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Tag: Etim Etim

  • Why can’t we just make Air Peace our official flag carrier? – By Etim Etim

    Why can’t we just make Air Peace our official flag carrier? – By Etim Etim

    By ETIM ETIM

    The maiden flight of Air Peace airline to London on over the Easter weekend is a perfect moment to discuss an important aspect of our aviation sector which has been on my mind for a long time. Why can’t the federal government enter into some agreement with Air Peace and officially designate the airline as our national flag carrier?

    Note that in aviation, a flag carrier is different from a national carrier. This question became quite pertinent after the Hadi Sirika fiasco last year in which the former aviation minister tried, but failed to float a national carrier. While a flag carrier is basically a privately-owned airline (or shipping line) flying the flag of its country on international operations and may enjoy certain privileges, a national carrier is owned and operated by the national government and they usually have certain sovereign advantages. As we all know, British Airways (BA) is not owned by the British government; neither are the many US carriers that bear US colours and flags.

    Since the liquidation of Nigeria Airways in 2003, it’s been so difficult for the government to float a replacement. In 2004, the Virgin Group, owned by British billionaire Richard Branson, established a Nigerian subsidiary known as Virgin Nigeria – a joint venture between Nigerian investors and the Virgin Group. The deal was facilitated by the Obasanjo administration. But Branson soon pulled out of the deal and the company collapsed after a few years in business. Branson explained later that he had to quit because Nigerian officials were pestering him for bribes. The airline was then renamed Eagle Airlines and later Air Nigeria. The business ultimately ceased operations in 2012.

    Over a decade after, the idea of a national carrier still remains a national fascination, but the government has neither the appetite nor the resources to invest in such a venture, especially given pervasive corruption and the ineptitude of our bureaucrats. When Sirika, a retired pilot, arrived the scene as aviation minister in 2015, he resuscitated the idea, but could not pull it through.

    A truly branded flag carrier will make up for the absence of a national airline. If Air Peace becomes our flag carrier, its planes (especially those on international routes) would bear our national colours and flag and ‘’NIGERIA’’ would be prominently emblazoned on it as part of its livery. It will project our national brand and unique Nigerian attributes, culture including cuisines and hospitality to many parts of the world. That’s why flag carriers are sometimes referred to as ‘’Embassy on Wings’’.

    Already, Air Peace has promised to serve Nigerian cuisines on its London route and it was also heartwarming seeing those beautiful airhostesses dressed in ‘’ishiagu’’ designs. In return, Air Peace will enjoy enhanced customer loyalty as passengers usually prefer their flag carriers out of a sense of national pride. The government will also provide the airline with many incentives such as official assistance to develop more international routes in accordance with our bilateral air services agreement (BASA) and support in aircraft acquisitions. Air Peace could also access FX at official rate. I should emphasize that such partnership with the government does not imply that the government has assumed any proprietorship or ownership rights on the airline; and so, government officials will not interfere in the management of the airline and shall not seek to make any appointment into its board or management or demand for free or concessionary tickets.

    Air Peace has shown considerable resilience and determination to succeed in the face of huge challenges. It therefore deserves to be supported by Nigerians and the government.

    With over 50 aircraft, 30 destinations and 5,000 employees, it is Nigeria’s biggest carrier, serving major cities in the country and flying to many African countries and the Middle East. Coming in the 11th year of the company’s existence, the London route is a marvelous attainment for a privately-owned African airline. London is the airline’s seventh international destination and it ‘’signals our entry into the European market’’, according to Chairman Allen Onyema.  New York and Houston routes are also coming. The London operations would be carried out with Boeing 777 and Boeing 787 Drealliner aircraft. It would be operating daily flights to the Southern Terminal of Gatwick Airport, with fares far cheaper than what competition was offering. The inaugural flight with 260 passengers took place seven years after the last indigenous airline, Medview, operated this very lucrative international route.

    The immediate impact of Air Peace’s entry into the Lagos-London route is the drastic fall in airfares charged by other international carriers. They were forced to reduce fares from N4 million to between N1.8 m and N1.9 m, compared to Air Peace’s N1.2 m for economy. Besides, these foreign airlines were also piling pressure on the CBN to sell them FX at discounted rates. The UK has 21 weekly slots into Nigeria with BA alone operating 14.

    In a recent TV interview, Chairman Onyeama acknowledges that his airline and other Nigerian-owned international carriers are automatically regarded as flag carriers. This is not enough. Those aircraft must be appropriately branded. He also listed the many challenges which Air Peace has been facing both within and outside Nigeria in the course of applying for the London route. The Nigerian government must do everything to ensure that Air Peace succeed.

  • Another round of bank recapitalization – By Etim Etim

    Another round of bank recapitalization – By Etim Etim

    By ETIM ETIM

    Another round of bank recapitalization is here and for the next two years between April 1, 2024 and March 31, 2026, the nation’s 25 commercial and six merchant banks are expected to shore up their minimum share capital by as much as 100 per cent, in some categories. The CBN said all international banks should move their capital to a minimum of N500 billion; national banks up to a minimum of N200 billion; regional banks (N50 billion); merchant banks (N50 billion) and N20 billion for non-interest banks operating nationally and N10 billion for those operating regionally. To achieve this, the banks will adopt one or a combination of these three options: inject fresh equity capital through private placement, rights issue and/or offer for subscription; mergers and acquisition and/or upgrade or downgrade of license of authorization (meaning downgrade from international bank to national or regional or reverse). I can bet that the last option would be the least popular.

    This wave of recapitalization is a bit different from that of Charles Soludo implemented between July 2004 and December 31, 2005 in which all the banks were all forced to recapitalize to a minimum of N25 billion. It shrunk the industry from 89 to 24 banks. This time, the banks have different capital requirements, depending on their type of license. Other key differences between the two programs are: (i). Soludo’s came with a huge surprise as the operators had no inkling of the announcement before it was made, but Yemi Cardoso had in November given a hint of the review, thus preparing the banks for the Thursday announcement; (ii) Shareholders’ funds were included as part of the N25 billion share capital in the 2004, but excluded in the current review, indicating that retained earnings will not be counted as part of their share capital this time (iii) Soludo gave a shorter timeframe of 18 months, unlike Cardoso’s 24-month deadline.

    I was in the thick of the flurry of activities 20 years ago, going on roadshows across the country with colleagues to help raise money for the bank I was working for. It was fun and exciting.  Eventually, the bank merged with four others to form a brand-new institution known as Sterling Bank. This time around, I would be watching the drama from outside, having retired11 years ago. But I still take a lot of interest in the industry. I am particularly gratified to see Nigerian-owned banks spreading across Africa, helping businesses and households meet their financial needs. When Prof. Soludo announced the 2004 recapitalization program, there were just a handful subsidiaries of Nigerian-owned banks in other African countries, while only First Bank (London), Union Bank (London) and UBA (New York) had a presence outside the continent. The growth is emblematic of our preeminence in the continent. I believe in Nigeria and what our private-sector people can do.

    There will be very few or no mergers and acquisition this time because, as a CEO told me, ‘’we don’t have many candidates for that this time around’’. But watching from outside, I expect that Polaris, Union and Unity will receive a lot of overtures for mergers. The CBN has asked the banks to file their implementation plan, clearly indicating the preferred options for meeting the new capital requirements and the various activities and their timelines before end of April. Among the top five, Access Holdings, the parent company of Access Bank, appears the most prepared for this recapitalization, in spite of the recent devastating death of its CEO, Herbert Wigwe. Last Thursday – the day the CBN announced the new capital review – Access Holdings unveiled plans to raise $1.5 billion through issuance of various financial instruments such as ordinary shares, preference shares and others. It will also raise N365 billion through Rights Issue of Ordinary shares, the proceeds of which would combine with its existing N250 billion paid-up capital, to exceed the new regulatory limit.

    Access Holdings’ shareholders will meet in Lagos on Friday, April 19 to consider and approve these plans. In addition, they would also be asked to formally approve the appointment of Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, who was named chairman of the Board two weeks ago, as its non-executive director. Other lenders would be equally busy, Zenith most of all. While others would be engrossed in capital raising only, Zenith will combine that with transiting into a holding company structure – a task other comparator banks had completed over two years ago. It is going to be a herculean task juggling the two. The other three Tier One banks (GT, UBA and First Bank) are yet to announce their recapitalization plans and date for Annual General Meetings, but it is clear from their current position that they too would be going for upwards of N250 billion each in additional capital.  The capital market and institutional investors would be quite busy, but with inflation at over 30 per cent and disposal income severely depressed, ordinary Nigerians would be shut out completely.

    Leaning on its 2004 experience, the CBN expects that a highly capitalised banking industry should be in a position to not only withstand the prevailing macroeconomic challenges and headwinds, but also to enhance its resilience, solvency and ‘’capacity to continue to support the growth of the Nigerian economy’’.

  • Escape of Binance executive and other security matters – By Etim Etim

    Escape of Binance executive and other security matters – By Etim Etim

    By Etim Etim

    The escape of Nadeem Anjanwalla, one of the two detained executives of Binance Holdings Ltd, from the DSS custody in Abuja is the most embarrassing security breach of the Tinubu administration and it’s a clear pointer to the porosity of our fight against terrorism and financial crimes. Elsewhere, such lapses would automatically lead to the sack of the security chief, arrest of the guards and their supervisors and the resignation of the supervising minister. But in Nigeria, the government will move on as if nothing happened. So far, the government has remained tightlipped.

    Anjarwalla and his colleague, Tigran Gamabaryan, together with their company, Binance Holdings, were facing charges of tax evasion, money laundering and other offences in the Federal High Court Abuja. The two men have been in DSS custody since February 26 when they arrived the country. Anjarwalla is Binance’s Africa regional manager and Gambaryan, a US citizen is its compliant officer.

    The company is facing serious criminal charges including nonpayment of VAT, company income tax and complicity in aiding its customers to evade taxes through its platform; failure to register with FIRS for tax purposes and unwillingness to collect and remit various categories of taxes to the federal government, thus contravening Section 40 of the FIRS Act of 2007. In addition, Binance is accused of encouraging speculative currency trading on its platform which was responsible for the drastic fall in the value of the Naira.  The two men are co-defendants in the case.

    A criminal charge was filed against the two executives before a Magistrate Court in Abuja, and on February 28, the court granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) an order to remand the duo for 14 days. The court also ordered Binance to provide the Nigerian government with the data/information of Nigerians trading on its platform. But the company refused to comply with the order and the court extended the remand of the officials for an additional 14 days to prevent them from tampering with evidence. The court then adjourned the case till April 4. Meantime, the government has revealed that over $21.6 billion was traded by Nigerians whose identities were concealed by Binance. The government also believes that some dubious persons were using Binance for money laundering, terrorist financing, currency speculation and market manipulation, distorting the Nigerian economy and weakening the Naira against other currencies.

    These are very serious indictments that border on serious economic sabotage against the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Whosoever aided and abetted the escape of one of them should be treated as an economic saboteur and an enemy of Nigeria. According to Premium Times, Anjarwalla, 38, escaped on Friday, 22 March, from the Abuja guest house of the DSS where he and his colleague were detained after guards on duty led him to a nearby mosque for prayers in the spirit of the ongoing Ramadan fast. A British citizen with a dual Kenyan citizenship, Anjarwalla is believed to have fled on a Middle East airliner. Security officials are however puzzled that Anjarwalla left the country although his British passport, with which he entered Nigeria, had been seized by the Nigerian authorities.

    I am not puzzled. Rich people can wangle their way out of any tight situation, especially in a nation of corrupt officials. For a man who was detained in a comfortable setting in a guest house and allowed use of telephones, it is no brainer that he was able arrange for his Kenyan passport to be sent to him, and with that he fled Nigeria. It is also likely that Anjawarlla had also compromised our security guards with huge financial inducements. In December 2019, Nissan chief executive, Carlos Ghosn, escaped from a house arrest in Japan to his country, Lebanon, in what has been described as a most daring escape of the 21st century.

    The escape of the Binance executive is the latest in the long string of security challenges that has plagued the country in recent months, the recent being the kidnap of over 140 school children in Kaduna and killings of 17 soldiers and six policemen in Delta State. Although President Tinubu has shown some courage in tackling insecurity, there are indications that there are powerful fifth columnists who are willing to sabotage his efforts. The persistent killings of peasant farmers in North Central region and the inability of the security forces to stop them smacks of collusion between some elements in the security forces and the terrorists. The upsurge in violence in the Niger Delta, especially the persistent massacres of soldiers and policemen is seen as an attempt to plunge the region into another orgy of violence in order to disrupt oil production. A prolonged cessation oil exports may lead to an unprecedented economic crisis and immense social upheavals.

    In many jurisdictions, Binance is mired in legal controversies. In February, Binance Holdings Ltd agreed to pay $4.3 billion fine in a plea deal to settle criminal money laundering charges levelled by the US Department of Justice. Binance founder and CEO Changpeng Zhao, also known as CZ, pleaded guilty and agreed to resign. His criminal trial has been postponed to 30 April by a US court. The government must seek to bring Anjawarlla back to face the law and all those who are complicit in his escape should be punished.

  • A land of unfinished investigations – By Etim Etim

    A land of unfinished investigations – By Etim Etim

    By ETIM ETIM

    It is not a surprise that President Bola Tinubu has ordered investigations into last week’s slayings of 17 army officers and soldiers in Delta State. It was the most gruesome attacks on the Nigerian military in recent times, and as the commander-in-chief said, ‘’it was an attack on our country’’. I should, however, remind the President that there are many unfinished investigations into previous disasters in the country. In fact, the word ‘’investigation’’ has become the most frequently used expression in Nigeria’s official lexicon.  Whenever there’s a crisis in the land – and there have been many of them – there’s a 100 percent chance that the government will promptly promise ‘’urgent investigations to get to the root of the problem’’, but the outcomes of those inquiries are hardly ever known. It would appear that a promise of investigation has become an escape route for public officials buffeted from every angle by all sorts of problems.

    I join others in condemning the murders of 17 army officers and soldiers in Okuama village, Bomadi LGA of Delta State. The investigators have their jobs cut out for them. What was the mission of the army in the area and who gave the order for the mission? We have been told that the soldiers were in the community for ‘peace mission’ over land matters in a small community of not more than 2,000 people. Is it customary for a military operation led by a lieutenant colonel and a major to be involved in land disagreements? I should also invite the investigators to take note of the fact that Okuama might not be the only community in the Niger Delta where soldiers regularly visit. The region itself is not a stranger to this sort of thing. Remember Odi in 2001?

    While we are still investigating Okuama, I recall that in May 2013, over 10 officials of DSS and 55 police officers were slaughtered by a militia group known as ‘Ombatse’ in Nassarawa State. Reports said that the security officers were lured into an ambush, disposed of their weapons, brutally murdered and burnt by the cult group. Frank Mbah, who was the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer then (he is now a DIG) had promised full investigation, noting that the police will track down the killers. ‘’Enough is enough’’, he told journalists. The investigators were expected to answer some numbing questions: What was the mission of the security officials, who authorized the ill-fated operation and how were they lured into the ambush? Eleven years after, there has not been any update on the matter. And we have all moved on. Well, except the families of the departed who might still be mourning their loss.

    Last December, the Nigerian army mistakenly dropped two bombs on a crowd of people in Tudun Biliri village in Igabi LGA of Kaduna State, killing over 100 of them. The villagers were celebrating a religious festival at night, but the military mistook them for a gathering of terrorists and quickly dispatched two drone bombs. There was a national outrage and the military authorities were expectedly embarrassed by such carelessness. President Tinubu was only six months in office, but he managed to make the right noises, promising ‘’prompt investigations’’. Both Kaduna and the federal government scrambled to salvage the situation and save face. The governments and the military high command promised went further to pledged to rebuild the Tudun Biliri village. Four months after, we are yet to hear of the updates on the investigations and the extent to which the village has been rebuilt. More crises are on the way…

    A few weeks after the Tudun Biliri bombings, terrorists invaded three LGAs in Plateau State between Christmas eve and Boxing Day, killing and maiming over 200 villagers.  Again, there were the usual official movements and motions. The state governor, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, quickly issued a press statement, condemning the ‘’dastardly act’’ and followed it up with appearances on TV talk shows. He spoke of invasion of his state by terrorists and the helplessness of the governors as chief security officers. ‘’As I speak to you, terrorists are occupying some schools in the area and they may launch more attacks’’, he said. Vice President Kashim Shettima visited Jos and held town hall meetings with political and religious leaders. There were the usual talks of ‘’nibbing the crisis in the bud’’ and instituting a high-powered investigation to get to the root of the matter’’. The National Assembly even invited the service chiefs into a closed-door session ‘’to find lasting solutions to the crisis’’. As at this hour, we have not heard of a single arrest being made and the outcome of the ‘’full scale investigations’’. The country has moved on…

    We cannot easily forget March 28, 2022, when terrorists planted explosives on the Abuja-Kaduna rail tracks. The device exploded when the train travelling from Abuja to Kaduna ran over it, killing eight passengers while many others were kidnapped by the terrorists. Again, investigations were promised, and again no word has been heard on where we are on that. Our country is full of many other unfinished investigations into cases of buildings collapse, extra judicial killings, accidental discharges and even that notorious case of a snake swallowing millions of naira belonging to the government.

    Since May 29, a new wave of investigations has come upon us. The CBN and many of its actions, including the Anchor Borrowers Program are under scrutiny. The Senate is planning to look into the N30 trillion ‘Ways and Means’ of the Buhari era, and at the same time, some Northern groups are calling for a probe into the Senate’s N3 trillion budget-padding matter! Talk of investigating the investigator!

    What then do we do with all the litany of investigations in the land? Can we have a judicial committee to investigate all cases of unfinished investigations?

  • A weeklong farewell to the Wigwes [1] – By Etim Etim

    A weeklong farewell to the Wigwes [1] – By Etim Etim

    By ETIM ETIM

    It was a week of raw emotions, tears and tributes as Nigerians and foreign dignitaries from all walks of life turned out in large numbers to celebrate the lives of Dr. Herbert Wigwe, his wife Doreen and Son, Chizi, in a series of weeklong funeral activities. While world leaders like former Presidents Bill Clinton, Olusegun Obasanjo and Emmanuel Macron sent in their video messages, Nigerians assembled at Eko Hotel and Isiokpo community to bid farewell to this icon. The week started on Sunday, March 3 with employees of the Access Bank Group (they call it ‘Access Nation’) assembling on the large grounds of their Lekki Head office to celebrate their late Group Chief Executive Officer and his family. Although the directors and leadership of the company were all present, they remained muted throughout the three hour-event as only employees were fully in charge. It was strictly an employee event.

    Prayers over, Bisola Oyelowo, Senior HR Business Partner, Employee Engagement & Culture, gave a resounding opening statement that set the tone for the night. ‘’Tonight, we gather under this canopy of stars to pay homage to a titan among us, a visionary whose daring and fearless spirit has shaped the very fabric of our institution and touched countless lives across continents’’, she said. Her remarks swept through every facet of Herbert’s life, evoking fond memories of him without offending the solemnity of the moment. She described the departed boss as ‘’the man who exemplified integrity, humility and generosity in every facet of his being’’. After her speech, Access Choir stepped up to the podium, resplendent in white, to render ‘’Blessed Assurance’’ and ‘’How Great Thou Art’’. Access Choir is the brainchild of Herbert. He was passionate about choral music, jazz and classical music. More tributes from employees and former staff members followed. Access has a large community of former employees, including this writer. They have come together to celebrate their former boss and are already raising money to honour his memory in an enduring manner.

    Monday, March 4 was tagged ‘Celebrating Professional Excellence’ and it was the turn of Corporate Nigeria to celebrate one of its own. Bankers, industry captains, public officials, other professionals and foreign dignitaries filled the big ballroom of Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. In the audience were Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-olu; Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun; CBN Governor Yemi Cardoso; Finance Minister Wale Edun; AfDB President Akinwunmi Adesina; Aliko Dangote; GTB founder Fola Adeola; Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo (former governor of Gombe State), directors of Access Corporation and its subsidiaries, among hundreds of others. I can’t remember any other funeral event that has brought together such a plethora of dignitaries under one roof. The four-hour event was divided into six segments and speakers were accordingly grouped: The Young Herbert; Herbert the Banker; Herbert The Entrepreneur; Herbert The CEO; Herbert The Builder and Herbert the Ambassador.

    At exactly 5.30pm, we were all up for the National Anthem, after which Roosevelt Ogbonna, the bank’s managing director, gave Herbert’s citation. One of Herbert’s mentees from their GT days, Roosevelt was my first direct supervisor when I joined the bank 16 years ago. He’s now spotting a heavy white beard, which makes him look older than his age. He read the well-written citation calmly but soon was overwhelmed with emotions. He sobbed intermittently.

    Then came the tributes and the first to speak was Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo, former governor of Gombe. He was a staff of Coopers & Lybrand in 1988 when Herbert arrived the firm, accompanied by his father, Pastor Shyngle Wigwe, to begin his NYSC primary assignment. Dankwambo recalled Herbert’s sense of duty even as an NYSC member.  Cathy Echeazor; Segun Agbaje (CEO of GT Holdco) and Dolapo Ogundimu reminisced on Herbert’s early career at Kapital Merchant Bank and GT Bank. They spoke of Herbert’s energy, drive and passion for his job. Agbaje drew laughter when he described Herbert as a friend, colleague and competitor. ‘’Only Herbert would be all three to me’’, he said. He recalled that Herbert visited him two weeks before his death to talk about his university.

    The chief executive of MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola; Jamie Simmonds, chief executive of Access Bank, UK; Ken Okpara, President & Council Chairman of CIBN and Gbenga Oyebode, former Chairman of Access Bank also gave their tributes. Teriola eulogized Herbert for his generosity and spoke of the ‘’intensity and curiosity’’ with which he managed the bank. Simmonds recalled the first time he met Herbert at Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program when the two of them were in the same class in 2000 and how in 2008, he joined Access Bank as the MD of its UK subsidiary and reconnected with Herbert. ‘’Joining Access is the best decision I have ever made and working with Herbert is one of the best moments of my life’’, Simmonds said. Herbert was, until his death, the Chairman of Access UK, and presiding over its board meeting in London two days before his death was his last official duty.

    Two of Herbert’s personal assistants, Efoli Ekot and Tunji also gave their tributes, recounting his generosity and compassion as a leader and boss. Tunji started working with Herbert as a chauffeur in 2004. Over time and with Herbert’s support, he’s acquired Bachelor and Masters degree and has since moved into administrative function in the bank, combining it with his PA duties. Efoli has worked with Herbert for 23 years and has benefitted enormously from his mentorship and kindness. In between, there were songs and performances. Darey Art Alade’s rendition of Frank Sinatra’s ‘’I did it my way’’, one of Herbert’s favourite songs, was splendid. Music is really a healing balm in times of grief. Bola Koko, CEO of FMDQ and Ruurd Brouwer, CEO of TC Investment, brought the segment to a close. Koko met Herbert at Coopers 38 years ago, while Brouwer met him 25 years ago when he was a representative of Deutsche Bank in Nigeria. Herbert values and nurtures relationships.

    The next segment – Herbert the Builder – was taken up by Aliko Dangote; Gov. Dapo Abiodun; Gov. Sanwon-Olu; Wale Edun; Yemi Cardoso; Akinwunmi Adesina; Ronke Kuye and Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede. Dangote’s emotional statement was gripping and sent everybody sobbing with him. He described Herbert as his friend, brother and mentee, and spoke of Herbert’s unflinching support to the Dangote Group, especially his support for the completion of the gigantic Dangote Petrochemical complex. ‘’It will be difficult to find another Herbert’’, he said, describing him as unforgettable, a soldier of courage and distinction. Dangote announced that he would immortalize Herbert by naming the main road leading into the complex as Herbert Wigwe Way. Gov. Abiodun recalled that he knew Herbert some 30 years ago and described Herbert as daring, bold, diligent, compassionate, dependable and reliable. Under Herbert, the governor said, Access Bank has supported all his infrastructure projects in Ogun State.

    Gov. Sanwo-Olu said he knew Herbert 34 years ago when he was working in the oil industry and Herbert was a young banker. They have remained friends since then. He said Herbert had supported his campaigns generously and was also very supportive of his administration. He mentioned the AFREXIM funding Access Bank had arranged for the Fourth Mainland bridge and other big projects in Lagos. The governor was excited to learn that Herbert was born at the Island Maternity Hospital in Lagos and exclaimed, ‘’So, he is an Isale Eko boy’’. The audience liked the humour and Sanwo-Olu promised to immortalize the late banker on Lagos Island. Wale Edun said Herbert was always briming with ideas and recalled his meeting with him in Abuja on February 1, while the AfDB President extolled Herbert for his ingenuity, leadership and creativity.

    Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede’s highly anticipated remarks closed the segment. I had earlier in the week told him that Nigerians are eager to hear from him on the death of his friend and business partner. He did not disappoint.  He described Herbert as a man with a mission who did so much and wanted to do so much more, but kept worrying ‘’about whether he would have sufficient time to realize his dream for a transformed Africa’’. ‘’February 9th 2024, the day Herbert, Chizoba, Chizi and Bimbo died along with the two pilots was a terrible and tragic day for all of us. But on that day, Herbert was honored in a way that happens to very, very few human beings in the annals of history. As the breaking news of this tragic accident reverberated across the world, time stood still in honor of Herbert Wigwe’’.

    Aigboje recalled similar moments in the past when time stood still, like the Martin Luther King and his ‘’I have a dream moment’’ and Bob Geldof and the ‘’We are the world Moment’’. When Herbert died, Aigboje said, time stood still, enabling millions who already knew of him and then hundreds of millions more who had never heard of him pause in unison to learn and reflect about this iconic African leader and understand the full potential of what he was about to do for humanity.

    ‘’And time stood still because God wanted the world to know and understand who his son Herbert Wigwe is and what he truly represents. And so, they learnt about his early life and formative years, they learnt about his family life and love of God, they learnt about his professional exploits and philanthropy, they even learnt that Aigboje the person referred to as his brother and partner was neither his spouse nor biologically related to him. Most importantly they learnt that this man, Herbert Wigwe, is a proof that Africa is still capable of producing outstanding men and women with a capacity to change the world in a good and positive way.

    ‘’Herbert was committed to building an African continent where men and women can aspire and live to their full potential. He isn’t the only person committed to this objective, but there are very few people in the world whose life and legacy illuminate this commitment the way Herbert Wigwe has. Some have told me that in the last few months, Herbert was very concerned about the state of our nation and continent. This is indeed true and Herbert knew that time was not on our side. Herbert’s purposeful legacy lies in what he was preparing to embark on, a collaborative commitment to building an African continent we will all be proud of. In memory of Herbert, let the work begin’’.

    The night ended with a vote of thanks given by a tearful Bolaji Agbede, the Acting Group Chief Executive of Access Corporation.

  • Pan Africanism, Africa Day and the challenges of development – By Etim Etim

    Pan Africanism, Africa Day and the challenges of development – By Etim Etim

    By Etim Etim

    The deepening economic challenges in Nigeria and many other African countries have sent leaders and policy makers scampering frantically looking for solutions in foreign lands. President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Shettima have made over 20 foreign trips in just 8 months, looking for the elusive foreign investors to help Nigeria. They have appeared at the G20, G8, WEF and other global platforms to position the country as a suitable investment destination. It is the same road travelled by all our previous leaders. But why do Africans always fail to seek for solutions to their problems from within Africa? Can’t Africa help itself? Why are we so eager to run to the very people who contributed to the perils we are in?

    These are the core questions that Pan Africanism has sought to answer for over 50 years now; they are the reasons that some university professors from Nigeria, Africa and other parts of the world have come together to establish The Pan African Dialogue Institute (TPADI), a civil society think tank for the study and propagation of Pan-Africanism. Pan-Africanism emerged as a response to the long history of the indignities of colonization, enslavement, and systemic oppression and exploitation faced by African people across the globe. TPADI, according to its President, Associate Prof. Effiong Udo of the University of Uyo, is a network of African academics, professionals and civil leaders within Africa and the diaspora, coming together to contribute to the building of developmental policies and practice in Africa. “As a civil society think tank, we take active interest in analyzing policy and practice frameworks of national governments as well as continental and global institutions with a view to advocating for all that which must genuinely benefit Africa and Africans. So, our work revolves around social, economic, political, religious and cultural issues, as well as scientific, environmental, educational, legal, gender and business domains’’, he told this writer.

    The African Union defines Pan-Africanism as: “… an ideology and movement that encouraged the solidarity of Africans worldwide. It is based on the belief that unity is vital to economic, social and political progress and aims to ‘unify and uplift’ people of African descent. The ideology asserts that the fates of all African peoples and countries are intertwined. At its core, Pan-Africanism is “a belief that African peoples both on the continent and in the diaspora, share not merely a common history, but a common destiny.” According to Udo, from the early days of Pan Africanism till today, the advocacy for the unity, solidarity, and empowerment of people of African descent worldwide continues to be a potent force driving discussions on identity, liberation, and socio-political progress of the continent and its people.

    The Pan African Dialogue Institute is therefore established to pursue the decolonization of the mind through policy analysis, policy building and advocacy around multi-faceted issues within the threshold of Pan-African principles.
    “Our job is to inspire excellence and best practices in Pan Africanism, promote African values of community, hospitality, respect for human and environmental dignity, unity in diversity, love and solidarity with all, as encapsulated in the Ubuntu philosophy’’. We are seeking to reverse the mentality that Africans are not capable of helping themselves and solving their problems. We are seeking to celebrate the unity, resilience and collective identity of people of African descent around the world. And, we want to achieve all that by fostering dialogue and cooperation among individuals, communities, institutions and nations”, said Prof Udo, the Institute’s President.

    He laments the seeming lukewarm attitude of African leaders towards Pan Africanism, and wonders why, for example, many African countries, including Nigeria, do not even remember to mark International Africa Day. It is on record that on May 25, 1963, leaders of the then 32 independent African States signed a founding charter in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which brought the Organization of African Unity into existence. In 2002, the OAU established its own successor, the African Union, and adopted May 25 every year as a day to celebrate Africa and highlight the continents continued struggle against neocolonialism, exploitation and adversity.

    ‘’Surprisingly, ever since the day was declared, only nine African countries (The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Lesotho, Mali, Mauritania, Zambia and Zimbabwe) are known to observe May 25 as public holiday with celebrations. The other 46 countries, including Nigeria are less aware of this very important day’’, laments Prof Udo in a wide-ranging discussion in his office at the University of Uyo. For the 2024 Africa Day, The Pan African Dialogue Institute (TPADI) is taking the lead to mark the day in a grand ceremony. The institute would be formally launched on that day at the sidelines of the first international conference on “Dialogue and Pan Africanism’’ holding between May 23 and 26 at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The conference is held in collaboration with Centre for Deep Dialogue and Critical Thinking, Directorate of International Programmes and Faculties of Arts, Law, Social Sciences, and Communication and Media Studies of the University of Uyo.

    Already, Professor P.L.O Lumumba has confirmed his participation as the keynote speaker at the conference, while plenary speakers will include Prof. Mutombo Nkulu-N’Sengha (DR Congo/USA), Prof. Mary Nyangweso (Kenya/USA), Prof. Emmanuel Akpabio (Nigeria), Amb. Daniel Guttierez (Rep. of Belize), Prof. Joseph Ushie (Nigeria), Dr. Donatus Ukpong (Nigeria), Prof. Chris Ekong (Nigeria), Prof. Peter Esu (Nigeria), Dr. Jean-Louis Ikambana (USA), Prof. Aniekan Brown (Nigeria), Prof. Mojisola Iseyin (Nigeria), Prof. Gabriel Umoh (Nigeria), Dr. Ubong Essien Umoh (Nigeria), among others.

    The conference seeks to provide informed Pan-Africanist perspectives on a wide range of issues affecting Africa and its people everywhere in the world. Presenters are invited to explore the trajectories of development in the continent from the lens of Pan-Africanism. It will be interesting to probe the different approaches, theories, philosophies or ideologies that have been adopted at community, national and continental levels by key players to drive developmental efforts. How much have the indigenous knowledge systems and practices been embraced or discarded in propelling the continent towards genuine freedom and development? The transformation of the lingering social, political and economic impasse in the continent requires the critical evaluation of African scholars and professionals toward the achievement of stability, peace, and freedom as envisioned in the 2063 Agenda of the African Union.

    President Effiong Udo is full of gratitude to the Vice Chancellor of University of Uyo, Professor Nyaudoh Ndaeyo and his Management team for embracing the study of Pan-Africanism, and supporting the hosting of the conference.
    “We are expecting a host of dignitaries from across Nigeria and the globe, including the former President of Nigeria, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to serve as Chairman of the Africa Day events, and the Vice President of Colombia, Her Excellency, Francia Marguez, who had since indicated interest in attending. In this regard, we are working with the Federal Government of Nigeria to actualize the coming of Her Excellency, the Colombian Vice President. We are also hopeful that the Akwa Ibom State Government ably led by His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno will be happy to help facilitate the hosting of this global event in Uyo because of the attendance of so many international dignitaries’’, said Prof Udo. His expectation is that with the launch of the institute and the hosting of the international conference, “Nigeria will not only join to keep alive the intellectual dimension of Pan Africanism, but also become a major player in championing the struggle for unity, human and environmental dignity, self-determination and cultural renaissance that are needed for the lasting peace and prosperity of the African people’’.

  • Tinubu, hope and unpatriotic Nigerians – By Ugoji Egbujo

    Tinubu, hope and unpatriotic Nigerians – By Ugoji Egbujo

    By Ugoji Egbujo

    The president has tried his best to restore hope. But hope has become so elusive. He floated the naira, and it started floundering to embarrass the government. The masses must endure and help the president not to lose his own hope. So once we gather at official ceremonies, we must stand and recite the pledge. That is all he is asking for, for now. These things are done in North Korea to show loyalty and patriotism. We will sing the national anthem, sing the pledge and sing ‘On Your Mandate’. We are not the only hungry people in the world.

    If foreign investors see us singing the Pledge and Mandate happily, they might overlook the bandits, who have chased away farmers from farms, and bring in the elusive dollars for us to enjoy. As the president has said, we must emulate the Super Eagles. They didn’t lose hope when he told them they were playing boring football. And we can all see the reward. The APC governors have patriotically sent them 200 million naira to renew their hopes. Our Foreign creditors will like that.

    The President has begged us to stop painting our country in bad light. We are not children. Therefore, we must stifle and squash all news on rampant kidnapping, bad roads, corruption and food inflation. After all, these things happen in other countries, too. When people are kidnapped, we must go to our churches and mosques to pray quietly for the country. When we gather money and pay ransoms to free our relatives from captivity, we must agree with the security agencies that they stormed the bushes and defeated the bandits and rescued the hostages.

    Because if we allow the security agencies to take the glory, our country will be seen as a serious country where crime and impunity do not reign. We can’t go about tweeting pictures of the battered bodies of murdered Ekiti Obas being thrown into the back of a pick-up vehicle. Is that how we want to attract tourists? We must help a government that wants to restore hope in tourism to stabilize the naira. So, our youths on social media must patriotically let sleeping dogs lie sometimes.

    Then, the issue of petrol cost. Hairdressers are even complaining. Our mothers didn’t use electricity to do these things. This government means well. It removed petrol subsidies to save the country, and fuel prices jumped. When it saw the masses crying, it decided to borrow money to distribute N8000 to millions of households. Only a magnanimous president would have bothered. Since then, hasn’t he suffered trying to give workers a new minimum wage?

    Even though the naira he has been trying to help with his world-class financial engineering skills ingenuity has been disgracing itself, he has resisted pressures from international agencies to remove the subsidy, which has smuggled itself back to drain the treasury. That shows he is an astute president. He fights today and runs away to fight another day. Let nobody deceive himself by thinking that the president is afraid of the social repercussions of subsidy removal. He is courageous and methodical. At the right time, he will treat the stubbornness of petrol subsidy. Though a brave man, should he hurry to swallow something larger than his anus?

    Patriotism entails the ability to stomach hardship in the interest of national unity. But Nigerians are Jeremiahs. Because of a slight change in the price of rice and bread, some disgruntled women allowed themselves to be used in Minna, Niger state. They must think they are hungrier than Imo women who are suffering and smiling and sitting at home on Mondays. Do they believe the government doesn’t know they are hired agents of political destabilization pretending to be hungry?

    How can a bunch of people enjoying the low cost of living in Africa be crying and disturbing a hardworking government? Even if the price of rice, beans and cement have increased sharply in the last month, is that why some people in Kano joined with placards bearing inscriptions in King’s English to scare the government. But not minding the minnows and the mischievous rabble-rousing political masterminds using them to sow disunity from the shadows, the government has graciously decided to share food to quieten them.

    Yes, it’s an unprecedented achievement. Which other government in the history of this country shared food from the national reserves when there was no emergency or natural disaster, and just after sharing borrowed money? The government is bending over backwards because it’s a listening and humane government. But some people think the government is timid and afraid of protests in the north. Let them remember that the security agencies are equipped to deal with troublemakers. After all, we have just acquired additional helicopters and weapons for about one billion dollars. Yes dollars. Nobody should test the resolve of this government.

    If unpatriotic people can’t emulate the Super Eagles, they should at least emulate the great Wole Soyinka. Instead of bad-mouthing the federal government, the erudite professor said he wouldn’t hold the government to account until after one year. Even if the naira falls to 5000 per dollar and people start dropping off in the streets, he will be quiet for about a year. That is patriotism. The only people he will focus on now are the Gbajue people, who tried to truncate our democracy with their noise in 2023. They are the people that should get the heat. It’s even possible that the Gbajue dissidents, rather than unscrupulous banks and thieving politicians, are responsible for the rascally behaviour of the naira. If the market women in Minna had emulated the professor, the police wouldn’t have arrested their leaders for disturbing the government.

    Patriotism means a government must be allowed to settle down. But these people on social media exaggerate things to sow ideas in the army. The president goes to France to rest, and they shout that he is sick. The government shares borrowed money, and they cry that politicians are carting away our national patrimony through sham Palliative Schemes. Betta Edu and Kogi airport notwithstanding, the social media critics are truly a mob of nattering nitwits.

    How can they accuse the president of practising ‘share the money’. Wasn’t it this president who discovered that the then ruling PDP used ‘Share the money’ philosophy to bankrupt the country under Jonathan? If the Tinubu government has derailed hopelessly, as they are insinuating, how did the Super Eagles reach the AFCON final? Haven’t these folks heard the NFF testify that the Super Eagles reached the final because they keyed into the president’s renewed hope vision by manifesting ‘No gree for anybody’? Unpatriotic people will start 2013 whataboutery now.

    The president should ‘not gree for anybody’ who thinks he has renewed Sapa. It is true he had promised to recruit 50 million youths into the armed forces to cure youth unemployment and stop the insurgencies and banditry. But is that enough to warrant the acidic criticisms? They should give him his eight years and see. Can’t they see that the price of agbado and beans has skyrocketed and affected the plan? They should give him time. But casting aspersions and making the president lose hope is not good. They are even digging up the president’s tweets against Jonathan to justify their unpatriotism. Times have changed. That was the Shoeless age. This is the Emilokan era. Unpatriotic people should focus on their governors and local government chairmen.

    The youths don’t know they are a major part of the problem themselves. Yahoo Yahoo and banditry are perpetrated by the youths. Are they the only jobless youths in Africa? They can’t find jobs and so? Jobs are online. The other day, the CBN governor revealed that one of the principal causes of the naira depreciation is the number of young Nigerians seeking foreign education abroad. Yet these young people think the politicians and bankers are consuming the dollars.

    Politicians only buy delegates and run political transactions in dollars to avoid EFCC. The youths carry dollars and hand over to oyibo universities. Can’t these young people stay at home and study here? Even if the standard of education has fallen, can’t they just get the education like that and use it to do political, military, police and civil service jobs here? Some lazy youths said the CBN governor was told half-truths to the House of Reps.

    These youths are irreverent. They said if the CBN governor wasn’t an analogue civil servant, he would have factored in foreign remittances of about 20 billion dollars per annum before insinuating that the one billion dollars spent annually on foreign education was wasteful. They even said that the CBN governor craftily didn’t go into details of medical tourism to avoid irritating the president, who was resting in France. It is youthful insolence rather than corruption that is killing the country. Imagine asking the CBN governor if the dollars the Federal government wasted on the 400 people sent to cheer the president at the climate change conference in Dubai was captured under foreign education.

    Trouble is brewing, but telling the government that it is wallowing in self-deceit is unpatriotic. So, patriots are quiet, and the country is teetering on the brink.

  • Presidential or parliamentary system: What can work for Nigeria? – By Etim Etim

    Presidential or parliamentary system: What can work for Nigeria? – By Etim Etim

    By Etim Etim

    Our endless search for solutions to our self-inflicted problems has become comical. We appear to be in a merry-go-around, trying one idea after the other. Restructuring. State Police. Fiscal Federalism. More States. Float the Naira. Managed Float. Privatization. Structural Adjustment. Sovereign National Conference. Military or civilian government. Commodity Boards. Price Control. Close Borders. Open Borders. Just about everything has been suggested as a panacea for our problems. Last week, a group of lawmakers in Abuja proposed a constitutional change to return the country to parliamentary system of democracy, over half a century after we dumped it. They claimed that the presidential system is too expensive. It is really not a novel idea. Elder statesmen like Obong (Arc) Victor Attah and Chief Emeka Anyaoku are some of the notable proponents of a return to the parliamentary system. In addition, they want the states dissolved and the country restructured into regions as we had in the First Republic. They prefer six regions to align with the current geopolitical zones.

    Those who canvass this position are mostly senior citizens who are essentially nostalgic about their good old days. I don’t blame them. Most of them were in the university in Europe and America during that ‘golden’ era when the economy was doing well; civil servants were well-educated, well-trained and employed strictly on merit; corruption was very low and politicians were more dedicated to nation building. But did things go well in those days because of the system of government we operated or was it due to the quality of manpower and the patriotism of the leaders at the time? Does the system of government build the country, or is it the people who build their country and design a workable system for themselves? This is the crux of the matter.

    Countries choose different systems to suit their histories and peculiarities. European countries have either presidential or parliamentary systems; the US is a presidential democracy while Asian countries have adopted either. Saudi Arabia is both a theocracy and monarchy, and it’s a prosperous country. North Korea operates a draconian family dictatorship while South Korea has a competitive presidential system. China, the second largest economy in the world, is a civilian dictatorship, just like Russia.

    All these countries are at different stages of development and their citizens enjoy varying standards of living. But look at Africa. Most of the continent has one form of democracy or the other, just like in the other six continents. While places like Uganda have a civilian dictatorship masquerading as a democracy, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and South Africa have become relatively stable and competitive presidential democracies. A few others have parliamentary systems. But overall, Africa has remained a blithering basket case, with all indices pointing south. Why?

    There are many reasons why Nigeria has remained economically stunted or retrogressive over the years, and they can be encapsulated into three categories: corruption, incompetence and decadence. No country can develop or has ever developed with the level of corrupt, incompetent and decadent leadership that has bestrode our nation, at all levels. No matter the system of government we adopt; this nation will not make progress unless the quality of human resources that manages our public affairs improves drastically. Our progress as a nation is not dependent on a particular system of government, but rather on the quality of our political, bureaucratic and technocratic leadership at every important level.

    The reason the regional governments of the First Republic seemed to have performed well is because they were led by first-class, patriotic and competent leaders who worked with equally skilled bureaucrats. Can you compare any of our leaders today to Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Dr. Michael Okpara, Sir Denise Osadebey and the others who led the charge in that era? It is the people who build their nations and create systems that suit their peculiarities. Not the other way round.

    But is the presidential system more expensive to run? Of course, any system could be very expensive, depending on how you operate it. If a parliamentary system, for instance, has a bicameral legislature with about 600 overpaid ministers, including a prime minister, deputy prime minister and all the special advisers, senior special assistants, special assistants and personal assistants, first lady and second lady, why wouldn’t it be expensive? Similarly, if a presidential system has unicameral legislature with few part-time members and an executive branch with few ministers, the running costs would be lower. It is therefore important to cut the cost of the governance, rather than change from one system to another. We should stick with the presidential system, but reduce its costs by adopting drastic measures. We can use one chamber of the National Assembly with 10 part-time members from each state; only 37 ministers (only one from each state and FCT) and reduce agencies and parastatals to no more than 200.

    The solutions to our problems are right before us. There’s no need moving around in circles.

  • Herbert Wigwe: How could this be? – By Etim Etim

    Herbert Wigwe: How could this be? – By Etim Etim

    By ETIM ETIM

    How could such a fine gentleman, so generous, warm, humble and respectful die so violently with his wife, son and a friend? Why would such a visionary business leader, Godfearing and kindhearted human being perish so tragically? The United States aviation authorities should conduct full and detailed investigations into the helicopter crash that took away Dr. Herbert Wigwe, one of our finest and most industrious bankers and business icons, and his family. The callousness of the operators of that aircraft borders on criminal negligence. It is notable that Nigerian air accident investigators are collaborating with NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board), the agency that investigates air and road accidents in the US, to unearth the causes of this crash. It was in January 2020 that Kobe Bryant, an American basketball star, died in a similar chopper crash with his daughter also in California. If those helicopters in the US are not well maintained, they should not be put up for charter. If the Californian weather is too treacherous in winters, those choppers should be grounded till the conditions improve. It is unconscionable wickedness to carry innocent people to their deaths.

    I am so sad, pained and devastated. This is one loss too much. The outpouring of griefs and the floods of messages from across Africa and around the world; from world leaders, colleagues and ordinary folks testify to Herbert’s extraordinary qualities and outstanding contributions.  Millions of Nigerians from all walks of life, including millions of Access Bank’s customers, shareholders and employees, as well as the thousands of workers who are toiling to build Wigwe University are benumbed, stunned and pained by Herbert’s sudden death.  To die at such a relatively young age with one’s wife and son is numbing, and, to say the least, disorienting. How is such a catastrophic calamity explained in the Bible? What does God say about good people dying so painfully and suddenly? Why did this happen, for goodness’ sake? The last time a young Nigerian’s violent and sudden death gripped the nation so painfully was on Sunday, October 19, 1986. If Dele Giwa’s death through a parcel bomb from some military evil planners had frightened the nation, Herbert Wigwe’s death in a helicopter crash in California has transfixed us all.

    From all indications, I was chatting with Herbert some hours before his death. It was his habit to read his messages and respond promptly despite his grueling schedule. But when I noticed that he had not opened his phone for close to 15 hours on Saturday, I started developing a dreadful sense of foreboding, and I made a mental note to call him soon after the meeting I was attending that afternoon. But as soon as the meeting ended around 5pm, a call from a friend I haven’t heard from for long confirmed my fears.  My hunch hardly goes wrong.

    Herbert was an extraordinary human being who did not allow his outstanding attainments to dwindle his humanity.  Some people disconnect completely from their roots when they get to the top. Not Herbert. He related well with the high and mighty as well as the low and forgotten. He kept in touch with his secondary school classmates; church members; village chiefs; community leaders as well as former staffs like me and other bank CEOs and Heads of governments. From one end of the spectrum to the other, he remains his witty, kind, humorous and amiable self. He was passionate about our youths and he created several mentorship programs for them. His philanthropic activities through his foundation are well known, but I guess, establishing a university for those he referred to as the ‘fearless’ generation will forever remain a timeless legacy. I am grateful that the people he assembled to midwife the institution have vowed to carry on the dream.

    Working with Herbert in Access Bank, I realized early on that he was imbued with courage, boldness, determination and all the epithets that define fearlessness. The vision, mission and values of the bank were underpinned by the drive to conquer all obstacles and excel. It was for nothing that we called ourselves ‘’Access Warriors’’. I first met him on a Sunday afternoon in March 2008 when I appeared before him for an interview to join the bank.  I was already used to his cherubic face in the press, but in real life, Herbert looked serious, businesslike and his beady eyes were penetrating. I was slightly uncomfortable, but I was determined not to be intimidated. He asked just a few questions. My five years in the bank turned out to be some of the most rewarding.

    The bank’s meteoric growth in the over 21 years he and his friend and partner, Aigboje, have been in charge reflects their collective business acumen. Herbert took over from Aig in January 2014, leading the bank through various growth phases till 2022 when it was restructured into a holding company structure. As the Group CEO of Access Corporation, the holding company, Herbert added economic diplomacy to his huge responsibilities. He visited foreign leaders, spoke about Africa renaissance, the climate crisis, green energy, the roles of tech in finance and the importance of giving our youths the opportunities they deserve as the bank expanded across Africa into Europe and Asia. The bank has invested billions of dollars in the 15 African economies it has operations in. The messages from Presidents Emmanuel Macron of France and Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa say it all.

    I have reached out to Aig and a few other members of the Access family. The Group has lost three members in as many months. This must be the most difficult moment in the life of the institution, but I’m heartened to note that Aig has pledged to ensure that Herbert’s personal dreams, including the university, are not aborted. Now Herbert’s children are orphans. Losing their parents in such a circumstance could be traumatic. I trust that Aig will now step in to play a fatherly role to them (Proverbs 18:24).

    I am told that we should not or cannot question the decisions of the Almighty God. I have also been told that God is not capable of doing bad things. But the mysteries of this life continue to confound me. Why are the good ones dying off so suddenly? While those who have stolen from this country and mismanaged it continue to flourish, others who worked hard to contribute to its development are quickly taken from us, some so violently.

    The last message Herbert sent to me was that he would never be discouraged from working to change Nigeria positively. The development of this country was his obsession. May his aged parents, siblings, friends and colleagues be consoled.

  • Peter Obi in Akwa Ibom – By ETIM ETIM

    Peter Obi in Akwa Ibom – By ETIM ETIM

    I have actually been looking forward to seeing Peter Obi in Uyo for a campaign. I have seen a couple of videos of his campaign events in other places, but I was eager to see him in real life address a crowd. The fact that his wife, Margaret, is from this state heightened the expectancy. Will the people take to her? Will the crowd be big and enthusiastic? At about 3 pm this afternoon (Tuesday, December 20), I drove into Unity Park along Udo Udoma Avenue, venue of the rally. The candidate had pulled in some 30 minutes earlier. The crowd was surprisingly big, despite the fact that people were not ‘mobilized’ and bussed in from the hinterland across the state, as is the practice. In other words, this was no hired crowd; they came on their own. ‘’These are authentic Obi supporters, and I can say that 98% of these people will vote for Peter Obi’’, said Isang Isatt, a PDP chieftain who is Obidient. ‘’They came on their own. They were not hired’’, he said.

    When I arrived, a youth leader was rounding off his speech, and soon Prof Pat Utomi took the microphone. I understand Aisha Yusuf had spoken earlier. I had known Utomi since 1988 when, as a young business reporter in The Guardian, I had gone to Volkswagen to interview him. He was then in charge of corporate communications of the auto maker. In 2002, he took me in a communications course at LBS. Since then, he has turned a full-fledged politician. In 2015, he contested for governor of home Delta State under APC. His speech this afternoon was fiery, passionate and resounding. ‘’With Peter Obi, we shall take back our country’’, he chanted repeatedly, his face reddened and contorted as usual, voice shaking and the crowd jumping and responding, ‘’yea, yes…’’. Soon, a helicopter hovered over the field and landed away from the crowd. Someone standing near me speculated that it might have brought the PSquare twins. ‘’They had planned to come’’, he said. Exaggerations thrive in politics.

    After Utomi, more speeches came from NLC leaders, the disabled community, party chieftains and the well-known comedian, Ime Bishop (Okon Lagos), who introduced Mrs Obi. She looked radiant and gorgeous and wowed the crowd when she broke into fluent Ibibio, and reminded us that the husband is ukot to Akwa Ibom (in-law). Our people adore and dot on sons-in-law. The idea of an Akwa Ibom daughter in Aso Rock as the First Lady actually sounded so good to the people. Since 1999, First Ladies have become quasi presidents, managing pet projects and spending billions. ‘’You will have easy access to the Villa’’, she chimed. The crowd cheered. She would be walking the path taken by other angels: Stella, Turai, Patience and Aisha.

    We were now eagerly waiting for the candidate, and he did not disappoint. There were no signs that the crisis engulfing his chief strategist, Dr. Doyin Okukpe, had any impact on him. Yesterday, I had sent Obi a private message that Okukpe should be encouraged to step aside to avoid distractions. I am glad that was done. Obi’s campaign has set the bar very high.

    Obi started his remarks by highlighting the key qualities that set him and his running mate apart from the other three main candidates: youthfulness and vitality; good education and unblemished records. The others would spend more time in hospitals than in office, he implied and the crowd applauded in acquiescence. Then Obi promised to complete Ibaka Deep Sea Port, ‘’forty years after it was first mooted. Even the children of Israel were freed after 40 years. I will build and complete Ibaka after these past 40 years’’. Some people laughed; others sighed. He continued: ‘’The chopper that landed a while ago came to pick me to Ibaka. I want to inspect the site’’. The crowd loved to hear that. Peter Obi loves symbolism and plays it up now and then. Afterall, he went to inspect electricity project in Egypt early this year just to learn how the Arab nation accomplished energy sufficiency! Ibaka has the deepest natural draft in the country and it’s the most naturally suitable location for a deep-sea port. Even the colonial government documented its quality as a port location. That it has not been developed all these years is one of Nigerian mysteries. Obi promised to end ASUU strike, fix education, fix agriculture and turn it into the new crude oil and end oil theft. It was fun listening to Obi swing effortlessly from English to pidgin English. He has learned fast on the stump.