All the military personnel from the countries of Africa have just concluded sporting activities, tagged: “Abuja 2021”. The event brought together members of the armed forces from different African countries with the goal of ensuring a united Continent. The sporting activities, known as Military Sports in Africa (OSMA) Sahel Military Games tagged, “Abuja 2021” ended with Team Chad winning the first position in the game of football, while Team Cameroun and Nigeria clinched the second and third positions respectively. In the 42.195 kilometer marathon race, Tanzania’s Michael Sangia and Jackhine Sakilu clinched the first positions in the male and female categories with returning time of two hours,19 minutes, 39 seconds and 2 hours, 43 hours, 35 seconds.
Also Tanzania’s Ezekiel Nigimba and Cameroun’s Foimi Justin clinched the 2nd and 3rd positions in the male race. Tanzania’s Sisilia Ginoka and Ossou Wakaye of Congo clinched the 2nd and 3rd positions in the female category. Speaking at the closing ceremony, according to a statement today, October 18 by the Deputy Director of Defence Information, Air Commodore Wap Maigida, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu and the Chief of Defence Staff members(CDS), General Lucky Irabor commended athletes that participated in the sporting activities The Minister noted that Nigeria has made history for successfully hosting the first Sahel Military Games. Dr. Onu attributed the myriad of conflicts and crises experienced in some parts of Africa as part of the challenges of nation building. He urged African countries to leverage on sports to galvanize the much needed sustainable friendship, brotherhood and solidarity which are the ingredients required in building a united, peaceful and prosperous Continent. This was even as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Irabor commended the athletes for their sportsmanship during the event, saying that the main objective of the games in fostering unity, understanding and camaraderie within armed forces in the Continent was achieved.
The Defence Chief said that the foundation of the Sahel games would foster future collaboration and cooperation among the armed forces in Africa. According to him, this is in the area of using non-kinetic means to resolve the security challenges across the Continent. The OSMA Secretary General, Captaine De Fregate Djendola Piere, commended Nigeria and its Armed Forces for demonstrating commendable friendship, fraternity and active solidarity through hosting of the games. The OSMA Secretary General, thanked the Federal Government of Nigeria for supporting and promoting military sports within Africa as well as the development of OSMA. Captaine de Fregate Pire also appreciated the CDS, Service Chiefs and other co-sponsors as well as partners for their support. Highlight of the closing ceremony were the invitational relay race where athletes from the Nigeria Police Force and other paramilitary organisations participated. Witnessed also were presentation of medals to the individual winners and trophies to the participating countries. The OSMA flag was officially handed over to the Chadian Chief Delegate, whose country will be hosting the next edition of the games in 2022. Notable dignitaries that attended the sporting event include; Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Dr Emmanuel Akabe, Chairman Nigerian Legion, Major General Abdulmalik Jubrin who represented the Minister of Defence while the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Government Affairs, was also represented by his Chief of Staff. Others were Service Chiefs, heads of security agencies, members of the diplomatic corps, traditional rulers, captains of industry and senior military officers, among others.
File photo: Members of IPOB during protest in Anambra
Owner of Raypower Radio and AIT, Raymond Dokpesi has said that the agitation for Biafra Republic, spearheaded by Nnamdi Kanu, has complicated the chances of an Igbo Presidency of Nigeria, especially in 2023.
According to him, with Nnamdi Kanu on stage, other Nigerians may not trust any Igbo for the position of presidency.
In a statement today, October 18, Dokpesi said that the feeling in other parts of the country is that IPOB could force an Igbo president to commence processes for the declaration of Biafra.
“The emergence of IPOB and its influence across the South East has complicated and undermined the agitation for patriotic Nigerians of Igbo extraction to lead this nation as far as the 2023 election is concerned.
“If nobody has told Ohaneze Ndigbo before, the concern today from some other regions is that if Nnamdi Kanu plays the role of Aguiyi Ironsi in leading a militant revolt against constitutional government in the southeast under Igbo presidency, the president will be pressured by his base to facilitate the UN processes for the South East to call for independence from Nigeria.
“Thus an Igbo President may be compromised in protecting the political and geographic boundaries of Nigeria whilst Nigeria remains under the threat of IPOB’s secessionist activities.”
Dokpesi’s view is backgrounded accusation by the Ohaneze Ndigbo over his comment that no candidate from the southeast or even the south as a whole could win the presidency in 2023 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
There is a salient rule in archery, in warfare or combat: Always choose the right arrows when shooting at your target, or he would walk away in swaggering triumphalism.
Sadly, those who shot at Peter Obi recently with the arrow of Pandora Papers, using the spindling bows of Premium Times, an online news platform, failed to adhere to this obvious logic. They chose fragile, blunted arrows embellished with furbelows of lies, deceit and hoodwink. They simply aimed at the wrong target.
The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), claims that its project, Pandora Papers is the largest investigation in journalism history, which exposes a shadow financial system that benefits the world’s most rich and powerful.
The latest report is said to involve
over 600 journalists in 117 countries who thaw through files from 14 sources for months, in what has translated to a leak of almost 12 million documents that reveal hidden wealth, tax evasions and money laundering.
Indeed, widespread corruption among public servants and leaders is an obstacle to social and economic development, particularly in developing countries such as Nigeria. It undermines democracy, destroys the credibility of government and erodes the essence of human living and existence.
Therefore, any intervention at increasing public service transparency, strengthening accountability or totally eliminating graft should be encouraged.
However, such interventions as the Pandora Papers, should not be a misrepresentation of facts. They should not be used as tools for witch hunting or damaging perceived political enemies.
Reading through the report by Premium Times, it is safe to conclude that it was a weaponized narrative shot from the political trenches of 2023; it was a debilitating whiff of conjecture and embellished anecdotes, without value or validity, devoid of substance or sustenance.
In a gale of presumptuous arrogance, it tried to draw legitimacy to its superficiality, even when the facts it presented were obviously hollow and contradictory.
The entire report reeks in suggestiveness and incitement; was judgemental, reproachfully deprecatory, and a well-greased projectile intended to perforate Obi’s personality, destroy his business empire and rubbish his growing political influence.
Its repeated use of the jaundiced phrase, ‘Obi could be charged,’ is a premium trial in which Obi had already been found guilty even before the article was written.
The report enviously quivered at Peter Obi as being widely regarded in Nigeria as an advocate of good governance, openness, and transparency. That’s right. Obi is not just an advocate, he is a template for good governance, openness, financial transparency and prudential management of public and private resources. And here, as the Yorubas say, is the koko. This is exactly what the premium trial by Premium Times set out to discredit.
One had expected to read an exclusive on how Peter Obi dipped his ‘sticky, sleazy’ fingers in the treasury of Anambra State and deprived the people of their Commonwealth and patrimony.
One had expected to read how Peter Obi did not leave 75 billion naira in the coffers of the Anambra State as he normally says, but converted the money to personal use. Readers would have loved to know how Obi illegally amassed so much wealth by duping Anambra and Nigerians; or the contracts he received from the government and converted the money to private use. We didn’t find that.
But the Pandora Papers with the mentality of an archeologist, dragged Obi to the crime field, hoping to excavate the relics and reasons of our failed nationhood strapped to his body.
Is it not ridiculous, that the report took a preposterous swipe at Obi’s speeches, feminine voice and self-effacing plebeian demeanour, then concluded that there is something he is hiding “beyond the facade of priggish speeches and appearances.”
On Obi’s investment in Monaco, the report said “the city does not charge wealth tax, property tax, investment income tax, and capital gains tax,” then it wondered whether it was this mouth-watering tax regime that attracted Obi to Monaco.
The answer is rhetorically affirmative. There is no investor that would not want to invest in countries where tax regimes are favourable and friendly. Did Obi break any law in this regard? No he didn’t.
Given the provisions of Section Six (6) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Obi said he dutifully resigned as a Director of Next. Common reasoning infers that the date a change is effected in the list of trustees or directors of a company is not necessarily the day a member resigned. What would have been in contention is that Obi did not resign. Again, he broke no law in this regard.
Many of the offshore businesses the Pandora Papers call hidden offshore treasures of the rich and the powerful are indeed some legitimate investments some of these people made before they became public servants.
In Peter Obi’s case, Next which the report said birthed his Nexus of hidden businesses was formed in 1991, 16 years before he became governor. The sponsors of the report and their hatchet men did not do a thorough job, but displayed outright ignorance when the report admitted it did not know what businesses Next engaged in. It also did not find anything in the records of the company suggestive of money laundering or fraud. So why the fuss about Next?
Rather, it questioned why a company should be registered with the names of family members, jointly owned or not. It celebrated its loathing for Obi and his accomplishments by questioning why there should even be a change of name or that of the directors. Again, Obi did not break any local or known international law by registering a business using family identities.
On failing to pay his taxes, Obi has also discredited the report. Recently while appearing as a guest at Arise TV, he said he has paid over N1bn tax to Nigeria In 20 Years.
He said: “The money I own here I pay tax. don’t forget I was a subject of a tax probe about two years ago and I showed evidence that in the last 20 years, I have consistently paid my tax and I have never paid less than N50m annually, so I pay my tax.”
Already, the Pandora Papers are bleeding profusely, as world leaders drag them to the slab, faulting every aspect of the reports and denying any wrongdoing.
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis
said the allegations are an attempt to influence elections in his country.
Russian President Vladimir Putin through Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov who questioned the reliability of the “unsubstantiated” information said they didn’t see any hidden wealth of Putin’s inner circle in there.
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who with six members of his family was linked to 13 offshore companies has denied the report as completely false.
Chile’s President Sebastián Piñera denied the information linked to him.
Interestingly, the Pandora Pandora Papers’ investigations and conclusions are based on three strands: “hidden wealth, tax evasions and money laundering”.
Did the report show any evidence that Peter Obi stole or hid state assets in his offshore companies or evaded tax in Nigeria or engaged in any form of money laundering? The answer is a capital NO.
Earlier, I stated that the Pandora Papers’ report on Obi was just a 2023 arrow disguised as an investigative report.
Who are these hooded marksmen? A convergence of disgruntled politicians obsessed with Obi’s growing stature as one of Nigeria’s finest politicians and entrepreneurial icons.
They were rattled with the success the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) recorded in the 2019 Presidential election with Peter Obi as the Vice Presidential Candidate. They are afraid that with the recent permutations, Peter Obi may likely get the ticket of the PDP as the presidential candidate or return as the vice presidential candidate. They are not comfortable with a man who has been transparent in his acquisitions, frugal in lavishness, theological in thoroughness, dogmatic in merit and
devoted to the Nigerian project.
They simply do not want a competent leader in Aso Rock, so that they can continue, like Eli’s two sons, Phinehas and Hophni, dipping their hands in the national wealth and take to themselves all the prime cuts of meat, leaving us, the flotsam and jetsam with nothing.
An African proverb says when all the water has gone, only the rocks and stones will still remain in the riverbed. Peter Obi bears Okwute (rock) as a traditional title. When all the water has gone, he will still remain one of Nigeria’s brightest pebbles.
Kogi State police command has detained four of its officers who allegedly behaved like “armed robbers” as displayed in a trending video clip on WhatsApp platforms. The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba had earlier today, October 17, ordered an investigation into the matter, which reportedly took place today. The officers, ASP Isah Barnabas, Inspector Ifediegwu Godwin, Sgt Emmanuel Ochima and CPL Umameh Mathias, where shown in the video as forcing a passenger on Okene-Adogo road in Kogi State to withdraw N25,000 from an ATM for them. The video which went viral in other social media, showed that the officers removed their uniforms, changed into civilian dress and march their victim, who was said not to have committed any offence, to the nearby ATM where they forced him to withdraw the amount. The person who did the video gave his name as John Akinfehinwa. He showed one of the police officers shouting on top of his voice, menacingly displaying his gun. The video maker claimed that another person who was a fellow traveller was physically assaulted by one of the men in uniform. In a statement immediately, the spokesman of the Force Headquarters, Abuja, Frank Mba, quoted the IGP as having ordered investigation into the matter, even as the Kogi State Police Command commenced investigations. A statement by the Kogi Police Public Relations Officer, DSP William Ovye Aya said the State Commissioner of Police, CP Idrisu Dauda Dabban, condemned the incident. He confirmed that the officers involved have been identified and detained at the State Criminal Investigations Department. “The Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) has been issued an official query while the three other junior officers are currently undergoing orderly room trial (Police internal disciplinary actions).” The statement said that the Command is doing its best to establish contact with the victims. He enjoined the victims to reach out to the Command thorough 08107899269. He assured that any of the officers found wanting in the investigations would be dealt with accordingly. The officers, who are attached to Adogo Division were on patrol duty along Adogo-Okene road at the time the incidence happened.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that a half million women, men and children in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states are at risk of starvation as its funding for the region dries up. In a statement, the global agency said it might soon be forced to cut food rations except it secured urgent funding to continue its life-saving operations in the crisis hotspot. The region had been a mainstay of insurgency attacks for over a decade and the situation had been worsened by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and rising high food prices, the WFP said. The UN agency also said the number of internally-displaced persons surpassed two million in September. “Cutting rations means choosing who gets to eat and who goes to bed hungry. We are seeing funding for our life-saving humanitarian work dry up just at the time when hunger is at its most severe,” said Chris Nikoi, WFP’s Regional Director for West Africa following a recent visit to Nigeria. The WFP, which won the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2020, said it required at least $55 million in a matter of weeks to avoid cutting food aid. “Our food assistance is a lifeline for millions whose lives have been upended by conflict and have almost nothing to survive on. We must act now to save lives and avoid disruptions to this lifeline,” Nikoi added. The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, said cutting food assistance “will be a painful decision for humanitarians as it will negatively affect children, women and men uprooted from their homes due to continued violence. “As we call upon our partners to step up their support in response to the growing needs, I would like to say thank you to those who have stood with us over the years in providing the much-needed humanitarian assistance in the country.” According to its Friday statement, the WFP said it had “provided life-saving food and nutrition assistance to severely food insecure people, displaced families in camps, and to vulnerable people living in host communities thanks to generous contributions from Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Nigeria, Republic of Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, the United States of America, and private donors. “This year, relying on the continued generosity of donor partners, WFP ramped up its response to address rising food insecurity and the impact of COVID-19, targeting 1.9 million displaced people in Nigeria with life-saving food assistance. “To sustain humanitarian operations in northeast Nigeria until March 2022, WFP urgently requires USD 197 million.”
Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, Mallam Mele Kyari Receives “The Sun Man of The Year” Award in Lagos, Saturday, October 16.
Nigeria has issued the revised travel protocol for foreigners and Nigerians in Diaspora coming into the country.
Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID19, who doubles as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, made this known in a statement today, October 15.
He said that the protocol takes effect on October 25 this year.
According to him, travellers arriving in Nigeria must present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result conducted not more than 72hours before boarding.
He said that unvaccinated and partially vaccinated in-bound passengers will be required to observe a mandatory seven-day self-isolation in addition to a COVID-19 PCR test on days 2 and 7 after arrival,
Boss Mustapha said that fully vaccinated in-bound passengers will not be required to observe the mandatory seven-days self-isolation but will be required to do a COVID-19 PCR test on day two of arrival.
“Persons arriving on Business trip or on official duty staying less than seven days in Nigeria “must
* be fully vaccinated
* produce negative COVID-19 PCR result 72hours before boarding and conduct a PCR test on day 2 of their arrival.”
It will be recalled that Boss Mustapha had, during the national briefing, promised that a revised travel protocol would be published.
The review of the protocol is based on science, national experience, and global developments.
A renowned religious leader in Nigeria, Pastor Tunde Bakari has said that having pastored a church for 33 years and created new leaders, he would now concentrate on nation building, probably as President if he is called by God to lead
“Every Nigerian, who is of age and who is not disqualified by any means, is free. I’m a nation builder, if God wants me to do that, and the people of Nigeria will appreciate that, why not? (I will be President).
” I’m as free as anybody to do anything with my time. I’ve pastored a church for 33 years, now we raise new leaders. I want to focus on nation building.”
Pastor Bakari, who had a chat with newsmen today, October 15, at the presidential villa, Abuja shortly after a private audience with President Muhammadu Buhari, admitted that since the Office of the President is only one, there are so many other things he can do as person to support whoever is there to make sure that he doesn’t go into retrogression, but begin to make steady progress .
“I have already communicated clearly, my future plans to Mr. President, and it stays between us.”
Pastor Bakari, who clearly does not favour the idea of rotating presidency amongst the regions of the country, said: “it is our immaturity, politically and otherwise, that makes us say power must either be in the North or be in the South, instead of looking for the best, the fittest, the most competent, and people of character, who love this nation.
“If where the President comes from will make the place he has come from to be better, the Northern part of Nigeria should be richest and should be the most progressive and the most developed because out of 61 years, the north has produced either the president or heads of state for 40 to 41 years and yet, see the retrogression in the North.
“If it is from the South, why should a person like President Obasanjo freeze and seize the account of Lagos State in his own tenure? If it’s from South-South or Southeast why couldn’t President Jonathan use all his powers to develop South-South/Southeast?
“Not where they come from, it’s what they carry and what they have to offer. May the best of the best of Nigerians rise, whether they are from the East, from the West, from the North or from the South.
“If there are agreements between politicians among themselves on rotation, a bargain is a bargain. That is between them. But as far as this country is concerned, what we need at this stage is man who can drive us to the Eldorado.”
The Pastor said that one of the best things the present National Assembly has done, especially the Senate, is the legislation on electric voting.
According to him, with that, Nigerians can vote and then results can be transmitted so easily. “Not only that, part of the State of the nation address that I did on October 10, I emphasised how Nigeria youth, especially undergraduates, are disenfranchised in our country.
“22.3 million students are registered, but during election, campuses are shut, they will not be able to return there to vote, therefore disenfranchised. If we can do not just transmitting results, but to be able to vote electronically, that will be wonderful. It will deepen and enhance our democracy.
“Not only that, the Diaspora sends above $25 billion to Nigeria. “Nigeria in Diaspora should also be able to vote like they do in every other country in the world. The more the merrier.
“Yes, democracy is a game of number, but our people should have the final say, so the office of the citizen must be as important, if not more than the office of the governor or the president because they are the people who put them in power. Sovereignty still lies in the hands of the people of Nigeria.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has withdrawn its suit seeking the forfeiture of N20billion bailout funds granted to the Kogi State Government by Sterling Bank.
The money, which was alleged to have been domiciled in an interest yielding account with the bank, was meant for the payment of Kogi State workers.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke aneke granted the order of withdrawal today, October 15, sequel to a motion filed and argued by the counsel to EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, leading Rotimi Oyedepo.
Pinheiro listed six grounds upon which the judge granted the prayer, adding that “the EFCC is a responsible body.”
One of the grounds was that questions resulting in the commencement of the suit had been clarified, and an intention had been shown to return the sum of N19,333,333,333.36 back to the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Justice Aneke held: “I have listened to the submission of the learned Silk for the application, Mr Kemi Pinheiro SAN vis-a-vis perused the motion to withdraw. My humble opinion is that application is meritorious and ought to be granted
“Accordingly, the application is granted as prayed.”
Justice Tijjani Ringim had on August 31, granted an ex-parte application brought by the EFCC for an interim forfeiture of the N19, 333, 333, 333.36 billion, said to be warehoused in state’s Sterling Bank account number 0073572696.
Justice Ringim made the order of the interim forfeiture after taken arguments from the EFCC’s counsel, Abbas Muhammed.
The judge ruled that the order was pending the conclusion of an investigation or possible prosecution by the EFCC.
No fewer than three thousand girls drawn from Senior Secondary Schools across Nigeria have benefitted from a 3-day capacity building initiative on maritime commerce and National Virtual Maritime Quiz powered by Unity Bank Plc. The capacity building initiative, which focused on Information Communication Technology, ICT, maritime transportation and logistics ecosystem, was hosted by Ocean Ambassadors Foundation to promote the participation of Indigent Girl-Child in maritime commerce. Unity Bank partnered the programme as part of the Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives targeted at the education sector and to draw attention to the imperatives of training the girl-child to participate actively in the relevant sectors of the economy. This is coming against the backdrop of the negative impact of COVID-19 on the education sector which has affected millions of girls across Nigeria, resulting in “many girls being unable to return to schools and many others becoming child brides,” according to a recent report by the Economist. The programme coincided with the International Day of the Girl-Child which was marked to highlight how “the pandemic has accelerated digital platforms for learning, earning and connecting, while also highlighting girls’ diverse digital realities”. The Managing Director/CEO of Unity Bank Plc, Mrs. Tomi Somefun represented by the Chief Customer Service Officer, Mrs. Titilayo Abraham officially opened the event. Commenting on the initiative, she stated that: “Unity Bank has maintained its commitment to supporting the girl child by supporting several advocacy initiatives and investing in the education sector. The National Maritime Quiz is yet another opportunity to contribute to the movement to encourage, educate and empower the Girl-Child to participate in the economy while driving access to education.” “We commend the Ocean Ambassadors Foundation for their initiatives aimed at bridging the gender gap in the ICT, maritime, transportation, and logistics sectors in Nigeria.” Unity Bank has in time past demonstrated commitment to supporting the education sector, especially for initiatives targeted at children. One of the Bank’s flagship initiatives – One Minute Genius (OMG) and others such as Unity Bank Spelling B Competition, One Day CEO, are annual educational platforms of the Bank aimed at boosting financial literacy among Nigerian children. The organisers, Ocean Ambassadors Foundation commended Unity Bank, adding that “the sensitisation for the Girl-Child to take advantage of career opportunities in the ICT and maritime cannot be over-emphasised. According to the Group, this also amplifies the “Global Advocacy of the Sustainable Development Goal’s 4, 5, and 14” stating that “Gender equality and women empowerment require deliberate transformative shifts, new technological solutions and integrated approaches”.
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Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, Mallam Mele Kyari Receives “The Sun Man of The Year” Award in Lagos, Saturday, October 16.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has withdrawn its suit seeking the forfeiture of N20billion bailout funds granted to the Kogi State Government by Sterling Bank.
Peter Obi And Arrows Of 2023, By Justus Nwakanma
There is a salient rule in archery, in warfare or combat: Always choose the right arrows when shooting at your target, or he would walk away in swaggering triumphalism.
Sadly, those who shot at Peter Obi recently with the arrow of Pandora Papers, using the spindling bows of Premium Times, an online news platform, failed to adhere to this obvious logic. They chose fragile, blunted arrows embellished with furbelows of lies, deceit and hoodwink. They simply aimed at the wrong target.
The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), claims that its project, Pandora Papers is the largest investigation in journalism history, which exposes a shadow financial system that benefits the world’s most rich and powerful.
The latest report is said to involve
over 600 journalists in 117 countries who thaw through files from 14 sources for months, in what has translated to a leak of almost 12 million documents that reveal hidden wealth, tax evasions and money laundering.
Indeed, widespread corruption among public servants and leaders is an obstacle to social and economic development, particularly in developing countries such as Nigeria. It undermines democracy, destroys the credibility of government and erodes the essence of human living and existence.
Therefore, any intervention at increasing public service transparency, strengthening accountability or totally eliminating graft should be encouraged.
However, such interventions as the Pandora Papers, should not be a misrepresentation of facts. They should not be used as tools for witch hunting or damaging perceived political enemies.
Reading through the report by Premium Times, it is safe to conclude that it was a weaponized narrative shot from the political trenches of 2023; it was a debilitating whiff of conjecture and embellished anecdotes, without value or validity, devoid of substance or sustenance.
In a gale of presumptuous arrogance, it tried to draw legitimacy to its superficiality, even when the facts it presented were obviously hollow and contradictory.
The entire report reeks in suggestiveness and incitement; was judgemental, reproachfully deprecatory, and a well-greased projectile intended to perforate Obi’s personality, destroy his business empire and rubbish his growing political influence.
Its repeated use of the jaundiced phrase, ‘Obi could be charged,’ is a premium trial in which Obi had already been found guilty even before the article was written.
The report enviously quivered at Peter Obi as being widely regarded in Nigeria as an advocate of good governance, openness, and transparency. That’s right. Obi is not just an advocate, he is a template for good governance, openness, financial transparency and prudential management of public and private resources. And here, as the Yorubas say, is the koko. This is exactly what the premium trial by Premium Times set out to discredit.
One had expected to read an exclusive on how Peter Obi dipped his ‘sticky, sleazy’ fingers in the treasury of Anambra State and deprived the people of their Commonwealth and patrimony.
One had expected to read how Peter Obi did not leave 75 billion naira in the coffers of the Anambra State as he normally says, but converted the money to personal use. Readers would have loved to know how Obi illegally amassed so much wealth by duping Anambra and Nigerians; or the contracts he received from the government and converted the money to private use. We didn’t find that.
But the Pandora Papers with the mentality of an archeologist, dragged Obi to the crime field, hoping to excavate the relics and reasons of our failed nationhood strapped to his body.
Is it not ridiculous, that the report took a preposterous swipe at Obi’s speeches, feminine voice and self-effacing plebeian demeanour, then concluded that there is something he is hiding “beyond the facade of priggish speeches and appearances.”
On Obi’s investment in Monaco, the report said “the city does not charge wealth tax, property tax, investment income tax, and capital gains tax,” then it wondered whether it was this mouth-watering tax regime that attracted Obi to Monaco.
The answer is rhetorically affirmative. There is no investor that would not want to invest in countries where tax regimes are favourable and friendly. Did Obi break any law in this regard? No he didn’t.
Given the provisions of Section Six (6) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Obi said he dutifully resigned as a Director of Next. Common reasoning infers that the date a change is effected in the list of trustees or directors of a company is not necessarily the day a member resigned. What would have been in contention is that Obi did not resign. Again, he broke no law in this regard.
Many of the offshore businesses the Pandora Papers call hidden offshore treasures of the rich and the powerful are indeed some legitimate investments some of these people made before they became public servants.
In Peter Obi’s case, Next which the report said birthed his Nexus of hidden businesses was formed in 1991, 16 years before he became governor. The sponsors of the report and their hatchet men did not do a thorough job, but displayed outright ignorance when the report admitted it did not know what businesses Next engaged in. It also did not find anything in the records of the company suggestive of money laundering or fraud. So why the fuss about Next?
Rather, it questioned why a company should be registered with the names of family members, jointly owned or not. It celebrated its loathing for Obi and his accomplishments by questioning why there should even be a change of name or that of the directors. Again, Obi did not break any local or known international law by registering a business using family identities.
On failing to pay his taxes, Obi has also discredited the report. Recently while appearing as a guest at Arise TV, he said he has paid over N1bn tax to Nigeria In 20 Years.
He said: “The money I own here I pay tax. don’t forget I was a subject of a tax probe about two years ago and I showed evidence that in the last 20 years, I have consistently paid my tax and I have never paid less than N50m annually, so I pay my tax.”
Already, the Pandora Papers are bleeding profusely, as world leaders drag them to the slab, faulting every aspect of the reports and denying any wrongdoing.
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis
said the allegations are an attempt to influence elections in his country.
Russian President Vladimir Putin through Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov who questioned the reliability of the “unsubstantiated” information said they didn’t see any hidden wealth of Putin’s inner circle in there.
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who with six members of his family was linked to 13 offshore companies has denied the report as completely false.
Chile’s President Sebastián Piñera denied the information linked to him.
Interestingly, the Pandora Pandora Papers’ investigations and conclusions are based on three strands: “hidden wealth, tax evasions and money laundering”.
Did the report show any evidence that Peter Obi stole or hid state assets in his offshore companies or evaded tax in Nigeria or engaged in any form of money laundering? The answer is a capital NO.
Earlier, I stated that the Pandora Papers’ report on Obi was just a 2023 arrow disguised as an investigative report.
Who are these hooded marksmen? A convergence of disgruntled politicians obsessed with Obi’s growing stature as one of Nigeria’s finest politicians and entrepreneurial icons.
They were rattled with the success the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) recorded in the 2019 Presidential election with Peter Obi as the Vice Presidential Candidate. They are afraid that with the recent permutations, Peter Obi may likely get the ticket of the PDP as the presidential candidate or return as the vice presidential candidate. They are not comfortable with a man who has been transparent in his acquisitions, frugal in lavishness, theological in thoroughness, dogmatic in merit and
devoted to the Nigerian project.
They simply do not want a competent leader in Aso Rock, so that they can continue, like Eli’s two sons, Phinehas and Hophni, dipping their hands in the national wealth and take to themselves all the prime cuts of meat, leaving us, the flotsam and jetsam with nothing.
An African proverb says when all the water has gone, only the rocks and stones will still remain in the riverbed. Peter Obi bears Okwute (rock) as a traditional title. When all the water has gone, he will still remain one of Nigeria’s brightest pebbles.
*Nwakanma, a journalist, wrote in from Lagos.