The Nation Newspaper

Category: Saturday Magazine

  • Paying more for petrol, electricity

    Paying more for petrol, electricity

    The deregulation of the downstream arm of the oil and gas sector and the power sector has generated discussion among Nigerians. Assistant Editor CHIKODI OKEREOCHA examines the case for and against this action

    CHIEF Toyin Amuzu, a community leader in Ogun State, is livid. He could hardly hold back his anger and frustration over the barrage of increases in the price of essential services including Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), electricity tariff, as well as the upward adjustment in Value Added Tax (VAT), and subscription price by pay-TV operators, among others.

    “It is disheartening that this is coming during the COVID-19 pandemic which has disrupted economic activities and taken many people out of jobs with other attendant negative effects,” Amuzu, who is the Okanlomo of Oke-Ijeun, charged.

    He lamenting that “The increases will result in an upsurge in costs of goods and services, which in turn, would worsen the biting hardship presently faced by Nigerians who are already impoverished and overburdened.”

    Chief Amuzu, who spoke in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, said he had earlier called on government at all levels to give succour to Nigerians who are still rattled by the COVID-19 pandemic. He called on the Federal Government to lift the heavy burden on Nigerians by reversing the hikes immediately.

    The distraught community leader justified his call for a reversal thus: “The price increases, no doubt, would work against the fight against corruption and insecurity, as there can be no secured society where many people are so poor, finding it difficult to make ends meet.”

    But it is doubtful if the call for a reversal by Amuzu and indeed, other Nigerians traumatized by the rising cost of living and its associated hardship and misery will hit the right chord in the ears of the authorities. This is because such upward adjustments in prices appear to have come to stay, going by some of the reasons adduced for the action.

    The removal of subsidy, inflation, currency devaluation, rising operational costs and other prevailing economic realities, for instance, service providers across critical sectors such as power, oil and gas, and entertainment, among others, literarily hit the raw nerves of Nigerians when they increased their prices.

    In what would go down as perhaps, a season of price increases, Nigerians, still reeling from the double shocks of the Covid-19 pandemic and the plunge in oil prices, woke up to a new tariff regime in the power sector last Tuesday.

    Without much ado, the Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) jacked up the electricity tariff payable by consumers from the original N22.30 per KWH to between N42.73 per KWH and N55.20 per KWH.

    However, the tariff payable by consumers now depends on service availability in homes and offices, the quantity of supply, and the band or group into which a consumer is categorized. These, of course, vary from DisCo to DisCo.

    Nigerians were yet to come to terms with the reality of paying more for electricity amid outcry over the declining quality of services when, the following day, Wednesday, September 2, 2020, the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMS) also announced N151.56 as the new ex-deport price of PMS.

    PPMC is a subsidiary of the Nigerian Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). And going by its current template, the price of PMS has gone up from its original N148 per litre to N151.56. However, some filling stations now dispense the product at between N162 and N164 per litre.

    Even before service providers in the oil & gas and power sectors went for the kill, their counterparts in the Pay-TV segment of the entertainment industry had gone on the rampage, reviewing the prices of their products and services upward.

    For instance, largest Pay-TV operator MultiChoice Nigeria announced the implementation of subscription price adjustments by 13 per cent on some of its Digital Satellite TV (DStv) and GOtv packages on August 18, 2020. It came into effect on September 1, 2020.

    Consequently, the subscription price for its monthly premium package went up from N16, 200 to N18, 400, which is N2, 200 increase. Compact plus subscribers will now pay N12, 400, up from N10, 925, while compact bouquet subscribers will pay N7, 900, from N6, 975.

    The South African-owned operator, however, said the adjustments only affect the Premium, Compact Plus and Compact packages, as lower-priced packages such as Confam, Yanga and Padi retained their normal prices.

    Multichoice explained that the increase in fees was in line with the Federal Government’s legislation which increased VAT in January 2020, with implementation effective on February 1, 2020.

    “To provide some relief for customers, Multichoice Nigeria has absorbed the cost of an increase in VAT for the past four months, keeping its products and services at the old five per cent VAT. However, this is no longer possible and the mandated 7.5 per cent VAT will be applied accordingly,” the company said.

    Second largest Pay-TV operator StarTimes also raised prices of its subscription plans by an average of 22 per cent effective August 1, 2020, with its Brand and Marketing Manager, Viki Liu, also citing increased VAT as well as the foreign exchange rate which has impacted its cost of operation as reasons for the price increase.

    “Our business is not exempted from the effect of the naira depreciation affecting all businesses in the country. All of our foreign content is bought in dollars and to continually serve our subscribers the best content, the subscription price has to be reviewed upwards,” Liu explained.

    Nigerians scream blue murder

    Expectedly, the increase in the price of essential services has not gone down well with Nigerians. For instance, Amuzu described the price hikes as “Anti-people and insensitive to the plight of Nigerians.”

    He said: “It is so disturbing that while responsible governments all over the world are giving out succour through tax relief, grants, free electricity and other benefits, the present government has chosen a low time in the lives of Nigerians to further elevate their sufferings.”

    According to him, Nigerians provide virtually everything they need, thus the least any responsible government can do is seek to lessen their burden and not add to it. “If protecting the wellbeing of citizens is part of the duties of any good government, our government has failed in this regard,” he stressed.

    Lagos lawyer and public affairs analyst Obiora Akabogu could not agree less. He said the government has failed in its duty to enhance the lives of its citizens and protect their interest.

    “It is the duty of the government to take measures to stabilise the prices of goods and services. If it were in more civilized countries, the government would have resigned,” he told The Nation.

    As far as Akabogu is concerned, there are no justifications for the increases because “the quality of services has been declining; quality of life of the Nigerian worker is on the decline; the average Nigerian worker’s purchasing power has been on the decline, too. I don’t see how the masses will cope with the fact of the crashing value of the naira.”

    “Nigeria is heading to nowhere. Yet, they (National Assembly) is incapacitated or at best, compromised,” Akabogu charged, regretting the docility of Nigerians in the face of the untold hardship foisted on them. “Nigerians seem to be happy with the increases otherwise civil society groups and the labour movement would have been blocking the road to Aso Rock, the nation’s seat of power, challenging the increases and demanding for immediate reversal,” he said.

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar lent his voice to the growing outcry against the increases particularly electricity tariff. His grouse stemmed from the timing of the price adjustment, which, according to him, was wrong.

    He said instead of an increment, Nigerians deserved a “stimulus”, especially in the face of COVID-19 pandemic currently ravaging economies across the world. “I reject the increased electricity tariffs. Coming out of the lockdown, Nigerians need a stimulus, not an impetuous disregard for the challenges they face.

    “Many Nigerians have not earned an income for months, due to no fault of theirs. This increase is ill-timed and ill-advised,” Atiku said.

    ActionAid, a non-governmental organisation in Nigeria, brought the scary situation nearer home when it said Nigeria is dealing with too many increases at the same time, and the increases came at a wrong time when a lot of people have lost their jobs because of COVID-19.

    For the Registrar/CEO, The Institute of Business Development, Dr. Paul Ikele, the COVID-19 and the slump in oil prices, which contributed to the increase in the cost of essential services is not surprising because “They are global issues that are not peculiar to Nigeria.”

    While admitting that the multiplier effects of the increases are far-reaching and dangerous, Ikele, however, said the nation’s economic managers and planners failed when they could not foresee or forecast the price increases and put measures in place to cushion their effects on the citizenry.

    “Our mono-economy is no longer sustainable,” Ikele emphasized, adding that the current crisis is a call for Nigeria to look inwards and take advantage of her rich human and natural resources to reset the economy.

    Dr. Ikele recalled, for instance, that before the discovery of crude oil, palm oil, cocoa, textiles and groundnuts, among others, were major export products.

    Govt’s response

    As things are, the Federal Government’s hands appear tied. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Timipre Sylva conveyed this sentiment when he said the government had stepped back in terms of price-fixing for petrol. He added that crude oil price, as well as market forces, would continue to determine the cost of PMS.

    The minister said the introduction of the deregulation policy had saved Nigeria about N1 trillion, which came after the subsidy was removed and N500 billion mapped out for subsidy payments in the 2020 budget removed.

    According to Sylva, Nigeria spends over a trillion naira yearly as subsidy payment. So, the high cost forced the government to allow market forces to determine the prices of the product since the country cannot sustain petrol subsidy payment.

    “Government has stopped subsidising petrol at the pump. It will now play its traditional role of protecting consumers from exploitation by ensuring that marketers do not profiteer at the expense of ordinary Nigerians and consumers of the product,” the minister said.

    The Federal Government seems to have allies in Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), which said the fuel price increase was in line with their advocacy in favour of deregulation.

    For instance, MAN Acting Director General Mr. Ambrose Oruche told The Nation that the fuel price increase was expected, as the Organised Private Sector (OPS) has long been requesting for full deregulation of the petroleum industry.

    While noting that deregulation remains a sure way of opening the floodgate of investments into the sector to grow the economy, Oruche said the era of fuel subsidy breeds corruption, as the subsidy does not get to the intended citizens, but to those he described as “briefcase billionaires.”

    The MAN chief said deregulation means that the fixing of prices is no longer in the hand of the government, as market forces now determine the prices of petroleum products.

    He, however, pointed out that what government is trying to do with the new fuel price increase is to control the hands of market forces, as “They are now taking the cost of PMS beyond the reach of ordinary Nigerians.”

    The LCCI also weighed in on the matter, saying that the development was in line with its persistent advocacy on the need to deregulate the downstream sector of the petroleum industry to allow investors come in and develop the industry and by extension, the economy.

    Sound economic argument no doubt, but most consumers have refused to be swayed. For instance, a banker at United Bank for Africa (UBA) in Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, Mr Oluwole Johnson, kicked his heels in, insisting that “The hardship caused by the increases will affect a lot of people especially those who earn a low income.”

    A printer at Beirut road, Kano, Mr. Jilani Usman, corroborated the claim, saying that the hike in tariff should have been delayed till 2021. “The whole thing is wrongly timed because the entire world is just recovering from the COVID-19 blow. Many businesses were shut and so many suffered huge losses.

    “So how can you increase tariff now when businesses are just trying to pick up, I think it will only lead to massive inflation,” Usman said.

    Labour, civil society spoils for war

    Eighty workers’ unions and civil society groups under the umbrella of Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB) are said to have concluded arrangements to stage protests across the country this week. They will be protesting against the recent increase in electricity tariff and the petrol price.

    Speaking on the planned strike, Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), described the hike in electricity tariff and fuel price as an anti-people development. “Other nations are giving cash to their citizens, cancelling rents, but Nigeria is imposing taxes and all other levies on its citizens. We will fight against it,” he said.

    Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Ayuba Wabba also said the group would mobilise Nigerian workers to protest the hikes. “NLC seriously frowns at, completely condemns and rejects any plan to inflict further pain on Nigerians at this very time of great economic distress,” he said.

    The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) said it has begun an investigation into competition and possible consumer rights violations by DStv, Gotv, and other Pay Tv service providers in the country.

    It remains to be seen whether the planned protests by the labour movement and civil society group, as well as inquest by the consumer protection agency, would force the hands of the services providers to reverse the price increase.

  • DJ Switch: Life is good as a female Disc Jockey

    DJ Switch: Life is good as a female Disc Jockey

    Popular female disc jockey, DJ Switch, was born Obianuju Catherine Udeh. She has, however, become famous for her wizardry on turntables. Her rise to stardom is one that isn’t new to her fans and Nigerian entertainment scene. She first grabbed attention as a member of Da Pulse, a musical group that emerged winner of the 2009 edition of the reality music competition, Star Quest. However, things didn’t go as planned, the group was disbanded and DJ Switch went on to pursue her passion. Again, she contested and won the first-ever edition of Glo X-Factor. Interestingly, she has risen to fame as a disc jockey and not a artiste. She speaks with ADENIYI ADEWOYIN on her career, disc jockeying, marriage, and more.

    You had a good outing at Big Brother Naija Saturday night party recently. How do you feel about the reaction from fans and viewers?

    Gratitude is what I feel. For the love, the support, the opportunity to play on such a huge platform, immense gratitude is what I feel.

    Did you prepare specially for the performance?

    I would say I prepared mentally, kind of like in my thought process. You know there’s a difference when you’re playing for an audience of about ten-fifteen thousand people, five thousand people that you can see. I think the week that I played had about eight or nine people I can’t remember now, keeping at the back of my mind that I was playing for millions of other people that I cannot see so how to create a nice balance of old and new school Nigerian music was the third process and putting out my energy for the housemates to feed off while in turn feeding off of their energies.

    Several DJs had it worse at the show, but even as a female DJ you were rated well by the audience. Was it a bad day for the DJs that flopped or was it grace speaking for you?

    The truth is you will have to ask these DJs that you are talking about. A lot of DJs experience good and bad days, it’s not above any of us to experience a bad day. Secondly, I don’t look at this craft as a male-female thing even though I know we see females sort of differently; but for me, I don’t look at it that way. When I’m not performing as well I spend 75% of my time in my studio thinking of new ways to deliver a mix to my audience, thinking of new ways to switch it up. I listen to music in and out, I spend time on my music trying to reinvent myself. So, I would say my talent, hard work is covered by grace.

    There are only a few female DJs in Nigeria, do you think the profession is gender-based?

    No, I don’t think it is gender-based. As I said, I’m not the male-female kind of person but just to touch history a little bit. You know men started doing a lot more before women. There was a time women couldn’t vote, women couldn’t take up leadership positions in churches, and in some parts of the world, women couldn’t drive so you have to know that women are behind already. The race didn’t start with men and women on the go so men kicked this off way back. Women are just catching up now, women are showing their interest. The world today allows women to be free, to be expressive in whatever they want to do in their craft so I don’t think it is gender-based.

    How is life as a female DJ and does it affect your bookings or charges?

    No, life is really good. Being a female doesn’t affect my bookings or charges. The only thing that my team considers when taking bookings are questions like who are we playing for, who is my audience, capacity, venue. These are things that we consider when taking bookings. The bigger the better you most likely see me there but those are the only factors considered when taking bookings for me.

    How has the experience been for you as Mr. P’s official DJ?

    It has been great, Mr. P has been like a big brother to me, he is a wonderful guy and I’ve also been exposed to a lot while working with him so I love him.

    How many countries have you traveled to as a DJ and how has the acceptance been?

    I’ve been to a lot of places; I’ve been to Guadalupe, United States, France, Ghana, Cameroon, Omar, and Dubai. I’ve been to a lot of places and the acceptance has been wonderful. I’m just grateful that people accept me and my style because it’s something that used to scare me when I was teaching myself how to DJ. I wanted to stand out but I used to think about how I hope people understand the way I play and I pray they appreciate it. So the acceptance has been great and wonderful, off the chart.

    There was a rumor that you are related to popular music star, Weird MC. How true is this?

    No, I’m not related to Weird MC by blood but I would say I understand why people say that but I think we sort of share the same type of energy and also coupled with the fact that I worked with her sometime back as well. She’s someone that I respect so much, she’s an icon in my eyes, one of the great talents we have. I respect her so much and I look up to her too. I can see why people say that.

    You won a couple of reality TV shows like Star Quest and Glo X factor with other members, however, you do not seem to be with these groups anymore. What happened?

    First, if all Star Quest was when we were a band and X factor was where I was alone. The truth is what has always kept me going is the motto that I live by which is “never give up.” I never give up no matter how a situation turns out to be in the end, I never give up. With the Star Quest, we had a band, we had a huge hit song called Pray Sotey, we toured with Busta Rhymes but at the end of the day, the impact that we wanted to make as a band we couldn’t achieve that but rather than give up I made up my mind to try again and that’s why I went for the X factor. Things always happen sometimes we dream but it doesn’t happen the way we hoped or dream it to pan out so you just dream bigger. That’s how I see it but while you’re dreaming make sure you’re putting yourself out there, you’re working, you’re trying to show people your talent and definitely, that’s where the grace now comes to cover you because you’re working hard and honestly. Also, about the group, I’m still speaking with a few members of the group, we love each other and we wish each other well. No story there at all.

    You are a songwriter and an artist but you are more famous as a DJ, why is that?

    For me music is music. I love music. Anywhere belle face where music is concerned you are going to see me there. To be realistic in answering this question I would say there’s a lot of competition going on and you need to stand out and as much as I love music – I play the guitar, I co-produce, I play, I rap, I sing and all of that, I still try to find my foot there properly because I love to do things that I know how to do but where the DJing is concerned I stand out so I think the standing out is so obvious that it propels the DJ side of my career much further than the music side of my career but I’m still working hard at it and like I said I never give up.

    What is your relationship status?

    I’m single

    Are you looking at getting married soon?

    I don’t know

    Do you think walking down the aisle would affect your career?

    I don’t know since I’m not working down the aisle but I don’t think it should if I do walk down the aisle. I’m speaking for myself, people are different, people have different personalities, priorities, principles so it would be their decision. For me, I would like to be with someone that appreciates and loves the fact that I’m in love with music. Music is my passion. I left a field in oil because I studied geology; I left that field to do music. That’s how much I’m in love with music so I hope to be with someone appreciative of that.

    Being a DJ in Mr. P’s camp, what is your relationship with his twin brother, Rudeboy?

    That’s a family matter and I think we should respect that and wait for them to resolve their issues.

  • People said I was crazy when I went into politics — Ex-Imo governor’s aide Adaora Onyechere

    People said I was crazy when I went into politics — Ex-Imo governor’s aide Adaora Onyechere

    Adaora Onyechere, a broadcast journalist, motivational speaker, poet and author, was famous as a co-anchor of Kakaaki, a daily talk show on African Independent television (AIT) until she left her comfort zone to venture into politics. In this interview with select journalists, including PAUL UKPABIO and FRANK IKPEFAN, the former Senior Special Assistant on Information and Advocacy to former Imo State governor, Emeka Ihedioha, relives her experience in the murky waters of politics, particularly in the short-lived Ihedioha administration, among other issues.

    It takes some guts to abandon your passion for something else. Why did you leave broadcasting for politics?

    I felt a sense of hopelessness that the engagements and conversations we were having as journalists and broadcasters were creating awareness on issues. But in real time, activation and implementation was a long rope, and I was wondering what could be the problem. Was it that we were not shaping the right narratives or the politicians were willing but were hindered or there was too much bureaucracy hindering activation?

    Talking and having conversations on and off air, at a point, I started to engage in community journalism to see what really was happening back home. What I saw was very startling; the obvious case being that of having a conversation gap between the leaders and the led. The leaders are saying things in their own language and the led are saying theirs in their own language; nobody is meeting the other halfway. The people in power think they have it all figured out. They will just speak and after one week, the whole thing will die down. The people are agitating and talking but nobody is hearing them.

    So I felt that in cases of bills that are being made, looking at CAMA, the NBC bill, Freedom of Information Act, the review of the NBC Code, and all the other bills that are coming out now, people are asking, ‘Where was the conversation line? How did people get involved?’ So my needs at that time was to take it off the television set and just stop having those conversations just with the people who are supposedly in leadership and have the conversation with those that are led. The only way to do that was to participate, which was what made me to run in an election.

    In doing that, there was a conversation and consultation, first with my family and even with my tutors back in school in England. It was a deep self-analytical process for me, because it was a point of no return. And knowing the kind of political environment we have in Nigeria, which is very hostile in terms of even engagement for women, it had to be a decision that was not just as a sense of running but also a sacrifice.

    What was the reaction you got from people when you decided to go into politics?

    People were saying are you crazy? Are you going to leave your job? Do you know how many years you have put into this? You are a queen of the screen, you are this and that. Don’t you think this is a mistake? But then I realised that if we keep talking and no one is helping to shape the conversations real time, we will keep talking for another 100 years. For me, it was to take the narrative from what I used to think and experience down to the field, which was the reason I ran. Getting into the field was a totally different experience and ball game. And I am like, ‘Ah ha, we have come here now, what do we do? How do we re-engage?’ Trust me, the more you look when you get into politics, the less you see, because the narratives you thought were shaping or were supposed to shape those who are in power was not the case scenario in real time.

    What lessons did you learn as a woman in politics?

    I joined a not too popular party because there was a lot of struggle for women to get nomination forms in bigger parties. It was very expensive. Secondly, the internal party mechanism was not shaped to accommodate the voices of women without hostile participation. For me, I felt that more women should begin to think about looking at helping to shape smaller parties, creating the structures that they would like to see, becoming participants in policies that help govern the political parties, which was what drove and really gave me the faith in pursuing my mandate under Action Alliance.

    The election was looking quite good and there was a lot of popularity not just for myself within the party in the Okigwe Constituency which I was seeking to represent, but also for the brand of the party itself.

    How about your family? Did you get their support?

    I think that what made me strong was the fact that I had my family support and I also had my mentors strongly behind me. And one thing they really said to me was, ‘Ada, it is not about winning. In fact, you have already won as far as we are concerned for deciding to run, even getting into the field to say you want to change the voices of women, you want to see how women were looked at.’

    At that local level, it was strong enough for them. But for me, I wanted to also help people to understand that for a state that had a lot of misogyny, that was very masculinised, it was not just only a struggle for them to see more women coming into the ring.

    You challenged the result of the election because you felt that you won?

    Yes. I went to the tribunal, and it was a tough case. But I think along the line, the conversation of the traditional rulers came on board. All the Ezes of Okigwe Constituency summoned me for a meeting with the candidate who was in court with me, and there was a conversation like, ‘You know you have done well as a daughter, this is your first time, you have made us proud and we are remarkably behind you. But we are all one and the same, you are from the same place, you are the same tribe and we want you to understand that whatever happens after this, we will definitely be behind you. But in this matter, you people should not be exposing yourselves…’, and all those fatherly and elderly talks. And you know I went in the entourage of some elder statesmen and some elders of the party (AA). Some people said I should not have withdrawn the case; that I should have fought on.

    So, you withdrew the case from the tribunal?

    There were three demands that came up: one was to see that some of the policy, the issues that concern the Okigwe people would be taken on board, secondly, that the traditional rulers would also see to it that during elections, it will no longer be about the male chromosome but about the capacity of those who are running, even though I know that culturally and stereotypically, traditional rulers will naturally side or be keen to side a male candidate rather than a female. But I would also tell you that being a politician or running for election does not de-feminise a woman.

    But beyond that, I think for me as a first timer as well, and understanding the political environment in Okigwe where I come from, which is not a place you overwhelmingly stomp into with a show of bravado but must be emotionally intelligent to be able to also look at the modus operandi of those who are your supporters and those who are following you, what their body language also says. So it was not a decision that was mandatorily left to me; it was a collection of voices to say, ‘You see, election is not a do or die affair. Winning is not about winning at the polls alone but about the people who come out, standing tall for the sake of those who cast the votes for you.’

    What can you say about Ihedioha?

    I had followed him for quite a while and had seen several of his leadership indices even at the National Assembly level and at the national space level, and I felt that that was the man that could go very far if he was consistent in his vision. I joined him and the journey of service began. So, before you knew it, the government took off. We looked at several of the agenda of his Excellency from agriculture to sports, to youth empowerment, women engagement, infrastructure and road network. We began to look at the visions and mandate of his Excellency under the Rebuild Imo conversation platform, and it began to take shape with the people slowly but surely.

    After three to four months, it became a vibrant conversation. There was a re-ignition of hope. You could see the enchantment had left people of what used to be – an abuse of public office space. People were beginning to become bold enough to say this system works, and I think for me, that was what I could take away in the seven months. Because beyond the effectiveness and being part of the beneficiaries of good governance from within the Rebuild Imo system, to even being part of the Imo citizen, I think one of the key things was the modeling of the leadership style of His Excellency by other state governments, by other platforms, and by other leadership status quo, because it was working and you could imagine that seven months of engagements and make it into four years what we would have achieved in that space. I am saying that for what the administration was able to achieve in seven months, some people take two to three years to achieve it. That, for me, is significant. And as per my role as the SSA, it was not about the title or about the office; it was about the activation for service for those who my principal called to serve and my admiration for his wife, Ebere Ihedioha, who was very visible and also very passionate about the plight of women in Imo State.

    During the rebuild Imo project, was there a time the governor felt his administration was standing on one leg considering that the election that brought him to power was before the Supreme Court and that the case could go either way?

    I doubt it. We had the voice of the people in Imo. The citizenry were with us. There was a body language of this is going to continue, so there wasn’t any inkling of whether there was going to be a right or wrong judgment.

    In other words, the Supreme Court judgment came as a rude shock to the administration?

    It was a bounce of an edge for the whole world; not just to him or the people in the state or myself. It was like, what the hell is going on? The question on how it happened, the conversations that happened in-between the line was there for you to see. I mean it wasn’t just an Imo state dilemma, it wasn’t a conversation about us or about him (Ihedioha), it was about the system (judiciary), it was about the government of Nigeria, it was about our beliefs as a people, it was about our faith in the judiciary.

    It has been several months after the judgment. Has the Rebuild Imo team abandoned the former governor?

    The Rebuild Imo team is an exceptional team. You can’t take that away from His Excellency. I think he deliberately chose the team significantly to meet the needs of his vision, and that, for me, wherever you are or whoever you are, you must applaud him for that. Beyond the state, the team has continued to work collectively and individually to be able to continue to speak and possibly to bring to bear the capacity that he (Ihedioha) saw in them in the larger space as they have begun to do several things that they also have strength in. But beyond that, as a team, we also have conversations.

    So what have you been doing since you left government?

    It has been a bouquet. First of all, Covid-19 came and slammed us with that, so we had to spend five months indoors. Now post-Covid, there are a lot of activities. Things are getting re-engaged. My programme, Talk to Adaora, took off in the heat of Covid-19 because I saw a gap and a need.

    Going by your experience in 2019, do you think women are getting enough support to challenge men in this political space?

    Women need more support. There needs to be enough funding. But how do you do that? That is why I said mainstreaming women across all sectors, ensuring that they are empowered gives voice, gives bite to women who would support other women during elections. Whether we like it or not, the money that you save in the bank as a woman to go into an election can never be enough against a male counterpart. Even if it is, you also need to understand that consultation and a range of support stages happen during politics, during your campaign. When you think you have done and achieved your final conversation, another one comes up!

    So you are saying if the level of violence during elections reduces more women will embrace the political space?

    Absolutely! If they are prepared financially, if there is preparation to support women financially by the women themselves, knowing that elections are unfortunately not cheap in Nigeria, there would also be a need for that. But just like someone said to me a few days ago, men have godfathers. What is the definition of godfatherism in Nigeria? How is it positive in terms of connotation for a female counterpart? I believe there should be, like I said, an awakening of mentors for mentees.

    Will you be trying again in 2023?

    I am already running. What do I mean by that? Every woman who is in service one way or the other in the public space, defining and redefining the citizens’ voice, helping to shape the ideals of citizens’ participation is already running. I feel that politics and running for elections from my experience is no longer about picking up a nomination form or going to meet yourselves at the ballot. You are already a participant in the public space politically. If you become deliberate about helping to shape the ideas of the citizens, about helping to bring service that is missing in a particular gap, about meeting the gap and the interest line of a particular sector or gender, for me, that is how to look at it.

    If in the process of my service there is a definition of that capacity of fitting into a platform, then I would oblige if it is to the privilege of the people. I also believe that if one just sits down and hopes that come 2023 or 2022 they begin to rally around and pick up the form to go and run in an election, I think that is where we miss the link. The link should be that you are serving and prepared to even do more if called into a responsible position to activate those capacities for the benefits of the people.

  • ‘Yahoo Boys’ migrate to rural communities

    ‘Yahoo Boys’ migrate to rural communities

    Suspected internet fraudsters popularly called ‘yahoo boys’ have been relocating from urban centres to rural areas in the Southwest states in recent times to escape from law enforcement agents and recruit more members by establishing training schools, KUNLE AKINRINADE reports.

    • Set up training schools for aspiring internet fraudsters
    • Adopt new tactics to beat security agents

    They are young men who live their lives on the fast lane. They love the good things of life but lack the legitimate means to acquire them. Rather than seek legitimate means of fulfilling their fantasies, they took to cybercrimes, defrauding unsuspecting individuals and organisations until they recently came under the radar of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The onslaught by operatives of the anti-corruption agency has since dislodged these young persons from their bases in the urban centres to various rural communities, particularly in the Southwest to escape EFCC’s searchlight.

    It was gathered that many remote settlements in Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti and Ogun states are now hosts to fleeing internet fraudsters. They include communities like Ikotun, Ojodu-Berger, Alagbado, Abule Egba, Badagry, Ijanikin, Oto-Awori, Lambe, Matogun, Giwa, Oke Aro, Ajuwon, Akute, Ifo, Ewekoro, Ilaro, Ijebu Ode, Sagamu, Ilisan Remo, Itele, Atan, Ogbomoso, Oshogbo, Ado Ekiti, and Akure, safe havens where some of the embattled fraudsters are now recruiting young school leavers into their syndicates.

    True to its slogan, ‘you can run but you can’t hide’, however, the anti-graft agency is unrelenting in smoking out the scammers popularly called yahoo boys from their various hideouts. One such was a raid carried out in the early hours of June 16 at Itele, a sleepy community near Ota in Ogun State, in June this year. Residents of the community were roused recently by the unusual presence of EFCC operatives who cordoned off several roads as they searched vehicles that moved in and out of the community in an operation that was to shock unsuspecting residents.

    A few minutes later, their targets were picked up in their posh vehicles while one of the scammers escaped in his car.

    At the end of the raid, the operatives attached to the Lagos Zonal Office of EFCC arrested five yahoo boys, namely Adeshina Michael, Ayeni Emiloju, Odenigbo Anthony, Afolabi Gbenga and Oyibogbola David Seun.

    Posh cars of different brands allegedly acquired with the proceeds of their fraudulent activities were recovered from the suspects.

    Investigation conducted by our correspondent revealed that no fewer than 32 internet fraudsters who had relocated from Lagos to Ogbomosho in Oyo State were smoked out of their hideouts on Tuesday, August 11 by personnel of Ibadan Zonal Office of the EFCC,

    In October last year, anti-graft personnel recovered the sum of N223 million from the bank account of an alleged internet fraud kingpin, Ajayi Gbenga Festus, during a raid on his hideout in Ekiti State.

    The suspect was allegedly the head of a syndicate dislodged from the city, who relocated to a remote community in Ado-Ekiti to beat the dragnet of the EFCC.

    According to the spokesman of the Ibadan Zonal Head of the anti-graft agency, Mr Friday Ebelo, during a media briefing at Iyaganku, Ibadan zonal office, Festus was working in concert with other cyber criminals overseas.

    He described Festus’ cartel as ”highly sophisticated web of a conspiracy designed to illegally access the accounts of individuals and organisations to defraud them of their money.”

    He added: “Illicit transactions made through Festus’ Nigerian bank accounts amounted to N223 million. The suspect served as a conduit pipe through which proceeds of crime reached members of the syndicate.”

    Ebelo added that Festus had pocketed up to N75 million within eight months from the illicit transactions.

    Like others, 26 yahoo boys were smoked out of his Modzak Hotel in Abule Egba, a suburb of Lagos on December 4, 2019.

    The raid was carried out by EFCC personnel attached to its Ibadan zonal office on a hotel believed to be a hideout for internet fraudsters.

    The operation was a sequel to a manhunt for one Rasaq Balogun, a suspected internet fraud kingpin, whose illicit activities were uncovered during a raid on the hideout of suspected internet scammers in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

    Balogun was said to have recruited and harboured in his Modzak Hotel (in Abule Egba) yahoo boys to carry out scams on the internet.

    The suspected kingpin and 26 other young men whose age ranged between 18 and 35, we’re arrested and taken to the Commission’s Ibadan zonal office for further interrogation.

    Also recovered from the suspects were three vehicles, fetish items, laptops, mobile phones, and documents suspected to contain fraudulent data from the suspect.

    What suspects do to escape EFCC’s dragnet

    To beat security checks and law enforcement agents on their trail, able-bodied traders, artisans and other individuals are recruited to watch out for security operatives who might be trailing them to their abodes.

    Besides this strategy, the ubiquitous internet conmen most times do not park their vehicles where they live. Their cars are mostly parked overnight somewhere else in their neighbourhoods.

    In the morning, the cars are driven by the spies hired by them to their streets without parking in front or driving into their homes to prevent the minions of law who might be lurking around from intercepting them.

    These were the strategies deployed by the yahoo boys at Itele area of Ota to escape the EFCC dragnet until they were finally busted in June this year.

    “For several months, residents hired by these boys supplied them information about the movements of people suspected to be security agents. Once they were alerted, the boys would abandon their homes for several weeks and would only return when they are told by their spies that the coast is clear.

    “They also park their cars several metres away from their homes so that EFCC operatives would not suspect them of being their targets.

    “However, EFCC operatives swept on them at dawn, and before their spies could alert them, five of them were intercepted in their cars after a stop and search operation on their vehicles in the neighbourhood,”  said a source.

    Parents submit their children to yahoo boys for apprenticeship

    Some parents in some of the aforementioned communities, who are carried away by the luxury lifestyle of this army of fraudsters, are now in the habit of voluntarily giving up their children for apprenticeship as yahoo boys without considering the consequences of their action on the future of their children.

    Some of the areas affected include the backstreets of Sagamu and Ilisan-Remo, Ikotun and Ojodu-Berger where internet scammers are flourishing in their unlawful acts. In the ancient Ilisan-Remo community, it was gathered that some parents are fond of begging their young children to be apprenticed by scammers who live like kings in the communities.

    “Some residents, who are swept off their feet by the lavish lifestyle of these cyber fraudsters, have lured their children into the act by sending them to these yahoo syndicates in the communities.

    ”The trend is quite worrisome because most of these yahoo apprentices are young school leavers who are being misled by their parents all in a bid to reap untimely from their labour on them,” a community leader in Ilisan, who spoke in confidence, told The Nation.

    “The boys were initially living in Lagos but many of them relocated to Sagamu when the law enforcement agents were closing in on them and they later moved to Ilisan to further escape arrest,” he added.

    It will be recalled that on May 28, 2019, personnel of the Lagos zonal office of EFCC uncovered a training institute operated by suspected fraudsters in Ojodu/Berger, a suburb of Lagos.

    According to the acting spokesman of the Commission, Mr. Tony Orilade, the training centre with eight students was established by a 22-year-old internet fraudster and was busted by undercover operatives of the agency.

    Orilade said: “We did an undercover operation and even acted as part of the students of the training school. We got first-hand information because we were part of the students of the school.

    “The boys believe that yahoo yahoo is a form of business, but we are saying no, it is not a way of life or business. You can imagine, the owner is just a 22-year-old boy. He is intelligent but negatively so.

    “The scheme of work, content, and curriculum put the school under the category of yahoo yahoo training school.

    “The students were aged 24, 29, 23, 21, 19, 22 and 20 years respectively, while nine laptops,16 mobile phones, one internet modem, Orange wifi, and Toyota Camry were recovered from the school.”

    While promising that EFCC would continue to step up the fight against internet fraudsters, Orilade urged members of the public to help the Commission with information on other yahoo yahoo training schools in existence elsewhere.

    Orilade’s call for support paid off on Thursday, August 29, 2019, when about 12 suspected fraudsters were arrested by EFCC operatives during a raid on another yahoo yahoo training school in Ikotun area of Alimosho, a Lagos suburb.

    The school was established to train young persons in the art of using the internet to defraud victims.

    The suspects include Oluwaseun Ogunbunmi, Haruna Yussuf, Olubori Hassan; Wasiu Idowu; Basit Adeniran; Aina Olajuwon; Okafor Joseph; David Ado; Olamide Ogunseye; Opeyemi Ahmed; Monsuru Amao and Taiwo Rasak. Their arrest followed complaints by residents of the area to the EFCC on the activities of the proprietors of the training school operated from a rented three-bedroom apartment.

    The school’s proprietors were said to have recruited their trainees from the community while some parents also enrolled their children in the school for apprenticeship.

    Several laptops and mobile phones were recovered from the school as suspects attempted to bolt by hiding in the roof of the apartment.

    Undergraduates in the fray

    In the last few months, several suspects arrested by officials of the EFCC have been discovered to be undergraduates or even graduates.

    Out of the 32 suspected fraudsters arrested in an Ogbomosho raid, 22 of them were found to be undergraduates and recent graduates.

    A statement released by the zonal office of EFCC indicated that personnel of the anti-graft agency swept on the location of the suspects after careful analysis of a series of intelligence gathered on their alleged criminal activities.

    “Three of the suspects claimed to be serving members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), 19 were undergraduates of various universities across the country, while the remaining 10 laid claims to sundry vocations.

    “Twelve exotic cars, several phones, laptops, and some incriminating documents were recovered from them,” the statement added.

    Suspects prosecuted, loots recovered

    A number of suspected fraudsters have been prosecuted and jailed in recent times and their loot forfeited. On July 20, 2020, a notorious internet fraudster, Gbenga Ajayi, was jailed and his assets were forfeited to the Federal Government.

    Ajayi was pronounced guilty by Justice Ibrahim Watilat of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, Ogun State and sentenced to one-year imprisonment for internet fraud.

    Festus had earlier refunded N1.4 million to the government through the EFCC.

    He was prosecuted by the Ibadan Zonal Office of the EFCC on a one-count charge of criminal impersonation.

    His prosecution followed his arrest in October 2019 during a raid conducted in his hideout in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

    He was said to be the brains behind high wired internet-related frauds and was subsequently arraigned on eight-count charge bordering on criminal impersonation and obtaining money by false pretence. The charges were amended to one-count, to which he pleaded guilty.

    The judge also ordered that the convict forfeits his uncompleted one-story building, located in Ado-Ekiti, a Toyota Corolla car, one gold-colour iPhone, among other proceeds of crime, to the federal government.

    Also, 111 out of 263 suspected fraudsters arrested by the Ibadan Zonal office of EFCC were prosecuted and convicted for cybercrime related offences with various jail terms.

    According to its zonal spokesman, Ebelo, the zone recovered money, landed properties, vehicles, laptops, phones and many others from the scammers.

    Ebelo disclosed that N7,461,378, $56,452, 400 Canadian dollars, 65 pounds and 2,400 euros, were recovered from suspects through the constant support of international law enforcement organisations, especially America’s  Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

    It will be recalled that the suspended Acting Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, had disclosed last year also that the collaboration between the Commission and FBI led to the recovery of $314,000 and about N373 million from internet scammers by its Lagos office.

  • Hellish lives of baby brides in Lagos communities

    Hellish lives of baby brides in Lagos communities

    • Minor housewife commits suicide after quarrel with husband
    • Another develops mental problem after wedding
    • Touts unleash terror on anti girl-child marriage campaigner
    • Early marriage disheartening, says Lagos State Government

    In spite of the prevailing Child Rights Law, many innocent underage girls in Lagos State are having their lives ruined by the unwholesome practice of being forced by their parents into marriage with men who in some cases are old enough to be their grandfather. INNOCENT DURU reports that desperate parents involved in the practice often have to end the education of the affected girls to fulfill an ugly desire that has left the lives of many of the hapless girls in ruins.

    The budding life of an underage housewife in Idi Araba area of Mushin Local Government Area, Lagos State was recently cut short after she was forcibly married off to a man her father’s age. Against her own wish, her parents were said to have terminated her education abruptly to pave way for her marriage.

    Shortly after the marriage, however, disagreements began to occur between her and her husband. She complained to her parents about the development but they told her there was nothing abnormal or unusual about misunderstandings between a man and his wife.

    Over time, the minor disagreements snowballed into serious feuds which apparently were too much for a girl of her age to handle.

    “One fateful day late last year (2019), she committed suicide after a quarrel with her husband. We all need to address this issue of early marriage,” said Fatimo Mohammed, one of the women at the forefront of the campaign against girl-child marriage in the area.

    The deceased girl’s story was all the more shocking because it occurred in Lagos, a state thought by many to be too modern to harbour the obnoxious practice, particularly with the existence of the Child Rights Law.

    Section 20 and 21 (subsection 1 and 2) of the law states: “As from the commencement of this Law, every action concerning a child, undertaken by any Individual, Public or Private Body, Institution, Court of Law, Administrative or Legislative Authority, the best interest of the child shall be the primary consideration.

    2.—(1) A child shall be given protection and care as necessary for the well-being of the child, taking into consideration the rights and duties of the child’s parents, legal guardians, individuals, institutions, services, agencies, organisations or bodies legally responsible for the child.

    (2) Every person, institution, service, agency, organisation and body responsible for the care or protection of children shall conform with the standards laid down by the appropriate authorities, particularly in the areas of safety, health, welfare, and suitability of their staff and competent supervision.

    In spite of the hard stance of the law on child abuse, the condemnable practice is one that has continued to grow in the state, causing untold setback to the lives of many young girls.

    Findings made by our reporter showed that Agege and Idi Araba parts of the state are particularly notorious for the practice that remains a source of concern for the communities’ leaders whose efforts at stopping it have often met with stiff opposition from its proponents.

    The Private Secretary to the Sarkin Hausawa of Agege, Comrade Abdullahi Salihu, shared the heartrending story of how another young girl, who was a prefect in her school, became a psychiatric patient shortly after she was withdrawn from school and forcibly married off.

    Salihu said: “There was a girl who was a prefect in her school. She was very brilliant. But along the line, she had her education terminated and was married off.

    “As soon as she got married, she developed a mental challenge.  In that pathetic condition, she gave birth to five children.

    “Along the line, her mates started looking for her. When they found her, they took care of her and helped her get treatment.

    “To her husband’s surprise, she could recognize all of them when they got to her house. That tells you that her problem actually started when her academic life was affected.

    “The psychiatric doctor that treated her warned that she must get out of the marriage if she wanted to keep her sanity.”

    Checks in Idi Araba further revealed how another young girl became a patient of Vesico Virginal Fistula (VVF).

    Narrating the girl’s ordeal, the Chairman of the Idi Araba branch of Arewa Consultative Forum, Abdul Basit Sanusi, described girl-child marriage in the area as a Hydra-headed monster.

    He said: “In 2017, an underage married girl in the community gave birth through operation. Unfortunately, her private part was affected. She suffered from Vesico Vigirna Fistula and could not control urine. They said some of her bones were not strong enough for delivery.

    “The doctor had warned her against getting pregnant until she was older. She fell ill for a long time and was taken back home for traditional treatment.”

    For men who take pleasure in the practice, Basit warned that they risk developing heart attack dealing with girls they are old enough to father.

    Buttressing this with a true life story he witnessed, he said: “There was a man here in Idi Araba who is 67 but married to a 14 years old girl. He actually brought the girl from the north. The innocent girl made life unbearable for the man, he suffered a heart attack and was hospitalised.

    “The girl was always going out to play with her peers, not remembering that she was married. At times, her peers would beat her in the course of playing, not taking into consideration the fact that she was married.

    “At a point, the man said he would not be able to put up with the little girl again. He ended up returning to the older wife of about 35 years and caged the girl in the house for a year. He didn’t allow her to go out of their flat.”

    Basit believes that the advocates of the despicable practice are brutal and ever ready to crush every opposition to it.

    He went on to narrate how he and his colleagues were attacked for speaking against the practice.

    He said: “The menace of child marriage in Idi Araba is a very serious one. There was a time I organised a sensitization programme on it.

    “Before I knew it, they sent touts to come and attack me.  They tore my clothes and rough handled me, demanding to know why I dared speak against the issue when I knew that our tradition supports it.

    “They argued that any girl that is 14 years and above is old enough to marry and can do whatever she wants to do. They warned me to stop the nonsense I was doing.

    “When the girls have given birth to two or more children, some of the men would leave them to marry another one. I know of someone who married two girls within a year.”

    Ruined by early  marriage

     

     

    Young girls share experiences

    In one of our correspondent’s visits to Idi Araba, during one of the series of awareness campaigns organised by the Centre for Women’s Health and Information (CEWHIN),  a non-governmental organistion, one of the girls,  Sekina, spoke of how her father wanted her to drop out of school and marry.

    She said: “I was almost a victim because my father wanted to stop my education and marry me off. He did not want me to further my studies because he thought that getting married early was the best.

    “He has since changed his mind after counseling by CEWHIN members.”

    Asked what she had learnt from participating in CEWHIN’s programmes, Sekina said: “I have been talking to many girls in my community to shun early marriage. Some of them are welcoming it but some aren’t. It is a traditional and religious belief and has nothing to do with the man baiting the girl with money or gift.

    “The practice was very rampant before, but it has reduced now. Most of the girls now want to go to school.

    “There is a girl I am trying to counsel right now. She got married when she was 15 and gave birth last year, at the age of 16. Unfortunately for her, the husband divorced her this year.

    “She is trying to get into another marriage, so I am trying to educate her on the need to go back to school. She does not have anything doing for a living.

    “When some of the men get married to the young girls, they often take them back to the north.”

    Her colleague, Aliya, describing girl-child marriage as evil, said:  “I have seen some of my mates getting married. In my area at Idi Araba, I know of three girls who got married before they completed primary school. I feel bad seeing that because they have no education.

    “Some of them were stopped from going to school at primary two, three or four and were married off.”

     

    ‘Why our people marry off the girl-child’

    Concerned members of the two Lagos communities have identified the basic reasons why the practice of marrying off the girl-child has persisted.

    Explaining why the practice has lingered in Idi Araba, Fatima Mohammed, one of the women leaders in the area, said: “It is a big problem that needs to be addressed from the grassroots. We need to look at the causes: what are the reasons people give out their children in marriage at the age of 11, 12 and above.

    “The moment we identify the causes, we can find the solution to it.  We can never move forward if we don’t know the causes.

    “One of the causes is poverty. The second one is that we have no public school close to where our people live. Because of this, many of the girls cannot go to school.

    “Many of the parents cannot eat, let alone sending their daughters to private schools.

    “In our area we have only one secondary school and that is the only school our girls are being admitted.

    “They always ask them to cut their hair, but this is against our religious belief.

    “If you give these girls good education, even if you want to give their hands out in marriage, they would have had an idea of how to make a home.”

    She also advocated empowerment programmes to keep the girls engaged.

    She said: “We need to empower even those that are going to school. An idle mind is the devil’s workshop. We have so many of them who don’t have any work to do.

    “We have been agitating for their empowerment. They need to be put in a place where they can utilise their energy. When they sit in one place doing nothing, it can be counter- productive.

    “We used to gather parents to enlighten them on this issue. We have an Islamic school where we do this. We use our local preachers to speak to them that the practice is not even Islamic.

    “We are happy that the efforts are yielding good results. More girls are going to school now than before. More girls are being empowered and engaged in one thing or the other.  We even have adult classes now.”

    Reacting to the allegation that the men often abandon the girls to marry new ones, Fatimo said: “Men generally are like that. When a woman starts her life with them, the moment she is getting old, they will begin to change to marry another person.

    “If a woman is empowered, she would not care whether the man is marrying another woman or not.”

    Determined to stop the practice in Idi Araba, the Chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum, Abdul Basit Sanusi, said: “We have been holding meetings with leaders of the Hausa community in Idi Araba on the issue of early marriage.

    “There was a 16-year-old girl who was supposed to be married last week but we fought seriously against it and stopped the wedding.

    “We warned the chief imam who wanted to conduct the wedding and threatened to arrest him if he went on with it. We told him the girl should be allowed to attain the age of 18 or 20 before she would be given out in marriage.” Private Secretary to the Sarkin Hausawa of Agege, Comrade Abdullahi Salihu, said child marriage in Agege is an issue they have been battling with.

    He said: It’s really an issue that requires all hands to be on deck. By that I mean the government, the community, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders.

    “It is an issue that touches the heart. Many of the parents giving out their children in marriage also have dreams for their female children.

    “Right from their nursery and primary school, they have a song in which they state what they want to become in life. From that age, they dream of what they want to become in future.

    “But along the line, the dream is shattered because most parents cannot afford to pay the children’s school fees. The only option left is to marry them off so that they won’t become promiscuous.”

    The Lagos State Government, he noted, has done very well by bringing out a law that kicks against the practice. “But they need to make sure the implementation and awareness get to the grassroots so that everybody in the community will be aware of it.

    “There is Ministry of Women Affairs and others like that in the state. They should spread it to deter people from engaging in it.

    “The community should also be involved by sharing experiences. They can get a community member to come out and say, ‘I, Alhaji XYZ, I got any girl married at 15. During labour, she had challenges and lost her life.’

    “That is why maternal mortality is on the rise. That is why we need to put heads together to end this menace. The practice is evil.”

    Asked what the community does when such illegal solemnisations are taking place, he said: “Girls of 14 and 15 years get married and you as a neighbour cannot do anything because the father will tell you, ‘She is my daughter. Are you going to control me or tell me what is good for my daughter?’

    “That is why stakeholders need to come together and kick out this evil.”

    Admitting that the consequences of girl-child marriage are numerous and grave, he said:  “Many of the marriages don’t last. Besides they have attendant health challenges, including VVF.

    “The girls are naïve. They don’t know their right from left. All they know is that they are hungry and they ask for food; they feel pressed and use the loo. That is all. They are not mentally set for marriage.”

     

    Practice disheartening, says Lagos State Government   

    The Lagos State Government described the practice as disheartening. Speaking to The Nation on the side of a stakeholders’ meeting organised by CEWHIN, the Commissioner of Youths and Social Development, said the ministry promptly responds whenever they get a report that a girl-child is being withdrawn from school to be forcibly married off.

    Her representative, Mrs Peter Popoola, said: “We do not support child marriage. When we get any report on child marriage, we quickly go there to rescue the child. We want their maximum potential.

    “When I was in school, social work in district 6, a case was reported of a girl the parents wanted to withdraw from school and marry off. The mother said she also got married at the age of 15, hence there was nothing wrong if they should marry her out at that age.

    “We rescued the child and put her in one of our homes. We invited the parents and invited the community leader and sorted it out. That was how the act stopped. The girl is now in the university.”

    Asked if the state had been prosecuting offenders, she said: “Prosecuting the parents is not the issue. The issue is do they really understand that child marriage is wrong? We try to educate them.

    “Those who agreed to release their children to us now have their daughters in the university with our assistance. So, why prosecuting? It is not that the girl had been married off.

    “This is why we send our social workers to schools to educate the children. We tell them to inform us if their parents want to marry them off so that we can rescue them.

    “We work with the ministries of justice, health, community affairs and several stakeholders who see to the protection of children, including federal government agencies.”

    Checks revealed that the state government had in 2018 announced that it was set to review the Child Right Law.

    The then Permanent Secretary and Solicitor-General Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Funlola Odunlami, had noted that some punishments as stipulated in the law had not served the intended purpose of deterring abusers of children from such acts, hence the need to review the Child Rights Law.

    She listed the sections of the law being considered for review to include Section 3, 7, 13, 17, 19, 20-23. The Sections, according to her, range from parental neglect to sentencing terms, forms of punishment for offenders as well as the inclusion of persons responsible for facilitating forcible marriage of a girl, among others under the Child Rights Law.

    CEWHIN, in a chat with The Nation, called  on all strategic  stakeholders, the Lagos State government inclusive to join forces to tackle the issue of child marriage in the parts of the state identified in Northern settler communities.

    Campign against early Child Marriage
    •Residents of Idi Araba protesting against child marriage
    after a sensitisation programme organised by CEWHIN

    The Programme  Officer, Tolulope Aderibigbe, said the campaign against child marriage (an Initiative supported by the RiseUp based in the Public Health Institute USA) has continued to expose members of the Agege and Idi-Araba  communities to the gains of educating the girl child, the health implications of child marriage among others.

    Her words:  “From our interactions within the communities, we discovered that child marriage is a trans-generational issue. When we got to the community, a woman was crying, she said she got married at age 13 and her daughter was also forced to marry at the age of 15. The woman is pleading with concerned authorities to work on the issue of child marriage and rescue young girls before their future is destroyed.

  • Sexual purity gives you power to have all you could ever wish for! (II)

    Sexual purity gives you power to have all you could ever wish for! (II)

    Dear Ma, I’ve been reading your articles in the last few months and I can see the passion, anointing and fire you have/carry for your assignment. I deeply honour and celebrate you! More strength and anointing for your assignment. May God bless you forever!

    Precious Chukwuemeka

    Dear Ma,

    My name is Sylvia. I’m from Akwa-Ibom State and I’m currently observing my National Youth Corps Service. I’ve always read and resonated with your articles in because I’m keen on chastity. I read your article about guys wanting to marry virgins. I’m 23 still a virgin. Reading your article made me feel special, very special. I felt like a gem of inestimable value when I read that piece. I always thought no man would want to marry me without having sex first. Over time, I’ve felt jealous of my friends who are sexually active, because they have boyfriends who splash cash and luxury gifts on them and sometimes I wonder what I’m gaining from keeping my virginity!

    But I made a vow to God long ago and also prayed over time to empower me to remain chaste till my wedding night as I really want to marry as a virgin.

     I want you to help me. I have some questions.

    1. I’ve had boyfriends and even if some of them have been patient, I’ve done things with them that don’t involve penetration just to make them happy. Please how do I stand my ground and say No to them?
    2. Please how do I stop getting jealous of my friends? How do I stop feeling like I’m worthless and guys like that won’t like me?
    3. Ma, please this question might sound funny but is it possible for a man to marry me without wanting to have sex with me? Will I meet rich men that will take care of me?

    My darling, precious, glorious, dignified, world-famous and heavenly celebrated Nigerian daughters,

    I’m so glad to reach out to you again and would like you to please Google-search the first part of this article. A good number of you are in Sylvia’s shoes and I know you would refrain from such acts if only you had someone close by, whose “life” you respect and wish to emulate who would constantly encourage you to subdue your flesh. Last Sunday, I referred to Sylvia as a “technical virgin” which is someone who has never had genital-genital sex but who has engaged in other sexually satisfying acts. However, such a person is not only far from holy, such a person is DEFILING GOD’S TEMPLE! Our bodies are described in 1 Corinthians 6:19 as the temple of the Holy Spirit! We are also told in 1 Peter 2:11 to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.” Even if you feel you could resist your boyfriend when he wants to gain entry, there are 90% chances that a time would come when your flesh and the passion in you would make you give way because the more you satisfy your flesh, the more you deflate the power of God in you and shut God away! BUT, WHAT’S THE RUSH ANYWAY? Now I would continue with Sylvia’s questions.

    “How do I stop feeling like I’m worthless and guys like that won’t like me?”

    Dearest Sylvia,

    Your question is quite confusing as I don’t know why someone would feel worthless because she refuses to have sexual intercourse. This is quite difficult to answer but I know the day you decide to stop engaging in other forms of sexual immorality, some light from above would illuminate your soul and you would begin to see yourself in a better form!

    On your last question, I must tell you that God is committed to those who are committed to Him! As a matter of fact, He has a way of over-answering the prayers of obedient children and giving them out-of-this-world deals! YES! If you sit well before God and prove to be a clean and chaste vessel and not one allowing every Tom, Dick and Harry to play with her body, He wouldn’t want any “tout” to mess you up, He’ll pick a very special man who would follow you, hook, line and sinker and wait till your wedding night! YES! You try Him first!

    By the time you allow God to process you and you begin to manifest His glory with your virtues, stars, “spiritual wealth, prosperity” intact, even you can afford to buy yourself an aircraft before you’re age 40 if God wishes. YES! An average female is a gold mine but when the gate of one’s life is opened to strangers on the altar of sex, what should sustain one for life could be wiped off within a few minutes even without penetration! For your obedience God can decide to give you a man 50 times wealthier than your dream man and He may decide your prosperity would turn your husband to a billionaire! As you lay your bed so you lie on it! I live you with God!

    • I invite you to follow me on Facebook – TEMILOLU OKEOWO, Instagram @ Okeowo Temilolu.
  • Tomi Badejoko: I started presenting on live TV at nine

    Tomi Badejoko: I started presenting on live TV at nine

    Tomi Badejoko started life as a kid presenter on NTA 10 Children’s Variety Show. That experience inspired her to pursue a career in broadcasting working in London with Sky TV and Ben TV with lots of memorable encounters. In this interview with YETUNDE OLADEINDE, she talked about inspiration from her parents, especially her dad who was a Journalist, acting, going into beauty and skincare.

    Tell us about your new passion for beauty, what inspired you?

    I have always been inspired about beauty, I grew up in a family that has been conscious about skincare. I grew up doing facials, pedicure, manicure in my households. Always been particular about how you look, particularly my maternal grandma. She is the kind of person that always tells you, you have to take good care of yourself, your skin and basically that inspired me while growing up.I have always been in an environment where they are always conscious of self-care.

    What are some of the things that you do in the sector?

    Currently, I am a skincare and beauty blogger. I basically review skincare products for people, advising them on the kind of skincare product to use on their skin type and telling them the products that I used that really worked for me. And those I used that didn’t work, those I think they should try and telling them the latest products in town. You know women are very particular about anti-aging products, so I talk about that. I talk about skincare tools, skincare regimen, home made products. Just basically giving advise on skincare and beauty.

    Let’s talk about your experience in broadcasting. How did this influence your personality?

    My experience in broadcasting is more like it is in the family. It is genetic. My dad is a journalist, so I grew up in a house and from age five and I was forced to read newspaper, my dad was always calling me to come and read this and read that. He was always telling me I see you on TV, your personality is very free spirited and sociable. So, that was how it started and before you know it, I am already doing stuffs, cultural things, debating, Press clubs, I would be there. Then they are picking people to go on TV right from primary school. I would be there, and I have just always liked everything creative or performing arts. I did a bit of acting too and that is why I wished I actually pursued that, but we are here now, and I just found myself graduating to the passion, into broadcasting because it has always been in me.

    I used to present a live TV show, a breakfast show on Ben TV, Skye TV in London. Basically, I have always had this personality before I became a broadcaster, I have always been very chatty, very sociable, very spirited. So, I think I have always had it. I won’t say broadcasting really influenced my personality. Instead, I would say my personality influenced my broadcasting. I think for you to be in broadcasting, you have to have some sort of personality. It influenced my personality and worked more on the strength that I always had.

    You started as a kid presenter at the NTA. What are your memories?

    It was a very good memory and anytime I look back at that, it really makes me happy. I could remember then, there was this program called Children’s variety on NTA 10 where they invited different schools to come and talk about trending topics then. And here I was chosen alongside four other people, but I was so surprised that I was the main host, that was really shocking for me because then I was very small. So, I told myself that I am going to host this show. We had our teachers grooming us on what to say and it was a live show. So, you just couldn’t afford to make a mistake. I was just 9 years old then and we had constant coaching. When everybody had gone home, we were still in school, learning about Children’s variety. I did very well, you would never know that was my first time on TV considering I was a 9 year old. It was wonderful, I wished we actually recorded it then, maybe I would go back to NTA to see if they have it in their archives. It will be really nice to watch. Also, there was another show we participated in with Mee Mofe Damijo when she used to do the “MEE and You Show’ She hosted it and her daughter used to be in my primary school at Chrisland. They came to the school and picked a few people to do the show with her and it was a nice Christmas show then and I was chosen. So, I have always had this from age nine to ten back then.

    Who or what inspires the things you do?

    I get inspiration basically from home, my mum and dad. So, the broadcasting part of me, the talking part of me, and my personality I got from dad because my dad is a journalist. But the creative side of me in terms of beauty, taking care of myself is from my mum. Basically, I got my inspiration from my parents. Also, growing up I used to watch a lot of TV shows. I used to watch Oprah Winfrey and I used to dream of having my own show too. We are still waiting for that to happen. So, it is going to be my mum, my dad and Oprah. Those are the people that inspired me to do what I do now.

    What are some of the other things that occupy your time?

    Basically, aside from the creative side of me, the blogging and all the other things that occupy my time, I also have a day job which takes most of my time. That really occupies my time and I enjoy being a mum.

    Tell us about the people you admire?

    This questions sometimes can be generic but to be honest I try to be real. A lot of people can admire people from afar, like all this major stars without knowing their stories. For me, it is the people I know and that includes my mum because she is very hardworking. I admire my mum because she has been an entrepreneur like forever. She has been able to run a successful business for over 35 years plus. It has been recognized in Nigeria called Astoria. She has also been able to balance being an entrepreneur, working back to back and still being a mum like nothing ever suffered I don’t know how she balances it. Maybe because she is a Nigerian. I really admire that because I live in this part of the world, it’s been difficult to balance. I admire her prayer life, being a realist and I think she is a super woman. I admire my friend, she owns Juvia’s Place. A Nigerian woman living in America and she has been able to create a million dollar beauty business. We know beauty backgrounds are tall but she has been able to do so well for herself. That is my definition of Black Girl Magic. I am so proud of her and she is doing really well.

    What are some of the memorable moments in your life and career?

    I have a lot. My growing up has been fun and up till now. Every landmark from birthdays, graduation, wedding and being a mum has been memorable. Being a mum has been major, creating a human being, a living being and watching the kids grow up has been awesome. In my career,it will be starting from this little girl being on TV from age nine and finally coming to the western world.

    For example, I have always admired the Queen and the Royal family but it was major when I interviewed a member of the Royal family in the palace.  Also interviewing the Mayor of London and the list goes on. Those were really memorable for me in my broadcasting career.

    What were the initial challenges?

    The initial challenges for me were fitting into the western Media world. A brown skin girl from Nigeria moving to the UK for my postgraduate and finding myself to live here and breaking into the Media Industry and thinking of how to be accepted. Thinking of so many things and there is too much competition, skin colour is a factor and that was a major challenge for me. Yes, I felt like quitting a lot of times because I applied a lot of times for mainstream TV like ITV but you never get called. Instead, you get things like you are over qualified, you have a Masters but this is for people who didn’t go to University. I can’t lie about my achievements and it was hard for me.

    What are you looking forward to in future?

    I am so hopeful, very hopeful for the next few years. I am hopeful for COVID to just disappear. Also hoping to be an entrepreneur someday, sometimes really soon.

    Tell us about your favourite holiday spot?

    St. Arina has been on my list. So, maybe one day that would be fulfilled. It would have been fulfilled this year but unfortunately, the Pandemic had messed things up. My favourite holiday spot would be Lagos, Nigeria, where I am from, it is my happy place. And your holiday place should your happy place. Aside, all those wonderful destinations around the world, maybe because I do not live in Nigeria. Here, I feel no stress, being around family and I am happy.

    What is your definition of style?

    Style is an expression of who you are, without having to say a word. It just expresses your image, reflects your personality and that is style to me.

    What are the things that you won’t do in the name of fashion?

    Definitely trends. I won’t follow trends. I wear what suits me, what suits my body and what suits my style. I am not going to wear anything because it is trending.

    Who or what would you consider as the greatest influence in your life?

    That would be my mum; she has been the greatest influence in my life. Growing up, seeing her being hardworking and acting like she is not working, happy no matter what. She oozes positivity, always available to talk to. She is the stereotypical African mum, strict but at the same time, you can tell her everything. She is a mother hen, very protective and I have picked a lot from her. I have a fragrance addition and I took it from her. She loves to dress up; I took it from her, basically everything.

  • CAMA fraught with contradictions, inconsistencies — Gadzama

    CAMA fraught with contradictions, inconsistencies — Gadzama

    Life bencher, scholar, world acclaimed arbitrator and Principal Partner of J-K Gadzama LLP, Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN, points out the myriad of contradictions and inconsistencies in the amended Company and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) and warns the federal government against adopting the alien law without taking cognizance of our local realities. He spoke with INNOCENT DURU.

    There have been so many complaints about the amended CAMA law. What is your take on it?

    There are contradictions and inconsistencies in the Act, particularly when you look at sub-section 1 of section 839 in contradistinction to sub- sections 2 & 7 of the same section 839 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 (CAMA 2020). Sub-section 1, gives the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC or Commission) an unfettered discretion to suspend the trustees of an association and appoint an interim manager or managers to manage their affairs where it reasonably believes that there is or has been misconduct or mismanagement. It is necessary or desirable to protect its property, ensure proper application of the property, public interest; or the activities are run fraudulently.

    The discretion given to the Commission in sub-section 1 is nebulous and subjective and therefore liable to abuse. We may have an objective and reasonable Registrar General (RG) of CAC now, but he will certainly vacate office at the end of his tenure. The concern raised by stakeholders is that this discretionary power enshrined in sub-section 1 is subject to the whims and caprices of whoever is the RG at the time.

    Consequently, when the trustees have been suspended and their only remedy is recourse to the court, they may be vindicated but the damage has already been done or the assets or property of the association dissipated.

    Sub-section 2, stipulates that the trustees shall be suspended by an order of court upon the petition of the Commission or one-fifth of the association presenting reasonable evidence as requested by the court. This avails the petitioned trustees the opportunity not only to come face to face with their accusers but also to defend themselves in line with one of the age long principles of natural justice and the twin pillars of justice in our jurisprudence, which is audi alteram partem (let the other party be heard).

    One of the concerns expressed by stakeholders is that when it comes to the exercise of discretion in this part of the world, it is most times exercised outlandishly or capriciously instead of judiciously.

    Sub-section 7, on the other hand, provides that the Commission may suspend or remove any trustee after it has made an enquiry into the affairs of the association and finds out that the trustee has been responsible or privy to misconduct or mismanage ment or by order of the court establish a scheme for its administration. The analysis of the above sub-sections is that sub-section 1 deals with suspension of trustees and appointment of interim managers, sub-section 2 deals only with suspension of the trustees, while sub-section 7 mentioned suspension but also introduced the word “removal” of the trustees. The import of the above sections and concern of the stakeholders is that the Commission interprets the word “order” as contained in sub-section 1 of section 839 as the order of the Commission and not that of the court. The implication is that the Commission can suspend the trustees without seeking any order of court before taking the action. Sub-section 2 deals with another ground for the suspension of the trustees in which the court can neither intervene nor do anything until and unless the Commission or one-fifth of the association and, of course, the trustees (after suspension or removal) decide to petition to court. This has made the concerns of the stakeholders germane and reasonable to a large extent, as the Commission wields too much power in the extant law.

    But you do believe that the law is not completely out of place…

    There is certainly need for regulation of Incorporated Trustees (IT) and I am also of the opinion that we all need to be regulated even in our private lives as the decisions we take not only affect us and our dependents but also the society at large. Regulation therefore is paramount, especially when it comes to public affairs. As global citizens, there is nothing wrong in embracing best practices. But the bane of our society is bad leadership, lack of corporate good governance and accountability and transparency in public affairs.

    The provision of section 839 (1) of CAMA 2020 is inelegantly drafted. There is need to introduce into the law that before the Commission can suspend or remove trustees and appointment of interim manager/s, it must first obtain an order of court which must be on notice and not ex parte. This means that the concerned trustee/s must be served with the processes of court and be given reasonable time, if it is a civil matter, and adequate time and facility to prepare his defence, if crime is alleged.

    Imagine a situation where the Commission exercises its discretion wrongly and the court subsequently, sets it aside, already damage has been done and same has occasioned injustice.

    The way forward is that in the interim, the registrar general should ensure that there is  proper investigation, the affected trustee is given reasonable and adequate time to defend him/herself, the internal mechanisms like the Administrative Proceedings Committee, whose decisions are subject to confirmation by the board and the Hon Ministers approval are all religiously followed through.

    The leaders/trustees of the ITs must be transparent, accountable and carry the members along to eliminate complaints and bickering. There is need for judicial intervention, and any association that is aggrieved in any way should go to court and seek a judicial interpretation of the concerned sections of the Act.

    They can also recourse to the National Assembly and lobby for an amendment of the Act.

     What has actually changed between the previous law and the amended one?

    Under CAMA 2004, there is no provision for the Commission to suo moto and without recourse to the court suspend a trustee/s, or appoint interim manager/s.

    There is certainly no provision in the repealed Act requesting the bank to make a report to the Commission with respect to dormant accounts of ITs or that empowered the Commission to direct transfer of credits in dormant bank accounts to other accounts.

    These are the two major provisions that were not part of the repealed Act.

    Some people have called for the deletion of some parts of the controversial section. Do you agree with them?

    The new CAMA is a welcome development in the ease of doing business in Nigeria. But the “offensive” section/s especially as regards Part F, dealing with ITs, should be tinkered with. I do not subscribe to the clamour for the deletion of the entire section 839 of CAMA, but will suggest an immediate amendment.

    There are also claims in some quarters that part of the controversial section is inconsistent with some provisions of the Constitution. How true is this?

    There is a violation of the rights against expropriation of property. Section 43 of the Constitution of Nigeria has guaranteed the right of citizens to acquire and own immovable property anywhere in Nigeria and frowns at compulsory acquisition of such property contrary to the provisions of the Constitution. There is also the violation of the right to peaceful assembly and association as enshrined in section 40 of the Constitution. Furthermore, there is a violation of the right of the citizen to have any matter or question relating to his or her civil rights and obligation determined by the court and not an agency of government.

    Speaking specifically on the section that says government can take over charity organisations’ money that has been dormant for five  years, Prof Chidi Odinkalu during a webinar you hosted recently  argued that the amended law erred. Do you agree with him?

    He asserted that as a result of the peculiar nature of the ITs, which depend on funds from donor agencies, they do not have any choice than to invest the money in the bank or stretch it for five years or more in order to have resources to run the organisation. This is because they may get fund for a year or two and will not be able to get any other funding for the next three, four  or more years. They have office space rent and staff to pay, maintain office equipment, cars etc.

    In the light of this, section 842 of CAMA 2020, which empowers the Commission to direct transfer of credits in dormant bank accounts to other organisations, etc, should be amended to incorporate their peculiar circumstances or even expunged from the Act.

    Some are opposing the law because they felt it is a needless replication of UK Charity law in Nigeria which have different socio-economic and political settings, and that if we can do that with the law, we should be able to replicate other welfarist  programmes of the UK here too. Do you share their view?

    Section 14 (1) sub-section (2), paragraph (b), of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) provides that the primary purpose of government is the security and welfare of the people it governs. Apposite to this is the need to ensure that the welfare of the citizens takes precedence and is prioritised by any government in power.

    Government should not be in a hurry to adopt foreign laws without taking cognizance of our local realities and environment. Nevertheless, as the government is working on improving the lives of the citizens, it should also make or adapt other laws geared towards achieving the same objective and not otherwise.

    There were allegations by CAN that the bill was earlier rejected and that they didn’t know how it became law. Some others said they weren’t aware of public hearing on it. Which of these groups do you belong to?

    The National Assembly stated that they held public hearing on the bill before passage in the parliament and the assent of the President. CAN on the other hand has said that they are not aware, and were not notified of any public hearing on this Part F, dealing with ITs. Other NGOs have also come out to state the same fact and it is yet to be denied by any member of the National Assembly or its review committee.

     What advice do you have for the National Assembly and the Federal Government when amending laws in future to avoid the outcry that greeted the present one?

    Laws are made for man and not the other way round. Therefore, whenever there is need to amend any law, the critical stakeholders, being the persons or entities that the law will directly, indirectly or even remotely affect, must be carried along. Their inputs should also be adequately considered and incorporated and not jettisoned for no good reason.

  • Are male politicians dinosaaurs?

    Are male politicians dinosaaurs?

    Nnedinso Ogaziechi

    If we are to go by the story of the creation, God created man and seeing that he needed help, made the woman. It is therefore funny that the same man that the creator found a helpmate for often try to relegate the woman to the background and ultimately gets overwhelmed by duties that ought to be shared by the two genders.

    Ironically, the same creative process runs through the multiplication of humans through procreation. Neither of the genders can bring about the birth of a regular human without the other. Technology and science can only go as far as we have seen. For now, a sperm and an egg are still needed for a fertilization to take place.

    It is therefore a descent to the abnormal that in modern leadership tussle around the world, some ill-informed men still assume a sense of entitlement and try everything to exclude women. However, ironically, in countries that have adopted democracy, more women vote at elections and the same men with a flawed sense of entitlement still seek the votes of women to win at the polls. Women are the most consistent, active and loyal voting bloc in the world.

    However, the idea of relegating women to the background in leadership is neither socially nor economically profitable for any nation. African women especially had always provided leadership in pristine times before the colonial masters came with the idea of ‘housewives’ because their wives where pretty much idle at home.

    The legendary amazons of Dahomey and the various legendary queens in Africa all provided political and economic leadership to complement the men too. There were complimentary leadership styles for both genders and trouble started when the men decided to appropriate the political and economic spaces and to deal women some tokenism.

    This trend is an obvious ill-wind that blows no one any good as the economies of the crassly patriarchal societies tend to show, more poverty and social ills hold down the economies of such nations and Nigeria is a good example.

    The Roundtable Conversation had the Honorable Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in Lagos state, Cecelia Bolaji Dada, an astute administrator/politician. She was in the Lagos State Sports Commission and later became an executive secretary before being elected as the Vice Chairman for Apapa Local Government for two terms.  As an award-winning Vice Chairman of a local government, she believes that women have nothing to fear when they are competent and ready to work to develop their communities and nation.

    To Bolaji, competence has no gender and the readiness to serve is personal to everyone. She believes that very often, some women show defeatist attitude when it comes to political participation but she believes that mentorship by the few women who are already in politics must be taken more seriously. In her days as Vice Chairman of Apapa Local government, mentoring younger women was a passion for her and the dividends have been huge. It is important for women to first have confidence in themselves, be disciplined enough to earn respect of everyone and be ready to show the full female capacity in multi-tasking. Neither your work nor the home must be shortchanged if you are a focused human being.

    Planning must be key for women not just in politics but in all spheres of life that they find themselves. Be able to speak up, be able to stand against the men. The fact of life is that most  insecure men are intimidated by brilliant and confident women so they try to frustrate the women so that they will give up because the dictum that what a man can do a woman can do better is not a ruse. Women must be ready to show competence at all levels. There is no position that a determined woman cannot creditably handle.

    The mentorship of young women must be a priority for all women and even men because a well-educated and empowered woman can move mountains. Politics is for everyone and it is ironic that while men lay claim to leadership, women are the real voters and if they are discerning enough to vote, they must be capable of leading too. Political positions should not be an exclusive of men and that is where kudos must go to the past and present governors of Lagos state she says.

    Lagos state is very much ahead of other states when it comes to women inclusion in both elective and appointive positions in the state. The governor, Babajide, Sanwo-Olu recently won the ‘HE for SHE’ Ambassador Award  from an NGO for making his government very inclusive as quite a number of women are in his cabinet and those in the civil service including the judiciary that deserve to be promoted to Permanent Secretaries or appointed as judges equally get their promotions unlike what happens in most other states that the governors tend to play to the gallery whipping up either religious of cultural sentiments that exclude women and deny them what is due them.

    To the Commissioner, the number of women in elective and appointive positions in Lagos state even though there is still room for improvement stands as a morale booster for women to seize the moment and realize that they must step up and participate and not wait to be handed power just because they are women. The political terrain requires a great sense of duty and discipline. Women must stand up to the men with their dignity intact and not be intimidated by name-calling and all those mischievous tags some men use to intimidate women out of politics.

    Leadership is about integrity and any man or woman that shows integrity would always have a seat at the table. Bolaji insist that women must desist from the pull-her-down syndrome that empower men. The idea of seeing women in politics as women of easy virtue empowers the men. In most cases, men are empowered to call female politicians names because most often the women who are not in politics yield to the male blackmail of women. When looked at critically, if a woman is accused of being of easy virtue just because she insists on meeting men at the barricades and defying their mischievous nocturnal meetings by attending same, who are her partners if not the same men?

    She believes women must come together and support the women who are providing leadership either as elected or appointed public servants.  To her, planning for women must be key. Neither the home nor the work should be neglected because women are nurturers. Politics should not affect the home or parenting skills because nature has endowed women with the capacity to multi-task brilliantly.

    She believes that support from discerning men who know the capacity of their partners also helps and that is why she believes that women must marry or be in a relationship with men who would always support their interests progressively no matter the field. She observes that in her case for instance, it was even her husband that motivated her to be an active politician and that support has made all the difference in her administrative and political journey. In mentoring younger ladies, she points out that each woman must be in a relationship with a partner they can communicate effectively with because that is the foundation for trust and counts for a seamless relationship in future.

    It takes a very confident man to allow his wife or partner to attend the ‘intentional’ nocturnal meetings without feeling insecure. It all boils down to a mutual sense of trust and loyalty for partners to trust each other. To her, the main issue to her is, the idea of blackmailing female politicians by the society is a cultural tool of oppression. She believes that no profession corrupts anyone. People decide their moral compass irrespective of their profession or political activities. People still accuse doctors, nurses, actors, bankers, traders, even full time housewives whose husbands are insecure would still complain.

    Having been in government since the year 2000, she knows and has observed enough to realize that women are the ones holding themselves back. Being the only woman on the board of the Lagos State Sports Council, then Secretary to Apapa local government then to the vice Chairmanship position for two terms and other political experiences along up till now as a Commissioner in Lagos along other very strong and active women makes her conclude that if only women can dream it, they can achieve it because women are pillars for nation building.

    Appointive posts do not make you a politician, starting from your communities and wards should be the initial steps to build your political growth on. Politics must be taken from the bottom up not the other way round. Most times some women assume they can just jump out and become a governor or president, no, the men will always beat you to it because they often are the ones going from their wards to the pinnacle which is the Presidency. Women must realize that participatory democracy is about numbers and not a sentimental gender issue.

    The take away from this conversation is that men are not the political dinosaurs that most women often assume. The decision to be politically involved should be made for development by women who do not have to wait to be handed power on a platter. Mentorship is key for women.  Most men in or out of politics would support any serious minded woman able and ready to serve. A partner’s support for a woman is an addition and that should often inform choices of a partner. Lagos state leads in women inclusiveness in governance.

    What are other states up to? The dialogue continues…

  • Can you live in your wife’s apartment

    Can you live in your wife’s apartment

    By Vera Chidi-Maha

    Ideally marriages are for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, forsaking all other women or men. When I attend weddings and the reverend father or pastor as the case maybe gets to this part, tears have a way of streaming down my face for reasons I don’t even know. I don’t know if they are tears of joy, or pity because I know that if not for God’s grace, many break this vow even sooner than they know it.

    But even at that, I still love weddings. Weddings bring people from diverse backgrounds and they suddenly become one big family. It is a unique thing, and I do encourage guys to “put a ring on it” (song by Beyonce Knowles), if you do find the one after your heart.

    For the purpose of today’s piece, I will want to dwell on what happens after a wedding.

    Of course, we know that there will be bills and more bills to be picked during and long after the wedding bells had stopped ringing.

    The cat I am letting out of the bag today is about my colleague’s dear uncle.

    Kate’s uncle, Remi (not real name), is a serving customs officer. He got married to his girlfriend of many years, Aunty Shade, who incidentally is also a serving customs official, although hers was at a more senior level than her husband’s. As a result of her status, she was given a tastefully furnished four-bedroom bungalow at Bode Thomas in the heart of Surulere, Lagos.

    Uncle Remi, according to Kate, was in no way intimidated by his wife’s financial superiority. In fact, all he did was to try and complement her effort. They were quite happy living in the husband’s apartment of many years still in the outskirts of Surulere until the Nigerian Customs allocated a house to Aunty Shade.

    Of course, the elevation at her place of work brought them happiness. It then came to the time when the key of her new home was officially handed over to her.

    She thereafter took the keys straight to her husband and she said: “Honey, we are moving to our new home”. It was at that point that Uncle Remi became worried. Call it male chauvinism. Call it ego, if you like or even pride, but Uncle Remi was and always has been a typical African man and he never considered it a good thing to move into his wife’s apartment.

    To him, the thought was simply ridiculous, in fact almost laughable, and he told his wife so without mincing words. Aunty Shade’s reaction was even worse after hearing her beloved husband. She took a very deep breath and burst into tears. But for the privacy of Uncle Remi’s office, she would cause a big scare that would have led to an office gossip for weeks.

    When they got home, Uncle Remi tried to let her see things from his own perspective. He let her know that he was the man in this union and that it would make him feel dependent, if he was to vacate his home.

    Aunty Shade would have none of it. She reasoned that the official accommodation was free and that the rent paid for their home could be used for other things. She saw no need for them as a couple to continue to pay rent when the government had made life better for them.

    Trust women, when her husband continued to resist, she ran to family members to convince her husband to move in with her. After much pressure from family members, Uncle Remi finally swallowed his pride and moved into his wife’s new home.

    A few years after moving in, things were very rosy. The wife was very sweet and became even more loving than she was when they first got married. Her true colour was shown when suddenly she started deciding when he came back from work, who visited and who should call before visiting.

    The list of her atrocities was endless and when Uncle Remi could no longer tolerate her excesses, they resorted to verbal fights and then it degenerated to physical fights and then the worst happened.

    Yes, she kicked him out of the house.  She kicked her dear husband of eight years out of her official quarters by 2am.

    Although I am a woman and we do mess up sometimes, but I can’t even begin to think of kicking my maid out of the house by 8pm. It is not only wrong, but I feel it is criminal.  I am not generalising. We do have good women out there who will do more than accommodate their husbands and yet no one will even know about it.

    I know of women who buy cars for their men.  They appear happy and love each other genuinely, regardless of who is picking whose bills.

    I have read of men who tell anybody that cares to listen that their wives help them. It might not necessarily be financially. The support from the wives could even be moral like Obama’s wife, Michelle, did during her husband’s political campaign. She was always seen by his side, always smiling, her hand always in his. Whether we like it or not, her support and love contributed immensely to his being in the White House today.

    So, what part are you playing in your man’s life?