Wednesday Febuary 7, 2018 Edition

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IGERIANS are at their hypocritical best in the tributes that they pay the dead. It has not been different for Dr. Alexander Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme, who transited on Sunday 19 November 2017.

Friends, families, and foes alike have suddenly discovered the good things about Dr. Ekwueme that should have made him a great Nigerian President.

One commentator said he “was the best President that Nigeria

Even now Ekwueme challenges Nigeria THE ORACLE TODAY COMMENT

never had,” a tribute that Eze Igbo Gburugburu Chukwuemeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu paid Chief Obafemi Awolowo, when he transited in 1987.

There are more. Hardly a word of condemnation is said about Dr. Ekwueme, whether in pri-

The VOX POPULI SACRUM

Dr. Ekwueme, a founding father of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. As the tributes pour in, telling long tales of involvements with Ekwueme, scooping whatever media opportunities his death presents, the larger question would be why the “mourners” did not work with Ekwueme to

vate or in public. He is adorned.

He is held up as one who stood up for the greater good of Nigeria. He was not indicted for corruption, an attribute Nigerian politicians share in abundance.

He was courageous. He spoke the truth, often at risk to his life.

achieve his dream of a Nigeria that worked with equity. He made many attempts in that direction and paid dearly for them.

Why did they ignore him the times he spoke up that Nigeria was drifting? Did they not hear him enough?

When he ventured into politics

racle Contd on page 24

www.oraclenews.ng

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2018

ISSN: 2545-5869

VOL.4 No. 4 N200

TEARS, TRIBUTES FOR

Ekwueme •

Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi,(1st right) Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Nkem Okeke, Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Edward Ubosi, wife of former President, Mrs. Uche Azikwe and the President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, during the service of songs in honour of late Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme, at The Cathedral Church of the Good Shepherd, Independence Layout Enugu.

From CHUKS EZE, Enugu; CHUKS COLLINS, Awka; NATH OMAME, Port Harcourt; EMMANUEL OGOIGBE, Warri; THEO RAYS and NWABUEZE OKONKWO, Onitsha.

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our words in the obituary announcement by the South East Governors’ Forum (SEGF) captured the essence of Dr. Alex Ekwueme: great leader and extraordinary statesmen. In the statement signed by its Director General, Professor Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, the forum of the five South East

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State governors regretted to announce “the glorious exit of a great leader and extraordinary statesman, His Excellency Dr. Ifeanichukwu Ekwueme, GCON.” As tears flow and obsequies climax for the burial of the late former Vice President of the Federal Republic, tributes have also poured in for this great leader and extraordinary statesmen from Oko, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, who spent most of his adult and professional life building bridges of understanding across cultures, tribes, creeds and religions in pas-

sionate attempts to bring about a Nigeria that everyone would be proud to belong to.

In his tribute, the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu described the late former Vice President of Nigeria, Dr. Alex Ekwueme as a good man, “who lives even in

death.”

“Ide was a good man, a mentor and great inspiration to all of us. He still lives even in death. We love you, Ide,” Ekweremadu said in his condolence statement.

According to Ekweremmadu, NiContd on page 2

African Open Skies: Risk for Nigerian investors P.17

Today

Stay off social media – FG warns staff

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TAFF members of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), have been warned of the consequences of patronising and participating in the discussion of sensitive national issues on social media.

The Oracle Today learnt that a circular dated 15 January 2018, and sent to all NTA stations, schools and offices across the country, informed staff of the management’s decision on the matter. It warned of severe penalties for non-compliance.

Dr. Steve Egbo, Executive Director, Administration & Training, on behalf of the Director General of NTA, warned that offenders would be punished in line with Civil Service rules, if they crossed the line.

“The line the circular talks about is not clear,” one NTA staff member in Abuja said about the circular that was not specific about what would constitute an offence.

“What comments would people make that would constitute an offence? Is the circular saying that we can no longer comment on national issues?”

It is not clear how the management knew about the comments NTA workers were making on social media.

It is also not stated how management intended to get information on those breaching the rules without invading the privacy of the individuals involved.

In the same way, there are no specific mentions of conduct on the social media that would constitute an offence.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who supervises NTA, had on several occasions told Nigerians that security agencies were monitoring criticisms of the Buhari administration on social media.

Last August, Senator Shehu Sani condemned a statement by the Nigerian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. John Enenche that the military was Contd on page 2

Cattle colony continuation of Dan Fodio agenda – Achuzia

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The Oracle Today Wednesday January 31, 2018

NEWS Ekwueme: FRSC deploys 150, as Oko Poly shuts

Stay off social media

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ederal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has disclosed that it will deploy about 150 personnel to various flashpoints in Anambra during the burial ceremony of the late Second Republic Vice President of Nigeria, Dr Alex Ekwueme.

Mr Sunday Ajayi, the Sector Commander of FRSC in the state, who spoke on the involvement of the corps in the burial, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Onitsha on Tuesday.

The late Ekwueme will be buried on Friday.

Ajayi said the Command was also deploying Special Marshals to assist the corps across the state as dignitaries were being expected from all over the country and beyond to pay their last respects to the late icon.

“The corps will also deploy patrol vehicles, ambulances, motorbikes and tow trucks along designated routes as part of measures to ensure sanity on the road during the burial ceremony.

“The FRSC deem is necessary to ensure safer road during the period which will be associated with high volume of vehicular traffic.

“In addition, FRSC operatives will be deployed along designated funeral grounds as part of measures to ensure free flow of human traffic.”

According to him, the corps emergency ambulance response centrer located at designated routes across the state will be operational throughout the period.

He said that the Nigerian Police, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps would complement the FRSC to ensure the safety of life and property.

“Furthermore, we have directed the removal of obstructions from all routes in the state leading to Oko town, the venue of the burial proper, while efforts are being made towards improving traffic control and decongestions.”

Ajayi, who described the late Ekwueme as “a man of integrity worthy of emulation”, warned motorists to ensure strict compliance with all traffic rules and regulations.

He said that proper maintenance of vehicles before setting out in the morning should be ensured.

He advised passengers to caution drivers who engaged in reckless driving or drive under the influence of alcohol.

It would be recalled that the Anambra State Government has declared February 1 as a work free day, to enable workers to pay their last respects to the late icon.

Meanwhile, the Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra State has declared Thursday and Friday, February 1 and 2, respectively, as work-free days in honour of its founder, Dr. Alex Ekwueme.

A statement signed by the Registrar, Mrs Stella Njaka made this known on Tuesday in Oko. The late elder statesman will be buried in Oko his home town after a weeklong programme outlined by the federal government.

Njaka said that no academic activity would take place in the institution as all offices would be shutdown.

She however, advised students and staff to stay away from the polytechnic premises as the institution would be used to host visitors who would be attending the burial ceremonies.

Also, the polytechnic in conjunction with the Old Aguata Union and Oko Community would hold a colloquium at the new Polytechnic Auditorium in honour of the late patriarch latter Tuesday.

The event expected to be attended by crème de la crème in the state will be chaired by the former Anambra Governor, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife while the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof. Chukwuma Soludo will be the chief Speaker.

Continued from Pg 1

• From left, the widow of late Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme, Mrs. Beatrice Ekwueme, the daughter, Mrs. Alexandria Onyemelukwe and the son Mr. Chike Ekwueme during the service of song in honour of former Vice President late Dr. Alex ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme at Cathedral Church of the Good Shepherd Independence Layout Enugu.

Tears, tributes for Ekwueme Continued from Pg 1 geria, PDP and especially the Igbo nation would miss the Second Republic Vice President of the country, who died on November 19 last year in a London clinic, shortly after his 85th birthday.

For former Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nduka Eya, the “late Dr. Alex Ekwueme is an Iroko fallen and all the birds that used to enjoy solace under him have scattered.”

“He was a President that Nigeria never had. The country missed having him as its leader and that is why we are still where we are today,” Chief Eya, former Commissioner for local government in old Anambra State, said.

“Nigeria is scattered because they did not give Ekwueme the chance to show us the way. He was a politician of integrity, simplicity and sincerity.

Nigeria has lost someone that she may never replace. He was a special gift to Nigeria but the country failed to make appropriate use of him,” Chief Eya added.

The General Overseer of Christ Foundation Miracle International Chapel, Lagos, Prophet Josiah Chukwuma Onuoha also paid glowing tributes to the late politician.

According to him, Ekwueme died honourably.

“Ekwueme was a good man; he loved both God and man. He was a gentleman per excellence, who did allow his credibility to be tainted in any way. He died honourably. Nobody saw him pestering politician, like most former leaders, for them to bless him. Nigerians – politicians and the rest of us – should emulate his lifestyle. He never sold his brother to make more money or to acquire more political influence. He was contented with what he had.

He was the kind of leader the country needs to succeed. If our politicians could be like Ekwueme, then everything would be fine with our nation,” the Prophet surmised.

scribed Ekwueme as a bridge builder and a father figure.

According to the couple who was very close to the late politician and his now widowed wife, Beatrice, they would exceptionally miss the late Ekwueme.

“Daddy was a bridge builder, an exceptional father figure and friend of all. He never discriminated against political, religious or ethnic group. Nigerians and Ndigbo will truly miss him, but my family and I will miss him exceptionally.

“Rest peacefully, in God’s bosom,” they prayed.

The General Overseer of Mount Zion Faith Global Liberation Ministries lnc (a.k.a By-Fire-By-Fire), Nnewi, Anambra State, Bishop Abraham Chris Udeh described the late Ekwueme as a true son of Ndigbo.

Bishop Udeh noted Ekwueme’s regime as Vice-President to former President Shehu Shagari was beneficial to Ndigbo in general, having attracted so many development projects to the South east region then.

Udeh who paid glowing tributes to the departed elder statesman, said Ekwueme was equally instrumental to the amnesty granted Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu who was on exile then, adding that Ekwueme deserved full honour from Ndigbo in particular and Nigeria in general.

He contended that it was apparently because of Ekwueme’s favour to Ndigbo then that led to the military coup-de-tat carried out by General Muhammadu Buhari, adding that ever since Ekwueme left corridors of power, no other Igboman has been allowed to smell the seat of power as either the president or vice, except Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe who held sway as Chief of General Staff and was removed by Babangida within a short period of time because he is an Igbo man.

Ekwueme’s demise a huge loss The demise of former vice-president Alex Ekwueme has drawn a Ekwueme was a bridge builder chain of reactions from elders and -Dr. and Mrs. Sam Egwu eminent persons in Warri.

In his tribute, Onyisi Ndigbo, DelFormer governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency, Senator Sam Egwu ta South and Central Senatorial Disand wife Eunice, in their tribute, de- tricts, Eze Peter Chukwu described

the departed icon as a reliable and forthright Nigerian.

Eze Chukwu, who was a two-time President Ohaneze-Ndigbo in the two Districts further described the Anambra-born elder statesman as one of the best Vice-Presidents Nigeria ever produced.

“By his death, Nigeria has lost a genius, refined gentleman and elder statesman whose position in the nation will be difficult to fill,” said Chukwu.

On his part, the senior Special Adviser to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on Security, Hon. Kelly Otuedon sympathized with Nigerians, indeed the family of the deceased, on the sad loss of one of the fathers of the nation.

Hon. Otuedon who is also the chairman PDP Uvwie Local Government area of the state, noted that African, Nigerians in particular, would forever remember Dr. Ekwueme for his gentle disposition.

“It is true that anybody that comes to this life through a woman must surely die, but we take consolation in the fact that Dr. Ekwueme was a dogged fighter and a true Christian to the core,” Hon Otuedon said.

The deceased’s last outing in Warri was during the installation of the new Olu of Warri, ogiame Ikenwoli in 2015 For his part, Elder statesman Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, in Kano, described the late former Vice President as a very meticulous and hard working person who contributed a lot toward the development of the country.

Yakasai, who was a Special Adviser to President Shehu Shagari on National Assembly Matters when Ekwueme was Vice President said the late Ekwueme was also a committed politician who believed in the unity of Nigeria.

“The late elder statesman was a principled and very intelligent person, who bagged five degrees in different fields,” Yakassai said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

According to him, Ekwueme spearheaded the campaign for a

Continued on Pg 44

monitoring social media to “sieve” through comments misleading the public about the army or the government.

Enenche said such misleading comments and posts were common.

“When security agencies monitor postings on social media, then we are now in a ‘Big Brother state’”, Sani, a former civil rights activist, tweeted hours after the army was “quoted as saying it was tracking posts on the social media to ensure that there was no abuse of free speech. Sani agreed that there were excesses in the social media, but they did President Muhammadu Buhari in his August 21 national broadcast last year, on returning from his long medical vacation abroad, warned that certain posts on social media “crossed the national red lines,” stressing that the government would not tolerate any threats to the country’s unity.

He said hate speech would attract the same penalties as terrorism crises. Critics have understood Buhari’s comment to imply an attempt to clamp down on social media.

The Oracle Today learnt from other sources that the warning had been made to staff of other Federal Government agencies, but it has mostly been verbal.

“The letter (NTA’s) reminds me of Decree 4 of 1984 made by General Muhammadu Buhari, the military Head of State of Nigeria,” former President of Aka Ikenga, Chief Goddy Uwazurike, a lawyer, told The Oracle Today. “The letter must be read alongside the disclosure by the Defence Minister that the government will be monitoring the private emails of people.

“That decree stated that any person who publishes anything that embarrasses the government has committed an offence. It also stated that truth is not a defence,” Chief Uwazurike remembered.

It was under the same decree that Tunde Thompson and Nduka Irabor of The Guardian were jailed.

Their offence was writing a story on personnel changes in the Nigerian diplomatic mission in London.

“Today, a staff member of NTA cannot rely on the Constitution that guarantees freedom of expression in Section 39. The government has no room for individual opinion or privacy. Cry the beleaguered country!” he stated.

Another lawyer who did not want to be quoted lamented that it’s ironic that the same social media that the government used to ride to power, would be what it wants to shut down.

“The government knows how powerful the medium is. The government is merely confirming that it has become afraid of its supporters, the same people who voted it into power,” the lawyer said.

“Everyday, this group of people deliberately distorts our messages while also suffusing the atmosphere with their own version of information,” Lai Mohammed lamented in a speech at a colloquium organised by the National Coalition of Apostolic Leaders in Lagos in 2016.

The Oracle Today Wednesday February 7, 2018

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The Oracle Today Wednesday February 7, 2018

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION Wike advocates greater role for traditional rulers From VICTOR NZE

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IVERS State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has stated that governments at all levels must partner with traditional rulers for the development of the country, as he also called for greater involvement of the monarchs in governance.

Speaking when he granted audience to members of the Coordinating Committee of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, Monday, at the Government House Port Harcourt, Wike opined that the country would have made more progress if traditional rulers were allowed to partner with government.

The Coordinating Committee of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria was in Rivers State for its General Assembly.

“Everybody has one traditional ruler or the other. Therefore, we must respect traditional rulers who can summon anyone, irrespective of his/her status,” said Wike.

In his welcome remarks, Wike thanked the traditional rulers for choosing the state for their meeting, just as he noted that in modern times, ‘it is unwise to attempt to restrict traditional rulers to tra-

ditional matters.’

The governor stated that Rivers people remain committed to the unity of the country.

“For us as a people, the unity of Nigeria is very imperative. It is important we promote unity because we cannot toy with it”, Wike said.

Co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, said the unity of the country should be the watchword at this crucial time of the nation’s history.

He said that all Nigerians must work hard to ensure that the unity of the country is preserved, even as he further noted that since the traditional rulers are closer to the people, they should be incorporated in the governance process, especially the process of development.

According to him, traditional rulers have key roles to play in the future of the country, especially reducing tension.

Also speaking, Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar thanked the Rivers State Government for hosting traditional rulers from the 36 states of the Federation.

• Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike welcoming the Co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, to the State Government House, in Port Harcourt, when the committee held its General Assembly in the state as Chairman of the council, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, behind, looks on.

End herdsmen’s killings now – Authors tell FG From VICTOR NZE

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IGERIAN authors have condemned recent killings by suspected Fulani herdsmen across states of the federation, even as they called on the Federal Government to halt the rampage of the cattle herders on farmlands.

Rising from its National Executive Council Meeting which held at the Grange Hill Hotel, Mpape, Abuja, Saturday, the writers, un-

der the aegis of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) expressed ‘shock’ over the extent of the carnage inflicted on crop farmers in various communities across the country, as it told the government to investigate the ‘wanton destruction of lives and property.’

A 9-point communiqué issued at the conclusion of the meeting by the executive committee members and signed by the association’s President and General

Secretary, Mallam Denja Abdullahi and Dr. Ofonime Inyang, respectively, called on the Federal Government ‘to investigate these killings, identify the perpetrators and get them to face the law.’

The authors while condemning ‘the wanton destruction of lives and property’ by suspected Fulani herdsmen in various parts of the country notably in Benue State, Taraba State, Zamfara State, Kaduna State, described the perpetrators of these killings as ‘callous

the event will bring to Aba some of the brightest minds in ICT solutions from across the world. He therefore formally invited the Governor to support the programme which will strengthen the global reach of the made in Aba campaign.

Nwulu congratulated Governor Ikpeazu for the huge success the Made in Aba campaign has recorded within a short time in office.

He thanked the Governor and the Abia State Government for supporting Ford Foundation-funded initiatives in Abia, especially in Aba. He informed the Governor that their support for Aba redevelopment efforts which started with the Aba Urban Development Summit in January 2016 – an activity funded by Ford Foundation – has culminated into several other engagements for the benefit of the people of Abia State.

Nwulu told the Governor that the

Made in Aba brand campaign produced by Lagos-based advertising and branding agency TBWA won an international award in South Africa late 2017.

An elated Governor Ikpeazu expressed gratitude to Prof. Nwulu and the Ford Foundation for their huge support for the Made in Aba campaign. The Governor stated that he embarks on the promotion of Made in Aba products based on his conviction that there abound enough creativity and ingenuity in Aba to compete with the best in the world and also as a means to boost Nigeria’s economic recovery.

He explained that having seen the efforts those creative entrepreneurs in Aba he wanted to ensure that his administration provides the needed push and enabling environment for entrepreneurship and businesses to thrive in Aba.

Ford Foundation commits $200,000 into Made-in-Aba campaign

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nited States-based international development organization, the Ford Foundation, has adopted Abia State as a key partner state in Nigeria based on the quality of leadership the state enjoys now.

Ford Foundation’s West Africa Programme Manager, Prof. Paul Nwulu, disclosed this when he visited the State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, in Umuahia, the state governor He informed the Governor that to further show the commitment of the Foundation to supporting the Made-in-Aba campaign, the organisation is putting together the highest prize-winning Hackathon in Aba on March 14-16, 2018, further stating that the foundation is investing about $200,000 as prize and idea development.

Nwulu told the Governor that

persons who do not appear to love themselves nor the country.’

“The National Executive Council of the Association is shocked by the state of insecurity, violence and criminality that has resulted in the wanton destruction of the precious lives of Nigerians in various parts of the country notably in Benue State, Taraba State, Zamfara State, Kaduna State, the North Central generally and the South-South geopolitical zone of the country.

“The Association condemns these nefarious acts against the state and particularly the direct victims including women and children, the elderly and weak whose lives have been cut short by the impunity of callous persons who do not appear to love themselves nor the country.

“ANA therefore calls on governments at all levels to investigate these killings, identify the perpetrators and get them to face the law. This shall not only act as a deterrent to others but it shall defray incidental outcries from various quarters and bring some closure on this unfortunate development.

“ANA enjoins the security agencies to be up to date with the task and responsibilities associated with the protection of lives and properties in an increasingly challenging human environment.

The Association completely condemns and strongly cautions against any unnecessary politicization and ethnicisation of the country and enjoins political players at all levels to approach their activities (in view of the build-up

to the 2019 elections) with utmost respect to the interest of the country and especially the sanctity of human life above all else,” the communiqué read in parts.

Other resolutions contained in the communiqué, included the decision to commit to the realization of the writers’ resort in Mpape in Abuja, adding that ‘the current administration’s commitment to the development of the ANA Land at Mpape, Abuja into a modern Writers Village and creative hub is already witnessing rapid progress in the form of the building and completion of a mini national secretariat and ongoing construction works on various outlined facilities earmarked for the Mamman Vatsa Writers’ Village shall be sustained in the bid to deliver the promise made to the Congress to complete the project within the life of this administration.’

While granting provisional hosting right to Lagos State for its 37th International Annual Convention, the writers’ body renewed its call to all chapters of the Association to support the ongoing digital membership database development by registering themselves on the portal provided on the Association’s website as well as fill and return the membership forms with relevant information to the national secretariat as the programme is scheduled to be concluded at the end of March, 2018.

“A comprehensive membership directory with inputs from chapters will be published by mid-year; therefore, chapters’ chairmen and secretaries should liaise with the National Secretariat for the realization of this project as earmarked this year,” it said.

The Oracle Today Wednesday February 7, 2018

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The Oracle Today Wednesday February 7, 2018

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION FG ’ll declare state of emergency in education sector, April

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inister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, has disclosed that the Federal Government would declare a state of emergency in the education sector in April, this year.

Adamu who stated this when he received the Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani-Bello, and some members of his cabinet at the Federal Ministry of Education Headquarters in Abuja, Monday, therefore, requested the support of all states governors to do the same in their respective states.

“By the end of April, we are proposing there will be a declaration of state of emergency in the education sector all over the country.

We request all the state governors to do same in their states and we hope that once this is done our educational sector will improve.

“I will also meet with the governors to appeal to them to give special emphasis to address the problem of low standard of education especially at primary level,” he said.

Adamu said the ministry was planning to present a proposal to the National Council of State for graduates of education to henceforth be employed on Grade Level 10 of eight, adding that the proposal would also include offering employment to students studying education in tertiary institutions.

Earlier, Bello, said that the state government was revamping the educational sector through provision of good infrastructure in schools and training of teachers.

He said that the state government planned to establish three teachers professional institute in the three zones, adding that one was already being established in Munya Local Government Area.

NTDs: Nigeria ranks 17 in mass treatment coverage index

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scorecard by the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) showed that Nigeria had mass treatment coverage index of 48 per cent for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in 2016, ranking it 17 out of 47 countries.

The countries include Swaziland, Malawi, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Togo, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Uganda, Liberia, Cabo Verde, Benin, Cameroon, Madagascar, Ethiopia, Zambia, Guinea, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Mali.

Others are Central African Republic, Eritrea, Sudan, Mozambique, Burundi, Congo, Chad, The Gambia, Angola, Djibouti, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Botswana, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia, Niger, Comoros, Equitorial Guinea, Lesotho, Mauritania, Sao Tome and Principe and Somalia.

NTDS are a mixture of treatable and preventable diseases that place heavy burden on over one billion people on the planet.

They include lymphatic filariasis (commonly known as elephantiasis), onchocerciasis (known as river blindness), schistosomiasis (known as snail fever and bilharzia), soiltransmitted helminthes, trachoma (commonly known as ophthalmia or granular conjunctivitis) and guinea worm among others.

Elections in Nigeria ‘very difficult’ – Jega

From VICTOR NZE

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MMEDIATE past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof.

Attahiru Jega, has commended the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) over the last Local Government elections conducted in the state, even as he noted that ‘there are no perfect elections.’

Jega who gave the commendation, Wednesday, during his courtesy visit to LASIEC headquarters in Lagos, further lauded the management and staff of the state electoral commission for demonstrating ‘competence with the success recorded at last year’s local government polls.’

Jega, who was accompanied

by a former National Commissioner of INEC, Prof. Lai Olurode, stressed the importance of having a well-defined, structured programme for voter education programme in the country to make the electoral process more inclusive and participatory, noting that funding civic and voter education programmes require a lot of financial resources which many of the Electoral Commissions might not have the capacity to fully undertake on their own.

“Everybody should be concerned about the integrity of the electoral process and collaborate with Election Management Bodies to achieve election credibility,” Jega said.

Jega informed that the conduct of elections in Nigeria is a very difficult task and urged politicians

to abide by the code of conduct guiding the conduct of elections and desist from the “do or die” mentality that has characterized the political process in the country for a long time.

Earlier, Chairman of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), Hon. Justice Ayotunde Phillips applauded the former INEC Chairman for introducing the Card Reader for the conduct of elections in the country which she said had gained acceptability from the generality of the people.

Hon. Justice Phillips stated that following the success recorded

by INEC in achieving transparency in the electoral process through the use of the card reader, LASIEC had realised that ‘the machine’ is a necessary tool for the conduct of

elections.

She disclosed that the Commission was already planning towards the use of card reader in future to further enhance the transparency and credibility of the electoral process into the Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas of the State.

The LASIEC Chairman promised that before the next elections to the Local Governments of the State, the Commission would have acquired the necessary technological infrastructure and expertise which would be deployed to modernize the electoral process.

Hon. Justice Phillips also revealed that the Commission was working on a Strategic Plan, in collaboration with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), aimed at restructuring and repositioning the Commission for improved performance.

She pledged that the Commission would engage in more consultations with stakeholders and carry out more continuous civic and voters education to reduce the unacceptably high level of apathy in the electoral process in Lagos State.

Osun LG poll: OSIEC Chairman explains low turn-out

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• A cross section of state governors in attendance, including (from right) chairman of the Forum, Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State, Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom State, Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, Mallam Nasir el Rufai of Kaduna State, during last Wednesday’s meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Villa.

Federal varsity recalls 250 ‘unjustifiably’ sacked staff

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he Federal University, Dutsinma, Katsina State, has recalled 250 staff sacked by the former management of the institution.

Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Armaya’u Bichi disclosed this to newsmen at a preconvocation press briefing on Friday in Dutsinma.

The institution’s management had sacked staff whose temporary appointments were not regularized.

The vice chancellor said that the institution had settled the arrears of the affected staff to boost their morale and ensure effective service.

“The staff were sacked unjustifiably by the former management, we realized that the decision is unjustifiable,’’ he said.

Bichi added that the management had employed 250 academic staff and over 200 non-academic staff to enhance academic activities in the univer-

sity.

He disclosed that the university had established a Freedom of Information Unit to ease access to information about the university as well as an Anti-Corruption Unit to support Federal Government fight against corruption.

The VC said that the National Universities Commission has approved the establishment of

Faculties of Law and Engineering in the institution as well as the running of 12 Post Graduate courses.

Bichi disclosed that the university is offering free medical services to members of its host communities and distributed computers to secondary schools, to strengthen their relationship.

Katsina Govt. allocates 5,300 hectares of land for cattle colony

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he Katsina State Government says it has allocated 5,300 hectares of land for the establishment of a cattle colony.

Special Adviser to Gov. Aminu Masari, Dr Abba Abdullahi, who made the disclosure to newsmen in Katsina, said the land allocation was part of the government’s proactive measures to prevent clashes between farmers and herdsmen in the state.

He said that the cattle colony

would be established in GurbinBaure, Jibiya Local Government Area of the state.

“Katsina is among the first states to give the Federal Government land for that project. We gave 5,300 hectares of land, and is in one place, Gurbin-Baure, Jibiya,” he said.

The special adviser urged farmers and herdsmen in the state to always resolve their grievances amicably through dialogue.

hairman of Osun Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), Mr Segun Oladitan, Saturday, said the low turnout at some polling units at the ongoing local government election was due to some misinformation by oppositions.

Oladitan while speaking with newsmen at the OSIEC Secretariat in Osogbo said he was surprised at the reports of low turnout in some polling stations, just as he further blamed the low turnout to some misinformation being spread by those opposing the election in the state.

He described the oppositions as “mischief makers’’ saying they had been going around to tell the people that election would not hold.

Oladitan said it was falsehood from the distracters who claimed there was a court order restricting OSIEC from conducting the election.

He expressed delight however that new information reaching him indicated that the electorate were now turning out to vote.

Oladitan said the commission did a lot of sensitisation about the election, which resulted in large turnout of voters in some areas of the state.

On the late arrival of election materials, he said logistics and human factor were responsible for the late arrival.

“But the fact that election materials arrived at their scheduled destination at by 9a.m. was a reasonable time,’’ he said.

7

The Oracle Today Wednesday February 7, 2018

Crime

NDLEA discovers warehouse with N40m Indian hemp in Edo state

Stories by XAVIER NDAH

ndian hemp worth twenty million naira has been discovered in a warehouse located at the Ugbubezi forest, Owan West Local Government Area of Edo state.

Dependable agency source told The Oracle Today that officers of the Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency [NDLEA] discovered a large quantity of harvested dried weeds of cannabis sativa last week following a tip off.

The drug exhibits were evacuated from the warehouse by a team of over seventy officers include 34 bags of compressed cannabis weighing 680kg and 94 bags of dried weeds weighing 1,316kg with a total weight of one thousand, nine hundred and ninety-six kilogrammes [1,996kg].

Two suspected members of the drug cartel working at the warehouse were also apprehended. The estimated street value of the drug is

twenty million naira [N20m].

According to the state commander Mr Wakawa Buba who described the seizure as a great way to start the year said that the warehouse was discovered based on intelligence report.

In his words, “working on intelligence, we successfully traced a major cannabis warehouse located in Ugbubezi forest in Owan West Local Government Area. Two suspected members of the drug cartel were also arrested and currently being interrogated”.

He added that dispossessing the cartel of drugs valued at N20m was a good takeoff for the year and a major boost for the 2018 operational year. We are poised for a total offensive against drug trafficking cartels in the State.

Meanwhile, the commander has equally spread his dragnet to apprehend other members of the cannabis cartel warning that there is no safe haven for drug trafficking in Edo

State.

The suspects who claimed to be farmers in their statements blamed their involvement in drug trafficking on poverty. One of the suspects, Augustine Egwutu, 45 years old married with three children said that he used to cultivate plantain and pepper but wildfire engulfed his farm and he lost everything.

“I could not feed my family and my landlord threatened to evict me for not being able to pay my rent.

This was the reason that made me go into cannabis business” Egwutu stated.

Gabriel Orji, 38 years old who cultivates cassava and plantain told investigators that he joined the cannabis business because he needed multiple sources of income. The suspects who hail from Delta State will soon be charged to court.

According to the NDLEA Act, the suspects risk a minimum of fifteen years imprisonment for unlawful possession of cannabis.

Alhaji Muhammad Uba Wuntin Dada

uary 24, 2018, is the Village Head of Wuntin Dada under Bauchi Emirate Council (SARKIN WUNTIN DADA) was alleged to have fraudulently sold a parcel of land in October 2013.

The complainant claimed that he bought the plot of land at the sum of N550,000. After two years of purchase, another claimant showed up to lay claim on the same plot of land. The new claimant said the land with title documents were issued to him by Ministry of Housing and Land, Bauchi State.

Investigation revealed that the complainant was deceived by the defendant who made him believe that the plot is genuine and belongs to him, knowing fully that he had no title documents, neither was the land allocated to him.

Naira only (N550,000.00) from the duo of Musa Abubakar Garba and Aminu Maigari as the purchase price for the property located at Guru Miri Bauchi, Bauchi State, under the false Pretence that you are legal owner, facts which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (b) and Punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006”.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Counsel to EFCC, Zarami Muhammad asked the court for a date to commence trial and also requested the remand of the defendant in prison custody.

While adjourning the case to March 12, 2018 for trial, Justice Shitu granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N1million and one surety who must be a traditional title holder within Bauchi.

“The defendant is to be remanded in prison custody pending the fulfillment of his bail conditions”, the judge ordered.

I

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Village head remanded in prison over land scam

T

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Gombe zonal office has arraigned one Alhaji Muhammad Uba Wuntin Dada before Justice M. Shitu of Federal High Court, Bauchi, on one-count charge of obtaining money by false pretence.

Dada, who was arraigned on Jan-

The charge reads: “That you, Alhaji Muhammad Uba Wuntin Dada sometimes in October, 2013 or thereabout, at Bauchi, Bauchi State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand

Police nabs three robbery suspects

M

en of Ogun State Police Command have arrested three members of a armed robbery syndicate who have been terrorizing Ogijo and its environs for sometimes now.

Making this known to The Oracle Today was the state’s police spokesman Abimbola Oyeyemi who said the suspects were arrested at about 9pm of Saturday, 20th of January 2018 during one of their robbery operation.

According to him, Policemen attached to Ogijo Divisional Headquarters received a distress call from no.6 Baale Street, Molatori Ogijo that robbers have invaded their residence and they are been dispossessed of their belongings.

Having received the distress call, the Divisional Police Officer Ogijo Division Superintendent of Police (SP) Tijani Mohammed led his Anti-robbery men to the scene where they engaged the hoodlums in gun duel.

•

The suspects It was gathered that at the end of the encounter, three members of the syndicate namely; Yusuf Odugbemi , Tunde Asamu , and Sunday Azeez’ were arrested while others escaped.

Oyeyemi said one live cartridge, two cutlasses and assorted charms were recovered from the suspects.

The Commissioner of Police, CP, Ahmed Iliyasu according to him, has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspects to FSAR for discreet investigation with the view of arresting the fleeing members of the syndicate; while assuring residents of the State of adequate security at all time.

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Augustine Egwutu and Gabriel Orji with the cannabis

Final year Ekiti varsity accounting student nabbed for internet Fraud

T

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibadan zonal office has arrested a suspected internet scammer, Ilesanmi Babatunde Yemi, 31, a final year Accounting student of Ekiti State University for alleged internet fraud.

Babatunde, who poses on the internet as an American Army Officer by the name ‘Dennis Martinez’ allegedly serving in Libya engages in internet love and romance scams.

He engages unsuspecting ladies on the internet in a dating and romance scam through which he fleeces them of their money.

Last of his victims were the duo of Sandra Simundza and Lily F, both in Australia, from whom he claimed to have obtained about $500 (five hundred US dollars) in tranches.

Babatunde, according to series of intelligence gathered by the Commission, allegedly lives ostentatious life without a definite job. He confessed to have been engaged actively in internet romance scam in the last four years from which he sustained his flamboyant lifestyle and bought himself a 2005 Lexus car with registration number Lagos MUS 404 DX. Being a part-time student, he also confessed to have spent most of his time on the dating sites, particularly tinder and okculpid from which he meets his victims.

Items recovered from him include one laptop Apple macbook Pro; three ATM cards; one iphone 6 x plus; one Nokia phone and one international passport. Several love scam mails were also found and downloaded from his laptops.

The suspect will be arraigned in court soon.

8

The Oracle Today Wednesday February 7, 2018

Crime

Five arrested for robbing woman of foreign currencies Stories by XAVIER NDAH

F

ive persons alleged to be armed robbers have been arrested by police detectives attached of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Police Lagos State Command for robbing a 58 -year -old woman of her hand bag.

Police say the handbag contains both foreign and local currencies as well as other personal effects and she was attacked on the New Year eve.

Lagos police spokesman Chike Oti a Superintendent of Police gave their names as Shola Oyedele, Adejuwon Adeniyi, Alex Ikoku, Salau Damilola and Mohammed Muritala stating that they were arrested by the operatives on Wednesday at Ikosi Road, Ketu area of Lagos.

The suspects were alleged to have accosted their victim, simply identified as Alhaja around Ketu Bus Stop after alighting from a tricycle, at about 9:00 p.m. and dispossessed her of $800, 400 Qatari Riyald, N45,000, America Visa card, pouch containing gold

trinkets valued at N110,000:00, a purse with unspecified amount and an Hawaii phone.

According to Alhaja, she had borded a ‘keke’ (tricycle) going to Ketu Bus Stop after crossing from Motorways and was heading to Ikorodu after visiting her children.

“I got down close to Ketu Bridge on Ikorodu Road. I was the only one alighting as other passengers had gotten down before reaching the bus stop.

‘I was surrounded by five young men wielding knife and daggers.

They collected my phone and hand bag containing $800, 400 Qatari Riyald, N45,000, America Visa card, pouch containing gold trinkets valued at N110,000:00 and a purse with unspecified amount’, she stated.

“After collecting all I had on me.

They were still using my line to call my husband that I should bring N25,000 to collect my phone and all they took from me.At a point, I had to block the line when the harassment was getting too much for me’.

‘I reported the case at Ketu

Police Station. I learnt it was referred to RRS. It was there that I was invited to come and identify them. I saw one of them, who gave his name as Shola” she explained.

Shola in his confession to the police stated that the robbery was led by Sikiru better known as Hauwa, who is now at large.

Shola, according to sources was said to have sold the victim’s mobile phone to one Michael Ogunnaike who took the police to the suspect’s hideout in Ketu, area of Lagos.

About 13 suspects were reported to have been arrested in the hideout but five was said to have been indicted by Shola of their involvement in the robbery.

Commenting on the arrest, Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chike Oti stated that no criminal would go scot free in Lagos, adding that the Commissioner for Police, Mr. Imohimi Edgal had ordered that the case be transferred to FSARS for further investigations and arrest of those connected with the case.

Love Scam: Man arrested for swindling Briton of £30,000

T

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, January 24, 2018, arrested one Fidelis Iruedo, a suspected love scammer, for allegedly defrauding a United Kingdom citizen of £30,000 (Thirty Thousand Pounds) in a romance scam.

Luck ran out of Iruedo, 31, after a petition to the Commission by the Nigerian High Commission, London, on behalf of one Alan Digweed, a UK citizen, alleging that the suspect had defrauded his victim of the said amount of money.

Investigations by the EFCC revealed that Iruedo, who voluntarily confessed to the crime, met his victim between July and December 2017, via a date site, match. com.

The suspect, while parading as a lady procured British passport using the name ‘Tracy Anderson’ with which he used to swindle the victim.

He was arrested in Abuja, during an attempt to make withdrawal in a bank.

The suspects

EFCC quizzes two suspected oil thieves

•

The suspects

T

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has commenced investigations of two suspected oil thieves, alongside a vessel: MT MARINA EXPRESS handed over to it on Thursday, January 25, 2018 by the

Nigerian Navy Ship: NNS PATHFINDER’s Naval Base, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

A statement issued and made available to The Oracle Today Acting Head, Media & Publicity EFCC, Samin Amaddin said The

Fidelis Iruedo

Most wanted cultist arrested in Ogun

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•

•

On arrest, items recovered from him include: several scam letters, 3 flash drives, 1 iphone and a laptop computer.

The suspect will be arraigned in court as soon as investigations are concluded.

he Police Ogun State command said it has made a major breakthrough in its fight against cultism as the most wanted cultist in the state has finally been arrested.

Police image maker of the state Abimbola Oyeyemi said the suspect Micheal Agbeyangi a.k.a Alhaji Godonu who has been in the police wanted list for the past three years now was arrested at about 7:30pm on Sunday 21st of January 2018

by Police operatives attached to Owode-Egbado Division.

According to him, the detectives from the division had through tactical intelligence discovered his hideout along Ado-Odo road and the Division-

suspects: Caleb Oluwaseun and Okuneye Taiwo were arrested by the Nigerian Navy Ship: NNS PATHFINDER’s patrol team deployed for anti-crude oil theft and illegal bunkering operations around St. Bartholomew River, Port Harcourt.

The vessel they were operating and which has now been confiscated, was a 110m Vessel laden with estimated 1,600 metric tons of products suspected to be stolen crude oil.

The NNS Pathfinder’s Commander, Navy Captain Victor Choji, who handed over the suspects to the EFCC, said that they were operating the Oil Vessel without requisite approval by the naval authority.

The suspects will be arraigned to court as soon as investigation • The suspects is concluded.

al Police Officer, Chief superintendent of Police ,CSP, Muritala Agboola led his men to his hideout where he was promptly arrested.

Oyeyemi said the suspect has been linked to several cult clashes in Owode-Egbado and its environs which have led to the death of many innocent citizens.

Recovered from him are one axe, one sword and assorted charms.

The police spokesman disclosed that the Commissioner of Police,CP, Ahmed Iliyasu has ordered that the suspect be transferred to Anti Kidnapping and Cultist section for further investigation.

9

The Oracle Today Wednesday February 7, 2018

POLITICS

IPOB to Kenneth Okonkwo Cattle colony is a contin(Andy): You are an ignorant uation of the Dan Fodio man! agenda – Achuzia

Pg 11

Pg 10

Tribute: Of Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme and legacy of service to humanity DICKSON OZOKWELU with 40+ years of diversified chemical engineering and management experience is currently in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Headquarters in Washington D.C., United States. Prior to his current position, Ozokwelu had held senior engineering and management positions at BP North America and Eastman Kodak Chemicals. He is a leading International expert in Energy, Power, Oil and Gas. He has a rich and diverse experience cutting across academia, industry, entrepreneurship and government, where his forte is Renewable Energy. A former World Bank Consultant on Renewable Energy for Africa, Ozokwelu is one of those many beneficiaries of Dr. Alex Ekwueme’s philanthropy by way of academic support through Ekwueme Memorial Trust Fund. In this very revealing article, Ozokwelu, a professor of Chemical Engineering, pays glowing tribute to the man who assisted him in achieving his glittering professional life...

T

he late former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme played diverse and noble roles in his life. Among the roles was his great impact on my life, in addition to a few other positive ones I will mention and then attempt to expatiate on one by one.

First, Dr. Ekwueme was a great philanthropist. Second, he was a great intellectual as shown by his ability to earn degrees across diverse disciplines, including Law, Architecture, Sociology, Urban & Town Planning, et cetera.

As a great professional, he was one of the few Nigerians who not only had academic degrees, but also displayed his prowess throughout his practice and lifestyle. He started his Ekwueme Associates, an Architectural, Urban and Town Planning firm—which made major contributions to the development of Nigeria.

By 1975-76 timeframe, Ekwueme Associates had about 13 architects on its payroll, including some of my classmates who graduated in 1975. Ekwueme Associates designed and completed all the Urban

and Town Planning masterplans for each of the old 19 states’ capitals of Nigeria, including the Abuja Federal Capital Territory (FCT) right at the onset of their creation.

That was a very major contribution which many people are unaware of. Perhaps his greatest character trait was that he lived a very simple, unassuming, productive and inspirational life despite all his exemplary accomplishments

Then, there was Dr. Ekwueme — the great leader and politician, who was colossal both at the national and community levels: At the community level, he brought a lot of development projects to his area, including the College of Arts and Science—which is the Federal Polytechnic, Oko today. This was in addition to several other city roads and infrastructural developments in Oko

As a politician, he was a national leader and a great patriot. He was calm and very courageous. Of course, he was the Vice President of Nigeria from 1979 to 1983 during the Alhaji Shehu Shagari administration. Needless to say, he was a very loyal Vice President to Alhaji Shagari with whom he maintained a life-long friendship.

’’

community and environs.

As a politician, he was a national leader and a great patriot. He was calm and very courageous. Of course, he was the Vice President of Nigeria from 1979 to 1983 during the Alhaji Shehu Shagari administration. Needless to say, he was a very loyal Vice President to Alhaji Shagari with whom he maintained a life-long friendship.

Dr. Ekwueme left a lot of legacies. One of the most outstanding of those legacies is arguably the six geopolitical zonal structure, which Nigeria currently uses in the delimitation of units of political space. It is on record that as both a politician and leader, Dr. Ekwueme led the battle to restore democracy to Nigeria by rallying opposition to the late General Sani Abacha who had wanted to transmute into a civilian dictator. In response, Dr. Ekwueme started assembling what was then known as the Group of 11, which soon grew to G-18, G-34 and finally became what we know today as Cont’d on page 14

10

The Oracle Today Wednesday February 7, 2018

POLITICS

IPOB to Kenneth Okonkwo (Andy):

You are an ignorant man!

An IPOB chieftain, Mr. ALOYSIUS SOMTOCHUKWU NWAFOR has lashed out at actor Kenneth Okonkwo (Andy in Kenneth Nnebue’s epic Igbo language movie ‘Living in Bondage’) over Okonkwo’s claim in an African Independent Television (AIT) interview that ‘Biafra died with Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu’, saying the lead actor in ‘Living in Bondage’ spoke out of ‘total ignorance’.

In an ‘open letter’ to Okonkwo, Nwafor described the actor-turned lawyer as a man “suffering from identity crisis”. He, then, went on to educate Okonkwo about the origin of Biafra and how it came to be associated with Ndigbo, stressing that Okonkwo’s claim that Biafra is not an Igbo word and, therefore, cannot be appropriated as a name that should be dear to Ndigbo is, to say the least, fallacious.

A full text of the letter (reproduced below) reads: Dear Kenneth Okonkwo,

O

ut of my busy schedules, I squeezed out time to pen down this letter to you, in response to your questionable and pathetic opinion on the noble and genuine quest for Biafran restoration. I demand your untamed attention as you read through the lines of this letter.

My attention has been drawn to the recent interview that you granted to African Independent Television (AIT), where you maliciously opined that “There is nothing called Biafra In Igboland; Biafra is not an Igbo word, Biafra died with Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.” When I came across your statement, I remembered a famous Marcus Garvey quote, namely, that “a man without the knowledge of his past history is like a tree without a taproot.” For a man of your calibre to utter such a frivolous and fallacious statement makes you a perfect example for the above quote.

I am beginning to see in you the tragic effect of the removal of History as a subject from Nigerian school curriculum. I must say that you are physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually suffering from history deficiency. “There is nothing called Biafra in Igboland” is not just a fallacy but the most ridiculous statement one could ever have uttered. In fact, that is the most ridiculous statement I have ever heard in my life.

The evergreen adage of our ancestors has it that what a child does not know is bigger and greater than him. They also said that a child can be thought what he does not know by his elders. It is on this note that I’ve deemed it necessary as a student of history to lecture you and other “Efulefus” on the name “Biafra.”

History has it and it is also on record that the indigenous people of Biafra existed as a nation on the ancient map of Africa from 1492 –1843 before Nigeria came into existence in 1914. This map is presently in James Ford Bell library, University of Minnesota in USA. Thus, the Biafrans are entitled to selfdetermination by virtue of articles 19-24, Cap 10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990, which guarantees the rights of indigenous peoples of the land self-determination.

The ancient map of Africa by the Portuguese featured only three kingdoms in the present location known as Nigeria. These are: the kingdom of Zamfara in the North, the kingdom of Benin in the West and the kingdom of Biafra in the East. Emeka Emekesiri, in his book ‘WHAT THE IBOS WANT’ published in 2012 posited: “The ancient map of Africa is documentary evidence that Biafrans are the indigenous people of Africa, which raises very serious issues in both national and

• Kanu

• Okonkwo

international law.”

Looking at the maps, Portuguese travellers used the word Biafra to describe the entire region of the lower Niger River and Eastwards up to the Cameroon Mountains and down to the eastern coastal tribes, which include part of Cameroon and Gabon.

Britain also had diplomatic dealings with Biafra before the creation of Nigeria. John Beecroft was the British consul of the Bight of Biafra with its headquarters in Fernado Po now Bioko in Equatorial Guinea, from 30th June 1849-10th June 1854.

Germane to the trend of this submission, the Biafra declared by Ojukwu on 30th May, 1967, was not a new country but a sincere and patriotic attempt to restore the ancient Biafran nation that existed before the creation of Nigeria by the British colonialists.

The late Chuba Okadigbo was fond of saying that you can retire a man out of the military but you can’t retire the military out of a man.’’ That indisputably affirms the reason IPOB is standing undefeatable in the pursuit of Biafra’s freedom.

On May 30th, 1967, when the late then Lt. Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu declared the sovereign state of Biafra, other Nigerian ethnic groups backed out and fought

against what they disparagingly referred to as Igbo domination. They said that they fought because they thought the East was so ambitious. Events of the past decade have proved this school of thought to be a fallacy. Current events of unabated bloodshed by the Hausa/Fulani in Southern Kaduna, Plateau, Nassarawa, Benue and Taraba is a great lesson for them to think twice on ever participating to carry out systematic genocide against their Eastern Region brothers.

As a result of the Civil War and with the unrestrained support of Britain, USSR,USA, the Arab nation, some Muslims-dominated countries and hired mercenaries from Africa and beyond, Biafra lost its sovereignty not its indigenous identity.

In the light of the above historical background, I urge you not to criticize what you have not read or what you have zero knowledge of. For, as Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States would say, “It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove every reasonable doubt that you are a fool!”

Fall back to history and know who you are and your true identity and stop making a mess of yourself, man. I even heard that you are lawyer, but I am beginning to question

if you are, indeed, one. With this display of sheer ignorance by you, one might even be tempted to ask if you saw the four walls of a university. Because men of your caliber are, in point of fact, supposed to think and reason properly before talking. I insist that you sounded more like an average confused person that talks before he thinks. I urge you not to always come on air to publicly disgrace yourself and even more so, your profession.

Without any doubts in my mind whatsoever, I am stating that Biafra is the utmost heart desire of the people of the old Eastern Region of Nigeria as well as the Idomas of Benue, Igalas of Kogi and the Igbankes of Edo States.

Biafra’s freedom is a song on the lip of every Tom Dick and Harry in today’s Igbo land.

The quest for Biafra’s restoration championed by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under the leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is much more than a quest for the creation of the State of Biafra; it is a quest to restore Africa’s honour and dignity. A free Biafra entails a new and reformed Africa. I am making it abundantly clear to you, Sir, that the technological breakthrough in Africa will come from Biafra. Yes, Biafra will change Africa from being the “Dark Continent of the world” as it is being referred to by the Western world, to a leading light of the world. The absolute truth remains that Biafra is the best thing that will happen to us as a people, and to the entire black race in the world.

You declared that “Biafra died with Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.” That is the highest form of hypocrisy and the peak of treacherous self-denial. One might even ask if you are actually a Nigerian, because out of the ingenuity of IPOB, the name Biafra is trending and being discussed in every language known to man. It is an understatement to say that IPOB has saturated the message of Biafra in Nigeria, the international community and beyond.

I am not in any way or form showering praises on IPOB, but one must acknowledge that through IPOB, the name Biafra has spread like a wild fire ravaging Nigeria and has risen to the horizon. That Nigeria is in shambles today is as the result of the indefatigable activities of IPOB (which exposed the evil machinations of the Buhari-led Fulani government not only against Ndigbo but also against the rest of Nigeria). So I wonder how a living soul especially you, Mr. Kenneth Okonkwo will open your mouth to say that “Biafra died with Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.” Biafra can never die; it is an ideology that can never be killed or forever undermined. I am ashamed that at your level of intellectual exposure, you still commit this sort of unforgivable identity blunder. That is another glaring evidence that the Nigerian education system is lower than trash.

I know you are actually seeking attention and publicity; now you have gotten a deserved one. Next time you should not toy with IPOB, or do so at your peril. IPOB is being run by renowned intellectuals and best brains in Africa. You cannot toy with IPOB and go scot-free. This should send a strong message to anyone dreaming of toying with IPOB, for you must be mentally saturated to face IPOB or get ready to be suffocated and swallowed by the truth.

I pray this letter gets to you.

Yours Sincerely Nwafor Somtochukwu Aloysius For Family Writers Press.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday February 7, 2018

POLITICS

Cattle colony is a continuation of the Dan Fodio agenda – Achuzia JONATHAN AWANYAI, in Asaba, spoke with elder statesman and former officer of the defunct Biafran Army, Col. J.O.G. Achuzia (rtd), on the crisis of leadership in Nigeria, with particular reference to the Fulani herdsmen menace, which President Muhammadu Buhari, a Fulani himself, would appear to have refused to do something about. Condemning plans by the Buhari administration to establish grazing reserves and cattle colonies in each State of the federation, Achuzia alleged that the move is a ploy by Buhari to plant the Fulani in different parts of the country in preparation for a future jihad.

A

chuzia who spoke with The Oracle Today in Asaba wondered why herdsmen should be given preferential treatment to the disadvantage of other Nigerian farmers and livestock business people.

“Do Fulani herdsmen submit their profits to the national or state treasuries? Why can’t they do business like other farmers and livestock business people in Nigeria?” quipped the Octogenarian.

According to the elderly Biafran War hero, the interpretation that would easily be given to the obvious preferential treatment given to the herdsmen by Buhari that the President’s sole agenda in the present political scheme of things is to ensure that Hausa-Fulani herdsmen occupy prime and strategic locations across the country to ease Islamic agenda of Fulani colonization of Nigeria through a bloody jihad in the future.

“If not so, why are the APC and President Buhari giving special attention and huge funding to Hausa-Fulani livestock farmers to the detriment of their counterparts across the country?Where are the goats colonies, fish colonies, chicken colonies and pigs colonies?

Don’t they come under one form of farming or the other? Is cow meat the only source of protein in Nigeria? Why does Mr President want to create division, disunity and acrimony among Nigerians?” he asked While insisting that President Buhari is only pursuing the Uthman Dan Fodio agenda, Achuzia noted that the idea of cattle colonies is a ploy to favour the Hausa-Fulani folks in preparations for future jihad.

“It’s bad and horrifying,” Col. Achuzia declared. “It’s deadly as it is detrimental to the unity and progress of Nigeria.Once a State accepts, it becomes almost a local government in the State dedicated to the Fulani herdsmen.

First, we have not given them space and they already took so much space, what happens then when we create a community for them?

Their rate of production is even more than the Chinese are doing now. In other words, in a few years they will outnumber us and then we can do nothing about it. The sooner we reject any cattle colony the better. If they say cattle colony, isn’t that masquerading the whole issue because cattle don’t move on their own.

They are moved by cattle herders who look after them. Those people have families and so they go with their families.That brings us back to what the Koran says,when Abubakar said what they should do when they go on a jihad; he said take all your families because there is no reinforcement. If you get there and you feel that they are more numerous than you, you surrender and live with them. But, in doing so, inflict as much damage as you can by killing their young ones from the age of eight upwards for the male, marry their widows because you are entitled to marry four wives and bring their children into Islam and within a short time you will overpopulate the place and then you can continue the jihad. So, who is fooling who? How can we allow cattle ranch under these conditions? It is not possible. If anybody in our area says he cannot accom-

modate it (not having cattle ranches), then it means that the person is not part of us. Any government in the South East that offers land for cattle colonies is doing so out of ignorance, because they don’t understand what the whole exercise is all about.What is happening in Nigeria is the clarion call by Usman Dan Fodio long ago and that clarion call is what the Fulani’s are implementing.”

While speaking on Buhari and Igbo presidency in 2023, he regretted that the Igbos are treated as second class citizens.

“How long ago did the war end?” Achuzia agonised. It’s about 50 years ago.Within that period, signs have not reflected that the apex leadership of Nigeria will be given to Ndigbo, how do they think that it is now when the Fulanis are trying to complete the Dan Fodio agenda that they are looking forward to the leader of the jihad, President Buhari who in his cabinet from the onset made sure that there is no dilution of the people he chose to be his advisers and cabinet members? Yes, he might hand over to the territory occupied by South East but then it would have been a Fulani colony.

Achuzia while speaking on herdsmen killings accross the country, expressed satisfaction that the Global Terrorism index labelled Nigerian Fulani militants as fourth terror group in the world, following killings in Nigeria and parts of the Central African Republic as a result of clashes between farmers and the littleknown group, formed of individuals from the semi-nomadic pastorial ethnic group.

“They used the same cattle herdsmen to move into the north thereby pushing the Hausas who are the owners of the land into the Islamic religion and at the same time almost appropriating the Hausa man into a moslem who became almost a Fulani.The same thing they have done by pushing the middle belters and till today it is only a small area left and they are now using all force at their disposal to displace them and claim that territory. Ours is to look, if they succeed, our area becomes the next place that they have to go after and that is where my concentration lies.

“First, if you noticed what happened to us towards the end of last year, when we were invaded by the army under the guise of Operation Python Dance and Operation Crocodile

• Col. Achuzia (Rtd.) Smile. Shortly, after that operation, the next thing they did was to proscribe the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).Who are the IPOBs? It is we the easterners and then you say that we are terrorists, but Fulani herdsmen and all those killing people in the Middle Belt are not terrorists. We in the South East that haven’t wielded any weapon are terrorists. If you go into the Nigerian history and the migratory system, you will understand that Benue people are not northerners. Do the Middle Belters look like people with Fulani tradition? Though they fought a war on the side of Nigerians when they thought that Yakubu Gowon was in control, today, they are facing what we faced about 50 years ago but instead we are in sympathy with them because we are watching events and we will not let them down because if they capitulate, the burden will fall on us.You kill people to dispossess them and that is what the cattle ranching is all about.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan got to Aso Rock by accident and accidents don’t happen every day and he also exited through accident in time for Buhari to enter. Buhari knew that time is not on his side hence the speed of creating a cabinet that is majorly his kinsmen with instructions that they should accelerate the time sequence of possession.They are tackling it in several ways; through military incursion on two sides, the Boko Haram on one side and the cattle herders on the other side. Also,they have taken over the political mantle. In other words, he has put the whole problem he wants to solve into a nutshell and

“They used the same cattle herdsmen to move into the north thereby pushing the Hausas who are the owners of the land into the Islamic religion and at the same time almost appropriating the Hausa man into a moslem who became almost a Fulani.The same thing they have done by pushing the middle belters and till today it is only a small area left and they are now using all force at their disposal to displace them and claim that territory.”

he is cracking the nut just as he deems fit and better,” he alledged.

Speaking further, he also alleged that “the country has already been colonized by the northerners.Look at our economy;is the bank working for us?The former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria,Sanusi created an economic system he described as Islamic banking.

Islamic banking has pushed other banking institutions out of the way.In the Islamic system they know the avariciousness that exists between none moslems in terms of trade.Their bank lends money without interest rate and this attracts the southerners and that is why the other banks we have are collapsing.”

On the way forward for Nigeria,the octogenarian stated that he wouldn’t want to opt out of Nigeria. “IPOB is not asking to opt out of Nigeria, but we are saying is that there should be restructuring so that we can have a breathing space. There is nothing in this world that cannot be negotiated. Anybody saying that Nigeria cannot be negotiated is a totalitarian and it is only jihadists that don’t negotiate because as far as they are concerned, you are either a muslim of their own persuasion or you are killed off,” Achuzia said.

On restructuring, he said: “The country was packaged not by the Fulanis or anyone but by the colonialists.They packaged us based on what they saw on the ground showing major ethnic groups. In each of the three divisions, they had ethnic groups of linguistic differences but cultural similarity.These are what they looked at in partitioning the country into three spaces. And when we got independence, that is what we looked at within the southern hemisphere to produce Midwest making it four regions.Under that regional arrangement, if you take a vehicle going by road to connect these four regions,you will notice what each region put in place what enabled them to survive before the oil economy came to play.So,what we are asking is let us get back where we went wrong.”

It would be recalled that a lot of reaction had trailed Federal Government’s decision on cattle colonies with the governors of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Ekiti, Akwa Ibom, Eboyi, Abia, Enugu, Cross River and many other states making it public that they do not have lands where cattle colonies are to be established.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday February 7, 2018

BOLD n BLUNT

Danfulani, human rights activist: Buhari is most corrupt Nigerian!

J

ohn Danfulani is a human rights activist and Chairman, Centrum Initiative For Development and Fundamental Rights Advocacy (CEDRA). In this interview with IRETO TEMOFEH, he touches many issues that border on the polity and posits that President Muhammadu Buhari is “the most corrupt Nigerian alive” because of his disregard of federal character in his appointments and his failure to follow due process. Danfulani describes Nigeria under Buhari as a police state or a semi-apartheid country and asserts that a referendum or complete balkanization is the best way forward for Nigeria, not restructuring, because “you can’t restructure a rotten structure.”

He calls for Nigeria to adopt her own version of the American Second Amendment to the US Constitution, which will give Nigerians the right to bear arms, as the best panacea to stop the Janjaweed-like mass murders and genocide being perpetrated by alleged Fulani terrorists, and advises President Muhammadu Buhari to “throw in the towel” because of his “conscious unwillingness to take on the Fulani herdsmen.” The human rights activist states, among others, that Buhari’s much touted integrity is nothing but a “titanic hoax” because, “you can’t claim to be Mr. Integrity while your actions and inactions are littered with nepotism and irredentism.” Excerpts: Assess the state of the nation at the moment under the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) is on a tip of a cliff with one of its legs already slipping into a deep valley. Under Buhari, the country has lost its moral, social, economic and political souls. From 29th May 2015 to date PMB has placed every facet of Nigeria in reverse gear. And Nigeria has never been divided in this manner since our unsolicited amalgamation of the northern and southern protectorates by Lord Lugard in 1914. From all indications, PMB lacks the knowhow to undo the damages he has inflicted on the nation. In a nutshell, Nigeria is a basket case.

Former president Olusegun Obasanjo recently wrote a letter to Buhari advising him not to seek re-election for a second term because of the poor performance of his government. Do you believe that Buhari and the APC have failed especially in the area of the economy and security and others? What is your take on Obasanjo’s letter and the performance of President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC in government?

Chief (Dr.) Olusegun Mathew Obasanjo’s 13page letter to PMB was a moral and political intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). History shows that the elder statesman is a man of letters and he always procures his ink in gallons. From 1979 to date, he has scripted letters to almost all leaders- be they civilians or military. Sequel to that, his latest letter gave very few surprise.

Dr. Obasanjo’s letter raised poignant issues that PMB’s clueless and inept leadership manufactured. The former president’s letter accused PMB of: nepotism; poor economic management; insensitivity to killings of his compatriots in central Nigeria; shielding corrupt politicians in his government and insensitivity to the heterogeneous social nature of Nigeria. All the issues raised are uncontrollable cum impeccable.

The ruling party attempted a rebuttal of the letter through the regime’s spin doctors but it was a poor outing. The biggest surprises bordering this letter are laughable claims of Prof. Sagay and the former Governor of Abia State Uzor Orji Kalu. Their tales confirmed the dictum that Nigeria is a clime of the flying elephants.

All issues and allegations contained in the 13-page document can’t be successfully challenged. And no amount of propaganda can dent the content of the letter.

Obasanjo is also of the opinion that both the PDP and APC have failed Nigerians. Therefore, he advocates a third party or third force to rescue Nigeria. What is your take on this?

Dr. Obasanjo’s notion on PDP and APC is con-

Many Nigerians will like you to go into politics or at least to be part of the so-called third force that is needed to rescue Nigeria. Will you be part of the so-called third force or third party?

Well, I have been receiving invitations to throw my hat in the political ring by comrades in the struggle and my immediate constituency. Those calls are yet to trigger the political urge in me because of our political culture and operating environment. Our brand of politics isn’t issue-based. It’s politics of the highest bidder and thuggery. It’s politics guided by mundane variables like religion and ethnicity. A conflict of these factors is making some of us keep off active politics or hunting for mandates.

On the third force mantra, we need to see the whole blueprint encompassing their strategy and tactics. Dr. Obasanjo only made a statement; we are waiting for him to provide a comprehensive explanation. Without that, all is empty noise that will end without anything serious.

Above all, I don’t support the third force and don’t think I will invest my time and energy in the venture. I will support PDP because I believe that they have what it takes to send President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) and his APC to the political wilderness. When PDP was in power the country recorded giant strides developmentally and socially. For now, I will go with the devil that I know. No more gamble. The same Dr. Obasanjo and his co-puritans brought these bigots and irredentists that are destroying the country today.

Once beaten, twice shy. We can no longer be bartered from dogs or lost as cards.

• John Danfulani troversial and self-indicting because he was involved from 1999-2007. And from 2007 to 2015 his political clones viz Presidents Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Ebele Jonathan led the nation. If he is piqued that PDP and APC have failed and aren’t viable options, it looks contradictory.

Where is Dr. Obasanjo going to get saints to lead the Third Force? Take it or leave it, the movement will be dominated by ex-PDP and APC members that placed us in this mess. I simply want to know where he will get these people from.

Without second guessing, Dr. Obasanjo will bring most of the people that served under him and his long political associates. But we know, and he knows we know that they are also corrupt and part of the mess.

Judging from how movements that toppled governments in other countries, Obasanjo is almost running out of time. It takes a great deal of time and resources to trigger the type of movement he intends to create.

What he is now proposing should have come

in 2016.

Without any fear of contradiction PDP remains the only platform that those not cheery with PMB’s leadership can crest their mission on. It’s the only party with structures and foot soldiers that can easily prosecute a political agenda with ease of knife on butter.

If there are qualms in PDP, a party that gave him the chance to rule this country for eight years, I expected him to make suggestions and initiate reforms that will cleanse it of the problems he thinks contaminated the party.

He is a voice that can’t be ignored. As a former president he is an automatic member of the party’s board of trustees.

In summary, the third force or coalition will only pave way for APC’s second coming because it will deny the opposition flank the capacity of building a larger and potent force that will properly square up with the ruling APC. Lest he forgets, General Napoleon Banorparte’s dictum that ‘God is with the General with the largest army’ remains unimpeachable.

Many Nigerians believe that there are so much impunity, many injustices, mass killings, insecurity, and rampant human rights abuses under President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB). What can Nigerians do to protect their lives and their rights and freedoms under the Buhari administration since many now perceive that the president has failed to protect the rights as well as the lives and properties of innocent Nigerians?

In the build up to 2015, PMB’s image makers and very respectable Nigerians like Prof Wole Soyinka assured Nigerians that PMB had been politically born again. Some of us refused to cave in because once a dictator, always a dictator. But, because of our gullibility, they made it. Even after their victory of 28th March 2015, we knew that in the nick of time, his dictatorial antics would surface. By December of 2015, first signal of it surfaced when army massacred Shias in Zaria and burCont’d on page 13

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The Oracle Today Wednesday February 7, 2018

BOLD n BLUNT Cont’d from page 12

ied them in mass graves in the night.

By the second quarter of 2016, PMB became a full-blown dictator. Nigerians protesting one policy or the other were tear-gassed by the police and brutal and unaccountable force was used in dispersing peaceful protesters. Suddenly, a killer squad of Nigeria Police called SARS started brutalizing innocent citizens with impunity.

PMB’s dictatorship extended to disregarding judicial rulings. Some of the examples of such disregards include refusal to set Sheik ElZakzaky free, refusal to respect court rulings on Col. Sambo Dasuki, etc.

The gains recorded since 1999 have been eroded and what we have now is a full police state where frontiers of freedom and liberties are constantly contracting. As we get closer to 2019, local and international rights monitoring bodies must watch it because PMB’s regime might go after political opponents using all sorts of funny reasons in order to gain political advantage or return themselves to power with ease.

Citizens must summon courage and keep daring his decision. Affected parties or persons must seek legal redress without minding whether he will respect court’s decisions or not because he will surely account for his actions someday. Thank God, human rightsrelated cases don’t have time limit. They can be addressed decades after they have been committed.

I pity security outfits that are permitting themselves to be agents of the government.

It is imperative they understand that their duty isn’t carrying out illegal orders from government. Their duty is to act within the confines of the law and to help citizens enjoy rights enshrined in our constitution. They too, must know that they will account for their actions, someday.

General Buhari of 31st December 1983 to 27th August 1985 is manifesting in President Buhari.

How do you react to the alleged social media monitoring of the posts of Nigerians, especially notable Nigerians by the government? Is the Buhari administration merely masquerading as a democratically elected government but is, in reality, a totalitarian regime?

PMB’s directive to security personnel to monitor social media accounts of some category of Nigerians is illegal and silly. He is trying to invent new versions of his famous decree 2 and 4 of 1983-1985. It is like somebody needs to remind him that he isn’t leading under the political setting of early 80s.

Nevertheless, do Nigerian security agencies have what it takes to monitor Nigeria cyberspace? I guess not. Why can’t they use the same time and resources to gather intelligence information on Boko Haram, Fulani herdsmen and kidnappers? This is pure wobbling of effort.

By the way, what is their definition of hate speech? I know that the UN organized many talk shops on this issue. In all the seminars, experts were unable to fashion a walking definition of hate speech. Do we even have that in our law books? Take it or leave it, this is an attempt to deter people from voicing their critical opinions on their maladministration and kleptomaniac disposition.

We counsel Nigerians to disregard this move and continue to enjoy their freedom of expression. It is a useless move that must not intimidate anybody.

How do you react to the massacre of Benue indigenes and nationwide menace of Fulani herdsmen?

The killings in Benue and other parts of Central Nigeria are a genocidal scheme hatched

by Fulani herdsmen and their political wing called Miyyati Allah. Sad enough, those with the responsibility of protecting lives and property are not measuring up to this quintessential schedule.

The lackadaisical attitude of the federal government of Nigeria has given birth to many conspiracy theories of their culpability. When it comes to nipping the herdsmen

Aso rock clinic palaver and Babachir aka grass cutter. When the senate committee passed its verdict and finding on Babachir, the President himself said the senate wasn’t fair to him. When pressure piled he set up a committee under the Vice President and his own committee arrived at the same conclusion with that of the senate. As we speak, Babachir is a free man.

President Muhammadu Buhari is the most corrupt Nigerian alive because if you don’t follow due process in discharging your duties- that is the highest form of corruption.

The palaver with PMB is his narrow perception of what corruption is. Even his disregard of the federal character in his appointments is a big corruption. His flaunting of his directive that no public officer should embark on foreign medical tourism while he spent over 100 days in UK is corruption. Everything about PMB is corruption. Even plagiarism of two of his speeches that became a subject of national debate is corruption.

PMB should better climb down from his high horse of puritanism and holier than thou attitude. Short and simple!

• John Danfulani

‘The gains recorded since 1999 have been eroded and what we have now is a full police state where frontiers of freedom and liberties are constantly contracting. As we get closer to 2019 local and international rights monitoring bodies must watch it because PMB’s regime might go after political opponents using all sorts of funny reasons in order to gain political advantage or return themselves to power with ease’ terrorism in the bud, PMB wouldn’t act. But when it comes to others, the sluggish President Muhammadu Buhari who pretends not to hear or see the atrocities of Fulani herdsmen acts with speed of light. We saw how he acted when tackling legitimate Indigenous People of Biafra’s (IPOB) desire for a referendum. There is more than meets the eye in President Muhammadu Buhari’s disposition to Fulani herdsmen’s terrorism in Nigeria.

Nigerians in the southern part should better begin to prepare for this menace because once their evil scheme of conquest succeeds in Central Nigeria, they will cross River Niger - southwards. It will do them much good if they join hands with Central Nigeria communities and liquidate these janjaweed-like killers.

It is a known fact that any government that can’t perform its traditional duty of protecting life and property isn’t worth living for a second. I humbly submit that President Muhammadu Buhari should throw in the towel because of his conscious unwillingness to take on the Fulani herdsmen.

What do you think is the best solution to the herdsmen crisis, kidnappings and general insecurity in the country at the moment?

While discussing this menace on 27th December 2016 on Television, I said our own version of the American second amendment will be the best panacea. What do I mean by this? I mean Nigerians be given the right to bear arms. Once everybody is permitted to bear arms, no janjaweed-like terminators will ap-

proach a village without a second thought of the possibility of collateral damage.

What is on ground now is akin to taking two boxers in the ring with one boxer having his hands tied to the back. The government bans bearing of arms, yet you see Fulani people holding arms while grazing. So, if they can carry arms unmolested why can’t others be permitted to do same? Are the Fulanis a special species of people that our laws don’t have a hold on them?

I urge Nigerians who really want to see an immediate end to this madness, who want to live in peace, who don’t want to be slaughtered like Christmas rams to join this campaign of bearing of arms by every Nigerian.

Try that and see how these genocidal animals killing people will not end their killing spree.

Do you believe that Buhari is really fighting corruption? What is your take on the issue of corruption under Buhari, especially in the light of allegations against his own men?

PMB isn’t fighting corruption; he is persecuting political opponents under the guise of fighting corruption. Senator Shehu Sani of Kaduna Central graphically painted PMB’s war on corruption in this fashion: when a case involves his men, he treats it with deodorant, but when it involves others he uses insecticide. This is an excellent analysis of PMB’s mantra on war against corruption.

Lest you forget, his dissimulative war on corruption was one of the key points Dr. Obasanjo raised in his letter. We know of the Maina saga, Baru/Kachikwu mess in the NNPC,

Many Nigerians think that President Muhammadu Buhari has violated the constitution in its provisions on federal character. In fact, many like Dr. Junaid Mohammed say that nepotism in Buhari’s government is the worst in Nigeria’s history. And former president Olusegun Obasanjo, in his recent letter to Buhari, reportedly wrote that Buhari runs a “nepotic cult.” How do you react to this, especially in the light of Buhari’s latest appointment of the new Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA)? If the president has violated the constitution, what can Nigerians or the National Assembly do about it?

Every Tom, Dick and Harry knows that he has violated the federal character proviso.

All heads of security agencies are from two Northern geo political zones. And all other sensitive or what you call key ministries and parastatals are headed by northerners. This is nepotism in its worst form. Dr. Junaidu Mohammed raised this point sometime last year. Dr. Obasanjo also raised same in his 13page letter.

Even before these two personalities made their points in public, I had read same in many social media platforms. Some of those social media narrations tabulated all the appointments and it was quite shameful.

You can’t claim to be Mr. Integrity while all your actions and inactions are littered with nepotism and irredentism.

Many Nigerians also think that all the human rights activists have failed them because nobody seems to be speaking out to tell the truth to power, especially with all the alleged acts of impunity, injustices, mass killings and violations of the fundamental rights and freedoms of Nigerians being perpetrated under the Buhari government. In fact, a Lagos based senior lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana recently reportedly said that President Muhammadu Buhari seems to have contempt for the rights and freedoms of Nigerians. There has been a campaign to end SARS Police. And even the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) campaigners led by Oby Ezekwesili have recently alleged that their rights and freedoms too have been violated by the Buhari government. As a human rights activist, why are you and your fundamental rights advocacy organization still silent, like many other human rights activists and organizations, especially at a time like this? Have the human rights activists and human rights organizations finally betrayed Nigerians?

There is no denying the fact that human rights activists and organizations aren’t doing enough. But I don’t subscribe to the notion that their unsatisfactory activism is a deliberate act of let-down. This notion must have germinated because of our skewed attachment of the entire struggle on some certain individuals. For example, people believe that if Femi Falana (SAN), Prof Wole Soyinka and Cont’d on page 15

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The Oracle Today Wednesday February 7, 2018

POLITICS Cont’d from page 9

the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

As a politician, Dr. Ekwueme left a lasting legacy as one who was not only upright but also incorruptible. This sparkling quality was evident throughout his entire lifetime and throughout all the things he did in Nigeria--both in the private and public sectors. He was not corrupt. Indeed, not corrupt is a gross understatement. Dr. Ekwueme was incorruptible and I believe all Nigerians bear testimony to this fact.

At a time, such as now, when we are engaged in a war against corruption in Nigeria, let us not forget that there was a man who walked the political space in this country at the highest level. He had all the opportunity to amass wealth for himself and enrich his family, friends and cronies— which has since become the norm in our nation—but vehemently refused to do so.

As is also common knowledge, at the time the government that he served was overthrown, in December 1983, by the Military, led by no other person—than the current president, General Muhammadu Buhari, Dr. Ekwueme was thoroughly investigated by the judicial Panel organized for that purpose and found totally clean of corruption.

Remarkably, of all the politicians of that era that were investigated, Dr. Ekwueme was the only one that was found to be corruption-free. Not only was he found to be free of corruption, the panel declared that he was the only one who actually came out of office poorer than he was when he went in. That is remarkable, even by international standards.

Indeed, Dr Ekwueme’s sterling qualities provide a lesson for both the federal government in particular and all Nigerians in general.

One very important lesson here is that there are still in our midst men and women of honour and integrity who could be counted upon to serve and restore the integrity of our nation, Nigeria. In other words, there is hope for Nigeria, provided we can look inwards and identify the right kinds of people and skills who can help in this regard.

Secondly and perhaps more importantly, the passing of Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme offers this administration a great opportunity to castrate corruption at the highest level. To do this, I strongly recommend to the federal government to name or rename, as the case may be, the Headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after Dr. Alex Ekwueme. An “ALEX EKWUEME HOUSE,” as the headquarters of the EFCC, will be a bold statement about our commitment to the war against corruption. This will immediately send out a message that we are committed to fighting the evil of corruption. It also sends the message that we appreciate honesty and probity and are prepared to demonstrate that appreciation. Most importantly, it would be a bold historic banner for our children and future generations to behold and study. No other honor that I can readily mention would be more befitting than that for His Excellency Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme.

Having mentioned earlier that the late Dr. Ekwueme was a great philanthropist, let me elaborate on that because I am not sure a lot of Nigerians are familiar with that side of him. I think the best way I can talk about his type of philanthropy is to share my own first meeting experience with him. Prior to my first meeting with Dr. Ekwueme, I had received admission letters to various universities in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States for graduate work in Chemical Engineering, including from the Cambridge University, Imperial College of University of London, the University of Manchester (UMIST), McGill University, Canada; the Massachussetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Oklahoma University. Only the last university gave me a teaching assistance position and allowed •

From left, Mrs Beatrice Ekwueme, Former President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Patience Jonathan and former Vice President, Namadi Sambo.

me to pay in-state fees, beginning my first day of enrollment. Financial assistance of any type in the other U.S. universities depended on my performance after completing the first semester.

It was a Sunday afternoon, a day prior to my first meeting with Dr. Ekwueme, when I went out on a social outing and ran into two guys from Nanka, a neighboring town to Oko, Dr. Ekwueme’s hometown. I shared with them that I received admission and financial support to Oklahoma State University in the United States, but lacked the money to travel to the U.S.— despite the fact that I had two federal government scholarships. The scholarship issue is another topic for discussion elsewhere.

These guys told me that there was one man called Dr. Ekwueme who would readily assist somebody like me to go for higher education. I remember telling them that there was nobody in Nigeria that would do that for a stranger but that I would try anyway and they gave me his office address in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The next day was Monday morning and I was in a long line of people waiting to see Dr. Ekwueme at his office in Ikoyi. When it was my turn, I presented my academic credentials to him and presented my request.

To my surprise, he never asked me the expected questions such as ‘Who are you?’

‘Who is your father?’, ‘What is your tribe?’, or ‘Where is your town?’ et cetera.

Rather his first question was, “are you ready to go to America now?” I answered, “Yes.” His second question: “Do you have a passport?” I answered, “No, sir.”

Before I could kneel down to beg to be allowed to go get a passport, he called one of his aides and told him: “When this gentleman comes back with his passport, please give him the usual two packages to go to the U.S. Embassy”. And that was it!

Two weeks later, I was back in the office with my passport and I was given two envelopes! I did not see Dr. Ekwueme again.

One of the envelopes had a check for 2,000 Naira when one Naira exchanged for 1.5 U.S. dollars. In order to understand the value of 2,000 Naira at the time, a 4-door 504 Peugeot or British Rover sold for 4,000 Naira! This was a lot of money especially for me.

The other envelope had some papers in it and was addressed to the U.S. Embassy

in Lagos. Next, I went down to the African Continental Bank and cashed the check, and used the money to buy a ticket. In those days, one had to go to the embassy with a plane ticket. I then proceeded to the American Embassy the same day. When I submitted the letter from Dr. Ekwueme to the embassy, they asked me if I was related to Dr. Ekwueme. I answered: “No.” After looking at Dr. Ekwueme’s letter and the letter for financial assistance from Oklahoma State University, they gave me gave me a visa. Total time spent at the embassy was about 30 minutes! When I came out of the embassy, it was very sunny and I remember bursting into tears of joy.

Within a week and half, I was on the plane going to the United States. The next time I saw Dr. Ekwueme was two years later, when I visited Nigeria after completing my MS and already enrolled in the PhD programme in Chemical Engineering. I went in the company of one of my mentors, Chief S. N. Okeke, to greet him and he was hosting some distinguished chiefs in his house at Oko. I was humbled and happy as he introduced me as one of his boys that he was very proud of. I strived to maintain a close relationship with him through letters; and despite his busy schedule, particularly after he became Nigeria’s Vice President, he never missed replying to any of my letters.

After completing my PhD in Chemical Engineering, I returned to Nigeria in 1986 and went to his house at Oko to pay back the money from Ekwueme Memorial Trust Fund. He refused to take the money and told me if I liked what he did for me, then I should go ahead and do the same for others—and you bet I have.

There are many people like me that would not have accomplished their academic and professional goals without financial assistance from Dr. Alex Ekwueme.

What a philanthropist he was!

I cannot conclude this tribute without saying a few words about Dr. Ekwueme’s vision for Nigeria. The time was 1999 when I heard that Dr. Ekwueme was participating in the PDP primaries. I was on second to the highest rank in British Petroleum, North America out of Chicago, United States. I simply had to volunteer to assist in raising funds and supporting him through his campaign. I was the coordinator for the

Midwest in the United States, while Professor Barth Nnaji was the coordinator for the entire North America. We like to claim that we raised the most money from the Midwest.

When he visited Chicago, I went to the airport in company of two gentlemen to pick him up. As soon as he got into the car, I gave him a proposal titled “Operation Infrastructure” for his campaign manifesto, and we drove him straight to Radio Chicago to tell the world why he decided to run for presidency of Nigeria.

To my amazement, it took us about an hour from the airport to the Radio Chicago premises and he finished reading the 30-page document and discussed his thoughts with me very intelligently. That is how I knew he was a very fast reader and when I asked him how he did that, he told me he took some fast reading classes to prepare for his busy schedule. I didn’t expect him to read all of it, but he did read and understood it all.

He then asked questions about how to implement it if he indeed won the election. “Operation Infrastructure” was about three companies in each zone, including one for electricity; the second for telecommunication (telephone); and the third for water in each of the six geopolitical zones—a total of 18 companies in the whole of Nigeria.

All the companies would be private companies and ground breaking for all the companies would be at the same time and the same day. Details of planned implementation cannot be fully discussed here, but the idea was to give all parts of the country what they all need at the same time; and therefore, break the yoke of tribalism and sectionalism. We also agreed to establish ministry of national orientation to engage in programmes that would bring Nigerians together through national financed intertribal marriages, sports and cultural displays.

Dr. Ekwueme and myself believed (I still do) so much in one Nigeria that we wanted to put Nigeria first in everything we planned to do so as to unify the country, something we very much lack today!

Suffice it to say that Dr. Ekwueme was the best President that Nigeria never had.

He loved Nigeria very much and so do I. May his soul rest in peace.

15

The Oracle Today Wednesday February 7, 2018

POLITICS

Constituents laud Nwobi over effective representation, stewardship

From JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

H

on. Engr, Emmanuel Nwobi, the member representing Aniocha North in Delta State House of Assembly, is one law maker that is highly loved and respected by so many people within and outside Delta State for his humility, simplicity, doggedness, uprightness, large heartedness and for his accomplishments at the State House of Assembly in the last two years. In certain quarters Emmanuel Nwobi is perceived as a man who can give all he has, for the happiness and wellbeing of orders and for the development of his people.

A vibrant, visionary and focused parliamentarian, Nwobi came to the State Assembly well prepared on the 19th of January 2016 when he was inaugurated as a member of the Delta State House of Assembly representing Aniocha North State Constituency. Apart from his intellectual sophistication and his determination to serve his people; from day one, he sustained the vision of his mission to the parliament which includes ensuring quality representation through regular interface with his constituents, and pursuit of better life for the people of Aniocha North.

Others, however, included; ensuring the delivery of quality and functional education; stemming the tide of fiscal indiscipline evident in public finance management and appropriation and pursuit of legislation and policies geared towards good governance, peace and welfare of his constituency.

No doubt, he was able to accomplish all these in the last two years through his commitment to regular, vigorous and informed contributions during plenary sessions. While Governor Okowa is massively turning the State into an infrastructure haven, attracting development with a focused agenda; Hon. Nwobi is on the other way facilitating and ensuring the execution of a fair share people oriented project in •

Gov Okowa and Hon Nwobi Aniocha North State Constituency with every sense of equanimity.

With his mandate, and having a clear understanding of the task ahead of him as the representative of the people of Aniocha North, he formed a unique synergy with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as well as his colleagues at the State House of Assembly, all geared towards meeting the urgent infrastructural and human capital needs of the people of his constituency, which for so many years has suffered neglect.

As he celebrates his second year in office,the people of Aniocha North State constituency in Delta State, have commended their representative in the House of Assembly, Hon. Engr.

Emeka Nwobi for quality representation and

stewardship in the last two years, while advocating for more support to enable him do more.

In an exclusive interview with The Oracle Today in Issele Uku, the headquarters Aniocha North Local Government area, Patrick Ochei lauded Nwobi for modernizing the area with many social amenities that have direct bearing on the populace.

He added that with the level of development in the area, Aniocha North is now massively shedding, its old and rural epaulets to now urban and modern signatures.

He opined that, apart from giving regular account of his stewardship, through constituency briefings and meetings, Nwobi had not

looked back in the provisions of the needed social amenities, incentives and programmes needed for the development of the area.

Nwobi, whom he said had gone through various political tutelage to become a very articulate law maker had been at the forefront of the fight against the aged-long neglect and the abandonment of the area.

“Aside from giant strides in physical infrastructure, Nwobi has displayed a high sense of service and tolerance in political development within and outside the local government area”.

He enumerated various projects executed or attracted by Nwobi to his constituency to include;First ever special environmental sanitation in Issele-Uku, dislodging all the gutters and evacuating waste for a number of days, construction of Aniocha North main entrance road from Benin/Asaba expressway to Afor market in Issele-Uku, construction of UkwuNzu Access road, construction of Obomkpa road (ongoing), construction of Onicha-Ugbo/ Ubulu-Uku road among others.

Ochei noted that the rural road initiative of Nwobi has improved living standards of his constituents, with the construction of UgboduOha River link road, Ezi-Ogodor Link road, the massive grading of Ezi Internal roads, the Obomkpa-Ubulubu link roads.He added that the reactivation of Issele-Uku and Onicha-Olona water works, facilitation of the completed Issele-uku Solar Water Project through the Sustainable Development Goalshave made Aniocha North, one of the fastest developing council area in the state.

He further maintained that theconstruction of staff quarters at the Issele-Uku Primary Health Centre, construction of main workshop and external automobile workshop at the technical College, Issele-Uku, construction of Library Building at the Technical College, IsseleUku, annual Undergraduate School.

Buhari is most corrupt Nigerian...

Cont’d from page 13

the rest aren’t talking on street protesting or talking, the entire human rights world is dead. Hell no. This is a wrong perception.

There are hundreds if not thousands of human rights organizations and activists challenging the system and actors. They have been protesting dictatorial actions of PMB on streets and in the courts--and reporting abuses to local and global human rights monitoring bodies.

The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Police menace you mentioned in your question was a subject of debate a while ago. A conglomeration of human rights bodies protested against their criminalities, wrote protest letters and staged protests in Abuja and other cities in Nigeria. That forced Nigeria Police to set up a committee to review their activities. That was a big plus for Nigeria human rights activists.

But, as I stated earlier on, their best is not good enough.

However, you must also admit the fact that the Nigeria human rights community is suffering from teething problems like finances and hostile operating environment. Foreign funding of their activities is almost zero; that also goes with local funding. And money is the life-wire of every good idea.

In addition to that, institutions like courts, National Assembly and Human Rights Commission are not helping matters. There are instances where peaceful protesters were chased from Unity Fountain by the Police and they ran to Nigeria Human Rights Commission, right at their gate the same chasers sprayed pepper gas on them and cracked their skulls. As I speak, the Commission has not issued a statement.

Similarly there were occasions where protesters were molested at the National Assembly. And such incidences were widely reported. As I speak with you, the leadership of the National Assembly hasn’t uttered a word on those cases. Not even chairmen of committees on human rights of the Green and Red Chambers!

On their part, the courts have become willing tools in the hands of the executive.

We have seen where they collude with the executive and issue very damning decisions that clearly infringe on rights of individuals or bodies.

With this analogy you will agree with me that Nigerian human rights activists or groups are walking a tight rope and doing their best. But as I said, their or our best isn’t good enough. We can do more than what we are doing now.

People like Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, the immediate past National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (Rtd) and others like some IPOB members are said to still be in detention even though they have been reportedly or allegedly granted bail or released by courts of competent jurisdiction. Why are human rights activists like you not campaigning for the release of Zakzaky and others, or not speaking out against their alleged continuous unlawful detention under the Buhari government? What are human rights activists like you doing to ensure that the federal government abides by the rule of law in a democracy? Or do you agree that there should be so-called political prisoners in a democracy?

I make bold to state that Sheik Zakzaky, Col Sambo Dasuki and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu are political prisoners. These people have been under captivity despite court rulings that they be granted bail. The case of Zakzaky is special and the most irrational because he was said to be an unwilling guest of the Department of State Services (DSS) under an unknown principle called Protective Custody.

To show that he didn’t request any protection from the DSS he went to court and the court of competent jurisdiction ordered for his release and some form of compensations.

Nigeria Government refused to respect that ruling and they are still holding him.

Col. Dasuki also got his bail applications granted and even went to a regional court,

but the government refused to respect those bails granted to him, a clear disobedience to the court decisions.

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) also suffered a great deal. His organization is a self- determination movement for Biafrans. They were conducting their activities peacefully and in tandem with the law. Suddenly Mazi Kanu was nabbed and locked up. It took the grace of Allah for the judge to grant him bail. After granting him bail, he continued with his activities but government cracked down again via the army’s Operation Python Dance and finally tagged the group a terrorist gang despite the refusal of both the local and international community to accept it as such.

Under President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria has become a full blown police state akin to Iron Joe’s USSR era. Shameful! And the earlier Nigerians understand that we are a police state the better for them. We need to roll up our sleeves and fight this dictatorial conversion of a democracy to a dictatorship.

Some notable Nigerians are of the opinion that President Muhammadu Buhari’s integrity has been seriously undermined. Do you believe that Buhari still has integrity?

PMB’s much touted integrity is a titanic hoax.

He isn’t a promise keeper and a man with dregs of sincerity. An irredentist, bigot and fanatic can’t be a man of integrity. What Nigerians were told about him by his spin doctors in the build up to 2015 that bamboozled and hypnotized people were raw propaganda. Beyond those sweet talks lies the real Buhari, the bigot and irredentist. He is the worst leader to ever emerge in the history of Nigeria. And sad enough, whenever he is on the saddle, we always experience natural and man-made disasters. Guess what, the first earthquake in the history of Nigeria occurred during his tenure in a village called Kwoi in Kaduna State. He is naturally associated with disasters.

What is your view on restructuring? Kindly

explain.

There is nothing to restructure in Nigeria. I mean nothing. You can’t restructure a rotten structure. I am for an outright referendum.

Let’s test the desirability of this 1914 contraption fashioned by Lord Lugard. Why are people afraid of testing their silly mantra of indivisibility and indissolubility of this semiapartheid state called Nigeria? Since we were forcefully amalgamated by colonial masters for their selfish economic, cultural and political reasons, it’s time for us to decide whether we want to continue to be one or go our separate ways.

I prefer a complete balkanization of the country and the formation of a confederation or a commonwealth of independent states. We were not one and can’t be one until the second coming of Jesus Christ. Don’t forget, some of us want a democracy while others a theocracy. To your tent oh Israel!

Do you believe that Nigeria’s unity is nonnegotiable? Kindly explain.

I believe that the future of Nigeria is negotiable. Those talking silly that we must continue to live in this apartheid state are hallucinating and will sooner or later accept their folly.

Everything is wrong with the political, social and cultural structure of the nation. We have to be bold enough to face these problems.

People refusing to accept this reality because the present structure placed them in advantageous positions must know that there is an end to everything. Their chains of oppression, suppression and exploitation will collapse.

If you decide to go into politics, which office will you like to run for in 2019 and under which party?

I told you in the early part of our interview that I’m not for bourgeois politics. Nevertheless, nothing is impossible in this world.

If I will throw my hat in the ring, I will go for senate or House of Representatives. I naturally like debates. My people are one hundred percent (100%) PDP; so if I decide, it must be under PDP.

16

The Oracle Today Wednesday February 7, 2018

NEWS Extra

Why we are rehabilitating Ehamufu-Nkalagu federal road – Ugwuanyi From CHUKS EZE, Enugu

T

HE Enugu State Government has said that its decision to intervene in the rehabilitation of abandoned Ehamufu-Nkalagu federal road in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of the state stemmed from the determination of the Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi administration to ease evacuation of farm produce from agrarian communities and reinvigorate the economic potentials of the people.

It was gathered that the 22km road, which had, reportedly, been abandoned by the federal government since early 1980, had served as a connecting arterial road from the North to the old South Eastern Region of the country, now South East and South-South geopolitical zones.

The stretch courses through Nkalagu, in Ebonyi State, EhamufuObollo Afor-Nsukka-Adani, in Enugu state, to Anambra State.

Ugwuanyi, who gave the hint during an inspection tour at the Enugu - Ebonyi border axis of the collapsed

road, assured distraught residents and community leaders, who had trooped out to welcome him that his administration would soon put an end to their suffering on the road.

The residents poured encomiums on Ugwuanyi and prayed for him for remembering the road, which they alleged that it had long been forgotten by the government, adding that it was the administration of former governor of old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo, that last rehabilitated it in the 1980s.

The governor announced that work would soon commence on the road, pointing out that the 8KM portion of the 22KM stretch of the road would be asphalted, with work going on simultaneously from the Ebonyi State border end as well as from the Federal College of Education, Ehamufu end.

Making more clarifications, the

state commissioner for works, Greg Nnaji, who was on the governor’s entourage, explained that while asphalt would be laid on the 8km portion, as was hinted by the governor, the remedial earthwork of grading and compacting would be done on the remaining 14 KM stretch of the road to allow for safe passage during the rainy season.

Ugwuanyi, who also inspected the Ehamufu Cottage Hospital, which allegedly, had not received any government attention since 2005, told the people that it is the policy of his administration to identify neglected areas in the state and put smiles on the faces of the people.

Other facilities that the governor inspected in the local government area were the Ebenyi Bridge, under rehabilitation, where he assured that the 45M-span-concrete-deck bridge would be delivered in March

this year; and the Ehamufu Cottage Hospital which had reportedly, not received any government attention since 2005, and Ugwuanyi announced the release of N20m for immediate rehabilitation and provision of vital facilities to make the cottage hospital functional.

Some leaders of the council area, who were on hand to welcome the governor on his visit include the Commissioner for Local Government Matters, Hon. Chijioke Edeoga; Chairman of the Local Government Area, Mr. Benjamin Edeoga; State Chairman of PDP, Mr. Augustine Nnamani; member representing Isi-Uzo in the state House of Assembly, Dr. Ogbuabor.

They applauded Gov. Ugwuanyi for the visit, which they described as historic, pointing out that it was the first working visit to Eha-Amufu, by a sitting governor of the state in past decades.

Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi meet to resolve border disputes

B

auchi, Gombe and Yobe state governments, Tuesday, held a joint meeting in Damaturu to amicably resolve boundary disputes between Yobe/Gombe and Yobe/ Bauchi states.

The Yobe Government convened the meeting between the three states and the National Boundary Commission (NBC) to provide proactive measures to settle the border disputes.

Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe said the meeting would chart a reliable course to resolve the border disputes, promote peaceful and harmonious coexistence among the border communities.

“I wish to recommend to the National Boundary Commission to always adopt the problem solving option that seeks to take into consideration all interests involved in the disputes to arrive at an acceptable settlement package,” Gaidam said.

He noted that the disputes between Fika in Yobe and Nafada in Gombe State as well as Nangere in Yobe and Danbam in Bauchi State must be addressed to arrive at an amicable solution.

He expressed confidence in the capacity of all stakeholders in resolving the disputes “to strengthen the long cherished cordial relationship and understanding between our governments and the good people of the brotherly states.”

The Governor advised traditional rulers, local government authorities and the border communities to live in peace with one another.

NBC’s Director-General, Dr Mohammed Ahmed, assured that the meeting would address claims and counter-claims by some border communities.

“It is our hope that the states will take advantage of the age-long affinity of the people who are indeed one and the same with common history and destiny, to make quick progression in the definition of the boundaries,” Ahmed said.

He expressed optimism that the meeting would be successful in view of the support and cooperation extended by the state governments, stakeholders and communities.

•Chairman of Orange Drugs Limited, Chief Tony Ezenna, cutting the tape to officially open the multi-million naira ultra-modern mosaic of the Heavens-here-on-Earth Akokwa Unity Center in Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State, last Monday.

Benue Assembly in final debate over appropriation bill

T

he Benue House of Assembly, on Thursday, read the state financing and appropriation bill for the second time.

The majority leader of the House, Mr Benjamin Adanyi, who led the debate on the bill, stated that the State Government proposed to generate and spend N178, 377,811,608 only in the 2018.

Adanyi said that the 2018 draft estimates was approximately N5 billion less than the 2017 approved budget as a result of the eight months’ salary arrears for civil servants and other financial liabilities.

He stated that the State Government should redouble its efforts to clear the arrears of salaries, gratuities and pensions.

“If economic growth, development and democracy are humancentred, then every effort should be made to clear these debts owed serving and retired civil servants,” Adanyi said.

He stated that there could be no democracy without life, adding that payment of salaries, gratuities and pensions would promote life.

The Speaker, Mr Terkimbi Ikyange, who also spoke in favour of the bill, invited the Clerk of the House, Mr Terese Agena to read the bill for the second time.

After the second reading, the Speaker committed the bill to the Appropriation Committee for further scrutiny.

Niger Govt., AEDC set up committee to improve power supply

FG rakes in N196.3m from savings bond sales T

F

ederal Government has realized the sum of N196.3 million from sales of savings bond in January, according to the Debt Management Office (DMO).

The results of the sales published on the DMO website, Monday, showed that N73.05 million was allotted at 12.09 per cent with 121 successful subscriptions to mature in January 2020.

It stated that N123.25 million was allotted at 13.09 per cent with 178 successful subscriptions to mature in January 2021.

The savings bond issuance is expected to help finance the nation’s budget deficit.

The bond issuance is part of the Federal Government’s programme targeted at the lower income earners to encourage savings and also earn more income (interest), compared to their savings accounts with banks.

The bonds are debt securities (liabilities) of the Federal Government, backed by its ‘full faith and credit’.

Interests are to be paid at regular periods and principal repaid at maturity.

The bonds have a tenure of between two to three years and a minimum size of investment of N5, 000 and maximum of N50 million.

The bond is aimed at deepening national savings culture, diversifying funding sources for the government and providing opportunity to all citizens, irrespective of income level to contribute to national development.

It will also enable all citizens to participate and benefit from the favourable returns available in the capital market.

Bayelsa Commissioner slumps at inter-ministerial briefing

B

ayelsa Commissioner for Special Projects, Mr Fred Obua, Tuesday, slumped and was rushed out of the venue of ongoing inter-ministerial briefing to mark six years of Governor Seriake Dickson in office.

Obua, who was due to make presentation suddenly slumped and was rushed out of the Cultural Centre, Yenagoa, venue of the event and taken to an undisclosed private clinic.

The Master of Ceremony (MC), Mrs Tari Oweifawari, who earlier announced that Obua would make presentation at the event, later in-

formed the gathering that the commissioner was “indisposed.’’

“The commissioner, who was also supposed to make his presentation is having health challenges and that won’t permit him to present his score card,’’ Oweifawari said.

The state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson told journalists that Obua could not wait due to his health challenge.

“What do you want me to say, the man was rushed out because he has health challenge; he cannot wait for the presentation. He was to make his presentation, but due to his health,

he was rushed out,’’ he said.

Only the Commissioner for Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Frank Ibegi briefed newsmen, out of the two ministries lined up to make presentations.

Ibegi in his presentation said that the present administration had performed well in terms of rural-urban development.

He said that establishing health centres in the rural communities was a milestone in the history of the state, adding that the focus for 2018 was to ensure peace and infrastructure development in the communities.

he Niger Government and the management of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) Plc have set up a 15-member committee to work out modalities for an improved electricity power supply across the state.

The committee is to be headed

by Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe, Commissioner for Works and Housing with membership that includes three other representatives from the government, three from AEDC and two from the youth groups.

The resolution was passed at an expanded meeting of the Niger State Council on Quality and Constant Electricity Supply on Thursday at Government House.

The State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Ketso who doubles as chairman of the council, said the current administration was passionate about improving electricity.

The committee is to develop a comprehensive mechanism that would ensure sustainable improvement of electricity supply across the state.

Earlier in his presentation during the meeting, the Managing Director, AEDC, Mr Ernest Mupwaya, acknowledged the desire of the people to have significant improvement in power supply.

He explained that since 2016, the company had been delivering 20 per cent of the entire electricity allocated to it daily from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to Niger Region, just as he expressed regret that of the average N1.5 billion electricity supply bill delivered to the region monthly, only about N450 million was collected as revenue.

The Oracle Today

17

Wednesday February 7 , 2018

BU$IN£SS •

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Energy

Finance

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Stock

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Insurance

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Aviation

Energy

African Open Skies puts Nigerian investors at risk

Total’s Egina FPSO arrives for Africa’s pioneer local integration

By VICTOR NZE

T

P20

Travel FG inaugurates committee for African Tourism Ministers’ confab P26

Insurance • Foreign carriers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) , Ikeja. agreed, committing its 44 signatory countries to deregulate air services, and promoting regional air markets open to transnational competition.

The move itself followed up on the Yamoussoukro Declaration of 1988, in which many of the same countries agreed to principles of air services liberalization. In 2000, the Decision was endorsed by head of states and governments at the then Organization of African Unity (and now African Union), and became fully binding in 2002.

However, nearly twenty years after, Nigeria is now set to officially commence implementation of the agreement committing its market to the African Open Skies agreement, in a move many in the industry fear might endanger or even outrightly run domestic operators out of business, as they claim it further compounds an already challenged business environment.

It would be recalled that Minister

CBN EXCHANGE RATES JAN. 30, 2018 Currency

Buying(NGN)

Central (NGN) Selling(NGN)

POUNDS STERLING 428.7129 EURO 377.7975 SWISS FRANC 325.569 YEN 2.8036 CFA 0.5585 WAUA 442.7263 YUAN/RENMINBI 48.1099 RIYAL 81.2468 SOUTH AFRICAN RAND 25.4538 DANISH KRONA 50.747

429.4164 378.4175 326.1032 2.8082 0.5685 443.4528 48.1893 81.3802 25.4956 50.8302

430.1199 379.0374 326.6375 2.8128 0.5785 444.1793 48.2687 81.5135 25.5374 50.9135

of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, had two years earlier affirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to the full implementation of Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) by 2018 despite opposition from indigenous airlines.

Rising from a one-day sensitization workshop on SAATM which took place at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Annex under the theme: ‘Implementation of SAATM: Its impact on the Nigerian Aviation Industry and National Economy,’ government agencies in the aviation sector as well as African industry regulators on one hand urged airlines and the federal government to fasttrack implementation of the YD, or risk losing out on the long run, the airline operators, on their part, laid bare other risks ahead for their investments should government sign the deal with other African countries.

For the advocates of the YD, its

implementation is intended to curb the invasion of mega carriers from Europe and the Middle East regions especially, who are poised to corner over 80 per cent of the market from the continent.

However, for some airline operators in the country, the timing and contents of African Open Skies agreement exposes the challenging business environment which they have been contending with, as it further pushes their investments to the edge of bankruptcy.

The SAATM which is expected to be inaugurated, Friday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia by the African Union Commission, is a flagship project of the African Union Agenda 2063 aimed at creating a single unified air transport market in Africa, as well as enhancing liberalisation of civil aviation to boost the continent’s economic integration agenda.

HE move by the Federal Government to formally implement the African Open Skies agreement, also known as the Yamoussoukro Decision (YD), has sparked concerns among major investors in the domestic aviation industry over exposure of the local market space to bigger and stronger competitors.

The agreement which Nigeria endorsed along with 22 other countries, according to the players, may endanger investments in the local aviation industry as bigger foreign carriers with strong commercial and financial backbone might track off fledgling local carriers with stiff competition.

Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, had earlier affirmed government’s commitment to the full implementation of Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) by 2018 despite opposition from indigenous airlines.

Stakeholders attribute government’s rush to implement the protocol as a clear admission of failure to provide leadership in the aviation industry through public sector investment in airline business, a situation they say has left the local aviation market open for grabs by international competitors.

According to a World Bank study, the platform of the Open Skies for Africa – Implementing the Yamoussoukro Decision, was informed by fact that many African countries restricted their air services markets to protect the share held by stateowned air carriers.

This practice originated in the early 1960s when many newly-independent African states created national airlines, in part, to assert their status as nations. Now, however, most of these countries have recognized that the strict regulatory protection that sustains such carriers, has detrimental effects of air safety records, while also inflating air fares and dampening air traffic growth.

In 1999, African ministers of aviation while admitting this selfserving state of affairs adopted the Yamoussoukro Decision, named after the Ivorian city where it was

Group berates NSITF for ‘undermining FOI Act’ P28

Cont’d on Page 18

Stock Market Highlights As At 30th JANUARY, 2018

Summary

DEALS VOLUME VALUE EQUITY CAP

S/N Coy (By Volume) TRANSCORP DIAMONDBNK SKYEBANK HONYFLOUR FCMB EURO

8,780.00 876,976,096.00 N7,430,142,974.12 N15,949,697,954,473.97

Volume 160,989,028 99,863,968 93,616,198 87,178,626 74,048,776 340.6285

Value(N) N393,736,676.49 N318,388,986.44 N141,306,855.65 N260,882,354.33 N240,833,726.94 341.1881 341.7477

5 Top Gainers Company Last Close Current GUINNESS N110 N113 3 BETAGLAS N59.4 N62.35 2.95 DANGCEM N268 N270 2 PRESCO N70 N71 1 STANBIC N45 N46 1 Top Losers Company NESTLE SEPLAT CCNN UNILEVER AIRSERVICE

Last Close Current N1500 N1470 -30 N692.6 N685 -7.6 N18 N17.6 -0.4 N44.5 N44.2 -0.3 N5.6 N5.35 -0.25

Change 2.73% 4.97% 0.75% 1.43% 2.22% Change -2.00% -1.10% -2.22% -0.67% -4.46%

The Oracle Today

18

Wednesday February 7 , 2018

BUSINESS

License: DPR gives LPG marketers ultimatum

T

HE Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Eket Field Office, has given a 21-day ultimatum to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) marketers to obtain licences for their facilities in the state.

The Controller, Operations of DPR in Akwa Ibom, Mr Tamunoiminabo Kingsley-Sundaye, gave the ultimatum at a meeting between the department and LPG marketers in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, Friday.

He observed that some marketers had installed add-on LPG facilities to their filling stations without approval from the DPR. “Equally, we also observed that there are some marketers who have constructed LPG plants without approval from DPR. There are some people that have been licensed before and the licence has expired, but have not renewed their licences,’’ he said.

Kingsley-Sundaye said that during the ultimatum, the department would carry out surveillance to verify the standard of the facilities and advised them on the area to improve on.

“Any facility, especially the add-on that does not meet up DPR requirements, such filling station will be dismantled,’’ he said.

According to him, within the 21 days, every marketer who is in LPG retail business must conform in accordance with DPR regulations and

standard.

He expressed worry that some LPG marketers sold gas indiscriminately in the state, noting that such act was dangerous to the society.

“When someone is bringing gas from nowhere and is not documented and kept it on the road side, who knows the kind of gas he is bringing to sell. Not every gas that is good for cooking purposes,’’ he said.

The controller operations said the department would collaborate with the law enforcement agencies to arrest people that were doing illegal business in the state.

Commenting on behalf of the marketers, Mr Richard Ekpenyong, Managing Director, Ekonoh LGP plant, decried indiscriminate selling of gas on the streets of Akwa Ibom. kpenyong, however, lamented that some marketers sold Propylene Rich Feed (PRF) instead of selling LPG (cooking gas), to unsuspecting end users.

“I observed that PRF is a type of gas which is meant for industrial use only and not for use as domestic or cooking gas,’’ Ekpenyong said.

He expressed concern that PRF which has a higher pressure composition than the normal cooking gas, was now being sold in many places as cooking gas.

He called on regulatory agencies to address the “unwholesome practice’’, to save life and property.

• Legal Counsel to Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited ((BASL), operators of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2), Mr. Tola Oshobi (SAN); Acting Director-General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Mr. Chidi Iwuzah, an engineer; Deputy Controller, Business Development, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Alhaji Sadiku Rafindadi; Director/Group Consultant, The Resort Group, Prof. Olugbenga Ogunmoyela, and Chief Executive Officer, BASL, Captain Jari Williams, after the monitoring tour of MMA2 by ICPC officials.

African Open Skies puts Nigerian investors at risk Cont’d from page 17 Meggison wondered if the country was actually ready for the intraAfrican open skies and what the benefits are especially since the AON feels the playing field is not level and is skewed against Nigerian carriers with regards to how their neighbors tax and charge them.

“Nigerian airlines are at a disadvantage to other African Airlines that are largely government owned and heavily subsidised. For instance, South African Airways got on the average about $350m yearly in the past decade; Kenya Airways got about $600m in 2016, while RwandAir has never published its financial results for over a decade.

Yet they will be competing against Nigerian airlines with private finance at 28percent.

“Nigerian airlines are subjected to multiple charges, taxes, levies and fees. On the average, we pay about 37 different charges that come under the guise of statutory levies and taxes to sustain a staff strength of about 18,000 staff of the various government agencies compared to most African carriers who pay a fraction in their countries to support a staff strength of less than 500.

“The charges around Africa are not uniform across board. Government should ensure all the taxes are uniform before the implementation of the Open skies.

For instance, when we fly to some African countries they charge us heavy landing fees in excess of $5000 – $6000. The same countries subsidize their local operators who pay $200 for the same service. But when they fly into Nigeria they pay a mere $500, the same as our local

carriers.

“Airlines in Nigeria pay high prices for JetA1 due to high taxes compared to some other countries where VAT and taxes in JetA1 have been abolished to their local carriers and some of them have local production of subsidised fuel.”

“He pointed out that the threat of non-African investors abusing the open skies by setting up airlines since there is no way of ascertaining their shareholder structure and how to ascertain whether they are Africans, thereby diverting investment from Nigeria into neighbouring countries with the Nigerian market as the target.

“Countries like Ethiopia that is a strong pusher of the open skies idea makes 45 percent of its income from Nigeria, yet Ethiopian Airlines has not employed Nigerians as Air Crew or Ground Technical staff, and drains our beloved country of our scarce resources to contribute 32percent of Ethiopia’s national GDP at the expense of the Nigerian economy and our ailing youths.

“It should be put on record that monies made in Ethiopia can’t be taken out of the country. This is a sharp contrast with our case in Nigerian where everyone comes into the country to make free money and move them out of the country effortlessly leading to huge capital flight and putting stress on our foreign exchange reserve.

“It is also noteworthy to state at this juncture that Ethiopia has a Visa on Arrival policy for over 40 countries. But sadly, and with disrespect, Nigeria that contributes immensely to their GDP, is not included among them and South Africa is the only African country included on the list.

“57 percent of the 54 nations in Africa are yet to sign the open skies

deal. Only 23 countries have committed themselves to open skies.

The question therefore is why is Nigeria in a hurry to sign the Treaty when we are yet to put our domestic aviation industry in order first and empower our Nigerian carriers to compete effectively,”? Meggison asked.

On his part, Chief Executive of WestLink Airline, Captain Ibrahim Mshelia who commended the idea of the Open Skies, however, stated that the domestic carriers needed more preparation to be part of the deal and also to benefit from the single air transport market.

However, separating the Nigerian aviation sector’s problems from the African Open Skies issues, but while also acknowledging the challenges faced by local operators, an aviation industry advocacy group, the Aviation Round Table (ART), in a separate reaction to the YD implementation, posited that the country needs strong domestic airlines to reap the benefits of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).

Its President, Mr Gbenga Olowo noted that though the argument by the AON that its full implementation would negatively affect Nigeria airlines was valid, the association must address problems confronting the sector.

According to him, Nigeria, its airlines and the economy will remain disadvantaged as long as stakeholders lack the will to evolve strong players in the sector, further adding that the domestic operators must by themselves find lasting solutions to the myriads of problems confronting domestic airlines instead of waiting for the government.

“Africa will not continue to wait for Nigeria when the rest of the

world is progressing with open skies and free market economies just because Nigeria airlines and its business environment inhibit evolution of strong carriers.

“The truth is that the International Civil Aviation Organisation and International Air Transport Association are pushing for it , ditto other strong economic partners of Nigeria and it will happen sooner than later. We must put our acts together if we also don’t want to continue to lose in Africa with negative balance of trade as it were presently with other markets,” Olowo said.

Corroborating Olowo’s position, the Secretary General of the African Civil Aviation Council (AFCAC), Ms Iyabo Sosina, who was also at the SAATM summit, confirmed that the position of the AON was not new despite over 20 years in operations, even as she pointed out that the issues raised by the AON were purely domestic and had nothing to do the YD. Sosina explained that protectionism of local market share is not the way forward and that Africa needed to open its airspace within the continent.

“As we are aware, the better connected a country is by air, the greater its ability to unlock the economic and social benefits that air transport can deliver through mobility of people and goods to the traveling public, air carriers, airports, other allied service providers, the economy of member states and the continent as a whole.” She further stated the YD will provide African airlines commercial freedom, wider networks, better aircraft utilization and create a larger market share for the continent and improved access to capital as well as more flexible commercial arrangements such as alliances, codeshares, franchises,

interlining, mergers and acquisitions among African carriers.

Many experts have expressed the dismay as to why the Nigerian aviation industry was not prepared for this development, even though the Minister of State for Aviation, Sirika admitted the country had long decided to fully implement the YD regardless of the industry’s huge shortcomings. The implications of the implementation of the YD, therefore, would be taking away the domestic market from the marauding European and Middle East carriers and handing same back to the emerging African giants like the Ethiopian Airlines.

Sirika earlier at the SAATM summit, informed that the Federal Government had already set up a committee to review all the subsisting Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASAs) to be in consonance with the YD while the process of domesticating the decision is currently at advanced stage.

According to him, the future presented both greater challenges and the greatest potential as a continent striving to reposition itself by leveraging on the immense potentials that the full implementation of Yamoussoukro Decision (YD) through the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) offers.

“We must all therefore strive to commit to the full implementation and operationalization of SAATM, we need to leap forward so as to become an effective global competitor in aviation. “In this regard, Nigeria being one of the pioneer Member States signatories to YD, one of the 23 states that have so far made solemn commitment to the implementation of SAATM by 2018 has constituted a National implementation committee to review all the subsisting Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASAs) to be in consonance with the YD while the process of domesticating the decision is currently at the advance stage,” said Sirika.

The Oracle Today

19

Wednesday February 7 , 2018

BUSINESS

NSE explains removal of 50 kobo price cap on stocks

By SAMSON AKINTARO

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IGERIAN Stock Exchange (NSE) has explained its decision to allow further drop in prices of stocks on the floor of the Exchange.

The Exchange had announced that beginning from January 29, this year, the prices can drop further below the initial 50 kobo par value, if supply outweighs demand.

The development comes as the Nigerian bourse begins the implementation of its amended Pricing Methodology and Par Value Rules, which saw a removal of par value on all stocks.

Before now, prices of equities

quoted on the NSE could not go down below 50 kobo, irrespective of demand and supply due to the par value rule. The par value mechanism, according to the Exchange was introduced in 2008 when the market’s all-share index reached its peak of 66,000 and began to drop.

The rule was introduced to micromanage the market in such a way that stocks did not lose their total value due to the free fall of the market. However, the Exchange said the rule has overstayed its relevance, hence, the removal.

With the removal, the Exchange said the forces of demand and supply will be allowed to take its full control of stocks’ prices. This, it

said would boost activities in the market as some stocks, that have remained at 50 kobo for years can now start experiencing activities, which will either bring their prices lower or higher. This move, it is believed, will also put quoted companies on their toes to improve performances since poor and good performances will now be rewarded accordingly through the new pricing methodology.

The amended pricing methodology rules, which have been approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), specify the revised price limit, price movements and tick sizes i.e. price floor, minimum pricing increments and

minimum quantity to be traded that will change the published price. The Rules also classify equity securities into different price groups in order to achieve this.

“The amended stratification of price movements, price limits and tick sizes aims at improving liquidity, narrowing spreads, and ensuring that all price improving (up/down) transactions are material, making the market more efficient for all participants”, said Mr. Abimbola Babalola, HoD Market Surveillance and Investigations Department.

In order to achieve the aforementioned aims of improved liquidity, narrowed spreads, ma-

Oando appoints Aji as Non-Executive Director

By VICTOR NZE

O

ANDO has appointed Alhaji Bukar Aji OON as a NonExecutive Director of the Company in accordance with Article 88 of the Company’s articles of association, effective as January 19, 2018.

Aji, OON, born on 13th January, 1959 at Busari village in Yobe State, began his civil service career in Yobe State where he held several key positions, including Chief Administrative Officer, Governor’s Office, Maiduguri (19891991), Principal Secretary to the Military Administrator of Yobe State (1992-1993); and Principal Secretary to the first civilian governor of Yobe State (1992-1993); and Principal Secretary to the second military Administrator of the State (1993-1995).

In year 2000, he was appointed into Federal Civil Service and served as the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics (PRS) at the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs in 1995 and was later posted to the Federal Ministry of Defence in year 2000 as Director, Personnel Management. He also headed various Departments in the Ministry of Defence until his posting to the Office of the Secretary to the Government in 2008

Schlumberger drops seismic acquisition business

By SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

• Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo (l) with the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Secretary General, Nigeria’s Mohammad Barkindo, during the just-concluded World Economic Forum, in Davos, Switzerland. as the Director, International Organizations.

In 2009, he was appointed Permanent Secretary and posted to the Ministry of Defence. He later served as Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Police Affairs (August

2009-2010) and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works (September 2011-November 2012); and Permanent Secretary, Common Serviced Office, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of

NNPC earns $239.10m from Nov. crude sales

By SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

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IGERIAN National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) declared receipt of $239.10 million in the month of November, 2017 from crude oil and gas export.

Spokesman, Ndu Ughamadu, said the figure is 25.68 percent lower than the previous month performance.

The breakdown also showed that Crude oil export sales contributed $113.97 million or 47.7% to the earnings compared with $227.83 million contribution in the previous month.

Also the gas export amounted to $125.13 million during the period. A broader analysis of sales from November 2016 to November 2017, however, indicated that crude oil and gas worth $3.73 billion was exported

terial price improvements, and market efficiency, the amendments to the Pricing Methodology Rule included the introduction of a new price group –“Group C”.

“It should be noted that the new Group “C” consists of equity securities that are priced below Five Naira (N5.00) per share,for at least four (4) of the last six (6) months, or new security listings that are priced below Five Naira (N5.00) per share at the time of listing on The Exchange”,Babalola said.

“Market participants are also informed that the new Par Value Rule specifies that the price of every share listed on The Exchange shall be determined by the market forces and equities may now trade below the erstwhile price floor of fifty Kobo (N0.50) per unit. Therefore, traders are required to ensure that as from January 29, all open and subsequent priced orders in equity securities comply with the amended requirements for each price Group of equities and in approved minimum increments accordingly. Investors are advised to contact their Stockbrokers to ascertain whether any of their open orders, will be impacted by this amendment,” the Exchange said.

Under dollar payments to Joint Venture Cost Recovery and Federation Account, a total export receipt of $201.11 million was recorded in November 2017 against $277.50 million in October, 2017, the corporation stated.

NNPC said contribution from crude oil amounted to $147.39 million while gas and miscellaneous receipt stood at $ 50.17 million and $3.55 million respectively. Of the export receipts, $121.75 million was remitted to Federation Account while $56.56 million was remitted to fund the JV cost recovery for the month of November, 2017 to guarantee current and future production.

A broader breakdown revealed that total crude oil and gas export receipt for the period of November, 2016 to November, 2017 stood at $3.73 billion. Out of which

the sum of $2.60 billion was transferred to JV Cash Call as first line charge and the balance of $0.85 billion was paid into Federation Account.

On Naira Payments to Federation Account, the report indicated that domestic crude oil and gas receipt during the month amounted to N135.14 billion, consisting of N127.93 billion from domestic crude oil, the sum of N7.21billion from domestic gas. Out of the Naira receipt, the sum of N54.16 billion was transferred to Joint Venture Cash Call (JVCC) being a first line charge, On the receipt from net domestic crude oil and gas, NNPC transferred the sum of N54.16 billion into Federation Account and N80.98 Billion to JV cash Call for the month under review. From November 2016 to November 2017, Federation,

the Federation.

Aji was appointed the 17th Head of the Civil Service of the Federation on Monday, 25th March, 2013 until his retirement on 18 August 2014.

JV, and FG for debt repayment received the sum N865.59Billion, N726.11Billion and N31.65 Billion respectively.

The Oracle Today reports that federation crude oil and gas liftings are broadly classified into equity export and domestic. Both categories are lifted and marketed by NNPC and the proceeds remitted into the Federation Account.

Equity receipts, after adjusting for JV cash calls, are paid directly into federation account domiciled in Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Domestic refinery crude oil allocation of 445,000 barrels per day bpd is meet domestic products supply.

NNPC pays for domestic crude after adjusting crude and product losses, pipeline repairs and management cost incurred during the period.

NNPC also lifts crude oil and gas, other than equity and domestic crude oil, on behalf of Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and Federal Inland Revenue Service

O

ilfield services giant Schlumberger reported that it would be dropping its seismic acquisition business but would continue with its processing and interpretation lines.

The company stated in its recent reports that the seismic acquisition business no longer meets its return expectations in the short to long term when placed against observed changes in market demand.

“With the significant changes seen in customer priorities and buying habits in recent years, we have also continued to evaluate the present and future return prospects for all of our product lines, as we look to maximize all aspects of the Company’s longterm financial performance.

“Based on this indepth analysis, the only product line that does not meet our return expectations going forward, even factoring in an eventual market recovery, is our seismic acquisition business.

We have therefore taken the difficult decision to exit the marine and land seismic acquisition market, and instead turn our WesternGeco product line into an asset-light business, built on our leading position within multi-client, data processing, and geophysical interpretation services,” Schlumberger CEO Paal Kibsgaard said.

The Oracle Today

Wednesday February 7 , 2018

ENERGY Total’s Egina FPSO arrives for Africa’s pioneer local integration

Stories by SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

T

OTAL Upstream Nigeria Limited (TUPNI) which operates the deepwater Egina oilfield offshore Niger Delta has successfully berthed the mammoth floating production vessel at Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics (LADOL) marine base Lagos.

The landing of the floating production, storage and offtake (FPSO) vessel after three months of tug sail from the marine fabrication yards of Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), South Korea, marks the final phase of the $16 billion field development project by a consortium of investors led by Total in Production Sharing Contract with Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The Egina FPSO would be the largest floating production vessel ever installed in Nigeria. The vessel measures 330 metres long and is currently berthed at the newly built 500-metre FPSO integration quayside at the SHI-MCI Yard at LADOL, Lagos where the integration of 6 locally fabricated modules will take place over the next few months.

The fabrication of the six topside modules in Nigeria and their integration at LADOL would be the biggest milestone in the implementation of the Nigerian Content Development (NCD) policy of the government in the petroleum industry.

The local integration of the topsides especially is a first for Nigeria and in fact for Africa. It would also mark the biggest capacity development achievement to be delivered through cash backed private sector policy compliance in the history of Nigeria’s upstream oil and gas industry.

Thus, the industry shaking local content profile of Egina field development is interpreted in the sector as the physical solidification

of Nigeria’s position as Africa’s petroleum industry technology hub as well as the continent’s centre of excellence for original equipment manufacturers.

Total and partners announced January 24 that Egina FPSO which departed South Korea on October 31 safely arrived Lagos for the local integration of six modules and subsequent sail to field production site, some 1.7 kilometers offshore Niger Delta.

“The integration of the 6 locally fabricated topside modules at the SHI-MCI Yard before its final sailaway to the Egina field is a game changer as far as the execution of deep offshore oil & gas projects in the country is concerned. It is also a remarkable achievement in local content development in Nigeria, Total stated.

Being the first project to be launched after the enactment of the Nigerian Oil & Gas Industry Content Development Act in 2010, the company explained, Egina is advancing Nigerian Content to record levels and has by far the highest quantum of local content completed for any oil and gas project in Nigeria, and also for Total’s projects worldwide.

In addition, several technological feats have been recorded by the various entities involved in the project, including two consecutive world records for the number of drilling days expended on drilling Egina wells set by the drilling rig, West Jupiter, with a duration of 22.7 and then 20.9 days respectively.

Another feat by the project is the successful installation of the four heaviest risers ever installed in the history of the umblicals, flowlines and risers (UFR) contractor, Saipem.

Egina is the deepest offshore development carried out so far in Ni-

Minister of Power, Works and Housing Tunde Fashola (r) during a recent inspection visit to the National Meter Test Station of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), in Oshodi, Lagos. geria, with water depths over 1,500 meters. The EGINA FPSO has been designed for 25 years of operations and in addition to producing 200,000 barrels of oil per day (at plateau), the Egina operations will generate significant activities for local contractors, in various sectors and continue to provide avenues for the training and development of Nigerians in various domains.

The Egina field was discovered by TUPNI in 2003 within the Oil Mining Licence 130 (OML130), some 200 kilometres south of Port Har-

FG tightens conditions for MOUs with N/Delta communities

...NPDC gets 500,000 b/d targets by 2022

C

OMMUNITIES in Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government on security of oil and gas assets may have to work for the associated benefits as Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) adopts result for reward implementation model.

The development comes as the corporation set a new production growth target for the its exploration and production business arm, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).

Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, stated in Abuja that benefits of NPDC’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) with host communities would be tied to the availability of the lines saying “as stakeholders, they share in both our success and losses as

well.”

NPDC, The Oracle Today reports, currently supplies 50 per cent of the volumes exported by West African Gas Pipeline system, produces about 200,000 barrels per day of crude oil and sets a target of 300,000 barrels per day for 2018.

However, the company was last week handed a tall order of growing its production to 500,000 barrels of crude oil per day in the next 24 years.

The company which is the exploration and production arm of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has since its inception remained on the lethargy table while its peers like the Brazilian Petrobras, Malaysian Patronas and Norwegian Statoil grow into multinational majors.

The new board of the NPDC, it was

20

learnt, was handed the target to increase the company’s daily crude oil production to 500,000 barrels per day before 2022 upon inauguration by the parent NNPC. Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, who also doubles as Chairman of the board charged members to also grow the company’s assets in order to make realization of the target possible.”

Also speaking at the event, Managing Director of the company, Mr. Yusuf Matashi, said from the meteoric growth the company had witnessed since 2016, the GMD’s target of 500,000 barrels per day was realisable by 2022.

He said the board came at an appropriate time as it would address issues of processes and procedures necessary to drive a major oil company like the NPDC, while assuring it of the commitment of the company to the growth target.

court, Nigeria. The field is being developed by TUPNI in partnership with NNPC, CNOOC, SAPETRO and PETROBRAS. It will add 200,000 barrels per day to Nigeria’s oil production (approximately 10% of the country’s total oil production).

Egina is the largest investment project currently on-going in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria. The project is expected to be completed in last quarter of 2018 within the

initial budget of 16 Billion USD. “The Egina project is a testimony to the fact that large deepwater projects can be developed with a very high level of in-country activities, thus fulfilling the aspirations and objectives of the Federal Government of Nigeria in terms of employment generation, capacity building and industrial capability development,” Total stated.

ExxonMobil named 2017 Explorer of the Year

E

xxonMobil was named the 2017 Explorer of the Year by the World Oil & Gas Council in recognition of excellence and innovation in the global energy industry.

“This award is recognition of ExxonMobil’s successful efforts to strengthen our portfolio by accessing and discovering the highest quality resources,” said Steve Greenlee, president of ExxonMobil Exploration Company.

“This recognition would not be possible without the dedication of our employees and their daily commitment to safety and operational excellence at every stage of exploration.”

During the year, ExxonMobil announced a number of discoveries, acquisitions and other activities in various countries, including Brazil, Cyprus, Equatorial Guinea, Guyana, Mauritania, Papua New Guinea and Suriname.

Significant exploration activity took place offshore Guyana,

where ExxonMobil announced four discoveries in 2017 at Payara, Liza Deep, Snoek, and Turbot.

These four discoveries added to the earlier Liza discovery, made in 2015.

Mike Cousins, executive vice president of ExxonMobil Exploration Company, accepted the award on behalf of ExxonMobil at an award dinner in London in December. He was accompanied by a number of company representatives, including Kerry Moreland, Guyana Basin exploration manager.

‘Guyana has become an exciting exploration area where we have consistently demonstrated our technical ability in deepwater exploration and operations,’ said Moreland. ‘We are planning for continued success with our drilling program in 2018.’

Since receipt of the award in December 2017, ExxonMobil has announced a sixth discovery offshore Guyana at the Ranger-1 exploration well.

The Oracle Today

21

Wednesday February 7 , 2018

ENERGY

NNPC harnesses new refinery investments

...Govt refineries to host collocated plants ...Kano, Kaduna to build new refineries ...13 modular plants for Niger Delta

By SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

N

EW policy schemes adopted from private industry groups in the petroleum sector might be put to test as Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) works to adopt partnership proposals from private firms interested in tapping into the prevailing supply gaps in domestic fuel market for commercial investments.

From bankers to state governments, relocating refiners and modular refinery ventures, the corporation has a basket of programmes with which it intends to recover and grow local refining capacity and spur job creation along the downstream petroleum processing industry.

Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti baru who addressed the corporation’s workers in a townhall briefing, said government is working to accept refineries willing to relocate near the country’s existing refineries, support new refineries in the northern parts of the country, promote small scale refining clusters in the Niger Delta and also source funding for rehabilitation of the exiting three refineries.

He said NNPC is working on funding agreements for rehabilitation of Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited (PHRC), Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited (WRPC), and the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited.

Rehabilitation of the three refineries with total capacity for 445,000

barrels of crude oil per day to contribute to domestic fuel supply has been the subject of project speechifying since 1980s while import induced jumps in local fuel prices and bouts of crippling scarcity form the regular features of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum industry.

Innumerable contracts for turnaround maintenance of the refineries have also formed permanent topics for corruption debates while social and security challenges in the operating environment aggravate downtime and low plant availability.

The domestic economy is traditionally fuelled with imported petroleum products, a process that initially carried huge and controversial subsidy bills the withdrawal of which plunged the market back into supply crisis.

Perhaps, rising spate of public outcry over months of acute supply crisis and crippling effects on social and business life of the citizens government through the NNPC might have reactivated plans to displace high cost importation with locally refined fuel.

Dr. Baru stated that the programme holds the promise to boosting petroleum products supply and distribution in the Country.

On rehabilitation of the existing refineries, he said work was on financing agreement ahead of approval by the board of the corporation this month. He did not give the nature of funding oprions available to the corporation.

Dr. Baru said “once we have the

•President Muhammadu Buhari receiving a delegation from Eni S.p.A led by its Chief Upstream Officer, Mr Antiono Vella and Chairman/Managing Director of Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), Agip Energy and Natural Resources (AENR) and Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited (NAE), Mr Massimo Insulla, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Friday. funding, we would start the rehabilitation of the refineries towards 90 per cent capacity utilization per stream day before the end of 2019.”

He said two consortia of reefing companies have indicated interest to co-locate refineries in Warri and Port Harcourt respectively, adding that NNPC would provide the required utility services like such as power, processed steam, water and land for the companies. He said the corporation has agreed in broad terms on areas of collaboration to fast track the development.

“Am happy to inform you that progress has been made, up to the level of an acceptable detailed engineering design and we are in the process of mobilizing some of the refineries already identified for installation in Nigeria,” he said.

On investment by state governments, Dr. Baru disclosed that Kaduna State government was also leading a proposal to co-locate a refinery close to the KRPC with the intent of sourcing Nigerien crude for its operations.

He added that other greenfield refineries are planned for Kano and Kaduna. The new refineries are to source their crude oil feedstock from Niger Republic. He said the designs for the proposed refineries in Kano and Kaduna were ready while their

ERHC gets new neighbour in EEZ STP A

MERICAN wild cat explorer with huge Nigerian ownership interest, ERHC Energy, may get gain advantage of technology fair share in the exclusive economic maritime zone of Sao Tome and Principe (STP) where new explorers are expected to spur activities by next year.

According to officials of the Director of national oil agency of island nation that floats in the Gulf of Guinea, Orlando Pontes, a consortium of BP and Kosmos Energy last week won exploration rights to 2 offshore oil blocks in its exclusive economic zone.

Mr. Pontes said the two companies won blocks 10 and 13 in a restricted tender and beat a second consortium of Portugal’s Galp Energia and Total.

Whereas Kosmos Energy has been the first partner to ERHC on block 11 of EEZ, entry of BP will confer confidence in the decisions of ERHC to press on with several exploration rights on about three oil blocks in the region.

Under a 2001 agreement with the Government of Săo Tomé and Príncipe, ERHC was vested with the rights to participate in exploration

and production activities in the EEZ. In 2010, ERHC exercised its rights and was duly awarded Blocks 4 and 11 of the EEZ by the Government of STP. EEZ Block 4 is 5,808 square kilometers, situated directly east of the island of Príncipe. The northeastern area near EEZ Block 4 contains a large graben structure, which is bound by the Kribi Fracture Zone.

“In October 2015, ERHC announced with Kosmos Energy (NYE: KOS) a leading independent oil and gas company to transfer all ERHC’s rights under the EEZ Block 11 PSC to Kosmos Energy for value,” the company stated.

“ERHC will decide whether to take up the option to acquire up to a 15% paid working interest in each of two additional blocks of the EEZ when called upon to exercise the option by the Government of STP in accordance with the agreements which provide for the rights and option.”

Sao Tome and Principe, a tiny island nation in Africa’s Gulf of Guinea, is surrounded by oil-rich neighbours Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Angola.

Despite a lack of significant discoveries after several years of prospect-

ing, the industry sees its waters as likely to yield oil eventually, and several firms are currently exploring.

Its 129,000-square km EEZ is divided into 19 blocks.

Kosmos Energy had already acquired licenses to blocks 5, 6, 11 and 12 in 2015 and 2016. The national oil agency said it expected the firm to begin drilling in 2019 based on seismic results.

The EEZ is 129,000 sq km and is divided into 19 blocks. The EEZ is delineated over an expanse of waters offshore Săo Tomé and Príncipe that covers approximately 160,000 square kilometers. In terms of hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation, the EEZ is a frontier region that sits south of the Niger Delta and west of the Gabon salt basin, retaining similarities with each of those prolific hydrocarbon regions.

The regional seismic database comprises approximately 12,000 kilometers of seismic data. Interpretation of that seismic data shows numerous structures in the EEZ that have similar characteristics to known hydrocarbon accumulations in the area.

construction would commence this year.

The NNPC GMD revealed that the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the corporation were collaborating to encourage the establishment of modular refineries in the Niger Delta area to encourage job creation.

“So far, about 35 interests for modular refineries have been declared and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has issued licenses to about 13 and I have been invited to the ground breaking ceremony of the first one in Bayelsa next month,” Dr. Baru revealed.

He noted that the Federal Government and the NNPC would continue to encourage private sector initiatives that would bring in competition in the petroleum products supply and distribution network so as to guarantee energy sufficiency for the country.

Dr. Baru however pointed out that the operations of the corporation were being challenged by incessant vandalism of crude and products pipelines and kidnapping of staff,

adding that the corporation would continue to engage members of the host communities to emplace growth and development of the local communities.

The Oracle Today reports that the present administration of the federal government has been singing of all these plans since 2015 when the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, also doubled as the GMD of NNPC. Dr. Kachikwu had stated that the state owned refineries located in Warri, Delta State; Port Harcourt, Rivers State; and Kaduna in Kaduna State would be functional by December 2015 or be sold to private investors.

He later declared that the NNPC would explore private partnerships in managing the refineries, in addition to accommodating select private refineries in their premises for ease of establishment and optimization of shared services and infrastructure in a strategy towards quick capacity growth and satisfaction of demand in the domestic market.

NNPC earns $239.10 m from Nov crude sales Sopuruchi Onwuka

N

igerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) declared receipt of $239.10 million in the month of November, 2017 from crude oil and gas export.

Spokesman, Ndu Ughamadu, said the figure is 25.68 percent lower than the previous month performance.

The breakdown also showed that Crude oil export sales contributed $113.97 million or 47.7% to the earnings compared with $227.83 million contribution in the previous month.

Also the gas export amounted to $125.13 million during the period. A broader analysis of sales from November 2016 to November 2017, however indicated that crude oil and gas worth $3.73 billion was exported.

Under dollar payments to Joint Venture Cost Recovery and Federation Account, a total export receipt of $201.11 million was recorded in November 2017 against $277.50 million in October, 2017.the corporation stated.

NNPC said contribution from crude oil amounted to $147.39 million while gas and miscellaneous receipt stood at $ 50.17 million and $3.55 million respectively. Of the export receipts, $121.75 million was remitted to Federation Account

while $56.56 million was remitted to fund the JV cost recovery for the month of November, 2017 to guarantee current and future production.

A broader breakdown revealed that total crude oil and gas export receipt for the period of November, 2016 to November, 2017 stood at $3.73 billion. Out of which the sum of $2.60 billion was transferred to JV Cash Call as first line charge and the balance of $0.85 billion was paid into Federation Account.

On Naira Payments to Federation Account, the report indicated that domestic crude oil and gas receipt during the month amounted to N135.14 billion, consisting of N127.93 billion from domestic crude oil, the sum of N7.21billion from domestic gas. Out of the Naira receipt, the sum of N54.16 billion was transferred to Joint Venture Cash Call (JVCC) being a first line charge, On the receipt from net domestic crude oil and gas, NNPC transferred the sum of N54.16 billion into Federation Account and N80.98 Billion to JV cash Call for the month under review. From November 2016 to November 2017, Federation, JV, and FG for debt repayment received the sum N865.59Billion, N726.11Billion and N31.65 Billion respectively.

The Oracle Today

22

Wednesday February 7 , 2018

e-Platform

Frustration, disappointment as Nigerians wait endlessly for TStv OVER three months after its official launch Nigerians are still waiting for the new Pay TV operator, TStv to roll out its service as promised. For some prospective subscribers, the waiting is turning to frustration and it seems endless as the operator fails to give any specific time to its service roll out.

SAMSON AKINTARO reports.

F

OR MANY Nigerians whose hopes were raised by the arrival of a new, promising DTH Pay TV operator, TStv, patience is no longer a virtue. Indeed, their hopes have now been turned to despair and dejection amidst feeling of total disappointment as they wait endlessly for the mouth-watering offers promised by the revolutionary digital TV service provider.

Months before its official launch in October 1, 2017, Nigeria’s Independence Day, which was symbolically chosen to declare ‘freedom’ in the Nigerian digital TV space, the internet was awash with stories and fliers of the new kid on the bloc. The rousing reception and acceptability, especially on different social media platforms, was visible to the blind and one needs no soothsayer to know that the pulse of existing PayTv operators in the country would be beating faster than normal at those periods.

Of course, the offers were too tempting to be ignored: A promise of pay as you watch, which no operator has ever offered in the country; subscription package at maximum price of N3, 000 and for as low as 500; and to cap it all, an extra 20 gigabytes of data, on every subscription, which automatically offers families freeW i-fi hotspot in their homes.

For pay tv subscribers in Nigeria, this portends total liberation. Many were who were not even willing to jump ship were happy that such competition as brought by TStv, would force the leading operator in the country, DSTV, to adjust its subscription costs. And with that strong believe, TStv’s launch in Abuja on October 1 was greeted with high enthusiasm.

The revolutionary launch The Federal Government of Nigeria also welcomedthe TStv phenomenon with the declaration of a 3-year tax relief to the newly inaugurated Pay TV operator in the country, as well as tax-freeTStv dividends to all investors in the company.The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who performed the official unveiling of the new company and its products, said the tax reliefs were in line with the Pioneer Status recently granted to the Creative Industry by the federal government.The minister congratulated the TStv management for liberalising and breaking the monopoly of Pay TV in the country.

Also speaking at the launch, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company,Dr Bright Echefu, said TStv came to liberalisePayTV in the country, make it affordable to every Nigerian with added values.He said for the first time, Nigerians could now enjoy Pay Per View because with TStv, “subscription runs as

you watch and it has the facility to pause your subscription when you travel”.

Echefu said thatTStv for a start has 70 premium channels model with the cheapest pay-tv in Africa with maximum subscription fee of N3, 000 only. He said as a fully Nigerian brand with consideration for the masses, TStv is not classified and it has a model that accommodate subscription as low as N200 as N500 for a period of time.The CEO also said TStv came with PVR (Personal Video Recorder) Decoder which allowed viewers greater control over their viewing experience with functions like pause, rewind, forward, save and record of programmes of interest.

Not so fast!

But while the anxious prospective customers were expecting to see the decoders in the market immediately after the launch, TStv said it would not be rolling out commercially until November 1, 2017. Gradually, the excitement began to wane, but truly hopeful Nigerians still kept faith with the company and eagerly waited for November 1 to come.

But by November 1, the company rather announced the commencement of test (free-to-air) transmission, which subscribers who already have universal decoders can pick and watch for free.

This, obviously, did not go down well with most prospective subscribers who were anxiously waiting to get the company’s decoder as they bombarded TStv’s twitter handle with complaints and expressions of disappointment. By midDecember, TStv issued a statement and posted on its website, assuring the people that decoders would be made available before Christmas (December 25th). The statement went on to give a week deadline, by saying that the decoders would made available by “next week”. The statement read: “We are almost done with our test transmission and we are just putting some finishing touches and hopefully by the grace of God, between now and next week the decoders will be out for sale. “We are informing Nigerians that they must enjoy their Christmas with their decoders. So before Christmas, the decoders will be everywhere in the market. Also keep in mind that the price of the decoder which is N5000 remains unchanged and all the features plus extra benefits TStv promised during the lunch including the controversial bein channels will still be included”. But that never happened as the company as at the time of filling this report have not been able to roll out.

Disappointment galore Expressing his disappointment, a prospective subscriber, AyoolaBabatunde, said: “I gave up on TStv

• TSTV CEO, Dr Bright Echefu and the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Muhammed during the unvieling of the Pay TV in Abuja last year. after the November 1 postponement. Thatwas when I knew they are not a serious company. This is the same company that boasted about starting sales before Christmas, later shifted to before the end of the year. This is what happens when you build on lies and total disregard for legit questions”. Another prospective subscriber, Alex Iyanda, “my problem with TSTV is that they should have put their house in order before all the publicity and hope raising associated with their launching on the 1st of October”.

However, he believes that there are forces against the company that are hindering their launch. “The forces against them are behind the hacking of their system and the spate of criticism launched against them. But I believe before the middle of 2018, the picture might be clearer and the station must have stabilised. Keep

hope alive and support TSTV” he said.

For John Eze,TStv has lost the goodwill it initially enjoyed by its failure to roll out last year. “These guys have lost out on the opportunity to have massive patronage they would have had if they started well. Now Big Brother Naija will start soon, a lot of their prospective subscribers who would have long bought TStv and might not really bother about BBNaija not being aired on TStvwould now be tied with either GOTV/DSTV for at least next 3 months during the duration of the show” he said.

The waiting continues When The Oracle Today contacted TSTV’s customer care to make enquiry on why they have not rolled out and when they are likely to roll out their decoders, an agent of the

company, who identified herself simply as Anna, replied and said: “We appreciate your patience so far. We sincerely apologize for the delay. Although, there is no specific date for the sales of our decoder because we are still working on the feed backs we got from the test transmission. Kindly exercise a little more patience, as soon as we have a new date it will be posted on our website and social media handle.

Thank you.”

From the company’s statement, it is obvious TStv’s roll out may not be happening anytime soon and the prospective subcribers, who are already running out of patience, may have to wait a little longer. But if all the offers promised by the new DTH Pay TV operator are anything to go by, then the waiting may be worth it after all.

NITDA restructures certification process for OEMs

T

he National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) said it has restructured the process of registering and certification of indigenous Information Technology (IT) Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) for effective service delivery.

Dr Isa Pantami, the DirectorGeneral of the agency said this in a statement. According to Pantami, the restructuring became necessary due to unsatisfactory complaints from consumers of indigenous IT products. “NITDA will like to bring to the attention of all IT OEMs, Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), government establishments, organised private sector and general public

that it has reorganised the process of registering and certifying indigenous IT OEMs. “This reorganisation became necessary considering the incessant complaints received from consumers of indigenous IT devices.

“It is also aimed at facilitating and ensuring adherence to world class standards. This will guarantee the quality and durability of locally assembled devices. “NITDA will henceforth mandate quality aftersales-support as a significant part of the registration and certification process and as mandatory part of the operations of all indigenous OEMs,” Pantami said.

He said manufacturers with expired certifications should ensure

renewal to continue their sales and operation. “All previously registered indigenous IT OEMs with expired certifications should note that continuance of sale of machines, equipment not tested, certified by NITDA is a violation of existing rules and procedures of the agency. “They are therefore advised to initiate the recertification process with immediate effect,” he said.

According to the D-G, customers should demand NITDA’s current certification from indigenous OEMs before purchase of IT devices. Pantami, however, said that other entities desirous of assembling and selling IT devices in the country should apply to the agency for registration and certification.

The Oracle Today

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Wednesday February 7 , 2018

e-Platform

LG scoops multiple professionals to fight threats – Deloitte awards at CES 2018 L A

Cyber-security: Nigeria short of Stories by SAMSON AKINTARO

S NEW form of cyber threats emerges on daily basis, businesses in Nigeria may suffer more cyber-attacks this year due to shortage of cyber-security experts in the country. The Chief Strategy Officer and Cyber-security Leader at Deloitte West Africa, Mr Tope Aladenusi, who gave this insight in Deloitte’s Nigeria Cyber Outlook 2018, said it is very difficult to find a cybersecurity professional with the right experience in Nigeria.

“The chances of finding a cybersecurity professional in Nigeria with the right skills and experience to address a company’s cyber security needs are currently almost synonymous with installing 24/7 power supply in your home. Very few can afford it!” he said. According to Aladenusi, as technology keeps advancing, disrupting legacy businesses and changing the way business is carried out, almost every industry has been disrupted. “In 2017, we saw increased number of new players in the Fintech space in Nigeria leaving the incumbents to struggle to keep up. In a bid to catch up, organizations are opening up their systems, partnering with third party players. All of these have led to organizations becoming more exposed than ever and they are finding it difficult to stay secured. Having the

right technology is not enough to deal with these cyber challenges, the people and process aspect needs to be addressed as well” he said.

The Deloitte chief noted that Cyber-security is a highly specialized field as the the skill set is broad and technical, involving network security, platform security, application security, and industry-specific compliance amongst others. He said organizations are now looking to build their arsenal by hiring professionals with specific cyber qualifications and skills, adding that this is creating a demand for more cyber professionals than what are available, thus bringing about scarcity. He pointed out that small and medium enterprises are suffering the most as they are unable to attract and/or retain skilled cyber security professionals and they sometimes have to hire inexperienced talents.

“It is one thing to have learnt cyber security skills via classroom training or writing a certification exam but another to have the actual working experience. Many organizations that can provide actual working experiences to talents usually prefer not take on the challenge of training or hiring inexperienced cyber talents”.

He however advised that with the increasing shortage of skills and rising cost of technologies, a quick fix for organizations is to look towards outsourcing their cybersecurity functions. Continuing with the cyber out-

• Tope Aladenusi, Chief Strategy Officer Deloitte look for Nigeria, he said: “In 2018, there will be a continuous increase in demand for cybersecurity services/functions from cybersecurity service providers. Request for cyber security professionals would come from all sizes of businesses and the demand for cyber security talents would not just be local but global. The skills shortage and premium offers are expected to lead to migration of skills outside Nigeria, and servicing of other African and Western markets from Nigeria. Upcoming graduates and undergraduates would also continue to eye cyber security and would start acquiring the necessary skills needed to thrive in the field of cyber security.”

Samsung re-strategises for growth in Nigeria

S

amsung Electronics West Africa (SEWA) has said it is refocusing its vision and strategy for Nigeria, the West African sub-region and the continent in general. The exercise, the company said, is geared towards stimulating a higher level of operational efficiency, with the overarching objective of providing customers with the highest quality products, sales and services. Through this process, the company will shore up its market leadership position across the continent.

“As a dynamic and innovative organisation, SEWA is constantly exploring ground-breaking ways of providing its customers with best-in-class products, sales, support and marketing functions”, said President and CEO, Samsung Electronics, Africa, Mr. Sung Yoon. “We wish to reiterate our commitment to this market and our focus on delivering the highest quality products, service and support, for which our customers have come to admire us. We can assure all our stakeholders that, as an organisation, we have gained useful insights from events of our recent past, both positive and negative, and are confident that the lessons learned will help propel us into our next phase of growth,” he commented.

Yoon said since Samsung began operations in Nigeria in 2005, it has created a niche for itself by offering high quality products. This has impacted positively on the Nigerian economy in various ways, such as fostering knowledge/technology transfer and creating employment directly and indirectly for millions of Nige-

rians. The company has also been heavily invested in corporate social responsibility in areas such as education, environmental sustainability and economic empowerment, through the numerous CSR projects it has undertaken.

In Nigeria, Samsung has invested significantly in its partnership with the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board, through which it is helping to equip the country’s youth with the technical skills they need to transform their lives and contribute to the development of the country.

The Samsung Engineering Academy enrolls over 1000 students yearly across various countries in Africa with the aim

of closing the gap between skills and demand in the job market. Graduates have a 40% job placement track record, while others go on to pursue further higher education, training or start their own businesses.

“Samsung’s aim is to build successful partnerships in Nigeria to equip the country’s youth with the technical skills they need to transform their lives and contribute to the development of the country,” says Mr. Sung Yoon, President and CEO, Samsung Electronics Africa.

He adds that the Samsung Engineering Academy revolutionizes traditional education by providing technical and vocational training for school leavers, tertiary students and unemployed youth.

•From left: Mr.DaeJu Kim, Chief Financial Officer, Samsung Electronics Africa; Mr. Jin Gak Jung, MD, Samsung Nigeria; Mr. Sung Yoon, President and CEO, Samsung Electronics Africa and Mr. Jung Hyun Park, President, Samsung Central Africa at the Samsung Strategic Partnership Summit, 2018 held in Lagos recently.

G Electronics (LG) has won over 90 awards at CES 2018, led by the Official CES Best TV Product Award for the fourth consecutive year, this time for the new LG AI OLED TV (model C8). LG also earned numerous best-of-show honours for the LG InstaViewThinQ Refrigerator and LG 4K UHD Projector.

The company also received top accolades from Engadget, The Verge, Digital Trends, Mashable, SlashGear, TechRadar, Pocket-lint, T3, Stuff Magazine and others in addition to 19 CES Innovation Awards from the Consumer Technology Association – including the Best of Innovation Award for the LG 4K UHD Projector – across home appliance, home entertainment and mobile communications categories.

LG’s 2018 innovations unveiled at CES include home appliances and home entertainment products with LG ThinQ AI including the first TVs with the Google Assistant built-in, most notably the LG SIGNATURE AI OLED TV W8 featuring ThinQ which won more than 10 awards at CES. The LG InstaView ThinQ Refrigerator followed in award wins, offering a streamlined food management system through LG’s webOS plat-form and Amazon Alexa integration that makes shopping for groceries, playing music, checking the weather, managing your calendar and more, simple. LG also debuted the revolutionary new α (Alpha) 9 intelligent processor that further enhances performance of its flagship LG AI OLED TVs and revealed the outstanding LG V30 smartphone in a brilliant new Raspberry Rose colour.

HMD partners Techpoint Build 2018

A

s part of efforts to support tech startups in Nigeria, HMD Global, the Home of Nokia phones has thrown its weight behind Techpoint Build 2018. Organized by TechPoint.ng, Nigeria’s largest chronicler of tech developments with the goal of encouraging innovation and technology to bring revolutionary change to Nigeria’s economy, the event showcases creativity and innovation from several Nigerian tech start-ups.

Head of Marketing, West Africa, HMD Global, Olumide Balogun posits that technology development is an essential factor if Nigeria’s economy is to grow, hence, the company’s support of Techpoint Build 2018. According to him, “Unquestionably, there are endless opportunities for individuals and for the nation through the proper utilization of technology. As an organization, we believe that the unity or coming together of tech startups, to debate actionable ideas, for economic development is laudable and that is why HMD Global, the Home of Nokia phones is taking part in this event.”

A highlight of the event included panel discussion on the topic: “Where is the market: offline or online?” Discussants included Olumide Balogun, Head of Marketing, West Africa, HMD; Lanre Akinlagun, Founder Drinks.ng; Jason Njoku, CEO Iroko Partners; and, Lola Cardoso, Head, Corporate Strategy and Innovation at Union Bank. The panelists examined the scope of the Nigerian online and offline markets. The discussion also focused on themes such as the cost of customer acquisition, market dynamics, go-to-market strategy, the readiness of the Nigerian market, amongst other issues.

Convener of the event and Founder of TechPoint.ng, Adewale Yusuf, said the event is conceived out of his conviction that technology can contribute greatly to raising the standards of living in Nigeria.

Yusuf said: “Technology, innovation and knowledge can bring about unparalleled change in Nigeria hence, the theme of this year’s Techpoint Build. We are truly grateful for the involvement of HMD Global. The company’s strong desire to impact startups is what we hope to see more established businesses in Nigeria demonstrate.” The event also featured a highly educative keynote address, panel sessions, pitch storms with startups; investors and experts, all in a bid to harness and morph a new Nigeria through actionable plans and solutions.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday February 7, 2018

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EDITORIAL

Even now Ekwueme challenges Nigeria Cont’d front page 1

in 1978, he was a wealthy man, with a flourishing architectural practice, the first that a Nigerian set up in these shores.

His offices, 16, spanned across the country. He shut down Ekwueme Associates, Architects and Town Planners for politics, at a time most people freely mixed their businesses with politics – they still do.

Someone who once worked with him said Ekwueme declared personal houses in 52 cities outside Nigeria when completing his assets declaration on joining politics.

Many of those who honed their skills working in his firm speak about his knowledge, skills, expertise, and his willingness to share them. Stories about his probity still reign.

If that was not public, many were shocked when he donated N1 million to the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), in 1979.

The money was worth at least $2 million then and was not the type of money associated with individuals as single donations. Where did he get the money? What could be his interest in politics? How would the notice contend with established political forces from the East?

Those who did not know him--there were few who did in 1979--derided him, thinking he was more money than brains. His choice as the vice presidential candidate was another shocker. It turned out that he was the best choice for President Shehu Aliyu Usman Shagari, whom he served loyally to the end. It was unheard of that they disagreed whether privately or publicly.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who became military Head of State following the coup that overthrew Shagari on 31 December 1983, is among those expected to eulogise Dr. Ekwueme, whom he threw into jail, with others, on allegations of corruption. Buhari was not interested in the proof of the allegations.

Ekwueme lived first in Ikoyi Prisons and then Kirikiri Prisons.

He spent 20 months in jail before the military tribunal that Justice Samson Odemwinge Uwaifo headed, released him. Justice Uwaifo, later of the Supreme Court,

said of the former Vice President: “Dr. Ekwueme left office poorer than he was when he entered it, and to ask more from him was to set a standard which even saints could not meet.”

It is the only time such remarks have been made of a Nigerian politician on trial. Justice Uwaifo is not one known to be extravagant or frivolous with his words, not in general discussions, not to talk of when delivering a verdict. He was courageous too, to have said this in a military dictatorship that never brooked any contrary positions. Buhari ignored the the tribunal and kept Dr. Ekwueme in jail.

Five years after he was released, the cerebral Ekwueme was called to the Nigerian Bar, aged 58. He added that accomplishment to a chain of academic attainments that no Nigerian has, not to mention the diversity of the fields, and the rapidity of their acquisition.

Ekwueme, an alumnus of King’s College, Lagos, had these academic degrees – · Architecture and City Planning, BSc, University of Washington, US, where he was one of the four pioneer Fulbright scholars from Nigeria ·

Sociology, BSc, University of Washington

·

History, Philosophy and Constitutional Law, BA, University of London, external candidate

·

Law, LLB, University of London

·

Urban Planning, Master’s, University of London

·

Architecture, PhD, University of Strathclyde, Scotland

·

Law, BL, Nigerian Law School

He was one who never lost faith in Nigeria, or talked down on others because of his education. Out of prison and in public life, he kept faith with the future of Nigeria. He used every opportunity to invest in the Nigerian project, at great risk and made minimal efforts to milk the investments.

Few took more risks than him in telling General Sani Abacha that he could not transmute to a civilian president. At a time nobody spoke to Abacha, at least not unkindly, Ekwueme led the battle to return Nigeria to civil rule, through the various meetings and alliances he created on ending military rule.

He harvested the alliances of the National Party of Nigeria with the Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP0, to mobilise the Solomon Lar side of the North. Lar, who succeeded Ekwueme, interim national Chairman of the PDP, which emerged from G-34 meetings, was one of the major rallying points in the North.

Ekwueme offered himself for office as President in 1999 and 2003. In both occasions, he lost the party’s primaries to Olusegun Obasanjo, whose penchant for entitlement was exhibited in his presidency, as well as annexation of PDP, which he knew nothing about its formation. Obasanjo frustrated Ekwueme’s participation in PDP. The collapse of PDP is an outcome of Obasanjo’s hijack of the party that witnessed the beginning of departures from the party – and its decline.

The former Vice President would not leave.

He called PDP, “a house I helped in building”.

The more crises there were in PDP, the more he thought he needed to rescue the party.

Months before his death, PDP asked him to head its reconciliation committee, knowing the respect people had for him, and the fact that he would tell people the truth.

On 4 May 2002, Ekwueme, fortuitously missed being in the EAS Airlines BAC 1-11 that crashed in Kano that Saturday evening, killing at least 148 people, 75 on the plane and another 73 on the ground. It was a sheer

miracle. Those who knew--or thought--he was on the flight counted him among the dead, when nobody could account for his whereabouts.

Ekwueme had had political meetings in Jos. The EAS flight was making its way to Lagos, through Kano. Ekwueme was on the flight from Jos to Kano. Among those who boarded in Jos but died were Sports Minister Mark Aku and his media aide Nadon.

Where was Ekwueme who boarded with them? It was discovered that political friends on learning that he was in the plane had asked for a meeting in Kano. While more passengers boarded in Kano, Ekwueme was heading into the city for his meeting.

The plane crashed moments after take-off, devastating villages, villagers, properties, and its passengers. Many other rumours of his death had attended him, especially after the fall in his Enugu home in early November 2017.

Ekwueme’s calmness was extraordinary. He managed to stabilise PDP by not walking out as many expected. His gentility was often taken as a weakness, but it marked him out as one who acted out of his conviction, and for the greater good.

His proposal for six regional power centres at the 1995 National constitutional Conference under General Abacha was hugely misunderstood. Today, most political and economic policies are reckoned along those lines.

At the 50th anniversary of the Asaba Massacre in October last year, Ekwueme called for policies that would deepen Nigeria’s unity and ensure that it was an indissoluble entity. He noted the importance of justice as Nigerians lived together, warning that without justice, the union would remain troubled.

He was the Ide of Oko in Anambra State. The Federal Polytechnic, Oko, was one of the projects he brought to Oko as Vice President – it was started from a school he built. Lazarus Ekwueme, a Professor of Music at the University of Lagos, who is his younger brother, is the traditional ruler of Oko. The Council of Traditional Rulers in old Aguata, 44 towns, honoured him as Ide of Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Nigeria has lost a respected voice; a courageous voice, a calm voice that only got agitated over the evils that pervade Nigeria. A firm voice, that the occasional stutter that denied him a faster delivery never silenced. A voice that they never listened to, but they now claim they would miss.

Ekwueme’s passage is another, in a series of judgments, on how Nigerians appreciate people and their ideas, while they are alive.

In his transition, Ekwueme challenges Nigerians to implement policies that would ensure an equitable Nigeria.

Our Vision TO BE among the top five newspapers in Nigeria and, in due course, the Numero Uno; to be a newspaper of records that effectively caters to the information needs of all segments and sections of the Nigerian society as well as all social classes and cultures. Essentially, we want to be a responsible corporate citizen, a commercially viable, properly organised media business, which meets its obligations to society, government and the workforce.

Mission WE INTEND to contribute to the development of an inclusive Nigerian society, with a view to getting rid of the dark sides of our national life (slothfulness, greed, corruption, nepotism, totalitarianism, etc); to continually engender and sustain national debates that would ultimately lead to the enthronement of healthy national values--hard-work, justice, equity and fairplay, transparency, good governance, resulting, in themselves, the egalitarian Nigerian society of our dream. We will give voice to the voiceless and at all times, strive to be balanced, objective, honest, truthful and fair to all sides; so that through The Oracle Today, our people, the Nigerian people can see a bright light at the end of what has been a very dark tunnel. And we shall do all this in absolute trust in God who blesses good intentions.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday February 7, 2018

OPINION Obasanjo’s letter of righteous indignation

By EHICHIOYA EZOMON

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s extensively publicized open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari has its root in two words: “righteous” and “indignation,” as contained in the Holy Books. As explained, and analyzed in letgodbetrue.com, righteous, of actions, is characterized by justice or uprightness, while indignation is anger at what is regarded as unworthy or wrongful.

Interestingly, both words are foundational to and associated with God by His expectation of holiness from His people, and they run the gamut of the Scriptures - from Genesis to Revelation. Hence, if we say, God has righteous indignation, it means “holy anger, fury, and jealousy at sinners.” (Ps 69:24; 78:49; Isaiah 30:27,30; 34:2; Jeremiah 10:10; Ezekiel 21:31; 22:31; Nahum 1:6; Malachi 1:4; Micah 7:9; Habakkuk 3:12; Zephaniah 3:8; Zechariah 1:12; Rom 2:8; Heb 10:27; Rev 14:10) Men, too, according to letgodbetrue.com, may have natural indignation at mean acts inciting disgust (II Kings 3:27; II Sam 10:1-7). In other words, “righteous indignation is anger and hatred for evil that pleases God.” (Ex 32:19; Ps 45:7; 97:10; 101:3; 119:128, 163; 139:1922; Prov 8:13; Am 5:15; Mark 3:5; Rom 12:9; Ep 4:26; Heb 1:9) A good example was Moses’ righteous indignation against Israel for worshipping the golden calf (Ex 32:19-29), leading him to cast the tablets of stone (Ten Commandments) from God on the ground and broken them to pieces; took the calf, ground it to powder,

put it in the water, and made them drink it; and angrily confronted Aaron for his heinous act of sin against The Lord.

Flowing from the above biblical excursion, one could hold that Dr. Obasanjo’s obvious righteous indignation was based on “a sense of wrong, or by meanness, injustice, wickedness, or misconduct” reportedly committed

by President Buhari.

Indeed, Obasanjo enumerated the president’s alleged weaknesses in the areas of economy and foreign affairs; condonation and cover up; wittingly or unwittingly allowing herdsmen/crop farmers’ issue to turn sour and messy; and partisan endorsement of Buhari for a second term on the day 73 people killed by herdsmen in Benue were being interred.

Other supposed “sins” of President Buhari are: Nepotic deployment bordering on clannishness; inability to discipline errant members of his government; poor understanding of the dynamics of internal politics, culminating in a divided nation, widened inequality and insecurity; and passing the buck, and blaming past governments for his (Buhari) administration’s shortcomings.

Chief Obasanjo held that these reported deficiencies in conduct, condition, thought, and ability, coupled with his health and age conditions, disqualify President Buhari from seeking re-election in 2019, and he so advised the president.

Nobody should begrudge Chief Obasanjo his inalienable right to speak truth to power.

But in doing so, he should be mindful not to fall prey to imprudence, malice, hypocrisy and insubmission, going by the same letgodbetrue.com reportage, as exhorted by the Holy Books.

It cautioned, for instance, that, “The wise man would instruct us to use prudence in reporting evil to avoid trouble” (Prov 22:3); and that, “Anger against a brother without a cause is wicked, murder, and will be judged” (Matt 5:21-26).

Besides, “Hypocrisy in judgment is sin” (Hosea 1:4 cp II Kings 10:29-31; Obadiah 1:10-16; Matt 7:3-5; Rom 2:1-3); while “Our duty is to pray and submit to the national authority” (I Tim 2:1-3; I Peter :11-17).

Despite these biblical references, there’s a saying in Esanland of Edo State that, “The sleep that falls the farmer enables the rat to jump over his body.” Meaning, it’s President Buhari that arms the likes of Obasanjo with the ammo to attack him. Were it otherwise, there wouldn’t be grounds for Obasanjo and the opposition to impugn Buhari’s fidelity to his avowals, and his government’s record of achievement.

At the height of the surreptitious return of the fugitive former Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina, the public started exhuming similar “unattended” allegations against government officials.

Accordingly, I wrote a piece on October 30, 2017, “Time for Buhari to show he’s totally in charge,” querying, “Is there a ‘government’

(a fifth column), within the Government of President Buhari, out to undermine its agenda, particularly the fight against corruption that the president promised Nigerians, to earn their votes?”

I signed off by saying that: “Surely, Maina’s ghost shouldn’t have resurrected had the president publicly done the ‘needful’ in the (alleged) cases involving Messrs Ibrahim Lamorde, Babacir Lawal, Ayo Oke, Ibrahim Magu, Tukur Buratai, Ibrahim Idris, Ahmed Gambo Saleh and Maikanti Baru: Sanction them if they are found culpable, or officially clear them if innocent of the allegations against them.”

And in an article, “Buhari, herdsmen and traumatized citizenry” of Jan. 15, following the burial of the people killed in Benue, I urged the government to “come clean about this issue, which has become an albatross on the necks of President Buhari and the All Progressives Congress administration he heads.”

The Obasanjo open letter to President Buhari demands no less a response! These times are inauspicious for the luxury of “slow in taking actions without exhaustive consideration,” as the president told a select group of APC top shots last week. He must be proactive, and should not be viewed or seen as shirking from initiating measures that could timeously douse tensions as they incubate across the country.

• Mr. Ezomon, Journalist and Media Consultant, writes from Lagos, Nigeria.

Why Europe has no chance of solving Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (1)

By ANDERS PERSSON

implemented a policy of non-recognition of Israeli veterinary supervision beyond the espite the Palestinians’ high expectaGreen Line. tion, the handshakes and fine words in In 2015, after several years of deliberaBrussels, the EU is incapable of ending tion and hesitation, the EU decided, despite Israel’s occupation and creating a Palestinian protests from some member states, to start state. labelling settlement products.

When the European Union issued its Netanyahu responded by calling the labels famous guidelines in 2013, which prohibited “heinous” – a term normally reserved for grants, prizes and funding from the EU to terror attacks in the political lexicon in Israel. the Israeli settlements in the occupied terThe U.S.-based Simon Wiesenthal Center, ritories, it was hailed by many as a potential which normally combats anti-Semitism, game-changer in the over 100 year-old ranked the EU’s labelling of settlement conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. products as the third worst outbreak of antiIsraeli political analysts, from left to right, Semitism and anti-Israelism in the world that saw the guidelines as the first actual step year, higher than Palestinian incitement and against Israel’s occupation to be taken by a the threat from Iran. major international power.

By 2016, 18 out of 28 EU members had isHaaretz’s diplomatic correspondent sued business advisories warning businesses Barak Ravid wrote at the time that that it of the legal and financial consequences inwas the “biggest scoop” he had ever had. volved in doing business with entities linked The prominent Israeli commentator, Dan to Israel’s occupation.

Margalit, commented, “Make no mistake, Israel’s government itself seems to have this is an important document. Not because decided quiet compliance is its best strategy. of its content...Its importance steems from Just recently, in late 2017, Israel signed the its function as a dangerous stepping stone ‘ENI CBC Med agreement’ for cross-border for further boycotts.” cooperation in the Mediterranean basin, Senior Israeli government officials which excluded Israeli projects that origidescribed the new guidelines as an “earthnate beyond the Green Line. Except for very quake” and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin minor protests from a maverick politician Netanyahu was even quoted in the Israeli and two settler groups, no one in Israel or press as saying that Israel’s failure to stop Europe took much notice of that tacit acthe EU from issuing the guidelines represent- ceptance. ed the biggest failure he had encountered That in itself is bad news for the EU’s differin 30 years of dealing with diplomatic and entiation strategy, as it needs overt political security issues. confrontation to serve its purpose of putting Palestinian commentators, from the PA to pressure on Israel to end its occupation.

Hamas, were generally supportive too of the But there is limited appetite and also real guidelines, even if many saw them as coming opposition from governments and major too late and consisting of too little to actually political parties in some EU member states roll back Israel’s occupation. to confront Israel, and Federica Mogherini, Today, it is clear that the earth did not the current High Representative of the EU’s shake in Israel and none of the predicted foreign policy, is also widely seen as being tsunamis arrived. against further differentiation measures One year later, Israel signed the Horizon against Israel.

2020 research agreement (albeit with a From a purely normative perspective, the face-saving clause stating that Israel did differentiation strategy has been very sucnot recognize the EU clause stipulating that cessful. Many other actors in international the occupied territories were not part of politics – from the United Nations Security Israel). Later in 2014, Israel agreed to set up Council (in Resolution 2334), to the Chinese different production lines for those chickens government, to the leading human rights raised in the settlements and within the organizations Amnesty International and Green Line, after the European Commission Human Rights Watch, to American liberal

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Zionist groups – have all expressed support for the EU’s differentiation strategy or have implemented it themselves.

In addition, and probably encouraged by the EU’s more formal differentiation, there seemed in 2016–2017 to be a growing trend of what might be called more “grassroots differentiation,” where the PA, civil society organizations and other activists involved were trying to get organizations like FIFA and companies like Airbnb, PayPal, Hewlett Packard and others to suspend their activities with Israeli entities beyond the Green Line.

Again, the logic behind these measures is to create political confrontations by urging these actors to uphold what the activists perceive to be the internal regulations already mandated by those organizations and companies themselves. This type of grassroots differentiation largely bypasses political establishments and can be exercised through social media and email campaigns by activists outside the Israel-Palestine region.

The differentiation strategy has worked in many aspects and Israel has indeed caved in and accepted several differentiation measures by the EU, but these have changed very little on the ground. This, of course, raises questions about the value of normative power and of having the ability to create international consensus around these kinds of issues.

It is worth remembering that opposition to Israel’s settlements has been a consistent EU policy since 1977, when what was then called the EC, first started to condemn them.

Despite the fact that opposition to Israel’s settlements probably is the most consensusoriented issue of all in international politics, the settlements have grown exponentially over the decades alongside the opposition to them.

This has led leading analysts, like Nathan Thrall of the International Crisis Group, to argue that differentiation measures that only focus on settlements, and not the Israeli state behind them, are a distraction. They have become a substitute for real pressure, they’ve become measures that actually help the Israeli government and prolong the occupation, by their implicit assurance that only

the settlements - and not the government that creates them - will suffer consequences for their repeated violations of international law.

Thrall then, incorrectly, states that supporters of differentiation reject penalizing Israeli state entities, like Israeli financial institutions, that help and profit from the settlements. But that is exactly what the leading EU think tank, the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), has called for since it first started to publish reports on differentiation in 2015.

• ANDERS PERSSON is a post-doctorate researcher at the Centre for European Politics at the University of Copenhagen. This op-ed is based on research from his recent study EU differentiation as a case of “Normative Power Europe” (NPE) in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, published in the Journal of European Integration.

THE GROUP Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Ikeddy Isiguzo Editor Felix Oguejiofor Abugu Deputy Editor/Head, Lagos Bureau Sopuruchi Onwuka Abuja Bureau Chief Tony Ailemen Head, Graphics & Designs Nnamdi Alex Chukwu Advert Manager Andrew Udeh Circulation Manager Felix Oti

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Wednesday February 7 , 2018

Travel & Hospitality FCMB to finance Radisson Blu Hotel

FG inaugurates committee for African Tourism Ministers’ confab

IRST City Monument Bank (FCMB) has announced that it will finance the 155-room Radisson Blu Hotel located at Ikeja GRA in Lagos, reflagged by Carlson Rezidor after its previous managers, Renassaince, pulled out.

The hotel, owned by Avalon Intercontinental Nigeria, is now under the management of Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, owners of the Radisson Blu brand and one of the largest hotel and hospitality companies in the world with 1,440 hotels in operation spread across 115 countries.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Managing Director of FCMB, Mr. Adam Nuru, said decision of the bank to finance the project was in line with its commitment to support initiatives that would promote and add value to Nigeria’s hospitality industry, thereby boosting tourism.

“We are determined to lead the way in driving efforts to expand the Nigerian economy and make the revenue base much more robust. The hospitality and tourism industries are integral parts of this diversification strategy,” said Nuru.

Nuru added in a statement that the bank’s financing of the new Radisson Blu Hotel was also informed by the importance and benefits of theHotel in the areas of attracting business and tourism, employment, revenue generation, relaxation and ambience in Lagos and Nigeria in general.

Continuing, Nuru assured that his company “will continue to intervene and offer excellent support as well as solutions in developmental areas that would fast-track the growth of the aspirations of individuals, businesses and the entire country.”

In his address, the Senior Vice President, Africa and Indian Ocean, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, Mr. Andrew McLachlan, said that the group was thrilled to be expanding its presence in Nigeria, one of Africa’s economic powerhouses, with the opening of Radisson Blu Hotel Lagos, Ikeja.

“Today, we have nine hotels open or under development in Nigeria, including in Abuja and Port Harcourt. We have three open and six under development. So, we have 1,755 rooms in Nigeria today. The other six will be opened over the next four to five years,” McLachlan added.

Stories by VICTOR NZE

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INISTER of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has inaugurated the planning committee for the 61st Meeting of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Commission for Africa (CAF) taking place in Abuja, from June 4-6, 2018.

The Minister, who performed the ceremony in Abuja, last Tuesday, charged members of the committee to ensure the success of the event.

“Today’s inauguration kick-starts our preparation for the hosting of the (UNWTO/CAF Meeting). The task ahead of us is enormous, but

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relevance and acceptance by the Organization, within two years of its return after a period of absence, was further shown in his election as a Vice Chairman of the UNWTO General Assembly at an election held during the 22nd session of the UNWTO General Assembly in Chengdu, China, in September 2017.

Mohammed said the UNWTO meeting will afford the country the unique opportunity to project its image as a safe and desirable destination for leisure and business as well as promote the country’s tourism products and services.

He said the meeting will also provide a platform for tourism stakeholders to interact with their

counterparts from other countries, generate foreign exchange through accommodation in hotels, airfares and souvenirs purchased by foreign delegates, create direct and indirect employment, thereby alleviating poverty, and provide the platform for the training for public and private sector tourism officials.

Membership of the planning committee cuts across the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Federal Capital Territory, extra-ministerial departments and agencies as well as the private sector.

WTTC seeks all-sector collaboration to fast-track biometrics

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• Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed (m) flanked by members of the Planning Committee for the 61st meeting of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)/ Commission for Africa (CAF) at the inauguration of the committee in Abuja, last Tuesday.

Nigeria Travel Awards appoints Coker as jury member

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RGANISING committee of the Nigeria Travel Awards has announced the appointment of the Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mr. Folorunsho Folarin-Coker, as a jury member for the 2nd edition of the Awards.

Others members of the jury announced by the award’s organizers,

Edo Govt opens tourism desks at Benin airport do State Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, in partnership with Viko Nigeria, has unveiled tourism and information desks at the Benin Airport to boost tourism.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony at the arrival and departure wings of the airport, Wednesday, State Governor, Godwin Obaseki said that the desks would provide investors and visitors opportunities to know about the tourism potential of the state.

The governor, represented

with the quality membership of the Planning Committee, we are up to the task and we will host a successful event,’’ he said.

“You have been selected based on your knowledge and expertise in content, logistics and planning.

Your role is to execute a successful event with professional inputs and assistance from the Ministry and the UNWTO. I have no doubt that you will take your assignments very seriously,” Alhaji Mohammed said.

The Minister said the hosting right of the event, which was given to Nigeria, has clearly demonstrated the confidence of the CAF member states and the UNWTO in the country.

He said the highlight of Nigeria’s

by the Chief of Staff, Mr Taiwo Akerele, said that the aim was to make the state a tourism destination of the country and boost the economy.

Earlier, the state Commissioner for Tourism, Mr Osaze Osemwengie, said that the information desks would form part of the roadmap toward the development of the state’s vast tourism potential.

He said that the idea was conceived by the governor in his quest to boost investment and employment opportunities in the state.

Jumia Travel, include; Michael Balogun, CEO of Tour2Nigeria; Babatunde Onibudo, MD Pearlwort Hotel; and the Managing Director of Jumia Travel, Omolara Adagunodo.

The jury’s decision will contribute 50 per cent of the outcome, while the other 50 per cent will be from the public through a voting process.

Meanwhile, the award ceremony which was slated to hold last January 25 has been postponed to Thursday, February 1, this year. According to the Head of PR & Marketing for Jumia Travel, Olukayode Kolawole the change of date will provide ample time for more people to vote.

There 7 categories to be awarded include: Customers’ Favourite Hotel 2017, Customers’ Favourite International Airline Company 2017, Best Destination Website 2017, Jumia Travel’s Booking Award 2017, Traveler’s Choice Hotel 2017, Best Leisure Hotel in Nigeria 2017, and Best Business Hotel in Nigeria 2017 The nominees for the Customers Favourite Awards are: Ibis Hotel Ikeja; Golden Tulip Festac; Federal Palace Hotel & Casino; Southern Sun Hotel & Towers; Owu Crown Hotels; Greatwood Hotels LTD; Newland Luxury Apartments; Citiheight Hotels; Pearlwort Hotel & Suites;

Southern Sun Ikoyi; and Park Inn by Radisson.

The nominees for the Customers’ Favourite International Airline are: British Airways; Turkish Airlines; Ethiopian Airlines; Air France; Etihad; Emirates; Egypt Air; & Rwandair.

The nominees for the Customers’ Favourite Local Airline are: Medview Airlines; Dana Airline; Arik Air; Air Peace; Azman Air; Overland Air; and Aero.

The nominees for the Best Travel Blog/Website are: TVP Adventures; Unravelling Nigeria; Travel With A Pen; EatTechTravel; Social Prefect; Irinajo; Naija Adventures; Khalid, The Workaholic; and Naijanomads.

The nominees for the Best Business Hotel are: Ibis Lagos Airport; Pearlwort Hotel; Eko Hotel; Radisson Blu Anchorage; Rockview Hotel Classic Abuja; Presken Hotel & Resorts; Ibis Lagos Ikeja; Hampton Suites; Hotel Seventeen; and Tahir Guest Palace.

The awards aim at promoting Nigeria’s tourism sector, and responds to the need of encouraging hoteliers to improve the quality of their services for further advancement of their respective destinations.

n travel and tourism and global border crossing, the implementation of biometric technology to facilitate secure borders is the single biggest opportunity for the Travel & Tourism sector in 2018, according to Gloria Guevara Manzo, President and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

Guevara also highlighted the importance of developments in artificial intelligence and machine learning, virtual and augmented reality and changing demographics, particularly the ‘coming of age’ of millennials and growth of Generation Z, for Travel & Tourism.

Speaking at the 9th Exceltur Tourism Leadership Forum in Madrid, Spain, during the justconcluded FITUR trade show, Ms Guevara said: “Biometric technology has been evolving over many years and we have seen gradual implementation across the sector for some time. However, in order for the step change which needs to happen to improve security and create jobs through increased tourism flows, there is an urgent need to speed up implementation.

“The resolution of the UN Security Council at the end of 2017 which mandates all governments to employ biometric security for counter terrorism activity provides an excellent opportunity for all stakeholders to come together.

In line with the work ICAO has been doing over many years, the Travel & Tourism sector needs to work with governments and security agencies to agree a standard approach which can be deployed across the Travel & Tourism system.”

“This will take a huge effort of collaboration with considerable challenges to be overcome, particularly around the security and sharing of data, and privacy issues. However, I believe that now is the time to come together so that, while ensuring our world is secure, people around the world can continue to enjoy the personal, social and economic benefits of travelling.”

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Wednesday February 7 , 2018

AVIATION

FG threatens to revoke P/H Int’l Airport contract

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INISTER for State, Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, has warned that the Federal Government may revoke the remodelling contract of the Domestic Wing of the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagba,

Nigeria needs strong carriers to exploit SAATM – ART

over slow pace of work by the contractor.Sirika who made this known to newsmen during an inspection of ongoing construction at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Tuesday, said that work on the arrival terminal of the domestic wing of the airport, being

handled by Inter-Bua Construction Ltd., had suffered prolonged delay since inception in 2012 Sirika lamented that in spite of all the contract variations that the company had enjoyed from the past and present administrations, it was yet to deliver on the project.

Unfortunately, this contract was awarded in 2012 and since then the contractor has taken his own speed on delivery.

He also assured at the facility will be ready by July, this year.

“In line with the thinking of President Buhari, we had no option than continue with him since

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group, Aviation Round Table (ART) has maintained that the country needs strong domestic airlines to reap the benefits of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).

Its President, Mr Gbenga Olowo made the assertion in Lagos on Friday while reacting to the opposition to the commencement of full implementation of SAATM by Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON).

The SAATM which is expected to be inaugurated this Friday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia by the African Union Commission, is a flagship project of the African Union Agenda 2063 aimed at creating a single unified air transport market in Africa, as well as enhancing liberalisation of civil aviation to boost the continent’s economic integration agenda.

Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, had earlier reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to the full implementation of SAATM by 2018 despite opposition from indigenous airlines.

However, Olowo noted that though the argument by the AON that its full implementation would negatively affect Nigeria airlines was valid, the association must address problems confronting the sector.

According to him, Nigeria, its airlines and the economy will remain disadvantaged as long as stakeholders lack the will to evolve strong players in the sector. He added that the AON must find lasting solutions to the myriads of problems confronting domestic airlines instead of waiting for the government.

Olowo said operators should be innovative enough to evolve synergistic solutions derivable from collaborations, mergers and or acquisitions.

He said they should jettison the present parasitic competition which had only made them small and disunited.

“Africa will not continue to wait for Nigeria when the rest of the world is progressing with open skies and free market economies just because Nigeria airlines and its business environment inhibit evolution of strong carriers. “The truth is that the international Civil Aviation Organisation and International Air Transport Association are pushing for it , ditto other strong economic partners of Nigeria and it will happen sooner than later.”

• (From left to right): Captain Edem Oyo-Ita Directorate Air Transport Regulation (DATR), Ms Iyabo Sosina Secretary General of African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), Captain Fola Akinkuotu Managing Director Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) representing Minister of Aviation; Captain Muhtar Usman Director General NCAA and IATA Representative, Adefunke Adeyemi, during the one-day sensitization workshop on Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) which held at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Annex.

he has a legitimate extension and variation approval. Since government is a continuum, we decided to pursue this procurement vigorously,” he said.

The minister explained that there was need to ensure quick delivery on the project to enhance economic activities at the airport.

“Federal Government cannot continue to neglect Port Harcourt in terms of airport facilities, as it is one of the most important cities in the country, where our economy is being hatched.

Unfortunately, this contractor is quite difficult; I’m totally disappointed at his slow pace of work and services,” he said.

The minister also disclosed his efforts to ensure possible completion of the project by effecting some variation approvals for the contractor.

“As a Minister for State Aviation, I had invited the contractor severally to my office to chart a way forward and I had also approved some variations for him.

I also made it clear to him that there would be no more variation going forward until this project is delivered.

“We gave him time lines but he is not adhering to the time lines; I’m constrained to take drastic legal action against him when I leave here,” he declared.

FAAN completes Enugu Airport runway repair work F EDERAL Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has disclosed that the repair of the runway of Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, has been completed General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs Herrienta Yakubu, who said this in Lagos, announced that the runway is now open for full

operations following its completion.

She said FAAN’s team of engineers led by the Managing Director, Mr Saleh Dunoma, inspected the project and certified it as meeting the required standards.

Yakubu, however, apologised to travellers and other stakeholders

for the inconveniences caused by the partial closure of the runway to pave way for its rehabilitation.

The first phase of the repairs was executed from December 14 to 21, 2017 while the second phase started from December 27, 2017 to January 4.

Operators record 30,214 de-

Operators record 30,214 delayed flights

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omestic airlines recorded 30,214 cases of delayed flights between January and December 2017, according to figures released by the Consumer Protection Department of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

A document issued by the department, Wednesday in Lagos shows that 48,319 flights were operated by eight airlines during the period under review.

According to the document, 872 flights were cancelled for various

reasons by the airlines.

It said the airlines in operation were Aero Contractors, Arik Air, Air Peace, Azman Air, Dana Air, First Nation, Med-View and Overland.

The document said Air Peace, which operated 14,312 flights, topped the chart of delayed flights with 8,336 and only 149 cancelled flights, adding that Arik Air followed with 6,709 delayed flights and 498 cancellations, out of its 10,840 flight operations.

According to the document, Dana

Air operated 6,838 flights with 4,386 cases of delayed flights and 16 cancellations. Med-View Airline recorded 3,552 and 72 delayed and cancelled flights respectively, out of the 4,999 flights operated by the airline during the period under review.

Also, Azman Air operated 4,560 flights with 3,029 delayed and 53 cancellations; Overland, 2,149 flights with 1,508 delayed and 22 cancellations, while First Nation Airways had 1,266 flights with 454 delayed and six cancellations.

Delta tightens requirements for flying animals

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nited States carrier, Delta Air Lines has announced tightening requirements for passengers traveling animals on its flights.

A statement by John Laughter, the airlines Senior Vice President for Corporate Safety, Security and Compliance, on Friday in New York, said that the requirements would begin on March 1.

Laughter said that the requirements were due to a sharp uptick in animal-related safety issues

over the last several years.

He said that it would require passengers seeking to fly with pets to present additional documents outlining passenger’s need for the animal and proof of the animal’s training and vaccinations 48 hours prior to the scheduled flight.

“This comes in response to 150 per cent increase in the number of service and support animals carried onboard since 2015. Alongside that increase has been an 84

per cent spike in the number of reported animal incidents since 2016, including urination and/or defecation, biting and a high-profile 2017 mauling of a passenger by a 70-pound emotional support dog.

“The rise in serious incidents involving animals in flight leads us to believe that the lack of regulation in both health and training screening for these animals is creating unsafe conditions across U.S. air travel,” Laughter said.

layed flights Domestic airlines recorded 30,214 cases of delayed flights between January and December 2017, according to figures released by the Consumer Protection Department of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

A document issued by the department, Wednesday in Lagos shows that 48,319 flights were operated by eight airlines during the period undereview.

According to the document, 872 flights were cancelled for various reasons by the airlines.

It said the airlines in operation were Aero Contractors, Arik Air, Air Peace, Azman Air, Dana Air, First Nation, Med-View and Overland.

The document said Air Peace, which operated 14,312 flights, topped the chart of delayed flights with 8,336 and only 149 cancelled flights, adding that Arik Air followed with 6,709 delayed flights and 498 cancellations, out of its 10,840 flight operations.

According to the document, Dana Air operated 6,838 flights with 4,386 cases of delayed flights and 16 cancellations.MedView Airline recorded 3,552 and 72 delayed and cancelled flights respectively, out of the 4,999 flights operated by the airline during the period under review.

Also, Azman Air operated 4,560 flights with 3,029 delayed and 53 cancellations; Overland, 2,149 flights with 1,508 delayed and 22 cancellations, while First Nation Airways had 1,266 flights with 454 delayed and six cancellations.

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Wednesday February 7 , 2018

INSURANCE & PENSION Continental Re announces prizes for 2018 awards

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ontinental Re has announced prizes for finalists in the 2018 Pan African Re/Insurance Journalism Awards.

According to the firm, Finalists for this year’s awards stand a chance to win a fully paid trip to attend the awards ceremony and CEO summit that will take place in Swakopmund, Namibia; a cash prize and a twoday training on journalistic and writing skills following a recommendation by judges last year. And journalists would be issued with certificates upon completion of the training.

“We are confident that 2018 prizes will bring on board seasoned journalists, who are ready to change the tide in terms of Re/Insurance reporting,” said Dr. Femi Oyetunji, Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Continental Reinsurance.

Oyetunji stressed that the journalism awards are now in full gear with reporters from both French and English-speaking African countries sending through their submissions to beat the January 31 deadline.

Interested participants can submit their entries online via the Awards website.

The three categories in the 2018 awards include: Pan-African Re/Insurance Journalist of the Year; Best Re/Insurance Industry Analysis and Commentary; and Best Re/Insurance Industry Feature Article.

Continental Reinsurance initiated the awards in 2015 to recognise and acknowledge the good work of media on the continent.

Group berates NSITF for ‘undermining FOI Act’

Stories by VICTOR NZE

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EDIA Rights Agenda (MRA) has berated the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) for non-compliance with the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, just as it accused the Fund of ‘keeping critical stakeholders in the dark by not making relevant information available to them, despite the provisions of the FOI Act, 2011.’

In a statement issued in Lagos, Tuesday, MRA’s Programme Director, Mr. Ayode Longe, contended that by its actions, the NSITF was undermining the FOI Act and thereby rendering even its own statutory mandates ineffective.

He noted that the NSITF was failing to comply with the provisions of the FOI Act and carrying out its operations in secrecy, arguing that under those circumstances, it could not hope to elicit the trust of workers who are expected to make monthly contributions from their salaries to it.

He said: “For an agency which says its mission is ‘to be proactive in providing social security protection and safety nets for all Nigerians

against deprivations and income insecurity in accordance with national and international laws, conventions and world best practice,’ not to comply with the provisions of a key piece of legislation like the FOI Act is completely illogical; it can only mean that it is not being forthright and has no intention of working to fulfill this mission.”

Longe explained that for “the NSITF which receives pension contributions from Nigerian employees, invest such monies and is also expected to pay the various benefits to persons entitled to the benefits, it is anathema for it to conduct its affairs in secret and not carry contributors along on how it manages their monies.”

The NSITF evolved from the National Provident Fund (NPF), which was established by an Act of Parliament in 1961 to provide a poverty alleviation measure as required by convention No.102 of the International Labour Organization (ILO). It aims to protect private sector employees from financial difficulties in the event of old age, cessation of employment, invalidity or death.

The National Provident Fund

transformed into the NSITF following recommendations by the Technical Committee on Privatisation and Commercialization (TCPC), now Bureau on Public Enterprise, for the partial commercialisation of its activities in order to make it self-funded. In 1993, the Federal Government accepted the recommendation and promulgated what is now known as the NSITF Act to reflect its new role and objective.

The Act vested all the assets and liabilities of the NPF Management Board in the new NSITF Management Board and in July 1994, the then Minister of Employment, Labour and Productivity, launched the new scheme.

MRA noted that in total disregard of the provisions of Section 2(3) and (4) of the FOI Act, the NSITF failed to proactively publish most of the 16 important classes of information the Act requires it to publish without anyone making requests for the information.

The organisation also pointed out that the NSITF has failed to designate any officer to whom requests for information under the FOI Act should be sent, in addition to failing

to proactively publish the title and address of such appropriate officer of the institution.

Longe said records obtained from the office of the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation show that the NSITF has not submitted any report of its implementation of the FOI Act, when at this point, it should have submitted six of such reports to date.

This, he stressed, is in contravention of Section 29 (1) and (2) of the FOI Act and the Guidelines on the Implementation of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 issued by the Attorney General of the Federation.

He added that the NSITF is also not known to have conducted the training of its officials on the public’s right of access to information or records held by it as provided for in the FOI Act and for the effective implementation of the Act, again in contravention of Section 13 of the Act. MRA, therefore, called on the relevant committees of the National Assembly to call the NSITF to order by compelling it to comply with all its obligations under the FOI Act.

Pensioner docked for allegedly abetting forgery

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67-year-old retired military man, Gilmore Ambrose, was on Thursday arraigned in a Kubwa Grade 1 Area Court for allegedly abetting forgery.

The defendant of Adamawa State was docked on charges of aiding and abetting forgery to which he pleaded not guilty.

The Prosecutor, Babajide Olanipekun, told the court that one Abdullahi Muhammed of Nigeria Air Force attached to Military Pension Board, Abuja, reported the matter at the Kubwa Police Station on Jan. 20.

He said the defendant assisted two men, Kawo Rigo and Christopher Lanehmbaji, to present themselves to the complainant and other military pension board members as retired military officers with forged discharge certificate.

The prosecutor said the defendant abetted the offence knowing that it was an attempt to defraud the Federal Government of Nigeria.

• Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (4th from left), his Deputy, Mrs. Idiat Adebule (3rd from left) flanked by members of the Governing Council of the Citizens Mediation Centre (CMC), who include Hon. Justice Olayinka Gbajabiamila (rtd)(5th from left) as Chairman and Mrs Oluwatoyin Ogunsanya, Mrs Omololu Adesina, Mrs. Amanda Asagba, Mr. Mohammed Iskil Lawal, Mr Tokunbo Jaiye- Agoro and Mrs Yinka Odukoya as members, after their inauguration by the governor at the Lagos House in Ikeja, Wednesday.

FBN Insurance wins global award U nderwriting firm, FBNInsurance has won the World Finance Global Insurance Award as it emerged the Best Life Insurance Company in Nigeria, 2017.

While acknowledging the massive influence of new technology and changing global economic outlook on the insurance industry in 2017, the organisers gave kudos to

the winners for their resilience in weathering the various challenges.

A report obtained on the organiser’s website said: “The World Finance Global Insurance awards aim to celebrate those that have stood out as clear industry leaders over the course of 2017 by remaining agile even in the face of rapid change.” Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, FBNInsur-

ance, Elizabeth Agugoh, in her reaction to the news attributed the win to her company’s continuous commitment to providing responsive insurance to every Nigerian.

“In our seven years of operation, we have been able to carve a niche for ourselves by continuously engaging the consumer through our retail drive thereby gaining trust and traction in the market. We are

happy to have won this award yet again; we will not rest on our oars even as we set our sights on more successes,” she said.

Established in 2007, World Finance has celebrated achievement, innovation and brilliance in Business through their annual awards.

It will be recalled that FBNInsurance won the Best Life Insurance Company in Nigeria at the 2014 and 2016 editions of the awards. The 2017 win is the third time the company will be so honoured with the global accolade.

The Oracle Today

29

Wednesday February 7 , 2018

INSURANCE & PENSION Sudan plans two-day summit on Takaful insurance

Over 25,000 pensioners excluded from FG payroll – NUP A

M

ORE than 25,000 pensioners are still excluded from the Federal Government’s payroll of retirees, according to the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP).

Lagos Chapter Chairman of NUP, Joseph Dele, said the affected pensioners were not among over 300,000 paid under Defined Benefits Scheme and Contributory Pension Scheme.

The NUP urged federal government to mandate the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) to conduct verification exercise for the affected pensioners to enable them get gratuities for their long years of service.

He described allegations that officials of the union were involved in pension fund scam as an excuse not to pay NUP members excluded from the payroll system.

“The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, alleged that the pension fraud was perpetrated by public officials with the active connivance of NUP, Association of Federal Public Service Retirees, among others.

“NUP did not collude with anyone to list 16,238 ghost pensioners to siphon N839 million to fictitious pensioners monthly.

“Over 25,000 and not 16,238 members were still excluded on the payroll. They are not fictitious pensioners as claimed by the AGF and as we speak they are not on federal government payroll,” he said.

Dele explained that only one per cent of monthly pensioners’ fund was remitted to the NUP secretariat for maintenance and other ad-hocs services.

Members, Organising Committee of the Armed Forces International Polo Tournament: Alhaji Dawule Baba, member; Major General J.S. Bindawa, Chairman; Brigadier General M. M. Yerima, Vice Chairman and Head, Corporate Communication, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc. Mrs. Ellen Offo, presenting the Policy Document to the Organising Committee of the Armed Forces International Polo Tournament in Abuja.

Insured natural disaster losses hit $134bn in 2017 – Aon

L

AST year’s 330 natural catastrophes reached US$134 billion, or 38 percent of their economic price tag of $353 billion, according to a report published by Impact Forecasting, Aon Benfield’s catastrophe model development team.

The overall economic, or uninsured, cost of natural catastrophes includes weather-related natural disasters, which broke a new record at US$344 billion, or 97 percent of the overall total, said the report titled “Weather, Climate & Catastrophe Insight – 2017 Annual Report.”

On the other hand, insured losses ($134 million) absorbed by the private sector and government-sponsored programs were second costliest ever incurred – just behind the record of US$137 billion in 2011, the report said, noting that the 2017 to-

tal for insured losses is 139 percent higher the US$56 billion reported in 2016.

The reason for this jump is that last year’s natural catastrophes were concentrated in the United States, which had a very active Atlantic hurricane season, severe weather events (convective storms) and wildfires, said the report.

With most of 2017’s losses concentrated in the U.S., the insurance penetration levels would be higher than they were in 2016, when nat cats were spread across the globe, explained an Aon Benfield representative.

The record breaking weatherrelated events across the globe included Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria in the U.S. and Caribbean, plus Typhoon Hato in China and Cy-

clone Debbie in Australia. For historical context, the report said, 2017’s natural catastrophe losses were 93 percent higher than the 2000-2016 average.

“While 2017 was an expensive year for the insurance industry, the reinsurance market had an estimated US$600 billion in available capital to withstand the high volume of payouts,” commented Eric Andersen, CEO of Aon Benfield. “Most critically, the U.S. weather and wildfire events in particular have demonstrated the value of reinsurance, with claims being paid in an average of eight days to augment the recovery process.”

Additional key findings include: 36 percent (US$80 billion) of economic damage from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria was insured. 31 bil-

insurers, as cedents showed some loyalty,” S&P’s report said, adding that specific rate increases varied by line of business, whether the policy had experienced any losses, and by region.

“In terms of the spillover effect, outside of loss-affected lines and regions, the experience was somewhat mixed, but the sentiment in general had a slight positive bias, as reinsurers gave little away,” said S&P. “We believe that without the cushion of earnings from [the] property catastrophe line, which benefitted from the recent mild catastrophe years, reinsurers would had been unwilling to accommodate any further slippage in rates and terms and conditions.”

“We continue to maintain a stable outlook on the global reinsurance sector for the next 12 months and on the majority of the reinsurers we rate,” noted S&P Global Ratings credit analyst Taoufik Gharib. “In general, it seems that during the 2018 January re-

newal season, reinsurance pricing stopped its downward trajectory, reaching an inflection point in the underwriting cycle. Directionally, the trend is positive.”

Reinsurers are putting a positive spin on the January renewals because “rates are at least heading up or stabilizing with improving terms and conditions…,” S&P said, explaining that this is a dramatic change from their sentiments expressed about last year’s first half.

Some Casualty Rates Inadequate S&P noted that there were small-to-moderate rate increases in certain casualty lines such as U.S. medical malpractice and professional liability.

The ceding commissions in these lines improved slightly – by 1-3 percentage points – and price increases were in flat-to-low single digits with more in lines that experienced adverse loss/claims trends, S&P explained.

The report cautioned, however, that rates are still inadequate in certain casualty lines such as gen-

lion-dollar events occurred globally, with 16 alone in the U.S. Wildfires caused US$14 billion of insurance losses in 2017 – the highest on record for the peril. 10,000 human fatalities were caused by natural disasters, with the deadliest event being a massive landslide event in Sierra Leone when more than 1,100 people lost their lives. 2017 was the third warmest year on record since1880 for combined land and ocean temperatures.

“The high cost of disasters in 2017 served as a reminder that we continue to face increasing levels of risk as more people and exposures are located in areas that are particularly vulnerable to major, naturally occurring events,” said Steve Bowen, Impact Forecasting director and meteorologist.

Expect more reinsurance pricing hikes in 2018 – S&P

G

lobal reinsurance pricing in aggregate was flat to up about 5 percent during the January 2018 renewals, and more price hikes can be expected in lossaffected areas during the year, according to S&P Global Ratings.

After last year’s spate of natural catastrophes with global insured losses of roughly $130 billion, the question S&P asked in a report published last week, is whether the pricing hikes seen during the January renewals will persist.

Last year’s insured losses “will likely wipe out the reinsurance sector’s 2017 annual earnings and erode the capital of certain reinsurers,” said S&P in its report titled “Reinsurance Pricing Was Up At The January Renewals, But Will The Momentum Continue Or Fizzle Out?” (See below for link to download the report).

As a result, “reinsurers stuck to their underwriting discipline – helped by stable capacity and the difficulty in displacing existing re-

eral liability and directors and officers liability, “with deteriorating attritional loss ratios.”

S&P predicted that rate increases will continue for the remainder of the year. Pointing to Florida and Puerto Rico, which are up for renewal in the first half of the year, S&P said that those markets are likely to experience “double-digit rate increases given the magnitude of the losses they suffered in 2017.”

Further, S&P added, “rate increases by cedents in their primary lines will help the pro rata insurance, as will the rate increases on renewals of portions of multi-year programs (especially in loss-affected lines).”

There is a plenty of traditional and alternative capital available, the report affirmed, which might hold back further rate increases during the next 12 months. “However, the reinsurance sector pricing has found its nadir – at least for now.”

two-day summit on Takaful Insurance will take place in Khartoum, Sudan from March 12 to 13, this year, under The summit will hold under the theme Takaful Insurance: Future and Challenges.

To be hosted by the International Federation of Takaful& Islamic Companies (IFTI), the Association of the Sudanese Insurance & Reinsurance Companies (ASIRC) and The National Reinsurance Company which is the oldest Takaful reinsurer in Africa, the event provides a platform for all African insurance companies to exchange experiences of Sudan which is the birth place of Takaful insurance.

“The information and experience sharing/exchange will help African countries develop closer cooperation ties and derive some benefits from those with a rich Takaful experience,” read the statement by the Organisers of the summit, who also expressed the belief that Takaful ‘will play a pivotal role in increasing insurance penetration in Africa which is still lagging on a less than 2 percent insurance penetration rate.’

The ambition according to the Chairman of the Association of the Sudanese Insurance & Reinsurance Companies, ASIRC, Mr. Hassan El Sayed Mohammed, is to make the Takaful Insurance Summit an Annual event to develop Takaful business in Africa.

Lagos OPD receives N189m as compensation for clients

L

agos State Government, through the Office of the Public Defender (OPD), resolved over 14,000 petitions and court cases between January 3 and December 31, 2017.

A release issued and signed by Mrs. Olubukola Salami, Director, Office of the Public Defender, also noted that the total compensation received by on behalf of its clients through mediation last year was N189,074,957.

According to the release, 7470 Court Cases were attended to; 4662 Petitions Received; 1300 Petitions concluded and 49 Rescue Missions embarked upon among other issues.

Recall that the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) was established in 2000 to serve as an agency of the Lagos State Government saddled with the major responsibility of providing free legal service and other related functions to the masses, especially the lessprivileged and the vulnerable.

Since its inception, the Office has recorded appreciable successes in defending the masses free of charge.

30

The Oracle Today Wednesday February 7, 2018

Anniversary

Account of my stewardship – Amaechi Sunday Hanson, Obingwa LG Chairman

F

RIDAY 26 January 2018 was not an ordinary day for the people of Obingwa local Government, which is also not an ordinary Local Government Area. Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is from the local government and was once its Transition Chairman.

Hon. Amaechi Sunday Hanson (Abacha), is the current Chairman of the LG. he is known for his humility and listening ear, qualities that have seen him through the oppositions that are part of politics.

He joyfully invited the leaders and members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Obingwa LGA, market associations, labour unions, staff of Obingwa LGA, political support groups, Ndi Eze, cultural associations, civil society groups, religious bodies, and those without affiliations, the good people of Obingwa LGA to the event where he rendered account of his stewardship, a little after a year of • Hon. Hanson (Abacha) is the Association his being sworn in as the Chairman of Obof Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, ingwa LGA. Chairman in Abia State and Deputy National The Osusu Amaukwa School Field, venPresident of ALGON. ue of the event, witnessed a huge turn

•

out of people. The event also served as his outreach programme.

At the meeting, Hon. Amaechi Sunday Hanson, presented the LG’s newly acquired council CAT 12 G caterpillars procured for massive all year round works on rural roads. It was one of his scorecards.

Some empowerment items were shared to party faithful and other residents of Obingwa LGA. They included motorcycles and sewing machines.

Those who spoke at the event commended him for the changes he was making in the LG in just one year. The LG Chairman promised to do more, and sough the cooperation of the people.

At the event, he also unveiled what he called the scorecard of the Governor Ikpeazu administration. He asked for the people’s support so that the Governor can complete the projects he had commenced.

Hon. Hanson (Abacha) is the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALSewing machines were among the GON, Chairman in Abia State and Deputy • items for the empowerment programme National President of ALGON.

•

The huge turn out at the event

Hon Hanson giving account

•

•

The commissioning of the 12 newly acquired caterpillars

More items that were given out

• Recepients of the motorcycles

31

The Oracle Today Wednesday February 7, 2018

Anniversary

•

• One year score card of Hon Hanson as Chairman of Obingwa LGA

The 12 newly acquired caterpillars for Obingwa LGA

• Some empowerment items

•

•

Motorcycles that were handed out top some of the people

Hon Hanson on one of the 12 newly acquired caterpillars for Obingwa LGA

32

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33

The Oracle Today Wednesday February 7, 2018

Love and Living

...With Ireto Temofeh

MODEL OF THE WEEK

LOVE NEWS

Crazy In Love! Beyonce accompanies Jay-Z to Roc Nation Party

S

he’s reportedly been spending much of her time with her new twins Sir and Rumi.

But Beyonce decided to get out of the house on Saturday to accompany husband Jay-Z to a Roc Nation party in New York.

The 36-year-old Honesty singer looked stunning as usual in a very flattering full-length dress.

The glittering garment featured a plunging neckline that provided a view of her ample assets.

Below the incorporated matching belt, the frock also included a thigh high split which afforded a glance at her amazingly fit legs.

Grammys 2018: All you need to know about Grammy Awards A pair of very dainty stilettos heels added a few inches to her 5ft7in frame.

Accessories included some minimalist sunglasses and large barstyle earrings.

She shared two snaps of her in

the gown posing up with Jay-Z to Instagram and the pictures gained over two million likes within two hours.

Of course her make-up was exquisite, and her caramel locks were scraped back into a high ponytail.

Husband Jay-Z, 48, certainly was dressed to the nines for the shindig.

Beyonce’s husband opted for a slate grey three piece suit, a white shirt and a matching slate grey tie.

A dark overcoat kept the wintry temperatures at bay, while some black oxfords and a classic fedora completed his dashing ensemble.

Once inside the bash, the multi-platinum recording artist removed his outer garments but decided to keep his stylish hat atop his head.

The party was dotted with A-listers, and Jay-Z took time to enjoy some champagne with Sean Combs and DJ Cassidy among others.

Name: Oluchi Tel: 08164007657 •

If you want to be our next ORACLE GIRL, e-mail or forward your photos/data to ireto007@yahoo.com. Call 07031028714.

ODD NEWS

Duchess of Cambridge donates hair to children’s charity which helps make wigs for young cancer victims

T

he Duchess of Cambridge has donated some of her hair to go towards making wigs for young patients suffering from cancer.

The 36-year-old’s hairdresser is believed to have trimmed more than seven inches from her usual length.

An aide is believed to have picked up the hair which is thought to have been sent to the Little Princess Trust.

The organisation helps make wigs for children who have lost their own hair after receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment.

The idea is believed to have come to the Duchess after she had her hair cut at Kensington Palace by hairdresser Joey, 30, who works for Richard Ward Hair in Chelsea.

‘Four months ago Joey persuaded her it was time to take

off some of her hair; he said it was just getting too long,’ a royal source told the Daily Express.

‘While Joey was snipping away the idea came to her of doing some good with it rather than throwing it away.

‘She mentioned it to Joey, who thought it was a brilliant idea.

‘It was sent using someone else’s name, so that the trust didn’t know it was from a royal source – they just thought it was from a female donor in the Kensington area.’

The source added: ‘It’s lovely to think somewhere a little girl is happily wearing a wig made from a real princess’s hair. It’s a very heartwarming thing for Kate to have done, and very thoughtful to use hair that would have otherwise just been thrown away.’

Romantic Joke THE MOURNER

A man placed some flowers on the grave of his dearly departed mother and started back toward his car when his attention was diverted to another man kneeling at a grave. The man seemed to be praying with profound intensity and kept repeating, “Why did you have to die? Why did you have to die?” The first man approached him and said, “Sir, I don’t wish to interfere with your private grief, but this demonstration of pain is more than I’ve ever seen before. For whom do you mourn so deeply? A child?

A parent?” The mourner took a moment to collect himself and replied, “My wife’s first husband.”

34

The Oracle Today Wednesday February 7, 2018

True Confession

‘My husband married my house-girl’ • You mean so much to me

M

y name is Theresa and I hail from Kwara state. My father was a lecturer in the university while my mother was a secondary school teacher.

I grew up just like every other child from an average family and I graduated from the University of Ilorin when I was 25 years old. I was posted to Sokoto state for my NYSC and while there, I fell in love with one of the staff of UBA where I served.

His name is Ola and he seemed to be a very charming personality. He had that air of boldness and confidence around him, and his poise was breathtaking.

He swept me off my feet right from the first day I resumed at UBA. And he offered to drive me around Sokoto to see how beautiful the state is.

I hadn’t had such a view of the ancient Islamic city before, and I felt that the place was quite exotic with its ancient history and evidence of Islamic aesthestics.

Ola told me not to stay in the corper’s lodge as it was quite crowded, and helped me get accommodation in an elite part of the city.

He paid for my apartment and I moved in, and we became lovers.

Our days of beautiful romance were my happiest moments in life. I was on top of the world and really acted like a woman in love.

One evening, Ola took me to a hotel where we had dinner with dessert. He said that it would be fun spending the whole weekend in the hotel and asked me to spend it with him.

I agreed and spent the weekend in the hotel with Ola. He seemed to have so much money to spend and I like guys who have money to spend.

I really enjoyed the weekend with Ola in the hotel. We made love so many times and had so much to eat and drink that I wished our stay would never end.

The world seemed to stand still the moment Ola proposed to me. When he asked me if I would like to marry him, I said yes one million times.

I kept on saying yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, until he started laughing and planted a kiss on my lips. Ola’s kiss was softer than butter and sweeter than honey and I cherished every moment we spent locked in the embrace of a kiss.

I married Ola and became the happiest woman on earth because I had married a rich guy. We had three daughters in three years, and after that my husband suddenly lost interest in my sexual appeal.

Ola complained I was getting too fat and was no longer as attractive

as I was when he married me. I told him that it was because the housework was too much for me and that I needed a house-girl to help me look after the children.

Ola contacted an agency that provides domestic servants, and within one month, we had a young, tall, busty and beautiful from Calabar.

She was about 23 years old and knew how to work. It was around this time that I got a job as a secretary in one company and I had to leave home very early in the morn-

ing and close late at night.

I don’t know how it happened, but in the sixth month of her stay, my housegirl got pregnant for my husband.

I screamed and cried and asked her to pack her things and leave. But my husband refused, saying that the scan revealed that the housegirl was carrying a baby boy for him and that he was going to marry her as his second wife since I had only three daughters for him.

Now the housegirl has given birth

to a boy and my husband has paid her dowry. He says that if I can’t tolerate her as his second wife, I’m free to pack out with my daughters.

But I know that she used love portion on my husband. And I’m also going to use love portion on him too to win back his love. We shall see whose love portion is the strongest!

• Call or text your reactions to this story to 07031028714.

Email: ireto007@yahoo.com

35

The Oracle Today Wednesday February 7, 2018

Relationships and Love Advice

‘I want to stop being gay’

Love Search Women seeking relationship/ marriage Joy, 29, a caterer in Lagos, from Delta Igbo, needs a responsible, matured, working man based in Lagos for marriage and job support. 08158522286.

Ijeoma, 39, graduate, HIV positive, seeks a hardworking and God fearing man for a life partner. Age 40-50 years.

07089059144.

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Sarah from Jos needs a HIV positive man of 35-40 years for marriage.

08090925014.

Victoria, 30, from Akwa-Ibom, in Lagos, tall, big, single mother, wants a tall, responsible, working or business man for marriage.08153598363.

Dear Love Doctor, My name is Joe. I hail from Delta state. I’m 26 years old. I found myself in gay practice and my friends laugh at me because I don’t have a girlfriend. I’ve never had a girlfriend in my life because I only meet guys. What can I do to put an end to this gay practice of mine? Please advise me.

Thanks, Joe

Love Doctor’s Advice: Dear Joe,

A

gay or homosexual relationship is defined as a same-sex relationship. If you’ve never really had a girlfriend in your life, it wouldn’t be a surprise if you experience gay feelings or ‘found yourself in gay practice’. Don’t worry. It is because you have only had a one-sided experience. For you to better understand your sexuality, you need to experience the other side of the coin by getting acquainted with the opposite sex. In other words, you should have a girlfriend so that you may be able to see the difference & decide which way to go. If you choose to be gay, you might not be able to marry or have your own children. However, some

claim to find fulfilment in homosexuality, though it is unnatural & viewed as immoral by religion.

How can you stop being gay?

Some practical tips include: (1) Remove yourself from people or from the environment that promotes it. Because you feel it does not mean that you must do it.

(2) Start associating more with the opposite sex (females) & have more romantic relationships with them.

(3) Avoid sharing a bed with someone of the same sex. In other words, don’t share your bed with a man like you, especially in

the night, even if it is your brother. You should rather sleep alone.

(4) It might be necessary for you to see a psychologist for closer professional examination & therapy.

(5) Join groups of formerly gay people for more support. The testimonies and shared experiences of people who were formerly lesbians and gays will help you tremendously. They will help to guide you and show you how they kicked the habit.

(6) Support from your priest/ pastor/Imam/spiritual director may also be of help.

Do you have advice on this problem? Please share your thoughts. Call 07031028714 or 08131161840. Email: ireto007@yahoo.com Do you have a marriage/wedding, birthday, anniversary or club or town meeting announcement to make? Call 07031028714 now!

Note: If you have fertility problems like childlessness, inability to conceive or get pregnant, miscarriages, fibroid, low sperm count, STDs, or need a male child or female? Call 07031028714, 08131161840.. Love Doctor can help you succeed in your marriage/ relationship.

Call Love Doctor: 07031028714, 08131161840, 08077821830 for Counseling, infertility & Direct Hookup.

Men seeking relationship/ marriage Nathaniel, living in Abuja, huge, works, needs a honest and trustworthy lady who is ready to genuinely love and settle down for marriage. 08124647578.

Francis, 35, from Benue state, in Lagos, businessman, needs a responsible lady between 30-34 years for marriage.

07066418095.

Sam, a senior citizen, needs a lady from Ebira land, Kogi State. Tall, not fat, busty.

Age: 45 years and above. Should be comfortable financially. 07066070500.

Ephraim, a pastor, not buoyant, needs a buoyant girl of 20-30 years with big hips and big bust for marriage. Email: ugochukwuodor@yahoo.com David wants a beautiful, mature, working class lady for friendship. 07038485483, 08094063208.

36

The Oracle Today Wednesday February 7, 2018

It happened to me:

M

y daughter’s private school only gives away a very few places to families on low incomes. My daughter was lucky enough to be given a place when she started year one.

Even with the greatly reduced fees, I was still pushing uphill to come up with the money and her uniform costs.

‘I traded sex for my daughter’s tuition’

When she was diagnosed with dyslexia half way through the year I was told the only way she could stay on was if I paid for private tutoring. I had no spare cash and worried myself sick how I was going to keep her in her wonderful school.

Then one afternoon at my daughter’s mid-term concert, I started chatting to a lovely fellow. I found out Roger was the year 3 teacher and he also tutored quite a few children after school. It sounded great until I heard how much he charged. I could never come up with that sort of money.

Meanwhile, a couple of the other mothers I didn’t like had noticed me talking to Roger.

When I went to collect my daughter that afternoon, they had a word to me, warning me off him.

They told me his wife had passed away from cancer six months ago and that I wasn’t to put my claws into him. I was terribly upset they thought just because I was a struggling single mum that I would chase after any man going.

I must admit though, later on that evening when I was reading yet another note from the school telling me I had to get tuition for my daughter, an idea came to me.

I got the phone book out and looked up Roger’s address. Once I found it, I dropped my daughter over to my mum’s for dinner that night, dressed myself up and went for a visit. Shaking with nerves, I knocked on Roger’s front door and asked if I could have a chat.

He looked very surprised when I put my suggestion to him. I told him that I understood he was still mourning his wife, but I also knew how lonely he must be too.

I explained how desperate I was to get my daughter some tutoring so she could stay in her wonderful school.

Although he had reservations at first, eventually Roger came around to my suggestion. He agreed that he would tutor my

daughter three nights a week after school. In return, I slept with him two nights a week when my daughter visited my mum for dinner.

I was in agony for the first few weeks I did it. I knew it was no different to prostitution, but the weird thing is, Roger and I quickly became wonderful friends. He never made me feel cheap or desperate and I think we both helped ease each other’s loneliness without the expectation of a relationship or the guilt that he

was betraying his wife’s memory.

Two years later, and my daughter has just started year four.

Roger has taught her amazing ways of dealing with her dyslexia and she is now doing really well at school. Roger and I ended our agreement early last year when he started having feelings for the new pre-primary teacher at the school. We parted as wonderful friends and I was even invited to his Christmas wedding.

I’ll never tell my daughter what

I did to keep her at her school as I don’t think she would understand my desperation. It’s not something I’m proud of, but I made a wonderful friend and I’ve given my little girl the best start I can in the only way I could think of.

All names in this story have been changed.

• Do you have a story or comment about this confession?

Call 07031028714.

37

The Oracle Today Wednesday February 7, 2018

Love & Living

Do you OWN your own business?

Y

OU may never know the challenge of owning your own business till you take the plunge and establish one. Owning your business is much more demanding than founding one. But to be fair, starting a business in itself is a big deal. It gives a great feeling of achievement and freedom that is never realised by those who work for someone else.

But if you must own your business, be prepared to walk the talk. To own it, you must put your name on it, else you can’t claim to own it. You will marvel at the statistics of people who work tirelessly to establish businesses yet never own them. In case you are thinking, what I am driving at, I will explain that in a moment.

Ever wondered why some founders have their hard won businesses taken over by smarter actors? It is because owning a business is more than merely being the founder. And what is more, you can own a business without being the founder, just as you could be a founder without owning the business.

It is worse if you do not know the difference, or realise so when it is too late, and the business has been lost.

Being the owner of your business means that you are the major actor and strongest influencer. You are able to turn things around positively as the need arises. Though it does not come easy, you must not under

Ify ARONU ifyaronu@gmail.com

estimate the need to hold and retain that prime position.

Ibadan Central Hospital ICH is a brand noted for quality health care delivery in Nigeria. But who would think that the founder, Dr Abib Olamitoye, himself a doctor, does not function in that capacity at the hospital. He has since taken to mentorship for business development and wealth creation. However, during the foundational years of the hospital, he worked as a doctor. Beyond that, he built and consolidated the ICH brand such that no matter the doctors he employs, his touch, in the scheme of things remains strong. Dr Abib did not just establish a hospital; he owned the hospital, which he proved

responsibility to come up with a response plan when a competitor emerges, and that happens often.

You are the pathfinder, so when your team hits a hard spot, it confidently looks to you for direction. On your part, that demands a lot of thinking and planning for the business, even when you are not the one running it daily.

It is a great show of strength to take a chance by becoming your own boss. Most people will never be that audacious as to take their destinies in their own hands and finally break free. Indeed, driving your own destiny is a great feeling but you must aim in words and deeds. for the heights, own your business.

As the founder of your startup, Owning your own business can be you will be expected to consistently very demanding because you generbuild on ideas. Being the visionary ally have to give up a certain amount who not only sees the bigger picture of your freedom in the beginning to but works hard to get everyone on get the business up and running. The track is a big challenge but if achieved sacrifice is at the foundation and conearns you the top place. solidation stages but if you are able The dynamics of today’s world of to persevere and work it through to changing technologies and societal maturity, you can let your hair down demands for services, no matter and let someone else run it for you what you are already providing, are while you remain the real owner of extra demands that the business your business. owner has to accept was normal. He has to think more read more to be Please send your comments to abreast of developments. He has to ifyaronu@gmail.com out-think the competition.

A real business owner is proactive too. It will be your burden and

Vasectomy and the man

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HEN we mention family planning in Nigeria, we often immediately visualise and conclude that is it is a woman that HAS to be the saviour of the situation. The men are out of the picture.

Now, the conversation erupted and men were asked if they would volunteer for a vasectomy. Almost all of them, 99.9 per cent, said “hell no”. Most of the more traditional women were on the side of the men. They said they would NEVER let their husband go for the procedure. Why?, I was wondering. It was not a matter that some of them would discuss.

While the new generation wives, and soon to be wives, are furiously advocating for more men to opt for the procedure, again the arguments are lost in long silences about why and why not. The question would, why is it that a high number of women take the family planning measures?

“Vasectomy - also called male sterilisation - is a surgical procedure,” according Planned Parenthood. “It is meant to protect against pregnancy permanently, so it is super effective. It is a simple surgery done by a doctor in an office, hospital, or clinic. The small tubes in the scrotum that carry sperm are cut or blocked off, so sperm cannot leave the body and

M

e& ore

Maureen Alikor maureenalikor@gmail.com

Now, I asked some men on a one-on-one basis why they would not dare it and some of their reasons were somewhat linked to their fear of losing their sexual prowess, while some others were scared that it could not be reversed and a time might come when they may need to have a baby. cause pregnancy.

“The procedure is very quick, and the patient can go home the same day. And it’s extremely effective at preventing pregnancy - almost 100 per cent.” One challenge with vasectomy is that it is not reversible.

Now, I asked some men on a oneon-one basis why they would not dare it and some of their reasons were somewhat linked to their fear of losing their sexual prowess, while some others were scared that it could not be reversed and a

time might come when they may need to have a baby.

A vast majority of the men gave their “African origin” as a yardstick that disallows them from such practices. It was equivalent to making them eunuchs.

With the changes in times which are affecting various areas of our lives is delving into the “African culture” equation and the set mindset of many men, as more and more women are clamouring that more men accept the responsibility of

taking the bulk of the family planning burden from them while they focus on training the children they already have.

Upon interview a marriage counsellor, he said, when the topic came up in his home, he told the wife he would go in for a vasectomy and she did not want to hear of it.

From her stance, the man was about to take away a responsibility that they were already used to and for many, change is hard. Where the men are willing, the women most time would stoop them.

I found out that anything that could bring the man to harm is given high premium in making decisions that affects relationships.

The fact that vasectomy is like a death sentence to the man’s ability to produce more children seals the “no, no” decision on it.

Has anyone thought about how family planning affects the woman? Should anyone think about it?

Should it be a decision in deciding how the family should be planned?

Intending couples should discuss family planning way before they begin the marriage journey, to avoid some very drastic battles and stories we hear daily.

Please send your comments to maureenalikor@gmail.com

38

The Oracle Today Wednesday February 7, 2018

The Law and You

With Barr. Ken Akpom 08162016410

Judgement, order of court and enforcement of judgement

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he court in the case of Saraki v. Kotoye (1992) 9 NWLR (Pt. 264) 186 defined judgement as a binding, authentic, official and judicial determination of the court in respect of claims and in an action before the court of law. Also, a judgement can be explained as a properly considered decision of a court of competent jurisdiction which is binding and enforcing due to the facts and evidence before the court. Likewise, a judgement may demand for making of payments by one person to another or the making of such payment into court of a sum of money, or it may require a person or persons to do or to abstain from doing a particular act or acts.

On the other hand, a court has a duty to make an order after it has granted a party an opportunity to address it on an issue before making an order on it. It is well established that a court has no power to make an order which has not been asked for and which the party against whom it is made has no opportunity to resist as is seen in the case of Usikara v. Itsekiri Land Trustee (1991) 2 NWLR (Pt. 172) 150. In addition, Ex-parte Order can only be discharged on the following two grounds or any of such grounds as; i.

Non-Disclosure of material facts ii.

Lack of jurisdiction as was in the case in Onuzulike v.

Nwokedi (1989) 2 NWLR (Pt. 102) 229 at 241.

It is also worth noting that a court should not make an order or orders which are of no avail. The Supreme Court unreported case of Alhaji Agbaje and others v. Chief Salami Agboluaje in Suit No. SC/236/67 amplifies clearly these facts. Likewise the court cannot grant what is not requested. Furthermore, on the nature of order of Non-Suit which is a final decision that shows that none of the parties has won instead it preserved the Plaintiff’s right of another action on the same subject matter and the same issues. See the case of Adebayo v. Adusei (2004) 4 NWLR (Pt. 862) 44 Ratio 10 at P. 87, Para C – D. Enforcement of court judgement on the other hand is the last stage of the judicial process after the legal right, claim or particular interest has metamorphosed into a judgement or order which remained to be carried out. To this end, it can be boldly said that a party who is successful in obtaining a court’s final order or signed judgement against another only succeeded in obtaining the first round in the court tussle and therefore needs that order or judgement to be perfected or effected.

At this point, let me look into the expected char\acteristics of a court judgement as follows; a.

Before a judgement is made, issues or questions to be decided must be in place. b.

There must be essential facts and evidence available or in case of an appeal, the argument in support of each case must be made. c.

There must be of fact or law a resolution on the issues raised. d.

The court must have concluded or have with it a general inference both in facts and the law to resolve the issues in the matter. e.

There must be a verdict, terminal and consequential orders.

Let us also look briefly into the characteristics of a fair and valid judgement A valid and fair judgement must possess the following; a.

It must be in writing. b.

It must be delivered in an open court except otherwise provided by the Constitution of the Nation. c.

The evidence must be properly evaluated d.

It must not be outside the issues raised, proposed and claimed by the parties e.

It must be delivered within ninety (90) days after the conclusion of evidence and final address TYPES OF JUDGEMENT A. CONSENT JUDGEMENT Simply as the name portrays, this is judgement that a court gives after parties in a suit have agreed in the course of settlement of their matters. The parties in the suit after obtaining leave of the court for an amicable settlement of their issues will agree on terms which they or their representatives and their counsels will sign as a memorandum of settlement. The parties will file in the agreement in the court and pray the court to make it its judgment in their matter. Any party can appeal against it but this must be with the leave of court as in Section 241(2) (C) 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Note that under Lagos Rules, no order for entering a judgement shall be

made by consent except the consent of the defendant is given by a legal practitioner. Where there is no legal practitioner, the defendant must give his consent in open court.

B. DEFAULT JUDGMENT This type of judgement is obtained in any of the parties’ default of appearance on the date fixed for the hearing of the matter or in default of filing pleadings. This is not a judgement obtained on merit and a court has inherent power to set it aside upon a reasonable ground/s.

C. FINAL JUDGEMENT This type of judgement brings to an end an action in court except any of the parties appeals against it. It cannot be varied, reopened or set-aside by the court that delivers it or any other court of co-ordinate jurisdiction except on appeal to a higher court.

D. INTERLOCUTORY JUDGEMENT This type of judgement only takes care of just a single issue in the case and does not dispose the entire suit.

E. SUMMARY JUDGEMENT Here, it is based on merit because of want or lack of a defence quite different from a default judgement. This court that gives this type of judgement cannot set it aside except on the grounds of fraud, non-service, jurisdiction or default of pleading. Examples are under undefended list, an admission of facts on account etc.

F. ORDER OF DISMISSAL When a plaintiff/claimant has failed to totally prove his case and doing otherwise will prejudice the defendant this is given by the court. This type of order constitutes ‘res jusicata’ subject to appeal. Putting it better, it disposes of the subject matter immediately it is given and such an issue cannot be raised again.

What differentiates a non-suit from an order of dismissal is simply that the letter cannot be revived or brought forward for trial again while the former can be tried again.

G. ORDER OF NON-SUIT This type of order is both statutory and discretionary as each situation is determined based on facts before the court. Order of Non-suit is given where satisfactory evidence is not given entitling the claimant or defendant to judgement of the court.

Here, the judge may of his own will or on application order it.

It must also be stated that the effect of non-suit order is to terminate the action which it made but revives the claim again for a retrial. Using the case of African Continental Bank Ltd. v. Yesufu (1980) 1 – 2 SC 49, it is stated, “It is the law that a non-suit order should not be made unless two elements are present in

the aborted trial namely; (a) It must appear on the record of the case taken as a whole that the plaintiff has not failed in toto and (b) That in any case, the defendant would not be entitled to the judgement of the court”.

Also it can be said that inevitably a non-suit means giving the plaintiff a second chance to prove his case. The court in giving this type of order has to consider whether giving it would be wronging the defendant, and likewise whether the dismissal of the suit would mean wronging the plaintiff.

H. DECLARATORY JUDGEMENT A declaratory judgement is conclusive in a subsequent action between the parties as to the matters declared and operates like an estoppel to issues in litigation or for determination.

Declaratory judgement is a court declaration as to the existence of a legal relationship or determination for the individual rights of parties in relation to point of law.

I. CONSEQUENTIAL ORDER(S) This order gives effect to the judgement and usually follows the main judgement. Court of law has the powers to make consequential order after its judgement but such an order must not contain extraneous matter but must corroborate the judgement as can be seen in the case of Obayagbona v. Obazee (1972) 5 SC 247.

Consequential Order may be in form of an order for perpetual injunction where damage is claimed in a case of trespass so as to prohibit future damages being wrecked on the land.

It is therefore of an incidental order but one that necessarily follows naturally from the judgement or consequent upon it.

In conclusion, the term ‘Enforcement of Judgement’ is the last stage of the judicial process after judgement or orders have been obtained. The actualization of these other two processes will only be concluded or won when enforcement has taken place.

Also note that the law is not a respecter of any person, individual or institution and when an order or judgement is given by the court, it is expected that such an order or judgement must be obeyed and implemented completely. Judgement of the court is never ambiguous and therefore need not be misconstrued or be wrongly interpreted or interpreted with bias to suit any individual’s or institution’s selfish purposes. The court usually frowns at the disobedience of its order or judgement.

Contact any lawyer around you or call/text me for further legal advice.

Note: If you are interested in using this column in projecting your image or that of your business, please contact me on phone via text messages or e-mail. Likewise, partners or/and sponsors are welcome.

• Do you have questions or seek legal clarification on issues concerning your marriage, probate, property, etc? Call or send a text message to Barr. Ken: 08162016410, 08075763840. Email: kenakpom@yahoo.com

39

The Oracle Today Wednesday February 7, 2018

ENTERTAINMENT

With Douglas Omoyooma

Spinal cord is life – Yinka Ayefele • Thanks God for the gift of life • Advises people to take things as they come--there is a reason for everything YINKA AYEFELE needs no introduction. A prodigious gospel artiste, Ayefele is a physically challenged popular singer who broke his spinal cord in an auto crash 20 years ago. Since then, he has done things that go a long way to prove that there is, indeed, ability in disability. In this encounter, he tells DOUGLAS OMOYOOMA that God who works in mysterious ways made him “very able” in his disability, even though he believes that there is scarcely life for one who has no spinal cord as, according t him, spinal cord is, indeed, life.

It has been 20 years since that life-defining transition. Reflecting on the transition, how would you describe these past years?

First and foremost, I give God the glory for sparing my life after the auto accident. If I had died through that accident, it’s possible I would have been forgotten but here I am today. Looking back, I got to realise that spinal cord is life. Each time I sit down and think of those pains I have gone through, I sit and reflect about the importance of spinal cord to human being and give thanks to God.

What are you most grateful for in the last 20 years?

Life. If I wasn’t alive, I won’t be able to achieve what I have become today. In achieving what I have today, it’s not by my doing but that of God. I have a lot of friends doing what I am also doing but they cannot be put side by side what I have achieved today. It is not by my doing but by the power of God Almighty. I am grateful for the gift of life which has been the spirit pushing me to forge ahead. If I had died in that accident; probably people would have gathered somewhere today for my 20th year What exactly was going on on your mind remembrance but God is awesome. the first week of the accident as you lay on that bed at the neurological ward in the UCH During those days, you released an album Ibadan?

‘Bitter Experience’ where you narrated your I thought the end had come particularly after whole experience before and during the acthe examinations and I was told that I had a cident as it concerned your then boss, late spinal cord injury. I was a bit confused because Kola Olawuyi. This actually exposed your chalI didn’t really know much about spinal cord lenges but strained your relationship. Though and its value to human lives. Until then, I didn’t you later aplogised to him in a life television realise the importance of spinal cord. So when programme, what memory you hold of those I was told that I might be confine to the wheel whole encounters? chair for life, I thought I was going to die there- The truth of the matter was that I was naïve after but after awhile, I made up my mind and then but I later learnt my lessons. If I had told God that I am not ready to die as I want known then, I would not have taken the whole to live and I believe that I will still walk again. matter to that extent. Looking back, I now It was a sort of proclamation: I said I will not believe that God has a purpose for everything die and at the end of the day, here I am still that happens to a man. There are reasons living. I was actually making those proclama- why some things happen at a particular point tions because we were about 40 that were in time. If Kola Olawuyi had taken it upon brought to that Neurological Department of himself then to assist me, maybe I won’t be Pharthe UCH at that same time and in that ward, all where I am today. Just like when King Phar of them died, I was the only surviving patient aoh insisted that Israelites would not leave in that ward among the 40 brought from dif dif- Egypt. To achieve a purpose, God hardened ferent parts of the country to that place. the heart of Pharaoh because he wanted him At a point, I thought I might to perish. Likewise, if Brother Kola had taken also go the same way like it upon himself to help me by announcing on the rest but at the e n d his programme about the ordeal I was passing of the day, God indeed through, maybe a lot of people would have proved Himself to b e rallied round to give me awesome. that support financially. Then, I wouldn’t have made all that noise through the music and be where I am today. If he had done what I thought he should have done then for me, because I would not want to be ungrateful,

• Yinka Ayefele

I would have been tied to his apron. But, you, well meaning Nigerians rose up and supported me financially in order for me to travel abroad for further medical treatment then. The issues in the album generated a lot of controversies but then I still have to apologise to him because I want peace to reign.

Do you believe in miracles?

Of course I do. I believe in miracles and I have been waiting for it ever since and I know for sure that it will come one day unexpectedly.

What are the awkward things you did in the cause of looking for this miracle?

It’s funny but the major one I can readily tell you was going to the Synagogue Church for a miracle. In those earlier days of moving up and down for special miracle that will get me back on my feet, a lot of people advised me to go and see Prophet T.B Joshua. Difficult initially but I took the pains to go there and fortunately he could not see me. I was going to the Synagogue for three consecutive days, yet for reason best known to the man, he refused to see me. That was about 17 years ago. On the third day that I visited him hoping for a healing, he still didn’t see me but later sent someone to give me N5000 for transport back to Ibadan.

So, after that third day, I decided not go there again.

How would you describe the life on your feet for 31 years and the past 20 years in the wheelchair?

I can tell you authoritatively that life on my feet would have been far better than on the wheelchair. No matter how financially stable one may be, you are almost restricted when you are in the wheelchair. For me, the pains and that restriction alone are too much to bear. They are nothing pleasant. Many a times, I would want to get some things done but would have to rely on others’ assistance.

It’s such a painful thing but if you are on your feet, even if you have no cash in your pocket, you can still run around to get things done and with God’s grace, things could happen for you.

But in all, I give thanks to God Almighty who Did you find out why T.B Joshua refused to has always been my shield and helper. see you?

I didn’t bother to know why. I just don’t want Looking then and now, do you think you to know the reason. Maybe it was because of would have achieved what you have now if my late boss, Kola Olawuyi. Because, at that you had not had the accident? time, Kola had issues with him and he knew I This question is a bit technical but all I can tell was working with him before my accident. you is that I know where my mates are now. I know how we used to struggle together and Were you then discouraged? how far they have gone. But the truth is that Not really. In as much as I believe in miracle, if I was on my feet; I don’t think I would have the only regret I had was going and looking been where I am today. Definitely, I would around for it at some specific places forgetting have made some progress in life or even be be- that miracle can happen anywhere. I didn’t yond what I am now, but God has His ways of remember then that God has said in His book doing things. He must have seen what a mere that He won’t share His glory with anybody. I mortal won’t see and just said ‘I will make remember my encounter with Baba (Timothy) sure you are restricted a bit’. I think if I have Obadare during those early years, I was on my not been on the wheelchair, I would probably way abroad for treatment and he told me that have gone to where I am not supposed to it was apparent my faith had been tied to overbe found. seas as if my miracle was over there. Prior to that meeting, he and some other men of God How true is it that you prefer to be had given me messages and assured me that in the wheelchair to getting back on God said He would do it at his own appointed your feet as your present state evokes time because he wouldn’t want any man to the love people have for you and it is take the glory for my miracle. And I do believe to your advantage than getting back in that now. For instance, if I had stood up at any of those churches I had visited in search on your feet? al- of miracle, a lot of people would have trooped How can I prefer to be in pain? I am al ways terribly in pain for almost 24 hours down to such church and the glory would have because I still have five broken ribs. For gone to the pastor. me, being in this condition, after 20 years of the accident, I still have that persistent Since you are still in pains, medically how fit pain everyday but I’ve learnt to live with are you performing what nature gave you as the pains because if I have to be taking pain pain- a man? killers, it might later cause damages to Medically, I am very fit and can perform virmy kidney, liver or lungs. That is why tually every other thing any man can do. I am I have decided to live very agile despite the pains but I try not to be with the pains every restricted by the pain. I live with it. I don’t have day. There is no any other health issues than the fact that I canway I would have not stand on my feet. At the initial stage, I only loved to stay like feel the sensation limited to my shoulder from this and bear my head. But now, I can feel the entire sensaexcruci- tion all over my body down to my toes. such excruci ating pains at most times. Let’s talk about your closeness to the former For what? Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s family…

It’s just Yes, I am so close to the Atiku family just as I not possi possi- am so close to many other prominent families. ble.

As much as I understand where you are driving at, but for clarification, I don’t belong to any political party but then Chief Mrs. Titi Atiku has done a lot for me likewise Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. He has also been so good to me. I have performed at virtually all their events.

The family has literally made me their official Continued on page: 40

40

The Oracle Today Wednesday February 7, 2018

Entertainment

Chineze Anyaene and the plight of Nigerian filmmakers

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hineze Anyaene, remember her? The lady who in 2010 shot the award winning blockbuster, Ije: The Journey, an epic movie that featured Time 100 gal, Omotola Jalade-Ekehinde and screen goddess, Genevieve Nnaji at a whopping $2.5m.

Indeed, that flick did very well in Nollywood grossing millions of naira.

However, due to the sharing formulae, which gives 60 per cent of revenue to studios, she was unable to recoup the monies she invested in the movie.

Could that be the reason she has not shot another flick ever since?

Indeed, Ije: The Journey was a household name in the Nigerian box office.

The film made unexpected impression.

However, for Chineze, the reverse is the case, This much she admitted in an interview a while ago, hear her: “ I wouldn’t say I made much money from the film. We should all understand that the cinema owners have their rules and

regulations. It depends on the contract you have with them. I have not recovered my money.”

Said an industry watcher: “Chineze was young and starr-eyed and wanted to change Nollywood. And she came well prepared. What with a course on movie production from New York Film Academy, the sky was definitely not the limit for her and Ije: The Journey did achieve that but at the end of the day, all the money made went to cinema houses and she only went home with a pittance. If you are still wondering why we haven’t heard anything new from her despite the success of Ije: The Journey, you need not wonder anymore.”

Added the source: “it is not only her.

A lot of other movie makers are groaning under the burden. Cinema houses in Nigeria are not friendly to movie makers. It is so sad that they give prime time to foreign movies to the detriment of Nigerian movies.”

• Chineze Anyaene

Succour to Nigerian entertainers as sisters unite

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easoned broadcaster and actress, Mabel Oboh and her London-based sister, Josephine Oboh-Macleod have taken it upon themselves to secure the future of Nigerian entertainers though the SaveourStars campaign which was recently launched by the former in the country.

The two sisters are putting plans together to organize a fund raising event to support the campaign in far away Scotland before the end of the first quarter of the year.

Josephine, who is a trained sculptor in Scotland said she’s passionate about the campaign and will do everything to support her sister in achieving her aims of setting up the SaveourStars centre.

“I am an artist and the idea of supporting the interest of our entertainers to me is one of the the best things that has happened to the Nigerian entertainment industry. There is nobody that will not agree with the campaign.

When Mabel approached m for support, I firstly commended her for her great works. I have pledged to give her

my support both financially and otherwise. I do also intend to help her raise funds from Scotland where I’m presently residing and have art studio and in Nigeria,”she said.

She also promised to task her colleagues to donate their works for auctioning to support the campaign which is geared towards improving the lifestyle of the country’s entertainers.

The campaign, according to Mabel, would benefit entertainers who are suffering from critical ailments and lack the means to help themselves.

Unveiling the campaign to the media, Mabel listed entertainers suffering from terminal diseases such as cancer, diabetes and accident victims as major beneficiaries. “Producers, actors, actresses, script writers, musicians make up artistes, journalists among others are part of the total package,” she added.

According to her,in the course of the campaign, she will be approaching hospitals, corporate organizations and government to solicit support. In case

of ailing entertainer who is residing outside Lagos, the team will only step in to make funds available for his or her treatment, where need be.

Her concern is to ensure that Nigerian entertainers do not unnecessarily any more.

Explaining further, she said, the main aim is to save life. I want to stop the idea of going to the public to beg for support each one of us took ill. We are like a family. We will help ourselves and families don’t leave each other. When we start helping each other, that’s when the outside will come to assist us.

That’s what I am trying to put together. It’s not a situation where people an take advantage of us.”

She, however, called on entertainers in the country to join forces with her to make the campaign a reality. Already, some international organizations are signaling interest in being part of the campaign, including ailing Sadiq Daba who was recently down with lukemania and prostrate cancer.

Big Brother Naija back, bigger and better – Multi-Choice MD

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he third season of Big Brother Nigeria from the stables of MultiChoice has commenced. It kickedoff last Sunday, January 28 on DStv Channel 198 and GOtv Channel 29 and is being hosted by Ebuka Obi-Uchendu for a second time.

Speaking on the show’s return, the Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr. John Ugbe said: “The last Big Brother Nigeria was a tremendous success and prompted multiple queries about the show’s return.

We are delighted to announce that the show is indeed returning for a third edition, on a bigger scale than ever before. This year, the winner goes home with a whopping N45m.”

For the Regional Director, M-Net West Africa, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu: “Around the globe, the Big Brother format remains one of the most popular genres of entertainment and this is also the case in Nigeria. We are delighted to have the show return for a third edition and cannot wait for our audiences to once again tune in to experience all of the exciting entertainment that the show is sure to provide.”

NBC bans Olamide’s Science Student

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lamide’s latest single, Science Student has been banned by the Nigerian Brocasting Corporation after it was stamped with a rating of Not-To-Be-Broadcast (NTTB) warning by the corporation.

According to NBC’s Head of Public Affairs, Hajia Maimuna Jihada, the song has been prohibited from being played on local stations for public consumption: “Our mandate is on what goes on Radio and TV. Olamide’s Science Student has been declared ‘unfit for broadcast,” She revealed.

She disclosed that the the action of the NBC was triggered by the content of the song which is believed to promote illegal use of drugs.

Spinal cord is life – Yinka Ayefele Continued from page: 39

musician as I have performed at almost all their children’s weddings. All politicians are my friends. The way every artiste is being contacted for show, so am I too. I have performed for many prominent families who are members of different parties like All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party or APGA. It’s just that Mama Atiku has been so good to me.

It is also believed that you are the favourite of Mrs. Patience Jonathan who has openly shown you affection.

I was close to Madam Patience too because she has always shown me love. Like I said earlier, I love to be with people who keep me alive. Wherever Mama Patience sees me, she will specifically request to sit with me. And while we are together, she was always so passionate about how I was faring.

She encourages me more to be alive and positive.

You own one of the most promising radio stations in Nigeria, Fresh FM. At what point did you conceive the idea of owning a radio station?

I think it was when I was shooting the video of my first album ‘Bitter Experience’. I just flashed back and saw the support I received from the electronic

media during those trying moments.

Such memories made me want to contribute to the broadcasting sphere.

In actual fact, the process started 19 years ago, and at a point I thought it won’t manifest until about nine years ago when I met one of my friends in London who introduced me to internet radio. I kicked off from there using my Facebook page where many of my fans on the page started encouraging me. I was the first and only presenter.

I started uploading my music on the radio and the fans base started growing.

A little while after then, I applied for the broadcast licence and obtained a form from the National Broadcasting Commission which kick-started the process.

After several investigations by the DSS and other security operatives, I was granted the licence and two years ago, we commenced transmission here in Music House and gradually we have been improving by bringing fresh programming, as our name implies, and deliver quality services to our audience.

This has gone to earn us plaudits and rating as the best radio station in the entire South West.

our time to ensure that the Fresh FM in Ibadan is stabilised but almost all the broadcast equipment for the new station in Ekiti are ready and we would soon launch out.

How do you feel getting rewarded with the national honour of MON? I didn’t expect it. I was too excited because that is the biggest award I have eveer received in my life. I really thank God seeing myself in the midst of other distinguished Nigerians getting the national honour. I felt so honored because the award is not something you lobby for. It was based on merit. The Federal government felt I was worthy of it and a letter was written to me intimating me of the honour. Just recently also, I got a letter that the government has decided to name a street in Abuja in my honour. All these are major achievements for me and I don’t take them for granted.

Looking at these honours and achievements, what dream do you still nurse to attain?

Only God knows what tomorrow holds We learnt you are already planning to for me. I don’t think of any significant thing but what I desire most is for me expand to other states?

That’s correct. We have concluded to get up and walk on my feet again plans to commence operations in my and I believe that will happen home state of Ekiti. We are just taking

• Olamide

Faithia Balogun lands Ambassador deal

A

ctress and producer, Faithia Williams, has become the new ambassador for Adron homes.

Adron homes, one of the leading Pan-African real estate development company talked about their excitement to have Faithia Williams on board with them to provide decent, accessible, comfortable and affordable houses while achieving global housing standard.

Speaking with the actress, she said “Nobody wants to be homeless so having this chance to be able to help secure suitable houses for everyone, irrespective of social class and income level is a great privilege. This ambassadorial deal is more of a partnership where I am going to be working with them to ensure large number of people become home owners. I look forward to working with Adron Homes to make this a reality. I am happy to partner with them because I get the chance to put a smile on the faces of my fans by making them land and house owners in an affordable way. I believe that together, we can achieve a lot and I can’t wait to share it with you all, my lovely fans.”

41

The Oracle Today Wednesday January 31, 2018

NEWS

Tears, tributes for Ekwueme Continued from Pg 2

number of issues, including zoning and rotation during the National Constitutional Conference held between 1994 and 1995.

“So, zoning and rotation was originally part of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) Programme as it was the party (NPN) that introduced the idea of zoning and rotation.

“During the conference, he (Ekwueme) articulated a number of issues which the conference eventually adopted”.

He said that Ekwueme’s connection with the NPN, gave him the opportunity to be adopted as the Chairman of G34, a group of Nigerians who eventually formed Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP).

Nigeria will not have another Ekweume According to Preye Tekena, “God in heaven gave Dr. Alex Ekweume to Nigeria for a purpose and he has called him home.”

Tekena, a social commentator based in Port Harcourt, extolled the virtues of the late elder statesman as unblemished in the treacherous terrain of Nigerian politics “He was a detribalised Nigerian, bridge-builder, patriot and a man of peace who quietly played a stabilising role in Nigeria,” Tekena said, adding: “You can see that Nigerians across all ethnic nationalities are speaking well of him because he was always concerned about the unity of Nigeria.”

Hon Uche Ekwunife, Dr. Chkwas Okorie, Chief Maxwell Okudo, Member G-34 and member BOT of PDP and Bishop Alexander Ibezim, also From VICTOR NZE paid glowing tributes to the late former Vice President and Idejimba HE Abia State Government has Aguata, Dr. Ekwueme According to Ibezim, the Anglican moved to refute allegations of payments of application fees for employment by the local government service commission in the state.

A statement by the state’s commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, said the alleged payments were not a directive by government, just as he directed the Local Government Service Commission to refund the said payments to the affected persons.

“We wish to state that the Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, did not approve any such payment meant for processing of the application for employment or conduct of employment tests.

“Government hereby directs that such payment be stopped immediately and all those who have paid should be refunded by the Local Government Service Commission,” said the statement.

Abia not charging for jobs – Kalu

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Bishop of Awka, Dr Alex Ekwueme was a detribalized Nigerian, a very strong politician worthy of emulation and humble in his approach to things.

“He entered politics as a wealthy person, not one of those who joined politics to amass wealth,” the man of God said. “He supported the nation and the Church immensely.

My personal encounter with him revealed a man who encouraged the younger ones to grow. Nigeria will miss him a lot. It’s a great pity he died when the country needed him most.”

For her part, Senator Uche Ekwunife said: “His Excellency Dr. Alex Ekwueme, GCON, Ide Aguata is dead but his spirit lives on. He died after attaining enviable heights in his profession and in politics. He was a distinguished Architect and the owner of the first indigenous architectural firm in Nigeria.

He also studied law and was called to the Nigerian Bar. He presided over Nigerian Institute of Architects, Architects Registration Council of Nigeria and later became the Chairman

Board of Trustees of the Nigerian Institute of Architects.

“He was the first democratically elected Vice President of Nigeria. He was a vocal member of the Constitutional Conference where he mooted the idea of power rotation amongst the six geopolitical zones in the country. “ He mobilized 34 eminent Nigerians (G-34) who fought and wrestled power from the military rule. He was the founding Chairman of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and also founding Chairman, Board of Trustees of the party. His love for Nigeria was unequalled as he believed in and worked conscientiously for the indivisibility of Nigeria.

“He attracted so many government projects to his home State Anambra and to the entire Southeast, prominent amongst which are Onitsha - Enugu Expressway, Federal Polytechnic Oko and many others” Chief Ndubisi Nwobu, PDP chairman, Anambra State chapter, said: “We have lost a democrat par excellence, a man who literally harnessed the coming of Nigeria’s Third Repub-

FG owes NNPC N170.6b

lic and laid the foundation for the PDP. He was a bridge builder who brought intellect into politics. Nigeria has lost an icon. I pray that our good Lord accept his soul in paradise.

For the former legal adviser to the PDP, Anambra State chapter, Barrister Chuks Okoye, Dr Alex Ekwueme contributed substantially to nation-building, both as a private person and as former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“As the chief protagonist of the principle of rotational presidency, he could be rightly branded as the father of the world’s democratic order, the Aristotle of our time. As the initiator of the concept of the six geopolitical zones as the basis of power sharing and wealth distribution, he was undoubtedly the father of new Nigeria,” Okoye said.

“The aggregate of his political ideas and positions marked him out as the epitome and crusader of peace,” the PDP lawyer said.

In his remarks at the parade of honour for honour mounted at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Monday, Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo described Ekwueme as a man who aws committed to the unity of Nigeria throughout his life time.

“We are reminded of his commitment to timeless ideals of integrity, of loyalty and of kindness to all. We thank the Almighty for giving us 85 years life of Dr. Ekwueme,” the Vice President said.

Ekwueme we knew-Atiku, Tinubu According to former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, “in every ramification, Dr. Ekwueme was a great man and one of those who truly loved Nigeria.”

Similarly, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, former Lagos governor and APC leader, described Dr. Ekwueme as “a man of destiny who exemplified the best of Nigeria.”

“A child of humble beginnings in Oko, Anambra State, through dint of hard work, love of country and his innate sense of dignity and decosum, Alex Ekwueme a consummate statesman and visionary,” Tinubu stressed.

• Minister of Power, Works & Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola receiving the Report of the 20-Year Transmission igerian National Petroleum Master Plan from the Interim Managing Director/CEO, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Mr Usman Gur Oko is ready, says Town Union PG Corporation (NNPC), Mon- Mohammed, at the Submission of Report on Consultancy Service on Transmission Expansion Plan (Development Meanwhile, ahead of the final stage of the burial of former Vice Presiday, in Abuja revealed that the of Power System Master Plan for TCN, Tuesday dent of Nigeria Dr Alex Ekwueme Nigerian Federation was indebted at his home town of Oko in Aguata to the corporation to the tune of Local Government Area of AnamN170.6 billion outstanding subsidy bra State, the people of Oko have payments due from January 2006 to expressed their readiness for the December, 2015.

HE Assembly of Heads of State tainable Path to Africa’s Transfor- ed Chair of the Union. burial.

Leading a team of Top Manageand Government of the Af- mation”, Kagame said it is a solemn Kagame further said the proto The Oracle Today on ment of the NNPC to the ongoing rican Union (AU) meeting at honour, to accept the call to serve as grammes, policies, and priorities of theSpeaking situation of things in Oko ahead Investigative hearing on N5 trillion their 30th Ordinary Session at the Chairperson of our Union, even as the African Union contain the right subsidy payments from 2006 to AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, he expressed gratitude to the Heads tools for the job. “I wish to pay trib- of the burial, the President General 2016, the Group Managing Director Ethiopia, elected last Sunday, a new of State for their ‘double trust. First ute to previous leaders of the Afri- of Oko People’s Union Chief Cyprain said that works are in of the Corporation, Dr. Maikanti bureau to pilot the activities of the as the leader of the reform process can Union, and to former Heads of Nwanmuo progress and everything is being put Baru, said the figure was arrived at Union for the year 2018. and now as the leader of the African State, for paving the way forward”. in place for the burial, stating that all after deduction of N4.950.80 trilThe newly elected Chair of the Af- Union.’

He added that, there is tremen- roads leading to and from Oko have lion received as payments from the rican Union is President of Rwanda, “I promise to do this with you and dous value in the African Union’s been fixed with street lights et al.

N5.121.40 trillion approved subsidy Mr. Paul Kagame, takes over Alpha do the best job I can. Obviously, I flagship initiatives, such as Agenda Chief Nwanmuo said they have claims of the corporation from Jan- Conde, President of Guinea who will need your full support” he said, 2063. also created alternative roads and uary 2006 to December 2015. has been chairing the Union for the before acknowledging the high exOutgoing President of the Union, open fields for car parking to ease Providing details of the accruals, past year 2017. perience of his predessesor, saying: Alpha Conde thanked the new AU traffic, adding that arrangements Chief Financial Officer of the corThe other members elected for “President Alpha Condé is a profes- Chair and promised to give him the have been concluded for building of poration, Mr. Isiaka AbdulRazaq, the AU bureau include: 1st Vice sor, a teacher, and I can safely say necessary support to enable him tents and fixing of canopies. traced the advent of the subsidy re- Chair, Mr. Faiz El Saraj, President that I have learned from him. I have manage the affairs of the Union suc- He added: “We are on top of the gime to October, 2003 when NNPC of the Presidential Council of Libya also seen his very big heart for Afri- cessfully during his mandate. situation; as a community we are was directed by government to (North Africa); 2nd Vice Chair, Mr. ca. Congratulations Mr President.” doing our best to ensure a hitchcommence the purchase of domes- Jacob Zuma, President of South free burial ceremony of the late Vice He called on his peers to join tic crude oil at international market Africa; 3rd Vice Chair, Mr. Denis Sas- him in paying tribute to President President. We are not taking any price without a corresponding liber- sou Nguesso, President of Congo Conde’s impeccable service to our chances. The Federal Government alization of the regulated price of pe- (Central Africa); 4th Vice Chair, Mr. organization. is playing its own part, the State government is playing its own part troleum products.He explained that Alpha Conde, President of Guinea ( “I have been lucky to work with and we are doing our own and evunder the subsidy regime, NNPC and Wests Africa). his predecessor President Idriss erything is going on smoothly, so other suppliers of refined petroleum In his acceptance speech deliv- Deby, and even luckier, to work with hopefully the burial is going to be products were entitled to file subsi- ered against the backdrop of the both of them. I want to assure you hitch-free” dy claims to the Petroleum Products theme of the year 2018: “Winning that I had a lot of wisdom flowing Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA). the Fight against Corruption: A Sus- from them”, noted the newly elect-

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Kagame succeeds Conde as AU chairman

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42

The Oracle Today Wednesday February 7, 2018

PUBLIC NOTICE AND CHANGE OF NAME MIRACLE FOUNDATION CHURCH OF GOD INT’L

THE RIGHTEOUS HANDS FOR JESUS MINISTER INT’L

This is to inform the general public that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration Under part ‘’C’’ of the companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

This is to inform the general public that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration Under part ‘’C’’ of the companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

TRUSTEES: 1.Pst. Ojie Maureen 2. Ojie Andrew 3. Ossai Amechi 4. Ukpene Godday

TRUSTEES: 1. Pst. Oyem Okechukwu Christopher: president/G.O 2. Onneh Godday 3. Ajeh Prince 4. Past.(Mrs) Okechukwu Deborah

-

President/ General Overseer

AIMS & OBJECTIVE To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ

AIMS & OBJECTIVE To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed PST. OJIE MAUREEN: president/ General Over seer

Signed PST. OYEM OKECHUKWU CHRISTOPHER: president/G.O

DIVINE FAITH EVANGELICAL RESTORATION MINISTRY INT’L This is to inform the general public that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration Under part ‘’C’’ of the companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

TRUSTEES: 1 EVANG NWAOBOSHI AUGUSTINA ONYEBUCHI President 2 SIS NNEKA OKEMADU 3 SIS NWAEFENE NKEIRU 4 BRO NWAOBOSHI AUGUSTINE AIMS & OBJECTIVE To evangelize the gospel of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed EVANG NWAOBOSHI AUGUSTINE ONYEBUCHI President/ General Overseer

CHRIST’S MANDATE EVANGELICAL MINISTRY INT’L This is to inform the general public that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration Under part ‘’C’’ of the companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

TRUSTEES: 1 EVANG OBIODOGWU AUGUSTINE 2 BRO OKOCHA HENRY KANAYO 3 SIS OBIODOGWU JOY AFULENU 4 BRO OBIEKEA ERIC ONYEKA

President Secretary

AIMS & OBJECTIVE 1 To preach the mandate (gospel) of Christ 2 To empower believers with the word of God thereby boosting their faith Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed EVANG OBIODOGWU AUGUSTINE President/ General Overseer

I formerly known as ODOM EVELYN NWOZA. Now wish to be known as ODOM EVELYN VIVIAN. All former documents remain valid,Banks and General public take note.

I formerly known as OLIVER NATASHA IFEOMA. Now wish to be known as ORJIAKOR NATASHA IFEOMA. All former documents remain valid,Banks and General public take note.

I formerly known as CHIKA CHIGOZIE MMEGA. Now wish to be known as MMEGA CHIKA LOVELIN. All former documents remain valid,Banks and General public take note.

I formerly known as JOSEPH MBANEFO CHINWE. Now wish to be known as JOSEPH AUSTINE JEKWU. All former documents remain valid,Banks and General public take note.

I formerly known as OGBU BLESSING IFEANYI. Now wish to be known as UGWUOKE BLESSING IFEANYI. All former documents remain valid,Banks and General public take note.

I formerly known as UCHENDU VIVIAN UJUNWA. Now wish to be known as AGU VIVIAN UJUNWA. All former documents remain valid,Banks and General public take note.

I formerly known as ADIEME JOSEPH CHIKE. Now wish to be known as ECHEDOM JOSEPH IKECHUKWU. All former documents remain valid, Banks and General public take note.

I formerly known as REBECCA NWAKAEGO ONOKPO. Now wish to be known as REBECCA NWAKAEGO OKONKWO. All former documents remain valid,Banks and General public take note.

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I formerly known as EWAOCH SUNDAY STEPHEN. Now wish to be known as SUNDAY MOSES OCHOKPEFU. All former documents remain valid,Banks and General public take note.

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I formerly known as MISS MUOLOKWU SABINA CHINYERE, now wish to be known as MRS ANUDU SABINA CHINYERE. All former documents remain valid, National Examination Council, NECO, banks, and the general public please take note.

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I formerly known as MISS ONYEBUCHI NGOZI UCHENNA, now wish to be known as MRS MADU NGOZI UCHENNA. All former documents remain valid, the general public please take note.

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43

The Oracle Today Wednesday February 7, 2018

PUBLIC NOTICE FERVENT ARMY OF GOD SALVATION MINISTRY INT’L This is to inform the general public that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration Under part ‘’C’’ of the companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

TRUSTEES: 1 EVANG ELUKA FELICIA - President/ General Overseer 2 EVANG ARIMORO PATRICIA - Secretary 3 REV CALEB OVERCOMERS 4 EVANG OBIODOGWU AUGUSTINE

DIVINE FRUIT EVANGELICAL INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY This is to inform the general public that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration Under part ‘’C’’ of the companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

TRUSTEES: 1 EVANG ARIMORO PATRICIA 2 BRO EDEH MOSES 3 SIS ABAH MAUREEN 4 EVANG OTTAH PATRICIA

- President/ General Overseer - General Secretary

AIMS & OBJECTIVE To propagate the gospel of Christ to the unsafe souls and conducting deliverance services to those held captive spiritually

AIMS & OBJECTIVE 1) To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ 2) Granting deliverance to those who are spiritually held captive

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed EVANG ELUKA FELICIA President/ General Overseer

Signed EVANG ARIMORO PATRICIA President/ General Overseer

THE MAJESTY’S COVENANT OF GLORY INTERNATIONAL CHURCH This is to inform the general public that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration Under part ‘’C’’ of the companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

TRUSTEES: 1 PST OSELE ORJI JOHN 2 PST DICKSON IGBA 3 PST OSELE ISHIOMA FELICITY 4 BRO OBEDEI AZUKA

President/ General Overseer

DIVINE BUILDERS OF MEN MINISTRY INT’L This is to inform the general public that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration Under part ‘’C’’ of the companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

TRUSTEES: 1 PST OJO OLABODE DAVID - President/ General Overseer 2 PST (MRS) (MATRON) OJO ONYEBUCHI GLADYS 3 PST ONYEBUCHI MIKE EDWARD 4 BRO UMEASALUGO NATHAN AIMS & OBJECTIVE (1) To preach the gospel of Christ to the world (2) To conduct deliverance service for the oppressed of the devil (3) To manifest the light of the gospel of Christ through great signs and wonders Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed PST OJO OLABODE DAVID President/ General Overseer

CHRISTLIKE LOVE WORLD OUTREACH MINISTRY

JESUS REDEEMED CHURCH INT’L

This is to inform the general public that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration Under part ‘’C’’ of the companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

This is to inform the general public that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration Under part ‘’C’’ of the companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

TRUSTEES: 1 PST OGOCHUKWU RIGHTEOUS IFEANYINACHUKWU President/ General Overseer 2 SIS OGOCHUKWU OMEBELE AUGUSTINA Member 3 MADUAGWU CHINEDU MERCY Member 4 SUNDAY SOLOMON Member

TRUSTEES: 1 PST CHUKWUMA NDUBUISI EMMANUEL President/ GO 2 EVANG EZECHI .N. DENNIS 3 BRO EGWUABA MALACHY JOE Secretary 4 SIS NWACHUKWU .C. PRECIOUS Member

AIMS & OBJECTIVE To preach and teach the gospel of Christ to the whole world

AIMS & OBJECTIVE To preach and teach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ

AIMS & OBJECTIVE 1) To preach the gospel of Christ through the whole world 2) To minister to the poor

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

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44

The Oracle Today Wednesday February 7, 2018

Book Review

Still waters and Kaizen Book Title: Little Birds and Ordinary People Author: Deji Haastrup Pages: 406 Publisher: Bookcraft, Ibadan Year of Publication: 2017 Reviewer: Tade Ipadeola

R

ecent Nigerian memoirs that are not at the same time hackneyed hagiographies are very hard to come by indeed. The pleasure of encountering Little Birds and Ordinary People, a work straddling the nexus between the written meditation and the compte rendu was therefore welcome relief from the monuments of literary dross littering the landscape much like what passes, for the most part, for contemporary Nigerian architecture or legal practice or broadcasting.

There is a high-mindedness to this book which separates it from the muster of tired resolve to ‘write a book’ at the end of active careers – the apparent motivation for most of these other painful texts in the market. There is, also, a certain grit to the telling of this fardel of many stories that gives fresh perspectives to the reader regarding the intractable problems of Nigeria, the Niger Delta and the oil and gas industry. Many of the accounts, for those who have known Nigeria long enough, provide cues and clues to the massive jigsaw puzzle that is the political economy of Africa’s most populous country. For this reader, it was a view from the boiler room, a tour through the steam and grime that propels the ship of state.

The pace of the writing, the reader is warned early, is leisurely – though the book itself touches on the most serious of subjects. This is a book to take with you to the bank of a placid lake or a gentle running stream, a book to read in the early morning sun or in the cool of the evening under an umbrella or a shade tree. This is a book to read against a backdrop of birdsong and not the busy twittering (of the electronic variety) and hum offices. If the other contexts I would prefer cannot be readily afforded, it is a book that will serve as a bedside reading.

It is tempting to say this book is a temptation to the bour-

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geois repose in reading, but, it is also clear that the mind that wrote the book isn’t of the materialistic bent. Yet there is a tenderness to the telling of Mr. Haastrup’s stories, a degree of emotional intelligence necessary to get through to an audience in two minds about what the oil and gas industry has done in Nigeria. This is a strength of the book but also a weakness. At times, the work reads like an audi alteram partem brief for the demonized oil and gas industry. A compromise this reviewer worked out is to see this book as an oriel into realities we may not ordinarily access except through specialist documents of no aesthetic value whatsoever.

The main strength of the book, in my view, is the vast canvass of history it erects and the complex nature of the society it portrays. Artists say it all boils down to perspective. From the plastic arts to the literary arts, the inherent value in the work is in its power to persuade the audience to see things from new points of view. Yet this book works as mimesis as well, the language is beautiful and efficient, and most importantly, it rings true. It may not so ring to the African born in the eighties and afterwards, who have only know the chaos and the brutish (in overall abundance) when it comes to Nigeria.

Haastrup doesn’t so much conjure as he resurrects a Nigeria that was, at some earlier point in the 20th century, a place for all peoples, a veritable melting pot, a balanced mix of the rustic and the urbane. That Nigeria, that Ibadan, was the place that led other places in terms of cultural output, announcing the pioneering talents of J.P Clark, Amos Tutuola, Wole Soyinka, Christopher Okigbo, Dennis Brutus, Duro Ladipo, Demas Nwoko and Es’kia Mphahlele among others, to the world Like his grandfather before him, the author eventually chooses the urbane. It may be argued that the Ibadan which provided the ambience for the author’s formative years cannot be properly defined as a village. However, considering that Ibadan is roughly the same age as Toronto, for instance, it isn’t so far-fetched to argue, as the author does, that the densely populated conurbation keeps a leg in the past as it does a leg in the present.

Little Birds and Ordinary People goes further than the past and present, venturing and even stravaging, into the future.

With very deft shifting of the gears, the author even convinces the reader to see the journey not in linear terms but as a gyre.

This, in my opinion, is when the author is at his most mystical and African. The great thing, though, is the conviction in the writing that the journey can be improved, that the cycle isn’t a closed one, that there can be what the Japanese call Kaizen.

Away from the preoccupation with work and career, the book, dedicated to the memory of the author’s brother, Adesina Haastrup, works at an even deeper emotional substratum as a memorial and as a celebration of life and not of loss. They say we are truly gone when the last human mentions our name. Deji Haastrup has erected a more lasting monument than marble to his late brother in this regard, this book will be read as long as humankind is literate. It is an impetus that works through the warp and woof of the writing, transmuting into the author’s hope and vision for country and continent.

We have come so far as individuals, as siblings, as families, moieties, clans, nations and as continent but always we have a choice to make. We can choose better for self and community.

Without fishing for a hook, the account in Little Birds and Ordinary People finds one nonetheless in its deliberately understated case for the better half of humankind, the women.

I’m tempted to read women into the Ordinary People in the title of the book. Through most of human history the women

have borne the brunt and the species as a whole as suffered for the obtuse choice by men in the status quo. I personally wish the author wasn’t as sophisticated in his arguments for womankind in this book although I’m persuaded that close readers will see very clearly what the mind at work is about.

History shouldn’t be read as his story alone, the author seems to argue, it is her story as well. The hand that rocks the cradle, we know, rules the world. A way to imagine what the author envisions is to put the tableaux of the entire saga of the Niger Delta against the backdrop of a better educated, better respected and better rewarded working women. The world would be a better place. The task is to move beyond potential into actuality.

The hamlet-dweller in this reader cannot but marvel at the worlds within the covers of Little Birds and Ordinary People.

I am persuaded that the city dweller will profit as much from reading the book as the hermit. It is more than gratifying to note that the author, though a citizen of the world now, first had his world shaped in Ibadan. It is even more gratifying that the prose in the book (and the cameo appearance of poetry) all add up to a thoroughly enlightening if a little frightening read. If the words do not come as easily as leaves to a tree, let them not come at all, urged Keats, the poet. But the words in this book come as readily to the author’s pen as streams flow.

It is evident in the kinesis.

This is a book to recommend to those who are genuinely curious about Nigeria and Nigerians. Never judge a book by its cover, don’t judge us by the names we are called, we are made of more, proverbial still waters run deep.

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45

The Oracle Today Wednesday February 7, 2018

SPORTS

•Gianni Infantino

Bury hatchet, recall Enyeama – Laloko urges NFF, Rohr

S

Stories by MADUABUCHI KALU

D

ISTURBED with lack of competent goalkeeper in the National team squad, former technical director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Director of Pepsi Football Academy, Kashamawo Laloko, has urged the NFF and the team’s technical crew to forget about the past and recall former Eagles captain and goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama to the team.

According to Ogun State born football tactician, the crop of goalkeepers in the Eagles squad going to the world football biggest show does not give him any confidence knowing that the World Cup is not a tea party.

In his view, the three players touted for the Mundial are not good enough if the country actually want to put up a good showing in Russia.

He accessed the players and returned a negative verdict on them saying that South Africa based Chippa United FC goal tender Daniel Akpayi does not have a confidence to be at the biggest stage of World Football just as he carpeted Spain based Deportivo la Coruna Fc goalkeeper, Francis Odinaka Uzoho as being too young for such a big occasion.

On Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Laloko said the Enyimba International goalkeeper gives Nigeria luck but fears he may collapse in front of world football super stars, hence the need for an experienced and matured goalkeeper in the mode of Vincent Enyeama to return to the squad.

He warned that the national team the Super Eagles would suffer in Russia if nothing is done in the team’s goalkeeping department.

Lalako made is position known

when accessing the individual qualities of the three goalkeepers who Nigerians believe the team’s gaffer are relying on for the Mundial.

“The World Cup is a big stage for big players and not for learners or newcomers,” Lalako began.

“I would say we should bury the hatchet and get all those who would help us come together and play. Enyeama I think should be invited,” Lalako began.

“Those three goalkeepers, Ezenwa, Akpeyi and Uzoho are not ma-

tured enough to be in the post for the Super Eagles in Russia.

“Let me start with the one from South Africa. Akpeyi is a fidgeting goalkeeper. He has no confidence and he has never given us luck.

“Ezenwa gives us a lot of luck but he is too young. Whether he will collapse in the face of a very good player in the World Cup is another question.

And for Uzoho, that one has no experience as far as I am concerned,” Lalako submitted.

It is recalled that since the absence

of goalkeeper Carl Ikeme, who was diagnosed of acute Leukemia last year, the Super Eagles have been having it tough in the goalkeeping department and this is what is giving Lalako sleepless night as the Mundial is fast approaching.

It is not only Lalako that is disturbed

by Eagles’ lack of experienced goalkeeper. Even the national team gaffer, Gernot Rohr has since declared that he does not have a world class goalkeeper saying the country has no choice than to make do with what is available since Nigeria cannot borrow a goalkeeper from another country.

World Cup is indebted to me – Messi •

T

As President hopes to be in Russia

wo time world champions, Argentina hopes to win their third World Cup trophy this year just as their talisman captain and FC Barcelona mesmerizing forward, Lionel Messi has declared that the World Cup is indebted to him.

It is recalled that Argentina were the runners up in 2014 when they were beaten by the defending champions Germany in the final but the five time World Footballer of the Year is saying that the World Cup is indebted to him and not indebted to the World Cup. The World Cup and COPA America remain the two trophies that Messi is daily praying to God to grant him having won almost everything winnable in

Popo slams LMC for weak regulation

world football including the Olympic Gold in 2008 at the expense of former winners, Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Argentina President, Mauriciao Macri, said he hoped to be in Russia to watch matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup which gets underway this summer in 11 cities across Vladimir Putin’s country.

“I hope to come to the World Football Championship together with my daughter, Anthonia,” Macris told journalists after his meeting in Moscow with Russian President, Vladimir Putin.

It is recalled that Argentina are grouped along debutants Iceland, Croatia and the Super Eagles of Nigeria. Argentina

are no doubt, book makers favourites to have easy qualification to the next stage of the competition while Eagles and other teams in the group will fight for the remaining slot for the next stage of the competition.

Mauricio Macris believes his country’s national team will brush aside all opposition to top the group. As a matter of fact, the Argentine President sees Lionel Messi and his teammates in the final of the tournament in Russia.

Continuing he once again told journalists: “I also hope to come to the third final match as I hope that we (Argentina) will be playing in the final game.

“Russia has selected 11 host cities to be the venues

for matches as far as the 2018 edition of the FIFA World Cup is concerned,” Macris said.

Both President and Argentine national team captain, Messi are dreaming big as they are not only dreaming of participating in the Mundial but they are dreaming of winning their third World trophy.

ECRETARY of Nigerian Players’ Union, Austin Popo has lambasted the League Management Company Limited (LMC) tfor their inability to rein erring clubs in line.

LMC is the body responsible for the running of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

According to him there are some clubs who are not supposed to be part of the league due to their failure to meet the agreed terms that participating in the league in fragrant disregard to the stipulated rules particularly as it regards players’ emoluments.

He explained that the Players’ Union and the LMC reached an agreement that clubs who are owing players before the beginning of a new season will be automatically bared from taking part in the league but that is not what they experiencing as he fingered Enugu Rangers and Sunshine Stars of Akure as the defaulting clubs in that regard and as a result are not supposed to a part of the league.

Popo explained that what is important to the LMC is for the League to keep running and once that is in place they don’t care about any other thing, whether the players are paid or not does not in any way concern them.

The angry Popo explained that the Players Union will not allow that to happen as the LMC will have to answer to some questions at the appropriate time.

He explained that he had called the Chief Operating officer of the LMC but severally but has refused to answer to his calls and at the same time refused to reply his text messages.

“What is important to the LMC is for the league to go on whether clubs are owing players does not concern them. That is their understanding of the whole thing.

“To me particularly, Sunshine and I think Enugu Rangers are among the clubs who should not have registered for the league based on the fact that they are owing their players but they allowed them to registered saying they requested for two weeks extension to sort things out with the players.

“Two weeks is around the corner. I have been calling Salisu for this issue of Sunshine concerning one player’s matter but he doesn’t pick his calls and I have sent him series of text messages but he does reply either.

“They are the big shots of Nigerian Football and they are paid to serve the public.

“Their own is just to organize the league and as far as the league is going on, whether they are owing the players and the coaches does not count as far as they are concerned. At the appropriate time; we will ask them questions,”

46

The Oracle Today Wednesday February 7, 2018

SPORTS

We’ll beat Croatia, Rohr boasts

CHAN Eagles unfit for Russia – Udeze

F

Stories by MADUABUCHI KALU

A

S the countdown to the 2018 FIFA World Cup is ticking by and with the country’s first opponents boasting of parading world-class players that will override the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr has allied the fears of millions of Nigeria football loving fans saying there is no cause for alarm as his boys will certainly silence the Europeans.

The Franco-German tactician last week stated unequivocally that Nigeria will beat Croatia in their World Cup opener in June in Russia to maintain the tradition already established by the country before his arrival.

“Nigeria has never lost to Euro-

pean opposition in their first game at the Mundial with victories over Bulgaria and Spain in 1994 and 1998 in the USA and France.

“Yes I am impatience and a little excited too. We are proud to have been the first Africans to qualify for the World Cup. Now we have to make a good result at this World Cup. “We have the hope of a good result in our very first match against Croatia,” the Eagles’ gaffer said.

It is recalled that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have confirmed friendlies against Poland, Serbia England and Czech Republic to prepare the Eagles for the games in the group and the World Cup especially the opener against Croatia.

Meanwhile, Gernot Rohr has dismissed speculation linking him

with a return to Gironde Bordeaux insisting that his priority is to be on the Super Eagles bench at the World Cup. The former Bayern defender who recently signed a new two year deal with Nigeria managed the French League Un club for six straight years, a legend of the old Eufa Cup 1996, where they lost to the German champions (Bayern Munich) over two legs.

According to Rohr: “I have not been in contact to resume at Gironde Bordeaux it’s a club that’s my heart. When I come back to France, I am in this region but I am in contract with Nigeria we are in the World Cup, it is an adventure that interests me first and foremost,” Rohr declared.

Meanwhile, the Franco German football tactician has carpeted the CHAN players who are currently fly-

ing the country’s flag at this year’s Championship of African Nations (CHAN) taking place in Morocco.

Having watched the players perform at the ongoing CHAN, Rohr does not need to wait till end of the tournament to give his verdict on the players saying none of them except their captain, Ikechukwu Ezenwa is good enough for the main team.

It is recalled that Rohr had paid the players visit while in camp in Morocco to motivate them even as he assured them that anyone of them who distinguished him could make the cut for the 2018 FIFA World CUP but having watched the players perform at the championship, it didn’t take him time to pass a vote of no confidence on them.

Delta ready for 2018 CAA Athletics Championship – Dalung

A

S Delta State prepares to host 2018 Confederation of African Athletics’ (CAA) African Senior Athletics Championship, Sports and Youth Development Minister, Hon. Solomon Dalung, who was in Asaba, the Delta State capital for courtesy/ inspection visit of facilities at Stephen Keshi Stadium venue of the 2018 CAA Athletics Championship said the state was ready the event.

Dalung expressed confidence at the state’s preparedness to ensure the successful hosting of the championship come August.

Speaking after the courtesy/inspection visit to the state, Chief Dalung who was accompanied by the President, Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Ibrahim Shehu Gusau and former AFN President, Chief Solomon Ogba, said that Delta State was ready to host the championship, stressing that the facilities would be ready on time and the championship would be used to showcase the capacity of Africa to host the world.

The Honourable Minister used the opportunity to commend Governor

Okowa for his support for sports development in the country and the facilities being put in place for the 2018 CAA Athletics championship, stressing that a successful hosting of the sports tournament would improve the economy, provide employment

and engender peace.

“I want to commend Your Excellency for your support to host the CAA Athletics championship, it is a rare demonstration of selfless leadership, Delta State has sprung its normal surprise, what I see here is

• Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta in a handshake with Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, after the inspection of Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba recently.

quite amazing. His Excellency and his officials will be able to deliver on time. The pitch is interesting as they took their time to prepare the laying structure to ensure they have a durable pitch. Governor Okowa deserves commendation”, he said, adding that “Africa is using this championship to showcase to the world its capacity to host the world and you (Governor Okowa) is a harbinger for sports development in Africa”.

The minister emphasised that sports engenders peace, unity and economic growth in the country.

Earlier, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa who accompanied the Minister on the inspection visit assured that the state is committed to the successful hosting of the championship, stressing: “we are committed to the success of the 2018 CAA Athletics championship and we are going to offer all the support needed to ensure the successful hosting.

“Sports is a unifying factor among our people, especially in the maintenance of peace and development of the economy”

ormer Super Eagles’ and AO Kavalas of Greece defender, Ifeanyi Udeze, an avid fan of the home-based national team otherwise called Eagles Team B, has carpeted the Coach Salisu Yusuf coached players for their lack of seriousness at the ongoing Championship of African Nations (CHAN).

According to the former Bendel Insurance defender none of the players has shown that they merit being in the Super Eagles for the World Cup except for their captain and goalkeeper, Ikechukwu Ezenwa who he said already is in the main team.

Udeze bared his mind why reacting to the assertion by Austin Elumelu that only Stephen Eze deserves to be included in the main team and it is recalled that Eze was voted “man of the Match” in one of the matches Nigeria played.

“For me I have to be frank with you. As far as I am concerned, I am a big fan of Home Eagles. I want one or two of them be at the World Cup but with the way they have been playing since the commencement of tournament, no one deserve to be a part of the country’s World Cup squad.

“There is no player among the team that deserves to be in the Super Eagles squad except for the goalkeeper, Nwa. “I must be sincere with you. I have not seen any player who qualifies to be a part of Super Eagles World Cup squad in that CHAN Eagles team except for their Captain and goalkeeper, Ezenwa.

“It is only Ezenwa who has impressed me. The way they are playing; they are not playing like there is anything at stake. They are not playing like people who are targeting something, people who are desirous of something. They are flat footed in all their games so far, forget about the victories over Libya and Equatorial Guinea.

“Look, if you see someone who is pursuing something or who is targeting something, nobody will tell you, you will know. But these bunches of players I have watched over time at the ongoing tournament in Morocco do not present themselves like people who are serious with what they are doing.

“See, let me tell if you are looking for something there is a way you will be searching everywhere for what you are looking for but I have not seen that in the players.

“So, for me, I have not seen anybody at all except for the goalkeeper who is already in the squad for the World Cup if not, I have not seen anybody in that team that deserve a place in the main team,” Udeze explained.

47

The Oracle Today Wednesday February 7, 2018

SPORTS

Weah to change citizenship laws

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IBERIA’S President, George Weah, has called for the removal of a “racist” clause in the constitution which restricts Liberian citizenship to black people.

The clause was “unnecessary, racist and inappropriate,” the exfootball star said in his first State of Nation since being elected president.

He also pledged to scrap the law which prohibits foreigners owning land. Liberia was founded by freed US slaves in 1847 as “a refuge and a haven for freed men of colour”.

The citizenship restrictions introduced at the time were no longer necessary, Mr Weah said, adding that he also wanted a ban on dual citizenship to be abolished.

“It contradicts the very definition of Liberia, which is derived from the Latin word ‘liber’, meaning “liberty’,” he said.

President Weah, the 1995 FIFA World Player of the Year, is the first former sports star to be elected president.

He won elections in December by a landslide, defeating then Vice-President Joseph Boakai.

The former AC Milan and Chelsea player succeeded Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first elected female president, who stepped down after two terms.

In his address in parliament on Monday, Mr Weah also announced that he would be taking a pay cut of 25% because the government and the economy were “broke”.

“Our currency is in free fall; in-

S

•

Late Deji Tinubu

flation is rising, unemployment is at an unprecedented high and our foreign reserves are at an alltime low,” he said.

He asked MPs to “follow my lead” and agree to a pay cut.

“Let us all remember that we were elected to serve the Liberian people and not to be masters of them,” Mr Weah said in an address that was interrupted by wild applause.

Members of the House of Representatives and Senate earn up to $15,000 (£10,600) a month, along with other benefits.

The vast majority of the population lives below the poverty line.

Liberia is still recovering from a civil war which officially ended in 2005. It was also badly affected by the Ebola epidemic, which hit the region in 2014 and 2015.

Farewell, Deji Tinubu

cenes from the Service of songs and candle light procession that held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, Sunday night for Deji Tinubu former Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission, who passed on last Thursday day. He was buried Tuesday 30 January.

In tribute to Deji, former Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Chief Patrick wrote: “For Deji, it was not how long but how well. Deji was an acquaintance to me but on the few occasions our paths crossed, his respect for seniors was exceptional. His gentle mien was genuine and infectious. He lived not long but he impacted so very

well. According to Maya Angelou, “...people remember you more for how you made them feel...” From the eulogies I have read on FUBS, Deji, no doubt, left a good feeling on all he came across. Though he lived not long, he will be remembered for a long, long time and he died playing the “beautiful game.” Adieu Deji.”

Chief Ekeji shared the tributes on the FUBS WhatsApp group.

Deji, who at death, was the Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, was a member of the sports WhatsApp group, Family United By Sports, FUBS. Photos: Godwin Enekhena, FUBS

Musa rejoins CSKA Moscow on loan

By MADUABUCHI KALU

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eicester City and Super Eagles winger, Ahmed Musa is a happy man as the former CSKA Moscow player has rejoined the Russian club from his English Premier League Club on loan until the end of the season It is recalled that Musa’s lack of playing time at Leicester became source of concern to the Super Eagles’ Manager Gernot Rohr who few weeks ago called on the Nigeria to consider forcing himself out the club to ensure that he goes to a club

• Liberian President George Opong Weah.

where his services are required.

There is no gain saying that Musa was not in the plans of Claude Puel since the beginning of the season.

He returned to his former club who had earlier asked him to return as his services are still needed. With his exit from Leicester City, the winger now stand a chance of making it to the World Cup since forms of players determine who makes the squad to the World Cup according the team’s technical adviser, Rohr.

There is no gain saying that Musa’s return to CSKA Moscow will improve his game because in CSKA Moscow,

the Nigerian is worshipped by the fans. The 25-year-old joined the former Premier League champions, Leicester, for £16m in 2016 and scored five goals in 33 games for the club.

Unfortunately for Musa, he has only made one appearance this season.

He had been linked with other Premier League sides this month, including West Brom, but he has returned his former club in Russia, where he scored 42 league goals in his first stint for them. It is hoped that his return to CSKA will help him rediscover his form and bring it to bear during the Mundial in Russia later in the year.

WEDNESDAY February 7, 2018

The

www.oraclenews.ng

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racle Today

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Obasanjo’s friendly fire for Buhari

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UHAMMADU Buhari, President, Olusegun Obasanjo, former President, are both Generals. They have a lot more in common, both being farmers, and having worked in the same government, even if it was in the previous century.

Buhari was Obasanjo’s Commissioner for Petroleum, as Ministers were then known.

Generals settle their matter generally. They have settled it. The images from Addis Ababa, at the 30th Summit of the African Union, said it all. Obasanjo, Buhari, all Generals, two former owners, and a subsisting owner of Nigeria were smiling. The rest, the agonising, is left for civilians, ordinary civilians, to manage.

If Obasanjo claims to know Buhari very well, we should approximate that claim to continuous references to Buhari’s expertise in the petroleum sector, having served as the Commissioner for Petroleum when the refineries (that have not worked in decades) and the reason why he should remain his own Minister of Petroleum.

The expertise flies in the face of fuel scarcity that has persisted and the closest that the Minister of Petroleum came to handling the after was telling Nigerians about “reports reaching him” of a fuel scarcity. We can excuse or explain that point, after all Obasanjo, he still proudly lays claims to his hand in the Buhari presidency, admits that he knew Buhari knew nothing about managing the economy.

Let us stick to the Tuesday 23 January 2018 letter that Obasanjo wrote. It was at best a regurgitation of what everyone has been saying. The differences were that Obasanjo said them, with the added demand that Buhari should leave power with dignity. It must be noted that Obasanjo spoke in general terms. Some take that for a marching order, that Buhari had to leave power immediately. There was nothing like that. No time frames were provided; they were not necessary they were not on the script.

When a big voice such as Obasanjo’s says something, with the stridence that he did, there would be a ruffling of feathers. That was the intended effect, and it created it. Nothing lasts.

Indeed nothing last long among the military. If the issues are of high tension nature, they find substitutes to bear the brunt. The suspicion is that Obasanjo was the most appropriate figure to upbraid Buhari at the moment. Or Obasanjo could have been delivering the message from the President’s constituency that used to be the military. It has expanded to include politicians of veracious hues. Obasanjo alone is a constituency.

Various interpretations of the voluminous letter include that it was an outcry from an Obasanjo who had

• The Generals settled their matter in Addis Ababa

been left out of the power loop. He wanted to rebound. He recounted his sacrifices to elicit appropriate pity. Among them going to prison for opposing Abacha, enduring personal attacks on him, family, associates, and tearing his party card in 2013 to end his relationship with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Obasanjo knew where to throw in peoples issues like the siding economy, the unceasing attacks of Fulani herdsmen, the President’s indifference, the inhumanity of politicians who headed to Abuja to endorse the President for another term, seemingly unconcerned about the killings in Benue.

He surely got the attention he wanted. Neither did he forget to remind Buhari that he played a role in his becoming President. After making Umaru Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan, and Buhari president, the question is whether Obasanjo already has a candidate in mind, as he did while firing his 2013 letter to Goodluck Jonathan.

Then there was this needless permission in the Jonathan, “I crave your indulgence to share the contents of

this letter, in the first instance, with General Ibrahim Babangida and General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who, on a number of occasions in recent times, have shared with me their agonising thoughts, concerns and expressions on most of the issues I have raised in this letter concerning the situation and future of our country. I also crave your indulgence to share the contents with General Yakubu Danjuma and Dr. Alex Ekwueme, whose concerns for and commitments to the good of Nigeria have been known to be strong. The limit of sharing of the contents may be extended as time goes on,” Obasanjo penned in his postscript.

Now that he does not belong to any political party, there was no dramatic tearing of card as we saw in 2013.

There was nobody to report Buhari to, so he chose the whole world, harping on the disappointment of “our international partners”, and how Nigeria needs to lead Africa.

Obasanjo did not disappoint entirely with his call for a coalition. Trust Obasanjo to thrust himself into the fray. He has offered his membership of the new group, with a promise that

he would leave if it became a political party, if it had a presidential candidate.

What then does he expect the coalition to do if not to be the alternative to Buhari? How does he want to Buhari transition to take place? Without the burden of the PDP membership card, Obasanjo still bore the burden of his hand being in everything that has resulted in Buhari? He should know that more than anyone.

In military terms, all these could be “friendly fire”, which is described as an attack by a military force on non-enemy, own, allied or neutral, forces while attempting to attack the enemy, either by misidentifying the target as hostile, or due to errors or inaccuracy.

Is it possible that Obasanjo is obfuscating the Nigerian for the interest of his group? Friendly fire, with he best intentions, could create collateral damage. Geoffrey Regan (2002) in Backfire: A History of Friendly Fire from Ancient Warfare to the Present Daydiscusses ancient friendly fires, distinguishing them from such modern day mishaps, with technology and changes in battle tactics as the major factors. He notes that recorded events in Ancient Greece and other early accounts of battles. He and other historians also note that weapons such as guns, artillery, and aircraft dramatically increased friendly-fire casualties.

More technology, amazingly, has meant more casualties by friendly fire.

By the 20th and 21st centuries, Jon Krakauer (2009) stated in, Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman, that friendly-fire casualties have likely become a significant percentage of combat injuries and fatalities. While it was 21 per cent of the casualties in World War II, it rose to 39 per cent of the casualties in Vietnam, and 52 per cent in the first Gulf War. The rate for the conflict in Iraq was 41 per cent.

No matter how protective the Obasanjo friendly was, it produced casualties, by annoying the government with the embarrassing mentions of its failure to deal with the Fulani herdsmen, corruption, nepotism, and pointing out that Buhari was not in charge.

Government is unhappy and wants to deal with social media citizens, who are building a country of their dreams on cyber sphere. Their attacks on Buhari have to be stopped, clearing a misreading of what government should do.

A better way of looking at what Obasanjo did was that he had offered Buhari a chance to be a better President, on his way to a dignified exit in 2019. He has not has asked Buhari to improve in order to continue as President.

Obasanjo has just served notice that the season of appointments is near: He wants to appoint another President.

The Oracle Today is published by The Oracle Newspapers Limited. Head Office: 116 Awka Road, Onitsha. Lagos Office: 25 Remi Fani-Kayode Street, GRA Ikeja. Abuja Office: 1st Floor, Plateau House, Central Business District, Abuja, FCT. ISSN: 2545-5869 Email: oracletoday2016@yahoo.com, Twitter: @oraclenews.ng Facebook: oraclenews.ng@facebook.com Website: www.oraclenews.ng Advert hot lines: 09078310060, 09061836916. Editor: FELIX OGUEJIOFOR ABUGU.