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JUST IN: Soldiers stop Lagos judicial panel from accessing military mortuary

Soldiers manning the gate at the Military Hospital in Ikoyi have stopped the Lagos judicial panel on #EndSARS from assessing the hospital’s mortuary. 

The panel, unannounced, on Friday went to the hospital on investigation into the shooting at Lekki tollgate where 15 protesters were reportedly killed. 

Witnesses of the Lekki shooting accused the military of taking away the bodies of those killed in the incident. 

The panel met resistance as it got to the gate of the hospital. 

Ebun Adegboruwa, a member of the panel, told soldiers, who stopped them at the gate, that the panel came to the hospital because it had intelligence that might help with its investigation. 

“The facility is relevant to our investigation. We have a pathologist. We are here on the authority of the president, not only the governor,” he said.

“We are following dues process, and it is important we visit the mortuary as it will help our findings. 

“If we are not allowed access, we will go back and take other actions. We won’t force ourselves in. We have confidential information that the military hospital here is relevant in the investigation of the Lekki event. We heard this hospital is controlled by 65 battalion, and under the 81 division. We are also taking steps to reach military authorities.” 

Adegboruwa said though the panel does not have evidence that there are bodies of those killed at the tollgate in the hospital, it was at the facility to verify the claim that they were.

More to follow…

Lagos Panel Of Enquiry Inspects Lekki Toll Gate

By Chibuike Nwabuko

Abuja(Sundiata Post) –  The Lagos State judicial panel of inquiry into brutality and high handedness by the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is currently at the Lekki Toll Gate on inspection.

The panel is at the scene for inspection and to make more findings concerning the shooting which occurred on October 20, 2020.

Led by the Chairman, Retired Justice Doris Okuwobi, the panel is interrogating Lekki Tollgate officials about the condition of their cameras and other equipment.

The Managing Director of Lekki Concession Company (LCC), Mr Yomi Omomuwansa while taking the panel round the facilities said most of their equipment were damaged as they were set ablaze by hoodlums following the shooting of EndSARS protesters at the toll gate.

Also with the panel during the inspection of Lekki Tollgate is Rinu Odulala and Temitope Majekodunmi, the youth representatives on the judicial panel.

Human Rights Activist, Segun Awosanya popularly known as Segalink is also with the panel on inspection of Lekki Tollgate.

The panel at the resumption of its sitting on Friday sworn-in in the representative of LCC. After consultations with the panel, the LCC rep confirms they have footage of Lekki Shooting.

The sitting commenced with the swearing-in of Rinu Odulala and Temitope Majekodunmi as representatives of youths on the panel.

Also, sworn-in as a member of the panel is Lucas Koyejo representing the Nigeria Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

The only petitioner taken on Tuesday, Okoli Aguwu explained that he spent 47 days in SARS detention, accused of theft by his boss.

Agwu demands compensation from the Nigeria Police and wants his stolen properties returned. (Channels TV).

WTO: Buhari Mobilizes Support for Okonjo-Iweala, in Video Conference with European Council

By Mohammed Mohammed

President Muhammadu Buhari Friday held a video conference with Mr. Charles Michel, President of the European Council,

during which the latter reiterated Europe’s support for Nigeria’s Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the next Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The President is leading Nigeria’s charge for Okonjo-Iweala, the country’s former Minister of Finance, to emerge as the first Black and female WTO DG.

President Buhari thanked the European Council for its support for Nigeria’s candidate.

Also discussed during the conference were issues bordering on debt relief for Africa, EU-African relations and recharge of the Lake Chad, which has currently shrunk to less than one-third of its usual size, and throwing about 130 million people who depend on the Lake into dire straits.

Recharge of the Lake Chad is an issue the Nigerian President had vigorously canvassed at diverse global fora in recent time.

President Buhari expressed appreciation to Mr Michel for expected positive developments on the issues.

Bola Tinubu: Enemy Of Yoruba Nation And His Enemies By Dr Bolaji O. Akinyemi

Our Masquerade must be contented that he has had his last dance on the 20th day of October 2020 at the Lekki Toll gate now a.k.a TOLL OF BLOOD. The Jagaban put his right leg of insatiable greed and left leg of inordinate ambition out on that fateful day. On the day, it was not business as usual. His deceitful dance and summersaults did not move the audience. No applause. The audience began jeering.

gate”, will continue to generate different reactions from friends and foes, probably till 2023, when the manifestation or otherwise of this fall shall become evident before Lagosians, Nigerians and the world at large.

There is nothing unethical or ethnical about unveiling the masquerade,  named Jagaban, who has in over two decades learnt and perfected  his dancing skills and performed eye popping somersaults to the admiration and envy of his admirer and foes respectively. The people have the right to discuss their leaders, rulers and ruiners.

Growing up in Ibadan, the political headquarter of western Nigeria, and by extension Yoruba nation, I have nostalgic feeling of Ibadan as one of the homes of masquerades. How they are celebrated for their dancing steps to the beats of ‘bata’ drums. A Yoruba adage says, “Bi egun eni ba jo o re, ori aya atokun e”. If one’s masquerade dances well, its Director will be excited. 

The markets often times are the scene of masquerades’ dance, though they are occasionally done at three road junctions, (oritameta). The idea behind this is that the more the audience they have the opportunity of entertaining, the better for their popularity and acceptance. Moreover, the applaud of the crowd is a necessary impetus to each participating masquerade as they seek to outdo each other.

Masquerades are usually dressed by men in their covens (igbale). Bola Ahmed Tinubu a relatively unknown masquerade who though many alleged had bore so many names before 1992, was dressed by SDP leaders headed by Chief Dapo Sarumi, for the big dance at the ‘political market square’. He entered with a fresh beautiful dancing steps that attracted roaring applause from the crowd of Nigerians Students and masses in general. He stole the show. The dance ended well. This Masquerade like the ghost that mythology bestowed on them joined other masquerades to inspire their captivated audience (the Nigerian people) to chase out the military, the then enemy of the people back to the barack in 1999.

Dr Bolaji O. Akinyemi

Bola Tinubu has not ceased to dance since then, he dance so well against the then President Olusegun Obasanjo and  was nicked named “the last man standing” as Lagos State was about the only State in the hand of the opposition. Tinubu became one of the pan-Yoruba leaders, or so we thought.  It wasn’t out of place to dress our masquerade for a big show in Abuja. He led the Yoruba nation to the ‘Dance of Change’ in 2015. What a thrill it was. The Yoruba nation responded with applause in their multitude. It seems the Yoruba nation have finally found a replacement for the Big Masquerade from a little town called Ikene that once danced majestically well on behalf of the Yoruba nation. But, we found out to the contrary, as opportunities to project the general interests of the Yoruba nation were always subsumed for his personal interest, aggrandizement and ambition each and every time these interests clashes.

The seat of the Speakership of the House of Representatives in the 7th Assembly exposed him. The two foremost candidates were Aminu Tanbuwa from Sokoto and Mulika Adeola from Oyo State. The position would have afforded the Yoruba nation the Number 4 citizen seat in that government. What did our self centered Masquerade do? He pull his structure to support Aminu Tanbuwa, against a bonafide daughter of Oodua. No Yoruba was in the first ten office in the country for that four years. Again, between two Yoruba sons: Yusuf Suleimon Lasun and Femi Gbajabiamila, instead of intervening in the overall interest of the Yoruba nation, the masquerade preferred one of his drummers and canebearer to Lasun. That singular ‘misstep’ and political miscalculation is the reason APC could only have won 
 2018 Osun State Governorship election via remote control.

There was applause across the Niger when Mulika was traded off for a political alliance with the Northern oligarchy who fools itself that it is their exclusive right to seat upon the throne of Nigeria as they are born to rule, nay, ruin the country.  Our masquerade was celebrated,  redressed and renamed Jagaban. The craftiness of the power mongers who preys on the inordinate ambitions of our greedy, self-centered politicians, carved a title unknown to their Party Constitution for our masquerade and the ‘a o merin joba’ song was chorused for his now sored dancing feet. He is eager to dance but deaf to the drum’s message and blind to the pit on which the throne was murderously placed.

Since then, the steps of this Masquerade has been back and fort, throwing every other interest off board because of his Presidential ambition, though he is entitled to his ambition. But must it be by trading us off. 

A Masquerade that came to National limelight as the leader of the Yoruba nation but now could not add his voice to call for regional policing, who fooled the nation with a promise of Restructuring the federation during campaigns in 2015 and who could not use his influence (or whatever is left of it) to end the incessant attacks on his people’s lives and properties.
Muhammadu Buhari has not for once hid is identity as a Fulani nor his bigotry in appointment, our masquerade has lost his voice to call and seek for moderation in appointments inspite of laws to support such call.

Our Masquerade must be contented that he has had his last dance on the 20th day of October 2020 at the Lekki Toll gate now a.k.a TOLL OF BLOOD. The Jagaban put his right leg of insatiable greed and left leg of inordinate ambition out on that fateful day. On the day, it was not business as usual. His deceitful dance and summersaults did not move the audience. No applause. The audience began jeering. The masquerade sensed the end beckons. But he is not ready to leave the stage without a fight. He weighed the options: support or suppress the people? He chose the latter. He went on his abracadabra that has hypnotized his audience for years but that didn’t suffice either. As a last resort he called on his true ‘ally’ to help wound and kill his unimpressed audience. Deploying family and official to put out the light at the toll gate setting the ground for the shameful dance to preserve his hold as the ‘landlord of Lagos’ by whose influence all market are subject to his daughter whim and caprises. Where his son is the Lord of the outdoors advertising in Lagos. Highbrow area such as Lekki toll gate are ceded to his son’s company: Loatsad Promomedia Limited. It was this company that brought the darkness under which the imported killer machine murdered our armless youth protesters. In sane clime, Loatsad Promomedia Ltd would have had their contact with Lagos State terminated for its role in what the world witnessed at Lekki, but ours is far from been normal.

Loatsad and people behind it put out the light on a political strength which our youths represent.  With this, Loatsad and those it represnts stands as unwilling enemy of masquerade Jagaban. I know the youth will reward him accordingly come 2023. 
His unappreciated allegiance to Muhammadu Buhari against the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Nigerians is another political  misstep only the future will reveal that indeed the Emperor himself ended his empire with unholy trade off of his people.

The masquerade communication indiscretions will continue to alienate him with the Yoruba nation no matter how his drummers and canebearer try to shout otherwise. In his bid to please his Fulani killers, he displayed loss of control in pen and tongue, writing to the Yoruba leader whose daughter Fulani herdsmen gruesomely murdered, he wrote:
‘Funke and I shared a happy and close relationship. We regularly exchanged ideas and advice to each other. We could speak to each other freely and honestly because of mutual respect that described our relationship. These talks enriched me. I shall miss them. Showing her fine personal character and gratitude, Funke wrote the following words to me which I wish to share with you now to illustrate the goodness of her spirit: “Thank you so much for your help. I appreciate your help. You helped me to get another opportunity to live. Mo dupe. Best regards and with all respect.”

He was so insensitive to go on the rooftop to publish the deseased personal message to him:  “Just to appreciate you once more. I am here Sir. The treatment is progressing. I am trusting GOD. Thank u for making it possible. Mo dupe Sir. May you continue to grow in His Grace. Amen.” 
Very unfortunate and distasteful to turn a period of mourning to self aggrandizement. Why should the assistance given to a married woman in her moment of struggle against cancer become a condolence massage before her father and during a public visit? What does this masquerade wish to gain from this shameful dance? This is a sure political debit. 
Only the Arakunrin family could tell the embarrassment of the vomit his pen and words might have caused. 

Further, in his letter, Masquerade Jagaban wrote: “this is a time for consolation and genuine condolence”. But when the opportunity of a physical visit provided Asiwaju the opportunity to practise what he preaches, he chose to be a hypocrite. His vestipuration disparaged the Igbo nation, he needlessly pointed accusing finger at the Igbos, citing Evans the kidnappers as not being a Fulani man, and it was therefore wrong to hold Fulani herdsmen responsible for the murder of Olufunke Arakunrin. As said earlier, the masquerade will always want to please his murderous Fulani and he won’t give a damn whose ox is gored. He berated is rating as a national leader as investigation later confirmed the initial suspicion of the Yoruba nation that it was the Fulani herders and not the Igbo that killed Olufunke.

Like a masquerade who has been given too much alcohol under the scorching sun, Jagaban’s embarrassing inconsistencies on Yoruba and national issues came to head since that black Tuesday 20:10:20, when the gun of the military was turned at Nigerian youths. His words has kept changing like the climate of the day, with one thing said in the morning, and another in the afternoon. He even have the indecency to suggest the need for victims to be queried on what they were doing out at what is now TOLL OF BLOOD .

Critics like me cannot be welcome around Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what we represent and stand for. It’s nothing personal. We remain unrepentant lover of the Nigerian State and of all in love with her. It  will be most unfortunate for Asiwaju to view us as his enemies. We advise him to go and find his enemies from: the people he has helped to power who are now hell bent on destroying him, the sycophants around him before whom he is infallible, his suffocating hold on and management of Lagos State like a family business and lastly his failure to stand for all the Yoruba nation interest rather than representing his few supporters.

The Lord does not want the death of a sinner but his repentance. May be this masquerade will look back and reflect on issues raised from not-so-friendly quarters and embark on personal turn around exercise. God’s mercy can still avail and a new Dawn of selfless service devoid of deceit can be birthed.

The People First.

A Woman President Of Nigeria – An Attainable Goal?

By Raphael Christopher a Senior Lawyer and member of EnuguBar

In this article, let me state very clearly, I have not set out to prove the superiority of men or equality of men. I simply wish to present known historical facts and leave you to reach your own conclusions.

History clearly teaches us that women are capable of leadership. Are we listening to History our teacher and learning her lessons?

What does history teach us?

For a start, Queen Candace, recognised in the book of Acts in the Christian Holy Bible as the queen of the African empire of the Ethiopians shows that women are equally effective and capable ruler as men and indeed the Holy Qur’an in (Surah al-Naml 27:20-44) portrayed the Queen of Sheeba, Bilquis, as a wise, influential and real leader who ruled her people in a democratic way by making every decision after consulting with her ministers and advisors. We learn that Prophet Soloman (Sulaiman) was told about her power, kingdom and magnificent throne and invited her and she came as an equal to King Soloman!

Further, we have Queen Victoria was Queen of the United Kingdom and Ireland and Empress of India from 20th June 1837 and ruled these male dominated societies for over 63 years! The present Queen of The United Kingdom of England, Wales and Ireland and some commonwealth countries, Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne on 6th February 1952 and has been ruling for these past 68 years and is the oldest longest reigning monarch.

There are other ladies who have served their various countries as leaders, Presidents, Prime Minister such as Yevgenia Bosch of Ukraine who served Ukraine as its leader from December 1917 to early march 1918; Golda Meir of Israel who served her country for 5 years, Margaret Thatcher who served as The Prime Minister of The United Kingdom for 11 years; Indira Ghandi of India who served as Prime Minister of India for 11 years. We also have Isabel Martinez de Peron of Argentina who served her country as President for 1 year. There is also Dame Eugenia Charles who served as Prime Minister of Dominica for 14 years. We have not forgotten Vigdís Finnbogadóttir who served as President of Norway for 16 years. There is also Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan who served as Prime Minister of her country Pakistan for a year. Khaleda Zia who served as Prime Minister of Bangladesh for 5 years. What about Sylivie King who served as Prime Minister and acting President of Burundi for nearly a year and even Mame Madior Boye who served as Prime Minister of Senegal for a year.

Currently, we have many women Presidents, Prime Ministers still in office. Such include, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany; President Ellen Johnson -Sirleaf of Liberia; President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner of Argentina; President Catherine Samba-Panza of Central African Republic; President Park Guen-hye of South Korea and President Aminatu Toure of Senegal. The list goes on.

You can see from world history from the biblical ages right down to today, women have proven beyond doubt their ability to run for the highest office in the land and even more remarkable the longest reign record is held by a woman – Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom!

In this context, are we depriving ourselves of the great leadership abilities God has deposited in women? Are we open to respect and nurture this great ability that women have? If our daughters, sisters, relatives express their dreams and desire to serve our country at the highest level, should we not, seeing the overwhelming evidence of great female leaders depicted above, be able to support them financially and otherwise to achieve their dreams which will result in the betterment of our country and society?

Coming closer home, we have very well qualified and able woman able to run for the highest post in our land. Let us take just the one example in Mrs Ngozi Okonkwo-Iweala the former minister of finance in our beloved country Nigeria, who has being nominated by over a hundred countries for the position of the head of the World Trade Organisation. This singular feat once again unequivocally demonstrates that women are equally talented and able to lead and may this singular achievement continue to spur our ladies and indeed our daughters, sisters, and relatives to dream big because as we have seen in the case of Mrs Okonjo-Iweala that dreams can, with hard work, will come to pass. Therefore it is proper to offer our congratulations to Mrs Okonjo-Iweala on her achievement and to all Nigerians including President Buhari for nominating her and mobilising support for her all through the exhaustive process and stay hopeful of a favourable outcome for her and for Nigeria.

If, over a hundred countries including very well developed countries to whose standards, we as a nation are striving to emulate, support a Nigerian woman for one of the highest positions in the world, could someone explain why we are not recognising the old adage, charity begins at home and start to treat woman equally and enable them to be comfortable to use their god-given talents, brilliance and intelligence to self actualise and benefit our dear country and society?

Our constitution is also very clear in requiring men and women be treated equally. Against this backdrop, you can now understand with this achievement of a Nigerian woman, Mrs Okomjo-Iweala, why some Nigerians are now posing the question why shouldn’t Mrs Okonjo-Iweala, in view of her clear abilities to lead and discharge her roles meritoriously, be put forward as a potential future first woman president of Nigeria?

What do you say?

Raphael Christopher is a Lawyer and member of EnuguBar and can be reached at [email protected]

Surprise, surprise: Days after #EndSARS protest, Lekki Toll Plaza managers tell panel footage of shooting intact

Despite claims that lights were switched off, CCTV cameras disconnected, and the discovery of a camera, days after the fact by former Lagos Governor, and sitting Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, the Management of the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) on Friday told the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry for Restitution for Victims of SARS and related abuses and Other Matters that the footage of the  Oct. 20 shootings of the #EndSARS protesters by the Nigerian Army is available.

Already, the alleged discovery of a camera by Fashola drew the criticism of human rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa SAN, who questioned the integrity of the discovery after a judicial panel was already in place.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Gbolahan Agboluwaje, the Head of the Legal Department of LCC, made the revelation after Mr Abayomi Omomuwa, the Managing Director of LCC had been sworn-in to give evidence before the panel.

Agboluwaje said that the LCC received a summons from the panel on Wednesday, Oct. 28, to appear before it and was  also ordered to present the Oct. 20 footage, an investigation report and any other document.

“We have the footage. We do not have an investigation report because we know that investigations are ongoing and we have not been able to provide any document,” he said.

He, however, noted that the LCC was prepared to air the footage before the panel and that there are hours of recordings  on the  CCTV footage.

“We had a very short notice and we brought what we were able to lay our hands on,” he said.

Agboluwaje told the panel that due to the short notice of the summoning, the Managing Director (MD) of LCC, Mr  Omomuwa,  would  not be able to testify because the company was yet to hire an external counsel to represent the MD.

Mr Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN) announced his appearance as the counsel representing the Lagos State Government.

Responding, the Chairman of the nine-man panel, Justice Doris Okuwobi (Rtd), granted Agboluwaje’s request for a short adjournment.

Justice Okuwobi noted that the programme  of the day for the panel was to visit  the locus (scene of the Lekki Shooting)  and to have proceedings based on their findings from the visit.

“We were initially to take note of what we see at the locus and today’s proceedings was to be subsequent to what we see there.

“The panel will arise very shortly to visit the locus. The panel noted that it is required of the witness to have a counsel of his choice. We will not take the proceedings of the visit of the locus until then,” she said.

 NAN reports that as at the time of filing this report, the panel had briefly risen to visit and inspect the Lekki Toll Plaza, the scene of the Oct. 20 shooting.

 The panel is expected to reconvene to hear other petitions after its return from the visit to the tollgate.

▪︎ Additional reports byNAN

Is the US bitching over the ADB bloody nose as she sows WTO turmoil vetoing Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala chances?

Is it possible it is payback for Nigeria from her major ally, the United States of America, for the manner in which homeboy, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, got the headship of the African Development Bank (AfDB), despite strong opposition and machinations from the US?

The bets are on that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala may just get the job, but what card is Nigeria ready to play or trade to get her the plum job, following the spoiler role of the world power?

Recall that though the US tried to rally support, even giving tacit support to use a discredited petition to stop Adesina, he scaled through getting a second term on the sheer force of his superlative performance in his first term.

But the headship of the World Trade Organisation is a different ball game as a job, believed to be in the kitty for the former Finance and Foreign Affairs minister and World Bank top expert, is witnessing setbacks, due to the influence wielded by the US.

In a statement, on Thursday, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it is rallying support for Okonjo-Iweala. The statement reads:

“The ministry of foreign affairs wishes to inform that the third and final round of the selection process of the director-general of the World Trade Organization (WTO) was concluded On Tuesday, 27th October 2020 and the result was formally announced on Wednesday, 28th October 2020

“The candidate from Nigeria, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has secured the support of the majority of the member countries but is yet to be declared and returned the winner.

“This is because apart from winning the election, all 164 member states of WTO were expected to adopt the winner by consensus; in accordance with the rule of procedure of the WTO.

“It is important to highlight that Dr Okonjo-lweala has secured cross-regional backing with only the United States opposing the consensus.

“Nigeria will continue to engage relevant stakeholders to ensure that the lofty aspiration of her candidate to lead the World Trade Organisation is realised.”

According to Bloomberg, the WTO’s effort to select a leader and chart a new course for the global trading system hit a roadblock Wednesday after the Trump administration vetoed a bid by front-runner Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who is a U.S. citizen, to be the WTO’s next director-general.

Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Dennis Shea said Washington won’t join a consensus to appoint Okonjo-Iweala because the U.S. supports her opponent, South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee, according to WTO spokesman Keith Rockwell.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has pushed for Yoo even though Okonjo-Iweala gained American citizenship in 2019.

Sources close to him say he views Okonjo-Iweala, a longtime top official at the World Bank, as being too close to pro-trade internationalists like Robert Zoellick, a former USTR from the Bush administration who worked with her when he was president of the Washington-based bank.

“Minister Yoo is a bona-fide trade expert who has distinguished herself during a 25-year career as a successful trade negotiator and trade-policy maker,” the USTR’s office said in a statement. “This is a very difficult time for the WTO and international trade. There have been no multilateral tariff negotiations in 25 years, the dispute-settlement system has gotten out of control, and too few members fulfill basic transparency obligations. The WTO is badly in need of major reform. It must be led by someone with real, hands-on experience in the field.”

The U.S.’s lone resistance to the majority-backed Okonjo-Iweala opens the possibility of months of gridlock over the selection process and more diplomatic friction with trading partners like the European Union.

“I’m surprised and disappointed in the U.S. reaction,” said William Reinsch, a trade official in the Clinton administration and senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “I had hoped Lighthizer would have more respect for the institution than that.”

WTO decisions are made by a consensus of its 164 members, which means a single country — especially the world’s largest economy — can create a stalemate to pressure others. The Geneva-based institution will keep working to reach a consensus ahead of meeting of the General Council tentatively set for Nov. 9.

‘Urgent Challenges’

“Dr. Ngozi looks forward to the General Council on Nov. 9 when the committee will recommend her appointment as director-general,” said Molly Toomey, a spokesperson for Okonjo-Iweala. “A swift conclusion to the process will allow members to begin again to work, together, on the urgent challenges and priorities.”

Yoo didn’t respond to Bloomberg’s requests for comment, and the USTR didn’t immediately provide comment.

The U.S. election, which falls on Nov. 3, is now a key factor in the WTO race and the institution’s search for direction that seemed to be nearing a conclusion is now getting tangled in American politics.

If Trump wins, his aides have indicated they plan to continue to reshape the WTO with a narrower scope to resolve trade disputes.

If former Vice President Joe Biden wins, it is likely WTO members will postpone the meeting until after the inauguration on Jan. 20, according to sources familiar with the matter. Even then, it might be several months after Biden takes office before the Senate could confirm a Trade Representative who would craft U.S. positions at the WTO.

The setback in the leadership race came after Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s former finance minister, received a key endorsement earlier Wednesday from the WTO selection committee despite the U.S.’s expressions of support for Yoo. The EU, Japan, and much of Africa and Latin America are pushing for Okonjo-Iweala.

China said it supported the outcome of the WTO process, Rockwell told reporters following Wednesday’s meeting.

The EU reiterated its commitment to remain engaged.

“The selection of the WTO director-general is critical for the future of the organization,” the European Commission, the EU’s Brussels-based executive arm, said in an emailed statement on Wednesday. “There are now two candidates announced as finalists, both strong and experienced. It is now for WTO members to make their final choice, which will happen over the next days.”

If it’s not possible for the General Council to agree on a consensus candidate, WTO members could consider holding a vote to select the next WTO director-general by a qualified majority. Okonjo-Iweala would likely win such a vote but such a development would be unprecedented and systemically harmful for the consensus-oriented WTO.

Okonjo-Iweala, 66, twice served as Nigeria’s finance minister and is chair of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization. She campaigned as a WTO outsider and a reformer who told Bloomberg she plans to bring a “fresh set of eyes” to a deeply dysfunctional organization.

The Trump administration has played a key role in the the WTO’s descent into disorder. In December, the U.S. precipitated the the paralysis of the WTO appellate body, which previously had the final say on trade disputes involving the world’s largest economies.

Additional reports by Bloomberg

Here are conditions for young Nigerians to access N75b youth fund -CBN

The Central Bank of Nigeria has announced eligibility of beneficiaries and businesses/activities for the N75 billion Youth Investment Fund it announced last week.

The find is a response of the federal government to the protests of young Nigerians against unfriendly conditions they face toward growth.

The Federal Executive Council approved the establishment of the fund for three years (2020–2023) to assist the Nigerian youth with much-needed funds for their businesses.

In its framework for the implementation of the scheme published on its site on Wednesday, the apex bank also identified the applicants not eligible to benefit from the fund.

It said the scheme’s aim is to financially empower Nigeria youth to generate at least 500,000 jobs between 2020 and 2023.

According to the framework, NIRSAL Microfinance Bank (NMFB), the financial institution to manage the scheme, will be funded with an initial take-off seed capital of N12.5 billion.

Criteria

Both informal and formal business enterprises will benefit from the scheme. For individuals or sole proprietors of informal enterprise to be eligible, they must fulfil the following conditions:

(i) Be a youth within the age bracket of 18-35 years.

(ii) Have business/enterprises domiciled and operational in Nigeria.

(iii) Has not been convicted of any financial crime in the last 10 years.

(v) Has a valid Bank Verification Number (BVN)

(vi) Possess Local Government Indigene Certificate.

For the formal business enterprises (Youth Owned Enterprises), that are legal entities duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) these require the following documents;

(i) Evidence of registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (Certificate of Incorporation and Form CAC 2A);

(ii) Business questionnaire;

(iii) List of Directors with BVN nos.;

(iv) Evidence of regulatory approvals (where applicable);

(v) Tax Identification Number (TIN).

“Cooperative societies duly registered with the relevant government authorities and members of Commodity Associations that fall within the eligible age bracket are also eligible to participate.”

It, however, said applicants currently enjoying NMFB loans, including the Targeted Credit Facility

(TCF) and Agribusiness/Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme (AgSMEIS) loans that remain unpaid ”are not eligible to apply.”

”Also beneficiaries of other government loan schemes that remain unpaid are also not eligible to participate.”

Eligible Activities/Businesses

”Legally allowed activities in the sectors or focal areas listed below shall be eligible:

”Technology/ Innovation; Agriculture and related value chain; Green Economy and Renewable energy sector; Manufacturing, Hospitality/Tourism; Construction; Logistics and supply chain;

Healthcare value chain, Creative sector and Trading and Services.”

It said others may be determined by NYIF/CBN from time to time.

“However, preference shall be given to enterprises that will support the growth of priority sectors, specifically those identified by the Economic and Recovery Growth Plan ERGP and the Nigerian Youth Employment Action Plan.”

With another flexibility allowing young people without registered businesses to access up to N250,000 facility, while those with registered business can access up to N3 million, the FG also announced a plan to create possibilities for business registration for the youths without paying the resgistration charges. The slot for such is open for 250,000 intending registrants.

WTO: FG moves to counter US position against Okonjo-Iweala

By Yinka Kolawole, with agency report

As the world awaits the outcome of the final consensus decision on the next World Trade Organisation, WTO, there are    indications that Nigerian government may have started diplomatic actions to head-off opposition from the United States of America, USA, against the emergence of Nigeria’s Okonjo-Iweala for the job.

A source at the Ministry of Trade and Investment told Vanguard yesterday that the government was taking steps to prevent USA’s opposition from snowballing into adverse swing in the support base for the Nigeria’s nominee.

Earlier, Okonjo-Iweala had received endorsement from the majority of the voting members of the WTO giving her a clear lead over the contending candidate, South Korea’s trade minister, Mrs Yoo Myung-hee.

But sources close to the WTO as well as western media outlets have indicated yesterday that the USA was drumming support in favour of Myung-hee, while advancing reasons why Okonjo-Iweala should not get the job.

When contacted by Vanguard yesterday, a top trade ministry source said, “the Ministry was aware of USA’s position long before now and we are not folding our hands”.

He also added, “we are confident that most of the countries that have expressed support would not back out under pressure from USA.”

He declined to give details of what the government was doing to ensure the support of the majority of the WTO Council members.

Okonjo-Iweala emerged winner of the highly competitive race, polling 104 endorsements out of 164 member countries at the final stage of the race earlier this week.

The process of picking WTO’s    DG/ Chief Executive is based on consensus building where the voting members are expected to adopt any candidate that commands acceptance of the majority of the voting members.

However, where such consensus was not achieved, the Council members will resort to outright voting with the highest number of votes deciding who gets the job.

The endorsements, which still needs full WTO approval caps a more than four-month selection process involving intensive lobbying.

However, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, Dennis Shea, said during a meeting of WTO delegates in Geneva yesterday, that his country would not support a consensus decision to appoint Okonjo-Iweala.

All WTO decisions are taken by a consensus of its 164 members, which means the U.S. move will act as a veto that disrupts the process.

The recommendation of Okonjo-Iweala was made by three WTO ambassadors, the so-called “troika”, after consulting with members in a series of closed-door meetings in Geneva as part of an intricate and opaque process that some have compared to a papal succession.

A WTO official said the organisation would continue to push for a consensus ahead of meeting of its General Council tentatively set for November 7, but a decision should be taken before that date whether by consensus or voting.

Vanguard

Heeding Adeboye’s call to national prayer and fasting

By Frank Tietie

…. And to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord_ “
– Abraham Lincoln

A Proclamation For a Day of National Humiliation Fasting and Prayer, 13th March,1863. (Quoted in Shaping History Through Prayer and Fasting by Derek Prince)

Adeboye’s call to National prayer and fasting may appear to be a weak response to Nigeria’s present sociopolitical crises which have defied any hopeful solution.

The man of God was under fire recently as he was attacked by the presidency for pontificating ‘restructuring’ as an immediate solution to the state of socipolitical and economic quagmire facing Nigeria at the moment.

Adeboye, a strong proponent of the verities of the script contained in Chapter 13 and verses 1-3 of the Apostle Paul’s letter to Romans, has always urged all to respect and pray for those in political authority.

The highly revered and powerful man of God chose not to exercise his right to reply to the presidency but has chosen to call for a national prayer with fasting for 30 days beginning for Nov. 1 to Nov. 30

If anyone thought Pastor Adeboye’s call to prayer is a weak response then such a person is invited to take another look at history where even some of the most powerful peoples on earth had to, at the most critical times of national crises turned to the divine for help and political denouement from seemly hard and impossible situations.

Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States exercised his executive powers and signed a proclamation of a national day of prayer in 1863. Faced with a gruesome civil war as President, Lincoln knew only God Almighty could help him win against those who wanted slavery to remain. Therefore, Lincoln’s defeat of the Confederate seccessionists marked the beginning of the process of the liberation of the black man from slavery, to this day.

Seemingly impossible things like freedom and justice for oppressed and deprived peoples which happened in history could only later find explanations in some sets of coincidences which, not only resembled divine interventions but have been staunchly claimed by self-styled prayer warriors on a global plane, to be the actual hand of God shaping history.

What war and agitations could not achieve in many years, the faux pas of men often hastened to resolutions. Call it the force of history repeating itself but Christians refer to it as the Almighty God reigning in the affairs of men.

The cold war posed one of the biggest challenges to the United States of America (USA) in its modern history. Americans once lived everyday during that era in perpetual fear of a nuclear attack from the Soviet Union. The Cuban missile crisis of 1962 indeed, brought the world to a brink of another nuclear war after the bombing of Hiroshima.

The USA and Soviet Union went ahead with an arms race that got both countries to a point of mutual assured destruction (MAD). And the world was torn into two between the iron curtain of the Soviet led Eastern bloc and the American led Western bloc.

I grew up in that era where Ronald Reagan and Yuri Andropov, later Mikhail Gorbachev dominated foreign news reports in No and, it was much about nuclear weapons and the possibility of World War 3.

But suddenly! Like a deux ex machina, the Berlin Wall came down, Lech Walesa emerged as President in a free Poland and the biggest one that hit the world- the Soviet Union collapsed. Russia was again born and a new figure Boris Yeltsin finally buried the USSR while George Bush, the American President was dazed. No one imagined all of these could happen without a nuclear war between the Soviets and the USA. But it happened without a war and the Christians said it was an answer to painstaking prayer of missionaries and churches. Consider it laughable but it happened just like they said they had prayed!

Derek Prince, as a British soldier fighting in the Middle East in the 2nd World War took interest in the future of a Jewish state and chronicled in his book, Shaping History Through Prayer and Fasting: How the modern state of Israel was born. It was against all odds and plainly impossible to establish an Israeli state and to go on to maintain it against Arab invasion. But it happened and was attributed to prayer. The subsequent conflicts involving Israel, including the six day war and the 1976 deliverance at Entebbe were all attributed to prayer.

Considering the history of the attributes and influence of prayer in political affairs, when therefore, a cleric of Pastor Adeboye’s repute now resorts to prayer to find solutions to Nigeria’s problems, anything can happen!

As a born Anglican who once practised Pentecostalism and has resigned from attending church on account of excessive church politics and established hypocrisy and, I have suffered for it, I know with the tinge of God’s grace when a Christian leader means business. It will therefore be foolish not to take seriously Pastor Adeboye’s call to prayer and fasting.

Whereas Adeboye’s call may appear to be made only to members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, I urge all everyone in Nigeria to try and understand the claim of the divine in influencing political affairs for the good of all. I therefore urge all of us to heed the call to prayer and fasting as made by the man of God.

▪︎Tietie, Human Rights Lawyer, writes from Abuja, and sent this via WhatsApp

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