Wednesday October 25 Edition

Herdsmen threaten Benue again - Ortom From TONY AILEMEN, Abuja

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OVERNOR Samuel Ortom of Benue State on Tuesday told President Muhammadu Buhari that Miyetti Allah, the Fulani interest group has threatened to over run the State unless

•New fight over grazing the anti-open grazing bill was revoked. It is feared that the next round of attacks would be more vicious than the series that have

The

VOX POPULI SACRUM

devastated Benue villages and claimed hundreds of lives.

Miyetti Allah is in court to the implementation of the law, which

“I came to brief and Mr. President about the security situation in my State, about the threat about Miyetti Allah that have even taken us to court. They have been threatening that they will

it says hurts the activities of its members and is discriminatory.

Benue State made the law as a last option following the routine attacks on villages by herdsmen who destroy farms, kill, and burn whole villages.

racle

Cont’d on page 2

www.oraclenews.ng

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 25, 2017

ISSN: 2545-5869

Today

VOL.2 No. 44. N200

Where can Kanu be?

•Wife of Bright Chimezie protesting the continued detention of her husband at the Federal High Court, Abuja. Femi Fani-Kayode and Chief Osita Chidoka were also in court Photo: Tony Ailemen

From ANTHONY AILEMEN (Abuja), CHUKS EZE (Enugu) and CHRIS EZE (Yenagoa)

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or lawyers, the most important question facing the court now as Nnamdi Kanu’s trial for treason resumes is, where is the IPOB leader?

To that effect, they have faulted Justice Binta Nyako of Federal High Court, Abuja’s order that those who stood as sureties for Kanu’s bail in in April this year must produce him in court at the next hearing of his case this November 20, describing it as erroneous.

Lawyers who spoke with The Oracle Today averred that in view of “the recent unfortunate invasion of Nnamdi Kanu’s home by the federal government, which is the complainant, through its military troops, where several civilians were killed and others injured, Kanu’s sureties are not liable for the disappearance of the IPOB leader.”

•Court asks Abaribe to find him •Abaribe says, he needs time •Lawyers blame soldiers •Battle continues Nov 20 God anointed me Anambra Gov – NnoliPg 13

Said Barr Fabian C. Ugwuama, an Enugu-based lawyer: “That court decision, with all due respect, is contrary to the

Page 46

provisions of the law. The sureties are not liable to secure Kanu’s attendance in court because the federal government

that was persecuting him is still the one that invaded his house, without recourse to the law or international military rules

of engagement, to either kill him, chase him away or injure him, as the case may be, and his whereabouts has been in question since the attack took place.”

Kanu, the Director of Biafra Radio, was arrested in October 2015 in Lagos and charged with treason, among others, along with three others.

They were remanded in Kuje Prison on the outskirts of Abuja, the FCT. Their trial suffered several

Cont’d on page 2

Buhari blasts Governors

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The Oracle Today Wednesday October 25, 2017

NEWS

Buhari signs Petroleum University bill From TONY AILEMEN, Abuja

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RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja pledged his continued support for the socio-economic development of the Niger Delta region.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity Garba Shehu said he gave the assurance at a brief ceremony in the State House to sign the bill establishing the University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Delta State, into law.

According to the President “this administration is fully committed to supporting the Niger Delta in its endeavours to achieve socio-economic development.” He appealed to all communities in the region to strive for peace through dialogue in resolving all conflicts not only among them, but also with business entities and the authorities.

With the signing of the bill into law, the path has been cleared for the establishment of the specialised university in the Niger Delta, charged with training and research in petroleum technologies. The university was established by the previous administration with the first ground-breaking ceremony performed at the permanent site in March 2010.

The Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, FUPRE,

Continued from Page 1

•The former Executive Secretary of PPPRA, Reginald Stanley, commissioning newest Mainland station in Umuahia, to his right Prince Chris Odinaka Igwe, Group Managing Director of Chrisnak Group Delta State, Nigeria was first proposed in 2007 and was built as a specialized University to produce unique high level manpower and relevant expertise for the Oil & Gas

sector in Nigeria and worldwide.

The university is also said to be the first of its kind in Africa and it is destined to be the premier international institution-of-choice with

the state-of-the-art facilities to provide the petroleum and allied sectors, world class education, training, research, consultancy and extension services.

minus his co-accused, was granted bail on health grounds.

At the resumed hearing of the federal government’s case against Kanu on Tuesday, both Kanu and federal government’s lawyers protested against Kanu’s absence at the court.

Kanu’s lawyer, Barrister If-

eanyi Ejiofor, aghast at what has been described as the “mystery of Kanu’s whereabouts”, urged Justice Nyako to prevail on the federal government to produce his client.

But, the prosecution counsel, Shuabu Labaran instead urged the Federal High Court Abuja

to revoke the bail conditions granted Nnamdi Kanu in April this year, following his non-appearance in Court.

Both counsel accused each other of hiding Kanu and pre-

Court asks Abaribe to find Kanu Cont’d on page 8 technical hitches, especially over government’s request, which the court granted, to bring masked men into the witness box to testify against Kanu and his co-accused.

Owing to this and several other factors, the trial could not proceed expeditiously until April 25 this year when Kanu,

To be serialised in The Oracle Today soon

Read about the great Rangers story from next edition

Benue again

Cont’d on page 47

make the Anti-Open Grazing Act impossible for the people of Bennie State. I intimated him and also generally the security situation in the State.

“We have brought commonalities to its nearest minimum and we believe that the security agencies that are working with us will sustain the tempo. We will do everything to provide security to protect lives and property.

“Well, I am a law abiding citizen and as governor, Benue people are law abiding that is why in the midst of the provocation from herdsmen attacks, we took time to ensure that we put in place, sign it and we are going to start implementation 1 November and we hope that people will comply.

“And everyone in Benue State should appreciate the fact that it is the law that is giving us protection. It is the intention of this government to ensure that we give protection to lives and property through the rule of law.”

“So, anyone staying in Benue State must comply. One thing I must say is that the law protects herdsmen and farmers. We are against cattle rustling; those who are caught will be penalized.

Those who want to stay in Benue State and do cattle business must ranch their cattle; this is what we are saying. As far as we are concern, the law is not targeted at any individual, group of people of ethnic group, it is meant to protect everyone who is living in Benue State.”

He noted that the Miyetti Allah has taken the state to court adding that “we are there with them.

“But I don’t see how they will come and over run Benue and make it ungovernable, it is not going to be accepted. We stand by what we have done, we have done our legitimate, lawful role as governor as people of the State, so, and we don’t see how somebody will sit somewhere and say that we should not implement a law that has restored peace in our place.”

He also assured that government has directed security agencies to arrest and prosecute anyone that brings confusion to the state.

“I want to assure you that I have directed the security men to arrest those people. I am calling for the arrest of the leadership of Miyetti Allah, to be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent.”

“We have for a long time celebrated impunity in this country, we cannot continue like that. And so if they come out with this kind of threat, the evidence are there, they did a world press conference, so what is the security agencies doing” He also assured those who may want to apply for grazing land to do so as government was ready to allocate land to them for that purpose.

“Those who want to apply to get land to ranch they should do it, there are couple of ranches around. We are also going to provide land in designated places in the three senatorial zones, these have been approved by the state

Cont’d on page 47

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The Oracle Today Wednesday October 25, 2017

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION NSCDC to clamp down on Kwara hotels N over strip-dancing IGERIA Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) in Kwara has pledged to sanitise hotels and clubs used for strip dancing and other vices in the state.

The Commandant, Mr Adeyinka Ayinla, made the pledge on Thursday in Ilorin when he paid courtesy visit to the state’s Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Mahmud Ajeigbe.

The commandant said he was newly posted to the state and decided that it was From VICTOR NZE

A

bia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia has warned soldiers to desist from alleged extortion and molestation of residents.

Ikpeazu gave the warning in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information Communication Technology, Mr John Okiyi, in Umuahia, last weekend.

In the statement entitled, “Call Your Men to Order”, he expressed worry that soldiers were allegedly extorting money from residents and subjecting innocent people to unwarranted “corporal punishments”.

While describing the development as unwholesome, illegal and provocative, Ikpeazu warned that the acts could trigger civil unrest and a breach of the existing peace in the state.

“The unwholesome activities of some men of the Nigerian Army, who have formed

important to partner with the Ministry of Information in promoting peace and stability.

He explained that the NSCDC would commence investigation into issues deliberated on during courtesy visits to stakeholders.

The issues, he added, included strip-dancing in hotels, cultism, kidnappings, ritual killings, oil diversion in Baruten Local Government and Nigerian refugees crisis in the Mediterranean.

Ayinla told the commission-

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in the area of intelligence.”

Buhari re-appoints Orji, MD Sovereign Wealth Fund President Muhammadu Buhari has re-appointed Mr Uchechi Orji as Managing Director of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).

This is contained in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on

Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Thursday.

Orji was first appointed in October 2012 for an initial term of five years, renewable for another term of five years.

He said that under Orji’s leadership, “the NSIA has made remarkable strides, and its assets now stand

Stop manhandling, extorting Abia residents – Ikpeazu warns soldiers

the habit of subjecting members of the civil populace to corporal punishments and extortion of money, have reached the government of Abia.

“These acts are more prevalent along the BendeUmuahia road, Ohafia town and within Aba and environs.

These acts are not only illegal and extremely provocative, they are capable of triggering off civil unrest and a distortion of the peaceful atmosphere the government has worked hard to put in place,” Ikpeazu stated.

He assured that his administration would continue to cooperate with all security agencies in the discharge of their lawful operations in the state.

NASS to end poverty in Nigeria – Dogara peaker of House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, has disclosed that the National Assembly (NASS) is in the process of passing laws to tackle poverty in Nigeria.

He made this known last Sunday in his remarks at a sensitisation programme tagged “kick out poverty”, organised by Elizabeth Foundation, a non-governmental organization, in Abuja.

The programme was organised to commemorate the United Nations Day for Eradication of Poverty.

Dogara said that poverty eradication was closely linked to food security and rural development, and pointed out the relationship between poverty and social unrest.

He recalled that recent data from National Bureau of Statistics indicated that fewer than 112 million Nigerians representing 67.1 per cent of the country’s estimated population of 167 million lived below poverty level.

“The global poor are already above the one billion mark.

UNDP sources rate Nigeria’s

er that they were saddled with responsibility of partnering with many security agencies to ensure peace and stability in the country.

Earlier, Ajeigbe had pledged the ministry’s readiness to partner with the corps.

He, however, said “everybody should be security conscious and the society needs to assist security operatives

poverty at 62.6 per cent per capita income at 1,280 dollars and human development index at 0.47.

“These figures are simply unacceptable and challenge all of us to rise to the occasion and vanquish poverty, disease and ignorance not only in Nigeria but in the whole world.

“It is inconsistent with the social objectives set out in Chapter 2 of the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy in our Constitution.I dare say that there is also a nexus between poverty and social unrest and insurgency.

Thus, as it is clear from the theme for this year’s International Day for Eradication of Poverty, poverty eradication is a sure path to peace building.

A society with more satisfied basic needs is less likely to turn to violence in solving its problems,” he said.

Dogara cited previous attempts at eradicating poverty through several programmes and policies, including those geared towards providing primary healthcare and developing agriculture.

He, however, warned that government “shall not condone a situation where the presence of the army in the state becomes a platform to assault our people and subject them to inhuman and degrading treatments”.

The governor, therefore, charged the Commander, 14 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Ohafia and all heads of army

formations in the state to closely monitor activities of their men and ensure that the practices were stopped immediately.

According to him, government shall no longer condone this unwarranted assault on the people of the state.

“Our people, as law-abiding citizens, are fully deserving of their basic freedom and fun-

damental rights to life, personal liberty and dignity of the human person,” Ikpeazu added.

Cases of assault, inhuman treatment, molestation and extortion of motorists, allegedly perpetrated by soldiers deployed to military checkpoints in strategic locations in the state, have been rampant.

at over two billion dollars, which is invested in Nigerian Infrastructure, Economic Stabilisation and Future Generation Funds”.

He stated that in line with Section 16(2) of the NSIA Act, the National Economic Council had in July, endorsed the renewal of Orji’s appointment, given his performance in the first term.

According to Adesina, President Buhari has also approved the nomination of Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma as the Director-General of the Nigerian Law School.

Chiroma will succeed Mr Olanrewaju Onadeko, who is due for retirement.

He is a Professor of Law, and currently the Deputy Director in charge of the Yola Campus of the Nigerian Law School.

Ehanire regains freedom

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he Police Command in Edo State has confirmed the release of abducted Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Ogba Zoo and Nature Park, Benin City, Dr. Andy Ehanire.

The released Andy, is brother of Minister of State for Health, Osagie Ehanire.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Police Command in Edo, DSP Moses Nkombe, who confirmed the release, Sunday, said the feat followed concerted efforts by police operatives.

Nkonbe explained that constant change in locations delayed the quick release of Ehanire, who was kidnapped on September 24, last three weeks in an attack that claimed the lives of three policemen attached to the park.

He explained that “each time we have them on radar, they will change location but we were working on them and finally he was released yesterday (Saturday) at about 22:30hrs.”

The PPRO was however silent on whether any ransom was paid to the abductors before the release He also disclosed that the kidnapped musician, Osayomore Joseph, was yet to be released by his captors.

He explained that the command had deployed tactical teams with necessary technical strategies to ensure the release of the musician, stressing that the abductors had already established contact with the victim’s family.

Ehanire, who was reported to have been released at an undisclosed location in Warri, Delta State, has since reunited with members of his family.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday October 25, 2017

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION

Shell inaugurates N200m projects in Abia

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hell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has inaugurated water and electricity projects worth N200 million in different communities across Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State.

General Manager, SPDC, External Relations, Mr Igo Weli, who performed the inauguration of the projects in Ukwa, which include market stalls, town hall and scholarships to undergraduates in the area, last weekend, said that the inauguration of the projects was part of the SPDC’s contributions and social responsibility to develop its host communities.

He said the project was executed by the Ukwa-West Cluster Development Board under the SPDC Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) model with its host communities.

“SPDC introduced the GMoU model in 2007 with focus to place choice of development projects in the lap of beneficiaries. The model is also a platform for community-led social investment strategy – funded

by SPDC and its joint venture partners to fast track project delivery to our host communities.

“This partnership model aims to bring sustainable development in every initiative and improve interface with communities with the focus to engender socio-economic development in communities where we operate,” he said.

Weli recalled that the GMoU model launched in 2007 had expanded to 37 active GMoU clusters spread across the Niger Delta – with Ukwa West being the only cluster in Abia.

He said the infrastructure projects and programmes were part of the company’s drive to attain key sustainable goals and economic development of its host communities.

Chairman of Ukwa West Cluster Development Board, Mr Martins Noah, said the GMoU impacted positively on the 13 cluster-communities in the local government area.

Noah said that SPDC’s intervention in the cluster-communities had led to decline of cases of bunkering and vandalism of pipelines and wellheads in the area.

According to him, the cluster produces over 20 thousand barrels of crude oil per day.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum in Abia, Mr Anthony Ojinji, commended SPDC for the GMoU with the host communities.

“The Abia State Government suggested that SPDC should capture more communities hosting oil facilities in the next GMoU expected to take off in 2018,” he said.

Ambode immortalises Fela

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AGOS State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambodehas described the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti as an enigmatic artiste, who used arts to fight against bad governance and agitate for social and human rights.

Ambode made the remarks while unveiling the Liberation Statue erected at the Allen Round About, Awolowo Road, Ikeja, Lagos in honour of Fela AnikulapoKuti, last Sunday.

The late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, also known as Fela Kuti died on August 2, 1997 at the age of 59 The governor said that Fela also used his music to challenge the government and the people to explore development through social and economic activities that were rooted in African values According to him, the legend, Fela, challenged every individual to free their minds of all inhibitions and actualise their true potential.

“Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, 20 years after his death, is still alive as a movement of social consciousness and justice against oppression in our society. He made the world to sit up and take notice of the energy of African arts and music “Fela will forever be accorded his position in the global hall of fame of artistes. The phenomenon that the world knows as Fela was deeply rooted in the evolution of Lagos State. The story of music, arts, entertainment and tourism in Lagos cannot be told without an eloquent mention of

the ‘Abami Eda’.

“On this day, October 15, which would have been Fela’s 79th birthday, the government and the people of Lagos State celebrate Fela with the unveiling of this Liberation statue, ‘’ he said Ambode said that the statue was a symbol of Fela’s music, mythology, struggle for freedom, fight for human dignity, social consciousness, courage and panAfricanism “It has been 20 years since he passed on, but the memories he left remain evergreen. Today, we celebrate a man who voluntarily turned his back to a life of comfort and privilege and took up his saxophone to fight for the liberation of our people from neo-colonialism and bad governance “This statue is not an image of Fela, but a symbol of Fela’s philosophy. It is a form of respect and remembrance of what he stood for and fought for,’’ he said.

Ambode commended Fela’ family for immortalising the legend with the annual Felabration event.

He pledged that the state government would continue to fully harness the potential of entertainment, creative arts and tourism to transform the economy of the state and generate wealth and job opportunities for residents.

Also speaking, Mr Abolore Sobayo, the Sculptor and Visual Artist, said that the statue represented the essence of the late

Fela and what he stood for.

“Fela said music is a weapon and for me as an artist, art is a weapon to generate discourse and provoke thoughts. Fela’s personality provoked thoughts in me, because 20 years after his death, all his proclamations have been coming to past. He is a ‘Spirit’. He believed in the emancipation of the people, hence, this Liberation effigy,’’ he said Sobayo thanked Gov. Ambode for the opportunity given to artists to showcase their creativity and talents.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Ms Yeni Kuti, daughter of the late Fela, said that the ‘headless’ statue represented Fela’s personality.

“This kind of statue is what Fela would have wanted because he did not like statue and it reflects his personality – ‘Abami Eda’ meaning the Spirit. We thanked Gov. Ambode for recognising our father and this unveiling coincided with his birthday as he would have been 79 today, October 15, ” she said.

In her remarks, Mrs Adebimpe Akinsola, the Special Adviser to Gov. Ambode on Tourism, Arts and Culture, said that the statue was meant to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Fela’s death.

Chief Benson Idonije, late Fela’s first manager, Mr Femi Falana (SAN) his lawyer, Ms Yemisi Ransome-Kuti, Seun Kuti, Motunrayo Kuti and Kunle Kuti, were present at the event.

•Gov. Ganduje

Ganduje swears in new commissioners

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ano State, Abdullahi Ganduje has inaugurated five new commissioners to the State Executive Council.

The commissioners, who had been screened by the State House of Assembly, took their oath of office before thousands of supporters at the Coronation Hall, Government House.

Ganduje congratulated all the new commissioners on their appointment and tasked them not to betray the trust of the people.

He advised them to always reflect on their oath of office and treat all citizens of the state equally.

Ganduje advised them to come up with innovative ideas that would help develop the state.

The appointment of the newly sworn-in members of the state executive followed the cabinet reshuffle of which five out of the 14 commissioners were dropped.

The newly sworn-in commissioners are: Malam Ahmad Rabiu, (Commerce and Tourism), Aisha Jafar, (Budget and planning), Musa Kwankwaso, (Special duties), Mr Aminu Aliyu, (Works and Housing), and Mr Muktar Ibrahim, (Justice).

The commissioners were sworn in by the state Solicitor-General, Malam Sani Daniel.

Police reaffirm commitment to ‘Ember Months’

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he Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 5, Benin, Abubakar Mohammed, has assured that the zone is committed to reduction of crimes and criminalities throughout the “Ember Months”.

Abubakar said this in a statement signed by DSP Emeka Iheanacho, the zone’s Public Relations Officer, •From left: Brand Manager, Natures Gentle Touch, Anita Anosike; Movie Director of “Omoye”, Uche Chukwu; in Benin, said the zone comprised and, General Manager, Natures Gentle Touch, Chijioke Anaele and Nigerian actor Kiki Omeili at the press confer- Edo, Delta and Bayelsa.

He said the “Ember Months” was ence to announce the movie “Omoye” sponsored by Natures Gentle Touch on Thursday, October 12, 2017 at NECA a period when criminals in desperaHouse, Lagos. tion to get rich quick, indulged in several criminal activities.

The AIG, therefore, advised residents of the zone to be security conscious and vigilant at all times.

On the recent security situation in Enenche dismissed as misrep- Nigerians; therefore, it can nevFrom VICTOR NZE resentation and smear campaign er be done with ulterior motives. some parts of the zone, the AIG as“Thus, Nigerians should be sured the public that his office was he Defence Headquarters against the military regarding the assiduously to bring it unMonkey Pox disease outbreak in assured that the Armed Forces working (DHQ) has described the der control. will continue to carry out its allArmed Forces’ Medical Out- parts of the country He enjoined the people to coopconstitutional erate with the Police and other sereach as part of its constitutional He said that the Armed Forces encompassing responsibility of securing lives had been conducting medical responsibility of “National Secu- curity agencies by providing useful outreach during operations and rity,” health security inclusive information that would lead to the and property of Nigerians.

“In this regard, quick impact arrest of criminals.

Director Defence Information, routine training exercises such as Abubakar warned criminals to Maj Gen. John Enenche, said in the war against the Boko Haram medical outreaches were usually a statement issued in Maiduguri, insurgency in the North-East and conducted during deliberate op- stay away from the zone or be erations such as the war against made to face the wrath of the law.

Borno State, that there were Egwu Eke II in the South-East.

He also advised the people of the “Categorically, the practice of insurgency and terrorism in the zone no sinister motive behind the not to panic but to go about reaching out to the general public North-East and routine training their lawful businesses as adequate Armed Forces medical outreach medically is akin to the key task of exercise such as Egwu Eke II in security measures had been put in exercise. securing the lives and property of the South-East”. place to protect lives and property.

‘Medicaloutreachpartofmilitary’sresponsibility’

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The Oracle Today Wednesday October 25, 2017

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3. To help the less privileged in the society.

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I formerly known as MISS ENUGHOBI IFEOMA now wish to be known as MRS MBADUGHA MARTINA IFEOMA. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note

I formerly known as MISS OMEH FAITH NNEKA now wish to be known as MRS EYA FAITH NNEKA. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note

I formerly known as EGWUATU JOSEPH now wish to be known as EGWUATU OKEKE JOSEPH. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note

I formerly known as OKEKE OGONNA EMMANUEL now wish to be known as EBELENDU OGONNA EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note

I formerly known as MISS OSUOFOR PERPETUAL ADAOBI now wish to be known as MRS OFFORDUM PERPETUAL ADAOBI. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note

I formerly known as OKPALA SUNDAY AMACHUKWU now wish to be known as OKPALA SUNDAY ANTHONY. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note

I formerly known as MISS MADUBUIKE CHARITY NKECHI now wish to be known as MRS MADUBUIKE CHARITY OGUGBUAJA. All former documents remain valid. Banks, Local Government Service Commission and general public take note.

I formerly known as ILOH UDOKA BLESSING now wish to be known as NWAKPA UDOKA BLESSING. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note

I formerly known as AMADIEGWU STEPHENA LUCY; AMADIEGWU CHIAMAKA STEPHENA and AMADIEGWU NNEKA STEPHENA now wish to be known as STEPHEN NNEKA STEPHENA. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note

This is to certify that my name was wrongly written as NNAMEKWE ANTHONIA instead of IYAGBA ANTHONIA NNAMEKWE. My correct name is IYAGBA ANTHONIA NNAMEKWE and my date of birth is 8TH APRIL 1953. All former documents remain valid.

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This is to certify that my name was wrongly written as EKWEOBA CHIOZIE instead of EKWEOBA CHUKWUDOZIE ROMANUS. My correct name is EKWEOBA CHUKWUDOZIE ROMANUS. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note

I formerly known as MISS OKOLO FLORENCE IJEOMA now wish to be known as MRS NGWU FLORENCE IJEOMA. All former documents remain valid Banks and general public take note

I formerly known as OKORO CHINENYE JULIETH now wish to be known as OKONKWO CHINENYE JULIETH. All former documents remain valid Banks, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, National Youth Service Corps and general public take note

I formerly known as OKAFOR SOMTOCHUKWU GREAT now wish to be known as ONWUAKPA AMARACHUKWU BEATRICE. All former documents remain valid Banks and general public take note

I formerly Known and addressed as MISS MODOZIE EBELE HOPE Now wish to be known and addressed MRS OKONGWU EBELE HOPE (Nee Modozie) All former document remain valid BANKS and general public take note.

This is to certify that AJULUCHI SABASTINE ONYINYECHI and AJULUCHUKWU SABASTINE ONYINYECHUKWU are one and the same person now wish to be known and addressed as AJULUCHUKWU SABASTINE ONYINYECHUKWU. former documents remain valid. Banks and General public take note.

I formerly known as OGBUAGUKING ANGELA now wish to be known as OGBUAGU IJEOMA ANGELA. former documents remain valid. Banks and General public take note.

I, formerly known as DEHJAMES RAPURUCHI CHINOMSO, now wish to be known and addressed as JAMES DEHJAMES CHINOMSO. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

I formerly known as DAVID HANNAH FAVOUR now wish to be known as HANNAH OGUDU DAVID. All former documents remain valid. Banks, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, National Youth Service Corps angeneral public take note

I formerly known as OBIAKARAIJE FRANCISCA OZURUONYE now wish to be known as OBIAKARAIJE FRANCA OZURUONYE. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note

I formerly known as JOHN REYMOD O. now wish to be known as JOHN RAYMOND ORAKWE. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public take note

This is to certify that AKOR JOHN ADAM and AKOR JOHN ADAH is one and the same person ,now wish to be known and addressed as AKOR JOHN ADAH. former documents remain valid. General public take note

I formerly known as MISS MBAKOGU EBERE MAUDLINE now wish to be known as Mrs CHUKWUDI EBERE MAUDLINE. All former documents remain valid.Banks and general public take note

This is to certify that DASEWAYU JONATHAN NBEZONBA, DASEWAYO JONATHAN NBEZONBA and SYLVANUS NBEZONBA JONATHAN is one and the same person now wish to be known as SYLVANUS NBEZONBA JONATHAN. Born on 03-10-1991. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public take note.

I formerly Known and addressed as OGUELINA LORITA CHNELO now wish to be known and addressed as ADIGWE LORITA CHINELO All former document remain valid BANKS and general public take note.

I formerly known as ANYANWU KELECHI BLESSING now wish to be known as EGWUASU KELECHI BLESSING. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note

We formerly known as NGWU SOMTOCHUKWU EMMANUEL C and NGWU ADACHUKWU MARY now wish to change from NGWU to CHUKWUDI and be addressed as CHUKWUDI SOMTOCHUKWU EMMANUEL C and CHUKWUDI ADACHUKWU MARY. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note

This is to certify that KENE GODWIN ONUZULUIKE and KENE GODWIN ONUZULIKE JOSEPH are one and the same person now wish to be known and addressed as KENE GODWIN ONUZULUIKE. All former documents remain valid.

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This is to certify that OKEME CHIDINMA GOODNESS and OKEME CHIDINMA VICTORIA refer to one and same person.

All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note

This is to certify that my name was wrongly written as UGWUANYIJA BONIFACE IKECHUKWU and my date of birth was wrongly written as 20TH MAY 1973 instead of UGWU BONIFACE IKECHUKWU and 5TH MAY 1972 respectively . All former documents remain valid. Access Bank and general public take note

I formerly known as EJENAM ONYINYE now wish to be known as EJENAM ONYINYE FAVOUR. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public take note

For your change of Names, Public Notice & Announcements Please call: 08037029702, 08036682255, 09078310060 Or Visit our office at: 116 Awka Road, Onitsha. Lagos Office: 25 Remi Fani-Kayode Street, GRA Ikeja. Abuja Office: 1st Floor, Plateau House, Central Business District, Abuja, FCT. Email: oracletoday2016@yahoo.com

6

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 25, 2017

NEWS Gov Umahi sets up committee on workers’ promotion arrears From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki

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overnor David Umahi has expressed dissatisfaction with the standard of jobs done by the contractors handling the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), Secondary Education Board (SEB) and the 13 General Hospitals projects in the State.

In a meeting with the Chairmen of the Boards, their team members and government at the Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Abakaliki, the governor frowned at the development whereby some of the Contractors lowered the agreed standard of materials for the jobs and warned that any Contractor henceforth, found doing shoddy jobs would be made public via the radio and television no matter who the person is.

“We agreed that nobody should use blocks that are not vibrated, but that is not what is going on.

We also agreed that nobody should use blocks that do not have mixture of stone dust but only very few are doing that,” Umahi fumed.

The governor, however, blamed the development on inadequate supervision of the projects by their responsible Boards, warning them to turn a new leaf or face government’s sanctions.

“I want to put it before the public that I am not satisfied with the supervision of the General Hospitals we are renovating and yet to equip. We are not satisfied with the UBEB works that are going on in the Primary and Secondary schools. I brought you before CAN to listen to this and to let you know that if anything goes wrong again, I will not invite CAN back but Government will take action to bring people who can stand with us to ensure that these things are done”, he stressed.

Re-affirming that his vision is to ensure that any job done in the State should be able to last up to 50 years and above, he noted that no government official or public servant in the State asked for returns from any contractor and warned that government would not fail to invite the anti-graft agencies against any defaulting contractor.

Commending his Senior Special Assistant on Project Monitoring and Evaluation, Engr. (Mrs.) Uchechi Okah and her team for their diligence and professionalism in service, the governor empowered them to terminate, henceforth, any job identified by them to fall below agreed standards, no matter who is involved.

Governor Umahi added that all contracts in the state must henceforth, be accompanied with detailed programme of work and a sworn affidavit specifying penalties for non-compliance to terms and standards.

Stakeholders urge Abia govt to criminalise salary, pensions fraud From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

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takeholders have urged Abia State government to make salary and pensions of workers a priority and criminalize all forms of fraud arising from them.

The call was part of the 9-point recommendations contained in the Validation of Abia Paris/Bailout Fund report presented by the Advocacy for Partnership and Good Governance (APAGG) in Umuahia.

APAGG, a non-governmental organization had initiated a public dialogue on how the Paris Club Refund received by Abia State was disbursed and followed it up with a survey, explained that the validation report presented the views and information gathered during the survey it conducted after the public dialogue.

Going by speculations that staff of sub-treasuries embezzle funds meant for gratuities and pensions of retirees and accusations against those who prepare pay roll for salary payments, stakeholders who graced the presentation of the report said such persons, when caught, should be made to face the full weight of the law.

The stakeholders comprising labor unions, Journalists, Pensioners, and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), said there was need for the state government to accord priority to salary and pension “because it is only the living that can enjoy infrastructure.”

Other recommendations include that: government should vote out money monthly for the retirees; carry labor leaders along before taking any decision that concern

workers; utilize all the funds to the benefit of the citizens and reduce the cost of governance in view of dwindling revenue.

The report also recommended that government should carry the CSOs and citizens along during policy formulation for inclusive governance and keep an open door policy; while also carrying the media along by giving her first-hand information so that citizens can be getting the actual fact from government through the media.

APAGG said it observed during the survey that it did not find the bailout fund under the expected loan in 2017 budget, neither was the Paris fund seen as capital receipt in the 2017 budget; just as the subsidiary legislation empowering the Nigeria Labour Congress to distribute the Paris Club refund was

not also seen.

It suggested that the issue of slim allocations, ghost workers syndrome, padding of salaries and pensions, having salaries and pensions on the first line charge in the state should be properly addressed.

National Coordinator of APAGG, Barrister Chibuzo Crownwell, praised Abia State government for being the first state in the South East to openly engage her citizens and other targeted beneficiaries of the fund on how the disbursement was conducted.

Crownwell explained that the overall goal of public dialogue and survey was to identify the state in South East that followed both federal and state Governments agreed guidelines in the disbursement of Paris fund.

Prominent Imo Indigenes receive meritorious service awards in Anambra

By MEJEE MEJEE

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• Massive turnout as Oseloka Henry Obaze, PDP governorship candidate in the 18 November Anambra election flags-off his campaign Photo: Obinna Egwu

PVC: PDP embarks on house-to-house sensitisation • Says PVC, antidote to impunity, god-fatherism From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia every election must be conducted through primaries and anybody eaders of Peoples Democratic who wins goes in to contest on Party (PDP) in Urban Ward 1 in behalf of the party. There is no Umuahia North Local Govern- god-fatherism, nobody is going to ment Area of Abia State have em- impose anybody on anybody,” he barked on house-to-house sensiti- said. zation of members on the need for He maintained that only those them to obtain their Permanent with their PVCs would participate Voter cards (PVCs) in the party primaries and main A chieftain of the party in the elections, adding that leaders in area, Chief Charles Ogbonnaya, the Ward were worried that many told The Oracle Today in an inter- members did not have PVCs. view in Umuahia that party faithful Speaking on the side-lines of a would end impunity and reign of meeting of the Ward at Umuobasi godfathers which ruined the party Community Hall, Ugba, Chief Ogin 2015 by obtaining their PVCs. bonnaya who is a Commissioner“PDP as a party, we made mis- nominee, said: takes, from the national to the “We noticed that in one or two state levels and that resulted to meetings we called, when you our losing the elections. What we ask people to produce their voter need to do is to learn from those cards, they were unable to do that mistakes because internal de- and then we realized that majority mocracy was seriously lacking in of people that attended the meetPDP and today we are asking that ing were without voter cards. It is a those mistakes must be corrected. very big problem for us.

“We have learnt our lessons and “So, we now decided to call

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people, enlighten them to go and register and obtain their PVCs. Ordinarily we have been doing some house-to-house enlightenment, asking people to go and register,” he said.

He said he was happy that the ruling All Peoples Congress (APC) at the centre was performing abysmally, saying it would pave the way for PDP to return to power at the national level in 2019.

Earlier, Chairman of Urban Ward 1, Elder Nnaji Otuonye, had while addressing the meeting, enjoined all PDP members in the ward to ensure that they obtained their PVC to qualify them to vote during elections and benefit from welfare programmes of the party.

Chairman of the PDP in Umuahia North, Chief Ben Okezie, who also graced the meeting, charged members to remain steadfast and continue to support the Dr Okezie Ikpeazu-led administration in the state.

ome prominent members of Imo State community in Anambra have received various awards for their meritorious contributions to community development.

The awards, which were given by Amaigbo Town Union Imo State, Anambra State Chapter, under the leadership of Dr. Oliver Nnawuike, came as one of the highlights of the 2017 general convention of the union.

The convention also featured appraisal of one-year in office of the present leadership of Amaigbo Town Union in Anambra state.

Addressing members of the union, chairman of the Amaigbo Town Union, Anambra State, Dr. Oliver Nnamihe stated that those who were honored by the union deserved the awards in respect of their contribution to the development of Imo State and Amaigbo Community in the Nwangele L.G.A of the State.

He urged them not to relent in their efforts toward the development of the Amaigbo Community and Anambra State where they reside and do their business, reminding them not to shirk their responsibilities in paying tax to the government.

On the coming Nov. 18th governorship election in Anambra State, Dr. Nnawuihe who is a PDP leader in one of the wards in Okpoko, advised the people of Anambra State to exercise their civic responsibility by voting for a candidate they believe would deliver democracy dividends to the people of the state.

Among those who received the award for community and state development services are Nze Chigozie Nnadi , Chief John Abanihi, Chief Cyprian Achu, Chief Livinus Ejiofor and Chief Paschal Anochirim.

Present at the award-giving ceremony were all the executives of the Amaigbo town union, including Mr. Boniface Ekechukwu, vice chairman, Mr. Iheanyi Ahanonu, Secretary, Mr. Samuel Uzoma, Deputy Secretary and Mr. Friday Ikeme, P.R.O. Others include are Jonathan Chinagorom, Mr Nathan Uzoma, Mr. Alphonsus Chukwuma, Michael Olekibe, Felix Onwuanube and Mr. Chidi Ughala.

7

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 25, 2017

NEWS

Lagos vendors back The Oracle Today for success From MADUABUCHI KALU, Lagos

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HE rains tended to disrupt activities in Lagos on Thursday, but the meeting The Oracle Today hosted for vendors in Lagos was a success as many vendors from different parts of the State gathered at the Eagles Club on Adeniran Ogunsanya Street, Surulere.

On hand to receive the guests was the management team of The Oracle Today led by the Managing Director and Editor-In-Chief Mr. Ikeddy Isiguzo.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Isiguzo told the vendors that they are critical stakeholders in The Oracle Today business and as such, the

company held them in high esteem.

He stressed that vendors were the ones to lead readers to the paper, noting that even if they did not sell the paper, by merely showing the paper to people on the streets, Nigerians will know that such a paper existed. He said vendors should create more awareness for the paper.

“I am very happy to see all of you because there is no way we can do our business without you. In fact it is almost impossible and I will explain that,” Isiguzo declared.

“People conduct this type of business in different ways. Sometimes, people ask companies to

send some copies directly to their offices. Others adopt other arrangements to sell their papers.

Some may even go to the bus terminals and sell. But, for those of you who take this paper and walk the streets, you are showing this paper to people.

“By selling the paper, you are our biggest marketing partner. As you walk around the streets with the paper, whether you sell or not (but we want you to it), people become aware that there is a paper like this.

Also speaking at the event, the Editor Mr. Felix Oguejiofor Abugu explained that The Oracle Today is a national newspaper published in

Onitsha, Anambra State.

He noted that the paper is national both in look, spread and content.

He said by producing in Onitsha the management of the paper wanted to prove that national audiences could be addressed from any part of the country, contrary to the impressions that newspaper business cannot flourish outside Lagos.

For his part, Chairman of Vendors in Lagos, Chief Nicholas Okereke advised the management to sharpen the newspaper’s focus and cover its market segment very well as that would easily attract the attention and patronage of readers

in that segment.

Making further suggestion on the way forward, one suggested that there is need for the paper to target a particular set of audience saying despite the fact that the paper is national paper, it will become a huge success if it covers the South East and South-south geo-political zones very well.

He contended that other parts of Nigeria are always interested in reading credible reports about goings on in the South East and South South geo-political ones of the country.

Mr. Isiguzo thanked the vendors for their suggestions.

Obiano’s aide resigns in protest

• Accuses gov of non-performance, neglect of his Constituency, Ekwusigo From CHUKS COLLINS, Awka

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key assistant to Gov Willie Obiano and his aide on Legislative and Labour Union Matters, Hon. Pauly Onyeka has resigned his appointment in protest, citing he what described as dire neglect of his people in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of the state.

Onyeka, was until the last general election, a member of the State Assembly.

In his resignation letter dated October 16, 2017, Onyeka said that he had to resign because it was of no use for him and his Constituency to continue in the Obiano administration when his people are being ignored and openly denied the dividend of democracy.

The well-known former lawmaker decried what he saw as bare-faced marginalization of the people of his area in political appointments, particularly sensitive ones like the position of a Commissioner.

According to him, “...save for the skeletal works on 2 out of the eight roads under construction in

Ekwusigo (6 from Mr. Peter Obi and 2 from you) all have been abandoned”.

“That I started appealing to you over these roads since 3 years ago when I was in the legislature representing my people. I intensified my plea 2 years ago. I made it clear to you that Ekwusigo people will be so difficult to mobilize for your re-election unless something miraculous happens on those roads, yet you did nothing tangible”.

He further stated that thousands of youths in Ekwusigo local government area were not empowered by the government, adding that the Ihembosi MDG Skills Acquisition Center built by that past administration that could have given the youths skills, was fast dilapidating without being put into use.

“In view of the above circumstance and considering the opinion of my people on them, I have come to the conclusion that, any further stay in your government, shall send a wrong signal to them and may in turn impugn on my integrity”.

•The new Mainland Oil and Gas station opens in Umuahia

Operation Crocodile Smile: Immunisation rumour rattles Port Harcourt • Parents withdraw school children as Army dispels rumour • Armed not involved in immunization-RSG Traditional rulers ask parents to take their children back to schools From NATH OMAME, Port Harcourt Pandemonium broke out in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, Tuesday, as parents and guardians stormed primary and secondary schools to pick up their children and wards to fprevent them from being immunized by the Nigerian army.

The immunization scare, which turned out to be an unfounded rumour was ignited when some parents claimed they were informed that men and women from the medical corps of the Nigerian Army were seen at primary and secondary schools forcing pupils and students to undergo the immunization which they were told was an alibi to inject their children and wards with ‘Monkey Pox’ virus to eliminate and reduce the nation’s burgeoning population.

At the State Primary School in Rumuosi, parents were seen picking up children, saying that they were reliably informed that their children would be injected with the ‘Monkey Pox’ virus under the guise that they were being immunized.

A school mistress at a primary school in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area said they were surprised when they saw parents rushing to pick up their children from the school scared that their children would be forcibly injected with the so-called ‘Monkey Pox’ virus.

A school proprietress who wished to remain anonymous said: “Parents forced the gate open, shouting that no one should inject their children with any injection. As far as we know, no soldier came to our school this morning. I advised parents to remain calm. There is nothing like that.

•The new Mainland Oil and Gas station opens in Umuahia “I asked some of the parents, ‘what is happening?’ And they kept telling me that they saw other parents picking up their children, so, they joined to also pick up their children. Some of them even said it happened in this school. We have not seen any military man in this school. We have not seen anyone in military uniform here, today.”

A worried parent regretted: “My daughter came back home before her normal closing time. When I asked her why she came home early, she said parents have come to pick up their children from school.

She said her auntie told her to go home since she was the only child left at school. I am really shocked at this development.”

The Nigerian army spokesman,

Col. Aminu Iliasu, said the army was not in any medical fascination outreach. He insisted that those peddling the rumour were enemy of the state out to drive a wedge between the army and members of the public.

“The army will not vaccinate school children in the on-going Crocodile Smile Two. The army will only donate instructional materials to students,” he said.

We appeal to parents and guardians not to panic. This incorerect information is coming from negative opportunists. Yes, the army will conduct medical outreach, but there will be no immunization of any kind.”

“Before we start, the army will issue a press release. We will also in-

teract with the state government: ministry of health and the ministry of education.”

By 12 noon, on Tuesday, all primary and secondary in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor local governments had closed as parents stormed the schools to pick up their children.

Commissioner for Information and Communications, Emmah Okah, declared that there was no mmunization by the army taking place in the state.

Traditional ruler of Akpor kingdom, Oribe Wali and the traditional ruler of Choba, Richard Okocha, dispelled the rumour and appealed to parents to take their children back to schools.

8

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 25, 2017

NEWS

Glamorous 16th Onitsha Ofala festival ends with evergreen memories This year’s glamorous 16th Ofala Annual Cultural festival celebrated by the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe has come and gone but its memory will remain fresh in the annals of history and evergreen in the minds of the people.

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he two-day fiesta, which showcased the rich cultural heritage of Onitsha, was attended by eminent personalities, including the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II; Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State and Chief Osita Chidoka, the UPP candidate.

The Ooni was received by Achebe (Agbogidi) himself at the revered Ime Obi Palace, Onitsha where they exchanged pleasantries and had tete a tete.

Although the Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu had few years ago directed that the civil suit filed by Prince Ifeanyi Onyejekwe, one of the contestants to the Obiship throne of Onitsha, seeking the removal of Achebe from the throne and installing him (Onyejekwe) as the authentic Obi of Onitsha, directed that the suit be sent back to Anambra State High court where it was initially originated, thus making the case pending before the court till date, Obi Achebe still commands maximum respect from both his subjects on one hand and the government and his contemporaries on the other.

During the two-day event, which was sponsored by Glo Telecommunications Network, both Achebe himself and his cabinet members, which included the Ogene Onira, the Ede Gbogbogaga, the Odu, the Odua Ngu and other titled ones danced to the rhythm of Ota native dance at one time or the other, according to the order of seniority.

Even without the presence of the late Onowu of Onitsha, Chief Chike Ofodile (SAN) who joined his ancestors a few years ago, which made his seat remain vacant till date, the Owelle II of Onitsha, Chief Chukwuma Azikiwe, first son of the Owelle the I, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and the absence of the late Ojiudo Enema of Onitsha, Chief Felix Odiari who also died a few years ago, the festival was enjoyed by all and sundry.

In his remarks, Achebe threw his weight behind the call by majority of Nigerians for the restructuring of the country in such a way as to suit all the ethnic nationalities.

Achebe stated that the only solution to the country’s socio-economic and political problem is to restructure the country in such a way that it would chart a new course for a peaceful, united and stable Nigeria.

He also renewed his call on the federal government to commence without further delay the second Niger bridge project and to either open up business in the Onitsha seaport of final destination or declare it a disaster area.

According to Achebe: “I thank God for seeing us through to yet another year and I commend the State government, security agencies and other stake holders in this area for sustaining the peace and the tempo on the security net work across the zone.”

“I want to use this opportunity to appeal to the federal government to embrace dialogue as the only means to end ethnic violence and agitations by ensuring equity and justice in Nigeria polity,” he said.

In his remark at the occasion, Governor Willian Obiano of Anambra State thanked the Obi and Onitsha-Ado N’Idu Kingdom for not only sustaining the Igbo traditional culture and customs but also raising raising the standard.

Obiano commended the Onitsha community for their support for his administration and reassured them of his commitment to the safety, peace and development of the state, pointing out that Anambra State has remained the safest State in the country irrespective of little challenges occasioned by political opposition and quest by some overzealous political opponent to create a state of insecurity in the state.

“I want to assure you that this government will do everything within her powers to protect the lives and property of her citizens. We have no other State to go and I am duly bound to ensure that the suffering of Anambra people is reduced to the barest minimum, through good governance, payment of salaries as and when due, creating an enabling envelopment to make the state the first choice of final destination place for inventors in Nige-

• Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe steps out majestically at his 16th Ofala

• The Otu Odu Onitsha at the Ofala ria.”

“I urge you to support my governments, vote for APGA and vote for continuity and good governance in Anambra State.

“As we celebrate the Ofala today, with our revered Royal father as part of the activity marking his new yam festival, I assure you that agriculture remains our priority and we will continue to invest more in agriculture to create employment, have enough food on

our table for our local consumption and export.”

Also speaking, former Minister of Aviation and Governorship candidate of UPPm Chief Osita Chidoka, praised Onitsha people for their rich culture and tradition and described Achebe as an embodiment of distinction, grace and courage that ndi Igbo are famed for.

According to Chidoka, “it is always an honour to visit and sit in the presence

of such a distinguished royal father whom I have continued to draw inspiration from; and even in the midst of today’s activities, he made out time to engage in a brief, but quality discussion with me.”

He, therefore, used the occasion to solicit the votes of Ndi Anambra as, according to him, if he becomes the next governor of the state, he would clean up everywhere and make the state great in terms of development.

Governorship aspirants invade venue, canvass for votes

By OGE ONYEANUSI

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he arena of this year’s Ofala, which marked the 16th anniversary of the enthronement of His Majesty, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe as the Obi of Onitsha, bore the imprint of a political rally more than the usual traditional Ofala festival setting as gubernatorial candidates, mostly from the major parties took over the arena with their supporters and openly canvassed for votes, to the dismay of Onitsha Chiefs and other visitors.

The atmosphere got charged when the former Governor Peter Obi with his political son, Chief Oseloka Obaze stormed the arena, went round after paying homage to the monarch.

As Obi was at the other end acknowledging cheers from the mammoth crowd that throng to feed their eyes on

the colourful Ofala event, Obaze was at the other, prompting the Master of Ceremony to plead that gubernatorial candidates should allow the people of Onitsha to celebrate their yearly Ofala.

His plea fell on deaf ears as their supporters and the cheering crowd were focused on the august visitors’ largesse that was being freely shared to lucky ones.

Earlier, when the incumbent Governor Willie Obiano was addressing the participants, there was sanity and decorum as people were all ears listening to him as he was listing his achievements that centred on security, agriculture, light, road rehabilitation, among others and the need for him to be re-elected to better the welfare of the people.

He described APGA as the party of the Igbo man that would take them

to the promised land, stating that he has not relented in paying salaries and pensions as at and when due which the crowd nodded their head in conformity and pledged to vote for him.

Also the candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Hon. Tony Nwonye breezed into the arena on the second day (Azu-Ofala) with his supporters, went round and acknowledged cheers from the crowed.

Other gubernatorial candidates and political big-wigs who came with their supporters felt the arena was not ripe for political campaign and quietly came in, took their bow at the Monarch and left.

Senator Uche Ekwunife came in with her supporters and left after some time.

Speaking on the Ofala, the member representing Onitsha North 1 in the

state House of Assembly, Hon. Chugbo Enwezor, expressed satisfaction at the large turn out of both politicians and others, hinting that there has been a lot of improvement in the palace.

According to him, “the core value of Ofala as a culture is not going into extinction.”

“Anybody who comes in here from US will appreciate it,” he said.

On the coming gubernatorial election, he urged the candidates to take their defeat or victory in good faith as sportsmen and pleaded with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure free, fair and credible election.

Also, an Ozor title holder, Nnanyelugo Kelvin Ajefo described this year’s Ofala festival as very successful adding: “Ofala is a progressive thing and each year, we keep on improving on the

standard.”

“You can see the edifice was just built last year to have better control of the arena. There is good attendance despite the recession and we have the gubernatorial candidates who came to grace the occasion,” he enthused.

He described Igwe Achebe as an opinion moulder, and thanked God for keeping him.

Said he: “The monarch has done a lot of changes in Onitsha and we thank God for keeping him.”

Contributing, Okwudili Mba, elder brother to the Chairman of Onitsha North council Area, Agha Mba, expressed satisfaction at the “good work” God has been doing in the area through his brother and commended the monarch for his fatherly role especially as it concerns the youths in the ancient town, whom he empowers.

9

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 25, 2017

POLITICS

5000 APC decampees highlight PDP popularity in Delta -- Amb Karo

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HE EXECUTIVE Assistant to the governor of Delta State on Marine Development Amb. Oghene Karo Ekewenu, has said that the recent mass movement of over 5000 APC members to PDP in Delta State has shown that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s transformation agenda is on course in the State.

Amb. Karo Ekewenu, who spoke to newsmen shortly after the decampees declared for PDP, said the development has clearly shown that Gov Ifeanyi Okowa is transforming Delta State and making his administration attractive for all and sundry to join hands and work with him to develop Delta.

•Says it’s evidence Gov. Okowa is working “It’s paramount to us in the PDP in Delta State to receive over 5000 APC decampees back to PDP. The declaration of the Decampees led by Chief Friday Akpoyibo back to PDP is evidence that Okowa is working despite recession and that APC has nothing to offer.

“Nobody wants to decamp to a party that is not functioning; the PDP in Delta State through Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has been

tested and trusted,” Akpoyibo said.

According to him, Since Okowa emerged as governor, he has been fair to Deltans by completing over 50 road projects , equipping three technical colleges in the state, empowering over 20,000 youths across the three Senatorial Districts and many more.

He called on other APC members to join a winning team by decamping from APC to the PDP.

•Lady Evangelist Favour Ugwuanyi who represented the First Lady of Enugu State during the GloiHand washing Day celebration held at Okpara Square in Enugu washing her hands. Standing right in suit is the Chief host and MD EN-RUWASSA Dr Okenwa Frank Omeje JP

Pensioners decry ‘endless’ screening in Cross River From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar

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ensioners in Cross River have protested against another round of screening exercise by the state government to revalidate those who are eligible to be paid gratuities, which have been outstanding since 2013.

The pensioners who were led by the state chairman of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Comrade Emmanuel Adie moved along major streets of Calabar Municipality with placards decrying another revalidation exercise.

They alleged that the exercise is a ploy by government to buy time and not pay them their entitlements after they served the state for 35 years.

Comrade Adie disclosed that last year, there was a screening exercise which captured all those eligible to be paid their gratuity.

Another exercise by government would exclude those who died between last year and now; they will be branded “ghosts’, while buying time in order not to pay them.

“We completely see no valid rationale for the proposed revalidation exercise as directed by the Cross River state government. Our stand on this long drawn issue of payment of gratuity to pensioners is predicated upon the untold hardship encountered by pensioners as they have had to present themselves so frequently needlessly,” Adie said.

The NUP Chairman said the state government has received the Paris Club Refund twice and bailout fund, which were supposed to be used to defray outstanding gratuities of retired workers but the state government has refused to pay these people thereby causing many of them to die from hardship.

“Between the last revalidation and now, we have lost not less than 50 pensioners who

were verified. In this so-called revalidation, would these departed senior citizens not be treated as ghosts?

“It takes a next of kin over 10 years to access their relatives benefit so payment should be based on last year’s screening list.

“If we are not paid before the end of the year, in 2018 there will be no bailout and Paris Club refund and electioneering will be in top gear, therefore nobody will listen or take our plight into consideration,” he lamented.

World Food Day: Delta to export products to UK From JONATHAN AWANYAI,Asaba

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elta State will soon export plantain and gari to the United Kingdom, the State governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has said.

The governor who disclosed this during an even to mark the World Food Day in Asaba, the State capital, said his government would partner with farmers in the State to commence the plantain and gari export to the United Kingdom.

Represented at the event by his Chief of Staff, Mr Tam Brisibe, Okowa noted that the state has a comparative advantage and ranked best in the country in the production of plantain and gari, a by-product of cassava.

The governor said the theme of the Day, “Change the Future of Migration, Invest in Food Security and Rural Development, ” was in line with the state government’s agricultural empowerment programme.

Okowa said that the world in the last few years recorded great migration of people, particularly the youths, from the rural to urban centres in search of jobs, safety and security.

He said the incidence of migration has remained a global challenge and a threat to agriculture.

“The export programme will facilitate and improve agricultural production activities in the rural areas in respect of cassava produc-

tion and plantain thereby reversing the trend of rural-urban migration,” Okowa said.

“Seventy five per cent of the state population resides in the rural communities and this administration has put up programmes to develop youths and women through agricultural empowerment programmes.

“We are creating enabling environment for our rural farmers through rural electrification, water and beautification projects across the 25 Local Government Areas of the state.

“So, we must develop the rural areas to make migration to the urban less attractive and to invest in food security,” he said.

Earlier, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Chief Austin Chikezie, said the state government has adopted community friendly and sustainable agricultural practices.

“Such practices include co-operative farming, cluster fish farming, cluster youths empowerment programme and promoting peaceful herdsmen-farmer’s meetings,” he said.

Farmers at the occasion also displayed their produce for exhibition and sales to mark the day as the state government gave the farmers certificates of participation while others were recognised for their outstanding performance.

‘Delta is ready to tackle Monkeypox’ From JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

I

n view of the outbreak of monkey pox in some states of the country, the Delta State Government has said that it is prepared to wage an effective war against the disease as the State’s Rapid Response Team has been placed on red alert to respond to emergencies wherever they may occur in the state.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Azinge, who stated this in an interview with The Oracle Today, said the State, through the Ministry of Health, is collaborating with the World Health Organization (WHO) in taking proactive measures to combat the disease in the event of it occurring in the state.

He urged the general public not to panic as adequate arrangements have been made to prevent and curtail the outbreak of the diseases in Delta State and disclosed that the Disease Surveillance Officers in the 25 local government areas has been sensitised by the ministry, in conjunction with WHO, saying that sensitisation of other health workers in the state was being planned.

According to him: “Disease outbreak prevention and case management materials have been pre-positioned in the local government areas having common borders with Bayelsa State to forestall possible importation of the disease.”

While saying that radio and television jingles meant to inform but not to alarm the general public was being planned, he said that arrangements have been concluded with National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for the rapid transfer of samples collected from suspected cases to WHO reference laboratory in Dakar,Senegal, for confirmation.

“In addition, we are going to maintain constant border patrol of the three local government areas – Patani, Bomadi and Burutu – that have common borders with Bayelsa State to forestall possible importation of the disease,” he assured.

Azinge said that Monkey pox is a rare disease that occurs primarily in remote parts of Central and West Africa, near tropical rainforests and added that it is a viral zoonosis (a virus transmitted to humans from animals) with symptoms in humans similar to those seen in the past in small pox patients, though less severe.

The Commissioner for Health said the disease could be transmitted via direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids, or cutaneous or mucosal lesions of infected animals such as monkeys, rats and squirrels. “Secondary, or human-to-human, transmission can result from close contact with infected respiratory tract secretions, skin lesions of an infected person or objects recently contaminated by patient fluids or lesion materials,” he noted.

While saying that the disease treatment is conservative as there is no available vaccine, Azinge highlighted the disease symptoms to include, fever, intense headache, lymphadenopathy (swelling of the lymph node), back pain, myalgia (muscle ache); an intense asthenia (lack of energy); and rashes which begins from the face and spread to other parts of the body including the palm and sole of the feet.

Meanwhile, the Senate has urged the Federal Government to liaise with the World Health Organisation and other donor agencies for contingencies against eventualities as Nigeria fights against monkeypox.

This was part of the prayers of a motion moved by Senator Ali Wakili (BauchiSouth), titled ‘Urgent Need for Proactive Steps to Nip in the Bud Reported Outbreak of Monkeypox Disease in Nigeria,’ which the Senate adopted at the plenary during the week.

10

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 25, 2017

FOR THE RECORD

Abaribe’s application for discharge from suretyship of Nnamdi Kanu

IN THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF NIGERIA HOLDEN AT ABUJA CHARGE No. FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015 Motion No. BETWEEN FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA COMPLAINANT AND 1.NNAMDI KANU DEFENDANT 2.CHIDIEBERE ONWUDIWE DEFENDANT 3.BENJAMIN MADUBUGWU DEFENDANT 4. DAVID NWAWUISI DEFENDANT IN THE APPLICATION OF SENATOR ENYINNAYA HARCOURT ABARIBE TO BE DISCHARGED FROM THE SURETYSHIP, BOND, RECOGNISANCE AND THE INCIDENCE OF THE BAIL OF NNAMDI KANU IN CHARGE No. FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015

SENATOR ENYINNAYA HARCOURT ABARIBE APPLICANT AND 1.

FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA 1ST RESPONDENT 2.

NNAMDI KANU 2ND RESPONDENT 3.

CHIDIEBERE ONWUDIWE 3RD RESPONDENT 4.

BENJAMIN MADUBUGWU 4TH RESPONDENT 5.

DAVID NWAWUISI 5TH RESPONDENT

MOTION ON NOTICE BROUGHT PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 6 AND 36 OF THE 1999 CONSTUTION (AS AMENDED), SECTION 177 (1) OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT, 2015 AND THE INHERENT JURISDICTION OF THIS HONOURABLE COURT. TAKE NOTICE that this Honorable court shall be moved on the ____day of __________________________2017 at the hour of 9 O’clock in the forenoon or so soon thereafter as counsel on behalf of the Applicant shall be heard praying the court for: 1.

An Order of this Honorable Court discharging the Applicant as surety of the 1st Defendant/2nd Respondent, and discharging the recognizance entered into by the Applicant, and discharging the Applicant from the entire incidence of the bail of Nnamdi Kanu - the 1st Defendant/2nd Respondent in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015: Federal Republic of Nigeria v NNAMDI KANU, CHIDIEBERE ONWUDIWE, BENJAMIN MADUBUGWU, DAVID NWAWISI 2. An Order discharging the bond executed by the Applicant for the bail of the 1st Defendant/2nd Respondent in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015: Federal Republic of Nigeria v Nnamdi Kanu, CHIDIEBERE ONWUDIWE, BENJAMIN MADUBUGWU, DAVID NWAWISI and refunding the sum of N100,000,000.00 (one hundred million naira only) or any other sum paid into this Honourable Court or undertaken to this Honourable Court sequel to the bail of the 2nd Respondent.

3.

For Such other Orders which this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this application.

The grounds upon which this application is brought are: 1.

The Nigerian Army in the course of military operations in Abia State from 11th September, 2017 visited the residence of the 2nd Respondence who is the 1st Defendant in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015. it was reported in the news media that there was shooting and fracas during the aforestated visit by the Nigerian Army to the residence of the 2nd Respondent whilst the 2nd Respondent was in his residence.

2.

Since the aforestated visits of the Nigerian Army to the residence of the 1st Defendant from 11th September, 2017, the 2nd Respondent has not been seen again nor reached on phone by the Applicant, neither is he reported in any news media as seen by

• Kanu and Sen. Abaribe

any person, nor made any statement on any issue.

3.

No statement has also been reported in any news media as made by the 2nd Respondent since the stated incidence at the residence of the 2nd Respondent during the visit(s) by the Nigerian Army to the said residence.

4.

Since 20th September, 2017 the report in the media is that the 1st Respondent has proscribed the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) an organization led by the 2nd Respondent/1st Defendant and declared that organization a terrorist organization and security agencies of the 1st Respondent are reported to be interested in the 2nd Respondent.

5.

The activities of the Nigerian Army as affecting the 2nd Respondent are matters of State Secret incapable of being unraveled by the Applicant which activities have put the 2nd Respondent out of the reach of the Applicant such that the Applicant cannot reasonably be expected to produce the 2nd Respondent before this court at any subsequent date.

6.

The Applicant lacks capacity to produce a person stated by the 1st Respondent to be a member of a terrorist organization, or any person whom the 1st Respondent is reported to be interested in his whereabouts including in the aftermath of the military operations in Abia State which commenced about 11th September, 2017.

Date this th day of October, 2017. –––––– Ogechi Ogbonna Esq Counsel to the Applicant Wing B Suite 207 Fair Trade Business Complex 22 Kigoma Street Wuse Zone 7 Abuja 09-2916670, 08033510900 For Service on: 1. The 1st Respondent/Complainant Federal Republic of Nigeria c/o Her Counsel Labaran Shuaibu Federal Ministry of Justice Headquarters Shehu Shagari Way Maitama Abuja.

Jikwoyi - Abuja 4, The 4th Respondent/3rd Defendant Emmanuel Esene Emmanuel Esene & Co Suite 119 & 120 Anbeez Plaza Ndola Square Wuse Zone 5 Abuja 5.The 5th Respondent/4th Defendant c/o His Counsel Maxwell Opara (08037427486) Maxwell Opara & Associates Suite B402 Global Plaza Jabi District Abuja IN THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF NIGERIA HOLDEN AT ABUJA CHARGE No. FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015 Motion No. BETWEEN FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA COMPLAINANT AND 1.NNAMDI KANU DEFENDANT 2.CHIDIEBERE ONWUDIWE DEFENDANT 3.BENJAMIN MADUBUGWU DEFENDANT 4. DAVID NWAWUISI DEFENDANT IN THE APPLICATION OF SENATOR ENYINNAYA HARCOURT ABARIBE TO BE DISCHARGED FROM THE SURETYSHIP, RECOGNISANCE AND THE INCIDENCE OF THE BAIL OF NNAMDI KANU. SENATOR ENYINNAYA HARCOURT ABARIBE APPLICANT AND

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA 1ST RESPONDENT NNAMDI KANU 2ND RESPONDENT CHIDIEBERE ONWUDIWE 3RD RESPONDENT BENJAMIN MADUBUGWU 4TH RESPONDENT DAVID NWAWUISI 5TH RESPONDENT

2. The 2nd Respondent/1st Defendant c/o His Counsel Ifeanyi Ejiofor Suite 122 Anbeez Plaza (1st Floor) (1st Floor, Right Wing) Ndola Square Wuse Zone 5 Abuja

3.The 3rd Respondent/2nd Defendant c/o His Counsel Adoga Inalegwu Liberty Chambers No.1 Adoga Street

I, UCHENNA AWOM, Nigerian Citizen, male, of Suite 4.3.5, Senate New Building, National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Three Arms Zone, Abuja state on Oath as follows:

AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION

BY THE SURETY TO BE DISCHARGED FROM THE SURETYSHIP AND ENTIRE INCIDENCE OF THE BAIL OF NNAMDI KANU

1.

I am a journalist and Senior Legislative Aide to Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe the Senator representing Abia South Senatorial District in the National Assembly.

2.

At a meeting held in our office Suite 4.35 New Senate Building, National Assembly, Abuja around 9.am on 11th October, 2017, I was informed by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe the facts deposed in this affidavit and I truly believe him that: a.

The 1st Defendant/2nd Respondent and the 3rd – 5th Respondents were charged, arraigned before this Honourable Court by the 1st Respondent and are standing trial in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015 for alleged offences which the 1st Respondent alleged in the charge which it filed before this Honourable Court as allegedly committed by the 2nd Respondent and the 3rd – 5th Respondents. b.

In the course of the trial of the charged preferred against the 2nd – 5th Respondent in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/ CR/383/2015: Federal Republic of Nigeria v NNAMDI KANU, CHIDIEBERE ONWUDIWE, BENJAMIN MADUBUGWU, DAVID NWAWISI preferred against them by the 1st Respondent applied to be released on bail pending the hearing and determination of the charge. c.

The application for bail was granted by this Honourable Court on terms which included that a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall stand surety for the bail of the 1st Defendant/2nd Respondent. d.

He (Senator Abaribe) stood surety for the bail of the 2nd Respondent, in fulfillment of the terms of the bail granted the 2nd Respondent by this Honourable Court before which the 1st Defendant is standing trial and signed the bail bond dated 28th April, 2017. The 2nd Respondent was released upon the satisfaction of the conditions of his bail. e.

Since 11th September, 2017 he has not heard from the 2nd Respondent whom he stood surety for in fulfillment of part of the conditions for his bail despite repeated phone calls to his phone by me. All his calls to the 2nd Respondent’s phone number which number is also stated on the recognizance which he signed before this Honourable Court are not going through. f.

Since 11th September, 2017, he has made effort to contact the 2nd Respondent including by phone, and at the 2nd Respondent’s hometown at Afaraukwu, Ibeku, Umuahia, but have been unable to locate the 1st Defendant or get any information about his whereabout. g.

The Nigerian Army made public that they would military operations in the South – Eastern part of Nigeria from 15th September, 2017 which they code named operation Python Dance (Egwu Eke) II. h.

On 11th September, 2015 the Nigeria Army for reasons known to them commenced military operations in Abia State, against targets known to them. i.

The actions of the army in the course of their operations affected the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) of which the 2nd Respondent is a member. j.

Information available to him from the reports in the news media is that in the course of the military operations in Abia State by the Nigerian Army which commenced around 11th September, 2017 and was later stated in the media as named by the authorities of the Nigerian Army as Operation Python Dance (Egwu Eke) II, the Nigerian Army in the course of this military operation, made visit(s) to the 2nd Respondent’s father’s compound at Isiama Afaraukwu, Ibeku, Umuahia, Abia State where the 2nd Respondent, His father Eze Israel Kanu, and other members of his family reside. k.

It was reported in the news media that there was shooting, fracas during the aforestated visit of the Nigerian Army to the 2nd Respondent’s father’s compound at

Full details on www.oraclenews.ng

11

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 25, 2017

POLITICS The Ovie of Umighwa, Abraka Kingdom in Delta State HRM, AVM Lucky Ochuko Ararile Avwaeke (Rtd), has described the proscription of IPOB as unnecessary, saying it will not be solution to the problem. The retired Air Force chief in an interview with EMMANUEL OGOIGBE at Abraka believes that Nigerian unity is negotiable and described the military’s Operation Python Dance as a waste of time. Ovie Avwaeke 1, however, lambasted the military for performing the duties of the police, insisting that State police should be created. While commending President Muhammadu Buhari for his efforts at providing leadership, the traditional ruler canvassed the implementation of 2014 confab to promote equity and national cohesion. Excerpts: YOUR Majesty, what is your take on the controversial agitation for the Republic Of Biafra?

Well, I think it is within their right as guaranteed by the United Nations (UN) Carter on human rights. And they are not the only ethnic group agitating in Nigeria; they are not even the first. Even before IPOB, we had MASSOB, which metamorphosed into IPOB. So, we certainly are not doing things right. I doubt that the country is fair enough to all its peoples. People should have a sense of equity but the opposite is rather the case-people feel alienated. You may wish to call it marginalization, but what all that means is that we don’t have a sense of buying into the Nigerian project. So, they are acting within their right, as far as I am concerned.

I am told they have been banned. But, that will not be solution to the problem. Because MASSOB or IPOB is just a change in name; the people, I am sure, will continue with the struggle 20 times more determined. I believe they will continue with their struggle whether they have been banned or not.

The truth of the matter is that the underlining issue must be addressed; their sense of alienation must be addressed;

I am God’s anointed Anambra 2017: PDP crisis for Anambra deepens as 2 factional State – Nnoli groups disagree over flag Pg 13 bearer Pg 16

Proscription of IPOB waste of time - Ovie Avwaeke

•Says demand for BIAFRA constitutional right of Ndigbo military is working on. But, all I know is that they can do all the dances that they want, but if the key issues are not addressed, they are not going anywhere.

Even if they change the dance step and the right thing is not done, we’ll come back to square one at the end of the day.

Nigeria at 57, could you assess the journey so far?

It’s been tough, it’s been challenging because we are not where we expect to be. All the same, Nigerians are very hopeful people and we are hoping for the best, to get our bearing right to start in earnest for the journey to our destination.

their sense of unfairness of the Nigerian system must be addressed. And not just as it affects the South East but also as it affects the Niger Delta, perhaps even the North East. For the North East, the major problem, according to research, is poverty, abject poverty, which also breeds alienation. But, in their case, the handling of the Boko Haram sect, especially the killing of their leader Mohammed Yusuf, accentuated the problems in that area.

In talking about the Nigerian Unity, everybody must be carried along and we must have a certain sense of proportion and lack of arrogance. You cannot talk about Nigerian unity and proclaim that Nigeria is not negotiable. I tell you, Nigeria is negotiable. Even the United States

of America is still talking about unity till today; the British are still talking about unity; European union is still talking about unity. So, you must carry people along. It is not a question of declaration; you cannot force unity on anybody. So, we must address the issue, politically, economically, socially and otherwise; you carry everybody along so that we can have peace.

Is the military’s Operation Python Dance a good approach to addressing grievances among the civil population? There is an announcement that they are going to do the same in South South and South West. Now, is that necessary?

Well I don’t know the information the

Many praise President Muhammadu Buhari over his corruption fight while some are blaming him as the cause of Nigeria’s woes, what is your comment?

The President’s corruption fight is a good fight--it is necessary to put things in their proper perspective. Remember that this fight has been on-going; it’s only that we have given it a new momentum. We have achieved some success, though limited probably because of Mr. President’s ill-health. The soul is willing but the body is weak. He has not given the necessary attention or vigour that has been expected but, all the same, I think we are making some progress and we are in the right direction but certain things need to be put in place--in terms of structures, in terms of the institutions because we thought by now that special courts would have been established.

Although it has just been mooted, we thought by now it would have been operational. We believe the other anti-corruption agencies such as EFCC and ICPC, for example, are not empowered or encouraged to carry out their functions to the best of their knowledge.

Also, a country is always an on-going project. We hope, as we go along, to improve. The institutions should learn from their own experiences and improve on their performances; in fact, that is our hope.

Your Majesty Sir, as a retired Air Vice Marshall, how would you compare your period in the military to the present military?

Well, I don’t know if I have the necessary information to do that comparison because I am no more there. So, I don’t know what they have; in fact, I am seeing them just like you. But, it will be unfair for me to make comparison because the times have changed. It is possible they have totally different methods, even in terms of technology. But, the fact is that they have a constitutional responsibility to defend the country against exterCont’d on page 12

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 25, 2017

POLITICS

12

Proscription of IPOB waste of time cake?

I have been asked that question several times and my answer has always been that we are marginalized. Really, who is not marginalized in this country?

President Goodluck Jonathan came from Otuoke and is the place better off now?

Sadly, he is shouting marginalization now.

So, let’s put in structures and institutions that will guarantee the achievement of our aspiration. We are marginalized and for safety and solution, we should start by establishing these institutions.

Cont’d from page 11 nal aggression. Regrettably, they have been employed in duty not totally their responsibility but those that are ancillary have become their primary duty. In other words, they have taken over the responsibility of the Nigerian police. And, that frightens me because if you civilianize the military, where you see them at checkpoints, collecting bribe like the police, it is a bad thing. So, my take on that is that gradually, the military should disengage from doing police duty; they should focus on their official responsibility. If the police are inadequately manned, then they should increase the personnel to do their job. That is why we have a lot of tension and even in co-ordination, there is no synergy; there is competition. Instead of making the police work, they made another body called EFCC and I tell you that EFCC is still basically police, so why was it created? They should make the police do their job. If the police are not doing their job, national defense corps comes up, who are struggling with the police to do their job. Presently, I hear plans are on to introduce national peace corps; so next time now, we are going to get the boys scout involved; in fact there is confusion everywhere; there is no layout record.

Everybody has a responsibility to do their job, regrettably right now, everybody is doing everybody’s job and that is why there is inefficiency, lack of effectiveness; sadly you cannot hold anybody responsible.

How would you describe the present democratic system in the country?

That is a tough one because you think in terms of input and output. The House of Assemblies are performing below standard, which is a cause for worry. I don’t know whether, indeed, the prize we are paying for democracy is worth it. That is why the issue of restructuring must be addressed. Not a question of creating states or going back to the regions; that’s not the issue. There are still fundamental changes that have to be carried out.

One of the changes is the constitution.

A lot of things that are embedded in the constitution are inimical to development.

The Land Use Act, for example, has to be looked at. Local government autonomy is the right way to go and we need State Police. Although the State Police might not have the same power as federal police, they should not be mutually exclusive. In the United States, for example, you have county police, but they have specific duties. There are federal types.

For example, if one commits a crime like murder in a state and runs to another State, it becomes an issue for the F.B.I. So, we can copy from America, after all the 1999 Constitution as amended, is a copy of the American system. If you see a system that works, as you have copied other peoples’ own, why not our own?

There are structural issues to be addressed. I know work has been done by the various conferences, including the last one tagged Confab 2014 that was convened by former President Goodluck Jonathan. The report is there and that is why it is a little discomforting that they will be going around the country to gather opinion. Some of these issues have been discussed extensively; it is just to bring out the documents and implement the recommendations, because all this unnecessary going round and round like the barber’s chair does not serve any purpose. It is a waste of time and money. We are in a country that should be in a hurry; in fact, we should be running. We cannot be crawling the way we are doing now; we should be running. If you look at all the human development indices, it is as if

How long have you been on the throne?

I have been here for five years now. Like everything, leadership in Nigeria is challenge. It is even more challenging in the traditional institution because you are given responsibility without resources.

It’s not as if you have been given a job and here are the resources to do the job, so carry out your responsibility very well.

No, that is not the case. Sadly, it is just like open check. Because responsibility without authority, no resources and wherewithal you have to be innovative and create platforms.

•AVM Lucky Ochuko Ararile Avwaeke

we have been at war from the beginning.

We have the same issues as Somalia, Congo Democratic Republic, Afganistan, so, it is as if we are fighting a war that is undeclared. We are actually at war.

Your Majesty, your kingdom has been very peaceful, save for the pockets of crisis such as the issue of herdsmen and a few others. How have you been able to address such crises?

Well, we have had some incidents in which a few persons were killed by herdsmen. What we did was to use the structure on ground. In this regard, I will like to commend the Commissioner of Police, Delta State, who for his prompt response to our SOS. We wrote to the Inspector General of police; we also forwarded a letter to the State Commissioner of police. We equally informed the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) zone 5.

So, working through these connections, we were able to get police response and the issues were resolved and there has been peace.

Again, on the issue of restructuring, some people suggest we should return to the parliamentary system of government. Some others say we should return

What do you have to say about indiscriminate killings in this country? How do we address the issue?

Simple. All the institutions, especially the police, in particular should be made to work. They should be given the resources to work; procedure must be followed.

I will give you an example: If somebody is kidnapped in Warri and you have a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in-charge of that particular area, he expects instructions from above if he cannot take a decision. Our police are not professional enough. The police are not well funded because in the average police station, you have to buy biro, sheets of papers etc if you want to make an entry. Besides, no good vehicle for patrol, how will they be effective?

So, the manpower issue of the police must be addressed; the material needs of the police must be addressed; the relationship within the security agencies must be improved because there is always inter-agency rivalry, particularly in the force.

Imagine, Benin Republic Police are more effective than our own. The principal thing is that we must have empathy that if it is happening to Mr. A. same thing could happen to me because if you don’t have empathy, you don’t care for a human being like you. We don’t seem to to the regional system and true federal- value human life here in Nigeria, so, there ism. What is your opinion on this issue? are a lot of things to be done.

It is clear we inherited the name and not Sir, local government election is around in practice. For me any system will do but the corner; what is your advice to conthe basis of the present system should be testants? fairness, equity and justice.

Let me tell you here in UMIAGHWA that every indigene of this kingdom has How would you score the administration the right to join any political party of his/ of President Muhammadu Buhari?He has her choice; they are all my subjects. I candone well despite the state of his health, not prefer one to the other. Now, comprobably because of that our expecta- petition is enormous in Nigerian election tions have not been meant. He should because of what they expect in the end. do more, he should try harder; here’s a I will encourage the party in the process country of about 180 million population, of selecting their candidate, they should so he should try to go beyond his famil- avoid relying on people who are virtuiar surroundings in picking people that he ally jobless. The only job they know is works with--I don’t want to use the word politics. People with the impetus, armed nepotism. But, he needs to trust all Nige- with good educational qualification and rians. If you appoint people on nepotism, a person that can work with experience it will be difficult for you to remove them and resources, which they can fall back from office when they are not perform- on should there be a change of event, are ing or are under-performing. He had al- the kinds of people we pray for. For exready operated at a higher level as head ample, if you are a lawyer or medical docof State, so he should know Nigerians tor, engineer etc, you will not be too desbetter so that whoever has performed, perate for a political office. That is where I he should retain that person. will appeal to all Deltans that they should not allow somebody who they know will Your Majesty, as one of the largest eth- not deliver, to be voted into office. nic groups in the country, are the Urhobo getting their fair share of the national

13

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 25, 2017

POLITICS

By EMMA ECHEWODO, Special Correspondent

A

S the race for the governorship election in Anambra State heats up, contestants have been working round the clock to clinch the exalted number one position. At the last count, no fewer than 37 noble sons of the state are in the race.

Prominent among them is Chief Amechi Justin Nnoli, 34, from Aniocha Local government area of the state. He remains resolutely convinced that victory will come his way based on his conviction that he is God’s anointed for the post.

The man My name is Chief Amechi Justin Nnoli.

This is my first time of contesting governorship of Anambra State. My main aim is to make our people realise that the problems we are facing are not insurmountable. They are man-made and I am poised to tackle them headlong. I was the Co-ordinator for Buhari organisation 2002-2011. I later left to work with President Goodluck Jonathan as one of the Co-ordinators of Goodluck Campaign. When we lost, I went back to business. Then when the opportunity came up, I decided to participate in the race.

I am God’s anointed for Anambra State – Nnoli

Why I am in the race I am running under National Unity Party of Nigeria, NUPN. My main reason for coming to the race is because of what is happening in Anambra State. In the last 18 years, my people have not enjoyed the dividends of democracy. We have consistently been sidelined. It has been like a sectional thing from one government to another, we have been grossly marginalised. That is why I decided to liberate my people.

The Nation Unity Party of Nigeria has been in existence for the past 12 years under the leadership of Perry Opara, the founder and National Chairman. The party currently has two seats in Bayelsa State, one at the State Assembly and the other at the Local Government level. We are not in the race because of the money. We know that the ruling party has what it takes to take back the power but God, in his infinite mercy, will hand over the power to us, because Anambra people have suffered for long. Take for instance, the person that brought Obiano, the governorship candidate of APGA who is the sitting governor, is the same person that went out to get another person Oseloka Henry Obaze. All our past leaders in Anambra have failed the State.

Assessment of Gov. Obiano He has done well in the area of security.

I don’t think he has done his best because, if you are talking about security, you must first create jobs. By creating jobs, you would reduce the crime rate. When the youths are engaged there would be minimal crime. We would engage people in agriculture. Any government that prioritises agriculture would definitely succeed.

If you engage people in agriculture, you would see them working, producing foods for the masses because it is said that a hungry man is an angry man.

Other contestants Well, we have many registered political parties in Anambra State. The other day, we had a debate and only 17 parties showed up. I chaired the forum formed later to produce a candidate. All I know is that even if we are a million, God’s wish must be done. He knows what is good for the good people of Anambra and you will see how it will manifest.

My magic wand We will look at education with a view to making it free from primary to secondary school levels or even tertiary level. We will concentrate much in creating jobs, which will definitely enhance security. Claims that there is security in Anambra presently is false. If you go to the streets, you will

wants me to lead Anambra State and with Him, all things are possible. He is my mentor.

On Buhari I think he is trying his best but the problem is with the people around him. You can imagine the scandalous issue of huge sums of money discovered in the fraud at NNPC recently.

Igbo marginalisation I think that Igbos should, first of all, get down to the East to develop it. By so doing, they would be the pride, the beautiful bride that other Nigerians will be coming to. Others threaten Igbos because they know we don’t think home. The number of Igbos at home is nothing compared with those outside. You can see the way we were treated over this IPOB matter; we have been taken 50 years back. Our leaders should be able to strategize and build a system that will be the envy of all in this country; a system that will compel our industrious sons and daughters to come back and invest massively in Igboland.

That is why I shudder when they say we are marginalised.

We are not marginalised. We are the ones marginalising ourselves. What stops South East governors from, first of all, putting things together? A concerned government should be able to, for example, put heads together and build the second Niger Bridge, put toll gate there and recover your money. But our governors are not thinking about that. This is one of the areas I will look into if I get there by the grace of God. Kanu and IPOB From the start, Kanu never knew he could get to this height. It was Buhari that made Kanu. Buhari made Kanu a hero by getting him arrested. If I meet Kanu today, I will tell him he has tried by awakening the spirit of the Igbos to fight for freedom.

But he did not consult properly before embarking on that exercise. He should have consulted with people that have the technical knowhow to take over from where he stopped. Moreover, the kind of power he arrogated to himself caused the problem we are facing today. He did well but he did not do it right.

•Nnoli

shudder at the groaning level of joblessness and that is what forced most of our youths into criminal activities. The large number of touts you see almost everywhere you go to in the State exemplifies this. IPOB is the creation of joblessness.

We are talking of marginalisation while we are the people marginalising ourselves. If you say the present Governor has done well in area of security in Anambra, what about road network? There is, unfortunately, a reasonable level of deceit in what they said they have done so far. The roads are so dilapidated that a journey of 30 minutes now takes hours because of the worsening condition of our roads.

Problem with leadership in Anambra State One of the greatest problems we have is godfathers who have been imposing their candidates on the people. At the end of the day, they will end up satisfying an insignificant number of people who worship them and that is where the problem lies.

For instance, If Governor Obiano has done well; he would not be spending both the time and huge sums of money he is spend-

When the youths are engaged there would be minimal crime.

We would engage people in agriculture.

Any government that prioritises agriculture would definitely succeed.

”

ing now to get a second term. His work would have spoken for him because people will definitely say, one good turn deserves another. For me, I am going there because God wants me to be there. He

Role of Ohaneze Ndigbo If Ohaneze Ndigbo, as the father of all Igbo umbrella groups, had played the role of a father from the onset, things could not have got out of hand. Unfortunately, things had gotten out of hand before they intervened. My advice to Igbos is that they should come back home, they should think of home, they should build their home, and they should come and talk with us on the way forward.

Money politics We have money politics. We have money. There is no Igbo State in the South East that is not well to do, no exception.

We have people that can speak for Igbos if we can come together. So, my advice is, come together, build our Igbo States, then we now look up to the other people. If we put our hands together, marginalisation will not come up. We are the cause of our problems. If you want to know who your problem is, you stand before the mirror whoever that appears there is your problem. We must renew our area.

On the ruling party, APGA I don’t see APGA as Igbo party. I am a Nigeria and an Igbo man in Nigeria. There is nothing to show that APGA is an Igbo party. By the way, why must it be Igbo party in the first place? Why must we have Igbo party? We are still in Nigeria and we must have national outlook in whatever we are doing.

Advice to other contestants Let us all work together to remedy the bad situation of things in our State because it is said that together we stand, divided we fall.

14

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 25, 2017

POLITICS

In Cross River, no respite for water consumers as rates go up •Obong of Calabar, consumers indict Water Board •Water Board insists water is business, not social service From Calabar, ANIEKAN ANIEKAN writes on the irony of Cross River State, a state named after a river, not having enough water for its inhabitants to drink.

•Gov. Ben-Ayade

D

ESPITE being named after a river and also being surrounded by quite a few of them, water consumers in Cross River State have never had it so bad.

In Calabar, for instance, little rivers and springs dot the nook and cranny of the city and one may ordinarily feel that the inhabitants have scant need for the essential commodity but this is not the case.

Prior to the return of democracy in 1999, water supply though reticulated was largely restricted to the city of Calabar and its environs. In spite of this, however, the pipes were rusty and hardly served the purpose for which they were meant. Water consumers were lucky to see water flow in the city once in a year. Due to the rusty nature of the pipes, such water, whenever it flowed, was overtly unsafe for human consumption.

Following the advent of democracy in 1999, water consumers heaved a sigh of relief as things took a dramatic turn for good.

With the help of the African Development Bank (ADB), the then government of Mr. Donald Duke modernized the operations of the Cross River State Water Board and for the first time in the recent history of the state, water consumers within the metropolis were connected to public water supply.

Due to the clean and constant supply of water by the state Water Board, a growing number of households were eager to get connected. With a very affordable fee of about N50 per litre cube or 1000 litres of water, consumers found this very affordable and comparatively better than the borehole water, which was the order of the day in the city.

Gradually, the Water Board expanded its services to other locations in the state and distant locations like Obubra, Yala, Ogoja all enjoyed the services of the Agency. It became a common sight to find reticulated water in these localities and consumers virtually took clean and stable water for granted.

Things have overtime taken a turn for the worse as the services hitherto taken for granted are now a thing of the past. For over two years now, most consumers have lamented the deteriorating service rendered by the State’s Water Board. The Water Board, which was hitherto famed for efficiency and reliability, is now notorious for inefficiency and unreliability.

The mistrust between the agency and water consumers seems to have influenced the recent decision to organize a stakeholders meeting in Calabar to discuss the water challenges besetting the state. Facilitated by the state government, the summit drew a number of stakeholders across the state as well as the managers of water resources in the state.

Although it was resolved that the price of water should be increased from the present N150 per litre cube or 1000 cubic liters to N250 per litre cube or 1000 liters to ensure sustainability, a number of participants at the meeting bared their minds on quality of service that has been rendered by the agency in recent time.

Stakeholders across the state indicted the managers of the state Water Board for the downturn in the fortunes of the water agency and heaped the blames at the doorsteps of the management. Prominent among them was the Obong Of Calabar who was represented by HRH Etubom Otu Efa Otu. According to him, what is killing the agency is management and it is the primary reason why things are this bad in the water sector of the state.

“I have to let us know that what is killing water board is management. Bad management is what has brought us to this situation.

I want to say emphatically that government should have no hands in managing things like this because they are never experts,” he said.

“We have reasons in the past to show that government cannot manage things like this.

I can recall in the past that we had so many companies established by government like meat industry in Obudu, cassava industry in Obubra, and a foam factory in Ikom which were all managed by government but where are those companies today?”

He contended that government should disengage themselves from management of industries but provide the enabling environment and also engage in Public Private Partnership (PPP). He submitted that even the palace of the Obong of Calabar is affected because we are using a borehole.

“I for instance in my home I’ve done everything required to access public water supply but most unfortunately, most of the time, the water does not flow and they will come up with bills,” he said.

Toeing the line of the Obong, a representative of Liliker Brothers, Otunba Olusola Bisola who spoke with The Oracle Today posited that the problems of the stakeholders did not start now but has been building up over time. He contended that water is a business and government should not be involved with water management.

“I observed that the problems the stakeholders are complaining about did not just start now. They have been on for quite some time and the state of the facilities can only get better because the government has spent a lot of money in building new water treatment plants but it is my own considered opinion that in spite of what the government is doing now, government is not designed to run business and that’s what we have seen in PHEDC,” Bisola contended.

“If they have done better, we can only get better service. Before NEPA was unbundled, we know what we were spending on generators but now that it is now in private hands, they know that if they don’t supply power and get money they will not make money so that’s what we are advocating in the water sector in the state.”

“The present dimension in the production of service is for government to provide the enabling environment and allow the private investors to do the running of this business because water is business. There are people who have the capacity to do this thing. The faults in the Water Board has been gradual and for someone to say the problem started from 1999 he is only being political. What we

are seeing today did not start now,” the Liliker Brothers executive added.

“We have been involved in the building of water infrastructure. We know how to maintain the plants and we have also done a lot of connections and we know what the problems are. We are in business and will not be bogged down by the issue of employments because we will engage those who can do the job and there will be targets set. You know in government, they know that whether they work or not the salary will come, so that’s the attitude of government. When a businessman invests, he will optimize people and the collection process will also be optimized and ensure that consumers pay for water that has been supplied.”

Also speaking, Mr. Goddy Akpama wondered why the system has worked very well before and is not working now because right from the government of Donald Duke to the immediate past administration, water supply wasvery constant.

“What is the reason behind this? I want to say that the problem is with the management of the Water Board,” he contended.

Responding to some complaints of the consumers and members of the public, Chairman of Water Board, Ntufam Ekpo Okon attributed the problems in the sector to vandals, water meter thieves as well as the recession. He also submitted that the problems in the sector have been building up over time.

“One of the problems has to do with foreign exchange rates. When the naira depreciated so much against the dollar, we still had to buy the components from outside the country. Cost of production went up.

What 30, 000 could handle before, 100, 000 may not be able to handle yet water tariff of water has not changed,” he explained.

“Water board does not set the tariff but the government before now sets the tariff.

Water at N50 for a thousand liters of treated water cannot be possible; that’s why I said we need to look at water and reduce to some extent the social service but if it must be sustainable, you must also look at the commercial segment of that sector.

“Water theft is also a major problem, which we are not talking about because you

Continued on Page 15

15

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 25, 2017

POLITICS

In Cross River, no respite for water consumers Cont’d from page 14 will find that in this city, there are people who have bypassed the meter deliberately.

As low as the tariff is, we still have people who do not want to pay. It is not good. In your neighbourhood, if someone is doing it, you have a responsibility to report him or her because he is undermining the service.

“Secondly, there is the issue of theft of water meter. We initially thought that those who are stealing the meter from one location intend to use it in another location but we later found out that it was not so.

We learnt that there is a copper component inside the water meter. They remove the copper for sale and then damage the meter. In my neighbourhood, for instance, a young man was caught with five water meters, which had been stolen and we took him to the police. He confessed to the fact that he had a buyer he had been selling it to. The man is in Bogobiri and the police told us that that same young man only came out from prison less than two months ago. That same guy stole somewhere and was jailed. We took him to the Magistrate court and he was jailed but this has not stopped the incident of meter theft. We are still having cases of stolen meters across the city.

“We all have a duty to address the situation because if we don’t, it will affect our services. I remember the permanent secretary asked whether it is cheaper to use diesel, certainly it cannot be cheaper. But, we also know that when we do not have public power supply then we have to resort to generator. Two years ago, we know what the cost of diesel was and we know what it is today. So, these are the challenges but I believe strongly that what you are saying here is very critical and we will definitely address them.”

Rejecting the call for a Private Public Part-

nership with the Water Board, Mr. Gabriel Odu-Oji, Commissioner for Water Resources in the state disclosed that the state government is not ready to go into another PPP because of the ugly experiences it had in the previous arrangement. Government, he said, would rather go into a lease with investors who will pay the government and manage the infrastructure profitably.

“UNICAL has come in with a proposal here and said they will like to come into a PPP with the government. The Chairman has stated here that we had such a partnership with AUTECH when the equipment were even new and the company did not live up to

expectations. Right now, AUTECH is in court with the government and asking for billions of naira and so we will not like that kind of partnership any longer,” the Commissioner said.

“We want a company that will come for a lease. We will lease the facility to them and then they will pay the government every month and they will provide water to the people of the state. We do not want anything that will come like the AUTECH type of engagement and then end up in litigation.

Any company that wants to come into part-

nership with the government should come in on a leasing basis.

“We need cooperation and private investors but they should come in a way that would be mutually beneficial to Water Board and Cross River State and not one which will require the state giving jobs to people and at the end of the day not benefitting and also pilling debts for the government.”

Justifying the rationale for the town hall meeting, the Managing Director of the State Water Board, Dr. Godwin Igile disclosed that government had asked that the meeting be held “and we have listened to you patiently and we have got a lot of information which we will look into,” he stated, adding: “Why we do not have water in Calabar is because the Water Board prefers not to loose the water that we have treated.”

“The leakages have been too much and we have been working very hard to minimize these leakages. This explains why you hear some people say that they have water while other people say they do not have water,” Igile explained.

“Henshaw Town and Egerton are fed from Eta Agbor and road construction has cut the supply to those areas. It will require us breaking through a tarred road cracking the road and replacing the broken pipe so that water can return to Egerton and we are working with the Ministry of Works to resolve the challenge.”

The Oracle Today investigations reveal that there are presently about 69, 000 registered water consumers in the State.

Accoring Dr. Igile, this number will grow to 75, 000 by November this year. Although a number of consumers expressed reservations about the 40% increase in water rate, they urged the Water Board to ensure that its service delivery improves commensurately because water is an essential commodity, which a responsible government must make available to its people.

Africa’s richest man has a built-in advantage Continued from Page 48 investigation in June last year found Dangote’s companies had been receiving preferential foreign currency allocations from the Central Bank at a time when the Nigerian economy had been almost crippled by a dollar shortage.

Cementing his status While Dangote is involved in many industries, his wealth—over 90% of his net worth—has come from his cement business. Dangote Cement’s 65% share of the Nigerian market means that it also sets the prices for the commodity in the country. And it has used this advantage to generate large profits—the gross margin on its cement was as high as 70% a few years ago and has slowly come down to just under 50% in 2016.

A Bloomberg Intelligence report showed average global cement profit (EBITDA) margins were 17.2% in 2015, but Dangote Cement reported a margin of 42.3% in the same year.

Nigerians have almost come to accept paying over the odds for cement as a sacrifice worth making to have cement produced in the country. In 2013, an analysis of the world’s top 15 cement producers revealed that while Dangote Cement’s revenues of $2.4 billion represented 2% of the cohort, its profits of $1.2 billion represented 13% of all net profits in the group. In that year, its net profit margin was 52% with the next most profitable producer—China’s Anhui Conch—managing a 17.8% margin.

Dangote has used the sentiment of “national pride” very cleverly to his advantage.

The government and indeed many Nigerians have almost come to accept that paying over the odds for cement is a sacrifice worth making in the name of having cement produced in the country.

The Nigerian press also helps to propagate the story of Nigeria’s cement “self-sufficiency”. This self-sufficiency argument is never challenged with the simple point that it is easy to make that claim when the product is priced beyond the reach of the vast majority

of Nigerians. If prices came down to global averages, would Dangote Cement be able to meet demand with its current production levels?

Dangote also regularly inundates Nigerians with stories of how he has put all his eggs in the Nigerian basket and how he is always betting on the country by investing more than any other foreign investor. Every now and again, he announces large investments in an industry (usually one favored by the government of the day) sometimes running into billions of dollars. The stories and announcements (which may, or may not, come to fruition) help to reinforce the narrative Dangote is always investing in Nigeria even when no one else is doing so.

The cost to Nigerians The nature of cement as a product that is too heavy and costly to transport and too tricky to smuggle has allowed the Nigerian market to be a captive one for Dangote.

In June 2016, the World Bank published a report examining the impact and costs of lack of competition in a number of industries in Africa. They found that African cement prices averaged $9.57 per 50kg bag compared with $3.25 globally. Put another way, Africans paid 183% more than people around the world for the same product.

A World Bank report showed Dangote has 90-year mining licenses for materials like limestone even though its cement plants have a 50-year life span. The report also highlights how the Nigerian government had been phasing out import licenses for cement beginning in 2012 when Dangote ramped up cement production in Nigeria as well as the Central Bank of Nigeria banning the use of foreign exchange for cement imports. The World Bank report [page 54] also showed how Dangote had exclusive mining licenses for limestone and other additive materials for cement estimated to last for 90 years even though its cement plants have an estimated life of 50 years.

If Dangote’s relationship with the government allows it to make healthy profits at the

•Dangote expense of Nigerians, perhaps this can be mitigated by the taxes it pays to the government?

No chance.

Between 2010 and 2015 when Dangote cement earned around 1 trillion naira ($6 billion) in profits, it paid only 12 billion naira ($72 million) in taxes—a tax rate of just over 1%. It has done this through a particularly aggressive interpretation of a Nigerian investment incentive known as ‘Pioneer Status’.

The idea behind the pioneer status was to encourage investment in industries which the Nigerian government deemed in need of support. In return for investments in those

industries, companies were exempt from paying taxes on profits from those investments for a maximum of five years.

However, the law was described as “most abused in certain quarters“, by Deloitte. No one has taken greater advantage than Dangote Cement. It has claimed pioneer status multiple times on the same plants by applying for a new exemption each time it extends the plant. The illustration below, taken from a recent presentation by the company [pdf, page 27] shows how it has done this.

FAWEHINMI first published this article on QUZARTZ AFRICA, an Internet media platform

16

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 25, 2017

POLITICS

Anambra 2017: PDP crisis deepens as 2 factional groups disagree over flag bearer

By IBE NWACHUKWU

T

He grudges over the emergence of Mr. Oseloka Henry Obaze as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the November 18 governorship election in Anambra state are gradually coming to limelight as a faction of the party on Monday openly protested against his candidacy.

The protest came simultaneously as Obaze was being handed over the party’s flag to fly as its candidate, by the party’s Caretaker Committee National Chairman, Ahmed Makarfi.

While Makarfi was handing the flag to Obaze and his deputy, Lady Chidi Alexandra Onyemelukwe, to fly and win the governorship election during a campaign flag-off held at the All Saints’ Anglican Church Cathedral Field, Onitsha, a faction of the party led by Prince Kenneth Emeakayi, former state chairman of the party was busy staging their own mother-of-all rallies at the Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka where they disowned Obaze as the authentic candidate of the party.

The flag-off at Onitsha was attended by Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Second Republic Vice-President of Nigeria, father of Alexandra, Obaze’s running mate; Secretary to the PDP National Caretaker Committee, Sen Ben Ndi Obi; former Governor Peter Obi who dumped the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) after his eight years in office and decamped to PDP, while the Awka rally was graced by some other aspirants of the party who lost the primaries to Obaze, barely six weeks ago.

However, Makarfi while handing the flag to Obaze, explained that the party would unite the country and secure the future of the state.

He expressed optimism that Obaze would win the seat, provide jobs for unemployed youths and improve the standard of education in the state which according to him has fallen below standard.

According to Makarfi, “Our party’s manifesto is good enough to take Anambra state to the next level and we are ready to follow it strictly for full implementation”.

Makarji who expressed appreciation for the turnout, noted that it was an indication that the party would take over Anambra State from APGA, come November 18.

He therefore charged all PDP members to strive within their localities to return power back to PDP, stressing that there was need for Anambra State to be in the mainstream of PDP National government that would soon be restored, even as he reminded party members that it rested within their powers to deliver the candidate in the forthcoming election.

He declared: “I believe that on election day, Anambra people will vote out APGA. Our destiny is in our hands. It depends on hope we use it. We know that Anambra is the focus in Nigeria politics. Do not allow yourself to be counted out of the system. PDP is the party which wants our children to be well educated, it knows how to manage Nigeria inspite of our ethnicity, culture and religion.

Join the bandwagon at the right time”.

He also challenged PDP leaders and all party faithful in the South-East to work with Anambra to bring unity and win the election.

Ekwueme, in his statement, urged voters to support Obaze as the PDP candidate in the November 18 election, adding that he was optimistic that the party would take over power so that it can ensure good governance for the state.

According to Ekwueme, “I am calling on all Anambra people to support the winning team of Obaze and my daughter Chidi, because they are good candidates. Anambra is the home of PDP and we are going to take over what belong to us come November 18”.

In his remarks, former governor Peter Obi said that the present administration has not performed well enough to return for a sec-

•Obaze is our candidate - Makarfi •We don’t have legitimate candidate yet - Emeakayi

•Obaze ond term, saying that it was bad governance that made Obaze join the race to repair the infrastructural decay in the state.

According to Obi, “I was the person who took Obiano round for campaign where I told you people that if he did not perform well, I will not support him for another tenure. He has failed to perform well and that is why I am supporting Obaze whom I trust can repair the state and take it to the next level”.

“I left N25 billion in the savings of the state and set aside N48.626 billion for important projects. The present government received N185 billion and between April 2014 and September 2017 the state received the sum of N109.9 billion from Local Government allocation. What have they done with the money”?, he asked rhetorically.

“Ngige was in office for 38 months and constructed 199 kilometres of roads. I continued from where Ngige stopped in road construction which cuts across the state. I built schools and equipped them and the state maintained its first position in WAEC but today we are in the seventh position”.

“This state is now dirty and there are so many dilapidated roads. This government has failed us and we should look for a better candidate to deliver us and that candidate is Obaze”, Obi further stated.

Receiving the party’s flag from Markarfi, Obaze promised to run a single term of four years if elected, adding that the election is a moment of reckoning for the PDP hence they must seize the moment and win Anambra back.

According to Obaze, “I was on the trail to rest power from the lacklustra APGA government in the state. My regret is that Anambra people have suffered from lack of infrastructure, youth unemployment and poor performance in education but I am going tio correct all these anomalies”.

“I will meet the United Nations recommendation for 26 percent of annual budgetary allocation to education and I am now ap-

•Makarfi

When the youths are engaged there would be minimal crime.

We would engage people in agriculture.

Any government that prioritises agriculture pealing to all aggrieved members of PDP to retrace their steps back to the party”.

But all these beautiful speeches from Makarfi, Ekwueme, Obi and Obaze appeared to have suffered a serious upset as the Emeakayi-led PDP faction was at the same time staging their own rally at the Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka where they tacitly disowned Obaze as the party candidate in the November 18 governorship election.

Emeakayi’s faction which goes by the name Anambra Grassroots Movement (AGM), made up of those they identified as the original PDP members and leaders, declared that Obaze was not even a registered member of PDP, not to talk of becoming the party’s candidate.

The AGM also gave the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party a five-day ultimatum within which to select from among the other aspirants who bought the party’s form for the primary election and replace

Obaze or have them declare support for any candidate of other political parties of their choice.

Emeakayi who commanded a very large crowd at the event, declared: “we are calling on the national leadership of the PDP to please do the needful, we are not threatening, it is not a threat but we are giving the PDP five days from today to do the needful.

Reason, Oseloka Henry Obaze is not a registered member of PDP therefore as we speak PDP do not have a legitimate candidate for the election”.

“We are calling on the PDP leadership to do the needful.

There are more credible and qualified members of PDP, Stella Oduah, John Emeka, Linda Ikpeazu, Alex Obiogbolu and Ifeanyi Ubah all bought forms and contested. We are calling on the national leadership of PDP to choose from any of the five. Any of them chosen will be a legitimate candidate of the party”.

On non-violence campaign, Emeakayi further declared: “we are here to flag off our enlightenment campaign and awareness for non violence election and credible election in Anambra State, where every vote must count. We have a duty and our duty is to educate our people and to carry the message to all the nooks and crannies of Anambra State, to tell our people that there is no need for violence”.

“If you think you are strong, show it with your vote not in violence. Those hoping on rigging, we are saying no, every vote must count in Anambra State this time around.

Election in this state must be credible and the people must be allowed to decide who they want as their governor and not by any manipulation”.

We are enjoying security today in Anambra therefore we don’t want any violence. We want the people of this state to feel free to come out and exercise their franchise and vote for candidate of their choice in the election”.

The Oracle Today

17

Wednesday October 25, 2017

BU$IN£SS •Energy •Finance

•Stock

•Insurance

•Aviation

•e-Platform

Debt burden casts gloom on growth – W/Bank

Energy Bonny-Bodo Road: NLNG pushes CSR limits, reconnects life

By VICTOR NZE

I

N the face of an improving receipt following exit from a near twoyear economic recession, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has expressed worry over Nigeria’s rising debt profile, warning of a consequent problem of debt burden on the country if not managed.

This is, however, as its counterpart, the World Bank has forecast a recovery for the country as well as others in the sub-Saharan region, which it said is projected to hit 2.7 per cent by end of the last quarter of this year from its previous 1.3 per cent on which it ended the previous year.

The World Bank, in its bi-annual analysis of the state of African economies, titled; Africa’s Pulse, said economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa is recovering at a ‘sluggish’ but modest pace, even as it forecast the rate to rise up to 2.4 per cent in 2017 from 1.3 per cent in 2016, which it added is still below the April forecast of 2.6 per cent.

According to the report, this rebound is led by the region’s largest economies. In the second quarter of this year, Nigeria pulled out of a five-quarter recession and South Africa emerged from two consecutive quarters of negative growth.

Improving global conditions, including rising energy and metals prices and increased capital inflows, have helped support the recovery in regional growth.

However, the report also warns that the pace of the recovery remains sluggish and will be insufficient to lift per capita income in 2017.

“Most countries do not have significant wiggle room when it comes to having enough fiscal space to cope with economic volatility. It is imperative that countries adopt appropriate fiscal policies and structural measures now to strengthen economic resilience, boost productivity, increase investment, and promote economic diversification,” noted Albert Zeufack, World Bank Chief Economist for Africa.

The sub-Saharan Africa, according to the report, is projected to see a

P20

e-Platform Stakeholders seek harmonised regulation for digital payment growth

P22

Aviation • President Muhammadu Buhari receiving the International Monetary Fund (IMF) President, Christine Lagarde in Abuja, during a January 2016 meeting. moderate increase in economic activity, with growth rising to 3.2 per cent in 2018 and 3.5 per cent in 2019 as commodity prices firm and domestic demand gradually gains ground, helped by slowing inflation and monetary policy easing.

“The economic expansion in West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) countries is expected to proceed at a strong pace on the back of solid public investment growth, led by Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal. Elsewhere, growth is projected to firm in Tanzania on a rebound in investment growth and recover in Kenya, as inflation eases. Ethiopia is likely to remain the fastest-growing economy in the region, although public investment is expected to slow down,” said the report.

Meanwhile, the Financial Counsellor and Director, Monetary and Capital Markets Department of the IMF, Mr. Tobias Andrian, last Wednesday, while briefing journalists on the Fund’s Global Financial Stability Report titled, “Is Growth at Risk?” re-

CBN EXCHANGE RATES OCTOBER 13, 2017 Currency

Buying (NGN)

•Tourism

Central Selling (NGN) (NGN)

US DOLLAR 304.55 305.05 305.55 Pounds Sterling 400.0264 400.6832 401.3399 EURO 361.0136 361.6063 362.199 SWISS FRANC 312.5192 313.0323 313.5454 YEN 2.7124 2.7169 2.7213 CFA 0.5301 0.5401 0.5501 WAUA 429.7892 430.4948 431.2004 YUAN/RENMINBI 46.2131 46.2894 46.3657 RIYAL 81.2068 81.3402 81.4735 S/African Rand 22.4934 22.5304 22.5673 DANISH KRONA 48.4906 48.5702 48.6498 SDR 429.1719 429.8765 430.5811

leased at the IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings which took place in Washington D.C, expressed the institution’s concern over a looming debt burden on sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria, against the backdrop of an improving revenue and ease of borrowing.

“Borrowing by governments, households and companies (not including banks) in the so-called Group of 20 exceeds $135 trillion, equivalent to about 235 per cent of their combined gross domestic product (GDP) “Despite low interest rates, debt servicing burdens have risen in several economies. And while borrowing has helped the recovery, it has also created new financial risks,” he explained.

According to Andrian, countries like Nigeria which have benefitted from easy financial conditions by expanding their access to ICMs could be faced with a bigger problem of managing their borrowings considering the interests which these monies attract, as well as losing investors’ con-

fidence in the long run if the funds are mismanaged.

He noted that while borrowing has generally been used to fund infrastructure projects, refinance debt, and repay arrears in some countries, it has also been accompanied by an underlying deterioration of debt burdens as measured by the debt service ratio.

“But this is breeding complacency and allowing a further build-up of financial excesses. Non-financial borrowers are taking advantage of cheap credit to load up on debt. Investors are buying riskier and less liquid assets. If left unattended, these growing vulnerabilities will continue to mount, threatening to derail the economic recovery when shocks occur.

“Overseas investment into emerging market and low income economies has increased. The global economic upswing is laying hopes for a sustained recovery and allowing cen-

Concession: Unions give FG 15-day ultimatum

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Cont’d on Page 18

Stock Market Highlights As At OCTOBER 13, 2017

Summary

ASI DEALS VOLUME VALUE CAP Coy (By Volume) DIAMONDBNK ACCESS TRANSCORP FCMB ZENITHBANK

36,848.17 3,243.00 159,613,307.00 2,242,724,776.55 12,683,756,725,635.05 Volume 25,040,556 15,819,035 14,983,190 14,260,212 9,151,366

Value 27,768,634.87 155,984,573.66 22,736,348.80 14,810,837.10 232,909,040.91

5 Top Gainers Symbols INTBREW WAPCO STANBIC GUINNESS NESTLE

Last Close 39.9 54.5 41.19 99.25 1240

Current Change 41.89 1.99 56 1.5 42 0.81 100 0.75 1240.5 0.5

Last Close 50 10.18 224 13.85 2.33

Current Change 48 -2 9.68 -0.5 223.5 -0.5 13.69 -0.16 2.22 -0.11

5Top Losers Company FO CCNN DANGCEM DANGSUGAR UPL

The Oracle Today

18

Wednesday October 25, 2017

BUSINESS

By SAMSON AKINTARO

T

he Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr. Isa Pantami, has said that the agency was set to reduce $2 billion (about N720 billion) being lost by the Nigerian economy as capital flight as a result wanton importation of foreign technologies into the country.

Pantami made the disclosure during a media interaction at the recently concluded Gulf Information Technology Exhibition in Dubai. This came as the Nigerian lawmakers that participated at the regional event said they would ensure that the Nigerian startups, who were presented for global pitch in Dubai have access reasonable years of tax holiday.

The startups at this year’s 37th GITEX include Coudiora, Nicademia, Beat Drone, Accounteer, Dropque, MTK e-Learning Portal, My Padi, Ward Monitor, Tattara and Six Internet of Things (IoT).

According to NITDA DG, there is a need for Nigeria to promote local technology solutions developed Nigerians with specific reference to the 10 startups in order to truly catapult Nigerian into becoming one of the countries to be reckoned with in on the global ICT map.

Pantami said NITDA has realised that “developing our ICT ecosystem but for the indigenous IT companies and for startup by offering them an enabling envi-

Nigeria loses N720b yearly to IT importations – NITDA ronment in terms of policy and laws to operate is one of the ways Nigeria can adopt to curb annual $2 billion (N720 billion) to capital flight.”

Explaining the seven areas NITDA is focusing on at this year’s IT exhibition towards developing the country’s ICT ecosystem, Pantami said the agency has come with seven agenda designed to develop Nigeria’s IT industry and curb the huge annual capital flight.

“These include promoting IT regulations in Nigeria, IT development and promotions, striking partnership on how to better secure Nigerian cyberspace, capacity building, promotion of e-government in Nigeria, etc. showcasing indigenous tech innovations as well as looking for investors, who will assist in supporting local development of Nigeria’s IT industry,” he said.

He also added that NITDA is working with Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to ensure that the annual estimated N37.8 billion wasted on frivolous ICT projects, especially when they abandon local IT companies and go abroad or their IT procure-

ments, is curbed through enforcing NITDA Act that says all MDAs must get clearance from NITDA for any IT project they want to embark upon to ensure those projects are implementable.

He noted that a NITDA screen of one of an MDA’s IT project conducted recently resulted in saving government N500 million. This is saved from a single IT project and you can now imagine how much we would be saving government as an agency if thorough screening of all MDAs’ IT projects are carried out in the country.

Meanwhile, Senator Abdul Fatai Buhari, Chairman, Senate Com-

mittee on ICT and Cybersecurity and his counterparts in Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Hon. Onawo Muhammed Ogoshi, joined the NITDA management to undertake a tour of the solutions being showcased by the 10 startups.

The impressed lawmakers, who took a great deal of time, listening to the 10 startups to explain their tech solutions to them at the instance of Pantami, who led the tour, promised to implement tax holidays for the 10 startups.

lawmakers, our mandate is to always enact laws that would support local innovations,” Senator Buhari said.

Other dignitaries, who joined the NITDA DG during the tour included President of Nigerian Computer Society (NCS), Prof Prof Adesola Aderounmu; Director General of National Automotive Design and Development Agency (NADDC), Mr. Jelani Aliyu; Chief Executive Officer of Pinnacle International Consulting, USA, Mr. Akande Ojo and the Chief Executive Officer, Know-How Media “This is how Microsoft, Google, International Limited, the local Facebook and several other of partner to Pinnacle, Mr. Segun such IT companies started and as Oruame, among others.

Nigeria, Japan in bilateral talks on power

By VICTOR NZE

F

ederal government is in talks with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on power, infrastructure and pipeline projects.

The government’s delegation to the talks which held in Abuja was led by the Finance of Minister, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, while the Senior Vice President of JICA, Mr. Hiroshi Kato, headed the JICA delegation.

Other members of the Nigerian delegation are the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF), Alhaji Mahmoud Isa-Dutse; Nigeria’s Alternate Executive Director at the World Bank, Alhaji Haruna Mohammed and the Director of International Economic Relations Department of the Finance ministry, Alhaji Aliyu Ahmed.

A statement issued by Oluyinka Akintunde, Special Adviser, Media & Publicity to Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, quoted Isa-Dutse, who represented the Finance Minister, as commending JICA for strengthening the bilateral relations between Nigeria and Japan.

He assured that Nigeria and the agency would continue to work harmoniously towards the realization of ongoing infrastructure projects in the power, water and road sectors as well as the rehabilitation of Jebba hydro power project.

The leader of JICA delegation, Kato, explained that the agency called for the Minister in order

to review a proposal to support nutrition improvement in Nigeria and also appraise ongoing infrastructure projects as well as some projects in the pipeline.

“JICA is planning to implement the Technical Cooperation Project on capacity development for nutrition improvement in the Federal Capital Territory. This project has five years duration. “The concept seeks to improve the nutrition situation of rural people in the FCT through dietary improvement and local production and local consumption of nutrition rich food,” Kato said.

He recalled that the Initiative for Food and Nutrition Security in Africa (IFNA) was launched in Nairobi in August 2016 during the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development The IFNA, he noted, was created to help African Governments accelerate the implementation of their nutrition policies, and also to ensure integration of agriculture into nutrition actions at the local level.

On the power transmission project, Kato said JICA was working towards signing a loan agreement for the project by March 2019.

He expressed the agency’s interest in implementing a master plan study on National Power System Development. He assured that the National Power System Development project would be a technical cooperation between Nigeria and JICA.

•NEPAD Nigeria, Princess Gloria Akobundu (l) and the General Manager, China Energy Investment Alliance Co Ltd, Angela Guo, for CEIA, at the signing of the MoU between both agencies for trade and development in Nigeria.

Economy in sluggish growth as debt burden looms Cont’d from Page 17 tral banks to eventually return their monetary policies to normal settings.

“Major central banks can avoid creating market turbulence by thoroughly explaining their plans to gradually unwind crisis-era policies. To discourage riskier lending, financial regulators should deploy so-called ‘macro-prudential’ policies, such as limits on loan-to-value ratios for mortgages, for macro critical objectives,” he added.

On her part, Assistant Director, Fiscal Affairs Department, IMF, Mrs. Catherine Pattillo, called on the Nigerian government to increase its pace of reform in order to stimulate further growth to deflate the cost of borrowing.

“There is a need for urgent actions to front-load fiscal consolidation through mobilising more non-oil revenue. So right now, non -oil revenue

collection in the first part of the year was only half of what was budgeted and there is an expectation that the trend might continue for the second part of the year.

“And if so, that would continue to widen the deficit and make interest payments to revenue stay very high at around 60 percent which is quiet striking. So the message is to front-load fiscal consolidation, emphasise non-oil revenue mobilisation and there are certain measures both on the tax and spending that the IMF team has been emphasising on,” Pattillo said.

“Debt which has been rising in many countries is a concern particularly because of the interest payments. So, if you have continuing rise in debt, the interest payments would rise, then it would consume a large part of any revenue that you collect and you won’t be able to use that revenue for the objectives of the Economic Recovery and Growth Programme (ERGP) and increasing growth and employment.

“So to ensure that you have the ability to use those revenues for enhancing expenditure, there is a need to make sure that debt is sustained and interest to revenue is kept at a reasonable level,” she advised.

Meanwhile, the World Bank has noted the modest economic recovery in Africa, adding that growth was projected to pick up to 2.4 per cent in 2017, from 1.3 per cent in 2016,” she stressed.

It would be recalled that, only last week, President Muhammadu Buhari requested the National Assembly to approve a request to borrow $5.5 billion to fund the 2017 budget.

While Nigeria’s public debt as at June 2017 stood at $64.19 billion (N19.63 trillion) according to data from the Debt Management Office (DMO), the Federal Government has so far raised $1.5 billion through Eurobond this year and another N100 billion through Sukuk bonds already invested in infrastructure funding.

The Oracle Today

19

Wednesday October 25, 2017

BUSINESS

Fidelity Bank to raise $500m Eurobond

By JEROME USHAKANG

F

IDELITY Bank Plc has concluded arrangement to raise 500million United States Dollars unsecured loans, as well as tender offer to purchase the Bank’s outstanding 300million dollars representing 6.875 percent of loans due on May 9, 2018.

The Bank intends to list the bond on the Irish Stock Exchange with expectation that it will be traded on its regulated market. Fidelity Bank in a statement notifying the

Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and the investing public revealed that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have both given approvals to the transaction.

The Bank intends to issue the bond directly but will retain the flexibility to substitute the issuer with an offshore special purpose vehicle where market conditions require and allow for such, prior to the maturity of the bond.

According to the statement, Fidelity Bank intends to utilize the

net proceeds of the bond to finance the tender offer of the existing notes and for general banking purposes.

The Bank will pay the net proceeds from the bond issuance after settling the existing notes into its foreign currency domiciliary account which may be retained by the Bank in foreign currency or converted into Naira depending on the Bank’s requirement from time to time.

However, a certificate of capital importation (CCI) will not be ob-

tained in respect of the proceeds of the notes that are not converted into naira because a CCI is only issued in respect of capital imported Nigeria and converted into Naira.

Fidelity intends to make the principal repayment and interest payments on the loans from its foreign currency reserves since it will not be able to obtain access to the Nigerian foreign exchange market for the purpose of making such payments. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Bank obtain the approval of the CBN to access the offi-

cial foreign exchange market if for any reason the bank does not have sufficient foreign currency reserves to meet the principal and interest payments due on the loans.

The bank will soon make announcements, regarding planned investor meetings in Europe and the United States in respect of the transaction. The commencement of the transaction will however be subject to finalizing the transaction documentation and prevailing market conditions.

Jalo-Waziri heads CSCS

By JEROME USHAKANG

T

he Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has appointed Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri as the substantive Managing Director of the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS).

Waziri will be taking over from Mr. Bola Adeeko who as acting Chief Executive Officer has been piloting the affairs of the settlement system house in the last couple of months. He was earlier seconded from the NSE Corporate Service Division to the CSCS. The appointment of Waziri which is yet to be made known to the brokerage community, according to a close source who was privy to the appointment, said having a substantive CEO at the CSCS is long overdue. Until his appointment to CSCS, Waziri was an Executive Director, Capital Markets Division at the NSE. However, he is expected to resume on November 1, 2017.

An X-ray of his profile showed that Haruna Jalo-Waziri is an economist with over 18 years of Capital Market and Investment Management experience covering Regulation, Deal Origination, Execution as well as Fund Management.

He has been involved in various successful ground breaking deals such as Heineken Euro Bond, and British American Tobacco M&A, among others. Until his coming to the NSE, he was the MD/CEO, UBA Asset Management Limited which he led from 2009. Prior to this, he worked at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Afrinvest West Africa (formerly SECTRUST).

Jalo-Waziri commenced his career in the Quotations Department at The Nigerian Stock Exchange. He also worked at Kakawa Discount House Ltd, where he started the Asset Management Department and rose to become Head of Asset Management; the department eventually transformed to become Kakawa Asset Management Limited.

Jalo-Waziri is a graduate of the University of Maiduguri where he studied Economics as well as the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University where he obtained an MBA specializing in finance.

Jalo-Waziri replaces the immediate past MD, Kyari Bukar who stepped down in December 2016.

• From left: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo flanked by delegates of the Family Planning 2020 Initiative (UNFPA, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID, DFID and Federal Ministry of Health) at the State House in Abuja.

NEPAD, Chinese firm sign MoU on trade, development

By VICTOR NZE

N

ew Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), Nigeria, and China Energy Investment Alliance Co. Ltd (CEIA) have signed an agreement to cooperate and further their common interests in the areas of trade and development and to engage in programmes that are geared towards the economic empowerment of Nigerians in line with the NEPAD mandate and the Presidential Economic Diversification Initiative of the Buhari Administration.

Specifically, the MoU, which was

jointly signed at NEPAD Nigeria office, Thursday, seeks to provide the ground work for cooperation on investment promotion, organisation and cooperation on programmes and activities in poverty eradication with particular reference to the establishment of a fruit juice factory, an asphalt plant, a cashew nut processing plant, cassava farms as well as setting-up of a GSM Handset factory in Nigeria. Apart from the above immediate areas of investment, as well as other targets.

Parts of the MoU, which was endorsed for NEPAD Nigeria by the

CEO, Princess Gloria Akobundu and the General Manager, China Energy Investment Alliance Co LTD, Angela Guo, for CEIA, in the presence of their witnesses, say: “That neither party shall be in position to commit the other party, whether financially or in kind, without the other party’s written consent. CEIA will be the primary relationship holder within the MoU to implement the poverty eradication programme, while NEPAD Nigeria will facilitate with the necessary public and private sectors the implementation of the above projects.

N50b rights issue: Union Bank assures shareholders on returns

U

nion Bank of Nigeria (UBN) Plc has said the ongoing N50 billion rights issue would position the bank to pay enhanced dividend to all its shareholders.

UBN Managing Director, Mr Emeka Emuwa, who made the assertion at the bank’s “facts behind the offer’’ at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in Lagos, last Wednesday, said that the rights issue would enhance the bank’s capital base to deliver stronger and sustained returns to the shareholders.

The bank is presently raising N49.7 billion through right issues and the issuance of 12.1 billion ordinary shares of 50k each at N4.10 per share. The rights issue is being offered to the shareholders on the basis of five new ordinary shares for

every seven ordinary shares held as at Aug. 21, 2017.

The offer which opened on September 20 would close on October 30, 2017. Emuwa said that the offer would enhance the bank’s regulatory capital requirement, increment in working capital and strategic investments in technology and digitalisation. The managing director who said that the rights issue would enable the bank to take advantage of emerging investment opportunities in the country, added that this offer will improve capital adequacy ratio for the long-term and build a strong buffer for regulatory requirements.

“The fund will also create additional and grow risk assets in strategic market segments and sectors, thereby enhancing lending capac-

ity”, Emuwa said.

He said that the bank was aspiring to be the leading mid-tier bank by 2018 and a top tier bank from 2021.

On the strategic utilisation of the proceeds, Emuwa said that working capital would gulp 80 per cent.

He said that the bank would deploy the working capital to six key growth sectors of the economy in line with the Federal Government’s strategic growth plan.

According to him, the key sectors are agriculture, manufacturing, solid minerals, services, construction and real estate and oil and gas.

He added that the recent trading performance of the bank on the NSE would be a core benchmark for shareholders considering participation in the right issue.

“To this end, CEIA will introduce the above products to various potential partners. CEIA will take equity in the transactions as well as provide necessary investment funds and financial partners to the execution of the projects. In addition, NEPAD Nigeria will fully monitor and evaluate the projects to ensure their full execution”.

Speaking to journalists during the signing of the MoU, the NEPAD Nigeria CEO, Princess Akobundu lauded the initiative of the CEIA in seeking to key into the pro-people agenda of the Buhari Administration by creating jobs for the nation’s teeming youth and diversifying the economy to embrace potential that exists in the non-oil sector of the economy.

She expressed hope that the Chinese Company would soon make good its promise of commencing activities in Nigeria as soon as possible.

On the other hand, Angela Guo, the GM, CEIA, said her Organisation was glad to be part of the huge market Nigeria presents on the African continent and, indeed, across the entire globe. She expressed satisfaction with what she had seen as part of the Presidential Economic Diversification Initiative and promised that her Company would quickly move into action in order to consummate the requirements of the MoU. Among those who were part of the meeting were the Nigerian partners of the CEIA, Jork Engineering Co (W. A) LTD, represented by Mr Markson F. Onwukwe and Dr. Stanley Ijeh. Others were the Director, Programmes Development and Implementation, NEPAD Nigeria, Mr. E. E Abang, Dr. Charles Onuoha and Alh. Sarki Wakil, both of the NEPAD Nigeria CEO’s office.

The Oracle Today

20

Wednesday October 25, 2017

ENERGY

By SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

N

IGERIA Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited, last weekend, activated a record shattering corporate social responsibility programme with the groundbreaking ceremony for a 40 year old plan by government to build the Bonny-Bodo road conceived to connect several communities in Rivers State.

With the ceremony performed

by Vice President Yomi Osinbajo amidst cheers and thundering applause from thronging crowds, NLNG is putting cheque on the table to fund 50 percent of the N120.6 billion required to realize the project which is planned to deliver a Trunk A highway across 43 kilometres of sinking marshy wetlands to connect the ancient kingdoms of the island of Bonny to the rest of Nigeria for the first time in history.

According to the project details, north section of the road would be 17, 365 meters; south section would be 15, 806 meters while the rest would be made up of 1000 meter bridge across the Opobo River, 550 meter bridge across the Alfa Creek and other smaller bridges culverts.

And with about N60 billion financial contribution towards the project, the 40 year idea behind Bonny-Bodo road project will see immediate activity under a tripartite agreement earlier signed between the federal government and NLNG as funding partners, and construction giant, Julius Berger Nigeria Limited, as project delivery contractor.

The earlier agreement signed at the Abuja office of Minister for Works, Power and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, committed all three partners to performance with the project delivery gestation determined at maximum of five years.

Whereas government holds overriding 49 percent interest in the NLNG Limited, it must be pointed out however, that the company’s contribution to the project is separate from revenue obligations to shareholders including government and multinational investors like Shell Gas BV (SGBV) which holds 25.6 percent operating interest, TotalGaz Electricite Holdings of France which has 15 percent financial interest in the company, and Eni International (N.A.) N. V. S.àr.l. which holds the remaining 10.4 percent financial interest.

The road project which had been on the drawing board since the 1970s is expected to connect many Niger Delta communities including Ogoni, Okrika, Eleme, Andoni and several others; opening up great opportunities for rapid socio-economic development of the area and impacting the lives of the millions of Nigerians, mainly those living in Bonny Island.

Up till now, Bonny Island has remained and isolated piece of ancient culture reservoir, harbouring colonial relics and occupying huge space in history books. Historical accounts have it that Bonny has all the potentials for rapid economic development, being the host of colonial trading ports, anchor point for European traders, and landing ground for sailing missionaries.

The island was the melting point of economic activities right from the 15th century when the kingdom established good relations with the Portuguese and sent Prince Abagy as its first Ambassador to Portugal in about 1450AD. In the 19th Century AD, Bonny Island also served as Christianity’s first port of call in West Africa. It was also home to many illustrious

Bonny-Bodo Road: NLNG pushes CSR limits, reconnects life

sons and daughters of Nigeria.

However, the evolution of oil industry in Nigeria altered the shape of activities in the island which now hosts key national petroleum assets including pipelines, export terminals and sundry upstream oil and gas production facilities. And due to its strategic position, Bonny, particularly the Finima axis of the island, hosts facilities of various multinational oil companies including Royal Dutch Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Agip, and Total.

Neighbouring Bodo communities also hosts a criss-cross of oil production wells, flow stations, manifolds and pipelines operated mainly by Nigeria’s leading producer, Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited.

Rising petroleum industry activities and growing production assets mean that the host communities had to concede lands and rivers, their natural sources of livelihood, to oil companies hoping that ancillary industry activities would spur rapid infrastructural development and accelerate rise in the standard of living. Such assumptions were based on the plan by government in the 1970s to ease the people’s transportation difficulty with a highway to mainland communities in Rivers State.

For decades, the development plans for Niger Delta remained a mirage, and the people’s dreams turned to nightmares. Host community response to industry presence turned sour, and hostility gave expression to frustration. It is therefore simple to interpret the role of

oil companies in the festering Niger Delta security crisis as CSR failure.

It is also gratifying that the country’s biggest gas exporter is rising to provide the industry a sustainable model for public relations and corporate social responsibility.

With recognition of the economic potentials of gas in the 1980s, government had articulated new policies under the Associated Gas Fiscal Arrangement (AGFA) and subsequent Non-Associated Gas Fiscal Reform Act (NAGFRA) that laid out generous incentives for gas valorisation projects.

One of the most audacious investments under the fiscal incentives is the NLNG Limited which twisted off from the NNPC/Shell/Total/Agip joint venture (JV) under the country’s first ever incorporated joint venture (IJV) to ensure efficiently managed world class processes in running local business operations.

Over the years the company has grown in leaps and bounds, delivering huge cash returns to shareholders, paying lumpy taxes to government and devoting significant funds to corporate social responsibility to benefit the people and enhance living standard in areas that bear its business footprints.

The company is in a pact with the Bonny Kingdom to accelerate development in the island and literally transform it a global commercial centre only comparable to Dubai in the Middle East.

Managing Director of NLNG, Mr. Tony Attah, stated: “NLNG’s financial contributions to Nigeria and the Niger Delta have been significant. It

has generated more than $90 billion in revenues as at 2015, paid $5.7 billion in taxes and committed more than $200 million to corporate social responsibility projects in the Niger Delta especially in the areas of capacity building and infrastructure development.

“The company also recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Bonny Kingdom for the economic development of the Kingdom over a 25-year period. In that MOU, NLNG committed N3 Billion per annum which cumulatively, is N75bn in 25 years to the sustainable development of Bonny.”

He explained that the BonnyBodo road project falls directly into the vision of the development pact between the company and the host community, adding that the company has decided to plug into the project to fast track its realization with funding surge.

At the groundbreaking ceremony in Bonny, all stakeholders agree that the 40 year old road plan has over-lingered, and that the delay in realising the project has made life more difficult for the people.

At the palace of the Perekule XI of the Grand Bonny Kingdom, the Amanyanabo-in-Council remarked that renewed hope for the realization of the project came from the involvement of NLNG. The council also demanded rapid realization of the project, pointing out that the road would boost the economy of the country, enhance living standard in the island and curb agitation and criminality in the region.

The Amanyanabo and the Natural

Ruler of people, His Majesty, King Edward Asimini William-Dappa Pepple III, emphasized that the road project was of prime economic and security importance. He explained that that road would provide the only reliable channel of connection with the island especially when rough weather and sea waves make both flights and sails impossible.

In calling on the present administration to show interest in development of all parts of the country, the king demanded government to support the project with adequate funding. He pointed at numerous federal government-sponsored road, housing and health facility projects abandoned in the community. He called on government to revive and conclude all abandoned projects in the area.

He expressed appreciation to the NLNG for standing with the host communities and for its commitment to the bigger development plan for the Bonny Island. He reiterated that the development pact with NLNG would not deliver optimum effect without the road.

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, declared that NLNG has expressed corporate patriotism with its commitment to the road project and greater development plan for Bonny Island.

He pointed out that isolation of the island from the rest of the country imposed hardship on the people, explaining that cost of living has remained high due to difficulty in moving goods and services to the island exclusively by air and sea.

He said the delivery of the road project would crash cost of commodity in the island, create new jobs, build new hopes, and spur activities that translate to prosperity.

On funding, He pledged that his ministry would liaise with the National Assembly to ensure appropriation of funds for the project in government’s annual budgets.

Vice President Osinbajo said government had to evolve a publicprivate partnership arrangement to guarantee the realization of the Bonny-Bodo road project when it became clear that the administration couldn’t fund it alone.

In expressing gratitude to NLNG for its enthusiasm and commitment to infrastructure development, Prof Osinbajo said democracy must provide the people tangible improvement in the quality of life, adding that the project take-off was one of the dividends of stability in the Niger Delta.

A survey by The Oracle Today showed that stakeholders neither rest their hope for realization of the road project on government nor on the tripartite agreement.

Hopes solidly rest on the track record of NLNG in delivering high value benefits.

Under the public-private partnership arrangement, federal government and NLNG Limited will equally share the project cost of N120 billion to construct the road, but stakeholders see hope in the presence of NLNG whose contribution is not subject to the vagaries of annual budget approval and funding release as in the case of the Ministry¬ of Works.

Vice President Osinbajo declared: “Our gratitude goes to NLNG for their enthusiasm and their cooperation and for putting their money towards this landmark project. I hope other companies and corporation will emulate them in this regard.”

The Oracle Today

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Wednesday October 25, 2017

ENERGY

BUK joins fray on frontier basin exploration B Stories by SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

AYERO University Kano (BUK) has pledged to partner with stakeholders in the ongoing exploratory activities in the frontier basins as Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) keeps purse open in the endless search for oil in the northern parts of the country.

Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, who hosted Vice Chancellor of BUK, Prof. Muhammad Yahuza Bello to a courtesy call in Abuja, stated weekend the corporation would welcome assistance from universities in its inland exploration efforts.

Erin obtains funding for Nigerian well

“Your visit would open up opportunities for collaboration between NNPC and your university and we are looking forward to receiving your inputs,” Dr. Baru Stated.

He said while the Corporation was not keen on setting up a university, it had nonetheless established the NNPC Learning Academy which trains high level manpower for the Oil and Gas Industry, adding that it offered short term high level technical courses capable of enhancing the oil industry operations.

Dr. Baru said NNPC already had an established relationship with Petronas on shipping, saying further collaborations with the company are underway.

Earlier, BUK Vice Chancellor, Prof. Bello, said the university was in collaboration with Petronas, as he called on other indus-

try stakeholders to join NNPC by showing interest in education.

Prof. Bello noted that Petronas had awarded Ph.D scholarship to 13 staff members of BUK in different areas of Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, among others in recent times.

“Bayero University Kano has being given permission by the National University Commission (NUC) to commence degree programmes in Petroleum Engineering and Chemical Engineering.

The students are in their fourth year now and we believe that it would be a good idea for us to establish a relationship with NNPC in a number of areas, in particular, we want to appeal to NNPC to support BUK in implementing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) we signed with Petronas’ University of Technol-

E

rin Energy has obtained a funding commitment to drill its high-impact Miocene exploration well in Nigeria on OML 120. The company has completed the site survey of the drilling location and it is planned to spud the well during this quarter.

Following the commitment to fund the drilling of the Miocene exploration well, the first option well of the drilling contract has been exercised with the drilling contractor.

Erin also saw the successful completion of the drilling phase of the Oyo-9 well. The well results indicate presence of the target channel system and 85.3 ft of net oil sand. The results are in line with predictions and confirm field extension to the western part of the field. Both the engineering and manufacturing of the subsea equipment are at various stages of completion.

The company did say however, that due to chronic delays in the release of the remaining funds and improper interference by the guarantor of the loan facility, as agreed to between the bank and Erin for the project, it has decided to temporarily suspend the completion and hookup of the development program. On several occasions Erin has demanded the guarantor cease and desist from interfering in the disbursement of funds for the project. Consequently, the Pacific Bora drilling rig and all drilling services have been demobilized.

In Ghana, following the recent decision of the Special Chamber of the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) concerning the maritime boundary dispute between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, the company is working with the government and its partners to progress the development activities in its ESWT block.

The ESWT block has three discovered fields with total in-place oil volume of 500MMstb. The 3D seismic data which will be acquired in Q2 2018, will be used to improve subsurface definition and optimization of drilling targets.

ogy,” Prof. Bello stated.

Meanwhile, Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, and the Petroleum Tankers Drivers branch of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, have commended tNNPC for seamless supply and distribution of petroleum products across the country.

NARTO President, Alhaji Kassim Ibrahim Bataiya, and Chairman of PTD, Chief Otumba Oladiti, said fuel supply has improved in the country.

The NARTO President also thank Dr. Baru for the settlement of their freight bills of about N80 billion owed by the Petroleum Equalization Fund, PEF, Management Board.

PTD Chairman, Chief Otumba Oladiti, assured of the tanker drivers’ due support.

• Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru (right) taking solidarity song during a visit to his Office in Abuja by the leadership of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and Petroleum Tankers Drivers (PTD), both of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG). In the middle with the GMD is NARTO President, Alhji kassim Ibrahim Bataiya and PTD Chairman, Chief Otunba Oladiti.

Egina in calculus for rising deepwater project

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otal’s Egina deepwater field development project is in the frontline of indices that formed linear calculations that determine Africa and America as leading the rise in deep offshore development approvals.

The indications emerging from the two continents lead Westwood Energy to expect global deepwater spending to total $126.9 billion during 2017-21.

According to the analyst’s updated World Deepwater Market Forecast, the main focus of activities will likely be on Africa and the Americas, which are set to account for more than 78 percent of the forecast expenditure.

According to a report by Offshore monitored by The Oracle Today in Lagos, while project sanctioning has picked up over the past 12 months, operators remain cautious on project spending.

The analyst says, operators are increasingly selecting phased development concepts to limit the risk and financial exposure typically associated with deepwater production.

The updated report highlights 114 potential projects that will likely drive drilling and installation activity, an 11 percent increase compared to Westwood’s third quarter data update.

Among the other main findings are that Asia would experience an increased level of investment in deepwater projects post-2017.

The report also has it thatdDespite the low day rates for MODUs, subsea drilling and completion expenditure would grow at an 8.0 percent CAGR, and account for 32 percent of forecast expenditure.

Also, subsea production equipment, SURF, and pipelines will cover 39 percent of forecast expenditure, while floating production units will account for 29 percent of forecast expenditure, driven at present by FPSOs such as Total’s Egina and Kaombo, both of which were sanctioned prior to the recent downturn.

If oil prices remain relatively stable above $50/bbl, lower drilling and equipment costs could stimulate further project sanctioning over the next 18 months, the report adds.

Analysis is based on Westwood’s SECTORS database, which lists more than 900 deepwater projects.

SNG donates facilities to community school

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he Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG) says it has donated an ultramodern ICT Centre and wellequipped science laboratories to African Church Community Secondary School in Ewupe, a community hosting the company’s facilities in Ota area of Ogun State.

The donation was the second phase of SNG’s intervention in the school to bring it to a competitive standard. The company had in 2016 donated a block of five classrooms, a 12-room stand-alone toilet facility, school water system, upgraded football field, and a rehabilitated 5 blocks of 19 classrooms for shared use by the school and the co-located Ebenezer African Church Primary School in the first phase of the intervention.

“Our goal is to support government and other relevant agencies to close the gap of educational inequality between pupils of public schools and their counterparts in private schools,” Managing Director of SNG, ED Ubong, said at a ceremony marking the completion and handover of the projects to Ogun State government.

“We recognise education as the topmost need of the people of our neighboring communities and what we have done is a progression of our longstanding support to the school and to the communities,” Ubong added.

The Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Modupe Mujota, who received the facilities on behalf of the

state, commended SNG’s investment in public schools in the community and charged the students to take full advantage of the facilities to “upscale their academic performance and competitive exploits”.

“This singular act of Shell Nigeria Gas depicts the company’s fulfillment of its social responsibility for the development of its host communities and is worthy of emulation by others,” she said.

In his remarks, the school principal, Mr. Gbolahan Adekunjo, acknowledged the improved academic standard and the growing number of enrolment in the school following the series of upgrade by SNG. “The interventions have resulted in an enabling environment for teaching and learning and the

impact is felt by the students, staff, parents and catchment communities.”

The Chairman Community Development Association Ewupe, Alhaji Monsuru Akande, thanked SNG on behalf of the community and appealed to the state government to continue to create the enabling environment for SNG and other companies to support education in the state.

Shell Nigeria Gas Limited is a fully owned Shell company for the downstream distribution of gas to industries in Nigeria. SNG currently operates a gas transmission and distribution network of approximately 115km and serves industrial customers in Ota, Ogun State and Aba in Abia State.

The Oracle Today

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Wednesday October 25, 2017

e-Platform

Stakeholders seek harmonised regulation for digital payment growth Stories by SAMSON AKINTARO

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TAKEHOLDERS in the digital payment system in Nigeria have called on the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), which is the telecom regulator, and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which regulates the financial system, to collaborate for the growth of digital payment in Nigeria. This, they said, became necessary as technology disrupts the financial system.

The stakeholders who spoke at the third quarterly forum of the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA), themed: Digital Payment—Prospects and Challenges of a Financially Inclusive Nigeria, said digital payment can only succeed in Nigeria when the two regulatory agencies work together. Specifically, Mr Tunde Ogungbade, Managing Director of Global Accelerex, a payment terminal solutions provider company, said though the two agencies have been trying to work together, the process has been very slow.

Ogungbade noted that Nigeria has been lagging behind in digital payment despite the introduction of a cashless system as far back as 2012, adding that 41.6 per cent of Nigeria’s adult population are still financially excluded. Explaining how digital payment helps economy, Ogungbade said that velocity of transactions in an economy determines the growth of such economy. “Financial inclusion will indirectly increase the tax revenue going to the government. Study projected that broadening access to digital finance tools could increase developing countries’ GDP

by an estimated $3.7 trillion by 2025” “Digital payment will help manage money more effectively with new ways to save, make payments, access credit, or obtain insurance.

People will spend less time taking care of simple financial transactions and more on productive work or running a small business of their own. Digital financial services increases consumer activity and trade” he explained.

Given the large penetration of mobile phones in the country, Ogbade forecast that 70 per cent of adult Nigerian’s should have access to payment services in 2020. He added that channels through which people can access the services such as branches of banks, microfinance banks, number of ATMs, mobile agents, POS, agents of deposit money banks are also expected to increase to specified target numbers per 100,000 adults in 2020.

However, he said all these would only come to pass when government and regulators initiate appropriate policies. He said there is the need to encourage and facilitate technological research and innovation that will make financial services not just easily accessible but also cheaply available.

“We need to develop technology solutions & innovation to reach unbanked through transformational branchless banking by tapping into infrastructure that already reaches the rural/remote areas. Government, banks and other financial services would need to move away from the attitude of viewing the objective behind financial inclusion as a national social responsibility but should begin to look at it more as a profitable business opportuni-

From left: Tunde Ogungbade, Managing Director, Global Accelerex; Ifeoma Onibuje, Divisional Head, Electronic Banking, Fidelity Bank; Emma Okonji, Chairman, NITRA; and Austin Okere, Vice Chairman, CWG Plc at the 3rd Quarterly Forum organised by Nigeria Information Technology Reporters’ Association held in Ikeja, Lagos recently. ty and an enabler of development” he said.

Also speaking at the forum, the Founder of Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) Mr Austin Okere, noted that the rise of financial technology, which is disrupting the financial system might bring about regulatory collision in Nigeria as was the case in Kenya, where the largest telecommunications company, Safaricom is driving the mobile payment system, Mpesa, and it is being regulated by the Kenyan Communications Commission. He, however, advised that collabora-

tion of the banking and telecom regulators would be the best for Nigeria.

Okere said that Fintech companies in emerging markets have shown that with the right technology, it is possible to leapfrog to new forms of banking. According to him, with the evolving technologies, FinTech would command about 40 per cent of the global financial services market in the next 10 years. He added that with FinTech, banking would wear a new face in the same way that retail did with the advent of e-commerce.

forefront of empowering SMEs across Nigeria through the Market Access platform”, he said.

Syrimis added that Lagos, popularly referred to as the ‘Centre of Excellence’ is also Nigeria’s economic nerve centre. Therefore hosting SMEs in the cosmopolitan city has a much wider reach and

impact. “One of the major benefits of bringing entrepreneurs together under one roof to interact and share ideas is to empower their burgeoning businesses at no cost to them. This is another demonstration of how 9mobile delivers qualitative service in keeping with its Naija spirit”, he asserted.

9mobile to empower SMEs at Lagos Market Access Forum

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ne of the leading telecoms companies in Nigeria, 9mobile, has announced plans to empower Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) in and around Lagos at its quarterly business networking and empowerment platform, Market Access scheduled to take place on Thursday, October 19. The company said this gesture is in further demonstration of its commitment to the growth of small businesses in the country.

Market Access organised in partnership with the Enterprise Development Centre of the Pan Atlantic University, is a platform for SME owners to interact with large cor-

porations with the objective of sharing knowledge and strategies that can enable the growth of startups and small businesses.

The Lagos edition will hold at Zone Conference Centre, Plot 9, Gbagada Industrial Scheme, beside UPS, Gbagada Expressway, Lagos.

The theme of the Lagos Market Access forum is, ‘Access to Sustainable Market for SMEs: Challenges & Opportunities.’

Speaking about the forum, the Director, Enterprise Market Segment, 9mobile, Plato Syrimis, said 9mobile Market Access empowers potential entrepreneurs by facilitating opportunities for them to network and share knowledge/ ideas as this is an important driver towards achieving their individual goals.

“SMEs are enablers of national economic development and one of the ways that we can help them to fulfil that role is to empower them with the essential knowledge and strategies they require to nurture their businesses. 9mobile is an innovative network and we are delighted to continuously be at the

Kaspersky Lab partners INTERPOL on cyber security

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aspersky Lab has reiterated its commitment to global collaboration in the fight against cybercrime by signing a threat intelligence sharing agreement with INTERPOL. The legal framework is designed to facilitate and develop cooperation between Kaspersky Lab and INTERPOL by sharing threat intelligence data on the latest cybercriminal activities, wherever they appear.

With cyberthreats often borderless in nature, Kaspersky Lab said it has been a leading proponent of the importance of industry collaboration. Its experts have regularly cooperated with INTERPOL to share fresh cyberthreat discoveries with police in its member countries. For example, Kaspersky Lab participated in a groundbreaking INTERPOL-led cybercrime operation that identified nearly 9,000 botnet command and control (C2) servers and hundreds of compromised websites, including government portals, across the ASEAN region.

Kaspersky Lab has also previously assisted in a global operation coordinated by the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation (IGCI) in Singapore to disrupt the Simda criminal botnet – a network of over 770,000 infected PCs around the world.

Furthermore, cooperating with INTERPOL has helped Kaspersky Lab experts to test and improve a free open-source tool that enables quicker and easier cyberthreat research: not only does it enable researchers to cut travel time, it also helps law enforcement quickly discover key artifacts left after a cyberattack.

The Oracle Today

23

Wednesday October 25, 2017

e-Platform

Nigeria woos ICT investors at GITEX Stories by SAMSON AKINTARO

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IGERIA’S delegation led by the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA), Dr. Isa Pantami at the recently concluded Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) Technology Week in Dubai, has called on global investment community to consider Nigeria a worthwhile economy where there is a vast untapped potential for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) investments.

This came as investors from the United States of America, Indian, Germany and Norway and from within Nigeria, who had good representation at the forum expressed great interest in coming to Nigeria having listened to presentations on investment potentials from Nigerian representatives including.

Presenting a speech at the Africa Investment Forum at Dubai World Trade Centre, where the event was held, Dr Pantami said there was an enabling environment created by

the Buhari administration’s Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PBEC), for businesses to thrive in Nigeria.

He explained particularly clear all the misconceptions about doing business in Nigeria especially in the area of security of life and property, stressing the problem of insecurity has been fought significantly and that investors have been having safe business operations contrary to false information on the Internet.

Aside the opportunity for Visa on arrival which Nigerian offers investors, Pantami said ICT sector currently contributed 11.27 per cebt to the total nominal GDP in the 2nd Quarter of 2017, stressing that while they are guaranteed better returns on investment, Nigeria will also benefit by boosting it’s GDP contribution from IT through such investment.

Offering the investors insight into the potentials of the Nigerian economy, Pantami said towards increasing the broadband penetration in Nigeria to 30 per cent by 2018, the country has developed a comprehensive National Broadband Plan

(NBP). “We see a good potential for growth in the sector and we are creating an environment that can significantly increase the sector’s contribution to the nation’s GDP. “As such, this is a good time to invest in our ICT sector and we invite you to partner with us in this season of growth,” he said.

According to him, NITDA has an Office for ICT Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIIE) which hunts talents and support promising Nigerian startups in the ICT. “The activities of the OIIE have enabled the ICT startup innovation ecosystem in Nigeria to grow at a remarkable pace. One of our startups- Genie Games- won the 2nd position at the keenly contested Startup Movement Competition at GITEX 2016.

“Many Nigerian startups have also won plaudits from home and abroad. For example, HopStop, an online city transit App acquired

by Apple for a whopping $1 billion, was owned by a Nigerian-born Entrepreneur. Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook, visited Nigeria last year and had very complimen-

tary things to say about the quality of ICT talent in the country.

His foundation also provided $24 million funding for Andella, a Nigerian company focussed on building World-Class Software Development Teams.

“Konga.com, a Nigerian e-commerce company, attracted over $65 million funding in 2014. Also, out of a record-breaking total of $366.8 million raised by African startups in 2016, investments in Nigerian startups had the largest share of $109.4 million. “These investment stories underscore the viability of the Nigerian startups and the capacity of Nigerians to conceive ingenious ideas. We invite you, our potential investors, to take advantage of this massive talent pool as you invest in Nigeria,” he added.

The DG added that more than 50 per cent of what they (potential investors) needed to assembly product towards localising and domesticating their IT investments can be sourced from Nigeria, saying there is tax-friendly policy to support the investors in Nigeria.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 berths in Nigeria S AMSUNG’S newest flagship Smartphone, the Galaxy Note 8 is now available in the Nigerian market. The Note 8 which was officially unveiled in Lagos takes cues from Samsung’s Note and Galaxy S lines, while boasting even more exciting features making the smartphone a stunning device.

Made with Corning Gorilla Glass 5.0, the new smartphone has a 6.3inch QHD screen, the largest screen on a Galaxy Note phone, a dual camera, two 12-megapixel cameras on the back – a dual pixel primary wide-angel sensor with f/1.7 aperture and OIS, and a secondary telephoto lens with f/1.4 aperture and OIS. The smartphone features the company’s signature Infinity Display, giving the screen more surface area for use with the S Pen. Speaking at the Lagos launch, Emmanouil Revmatas, Director of Information, Communication & Technology for Samsung Electronics West Africa, said that the infinity display is a game changer for Note users because where others see more screen, users see more space to do what they love and get things done.

“The Galaxy Note 8 has the biggest screen ever on a Note device, yet its narrow body makes it comfortable to hold in one hand. With the Super AMOLED technology, combined with a resolution of 2,960 x 1,440, all the typical characteristics featured in previous Samsung phones such as vibrant colors, high contrast, and inky dark blacks are incredibly sharp.

The Note 8’s display is absolutely gorgeous with a screen fantastic for all kinds of use such as watching YouTube videos, playing games, casual web browsing, and boosting productivity,” said Director of Mobile for Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Olumide Ojo. Built with 6GB RAM, a 10nm processor, and 64GB memory space (expandable up to 256GB), the Galaxy Note 8 offers users more flexibility for internet browsing, video streaming, playing games, and multitasking.

Importantly, the device is also water and dust resistant (IP68). Users do not have to worry about getting the device damaged when accidentally dropped in fresh water, as deep as 1.5 meters, for up to 30 minutes.

From left: Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas, Director, Information Communication and Technology; Mr. Olumide Ojo, Director, Mobile; Mr. Hungbae Kim, Business Manager, all with Samsung Electronics West Africa; and Mr. Ebuka obi Uchendu, Popular Media Personality/MC at the launch of Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Smartphone, which held in Lagos recently.

The S Pen, like the Galaxy Note 8 itself, is IP68-rated for water and dust resistance; users can easily jot down thoughts and ideas on a wet screen without interruption. The S Pen can also translate full sentences in foreign languages, depending on the country and region. All you need do is let the S Pen hover above the selected words. Thanks to the “Screen Off” Memo, users can write up to 100 pages of notes, as well as edit and pin them to the Always-On Display, an easy way for users to capture and share their thoughts with ease. The S Pen also automatically converts units of measurements and foreign currencies. There is also an alarm that will go off once you start moving without docking it away.

The Galaxy Note 8 is equipped with two 12MP rear cameras with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on both the wide-angle lens and the telephoto lens, allowing users capture crisp and

sharp images. For more advanced photo-taking, the Galaxy Note 8’s Live Focus feature allows for control of the depth of field by adjusting the blur and focus of the background in real time. The background blur can be adjusted even after the picture is taken.

In Dual Capture mode, both rear cameras take two pictures simultaneously, allowing users save both images; one close-up shot from the telephoto lens and one wide-angle shot that shows the entire background.

The wide-angle lens has a Dual Pixel sensor with rapid Auto Focus, so you can capture sharper, clearer shots even in low-light environments.

“One of the things our consumers look out for when purchasing a device is the camera. Samsung has clearly set the standard for smartphone cameras and, with the Galaxy Note 8; we are delivering our most powerful smartphone camera yet.

The Galaxy Note 8 is also equipped

with an industry-leading 8MP Smart Auto Focus front-facing camera for sharp selfies and video chats,” said Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas.

With the Samsung Galaxy Note 8’s Adaptive Fast Charging technology, users can get their battery charge up from zero to 50% capacity in just 30 minutes. Its ultra power saving mode also lets users make the most of their battery power, helping them stay connected for longer periods.“ Consumers do not need to worry about the safety of their devices as Samsung continues to uphold its commitment to lead the industry in battery safety. The Galaxy Note8’s battery has undergone Samsung’s 8-Point Battery Safety Check—the most rigorous in the industry,” continued Revmatas. In addition to its innovative technological advancements, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 offers a choice of biometric authentication options—including iris and fingerprint scanning.

MDXi targets enterprise customers with new campaign

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est Africa’s premier Data Center solutions provider, MDXi has launched an advertising campaign aimed at reinforcing the company’s position as the data center provider of choice for enterprises in the region. Tagged “Take a Break”, the campaign will increase awareness of the MDXi brand as the most interconnected and reliable West African data center company and urges C-level executives across the region to take a break from the rigors of managing in-house IT and outsource their Information Technology infrastructure needs to MDXi. The campaign, which began in October in Nigeria and Ghana includes a redesign of the MDXi website and press adverts in numerous national publications, building on the company’s expansion efforts across Nigeria and West Africa. The campaign is expected to spotlight the company’s data center initiatives not only in Nigeria, but across West Africa including its Accra facility, a new Data Center in Sagamu, Ogun State Nigeria as well as planned development in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire.

“Unknown to local enterprises that outsource their data center needs off-shore, MDXi is home to numerous large multinationals that West Africans interact with daily online as we have raised the bar to provide world-class ICT and Data Center solutions, at par with similar facilities in Europe, Asia and America. Our Data Centers have undergone rigorous compliance audits to ensure we are able to provide same level of service locally that our international customers are used to” says MDXi General Manager, Gbenga Adegbiji.

MainOne’s MDXI is said to have put Nigeria on the global map, with its premier Tier III Lekki Data Center, the only data center in West Africa that is authorized to process and store payment card information with its PCI DSS certification. MDXI is also certified as ISO 27001, 9001 compliant and is the only SAP certified provider of hosting services in the region. The company has contributed significantly to deepening Nigeria’s digital economy with its highly available, carrier-neutral ICT infrastructure, enabling network operators and content providers exchange traffic within its data center.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday October 25, 2017

ISSN: 2545-5869

EDITORIAL

www.oraclenews.ng

VOX POPULI SACRUM

Stone us after two years – Tony Momoh

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XPECTATIONS that fuelled the wheels as Chief Momoh professed. “When Gen Buhari going to do it through discipline. Every wrong on which President Muhammadu Buhari comes in, importation of fuel will be a thing of doing is as a result of indiscipline. The fact is rode to power on 29 May 2015, were oiled that Buhari does not protect anybody who the past because there will be a preoccupation on the words of eminent Nigerians who with the local refineries. Gen Buhari will not breaks the law. Once discipline is restored, were thought to have drawn from their well look at Nigeria importing fuel and be satisfied the backbone of incompetence, the backbone of wisdom, in their forecast of the coming and say that is what we need. When he was of fraud, the backbone of corruption will be change. None of such eminent, pro-Buhari Head of State, Nigeria was exporting finished broken. In less time than you expect, order citizens seemed to have ranked above Chief products from our refineries.” will return and Nigeria will work again,” Chief Tony Momoh--lawyer, media chieftain and WHILE meeting the challenging promises he Momoh explained. close ally of the President. He spoke extenmade may not be the worries of most NigeHE riveted the attention of the interviewer to sively of the fortunes that Buhari would rians, his relentless efforts at setting other the manifesto of the APC, in case there were bestow on Nigeria.

Nigerians against the South East has become further doubts about the abilities of the party IN an interview that enjoyed front page promia hallmark of the administration. He has made to perform. “If you look at the manifesto of nence in a major national newspaper, Chief two national broadcasts where he needlessly the APC, the issues are settled there and they Momoh stated that in two years, Nigerians insulted the South East, including their leaders. will be addressed. In fact, some people say would see a new country – he intended no He appears to be more concerned with stating how can you say you will feed school chilpuns. He set a target of two years for the his importance then in fulfilling promises he dren? If we made the promise, we will feed changes to be made. How serious was he? made to Nigerians. school children. And once it starts, I won’t He was not one given to frivolities. Every TWO years down the line, the stones have started fail because Gen Muhammadu Buhari canline of the interview dripped with the high flying. In Owerri, irate youth stoned a parade not sleep if he cannot fulfill the promises he standards of performance that the All Prothat was celebrating the erection of a statue made. If we block all the leakages, we will gressives Alliance (APC) had set for itself, esand conferment of state honours on blighted have more money not only to feed the school pecially the President, whose performance, Jacob Zuma, President of South Africa. Back children but also their parents. Nigerians will the likes of Chief Momoh explained, would home, corruption charges await him, outside sing more songs about Buhari in four years’ have no room for excuses. his celebrated life of amorality. The anger of time because he will satiate their yearnings TO underline his faith in the eagerly awaited the youth centred on the wastefulness of Govand aspirations. Let me tell you, there is new country and the determination of APC ernor Rochas Okorocha. money in this system, but the money is going to achieve it, he enthused: “If after two SIMILAR wastes, excuses, in place of fulfilling somewhere. What is needed is blocking the years we have not performed, you can stone promises that won APC the elections, divisive leakages. Then, there will be money to chanus.” policies, and abnegation of the Constitution, nel to all other areas-education, roads, power, MONEY was not expected to be a challenge, have been the most momentous contributions job creation and so on.” even if the treasury was empty. “Where of the APC and the President to national issues.

DO the performances of APC and the President will the money come from? The money will People are wondering whether the governresemble any of the things that Chief Momoh come because the money we have which is ment that two years ago said, “change is poshas said? Was he the only one that thought diverted will be channeled properly. We are sible” is the same one that with excuses says, that the administration would improve “change is impossible”.

Nigeria? His interview was granted days to the beginning of the Buhari THE deafening silence of Chief Momoh and other earlier promoters of the administration, administration. The campaigns had makes the point that “change has changed”. ended. APC had spent almost two Nigerians are too peaceful to fulfill Chief Momonths waiting to resume with its moh’s prophesy of stoning the government, change mantra. “Gen Buhari will but their disappointment is so comprehensive look at all the ministries, agencies that often, there are no words adequate to and parastatals, and ensure that describe it. the document setting them up is followed to the letter. The key thing here is the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Our Vision Constitution is not supreme; the people are supreme. Sovereignty TO BE among the top five newspapers in Nigeria and, belongs to the people of Nigeria,” in due course, the Numero Uno; to be a newspaper of Momoh added, post-marking the records that effectively caters to the information needs of all segments and sections of the Nigerian society as attitude of the government to the well as all social classes and cultures. Essentially, we law. Has there been inclination to want to be a responsible corporate citizen, a commercomply with the law in these dealcially viable, properly organised media business, which ings? meets its obligations to society, government and the THE simple matter of declaring workforce. assets was one of the early storms for the President. From the Spartan Mission Buhari who had so little to declare, that he would willingly comply WE INTEND to contribute to the development of an with the law, emerged a President inclusive Nigerian society, with a view to getting rid of who refused to declare his assets. the dark sides of our national life (slothfulness, greed, “Gen Buhari will look at what the corruption, nepotism, totalitarianism, etc); to continuCode of Conduct says. The Code of ally engender and sustain national debates that would Conduct says declare your assets. ultimately lead to the enthronement of healthy national values--hard-work, justice, equity and fairplay, transparMany people refused to declare ency, good governance, resulting, in themselves, the their assets. He will look at the egalitarian Nigerian society of our dream. We will give Code of Conduct; he will look at the voice to the voiceless and at all times, strive to be balOath of Office.” Chief Momoh was anced, objective, honest, truthful and fair to all sides; so right for once, the President looked that through The Oracle Today, our people, the Nigerian at those constitutional provisions people can see a bright light at the end of what has been and looked away. a very dark tunnel. And we shall do all this in absolute FUEL importation has not ceased trust in God who blesses good intentions.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday October 25, 2017

OPINION Rice production: Exporters/ T importers will fight back

By EHICHIOYA EZOMON

he other day, I set out with my “Skelewu” dance steps when rice farmers and millers gave the assurances that, due to expected bumper harvest, and their desire to assist in the reduction of prices of goods, a 50kg of rice would crash to N6,000 in a few months.

My happiness was twofold. One, that rice, whose price hit the rooftop at N25,000 before bottoming out between N13,000 and N15,000 lately, would soon be within reach of the average Nigerian. And two, that the Federal Government preachment, and its commitment to increasing food production, was yielding unexpected quick dividend.

In my ecstasy, I took a journey back into time, to the Second Republic, from 1979 to 1983, when the civilian administration of President Shehu Shagari, elected on the platform of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), promised Nigerians a “Green Revolution” in agricultural production.

A major plank of the pledged turn-around was to increase the production of rice in order to reduce the country’s dependence on importation of the product that’s a staple of most homes in the country. To this end, the government acquired hectares of land all over the federation, and bulldozed and prepared them for cultivation only to virtually abandon the agricultural revolution ab initio.

For all practical purposes, the government did the bush-clearing for three consecutive years, but seeded only an insignificant portion of the vast, arable land. So, each year, the cleared, vacant plots would return to grasslands and then bushes.

Instead of the expected bountiful local production, the government, under the supervision of the powerful Minister of Transportation, the late Alhaji Umaru Dikko (19362014), resorted to massive importation of

By Protus Uzoma

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ccording to Aesop the great philosopher, “a goat was straying in the vineyard and began to browse on the tender shoots of a vine which bore several fine bunches of grapes. ‘What have I done to you’, asked the vine, ‘that you should harm me thus? Isn’t there grass enough for you to feed on? All the same, even if you eat up every leaf I have, and leave me quite bare, I shall produce wine enough to pour over you when you are led to the alter to be sacrificed.’”

It is obvious, in accordance with the principles of Hormic Psychology, that behaviour is characterized by purpose or a tendency to seek goals. Goal-seeking behaviour is motivated by propensities that are instincts or sentiments. We all know that instincts are innate propensities such as pugnacity, curiosity, acquisition and self-assertion. According to William McDougall (a great Psychologist) “all instincts are describable in terms of their three fundamental characteristics or attributes-cognitive, affective and conative.”

Following the above assertion, all instincts have a sensory, a motivational, and an emotional component. Instincts, therefore, may be modified into sentiments, such as love, jealousy, or patriotism, which are combinations of instincts and through experience, become associated with complex stimulus situations. The point here is that every behaviour is characterized by purpose and goal-seeking.

The influence of sentiments has greatly affected many people who sincerely wish to achieve a particular goal. People can kill out of sentiments occasioned by jealousy.

I am not trying to take you to my lecture room in order to educate you on Hormic Psychology which lost its ground when behaviourists attacked it, rather I am by virtue of the above alluding and inferring that the allegory of the goat as was highlighted by Aesop the philosopher was influenced by envy and jealousy to harm the tender shoots of a vine, which bore several bunches of grapes.

The reader of this article could recall that I have written several articles out of patriotism and aimed at giving the present administration of Imo State, led by Chief Rochas Okoro-

products, culminating in the infamous “Rice Armanda,” “Sugar Armanda,” and “Fertilizer Armanda,” to name a few.

Meaning that the “revolution” was very “green” in one particular sector: the pockets of politicians of the ruling NPN, whose slogan of “One Nation, One Destiny” was perhaps only in their striving to corner the people’s patrimony.

Now, leapfrog to 2017, and we are witnessing, without a code name, an actual “revolution” in agriculture. With a presidential initiative backed by appropriate policies, funding, implements, incentives and encouragement, agriculture has suddenly left the backstage to assume the second position to oil in the economy.

As acknowledged by President Muhammadu Buhari in his October 1 Independence Day broadcast, the Governors of Lagos, Kebbi, Ebonyi and Jigawa are leading in “rice and fertilizer revolutions,” while the governors of Ondo, Edo, Delta, Imo, Cross River, Benue, Ogun, Kaduna and Plateau States are contributing their quotas in palm oil, rubber, cashew, cassava, potatoes and other crops.

Increased rice production has prompted the government to reduce importation that had affected local efforts in the past. An October 9 report by the New Telegraph indicated that, “Nigeria has cut rice importation by 2.77 million metric tons valued at N420 billion ($1.17 billion) since the beginning of the year (2017),” as local production reached 56.6 per

cent of the total domestic consumption of 4.9 million tons valued at N742.6 billion ($2.06 billion), adding that, “this has affected Thailand’s rice adversely, as unsold stocks are piling up daily.”

Consequently, Thailand, which has been feeding fat on Nigerians’ craving for foreign rice, is lamenting the cutback on imports, and the resultant unsold stocks. According to the president of Thailand Rice Exporters Association (TREA), Mr. Chookiat Ophaswongse, “If the situation continues like this, you will see a lot of exporters going out of business.”

Imagine Thailand, which, for decades, flooded Nigeria with years-old chemicallystored rice! Whom did our local rice farmers and millers cry to when, according to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) report in 2016, the amount Nigeria spent between January 2012 and May 2015 on rice importation “resulted in huge unsold stock of paddy rice cultivated by Nigerian farmers and low operating capacities of many integrated rice mills?”

Sadly, Thailand and some other rice exporters are co-opting Nigerian importers to cajole, pressure and blackmail the government to revisit or reverse its decision to cut down on rice imports to Nigeria. Their strategy is to engage in mis/false information or dish out figures that would rebut government’s numbers on its agricultural output.

How else do we categorize figures given by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), contradicting the ones issued

by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, on Nigeria’s rice production and importation?

Ironically, the United States of America, whose President’s mantra is “AMERICA FIRST,” is bandying figures to counter those of Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture, who, without sloganeering, also wants “NIGERIA FIRST” to guarantee for Nigerians employment, income and self-sufficiency in rice production.

Well, rather than quarrel over figures, I’m euphoric that we, as a people, are about to discard the unenviable record of the world’s highest rice importer, and a dumping ground for Thailand, the United States and Vietnam.

If you ask me, these rice exporters should fret “bigly” (big league), “as Nigeria cuts imports by 2m tons.”

Really, in these recession-induced times, who cares much about “accurate figures” so long as Nigeria has begun to produce enough rice for local consumption and channel prior billions spent on rice imports to needy products we have no comparative advantages in.

I dare say that government’s initiative is a role reversal of some sorts. We have long borne the brunt of massive importation of rice. Now that we can maximize production of the commodity, let the other side feel the pinch of the shoe!

•Mr. Ezomon, Journalist and Media Consultant, writes from Lagos, Nigeria.

Has Gov. Okorocha failed?

cha a good sense of direction, as he appears to have lost direction a long time ago. But, he has completely ignored my advice and, like the goat in Aesop’s fables, gone ahead to browse on the tender shoots of the vine after the goat had complained. That’s just the way Okorocha has continued to treat Imo State.

To start with, Imo economy is in very bad shape. Now, I am still calling on him to sit up to enable him deliver democratic dividends to Imo people but all he does is shrouded in deceit, which explains why his political destiny and whoever he is to anoint for 2019 would be likened to that of the response of the vine to the goat as reflected in the fable.

In Igbo cosmology, when someone sees or senses a rabbit in the afternoon (an omen), it signifies warning of the danger in the future.

In such a situation, the man begins to arrange on how to handle the situation in sincerity. The western scholars call it ‘superstition’ which is a derogatory term to vilify the cultural cum spiritual orientation of the African society. However, the Igbo man has a way of understanding his own world. Every Igbo man who sees the handwriting on the wall will certainly know that Gov. Okorocha’s political time is up. The omen is here and there, yet he does not want to see it, which informs the traditional philosophical saying that “whom the gods want to kill, they first make blind.”

If truly Okorocha is a man of wisdom, he would have used the ancient wisdom to discern what is going on now. He could see clearly that Imo people will reject his candidate in 2019. How could he say that in Imo State, no one can match him politically? The Igbo are known as people of wisdom but I do not see any wisdom in all your political scheming and manipulations.

I have called Gov Rochas three times in this article, which means a lot to any Igbo person.

A similar scenario played out during Christ earthly ministry when he called Peter three times indirectly prognosticating the future in a loving manner and language depicting warning. Jesus said to Peter, “…Simon son

of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?

Yea, Lord…feed my lambs…And saith to him again the second time, Simon son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, yea, Lord…Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time…” John 21:15-17.

Following the above, Peter’s exasperation was informed by the repeated manner in which Christ asked him a single question which he already knew the answer. In the same vein, I am not calling Gov. Okorocha because of what he does not know. He knows why I am calling him and Imo people know that Okorocha’s government has failed to deliver the dividends of democracy simply because he has no respect for virtue. In the words of Shakespeare, “Our life is short, but to expand that span to vast eternity is virtue’s work”. The virtue of a man ought to be measured not by his extraordinary exertions, but by his every-day conduct.

Confucius, one of the greatest Chinese sages, was asked if he knew a secret for happiness. He answered that he did not know any. Then a disciple asked, “Do you know any secret to ruin a country?” “Yes”, Confucius replied, “When the rulers do not accept criticisms”.

Criticism cannot be stopped through the art of violence, which informs why Voltaire infers, “Really to stop criticism they say one must die”. Destructive criticism is dangerous because it wounds a man’s precious pride, hurts his sense of importance and arouses his resentments. On the contrary, constructive criticism does the opposite to a man of virtue and value. This, however, is not the case with Imo State government.

Gov. Okorocha has never loved me, because beginning from time (I saw his posters and hand bills) in 2011, I took it upon myself to inform the Imo people of the danger in electing him as the state Chief Executive. Today, all my predictions about him have all come true.

Though, when he was declared the winner of

the supplementary election, I started advising him through my various newspaper columns as a patriotic Nigerian but he completely negated all my admonitions.

As a social critic, I continued my work and assignment under the slogan of the present administration ‘Imo must be better’. Imo cannot be better without constructive criticisms because those who clap for Gov. Okorocha in error are mocking him now that his failure is conspicuous. Some of his aides have left him; he is in court with some too. He has failed Imo people. We need another messiah in 2019 that will not be anointed by Rochas.

•Prof. Uzoma, a social critic, writes from Owerri, the Imo State capital.

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

The Oracle Today

26

Wednesday October 25, 2017

Travel & Hospitality

Marriott announces two new hotels in Lagos Stories by VICTOR NZE

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LOBAL hotel chain, Marriott International has announced further expansion plans in Africa with seven new hotel signings, including two in Lagos, Nigeria, three in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, one each in Accra, Ghana and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, all slated to open in 2020.

The two pipeline projects in Nigeria are; the Renaissance Landmark Lagos Hotel and the Marriott Executive Apartments, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Others also slated for opening by 2020 across the continent include; the Sheraton Abidjan, Four Points

by Sheraton Abidjan, the Abidjan Marriott Hotel, all in Ivory Coast, Protea Hotel by Marriott Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Le Meridien Accra, Ghana.

Marriott International was the first global chain to make a significant investment in Africa with the acquisition of Protea Hotels for $210 million in 2014. The company is now targeting over 200 hotels with 37,000 rooms open or in the pipeline by 2022, equating to around $8.5 billion of capital investment by its real estate partners, reinforcing its continued commitment to expansion in Africa and solidifying its leadership on the continent.

The investment is expected to generate substantial economic activity and around 50,000 direct and indirect jobs once the hotels open.

“Africa today makes a very compelling story. We are seeing unprecedented traction for our compelling brands, driving our momentum of growth.

“We have always believed in the potential of Africa and the opportunities the continent has to offer. With economic growth, a rising middle class and rapid urbanization, the demand for travel and high quality lodging is growing, providing us with a significant opportunity to enhance our footprint and play our part in supporting many emerging markets across the continent,” said Alex Kyriakidis, President and Managing Director, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International, at the justconcluded Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) in Kigali, Rwanda.

Marriott is present in 20 African countries, namely: Nigeria, Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia.

The company is expected to foray into new markets

including Benin Republic, Botswana, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, and Senegal and has signed 1,300 new rooms marking the debut of Marriott International into Ivory Coast while strengthening its presence in existing markets including Ethiopia, Ghana and Nigeria.

Owned and developed by Landmark Africa Group, Marriott International will manage the 216-room Renaissance Landmark Lagos Hotel, as well as a 44-room Marriott Executive Apartments.

Slated to open in 2020, the hotels will be located within the Landmark Village precinct, a premier mixed-use, business, leisure and lifestyle development along the Atlantic Ocean waterfront in Victoria Island, the central business district of Lagos.

The 25-floor hotel will offer a wide range of amenities, including local and international restaurants, spa facilities, a fitness center, and an infinity pool with access to a 100-meter-long boardwalk overlooking a vibrant beach club offering exciting watersports.

Speaking on the increased interest in mixed-use development projects, Kyriakidis said, “As cities evolve and grow into flourishing urban centers, we will continue to see a lot of activity in this space.

An international hotel brand can bring cachet to a project that positions it significantly above its peers and differentiates it from its competitors.

Our compelling brands spanning every segment from Luxury to Premium to Select to Extended Stay, lend themselves to grow in all markets, city and resort as well as standalone and mixed-use formats, providing developers the flexibility and choice to identify the right brand for the right location.”

It would be recalled that Marriott also recently opened the Protea by Marriott Owerri Select in Nigeria.

Other forthcoming openings over the next couple of months include Sheraton Bamako which marks the debut of Marriott International in Mali, Protea Hotel by Marriott Constantine, the brand’s debut in Algeria and the Accra Marriott Hotel, the debut of the flagship Marriott Hotels brand in Ghana.

Presently, Marriott International has a strong footprint across the continent operating 140 hotels with close to 24,000 rooms across 12 brands.

‘Yellow Card’ scarcity hits MMIA

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assengers traveling out of the country through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, Wednesday, expressed displeasure over the non-availability of the International Certificate for Vaccination popularly known as Yellow Cards.

The Yellow Cards usually issued to Nigerians travelling overseas by the Port Health Services became scarce at the airport on Tuesday.

Although intending travellers were inoculated for Yellow Fever and Cholera, they were, however, not issued the vaccination card.

A passenger travelling to Brazil, Mr Rufus Dike, said passengers were asked to come back to obtain the card which is an essential travelling document.

Dike said some passengers who were supposed to travel on Tuesday had to postpone their flights over failure to secure the card which was a major requirement by some African, European and South American countries at points of entry. Another passenger, Mrs Bosede Ayeni, expressed disappointment over the inability of the Federal Ministry of Health to provide a card that costs less than

N100 to produce but officially sold to passengers at N1000.

She therefore appealed to the authorities to ensure its availability in order not to frustrate the travel plans of passengers.

However, when contacted, the Director of Port Health Services, Dr Nike Okoh, denied the allegation, explaining that the cards were available but that there was a procedure for its issuance.

“The cards has been there before 10am this (Wednesday) morn-

ing and there is a procedure to be adopted when these cards are issued,’’ she said.

125 Nigerians were deported by the South African government on March 6, 2012 for not being in possession of valid Yellow Fever Vaccine cards. The action almost led to a diplomatic row between both countries as the Federal Government retaliated by deporting 28 South Africans from Nigeria before the situation was eventually resolved.

•Nigeria’s Ambassador to Austria, Mrs Vivian Okeke, in a handshake with the Austrian Federal President, Dr. Alexander Der Bellen, after presenting her Letters of Credence in Austria.

‘Hotel supply growth continues pressuring occupancy levels’

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igeria’s hotel supply growth will continue its pressure on occupancy levels in the near future, according to August 2017 data from the U.S-based firm which tracks supply and demand data for multiple market sectors, including the global hotel industry, STR. The report, made available, Wednesday, at the just-concluded Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) in Kigali, Rwanda, also added that Africa currently shows 301 hotel projects in the pipeline, accounting for 57,011 rooms, or 11.0 per cent of the continent’s existing room supply.

Commenting on recent performance trends in the market, STR’s Director of Business Development, Thomas Emanuel, said with the current pipeline representing more than half of the market’s existing hotel rooms it is expected that expect that supply growth will continue pressuring Nigeria’s occupancy levels in the near future.

“August year-to-date data shows a 1.2 per cent decline in occupancy to 44.3 per cent but a 6.8 per cent increase in ADR to N47, 819.53.

When measured in U.S. dollars, however, ADR declined 23.3 per cent to US$149.58. The market currently faces several challenges, with security concerns as well as struggles in Lagos due to the low oil prices,” the report said.

Continuing, Emmanuel said: “Across Africa, we’ve seen mixed performance results to date. In local currencies, rates are up in several countries, including Egypt, Morocco and South Africa, but in

Lagos declares leisure parks, gardens free to public

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agos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK), has declared that all its parks and gardens are now opened to all Lagosians ‘free of charge’ as it seeks to make the facilities more accessible to fun seekers across the State.

General Manager of the Agency, Mrs. Bilikis Adebiyi-Abiola, who made this known in Lagos, stated that the development was part of the restructuring process of the Agency, adding that access to parks across the world is usually free and

that Lagos should not be an exception.

The General Manager invited Lagosians to avail themselves of the unique opportunity provided by the State Government by visiting nearby parks and gardens with friends and family, not only recreation as an opportunity to cultivate a healthy lifestyle and general wellbeing. “Parks all over the world are made free and accessible to all. People come in with families and friends to recreates and enjoy

themselves without hindrance.

Hence, in line with the Smart City agenda of the present administration, our parks and gardens will now be opened to families from far and wide across the state free of all charges,’’ she said. While imploring event organizers, party planners, NGOs and Corporate bodies to partner with the Agency in hosting their events at reasonable costs, she also urged families across the State to celebrate their birthdays, graduations and all other special events at the parks at minimal costs.

many instances, you need to consider exchange rates to see the full picture. Meanwhile, some other markets are already experiencing performance declines as a result of supply growth, such as Nigeria, Ethiopia and Algeria, so it will be very interesting to see how these markets respond as more rooms continue to come online.”

STR’s data sample in the hotel industry comprises more than 58,000 hotels and 7.8 million hotel rooms around the world. Pipeline data reported by STR is gathered from major chains, proprietary software, management companies and independent sources.

FG to introduce tourism in school curriculum

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eputy Director, Domestic Tourism in the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Mrs Patricia Narai, said plans had been concluded to introduce tourism as a subject at senior secondary school level.

Narai who said this last Tuesday in Abuja, said it would commence at the secondary school stage.

“The Nigerian Educational Development Council has proposed 34 trades and identified tourism as one of the trades to be thought at the entrepreneurship level. So students from SS I to SS III will soon start studying tourism and at that level they can come out successful and establish a tourism business of their own.

“And they can also further their education on that line.What is left now is the approval, and am sure that soon, the curriculum will be out and the students will start studying tourism,” Narai said.

On its impact, the deputy director said the students would be empowered with skills and knowledge on tourism and hospitality.

She maintained that after graduation from secondary school, such a person could become a tour guide, event manager, visa professional or get employment in the tourism and hospitality sector.

“This is because he or she would have acquired the needed skills and knowledge to effectively carry out responsibilities.”

The Oracle Today

27

Wednesday October 25, 2017

AVIATION

Concession: Unions give FG 15-day ultimatum Stories by VICTOR NZE

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ABOUR unions in the aviation sector have given the Federal Government a 15day ultimatum to halt proceedings in plans to concession four viable airports in the country.

Federal Government had planned to conccesion the affected airports to enable them meet international standards, as it claimed it does not have the funds to execute the project.

The three unions, Tuesday, gave the ultimatum at a joint news briefing in Lagos, threatened to shut down the aviation industry if government failed to accede to their demands.

The unions are: Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and its ally, the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP).

The airports lined up to be concessioned include; the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos, the Nnamdi Azikiwe Interna-

tional Airport (NAIA), Abuja, the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano as well as the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagba.

General Secretary of NUATE, Mr Olayinka Abioye, said the ultimatum was the unions’ last resolve to force the Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, to fully involve them in the concession process.

“Immediately at the expiration of the 15 days ultimatum, we are going to shut down the industry.

We want the minister to talk to us and share ideas with us on what they want to concession and how it will affect our members, “Abioye said.

Abioye who noted that previous concession agreements had not been beneficial as it had ended in series of litigations against the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) before various courts in the country, also added that the revenue collection points of FAAN such as toll gate, car parks, bill boards, fuel surcharges, shops and VIP lounges were already under concession arrangements, as

FAAN partners LASEMA on emergency management

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he Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) says it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to collaborate on emergency management.

LASEMA General Manager, Mr Adesina Tiamiyu, said at the signing of the agreement, last weekend, in Lagos that the collaboration would enable the agency to provide necessary assistance and support during any emergency.

“The epoch making event started with a team set up a year ago to look into the documents, regulations and statutory functions.

“It was to ensure that all necessary issues were properly looked into for the mutual understanding of both parties involved,’’ Tiamiyu said in a statement signed by Mr Adebayo Kehinde, LAAEMA Head of Public Affairs.

Tiamiyu who commended FAAN for providing adequate security and safety at the airports in line with international standard, however, called on FAAN management to ensure easy passage of LASEMA

operatives through the airport toll gates and corridors during emergency situations.

“This would facilitate prompt respond to such unexpected events within the shortest time. A minute delay is not good for timely intervention during emergency,” he said.

The statement also disclosed that the two agencies would deploy resources to tackle emergency situations at the Lagos Airports.

“The two agencies agreed to collaborate in information gathering, equipment, materials and expertise that will assist FAAN and other relevant agencies. This is aim at bringing any emergency within the five nautical miles of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMA) under control.”

Remarking, Airport Manager, Mrs Victoria Shin-Aba, commended the Lagos State Government for taken a pro-active measure in disaster management, stating that the signing of the MoU would further deepen the existing relationship between the two organisations.

•General Secretary of National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Comrade Olayinka Abioye (m) flanked by leaders of the other trade unions in the aviation sector from; the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), during the press briefing by the group to issue the ultimatum.

, according to him, ‘there was nothing left for the concession exercise.’

He said the unions were yet to be assured of the fate of the 6,285 staff and 4,124 pensioners of FAAN if the concession of the viable airports was allowed to proceed, noting that the operations of the other 18 airports which depended on the four viable ones would also be in jeopardy as no concrete plan had been made for their survival after the completion of the concession process.

Positing the airports could be turned around if properly ‘corporatized’, Abioye said the experiences from previous concession deals ‘have been bitter especially with the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2 (MMA2)

owned and operated by the BiCourtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL).’

“BASL owes FAAN N2 billion breaking it down as (Aviation Security – N1, 215,757,045.91), (Management Fee – N331, 088,683.68), (Fire and Safety – N131, 219,451.83), (Marshalling Service – N2, 168,058.21), (Electricity – N438, 955,342.20), (Rent & SRC Conference – N87, 864,556.06) and (Hotel – N116, 845,500.00). ”For the avoidance of doubt, we posit for the records and place before the world, nagging issues and questions on our concerns, predicament and expectations of what will become of and or befall FAAN, which has been able to sustain itself, albeit under very terrible conditions

inflicted on it by government officials?

“What lies ahead of FAAN with members of staff totaling six thousand two hundred and eighty-five (6, 285) in twentytwo airports and with their Pensioners totalling four thousand, one hundred and twenty-four (4, 124) and still counting?”

Also speaking, General Secretary, ATSSSAN, Mr Frances Akinjole, said concession of the airports had safety and security implications which must be fully taken into consideration, even as he advised the government to kick-start the plan with one or two under-utilised airports as a pilot scheme, stressing that its success would give confidence to stakeholders for the concession of the major ones.

Airlines lift 3m passengers in 6 months

D

omestic airlines in Nigeria lifted a total of 3,287,310 passengers in the first six months of this year, representing a 21 per cent decrease, compared to the 4,193,862 passengers airlifted within the period last year.

According to the Consumer Protection Directorate of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the decrease is due to the current economic hardships in the country, which is affecting air travels adversely.

Records obtained from the NCAA show that only 45 airplanes are currently in active service out of the 74 planes in the fleet of the eight domestic airlines servicing Africa’s most populous nation at present.

The airlines are Aero Contractors, Arik Air, Azman Air, Dana Air, Med-View, Overland, First Nation and Air Peace.

The top three performing domestic airlines in the first

half of this year are Air Peace, which leads the performance chart with 6,715 flights, Arik Air 4,069 flights and Dana Air 3,261 flights.

But the flights operated by the airlines also declined by 28 per cent as they were only able to operate 21,662 flights in the first half this year.

The eight airlines collectively operated 30,100 flights within the first six months of 2016, according to NCAA records.

The drop in the number of flights operated by the airlines was not unconnected with the steady depletion of aircraft in the fleet of the airlines.

Commenting on the development, the President of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Capt. Noggie Meggisson, argued that a safety and economic policy must have to be put in place for the airlines to survive.

He noted that some criti-

cal issues also needed to be addressed before the sector could actualise its potential fully.

Meggisson said that some of the issues that needed to be addressed included removal of value-added tax for domestic airlines and a review of the five per cent ticket sales charge to a flat rate.

The AON chief also called for a harmonisation of what he called the over 35 multiple charges that were becoming huge burdens to the airlines.

He named other problems plaguing the airlines as poor navigational and landing aids that were limiting operations to only daytime at most Nigerian airports, just as similarly identified high cost and epileptic supply of aviation fuel, Jet A1, saying that the problems were hindering the ease of doing business in the aviation sector.

The Oracle Today

28

Wednesday October 25, 2017

INSURANCE & PENSION

‘Inappropriate products, bane of inclusiveness’ T N

Court orders firm to pay former staff

Stories by VICTOR NZE

ATIONAL Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has identified distance of insurance providers to the unreached as a major challenge to insurance inclusiveness in the country.

Director, Authorisation and Policy, NAICOM, Mr Pius Agboola, last Thursday in Abuja, said that most insurance companies were based in the city, pursuing corporate and government accounts without consideration for people in the rural areas.

According to Agboola, they are unreached due to illiteracy, ignorance and distance, even as he added that inappropriate products are some of the major challenges of reaching the unreached in the country.

“Matching of insurance products to the need of the unreached remains a critical factor as most companies still sell conventional products instead of new products. Even in cases where the products are available, there are limited distribution channels to ensure the products get to the consumers.

“Apart from the recently-introduced Bancassurance, the sales force of insurance companies, insurance brokers and tied agents distribution channels that existed hardly approached the unreached,’’ he said.

Agboola explained that there was also the challenge of trust building initiative between the providers of insurance and the unreached, which according to him, is still very low.

He noted that trust was very critical in the sale of insurance to the unreached market as the peo-

NPC sues firm

T

he National Pension Commission (NPC) has dragged Center Point Network Limited to court over non-compliance with contributory pension funds for its workers.

The suit was brought before Justice Edith Agbakoba of the National Industrial Court Abuja, Monday.

The commission’s lawyer, Mr Elendu Awa, held that the company had defaulted in complying with the commission’s rules and government laws to set aside contributory pension funds for its workers.

Counsel to the defendant, who was absent in court, had however, sent an application to the court, explaining his absence and asking for an adjournment to enable him regulate his processes.

He however failed to serve same application on the claimant’s lawyer.

(From left): President, Nigerian Labour Congress()NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba; Executive Secretary, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Shasron Ikeazor and National President, Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) Mr Abel Afolayan, discussing during the PTAD Stakeholders forum 2017 in Abuja, last Friday. ple needed to understand who they were dealing with and the value and reliability of what they were paying for.

Agboola who named other challenges against insurance inclusiveness to include low awareness/ consumer education, inadequate quality services and deployment of inappropriate technology, said low and irregular income, financial literacy, religious/socio cultural beliefs, legal factors and weak government support were other

challenges of ensuring insurance inclusiveness.

On initiatives to enhance insurance access, Agboola said it was important to transform the informal and quasi-informal group into formal group, through appropriate distribution channels.

He stated that collaboration among the government, regulators, operators and the informal sector was important to ensure insurance inclusiveness in the country.

“innovative and appropriate technology, coordinated insurance consumer awareness and education, insurance suppliers/intermediaries expected improved actions and strong government commitment are also critical.

Agboola, therefore, urged stakeholders to begin to examine and come up with inclusive distribution models that had client understanding, product diversification, national outreach, rural advantage and trust with clients.

PTAD recovers N16b legacy pension funds, assets – Ikezor

T

he Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has so far recovered N16 billion of legacy pension funds and assets in the last one year, the Executive Secretary, Mrs Sharon Ikeazor, has said.

Ikeazor made the disclosure at the 2017 stakeholders’ forum of pensioners in Abuja on Friday.

The legacy fund includes the liabilities and assets of pension funds of erstwhile pension offices and treasury funded pensions of parastatal agencies, universities and colleges of education.

She said the legacy funds and assets recovered were mainly from NICON insurance and that efforts were on to recover additional assets and funds held by insurance underwriters.

Ikeazor said the theme of the forum, “Putting Pensioners First, is Putting the Country First“, was designed to brief pensioners on the various activities carried out by PITAD since her assumption of office.

She said her assignment at PTAD had given her opportunity to understand and appreciate the magnitude of problems previously encountered by pensioners.

The secretary said in spite of initial daunting challenges, PTAD had recorded some measure of success in administering the old pension scheme.

Ikeazor listed some of the achievements in the last one year as the automation of the pension payment processes and the use of Government to Person Electronic Payments.

She said the successes had led to pensioners receiving their payments directly through their bank accounts on the 25th of the month.

She said that PTAD had also carried out the digitisation of pensioner’s data and record through creation of clean database and introduction of a client focused service orientation that showed care and empathy.

She said that plans were on to complete the payment of outstanding 33 per cent pension arrears for all sectors.

She said PTAD was strategising on possible ways of developing a social welfare package for verified pensioners once funds were available.

The President, Nigeria Union of Pensioners,(NUP), Mr Abel Afolayan, PTAD had helped in improving the living conditions of pensioners.

Afolyan thanked Ikeazor for her efforts, saying: “Since she came on board, the payment of monthly pension has been regular.’’

Afolayan called on the government to always make funds available to PTAD for the payment of pensioners and in addition, to urgently address the issues of police pensioners.

Some pensioners, including 89-year-old Jegede Joshua, who retired 30 years ago, gave goodwill messages on the occasion.

he National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Abuja, Monday, ordered Northlink Insurance Brokers Plc, to pay its former employee, Mr Raphael Ajayi, N1. 2 million, as accrued terminal benefits owed him.

Ajayi, the company’s former head of Technical Services, had sued his employer in 2015, alleging unpaid entitlements and other terminal benefits after his involuntary resignation.

Claiming that the company had asked him to resign as part of its purported restructuring, he however, alleged that the company stopped further payments of his benefits after the first two instalments.

In his judgment on Monday, Justice Edith Agbakoba, ordered the company to pay the claimant all outstanding monies, including N1.2 million in lieu of six month salary arrears.

Agbakoba further held that the insurance company should pay the claimant additional N200,000 as cost of instituting the suit.

The Judge, however, dismissed the defendant’s counter claim wherein he alleged that the claimant was negligent while in the service of the company.

NGO tasks Kaduna Govt on health insurance scheme

M

aternal Newborn and Child Health (MNCH), a non-governmental organization, has urged the Kaduna State Government to accelerate efforts for the passage of contributory health insurance bill.

This is to bring healthcare delivery closer and accessible to the people.

The organization which gave the advice in a document made available Friday in Kaduna, said that accelerating the passage of contributory health insurance bill would reduce pocket spending in accessing healthcare.

It also called for the modification of family planning messages to stress the importance of child spacing rather than limiting the number of children.

“There should be provision of the basic equipment and consumables in health facilities to attract more clients and PHCs should be strengthened to cater for the MNCH needs of the state.’’

The organisation underscored the need ensure equitable distribution of more functional community health extension workers to disseminate health programmes, teach and encourage mothers in various health practices and lifestyle modifications.

Besides, it called for incentives to healthcare workers deployed to rural and hard to reach areas of the state.

The NGO also appealed for sustained enlightenment programmes on the radio and television on the importance of immunisation and antenatal care in health institutions that can guarantee contact with skilled providers.

The Oracle Today

29

Wednesday October 25, 2017

INSURANCE & PENSION

NHIS pledges adherence to procurement rules A

CTING Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Alhaji Atahiru Ibrahim, has pledged to ensure strict adherence to public procurement rules in the execution of projects by the scheme.

Ibrahim who said this in a statement signed by Mr Ayo Osinlu, the NHIS Head, Media and Public Relations, last Monday in Abuja, noted that abuse of due processes has been a major cause of ‘clashes’ with the law by chief executives.

He said the management of the scheme was therefore determined to plug all administrative and tech-

nical loopholes which had made the organisation vulnerable in the process of procurement activities.

According to the acting chief executive, abuse of process is as critical and intolerable as financial fraud under the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) rules; “we are therefore introducing initiatives to protect the institution now and in the future’’.

He said this would ensure the continuous repositioning of the scheme for credible, transparent and responsible discharge of its corporate obligations.

“The new management of the

•Mr. Mounir Gwarzo, Director General (DG), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Mr. Abimbola Ogunbanjo, President, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), during a courtesy visit to the DG, SEC in Abuja recently. scheme is committed to plugging all administrative and technical loopholes that make organisations vulnerable in the process of procurement activities.We are doing this as part of initiatives to protect the institution now and in the future, as efforts are continuing to

reposition it for credible, transparent and responsible discharge of its corporate obligations,” Ibrahim said.

The statement also quoted Mr Eze Obasi, the BPP Director of Special Procurement, as saying: “Infringement on procurement

STI targets N7.5b share capital Stories by JEROME USHAKANG

S

hareholders of Sovereign Trust Insurance (STI) have resolved to increase the authorized share capital of the company from N5.5 billion to N7.5billion at the 22nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lagos. This translates to the creation of four billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each whose value would be the same with existing ordinary shares of the company.

The Board of Directors are authorized to raise additional equity capital for STI, by way of special placement, public offer, Right Issue, with or without a preferential allotment or a combination of any of them, either locally or internationally. They are also mandated to adhere to terms and conditions deem fit in the interest of the company and subject to approval by Regulatory Authorities. Following the resolutions, the company’s Articles of Association would be amended to reflect the increase in its authorized capital.

Accordingly, in the event of over

subscription of the offer or issue to capitalize the excess money and allot additional shares that can be accommodated by the company’s unissued share capital subject to the approval of the Regulatory Authorities and the proceeds shall be used for the same purpose as the offer/issue. The increase in the capital base of the company has become imperative as National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), the industry regulator has instituted a risk based capitalization system.

This stipulates that companies will only be able to insure risks in proportion with their capital base.

Addressing shareholders at the meeting, the Chairman of the company, Mr. Oluseun O. Ajayi said:”Resources will be continually deployed in line with our strategic master plan to achieve greater success and take our frontal position in the years ahead. We are currently in the process of initiating another five year strategic direction that will take the company to the next phase of our growth from 2018 through 2022.”

Ajayi explained that technology

will form the pivotal thrust of the process in ensuring that the company remained competitive and relevant in the insurance market space in many years to come. In his overview of the Insurance industry in the country, the Chairman told investors that during the year under review, the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) pursuant to its mandate of promoting and protecting the business of its members instituted some landmark initiatives aimed at enhancing the growth of the insurance industry.

According to him, one of the far reaching decisions taken by the Association was to strengthen the existing relationship between insurance companies and various regulators NAICOM, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Financial Regulatory Council (FRC),Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) and other revenue agencies whose oversight functions impact on the activities and business of insurance.

On operating results, Ajayi said, “Despite the harsh operating en-

NIRSAL, Moroccan firms’ partnership to increase insured farmers

By VICTOR NZE

T

he Nigeria Incentive Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) Plc , last Tuesday, signed a partnership agreement with two reputable Moroccan agricultural insurance and re-insurance companies, Mutuelle Agricole Marocaine D’Assurances (MAMDA) and MAMDA Reassurance to expand the range of agricultural insurance products and coverage in Nigeria.

The partnership is designed to enable the exchange of ideas, enhance NIRSAL’s technical capacity

to develop innovative and targeted insurance products to protect small, medium and large scale agricultural investments from natural disasters such as floods, droughts and crop diseases.

NIRSAL’s collaboration with MAMDA and MAMDA Re is a product of the bilateral agreements that the President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari signed in December 2016 during the visit of the King of Morocco King Mohammed VI. Specifically, the partnership will include the design and development of named peril crop insurance, index- based insurance prod-

ucts including Area, Weather and Yield.

It will also involve advanced technical training on surveying aggregated smallholder farmlands, large commercial and plantations farms and loss assessment methods, technical training on Geographic Information system (GIS),technology for agriculture and Remote Sensing application in Agricultural Crop Insurance; Another significant part of the program is the extensive training of NIRSAL employees in Morocco in all areas related to agricultural insurance and related risk management tools.

vironment during the year, our company grew its ‘Balance Sheet’ size from N9.2billion in 2015 to N9.5billion in 2016.” However, he stated that there was a downward shift in the Gross Premium written when compared to the same period, December 31, 2015 as the company ended the year with a Gross Premium of N6.3 billion in contrast to N7.1billion in 2015 representing about 12 percent drop in revenue during the year under review. The Chairman acknowledged that 2016 was a very tough year for many business operators and the insurance industry in particular with attendance foreign exchange scarcity which had a negative effect on the Naira.

As a result, profit before tax which stood at N454 million in 2015 declined to N44.98million in 2016, while profit after tax closed at N23.59million. Also, total net comprehensive income for the year rose to N186million from N19million in 2015.

The Chairman said he was happy to note that the recessed economic situation that pervaded operations of most corporate organizations in the country is beginning to show signs of recovery adding that he was confident that the company will be a beneficiary of the recovery process in year 2017. However, various shareholders who spoke at the AGM, complained of Daewoo Bond which they said is eroding the profit of the company and its multiplier effect is affecting returns on investment as investor s have never been paid dividend for several years and the value of the share price has also stagnated on its face value.

Responding, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of STI, Mr. Olaotan Soyinka re-assured the shareholders that interest on Daewoo Bond which results to negative retain earnings will terminate in two years time.

laws is the easiest and quickest way to go to jail; therefore I am calling for attitudinal change with respect to procurement practice.’’

Obasi said that when the attitudes of individuals conform to the codes of conduct the country would be free of corruption.

Meanwhile, Wapic insurance and Royal Exchange Assurance recently signalled their intentions to also raise fresh capital. Sovereign Trust Insurance commenced business on January 2, 1995 with an authorized share capital of N30 million and fully paid up share capital of N20 million following the acquisition of Grand Union Assurance Limited.

Consolidated Hallmark floats N1b rights issue

C

onsolidated Hallmark Insurance (CHI) Plc, is putting finishing touches to its documentation process to list a Righs Issue of one billion Ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at 50kobo per share on the basis of one new Ordinary share for every six Ordinary of 50kobo held.

Already, the company has through its Stockbroker; Planet Capital Limited, submitted an application to The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) for approval and listing of a Rights Issue of one billion Ordinary Shares of 50 Kobo each at 50 Kobo per share. In addition, the company in a statement notifying the NSE, said acceptance shall open on Monday October 16, 2017 and is scheduled to closed on Wednesday November 22, 2017. CHI is a General Business and Special Risks Insurance underwriting firm fully capitalized in line with statutory requirements of the industry regulatory body – the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM). It has carved a niche for itself through big ticket transactions in Aviation, Oil and Gas, Marine Cargo and Hull Business and other non-life insurance underwriting including Motor, Fire and Special Perils, Goods-in-Transit, Engineering Insurance, amongst others.

30

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 25, 2017

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The Oracle Today Wednesday October 25, 2017

Crime ‘I robbed only 20 times’ Stories by XAVIER NDAH

“

OGA please are they going to kill me? Please help me beg them I will never steal again, all the money I made I squander it on drinks and women, I don’t have a house no car, so am I going to finish my life like this? Please help me tell other boys not to join bad gang, I am a robber, I steal, I have robbed up to 20 times and I killed once”.

These were the words of a notorious armed robber 20-year-old Michael Tobi from Osun state who pleaded for forgiveness that the police should leave him off the hook as he has turned a new man and swore never to go back again into robbery.

Tobi was among the suspects paraded by the police Lagos Command, during the week for involvement in various robberies in Lagos state.

Commisioner of Police, Imohimi

Edgal said he was arrested while returning from a robbery operation at Ajaniki at Badagry area of the state.

In a chat with The Oracle newspapers Tobi confirmed that they had succeeded in their operation on that particular day with his 10 man gang and they were intercepted on the way at Ijaniki by the police ‘four of us were arrested but six others escaped’.

‘I know God make it easy for them to arrest me because I have rob many times and nothing happened to me, honestly it is not a good job’ when asked the number of times he has robbed he replied ‘only like 20 times’.

According to him, he rob homes at night and sometimes on the road in areas like Ayobo,Igando, Iba, Ijanikin and other places but all his struggles come to naught.

“I have no wife, no car no house, I live in the hotel sometimes we make at least N50,000 each after

each robbery. I spend the money on drink and ashawo (prostitutes) but see my life now’.

When asked how many people he killed during all the operations, he replied ‘I killed the man at Ayobo, because after we collected his money and carry some things in his house like phones , laptop as we were about leaving the house he cut me with a matchet (he showed this reporter a mark on his head).

So you killed him? This Reporter asked and he replied ‘yes I fired him with my gun and he died instantly?.

When asked where he bought his gun, he replied ‘ my friend Lekan took me to Alaba where I bought it for N15,000, please help me beg the police I will never rob again? He pleaded.

The suspect is being interrogated at the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID) Panti street Yaba Edgal said he will be charged to court after investigation.

• Tobi

he police Ogun state command have arrested a passenger found with six human heads at the Arigbaowo area of Ogun State.

Dependable police source told The Oracle that the arrest was made possible following the alarm raised by a driver and member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) who preferred anonymity.

The source said the suspect had approached a member of the NURTW, official who does not want his name in print at Arigbaowo junction collecting ticket fare from drivers plying Mowe to Owode, when the taxi driver approach him to connect him with a driver who can help him to carry a load to the park which he did.

The man said on their way back he flagged down the driver with the intention of collecting their toll “I only stop the driver to col-

lect money from him and he came down from his car and told me in low tone that the man came to the park to call him, and when he followed him to pick the good he noticed that the people who helped in carrying the bag to his car were recording all the activities. He said this aroused his suspicion that there was something hidden in the bag.

It was gathered that the driver then informed the NURTW officials and the man was allowed to pay his fare while he was asked to open the sack to ascertain the content before the journey commenced.

“We allowed him to feel at ease he took his seat as we put the bag in the boot of the bus the suspect was ordered to alight from the vehicle and open his bag.

‘Instead of opening his bag he started begging and offered us money to allowed him go but his money was turned and we insisted

the bag must be open, when he later opened the bag six fresh human skulls covered with sand fell down from the bag. “ The man pleaded for understanding and offered us money if the driver can successfully take him to where he was going but his bribe was rejected and all pleading fell on deaf ears’ the source explained.

It was gathered that the suspect had disclosed that he belong to a group and they had gone to exhume the skulls from Ogunrun community adding that the skulls were meant for someone at Owode.

The incident attracted a crowd who wanted to set him ablaze but members of the NURTW saved the situation and handed him over to the police for proper investigation.

Meanwhile residents of the area has called for a wider police patrol to avert killing said to be at rampant in Mowe area of the state.

T

Man caught with six human skulls T

‘Okada’ robbery gang busted

T

he operatives of Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos State Police Command has in an early morning operation busted two motor bike robbery gangs in Ajah and Mushin where some members of the gangs were arrested.

The suspects: Muyideen Adegboye, 25, a furniture maker in IdiOro, Mushin, and Idris Farouk, 26, an okada rider in Ikate Area, were arrested at separate incidents while using motor cycles to rob some members of the public.

Muyideen Adegboye was arrested at about 3:00 a.m. with a stolen tricycle popularly known as keke and two live cartridges while his other gang member escaped leaving behind the motorcycle the gang used for the operation.

Farouk on his part was arrested at Ikate Roundabout around 4:35 a.m. after he and his gang member

‘Crocodile Smile’ in line with Army training

on okada while robbing one Samsudeen Abiola of his phone and money with a cutlass.

According to Adegboye in his statement to the police, “we went to Alasalatu, Mushin to steal tri-cycle. This is the fourth time I would be following my colleague, Seyi, to steal keke. We use motor bike to rob very early in the morning and at night…. We sell the keke in Idi-Oro, Mushin. We sell them for N50,000.

Seyi is the one that invited me into the business. I met him at the ghetto…. He is the one that owns the gun that we use during operations.

I hold extra live cartridges for him while we operate. Whenever there is need for it, he collects them from me.”

Farouk added that he and his accomplice, Wale, still at large, are robbers who are operating around Ikate and Small Kuramo stealing okada.

he Nigeria Army has said that the ongoing operation ‘Crocodile Smile’ exercise in Lagos and Ogun state is not targeted at any individual or group rather it is in line with its training directives for the year 2017.

A statement issued by the Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations, for the Division, Lieutenant Colonel Olaolu Daudu , made available to The Oracle said the exercise is intended to sharpen troops skills on the procedures and conduct of internal security operation and to aid civil authorities.

According to the statement the exercise would include affiliated formation and units located within their area of responsibility (AOR) which covers Lagos and Ogun State between 7th and 28th of this month. The statement reads, “The exercise will avail troops the opportunity to sharpen their combat skills in the conduct of land based as well as joint riverine operation. It will also feature humanitarian activities such as free medical outreach in selected communities and sanitation exercises by the troops for the benefit of their host communities.

“It is also expected that the troops would be more proficient in equipment maintenance, reconnaissance, inter-service and inter-agency cooperation, as well as effective application of the Nigerian Army Code of Conduct and strict adherence to Rules of Engagement (ROE), during internal security operations or disaster management when called upon in aid of civil authorities.”

Daudu however, stated that the exercise may transform into real operations to deal with emerging security challenges such as kidnappings, cultism, armed robbery, pipeline vandalism, and insurgency, among others within the Division’s area of responsibility.

The authorities of the 81 Division Nigerian Army also stated that the exercise is not targeted at any individual or group. Therefore law abiding citizens are advised to go about their normal businesses without fear. The Division stated that the dates and locations of the various humanitarian activities such as sanitation exercises and free medical interventions will be announced in due course.

The Division also called on members of the public to be at peace and not entertain any fears as they will witness increased movements of troops and equipment during the period.

Meanwhile, the Division requested for the cooperation and support of all to ensure the success of the exercise which is aimed at making the Nigerian Army responsive to its Constitutional roles.

For member of the public who would also want to give the Army useful and credible information during the exercise, they can do so by calling the Nigerian Army Information and Call Centre Telephone Number 193 (Using all Networks toll free) and Human Right Desk Number 08160134303/08161507644.

32

racleToday

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The Oracle Today Wednesday October 25, 2017

Love and Living

...With Ireto Temofeh

MODEL OF THE WEEK

LOVE NEWS

Our band was a front for a ‘prostitution ring’ Pussycat Dolls Kaya Jones says

A

NAME: Awesome Age: 22 Location: Mobile: 07033567942 • If you want to be our next ORACLE GIRL, e-mail or forward your photos/data to ireto007@yahoo.com. Call 07031028714.

ODD NEWS Van wedged into cottage wall after crash in Bedfordshire

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van has crashed into a 16th century cottage in Bedfordshire, smashing through its front door and becoming lodged in the wall.

The vehicle flew over a hedge after coming off the road on a bend.

The driver, a 34-year-old man, has been arrested and is suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Val Fossey, who has lived in the house for 14 years, told the BBC she heard a noise “like an earthquake” when the van smashed into her property.

“This van came flying over a hedge and crashed into our hall and kitchen,” she said.

“If I had (not) left the room I don’t know what would have happened.”

The thatched cottage - in the vil-

former member of the Pussycat Dolls has claimed that the girl group operated as a ‘prostitution ring’, with the members forced into sex with entertainment executives.

Kaya Jones, 33, made the explosive accusation in a series oftweets on Saturday and Sunday, accusing managers and executives of taking advantage of the group she joined as a teenager in 2003.

‘My truth. I wasn’t in a girl group. I was in a prostitution ring. Oh & we happened to sing & be famous. While everyone who owned us made the $,’ Jones wrote.

‘How bad was it? people ask - bad enough that I walked away from my dreams, bandmates & a 13 million dollar record deal. We knew we were going to #1,’ she continued.

The founder of the Pussycat Dolls, Robin Antin, blasted Jones’ assertions as ‘disgusting, ridiculous lies’. She told The Blast that Jones is ‘clearly looking for her 15 minutes’.

Antin went on to claim that Jones was never even a real member of the group, and had merely been one of many trial members who did not pan out.

The accusations are also likely to outrage former members of the group, including Nicole Scherzinger.

Jones’ allegations date back at least a decade, and did not name specific men who took part in the alleged abuse.

In an interview over the weekend, she said that she had decided to come forward because she was deeply affected by the Las Vegas concert massacre, which took place shortly after she had left the venue for a friend’s bar nearby.

Jones’ startling claims come as mounting sexual harassment and assault allegation rock the entertainment industry, most notably regarding film producer Harvey Weinstein.

The Pussycat Dolls are one of the best-selling girl groups of all times, selling 53million records worldwide before their breakup in 2010.

After just two years as a member, Jones in 2005 quit the group, which was assembled by choreographer Robin Antin under a deal with Interscope Geffen A&M Records.

Jones said that part of being in the girl group was being told to sleep with executives.

‘Executives, and managers, and agents and other artists that are on the label, if you don’t want to sleep with an executive they’ll pass you to that. Or sometimes they’ll continue to pass the girl, so she’s just passed around,’ Jones explained in a recorded interview with InfoWars.com.

‘To be apart of the team you must be a team player. Meaning sleep with whoever they say. If you dont they have nothing on you to leverage,’ Jones tweeted.

‘Yes I said leverage. Meaning after they turn you out or get you hooked on drugs

they use it against you. Correct. Victimizing the victim again,’ she continued.

Jones also leveled stark accusations in apparent reference to the 2014 suicide of Simone Battle, a member of G.R.L., another girl group founded by Pussycat-mastermind Antin.

Battle’s death by hanging was ruled a suicide, and a spokesperson at the time said the performer had suffered from depression due to financial issues.

‘I want the den mother from hell to confess why another 1 of her girl group girls committed suicide? Tell the public how you mentally broke us,’ Jones tweeted.

She later added: ‘It’s best to not get defensive & attack when you’re guilty.

‘Sorry your house of cards is done.

Everyone will soon know the truth ....

‘I love how predators enjoy playing the victim. Pathetic.’

Antin responded that the comment ‘nasty’ and told The Blast that Jones had demeaned Battle’s memory by bringing up her suicide in such a fashion.

Those claims came just days after rumors hit of a Pussycat Dolls reunion tour, with an official-seeming website appearing.

Former Pussycat Dolls members were largely mum on Jones’ allegations over the weekend, with a few cryptic exceptions. ‘#Friday13th really brought out the crazies...’ tweeted Carmit Bachar several hours after Jones’ tweets, declining to specify what she meant.

On Friday, former member Melody Thornton tweeted: ‘It was a smart move!

A Dick move but a smart one.’

A spokeswoman for Thornton did not immediately respond to a message asking if the ‘move’ she was referring to was Jones’ decision to speak out.

‘Robin & the record label made all the money. We as Pussycat Dolls were paid $500 a week. While we were being abused & used. Fact!’ she wrote.

Jones said that she had tried speaking up to the entertainment press in the past but had been brushed aside by journalists in the thrall of Hollywood and music industry titans.

She attended the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas on October 1 shortly before a gunman killed 58 and injured hundreds, and told InfoWars the experience galvanized her to speak out publicly.

‘I finally feel the weight I’ve held in my heart lifted & mending. It’s been hard to hold lies in for people who broke me. No more,’ Jones wrote.

‘I hope more women & men come out & share their abuse & pain. We must shine a light on this issue in the entertainment business,’ she said.

Daily Mail

Romantic Joke Social Security Sex

Two men were talking. “So, how’s your sex life?”

“Oh, nothing special. I’m having Social Security sex.” lage of Maulden - is a listed building.

Luckily, it has been found to be structurally safe and nobody was

hurt, but Mrs Fossey and her husband are yet to learn when they will be allowed to return home.

“Social Security sex?”

“Yeah, you know, I get a little each month, but not enough to live on.”

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 25, 2017

34

True Confession

‘I married the man that broke my sister’s heart’

My heart beats for you as strongly as the rain beats the ground in a rainstorm.

I

t is said that one should not pass judgement in a case after hearing from one party alone. We ought to hear from the other party before reaching a decision. My name is Taiwo and I swore never to love again after two men broke me and my twin sister’s heart.

At that time, I believed strongly that a woman ought not to express her feelings to any man, because after that, the man would start taking her for granted.

I got a job after NYSC with a company in Kaduna. I was in the marketing department and had to travel a lot. It was on one of such marketing travels to Abuja that I ran into Benson, the man who broke my sister’s heart about 10 years back. He was a staff of the company I was visiting.

I greeted him reluctantly to show that I still disapproved of his action though it happened a long time ago. He knew I wasn’t too happy meeting him after such a long time, but he humbled himself and offered to take me out for lunch. I initially refused but when I saw the hurt look on his face, I agreed. So we went out for lunch and talked. I told him my sister was now happily married to another man after he broke her heart and that she has forgiven him. Benson now began to tell me the whole story of their ill-fated relationship.

According to him, my twin sister, Kehinde, was the cause of the breakdown of their relationship. He said my sister was always demanding for money and material things, without caring whether he had the money or not. At a point, he said, he found it impossible to cope. Benson told me that he tried to warn my sister severally that her demands were impossible, but she wouldn’t listen.

According to him, my sister refused to take correction until he was forced to leave her.

Ever since, he too had been lonely and heartbroken because he had never loved any woman the way he loved my sister. I was really touched when Benson made this revelation about my sister.

But I knew it was true. My sister, Kehinde, loved material things so much then. But the truth was that the heartbreak shook her so much that she changed after that. In fact, during courtship, she never demanded for a penny from the man who eventually married her for fear of losing him the same way she lost Benson.

After the revelation, I began to see Benson as a gentleman, not as the heartbreaker my sister portrayed him as. We grew closer and one thing led to another till we ended up in bed.

When he brought up the topic of marriage, I felt that since my sister was already happily married to someone else, there was no point refusing to marry Benson.

My sister did not oppose our marriage.

Today, I and Benson are happily married and all old wounds have been healed, because we have handled our past with maturity and let bygones be bygones. We and our children sometimes spend our vacation with Kehinde and her husband and children in Lagos, and we are all united like one big happy family.

“Ever since, he too had been lonely and heartbroken because he had never loved any woman the way he loved my sister. I was really touched when Benson made this revelation about my sister. But I knew it was true. My sister, Kehinde, loved material things so much then. But the truth was that the heartbreak shook her so much that she changed after that.”

35

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 25, 2017

Relationships and Love Advice

‘My former boyfriend wants to ruin my new relationship’

Love Search Women seeking relationship/ marriage Jezzy, 25, pretty, tall, sexy, in Lagos, wants a sugar daddy or mature man in Lagos.

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Dear Love Doctor,

M

y present boyfriend really loves me and is very good to me. And I love him. However, my ex-boyfriend who maltreated me so much in the past is now trying to come back into my life by telling me sweet things again and trying

to deceive me with his false promises of marriage. I know that he can’t change but I have fallen for him again and had sex with him again even against my will, because of his sweet tongue. Because I’ve fallen for him again, I now quarrel all the time with

my new boyfriend. My ex wants to spoil my new relationship. What do I do to keep this my ex-boyfriend out of my life? And again, how will I know if a man loves me?

From Yinka.

Love Doctor’s Advice:

Call Love Doctor: 07031028714, 08131161840, 08077821830 for Counseling, infertility & Direct Hookup.

Dear Yinka,

First search your heart to know what you really want.

H

owever, if that your former boyfriend had really changed or truly fixed his unacceptable behaviors you wouldn’t have ended the relationship with him in the first place. So don’t be deceived or carried away by the words that come out of his mouth. Words could be misleading but actions show you the true character or true personality/nature of an individual..

How will you know if a man loves you? You will know a man loves you from the way he treats you. But if what a man says is totally at variance or opposite to the way he treats you, then you can be sure that he doesn’t love you, because action speaks louder than words.

If you’ve actually dated someone and you’re sure he doesn’t practice what he preaches, it should be clear to you by now that he isn’t going to give you any form of happiness both now or in future, but would keep breaking your heart over and over if you keep taking him back into your life.

Do you want a relationship in which the other person doesn’t change but pretends to bend over backwards to make you happy each time he messes up? If that didn’t work for you before, why would it work for you now? You really need to stop acting immature or falling for a pretender because of his so-called sweet tongue. Grow up and let go of your ex for good, so that you can move forward in your love life.

• Mature Singles Party is a romantic event for mature single men and women which will take place in December to help you find your Mr. Right or Miss Right. To register for the Mature Singles Party, call Diana on 08034033167.

Finally, you need to search your heart. If you truly love your present boyfriend like you say, why are you falling for your ex all over again? Is there something missing from your present relationship?

Do you say your present guy loves you and treats you well? If what you feel for your present guy is love, stick with him and don’t let anything from the past destroy the love you share. If your new relationship works for you, stick with it. Stick to what works for you. Leave what is in the past in the past, and try to concentrate on building a future with someone who truly loves you.

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!

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36

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 25, 2017

It happened to me:

‘My parents made us breakup’

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y name is Ugo and I live in Lagos.

I’m 19 years old and I’m dating a guy of 40. I met him after my NECO and fell in love with him.

One reason I love Felix is that he’s very sensitive and responsive to my needs..

He’s the only man that understands me.

Felix told me that he is a divorcee. He said he married his ex-wife out of sympathy and that after their wedding, he discovered they were incompatible.

Their incompatibility finally led to their divorce and now he has found true love in me.

You may ask, what do I mean when I say that he has found true love in me?

Well, according to my man Felix, there are only a few women or ladies in this country who are ready to accept a man the way he is, especially if he isn’t so rich.

That’s because most of those ladies you see on the streets these days are only after money. They don’t really care about love because all they are after is money and material things like clothes, bags, shoes, cars, etc.

Felix begged me to accept him for

“My parents said they wouldn’t let me marry any man outside my state. They also say the age gap between us is too wide. Another thing they said was that my first husband cannot be a divorcee, because I’m too young to marry a divorcee. But the fact is that I love this man so much and I can’t imagine life without him.” whom he is and give him my love, and I did. And ever since I did accept him the way he is and give him my love, I have never regretted it.

He treats me like a lady, with respect and compassion. From the first day we met he promised to marry me.

And he backed up his words with action by coming to see my parents three months later. But unfortunately, my parents refused to give him my hand in marriage.

I’m from Imo state while he’s from Benue. I’m the first daughter of my parents in a family of seven.

My parents said they wouldn’t let me marry any man outside my state. They also say the age gap between us is too wide.

Another thing they said was that my first husband cannot be a divorcee, because I’m too young to marry a divorcee.

But the fact is that I love this man so much and I can’t imagine life without him. I told my aunt and she said that the age difference does not matter because age is nothing but a number.

I’ve tried to talk my parents into allowing me to marry me but they’ve bluntly refused.

I had to tell Felix that my parents are not in support of our marriage. We both wept when I told him that our marriage cannot work out.

But now, I’m angry with my parents because I feel they’ve made me lose the only man I ever loved. I feel miserable, and I’ve warned them that if I don’t find another man to love me like Felix, I’ll run away and marry him.

• Do you have a story or comment about this confession? Call 07031028714.

37

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 25, 2017

Love & Living

When to leave your marriage

S

ocial media makes the world seem so small. Now, we can tell what’s going on wherever across the world in an instant, magical world indeed! Yet, we cannot discountenance the predominance of negative tales on the social media though. While I marvel at the massive abuse of this social freedom by those who prefer propagating mostly negative issues and making the world seem all terrible, I have also learnt to be thankful for the seemingly slightest things in my life.

For one, I am thankful that my parents stayed married and for all the love they showered on us through the years. I wore my cap of gratitude having observed that most children are left to grow up in the care of either one parent or none (left with relatives).

If you are concerned about the present rate of divorce and marital squabbles around, you may have more need to worry when those children who grew up without experiencing parental love are faced with the task of raising families themselves. How can they hope to sustain families when they never had the chance to learn the actual meaning of the word beyond the letters?

The spirit of family is about love and togetherness even in trying times. My parents were not perfect, in fact they were two very different people but that never

Ify ARONU ifyaronu@gmail.com

stifled the union. We had greater moments of peace but the few times they disagreed, l learnt life lessons. Dad was usually on the offensive and mum would most times let him win. Yet, those rare times when she took a stand much to his chagrin, dad would still come around quickly and it would seem like it never happened.

I learnt that family is about sticking together even when it’s hardest. Daddy never skipped food or slept out on the basis of annoyance. Likewise, mum never left the house or threatened divorce.

They both wanted to be together more than they cared to disagree. I remain thankful to them for showing us just what it should be.

The case is different for those who never experienced the love of a real family.

Many of them may never appreciate nor give true love because they have no idea on how it works. In extreme cases, staying married may be one of their greatest challenges since they are clueless having never understudied the situation. People who are quick to ask for a break or leave

home at the slightest provocation are usually from troubled or broken homes.

It is thought that since brokenness is what they know, they will unconsciously crave it even when they think they want to heal.

Family defines and shapes our personal lives more than we know or care to admit, everyone needs a real family to grow right. While this is not to condemn separations or divorce especially in cases of threat to life, there’s need to do all possible to save our homes before letting the bar down. The main worry is that most marriages succumb on account of the most trivial issues. The ease with which many give up on their marriages questions our values. We had best realised that for each parent that walks away, two children may do same thinking after all it wouldn’t be a first.

Sustaining your home today enables you contribute to the stability of your generation. Today is your chance to not create a precedent of instability, do not give up on your union so easily. When to leave your marriage is when staying means death. Otherwise, stay and work it out.

•Please send your comments, commendations, and condemnations to ifyaronu@gmail.com

Unique challenges of Nigerian girls

O

n 11 October 2017, the world celebrated the International Day of the Girl child, and I did too.

I am a baby girl and statistically, there are about 1.1 billion girls in the world, so that number minus me, do the maths, imagine if all these voices are being heard in their various fields of endeavor.

There are challenges that would make it difficult for their voices to be heard, and I believe there are as much potential of its possibility as there are challenges, and they are unique to us all, in spite of where we may be located.

•Our culture: Culture is a way of life of a people within a geographical location, these cultures form the lifestyle of everyone living there, but most of these cultures as we are learning are unnecessarily unfair to women. These cultures affects us more and somewhat relegates us to the backseat on so many matters.

•Please send you comments to maureenalikor@gmail.com

M

e& ore

Maureen Alikor maureenalikor@gmail.com

So let’s talk about the challenges.

• Our gender: A couple of years ago after the separation of my parents, I was taken to go lie with my grandparents. At the resumption of school, an uncle of mine, went to let my father know that schools have resumed and myself and my sister had to go back to school, My father in all his fatherliness told my Uncle that” we were women and education is not compulsory for us, after all, we will become married one day and our education would be a waste. When I heard that as a young girl still battling the separation of her parents, you don’t want to imagine how I felt from then on till I grew and dealt with those words.

Growing up too, I have had experiences were my gender was the major hindrance, as a lady, I have been told too many “YOU CANNOT DO THIS, JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE A WOMAN”.

Have you ever been told that because you are a woman, you are not allowed to do this and you are not allowed to that?

•Wife of the Rivers State Governor, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike and students of the Archdeacon Crowther Memorial Girls Secondary School during the school outreach programme organised by the wife of the governor to mark the International Day of the Girl Child on Tuesday in Port Harcourt.

38

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 25, 2017

The Law and You R

ecently, there had been series of defamation in our media and country now. Most people do not realize the implication of what they say or write. They do not know that such words tantamount to a crime or an offence which is punishable by law. They believe with their position in the society, they have right to say or write anything they deem fit without recourse to the law of this country. Don’t forget that constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria says no one is above the law. It is on this note that I decide to discuss this topic.

Defamation is a tort which protects a person from loss of reputation by prohibiting the production of information likely to attract negative attention for others. The publication of defamatory matter is both civil injury and criminal offence but it is usually ranked amongst criminal offences since it has the tendency to arouse angry passion, provoke revenge and likely to cause the breach of public peace. However, it is not necessary for the prosecution to show a breach of peace was likely to result from or is calculated to lead it as in R. v. Holbrook (1878) 4 QB. 42 at 46.

Defamation is defined in section 373 of the code as matter likely to injure the reputation of any person by exposing him to hatred, contempt, or ridicule or likely to damage any person in his lawful profession or lawful trade by an injury to his reputation.

Furthermore, defamation is the publication of an untrue statement of another person which reflects on that person’s reputation and tends to lower him in the estimation of right thinking members of the society generally or tends to make them shun and avoid him. Defamation may be expressed in spoken words which are usually very difficult to proof or in any audible words or by any sign or object signifying such matter and may be expressed either directly or by insinuation or irony.

There are two distinct types of defamation namely; • Slander and • Libel The difference between these two can be explained thus; LIBEL: In libel, the statement must be in a permanent i. form. It is usually refers to by a written statement but can include television broadcast, cable programme and theatre, etc. see Metro Godwin Meyers Ltd (1934) 50 TMR 581. Here, the court held that the defamation statements contained in a talking cinematograph film was a libel in the words of the court. Libel is actionable per se which means that it is the conduct which is wrong irrespective of whether or not any harm is caused in the claimant as a result. ii.

SLANDER: The statement must in the respect of defamation be in a non-permanent form that is transitory – which generally involved spoken words but could not if they are broadcasted falls within libel. A gesture may suffice. Slander requires special damage. The claimant must establish loss(es) or harm(s) that is quantifiable in financial terms. Such as loss of a job or damage to business interest. In NTHEND v. Alade (1974) 2 ES CRP 109, the court held that “in an action for libel, the plaintiff need not proof malice in Law and need not proof any actual damage as the result of the publication, but malice and damage are resumed from the publication itself in the absence of lawful excuse……..once a publication has been found to be a libel, the law presumes damages.”

Slander is actionable per se in the following situation i.

Any imputation that a claimant has committed a serious criminal offence.

That the claimant is unchaste or has committed adulii. tery (female claimant only).

That the claimant has a contagious and infectious disiii. ease that prevents others from associating with him.

That the claimant is unfit, dishonest or incompetent in iv. relation to his trade, profession or business.

Note that, libel may be criminal but slander is only civil injury.

See section 374 and 375 of the Criminal Code. Further to this is that the imputation or obscene conduct to a person is defamatory of that person. To allege that a person is a thief, an Armed Robber, a Kidnapper, or even a criminal or to impute him the commission of any offence which is found out to be false is also defamatory. See, Monson v. Tussands Ltd (1894) 1 Q.B. 671; Webb v. Reavan (1883) 11 Q.B.D. 609.

One interesting any of defamation is that it seems that merely to publish of another that he owes money is not defamatory but if an inability to repay is implied it becomes defamatory. See Arayi v. Ojubu (19955-56) WRNLR 145. In this case, the magistrate found that the Olu of Warri has said nothing of the kind and that words were defamatory. But an appeal, the High court held that the words spoken were, without an innuendo, not defamatory of the Olu for they could not reasonably be said to expose him to hatred, ridicule or contempt, etc.

VULGAR ABUSE Mere vulgar abuse does not constitute actionable slander.

Whether an utterance constitutes a vulgar abuse or not depends on the circumstances of the case. In Bakare v. Ishola, 1959, 106 where in the heat of anger that led to a fight, the defendant in the on-looker said in Yoruba “ole ni ooo iwo to sesede lati ewonyi” meaning (you are a thief, ex-convict), Jibowu

With Barr. Ken Akpom 08162016410

Defamation

C.J. held that the words were vulgar abuse as they were spoken while the parties were exchanging words which led to blows.

“It is a matter o common knowledge of which this Court takes judicial notice that people commonly abuse each other as a prelude to a fight, and call each other “ole elewon” which abuse no one takes seriously as they are words of heat and anger.”

See also Ajala v. Oyimade Adeladun (2979) 123 CCHCAJ 263.

However, in Ibeanu v. UBA (1972) 2 ECSLR, 194 Egbuna J. held that the words “Josiah, omgi kpo mdi ori bia zulu ewu…….. etc.” meaning (you brought the thieves with whom you stole my goat and now you’ve come to ask) were not mere vulgar abuse as it was clear from the evidence that there was no quarrel between the parties.

INNUENDO In Morrison v. Riteline (1902) 393 COTLB 432, the Court stated that a statement that X “has given birth to twins” is innocent in itself but it carries a libelous innuendo if published to persons who knows the extrinsic has been married only a few weeks ago. In Akintola v. Anyim (1962) ALL NLR, an apparently harmless publication about the P in a booklet that he was a “son of a Chief Sawe of Ilesha and Alice” was held defamatory because the publication was capable of conveying the imputation that the plaintiff was a liar to the people who knows that the P claimed to be an Ogbomosho man. In Sketch Press Ltd v. Ajagbemokeferi (1989)1 NWLR pt. 100, 683, it was held that publication deals not only with what was said or written but

also what is passed on to some other person. Thus, no action will lie for defamation unless the matter has been published.

It is important to state that there are other forms of defamation apart from those I have discussed above. I shall list few and briefly discuss thus; a.

Defamation of the dead: Dead person can be defamed in a way that if the intent is to injure the family if proved that a living member of the family’s reputation may have been injured by the publication. However, it should be noted that in this case no prosecution can be instituted without the consent of the Attorney-General of the Federation. See section 373. b.

Defamation of a class: Class here includes any company association or body of persons, corporate or unincorporated. Here, these classes of persons as in section 18(1) of the Interpretation Act can be the object of defamation. c.

Publication: This is defined in section 374 as follows i.

In the case of spoken words or audible sounds, the speaking of such words or the making of such sounds in the hearing of the person defamed or any other person; ii.

In other cases, the exhibiting it in public, or causing to be read or seen or showing or delivered, with intent that it may be read or seen by the person defamed or by any other person.

It is clear therefore that from the above definitions that publication to the person defamed or a mere exhibition in public of the defamatory matter is deemed defamatory.

Note also that the Law stipulates punishments for these offence, so, avoid committing them.

• 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 October 25, 2017

Entertainment With Douglas Omoyooma

Egwu Onwa brings moonlight to theatre

By UZOR MAXIM UZOATU

T

HERE is a new phenomenon in the entertainment scene East of the Niger.

It was past mid-day on September 10 in my hometown of Umuchu, Aguata LGA, Anambra State. The family had just completed the ceremony of the pulling-off of the funeral clothes, Iyipu-Akwa-Uju, of my late mother.

My brother Isidore informed me of a concert entitled “Egwu Onwa” to be hosted in Awka by my talented nephew Gerald Eze, a newly-minted first class graduate in Music of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Without asking any questions whatsoever I jumped into my brother’s car and we were soon in Awka.

Isidore had to make a handful of inquiries and detours before locating the Nelen Studios venue of the concert in Udoka Housing Estate, Awka.

Gerald Eze’s ensemble bears the name Ichoku. The ensemble has three arms, namely - Ichoku The Band, The Academy, and The Privileged. It is a modern wonder how Ichoku The Band makes use of the local instrument called uboaka to play Igbo classical music, even as it plays other mellifluous genres and fusions. The Academy is made up of the kids who are currently undergoing musical training under the tutelage of Gerald and other members of Ichoku The Band.

The Privileged consists of physically-challenged musicians who were picked by Gerald and assembled to form a musical troupe. According

• The Privileged, the children’s group performing in Egwu Onwa to the irrepressible Gerald, “Ichoku intends to make of them independent-minded celebrities and not beggars.”

He assembled the physically-challenged musicians and made them part of the Ichoku ensemble so that “they can challenge” the nation and indeed the world at large to rise above their limitations and challenges.”

Ichoku The Band had her first outing at Nike Arts Gallery, Lagos. Gerald performed with his Ichoku band alongside the legendary Jimi Solanke. The arts promoter and ambassador Tunde Dawodu put up the exquisite show.

The Egwu Onwa concert at the ultra-modern Nelen Stu-

dios, Awka, as the names suggests, showcases the moonlight play of traditional Igbo society. The show was aptly subtitled “The Moon, The Square & The Dance”. There is the Igbo saying “Onwa puta, obodo agwu n’ama”, to wit, “Once the moon appears, the town empties into the square.”

“In the days of yore, the moon bore a lot of symbolism,” Gerald Eze said, starring at his ubiquitous Oja instrument. “The Igbo people were pastoralists, farmers, hunters, etc. The people returned to their homes and at night they became philosophers within the Egwu Onwa moments.”

Gerald Eze offers this reve-

lation, “Nelen Studios, owned and run by the personable Chinelo Enemuo, represents the modern-day Onwa beaming on Ichoku. Chinelo took an active role in the maiden outing of the Egwu by offering her theatre space at Nelen Studios and being actively part of the planning.”

In the words of Chinelo Enemuo, “Nelen Studios is an art initiative set to instill creativity and an appreciation of Nigerian culture through a variety of art programmes and events.

Egwu Onwa as planned by the Ichoku Ensemble has thus become one of such creative outings that tell of the beautiful Nigerian culture happening at Nelen Studios.”

The Ichoku band is made up of Gerald Eze Mmaduabuchi, Nwachukwu Uwakwe, Chinelo Mbamalu and Charles Achufusi. The string quartet is known as The Serenade String Quartet. Chimaeche Ikegwuonu and Samvic Uche play violins while Henry Nwigbo plays the viola, and Michael Uzomah plays the cello. The brass players include Chisom Ezeobiora on trombone, Ezeanyim Kodichukwu Dieudonné on trumpet and Israel Atuge on percussion.

The indefatigable members of The Privileged are: Emenike Ezeiruaku (Oja, Ogene), Aloy Orjiakor (nne igba), Cosmas Nwoke (oke igba), and Chinedu Ezeanya (ichaka).

As Gerald Eze would want to put it he “was opportune to play along the masters as he played the Oja for the Privileged ensemble.”

The young boys and girls of the Academy include: Afomachukwu Ezeno (recorder and voice), Chikaima Ezeno (recorder and voice), Chinonoru Ezeno (voice and udu), Oluoma Odimegwu (lead voice and uboaka), Ifunanya Odimegwu (voice and ogene), Nwabuogo Odimegwu (voice and ichaka), Chisimdi Ofoegbu (lead voice and piano), Beluchi Ofoegbu (narrator), and Chimerika Ofoegbu (voice and drums).

The precocious musicians of The Academy put up a splendid performance that held the audience spellbound for an hour before The Privileged took over the stage with the appearance of two full-blown masquerades that nearly made the women and the children to run for dear life. It was a case of women and children seeing ancestral spirits at close quarters! The ladies were advised to give money to their husbands and other male spectators to offer to the dancing spirits. It was indeed a rollicking family outing.

The enthralling performance served as a very rewarding introduction of Nelen Studios, “the first of its kind in Awka, and one of a kind in Nigeria,” as penned in the flier.

The collaboration of Gerald Eze, who has the distinction of having represented Nigeria in China, and Chinelo Enemuo at Nelen Studios, deserves celebration.

Bobby Benson died in my arms –Tony Benson

A

• Tony Benson

lmost four decades after he passed on, son of highlife music maestro, Tony Benson, who is also a highlife musician has opened up on his late dad and his legacy. In this chat with Oracle Today, Tony Benson, eldest son of Bobby Benson talks about his late dad, his music and the state of the Bobby Benson estate among over issues.

Recalling how his dad passed on he began: “When it is your time it is your time. What else can we say? He lived a good life and left a good legacy. I was there when he passed on.

I held him in my arms. He was ill on and off so we had it coming. I use to live in Republic of Benin but came back to Nigeria when I was told my dad was sick . He was in the hospital at that time. It was his illness that brought me back home.

He was a disciplinarian who never spared the rod. And back then for me, he didn’t look nice but now I can see ev-

idence on his influence on me today. He didn’t give me any advice that misled me. I learnt a lot of lesson from him and found his good works and simple life inspiring. He taught me never to subscribe to shortcuts and to allays be realistic and respectful.”

Recently, his late dad was honoured by celebrity hangout O’Jez, with a posthumous award, How does he feel? “I feel great that at last, they deem it fit to award him.

Our government celebrated 50years of Lagos recently and did not do anything to recognise him. Well, it is not just about him. There are many Nigerians out there who have contributed immensely to national growth but have been thrown to the back-burner.

An example is Femi Eso. All said and done it is obvious to the world that his time here on Earth wasn’t wasted because some where down the line, people are beginning to

remember and celebrate him.

“I cant beat the government into appreciating and doing what they should do.

My father is not the only one because there are so many heroes in this country. They are so many they are countless but they are not being recognised. Let us look at this 50years of Lagos State. Many top musicians in this country had their roots and found their status in Lagos but how many were recognised?”

According to Tony Benson who is also a highlife musician, it has not been easy carrying the torch of his late father’s legacy. Hear him: “It has not been easy though. Thank God for his mercies. Femi Eso has also been encouraging me in his own way as a senior brother and it gives me faith to go on. He wasn’t great to me alone. He was also great to the nation but what has Nigeria done to immortalise him.”

Kabana Bamboo, his late

dad’s Hotel located on Ikorodu Road Lagos was a place the elite of Lagos hung out those days. Any plans to revive it?

“Well, it was demolished by the Lagos State government under some funny leadership and the matter is in court. We are trying to get them to release the land to us but its not been easy.”

There is also rumours flying around that his kids are not united. As the first son, what are you doing to bridge the gap? “There are a lot of misgivings out there. There is no family that doesn’t have upsand-down. But then people read meaning and then take it to another level.”

Regrets “When you live as old as I am, you realize there are ups and down in life. Just pray to God for him to give you the spirit to be able to handle situations that come your way. I have no regrets in life.”

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The Oracle Today Wednesday October 25, 2017

Entertainment

All set for COSON Week

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fter months of preparation, the stage is set for COSON Week 2017 which kicks-off on Sunday, October 29 at 4pm with with COSON in the Church at Pastor Ituah Oghodalo’s Trinity House, Victoria Island, Lagos and will be beamed live.

According to a statement from COSON, on Monday, October 30, attention will shift to Four Points by Sheraton, Victoria Island, where the ‘COSON Lecture’ will take place with Nigeria’s best brains gathered for an Intellectual Property feast at11.00 am.

On Tuesday, October 31, the major streets in the Mainland of Lagos will witness Nigeria’s best-known music stars sweep the streets of the city, clean drainages, drive garbage trucks. The ‘COSON in the Streets’ train will move at11.00 am with lots of music from the National Theatre, Iganmu through Surulere, Yaba into Ikeja where there will be a major music throw-down at the Ndubuisi Kanu Park, Alausa, opposite the Lagos State House of Assembly. The throw-down begins at 4.00 pm and is open to the general public for free.

On Wednesday, November 1, the nation’s crème de la crème, dressed to kill with a touch of green, walk the green carpet and enjoy the finest entertainment and the choicest cuisine money can buy at the ‘COSON Green Ball’ which begins at MUSON Centre, Lagos at 6.30 pm. At the COSON Green Ball which is strictly by invitation, the special guests will seek to deliver support to the COSON Music Foundation set up to provide succour to old or indigent musicians and musicians in distress.

The ‘COSON All Stars Table Tennis Blow Out’ takes centre stage at the Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba on

• Tony Okoroji, Chairman of the COSON Board Thursday, November 2 as the stars do battle on the table to dethrone star singer, Timi Dakolo, the reigning champion of the COSON All Stars Table Tennis Blow-Out. The big battle begins at 11.00 am and is open, free of charge, to the general public.

The Surulere Central Mosque in Shitta will on Friday, November 3, host Nigeria’s stars of music at ‘COSON at the Mosque’, a day of supplication to the Almighty Allah.

COSON at the Mosque is also open to the public.

The bonus event of the 2017 COSON Week, ‘Children’s Day at COSON House’ will take place on Saturday, November 4 as selected Nigerian children between the ages

of ten and fifteen visit COSON House in Ikeja and are hosted at the COSON Arena where they will be introduced to the world of intellectual property, meet some ‘A’ list music stars and have a lot of fun.

The COSON Week climaxes with the show of all shows, ‘the COSON Song Awards’ on Sunday, November 5with the nation’s glitterati and paparazzi on parade at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island. The Awards ‘Red Carpet Fantastico’ begins at 5.00 pm. The COSON Song Awards is strictly, strictly and strictly, by invitation. The only way to describe it is wow!

Why I organised OAPs workshop – Abraham

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onski Media Concept and Campfire Films are set to hit the cinemas with its debut feature production titled Omoye.

Omoye is a riveting tale of a hardworking and relentless young lady who unfortunately gets into a toxic relationship with a man that never takes responsibility for anything.

With abuse and violence increasing, she becomes emotionally and mentally drained but still won’t give up on her marriage.”

Speaking on the new movie, AMVCA 2017 winner, Rotimi Salami, who is also the CEO of Monski Media Concept says that he is ready to give Nigerians an awesome experience in cinemas with Omoye.

Written and Directed by Uche Chukwu, the movie stars multiple award winning actors such as kiki Omeili, Rotimi Salami, Tina Mba, Stan Nze, Greg Ojefua, Olarotimi Fakunle, Omobola Akinde, Goodness Usman, Maryan Dike, kelvinmary Ndukwe, Onyendika Ibeji, Evans Odiagbe.

Shot in Ajegunle suburb of Lagos state, producer of the flick, Rotimi Salami say he holds the belief that films are meant to positively affect the societies.

“We intend to do what is rarely done with movies of such strong social message, which is teaming up with governmental bodies and corporate organizations to execute a free community screening all over Nigeria to ensure a mass reach out of this life changing awareness campaign.

“Domestic and Sexual Violence has logically grown at a much higher rate that more awareness can never be enough as more lives are been endangered year in year out. In order to drastically reduce domestic and Sexual Violence in our society, I and my team embarked on the Omoye film project,” he says.

Omoye is endorsed by Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) and is supported by Nature’s Gentle Touch.

The movie is set to hit the cinemas come October 27 while a star-studded premiere has been planned for October 22 at Genesis Deluxe Cinemas, Lekki.

Also, an awareness walk featuring A-list Nigerian artistes will be held on Friday, October 20. According to Salami, the walk kicks off from, Ikeja and will stop at Alausa

• Rotimi Salami

QMA debuts Moremi the Musical

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opular Rhythm FM OAP, Tony Abraham has opened up on the reasons he recently held a seminar for aspiring OAPs. In a chat, he said: “I get a lot of phone calls from aspiring presenters/broadcasters. Most of the time it’s questions regarding the broadcast business. How do I learn? What must I do? Do I need a foreign accent to work as an OAP? So I knew hands on experience was required and a forum to communicate was ideal.”

According to him, the turn out at the event which was held in Lagos was impressive: “The participants got first hand one-on-one interaction with experienced OAPs and opportunities to be interviewed by popular media houses and they got media mileage as the program was aired on TV stations and social media. A few of the participants already have jobs at media houses due to the experience gained from the program. I funded the seminar from my own pocket.”

Among others, recourse persons included Ifeoma Hughes aka Omaclicha of Rhythm FM, Adenike Keenam of NTA Lagos and Denrele Edun.

AMVCA winner, Rotimi Salami to première ‘Omoye’ October 22

A • Chuku100

I am not worried over competition – Chuku100

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igerian-American based singer, Ifeanyichukwu Joseph Ebulu aka Chuku100 has released another single entitled Hype Anthem which has garnered massive airplay in the United States and beyond.

According to the 24 years old graduate, he is not anxious over the stiff competition in the music industry: “When it comes to competition in the music industry, I am not worried because I am a capable competitor and a winner. In terms of competing with the likes of Wizkid and Davido, that is not my lane because they are different type of artists and in their own unique class. My current single is just a hype anthem for people to jump up to and

have fun.”

Speaking on how his music career started, Chuku100 went done memory lane: “I have been developing my proficiency in performing music since 2012. When I started musical performances, I had no passion until I started seeing a fan base and people rooting for me to push harder in the musical industry. The moral support from my immediate family, friends, and well-wishers motivated me immensely. Over time I developed the passion and interest, and gradually I took musically performance very seriously. Interestingly, as I was growing up I did not see myself as a musician, entertainer, or a rapper.”

s the grand finale of Queen Moremi Ajasoro (QMA) 2017 gathers momentum, the organisers of the yearly cultural beauty pageant have announced the debut of Moremi The Musical, as part of events to make the grand presentation a colourful and entertaining one.

Billed for December 3 at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos, a statement released by the Ambassador of Moremi Legacy, Princess Ronke Ademiluiy, revealed that the musical show with be headlined by tested names as Gbenga Yusuf, who is slated as the director of the debutant show.

Speaking, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, who is the brain behind the project stated thus: “Moremi Ajasoro exhibited an unrivalled heroism in fighting for liberty and dedicated her life to the liberation of mankind by sacrificing her only child to free the people of Oodua land from the invasion of some faceless terrorists, thousands of years ago.”

He emphasised the reason for the project, which is to preserve and promote the legacies of the late

queen.”Moremi remains an indelible new dawn of great awakening for the development of the Yoruba culture. This mission is very close to my heart and touches my global re-enactment of the Yorùbá culture.”

QMA beauty pageant, which is in its second year, is on its final lap with auditioning set to hold this month.

It showcases intelligent, culturally aware, strong and beautiful young ladies that exemplify the heroic attributes of Queen Moremi.

The initiative also uses beauty to promote business ideas for economic growth and youth development among young ladies. Winner of this year’s edition will receive a cash prize of five million naira to set up her own business; a brand new car; a wardrobe of designers’ outfits from leading fashion brands. She will also become a cultural ambassador to the Ooni of Ife. The musical feature will tell in a moving manner the story of the legendary Queen Moremi, a Princess from Offa who was married to Oranmiyan, the ruler of Ile Ife. Through an act of bravery, selflessness and love for her people, Moremi dared death to save her people.

41

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 25, 2017

News From COLLINS UGHALAA, Owerri THE last time Imo people witnessed the kind of anger going on now in the State could be during the Otokoto saga of 1996. But this time, the anger is not against ordinary criminals tormenting the people. The anger is on Governor Rochas Okorocha.

Few years ago, no one imagined that the Governor who rode to power on the back of the masses could be also abused in 2017. But this is coming because by the policies and programmes of the Governor make Imo people feel disenchanted and alienated from him.

The Governor’s acclaimed urban renewal programme has pitched him against the people instead.

This is worsened by the fact that the urban renewal programme has led to the demolition of houses, markets and dislocation of families and businesses. The most recent is the demolition and relocation of the popular Ekeukwu Owerri, during which 10-year-old the security officials drafted to the market by the Governor allegedly killed Somtochukwu Ibeanusi.

But things took a different turn on Friday, 13 October 2017, when Governor Okorocha invited President of South Africa, Mr. Jacob Zuma and the people could no longer bottle their anger. During his visit to Imo State, the South African President signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, for his Jacob Zuma Foundation with Governor Okorocha’s Rochas Foundation.

The Council of Traditional Rulers also awarded Mr. Zuma the traditional title of Ochiagha Imo. He was also inducted into the Imo State Hall of Fame. The Governor also named a road after him, Jacob Zuma Road. To crown it all, the Governor honoured him with a bronze statue.

The Zuma bronze statue, which reports say cost close to N520m has led to anger among Nigerians and the people of the State in particular, with even market women breathing hard on him for lavishing state funds to host him.

“It is unfortunate that he have been fooled by the choices we made in 2011 and 2015. How come the Governor who said the State had no money and as a result reduced workers salary to 70%, now turn around to host Presidents and hold lavish birthdays?

“Even when pensions are still not settled the Governor is spending our money to host corrupt people”, said the trader.

A member of the Governor’s party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, and a former ally of the Governor, Hon Uche Onyeagocha, was the first to blow the bubble when he said Governor Okorocha was as corrupt as his guest, Mr. Zuma.

In a press release he made available at the weekend, he noted that while the South African President was being hosted in Owerri, “The South African Supreme Court had ordered the re-instatement of the corruption charges of money laundering and diversion of contracts against Zuma”.

He also said, “President Jacob Zuma has definitely found an ally in Governor Ethelbert Okorocha. Two very corrupt and unpopular rulers from Africa.

“Imo indigenes know that the visit of Jacob Zuma is of no political, economic or social benefits to people.

The visit further adds to the rape of the economy of Imo State with Imo Governor having flown uncountable shuttles in his private jets to South Africa.”

He called on the South African President, “to go home and face the corruption charges awaiting him as we have already asked Okorocha to start making his prison uniform”, adding that “No crime against any enlightened and conscious people will go unpunished”.

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Imo State, Barr C.O.C Akaolisa, said that he was sad on his birthday (Sunday) because “my people of Imo are in pains. Pains

More knocks for Okorocha over N520m Zuma statue

caused by a man they loved and gave their mandate.

“Today our pensioners are in pains, the civil servants are lamenting, the market women are counting their losses over the demolition of Ekeukwu Market, the motor mechanics are in sorrow over the destruction of Orji and Nekede mechanic villages, senior citizens are wailing over the demolishing of Magistrate Quarters, Shell Camp Quarters, IBC Quarters Orji, Nekede Zoo Quarters and a host of others”.

He further noted that the sadness in the State has become palpable, stressing that, “the frustrations and painful regret are visible in the faces of the people. “The boiling anger fueled by the continued senseless destruction of people’s properties in a useless urban renewal effort is mounting day by day.

“There is no doubt that the masses of Imo state surely have a date with Okorocha. What we do not know is when the people’s patience will snap. It almost did yesterday as his bulldozers were pulling down the Dan Anyiam Stadium Shopping Plaza resulting in more tears and pains for the people while the Governor was shamelessly playing host to Zuma, disturbing the mournful serenity of the city with his scornful helicopter engine sound.”

Civil Society Network Against Corruption in a statement by the Chairman, Olarewaju Suraji, said that that the South African President had been found guilty of corruption by the courts in South Africa and ordered to refund the $500,000 taken

from the public treasury to expand his private house to accommodate his many wives.”

He asked whether Governor Okorocha was not aware that Mr. Zuma “has been indicated for allowing an Indian family to influence the appointment of his cabinet members”.

For the Advocacy for War Against Corruption Initiative (AWACI), the Governor should be impeached.

The Chairman/Convener accused Governor Okorocha of funding and sponsoring Rochas Foundation as a sitting Governor in widely publicised event with the Jacob Zuma Foundation.

“Imo State House of Assembly should as a matter of urgency commence impeachment proceedings against Rochas Okorocha, Governor of Imo State, for abuse of office, corruption, funding and sponsoring Rochas Foundation as sitting Governor in widely publicised ceremony with Zuma Foundation, that is conflict of interest, land grabbing, running Imo State like a private business, lack of contracts, disobedience of court orders and judgments, primitive acquisition of lands and government buildings, spending state money without appropriation, building his businesses like universities, schools, boutique, Freda, with public funds in the face of hardship, unemployment, unpaid pensions and heavy state burden”.

Zuma during the induction said a South African must not kill a Nigerian and a Nigerian must not kill a South African, stressing that the relationship between Nigeria

and South Africa should be stronger than any other part, for the sake of Africa.

A press release by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, quoted Zuma as saying Africa should unite as a people to fight for the common course of economic and political emancipation.

“Africans must come together to address African problems. We are the same people. We cannot succeed if we handle problems as individuals. We need to recognize that we are one.

“Nigeria is a country among countries in the Africa and globally.

What Nigeria says you must note, determines the lots of many”.

He recalled that he was “an ordinary freedom fighter belonging to the African National Congress, ANC. But in 1994, I felt I have been part of those who have made oppressed people of South Africa to accomplish an important mission of liberating themselves. But political freedom without economic freedom is not enough freedom. That is why in our era, we have a government that will begin to make economic laws, because if the economic power is not there, there is very little you can do for the poor and the oppressed.

“Then I have also realised that the time comes for nations to speak the truth, and I’m among those who are speaking the truth now, because the more things they said about me, that are not true, the more stubborn I become in my agitation. Don’t be dismayed. For these reasons, I stand here being seen

as a hero by the leadership of Imo State in Nigeria and to make me feel empowered that what I say, think and believe in, is correct.

“I have also realised from Imo State the need to encourage by legislation, these efforts of our heroes.

Also, I may suggest that nations in the African Union begin to replicate these types of foundations for the less privileged of society in their various countries and set aside special funds for the running of these foundations. Now this Merit Award says to me, ‘You are encouraged by the Nigerians, work with them together to address African problems’”.

Okorocha described Mr. Zuma as “a great son …directed by God all his life to get to the point where he is today. To some people, he’s a dogged fighter, to most people in South Africa, he is a freedom fighter and to me, one of the reasons I present this accolade is that he remains one of the most misunderstood persons in Africa”.

“We in Imo State have chosen to identify with this great leader who meant well for his people; who had to toil, struggle and fight for the liberation of his people, not minding the consequences thereafter. This to me is courage. This to me is strength of character.

“Very importantly, Mr. President, you are a man with uncommon history. One never saw the four walls of a classroom and who in the course of struggling to liberate his people, landed in prison for 10 years and still counting.

“Today, we have decided to honour you for your love for education, though you were deprived in your early days in life but you are working to make sure that every poor child goes to school. Your love for education to us is the connection between you and government and the people of Imo State. The only industry we have and we can truly be proud of is education in Imo State.

This is another reason why we have chosen to honour you.”

Despite Governor Okorocha’s glowing and emotional description of Mr. Zuma, the anger would not go away in Imo State in a hurry.

Narrating his experience on Mr. Zuma’s visit, Mr. Chris Maduka said, “I attended a burial on Friday in Awomamma where Okorocha disturbed the already ending funeral service of the late husband of the current Accountant General of Imo State, Mr. Nathan Udogwu, with endless noise of helicopters that ferried him and some other people to Awomamma.

“This is happening at the time the Imolites are so badly demoralised and disempowered through not just bad leadership, but also what seems like a deliberate plan to impoverish the people and make them overly dependent on the benevolent dictator.

“It is obvious that the duo of Rochas and Zuma represent the type of African leaders so much has been written about. They are the reason why Africans are looked at and treated with condescension and disrespect.

“Under Zuma, so many Nigerians have been brutally murdered in South Africa, especially the Igbos, but Rochas predictably openly identified and even rewarded Zuma for killing of the Igbos under his leadership.

“Ironically the statue of Dee Sam Mbakwe, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, Mazi Mbonu Ojike, did not go up in public arena, but that of a controversial Zulu man went up before our own hero. The Igbos, especially Imolites, have been heavily traumatised and abused by their leaders.”

The former Minister for Aviation, Chief Fani-Kayode took to his tweeter handle to pour out his heart, lambasting Governor Okorocha for erecting a statue of the South Africa President in Owerri.

“Nigerians are murdered by South African security forces every day yet the clown in Imo State builds a statue in honour of Pres.

Zuma.”

42

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 25, 2017

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NASS to address non-payment of scholarship to students in Russia

S

enate President Bukola Saraki says the National Assembly will address the Federal Government’s non-payment of stipend to scholarship students in Russia.

The President of the senate gave the assurance when he met with the Nigerian community in St. Petersburg on Monday.

He expressed concern that Nigeria is not able to fulfill its part of scholarship agreements with the Russian Government.

“I assure you that when I get back we will try to address some of the issues like not being able to fulfill our part of agreement on the issue of scholarship offered to Nigerians by the Russian Government.

“We heard the allowances and stipends agreed on have not been paid to students for some time now,’’ he

said He further assured that the National Assembly would look into enacting or amending an existing law to include re-integration of Nigerians offered scholarship by the Federal Government.

“We have not been able to do that as a government and right now we are losing from having these potentials help develop our economy.

“So we will take it up and you will see what we will do in that area,’’ he said.

Saraki, however, expressed concern on reports of Nigerians involved in drug trafficking and those residing illegally in Russia.

He promised to discuss with the relevant Russian authorities about Nigerians who were illegally residing in Russia but are interested in regu-

larising their documents.

He pledged to bring up the issue to see if they could be given the window to go back to Nigeria and get their papers in order to return to Russia.

“I am meeting with the chairman of the Russian Parliament and I will discuss the issues we are told affect Nigerians here.

“I assure you that we are going to take up all these issues,’’ he said.

On bilateral relations between Nigeria and Russia, Saraki said: “We want to use our opportunity of visiting Russia to see how we can enhance our bilateral relations because there is a lot of potential here that we can build on.

“In the area of oil and gas, we have met a few countries that are ready to partner with us in developing the sector. We are more interested in devel-

oping gas for local consumption and that is where we need help.

“Anybody can go into gas for export but we need gas for power and Russia said they are ready to do that and we need to take that seriously and create more opportunities.

“We have noted that we need to be doing more. That brings me to the issue of agriculture. I want to assure us that there is a shift in the area of agriculture.

“I can speak from experience.

When I was governor, I pushed seriously for commercial agriculture and for the first time, I am seeing it happening at the state level.

“I am hopeful that there will be a change in agriculture, provided there is no policy somersault. If we can stay focused on that policy we will see a tremendous change.’’

Lawmaker advocates active participation in global peace

Human Rights Watch, Britain, U.S. criticise election of DRC to UNHRC

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T

he Chairman Senate Committee on Air Force, Sen. Duro Faseyi has advocated active parliamentary participation in restoring global peace.

Faseyi made this known at the sideline of the 137th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in St. Petersburg, Russia on Monday.

The lawmaker, who is a member of the Committee on Security in the IPU, said it was high time parliaments moved from concentrating mainly on lawmaking and oversight, to being active participants in decisions on conflicts.

According to him, the parliament was a critical component of the democratic society and should not be seen to only act from the background.

He commended efforts made so far by the IPU in making the parliament move from obscurity into participating actively in matters of terrorism, social injustice and other challenges that were making the world less secured.

“This is a gathering where parliamentarians from across the world gather to debate and take decisions about world challenges that are threatening our co-existence as a people.

“At this assembly we debate on issues ranging from politics, socio-cultural difference to economic growth,’’ he said.

He commended the commitment of the National Assembly to restructuring the Nigeria’s economy.

Faseyi said that there was a need to restructure the country to douse the tension in different parts of the country.

“There are agitations over marginalisation, inequality and injustice and one of the ways to get things right is to restructure; in fact it is long over-due.

“It is time we all come together to look at the burning issues and find a way to restructure to fit into our present demands,’’ he said.

The lawmaker said it was important to reduce the bulk of governance from the centre to states because it was obvious that the centre alone could not handle all critical areas of the economy.

He noted that this would eliminate the agitations in different parts of the country as well bring about sustainable development.

The lawmaker urged the present administration to continue in its effort at engaging relevant stakeholders in finding a lasting solution to the problems of the country.

Saraki promised to ensure that the national assembly helped in tackling smuggling and insecurity, stressing that the present government was doing all within its power to reposition the economy.

According to him, the federal government was working to stop importation of goods into the country.

He further said: “We spend over five billion dollars importing food items.

“I remember when this government came into existence we were the second largest importer of rice but I can assure you that by the first quarter of 2018 to the end of 2019 we will stop importing rice.

“If we can do same for other sectors we will be going in the right direction.’’

• ISIS DEFEATED: A member of the Iraqi Special Forces raises the victory gesture as others hold upside-down Isis flag outside the destroyed Al-Nuri Mosque in the Old City of Mosul, after the area was retaken Photo: AFP

Kenya’s deputy president okays demands made by opposition

K

enya’s Deputy President William Ruto said on Tuesday there would be no problem if the election board agrees to meet demands made by the opposition ahead of a repeat presidential vote on Oct. 26.

The Supreme Court annulled an Aug. 8 vote at the start of September after opposition leader Raila Odinga challenged the re-election of President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Odinga has withdrawn from the repeat poll, saying the election board had failed to meet a list of conditions his coalition said would guarantee fairness.

He has called for daily protests to force the reforms.

“If they (the election board) chose to have a discussion with our competitors with a view to firing this member of staff or firing that member of staff or changing a supplier … so long as the elections

are there, we will participate,” Ruto told reporters.

Under the constitution, the repeat election must be held within 60 days of the Sept. 1invalidation.

The election board says it will go ahead with the vote but Odinga’s withdrawal has caused concerns about possible political crisis.

Ruto accused Odinga of trying to spark chaos through the protests in order to get a negotiated settlement, which Kenyatta’s side was not prepared to accept.

“It is a manufactured situation to achieve a political end and that is what we must resist,” he said.

Odinga was looking for a way out of the election after realising he was not likely to win, Ruto said.

“They wanted a repeat election, they have a repeat election. They don’t want to participate. What do they want?” he said.

• William Ruto

uman Rights Watch, Britain and the United States have criticised the election of the Democratic Republic of Congo to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for a threeyear term.

Congo, was on Monday elected by the UN General Assembly in New York to the UNHRC in Geneva alongside 14 other countries for the 2018 to 2020 term.

Congo was elected uncontested to the 47-member Geneva-based council, it still needed majority support.

The country, beset by renewed political and militia violence since President Joseph Kabila refused to step down in December, won 151 votes.

British UN Ambassador Matthew Rycroft posted on Twitter: “political repression, civilian attacks, mass graves.

What happened in DRC last year makes their election to the Human Rights council entirely disappointing.”

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, who has called for the Human Rights Council votes to be competitive, said Congo’s election harmed the credibility of the body.

“Countries that aggressively violate human rights at home should not be in a position to guard the human rights of others,” Haley said in a statement.

The United States is reviewing its membership in the council.

It is in the first year of a second term, but U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has called for reforms to eliminate what it called its “chronic anti-Israel bias.”

Angola, Senegal, Slovakia, Ukraine, Chile, Mexico, Peru, Afghanistan, Nepal, Pakistan, Australia and Spain were also elected to the body on Monday, while Nigeria and Qatar won second terms.

Their terms start on Jan. 1, 2018.

To ensure geographical representation, states are nominated in five regional categories.

Four slates were uncontested, while there were five candidates for four Asia Pacific seats in which Malaysia lost.

Council members cannot serve more than two consecutive terms.

The council is able to rebuke governments it deems as violating human rights and to order investigations.

Human Rights Watch called for elections to be competitive.

“The Democratic Republic of Congo’s election to the Human Rights Council is a slap in the face to the many victims of the Congolese government’s grave abuses across the country,” said Louis Charbonneau, UN director at Human Rights Watch.

The Oracle Today

43

Wednesday October 25, 2017

SPORTS Eagles’ World Cup Qualification excites Anyansi •Lauds Eagles, technical crew, Amaju

By MADUABUCHI KALU

A

S the Nigeria and her citizens are still basking in the euphoria of her sixth World Cup Qualification, the chairman of two African champions and a board member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Chief Felix Anyansi Agwu has expressed excitement of the Eagles World Cup qualification.

Anyansi, who was on the stand when the three time African champions sealed their place in the 2018 FIFA World Cup to be

played host to by Russia told The Oracle Today Sports in exclusive interview that he was happy just like millions of Nigerian crazy football fans and supporters.

He thanked God for granting the Eagles the success recorded by the team saying no success can come with God’s approval.

He equally commended the players of the team for their commitment, focus, determination, hard work and patriotism which culminated in qualifying for the Mundial even with a game to spare.

“Well, first and foremost I must

say that I am happy, I am excited over the qualification of the Super Eagles just like millions of Nigerian football loving fans,” Anyansi began.

“Again I must thank God for the success Eagles have recorded by qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup which will take place in Russia.

“I thank God because success can’t come without God. Therefore, all praise and glory be unto him,” Anyansi declared.

“Also, I want to thank the team and their technical crew and everybody who contributed in one way or the other for the Eagles World Cup Qualification.

“I want to thank the players for their commitment, focus, determination, hard work and patriotism which made it possible for this achievement.

“The players, right from the commencement of the World Cup qualifiers knew the enormity of task before them and they rose up to the task, kudos to them for this heartwarming achievement.

It was not an easy task I must confess to you.

“Everybody, the players knew what is before them and the players want to be at the World Cup in Russia. In order to achieve this big dream of being at the biggest football stage which the World Cup the players and the technical, the board applied themselves to the task of realizing the goal of being in Russia. So it feels so good to have achieved the target set from the beginning.

“The players and the officials, everybody did their best to make our qualification possible.

“I also want to thank Nigerians for their support and prayers which led to this achievement even before the final game of the qualifiers. It is not easy,” Anyansi explained.

Speaking further, the longest and most successful club chairman in the country said: “I also want to commend the President of the bard of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Melvin Pinnick, for his leadership.

“He has proven that he knows what it takes to get Nigerian Football going. I must say that it is because of his good leadership

We‘ll prosecute our last game with best legs – Rohr

D

espite having qualified for the 2018 World Cup with a game to spare, Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser, German Gernor Rohr has rubbished the insinuation in some quarters that Eagles’ next and last game in the World Cup Qualifiers against the Desert Foxes of Algeria would be prosecuted with the team’s reserved team.

Reacting to the rumour on the plan to play the game against Algeria with the reserved team of the Super Eagles, Gernot Rohr said it was the figment of imagination of the peddlers of such tissues of lies as there was never a time that the technical crew had such plans.

He declared that the game against Algeria will be prosecuted with the same team and with the same intensity with which the

I will convince Tammy to play for Nigeria – Iwobi B asking in the euphoria of scoring the goal that ensure that Nigeria qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Super Eagles and Arsenal of England forward, Alex Iwobi, has given himself the task of convincing his friend, Tammy Abraham of Chelsea to play for the Super Eagles instead of his preferred country, England.

The Delta State-born Chelsea Tammy Abraham recently embarrassed the country of his birth when he declared that he has not changed his nationality and allegiance following the interview the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Amaju Melvin Pinnick recently granted the federation’s website, www.thenff. com in which he declared that discussion with Tammy was going on well.

With that declaration, Nigerians took it that the Swansea City loanee has accepted to dump England and lace his boot for his country of birth but the youngster

was furious as he declared that the fact that he met Amaju Pinnick after their game in Wembley was because the NFF President happened to be his father’s childhood friend and nothing more.

Few days after he denied ever changing his nationality and allegiance, English FA rewarded him with a call up to the Junior Lions, the U-21 team.

But that is not deterring the Austin Jay-Jay Okocha’s nephew (Alex Iwobi) as he has given himself the task of convincing him to forget about England and play for the Eagles as he himself is enjoying his decision to play for his country of birth.

It is recalled that Alex Iwobi, Tammy Abraham among other players of Nigerian decent played for England at the age group competition such as FIFA U-17 World Cup among others, but when it was time for Iwobi to make the critical decision between his country of birth and England, it didn’t

take him much time to choose the country of his father and he did that with the help of his football idol and uncle, the Emperor himself, Austin Jay Jay Okocha.

It is noted that some football players of Nigerian decent in past chose England to Nigeria and after two or three games they were eased out of the Three Lions and for Tammy to avoid that, he should ask the like of Soccer Ambassador, John Fashanu, his late brother Justin Fashanu, Gabriel Agbolahan among others. That is why the declaration by Iwobi to convince Tammy Abraham is a welcome development to enable him avoid the mistakes other people before him made.

It is our prayer that he should take the right decision which is Nigeria for his senior national team as he still has the opportunity of doing so.

Already, he has come out to declare that he is confused on what to do as both Nigeria and England

that he showed that made it this achievement possible because every success or failure of any organization or project squarely hinges on leadership.

“Amaju showed good leadership by providing the enabling environment for the team and everybody to work freely. There is unity of purpose, commitment, vision and target.

“So, in all I am delighted that Eagles have qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup even with a game to spare. And it is Russia here we come,” Anyansi declared.

wants him to play for them. He should examine his conscience before taking a decision which he will not live to regret later and Nigeria is that right choice.

team started the World Cup Qualifiers.

Rohr explained that Eagles would want to play the game with their best leg as they would like to garner more points in addition to their 13 points they have already garnered that earned them the World Cup ticket penultimate Saturday.

“Well, I don’t know where the rumour is emanating from but certainly not from me or from the technical crew which I lead,” Rohr began.

“And to put the record straight, we are going to prosecute the final match with the same set of players that have been prosecuting the campaign from the beginning and with the same intensity I must add.

“We don’t intend to go to Algeria to play the game for formality sake. No! That is far from reality.

“Our intention is to garner as much points as possible in the qualifiers.

“We have already garnered 13 points out of 15 which has given us the ticket. We drop two points against Cameroon in Yaoundé when they forced us to 1-1 via penalty in the dying minutes of the return leg of the double header on September 4.

“So, anybody thinking that the game is going to be played with another set of players just because we have already secured the ticket for the Mundial is not true.

“If we get more points via the final match of the World Cup campaign, that will be very good for the team going to the World Cup proper.

“I love this team. We have a lot of young talented players in the team which is very good for the team and the country.

“The spirit in the team is fantastic and we equally have experienced players like our captain, John Obi Mikel, Victor Moses, Ogenyi Onazi and a few others who inspire confidence in the team,” Rohr explained.

The Oracle Today

44

Wednesday October 25, 2017

SPORTS

Start World Cup preparations Moses my World now, Chukwu charges, Rohr, NFF GCup joker – Rohr

Stories by MADUABUCHI KALU

F

ORMER national team skipper and coach, Christian Chukwu has charged Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr and the country’s football governing body, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to commence preparations for the 2018 FIFA World immediately.

According to the immediate past General Manager of Enugu Rangers, Nigeria and Nigerians have celebrated their World Cup Qualification enough for them to shift attention to preparations so that the team would be able to go beyond their best performance of the Mundial which is 2nd Round of the competition in the previous editions.

“I wish to first and foremost congratulate the Super Eagles, their handlers and all Nigerians on the team’s World Cup Qualification with a game to spare,” Chukwu began.

“It is really a cheering news and heartwarming that this time, we are saved from the permutations that used to characterize our World Cup Qualifying campaigns in the past. It is really a welcome development.

“Having said that I would like to urge the Gernot Rohr led technical crew of the team and the NFF to commence our preparations for the Mundial immediately because there is no time.

“For me, I think that we have

celebrated our World Cup Qualifications enough and I believe that we should start preparing for the World Cup proper since there is no any other encumbrance to our qualification having done that in Uyo on Saturday.

“World Cup is the biggest football competition and you need to prepare very well for it if actually you are not going there for a jamboree.

“We should start preparing for the championship now because we have limited time. We are only left with just about 9 months and I can assure you that the time is short.

“The NFF should get the team prepared well by organizing Grade A Friendly matches. They have seen the countries that have qualified for the World Cup, they should endeavour to organize matches with such countries particularly teams from South America and Europe.

“There shouldn’t be room for any how friendly matches. If possible, the matches should be among the countries or teams that have qualified for the World Cup and by so doing, they will be able to strengthen the team before the championship.

“The technical crew on their part should use this period to fortify the squad in the areas where they have discovered deficiencies be it in the defense, attack or midfield,” Chukwu advised.

History making Iceland qualify for World Cup •Serbia qualify too

H

istory was made last week Monday when the tiny country of Iceland qualified for the World Cup for the very first time in their annals after they defeated Kosovo 2-0 in the World Cup Qualifier, thereby becoming the smallest country to have ever qualified for the FIFA World Cup. With a population of just 330,000, Iceland became the

first country under a million popular to have qualified for the football biggest party.

Their qualification for the 2018 World Cup was made possible by their two English Premier League (EPL) players, Everton midfielder, Gylfi Sigurdsson who scored the first goal and Burnley FC midfielder, Johann Gudmundsson who sealed the victory for the small northern European nation.

Iceland’s World Cup Qualification is their second successive appearance at a major tournament after their shock win over England in a surprise run to the Euro 2016 quarter-finals.

“I thought after Euro 2016 that the hardest thing would be to motivate ourselves again,” said Iceland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson.

“The hardest thing was to get

going again after our massive party in France.

“And what’s more in a group contested between Croatia, Turkey, Ukraine and Finland.

“The success is not an end in itself but a long journey towards a final destination.”

Iceland needed all three points to secure top spot in European World Cup Qualifying Group I as Croatia, who sacked Coach Ante Cacic penultimate week, downed Ukraine 2-0 in Kiev in the fight to claim second place.

Andrej Kramatic struck twice in the second half to send Croatia into next month’s play-offs as Zlatko Dalic took charge of his first match following the 1-1 draw with Finland that prompted the dismissal of Cacic.

Aleksandar Prijovic scored after coming on as a second-half substitute to cement Serbia’s place in Russia, ending an eightyear major finals absence.

Prijovic struck the winner on 74 minutes in Belgrade as Serbia finished top of Group D, with the Republic of Ireland heading to the play-offs after a 1-0 victory over Wales in Cardiff.

ernot Rohr, Super Eagles Technical Adviser is already planning ahead after his charges picked the sole ticket of Group B of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in Uyo penultimate Saturday.

Basking in the euphoria of the Eagles qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup otherwise tagged ‘Russia 2018’ the Franco-German football tactician declared that he has already gotten a joker for the Mundial in the person of Chelsea defender and Nigerian striker, Victor Moses.

The former Bayern Munich defender stated this while fielding questions from sportswriters, days after the Eagles defeated the visiting Chipolopolo of Zambia to book a ticket for next year’s World Cup in Vladmir Putin’s country of Russia.

It is no longer news that since the coming of Italian Antonio Conte as Chelsea manager, Moses has become an indispensable member of the Stanford Bridge side squad despite having been converted to a defender instead of his natural role as a winger.

It is this great form of Victor Moses that the Franco-German football tactician is aiming to exploit at the Mundial.

It is noted that Moses shone like a million stars in the double header against the African champions Indomitable Lions of Cameroon which made it possible for him to be included in the African Best XI in the World Cup Qualifying double header in Uyo and Yaoundé in early September.

Despite not being able to score during Eagles’ last home game against the visiting Chipolopolo at the magnificent Godswill Akpabio International Stadium Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the Edo-State born footballer was a handful for the visiting Chipolopolo of Zambia, who had come to Uyo to scuttle Eagles’ quest their sixth World Cup appearance in Russia.

Meanwhile, two Super Eagles Israeli based player, John Ogu and Anthony Nwakaeme, have expressed disappointment that they were unable to play a part in Eagles’ last home game in the qualifiers but expressed happiness that the job was well executed by compatriots to ensure that Nigeria’s flag will be one of the many that will be hoisted in Russia, when the game’s biggest party kicks off next year.

The Oracle Today

45

Wednesday October 25, 2017

SPORTS

AITEO Cup: Akpabio, Emmanuel congratulate Akwa Utd I

By MADUABUCHI KALU

t is no longer news that Akwa United Football Club of Uyo won the 2017 Federation Cup otherwise known as Aiteo Cup on Sunday after defeating Niger Tornadoes of Minna 3-2 in a drab encounter that was decided via penalty kicks.

However, despite the lackluster performance of both sides in the encounter at the Agege Stadium, Senate Minority Leader and former governor of the state, Distinguish Senator Godswill Akpabio, who administration built the state of the Art Stadium in Uyo, ‘The Nest of Champions’ has congratulated the team for lifting the AITEO Cup for the second time in a space of three years.

Akpabio recalled that Akwa United first made history by winning the glamorous trophy in 2015 and by so doing, put smiles on the faces of Akwa Ibom people. He declared that by winning the trophy for the second time in a space of three years, the team have shown they are one of the best in the country.

On his part, the State Governor Udom Emmanuel has expressed joy at having the privilege of holding the trophy in his hands for the second time within three years. He said the history making first Federation

Cup trophy coincided with his taking over the mantle of leadership of the Land of Promise in 2015.

Speaking further, Governor Emmanuel stated that Akwa United Fc gave him a very wonderful gift by winning the trophy for the first time at the time he was just settling to manage the affairs of the state. He explained that it was in appreciation of that epoch even that prompted the state government to reward the team and their officials handsomely.

He assured that the players and officials will be equally rewarded this time for winning the Aiteo Cup for the second time. Governor Emmanuel equally expressed joy at continental football returning to the state due to the team’s victory at the final over Niger Tornadoes as the victory has qualified them for a ticket to join Enyimba to represent the country on the continent in CAF Confederation Cup. With the victory over Tornadoes, Akwa United became richer by Twenty Five Million Naira (N25million) while Torna-

does were rewarded for their efforts with Ten Million Naira (N10 million).

A number of eminent personalities watched the Aiteo Cup final at the Agege Stadium and they include Lagos State Gov-

ernor, Akinwunmi Ambode, his Akwa Ibom State counterpart, Udom Emmanuel and Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State. Others include CAF President, Ahmad Ahmad, his two Vice Presidents, Kwesi Nyan-

takyi and Omari Selemani, the continental football governing body’s Emergency Committee members, Souleman Waberi and Amaju Melvin Pinnick, Executive Committee members of NFF, chieftains of sponsors AITEO Cup among others.

CAF names Morocco as CHAN 2018 host W/Cup: Rohr warns

T

he Confederation of African Football (CAF), have named Morocco as the replacement for Kenya as the host of next year’s African Nations Championship.

At the CAF emergency meeting held in Lagos, Nigeria, Morocco, which was bidding to stage the 2026 World Cup, was chosen over Equatorial Guinea at an emergency meeting of the CAF Executive Committee in Lagos.

Ethiopia had also expressed an interest after Kenya were stripped of the competition but failed to secure the Government support to mount a bid.

Agadir’s Stade Adrar, Tangier’s Stade Ibn Batouta, Casablanca’s Stade Mohammed V and the Marrakesh Stadium are due to be the venues used for the African Nations Championship.

Kenya lost the hosting rights for the tournament, scheduled to run from January 12 to February 4, due to concerns over infrastructure.

A CAF inspection team, led

by FIFA Council member and vice-president Constant Omari, had recommended the country

be stripped of the event after reporting only one venue was ready.

Meanwhile, Egypt has been given the express ticket to participate in the 2018 African Nations Championship finals in Morocco.

Egypt had originally failed to qualify for the tournament after losing to Morocco in the playoffs.

However, with Morocco taking the role of tournament host, an extra place has become available in the North Zone, and Egypt has been assigned to that place.

“Following the designation of Morocco as host of Total CHAN 2018, the CAF Emergency Committee, meeting in Lagos, decided to qualify Egypt for the final tournament,” CAF said in a statement on its website.

“It will be Egypt’s very first participation in this competition, running since 2009, which will be in its fifth edition, bringing together only players playing in the championships of their countries,” the statement added.

Federer wins Shanghai Masters final in 72 minutes

W

imbledon champion, Roger Federer beat world No1 Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-3 in 72 minutes to clinch the Shanghai Masters trophy.

The victory is the Swiss sixth title of the year and his fourth win against Nadal.

Federer, 36, who has lost only four times in 2017, was again in

imperious form as he handed the Spaniard his fifth successive defeat.

Federer fired 10 aces, and the 19-time Grand Slam winner’s 94th career title cut his deficit against Nadal to 23-15.

It moves him level with Ivan Lendl in terms of Open era titles, with only American Jimmy

Connors (109) having more.

“I’ll go home and we will work out where I play next - Basel, Paris, one of those or none, before I go to London, which is my priority,” said Federer.

“World number one I don’t think will happen but if I play like this maybe I’ll get close, who knows? He added”

against financial crises

G

ernot Rohr, the Technical Adviser of the Super Eagles, has warned against another pay strike at the World Cup if the country hoped to improve on their previous outings at the global tournament.

At the 2014 World Cup, the Super Eagles skipped a training to protest the non-payment of bonus for qualifying for the tournament forcing the country’s sports minister to fly out by private jet to pay them almost $4 million cash in Brazil.

Rohr said he believes the threetime African champions can improve on their best World Cup performance of a Round of 16 by better and early preparation as well as ensuring money issues are sorted out well in advance.

Nigeria will be paid a total of $12.5 million by FIFA for qualifying for Russia 2018 with $2.5 million of this amount paid for the Eagles to prepare adequately for the football showpiece.

They will earn more cash should they reach the knockout rounds of the tournament as they have done in 1994 and 2014.

Nigeria have so far used a total of 37 players for the qualifying tournament for Russia 2018 and they are all entitled to a share of a qualification bonus.

Rohr, a 64-year-old Franco-German coach, said he believes that with a fully prepared and united team both on and off the pitch, Nigeria can expect their best per-

formance at next year’s tournament.

“If we want to do something at the World Cup, we have to prepare well,” he said in an interview.

“We want everybody who wants to be part of the team to show the same solidarity we currently have in the team.

“More importantly, we don’t want the issue of money to be a problem,” he added.

“The issue of bonuses and allowances, which are the usual African problem we see during the World Cup, must be avoided.

Messi to become third time dad

L

ionel Messi, five-time World Player of the Year, is to become a father for the third time following the confirmation of this by his wife, Antonella Rocuzzo on social media on Sunday.

“Family of 5 #Blessed,” Rocuzzo posted on Instagram alongside a picture of Messi and the couple’s two sons Thiago (four) and Matteo (two).

Messi, 30, and Rocuzzo, 29, got married in their native city of Rosario, Argentina, in July in a celebration described as the “wedding of the century” by the Argentine press.

46

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 25, 2017

News

Buhari chides States over P unpaid salaries RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday in Abuja expressed concern over the growing complaints and agitations by workers over unpaid salaries and allowances, even with the interventions by the Federal Government The interventions come in various forms, including those of Paris Club refunds paid to States claimed to be over deductions for external debt service between 1995 and 2002.

Governor AbdulAzeez Yari of Zamfara State and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, is, however, asking for reconciliation of government accounts to enable States get more money under the Paris Club Refund.

The Federal Government had last May released details of the second tranche of Paris Club refund to States totalling N243. 795 billion.

Governors who were at the Presidential Villa for a scheduled meeting with the President, however pleaded for more funds for States, ahead of the 2018 budgets.

“The reconciliation was last done in 2016, we are hoping that the Debt Management Office DMO, Ministry of finance, Accountant General of the Federation and our consultants conclude this reconciliation by November so that we can factor the difference in our 2018 budget, so that we can use it for projects and other recurrent spending according

NAPPS sends SOS to Umahi over extortion

to the specification given by our respective Houses of Assembly, and that’s why we are here,” Governor Yari said of the meeting.

President Buhari while lamenting the plight of workers in the States, told the Governors of the need for urgent attention as many of the workers could barely survive.

“How can anyone go to bed and sleep soundly when workers have not been paid their salaries for months. I actually wonder how the workers feed their families, pay their rents and even pay school fees for their children,’’ he said.

The President reminded the governors that two out of the threepronged focus of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to secure the country and fight corruption had received some commendable reviews by the people, noting that the challenge in payment of salaries in States had taken a toll on the people.

“God has been merciful in hearing the prayers of his servants so the rainy season has been good, you can ask the Kebbi State Governor on this, and our enormous food importation bill has gone down.’’

President Buhari said the Federal Government and state execu-

prove the livelihood of workers and all Nigerians. Governors of Ondo, Bauchi, Jigawa, Kwara, Akwa Ibom and the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State were part of the visit to the President.

“Our mission here is simple, we are here to thank Mr. President for his concern about the state economy and situation by giving us several support ranging from bail out, restructuring our debt, London- Paris club exit payment” We also told him that we think that it was because of the decisions that we got out of recession.

“Know that the 200 million citizens residing in Nigeria are residing in respective States. These support are going down to them, when you are taking the indices from the grassroots.

“Mr. President you remember that in 2016, we presented to you the numbers of London and Paris exit funds which we agreed, and you directed we be paid 50% and 50% upon reconciliation.

“We are going to work with the numbers when he returns from his trip, we are going to follow up this meeting with him so that we can conclude on what is going to be done next,” Governor Yari said.

ONITSHA, HOME OF

racle

The

From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki

N

ational Association of Proprietors of Private schools in Ebonyi State has appealed to Governor David Umahi to save their souls from the hands of Abakaliki Capital Territory Development Board (ACTDB) and its consultants who allegedly extort and harass them in their respective schools.

Chairman of NAPPs in the State, Mr. Onyeoma Kelechi, who made the allegation in a chat with journalists in Abakaliki further alleged that the Board, the consultants and their taskforce have constituted themselves into a nightmare for the school owners.

“They intimidate, harass our members and even cart away every kind of our school property on a daily basis. Our members are assessed and billed by the consultants beyond what we can reasonably pay.

And more worrisome is the use of armed men of Civil Defence Corps to invade and terrorize our schools and children,” he alleged.

He explained that the state chapter of NAPPS had within the years under review prevailed on all their law-abiding members to pay all approved taxes and levies to the State without failure.

He prayed Governor Umahi to, as a matter of urgency, call to order, the ACTDB, the consultants and their taskforce.

He commended the regular site and establishment inspections by officials of the ministry, which have made it possible to grant approval to genuine proprietors who put in their best in to meet the basic standard requirement.

He added that NAPPS would soon set up a high-powered committee to identify all sub-standard and mushroom private schools in the State for immediate closure.

tives would need to work closer to ameliorate the situation of workers across the country.

The President said he had instructed all government agencies to comply with the Treasury Single Account, TSA, in order to ensure more transparency and prudence in accounting for the revenues of the government and the sharing of entitlements with States.

In his remark, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum said the various interventions by the Federal Government, which included bailouts, were judiciously utilised by the States, stressing that the Governors inherited backlog of unpaid salaries and huge debts portfolios.

“We are concerned with the situation in our States, and we are trying our best to manage the resources,’’ he said. Yari noted that the bailout funds, and part of the fallout from the London-Paris Club that had been received by the States, were properly expended to alleviate the plight of workers, but more had to be done.

The NGF chairman commended the efforts of the President in improving the economy, assuring that the States would continue working with the Federal Government to im-

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Monkey Pox: Enugu First Lady, UNICEF harp on hand washing

By THEO RAYS ife of Enugu State governor, W Mrs. Ugochi Ugwuanyi has called on the people of the State

to always wash their hands with soap as a preventive measure against infectious diseases, such as diarrhoea and monkey pox currently spreading across some States in Nigeria, that could endanger their lives.

The First Lady who was represented by Lady Evangelist Favour Ugwuanyi made the call during the ceremony to mark the Global Hand washing Day organised by Enugu State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation EN-RUWASSA in collaboration with UNICEF at Okpara Square in Enugu.

The ceremony was witnessed by government officials, parents, children and students from primary/ secondary, tertiary schools and community leaders, among others.

She noted that hand-washing is the easiest way to effectively wage fight against infectious diseases and repeatedly called on the people to get addicted to hand-washing their hands regularly with soap or ash.

She assured of the commitment of the Ugwuanyi administration to make water available for the inhabitants of the Coal City State through the ministries and agencies.

She commended the EN-RUWASSA and UNICEF for organising the ceremony and called on those who attended the Okpara Square ceremony to take the message back to parents and children on the importance of hand washing with soap or ash.

In his remarks, representative of UNICEF, Mr Amose Kudzala explained that Global Hand washing is an annual event initiated in 2008 by the United Nations Generally Assembly to reduce child mortality rates related to respiratory and diarrhoea diseases by introducing simple behavioural changes hand washing with soap/ash..

Kudzala said the theme for ‘this year is “Our Hands, Our Future” adding that “it is reminding us that washing hands protects our health against diseases like monkey pox and also allows us to build our own future, as well as those of our communities and the world. Hand washing is an easy and affordable do -it yourself protection for everyone.”

Earlier in his address, the Managing Director of EN-RUWASSA, Dr Okenwa Frank Omeje said he was delighted at the opportunity offered him to anchor the ceremony because of the window it has opened to impress on the State the importance hand washing in the society as a preventive measure against diseases. , Dr Omeje noted that the global challenges following the Global Hand washing campaign is to transform hand washing from an abstract good idea into an automatic behaviour carried out at homes, schools, markets, hotels, work places and communities, adding that children who so often are energetic, enthusiastic and open to new ideas can act as agents of change in this regard.

47

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 25, 2017

News Continued from Pg 2 venting him from coming to court for his trial.

Ejiofor said he was convinced that the federal government was holding Kanu since the last person or persons known to have had contact with Kanu recently were agents of the federal government in the form of soldiers who invaded the IPOB leader’s home in Afariaukwu, Umuahia on September 14 this year under the controversial Operation Python Dance II exercise embarked upon by the army in the South East.

Ejiofor noted that although Kanu’s trial was expected to commence at the resumed sitting of the court, the IPOB leader’s whereabouts was unknown, a reason he he was not in court.

He, therefore, urged the Court to prevail on the Federal government to produce him.

But, the government’s counsel, Mr. Labaran submitted that since Kanu was absent in Court, the Court should revoke his bail, arrest his sureties and make them forfeit bonds and or commit them to jail.

“Given the circumstance and the absence of the first defendant, we are afraid that the tri-

Court asks Abaribe to find Kanu al may not go on in the interest of justice,” Labaran said “The first defendant who was granted bail on the 25th April on ground of ill health, was asked to go and attend to his medical challenge and report back on monthly basis on the medical report. He never did to the best of our knowledge.

“We want this honorable Court to invoke the provisions of the law...failure to attend these proceedings is a great violation of the provisions of the law. We urge the honourable Court to revoke the bail, issue a bench warrant for his arrest, order the 3 sureties Emmanuel Shanum, Oka Ben Madu, Tochukwu Uchendu and Senator Abaribe, to show cause why the bail bond of N100m shall not be forfeited and or the three of them shall not be committed to prison.”

But, as Ejiofor made to respond, Justice Nyako, interrupted him, saying: “ I have no time for drama. You know I don’t like drama. What Mr. Labaran has just said is that the first defendant is not here and because

of that I should revoke his bail.

Now it’s my turn to ask you: where is your defendant?”

Responding to the question, Ejiofor said: “You will recall, my Lord, how on the 11 of September, 2017, soldiers invaded the residence of the first defendant. On the 14th September his house was again invaded where they killed 28 persons, wounded many and went away with their corpses. Right now, l do not know the whereabouts of my client. The soldiers should be in a position to tell us the whereabouts of my client.”

Counsel to Senator Abaribe, Ogechi Ogbonna also submitted that her client does not know the whereabouts of the defendant.

However, in her ruling, Justice Nyako, who fixed trial for November 20, ordered the sureties to produce Kanu in court on that day.

“The sureties should come and show why Nnamdi Kanu is not in court. It is the responsibility of the sureties to ensure that he appears in Court as was contained in the bail conditions they signed,” she said.

“You are supposed to monitor to ensure that he did not bail the bail conditions. Some people just append their signature to bail without knowing the implication.”

But, the Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in Bayelsa State, Barr Osom Macbere argued that what should bother Nigerians and the government now is the whereabouts of Nnamdi Kanu since the raid in his house by the army during Operation Python Dance II. “Nnamdi Kanu has not been seen since the last Operation Python Dance; the man has gone incommunicado. It is incumbent on the security agents to first satisfy Nigerians that the man is still alive because people were killed in his house.

“Since then, the man has never been heard from again. So, first thing first: we have to ascertain his state of being, whether he is still alive. Until you ascertain that he is still alive, you cannot charge him for contempt of court or begin to revoke his bail.

“There must be evidence before the court that since after

•Abia state Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu (left) addressing the newly promoted men of the Nigerian Police attached to him after being decorated in his

Herdsmen threaten Benue again - Ortom Continued from Pg 2 executive council and as many that are interested in having these ranches, we will give them the land.”

Governor Ortom said he also briefed the President about the ecological problem in Benue State adding, “My major challenge is payment of salaries. It is not deliberate and we have not diverted money whether bail out or Paris club anywhere, the records are there for anyone to scrutinise and see” “The situation is that I inherited N69 billion arrears on pensions, gratuities and salaries. Then over N70 billion contractual obligations and so it has been a huge burden

on our finances and so Mr. President too has promised to find ways that the state can also get support.”

The Governor also lamented that he has the highest wage bill in the country, issue is that we must admit that Benue State Wage Bill is one of the highest in this country, N7.8 billion.

“My predecessor admitted that there was mistake in negotiating with them but they resisted attempts to bring it down, now we have no choice. We have said it specially when the leadership of the labour congress came and we dialogue and we have set up technical committees comprising technical team from labour congress and technical team from

my government, they will look at it and review wage bill and ensure that leakages are eliminated, salary padding and ghost workers and all that.

“I want to assure you that we are going to prosecute anyone who is found culpable in the salary inflation.

“Honestly, N7.8 billion wage bill for Benue State is out of place and there is no way we will continue in this manner. My council, and I we have looked at the wage bill and compare with what people are collecting elsewhere in the country and we have done to an average of N4.5 billion that we just have to review it to that.

“Because an average income

for Benue State both from federation account and IGI stands at slightly above N6 billion. So, if you are paying salaries alone you are have a deficit of N1.8 billion a month. It is impossible and we have security issues to tackle and several other things that government must run and so it becomes a big problem.”

“I don’t have problems with my workers because they understood it, we are transparent, everybody has seen what we are doing but we have to find a way around it. I can assure you that in the next few weeks that is what we are working on and by the grace of God we will come to a reasonable figure that we will be able to pay salaries as at when due,” he said.

Operation Python Dance, the man has continued to live in Nigeria and that on the day his matter was expected to come up in court, he did not appear,” Macbere argued, noting that if it is eventually established that Kanu was killed during the raid in his house, it “will be a serious matter before the International Community and before any civil rights-conscious person.”

According to Ugwuama, the conditions given to Senator Abaribe and other sureties by the court “are also contrary to what the law says.”

“The law says that sureties should ensure the attendance of the accused in court. But in this case, the cause of Kanu’s death, injury or disappearance was not caused by the sureties. It was caused by the complainant-federal government’s troops. So, Justice Nyako’s decision, as far as I am concerned, was erroneous; it forbids the rights of the accused and the sureties, and it may change the tenets of fundamental rights or freedom of a person,” he stressed.

“This is the issue: There was a bail condition given by the Federal High Court Kanu to be released on bail. He met those conditions and was released on bail. There were other conditions given to Kanu by the court as regards his conduct after bail. Those conditions are within the powers and confines of the court’s jurisdiction to determine whether Kanu has flouted those conditions.

“But in what looks like a show of shame, the Nigeria Military went and invaded the IPOB leader’s house, destroyed the house, shot some people, injured others and looted a lot of valuables and destroyed the rest.

“And as we a speak, Kanu may have been killed by the marauding soldiers or taken to unknown destination, such that everything about his identity is being questioned.

“There was no court order that empowered the military to invade his house. If he had flouted his bail order, it is the court that should give order for his bench warrant by way of revoking his bail. But that was not done and federal troops went and invaded his house, contrary to every norm or term of engagement of the military, and contrary to all international rules and regulations that govern military operations.”

“The sureties have no case to answer but rather the Federal Government,” he said.

Reacting to complaints by the fourth defendant that his life is in danger, Justice Nyako also gave an order that the Kuje Prison authorities must allow the 4th defendant unfettered access to his medical Doctor and medical records.

She, however, rejected request by the 4th defendant for his trial to be severed from others’.

Meanwhile, a group of Igbo youths has protested against what they described as the humiliation of the leader of IPOB, while others accused the government of highhandedness in handling the issue.

Leader of the group who spoke with The Oracle Today, Ifeanyi Okorie vowed to ensure that the protest continues for as long as the trials continue.

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 25, 2017

The

www.oraclenews.ng

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VOX POPULI SACRUM

ISSN: 2545-5869

GUEST COLUMIST Feyi Fawehinmi

Africa’s richest man has a built-in advantage with Nigeria’s government T

o start to understand how Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, came to have such influence over the Nigerian government, it is useful to go back in time to 2003.

Before then, he was a Nigerian billionaire just like any other.

But in the run up to the 2003 election campaign, president Olusegun Obasanjo had a famous falling out with his vice president, Atiku Abubakar, over the latter’s attempt to succeed him as president after only one term.

Obasanjo had also been operating on the understanding that Atiku, as the People Democratic Party’s (PDP) money man, would fund his re-election campaign.

But Atiku told him that all the money had been spent during Obasanjo’s turbulent first term, notably on lobbying the national assembly not to impeach him on two different occasions. Without access to the party’s old fundraising machine, Obasanjo was left with no choice but to find his own new donors.

In his 2013 book, The Accidental Public Servant, the current governor of Kaduna state and former minister under Obasanjo, Nasir El-Rufai, describes how this episode presented Dangote with an opportunity he has maximized to his great benefit. He writes: Obasanjo had to resort to raising money from other sources and that was how Aliko Dangote came into prominence in the government. From 1999 to 2003, nobody had heard of Dangote having anything to do with the federal government in any significant way. – El-Rufai, Nasir. The Accidental Public Servant (p. 170) Dangote Stays Winning By the time president Goodluck Jonathan came to office, the PDP-led government had become very closely and publicly aligned with Dangote. During a presidential media chat in 2011, the president told his interlocutors that Nigeria was to begin exporting cement that year because “Dangote himself, because he is the number one producer, told me” [pdf, page 64].

This Dangote promise of cement exports is repeated nearly every year, Nigeria is desperate to be seen to be diversifying exports beyond oil. Most recently at this week’s FT Africa Summit where Dangote announced—to vice president Yemi Osinbajo’s hearing—that the date for cement exports from Nigeria will now be 2018.

A few people have raised concerns about the relationship between Dangote and the government and its impact on policy decisions. But if they thought things would change under president Buhari’s new All Progressive Congress (APC) government, which came into office in May 2015, they were mistaken. Barely three months after being sworn in, the vice president was leading a government delegation to Zambia to commission a Dangote Cement plant.

Since then, the vice president, with several ministers in tow, have also visited the Dangote refinery for an “inspection” even though it was mainly sand filling of the site going at the time. Early last year, in a separate visit to the Dangote refinery construction site, the Central Bank governor, Godwin Emefiele, said “more Nigerians need to think like Dangote” and pledged to support him as much as possible.

Perhaps unsurprising then that a Reuters investigation in June last year found Dangote’s companies had been receiving preferential foreign currency allocations from the Central Bank at a time when the Nigerian economy had been almost crippled by a dollar shortage.

Cementing his status While Dangote is involved in many industries, his wealth—over 90% of his net worth— has come from his cement business. Dangote Cement’s 65% share of the Nigerian market means that it also sets the prices for the commodity in the country. And it has used this advantage to generate large profits—the gross margin on its cement was as high as 70% a few years ago and has slowly come down to just under 50% in 2016. A Bloomberg Intelligence report showed average global cement profit (EBITDA) margins were 17.2% in 2015, but Dangote Cement reported a margin of 42.3% in the same year.

Nigerians have almost come to accept paying over the odds for cement as a sacrifice worth making to have cement produced in the country. In 2013, an analysis of the world’s top 15 cement producers revealed that while Dangote Cement’s revenues of $2.4 billion represented 2% of the cohort, its profits of $1.2 billion represented 13% of all net profits in the group.

In that year, its net profit margin was 52% with the next most profitable producer—China’s Anhui Conch—managing a 17.8% margin.

Dangote has used the sentiment of “national pride” very cleverly to his advantage. The

government and indeed many Nigerians have almost come to accept that paying over the odds for cement is a sacrifice worth making in the name of having cement produced in the country.

The Nigerian press also helps to propagate the story of Nigeria’s cement “self-sufficiency”. This self-sufficiency argument is never challenged with the simple point that it is easy to make that claim when the product is priced beyond the reach of the vast majority of Nigerians. If prices came down to global averages, would Dangote Cement be able to meet demand with its current production levels?

Dangote also regularly inundates Nigerians with stories of how he has put all his eggs in the Nigerian basket and how he is always betting on the country by investing more than any other foreign investor. Every now and again, he announces large investments in an industry (usually one favored by the government of the day) sometimes running into billions of dollars. The stories and announcements (which may, or may not, come to fruition) help to reinforce the narrative Dangote is always investing in Nigeria even when no one else is doing so.

The cost to Nigerians The nature of cement as a product that is too heavy and costly to transport and too tricky to smuggle has allowed the Nigerian market to be a captive one for Dangote.

In June 2016, the World Bank published a report examining the impact and costs of lack of competition in a number of industries in Africa. They found that African cement prices averaged $9.57 per 50kg bag compared with $3.25 globally. Put another way, Africans paid 183% more than people around the world for the same product.

A World Bank report showed Dangote has 90-year mining licenses for materials like limestone even though its cement plants have a 50-year life span. The report also highlights how the Nigerian government had been phasing out import licenses for cement beginning in 2012 when Dangote ramped up cement production in Nigeria as well as the Central Bank of Nigeria banning the use of foreign exchange for cement imports. The World Bank report [page 54] also showed how Dangote had exclusive mining licenses for limestone and other additive materials for cement esti-

mated to last for 90 years even though its cement plants have an estimated life of 50 years.

If Dangote’s relationship with the government allows it to make healthy profits at the expense of Nigerians, perhaps this can be mitigated by the taxes it pays to the government?

No chance.

Between 2010 and 2015 when Dangote cement earned around 1 trillion naira ($6 billion) in profits, it paid only 12 billion naira ($72 million) in taxes—a tax rate of just over 1%. It has done this through a particularly aggressive interpretation of a Nigerian investment incentive known as ‘Pioneer Status’.

The idea behind the pioneer status was to encourage investment in industries which the Nigerian government deemed in need of support. In return for investments in those industries, companies were exempt from paying taxes on profits from those investments for a maximum of five years.

However, the law was described as “most abused in certain quarters“, by Deloitte. No one has taken greater advantage than Dangote Cement. It has claimed pioneer status multiple times on the same plants by applying for a new exemption each time it extends the plant. The illustration below, taken from a recent presentation by the company [pdf, page 27] shows how it has done this.

A few people have raised concerns about the relationship between Dangote and the government and its impact on policy decisions. But if they thought things would change under president Buhari’s new All Progressive Congress (APC) government, which came into office in May 2015, they were mistaken.

Barely three months after being sworn in, the vice president was leading a government delegation to Zambia to commission a Dangote Cement plant.

Since then, the vice president, with several ministers in tow, have also visited the Dangote refinery for an “inspection” even though it was mainly sand filling of the site going at the time. Early last year, in a separate visit to the Dangote refinery construction site, the Central Bank governor, Godwin Emefiele, said “more Nigerians need to think like Dangote” and pledged to support him as much as possible.

Perhaps unsurprising then that a Reuters

Continued on Page 14

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