them have run back to PDP from where they came. One of them has even taken up appointment as Secretary to Government of Imo State – someone aspiring to be governor of Imo State under APGA. So, most of them were Wolves in sheep’s clothing. Only a few of them were real. In the same Imo State, there was a convention that elected parallel executives the same day your convention in Awka took place and this same set of people had accused you of mismanaging the funds of the party. Is that true? For me there is no parallel exco to what we have in APGA today. There is no faction. eEvery faction exists in the minds of those that conjured it. It isn’t part of what we are doing. We have only one Exco, one NWC, and one BoT. We don’t have any parallel Esco anywhere because the people you are talking about, did you look at the picture? They looked like people coming back from the far; they just gathered them from somewhere and took pictures. Did you witness our convention? That incident you are talking about, was it monitored by INEC? No! INEC couldn’t have sanctioned it because for us INEC attended our convention and they were there in full force – high powered delegation from Abuja and the chairman of INEC, Mahmood Yakubu was monitoring what was happening in Awka, calling Professor Antonia Simbina ands asking her what was happening there and woman told him what was happening here. And from the report of the chairman, you will see that there was no other convention other than the one held in Awka. So, anyone talking about faction in APGA is just being economical with the truth. We don’t have any faction. It is a common thing with every political party once you have any convention, elections or primaries, people will always try to be funny but they have never gone far with all their operations. Like this one you are talking about, have you ever heard anything from them again? They don’t exist. They don’t have the moral, legal or constitutional powers to do anything, so, they will just burn out within one or two weeks and they are gone and gone forever. So, that is the least problem we have. What about the allegation on misappropriation of funds? Where? In APGA? No one has ever accused this Exco of misappropriation. Haven’t you heard about how much was handed over to us and how much was made? That has never happened in APGA. Is that misappropriation? We should be given kudos for building the party from 40million Naira to almost 1.3 Billion. That is a huge leap. Did I show any sign of misappropriation? In APGA, we don’t do any cash business. Any money that comes into the party goes into the party’s account, so, there is transparency and accountability in APGA. We are working towards building a standard Secretariat in Abuja, the first party that would be able to achieve this. PDP is unable to achieve this. They are building an empire in the sky. When will they complete it? APC hasn’t even started, so, we are going to build a standard national office in Abuja, which will be the envy of everyone. So, misappropriation is alien to APGA and the present administration.

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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 ˾ UNE 23, 2019

FEATURE

When Ghanaians Turn the Table against Nigerian Investment Adedayo Adejobi

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hey were too easily spotted even from a riotous crowd: very dark-skinned, with shirts torn on their shoulders and portable sewing machines delicately balanced on one of their shoulders. Their pensive pupils dilate in the gloomy sockets housing them. They appeared ragged and disingenuous, subservient and timid-looking. Sometimes, they came in the form of cobblers and home helps; ubiquitous and desperate as they dotted the landscape of Nigeria. They came into Nigeria as menial workers and they were warmly welcomed as such. True, they were (are still are) Nigeria’s favourite neighbours. They poured into many cities in Nigeria looking for opportunities to eke out a living ’. They were desirable to the Nigerian society needed to perform menial tasks. They looked harried and hapless. Their world was an impoverished one mangled by corruption and poverty. They flocked Nigeria and begged for the least opportunities life in Nigeria could offer. That was once upon the Ghanaians who fled their impoverished Ghana to prosperous Nigeria. A lot has changed since then. It is not hard to decipher. It is important to mention that though many Nigerians have flocked into Ghana, it is not because of their sorry state, it is oftentimes owing to their adventurous and enterprising spirit. But that is not going down well with Ghanaians. When over 400 shops belonging to Nigerians in Ghana, were placed under lock and keys in 2018, resulting in protests by the aggrieved traders, the Nigerian Minister of foreign affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, summoned the Ghanaian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Alhaji Rashid Bawa, to explain the reason behind such anti-bilateral action and the overall maltreatment of Nigerians in Ghana. The communiqué of the meeting saw Alhaji Rashid Bawa, promising on behalf of the Ghanaian government, to address all the issues raised and give no room for repetition. So it was surprising when the news of “723 Nigerians deported from Ghana” broke in February this year. This time there was an excuse: “The deportees were cyber-fraudsters, prostitutes and ‘illegals’”, the Ghanaian authorities said. The Nigerian government, once again, through its High Commissioner to Ghana, Michael Abikoye, registered its displeasure over the incident, stating that Nigerians have been at the mercy of Ghanaian Immigration Service (GIS) when Ghanaians in Nigeria are receiving the family treatment. The diplomatic dialogue was proposed, to once again resolve the issue. It didn’t work. And gradually, the maltreatment sauntered from the corridors of Ghanaian authorities to the streets and went viral so that being a Nigerian in Ghana today comes with a price of xenophobic paranoia. There is this fear that the Ghanaian government could come up with a law to oppress Nigerian businesses in Ghana. Just as in the case where Nigerian traders were asked to raise their capital to $1 million or leave. Under the Ghana Investment Promotion Council, (GIPC) which Nigerians are not allowed being part of, Ghanaians feel threatened by other nationals, especially Nigerians who ply the same SMEs like them, and therefore urge the government to kick them out or relocate them in a bid to eliminate competition. There is also, this fear by an average Nigerian on Ghanaian street that he could be whisked away by the police on false allegations, (which has resulted in an overwhelming number of Nigerians in Ghana prisons) or the locals attacking them because another Nigerian has committed a crime. Just as in the case of Samuel Wills Udoetuk, who was arrested for kidnapping in SekondiTakondi metropolis and Nigerians took the blame for his actions and were consequently attacked by the locals. More to this, the Ghanaian authorities prosecute landlords who give accommodation to Nigerians if their backgrounds are not known. There is also the case of charging Nigerians $120 for ID registration, and $60 for renewal. So Nigerians pay for their stay in Ghana, and your inability to do so puts you in a good position for deportation. Major transport companies in Nigeria have had to deal with the inconsistencies of the rules of Ghana Custom Service (GCS) and GIS – starting from a requirement for entry to your stay in Ghana all in total disregard of the ECOWAS protocol. One of the transport companies’ drivers, who spoke on the condition of anonymity said, “At the border, an International passport is a free pass, valid IDs like national ID and voter card may cost you 30 to 50 cedis. And if you are a student, you are required to use your international passport only, not even your student ID can get you to the other side.” When asked if there is a remedy for those without IDs he said: “yes there is, but you have to pay up to 100 cedis, I guess it’s a way they generate money for their government.” That’s not all; there are also questions of where you are going and who is at the receiving end. The driver continued, “You must provide proof of where you are going, who is going to receive you. Home

President Nana -Akuffo Addo of Ghana

Professor Augustine Nwagbara, Nigerian Professor of English in Ghana

address, phone number or company, and they (GIS) must look it up before they could let you go. Even we drivers are not allowed to go beyond our Bus Park when we are in Ghana.” Ironically, Ghana is a prominent member of ECOWAS that should be setting a good example in upholding its rules. Alas, it is the contrary. For instance, the general principle on movements of persons, residence and establishment of ECOWAS protocol, part II, article 2 highlights the rules. The breach of the ECOWAS protocol by the Ghanaian government and its people has always been justified with the excuses of crime committed by Nigerians. And it’s getting worse. Radio talk shows, social media, and words on the street are all preaching the “need” to keep an eye out for Nigerians. So in Ghanaian cities, a Nigerian is the public enemy number one. Augustine Nwagbara, a Nigerian professor of English who teaches in a Ghanaian university lent his voice to the outcry, decrying the incessant harassment that Nigerians are receiving with proportionate increment. There is no sacred cow, not even the students’ community is safe. He recounted his ordeal with the Ghanaian police and immigration, how he was ill-treated just because he is a Nigerian. He said, “On one occasion they delayed me for eight hours from Afulawo to Winneba, just because I misplaced some documents, and until I found them, they didn’t let me go.” A painful reason for this outcry is that Nigeria is giving more to Ghana, and deserve far better than they are receiving. As Prof. Nwagbara noted, Nigerian professors are the pillars of Ghanaian universities, while Nigerian students bring the funding. According to World Education News, in 2017, Ghana was the fourth most popular destination country for Nigerian degree students, right after the US, UK, and Malaysia. This means Nigeria is contributing more than 70 percent of international degree-seeking students in Ghana. There are over 75,000 Nigerian students in Ghana, paying tens of thousands of dollars in tuition fees which amount to N300 billion annually. (An amount that a former Governor of Nigeria’s Central Bank, lamented that it’s far higher than the budget for all federal universities in Nigeria.) That’s a whopping cash injection to Ghana’s economy and a booster for her education sector. More to that, there are about 10 Nigerian banks in Ghana, commanding substantial workforce and paying millions in taxes annually. Dangote Group, Globacom, Coscharis, and multiple insurance companies from Nigeria have done more to employment and Ghanaian economy than her indigenous companies. Not to be ignored are transport companies and hundreds of other SMEs like the businesses of the members of the Nigeria Union of Traders Association Ghana, (NUTAG) whose shops were locked. Moreover, hundreds of people from Nigeria travel to Ghana on a daily basis to patronize

their local markets. Ghana’s GDP grew by 8.5 percent in 2017 and 2018 respectively, and it’s expected to do better in 2019, with a six percent increase mainly because of businesses of Nigerian origin. There is evidence of Nigerian effect in almost every sector of the Ghanaian economy. Obviously, Nigeria has invested in Ghana more than any other country and deserves grateful reciprocation more than the silly attacks. There are hundreds of Ghanaian students in Nigerian universities, due to competition for limited slots in their government-funded universities, and the fact that their private universities lack qualified education personnel and they depend mostly on Nigerian academic staff. Besides, they get a better education at lower fees in Nigeria. Prof. Nwagbara noted that the standard of education offered in Ghana does not commiserate with the cost. He said, “Nigerian students in Ghana pay an average of $10, 000 for English courses that their counterparts in the University of Lagos (Unilag) pay N12,000, (about $35) in one session.” He continued, “In one faculty in Ghanaian university, there are only two (Nigerian) professors, whereas there are 15 professors only in the English department of Unilag. And when the only professors they have in their faculty leave, they source for their replacement from Nigeria.” Ghana students in Nigeria enjoy the desired academic staff lacking in their country at a very low cost. And there is indiscriminate freedom attached. No one cares about where you come from, as long as you are black, you are a Nigerian. Many have attributed the maltreatment to vindictiveness for the famous 1983’s “Ghana must go” when the then-Nigerian President, the late Alhaji Shehu Shagari, ordered Ghanaians out of Nigeria on the excuse of economic sabotage. There is also the belief that Ghana’s President, Nana Akufo-Addo, was elected on the promise that he will deal with Nigerians. However, it’s unjust to punish Nigerians for the error that took place 36 years ago or make innocent people suffer for the offence of a few irresponsible ones. Consequently, there is a tendency of reprisal from the Nigerian government or its people, which will only leave Ghana as a warning example of “never bite the hand that feeds you.” There is however little he can do, Nigeria is clearly the giant of Africa, far richer and more prosperous than Ghana. Accra the capital of Ghana essentially looks like Owerri the capital of Imo State, in the South East of Nigeria. Ghana is not nearly in a position to compete with Nigeria on any front despite the temporary challenges of leadership Nigeria is currently experiencing. It is therefore in Ghana’s best interest to immediately stop the mistreatment and maltreatment of Nigerians living and or doing business in Ghana.

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ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ™ĂœË? Olawale Olaleye Ă—Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ë? ĂĄĂ‹Ă–Ă?Ë› Ă–Ă‹Ă–Ă?ĂŁĂ?̜ÞÒÓĂ?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ–Ă“Ă Ă?Ë›Ă?Ù×

Senate President Ahmed Lawal, shortly after his swearing-in as the leader of the 9th Senate.

Slowly, 9th National Assembly Settles to Business With the upset created by the leadership election yielding to reality, the 9thNational Assembly is gradually settling to work, write Deji Elumoye and Shola Oyeyipo

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ith the politics of the elections of new presiding officers for both the Senate and the House of Representatives now over with the emergence of Senator Ahmad Lawan and Hon Femi Gbajabiamila as President of the Senate and House Speaker respectively, the leadership of the ninth assembly had taken immediate steps to address the immediate needs of the legislative body while also playing host to members of the international community. At the Senate, Lawan, last week received in audiencetheEuropeanUnionElectionObserverMission led byAmbassador Keitec Karlsen. The President of the Senate used the forum to express concern over the inadequate funding of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Lawan, who received the visitors along with 14 other Senators, stressed that INEC requires more support and resources “as the resources available are not enough for the enormous tasks�. His words: “INEC is one institution that has always been supported by the NationalAssembly. They also require more support and resources. The resources available are not enough for the enormous tasks. Our desire is that our electoral empire continues to be independent and improves to perform the statutory functions creditably well.� While applauding the European Union Mission for its recommendations over the last elections, he emphasised that “your visit today is historic as the number one visit to my office after elections of the presiding officers of the 9th Assembly. What can be more important than meeting with elections observers from the European Union?� Lawan also stressed the importance of elections in the country, saying, “We have lessons to learn and we want our elections to be credible and meet with best practices�. He further requested for more collaboration with the European Union Mission, urging the Union to help in building capacity of members of the Nigerian parliament. “We need to see an improvement in our electoral

system. We solicit your support to further boost knowledge of our members and committees relevant to this course. Earlier,Ambassador Karlsen told Lawan that as independent observers, EU visited hundreds of polling stations in the country during the 2019 polls, affirming that the exercise afforded the Observers to see events on self-appraisals. The EU Mission leader added that 30 recommendations were brought up for electoral reforms and another seven priority recommendations were comprehensively arrived at, noting that the reports were to correct anomalies in elections so that such inadequacies would not be repeated in the future. Also, last week, the Senate leadership appointed some political and legislative aides. The President of the Senate appointed Babagana Muhammad Aji and Festus Adedayo as his Chief of Staff and SpecialAdviseronMediaandPublicityrespectively. Adedayo’s appointment was however reversed less than 48 hours after his appointment was made public. During the period under review, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, also named his Chief of Staff and two media aides. They are Dr. Otive Igbuzor, Chief of Staff; Mr. Yomi Odunuga, Media Adviser and Ms. Lara Owoeye-Wise,SeniorSpecialAssistantonElectronic and New Media. At the House, Speaker Gbajabiamila set up three ad hoc committees to oversee the activities of the House. The committees include that of Selection, Media and Welfare. Though the House had adjourned plenary till July 2 to allow members settle down to legislative business, the Director-General of the dissolved Gbajabiamila/Wase Campaign Organisation, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin informed that former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hon Khadija Ibrahim would head the 10-man ad hoc committee on media pending the setting up of substantive committees. “It is statutory, ad hoc statutory media committee has been set up. They are going to start their work now until when the standing committee on media takes shape. The chairman of the committee is a face that you know very well, Hon. Khadija

Ibrahim,� Jibrin had said. In her first official communication with journalists, Ibrahim said the paramount agenda of the 9th assembly is to work together as one House. “We had plenary this morning and after the plenary we went into an executive session in which various things were discussed and the first and foremost thing that was put on the table was the fact that we remain as one House, regardless of party affiliation. “As you are well aware, Mr. Speaker came on a platform of the Joint Task Force, so that means it doesn’t matter which party you come from we are still one. We belong to one whole House. “There’s not going to be any prejudices; there is not going to be leaning towards one party. We are going to work towards the unity and progress of our country as one together. We must do it. In brotherhood we all stand,� she stated. The lawmaker said all platforms related to the campaign towards attaining the speakership position have been closed down and will now form one platform under which all members will be registeredandcancommunicatethroughwhatsapp. In like manner, Hon Umar Bago, who challenged, Gbajabiamila, also accepted the decision of lawmakers to elect Gbajabiamila as the Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives. He expressed gratitude to the House members for their “kind support� during the race for the speakership election and formally congratulated Gbajabiamila and Wase on their elections. Bago also vowed to work with the leadership and give all the support they would need from him to evolve and pursue populist and peopleoriented policies and programmes for the good of the House and Nigerians at large. That said, Gbajabiamila made good his promise not to proceed on the two-week long recess of the House, but instead, continued to work and last week, he too received a delegation of European Union Election Observer team on Nigeria and ECOWAS led by Ambassador Ketil Karlsen and European Union Deputy Chief Observer, Hannah Roberts. He assured the team that the parliament was ready to work with the EU to achieve the best

results for Nigeria. The EU Mission had noted that while Nigeria made significant progress in the electoral process during the last general election, the country needed to reform its electoral processes ahead of future elections. Roberts said there was the need for Nigeria to evolve stronger regulations to manage the electoral process and also the compilation of election results. She was also of the view that there was need for transparency, collaboration between INEC with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and early preparation for security measures ahead of the elections. Karlsen, on his part, decried the reduction in the number of women elected into the 9th National Assembly in the last general election. Responding, Gbajabiamila who assured the delegation that the 9th assembly “will hit the ground running in terms of electoral reforms,� emphasised that the NationalAssembly is resolved to “continue to improve on our system year in, year out until our electoral system has come of age.� While noting that the invitation extended to the EU Mission to monitor the general election by the government affirmed its commitment to transparency, Gbajabiamila said Nigeria would follow international best practices on elections and electioneering process. Deputy Speaker, Wase also received members of Plateau State Youth Council led by the chairman, Jenchang Fabong. Wase was particularly unhappy about the growing rate of unemployment, poverty and the security challenges confronting Nigeria. Hear him: “The country is in dire need of good leadership in addressing insecurity, poverty, infrastructure and many other things that are required. We are in our trying moment but together I believe we can overcome it. By the grace of God, I will be a good ambassador of Plateau State,� Wase assured his guests. Fabong,whilecongratulatingWaseforemerging deputy speaker unopposed, urged him to be a good ambassador of Plateaus State, saying “going forward, we hope that you will also leave a great mark on the sands of time.� In the same week, a member representing Gwer East/Gwer West federal constituency, Benue State,

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Slowly, 9th National Assembly Settles to Business Cont’d from pg. 80

Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila taking his oath of oďŹƒce as the Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives

Hon. Mark Gbillah raised some dust when he went on national television to say he and some other agitated lawmakers under the umbrella of G70 have concluded plans to approach a law court to upturn the election of Gbajabiamila as Speaker on Tuesday, June 11. Gbillah, an opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker, told THISDAY in a telephone conversation, that the speakership election for the 9th assembly was compromised by vote-buying. Asked what redress his group intended to seek from the court, he said: “Our prayer would be that every activity that happened on the floor should be null and void, because there is a good question that our laws give us immunity for legislative actions on the floor, but we were not legislators at the time we conducted the election. We had not taken our oath, so whatever transpired is opened to litigation. “We are also going to hold the Clerk of the National Assembly accountable, because it is unprecedented that an umpire is telling the players that all I am required to do is provide you with the enabling environment – if you want to do anything go ahead and do it. That is unbelievable! It is on national television. Who does that?� According to him, “we are shocked! That is why we tend to think even the Clerk himself might have been compromised, because when he made that statement he was applauded by those who realised it would work in their favour, because they went ahead with impunity to be taking pictures in his presence.� Gbillah added: “I am speaking on behalf of the G70, a group of members across party lines who still believe that we have integrity to protect and whowanttoupholdtheintegrity,theindependence and the reputation of the House of Representatives and the National Assembly as a whole, because it is no longer news now that vote-buying transpired openly on the floor in the hallowed chamber of the House of Representatives.� “On the morning of the inauguration, I was on national televisions raising the alarm about this impending desecration of the hallowed chambers of the House. Then, one of theAPC representatives said they were mere allegations that those cards don’t exist. The viewers were asking where do we have the fact but now it is no longer conjecture. The DG of Gbajabiamila campaign appeared on a television programme a few days ago, displaying the card and trying to justify it. “The question is, why are you trying to get cards with serial numbers and why are you placing the cards by your ballot paper to take pictures?

It is unprecedented. It obviously means you are taking those pictures to confirm that the person with this serial number has voted for you. If that is the case, to what benefit and to what end? We were informed they were going to get thousands of dollars for voting, so they were required to picture that card and their serial numbers.� Thenewlyinauguratedadhocmediacommittee of the House of Representatives was quick to deny the allegation of vote-buying during the recently concluded speakership and deputy speakership elections of the National Assembly. Deputy chairman of the committee, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere representing Owan federal constituency, Edo State, stated that Gbillah’s allegation was baseless, insisting that the election was democratic. Ihonvbere said: “For us, we have conducted a democratic election. It was carried live and the election is over. A winner was declared, the loser congratulated him right there on the floor of the House and he has taken over. He is now in charge. “Everything about election, for us, is in the past. We have programmes we want to pursue to make the House better, to make the country better and that is what we are focused on right now. “As far as I know and as we know here, nobody here received any money – nobody was enticed to vote and if you observed the campaigns nobody campaigned so intensely and robustly like Gbajabiamila did. And I was on those trips carrying 120 persons to the North-east, North-west, the entire South-east, South-south. “He (Gbajabiamila) went beyond the call of duty to consult, to explain and to elucidate on issues that may be confusing people. I think with that kind of work; I am in the House and of all the aspirants he was the only person that reached me in person; just to give you an example of how hard he worked. So, with that kind of work I don’t think he needed to buy votes from anyone.� However,astheNinthNationalAssemblybegins its legislative agenda, it is imperative to look at the contributions of former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, in the area of constitutional amendments in the past assemblies with a view to influencing the current Assembly in this regard. Although the fifth time Senator said his last shot at the office of the Deputy President of the Senate “was not a contest to win or lose, but to make a statement�, the 9th Assembly will find Ekweremadu’s legislative experience useful. Lawan, who was the Majority Leader of the 8th Senate, said this much during the valedictory session of the last Senate. “I have learnt a lot from

the DSP like all of us because this is the longest serving presiding officer in the history of the Nigerian legislature. “For 12 good, solid years, he has been the Deputy President of the Senate. You are a repository of legislative knowledge and procedure. Thank God you are not taking that away with you. You are going to be here (in the 9th Senate) for us to continue to tap from his experience�. Ekweremadu’s efforts at constitution amendmenttorespondtonationalimperativesandaspirations were well thought-out. Until he assumed the leadership of the important Committee in 2007, all efforts to amend the constitution came to naught. This was due mainly to lack of experience and template of procedure in constitution making as Nigeria just emerged from long years of military rule. There was also the problem of crisis of expectations on the part of the masses and attendant temptation to bite more than the parliament could chew at a time. However, Ekweremadu introduced a piecemeal approach, which paid off when in 2010, the first set of amendments were successfully passed by parliament and assented to by former President Goodluck Jonathan. The amendments focused on institution building, electoral reform, addressing some unexpected challenges that cropped up in 2010 during the prolonged sickness and absence of President Umar Yar’Adua. To prevent a repeat of the constitutional challenge posedbytheYar’Aduaprotractedabsence,Sections 145 and 190 of the Constitution were amended to make it mandatory for the President and Governor to transmit a letter to the NationalAssembly or State Assembly, respectively, to enable their deputies to act in their absence or whenever they are unable to discharge their functions. Otherwise the Vice President or Deputy Governor automatically begins to act after 21 days. The term of office when a sitting president or governor wins a re-run election was also defined. This was because the Supreme Court held in a landmark judgment that the tenure of former Governor Peter Obi ofAnambra State began from the date he was sworn, not on 29th May 2003. Governors of Ekiti, Adamwa, Kogi, and Cross River whose elections were annulled, but who nevertheless won the reruns, assumed this applied to them also. Therefore, Sections 135 and 180 of the Constitution now provides: “In the determination of the four year term, where a rerun election has taken place and the person earlier sworn in wins the rerun election, the

time spent in the office before the date the election was annulled, shall be taken into account. Sections 81 and 84 of the Constitution were amended to place INEC funds on First Line Charge or financial autonomy. Section 160 was amended to provide that “in the case of the Independent National Electoral Commission, its powers to make its own rules or otherwise regulate its own procedure shall not be subject to the approval of the President�, thereby granting INEC administrative independence. Section 156 was amended to insulate members of INEC from partisanship by expunging the erroneousconstitutionalrequirementthatacandidate for nomination for membership/chairmanship of INEC should hold the same qualifications as a person seeking election into the House of Representatives. This included membership of a political party. Time Limit for disposal of election petitions was set in 2010. Before these amendments, lawyers employed all sorts of tricks to elongate the election and pre-election lawsuits. Section 285 (5)–(8) were amended to provide that all petitions must be filed within 21 days, judgment must be delivered within 180 days, and any appeal arising from the tribunal or Court of Appealmustbedeliveredwithin60days.Thesame amendments were also extended to pre-election litigations in 2018. In the same vein, timeline for the conduct of elections was also increased. Initially, the constitution provided for not earlier than 60 days before and not later than 30 days to the date on which the tenure of office expires for the federal legislature, the state legislature, Presidency, and governorship positions. Sections 76, 116, 132, and 178 were amended to provide for a roomier timeframe for INEC, not earlier than 150 days and not later than 90 days. The number of judges on Election Petition Tribunals for the National and State Houses of Assembly Election Tribunal and Governorship Election Tribunal was reduced from Chairman and four Members to Chairman two persons by amending Section 285 and the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. The quorum was reduced to Chairman and one member to hasten justice at the tribunals. Furthermore, the NationalAssembly was made financially independent to strengthen checks and balances and independence of the legislature. State Assemblies failed to approve autonomy for themselves in 2010, allegedly due to the influence of the governors.

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SOCIAL MEDIA BITS

Last week, the Presidency took shots at an ex-President, the Vice President revealed sleepless nights, and an American was arraigned for defrauding Nigerians...

T

he Nigerian government seems to have finally woken up to what has been in the open for years; there is extreme poverty in the land. This is causing Vice President Yemi Osinbajo sleepless nights. One of the symbols of poverty is the sight of young kids walking the streets with bowls begging for food. The disgusting sight is associated with the Almajiri system of education. The presidency says it will be proscribed but was particular about stating it isn’t banned, whatever that means. For the avoidance of doubt, a proscribe means either of two things; forbidden, especially by law, or, denounce/condemned. This is a new one from a government that loves playing games with semantics. For example, banditry rather than terrorism. An offshoot of poverty is criminality

that manifests in the form of kidnapping. What has been a regular occurrence is now getting more attention with more prominent people falling victim. Last week, the son of the immediate past minister of heath, Isaac Adewole, was kidnapped. He was later released after a an alleged huge ra nsom. It is no secret that the Nigerian state is in bad shape, as the above situations attest to. Poverty is rife, criminality rampant. It is no wonder that the Havard University uses Nigeria as an example of a failed state. It isn’t a new report but it gained renewed traction on social media after being tweeted by journalist and social commentator, Dele Momodu. However, the Presidency seem to have its attention set on other issues, with presidential aide Garba Shehu urging former President Olusegun Obasanjo to explain why he failed

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SOCIAL MEDIA BITS attend the inauguration ceremony of President Muhammadu Buhari. You suspect it is just a ploy to divert attention from the myriad problems bedevilling the country. Surely, this isn’t what should be dominating public discourse nearly a month after the event. The Presidency should have other important matters on its plate, for example a picking team that would haul Nigeria out of the depths it has plunged to. But no, it would rather pick - or prolong – disputes with perceived enemies, especially previous presidents. An executive who is looking forward rather than backwards is Femi Otedola. The energy tycoon has completed his sale of Forte Oil and is setting his sights on new things by directing his attention towards Geregu Power. This, while spending much of his free time supporting his daughters’ blossoming entertainment careers. According to former senator Ben Bruce, Otedola’s decision to divest his shares in Forte is one more indication that the world is moving away from

fossil fuels to electric energy. Bruce has moved on from election campaign and combat mode to two particular issues: a bigger role in Nigeria for Africans in the Diaspora, and a policy shift towards alternative energy. In what is a departure from the regular narrative, an American was arraigned for defrauding Nigerians of about $565,000, on the pretext of getting Green Cards for them. For once, the Nigerian is the victim in a publicised fraud case, rather than the perpetrator. Unfortunately, the crime in some way, points to the state of the Nigerian situation, with many hell bent on emigrating. It is no secret that Nigerians are leaving in droves, and there is nothing that points to a change in the near future. This is largely because things remain the same at the top. For example, the delay in naming ministers by President Buhari is reminiscent of the situation four years ago, when it took him about six months to form his cabinet.

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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 ˾ JUNE 23, 2019

NEWS No New Passport without National Identification Number, Says NIS Chinedu Eze

The Nigeria immigration Service (NIS) has disclosed that the National Identification Number (NIN) was a precondition for obtaining the new national passport, noting that the new document would be unveiled on Tuesday. The service, also, has revealed that it had synchronised its system with that of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to enable the new passport capture the National Identification Number of any applicant. The Comptroller General of

Immigration (CGI), Mr. Muhammad Babandede made the disclosure at a pre-launch meeting with the officials of the service in Lagos at the weekend, saying new passport would no longer be issued without national identification number. At the pre-launch meeting, the comptroller-general explained that the newly enhanced 10-year validity passport is more secure than the previous passports, which would be done away with soon. Babandede noted that it had become imperative for every Nigerian to obtain the national identification number before the

new passport could be issued. According to him, the old passport and the new one will be running concurrently, so as to provide for over 25,000 applicants who had paid for the old passports, which are still being produced concurrently with the new passports. He said the new e-passport “will attract a different price from the old one. The 64-page 10-year passport will be restricted to adults (18years and above) and will cost N70, 000, excluding bank charges; 32page five year standard pass-

port is N25, 000 and 64-page five year standard passport goes for N35,000, all excluding bank charges.” He explained that the reason applicants under 18 years would not obtain the 10-year standard passport “is because under 18 years, the appearance of people could change and will no more reflect the image in the passport.” Babandede warned personnel of the Service against corruption and sharp practices in issuing the new passport. He charged them to avoid

aiding and abetting service seekers in the procurement of breeder documents for NIS facilities, noting that doing so is culpable by the Immigration Act 2015. Babandede called on the immigration officials to comply with the Executive Order 01 on Transparency and Ease of Doing Business, stating that NIS as an elite service should contribute its quota to the economic development of the country through facilitation of corrupt-free atmosphere for Direct Foreign Investment

(DFI). He reiterated that immigration officials should change their attitude towards service delivery, noting that the administration of President Muhmmadu Buhari “has provided enabling environment for the Service to discharge its responsibilities without let or hindrance. “Hence, Service must imbibe the principle of hostmanship, which enjoins service providers to treat customers as their guests,” the comptrollergeneral explained.

Pipeline Explosion Kills 10 in Rivers Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt A pipeline explosion, which occurred in Kom-Kom community in Oyigbo Local Government Area, Rivers State, yesterday claimed no fewer than 10 lives. In another account, the explosion only killed three in the community, though claimed the incident might claim more than three lives eventually. A community source confirmed the incident to THISDAY yesterday, noting that the explosion occurred in the swampy area in a pipeline belonging to one of the multinational oil companies operating in the Niger Delta. Although the casualty from the accident is believed to be higher, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Nnamdi Omoni (DSP) said only three deaths “have been so far confirmed in the incident.” The cause of the explosion,

which affected pipelines supplying crude oil to eastern states, could not be ascertained. Nnamdi Omoni, the state command spokesperson, who confirmed the incident, said the villagers went there to scoop the product before it triggered the explosion. He said he could not ascertain the accurate casualty figure. “The casualty rate is what we cannot ascertain for now. There has been speculation. We have not been able to get the accurate figure. In the next couple of hours, we will get that because our men are still there, including the area commander, to ensure that there won’t be breach of peace,” he said. “We have been able to restore normalcy. It was unfortunate that when the pipeline caught fire, the villagers went there to scoop the product and in the process, the fire caught them. Moreover, we have been able to take some to the hospital.

Desist from Using Divisive Languages, Don Tells Nigerians Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

The Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Gashua, Yobe State, Prof. Andrew Haruna has urged governments at all levels to get rid of culture that tends to divide rather than unite Nigerians for the sake of the country’s unity and development. Haruna, a Professor of Linguistics, has called on Nigerians, particularly leaders and those in privileged positions to guide against the use of languages that portray other cultures, groups or nationalities in bad light in the quest for national integration. He canvassed national re-orientation in the text of a public lecture he delivered at the University of Jos, Plateau State on Thursday, lamenting that the level of discrimination and injustice in Nigeria’s public life was disturbing. Haruna, who spoke on Linguistic Problems and National Integration: Plural Loyalties in a Modernising State, noted that he was not unaware of the existence of linguistic plurality and ethnicity among the people across the federation. He, however, such differences should not be deployed to the detriment of other citizens, who according to him, are not of the same backgrounds or origin in the course of their

daily interactions. He said Nigeria “belongs to all of us. There is nothing wrong with Nigerian character nor its linguistic plurality and ethnicity. As leaders, we can live one thing and that is justice for all. We must interrogate our culture and find out those things which do not bring unity among us as Nigerians and get rid of them.” Haruna insisted that any language which can be used to communicate was important and part of human existence but that the sentiment which are often attached to their meaning by the speakers is what cause their fragments and problems. He said, “When you as a speaker of a particular language decide to be as a provincial person taking to your own ethnic group or your language to be the centre of the universe, definitely, whatever thing you do, you will cause confusion. “When linguistic integration comes into play, the national linguistic development involves the fact that Nigerians are being told lies about their language which many of them believe which in turn whittles national unity and aggregates political instability which also increases the danger of separatists movement.

FINAL RESPECT...

L-R: Son of the late monarch, Hon. Olanrewaju Hamzat; Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat and former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba at the 40th day prayer for late Oba Olatunji Hamzat at his Yaya Abatan residence, Ogba... yesterday

Kolawole: Good Corporate Governance will Attract FDI into Nigeria Tobi Soniyi

President of the Institute of Chattered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), Mr Samuel Kolawole has said that good corporate practice will enhance foreign direct investment flows into Nigeria. Speaking with THISDAY, Kolawole said this informed the decision of the institute to intensify training for its members across the country saying that research had shown that good corporate governance boosts investors confidence. He also called on govern-

ment to continue with the push to make doing business in Nigeria easier in order to boost the nation’s comparative advantage. According to him, a nation with a solid good governance principles attracts foreign investors. He said his organization welcomed the release of the Nigerian Code of Corporate Governance because it would ensure that organizations were run properly. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) of Nigeria recently released the Nigerian Code of Corporate Governance (‘the Code”) on January

15, 2019. The code highlights key principles that seeks to institutionalise corporate governance best practices in Nigerian companies. Kolawole urged members of the institute to continue to promote good corporate governance in order to help grow the nation’s economy. He also argued that one of the ways to diversify the economy was and to encourage industries to grow, you have to ease how business is done in Nigeria. “If it is not easy to register and run businesses in the country

the idea of diversification will remain a mirage. That is the essence of the ease of doing business”, he added. He explained that foreign investors make comparison before taking decision on which countries to invest him. He said:”If they go to other countries where it is easier for them to invest, they will not come to a country where it is difficult to do business.” He noted that Nigeria’s position on the ease of doing business ranking pointed to the fact that a lot still needed to be done to make the country an investors’ haven.

Akeredolu Deserves Return Ticket, Says APC Group

ACF Declares Support for Overhauling of Almajiri System

Kayode Fasua

John Shiklam in Kaduna

An All Progressives Congress (APC) pressure group, the Change Agent Foundation International (CAFI) yesterday kicked off campaign against the re-election bid of Ondo State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) in Akure, the state capital. With the state’s governorship election scheduled to hold November 2020, the group claimed that it had the sole mandate “to stop Akeredolu from picking the party’s governorship ticket come next year,” citing his anti-party activities during the last general election.After the state’s chapter of CAFI was inaugurated, the group’s National President, Mr. Dipo Okeyomi alleged that apart

from engaging in anti-party activities, Akeredolu had become too controversial, “having taken on too many politicians in one form of quarrel or the other.” He alleged that the governor “is controversial. He has taken on too many politicians in one form of disagreement or the other. He is quarrelling with the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. He is not in good terms with our national chairman, Mr. AdamsOshiomhole. “He is not cordial with President MuhammaduBuhari.Heisfighting with the state (former) party chairman. No, we the articulate and progressive members of the APC cannot condone that. How can a governor be campaigning openly for AA, another political party, when he is in APC?

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has declared support for overhauling of the almajiri system, noting that the system had been misunderstood countrywide. ACF, a northern political and cultural association, aligned itself with the position of the federal government in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim yesterday. The National Security Adviser, Mr. Babagana Monguno had last Thursday disclosed that the federal government would proscribed the system including other groups, which according to him, have become a problem to the society.

In its statement yesterday, the ACF claimed that it had been advocating for the improvement of the Almajiri system of learning amid the western educational system for performance. The statement said most Nigerians are confusing the real Almajiri system of learning with the children that are out of school, roaming the streets and begging in the name of almajiri. It said there “is a misrepresentation of the concept in the Islamic doctrine of learning. Almajiri means, going to Islamic schools to learn the reading of the Holy Quran and its teachings for moral economic and social benefit of the child.

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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 ˾ JUNE 23, 2019

NEWSXTRA Ahead of Security Summit, Yoruba Elders Set Agenda for S’West Governors Say region currently under herdsmen’s siege Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

Ahead of the South West Security Summit scheduled to hold on Tuesday in Ibadan, the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) yesterday tasked six governors in the region to address the recurring cases of kidnapping, forceful occupation of farmland by Fulani herdsmen and armed invasion that posed threat to lives and properties. YCE, otherwise known as Igbimo Agba, lamented that the South-west had been under siege, which according to him, required the collective effort of the governors work together irrespective of their political affiliation “to guarantee the security of the people in

the region.” The Secretary General of the council, Dr. Kunle Olajide expressed the council’s concern in an interview with THISDAY yesterday, asking the South-west governors “to prioritise the security of the region and its people.” The forum through the DAWN Commission is organizing the security summit under a theme, Focus on Western Nigeria, with Ondo State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu as Convener and his Oyo counterpart, Mr. Seyi Makinde as host. At the session with THISDAY, Olajide lamented that the security situation in the region “is becoming alarming and prevalent on a daily basis. We are waiting

Kano Emirate Threatens to Sue Anti-graft Commission Garba Shuaibu in Kano

The Kano State Emirate Council has said it would sue the State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission for contempt of court. The emirate disclosed this in a letter it addressed to the Chairman of the commission, Mr. Muhuyi Rimingado and dated June 2o, said the commission had defied subsisting court orders for inviting elderly members of the council for investigations. The letter, which was signed by counsel to the emirate counsel, Mr. N.A. Dagiri, noted that some of the invited members of the council were Mukhtar Ad-

nan, 93; Isa Hashim 92, and Yusuf Bayero, 84. The anti-graft agency also sent invitations to the wife of Muhammadu Sanusi, emir of Kano, and two widows of Ado Bayero, the former emir of Kano. The agency had alleged that over 30 people benefited from the N3.4 billion said to have been misappropriated under the watch of Sanusi. But in its letter, however, the emirate said the state and federal high court sitting in Kano, where the matter is already being heard, has directed the agency to suspend all activities related to its investigations into the finances of the emirate and maintain status quo.

expectantly for the governors to tell us of what they intend to do to assure them that lives and properties are

protected.” He, therefore, said the security summit “is a welcome development. The security

The US - Nigeria Council for Food Security, Trade & Investment has said the action of the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) against Oando Plc can negativel affect the image of Nigeria globally. Thecouncil,abodythatpromotes opportunities in Nigeria to US investorsandadvancescommercial partnerships, has also urged the SEC “to sheath its sword in its currentfeudagainstOandoPlc.” It made the appeal in a statement THISDAY obtained yesterday, tasking the federal government to ensurethatthetreatment of Oando “does not serve as a deterrent to the international investing community.” It pointed out that Oando Plc, as a founding member of the Council and as an active and valued participant in the Council’s activities, played an important role in promoting business and direct investment in Nigeria. Consequently, the statement said, “We should be portraying to the rest of the world, positivity and potential at time where foreign di-

rect investment is highly necessary tokeepthenationafloat. “The market is disturbed, investors are concerned that there is a capital market regulator that seems tolackacorporategovernancestructureandseemstoapplycompliance, fairnessandequalityastheylike,on theirownpersonaldiscretionasopposed to approved, tried and tested processesandprocedures. “These calculated behavior from theSEChaslongtermramifications, which will affect the country’s image,and increasethe perception ofa country and people that have a lack of respect for the rule of law,” the statement said. The council, however, said it remained committed “to strengthening the commercial relations between the United States and Nigeria. It recognises the importance that strong capital markets play in attracting foreign investment, creating new jobs and stimulating economic growth.” “This underlines the fact that if a regulatory body for the capital market is perceived to be stifling the market, it will have a

become a daily occurrence with the recent abduction of the son of former Minister of Health with ransom paid.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY...

L-R: Former Head, Department of Adult Education, University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Prof. Kate Oreh; the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Charles Igwe; Enugu State Governor, Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and his wife, Ngozi during Oreh’s 70th birthday and retirement thanksgiving service, at Christ Church Chapel, UNN... yesterday

Court Resumes Hearing in N200m Fraud Suit against Ekwunife July 5 Akinwale Akintunde An Ikeja Special Offences Court sitting in Lagos has adjourned till July 5 the alleged N200 million fraud suit levied against Chumwuemeka Ekwunife and his company, Structured Energy Limited. The presiding judge, Justice Serifat Solebo adjourned the case for continuation of trial after defendant, Ekwunife testified before it last Wednesday. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Ekwunife and

Structured Energy Limited on an eight-count bordering on stealing and fraudulent conversion of a total sum of N168.5m from several companies, According to EFCC, the defendant, who is a former employee of Sterling Bank as Credit Relationship Manager was arrested following a petition received from a complainant, Nepal Oil and Gas Limited The EFCC alleged that Ekwunife, at different times in 2014, stole the said sum of money from, MRS oil and Gas, Exit Energy limited, Globin oil and Gas

Oando: SEC’s Action Can Mar Nigeria’s Image, Says USNC Solomon Elusoji

situation in the South-west region has become a source of grave concern to every stakeholder. Kidnapping has

detrimental effect on the ease of doing business, business growth and sustenance, deter new business and international investment, all of which will eventually translate to economic decline.” The council, therefore, challenged the regulatory body “to discharge its duties with due process and fair equitable treatment for all parties. The role of the USNC cannot be over emphasised.” The USNC Chairman, Amb. Terence McCulley had in a statement said the council “stands ready to play its role in the most important and dynamic economy on the African continent. “As a convener, clearing house and catalyst for investment into Nigeria, the USNC will continue to promote expanded commercial ties between the United States and Nigeria”. The Institute of Directors (IoD) had agreed to retain a watching brief on regulatory development, especially on the SEC/Oando case with a view

to coming out with learning guidelines around the case study when the dust finally settles. The Founder of Proshare Nigeria Limited, Mr. Olufemi Awoyemi had said the SEC/ Oando case unfortunately is further exacerbated by the lack of, absence and the perception that those empowered to exercise such oversights themselves have serious issues of corporate governance to contend with. So, where do we begin to reset our sovereign corporate governance issues?” According to United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Nigeria – ‘Africa’s giant’ who currently sits on billions of proven oil reserves and a couple more billions worth of investment opportunities in the oil and gas sector - presents an astonishing decline in FDI of 36 percent in 2018 with FDI inflow into Nigeria declining from a high of $8.9 billion in 2011 to a derisory $2.2 billion in 2018.

limited, Bond Energy, Greenage Energy Limited - all properties of Nepal Oil and Gas Limited. The commission alleged that the defendant stole the money in tranches of N19 million, N9 million, N85 million, N25 million and N6.5 million sometimes in August, October and November, 2014 from the complaint, Nepal Oil and Gas limited. The alleged offences contradicts Section 278 (1) (b), (2) (1) and 285 (1) of the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011. However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him. In his testimony before the court, Ekwunife claimed that Mrs. Ngozi Ekeoma, owner of Nepal Oil and Gas Limited, used him to facilitate false documentations in Liberia in order to obtain money from the federal government through subsidy scheme. Allegation swiftly rebutted by Nepal Oil and Gas Ltd. The company described as false, malicious, frivolous and at best speculative the testimonies of

Ekwunife to the effect that he was used by oil firm to defraud the Federal Government under the subsidy regime. In a statement issued on June 17, NEPAL dissociated itself from Ekwunife’s testimonies and denied the story which it described as speculative publications. According to NEPAL, Ekwunife had severally threatened to blackmail the company and its Managing Director, Mrs. Ngozi Ekeoma unless the matter was withdrawn against him. He had resorted to several other acts of blackmails. The statement said the company “has remained resolute to allow the EFCC perform its statutory duties in the case, as a matter of policy, the company stated. “Our attention has been drawn Ekwunife’s statement that he was used to defraud the Federal Government of Nigeria under the subsidy regime. NEPAL dissociates itself from, and denies the content of that speculative story in the publication.”

Ohanaeze Rejects Herdsmen’s Demand to Establish Vigilante Group Amby UnezeinOwerri

The Ohanaeze Youths Council (OYC) yesterday rejected the demand of Fulani herdsmen to set up vigilante group in the South-east, noting that the decision was an attempt “to ignite second civil war in the country.” The OYC, an apex social, cultural and political organisation in the South-east, said the demand by the herdsmen “to establish Fulani vigilant group is institution of militia terrorist group in disguise.” This was contained in a statement the President General of

OYC,Mr.IgboayakaO.Igboayaka issued after the council meeting in Owerri, Imo State yesterday, noting that the council would stand against any vigilante group in ethnic coloration. The statement said, “ Ndi Igbo, being the most loving and peaceful race in the project of one Nigeria since 1960 till date and having maintained a peaceful coexistence among other tribes and ethnic nationalities, cannot allow such infiltration into their land as such move would be dangerous.”

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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 ˾ UNE 23, 2019

PERSPECTIVE

Jibrin: A Kingmaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives? Idris Omolabake

T

he story of the emergence of former Speaker Yakubu Dogara and his successor, Femi Gbajabiamila, will be incomplete without adequate mention of the exploits of Abdulmumuni Jibrin, an influential member of the House of Representatives from Kano State. Jibrin has succeeded in ‘installing’ two different speakers of the House of Representatives in two different circumstances, first through a rebellion against the establishment; and the other in enforcing the position of same establishment. In 2015, the youthful Jibrin who only joined the House in 2011, played prominent role in the leadership tussle between then ‘Equity Group’ headed by Yakubu Dogara and the ‘Loyalist Group’ headed by Femi Gbajabiamila. That struggle eventually produced Dogara as Speaker, thereby causing a major rift within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Fast forward to 2019, Jibrin who served as the Campaign Director General for the election of Gbajabiamila like he did for Dogara in 2015, has also delivered the incumbent Speaker. This is a feat exclusive to him as no one person has delivered two speakers consecutively in the history of Nigeria’s House of Representatives.

Who is Abdulmumuni Jibrin?

Abdulmumin Jibrin is a Nigerian politician and a 3rd term member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives from Kofa, Bebeji LG, Kano state. He is 42 years of age. He was at various times chairman House Committee on Finance, Appropriation and Land Transport with oversight on Nigeria’s revenue, expenditure, railways and rail projects respectively. He is a globally trained business executive, academician turned politician. He holds a BSc, MSc and PhD in Politics, Diplomacy and International Relations from University of Abuja and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He was at various times trained at the London Business School, Harvard Business School and SBS- Swiss Business School- Zurich Switzerland where he obtained SEP, PLD and MBA respectively. He is an Alumnus of the Harvard, London and Swiss business schools. Prior to joining politics, Abdulmumin played an active role in the private sector as Chairman/ CEO Green Forest Group LTD running a Nigerian conglomerate in diverse fields. He served as Chairman (Nigeria) of Turkish construction giant Tasyapi and Chairman Abuja branch of Nigeria-British chamber of commerce. He also lectured at the university with publications to his credit. A consummate mobiliser, Abdulmumin was the Director, Media and Strategic Communication of the Women and Youth Presidential Campaign Team and most recently, Director General of Femi Gbajabiamila for Speaker campaign council. He is a public finance and foreign policy expert and has shown significant interest and contributed to improving Nigeria’s revenue and expenditure process. He has won numerous awards and he is a fellow of many professional bodies including the Chartered Institute of Finance and Control. He is a Paul Harris fellow of Rotary international. He holds the traditional tittle of Jarman Bebeji conferred on him with the approval of the Kano Emirate Council. It is a tittle reserved for the courageous and generous.

Political Career

Prior to his emergence on the federal parliamentary scene, Jibrin had been involved in national politics especially during the presidential campaigns in 2003 and 2007. In 2011, Jibrin won election to represent Kiru/Bebeji Federal constituency under the Platform of the PDP, and later decamped to the newly formed All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2014. It is worth noting that he led the first set of 37 lawmakers who defected in a massive swoop that shook the political landscape. Not surprisingly, he won re-election into the House under the new platform in 2015.

2015 speakership election

In 2015, the APC just like in 2019, zoned the position of Senate President to the north-east geo-political zone and specifically chose Ahmed Lawan while the post of Speaker, the south-west zone was favoured with Gbajabiamila anointed. However, the rebellion against the party’s position led by immediate past Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the Equity Group in the House of Representatives where Jibrin played prominent roles, eventually led to a defeat of the choices of the party. Suffice to say that it was same Jibrin who nominated Dogara for the post on that historic day thereby culminating months of chaperoning an arduous campaign that eventually paid off. In the political preambles to the election, Jibrin reportedly led a walk out of the mock primary organized by the party at the International Conference Centre, Abuja. This much was amplified in an apology letter he wrote to former APC national chairman, John Oyegun in 2018, when he needed forgiveness and a relaunch into reckoning after a political drought that almost ended his public life. He wrote then: “I recollect with deep regret and pains and can still hear the echo of your voice in the make-or-mar meeting at the ICC shouting “sit down Jibrin, sit down Jibrin, Jibrin sit down” ” you dare

Jibrin not walk out of this hall Jibrin”! Sen Lawali Shuaibu watched helplessly with the box of ballot meant for the mock elections as I forced myself up, stood my grounds, made my points, held the hands of Yakubu Dagara, and pulled him out of the hall.” Jibrin and his group were able to garner votes across the two political parties to pave the way for Dogara to emerge speaker. After the election, he was offered the chairmanship of the Appropriations Committee of the House, a position that became the springboard to the travails that bedeviled him for much of that 8th assembly. Budget controversy and suspension from the House... Jibrin’s journey into the wilderness kicked off with his resignation as the Chairman House Committee on Appropriation as announced by the Speaker on Wednesday, 20th July, 2016. He described the speaker’s speech announcing his exit as the chairman of the committee as “a misrepresentation of the facts, false, mischievous, unfair and a calculated attempt” to bring his name to “disrepute.” That disputation led to weeks if not months of rancorous exchanges between him and the leadership of the House. Between late July and early August, 2016, Jibrin visited several law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies of government including, the Department of State Services (DSS), the economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the Nigeria Police with a wounding petition that contained purported gross misconduct on the part of the accused lawmakers. But it was unclear if any of the agencies acted on the documents submitted with so much fanfare. Before he was eventually banished by the House, Jibrin was left in the cold as 10 principal officers of the House rallied in support of Dogara and denounced Mr. Jibrin. Incidentally, Femi Gbajabiamila, then Majority Leader who was at the time thought to be a political enemy of the Speaker as a result of the previous, bitter speakership battle that lead to the emergence of Dogara, also joined the body of principal officers in denouncing Jibrin. It is however, worth noting that the Lagos lawmaker now speaker, had spoken against the suspension of his Kano counterpart, describing the decision as illegal and unconstitutional. Furthermore, Jibrin’s party, the ruling APC warned him to ceasefire but Jibrin was defiant and continued his onslaught against the House leadership. He even refused to appear before a disciplinary committee set up in September, 2016 to investigate his claims of budget fraud against the leadership claiming the investigation was a witch-hunt. On September 28, 2016 the grand finale of the Jibrin saga played out as the House Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions swiftly concluded its investigations and submitted its report a week after the commencement of the probe. The Committee’s recommendation that Jibrin be suspended for 180 legislative days was adopted by the entire membership of the House in plenary. He was also barred from positions of responsibility in the House till the end of the 8th assembly. Like the fighter that he is, Jibrin filed an action in court to challenge his suspension.

Whistle-blower banished to the cold

Despite his suspension and subsequent ‘relocation’ to London, Jibrin refused to pipe down on his attacks on the leadership of the House and maintained forthrightness on the

matter. Even when Jibrin completed his suspension, he still could not resume his duties as a federal lawmaker as the House insisted on an apology which he bluntly refused to offer. However, on Tuesday, 13th March, 2018 Jibrin finally decided to end his long drawn battle with the House leadership. The following day he was ushered into the green chamber in a manner that demonstrated conciliation and mutual forgiveness. On his return, Jibrin said: “Lessons were learnt by both parties; the leadership and the victim. Lessons on the part of leadership and lessons on the part of members.” Incidentally, the court at about this time, ruled that his suspension was unconstitutional. He was subsequently appointed as Chairman of the House Committee on Land Transport and his entitlements hitherto withheld, paid in full. 2019 elections and the Parliamentary Support Group... Upon resumption at the House in 2018, Jibrin convened the Parliamentary Support Group PSG, with the mandate of full loyalty to President Buhari. Notably, the group was already in existence in the Senate. It was seen as a demonstration of courage by his colleagues. Thus, Jibrin even led over 100 members of the House to pay solidarity to the President in 2018 at a time when the National Assembly Joint executive session issued a 13-point demand to the President. Jibrin had earlier described it as a “PDP executive session” prompting a reproach from the House. Former member, Sunday Karimi moved a motion calling for sanction against Jibrin who just returned from suspension. Interestingly, the new group also had a subtle leadership tussle with Gbajabiamila who in his position as the Leader of the House, was automatically leader of the APC caucus. The PSG reportedly made attempts to undermine Gbajabiamila, even though jibrin, in a tweet attempted to diffuse the tension by saying: “Against the back drop of the media reports, I wish to state that there is no crack in the APC caucus. We have internal issues, and there is nothing unusual about it. However, the issues will be resolved internally. We have one caucus, and Femi is the leader.” 2019 election and Jibrin’s declaration not to re-contest Jibrin won his re-election in a resounding fashion. He took to Twitter to declare that he will not be re-contesting the post of House of Representatives member again, saying “victory against all odds…the hardest in all elections I ran. Exhausted and utterly worn out! It’s additionally an emotional exit as this shall be my final contest for the House of Representatives.” For Jibrin, the 2019 election was not without some controversy as he was arrested in connection with an alleged attack on Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso’s convoy.

The 2019 speakership election

Jibrin supported the aspiration of the current Speaker and was promptly offered the position of the Director General of the Campaign, in recognition of his knack for political dexterity, hard work and antecedence of success. Off to work he went, canvassing, persuading, and deploying carefully crafted political strategies that eventually paid off on June 11, 2019. Jibrin perhaps gave the longest nomination speech ever when nominating a Speaker, engaging in a charm offensive to woo members across party lines on the day of election. Although many pundits predicted the 2019 tussle for speaker would replicate the 2015 scenario, but it turned out the rebellion had lost a fighter in Jibrin. The same manner he was at the forefront of the action in 2015, he was at the forefront of action in 2019. Bringing energy, doggedness and organization to the Campaign, something probably missing in 2019. Maybe learning from the 2015 election of speaker, Jibrin in an interview with Channels Television, disclosed that he had no agreed compensation deal with Gbajabiamila. He even ruled himself out of the post of Leader of the House, the next most powerful position after Speaker and Deputy Speaker. In a further show of humility and modesty, he related his feeling in a tweet thus: “Twice lucky…it’s fair to say hard work, courage and commitment BUT honestly I have been so many times lucky…really nothing special about me. Just your regular guy! Best wishes to Yakubu Dogara and congrats to Femi Gbajabiamila. God has been so gracious…humbled!”

Political future

After the emergence of Gbajabiamila as Speaker, all eyes have been on Jibrin. What does he want? What will he be offered? Insiders in the Gbajabiamila camp revealed that everyone is confused about what to do with Jibrin. He has held the two most important committees of Finance and Appropriations consecutively with a wide scope of oversight covering almost every sector. The two committees are even referred to as the 11th and 12th Principal Officers in the House. There is also strong whispering within the House that the Kano Born politician may consider an immediate return to his private business or the university to pursue his professorial ambition. The next few days or weeks will tell. In the long term however, there are other options for Jibrin: maybe he would seek to be governor of Kano or choose to go to the senate. Whatever choice or moves he makes, one thing is certain: opponents will only underestimate him at their own peril. –––Omolabake, a public analyst, writes from Abuja

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍşÍťËœ ͺ͸͚Î

SUNDAYSPORTS

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

Super Sub Ighalo Earns Nigeria 1-0 Win over Burundi

Demola Ojo

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ubstitute Odion Ighalo came on to net a 77th minute goal after a sumptuous back heel assist by Ola Aina to earn Nigeria’s Super Eagles a hard-fought victory over the Swallows of Burundi. Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr raised a few eyebrows when the starting line up was revealed as vice captain Ahmed Musa, Leon Balogun and Ighalo were left on the bench, while gangling striker Paul Onuachu got a starting spot. In a match in which the Eagles dominated possession, Burundi looked dangerous on the break and had several shots on target in the first half. However Dan Akpeyi – chosen to man the posts ahead of Francis Uzoho and Ikechukwu Ezenwa - made a few crucial saves that

will surely do his confidence no harm. Burundi, the lowest ranked of the 24 teams at the tournament, gave a good account of themselves, and battled hard until Ighalo came on to break the deadlock, earning the Eagles three points and an early lead in Group B. Onuachu put two headers wide of the Burundian post in the 7th and 13th minute, but a minute later, Cedric Amissi came close to getting the Itamba in front when he latched onto a well –placed pass and stung Akpeyi’s palms with a fierce, close range shot. Onuachu’s tame shot in the 27th minute was held by the Burundian goalie, and a minute later, Samuel Chukwueze sliced a decent chance in the box horribly wide. Gael Bigirimana, Abdoul Fiston, Amissi and Said Berahino troubled the Nigerian defence occasionally but failed to get

Falcons Beaten by Germany, Crash out of World Cup African champions Nigeria were eliminated from the 8th FIFA Women’s World Cup finals yesterday after a three-goal defeat to two –time champions Germany in the Round of 16 in Grenoble. Despite starting brightly and showing much endeavour, pace and physical strength, the Falcons could not breach the Germans’ defence, and Alexander Popp got Germany in front in the 20th minute by sneaking in-between Nigerian defenders to nod home from a corner-kick. Seven minutes later, possession and more purposeful play told as Germany earned a penalty kick, which Daebritz converted smartly to make it 2-0. In the 37th minute, Ngozi Okobi rocked the crossbar from a free-kick, and in added time of the first period, Nigeria had an appeal for a penalty kick turned down as a German defender blocked Uchenna Kanu’s shot with her arm. Five minutes into the second period, Nigeria should have scored. Substitute Rasheedat Ajibade’s blistering run carved open the German defence but skipper Desire Oparanozie was late to get herself to the right spot to connect her telling pass. The Falcons continued to work hard but in the 82nd minute, it was all over after Halimatu Ayinde’s erring backpass was capitalized on by Lea Schueller to make it three for Germany.

AFCON FIXTURES & RESULTS Uganda Nigeria Guinea Morocco Senegal Algeria

2-0 1-0 2-2 v v v

DRC Burundi Madagascar Namibia 3:30pm Tanzania 6pm Kenya 9pm

Ighalo bends in the winner for Nigeria the ball past Akpeyi. In the second half, Musa’s introduction for captain Mikel Obi quickened Nigeria’s pace but nothing was delivered until Ighalo converted a clever pass by Ola Aina to put the Eagles ahead.

According to Rohr, the Eagles tactic of bringing in Ighalo after the opposition tired worked to perfection. Revealing that some of the players were recovering from illness caused by a virus, he expressed optimism over the

Eagles’ chances of doing well at the AFCON. “It’s good to start slowly and come higher and higher and hopefully, we have six more games to play.� President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju

Melvin Pinnick, who is also 1st Vice President of CAF and President of AFCON, dedicated the victory to His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari who had spoken to the players to raise their spirits two hours before the match.

Betway Boosts G12 Academy with Football Femi Solaja

Foremost sports betting platform, Betway, has again shown its commitment to the development of Nigerian football by giving out valuable sports materials to G12, a grassroots football club based in Lagos Island, during an event yesterday at Campos mini stadium in Lagos. Betway’s gesture was made to encourage the club, which has achieved a lot since it was founded in 2016, to continue to attain even greater heights on the local and national scenes. The G12 football club was, in November 2018, the runner-up in the first ever 5 a-side league in Nigeria, Betway 5s League. The Country Manager, Betway, Lere Awokoya said that the move was only one of many ways Betway would continue to support grassroots football and youth development in the country, while also promising that there is more to

come from the company in terms of valuable contributions to the society. “We have done a lot in the past to encourage young footballers in Nigeria and we are ready to do more.

We see huge opportunities in developing grassroots football because these young players have the talent to rank among the best in the world. Betway wants to constantly show them that their dreams can become a reality,� he said.

Guinea, Madagascar Serve Thrilling 2-2 Draw Madagascar yesterday marked their Africa Cup of Nations debut with a draw against Group B opponents Guinea in Alexandria. Sory Kaba had put Guinea ahead after 34 minutes, but Madagascar responded with two goals in six second-half minutes through Anicet Andrianantenaina and Charles Carolus Andriamahitsinoro. Francois Kamano’s 66th-minute penalty earned a point for Guinea, after Romain Metanire had fouled Ibrahima Traore. Madagascar more than held their own in their first Africa Cup of Nations appearance, despite falling behind as Dijon striker Kaba latched on to Amadou Diawara’s pass and calmly rounded goalkeeper Melvin Adrien. The Madagascan players ran to celebrate with their coaching staff as Andrianantenaina headed in the nation’s

first-ever goal in the competition four minutes after half-time. And Andriamahitsinoro completed the turnaround as he slotted in to the bottom left corner for Nicolas Dupuis’ side - ranked 108 in the world. Guinea coach Paul Put responded by bringing on Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita for his first appearance since 1 May, after the 24-year-old sustained a thigh injury against Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final. Metanire’s poorly-timed tackle on Traore allowed Guinea - who failed to qualify in 2017 - a route back in to the match, and the 2015 quarter-finalists went close through Traore and Fulham’s Ibrahima Cisse as they pressed for a late winner. Madagascar had won just one of 16 games in their previous Guinea face Nigeria next on Wednes- four qualifying campaigns before qualiďŹ cation for the 2019 day, while Madagascar take on fellow tournament began debutants Burundi on Thursday.

Sunday June 23, 2019

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Price: N400

MISSILE Usoro to Governments No region is safe, and no tribe is safe. No one indeed is safe. And yet, we have governments in place, at the Federal, State and Local Government levels and the primary business of governments is the protection of lives and property. – President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Paul Usoro, SAN made the declaration last Thursday at the association’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, held at the NBA secretariat in Abuja.

SIMONKOLAWOLE SIMONKOLAWOLELIVE!

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Getting Nigerian Passport with Tears

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y their PRO you shall know them. Sometime in February this year, I got a distress call from a friend’s wife in the UK. She said there was a spelling error in her new Nigerian passport which she needed to correct urgently because of some critical deadline she had to meet. She had gone to the Nigerian high commission in London and the official who attended to her said the change could only be effected from Abuja. I confidently told her not to worry, that it would be corrected. Fellow Nigerians, it took three months to fix a one-alphabet spelling error! We were thereafter told to rejoice and be glad, because correcting a spelling mistake took one applicant two years! When she called me, I had confidently contacted Mr Sunday James, the PRO of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), about the issue. I was that confident because Mr Ekpedeme King, the previous PRO, always swiftly and admirably responded to requests for assistance. James first blamed the applicant for not detecting the error before the passport was printed but graciously requested for some documents. After that, I never heard anything from him again — till today. All calls, SMS and WhatsApp messages went into “voicemail”, as we jokingly say in Nigeria. My friend’s wife must have noticed my embarrassment as my confidence began to sag like a teenager’s trousers. I sought for help elsewhere. Someone helped to contact another NIS official in Abuja. The official requested for the slip issued to the applicant at the high commission when she did her biometric capture. That was how another problem started. She had submitted the slip on collecting the passport. I asked her to go back to the high commission to request for a copy so that she could scan to Abuja. She travelled down to London and met the official, who became very hostile and started talking condescendingly to her. He refused to make a copy available, telling her cynically: “You will still come back to me here! Nobody can help you in Abuja without me!” Apparently, my friend’s wife was just being too British: the man wanted “something”. That was how the process got stuck for several weeks. Abuja said nothing could be done without the slip because it contained the server access information. I was surprised. I thought the name and passport number could be used for that purpose. I was told it was a third party that was processing the applications in the UK and access was limited. But miracles still happen. Along the line, things changed about the procedures and the technical issues. The official successfully processed the correction in Abuja. My friend’s wife, unfortunately, missed her deadline but at least she now had her passport. I was, therefore, not surprised when Mr Jeffrey Ewohime went berserk at the high commission in London last week over his Nigerian passport. Before I got to know the details of the incident — which turned out not to be in his favour — I had told myself: “Finally, somebody has lost his cool!” It was going to happen at some point. I have received dozens of complaints from Nigerians living abroad on the avoidable difficulties and humiliation they experience when processing their passports at Nigerian missions. We seem to be exporting our inefficiency, arrogance, incompetence and impunity to other countries as if there is Nobel Prize on offer. What Ewohime did is indefensible: no matter your anger and frustration, you cannot go about vandalising cars. There should be a boundary.

Buhari Even when we are weeping, our eyes can still see. The tide turned against Ewohime when the NIS issued a statement that the passport had been issued since June 6, 2019, that he did not leave any self-addressed envelope for delivery and was late to the high commission on the day in question only to go gaga when he was told they had closed. That is the official explanation. We await his side of the story. However, when it emerged that he had a previous conviction for assault, it became difficult to rationalise his behaviour. Unfortunately, the dark part of Ewohime’s history has been deployed to overshadow the real issue at play — the untidiness of NIS officials in dealing with passport applications home and abroad. This is an irony because since Mr Muhammed Babandede was appointed the comptroller-general in 2016, he has displayed the attributes of a modern public administrator. He has introduced and implemented progressive ideas in three years, improving customer experience and drawing encouraging testimonies over service delivery. He has doubled both the pagination and the validity of the green passport. Suffice it to say I appreciate his efforts in a difficult system such as ours. Nevertheless, the Nigerian factor must always creep in. If you want to apply for the passport in the UK, for instance, one of the elementary mistakes you must avoid is to call the high commission. Chances are nobody will pick your call. And if someone manages to do, maybe once in a week, he or she will talk to you in a way that will make you feel like a bag filled with rotten potatoes. Someone told me that was also his experience with the Atlanta mission in the US. Another mistake you shouldn’t make is to send an email. You won’t even get an auto-reply, much less anything addressing your enquiry. These are not some Stone Age stories. I am talking about 2019. A friend sent this message to me sometime in March: “My daughter was in Atlanta two days ago for her passport and she was told it will be ready in May... The worst part is the shabby treatment being meted out to people at the Nigerian embassy in Atlanta by one Mr Pius... He screams, insults and messes up people’s emotions and his colleagues know him to be like that. He makes errors every now and then in inputting information and delays people unnecessarily!” I don’t know where this notion came from — that the moment you are a government official, you should be regarded as a tin god and you have the licence to talk to anybody anyhow. It is so

commonplace. Meanwhile, there are several instructions on the website that are not good for your health. You would have raised your blood pressure above acceptable limits before you realised it. Someone told me that because he read the instruction that the applicant should produce two passport-size photographs, he started running helter-skelter, found a photo booth, took pictures and ran back to the high commission. When it was his turn, nobody asked for the photographs; they simply snapped him on the biometric machine. Another person complained to me that the website says there is no fast track. He discovered the service was available when he appeared for biometric capture. My cousin who lives in the US went to the mission for a passport renewal early this year. She paid for the fast track. Week after week, she called the embassy’s phone numbers for update. Nobody picked. One day, someone picked and talked to her in the most unfriendly tone, without even providing answers as to when the “fast track” would deliver her passport. The delay went on for more than a month before I decided to wade in. I did not bother to call the PRO this time. I called someone else in the hierarchy and the passport was delivered to my cousin at her US residence the following day. What this tells me, clearly, is that there is a dysfunctional link in the chain. It would be unfair to single out the immigration service for admonition — there is hardly any agency in Nigeria where you are guaranteed civilised customer service. It appears the wrong people are always saddled with the jobs that require emotional intelligence. I actually don’t know of many agencies that reply emails or pick calls promptly and resolve issues with warmth and a sense of responsibility. How can you send an email and never get a response? How can you call a number on the website of an agency and not get a response? This is a sign of a deeper rot in the system. Picking calls or replying emails should be one of the easiest duties you can expect an agency to perform. In 2004, President Olusegun Obasanjo tried to improve service delivery by ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) with the establishment of Service Compact with All Nigerians (SERVICOM). This was to promote “effective and efficient service delivery” to ensure customer satisfaction and to manage the performance-expectation gap between government and citizens. Each agency is supposed to have a SERVICOM charter and a SERVICOM unit or department. The agency still exists, apparently, and is still trying to stay relevant but it is clear to all and sundry that service delivery is still not taken seriously in the public sector in our country. It is too glaring. Many Nigerians think the Ewohime incident, no matter how unjustifiable, was borne out of frustration and he deliberately targeted the vehicles of the high commission officials as proof that he knew what he was doing. He was a rebel with a cause, they said. Some even think this may be an indication that Nigerians are getting fed up and will take the law into their hands one day as they continue to get frustrated by the service they get from government. I hope it will not get to that stage before the government begins to do what is right. Rather than snigger at Ewohime, therefore, government should seize this opportunity to assess and improve its service delivery.

And Four Other Things… GHANA VS NIGERIA A diplomatic tension has been brewing between Nigeria and Ghana. If not carefully managed, it may become an open conflict. The consequences would benefit neither country. Nigerian traders in the neighbouring West African country have been complaining about a hostile, xenophobic environment. Meanwhile, Nigerian internet fraudsters operating from Ghana are making life difficult for the security agencies. This is compounded by recent cases of kidnappings believed to have been masterminded by our compatriots in an otherwise safe country. Nigeria and Ghana have come a long way. We need all the wisdom in this world to deal with these issues. Imperative. FIGHTING FESTUS Do not expect an appointment from any APC official if you criticised President Buhari recently. That was the message I took away from the Dr Festus Adedayo saga. The fiery critic of anybody-in-power was appointed media adviser by Senate President Ahmad Lawan, who quickly backpedalled under heavy bombardment from APC supporters on social media. Even Mrs Aisha Buhari, who spent the better part of the last four years criticising her husband on BBC and social media, joined the mob. I honestly thought Adedayo would not accept the appointment because of his views on Buhari. But does this now mean Lawan’s appointees are Buhari’s appointees? Wonders. RAMPAGING HERDSMEN Last week, herdsmen attacked my friend’s cashew farm in Kwara state. After their cattle had ravaged the land and fed on the crops, the herdsmen set the farm on fire — the whole of three acres! He was in tears. All his investments had gone up in smoke, literally. And there was nothing the police could do but console him. Kidnappings, rape and murder are increasingly having the fingerprint of these herdsmen and these criminal activities are fast spreading across the country. It is no longer a northern problem. What I cannot understand is the boldness of these guys. Are the security agencies completely helpless or is something holding them back? Mysterious. MYTH BUSTER When Mr Mele Kolo Kyari was appointed NNPC GMD, the first word in town was that he is a relative of Mallam Abba Kyari, the chief of staff to the president. However, while Mele is Kanuri, Abba is Shuwa. You might also have been told that Lt Gen Tukur Buratai is Fulani or Kanuri, but he is actually a Babur. Borno has over a dozen ethnic groups: Kanuri, Babur, Bura, Shuwa, Marghi, Fulani, Hausa, Gamergu/ Kanakuru, Chibok/Kibaki, Ngoshe, Guduf, Mandara and Tera. But a common cultural and social outlook evolved over time within the old Kanem-Bornu empire. Indeed, intermarriage is common among Shuwa/Kanuri; making a distinction between them is becoming meaningless — like trying to distinguish between Hausa and Fulani. Evolution.

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