The Nation Newspaper

Category: Special Report

  • Window of oppotunities beckons in Brampton

    Window of oppotunities beckons in Brampton

    At an interactive session with about 300 young entrepreneurs in Lagos, a window of opportunities was thrown open for young Nigerians and start-ups in food production, manufacturing cyber security, real estate and food and beverages, among others. It was thrown open by the Mayor of Brampton City, who led a Canadian delegation on a three day working visit to Nigeria. He was at the event, reports MUYIWA LUCAS.

    Are you a young entrepreneur or a start-up in manufacturing, technology, cybersecurity and real estate? Are you interested in business opportunities outside the shores of Nigeria? Look no further! A window of opportunities has been thrown open for you in Canada – Brampton City – by no other than its Mayor.

    The Mayor, Patrick Brown, who led a Canadian delegation on a three-day working visit to Nigeria, made the offer at an interactive session with about 300 young Nigerian entrepreneurs in Lagos.

    The event was organised by Pertinence Group, an indigenous firm interested in youth empowerment, business development, real estate, and several other portfolios. It was in partnership with Upsurgence Canada and supported by the Nigerian Canadian Investment and Trade Group. Venue was the Terra Kulture Hall on Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Brown told the young entrepreneurs that there were vast opportunities in manufacturing, technology, cybersecurity and food and beverages, among others, waiting to be explored “in one of the fastest growing business communities in Canada – Brampton City.” He urged them to come and invest as  his city wanted to be part of Nigeria’s success story.

    His words: “Brampton wants to be part of the Nigeria’s success story. We hope to do business with Nigerians, as there are opportunities for Nigeria to be greater than imagined. This is my second coming to the country; first time was during the Commonwealth meeting; I was part of the Canadian delegation. I remember saying that Nigeria is a beautiful country. You can’t come to Nigeria once and not want to come back.”

    According to the Mayor, the large population of enterprising youths in Nigeria is similar to Brampton’s. The youth, he said, make Brampton the fastest growing city in Canada just as it is happening currently in Nigeria.

    “We see ourselves as the same. We respect each other, our neighbours. It doesn’t matter where you’re born, the colour of your skin, once you have the determination to succeed, Canada will give you the opportunity. Brampton provides everyone an equal opportunity to succeed; no discrimination of any form,” he said.

    He further charged young Nigerians in business to see Brampton as a city ever willing to accommodate them. “If you’re in Lagos looking for how to get opportunities to scale up your business, Brampton is the place to go. I believe in those who say the next frontier for entrepreneurial success is Africa,” Brown stated, acknowledging the determination of many young Nigerian entrepreneurs to remain in business, despite the harsh economic situation in the country.

    While the offer may seem like a blank cheque, preference will be given to start-ups in manufacturing, technology, especially in cybersecurity as well as food and beverages. This is because Brampton City’s focus is on jobs for tomorrow – windows for technology.

    Brown said the city recently welcomed 15 tech start-ups from India in recognition of the technological growth of start-ups in the country.

    “The Canadian prime minister just announced that Brampton will be the centre of cybersecurity. Our city is investing heavily in cybersecurity. This is a sector worth $600 billion. We focus on tech start-ups. These are businesses of tomorrow,” Brown said.

    He noted that the feats being recorded by Nigerians in the global space were not unnoticed, stressing that it was the dividend of such  feats that seem to be rubbing off on others in the country.

    Similarly, Brampton City Councillor Charmaine William urged women to strive to excel in whatever discipline they had chosen.

    William admonished the over 300 young Nigerian entrepreneurs that gathered inside the hall not to let anyone discourage them from actualising their dreams, adding that once they have a vision or dream, they should follow it with passion.

    A co-founder of Pertinence Group, the promoters of the visit and interactive session, Sunday Olorunsheyi, described Nigeria as a land of opportunities, noting that to maximise the opportunities, young entrepreneurs needed help.

    This, he explained, prompted his firm to invite the Mayor of Brampton and his team, whom he described as a youth advocate, to come and encourage Nigerian youths in business.

    “Mayor Brown understands you; he appreciates the challenges which the youth face. He understands what you go through, your frustrations, your aspirations, your yearnings and your dreams. This is why he is here today to enlighten you about opportunities you can access in the City of Brampton, Canada. We have explored the various opportunities which the City of Brampton can facilitate for Nigerian youths and entrepreneurs, and I can tell you, they are many,” Olorunsheyi said.

    Another co-founder and Executive Director of Pertinence Group, Wisdom Ezekiel, said the firm was an embodiment of entrepreneurship, and would continue to advocate that entrepreneurship, entrepreneurs and those they inspire define the future of Nigeria’s transformation. He called on the government to prioritise the youth and entrepreneurs.

    “May I also use this opportunity to challenge Nigerian businesses to continue to invest in an enabling ecosystem that encourages youths and entrepreneurship development at whatever level. From scholarships to reality shows and contests. SMEs have always been the lifeblood of capitalist economies; Nigeria is not different,” Ezekiel said.

    Brown and his delegation visited Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu where they discussed ways to collaborate using technology. Sanwo-Olu informed the team that leveraging technology would facilitate the ease of doing business in the state.

    Sanwo-Olu, while commending the efforts made by the Mayor to accelerate development in Brampton, said the city shared a similar history with Lagos as both had grown over the decades to become the hubs of commerce and Information and Communication Technology (ICT). He said Lagos would seek bilateral cooperation with the political leadership of the Canadian city in cybersecurity, food security and technology, among others.

    According to him, the state has embarked on intensive infrastructural programme to make Lagos more attractive to people in the Diaspora to invest in. “All these efforts will sustain the position of Lagos as the first destination for business and keep our economy growing at a steady pace. Lagos is the technology hub in sub-Saharan Africa and there are many collaborations we can seal with Brampton in the area of cybersecurity,” he said.

    Responding, Brown described Nigerians living in Brampton as “resilient people”, saying their influence on the city’s economy and culture contributed to its economic prosperity and social development. He said because of the resilience of Nigerians in Canada, the country decided to focus on Nigeria for possible areas of collaboration.

    He also met with the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II at his Palace in Ile-Ife. The visit was aimed at celebrating and refreshing Nigeria’s brand as the African business and cultural leader and the age-long relationship between Brampton and Diaspora Nigerians.

    It will be recalled that Brown and his Council last August 12 hosted Ooni Ogunwusi to a reception at the Brampton City Hall in Ontario, Canada. The monarch at the event proclaimed Brampton as the African city of Canada with Nigerian national flag hoisted in front of Brampton City beside the Canadian and Brampton flags in honour of the king.

  • African Catholic bishops compose prayer against Coronavirus

    African Catholic bishops compose prayer against Coronavirus

    African Catholic Bishops have composed a prayer to be recited by Catholics against the dreaded Coronavirus, write ADEYINKA ADERIBIGBE, BISI OLANIYI, ERIC IKHILAE, BLESSING OLAIFA AND KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR 

    Even as Coronavirus (COVID-19) continued its rage across the world, leaving no fewer than 3,000 people worldwide dead and no fewer than 100,000 others infected in no less than 45 countries across the world, the African Catholic Bishops said they have composed prayer for faithful against the raging Coronavirus.

    The bishops who spoke under the aegis of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) urged faithful to pray against the virus.

    The bishops in the statement also advised the public to adhere strictly to the instructions being given by both the civil and ecclesiastical authorities regarding the novel coronavirus.

    The statement said, “We express our sympathy for and solidarity with those who are infected and affected by this strange epidemic and pray that an effective and affordable treatment of this disease may soon be found.

    “In the meantime, we strongly urge our people to adopt the highest level of preventive measures to curb the spread of this disease.

    “We also ask that they pray for those infected and affected by this disease and for a quick end to the scourge of the coronavirus,” the statement said.

    The bishops also suggested prayers that their faithful could say for a quick end to the virus thus:

    “Almighty and merciful Father, who shows your love to all creation, we come before you asking for a quick control of the Coronavirus currently ravaging our world.

    Hear graciously the prayers we make for those affected by the virus in various parts of the world.

    “Grant healing to the sick, eternal life to the dead and consolation to the bereaved families.

    “We pray that an effective medicine to combat the sickness be speedily found.

    “We pray for the relevant Governments and Health Authorities that they take appropriate steps for the good of the people.

    “Look upon us in your mercy and forgive us our fallings. “We ask this through our Lord Jesus.’’

    Coronavirus cannot survive in hot weather

    The Niger State Commissioner for Health, Dr Muhammad Makusidi, has described the hot weather condition in the state as a positive development capable of keeping coronavirus at bay.

    Makusidi, who disclosed this at press conference in Minna on Monday, said coronavirus would not survive under the present weather condition in the state, which he put at 40°C, saying that it could still go higher.

    He explained that if the state could keep Lassa fever at bay, it would also do same to coronavirus, assuring that the ministry was ready for it.

    The commissioner said that isolation centres had been made available inside and outside the hospital to quarantine any person who might be affected by the virus.

    “We thank God for the media; we are sensitising our people on radio, television and even in mosques and churches on the importance of hand washing and the need to use hand sanitisers as often as possible.

    “The ministry is now producing sanitisers so that it can be made available to everybody at subsidised price. We decided to do that because some people are taking advantage of the situation to exploit others.

    “The ministry, with the support from the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has already started sharing information on how to prevent infection and mitigate it in case of an outbreak in the state,” he said.

    Makusidi further explained that the state would strengthen the surveillance system to detect any case of coronavirus, including investigation and monitoring of any outbreak.

    “The Public Health Emergency Operation Centre (PHEOC) would continue to be on watch mode and continue to enhance surveillance in the state,” he said.

    Niger state government said it has started the manufacturing of hand sanitizers.

    The Executive Director of the Niger State Drug and Hospital Consumables Agency, Dr. Muhammad Audi, who disclosed this on Monday said the government went into the production of sanitisers to prevent exploitation.

    He lamented over the rate at which the prices of the hand sanitizers had increased indiscriminately in the past two weeks.

    Audi said the government will only supply to organisations and people with genuine interests such as schools and other institutions adding that it will not be given to people with an ulterior motive of selling it at a high price.

    In his address, the Niger State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Muhammad Makusidi has said that the government is closely monitoring the incident of coronavirus in other states and is working to ensure that all modalities are in place to prevent its entry into Niger state.

    Japan offers help

    The Japanese Government said it will continue to collaborate with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to enable it effectively address rising health challenges, particularly the Coronavirus threat.

    The Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria Kikuta yutaka gave this assurance in Abuja, while speaking with journalists at the 2020 annual gathering of members of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Alumni Association of Nigeria.

    Represented by the Deputy Head of Mission, Japanese Embassy in Nigeria, Shinozawa Takayuki, said his home government will continue to strengthen its bilateral ties with Nigeria through collaborations in area of technology, agriculture, education, among others, with a view to aiding the improvement of Nigeria’s economy.

    He noted that the recent agreement between his country and Nigeria to support NCDC will go a long way in improving the nation’s health sector.

    UNIZIK stops Chinese Programme

    Meanwhile the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Unizik, said it will be closing its Chinese Confucius Institute in the meantime. It said students will continue their studies online.

    Unizik’s Vice Chancellor Prof Charles Esimone, who disclosed this on Monday, said the online option is adopted in order to ensure that academic activities are not interrupted.

    Esimone said, “Some of our teachers went on vacation in December. But when the Coronavirus issue came up, in line with government policies, we told them to stay back.

    “Those that were in China before the issue came up were asked to stay back, while those here were asked to remain.

    African Catholic bishops compose prayers

    The Catholic bishops of Africa have raised their concerns over the growing number of cases of death from Coronavirus in Africa and the rest of the world. The bishops who spoke under the aegis of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) also composed prayers that the faithful could pray against the virus.

    These are contained in a statement signed by its president, Cardinal Philippe Quedraogo and its Secretary, Bishop Emmanuel Badejo, after the meeting of SECAM’s standing committee members held in Nairobi, Kenya, between March 4 and March 7, 2020.

    It was made available to journalists by Faustina Angmor, the Communications Officer of SECAM Secretariat in Accra, Ghana.

    SECAM is the continental body of all the Catholic bishops from the English, French and Portuguese speaking regions of Africa.

    The statement said, “We express our sympathy for and solidarity with those who are infected and affected by this strange epidemic and pray that an effective and affordable treatment of this disease may soon be found.

    “In the meantime, we strongly urge our people to adopt the highest level of preventive measures to curb the spread of this disease.

    Avoid partying

    Chairman, Agege Local Government Council, Lagos, Mr Ganiyu Egunjobi, has cautioned residents against attending parties and other social gatherings considering the threat of Coronavirus and LASSA fever.

    Egunjobi who spoke on Monday said chances of contracting and spreading the diseases was high in such gatherings.

    “We need to be very careful, especially in Lagos state; we must suspend all unnecessary social gatherings to curb further spread of the virus.

    The chairman said that community needed to be sensitised to ensure that people were aware of the implications of spreading and contracting the infectious virus.

    Ban Okrika clothes

    A serving Senator Francis Fadahunsi has called for a permanent ban on the importation of fairly used clothes popularly called Okrika.

    A former Assistant Comptroller General of Customs, Senator Francis Fadahunsi, who is Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariffs, said there are many containers with clothing materials from China at Onne Port waiting to be cleared into the country.

    Fadahunsi said the Federal government through the Federal Ministry of Health and other health agencies of government need to move fast to prevent eventual epidemic of the coronavirus ensuring that used clothing materials from China and other parts of Europe are banned totally.

    Immigration goes mum

    The Nigerian Immigration Service has declined to give any updates on the screening of travellers in and outside the country as the outbreak of the COVID-19 continued to generate concerns across the globe.

    The Spokesman of the Service, Mr Sunday James, said government had constituted inter-agency committee to give general updates on the index case in Nigeria and other related issues on the Coronavirus, stressing that only the Minister of Health can speak on the matter.

    Cabo Verde Airlines suspends flight to US

    Cape Verde’s national carrier, Cabo Verde Airlines on Monday said it was temporarily suspending flight from Sunday March 8, to March 31, 2020, to and from Washington from its headquarters in Sal.

    According to its  Country Manager Nigeria, Tariye Orianzi , the decision taken by the airline board was  due to significantly reduced customer demand prompted by global health concerns related to corona virus COVID-19.

    She said Corona Virus outbreak  was changing worldwide aviation as passenger demand has decreased as a result of the outbreak

    She said :”As a result of the outbreak, passenger demand has decreased. Consequently, airlines have been trimming services and this also impacts Cabo Verde Airlines.

    “As other aviation companies in general, Cabo Verde Airlines is paying attention to destinations where the focus of COVID-19 is increasing and affected customers will be contacted to accommodate travel needs.

    Virus’ adaptability

    A Medical Imaging Scientist, Mr Livinus Abonyi, has urged Federal Government to take proactive step of investigating and conducting research on if Coronavirus was a tropical and endemic disease that could thrive in Nigeria.  Abonyi, also a Lecturer in Medical Radiography Department, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, gave the advice in an interview on Monday in Lagos.

    He said the government could achieve this through collaboration with the scientists, researchers, stakeholders and all other relevant authorities.

    Abonyi said the research was expected to reveal whether Coronavirus was a tropical infectious disease that could thrive in hot, humid conditions and environment like Nigeria.

    The scientist added that the research would also reveal the right medication for the treatment of the virus and possible preventive measures.

     

  • Agenda for forensic audit of DisCos

    Agenda for forensic audit of DisCos

    The Nigerian Governors’ Forum has sought a probe into the performance of the 11 Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos). JOHN OFIKHENUA writes on its implications

     

    ONE question bugging Emmanuel Onwubiko, founder of the Human Rights Writers’ Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) is to explain how the N37 billion grant meant for prepaid meter to distribution companies was utilised.

    And that question may be the fulcrum of the new searchlight on the operations of the Distribution Companies (DisCos) who are in the eye of the storm over how the grant for prepaid meter supply was dispensed since millions of electricity consumers even in the Federal Capital Territory are still unmetered, a development that has made the Nigeria Governors Forum to call for a forensic probe into the operations of the DisCos.

    The association recalled that in 2018, during the 28th monthly meeting of power stakeholders in Kaduna, the former Minister of Power Mr. Babatunde Fashola revealed that N37 billion was distributed as meter grants. HURIWA also accused the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) of conniving with the Shylock and corrupt private sector operators in the electricity industry to inflict unquantifiable agony and pains on Nigerians…The association also endorsed the decision of the governors’ forum to encourage government to audits the electricity power sector with specific reference to the funding supports advance to GenCos and DisCos to boost electricity supply.

    In anticipation of an unfavourable pronouncement from the Federal Government, the electricity distribution companies (DisCos) had armed themselves with a face-saving defence to curry public pity.

    They came up with their position on the state of the distribution sub-sector of the value chain of the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) last Wednesday. It came on the heels of the Minister of Power, Sale Mamman’s call on them to quit the operation of the companies owing to their inefficiency.

    But the DisCos, speaking through their umbrella body, the Association of Nigeria Electricity Distributors (ANED) told the minister that the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) can only wheel 4,303MW and not 7,000mw. It said the quantum of power that the distribution companies (DisCos) supply to their customers is based on the allocation they get from the TCN.

    This, the ANED said, has limited the performance of the power distributors. It referred the minister to a review of the daily power reports published by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN)’s National Control Centre (NCC).  ANED said according to the review by TCN, which is a government entity would indicate that the peak generation ever recorded in Nigeria is 5,375 MW, of which only 4,303 MW of energy was wheeled or transmitted by TCN to the DisCos.

    It said that a further review would indicate that TCN has never wheeled or transmitted energy above 4,557 MW nor matched its transmission to any of the generation peaks to date.

    The governors, last week, called for the forensic audit of the distribution companies. The intent is to ascertain the level of investments in the firms since they were handed over to private investors on November 1, 2013. But the governors’ pronouncement on the DisCos seems to have neutralised all the measures that the DisCos had taken to insulate themselves from the impact of the deluge of customers’ calls for their sack.

    Following the announcement, disenchanted customers have rolled up their sleeves to support the committee with information.

    Stating the position of the GenCos on the 2016-Minor Review of the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) 2015 and Minimum Remittance Order for Year 2019,” the Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC) expressed its displeasure with some financing shortfall in the market. From the position of this association, the committee can see the justification for the audit of the books of the DisCos. The APGC raised questions about the DisCos’ letter of credit to the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) Plc. The GenCos said “The issue of the requirement for DisCo’s revolving letter of credit to NBET. Is any modality in place to ensure that the DisCos provide the required three months revolving letter of credit? If not, this review is as good as the rest!” The association was referring to previous Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) that overlooked some of condition that should have account for the making of the tariff that the waived for the power distributors.

    According to the APGC, there has to be an effective mechanism for the payment of revenue shortfalls outside the current best endeavour conjecture. Payment delayed is payment denied, and the cost of such delays should serve as an input to the tariff in the form of cost to the GenCos (considering the time value of money). Are there back-to-back data from the DisCos, including trend analysis, to support the ability to distribute such levels of energy? Relative to:  Proof of DisCos investments in capacity improvements tied to such levels of energy delivery improvements. Proof of DisCos process enhancements tied to such energy delivery improvements.

    Seeking justification for allowing the DisCos 100 per cent revenue receipt and 36 per cent for the GenCos, the association sought Equitability. GenCos said ” Equitability: DisCos Remittance Water fall for year 2020 of the minor review indicates that GenCos on average will receive 36% of their revenue requirement while DisCos will receive 100% if they fulfil their obligations. Why this difference?  What’s the justification behind GenCos getting 36% of their revenue requirement, while the DisCos receives a 100% if it just manages to make the minimum remittance which from our investigation Discos have not adhered to?”

    Besides, the GenCos and Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) have always accused the DisCos of rejecting load allocation owing to its low investment in equipment. The TCN Managing Director,  Dr. Usman Gur Mohammed had last year  told The Nation that the DisCos have to recapitalize to match the investment of the TCN in the network. He said the efforts of the TCN was yet to manifest because of the DisCos refusal to invest in the distribution equipment. Mohammed also told The Nation that some of the transmission transformers in Abuja and Benin City were lost to lack of protective equipment on the part of the DisCos. He said “Part of the problem we have with the DisCos is that most the funding that they have came from Nigerian commercial banks which are short term in nature and very expensive. We need funding that will have repayment period of at least 10 years moratorium period; you can’t get it from Nigerian financial market. So, we are not talking about recapitalisation by bringing all those short-terms. Short terms are expensive and they will not be able to build the infrastructure successfully. If you look at our interface now we have 738 interface across the country. Out of these 738 interface we have, only 421 that are fulling protected. What do I mean?  Only 421 their distributions have their own injection substations. You know the power industry works with what you call protection and that is why if you go to your house you have what is called ELCB. If you have a problem in your house it will trip. That is the nature of power work. If that your house doesn’t trip, it will burn the transformer. So all of them need to work if they don’t work there is going to be a problem. Out of the 737 interface, only 421 have protection. The remaining 177, some of the interface have protection, some don’t. For the balance of 179 there is no protection at all. In recent times we have been having problems with our transformers in some stations. In Abuja, in Karu we lost one transformer, we have replaced it. In Kubwa, we also lost a transformer. In Benin we had lost two not too long ago. We have lost one in Onitsa. All are those network that are not protected meaning faults in people’s house can come and hit our transformers. So, that requires investments. They have to put investments to be able to do this. This is the existing infrastructure and don’t forget we are moving it from 8000mw to 20,00mw. So, those that are coming it means we are going to be extending supply to those people. So, even TCN investments cannot be protected if we don’t have significant investments in DisCos.”

    Dr. Gur

    It is also a common knowledge that most communities contribute equipment such as transformers, cable and poles to the DisCos. Since the rule is that any investment in the distribution sub-sector belongs to the DisCos, such contributions have been incorporated into the property of the distributors. In order words, the forensic audit must also dig into what the DisCos have procured on their own and what they received on the basis of Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS) from customers that have been desperate to have electricity.

    Above all, upon hand over of the facilities to the Discos, the performance agreement insisted that the DisCos must reduce losses otherwise known as Aggregate Technical Commercial Collection (ATC&C) losses. The basic means of pruning the losses would been investment in equipment such as transformers, meters, poles and cables. But the achievement has been a far cry from what the agreement expects of the companies. From the words the Minister of Power, Engr. Sale Mamman at the Federal Executive Council meeting recently, the DisCos can only supply a neighborhood  of 3,000mw to the consumers. Metering which is the tool for counting unit of consumption in the electricity market, has not really attained its objective since the privatization of the industry. For instance, the Credit Advanced Payment Metering Initiative (CAPMI) recorded a dismal 201,756 meter installation by the 11 DisCos out of the 410,796 that the customers bought. The NERC had to jettison the initiative.

    Furthermore, the commission in its 2019 Third Quarter Report said commercial viability and financial liquidity performance continued to be a major challenge with a slight improvement in the second quarter of 2019. During the quarter, the “totals billing to electricity consumers by the 11 DisCos rose to N186.08billion with a total collection of N121.32 billion…The level of collection efficiency during the period under review indicates that as much as N3.9 out of every N10 worth of energy sold during the second quarter of 2019 still remained uncollected as and when due.”

    Continuing, the report said during the second quarter of 2019, out of the total invoice of N180.08billion issued to the 11 DisCos for energy from NBET and for service charge by MO, the sum of N55.10billion of the total invoice was settled.

    This performance of the DisCos in a nutshell shows how far they have fared in terms of commercial and collection losses. Had they installed meters to reasonably, the collections would have been higher than the figure recorded above. However, as the estimated billings have no accurate record, those benefitting from the spoils should be happier, after all.

    As the committee looks into the books of the DisCos, it is germane  it notes that once upon a time, the NERC came up with the Credit Advanced Payment Metering Initiative (CAPMI), which was not completely successful. In 2013, the NERC introduced the initiative as a strategy to fast track the supply of meters. But following the recurring customers complaints about  no-delivery of meters despite full payment by customers, the commission wound down the implementation of the initiative from November 1, 2017. On its own, the NERC said that “reports available with the commission indicate that many customers who have paid for meters under CAPMI have to date remained unmetered without any satisfactory justification by the distribution companies. The commission has directed all participating electricity distribution companies to bring such transactions to a close by installing the procured meters at customer premises no later than December 17, 2017. Any of such customers that has  not yet provided with a meter after that date should send the commission copies of the payments made and any other relevant document to NERC.”

    Upon the closure of the implementation of the CAPMI, some customers that paid for the meters never received theirs despite the commission’s directive to the Discos to refund their money. Up till September 2018, the commission was still directing the distribution firms to refund the money to those that were not metered. This should be seen as part of the job that has been cut out for the committee that is conducting the forensic audit of the DisCos. It should be diligent enough to determine how much customers’ contribution is still in the coffers of the DisCos.

    While looking into the DisCos books, it would also be of immense assistance to the auditors to find out how much the DisCos have refused to remit to the  ex-staff of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) as pension contributory fund. It will also be pertinent for the auditors to comb the books to come up with what the DisCos have denied the the exited staff of the company as retirement benefits. A thorough look at the books of the DisCos would show whether they now pay half salaries to their workers. Indeed, the committee has to find out whether the DisCos have kept to the agreement they entered into its the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) in terms  of workers’ welfare. This is a necessary question as workers’ protests affect productivity in the sector once a while.

  • How Edo’s new city plan sparked bloody communal war

    How Edo’s new city plan sparked bloody communal war

    Osagie OTABOR

     

    The road linking Irhirhi, Aruogba, Okhoromi, Obazagbon, Obagie N’evbosa, Ogheghe and Ogbekpen communities in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State used to be in very bad shape. The same road also linked the Airport and Sapele roads.

    From the Airport Road axis, vehicles could only get as far as Obazagbon, as there was no bridge on River Oroma. Immediately after Oroma River is located a community known as Oke-Oroma in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area. Smiles came the way of the residents of the communities when Governor Godwin Obaseki ordered the release of funds for the construction of the road.

    Before the road was constructed, residents of Oke-Oroma had opted to build houses in neighbouring Obazagbon or Obagie N’Evbuosa village because of access road. But with the road’s construction, they could now build their houses in the community.

    But like the bean with a black eye, whatever good things the new road brought has also brought tears and sorrow to Oke-Oroma residents.

    Oke-Oroma community otherwise known as Ago-Emokpae is now a ghost town with wreckage of more than 20 burnt cars, scores of expended ammunition and other unseemly sights.

    In one of the houses that were burnt, corpses of dogs littered the building. A foul smell believed to that of dead bodies in the bush filled the air. Residents of the village had fled into the bush or sought refuge in the neighbouring villages. Several buildings in the village were razed down by gunmen who invaded the community penultimate Tuesday.

    The shops in the community were vandalized while many animals, including dogs, were shot dead. The Oguedion (Elders’ Hall) was razed down. Many ancestral trees were felled.

    Several persons were killed while others were injured. Houses belonging to some indigenes of Oke-Oroma at neighbouring Obazagbon village were also razed.

    Last month, Governor Godwin Obaseki during an inspection tour of the new road said his administration was planning to expand the state capital, Benin City, by developing a new city along that road.

    The governor had said: “We have acquired 720 hectares of land off this road. We want to build a new city here. But if you sell all the land in this area without proper layout, we will not have where to build more infrastructure. If we plan this community, for years to come, your children will benefit from it.

    “All those building on our right of way should be given notice because in the nearest future, we will expand this road.”

    How Edo's new city plan sparked bloody communal war

    In an apparent show of ownership, gunmen invaded Oke-Oroma a few days after the governor’s visit, shooting sporadically. They set almost all the houses ablaze.

    Those killed included a woman, two youths and 95-year old Monday Okhuelegbe. Their bodies were yet to be found at press time. The killings made the residents to flee the village while some youths opted to remain in the bush to ward off any invader.

    The attack coincided with the time residents of Oke-Oroma wanted to install a new Odionwere. It was gathered that trouble began with the insistence of the people of Oke-Oroma that they were not under authority of the Amagba but the Obagie N’Evbuosa. Talks of payment of compensation for the 720 hectares of land also led to the invasion.

    Some members of the community however protested to the palace of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II and the Edo NUJ Centre, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Oba of Benin, come to our rescue,”  “Joshua leave us alone,” and “We are under mass killings.”

    Edes Emokpae said he narrowly escaped being killed by the attackers, some of whom he said wore Nigerian Army uniforms.

    He said: “The invaders were more than 400, armed with assorted weapons. I have spent four days in the bush. They came to rob and kill us.

    We are begging the state government to investigate the atrocities done to us. We had to take our women and children into hiding. Look at all these shops. We want the government to jail them.”

    The Secretary of the community’s development union, Mr. Monday Eghaghe, said some elders of the community were at the police Zone 5 office when they heard about the attacks.  He said River Oroma is the boundary they have with Amagba.

    He said: “What they did here is man’s inhumanity to man. The law must take its course. They burnt down our houses. They killed animals and have rendered us homeless. The world should come and see what Amagba did to us.

    “After selling all their landed assets, they want to come and drive us away so that that can feast on our land.

    “They came to attack us because they have told the government this place is empty. They want to create the impression that nobody is living here. We are looking onto the government to help us.”

    Mr. Osasu Monday, whose father was among those that were killed, said the family was still looking for the corpse.

    Osasu said the invaders beat his father severely before they shot him dead. He said the attackers cut down ancestral trees in the community to ensure that there was no trace previous human existence in the area.

    Oke-Oroma or Ago-Emokpae is located in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area while Amagba is in Oredo Local Government Area. Amagba, however, insists that its boundary extends to Obagie N’Evbuosa and not Oke-Aroma.

    Abel Emokpae, whose great grandfather founded the village, said it does not matter if you call the place Ago-Emokpae or Oke-Aroma, but the place does not belong to Amagba.

    He said: “Three weeks ago, we heard rumours that Amagba people wanted to come and attack us. My brother Gaius, who is to be installed as Odionwere, wrote letters to security agencies but they didn’t take any action.

    “They came, killed many people and destroyed our buildings. They burnt down our houses, including the ones our people built in Obazagbon. They segregated our houses and burnt them down.

    “Can you imagine somebody living in that area over 200 years ago. Our forefather was a great man; a hunter and herbalist. That was why he was able to inhabit where animals stay. There are other families in the community.

    “They accused us of burning our own houses. Would any normal human being destroy his house? It is totally false to say we are recruiting thugs or non-natives to come and fight here. They came to destroy our village. It is Amagba people that are fighting us.

    How Edo's new city plan sparked bloody communal war

    “We have not seen the corpses of those killed. We could not go back to our homes. They blocked everywhere and we have no access to our home. It was the military that escorted us to get video clips.

    “In 2012, Oba Erediauwa set up a panel and Chief Eduwu Ekhator reported that River Oroma is the boundary. If we want to install Odionwere, it is not Amagba that will approve it; it is the Oba.

    “An Enogie has many villages under him. We are one of the villages under the Enogie of Obagie N’Evbuosa dukedom, based on the ruling of Oba Erediauwa. The River is separating us. It is a perpetual boundary there.”

    On the planned new city in the area, Abel said Governor Obaseki had not approached the owners of the land.

    “We expect Obaseki to talk to Oke-Aroma people and not other groups. We are expecting him to do the needful and not to pay our compensation to the wrong people.

    “The way forward is to recognise us as the rightful owners of that place.

    “We were in the village and had to run into the bush when the attackers came. Some ran into the bush and others who could not run were killed.

    “We are appealing to Oba Ewuare to dispatch the case and give the rightful owner. He is the only person that can solve this problem. Let him give judgment as soon as possible so that everybody will be at rest.”

    The youth leader of Amagba community, who was accused of leading the attack, Mr. Peter Owens, said there was nothing like Oke-Aroma community in that area. Owens said there was peace in the area until Gaius Emokpae retired from the Central Bank of Nigeria and wanted to make it an autonomous community.

    “The place is a camp under Amagba community. They have been living in peace until one Gaius Emokpae who retired from the Central Bank of Nigeria and returned to the village. He is trying to change it to an autonomous community.

    “I grew up to know that place as a camp known as Ago-Emokpae.

    His father never dragged the place with Amagba. He was an Okao acting under our Odionwere. We got judgment that we have boundary with Obagie N’Evbuosa.

    “Gaius has money to do whatever he wants to do. They provoked us. We have our right to protect our property. The place they are calling Oke-Aroma is not a community. It is a camp. He is supposed to be punished by the Binis because he refused to adhere to the Oba’s ruling.

    “They provoked people to what happened there. I don’t think we have done anything wrong in dragging our property. The father never quarreled with Amagba. I was on my way from Lagos when I was called that an attack was taking place. I was never there during the attack.

    “The way to peace is for them to obey the rules and regulations of the Oba of Bénin. There was no quarrel when the father was alive. We cannot fold our arms and see one man take our property. If he wants to make money from land sales, he should tell us. There were only two houses in that camp.”

    A former governorship aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party, Hon Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, said Gaius is striving to be “a traditional head of a non- existent village.”

    He said: “What happened there was seriously blown out of proportion. Amagba people only took physical possession of their traditional rights without any injury to any of the parties then.

    “Dislodging illegal occupants who indulge in illegal sales of our lands to me is no crime. For your information, I am not involved in the crusade. But by the virtue of the fact that my father is the traditional head of Amagba village,  my name may be a recurring decimal.

    “I can state categorically that I am a peace loving citizen of Edo State who would not do anything to alter existing peaceful co-existence on people within my area of influence.

    “Gaius Emokpae and his people in Ago Emokpae only intend to drag my name into matters, considering my political stand and status in the state.”

    Enogie of Obagie N’Evbuosa, HRH Stephen Imadonwinyi, said there was no Oba’s judgment in favour of Amagba as, according to him, Oke Aroma, also known as Emokpae Camp, has always been a part of Obagie N’ Evbosa.

    HRH Imadonwinyi challenged Amagba to show any document wherein judgment was passed that Oke-Aroma belonged to them.

    However, Obazagbon village is caught in the middle of the tussle for Oke-Aroma. The community was deserted when our reporter visited. Only some youths and a few elders were seen.

    Barricades were mounted at the entrance of the community and road users were properly screened before they were allowed to proceed.

    The Odionwere of the community, Mr. Vincent Edoigiawerie, said the village, which he said was surrounded by three rivers, was being used as a battle ground for neighbouring warring communities.

    Edogiawerie said seven indigenes of the community had been kidnapped and their whereabouts unknown.

    He said the village has no business with the ongoing war but it has been under attack from armed youths.

    He said: “From the bank of the River to the entrance gate, you can see the tense atmosphere in the community. It is unfortunate because we in Obazagbon are neutral in what is happening here.

    “We are not aiding or abetting because we are not Amagba and we are not Ago-Emokpae. We are surrounded by water. We have no dispute with any community.

    “For the past one year, when they are fighting, people will come here to terrorise our people. Last year, they destroyed our town hall and killed our people.

    “The crisis connects Ago-Emokpae, Obagie N’Evbuosa and Amagba. They were fighting and trooped to our village. We didn’t know they harbour militants in our community.

    “They shot some of our people. They were using Urhobo, Ijaw, Kwale and they passed through the river. They kidnapped seven persons.

    “Last night, they came and attacked us. The Enogie of Obagie N’Ebvuosa, said the Ago-Emokpae are his subjects. We are begging the government to tell them to leave us alone.

    “Some of our young boys were injured. What connects them is not our business. They are using non-natives to fight us. We are appealing to the Oba to resolve the crisis.”

    When both communities appeared before Oba Ewuare II last week, the Oba said he would petition the Inspector General of Police, Adamu Mohammed, to properly investigate the killings and bring the perpetrators to book.

  • Will Development Commissions’ bill not bring confusion?

    Will Development Commissions’ bill not bring confusion?

    As members of the House of Representatives move to endorse the Southwest Development Commission Bill, TONY AKOWE writes that the bill, if passed, may open a floodgate to demands for its replication in other geopolitical zones.Will this not bring confusion to the nation’s body polity.

    Barring any last minute hiccups and probably the denial of presidential assent after the bill has passed its second reading, the Southwest zone is on its way to have its own development commission.

    This will bring the number of development commissions in the country to three. The pioneer, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), is undergoing a forensic audit, triggered by alleged under-hand dealings and financial fraud.

    There is an avalanche of requests by other geopolitical zones for the establishment of development commissions of their own. However, there are doubts as to the reasonability of some of the requests before the National Assembly.

    Many are of the view that the setting up of some of the commissions was justified given the circumstances that led to their coming into existence.

    But some still questioned the rationale behind the agitation for more in view of the stench of alleged financial infractions in some existing ones.

    Observers are of the view that rather than improving the lives of the people, some commissions have become conduit pipes through which funds are siphoned by those appointed to run them.

    Despite these contradictions, individuals and interest groups have continued to press for the establishment of commisions in their various zones. On February 26, the House of Representatives debated the general principle of the bill to create such commission for the Southwest.

    Without a single dissenting voice, the lawmakers stood in support of the bill, which was sponsored by 80 lawmakers. When the bill was presented for first reading on December 11, 2019, it was marked as House Bill (HB) 597, with sponsors listed as Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila and 80 others.

    However, Olufemi Fakeye ((APC, Osun), who presented the bill for second reading and who led the debate, told The Nation that the Speaker was not involved in the bill and that his name was included at the initial stage in error. The beauty of the bill is the broad spectrum of those who signed up as its sponsor. They cut across the six geopolitical zones.

    At the general principles stage, the Speaker who is also from the Southwest, refused to allow members from the Southwest to contribute to the debate. “Members from the Southwest, put down your hands and allow others to fight your battle for you,” the Speaker said.

    The bill seeks to establish the commission saddled with the responsibility to, among others, receive and manage funds from the Federation Account, including donations and gifts for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads, houses and other infrastructural damages suffered by the region; and the need to tackle the ecological problems and any related environmental or developmental challenges in the Southwest states.

    Fakeye said as a result of the slave trade that took place in its coastal areas centuries ago, the Western Region was exposed rather early to, and embraced, western education.

    He said as a result of that, it was natural that the regional government would be the first to develop and implement a free primary school education policy.

    According to him, the condition of infrastructural development in the southwest today is precarious because the population has not only increased, but remained mostly agrarian, with exports still largely consisting of primary produce items from the same old plantations that are yearning for replanting.

    He said: “For several years now, moving cargo for export or import through the two active seaports in Apapa and Tin Can Island, or through the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, has become a nightmare for the few businesses that have managed to survive, putting a veritable dent on the same ease-of-doing-business index that Nigeria is trying so hard to improve upon.”

    Of particular concern to the sponsors of the bill is the heavy vehicular traffic in the Lagos metropolis at the moment. With an estimated population of over 20 million, Lagos is chaotic because there is no mass-transit alternative.

    Yet, Lagos remains the country’s major business hub and window to the investment world. The chaotic situation in traffic situation in Lagos, the lawmakers believe, has an impact on investment in the zone as a lot of foreign direct investment opportunities are bypassing Nigeria and flowing into other investor-friendlier destinations in West Africa such as Ghana.

    This has continued to leave Nigeria the targeted market that would end up importing just about any item manufactured in the sub-region and in Africa as a whole. The trend is more pronounced with Nigeria signing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) treaty.

    If the AfCFTA would have any meaning for Nigeria, our industrial base and hub must be strengthened and the passage of this Bill would be a right step towards achieving that.

    Fakeye said the bill seeks to legislatively explore how to cure some of the ailments in the Southwest, just as has been done and would still be done for other geopolitical zones.

    It will also seek to redirect federal budgetary attention to some areas of growth that could have multiplier effects of geometric proportions, such as Agriculture, Transportation, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Environment, etc., on the overall economy.

    This aspiration is one of the reasons lawmakers from the six states of the Southwest and their other colleagues are proposing this historic bill.

    Read Also: Boost for agriculture as NDDC gets $129.17 UN funding

     

    He told the lawmakers that: “In passing this Bill, we would be demonstrating the courage as national leaders to lift a finger towards turning the current sordid socio-economic fortunes of the zone (and, therefore, of the country) around, so that our youths could confidently channel their collective energy into productive endeavours that would yield for us a better future rather than them, out of frustration and misguided desperation, engaging in anti-social practices that tend towards criminality.”

    House Chief Whip Tahir Mongunu said members should give the bill the same speed of passage that was accorded to the Northeast Development Commission Bill, which has since been signed into law by the President.

    He reminded his colleagues that when the Northeast Development Commission Bill was brought before the House, it was passed without any opposition.

    He believed that considering the nature of Lagos as the gateway to the country and the Southwest to the economic development of the country, there is the need to have a vehicle that will drive the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the region.

    He said the bill became necessary as a result of the reversal of the economic fortune of the country. “Sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander,” he said.

    Similarly, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, who is the Deputy Chief Whip, believes the bill is a wake-up call for the legislature. Hon. Yusuf Buba described Lagos as the commercial capital of Nigeria, which does not belong to anybody but all Nigerians. Buba said: “If we develop the commercial nerve centre of the country, we are indirectly developing the country because the revenue base of the country will increase as a result of more investors that will be coming in and there will be more money for other states to use.”

    Also, Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai said Lagos has the biggest seaports in the country and, therefore, immense pressure is brought to bear on facilities in the area.

    Ossai argued that as a result of activities at the seaports, a lot of articulated vehicles that ply the roads in Lagos have destroyed such roads. “If you want Nigeria to develop, you have to first develop the southwest,” he said.

    While many believe that the overwhelming support of the lawmakers for the bill has to do with the fact that the Speaker is directly or indirectly involved in it, some others believe that those from other zones supporting the bill are doing so to prepare ground for their own development commission bills.

    A similar bill from the Southeast was said to have been thrown out by the same House. But the Southeast Development Commission Bill has resurfaced again in the House.

    But, the question being asked at the moment is, what will be the status of Ondo State when the bill is passed, since Ondo is currently part of the Niger Delta Development Commission?

    Similar questions are also being asked about Abia and Imo states, which are under the NDDC, in the event of having the proposed Southeast Development Commission Bill passed.

    Will the states remain part of the NDDC and be part of the development commissions for their zones? Will that not be to the detriment of the Niger Delta or will the NDDC change its name to Southsouth Development Commission or will lawmakers from the zone come up with their own commission?

    There are many questions begging for answers as the House prepares to hold a public hearing on the desirability or otherwise of the proposed commission. In all, will the President see the need to sign the bill into law when passed?

    At the moment, both the NDDC and the NEDC are expected to draw funding directly on first line charge from the Federation Account.

    Will there be a Southsouth commission that will also benefit from the same source? With the huge financial scandal being investigated at the NDDC, is it really desirable to have another commission just to create jobs for the boys?

  • Case for inclusive legal profession

    It is a common sight to see physically-challenged lawyers, litigants and witnesses struggling to gain access to courtrooms. But, a group of lawyers are calling for a change, with specific requests to heads or court and policy-makers, writes Deputy News Editor JOSEPH JIBUEZE

     

    FOR ages, uniformity defined the legal profession. Survival was for the fittest. The wall that limits entry and advancement due to disability is yet to be broken, leaving the profession an anachronism in an increasingly diverse society.

    But, there are efforts to replace the barriers with bridges of inclusiveness. Lawyers with disabilities (LWDs) no longer want to be denied easy access to the courtrooms.

    They want young people with physical challenges to have real hope that there is a path to success in the profession.

    A group, the Association of Lawyers with Disabilities in Nigeria (ALDIN), believes that diversity and inclusion are a matter of social justice.

    To the group, the legal profession must no longer lag behind others in diversity and inclusion when it should take the lead.

    ALDIN has taken its advocacy to the heads of courts. It visited the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho; the President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Justice Benedict Kanyip and the President of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, Justice Edward Asante.

    It had also engaged with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and heads of state courts.

     ‘Need for action’

    ALDIN is advocating accessibility to the justice administration system to people with disabilities (PWDs).

    The group’s President, Daniel Onwe, said: “People with disabilities are usually not put into consideration in the scheme of affairs in the Nigerian society – hence their interest usually comes as an afterthought.

    “For instance, public buildings are usually constructed with steep flights of steps, without considering that there are people on wheelchairs and crutches that would need to access those buildings.

    “The modus operandi in our society does not contemplate that there are the blind, the deaf and other people with other disabilities who would require a peculiar format of communication.

    “Therefore, people with disabilities seemed abandoned to their fate.

    “Our courts, which are the temple of justice, are neither just nor fair to people with disabilities. Court buildings and environment are very inaccessible to people with disabilities.

    “People with disabilities who come to the courts, either as counsel or litigants, face severe and demoralising hardship.

    “People on wheelchairs, for instance, can only access most courts by either crawling on the floor or being carried in the hand like babies, with the attendant indignity.

    “How can the lawyer with a disability be crawling in and out of court and still compete fairly with other lawyers for the patronage of clients?”

    What the law says

    Sections 3-8 of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2019, make it unlawful to have inaccessible public buildings.

    It, therefore, borders on criminality for court buildings to be inaccessible to PWDs.

    The said Act provides:

    A person with disability shall not be discriminated against on the ground of his disability by any person or institution in any manner or circumstance.

    A public building shall be constructed with the necessary accessibility aid such as lifts (where necessary), ramps and other facilities that shall make them accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities.

    All employers of labour in public organisations shall, as much as possible, have persons with disabilities constituting at least five per cent of their employment.

    The group wants an end to the infringement of the right to movement, contrary to Articles 12(1) of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.

    It wants the enforcement of the rights to freedom of association and to the dignity of the human person, in line with Articles 5 and 10 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.

    “When there is no use of sign language at public functions and television programs, it is a violation of the freedom of expression of persons with hearing disability (the deaf) contrary to Articles 9 of The African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.

    “When public information is not made available in Braille and other formats accessible to persons with a visual disability (the blind), it violates their freedom of expression guaranteed under Articles 9 of the African Charter.

    “There are widespread incidents of discrimination against persons with disabilities.

    “Again, if the temple of justice cannot be seen be just to its priests who are persons with disabilities, how will the ordinary man have confidence in getting justice from the said temple of justice?” ALDIN wondered.

    Non-functional facilities

    According to the ALDIN President, the Federal High Court has a stair chair, which is not functional.

    He said: “This leaves a person with a disability at the mercy and availability of staff to access the ground floor through a car pack.

    “Furthermore, courts in other divisions of the Federal High Court are still inaccessible.”

    Onwe, however, said the Lagos State Judiciary has addressed some of the issues by providing parking spaces for LWDs and making newer court buildings, such as the Ogba Magistrate’s court, accessible.

     The demands:

    ALDIN wants elevators and ramps to be installed at the divisions of the Federal High Court and National Industrial Court buildings to make them accessible to persons with disabilities, be they lawyers, litigants or witnesses.

    The group said there should be parking lots near the court reserved and marked for the use of persons with disabilities in all courts.

    This, it said, will minimise instances where persons with disabilities would have to walk long distances from their vehicles to the courtroom.

    ALDIN wants sign language interpreters for the deaf, as well as assistive formats of communication for the blind.

    This, it said, will aid the communication and functionality of the deaf and the blind in the court.

    The group said there are many lawyers with disabilities who are qualified to be judges.

    It urged the Federal Government to appoint lawyers with disabilities to the bench.

    “This will also be a huge source of inspiration to other persons with disabilities and other disadvantaged persons,” the group said.

    The group urged the authorities to consider the employment of more persons with disabilities.

    This, it believes, will portray the court as being non-discriminatory

    ALDIN said heads of the court must issue practice directions to cater for the peculiarities of counsel and litigants with disabilities.

    ALDIN had also appealed to the Nigerian Law School to provide sign language interpreters for deaf students.

    In a letter to the Law School Director-General, the group said: “The practice globally is to make the entire gamut of the affairs of the society, including the educational system, inclusive, or accommodating, of persons with disabilities.

    “The Nigerian Law School should not be seen to be laid back on this score.”

    Need for an inclusive Bar

    ALDIN had urged the NBA to address issues that limit their opportunities in the profession, but the association is yet to meet the demands.

    A Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP) for the 2020 Annual General Conference has been set up, but LWDs are not represented, despite ALDIN’s request.

    The group had called for an amendment of the NBA constitution to get LWDs more involved in running the association’s affairs.

    It asked for NBA ‘desks’ on disability issues at the association’s headquarters and branches, but ALDIN’s letters were not replied.

    “Lawyers with disabilities (LWDS) are not considered in the allocation of the opportunities that exist in the NBA and the legal profession at large.

    “Issues affecting LWDs are relegated to the background either because of negligence or lack of adequate understanding of disability issues.

    “We recommend that the NBA establishes a ‘desk’ to be occupied by a Lawyer with Disability (LWD).

    “The occupier of the ‘desk’ will be a liaison officer of sorts who will bring to the fore issues that affect LWDs. We recommend that this be replicated at the various branches of the NBA.

    “It will help in no small way to address our concerns and enhance inclusivity at the Bar,” ALDIN said.

    ALDIN described as enormous the difficulties LWDs face at the NBA annual general conferences, some of which could have been avoided if such lawyers were carried along in the planning process.

    The group said: “Virtually nothing about the concerns we have as LWDs are considered in the planning of the conferences.

    “We recommend that an LWD – who will be recommended by ALDIN – be a member of the Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP) so that the sensitivities of LWDs will be factored at the planning stage.”

    ALDIN called for a deliberate policy to include LWDs in the running of NBA affairs through constitution amendment.

    “In our yearnings for an inclusive Bar, we acknowledge the efforts made by the immediate past administration of the NBA in ensuring that LWDs have some sense of belonging.

    “The NBA headquarters was structurally adjusted to allow for access of LWDs and some lawyers with disabilities were sponsored to the NBA Annual Conferences in 2017 and 2018.

    “It is our plea that this progress be sustained whilst we look forward to more success stories.

    Unfulfilled promises?

    NBA President Paul Usoro (SAN), while running for the office, had promised to address issues concerning LWDs.

    He had promised: “Another category of lawyers whose welfare I will work towards ameliorating, from a professional standpoint, is that of the aged and disabled (sic) lawyers.

    “If I am elected as the NBA President, I will work towards achieving better welfare programmes for these categories of lawyers and generally for all lawyers …

    “Persons living with disability and the aged have special needs which unfortunately are not generally catered for in our Nigerian environment.

    “These needs include access facilities into buildings, toilet facilities, specialised reading and legal practice materials and aids, customised technology aids and facilities.

    “My administration as the NBA President will work at installing these facilities at the NBA Secretariat where the model law office would be located.

    “We would also open dialogue with the Chief Justice of the Federation and the heads of various courts in the federation and the states on the required modifications for making the courts and the court facilities accessible to and usable by the aged and persons living with a disability.

    “More importantly, we shall dialogue constantly with these categories of lawyers to continually understand their needs and how best we can assist in meeting them.”

    ALDIN said the NBA under Usoro has largely not kept these promises.

    In a statement issued after the 2019 NBA AGC, ALDIN said: “Despite the series of letters written by the ALDIN to the NBA articulating the concerns of her (ALDIN) members with regards to the conference, the NBA failed to factor the peculiar interest of ALDIN members in this year’s conference.

    “To say the least, this year’s conference is indeed a roll-back on the progress earlier made by the NBA in the area of disability inclusion.

    “For instance, at previous conferences, a limited number of indigent members of ALDIN would be sponsored to the conference, and such sponsorship would cover conference registration, transportation and accommodation.

    “This year, it was two days into the conference already, that the NBA, via WhatsApp message, contacted ALDIN, calling for nomination of ALDIN members who would be given registration fee waiver and free lunch. And because of the timing and circumstance, no ALDIN member could take advantage of the said offer.

    “In previous years, there were sign language interpreters at the conference; there was none this year.

    “This year, lawyers with disabilities had difficulties access both the conference venues and shuttle buses.

    “This made some of them break down; others got their mobility aids damaged, and were unable to make it to the conference on subsequent days.”

    The group also alleged that while the NBA was taking steps to constitute Young Lawyers’ Forum and Female Lawyers’ Forum, nothing was said about creating any forum to cater to the peculiarities of LWDs.

    ALDIN said the NBA flouted the disability law which provides that people living with disabilities should not be discriminated against or subjected to hardship.

    “NBA flouted all these laws without scruples. It gives us more concern, that these happened under an NBA President who, during his campaign, passionately promised to alleviate the sufferings of lawyers with disabilities.

    “Much as we have an unimpeachable cause of action against the NBA in the circumstance, in keeping with our avowed and unalloyed loyalty to the NBA, we shall restrain ourselves from taking any legal action.

    “Also, given our understanding that two wrongs do not make a right, we shall not relent in paying our practising fees and branch dues to the NBA as and when due.”

    Usoro did not respond to our reporter’s request for comments.

    Texts sent to his WhatsApp indicted they were read, but there was no response as at the time of filing this report.

    The heads of court had promised to do all within their means to address the issues raised by ALDIN when the group visited.

    Wanted: Effective law enforcement

    The Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 was signed on January 23, 2019, following nine years of relentless advocacy by disability rights activists.

    The law stipulates a five-year transitional period for modifying public buildings, structures and automobiles to make them accessible and usable for people with disabilities.

    ALDIN praised President Muhammadu Buhari for signing the bill into law, especially after previous administrations failed to do so.

    “Having signed into existence the said law, it remains for it to be demonstrated that the assent of the bill is not merely intended to score a political point, but rather to positively change the destinies of persons with disabilities in Nigeria forever.

    “Therefore, it is expected that the President takes the necessary step towards the implantation of the Act, such as the immediate constitution of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD).

    “This Commission will spearhead the implementation of the Act. Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government have the immediate duty of reserving five per cent of their labour force for qualified persons with disabilities in line with the Act.

    “This will enrich our national labour force with the peculiar gifting of persons with disabilities.

    “The Disability Act has come to stay and should be implemented to the letter for the good of the generality of Nigerians.

    “It is the reasonable expectation, therefore, that Nigerians would willingly comply with the provisions of this Act, considering the good things it holds for everyone,” ALDIN said.

  • Concern over state of Effurun/Sapele road

    Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, is commonly referred to as ‘Road Master’. Living up to this pseudonym remains a task, as several roads within Warri and Effurun beg for attention, writes ELO EDREMODA.

     

    When the Delta State government, led by Ifeanyi Okowa moved to take down the proposed and abandoned Warri Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lanes built by his predecessor on the Warri/Effurun/Sapele Road in Warri South and Uvwie local governments, motorists, commuters and business owners were happy as they said the gesture was a welcome development.

    Reports from many quarters indicated that the N6 billion BRT project was unsuitable for the area. Stakeholders said the road was “not wide enough” for such a project, stating that it caused daily traffic congestion on the major road and worse, accidents. Some others argued that it was “not a bad concept”.

    However, for the then governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, the 12.55 kilometres road project was to ease traffic flow for about 47,000 Deltans plying the ever-busy route daily, just like the case of the Lagos State BRT.

    Unfortunately, the project never saw the light of day. The beautifully-built bus stops, with waiting areas for prospective passengers soon turned into abodes for hoodlums, mentally challenged people and selling spots for roadside traders.

    Gradually, the roofs and other parts of the bus stops fell apart, some were vandalised and probably stolen, leaving only the concrete parts.

    Concern over state of Effurun/Sapele road
    A section of the road currently under construction

    Nearly two years ago, bulldozers and other heavy duty construction vehicles lined the Effurun/Sapele Road. First, they dismantled what was left of the BRT project, created a single median, and then commenced digging of the extreme parts of the road.

    The Nation checks revealed that the state government had approved the expansion of the road after rising from an Executive Council meeting in November, 2015. Buildings close to the road had to give way for a new road project.

    Drains were built on some parts. Road users and business people expressed joy at the development. Sadly, this joy again, was short-lived as the dug areas, about three metres wide on both sides of some sections of the road, were abandoned.

    Early February, works again began on the route. Engineers were seen working on the ditched areas. Business owners between the Enerhen Junction and Urhobo College axis of the Effurun/Sapele Road are rejoicing over the resumed construction which was at a standstill for almost two years.

    The condition reportedly resulted in various accidents, especially during the rainy season, with tricycles and cars falling into the wide ditch.

    “If you were here during the rainy season, the sight was terrible. We just had stagnant water filled with dirt. Vehicles trying to park on the side of the road or reverse will just fall into the ditch.

    But at a point, road users got used to it. It is a good thing that government has restarted building. Our appeal is that the road should be completed before the rains come,” a businessman, who identified himself as Mr. Princewill, said.

    A shoe seller, who preferred to be anonymous, said: “We deserve something good. Besides, this is a major part of the city. Imagine the eyesore to visitors, then. But I am glad that work has started again. It will boost our businesses too.”

    For commercial drivers and other motorists, the expectation is no different. Not only will incessant gridlock become a thing of the past, more time and money will also be saved at the.

    Read Also: Drivers block road over taxes in Anambra 

     

    Ufuoma Erherada, a commercial tricycle rider recalled the challenges that the abandoned expansion of the road and even the previous BRT lane project caused commuters.

    “We prefer this one. That BRT was causing accidents. People were falling into it. Now that they have resumed work on it, we hope they don’t run away as they did the last time. They should endeavour to finish it.

    “The challenges we had when the place was abandoned was mainly traffic congestion. We also had vehicles falling into those ditches.

    Especially, when trying to make U-turns, keke, cars and mostly trailers will just fall into those ditches. That will now cause traffic because we would have to start driving one way,” Erherada said.

    Another businessman who deals in electrical wares close to Jakpa Junction section of the road, Mr. Ugonna Uzoamaka, stated: “During the past administration, they made BRT lanes.

    So, customers that have cars could not park because there was no parking space. But when Governor Okowa assumed duty, they had to remove the lanes.

    So, there could be space. Now, they dug this thing for over a year now, close to two years, this March 28 will make it two years that they dug this ditch.

    Since then, especially during the rainy season, people are afraid to cross the bridge and buy things from us. Some will say, ‘please, I will fall into the water’.

    “If they can finish the construction of the road, there will be enough space to park vehicles and people will not be afraid to cross the bridge because it will not be here again.

    “I believe that will help our businesses. During that rainy season, business was very bad. Old men and women were afraid of crossing the bridge.

    As Christians, we put our hope in God, because he said, he will make a way where there is no way. That was how we managed our affairs then. I’m pleading with the government to reconstruct the road before another rainy season sets in.”

    Efforts to get the Commissioner of Works, Mr. James Augoye, to comments on the matter were unsuccessful, as he did not pick his calls when contacted on his phone line, even as he did not reply to short message service (SMS) sent to his phone.

    The case was no different with the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Olisa Ifeajika.

    When The Nation visited the site, one of the workers who spoke in confidence stated that the state government was committed to completing the project before the next rainy season.

    “The state government is desirous to deliver this project in no distant time. Before the rains come, we will deliver,” he said.

    He said that the project was stalled for nearly two years due to some issues. “Initially, we had issues. But this time round, the government and the contractor handling the project have settled all that.

    We will be home and dry. At the end, we will have two lanes on both sides of the road and convenient parking spaces for vehicles,” he stated.

    Replying questions on the specific areas to be covered by the project, considering one of the neglected BRT spots at Enerhen Junction area, as well as the drains which have become stagnant water and wastes dump sites, the source explained that the contract covers “5.4 kilometers stretch of the road.

    The contract is all encompassing, but let us delivers this part first. We have worked on a part of the Enerhen Junction. We will go back there. When we are through with the pavements, we will work on the drains.”

  • WHO to heads of state: address road traffic deaths as priority

    Justina Asishana, Sweden

     

    THE World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged heads of state, governments and others to address road traffic deaths through political will and by putting the issue as an important priority of their agenda.

    Its Director of the Department of Social Determinants Dr. Etienne Krug stated this as about 80 ministers and deputy ministers, including 27 from African countries, will be meeting today and tomorrow at the 3rd Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety to deliberate on how to reduce road crashes and improve road safety.

    No fewer than 1700 participants from 140 countries are expected to attend the meeting.

    Krug, who spoke to reporters, said road traffic crashes, deaths, and injuries have become development issues that need urgent attention.

    He explained that the reason for the conference is to develop the political will to address the issue of road safety in countries.

    “The key to address road traffic deaths is political will. The key for us is that the head of state, head of government or the prime minister decide to put this as an important priority on his agenda.

    “There  is no magic bullet; there need to be a combination of methods that address the entire road safety system, the infrastructure issue, the vehicles, people’s behaviour, trauma care system, all of that supported by solid data information and led by multi-sectoral efforts.”

    Krug said the conference would set the agenda for the next decade of action in road safety agencies, which aims to see the reduction of road traffic crashes by 50 per cent.

    “We hope to set the agenda for the next 10 years and add road safety to be part of the SDG. We hope to see a 50 per cent reduction by 2020. It is possible, we know what needs to happen. It is a question of seeing it happen by putting in the measures on road safety.

    Read Also: Over three million girls at risk of genital mutilation, says WHO

    “In the last decade, we saw in the European Union, a 20 per cent decrease in road crashes and injuries. In Russia, 30 per cent decrease and in Brazilian cities, 50 to 60 per cent decrease. It is possible. We just need to do more.”

    The WHO Director said during different plenary discussions, ministers, senior officers in road transport ministries and agencies across the world would learn about the lessons from the last decade of action, how to have good leadership, how do we finance road and other priorities for the next 10 years.

    “We hope that the conference will be able to shift attention to safe and active transport modes, address speeding, respond to the needs of children, accelerate development technology and engaged private sector.

    “It is our hope also that the conference will lead us in a different direction. From a century of unsafe, dirty and passive transport to a century of safe, clean and active transport.”

    But, an international organisation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, has announced that it is committing $240 million between 2020 and 2025 on global road safety.

    This is aimed saving 600,000 lives and preventing 22 million injuries in low and middle-income countries.

    The organisation, in a statement in Sweden at the road safety conference, said the reinvestment would be for six years and would double the impact of road safety.

    According to the statement, over 312,000 lives have been saved and up to 11.5 million injuries have been prevented since 2007.

    “Over the past 12 years, Bloomberg Philanthropies has invested $260 million to curb deaths and injuries from road traffic crashes. That investment has led 10 countries – China, Russia, Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, Kenya, Brazil, Turkey, and India – and 12 localities to change their laws or policies to reduce at least one road safety risk factor. Over 3.5 billion people are now covered by a new road safety law or policy since the initiative began,” the statement read.

    The commitment would also include a new awards competition to shine a light on low and middle-income countries that have made exemplary progress in road safety.

    Director of Public Health at Bloomberg Philanthropies Kelly Henning said by increasing its commitment to road safety, Bloomberg Philanthropies would be able to double its impact by leveraging on the lessons learned in the past and adopt new approaches that will accelerate progress in road safety.

     

  • Delta schools where children of the poor learn with tears

    Delta is one of the richest states in Nigeria, yet well-equipped and functional basic and secondary schools are still a mirage in parts of this state that earned N285billion in 2018, and a steady 11-digit monthly allocation from the Federation Account in 2019. Shola O’Neil, South-south Regional Editor and Elo Edremoda, examine the deplorable state of four schools in Udu and Uvwie Local Governments and the fate of thousands of children who attend them

     

    THE sight of the learning condition in some of Delta State’s rural primary and secondary schools would break the most hardened heart. The resuscitation and beautification carried out in some schools during the Emmanuel Uduaghan administration, have eluded hundreds of schools, especially in the rural areas. Here tender learners are subjected to the most excruciating and most deplorable conditions.

     

    Huge budgets

    The state allocated over N39 billion to the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education in 2018 and 2019 budgets. The allocation to the ministry in the N389 billion 2020 budget could not be ascertained at the time of this report. Yet, the conditions of some schools in the state make mockery of any claim of commitment to education.

    The schools visited by our reporters tell tales of rot, decay and lack of concern for the future of those who attend the schools. Nowhere is government’s failing of the ‘future leaders’ more highlighted than Sedeco Basic School and Sedeco High School located in Enerhen Community of Uvwie Local Government Area, and Emadadja Primary and Adadja Secondary Schools in Udu LGA, all in Delta Central Senatorial District of the state.

    At Emadadaja Primary School, our reporter was assailed by the sights of dozens of pupils, some as young as four, scrambling to learn on bare floor that are riddled with holes and dust. Telltale signs abound that the school that was established 70 years ago has seen better days. There are no basic facilities or furniture: less than 40 desk and chairs are available to over 300 pupils, making the bare floor the only option for children who are desperate to learn.

    With fewer than 40 good desks in the entire school, only a few get to sit on the squeaky creaky furniture, but they also have to watch for protruding, rusty nails and screws, which may tear through their uniforms digging into their tender skin. Their less fortunate mates sit or simply lay down on bare, dusty floors, to take sown the teacher’s notes in their exercise books.

    Overhead, broken ceiling boards dangle from the roof. The classes and even teachers staff rooms are bare of doors or windows, which means that valuables and books forgotten in school often develop wings and may never be found.

    When the school closes, miscreants and hoodlums take over. They litter the school, or just mess up desk and floors with faeces. When the children return to school, especially after weekend or holiday breaks, they are confronted by mountains of human wastes buzzing with flies, assorted smells –  hemp, decaying leftover meals, urine and poops. This dangerous mixes expose the children to all kind of maladies.

    In the kindergarten class, infants in KG1-3 share just one classroom. The infants sit on mats, with nothing else to battle the elements. As the sun moves from the east to the west, shifting the shadows along, the children also shift along in search of shades from the scotching sun’s heat or from rain fall during rainy season.

    One teacher told our reporter that the odds are against pupils in the school.

    He said: “It is not easy to learn; when you are teaching, some (pupils) will be jumping here and there and the heat at this time is really terrible. It is a real challenge to the learning process.”

    An indigene of the community, Mr. Dave Mevayekuku, described the school as a disgrace and pointer to the failure of those who have governed the state over the years. “I am shocked,” he said while drawing our attention to the state of his former school. “Okowa should come to the aid of the school without delay.”

    The Vice-President of Emadadaja Community, Mr. Emmanuel Osiobe, said the people are perplexed by the condition under which their children study, particularly considering that the community contributes to the state’s economy with revenue from crude oil extracted from eight oil wells located on its land.

    “The school has remained only because of the community leaders’ efforts. The (last) renovation project was carried out in partnership with an oil company. The company wanted to carry out a project (in 2013), but we said since nobody (government) is showing concern, let us convert the project to school renovation.”

    Osiobe explained that there was nothing the leadership of the community could do about defecation in the classes, because of the porous security in the school. He blamed this on failure of government to provide security. “Teachers have reported the problem, but what can we do when there is no gate? The fence has fallen and intruders can even gain entry through the roof.”

     

    Like Primary, like Secondary

    Like the primary school, Adadja Secondary school is in a bad shape. There are less than 10 classrooms for about 900 students.  Established as a technical school through communal efforts in 1982, the state government took it over in 2006, much to the relief of the community’s leaders who thought that the intervention would usher in an era of infrastructural and facilities upgrade.

    A block of five-classrooms built by an oil firm is the only modern structure in the school.  Three of the five classrooms in the oil firm’s block are used as staff rooms and library, while two are used by students. Other classes make do with the two uncompleted classroom blocks, one built 38 years ago by the community and the other built by the local council. Yet, a six-classroom block built as constituency project by a state lawmaker was unallocated because there is no furniture and the project has not been properly inaugurated.

    The school principal, Mr Boniface Ofovwe, was not available for comment when our reporter visited, but the Examination Officer, Comrade Daniel Ovweghren said several failed efforts have been made by the school authorities and the community leadership to get government’s attention.

     

    Students, rodents share classes

    Although the conditions at the Emadadja schools are unsavory, the state of that deprivation pales when compared to the dungeon that is Sedeco schools (a misnomer) in Enerhen area of Uvwie Local Government. The about 1,300 children in primary and secondary schools are taught under the most dehumanising environment.

    There is no basic amenity in the school: No pipe borne water, electricity or even toilet facilities. The closest thing to a toilet is a cubicle used exclusively by teachers, while pupils make do with a dumpsite located within the school premises.

    About a decade ago, a soft drink company built a block of six very small rooms, which added to the two blocks of three classrooms the school kicked off with in 2007. The only other ‘structures’ are shades constructed by the PTA.

    The primary school section has about 350 pupils, who share three classrooms. The situation is the same in the secondary school, with about twice more students.

    One of the rooms is used as staff room, while hundreds of pupils share three ‘classrooms’, which are separated by pieces of plywood to accommodate six classes: primaries one and two are cramped into a room, while three and four, and five and six share the other two rooms. Teachers, who cannot squeeze into the staff room, sit around the corridor ad veranda, while preparing lesson notes.

    Pupils of the school, who spoke about their fates, lamented the attitude of the state government but commended staff for their doggedness in spite of the challenging environment.

    “It is difficult for us to concentrate and learn,” one of the primary four pupils told our reporter, “because two teachers are teaching at the same and they are teaching different classes and subjects. The teachers have to keep shouting for us to hear. Sometimes you don’t even know which of the lectures you are taking”

    Due to dearth of the structures and facilities in the school, Science and Arts subjects students in the high school also share classes, with most of the former not having the luxury of using laboratories for practical. One of the schools’ senior teachers disclosed that their students are not allowed to write the West African Examination Council (WAEC) examination, even though they have up to 80 students eligible each year.”

    An SSS3 student, Oghenevwaire Shalokpe, lamented that she and other colleagues were preparing for WAEC under very difficult learning conditions.

     

    Focus on good schools

    The Commissioner for Basic Education, Mr. Patrick Ukah, who was contacted on the state of the schools, was furious that our reporter was snooping around dilapidated schools in Sedeco and others while ignoring the work the government was doing in other schools.

    “There are other schools: Have you seen the work we are doing in Urhobo College, Dom Domingos College and Ugborikoko Secondary School? What about the communities that go in to vandalize school properties? You people don’t report such cases for us. You should talk about that.”

    •A congested classroom for Primary Four pupils with four per seat

    The three schools listed by Mr. Ukah are in the cities of Effurun (Ugborikoko and Urhobo) and Dom Domingos College in Warri metropolis.

    “There are 472 secondary schools spread across the 25 local government areas of the state. We cannot attend to all the schools at a time. The budget of the state is contending with roads and other projects,”Ukah added.

    He blamed Sedeco school management and the community for the rot seen by The Nation, stressing, “How can you take 1,300 students for a place like that? The place is a swamp.”

    “I have to close down that place first, else, where will I build on? On top of that school? Because you are saying there is space. I have told you that I have been there and I am putting my reports together.”

    Our findings showed that there is no government school nearby, while private schools are expensive and inaccessible for the poor, who send their children and wards to Sedeco schools.

    The Principal, Mrs. Roseline Jike, agreed that only children from indigent families attend the schools. “Government school charges little or nothing, (that is why) they (parents) still prefer to send their children here.

    “We do not have (external) examination centre here because we don’t have laboratory, library and the school does not have fence. The population of 1,100 is enough to get a centre, but now we have to write in other schools,” the principal added.

    A member of staff of the school, who spoke to our correspondent in confidence, said officials from the Ministry of Education have visited the school to see the deplorable condition under which pupils study.

    “We have written letters with photographs of the school to the Ministry of Education through our Chief Inspector of Education.”

    But Ukah, who further spoke through his media aide, Mr. Samuel Ijeh, said the government has no plans to renovate the school.

    “Nobody promised to build the school in December. The community wants to get a school by all means. Students will be relocated to another place before government will know what can be done to the place.”

    An Associate Professor at the Delta State University, Dr. Emmanuel Ufuophu-Biri, explained that the development of the state is hinged on “good and quality education.” He explained that an environment that is not conducive “does have significant negative impact on the teacher and pupils.”

    Nevertheless, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Okowa, Mr. Olisa Ifeajika, who was contacted on the condition of Sedeco Schools, said the issues raised would be resolved.

  • From Omehia to Lyon: Tales of interlopers in State House

    Emmanuel Oladesu, Deputy Editor

     

    THE law, as it is said, is an ass. It depends on where the pendulum of justice swings. As governorship battles shift from the ballot box to the court, judicial verdicts are unpredictable. Yet, verdict of the Supreme Court is final.

    Yesterday, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may have won a technical victory at the apex court over the All Progressives Congress (APC), which actually won the poll.

    The crux of the matter is that APC’s David Lyon may have forfeited the right to be sworn in today to his PDP challenger, Duoye Diri.

    The court declared that Lyon was not validly nominated since his running mate’s academic certificates cannot be legally authenticated.

    The history of the Fourth Republic is replete with the fall of some impostors from power, either due to faulty nominations or rigging.

     

    Celestial Omehia:

    The drama started from Rivers State. Although former House of Assembly Speaker Rotimi Amaechi had emerged as the PDP governorship candidate at the primary, former President Olusegun Obasanjo disagreed. He imposed Omehia as flag bearer. The outgoing governor, Chief Peter Odili, was helpless. Obasanjo maintained that Amaechi’s candidature had “k-leg.”

    The PDP won the poll and Omehia was sworn in as governor. Amaechi objected. He went to the court. In October 2007, truth displaced falsehood at the temple of justice.

    After holding office for five months, the Supreme Court ruled that Omehia usurped the ticket of his friend, Amaechi, for the poll. The court clarified that the electorate voted for the party, not the candidate.

    However, the Supreme Court did not extend Amaechi’s tenure.

     

    Andy Uba:

    Joy was bold on the face of the former presidential aide, Andy Uba, as he assumed the reins in Anambra State. But, the happiness was shortlived. Seventeen days after, he was deposed.

    The case was between PDP ‘Governor’ Uba and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Governor Peter Obi.

    Obi had won the 2003 governorship election. He defeated Dr. Chris Ngige, who had secured victory fraudulently, with the aid of some godfathers and dubious electoral officers. Obi challenged the rigging. The case dragged on for almost two years.

    At the end, Obi recovered his stolen mandate at the Supreme Court. The embattled interloper, Ngige, was removed.

    However, the legal department of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was in deep slumber. It failed to offer the right legal advice to the umpire. The electoral agency went ahead to conduct another election in 2007. Uba was declared winner.  He was sworn in on May 29, 2007.

    Obi headed for the court. In a lead judgment by the Supreme Court Justice Katsina Ala, Obi’s tenure was extended till May 17, 2010. The court said INEC conducted the 2007 Anambra governorship election in error.

    Uba did not desert the battlefield afterwards, although his dream of ruling the state has not come into reality. He is now an APC senator.

     

    Oserheimen Osunbor:

    The professor of law also fell from power because of faulty foundation. He spent 10 months illegally in office as governor of Edo State.

    Osunbor ran on the platform of the PDP against labour leader Adams Oshiomhole of the defunct Action Congress (APC), who defeated him. But, the winner became the loser. It was in the days of Prof. Maurice Iwu-led INEC.

    Comrade Oshionhole approached the court for justice. The legal fireworks were tasking. The court upturned Osunbor’s victory and directed the electoral commission to withdraw his certificate of return. It also ordered that the former Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) president should be sworn in.

     

    Oni

    The 2007contest between Olusegun Oni of the PDP and Governor Kayode Fayemi of the AC was tough. Oni was declared winner by INEC. The Supreme Court nullified the victory. The mandate was restored to Fayemi in 2010. Oni was in the saddle for two years.

     

    Oyinlola

    Brigadier-Gen. Olagunsoye Oyinlola, a Prince of Okuku, was declared governor of Osun State on the platform of the PDP in 2007. The AC candidate, Chief Rauf Aregbesola, now Minister of Interior, kicked against the decision. The battle shifted to the tribunal. Oyinlola won. But, the Supreme Court decided otherwise. It ruled that Aregbesola, former Lagos State Works and Infrastructure Commissioner, was the authentic governor.

    Oyinlola vacated the Government House. Aregbesola was inaugurated as governor.

     

    Mukhtar Idris:

    His case is tragic. The Zamfara State APC governorship flag bearer toiled during the electioneering. The people were rooting for him. He gazed at the State House with excitement. But, he could not get to the Promised Land. The opportunity to rule eluded him.

    At the poll, he scored 534,541 votes, defeating the PDP candidate, Bello Matawalle, who polled 189, 452.

    But, Zamfara APC waged war against itself. The lesson is instructive. The protracted crisis between former Governor Abdulaziz Yari and Senator Kabiru Marafa cost the chapter its deserved victory. Party chieftains are nursing the wounds.

    The bone of contention was the rancorous congreses that produced last year’s election candidates. Pleas by top party leaders, including President Muhammadu Buhari to the warring Zamfara APC factional leaders to sheath their swords fell on deaf ears. Reconciliation failed due to the hardline posture of the two feuding stalwarts. A faction went to court against the other. Both camps became losers.

    The Supreme Court nullified the votes cast for the APC candidates at the governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly polls.

    The court declared that the congress that produced the party executives that conducted the APC primaries did not follow laid down conditions. The party violated its rules and guidelines.

    Consequently, PDP candidates who lost the elections became emergency winners and beneficiaries of intra-party discord in APC. The court ordered that the PDP governorship candidate , who scored the second highest votes, should be sworn in as governor.

     

    Ihedioha:

    The Supreme Court also sent Emeka Ihedioha of the PDP packing from the Imo State Government House. He was an illegal occupant for eight months.

    An aggrieved APC candidate, Senator Hope Nzodinma, had complained to the court that the bulk of his votes were excluded by the electoral officers. He maintained that, if the excluded votes were added to the figures declared by INEC, he would be the lawful winner.

    Ihedioha’s lawyers failed to file a cross-appeal to dispute the authenticity of the excluded votes. The Supreme Court acceded to Nzodinma’s prayers.

    Following the verdict, Ihefioha ceased to be governor of Imo. Nzodinma was sworn in.

    However, the PDP is asking the Supreme Court to review the judgment.

     

    Lyon:

    The businessman turned politician was hit by the blow of fate yesterday. He was at the proposed inauguration venue for rehearsals. The news of his dethronment as governor-elect met him there. It was a devastating blow to him, his family, associate, and party supporters.

    Lyon ‘won’ the poll. He defeated his PDP rival, Senator Diri. But, the position of the law, according to the Supreme Court, was that he could not walk with one leg. His albatross was his running mate, who allegedly committed forgery. The court declared that he was not on the ballot because he cannot run alone without a validly nominated deputy governorship candidate. Therefore, Lyon and his running mate stood disqualified.

    But, who becomes the governor today as Seriake Dickson bows out?

    The Supreme Court has ruled that the party with the second highest votes and constitutional electoral spread should take the mantle. There is confusion in Bayelsa.

    Will Diri step in? Will the baton be passed to the Speaker of House of Assembly?