Akpo Esajere (1954-2024) exited not in the bloom of youth at 70, but his influence outdid his final deadline. His legacy grips memories and imaginations, binding hearts and minds, and making his transition at 70 premature. Esajere was not arrayed in the trappings of wealth or swathed in the cloak of widespread fame, but he was a curator of values, a pen luminary, a classicist of the political reporting genre, puritanical about scintillating prose, and a beacon of professional honour.

“Check the library”, he would say to the young reporter at inception, just so a fact can be double-checked. The Guardian newspaper library was reputed as a quintessential repository of all contemporary knowledge, especially around fleeting matters. “Go and check again, so that we can have all the angles”, he would instruct time and again, not only to validate cues but to boost a piece. “You are a reporter with calibre” he would hail, if it appears you have been checking and checking and getting weary “I believe in your ability to get it right and complete”

Then watch him draft an introduction to a story. I mean that spellbinding or compelling initial few words to welcome the reader in advance of details. Akpo could devout tens of offcuts (the loose sheets for drafting stories in days gone by), trying to get it right. Head immersed in the paper, he could do a first, with just two words and ignore it. He will try again and discard if still underpar. Then he would try another and then another until it jelled. This time, he will read it to himself, but to the hearing of an adjunct, just to be sure. Then he will proceed to the remaining paragraphs.

When the story reaches the next processing line, the famed The Guardian sub desk, a hub of literary excellence, where celebrated copy conjurers, maestros, that included, at different times, Rasaq Adedigba, Banji Adisa, Kayode Idowu, Eziuche Ubani, Julius Omokioja Eto, etc, were in wait, Akpo Esajere’s “crafts” (as he used to call such drafts), where often assured of an easier pass. To be sure, this sub-desk then hallmarked The Guardian's strength. It was a springboard around which the paper’s prose prowess rotated. Smart reporters could hone their skills by comparing their drafts, with what the desk eventually makes of it the day after.

Often the transformations were awesome. The difference was always clear. The doctoring was regularly impressive. While your byline sat beneath the headline, a chunk of the prose was not likely to be yours-just the facts, therein. The men at that desk were sacrificial writers, committed to the preservation of a glorious paper’s house style, a clearing house of a sort, but raising some subtle classroom questions on intellectual property, about content and ownership. In academia, the original writer will ideally have to submit, re-submit and re-submit again until s/he gets it right if to compare. In the newsroom, however, there is no luxury of time. A back-and-forth is not thoughtful. The newsroom is a rapid room. There is a frantic race to keep apace, and then the thankless job of the subeditors, even though the enthusiastic reporter is thankful.  

But back to Akpo Esajere. “I am going to interview Lagbaja Tamodu tomorrow. So, I will be in the library if anyone is looking for me” He will announce. “I now have enough on him. He has some explanations to give” he would say afterwards, with a wry smile. Then read the interview when published and you will behold rounds of penetrating questions, some epistemic peppering, sometimes theatrical, but able to force out as many facts as possible from the interviewee, for readers’ benefit as Esajere’s priority. “Be concerned about your reader. Don’t leave them in doubt. Provide as much verifiable information as possible and let them make up their mind”

That’s Akpo, the essential interviewer, easily one of the best in the newspaper industry in his heydays. Then compare his pre-interview session library research to present times. He would have had all the details he needed about you beforehand. He is now simply approaching you for an update. These times, reporters begin the interview session by asking “May we meet (know) you?” Goodness! Excuse me! It should not even be the case in the 21st-century world of information and smart technology deluge, where you could check for details on the go, via the phone before the interview if the physical library is at a distance. But see!

I remember a presidential candidate strolling into The Guardian newsroom, asking to meet Akpo. “You have been interviewing everyone, but me. Why have you not looked for me?” It turned into a prickly scene. “Me! Interview you?” Akpo retorted between an exclamation and a question. The aspirant was yet to know what was ahead of him, so he dug in, unfortunately. “Yes, why not? Am I not a human being? Am I not contesting to be president? Do you think I don’t have money?” “Who told you we interview people because of money? And my friend, aspirants do not come to us for interviews, like you have done. We will find out if we think you are qualified. The Guardian is not cheap” Akpo explained, but becoming impatient. “Are you saying I am cheap, or not worth your pages? I am better than many of those you have interviewed!” “Can you leave, please? You can see I am busy” “Leave for what? Interview me, I said!” The man responded.

Akpo sprang up and raced to the security section to call for the ejection of the interview-seeking obvious political tenderfoot. Somehow, inimitable title Editor, Eluem Emeka Izeze emerged from his office, and resolved the performance, permitting a subsequent post-mortem. “You see what I have been saying” Akpo began. “Some of these people just take us for granted. Interview just like that? On the pages of The Guardian? We cannot do that. Let him go elsewhere” Akpo was an epitome of the paper’s philosophy. He was integrity personified, elegant in deliveries and robust in portrayals. He never suffered fools gladly, and neither did he fail to nurture. He was respectful, respectable, and never owamberish in appearances at events. He chose events carefully, believing that not all materials were fit for the pages of the newspaper.

“Ensure you read new things, to vary your language” he will counsel again, just so your word power can be spicily pied. He was not just a journalist and writer, but a teacher, a motivator and an exemplar in a writhing of writers. “Biodun, I see you are now a professor,” he said in what turned out to be our last telephone conversation until we met at the bosom of the Lord. “Keep it up”, he added, further to his guiding spirit.  

The edge death has over humanity shall forever remain mystifying. You know when you arrive, but not when you will depart and how. Looks unfair, but you are still helpless, regardless. You cannot change it.  What sometimes matters is what you do between arrival and departure. But because you do not know the time of departure, man is better off putting in a best, every day, just in case. Akpo did his best, by being one of the best political journalists the nation has ever produced. The reason he will repeatedly be remembered as a first-rate writer, a sculptor of words, weaved into meanings, worthy enough to tickle, to tip-off the intellect, in the manner in which the mind will ever be appreciative. Akpo was a rock around political journalism literati. He will be missed. Bye-bye, Editor.

• Adeniyi, Professor of Communication, and Dean of the School of PostGraduate Studies, Baze University, Abuja, was a former The Guardian Political Correspondent.

As Nigerians grapple with the latest hike in electricity tariffs, soaring from N66 to N225 per kilowatt, concerns arise regarding its implications on the effective delivery of essential public services. 

How will the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, classify public health and educational institutions providing social services to communities across the country but are unable to charge economic rates? 

Health sector, categorized as a social service, stands as a cornerstone of human capital development. It holds a central role in the economic progress of a nation. The axiom "a healthy nation is a wealthy nation" encapsulates the belief in the symbiotic relationship between health and prosperity.

Given this context, any country aspiring for progress must deliberately allocate resources to enhance its healthcare sector. The Federal Government, realizing this need and in demonstration of its promise to prioritize health care for Nigerians voted more than N1.2 trillion for the sector in the 2024 Budget.

Recently, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, NSIA, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance oncology care in the country. The Minister, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate and the Managing Director of NSIA, Mr Aminu Umar-Sadiq put pen to paper in Abuja in a collaboration to procure oncology equipment for the management of cancer.

Under the agreement, NSIA will spend N37.4 billion to refurbish and equip six federal teaching hospitals with state-of-the-art medical equipment such as Linear Accelerators, CT Simulators, Brachytherapy Machines, Chemotherapy Suites, PET Scan, Cyclotron and Radio-Pharmacy.

This lofty idea of equipping the teaching hospitals with modern medical equipment may however be jeopardized with the epileptic supply of electricity which experts say are inimical to the optimal functionality of these equipment.

In most federal health institutions, from Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, to University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, the narrative is almost the same; the cost of providing electricity has become burdensome and unbearable, no thanks to Electricity Distribution companies charging them commercial rates!

The Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Prof Wasiu Adeyemo recently lamented that the hospital spends up to N150 million just on electricity bills monthly, while receiving just N14m for subvention on power from government. Energy cost is thus a significant burden, considering the hospital has to pay for laundry, feeding, security, cleaning and gardening as outsourced services.   

Lending credence to this, the immediate past CMD of LUTH, Prof. Chris Bode asserted that for almost 60 years, the hospital and the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, had a common power source and equitably shared the cost. However, the College eventually discontinued its subscription to the IPP as it could not sustain the monthly cost of paying power bills upfront from its resources.

This has necessitated the need for the facility to look into other options to create a hybrid system, incorporating renewable and clean energy into its electric power menu.

The power situation at UCH Ibadan is nothing different as the nation’s premier tertiary health institution was recently thrown into pitch darkness for days when the Ibadan Electric Distribution Company, IBEDC, disconnected its power supply owing to unsettled bills.

The DISCO has disconnected UCH three times this year owing to the backlog of electricity bills it owed the company estimated at N495m.This has put the facility in incessant darkness, exposing patients, their relatives and medical staff to hardship and health hazards.

Although the management of UCH is trying to pick the bills, it has cried out to the Federal Government for a bail out, seeking the intervention of the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of Economy, Mr Wale Edun to offset its outstanding electricity bill to the DISCO.

In a letter to the Minister, the UCH Chief Medical Director, Prof. Jesse Otegbayo lamented that the hospital has not been able to fulfil its duties of providing quality healthcare delivery to its patients due to the incessant disconnection of electricity from the hospital.

The CMD thinks that the monthly government subvention is rather too low to service various expenditures including electricity bills in a federal health facility operating more as a charity than a commercial entity.

While appreciating the minister for the assistance received in the past, the CMD pleaded for an immediate intervention as the hospital is permanently under threat of disconnection by the DISCO.

To address the aforementioned issue, the NERC must strategically implement customized support measures, including subsidies or lowered tariffs, for these crucial service providers. This is necessary to ensure that government institutions providing essential service, like health facilities are able to fulfil their mandate of safeguarding lives.

Kareem is a public policy analyst in Abuja.

…Tunde Rahman, Presidential aide, hails Onyema

…Private sector group rallies round Air Peace, urges FG to step up, protect national interest

Olisa Agbakoba, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has said that the Nigerian economy had begun to turn the corner for good.

Agbakoba pointed out that the economic activities of two prominent citizens were responsible for the feat so far recorded.

The Maritime lawyer noted that there may be signals the economy may be turning.

According to him, “Dangote refinery commenced sales of diesel, increasing supply and crashing prices significantly. Diesel prices dropped from about ₦1,700 per litre to around ₦1,350 per litre. This was just by pumping 100 million litres.

“Dangote plans to pump another 100 million litres. Diesel prices may dip below N1000. Dangote announced plans to begin sale of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) by May. This will significantly bring down prices. Experts predict petrol prices to crash by at least 25 percent to N400.”

Also noting the positive role Allen Onyema’s Air Peace is playing in the aviation industry and the reaction of the forex market to the activities in that space, Agbakoba said: “With the support of Festus Keyamo, minister of Aviation, finally broke through the reciprocity barrier in aviation. Air Peace is now flying to the United Kingdom (UK). Ticket prices monopolised by British Airways and Virgin Atlantic crashed by at least 60percent.

“The forex market reacted to all these. The Naira strengthened against the dollar. Experts suggest the price of the dollar may well fall below ₦1000 in the coming months. If this trend continues, much-needed relief for Nigerians will occur. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) may potentially review the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) by Q4.”

The Senior Advocate also said: “It is notable that the turning points now witnessed in the economy, is the work of just two persons (Dangote and Onyema). Imagine what 10, 20 or 50 private sector individuals can do. This raises the issue of putting the private sector at the centre of economic development. Government must withdraw from business. We must move immediately from consumption to production. Q4, 2024, may look on the bright side but it is still early days.”

In a release he personally signed, ‘Is the Economy Beginning to Turn?’ Agbakoba noted that “Nigeria’s economy has gone through very challenging times over the past year. Inflation reached 28.92 percent in December 2023, the highest in 27 years. Food inflation rose to 33.93percent in December 2023.”

According to him, “the naira depreciated significantly, losing 25percent of value in a single day in June 2023 when the government removed pegging to the US dollar. This made imports much more expensive.

“Removal of fuel subsidies in May 2023 caused petrol prices to jump by 196percent practically overnight, from ₦189 to ₦557 per litre. Prices went through the roof!

“According to the World Bank, accelerating inflation pushed an additional 24 million Nigerians into poverty in the first five months of 2023. By late 2022, 63percent of Nigerians (133 million people) were considered multi-dimensionally poor.

“Major foreign companies like Procter & Gamble, GSK, and Bayer stopped manufacturing and scaled back operations in Nigeria, due to tough operating environment. This resulted in massive job losses.”

BusinessDaySunday gathered that it was not only Agbakoba that has noticed the positive things going on at Air Peace.

Emulate Allen Onyema, Tunde Rahman counsels

In his tribute recently during the 72-birthday anniversary of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Tunde Rahman, a senior presidential aide, had noted that: “It has become compelling that as citizens, we must continue to play our part. The example of Lawyer and Businessman, Allen Onyeama’s Air Peace and its gallant intervention, which helped to crash the airfares on the lucrative Lagos-London route, is there for all of us to emulate.”

At a meeting of private sector operators a few days ago, an ample time was voted to discuss the Air Peace exploits. Participants were unanimous that the Nigerian government must do whatever it would take to support the airline.

An elated member of the group said: “This thing is war. We should be clear-eyed about this and know that Nigeria (not just Air Peace) simply cannot afford to lose. Let us not be deceived into thinking this is only about an airline flying to London.

“The aviation business is cut-throat and governments play very deeply in it. Just look at the history of Boeing, Airbus, Emirates, BA, Pan-Am, Delta, United, Singapore Airlines, Ethiopian, etc. We need to win this fight. The FG must step up and protect our national interest without fear or equivocation.”

All the members at the meeting were in agreement that, “this is a National battle for existential survival, not just for the traveling Nigerians, but for our image, honour and reputation.”

In summary, the chairman of the meeting, admonished: “On the commercial/business side of the battle, we all need a DELIBERATE plan to fly Nigeria in this case.

“This is enlightened self-interest. When we have done our bit and Air Peace does not deliver, then we can turn our angst on them.

“This goes beyond Air Peace and aviation – this might be the catalyst to make us take: Buy Nigeria; Use Nigeria; Wear Nigeria; Drive Nigeria, Eat Nigeria, etc, more seriously.”

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested a Delhi, India-bound passenger at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja on March 31 for ingesting 80 wraps of cocaine.

Its spokesman, Mr Femi Babafemi stated on Sunday in Abuja that the passenger was to board a Doha-bound flight en-route Delhi using a Liberian passport with the name: Carr Bismark, when he was arrested.

A body scan on the suspect revealed the ingestion of the illicit drugs, he explained.

Babafemi added that preliminary checks showed the passenger’s real name to be Freeman Ogbonna.

The NDLEA placed the passenger under observation and in a short while he started to manifest signs of discomfort.

“Obviously choked by the volume of illicit drugs in his stomach and another substance taken to hold back excretion, the suspect soon began to retch, vomited and excreted wraps of cocaine simultaneously.

“The suspect who claimed he was recruited into drug trafficking by one of his relatives, eventually passed out a total of 80 wraps of cocaine.

“He vomited or excreted the drugs, weighing 889gms over a period of four days.

“The great risk almost took his life.

“Ogbonna said he was given the drugs to swallow at a hotel in Ikeja with a promise of N300,000 reward if he successfully delivers the consignment in India,’’ Babafemi stated.

Also on April 3, the NDLEA arrested a drug mule at the airport on his way to Oman.

Its operatives discovered a false bottom in his backpack and on the sides concealing illicit drugs and also swiftly moved in on a man who accompanied the suspect to the airport.

The second man was later discovered to have been the one who recruited the passenger to traffic the drugs.

“The suspect said he returned from Dubai some years ago, but still had a valid residence permit on his passport.

“He claimed he was promised N1.5 million if he successfully delivered the consignment in Oman, while his recruiter, was to be paid N200,000.

“A charm was found in one of the passenger’s bags when they were searched and another was found on his person.

“The drug mule confessed that he travelled to Ibadan earlier where a cleric made the charms for him to evade arrest during the trip.

“Another charm was found on the recruiter who claimed the charms were procured at a cost of N70,000,’’ Babafemi added.

(NAN)

A former Edo State lawmaker, Pascal Ugbome, has been tipped to replace the Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu, if the Edo House of Assembly impeaches him.

Naija News gathered that Ugbome, an Etsako man and a frontline member of the Legacy Coalition in the Edo chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is likely to replace Shaibu.

According to the Nation, the choice of Ugbome by Governor Godwin Obaseki has gotten the support of the party’s National Vice Chairman (South-South), Dan Orbih, and his teeming supporters ahead of the September 21, 2024 governorship election.

The newspaper reported that Obaseki wouldn’t want to take chances in Edo North Senatorial District, where the former state governor and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Adams Oshiomhole, hails from.

Ugbome, who hails from Ekperi in Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo, is guaranteed to ensure victory for PDP’s governorship candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, in Edo North senatorial district, thereby reducing the influence of Oshiomhole and Shaibu.

It was learned that the move would help Ighodalo, who is from Edo Central and has the least voting strength, and his running mate, Osarodion Ogie, who is from Edo South and has the highest voting strength.

Ugbome, a Law graduate of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), who is a former Chairman of Etsako Central Local Government Council, according to the permutation in Obaseki’s camp, would be able to convince the preferred governorship aspirant of legacy coalition, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, an influential former member of the House of Representatives, to also support Ighodalo’s aspiration, thereby ensuring unity and peace in Edo PDP.

Justice Stephen Omonua (rtd.) led a seven-member probe panel set up by the Edo Chief Judge, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, on March 25 to investigate the allegations levelled against Shaibu.

The panel rounded off its three-day sitting on Friday and will soon submit its report to Justice Okungbowa for the state’s 24 lawmakers to proceed or not with Shaibu’s impeachment.

[NaijaNews]

The Rivers State Police Command has warned politicians to seek a lawful means to address grievances rather than resort to verbal attacks that can stoke violence in the state.

The warning comes on the heels of recent verbal attacks between Governor Similanayi Fubara and Nyesom Wike, his predecessor, who is now Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT).The crisis between the duo has set Rivers political stakeholders against one another.

Although Tunji Disu, the police commissioner, did not mention the names of Wike and Fubara directly, Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Grace Iringe Koko, quoted him as saying the command will not fold its hands and watch the state erupt in crisis as a result of utterances and actions of politicians.

The command implored the political class and members of the public in the state to maintain peace and abide by the laws of the land.

“The Rivers State Police Command is fully aware of the numerous political statements and sentiments that have been circulating within the state. In light of these developments, we would like to inform the general public and the esteemed people of Rivers State of the following:

“The Nigeria Police Force is the statutory and constitutional authority entrusted with the responsibilities of enforcing laws and orders, as well as protecting lives and properties, among others.

“The Rivers State Police Command, as an integral part of the Nigeria Police Force, is firmly committed to upholding and enforcing all laws and orders within the state.

“The Command will not stand idle and allow any individual or group to disrupt the existing peace in the state under any guise or pretext.

“The Rivers State Police Command will not hesitate to take decisive action against any person or group of persons found to be in violation of the laws and orders of the state. Therefore, we implore members of the public to maintain peace and abide by the laws of the land. To those involved in the ongoing political unrest, we urge you to seek peaceful/lawful means to address your grievances,” Koko stated.

Koko said the command will remain neutral and apolitical in all matters pertaining to the current political situation in the state.

[DailyTrust]

Thirty-five, 35, Corps members from the 2023 Batch A, Stream II service year in Bayelsa State were on Thursday sanctioned by the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, for various offences against the service code.

DAILY POST gathered that while twenty-one, 21, corps members who committed various offences had their service extended, Fourteen, 14, corps members would repeat their service year.

The NYSC, however, announced that a total of one thousand, seventy-five, 1,075, Corps members who passed out meritoriously served the nation in Bayelsa State for the 2023 Batch A, Stream II service year have been discharged and issued their certificates of national service.

The State Coordinator, Mrs Okpalifo Obiageli Charity, during the low-key presentation of Certificates to Corps members, congratulated the corps members on the successful completion of the 2023 Batch A stream 2 service year.

She commended the corps members for their immeasurable contributions to the state during their service years.

She also commended the corps employers, traditional rulers and various host communities across the state for providing a conducive environment for corps members to serve the nation in the state.

Some corps members who distinguished themselves during the service year were rewarded with certificates of commendation.

While wishing them the best in their future endeavours, she enjoined those who took advantage of the SAED training programmes to put them to maximum use for their self-reliance and become employers of labour.

She thanked the NYSC staff who have mentored, supervised and monitored the corps members in their various places of primary and secondary assignments.

[DailyPost]

A28-year-old travel content creator, Pelumi Nubi, who embarked on a solo road trip from London has arrived in Lagos.

Nubi began her journey on January 31 facing various obstacles along the way.

She survived a crash in March with a video of the wrecked vehicle revealing severe damage to the front and a shattered windshield.

Nubi started from England, crossed into France, Spain and headed to Morocco then through the West Sahara Desert, Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Mali, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Ghana, Togo, Benin finally  reaching Lagos.

The travel content creator in 2022 listed 77 countries she had visited at 27. She has reached over 80 out of the 193 countries in the world.

With respect to her adventure, Nubi wanted to show the world that “impossible” is just a word while adding that when one has enough grit and determination, impossibility would be overlooked.

Gboyega Akosile, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to Lagos Governor on Sunday, tweeted: “Lagos State Government gives a hero’s welcome to @peluminubi_, a Nigeria-British citizen who who did a solo drive from London to Lagos.

“Pelumi was received at the Nigeria-Benin Republic border on behalf of Lagos State Government by the Hon Commissioner of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka and the Special Adviser, Tourism, Arts and Culture @IdrisConnecting.

Welcome home!”

[TheNation]

The abductors of the two students of the Federal University Wukari in Taraba State are demanding a ransom of N50m in exchange for the freedom of the students.

The Head of Information and Protocol Unit of the institution, Mrs. Ashu Agbu, disclosed this in a telephone conversation with journalists on Sunday.

“The abductors revealed that they came for the owner of the eatery and not his staff and will return to get him.

“They are demanding a ransom of N50m to free the two students. Since the incident, security agencies and youths of the area are combing the surrounding forests and bush paths to apprehend the kidnappers and will not relent until the students are rescued alive and safe,” she said.

Our correspondent reported that about 90 percent of the students and staff of the institution live outside the school premises.

The students were picked on Wednesday, April 3 at about 10:pm at a shop close to the busy area, accommodating students staying outside the school premises.

[Punch]