THISDAY Group Announces New Executive Appointments Momodu replaces Adebiyi as Editor, Iriekpen becomes Sunday Editor Olaleye, Chima, Akanbi, Alike, Others also promoted announced new executive Following the approval of the been appointed as the Editor Nume Ekeghe and senior appointments for board, Shaka Momodu after of THISDAY. THISDAY Newspapers and a 7-year stint as the Editor He succeeds Mr. Bolaji The board of directors the Arise News Channel, with of the Saturday and Sunday of THISDAY Group has immediate effect. titles of the newspaper, has Continued on page 12 Momodu Iriekpen How Remi Tinubu’s Signal Influenced Voting on Electronic Transfer of Results...Page 8 Tuesday 20 July, 2021 Vol 26. No 9598. Price: N250 www.thisdaylive.com T RU N TH & REASO TODAY'S WEATHER ABUJA MAIDUGURI ENUGU KANO LAGOS PORT HARCOURT 25°C-33°C 31°C-31°C 25°C-28°C 27°C-33°C 24C-27°C 20°C-30°C Irabor Hails Pilot of Downed Fighter Plane for His Bravery, Gallantry Says he used cover of darkness and his phone set for navigation to elude bandits bravery he demonstrated in the Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja fight against banditry. Earlier, the NAF had The Chief of Defence Staff, announced the crashing of a Gen. Lucky Irabor, yesterday fighter jet in Zamfara State while commended the pilot of the returning from an interdiction downed Alpha Jet fighter aircraft, mission. Flt. Lt. Abayomi Dairo, for his A statement by the spokesman bravery. of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Irabor, who met the pilot in Commodore Edward Gabkwet, company with the Chief of the said the aircraft came under Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo enemy fire, forcing Dairo to Amao, before proceeding to a eject from the aircraft. meeting with military veterans It said the crash occurred on in the North-west, commended July 18, 2021 at 12.45pm while the pilot for the gallantry and Continued on page 10 In Sallah Message, Buhari Challenges Nigerians to Expose Sponsors of Insecurity …Lawan, Gbajabiamila, Tinubu, CAN, PDP, preach unity, peace, love Deji Elumoye, Chuks sponsors of insecurity. Okocha, Onyebuchi Ezigbo The president, in a message and Udora Orizu in Abuja to mark the Eid-el-Kabir, also stressed the need for President Muhammadu Buhari Muslims to live in harmony yesterday urged Nigerians to with Nigerians of other faiths team up with his administration while praying for the progress RESCUED PILOT OF THE DOWNED JET... in battling the security crisis of the country. L-R: Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor; Pilot of the downed Alpha jet, Flt. Lt. Abayomi Dairo; Chief of the Air Staff, Air facing the country by exposing Continued on page 12 Marshal Oladayo Amao, while receiving the pilot ...yesterday Oando, SEC Enter Settlement after Four Years of Dispute... Page 35 2 THISDAY • TUESDAY JULY 20, 2021 THISDAY • TUESDAY JULY 20, 2021 3 4 THISDAY • TUESDAY JULY 20, 2021 TUESDAY, ͺ͸˜ͺ͸ͺ͹˾THISDAY 5 Group News Editor Ejiofor Alike NEWS Email [email protected], 08066066268 Jega: Electronic Voting Useless Without Electronic Transfer of Results Says N’Assembly’s decision undermines electoral integrity gender, 493,128 are male while He said Online pre- 369,188 are female registrants.” registrants, who booked for Insists moves to subject INEC to presidency crazy, senseless He said a detailed appointment to complete distribution of registrants by their registration physically State/FCT, age, occupation and between Monday 19th and INEC confirms 752,011 persons registered online disability had been uploaded Friday 23rd July 2021 would Chuks Okocha in Abuja to transparent ETR" and Voter Education has affirmed the elections and that they on the Commission's website be notified within the next few condemned the action of that the Commission had the had been successful. and social media platforms. days of the new dates for their Immediate past National the National Assembly as capacity to transmit result real Meanwhile, INEC, yesterday The Commission, he noted, appointments. Chairman of the Independent retrogressive. time from all parts of the said a total of 752,011 new wished to reiterate its earlier Okoye explained that National Electoral Commission On what the amendments country. voters had registered online decision that, because of the prospective voters should (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, meant for the country's Speaking as a guest on, in the last 21 days. declaration of Tuesday 20th visit the portal (https://cvr. has described as utterly useless, democracy, Jega said, "The Sunrise Daily, a Channel TV A statement by Okoye stated and Wednesday 21st July inecnigeria.org) to choose a the idea of electronic voting action is taking us backwards, programme, Saturday morning, that the number represented 2021 as public holidays by new available date and time without electronic transmission and undermining electoral Okoye reiteratedthat over the an average of 35,810 registrants the federal government, the if they so desire, even as he of results, because approval for integrity as well as democratic years, INEC had tested and ran per day. commencement of physical reassured all Nigerians that the former was impossible development.” different forms of technological "Out of this figure, 562,254 registration has been every eligible citizen willing without the latter. But, Festus Okoye, the INEC and electronic additions to (74.7%) are youths between the rescheduled to Monday July to register as a voter would Jega, who carpeted the Commissioner in charge of improving the integrity of ages of 18 and 34. In terms of 26, 2021. have the opportunity to do so. Senate and the House of Representatives over their alleged attempt to undermine electoral integrity by whittling down the powers of the election management body andsubjecting its decision to the National Communication Commission (NCC), a body under the Presidency, said it was a crazy and senseless decision. Speaking with THISDAY, Jega re-affirmed his earlier comments about the amendments by the two arms of the National Assembly, describing it as crazy and encroaching on the independence and integrity of INEC, saying, "what the National Assembly did is senseless." According to him, "What the National Assembly is doing is senseless, if not a crazy amendment. How can you make the decision of INEC subject to confirmation, concurrence and approval of the NCC? A body under the presidency? And what has the National Assembly – a legislative body got to do with executive decision of INEC? "Without approval for Electronic Transmission of Results (ETR) their approval of the Electronic Voting System INAUGURATION OF NALDA… (EVS) is virtually useless,” the L-R: Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu; CEO, National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), Prince Paul Ikonne; President Muhammadu Buhari; Governor former INEC chairman said, of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari; Hon Consul, Hungarian Embassy, Mr. Deri Endre and Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, at the commissioning of noting that the better alternative the First NALDA Integrated Farm Estate in Katsina State....yesterday. is for the Senate to grant INEC the powers to deploy to use, had to resuscitate it to meet the both the EVS and ETR. Buhari: With Determination, Lifting 100m growing needs of the country. I He explained that Senate am happy to see that the directive should grant INEC the power to the Executive Secretary/Chief to deploy both electronic Nigerians Out of Poverty, Realisable Executive Officer of NALDA, Paul voting system and electronic Ikonne, and his management team transmission of results as it weather conditions, good soil, and good soil types for all season the country today, we are seeing when I launched the National deems necessary of how and Deji Elumoye in Abuja human and material capacity, and farming. rising public and private interests Young Farmers Scheme (NYFS) when INEC could. a resilience to make a difference He added that a globalised in agriculture, especially among in November 2020, is gradually For example, Jega explained President Muhammadu by all the hardworking youths. world places more emphasis on the youth, and a steady migration taking shape. that, should "INEC decide to Buhari has said that with more “We can do it, and we will do competitive edge of the economy from subsistence to commercial “At the launch of the National deploy ETR ahead of EVS, and determination on the part of the it. No excuse will be good enough for relevance, and Nigeria will farming. Young Farmers Scheme, I recall if, and when, conditions are federal government, the target to remain a mono-economy with always play a leading role in “With the support of public that I told the management that appropriate, it can then deploy of lifting 100 million Nigerians all the challenges in oil production the agricultural sector, with the institutions, like the Central I have directed that all NALDA’s both simultaneously. But, as I out of poverty cycle is realisable. and fluctuating global prices when vastness in experience, crop Bank and Bank of Agriculture, abandoned farm estates be said, EVS, which the Senators He, therefore, canvassed more we have vast opportunities in cultivation, animal husbandry, old tools are giving way to more retrieved to enable thousands of approved for INEC, can't be synergy between government crop and livestock production." and more recently, a rising youth mechanised styles of farming, our young men and women to deployed without ETR. and the people, and diligence He stated that reliance on oil interest. credit lines are becoming be engaged in farming. "INEC has demonstrated in diversifying the economy, with has become a drawback on the He said: “As the world more accessible, and farming “This administration will capacity to go transparent ETR agriculture as the backbone to economy over the years, with becomes more globalised, is becoming more acceptable be achieving agricultural in a number of states and other realise the goal.