The suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, has disowned groups organising protests in her support to be reinstated to President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.

Edu, in a release on Monday by her media aide, Rasheed Olanrewaju, claimed that she did not authorise groups to organise public prayers and protests on her behalf.

The suspended minsiter said she was confident and committed to the government’s ongoing inquiry and was fully collaborating with the authorities.

Edu added that she did not sponsor any public activity and urged those behind the planned actions to stop it for smooth investigation into the allegations made against her.

The statement reads: “Following recent developments, would like to thank various stakeholders for their immense support since the unfortunate chain of events at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. Dr Betta Edu remains committed and confident in the investigative process instituted by President Bola Tinubu and is cooperating fully with relevant authorities.

“The Minister has however been made aware of several efforts by individuals, supporters and others to organise public prayers, road walk and or protests to show public support.

“We wish to use this medium to state that such efforts are not approved by her or any member of her team and should be discontinued forthwith because such efforts – no matter how noble the intent, it could be seen as an attempt to pre-empt the outcome of the investigations, or can be hijacked by nefarious persons with ulterior motives.

“We kindly request that those with such plans should show their support by respecting the process and await the official findings and conclusions.

“Your understanding and cooperation are highly appreciated at this time. She is indeed grateful for the overwhelming support from Nigerians across all strata of society especially those most dear to her heart; the Poor and vulnerable.

“By God’s Grace, she will be back to continue her selfless service to humanity, especially to the poorest of the poor whose prayers have kept her strong thus far.”

The Federal Government, on Monday, said the Education Tax under the Federal Inland Revenue Service would serve as one of the funding sources for the recently established Student Loan Scheme.

This was as it detailed the conditions that an applicant must meet to qualify for the loan.

It said the scheme would be fully automated to ensure zero human involvement in the application and processing of the loans to applicants.

“That is why the education tax fund is one of the sources of funding that we will use to execute this programme,” said FIRS Chairman, Dr Zacch Adedeji, when he addressed State House Correspondents after briefing President Bola Tinubu on the impending launch of the scheme at the Aso Rock Villa on Monday.

Barely one week earlier, the Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, revealed that the scheme was on track to start in January 2024 as the President promised last October.

Adedeji, who spoke alongside the Executive Secretary of the Student Loan Board, Dr Akintunde Sawyerr, said channeling the education tax into the scheme was the administration’s way of being accountable to Nigerian taxpayers.

“This is in fulfillment of Mr President’s promise that we will make education accessible to all. This is one of the schemes where we will be applying the education tax that we collect.

“It is a way of being accountable to the taxpayers because the essence of education tax is to consolidate and restore education integrity and quality. In fulfilling that part of the Act, education tax fund is one of the sources of funding that we will use to execute this programme,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of the Scheme, Sawyerr, who gave his first public briefing on the programme said eligible applicants would route their requests through the loan app or website, affirming that the scheme would be devoid of human involvement.

He itemised the application process, saying prospective candidates must avail their JAMB registration number, date of birth, National Identification Number and Biometric Verification Number, among others.

“The applicant will go on to a portal, or they will engage with the app. They will have to put in certain pieces of information that make them eligible, such as their JAMB number and, of course, the tie-in to their date of birth.

“Further pieces of information include their NIN, which confirms that they are Nigerians. This loan scheme is being paid for by Nigerian taxpayers. So, it’s for Nigerians and the NIN helps verify and qualify them as such.

“Their BVN is for financial inclusion because this scheme in itself will, at some point, be able to empower students, so we need to know they have bank accounts. We need to know where their accounts are to be able to access those accounts.

“It will also have their matric number and admission number so that we can firmly establish which institution they are going to because one of the key elements of this is that once we have received applications and those applications are approved, the fees or the tuition requirements in terms of financials will be transferred directly to the institution. That in itself has benefits for the institution,” The Executive Secretary explained.

While likening the loan to a bridge linking the desire for further education and the funds to do so, Sawyerr explained that the FG was keen to ensure that young Nigerians do not fail to acquire tertiary education simply because they lack the funds.

He said, “The intention behind it is to ensure that the reason for not being able to go on and further your education at a tertiary level is not for the lack of finance. This law seeks to bridge the gap between the desire to study and the capacity to go further. It seeks to bridge that gap that is created by lack of finance and funding.”

The Loan Chief explained that the scheme would enable Nigerians to pick a career trajectory of their choice rather than being forced into other paths because they were unable to acquire vital education.

He also affirmed that the loan would help to stem the dangerous journey undertaken by Nigerian youths across the Sahel to Europe in search of a better life.

“Some of the opportunities provided by the scheme include enrolling intending students in teacher training programmes and vocational skills.

“The programme provides opportunities for Nigerian students who want to go into the academic and get a university degree or perhaps want the technical side and acquire some vocational skills and also in the teacher training space.

“This intervention will affect the lives of many Nigerian youths because that’s usually the bracket to further their education. It will enable us to intervene and support families, particularly the needy,” he explained.

The Executive Secretary disclosed that the school fees for successful applicants would be transferred directly to their institutions.

On June 12, 2023, President Bola Tinubu signed the Student Loan Bill into law. The move was in “fulfilment of one of his campaign promises to liberalise funding of education,” a member of the then Presidential Strategy Team, Dele Alake, told journalists. The law enables indigent students to access loans at interest-free rates.

Declaring the 29th session of the annual Nigeria Economic Summit in Abuja open on October 23, 2023, the President said, “By January 2024, the new Students Loan Programme must commence. To the future of our children and students, we’re saying no more strikes!”

President Bola Tinubu has justified his cabinet of 47 ministers saying the number reflects the diversity of roles required to run an efficient government.

The president expressed doubt about reducing his cabinet, saying no guarantee this would boost performance

He also urged the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria to propagate the message of tolerance and hope amongst Nigerians, warning that the opposite could damage the country beyond repair.

Tinubu, who emphasised the role of faith leaders in fostering unity and peace in the country, also said his administration would not relent in addressing corruption and other vices as such endeavour sets the country right for the prosperity of all Nigerians.

“If you combine too many ministries because you want to save money, you will have a future of non-performance and no results,” Tinubu said when he received a delegation of the CAN, led by its President, Daniel Okoh, at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, revealed this in a statement he signed on Monday titled, ‘President Tinubu to can leadership: we will continue to fight corruption; Nigeria is ours to fix.

Tinubu acknowledged criticisms over his heavily-staffed cabinet. However, he said merging portfolios would only heap some officials with more burdens than they can bear.

Former Presidents Muhammadu Buhari, Goodluck Jonathan, Umaru Yar’Adua, and Olusegun Obasanjo had maintained relatively smaller cabinets. In his first and second tenure, Buhari appointed 36 and 42 ministers respectively.

In 2011, his predecessor, Jonathan, named 33 ministerial-nominees, retaining nine persons from the Yar’Adua administration.

In 2007, Yar’Adua appointed 39 persons into his cabinet. Obasanjo initially named 42 ministers in 1999 but later shed two roles. He also reduced the number of ministries to 20 before the end of his tenure in 2007.

However, President Tinubu named 48 ministers, the highest in Nigeria’s 24-year return to democracy.

Justifying this move, he said, “I have had a number of criticisms, including the rationale behind the size of my cabinet. If you want efficient, mobile, and resourceful people, we have to give people a load they can carry.”

“If you combine too many ministries because you want to save money, you will have a future of non-performance and no results.

“Nigeria needs to turn the corner to grow, and we must give people challenges they can manage, and that is what we are doing,” the President added.

President Tinubu also called on Christian leaders to support the administration’s ongoing fight against corruption by encouraging Nigerians to have a change of mindset on money-related matters.

He said, “Let us dialogue because public condemnation of a nation is not what makes any citizen a good one.

“We must admonish Nigerians to have a change of mindset and not to make money our god or master. I believe we will get to the Promised Land, and Nigeria will flourish.”

The President also called for inputs from the clergy saying his administration will continue to maintain its open-door policy.

“We are here to listen, and if you observe any inadequacies in my government, let us know. I am here today because of your prayers and the will of God Almighty. What I have challenged myself to do each day is to be fair to all Nigerians.”

In his remarks, Okoh urged President Tinubu not to relent in providing good governance by ensuring security, inclusivity, and peaceful co-existence in the country.

He said, “You have extended a hand of fellowship to us, and we embrace you and your family with the love of Christ and promise to partner with you in nation-building, for the task is quite daunting. You will not stumble, and you will not fall.

“We believe that you have the sagacity to give leadership in battling our challenges and turning around the fortunes of our nation, Nigeria, within a short time. You have shown that you are a listening leader, and we appreciate this.

“CAN has maintained an active presence at all levels, from the national to the grassroots, and we have remained non-partisan. You will always find our association as a ready and willing partner in nation-building.”

Before the 2023 general election, many Nigerians expected the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and Labour Party to form an alliance against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).However, the expectation couldn’t materialize over reasons best known to the political actors involved in the negotiation of the alliance and the ruling party retained the presidency. Since after the election, there have been talks of alliance between the opposition parties and most analysts believed that alliance will strengthen the country’s democracy by creating a strong and dynamic opposition against the APC. Others believed that the alliance will fail as it did in 2023 over personal interest of key political actors and the consolidation of governance by the President Bola Tinubu administration. Despite the divergent views on the planned alliance, some key actors in the formation of the Obidient Movement, one of the most vibrant political movements in the history of Nigeria’s democratic journey, believe that an alliance of opposition forces is necessary before the 2027 general election.

The Convener of the National Consultative Front (NCFront), Prof. Pat Utomi, who shares this belief, recently disclosed that the presidential candidates of the PDP, LP and NNPP in the 2023 elections – Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Peter Obi – as well as Ralph Okey Nwosu, founder and pioneer national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have agreed to form a mega party that will wrestle power from the ruling APC in 2027. Noting that the coming together of the opposition leaders is in the interest of the country, Utomi said: “We’re not talking about names yet. Besides, these politicians I mentioned, I’m talking about leaders of social movements and the labour movement and so on. I have even been part of creating a new tribe; Nigerians who are committed to certain values, who say I will not give a bribe, I will not take a bribe. And you can then create a set of values that can lead to progress in the country. “The way we are today, a few people in the world are willing to engage with Nigeria. They think there’s a collapse of culture and values in Nigeria. You can’t trust Nigerians. All kinds of things are here. It’s a clean start. It’s a really clean start. You have to start from the premise that Nigeria has not had a political party since 1999. Let’s be very honest with ourselves, what we have managed is to create platforms that enable politiciams to grab power, usually for state capture. “If you want to test that, check how much the quality of life of a Nigerian has improved since 1999. It’s frightening, but the truth of the matter is that in 1999, a political class managed to build a certain coalition of accommodation to keep the military out and share the spoils of power. And somehow, they did not manage to create an alignment with the Nigerian people to improve the quality of their lives. “This is why you can see Nigeria deteriorating, becoming the poverty capital of the world, becoming the centre of widespread violence. And if you want to take some clear examples, I want anybody who is a political scientist, or economist in Nigeria to look at where India was in 1999 and where Nigeria was in terms of mood, violence in politics, the quality of life of people and where they both are today. “In 1991, India was technically bankrupt. Foreign reserves could not accommodate more than three weeks of trading. What has happened since 1999 is that India’s politics has managed to focus on the rational engagement of a developmental state. If you look at the numbers today, India is now speeding past the so-called miracle economies of South-East Asia. “Nigeria, on the other hand, has been travelling in the reverse direction. What better explanation can there be than the fact that Nigeria has not managed to organise the structures for political participation that can focus on the Nigerian people and lift their lives?”

Atiku’s proposition

Apart from Prof Utomi, Atiku has equally expressed willingness to lead a coalition of opposition parties to oust the ruling APC. In a congratulatory message to governors of PDP extraction whose elections were upheld by the Supreme Court, the former vicepresident reaffirmed his position that only a united opposition force can strengthen democracy in Nigeria. His words: “I am as prepared as ever to lead the charge, alongside all our leaders and governors, for the good of our country. Where justice is seen to have been substantially rendered, we, as patriots and citizens, will always applaud.” Describing the decision of the Supreme Court as good news for the people of Bauchi, Plateau, Cross River, and Zamfara states and, indeed, a win for constitutional democracy, Atiku also congratulated the governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf, Atiku added that by the verdict of the apex court, there is a guaranteed continuation of the standards of good governance that the PDP has brought to the respective states. He urged the respective PDP governors, Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Barr. Caleb Muftwang (Plateau) and Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom) to see their wins at the Supreme Court as an opportunity to consolidate and expand the scope of the good governance they have already established. The former vice president noted that with the electioneering phase now concluded, he is certain that the PDP will now be able to focus on its role as the major opposition party in the country, with the party’s able governors at the helm along with his humble self.

It would be recalled that Atiku, who has repeatedly declared his resolve to continue to struggle with other Nigerians to deepen the nation’s democracy had earlier called for opposition political parties to come together and create a more formidable front that will salvage Nigeria’s democracy from sliding into a one-party state. He stressed that a formidable coalition is necessary to address the perceived decline in democratic values and to prevent Nigeria from becoming a de facto one-party system. He also noted that the project of protecting democracy in the country is not about just one man. “The project of protecting democracy in our country is not about just one man. But the truth of the matter is that our democracy is fast becoming a one-party system; and, of course, you know that when we have a one-party system, we should just forget about democracy. “We have all seen how the APC is increasingly turning Nigeria into a dictatorship of one party. If we don’t come together to challenge what the ruling party is trying to create, our democracy will suffer for it, and the consequences of it will affect the generations yet unborn,” he said.

Kwankwaso still contemplating next move

As Atiku and other key actors behind Peter Obi push for an alliance, Kwankwaso seems not to be interested in the 2027 general election discussion. The former Kano State governor has maintained that only time will tell if he will join President Tinubu’s administration. His words: “What happened at the Supreme Court is a lesson for all of us. I know that I mean well to everyone. Throughout the period, I have not done anything to anyone. And anybody would reap what he sows. “To the best of my knowledge, I have not reached an agreement with anybody. All I know is that President Bola Tinubu is my contemporary. I joined politics at the same time as him in the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Then he was a senator and I was serving as the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives. In 1999, he was my colleague as the governor of Lagos State. “We founded the APC together and we participated fully in the struggles which followed up. People should know that a lie has a short life. Despite the machinations those people staged, the judges have done what is right. There is no problem. They have their party; we have our own. We will work together where necessary and on the issue of joining the government, only time can tell.”

Seven opposition parties hold talks

Apart from the revelation of Prof Utomi, seven opposition political parties have commenced talks for a possible coalition or merger. The coalition is made up of the PDP, NNPP, ADC, Social Democratic Party (SDP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Young Progressives Party (YPP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). The seven opposition political parties, which spoke under the umbrella of Coalition of Concerned Political Parties, expressed concern over the integrity of the judiciary in Nigeria and national security as well as fear of Nigeria sliding into a one-party state. The coalition also expressed worry over the level of instability in the country, urging the judiciary to save Nigeria’s democracy and rid itself of political and executive interference. Speaking at a press conference after a preliminary meeting, the acting National Secretary of the PDP, Setonji Koshoedo, who represented the party’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, said: “The coalition wants to offer strong opposition for the good of Nigeria. We have to offer alternative solutions to government policies.”

The National Chairman of the SDP, Shehu Gabam, on his part, noted: “We looked into the issue of the judiciary. The judiciary is the last hope of the common man if it still stands. We are worried about the level of instability the country is going through. “The judiciary should strengthen their conviction towards delivering judgements that can stand the test of time. They should not allow us politicians to infiltrate their rank, sanity and capacity to deliver judgements that are internationally sound and can be recognized.” On insecurity, Gabam averred that the security situation in the country is getting worse. “We have looked at the security situation in the country with a lot of concern. When the President came in, he promised to do everything humanly possible to secure the lives and properties of Nigerians. We want to urge him to do more than he is doing; the security situation is not improving. “For us to have a conducive environment, where people can invest domestically and internationally, the nation must be secured. Any nation that can’t secure the lives of citizens cannot think of attracting investors from anywhere. The environment is choked, it is not secured, people cannot move freely; they need to rejig the security system,” he said. Gabam urged the National Assembly to review and rejig the 2024 budget, lamenting that Nigeria is operating a theoretical budget and not an operational budget. He said: “We have also looked at the issue of the Renewed Hope Budget. We have analysed that budget and in our humble analysis and opinion, we believe strongly that the National Assembly needs to step in and review the budget. “Our population is over 200 million; we don’t want a budget that is theory-based. The budget must be operational. It is in the interest of the country for the leadership to develop an operational budget, not a budget based on projections and theories that cannot be realised.” The ADC National Chairman, Nwosu, who also spoke, said “the idea behind the coalition is to strengthen our democracy as we have seen that people in government are trying to stifle viable opposition.”

LP likely to key in

Although the Labour Party was not at the meeting, its National Chairman, Julius Abure, who spoke differently, said if a merger or coalition becomes an option, his party will consider the option. Abure, who assessed the outcome of the 2023 elections and the off-season Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi governorship elections, said it was apparent that Nigeria is gradually sliding to a oneparty state. He said: “From the pronouncements of the courts, there are genuine fears being expressed that Nigeria is moving towards a one-party state. So, if a merger of the opposition parties will save Nigeria; why not! If it will save our democracy; why not! If it will help us have results; why not! If it will enhance our institutions and put food on our table; why not!” Abure, however, said that Labour Party is yet to consider the idea, but added: “It is an option we can look at. The Labour Party has not taken a position on the proposed, but if that becomes an option to save Nigeria, why not!”

Obi’s position

Despite the determination of these opposition parties to form an alliance, Obi has insisted that the Labour Party is committed to building a better and a new Nigeria where they would move Nigeria from consumption to production. The former Anambra State governor, who spoke at a mega rally in Edo State, said reports of a merger were rumours. “Labour Party will continue to grow. We will continue to get stronger and better. Half of the things you are hearing everywhere are rumours, don’t listen to them. We are committed to building a better and a new Nigeria where we will move Nigeria from consumption to production,” Obi said. Also, one of the spokespersons for the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council (LP-PCC), Yunusa Tanko, who spoke on the issue, described the rumoured merger between the PDP, NNPP and the LP as unattainable. He added that discussions with political parties of like minds who believe in the party’s ideology and principles remain open, reiterating that there is no foreclosure on the matter. “When you talk about merger, it means that political parties from different parts of the country submit their document to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and then they will be pronounced as a new political party, which isn’t obtainable at the moment. So, the merger is out of the question technically. But, when you talk about discussion on the possibility of an alliance of opposition parties; that is possible.” He, however, acknowledged that talks about a possible merger were ongoing even before the 2023 elections but could not happen, reiterating that an alliance is possible.

A former National Chairman of the PDP, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, on his part, said the PDP, LP and NNPP have realised they made a mistake. He noted that if the parties had remained together, they would have been able to beat APC in the 2023 presidential election. He said: “Well, I don’t think there is talk of a merger, but I think the three parties have realised they made a mistake. If they had remained together, they would have been able to beat APC hands down. It would have been a landslide victory for them. Therefore, it makes sense for them to begin to think about how to cooperate. That is simple arithmetic.” The Spokesperson for the Forum of State Chairmen of NNPP, Dada Olayinka Olabode, who also reacted to the report, dismissed it as a figment of the imagination of the discussants. Olabode in a statement acknowledged that the party had been inundated with reports on merger talks amongst the PDP, LP and NNPP. He, however, said that it would amount to a sell-out to think of a merger or alliance without proper consultation with the different organs of the party structure. He noted that NNPP is a growing political party whose prospects have brightened with mass acceptability amongst Nigerians. With the cacophony of voices surrounding the proposed alliance, many Nigerians are anxiously hoping and waiting that the move will materialize. But until then, Nigeria’s democracy requires a vibrant opposition party that will put the ruling APC on its toes.

Critics of globalism and capitalism have continually raised questions about the relevance of the World Economic Forum (WEF) established by Professor Klaus Schwab in 1971 originally as the European Management Forum; it later became the World Economic Forum in 1987, with Davos, in Switzerland as its home – a forum for addressing the urgent issues facing the world and seeking answers to define a pathway to the future. The very idea that a selected gang of the rich and the elite of the world, drawn from the public and private sectors and subsequently from civil society, would sit around for a few days, and pretend to lead the world to the future, in an all-knowing manner, without the poor, the world’s vast majority being at the table is a major source of objection by the anti-globalists who in addition insist that every nation has its own peculiar interests that cannot be subsumed under a global agenda. The WEF 2024 was held 14 - 19 January 2024, in Davos. I was there as part of the Arise News Team of correspondents covering the conference – my fourth or fifth time in Davos, having been there yearly during my tour of duty as Presidential Spokesperson for Nigeria. 

Whatever may be the ideological objections of those who stayed away from this year’s event, the relevance of the WEF as a conference where important conversations about the human condition take place, was not in any way diminished. In addition to the natural conscientious objectors, that is the traditional nay-sayers, Turkey boycotted this year’s conference- President Recep Erdogan having instructed his Minister of Finance not to go anywhere near Davos because the place would be full of pro-Israel and anti-Palestine ideologues. Russia was also absent, perhaps understandably. Over 2, 000 Russian elites are banned from going near Europe, having been declared as persona non grata in the Eurozone. The last time Russia attended was in 2021, before the Ukrainian invasion of 2021, and that was virtually. But China was all over the place, with a large delegation led by Prime Minister Li Qiang, looking for finance, trade and commerce. India was also conspicuously present, setting up an India House at the Davos Promenade, erecting banners and messages by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at chosen spots. The Indians were looking for the same things as the Chinese. 

Overall, the attendance was rich, the organization was clock-work efficient, the people of Davos did not stand in the way of the over 2, 800 persons from more than 60 countries who attended this year’s conference. Every January, Davos offers a delightful experience to its visitors: an opportunity for knowledge, ideas and interaction, and a memorable vacation for those who enjoy skiing on the Swiss Alps. I have never found the weather delightful though: snow-capped skyline, bitterly cold weather – during the week, we had to survive a range of -4 to -11; at one point my right hand was frozen. I shivered. It was as if I had been placed inside a deep refrigerator. All that talk about global warming, please Davos was so cold and harsh, like a scene from T. S. Eliot’s The Wasteland. Nonetheless, WEF/DAVOS 2024 deserves special praise for the efforts of Professor Klaus Schwab and his partners. They delivered, characteristically. The theme for this year’s conference was “Rebuilding Trust”- which seems to be a continuation of the. theme for WEF 2022 viz: “Working Together: Restoring Trust”. The theme is further broken down into four sub-themes: (a) Achieving security and co-operation in a fractured world, (b) Creating growth and jobs for a new era (c) Artificial intelligence as a driving force for the economy and society and (d) A long-term strategy for climate, nature, and energy. Under the umbrella of multi-stakeholder capitalism, the organizers of the conference sought to draw attention to the basics to improve conversations about -principles of transparency, accountability and collective agency forged through research, alliances and frameworks that drive co-operation and partnerships. 

Indeed, a. prominent theme at this year’s conference was the urgent need to rebuild trust among the nations of the world, against the backdrop of geo-political and economic tensions and the issues were well covered in the various conversations- the Russian-Ukraine war, Israel vs Hamas, and the escalating tensions in the Middle East, from the Red Sea, to Lebanon and Iran and the implications for global trade and peace; climate change issues, the sustainability of the planet, debt issues, North-South schisms, the positive and negative sides of Artificial Intelligence - a great moment in human history and how to prevent it from becoming “the next Hiroshima” through caution and regulation. Most countries of the world are struggling with high levels of unemployment and debt. What is the best people-centric strategy for the world? 

As expected, there was ample focus on the need to build co-operation and collaboration in a fragmented world.  I am not sure there was any consensus reached on that subject. The leaders of the world left the Conference not anywhere any decision that the world can become united or that peace is guaranteed. Turkey and Russia had dismissed the conference on the grounds of trust. Argentina’s President Javier Milei who spoke at the conference advised world leaders to embrace “free enterprise capitalism” as the only solution to poverty, and must avoid socialist ideas about trying to save the world. UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres at the conference attended by at least 27 fossil fuel companies, including Shell, Aramco, and BP accused the same multinationals of sheer hypocrisy and dubious, murky conduct with regard to greenhouse gas emissions. The last man had not yet left Davos-Klosters when Guterres’s concern was confirmed. Last Friday, Exxon Mobil sued two of its investors at a US District Court in Texas- Follow This and Arjuna Capital - to prevent the climate activists from seeking a contrarian vote at its annual shareholder meeting on 29 March. But the matter about trust was settled finally, I think, when Israeli President Isaac Herzog showed up. He said pointedly that Israel can never trust Hamas, or Palestine terror and that what the world is dealing with is not Israel vs Hamas but the world versus an empire of evil backed by Iran. He wants Israeli hostages released. Israel rejects a two-state solution. Herzog says Saudi Arabia should normalize relations with Israel as a way to peace. Saudi Arabia gives peace in Gaza as a condition and has not shown any willingness to embrace Israel. Qatar, Jordan, and Iraq leaders speaking at Davos were also pro-Palestine. 

However, DAVOS 2024 provided an opportunity for the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky to present his case to the world. In the event of the escalating crisis in the Middle East, the world had almost forgotten about Ukraine. Zelensky showed up to ask the allies not to forget Ukraine and the need to pile more pressures on Russia. The war in Ukraine dominated discussions. Zelensky got commitments from the global and political elite – US National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, US Foreign Secretary, Antony Blinken, EU Commission’s Ursula von der Leyen, and global business elite, JP Morgan’s Jamie Dimon – all promising that Ukraine will be refinanced and supported. The Middle East also of course dominated discussions, with pro-Palestine countries calling for peace and an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. Leaders at WEF/DAVOS 2024 thought a re-set of the global architecture was possible, something in the nature of a Grand Redesign. Hence, discussions around climate change focused on how to sustain the planet- the biodiversity, water, climate finance/ adaptation, clean energy. The world is imperiled with temperatures racing close to a 2.8 increase in temperatures in the face of dubious greenwashing. DAVOS 2024 was meant to follow up on commitments made at COP 28 in Dubai. I don’t think much progress was made in this regard. 

But there were national commitments and promises as usual. World leaders were genuinely anxious about the possibility of Donald Trump returning as US President in November 2024, now that he got 51% at Iowa, and he is set to win at New Hampshire, which would make him the presumptive Republican candidate for the 2024 US Presidential election. Trump is the very opposite of what the globalists stand for. He preaches America First in every circumstance. He had pulled America out of the Paris Climate Agreement, he also threatened to pull America out of NATO, and now he says he can resolve the Russian-Ukraine war in 24 hours. It is certain that he will go against Ukraine and support Russia. It is also certain that his return may prove chaotic for the world. US Business leaders seemed non-plussed in Davos, arguing that the US has enough checks and balances to put Trump in check if he wins. The reality is that out of about 50 elections in year 2024 worldwide, the one that poses the biggest threat is that of the US and that is because of Trump! At Davos, French President Emmanuel Macron talked about Europe becoming more self-assertive through financial integration, Ursula von de Leyen talked about the future of Europe, African leaders – Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Nana Akuffo-Addo of Ghana, and VP Kashim Shettima of Nigeria made a strong case for foreign investments in Africa as partners and collaborators. 

Artificial intelligence also dominated the conference. It is positively responsible for the world’s biggest current disruptions, but how can it be prevented from becoming another Hiroshima? Big tech was on full display at Davos Promenade. But what is the future? Not blockchain. But AI. North-South schism and threats to global trade and how to create economic growth in emerging economies and underserved countries formed part of the conversation. There were concerns as well about global economic growth, unemployment, the role of banks and debt burdens. International media covered the narratives pretty well and the Davos organizers did a good job of providing free snacks and beverages for the media, upstairs at the Registration Centre. 

Nigeria did well at the Conference, I can confidently report. Nigeria was at Davos with a pruned down delegation of five persons led by Vice President Kashim Shettima. There were other Nigerians there of course including Ministers, but they were there on their own accord, not part of the Presidential delegation. I had the opportunity of interviewing Senator Shettima, Nigeria’s VP and at the end of the interview, he asked if the Arise TV crew could travel with him back to Nigeria because his aircraft was empty. He was even the one who declined on our behalf. He eventually said it would not be a good idea. We could not have accepted the offer anyway. We had our own travel arrangements, but it was good to see for the first time that Nigeria, after President Tinubu’s slash of official entourages could travel light to a foreign event. There were other Nigerian officials but they seemed sensible enough not to travel with wives, girlfriends, boyfriends, relatives and concubines. This is a good signal but the Tinubu administration needs to do a lot more if it is serious about plugging leakages and wastages. 

VP Kashim Shettima was at the private sector event on how to scale up the African economy – the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA) and opportunities for integration. He also spoke at a session on how to Restore Faith in the Global System. He held meetings on the sidelines with world leaders. He was generally all over the place selling Nigeria, delivering President Bola Tinubu’s message to the world. Being a former banker, he understood the language of the Forum and delivered on the registers. My first direct, physical encounter with him in Davos was at the Nigeria Roundtable on Wednesday, January 17.  It was Nigeria’s main moment at the conference, beyond the other conversations.  Shettima was accompanied by Wale Edun, Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Mrs. Aisha Rimi, Executive Secretary, Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Minister of State, Oil and Gas, Heineken Lokpobiri; Olusegun Awolowo, Secretary, National Action Committee on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and Dr Femi Ademiluyi, National Coordinator of the National Talent Export Programme. I thought the Nigerian session on Business, designed to attract investor confidence went very well indeed. VP Shettima who chaired the event, told his audience: “Nigeria is the sleeping giant of Africa; it has woken up to shake the world”. He said “Welcome to Nigeria. Come to Nigeria, Believe in Nigeria.” Shettima has the gift of the garb. He sounded persuasive at that event that was attended by business leaders from Indorama, Bayern Leverkusen, Airtel, Futama, Cocacola, Manchester United, Standard Bank Group, and from the local front, Wale Tinubu of Oando, Adesola Adedutan of First Bank, Hassan Oye-Odukale of Leadway Assurance/FBN and a host of others. 

My next encounter with VP Shettima was at the Nigeria Night, organized by the Ministry of Creative Economy at the foyer of the Congress Hall. What a night! Glorious. Good for Nigeria. I watched VP Shettima putting up his best show that I had yet witnessed. Earlier in the day, he had quoted Napoleon Bonaparte to start his conversation. At the Nigerian Night, within a space of 30 minutes, he quoted a Chinese proverb, John Donne, Chinua Achebe, Ali Mazrui, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Thabo Mbeki, without looking at a sheet of paper. Then he danced to Nigerian music along with DJ Obi, providing music, and the likes of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the current Ministers twerking in glorious celebration of Nigeria. Oh, what a night! Professor Klaus Schwab joined us. Ghanaian President was also there. He arrived just after an international community had demolished Nigerian jollof and pepper soup generously provided by Nigeria’s Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy. Putting Nigeria on the world stage at Davos was a good initiative. Davos is a mix of everything: politics, culture, diversity, entertainment, entrepreneurship, innovation, culture, the scarcity of accommodation and a harsh weather! Other Nigerian public figures that I learnt were in Davos included Senators Jimoh Ibrahim, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Affairs, and Abdulaziz Yari, Senate Chairman on Water Resources, Senator Bassey Otu, Governor of Cross Rivers State, and Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State who all stayed away from the Nigerian community for reasons best known to them.   

I had a one-on-one interview with Senator Kashim Shettima the following day for Arise News. He was absolutely brilliant. He should be allowed to attend more of such international engagements. He is well chosen. He is smart. He can talk. He makes an effort to dance. He is all round-confident.

The Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele said the federal government is currently meeting with state governors to suspend what he described as “nuisance taxes” nationwide.

Oyedele disclosed this in an interview with Channels Television on Monday.

The former PWC chief stressed that while waiting for the legal instrument that part of the reforms requires before implementation, some consultations were ongoing to ensure smooth execution.

Recalls that, in August last year, President Bola Tinubu inaugurated the panel, saying it reflects his commitment to addressing challenges and bringing about transformative reforms in fiscal policy and taxation.

The committee’s primary objective is to enhance revenue collection efficiency, ensure transparent reporting, and promote the effective utilisation of tax and other revenues to boost citizens’ tax morale, foster a healthy tax culture, and drive voluntary compliance.

But Oyedele argued that banning nuisance taxes, which do not even go to government coffers, will ensure that the government makes more money while relieving the taxpayer of the burden of paying multiple taxes.

He said, “We are not waiting for the instrument to be out. Some of it would be, for example, asking states and local governments to suspend nuisance taxes that just create problems with very little revenue to show for it.

“We are already meeting with the governors. In some cases, we will set off small committees to discuss with their team. So, we’re already working on that. Once the thing is signed, there’s no excuse, just implement it like the next day,” he added.

He emphasised that when the governors agreed, then more than 90 percent of the problem would have been solved, with the local governments following closely.

He said, “So, we’re discussing with the governors first and demonstrating to them why this is good for the local government, good for them and good for us as a people. Once the governors agree, then, we’re not going to ignore the local governments.

“We are now taking a top-down approach, but we will engage with everyone, including during the conference of speakers, and the forums of finance commissioners. We’re engaging with everyone,” he added.

The chairman stated that he believes that most of the levies that are charged by the collectors do not get to the government, stressing that the current chaos of multiple taxation nationwide will be eliminated when implantation starts.

Oyedele, while making reference to the Bureau of Statistics, he stated that for 2022, all the local governments in Nigeria that sent reports to them, didn’t even collect N50 billion naira in a whole year, even though a lot is taken by non-state actors.

According to him, if properly streamlined, just the collection of stickers on vehicles could attract as much as N50 billion Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for just one of the big local governments in the country.

“I think only one local government should collect N50 billion. The amount of wastage is mind-boggling.

“You don’t want to fathom it. And the reason why it’s so painful is that these are the monies we are extracting from the poorest people.

“But when you extract money from people who are just trying to make ends meet on a day-to-day basis, it’s painful that those monies are pilfered and you know, they are extorted and all of that.

“The state is not benefiting, the local government is not benefiting and the people are sacrificing, they are going through pain. So, what we are proposing is vastly different and benefits everyone,” he said.

The committee chairman said he was as impatient as many Nigerians to see the results of the reforms and, more importantly, the impact on the people, particularly the small businesses.

“Unfortunately, fiscal policy matters are not as quick. So if you make a monetary policy decision today, you can see the impact tomorrow. Sometimes, fiscals take a little longer but even at that,” he said.

He stated that efforts were on to present some bills to the lawmakers so that Nigerian people could begin to feel the positive impact sooner rather than later, saying that by the end of the first quarter, the process would have been concluded.

According to him, when the new reforms take effect, payment of taxes will be easier.

“You can pay it once or you pay it in installments and electronically. It shouldn’t be that hard. It should not be harder to pay taxes than it is to buy pizza. So, the receipt comes on your phone.

“That way, the money gets to the government, and the people pay less. The government collects more and then we can then move on to the second phase of what we are also working on, which is how to spend that money to benefit the people,” he said.

According to him, the view of the committee is that the local government can collect more than 10 times what they are collecting now by following the recommendations.

“We are looking for sources where we can find at least N50 billion which we can then use to compensate them for suspending the taxes we’re asking them to suspend.

“We’re also thinking about how you bring all stakeholders on board because at the end of the day, if you stop the livelihood of anyone, whether they are earning it legitimately or not, you can create crises that would be difficult to manage.

“But once you bring everybody in, maybe we need to train those area boys and touts, give them uniforms and then they’ll be the ones to ask you to show the evidence on your phone.

“And then they get paid a decent salary. And if you give them the skills, some of them will on their own, move on from that job to something else. So, our strategy is to think about what’s best for our country and get all stakeholders to align,” he said.

Jose Peseiro has made four changes to the team to play against Guinea-Bissau in their final Group A encounter on Monday evening.

The Portuguese coach has dropped captain William Troost-Ekong and in comes experienced Kenneth Omeruo who will take up the armband.

Other include Joe Aribo and Bright Osayi-Samuel who are making their first starts, while Moses Simon returns to the starting eleven after being dropped for the 1-0 win over Ivory Coast last week Thursday.

Samuel Chukwueze and Calvin Bassey retain their places while Victor Osimhen continues to lead the line.

The Super Eagles are on four points after two matches and will look to possibly take top spot in the group with victory in a match that begins 6pm Nigerian time.

Super Eagles Starting XI: Nwabali, Bassey, Omeruo, Ajayi, Osayi-Samuel, Aina, Onyeka, Aribo, Moses, Chukwueze, Osimhen

An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Monday sentenced a man, Ademola Oladimeji to four life imprisonment for sexually assaulting his three children.

The children were aged five, seven and nine.

Delivering judgment, Justice Abiola Soladoye, held that the evidence of the respective prosecution witnesses were believable and truthful.

Soladoye, however, said that their evidence established the offence of sexual assault by penetration and not defilement.

According to her, the evidence of the three survivors was corroborated by the investigative police officer and their mother’s.

He said: “Upon careful review of the evidence before the court, the children did not say their father inserted his penis into their ‘bumbum’, they only said he touched their ‘bumbum’.

“I observed the three of them. They did not lie against their father, they did not say he used his penis, he only used his fingers.

“The children gave an unshaken testimonies on how their father fiddle with their innocence multiple times by inserting his fingers into their vaginas.

“The wife of the defendant, in her testimony said the children complained of pain in their private and she was informed at the Mirabel Medical Centre that the children had been sexually assaulted.”

The judge added that defendant was desperate to distant himself from the allegation by denying the offences.

According to her: “To the mind of this court, I do not believe his narration though he denied fiddling his daughters but his testimony did not add up.

“His narration showed how desperate his is to get out of the charge against his own children.

“The court holds that there was penetration as oral and documentary evidence before the court pointed to the fact that defendant messed around with the purity of his three children.”

Soladoye said the conduct of the defendant was despicable, morally corrupt and incestuous and against the order of nature.

The judge, who said the prosecution failed to establish the three-count bordering on defilement, thereafter changed it to sexual assault by penetration and convicted him on each of the counts.

She also convicted Oladimeji of the fourth count charge of sexual assault by penetration and sentenced him to life imprisonment on each count.

The sentence, the judge held, would run concurrently.

Soladoye said that the name of the convict be registered in the Lagos State Sexual offences Register.

The state counsel, Mrs Olufunke Adegoke called five witnesses in proof of its case while the convict testified as a sole witness. (NAN)

No fewer than 6,700 traders have been displaced following the fire outbreak that consumed a section of the Mandilas building, a popular marketplace on Lagos Island.

Daily Trust learnt that the fire also destroyed 450 shops, 30 offices, including some law firms, two hotels and five restaurants.

The fire, which started from the first floor of the popular Mandilas house around 11am on Sunday, later spread to surrounding market stalls at Atunwase International Market.

The Iyaloja of Atunwase International Market Mandilas General, Alhaja Adeniji Rashidat, said goods worth billions were destroyed by the fire.

“Over 6,700 traders have been displaced from their business places following Sunday morning fire outbreak that consumed a section of the building. Also 450 shops, 30 offices, two hotels and five restaurants, were destroyed,” she said.

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Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in the South West, Ibrahim Farinloye, said the affected houses had been sealed to avoid loss of lives.

Farinloye confirmed that the fire displaced about 6,700 traders and destroyed 450 shops, 30 offices, two hotels and five restaurants.

“The fire which started at about 0011 hours began on the first floor where an alleged electric wielding activity was going on. It was alleged that the people around did not notice the fire until it was too late before fire service was contacted.

“The fire also spread to surrounding market stalls at Atunwase International Market with equal extensive damage as the main main complex,” he added.

Farinloye further said officials of the Lagos State Safety Commission and Building Control Agency were on the ground to assess the integrity of all buildings at the scene.

According to him, all structures have been locked down to prevent access to the shop for the safety of traders and the public.

“Other agencies on the ground today (Monday) are Lagos Fire services, Red Cross, Nigeria Police, Neighbourhood watch, Lagos Island Local Government Sanitation, Lagos State Business District are currently making efforts at making the scene safer for people,” he said.

Some football enthusiasts have expressed the hope that the Super Eagles will win their last group match against Guinea Bissau in the ongoing Total Energies African Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

The fans expressed their optimism ahead of the Monday encounter in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria in Enugu.

They, however, warned the senior national team not to underrate their Guinea Bissau as such could be dangerous.

A fan, Johnpaul Okolo, said he was optimistic that the Super Eagles would win by a wide margin, “if they put their act together”.

“I am not afraid of Guinea Bissau because I know the Eagles will beat them even with a wide margin.

“My advice to the team is that they should go all out from the blast of the whistle and get quick goals and never to underrate their opponent,” Okolo said.

Also, Chidinma Ibezim, said she was not disturbed about the match, adding that the Super Eagles just needed a draw to qualify for the next round.

She, however, warned the team not to take things for granted.

“In football, anything can happen. So, there should be no room for complacency. The Eagles must play with full strength and avoid silly mistakes that could make them lose the match,” Ibezim said.

Obiora Edeh, another fan, said he believed the match would not be as easy as people would think.

“Though Guinea Bissau have lost their last two games, they still have hope. The team will fight with their last blood, if not for anything, at least to redeem their image as a country,” Edeh said.

He, therefore, admonished the Super Eagles to be in their best form to be able to beat their Guinea-Bissau opponents.

“I don’t see the game as easy as people think, I will not be surprised if it ends in a draw, even though I would love Nigeria to carry the day,” he said.

The Super Eagles currently occupy the second position behind Equatorial Guinea, who will also play hosts Cote d’Ivoire today (Monday).