Justice Lateefa Okunnu of an Ikeja High Court, Friday, granted former Managing Director of Bank PHB, Mr. Francis Atuche and his wife, Elizabeth, an extension of time to file their no-case submission applications on the charges preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The Atuches and the former Chief Financial Officer of Bank PHB, Mr. Ugo Anyanwu are standing trial over allegations of stealing N25.7 billion belonging to the bank.
The EFCC had closed its case against the accused persons on March 4, this year, after calling 12 witnesses, who gave oral evidence and issuing subpoenas to six other persons to present some documents, which were admitted as exhibits by the court.
Atuche and the co-defendants had insisted that the EFCC had failed to establish the charge preferred against them, based on the testimonies of witnesses and exhibits before the court.
Following the development, Justice Okunnu directed the defendants to file their no-case submission within 14 days. At yesterday’s proceedings, counsel to the Atuches, Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN), asked the court for an extension of time to file all the necessary processes.
Idigbe said the delay was necessitated by the crash of his computer, which resulted in the loss of valuable information relating to the matter.
The EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), who had earlier opposed the application, withdrew his objection and the judge granted the request.
The judge also granted the EFCC an extension of time to regularise its objection to the no-case submission filed by Anyanwu. She adjourned the matter till June 26 for hearing of the pending applications.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
The consensus of investment analysts last week was that with the recent approval of an investment allocation of $850 million for the three investment windows of the Sovereign Investment Fund, the management of the Sovereign Investment Authority has demonstrated its resolve not only to provide a buffer for the economy but also to bridge the infrastructure gap in Nigeria, reports Festus Akanbi
The Federal Government may have scored a big point with the recent inauguration of the board of the Sovereign Wealth Authority, the investment arm of the Sovereign Wealth Fund, which last week expressed its readiness to go anywhere in the world to get the best deals for the country to justify the investment of the Nigerian people.
The Sovereign Wealth Fund, inaugurated in October, was set up to invest savings made from the difference between budgeted oil prices and actual market prices.
According to its vision statement, NSIA was established as world-class sovereign wealth fund manager to become the premier infrastructure investor/co-investor partner of choice for all commercially viable projects of size in Nigeria. Its mission include the need to build a savings base for future generations of Nigerians, enhance the development of Nigerian infrastructure and to promote fiscal stability for the country in times of economic stress.
The build-up to the establishment of the SIA was characterised by glaring deficit in infrastructure with the attendant strains on economic and business activities.
Economic affairs commentators had argued that unless there was a conscious effort to save for the raining day, it might be practically difficult for the government to meet up with the rising demand for critical infrastructure needed for the nation’s development, especially given the regular depletion of the excess crude account savings.
NSIA Swings into Action With the declaration that the board of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) has approved an investment allocation of $850 million for the three investment windows of the SWF, informed financial analysts said the coast is now clear for the management of the fund to deliver on its promise.
Speaking last week at a session with journalists in Abuja to signal the commencement of the operation by the new management, which he heads, the Managing Director/CEO of NSIA, Mr. Uche Orji, said the Future Generations Fund and the Nigeria Infrastructure Fund would each get $325 million or 32.5 per cent while the Stabilisation Fund would receive $200 million or 20 per cent.
The remaining 15 per cent of $150 million, he said, “will be kept as unallocated for now, and used to top up each of the ring-fenced funds, as opportunities arise.”
Orji said the plan “aims to balance the infrastructure need of the current generation and the need for savings for the future generation of Nigerians.”
Investment in the Stabilisation Fund will start next month, as the Future Generation Fund will continue till end of 2013 “because it is a more diversified portfolio with a more complicated process.”
On Infrastructure Fund, Orji said: “A very detailed and thorough review of possible investment areas and projects is ongoing. The investments being considered with the infrastructure fund are housing, agriculture, power, water resources, transportation, sports, aviation and health care.”
He stated further that the objective of the NSIA was to build returns above inflation, and the reporting currency would be the dollar. He said the Nigeria infrastructure fund had geographical restrictions while the other two funds did not have geographical restrictions. The Nigeria infrastructure fund will focus only on Nigeria. These funds, according to Orji “will be managed in-house and the idea is to earn commercial returns and a sub set of the fund should be devoted to social infrastructure.”
The management of the SIA did not hide its resolve to maintain a lean organisation with total staff strength of 25 people including professional and administrative staff. A source explained that the institution opted for a lean organisation in order to avoid unnecessary bureaucracy, which could distract it from its goals.
Recognition One factor, which is working for the management of the SIA, is the growing popularity among its peers from other parts of the world. For instance, the International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds (IFSWF) has invited the NSIA to apply for observer status, an interim step before full membership. NSIA is expected to present credentials in Oslo, Norway in October 2013.
As a mark of its readiness to make its impact felt, the NSIA is currently engaged in in-depth discussions with a few strategic partners, which include private equity firms, investment managers, and OEMs interested in making capital investments. The initiatives are coming at a time of strong indications that the Sovereign Investment Authority is receiving positive considerations from relevant international institutions and stakeholders.
The favourable signals include messages of support and interest in co-investment with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority’s Infrastructure Fund from global firms and sovereign wealth funds of other countries.
A statement signed by the Special Adviser to NSIA Chief Executive, Obinna Ihedioha, said the governance structure of the NSIA had received strong endorsement from a cross section of participants who attended the just-concluded Institutional Investors Roundtable of Global Sovereign Wealth Funds in Banff, Canada.
“The participants at the event praised the governance structure for its fidelity to best practices and relevance to the peculiar challenges facing the Nigerian economy and commended the vision of MD/CEO, Mr. Uche Orji,” the statement said.
In his reaction to these developments, Orji commended the vision of President Goodluck Jonathan for prioritising the establishment of the NSIA and the leadership of the Coordinating Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. He also praised the board of directors being led by Alhaji Mahey Rasheed for a strong leadership and guidance especially in this initial phase.
Growing International Support “The international support we have received is a reflection of the potential opportunity in Nigeria, the benefit of the NSIA, and the capability of the NSIA to be a catalyst for significant international investment. More importantly, our invitation to a group like this is a reflection of the credible governance of the NSIA and a commendation of the Federal Government’s vision,” the statement added. In its bid to register its presence on international scene, the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority led by its chairman, Alhaji Mahey Rasheed, paid a courtesy visit to the secretariat of the International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds (IFSWF), housed at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington DC to discuss the imminent membership of the NSIA on April 21.
The delegation also met with potential partners including a high-level delegation of the World Bank, International Finance Corporation (IFC), US-Export Import Bank (EXIM) and US Overseas Private Investment Company (OPIC) as well as private sector players such as Goldman Sachs, Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS), JP Morgan, and Acumen Funds – a world-class social infrastructure investment company.
These meetings were in keeping with a key mandate of the NSIA to serve as a channel to attract foreign investments into Nigeria and the discussions centered on NSIA’s pipeline of investment projects in Nigeria.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) Hon. Dakuku Peterside, has lauded the re-election of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State for a second term as Chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum.
Amaechi who was the candidate to beat at the election trounced his opponents, ending weeks of political intrigues and plots to stop him at all costs.
Peterside who represents Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency in Rivers State also commended members of the Nigerian Governors Forum for supporting Amaechi whom he described as a visionary and courageous leader.
He described Governor Amaechi’s re-election as victory for democracy, rule of law, due process, vision, transparency, courage and good governance.
“It is also victory for all suppressed voices in our country. What has happened today also shows that democracy, which means freedom of choice, has come to stay in our nation,” he said. The lawmaker described Governor Amaechi’s victory as a turning point in Nigeria’s political history and expressed confidence in Amaechi’s abilities to lead the forum.
He gave assurance that the new leadership of the NGF will work with the President, the National Assembly and other political leaders to stabilise the polity, deepen democracy and expand the socio-political and economic space.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
The Honda Civic has returned with quite exciting and upscale features. The ninth generation 2013 model year of the Civic was unveiled recently in Lagos at the Ijesha Showroom of The Honda Place (THP) Nigeria before making its first public appearance in the country at the just-concluded Lagos Motor Show.
Coming with a sleek, energetic and aerodynamic design with new ECON button that adjusts throttle response and air conditioning to improve fuel economy, the Honda Civic, in its ninth reincarnation, has returned as a smoother and sleekcar with curvy wheel-arches and longer front and rear overhangs.
Available in two –trim levels, LX and EX, the entry level LX comes equipped with automatic air-conditioner, USB connectivity and 16-inch alloy wheels while the EX adds luxuries like cruise control, front fog lights, dual-zone climate control and Bluetooth and panoramic sunroof. Head of Sales and Marketing, Mr. Deepak Daryanani, while unveiling the car at a media launch and tour of the Ijesha facility of THP, said the previous-generation Honda Civic had a revolutionary look, but Honda has chosen evolution for this latest model.
According to Daryanani, the tail of the Civic however retains the split screen of its predecessor with the lights incorporated into the split while a windscreen wiper has been added. On the inside, the cabin material and switchgear has been improved while the digital dashboard is simplified so that it’s easier to read.
A test drive of the car reveals that the new Honda Civic strikes a good balance between fun and comfort – thanks to the new smooth electric power steering system and fluid-filled rear suspension bushes, which soaks up bumps convincingly. Coupled with this is the new Civic slippery aerodynamics that helps resist wind noise, so it’s pretty quiet on the motorway. “And “if you’re looking for a car that won’t see the dealer any more than it has to, buy a Civic”, Daryanani advised.
On the safety features, Daryananisaid the new Honda Civic has a maximum five-star Euro NCAP rating, adding that every Civic comes fitted with a full complement of airbags, as well as LED daytime running lights, ESP and ABS as standard. The EX model, according to him, gets adaptive cruise control and a Collision Mitigation Braking System, which uses radar to detect imminent collisions at low speeds.
The Civic now comes more roomy at the back with a generous dimension of 4,300mm long, 2,065mm wide and 1,590mm tall. The clever rear bench ‘Magic Seat’ is also still there thus enabling the seats to be folded flat to carry longer items, or flip the seats up cinema-style to transport taller loads. The boot, on the other hand offers 477 litres of luggage space (including 76 litres within an under-floor compartment), which is a massive 161 litres more than some competitions.
On the efficiency of the car, “The Civic has always been cheap to run, and this latest version is no different. All of the engines are economical. You can get the 1.8 litre to post 28/29kmpg and emit 137g/km. And with strong residual values across the range, you’ll get a lot of your money back come resale time,” Daryanani assured. He however disclosed that only the 140bhp 1.8-litre petrol engine with a five-speed automatic transmission system will be available in the Nigerian market.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
National Assembly’s approval of the emergency rule declared by President Goodluck Jonathan and the progress being reported by the military seem to be proving that the special anti-insurgency measures can work, but what kind of lessons does this offer for long-term security? Vincent Obia reports
The declaration of emergency rule in Yobe, Borno, and Adamawa states on May 14 by President Goodluck Jonathan had ignited a debate about how best to deal with the insurgency that was eating deep into Nigeria through the North-east. But the debate ended on an undisputed position that something urgent needed to be done to reclaim the security and sovereignty of Nigeria.
Unanimous Approval The Senate unanimously approved the emergency proclamation to rein in the Boko Haram insurgency, with an advice that it should not impede democratic structures. After a closed door meeting on Tuesday attended by 100 of the 109 members of the upper chamber, Senate President David Mark reported the proceedings of the session thus, “We want to emphasise, in fact, and very emphatically, that all democratic structures must be left in place and must be allowed to operate fully and actively; and they must also be involved in all the efforts that the federal government is putting up to bring this ugly situation to an end.
“We also would like to emphasise that the armed forces are issued a proper code of conduct where they will be humane; they will be benevolent and to make sure that all citizens are treated with utmost respect so that they do not lose their respect as human beings.” The Senate called for adequate funding of the emergency operations, the sending of relief materials to the affected states, and a continuation of the efforts to ensure a peaceful resolution of the Boko Haram crisis.
Senators approved the state of emergency proclamation via a voice vote, with no dissension. The House of Representatives, too, that same Tuesday, approved the state of emergency. But it added that compensation for victims of terrorism in the country should go pari passu with the enforcement of the emergency rule. The House also said that governors of the affected states should administer the emergency rule – not the president – and any further order issued by the president in relation to the operations during the period of the emergency must be approved by the National Assembly within seven days, or it stood nullified. Like the Senate, the House emerged from a closed door session, where it considered the emergency rule proclamation gazette sent by the president, to approve it by voice vote in a plenary session attended by an overwhelming 253 of the 360 members of the lower chamber.
Beyond Partisanship The emergency action to reclaim the country is an issue on which Nigerians have made a common cause. Senate spokesman Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe told journalists that the matter before the lawmakers was beyond partisanship and the discussions needed to be restricted to the legislators to protect their individual identities. “We spoke frankly to each other, and we were of the opinion that Nigeria comes first. We should have a corporate entity called Nigeria, after which we can have individual opinion,” he said. “Our rules state that we can regulate our procedure. At the closed session we saw that we needed to protect some members from any harm by people who are misinformed. The decision was unanimous, there was no dissension.”
Blow to the Opposition But not everyone had thought the measures will help to repossess the parts of Nigeria that were being conquered by Boko Haram terrorists.
The main opposition party, Action Congress of Nigeria, condemned the emergency rule as a mere troop surge that had never worked in the past and held no hope of success. ACN also tried to impute political ulterior motives to the proclamation of the president. “In view of the reasons stated above, we hereby reject the declaration of emergency rule in the three states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, and we call on the National Assembly to also reject it and not allow itself to be used to rubber stamp a declaration that is largely cosmetic.
“We reiterate our earlier statements that the Boko Haram crisis has its roots in years of bad governance that have produced an army of unemployed, unemployable, disenchanted and demoralised youths who are now ready hands and willing tools for those seeking to perpetrate violence. The unprecedented corruption across the land, as well as injustice and extra-judicial killings are also fuelling this crisis,” ACN stated.
For the second biggest opposition party, Congress for Progressive Change, it was a sort of confusion. While the party’s national publicity secretary Rotimi Fashakin first commended the emergency proclamation, its national secretary Buba Galadima later condemned the measure. Galadima was quoted as saying, “The insecurity was not caused by the so-called Boko Haram, but by the government who were killing people to make them pick arms against the government. This is my standard as somebody from Borno and Yobe. My people have been short-changed and killed arbitrarily.”
It was Galadima who had also vowed before the 2011 presidential election and the bloody violence that followed in parts of northern Nigeria that there will be violence if the CPC candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, did not win with an overwhelming majority. That was a clearly wide conjecture at the time for a presidential candidate whose popularity never extended beyond a few far northern states. But All Nigeria Peoples Party lauded the emergency rule declaration, particularly, the president’s decision to retain the elected institutions in the three states.
ACN, CPC, ANPP, and a faction of All Progressives Grand Alliance are working towards a merger under which they will relinquish their individual identities and come under one party, All Progressives Congress. But the hostile positions on the emergency rule declaration have tended to deal a blow to the opposition’s public rating and expose its limits at a time many Nigerians were beginning to see the burgeoning opposition merger as the country’s bulwark against the ruling Peoples Democratic Party’s seeming non-performance and arrogance of power. Many saw opposition to the emergency actions as insensitivity to the dilemma of innocent citizens whose lives and livelihoods had been destroyed and wrecked in Boko Haram attacks. The opposition parties, however, seemed to make amends with their legislators’ support for the emergency rule, perhaps, after they had seen that they were in the wrong.
Rules of Conduct But everyone seems to be concerned about the conduct of the security services personnel in the three states where a state of emergency was declared.
ACN had in the statement by its national publicity secretary Lai Mohammed criticised what it called “an asymmetric use of force in an environment where the insurgents operate within a civilian population,” saying, “it will ultimately be counterproductive as the death toll will continue to mount while the civilian population – who will be caught in the cross fire – will be alienated.” While many frown on ACN’s disparagement of the emergency option without proposing any feasible alternative, the concern for civilian lives is one that a lot of people share.
Chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum Babangida Aliyu, who is also the governor of Niger State, advised the military to protect civilians in the states where emergency rule was declared, in a statement by his chief press secretary Danladi Ndayebo. United States Secretary of State John Kerry said penultimate Friday he was “deeply concerned about the fighting in north-eastern Nigeria.” He urged the security forces to “apply disciplined use of force in all operations.”
The fears are a hash testament to the security services’ conducts in past internal security operations. On November 20, 1999, Odi, a community in Bayelsa State, was attacked by the military in apparent revenge for the murder of 12 policemen by a gang. Human rights groups said over 2, 000 people were killed and virtually all standing structures destroyed in the military assault alleged to have been ordered by then President Olusegun Obasanjo. Also on October 30, 2001, following the abduction and killing of 19 soldiers, soldiers descended on the village of Zaki Biam, in Benue State, with heavy weapons and killed more than 200 unarmed civilians.
Before the Fourth Republic, in November 1990, it was death, destruction, and loss at Umuechem in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State when troops of the Police Mobile Force invaded the community, killing scores of locals, including the traditional ruler and some of his children. The police had come at the behest of Shell Petroleum Development Company following a protest by the villagers against the company’s environmental practices. But the police also said one of their officers had been killed by youth of the community.
Reassurance But the military says it is maintaining professionalism and observing the rules of conduct in the current operations in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states. It is an assertion that has yet to be fully tested.
The military says it is reviewing the country’s troop commitments in foreign lands with a view to bringing back some soldiers to strengthen the internal anti-insurgency operations. It says the operations in the North-east are going according to plan. Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Chris Olukolade, said in a statement that many insurgents had been killed or captured, while a large quantity of arms and ammunitions had been recovered by the security services. “The area is being combed to fish out any of the surviving insurgents. Also some of the fleeing insurgents from the various camps have been noted to be in search of fuel from neighbouring communities.
“Citizens are advised to report to JTF (Joint Task Force) any group of persons roaming around the local communities with large quantities of containers in search of fuel. “The advance troops are continuing in all fronts as scheduled,” Olukolade stated.
Keeping Dialogue Alive Despite the military operation, the federal government is also trying to keep the peace process with the Boko Haram insurgents alive. The government has explained on various forums that the declaration of a state of emergency does not nullify the existing regime of dialogue aimed at a peaceful resolution of the insurgency. The president on Tuesday directed the Defence Headquarters to release some detained members of Boko Haram. Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs Doyin Okupe said in a statement on Wednesday, “The order for the release of the detainees will be in phases.
“Concerning the first batch, the emphasis is on women and children who have been in detention on suspicion of involvement and/or connection with insurgency in some parts of the country. This will be followed by other phased releases where cases will be treated on their individual merits by the defence authorities and security agencies. “The presidential directive was as a result of the interim report by the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peace in Northern Nigeria which recommended the measure as part of the government’s multi-faceted strategy to solving the security challenges posed by the activities of the sect.”
Sabotage Now that the security services are reporting progress in the fight against terrorism, and the peace process with repentant insurgents is on, Nigerians can only hope that the country’s northern parts would return to the peace and tranquillity of yesteryear. The fight against insurgency has involved costly sacrifices in deaths, infrastructural destruction, and lost investment. The police and the armed forces have paid a huge price.
But the most painful part, probably, is the disclosure that the security services personnel are often their own enemies. Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika, on Wednesday said some soldiers had been arrested for sabotaging the emergency operations in the North-east by leaking vital information to the insurgents. He stated, “There are some soldiers that have been found to be posting negative comments on the Internet and some conversing with insurgents.
“I want to state that any officer or soldier caught linked one way or the other will be disciplined severely, there are no two ways about it. “The Directorate of Military Intelligence is encouraged to continue to monitor the activities along with military police and other commanders in the field because military service is service of patriotism.”
Ihejirika referred to the recent bloody attack on Mali-bound troops, saying a soldier had divulged to the gunmen information on the movement of the soldiers. Only recently, over 50 policemen and State Security Service operatives were ambushed and killed in Nasarawa State and the killers were also said to have been told about the movement of the security men by renegade officers. What this means, certainly, is that an increasing number of Nigerians, quite dangerously within the security services, do not believe in Nigeria and its ideals.
So, as the country tries to surmount rebellion and re-establish security of lives and property, a critical lesson to learn seems to be that building a country with institutions that the people believe in is the best formula for lasting peace and stability.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Governor Gabriel Torwua Suswam has been at the helm of affairs in Benue State for the past six years, having first served as member of the House of Representatives for eight years at the beginning of this democratic dispensation. While representing Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo Federal Constituency in the lower chamber of the National Assembly, he chaired influential committees like House Services, Appropriation, Federal Capital Territory and Power. This 49-year-old lawyer and politician, has a broad perpective on issues affecting the country. In this interview with Tokunbo Adedoja, he speaks on the state of security in the nation, the incessant clashes between Fulani herdsmen and peasant farmers in Benue, politics of 2015 and the unending face-off between President Jonathan and Rivers State Governor Amaechi. The interview was conducted shortly before Friday’s re-election of Amaechi as NGF chairman.
LLooking at the state of security in the country, particularly the North, which made the President to address the nation and declare state of emergency in three northeastern states, as a chief security officer of a state from that region, are you worried that the nation may be tottering on the precipice? Well, any ordinary Nigerian should be worried and alarmed; it is not just as a chief security officer of a state. Without proper security in an environment, nothing can be achieved. People feel insecured, so businesses go down. It affects the general economic activities and then its increases poverty. As Nigerians, first and foremost, we should be worried. As one of the political leaders, I am most worried because its gives an impression that we are not doing what we are supposed to do. But then there are people who are determined that they must create this general insecurity problem for different reasons. Some are political and most of it, there are people who are seriously behind it because these insurgents or these criminals have sophisticated weapons, which are bought with money. So, there is a lot of politics involved in the general security situation. There are also people who are just evil, who want to destabilise the country. And so, the decision taken by the President, is a decision that is welcome, even by the governors of those states, because the security situation in those states was quite overwhelming and they were completely overwhelmed. And so, if that state of emergency will solve the problem, then that is what we need. This is a desperate situation that needs a desperate solution. And I think the President has asked the military to do whatever it would take to make sure that Nigerians are secured.
There are views that the soldiers had always been there for the past two years in form of JTF and that the declaration of emergency by the President was just a mere formality that would only be reflected in the deployment of additional troops. How would you react to this view? No, with the state of emergency, the military now has a legal backing to operate and make sure that they go into full military operation to rout out these criminals who have been operating in a sophisticated manner and have highly sophisticated military weapons. When they were there, they were deployed by the President. Now, the President through the instruments of the constitution has declared a state of emergency, which gives emergency powers to even the political structures in the state to make sure that they address the security situation. Yes, the military had been there, but what has happened now is different from what was (happening before). Now they have a legal instrument in their hand to operate.
But looking at the state of emergency declared, would you say that the committee set up by the President to dialogue with Boko Haram is still relevant because there are views that military action and the work of the committee are not mutually complimentary? You see, no war is totally won on the battlefield. At the end of the day, you must sit on the round table. You see, this people need to be confronted. If you are coming to a negotiating table, let them not come from a position of strength. Let them also be operating from a position of weakness so that we can put this thing behind us. So, the state of emergency and the military operations going on in these places do not in anyway vitiate the importance of the amnesty committee that had been set in place. While the operation is going on, the criminals have a window to come and say, ‘look , we are tired, we don’t want this any longer and so we want this thing settled’. So, I think the two-pronged approach is good for the safeguarding of the security situation.
You have also been having problems in your state in terms of the killings between the Fulani herdsmen and local farmers. How bad is the situation and what do you think is the way out? I think that it has to do with the general insecurity in the country. You know that Boko Haram has been operating for almost a year now and there seems to be a lot of impunity. And so, the people have gotten emboldened to carry the laws into their hands. And so with what has happened with the state of emergency declared in these states and the approach that is being taken now, I think that will address even the problems of fulanis incessant attacks on peasant farmers. It is not peculiar to Benue. Even if we look at Zamfara, if we look at Adamawa, if we look at Taraba and ofcourse, the entire North and even some parts of the South, the Fulani have engaged in incessant attacks on farmers. So, in Benue, we have been taking measures to address it. I have engaged them but from time to time this happens.
The latest one, which was very unfortunate, which was quite enormous, was something that we didn’t anticipate because I have engaged the Fulani leadership in the state as to how best we can create an atmosphere of cordiality between them and the local farmers. Unfortunately, this seems not to be working very well. And so, we need to also seriously address the issue of the Fulani herdsmen because they necessarily need to graze and so, we need to do something. Across the world and even if we look at the history of the cowboys in the western world, this was what was happening. If you watch some of the movies, they reflect what used to happen. Cowboys were roaming about with cows and creating a lot of problems for people. And then the government, at some points, now said, ‘this can no longer continue, let us have ranches’. What they have all over the western world are ranches where cattles are kept and facilities are provided. I think down the road, that is the way out. We must create ranches where these Fulani could graze because it is no longer feasible for us, as a country, to say we would create grazing routes as it was in the past when the population was less. At the time that this was happening, the entire population of Nigeria was less than a hundred million. Now, officially we are a hundred and something, unofficially, we are over 200 million. So, it is no longer feasible to talk about grazing routes. What we need to do is to have ranches for these people so that there can be localised facilities provided. Then we will be able to solve this problem of constant altercations between the fulani and local farmers across the entire nation.
Let’s go to the governors’ forum. There are views that since inception, the governors’ forum, rather than serve as a force for good governance, had been serving as an interest group for the protection of the interests of the governors and had been helping them to entrench their hold on power by ensuring that they determine who emerges as President. An example was the role members of the forum played in the emergence of Yar’Adua and in the delay in the assumption of office of the then Vice President Jonathan when Yar’Adua was out of the country for a long time on health grounds. Would you agree with the view that the governors’ forum does not really serve the cause of good governance? No, I am a bit confused in people who hold that kind of view because, even if we look at advanced democracy, we take America for instance, because we are more or less practising what is being practised in America. When we look at the contemporary history of America, it is either that you are governor and you are President or you are in the Congress. If you look at the ratio, those who are governors are more than those who are coming from the Congress. That is to show that in a presidential system of government, there are some powers that certain political office-holders wield. And in this case, of course the governor of a state, who is the chief security officer of a state, who presides over the affairs of a state, for instance, Benue with 4.7 million people, you cannot say such a person will not peddle some level of influence. Peddling influence in a political arrangement is a normal thing. And first and foremost, what is a governor’s interest? Is that interest personal? Is it the interest of the state? Most time when we discuss the interest of the state, we take the issue of the excess crude, this money does not come into the pockets of the governors.
But its helps them achieve projects that impact positively on the lives of the people that they govern. And so when somebody say that the forum is protecting the interest of the governors, the forum has never stopped EFCC from arresting or prosecuting any governor. So how are we protecting our interests? What we tried to protect is the interest of the people that we govern. Governors forum is more like a pressure group where we feel that if the Federal Government is sharing the national cake, the states, which are the component units must optimally have their own fair share of that cake.
That is what we represent. There is no personal interest in the governors forum. It is just that some people within the forum have taken that as if… you see, it has become quite personal as if it is an election to be President. Otherwise, whoever is the NGF chairman is just somebody who is coordinating the activities of a pressure group. And when you begin to feel as if you are an executive of the governors’ forum, then ofcourse, it is unacceptable to somebody like me because you are no better governor than I am. We are all governors. We just feel that ok, at this point, this person should coordinate the activities. And then somebody begins to feel as if he is an executive and he should lord it over, and then make uncomplimentary comments on behalf of the governor. That is unacceptable. That is all that you see. Otherwise, the governors’ forum is meant to project the interest of the people of this country, because the component units of this country make up what is Nigeria. So, we are not protecting our interest. What we are doing is to, most times, put pressure on the Federal Government to say, ‘look what you are doing and we are not getting our own fair share, let us get our own fair share’.
In view of that you have just said and given the apparent division among the governors in the forum, coupled with the face-off between the president and the chairman of the forum, would you agree that the governors’ forum may have become weak that it may not be able to play the kind of role it played in the past in deciding who becomes the President in 2015 or where the pendulum swings to? You see, in any gathering, you are bound from time to time to have this altercation. But I know, especially in the political environment, it is quite normal that this will settle down. I don’t think that the forum at anytime was a super forum. When people say that it has become weak, are you suggesting that governors, individually, in their various states have become weak? No, the forum is just where we meet and discuss national issues and issues that affect the states. You know, what is happening is just some inordinate ambition of some people. That is what I think. Otherwise, what is in governors’ forum? There are governors that don’t even attend the forum. It doesn’t change anything in them. So, this whole idea of…. The press has made it appear as if the forum is where there is so much power and so they determine life and death in this country. I don’t think so.
But since inception it has always determined who rules this country. So it has enormous powers? (Cuts in…) No, of course politics is cycles of conspiracy. You will definitely have it within political parties. There is this story about some parties merging. If the parties merged with the governors that are with them, then ofcourse, conspire to have presidential candidate and they won. Ofcourse, within the PDP, you know you have the governors’ forum, the PDP governors’ forum will have a lot of say as to who becomes the President of this country, not the governors’s forum. The governors’ forum has different political parties. Those governors in other political parties will go back and sit down because they have the delegates. They will sit down and decide who will be the presidential candidate in that party. Within the PDP, we will sit down with other stakeholders within the PDP and decide who will be the presidential candidate. So, it is not as if the governors’ forum determines and decides, because we are in different political parties. What we will be doing in the PDP is to make sure that whoever emerges as the presidential candidate in the PDP wins election.
The other political party will be doing the same thing within their own party. The advantage which a governor has, which is constitutional is that within the state, the delegates that are coming to elect and participate in the primaries are coming with the governor and if the governor says this is the person we should vote for, that is the person they will vote for. So, they have a leverage, which is not illegal, which is legitimate. And so, I don’t see anything wrong if the governors decide that this is the person we have decided that should be President. There are also other groups of people who are not governors who also have interests and who will also be angling that they will decide who will be President. So, the fact that you are a governor does not make you any less a Nigerian and so, you shouldn’t, because you are a governor, decide who will be President.
Looking at the crisis between the President and the chairman of the forum, has there been any effort by members of the forum to mediate and ensure that this face-off is resolved? Of course, yes. There were occasions that the President and the current chairman of the forum really had to talk personally, and some governors have also taken it upon themselves to actually tried to bring them together.
So, why has the crisis not been resolved? No, it is personal. You know if I have a disagreement with somebody, the person who is coming to bring us together is a third party to that problem. So, if I do not want that problem resolved, it would not happen. But then, why this has become the governors’ forum’s problem is that that seems to be affecting what we stand for. We are not into all of these news media hype that this whole thing has taken, the direction it has taken. That was not what we were set up for. We were set up to meet and say, ‘Look, if the Federal Government is sharing, for instance, projects across the country, are they fairly shared?’ But now people have taken governors’ forum as if it is a platform for them to achieve their own personal purpose. And some of us said that that is not the philosophy or the principle behind the setting up of the governors’ forum and it will not be acceptable. We will never accept a situation like that.
The election is coming up on 23 of May or thereabout. Do you foresee a leadership change? Some of us are determined that we must have a leadership in the governors’ forum that is not fighting the President. That is not acceptable. A leadership that is fighting the President, we were not set up to fight the President because all of us are in government. You should collaborate to provide good governance. It is not to engage in a fight. And so, there is no way we can be in a forum where we are perceived as people who are fighting the leadership of the country. It means that we are creating a fertile ground for anarchy in the country, and ofcourse, creating a lot of confusion and distractions. We don’t need that. We are supposed to collaborate in whaterver political party that we are. We come to the National Economic Council together, we come to the other meetings, irrespective of the parties that we belong to, there are certain bodies that all of us will come together to deliberate on issues that affect this country. And so, we are not meant to be fighting the leadership of this country.
Does disagreement with the President on, may be, policy issues amount to fighting the President? Well, that is what is being portrayed. When you disagree with somebody and you make it to be a public thing when you belong to the same party. You know party discipline, you will never see any of the ACN governors disagree with their leadership and bring them down in the public. Have you ever heard of that? Have you seen it? It doesn’t happen. There must be some control and discipline. No matter the disagreement that you have, you are within the same party.
So, the mechanism within the party should have been able to address it. But when that becomes impracticable, then some other measures need to be taken. And that is why you have some governors within the PDP saying, ‘Look, this is not right. We don’t need this at this point in time.’ We have a lot of security challenges. Instead of us sitting down at the governors’ forum to discuss issues that will make meaning to Nigerians, we are discussing the issue of chairman of governors’ forum. Something that willingly, we didn’t vote, we just sat down and said that this is the person that should take over and then it has become a problem. Why? Why? This is the question. Why the desperation in the first place? If I were the chairman, even if five of my colleagues say that, ‘well, we don’t like your leadership’, I can leave the place because it does not attract any renumeration apart from the fact that you represent in any situation where they say you are speaking on behalf of the governors. That is it. And so, that shouldn’t be something that somebody will insist that I must be there. No.
But the way the fight is going on is amazing. We read in the papers that the security aides of the Rivers State Assembly speaker had been withdrawn? Which aides?
The police aides? I think that is a state issue. I don’t think that the President will say that the aides of the speaker should be withdrawn. I don’t think that. The President is too high up for him to be dragged into an issue that is for the state. That is purely on the state level. I don’t think that the President will say that they should go and withdraw the aides of a speaker in a state.
With all that have been said and unfolding developments within the forum. Do you see the governors’ forum playing any crucial role in 2015 presidential election as they have done in the past? Absolutely. Like, I have told you, PDP has about 23 governors. So, PDP will definitely decide where the pendulum swings. There is no doubt about that. Forget the crises that are within the party. Within the ACN or whatever party that they will eventually form, as a group, they will also decide who becomes the presidential candidate. It will be the governors who will sit down and bring the delegates. No person brings delegates from the state outside of the governors. And so, they determine who becomes the candidates of their various parties, except parties that don’t have governors. Parties that have governors, those governors are major stakeholders in the arrangement of people who will emerge as candidates in their parties. And because we have overwhelming majority in the states, of course if 23 states decide that this is the person we are voting, that person becomes the president of this country and I believe that is what is going to happen.
Looking at it against the background of the alarm raised by Chief Tony Anenih (chairman of PDP board) during the South-South PDP leaders’ conference in Asaba where he said that the emerging APC and the rising number of governors in its fold is a threat to the dominance of PDP. Would you also agree with that? You see, in any contest that you engage in, if you have an opponent, you should not take that opponent for granted. And so, for me, I have conducted elections up to four times. I don’t take any opponent for granted. I think that what Chief Anenih was saying is that let us not take any opponent for granted, whether it is ACN, ANPP or APC, whatever name they call themselves, let us not take them for granted. I don’t know somebody who takes any political contest for granted. And so we shouldn’t take any arrangement, in whatever form, for granted. But I know that nothing will stop PDP from producing the next President in 2015. There is a lot of noise around, but we also know what we are doing and we will produce the President for this country. Nothing is going to stop that. PICS: SUSWAM-1.jpg and SUSWAM2.jpg
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh Saturday raised the alarm over what he described as an attempt by Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State to “procure” a judgement from the state judiciary with the aim of validating the purported convention organised by his group in Awka and by so doing undermine the decision of the Enugu Division of the Court of Appeal on the matter.
Umeh who briefed newsmen in Enugu, said the governor was making desperate efforts to undermine the decision of the appellate court which last month delivered a ruling staying the execution of the judgement of the Enugu State High Court which sacked the entire members of the APGA National Working Committee (NWC), pending on the determination of the suit.
The APGA chairman disclosed that the governor had used the nephew and Personal Assistant to Hon. Callistus Illozumba, Commissioner for Works in Anambra State, Micheal Joe-Onwudinjo to file a suit challenging the said convention held on April 8 in Awka apparently in a bid to fraudulently get the judiciary to endorse the said convention without recourse to the ruling of the appellate court.
While accusing the governor of working tirelessly to ensure that the party did not come out of its present crisis by filing frivolous suits in several courts across the country “using his cronies”, Umeh called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), to help rescue the party from the hands of some of her judges at the state level who have to a large extent compromised their positions all in a bid to carry out the directives of those who are bent on destroying the nation’s democracy.
He specifically alleged that a High Court Judge in Anambra, Justice Hope Ozor displayed serious act of partisanship in the APGA crisis, especially with the way he disregarded all the documents before him which challenged his continued handling of the matter in view of the appellate court decision of the party crisis and therefore pleaded with the CJN to halt the situation before it degenerates to an unmanageable level.
“You will recall that about 29/04/13, an aide to the commissioner for works in Anambra State filed an action at the state High Court asking the court to nullify the national convention conducted by Obi’s faction of APGA on April 8, 2013. When we got to know about the suit the next day, we rushed to the court to get the processes filed so as to file application to be joined in the suit. “In the said suit, the plaintiff, sued Maxi Okwu and those who purportedly emerged with him at the said convention, those who were equally elected as party officials at the state level in Anambra were joined and also APGA was sued as a third defendant. Upon getting the processes, we filed an application to be joined in the suit. We also briefed a lawyer to represent the party in the state. Our chairman in the state, Mike Kwentoh and his secretary also applied to be joined in the suit,” he averred. “On the May 7 when we came to court, the judge ordered that he will hear the applications on May 24. The first application was on joinder and another one on which of the two counsels who claimed to be representing APGA as actually qualified to represent the party.”
This is because, Maxi Okwu hired a lawyer and I also hired a lawyer to represent the party as the party’s National chairman.
“On May 24 when we came to court, the judge, Justice Hope Ozor heard the two applications for four hours before taking a short adjournment. By 3.30pm when he returned to deliver a short ruling, he said that on the issue of counsel, that the plaintiff sued Maxi Okwu faction of APGA and as such it is Maxi that should bring his counsel. He also struck out our application for joinder. He then asked the parties to adopt their written addresses. Within few minutes, he concluded hearing and adjourned for judgement by May 27, which is tomorrow, Monday.
“It’s instructive to note that in our applications, we filed the ruling of the appeal court of April 8 which stayed the execution of the Enugu high court judgment; we also submitted the letter from INEC recognising me as the party’s national chairman pending the determination of the suit at the appellate court, but the judge decided to overlook all these and adjourned for judgment for Monday. To further show that Obi was determined to destroy the judiciary, the other remaining defendants, all filed counter claims but the plaintiff did not file anything in reply. “From the scenario painted, it has become obvious that Justice Ozor who was assigned the case to handle has been procured to deliver a judgment that would undermine the judgment of the Appeal Court . According to their arrangement, the judge will validate the convention by Monday, despite the order of the court of appeal staying the execution of the Enugu court order. By the strength of the judgment, Maxi will begin to parade himself as party chairman. This will be an affront on the appeal ruling hich has restored me as the APGA chairman. I want to alert the CJN on the concerted efforts by Obi to use the machinery of the state high court to destroy the party and the judiciary.
“He first procured the Chief Judge of Enugu state in this mission. I wrote a petition against the CJ, but despite the pendency of the petition, the CJ went ahead to deliver his judgment. Because the CJN did nothing about our petition, Obi has now procured another judge to continue with his act. I want to alert the CJN to immediately intervene in the frivolous actions being carried out by Obi which have in most cases sabotaged decisions already rendered by higher courts through the use of lower court.
“The obvious clash between the two courts is a bad omen for the judiciary. CJN should not allow that to happen. If it’s allowed, the judiciary will continue to be ridiculed. When a lower court will brazenly deliver a ruling that will be in conflict with decision already taken by a higher court, it simply sends a very dangerous signal. What we are going to see on Monday is what is called judicial impertinence where a judge will disrespect the ruling of a higher court. This must be halted,” he said.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
As the crisis rocking the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lingers, Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, has called on the state executive of the party to embrace peace and reconcile all aggrieved members.
This came as the state chapter of the PDP has said it would support President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 presidential elections.
Wike spoke Saturday at a thanksgiving ceremony organised by the state PDP at the Port Harcourt Club, Old GRA, Port Harcourt to celebrate the court judgement that ushered in the Chief Felix Obuah-led executive.
Wike, who was mobbed by the enthusiastic crowd when called to the podium for his address, expressed joy for the event and advised the party executive to tow the line of peace and reconciliation. He also advised the chairman to see himself as a father and not allow the party to be thrown into conflicts.
He restated that he was not the leader of the party in the state, stressing that Governor Chibuike Amaechi remained the leader of the party and should be accorded his due respect in all matters. He advised the executive not to allow itself to be dragged into any controversy as those who lost out in the court were bound to be angry. Wike said, “Power has returned to the original owners. The people who just lost out in the process will be angry and they will show anger in their behaviour towards you. It is only natural because they are human beings too.
“However, we should not allow ourselves to be drawn into unnecessary feuds because they are abusing us. We must be abused. The chairman of our party should see himself as a father and make sure he reconciles all aggrieved party members. He must have a large heart and now proceed to go and bring back his children.
“I must state this again, I am a minister and not the governor of the state and the governor of the state is the party leader and must be respected as such.” In his speech, the state chairman of PDP, Chief Felix Obuah, said the state would back Jonathan in the 2015 elections if he presented himself for re-election.
Obuah noted that Jonathan was a kinsman, a brother and an in-law of the people of the state, adding that as the leader of the party and Nigeria who had performed well, he deserve a second chance. He added that the ceremony was to assure the party members in the state that his administration was out for peace and to reconcile aggrieved members, while also intensifying efforts to re-position the party.
“This event is to re-assure our party members that my administration is for peace, our foundation is God and we are for the reconciliation of all aggrieved members of the party.” Obuah said. He restated that the party in the state was not factionalised as being promoted by some people and that disagreement among members were natural occurrences in politics. “There can be disagreement among members, such makes for robust democracy and that is what politics is all about,” he said.
He however expressed regret at some comments by some people that the executive and its supporters were after the state treasury, describing the comments as cheap blackmail.
“We are concerned when people employ cheap blackmail and false alarms to portray occasions when there are disagreements, especially those fond of portraying others as being after the state’s treasury. These are not acceptable to the party leadership. Rivers State is PDP state and it shall remain so in 2015. No group of people can make the change because all those who can make the changes are here present today,” he said.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
The Chief Press Secretary to Abia State Governor, Mr. Ugochukwu Emezue, in this interview with journalists in Lagos, speaks on the steps taken by Governor T.A.Orji to improve the lives of Abians among other issues. Charles Ajunwa was there
The opposition has accused Governor T.A.Orji of not doing anything in terms of infrastructural development of Abia State. What is your response to this?
Let me start by saying that Governor T.A.Orji is not averse to criticisms, especially when they are coming from the opposition. He is never perturbed by negative criticisms from the opposition in the state. The truth is that he remains focused and committed in delivering the dividends of democracy to Abians. In terms of the development of the state, the Governor has shown the zeal and commitment to take Abia State to the next level.
During the beginning of his second tenure, the governor told Abians that this is the time they should begin to rate and judge his performance. So far, he has been able to lay a solid foundation for a new Abia State in all sectors. Agricultural sector is one area the governor is making great impact with silent revolution. The belief of the governor is that oil will one day dry up. It is a fact, oil can’t be there forever and there must be an alternative. This is why Governor T.A. Orji is investing so much on agriculture.
In education, he believes strongly that if you educate the people you are making them to be self-reliant; you are making them to stand on their own and education is key to any development. The state government is doing free tuition for primary and secondary schools in the state.
In the area of transportation, the governor has injected lots of buses into our agencies to make sure that our people go to wherever they want to go with no inhibition as far as transportation is concerned. When you are talking about transportation the roads must be good, you cannot have effective transportation without having roads that are motorable.
As at today, the governor is targeting a 10-kilometre road in every local government. In my own little village, we are already beneficiary of such project. He is doing same across all the communities in the state. If you go to Aba, the governor late last year awarded contract for the construction of 18 roads. Within five months the state government has been able to achieve 10 of the roads.
There was an empowerment programme in Umuahia recently. What was it all about? It was a youth empowerment programme. You know that when the youths are idle then there is a big problem. The devil makes use of an idle mind and the governor is saying no, the youths are the future of any generation so they must be equipped if their future must be bright and taken care of.
Most of them are graduates, some young school leavers with nothing doing and the governor wants to make them entrepreneurs on their own. He has given most of them buses and cars and the state government i believes that most of them will become big transporters and also contribute to the economy of the state. Most of them now have computers, which of course offer a lot of opportunities for them, some have barbing saloon and are becoming employers of labour in their own little way. By the time the entire exercise begins to yield full fruits, it will bring money to the system.
What was the secret of the peace achieved by the state governor given the state of insecurity that once loomed large? You know the governor is a man with a large heart. As a governor, he made sure he accommodated everybody. There must be political peace, which he ensured was achieved. He made sure all the gladiators, who is who in Abia State, those who used to be away from the state because of what they considered a hostile environment were now given their due recognition and respect.
When there is hostility within the elites it affects everybody. So he tried to achieve the peace among the political elites, bringing them together to assist in proffering solution to the challenges of the state. The elites are now saying one thing and doing the same. Secondly, by being in the centre politically, coming into the mainstream of politics the governor was able to align himself with the Federal Government so that when the issue of insecurity was at its peak, the governor sought intervention from the Presidency.
On the 29th of this month, Abia State will join other states in the country to celebrate the Democracy Day. Is it really worth celebrating? Yes, it is worth celebrating. It will be a day of glory for us. 2013 for us is one of the most memorable years for Chief T.A. Orji as a governor. He has come to blossom to a level that the world has come to affirm that this is a man who makes less noise, but committed to action. The awards Governor T.A.Orji has received this year are intimidating.
These are awards that you will be proud to receive, awards based on merit. It will be a celebration of the liberation of the state, a celebration of laudable projects that have kick-started the solid foundation of the state. Above all, it will be a celebration of the glory of God on the state among others.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Former Governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu has insisted that opposition leaders will remain resolute in their desire to reconstruct Nigeria into a sturdy and bright home.
According to him, the opposition will create a chance of a bright and better future that will render extinct the nation’s growing poverty rate, unemployment and insecurity.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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