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Tag: Nigerian Newspaper

  • Army launches Operation Positive Identification in Northeast

    THE Nigerian Army Theatre Command of Operation Lafiya Dole (OPLD) has launched “Operation Positive Identification” against the fleeing Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in the Northeast.

    The Deputy Director, Army Public Relation, Col. Ado Isa, stated this in a statement yesterday.

    He urged the public to always carry valid means of identification when moving or passing through Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

    Isa said the operation was aimed at searching for and arresting all suspected terrorists that currently roam some parts of the troubled region.

    This, according to him, has become necessary following credible information that some of the fleeing criminals are hibernating in some towns and villages of Borno and Yobe states in particular and Northeast in general.

    Army spokesperson disclosed that the troops had been instructed to strictly check valid means of identification of person before allowing them passage.

    He advised people to always carry National Identification Card, Voters Registration Card, Drivers’ License and International Passports, or other valid official identification.

    Read Also: Army assures Borno town of security

    Col. Isa said: “We therefore once again enjoin all to fully cooperate with troops and security agencies in carrying out this exercise.

    “The Theatre Command also wish to state that anyone not positively identified will attract further scrutiny and comprehensive investigation to determine his or her activities with the insurgents or otherwise.

    “The general public is please requested to bear with this measure as it is in their best interest and our national security, as well as efforts to end the madness called insurgency as perpetrated by the erstwhile Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters,” he added.

  • Adamawa APC conducts council poll primaries

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State on Sunday conducted its primaries to pick candidates for the positions of chairmen and councillors in the council election scheduled for November.

    The primary election was described as being peaceful throughout the 21 local governments.

    It was conducted amid moves by a committee to reconcile intra-party conflict, which was blamed for the party’s loss of important offices following the 2019 general election.

    The reconciliatory moves had been hit by secret and open pessimism, with a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal, telling the media on Saturday that he could not yet be a part of it, as he was not convinced of its intent and direction.

    Read Also: ‘Certificate forgery’ causes APC delay in submitting candidates’ names

    However, a member of the 39-member Adamawa State APC Steering Committee, Dr. Umar Duhu, who spoke on the conflict, the reconciliation effort and the council election, said the reconciliation move would succeed, adding that the APC is poised to regain its lost glory.

    Fielding questions from reporters in Yola, Duhu who was the pioneer National Vice Chairman (Northeast) of the APC, said every party member, besides Babachir, was well-disposed to the peace process.

    “We have not brought BD Lawal on board (yet) because the reconciliation is a continuing process. You cannot reconcile everyone overnight,” he said.

  • Farmers, others resolve to live in peace

    Zamfara State Police Commissioner Usman Nagoggo on Sunday launched reconciliation initiatives by meeting warring groups of Fulani herdsmen and Hausa farmers in Bakura Local Government.

    Command spokesman Muhammad Shehu said the meeting, held at the palace of Emir of Bakura, was in continuation of quest to sustain peace.

    He said other groups present at the meeting were Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, vigilance groups, traditional rulers and other stakeholders.

    Read Also: Miyetti Allah ‘can meet Nigeria’s milk need with 70m cows’

    The meeting, according to him, is a follow up to series of peace building engagements started by the police commissioner.

    Emir of Bakura Bello Mohammed Sani hailed the police commissioner for his efforts in restoring peace.

    He promised the CP of his Emirate’s collaboration and assistance in the ongoing efforts to restore peace.

    The warring parties were given opportunity to voice out their grievances, while issues were deliberated on.

  • ‘Certificate forgery’ causes APC delay in submitting candidates’ names

    Three weeks to the Niger State local government election, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is yet to submit its final list of candidates to the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC).

    The party is trying to determine the authenticity of the certificates of its candidates.

    This followed the petitions accusing some of the local government chairmanship and councillorship candidates of certificate forgery.

    As at Saturday, no fewer than three chairmanship and four councillorship candidates were alleged to be neck-deep in certificate forgery.

    The Department of State Security (DSS) is helping the party to unravel the genuineness of the certificates the candidates were said to have submitted to the SIEC.

    This development is causing delay in the submission of the party’s final list.

    Other parties such as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) have submitted theirs.

    A source close to the APC secretariat in Minna said the party had received petitions which bordered on alleged falsification of certificates by candidates for chairmanship and councillorship positions.

    “We have received petitions, three against chairmanship candidates and some councillorship candidates that they forged their certificates.

    “The party is, therefore, trying to verify the authenticity of these certificates so that we do not field wrong candidates for the election, and after the poll, the opposition party will challenge it in court and claim the mandate.

    “This is why the party has not submitted the names of the candidates after the primaries about three weeks ago. The party does not want to take any chance. Any candidate found to have forged his certificate will be disqualified,” the source said.

    One of the petitions made available to reporters in Minna against one of the chairmanship candidates from Paikoro Local Government alleged that the Grade 11 certificate the candidate submitted to the party was forged.

    The petition, written by a body, the Garkuwa Support Group (GSO), was dated September 17, 2019 and titled: “Petition against the candidature of Honourable Yohana Yakubu for the chairmanship of Paikoro Local Government in the coming election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress”. It was signed by Comrade Hamsun Isah.

    The APC Chairman in Niger State, Jibrin Iman, was unavailable for comments, as calls and text messages sent to his phone were not answered.

  • As Buhari tidies house, hones “next level” cabinet

    SIR: Currently, several policy decisions, house-cleaning exercises, resolute needful executive actions and even pesky political distractions clutter President Muhammadu Buhari’s table. But that’s just a part of the story. Perhaps only pretty discerning few know more than the president, that today, the stakes are extremely high and Nigerians are mindful that a failure to achieve democratic stability, through a disciplined, transparent, inclusive governance process, may imperil the country’s future as a coherent state.

    It is against this background that the suspension of the Head of Service, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita and the appointment of Dr (Mrs) Folashade Yemi-Esan as the Acting Head of the Civil Service of the Federation is better appreciated. Mrs Oyo-Ita was directed to proceed on an indefinite leave to allow conclusion of the investigation being carried out by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission into some issues in which her name prominently featured.

    Besides sending seismic shock waves throughout the federal civil service and beyond, the move also warns foes and alerts friends of the administration to the fact that this president means business.

    Conscious of maintaining system stability, the president also approved the extension of the tenure of seven retiring permanent secretaries for a period of one calendar year with effect from October 1. This is to engender stability in the federal civil service and ensure effective delivery on the nine priority areas of the administration as well as the mandates given to the new ministers.

    Similarly, President Buhari directed the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to commence the process for the selection of new permanent secretaries to replace retiring ones.

    The government’s decision to extend the tenure of these permanent secretaries is premised on the need to ensure that the new ministers are properly guided, briefed about their sectors and to ensure that a solid foundation is laid for the delivery on the presidential mandate, an undertaking which they jointly signed. The insight that informed the presidential directives can hardly be faulted. Significantly, the permanent secretaries captured in this presidential tenure extension reflected commendable inclusivity – an area that detractors readily exploit to criticise the president. The presidential gesture significantly reflects, and very largely, ethnic or geo-political zonal spread or balance.

    The affected permanent secretaries include: Mrs Georgina Ehuriah, Ministry of Interior; Mrs Ifeoma Anagbogu (Women Affairs); Mrs Grace Gekpe (Information & Culture); Dr Umar Bello, (Agriculture & Rural Development); Suleiman  Lawal, (Foreign Affairs); Mrs Comfort  Ekaro,   (Water Resources) and Olusegun Adekunle, General Services Office (Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation).

    The bold presidential action simply underlines the fact that Ministries, Departments and Agencies require leaders who can manage critical responsibilities; men and women, not only of integrity, but also personalities who will not shy away from directly processing the facts and taking hard decisions to guarantee success.

    It is instructive that at close of the 2019 presidential retreat recently, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha succinctly captured the philosophical essence of the “Next Level Cabinet” and gave an insight into the exacting template within which new ministers must operate.

    Indeed, Mustapaha was categorical on the outcomes of the retreat, namely: to consolidate and accelerate on the agricultural agenda to achieve full food sufficiency; increase revenue; and, implement measures to reduce leakages and drive cost-optimization. Others include: to ensure effective coordination between monetary and fiscal policy; invest in human capital development with strong focus on early education and health insurance; facilitate investment in oil and gas sector by ensuring speedy passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill and Deep Offshore Oil and Exploration & Production Bill; resolve the liquidity challenge in power sector and facilitate private sector investment.

    The initiatives are expected to be cascaded to the relevant ministries, where ministers will champion the responsibility for driving implementation and execution. It is therefore reasonable to seek stability in the federal civil service considering the fact that the new ministers will largely rely on the expertise and guidance of their permanent secretaries.

    Today, as global economic shock waves impact local economy and policies, new nationalism reshapes big power politics, the Arab-Iran gulf stand-off simmers and bruising US-China trade war unfolds, President Buhari can do no less than navigate a tight course. His presidency will certainly be defined, going forward, as he deploys his stern footing and maintains his intolerance of indiscipline and corruption – the twin evils that have brought down many nations in history.

     

    • Sufuyan Ojeifo ojwonderngr@yahoo.com

  • Xenophobia and the Africa giant

    SIR: The last few weeks witnessed the condemnable attacks of African immigrants in South Africa. Video claps replete with looting, arson, murder and the like in Johannesburg shocked the world. Over the years, Somalis, Zimbabweans and Mozambicans have been victims of the country’s xenophobic attacks. However, this month’s attacks strained tensions between South Africa and Nigeria—the continent’s two largest economies.

    Some South Africans, unfortunately, are happy about it. Zweli Ndaba and his Sisonke People’s Forum group, who allegedly ignited the latest attacks was reported to have said: “Enough is enough, on selling of drugs, on property theft, and on our work being taken by foreign nationals.”

    Vusumuzi Sibanda, chairperson of the African Diaspora Forum, said his organisation actually handed some flyers containing some xenophobic messages to the police days before the attacks happened. But, no action was taken to curtail it.

    Another South African was reported to have said: “We need to take our fight to the Nigerians because they are the ones who are destroying us.” However, the worst came from South Africa’s Minister of International Relations, Grace Naledi Mandisa Pander, who said, “I would appreciate them in helping us as well to address the belief our people have and the reality that there are many persons from Nigeria dealing in drugs in our country.”

    Savo Heleta, in an article titled ‘Xenophobia and Party Politics in South Africa’, stated that through blatant lies and scaremongering, foreigners are blamed for many of South Africa’s woes and social ills, adding that “South Africa isn’t overwhelmed with immigrants, with some 2.2 million international migrants (about 4% of the population) in the country in 2011. Stats SA Community Survey 2016 puts the number of foreign born people at 1.6 million, out of the population of 55 million at the time.”

    Adekeye Adebajo, a Nigerian academic who leads the Institute for Pan-African Thought and Conversation at the University of Johannesburg, in his reaction to these xenophobic attacks said that they are partly as a result of the economic frustration many poor South Africans have endured after apartheid, adding that many South Africans resentment is: ‘We suffered all these years—now that we’re free, we’re not really benefiting from what we fought for.’”

    There is no country without challengers. Bad leadership and governance, soaring unemployment, insecurity, terrorism, political tensions, and the inaction of the government and the leaders to address them have caused many Nigerians to lose hope in Nigeria.

    Ghana, Libya, Saudi Arabia, India, Singapore, South Africa, etc.—countries that once looked up to Nigeria have now outpaced it in terms of economy and technology. These countries are where almost all Nigerians want to live if given the slightest chance.

    No one is saying that reprisal attacks should be meted to South Africans or their business in Nigeria, but the Nigerian government should re-strategize and be proactive in dealing with South African government and leaders. It is expected that by now, Nigerian government should have helped the victims to sue the South African government or even sue that country in the international court for the injustice done to its people.

    Xenophobia is not a problem that would go away overnight. For it to go away at all, the world and Africa should hold South Africa accountable for the deaths and damages it has caused its follow Africans. Though South African president has apologised to those affected, it is not enough. Strict measures should be put in place to avoid reoccurrence of these attacks in future. If Nigeria is truly the giant of Africa, she should make sure that its citizens are safe wherever they are in the world. If this is not so, it should ensure any country or government violating this, are strictly meted with justice.

     

    • Kingsley Alumona, Ibadan.

  • Reviving Nigeria’s steel sector

    THE momentous discovery of oil in commercial quantity at Oloibiri in Bayelsa State in 1956, apart from the attendant political effect has had a dual impact on the economic fortunes of Nigeria. On the positive side, the discovery of oil was a boost to government revenue and foreign exchange earnings. On the other hand, the impact of the government attention to the oil industry has had a “crowding out” effect on the other sectors, notably agriculture that was the mainstay of the economy prior to the discovery of oil and the solid mineral sector which exploitation actually predates the discovery of oil. It has been acknowledged by scholars and analysts that the growth and development of Nigeria’s economy have been lethargic due largely to non-diversification of the economy. Though, Nigeria has the potentials of becoming a global economic superpower but lack of deserved attention to other sectors is impeding the growth of industrialization and other factors that drive national productivity.

    However, it may not be entirely correct to say that the government has overlooked the other sectors for there has been identifiable government interest in the development of other sectors over the years. In particular, there have been government investment in solid minerals and steel sector because of its strategic importance but implementation of the designed policies to revamp the sector has been in fits and starts.

    A peep into economic history reveals that the industrial revolution in Europe was the after-effect of the use of coal and development of iron and steel works. Therefore, it is a fact that a vibrant iron and steel sector is necessary for the infrastructural and technological development of any nation.

    Thus, in realization of the strategic importance of steel sector in our quest for industrialization and economic development, the various Nigerian governments have shown interest in steel development since the first Republic. The exploration of iron ore began in Nigeria in the 60s and culminated in its discovery in commercial quantity at Itakpe in 1972 and the establishment National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO) in 1979. The development of the Iron and Steel sector was a key item in the second National Development Plan with the establishment of National Steel Development Authority (NSDA). But, Nigeria actually came close to realizing her dream of establishing a viable steel sector at the tail end of the Third National Development Plan when the contracts for the establishments of government-owned integrated steel companies and steel rolling mills were executed. The contract to build the two integrated steel plants at Aladja and Ajaokuta and the establishment of three steel rolling mills at Oshogbo, Jos and Katsina were consummated. While the Aladja steel plant was completed and commissioned on schedule in 1981, the Ajaokuta steel plant was never completed till date, 40 years after the contract for its construction was awarded in 1979.

    Again, the government in its quest to properly regulate, promote and attract investment in the solid minerals sector established the Ministry of Solid Minerals in 1985. There was attempt to divest government holding in the steel sector in order to improve efficiency and reduce wastages through privatization of the state-owned steel companies but that did not improve the fortunes of the steel companies. Mineral Mining Act (MMA) of 2007 and the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Regulations (NMMR) of 2011and other regulations were designed to give a legal framework to the issue of mining in Nigeria.

    But regrettably, after over 50 years of activity in the iron and steel sector, Nigeria is yet to have the deserved thriving steel sector in spite of the humongous amount invested in the sector. And despite the huge potentials and availability of solid minerals in Nigeria, the contribution of the sector to the GDP over the years is less than one percent. Despite the huge investments in the sector, the Ajaokuta Steel Company has failed to take off while Delta Steel Company at Aladja and the three state-owned rolling mills in Oshogbo, Jos and Kastina are moribund, working below their installed capacities. The steel rolling mills depend on imported billets which come at a huge cost due to the inability of the integrated steel companies to function. The privately owned rolling mills now depend on recycling metal scraps. The attempted privatization of the steel companies did little to revive them as the privatization process was marred by irregularities. Other mining activities in the solid minerals sub-sector are in small holding as illegal mining and communal clashes are commonplace.

    The poor performance of the Nigerian steel sector is the result of unfortunate combination of many factors ranging from: inadequate funding, poor policy engineering, bureaucracy, corruption, weak institutional framework and capacity, political influence, poor planning and implementation, external interferences, international politics, technical challenges, inconsistencies in policy implementations, illegal and informal mining, communal clashes, and operational challenges. It is pertinent to note that the siting of the steel plants and the rolling mills were done out of political manipulations rather economic consideration or national interest. The spatial location of rolling mills and the integrated steel companies that is supposed to supply them billets, created huge operational and logistics challenges.

    Indeed, there is no better time than now when the economy is in the doldrums to revive the steel sector. There is rising unemployment, instability in oil prices and declining oil revenue. The demand for oil export is threatened by developments in bio-technology and less emphasis on fossil-fueled automobile by Western countries. There is need for multiple streams of income to the national treasury in the face of declining revenue, declining Foreign Direct Investment and unfavourable Balance of Payment problem. Instead of wasting resources on oil prospecting, the country should do proper scenario analysis and prepare for life without oil and the steel sector is a viable alternative.

    Potentially, Nigeria is blessed with all the raw materials required for steel development including iron ore, coal, natural gas and limestone and other ferro-alloy minerals such as columbite, manganese, nickel, molybdenum etc. And statistically, Nigeria has a large domestic market for steel products as it imports about five million metric tonnes of steel valued at over $3 billion annually. The struggling local steel rolling mills recycling scrap metals could only supply less than 30% of domestic needs.

    In this connection, it is therefore heartwarming to hear from the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Uche Ogah in the news recently about the plans by the federal government to revive the Ajaokuta Steel Company. It is indeed a welcome development. Reviving the Ajaokuta Steel Company will be a great boost to Nigerian economy currently experiencing a downturn. It will revive the other rolling mills by supplying the billets for their operation and reduce the huge import expenditure on steel thereby creating a thriving steel sector. A flourishing steel sector will have a positive multiplier effect on the whole economy. It will have a good impact on the construction sub-sector and infrastructural development of the country. In addition, there will be boundless opportunities down the value chain that may lead to the much awaited industrialization take-off. Moreover, there will be employment generation and the creation of jobs will have positive socio-political effect. Clearly the potentials in the iron and steel sector if properly harnessed, would give the nation’s economy the much-needed push.

    Generally, the beneficiation of iron ore and the processing of steel and its allied products require massive deployment of resources, unalloyed commitment and dedication, and sincerity of purpose and above all the political will to follow through the designed policies and programmes of action. In this regard, the government should do a proper diagnosis, involve experts, critically appraise our current position, make intelligent and proactive future projections, plan accordingly, invest properly and do proper stakeholders’ engagement in order to have the desired result.

     

    • Irogboli is an economist and public policy analyst.

  • Evacuating Nigerians!

    Even with copious assurances from South African authorities to halt xenophobic uprisings, it is good a thing steps have been taken to evacuate our citizens who feel seriously threatened by their continued stay in that country.

    In an uncommon display of corporate citizenship, a Nigerian airline, Air Peace has made two trips to that country repatriating 178 and 319 Nigerians craving to leave by all means. The number of evacuees would have been higher but for immigration hiccups introduced at the last minutes of the first airlifting operations. The airline had to fly back half empty after several hours of delay. Air Peace Chairman, Allen Onyema said the exercise would cost the company about N300 million.

    But as a mark of recognition of the rare corporate responsibility displayed by the airline, the House of Representatives has commended it with a recommendation to President Buhari to confer national honor on its chairman. That gesture spoke much of the level of uncommon patriotism displayed by the airline in time of serious national emergency. That is the type of proactive responses governments owe their citizens. Yet, here we find a corporate organization that is largely driven by profit taking the initiative. No amount of commendation given the airline can be considered too much given the enormity of the sacrifice it committed to the airlifting operations at its own cost.

    This column shares in the sentiments expressed by the House of Representatives and urges President Buhari not to waste time in appreciating the patriotism displayed by the airline. These days of increasing recline to primordial and parochial tendencies; celebrating that airline will spur people in other fields to emulate the good example.

    But there are others registered and ready to leave the country but not accommodated in the two flights. Their fate remains largely unclear. It is uncertain whether the airline is still prepared given the huge capital outlay to make another trip or some form of intervention will come from some other quarters. Even with the relative peace that has returned to that country, it is important that the federal government seizes the initiative from Air Peace and ensure that all those registered and ready for evacuation are assisted to leave the country without much delay.

    The narrative we get is that while many of those wishing to return had their means of livelihood either destroyed or burnt together with their travel documents, others had been stranded in that country for many years as the authorities refused to renew their work permit. Many do not even have the fare to ferry them back home. Such people constitute national embarrassment and should be brought back else their nuisance value re-enacts the same circumstances that breed irredentism.

    Read Also: Xenophobia: Nigerian Union in S/Africa lauds Air Peace boss for benevolence

    Yes, there are assurances from the South African authorities to stem xenophobic attacks and all such infractions. We have also been treated with some re-assuring diplomatic exchanges from the delegation to Nigerian that those incidents are at variance with what South Africa stands for as ‘a constitutional democracy’. Nigeria’s huge contributions to liberate that country from the strangulating chains of apartheid have also been cited as reasons our citizens should be entitled to fair treatment. All these can be admitted.

    Yet, they are not the real issues to the conflict.  Neither is there anything to indicate that the South African government deliberately engineered all the attacks and frequent killing of foreigners. At issue are allegations of criminal undertakings by foreigners; dealings in illicit drugs, grabbing jobs meant for citizens, ostentatious lifestyle, arrogance and having the best of their women.

    These are the issues to contend with. Attacking South African interests in Nigeria or evacuating citizens as desirable as it is; does not hold solutions to the issues that fuel rancor and animosities. The starting point will be to address and find resolution to all the complaints and grievances that breed distrust and precipitate violent attacks from South African citizens. Even then, it is estimated there are about 100, 000 Nigerians living in that country. Many of them have good businesses to their credit and will not be in a haste to leave. That the number of those evacuated so for is less than 0.6 per cent of our citizens living in that country says it all.

    When we compare that population with South Africans living in Nigeria, you will discover to your chagrin that their representation in this country is very negligible. You can also decipher that from the number of their companies in this country and their citizens both in the formal and informal sectors of our economy. The import of this is not hard to fathom. And it is that our citizens need that country more than theirs need ours. We should rather be more circumspect in giving in to mass hysteria and mob violence in our reactions to developments in that country.

    Reprisals as some had wanted to good us into will definitely prove rather counterproductive. What the situation requires is constructive engagement such that guarantees the rights of all law abiding people to their legitimate undertakings without fear of attack or molestation. That seems to be the message we can glean from the apologies from the South African delegation to Nigeria. Even with these assurances, there is still everything to suspect that the government of that country will tighten the noose around the activities of foreigners.

    There are speculations of ten years travel ban on Nigerians who made themselves available for evacuation in the on-going crises. The delays erected by that country’s immigration at the last minute were cited as part of the evidence of their discomfort with the development. We also hear of plans to refuse renewal of visas and work permits. All these are within the purview of the authorities of that country. There is practically little we can do here to change the situation should that country make good these speculations.

    But do we have their citizens in that number struggling desperately to live in this country? Are we in a position to extend equal measures to South African citizens without our citizens suffering immeasurable inconveniences in their country? Perhaps, answers to these posers will come handy when examined against recent statements credited to Blade Nzimande, South Africa’s minister of higher education, science and technology while addressing workers’ unions.

    Hear him: “we cannot absorb the results of all the problems that are made by leaders who want to loot their counties, who do not care about their own people. African leaders themselves must get their acts together, such that they do not destroy their country and people have to leave. It is time we ask those leaders in our continent, what are you doing to make your countries better places to live in”

    These are weighty statements. Issues raised by Nzimande, as blunt as they seem, are undoubtedly at the core of the constant skirmishes between South African citizens and other Africans who migrate to that country and other parts of the world in search of greener pastures. The high number of our citizens found in that country is on account of the better living opportunities there. And with high influx of foreigners (some of them without any genuine business) citizens of that country have had to contend with all that comes with the presence of such people.

    Given the recent experiences of the black South African population with the obnoxious apartheid regime, there is little doubt they are at some disadvantage when faced with competition from outsiders. Such discomfort manifests in the serial attacks and killings we have so for seen. The point Nzimande made is clear. And it is that the crises in South Africa have their roots in the influx of citizens of other African countries in search of better living conditions due to the mismanagement of their resources by rapacious and rogue leadership.

    The corollary is that its permanent resolution will hinge on the determination and capacity of African leaders to make their countries a better place for their citizens. He has said it all. African leaders aggrieved by Nzimande’s posturing should hide their faces in shame.

    For us in Nigeria, the message is unambiguous given the huge exodus of our citizens in the face huge natural endowments that are easily squandered by the privileged class.

  • Allegation of duress

    It’s unsurprising that Senator Rochas Okorocha, the immediate past governor of Imo State, is happy about his recent victory at the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal. It was another victory for him, after his controversial election as the Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District.  But the tribunal’s judgement in Okorocha’s favour didn’t lay the controversy to rest.

    The election petitions tribunal had dismissed petitions filed by Jones Onyereri  of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Osita Izunaso of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA),  challenging Okorocha’s victory  in the February 23 National Assembly election.  The petitioners claimed the Imo West Senatorial District election was characterised by irregularities, including intimidation and violence. But the tribunal held that the petitioners were unable to prove the allegations.

    When the Returning Officer, Prof Innocent Ibeawuchi, alleged that he was forced to declare Okorocha of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the poll, the allegation stained the winner as well as the win. Ibeawuchi had told reporters that he was held hostage from 7pm on February 24 till 11am the following day.  He was quoted as saying:  “I was compelled to announce the result which was inconclusive. I am a man of integrity and it is not true that the governor slapped me but I was held hostage by agents working for him. I was manhandled and I thank God I came back alive.”

    In an interview published on September 15, Okorocha said: “What is good about the judgement is that it has gone a long way to prove my innocence and to tell the world that my victory was not under duress, which was an action intended to paint me bad in the eyes of Nigerians. The tribunal has come to affirm that the election was not under duress; that I did not use force to get the victory as the senator representing Imo West. That for me is good news.”

    According to Okorocha, “The Returning Officer had announced the results and I was shocked after four days to hear that the Returning Officer said his child was kidnapped and that he was made to do the announcement under duress. That would mean somebody forcing you to do what you are not supposed to do. He calculated the votes from the wards for more than two hours and confirmed that everything was correct. So, where was the duress? When the court asked him where the duress came from, he could not answer it and that was when the court described him as a dramatist. That was a fabricated story which does not reflect any practical reality.”

    Now contrast Okorocha’s narrative with this February 25 report: “Before reeling out figures at the district collation centre in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Office in Orlu, Mr Ibeawuchi, a professor, said he was being held “under duress” to announce the results. “My name is Ibeawuchi Izuchukwu Innocent, a professor at the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), the returning officer for Imo West (Orlu) senatorial zone”, the official said. My area commander, my P.Os; the party agents here present; members of the press; ladies and gentlemen. I have been held hostage here for days so I’m trying to ease off and take my life home back to my children and for the sake of that I am calling these results under duress,” the returning officer said. He then reeled out the results.” Okorocha polled 97,762 votes to win the election, while Onyereri had 68,117 votes and Izunaso got 30,084 votes, Ibeawuchi had announced.

    Based on the don’s account, INEC withheld Okorocha’s certificate of return. Okorocha controversially got a certificate of return from INEC on June 11, following the order of a Federal High Court in Abuja. Justice Okon Abang’s judgement on June 7 favoured Okorocha who had challenged INEC’s decision to withhold his certificate of return. The judge said:”Once a declaration of the results has been made, that decision is final and can only be reviewed by the election petition tribunal and not by INEC… Once the declaration is made under section 68(c) of the Electoral Act, INEC has become functus officio (has completed its responsibility) and INEC has no lawful authority to withhold the Certificate of Return for any reason whatsoever.”

    According to Justice Abang, “If indeed, it is true that the Returning Officer made the declaration under duress, it is for the defendants who lost in the election to proceed to the election tribunal to challenge the election under section 138 of the Electoral Act… INEC has not, in its counter-affidavit, suggested that the plaintiff did not win the election. INEC did not declare the election as inconclusive. INEC did not declare that the election was won by any other person.”

    In response, NEC had highlighted “the likely consequences of this judgment for our electoral process in particular and our democracy in general.” The commission said in a statement: “Obviously, persons who seek elective offices could perceive in this judgment an irrelevance of due process and acting within the law.”

    “It is not farfetched that some of them could in future disregard laid-down processes, including voting, arm themselves and mobilise thugs and compel Returning Officers to declare them elected, irrespective of the true outcomes of the elections.

    “Moreover, it may become increasingly difficult for the commission to convince its officials that they are safe to carry out their legitimate functions without fear of being harassed, held to ransom or visited with bodily harm.”

    Does Okorocha’s victory at the election petitions tribunal mean Ibeawuchi’s allegation of duress is a fabrication? If  it is true that Ibeawuchi had declared Okorocha the winner under duress, why did the petitions against Okorocha fail at the tribunal?  Why were the petitioners unable to prove the allegation of duress? Why was Ibeawuchi unable to prove his allegation of duress? What was needed to prove the allegation of duress?

    The problem of electoral interference by candidates and their backers has various dimensions. A democratic system must not tolerate declaration of election winners under duress because democracy is not about duress. The big question is: If there was no duress, why did Ibeawuchi make an allegation of duress?

  • Nigeria breaks negative foreign portfolio flows

    For the first time in 12 months, Nigeria has recorded positive foreign investment flow as foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) appeared to be showing renewed interests in Nigerian securities, implying that more foreign portfolio investments came into the country than outflows.

    The FPIs report indicated a positive net foreign portfolio investment of about 20.5 per cent. The report also showed 10.6 per cent increase in total foreign portfolio transactions with FPIs outpacing domestic transactions at the Nigerian equities market for the second consecutive month.

    The FPIs report, coordinated by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), included transactions from nearly all custodians and capital market operators and it is widely regarded as a credible measure of foreign portfolio investment (FPI) trend. The report uses two key indicators-inflow and outflow, to gauge foreign investors’ mood and participation in the stock market as a barometer for the economy.

    Foreign portfolio outflow includes sales transactions or liquidation of equity portfolio investments through the stock market while inflow includes purchase transactions on the NSE. Segmental analysis delineates the proportion of foreign to local participation, institutional to retail investors as well as the momentum of activities among others.

    Foreign portfolio inflows 23.04 per cent from N28.98 billion in July 2019 to N34.92 billion in August 2019 while foreign portfolio outflow improved from N29.40 billion to N28.98 billion during the same period, representing a 20.5 per cent or N5.94 billion net FPIs in August compared with a deficit of N1.02 billion or 3.6 per cent in July. The last positive FPI flow was in August 2018. Total foreign transactions thus increased from N57.78 billion in July to N63.90 billion in August.

    The report showed that while Nigerian domestic investors- both retail and institutional, tended to sell more shares than buy during the period, foreign investors stepped up buy orders and slowed down on sell orders.

    Managing Director, APT Securities & Funds Limited Kasimu Garba Kurfi said most foreign investors understand and play better in the Nigerian investment market noting that clearer macroeconomic direction, upbeat crude oil pricing and reduced political risks usually influence foreign investments.

    He, however, added that sell pressure on  domestic investors might not be unconcerned with demand to raise funds to meet financing needs in preparation for resumption of schools. With a trading cycle of four days, most investors find their shares handy in the event of immediate cash requirement.

    Chief Dealer, Globalview Capital Limited, Mr. Aruna Kebira, noted that stability and sustainability could influence foreign portfolio direction.

    Chief Executive Officer, Sofunix Investment and Communications, Mr. Sola Oni, said strong fundamentals and undervaluation of Nigerian equities have made them attractive to investors noting that clearer economic and political directions have further reduced Nigerian macro risks and made Nigerian securities more attractive.

    FPIs had outpaced Nigerian domestic investments in the equities market in 2018, after two-year domination by Nigerian domestic investors. However, FPIs had for most months tended towards outflows. Further analysis showed that for the past 12 years, foreign portfolio investors and Nigerian domestic investors had split the domination of transactions at the Nigerian market equally.

    A year-to-date cumulative assessment also showed that total foreign transactions had reduced from N906.86 billion in first eight months of 2018 to N594.46 billion in first eight months of this year. FPI trend meanwhile was in line with the reduction in total transactions in the Nigerian equities market, which dropped from N1.88 trillion in eight-month period ended August 2018 to N1.32 billion in 2019. Nigerian domestic transactions had also reduced from N728.51 billion by August, last year to N970.31 billion last month.