The credible print and online newspaper ThisNigeriaVol.1.Vol.1. No No 32 16 N200 N200 N2001 Monday April 26, – May 2, 2021 Monday April 26, – May 2, 2021

Editorial Kaduna: End the insanity now For some time now, Kaduna State has been in the news for the wrong reasons. There have been widespread cases of issues of insecurity, including killings, kidnappings, abductions and all sorts of banditry.

Monday, January 4 – January 10, 2021 In the last five years, a report noted, more PG 3

EX-APC CHAIR, JOHN ODIGIE-OYEGUN EXCLUSIVE ‘Presidency should be zoned to the South in 2023’ •APC plotting how to win South-South states •They’re daydreaming –Orbih, PDP chieftain PGs 4 &12 The furore over Minister

PG 10 •PantamiNigerians express outrage over his clearance as alleged terrorism sympathiser by the Presidency •House of Reps set to open probe •‘He’s been targeted’ is on a precipice – OCJ Okocha, former President, Nigeria Bar Association PG 14 2 ThisNigeria Newsinpictures Monday April 26, – May 2, 2021

Dignitaries who received the Niger Republic president at the Presidential Villa. President welcoming his Nigerien counterpart, Mohamed Bazoum at the Presidential Villa, .

The Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Malam Mele Kyari (R) and Chairman of Energy and Exploration President Muhammadu Buhari (R) with some presidential aides during the Ramadan lecture Production Limited (SEEPCO), Tony Chukwueke, signing a Gas Development at State House Mosque in Abuja. Agreement (GDA), as partners in the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 143, at the NNPC Towers in Abuja

Members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch, protesting Special guest of honour and former President (4th, L); Gov. Douye Diri of for full implementation of Financial Autonomy of the judiciary in Lagos. (4th, R); his wife, Dr Gloria Diri (3rd, R); Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, and other dignitaries during the Bayelsa Health Summit in Yenagoa.

From left: Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Oyo State, Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo; Chairman, Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Prof. Paul Ananaba; Cross-section of newly-elected chairmen from 23 local government areas during their visit and Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, during SPIDEL delegation’s visit to the to Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, in Port Harcourt. governor in Ibadan. ThisNigeria 3 Monday April 26, – May 2, 2021

Kaduna: The insanity must end now than 1,000 lives have been wasted The modus operandi the circumstances, surrender our OUR VISION in the state, especially in Southern kidnappers leave so much to be country to bandits, terrorists and To be Nigeria and Africa’s Kaduna, fuelled by intermittent desired. They are said to use marauding killers. foremost print and raids by bandits and reprisals. hacksaws, hammers and other digital newspaper brand, harmful tools for their operations, Government must find a way, projecting our country and Instances of these kinds of uprisings with no less than 20 to 50 any way, to deal with this ugly continent in their authentic that have reduced the profile of the motorcycles and buses to carry situation. colours to the world state that used to be the epicentre their ‘preys’. of power in the North, from the It must live up to its constitutional time of Sir Ahmadu Bello as the What is happening in Kaduna is and primary responsibility of OUR MISSION prime minister. indeed the worst form of ‘evil protecting lives and property To deliver high-quality killings’, as Governor Nasir el- of the citizens. That’s why it is In September 29, 2020, an article Rufai noted after the killing of called government, to govern the journalism through our in a newspaper sounded the alarm students by bandits at Kaduna people in peace and prosperity. print and digital platforms that the spate of kidnapping in State’s first private university, in objective, unbiased Kaduna was beating the Zamfara Greenfield, on Tuesday. With worsening economic and credible manner, that record. In fact, it was stated that atmosphere, the people of guarantees justice, equity Kaduna was fast becoming the The abductors had raided the Kaduna, indeed all Nigerians, and fairness to all kidnap centre in the country. university, kidnapped and cannot afford to live in perpetual eventually killed three students state of fear occasioned by the The history is long. There are -Dorathy Tirnom Yohanna, terrible and terrifying state of THISNIGERIA frightening examples of abductions Precious Nwakacha and Sadiq insecurity pervading our country. MEDIA COMPANY and killings, and other forms of Muazu, an issue that has insecurity in the state that should drawn national outrage and We in ThisNigeria believe Eric Osagie make all of us worry. condemnation by President that the issue of violence that Publisher/CEO Muhammadu Buhari. leaves people dead should not For instance, on January 24, 2020, be reduced to items of statistics. 30 gunmen stormed the compound However, it should go beyond Widows, widowers and orphans of one Philip Ataga, a medical condemnations and threats to put are sadly being churned out official, shot a local guard, and a halt to the mindless killings. every now and then. Many have carted the wife and children away. lost uncles, aunties, children, The wife was killed a week later Things can’t continue this way. brothers and sisters. Editorial when the ransom of N150 million This madness has to stop. The Charles Abah demanded by the captors for the killings have gone on for far too One Nigerian life lost in gruesome Kassim Omomia wife was not forthcoming. Last long. Enough should be enough! and barbaric circumstances Emma Obe year, two police officers were is enough to provoke outrage. Mudiaga Affe kidnapped in what was termed We cannot, under any When hundreds and thousands Online ‘distinct operations’ in the state. are lost, it should diminish us all, Adekunle Aliyu because of our shared humanity. Technical In April and December 2019, It is in the light of the above Vincent Chukwuka no fewer than 35 persons were that we call on the relevant Graphics reportedly killed in Kaduna by authorities, especially Governor Jonathan Agboola bandits. The same year, some 30 el-Rufai to sit up to confront the Accounts/Admin persons were kidnapped in Rigasa Kaduna is now said security challenge facing the Blessing Nwosu part of the state capital by bandits to be running neck- state. Sales & Distribution and taken to a nearby forest. John Okpaire and-neck We believe, as governor of the Advert / Marketing Meanwhile, it is not yet confirmed with Zamfara as a state, he can’t be happy or The Media Post whether the 29 of the 39 kidnapped major kidnapping comfortable with the state of students of the School of Forestry affairs today. He could also have Contributing Editors/ Mechanisation, Afaka, in Igabi local hotspot. been doing his best to curtail Special Columnists government area (also in southern In the first quarter of the situation. However, with the Kaduna) since March 11, have general insecurity in Kaduna, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, PhD been freed by their abductors. 2020, it was reported it is clear his best has not been Issa Aremu, mni that there were more good enough. He must find a way, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa SAN As a matter of fact, Kaduna is now in collaboration with the Federal Sam Kargbo said to be running neck-and-neck abductions in Government, to break the cycle Tony Iyare with Zamfara as a major kidnapping of insecurity in his state. Lindsay Barret hotspot. In the first quarter of Kaduna, 2020, it was reported that there compared to It is the primary duty of were more abductions in Kaduna, government to secure the land compared to documented cases in documented and defend its people. Enough of 2019. cases in 2019 the insanity in Kaduna.

4 ThisNigeria NewsNigeria Monday April 26, – May 2, 2021

APC ’ll win South-South in 2023-Oyegun •He’s daydreaming-PDP certainly “day dreaming.” is the currently the South-South APC Elders Council chair- By Ben Ogbemudia man said, “At the end of the selections for the primaries of Oyegun, who spoke in an exclusive interview with our corre- the party in the South-South, the bitterness was so much on ormer National Chairman of All Progressives Congress spondents, noted that the APC was strategically working hard ground in virtually all the states. The bitterness was so much, (APC) and ex-governor of Edo State, Chief John Odigie- to win the states in the forthcoming polls. He also spoke on that it affected the party from being a political force. There FOyegun, has declared that the party will win the South- his relationship with his successor and former governor of Edo were too many factions in each and every state. South states in the 2023 general elections. State, Adams Oshiomhole, the crisis that rocked the party in This came as the Peoples Democratic Party said the APC is the state in 2020 as well as other national issues. Oyegun, who “We are trying to bring all these people together and let them see reasons. So that they can now reason that they have one objective, and that everybody must be committed to it, irre- spective of differences. Everybody must struggle to win and return to the party to the government houses in the South- South. “Basically, we are equally going to approach all the different parties in Edo State, including the governor, where we will tell them, please hold on, the past is gone. We have to think of bringing everybody back, including the governor, whose origi- nality is APC. I think that the bitterness in Edo State must not get to that extent. So, it is very, very strategic that we have to think like that and get the government back in Edo State”.

From Left: Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Sustainable Development Goal and Investment, Solape But dismissing Oyegun remarks, the Vice Chairman, South Hammond; President, European Business Organization (EBO) Nigeria, Mr Adefolu Majekodunmi; Gov Babajide South of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Dan Orbih, said Sanwo-Olu of Lagos; Vice President, EBO Nigeria, Mary Ojulare and Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, that he (Oyegun) and his party are “day dreaming.” He added, Dr Lola Akande during the visit of a delegation from EBO Nigeria to the Governor at State House Marina in Lagos “What has APC achieved that will make them win the South South geopolitical zone? Three killed, vehicles burnt as gunmen “Is it their failure to fix the roads in the South-South or South- East or other parts of the country? Is it the insecurity that is attack Gov Uzodinma’s home notorious tearing us apart in this country? Story By Babs Oyetoro and Cajetan Mmuta, Awka ditry to run down the present administration. Briefing reporters “Every day you wake up to the news of killings, banditry, after meeting President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, kidnapping and all kind of criminal activities. Last Saturday he level of insanity that has engulfed the land continued Abuja, the governor condemned the recent attacks by bandits morning, a serving governor’s house was attacked, people unabated over the weekend as gunmen attacked country on communities, especially in the northern part of the country, killed, property burnt, is that what will give them victory? If a Thome of Governor, Hope Uzodinma, in Omu- challenging the security agencies to expose their sponsors. He governor’s house or government house is no longer safe, that ma, Oru East Local Government Area of the state. also condemned the call for secession, stressing that criminals particularly in Imo were a combination of individuals within and means, we are in serious trouble in this country. “Is it the The state Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, outside the state. economy, corruption is the order of the day. Chief Oyegun who confirmed the attack to the media moments after the in- as National Chairman, could not boast of that(winning South- cident, however, explained that the attack was repelled by a The state has been experiencing a series of attacks lately. Recall South) then, not to talk of now that he is a floor member of combined team of security operatives attached to the house. that gunmen penultimate week stormed the police headquarters APC. “Gallant security operatives this morning repelled an attack in , setting the place ablaze. The attackers also invaded on the Omuma country home of the governor of Imo State, the Owerri Correctional Centre, releasing no fewer than 1,800 “My brother, APC should fix Nigeria first before talking. I Sen Hope Uzodimma,” he said in a statement. inmates. have been part of the political activities in the South-South, and PDP holds the ace and terrain. In Edo State we are all “At about 9 am today, Saturday, April 24th, a group of hood- Recall that the governor has been having a running battle with his from, Chief Oyegun cannot talk of winning, not to talk of lums numbering about 15 driving in a motorcade of three vehi- predecessor and senator representing Orlu senatorial constitu- dreaming about other states.” cles accompanied by a tipper loaded with used tyres, stormed ency, Senator Rochas Okorocha. the country home of the governor in Omuma, Oru East LGA and attempted to burn down the house. Okorocha last week was invited, detained, and released after Northern govs condemn two nights in the custody of the anti- graft agency, Economic “However, vigilant security operatives attached to the Gover- and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in Abuja, to an- nor’s house successfully repelled the attack and consequently swer questions bordering on corruption, money laundering and killing of Greenfield minimised the damage they had planned to unleash. other related matters. Okorocha’s predicament, according to his spokesman, was detained by the EFCC, over a series of petitions varsity students “In the crossfire that ensued a few casualties were recorded. by the state government, an allegation that Uzodinma’s aide also By Israel Joel Preliminary investigation suggests that the foiled attack may debunked. The Imo state government is determined to recover Northern States Governors Forum has expressed shock have been politically sponsored.” all properties and monies which allegedly belong to the state but over the killing of three of the students of the Greenfield were looted by Okorocha and members of his family, following a University, Kaduna State by suspected kidnappers. The ThisNigeria gathered that the attackers in their large num- white paper by the panel set up by the state government. deceased students -Abubakar Sadiq Yusuf; Precious bers adorned in black uniforms stormed the governor’s pala- Nwakacha and Dorathy Yohanna- were among the over tial residence at about 8am on the fateful day. The state government had sealed some of the properties linked 20 persons kidnapped when gunmen invaded the ivory Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to Okorocha, his aides and members of his family. But Okorocha’s tower on April 20. (NSCDC) and other policemen on guard within the premises attempt to forcefully unseal one of the properties recently landed were said to have taken to their heels during the fierce battle him in detention in the Police headquarters in Owerri, the Imo The abductors were demanding N800 million ransom with the attackers. State capital. Meanwhile, security operatives engaged suspected for their release. But Chairman of the forum and Gov- members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in a gun battle ernor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, while reacting to The commissioner, however, noted that security agencies in Awomamma community in Oru East Local government area the killing , on Saturday, described the murder of the have been asked to investigate the incident in order to appre- of the state. The joint security outfit were said to have taken the youngsters as shocking, barbaric and condemnable. hend and bring the culprits to justice. Although, it could not battle to the operational headquarters of ESN with strong link be ascertained if there was any loss of life, reports said two with members of the Indigenous People of (IPOB) located Lalong, in a statement signed by his Director of Press security operatives were killed during the attack. No one has in the agrarian Awo Omamma area. and Public Affairs, Simon Machamsaid there is no jus- claimed responsibility for the attack, but sources alleged that tification for the kidnap and murder of the innocent stu- the attackers were suspected members of the Eastern Secu- Six persons were reportedly killed including an ESN commander dents who were simply in school to study and prepare rity Network of IPOB. known as Ikonso while many sustained serious wounds. Several According to eyewitnesses, one security detail in the com- caches of dangerous weapons including AK47 rifles, ammunition themselves for service to the nation. pound was shot in the process. The attack came barely 24 and charms were recovered even as three policemen and one hours after the governor accused politicians of funding ban- army officer who sustained gunshot injuries. This action, according to him, is an act of sheer wicked- ness that must not be al-lowed to go unpunished. ThisNigeria 5 Monday April 26, – May 2, 2021 6 ThisNigeria NewsAfrica Monday April 26, – May 2, 2021 Chad: African Union urges end to military rule BBC The African Union’s Peace and Security Council voiced he African Union has called for an end to military “grave concern” about the military takeover which put rule in Chad, whose president, Idris Déby, was 37-year-old Gen Mahamat Déby Itno in charge and saw Tkilled by rebels. parliament dissolved. The army immediately announced that Idris Déby’s son would head a military council for 18 months before elec- The AU’s 15-member security body discussed the situa- tions were held. tion on Thursday but waited until after Déby’s funeral on Friday to issue its statement. Former colonial power France, which has a large mili- tary base in Chad, appeared to back the takeover for It said power should be restored to civilian authorities “stability” amid “exceptional circumstances”. “expeditiously”. Opposition parties have also condemned what they According to the constitution, the speaker of parliament called a “dynastic coup”. should take over in the event of the president’s death, and organise new elections. Lives at risk in Trade union have called for a general strike, while rebel group, Fact, said Chad was “not a monarchy”. Déby, 68, had just been elected for a sixth term in office when the army announced on Tuesday that he had been fatally wounded in a clash with rebel Fact fighters in the Kenya as HIV northern region of Kanem. He was a key ally of France in the fight against jihadist drugs run short groups across West Africa and French President Emman- Aljazeera uel Macron was among the foreign leaders and thousands of Chadians who paid their respects at his funeral. enyans living with HIV say their lives are in danger because of a shortage of anti-retroviral drugs donat- Standing beside Déby’s coffin, Mr Macron said, “You Ked by the United States during a dispute between lived as a soldier, you died as a soldier with weapons in the US aid agency and the Kenyan government. hand. You gave your life for Chad in defence of its citi- zens.” The delayed release of the drugs shipped to Kenya late last year occurred after the government slapped an In Chad,Macron held talks with Gen Mahamat Déby $847,902 tax on the donation. The American aid agen- Itno, along with the leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali, Mau- cy has “trust” issues with the corruption-tainted Kenya ritania and Niger, which are all battling various Islamist Medical Supplies Authority, activists and officials said. groups, some of which are linked to al-Qaeda and others Déby the Islamic State group. Activists on Friday dismissed as “public relations” the government’s statement on Thursday that it had resolved the issue and distributed the drugs to 31 of Kenya’s 47 counties. ‘Egypt to produce 5 million The government said all counties within five days will have the drugs needed for 1.4 million people. “We are assuring the nation that no patient is going to miss drugs. We have adequate stocks,” Kenya Medical doses of Sinovac in 2 months’ Supplies Authority customer service manager Geoffrey Egypt Independent Zayed said that manufacturing the vaccines with the Chi- Mwagwi said as he flagged off a consignment. nese company producing Sinovac took several months. He said those drugs would cover two months. inister of Health and Population Hala Zayed says that Egypt will locally produce the first five “The process began in September, when we asked the The US is by far the largest donor for Kenya’s HIV re- million doses of the Chinese Sinovac vaccine World Health Organisation to send a delegation of ex- sponse. Kenya’s health minister, Mutahi Kagwe, told the M perts in the field of manufacturing. Indeed, they sent within two months. Senate’s health committee earlier this week that USAID the delegation in the same month and visited the pro- released the drug consignment that had been stuck in She explained that around 50 per cent of produced vac- duction lines in a factory and they worked for four con- port. cines have only been distributed to two countries, while secutive days,” she said. the other half has had 80 per cent sent to 10 countries. Patients are expected to receive them during the week. This meant that only 12 countries total have received this Zayed continued, “I held a meeting with them on the He said USAID proposed using a company called Che- vaccine as they have manufactured it, she said on Friday. fourth day, and they issued a report on the validity of monics International to procure and supply the drugs to the vaccine production line, and at that time we worked Kenyans because of “trust issues” with the national medi- with Sinovac, and the signed agreement in the presence cal supplies body. of the prime minister and the Chinese ambassador was implemented went into effect.” Bernard Baridi, chief executive officer of Blasta, network She said that the agreement allows for production of 40 of young people living with the disease, said the drugs to 60 million doses during this year. would last for just a month. Egypt’s vaccination campaign that began in January is He said the delay in distributing the drugs, in addition to still working to vaccinate medical staff, people over the supply constraints caused by the coronavirus pandemic, age of 65, and those with chronic illnesses, but registra- meant many people living with HIV were getting a week’s tion for the vaccine is open to all. supply instead of three months. The vaccine should cost no more than LE200 per per- son, Zayed announced, with low-income folks eligible to Many of those who depend on drugs travel long distances get their doses for free. to obtain them and may find it difficult to find transport every week, and if they fail to take them they will develop Egypt is currently using China’s Sinopharm vaccine resistance, Baridi said. and the UK’s AstraOxford vaccine. So far, 100 million doses have been secured by the min- Some cannot even access medical facilities to receive istry through the COVAX initiative, which is enough to medication because of lockdown measures in place to vaccinate roughly half of Egypt’s population. combat the spread of the coronavirus, he added. ThisNigeria 7 Newsworld Monday April 26, – May 2, 2021

Indian hospitals turn away patients over COVID-19 ‘tsunami’ funded health system buckles. The government has deployed military planes and trains to get oxygen to Delhi from the far corners of the country and overseas including Singapore. The number of cases across the country of around 1.3 billion rose overnight by 346,786, the Health Ministry said, for 16.6 million cases, including 189,544 deaths. COVID-19 deaths rose by 2,624 over the past 24 hours, the highest daily rate for the country so far. Crematoriums across Delhi said they were full up and asked grieving families to wait. Hospitals in Delhi went to the city’s high court last week seeking it to order the state and federal govern- ments to make emergency arrangements for medical supplies, mainly oxygen.

“It’s a tsunami. How are we trying to build capacity?” Stealth-detecting radar the Delhi high court asked the state and federal govern- Patients over COVID-19 ‘tsunami’ ments in response to this plea. Television showed fami- lies tending to the sick in hospital corridors and streets as they waited for medical attention. One man identified Reuters as Amit who was grieving for his brother at Delhi’s Jai- China unveils verwhelmed hospitals in India begged for oxygen pur Golden hospital said he had seen families running supplies on Saturday as the country’s coronavirus around with oxygen cylinders trying to get them refilled. Oinfections soared again overnight in a “tsunami” “You can’t leave me in the lurch,” a lawyer appearing stealth- of disease, setting a new world record for cases for the for the Jaipur Golden hospital told the high court on third consecutive day. Saturday, seeking its intervention. The court asked the Max Healthcare, which runs a network of hospitals in government to ensure supplies, as well to make secu- detecting north India, tweeted that it had less than two hours of rity arrangements for medical centres amid people’s oxygen left while Fortis Healthcare, another big chain, desperation. said it was suspending new admissions in Delhi. “We are running on backup, waiting for supplies since “We know how people react, let’s not have a law and radars morning,” Fortis said. order situation,” the court said in its direction to the Al-Jazeera authorities. India surpassed the U.S. record of 297,430 India is in the grip of a rampaging second wave of the single-day infections anywhere in the world on Thurs- hina has unveiled new advanced radars that could pandemic, hitting a rate of one COVID-19 death in just day, making it the global epicentre of a pandemic that is detect stealth aircraft, including drones, as well under every four minutes in Delhi as the capital’s under- waning in many other countries. Cas low-flying cruise missiles, as the country con- tinues to aggressively boost its fighting capabilities and flexes its military muscle amid emerging tensions in the region. ASEAN leaders demand Myanmar Among the “star products” at the Nanjing exhibition, which ends on Saturday, is the country’s first portable and multi-purpose radar, which could be carried by a coup leaders end killings single soldier, according to the state-owned publication, AP Myanmar get out of this delicate situation.” Global Times. outheast Asian leaders demanded an immediate end to killings and the release of political detain- Following the coup, ASEAN, through its current chair Bru- The equipment is being dubbed the “terminator of ees in Myanmar in an emergency summit with its nei, issued a statement that did not expectedly condemn drones” for its capability to detect small and slow tar- S the power grab but urged “the pursuance of dialogue, rec- top general and coup leader in the Indonesian capital, gets that blend themselves under strong noise waves by Indonesian President, Joko Widodo, said on Saturday. onciliation and the return to normalcy in accordance with flying close to the ground. The so-called “YLC-48 radar” the will and interests of the people of Myanmar.” can “effectively detect and track incoming targets from The leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Na- any angle”, according to its developer, the No 14 Re- tions also told Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing during the Amid Western pressure, however, the regional group search Institute of the state-owned China Electronics talks in Jakarta that a dialogue between contending par- has struggled to take a more forceful position on issues ties in Myanmar should immediately start, Widodo said. but has kept to its non-confrontational approach. Technology Group Corporation (CETC). “The situation in Myanmar is unacceptable and should All ASEAN states agreed to meet Min Aung Hlaing but The radar uses digital integrated circuits, and it can be not continue. Violence must be stopped, democracy, sta- did not address him as Myanmar’s head of state in the mounted on all kinds of lightweight weapons platforms, bility and peace in Myanmar must be returned immedi- summit. Critics have said ASEAN’s decision to meet can conduct missions under all-weather conditions, and ately,” Widodo said during the meeting. “The interests him was unacceptable and amounted to legitimizing the can be rapidly deployed and withdrawn, the report said. of the people of Myanmar must always be the priority.” overthrow and the deadly crackdown that followed. The institute has also reportedly developed an Anti- Daily shootings by police and soldiers since the February 1 UAV Defence System (AUDS) for the radar, enhancing coup have killed more than 700 mostly peaceful protesters the country’s defence capabilities “in sensitive regions”. and bystanders, according to several independent tallies. As the coronavirus pandemic rages around the world in It was not immediately clear if and how Min Aung Hla- the past year, tensions have also been brewing in the re- ing responded to the blunt messages. It was the first gion over multiple issues, where China has found itself time he travelled out of Myanmar since the coup, which in a direct course of political collision with the United was followed by the arrests of Aung San Suu Kyi and States. many other political leaders. Washington and Beijing remain at odds over China’s Indonesian Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, expressed policies in Hong Kong and its treatment of Uighurs in hopes on the eve of the summit that “we can reach an its north western Xinjiang region – issues that Beijing agreement on the next steps that can help the people of Gen. Hlaing considers as domestic affairs. 8 ThisNigeria Business Monday April 26, – May 2, 2021 Maritime expert seeks unified Dangote network to boost security acquires 400 trucks from ANAMMCO Nairametrics he Dangote Group has taken deliv- ery of another set of 400 Shacman Ttrucks from Transit Support Ser- vices Limited and assembled in the former Anambra Motor Manufacturing Company (ANAMMCO) plant in Enugu. This brings the total number of trucks bought by the Dangote Group from Transit Support Services Limited to about 4,000 units since the entry of the brand into the country in 2016. Dangote-Shacman partnership has led to the resuscitation of the ANAMMCO plant in Enugu. It described Dangote as the biggest cus- tomer of the Enugu-based auto assembler, Vessels to Boost Maritime Security noting that the partnership had resulted in the provision of more jobs for many igeria’s Chief Inspector of Div- “They should also come out with an office fective way of doing business. We do not youths; rejuvenation of the Onne Port in ing, Mr. Julius Ugwala, says the that will coordinate a common communi- have to wait for someone to come from Rivers State and the attendant economic Nestablishment of a common cation system to monitor movements on China before documents are signed.” Mod- benefits. communication network by the West the West African waters. ern ways of inserting signature digitally The statement from Transit Support Ser- African states will improve the security “This will improve relationship with key are available and our vessels can move vices Limited partly reads, “Following of the region’s territorial waters. partners in the West African region, from one place to another. the partnership deal and commitments to make for safety along the West African quality, the biggest customer of Shacman Ugwala, said the network would be es- waterways, improve local skills and cre- “We know that these modern ways of do- brand in Nigeria, Dangote Group, has tak- sential as part of efforts to solve the ate employment”. ing business will help us cope with the en delivery of additional 400 units of Shac- problem of maritime insecurity within challenges we are facing today in the ship- man trucks. the Gulf of Guinea. On the impact of technology post-COV- ping sector,” he said. Dangote Group has since the entrance ID-19, Ugwala said the Information and of Shacman vehicles into the Nigerian The unified central intelligence system, Communication Technology value chain Ugwala bemoaned the lack of confidence market through Transit Support Services he added, would leverage technology had brought opportunities that would in African manpower, adding that Africans Limited as Shacman Nigeria six years ago, to tackle maritime crimes plaguing the outlive the present time to the maritime felt inferior to expatriates neglecting Afri- bought over 3,500 units of the brand.’’ West African states. industry. cans to employ foreigners into roles that It can be recalled that in 2020, the Dan- Africans were capable of occupying. gote Group, invested about N63bn in a lo- Ugwala said, “To curb unrest in our ter- “We do not want to go backward because cal automaker with an assembling plant in ritorial waters or reduce it to the barest we are faced with COVID-19. Rather, we “This means that we do not have confidence Enugu with the purchase of 3,500 trucks minimum, all maritime agencies in the want to see how we can take advantage, in our own indigenous people. We need to while going into a long-term partnership coastal states need to come out with a using technology to build our businesses start encouraging our people in the labour with them. proper escort corridor, naval patrol at where we can do business without even market. ”We need to embrace technology. The auto maker, which goes by the name sea, coast guards and modern commu- seeing each other. We need to go into cost studies. We need Transit Support Services Limited, went nication systems. to keep on learning, training and retraining, into a long-term agreement with Dangote “Electronic documentation is another ef- if we want to sustain the market,” he said. Group and has already supplied 3,500 Shacman trucks to the company from its Unity Bank increases loan portfolio by 94.3% ANAMMCO plant in Emene, Enugu State. Nairametrics Managing Director, Mrs. Tomi Somefun cantly create more quality assets for the nity Bank Plc increased its loan stated that the bank has solidly financed over business, thought to have a sustainable portfolio to customers by 94.3 one million farmers in the past three years. impact, informed part of choices made per cent to stand at N202.1bn as and we have seen some encouraging mar- U She also stated that the farmers cut ket uptake in this regard, apart from the of December 2020. across several primary crop production benefits to the enterprise bottom-line that This is contained in its 2020 audited finan- such as rice, maize, cotton, wheat and have also started trickling in. Other key cial report, recently released on the website sorghum. performance indicators especially on the of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). liability side of the business were equally Commenting on the result, Somefun stat- not left out.” According to the result posted, its gross ed that the results showed the resilience loan portfolio increased by 94.3 per cent of the bank during unprecedented times The bank deployed new product features from N104bn recorded as of December of uncertainties and its ability to innovate and augmentation supported by omni- 2019 to stand at N202.1bn as of the end and focus on key balance sheet items that channel, USSD promotions and other of the 2020 financial year. will enable the bank to maintain a growth channels to enhance services delivery trajectory. efficiency, drive income generation - ca According to the bank’s press release, the She added, “Consequently, for the year pacities and enhance steady balance sheet under review, the opportunities to signifi- growth for the year. ThisNigeria 9 Business Monday April 26, – May 2, 2021 Firm proposes $2.9bn seaport at Escravos “As a form of support, government is bring- ing land; we will pay for it and then we will pay our tax. The Nigerian Ports Author- ity’s role is that of monitoring,” he said. Prof. Charles Asenime, a transport con- sultant, said that the proposed $2.9bn seaport would boost economic develop- ment. He listed the project component to include a deep seaport, free trade Yinka Sanni, IBTC, CEO zone, crude oil refinery and gas complex. Others are industrial layouts, an indepen- dent power plant, a nature conservation park, an international airport and devel- Stanbic IBTC opment of prime infrastructure, new towns and cities. drops 45.36% Asenime said the benefits of the seaport would include boosting employment opportunities, giving Delta direct multi- profit in Q1 modal transport accessibility to 70 per InsideBusiness Apapa Seaport cent of Nigeria’s land mass, four geopo- litical zones and Abuja, and littoral na- tanbic IBTC Holdings’ profit for tions of the world. the first quarter of 2021 plunged by he Mercury Maritime Conces- 45.36 per cent to stand at N11.256bn sion Company (MMCC) Ltd. “We went into this project because we S He listed other benefits as transforma- from the N20.601bn it reported in March Tannounced plans to establish a have the capacity, experience and connec- 2020. $2.9bn seaport at Escravos, Delta State, tions; we decided to deploy them to solve tion of the coastal/foreshore line between to decongest Lagos ports. the maritime problem of the country.” Benin River into prime lands for seafront property development, and support Figures from its Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial statements for March The Chairman of MMCC, Rear Adm. An- Okoja said the project would run on for the African Continental Free Trade Agreement operations, among others. 2021 released on Friday showed that the drew Okoja, made this known at a stake- a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer Holdings Profit Before Tax (PBT) fell by holders forum for the proposed Escravos (BOOT) model and would be on lease for 50.26 per cent, dropping from N24.413bn Seaport Industrial Complex (ESIC – 1) about 50 years with all the $2.9bn fund- “We are praying for the Federal Govern- ment to grant MMCC licence to develop in March 2020 to N12.142bn under the cur- project held in Lagos. ing coming from overseas. rent quarter. Okoja, who said that the project was at ESIC-1 project, partner to develop it and grant concession to develop ESIC-1 at its preparatory stage, gave the assurance He further said the project was expected The huge percentage decline in profit was that within five years, it would be com- to create about 30,000 to 40,000 jobs for the current Escravos project location,” he said. impacted by the lenders’ Operating expense pleted. the people in surrounding communities which rose by 8.79 per cent in first quarter and would tackle piracy and militancy in Manager, Port Projects, Port of Antwerp 2021 to N26.956bn from N24.776bn year He said, “MMCC is the promoter of the Niger Delta. on year. Escravos Seaport Industrial Complex International, Mr. Philippe Droesbeke, said the company was acting as consultants (ESIC-1) project; this is a maritime-driv- He said the company had received a Also, its income tax dipped to N886m from en project cited in Escravos in Delta, on provisional approval from the Federal to the project, laying out plans and ensur- ing that its feasibility study was done. N3. 812bn year on year, representing a approximately 31 hectares of land. “This Ministry of Transportation, which asked massive 76.75 per cent depreciation in tax project will consist of a deep seaport, it to lodge in $1bn dollars as evidence of expenses. others and a platform to drive resources capacity and commitment to follow due “We are happy to put our experience to the development of the project,” he said from one point to another. process. According to the first quarter report, the bank’s asset jumped to N2.569trn in March 2021, compared to N2.486trn it posted year ended 31st December 2020., indicat- CAC grants extension on unallotted share capital ing a significant rise of 3.33 per cent. InsideBusiness authentication of documents submitted orporate Affairs Commission The CR 2021, which was published by through the commission’s web portal, de- However, liabilities amounted to N2 .185trn (CAC) has secured the approval the CAC replaces the Companies Regu- livery of electronic certified true copies of in first up by 3.70 per cent from N2.107trn of the Minister of Industry, Trade lations, 2012 issued pursuant to the re- documents in lieu of physical documents in December 2020, while total equity C and online real-time update of changes to and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo, to ex- pealed CAMA, 1990. climbed marginally by 1.30 per cent to tend to this December 31, the deadline information already submitted to the com- N383.527bn from N378.601bn. for existing companies to fully issue any The regulations includes provisions that mission, among others. unallotted share capital. are aimed at leveraging technology to The Tier- 2 financial institution also shed automate certain CAC’s administrative 25.54 per cent from its gross earnings to It will be recalled that Regulation 13 of processes, clarifying certain compliance N45.726bn at the end of March 2021 from the Companies Regulations, 2021 had requirements of the CAMA 2020, and N61.418bn year on year. fixed an initial deadline of June 30, for all providing comprehensive governance companies in the country to comply with and procedural framework, in line with Meanwhile, the shares of Stanbic IBTC this requirement. global regulatory best practices. have surged by 8.70 per cent on the Ni- The CAC also noted that any un-issued gerian Stock market in sharp contrast to share capital after December 31 will be Some significant changes highlighted in the huge drop in profit. The shares which derecognised from a company’s share the regulations are: ‘Authentication of opened at N46 per share, gained N4 to capital until such shares are re-issued or Documents’ (CR 2021) provides for the close at N50 per share. reduced. automation of CAC’s pre-and post-incor- poration procedures in line with the Fed- Also, the market capitalisation also re- The minister, had last December, ap- eral Government’s mandate of improving sponded positively to record a N44. 423bn proved the Companies Regulations 2021 the ease of doing business in Nigeria. growth in one trading session, closing at pursuant to Section 4 of the Companies N555. 299bn from N510. 875bn it opened and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020. These procedures include electronic Adebayo transaction. 10 ThisNigeria LeadStory Monday April 26, – May 2, 2021

The furore over Minister Pantami Nigerians express outrage over his clearance as alleged terrorism sympathiser by the Presidency suffer from that affliction do not deserve to be called Nigerians and they should do us a favour by moving elsewhere.

“Pantami is not fit to be a minister of the Federal Republic, because he presents a grave danger to our people and our society.

“The sooner he is dropped from President Bu- hari’s cabinet like a hot potato and brought to justice the better. The world is watching.”

Also, a former Minister of Education, Oby Eze- kwesili, said the Presidency statement publicly supporting the minister, showed the current leadership’s stand on terrorism.

Reacting via her Twitter, Ezekwesili said, “In that singular act of siding with his Minister of Communication, @NGRPresident @MBuhari actually conveyed a message on his view of ter- rorism.

Pantami “Nigerians now know that his views align with that of his minister.” By Kassim Omomia, Mudiaga Affe, Andy Asemota, Cajetan Mmuta and Beatrice Similarly, the Christian Association of Nigeria Gondyi Ruling out the possibility of sacking Pantami, the (CAN) berated the Presidency for defending the Presidency on Thursday said the ordeal of the min- minister. ore Nigerians have expressed shock ister was not about his past utterances but about his over the Presidency’s clean bill of health current position. CAN made its view known via its Facebook ac- Mgiven to the embattled Minister of Com- count. munications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, Speaking through Senior Special Assistant to the accused of being a sympathiser of terrorism. President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, It is For Orbih, Pantami should first be sacked as a the Presidency said “Pantami is facing a cancel minister, before being exposed to a new orienta- The Federal Government stance on the matter, campaign instigated by those who is seeking his commonplace to tion. they said, was not only outrageous but shocking. removal.” profile Muslims The PDP chieftain said, “Our party notes that The clearance, they added, showed that the presi- The Presidency added, “They do not really care who hold if indeed, the Buhari Presidency has not found dency was also a subtle sympathiser of terrorism. what he may or may not have said 20 years ago; strong beliefs itself entangled, the least it ought to have done that is merely the instrument they are using to at- in the face of allegations against Pantami was to Pantami, for some days now, has been receiving tempt to cancel him. But they will profit should he anywhere and reassure Nigerians by first relieving Isa Pantami scathing criticisms from Nigerians for reportedly be stopped from making decisions that improve the everywhere, of his office and handing him over to the appro- canvassing support for terrorists and terrorism lives of everyday Nigerians.” even priate agency for de-radicalization. in the past. “The minister has, rightly, apologised for what he commanding “Nigeria that is blessed with some of the world`s Indeed, video and audio clips of some of his teach- said in the early 2000s. The views were unaccept- obeisance to most talented professionals in all spheres of life ing where he expressed sympathy for extremist able then and would be equally unacceptable today, cannot be seen to be patronising people who Islamic sects such as Al-Qaeda and Talibans have were he to repeat them. But he will not repeat them- their faith. I have records of extremism and links with deadly been making the rounds on the internet. for he has publicly and permanently condemned his have never terrorist organisations as top government of- earlier utterances as wrong.” ficials all in the name of he has repented. Why The exposure further prompted the United heard any must it be Pantami?” States intelligence service, to put him on the However, a cross-section of Nigerians, including a Christian country’s watch list. former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili; Se- Insisting that the minister should be sacked, nior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome; former described as Ozekhome said Pantami’s presence as a FEC Pantami, who has since owned up to contents of Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, and an extremist- member signalled a “clear and present danger to the video clips, however blamed youthful exuber- a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Vice Nigeria’s unity, harmony and ethnic tolerance.” ance for his past dogmatic utterances. Chairman (South-South), Chief Dan Orbih, have even when kicked against the latest position of the Federal some church Ozekhome maintained, “Pantami should hon- Despite his recant, Nigerians have remained di- Government on the issue. ourably resign, as Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, former vided on the call for his sacking as a minister. Reacting, Fani-Kayode said Pantami was no longer leaders make Finance Minister, once did. Where he fails to do While some Nigerians claim that Pantami past fit to be a minister. galling and this, Buhari should immediately relieve him of offence is not enough to cost him his current his ministerial position. His antecedents loudly portfolio, others say that he is no longer fit to be Fani-Kayode said, “Religious intolerance is primi- inflammatory proclaim him as a clear and present danger to a minister. tive, barbaric, antedelluvian and archaic Those that statements Nigeria’s asphyxiatingly fragile unity, harmony ThisNigeria 11 LeadStory Monday April 26, – May 2, 2021 Furore over Minister Pantami

Fani-Kayode Pantami Ezekwesili and religious and ethnic tolerance. I know Buhari will not Umeagbalasi declared, “Anybody expecting the Presidency do it.” to say otherwise is dreaming. This presidency shouldn’t Nwabufo, in a piece entitled, “Pantami and the hypocrisy have said otherwise because its body language and every- of his detractors”, noted that the minister merely fell vic- Also, former member of the House of Representatives, thing is a clear indication of the fact that the Presidency as tim of “scapegoating and profiling.” Samson Osagie, and a chieftain of APC, said the govern- we have it today knows a lot about the actions of terrorism ment’s position on the matter portended a “dangerous and jihadism ravaging the country. Nwabufo said, “We live in a country that is autoch- precedent, even as it revealed an unwitting exposure of thonously Christianised. Our ways are Christian. It the fault lines of the governance in the country.” “And do not forget that not quite long ago, six Nigerians were is commonplace to profile Muslims who hold strong convicted of terrorism acts in faraway United Arab Emirate beliefs anywhere and everywhere, even command- He, therefore, urged the authorities not to sweep the al- (UAE) for sponsoring terrorism; for sending money to Boko ing obeisance to their faith. I have never heard any legations against the minister under the carpet. Haram, and now this is the seventh person. Christian described as an extremist- even when some church leaders make galling and inflammatory state- Osagie added, “In Nigeria, anything goes. So, I wasn’t “What did the Nigerian government do when those six per- ments. surprised personally with Federal Government’s position sons were sentenced? Did it seek to extradite them on ac- on the matter. No doubt, the young man is good on the count of that international judicial pronouncement and that “Those calling for Pantami’s resignation do not mean job but issues that border on his personality; the views judgment was given by the High Court of UAE and was af- well for Nigeria. I believe he should be judged by his he holds, if they have implications for national security, firmed by the Court of Appeal of UAE. And now the seventh stewardship at the ministry of communications-not by I think ordinarily, the matter should not be swept under person is being mentioned.” his faith. If the social media blitzkrieg against the min- the carpet. ister is because of his performance, that will be a dif- Also, a civil rights movement Concerned Nigerians said on ferent matter. But it is not. Pantami is perhaps one of “That is why the rule of law must be the strong basis for Twitter that the minister was”unfit to occupy a public of- the most resourceful and responsive communications governance as against the rule of man. But in Nigeria, the fice,” ending its tweet with #PantamiMustGo. ministers Nigeria has ever had. rule of law will always take the back seat.” Already, #PantamiMustGo, one of the trending hashtags in “Again, the minister should be judged according to his The Executive Director, Freedom of Information (FOI) Nigeria, has attracted more than 37, 000 tweets. work at the ministry. And he has done a good job of Council, Mr. Aigbokhan, also expressed shock over the that. I will not join the multitude to commit murder.” issue. He said the Presidency stance was inimical to good Meanwhile, the immediate past Chairman of the Christian governance and development. Association of Nigeria, in Bauchi State, Rev. Joshua Maina, Also, the National Deputy Chairman, Council of Ula- noted that Pantami being “a sacred cow” would not be ma of Nigeria, Sheik Danazumi Musa Tafawa Balewa, Aigbokhan said, “The government must be responsible in sacked by the presidency. described the ongoing saga as “most unfortunate.” a way to respond to public outcry and this is one of the Balewa added, ‘’He was approved, he was screened by ways to do it; to fire and hire. Many hands can take up According to him, with Pantami’s key role in the communi- DSS, police. Why will this talk now emerge? the job if he is fired today. But in all, he (minister) has the cation ministry, the Federal Government would not relieve right to express himself and retains that right to dissociate him of his position. “Again, I think the Nigerian government should forget himself from an opinion earlier expressed. about sacking him. Let us allow him, especially if he is He said the minister and his ministry were key to the data doing good on his job. There is no need labelling him “But the Presidency must learn that persons within its base of NIMC and those of the Independent National Elec- if he was a member in any group before. confines will be hired and must also be fired and public toral Commission ahead of the 2023 general elections. officers must realise that when there is a public call for “Let us forget about all what others are saying from papers to be thrown in, they should do so.” Maina noted that the Federal government can only remove outside. Because it is interference to Nigerian system him, when Pantami’s relationship with the US only gets to and Nigerian security. I think the government should Similarly, a former PDP governorship aspirant in Kogi an intolerable level. rely on the report by our security operatives not the State, Chief Robert Audu, frowned on the way the Presi- report of any CIA. Why bring up the issue now? They dency has shielded the minister, saying the allegations “Nigeria can appoint anybody and will only act if she discov- want to destabilise the country, they want to destabi- were weighty and of international dimension. ers that because of this saga her relationship with US will lise our system.” Cautioning the Federal Government to be careful of how it receive a kind of a negative mark. It is only on this note that defend its officials, Audu said the minister was old enough the power bloc will remove Pantami, anything short of that In a related development, the House of Representa- to carry his cross. forget it.” tives is set to reopen the Pantami issue this week.

Toeing the same line, the Chairman of the Inter-Society, But canvassing a different view, a social commentator, Fred- Its Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu, had earlier pro- Mr. Emeka Umeagbalasi, said the response of the Presi- rick Nwabufo, disagreed with those calling for the minister’s posed it before the House last week but it was thrown dency on the matter was not surprising. sacking, saying they did not mean well for the country. away on the condition that it was not duly presented. 12 ThisNigeria Monday April 26, – May 2, 2021 TheBigInterview

‘Presidency should be zoned to the South‘ Former National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) and ex-governor of Edo State, Chief John Oyegun, x-rays the leadership struggle in the ruling party, amid other issues in this interview with Ben Ogbemudia and Idu Jude Oyegun

s the South-South APC Elders Council but you know reality is reality. The man had been clear where the president’s mind was, and that was chairman, your task is to reconcile all elected the Senate President. We called a meeting of what happened. the aggrieved parties, how far have all our elected members that very day, and that very youA gone? morning, the proclamation was issued to take place, Will you say the Oshiomohle ambition was APC has never been in office in any of the South- which was signed by Mr. President that the Assembly the reason? South states, except Edo State. The Peoples Demo- will get into session that very morning. Let me re-emphasise, I did not ask for a second ten- cratic Party is deep-rooted since about a decade and ure, and I was almost 80 years old then. At 80, I has been more entrenched in office. So, to dislodge And the meeting unfortunately was wrongly fixed. It knew the distress that accompanied the job. So, go the PDP in the South-South, we must also be so was one of those terrible mistakes, which was done and ask anybody, I never asked for it. Otherwise, I strong, well-organised and united in purpose. wrongly and unfortunately used the President’s name would have gone to the special convention and got- to convene. We used his name to summon a meeting ten what I wanted. So, I have nothing against Osh- What we are trying to do is to reconcile everybody. at a very wrong time. And our people were not there. iomhole or any other person who wanted to be na- We also have to really find out what is happening at We were busy trying to meet at the International Con- tional chairman because it was of no consequence various APC states and chapters because we have ference Centre. Meanwhile, election was going on at to me. been in the opposition for so long. We have not en- the ICC. So, we blame ourselves seriously for what joyed patronage in the zone. happened. It was totally an avoidable mistake. At what point did you have disagreement with Oshiomhole? To remove the incumbent from office, we must not How come you were not re-elected for a sec- There was never a time I had disagreement with run as if we are in the Olympic race. It is politics; it ond term as the APC chair even after the him. Never. I handed over to him in a beautiful cer- is victory when it is achieved. We must organise for governors endorsed you? emony. It is rare for any political party to change its victory, not just for participation. That defines the Well, first point of correction, I never wanted a sec- leadership strictly by the constitution. You see, ev- enormity of the task. I will not go ahead to give you ond term. I never asked for it. Secondly, we were ap- ery time it was based on carelessness. Sometimes, details because I would have to report to the party proaching congresses, convention as well as the presi- he made speeches and he referred to the past lead- that gave us the assignment before I can go any de- dential election. So, in their wisdom, governors and ership of the party as having done this or that. This tails with the media, but I can tell you that we are other party leaders thought that it was not the proper happened once or twice and I raised objection qui- making enough progress. time to make fundamental changes to the party’s lead- etly. But when I thought it was getting out of hand, ership, which made us accept a one year extension. that was when I had to speak up to say that is not In your time as the APC chairman, the PDP the way to do things. That, however, is not to say was the shining light, what caused it? Remember, congresses always bring animosity, and that I had quarrel with him. And there was no per- Point of correction, the PDP never took the control we had national elections ahead of us. So, in their sonal differences between us. of the National Assembly in our time. The National wisdom, they thought we could put that aside until Assembly was under the control of APC except for after the election. Obviously, the main party struc- Why did you allow Edo State to slip into the one unfortunate incident where the Deputy Senate tures were very unanimous to the extent of the one hands of PDP? President turned out to be a PDP member. Yes, the year extension, but behind the scene, a lot of things It was not me; it was the party that took the decision former party leaders might have made one or two were happening. There were also legal issues; do we that made the people to revolt. It was not me. I had mistakes because they were involved in irreconcil- have that legal extension? For one year, we got legal only one vote. The party took the decision that was able differences that led to that unfortunate situa- opinions from three senior advocates of Nigeria. They against the electoral fortunes of the party in Edo. tion. Incidentally, they sustained the bitterness to advised that the worst that could happen was to hold Again, do not forget that I warned about the conse- the end of our tenure. This for me was so unneces- a special convention to give us that legal backing. But quences of the decision that was being taken. It was sary. many thought that the opposition, the PDP, may take the people that decided in Edo State, it has nothing us to court to question the constitutionality of one to do with me. We made several efforts to reconcile the factions year extension. So, at the end of the day, it became •Continues on Page 13 ThisNigeria 13 TheBigInterview Monday April 26, – May 2, 2021 ‘Zoning key offices ’ll promote sense of belonging’

Oshiomhole Oyegun Obaseki •Continued from Page 12 a lot of people have moved from one party to the other at all levels. Major stakeholders People are waiting anxiously to see also moved, but down below, you may even where the APC will zone the presi- You were also accused of working be sitting down holding meetings with fifth dency in the coming dispensation. against the party in the state columnists, or rather half of the people you What is your take on it? Well, some people could interpret it like are holding meetings with are no longer your I don’t think the party leadership have that, but it is their fundamental right. For members. made a statement regarding this issue, me, principle is cardinal. If we had abided and I think at the appropriate time they by the details of the constitution of the I think the revalidation is necessary to know will do and make their views official. I can party, what happened in Edo State wouldn’t who is in APC or not. I think the leadership only speak as an individual by a simple have happened. So, I stood by my principle of the party is trying to establish firm control common sense and in the interests of the of speaking the truth of not working against in their register and other documents. That is Nigerian nation. The difficulties we are the party. As I said earlier, the people re- why I’m fully in support of what they are do- passing through are enormous. volted, not me. ing. That does not also mean that a few igno- We must rant people in some states will want to take organise The party’s presidency should be zoned Will you say that your reconciliation control of the party. But they have forgotten to the South, and what part of the South committee can approach Obaseki one thing, that it is not the parties that elect for victory, it comes is a different thing; but it should and bring him back to the party? governors or senators or members of the rep- be a southern citizen. It is very necessary I will celebrate it if he agrees to come back. resentatives or even presidents. Yes, they are not just for to have this kind of rotation to the key Well, I don’t think you know the serious- important in terms of party primaries for the participation. offices of the nation because we are still ness of the matter. At the end of the selec- selection of party candidates, but at the end in the process of building a nation state. tions for the primaries of the party in the of the day, it is the people that elect leaders. That defines It is critical that every part of this nation South-South, the bitterness was so much on There are some people who make that mis- the enormity should have a sense of belonging. That is ground in virtually all the states. The bitter- takes that ‘oh, I am in control of the party in why we have a Federal Character Com- ness was so much, that it affected the party my state’. In such places, you have a lot of of the task. mission -the issue of ministers that each from being a political force. There were too confusion. one has to come from each state. That is many factions in each and every state. I will not go why in making an appointment, everyone Do you see the APC remaining intact ahead to give has to watch banners of the geographical We are trying to bring all these people to- as a party with this huge challenge of areas. All these are for the reason of build- gether and let them see reasons. So that insecurity in the country? you details ing a process of a state because there is they can now reason that they have one Well, really there are issues in the polity; there because I no part of the country that does not have objective, and that everybody must be com- is no question about that – security, economy. a qualified citizen to that position. So, it mitted to it, irrespective of differences. Ev- Let me just say I am not blaming anybody be- would have is very right that we build banners so that erybody must struggle to win and return to cause they elected us to solve problems. And to report to everybody in any part of this country has the party to the government houses in the that is why they preferred us. But unfortunate- a sense of belonging. That is very, very South-South. ly, due to a series of circumstances totally out the party that critical. of our control, we have not been able to deliv- gave us the Basically, we are equally going to approach er the way we were seriously supposed to do. Earlier, you claimed that you had all the different parties in Edo State, includ- assignment no quarrel with Oshiomhole. As an ing the governor, where we will tell them, Security wise, we promised. It was one of our before I elder, why did you not reconcile please hold on, the past is gone. We have high points. Economy, we promised, but cir- Obaseki and Oshiohmole? to think of bringing everybody back, includ- cumstances totally beyond the control of the can go any Life is not simple. Tempers rose at fever ing the governor, whose originality is APC. government have made us not achieve the pitch. We must allow the temper to cool I think that the bitterness in Edo State must level of delivery we wanted. We must accept details with down. The situation was that the people not get to that extent. So, it is very, very that. The people must not be taken for grant- the media, started antagonizing themselves. So, a strategic that we have to think like that and ed. People are suffering; there is no question time will come when the main actors will get the government back in Edo State. about that. That was why they rejected the but I can tell start blaming each other. When they go PDP and gave us power. So, they now under- you that we to that extent, at that point, they will be Is the APC revalidation exercise all stand that things are difficult all along, and we ready to listen to people. about 2023 general elections? have another year plus to mend fences to get are making It is not about 2023 general elections. The the security under control. We have to do this Even as we speak, do you know whether leadership of the party decided to have a so that when we are talking in 2023, people enough they exchange phone calls? You cannot fresh register. There are many reasons why will listen to us. progress •Continues on Page 15 14 ThisNigeria Interview Monday April 26, – May 2, 2021

‘Nigeria is on a precipice’ Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Onueze C.J. Okocha, speaks on current clamour for the fiscal autonomy for the judiciary, the security situation in Nigeria and what can be done to ameliorate the situation, in this interview with Emma Obe

there can be no doubt about what the provi- sions are. And until this is done, there is no doubt that we will continue to have difficul- ties. I heard that, apart from Rivers and Eki- ti states, one other Western state has also given the judiciary financial autonomy. But whether this extends to capital expenditure I am unable to say. That is why I say hazy pic- ture; not so clear what is in operation. And of course, the JUSUN people would seize upon this as the justification for their strike.

You were saying awarding capital project contracts could bring about the likelihood of corrupting judicial officers… No. I wasn’t talking of corruption. As I said, conflict of interest. A chief judge is heading a court, the court is awarding contract to build courts, and then the contractor defaults. The matter would end up in court and he, the chief judge, would now be presiding over either directly or indirectly, a case in which he is interested. They tried to insulate the chief justices and made the chief registrar the chief accounting officer of the judiciary. But it is still not a workable arrangement. So, we have to really know what the judiciary should handle when we are talking about its Okocha funding.

Why is it that the governors are find- paucity of funds, the delays in the inflow of Let the government continue to build those ing it difficult to implement financial funds from the Federation Accounts, most of structures as it is building for army, it is autonomy for the judiciary when the the states have not been able to do so. building for police, it is building for civil ser- federal government is already doing vice. So, let it build courts as a responsibility it? Here in Rivers State, I am aware that the of government so that you try to insulate the et me say this; the picture is hazy. You state government has given the judiciary judges from matters in which they have per- said it has been done at the Federal what we call financial autonomy to the extent sonal interests. LGovernment level; I am not too sure that immediately its budget is approved; once about that. I know as a fact that the Federal they are released and due, they will be paid The Niger Delta area, where you Government is not sufficiently funding the over. But then the governor, thanks to him, come from, is riddled with crises, federal judiciary in terms of capital expendi- seeing that the funding of the judiciary may most of which are related to oil ex- ture and recurrent expenditure. not be enough to cater for capital expendi- ploration, pollution, company/com- ture, has been doing some capital projects munity relations. Do you think the The Federal Government built the Supreme for the judiciary here, and even some capital Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) before Court complex, the Court of Appeal com- projects for the federal judiciary like the Na- the National Assembly can resolve plex, and the Federal High Court complex, tional Industrial Court, the Court of Appeal these problems? Or will it require po- all in Abuja. They also did the same across and the Federal High Court. In a true litical action to resolve them? the states where they exist, particularly the federation, each We need the political will. Personally, I feel Court of Appeal, Federal High Court and the But the ideal situation, which our constitution that if the Federal Government under the National Industrial Court, all of which are provides for, is that judiciary monies should federating unit Constitution has full mandate to deal with part of the federal judiciary. Ditto for the Fed- go to judiciary; let them spend it in accor- petroleum and petroleum resources, it has eral High Court of the Federal Capital Ter- dance with their approved budgets. and the people the full mandate under the law to deal with ritory. So, I am not so sure that the Federal who own the mines and minerals. Of course, it makes Government has implemented what is clearly That means that the anticipation of lands own the sense that the federal legislature should leg- stated in the Constitution that the funds for the constitution is that the judiciary islate on the topic. As I said earlier, I don’t the recurrent and capital expenditure for the ought to be executing their own capi- minerals agree. In a true federation, each federating judiciary should directly be channelled after it tal projects? unit and the people who own the lands own had been approved by the National Assembly. The other problem is, of course, making sure because these the minerals because these laws: the Miner- They are to be paid over to the heads of the that you insulate the judiciary from what we laws: the als Act, Mining Act and even this Petroleum various courts concerned. call award of contracts, because there may be Industry Bill that we are talking about; they implications of conflict of interests. Again, my Minerals Act, seem to forget that the principle of law ap- Should that be what we expect the own suggested solution is that all these are Mining Act plicable to landholding is that each man who states to do? matters that we should go back to the table. owns land owns all that is inside the land and Now, when we come to the states, a few We are now discussing amendments and re- and even this above the land. They should go and learn states have decided to give the judiciary what view of the constitution. These are things Petroleum from places like Canada, America and some we call, some measure of financial indepen- once we find a clear way forward, they should of the developed countries. If you own land, dence. But I suspect that on account of the be entrenched in the Constitution so that Industry Bill •Continues on Page 15 ThisNigeria 15 Interview Monday April 26, – May 2, 2021

‘Presidency should be ‘Nigeria is on a precipice’ zoned to the South’ •Continued from Page 13 tell. When it gets to that stage, everything will be sorted out. That process of reconciliation is still there. It is not just a switch. Even me, personally, I don’t still know what was the issue between them. I took a position strictly based on what I believed. My position was not based on the fact that I am a Benin man, but sometimes it is possible that a chain of events have nothing to do with being a Be- nin man or not.

For me, those issues are gone; they are behind me, and totally closed. But you have a governor that is in a ruling party; not that he has committed a heinous crime like murder or any other crime. You need to have a very good reason to treat him the way he was treated. He was a member of the gov- erning party, and we threw him away.

People are not happy with this govern- ment over poverty and hunger; as a leader Okocha of the party, are you happy with the gov- ernment? •Continued from Page 14 All these things do not really make me happy, but Do you think that Nigeria is on the brink, given the se- I also understand that I am a trained economist. you own the minerals. Let the Federal Government curity situation that we have; insurgency in the North- I understand the worldwide development that has be a regulator and just a regulator, not an owner, not East, banditry in the North-West and North-Central; put us in this position. Yes, there are one or two an operator just like we have now in Nigeria. the West and the East talking about regional security things that we may have not managed well, but that organisations… does not mean total condemnation. I know that Let them make a Petroleum Industry Bill. But first there are problems. We could have even managed and foremost, let them have in mind that the Consti- Nigeria is on a precipice. It is on the brink and un- our security better, though I am not a security ex- tution can change all that. If the Constitution says less we sit down as Nigerians and in a very mature pert. We could have managed the economy better, that each state owns the minerals within the states way solve our problems, we will continue to have dif- no question about that. and the landholders in that state also own whatever ficulties. Why has insecurity reached such an abysmal is in their land, all these laws that are militating level? People should ask questions. The law enforce- The issue that put us where we are is the collapse against the interest of the Niger Delta people will ment agencies like the police; the other one they call of oil, insurgency in the north, and the infiltrations disappear. SSS; the other one they call security and civil defence; into our country. They don’t even manage it prop- all federal institutions. And of course, you know what So, my thinking on it is that we need to sit down goes on at the federal level; quota system. They are re- erly, and if we do not get on top of it, I am afraid. and talk. Before Nigeria became a republic; in fact, cruiting people based on some bogus quota that they just before Independence, the constitutional con- have allocated to them. It is not right. Nowadays, corruption is the order of the ferences agreed on derivation formulas. Nigeria’s day, and it was a high point in your par- mainstay then was agriculture. Oil and gas then had Security is a neighbourhood thing. My grandfather ty’s campaign manifesto, what has gone not become very prominent in revenue. And look at used to tell me stories about how in the olden days, wrong? how most of the regions developed their regions. it was in the village. The villagers in that particular vil- Well, if you say so, I’m not in the system to know lage would set up their own security unit. And they what is going on. However, I hear things just the Look at the Western Region, from cocoa; Eastern were mostly youths of the same village, the same com- way others do. But I cannot from the social media Region, from coal, palm oil, rubber. Same with what munity. A man was fighting with his wife in the village and the rest conclude and make my decision. No later became the Midwest Region. Northern Region and killed his wife. A lone policeman came trekking from groundnut, hides and skins, cotton, because ag- from Ahoada, which was then our county headquarters Is your party still capable of winning elec- riculture was such that if you go and till the land and to arrest the man in my village at Rumuokoro without tions in the country? you get good product, you own whatever you har- a gun. In the meantime, the village boys had arrested We are capable of doing things; there is no question vested and you can sell to those produce marketing the man and tied him up and they were waiting. The about that. We pray that we have learnt valuable companies as they called them in those days. policeman came, took him by foot back to Ahoada. lessons counting from what is going on now. So, my answer will be yes, and I pray that we have learnt Again, it’s a constitutional problem. The Petroleum So, security is not being well attended to. The police, lessons that will get us out of the difficulties that Industry Bill? Yes, because petroleum is under the over the years…I happen to be the son of a policeman we found ourselves right now. I really pray that we Exclusive List. The National Assembly can legislate who worked with the colonial police when policing was get out of it. So many difficulties, so much hunger. on it now. But even the legislation that they are pro- well done. Security is now cash and carry. Those who We need to work and return hope to the people. posing has talked about a certain funny percentage can afford it would have good security. And look at the We need to give them hope which is principally for the owners of the land where the minerals are. way they recruit people into the police force. In those I hear that the leaders of the South-South said that days before a man enters the police force, you must missing right now so that their tomorrow will be they would take nothing less than 20 or 10 per cent, know him up to his basic background that there is no better. We need to get to that point. while the Act itself or proposed bill was recommend- criminality in his family. These days we hear that for- ing something lower. mer armed robbers, former kidnappers are being re- During the last revalidation, we learnt that cruited into the police, some into the army, some into you were not able to register in your unit. In the old regions, it was 50 per cent for derivation. the SSS. They were to recruit people into the ministry What really happened? I heard one senator from the north the other day of internal affairs the other day and a pandemonium Let me ask you, does that make sense? I am not say, ‘all the minerals in Nigeria belong to us because arose, and several people died. Up till now, nobody has registering to vote. I am registering in the party, in they belong to Nigeria.’ Who told him? He went and accounted for that. my ward, whether it is unit one or two. It is Inde- lived there. If he digs deep in his land, he will find pendent National Electoral Commission that gives gold, he will find diamonds, he will find other miner- So, sadly, I think that we need to rejig the security sys- the number of people who are going to vote. INEC als there, even uranium, which is very highly priced. tem in this country. The talk about state police is very will now say you belong to unit one or two. It is not So, again another constitutional problem, which Ni- relevant. The talk about local government police, it is a party thing. They do not know what they are talk- gerians should sit down and talk about, and we agree very relevant, so that we can have a measure of good ing about. I am registered as a party man, full stop. on the way forward. enforcement of law and order in Nigeria. 16 ThisNigeria Monday April 26, – May 2, 2021

Working forfor thethe peoplepeople of Rivers State

Infrasucture Education Security

Agriculture Sport Health Employment

His Execellency Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON Governor, Rivers State ThisNigeriaThisNigeria 1717 Monday NovemberMonday April 23 – 26, November – May 2, 29, 2021 2020 18 ThisNigeria OpenParliament Monday April 26, – May 2, 2021

Do you subscribe to creation of regional security bodies? By David Onimisi, Ben Ogbemudia, Cajetan Mmuta

Lekan Sowande, Hon. Austine Braimah, An editor with Voice of Nigeria Commissioner, Police Service Commission (PSC). ith the current security situation in this ntil the constitution is amended to allow state po- country , I will easily buy into the region- lice, regional security outfits are necessary at this Wal security to complement the Nigeria Upoint. These outfits are only on the ground to sup- Police Force. port the work of the Nigeria Police Force, NPF. We have inadvertently created a behemoth out of our NPF. We are Honestly, the police is seriously stressed now demonizing our police force. The force that we give so little following what is happening in places like the and expect so much. The regional forces will, at least, be South-East, South-West and the Northern parts equipped with good communication facilities, vehicles will of this country. be fuelled for them. They will be kitted, unlike our NPF. Nigeria is lacking in personnel. It is not good that we don’t I am in total support of regional policing to have enough policemen to combat crime and criminality. complement the federal policing system we cur- That is why because of this shortfall, the need for regional rently have. Regional security outfits will secure forces is becoming unavoidable. Nigeria is capable of fund- each region as well as strengthen the security ing these regional security outfits because the communities architecture of the country, thereby making the where some of these crimes are committed are not properly country a safe place to live and do business. secured, hence the need for these bodies. When they are properly trained and equipped, I believe they will be in a In as much as different regions are tired of rely- position to add more support and assist in no small way in ing on the Federal Government for protection, nipping in the bud any attempt to attack any of the com- the decision to start creating regional security munities by these hoodlums. It is just the political will to do outfits needs to be defined. We cannot keep de- the needful. We cannot afford to trade the security of this fying the rules and expect stability. Policing is Mr. Emeka Nwaeze, nation for nothing. That is why is important that the right not the exclusive responsibility of the Federal Businessman step is taken to ensure adequate manpower is provided for Government by virtue of Section 153 Subsec- the force, with complementary support from the regional tion 216 of our constitution. es, I support the creation of regional security groups, though might not be realisable until the constitution bodies like the Amotekun and Ebube Agu in is amended. I think it’s a good development. Since the inter- Ythe South-West and South-East respectively nal security structure is nothing to write home because those recruited into the security outfits about, it is no crime if every region wants to will know the people in the rural and urban areas. By David Onimisi Lawani take an extra step to secure their people. How- They can easily detect visitors, strangers and the onorable Austine ever, I foresee a clash because the people used residents of the communities, towns and regions, to represent the outfits are dangerous. May God Braimah is a People will confidently offer useful information to commissioner in see us through! members of the security outfits. H Police Service Commis-

I personally think the plans by the regions to sion, PSC. If you bring other security bodies with individuals Until the constitution is form security outfits is a good one, and they will who are in the police from the South-West or the assist the federal security. It is obvious the fed- amended to allow State Northern part of the country, they can only work Police, Regional Security eral security outfits have not been able to meet with the information made available to them by the this challenge. outfits are necessary at people, but if they were to be persons born and this point. These outfits bred up here (South-East), they will know who is Regional security outfits might not be the total are only on the ground who; those with criminal traits or not, those doing to support the work of solution to the nation’s insecurity, but it will go evil or not. a long way. the NPF. We have inad- vertently created a behe- Like in a community, the people living there will moth out of our NPF. We are demonizing our Police Force. know those who are bad and those who are not bad, and such development will easily help to get The force that we give so little and expect so much. The the bad ones arrested. Regional forces will at least, be equipped with good com- munication facilities, vehicles will be fueled for them. They But if you allow strangers as security hands, they will be kitted, unlike our NPF.Nigeria is lacking in person- may be working on fake information that will lead nel. to nowhere at the end. So, members of the region- al security bodies will know the nooks and cran- It is not good that we don’t have enough policemen to nies of the combat crime and criminality. That is why because of this shortfall, the need for regional forces is becoming unavoid- able. Nigeria is capable of funding these regional security Ozoermena Emmanuel outfits because the communities where some of these It is very, very imperative. The regional security crimes are committed are not properly secured hence the reation of regional security bodies will en- bodies will work collaboratively with the police need for these bodies. When they are properly trained and sure effective security of people within the because they don’t have the capacity to prosecute equipped, I believed they will be in a position to add more regions, because they know who is who with- offenders. support and assist in no small way in nipping in the bud any C attempt to attack any of the communities by these hood- in the locality and they know where every member of the outfit is living. It is not ordinary people that The police have the capacity to arrest and pros- lums. are coming from other lands to come and secure ecute somebody in courts. It is when Amotekun the areas, it is not possible. If it is a regional secu- and Ebube Agu have done the needful that they It is just the political will to do the needful. We cannot af- rity body, they will know where there is a loophole, will hand over to the police and the police will pros- ford to trade the security of this nation for nothing. That who are the hoodlums, and the real good people. ecute the suspects at the courts. is why is important that the right step is taken to ensure Any other person with strange character and be- adequate manpower is provided for the force with comple- haviours inimical to peace the people will be quick- The possibility of conflicts and suspicion between the mentary support from the regional groups though until the ly identified. regional security bodies and the police are limited. constitution is amended.

ThisNigeria 19 Monday April 26, – May 2, 2021 20 ThisNigeria Parliament Monday April 26, – May 2, 2021

External borrowing: MDAs delay loans for 11months Debts, Senator Clifford Ordia (Edo Central, PDP), revealed this shortly before the Upper Chamber ap- proved the loans that were part of the President’s re- quest of dated 19th May, 2020, for the borrowing of a total of $5.513 billion and €995 million to ensure the urgent financing of the revised 2020 budget deficit. He revealed that the final legislative action on the $1500 billion and €995 million loans was delayed till The Red Chamber last week because of the inability of the MDAs (Min- istry of Finance, Budget and National Planning; Min- By Andy Asemota istry of Agriculture and Rural Development; and Debt Management Office) to make available the required details and documents in respect of the loans.

“Recalls that, in agreement with the attending MDAs at the consideration of the above request in May Senate approves 2020, it was decided that, in the prevailing circum- stances of absence of required details in respect of some of the programmes, consideration will resume N1.678trn 2021 upon availability and submission of necessary docu- Lawan ments to the committee,” Ordia stated. budget for Customs he request of President Muhammadu Buhari for The local and foreign debts committee boss ex- he Senate has approved the approval of the Senate for external borrowing plained that the borrowings would help finance prior- N1,678,715,061,014 for 2021 financial Tof $1500 billion and €995 million spent about 11 ity projects of the Federal Government to address the Tyear budget of the Nigeria Customs Ser- months on the drawing board before becoming a reality impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and to improve Ni- vice (NCS). last Wednesday. geria’s food security and to finance projects of state governments facing fiscal challenges arising from the This shows a marginal increase above the The Chairman, Senate Committee on Local and Foreign COVID-19 pandemic. initial revenue target of the Customs for year 2020 which stood at N1.679 trillion, but was revised to N1.380 trillion due to COVID-19 pandemic. Cement price: Nigerians can’t

A breakdown of the revenue framework of the 2021 budget shows Federation Account target affordhe Senate has opened a canN3,800 of worms on why perability to bagprovide much-needed–Senate infrastructural of N1,500,096,484,401 and Non-Federation the hike in cement price may not persist in works required for growth of our economy, if the Account target of N1,78,61,576,613. Tthe country. recent increase in price of cement should persist, the negative consequences of high prices on the The expected income profile of the budget The Upper Chamber condemned control of the Ni- economy would outweigh the benefits of produc- indicates seven per cent cost of collection for gerian cement market by three major players, there- ing cement locally.’’ 2021 (N111,573,991,091); two per cent VAT by making it susceptible to price fixing practices. share of NCS (7.5bn); 60 per cent share of Further worried that the significant rise in cement CISS (N47bn) and retained earnings for ongo- It said the control has culminated into the recent in- prices in the country and the low purchasing pow- ing projects, 2020, (N91bn). crease in price of cement from N2,600 to N3,800 er of Nigerians could result in substandard build- per bag and slowed down the amount of construc- ing construction and non-completion of planned Presenting the report of the Senate Commit- tion work being embarked generally. infrastructural works, they urged the need to en- tee on Customs, Excise and Tarrif on the bud- courage local production of cement to satisfy the get, the committee chairman, The Senate also stated that the increase has nega- demands of Nigeria with a steady growth rate of tively affected labour engagement and almost - col approximately 3 per cent per annum, a housing Sen. Francis Akimikhena (Edo North, APC), lapsed the procurement of Federal Government’s deficit of 30 million units and less engagement of said initial proposal of 2021 NCS revenue tar- Appropriation Act. over 10.5 million workforce of the building and get which stood at N1.465 trillion was deemed construction industry. inadequate by the committee and increased to Presenting the lead debate on the motion for the N1.678 trillion by the committee. need for liberalisation of cement price in the country To the law makers, the “unfavourable government on behalf of five other senators, Oyelola Yisa Ashiru policies ranging imposition of multiple taxes, er- The increase, according to him, followed ex- said the price of cement in Nigeria is about 240 per ratic power supply, government ban on importa- pansions of excisable items, excise duties of cent higher than global average. tion in violation of ECOWAS Trade Liberalization carbonated drinks; tariff review on vehicles; Scheme (ETLS) and subsequent lifting of impor- reopening of borders; and official increase of The law makers: Muhammad Enagi Bima, A. Adey- tation in favour of few producers have negative Naira from N381 to N410 to one dollar, which emi Oriolowo, , Kabiru Gaya and Michael implications on the growth of our infrastructure.” were not captured in the Medium Term Ex- Nnachi, revealed that as at 2018, the installed capac- penditure Framework (MTEF) 2020. ity of cement producers was about 47.8 MMT which Accordingly, the Senate resolved that the govern- is far above the estimated (2018) consumption of ment should provide more industrial incentives In his concluding remarks, the Senate Presi- about 20.7MMT. and protections such as offering concessionary dent, , directed that the life span loans and larger tax incentives for new entrants of the budget remained 12 calendar months They argued: “Cognisant that cement takes a large in order to boost production of cement, reduce and its implementation should be spread share of domestic expenditure, and the price of such price and encourage more valuable producers in throughout the year and not beyond. commodity significantly impacts on government’s Nigeria. ThisNigeria 21 Parliament Monday April 26, – May 2, 2021

Speaker calls for motivation of policemen

he Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has said that Nigeria urgently recognition from the appearance of a policeman.” Tneeds to work on the dignity and well-being of its po- Gbajabiamila assured the IG that the House was prepared lice force as a major factor that will make its personnel suc- to collaborate with the force to identify its areas of need ceed in the core mandate of preventing and fighting crime. and address them through improved funding, recruitment and training. The Green Chamber Gbajabiamila noted that a policeman, being the face of the law, his appearance in the community must first command He asked the IG to do a “needs assessment” and submit a By Kassim Omomia respect for him to effectively enforce the law. Speaking in comprehensive report to the House through its Committee Abuja when the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr Us- on Police Affairs for necessary action. man Alkali Baba, paid him a courtesy visit at the National Assembly, the speaker stated that the image of policeman The speaker added that the 9th House was committed to looking unkempt on the streets sends wrong signals to the building a police force that would “stand shoulder-to-shoul- citizens about their ability to enforce the law. der” with other police structures elsewhere in the world. Gbajabiamila seeks He told the IGP that, unlike the case in some countries, the Gbajabiamila spoke further, “We will welcome collabora- more role for women Nigerian policeman does not have adequate equipment to tion. Don’t worry that if you do a needs assessment, that work, and is not well-catered for. The speaker added: “We we are not going to look into it. Do the needs assessment, he Speaker of the House of Representatives, need to know that police work has a lot to do with psycholo- a budget, and we look for the funds. If we must do it, we Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has advocated the gy. Why are policemen looking tattered on the streets? They must do it. Tinclusion of provisions in the country’s con- wear dirty, torn uniforms, and you see them in slippers. stitution to guarantee a “more equal” society where The speaker promised that the requests from the needs both men and women could contribute to develop- “So, people don’t even respect them or feel intimidated by assessment report could either be accommodated in the ment. their presence when they need to enforce the law. In other 2021 supplementary budget being expected by the Na- countries, the sight of a policeman and the gadgets he carries tional Assembly, or a separate window could be created to He noted that doing so is the only way Nigeria could alone, prevents crime from happening. There is immediate capture the funding challenges of the police. achieve the success it desired, adding that women should be free to “pursue their highest aspirations He added that the House was concerned about the rising and achieve their maximum potential.” insecurity in the country and had responded to it by setting up a special committee to interface with the executive arm Gbajabiamila spoke in Abuja at the opening of a two- with a view to addressing the situation. day retreat on ‘Achieving Gender Equity in the Con- stitution Review Process.’ The event, an initiative of the Office of the Speaker and the House Com- Minority parties demand mittee on Women Affairs, was organised in collabo- ration with the National Democratic Institute. The Pantami’s sack speaker stated that there is no better time to push for the protection of the rights of women than now inority Parties in the House of Representatives that the National Assembly is reviewing the 1999 have joined calls for the immediate sack of Minis- Constitution and the Electoral Act. Mter of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, over comments supporting religious extremists Gbajabiamila explained that such practical steps and terrorism. The recent demand through the Minority must include giving girls and women more access Leader in the House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu, to education, healthcare, commerce and participa- Gbajabiamila followed a point of order raised on a breach of his privilege. tion in politics. “To achieve such a society, we have to make sure Elumelu noted that as a cabinet minister of the Federal Re- that girls across the country have access to educa- Reps to probe high public of Nigeria, Pantami occupied an extremely high and tion and healthcare. acceptance fees in sensitive position that prohibits such comments.

“We have to create opportunities for women to tertiary institutions He however, requested that such weighty remarks credited thrive in politics and commerce, and we must make to the communication minister should not be ignored, but in- sure that the laws of our land do not take away the he House of Representatives is to launch an investiga- vestigated. But while acknowledging Elumelu’s position, the rights of Nigerian women to participate fully in ev- tion into high acceptance fees charged in tertiary institu- speaker, Femi Gbajabiamuila, declined debate of the motion, ery sector of our national life,” he told the session. Ttions. pointing that such motions were not necessary for debate. “Your point of order has been noted. It is not such motion The speaker asked participants to use the oppor- It, however, passed a resolution mandating its Committee on for debate,” Gbajabiamila said and hit the gavel. The plenary tunity of the retreat to dissect the Electoral Act Tertiary Institution and Services to investigate the high accep- session then moved to other items on the House’s agenda. and the constitution to identify for excision, “any tance fees charged by Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria. discriminatory provisions that might exist”, so that Recall that there have been overwhelming calls for the resig- actions would be taken to “include provisions that A motion sponsored by Hon. Julius Ihonvbere (APC Edo nation or sack of the minister over his pro-Taliban comments. guarantee a more equal society for all. State), noted the arbitrary high acceptance fees charged by But the minister has recanted his radical comments, admit- some public universities on new students across the country ting he knows better now, even though calls for his sack by He commended the timing of the retreat, coming and expressed worry over the development. President Muhammadu Buhari and pressures on him to re- at a period of increased awareness in the country sign voluntarily increases by the day. that gender equity is no longer a women’s issue, but According to Prof. Ihonvbere, the matter has become worri- something that would guarantee peace and justice some to families and parliament, hence the need to address The opposition party, Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) had for all Nigerians. Gbajabiamila assured women that the issue for downward review. The House particularly is con- also called on the Department of State Services (DSS) to the 9th House under his leadership would act on cerned about the consequences of such exorbitant fees on the immediately invite the minister for questioning and urged the recommendations of the retreat, as he told the poor student who may have lost admission chances on account President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately sack the min- organisers that he eagerly awaited the report. of their inability to pay the high requested amounts. ister, “given the sensitivity of the issue at stake.” 22 ThisNigeria Politics Monday April 26, – May 2, 2021

Amid concerns, FG approves N50bn for renovation of NASS secretariat The Federal Government is hellbent on renovating the National Assembly complex in spite of its present financial challenges, Idu Jude reports

he Federal Government, it appears, is once again plac- Onyekpere, a lawyer, noted with surprise the attitude of the “The N50bn is also more than the budgetary allocations to ing the cart before the horse, in an attempt to renovate members of parliament in rooting for themselves while “ripping other major teaching hospitals like the University College Tan already existing National Assembly complex. Nigeria apart’’. He said, “I do not need to tell you that Nigeria Hospital, (UCH) Ibadan; University of Nigeria Teaching spends 70 per cent of her annual budgets on overheads and the Hospital (UNTH) and the Jos University Teaching Hospital Despite the shaky nature of the economy the government is service to the National Assembly. As you can see, members of (JUTH).” coughing out N50bn to renovate the complex, a move that has the parliament take care of themselves first before every other generated many reactions. projects in Nigeria. FCTA and NASS in tango Just as Onyekpere and the Centre for Social Justice make this Of the allocation, N42bn is for the renovation of National As- “Need we talk about our roads which are dead traps? This is observation, residents of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja sembly complex and N8bn for the renovation of the Federal unlike what happens in other countries. It is also on record have criticised the level of disrespect to the indigent people Secretariat. All these are going on while the country grapples that Nigerian members of parliament are paid higher than their of the Nigerians capital city, with little or no hope of having with an allegation of money printing to finance certain proj- counterparts all over the world. access to social amenities. ects, due to paucity of funds. “Ordinarily, they should be serving the masses, but the reverse As the custodian and landlord of the said property under re- ThisNigeria gathered that the Federal Government has is the case in this part of the world. Our members of parlia- view, the FCT Administration (FCTA) was not left off the approved the renovation of electrical faults as well as toilets, ments are supposed to be engaging the government but on the hook in providing the needed approval and resources to see among others, and the development has been tagged mis- contrary, ours are rubber stamped.” that the project scales through. The contract for the National placed priority by civil society organisations. For the CSOs, Assembly Complex renovation was recently awarded to a the approval for the projects is coming amid widespread hun- Onyekpere, while further appraising the situation, observed construction company, Visible Construction Limited by the ger, insecurity, poor quality of education and lack of proper that the decay in the state of education in the country has FCTA, which requested a ‘no objection’ certificate from the health facilities in the country. reached an alarming stage. Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).

As a matter of fact, CSOs have viewed the idea as self-serving He added, “They made sure that the place where they work ThisNigeria was reliably informed that the BPP, in a let- because, according to them, the initiative will only massage is well renovated. Taking a look at our educational sector, can ter to the FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello, indicated the ap- the ego of the members of the parliament, even when the Fed- we say we are right on track? And why has the academic staff proval of ‘no objection’ certificate. An official document seen eral Government is looking to raise funds to finance the 2021 unions been on strike for the past one year and our children by our correspondent also indicates that the N50bn would be budget. Disagreeing with the approval of the renovation of the roam the streets, while some of them join dangerous gangs? Is used to rehabilitate the National Assembly White House – the two buildings, Lead Director, Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), it not because of money issue? “Is it not because the Federal complex that houses the two chambers. This rehabilitation Ezeh Onyekpere, said that despite the fact that the large mon- Government has failed to pay for the agreed service conditions? includes electrical and mechanical works. ey was budgeted, it should not be a priority of the Federal Gov- So, you can believe me that that house renovation is not the first ernment where civil servants cannot be easily paid N30,000 to channel money into at this time.” Speaking on the development, a former Director of Procure- minimum wage ment of the FCTA, Alhaji Idris Bako, expressed shock over Onyekpere also imagined the value of money set aside for the the attitude the lawmakers and their mode of operations. “Where hospitals have no equipment to help dying pregnant mechanical and electrical repairs in some parts of the National Bako said, “It is dangerous that no one follows due process women. Where security men are not well paid to protect lives Assembly building and the Federal Secretariat. “You see, when when it has to do with the National Assembly. And that is and property of citizens, how can we spend such money on we take a look at the amount approved by the Federal Govern- because they appropriate and approve for themselves without renovations. “How can we do that where our children are be- ment to renovate the two complexes, we should be thinking of checks and balances. ing kidnapped, while schools exist without befitting buildings equivalent of $113m, a four-time 2021 budget allocated to the and security apparatus?” Lagos University Teaching Hospital, one of Nigeria’s biggest teaching hospitals. •Continues on Page 24 ThisNigeria 23 Crime Monday April 26, – May 2, 2021

‘Unemployment should not be an excuse for criminality’ Osun State Field Commander of Amotekun, Chief Amitolu Shittu, speaks on the operations of the security outfit and other sundry national issues in this interview with Mudiaga Affe

Why is insecurity increasing despite government’s Was it a one-off thing or you contin- effort? ued with the African science stuff? nation without ideology will never get it right politically. We have succeeded in applying the same Be it United States, Germany, United Kingdom, or method when other people were kidnapped. AFrance, they have an ideology and driving force that is This time, they were travellers coming from why they keep referring to their founding fathers. But here Ekiti. They were kidnapped along Illa road. in Nigeria, we have thrown away the efforts of our founding These victims were also released volun- fathers, their dreams are never appreciated and that is why tarily. It is the Lord’s doing. We have had we have not got it right in the area of economy and security. several interventions in this regard. We are building on the mechanism to ensure those When the military took over in 1983, a few of them came up kidnap victims are released freely without with the ideology of instilling discipline into our lives, which parting with ransoms. was alien to us at that time. They foresaw that indiscipline was breeding corruption at that time. They saw that indiscipline To what extent have Amotekun in will ruin the educational system and vandalise our heritage. Osun been able to synergise with Any nation that encourages indiscipline will collapse. We were others in the south-west to achieve beginning to get it right step by step before the unwarranted results? coup d’ etat staged by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd.). When The bulk of our operatives, for now, are that government came into power, there was no ideology on operating on ad-hoc capacity. By May this how best to run a government and that was when corruption year when we would have had our well- became officialised. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Nigeria trained corps members in their thousands was in good stead to development, so, we needed a leader Shittu graduating, such synergy can be sustained. whose focus should have been driven by ideology. Leaders ployed by the government. Unemployment should not be an The Osun State governor is also ensuring that other security whose idea would promote education, healthcare, epileptic excuse for criminality. Many youths are not interested in the agencies like the Department of State Services (DSS), Nige- power supply, economy, and all other sectors. development of the country. What they are after is amassing rian Army Regiment in Ede, Nigeria Security and Civil De- wealth and this is what the military introduced to them. Their fence Corps (NSCDC) cooperate with us to tackle insecurity The result of what we are witnessing today is part of the fail- interest these days is how to accumulate wealth through any in the state. However, some other sister security organisa- ure of the Babangida administration. I can tell you that the means such as internet fraud and ritual, Unfortunately, people tions see us as competitors, which ought not to be. bulk of those engaging in robbery, kidnapping, cattle rustling, now celebrate these mediocre persons. If these things are not and banditry was born during that administration. They were properly put in check, there will be a huge crisis in the country There are cases of some Amotekun operatives born without a proper plan for their future. The few that got it in the next 25 years or more against Nigeria and Nigerians. overstepping their bounds, how have you been right due to the efforts of their parents are the ones struggling able to manage this? to travel out of the country for greener pastures. That is why outfits like Amotekun should be encouraged to I do not think it is exactly the case. We have some security check these things. The reason why Amotekun seems to be operatives whose past actions are chasing them. They are no Why have you singled out the Babangida admin- making headway is that it has not been politicised. The moment longer respected by the public because some of them smoke istration as being responsible for the woes of the it is politicised, it will be brought down. So, I want to advise cannabis with criminals and they drink with them in public nation? the south-west governors not to allow any element of politics to bars and that is why they have lost their respect. We have If you go through the statistics, you will agree with me that override what will come to outlive them. No law enforcement ensured that our operatives do not share the same table with those who are into these criminalities are mainly between the agency can be a friend to criminals. Unfortunately, these crimi- criminals. Our responsibility is to arrest suspects and hand ages of 30 and 36. Before that administration took over power, nals will always want to hide under the human rights violation them over to the police for prosecution. We, however, need the level of criminality had reduced drastically, but it was after laws. Remember what they did during the #EndSARS protest. encouragement from some of these agencies. Those who en- he ruled the country for eight years that the country derailed We must not allow criminals to destroy our security outfits. courage us like DSS and NSCDC do so because they do not in the areas of politics, economy, security, and education. see us as rivals. The DSS do engage us sometimes and they As D-G of Amotekun, you said you would use Yoru- commend us for the outcome. The Amotekun is not in exis- It is over one year that Amotekun took off, are you ba magical powers (Yoruba science) to tackle crimi- tence to expose the inefficiency of any security agency but satisfied with its operations in the state? nality, has that been brought to use? we believe that the business of security should be done with Yes, it is one of the best tools that we are using today. This is absolute loyalty to the country. If the Nigeria Police Force Osun was the first to inaugurate Amotekun in the south-west. the first time I will be divulging this information to the public. can do it alone, there would have not been the need for the It has not been easy. The culture of killing, stealing, and kid- Some time ago in Osun, some persons were kidnapped and establishment of the NSCDC. They should understand that napping is all alien to the Yoruba culture. They have come to we searched for over 24 hours, there was no clue as to where security is a wide sector that needs collaboration. us as a result of the misgovernance that we have faced in the the criminals had taken the persons to. I talked to my people past. However, if governors like Gboyega Oyetola can deem it and we got in contact with the families of the victims. We ex- How well is Amotekun funded by the state gov- fit to correct the wrongs, I think we must give kudos to him. perimented on something and it worked out. The victims were ernment? In the area of community policing, it has not been easy. I must voluntarily released. Security is broad. In terms of finance, the state has a lean state that we have faced a lot of challenges but because we It was African science which may be in form of prayer in our purse, but the governor is doing the much he can to encour- have passion for it, we have persevered. traditional way. The victims were released, the kidnappers age us, financially. I pray for all the other states in the south- gave them back their phones and every other item they took west to get it right by funding Amotekun. The governors too Sometimes I wonder if those who engage in these criminal from them. When they were released, we went to their vari- should recognise the efforts of those who have put in their acts have any religious ties. I do not think they ever believe ous homes to find out what transpired and they told us that best in the discharge of their duties as this will be a morale that there is God. The Bible, Quran, and even our African the kidnappers told them that they (victims) were using people booster for them. I appeal to the governors to give awards traditional religion make us believe that you must account for from outside who have supernatural powers that were conflict- to any Amotekun operative that did well- this will motivate what you have done on earth when you die. How can you jus- ing with theirs. Specifically, they told the victims that their link them. If the federal government has been doing this to the tify ritual killings? Where are you taking the money to when with Amotekun was affecting their operations. That was how police, it would have changed the narratives. Such awards you die? Unfortunately, those who are caught tend to hand it they were released. Since then, we have been improving on our should be given to those who risked their lives for the coun- on the neck of unemployment, but everybody cannot be em- mode of operation. try and not for political purposes. 24 ThisNigeria Politics Monday April 26, – May 2, 2021

FG approves N50bn for renovation of NASS secretariat

Also in the 2017 budget, the amount of N1.25bn was bud- geted by the Senate for the “purchase of security equip- ment. Another N440m was allocated for the same purpose under capital expenditure for the National Assembly office. In a related development, President Buhari had approved N8.2bn for the renovation of the Abuja Federal Secretariat alone, which was originally built with N7bn by the military, with Phase I of the exercise to focus on electro-mechanical systems, water systems and other general rehabilitation.

Many Nigerians have argued that to build a structure twice as big as the Federal Secretariat wouldn’t cost that much, talk Gbajabiamila Lawal more of a renovation. But this is not the first time the Fed- eral Government would be allotting ‘huge sums’ to renovate •Continued from Page 22 assets. The amount budgeted for Port Harcourt refinery is “On the issue of the involvement of the FCTA in this circum- above project. already raising airs. stance, they knew that the FCTA has no judicial arm to make ‘’The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) having examined laws for them as a capital territory. The laws stipulate that your request and all the documents forwarded, confirms that What N42bn can achieve the National Assembly approves all the budget of the FCT the project has satisfied all due process requirements for is- While the list of interventions that can be done for Nigeri- so the minister can be blackmailed with no objection letter suance of a Certificate of “No Objection” to proceed to seek ans with N42bn is endless, many believe citizens will benefit from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).” Federal Executive Council (FEC) Approval for award of the more if their needs are prioritised by the government. Contract,” the letter reads. According to the document, Visible “If not for what directly involves the NASS, the approval of Construction Limited had proposed N45bn for the project, but Mr. John Magashi, a civil servant, insisted that 2021 budget this project would take a long period of time. That I know so after its review, the BPP reduced the amount by N2.6bn and for the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, very much.” arrived at N42bn (N42,414,917,272). For the renovation of the N400m was allocated for the purchase of Tesla MRI machine. Whitehouse alone. He said, “If government should decide to equip all the teach- Also, for a lawyer and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief- ing hospitals and other major hospitals across the country, tain, Dr. Kachy Ononuju, there is nothing wrong in renovat- The bid process about 105 MRI machines will be purchased. ing the National Assembly. However, he feels there is every- Visible Construction Limited is one of the five companies that thing wrong when a nation fails to prioritise developmental applied for the contract. Other bidders include Julius Berger, “Also, the government plans to purchase a mammography process. “We know that there are so many things left undone which proposed N101.1bn. ITB Nigeria Limited proposed machine for the hospital which was put at N40m in the hospi- in this country, and even members of parliament know it. But N26.9bn, Gilmor Engr. Limited proposed N61.2bn and Rock- tal’s budget. Over 1,000 such machines can thus be procured our minds are always fixated on those things that lubricate bridge Construction Limited proposed N55.8bn. While other and put in government hospitals across the country with the our lives first, before taking care of others. “The planned companies proposed different durations for the project, rang- N42bn. “Additionally, between N10m and N150m was al- spending is coming at a time Nigeria is grappling to stabilise ing from 12 to 42 months, Visible Construction Limited said it located to the National Primary Health Care Development her economy, after months of recession and amid dwindling would complete the contract in 85 weeks. Agency for the construction or renovation of Primary Health economic fortunes. Centres (PHCs) in some local governments. According to the process, a five-member committee set up by “Already, the government has said Nigeria will borrow the BPP to review the tenders confirmed the company’s regis- ‘’In a country where hundreds of PHCs lack adequate equip- N5.6trn from domestic and foreign resources to fund the tration. In the wisdom of the five-man screening panel, Visible ment, personnel and infrastructure, over 100 of them could 2021 budget of N13.6trn. Many have condemned the govern- Construction and Rockbridge were selected ahead of Julius be standardised with the N42bn. ment’s consistent borrowing to fund annual budgets. Berger Plc, Gilmor Construction Company. In fact, it was gath- ered that Visible Construction was the only company that met Condemnations “Besides borrowing, the government is also planning to pri- the eligibility criteria in line with Section 16(6) of the Public vatise some national properties to see such is achieved. Procurement Act 2007 and so was awarded the contract. When the National Assembly last year proposed to spend N37bn to renovate its complex, many Nigerians condemned “Sometime, in the past, the media reported a list of some Other allocations the move. properties put up for sale or concession by the present While the award awaits FEC’s approval, recall that President administration, just to mop-up money to finance the 2021 Muhammadu Buhari had approved N37bn for a similar pur- A civil society group, SERAP, wrote to three United Nations budget. “Also to fund the budget, the government plans to pose in 2019. The president had approved the amount for the Special Rapporteurs, urging them to use their “mandates to borrow money from dormant bank accounts. “The planned renovation of the legislative complex, an act that sparked out- urgently request the Nigerian government and the leadership expenditure also comes at a time Nigerians are paying al- rage among Nigerians then. of the National Assembly to immediately reverse the unlaw- most double for goods and services ranging from food to ful, disproportionate and discriminatory budget cuts to educa- electricity and petrol” The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, had said the allocation tion and healthcare, and to stop the authorities from spend- was because there had been no major renovation on the com- ing N27bn to renovate the National Assembly complex.” But despite stiff opposition like this, there seems to be no plex for 20 years and “many parts of the complex are dilapi- going back by the government, as due process certificate of dated.” He also said the renovation would begin with the cham- SERAP added, “Nigeria’s budget deficits are caused by exces- ‘no objection’ for award of the contract for the rehabilitation bers and the committee rooms in the White House. sive expenditures on politicians’ allowances and mismanage- of the National Assembly White House has been sent to the ment. Nigerian authorities would only be able to commit to Minister of FCT. It is, however, surprising that a letter has More so, the new contract, if approved, will be in addition to fiscal discipline if they prioritise cutting the allowances of law- already been sent by the BPP to the minister, informing him the N9bn in the National Assembly’s 2021 budget, which was makers and the costs of governance in general, rather than that a certain Visible Construction Limited, out of other com- set aside for “general service”. The legislative arm, it would be cutting critical funding for healthcare and education. panies that bided, was selected for the contract. recalled, increased its budget from N128bn proposed by the president to N134bn this year, setting aside N9bn for general “We believe that alternative policies and measures, such as The letter, signed by the BPP Director-General, Mamman services. Before now, a few other contracts had been award- reducing the costs of governance, including the excessive al- Ahmadu, and dated January 25, stated that the award of the ed by the Federal Government through different agencies lowances for high-ranking public officials and the lawmakers, contract is subject to the approval of the Federal Executive for similar purposes. One of such is the N40bn approved by would have been a more appropriate solution to addressing Council. “Please find attached Due Process Compliance FEC for the “construction of Phase III, Part III of the National budget deficits as this would increase the available resources Certificate of “No Objection” for contract award in favour Assembly complex and the upgrading of the assembly’s two for healthcare and education, which in turn would contribute of Messrs Visible Construction Limited with respect to the chambers” in 2013. to reducing socio-economic inequality.” ThisNigeria 25 Obituary Monday April 26, – May 2, 2021

GOODNIGHT, COMRADE! •Yinka Odumakin, the late Afenifere spokesman, finally laid to rest amid eulogies

Odumakin Odumakin lying in state

Pall bearers conveying the corpse at his country home The widow and Osun State government officials rereceiwife and family in home town

Odumakin at his country home in Moro

At the funeral service for the deceased

L-R: Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gabajabiamila; Lagos State Gov- ernor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and widow, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, during the Odumakin’s remains at the Police College, Ikeja tribute for the late Odumakin at the Police College, Ikeja 26 ThisNigeria Sport Monday April 26, – May 2, 2021

Adepoju cautions Iheanacho Rohr renews on Chelsea’s move interest in Crystal Palace’s Eze uper Eagles Manager, Gernot Rohr, has shown renewed interest Sin Crystal Palace’s Ebere Eze to persuade him to commit his internation- al future to Nigeria, even as he showers praises on the youngster plying his trade in the English Premier League.

Eze trained with the Super Eagles before a cancelled friendly against Burkina Faso in March 2017, but since then, his status has changed as he is now provisionally cap-tied to his country of birth England and represented the country in the Euro- pean U21 Championship last month.

Nigerian Federation president, Amaju Pinnick, has openly courted the for- mer Queens’ Park Rangers dazzler, but he requested to be given some more time to make his decision.

Chelsea, though, are not the only Premier expected? Can he easily adapted to new club Though Rohr has admitted Eze is a By Babs Oyetoro League teams interested in securing the and hit the ground running immediately? player of interest, the German football tactician has stressed that the decision elechi Iheanacho’s superlative per- signature of Iheanacho, with the report sug- gesting that Manchester United and Arse- “The convivial atmosphere in Leicester City to represent Nigeria must come from formance this season in the Pre- the player himself and he won’t be miership has opened a vista of op- nal are watching the 24-year-old. on and off the pitch may not be there in the K new club. He must weigh all these options forced to pledge his allegiance to the portunities for the in-form Super Eagles three-time African champions. striker. Talking from experience, Adepoju stressed before he takes a decision,” he offered his that what is happening to Iheanacho is a advice. Iheanacho has been on fire over the “This is a wonderful player, Ebere Eze It is no more news that some top EPL good development in football, particularly last few weeks, with Harry Kane (15) the when a player is in top form different clubs only Premier League player to have scored is one of the best offensive midfielders clubs are jostling to have the Leicester goal I’ve ever seen in England and I would poacher in their fold, but ex-international, will be jostling for his signature. more goals in all competitions than the Nige- “Iheanacho needs to weigh all the options rian international this year. like to have him with us, but you know Mutiu Adepoju, has cautioned the Nigerian that he can also play for England and al- to weigh the options before taking a final before taking a decision. He must be sure that he will have regular playing time if he The former Manchester City has scored 13 ready played for one team in England,” decision. Rohr said to Elegbete TV Sports. It was reported during the week that the moves to the new club. goals in all competitions for the Foxes since “It is not about money but must also think the turn of the year. His goal against West Blues manager, Thomas Tuchel, has shown “There is a process to do, at first the boy must interest in the ability of the Leicester City about the nearest future in whatever deci- Brom recently was his ninth in the league sion he is taking now. Will the new club be this season- the most he has scored in a accept himself and the decision must come forward to improve his team’s attack, a from him, from his parents, from his own. Spanish publication, Fichajes, revealed. patient with him if the goals are coming as single campaign. “We cannot tell him he must come, he must come himself and if he wants to Kelvins blasts Rohr over Ighalo’s recall to Super Eagles come he has to write a letter. x-international Yinka Kelvins has Kelvins observed that Rohr’s purport- option available to Rohr, with the likes of warned the Super Eagles man- ed plan to recall Odion Ighalo, who Paul Onuachu, Sadiq Umar, Kelechi Ihe- “In this letter he has to write to FIFA Eager, Gernot Rohr, to desist from retired from international duty in 2019 anacho and Simy Nwankwo showcasing that he wants to switch and to play for any action that can cause unnecessary can cause unnecessary distraction to their worth this season. I don’t think that Nigeria, this would be wonderful, but distraction to the team ahead of the the team despite the array of attacking he needs a striker again in that team.” I know that we cannot force his deci- World Cup qualifiers. talents in the squad. sion and he can only take it himself. “I do not think this man knows what he is say- It would be recalled that Ighalo called ing. From the look of things, the team needs time on his Super Eagles career after to beef up the defence and get a creative mid- finishing as the top scorer and helping fielder that can turn the game around when Nigeria to win bronze at the 2019 Africa the going gets tough. The Super Eagles do Cup of Nations. not need a striker again,’’ the former Union Bank coach added. The former Kogi United gaffer noted that since Ighalo announced his re- Meanwhile, Rohr had opined that Ighalo’s tirement, Osimhen has stepped in to return would provide the needed experi- replace him, stressing that the Napoli ence for the young players in the team. striker had made tremendous contribu- tions to the team; scoring six goals in “When you look at the age of all the play- ten games played so far. ers that you speak about, they are all He continued: “Osimhen is not the only young, and we need experience. Rohr ThisNigeria 27 Sport Monday April 26, – May 2, 2021

Ruiz Jr ranks Fury ahead of AJ •In top five boxing heavyweights s many still remember, Ruiz Jr. stunned the boxing world Awhen he knocked out An- thony Joshua in June 2019 to claim the WBA, IBF and WBO belts for himself. The Mexican did lose the rematch a few months later and has not fought since. Several months of training has trans- formed Ruiz Jr’s physique drastically, and he is now arguably in the best shape of his life in preparation for his bout with Chris Arreola on May 1, 2021. With Ruiz Jr. now a new animal, he has gone ahead and named who he believes are the top five heavyweights in boxing today while speaking to PBC on FOX. Spoiler alert, he has included him- self on the list. But in his opinion, Tyson Fury is number one among the top five heavy weights he listed. According to him, Fury is a Christian like him who will not give up easily.

However, a surprise inclusion at num- Anthony Joshua and Ruiz Jr. INSET: Tyson Fury ber five is Ruiz Jr’s upcoming oppo- nent, Chris Arreola. We don’t know weight champions once, but after ing to fruition and the former cham- that we need to handle. I won one, he whether he’s been included based on they eventually lost their crowns, the pion firmly has his sights set on a won one, so we’re just waiting for the merit or based on the fact the pair are fighters are each on respective jour- second heavyweight crown. trilogy.” He rated AJ number two, who going toe-to-toe in just over a week, neys to reclaim their thrones. is the current heavy weight champion. Ruiz Jr. was full of praise for the Mex- “I know what I’m capable of and ican American fighter. When speaking about Wilder, Ruiz Jr. I know what I’m going to do to be- The current WBC champion is Ruiz said: “He has a great right hand, he’s come a second-time champion of the Jr’s rightful number one and the pair “He’s a Mexican heavyweight fight- tall, he’s a dramatic knockout artist.” world.” He rated self-number three. seemingly got along when they re- er, just like me. He does not give up. He has rated him number four. cently met in person. Ruiz Jr. said: Me and him are bangers and we like No surprise here that Ruiz Jr. has The AJ and Ruiz Jr. saga is definitely “He’s a man of God and he’s a Chris- to give the crowd what they want.” included himself on the podium. His not over with the fighters split 1-1. tian like me. We don’t give up.” Both Ruiz Jr. and Wilder were heavy- highly anticipated comeback is com- “Me and him have unfinished business Olympic Games…Olympic Games…Olympic Games France bars unruly Paire from Games Japan declares COVID he French Tennis Federation best tournament in the world,” he recently barred outspoken said, referring to the lack of specta- emergency again Tworld number 35, Benoit tors due to the Covid-19 pandemic. apan recently declared a new state clared in Japan since the onset of the Paire, from the Tokyo Olympics. Paire has waged a running battle of of emergency for Tokyo and three pandemic -- includes Osaka, Kyoto and Paire will not be considered for wits with tennis this year, becoming other prefectures. The decision Hyogo prefectures and lasts from Sun- selection to Tokyo due to his “re- increasingly enraged with bio-bub- J comes just three months before the day through May 11. peated deeply ill-judged behav- bles and sterile playing conditions, a July 23 opening of the Tokyo Olympics iour”, a statement from the FFT consequence of tournaments taking and attempts to make the games “safe The latest emergency comes after ear- announced. place without fans. and secure,” as surging Coronavirus lier restrictions failed to slow the spread The decision to exclude France’s cases cloud the event. of COVID-19 and its variants, and with ‘enfant terrible’ was proposed by “I don’t give a damn, fight or not hospital beds becoming increasingly the federation’s new technical di- fight. They say it’s Monte Carlo, but The nation’s medical system faces scarce. The new guidance includes ask- rector, Nicolas Escude, in tandem we are playing in a sad atmosphere. new pressure from the rise in infec- ing restaurants and large businesses with French Davis Cup captain, Se- That’s how it is, the circuit has be- tions tied to COVID-19 variants. The that serve alcohol to shut down during bastien Grosjean. come rotten,” the 31-year-old said. state of emergency -- the third de- the 17-day period, while diners that do not serve alcohol will be asked to reduce It follows Paire’s behaviour at re- their store hours and close by 8 p.m. cent events in Buenos Aires when IOC approves Tchaikovsky music as Russian anthem he was penalised for spitting, and Restaurants that comply with the re- in Monte Carlo. he International Olympic Com- Sport. It was previously used at skat- mittee said it has approved Pi- ing world championships this year. quest to close will be eligible for co- At the Masters tournament in Mo- operation money, or cash handouts; naco Paire lost in the first round Tano Concerto No. 1 by Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky for use A CAS ruling last year banned Rus- those that do not comply could be and then launched a foul-mouthed fined up to 300,000 yen ($2,780). In rant at the current state of a sport at the Tokyo Games this year and the sia’s flag, anthem, and team name 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. from the next two Olympics in the a bid to reduce commuting, public which has brought him $9 million transportation operators like subways in prize money. latest punishment for an extensive It was proposed by Russian Olympic doping program and cover-ups, in- will be asked to move up their last train times on weekdays, as well as “Tennis doesn’t make me happy officials after their first choice, the cluding at previous Olympic Games patriotic folk song “Katyusha,” was and testing laboratories in Moscow reduce the number of trains that run anymore. To be here is an absolute on weekends and holidays. sadness because it’s usually the blocked by the Court of Arbitration for and Sochi. 28 ThisNigeria Health&Living Monday April 26, – May 2, 2021

Stop your mind drifting into depression ow to stop your mind drifting into depres- sion presents five ways to help you break Haway from negative intrusive thoughts, bring more happiness into your life, and improve your health.

6 Healthy Ways To Avoid Depression The reality is that this is an age of uncertainties, frustrations, and increasing disruptions. The past year with the pandemic has made normal daily liv- ing difficult. Hence it’s easy to allow your minds to drift dangerously into depressive thoughts. Thus blocking your way to happiness and good health. However, your inner strength during tough times helps you deal with adversities and usher happier times. Read and learn how to stop your mind drifting into depression, stimulate more happiness and good health into your life.

Strike the best work-life balance Stop your mind drifting into depression. You don’t ed, and mildly challenging with clear goals towards tude is a humble dependence that acknowledges have to make yourself miserable to be successful… success. You must feel you have control and receive how other people, even higher powers, gave you success isn’t about working hard, it’s about work- immediate feedback with room for growth. Although the ability to achieve the goodness in your life. ing smart a flow state is characterised by the absence of emo- tion, the activity is still described as enjoyable and In the end, you can cultivate gratitude by keeping a Andrew Wilkinson, founder of metalab even exciting. “gratitude journal”, practicing gratitude exercise, In order to restore peace and happiness to your and integrating gratitude meditation. A combina- life, you need to lessen your stress levels and strike Finally you can enjoy the thrill of being in the flow tion of a gratitude journal, exercise, and medita- the best work-life balance. Unfortunately, trying to by transforming the “have to” tasks into “want to” tion trains the brain positively and as a result, stop find a work-life balance in today’s fast-paced world pleasures. the mind from drifting into depression. is no easy task. It’s a continuous fight to maintain harmony in key areas of life. Celebrate simple pleasures in your day Build on your key inner strengths You never know how strong you are until being For example, if you spend more time at work than We need to learn to want what we have, not to have strong is the only choice you have. at home, you’re likely to miss out on a rewarding what we want, in order to get stable and steady hap- personal life. Then again, concentrating on your piness. Bob Marley job can be difficult if you’re facing challenges in First of all, inner strengths are the tools you carry your personal life such as caring for an aging par- Dalai Lama in your bag as you make your way down and up ent or coping with marital or financial problems. The norm has always been to focus more on things the hard road of life. These tools include a posi- So, when your work life and your personal life feel we don’t have instead of focusing on simple plea- tive outlook, common sense, honesty, inner peace, out of balance, the harmful effects of stress are the sures. As a result, our mind starts to wander mak- willpower, and kindness. It’s important to build on outcome. In order to take control, take a critical In order to ing us unhappy and discontented. Depression sets your inner strengths to help you feel more energet- look at your priorities and set boundaries. Try to in affecting our mental and physical health. Then we ic and perform better. A recent study confirmed be realistic about what you can and can’t do and restore peace comfort eat, don’t exercise, or participate in physi- people who use their key strengths in a new way adhere to the principle. and happiness cal activity, leading to obesity, diabetes, or heart each week “significantly increased happiness and disease. reduced depression”. Get Into The Happiness Flow to your life, stop your mind drifting into depresson you need to In this period of coronavirus, the simplest things are Now, the question is how can you be stronger There is no inherent problem in our desire to es- making us happy. It’s a reminder that when you’re during tough times? The first is to resist fight- calate our goals. The problem arises when people lessen your feeling down, remind yourself of the little joys of life. ing all battles. Choose your battles. Accept some are so fixated on what they want to achieve that For that reason, stop your mind drifting into depres- situations are beyond your control. Secondly, re- they cease to derive pleasure from the present. stress levels sion. Instead, celebrate, and be thankful for these member that being strong doesn’t mean you don’t When that happens, they forfeit their chance of and strike the instant simple pleasures in your day as they occur. need help. If help is offered, take it. Thirdly, the contentment. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to know that these coronavirus pandemic has shown that the smallest best work-life joyful moments may improve your heart health, act of kindness goes a long way in building your The psychology of optimal experience strengthen your immune system, reduce pain and resilience. For instance, many people find strength Getting into the happiness “flow” is described balance stress, and lead to a longer life. and joy in delivering food to the elderly, giving free as that happy zone where you’re completely en- food items to the less privileged, or even sewing gaged and absorbed, where time flies happily by, Embrace The Power Of Gratitude face masks for others. Consequently, doing little and where toxic thoughts are banished from your stop your mind drifting into depression compassionate things will lift your spirits and in- mind. Gratitude is the ability to experience life as a gift. ner strength. It liberates us from the prison of self-preoccupation. In other words, flow is when a person is involved in a doable task, is able to focus, has a clear goal, and Conclusion John Ortberg receives immediate feedback. As such, you can The best way to reach contentment is to feel grati- As a final point, trying to live in the moment helps bring happiness into your life by enjoying the thrill tude for what you already have. And by magnifying you to stay strong during tough times. Although of being in the “flow”. This is because when you the happiness impact of gratitude, you’re able to deal this doesn’t mean the past and future don’t matter. are actively involved in an activity that is challeng- better with adversity and build strong relationships The point is to learn from the past but don’t dwell ing but well suited to your skills, you experience with family and friends. You also get the benefits of on it. As for tomorrow, don’t live it yet. Only pre- a joyful state called “flow.” Subsequently these improved physical, emotional, and social wellbeing. pare for it because tomorrow is not a guarantee. “flow” experiences whether in intellectual, profes- For though life may not be perfect, gratitude moti- Subsequently, once you’ve given the past and the sional or leisure activities heighten performance vates you to relate with some goodness happening future their due consideration, pull yourself back and commitment to sustainable goals. in your life. into the present. This means, living in the moment is about taking baby steps one day at a time. Subsequently for a flow state to occur, you must Likewise, aside from gratitude that comes from your see the activity as voluntary, enjoyable, skill-orient- actions, there is also “true” gratitude. “True” grati- www.indulgeinhealthyliving.com ThisNigeria 29 Viewpoint Monday April 26, – May 2, 2021

On the independence of the judiciary

ple, a President, however powerful, ought not to make legislative and executive arms. The two elective arms laws or indeed act except in execution of laws made by could not see themselves sharing equal status with the Legislature. Nor should a Legislature make inter- the non-elective organ. There is also that unjustified pretative legislation; if it is in doubt it should head for impression that the heads of the judiciary are inca- the Court to seek an interpretation. pable of putting the finances of the judiciary into judi- cious use or that contracts for services and projects of This article centres on the Judiciary and the challenges the judiciary can be better handled by the Executive. of securing its independence and financial autonomy. The reality however is that the judiciary has inbuilt The Judiciary refers to the entire Court system that accounting and auditing systems that promotes fru- constitutes the institution responsible for interpret- gality and judicious management of its funds. The fact ing the laws and administering justice in the modern that the state judiciaries are subject to of the expen- state. In Nigeria, the Court system includes superior diture oversights of both the State Accountant Gen- Sam Courts of record itemised in Section 6(5)(a-i) as (a) eral and the Accountant General of the Federation, the Supreme Court of Nigeria; (b) the Court of Appeal; makes the argument that granting financial autonomy Kargbo (c) the Federal High Court; (cc) the National Indus- to the State Judiciaries most untenable. In any case, trial Court; (d) the High Court of the Federal Capital the judiciary is subject to the anticorruption laws and Territory, Abuja; (e) a High Court of a State; (f) the prosecutorial institutions of the state. At the bottom of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Terri- Worse still, the power of the Judiciary to invalidate or tory, Abuja; (g) a Sharia Court of Appeal of a State; nullify the actions of elective branches of government independence of the judiciary (h) the Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal creates the fear of its abuse or capacity to obstruct or is the ability of judicial Capital Territory, Abuja; and (i) a Customary Court of stand in the way of government business. Appeal of a State and the other Courts described in officers to administer justice Section 6(5)(j & k) of the Constitution as (j) such other These perceptional flaws are borne out of a misun- Courts as may be authorised by law to exercise juris- derstanding of the proper role of the Judiciary. In the “without fear or favour, diction on matters with respect to which the National first place, the power of the Judiciary is donated by Assembly may make laws; and (k) such other Courts the people, and their status is not diminished or made affection or ill-will as may be authorised by law to exercise jurisdiction less important because of the people’s deliberate de- at first instance or on appeal on matters with respect cision of secluding and insulating them from political to which a House of Assembly may make laws. There influences and biases. The nature of their functions he governance processes of nearly all mod- are the Election Tribunals established under Section makes it imperative for them not to be mired in the ern states are regulated by Constitutions 285 of the Constitution and Code of Conduct Tribu- politics that characterises the life and times of elected Tthat establish organs of Government to run nal established under the Code of Conduct Bureau Act political officeholders. government business in the form of (i) the making and the 1999 Constitution. There are also Magistrate, or repealing or amendment of laws for the peace, Customary, Area and District Courts – all exercising The power of the Courts to stand in the way of elect- order and overall good government of the country; one form of jurisdiction or the other. These Courts are ed officers by scrutinising their actions to ensure that (ii) the execution and maintenance of such laws and presided over and personified by judicial officers that they conform to the law is intrinsic to democratic the designing and implementation of relevant regu- include Magistrates, Khadis, Judges and Justices who governance and an effective antidote to tyranny. It latory or permissive policies that facilitate the ef- are assisted by various categories of administrative defines and demonstrates limited power and limited fective administration of the entire governance sys- and support staff. These include Cleaners, Messen- Government. Without it, the Courts would not be able tem; and (iii) the adjudication of disputes between gers, Court Clerks, Court Registrars, Bailiffs, Sheriffs, to keep majority rule from degenerating into majority individuals and/or groups as well as conflicts that Accountants, Auditors, Directors and Administrative, tyranny. Without that power, the legislative and ex- arise while the laws of the land are being made or Departmental Heads, Deputy and Chief Registrars. ecutive arms can connive and effect a coup against conflicts that arise whilst the laws and policies are the people. All tyrannical governments are built on being implemented through executive and adminis- Contrary to the intendment and prescriptions of the the ashes of razed Judiciaries. Of course, the inde- trative decision-making or action. A common feature Constitution, the Executive organ of Government in pendence of the Judiciary is not defined by its powers of all such constitutional regulatory frameworks Nigeria has been breaching and trespassing on the in- to review the actions or inactions of the elected and is the establishment of independent organs with dependence of the Judiciary. Besides taking away the administrative organs of Government. At the bottom definite and distinctive functions and powers. The financial autonomy of the Judiciary, the Executive in- of the independence of the Judiciary is the ability of ju- three organs of Government common to most gov- terferes with – and manipulates – the processes and dicial officers to administer justice “without fear or -fa ernance systems are the Legislature, the Executive procedures of the appointment of Judges. Worse still, vour, affection or ill-will”. The Judiciary should inspire and the Judiciary. The Legislature has ascendancy the Executive picks and chooses the type of orders and confidence in the citizenry that all disputes and con- over the law-making process, while the Executive judgments it obeys. The situation got so bad that the flicts will be resolved by the Courts purely and solely organ superintends over the executive business or Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, which com- based on the law and without external influences. the execution and maintenance of the laws through prises the noncourt presiding judicial officers and staff administrative actions and policy tools. The adjudi- of the Courts, has recently embarked on a nationwide We have had to discuss the appointment of judicial cation – which includes the interpretation of laws, strike that has paralysed the entire Judiciary. Courts officers because of its capacity to influence the inde- the maintenance of the rule of law, protection of the have been locked to force through the independence pendence of the Judiciary. There is the concern that fundamental rights of the individual and the judicial and financial autonomy of the Judiciary. the present processes and procedures of appointing review or reality check on both legislative and execu- judicial officers do not guarantee the appointment of tive actions or inactions – is vested in the Judiciary. The attempt here is to highlight attitudes and areas quality and independence of mind of those appointed. of significance to the independence of the Judiciary. A basic principle on the independence of the Judiciary The independence and distinctiveness of the organs Starting with the attitudinal sources of the travails of adopted by the Seventh United Nations Congress on are secured by the doctrine of separation of pow- the Judiciary, we should note that the principal person- the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Of- ers enshrined in most of such Constitutions. The nel of the legislative and executive organs are elected fenders held in Milan from 26 August to 6 September doctrine of separation of power does not confer su- by the people through rigorous elections to serve for 1985 is that persons selected for judicial office shall premacy on any of the organs over their respective specified terms. Being elected members, they see be individuals of integrity and ability with appropri- areas of influence, but a symbiotic and interdepen- themselves as donees of the sovereignty of the people. ate training or qualification in law. Any method of dent structure. Each organ is only a superintendent They represent and act for the people. On the other judicial selection shall safeguard against judicial ap- over the area carved for it by the Constitution. It is, hand, judicial officers in Nigeria are not elected but pointments for improper motives. In the selection therefore, common knowledge within legal circles appointed through processes and procedures that in- of Judges, there shall be no discrimination against a that the implications of the doctrine of separation of volve both the legislative and executive arms. They person on the grounds of race, colour, sex, religion, powers include: (a) that the same person should not have no electorate mandate and, as such, are mere political or another opinion, national or social origin, be part of more than one of these three arms or divi- employees of the people who do not deserve any property, birth or status, except that a requirement sions of government; (b) that one branch should not treatment or status that is beyond that of the general that a candidate for judicial office must be a national dominate or control another arm (this is particularly public service. That “power” to appoint also creates of the country concerned shall not be considered dis- important in the relationship between the Executive a false sense of superiority that beclouds the percep- criminatory. and the Courts); (c) that one branch should not at- tion of the role and status of the Judiciary in the gov- tempt to exercise the function of the other; for exam- ernance system and structure of Government by the Continued online at thisnigeria.com 30 ThisNigeria Viewpoint Monday April 26, – May 2, 2021

Wanted: Community Renaissance, Caring and Kinder Nigeria

ate Committee on Health. He was once the major- acknowledged student of many distinctions! This ity leader at the Kwara State House of Assembly is why I commend my state Governor of Kwara between 1999 – 2003. Today he is the pride of his Abdulrahaman Abdulrazaq who recently renovat- home town, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria and Africa ed as many as 29 public secondary schools after In 2015 as a Doctor without bounds ( chapter 12) decades of unacceptable neglect. he headed the Global Fund Country programme to eradicate Malaria in Liberia). He has also been The hope is that with good governance we can re- an active non- state actor: At Ahmadu Bello Uni- produce more of Dr Oloriegbes. Thirdly we must versity where he obtained (MBBS:) Bachelor of institutionalize teaching of ethics in schools. The Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, he was elected strengths of Dr Ibrahim lie in core values of God- three times as a member of Student Representa- fearing, humility and honesty he learned from tive Assembly ( SRA) for Alexander Hall (my Hall home and schools. His passion for giving helping same period!) in 1980 and 1981, and Barau Dikko hand to the needy flows from entrenched values. Hall in 1983. He was nominated for the position of Section 23 of the chapter 11 of the 1999 Consti- President of Ahmadu Bello University Medical Stu- tution actually prescribes “The national ethics to Issa dent Association (ABUMSA) and won. As a proud be Discipline, Integrity, Dignity of Labour, Social, community man, he is an activist of Ilorin Descen- Justice, Religious Tolerance, Self-reliance and Pa- Aremu,mni dants Progressive Union (IDPU) (now Ilorin Emir- triotism.” ate Descendants Progressive Union- IEDPU, one of the oldest community organizations in Africa. We must teach these ethics in schools. Fourthly as My second take is that we As a professional, he was also involved in Medical we are moving towards 2023 elections, we must must reinvent public schools Associations such as Nigeria Medical Association, devise some simple criteria for leadership selec- (NMA) Association of General and Private Medical tion as implicit in this book. Just as we should not as the precondition to Practitioners of Nigeria and Guild of Medical Di- judge a book by its cover but it’s content, it’s time develop critical mass Human rectors, contesting, winning and holding executive we brought to the fore the profile of those will- positions at different times. ing to lead us beyond their claims. What are the Resources for development roots of candidates? What is their grounding in Oloriegbe’s story shows Nigeria as a Republic the communities? Are they God- fearing? What is worked, still works and can perform even better their attitude to power and money? Are they in for all. There was once a caring inclusive Nigeria public service for greed or to address the need of congratulate my brother, Distinguished Sena- from family to kingship, community to the state the masses as an act of worship as Allah ordained? tor Doctor Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe on which took care of all children inclusive of the How do leaders treat their parents and children? Ithe occasion of his 60th birthday. Not many orphans. There are five take aways for me in the Which schools did they attend? How do they treat achievers are celebrated alive. Posthumous ac- book. The first is the urgent need for community/ their spouses? Are they loyal to their friends fol- colades which are unhelpful are becoming fash- family renaissance. I don’t believe in the concept of lowers and relatives? What values do leaders stand ionable in Nigeria today. Dr Ibrahim is obvious- failed State because I think it’s Eurocentric and de- for: well- having of self or well- being and wellness ly blessed to witness his celebration alive with liberately promoted to under-develop Africa in par- of others? In short are leaders principled? 287- page Book presentation. Yours comradely ticular. But what I fear most is the collapse of com- was a privileged reviewer of documented worthy munities. If community is grounded in core values What principles? Are leaders patriotic as envis- life on Tuesday 20th at International Conference of discipline, hard and smart work and integrity, aged by 1999 constitution even with all it’s ampli- centre in a colorful manifestation that had Senate any failing state can be reconstituted. We need fied limitations? It is gratifying that the testimo- President, Ahmed Lawal as the chair. The Royal more “ALAANUKU” families such as Oloriegbe nies about my Senator answer all these questions father of the day was HRH, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu lineage (means in English families of kind people): in the affirmative and even more. Lastly we must Gambari CFR the 11th Emir of Ilorin and Chair- families that through education, love, solidarity take care of our children such that they can take man of Kwara State Traditional Councils who and kindness can assist all our children to realize care of us. This book is product of educated and came all the way from home to honor a worthy their dreams. It was a caring family and communi- well brought children of Dr. Ibrahim Oloriegbe. son!. Professor Ibrahim GAMBARI Chief of Staff ty that made the Senator and his younger brother, The initiator of this book is Yahaya Hassan Ol- doubles as representative of the President and Abdul’Majeed, weather the storm having lost their oriegbe. He is the first son of Distinguished Sena- son of the Ilorin with well received good message parents. We have to bring back a Nigeria of “Baba tor. He was motivated to write the biography hav- of hope for Nigeria! Those of us at 60 in relative ku, Baba ku’ like Yoruba people say,” (“mean- ing listened to “a recount of his (my) father’s) good health and comfort can be said to have run ing that although a father is dead, many fathers attributes from someone ....in Ekiti State one a worthy race of life. I pray for many happy cel- abound)! With 30 percent official unemployment, evening to celebrate the life of another wonderful ebrations for Dr Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe. It is 70 percent Iiving bellow poverty line, millions of soul”. not just how long but how well. The book com- children out of schools , Nigeria needs more Alaa- mendably documents landmark achievements of nuku as leaders. 1999 constitution with all its limi- It is commendable that he assembled two chroni- Dr Ibrahim Oloriegbe at 60. tations envisages a caring inclusive kinder Nigeria. clers who have turned what initially were sound bites about his father Dr Ibrahim into a readable In 1972, at tender age of eleven-years, he lost his It’s time Nigeria ensured that Nigerian State “..di- beautiful prose . I love reading biographies and mother, Hajiya Hafsatu Oloriegbe. His younger rect its policy towards ensuring: that the economic autobiographies of iconic men and women. This brother, Abdul’Majeed, was only three years old system is not operated in such a manner as to per- book stands out in its simplicity of prose, almost then. Again in 1983, as an undergraduate of medi- mit the concentration of wealth or the means of lyrical made even more understood by apt home cine in ABU Zaria the renowned Alhaji Yahaya production and exchange in the hands of few in- proverbs, quotable quotes as anecdotes. This Oloriegbe” their father died at 80. Notwithstand- dividuals or of a group; living wage, old age care book could very well be entitled Book of values. ing being an orphan early of life, Dr Ibrahim com- and pensions, and unemployment, sick benefits I acknowledge scores of values Ilorin community pleted primary, secondary and university studies and welfare of the disabled are provided for all imbibed in the young ones regardless of the class with distinctions in quick succession. After a suc- citizens.” My second take is that we must reinvent status of the parents: Fear of Allah ( Taqwa), act cessful and impactful private practice, today Dr public schools as the precondition to develop criti- of worship and work, non-divisible knowledge Ibrahim Oloriegbe is a distinguished APC Sena- cal mass Human Resources for development. Dr seeking, ( Islamic and Western), respect for par- tor, of the Federal Republic of Nigeria represent- Ibrahim Oloriegbe is a product of public schools ents , ( mothers and fathers are mentioned more ing Kwara Central Senatorial District, having re- that once impacted knowledge. From Alore Local than 100 times) community, family and kingship corded a landmark victory during 2019 elections. Education Authority (LEA) Primary School, Oke ties ( family, 94 times) friendships and comrade- He is the first to move motion in the current 9th Apomu, to Ansarul Islam Secondary School, Oloje, ship, act of giving, sacrifices, discipline, humility, Senate. He is currently the Chairman of the Sen- to Ahmadu Bello University. Yet he was a globally honesty and integrity. ThisNigeria 31 Viewpoint Monday April 26, – May 2, 2021

JUSUN strike: When and why lawyers revolt

action until concrete actions are taken to end the cap- him so sumptuously? What about Governor Duoye tivity of the judiciary by the executive. At its last execu- Diri of Bayelsa State? Is he also among the lot? The tive council meeting, JUSUN directed all its branches man who was rejected flatly at the polls but still man- to take up peaceful street protests all over Nigeria, as aged to climb to power through the judiciary? Is he a way of drawing public attention to the issues that led also among those holding the courts captive? What to the strike action. Lawyers have shown tremendous else does His Excellency want? support for the JUSUN strike action. For instance, the NBA National, Ikeja, Bayelsa, Ota and other branches Wait a minute! Is Governor Bello Matawalle of Zam- of the NBA have staged peaceful protests in solidarity fara State also among the governors holding lawyers with JUSUN. This should continue until the judiciary is and judges to ransom? Does anyone still remember free indeed. the history of His Excellency’s ascension to power? As a beneficiary of the internal crisis within the APC There were high hopes initially that the issues would in , the governor did not so much as Ebun-Olu be resolved, but the meeting slated with the Governors campaign or spend money on electioneering activi- for Wednesday, April 14, 2021 did not hold, as there ties, but he still got all the votes that he did not labour Adegboruwa, was no feedback from the Governors’ Forum. It just for, all through the courts. He has turned out to be simply shows that the governors have their own priori- amongst the lords that we have to plead with to obey SAN ties, election related cases having been concluded and the same Constitution that brought him into power. decided. It was in the light of this stalemate that the I can go on and on, as there is hardly any governor If we want peace, justice NBA President declared as follows: in Nigeria today, who has not benefited from the ju- dicial system. As we say it within the Bar, if you fight and progress in our land, “… the Chairmen of all the branches of NBA are hereby for the rule of law, the rule of law will fight for you requested to effectively mobilize their members and too. Not long ago, a governor of a State was the sub- then we must all join hands pay visits to their respective State Governors at the ject of a probe panel by the powers that be, through to persuade the governors to Government Houses on Monday, 19th April, 2021 to the house of assembly of that State. You could pre- press home the demand for implementation of financial dict where the game would end; a final report that do the needful. autonomy for the Judiciary. At the visit, NBA Branches would indict him for corruption and a ban on him in each State are to present a joint written demand to from active participation in politics for a number of their State Governors requesting full compliance with years and to stop him from holding public office. He t is very unusual to see lawyers down their tools, existing legislative instruments and court judgments on ran to the Courts, seeking for an order of injunction drop those scary wigs and dreaded gowns and be- the financial autonomy of the Judiciary. to stop the probe. That is how it works, as the gov- Icome like the ordinary folks, seeking employment ernor today may turn out a plaintiff or a defendant and placement. I have since read very funny articles The Chairmen of the NBA Branches are further re- tomorrow. on social media about the kind of trade or business quested to ensure that these visits are embarked upon, that lawyers can take up during the period the courts every subsequent Monday, until there is full compliance What then is the solution? Very simple indeed. The are locked up due to the current JUSUN strike action. with this demand that is aimed at strengthening democ- Constitution in its section 1 says that it is supreme The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, com- racy and the dispensation of justice. We trust that our and every other law, action or policy should be sub- menced what initially appeared to be an inconsequen- members will give the leadership of their respective ordinate to the authority of the Constitution. If we tial strike action on April 6, 2021, to press home their branches all the support that they require to achieve want peace, justice and progress in our land, then demand for financial independence and autonomy for this much needed victory for our justice system.” we must all join hands to persuade the governors to the judiciary and indeed the legislative arms of gov- do the needful. They all swore to defend the Con- ernment across the nation. The thinking of most law- From all the foregoing, it would appear that the gover- stitution, on the day they were taking the mantle of yers and judges at the commencement of the strike nors hold the key to ending this strike action, one way leadership. It is not fair to us all, that after they have action was that it would fizzle out in the course of or the other. The federal government has substantially climbed upon the ladder of the Constitution to attain time, given that past attempts by JUSUN did not yield complied with the requirements of the Constitution in power, they should turn around to violate the same anything meaningful. But it has been two weeks now making payments directly to the heads of the Courts. document. The President and the National Assembly and as each day passes by, the strike action seems to This much has been confirmed by JUSUN itself, which have set the good example to follow through the 4th be getting stronger and biting harder. is why some have called on JUSUN to unlock all fed- Alteration to the Constitution. This document went eral courts, but for the issue of collective solidarity. through all the houses of assembly of all the States There are reports of overcrowded police cells, agitat- The other question is this: who are the governors? Ara- of the Federation, which means the governors were ed inmates awaiting trial in the correctional centres kunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, is one of them. well aware of it before it was passed into law. They and indeed a general collapse of law and order in the He is a Bar leader per excellence, a Senior Advocate should allow the full implementation of the 4thAltera- entire body polity. Coming in the wake of the coro- of Nigeria and a former President of the Nigerian Bar tion, by granting total autonomy to the Courts and navirus pandemic, the EndSARS protests and the Association. He is the Chairman of the South-West the legislative houses of the States. We cannot get desecration of the courts, the JUSUN strike action Governors’ Forum and a member of the ruling All Pro- the country moving if the judiciary is perpetually un- has totally paralyzed all judicial activities nationwide. gressive Congress. He has influence, access to power der the influence and control of the executive arm of It has never lasted this long, for all courts across the and commands great respect amongst his colleagues, government, as then it will cease to be the last hope nation to be locked up at the same time. The question being the only SAN, in their midst. How can we have of the common man and woman. then is this: how did we get here? Over the years, law- Governor Akeredolu in the midst of governors and the yers and judges have paid lip service to the issue of fi- Courts are locked up in order to get them to obey the I therefore suggest that the NBA should spearhead nancial autonomy and independence for the judiciary. Constitution? The same man who has advocated for the the efforts towards getting all relevant parties to the This was left for individual activists and non-govern- rule of law all his life as a legal practitioner? Wonders roundtable to discuss and to agree. It is an urgent mental organisations to take up on behalf of the legal shall never end. matter that should concern all of us, because one community. To make matters worse, it would seem way or the other, we all have common issues to deal that these selfless entities did not get the desired co- What of Governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike? A senior with in the courts. So, we should make the judiciary operation from the judiciary, when it mattered most. lawyer, married to a judge and himself a member of work, so that the Courts would become functional It is surprising indeed, that the issue of locus standi the very influential Body of Benchers. How can we have and effective, to deliver justice to all manner of peo- is still a major setback for the battle against dictator- Governor Wike in power in Nigeria and judges are suf- ple, without ill will, favour or affection. This was the ship and impunity in Nigeria, after the landmark deci- fering? He is a leading figure in the opposition Peoples dream of our founding fathers, which should not be sion of the Supreme Court in the celebrated case of Democratic Party, so he is not suffering from power aborted by those who claim to be running with their Fawehinmi v Akilu. It says a lot about our commit- fatigue or intimidation. What of Governor Aminu Tam- visions but are daily working to distort them. For as ment to the rule of law and good governance, when buwal, a senior lawyer and a one-time Speaker of the long as it takes to get the courts working, so long the judicial workers take up what ordinarily should be the House of Representatives? How can Governor Tambu- JUSUN strike should continue, even till year 2023 struggle of lawyers. Thank God that this particular wal be amongst the set of people who are caging the ju- and beyond. There is nothing we gain from a judi- NBA leadership has taken up the challenge, with all diciary? What has His Excellency got to hide? Do I men- ciary that is groaning under captivity. Lawyers must the actions that the executive has taken since the tion Governor Hope Uzodima of Imo State, who was go beyond rhetorics and match their words with ac- strike action began. Having gone this far and so good, restored to his exalted position by the Courts? How can tions that can end impunity in our national life once JUSUN should be encouraged to continue the strike this same man turn around to bite the fingers that fed and for all. Enough is enough. The credible print and online newspaper

32 ThisNigeria Monday April 26, – May 2, 2021 Parliament “There is a higher court than courts of justice, and that is the court of conscience. It supersedes all others” –Mahatma Gandhi

Monday April 26 – May 2, 2021 Vol.1. No 32

The Backpage Mike Ozekhome, SAN Pantami: The leopard and its unchanging spots allam Isa Pantami is no ordinary Nigerian. He is a min- In a video that has since gone viral (which he was later forced of religious issues at the time, and I have changed several posi- ister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Pantami is also to own up after initially denying his previous incendiary and in- tions taken in the past based on new evidence and maturity,” Mno ordinary minister. He is charged with the sensitive flammatory statements), he openly castigated then President “I was young when I made some of the comments; I was in portfolio of Communications and Digital Economy. Before his Goodluck Jonathan, for sending the military to kill Boko Haram university, some of the comments were made when I was a ministerial appointment, he had headed the very sensitive and insurgents whose blood he regarded as “our Muslim brother’s teenager. I started preaching when I was 13, many scholars delicate position of Director-General of the National Information blood”. and individuals did not understand some of international events Technology Development Agency. and therefore took some positions based on their understand- Hear him: “We are praying to God to answer all our prayers. It ing, some have come to change their positions later”. As minister, Pantami oversees the critical agencies of NCC, is our right and obligation before all Muslim leaders, politicians, NITDA, NIPOST, NIGCOMSAT and GALAXY BACKBONE. In government appointees, academics. All of us should not fold our Has he really changed? What has changed? Can a leopard this digitalised world, Pantami by his office has access to Nige- arms and watch helplessly how they shed our Muslim brothers’ ever change its spots? In saner climes, Pantami should have rians’ private communications, NIN, identities, among others. blood and cheat them in vain. resigned immediately without more. Or be sacked forthwith. Lifting the veil off his purported transformation or assumed Ordinarily, this would not have posed a problem at all, since Even if the Boko Haram fighters commit a crime but can we jus- transfiguration is so easy when viewed against the background someone, a Nigerian, out of our 210 million population, must tify the way and manner they are being killed? Just look at how of his new acts even as Minister. head the ministry any way. But, his antecedents are quite wor- they are killing people as if they are shooting pigs, even though risome. That is what has led to the sudden bedlam and ruckus they committed a crime why the extra-judicial killing? Only recently, On March 22, 2021, Patami’s ministry hosted by Nigerians generated through the traditional and social media a virtual flag-off ceremony for a capacity development pro- routes. Take them before the law for a fair trial. You caught someone gramme empowering 600 people with VSAT Installation Skills. sleeping and you killed them. If it is not Muslims that undergo Patami himself was present and he even spoke at the event. It How? Why? I will tell you. Isa is an acclaimed Islamic fanatic, such treatments who else? was a Virtual Flag-off Capacity Development Programme on fundamentalist and supporter of extremist Islamic sects. Taught VSAT Installation Skills and TVRO Systems for 600 youths by in Saudi Arabia by fiery Muhammad Inn Uthaymin (nicknamed The Niger Delta people did something similar to this. They mas- Pantami. “giant of Islam, a cleric who once opposed women driving for sacred people, stole weapons, killed expatriates and kidnapped fear of mixture of men and women at petrol stations, traffic some of them, yet you still accept them back, opened a ministry The ceremony was not covered by AIT, Channels, NTA, TVC, lights and police checkpoints), Pantami as a Graduate Assistant, for them, gave them a minister and put them on a monthly sal- ITV, or even FM Youtube channels. Rather, a very little-known started preaching and leading prayers in mosques right from ary pay without work. Islamic TV channel called Al-Afrikiy was contracted to relay an his days at the Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, where he had event organized by a whole Federal Government of Nigeria. It graduated from. The militants did more harm compared to what Boko Haram must be borne in mind that Al-Afrikiy is not merely an Islamic- boys did. But why will they do something like this? Why selec- influenced learning TV station, it is also an Islam-only TV chan- He is said to be the Chief Imam of the Al Mannar mosque, Abu- tive justice? “. nel. It broadcasts strictly religious matters. ja, where he preaches. There is nothing wrong about one being close to his maker, including his present tafsir teaching during He even prayed for the day when the images on the naira notes Why did President Muhammadu Buhari nominate Pantami in the Ramadan fasting season (Ramadan Kareem). and the “Gregorian date, the Calendar of the infidels”, will be the first place? Can he, as Commander-in-Chief, claim not to wiped out: “And therefore, we are praying to God, that based have access to information regarding Pantami’s dangerous an- So, I do not begrudge him of his passionate pastime. To me, on our understanding, we pray for a day when the images on the tecedents? I think not. Or, don’t you know the reason? Simple: it is even a plus that as minister, he still finds time to worship notes in our pockets will be removed. No Muslim cleric has ever his usual infamous inclination towards prebendalism, cronyism, his God. After all, the Holy Prophet Mohammed (peace be on spoken against these images as forbidden. May be self-sufficient sectionalism, tribalism, favouritism, religiosity and mediocrity. to him), when asked by the pagans of Mecca (Makkah) to wor- enough not to need this currency. It is against the religion to put ship their gods, answered: “Say, O disbelievers, I do not worship even the images of companions of the Prophet on the currency. By the way, where was the DSS which was supposed to screen what you worship. Nor are you worshippers of what I worship. May Allah help us to see that day when the Gregorian date, the Pantami before his name was sent to the Senate? Why did it Nor will I be a worshipper of what you worship. Nor will you be calendar of infidels that on the notes ….” turn its focus away from these destructive extremist views of worshippers of what I worship. For you is your religion, and for the very Minister in charge of Nigerians’ information data, with me is my religion” (Surah Al-Kafirun109:1). What he was simply Boko Haram was thereby given the necessary muscle and many unabridged access to same, including NIM, BVN, biodatas, etc? emphasising was the freedom and individuality of religion and Muslims were innocently led to believe that killing Boko Haram conscience between a person and his God. We call this secular- insurgents amounted to killing Muslims. Nigerians have today, What about our fawning rubber stamp “take-a-bow” Senate that ity. It is entrenched in section 10 of the 1999 Constitution of witnessed the corrosive and deadly consequences of Boko was supposed to do a very thorough screening of Pantami? Why Nigeria. Haram’s killings, maiming, arson and the general insecurity did it simply allow the Carmel to pass through the needle’s eye? enthroned and watered by such dangerous hate preachments. When will it winnow out the chaff from the real wheat? Why has But, does Isa Pantami realise this in his earlier fiery teachings Boko Haram has since abducted the Chibok, Dapchi, Kankara, it turned a sacred duty on behalf of Nigerians into a “yes sir” of extremism and religious intolerance, and bigotry, even as far Kagara and Jangebe girls; blown up the UN headquarters; en- party affair, which suggests that President Buhari can do no back as nearly 20 years ago? I think not. Let me show you a gaged in serial cases of maiming, killings and kidnaps in Ka- wrong, or make any mistake? This is reminiscent of Boxer’s sample of his expressed mindset and why Nigerians are united, duna, Maiduguri, Bauchi, Damaturu, Madalla, Mubi, Gamboru, slogan of “Napoleon is always right”, in George Orwell’s Ani- in reactions that have since gone viral, are calling for his imme- Yola, Gombi, Kano, Baga, Bunu Yadi, Konduga, Gwoza, to men- mal Farm. diate resignation or outright sacking. tion just a few places. For me, Mallam, (Sheikh, Dr, cleric) Isa Pantami should hon- Among other in his Salafist ideology and spine-chilling teachings Reeling under the weight and yoke of damning public criticisms ourably resign, as Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, former Finance Min- in support of two of the globally most acclaimed deadliest terror- by a wide spectrum of Nigerians, Pantami (who had earlier de- ister, once did. Where he fails to do this, Buhari should imme- ist groups in the world (the Taliban and al-Quaeda), some years nied making the statements), somersaulted and claimed that diately relieve him of his ministerial position. His antecedents ago, Patanmi had said unapologetically, “Oh God, give victory to he has since changed his views and extreme religious ideology, loudly proclaim him as a clear and present danger to Nigeria’s the Talibans and to the al-Quaeda. This jihad is an obligation for which he claimed had been based on youthful ignorance. Said asphyxiatingly fragile unity, harmony and religious and ethnic every single believer, especially in Nigeria”. He also reportedly he: “Some of the comments I made some years ago that are tolerance. I know Buhari will not do it. At least, make we “sid- endorsed the killings of “unbelievers” (non-Moslems). generating controversies now were based on my understanding don look”. 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