Okowa to Lawan: Elected Leaders Must Echo the Voices of Their People Says govs shouldn’t be vilified over call for restructuring Udora Orizu in Southern Governors’ call for voices, then, you ought not Ndudi Elumelu, yesterday The Senate President had their respective states. restructuring, ban on open be in the position that you in Asaba, , also after observing the Eid prayers But Okowa noted that Delta State Governor, grazing and fiscal federalism, occupy.” said it was utterly wrong to at the Presidential Villa in restructuring has been talked Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has saying, “If your people are Okowa, who spoke at an vilify the southern governors Abuja, Thursday, faulted about for so long, with voices condemned the statement talking and you’re an elected empowerment scheme by the for heeding to the voices of the Southern Governors’ of PDP and APC endorsing made by the Senate President, person but you shy away from minority leader of the House the people and seeking to resolutions, asking them to Ahmed Lawan, following giving further voice to their of Representatives, Hon. promote unity in the country. first start the restructuring in Continued on page 5

Online Voter Registration Doesn’t Automatically Imply Electronic Transmission of Results, Says INEC… Page 8

Sunday 16 May, 2021 Vol 26. No 9533

www.thisdaylive.com T N400 RU N TH & REASO PEAC: Lost $10.3bn to Boko Haram, Armed Insurgency in 2020 Gboyega Akinsanmi agitation and organised violent Advisory Council (PEAC) regular meeting with cost of insecurity across the Salami to replace the groups, among others, cost has disclosed. President Muhammadu federation. Economic Management Team The activities of banditry, Boko the federation a whopping The economic council gave Buhari at the State House, Buhari had constituted (EMT), which Vice-President Haram insurgency, farmers- sum of $10.3 billion in 2020, the figure in a document Abuja penultimate Friday, the council under the herdsmen conflict, separatist the Presidential Economic presented during its sixth detailing the socio-economic chairmanship of Prof Doyin Continued on page 5 Campbell: How Buhari Can Save Nigeria from Implosion Canvasses true devolution of power Bayo Akinloye could be also addressed if the federal government considered See story on pgs 19 & 20 A former United States the logic in power devolution. Female Drivers of Fintech Solutions in Nigeria... Ambassador to Nigeria, John "Right away, it would be Campbell, has said President those steps that could be taken Muhammadu Buhari must that would show Nigerian urgently take a number of people that the government steps that could immediately is moving to address the issues help to salvage the country that bedevil the country. I from collapsing, otherwise, if would start with police reform the current situation continues and also, seeking to address to deteriorate, the imminent the question of human rights implosion would be an abuses by both the police and "unmitigated disaster." the military," Campbell told In an exclusive interview THISDAY. with THISDAY, Campbell The former US ambassador described the 1914 and the Ralph Bunche senior amalgamation of the Southern fellow for Africa policy studies and Northern protectorates as at the Council on Foreign an idea by the British colonial Relations also recommended Adia Sowho Damilola Odufuwa Eloho Omame rulers for mere administrative that the federal government convenience, which failed should seriously consider a to factor the fault lines into constitution that addresses the proper account. aspiration of the masses and Listing some of the endorsed by them. immediate steps to include He argued that the previous addressing the police and as well as the current military's age-old issue of constitutions used by the human rights abuses, he Nigerian government were added that the agitations in some quarters for secession Continued on page 10 Omotoso: Sanwo-Olu’s Investment

in Education Paying Off… Page 10 Odunayo Eweniyi Oluwaseun Runsewe Yewande Akomolafe-Kalu 2 SUNDAY MAY 16, 2021 • THISDAY SUNDAY MAY 16, 2021 • THISDAY 3 4 SUNDAY MAY 16, 2021 • THISDAY ͹;˜ͺ͸ͺ͹˾THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER 5 PAGE FIVE Warning Strike: El-Rufai, NLC Poised for Showdown Unions threaten to shut Kaduna airport John Shiklam in Kaduna and destruction of government Sani warned that besides the everyone concerned should be entitlements. and Engineers (NAAPE) Chinedu Eze in property in 2017 during a restriction on imposed by the rightly guided.” It said, "Since the history of threatened to shut down the protest against the sacking COVID-19 protocols, a ban on The state government Nigeria there's no government Kaduna airport in compliance Kaduna State Government of over 20,000 workers by public processions subsisted had earlier in the week that disengaged workers like with the strike action declared and the Nigerian Labour the Governor Nasir el-Rufai in this state. issued a circular directing the present government of by NLC Congress (NLC) are poised for government. He alleged He said the state government civil servants to disregard Governor Nasir Elrufai. The unions made this known a showdown on Monday at the that there was a subsisting would “protect its facilities and the NLC strike notice. The "This is the time to tell in a statement on Saturday commencement of a five-day warrant for Wabba’s arrest “for the right of its staff to access circular by the Permanent the world that Kaduna State addressed to the Managing warning strike by the latter. vandalisation of government and work in their offices,” Secretary, Establishment, government is antiworker and Director/Chief Executive The state chapter of NLC had facilities, in violation of the warning, “It is unlawful for Amina Abdullahi, on behalf want to destroy the civil service Officer of Federal Airports last week issued notice of the Miscellaneous Offences Act anyone to try to deny them the Head of Service, and in the name of reform.” Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) warning strike, commencing and other laws of the land.” access or exit.” addressed to all chief executives Meanwhile, several bodies and copied to the Kaduna on Monday, to protest the According to the He said, “Government offices of government agencies and affiliated to NLC directed their Branch Chairman/Secretariat of sacking of workers by the commissioner, “Security are not the property of any parastatals, directed all civil members to participate in the NUATE, ANAP and NAAPE. state government. agencies have been notified trade unionist and none of them servants to report to work and five-day warning strike. The The unions said they would But the government of the plans of some trade should entertain thoughts of sign a register. unions include Nigeria Union proceed with the industrial warned civil servants against unionists to recruit hoodlums, locking up or vandalising any “I am directed to request you of and Natural Gas action from midnight of participating in the strike, including from other states, to facility. to inform all civil servants in Workers (NUPENG), National Sunday, May 16 to midnight accusing NLC of plotting to create a destructive spectacle “As in 2017, the Kaduna State your MDAs and other arms of Union of Road Transport of Friday, May 21. cause violence in the state. and further their self-serving Government will not subject government to disregard the Workers (NURTW), National The statement dated May However, several labour narrative about public service its policy to the veto of a mob. notice issued by the NLC and Union of Electricity Employees 14, 2021 and titled, “Notice organisations directed their jobs and insecurity.” “This government did not report to work,” the circular of Nigeria (NUEE), National of Strike Action at Kaduna members to participate in the Sani alleged, “The Kaduna campaign on a platform of said. Union of Banks, Insurance and Airport,” was jointly signed action, with aviation workers State Government has been tired populism and it was not However, the state chapter Financial Institution Employees by General Secretary, NUATE, threatening to close the Kaduna made aware of plans by some elected to practice timidity as of NLC, in a statement, called (NUBIFIE), Nigeria Union of Comrade Ocheme Aba, airport in compliance with the trade unionists, led by Ayuba public policy. on workers to disregard the Railway Workers, National Secretary General, ANAP, NLC protest. Wabba, to reprise the mayhem “It is not about to create the threats by the government. The Association of Nurses and Comrade Abdulrasaq Saidu, At a press conference on they visited on Kaduna during mistaken impression that it has statement signed by the state Midwives, Aviation Workers and Deputy General Secretary, Saturday in Kaduna, the their rampage of 8 November much fiscal wiggle room as secretary of NLC, Comrade Union, and Local Government NAAPE, Comrade Umoh Commissioner for Local 2017.” a subnational or that it is the Christiana Bawa, said no Employees. Ofonime. It said, “All workers Government Affairs, Mallam Wabba and other trade supreme goal of government worker in the state civil service Aviation workers under the at the Kaduna airport have Jafaru Sani, alleged that some union leaders on November to pay 100,000 people while in the El-Rufai administration aegis of the National Union been directed to withdraw all trade union leaders, led by 8, 2017 led a protest against the ignoring the larger public had job security. of Air Transport Employees services at the airport within President of NLC, Mr. Ayuba sacking of 21,780 schoolteachers welfare of 10m citizens. NLC accused the Kaduna (NUATE), Association of the stipulated period. In effect, Wabba, were planning to cause in the state, said to have failed “The trade union laws of State government of sacking Nigerian Aviation Professionals there will be no operations of mayhem in the state. Sani also a competency test organised this country are not a cover for over 30,000 workers in 2016 (ANAP), and National any kind into, at or out of, accused Wabba of causing the by the government. irresponsibility, and therefore and refusing to pay their Association of Aircraft Pilots the airport within the period.” BORBDA, Koster Keunen West Africa, Others Sign MoU on Honey Bee Production in Nigeria Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City Company Ltd, Mr Innocent commitment to providing a environment. the agreement with BORBDA, Resources, Edo State, Mrs. Odigie, a bee keeping expert, ready market to the honey In his brief remarks, with a view to increasing the Akongie Oboh commended In an effort to boost honey who signed on behalf of his and bee products, produced by representative of Koster Keunen production of honey and bee the BORBDA for the concept production in Nigeria company. bee farmers trained under the West Africa the foreign lead products in Nigeria and indeed, of modern bee keeping in the and the West African sub- The corporate bodied agreed agency’s Youth Empowerment agency in the MOU, Mr. Nasser the West African sub-region state and expressed the state region, the Benin Owena to collaborate in the business and Entrepreneur Scheme. Bembah Bahisa, expressed through an effective marketing governments determination to River Basin Development of providing the necessary According to Armed, "The confidence that the agreement strategy of the products. key into the programme with a Authority (BORBDA) has platform to buy off all honey involvement of the off-takers would provide the tonic needed Awoyemi, however, view to expanding the current signed a memorandum of and bee products in the state with the bee farmers, will to grow the honey and bee expressed concern that Nigeria scheme to accommodate more Understanding with off-takers especially, by those produced from now onwards boost the products business in Nigeria is yet to get its optimum in youths in the state in line with of honey and bee products. by the graduate trainees on bee confidence and trust of the bee and indeed the West African the production of honey and the state government efforts The MOU was signed in keeping under the auspices of keeping business knowing sub-region. other bee products due to at empowering more youths Benin City at the weekend BORBDA in its catchment states full well that whatever they He urged the bee farmers to some environmental factors through agribusiness. by the Managing Director, of Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti. produce would be off taken take advantage of the market such as pre-harvest theft and Highpoints of the ceremony Mr. Saliu Osifuemhe Ahmed, Speaking at the ceremony, in the most competitive price." to expand their respective bee destruction of honey fields by was the formal signing of the representatives of Koster which took place at the He urged the stakeholders colonies for increased yields. unauthorised persons, and poor the MOU by the managing Keunen West Africa and Old corporate headquarters of especially, the state governments Also, representatives of Old processing of the bye-products, director of BORBDA, and Levi Multibiz Services Ltd. BORBDA, the Managing and traditional rulers to Levi Multibiz Services Ltd, Femi which reduces their market representatives of Koster Another co-signatory in the Director of BORBDA, Saliu encourage modern bee keeping Awoyemi while speaking on value. Keunen West Africa, Old Levi agreement was the Managing Ahmed said the agreement was and honey production given behalf of other foreign partners, On her part, the Permanent Multibiz Services Ltd and Dino Director of Dino Trust Global a further proof of the agency’s its suitability in the local expressed their commitment to Secretary, Ministry of Water Trust Company Limited. OKOWA TO LAWAN: ELECTED LEADERS MUST ECHO THE VOICES OF THEIR PEOPLE it, saying that Nigerians must dialogue, they would be able I read in the papers that position that you occupy. is against the unity of this reason for us to be vilified. So, gather at a table to discuss to agree best on what’s good somebody (Lawan) said we “So, I must thank our country. I thought that it was time for for the good and future of for Nigeria. ought not to talk about certain people in the House of ''As elected governors, we other leaders across the country the country. He warns that if the things being elected people. If Representatives, who have believe in the unity of our to thank the southern governors While agreeing that there leadership continued to shy your people are talking and responded to the speech country, but it will help us for uniting to give a voice to might be different views and away and ignores the voices you’re an elected person but made by their colleague in also to advance the need for the conversations, because all approaches to restructuring, of the people, it would give you shy away from giving the National Assembly. All certain things to be done those conversations coming at the governor opined that room for further crisis. further voice to their voices, the things that the southern in order to give strength to when they sit at a table to Okowa said, ''Unfortunately, then, you ought not be in the governors discussed, nothing that unity. That cannot be a Continued on page 10 PEAC: NIGERIA LOST $10.3BN TO BOKO HARAM, ARMED INSURGENCY IN 2020 Yemi Osinbajo earlier set up to ethno-religious conflictsthe general election. Citing incontrovertible of production to security adding to the population of advise the National Economic mostly caused by suspicion Resource based violence, statistical evidence, the related violence between 2007 persons that had fallen below Council. and distrust among various according to the council in council claimed that and 2019, a period of 16 years. the poverty line. The council, at its sixth ethnic groups and among the its presentation, comprised nationwide insecurity had The council analysed the At large, the council said: regular meeting, dissected major religions in the country. competition for economic multidimensional implications, impact of human capital, “Conflicts and heightened the country’s economic Examples of such conflicts, opportunities driven by especially for economic and which according to its slide insecurity reduce business environment with a strong as the council documented illegal mining in some states, human development. presentation escalated the confidence, manifested in indication that insecurity in its 33-slide presentation, kidnapping for ransom, Niger In terms of economic cost, population of out-of-school declining foreign and domestic resulting from Boko Haram are Boko Haram, conflicts Delta militants and pirates and the council disclosed that children to over 13 million investment, deteriorating insurgency, political violence, in Southern Kaduna as well recent farmer-herder conflicts. insecurity had cost Nigeria and significantly reduced financial sector performance, resource-based violence, as farmers-herdsmen clashes The council dissected $10.3 billion or 2.6% of the life expectancy nationwide. higher fiscal cost and security organised violence and in the Middle Belt, especially the dynamics of violent GDP, which dropped $568.5 While it claimed that spending.” farmers-herdsmen conflicts Benue State. farmers-herdsmen conflict, billion in 2014 to $375.75 billion extreme poverty in the conflict Consistent with PEAC’s had crippled economic The council observed that mainly among groups in 2017 and rose to $448.12 zones was accentuated by report, as shown in activities nationwide and there was a general consensus that peacefully co-existed billion in 2020. conflict, the council observed complementary data obtained contracted the country gross of a worsening of the security previously, exacerbated by The presidential council that unemployment rate, from the NBS, the volume of domestic product (GDP) by situation in Nigeria, which it infiltration of foreigners on equally cited a study by the currently standing at 33.33%, the FDI inflow dropped from 2.6% in 2020. said, included competition the one hand and climate United Nations Development had steadily increased since $2.28 billion in 2014 to $1.03 The council cited the for power and ultimately change and environmental Programme (UNDP) estimating 2014, in line with worsening billion in 2020, accounting for grievous consequences of resources, usually around challenges on the other hand. that Nigeria lost $141.9 billion insecurity, thus 54.83%. 6 SUNDAY MAY 16, 2021 • THISDAY SUNDAY MAY 16, 2021 • THISDAY 7 8 ͹;˜ͺ͸ͺ͹˾THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER NEWS Campbell: British Museum Holds over 700 Pieces of Benin Bronzes Gboyega Akinsanmi Foreign Relations (CFR), a on a temporary basis to form to German museums. the former US envoy noted exhibited, stored securely, and US non-profit think-tank an exhibition at the new Benin “The German decision has that the Greeks had agitated curated. That appears to be The British Museum, the specialising in international Royal Museum in Edo State raised pressure on ’s for the British return of the changing. The Edo Museum is world’s first national public affairs on Wednesday. within three years. British Museum—which holds Parthenon sculptures (the designed to be a world-class museum, currently holds 700 More than a century after But in his blog post, seven hundred pieces of the "Elgin Marbles"). facility.” pieces of the Benin Bronzes British soldiers looted a Campbell wrote that the Benin Bronzes collection, more He added that the Greek However, Campbell collection, more than any other collection of priceless artifacts German Minister of Culture, than any other museum—and perspective “takes for granted observed that the museum museum and other institutions from the Kingdom of Benin, Monika Grütters had other institutions to lend or that the art produced in a was located in “a poor, globally, a former United States some of the Benin bronzes are announced plan to return return bronzes to Nigeria. particular locale uniquely increasingly unstable country. Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. heading back to Nigeria - with hundreds of art objects to Perhaps, according to the belongs to the people who Where sustainable funding John Campbell has said. strings attached. Nigeria. former ambassador, as few live there now, hence the will come from or how Campbell, however, Consequently, more than Campbell, currently Ralph as 50 pieces of the iconic importance of its physical security of the art can be acknowledged that the 1,000 of the bronzes are held at Bunche Senior fellow for Africa artifacts remain in Nigeria repatriation. maintained is unclear. authorities of the British museums across Europe, with Policy Studies said the origin at present after the looting “Another perspective is that “The sponsors of the Edo Museum had agreed “to the most valuable collection of the artifacts “is the Benin of the Kingdom of Benin in art belongs to humanity as a Museum are looking toward return the Benin Bronzes at the British Museum in Royal Palace—located in Benin 1897. whole. What matters in that rotating exhibits of artwork to collection once the Edo London despite that the federal City situated in Southern He said: “Calls for the return case is the art’s accessibility be borrowed from European Museum of West African Art, government had canvassed the Nigeria—looted and destroyed of art acquired by Western to all who wish to see and and American collections and currently under construction return of the artifacts since the by the British in 1897. countries during the colonial study it and its conservation then returned. in Benin City is completed.” country gained independence “The Germans, however, period is an old song. Some and security, not its physical “Such an approach might He gave this figure in a in 1960. were not in Edo and, countries, especially where location. satisfy those who see the art blog post titled “Germany The Benin Dialogue Group presumably, the objects from national identity is weak, “An issue with respect as a badge of their ethnic or to Return Some African Art (BDG) had struck a deal to there were looted objects see the return of art as a to the return of African art national identity and those to Nigeria” published on return some of the most iconic purchased on the international dimension of nation-building.” to Africa has been the lack who see the art as belonging the website of Council for pieces in the historic collection art market and then donated Since the nineteenth century, of places where it could be to all of humanity.” Online Voter Registration Doesn’t Automatically Imply Electronic Transmission of Results, Says INEC Warns burning of its offices inimical to early preparation for 2023 polls Diri: e-voting will ensure rancour-free polls Chuks Okocha in Abuja eliminating manipulations, elections and the Continuous Commission is one of the conformity with section "If Ijaws can enfranchise alterations, switching and Voters Registration. We are symbols of democracy and 10(2) of the Electoral Act that Ijaws in Europe and America The Independent National disappearance of election worried,because we resolved a national asset and must on provides that each applicant to be part of deciding, who Electoral Commission (INEC) results during manual collation to start early preparations for no account be targeted for for registration under the leads them, INEC can has said its decision to embark processes," the PDP said. elections and these spates of destruction.” continuous registration system equally do it. It will check on an online registration of The opposition party, fire incidents are a setback However, he explained shall appear in person at the violence, criminality and state voters next month does not however, insisted that if to our preparations. We are that the commission would registration venue. institutions being politicised." guarantee an automatic INEC could use the electronic worried because of the anxiety not be intimidated as the "This duality will decongest Giving his charge to the new transmission of election results. platform for registration of and fear being created in national commissioners and the registration venues and executive council of the apex The commission, which voters, it could as well deploy relation to these incidents", the chairman are courageous enable the Commission play Ijaw socio-cultural body, the claimed that the automatic the same technology for Okoye stated. in the conduct of their duties, a commanding role in the governor stressed the need for transmission of election results electronic transmission of The INEC National adding that INEC would observance of COVID-19 the body to advance the cause must be approved by an results in future elections, Commissioner further said, remain focussed despite what protocols. Presently, the of Ijaws to achieve equity and amendment to the current including the 2023 general "Our offices are national assets looks like acts of intimidation. voters’ register is in electronic fairness in Nigeria. Electoral Act, also expressed election. and symbols of democracy. Okoye said, "We will format. The Commission is In his inaugural address, the concerns over the burning of But, in an interview with Our offices are staging posts remain focused and committed not jumping the gun or doing new INC President, Professor some of itsoffices by hoodlums THISDAY, INEC national for the conduct of elections to our responsibilities to the anything in contravention of Benjamin Okaba, assured the in different states, describing commissioner in charge and delivery of electoral Nigerian people. The offices the law. The Commission people that the body would it as a great danger to the of Publicity and Voter services. The offices enable were built with the taxpayers’ should be commended for work for the progress of the early preparations to the 2023 Education, Festus Okoye the Commission to understand money. Due to dwindling being creative, innovative and Ijaw people. general election. said, "The amendment of the the local peculiarities and resources, their reconstruction proactive,” Okoye explained. Prof. Okaba also said the This is as the Bayelsa State Electoral Act has nothing to dynamics of Registration may take sometime.” On his part, Diri, who spoke INC fully supported the recent Governor, Senator Douye Diri, do with online registration Areas and Polling Units. On the planned Online during the inauguration of the pronouncement by governors has said the hitch-free conduct of voters. The Commission Our Electoral Officers are Voter Registration, he said new INC leadership at the of southern Nigeria prohibiting of the recent Ijaw National does not share this power the Managing Directors of the commission was the Ijaw House in Yenagoa, urged open grazing in the region, Congress (INC) election was within any agency or organ elections in the 774 Local only federal executive the Independent National saying the organisation would an indication that Nigeria of government. Our voters’ Government Areas of the body empowered by the Electoral Commission (INEC) provide the necessary support could hold rancour-free register is already in electronic country. constitution to arrange and to adopt electronic voting to ensure adherence to laws national elections if only she format. There is no section of “Our Local Government conduct the registration of to avoid conflicts during aimed at protecting the people embraces electronic voting. the Constitution or the law Offices are indispensable in persons qualified to vote elections. and their land against invasion But INEC, in an apparent that forbids or prohibits the our preparations for elections. and prepare, maintain and A statement by his Chief from external forces. reference to the PDP, said Commission from online It is the Local Government revise the register of voters for Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Okaba, who stated that INC online registration of voters voters registration. Offices that carry out the the purposes of any election Alabrah, noted that the failure would collaborate with other was different from the "The register of voters does conversion and relocation under the Constitution. of the country's electoral body ethnic minorities that share amendment of the electoral act. not vote. Amendments to the of polling units. The local According to him, "Section to adopt e-voting has led to the same experiences with The PDP had in a statement law will focus on Electronic government offices and the 10(1) of the Electoral Act gives the politicisation of revered the Ijaws to achieve their by its National Publicity Voting and Transmission local government staff of the the Commission the power state institutions and disrespect dreams, said the ethnic group Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, of Results. We are simply commission will be the prime and mandate to carry out to such institutions. was aware of surreptitious noted that since INEC said compiling, maintain and movers of the Continuous continuous registration of The governor also said the moves by some groups to it was now in a position to updating the register of Voters Registration. The local persons with the qualifying adoption of e-voting would annex territories in the Niger deploy technology to conduct voters", Okoye stated. governments are the staging criteria to be registered provide an opportunity for Delta, because of its resources, online registration of voters, Addressing the spate of posts of the bulk of electoral as voters. Proactively, the Nigerians in the Diaspora to but that no part of Ijaw would which included electronic arson at INEC properties in activities. Commission, as part of its choose their leaders through be ceded or conquered. transmission of voter’s data the states, Okoye said, "We “Burning down the offices efforts to deepen the use of the ballot. "The INC wishes to use to its central server, the are worried and concerned of the commission at the local technology in the electoral His words: "I am an this special occasion to and commission could also conduct that our electoral materials governments will prevent the process retired the Direct Data advocate and supporter of in an unequivocal term remind an electronic transmission are being burnt. We are commission from domiciling Capture Machines and in its electronic voting system. Many and warn such characters that of results directly from the worried that our generators, non-sensitive materials at the place are a new generation Nigerians have been denied the Ijaw territory was never polling unit to its central electoral materials in terms base level and prevent early of voter enrolment device the right to vote, because they and will never be ceded or server. of cubicles, ballot boxes and deployment on Election Day. known as IVED. are not in Nigeria and cannot conquered. We belong only "Our party calls the attention other sensitive materials are Burning down the offices of "The Commission will also participate in choosing their to the Federal Republic of of the commission to the fact going up in flames. the commission is a clear and deploy online registration leaders. It is a challenge to Nigeria. Should there be a that it no longer has any "We are worried, because present danger to the early portals that enable registrants Nigeria. Let the Independent compelling necessity to pull excuse not to employ the we just finished auditing and professional preparation to start their registration online National Electoral Commission out of the present Nigeria, we direct transmission of results our materials in all the local for elections and is an attack and complete their biometrics (INEC) be challenged. If the shall go our separate ways in from polling units, which will governments and states on our democracy and and facials at the Registration Ijaws can do it, the federal fulfilment of the dreams of ensure credible elections by preparatory to off-cycle democratic institutions. The Centers. This duality is in government can also do it. our ancestors," he said. SUNDAY MAY 16, 2021 • THISDAY 9 10 ͹;˜ͺ͸ͺ͹˾THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER NEWS Omotoso: Sanwo-Olu’s Investment in Education Paying off Says govt has completed over 1097 school projects The Lagos State Commissioner Therefore, our children have sector has been yielding Engineers, Technicians and Commissioner for Education, boreholes among others,” for Information and Strategy, access to quality education positive results. Our students’ Scientist (JETS) competition, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, she said. Mr. Gbenga Omotoso has irrespective of their location”. performance has improved which took place at the represented by Mrs. Oluranti The vision for the said Governor Babajide The Commissioner tremendously in examinations, National Mathematical Centre, Olagbaju, stated that the actualisation of the education Sanwo-Olu’s investment in averred that the Lagos State national and international Kwali between February 21 school infrastructure projects sector was made possible the education sector has begun government was convinced competitions. They have and 27, 2021. were evenly distributed across through the effective to yield positive result. that teaching and learning also improved in morals, He, therefore, urged the Local Government and collaboration of the Lagos Omotoso, who disclosed could only take place etiquette and confidence in community leaders, school Local Council Development State Ministry of Education, this at the commissioning of effectively in an atmosphere public speaking,” he said. administrators, staff and Areas. Lagos State Universal Basic completed school infrastructure that is conducive to learning, Omotoso further noted that students of Ogudu Junior “There is hardly any Education (LASUBEB), projects at Ogudu Junior hence the government’s other gains of the investment Grammar School to take school in the state that was the Special Committee on Grammar School, Ogudu on commitment to the provision in the education sector by the ownership of the project not touched by either a Rehabilitation of Public Friday, said the government of new infrastructure and the Sanwo-Olu administration and ensure that miscreants new school building, new Schools (SCRPS), and the has completed more than rehabilitation of existing ones. include the Lagos State do not destroy or cart away classroom block, hostels, Lagos State Infrastructure and 1,097 school projects, covering “I am glad to note that our team emergence as winners the property of the school. security structures, school Assets Management Agency 970 schools across the state, investment in the education at the 2021 National Junior In her welcome address, the fence, toilets, furniture and (LASIAMA). just as it has ensured the upgrade and rehabilitation of 322 dilapidated public schools and the furnishing of Primary Schools with 87,000 dual composite unit of chairs and desks in two years. Th commissioner who represented the Lagos State governor at the event said, the project being commissioned was in line with the “Education and Technology” pillar of the present administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda, saying, “If we must actualise our greater Lagos vision, quality education must remain one of our most solid building blocks”. While commenting on the vital role of education in the growth and development of a megacity like Lagos, Omotoso stated that it has become imperative for the government to ensure that children have access to quality education and an enabling environment for excellent learning. His words: “In order to accelerate our children's access to world-class pedagogical learning, we have aggressively embarked on the provision of blocks of classrooms, administrative offices, school furniture, laboratories, modern toilet facilities and security across ON-THE-SPOT ASSESSMENT the six Education Districts and Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (left), during a rescue operation at an accident scene at Ekulu Bridge, Abakpa Nike, Enugu, involving a truck that Local Government Councils. lost control and fell into a ditch...yesterday

OKOWA TO LAWAN: ELECTED LEADERS MUST ECHO THE VOICES OF THEIR PEOPLE large level and it is given in the developing world things spent to start up some of these be food insecurity in the land.'' from the very first three months We want somebody, who will the interest of larger majority are changing very fast and I ranching, grazing reserves or On the upcoming that we came into office for come to Asaba and see Asaba of the people that we can have think we are ready to begin whatever you call it, in order gubernatorial election in Delta our second tenure, they have as his own and not somebody a truly united nation in which to look futuristically, we may to slow down and eventually State, the governor chided started their campaign. That who will come in here and feel there’s fairness and equity and not be able to get ourselves put a stop in years to come. politicians and citizens jumping ought not to be. Beyond all that Asaba as headquarters is trust amongst our people and out of where we are at the ''I don’t think that’s a wrong the ship due to promises made these, I want to charge our misplaced. the leadership.'' moment. There are several decision; it’s in the best interest to them in the scramble for leaders and our people to be “We must make the people Okowa said an attempt must grazing reserves that have of our nation and our people. who will replace him as cautious, because politics, if happy and together, because be made to take some actions been abandoned, why were I urge that all leaders in the governor. you don’t play it rightly, you collectively when we speak at the national level to put they abandoned? country, stakeholders to log ''We are politicians and can throw your people into as one people and endorse a stop to open grazing and “We have asked that the into the good salvations politics will have to be played. quietness. somebody that has a life line, therefore advised the federal federal government let us that have been put forth I can see that a lot of things ''Whoever is coming to somebody who will be fair to government to spend part of spend part of the national by southern governors and are going on in our dear state, rule over this state by the all Deltans, then, we can be the national resource to help resource to help to start new it’s time to embrace it as a especially, as the scramble for special grace of God must happy and go to sleep. I will to start new pilot schemes for pilot schemes for which those people. It is in the interest of who will replace Dr. Okowa be somebody, who is ready not have a governor that will ranching and grazing reserves. of us in the south do support the country, otherwise,we will comes. Unfortunately, some to ensure that there is fairness, put a ban on Anioma people,'' According to him, ''Today, in that some federal resource be get to a stage when there will were not even patient right justice and equity in everything. he added. CAMPBELL: HOW BUHARI CAN SAVE NIGERIA FROM IMPLOSION imposed and did not address a single unit 350 different Nigeria. might end up in what he separatism sentiment in the Nigeria, much of the Nigeria's genuine political ethnic groups that had little "The current constitution, described as an "unmitigated South-East and even in agitation for ethnically based faultlines and aspirations, in common with each other. in many respects, mimics disaster." Yorubaland the emergence separatism would go away. including its various ethnic “But, I would suggest that that of the United States. According to him, "Well, of new institutions, which What are the elements of nationalities, and urged those that approach has continued. In the immediate post- implosion of the country are not federal. I am talking genuine federalism? First of in power to pursue a course Nigeria's constitutions had independence period, would be an unmitigated in particular of the sort of all, the entities that make of rewriting the constitution been imposed first by the the country's constitution disaster. Whether that occurs quasi-security force that up a federal republic need that genuinely takes into British, later by various essentially mimicked that or not is very largely up to a number of the Yoruba to be able to raise their consideration current issues military regimes, and was of the Westminster way Nigerians themselves and to governors have put together." own revenue and not be and realities. never submitted to the of governance. Maybe their political leadership. The Insisting on a constitution dependent on the central Campbell explained: "The Nigerian people for a vote these western models have issue, the specific issue that that reflects the aspirations government for revenue, amalgamation of Nigeria by or for ratification." shortcomings, when they are I think is most dangerous at of Nigerians and the current and now, almost all of the the British was done for The senior fellow at the imposed on 350 different present is the deterioration of realities, Campbell noted that states are. I think only Lagos their own administrative CFR think-tank maintained ethnic groups," Campbell security across the country. true federalism where the state, in fact, is able to raise convenience without any that Nigeria's current observed. "Jihadism in the North, states are less dependent much, though, not all of the consultation of Nigerians constitution mimicked that He, however, warned that conflict over water and on the central government revenue it needs," he further and without even very of the U.S. but is generally if the government and the land use in the Middle would serve the nation explained. much thinking about what relics of the British colonial political class remained Belt, conflicts that often better. the consequences might rule and military regimes indifferent to the current assume an ethnic and "I think if there were t4FF*OUFSWJFXPOQBHFT be of putting together in that had superintended nationwide crises, Nigeria religious dimension, growing genuine federalism in 17&18 SUNDAY MAY 16, 2021 • THISDAY 11 12 MAY 16, 2021 ˾THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA EDITORIAL Email [email protected] AVERTING THE LOOMING ANARCHY Insecurity is spreading and deepening the crisis across the nation. The authorities must act fast and stem the drift

as entrepreneurs of violence spread their n a joint public statement last week, 253 civil tentacles across Nigeria the security agencies society organisations said Nigeria has lost over seemed overwhelmed. In Benue State, for 2000 citizens to the worsening security crisis instance, Governor Sam Ortom has repeatedly across the country in the first quarter of 2021. advocated the carrying of arms by everyone Many other stakeholders have voiced similar for self-defence. He was talking from experience. Benue is the vortex of criminality. concerns. “Let’s not deceive ourselves; Nigeria Thousands of innocent people have been is at war,” said Professor Pat Utomi, a political killed and thousands more displaced through economist. “Unfortunately, the victims of that farmer-herder’s crisis over grazing land. Only war, preponderantly, are the powerless, so we don’t last week, some 11 people were killed in Icount its toll well enough.” Gwer West local council of the state. For more than a decade, Nigeria has been ven the relatively secure Southwest grappling with a ruinous Islamist insurgency in is increasingly being drawn into the the North-east. It has laid waste almost every eco- cauldron of violence with com- nomic activity in the zone, cost more than 100,000 munal crisis and growing cases of kidnapping for ransom. The South- innocent lives, and displaced millions of others. eastE and the South-south are experiencing Despite the best efforts of the military, the a surge of violence. Separatists attacks are insurgency is spreading to neighbouring regions widespread as gunmen seemed to have and beyond. The declared war on law enforcement agencies. For more than a Northwest, hitherto From Imo to Abia, Rivers and Akwa Ibom States, policemen have become sitting decade, Nigeria has isolated from terrorist targets for extermination. Yet, beyond mere been grappling with activities, is now statements of appeal, President Muham- a ruinous Islamist home to all kinds of madu Buhari is yet to come out with any insurgency in the heinous crimes. In a winning strategy to deal with the war being slew of attacks across unleashed on Nigerians. This is embolden- North-east. It has laid ing all kinds of agitations in the polity the region particularly in – from restructuring to outright secession. waste almost every Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara SUNDAY NEWSPAPER In response to the deteriorating security situ- economic activity and Kaduna States, EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU ation in the country, governors of the southern in the zone, cost bandits armed with DEPUTY EDITORS OLAWALE OLALEYE, TOBI SONIYI states last week met in Asaba, Delta State after sophisticated weapons, which they urged President Buhari to address the more than 100,000 MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO nation to douse growing tension and restore the regularly invade villages innocent lives, and DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE confidence of citizens. In a 12-point communiqué, and communities, killing CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI the 17 governors of South-west, South-east and displaced millions of and rustling cattle at will. EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN South-south expressed grave concerns over the others Kaduna is plagued by MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE incursion of armed herders, criminals and bandits into the southern part of the country and resolved incessant kidnappings to ban open cattle grazing in the region. As a and communal violence. In recent months, armed lasting solution to the socio-economic challenges groups have attacked several communities and THISDAY NEWSPAPERS LIMITED plaguing the nation, they recommended restructur- ing the country, creation of state police and the schools, killing and abducting students for huge EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA review of revenue allocation formula. ransom. GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, We share the position of the governors on the In the last few weeks, Niger, in the North central ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI need to tinker with our skewed federal structure. area, has become a haven for the terrorists. They DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS BOLAJI ADEBIYI , PETER IWEGBU, Not only do these regional coalitions give the have captured some communities, hoisted their ANTHONY OGEDENGBE states a better opportunity to work together to DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI wrestle more powers from a centre that has con- flag and are reportedly collecting taxes from their SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS ERIC OJEH, PATRICK EIMIUHI captives to further their criminal activities. The tinued to entrap enormous resources, it also offers ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR SAHEED ADEYEMO perhaps a more effective way to tackle the security Governor of the state, Abubakar Bello recently CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI challenge that is increasing leading the country on alerted the nation that the insurgents have slashed DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO the path to anarchy. While there is an immediate parts of his territory and they could indeed threaten HEAD, COMPUTER DEPARTMENT PATRICIA UBAKA-ADEKOYA need to arrest the slide, we must also acknowledge Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja. More worrying is TO SEND EMAIL: first [email protected] that we have a serious structural problem.

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 Letters to the Editor details to [email protected]. 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 [email protected] along with the email address and phone numbers of the writer. THE IMPERATIVE OF COMMUNITY POLICING ore than any other forms the basis of terrorism and actors, internal and external forces. In essence, to tackle the rising wave for futile intent of violent crimes in time in the history criminality in most societies. No- However, people-oriented and of general insecurity in Nigeria today, the country. On this note, it will not of Nigeria, the civil tably, dissenting and disgruntled selfless leadership remains the the entire local government authorities be out of place to briefly enumerate war of 1967 to 1970 elements that are not pre-disposed most effective means and panacea should as a matter of necessity be some of the laudable interventions of inclusive, the to the impunity of their leaders of discouraging all sorts of terror engaged, liberated from the undue Hon. Chief Yusuf Mahanen Machen, challenges of become aggressive, resenting the groups that are often inclined interference of state executives politically the Executive Chairman of Bokkos Minsecurity have never deteriorated character of the rulership due to towards secession, disintegration, and financially as an integral unit of Local Government Area of Plateau and overwhelmed the citizens obvious frustrations. extremism and parochial ends. government due to their proximity and State, for his patriotism, dedication and the authorities than now. The Although there are various However, to keep all traits of affinity with the locals at the grass root. and accountable disposition towards menace of terrorism, banditry factors which trigger elements of organised crime and general If these variables are guaranteed good governance and ensuring secure and kidnapping have in reality terrorism, kidnapping and arms insecurity in any given society, the local government chairmen and environment within and around all becomes rampant, fierce and struggle such as human theory, there must be an institutional the traditional rulers, they would communities of his local council. consistent, making life nasty, conspiracy theory and biological framework geared towards the undoubtedly become more viable to On assumption as the elected brutish and short. theory, all of them have one thing promotion of good governance gather intelligence for the benefit of executive chairman of the council, In the prevailing circumstances, in common which may be social, and effective community policing our security, and as well be in vantage Hon. Machen had pledged to ensure it is rather unfortunate to state economic, political and psycho- at the grass root level. position to provide the much needed the safety of lives and property of that there existed the traits of the logical factors. For instance, social This is because most of the people-oriented projects, policies and the inhabitants under his jurisdiction, Jacobins of the French dynasty factors ignite “date kidnappings,” terror inclined networks do their programmes which shall in turn and as well providing the much which reigned in the middle of political factors trigger “ransom recruitment and indoctrination eliminate frustration from the minds of needed social amenities in the area. 1546, full of terror and impunity kidnappings,” economic factors at the rural communities due to the beleaguered local inhabitants and For instance, in the area of security, to on the French nationals by the trigger “gang kidnappings” and the absence of basic education, restore their confidence and loyalty to ensure the safety of the rural populace. aristocrats and from where the psychological factors trigger “serial sensitisation and basic social the state. More profoundly, community –––Mohammed Isa Bilal, Jos, word terrorism stems from. kidnappings” to agitate or rebel amenities in such localities and policing will then be an effective means . It is, however, instructive to note against the system. In most cases hardly any terror network gets of checkmating and obliterating that bad governance in most cases with the connivance of shadow followership at urban centres. tendencies of insecurity and the quest Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com SUNDAY MAY 16, 2021 • THISDAY 13 14 THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MAY 16, 2021 OPINION A NATION IN DIRE NEED OF PATRIOTS Nigeria is our collective responsibility, writes Fredrick Nwabufo

he Chinese did not build their prosper- No one is without blemish in the rotting of Nigeria. A better Nigeria begins with me. Our Plan B ous country by abandoning ship when In our small stations, we contribute to the rot. In should not be to leave Nigeria in the kerb. Nigeria is it was turbulent. In fact, it was at a time Abuja, it is usual to see foreigners in vehicles with salvageable. The traditional crotchets of inveterate of great tribulation and uncertainty that diplomatic licence plates beat traffic lights. A video pessimists and disbelievers in the Nigeria project the Chinese forged the path for a glori- of a purported diplomat peeing on our road rippled are that only a rupturing of the entity can save its ous future. The successful nations today on social media at the weekend. These people cannot peoples. But this is an escapist’s way of avoiding hurdled through moments of topsy- conduct themselves in such an abhorrent manner responsibility to do the actual task of building the turvy in their history. The strongest steel in their own countries. But we are bad examples. country. is forged in the hottest fire. If we abandon Nigeria in ‘’The Nigerian way of anything goes’’ taints even the Nigeria is our collective responsibility. We all Tits time of adversity, who will save it? pristine. We must set the right examples from top to have an equal share in the task of nation-building. Nigerians want a better country, but some are bottom. We must begin and not stop crocheting the national unwilling to work for it. The buck is passed, traded Again, no one is coming to save the night. No one is fabric. Nigeria is not an option. Nigeria is the and discarded. There is always someone else to coming to save us. If we all elect to abandon Nigeria at option. blame for the societal hebetudes. We await a mes- this moment of trial, what happens to our kith and kin Nation-building cannot succeed in vacancy of siah who by the wave of his wand will magic all who cannot afford to escape the country? Our roots the citizens. Nation-building is largely citizenship our troubles away. We hang on to the illusion that in Nigeria are deep and run through the core of the building. And really, the process starts with those someone somewhere will begin to put humpty- earth. We cannot yank off the radicles without hurting we elect into office. If we elect leaders on the shade dumpty together. We wait for Godot. ourselves. of their religious and ethnic complexions or some A better Nigeria begins with me. It begins with provincial permutations, do we expect them to you. It begins with us. We cannot outsource the protect the interest of all Nigerians or of only those development of our country. We must put our hands with the same native identities? We have to do on the wheel to move it forward. We only make the better. What we give is what we receive. We cannot country we deserve. The Chinese did not entrust make appreciable progress if religion and ethnicity their development to the Americans or anyone. remain the in situ conditions for electing leaders in Singaporeans as well did not consign their progress Nigeria. to any external agency. They built their country So, it all comes back to us. A better Nigeria begins through tempest and hailstorm. with me. Theodore Roosevelt, 26th US president, fa- Nevertheless, the place of leadership in the mously said: "The first requisite of a good citizen in progress of these countries is unimpeachable. For We can only create a better this republic of ours is that he shall be able and will- China, the leadership tapestry of Mao Zedong saw ing to pull his own weight." Ralph Nader, American the country evolve from an agrarian economy to country if we work at it. activist and author, expressed my sentiments when an industrial nucleus. In the case of Singapore, the he said: "There can be no daily democracy without reformist deportment of Lee Kuan Yew is a classical Citizenship is a right that daily citizenship." By the same token, Paul Collier, story. Yes, we cannot excuse the place of leadership comes with a burden. Why award-winning author, when he said: “You are a in transforming society. citizen, and citizenship carries responsibilities.” However, leaders are not made on Mars. They should we resort to ‘’Plan We can only create a better country if we work at come from the community pool – with the same it. Citizenship is a right that comes with a burden. flaws and contours as everyone else. A society only B’’ and abandon our country Why should we resort to ‘’Plan B’’ and abandon gets the leaders it deserves. When a people select our country to those who will gut it and discard its certain persons to steer their affairs among a cluster to those who will gut it and carcass? Nigeria is worth fighting for. of choices, they are not inculpable when their lead- Nigeria needs fixing. We are the fix. ership option fails. The led is as guilty as the leader. discard its carcass? ––Nwabufo is a writer and journalist. Avoiding The Descent To Anarchy Onyedikachi Edeh argues that government must be open minded about all suggestions, including a restructured federation

igeria has been a struggling giant. A giant because January, 1967, there was the Aburi meeting between Gowon The government must first of all deal with this semantic it is the most populous black nation as well as the and Ojukwu but Gowon jettisoned all the agreements reached bias before it can objectively address the issue. most economically capitalized (measured in GDP) in that meeting. The Nigerian government as a benevolent father must black nation. It is struggling because it has not been Five, in May, 1967, Ojukwu declared the Republic of learn to love all its citizens irrespective of their ethnic able to attain a reasonable fraction of its potential. Biafra apparently in protest to the inhumanity of the North- affinity. Such love would naturally dictate that in dealing In this piece, I seek to interrogate the current dominated Nigerian government against the Igbos. Six, in July, with these agitators, the first approach should not be to agitations threatening the continued existence 1967 the war broke out as the Nigerian government sought to unleash full military might against them. Force should only of the Nigerian Republic. Some of the questions prevent the secession of the Igbo-dominated Eastern Region be used as the last option especially when all other efforts is raised are: Are these agitations justified and what are the realities (the Biafra) from the Nigerian union. manifestly seen to have failed. Nfuelling them? Are these agitations capable of plunging the country What is the relevance of the foregoing to the present It is squarely at the doorstep of the government to do into some bloody clashes or even a full-blown war? Should such discuss? one may ask. I am worried that we might be walking everything humanly possible to avoid a descent to anarchy. unthinkable consequence be avoided and how? the same path that led to that valley of death in 1967. We Gowon is an ex-Head of State just as is Nigerian history dates back at least to the amalgamation of might be repeating the error of history which if not checked an ex-president. Between the two, however, every objective the Northern and Southern Regions of the country in 1914 by might take us to another avoidable disaster. According to mind will give more credit to Jonathan as a national hero the colonial administration. That is however not the problem. Fredrick Forsyth in his book “The Biafra Story,” “Biafra was a than Gowon because Jonathan averted a catastrophic The real problem has been the pattern of political relations mistake; it should and need never have happened,” and I will outcome in 2015 when he conceded defeat and handed amongst the constituents since the pre-independence nationalist add there should never be a repeat. over to his political opponent. He had declared that his protagonists who had foregrounded the differences amongst Various groups today are singing the song of secession. personal ambition was not worth anyone’s blood. If Gowon the numerous ethno-cultural units to the detriment of a true From Boko Haram and Arewa in North to Oduduwa in the had adopted such liberal mindset in 1966/67, perhaps that nationalist philosophy. One of the historic misadventure of these West and to Biafra in the East. One thing common to all these pogrom might have been avoided. ethno-nationalist attitudes was the unfortunate civil war of 1967 agitations is that they all represent a protest against the status Open mindedness would allow the government to 1970. Let me highlight some of the factors that made that war quo. In the case of the Igbos, they feel aggrieved that the consider the merit of all the available alternatives including inevitable: error of the civil war (which was by all reasonable standard a a restructured federation without shutting out any option. One, in January 1966, there was a military coup d’état which national aggression directed at the Igbos) was not sufficiently It will allow government to go into a genuine national toppled the civilian regime of the time and introduced military redressed. They have continued to feel excluded from the dialogue aimed at finding pragmatic solutions to the rule in Nigeria. Because of its outcome, this coup was labeled an national scheme of things where it appears as if certain areas problems fuelling these agitations. It will allow government “Igbo Coup,” a label which proved very costly for the nation. of national life have been declared a “No Igbo Zone”. aggregate all genuine suggestions irrespective of where they Two, in July, 1966, there was another military coup but this What is of paramount importance is not necessarily the are coming from and objectively analyze them for merit and time it was clearly a coup against the Igbos. The coup consumed reasons or justifications for these agitations, but how the relevance. Open mindedness would allow the government prominent Igbo officers in the military and brought to power government respond to and deal with these agitations and the to take a closer look atthe Constitution of Nigeria, which General Gowon as the new Head of State. General agitators. For good or for bad, Biafra as a concept has entered is the grundnorm with a view to making it an instrument Gowon was however unable to curtail the massive killing of Igbo into our national vocabulary and the mere use of the word of peace and nation-building rather than an instrument of officers in various military barracks in the country. should not be seen as a treasonable felony. The concept shares repression and oppression. Above all, the government must Three, in September, 1966 there was massive killing of the some connotative affinity with “Oduduwa” and “Arewa” but act very fast to arrest the mounting tension in the polity. civilian Igbos in major commercial cities in the north. Four, in evokes more hatred and reprehension than these two; why? –– Edeh wrote from Abuja. THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾Y 16, 2021 15 PERSPECTIVE Udom’s Healthcare Programme for Sustainable Development George Inwang are primary health facilities. Other hospitals on this list are the Immanuel General ealth is wealth. This time-worn adage must Hospital, Eket; Iquita General Hospital, Oron: St. Luke’s General be the philosophy that drives the unprec- Hospital, Anua, Uyo; Etinan General Hospital; General Hospital, edented transformation of the health sector Ikot Okoro, Abak; General Hospital, Ikono and the Methodist in Akwa Ibom State under the leadership of General Hospital, Ituk Mbang, in which premises the state’s Governor Udom Emmanuel. 300-bed COVID-19 isolation and treatment centre is located. It is a transformation, which is bringing The capacity to deliver quality healthcare to the people of healthcare delivery closer to the people the state has been strengthened with the setting up of the through increasedaccessibility and availability Akwa Ibom State Primary Healthcare Development Agency regardless of their social class or area of residence. (AKSPHCDA). This is in line with thepractice at the federal level HThis includes rural areas, which had no health facilities, thus and some states of the federation. forcing residents in those areas to travel long distances for The AIPHDA, which comes under a special project chris- medical care in hospitals that were ill-equipped to serve that tened, Primary Healthcare Under One Roof, is charged, among purpose ab initio. others, with the responsibility to improve access to quality The exercise has so far seen the revamping of health and basic healthcare, putin place a high performance team of institutions that were dilapidated in structures, which were in healthcare providers, control preventable diseases and guarantee rundown conditions and unable to provide services to the sick, universal health coverage of all parts of the state. even in the most common ailments like malaria and typhoid The importance of an agency like the AKSPHCDA is evident fever, or maternity services – with preventable deaths, including at this period when the Coronavirus pandemic is still very much high infant and maternal mortality rates, as consequence. around, despite several measures like testing and treatment, non- Those institutions have had life breathed into them by way pharmaceutical safety measures and massive vaccination that of remodeling, reconstruction and rehabilitation of critical Emmanuel are being carried out in all the states of the federation to stem its structures like emergency and accident departments, wards, spread. Primary healthcare development agencies are the ones theatres and dispensaries as the case may be, as well as upgrade are going to find it attractive to return home to seek employment that are effectively taking charge of the vaccination campaign, as or replacement of equipment, to be able to meet the challenge and business opportunities.The state will no doubt appeal we have seen in all parts of the country. The AKSPHCDA has of providing modern healthcare delivery in a state that is being Nigerians in neighbouring states and other parts of the country therefore come at the right time. primed to be Nigeria’s industrial hub. in search of greener pastures. Improvement of the quality of healthcare delivery in Akwa The government has created an environment that is With more people coming into the state – local investors Ibom would, apart from guaranteeing quick and easy access to conducive for investments to thrive – a peaceful and secure state, from other parts of the country, foreign investors and Nigerians health services at all levels and in all parts of the state, controlling critical infrastructure like good road network and power, as well seeing to take up employment – there is going to be pressure the spread of diseases and reducing the rate of preventable as incentives that investors find attractive and irresistible. This on social services, including healthcare delivery. The government deaths, also create a general state of wellbeing that would is in addition to the traditional hospitality for which the people has acted proactively by investing in healthcare to build a state engender an enthusiastic embrace of Governor Emmanuel’s of Akwa Ibom are well known, which contributes to creating where health would translate to wealth – a state with a healthy Dakkada philosophy that challenges every Akwa Ibomite to rise awelcoming environment where people can visit, live and work. population that would create individual and collective wealth for to greatness. The creation of the right environment has so far yielded present and future generations of Akwa Ibomites. The philosophy has already begun to yield fruits, as the results in form of industrial establishments which have been The government has strengthened healthcare delivery at the people of the state have now come to terms with the roles they set up in the state in the last six years – about 16 in all. These primary level by building more health centres, rehabilitating can play, individually and as a people, in building the Akwa industries are collectively employing thousands of people. old ones and upgrading some to the level of full hospitals. For Ibom Project – a state with a solid industrial base that would With the oil and gas free zone the federal government is instance, the Awa Primary Health Centre has been remodeled, guarantee sustainable socio-economic development that outlives planning to set up in the state, and the futuristic Ibom Deep Sea reconstructed and equipped to join the list of general hospitals the present generation. Portwhich is going to be the biggest investment in that part of that are located in the three senatorial districts of the state – to –––Inwang, a public affairs commentator, lives in Port the country, Akwa Ibom indigenes in other parts of the country make secondary healthcare delivery available even where there Harcourt, . Lagos: How to Revamp Public Schools Ayodeji Mayokun Ayopo inauguration of SCRPS with the mandate to plays in leraning.It is the innate resolve of ensure that public schools are conducive for the Sanwoolu administration to build new learning. The Hakeem Smith led committee schools and incorporate ICT to drive teach- hen the Lagos remains the cynosure of public spectacle as ing and learning through infrastructural State Government the populace watched in utter astonishment needs. earmarked 143.66 the beautification of public schools in Lagos. billion naira for public Since its inauguration, SCPRS has Improving Teachers’ Capabilities education in the 2021 rehabilitated close to 150 schools while over A critical focus of the transformation in budget, many people 300 classrooms at various stages of comple- public schools is improving the compenten- are of the opinion that tion are being constructed and renovated. cies and capabilities of teachers through the government is Construction of hostel blocks with a target of continuous training. The skills of teachers poised to change the education landscape in over 1,000 beddings are also almost com- are being updated through modern tech- Wthe state. This implies that the government pleted in the model colleges. According to nology. A total number of 2,500 teachers is strongly focused in pursuing an holistic John Dewey, “Education is not preparation were trained in scenario planning based agenda of transforming the education sector for life. Education is life itself”. This quote on remote leraning,teaching nd classroom in Lagos State. sums up the focus of the Sanwoolu admin- co-ordination post COVID. It should be pointed out that the huge istration in creating conductive learning investment in infrastructural development environment for students in public schools. The Security Angle in the education sector is very critical to The facilities that are being installed in The governments’ intervention is not only effective learning, the schools attest to the fact that fact that the limited to infrastructure but the innovative Indeed the quote from the sage Allan Sanwo-Olu Lagos State Government is making educa- dimension of security.There is the Security Bloom who says; “education is the move- tion a life in its own right for both teachers Improvement Programme(SIP).This was ment from darkness to light” is indeed This aptly tagged T.H.E.M.E.S. THEMES and students. introduced especially in the model colleges the current scenario in Lagos state. The focuses on Traffic Management, Transport, and boarding schools. Sanwoolu government is indeed dispelling Health, Environment, Education and Tech- State of The Art Furniture The government factored the critical issue the works of darkness in the education sector nology. The Education part of this strategic The intervention is not only limited to of security into its school infrastructural by heralding a new dawn through its holistic process has received enormous attention infrastructural develpemnt but also the development project. Some watch towers agenda to accelerate infrastructural develop- with the huge investment in infrastructural provision of modern furniture. The fabrica- with alarm belts and perimeter fences in ment in the sector. It should be noted that development. Governor Sanwoolu on tion and supply of dual single composite order to enhance security have also been public schools suffer from environmental assumption of office had decried the poor student benches and tables with underneath constructed. This is a noble feat as it ad- degradation and infrastructural kwashior- state of infrastructure in public schools. He compartments for books and bag storage dresses the concerns of parents about the kor. It has been a pitiable sight as students immediately declared zero tolerance on the are being supplied to public schools espe- safety of their children in public schools. This learn under pathetic and life threatening poor state of infrastructure in public schools. cially to those with furniture deficit. major intervention will also eliminate the in- atmosphere. The provision of state of the art furniture security incidences where hoodlums invade However, things have started taking Fulfilling The Agenda for both students and teachers align with the schools to cause mayhem and threaten the new dimensions when Governor Babajide To accelerate and actualize the core above that education is life in Lagos State. lives of both students and teachers. Sanwoolu ascended the podium of gover- vision of revamping schools’ infrastructure, SCRPS has provided over 100,000 student The government should however ensure nance in Lagos State. With an irrepressible Governor Babajide Sanwoolu inaugurated furniture as part of its intervention in public regular maintenance of the infrastructural desire and a gargantuan zeal, Sanwoolu the Special Committee for the Rehabilitation schools. facilities. The monitoring of the assigned swung into action and today, the tides have of Public Schools (SCRPS). The committee contractors is also key as the schools have indeed changed positively concerning headed by Mr. Hakeem Smith has since The ICT Angle remained in a decrepit sate for too long. infrastructural decay in public schools. It been the veritable channel through which Giant stride shave also been made in It is expected that the Sanwoolu admin- should be emphasized that the strong focus public schools have experienced massive infusing technology into schools and into istration will remain focused in sustaining of the Sanwoolu administration is premised transformation and growth. the learning process.This is a welcome qualitative education in Lagos State. on a strategic blueprint. The Governor set the stage with the development in view of the huge role ICT ––Ayopo lives in Lagos. 16 MA͹;˜ͺ͸ͺ͹˾THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER INTERNATIONAL Hypothesis-building in the Governance of Nigeria: The Danger of a PMB’s Coup Against Nigeria

ypothesis-building is generally believed to want amputation or death penalty, we said we want it because it be reserved for academic research projects. VIE is our religion and the Constitution of the country has agreed that Researchers are required to, first of all, reflect everyone has the right to practise the religion of his choice... Sharia on critical questions or problematic, then INTERNATIONALE does not affect Christians’ (Nigerian Public Opinion Page, ‘’How come up with observations and thrusts that Buhari Encouraged Sharia Law Under Obasanjo,’’ in m.facebook. are to be tested in light of further empirical com). investigations and exegesis. Thus, like German  What is particularly noteworthy about the unhappiness of Foundations and other types of cornerstones the Kano State Council of Ulamas concerning the withdrawal of are required in solid building constructions, so is hypothesis Bola A. Akinterinwa the Bill is its declared determination that it was fed up with the requiredH in building theories in various social science disciplines. ‘fraudulent togetherness’ of Nigerians.’ In fact, Dr. Datti Ahmed, Grosso modo, hypothesis is the first stage of research reflections, Telephone : 0807-688-2846 former SDP Presidential aspirant, who was the spokesperson for after collation of data and preliminary study. The ultimate in the e-mail: [email protected] the Ulamas, put it bluntly as follows: ‘we are happy to inform our continuum of research processes is the theory, the final outcome Yoruba fellow citizens of Nigeria that we too have now come to the of research finding, which, under normal situations, should guide same conclusion. Let there be a national conference - sovereign or political governance. It is not hypothesis, to begin with, that should otherwise - to determine the basis of our continued togetherness be the foundation of or drive public governance. and the sooner all sections of Nigeria meet to determine our future Most unfortunately, however, allegiance is not showed in co-existence, the better for all of us.’ practice to government, but not to Nigeria as a country. Political And true enough, if the Muslims do consider that the ‘penal code governance is also increasingly predicated on hypothesis-building, was imposed on them as a guise to replace Sharia by the British which is often presented to the Nigerian public as hard facts, and administrators when they were leaving’ and the people of Kano by so doing, giving the impression that President Muhammadu State ‘do not see any reason why anybody should be so hysterical Buhari (PMB) may be planning a fresh coup against himself in opposing our legitimate effort at restoring the Sharia legal/ and Nigeria in order to retain power by all means beyond 2023. judicial system in our State who are more than 99% adherents of This observation or hypothesis is largely informed by many of the Sharia system,’ why should this principle of true federalism be PMB’s public statements on his beliefs and agenda of governance granted in the context of Zamfara State but non-readiness to allow of Nigeria, but to which he has not visibly been faithful. He has the application of the same principle in other States? Is it because flagrantly worked against what he publicly professed. of Sir Ahmadu Bello’s dictum which does not want Southerners For instance, in 2011, ever before he was elected, he told all to have a control of their own future or who must not be allowed Nigerians why he would not want to serve beyond one term in to rule Northerners? In fact, why has PMB refused to consider the office because of his old age, which he believed would limit his report of the 2014 National Conference organised under President performance. As he put it then, ‘I wish I became a Head of State Goodluck Jonathan? when I was a Governor... Now at 72, there is a limit to what I can do This is another critical dynamic that warrants special attention of (The Punch, June 12, 2011, p.2). Besides, PMB told Nigerians, follow- its own. However, Nigerians are called upon to pray for Nigeria. ing his re-election, that ‘we have got the opportunity to serve again But is mere praying a solution to this type of well-calculated for additional four years, and Nigerians will know the difference.’ attitudinal disposition? Pastor William Folorunsho Kumuyi In fact, the ruling party talked about carrying Nigeria to ‘The Next Buhari of the Deeper Life Christian Ministry called on all Nigerians in Level.’ Nigerians are at the desired level and they can know the 1986 to change their minds to God and that it was only unity and difference. It was on the basis of the need for a revamped economy, ‘’Nigeria on the Brink,’’ published in the Washington Times of cooperation of all ethnic groups within the country that could anti-corruption fighting and ensuring national security that PMB Thursday, March 19, 2015 that the ultimate goal of all terrorist bring progress. He warned that Nigeria should guide against campaigned for election and re-election. attacks in Nigeria and Africa is to establish an Islamic State and religious crisis (The Guardian, Thursday, April 10, 1986). In fact, As at today, Nigeria has become the terra cognita for institutional that ‘Boko Haram has pledged its allegiance and support to the General Yakubu Gowon had regular prayer sessions for Nigeria at corruption and transnational terrorism. PMB is a General of the ISIS. The Northern Nigerian-based Islamic terrorist group, Boko a point in time. But to what extent is the usefulness of prayers if, for Nigerian Army. He was formerly a military Head of State and Haram, wants Sharia law throughout the country and beyond. instance, a group of Nigerians believe that they should be masters most Nigerians believed that his military background would They are also actively terrorising Chad, Niger and Cameroon with and others should be their servants, and in doing so, their land be quite useful in the battle and war against the boko haramic their goal of Islamic State.’ This is why Mr. Grenell saw Nigeria should be forcefully taken from them? insurgency. Unfortunately, the contrary has been the case. The being at a tipping point, PMB’s election as a disaster, and PMB’s current situational reality cannot but permit one to hypothesize election as a signal of trouble ‘for the West’s fight against ISIS and Calls for National Confab and Coup-Making that PMB’s attitudinal disposition points to an intention to remain terrorism throughout the Middle East.’ There have been several calls for national dialogue on several in power by non-use of force, but by a doctrine of necessity, or force Should PMB be solely held responsible for seeking an Islamic issues dividing the people of Nigeria. The decision of the Kano of necessity, or force majeure rule in Nigeria? Probably not. Sir Ahmadu Bello is on record to State Council of Ulamas to accept the idea of a national dialogue have said that ‘the new nation called Nigeria should be an estate is only one of the desiderata. With the renewed and strengthened Hypothetical Dynamics of PMB’s New Coup of our great grandfather, Uthman Dan Fodio. We must ruthlessly agitation for self-determination and possible separation from A former US envoy and a spokesperson to four US Ambassa- prevent a change of power. We use the minorities in the North Nigeria, resulting in the destruction of public edifices, and attacks dors to the United Nations, Mr. Richard Grenell, predicted in 2015 as willing tools and the South as a conquered territory and never on security agents virtually in all parts of the country, the seventeen that ‘electing the APC candidate president, will be a disaster for allow them to rule over us and never allow them to have control Governors of the Southern States met on Monday, May 11, 2021 in Nigeria and Africa’ (The Guardian, Monday, March 23, 2015, front over their future’ (Parrot Newspaper, October 12, 1960). Asaba, Delta State, for more than four hours, to articulate how best page). Has his prediction been proved wrong? Or is it too early to If we admit of this quoted statement as valid, why should any to address the situation of insecurity, which, ridiculously, has not embark on an evaluation of PMB’s administration? What really other right-thinking Nigerian be expected to accept such a publicly spared even the presidency where the official residence of the Chief informed such a prediction by him and by other international declared policy of enslavement of others and particularly the of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari was observers? permanency of the rule of Northerners? If Ahmadu Bello did not reportedly burgled. He warned the Obama administration of the impending and want Southerners to have control over their own future, who are As noted in the Communiqué of the Governors, ‘the forum af- deepening situation of insecurity in Nigeria. In his words, ‘Western the messengers, executors, soldiers, implementers, etc, to enforce firms that the people of Southern Nigeria remain committed to the foreign policy observers pre-occupied with the rise of ISIS in the the policy? Is PMB not one of the implementers if he believes that unity of Nigeria on the basis of justice, fairness, equity and oneness Middle East should wake up to the reality unfolding in Nigeria. Sharia law should be everywhere? and peaceful co-existence between and among its people with Opposition candidate General Buhari wants Sharia law through- When the Kano State Council of Ulamas sponsored the Sharia a focus on the attainment of shared goals for economic develop- out Nigeria. In fact, he wants it everywhere.’ (vide pulse.ng March Bill that was passed by the State Assembly but was withdrawn by ment and prosperity.’ And perhaps more important, the forum 21, 2015). Can it not be rightly hypothesized that PMB’s silent some Governors, PMB was asked in an interview what his own made it clear that ‘in view of widespread agitations among our approach to public complaints and quests for new responses to the position was, especially being a member of the Kano State Council. various peoples for greater inclusiveness in existing governance deepening situations of insecurity in Nigeria not an expression to He refused to comment officially but as a Muslim and his response arrangements, the Federal Government should convoke a national ensure that Sharia is installed everywhere? Is it not also a manifes- was very thought-provoking. In his thinking during the interview dialogue as a matter of urgency’ (The Punch, May 12, 2021, p.9) tation of the observation of a PMB agenda to Fulanise the whole on the Hausa Service of BBC, ‘there is nothing like my position as For long, there have been calls for national dialogue and of Nigeria as pointed out by Chief Olusegun Okikiola Obasanjo, a former Head of State. This is an issue of Sharia and so it should restructuring of the polity but PMB has consciously or otherwise former President and GCFR of Nigeria? rather be my position as a Muslim. I am a Muslim.’ turned very deaf ears to them. PMB openly and in a don’t care And perhaps more significantly, Mr. Grenell noted in his More significant, PMB added as follows: ‘if we as Muslims fashion, disregarded public complaints about his policies of nepotism. The social media is always filled with the administrative structures of several Nigerian strategic institutions where only Without any whiff of doubt, PMB is his own problem. The Presidency is also a major problem Northerners occupy virtually all the top positions. The complaints unto itself in many ways. Nigeria operates a presidential system of government and not even meant absolutely nothing to PMB. The economy has nothing to semi-presidential, meaning that PMB can only be removed by impeachment and not by passing write home about. Corruption has become a house-hold name of vote of no confidence. It is under a parliamentary system that the passing of confidence and and tradition. Apprehended Fulani herdsmen and armed bandits are released on the beck and call of Commissioners of Police. The no confidence can take place. Besides, a national dialogue is conceptually different from a particular and very sorry case of the Governor of Akwa Ibom national conference, and for that matter, from a sovereign national conference. The mere fact State speaks volumes (vide the social media). Governor Ortom of that there is a call for national dialogue necessarily implies a quest for solutions to identified Benue State has drawn public attention to the many dimensions of national questions. A sovereign conference is not subject to any other superior authority. Even complicity of the Federal Government in the attacks in Benue State. if the National Assembly is there, the delegated authority to it cannot override the attributed General Theophilus Danjuma even directly accused the Nigerian military in the aggression against the people of Nigeria. It is against sovereignty of the conference. Consequently, the hypothesis of the presidency is uncalled for. this background that other patriotic nationals have insisted on the PMB’s hypothesis of possible coup to oust him is nothing more than a calculated propaganda need for an urgent national confab and that the presidency has to stay in power beyond 2023 in order to have more time to consolidate his alleged Fulanisation hypothesized that the ultimate objective of such a confab cannot and Islamic agenda. After all, Muammar Gaddafi made it clear before he died that there would but be to plan a coup in which PMB would be accused, a vote of no never be peace in Nigeria until Nigeria is partitioned into Muslim North and Christian South. confidence passed and PMB would be removed. There is a serious danger ahead Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ‡MAY 16, 2021 17 SPECIAL INTERVIEW JOHN CAMPBELL U.S. and the World Not Paying Enough Attention to Nigeria’s Crises In this interview with Bayo Akinloye, a former U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria and the Ralph Bunche senior fellow for Africa policy studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, John Campbell, says the most dangerous issue Nigeria faces is the deterioration of security across the country. He prescribes urgent steps that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration should take to help a country on the brink of disintegration turn the corner. Campbell has written copiously about Nigeria. He is the author of the new book Nigeria and the Nation-State: Rethinking Diplomacy with the Postcolonial World, and writes the blog Africa in Transition. From 1975 to 2007, Campbell served as a U.S. Department of State Foreign Service officer. He served twice in Nigeria, as a political counsellor from 1988 to 1990 and as ambassador from 2004 to 2007. Campbell has also written Nigeria: What Everyone Needs to Know, co-authored with Matthew Page, and Nigeria: Dancing on the Brink. He edits both the Nigeria Security Tracker and the Sub-Saharan Security Tracker

or more than a decade now, Nigeria has teetered between stability and disin- tegration. Do you think an implosion of the country is a present danger or a future disaster waiting to happen? Well, implosion of the country would beF an unmitigated disaster. Whether that occurs or not is very largely up to Nigerians themselves and to their political leader- ship. The issue, the speciÀc issue that I think, is most dangerous at present is the deterioration of security across the country. Jihadism in the North, conÁict over water and land use in the Middle Belt, conÁicts that often assume an ethnic and religious dimension, growing separatism sentiment in the South-East and even in Yorubaland the emergence of new institutions which are not federal. I am talking in particular of the sort of quasi security force that a number of the Yoruba governors have put together. Holding on to that, you’ve always warned Nigerian elites and the govern- ment about the country ‘dancing on the EULQN·$QGWKDW·VWKHWLWOHRI\RXUÀUVW book on Nigeria. Am I correct? That’s correct. You’ve always warned Nigeria. You’ve always warned Nigerian elites that the country is dancing on the brink. That’s right. But, it appears nobody is paying at- tention, or, what do you think, to those warnings? Oh, I think in a sense it doesn’t really much matter whether Nigerians are pay- ing attention to my warnings. What does matter, I think, is that increasing numbers of Nigerians, particularly within the elites, are seeing it and are concerned about the danger that increased insecurity is posing to the future of Nigeria. So, were you to have an access to those in power in Nigeria today, particularly the president, what will you tell him to do right away? Right away, it would be those steps that could be taken that would show Nigerian people that the government is moving to address the issues that bedevil the country. I would start with police reform and also, seeking to address the question of human rights abuses by both the police and the military. Campbell The question of restructuring, political 18 THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ‡MAY 16, 2021 SPECIAL INTERVIEW Implosion of Nigeria Will be Unmitigated Disaster

restructuring; you do not think that will they’re a part, cannot provide for their also come to play? security which is the minimum require- The question of whether political restruc- ment of any state, then Nigeria is indeed turing, the role that political restructuring living on borrowed time. would play, that has to be a longer-term On the issue of insecurity which has initiative. For example, there is a great become the staple news, almost everyone deal of talk now amongst many, many in Nigeria feeds on today. It is believed that Nigerians about the need for some kind no government should be paying ransom of sovereign national conference that to terrorists or any criminal at that. But, could look at rebuilding Nigeria as it the Nigerian government has been seen were, from the ground up to make it a and heard to be paying ransom for the genuinely democratic and federal state. release of schoolchildren. Putting together a conference, a sovereign Indeed. You’re raising an extremely national conference, whatever you call important question. The policy of the it, is a process that has to be thought American government is that it will never through. How, for example, should pay ransom, and further, if individuals Nigerian stakeholders be represented? or groups attempt to pay ransom they How would they be chosen? Once the are violating American law. But, here is conference was in place, how would its the problem, if you are dealing with a recommendations be carried out? These highly emotional situation, hundreds of are issues that require thought and require schoolchildren being kidnapped. How some time to work through. Whereas, I do you secure their release? When the would suggest certain steps to reform the state structures are weak, how do you do police and the security services could be that? How do you balance it out? And it’s taken more quickly. an open secret that some rich European Many people generally have preached democracies which also oppose the paying an indissoluble Nigeria. But, some say of ransom do so because of the outcry Nigeria does not have to continue to remain at home that their own citizens must what they describe as a contraption. Some somehow be rescued. So the question is feel, probably if some regions go their extraordinarily hard. One might almost separate ways, things will be better. Do say that the United States can get away you think the answer may lie in some of with the policy of never paying ransom these regions going their separate ways? because the United States is a very strong If you were to ask me, I think the fu- entity. But, if you don’t have the strength ture of Nigeria would be best served by for variety of reasons and in a number federalism in which substantial political of diͿerent areas then, how do you ad- power is devolved to states or to regions. dress the humanitarian requirement that Something rather like the Federal Republic these innocent children that have been of Germany in which the German states, kidnapped are somehow or another set in fact, have greater autonomy than the free? This is really hard, and it’s why I’m American states do. I think if there were not prepared to be critical of the Nigerian genuine federalism in Nigeria, much of the federal government or state governments agitation for ethnically based separatism or others that, in fact, pay ransom be- would go away. What are the elements of cause the humanitarian dimension is so genuine federalism? First of all, the entities important and the options are so limited. that make up a federal republic need to be So, we’ve seen the country that is Nigeria able to raise their own revenue and not be negotiating with bandits, and we’ve heard dependent on the central government for of repentant bandits and terrorists going revenue, and now almost all of the states back to the trenches. are. I think only Lagos state, in fact, is able We have indeed. to raise much, though, not all of the revenue it needs. Combined with that, there needs It’s argued that nothing seems to be to be genuine, credible elections on the state working. You pay ransom; it’s a bad level as well as the federal level. And then, situation. You try to de-radicalise the questions of how justice is administered terrorists; it ends up the same way. Not needs to be looked at very closely. For a few people have come to wonder: is example, in some parts of the country, this not a failing or a failed state? there are multiple judicial systems in place. Campbell Well, I mean it’s extraordinarily di΀cult In the North, for example, there is Sharia because ransom is one of the major funders law. But there is also Nigerian law that of terrorism of the various Jihadi groups is based on the old British common law I think so. the country’s constitution essentially and for bandits and other criminal groups. system. In many places, Nigerians go to Some might think it boils down to the mimicked that of the Westminster way of It has made kidnapping extremely lucrative traditional rulers for justice, outside of the fact that Nigeria is a paradox, promising governance. Maybe these western models and therefore encourages more odds. So, judicial system altogether, in part because on one side, pathetic on the other side. have shortcomings when they are imposed yes, I mean in this particular area, Nigeria the former judicial system is very slow And will you say this is by design or by on 50 diͿerent ethnic groups. is indeed failing. and it’s extremely expensive. But, under just the ineptitude of leadership? We asked One other book you authored was titled This is the crisis of conÀdence regard- genuine federalism, there might well be this question because many Nigerians ‘Nigeria: What Everyone Needs to Know.’ ing a minister whose past seems to have considerable diͿerences from one part have always argued that they were never The purpose was to inform other citizens caught up with him now. He has made of the country to another, reÁecting the consulted before the amalgamation took of the world regarding what they need very serious statements that linked him speciÀc values and history of the particular place. to know about the country. I think that to the Taliban, the Al-Qaeda, and even peoples that are involved. Well, they were not. No, they were not was the title of the book. Boko Haram. Some Nigerians have asked consulted. The amalgamation of Nigeria That’s right. him to resign or that the president of the In the meantime, are you worried that by the British was done for their own country should sack him. what seems to be at present, a domestic administrative convenience without any You talked about the world not pay- Yes. political crisis in Nigeria, is being ignored consultation of Nigerians and without ing enough attention to Nigeria. What Because he superintends over a very or overlooked by the African Union, the even very much thinking about what the about the Americans themselves? Are sensitive national asset, the country’s United Nations, and other power blocs consequences might be of putting together Americans, for instance, are they trying database, not a few Nigerians are wor- in the world? in a single unit 50 diͿerent ethnic groups to know what they should know about ried. Should people not be concerned that Yes, I do worry about that. My own view that had little in common with each other. Nigeria? Are they concerned about what’s someone who had demonstrated murder- is that international attention to Nigeria But, I would suggest that that approach happening in the country to the point of ous intentions towards other tribes and is not commensurate with the importance has continued. Nigeria’s constitutions had probably talking to their government? other religious groups should continue of the country. I would argue that Nigeria been imposed Àrst by the British, later Well, I wish they were more concerned to hold such a national position? is one of the most important countries in by various military regimes, and were about it than they are. This goes back to To me, it is not as simple as that. Many the world. It is well known that popula- never submitted to the Nigerian people my original point that the international political Àgures in all countries of the tion experts expect that by the middle for a vote or for ratiÀcation. community does not give Nigeria the world have made statements in the past of the century, the country would be the You talked about the constitution so far in attention that a country as important as which they regret. In the United States, third-largest in the world by population. the country imposed on Nigerians. They’ve Nigeria both deserves and requires. for example, political and other Àgures It will have displaced the United States as never had a say on how the constitution have been forced by public opinion to the third-largest country in the world by should be or what should be inside it. In your own opinion, do you think resign because of things they did or said population. What happens in Nigeria is Yes, that’s right. Nigeria is living on borrowed time? 30 years ago. What matters I think, are the crucial for what happens in Africa but not It’s a good question. Is Nigeria living minister’s current views on these issues. just in Africa but rather around the world. What will you recommend if that is a on borrowed time? The answer to that And the person I think that is best posi- That being so, my view is that Nigeria big problem? question is up to Nigerians themselves. tioned to determine what those are is the should be near the top of the agenda for Well, if, in fact, there were a sovereign If Nigerians, their elites, their political president because it is the president who much of the world, and it’s not. You’re national conference that sought to rebuild leadership moves to address, particularly has selected him to serve in the cabinet. a journalist: if you were to have looked Nigeria from the ground up, it would pre- the security issues, if they move to associate this morning (Thursday) at the New York sumably or that process would presumably Nigerian people with their government Any last words from you? Times and the Washington Post, as I did. involve the writing of a new constitution then, I think there is a bright future. But, Just that, as a friend of Nigeria of long The two leading American newspapers. which might well better reÁect Nigerian if they do not, and right now, the security standing and some Nigerians, tell me that They were full of what is going on in Israel aspirations than the current one does. The situation from an outsider’s perspective I am half Nigerian. As a friend of Nigeria and Palestine, and there was not a single current constitution, in many respects, looks dire. for a very long time, I hope and pray that article about Nigeria. mimics that of the United States. In the But, if they do not, if Nigerians feel that Nigerians can work through the current That pretty much tells a lot. immediate post-independence period, the government, the system of which security crisis. THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ‡MAY 16, 2021 19 VIEW FROM ABROAD Female Drivers of FinTech Solutions in Nigeria In sub-Saharan Africa, women constitute about 30 per cent of the tech professionals. While most females see courses in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), as di΀cult dreadful, cultural background of African countries has deprived females from competing with their male counterparts in school, a development that has drastically reduced the number of female students taking courses in STEM education, which is the basis for Financial Technology (FinTech) skills. In spite of the setback, few females are making waves in the FinTech industry in Nigeria and in West African countries. In the past Àve years, West Africa’s tech scene has witnessed a boom, with a dramatic increase in innovators and tech entrepreneurs—aka ‘tech-preneurs’—using technology to provide simple and accessible solutions to everyday problems. From payment services to apps helping people grow their savings and making it easier for Africans to partake in the global scramble for cryptocurrency, West Africa’s tech scene is livelier than ever. Across the continent, tech hubs have emerged in places such as Egypt, Kenya and South Africa, with Nigeria—Africa’s most populous country, leading the pack. Tech-preneurs in West Africa have been focusing on ensuring that the area’s increase in mobile phone users also translates to a larger number of West Africans having access to easy and inclusive digital-banking solutions. While tech companies are tackling many issues—from making data on Africa accessible and providing health services to revolutionising African fashion—Ànancial technology companies are among the biggest in Nigeria As the Ànancial technology industry reaches new heights, the inclusion and participation of women is not quite where it should be. Only 10 per cent of the West African startups that have cumulatively raised $1 million in the past decade had at least one female co-founder. In sub-Saharan Africa, women constitute only 30 per cent of professionals in the tech industry. Despite many tech-preneurs stating their mission is to ‘provide inclusive or accessible solutions to everyday problems, it isn’t possible to truly do that when most apps and services are created by men, and the participation of women in their creation is at the background. This report x-rays six women from Nigeria who are rising to new heights in the global-tech industry and they are currently redeÀning the FinTech space

Odunayo Eweniyi n 2016, a picture someone shared of a wooden box, used to save money, inspired Eweniyi and her co-founders to create PiggyBank, now known as PiggyVest. Today, she is the CMO of this sav- ings and investments app and also co-foundedI Feminist Coalition and FirstCheck Africa, an angel fund and community for African women in tech. In 2014, Eweniyi co-founded Push- CV to connect veriÀed employers to pre-screened candidates. She and her team spent two years raising venture funding and worked on several other products that failed. At that time, she worked as editor-in-chief at Tech- point, founding writer at Zikoko!, and then staͿ writer of Konbini. According to her, “The lack of women in tech can’t be explained away with innate biological diͿerenc- es. It’s really down to a combination of systemic bias, men funding men and a working culture that excludes women. When women are given an opportunity they excel.” Yewande Akomolafe-Kalu With a degree in psychology from Odunayo Eweniyi Yewande Akomolafe-Kalu Birmingham City University and 20 THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ‡MAY 16, 2021 VIEW FROM ABROAD Female Drivers of FinTech Solutions in Nigeria

experience working in the fashion policies and gender-bias training and entertainment industries, today should be on the table for re-evalu- Akomolafe-Kalu is the head of ation, in other to give women more storytelling and branding of Flutter- opportunity in the FinTech space. wave, one of Africa’s largest Àntech According to her, “FirstCheck companies. Africa is built with a mission to According to her, “It’s safe to say advance equity, capital and leader- that the state of the tech industry ship for a generation of women in Nigeria is advanced and innova- in Africa through technology and tive; we’re going above and beyond entrepreneurship. We [want to close] to provide solutions for everyday the disturbing gender gaps in power, people to use and make their lives wealth and professional achieve- easier.” ment across the continent. In the Narrating her journey into the tech long-term, we hope FirstCheck Africa space, Akomolafe-Kalu said: “Two will be a platform through which people believed in me when I didn’t the women in our portfolio pay it have faith in myself: one, a friend forward by helping other women in who recommended me for a role that Africa do the same thing.” she couldn’t take, and Olugbenga Agboola, the CEO of Flutterwave Oluwaseun Runsewe whom she introduced me to. Before Runsewe began her career as an that, I’d worked in the entertainment analyst before joining Paystack as a space, the fashion industry, for a business lead. Now the vice president Damilola Odufuwa digital marketing agency and an of growth at SoftCom, she is com- e-commerce startup.” mitted to making Ànancial services Narrating her greatest challenges, accessible to everyone, especially she said: “One of the main stumbling single mothers such as herself. blocks is that girls don’t realise tech She worked as an analyst for the is an option. We need to demystify Big Four consulting Àrm KPMG the tech industry so people know that advising Ànancial service players it’s an entire ecosystem. We need to on strategy and business planning. be intentional in hiring more women She also coordinated an Africa-wide and making them more visible; in project to move the needle on bank- presenting them with options; to ing, payments and Ànancial-risk show them that tech jobs are within management. In 2016, she was reach and that they’re achievable.” introduced to the CEO of PayStack, a company that helps businesses in Damilola Odufuwa Africa get paid by anyone anywhere As co-founder of the Feminist Co- in the world, and she joined PayStack alition, Odufuwa champions equality as a business lead, where she worked for women in Nigerian society with a and pushed the frontiers of Nigeria’s focus on education, Ànancial freedom digital economy.” and representation in public o΀ce. She is currently working on a These values play out in her role digital bank for mothers. Giving her as the lead PR at Binance, of one of journey, she said she became a single the world’s largest cryptocurrency mother a month after she turned 25 companies. with less than $15 as her personal Eloho Omame After completing her masters in savings. She then had to Àgure out international Ànance and economic how to make and manage money for development at the University of her son’s future while working in a Kent, she worked in communications FinTech company. “My mission is to and media for years. She interned at put the same tools and knowledge Universal Music and MTV Viacom that have worked for me in the hands before graduating to editor-in-chief of as many mothers as possible—es- of Zikoko and Konbini, and then pecially single mothers,” she said. took up a position as social producer for CNN Africa. Initially she had no Adia Sowho intention to work in tech, but as soon Adia Sowho is the interim CEO of as she realised the impact crypto and Thrive Agric and non-Executive Di- blockchain technology can have on rector of Hover Developer Services, women’s rights and freedom, she was and has built a reputation for being a self convinced and decided to explore problem solver within Nigeria’s busi- the FinTech industry. ness, tech and media space. With a According to her “There’s a lot of career that spans developing mobile misinformation about what types of content, technology and Ànancial roles are available in tech—breaking services, today she is focused on them down will encourage more changing the tech culture in Nigeria women to get into the industry. Every and inspiring more young women to day, we interact with technology in a get into the industry. variety of ways and they all present According to her, “There are two opportunities to make a diͿerence. It Nigerias: the Nigeria you hear about Oluwaseun Runsewe doesn’t have to be about coding.” [in the news cycle] with its corrup- tion issues, and [the lesser reported] Eloho Omame invigorating tech industry with Oman’s is the co-founder of First- young people coming up with new Check Africa, and a graduate of the ways to solve old problems. The London School of Economics, with an two Nigerias bump into each other MBA from London Business School. now and then leading to blowback, Her Àrst big job was Lagos Inno- I believe the young Nigeria will vates, a portfolio of startup support prevail.” programmes, after she pitched to the She has a strong belief that the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, structure of the tech industry is which they then built. After that, she more receptive to masculine energy launched an entrepreneur support than female energy. She is therefore organisation called Endeavor before advocating the need to create a more launching FirstCheck Africa with inclusive industry. Odunayo Eweniyi in January.” According to her, “If a company For her, having more women in is looking for a developer, a man leadership roles will attract more can just throw his hat into the ring, women to the top. On the invest- whereas a woman has to consider ing side, she had liked to see more things like the distance of her o΀ce venture capital Àrms admit they from her home and whether she’ll have cultural issues that may be be able to Ànish work in time to get oͿ-putting or di΀cult for women home before it’s dark.” to navigate. She is of the view that Adia Sowho Aworkplace policies, entertainment Culled from Vogue Magazine 45 THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ‡MAY 16, 2021 BUSINESS OUTSIDER Brands Promotion Tunji Adegbite around your products by leveraging the Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn commu- nity groups related to your product. Solicit he focus of business brand- opinions, spark oͿ a discussion, and then ing has moved from only provide information about your product to centering on the business capture attention. entity itself, to also include Use images to showcase your products and promoting a personal connec- oͿerings. People respond faster to clear images tion by humanising the brand. than words alone. Global companies like NetÁix Create a hashtag associated with your brand. have reÁected this in their brand communica- Use it for all your promotional content for a tionsT by speaking in a human voice, engaging cohesive campaign with users in a simple ‘bants-like’ tone. Social identity is one of the ways emerging brands are Leverage More on Video Content positioning their business in the marketplace. Video content is one sureÀre way to engage your audience- Analysis of consumer responses Building a social brand identity is the process to content on social media channels reveals of creating a speciÀc image of yourself in the that people engage more with image carousels, mind of your ideal client or target audience motion graphics and videos. According to so they can get to know, like and trust your marketing director Zach Binder, whether your company before they buy from or interact goal is a product advertisement, building directly with the company. People respond to trust, delivering information, or pure enter- other people and the importance of developing tainment, deploying a proper video strategy relationships with customers can be overstated. can invariably improve your conversion rates One of the ways of building a social brand and engagement. The diͿerent types of video identity is through Personal branding. This is content that you can share on social media not about fame; it is about being able to com- as stated by Ashwini Pai include: municate your unique personal values in all Educational content, which tells your audi- that you do. Personal branding is just as much ence why they should buy your product/ about determining internally what’s important service, highlighting its features, beneÀts to you, what your values are and what kind and value. of work you want to do. Some international Instructional content, mostly “how to’s” on companies have beneÀted from their very vis- using your product, understanding owner’s ible leaders - Steve Jobs and Apple, Elon Musk manual, navigating a software, and more. and Tesla. As a small business owner, you are Promotional content aimed at new buyers your brand, and your brand name is only as or reinforcing your brand proposition before good as your reputation. If your reputation is existing customers. questionable, then you have put your brand Aspirational content, where you communi- at risk. Let your reputation shine that people cate brand value with customer testimonials will see your good works. and share positive brand experiences narrated “A good PR story is inÀnitely more eͿec- by happy customers, to enhance the desirability tive than a front-page ad” – it leads to positive of your product/service. word-of-mouth referrals, increased top of mind awareness, builds strong consumer loyalty and Lastly, Build to Last increases their resistance to negative information It is important to have longevity in minÅd about the brand. when developing your social brand strategy. In this age of digital media, it’s very easy for Focus on the best platform that works for companies to go viral for a short while and you. then fade into obscurity. Engage the customer With increasing internet penetration, most beyond closing a single sale and integrate businesses require a digital or social media strategies to retain and improve a customer’s presence. Over 30 per cent of business trans- lifetime value. An example is oͿering custom- actions now originate from or conclude via ers discount vouchers on their birthdays and social channels. Beyond that, your digital media not just sending happy birthday messages. expands your reach and builds a community fashion business primarily communicates via away core business objectives but to deliver images and may Ànd its ideal social network on the intended message in a simple engaging Whatever strategy a business deploys, play around your company. It is a powerful tool for the long-term game. telling your brand story and impacts how the Instagram or Facebook. Irrespective of which manner. business is perceived. channels a business chooses, focusing on its What this means is, no matter how ‘seri- But in order for it to be eͿective, businesses main platforms does two things, it makes you ous’ the information you want to pass to your ‡Adegbite is a thought leader in Strategy need to leverage the right digital/social media eͿectively communicate your brand’s ideas, target audience is, let your communication and Supply Chain, who has worked with channels that best connect their message with and it makes you reach your target audience materials and Ad copy be relatable and appeal leading organisations like PwC and an IOC. the target audience. where they are. to the customers functional, emotional and He also founded Naspire, a business research Facebook or Twitter can be your main fo- self-expressive needs. According to social platform using African business insights to cus, it may be Instagram, LinkedIn or even Be Relatable media experts, this is how to do it: help entrepreneurs and professionals succeed. Snapchat or a combination of any of them. A This is not to suggest neglecting or throwing Start conversations with your customers He can be reached via [email protected] Adegunwa: Why We Continue to Produce World-Class Products ite Foods Limited, a machineries that are the best from across consumers expectation, which according setting up such superlative factories was Nigerian food and the world, thus ensuring the most hygienic to market survey, has been surpassed, with highly commended by the Vice President, beverage company has and global standardit has maintained since the largest market share in the sausage and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, when he visited the stated that it will continue inception. beverage sector of the Nigerian economy. place. He said “This is a testament to the to produce world-class On a tour of the infrastructure, the Established in 2007, Rite Foods Limited true Nigerian spirit of hard work, bold products for the beneÀts content drivers were inundated with the is a subsidiary of Ess-Ay Holdings. entrepreneurship and commitment to of its consumers, through Nigerianess and “I CAN, I AM” mantra of Its sausage brands have been the mark world class standard.” the possibility of the state-of-the-art Rite Foods. of excellence for the industry with the Rite The leading company has also made in- infrastructureR and up-to-the-minute They were also amazed with the Spicy, Bigi Beef and Rite Sausages. road into the entertainment industry with technology deployed in its production up-to-date technology installed in the On the company’s stables are the 12 the sponsorship of the Prophetess movie factory. factory, which are automated with little leading Bigi soft drink variants which premiere which recently debuts in Oyo This was the submission of the Com- or no – human interference, with artiÀcial include the Bigi Cola, Bigi Orange, Bigi and Lagos States, as part of its corporate pany’s Managing Director, Mr. Seleem intelligence at all phases of the production Apple, Bigi Bitter Lemon, Bigi Soda Water, social responsibility (CSR) initiative. Adegunwa, at the recent Rite Foods Brand processes, thereby ensuring the delivering Bigi Lemon & Lime, Bigi Tropical, Bigi Nigerian Idol, a platform for budding Academy organised for content drivers at of quality products at optimum capacity. Chapman, Bigi Tamarind, Bigi Cherry and talented singers to express themselves its Àrst-rate factory at Ososa, Ogun State, The Rite Foods MD explained that Cola, Bigi Ginger Lemon, and the Bigi is also been sponsored by this emerging, where hesaid the company which started the factorygenerates its own source of Ginger Ale. friendly conglomerate, which also organ- with a humble beginning has set the pace electricity via the largest solar plant in Its Bigi Premium Table Water, which ised a prototype of the show for content for others in the industry through unique West Africa, alongside its usage of gas is produced with global best practices drivers in Lagos recently, christened Bigi brands that are proven to be unrivalled by and diesel induced plant connected to in puriÀcation, oͿers quality, freshness, Media Idol. consumers. the National Grid that facilitates seam- conÀdence and reliability. In its environmental preservation He said the rapid success of the indig- less, uninterrupted power supply to the Rite Foods’ inventiveness has earned programme, the organisation recently em- enous company can be attributed to its highly sensitive, sophisticated technology high recognition in the energy drinks barked on a clean-up of the Alpha beach in quality consciousness and technological infrastructure. market with the Àrst ever packaged Lagos, and immensely supported the less advancement it has attained. According to him,the global approach polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle privileged in one of the communities in the Adegunwa a΀rmed that the company’s was induced to enable the company brands for the Fearless Red Berry and state with consumable household items, as exceptional brands are produced with deliver unparalleled brands to meet Fearless Classic. The eͿort of Rite Foods in part of its CSR programme. A WEEKLY PULL-OUT 16.5.2021

ou can arguably say that 2020 was the year many people discovered the music of Ladipoe. Even the rap and hip-hop artiste thought so. First was his single ‘Know You’ featuring Simi. The single was released in April last year,Y just when the world was trapped in the gossamer of the coronavirus pandemic. The song would become a sort of distraction from the uncertainties that gripped many at the time. ‘Know You’ was Ladipo Eso’s first single to peak at number one on Apple Music and won him his first Headies. By May, Ladipo Eso was one of the lined-up artistes who performed at the One Africa Global Foundation and MultiChoice ‘COVID-19 Hope for Africa Concert.’ He performed the emotional single ‘Voices’ featuring Ghanaian artist Efya from his 2018 album T.A.P. (Talk About Poe). His performance further raised interest in him, and by August, he was in the Big Brother Naija House, performing for the housemates. Ladipoe, as he’s often called, was careful not to label the interest in him and his music as fame. To be sure, he has no qualms with the term ‘famous’ or any of its relatives. After all, popularity makes the music business. But Ladipoe would rather not be disillusioned by the fickleness of fame. He explained it this way: “It feels to me like discovery. A lot of people are discovering Ladipoe for the first time or putting the name and the face to a song that they’ve already heard,” he says. “So, I am under no illusions that this is ‘blown’ to me. Maybe to some people. To me, it’s that place where you hammer home the point, where people have discovered you. But you need to let them know what you’re about. The work is on. This is not the time to recline.” If you ask him what his music is all about, he’ll probably tell you it’s about connecting with the people, and LADIPO ESO that, he confessed, is not an easy task, particularly for a genre like hip-hop that is quite fleeting in Nigeria. One moment, it is the rave of the moment, and the next, it’s in obscurity such that people wonder if there are any good rappers or hip-hop artists left in the country. Not a few advised him to stick with the popular genre afro-pop LONGING FOR A when he returned from America after studying Chemistry and Biology at the University of North Carolina. It took him a while to be actively involved in music because of these ‘falsehoods’ as he described it. By the time he started hanging LASTING LEGACY out with people making music and seeing how things are done, he had a stronger conviction that rap music can sell in Nigeria. First, he joined a group Trends come and go. The hip-hop and rap artiste Ladipo Eso known as the Collectiv3, formed by the Managing Director of Universal Music refuses to be caught in that trap. He tells Vanessa Obioha Nigeria, Chin Okeke. The group he said made something that Nigerians were not ready for. about making music that will outlive him By 2017, Ladipoe became the

ASSISTANT EDITOR OLUFUNKE OLAODE/[email protected] THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER MAY 16, 2021 47 COVER How I Knew My Music Would be Great a special artist, then people will discover something about themselves, listening to your music.” He’s been lucky enough to have a fan tattooed his lyrics on his chest. “He tagged me in a video, and that just showed me that people are really connected to my music,” he says. Ladipoe’s music is redolent of the American hip-hop sound of the 90s, the rhythmical flow, and the poetic lines. His videos also carry this trait, usually laid back, shot in places like a basketball court, as seen in the visuals of ‘Lemme Know’. His creativity is often seen in his song titles, such as in his feature with Joeboy titled ‘Yoruba Samurai’, a play on his ethnicity and the legendary Japanese warriors. The love song talked about the extremes he would go for his love interest, which included going to war to win her heart. In ‘Rap Messiah’, he described himself as the genre Messiah saving Africa by “bearing all the crossfire, still an all- timer, in the shooting calibre.” The appellations, in a way, speak to his conviction that rap is not a phase in Nigeria. It is his way of eliminating falsehoods surrounding the genre. So many artistes, he argued, have been dissuaded from the genre because of its non-dominance on airwaves. This explains why he called himself the ‘Leader of the Revival.’ “A lot of artistes like myself were told a lie,” reveals Ladipoe. “Many people told us that our music will not sell in Nigeria, that the industry was not looking for our kind of music. “That if we really wanted to survive and support our family, we will have to jump on the popular bandwagon. These things, you know, have definitely deterred and broken many artists who have never begun. I have to show the falsehood in that. Time will tell. It’s just patience. I have been patient. I really hate patience. But I have been patient.” He also debunked the myth that hip- hop artists need to reinvent the wheel to gain prominence. “The truth is, it is less about the artist having to reengineer themselves or the genre. Our hip-hop music is a fusion. I didn’t have to lie. All I had to show people was that it has always been there,” he explains. “Rap and hip-hop music has always been popular. They are just looking at it the wrong way. The lens has always been the problem. African hip-hop, African rap will always be that fusion because we are Africans, and that’s how we make music. I don’t think they’ll ever be a time when it’s pure hip hop. It does not have to be. It’s okay. It’s okay to be a rapper that is not necessarily rapping on traditional hip-hop. Once I realised that, I knew my ESO music would be great.” first rapper to be signed to Mavin about punchlines in this part of Ladipoe takes his music legacy Records. It was a deal that both the world, especially in Nigeria. You seriously. It is one of the reasons he parties benefitted mutually. On have to be patient with them. You can’t doesn’t jump on trends. He is a firm in Nigeria have and start connecting with overload them in your music, give them the one hand, the record label was people.” believer that his music should be a looking to diversify. On the other a little bit but let them breathe with the legacy. By identity crisis, he meant the hunger melodies. My creative process takes into hand, was the artist looking to be of most rap artists to show themselves “I believe that there’s always been ably represented beyond the shores consideration the listeners a lot.”When that space preserved for the person that as the best rappers in the world. It is not creating music, Ladipoe works best in of Nigeria. The union has lasted uncommon to hear hip-hop artistes talk will be seen as an ambassador for rap. more than three years. This year, a vacuum. This enables his mind to A lot of people are so caught up, you about their greatness in lyrics or sometimes run wild, immerse himself in the Ladipoe won his first Headies for engage in a rap battle to prove they have the know, they’re tripping over themselves his collaboration with Simi ‘Know environment and listen to what is to be the king of this or be the best one at best punchlines. happening around him. You.’ The winning formula so far He points out: “I’m way past the point this,” he tells THISDAY. for the tall artiste from Osun was to “My mind runs a mile in a Continues, Ladipoe states, “But where I need to prove myself as an amazing minute,” he reveals. understand what his listeners want. rapper. People always think that rappers what I’ve always believed is that “I have been making music as He is drawn to stories. Whether he there needs to be somebody that and punchlines come hand in hand. But is reading, watching movies or having a an artist since 2013, and I had to for me, I want to create something a bit sees beyond, that sees how temporary watch and observe because rap conversation, his mind is always taking those labels are, and I need to create different. I want to be a great music writer, stock of what is being said and saving is a competitive sport. It is who a great music maker, a great contributor something that’s going to last. When has the best punchlines. But over it up for a later date. This helps him to I’m gone, when I no longer make music, to our culture. I just don’t want to write write verses that connect with people and time, I noticed that Nigerians love amazing rap verses. I want to make great the people that come after me will say that their melodies,” Ladipoe explains. immerse himself in their situations. Ladipoe really was the one that showed me songs. For example, when I’m making “It’s difficult for me to write “Whether a rapper or singer, we’ve a song like ‘Jaiye’, it’s not about making that this thing was possible. all come to realise that we love without putting myself in the music. “Tupac used to say that he might not be the strong punchlines. The song has to be Either writing about myself, my life or melodies. So I cannot ignore that, and amazing. one to do it. But he believes he would want I needed to incorporate that in my somebody that I’m connected to, or how to spark the mind that does it. So you have “The verse to bridge, the hook, the outro, I see things, there’s definitely an element music. It took me some time.to get the melodies. I think that’s one thing that a to put yourself out there like that. It’s all over the identity crisis that rappers of self-discovery in my music,” adds about my legacy.” lot of rappers will grow into. It is not just Ladipoe. “If you are really lucky and 48 THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MAY 16, 2021 TRIBUTE A Good Man, Ohwovoriole, Takes a Final Bow As the burial ceremony of the late Chief Milton Ohwovoriole, SAN, commences today in Ughelli, Delta State, Iyobosa Uwugiaren pays tribute to the life and time of the legal luminary

f the earth that would cover the late Chief Milton Paul Onamegwolo Iriferife Ohwovoriole (SAN) this week would be graceful and soft, it is because he represented humanity throughout his life time. A ‘good man’ he was, the legal icon, who would be buried this week in his home town, Agbon Olomu, Delta State, was happy with his life and the world around him. Even while struggling between life and death at the University of Benin Teaching IHospital, Benin City, he was still looking out for others and helping them. He was quite different from negative people. And to many of his children, his faithfulness, generosity, dependability, kindness, moral integrity and fatherliness, were immeasurable. A legal luminary, scholar, politician, traditional ruler, businessman and philanthropist, the late Ohwovoriole meant different things to different people. For the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, who expressed shock over the demise of the 80-year-old Senior Advocate of Nigeria, his death was a great loss – not only to the family and Urhobo nation – but to the people of Olomu Kingdom and Nigeria Bar Association (NBA). “Chief Milton Ohwovoriole (SAN) was a distinguished legal practitioner, who served the society in several capaci- ties, including as Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association, Ikeja branch and former President, Urhobo Social Club”, the governor said. Okowa described him as a man of great determination and perseverance, and said as a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he contributed significantly to the various victories recorded by the party in Ughelli South and the state. “Late Chief Milton Ohwovoriole was a courageous leader, who always stood for truth and at every point in time, spoke his mind on any issue irrespective of who was involved”, Okowa added. In the same vein, the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege described the deceased as one of the shinning lights of the Urhobo Nation and Delta State in the legal profession, saying, he would be greatly missed. “The news of the demise of Olorogun Milton Paul Ohwovoriole, SAN came to me as a rude shock and a surprise. His immense contributions to the development of the state and country will remain evergreen in our hearts. He was one of the first holders of the prestigious Senior Advocate of Nigeria title from Delta State. Little wonder, he was an inspiration to many,” he stated. Ohwovoriole Also eulogising the deceased, the Asaba Branch of NBA, in a statement by its secretary, Mr. Collins O. he was called to the Nigerian Bar after completing his believed and invested in human and societal development, Osagu, said Ohwovoriole was a purposeful and cerebral studies in the Nigerian Law School. And in pursuit of contributed immensely to the advancement of his com- leader. excellence, he obtained his Master’s Degree in Law from munity and for many decades, awarded scholarships and “It is with a heavy heart we announce the demise of the University of Lagos in 1975. sponsored the educational pursuits of the less privileged an icon, Chief Milton Ohwovoriole (SAN). Before his He voluntarily retired from the Nigerian Police in 1976, persons, who are now pillars in diverse fields. passing, Chief Milton Ohwovoriole, SAN, was an active after 17 years of meritorious service during which time In his lifetime, he was a serial entrepreneur with invest- member of the Nigerian Bar Association, a legal guru, he went on peace keeping missions overseas such as in ments in real estate, school facilities, international trade an advocate par excellence. He was a man of impeccable Congo and rose from the rank of constable to the rank of and even entertainment. The series of albums waxed in pedigree, intellect, distinction and of course, a purposeful Deputy Superintendent of Police at Force C.I.D, Alagbon his honour by leading Urhobo musicians in the late 80s and cerebral leader. Close, Ikoyi, Lagos. and early 90s bear testimony to his interest and desire to “As a distinguished bar man, he crafted a remarkable Upon his retirement from the police force, he set up promote and spread Urhobo culture. legacy, and left his mark in the sands of time in the legal his private practice after brief stints with the late Chief His colleagues will remember him not only as an intel- profession as well as all other endeavours”, the Delta Morohundiya and Chief Gani Fawehinmi, who later took lectual juggernaut but also for his invaluable contribution NBA said. silk. Chief Ohwovoriole also lectured at the Nigerian Law to the law and humanity. The Akpohor and Akpile of Olomu Kingdom, was School in 1980s. His experience as a detective during A promoter of Urhobo’s interests, he was twice the born on June 15, 1940 into the Ohwovoriole dynasty his years in the police force enhanced his teaching of President of the prestigious Urhobo Social Club, Lagos. He of Agbon-Olomu in present-day Delta State. A direct procedure at the Nigeria Law School and court-room was the Akpohor and Akpile (Prime Minister), the 3rd in descendant of Alaka, the founder of Olomu Kingdom, practice, where he was said to have earned a well- line in leadership hierarchy of Olomu kingdom. his father, H.R.H. David Gbeke Ohwovoriole was the deserved reputation as a “forensic examiner and one of Chief Ohwovoriole was a devout Christian and most of Ohworode of Olomu Kingdom. While his mother, the foremost criminal lawyers” in Nigeria. all a family man, who did not spare any expense to see Ayoron is from Oviri-Olomu and also a descendant of the As a legal practitioner, his law chambers at Ikeja, Lagos, that his children received the best of education in Nigeria co-founder of Oviri-Olomu. was a full service law firm – offering a vibrant practice and overseas. Before his death, he witnessed the successes He had his early education in Olomu and Ughelli, and opportunities to countless number of young lawyers, of his children in their chosen professions. where he attended the Modern school. In spite of his who were fortunate to gain employment in his firm. He lost his first daughter, Mrs. Ovigue Omene (nee noble background and the comfort that came with the Chief Ohwovoriole was an active member of NBA. He Ohwovoriole), who was born by Madam Lydia Oru, royal lineage, Chief Milton’s higher aspirations motivated led the Ikeja Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association as in August 2000. He is, however, survived by brothers, his departure from the village to Lagos, where he joined the Chairman between 1985 and 1987 and he was later sisters, wives, Mrs. Rosaline Oborayerue Ohwovoriole the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) as a constable in 1958 at appointed “Life Patron” of the Branch in recognition of (Nee Arumala) from Umolo-Olomu and Mrs. Christiana 18-year. his huge contributions to the branch. Ohwovoriole (Nee Okoriko) from Okpe –Olomu. In the course of his service with the NPF, he was At the national level, he was a member of the Council He is also survived by many children including an posted as an orderly to a judicial officer, where he had of Legal Education and the Body of Benchers. His architect, a chemist, computer network analyst, utilization another major encounter with the legal profession – the conduct of several landmark cases, courtroom prowess as revenue manager, banker, electrical engineer, registered first being when he was a youth and witnessed his father well as contributions to legal practice and jurisprudence, nurse, educationist, software engineer and five lawyers sitting as the President of the Customary Court, Umolo. saw his rise to the pinnacle of the legal profession with made up of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, a Chief These experiences, a senior family source said, inspired his conferment of the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate Magistrate, a President of District Customary Court, two his decision to study law at the University of Ife – from of Nigeria (SAN) in 1991. others in vibrant private practice, grandchildren and a where he graduated with Honours in 1971 and in 1972, The late Chief Ohwovoriole was a philanthropist. He great grandson. THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾JUNE 24 2012 ARTSARTS && REVIEWREVIEW A PUBLICATION 16.05.2021 ADA UDECHUKWU’S SPONTANEOUS DOODLES OF MEMORIES A solo exhibition at The Wheatbaker in Ikoyi, Lagos, heralds Ada Udechukwu's homecoming to the local art scene, where she began her creative journey. Okechukwu Uwaezuoke reports

ince Ada Udechukwu dropped off the contem- porary Nigerian art scene’s radar decades ago, her name has continued to lurk somewhere in the inner recesses of the industry’s memory. Could this be partly because her husband Obiora – with whom she tied the nuptials in 1982 – remains one of the Nsukka Art School’s pioneering leading lights? Straddling two worlds, in any case, had been thrust on her by the deft weaving of fate from as far back as Sshe could recall. For long before her relocating with her family to the US in late 1997, she recalls first moving with her American mother and Nigerian father as well as her three other siblings to the US in 1967 – at the onset of the Nigerian Civil War – only to return to the country in 1971. Besides, her biracial identity compels her to view her environment through a prism of one living on the fringes. “I often feel I’m travelling between two worlds, more like straddling them, not fully in one or the other,” she discloses. “It is a recurrent thing, the interface or connection between the interior world and the exterior world.” Now, the artist who turns 61 on July 10 reappears in the talent- glutted Nigerian art scene with a solo exhibition, titled Particles in Motion. This exhibition – curated by SMO Contemporary Art and featuring her 36 recent drawings and 10 poems – has been on Co-joined (triptych), 2018 at The Wheatbaker in Ikoyi, Lagos since Saturday, May 1 and will her poems. Viewers are consequently sucked into the vortex of a Consider the works showing in her exhibition, produced be on until Saturday, July 31. Seen as a kind of homecoming for the dense world of thought-forms swarming with rippling lines and between the years 2018 and 2020, the results of her musings while Bennington College, Bennington, Vermont (USA) MFA holder in segmented forms. in constant motion, during which she probes into her inner world creative writing and literature, the exhibition – supported by The Still on her creative process, Udechukwu alludes to her encoun- as well as her physically visible environment. As both an artist and Wheatbaker and Louis Guntrum Wines – revisits her links to her ters with things, situations and people, which leave behind images an accomplished writer, whose short story was shortlisted for the cultural roots. It dredges up the fond memories of her growing-up that linger in her for a long time. They, in other words, deposit the Caine Prize in 2007, she draws from the reservoir of her personal years in Enugu, her tertiary education and early matrimonial years particles that are eventually processed into her visual and lyrical experiences. During the early stages of the COVID-19 lockdown, in Nsukka as well as her finally settling down in Los Angeles, USA. expressions. “I hold onto them and the way in which they affect for instance, she felt corralled into a situation that forced her to look Perhaps, it’s the apparent spontaneity of Udechukwu’s minimal- me, hoping for the moment to do them justice. When I first got to inwards, questioning her old habits in the process. ist and abstract expressions that confers on them that mystique of Los Angeles, I was struck by the number of homeless people I saw On her two forms of artistic expression – poetry and drawing remoteness. “I have never been someone that works from a sketch,” in isolated places, sitting at bus stops, and outside their encamp- – she designates them as standalone entities even when both rely she says. “For my ink and wash drawings I typically start with the ments along the roadside. My ‘encounters’ were while I was on images. “The thing is you’re creating images with words in one, wash, I lay it as I’m moved to and then start the linework. For me, it’s driving, or passing by them on a shared sidewalk out on a walk, or with line, texture, paint in the other. What unites the two in terms of about narrative and exploration. With inward-outward I, II, III, IV, it when one would come up to ask for money. And at that moment, it the way in which I approach the creative process is how to create an was that first line and I just built on it. The use of line and space and was, ‘I see myself in you.’ I kept asking how I could illuminate what image and allow it to speak.” the dialogue between positive and negative space that’s inherent it was I felt when I said that to myself. For me, it’s humanity. A thin Udechukwu, whose first degree at the University of Nigeria, in the Uli aesthetic has influenced me as a visual artist. As I look at line separates us all from one life or the other. I’ve had several such Nsukka was in English, first attained the limelight in the local arts some of my recent drawings from 2020 where you see the filling of encounters and one that particularly stuck with me was the sight of scene through her textile creations, pen and ink drawings and those spaces with delicate lines, I am reminded of the akika patterns a small group of African-American men sitting on a bench close to a watercolour paintings as well as her writing in the early 1980s. This that are used in traditional Uli wall paintings as subtle background bus stop with a Caucasian woman in between them. You could tell was what the Princeton University (USA) Professor of African and texturing. It gives voice to something there, almost intangible.” there was a discussion going on, the woman was in some distress, African Diaspora Art Chika Okeke-Agulu was alluding to when he Somehow, her native Igbo background leaches into the lean, one of the men had his arm around her, all of them were comforting wrote about “the epochal artistic efflorescence that emerged at the compact renditions of her drawings and in the lyrical puzzles of her. It’s a rough life and yet in the midst of it there is community.” University of Nigeria during the late 20th century”. VISUAL ARTS For the 4TH Time, BIC Holds Competition for Ball-point Pen Artists... IC, best known for since expanded to become a continent-wide affair excited to be launching this year’s edition of Mlangeni. producing such disposable in 2019. This year, the competition has further the BIC Art Master Competition that acts as a While the competition’s first prize-winner consumer products as light- expanded to include the Middle East region. A press platform to recognise and showcase African carts away $2,000 as well as a personalised ers, razors and pens, recently statement from the organisers recognises the region talents,” said Guillaume Grouès, Deputy online gallery and an opportunity to be as one that is swarming with talented people, hence General Manager, Lucky Stationary Nigeria featured as part of the BIC Art Collection, the announced the launch of Ltd and Senior Sales Manager West & Central second prize winner will receive with a $1,000 its continent-wide search the plan in the competition’s fourth year to recognise and celebrate these artists. Africa. “The competition was a great success cash prize. In addition, the second runner-up for the best ball-point pen Intending contestants, who must be based in last year and we are already very impressed will be given $500 cash prize. artists. The France-based Africa and Middle East, are expected to express with the submissions that we’ve seen in the The BIC brand plumes itself on its long company is inviting talented ball-point pen their creativity, using only BIC ballpoint pens and first couple of days since launch.” tradition of celebrating art for over six decades. Bartists to submit their exceptional artworks freely playing around this year’s theme, “Enchant Submissions will be evaluated by a panel of Its collection currently houses over 250 works for an art competition, whose winner will be Everyday Life”. Artists can submit a maximum judges, which will be constituted by a mix of of art by 80 international artists. This is besides crowned the Art Master of Middle East and of three original and authentic artworks of what artists, art-biased academics and art collectors. the fact that it is currently partnering with Africa. inspires and brings them joy on the BIC Art Master The judging partners are Geoffrey Bich, Enam renowned art institutes around the world and First held successfully in South Africa in website before Monday, May 31. Bosokah, Aboudouh Akinde Fatiou, Valérie displays its products in a number of renowned 2017, the BIC Art Master Competition has “With our diverse Nigerian culture, we are Manouvrier, Hervé Mikaeloff and Ennock museums around the world. EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ [email protected] 50 THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ͯʹ˜ͰͮͰͯ

with KAYODE ALFRED HighLife ͮͶͯͯʹ͵ͳͷͶͮ͵˜E-mail: kayfl[email protected] ...Amazing lifestyles of Nigeria’s rich and famous Akeredolu, Let Glad Tidings, Ex-Bank MD Sola Adedoyin-Alao Welcomes Twins at 58

These are happy days for the people of several company boards. there be Light! Orile-Igbon in Surulere, Ogbomosho, Oyo Sola Adedoyin-Alao has also enjoyed State, and the royal family of the Olugbon, much fame on the social front. She is the Oba Francis Olusola Alao. Recent news daughter of a well-known industrialist, reaching the street is that Olori Olusola Prince Samuel Adedoyin, a pastor at the Adedoyin-Alao has been delivered of twins. Redeemed Church of God, and had battled Akin to flowering at just the right time, breast cancer twice in her life (and won). the birth of the little angels is coming six That, and allegations of money laundering years after the happy mother got wedded and financial misconduct while she was at to Oba Alao. At 58, the couple’s excitement City Express Bank, pushed her to the front at the arrival of the twins reaches high pages some time ago. heavens. Although she does not roar as Her wedding to Oba Alao took place she used to, it is apparent that Olori Sola in 2015 before the latter became the Adedoyin-Alao has not lost the punch Olugbon of Orile-Igbon (2017). In the that made her a force to reckon with in the years that have followed, Adedoyin- corporate halls of Nigeria a few years ago. Alao has had much to be grateful for. For those who are only now recognising the This is why the delivery of the twins, name, she was the MD of the defunct City although her third birth (the last Express Bank, an upper-banker with many one was 18 years ago during her first awards and accolades, a proud member marriage), is worth celebrating. of the American Management Association These are the best of days for Olori Sola Adedoyin-Alao (AMA), the Institute of Directors, and Adedoyin-Alao, no doubt about it. Igho Sanomi: The Magnate on the Move at 46

of them, Igho Charles Sanomi II, will clock 46 managed to make a name for himself in these tomorrow, May 17. Already, instruments of industries. music and celebration are rolled out to honour What truly stands the Delta state native Akeredolu this man whose 46 years on earth have relieved out, however, is his momentum. To think a many of their poverty and inadequacies. Many man with so many business interests would people have started practising how to put the have the time and motivation to inspire others overnor Rotimi Akeredolu best words to work in their efforts to eulogise to do the same! But that is one of the many is currently the target Igho Sanomi on his 46th birthday. Because the mantles that Sanomi holds. Consequently, he of much murmuring man has done and continues to do so much is a prime example of apex—enough to look and discontent among for those with him and around him, folks are down at the world but refusing to do so. To the citizens of his more than willing to go all out to celebrate his this effect, Sanomi has been hailed as having birthday and applaud his accomplishments and a big heart. Besides building a legacy for his Ondo. The alleged contributions. parents in the form of the reputable Dickson generalG dissatisfaction with recent In recent times, Sanomi has become Sanomi Foundation, Sanomi has not spared a developments in the state has been a paragon of true business savvy and kobo in cutting down suffering when he can. capped by reports that the traffic philanthropy, known most notably for being His contributions towards ridding the world lights on several major roads in the founder and chairman of the continental of cancer have not gone unnoticed, as the Akure have gone on a long vacation, Sanomi conglomerate Group. Similar to beneficiaries from the Bobby Moore Fund and seemingly intending to remain how the multinational company has its fingers Cancer Research in the United Kingdom would unfunctional in the time being. May is truly for champions. This is the in energy and infrastructure, oil and gas tell you. All this before the golden age of 50. This Governor Akeredolu is not month some of the most prestigious and exploration, production, trading and supply, is the legend in 46 short years—Igho Sanomi, a very popular at the moment on prodigious folks on the planet were born. One power, and construction, Sanomi has also man living for more than just himself. social media and in the many corners where folks get together to share gossip. While there are Kofo Sanusi: Unleashing the Potential of the Nigerian Youth reportedly several reasons for this Nigerian youths are doing amazing of providing strategic, operational, and disgruntlement, the matter at hand things. This is the first thought that comes financial management for various businesses is that of the traffic lights on many to mind when such names as Kofo Sanusi across Africa.” Thus, the appointment is a major roads in Akure which have are mentioned. With the most recent recognition and appreciation of her talents, gone kaput. Knowing that such development regarding her position in experience and expertise, rather than her an impediment has far-reaching African Private Equity and Venture Capital young age. In truth, Kofo Sanusi has already consequences for movements Association, Sanusi has become both a walked the length and breadth of African, around Akure, Akeredolu is being symbol of pride and intimidation for her Asian and Middle Eastern business start-ups urged to take his sweet time to fellows. Nevertheless, her success suggests and development. Known previously as one repair the traffic lights or install new limitless possibilities for others willing to of the brightest lights in Founders Factory ones. put in more efforts, like her. AVCA, a well- Africa and its COO, Sanusi’s passion for Of course, for those who are known body known for encouraging private the continent’s development has not been following trending developments, investments in Africa, recently broke the eclipsed by the limitations inherent to the Akeredolu (whose governorship internet when they announced the young endeavour. certificate was only recently Kofo Sanusi as their new chief operating With an MSc in International Public renewed) has much on his plate at the officer. This appointment, according to Policy from the UCL School of Management, moment. There is the issue of one of reports, was a decision reached by all the London, Sanusi was also the COO for Spring his senior special assistants allegedly members of the Board of Directors after Accelerator, another entity renowned for its Sanusi assaulting a pregnant woman they scrutinised her profile and found her work in investments and business innovation continues to announce her. For and the protests that followed. qualified for the position. and development. organisations like AVCA, Sanusi is a largely There is the issue of kidnappings The CEO of the pan-African body Really, Sanusi is a shining light to her untapped mine of potential. With Nigerian lauded Sanusi’s potential, noting that peers. Her work in African sustainable youths like her, the future is a paradise of and herdsmen. There is also the she “brings an exceptional track record development and inclusive participation governor’s supposed tiff with his opportunities and endless possibilities. former deputy who has allegedly refused to return the government property (cars) in his possession Akala, Teslim and Bayo Adelabu Battle for Oyo APC Leadership even though he has been out of Things are getting hotter and spicier as it has ever been. And that is because of again that there is no power struggle in Oyo office for over six months. within the Oyo chapter of the All Progressives the power struggle. The main characters APC but appears to have thrown his weight Thus, adding the issue of traffic Congress with many veterans pushing behind this struggle include former Governor behind Chief Alao-Akala. Nevertheless, lights is guaranteed to rattle the buttons and pulling levers to take over the Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, who left certain folks appear to be considering him for desk of Governor Akeredolu, party’s leadership. Camp loyalty has evolved APC long ago to join the Peoples Democratic the hot seat of leadership. but the people of Ondo (Akure, into a collar for tying bewildered supporters Party, and then Labour Party, and then Political analysts have noted that this especially) are asking this. In to the wagon of the top contenders, especially Action Democratic Party, before returning struggle might ultimately result in more Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, Teslim Folarin to APC. There is also Senator Teslim Folarin, fractures within the administrative framework other words, Akeredolu has no and Chief Adebayo Adelabu. who joined APC (from PDP) alongside of the party. After all, those loyal to the former choice but to step in and accede to The crisis in Oyo APC is being used as an Alao-Akala in 2017. He has been criticised party leader, the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi, are the people’s demand: fix the traffic anecdote to instruct young politicians on the for reaching above his station since he is a still much around, seemingly without a leader. lights or install new ones. Either that necessity of unity within a party, especially newcomer relative to the old hands that have Thus, although Alao-Akala appears to be the or Governor Akeredolu becomes a when the governor of that state belongs to championed the party for donkey years. most popular candidate, he is also the most laughingstock among his peers for the opposition. Reflective of the idea that a Of course, there is no forgetting former unpopular with certain elites in the party. Or having many dead traffic lights right house divided against itself cannot stand, Deputy Governor Adebayo Adekola so the reports claim. Folarin and Adelabu are within his state capital. the influence of the APC in Oyo is as shaky Adelabu, who has announced time and time not just sitting still, unsurprisingly. THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ͯʹ˜ͰͮͰͯ 51 HIGHLIFE Tokunbo Wahab at 49: Transforming Lagos Education with Landmark Innovations have a bone to pick with Governor the Eko Digital Initiative, has Sanwo-Olu’s government, but not Tokunbo Wahab as its initiator. This with respect to the education sector. Initiative guarantees that willing Why? Because Sanwo-Olu set up a Lagosians have access to modern/ paragon of excellence to supervise technological resources that and commandeer the sector— would foster learning (at primary, Tokunbo Philip Wahab. Wahab has secondary and tertiary levels) induced a radiance in the sector without much impediment. What that has not been seen anywhere about all the libraries and ICT else in the country. The efforts of centres popping up in even the Tokunbo Wahab can be summed up most remote corners of Lagos? Wahab in one word: effective. As if he has All to Tokunbo Wahab’s credit. sworn to deify learning, Wahab has Of course, even if he hides his Why Lagos is considered the apex of not failed in any of his endeavours involvement, as he does with his Nigeria with regards to development? to ensure that education is a philanthropy, no other government right available to all willing official in Nigeria advocates digital Simple: the best brains and visionaries Makinde in the country have taken residence Lagosians, regardless of their age, approaches to education more than there. Tomorrow May 17, one of those ethnicity or religious persuasion. His him. overseeing this illustrious city will clock accomplishments to this effect make Thus, a step away from clocking 49. This is Tokunbo Philip Wahab, the folks forget that he is a lawyer by 50, Tokunbo Wahab has contributed Seyi Makinde’s celebrated special adviser on education training, not an educator. enough to earn him the praises of all to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. The most recent landmark of of Lagos. That is what he is getting The good people of Lagos might Governor Sanwo-Olu’s government, tomorrow for his 49th birthday. Respect for Rule of Law Friends Yesterday, Enemies Today as Governor Seyi Makinde has always been compared with Ex-Deputy Governor Eleka Battles Fayose President Emmanuel Macron Politics and self-interest are as inseparable PDP, he did not follow the due process before of France. Perhaps it is the as fire and heat. Moreover, they end up endorsing Kolawole as the main contender for shared compassion for their becoming their own nemesis. This is the the gubernatorial seat. On the contrary, Fayose people or the devotion to duty case in the Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples is reported as following his own whim with and the rule of law. In any Democratic Party. After toiling under many little regard for the wishes of the remaining case, Makinde is not anyway moons as friends, former Governor Ayodele actors and stakeholders. Thus, will he abandon inferior to the Frenchman, Fayose has become the villain to his friend his own gubernatorial aspiration and throw his particularly concerning and former deputy, Professor Kolapo Olusola weight behind Kolawole? Apparently not. satisfying the people’s (Eleka for short). According to reports on this, Eleka intends demands and yet keeping the The chessboard was set up between to put his nose to the grindstone and use Fayose and Eleka when the former the grand momentum of his supporters to big picture in view. announced his intention to support the overwhelm both Kolawole and Fayose at the Governor Makinde has gubernatorial aspiration of Chief Bisi PDP primary slated for next year, 2022. In explained to the public Kolawole under the aegis of the PDP. Even the meantime, Fayose is troubling the waters that his government has no though his good friend and old deputy, Eleka, by continuing to build a support base for intention of disregarding also intended to compete for the Ekiti apex Kolawole. Recently, the former governor went Fayose and Eleka the Supreme Court’s ruling seat in the same PDP. Faced with acquiescing as far as pronouncing curses on any individual on the issue of dissolved local or moving against Fayose, Eleka has against Kolawole’s ambition and success. and absolute victory at the polls. Politics is a government administration. apparently chosen the latter. What Fayose has not done, which he did for This he said against the growing According to Eleka, although Fayose Eleka in 2018, is lay hands on Kolawole’s head tangled web indeed: able to arm two friends and launch them against each other. rumour that this is Makinde’s commands significant authority in Ekiti in a prophetic manner and foretell disarming plan—to delay for as long as possible. For those outside Oyo, the court case is the prelude to many things, including how A Peek into Taiwo Afolabi’s World as the other governors, who use Makinde as a template, would respond to a similar directive. He is Set to Open Marriott Ikeja Hotel Fortunately, Makinde has insisted time and again completion, the man has shot ahead of his height? But in Afolabi’s case, it was only a that the welfare of the peers in Nigeria and the rest of Africa. matter of time. That’s an eonic genius for people is the responsibility The magnificence of Afolabi’s Marriott you. of the government, and his Hotel is a cause for celebration in the grand Born in Ogun and educated in Ondo, administration will follow the scheme of things, but this has left other Oyo, and Lagos, Taiwo Afolabi essentially rules to the letter. business people and corporate leaders with walked the lengths of the South-West in his The case itself is interesting. similar statuses to Afolabi tearing out what youth. Perhaps it is on account of this that It emerged from Governor little hair they have left. In a short time, he has climbed outside of the traditional Makinde’s decision and order Afolabi managed to break the mould in boundaries of success and paved a new West Africa with a multi-billion-Naira 5-star path for others to follow. to remove the chairmen and Afolabi monster hotel, the first of its kind in the region. In the years to come, history will be councillors. The directive was Marriott Hotel has demonstrated that the kind to Afolabi for spending more than released on May 29, 2019, Nigerians are making history within SIFAX conglomerate is not the height of Taiwo 10 billion to put Nigeria on the map rousing the fury of the sacked the country and beyond, no doubts Afolabi’s abilities. Then again, this is not of Africa’s best and most luxurious officials. Knowing better than about this. This generation, it seems, will altogether surprising about a man who started hotels and accommodations. May 19, to make noise on social media, be remembered for breaking the many SIFAX (a massive multinational with active 2021 — the day Marriott Hotel will be limitations that stagnated their forebears. the officials approached the interests in all things maritime and nautical, opened to all and sundry, and Taiwo Supreme Court and presented Taiwo Afolabi, the super businessman, oil and gas, aviation, finance, and hospitality) Afolabi establishes himself as a super founder and Chairman of SIFAX Group their case (after losing to the before he clocked 27. corporate leader in West Africa. This is Appeal Court’s judgment). and SAHCOL, is at the frontline in this Even with an LLB from a more prestigious the true corporate spirit: onward and endeavour. With his Marriott Hotel at grand institution, how many have reached this forward. The Supreme Court rebuked Makinde’s government for The latter narrative is the more popular. persisting in the termination Initially, the former executive directors of duty even though the case First Bank MD Sola Adeduntan’s Nine Lives reported that Adeduntan had completed his was still in court. It charged The First Bank drama has turned out to be still behind on recent happenings, the entire four-year tenure since he assumed the MD/ Makinde to pay the accrued much more exciting than expected. After the executive board of First Bank was sacked by CEO position in 2016. Thus, they ushered him salaries and allowances of the tango with the Central Bank of Nigeria, one the CBN after the board—for lack of a better out and announced that his deputy, Gbenga sacked officials, including 20 could argue that only one individual emerged phrase—retired Adeduntan from his position as Shobo, will replace him. And then CBN million as compensation. This victorious without suffering any setback. Who Group MD/CEO. Adeduntan was chased out arrived on the scene. directive, Makinde has notified would this be if not Sola Adeduntan? on April 28 but was reinstated by the CBN on In the eyes of the apex bank, Adeduntan’s the public that he will obey. After Historians talk about footballers who April 29, less than 24 hours later. sack was reminiscent of a coup that might have set a bad precedent for other banking all, the original decision was can change the momentum of a game, excite Folks have attempted to analyse the taken on behalf of the state, not an entire stadium of committed and neutral entire drama from different perspectives. One institutions in the country. Thus, to salvage spectators, and even snatch the adulation narrative supposed to have originated from the the situation, Adeduntan was reinstated. because he wants to see the meant for all eleven players of his team. CBN is that First Bank had given out several However, whether he will continue for LGAs and LCDAs stagnated. In a way, this is what has happened with loans to its customers, loans that have not been another four years is yet to be known. In That is a law-abiding governor Sola Adeduntan and the First Bank Board paid back. Another narrative is that Adeduntan short, the man is the luckiest fellow out there for sure, one that sees beyond of Executive Directors. For those who are was sacked without regard for the due process. in the Nigerian corporate yard. his nose. 52 THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ͯʹ˜ͰͮͰͯ

LOUD WHISPERS with JOSEPH EDGAR (09095325791) Peju Ugboma – Another Needless Death Shebi my in-law say I should drew public angst, and I started Nigerians. Be like say they use stop making noise about Erelu’s getting many messages from N1 million curse these people. passing? That she did not die Nigerians supporting whatever Before anything, they will say from any mismanagement but by my plans were. The highlight was deposit N1 million knowing full witchcraft. That she and her pastor the call I got from Peju’s husband. well that they don’t have the are working to uncover the killers, Such a gentleman. He was even capacity to handle the situation. and they will soon confess. As far condoling with me when his own Immediately you deposit, they as she is concerned, Erelu died of just happened. Mine is over will seek to transfer you to another so many other things, including one year. His own was just two hospital who will also demand my cheating and addiction to porn hours before he called and see their N1m before showing you instead of the rubbish I saw that the way he was condoling the way to your grave. This has to fateful week in Ikoyi and Ikeja. with me. The narrative of the stop, and like I have been shouting: So, I decided to keep quiet and passing of beautiful Peju is it is not the government. It is be mourning my Erelu in peace. all that has gone wrong in the people masking under the yeye Then the news broke of Peju, country’s health system. The government to perpetrate evil and and all hell broke loose again. avarice and selfishness of the make money while at it. We will The description of the event as practitioners all culminating in surely do something about it, watch Ugboma vividly narrated by the writer the avoidable loss of innocent this space.

CHRIS NGIGE – I COULDN’T AGREE LESS noise and seeking a solution. I do not N200,000 monthly, if not less. This fund small experience. One day, I want to Retirement ‘kill’ you there as we say it believe in railing at the government will augment this salary and give him travel, so I start to pack my load. Then in Shomolu. So, in all this wahala, the over everything. Government is clearly a better reason to serve. It will also give I did not see my credit card. That time solution you and your advisers can clueless and needs help. In fact, who is out scholarships and push for the quick Ecobank was pioneering credit card, and develop is to increase the retirement age the government? Is it not us? When baba inflow of newly-trained doctors from the them give me. Na so I start to cry. The of charlatans from 60 to 65. People at called us lazy, we all were shouting, but medical schools. This may sound utopian, next minute I see alert: they were taking their prime who do not seem to know when things like this keep happening, we but what is life if you don’t dream and the money oh in N20,000 tranches. By their left from their right and who are go on social media and shout and shout. push. Chile dreamt it, and today in less the time they had finished with me, a lot living corpses on the ground should After a few days, we will now be ogling than two years, she has delivered over of money had gone. That time no daily now be given an extension of tenor? To at Bobrisky’s fake breasts, forgetting Peju, N40 million into that sector, just from limit. So, I ran to Shomolu police station. do what oh, Mr white beard-beard. The Erelu and all other Nigerians that have N1,000. The rest of us, let’s be shouting The man at the counter look me. He say simple solution is the robust and outright lost their lives. Are we not lazy? – eya, it is well, it is God’s work, it is ‘who are you?’ I tell am. He say write restructuring of the value chain from Well, I have decided to push for a his time. You see say we are our own statement. I write. He read am finish. training to monitoring and regulation, citizens’ trust fund as a middle-of-the- problems. Na wa. He say ‘how old are you?’ I tell am. He practice, welfare and recertification and road and immediate engagement of look him colleague say in Yoruba, ‘see this definitely not increasing the retirement the situation. The idea is got from the IBRAHIM GAMBARI – PLEASE, DON’T CALL one who dash am N200,000. By the time I age. I have taken the fight to the whole N1k miracle group, of which I am a POLICE finish with him he will talk true.’ Me wey medical community with the premise junior founder and strong member. As My brother, I have heard that a be Shomolu man even though I have not that as Peju died, it is not the Premier expounded by the main founder and mischievous attempt was made at been made Duke by that time, I stand up Hospital that everybody is shouting now driver, the vision of the group is to get burglarizing your office. Let me say this and say, ‘I am coming.’ He say ‘come on, that should be blamed. It is the whole just N1,000 from people and help pay first, please it is not everything you people come back.’ Before I realize myself, I am nine yards, from the health minister medical bills for Nigerian patients. Mrs should be telling us. This kind thing, behind the counter. Accuser don become down to the hospital janitor. You will not Chile Udemgba has grown this group you for keep quiet and continue with accused. After studying my statement single out one entity and say because from just the initial two of us to over 800 whatever work you are doing because and going back and forth in consultation she died here, then let’s deal with that people. Donations have moved from I no even see the work in the first place. and eating amala and ewedu with only hospital and go to bed. The one who the first N270,000 to over N2 million Telling us that Aso Rock, expected to be one meat o, he came with the major died at Mowe nko? The one who died monthly. With these funds, she pays bills a fortress, can be so infiltrated, not the conclusion that, ‘na your wife thief at Ngwa and Ilorin nko? What about and buys drugs for patients she does office of the washman but your office? am.’ Before I could comprehend what the one that got blinded in Kaduna nko? not know. This is a young Nigerian lady How do you want us to feel hearing this? was going on, he shouted, ‘constable Me, I am taking a holistic look at the doing things. So, I want to borrow the If our seat of power is not well secure, take this man go bring him wife come, thing. The whole community is leprous. idea and push for one million Nigerians how do we now have the confidence na suspect.’ My people I think say na A simple solution can only come from a to donate N1,000 monthly into a trust that you can protect us in this wahala of play o. Na so we go arrest my wife o. total overhaul: withdraw all their licences fund that corporate trustee firms would insecurity that is going on? That na my Na beg we take commot for the matter. immediately, and let’s recertify them. For manage. The funds will be used to advice to your media handlers. Let it Let me say something before the acting now, we do not know who is a quack strengthen government public medical be that one busybody reporter hear the inspector general want start to dey or who is not. From Peju’s narrative, facilities in welfare, training, equipment, gist and release. You will deny, oh. The use me score brownie points. This one even the herbalist at Awoseyin Street in insurance and facility. This would be a thing is shameful. It’s like trying to climb happened like 15 years ago. So, if you Shomolu who heals broken bones will third-leg approach that will impact the madam, and nothing happens: the thing run to Alade police station for Shomolu not be so clueless and then come and add community and save lives. If you speak no gree come up, will you call a press na rookie police wey just commot for arrogance to the matter after collecting with medical practitioners, you will hear conference? Seriously another advice I police college you will see there. Those millions. Ngige, please let’s get serious. stories of woe. In fact, I hear that a well- want to give you is not to call the police ones would have been retired by now. trained doctor goes home with about for this matter oh. Let me tell you one So, Mr Gambari that is my experience HEALTH CRISIS – CITIZENS’ TRUST FUND and my advice. Just hush am, check to TO THE RESCUE see if nothing was missing. Everything You see me, I wouldn’t say I like shouting complete, pen, chewing gums, condoms, just for the fun of it. I like making glasses, praying mat. Once everything is

Ngige Ehanire Gambari Bala-Usman THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ͯʹ˜ͰͮͰͯ 53 LOUD WHISPERS complete, just change burglar proof and my Chairman Ken Etete set up a call, put broom with red tape on top of the and we had a three-way conversation, door so that they will just be sweeping and it was convivial and deep. Then when they come. You can give me a the news hit like a tsunami, his firm, contract to supply the broom. I know UTM Offshore, had just been licensed to where they do it in Shomolu. It is around operate the first floating LNG Production that Ilaje side near Lagoon. Plant. The firm is expected to build a plant to process about 176m cubic feet COVID-19 - LOCKDOWN MY FOOT! of gas and condensate per day. This is a You really do not need to conduct an remarkable feat, and strong kudos must official survey to gauge the level of be given to the Department of Petroleum apathy towards government and its Resources for the confidence it has policies than this covid thing. Since the reposed in an indigenous firm to operate inception of the pandemic, Nigerians at this level. That this would enrich the have been taking everything the space cannot be over-emphasized. Well government has said and done on the done, DPR and all other stakeholders that matter with a huge pinch of salt. The allowed this breakthrough to occur. A fiasco that was the pandemic palliatives real silver lining in the nation at this time. did not help matters which also now Well done, bro. impacted the vaccine. My brother Femi Pastor Adeboye Olude believes that the vaccine can make Rone PASTOR ADEBOYE – ACCEPT MY someone impotent, and that is why when CONDOLENCE factors. That is what they will first teach What insubordination if the woman On behalf of the very good people of I went to take my own, I told Duchess you in detective school. So, I don look decides to have direct access to the to be at alert for testing, and I did not Shomolu, we would like to extend this matter, has there been any – the other president nko? Is it your president? our heartfelt condolences to you and breathe until I climbed and came back room-type request not been well received Why would you want the president with a 98 per cent score. I am usually 70 mummy on the recent loss of your lovely that may have led to this implosion? only to be seeing your big eyes? Mbok, son Pastor Dare Adeboye. The news per cent, but this time I got 98 per cent. Well, from preliminary findings, I do this whole thing looks even childish Na the fear propel the action. Anyway, hit me in Abeokuta as me and Yemi not think that is the reason. If you ask and petty to me. So now, the monies Shodimu were about to devour assorted from nowhere with relatively no Covid me why I will say look Amaechi’s are all inside CBN as we now hear cases (abi how do you want to describe goat meat and amala at Pankshe. head. It is too big and bald to be of any that na only insubordination remains, Pankshe is one place in Abeokuta where a caseload of sub-50 for the past one consideration. He is also rough around which makes it infighting. Let both of month?) government announce one yeye the amala is divine. As I was about to dig the edges. He looks like someone that them come outside and tell us what in, I saw a prompt on my phone. I say lockdown. People just hiss and continue will not understand what three forks the problem really is because I feel that with their work. These people are just let me finish eating because if I read and are doing on a dinner table at a French there is more. My advice to Amaechi it’s bad news, I will not eat. So, I finished bent on the continued demystification restaurant in Monaco. Then you see is that next time you want to fight and of governance. Suppose India and the my food and read the sad news. No one is Hadiza, forget the purdah she dey use, need my heavy support, fight people ever prepared for this, even a man as close rest are going through a harrowing the eyes are divine. The skin is smooth, like them Lauretta Onochie - ehen na experience. Is it not easier to contain by to God as you are. But we are emboldened and she remains a beauty to behold. now you will see objectivity on my in the faith that you live by and have strengthening border controls, ensuring Her confidence shines through, and part. For this one, I am sorry you lose strict non-pharmaceutical engagement by continued to teach us that Jehovah only this is definitely a mismatch. That said, me. The beauty no let me see road. I’m knows why and we cannot question both in and outbound passenger traffic let me say that as useless as I am, I am sorry my brother, next fight we go do and other such sensible protocols? Na him. Dare has gone to rest, daddy. All on the side of Hadiza not because I am together. we can do is to continue to live the life to rush and announce comprehensive think she is innocent of thieving the lockdown when businesses and people that will make him proud while seated N164 billion or that she is innocent JULIUS RONE – THIS IS AN at the right-hand side of our Lord. Take are just coming out of the economic of the insubordination that she has EARTHSHAKING MOVE tailspin occasioned by all the other heart, my dear GO, and please keep been accused of but simply because So my brother Raymond Abia had mummy warm. She needs you much lockdowns? For me, I don even know of her beauty. Mbok, how can such a first given me initial contact with this what nightclubs have done these more now. God bless you, and God bless divinely created human being ever incredible Nigerian. I had heard he was us all. people. They seem to be the ones that be guilty of anything? Have you seen on to something major, but I was only the presidential committee no like at all. a beautiful woman thieving before? interested in Ibiom, my play in Uyo. Then Small thing they have shut down clubs, TONY NDAH – A BIG THANK YOU next thing, they will raid them. When malls I will not even forgive myself if I do not do with thousands of Nigerians are left open BIRTHDAY PRAYERS FOR FELA DUROTOYE this: send a shoutout to a gentleman and and laughable, political rallies are allowed a courageous Nigerian, Tony Ndah. He is to go on, waiting for it - INEC prescribed Aburo, yes, aburo. So, you just dey hit 50 when we don hit am like two years the president of estate surveyors in the protocols. Please, let’s don’t be joking na. ago? Anyways, you have lived a remarkable life, and that presidential attempt, country, a conscientious businessman which collapsed remarkably on live national TV, does not remove from the fact and a passionate Nigerian. He is first an NGX GROUP – THE STOCK AFRICA IS MADE that you are one great Nigerian. As your people gift you with the brand-new Akwa Ibom man with all the affinities OF Range Rover, what is left from us is to send very strong prayers to you. Oya, to afang, afia efere and ekpang nkukwo. I hope I am talking to people who are ‘lit’. kneel down and let me pray for you virtually – Father Lord, you see this your Very few people meet you for the first The NGX Group is the new entity the son and our brother Fela, bless him, guide him, protect him. Let him continue time and immediately take to you. As I Stock Exchange has morphed into. You to live a life of example, give him the strength to withstand temptation that will walked into his office to discuss Ibiom know, as a ‘failed’ stockbroker, I must come from this Range Rover, and give him the wisdom to send referrals to me and Akwa Ibom, he listened intently and support my first constituency. On the as they approach him. Lord, thank you for blessing Nigeria with this soul, for he said, ‘I will support you.’ My sister Eno back of the recent demutualization of the will lead a transformation and continue to bless lives through your instructions. Udo gave us the meeting, and since then, Stock Exchange, the Oscar Onyema-led Happy birthday, bro. he took me in as a younger brother. His new entity is set to take a leadership hold on national issues is second to none, position in the local space and regional but his lack of interest in politics despite and global markets. The campaign aims the network, net-worth, and depth is to position NGX as a leading provider of simply confusing. Let me just say thank capital market infrastructure connecting you so much, my senior brother, and Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world. when you are less busy, I owe you a huge The campaign, which will kick off this bowl of afang. Just let me know. week will, “amplify the group’s new brand identity, spotlighting the growth potential FOOTNOTE of the African continent, across traditional Some of you, my regular readers, would and digital media.” Mbok, I have talked too have noticed that I have been quite much already, if you want to know more religious in two stories today. Well, let me try their new website www.ngxgroup. explain. Following the death of my mother, com. If you are interested in attending she left it in her will that I must return to the virtual launch of the campaign, try the church to continue with the work of ww.ngxgroup.com/thestockafricaismadeof my father, the late Pastor Sampson Edgar . I must support the stock exchange because if not I will lose my inheritance – the when I first came to Lagos, if you cannot shop that they are using to do salon in pass an aptitude test, no job. Me, I used our house in Ewet Housing Estate in to fail the thing like play. I was an expert Uyo. So my people, in total obedience at failing, but Dr Chukwujama of Unex to that instruction, I was appointed an Securities gave me an aptitude test wey I elder in the church. Now you may ask, pass o. That is how I start my career as a will I still be watching porn, following stockbroker, and from there, I move. So, I ‘yellow women’. The only answer I can am first a stockbroker before all this Duke give is that Jesus came for the sick and of Shomolu thing, loyal to the market and who sick reach me. Recovery na process, all it stands for. no be military government. You cannot order it—Na very, very gradual process. HADIZA – AMAECHI FIGHTING A LOSING Na to pray for long life. Please no show BATTLE my brother this thing o make him no Normally, when you see this kind of suspend me o, na him be GO. El Rufai fight, you will first calm down, pull will not come and beg for me, I don yab back, and see the underground causative Durotoye am too much. 54 THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ͯʹ˜ͰͮͰͯ

Adebayo Adeoye   [email protected]; 08054680651

Billionaire Businessman, Olu Okeowo’s Birthday Allocution Sir Olu Okeowo, Chairman of youths into the security outfits to help Gibraltar Property, has been around for defend the sovereignty of our country. some time doing what he knows how “We are one united and indivisible to do best. entity; after all, we run a democratic By all standards, his success story republic. The hopeless situation we are is evidence that he is a big player in in now was born out of decades of bad the property and real estate sector. He governance. It has nothing to do with is known for a number of imposing religious bigotry as being trumped up by properties scattered around the globe; fake pastors,” he said. hence, anyone who likes to venture “Christians and Muslims are one, into the real estate business will be and this country must not go down in doing himself some good if he or she Jesus’ mighty name. The South-West has contacts him for some rudiments of the indeed produced great compatriots from business. formidable politicians to boardroom gurus. Recently, he threw his door open “Internationally, our professionals to family and friends to celebrate with are being sought after. Unfortunately, him on the occasion of his birthday. the lesser mortals are roaming the streets But beyond the celebration, with prophecies of gloom and doom Okeowo also used the day to preach hovering over their heads. Let us make our unity in the country while also urging governance skills work instead of beating the government to recruit jobless the drums of war.” Okeowo

Coker Anambra Politician, Prince Nicholas Return of NTDC Ukachukwu’s Herculean Task Boss, Folly Coker ideology. However, he wants to be seen as the had approached the Court of Appeal and messiah to provide his people with the much- won. desired dividends of democracy. As a result, he believed he could still ard work doesn’t A serial contender, the more he tries, the realize his dream of becoming a senator, go unnoticed, more his dream eludes him. Sadly, Society given his popularity and the support of and someday Watch gathered that this has even made him a the state governor, Willie Obiano, who subject of ridicule in some quarters. had reportedly promised to use the state reward will apparatus in his favour. follow and work To realize his age-long aspiration for the Anambra South Senatorial district in the 2019 He was full of hope until Senator Ubah well done is an election, the Owelle Osumeyi left the Peoples hit a sledgehammer on his ambition. opportunity to do more. Democratic Party for the All Progressives The pendulum swung in the direction H of Capital Oil boss Ubah, who was This, no doubt, sums up the Grand Alliance. He could no longer endure the frustration he allegedly suffered in the declared winner in the election, puncturing story of Lagos State-born his balloon of hope irredeemably. Not Folorunsho Folarin-Coker, hands of some hawks in the party, especially Andy Uba and his cronies. one to give up easily on his cherished otherwise known as Folly dream, Society Watch gathered that the Ukachukwu There was a glimmer of hope when he Coker, who is currently beat many of his other aspirants in APGA, philanthropist would be running for the reaping bountifully from including Bianca Ojukwu, widow of the late exalted position in the November 6, 2021 Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, governorship election in the state on the his conscientiousness. Chairman/CEO of SNECOU Group Biafra warlord, Emeka Ojukwu and Dr Okey Chidolue, a former top shot in the Nigerian ruling APGA. When he was appointed Limited, is a successful businessman and But a source disclosed that his ambition industrialist by all standards. Ports Authority, a one-time aide to the late the director-general of Ojukwu. could amount to a camel passing through the NTDC, several people Since he left the Green Chamber many the eye of the needle. Already, there are years ago, he has tried to remain relevant in But his hope of flying the party’s ticket hailed him. At the end of was almost punctured when he lost at the insinuations that many in the party are the political scene in the state. allegedly rooting for the former governor his first term, he was found In the eyes of many, he comes across Federal High Court in Abuja, following a case instituted by an aggrieved member who felt of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Charles to be deserving of another as a man who lacks any clear-cut political Soludo. term, particularly for his cheated at the party’s primary. Undeterred, he passion and drive to sell Nigeria to the rest of the world. The news of his Rachael Salehu, Real Estate Guru Par Excellence reappointment as the Over the years, she has managed and NTDC boss has caused nurtured her passion for excellence to the leading real estate solution finder, with admiration of all. The University of Lagos decades of experience in management, jubilation. As players in graduate of Marine Biology and Biological development, leasing and selling of the tourism industry, his Oceanography has collaborated with properties. fans and admirers see him innovative teams in content marketing, They have both set out to create an as the best man for the content creation; executing, measuring and atmosphere where players and clients in optimizing, engaging marketing campaigns, the real estate sector can complement each job returning with more developing a strong rapport with sales other. Those who can’t afford to pay their firepower. The reason teams, and delivering on marketing Key rents at a go have negotiated with various may not be unconnected Performance Indicators (KPI) and company landlords across Lagos to allow tenants to because he is considered financial targets. pay-as-you-earn every month, thereby As a strong advocate of business easing tenants’ burdens, letting them plan the best in that field, orientation for young and aspiring their monthly income. with his sheer interest in entrepreneurs and a solution finder, she “With results from our feasibility has made some efforts to solve some of studies, the numbers of those who can’t further repositioning the pay their rents at once are quite enormous. tourism sector. For his the unregulated real estate sector issues in Nigeria. Salehu To curb the issues, we came up with a stellar performance, his It is a fact that the real estate sector is platform that will provide solutions and reappointment shows that faced with a constant hike in rents, aiding As a result, she recently launched her complement the government’s efforts he is doing something deficiency in low-cost housing and the new Arc Homes real estate Website. Salehu, in regulating and providing affordable inability of the common man to be able to with her friend Caroline Adejube, the Chief housing and maintaining good synergy different. Operating Officer, started Arc Homes, a between landlords and tenants,” they said. Society Watch gathered pay rent or own an affordable house. that stakeholders and tourism experts in the country have also lauded Nigerian-Born International Model, Abraham Adegeye’s Rising Profile President Buhari for re- In the past years, Abraham Adegeye’s several critically acclaimed campaigns with the main goal of inspiring; he appointing him. profile has been tremendously on the with About You, Fossil, Vans, Converse, enjoys letting people into his life with As much as possible, rise. Pacsun, Calvin Klein and Gant, has been a each post. he has continually put He combines his love for fashion with part of a campaign on behalf of the He desires to work with more his love for photography. As a model, soft drinks company, Sprite, which high-end fashion names, and he is the country on the global he had dazzled on the runway, featuring tackled cyberbullying and diversity. open to more TV appearances such as map in tourism, which in top international brands, including The TV campaign received plenty commercials. Despite the competition in has experienced a great Timberland, Umbro, G-star, Coca-Cola, of media coverage and formed an the industry, he has carved a niche for turnaround. Sprite, Diesel and H&M. app that appeared during thousands of himself. He prides himself on being up Adegeye, who has also produced YouTube videos. He is a fashion influencer to date with his content. THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MAY 16, 2021 55

Editor:Olawale Olaleye CICERO mail:[email protected], SMS: 08116759819 IN THE ARENA Will Buhari Heed the ‘Asaba Declaration’? In the face of palpable existential threats, governors of Southern Nigerian states called out President Muhammadu Buhari. Will the president choose rhetoric or take decisive action? Louis Achi asks

n Monday, 24 hours before embattled gov- ernors of Southern Nigeria, meeting in Asaba, Delta State, issued a ‘proclama- tion’ calling out President Muham- madu Buhari over spiraling national insecurity,O the militant Palestinian Hamas group began targeting Ashkelon and Tel Aviv, Israeli cities close to the Gaza Strip, with rockets and claiming lives. The six administrative districts constituting the State of Israel and equating Nigerian states did not need to issue an “Asaba Declaration” to prod Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to demonstrate leader- ship and take decisive action to fulfil his core mandate of defending Israeli citizens, territory and prop- erty. Netanyahu ordered an immediate military response to Hamas’ suicidal attacks with a barrage of air strikes and covert intel-guided operations, which have killed several top commanders of Hamas, a scenario acknowledged by the militant group itself. The Israeli Army released a statement on Wednesday, saying it carried out a “complex and first-of-its- Buhari kind operation.” Those targeted, it said, were “a key part of the Hamas General Staff” hood. integration, the Southern states’ chief executives and considered close to the head of the group’s In a 12-point communique read by the Chair- held that the progress of the nation requires that military wing. man of Southern Governors Forum, Governor urgent and bold steps be taken to restructure the Forty-eight hours ago, after dropping leaflets Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, the group Nigerian Federation leading to the evolution of warning civilians to evacuate the area, Netanyahu “affirmed that the peoples of Southern Nigeria state police, review of revenue allocation formula called up 9,000 reservist troops and massed remain committed to the unity of Nigeria on the in favour of the sub-national governments and tanks on the border with Gaza. With a ground basis of justice, fairness, equity and oneness and creation of other institutions, which legitimately offensive to be backed by tanks imminent, the peaceful co-existence between and among its advance our commitment to and practice of true Isareli PM has warned that Israel would never peoples with a focus on the attainment of shared federalism. return any inch of Gaza territory it takes if an goals for economic development and prosperity.” Turning their gun-sights on a subject that all-out-offensive ensues. At press time the UN Hitting at the core of the security nightmare, creates Northern jitters the most, the governors was still scrambling to mediate the crisis. they observed that, “The incursion of armed recommended that in view of widespread agita- In Nigeria, almost a week after what many herders, criminals and bandits into the Southern tions among their various peoples for greater see as the courageous ‘Asaba Declaration’ – noth- part of the country has presented a severe inclusiveness in existing governance arrange- ing. Bandits, rogue herders, ‘unknown gunmen’ security challenge such that citizens are not able ments, the federal government should convoke a kidnappers and Boko Haram terrorists are having to live their normal lives including pursuing national dialogue as a matter of urgency. a field day. Quirky pronouncements are being various productive activities leading to a threat For good measure, they drew attention to the issued from some Northern political chieftains to food supply and general security.” extant extreme lopsidedness in appointments and with the senate president as cheerleader, to More, the governors resolved that open graz- stressed the need to review appointments into counter the Southern governors’ position. The ing of cattle be banned across Southern Nigeria, Federal Government Agencies (including Security Aso Rock is presumably still studying the Asaba noting that development and population growth Agencies) to reflect the federal character as communique, which contrasts sharply with their has put pressure on available land and increased Nigeria’s overall population is heterogeneous. traditional quick-fire responses. the prospects of conflict between migrating herd- As Nigeria bleeds out from assault on various Cut to the bone, governors from Southern Ni- ers and local populations in the South. Against fronts, will President Buhari make a turnaround geria were essentially calling on the Commander- this backdrop, it becomes imperative to enforce and adopt the decisive Netanyahu model of in-Chief to take action to save the Nigerian state. the ban on open grazing in the South (including leading from the front? Will he prefer to stay the They had last week urged the federal government cattle movement to the South by foot) – they current course? On either option, the judgement to convoke a national dialogue as a matter of further held. of history beckons. For the embattled masses, it’s urgency to address fundamental issues of state- Putting a finger on the trigger of incipient dis- morning yet on creation day. POLITICAL NOTES Still on the Attacks on Police he deliberate and unceasing in the country must be brought to an attacks on security facilities abrupt end irrespective of whose ox is and operatives across the gored at the end of the day. country, especially, in the Unfortunately, the people are going to Southeast part of the country, be at the receiving end of the ongoing has reached a point that the madness. authorities must act, not only How they cannot tell that with police with force but the determination to stations and posts being burnt down by returnT sanity to that part of the country. criminal elements, they would soon be With the increasing activities of at the mercy of non-state actors is to insurgents and kidnappers in many say the least, befuddling. And except parts of the country, a situation that has the people rise in unison to protect and already stretched and demoralised the defend the police now, they should be security operatives, the senseless resort prepared to deal with the mud after a Baba to maiming and killing police officers downpour. 56 THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MAY 16, 2021 BRIEFINGNOTES El-Rufai, Ortom’s Descent to Character Debate

Nigerians expected more in terms of leadership from Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State and his Benue State counterpart, Samuel Ortom, than last week’s resort to character debate, writes Tobi Soniyi

enultimate week, Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai and his Benue State counterpart, Samuel Ortom shamelessly, threw caution to the winds and chose to wash their dirty linen in public. El-Rufai had accused Ortom of using insecurity in his state to attack President Muhammadu Buhari’sadministration as a way to cover up for his own failure. POrtom didn’t take it lightly. He quickly fired back with sundry allegations against El-Rufai, accusing him of adopting divisible tactics and misleading the president among other weighty allegations. Incidentally, both Benue and Kaduna states have been devastated by criminals. Evidence abound in both states to show that both governors have failed to deliver on their campaign promises. While Benue reeled from herders-farmers’ clashes that had left hundreds dead, Kaduna is struggling to stop kidnappers from destroying the state even as its southern part remains a killing field. Last month, an Internally Displaced Persons camp in Benue State was attacked leaving seven persons dead and many others injured. On April 20, students of Greenfield University were kidnapped in Kaduna. Five days after their abduction, five of the students were killed by the bandits while the leader of the bandits, Sani Jalingo, said the remaining students would be killed if the government or the parents failed to provide N100 million and 10 motorcycles for the bandits. So both governors have their hands full, battling inse- curity in their respective states. No one, therefore,expects them to have time for frivolities. But this is Nigeria where politicians never cease to entertain. At a time when they should be working together to find an enduring solution to the peril the countrygenerally faces, they have chosen to go for each other’s jugular. In February, El-Rufai delivered a speech that many considered to be a call to action for leaders irrespective of their political, ethnic or religious inclination. A quote from the speech, which the governor delivered at the national conversation: ‘The Fierce Urgency of Now: Tactics and Strategies to Pull Nigeria from the Brink’, in El-Rufai and Ortom Lagos on Friday, 19th February 2021 will suffice. He said: “As leaders, our obligation is to turn Nigeria’s they wanted them. In disunity. Even though it continues capital, you hardly feel the presence of the government. moment of peril into a breakthrough moment, a time to to sound hollow in many ears, the reality is that the These neglected parts are fertile ground for criminals to stand together and drag the Nigerian state to modernity, country is not going to surmount the security challenges spring up. Large swathes of land in both Kaduna and imbued with a capacity to exercise robust control of except it is united. If one state is not safe, all the states Benue have no presence of government. security, that is uncompromising in its prerogatives and cannot be safe. Even though governors do not control any security has an ability to protect rights, lives and livelihoods. Let These challenges are not only interrelated but are such forces, they can fight insecurity by developing their states. us make a rational decision that we would be defined by that it would take collective efforts and synergy to resolve. It is not too late for the warring governors to bury the what we achieve in common.” Insecurity has grown this worse partly due to the absence hatchet and find common grounds. The Chairman of the Many may choose to disagree, El-Rufai is one of the of a coordinated response among tiers of government. Northern Governor’ Forum, Simon Lalong of Plateau few governors, who understand the depth of the security When those who should work together to stem the tide of State, should immediately initiate a peace process to challenges the nation faces. How, therefore, can a governor, insecurity are busy quarrelling, the nation obviously faces reconcile them. who is expected to rally his colleagues to work with the a bleak future. Governors will have to work with President Muham- president to confront a common enemy be picking up a True be told, one of the reasons Nigeria is turning madu Buhari to address the security challenges, even fight with one of his own? into a failed state is bad governance and it didn’t start though the president has not shown the leadership Governor Ortom is also not totally blameless. His yesterday or with the Buhari government. Too many required to galvanize state governors to join forces with response to the Kaduna State governor lacked discretion children are out of school. As they grow up without any him. expected from the exalted office of a state governor. He means of sustenance they are left with no choice but to While the federal government keeps defending the appeared to have been nursing a grudge against El-Rufai. resort to crimes. rights of herders to move freely across the country, the The remarks by the Kaduna State governor provided him Both Ortom and El Rufai should be preoccupied with Buhari-led administration has not shown similar support with the opportunity to pour it out. He obviously over- how to provide education to every child in their respective for the farmers, whose crops are destroyed by herders. reacted and showed no restraints. states. It is by doing so that they can secure the future of The time has come for both Ortom and El-Rufai to Unfortunately, while the governors bicker, criminals their states. uphold their ‘obligation’ to turn Nigeria’s moment of peril continue to wreak havoc across the country. Those who Both governors need to find ways to extend governance into a breakthrough and stand together to drag the nation wanted the country destroyed had the governors where beyond their state capital. Once you travel out of the to modernity. NOTES FOR FILE The Shina Peller Example House of Representatives member for Iseyin/Itesiwaju/ the country faces today and so, the least expectation is Kajola/Iwajowa federal constituency in Oyo State, Hon. that everyone – irrespective of party or ideological lean- Shina Peller, on Friday celebrated his 45th birthday in a ing – would come together to confront what is no less a different fashion, largely atypical of what a majority of his common enemy. folks would do. He is concerned about the state of the na- The last time some APC governors visited Makinde, tion and therefore used the occasion of his 45th birthday what he told them was the need to come together as one to address some of these national concerns. to wrestle the monster of insecurity, because the scourge Expectedly, some of his choices have allegedly caused recognises no colour, religion, culture or ethnicity. As some stir in the local politics of his state, Oyo, where such, coming together to battle the challenge is the only some leaders of his party, the All Progressives Congress way out. had scolded him for giving the governor of the state, Seyi However, that some people would seek to politicise such Makinde, a significant role to play at an occasion they con- a serious and sensitive matter, at a time it is becoming sidered theirs, even though he was eventually represented. overwhelming is, to say the least, inconceivable. Shina Pel- But, the question is, when will the Nigerian politicians ler has just exhibited leadership with example and rather stop playing politics with everything? There’s no telling than reprimand him, everyone needs to rally round him Peller that security is the singular most critical challenge that and encourage him to do more. He deserves an applause. THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MAY 16, 2021 57 CICERO/ONTHEWATCH Omagbemi: Campaign Is Successful When Planning Is Based on Audience, Not Location

Ugochukwu Aliogo spoke to Tosan Omagbemi, Managing Director at Interaction Channels limited, an advertising technology company, on some topical national issues. Excerpts:

et’s talk about your newly launched platform, ground running, it was late October 2019. Of course, COVID-19 ‘Moving audiences’. What is it about? became a challenge; we thank God that the stem is almost 100 Interaction channel is an advertising technology per cent running back. In terms of penetration, you have to company that holds a strategic partnership with understand that for a novel application, the platform allows us to a company known as Moving Walls. Moving solve a lot of industry problems. Walls is a global company sitting in Singapore, Most of these problems are age-long problems for instance out- L but operates out of four continents and over 11 of-home measurements, before now you could plan out-of-home markets globally. We have an exclusive partner- with matrix, but now there is a national currency for out-of-home ship with them in Nigeria and West Africa. Moving Walls in Nigeria, which allows media strategies and planners to buy basically operates an intelligence location platform. The location and be able to measure its impact of out-of-home advertising for intelligence technology is what we have onboarded in Nigeria. their clients. Location intelligence refers to technologies that allow you to We apply the same technology for programmatic digital build knowledge about behaviours of audiences or consumers out-of-home advertising like we have on our mobile devices, you across different locations and points of interest. To be able to are able to reach audiences with programmatically digital out-of- operate this type of technology, you will need a lot of data home inventory. We apply for retail analytics, events, activation sources. So, what we have done is not rely on one data source, and of course, the platform is integrated with the location first but on multiple data sources, because environments defer. For mobile advertising platform. Those are some of the offshoots of instance, we are speaking within a confined environment; it is our data ecosystem and technology. a point of interest. However, when we step out to the car park, Regarding market penetration, as soon as we got started, that is another environment altogether. we brought MTN onboard in January, 2020. We have done So, the context of every environment defers. So, you will a few with Nigeria breweries from the activation standpoint. need a number of data sources to make sense of audiences that We have some clients that are in the pipeline, they include you find in various points of interests or environment. So, we banking services and Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCGs). tap into data from Google traffic, mobile app data, and digital Importantly, because the solution is novel, you have to do a lot media such as Twitter, search, and fox square. Then we also of awareness creation in the market, just like I stated earlier, even have a proprietary Internet Of Things device (IOTs) that helps the consumers of Milo beverage may not understand how much us to pick device signals. The IOTs are basically signals, and they need it until somebody is able to explain to them the value they could be used across industries agriculture, manufacturing, they will get from it and they will begin adoption, so we have and automobiles. Our IOTs are focused on tracking audiences. been able to do a lot of that. So, when you talk about location data or intelligence, you are Presently, we have collaboration with the Outdoor Advertising basically speaking to the digital journeys of different consumers Association of Nigeria (OAAN) and they have recognised us as or audiences. Omagbemi the market currency for out- of-home-advertising, so we have The digital journeys are what you are trying to build made a lot of progress in terms of penetration within the market, knowledge about and it goes deep and granular, beyond just very efficient mobile advertising and so we have what is known having multiple conversations with agencies, and advertisers numbers, it goes as far as the demographics. It also seeks to as a hyper-local or location focused mobile advertising platform. across different application of the platform. understand the profiles of those audiences, and building their I could target people in a particular shop in a certain location various segments whether you have a white-collar type of audi- without targeting other shops in that same location. It gives that Before you came into the industry, what was the situ- ences, students, traders, mid-income and low-income audiences. precision technology and capability; it is what is unique to us. ation of Out-Home-Advertising, and what has been the It goes deep from understanding the audiences from a location, Whereas many others speak of geo-targeting, very randomly improvement you have brought into it? preference, and interest standpoints. and from a vague standpoint, we speak of location targeting or I have served in the advertising agency for well over a decade geo-targeting from the precise standpoint. There are several other and after about 10 years of service, I was directly leading the Out- What is the significance of location intelligence in the filters that we leverage to deliver on that capability. Home-Advertising planning and buying team for the agency. I Nigeria Market? understand Out-Home-Advertising very well. The gap basically There is a pre-COVID-19 era and we are not in post- You talked about the use of data to analyse consumer that existed was there was no data to plan, we were basically COVID-19, because a lot of countries are still battling with the behaviour, demographics and their views about differ- buying Out-Home-Advertising from a subjective standpoint, so it effects of the pandemic, whether pre or post-COVID, data has ent products and brands, how are you able to create was all guesswork;there no data driving those decisions. always been a key tool to unlocking influence with consumers, understanding to arrive at a shared meaning in a complex The situation was more like realising that there are a lot of so a typical brand or product is created to solve a problem, and market? persons maybe in a particular location, therefore, I should have the problem is for some particular type of consumers. So, every Firstly, there is what is known as a data privacy policy. Our an inventory that helps me expose these brands on that location. brand of product is aiming to understand how to spend the data first and foremost is anonymous data, so we don’t know It is guesswork to the extent that they are a lot of people, but a consumer in a way they will understand. people by anything so that makes it private such as names and brand is not looking for a lot of people, instead, it is focusing on I have a product already or a solution, but the person that phone numbers or anything that will be indicative that you’re a specific set of people. needs may not know they need it in this format. That is where invading an individual’s privacy, however, we know audiences A brand wants to attract those that will commit some budget the communication or messaging comes in. To be able to uniquely and that is where our technology comes in. For to purchase and ultimately walk towards becoming a loyal properly message or pass information of the unique value of instance, if I am a brand that is seeking to reach the high-end user. In that wise, there is a lot of guesses still going on and a product, service, or solution across to a consumer, you need type of audiences, in this case, the big class. when you even did that, there was no way to measure whether to be able to get an understanding of them. Understanding The big class is a big class. There is a definition of what is scientifically, what you were doing was making any impact. In them takes analysis of data, building insights, so that when you called the ‘Big Class’. What our data does, is to distill who is that line with this is the fact that if you gave me a brief as a client, use that insight to speak to a consumer, then, a message will Big Class, in what kind of environment do they live, work, what and I needed to plan a campaign for you, I will then begin to call resonate. points of interest do they visit. Such individuals may visit Ikoyi media owner A, media vendor B, and media vendor C if they The gap that exists in the market is how you are able to build Golf club every evening to play golf. He/she maybe someone have a billboard in a particular location and all of that planning knowledge to reach the consumer or your audience within that has the mindset that I need to use a fitness center, he/she was location-focused. the market, you need relevant data. Before now, there were no lives in the heart of the Mainland such as Magodo, Shonibare What we have done as organisation is that we have brought sources of relevant data, before we conducted researches, as Estate Maryland, and Ikeja GRA, so there are location indicators, technology and data to bear such that the advertiser and you are aware those researches are static and near historical in that a person visits, which becomes a proxy and defines who agencies shift focus, away from location buying to audience most cases. Our kind of data is real-time data that is relevant the individual is. buying, because it is not locations that have the budget power, for the moment and constantly refreshed. It becomes absolutely We analyse behaviour based on location intent, places they it is humans that do. What an advertiser or an agency needs to useful for you to build or make marketing decisions. Data visit physically and virtually (online and offline). In our data do is to understand, who the humans that visit locations are. A will be useless without application, so we don’t just stop at ecosystem, there are a lot of digital services in it, and it has location is defined by the people that are living there; it is not providing data, but we layer that data with technology that nothing to do with writing with paper. the location that defines the people. It is not billboards that make allows advertisers, and brands to leverage that data into various All the data we need, is remotely picked as device signals, the audiences; it is the audience that visits a location that makes marketing variables. Google real-time traffic data, IOTs (these are sensors that basically the billboards to become relevant, so that is what our technology pick unique identities of devices), then you identify a device focuses on. What are you presenting to the digital advertising ID or ads ID, you can basically build knowledge about that ID We are into buying of audiences, planning based on audiences space to stand out because the space is getting saturated because you can see that digital journey in multiple places so and not based on locations, because a location can deliver a already? that is how you add. universe, however, you’re not looking for that. But you’re looking Our platform operates two data engines. The first data engine So, that is how you aggregate audiences into a bucket and say for a particular type of audience and where they go, which will is the location intelligence engine that gives us knowledge of this type of the person that visits the gym is a fitness enthusiast, help you understand that XYZ locations will allow me to reach audiences in physical locations. Now, we also operate another this type of person that visits Spur, Taste Fried Chicken (TFS), those people at 50 or 70 per cent reach XYZ frequency. data engine,which is the DMP for mobile, which gives an Mr. Biggs and Chicken republic is a foodie, this type of person understanding of audiences in the virtual space through our that stays in the office in one high rise building from morning till Is there a challenge you encounter in sourcing data? devices or digitally. evening is white-collar type of person, this type of person that is When we wanted to start, we tried to look inwards. We tried What we have done that is unique to us as an organisation in Ojuoye market or aspanda market is a trader, so that is how to talk to telecommunication companies,who have data, but we is that we have integrated both data engines that allow us to we knowledge about audiences. realised that we could not make progress. So, what we have identify audiences physically and virtually in real-time. That done basically in aligning with a global partner is to be able to capability does not exist in this market before now. So with that When the platform launched, what was the level of tap into the wealth of data that is available globally, as you are capability in place, being able to identify a common audience, market penetration? aware, all of the digital data that is available in this market is physically and virtually in real-time enables us to be able to do We started pre-operation early 2018/2019. But we hit the actually aggregated from a global standpoint. 58 THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾Y 16, 2021 PERSPECTIVE

L-R: Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva; Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh; Executive Director, Finance and Administration, NIMASA, Mr. Chudi Offodile; Commander, 631 Aircraft Maintenance Depot, Air Commodore John Laoye; and Commander, 301 Heavy Airlift Group, Air Commodore Patrick Obeya, during the reception of one of the Special Mission Aircraft (in the background) under the Deep Blue Project, at the Nigerian Air Force Base, Murtala Mu- hammed International Airport, Ikeja. Deep Blue Project: Countdown to Maritime’s Big Event Events have increased in tempo on a positive note ahead of the launch of Nigeria’s comprehensive maritime security strategy, writes Vincent Obia

he assets acquisition and installation The Deep Blue Project aims to prevent illegal of piracy and other sea infractions, and the first phase of the Deep Blue Project moved to- activities in the Nigerian Exclusive Economic Zone standalone antipiracy law in West and Central Africa. wards completion on Wednesday with the (EEZ), enforce maritime regulations, enhance safety It fulfils a critical international requirement for delivery of one of the two Special Mission of lives at sea, and prevent illegal activities in the standalone legislation on piracy. Aircraft for the project. The Cessna CJ3 inland waterways. In February, the Federal Govern- The SPOMO Act 2019 aims to “prevent and sup- Citation jet for maritime surveillance was ment added the Secure Anchorage Area (SAA), off press piracy, armed robbery, and any other unlawful received in Lagos ahead of the scheduled the coast of Lagos, to the areas under the protection act against a ship, aircraft, and any other maritime launch of the Integrated National Security of the Deep Blue Project. craft, however propelled, including fixed or floating and Waterways Protection Infrastructure – commonly The project is designed with three categories of platform.” It provides a legal framework for the pros- Tcalled the Deep Blue Project – on May 21. platforms to tackle maritime security issues on land, ecution of piracy and other maritime crimes through The arrival of the aircraft at the Nigerian Air Force sea, and air. The land assets comprise the Com- the country’s Maritime Administration, NIMASA, Base, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, mand, Control, Communication, Computer, and and the Nigerian Navy. marked a great moment in Nigeria’s maritime security Intelligence Centre (C4i) for intelligence gathering The Act gives effect to the provisions of the United history. Director General of the Nigerian Maritime and data collection; 16 armoured vehicles for coastal Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UN- Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. patrol; and about 600 specially trained troops for CLOS), 1982, the Convention for the Suppression of Bashir Jamoh, captured the moment in a brief interview interdiction, known as Maritime Security Unit. On Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Naviga- with journalists. air, there are two Special Mission Aircraft for surveil- tion (SUA), 1988, and its Protocols. “This is a historical moment in the course of our lance of the EEZ, one of which was received May 12, NIMASA has intensified cooperation with inter- national development, especially as we move towards with the second expected to arrive soon; three Special national bodies, such as International Association of diversification of our economy with maritime playing Mission Helicopters for search and rescue; and four Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO) and a strategic role,” Jamoh said. “The arrival of the Special Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. The sea assets consist of International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners Mission Aircraft happened amid a positively changing two Special Mission Vessels and 17 Fast Interceptor (INTERCARGO), to ensure security in the Gulf maritime security narrative in Nigeria, and we have no Boats. of Guinea, with the Yaoundé-based International doubt that with this additional capacity to control our All the assets have been delivered, except one Coordination Centre (ICC) playing a central role. maritime domain, things would get even better.” Special Mission Aircraft. Nigeria and the Inter Regional Coordination Centre Nigeria has in recent times witnessed a significant The Deep Blue Project assets would be deployed (ICC) Yaoundé have pioneered efforts to galvanise drop in attacks in its waters. The International Mari- to prevent pipeline vandalism, oil theft, illegal regional and international efforts for security in the time Bureau (IMB), the global focal point in the fight bunkering, arms smuggling, drug trafficking, human Gulf of Guinea (GOG). They recently floated the Gulf against maritime crimes and malpractices, recorded trafficking, and illegal fishing. They would also be of Guinea Maritime Collaboration Forum (GOG- only two incidents in Nigerian waters between Janu- deployed for pollution prevention and control in the MCF/SHADE) following discussions between the ary and March this year in the latest quarterly report Nigerian maritime environment. Director General of NIMASA, representing Nigeria, of piracy and armed robbery against ships. This was The project is in line with the country’s total and Executive Director of ICC Yaoundé, Admiral against 11 attacks within the same period last year, 14 in spectrum maritime security strategy, anchored on Narciso Fastudo Jr. 2019, and 22 incidents in 2018. four pillars, namely, situational awareness, response A joint statement by NIMASA, Nigerian Navy, and The Nigerian maritime domain and the Gulf of capability, law enforcement and local partnerships, ICC Yaoundé said GOG-MCF/SHADE, purposed Guinea had seen spikes in piracy and armed robbery at and regional cooperation. to facilitate shared awareness and deconfliction of sea. But since the deployment of assets under the Deep The C4i Centre, with the primary aim of providing activities in the Gulf of Guinea, “will be open to all Blue Project began about two years ago, there have maritime domain awareness intelligence for in- GOG countries with similar capacities to join on a been drops in such security breaches. IMB reported a formed enforcement operations and maritime safety voluntary basis.” decline in piracy attacks in Nigeria in the third quarter and security interventions, has been up and running The statement dated April 26, 2021 said, “GOG- of 2019, saying in its report, “Nigeria has reduced since August 2019. As the nucleus of the scheme, the MCF/SHADE will focus on counter-piracy and Q3 piracy attacks from 41 in 2018 to 29 in 2019.” This C4i centre would be integrated with all the air, sea, armed robbery by bringing together regional, represented nearly 30 per cent year-on-year reduction. and land platforms of the Deep Blue Project. international, industry and NGO partners to advance As the countdown to the launch of the Deep Blue NIMASA has promoted coordination and informa- and coordinate near term maritime activities with a Project gathers momentum, the reduction in maritime tion sharing between the C4i and the surveillance view to working toward a set of common operational security violations comes into sharper focus. systems of other maritime agencies, including objectives in order to protect seafarers and ships “The message is loud and clear; those who have Nigerian Navy’s Falcon Eye, Nigeria Police’s i247, operating off the coast of West and Central Africa.” sworn to make our maritime domain insecure will not and the C3i, which belongs to the Nigerian Ports The Deep Blue Project highlights a new determina- have a free rein to do what they want,” said Jamoh. Authority (NPA). tion by Nigeria to ensure security in its waters and Nigeria is investing much of its maritime safety and To improve the spirit, character, and verve of the Gulf of Guinea. The country has put a lot of hope security hopes in the Deep Blue Project. Initiated by the maritime law enforcement in the search for security, in the project due for unveiling on May 21. Jamoh Federal Ministry of Transportation and Federal Min- the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Of- says, “We are confident the project would deliver our istry of Defence, it is being implemented by NIMASA, fences (SPOMO) Act 2019 was enacted. The SPOMO desires in terms of security in Nigerian waters and the with participation from the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Act, signed into law by President Muhammadu Gulf of Guinea. Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Police, and Depart- Buhari in June 2019, is the country’s first standalone “We would not disappoint the hopes now being ment of State Services. instrument for the criminalisation and prosecution awakened.” THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾Y 16, 2021 59 PERSPECTIVE         ÒÏÙØÏãÏËÜÓØÙʩÍÏÙÐÜÙÐÏÝÝÙÜ ÌÜËÒÓ×Ë×ÌËÜÓËÝÞÒÏÒÓÏÐÙÐÞËʥÞÙÜÏÝÓÎÏØÞßÒË××ËÎßßÒËÜÓ˜ has proved positive in many considerations, writes Tajudeen Kareem

t takes a captain with the right mix of education, exposure and experience to calm the ship amidst a raging storm, as the appointment and one-year man- agement of the Office of Chief of Staff to the President by Professor Ibrahim Gambari has shown. Diplomat and technocrat at the highest global bureaucracies, Gambari has ensured a clear direction and less drama at the highest office in Nigeria. He does so noiselessly but with systematic efficiency. IGambari assumed office on 13 May, 2020 as the pandemic threatened nations, and a pall enveloped the Villa over the death of his predecessor. On that bright Wednesday, he arrived at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, about 11 am. Officials introduced him shortly before the meeting of the Federal Executive Council. Expectations were high, judging by his records which spoke loudly. After the Council meeting, he told the media that instead of coming as the ‘big headmaster’, his mission was clear: Full loyalty, competence and support to the President. His guid- ing principle as Chief of Staff, he said, would be “to serve the President to the best of my ability.” Twelve months down the line, what value has the erudite diplomat added to governance under President Buhari? Without any doubt, Prof. Gambari has brought some finesse to the administrative machinery of the Villa, opt- ing, and wisely too, to operate an open-door policy. It is a paradigm shift that encourages governors and ministers to walk in and discuss freely with the Chief of Staff before taking their matters to Mr President! Deep throat has it that Prof Gambari operates more like the old village teacher: the brilliant and dullard among students must get due attention to ensure holistic advancement and success. Perhaps the most profound effect of Gambari’s arrival at the seat of power is the meteoric rise in Nigeria’s diplomatic profile and a string of successes. Political pundits were agreed that the fight against terrorism, Boko Haram and other threats to her security had dwarfed Nigeria’s diplomatic status to the extent that her external visibility in global and continental organisations was reduced to mere attendance of meetings at international engagements. Two international events that shaped Nigeria’s path to progressive diplomacy can be attributed to President Buhari’s personality and character. His pre-inaugural visita- Gambari tions to contiguous Chad, Niger and Benin Republics as well as Cameroon propelled the re-constitution of the Multina- ‘outsider’ in the Villa, the confidence reposed in him by Presi- enthusiasm on his choice. For instance, the Kwara State tional Joint Task Force of the Lake Chad Basin Commission dent Buhari is palpable going by several delegated responsi- Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq had described the and the expansion of its mandate to fight insecurity in the bilities on security, political, diplomatic and labour matters. appointment as a befitting development that is rooted in sub-region more concertedly. But for the discerning, his interventions have proved critical dedication, loyalty, and history. “The appointment is clearly Recall that in 2015, President Buhari had scored a dip- in the appointment of new service chiefs, government-labour fit for purpose and is well deserved for our own Professor lomatic feat by fully supporting the election and ensuring relations and the smooth working relations between the Gambari whose record of service as a diplomat and global the emergence of Dr. Akinwumi Adesina as President of executive and the legislature. Indeed, informed sources said statesman is unblemished,” the governor said. the African Development Bank. His re-election in 2020 was the hitherto cat and mouse relationship between ministers The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari had quite herculean as the Trump Administration tried to play and heads of agencies and parastatals is gradually giving affirmed that Gambari’s outstanding contributions, the spoiler’s role. Despite pressure on President Buhari to way to more robust eengagement and confidence sharing. administrative experience, scholarship and excellence will replace him, Mr. President reinforced his faith and commit- With his training as a teacher and a diplomat, it is now have a positive impact on the administrative structure and ment in Dr. Adewumi’s candidacy and reached out to world certain that the chief of staff would rather stay behind the smooth operation of the Presidency. He was confident that leaders seeking their support. Prof. Gambari’s rich experi- curtain and propel his principal to excellence. the President Buhari-led government will enjoy Gambari’s ence and connections in the diplomatic circle undoubtedly In April, diplomatic feathers between Nigeria and China inputs towards ensuring good governance, democratic proved a game-changer. were nearly ruffled when the Department of Petroleum dividends as well as shared prosperity in the nation. He Nigeria’s progressive diplomatic footwork within Resources, DPR, announced the revocation of four oil leases expressed his belief in the ability of the diplomat to make a ECOWAS is remarkable, namely the support for the operated by the Addax Petroleum Exploration Nigeria difference. complicated peace process in Mali, logistics support for Limited. The government regulator, citing the company’s Former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki urged practically all elections in the sub-region, coordinating and inability to comply with exploration targets, sought to Nigerians to support Professor Gambari in his tasks as the providing leadership for good governance, accountability re-allocate the oil mining leases to the chagrin of China, a Chief of Staff to President Buhari. Saraki described Gambari and fight against corruption as well as managing the efforts country with strong bilateral relations with Nigeria. Addax as “a decent man, a cerebral academic and a disciplined to contain the catastrophic consequences of COVID-19. All Petroleum was established in 1994 and is presently a subsid- diplomat”, coming with the necessary pedigree to help him these earned the Buhari Presidency and Nigeria recognition, iary of Group, a major oil and gas producer in China. do well on the job. respect and appreciation, thanks to the rich, informed and While the contract termination by DPR was premised on Prior to his present calling, Gambari, a scholar-diplomat, calculative steps of the diplomat in the house. economic necessity, the Presidency promptly intervened has had an illustrious career, spanning academia, govern- Indeed, when Nigeria expressed interest in fielding a after weighing ethical and diplomatic considerations. ment and international diplomacy. Between 1999 and candidate for Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and President Buhari’s intervention and reversal of the revocation 2005, he served as the first United Nations Under-Secretary Security of the African Union, Nigeria’s adroit diplomacy must be seen as a strong ethical stand and a bold statement General and Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on came handy. All ECOWAS countries stepped down for on commitment to due process in contractual obligations. Africa. He was the Chairman of the United Nations Special Nigeria’s candidate, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye who That indeed is a clear departure from the era when all sorts of Committee Against Apartheid from 1990 to 1994 and on obtained the support of every African Union member iniquities were perpetrated in the name of the Presidency! Peace-Keeping Operations till 1999. He was Head of the to clinch the position in February 2021. But perhaps, the The Addax saga certainly speaks to the quality of advice United Nations Department of Political Affairs between election of former Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala available to the President from his close advisers, outside 2005 and 2007and also operated as UN Secretary-General’s as Director-General of the World Trade Organization was the official bureaucracy. An informed commentator, Olu Special Envoy on Cyprus, Zimbabwe and Myanmar and the defining moment for the organisational ability of Prof. Tayo, writing recently in Thisday Newspaper said: “The Special Representative in Angola. Gambari and the team of technocrats who worked the clock special bilateral relationship Nigeria enjoys with the Peoples Earlier, he served from 1984 to 1985 as the Minister of to remove all barriers to her nomination and endorsement to Republic of China, the owner of Addax Petroleum would External Affairs and subsequently Ambassador/Permanent emerge the first African and first female to head the WTO. have suffered immeasurably”, but for the prompt interven- Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations from 1990 to The lesson in the rejuvenation of Nigeria’s diplomacy tion of the President. 1999. Professor Gambari also served as Joint AU/UN Special lies in two great attributes: Respect and recognition for the “Clearly, the ethical approach in Nigeria’s engagement of Representative in Darfur and Head of UNAMID from 2010- nation’s leader and the determination to always present one its Chinese partner as well as in wider international affairs 2012. Until his current assignment, he was the Chairperson of our best. President Buhari is deeply respected within the must reflect conscience, principle, responsibility and restraint of the Panel of Eminent Persons of the African Peer Review sub-region and the rest of Africa. He is measured in speaking in decision-making. This strategy, as President Buhari has Mechanism. but firm on his positions. The presence of Prof. Gambari in adroitly demonstrated, helps prevent undue conflicts and With daunting security challenges and separatist the corridors of power has certainly brought more panache provides an ecosystem of mutual trust and goodwill among agitations buffeting the country and with fresh elections and momentum to the country’s global engagements for nations,” Tayo observed. approaching, Prof. Gambari surely has his job caught out, maximum benefits and visibility. Just twelve months in the saddle, analysts agree that going forward. For pundits who initially regarded Prof Gambari as an Prof Gambari has not disappointed those who invested ––Kareem is a public policy analyst. 60 THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾MAY 16, 2021 with Chidi Amuta ENGAGEMENTS e-mail: [email protected] A Hegemony in Trouble nlike the rest of us who are shivering about In a factionalized ethnic based society, the greatest instrument the prevalent insecurity and uncertainty over for instilling fear among defenseless people is to arm one faction the future of the country, I doubt that President by deliberate official oversight. Enter the armed herdsmen, the Buhari and his inner core of strategists have squads of bandits and other bad people now roaming freely in the cause to lose much sleep. They have no cause forests of the South East, North East, North West and now North to share our fears. They have always known Central and even the South West. The agents of insecurity seem to something that we did not. The reason is be armed with a compass that aims at the complete conquest and simple. The president deployed and has been overrun of the entire national sovereign space. Whoever initiated presiding over a hegemonic power template that I believe was and allowed the arming of roving herdsmen and other organized deliberatelyU considered, carefully crafted, fully calibrated over time criminals as a feature of our landscape must accept responsibility and rolled out from May 29th 2015. for the nasty outcomes that now stare us all in the face. All the existential troubles that Nigeria faces today are the In summary, then, the current crisis of internal security across consequences of a deliberate deployment of a template of power the nation is the direct result of the booby traps that lie within the hegemony. The precise pattern of the current insecurity and the template of power hegemony. The easiest road to stability and noises about separatism that we now hear so loudly may in fact security in Nigeria is to uphold the balance of diversity that is be the intended consequences of the brand of power calculus that the bedrock of the nation. In our national history, the most stable was deliberately rolled out in the last six years. It is my further administrations have been those that respected the diversity of the contention that the present state of the country, the widespread nation in key appointments and the apportionment of patronage insecurity, the general fear and uncertainty, the division along eth- and distribution of federal benefits. Ibrahim Babangida, Olusegun nic, religious and regional lines could have been factored into the Obasanjo, Alhaji Shehu Shagari and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan ran architecture of the current power hegemony. The consequences easily the most balanced administrations. In the post civil war era, may be unintended but they were clearly foreseeable. these administrations have witnessed the most secure and peaceful Even now, as the nation pressures the administration to find periods in national life except for politically induced localized solutions to current problems, the possible descent into a garrison crises. state are all intended consequences of the hegemonic power Clearly, the hegemonic agenda has run into a ditch of its own template. Because the nation will give anything in exchange for making. A hegemonic political agenda is ordinarily a rather better security, the calculation may be that erosions of human sophisticated project. It requires a leadership that has the intelli- rights and shrinking of the bounds of freedom may be tolerated Lawan gence, sophistication, savvy and dexterity to usurp the critical high in the name of national security. We have been here before. People points of state power while running a humane and efficient state. In may be detained. Some may disappear. Arbitrary arrests may fol- I doubt that Buhari has illusions about his desired legacy or the the hands of a grossly incompetent, incoherent and weak political low. Curtailment of freedoms of speech may happen. The media definition of what he considers his constituency. Those who have leadership, a hegemonic agenda is bound to unravel because it has been under sporadic assault from the periphery. Kangaroo concluded that the man hardly cares a hoot about the feelings and will threaten the very survival of the nation it seeks to overrun and trials presided over by transactional judges may follow if judiciary mood of the public may need to better understand the president’s overwhelm. That is sadly where Mr. Buhari has led present day workers do manage to return to work from a long strike. In this concept of power. Nigeria. The historic question of our time is simply this: How do impending drama, random erosions and dislocations of the Mr. Buhari’s definition of national sovereignty may in fact be we retreat from this precarious cliff? democratic order will fall into place as the intended consequences more restricted than what the rest of us desire of our president. I Other nationalities have heard the message of domination of an illiberal and ‘totalitarian’ clannish power concept. For the na- have a fear that the man’s basic mindset may be primarily clannish and become sensitized to the scheme. They are reacting as they tion to go into a succession election season with curtailed freedoms and nativist in a primordial village sense. In that mould, the man of see and deem fit. The divisive and separatist currents blowing in the name of security may be an advancement of the hegemonic power can only feel secure and confident when surrounded by his across the nation are all reactions to the unhidden and reckless project. kith and kin, friends, in-laws and persons whose loyalty, language implementation of the original hegemonic agenda. The South West Most of the things that have added up to the current atmosphere and culture are rooted in a familiar landscape of primordial loyalty saw the unkind presence of armed herdsmen in their forests and of fear, insecurity and imminent nation collapse were, I daresay, to the clan, its chief and their sense of common interest. In Buhari’s neighbourhoods and quickly took steps. Amotekun was a prompt consequential outcomes of the choice of a power hegemony tem- brand of clan authoritarianism, therefore, the native chief can only effective antidote. The South South has a battle tested instrument of plate. The massive infiltration of all corners of the nation by armed trust his kinsmen to protect him, defend the estate, and generally resistance located in the soft underbelly of the hydro carbon life belt herdsmen is a creation of the last six years and could not have been tell him the state of the nation as a Medieval manor or fiefdom. of the nation. The South East, repeatedly hurt and scarred by Nige- accidental. If the literal nationwide invasion of armed herdsmen The concept of the nation state as a shared space among citizens rian history, has resorted to the weapons that only a sad memory was accidental, how come the state followed that invasion with with equal stake may in fact be too distant to devotees of this clan can furnish. IPOB and ESN are one side of an unfortunate survival a planned RUGA cattle colonies project? When the cattle colony concept of power. The farther the clan chieftain goes from his home kit against a familiar adversarial overlord. Ebube Agu is the other idea ran into a storm, how come federal might was deployed to base and comfort zone, the more insecure he becomes and feels. face of a collective injury borne for too long. Larger formations institute some national livestock programme in some states with Those who can’t understand why the president hardly travels out- along regional lines are transcending narrow ethnic boundaries to the dispersed herdsmen as target beneficiaries? How come a side Abuja to meet the people in their places of pain and pleasure insist that the nation be restructured for equity, productivity and National Water Resources Bill with a clear domestic imperialist need to understand this! During the camapigns, he could go to far more effective governance delivery. People want to protect their roadmap was floated and sponsored at the National Assembly? away places because he was in a desperate quest for power and the own backyards by themselves. The federal might national order The recent overrun of some states by bandits and anti-state throne. Otherwise, he cannot trust ‘strangers’ no matter what the instituted at the end of the Civil War in January 1970 is on its way militants does not look accidental either. Some of the governors of constitution says about federal character and national spread. home. Ironically, the federal guarantor of security and national the overrun states have been in the forefront of agitations that the Thus, though the outer format of power outlined by the unity has been weakened by the sectional ambition of hegemonists bandits be granted amnesty and paid handsome ransoms in order constitution prescribes a balanced federal power structure, this led by one of the generals produced by the war of unity. to free their states for normal governance. The mass migration president and his strategists have copiously dredged and mined The hegemonic agenda is the highest stage in the consolidation of armed young militants and homeless children to states far far the constitution to find the elbow room and weak points to prop of the entitlement state. The Nigerian entitlement state guaranteed away from theirs looks programmed. Why not retain the children up a power architecture that serves their narrow clannish design states a mandatory oil and gas revenue cheque every month wherever they came from for better social welfare attention? The and immediate convenience but still appears suitable to our larger irrespective of locally generated revenue or productivity. Buhari’s mass influx and proliferation of small and light arms all over cosmetic desires and nationalistic aspirations. elevation of his hegemonic agenda to a state policy is the greatest the country could not be accidental in a country that has border Therefore, the lopsidedness in strategic appointments that we disservice to the idea of one Nigeria for which many died. Now I customs checks and a huge standing army. The elevation of are complaining about is part of the original hegemonic power hear the advocates of re-structuring are poised to overturn the pot Sheikhs, Mullahs, Bishops and all hues of prophets into middle- architecture. It can only keep deepening because the hegemony of the entitlement state once and for all. men and intermediaries between the state and bandits could only requires it to survive. That strategy is an elementary tool of clannish What started as Nigerian politics as usual may have come to be an anticipated outcome of a hegemonic deployment of religion autocrats and is only a necessary first step of state take over. It is a pointed head last week in Asaba. When the 17 Southern State as an instrument of division of the polity and society. routinely accompanied by a far more insidious but progressive Governors met in the historic city of Asaba, they reached three most Those of us who have been shouting about bad governance as institutional take over. For instance, in each of the strategic min- significant accords. First, they agreed that cattle imperialism must the source of the present nasty state of affairs may have missed the istries that president Buhari has cornered for his clan(Petroleum, end by banning open grazing in their states. That resolution would point. The game on display was not about good governance and Power, Water Resources, Communications and Digital Economy, end the reign of the cattle as a symbol of national division and crisis. a meritocratic state apparatus as a first step. Mr. Buhari knows the Finance, Defence, National Security, Defence intelligence Agency, Second, they resolved that the Nigerian federation be restructured meaning of good and orderly governance. When he was presid- National Intelligence Agency, Department of State Security, Police for better equity, productivity and fairness in line with the best ing over the nation from 1983 to 1985, he could define order and Affairs, Police IG, Justice-AG, Chief Justice, Army, Navy, Customs, traditions of federalism. Most importantly, the governors resolved responsible governance even if his autocratic streak was clearly Immigration, Internal Revenue, NNPC, NPA, Aviation etc. etc.}, for to call on the federal government to institute a national dialogue evident. instance, you only need to look at the hierarchy of the component to discuss Nigeria’s problems and amicably resolve them through The current confusion is not about equitable distribution of parastatals to find out the next five personnel in the line of succes- open exchange and compromise. power and positions either. Buhari and his strategists know what sion. The ancient politics of hegemonic ruse and violence has come is written in the constitution and understand clearly that they have The concentration of power around this preconceived concentric full circle. The empire that was targeted for domination is about to merely circumnavigated the provisions. Nor is it about justice formation is most effective when it proceeds from the armed and collapse. The components of our commonwealth have recognized and the rule of law or the other niceties that we parrot to decorate security services to the key revenue centres of government. When the hidden hand. The Federal Republic of Nigeria with all its discourse about our pretensions to a liberal democratic status as a you enter a strange country, first ask who controls the guns and beauty and promise is mortally threatened with dissolution in nation. Those of us who have kept insisting on these niceties were holds the money of the state and you will be better equipped. Thus, direct response to the anarchy inaugurated by the hegemonic merely imposing our values on this presidency. We are the ones while the rest of us shiver in fear, the main drivers of the hierarchy agenda. Mr. Buhari is the carrier of this unfortunate historic burden who are ignorant about Buhari’s concept of power and unadulter- of state power remain confident and unperturbed in their control of and tragic eventuality. He has to decide whether his entire career ated hegemonic road map. the commanding heights of state power. as a civil war general and political leader should be summarized in With our elite democratic obsessions, we may have elected In order to ensure that the rest of the nation does not coalesce into the dissolution of Nigeria. an executive president to preside over a modern constitutional a unified opposition to the hegemonic scheme, conscious divisive For the rest of us, I think we should reject the logic of anger and republic with a diverse population. No one bothered to do a measures are injected into the polity and society to ensure that the the politics of anarchy. Let us resolve to save and fix Nigeria for psychoanalytical assessment of candidate Buhari even based polity is maximally divided and the hegemony proceeds undis- ourselves and our posterity. The unifying slogan is a simple one: on his 24 months in power. But the incumbent president had no turbed. Random terror attacks on places of worship, clandestine SAVE AND FIX. Come May 29th 2023, democratic progression illusions about his concept of power, why he kept seeking a come official support for ethnic based special interests (Miyetti Allah) must consign the pontiffs of hegemony to the thrash heap of back and the values he required to survive in power. Even now, and their elevation to legitimate partakers in national dialogue. national history. This house must not fall. THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ͯʹ˜ͰͮͰͯ 61

News Editor: Gboyega Akinsanmi NEWS E-mail: ÑÌÙãÏÑ˲ËÕÓØÝËØ×Ó̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙט͸΀͹ͽͺͻͽ΁ͺͽͻ Adeniran, Williams Recommend Strategies to Rescue Nigeria from Collapse ‡ Seek comprehensive review of security architecture ‡Say security must begin with people

Gboyega Akinsanmi very precarious situation, Adeniran going to achieve much. and it has to be reformed. This with concern for the future of operatives, who are far away in canvassed the need “to rise and “We need to examine ourselves: calls for total overhaul. That goes Nigeria. the communities, cannot resolve A former Minister for Educa- face all the threats to corporate what are we doing wrong? We back to the fundamentals. That On his part, Williams observed crime in the communities. tion, Prof. Tunde Adeniran and existence headlong. We have to are doing so many things wrong. fundamental is the constitution that things had changed all “Therefore, the communities a former Commander of Train- pull Nigeria back from the brink. We have to look into the way we that we are using. over the world, indicating that themselves or people who govern ing and Doctrine Command We have to do that together.” deploy our human resources and “We must do something the political leaders could no them must find a way to protect (TRADOC), Nigerian Army, The former minister observed the way we manage our material about it because it does not have longer handle diverse challenges them. Security challenges have Maj.-Gen. Ishola Williams have that Nigeria “is in need of every resources,” he observed with grave people’s approval. Let us stop confronting Nigeria with the same been taking place in Kaduna recommended some strategies to effort to salvage it. A lot has to be concern. deceiving ourselves that we can strategies they had been using. before Mallam Nasir el Rufai pull Nigeria back from the brink. done to rescue Nigeria from the Adeniran pointed out that the get something out of nothing,” the He explained that people became governor. There has been The leaders asked the federal brink. Only the people can create structure of Nigeria “is deformed former minister recommended “have discovered that security community strife or violence.” government to review and re- a stable political environment, not structure the country’s security just the governments.” architecture comprehensively as Adeniran, a former Nigerian one of the strategies to stem armed Ambassador to Germany, also attacks, banditry and kidnapping emphasised the imperative currently ravaging the nation. of restructuring the country’s They canvassed these views in governance structure as part of separate interviews with THISDAY the strategies to restore public at the weekend, pointing out that order and stability nationwide. Nigeria “is in a very precarious He said he had been “an condition and all stakeholders advocate of restructuring. Some must work as a team to rescue of us have been talking about her from the grips of divisive restructuring. But some people forces.” do not understand it. Some, who Amid nationwide insecurity, understand it, do not believe it Adeniran described this period because they put personal interest as an unusual time in the history over and above national interest. of the federation with a note that This is most unfortunate. finding antidotes to Nigeria’s “If we know we have a precarious conditions should not problem, we must face that be left to the governments alone. problem. The structure that As a people that value the unity we are operating is one of of our fatherland, according to the our problems. The structure is former minister, we have to stop dysfunctional. Nigeria needs a thinking that the governments stable environment to harness will solve all our problems. We her potential. have to wake up as Nigerians to “Nigeria is a great country and HOMES FOR ALL ... appreciate that we have security Nigerians are very resourceful. L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing, Mr. Wasiu Akewusola; Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka; challenges. But if we do not put a round Commissioner for Housing, Hon. Moruf Akinderu-Fatai and his information & strategy counterpart, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso at the presentation of a mass Now that the country is in a peg in a round hole, we are not housing assessment report to mark the mid-term administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in Alausa… recently PDP Tackles Uzodinma Again, Says Imo is Bleeding Tobi Soniyi the state government to live up any response from the security work towards restoring the peace witnessed and is still witnessing failed in his desperate search for to the irreducible minimum of agents that he destroyed, Uzodinma is is being sponsored by politicians. legitimacy, this is his own way The Peoples Democratic Party, securing life and property. “The impression this creates busy searching for scapegoats.” “As a responsible political of trying to worm himself into Imo State, has said that Imo State PDP said: “We expect is that there is no government PDP asked the governor to party, we take exception to this the heart of the people. But the governor, Hope Uzodinma Uzodinma to rise to the occa- in the state”, the party added. ponder on why a state that was insidious attempt to drag innocent wicked scheme is bound to fail.” should be held responsible for sion. But rather than do that, the PDP said that Uzodinma gave peaceful before he was declared people into the mess he created. The party accused Uzodinma of the lawlessness now reigning governor is busy beating about himself away when he said that governor suddenly became a As a matter of fact, PDP in the insensitivity when he threatened in the state. the bush. He is grandstanding he got security report on the killing field under his watch. state is aware of schemes being “to unleash security agencies In a statement issued by rather than showing humility.” incident but refused to act on it. The party said: “Rather than be perfected by Uzodinma to drag against the people he was sup- its Publicity Secretary, Mr The party said Uzodinma PDP said: “What could be humble in failure, the governor is the leadership of the party and posed to govern. Threatening to Ogbadu Nwadike, PDP said should be embarrassed that responsible for Uzodinma’s action? cooking up conspiracy theories. His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Emeka crush one’s own people is not the lawlessness reigning in the unknown gunmen could seize This is curious, to say the least. It is He wants the world to believe Ihedioha into the Imo crisis. only insensitive, it is a sign of state derived from the failure of a state for several hours without really worrisome that rather than that the mayhem that the state “For Uzodinma who has weakness.” Tinubu’s Estate Retains Lagoon Park as Attorney FG Moves to Restore Mangrove Ecosystems in

Tobi Soniyi Chief G O Fasetire, the Secretary, whose Director is Akinfolabi Michael Olugbode in Abuja Quoted in the statement, of mangrove habitats were Mr. Temilola Adesanya and the Akindele was appointed in the minister said: “Using the discussed. The controversy over the rights Treasurer, Chief Shafiu Kassim August 2012 but his appointment The federal government has knowledge and experience of It said international experts to the Power of Attorney over the Lumosa made this clarification was revoked in April 2017 over disclosed that it has concluded the experts assembled here provided their experiences from estate of the late madam Efunroye at a press conference held at alleged fraud and refusal to render a plan to restore mangrove today, together, we will be able around the world and their Tinubu was laid to rest at the Abeokuta, Ogun state. an account of stewardship to ecosystems in Ogoniland and to restore the mangroves and application to Ogoniland. In weekend as trustees of the estate The trustees alleged that the the family. the rest of the Niger Delta region. improve the lives of the Ogoni addition, examples of successful endorsed the appointment of former attorney acted improperly, They lamented that despite This plan was revealed in communities who are affected mangrove restoration already Lagoon Park Global Resources and was no longer working in the revocation, Adamakin a statement the Director of every day by the devastating taking place in Nigeria were Limited as the family’s current the best interest of the family. Investment and its Director, Press, Ministry of Environment, pollution.” provided. and authentic attorney. They disclosed that since 1955, Akinfolabi Akindele kept on Saghir el Mohammed issued The statement said the It noted that the meeting was The family also insisted that the courts have been appointing parading themselves as the yesterday after an International meeting convened by his attended by experts from more the revocation of the appoint- members of trustees for the estate attorney. Expert Meeting on Mangrove ministry would lead to the than 20 different institutions, ment of their former attorney, of late Madam Efunroye Tinubu Consequently, the family Restoration in the Niger Delta. creation of a strategy and and was supported by the Adamakin Investment and adding that the current trustees states ‘’Adamakin investment At the opening session, ac- conservation plan for the United Nations Environment Works Limited and its director were appointed in 2002 by an and Works Limited and its cording to the statement, the restoration of mangroves Programme (UNEP). Akinfolabi Akindele is irrevers- high court of Lagos state Ikeja director Akinfolabi Akindele Minister of Environment, Dr. in Ogoniland. The statement identified man- ible. Judicial Division. remain revoked as attorney Mohammad Abubakar said the The statement noted that dur- groves as not just ecologically The Board of Trustees made The trustees added that the and shall never be reinstated as meeting was a turning point ing the meeting, the conditions significant but are critical to the up of its Chairman, Alhaji Adio former attorney, Adamakin an attorney to the estate of Late for mangrove ecosystems in and methods for successful livelihood and food security of Kassim Lumosa, Vice Chairman, Investment and Works Limited, Madam Efunroye Tinubu’’. Ogoniland. replantation and recovery communities in Ogoniland. 62 THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ͯʹ˜ͰͮͰͯ NEWSXTRA Lagos, UNOPS in Talks to Deliver 100,000 Mass Housing Units ‡*RYWWDUJHWVRYHUKRPHVE\‡6HHNVDPHQGPHQWWRPRUWJDJHODZ

Gboyega Akinsanmi Lagos, one of the world’s first- chaired the House of Representa- are providing a smart solution the state government. It is to tap strategy to drastically reduce twentieth largest cities, is faced tives Committee on Legislative to bridge the housing deficit in into innovative technology that housing deficit, the commissioner With a housing deficit of 2.5 with an acute housing deficit of Compliance, disclosed that order to make Lagos a truly 21st will speedily provide homes for disclosed that 7,600 homes would million units, the Lagos State over 2.5 million, which according UNOPS with the mandate to century economy comparable to the residents of the state.” be on ground by the time the Government has initiated talks to the National Bureau of Statistic implement projects for the United others worldwide. Akinderu-Fatai, similarly, Sanwo-Olu administration will with the United Nations Office (NBS), accounts for about 14.7% of Nations System “is working with “In tackling this challenge, the revealed the state’s resolve to be three years old in 2022. for Project Services (UNOPS) and Nigeria’s housing deficit estimated international investors to provide state government is earnestly driv- renew the entire existing old He emphasised the importance multilateral development agencies at 17 million. 100,000 units of housing units ing mass housing development housing schemes to make them of innovative building technology to construct 100,000 units of mass With over 500,000 migrants in Lagos. headlong through collaboration decent and liveable in line with the “to achieve the objectives. The state housing units across the state. relocating to the state yearly from “The Office of SDGs is driving with multilateral development standard, which the Sanwo-Olu will leverage on the innovative Apart from this initiative, the different parts of the federation, the talk alongside the Ministries agencies. Hence, our target is to administration laid down. technology that Echostone Hous- state has also revealed the plan to according to government statistics, of Housing and Physical Planning produce homes in that magnitude According to him, the state ing used to build the housing deliver 7,600 homes on or before 85% of its residents live in rented & Urban Renewal Development. so that we can make a speedy is talking to both domestic scheme in Idale, Badagry and 2022 when the state governor, apartments and spend over 40% of The idea is to go vertical. With difference in the lives of our and international investors other parts of the state, mainly Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu would their income on rents per annum. the uncontrolled influx of people, people. who have approached it with the proposed Workers Village, be three years in office. Confronted with this social Lagos needs to meet the challenge “We have, in the previous years, proposals on the schemes. Imota. This plan was revealed in a challenge, the state government and create the Hong Kong and sought smart solutions to the The aim “is to ensure that He explained that the state housing sector assessment report has come up with multi-pronged Singapore scenarios.” problem of housing deficits. The the interest of present oc- government would replicate the that the Commissioner for Hous- initiatives – LagosHoms, Home- He, therefore, explained that state engaged various develop- cupants are protected and eco-friendly designs used at idale ing, Mr. Moruf Akinderu-Fatai 4More and Joint Venture etc. – to the partnership was conceived ment agencies that have track the outcomes expected will in the urban parts of the state recently presented at the state provide decent homes for the “to speedily tackle the challenge records in provision of affordable be a liveable environment.” notably at Imota, Ikorodu LGA secretariat, Alausa to mark Sanwo- residents across social strata. of housing deficit in the state. We mass housing to collaborate with Also, as part of the state’s to provide 500 units of homes. Olu’s mid-term anniversary. As indicated in the report, Akinderu-Fatai presented the however, Akinderu-Fatai revealed report alongside his information the state’s new mass housing and strategy counterpart, Mr. initiative with the United Na- Gbenga Omotoso, Special Adviser tions Office for Project Services to the Governor on Housing, (UNOPS), an operational arm of Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka the United Nations, to provide and Permanent Secretary, Lagos 100,000 units of housing units in State Ministry of Housing, Mr. different parts of the state. Wasiu Akewusola, among others. Akinderu-Fatai, who once FarmFix to Use Technology to Achieve Food Security The Chief Operating Officer He said, “FarmFix is a (COO) of FarmFix Investments, leading agribusiness offering Damilola Oladehin, has said his diversified farm products, company would use technology services and profitable projects. in achieving food security in Our vision is to be a leading the country. player in the agricultural FarmFix is an integrated farm industry space and investment and agro-allied business that is destination for individuals and innovatively and technologically organisations that want to be driven to, according to the involved in farming. Our mis- management of the company, sion is to increase the nation’s PELLER@45 . . . to ensure food security and food security while creating L-R: A member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Shina Peller; Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and Mrs. Ayobami Peller at Peller’s 45th sustainable returns on invest- wealth for her people.” birthday seminar held in Ibadan, Oyo State...Friday ment for the stakeholders or Speaking on the unique investors. selling point of the company, During a virtual press he stressed that though it Army Warns Personnel against Use of Social Media to Engage Authorities briefing held from their was true that many other head office in Ibadan, agro-investment companies Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Oladehin said that their may have reneged on financial yesterday while debunking soldiers and families could be tahiru, met an army housing company, FarmFix focuses returns accrued to investors, The Nigerian Army yesterday claims that a planned army so flagrantly twisted in the scheme in the pipeline and on the entire agricultural especially those who were not warned personnel against the housing scheme was designed to social media using names and constituted a committee to value-chain, investment, directly involved in farming, use of social media to engage deny some non-commissioned numbers that are alien to the understudy its feasibility and production, processing, FarmFix was poised to regain authorities, saying any officer officers (NCOs) participation in Nigerian Army. The motive desirability. trading and exporting. trust deficit of agro-investors. found culpable of such acts the scheme. for this kind of strange act “Questionnaire was sub- would be severely dealt with. The statement said members will ultimately be uncovered.” sequently designed by the The army, also, assured the of the Nigerian Army have The statement added that committee for soldiers to bare Imesi-Ile Progressives officers that it was determined established mechanisms of the signatories to the petition their minds on the scheme to provide them with adequate responding to administrative circulating on social media, who and to ascertain those who Appoint New Officers accommodation across the issues and resorting to social claimed to be writing on behalf are interested in it. federation especially those at media is not one of them. of Nigerian Army soldiers, were It was still at this stage of New officers have been Secretary); Prince Adebisi the frontline. “Any personnel caught fictitious names and numbers administering the question- appointed to pilot the affairs Adesina (internal auditor); The warning was revealed using social media to engage which were non-existent in naire to soldiers that agent of the Imesi-Ile Progressives Ezekiel Ojo (external auditor); in a statement the spokesman the authorities will be severely the Nigerian Army records. provocateurs seized the moment Association for the next three and Olusola Fabiyi (Publicity of the army, Brigadier-General dealt with. It is however curious It said the Chief of Army to demonise the scheme with years. Secretary). Mohammed Yerima issued that a scheme meant to benefit Staff, Lt. General Ibrahim At- toxic narratives”, it said. Imesi-Ile is a town in the A statement issued by Fabiyi Obokun Local Government in Lagos on Friday quoted the Area of . Owa-Ooye of Imesi-Ile, His Fayemi: We Need to Tackle Inequality to End Insecurity The new officers were named Royal Majesty, Oba Enoch Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan when the sons and daughters Ademola Akinyemi, Oyoyo as parts of activities to mark his revolution. especially inequality, poverty of the ancient town converged II, as praying for the new Ekiti State Governor, Dr. 45th anniversary under a theme, He said: “Nigeria is going and unemployment,” he said. on its town hall where issues executives. Kayode Fayemi yesterday National Security and Peace: through challenges that can be He urged the youths “to stop affecting it were discussed “Kabiyesi also admonished identified inequality, poverty and Role of Government, Citizens overcome if all Nigerians are being Twitter revolutionaries, recently. the new officers to work unemployment as the triggers of and Institutions. committed to transforming the rather, they should get themselves The new executive together for the peace and insecurity nationwide, thereby At the symposium, Fayemi country. It is important to be involved in politics. It is only members are Very Revd progress of the ancient town,” calling on governments at all noted that the country’s security tough on the triggers of crises when youths get themselves (Engr.) Oluwaseun Ad- the statement quoted the Oba levels to address these challenges challenges “are surmountable such as inequality, poverty and involved in politics that they can eniyi (President); Oladele to have said. to restore order in the country. provided the political leadership unemployment. be part of the decision making Ayomide (Vice President I); The immediate past Presi- He made this recommenda- can agree to address causes that “We must all agree that the process. Deaconess Omolewa Oke dent of the IPA, Sir Benjamin tion in Ibadan, the Oyo state trigger armed attacks and banditry country at present is facing serious “It is when they are in posi- (Vice President II); Emmanuel Olamijulo, who spoke while capital, at a symposium organ- across the federation.” challenges, most importantly tions of authority that the youths Akinwumi Ogundijo (General handing over the mantle of ised by Shina Peller, lawmaker Fayemi, Chairman of the security. There is no doubt that we can make a positive impact in the Secretary); Tunde Olaniyan leadership to Adeniyi, also representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju/ Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), can overcome them as a nation. lives of their people. The best way (Assistant General Secretary); said he was confident that the Kajola/Iwajowa constituency in called on Nigerian youths to be “All we need to do is for for youths to contribute positively Gabriel Fadare (Treasurer); new set of officers would make the House of Representatives. more active in politics rather than governments to be tough on the to their communities is to get Samuel Agbeluyi (Financial the town proud. He organised the symposium focus their attention on the Twitter causes that trigger crises most themselves involved in politics. THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ‡MAY 16, 2021 63

Edited by: Duro Ikhazuagbe SUNDAY SPORTS email:[email protected] Leicester City Are English FA Cup Champions! Defeat Chelsea 1-0 to claim their first ever FA Cup victory

Duro Ikhazuagbe with agency report

igerian internationals, Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho, and their Leicester City teammates were crown winners of the oldest football tournament on planet earth yesterday evening after a 1-0 defeatN of Chelsea at the Wembley to win the English FA Cup. produced one of the great- est FA Cup Ànal goals to give Leicester City the trophy for the Àrst time in their history. The Belgian settled a closely contested encounter with a spectacular right-foot drive that Áew beyond Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga into the top corner from 25 yards in the 63rd minute. It sent manager Brendan Rodgers down the touchline in celebration although Leicester City’s fans - inside Wembley as 21,000 sup- porters formed the biggest attendance since lockdown - had to survive a nerve-jangling closing phase before they could celebrate the win in their Àrst Ànal since 1969. The Foxes were indebted to two crucial saves from keeper Kasper Schmeichel, who turned former Leicester defender Ben Chil- well’s header on to a post then produced an even better stop to turn Mason Mount’s powerful shot wide. And in a Ànal act of drama, Wes Morgan bundled into his own net following a last- minute goalmouth scramble before it was ruled out by the barest of margins following Leicester City players celebrating winning their first ever FA Cup after defeating Chelsea 1-0 to lift the coveted trophy the intervention of VAR. Leicester closed out the win to spark The Foxes had heroes elsewhere, particu- of his heel injury, to keep Chelsea at bay. Champions League. emotional scenes as those inside Wembley larly in veteran keeper Schmeichel, who was And for Rodgers, who cleaned up with Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel revealed rejoiced in a landmark victory. well protected for most of the match but Celtic in Scotland, this was another signiÀcant he was in “angry mode” after the surprise Foxes boss Rodgers had a smile that il- made a huge contribution when required. His addition to his CV, as his expert guidance home loss to Arsenal suddenly put pres- luminated Wembley as he joined Leicester second key save from Mount, one-handed of Leicester - who are in a strong position sure on their top-four hopes in the Premier City’s players in joyous scenes of celebration diving away to his left, even had Rodgers to Ànish in the ’s top four League - although the Champions League after the manager and his players had written turning around and blowing out his cheeks and face Chelsea again at Stamford Bridge Ànal against Manchester City could yet prove their name into the club’s folklore. in relief and admiration. on Tuesday - now has a tangible reward in the most glittering safety net. Tielemans, the gifted 24-year-old, will Youngster Luke Thomas was composed the shape of the FA Cup. He certainly looked an angry man through- claim the glory for the sheer quality of the and Leicester even survived the premature This was the result of outstanding work by out this Ànal, the body language increasingly strike that won this FA Cup Ànal and the rest loss of the experienced and inÁuential Rodgers and his players and the rest of the frustrated right up until that Ànal twist when of his performance oozed the quality that defender Jonny Evans, who was a doubt season may yet produce another high point a late equaliser was snatched from Chelsea’s saw him named man of the match. before the game and suͿered a recurrence if they can clinch a place in next season’s grasp by VAR. ...Pinnick Congratulates Ndidi, Iheanacho on FA Cup Victory Joe Aribo’s Rangers End Scottish President of the Nigeria Football end celebrated enthusiastically friendly games this summer and in 2008. Federation and FIFA Council with a Nigeria Áag as they joined FIFA World Cup qualiÀers starting Before then, Member, Mr Amaju Melvin a list of only seven other Nigerian in September. had won with Everton in 1995; League Season Unbeaten Pinnick, has sent a message of players to have lifted England’s “I am also very happy seeing Celestine Babayaro with Chelsea Super Eagles Joseph Ayodele Aribo and his congratulations to Super Eagles’ most glamorous diadem. the two players celebrating with in 2000; Kanu with Arsenal in 2002 peerless Rangers swept aside Aberdeen to midÀelder Wilfred Ndidi and “I am very happy for both Ndidi the Nigerian Áag at the end of it and 2003 and John Mikel Obi with end the Scottish Premiership term unbeaten forward Kelechi Iheanacho on and Iheanacho. They worked very all. That was awesome.” Chelsea in 2007. before o΀cially lifting the Scottish title for the duo’s triumph with Leicester hard for Leicester City throughout Ndidi and Iheanacho became After the Kanu/Utaka feat in the 55th time.Steven Gerrard’s side are the City over much-fancied Chelsea the campaign and themselves and only the second pair of Nigerians 2008, John Mikel Obi won again Àrst to go unbeaten since Brendan Rodgers’ FC in Saturday’s FA Cup Ànal in the Club deserve the honour. I to have celebrated The FA Cup with Chelsea in 2009, 2010 and Celtic in 2016-17 and also matched their city England. believe this triumph will serve win in England, after Nwankwo 2012; Alex Iwobi won with Arsenal rivals’ 107-year-old clean-sheet record Both players featured in the as a major psychological boost Kanu and triumphed in 2017 and; Victor Moses won Rangers’ task was made easier by Joe encounter at Wembley and at the for the two players ahead of our with Portsmouth against CardiͿ with Chelsea in 2018. Lewis’ unfortunate early own goal, with Kemar Roofe adding further eͿorts either side of the break, and Jermain Defoe scoring a late fourth. The Ibrox side lived dangerously at the back in the second half but survived with Oshoala Reveals Barcelona’s Champions League Final Mood for Chelsea their goal intact to Ànish the campaign having Barcelona striker, Asisat Os- the 26-year-old admitted they four goals so far in the compe- the past. We are a better team gone 26 league games without conceding. hoala, has revealed that her team have learned from the previous tition this season, including now than we were two years The 13 goals they have conceded is one will not allow a repeat of their outing and also gained some the historic 100th Champions ago, “she continued. fewer than Celtic allowed in the 1913-14 UEFA Women’s Champions valuable experience from the League goal of the Catalans in “You just have to expect the season. League Ànal defeat to Lyon defeat to the French giants. their history against Machester proper normal Barca game, the And, having won all 19 home league games, when they take on against “Now, we have the experience City in the quarterÀnal. normal proper Barca style. We’re Rangers match the feat achieved by Martin Chelsea in Goteburg today. of how European football is and Looking ahead to Chelsea’s not changing anything. We’re O’Neill’s Celtic, who ultimately went on to In May 2019, the Nigeria also how a top game like this is showdown, the former Arsenal working on our own team. I’m win 26 consecutively between 2002 and 2004. international made history in played,” Oshoala told Goal.com. and Liverpool forward assures sure Chelsea are working on Rangers have now not lost to Aberdeen Budapest, where she scored “I think we’re going to be that the team will not make the themselves as well. in eight meetings, winning all four of their Barcelona’s late consolation in better with our tactics this year, same 2019 Ànal mistakes as she “When you hear the name encounters this season, including two 4-0 their 4-1 loss to become the Àrst how we go out and play and expect a enterprising clash with Barcelona, you already know wins at Ibrox. African to score in the women’s everything. For us, it was good. the English champions. the kind of football the team Having not scored in their previous four Ànal of the European competi- We played in the Ànal 2019, we “Come May 16, against Chel- plays. You already know what to most recent visits to Ibrox and having already tion. lost and then we picked up cor- sea, I don’t think we’re going to expect. When you hear Chelsea, Ànished in fourth place, Stephen Glass’ side Looking back on her side’s rections from there. “ make the same mistakes again, you already know the kind of started like one with little to play for and little Ànal appearance two years ago, The Super Falcons has scored because we already learned from football you expect. belief that they could end Rangers’ dominance. T RU N Sunday May 16, 2021 TH & REASO Price: N400 MISSILE Book Your Adeniran to Nigerians COVID-19 Tests & Vaccinations “We have to stop thinking that the government will solve all our TEXT‘COVID’ TO58123 problems. We have to wake up as Nigerians to appreciate that we have security challenges.” – A former minister of education, Professor Tunde Adeniran while This service is provided in association with accredited service providers speaking with THISDAY. SIMONKOLAWOLE SIMONKOLAWOLELIVE! [email protected], sms: 0805 500 1961 On the Asaba Revolt by Southern Governors And Four f you are a keen observer of Nigerian and have now come to accept that things cannot Other Things… politics, or should I say politicking, you continue like this. The socio-political consequences must have noticed many unusual things have damaged Nigeria and only an enemy of LIKE MAGU, LIKE HADIZA about the meeting of the 17 southern progress will insist on the status quo. For those who keep saying they can go into governors in Asaba, Delta state, on Luckily, there are vast lands in the north government and make a positive impact, I Tuesday. In the fi rst place, that the where the herders can be resettled. I have heard would advise them to take it easy and learn southern governors met at all — and, a lot about how Kano Governor Abdullahi from Ms Hadiza Bala Usman, the suspended mind you, every single governor was present; Ganduje is making tremendous progress in MD of the NPA, and Mallam Ibrahim Magu, Inone was represented by a deputy — is one of creating large grazing reserves in the state. That, the sacked boss of the EFCC. Nigeria will kill the most unusual occurrences since the dawn to me, looks like problem-solving in place of your spirit. Though far from being perfect of this democratic era. While the 19 northern rabble-rousing. Transitioning from open grazing (who is perfect?), they both put in decent governors meet regularly, the last time southern to ranching has to be methodical. It is not a shift s in tackling the Nigerian rot. Hadiza has governors met as a bloc, from my records, was communiqué issue. Since it cannot be enforced been touching the untouchables who think in October 2017. And that was after a 12-year overnight, the order will be diffi cult to obey they can get away with anything in Nigeria. hiatus. The fi rst meeting was hosted by then and the southern governors will only end up Sadly, Hadiza and Magu erroneously thought Lagos governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in 2002. giving more ammunition to the Sunday Igbohos they had the full backing of President Buhari. Another unusualness is the “solidarity”. and Nnamdi Kanus to continue their ethnic I think the signals to forthright people in I have always argued that unlike the north campaigns. The consequences may not spare any that pursues common interests with a single part of Nigeria. We need to pause and think. Buhari’s government are very clear: you are mind no matter the partisan divide, southern The southern governors asked President on your own. Unfortunate. politicians traditionally lack a sense of solidarity. Muhammadu Buhari to respect “federal Not only are they divided along party lines, Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa character” in his appointments. This was a bit PASTOR’S PLAN B the dominant ethnic groups, Igbo and Yoruba, I do not want to pre-empt the governors on shocking to me. I used to think southerners Pastor Paul Adefarasin, the senior pastor of are eternally at each other’s neck, bickering the proposal to ban open grazing as the details see “federal character” as a dirty phrase to be House on The Rock, trended on social media over who owns Lagos and who doesn’t, and are still sketchy. My preliminary comment despised and avoided. I have always argued when he asked his church members to have spitting bile over the £20 token compensation would be that you cannot ban open grazing that those who wrote “federal character” into a Plan B out of Nigeria — even if it is to fl ee for the Biafran currency after the civil war. overnight. It has to be well planned. You are our constitution were not stupid — they wanted to Cameroon — because of the current There is also a feeling in the south-south that dealing with millions of cattle, millions of jobs, to avoid domination by any part of the country. situation. You can pardon Adefarasin, who the south-west conspired with the north to chase millions of families, vital protein nutrition and The only way to ensure fairness and promote a happens to be one of my favourite pastors, President Goodluck Jonathan out of offi ce in a multibillion-dollar chain. You cannot disrupt sense of belonging in a multi-ethnic federation because he is an elite pastor speaking to 2015. Thus, the Asaba gathering is noteworthy. this in one day. There would be unintended is to make sure signifi cant federal appointments his elite gathering. The elite will always It is also unusual, I would say, for the current consequences. The insecurity will grow beyond refl ect our diversity. Some analysts believe that take care of themselves. In fact, many have set of southern governors, apart from Rivers crimes — which you may even expect the security a part of the current tension in Nigeria is fuelled multiple citizenships. But let us spare a Governor Nyesom Wike, to openly criticise agencies to tackle — but will extend to untold by Buhari’s pattern of appointments. thought for over 150 million Nigerians who Buhari. Although many governors privately economic and nutritional crises, disrupting the I was on the phone with a southern governor cannot even aff ord to pay visa fees much grumble about the president’s lopsided livelihood of even southerners in the lengthy recently. He said northerners were systematically less buy fl ight tickets. And, sadly, they are replacing southerners in positions “zoned” to appointments and inaction on many issues, they value chain. the most-hit victims of this dysfunctional say something else in public, like sycophants. Many are unaware that it is not just the the south: fi nance ministry, FIRS, NIMASA, etc. It’s as if they fear or idolise Buhari so much “The president, a northerner, is the minister of Nigerian state — with no possible Plan B. herders that benefi t from the cattle business. Tragic. that they cannot criticise him. This was unlike In fact, they are just a dot in the long line. petroleum. The NNPC GMD is a northerner. the case of President Jonathan whom most Most agencies under the petroleum ministry All they do is breed and sell cattle. By the REMAKING NIGERIA governors used as toothpick when he was time the beef lands on your table, values have are headed by northerners,” he lamented. One in offi ce. I believe some of the governors been created along the line through trading, southern minister said he did not want to renew I just got a copy of ‘Remaking Nigeria: who signed the Asaba communique did so banking, butchering, processing and vending. the tenure of a “disloyal” agency head (they Sixty Years, Sixty Voices’, edited by Chido reluctantly and I wouldn’t be shocked if they Cooking will invite a mesh of ingredients into are from the same state) but had to rethink Onumah. It is a book of essays by a diverse secretly called Buhari later at night to explain the pot and Nestlé knows that. The food seller’s “because they may go and bring somebody collection of writers and thinkers Nigeria can themselves remorsefully. business is nothing without the beef, which is from Katsina state to replace him”. The rascal in boast off , all discussing the present and the The Asaba Revolt, if you permit that rather still the cheapest animal protein in Nigeria. me quietly jested: didn’t these guys say federal future of Nigeria. Among the contributors strong expression, is all the more manifest in The cow dung is manure for farmers. The character should never matter? are: Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri, Adebola the resolution of the governors to demand a bones are used to make chinaware. You know While I am not trying to downplay the worries Williams, Doifi e Buokoribo, Amina Salihu, ban on open grazing and physical movement what? Millions of southerners benefi t from the and demands of the southern governors, I am Dike Chukwumerije, Ruona Meyer, Zainab of cattle “across Southern Nigeria” — the chain and probably make more money than more interested in how they can work with Usman, Idayat Hassan, Chris Adetayo and keyword being “south”. The incursion of the herders themselves! Buhari to tackle this crippling insecurity and stop Yemi Adamolekun — to name but a few of “armed herders, criminals and bandits” into To be sure, northern governors had also the bleeding in the land. Open grazing needs the array of writers who have consistently the south, the governors said, “has presented admitted in February that “the current system of to stop, I agree; strategic federal appointments contributed to nation building in their a severe security challenge such that citizens herding conducted mainly through open grazing must refl ect our diversity, I don’t dispute that; spheres of infl uence. The diagnoses and are not able to live their normal lives including Buhari needs to talk to his citizens to calm is no longer sustainable in view of growing prescriptions are there and well-articulated. pursuing various productive activities leading urbanisation and population of the country”. their nerves, I accept; we need to restructure to a threat to food supply and general security”. Nigeria, I concur (although my own ideas are The will to transform Nigeria is the next This was a major shift, coming in the wake of step. Vital. Open grazing has become a touchy political the ethnic tension generated by the quit notice about socio-economic restructuring rather than and ethnic issue in Nigeria since the escalation issued to northerners in some southern states disguised balkanisation). But, most importantly, of herders/farmers confl icts in the last four over the activities of criminals believed to be what Nigeria needs urgently is fi rst aid. Nigeria CRUDE IGBOHOISM to fi ve years. herders. Unlike the Asaba resolution, however, is bleeding so profusely that the incurable Chief Sunday Igboho, the so-called Yoruba Restructuring — the southern cudgel — northern governors spoke about a transition optimists are worried. rights activist, made uncharitable comments expectedly featured in the communique, but process, announcing that they had resolved “to I sympathise with the southern governors: on the death of the son of Pastor Enoch the southern governors were more specifi c, aggressively sensitise herdsmen on the need to they are under pressure from the streets to Adeboye, the general overseer of RCCG. His or narrow, unlike the regular agitators. They adopt new methods of herding by ranching or say or do something, otherwise they will soon grouse is that Adeboye has not been using his specifi cally demanded (1) evolution of state other acceptable modern methods”. be unable to leave the government house. In pulpit to support the agitation for Oduduwa police (2) review of revenue allocation formula If southern governors are to ban open grazing 1999-2003, governors of core northern states were Republic. That Igboho, a veteran political in favour of the sub-national governments and physical movement of cattle, there must under similar tremendous pressure from the thug, has become a revered leader among (which will favour all the 36 states and 774 be a programme of action which will include streets, with the infl uence of clerics, to declare the Yoruba is one thing, but that a Yoruba local governments, by the way), and (3) the transportation and resettlement. One of the Sharia. This is politics: if you don’t eat, you would be hailed for mocking the death of creation of other institutions which legitimately best ways of making an ineffective law is to will be eaten. But let us keep this in mind: we anyone at all says a lot about where the advance commitment to and practice of “true make a law that cannot be obeyed. The end need to tackle this insecurity decisively and values of Oduduwa descendants are headed. federalism”. Of course, the governors know result is more chaos that can only stoke fi re immediately. All other issues, including open Igboho, whose own family is reportedly in grazing, practising “true federalism” and Biafra, that Buhari cannot grant any of these three across the country. You cannot make herding Germany, can continue to beat the drums of demands. They are clearly constitutional matters disappear overnight. The good thing, I think, will only be relevant if the prevailing anarchy to be handled by federal and state lawmakers. does not consume us all. Nigerians need to war but the comment on late Dare Adeboye is that the hardliners in the north have moved is totally distasteful and disgusting. Crude. What do I think, generally? To start with, from saying “open grazing is Fulani culture” be alive fi rst; other things can always follow. Printed and Published in Lagos by THISDAY Newspapers Limited. Lagos: 35 Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos. Abuja: Plot 1, Sector Centre B, Jabi Business District, Solomon Lar Way, Jabi North East, Abuja . All Correspondence to POBox 54749, Ikoyi, Lagos. EMAIL: [email protected], [email protected]. TELEPHONE Lagos: 0802 2924721-2, 08022924485. Abuja: Tel: 08155555292, 08155555929 24/7 ADVERTISING HOT LINES: 0811 181 3085, 0811 181 3086, 0811 181 3087, 0811 181 3088, 0811 181 3089, 0811 181 3090. ENQUIRIES & BOOKING: [email protected]