The Nation Newspaper

Category: Special Report

  • As BoI crosses N1 trillion asset base mark

    CLOSE watchers and some of the associates of Pastor Olukayode Pitan say when he speaks, the force comes in the weight of his words rather than the velocity or loudness. As the Managing Director of Bank of Industry (BOI) which has exceeded N1 trillion in asset base, he has raised the bar of expectations for the development finance bank.

    Pitan is also noted for developing and growing people and organizations. One of the most recent cases is a parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God of about 50 people, which he grew into over 1,000 – membership. Under his leadership, the parish which was using rented spaces for service bought land and built the imposing House of Prayer for all Nations at Banana Island, Ikoyi. He is now the Pastor- in – Charge of Lagos Province 46, comprising over 89 parishes and membership of over 7,652, with headquarters in Ajah, Lagos.

    Today, the Olive Tree Parish is not only a landmark in Lagos but a spiritual base of many faithful, who gather there for worship.

    At the BoI, history has been made not only by championing the Federal Government’s Social Investment Programme to reduce poverty and unemployment, but also in the bank’s asset base.

    “For the first time in the history of the bank, we surpassed N1 trillion in asset base. The group’s profit was over N36 billion. For a bank that is owned basically by government, it is a very good result,” Pitan said at the bank’s annual General Meeting.

    BoI Chairman, Alhaji Aliyu Abdulrahman Dikko said the bank achieved 30 per cent increase N36.7 billion profit before tax, compared to the N26.4 billion made in 2017, representing; awarded N2 billion dividend to shareholders. There was a growth of the Group’s total assets by 49 per cent to N1.07 trillion from N713.3 billion in 2017, as well as improvement in total equity which increased by 12.5 per cent year-on-year to N258.3 billion from N241 billion in the previous year. There was also 130 per cent growth on a year-on-year basis with respect to disbursement of new loans of N259.6 billion in 2018 with N33.9 billion of the figure going to SMEs while the balance was deployed to support large enterprises.

    Pitan attributes these and other achievements to the collective efforts of the Board, management and staff of the company, as well as his predecessors and the parent ministry, the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment with which it has a harmonious relationship.

    Also key on the list of achievements is a strong industrial harmony in the company. One senior staff member of the company describes Pitan as “an engaging and peaceful man, traits which are the hallmarks of his management style.”

    In recognition of the bank’s achievements under Pitan, the International Bankers Magazine recently conferred on it the Best Development Bank Award. The award, presented at the London Stock Exchange was in recognition of the bank’s efforts at widening the spectrum of financial support to the nation’s entrepreneurs, especially the micro, small and medium scale enterprises and the creative industry.

    Much more recently at the African Bankers’ Awards ceremony held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea on June 14, 2019, the Bank of Industry won the Financial Inclusion Award for its role in implementing the Federal Government’s Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), which includes the popular TraderMoni programme. The awards event featured financial institutions and projects from all 54 countries in Africa, as well as the international community. GEEP, which is executed through the Bank of Industry was described as the most impactful financial inclusion programme in Africa.

    Despite the political criticism of the programme, it remains popular across the country for its impact on living standards.

    GEEP, the N112 billion fund, which is part of the N500 billion National Social Investment Programme, commenced in 2016 and has continued to expand in scope and effectiveness. It is aimed at providing microcredit facilities to market women, traders, artisans, farmers and agricultural workers at zero per cent interest rate. It is estimated to reach 1million beneficiaries annually.

    BoI’s financing interventions include Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises for food processing, agro processing, healthcare and petrochemicals, solid minerals, N-Power, creative industry, gender business.

    Youth Enterprise Support (YES) Programme: This is a N10 billion fund that targets entrepreneurs between 18 – 35 years. The scheme was launched to develop the entrepreneurial capacity of youths and equip young people with the skills and knowledge to be self-employed by starting and managing their own businesses. Specifically, it provides discretionary funding for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and entrepreneurs that are interested in starting a business.

    The bank also introduced TraderMoni product for micro-businesses across value chain clusters – motorcycle riders, food vendors and petty traders. The fund is expected to ease access to suitable finance by these categories of businesses which in turn will enable them to grow their businesses.

    There was also the Nigerian Content Intervention Fund: A $200million fund targeted at indigenous players in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry for the purpose of procuring fixed assets, funding working capital, refinancing existing loans, etc.

    Nigerian Content Intervention Fund: A $200 million fund targeted at indigenous players in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry for the purpose of procuring fixed assets, funding working capital, refinancing existing loans, among others.

    To enhance its support to the industrial sector of the economy for growth, the BOI has improved its capital base through a $750 million syndicated loan transaction with AFREXIM as the lead arranger. The initial opening was $500 million but it was oversubscribed to the tune of $750 million. Sixteen international financial institutions, including four banks with Nigerian parents, subscribed to the syndication.

    The loan will be made available to entrepreneurs in Nigeria for a period of between five and seven years at a single digit interest rate, thereby enabling BOI bridge the funding gap for MSMEs. The transaction has been adjudged the single largest facility of its kind to be done by a Development Finance Institution in Nigeria.

    In September 2018, the Bank signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Export-Import Bank of China (CEXIM) for a $500 million line of finance. The tenor is expected to be for five to six years. An MOU between BOI and the Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board for a $200 million Nigerian Content Intervention Fund, for which BoI is the manager.

    One-Local Government, One Product Programme is expected to generate over 4,900 new jobs; Industrial Development Centres: These centres are being upgraded through a grant from the African Development Bank (ADB) for conversion to MSMEs cluster parks.

    BoI/State Matching Fund: A matching fund based on a partnership between BOI and 25 state governments. In 2017 the Bank signed matching funds agreement with three states: Bayelsa (N5 billion ), Borno (N2 billion) and Ebonyi (N2 billion) with interest rate between five to 10 per cent per annum.

    To enhance its support to the industrial sector of the economy for growth, the BOI has improved its capital base through facilities from the $750 million syndicated loan transaction with AFREXIM as the lead arranger. The initial opening was $500 million but it was oversubscribed to the tune of $750 million. Sixteen international financial institutions, including four banks with Nigerian parents, subscribed to the syndication among achievements.

    Despite the bank’s achievements, unemployment and poverty levels require more from the country’s DFIs to achieve the dream all-inclusive growth. There is much to be done to sustain the momentum of recovery and growth; and from BoI as a key DFI, a lot more is expected of Kayode Pitan and his team.

     

    • Daniels, a journalist and author, is based in Lagos

  • Osinbajo: we need alliances to destroy extremism

    At a book launch by Aremo Olusegun Osoba in Lagos, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo gives insight into how the evil of extremism can be destroyed in the country. Excerpts:

     

    CHIEF Olusegun Osoba’s illustrious career as a journalist and later politician, have also by some uncanny stroke of good fortune placed him at the centre of many defining moments and situations of post-Independent Nigeria.

    Arguably the most memorable is his January 1966 scoop; the tragic discovery of the bodies of Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa and Finance Minister Festus Okotie-Eboh, not long after the coup that ended Nigeria’s first Republic.

    He was there on the frontlines in many sectors of the Civil War, recording and reporting the horrors and tragedies of a factional war. And it was he who witnessed the surprise visit of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe to Lagos during the Civil War.

    He was also right there on the frontlines, nine years later with exclusive reporting during the coup that brought General Murtala Mohammed to power.

    He happened to be in the Governor’s office in Enugu when the then Commissioner of Police, Kafaru Tinubu, sent word of the capture of Lt. Col. Bukar Dimka, the man who assassinated Murtala Mohammed. He was the only journalist to see Dimka in handcuffs in police custody in Enugu.

    But his scoops went beyond the political, he exclusively reported the case of British born Patrick Chadwick, who slapped a Nigerian sales girl, Adekunbi Adeite, at the Kingsway Stores in Lagos (this despicable business of slapping women seems to have been around for a while), and how the UAC and some other journalists tried to cover it up. It became a national issue and the UAC eventually punished the culprit and he resigned.

    At different times, Chief Osoba ran two of Nigeria’s most important and influential papers; Daily Times and Sketch, also The Herald, before joining a distinguished cast of journalists who went into and succeeded at politics, (I’m thinking of illustrious names like Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Papa Obafemi Awolowo, Anthony Enahoro, Ladoke Akintola, Bola Ige, Lateef Jakande, Bisi Onabanjo, and many others.)

    He was there when General Ibrahim Babangida took over and was also at the centre of Abiola’s campaign, from the Jos primaries to the annulment.

    He was in the NADECO resistance. He was one of those hunted by the Abacha’s strike force. I was the prosecuting Attorney General who led Sergeant Rogers in evidence when he described how they had trailed Chief Osoba in a bid to kill him.

    He was elected Governor under the Military Diarchy of 1990-92, and under the new civilian dispensation in 1999. He was in the opposition in its various iterations for all of 16 years and now in the ruling party.   His life story is the insider’s view of the socio-political history of post-independence Nigeria.

    But perhaps the most remarkable attribute of this Illustrious Nigerian is his pan-Nigerianism; that effortless ability to build bridges and make friends from across various divides.

    That gift of connecting with people, earning their trust and confidence, of being able to get along with a diverse cast of Nigerians from all walks of life. This has evidently contributed greatly to the successes he has notched up in his twin careers of journalism and politics.

    There is a paradox here, the subtext of Osoba’s autobiography “Battlelines: Adventures in Journalism and Politics,” is the tragedy of ethnic and religious jingoism in Nigeria.

    The collapse of our national achievements and attainments at every stage of our history has been that Achilles Heel, the tribal and religious suspicions. The inability at crucial moments, to bridge the gaps of ethnic and religious prejudice.  So, from the execution of the coup of 1966, the countercoup, later that year, and the Civil War, starting in 1967, it is clear that these tragedies occurred because the once united Military wing of the Nigerian elite, finally gave way to its basest instincts – ethnicity and tribal prejudices.  Years later, the scars and fractures remain.

    Chief Osoba’s story also tells us how the political elite also played the ethnic card to defeat, what would have been a national struggle for democracy; the struggle to restore MKO Abiola’s mandate won by votes enthusiastically given by men and women of all tribes and faiths across the country, including the Kano home State of his opponent.

    But it wasn’t difficult to begin a process of delegitimizing it. The tactic is the same and the consequences devastatingly effective: ethicize it.   And so, they did. Northern Governors of the NRC, the party that lost the election, issued a statement saying that Abiola should be advised to give up his campaign for the restoration of the June 12th mandate, that any such restoration should begin with the restoration of the sacred mandate given to Shehu Shagari and forcefully taken from him in the wake of the 1983 Military coup. The Eastern NRC Governors had earlier issued a statement threatening a secession of the Eastern States from the rest of the country, if the annulment of the June 12 election was reversed.

    The military dictatorship took advantage of the ethnic divisions, to make it seem like a Southwest struggle for one of its own, rather than a struggle for democracy and justice, in the process imposing one of the most fearsome repressions of liberties anywhere in the world.

    Read Also: Osinbajo, Lawan, others congratulate Osoba at 80

    Our recent history is the same. The religious or ethnic card is pulled out regularly to win the argument or the votes. The problem is that the resort to our fault lines is a cover-up for the failure of a vision and a genuine programme to address the real concerns of the millions of our countrymen and women. It also breaks our ranks and prevents the pursuit of our real enemies, poverty and its causes and manifestation, poor education and healthcare, violent extremism, etc.

    There are, for example, those who for political reasons, promoted the point of view that violent extremism of Boko Haram was the brainchild of the APC and its putative presidential candidate, a plot to Islamise Nigeria.

    This wicked lie was only debunked when then General Muhammadu Buhari was attacked by the same Boko Haram, he barely escaped with his life and he lost seven close aides and relations. Not long after, the same group attacked the Emir of Kano who sustained serious injuries. In the lead up to the 2019 elections, similar accusations on the Boko Haram insurgency, the Fulani Herder and farmer clashes were made. The attempts by the political elite to delegitimise the government by the suggestions that it promotes insurgency are, of course, dangerous mainly because they help the insurgents by weakening the opposition to them.

    What is the truth? As we have seen, there has been a curtailing of the threat represented by Boko Haram, but we have also seen other threats emerging; Islamic State West Africa (ISWAP) and others in the Lake Chad islands and parts of Southern Borno, radical Islamist terrorism, is an evil that must be seen as the common enemy of all faiths, including Islam.

    As the President said and I paraphrase, “anyone who says Allahu Akbar and goes on to kill is either insane or dangerously ignorant of the tenets of Islam.”

    The likes of Boko Haram, ISIS, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and many Salafist-Jihadist ideologies are expansionist ideologies that feed purely on hate, hatred of any person or group that does not belong to their particular sect. They have no redressible grievances, so there are no terms of reference for peace. They are fanatics committed to a twisted creed. They exploit the ignorance of the tenets of Islam, poverty and exclusion, recruit men and women and use children to perpetuate the most heinous atrocities.

    They are motivated by a satanic desire to control communities by murder and terror. Whether it is in Iraq, Borno or Syria, their victims are men, women and children, Muslim or Christians, so long as they do not share their sick ideology, they target churches, mosques, markets and motor parks, where people gather, using children as human bombs to kill randomly, regardless of tribe or faith.

    I have seen the charred bodies of the dead men, women, children killed by suicide bombers in Gombe, Borno and Kano. The bombs are the ultimate agnostic destroyers, no discrimination in death.  The challenge for us is to recognize this extremism for what it is. To form alliances across faiths and ethnicities, to destroy an evil that confronts us all. Every evil that confronts our nation and our people can be defeated by the power of unity; a recognition that we are stronger together than apart.

    Chief Osoba’s life and times speaks most eloquently to the power of building bridges, finding common ground, and resisting divisive narratives, especially in a country as diverse as Nigeria, a country where it is extremely easy to find reasons to languish in stereotypes and suspicions, where far too many of us by default, lapse into ethnic camps.

    Virtually every major actor in the Nigerian story over the last six decades shows up in the pages of Chief Osoba’s book.  He tells us and I quote from page 177 of the book, “There was no nightclub I did not visit with the likes of Babangida, Ike Nwachukwu, Air Marshal Abass, Air Marshal Bello and Sam Amuka, Moses Gowon, Fela Marsh, Alhaji Usman Nagogo, Ciroma Minna, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, and Isyaku Ibrahim. We tagged Isyaku Ibrahim as the Godfather of our social circle of the era.”

    Well, while I do not recommend night clubs, we must never underestimate the significance of interaction, and a willingness to understand the other person’s point of view.

    Before I sit, let me say a word of prayer. At 90, God gave Abraham a mandate. God has given you a fresh mandate, you are only 80! I pray that as your days, so shall your strength, wisdom and favour with God.

  • Family goes spiritual over stolen daughter after one year

    Osaruoname Omokpia is not a happy man. His sorrow began on June 24, 2018. That day marked the beginning of his recurring nightmare. On that day, two female tenants abducted his daughters, Christabel and Amanda. The culprits, Rose and Mary, kidnapped the minors and sold them to one Joy Odeh thus injecting agony into the lives of the Omokpias.

    However, in May, this year, fate deigned Omokpia a patronising smile as little Christabel was recovered in Enugu State from one Anioke Augustine, who bought her for N800,000. The recovery of Christabel uncovered a huge network of individuals engaged in sale and trafficking of children in the country.

    It was a tortuous investigation by men of the Edo State Police Command as they journeyed through five states in trail of Christabel before they recovered her.

    When Christabel and her sister were taken away, their abductors took them to Ondo State, where they were sold to Odeh. Police investigators made a breakthrough in their search as they managed to track Mary’s phone to somebody she sold it to at Onitsha.

    Mary was eventually arrested and she is currently serving a jail term in Ondo State. Her confession led to the arrest of her accomplice, Odeh, in Ondo State. Joy confessed to police interrogators that she received the children from Mary and sold them to one Rita Eze, aged 49, in Onitsha at the rate of N300,000 for five-year-old Amanda and N450,000 for Christabel.

    Before the police got to Onitsha, Rita has already resold the children separately. She sold Amada to one Uju Favour in Asaba while Christabel was sold to Ogechi Ejike Rivers State.

    The police tracked Ogechi, aged 33, to Afam Community in Rivers State and discovered that she sold Christabel to one Comfort Dike John, who operates an Orphanage home in Okigwe, Imo State at N500,000.

    Comfort was nabbed and she confessd to the police, that she resold Christabel for N850,000 with the support of one Glory Onuoha aged 38, Okeke Chinyere aged 39, Akubor Evangelina aged 38, Ifeoma Adindu aged 40 to Anioke Augusta aged 48.

    Augusta took Christabel to Enugu State, gave her a new home and sent her to school.

    In a chat with newsmen, Anioke denied involvement in the theft, saying she only adopted Christabel from an orphanage. She claimed that her only offence was that she did not follow due process.

    “I agreed to adopt the baby when I saw “government approved” written on the sign board.

    Comfort said she bought the baby at N500,000 from Ogechi because she told her that the girl’s father was dead.

    Read Also: Mother, daughter in police net over baby theft

    “I did not know that the baby was stolen. But I only collected N700,000 from the woman who adopted  her and not N850,000,” she said.

    Pastor Chinyer­e Okeke, however, said that she was not aware that the baby was stolen because they were given papers to legitimise the transaction.

    “I only took the buyer to the orphanage. I did not know that the baby was stolen. It is painful because of the embarrassment.” she said

    In search of Amanda, the police tracked Uju, 35, to Asaba, Delta State and she confessed that she sold Amanda to one woman at Ogwa-Chukwu, who the police later confirmed to be dead.

    This created a dilemma for the police as all clues to recover little Amanda had been lost with the death of her last buyer.

    Spokesman for Edo Police Command, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, said initial efforts to find the children failed and the case was referred to the Special Anti-kidnapping and Cyber Crime Unit headed by SP Richard Balogun, who tracked the suspects and rescued one of the two stolen children

    Nwabuzor said the police would leave no stone unturned to recover Amanda.

    Back at home, Christabel is yet to start school. Her father said he wants to watch her and spend time with her. He said it was difficult to explain the mental torture he went through in the quest to get his two daughters back.

    Osaruoname said he could not state how much he spent to do all kind of things aimed at getting his children. He said he and the rest of the family are praying constantly for the police to recover Amanda.

    On whether Christabel is asking of Amanda, he said she called her my sister anytime she sees her photograph.

    “We are praying for the police to get our remaining daughter back. Christabel has been doing well since she came back.”

  • Senate gets Principal officers

    Senate President  Ahmad Lawan yesterday announced names of principal officers of the Senate. Against all predictions, Senator Yahaya Abubakar Abdullahi emerged Senate Leader while Senator Robert Ajayi Boroffice picked the post of Deputy Senate Leader.

    Former Abia Governor  Orji Uzor Kalu was announced Chief Whip while former Senate spokesperson, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, emerged Deputy Chief Whip.

    On the opposition side, Senator Enyinnaya Harcourt Abaribe emerged Senate Minority Leader while Senator Emmanuel Bwacha was announced Deputy Minority Leader,

    Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda became Minority Whip while Zamafara North Senator, Sahabi Ya’u was announced Deputy Minority Whip.

    The appointments were in line with the position of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    With the announcement of the names which concluded the formation of the body of principal officers, the Senate appears set to launch into its legislative agenda.

    It may be necessary to say that Yahaya (Kebbi North) and Aliyu (Niger North) played major roles in the emergence of Lawan as Senate President on June 11, 2019.

    While Yahaya was chairman, Ahmad Lawan for Senate President Campaign Organisation, Aliyu was the spokesman of the group.

    Who are those lawmakers who will team up with Lawan to pilot the affairs of the Senate probably for the next four years?

     

    Yahaya Abdullahi

     

    Hewas not particularly visible in the Abubakar Bukola Saraki’s troubled Eight Senate. Not much is known about Senator Yahaya Abdullahi.

    The much that is known about the Kebbi North politician is his love for education.

    The seven local government areas that comprise Senator Yahaya Abdullahi’s constituency, Kebbi North senatorial district are Arewa, Argungu, Augie, Bagudo, Dandi, Suru and Jega. While many acknowledged his good nature and contributions towards development in the area, a few like Usman Kaoje Abubakar had tweeted to the Senator urging him not to forget their part of his constituency this time around. “Congratulations sir, we look forward to seeing improvements in Kebbi North, particularly Bagudo and Suru local governments, because we (Bagudo/Suru) benefited nothing in your first tenure,” the constituent had stated.

    Among others, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi has demonstrated a keen interest in enhancing educational development in his area. The numerous educational projects he influenced for his people’s benefit include construction· of a block· of 2 classrooms each at Sabaru village in Arewa  local government area; Government Secondary School, Bachaka in Bachaka Ward of Arewa LG; Shehu Kangiwa Model Primary School in Kokani South Ward of Argungu local government, and; Shiko Model Primary School in Shiko Ward of Dandi local government.

    According to Mallam Mohammed Abubakar, a petty trader in Rudun Bisa village in Shiko ward of Dandi local government area, one of the most appreciated gestures from the Senator to his people is his ‘Water For All’ project under which boreholes were constructed at Rudun Bisa and other villages where water means so much, owing to the terrain and geographical location. At Dankal Ward of Augie local government and at Gwazange Ward in Argungu LGA where boreholes and tanks with 5, 000 litres capacity were constructed, many remain appreciative for having as Senator, a man who truly understands that water literally means living in the hotter parts of Nigeria.

    One of his contributions most appreciated by constituents was the motion he tabled before the Senate in June last year. It was a motion to provide urgent materials to the victims of rainstorm/windstorm And fire outbreak in Argungu local Government Area, Kebbi State.

     

    Ajayi Boroffice

     

    Senator Ajayi Boroffice was born on 23 April 1949 in Oka-Akoko, Ondo State, South Western, Nigeria. He became a lecturer at the University of Ibadan in 1975, and Professor of Zoology at the Lagos State University in 1986. He once held administrative positions at the Lagos State University including Head of Department, Dean of Faculty, and Chairman of the Committee of Deans.

    Boroffice was appointed Coordinating Director for Science in the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) in 1992. He worked on biotechnology, Information and Communication Technology and Space Science and Technology which led to establishing the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA). In 1999 Boroffice was made the Director General of NASRDA, a post he held for 10 years. Under his leadership, NASRDA launched 2 satellites; a low orbit earth observations microsatellite (NigeriaSat-1) in 2003 and a communication satellite (NigcomSat-1) in 2007. He also laid the groundwork for the building of NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X, which were launched in August 2011, from Russia.

    In 2004, Robert Boroffice was awarded the title of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.[1] In March 2011, Boroffice was given the 2011 Golden Merit Award in Space Science by the World Federation of Science Journalists.

    On his political career, Boroffice faced little opposition in his bid to become Labour Party candidate for the Ondo North Senatorial District. He gained the support of traditional rulers in the Akoko area of Ondo State. In an interview before the April elections, he criticized politicians who lacked integrity and honour, making promises they could not keep in order to get elected, and then focusing on making money once elected. In the election, Boroffice ganered 84,290 votes. Runners up were the incumbent Senator Bode Olajumoke of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with 51,112 votes and Agunloye Olu of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) with 36,601 votes.

    On December 28, 2011, Boroffice decamped to the Action Congress of Nigeria so that he can pursue his ambition of becoming the next governor of Ondo state. Later on, he defected to the All Progressives Congress the current ruling party.

    Boroffice was born on 23 April 1949 in Oka-Akoko, Ondo State, South Western, Nigeria. He became a lecturer at the University of Ibadan in 1975, and Professor of Zoology at the Lagos State University in 1986. He once held administrative positions at the Lagos State University including Head of Department, Dean of Faculty, and Chairman of the Committee of Deans.

     

    Orji Uzor Kalu

     

    Senator Orji Uzor Kalu was born on April 21, 1960, to the family of Mr Johnson Uzor Nesiegbe Kalu and Mrs Eunice Kalu. He is the chairman of SLOK Holding and the Daily Sun and New Telegraph newspapers in Nigeria, who served as the governor of Abia State, Nigeria from May 29, 1999, to May 29, 2007.

     

    Enyinnaya Abaribe

     

    The fourth time Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe became Abia State’s Deputy Governor after Orji Uzor Kalu’s 1999 election to the Governorship. The state’s House of Assembly impeached the deputy governor twice in 2000 and a third time in 2003; as he was facing his third impeachment, he resigned on March 7, 2003, sending his resignation via DHL so as to have written a record of it.

    The House of Assembly voted him out of the office several days later, in a move Abaribe called “medicine after death.” He was succeeded as deputy governor by Eric Acho Nwakanma Abaribe ran for the governorship on the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) platform in 2003, but lost to Kalu.

    Abaribe was elected to the Senate in 2007 on a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ticket. Eric Acho Nwakanma of the PPA challenged the validity of the election.

    Abaribe is Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Affairs (Senator Abdulaziz Usman of Jigawa-North East is Chairman). He is also a member of the Committees on the Independent National Electoral Commission, Senate Services, and Works. In October 2007, as Ralph Uwazuruike, leader of the banned secessionist organization Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), was on trial for treason, Abaribe and six other southeastern senators protested at the Federal High Court in Lagos to demand his release.

    Abaribe was reelected for Abia South on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2015 and is currently representing the people of Abia South Senatorial District in the upper chamber.

    On June 22, 2018, Abaribe was arrested by the Department of State Security Services (DSS) at his barber shop located at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja for his alleged links with the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) being one of the sureties to the IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, he was taken to his house for a search and was later taken to the DSS detention in Abuja. He was released the next Tuesday,26th June 2018 on bail.

    Abaribe earned his WASSCE from Government College Umuahia in 1974. He went on to the University of Benin, where he received a bachelor’s degree economics in 1979 and a master’s degree in economics in 1982. He lectured at Edo State University from 1982 until 1985.

     

    Emmanuel Bwacha

     

    Senator Emmanuel Bwacha CON is a politician who was elected to the Senate for the Taraba South constituency of Taraba State, in the April 2011 federal elections. He was elected on the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) platform. He was reelected under the same party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 28 March 2015 federal elections.

    Bwacha was born in the Donga Local Government Area of Taraba State. He has an Education Diploma in Public Administration from the University of Calabar. A public servant, he served as Commissioner of Agriculture for Taraba State between 1999 and 2003 in the Jolly Nyame administration. Bwacha was elected to the federal House of Representatives for the Donga / Ussa / Takum Constituency, serving from May 2003 to May 2007. He was Chairman of the House Committee on Police Affairs. In the April 2007 elections, he lost his bid for the Senate seat.

    The favourite of Governor Danbaba Suntai, Bwacha won the PDP primaries for the Taraba South Senate seat in January 2011 without opposition from the incumbent Senator Joel Danlami Ikenya, who was running for election as governor. On 9 April 2011 elections Bwacha received 106,172 votes, ahead of Aliyu of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) with 80,256 votes.

     

    Philips Tanimu Aduda

     

    Senator Philips Tanimu Aduda served two terms in the House of Representatives between 2003 and 2011 and was elected to the Senate for the Abuja Federal Capital Territory. He is a member of the  ?People’s Democratic Party

    Senator Aduda was born on June 13, 1969, into the family of Rt. Rev Tanimu Samari Aduda (the Bishop of Gwagwalada), and Chief (Mrs.) Jummai Tanimu Aduda, the president and founder of Grassroot Associations of Nigeria and International Grassroot Association.

    A Christian by birth and was brought up under strict Christian principles, as a son of a devout Bishop. It is in the light of this development that he had contributed immensely towards ensuring peaceful co-existence among Muslims, Christians and other religious adherents. Some of his philanthropic works include his contributions towards the following areas: The building of Central Mosque and ECWA Church in Karu, Abuja; the building of Central Mosque in Abaji, Abuja; the building of Central Mosque in Bwari, Abuja; the building of Islamic School in Tungan Maje, Abuja; provision of facilities for the graduation of Islamiyya students in Kubwa, Abuja; building of Islamiyya Institute in Kawu, Abuja; building of Solid Rock Fellowship Church in Kubwa, Abuja; building of Anglican Cathedral in Gwagwalada and Kubwa, Abuja; and member of Steering Committee for building of Anglican University.

    He also makes provisions for the distribution of foodstuff (grains, rice, goats etc) during festivities (fasting) within his constituency – Muslims and Christians.

     

    Sahabi Ya’u

     

    Senator Sahabi Ya’u who represents Zamfara North was one of the PDP beneficiaries of the court ruling that disqualified all APC candidates in the 2019 elections.

    Ya’u is said to be a grassroots politician in Zamfara State.

  • Our battle against erosion, by Anambra, Enugu

    Erosion remains a major headache in the Southeast despite efforts to contain the problem. The use of the ecological fund has also not addressed the challenge. What else can be done? Som of the affected states warn that erosion may sink the region, if urgent remedial steps are not taken. Sina Fadare reports.

    THE erosion menace in the Southeast is worrisome. There is no state in the region that is not affected. From Abia to Anambra, Ebonyi to Enugu and Imo, the states are ravaged by erosion. To fight erosion and related disasters, the Federal Government initiated the ecological fund. But to Osita Obi, Coordinator of Recovery of Nigeria Project from Umuawulu in Awka North of Anambra State, the ecological fund is a fraud. He said going by the havoc done in his community by erosion, the day of doom is at hand if remedial measures are not taken fast. Obi said: “It is first one thing to access the ecological fund, but another is to channel it towards the real ecological issue. That is why we are dancing on a spot. Ecological fund as far as I am concerned is a fraud; that is why President Muhammadu Buhari should close all these loopholes. As l am speaking to you now, the two bridges in Umuawulu community where l hail from is about to collapse due to erosion menace. This is the place where you have the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp. If something urgent is not done now the bridges may give way.”

    Pa Chinoso James of Oko in Orumba North local government area said erosion was ravaging the community. “Have you been to the house of former Vice President Alex Ekueme? Erosion is almost taking it away. The situation here is bad.” He laughed over the issue of ecological fund, saying the Southeast is marginalised in the scheme of things, otherwise the Federal Government will pay attention to erosion in the area. “l was a teacher for many years before l retired and l have travelled round this country but my conclusion is that somewhere along the line the Federal Government over the years have neglected this part of the country especially on this issue of erosion. One of the core values of the so-called ecological fund is that it should be judiciously and equitably applied to areas where ecological and environmental crisis is threatening.  Now with what is happening in the Southeast as regards erosion, can we say we are equitably treated?” he asked. James went on: “The fund is a fraud by those people who approved the projects because in most cases where it was approved and fund released, the state governments are in the dark, especially in this era of constituency projects by National Assembly members.”

     

    ln the beginning

     

    The ecological fund was established in 1981 is for the multifarious ecological challenges in some parts of the country. Initially, one per cent of the revenue in the Federation Account was set aside for solving ecological problems. It has been increased to three per cent. Its core values include to reduce ecological problems nationwide through timely and efficient mitigation; judicious and equitable management of the fund and ascertaining the facility quality and effective implementation of projects through timely release of funds and monitoring. Funds are released with the President’s approval through the National Committee on Ecological Problems (NCEP), an inter-ministerial body set up in 1985 and headed by the Minister of the Environment. The committee advises the President on the disbursement and management of the fund. But, sadly, the fund is being diverted, with substandard and abandoned projects littering the landscape as greedy officials and contractors continue to defraud the government. In many communities, according to investigation, projects cannot be located; and instead of construction of drainages, the ground was dug.

     

    Threat of ‘erosion tsunami’

     

    The report of the 2015 ecological fund exclusively obtained by The Nation showed that Anambra and Enugu got N3.949 billion worth of projects. Anambra attracted projects worth N2.48 billion, Enugu, N1.496. Four of the projects in Anambra centred on erosion and flood control. Others are remedial work and the Oko gully erosion. Enugu attracted soil erosion, flood control and road improvement works at a cost of N1.499 billion. But, the document did not state the other communities where the projects were sited, except the Oko gully erosion. Investigations, however, showed that the projects were on paper only. At Oko where the soil was dug, the erosion there is an eyesore.

    Anambra State Commissioner for Environment Michael Okonkwo said the state was doing its best to combat erosion within its meagre resources. We have over 1000 active erosion sites. The type of soil we have has made erosion accessible here but one cannot rule out the element of human factor which has complicated the situation. Due to erosion we are now arguably the smallest in the country in terms of land mass. Lagos State used to be number one, but today because of the encroachment of erosion, we are number one. When Lagos is getting land from the ocean, we are losing our own.” Okonkwo said since he became commissioner in 2018, the state has not accessed the ecological fund.

    “In actual fact, a state of emergency should be declared on erosion crisis in the state. At Nanka, in Orumba South local government, the World Bank has declared that it is the deepest erosion gully in the   world. Their estimate for controlling it is about N20 billon. That is how bad the situation is,” he said, adding that there is nothing on ground to suggest that the state had benefited from the fund. He said he was invited to be part of a funfare to commission where gully erosion was controlled. When l got there it was one of those things that something should be on the ground to justify the resources collected, whereas there are lots of critical erosion sites, which if the state government was privy to, such a fund could have been better utilised.”

    The commissioner argued that Anambra might have gone, if not for the intervention of Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project ( NEWMAP) on some critical erosion sites. When NEWMAP started, it was a seven-member states, but now it is 21. Not only that NEWMAP was tackling erosion, it also discouraged the business of sand evacuation which has exposed some parts of the state to the danger of erosion.” Okonkwo lamented that man-made error in terms of dumping waste into gully and water ways has contributed to the menace in the state. When l came on board l started with preventive measures. Governor Willie Obiano was in support of the tree planting initiative in which we embarked on the planting of one million trees. Now we are going into phase two of the project. The other preventive measure is to change the way we design our roads. We discovered that the worst contribution to erosion in the state is improper termination of drainages.”

    Director of Ecology and Environment Anthony Odiegwu said the state had not accessed ecological fund. “Sometime last year, some people came saying they are from the Ecological Fund Office in Abuja. They did a survey and said they wanted to visit some of the erosion sites. Since then that was the last we heard of them. Aside from the NEWMAP Intervention and the state’s lean resources which cannot tackle the huge problem of erosion, the state has not benefited from the ecological fund in recent time,” he said. The state was said to have embraced NEWMAP when it could not access the ecological fund. It paid about N1 billion counterpart funding in order to access more loans from the World Bank  projects. NEWMAP Coordinator in the state Michael Ivenso said: “Working in conjunction with the Anambra State government, NEWMAP has tried to make a statement on the need to save Anambra from being bottled up by the African version of Tsunami. We are working on 14 erosion sites which include St. Thomas Aquinas / Nero’s erosion site, Amachalla site in Awka South,the judiciary complex erosion site, Nnewichi site in Nnewi as well as the ones in Idemili, especially Ojoto community. We also have intervention activities at Nkpor fly over, the New Heritage / Omagba erosion site in Onitsha, Uga-Muma-Obosi as well as Ikenga Ogidi. Others include Enugwu-Ukwu, Abidi Umuoji, Ire Obosi and Abagana erosion sites. The problem here in Anambra State is that ecological funds have become difficult to access and the governor has made spirited representations for Anambra to get its own share of the ecological funds and the results are too minimal. Since 2015, Anambra State has not received ecological funds while some states in the country have received up to N6billion,” Ivenso claimed, adding that ecological projects are executed without the knowledge of the state government. When contracts for these projects are being awarded, the Anambra State government was not involved. They do not factor the state in and allow them make inputs on the project and designs. But when it is time for commissioning of these projects they will invite the state Ministry of Environment to come and witness the event. Those projects are so shoddy and do not reflect the essence for awarding them and after the rains, they all collapse and tax payers money is wasted”

    Things are no better in Enugu. Places like Udi, Nkanu west and Enugu Ngwo have been ravaged by erosion. Its Director of Ecology and Mineral Resources, Dr. Chigbogu Nnaji, said there was an orchestrated plan to punish those in the area by paying lip service to their ecological problems. The state, he said, had not accessed the ecological fund, adding that there are many erosion sites in the state, with the most critical ones in Udi, Enugu North, Nkanu West and East and Enugu south local government area. The state’s Coordinator of NEWMAP, Vincent Obetta, said the 17 local government areas of the state were facing erosion crisis, adding that NEWMAP’s intervention is the saving grace, otherwise Erosion Tsunami could have wiped some communities away.

     

    The case against ecological fund

     

    Is it true that about N500 billion of the ecological fund was diverted last year? This came to light during public hearing on a bill seeking to prohibit the abuse of the ecological fund organised by the Senate Joint Committee on Ecology and Environment. Presenting the bill, Senator Mohammed Hassan, who represented Yobe South in the 8th National Assembly, said the Senate’s resolve to enact a law to establish and regulate the operations of the fund and other similar funds became imperative because, over the years, the fund was operated like ‘slush’ money and rather utilised for varying unrelated purposes. Successive governments have been serially accused of diverting and enriching themselves from the ecological fund. The operation of the fund has been largely discretionary, with zero guidelines on the disbursement and utilisation of the money,” he added.

    Investigation showed that in 2009, N93.7 billion was “illegally transferred from the ecology fund to the consolidated revenue fund to fund the acceleration of capital budget advances to state and local governments to meet revenue shortfall and third quarter development fund warrant. In December 2009, the National Economic Council reported that about N200 billion belonging to the ecological fund had been spent on questionable projects that were either non-existent or had no relations to the fight against ecological disasters,” an ecological fund document stated, adding: “In December 2011, there was also an illegal deduction totalling N20.1 billion from the ecological fund for debt servicing, in addition to the donation of N2 billion in 2013 by former President Goodluck Jonathan to certain states of the federation without any criteria, in which some states did not benefit. In 2013, N22 billion was withdrawn and shared out to some states and local governments, while N2.078 billion was withdrawn towards the building of the second Niger bridge. In 2016, the Auditor General’s report indicated that N28billion was diverted from the fund to service government debts, noting that the examination of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) records revealed that a total amount of N48, 601,928,311.08 was received into the Ecological Fund in the year, as the required 3.0% deduction from the federation account for the development of natural resources. It was observed that the sum of N28,239,060,570.89 representing about 58% was paid out of the fund as loan to carry out various activities that are not related to the development of natural resources. We recommend that henceforth, the Federal Government deploys these special funds only for the stated objectives of the funds.”

     

    World Bank to the rescue

     

    In September 2013, NEWMAP began intervention activities in Abia, Anambra, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo. In Anambra, gully erosion was curtailed through the agency’s help. Today, NEWMAP has spread to 21 states. However, only states that can pay the counterpart-funding benefit from the World Bank loan facility. But the battle against erosion cannot be left to the World Bank and the affected states only.

     

  • Raising global banks with higher capital

    The recapitalisation news shook the banking world on Monday. But, it was a seed sown at the World Bank meeting in the United States (U.S.) in April. Unveiling his plan for the next five years, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele said recapitalisation is the way to go for Nigerian banks to be among the top 500 in the world. What will be the new capital base? Some experts say it may be between N63billion and N100billion. COLLINS NWEZE reports.

     

    In April, a voice seeking higher capital for banks sounded loud and clear from a distant land. It was at the Spring meetings of the World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington, United States (U.S.). If they wish to compete globally, the banks, IMF said, must recapitalise and strengthen their capital base. At the African session of the yearly event, IMF Monetary and Capital Markets Department Director Tobias Adrian advised the banks to seek higher capital through recapitalisation and also tackle rising Non-Performing Loans (NPLs).

    His advice was heeded on Monday when Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele unfolded his policy direction for the next five years, with recapitalisation of banks topping the list.

    Under the impending exercise, banks will raise their capital base above the N25 billion minimum level adopted in 2004. The CBN boss also plans to lead the economy to double-digit growth, single-digit inflation, $12 billion non-oil exports by 2023 and raise financial inclusion to 95 percent by 2024 while retaining the managed-float exchange rate.

    The CBN guidelines stipulate that regional banks must have a minimum paid-up capital of N10 billion, national banks, N25 billion and banks with international operations N50 billion.

    According to Emefiele, the 2004 recapitalisation, which increased banks’ capital base from N2 billion to N25 billion, has weakened. He plans to pursue a programme that will make the banks rank among the top 500 in the world.

    He said: “In the next five years, we intend to pursue a programme of recapitalising the banking industry so as to position Nigerian banks among the top 500 in the world. Banks will, therefore, be required to maintain higher level of capital, as well as liquid assets in order to reduce the impact of an economic crisis on the financial system.

    “You will all agree with me that it was Governor Charles Soludo in 2004 that did the last recapitalisation we had, moving the capitalisation from N2 billion to N25 billion. And I must commend those efforts because it resulted in positioning Nigerian banks not only in Africa, but also being among the banks in the world in terms of capitalisation and it also increased or helped to strengthen the banking industry capacity to take on large ticket transactions- and those are some of the things we badly need today.”

    The CBN boss added: “And if you relate N25 billion in 2004 exchange rate, which was about N100 to N25 billion, it is certainly only about $200 million. Today, if we relate N25 billion at N360, you can see that it is substantially even lower than $75 million. What we are trying to say is that recapitalisation has weakened quite substantially and there is a need for us to say it is time to recapitalise Nigerian banks again. It is a policy thrust which will be discussed at the Committee of Governors’ meeting and of course, the framework for the recapitalisation of Nigerian banks will be unfolded for the whole world to know.”

    Stakeholders’ stand

    Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) President Uche Olowu said the CBN has industry data and the right information on why the banks should recapitalise.

    Recapitalisation, he said, would provide more funds for the banks to do business, especially consumer credit, mortgage finance, which they have not been given any consideration.

    According to him, recapitalisation will give banks the power to take advantage of opportunities in the industry, and lend more to the real sector.

    Many banks, he said, had eroded their capital due to the high level of NPLs, adding that recapitalisation will present a new lifeline for the banks.

    “For me, recapitalisation of the banks is fine. I have no problem with that, rather, I see opportunities that it presents to the economy and the lenders. It will be a healthy development for the banks to recapitalise. Normally, from time to time, there is always a need for recapitalisation of the banking sector. For banks with regional operations, recapitalisation will enable them to raise the needed capital for more coverage,” Olowu said.

    Association of Bureau de Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) President Aminu Gwadabe said recapitalisation would help the banks remove toxic assets from their balance sheets which make it difficult for them to lend.

    The exercise, he added, will help the lenders attract new foreign and local investors that will provide the needed capital for them to take bigger roles, including investment in infrastructure.

    He said the banks were not lending as expected, adding that recapitalisation will provide them with the right capital mix to lend to larger segments of the economy.

    Former Executive Director, Keystone Bank Richard Obire said recapitalisation would draw yes and no answers depending on where one stands.

    He described the NPLs as high and real, noting that a number of banks, including the tier-1 lenders are affected by the rise in bad loans.

    According to him, if the big banks are groaning under the burden of NPLs, what happens to the smaller banks? He said: “Banks’ capitals have been eroded. In 2004 when the recapitalisation took place, what the exchange rate was at that time, is different from what it is at present. He said there is capital erosion in the banks due to naira depreciation.

    “The no side is that it will bring challenge for the banks. Raising capital now may not be easy. If the macro-environment is upbeat, so will be investors. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth is still sluggish and raising money in such economy will be difficult,” he said.

    Obire agreed that more capital is required for the banks to be strong and do what they are expected to do.

    He noted that recapitalisation can lead to a drop in quality of service, adding that as the banks get bigger, customers’ complaints resolution will take longer time.

    Obire said banks can only have more money to grow their businesses in a growing economy. According to him, every business has the ambition to grow year-on-year, but that would be difficult to achieve under a shrinking economy. To him, all forward-looking banks should look at what would protect their revenues, by identifying and focusing on the healthy side of the economy.

    In a report titled: CBN’s five-year Monetary Policy Blueprint, Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company limited, Bismarck Rewane, said recapitalisation will bring NPLs down to nine per cent. The industry has about 16 per cent NPLs average, over 200 per cent higher than  the five per cent regulatory benchmark.

    Head Currency Market at Ecobank Nigeria, Olakunle Ezun, projected that judging from the percentage increase in capital base of commercial banks in 2004 recapitalisation from N10 billion to N25 billion, this time around the figure may hit N70 billion.

    He said the CBN in 2004 raised banks’ capital base by 150 per cent from  N10 billion to N25 billion.

    Ezun said the new capital base for banks may be around N63 to N70 billion if the same ratio is applied.

    An economist, Okechukwu Unegbu, said Emefiele’s plan could send panic into the system if not properly managed.

    Unegbu said beyond recapitalisation, the issue of human capital in the banking industry should also be given attention.

    “We must understand that everything is not about money coming into the system. We should be talking about capacity building and the type of personnel behind these institutions.

    “These days, a lot of bankers don’t have career path. Most bankers don’t have job satisfaction. Today, the level of fraud in the system is on the rise and it is a result of deficiency in capacity building. So, it is not only money that we should be talking about. If these institutions don’t have the required capacity and you throw money into them, they would probably be out of business before you know it,” he added.

    Other market sources said the CBN may also adopt N100 billion new capital base for commercial banks to ensure that only lenders with huge financial muscle play in the big league.

    They said the first step is for the regulator to evaluate whether the recapitalisation that was done in 2004 has any impact on the industry and the economy. According to them, consolidation can either be regulatory-induced or market-induced.

    “What is the objective of the new recapitalisation? Is it that the buffers are not enough? Is it that the banks are distressed? What is the need for doing it? Obviously, there is always the need for buffers, but you cannot make the minimum capital requirement a buffer requirement,” the analysts said.

    Drop in loan demands

    A researcher, Guy Czatoryski, of Coronation Merchant Bank, described lending as a principal responsibility banks owes their customers.

    He said the challenge with loan advancement is that only few people come forward to borrow given the slow growth in GDP.

    Loan demand, he said, has dropped significantly in recent years, noting that this is a challenge for banks.

    He described weak loan demand as the biggest challenge facing banks, explaining that it will continue this year due to poor economic growth.

    He explained that regular bank customers that were borrowing excessively before hardly come back for loans given the poor state of the economy.

    Czatoryski said weak borrowing among bank customers has nothing to do with cost of the loans.

    “If you tell me that loans are expensive today, they have been expensive in the last 10 years but that did not stop people from taking loans. It is not a question of pricing for the loans but weak demands for products. The industry is weak. It is very important not to confuse that,” he said.

    He said the weak demand for loans is affecting the banks’ profitability and ability to grow.

    Czatoryski said: “How big is the banking sector and how big is the economy? You are talking as if lending is about 100 per cent to GDP. Lending is only about 10 per cent to the GDP. So, the link between the banking sector and the economy is not strong because most people do not have loans. The outstanding loan of banks is not more than 10 to 15 per cent of the GDP and that is very poor. You are talking of a very small banking sector servicing a large economy. That is the problem, and it will take years for the banking sector to match growth in the economy.

    “In the United Kingdom (UK) and America, the economic managers can easily control interest rate because almost everybody has a loan. That is what is lacking in Nigeria because Nigerians are not taking loans.”

    He advised that the banks should be allowed to make more profits to enable them grow and service a larger part of the economy.

    State of banks

    Banks have been recording sizable growth and profitability in the last five years. But the growth is skewed in favour of the big banks also called Tier-1 banks while the smaller banks or Tier-2 banks continue to struggle.

    The fall of Skye Bank Plc and Access Bank’s acquisition of Diamond Bank Plc, which took many customers by surprise were indicators of the tough times in the sector.

    Assessing the banks, the CBN-led Bankers’ Committee noted that though the lenders declared nearly N800 billion in profits last year, they must continue on aggressive debt recovery, realise collaterals of NPLs and get insurance companies to settle claims relating to insured debts.

    According to the committee, such steps are needed to get many of the lenders back on track. The banks are also expected to strengthen risk management practices and enforce the CBN restrictions on payment of dividends by banks with high NPLs.

    Filings by many of the banks released by Afrinvest West Africa, an investment and research firm, showed that the sector’s total assets remain strong, rising from N25.1 trillion in 2013 to N29.1 trillion in 2014. The assets also grew to N29.7 trillion in 2015; N33.9 trillion in 2016 and N37.8 trillion in 2017. The assets were around N38.1 trillion in the first quarter of this year.

    Majority of the lending done in the sector was carried out by tier-1 banks otherwise called the “big banks” and these include GTBank, Zenith Bank, United Bank for Africa, Access Bank, FBN Holdings, and Ecobank Nigeria.

    Further analysis of the industry’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR)   for the tier-1 banks showed that Access Bank CAR stood at 20.1 per cent in 2017 and 20.8 per cent in the first half of 2018; Ecobank Nigeria 26.9 per cent/ 28.5 per cent; FBN Holdings 17 per cent/18.1 per cent; GTBank 25.7 per cent/ 22 per cent; United Bank for Africa 25.5 per cent/ 23 per cent and Zenith Bank 27 per cent / 21 per cent during the same period.

    The CAR is the ratio of a bank’s capital to its risk. The CAR for banks’ with offshore subsidiaries is 15 per cent minimum requirement (which rose to 16 per cent since March 1, 2015 for systemically important banks). The CAR for banks operating only in Nigeria is 10 per cent.

    The ownership factor

    Obire said recapitalisation will alter the ownership structure of many banks, noting that it will enable local and international investors to have a stake in the banks.

    In its yearly report, in which it released the ownership structure of banks operating in the country, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) said foreign investors and government were divesting from the leaders. Private sector operators, it said, have gained control of the sector.

    The report showed that 15 of the 26 banks had partial or full foreign ownership in 2017, with five banks having substantial foreign ownership above 50 per cent. The banks in this category are Citibank, 81.9 per cent; Ecobank, 100 per cent; Rand Merchant Bank, 100 per cent; Standard Chartered Bank, 99.99 per cent, Sterling Bank, 36.94 per cent and Union Bank Plc, 86.80 per cent. For Citibank, 18.1 per cent of its ownership rests on Nigerians; Union Bank has 13.20 per cent Nigerian ownership.

    However, Access Bank has 91.14 per cent Nigerian ownership, 0.07 per cent government ownership and 8.79 per cent foreign ownership. Coronation Merchant Bank has 100 per cent Nigerian ownership; so also Fidelity Bank, First City Monument Bank, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, FBN Merchant Bank, SunTrust Bank and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc.

    Other lenders with 100 per cent Nigerian ownership include Heritage Banking Company Limited, Keystone Bank Limited, Wema Bank Plc and Providus Bank Limited.

    “In comparison to the previous year, there was a slight change in the ownership structure of banks. The private sector continued to dominate the ownership of Nigerian banks while government continued to divest from banks in line with requirements of Code of Corporate Governance for banks and discount houses as government shareholding was below 10 per cent in all the banks except Jaiz Bank Plc,” NDIC said.

    For Adrian, where there are financial stability concerns, authorities are expected to use prudential tools such as higher capital in the banking system and more conservative underwriting standards to reduce financial stability risks.

    He said: “We advise countries that where those downside risks are increasing to take more steps to ensure that vulnerabilities are not rising too much. Addressing NPLs is a first order importance for financial stability. Many countries have tackled that by developing secondary market for NPLs. And by being aggressive in writing off NPLs and through provisioning and use of improved accounting standards through International Financial Reporting Standards 9 (IFRS 9)”.

    Will recapitalisation make Nigerian banks rank among the top 500 in the world? Time will tell.

     

  • Promises, appointments as governors resume duties

    Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, yesterday resumed office. They toured the State Secretariat at Alausa. They were welcomed by excited civil servants.

    The civil servants sang songs in Yoruba praising the governor, saying “this dispensation shall be good for us”.

    The tour commenced at the Ministry of the Environment/Lands wing of the secretariat and terminated at the main secretariat premises.

    Addressing the civil servants, the governor promised to address challenges, such as minimum wage, inadequate office space, chairs and tables, transportation and electricity.

    He promised that his administration will take care of them, “because I know when we take care of you, you will take care of the teeming 22 million Lagosians out there”.

    Sanwo-Olu went on: “I know there is not enough office space, electricity, chairs and tables, staff buses, cramped up offices and others, I know because I have been there before; but let us begin to think and invent how we are going to bake a bigger cake, let us begin to think out of the box, a bigger cake that will be enough for all of us.

    “We are going to use our case here as a case study for Lagosians to know that we are serious about transportation, it is a message we are passing across to Lagosians that we are going to tackle and solve the transportation problems and we are starting with you; this includes taking care of potholes and bad roads as well.

    “The issues of governance has started, I want all of you to support our team and I promise that as long as we appreciate what our roles are I will not forget you.”

    He urged them to rededicate themselves to work, adding: “Whatever work you are doing be the best in it and we are all must be monitoring ourselves because I have promised I will give you all the implements that you require to do your job and do it well, let people begin to have a new and better experience when they come to Alausa.”

    The governor also said: “Let us turn a new leaf and let us now be that change that we are asking for and I can assure you if we do that our lives will never be the same again”, the governor assured the workers.”

    Sanwo-Olu later yesterday declared a state of emergency on the environment as he signed an executive order on refuse management, traffic management and public works.

    He also held meetings with service chiefs in the state and Permanent Secretaries. The events took place in the governor’s office, Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.

    The state of emergency, Sanwo-Olu said, will start the process of restoring. Tagged ‘Enforcement of law and order in respect of Traffic and sanitation matters’, it reads: “Henceforth, there shall be zero tolerance for environmental abuse, including illegal and indiscriminate dumping of refuse, construction on drainage points and setbacks.

    “All LASTMA officials shall effectively carry out their functions by ensuring strict enforcement and compliance with all extant traffic rules and regulations while LASTMA officials will immediately begin work on a shift basis, in which road and traffic management operations will be on till 11 pm on a daily basis.

    “On its part, Lagos State Public Works Corporation will immediately commence the identification and repairs of all potholes and bad roads within the state.”

    Abiodun to declare a state of emergency in education

    Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun yesterday assumed duty at the Oke-Mosan  Governor’s Office, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, and disclosed that he may “declare a state of emergency in the education sector” to arrest its declining fortune and students’ poor performance.

    Abiodun, who resumed work by 9:30 am, along with his Deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, was received by the Head of Service, Lanre Bisiriyu, and Permanent Secretaries of the State’s ministries after inspecting five-man Guard of Honour mounted for him by the Nigerian Police.

    The governor later toured  the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and that of the Civil Service Commissions – the three strategic units, where most of the last minute decisions of the out – gone Governor Ibikunle Amosun touched –  such as the installation of 75 coronet Obas,  employment 1000 people into the state  workforce and funds disbursements.

    He also held meetings with the Permanent Secretaries and Head of Service, Service Chiefs of security agencies – Police, Army, Department of State Security(DSS), Nigeria Immigration Service(NIS), Nigeria Prisons Service(NPS) Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC).

    Speaking with reporters after emerging from the security meeting, he said he has started the business of governance and was settling down, stressing that the new administration would focus more on primary and tertiary education.

    Abiodun lamented that the performance of students in primary and tertiary schools was not encouraging, pledging to bring the state’s education sector up to the desired standard.

    He also pledged to “make good governance his priority,” expressing the optimism that the state’s workforce has keyed into the vision and agenda of the new administration as explained to the workers in a meeting them.

    ‘I’m encouraged by the financial records in Nasarawa’

    Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has said he is impressed by the financial records he inherited from the past administration of Umaru Tanko Al-Makura.

    Sule spoke yesterday at a dinner organised in his honour by the Nasarawa North Senatorial Zone.

    He said: “The first thing I wanted to see when I was sworn in was to go to the office and look at our financials, I wanted to see what we have in every bank, and believe me from Lafia to this place; I have seen it already, I have seen all our balances, because that is the first thing, as a manager, that I wanted to do.

    “I am challenged by what I have seen and I am not discouraged, I strongly believe that we can take it from here and build Nasarawa State, but I can’t do it alone, I need every one of you to be able to do that.”

    The governor, who promised to carry everyone along, however, said he would not forget those who worked to ensure his victory at the polls.

    “So, it doesn’t matter who voted for me or who supported me, at the end of the day everyone in Nasarawa State today is my responsibility.”

    Kwara governor holds maiden security meeting

    Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq yesterday held Security Council meeting to receive briefings from all the heads of security agencies in the state.

    The meeting was attended by all the members of the council, including Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi, Emir of Ilorin Dr Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari and Police Commissioner Kayode Egbetokun, among others.

    Briefing reporters after the meeting, Egbetokun said: “We met the governor who shows a deep understanding of security as the Chairman of the State’s Security Council. He understands that without security, no meaningful development can be achieved.

    “The service chiefs (then) took turns to brief His Excellency about the security situation in the state. All the issues raised were discussed and decisions were made.”

    AbdulRazaq also met with the Kwara State Council of Chiefs. The meeting was attended by 16 of the 19 members of the council, whose chairman is the Emir of Ilorin.

    He also inspected the Government House and Governor’s Lodge.

    AbdulRazaq told civil servants that he would not witch-hunt anyone for their political beliefs.

    “We would not label anyone. We will carry everybody along and will promote a culture of transparency and independence. We want Kwara to regain its rightful place particularly in the North where it used to be the number one in terms of education and so on,” AbdulRazaq said.

    The governor promised to ensure prompt payment of salaries, adding that Kwara would also pay the minimum wage after due consultations with the civil servants and proper assessment of the financial situation of the state.

    “We’ll pay (May) salary almost immediately. We want to get a place where there is no backlog of salary and pensions.

    “We’ll discuss the minimum wage. The intention is to pay but we need to sit down and resolve a few issues. There has been so much plundering of the state resources but we will rise above all that. We’ll ride on your back to get things done while your welfare is taken care of.”

    The governor spoke extensively on his agenda for the state such as plugging loopholes, reducing overhead costs through prudent management of resources, addressing the infrastructure deficits in the state and creating wealth through private enterprise.

    AbdulRazaq also held a meeting with Kwara leaders of thoughts during which he called on them to support his administration to rebuild Kwara from the scratch.

    AbdulRazaq said the report of the Transition Committee, which is still being studied, revealed so much decadence and abuse of public trust so much that all hands must be on deck to pull Kwara out of the woods.

    AbdulRazaq promised to be as inclusive and equitable as possible in the running of the state, especially in his appointments and spread of government projects.

    He said his administration would always consult with the people, especially thoughts leaders from all backgrounds, through open fora with a view to putting the government in constant check.

    Read also: We’ll defend trust reposed in us, VP Osinbajo assures Nigerians

    Insecurity: Makinde summons emergency security meeting

    Following reports of threats of violence across different parts of the capital city, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde yesterday summoned an emergency security meeting.

    The meeting is the first between the governor and the security chiefs since his assumption of office.

    The governor said he received a report of clashes between rival groups of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in areas, such as Beere, Ring Road and others.

    The meeting was attended by Commissioner of Police Shina Olukolu, the General Officer Commanding, 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Okwudili Azinta, State Commandant, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr John Oyedokun and the Nigerian Immigration Service boss.

    Bauchi governor unveils Economic Blueprint

    Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed yesterday unveiled his plans to create employment opportunities for youths.

    The governor spoke while receiving the economic report for the state from the Chairman of the Economic Advisory Committee, Prof. Usman Bugaje at the Bauchi Government House.

    The Committee was set up by the governor before his declaration. He said he would work with technocrats to implement the economic blueprint in collaboration with the private sector to create employment opportunities for the teeming population.

    “I cherish so much the privilege given to me to lead Bauchi State at this material time, and I promise that I will do this job with all seriousness. I will bring in technocrats to implement this economic blueprint in collaboration with the private sector because there’s a need for partnership to open new frontiers guided by global best practice.

    “We have consulted some of the best technocrats in the country to show us the way. And, we will continue to do so, even though sometimes we will consider political expediency. Bauchi is geographically and strategically placed to feed the nation and people in other parts of the world,” he said.

    Bugaje advised the governor to use the state’s comparative advantage in agriculture to boost revenue and create employment opportunities for the people of Bauchi.

    The governor also made his first appointments. Mohammed approved the appointment of Alhaji Mohammed Sabi’ U. Baba as the Secretary to the State Government

    He also approved the appointment of Alhaji Abubakar Kari as the Chief of Staff.

    Dr Salihu Ladan, the spokesperson to the governor, made the announcement in a statement.

    Others appointees are Alhaji Bashir Yau as Deputy Chief of Staff to Deputy Governor Baba Tella.

    Mukhari Mohammed Giddo is appointed as the Senior Special Assistant Media (SSA) and Alhaji Umaruji Hassan is the Chief of Protocol to the Governor.

    Niger governor dissolves boards of Parastatals, agencies

    Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has dissolved all Board’s of Parastatals and government agencies in the state.

    In a statement by Permanent Secretary, Economic Affairs overseeing Political Affairs, Yahaya Baba Wachiko, 16 commission’s and agencies are exempted from the dissolution.

    The commissions and agencies not affected by dissolution include Civil Service Commission, Local Government Service Commission, Law Reform Commission, Fiscal Responsibility Commission, Niger State Judiciary Service Commission, House of Assembly Service Commission and State Independent Electoral Service Commission.

    Others are the Niger State Universal Basic Education, Pension Board, Niger State Transport Authority, Niger State Environmental Protection Agency, Niger State Bureau of Religious Affairs, Niger State Investment Promotion Agency, Small and Medium Microfinance, Niger State Commodity and Export Promotion Agency and Chairman and Board Members of Niger State College of Education, Minna.

    The Permanent Secretary added that handing over notes and all government properties in the possession of Chairmen and Members of the dissolved Boards and Agencies should be submitted to the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Political Affairs on or before today.

    All former Commissioners, Special Advisers and Directors-General were directed to submit copies of their hand over notes to the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Political Affairs on or before noon today.

    Kebbi to witness more industrialisation, says Bagudu

    Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu has reaffirmed his commitment to industrialise the state.

    The governor spoke with reporters at the Government House Birnin-Kebbi.

    Bagudu thanked the people of the state, especially women and youth for giving him another mandate to serve.

    The governor expressed happiness about the cordial relationship between the executive and the legislature, which, he said, facilitated significant development in all facets of human endeavour.

    He expressed gratitude to all the civil servants and public office holders in the state for their support to the administration and requested them to maintain the tempo.

    He pledged to continue to attract investors to the state for economic progress, employment generation and wealth creation among the people, saying since 2015 Kebbi has witnessed the establishment of industries while others were still in process.

    The governor said Kebbi is into partnership with a Garman company for energy renewal.

    Wike promises to intensify projects delivery

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has declared that he will work with the speed of light in his second term because he believes that four years will elapse in no time.

    Speaking after inspecting the Mother and Child Hospital under construction and the Government Craft Development Centre being rehabilitated in Port Harcourt on Thursday, Wike said the process of projects delivery would be intensified for the good of Rivers people.

    On the Mother and Child Hospital, Wike informed that his administration has commenced re-modelling the facility because the former contractor failed to meet the required standard.

    At the Government Craft Development Centre, Wike directed the immediate demolition of shanties around the school.

    Borno governor orders payment of salary areas, pension and gratuities

    Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum yesterday ordered the immediate settlement of all outstanding salaries and pension arrears of all civil servants in the state.

    According to the governor, the order should be carried out before Eid-El- Fitr Sallah celebration.

    Zulum spoke when the State Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Bulama Abiso, visited him at the Government House, Maiduguri.

    He directed all Permanent Secretaries in the ministries and heads of Parastatals/Boards/Agencies to immediately compile a list of their affected staff/pensioners and forward it directly to his table on or before Monday 3rd June 2019 for approval and payment before the forthcoming Sallah.

    His words: “As a government, we cannot allow some of our civil servants affected by the biometric data to continue to suffer without paying their entitlement for the past three years when the exercise was introduced.

    “For now, I am not interested in anything called Bio-Metric Data, but to see that even if it is a table payment, all those affected in the exercise should be paid pending when they are found to be guilty or collecting different salaries in the name of ghost workers.

    “Although, we will not tolerate ghost worker syndrome in the state, because anyone found guilty of such will definitely face the full wrath of the law. So, I directed that all Permanent Secretaries in the ministries and heads of Government Parastatals/Boards/Agencies to immediately compile a list of their respective affected staff/pensioners, bring it on my table on or before Monday 3rd June 2019 for approval and payment before the forthcoming Sallah.

    “As a government, we cannot allow some of our civil servants affected by the biometric data to continue to suffer without paying their entitlement. These affected civil servants/pensioners have families to carter for, and we cannot allow this to continue as posterity will judge all of us.

    “Civil servants are the engine room of good governance, and so, with or without biometric data, all those affected must be paid with immediate effect.”

  • Nigeria’s future is bright, says Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, at the inter-denominational inaugural service at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, speaks about what to expect in the next four years. Excerpts:

    I am deeply grateful to the Almighty God for enabling us to see this day and this season, and especially for preserving the life of Mr President and myself through the past 4 years and giving us a second opportunity to stir the affairs of our nation. Glory be to His name forever more.

    I am also thankful for all of us who are here, many who were here four years ago, about this same time, who are also here again. I thank the Almighty God that you are also able to see this day.

    My short message is that the future is bright. The Bible says that the path of the just has a special place. It says in Proverbs 4:18, “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

    The same Bible also says that the glory of the latter house shall be greater than the former. Everything that scripture tells us reminds us that because of the love of the Almighty God, especially those of us of the faith, our days will be better and better, brighter and brighter.

    This is the reason why I am so confident and the Bible urges us to be confident, and for this special reason, we of faith must be confident because the scriptures say that we are the light of the world.

    Where there is darkness and pain, we bring succor and hope, our ministry is a ministry of reconciliation, first with God, through Christ, then with all our fellow men and women, with Muslims, Hindus, and even those who deny the existence of God.

    Read also: We are fast-tracking economic diversification- Osinbajo

    Secondly, we are the salt of the earth. The scripture reminds us that salt has a special quality, the quality of ensuring that things do not go wrong.  By our words and actions, we heal even as salt heals and prevents rottenness.

    Saint Paul reminds us and reminded the Christians in Colossae of the power that their words had, and that their words had the power to heal or to destroy, depending on how they spoke and what they said.

    I would like to remind us also of the same, those of us of the faith. In Colossians 4:6, the scriptures say, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”

    We must not, as Cardinal Onaiyekan reminded us today, permit anyone to take advantage of the fault lines of tribe and religion in our country.

    Again the Word of God has set a standard for us, first as Christians, and then how to build beyond our Christianity.  In Galatians 3:28, the scripture says that “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” We are all one in Christ Jesus.

    Our country stands today at the threshold of phenomenal greatness. If we look back or permit fear or despair, we will stumble. So we must go forward in the faith and confidence that Christ has given us.

    Let me show you the Word of God concerning our nation. In Genesis 1:1-4, the scripture says, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.”

    Just as it was at the beginning of creation, darkness was only the beginning of the story. The end of the story was light and joy and so it is with our nation in the Mighty name of Jesus. We may begin with darkness and confusion, as it was with creation, but the end of our story is light, the end of the story of this nation shall be great indeed in the Mighty name of our Lord Jesus.

    Finally, we are men and women of faith, and we must continue to express the hope that we have been given by Christ Jesus. We must lead the nation with the full expectation of the hope we have been given and we have. We cannot afford to despair; we women and men of faith must not even speak words that sound like despair.

    It is our duty to show the way, just as the Word of God says in 1st Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour will not be in vain. We must be steadfast and immovable, we must be confident in all of the promises that God has made concerning our nation.

    The future of our nation is bright, your future and the future of generations to come, is very bright indeed.

     

  • Our fears, our expectations, by Nigerian voters

    Despite the widespread shock and disappointment caused by the 11th hour postponement of the presidential and National Assembly elections last Saturday, voters are now rearing to go for the rescheduled polls. The police have allayed fears about violence before, during and after the elections with Kano State Police Commissioner Wakili Mohammed assuring residents of adequate protection of their lives and property. He told The Nation in Kano that officers and men of the State Police Command are working round the clock to keep violence at bay.

    The police, according to him, have teamed up with other security agencies to ensure peaceful polls. He warned youths against making themselves available to politicians for use as thugs, saying anyone found engaging in acts capable of disrupting the electoral process would be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law. Already, about 950 suspected political thugs have been arrested and arraigned by the police. He said the suspects will remain in prison custody until after the elections.

    Wakili appealed to Kano residents to come out en masse to perform their civic responsibility, adding that trained security operatives would be on ground to ensure their security. A coalition of INEC-accredited domestic election observers described Kano as safe and ready for the elections. In a communiqué, the coalition team leader, Friday Maduka, and the secretary, Fidelis Nweke, urged foreign observers and other stakeholders to come to Kano and perform their duties as ”Kano is safe and peaceful. There is no course for alarm for running out of the state for fear of election violence.”

    They added: “The various security agencies in the state have been able to set up a formidable security structure that guarantees safety of lives and property during and after the elections in the state. Hence, Kano State is safe for the conduct of the general elections.” A human rights activist, Hajiya Binta Aliyu, said no amount of intimidation would stop her from coming out to vote for candidates of her choice. She said: “I am not only willing to vote, I have taken it upon myself to mobilise people to come out and exercise their civic responsibilities on that day.

    “Nigeria is the only country we have, and we cannot make it a better place if we refuse to do what is right as patriotic citizens. “I understand that some people are expressing fear over President Muhammadu Buhari’s comment on ballot box snatchers. “For me, it is not a big deal to ask security agencies to deal with the criminals. First of all, somebody snatching ballot box during elections is not only an enemy of democracy but also an irresponsible citizen. It is a criminal offence and must be discouraged. “Anybody who refuses to come and cast his vote because of President Buhari’s comment is not being fair to Nigeria’s democracy. So, I urge fellow Nigerians to come out en mass so that we can make democracy work in this country.” One of the foreign observer groups – Pan African Women’s Project of South Africa – called for security beef up in Kano, following fears that terrorists might want to strike during the elections with a view to intimidating voters. Its spokesperson, Mphoentle Keitseng, however, urged voters to come out and elect candidates of their choice.

    A Kano-based businessman, Alhaji Bashir Umar, feared that last week’s postponement of the elections would affect the exercise. “I know Nigerians’ mentality. Many may not be too keen to come out and vote because they believe INEC and government are not serious about the whole arrangement,” he said. A group, Kwara Youths Network, an umbrella body of about 32 youth organisations in Kwara State, is optimistic that the elections will be hitch-free. The group launched a voter’s education and sensitization programme for youths in the state to shun thuggery before, during and after the elections. The Assistant Director of Publicity of the group, Jimoh Modibbo Ibrahim, said: “Our message and our sensitization has always been directed at the youths. “The first message is for the youths not to allow themselves to be used by politicians, not to destabilize the electoral processes. “The youths are now much more informed that no candidate should be elected through godfatherism but on the basis of what he can offer. The rate at which youths had hitherto been used to perpetrate electoral malfeasance will be reduced in the forthcoming elections because there is a lot of awareness from our group and other groups.

    “The message of our organisation is ‘cast your vote and stand by your vote.’ Standing by your vote does not mean that you should stand where voting is ongoing. A cybercafé operator, Juwon Medaiyese, is confident that the elections will be violence-free, adding, “I am not envisaging any violence but hitches here and there.” He said: “Nigerians should troop out en masse and peacefully vote candidates of their choice. And my appeal to political parties is that they should tell their members to be law abiding in their conduct. “For the security agencies, they should follow the order given by the President on ballot box snatchers, and they should be civil with the law abiding citizens who will troop out to cast their votes.”

    Ilorin based legal practitioner, John Baiyeshea (SAN) is optimistic that Nigeria will remain after the elections. He said: “I can say without doubt that there will be challenges. But as a people and as a nation with hope and faith in God, we shall overcome. “I advise Nigerians to be vigilant and refuse any attempt to lure them to commit any wrong.”   Uncertainty in Imo, Ebonyi, Anambra Apprehension seems to persist in Imo State following last week’s postponement of the elections, as residents prepare for today’s When Sergeant Mustapha Ali (not real names) was deployed to man the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Lagos penultimate Friday, he did not envisage that the task would be so draining. But like the close to 400 other policemen and fire fighters drawn from commands and units across the country, he has since been sleeping in vehicles, open spaces, and makeshift mats with his weapon strapped around him.

    The issue, he said, was not much about where to sleep, knowing that they were expected to keep watch round the clock. “The main problem is having to queue up to poo or bathe,” he said. “Imagine more than 400 of us queuing up every morning to use one toilet and bathroom. “I can tell you that some people have not had their bath since that Friday. I pity the women among us the most. I cannot even begin to think about how they are coping. There are too many mosquitoes here. Just too many. “Another bad thing is that INEC has not provided food for us since the election was postponed. We were fed yam and stew on that Friday morning when we arrived the office, and then Eba in the afternoon. Since then, no one has asked how we feed. “Before now, they used to pay N50,000 during governorship election duty, but it was N35,000 we got this time around. It is from that amount I have been buying food from the vendors around.

    I heard that INEC was supposed to pay us N1,000 a day as feeding allowance, but till today (Wednesday), I have not received a kobo. “It was challenging to get food on Sunday because the women selling did not come out. Our colleagues serving in Lagos later went out and brought food towards the evening, and that was what we ate.” Another policeman identified simply as Inspector Bade, who was deployed to Agege part of Lagos for the election, said he had to trek from there to his home in Mushin (about five kilometres) after the election was postponed. “I was deployed to Agege for the election and I got to the place around 8 pm. There were other officers there. It was around 1:30 am that we heard they had postponed elections. Some people whose houses were not far away left while the rest of us around slept in the open air. As a policeman, I am used to that, so, it was not a problem. Where I faced a challenge was going back to my house. There were no vehicles, so, I trekked from Agege to Mushin.

    “A signal was later sent that all the rank and files should remain in the areas they were deployed while officers from the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) should return to their units.” During a visit to INEC’s head office, our correspondent observed the presence of a lot of policemen, including those from the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Special Protection Unit (SPU), Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and the Explosives Ordinance Disposal (EOD). Also observed was an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), two Black Maria vans from the Lagos State Taskforce, an OP MESA patrol vehicle with about five soldiers and a Major in it. There were no officers of the Nigerians Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on sight nor those of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC). While the police operatives described sleeping inside vehicles and open spaces infested with mosquitoes as normal, members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) subjected to similar treatments would have none of it. The corps members were further petrified by the alleged lack of empathy from INEC and the NYSC who they claimed provided neither food nor shelter and did not pay their allowances.

    Findings carried out by The Nation revealed that the corps members were entitled to N4,500 three-day training allowance payable on arrival at the training centre called RAC (Registration Area Centre), but INEC did not keep to the agreement. Corps members who expressed their displeasure said some of their colleagues could not leave the RACs last Saturday morning because they were cash trapped and hoped that INEC officials would turn up to pay them. “I know of a lady who did not want to go home because she said she had spent all the money on her to get to the RAC in the hope that INEC or NYSC officials would come there but no one showed up. Not even an apology until we started the e-petition,” said one of the corps members posted to Epe in Lagos. According to her, the officials were to pay training allowances at the RACs a day to the election but they neither showed up nor apologised for disappointing the corps members. “Apparently, our sleeping outside was in vain. We have to sleep outside again to be able to get funds for the actual elections.

    The training allowance was N1,500 each for the three-day training, but we had eight days in all with INEC. Aside the trainings which were started during CDS (community development service), we were given three days training. “There was another day for sensitisation, another day for swearing the oath of neutrality and another day for being present at the RAC. In total, we had to meet them eight times, but only three days of training counted. I was told that the total sum for each election is N13,000. “I should go to the queue to collect N4500? I am still wondering why it cannot be paid to our accounts. I see it as another way not to pay everyone, because a lot of people will not want to go and queue up for N4,500. We were not given food or snacks,” she said. Contrary to claims by NYSC that participation was voluntary, The Nation gathered that corps members were threatened with extension of service year or withholding of their discharge certificates if they failed to turn up for the exercise.

    It was also said that the service had assured them of better accommodation and welfare packages had been emplaced for those who would be deployed for the elections. A corps member deployed in Kogi State, who pleaded anonymity, said they were made to wait from 10 am to 7:14 pm at the INEC head office on that Friday before Polling Officers (POs) were called forward to assist their Supervisory Presiding Officer (SPO). She said her SPO gave her and others assigned to her N4,000 feeding and transportation allowances when the elections were postponed. The corps member said: “We were conveyed in two buses to the Registration Area Centre (RAC) which is a Secondary School in Ogale Aduge, where the SPO distributed materials to all Pos. I helped my PO in the collection of the sensitive and insensitive materials for the two voting points. “We could not share the materials among APOVPs because before we finished receiving from the SPO, it was some minutes to 5 am on Election Day, so all the materials were returned as received. “Mats were made available for us to sleep on, but we could not. We received all the materials, which made the work very hectic. When the SPO announced that the election had been postponed till February 23, I was devastated and angry because of all my efforts.

    “He apologised for the inconveniences and asked us to return the materials given to us. We did and we were all paid transport and feeding allowances of N4,000 by the SPO.” Narrating her ordeal, Opeyemi Adeleke, a corps member posted to Badore in Ajah area of Lagos, said: “We found our way to Ajah. They told those that were going to Amuwo Odofin from Eti Osa that there would be a bus, but I do not know if they followed through. “Some people were told to assemble by 9 am, others 12 pm, 3 pm and 4pm. They said we should assemble on time because they would come to address us and share sensitive materials by midnight. That was why a lot of corps members got to their RACs early on that day. “I was to be an Electoral Officer at Badore and we were to assemble at Addo Primary School to get our sensitive materials. I got there and everywhere was a blackout. People sat on their benches, waiting.

    It was too hot and dark, so we had to sit in the open space. “It was around 11pm that some officials came to switch on the light, which again went off soon after. Even the NYSC camp was not this terrible. That was the least they should have done. Rumours started flying out that the election might be postponed. “So, we were all awaiting midnight when they would share the sensitive materials, but around 2 am, the security man came and told us to start going because the election had been postponed. It was apparently too late at that time, so we had to sleep. “When a friend woke me up at 5:30 am, other corps members had already left. I was warned by my family members not to leave. I called an Uber vehicle only for policemen to start stopping us at that time of the morning for reasons we did not know.

    I was livid. “I got home and cried. I could not tell my parents about it till today, because they would be disappointed. So, assuming the election was not postponed, we would have been silent about that inhuman treatment that, at least, we were paid N13,000. But the fact that everything was a waste and we all have to go through that all over again, is probably more of the pain. “I took my toothbrush, paste, towel and soap along, but where could we have bathed? Maybe at the open space of the school.” For Blessing Pelumi, the experience was horrific. She lamented the fact that they became a meal for mosquitoes. “The experience of that Friday night was very bad. There was no security, no provision for shelter. It really sucks. I am not willing to participate again. I slept outside and was left for mosquitoes to feed on.” For Richard Olorunfemi, to say the experience was horrible would be an understatement. He said he slept on a bench that was half his size in a classroom ravaged by mosquitoes. He also said he spent more than N10,000 on transportation, feeding and other logistics involved in meeting up with the trainings and the earlier proposed election day.

    He said: “Initially, we were supposed to have just a two-day training and were paid N4,500 as training allowance. However, we had extra three days training without any increment on the training allowance. “No one knows for sure what we will get for the job, but there have been rumours that the total amount for both the February 23 and March 9 elections will be N30,500, including the N4,500 training allowance. “We were made to sign some forms, including interest and oath forms, on separate days. Also, we went to the National Stadium for sensitisation. It could have been better if all this was done on a single day without subjecting corps members to extra stress and expenditure. “I worked as INEC ad-hoc staff in the 2015 general elections when I was a UNILAG (University of Lagos) student. I see it as a way of contributing my quota to the development of Nigeria. I am willing to participate again, but I have to reiterate here that I am highly demoralised with the conduct of both INEC and NYSC. “They should both have issued official apologies on our ill treatments and the eventual postponement of the polls. We do not do this for the meager money they want to pay. We do it for the visions we crave- a better Nigeria.”

    Timilehin Falade said he arrived the RAC centre at Surulere and could not sleep because the place was not conducive. “I stayed up all night watching movie and just gisting with the few people I met there. I would still participate because I am sure there is no replacement for those of us who may want to opt out, and I hate disappointing people. “There was no proper welfare for the ad-hoc staff. People slept on the floor in mosquito infested areas and there was no security at all. The allowances have not been paid yet; just the training fee,” said Falade. Tosin Adedeji said no INEC official came to their RAC until 11 pm when one was sighted and the official later disappeared.

    “The major stress was no mattresses, no toilet and no food. But I will still participate for the good of the country.” A corps member in Ebonyi State, Temitope Babalola, who was deployed in Ikwo village, said she did not eat until 11 pm on that day because she was running around to identify her RAC and meet up with the INEC meeting. “At Ikwo, names of POs, APO, VP, APO1, APO2, APO3, did not come out on Thursday as they ought to be. They came out on Friday morning. We were at INEC office early on Friday and I found my name around 8 am. Then we were asked to be at INEC office by 12 pm, which we did. “We did not prepare well. We did not cook because market women opened late. When we got there, we were told it is now 2 pm, and we stayed. Later on, we were told it would be 4pm, and we were very hungry. We were attended to at 6 pm. “We all met with our SPOs. Later on we were asked to gather by 8:30 pm for reasons we did not know. The time elapsed and they didn’t call us. The environment was now very cold. Majority of us did not come with blankets.

    There was too much mosquito bites. “I had to go home around 11 pm because I could not bear it anymore. I was tired. Later on, I heard that the election had been postponed. Everyone protested. We had to collect our allowances. “Majority of us are down with illnesses now due to the effect of the cold and mosquito bites. It was a terrible experience.” Another corps member, who asked not to be named, said no one came to address them at the RAC they converged on in Mushin, adding, “There was no provision for lunch or dinner. I was shocked. I least expected this from Nigeria. We were not given money at all.” Our correspondent gathered that rather than address the issues raised by corps members in Lagos, the NYSC on Monday set up a panel on youth corps members posted to Surulere whose pictures of their sleeping environment went viral on the social media. Twelve of the corps members were invited for a meeting with NYSC and INEC officials only to discover that they were deceived to come to the headquarters to face a panel. While others ended up begging for forgiveness, it was gathered that about four, including a lawyer who started an e-petition and a lady that granted interview to a news media, were issued queries for ‘inciting protests.” Although calls made to NYSC State Coordinator, Mohammed Momoh, went unanswered, it was gathered that he had issued a statement appealing for calm among corps members.

    Read also: Buhari, Atiku go for broke

    Momoh in the statement said the NYSC had already registered its protest to the Resident Electoral Commissioner for INEC in the state on the treatment of corps members at the RACs. “Corp members who called the state coordinator and their LGIs will attest to the fact that we were up throughout the night attending to complaints of corps members, especially those that could be immediately remedied while others were noted for the attention of the REC. “Do not allow yourself to be used to compound the challenge facing the nation. Rather, I enjoin you to be part of the solution. I wish to refrain all patriotic corps members from being part of the protest. We will do our best through constant engagement with INEC, Lagos State to ensure improvement at the RACs,” Momoh said in the broadcast addressed to corps members in the state. Contacted for reaction on the allegations against INEC in Lagos, the spokesman, Olufemi Akinbiyi, said it is not true that policemen were not fed or provided the daily allowance of N1,000 promised them. On the issue concerning corps members, he said efforts were on to ascertain the best payment method for their allowances, adding that the agency was trying to prevent a situation whereby money would be paid into their accounts and some of them would not turn up to perform the duties.

    He said: “On the issue of their money, Lagos State is a cashless society, so, there is a limit to the amount of cash the commission can carry. We had a meeting with the leadership of the NYSC yesterday (Tuesday) to find out how to  pay the money to them. They suggested payments into their accounts but we are still discussing to see the best option. “We want to avoid the situation where we will pay it into the account of those that will not work. So, those issues are there. It happened in 2015, we paid into the accounts of names given to us but many of them did not work. The corps members’ money are available but we are working out the mode of payment. “We are planning to see those that are willing to work so that we have the number and details.

    Those that have worked will be paid definitely. “We are using primary and secondary schools where they ought to stay overnight, so it is not as if we are going to rent hotels for them. This is not the first time. They were provided with water and light, what else do they want?” Police Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, a Chief Superintendent (CSP), was also contacted on concerns raised by some of the policemen and he said he was unaware of any promises by INEC and does not work for the commission. Mba said most policemen have been paid their allowances and that those who were yet to receive theirs must be as a result of technicalities arising from mistakes in filling their forms, which were being rectified. He said: “But I know generally, policemen have been paid their allowances, and you can go out on the field and investigate. So, if there are police officers who have not been paid, it might be as a result of technical issues. Maybe, the person did not fill his or her form thoroughly or a mistake was made while the person was turning in his or her form in his own account particulars.

    “If you do a sample in the field, and you discover that the buck of police personnel cutting across both junior and senior ranks have been paid, then you must know that whoever has not been paid must have reasons, probably a mistake. “Such things are correctable. So, the few people who have not received their allowances have already been directed to fill form so that those things can be rectified.”  polls. There were long queues at petrol stations by those who want to have sufficient petrol in their vehicles and generators at home, and at Automated Teller Machine (ATM) points by those who don’t want to be caught napping by unexpected expenses during the election weekend. A lot of residents have also stocked their homes with food items and other essential items as a precautionary measure. At the Okigwe Road branch of a new generation bank where a handful of customers were seen waiting to use the ATM, The Nationgathered that there are fears over the outcome of today’s elections. One of the customers, who didn’t want his name to be mentioned, said: “We are not sure of what will happen on Saturday, and nobody wants to be caught unawares.

    For me, I need to keep enough money to take care of myself and family.” The retired civil servant added: “People are afraid about what may happen. I have asked all my children to return home with their families and stay in Owerri until after the elections. I am not saying that war is breaking out, but one has to take precautions.” A large number of residents were also seen at the Arugo Motor Park in Owerri, boarding vehicles to their hometowns. Mr. Paul Egwolor, who was travelling with his wife and four children to Okada, Edo State, said: “I am registered to vote in Imo State, but I have to relocate my family to the village before I come back to participate in the election. I took the decision because I know that if anything happens, it will be easier to take care of myself without my family.” On why he was apprehensive, the civil engineer said: “From previous experiences, we know what normally happens during elections like this, especially now when it is not certain if INEC will conduct the election. However, veteran politician, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, speaking on the phone, said: “There is nothing to be afraid of. There won’t be any form of crisis. Nigerians should come out and cast their votes without fear.

    The postponement of the election was God’s answer to the prayer of Nigerians, because if INEC had continued with the election, Nigeria would have been thrown into crisis.” He said the only thing that can precipitate crisis is “if INEC fails to conduct a free and fair election, or if the Federal Government uses security agents to rig the election in favour of any party.” There are also fears in Ebonyi State on account of the recent wave of politically motivated violence in the state. The violence includes the murder of a PDP member at Ugwulangu community in Ohaozara Local Government Area, and an attack on the Vice Chairman of Ikwo Local Government Area of   the state, Mrs. Regina Iteshi, who is currently batting for survival at Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki after she was physically assaulted.

    A day before the postponed elections, the state police command arrested two persons, Nweke Kigsley and Chijioke Uwakwe, from Ishielu and Ikwo local government areas of the state for attempting to blow up a bridge in the state. The suspects had planted an object suspected to be a bomb on the Idembia Bridge, Ezza South Local Government Area, when they were arrested. There were also shootouts by politicians and their supporters on the eve of the postponed elections in Ishielu and Izzi local government areas while over 30 houses were allegedly burnt down in the violence in Izzi Local Government Aarea with other property worth millions destroyed. A member of an observer group from South Africa, Pan-African Women Project, Lebogang Ugorji, said in Abakaliki that the violence and the polls postponement might lead to voters’ apathy in the state. She asked INEC and security agencies to rise to the occasion to ensure a hitch-free exercise in the state. Police spokesperson in the state, Loveth Odah, said security agencies are on top of the situation. She said the Police and other security agencies have taken measures to beef up security in the state, especially in the affected area. Also speaking, the Chairman of the PDP in the state, Onyekachi Nwebonyi, urged the people to vote on election day as security agencies have assured the political parties of security at the polls. A resident, Moses Eze, told our correspondent that he will not go out to vote.  “I will not be voting on Saturday.

    The atmosphere is charged and no one knows what will happen on that day. You can see what happened in Izzi and other parts of the state.” But reminded that the security agencies and government have assured of security, Mr Eze, a businessman, queried: “Where were they when the attacks were happening? We have lost interest in them protecting us.” Another resident, Victor Omebe, a tricycle operator, said he would be at home resting on that day. The Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state, Eze Nwachukwu, expressed fears that the election might be marred by low turnout. He said: “Yes, we are anticipating a low voter turnout. But we have been mobilising our people to come out and vote.

    People should go out and vote and also stay there and protect their votes.” The fears in Anambra State stem from the rivalry between Governor Willie Obiano and the PDP presidential running mate, Mr. Peter Obi. Some residents believe the rivalry between the two politicians is causing undue tension in the state. A teacher, Mr Alloysius Okafor, told The Nation that the allegation from the opposition camp that Obiano had instructed state employees to submit their PVCs for the purpose of rigging election for President Mohammadu Buhari was untrue. Pastor Jude Iweka said there would be no problem because “God loves our country Nigeria.”   Time for INEC to prove its mettle, says Otaloro The APC Director of Media and Publicity in   Ondo State, Mr. Steve Otaloro, challenged INEC to use the elections to prove its mettle by putting integrity first. He said: “The security agents must be at alert. Their services must be rendered in an unbiased manner. Their actions and reactions must be sure-footed, swift and humane, not brutal.

    “There must not be room for hoodlums to operate anywhere, particularly near the polling booths. Orderliness and decorum should be the watchword. “Nigerians should know that there is nothing to be afraid of as adequate safety precautions have been taken by the security agents towards the day. “It is part of it to remind the electorate that President Muhammadu Buhari has championed the signing of the Peace Accord by all the contesting political parties in this election, and that covers the election day. “Everyone should follow the rules and regulations guiding the exercise. They should not inhibit INEC officials, the security agents and the accredited observers at the polling booths. “My advice is that they should report any act of illegality or malpractice to the appropriate quarters rather than embark on self-justice or mob action.

    All those things do not help. “I am confident that if all of us resolved to shun violence, electoral malpractice and vote purchase on the said day, then looking forward to a successful presidential election exercise is sure as sunrise.” Also speaking, a rights activist in Ondo State, Charles Titiloye, said: “Those who think it will be business as usual will not only be defeated in their constituencies but may be ultimately forced by the electorate to retire from politics. “The path to a new Nigeria may not be easy, but Nigerians should ensure that this election is used as an avenue to showcase our democracy to the whole world that we can do it without foreign intervention. “Ethnic and religious sentiments should be downplayed in favour of our joint national responsibility to our people irrespective of race, creed and belief. Nigeria will continue to be respected as a leader on the Africa continent and across the globe as we are about to set a new standard in governance.

  • Buhari vs Atiku: The final push

    NORTH EAST ZONE 

    BAUCHI STATE

    Nothing much has changed in Bauchi despite the postponement of the polls. If anything, the people of the stat appear eager to throw their weight behind APC. Ordinarily, this is an electoral fortress for Buhari who garnered 931,598 votes in the state in 2015 compared with a paltry 86,085 votes received by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan. But the coalition which brought Governor Mohammed Abubakar to power during the last poll collapsed – leading to a major crack in APC and the dwindling of the party’s fortunes.

    Until Buhari and the APC pulled a fast one, the state was almost lost to the PDP going by massive defections from the ruling party to the opposition. Among those who left was the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara. Armed with an impressive war-chest, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, also revved up the PDP in the state with the choice of Baba Tella (a grassroots politician) as his running mate for the governorship race. The ex-minister, who is from Bauchi South Senatorial District like the governor might split the votes from the zone.Other factors in favour of the Bauchi PDP are Dogara (who commands the strong following among Christians and minorities in the state) and a former Majority Leader in the House of Representatives, Abdul Ningi.

    However, in recent weeks, Buhari and APC have embarked on a salvage mission which is paying off for the party. Apart from wooing ex-Governor Isa Yuguda to the ruling party, the President has also courted aformer National Chairman of PDP, Adamu Mu’azu, the immediate past Deputy National Chairman (North) of PDP, Sen. Garba Babayo Gamawa and a Board of Trustees member, Alhaji Kaulaha Aliyu. The major heavyweights in Bauchi politics are back in APC to give more bite to the campaign of the party.

    Verdict: Buhari to win.

     

    BORNO STATE

    In spite of the insurgency, Borno is still a stronghold of the APC and Buhari. The people of the state have undiluted loyalty to the president and his commitment to the war against Boko Haram has strengthened their political bond with him. The humble and unifying disposition of Governor Kashim Shettima in governing the state have also left APC more united for a straightforward victory at the polls. Initially, there were fears that the imposition of a former Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, Prof. Babagana Zulum as the APC governorship candidatemight create crisis, but the governor managed the stakeholders with maturity.The return of a former National Chairman of PDP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to APC, which he assisted to form, has been a game-changer which has left PDP in quandary.

    The seemingly intractable crisis in opposition party in the state has affected its fortunes. Since the ill-fated governorship primaries of the party, it has broken into two factions led by Alhaji Usman Baderi and Alhaji Zanna Gadama respectively. The PDP is not only in bad shape to promote its governorship candidate, Mohammed Alkali Imam, it is yet to win the confidence of the masses of the war-torn state. The defection of the highly-respected ex-Governor of old Borno State, Alhaji Mohammed Goni (1979-1983) from PDP to APC has made the victory of APC a fait accompli.There are 2,315,956 votes available in the state and APC may win with a landslide.

    Verdict: Buhari

     

    YOBE STATE

     

    A politically homogenous enclave, Yobe State has been traditionally progressive since 1999. It has always voted against PDP despite its political transformation from All Peoples Party (APP) to All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and APC.  The smooth transition of power laid down by the first civilian governor of the state, Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim has helped in consolidating its progressive credentials.  The Kanuri-Fulani collaboration has made the state impregnable for the opposition. But the Kanuri have been governing the state since its creation.Although the PDP is rebranding itself with the emergence of Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum as its consensus gubernatorial candidate, the party is still weak. Its weakness was fueled by the crisis of confidence between ex-Minister of Police Affairs, Adamu Maina Waziri, who has been the sole gubernatorial flagbearer of the party since1999, and the current Senator representing Yobe South Senatorial Zone, Mohammed Hassan. They both emerged from parallel primaries.In 2015, APC received 446,265 votes as opposed to just 25,256 for the PDP. This pattern is set to repeated as Buhari’s appeal remains strong here.

    Verdict: Buhari

     

    TARABA STATE

    This is one Northeastern state where analysts expect PDP to do well. Governor Darius Ishaku is still popular and former Minister of Defence, Lt. General Theophilus Danjuma who is the governor’s political godfather, remains highly influential. He has not hidden his opposition to a second term bid by Buhari.The security problems which the state underwent in the last three years with ethnic undertone have not helped electoral chances of the APC. The defection of ex-Minister of Women Affairs, Aishatu Jummai Alhassan from APC to United Democratic Party (UDP) has made the latter to lose its soul. The internal wrangling within APC has not put it in good stead for next month’s election. Still, the massive turnout for last Thursday’s APC presidential rally in Jalingo, the state capital, has become a talking point. While the PDP is still expected to prevail here, the ruling party would give it a close fight. In 2015, the difference between the parties was roughly 50,000 votes. PDP raked in 310,800, while APC managed 261, 326 votes. A re -enactment is likely.

    Verdict: Atiku

     

    GOMBE STATE

    Initially, it was thought that the contest between APC and PDP in Gombe State would be a keen one. The outgoing Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo is trying to assert himself as the new kingmaker.  The party on October 3 lost Sardauna Gombe, Alhaji Jamilu Isiyaku Gwamna who defected from PDP to APC. Gwamna’s parting of ways with PDP has made the race keener.For the presidential poll, ethnic fault lines will be sole determinants. The ethnic groups in the state are Fulani (Northern part); Tangale (Southern part); Hausa, Tera, Waja, Bolewa, and Kanuri. Both Buhari and Atiku are of Fulani stock.

    However, Buhari’s mesmerising connection with the masses of the people would see him win the state handily again. In 2015, APC polled 361,245 votes as against 96,873 for PDP. Watchers of politics in the state expect a similar thing on Saturday.

    Verdict: Buhari

     

    ADAMAWA STATE

    Adamawa has been a PDP State since 1999 until the APC’s 2015 bandwagon altered its political focus. The next poll in the state will draw more attention than elsewhere because the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar is from there; Buhari married from the state to make the First Lady, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, equally a factor in the presidential race.

    The likely factors in the state are religion, ethnicity, security challenges, the political elite, money, and good governance. If performance is anything to reckon with, Governor Jibrilla Umaru Bindow’s achievements will make it an easy ride for APC.

    Although Atiku attempted to install a governorship candidate in 2015 under the banner of APC, he failed in his bid because Bindow defeated his preferred candidate twice at the primaries.

    Expect a major electoral battle here. Adamawa may be too close to call.

    Verdict: Battleground

     

    NORTH CENTRAL ZONE

    KWARA STATE

     

    In 2015, President Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the presidential election in Kwara State, polling 302,146 votes, while the then incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP polled 132, 602 votes. It was the first time the state voted against the presidential candidate of the PDP since 2003 , and the party lost to APC with almost 200, 000 votes.

    Today, the state is a major focus point following the return of Senate President Bukola Saraki to the PDP. It is also attracting attention because the threat to the status quo in Kwara politics, as symbolized by Saraki dynasty, is real today more than ever before. The rate at which the APC’s ‘O To Ge’ (Yoruba for Enough is Enough) mantra caught fire like dry leaves in the harmattan, is reportedly a source of worry for the Senate President and his political family.

    The emergence of the APC’s candidate, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, from a noble family like the Sarakis has changed the usual scenario where Saraki would confidently boast of the support of the royals and elites in the state. Today, the creme de la creme in Ilorin are sharply divided in their support for APC and PDP ahead of the general election on account of Abdulrazaq’s candidature.

    Despite the power of incumbency and over-reliance on money politics, it won’t be an easy ride for Saraki in Kwara Central District. In the last one month, the Senate President has retreated to fault lines for political survival and to retool his campaign machinery, but the people of Ilorin Emirate who dominate the district, are now sharply divided for and against him.

    The exodus of his loyalists and strategists to APC; the “O To Ge” (Enough is Enough) revolution; and the imposition of PDP governorship candidate, Razaq Atunwa, on the party.

    Factors that may swing electoral behavior this time include the looming protest votes from Offa and its environs over the recent bank robbery which claimed many lives; the spiral effect of losing Irepodun/ Ekiti/ Isin, Oke-Ero Federal Constituency to APC; and the neglect of the district in the scheme of things. The Ibolo, the Igbomina and the Ekiti in this district naturally detest the politics of the Sarakis.

    Against this backdrop, the relative strengths of the APC and PDP in the different senatorial districts is likely to impact the outcome of the February 16 contest. As things stand the race between Atiku and Buhari in Kwara is too close to call.

    Verdict: Battleground

     

    KOGI STATE

     

    It came to many as a surprise in 2015, when INEC declared Buhari of the APC as the winner of the presidential election conducted in the state. In an unexpected victory, he won by 60.3 % of the total votes. It was unexpected largely because Kogi at the time was governed by a PDP administration that appeared ready to be re-elected.

    But as the February 16 date of the next presidential contest draws nearer, it is uncertain if the APC under Governor Yahaya Bello can repeat the winning streak of the last general election in the state. Surprisingly, the PDP in the state appears to have woken up from its slumber, ready to chase Buhari’s men out of town if they are not careful.

    Verdict: Battleground

     

    BENUE STATE

     

    At the onset of the 2015 presidential election, Benue State was one of the few remaining states through which the then President Jonathan and the PDP were hoping to defeat the APC and its presidential candidate, Buhari. Most pundits gave the state to PDP. Surprisingly, and unfortunately for the PDP, the people of the state opted to follow the APC.

    Today, the two frontline political parties have huge tasks on their hands in their bid to take their campaign to the nooks and crannies of 23 local government areas in the state. The politics has largely been personality-based, but has also been coloured by economics, ethnicity and religion in the light of the herdsmen killings witnessed in the last two to three years.

    The scenario in the state is being monitored because the three senators from the state, who are leaders with massive support in the grassroots, are treading different political paths.

    Verdict: Battleground

     

    PLATEAU STATE

    Few days to the next presidential election, the political climate in Plateau State is as uncertain as it was in 2015, but Governor Simon Lalong’s leadership qualities have reunited and restored peace to the state. The main issue in Plateau for February poll is how to curtail the security challenge in the state. The people of the state are divided in their opinion as regard how well the APC administration has handled the menace of killer herdsmen across the country.

    Another issue playing a key role is religion which ex-Governor Jonah Jang has exploited in the past to sustain PDP. Being a Christian-dominated state, Buhari’s candidacy is seen from the prism of Hausa-Fulani /Muslim sentiments. But that approach may no longer work for the PDP as neither Buhari nor Atiku is a Christian this time around.

    To most observers, the presidential race might be neck and neck with PDP having a little edge.

    Verdict: Battleground

     

    NIGER STATE

    In spite of the fact that Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has a lot of political baggage that could make him lose his re-election bid, the goodwill of Buhari is his asset. The president is still adored in the state more than his PDP challenger, Atiku.

    Despite the well-advertised opposition of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida to Buhari’s re-election bid, the incumbent’s lopsided win in 2015 is expected to be repeated come February 16. Four years ago, he received 657,678 votes – dwarfing the PDP’s 149,222 votes. Our investigations show that the president’s popularity is still holding steady.

    A former PDP commissioner in the state said: “There is no doubt that Buhari will win Niger State. This has been his political terrain and voters in the state have not changed in following him.”

    Verdict: Buhari

     

    NASARAWA STATE

    During the 2015 presidential election, the then President Jonathan of the PDP, surprisingly won the presidential election in Nasarawa State, defeating main challenger Buhari of the APC. It was a surprise because the state has always been a stronghold of Buhari’s even when he had no formidable political platform to contest on.

    Not even the widespread opinion that Governor Tanko Al-Makura has done well in office had changed that status quo.

    Al-Makura’s decision to stamp his feet and allow power to shift from Nasarawa South District to Nasarawa North District for fairness and equity has deflated the anticipated winning formula of the opposition. This has in turn shored up the popularity of the ruling party in the north where the PDP held sway before now. This is expected to impact in favor of President Buhari in the presidential election.

    The harmony within the rank and file of APC in the state notwithstanding, it is still uncertain if Buhari can floor Atiku in the state.

    Verdict: Battleground

     

    NORTH WEST ZONE

    KANO STATE

     

    If there is any state giving PDP a headache, it is Kano which has been a hard nut to crack. In the heat of the recent gale of defections, the opposition had toyed with the idea of taking over the state which has about 5,457,747 votes in its kitty.

    The PDP has employed all sorts of political gimmicks but it suffered a big setback in the way it conducted the governorship primaries that led to the coronation of Alhaji Abba Kabiru Yusuf, a son-in-law to ex-Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso. Following the loss of the APC presidential ticket by Kwankwaso, he left the party with his disenchanted supporters.

    But that triggered a counter reaction: the mass movement of ex-Governor Ibrahim Shekarau and his supporters from PDP to APC. It was the last straw that broke the carmel’s back. Others who have deserted PDP are Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, a former Deputy Governor to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Aminu Dabo; the immediate past National Treasurer of PDP, Bala Mohammed Gwagwarwa; Security Adviser to Kwankwaso, Gen. Danjuma Dambazzau (rtd); Sen. Isa Zarewa; and Mu’azu Magaji Dan Sarauniya, who was a former Senior Special Assistant to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on SURE-P.

    But in an embarrassing turn of events, almost all of aforementioned who initially left APC with Kwakwaso, have since beat a retreat to the ruling party.

    No doubt, APC has a robust edge over PDP in Kano because of Buhari’s factor, the influx of new influential defectors, and the incumbency influence of Governor Ganduje who is more popular among the masses and Islamic clerics.

    Since 2003, Buhari has never lost in Kano State and this year’s poll will not be an exception. What remains to be seen if he can once again receive the 1,903,999 votes he got in 2015. PDP only managed 215,779 votes in that contest.

    Kwankwaso is now on the opposing side but he will be fighting against the combined forces of Buhari, Ganduje, Shekarau and his erstwhile lieutenants. It is not looking good for the PDP and Atiku.

    Verdict: Buhari

     

    ZAMFARA STATE

     

    The irreconcilable intra-party crisis in the APC in Zamfara State almost left PDP waiting to be crowned as the next ruling party until the Appeal court gave APC a lifeline yesterday by recognising its primary election earlier nullified by the High Court. Governor Abdulaziz Yari and all the APC stakeholders threw decorum to the wind and the center did not hold again. Not even the intimidating presence of two ex-governors (Sen. Ahmed Sani Yerima and Mahmuda Aliyu Shinkafi) and the Minister of Defence, Gen. Mansur Dan Ali could help find a solution to the division.

    Four years ago Buhari received 612,202 votes to 144,833 for the PDP’s Jonathan.

    Verdict: Buhari

     

    KADUNA STATE

     

    The political scenario in Kaduna State is complex in view of some dynamics in the last three and a half years.  The tense security situation in Southern Kaduna and Birnin Gwari axis has compounded the political permutations. The issues beclouding politics in the state are performance;  security challenge; the prolonged Hausa-Fulani/ Southern Kaduna cat and mouse relationship; religious factor especially mutual suspicion by Muslims and Christians; the rising Shiites clan and its attendant grave security implications; and distrust among political elites.

    Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai has controversially trudged on since 2015, his greatest asset is the enthronement of new governance modules which have reduced waste in government. Apart from pruning the size of his cabinet, he has cut frivolous expenses and his performance is appreciable. But his garrulous, uncompromising and dictatorial leadership style at a point alienated him from the masses.

    There are no old politicians in Kaduna State who are with him.  Members of the old brigade who were with him in 2015 like Suleiman Hunkuyi, Isa Ashiru, Yaro Makama, and Ambassador Sule Buba are now in PDP against him. These old hands have teamed up with ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo, a former National Chairman of PDP, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, and ex-Governor Ramalan Yero.

    But, Buhari is likely to retain his grip on the state albeit with a lesser margin in February.

    Verdict: Buhari

     

    KATSINA STATE

     

    Despite the formidable nature of PDP in Katsina State, APC would still emerge victorious because of the Buhari factor. The people of the state want power to continue to reside in their domain for the next four years. The party boasts of a majority in the House of Assembly, it also controls all available seats in the National Assembly. Of recent, the APC won by-elections conducted in the state.

    Although ex-Governor Ibrahim Shema and the PDP governorship candidate, Garba Yakubu Lado, are pulling some strings, they are unlikely to erode Buhari’s grip on his home territory. Four years ago, he polled 1,345,441 votes here to PDP’s paltry 98,937. The landslide victory of 2015 is likely to be repeated on February 16.

    Verdict: Buhari

     

    KEBBI STATE

     

    The sterling performance of Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State in the last three and a half years has surpassed all permutations. He has brought his experience in the private sector to bear in managing the economy of the state. His focus on agriculture has led to massive employment and a rice boom. His ability to bring more supporters into APC, especially ex-Governor Saidu Dakingari and his deputy, Ibrahim Aliyu has sealed whatever hope was left for PDP.

    The recent attacks on the late Emir of Gwandu by the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and the PDP over the 53 suit cases ferried into the country in 1984, have made things difficult for the main opposition party.

    Buhari won handsomely here in 2015, receiving 567,883 votes to the PDP’s 100,972 votes. He remains hugely popular in the state and is expected to win comfortably.

    Verdict: Buhari

     

    SOKOTO STATE

     

    The battle in Sokoto State is between Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and his estranged godfather, ex-Governor Aliyu Wammako – with each of them having stakeholders in the state split between them.

    Besides his solid structure, some of those with Wammako are some ex-ministers, lawmakers and APC leaders including Umar Nagwari Tambuwal, Muhammed Maigari Dingyadi, Yusuf Suleiman, Abubakar Shehu Wurno, Jibril Gada, among others. His asset, however, is his closeness to the grassroots.

    The APC had an impressive campaign outing in the state recently and look set to repeat the comfortable victory of 2015. Back then, Buhari received 671, 926 votes compared to 152,199 votes for PDP. Nothing on the ground suggests that this pattern would change dramatically.

    Verdict: Buhari

     

    JIGAWA STATE

     

    What is at stake in Jigawa State is a struggle for the soul of the state between ex- Governor Sule Lamido and Governor Abubakar Badaru whose rice production revolution has empowered many citizens. His problems are the alienated political elite and some royal fathers who are not enjoying as much largesse as they used to do in the past.

    Both APC and PDP attracted massive crowds when their presidential campaigns stopped over in the state capital, Dutse. However, for Atiku to win here, he would have to cover the margin of over 600,000 votes by which Buhari defeated Jonathan in 2015.

    Back then APC polled 885,988 votes to the PDP’s 142,904 votes. That seems, at this point, an insurmountable objective.

    Verdict: Buhari

     

    SOUTHWEST ZONE

    OGUN STATE

     

    The presidential contest in Ogun state is already showing flashes of being an unusual one, but the result is most likely to be same as it was in 2015 when the APC defeated PDP by a hundred thousand votes. Buhari polled 308, 290 votes while former President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP took 207, 950 out of 559, 613 total votes cast. According to formal results announced, Buhari won in 13 local governments while PDP won in 7 local government areas.

    Save for a few changes expected to happen here and there, the outcome of the next presidential election in Ogun State may still remain close to what obtained in 2015. In spite of the support currently being enjoyed by Atiku and the PDP from former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Buhari will still win the presidential election in Egbaland convincingly.

    With the APC and APM in the state working towards the victory of President Buhari, and the two factions of the PDP unable to come together and galvanize their members towards the presidential election, the APC is looking good to win the presidential election in the state even with a wider margin that it posted in 2015.

    Verdict: Buhari

     

    LAGOS STATE

     

    Not minding the threat to “take over Lagos” by the opposition PDP, it is convenient to predict that APC will win convincingly in Lagos State at the presidential poll. Pundits are even of the opinion that the opposition PDP will perform poorer than it did in 2015 when it gave the ruling APC a good fight in all the elections.

    APC scored 792, 460 to defeat the PDP which had 632, 327 in the presidential race back then.

    Although the PDP governorship candidate is working had to garner the votes for Atiku, the personality of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, national leader of the APC, and the recent restructuring carried out within the party, will do the trick once again and Buhari will win more votes in Lagos. Also, unlike in 2015 when some fallouts of its party primaries caused serious frictions within its ranks, the APC is today more united that it was four years ago.

    Also working against the PDP in Lagos State is the loss of majority of its prominent leaders to the APC. Chieftains like Chief Mrs. Remi Adiukwu, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, and its then state chairman, Moshood Salvador, are now in the APC ready to work for Buhari’s re-election. Even Chief Bode George, though still in the PDP and openly supporting Atiku, is on a self-imposed political holiday, leaving the party without a known leader in the state.

    Verdict: Buhari

     

    OYO STATE

     

    APC won the presidential election in Oyo during the last presidential poll. APC scored 528, 620 while PDP got 303, 376. The state used to be the stronghold of the opposition PDP until recently. But today, majority of those chieftains who made the party tick in the state have jumped ship or gone into political oblivion, leaving the party in limbo.

    The likes of former governors Rashidi Ladoja and Adebayo Alao-Akala are no longer with the party. While Ladoja now leads the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in the state, Alao-Akala is the gubernatorial candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP). Both leaders have also lost some of their chieftains to the ruling APC in recent times, especially Alao-Akala, who joined the APC briefly after dumping the PDP.

    Other erstwhile PDP top guns like former Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin and former Secretary to the State Government, Chief Ayodele Adigun are now in the APC working for the success of its presidential candidate. Observers of the politics of the state say PDP in Oyo State is today a ghost of its glorious past and cannot put up any serious challenge to the victory of President Buhari on Saturday.

    Verdict: Buhari

     

    ONDO STATE

     

    In spite of the state not being under the control of the party, the then presidential candidate of the APC, Buhari was declared winner of the presidential election in Ondo State. He polled 299, 889 votes to beat former President Jonathan of the PDP, who got 251, 368 votes, according to results declared by INEC.

    The result came as a surprise to many pundits who had thought the PDP would ride on the popularity of the then governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, to clinch victory.

    The state is still firmly in the political grip of the ruling party under Governor Rotimi Akeredolu. Political observers say the PDP which used to control the state until 2012, is struggling to stay alive even in Akure, the capital.

    Verdict: Buhari

     

    OSUN STATE

    After giving the impression that it was ready to take over the political leadership of Osun State during the last governorship election in the Southwest state, the opposition PDP appears to be fading away from the political firmament of the state so soon. The party in Osun shocked many people when it almost snatched the governorship seat of the state from the ruling APC last year in a keenly contested election.

    The APC appears to be repositioning itself for new electoral challenges ahead. Governor Oyetola, who took over from Rauf Aregbesola has embarked on a number of fence-mending missions that analysts say are yielding fruits.

    Verdict: Buhari

     

    EKITI STATE

    In 2015, PDP won the presidential election in Ekiti State. Today, the scenario is totally different. Kayode Fayemi of the APC is governor and the federal government is also under Buhari’s APC.

    The PDP in the state is now divided into two groups led by ex-Governor Ayo Fayose and Senate Minority Leader Abiodun Olujimi. As it stands, the APC appears to have the advantage.

    Verdict: Buhari

     

    SOUTHEAST ZONE

    ANAMBRA STATE

    Although Anambra State is currently governed by an All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) government, a political party whose leader, Governor Willie Obiano currently supports APC presidential candidate, Buhari, we can report that the PDP candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, is better positioned to win in the state during this week’s presidential election.

    Since the death of APGA’s former Presidential candidate, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, in 2011, the party had been aligning with the then ruling PDP in most of the presidential elections. So, though APGA has continuously governed the state, it has somehow remained largely a PDP state.

    PDP evidently has a boost because the former governor of the state, Peter Obi, is its vice presidential candidate. It is a fact that in Anambra, Obi is well loved and has incredible grassroots support. This, added to the sentiment that ‘PDP has fielded our own son’ will go a long way in securing a chunk votes for PDP’s Atiku.

    A major snag for PDP in the state, however, is that Governor Obiano, the estranged former political godson of Obi, is backing APC’s Buhari, a move his critics say is primarily to slight Obi. He is closely supported in this assignment by the senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Senator Victor Umeh, also a former political ally of Obi. The governor and the former National Chairman of APGA are some of the forces that will battle Obi and PDP in this coming presidential election. How far they would go remains to be seen.

    It is, however, believed that with APGA’s alliance in Anambra State, APC chieftains like Senator Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment will be further empowered to win more votes for APC and Buhari in this week’s presidential election.

    Besides the sentiment that “Obi is our son,” sources confirmed that the former governor enjoys much support from the people because of his achievements when he was governor. He is also known to be highly loved and supported by the Catholic and even Anglican faithful because of his unrivalled personal investment in the church while he was in power and ever since then.

    Besides the Church, Obi, according to sources, will garner massive votes from youths, most of who benefitted immensely from his support during his tenure as governor, when they were still in secondary schools or in the universities.

    Given these realities, it seems difficult to imagine that the Atiku/Obi ticket can lose in Anambra State, where Obi hails from, Obiano’s factor notwithstanding.

    Verdict: Atiku

     

    ENUGU STATE

    In Enugu State, Atiku is poised to win in this week’s presidential election, notwithstanding the recent progress made by the APC in the PDP stronghold.

    Since the return of democracy in 1999, Enugu has remained a PDP state. In 2015, for example, PDP garnered 553,003 out of the total 573,173 viable votes cast in that year’s presidential election, leaving the other 13 political parties that contested that election to share the remaining 20,170 votes.

    The PDP, which has power of incumbency and age-long loyalty, has greater chances of winning in the state, not only because of the internal dynamics that still favours it but also because PDP’s Vice Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, from the neighbouring Anambra State, also enjoys wide acceptability in the state.

    Verdict: Atiku

     

    ABIA STATE

    Abia State has been another PDP stronghold since 1999. But as we reported earlier, reports of under-performance or near total lack of dividends of democracy there have resulted to outcry from across the state for far reaching change.

    This feeling will ultimately affect the result of the forthcoming presidential election in the state. We gathered that most stakeholders are furious to note that Abia, though an oil-producing state, is today one of the least developed in the country, physical infrastructure wise, a development that has resulted in aggressive agitation for change of leadership. How that change will affect the result of this week’s presidential elections, promises to be intriguing.

    Verdict: Atiku

     

    IMO STATE

    Imo is the only Southeast state currently under the leadership of an All Progressives Congress-led government. But following the intricate power struggle amongst its leaders, there is the fear that APC may not take it for granted that it would win the presidential race in the state. Unlike in Abia, where some analysts believe APGA may be persuaded to support either APC or PDP candidate, the political rivalries in Imo may make such a possibility more difficult. As at today, it is not yet certain which of the two leading presidential candidates Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, the APGA governorship candidate and his supporters will support. So, the two candidates, Buhari and Atiku may have to rely on the strength of their political parties and their individual popularities for victory.

    Whatever may be the case, the picture will certainly not be a repeat of 2015 scenario, where, out of the 702,964 valid votes, PDP, with the cooperation of APGA, garnered 559,185 votes, leaving only 133,253 votes for APC which eventually took the governorship election.

    This time, APC and PDP will have to fight hard to win the presidential election, but latest intrigues and inability of APC current leaders in the state to reconcile with Governor Okorocha, may neutralize incumbency factor, which would have worked in its favour. .

    Verdict: Atiku

     

    EBONYI STATE

    Ebonyi State has remained a PDP state since 1999 and there is no definitive factor that suggests there would be a change in this year’s presidential election. Of the 363,888 valid votes cast in the state in 2015, PDP, in collaboration with APGA, harvested a whopping 323,653 votes, leaving only 19,518 for APC, which came second.

    Observers said since Dave Umahi, the governorship candidate of PDP, cannot openly work against his party during the presidential election; his personal reverence for Buhari may not translate into significant votes.

    Verdict: Atiku

     

    SOUTH-SOUTH ZONE

    BAYELSA STATE

    Since 1999, Bayelsa has remained a PDP state. It produced the last president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and still boasts of PDP faithful at the grassroots.

    Of the 367,067 valid votes cast in the state in 2015, PDP got 361,209 votes, leaving only 5,194 votes for APC, which came second.

    However, so much has happened in the state politically since then. For example, the competition during the January 9, 2016 governorship bye election, which followed the inconclusive substantive election held on December 5, 2015, confirmed the growing influence of APC in the state.

    At the end of the hot contest however, the incumbent governor and the candidate of PDP, Seriake Dickson, emerged the winner. Dickson polled 134,998 votes to defeat Timipre Sylva, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress who scored 86,852 votes.

    Also, the ruling PDP has been battling with some internal disagreements that have threatened its fortunes in this week’s presidential election. One of the issues that threatened the unity of the party in the state was the automatic return ticket ripples. Late last year for example, some concerned stakeholders of the party in the state had to call on the National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, to intervene in the internal crisis rocking the party to protect its chances in the 2019 elections. One of the groups, Bayelsa State PDP Stakeholders Forum (BSPSF), particularly made the appeal in a statement signed by its Chairman, Chief George Amaibi, in Yenagoa.

    This week, PDP’s candidate, Atiku, will depend on the leadership of Governor Dickson, and former President Goodluck Jonathan whose influence still looms high in this region.

    The APC candidate, President Buhari, will depend on the diligence of the leader of the party in the state and former governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, and of course on the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri.

    Verdict: Atiku

     

    RIVERS STATE

    In this week’s presidential election, Rivers is one of the states observers will take special interest in. This is because of the complexities that now define the politics of the oil-rich South-south state.

    Rivers, which started out in 1999 as a PDP state, became a major APC state under the then governor, Rotimi Amaechi, who governed it for eight years. However, Amaechi’s erstwhile political son, Nyesom Wike’s emergence as the state governor, on the ticket of PDP, not only returned the state to PDP but marked the beginning of an intriguing political rivalry that has held the breathe of Nigerians.

    Because Amaechi, the current Minister of Transportation, is also the Director-General of Muhammadu Buhari’s Presidential Re-election Campaign, the expectation is high that he ought to ensure APC’s victory in the state during the presidential election. Both because of the high offices he currently occupies and the fact that it has become a personal battle between him and his former ally, it is certain that Amaechi will put in all he has to deliver Rivers to Buhari.The same pressure is on Wike to deliver Rivers to PDP.

    As it stands however, PDP still remains set to claim the state once again. of the 1,565,461 valid votes cast in the state in 2015 Presidential election, PDP garnered 1,487,075 votes while APC got 69,238 votes to come second. It remains to be seen if the figures can change significantly in the coming election even as Amaechi and Wike continue their ongoing epic political rivalry.

    Verdict: Atiku

     

    DELTA STATE

    Delta has also remained a PDP state since 1999. Given that the party has continued to grow under the leadership of Governor Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa, there is likelihood that it would still win this year’s presidential election.

    Of the 1,267,773 valid votes cast in the state during the 2015 presidential election, PDP got 1,211,405 votes, while APC got 48,910 votes. Looking at this figure, one would ordinarily write off any party contesting with the ruling party, PDP, in Delta.

    But today, so much has happened in the politics of the state, especially within the opposition APC. For example, the defection of the former governor of the state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, to APC last year is considered a major plus for the party.

    But informed observers wonder if such gains are enough to defeat PDP leadership in the state and win votes for Buhari? In all, PDP, which enjoys incumbency advantage, is still popular enough to win the presidential election in the state.

    Verdict: Atiku

     

    EDO STATE

    President Muhammadu Buhari will easily garner the majority of votes in Edo state given the popularity of his party, the ruling All Progressives Congress across the state. The APC’s political hold on the state, from the days of former Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who is now its National Chairman, supported by the rave reviews currently being enjoyed by Governor Godwin Obaseki, should work in the party’s favour.

    Before the 2015 general elections, the PDP could boast of pockets of strongholds in the Southern Senatorial District of the state, but all that faded with the defeat of the party by APC that year. The death of PDP strongman and former political leader of the state, Chief Tony Anenih, late last year, may have completed the demystification of PDP in a state it controlled for nearly 12 years before Oshiomhole took over.

    Verdict: Buhari

     

    AKWA IBOM STATE

    In the opinion of political pundits, Akwa Ibom State, the nation’s biggest oil producer, has made a right about turn politically, moving away from the PDP, which has ruled the state since 1999, to become an unmistakable APC enclave. A number of factors are responsible for the shift in political colouration in the oil-rich state.

    Gale of Defections: In the last three and half years, the ruling PDP in the state has suffered unrelenting gale of defections. The state started out in 2015 with three PDP senators; now it has one, two of them having defected to the APC in the last one and a half years, the last senator to defect being Godswill Akpabio, former governor of the state and former Minority Leader in the Senate. Many house members, political leaders and ordinary rank and file members of the party have moved over to the APC. Last week, the entire serving local council members in Essien Udim Local Government Area decamped to the APC. Essien Udim is the home council area of Senator Akpabio.

    The stage is thus set for a keen contest, a local derby of sorts, in the district. Pundits see a 50-50 split for the two parties in the district.

    Verdict: Buhari

     

    CROSS RIVER STATE

    In Cross River State, the PDP still looks good to repeat its 2015 landslide victory in the state in spite of some improvement in the visibility of the opposition APC after the last general election. Governor Ben Ayade and his predecessor, Liyel Imoke, appear to still have their firm grips on the politics of the state. The harmonious relationship between the duo, in spite of insinuations that they have fallen apart, helped the ruling PDP to wax stronger after the last election. Across the state, the governor is also adjudged as having done well. So, PDP looks good to get the votes to prevail on February 16.

    Verdict: Atiku