Tuesday 6-12 August, 2019 Edition

FG appeals to oil firms for exploration, development investments

By Sopuruchi Onwuka

F

ederal government has called on commercial players in the petroleum industry to defy lingering disputes and challenges in the operating environment to invest in the exploration and devel-

opment projects.

Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari, told delegates at the 43rd Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition (NAICE) of the Society of Petroleum Engineers in Lagos

that such investments were necessary to deliver on the mandate boost crude oil reserves and production.

He called on the players to support the national oil company to achieve the national aspiration to grow crude oil reserve to 40 billion barrels and boost oil

The

VOX POPULI SACRUM

production to 3 million barrels per day, saying the mandate objective could only be achieved if players collaborate effectively to ensure timely resolution of contractual issues and the passage of the necessary petroleum legislation.

“To achieve this ambition,

huge investment is required across the value chain. We have to attract investment to deploy improved technology in the exploration and production of hydrocarbon from inland as well as the ultra-deep offshore basins,’’ he said.

racle www.oraclenews.ng

TUESDAY August 6 - 12, 2019

Kyari challenged industry operators and stakeholders alike to desist from further lamentations of the challenges that plague the operating environment but pick up the gauntlet and confront the issues frontal-

ISSN: 2545-5869

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Today

VOL.4 No.30 N200

Why #RevolutionNow protest failed A From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia; NATH OMAME Jr., Port Harcourt; ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar, and THEO RAYS, Onitsha

S feared, the #RevolutionNow protest, called by the founder of Sahara Reporters, an online news organization, and presidential candidate of Action Alliance (AA) in the 2019 presidential election, and , Mr. Omoyele Sowore, did not get off the ground in many parts of the country, except Lagos.

Sowore said the protest became necessary in order for Nigerians to protest what he described as the non-credible 2019 election, along a list of other issues ranging from corruption to ineptitude.

In a video he circulated late last month, Sowore said: “We don’t want war; we want a very clean, quick, succinct revolutionary process – surgical (so) that we put an end to the shenanigans of government…an end to oppression (and) the corruption of government.”

But no sooner was the protest called than its failure became evident in the national fault lines by which every seeming patriotic action is viewed from the prism of the ethnic, religious and or state of origin of the person or group calling for any concerted action against a sitting government in Nigeria.

•Took place only in Lagos •North pulls out, says protest not in its interest •No protests in South East, South South •National fault-lines in botched protest •Release Sowore — CLO •Why revolution is necessary —Sowore

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Only Igbo Presidency can save Nigeria – Igbo ministers worldwide •Group to feed 1000, line up 100 health physicians for 2019 World Igbo Prayer Summit •5

Page 23

•Some of the RevolutionNow activists in Abuja

No intention to relocate NGC headquarters--NNPC

The Oracle Today Tuesday July 30 -August 3, 2019

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The Oracle Today Tuesday July 30 -August 3, 2019

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The Oracle Today Tuesday July 30 -August 3, 2019

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The Oracle Today Tuesday August 6 - 12, 2019

NEWS

Why #RevolutionNow protest failed Cont’d from Pg 1

For instance, on Sunday, August 4, the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) announced it had nothing to do with the planned nationwide revolution march slated for the following day, Monday, August 5.

The CNG said it was distancing itself from the protest march because, according to the group, those organising the protest “are couriers of foreign destabilisation plot,” which is not “in the interest of the North.”

Addressing a press conference at the Arewa House, Kaduna, Sunday, CNG’s spokesman, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman said: “The attention of the Coalition of Northern Groups has been called to an on-going mobilisation by some anonymous groups for a certain ‘Revolution March’ to hold nationwide beginning Monday, 5 March, 2019.

After carefully reviewing the calls, the CNG arrived at the following conclusions: “That the ultimate aim of the proponents of the march who are, at best, couriers of a foreign destabilisation plot, has not been clearly and satisfactorily defined, which renders the whole exercise suspect.

“CNG remains unshakable in its understanding that every civil disagreement can be resolved through honest, sincere and open discussions without unnecessary recourse to actions liable to further inflame tensions without achieving lasting results.

“We have failed to see how the interest of, particularly the northern people, can be served by a movement led by those who have been directly or remotely connected to the decades-old agenda for the emasculation of the North.

“The CNG calls on all northerners to disregard the calls and resist the temptation of being dragged into participating in any way in a movement that would turn out to the disadvantage of the region.

“The CNG categorically dissociates itself from the organisation, promotion and participation in any conduct capable of worsening the already dicey situation in the country, and the North in particular.”

Pledging the group’s commitment to the propagation and protection of the rights of all northerners and never to fall into the traps set by the region’s “traditional, internal and external traducers in whatever guise,” Suleiman added: “We are quite aware of the covert and overt machinations of some western supremacists to achieve the final destabilisation of Africa by targeting some key African nations, which may not exclude Nigeria.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the North shall, at all times, remain ready to enter into any civilised and decent discussion with any part of the country for whatever intent and purpose without succumbing to temptations of exposing innocent lives to unnecessary danger.

“Up to this point, the North has maintained its position as the bulwark of respect, integrity, dignity, decorum, tradition, decency, morality, civilisation, etiquette, good behaviour, politeness, accommodation, and all other positive traits.

“In the unfolding political chess game, it is essential, therefore, that the North anticipates and checkmates the maneuvers of its self-appointed enemies in all possible and likely scenarios such as this one.”

The pull-out of the North dealt a major blow to what came as a courageous attempt at emplacing a

pan-Nigeria movement to protest against what many have described as “very poor socio-economic indices” in the country.

If anything, it largely succeeded in making the protest a South West affair, as the protest, which was easily dispersed by the security agencies, held only in Lagos.

Indeed, the pull-out came as a sad reminder of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election protests.

The election, which was won by the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola was annulled by then military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, sparking nationwide protests spearheaded by a group known as the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO).

The protest, which started as a pan-Nigeria movement soon became confined to the South West after many stakeholders from other parts of the country pulled out, citing ‘South Westernization’ of the protests.

Instructively, the #RevolutionNow protest did not take place in the South East and most of South South.

The protest did not take place in Abia State, as Umuahia and Aba remained calm and peaceful. The Public Relations Officer of Abia State Police Command, DSP Geoffrey Ogbonna, confirmed that no such protest took place in any part of Abia State.

“We have peace in Abia State,

there is no part of the state where such protest is taking place,” he said in a telephone interview.

Also, a civil society activist, Barrister Innocent Anozie Nwokocha, told The Oracle Today that he did not see anyone protesting in Aba but said he had spoken in favour of the protest on live radio programme in the commercial city.

Nwokocha, the Executive Director of the Initiative for Ideal Development and Emancipatory Leadership in Nigeria (IDEAL Nigeria), argued that there was no distinction between the Sowore-organized protest and the one organized by President Muhammed Buhari in 2011 before he became Nigeria’s leader.

He said: “I have never really seen any place where the protest is taking place but I am in support of it.

If you look at it from the right perspective, every Nigerian is entitled to peaceful demonstration.

“When you talk about revolution, the truth of the matter is what is a revolution compared to the mass rally that Buhari conducted in 2011. The question is what is the content of this particular movement now and the content of the rally in 2011? It is the same.

“This one is coming from the civil society. They are condemning the incessant killings and the economic downturn in the country while in 2011, it was talking about the incessant killings by Boko Haram and the hardship faced by most Nigerians and they were saying that the

PDP government then should stop playing games with the Nigerian people. Is anything different?”

Similarly, there was no protest in Onitsha, the commercial city of Anambra State. The protest, according to the activists was scheduled to take place on Monday across Nigeria but Onitsha was not part of it. The city was calm as usual with residents and visitors going about their normal businesses.

Reacting to the protest, a rights activist in Onitsha, Comrade Vincent Ezekwueme observed that there was a gap between the organisers of the protest and activists in Onitsha. He said that despite that gap, Onitsha is in total solidarity with the protest. “We don’t have the details of arrangements, nobody consulted us with the details, we are just seeing things on the media but nevertheless we are in support of the protest hence the protesters are not applying violent means.”

Ezekwueme who is the Chairman of Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) in Anambra joined other eminent Nigerians to demand the immediate release of Sowore from DSS custody. According to him, Sowore has not contradicted the laws of the land as enshrined in the nation’s constitution. He noted that in 2011, Buhari led protest against corruption in Nigeria and nobody arrested him.

“The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria allows free-

dom of speech, freedom of association, expression and protest against bad governance, against insecurity, against killings and kidnappings that have been going on in the country unchecked, against unemployment and against oppression in any form insofar as the protest is violent free. As an activist, I don’t see the reason he should be arrested and detained following the protest that is purely violent free,” the CLO Chairman said.

He urged Buhari to listen to Sowore and the protesters and of course listen to the crying of Nigerians over high degree of insecurity, high rate of poverty and unemployment and do something to address the situation effectively.

He noted that hunger, killings, kidnappings, hopelessness and the fear of the unknown will continue to inspire people to take steps to agitate against the government of the day.

In Rivers, Governor Nyesom Wike practically aborted the protest. According to reports, Wike banned the protest in Rivers, dissociating the State from “any group agenda.”

Consequently, he asked the se-

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Only Igbo Presidency can save Nigeria e

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•Enugu State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (left) receiving the report of the committee on justice sector reform from the Chairman, Chief (Mrs.) Justina A. Offiah, SAN, at the Government House, Enugu, yesterday.

... Oil firms for exploration, development investments Cont’d from Pg 1

ly with diligence and sure mindedness.

On the theme of this year’s SPEC conference entitled: Artificial Intelligence, Big Data and Mobile Technology: Changing the Future of the Energy industry, the NNPC GMD acknowledged the fact that the emergence of artificial intelligence has altered the dynamics of operations by providing quicker processes and interventions in the conduct of business in the industry made possible by effective deployment of big data.

He challenged industry players to be forward-looking and embrace this approach in seeking for solutions to the challenges that confront the industry.

He said that technology and innovations will continue to shape the way the oil and gas industry businesses and operations are conducted especially in the deep offshore and other hard-to-operate environment.

“Artificial intelligence, big data and the mobile technology will continue to shape our industry in practically unimaginable ways,

but certainly the transformations they promise will lead to quantum shift in the delivery of our task,’’ he said.

The 2019 NAICE conference and exhibition was declared open by Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, who took time to visit the pavilions of exhibiting oil and gas companies.

Yemi-Esan commended the companies for great show at the stand while urging them to rally round the Federal Government achieve set targets in the industry.

gbo clergymen under the aegis of Christian Association of Igbo Ministers (CAN Igbo Ministers) have said that Nigeria cannot make headway towards achieving true economic and political progress until the the Igbo have been given the opportunity to lead the country as its president.

They maintained that Igbo must be President for the nation to come out of the doldrums and rise above its many socio-economic and political problems, stressing that first step is to stop ignoring the Igbo in critical affairs of the country’s management “because the solution to Nigeria’s problem is in the hand of Igbo.”

International President of CAN Igbo Ministers, Apostle (Dr) Solomon Chukwuemeka, made the assertion at a press conference in Enugu, ahead of the 5th edition of World Igbo Prayer Summit organised by the group to hold at the main bowl of Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, from August 13 to 16.

Apostle Chukwuemeka also noted that apart from giving Ndigbo their rightful place in the country, Nigeria must also, as a matter of necessity, apologize to Ndigbo for all the atrocities that have been meted to the race, especially the one that took place in Asaba after the civil war.

He explained that after the war had ended, the Nigerian authorities went to Asaba, gathered all the men there and gruesomely killed them in front of their wives and children, pointing out that it is only restitution and God’s intervention that could heal such Cont’d on page 11

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The Oracle Today Tuesday August 6 – 12, 2019

NEWS Emmanuel at Uniuyo, reads riot at cultists Okowa to political office holders: G Pray for God’s wisdom overnor Udom Emmanuel makes history, as he worshiped at the Church on Campus, The Victory Chapel, located inside the Town Campus, University of Uyo, last Sunday.

He charged students of the University to uphold morality and fear of God in their dealings to protect and promote the sanctity of the University and insure their future.

The Governor, apparently reacting to the reported recent cases of insecurity in the campus

placed a curse on cultists and vowed to leave no stone unturned to ensure that lives of all students and indeed every life in the state is protected.

He recounted that he had placed a ban on cultism and assured that anyone caught would not be spared. “ I will do everything possible to ensure the safety of lives and property of Akwa Ibom people”, he assured.

When armed robbers are caught, you discover that all of

them are cultists, if we arrest ten kidnappers, all ten turn out to be cultists.

“And when they are caught in that cross fire with our security agents, they travel, that is why you don’t see them again.”

Governor Emmanuel’s visit is the first by a sitting Governor to the students’ campus worship centre,and the Governor promised that he is prepared to worship with the students more often.

From left: Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu with his Cross River State counterpart, Ben Ayade flagging off the Cross River State Wet Season Green Carnival with the theme: ‘Calabar Green Canopy Scheme’ at the Botanical Garden, along Mary Slessor Avenue, in Calabar, Tuesday.

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elta State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has called on political office holders to seek the wisdom of God to enable them succeed in meeting the yearnings of the people.

The governor made the call on Sunday at a thanksgiving service by the member representing Isoko South Constituency II in the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Ferguson Onwo at St. Mathew Anglican Church Olomoro.

“I believe that as a political office holder, God has prepared you for a special time and for a purpose and if you continue to hold on to God, the people will rejoice with you.” Governor Okowa said.

“A lot is expected of you; people want to see the impact that you can make, but, it is only the wisdom of God that will help you achieve results.”

“Wisdom is very important and you (political office holder) should seek the wisdom of God to enable you know what to do with the position because, those who believe in Jesus Christ can never fail.”

“You may have challenges but, the Lord Jesus will see you through; the grace of God upon you is sufficient, so, rely on God,” he said.

Congratulating Hon. Onwo, the governor called on the people of Olomoro to support their son, especially with

prayers as his achievements will open more doors for political appointments bearing in mind the fact that Hon. Onwo is the first indigene of the community to occupy such position.

Governor Okowa who was enthused by the large turnout of people at the thanksgiving also, called for prayers for the state and the country for the best results to be achieved for the people.

Earlier in a sermon, Venerable Robert Oziwele of the Anglican Communion, observed that God uses people to work for Him at every point in time, stating that political positions should be used to do works of God. “Your victory at the polls or political appointment is a call to duty by God; you are called for a specific purpose because, it is laughable that some of those who won elections or got political appointments see their positions solely for money; God will be more satisfied seeing you do the purpose He gave you the position you hold and you need to know that you are holding the position in trust for God,” he said.

Hon. Onwo stated that the thanksgiving was necessary to return the glory to God and commended Governor Okowa for providing effective leadership in the state.

Ayade, Ikpeazu, plant 1m trees in Cross River

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n a bid to stem the tide of deforestation, Cross River governor, Prof Ben Ayade, on Tuesday joined by his Abia counterpart, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, led thousands of CrossRiverians to plant one million trees in the state.

The event tagged: “Cross River State wet season green carnival,’ with the theme: “Calabar Green Canopy Scheme” has the objective of planting one million trees across the state.

Flagging off the event at the Botanical Garden along Mary Slessor Avenue in Calabar, Ayade said it was driven by the People’s generational core process for the future.

He explained that planting of

young trees “is very critical for Carbon dioxide assimilation, so Cross River will be the carbon dioxide reservoir, the headquarters of the absorption of carbon dioxide emission into the atmosphere.”

Ayade noted that “Cross River has 58 percent of the entire forest cover of Nigeria and by our designation and plan, our strategy is to grow that to 68 percent,” adding that, “the reclamation of our rain forest remains pertinent to avert climate change.”

He said the construction of the 274km Superhighway where 28,000 trees, would be fell, has made it more imperative for the planting of trees.

“We are planting one million

trees as a justification to support the afforestation process, not only for the superhighway but for the industrial farms that are yet to come because we cannot create industrial farms without deforestation,” he said.

The governor who enjoined young Cross Riverians to take advantage of the business opportunity created by the Green Carnival to start growing nurseries for the next year event, remarked: “There is an intellectual, physical, financial and economic component to the action.”

On his part, the Abia State governor, Dr. Ikpeazu, applauded Ayade for the feats recorded in Cross River, even as he described

Ayade as “a generational politician,” and the event as “another futuristic event like no other in this country called Nigeria.

“Many politicians in Nigeria are regarded as elections politicians but Ayade is a generational politician who is not looking to the next election but thinking about not only Cross River of tomorrow but indeed Nigeria and the world.”

The Abia governor intimated that “Cross River is giving us a superhighway that will take out only 28,000 trees, but in return, this digital governor is planting not 280, not 560 but 35 times the number of trees he is going to fell. One million trees to replace 28,000, this has put Cross River once again on the global map.”

He used the occasion to announce the intention of his state to procure rice seedlings from the Cross River Rice and seedlings factory in a few weeks, in order to compete the major rice producers.

“From the rice basins of Bende in Abia, we are coming to Cross River in the next weeks to purchase the seedlings that we will use to begin to compete amongst the major rice producers of this country,” Ikpeazu disclosed, adding that “the beautiful thing about Abia Rice will be that we know its source and origin, we are not going to accept seedlings that we don’t know their parents.

We know the parents of Abia Rice, they come from Cross River.”

Bayelsa spend N6bn annually on political appointees –Dickson

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overnor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa has said that his administration spends N500 million monthly to service political office holders numbering 1,500.

Dickson revealed this during a radio broadcast on Sunday night monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa.

He said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration had invested the ‘political capital’ amounting to N6 bn annually to sustain its loyalists appointed to serve in his administration.

He said that the huge investment was responsible for the large number of aspirants jostling for the PDP ticket in the party primaries scheduled for Sept 2, ahead the Nov. 16 governorship elections in the state.

According to Dickson, 21 governorship aspirants collected and returned the party’s expression of interest and nomination forms at N21 million each.

He described the development as a welcome one for the party.

“The party leadership decided to make the contest open and all embracing and as a consensus builder I believe that every aspiration is legitimate, it is a right that they have to test their popularity at the primaries.

“The large number of aspirants is an indication that the party is a platform of choice for any politician to actualize his governorship ambition and looking at the rival party, they don’t have up to two aspirants.

“Nothing is happening there, the PDP is taking the shine and it is all happening because of

the political capital we invested in building the party, if I lost my re-election in 2015, the party would have been dead by now in Bayelsa.

“The party that I lead in Bayelsa defeated the APC when it was still very popular with all the federal might and this time I will be leading the party but not as a candidate but as an outgoing governor.

“Although I won’t participate as a candidate, I am a stakeholder in the race, the biggest stakeholder, and consultations are ongoing amongst the

stakeholders towards the emergence of the PDP flag bearer in the governorship elections,” Dickson said.

On the nomination of Chief Timipre Sylva as Minister, Dickson said that he was elated at the development and extended a hand of friendship by congratulating Sylva.

Dickson said that the rift between them which had lasted for about ten years had ended and wished that the bond of friendship which existed be rekindled.

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The Oracle Today Tuesday August 6 – 12, 2019

NEWS

Safety: Deploy more officers to Enugu –Bishop Chukwuma urges

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rchbishop, Enugu Ecclesiastical Province, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Bishop Emmanuel Chukwuma wants the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu to increase the number of police officers in Enugu State.

Chukwuma made the call on Friday while briefing newsmen after an emergency State Security Council Meeting in Enugu.

The meeting followed the killing of a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Paul Offu on Thursday, August 1, 2019 along Ihe-Agbudu Road in Awgu Local Government Area of the state.

The bishop said that the inadequacy of the number of police officers in the state, particularly, in the rural areas made the call imperative.

He said that religious leaders in the state were sad about the development and warned that such would not be tolerated again.

“No priest should be killed in the state again as there will be no sparing of anybody that does that,” he said.

Chukwuma appealed to the police commissioner to enlighten the divisional police officers in the state, adding that underperforming ones must be removed.

He said that in spite of recent breakdown of security in the state, residents of the area needed not fear as Enugu was still very safe.

A representative of the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Rev. Fr. Nnamdi Nwankwo, said that it was sad

Footballer Samuel Chukwueze (left) presenting Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu with his Super Eagles jersey and the bronze medal won by the national team at the 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt, as well as the Man of the Match award in Nigeria/South Africa match, during a visit to the Government House, Umuahia, last Monday. that the denomination had been at the receiving end of the security breakdown.

Nwankwo said that two Catholic Church priests had been killed and one battered with gun shots in the last eight months.

“We are sad and here to dialogue with the state government to find out how to handle the situation.

Why South-East ignored revolution protest –Okechukwu

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irector General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr Osita Okechukwu, says of the South-East region is responding poorly to a call for revolution protest because the Igbo are aware that 2023 is the date to elect a president of Igbo extraction.

“2023 is the date Nigerians are waiting for change of baton of democratically elected government in the country,’’ he observed.

Okechukwu explained said this on Monday while holding a meeting with WAWA Farmers Association in Enugu.

He was reacting to the nationwide protest by Global Coalition for Security and Democracy led by Mr Omoyele

Sowore.

The people of the South-East are aware that 2023 is the date we are waiting to elect Nigeria President of Igbo extraction; that is why they won’t participate in the protest.

“Instead of protest, they are urging President Muhammadu Buhari to overhaul the security architecture and upgrade the security infrastructure.

“They cried that insecurity is hampering their farming activities,’’ he said.

Asked why he thinks his people consider 2023 more important than the dire insecurity in the land, Okechukwu said that the people knew that in democracy, street protest would neither alter the

crisis on the ground nor provide solution in the short run.

Okechukwu said; “Nigeria President of Igbo extraction is our goal, which street protest will not enhance.

“We are in constitutional democracy, no matter the challenges, it is better to adhere to the cycle of elections provided in the 1999 Constitution,’’ he said.

On Sowore’s detention, he appealed for his release on compassionate ground.

“Sowore will come to terms that the huge gains democracy made in United States and in particular, New York, where he resides, were made over the years via periodic and cyclic elections not via revolution’’.

“So many people have been abducted in the last five years.

We commend the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria for assisting the government in security but we want them to do more.

“We do not want to live in fear. They are doing their business; we are doing our business and no one should

suffer,” Nwankwo said.

NAN further reports that the deceased, who hails from Okpatu in Udi Local Government Area of the state, until his death, was the parish priest of St. James the Greater Parish, Ugbawka in Nkanu West Local Government.

The security meeting was attended by heads of all security agencies in the state.

Absentees from Ebonyi workers’ verification to lose jobs –Governor’s aide

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bonyi Government has warned that any civil servant in the state that fails to undergo the August 6 verification faces possible sack from the civil service.

The warning was contained in a statement issued on Monday in Abakaliki by Mrs Jennifer AdibeNwafor, the Special Assistant to Gov. Dave Umahi on Labour and Inter-Party Matters.

Adibe-Nwafor said the exercise would commence in all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government at 8 am on Tuesday.

She said the exercise was in compliance with the governor’s directive for a comprehensive

staff audit and verification for all categories of workers in the state.

“These include teachers, staff of all MDA as well as those in the Local Government System.

“All employees of the Ebonyi government are consequently directed to appear at their respective ministries, while workers at the various councils and Development Centres are to appear at their various council headquarters,” she said.

Adibe-Nwafor said they should attend the verification with their letters of appointment, first school leaving certificates, birth certificates and two passport photographs.

Awgu South Constituency celebrates former Assembly member

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wgu South Constituency has celebrated the immediate past member that represented them in Enugu State House of Assembly, Mr Nelson Uduji, for empowering over 600 people from the constituency.

The Chairman of Awgu Traditional Ruler Council, Igwe Godwin Ekoh, said on Monday in Enugu at an event organised by the constituency to commend Uduji for a job well done, his empowerment cut across all spheres of life.

Ekoh said that it was during his time that Rangers International FC of Enugu broke the obstacle that was holding them from performing.

“Enugu Rangers had not won any cup for over 30 years

but during Uduji’s time as the Assembly Committee Chairman on Sports, they were able to break the barrier.

“Uduji ha`s empowered people with employment, admission in various universities, bursary wards to numerous graduates, training of so many people on skills, organised competitions where people won reasonable cash prices and others gifts,” he said.

The traditional ruler said that Uduji was the only person since the history of Awgu that was being celebrated after living an office.

He urged the new member representing the constituency to know the problems of his people, to represent them adequately and

to attract community projects to Awgu Local Government Area.

In the same vein, the member representing Awgu South in Enugu State House of Assembly, Mr Johnson Chukwuobasi, commended his predecessor for always carrying the people along in the scheme of things while he was still in office.

Chukwuobasi said that this is the first of its kind in the history of Awgu where someone who just left an office was being celebrated.

Also, the Chairman, Enugu State Science, Technical and Vocational Schools Management Board (STVSMB), Mr Obi Kama, said the immediate past assembly member made them proud with the number of bills and motions

he sponsored during his tenure.

Kama urged the new member representing the constituency to take the full steps of the outgoing member by impacting on the lives of the people of the constituency as they would always run to him whenever they had problems.

Contributing, the PresidentGeneral, Awgu Youth Association World Wide, Chief John Nwankwo, said that the former member had served the people well with humility.

Nwankwo urged the state government to remember Uduji in higher elective and appointive positions, adding that he was a typical example of the kind of person they needed as a local government chairman to make a positive change.

He said that his prayer was for God to give Uduji executive power to work for his people as he had all the potential to do that.

Reacting to the reception accorded him, Uduji attributed the success he recorded to Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State who gave them them free hand to carry out their duties without fear or favour.

Uduji urged every politician to avoid do or die affair in the game instead they should allow the will of God to happen in their lives.

He said that as a legislator, he had done his best in terms of law making, adequate oversight function, attracting some developmental projects and empowering people in his own capacity.

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The Oracle Today Tuesday August 6 - 12, 2019

NEWS Court fixes Sept 16 in Ebonyi, building materials traders suit

By CHINEDU NWAFOR Abakaliki

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High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state capital, on Monday fixed September 16th 2019 for judgment in a matter between the state government and Abakaliki Building Materials Traders .

The judgment which was earlier fixed for July 10 was adjourned to July 29 for judgment but was further adjourned to Sept 16 due to non-readiness of judgment.

Traders at the Building Materials and Aluminium Market located along Afikpo Road, Abakaliki had dragged the state government to court over the latter’s alleged moves to demolish their shops, describing it as a violation of their rights to occupancy.

The government had reportedly notified the traders to exit their shops as it had plans to reconstruct the market and give it a new look in compliance to its policy on urban renewal and development.

This was contained in a letter to the traders through the office of the Commissioner for Special Projects which notified them of Government intention to procure the services of a construction company to commence the demolition of all shops in the market.

The reconstruction was supposed to commence on April 1, 2019, but was put to a halt by the legal action from the traders who approached the state High Court, Abakaliki to obtain an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the state government or its agents from disturbing them from using the shops pending the determination of the substantive suit.

In suit number HAB\43\2019 between Mr Chigbogu Nwite,Fredrick Odanwu,Dennis Orsuahala,Benneth Nwosu ,chief Anosike P.E and Christian Okafor, the plaintiffs sued for themselves and on behalf of all the concerned members of the market.

They are being represented by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Anthony Ani and a team of other lawyers.

CHANGE OF NAME

The state government and the state Attorney general are the defendants.

The applicants in the suit alleged that the plots of land they are occupied were duelly acquired from Abakaliki Local Government Council and some bought the spaces while others are on lease up to 2030,2040,2050, etc, but were said to be forcefully ejected by the state government without due process.

The Judge, Vincent Nwancho, who openly apologized to parties to the dispute for the inability of the court to deliver judgment on the matter, said that exigencies of the office and other official commitment affected the judgment delivery.

He however, adjourned the judgment till September 16 due to non-readiness of the judgement .

Nwancho said: “I am unable to complete the written work on the judgment due to exigencies of office and other official commitment hence court will adjourn to Sept 16 for judgment’.

Barrister Clement Aiyamekhue, who represented Chief Anthony Ani (SAN) and lead counsel to the plaintiffs, told journalists that the court was unable to complete the written work on the judgment and hence had to adjourn to a later date.

“The matter for today was for judgment but unfortunately the judgment could not be delivered owing to the fact that the Judge informed the court that he just returned from Abuja and has not been able to put together everything that he needed to do.

“He has in his good wisdom appealed that a date be taken and that we have done and it was accordingly adjourned to Sept 16.

“I urge the plaintiffs to be calm; a date has been taken, and we will be in court on that date for the judgment to be delivered “, Aiyamekhue said.

He dismissed possible manipulation of the court by the government saying that the Judge explained reasons for the adjournment which he said was normal and human factor.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHIOMA: I formerly known as JOHN CHIOMA, now wish to be known as JOHN FLORENCE CHIOMA. All former documents remain valid.

Please Banks and General Public take note.

IKENNA: I formerly known as UDORJI (IKENNA) SOMTOCHUKWU TITO, now wish to be known as SOMTOCHUKWU IKENNA TITO UDORJI. All former documents remain valid. Please Banks and General Public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

JOHN: I formerly known as EMEKA OWUORA , now wish to be known and addresses as ONUORAH JOHN MMADUABU CHUKWU. All former documents remain valid.

Banks and General public take note.

AMARA: I formerly known as OKOH ANN AMARA, now wish to be known and addresses as MRS. CHUKWUNONSO ANN AMARA. All former documents remain valid.

Banks and General public take note.

‘Delta garri’ hits UK market’

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xport quality yellow garri, the pilot product of the Delta State Government’s Foods Export Initiative has hit grocery shops in the United Kingdom.

This is another significant milestone achievement in Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s determination to develop the agricultural value chain and to diversify the economy towards a stronger Delta.

The cassava product packaged in 2kg and 10kg bags was produced under the utmost hygiene to meet international export standard by the project committee on

Delta Foods Export Initiative, chaired by Prof Eric Eboh, the Chief Job and Wealth Creation Officer.

Speaking on behalf of the project implementation committee, Prof Eric Eboh, stated that the Delta Foods Export Initiative is a market-oriented agricultural value chain development intervention, with garri as its pilot product.

According to him, the central goal was not only to create a sustainable assured market for Delta State agricultural products based on fair prices and to breach

the gap between farmers and processors, but to create jobs and wealth towards building a stronger Delta.

He said the export quality yellow garri meets all the required international standards of food quality, particularly, the limits to moisture content, hydrogen cyanide and crude fibre as well as being free from microbial contaminants and extraneous materials and organoleptic properties of colour, taste and odour.

Accordingly, the Delta Foods Export Initiative has secured product trademark

registration of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investments and quality certification by the National Food and Drugs Administration Council (NAFDAC).

It would be recalled that the 2kg and 10kg high quality packaged Delta Yellow Garri was launched by the State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, on the 24th of January, 2019 in Asaba.

Attack on Ebonyi Journalists: IPC calls for investigation

By CHINEDU NWAFOR Abakaliki

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•Emmanuel Emedo, Group Head, Commercial Banking, Firstbank exchanging pleasantries with Dr Cosmas Maduka (MON) Chairman/CEO, Coscharis Motors whilst Mr. Franklin Okojie Relationship Manager, Commercial Banking, Firstbank looks on at the Official Launch of Coscharis/Renault SKD Assembly Plant in Lagos recently.

Umahi petitions South African Govt over slain Nigerian

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bonyi State Governor, Umahi has petitioned the South African government over the alleged murder of a Nigerian, Mr Benjamin Simeon in South Africa.

Simeon, 43, a native of Okposi, Ohaozara local government area of Ebonyi and resident in South Africa was allegedly shot dead by gunmen in Johannesburg.

Umahi, in a statement signed by Mr Emmanuel Uzor, Chief Press Secretary and made available to newsmen in Abakaliki on Sunday requested for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the gruesome murder of Simeon.

Simeon was allegedly shot

by yet to be identified gunmen on Aug 3, 2019 at Verona Street in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Umahi, in the petition written to the South African High Commission in Nigeria, called for a full investigation into the killing of the Nigerian citizen with a view to unmasking the killers and bringing them to justice.

The deceased, was until his death, a taxi driver in Johannesburg.

He had dropped his passengers shortly before he was allegedly shot dead by his assailants.

“The deceased, was until his death a law abiding Nigerian citizen resident in South

PUBLIC NOTICE MERCY & LIFE OF GOD TABERNACLE The General Public is hereby notified that the above named Ministry has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part ‘C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990 The Trustees are : 1. REVD ATAGOSHI SUNDAY CHUKUNWEIKE- PRESIDENT. 2. PST.(MRS). ATAGOSHI NAOMI CHUKWUNONSWE- SECRETARY 3. OLISEMEKE FRANK IDOWU - MEMBER AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ Any objections to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 . Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama.

Signed: Trustees

Africa where he was going about his normal business as a taxi driver,” he said.

Umahi called on the Federal Government to intervene in the matter to ensure that perpetrators were brought to book.

“We call on South African government to ensure that justice is not only served to Simeon but also served to the Nigerian government, Ebonyi and the family of the deceased.

“The loss of a highly talented and law abiding citizen of Nigeria who was going about his legitimate business in South Africa aptly challenges us all to call on the reserves of our cherished African brotherhood.

he International Press Center (IPC) has called for immediate investigation of the attacks on journalists by State House of Assembly member representing Afikpo SouthWest, Mr. Nkemka Onuma, with his thugs at the assembly complex.

The incident happened on 30th July 2019 after the screening of one of the commissioner nominees, which was fraught with irregularities, as the speaker, Francis Nwifuru, noticed that the year the nominee purportedly left primary school was not in sync with the year he started secondary school, according to his documents.

The Lawmaker and his thugs assaulted Ogochukwu Anioke of The Nation newspaper, Samson Nwafor of Nigerian Pilot and Mrs. Grace Egbo of Tribune, who was pregnant.

After attacking the reporters, the thugs also held Anioke hostage inside the assembly premises, ordering the gateman to lock the gate as he made to drive out.

A press statement by Lanre Arogundade, Director, IPC, decried the attacks and demanded that the lawmaker and those who perpetuated the callous and dastard act be brought to justice He noted that the harassment of Journalists and most especially the attack on the pregnant journalist is barbaric, an assault to democratic principles and also an escalating attack against press freedom that is being waged by tyrants in Nigeria.

PUBLIC NOTICE K.J. ADOGU FOUNDATION

The general public is hereby notified that the above named foundation has applied to the Co-operate Affairs Commission Abuja for Registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No 1 of 1990 TRUSTEES: 1. Chief Adogu Khathur John 2. Mr. Adogu Obiadogu 3. Miss Nneka Adogu 4. Udoye Patrick Emeka 5. Comdr Adogu Chukwuma (Rtd) AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1.Promotion of education and Reward of Academic Excellence 2.Promotion of Good Health and enhancement of health care delivery 3.Promotion of Social wellbeing among the society 4.Economic empowerment and uplifting people living below poverty level 5.Enhancement of good Tradition and culture of the people Any Objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General of the Co-operate Affairs Commission plot 120 Aguiyi Ironsi Road, Maitama Abuja Signed Ikechukwu .C. Okoye Esq Ikechukwu. C. Okoye & Co BLOCK ‘C’ Suit 01/02, TEL: 08023802685 Aosee plaza 3rd gate by Alakija 08167397504 B/Stop Festac Town Lagos State E-MAIL : iccokoye@yahoo.com

9

The Oracle Today Tuesday August 6 – Monday August 12, 2019

NEWS A’Ibom APC, PDP trade blames over plot to tamper with tribunal evidence From Ini Billie, Uyo

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eoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) party in Akwa Ibom State are bickering over allegations of tampering with evidences at the election petition tribunal.

The APC has alleged that the PDP was planning to tamper with the party’s evidences in the ongoing Governorship Election petition tribunal sitting in Uyo. Speaking in a press release signed on Sunday in Uyo, State Publicity

Secretary of the APC, Mr Nkereuwem Enyongekere, alleged that Governor Udom Emmanuel, PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which are the first, second and third respondents respectively in the governorship election petition tribunal are making plans to tamper with the exhibits and documented evidence presented by the party in court.

Enyongekere said in anticipation of this development, the party had sought for a transfer

of the tribunal to Abuja but the request was opposed by the PDP. He called on security agencies to prevent the execution of the plans and warned staff of the tribunal secretariat not to give into any financial inducement to perpetrate the alleged plans.

He said, “We have received credible intelligence and classified information that the PDP and other respondents in the ongoing Governorship Election petition trial are making desperate attempts to tamper with the avalanche of the

exhibits and documented evidence tendered by our great Party, the APC, and its governorship Candidate, Mr. Nsima Ekere at the Tribunal.

“The PDP and Gov. Udom Emmanuel, we understand, have been embarrassed and flummoxed by these exhibits which show clearly what we have been saying even before the elections: that the PDP and INEC were working together to perpetrate one of the worst electoral frauds in the state.

“Our evidence and

the exhibits have shown clearly that there was no accreditation at most of the polling units during the Governorship Election.

This is why INEC allowed PDP supporters to engage in multiple voting using unclaimed PVCs. “It is therefore no surprise that given their proclivity for fraudulent practices, the respondents in the case may want to extend their stock in trade to the court premises,” he said.

However, the Publicity Secretary of PDP, Mr Ini Ememobong has denied the claim, stating that the

allegations of the APC was not only false but based on gossips as there were no evidences to back up the claim.

He said the party was only responding to the allegations of the APC to reveal the truth so that the public would not believe the lies and for legal purposes which supposes that “issues not traversed are deemed admitted”.

He said, “There is absolutely no truth in the allegation that the PDP and other respondents are attempting to tamper with any evidence, whatsoever.

NEPZA targets selfsufficiency in funding, improved service delivery From ANIKEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar

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hairman of the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority, Engr. Segun Oni says the management of the organization is working toward ensuring self-sufficiency as well as improved service delivery for the benefit of the nation’s economy.

Engr. Oni who is also a former governor of Ekiti State disclosed that though there are challenges militating against the effective functioning of the country’s economic zones, the present management is up to the task in addressing these challenges.

This was disclosed in Calabar during the opening of a Three Day Board Strategy Meeting for management staff of the Organization with the theme: Revisioning for Excellence”.

Engr. Oni said: “Right now, even though the concept of economic zones is more than 20 years old, I would not say it has taken roots to the extent that it should be.

For example right now, we don’t have power and for any business to be

effective, competitive in the international front, you must have power and other utilities, so we are going to ensure that what will make the zones competitive then we know that should attract investors.

“I expect NEPZA to be self-sufficient within the next two to five years, even as it is now; I expect to generate even with the low patronage a substantial percentage of what we consume.

“We are going to have a session, look at our revenue stream, and compare it with our cost history and structure. Yes, we are going to impose targets to guarantee our efficiency and ultimately help bolster the nation’s economy”, Engr. Oni said.

He called on all staff of the respective economic zones to make the most of the retreat and also feel free to offer useful advice to the management of the origination so that they can collectively move the nation’s economy forward.

“Feel free to say anything including criticism so as to move the organization forward.

We expect open advice and generation of ideas because the world lives on new ideas and thinking.

Delta Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa with members of the newly-inaugurated Boards of Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency and Warri, Uvwie and Environs Development Agency, after their inauguration in Asaba, Wednesday.

Aniagwu vows to reposition state-owned media outfits From JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

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elta State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, has charged the management and staff of the ministry to brace up to the task of rebuilding the ministry and its parastatals in order to realise the Stronger Delta agenda.

The commissioner who said this in Asaba when he met with management

and staff of the ministry and its parastatals on his assumption of duty said “ I am not a magician and i need your cooperation to reposition the ministry and achieve its set goals. i am aware of the level of enthusiasm that greet my appointment and i want to assure you that working together, we will achieve success and make a lot of difference” He assured the staff of a three point agenda of repositioning and

retraining the personnel of the ministry and the agencies,,improve the infrastructure and equipments particularly of the agencies and provision of working tools for the staff.

Mr. Aniagwu however emphasised that he would not condole indolence and indiscipline among staff, emphasising that he would reward hardwork and initiatives.and discipline erring staff.

The Commissioner

assured the parastatals of rebuilding the media houses to make them very effective and efficient and promised to carry out an on-the-spot assessment of the parastatals.

Earlier, The Functioning Permanent Secretary, Mr. Paul Osahor,, congratulated the Commissioner on his appointment and his subsequent deployment to the ministry, assuring the commissioner of the staff’s cooperation as he reposition the ministry.

Ayade commends NIS for efficiency in service delivery From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar

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ross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade has commended officers and men of the Nigerian Immigration Service for its efficiency in service delivery in the state.

He said the vast improvement in service delivery is more apparent in its Passport Office which has become renowned for efficiency and pledged to donate a gun boat, land and monthly security

subvention to the Service.

Professor Ayade made this known in Calabar when the new Comptroller of the Cross River State Command of the Service, James Okey Ezegwu paid him a courtesy call at his office in calabar.

The governor said he was deliberately making the promises in order to encourage the service perform to the optimum and to ensure that they help the state curtail the huge number of illegal immigrants that have flooded the state, particularly Cameroonian

refugees who are fleeing their country due to the political crisis there.

“I do not have any hesitation in approving of all the demands you have made of me because the passport office in Calabar has made me really proud.

The services and issuance of Nigerian passports to applicants are so efficient and fast without the usual drawbacks. My wife confirmed all these. I am surprised a government office can be so efficient.

“I have approved of the land you asked for. I have

approved the donation of gunboat. I have also approved that monthly security support be extended to NIS. “I am happy you asked that a new passport office be opened in northern part of the state. I am so glad to give my support for that”, he said.

He disclosed that there are 27 illegal routes in the state which the immigration officials need to police deliberately.

The governor said that there is high level of arm movement and drugs through the 27 illegal

routes by criminals and government opponents.

Ayade called for greater collaboration with the NIS, and called for visa waiver for foreigners that would be visiting the new Calas Vegas city, which he said would be the most sophisticated in the country.

Speaking earlier, the comptroller said, “We have lot of pressure from influx from Cameroonian refugees in the state. We are profiling them.

“We are receiving very good response from foreigners in the state in

the ongoing E-Registration exercise directed by the Comptroller General of NIS. This will help other security agencies in profiling immigrants in the state. There is need to secure the state.

“We have deployed good number of our men all over the state. This has helped to reduce the number of illegal immigrants and child trafficking in the state drastically.

“We will sustain the acknowledged service delivery of the Calabar passport office “, he said.

10

The Oracle Today Tuesday August 6 – Monday August 12, 2019

NEWS

Cleric petitions IGP over threat to life, demands justice From EMMANUEL OGOIGBE, Warri

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Warri,m Delta Statebased cleric, Prophet Melody Adjija, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) demanding for justice over the humiliation and torture he was allegedly subjected to by a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Delta State, CSP Anietie Ejoh.

In the petition copies of which was also sent

to the Delta State Police Commissioner, the Cleric through his counsel, Omeniroro Ogedegbe, the cleric said his first encounter with CSP Ejoh was sometimes in January 2019 when the DPO invited him to his office demanding for financial assistance to construct a church chapel as there was no such chapel in the Ebrumede Police Station where he was the Divisional Police Officer, adding that consequently

upon the passionate appeal, the cleric then pledged the sum of three million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira.

According to him, trouble started after the cash redemption by the cleric who later discounted that the fund had been diverted as no such chapel was erected, then demanding for the refund of the money.

Subsequently, the DPO then invited the cleric to his office where he

accused him of unfounded allegations. The situation got worse when the CSP EJoh allegedly pulled out a pistol threatening to eliminate him for refusing to come to terms with him, especially as no chapel foundation was laid.

In the petition, the prophet averred that sometimes in June 2019, he got a call from one line comedian popularly called Parara who operates “mock NEWSTV” demanding that

#RevolutionNow: Police foil planned demonstration in C’River From: ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar

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ross River State Police Command says it has foiled the planned demonstration called by the #RevolutionNoew protesters in the state against the present state of affairs in the country.

The police came out in their numbers Monday morning with their armored tanks as well as other armoured vehicles and positioned themselves at strategic locations in the state.

Despite this however,

they arrested members of the Action Alliance Congress (AAC) alongside the Nation newspaper reporter in Cross River State, Nickolas Kalu who went to cover the protest.

Other protesters were picked up by a platoon of policemen at the Cultural Centre Complex in Calabar where they congregated ahead of their state wide protest which they tagged: #RevolutionNow protest in the state.

Oracle Today learnt that the news as well as Managing Editors of an online medium

“CrossRiverwatch” were equally picked up by the fully armed men of the police.

The basis for the arrest of the journalist is not clear as at press time as he was there to cover the protest.

When contacted over the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Irene Ugbo said she was not aware but added that he will be released if he was ever arrested.

“I don’t know the situation, I’m not in the office, but if at all he was arrested, he will be released,” she said.

Meanwhile the State Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Comrade Victor Dan Udu has condemned in strong terms the arrest of the Nation reporter.

He insisted that the journalist was there with his jotter and pen and called for his unconditional release.

“I condemn the act totally. The journalist is just doing his job. He did not go there with any weapon but with his jotter and pen.

We call for his immediate unconditional release”, Comrade Udu said.

(From left): Risk Group Officer, Interswitch, Kevin Owoamanam; Senior Accountant, National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), Uche Nebolisa; Group Head, Commerce and Digital, Interswitch, Emeka Awagu and Account officer II, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Onifade Abideen, at the raffle draw for the One Music Africa Fest which held at Interswitch Head office, Lagos recently.

unless he paid to him Five Million Naira else, he would be forced to make public damaging tape about him (Prophet), ostensibly in strong connivance with the Divisional Police Officer who was then the DPO, Ebrumede Police Station.

“True to the threat, the internet was awashed on Saturday the 27th of July 2019 with a video from the said comedian. Suffice to say that by the said online, our client (cleric) presentation,

our prophet Adjijan has been brought to ridicule and humiliation”, stressed Barrister Ogedegbe.

Contacted, the DPO Ejoh who has since been transferred to Asaba, denied the allegation leveled against him, and confirmed all what the prophet said without conditionality.

“I make bold to say that the cleric was not tortured or brought to ridicule, but the (Prophet Adjijan) is presently on bail.

Lagos warns residents against alteration of approved designs

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agos State Government has issued a warning to the residents of stateowned housing Estates to desist from modifying the approved designs of structures within their environment.

The Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Housing, Mr. Wasiu Akewusola gave the warning on Monday during a meeting with the representatives of the Residents Association of Abraham Adesanya Estate at the State Secretariat, Alausa.

He said “It is in the best interest of all residents of government-owned estates to stop alteration of structures of buildings in government-owned estates. Such alterations or reconstructing include restyling, an extension of, and additions to existing facilities and in some extreme cases increase in levels of buildings”.

Akewusola observed that these alterations are deviations from the terms and conditions stated in the deed of sub-lease signed by the two parties and warned that it could lead to a penalty as stated in the Law. The Permanent Secretary maintained that the government-owned Estates are designed and built by the State Government in compliance with global environmental and physical planning rules to ensure durability and liveability.

He averred that contravention of such standards often results in dire consequences such as reduced durability of the structure both for the homeowner and other

residents in the area.

Akewusola, therefore, advised the residents to desist from any form of redesigning of the building as this may cause damages to the building and the entire environment at any period.

He also underscored the need for the residents to maintain the original structural design to prevent future disasters, saying that “A building is a permanent load whose capacity of erection can only be known and accessed by certified engineers. This capability, which is environmentally determined, had already been quantified before the buildings were erected.

Any plans to overload the capacity may result in disaster.”

He also informed the residents that all unapproved remodelling contravene the Physical and Urban Planning Law of the State government, hence affected buildings will be demolished by the appropriate agency of the State government.

“The demolition exercise of illegal and unapproved structures in government-owned estates will commence very soon without any further warning”, Akewusola disclosed.

He also hinted that the State government is aware of some residents who have turned the government housing estates’ setbacks into the marketplace and cautioned that it will no longer be business as usual as the administration will not rest on its oars in ensuring that sanity returns to the government-owned Estates.

Coalition condemns rising insecurity in South East

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he Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) has expressed outrage over the killings by suspected Fulani herdsmen in the South East zone, particularly in the Awgu area of Enugu State.

The group said that matter should be attended to urgently to eradicate the development and guaranty security in the South East.

“The South East Governors should stop treating the murderous Fulani

herdsmen security threats and notorious activities in the zone with kid gloves. They should stop shying away from their major responsibility, which is protection of lives and properties of its citizens,” said the President-General of COSEYL, Goodluck Egwu Ibem.

“We want the South East Governors to note that, this is not the time for series of South East Governors meetings. It is the time for action. It is not the time of

press releases to the media.

It is a time to act like real men.

Their main responsibility as governors is the protection of life and property of its citizens and that is what they must do. The time for lamenting and complaining is over, it is a time to stand up to the challenge.

“We call on all the traditional rulers, vigilante groups, community leaders and Local Government Chairmen in the zone to immediately set up

community security outfits to ascertain who enters into their communities and who leaves . The youth groups should rise and defend their ancestral homes and communities. The issue of security is the responsibility of everybody,” Ibem added.

Similarly, a human rights activist and founder of the Initiative for Ideal Development and Emancipatory L:eadership in Nigeria (IDEAL Nigeria), Innocent Nwokocha, says

the current insecurity ravaging the South East demands that the governors of the zone should deploy their security votes to real purpose for the funds were meant for.

His views: “the rising insecurity in the South East is quite bemoaning, it is condemnable and calls for serious attention, more especially from the Governors Forum.

This is time for them to show maximally what they

use their security votes they receive on monthly basis for.

“Since 2015 when most of them came to power, they have been making use of the security votes they receive on monthly but I don’t know whether it is used as personal savings or whatever you may call it, but the truth of the matter is that this is the time that we really require them to show high level of leadership, use the security votes for combatting insecurity.’

11

The Oracle Today Tuesday July 30 -August 3, 2019

NEWS

Only Igbo Presidency can save Nigeria

Continued from Page 5 wound and cleanse the country of its effects.

He stressed that the earlier those in authority realized the value of the Igbo in the country and begin to do the needful, the sooner the nation would begin to achieve peace, stability and progress, adding that only Ndigbo are true Nigerians who view wherever they reside as home and can take risk for the country, investing and developing the area without double mind.

Flanked by other officers of the group, Apostle Chukwuemeka said: “Nigeria needs God’s intervention and until our country goes back to God and asks for forgiveness for all the evil and injustice that Ndigbo have been subjected to and do restitution as well, the country would not progress.

“Nigeria must know that except continued relegating of the Igbo in the background stops, I tell you, there cannot be

any true headway in this country because the solution of Nigeria is in the hand of the Igbo.

“The Igbo are the true Nigerians, there is no place that you go today and you would not see an Igbo, and wherever they reside, they make it their home and cheerfully develop the area without any grudge; it is not just in Nigeria but anywhere they live in the world.

“The Igbo are apostolic in nature and beyond Nigeria; it is the Igbo that God will use to transform the world.

“So, for Nigeria to stabilise and experience true progress, it would take an Igbo to be her President and man the helm of affairs, and the earlier people realise this fact, the better for all,” he said.

On the activities lined up for the forthcoming event, the Apostle disclosed that all Nigerian clergymen of Igbo extraction would be in attendance and that the theme of the programme would be “In the days of His

power”.

He explained that the event would enable the ministers, in conjunction with the faithful, to cry unto God for Him to intervene in the situation of the Igbo nation, pointing out that also lined up are several humanitarian activities for the sick and the indigent, among others.

“The event would be power-packed. We have registered chapters in all the states in Nigeria and in several countries abroad such as America, Togo, Benin, Canada, Cameroun and the United Kingdom, which is our latest chapter, among others, and they are all coming to Enugu.

“We shall have free medication for at least 1,000 people, feed at least 1000 people and share raw food items to the indigent; and we are bringing 25 medical doctors and 25 nurses plus many pharmacists to take care of people’s health needs and administer medications to them.

“We are in collaboration with the US-based University of Leadership and Sound Doctrine, and they gave 10,000 scholarships to Igbo pastors to train them in BA Masters and PhD programmes.

It is online-based and about 1,000 of the beneficiaries will do their graduation in Nigeria in the course of the event.

“We have also attracted the popular Billy Graham Chaplain to our Igbo pastors for free and the organisation has agreed to license our pastors free of charge.

“We are seizing this medium to inform those with the erroneous notion that the Igbo is without king that we do have a king; Jesus is our king and we shall lift Him high at the forthcoming event as the supreme king of the universe.”

Everyone is invited because everybody is involved. Let us cry unto God together for his mercy and divine intervention,” he surmised.

•Some officers of CAN Igbo ministers at the press conference in Enugu

Why #RevolutionNow protest failed Cont’d from Pg5

curity agencies to foil any attempt to protest in the state, even as he also ordered all Council chairmen to report any illegal gathering to the Police and warned parents to stop their children, wards from participating.

The Governor stated: “Rivers State does not subscribe to what the Revolution Now protest represents and Rivers is not part of the protest.”

The security agencies took steps to arrest anybody involved in the Revolution Now protest and to prosecute such persons. There therefore a heavy presence of a combined team of security men on the junction of major roads and strategic places on Monday morning.

Chairman of Rivers State Coalition of Civil Societies, Enefa Goergewill, said in a radio programme on Monday that civil so-

ciety groups in the state were unable to arrive at a consensus at an expansive meeting of civil society groups on Sunday, in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

He stated that they would not be joining the protest because the atmosphere was still too hazy to chart the way forward. He, however, insisted that the ‘Revolution Now Protest’ was not designed to forcibly change the current government but simply to clamour for a change of policies that were not favourable to the masses.

In Cross River State, police foiled the planned demonstration, detaining a journalist and some protesters in the process.

The police came out in their numbers, rolling out their armoured personnel carriers and other war vehicles and positioned themselves at strategic

locations in the state.

Despite this, they arrested members of the Action Alliance Congress alongside The Nation’s reporter in Cross River State, Nickolas Kalu who went to observe and report the situation.

Some of the arrested protesters were picked up by a platoon of policemen at the Cultural Centre Complex in Calabar where they congregated ahead of their statewide protest, which they tagged: #RevolutionNow protest in the state.

The Oracle Today learnt that TheNews as well as managing editors of an online medium “CrossRiverwatch” were equally picked up by the fully armed policemen.

The basis for the arrest of the journalist was not clear as at press time as he was there to cover the protest.

When contacted over the inci-

dent, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Irene Ugbo said, “I don’t know the situation, I’m not in the office, but if at all he was arrested, he will be released.”

Meanwhile the State Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Comrade Victor Dan Udu has condemned the arrest of The Nation reporter.

Seeking the unconditional release of the reporter, he said, “I condemn the act totally. The journalist was just doing his job. He did not go there with any weapon but with his jotter and pen. We call for his immediate unconditional release.”

Several protesters were arrested at the National Stadium in Lagos Monday by the police, who amassed men and equipment to scuttle the #RevolutionNow, a series of planned protests against bad governance in Nigeria.

Former Abia Commissioner escapes death from herdsmen esterday, around 5:30 Pm as I Y drove from Isuochi to Enugu, the unthinkable happened. This

was just before UNTH after Awgu junction.

Suddenly, this hooded Person jumped out of the bush in front of me and started shooting at my Car. Before I could make anything out of it another three appeared a bit in front and bullets started flying everywhere. I have been hearing about Fulani Herdsmen but what I saw yesterday is better imagined than experienced.

The stories I have read on how these guys operate and THE EVER ABIDING PRESENCE OF JEHOVAH all worked in those few minutes.

I was determined not to stop. My Staff, Prince, who was on the Passenger sit literally passed out. As the bullets rained on my Car, I kept speeding away.

About one Kilometer from there, Just before UNTH and NNPC Mega Station was a Military Checkpoint. I heaved a sigh of relief and slowed down. I told the Army guy what was going on just behind their Post. He casually told me that they were aware.. that the driver in front of me just told them. I asked him why he was still standing there without making any move to save the vehicles behind, and he just looked at me blankly and waved me on.

By now, my entire dashboard was full of red lights. The temperature of my Car hit the highest point on the meter. I slowly drove down to the front of NNPC opposite UNTH and pulled the Car out of the road.

It was then it dawned on me what happened. There were over 20 bullet holes in my front fender.

Most of these bullets hit directly at my Radiator and other things in front of the engine. The tyres which they were after, didn’t get a scratch. There were also two bullet holes on the passenger side of the Car. And few others around the Booth. Let God be praised !

But in ALL these, NOT ONE OF THOSE BULLETS TOUCHED MY BODY AND THAT OF PRINCE, the boy with me. Iam yet to know what became of other incoming vehicles. But at the Military Checkpoint, we pleaded with the army people to alert others not to go in that direction.

Praise God with me.

Nigeria is surrounded.

Nowhere is safe.

This thing is far more serious.

The Government and people of Nigeria should better treat this as an emergency. It’s beyond Politics. Anyone can be a victim.

Eze Chikamnayo is a former Commissioner for Information in Abia State

•Eze Chikamnayo

12

The Oracle Today Tuesday August 6 - 12, 2019

HEALTH

Malnutrition: A concern in a country so rich like ours

H

unger and starvation are the greatest form of poverty.

These can lead to mental, physiological and social illness. In Africa and globally, is one of the major causes of illness especially in war-tour areas. In developing countries, lack of food and poor usage of the available food can result in protein-energy mal-nutrition (PEM); 50 million pre-school African children have PEM. In developed countries, excess food is available and the most common nutritional problem is obesity. Diet and disease are interrelated in many ways. Excess energy intake, particularly when high in animal (saturated) fat content, is thought to contribute to a number of diseases, including ischaemic heart disease and diabetes. A relationship between food intake and cancer has been found in many epidemiological studies; an excess of energy-rich foods (i.e. fat and sugar containing), often with physical inactivity, plays a role in the development of certain cancers, while diets high in vegetables and fruits reduce the risk of most epithelial cancers. Numerous carcinogens, either intentionally added to food (e.g nitrates for preserving foods) or accidental contaminants (e.g moulds producing aflatoxin and fungi), may also be involved in the development of cancer. The proportion of processed foods eaten may affect the development of disease. A number of processed convenient foods have a high sugar and fat content and therefore predispose one to dental caries and obesity respectively. They also have a low fibre content, and dietary fibre is possibly necessary in the prevention of a number of diseases . Some epidemiological data suggest that there are long-term effects of under nutrition; low growth rates in utero being associated with high death rates from cardiovascular disease in adult life.

In 1991 the department of Public health published the dietary reference values for food and energy and nutrients for the United Kingdom, values were based on all of the available information including data from the 1985 food and Agriculture Organization (FAO-WHO), United Nations University (UNU) expert committee, so that there is broad agreement on the reference values given. In the UK recommended daily amounts (RDA’) are no longer used, but have been replaced by the reference nutrient intake (RNI) to provide more help in interpreting dietary surveys.

The RNI is roughly equivalent to the previous RDA, and is sufficient or more than sufficient to meet the nutritional needs of 97.5% of healthy people in a population.

Most people’s daily requirements are less than this, and so an estimated average requirement (EAR) is also given, which will certainly be adequate for most people. A lower reference nutrient intake (LRNI) which fails to meet the requirement of 97.5% of the population is also given. The RNI figures quoted in this article are for the age group 19-50 years. These represent values for healthy subjects are not always appropriate for patients with disease.

Water and electrolyte balance is issue with the word. About 1 litre of water is required in the daily diet to balance insensible losses, but much more is usually drunk, the kidneys being able to excrete large quantities. The daily RNI for sodium is 70 mmol (1.6 g) but daily

sodium intake varies in the range 90-440 mmol (2-10 g). These are needlessly high intakes of sodium which are thought by some to play a role in causing hypertension. Energy food is necessary to provide the body with energy . The SI Unit of energy is the joule (j), and 1 kj= 0.239 kcal. The conversion factor of 4.2 kj, equivalent to 1 kcal, is used in clinical nutrition measurement. Energy balance is the difference between energy intake and energy expenditure. Weight gain or loss is a simple, but an accurate way of indicating differences in energy balance. Energy requirements are two approaches to assessing energy requirements for subjects who are weight stable and close to energy balance.

Assessment of energy intake and assessment of total energy expenditure can be estimated from dietary surveys and in the past has been used to decide daily energy requirements.

However, measurement of energy expenditure gives a more accurate assessment of requirements. Daily energy expenditure is the sum of: The basal metabolic rate (BMR). The thermic effect of food eaten. Occupational activities and non-occupational activities. Total energy expenditure can be measured using a double-labelled water technique. Water containing the stable isotopes 2H and 18O is given orally. As energy is expended, carbon dioxide and water are produced. The difference between the rates of loss of the two isotopes is used to calculate the carbon dioxide production, which is then used to calculate the energy expenditure. This can be done on urine samples over a 2 to 3 week period with the subject ambulatory. The technique is accurate, but it is expensive and requires the availability of a mass spectrometer. An alternative tracer technique for measuring total energy expenditure is to estimate CO2 production by isotopic dilution. A subcutaneous infusion of labeled bicarbonate is administered continuously by minipump, and urine is collected to measure isotopic dilution by urea, which is formed from CO2. Other methods for estimating energy expenditure, such as heart rate monitors or activity monitors, are also available but are less accurate.

The BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) can be calculated by measuring oxygen consumption and CO2 production, but it is more usually taken from standardized tables .

That requires knowledge of the subject’s age, weight and sex.

Equations for the prediction of basal metabolic rate (in MJ per day)... see table.

Thus, for example, to determine the daily expenditure of a 63-yearold, 50kg female doctor, with a BMR of 4805 kj per day spending one-third of a day sleeping, working or engaged in non-occupational activities, the latter at a PAR of 2.1, the following calculation ensues: (4805 kj/day) X [0.3 + (0.3X 1.7) + (0.3 X 2.10] = 6919 kj or 1655 kcal / day. In the UK the estimated ‘average’ daily requirement is: For a 55-year-old female-8100 kj (1940 kcal). For a 55-year-old male-10 600 kj (2550 kcal). This is at present made up of 50% carbohydrate, 35% fat, 15% protein plus or minus 5% alcohol. In developing countries, however, carbohydrate may be more than 75% of the total energy input, and fat less than 15% of the total energy input.

HEALTH

With Dr. JOHN

NWABUEZE •Calls only: +234-8127227226, Email: ogudoben@gmail.com

Age range(years) Predicton equation(BMR = 95% Confidence limit Men 10-17 0.074(wt)* + 2.754 0.88 18-29 0.063(wt)* + 2.896 1.28 30-59 0.048(wt)* + 3.653 1.40 60-74 0.0499(wt)* + 2.930 N/A 75+ 0.0350(wt)* + 3.434 N/A Women 10-17 0.056(wt)* + 2.898 0.94 18-29 0.062(wt)* + 2.036 1.00 30-59 0.034(wt)* + 3.538 0.94 60-74 0.0386(wt)* + 2.875 N/A 75+ 0.0410(wt)* + 2.610 N/A • Bodyweight (wt) in kilograms Data reproduced with permission of Department of Public Health, 1991.Physical activity ratio (PAR) for various activities (expressed as multiples of BMR). The physical activity ratio (PAR) is expressed as multiples of the BMR for both occupational and non-occupational activities of varying intensities .Total daily BMR X[Time in bed + Energy = (Time at work x PAR) + Expenditure (Non-occupational time X PAR)].

Energy requirements increase during the growing period, with pregnancy and lactation, and sometimes following infection or trauma. In general, the increased BMR associated with influmentary or traumatic conditions is counteracted or more than counteracted by a decrease in physical activity, so that total energy requirements are not increased. In the basal state, energy demands for resting muscles are 20% of the total energy required, abdominal viscera 35-40%, brain 20% and heart 10%.

There can be more than a 50-fold increase in muscle energy demands during exercise. Although virtually, all body fat and glycogen are available for oxidation, less than half the protein is available for oxidation. So, fat accounts for the largest reserves of energy in both lean and obese subjects.

The size of the storage determines survival during starvation. Bodyweight depends on energy balance. Intake depends not only on

food availability but also on a number of complex interrelationships that include the stimulus of good food, the role of hunger, metabolic changes (e.g. hypoglycaemia), and the pleasure and habit of eating. Some people are able to keep their body weight constant. Available energy reserves from different fuels expressed in MJ (upper) and as a percentage of total (lower) in a lean hypothetical 70 kg adult and an obese 140 kg adult.

Within a few kilograngs for many years, but most gradually increase their weight owing to a small but continuous increase of intake over expenditure. A gained or lost of energy of 25-29 MJ (6000-7000 kcal) would respectively increase or decrease bodyweight by approximately 1 kg.

In the UK as well as in Nigeria the adult planned life RNI for protein is 0.75 g/kg, with protein representing at least 10% of the total energy intake. Most affluent people eat more than this,

assuming 80-100 g of protein per day. The total amount of nitrogen excreted in the urine represents the balance between protein breakdown and synthesis. In order to maintain nitrogen balance, at least 40-50 kg of protein are needed. The amount of protein oxidized can be calculated from the amount of nitrogen excreted in the urine over hours using the following equation. Grams of protein required = Urinary nitrogen x 6.25 (most proteins contain about 16% of nitrogen). Practice, urinary urea is more easily measured and forms 80-90% of the total urinary nitrogen (N) in healthy individuals urinary nitrogen excretion reflects protein intake. However, urine excretion does not match intake other in catabolic conditions ( negative balance ) or during growth or repletion following an illness (positive balance).

Protein contains many amino acids of which nine are dispensable (essential), tryptophan, distidine, methionine, adroeonine, isolpucine, valine, phenylanine, lysine, leucine. These amino acids canot be synsthesised and must be provided in the diet. The dispensable (non essential) amino acids can be synthesised in the body, but some may still be needed in the deiet unless adequate amount their precursors are availabe. Animal proteins, such as in milk, meat and eggs, are of high nutritional values as they contain in all indispensable amino acids. Conversely, many proteins from vegetables are deficient in at least one indispensable amino acid. In developing countries like Nigeria, adequate protein intake is achieved mainly from vegetable proteins. By combining food stuffs with different low concentration of indispensable amino acid ( e.g maize with legumes).

Protein intake can be adequate provided enough vegetable are available.

Loss of protein from the body (negative N balance ) occurs not only because of the inadequate protein intake, but also owing to inadequate energy intake . When there is loss of energy from the body, more protein is directed towards oxidative pathway and eventually gluconeogenesis for energy. Of all the amino acids, glutamine is quantitatively the most significant in the circulation and in inter-organ exchange. Alanine is released from muscle; it is deaminated and convated into pyruvic acid before entering the citric acid cycle. homocysteeine is sulplur containing animo acid which is derived from methionine in the diet.

A raise plasma concentration is an indepenedent risk factor for vascular disesase. Amino acids may be utilized to synthesize products other than protein or urea. For example; haem requires glycine, melanin and thyroid hormones require tyrosine, nucleic acid bases require glutamine, aspatate and glycine. Glutathione, which is part of the defence system against free radicals, requires glutamate, cysteine and glycine.

In Nigeria and indeed some other African countries where malnutrition is an issue of concern.

Good political will is nessessary to balance productivity of the population. By so doing life could be more meaniful and mortality arising from protein energy malnutrition could be corrected.

•Dr. John Nwabueze

POLITICS

13

The Oracle Today Tuesday August 6 - 12 , 2019

Release Sowore Bayelsa guber: now, Intersociety All eyes on tells FGe Timi Alaibe Pg 14

Rivers University VC, Deputy take the fall over cult killings, academic racketeering

• Gov. Wike suspends ongoing employment exercise •Appoints Dep. VC (Administration) as acting VC

A

n enraged Governor Nyesom Wike on Saturday, August 3, relieved both the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Blessing Didia and his deputy Prof. Magnus Oruwari, of their appointments with immediate effect. Wike has approved the appointment of the Vice Chancellor (Academics) Prof. Opuenebo Binya Owei, a lady, as acting vice chancellor with immediate effect.

The governor also suspended the ongoing recruitment exercise in the university, which has been dogged by complaints that some hideous racketeering syndicate has allegedly hijacked the recruitment process at the expense of qualifications, experience and merit. To find out if the ongoing recruitment exercise was tainted by fraudulent activities as alleged, Wike set up a committee to look into the exercise and report to him in two weeks.

Pointers emerged on Tuesday, July 30, that the vice chancellor might face some disciplinary measures from the Visitor of the university when Governor Wike formally issued a query to the Prof. Didia to explain within 24 hours the events that led to the shooting of a 300-level student in the Faculty of Agriculture, Prince Barisua, by unknown assailants suspected to be cultists. He was accosted by two men who shot him in the head at close range opposite the Niger Delta Delta female hostel

•Vice Chancellor, Prof. Blessing Didia

”

It is unfortunate that the rein of Prof.

Didia was abruptly terminated by the fallout of a nasty cult clash and a welter of complaints bordering on corruption, ‘sorting’ and employment racketeering which leaves a huge question mark on his administration.

”

Cult related killing of two undergraduate students of the Rivers State University (RSU) has brusquely provoked the termination of the appointment the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Blessing Didia and the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) Prof. Magnus Oruwari, reports NATH OMAME Jr. from Port Harcourt.

on the university campus. Barisua had just finished writing his final undergraduate examination. The governor also directed the vice chancellor to “answer within 24 hours recent rampant complaints over ‘sorting’ within the university system.”

Barely 48 hours after Barisua was shot dead by the unknown gunmen, another engineering undergraduate student of the university was killed by suspected cultists at the Ada George Road axis of Port Har-

court, on the morning of Wednesday, July 31. The young man who was said be on his way to school was found dead with multiple machete cuts on his body. He died in a pool of his own blood.

Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, who confirmed both deaths, stated that the Police had arrested two persons in connection with the cult clash that spilled over to the brutal killing of Prince Barisua, on Monday, June 29, on

Pg 15

the university campus. He gave the names of the two persons that have been arrested by the Police as Elechi Chibuzor and Nnamdi Chibundu. According to Omoni, the two suspects who were arrested on Tuesday, July 30, a day after Barisua was shot opposite the NDDC Female Hostel, are “assisting the Police with vital information” that could lead the Police to other members of the cult groups that were involved in the planning and killing of the final year student of Agriculture.

Governor Wike’s disenchantment with the vice chancellor and the administrative architecture of the university can be situated in the worthwhile efforts of his government to give the university a facelift and solid foundation to enable it reckon as a citadel of learning and compete favourably with its peers. Upon assumption of office as governor of Rivers State, in 2015, Wike approved the release of N500 million for the university to ensure the salaries of all cadres of staff were paid as at when due. He completed the building of the Faculty of Law. He sent an executive bill to the Rivers State House of Assembly to create a Rivers State University Teaching Hospital.

He approved the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMTH) as the Faculty of Medicine for the practical training of medical doctors and released N4 million for the renovation of the health facility. He also sponsored an executive bill to change the name of the university from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUT) to Rivers State University (RSU). This move was a masterstroke designed to elicit the nod of the Nigerian University Commission (NUC) to enable the university to continue to offer courses in the humanities, since by virtue of its name, it was essentially a tertiary institution with proclivity for science and technologybased courses.

He also provided funds to enable the university get accreditation for all its courses. In words and in deeds, Governor Wike did all he could to lay a formidable foundation for the Rivers State University. At each turn, he often reminded the vice chancellor that cultism must have no place in the university. So, the shooting and killing of a final year student of agriculture in the premises of the university as a result of a cult clash was a development the governor could not tolerate.

The appointment of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Prof. Opuenebo Binya Owei, is categorical statement from Governor Wike that only the best traditional of academic excellence is good enough for RSU to which he has committed so much energy and financial resources. Prof. Blessing Didia received so much support from the governor, but as it has now turned out, the former vice chancellor appeared not to have reciprocated the trust and support Governor Wike reposed in him by giving him the opportunity to lead the institution. So, who giveth, taketh! A new dawn in the administration of RSU has come with the appointment of Prof. Owei as acting vice chancellor.

It is unfortunate that the rein of Prof.

Didia was abruptly terminated by the fallout of a nasty cult clash and a welter of complaints bordering on corruption, ‘sorting’ and employment racketeering which leaves a huge question mark on his administration. And the severity of Governor Wike’s disappointment with Prof.

Didia’s administration was demonstrated through the channel his termination was communicated to him and the public. The statement, which was signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dagogo Abonye Hart, was terse, severe and brusque!

14

The Oracle Today Tuesday August 6 -12, 2019

POLITICS

By IBE NWACHUKWU

A

civil society group, International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety), has charged the federal government to direct the Director-General (DG) of State Security Services (SSS) to release detained Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore and others already arrested or about to be arrested with immediate effect, in the interest of democracy.

Intersociety in a press statement issued yesterday in Onitsha, Anambra state regretted that ot is sad that the same Government that is sponsoring by proxy the anti Amnesty Int’l protests could turn around to declare dissenting street protesters as ‘persona non gratae’ in Nigeria and their protests as ‘terrorism’ or ‘treason’.

In the statement entitled: “Unchecked Killings & Shrinking Of Civil Space: SSS, Army & Police Now Official Enemies Of Democracy In Nigeria, signed by the society’s leader, Comrade Emeka Umeagbalasi, Intersociety contended that by constantly shrinking the civil space, the authorities of the Nigeria Police, Army and SSS are pushing Nigerians not only dangerously to the wall but also to the point of radical self help or underground radicalization; capable of quadrupling and escalating the country’s criminal enterprises or industries.

It further contended that by treating Nigerian criminals and their entities with kid gloves and treating the law abiding citizens the hard way, the authorities of the Nigeria Police, Army and SSS are licensing all Nigerians to become criminals and lawless; thereby turning the country into a jungle where only the fittest survives. If this is allowed, then rifles in the possession of these daft security agencies will become toys or mere boxes of fire matches.

According to them, “The Nigerian Democracy has speedily moved from its daily deterioration and degeneration in present time to hourly same; with what remains as its infinitesimal semblances disappearing without traces”.

“To add salt to injury, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police and the SSS (internal intelligence outfit) have now unveiled themselves as official enemies of democracy in Nigeria. This they now share in common with the country’s malevolent and conscienceless political actors and the earthly paradized religious leaders as well as their foot-soldiers in the Civil Society including some lawyers, activists, mainstream media practitioners and bloggers”.

“It is saddening and heart-breaking that the publicly armed and catered persons (i.e. members of the army, police and internal secret services) have not only now turned and privatized their publicly procured public defense and security weapons against the general Nigerians and their properties; but also joined the country’s criminal entities (i.e. Boko Haram/ISWAP, jihadist Fulani herdsmen and street criminal entities and persons) in levying war against the general Nigerians”.

Yet these are the same persons whose fundamental human needs and career others including their excreta and those of their families; foods, electricity, personal health including insurance and treatments; education including in-service and out-service courses; housing or shelter including rents; transportation including automobiles; and service uniforms including badges, belts, boots, sets of singlet, pairs of suit and pants; etc are all procured or serviced at the expense of the Nigerian public funds. Apart from their chronic

Release Sowore now, Intersociety tells FG Says protests are part of democracy

•

•Sir G.U. Okeke:

career daftness including crude unprofessionalism; except threatening, corking and shooting innocent and defenseless Nigerians; they have now become an Nza bird that challenges its creator to a wrestling match.

The above was the position of as contained in a statement issued today, 4th August 2019 and signed

by Lawyers Obianuju Joy Igboeli, Head of Civil Liberties & Rule of Law Program, Chinwe Umeche, Head of Democracy & Good Governance Program, Catherine Ndidiamaka Bernard, Head of Int’l Justice & Human Rights Program, Evangeline Chidinma Udegbunam, Head of Campaign & Publicity Dept and Emeka Umeagbalasi, a Criminologist & Graduate of Security Studies and Board Chair of Dangers Of Shrinking Civil Space: The constant issuance of threats of force and use of same by the authorities of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army and SSS against unarmed and defenseless Nigerians particularly members of democratic forces or expressive democratic forces who organize or involve in pen and voice protests or open street protests or ghost street protests is a further indication of how dangerously the professional ethics including democratic guidance and advancement, of the trio of Nigeria Police, Army and SSS has decayed.

Apart from now joining hands in total destruction of the country’s democracy, the trio, till date, has no answers to the country’s unchecked killings and property crimes and destructions. What truly remains of the trio is reactive policing or securitization or medicine after death security approaches.

Issues of preventive, proactive, electronic and intelligence policing or securitization are no longer locatable anywhere in the confines of the trio; except chasing, threatening, corking and shooting innocent and defenseless Nigerians with reckless abandon; while at the same time red-carpeting, celebrating and shielding the criminal Nigerians and their entities.

Dangers Of Criminalization Of Constitutional Civil Liberties: The authorities of the Nigeria Police, Army and SSS are dangerously criminalizing the country’s con-

stitutional civil liberties. This they do with reckless abandon, aided by former members of the Nigerian mainstream rights community who are now part and parcel of the APC led central Government of Nigeria. In furtherance of such criminalization, the sacred provisions of the country’s Fundamental Human Rights provisions contained in both 1999 Constitution and the Rights Treaty Laws of the Federation are criminalized and observed in dangerous breach.

While the citizens’ rights to life, strengthened by Sections 258 and 60 of the Criminal Code Act and the Penal Code Act (for Southern and Northern Nigeria) and dignity of human person or freedom from torture, strengthened by the newly enacted Anti Torture Act of 2017; are clearly and unambiguously provided in the constitutional Sections 33 and 34; Sections 35, 36 and 40 guarantee the fundamental rights to personal liberty, fair hearing and peaceful assembly and association. Importantly, Section 36 (8) and 36 (12) of the same Constitution as well as the country’s Treaty Laws also clearly provide for freedom from criminal labeling and stigmatization including retroactive criminalization, punishment and treatment.

In this respect, therefore, the authorities of the Nigeria Police, Army and SSS have not only grossly disrespected and undermined these sacred provisions, but also turned themselves into an outlaw. They now pronounce death on any citizen or group of citizens and have it carried out to the letter. Outside the confines of the country’s body of laws including the Rights Treaty Laws and the Constitution, they have ‘manufactured’ their body of laws called ‘National Security and National Interest Laws of Nigeria’; under which civil space and other attributes of democracy are not only caged or stifled, but also have their utterances militarized and their guns flimsily corked and shot in the direct or close range of thousands of unarmed, defenseless and innocent citizens of the country particularly members of the hated and criminalized ethnic or religious nationalities or dissent class.

Prosecutorial Difficulties Arising From Criminal Labeling Of Innocent Nigerians: It must be noted

too that owing to hate or wicked and other unprofessional handling of the public security and policing in the country per criminal accusation, arrest, detention, investigation and prosecution, neither the Police nor the SSS has since 2015 judicially sustained most, if not all the spurious felonious charges slammed on the wrongly accused, arrested and detained citizens.

Most, if not all of such trumped up charges have ended up in prosecutorial vindictiveness or long pre trial detention amid physical and psychological torture and custodial deaths. In other words, not even a single conviction has been secured by the State of Nigeria against any of the wrongly accused, arrested and detained citizens, accused of ‘treason’, ‘treasonable felony’ or ‘terrorism’ since its riotous beginning in 2015.

No Answers To Unchecked Killings & Property Crimes: Till date, neither SSS with its so called ‘internal intelligence master-ship’ nor the Nigeria Police Force with its litany of intelligence, detection, investigation and operational offshoots has provided concrete intelligence, investigative and operational answers to unchecked killings and property crimes ravaging the country. Till date, the real culprits are on the prowl, walking the streets of Nigeria freely and wearing long chaplets marking them out as ‘uncaught repeat offenders’.

Season Of Killing & Abduction Of Catholic Priests In Nigeria: Not less than six Catholic Priests have been targeted and shot dead by Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen and other marksman entities in Benue, Enugu, Anambra and Delta States in less than three years: 2016-2019. Apart from the recent abduction and killing

by Fulani Jihadists of Rev Father Clement Ugwu of Enugu Catholic Diocese in March 2019 and Rev Father Paul Offu of St James Greater Catholic Church, Enugu State on 1st August 2019; the Catholic Church in Nigeria have also lost not less than four Priests mostly to Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen between late 2016 and beginning of August 2019; with not less than ten others kidnapped or abducted.

While Fathers Joseph Gor and Felix Tyolaha were gruesomely murdered by Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen, alongside seventeen other

worshippers on 25th April 2018 in Benue State, three Catholic priests (Fathers Dim, Ezeokana and Chukwuemeka) returning from Nsukka to Onitsha and Nnewi were attacked by Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen in Sept 2016. The attack took place along Nkpologwu-Nimbo Road in Enugu State. One of them later died. On a separate place the same Monday 26th September, 2016, a Vincentian priest whose name was not given was also kidnapped with his brother along Abuja Lokoja express way. Another Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Ugwu had earlier been kidnapped on August 9, 2014 along Ugwuogo-Nike-Opi Road, Nsukka. Few weeks back, a senior seminarian was killed in cold blooded in Attakwu, Enugu State.

Five pastors of the Enoch Adeboye owned RCCG; all Igbo citizens were abducted on Friday, 2nd August 2019, but later freed; with identities of their abductors and offense crimes shrouded in secrecy and controversy by the Police. The five Igbo-pastors are: Deaconess Ibelegbo Chidinma, Chidozie Eluwa, Chiemela Iroha, Okoro Ohowukwe and Ndubuisi Owuabueze.

In November 2018, four Catholic Priests were kidnapped in Delta State. They were identified as Rev Frs Victor Adigboluja of the Ijebu Ode diocese; Anthony Otegbola, Abeokuta Diocese; Joseph Ediae, Benin Archdiocese; and Emmanuel Obadjere, Warri Diocese. They were abducted by suspected Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen between Agbor and Umutu in Ukwani Local Government Area of Delta State. In Jan 2019, another Catholic Priest, Rev Fr Isaac Agabi was abducted along Auchi-Igarra Road in Edo State. He was the priest in charge of Holy Name Catholic Church, Ikpeshi. In Dec 2018, two Catholic Priests were abducted by gunmen suspected to be Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen. The two Priests were of St Teresa’s Catholic Church Umueze Anam in Anambra West Local Government Area of Anambra State. The source said the priests were abducted at Umuleri while returning from an official function.

Ignorance Over Protest As Foundation Of Democracy: Part of professional daftness of the authorities of the present Nigerian Government particularly its heads of Police, Army and SSS is their gross ignorance or pretended same over the existence of protest as the foundation of democracy and relationships between members of the human family and between humans and their environment. From the formation of human fetus to its growth, protest abounds. The kicking of the fetus inside its mother’s womb is also a protest; likewise the sexual intercourse that gives rise to its formation. In political governance realm, protest is at the core of its foundation. Stifled protest gives rise to embryos of conflict called politico-social disputes and when ignored or badly managed such as suppression and brutal criminalization, they can result to widespread or intractable conflicts including under-ground radicalization. The present Government of Nigeria and its heads of Police, Army and SSS must therefore avoid taking the country to the perilous path of refugee camps and complex humanitarian emergencies.

15

The Oracle Today Tuesday August 6 - 12 , 2019

POLITICS

Bayelsa guber: All eyes on Timi Alaibe November16, 2019 promises to be a red letter day in the annals of Bayelsa State history. On that fateful day, Bayelsans will go to the polls to elect their 5th civilian governor since the creation of the state in 1996. From Yenagoa, CLEM ONYEMAECHI reports.

B

ayelsa State is agog with political activities as no fewer than 15 governorship aspirants have picked the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms on the platform of the ruling party in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to seek ticket of the party.

So far, only the immediate past minister of state for agriculture and rural development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri has picked the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms for the guber contest in the other major rival party, the All Progressive Congress, APC. It is on record that this is the first time that such high numbers of governorship aspirants have indicated interest for the position particularly from one political party since the dawn of democracy in the country.

Before now, the out- going state governor, Seriake Dickson had maintained that it is only those in his political family, christened the Restoration Team that would enjoy his backing among those within the PDP that are in the race to succeed him.

This perhaps accounted for the high number of aspirants in the fray for the coveted position who are believed to be laying claim to membership of the Restoration family.

However among those who are carving their own path outside the Restoration family and who many say could define the governorship contest this time is former Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs and Coordinator of Presidential Amnesty Program who also doubles as former managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Chief Ndutimi Alaibe.

Alaibe was a founding member of PDP in Bayelsa, but when he could not actualize his quest to govern the state under the PDP, he left and pitched tent with the Labour party.

His ambition also hit a brick wall in the Labour party, and he made a U-turn back to the PDP. In 2015, when many PDP faithful ditched Dickson in his reelection bid, Alaibe followed suit and they embraced the All Progressive Congress, APC. Again his quest to clinch the governorship ticket of the APC to slug it out with Governor Dickson at the polls failed as the Leader of APC in the state, Chief Timipre Sylva did him in and snatched the ticket and presented himself through a kangaroo governorship primary.

Last year, Alaibe made a historic return to the PDP and was accorded a rousing reception by Governor Dickson himself.

On that occasion, the governor acknowledged the position of Alaibe as a very highly place political leader in the state, stressing that his return to the PDP was a big boost to the party.

“We are here to formally receive and welcome you back home to your party and I have told the chairman and the political desk working with your team that we will organize a formal reception to receive you because you are a big fish. You cannot come into the PDP and people will not know you have come. So what is happening today is a prelude to your formal reception.

“We were pained when you left at a time we needed you most but all of that is history.

What is important is what is ahead of us and I want to assure you that you are all valued leaders in the party once again”, Dickson had told Alaibe and his followers who returned to PDP with him.

True to his promise, the governor had organized a more elaborate reception to celebrate the return of Alaibe to the PDP where all PDP chapters in the wards and local government areas in the state featured amidst

drumming, dancing and merry making.

So when he (Alaibe) stepped forth and picked the forms to contest for the governorship ticket of the PDP, many people adjusted their seats and said that a big masquerade had stepped into the arena.

And as an astute politician that he is, Alaibe has conceived a novel economic blueprint to revolutionalize the state economy, christened ‘The Blue Economy’. Unveiling the blue print to journalists at the Press center in Yenagoa, the former NDDC boss fondly called ‘The Principal’ by his admirers noted that his desire to join the guber race in Bayelsa was to use government platform for economic development and prosperity for the benefit of the people of the state.

Specifically on his “Blue Economy” blueprint, he told journalists that he would harness all the marine resources in the state abandoned by past administrations since the creation of the state to create prosperity, saying that the Philippines who have the same marine environment like Bayelsa use it to create sustainable economy for the country.

To this end, he said would open up the Akassa, Brass and Agge Deep Sea Ports to harness the natural resources to develop the state economy.

He said he would deploy the amnesty template to tackle insecurity in Bayelsa if elected governor, adding that his blueprint for youth development would address the challenges of cultism and drug addiction which fuel crime amongst the youths.

“The rate of crime in Bayelsa is of great concern to me as a parent and I have done it before, this is not a time to apportion blames, and somebody has to take responsibility to reform the youths because they are our children.

“We need to disarm, demobilize, rehabilitate and reintegrate them into the society and with my inherent capacity to solve social problems; this can be tackled in six months.

“My plan for the state is very detailed and robust anchored on unlocking the maritime potentials of Bayelsa to create jobs and wealth. The idea is to augment to revenue accruable to the state with investment capital.

“I shall be unveiling my plans to the people of Bayelsa as well as the key players in the economy as soon as I return my nomination forms ahead the September 3 primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),” he said.

Alaibe believes that he is the right man to lead Bayelsa in the contemporary times.

Speaking in 2015 when he went to the APC National Secretariat to submit his nomination form for the position of governor, he had told newsmen who accosted him that: “We as Bayelsa people are tired of accidental leadership. We are tired of visionless leaders and you know that I come with a lot of experience, goodwill, integrity and reputation.

“As one of the major oil producing states in this country, Bayelsa has not been able to see structured development in terms of infrastructural development and even in terms of environmental development as consequence of oil production”.

Born on the 10th day of June, 1962 in the Ijaw village of Igbainwari in Opokuma, Bayelsa State, Nigeria, to the family of late Pa Emmanuel Mmadu Alaibe, Alaibe started his primary education at Isoko Primary School, Marine Beach, Apapa, Lagos from 1967 and later completed at Christ the King School, Oromenike, Port Harcourt between 1970 through 1973 when his parents moved to Port Harcourt.

•Timi Alaibe He enrolled at the Government Secondary School, Kaiama,in Bayelsa State for his secondary education, from 1974 through 1979 ,where he earned his West African School Certificate, (WASC) Thereafter, Alaibe gained admission into the River State University of Science and Technology, from where he graduated with a Bachelors of Science (BSc) degree in Accounting, and later bagged a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) form Obafemi Awolowo University.

Upon completion of his Master’s degree program, Timi Aaibe returned to professional life at Peat Marwick Ani Ogunde and Co (now KPMG) initially as a trainee accountant.

In 1986, he joined the defunct African Continental Bank, (ACB) as Head of Operations and rose to become branch manager at Okrika branch, in River State. From there, he moved to the All States Trust Bank in 1991, as Assistant Manager in charge of risk management and credit control. A year later, in 1992, he was appointed as the Vice President of the Cosmopolitan Bancshares Ltd top tier finance and investment company.

In 1994, he joined Societe Generale Bank Ltd (now Heritage Bank PLC) as a manager, Corporate Banking Division and later held other senior positions till the year 2000.

When the then Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo administration created the Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC) in 2001, Timi became the pioneer Executive Director Finance and Administration of the commission.

His office instituted an effective and efficient governance structure that guided the management of the commission. He was instrumental in the establishment of a prudent fiscal regime that ensured efficient management of the financial resources that were allocated to the commission.

Along with his colleagues, he set in motion a coordinated response mechanism to address the short, medium and long-term challenges of the Niger Delta. These included integrated Regional Development Master Plan Interim Action Plan for key projects in the Niger Delta States, as well as programmes for skill acquisition and reorientation and empowerment of youths in the region. Due to his passion and dedication to ending violence in the Niger Delta region through empowerment, Timi was on more than one occasion appointed as the interim (acting) Managing Director of NDDC, during his time at the commission.

Then, in April 2007, he was finally appointed as the principle Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, a position he held until April 2009 when his tenure expired.

Shortly after the expiration of his tenure at NDDC, he was appointed Honorary Special Adviser and subsequently Substantive Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs and the Chief Executive Officer of the Presidential Amnesty Programme in October 2009. He became the Chief Negotiator for the Federal Government in the disarmament of the militants who had held the Niger Delta region of Nigeria hostage for years. He successfully negotiated disarmament terms and conditions with the Niger Delta Militants and got them to surrender weapons in their possession in an exercise that is arguably the most successful disarmament exercise in the history of Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) in Africa.

He was a member of the Niger Delta Technical Committee appointed by the President Yar’Adua administration in September, 2008 to collate, review and distil the various reports, suggestions and recommendations on the Niger Delta from the Willinks Commission Report (1958) to the present, and propose a summary of recommendations that will enable the Federal Government achieve sustainable development, peace, human and environmental security in the Niger Delta Region.

Even before his stint at NDDC, Alaibe was seriously eyeing the Creek Haven seat of government in his home state of Bayelsa, and had constituted a ‘bone’ in the neck to the late Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha who later became the first elected Executive Governor of the state.

It is on record that in 2003 when Alamieyeseigha was seeking reelection that Alaibe almost pulled the rug off his feet but for other external factors that worked in favour of the sitting Governor.

The same thing happened in 2007 when Dr Goodluck Jonathan who later succeeded Alamieyeseigha was seeking a second tenure. The formidable challenge posed by Alaibe for the ticket of PDP was so much that Jonathan was said to have contemplated throwing in the towel, but for the presidency led by Obasanjo that intervened and prevailed on Alaibe to allow Jonathan complete his term.

Analysts say this is the moment for Alaibe to realize his perennial ambition to occupy the Creek Haven in Bayelsa as the Chief Executive Officer and Governor of the ‘Glory of All Lands’.

A business mogul, Alaibe is currently the Chairman of Zomay Group of companies, a wholly Nigerian company with interest in Dredging, Civil Construction and Offshore Marine Logistics, and Support services. He is also the Chairman of Juanita Hotel, Port Harcourt.

16

The Oracle Today Tuesday August 6 - 12 , 2019

OBITUARY

Slain priest: Emotions, tears at St James the Greatest Sunday Mass •As Enugu Catholic diocese holds special prayer for peace and security in Nigeria

From Enugu, CHUKS EZE writes on the fallouts within the clergy and laity in Enugu since last week’s murder of the Parish Priest of St James the Greater Catholic Church, Ugbawka in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State. As he put it, emotions indeed ran high as Enugu Catholic Diocese held sprayers for peace and security in Nigeria in the wake of the priests’s shooting.

E

motions peaked at St James the Greater Catholic Church, Ugbawka in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, during the first Sunday Mass after the death of Rev Fr Paul Chidiebere Offu, parish priest of the church, who was gruesomely murdered recently, by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

This was even as the Catholic Bishop of Enugu has lamented the increasing rate of insecurity including incidences of rape, kidnapping, killings, intimidation and destruction of farmlands among others, adding that “Enough is enough”.

Onaga made the statement during a Holy Mass at the Holy Ghost Cathedral, Enugu, to conclude a special diocesan prayer tagged, “Prayer for Peace and Security in Nigeria and Enugu State in Particular; Mourning our Slain Priests and Lay Brothers and Sisters,” urging the government to urgently flush out the bad Fulani herders in Enugu State.

According to the Bishop, “Some crop of killers under the guise of herdsmen are making life impossible for and painful for everybody in this State and the country.

Travelers are confronted with dangerous weapons on their way to their businesses and daily activities. Women are raped in front of their husbands, while demands for outrageous ransom and the inability to pay have led to outright killings.

“For those claiming that those doing these are not, at least, herdsmen, these our priests would have given you testimony that all of them claimed to be herdsmen. Our priests can no longer move from place to place because we are living with them in our rural areas,” he said.

Meanwhile, Fr Offu, who was fondly called Eze Udo (ultimate Peace advocate), and the latest Catholic priest victim, was slain along Ihe-Agbudu road, in Awgu Lo-

•St James the Greater Parish Ugbawka

cal Council of the state, on Thursday, August 1, 2019, days after he had kickstarted a 40-day special prayer for his parish.

His burial has been slated for August 20, while his wake would hold at his home parish, in Okpatu, Udi Local Council Area, on August 19, 2019 at 10am and later at St James the Greatest at 4pm same day.

The Oracle Today’s Correspondent who visited the grieving church gathered that the usual 8:am Sunday Mass at the church had to be shifted to 11:am because priests were said to have been fully booked for Sunday before Fr Offu’s sudden death.

However, the murdered priest’s bosom friend and colleague at the seminary, Fr CJ Martins Agunechemba of Onitsha Catholic diocese, later came to the rescue after authorization by the leadership of Enugu Catholic diocese.

Ahead of commencement of the Mass, the faithful had offered various prayers for the repose of Fr Offu’s soul. They recited the rosary and did other spontaneous prayers. They also prayed for the speedy arrest of his killers, amid tears, with dozens of the congregants sobbing profusely each time the late priest’s name was mentioned.

During his homily, Fr Agunechembe, who also broke down at a point, after battling in vain to hold back tears, regretted the current high rate of insecurity in country, adding that he was with late Fr Offu at the funeral venue alongside other priests the day he was murdered.

Describing the late priest as easygoing, Fr Agunechemba said that many friends and associates had taken advantage of Fr Offu’s kindheartedness and uncommon forgiving spirit, while he was alive, and repeatedly subjected him to all manner of ill-treatments.

He admonished the faithful to always live a good life, be nice to their neighbours

•The protesting priests

•Late Fr Offu and eschew evil because no one knows when death would come calling on them.

“If Fr Ezeudo could die in that manner, then any of us in this church could, as well.

His death should be a reminder to you to be ceaselessly prayerful. You can imagine that he had just started 40 days special prayer for you before leaving this sinful earth, as if he knew what was going to happen to him,” he said.

According to the priest, Fr Offu’s killers had shot at his car, that fateful day, deflating some tyres of his vehicle, but that he still managed to escape with the car. He added that when he met some people along, he had thought it was safe for him to stop there. The further said that the slain priest was narrating his experience to the people, while advising those that were heading towards the place that he had been attacked to discontinue, when gunmen suddenly emerged from the bush and started raining bullets on him.

“He was a man of peace. He never bore

grudges against anybody; even repeated advantage that people took of him did not change him.

“He had told me how he had given someone the sum of N150 thousand to purchase inverter battery for the church, and also gave another person, who may be in this church right now, a cheque of N100 thousand to cash at the bank for ongoing church project, but that both men them disappeared with the money since several months. I asked him the day he was killed and he said they had been dodging him.

“Fr Ezeudo was nice to a fault. I do not think that I could get another friend like him,” Fr Agunechemba lamented, and then broke down in tears.

Corroborating Fr Agunechemba’s glowing eulogies for the murdered priest, after the Mass, in separate interviews with our correspondent, the congregants described Fr Offu as Godsent and the best since the creation of their parish. An elder in the church, Patrick Nwodo, said that Fr Offu was exceptional both in character and service.

“He has transformed our parish – the church building and the parish house and attracted the Bishop (Most Rv Dr CVC Onaga) to dedicate it for us. This is his fourth year here and he never levied anybody, yet people donated money happily and generously in church towards accomplishment of all his project initiatives,” he explained.

For the Assistant Catechist of the church, Chukwuogbu Emmanuel, and the Chairperson of Catholic Women Organisation, Chukwu Gladys, Fr Offu was a living saint. They added that he was always there for the faithful, to listen to them and take care of their needs.

Fr Offu’s murder had provoked a protest

by Catholic priests who had marched, in their numbers, with placards, through major streets in Enugu, and to the Government House, Bishops Court, and Police Headquarters in the State, calling for an end to attacks on priests and innocent citizens, and demanding for immediate improved security across the country.

17

The Oracle Today Tuesday August 6 - 12, 2019

FOCUS

At APAMS, we let the dead enjoy too, says Chukwumobi

By OLIVER UDEOGU, Onitsha

A

LIFE well lived, and any life at all calls for a befitting funeral; and for every other kind of life, gets a fitting funeral ceremony it deserves. How does a man who lived most of his life riding in classy cars be denied the benefit of a last ride to his resting place in a less classy car?

Or how could a man, who never had the benefit of ever sitting in a car alone, or the comfort of having ever owned one for that matter, be denied the last benefit of ride in a luxury car, on his way to Purgatory, netherworld, underworld or wherever the dead go to. Most bereaved families celebrate the funeral like a wedding day. The difference is in the church service and the casket Would it be human to deny the dead any sort of comfort on their exit flight?

This is that time, when love is given out and not expected in return and the society stands to pay last respects to a deceased.

At Apams Funeral home, founded in 1992, no comfort is spared the dead, as much as the bereaved family can spare. The company’s motto might as well have been, “We Let The Dead Enjoy Too.” Poring through a catalogue of services they offer, like the menu at an exotic restaurant, the bereaved will likely be hit by a righteous feeling of guilt. How does he bury his Papa or Mama; maybe a beloved auntie or uncle, even a child? A tiny voice could murmur, “No expenses spared, you are not doing this for him ever.”

With the wishes of friends and family of the deceased at heart, the company’s general manager, Mr Leonard Nwankwo said, “it is at this point that we come in. We are aware of the desire of anyone to give a befitting burial to a loved one. But we also know that the desire depends on the client’s financial disposition.

“We always plan a befitting funeral ceremony, appropriate for the amount of money the be-

reaved has in mind to spend.

“Often times the passing of a loved one occurs and families are left with the burden of what to do in order not to incur unforeseen expenses.

“Because we have gone further to engage in funeral guide, planning and management, we try to be empathetic but at the same ensure that the client sees that the deceased was given a befitting burial. This is what it is all about.”

Nwankwo explains that the Apams funeral home understands the importance of providing a comforting hand in times of grief, recognizing that every deceased they serve has lived a life that is uniquely their own. That uniqueness is stamped in how the deceased goes “home.”

And through personalized and thoughtful memorials, Apams, regarded as the foremost funeral company east of the Niger, celebrates each death like no other.

The company focuses on personalized and purposeful funeral services, “designed to honour and celebrate the life lived, thereby providing a first step in the healing process,” and in the end, “we provide ‘comfort’ to the deceased and peace of mind to the bereaved.”

With distance not considered a barrier, burials, funeral are arranged anywhere.

Nwankwo continues: “When people die abroad and the bereaved family want us to do the funeral undertaking, we usually ask them the scope of funeral they want. We then deploy their budget to cover the services. You can certainly get a befitting burial on any budget.

“Once the planning and management is contracted, this helps reduce stress on the deceased family members who would now have time for other things.

“In such services, our engagement starts from the airport on receiving the body. From there it will be taken to the mortuary and every other thing follows.

“There are many people who have imparted on mankind and

when these people pass unto eternal glory, it is expected they are given a befitting burial rather than be thrown into the ground, just like that. But then, at death, no one is just thrown into the ground.

The uniqueness of the funeral is relative, but all is designed with a certain sense of style and decorum.”

The Chief Executive Officer of Apams, Sir Kelvin Chukwumobi is not fazed by the successes of his company and they have redefined a befitting funeral, and made the internment not so solemn and gloomy but a festival, a celebration.

He said: “Consistency is the key to survival in this or any business.

If I have not been consistent, I would have fallen by the way side.

Despite the mockery from people and the other challenges I faced, I stood firm. And the result is what has touched so many people, the living and the dead. It has been a steady rise for me, so whatever we do, we need to remain steadfast and try not to jump from one place to another.”

Apams eclipsed a few pioneer funeral homes and within a short period of operation, it “took over the funeral business, especially in the eastern part of Nigeria.” The name is synonymous with death, dying and the dead. And of course, the attendant funeral.

Today, the company, Apams has a network of corporate plazas in cities like Enugu, Asaba, Aba, Umuahia, Onitsha, Nnewi, Abakaliki with liaison offices in Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Services When a bereaved family makes the phone call or visit to the nearest branch of the funeral home, there is a range of choices in sending the deceased home. The options range from the Executive Funeral Decoration, Royal Funeral Decoration, the Corporate Funeral Decoration, the Classic Funeral Decoration, and the Mobile decoration (Church Truck).

Then comes the choice of a car,

from a fleet of choice cars that would easily rival a car freak’s garage. In an instance, the feeling is aroused that even in dying, life is a serious business, and in life, dying is a serious business.

Some one nearby voices the fact that “people like to leave this world in style. Or it is more like people like to send their beloved ones home in style.”

The company’s fleet includes the Lincoln Navigator, the Armada, Cadillac limousine, Infinity, Lincoln limousine, Hummer, Escalade, Mercedes 4matic, Customized Escalade, Customized Rolls-Royce.

There are also specialized and customized services like a horse drawn carriage and helicopter services.

Well dressed young men and women line up as Pall bearers, there is a band group, other vehicles for hiring and fireworks. The company provides security personnel and security men, during funerals.

Of course, there are the caskets, foreign caskets and local caskets.

The foreign caskets are imported from anywhere in the world.

There are many ambulances.

Some are designed for long distances, others are hugely ceremonial depending on the destination to be covered. Other services include the grave excavation, which includes the inner tomb tiling, the outer tomb tilling, lowering device and burying of corpse and covering of grave.

The Funeral Business A funeral home, funeral parlour or mortuary provides interment

and other funeral services for the dead and their families. These services may include a prepared wake and funeral, and the provision of a chapel for the funeral.

The Egyptians mastered the science of preservation but most mortuaries today try their hands at that old art.

The funeral business is an old business. It has always being a solemn business. Chukwumobi, described by his staff as a passionate man, toes the line of his forebears in this business. Joseph of Arimathea, the man who buried Jesus Christ in the tomb, was also a kind man, full of passion and love for his fellow man. The Bible didn’t say how much the disciples paid him to bury Christ.

The company’s general manager attributed the company’s rising profile to the CEO’s passion for the business. “Our CEO is a man of immense business acumen. He started this business years ago with virtually nothing. But due to the passion he has for it, not necessarily the money, the business has grown. I could recall he started with one ambulance and today, Apams has become a success story.

“The company has a work force of well trained personnel, university graduates in all the departments. The staff welfare package according to Nwankwo is among the best in the industry. Our professional and caring staff take pride in providing high quality and affordable funeral services that meet the special needs of bereaved families.”

The Oracle Today Tuesday August 6 -12, 2019

18

19

BU$IN£SS The Oracle Today Tuesday August 6 – Monday August 12, 2019

•Energy

•Finance

•Stock

•Insurance

•Aviation

•e-Platform

Energy

Jerome Ushakang

T

he present administration of the federal government may bequeath a very bleak economy for the country if the current debt burden which has taken a toll of over N7.04 trillion on the nation’s revenue is not urgently addressed.

Analysis of data obtained from the Debt Management Office (DMO) shows that Nigeria’s total debt has more than doubled since 2015, while President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has spent the whopping sum to service both domestic and external debts.

The data also showed that the country’s debt profile has increased by almost 107 percent in Naira value since 2015. Nigeria’s total public debt stood at N12.4 trillion or $64.2 billion in the first quarter of 2015, and has since risen to N24.9 trillion or $81.27 billion in March 2019.

Between 2017 and 2018, the data showed, total external debt service burden increased by over 200 percent, reaching 451.8 billion in 2018.

Nigeria paid the sum of $464 million or 142 billion to service external debt in 2017. The figure rose significantly to $1.47 billion or 451.8 billion in 2018.

Just like external debt, domestic debt servicing has also gulped over N6.1 trillion in the last five years with the total amount spent on servicing Nigeria’s domestic debt rising by 76 percent from just a trillion Naira in 2015 on annual basis o N1.79 trillion in 2018.

External debt service gulped a total of N931 billion or US$2.1 billion in the last five years with commercial loans holding the lion’s share of US$1.58 billion.

The Oracle Today reports that President Muhammadu Buhari who had inherited Africa’s biggest economy in 2015 turned to massive domestic and foreign borrowing to address acute revenue declines as he ascended political leadership, ignoring internal and external warnings on the implications on the economy.

International prices for crude oil had plummeted from over $100 per barrel in 2014 to less than $50 per barrels in 2016; and with little or no buffers the economy which was in the fledgling hands of rookie ministers had rapidly plunged into recession.

Revenue from crude oil sales account for over 80 percent of total funding support to government’s annual budgets, and over 90 percent of total foreign exchange income for the country. And with little linkage between huge budget petroleum industry and local real sector, drop in oil prices meant total collapse of the economy.

Several recovery programmes enunciated by the government’s economic team had failed to activate alternative sources of revenue until oil prices rebound in 2017.

AfCFTA to facilitate export of oil industry services P23 e-Platform

Support for Windows 7 OS ending –Microsoft P27

• President Muhammadu Buhari

FG blows N7.04 trn on debt servicing Some financial experts who spoke to our correspondents on the rising spate of bowing and associated debt obligations lamented that the current administration of the government might be putting the fate of the country in economic jeopardy.

“The future of unborn generation of Nigerians is likely to be bleak and in jeopardy as the country’s rising debt profile is fast becoming a worrisome trend.

“There are strong indications that current Nigerian leaders are rather going to bequeath to future Nigerians cumbersome debts to pay when they leave office. This is not a blessing as the future Nigerian children may be compelled to pay for inherited debts,” an analyst said in a short chat at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

Loans are not intrinsically bad in themselves, another financial stated.

“However, as the popular saying goes, there’s no free lunch anywhere.

Debt instruments that are given to the government of a country often come with terms and conditions such as interest repayments plans that are difficult to meet.” He pointed out.

CBN Exchange Rates As At Friday, July 12, 2019 Currency Buying(₦) DANISH KRONA 46.0712 US DOLLAR 306 POUNDS STERLING 383.7852 SWISS FRANC 310.1875 YEN 2.8289 CFA 0.5036 WAUA 421.548 YUAN/RENMINBI 44.4565 RIYAL 81.5869 SOUTH AFRICAN RAND 21.8299 SDR 423.2592

•Tourism

Another analyst agreed that debts could be made flexible with a wide range of financial conditions that are specifically tailored to meet a country’s overall debt management strategy. He however argued that Nigeria’s debt situation holds many concerns about the way borrowings are structured.

“There is possibility of a foreign creditor taking over some of the country’s assets due to the inability to repay loans. There is also a possibility of launching the country into another recession if the debt profile is not properly managed,” he said.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently cautioned the Nigeria on mindless borrowing.

Managing Director of Cross Gates Associates who argued differently declared that although Nigeria’s debt servicing accounts for over 28 percent of the country’s debt stock, it would not be fair to blame it all on bad government policies.

He pointed out that Nigeria nosedived into economic recession during the onset of the current administration, explain that it took a strategic increase in government

expenditure and other beneficial policy measures to rescue the country’s ailing economy.

He pointed at the Economic Recovery Growth Plan (EGRP) and growth plan initiated in 2017 to tackle shrinking growth. “The crux of ERGP provides for effective collaboration and coordination with the states to ensure that the federal and state governments work towards the same goals.

“During the full-blown recession period, several states defaulted in paying salaries to the workers while poverty soars in the land. Following this, federal government intensified borrowing and offered bail-out to almost 30 states in the country.”

Another expert who declined to have his name published pointed out that acute illiquidity in the economy after the 2015 elections, growing unemployment, poverty and insecurity means that economic recovery would even be slower than expected.

“As President Buhari’s administration is desperate for growth, it will be needing funds to facilitate the growth plan and as such, may have to rely on more borrowing.”

AVIATION

AON kicks as FG grants Emirates additional frequencies into Abuja P26

Equity & Capital Market

Access Bank secures N30bn tier II Bond Issuance

P29 Money Market

Improving FG’s fiscal position would be tougher than expected –Afrinvest P30

STOCK MARKET HIGHLIGHTS AS AT FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2019

Summary

Central (₦) Selling(₦) ASI 28,566.79 DEALS 2,707.00 46.1464 46.2217 VOLUME 100,373,875.00 306.5 307 VALUE N1,459,612,583.73 384.4123 385.0394 EQUITY CAP N13,922,041,087,469.36 310.6944 311.2012 BOND CAP N12,193,750,555,488.50 ETF CAP N0.00 2.8335 2.8381 0.5136 0.5236 Top 5 Trades 422.2368 422.9256 S/N Coy (By Volume) Value(N) 44.5296 44.6026 1. ZENITHBANK 17,363,357 N329,882,150.25 81.7203 81.8536 2. STANBIC 10,789,567 N431,572,631.85 3. FBNH 8,453,937 N50,606,026.45 21.8655 21.9012 UBA 8,403,131 N49,640,826.95 423.9508 424.6424 4.

5. CHIPLC 7,015,999 N2,314,779.72

5 Top Gainers

Symbols CCNN UACN ACCESS UBA UCAP

Last Close Current Change %Change N13.85 N14.5 0.65 4.69% N5.8 N6 0.2 3.45% N6.6 N6.7 0.1 1.52% N5.85 N5.9 0.05 0.85% N2.17 N2.2 0.03 1.38%

5 Top Losers NESTLE NB MTNN PZ REDSTAREX

N1280 N61 N130 N6.45 N5.4

N1225 N58 N129.65 N6.2 N5.2

-55 -3 -0.35 -0.25 -0.2

-4.30% -4.92% -0.27% -3.88% -3.70%

The Oracle Today Tuesday August 6 - 12, 2019

ISSN: 2545-5869

The

racle www.oraclenews.ng

Today

EDITORIAL

20

VOX POPULI SACRUM

Shiites must not become terrorists

S

Umar Usman Belel, was shot while Mohammed Adamu should pressure heikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, leader he was persuading the protesters to the presidency to toe the path of of the Islamic Movement in Nigespare public property; he later died peace and not open new battle fronria (IMN), otherwise called Shiites, and was buried on the same day in and his wife have been in detentiers. His usual claims that “everything Abuja according to Islamic rites. The is under control” appear suspect. Agtion since December 2015 after a Shiites also attacked the Emergency confrontation between the Islamic grieved people have a right to proResponse and Ambulance Bays (ERgroup and Nigerian soldiers in Katest in a peaceful manner; the police should not shoot live bullets at them.

ABs) of the National Emergency Manduna State, which led to the masIt is such attitude that often provokes agement Agency (NEMA) located on sacre of no fewer than 300 Shiites. crowds to turn violent.

Ahmadu Bello Way, beside the FedEl-Zakzaky is being tried for murder, but a high court once ordered his eral Secretariat, and burnt down two While we do not recommend that the course of justice be altered, the courts release. The Muhammadu Buhariof its ambulances. should be encouraged to expedite led federal government has refused, A fortnight earlier, two Shiites had their trials. El-Zakzaky could be taken and, instead, it has been bringing been shot dead and two police officon bail or put under house arrest as additional charges against him. ers injured as they protested at the his trial continues. Also, nothing stops His followers have staged protest National Assembly complex in Abuja. the government from negotiating marches in Abuja for at least two The aggrieved Shiites claim that, in with the sect. After all, it has been years now, as they demanded October 2018, more than 40 people negotiating with known terrorist Sheikh El-Zakzaky’s release. Somewere killed when the security forces groups. Prevention is always better opened fire on crowds on the outtimes, they were peaceful protests; than cure. at other times they turned violent. skirts of Abuja.

This Monday witnessed the most Many concerned Nigerians have advised •This editorial was first run last week. violent so far: at least 10 Shiites the Buhari administration to avoid We are re-running it this week in the were gunned down by soldiers and creating another terrorist organisalight of Monday’s court order allowmany more wounded. A deputy tion in the country by finding a way commissioner of police in the FCT, to let El-Zakzaky, his wife and other ing El-Zakzaky and his wife to travel Shiite detainees regain abroad for medial treatment freedom. We at The Oracle Today are equally concerned that court orders have been Our Vision TO BE among the top five newspapers in Nidisobeyed in the case of ElZakzaky and other detainees geria and, in due course, the Numero Uno; to be a newspaper of records that effectivelike former national seculy caters to the information needs of all segrity adviser Ibrahim Dasuki. ments and sections of the Nigerian society Already, the nation has been as well as all social classes and cultures. Essentially, we want to be a responsible corpooverwhelmed by the activities of terrorist groups such rate citizen, a commercially viable, properly organised media business, which meets its as Boko Haram, the Miyetti obligations to society, government and the Allah group of cattle herdworkforce. ers, and bandits from other African countries who kidMission WE INTEND to contribute to the developnap, rape and kill innocent ment of an inclusive Nigerian society, with a Nigerians in different parts view to getting rid of the dark sides of our of the country. The Shiites national life (slothfulness, greed, corruption, would be one too many. nepotism, totalitarianism, etc); to continually President Buhari last week engender and sustain national debates that told the protesters to would ultimately lead to the enthronement of healthy national values--hard-work, justice, wait for the outcome of equity and fairplay, transparency, good govZakzaky’s trial. But how ernance, resulting, in themselves, the egalilong will it take before the tarian Nigerian society of our dream. We will court gives its judgement? give voice to the voiceless and at all times, We know the speed with strive to be balanced, objective, honest, truthwhich Nigerian courts oper- ful and fair to all sides; so that through The Oracle Today, our people, the Nigerian peoate. Detention without trial ple can see a bright light at the end of what belongs only in authoritarhas been a very dark tunnel. And we shall do ian regimes. And justice all this in absolute trust in God who blesses delayed is justice denied. good intentions.

Inspector-General of Police

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The Oracle Today Tuesday August 6 - 12, 2019

OPINION Edo Assembly crisis: From morality and legality

By EHICHIOYA EZOMON

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re the conditions precedent for the National Assembly (NASS) to take over the functions of a State House of Assembly present in the dispute in the Edo House of Assembly over its inauguration by nine of its 24 Members-elect on June 17, 2019?

Both chambers of Nigeria’s apex legislative body believe so, and have accordingly threatened to assume the functions of the Assembly if, within one week, Governor Godwin Obaseki failed to issue a fresh proclamation for its “proper” inauguration.

For the record, the Assembly, prior to the inauguration, was split between nine members loyal to Governor Obaseki and 15 members answerable to his predecessor and National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

The Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC denounced the launch of the Assembly, and urged that a fresh inaugural of all Members-elect in attendance be carried out.

The refusal of the Assembly to comply with the directive has brought the sitting and former governors into a face off, resulting in a media war, protests and solidarity rallies by party members.

Lately, the battle has shifted to the NASS and the courts. In mid July, the report of a 13-member ad hoc committee of the House of Representatives on the matter, was adopted, with three of the five recommendations standing out, as follows: “That the governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, in the interest of peaceful coexistence of the state, should issue a fresh proclamation within one week in line with section 105(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), stating the date, time and

venue, and publish in any national daily and television station.”

“That the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) should shut down the Edo State House of Assembly and provide adequate security to allay further fears of intimidation and threats as alleged by Members-elect.”

And if all else failed, the “National Assembly should invoke the provision of section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to take over the state House of Assembly until the situation normalizes.”

On July 30, the Senate adopted the report of its seven-member ad hoc committee, and gave Governor Obaseki one week to issue a fresh proclamation for the inauguration of the Assembly.

It urged the Clerk of the Assembly to inform the 24 “Members-elect” about the fresh inauguration, stating the date, time and venue, and published in any national daily and television station.

The Senate vowed to invoke section 11(4) of the Constitution, and take over the functions of the Assembly “if Governor Obaseki fails to issue a fresh proclamation.”

Section 105(3) of the Constitution vests the Governor with the power to issue a proclamation “for the holding of the first session of the House of Assembly of the State concerned immediately after his being sworn in, or for its dissolution as provided in this section.”

Governor Obaseki did issue a proclamation on Friday, June 14, 2019, and thus maintains that he has fulfilled the constitutional requirement, and would not issue another proclamation.

The pronouncements of the NASS may have catapulted the Edo Assembly crisis into the realm of legalism, subsuming the issue of morality and fairness of the nine Members-elect’s action.

There’re several posers. Did Godwin

Obaseki, the Assembly and the NASS follow laid-down rules in the Constitution in carrying out their sides of the bargain?

For instance, section 105(3) of the Constitution asks the Governor to issue a proclamation for the Assembly’s inauguration “immediately after his being sworn in...”

There’s no governorship poll in Edo State during the 2019 general election.

However, Governors-elect were sworn in on May 29, 2019, while most of the State Assemblies were inaugurated on June 7.

It’s implied that Governor Obaseki would issue a proclamation on May 29, or before the June 7 inauguration. But he didn’t advance the letter to the Clerk of the Assembly until June 14.

Yet, the Clerk reportedly “hoarded” the proclamation, and invited, on June 17, only nine (or six) of the 24 Members-elect “amenable” to Governor Obaseki’s camp of the Assembly.

Thus, at 10.30 p.m., on the basis of the nine Members-elect forming a “quorum,” the Clerk proclaimed the Assembly that adjourned after the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

The “disenfranchised” and aggrieved 15 Members-elect were to take the matter to the national headquarters of the APC, which, for equity and fairness, called for a fresh inauguration.

But when nothing changed in the Assembly, a member from Edo State raised the matter in the House of Representatives, and an ad hoc committee was set up to investigate it.

The Senate was to follow suit. Interestingly, both committees, and chambers arrived at similar findings, and recommendations, including a fresh proclamation to be issued by Governor Obaseki, for a “proper” inauguration of the Assembly.

Was the NASS right in its decisions, particularly the marching order to Governor Obaseki, and the threat to take over the Assembly if he failed to carry out the direc-

tive?

Actually, it can invoke section 11(4) of the Constitution, take over, and “may make laws for the peace, order and good government of the State with respect to matters on which a House of Assembly may make laws as may appear to the National Assembly to be necessary or expedient until such a time as the House of Assembly is able to resume its functions.”

But still, subsection (5) of section 11 enjoins that, “For the purpose of subsection (4) of this section, a House of Assembly shall not be deemed to be unable to perform its functions so long as the House of Assembly can hold a meeting and transact business.”

The “lacuna” in the inauguration of the Assembly aside, would the National Assembly claim it could no longer perform its functions of meeting and transacting business?

Certainly not! The Assembly has elected its presiding officers, and commenced business by confirming nominated Commissioners and Special Advisers, and began consideration of bills.

Besides, the NASS should note some court injunctions restraining it, the APC, Police and DSS, and their agents from removing the presiding officers, and/or interfering in the affairs of the Assembly.

Also, by its own rules, the NASS cannot dabble in a matter in court, to avoid prejudicing the case, and undermining the separation of power between the Legislature and the Judiciary.

The National Assembly should have waited - and should wait - for the court cases to run their course. Carrying out its avowal would aggravate the crisis, and the “illegality” it’s trying to cure.

Let the sabre-rattling stop, and reconciliation explored between the warring factions in the Edo Assembly, and their promoters in Messrs Obaseki and Oshiomhole, who are all of the APC family.

Why young American Jews no longer care about Israel

By JAY RUDERMAN

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n previous years, Israel’s back-to-back elections would have been an event the American Jewish community focused on. Individuals would discuss the political turbulence in Israel in their communal institutions, shul, and social networks. These upcoming elections, however, the level of engagement seems lower than usual and large segments of American Jewry do not care. The unprecedented dispersal of the Knesset following Benjamin Netanyahu’s failure to form a coalition, and a second national election within six months, are met with a sense of disinterest by most American Jews.

The growing rift between Israel and American Jewry is one cause for this. There are also other, substantial explanations, the result of internal challenges and issues facing young American Jews operating within their respective communal frameworks.

For decades, a few umbrella organizations spearheaded the communal work and life of American Jewry. Generally speaking, these organizations are controlled by a few ultrawealthy donors, with a similar profile – older Ashkenazi men, – despite the demographic and social changes the community underwent in recent decades.

In other words, there is a lack of diversity and representation at the organizational level. This causes younger Jews to disengage from the institutions meant to represent them. This disengagement is not only from the institutions – but also from traditional communal life. Since the community’s ties with Israel run first and foremost through its institutions – Federations, educational groups

The lack of diversity and representation in the organizations spearheading the communal work and life of American Jewry has caused younger Jews to disengage and others – stepping away from the organized Jewish world is also a step away from established connections to Israel.

The average American Jewish organization is managed by extremely wealthy older men. This image does not reflect the gender and ethnical diversity that exists within the community. In practice, the organizations established to work for the Jewish community, those which served it for over 100 years, no longer represent large segments of US Jewry.

While we have seen a recent increase in women’s presence within Jewish organizations, including the appointment of Amira Aharonovich as the first-ever woman Director General of the Jewish Agency and Harriet Schleifer as the American Jewish Committee’s first female President, other groups are still not part of the top brass of communal leadership. Jews from the former USSR or Israel, people with disabilities and LGBTQ Jews are only some examples. The gap between the unelected leadership and the community members it is meant to represent is only growing wider.

The lack of representation of large Jewish segments within Jewish organizations is even more obvious when compared to American legislative institutions. In the 2018 midterm Congressional elections, we saw Congress change greatly as more minorities and women took office. Female representation grew from 92 women in the 115th Congress to 106 in the 116th. Capitol Hill also became more racially diverse, with a 10 per cent increase in Af-

rican American representation, a nearly 15 per cent increase in Asian representation, and a 100 per cent increase in Native American representation. This Congress also saw record growth in the black and Hispanic caucuses.

Furthermore, there has been a generational shift. The numbers of Generation Xers in Congress grew 17 per cent, and millennial skyrocketed 420 per cent, while representation among the Silent Generation and baby boomers decreased about 13 per cent. Overall, the average age in Congress fell from 57 to 47.

These social changes cause young Jews to understand that in the United States, diversity and representation is important. However, when they look at their communal organizations’ lack of diversity and representation, this is not the case.

By increasing representation within the organized Jewish world, we can properly address some of the biggest challenges facing the American Jewish community. It can increase the involvement of younger Jews, and those who identify with various marginalized groups. The ironic tragedy of this situation is that these organizations spend large amounts of money on projects promoting Jewish identity and connecting young Jews to the community and to Israel.

The most effective way to connect people to the community and its values is by giving them a seat at the table and allowing them to be part of our leadership. Representation might not solve all our problems, but it is a much-needed step in the right direction.

Jay Ruderman is President of the Ruderman Family Foundation, which works to promote disability inclusion and strengthen the relationship between Israel and the American Jewish community and wrote this article originally for Haaretz, the Israeli English Language newspaper.

THE GROUP Managing Editor/COO Felix Oguejiofor Abugu Deputy Managing Editor/COO Sopuruchi Onwuka Chairman Editorial Board Igwebike Mbanefo Political/Production Editor Kodilinye Obiagwu SE/SS Editor Odogwu Emeka Odogwu Acting BDM Kelechi Nze Head, Graphics & Designs Nnamdi Alex Chukwu Circulation Manager Felix Oti

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The Oracle Today Tuesday August 6 – Monday August 12, 2019

BUSINESS

AMCON seizes Bao Yao coys in Abuja, Calabar over N3.6bn debt Stories By JEROME USHAKANG

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he Federal High Court Abuja has ordered Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) to take over two steel companies – Bao Yao Futurlex Iron & Steel Company Limited in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, and Bao Yao Huan Jian Iron & Steel in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

The verdict which was passed

by Hon. Justice Binta .F.M. Nyako mandated AMCON to take over all the assets of the two steel companies and General Idris Garba (rtd) over a staggering indebtedness of over N3.6 billion.

“In compliance with the court order, AMCON through Mr. Robert Ohuoba, the receiver who also received protective orders from the court has taken possession of Bao Yao Futurlex Iron & Steel Company Limited, Abuja. According to a press statement obtained by The Oracle Today,.

The assets, which are now under AMCON include Bao Yao Futurlex Iron & Steel Company Limited, Abuja as well as Bao Yao Huan Jian Iron & Steel Company Limited, Calabar belonging to the obligors.

The order also froze all accounts of the companies in any financial institution in the name or belonging to the defendants, which include Bao Yao Futurlex Iron & Steel Company Limited; Bao Yao Huan Jian Iron & Steel Company Limited, Mr. Shen Yaozhang, Mr. Ji Yunfeng and Gen. Idris Garba (Rtd.) and all financial institutions served with the order.

The court also granted AMCON possessory order over all that piece of land consisting of buildings/factory and situated at Esuk Utan Village, Calabar, Cross River State, more particularly described as Plot A23 – A30, Calabar Export Processing Zone; All those chattels consisting of five Oil Tank Barges and seven Tug

Boats among others as well as all piece of land consisting of an acre and situated in Kaduna in the Kaduna Local Government Area, more particularly described as Plot No. 13, Idoma Close, amongst others assets.

Justice Nyako also sanctioned AMCON’s appointment of Mr. Robert Ohuoba, as the receiver over the business and stock in trade and overall fixed and floating assets of both Bao Yao Futurlex Iron & Steel Company Limited and Bao Yao Huan Jian Iron & Steel Company Limited wherever they may be found within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court.

The Court also directed the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police, in all the states of the federation to assist and protect the bailiffs of the Federal High Court and the receiver, Mr. Robert Ohuoba to carry out the takeover.

Confirming that AMCON had already taken over the assets/ properties as directed by the Court, Jude Nwauzor, Head, Corporate Communications, AMCON said, “We saw it coming because the said debt is long overdue. Like we have always said, going to court with obligors is usually the last resort for us as a corporation. Whenever you see us take over a company as is the case in this instance, it means we must have patiently tried to resolve the matter without going to court.

“Taking over the firm as directed by the court is an indication that all efforts by AMCON to get the obligor to amicably repay the indebtedness have proved abortive. If you have exhausted all avenues of peaceful resolution, there is no other option available to the AMCON than to commence enforcement action against Bao Yao Futurlex Iron & Steel Company Limited as well as Bao Yao Huan Jian Iron & Steel Company Limited as directed, which is also provided

• CEO, AMCON, Ahmed Kuru under Section 49-52 of the AMCON Act.” More take-overs in line: It would be recalled that both the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the Board Chairman of AMCON, Dr. Muiz Banire (SAN) and the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, AMCON, Mr Ahmed Lawan Kuru have repeatedly reiterated the fact that AMCON would collaborate with relevant government agencies in the country to intensify its chase on recalcitrant obligors of the corporation over a debt profile of over N5trillion.

Meanwhile, AMCON has continued to sustain its high tempo of recoveries, which actually began last year when the government agency strategically refocused its recovery activities to more of enforcement.

ETI appoints Nana Araba Abban, Group Consumer Banking Head

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cobank Transnational Incorporated,( ETI), the Lomébased parent company of the Ecobank Group, has announced appointment of Nana Araba Abban as Group Consumer Banking Head with immediate effect.

In a statement , ETI said Nana will be a member of the Group Executive Committee and will report directly to the Group Chief Executive Officer.

Nana Araba Abban is a Chartered Accountant (FCCA) with over 25 years’ experience in the Financial Services industry. During her career at Ecobank, She has held several senior positions including Group Head of Direct Banking, Head of Client Engagement and Senior Group Manager for Personal Banking.

Before joining Ecobank, Nana Araba Abban held several senior positions with Standard Chartered Bank, Royal Bank of Scotland and other institutions in Product Portfolio the Society under whose tenure Management, Product Accounting the land was bought, Mr. Frank Aul, and Banking Operations. commended the SEC Management She holds an MBA, in Business for their support and also expressed his appreciation to staff who subscribed for believing in the.

Project In his remarks, President of SEC Multi-Purpose Society, Mr. Abulrahman Ahmed thanked the management of the commission eplat Petroleum for their support and commitment Development Company to staff welfare.Ahmed said it is (SPDC) has notified of the the determination of the present sale of 3,500,000 units of ordinary management to ensure that staff are shares indirectly held by Dr. A.B.C comfortable and in the right frame Orjiako, the Chairman of the of mind to carry out their duties Company. Following the sale, Dr. that has led to the ground breaking Orjiako now holds a direct interest ceremony of the SEC Court. in 16,151,325 ordinary shares and He also commended the last an indirect interest in 26,300,000 executive members on the giant ordinary shares of the Company project and expressed the hope totaling 42,451,325 shares which that the new executives will be equates to a voting interest of 7.21 able to do more for the staff of the percent (based on Issued Share Commission.

Capital of 588,444,561).

SEC Management Committed to staff Welfare –Uduk

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he Acting Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms. Mary Uduk has reassured Members of Staff that the Management of the Commission is interested in their welfare.

Uduk was speaking at the Ground Breaking Ceremony of the SEC Staff Housing Project being driven by the SEC Multi-purpose and Co-operative Society. She stated that oriented initiatives would be intensified in a bid to ensure that they are dedicated to their duties.

Uduk expressed excitement at the commencement of the project and hoped that it would be completed in record time. The Acting DG said when people work in an organisation, they look out for such incentives that they can fall back on when they retire and that spurs them to further put in their best to enable the organisation

deliver on its mandate. “we are aware that when people work in an organisation, they want to do better and have something to look up to after retirement. I believe that this will help us and provide some form of support to us long after we have left the services of the Commission.

“This investment will help us in one way or the other in the future.

We don’t all have to live here, some of us will live here while it could become a source of income to others after we have retired”. She added.

She charged the executive members of the Society to be patient with their members and strive to carry everyone along while also urging them to ensure that whatever project is carried out is for the benefit of the generality of staff.

Immediate Past President of

in Emerging Markets from the University of Liverpool and Bachelor of Science in Mathematics & Statistics from Queen Mary & Westfield College, University of London, UK. She is also a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

The new Group Consumer Banking Head had been acting in that capacity prior to now, alongside her previous role of Group Head, Direct Banking.

In his Comment on Nana’s appointment, Ade Ayeyemi said“We are happy to confirm Nana as Group Consumer Banking Head.

She has extensive experience in the consumer banking space in various areas.

Nana, who has been a senior member of the Consumer Banking team in the Group for some time will further grow our consumer business in line with our digital transformation agenda building on the successes we have had in the past. I convey hearty congratulations to Nana on this appointment.’

Seplat notifies NSE of dealing in PDMR shares

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According to the statement, details of the transaction are set out in the attached notification and public disclosure of Transactions by Persons Discharging Managerial Responsibilities and Persons Closely Associated with them.

The statement in pat read: ”This notification is made in accordance with Rule 12 of the Amendments to the Listing Rules of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and Article 19 of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

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The Oracle Today Tuesday August 6 – Monday August 12, 2019

ENERGY AfCFTA to facilitate export of oil industry services

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ocal oil and gas service companies and manufacturing outfits that have built their capacities and capabilities will benefit immensely from Nigeria’s recent signing of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA), the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote and President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr. Mansur Ahmed have said.

They spoke on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, Rivers Stateat the commissioning of Alcon’s ultra-modern factory for Electrical Power Distribution Panels and Switchgears, set up in partnership with ABB, a world leading electrical and power original equipment manufacturer (OEM).

The facility has an annual capacity of 750 main distribution panels,1,200 sub main DBs to over 5000 consumer units and can engage 150 personnel.

Delivering the keynote address at the event, the Executive Secretary stated that investments like Alcon’s open the span of opportunities from the national to continental levels.

According to him the ”establishment of such manufacturing outfits will enhance the delivery of the target benefits under the AfCFTA agreement.”

He said ”if you take the population of Africa and the potential market and given the general level of development of countries, the sky is the limit for any manufacturer that makes the right investment, has the right quality and partnerships.”

He commended Alcon for being the first company to obtain NCDMB’s ‘Nigerian Content Equipment Certificate(NCEC) Category A’ for Electrical Switchgear and Panel Building and announced that the Board would no longer grant approvals for operators in the oil and gas industry to import the products manufactured by Alcon.

He further charged the company to continue to deliver top-notch Low Voltage panels as well as introduce new products with the quality than can match those that are manufactured in any part of the world and promised that NCDMB would continue to educate industry stakeholders about the company’s capabilities through the NOGIC JQS platform.

Wabote also commended ALCON for its ability to nurture a formidable partnership with ABB, stating that it attests to the fact that if local companies have the right processes and procedures in place, international OEMs will be willing to form alliances and partnerships that endure.

In his remarks, President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mansur Ahmed, charged Alcon and other manufacturers to take advantage of the opportunities presented by President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent signing of the continental

free trade agreement, which will bring the 55 African countries into one common market.

He explained that AfCFTA would generate a market of 1.2 billion people and an active economy of trillions. He added that, “every manufacturer or investor should look at that and begin to thrive. I am glad that Alcon is seeing this vision and there is plan for expansion.As we go into the AfCTA, we are going to create a bigger market,four to five times bigger than what exists presently.”

In his address, the Managing Director of Alcon, Mr. Gerardo Della Santa, stated that the factory was the largest of its kind in Nigeria and had trained its personnel locally as well as in Egypt and Italy to keep pace with new technologies and new products.

He described the facility as landmark because it would transfer technology in a highly specialized sector, create new jobs and expertise.

“We perform the full cycle of the panel production, design, customization, assembly, testing, packaging and delivery,” he said.

Santa confirmed that the company had received all required certifications from ABB and Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON)to operate as a panel builder. He thanked NCDMB for believing in the company’s vision and the Bank of Industry for providing the financial support for the investment.

The Country Managing Director, Nigeria, ABB, Mr. HanyAbd-Elazim, underscored the company’s long partnership with Alcon and its support for the new production facility, noting that it had huge value addition in line with the Local Content initiative.

He expressed delight that the new facility will create job opportunities and improve productivity in Nigeria. He added that the factory provided an opportunity to export products within the ECOWAS region and expand to the continent when the African Free Trade Area takes effect from mid 2020.

“This will support the cooperation to have local value added products from Nigeria to be exported,” Abd-Elazimsaid.

Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mele Kyari

NNPC, SEEPCO reach deal on OML 13 Development

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igerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has sealed a Financing and Technical Services Agreement between Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Limited (SEEPCO) and the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).

The deal which is for the development of OML 13 is intended to help boost the nation’s crude oil reserves and daily oil production to 3 million bpd.

Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mele Kyari, said the acreage had over 926 million stock tank barrels (mmstb) and 5.24 Tcf of oil and gas reserves, respectively.

The NNPC boss added that the agreement with SEEPCO was for a period of 15 years while the $3.15 billion ceiling funding would be provided by SEEPCO with a 10-year capital investment period and five years for cost recovery.

First oil of about 7,900 bpd, is expected from the project

by Q2 2020, while production is expected to peak at 94,000 bpd and 542 Mmscf/d within four years. … denies plans to relocate NGC Headquarters The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has denied allegations that it plans to relocate the headquarters of its gas unit, Nigerian Gas Company (NGC), from its current site in Delta State.

Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Ndu Ughamadu, described as unfortunate statement credited to Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ovie OmoAgege, where he reportedly condemned alleged moves by the corporation to relocate NGC headquarters from the Niger Delta region.

He assured stakeholders in

Delta State and the Niger Delta in general that it has no plan to relocate the headquarters of NGC from its present location in Delta State to somewhere outside the region.

While calling on the NGC host communities and other stakeholders to disregard the relocation tale which it described as totally false, the Corporation maintained that the Deputy President of the Senate may have either been misinformed or was quoted out of context noting that the subject of relocation of NGC was never on the table for deliberation by the NNPC management.

The Corporation assured that the focus of the current NNPC management under the headship of Mallam Mele Kyari is to ensure harmonious relationship with stakeholders and host communities in such a way as to entrench a win-win scenario for all concerned.

Eland declares first oil on Gbetiokun field

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land Oil and Gas Limited has declared production start up at the Gbetiokun field where it has significant financial interest.

The company stated that first production from the Gbetiokun oil field on Nigeria’s OML 40 was reached with the aid of the early production facility (EPF).

It explained that the field came onstream on July 31 following mobilization of the EPF to the Gbetiokun field and completion of all pre-commissioning checks throughout the month.

In line with expectations,

initial gross production will rise to approximately 12,000 bpd, 5,400 net to Eland from the Gbetiokun-1 and Gbetiokun-3 wells over the next seven days.

The EPF will process all reservoir fluids produced under the initial phase of the Gbetiokun development. The facility has a nominal capacity of 22,000 bpd, which will allow for production from the additional Gbetiokun development wells being drilled in 2019.

Evacuation of processed crude will be via shuttle tankers from Gbetiokun to the injection

point on the main OML 40 export pipeline. The Gbetiokun facilities were designed in a modular fashion, allowing for the evacuation of increased levels of production over the coming 12 to 18 months beyond 22,000 bpd, while the permanent export solution is progressed.

Furthermore, this evacuation process allows the company to export via an alternative export terminal should its primary export route be hindered.

George Maxwell, CEO of Eland, commented’ “We are delighted to reach first oil from

the Gbetiokun field. The team has worked hard, and I am proud we have delivered significant production from a second oil field within OML 40, marking a significant expansion and derisking of our production base.

“Gbetiokun will deliver additional cash flow for Eland and we are excited for the development of the license going forward, with the further infill drilling on Gbetiokun and Opuama and the near-field exploration of Amobe prospect in 2019.”

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The Oracle Today Tuesday August 6 – Monday August 12, 2019

INSURANCE & PENSION AIICO on track to meeting new NAICOM recapitalisation –Fajemirokun Stories by VICTOR NZE

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nderwriter, AIICO Insurance Plc, has stated that it remains on track to meeting the requirement laid out by regulator, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) which again reviewed the minimum paid up share capital requirement of insurance and reinsurance companies in the country.

A circular dated May 20 2019, with reference No. NAICOM/DPR/CIR/25/2019 signed by the Director, Policy

And Regulation Directorate, NAICOM, Mr Pius Agboola, announced that the commission has reviewed upwards the capital base of operators for the various segments of operations.

The circular read: “In the exercise of the powers conferred on the commission by the enabling laws, the minimum paid up share capital requirement of insurance and reinsurance companies in Nigeria is hereby reviewed.

“NAICOM has revised minimum paid-up capital in

Lagos pays N1.13bn to 311 retirees

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agos State Government has presented Retirement Benefit Bond Certificates worth N1,132,136,751.89 to 311 public service retirees.

A statement by the Public Affairs Officer, Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC), Mrs. Adetokunbo Eko, stated that the Director-General, LASPEC Mrs Folashade Onanuga, whilst welcoming the retirees to the 65th Retirement Benefit Bond Presentation Ceremony, thanked God for the grace given to the retirees to witness the beautiful day and assured the retirees that the Government’s interest in the wellbeing of the retirees is paramount.

According to her, ‘the Government of Governor Babajide SanwoOlu is a people oriented government and also sensitive to the yearnings of the populace, as such willing to pay the pension

benefits of the retirees.

She implored retirees to be prudent with their pension and use it judiciously. She further advised them to beware of fraudsters.’

Retirees were given a lecture by the technical department of the agency on how to link up with their pension fund managers who will help turn their bond into cash.

The DG also stated the differences between annuity and withdrawal program. She expantiated on the two benefit options available under the contributory Pension Scheme.

One of the retirees, Benedict Oni, speaking at the event appreciated the State Government on behalf of his fellow retirees for the continuity on payment of accrued Pension Rights and prayed for the management of Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC).

life, general, composite and Reinsurance from N2 billion, N3 billion, N5 billion and N10 billion to N8 billion, N10 billion, N18 billion and N20 billion respectively.

“In 2015/7, the insurance industry witnessed its last recaptilisation and despite the astronomical increase in value of insured assets, consequent exposure to higher level of insured liabilities and operating cost of insurers, same capital continued to rule in the insurance industry.”

Furthermore, NAICOM

in another circular, last month, directed insurers and reinsurers operating in the country to submit their recapitalisation plans on or before Tuesday, August 20, this year.

The circular made public

by NAICOM, and signed by Mr Pius Agboola, Director in charge of Policy & Regulation Directorate, explained that the insurance companies must in the plan categorically state their capital status based on an earlier circular issued in May 20, 2019.

Speaking during a media

conference, Tuesday, in Lagos, Executive Director/ Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Babatunde Fajemirokun, stated that the firm has already submitted documents to that effect, adding further that it was fully positioned to meeting the requirement s by NAICOM for the first tier of operations.

“We are on track to achieving that requirement

by NAICOM. We are presenting waiting for response by the NAICOM, as we have already submitted necessary

inputs. For us at AIICO, we are on track to meeting that requirement. Let me also point out that we are a corporate entity, we always carry our shareholders along with our decisions, and remember also that we recently got approval to raise up to N25 billion in the market. That is not for the purpose of the NAICOM recapitalisation; that is a separate development. We already have the capacity to meet that required share capital base as it is,” Fajemirokun said.

Recapitalisation will enhance emergence of stronger insurance firms –NAICOM

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eputy Commissioner for Insurance (Technical), National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Mr Sunday Thomas, has said that the recapitalisation policy for the country’s insurance sector will enhance the emergence of stronger underwriting firms.

Thomas made this known at a seminar organised by NAICOM for newsmen on Saturday in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

He said that the exercise would change the negative image of the sector and increase its contributions to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Thomas said: “NAICOM wants to ensure that stronger underwriting firms emerge in the country.

Viable and solid companies that are able to support government in its policies and which are able to create employment and add other value to the economy must

emerge in the insurance sector.”

He reiterated that NAICOM would work vigorously to pursue the recapitalisation exercise to have a sector filled with stronger, more visible and solid operators capable of paying claims.

According to the NAICOM chief, it is one of the strategies used to improve financial stability of operating firms.

Thomas said that the

issue of recapitalisation had always been viewed as a policy regulation in which some practitioners did not see any inherent benefit.

He said, however, that the recapitalisation was critical, particularly at the present level of economic growth.

“Recapitalisation is one of the strategies used to improve financial stability of operating firms,” the NAICOM chief said.

Linkage Assurance H1 PAT up by 16%

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inkage Assurance Plc has recorded a 16 percent growth in Profit After Tax(PAT) for the half year unaudited financial statement ended 30th June 2019. The figure rose from N439.77 million in the half year period of 2018 to N572.76 million in the same period in 2019.

According to the financial statement made available to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Linkage during the period under review posted a Gross Premium Written(GPW) income of N4.130 billion as against N3.650 billion the previous year.

With efficient risk management, the underwriter during the period returned to profitability in underwriting performance, posting a 176percent increase, as

the figure moved from negative N367.11 million in 2018 to positive N296.06 million.

Linkage Assurance total assets also grew by 8 percent, moving from N23.146 billion to N24.869 billion at the end of June 2019.

Commenting, Daniel Braie, Managing Director/ CEO of Linkage Assurance Plc said the company has diversified its portfolio to achieve income efficiency with quality risk management, noting that management is actively watching its cost to ensure that it delivers value to shareholders.

In terms of compliance to regulatory requirements, we are up and doing to ensure we remain above board and maintain our position in the industry, Braie said.

From left: Head, Strategic Marketing & Communications, Segun Olalandu; Head, Shared Services, Olusanjo Shodimu; Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer, Babatunde Fajemirokun; Executive Director, Technical and Head, Corporate & Institutional Business, Adewale Kadri; and Chief Financial Officer, Oladeji Oluwatola during a media session organized by the insurance firm in Lagos, Tuesday.

Embrace ongoing data recapturing exercise –PFAs urge

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ension Fund Administrators (PFAs) have called on the 9 million pension contributors under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) to embrace the ongoing data recapturing exercise across the country.

The aim of the exercise, according to operators, is to update the existing data of contributors, while also addressing a situation whereby a pension contributor has multiple Personal Identification Numbers (PINs).

Speaking at a Media Parley organized by the Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp) to give update on the activities and performance of the Pension industry, in Lagos yesterday, Its President, Mrs Aderonke Adedeji, said, the ongoing exercise will allow PFAs reconcile the new information collected with the previous one to enhance the credibility of the new pension scheme.

She added that the exercise will also protect

pension clients against cybercrime as well as other fraudulent intents and activities.

Since last year, she said, the National Pension Commission (PenCom) has been upbeat about Data recapturing of pension clients while streamlining registration of prospective contributors in a move to have accurate database of contributors.

Disclosing that the ongoing data recapturing exercise is compulsory for all Retirement Savings Account (RSA) holders,

she urged contributors not to wait for their PFAs to notify them, but rather, willingly approach their pension administrators for the recapturing exercise.

“People should go and update their data and should not wait for PFAs to come to them before they subject themselves to this exercise. The process has started, PFAs have invested so much into the project and operators are progressively approaching their customers to recapture their data,” she pointed out.

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The Oracle Today Tuesday August 6 – Monday August 12, 2019

Travel & Hospitality Sheraton Lagos Hotel announces ‘packed’ August Stories by VICTOR NZE

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heraton Lagos Hotel has announced a series of activities lined up for guests in what it calls a ‘packed August with something for everyone to enjoy and be a part of.’

According to General Manager of the hotel, Mr Barry Curran, in a statement, Monday, ‘in August, we believe there is something for everyone. From food to creativity we believe everyone will love what’s in store this month.’

“To kick things off, on the 2nd of August, we will be having international beer day and international coloring book day.

For international beer day, we will be having beer specials at the lobby bar, goodies pub and pool bar. We will be having buy 2 get 1 free. If you buy 5 beers, you’ll get free suya.

“For coloring book day, every child who checks in that day or dines in our restaurant, they will get coloring sheets. These coloring sheets will go up on the colouring board which the hotel has recently set up for kids.

“During the week of the 12th – 18th of August, we will celebrating afternoon high tea.

For every meeting or conference that will be happening at the hotel, afternoon high tea will be served.

The afternoon high tea will contain eclectic bites like smoked salmon, mini quiche Lorraine and more.

“On August 19, we have potato and photography day.

For photography day, we will having a social media competition.

Throughout the week, we encourage guests to take pictures in our hotel and tag us on social media. Post with the highest number of wins will win a prize. Our hotel has many instagrammable locations and we believe that guests will find exciting places to take pictures.

“For potato day, it is best celebrated by incorporating the noble potato into every dish you prepare which is exactly what we plan on doing. We will be creatively displaying potatoes on the buffet.

There will be 3 different types of potato preparation on the breakfast, lunch & dinner buffet.

We will also have live cooking with potatoes – stir-fried, sautéed, buttered, and so on.

“On the 23rd of August, the hotel will be celebrating sponge cakes. The quintessential classic of the cake world, this airy queen of teas is the guest of honor on

(From left): Chairman of the Airport Car Hire Association of Nigeria (ACHAN) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Elder Olubi Ojo, the ACHAN driver who discovered and returning the money , Mr Adeniyi Olatinka, ACHAN officer on Duty, Mr Soele and the passenger Engr Dele Ayeni on Wednesday July 31, 2019 ,at the ACHAN secretariat where he took possession of the money left in the airport cab on Monday.

National Sponge Cake Day on August 23rd.

“Different types of sponge cakes will be on the buffet for lunch and dinner. These will include vanilla, chocolate, mocha, fruits, syrupy, etc. all set up in a beautiful display. Everyone is sure to love it.

August will be a special, exciting month for all,” Curran reeled out.

MEM Travels promotes destination Nigeria for inbound Tourism

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EM Travels, a fastgrowing travels and tours company in Nigeria is keen on promoting destination Nigeria for inbound tourism as it showcased beautiful Lagos to a team of 25 Americans and Canadians recently.

While in Lagos, the tourists visited many tourism sites in Lagos including the Lekki Arts and Craft Market, the famous Nike Art Gallery, Terra Kulture, La Manga Beach & Resort as well as cruising on the Lagos waterways via Prest Cruise experience.

According to Kehinde Adeyemi-Abaekere, MEM Travels CEO, promoting destination Nigeria is on the front burner of the organization as it aims to

attract thousands of foreigners to come experience the beauty of Nigeria.

“Many people believe Nigeria is not a leisure holiday destination.

That is a wrong impression we are out to correct at MEM Travels as we are dedicated to showcasing the beauty of Nigeria to foreigners and Nigerians at home to encourage travelling to Nigeria from abroad and travel around Nigeria by Nigerians,” stated Kehinde.

She continued, “our vision to promote destination Nigeria was put to test recently as we hosted 25 foreigners who arrived Nigeria from America and Canada to a memorable tour around Lagos and the team was left with

positive stories of Nigeria, which debunks their earlier perception of our beautiful country.”

Mrs Adeyemi-Abaekere stated the readiness of MEM Travels to partner organizations around the world in bringing tourists from any part of the world to experience the incredible leisure tourism across Nigeria.

At the Terra Kulture where the CEO, Bolanle Austen-Peters excitedly received the guests, the foreigners were enthralled in Nigerian cultural activities including learning how to make the famous Nigerian ‘Adire’, tie and die fabric, cultural dressing, how to tie ‘gele’ head gear, dance steps to traditional Nigerian music and words from Yoruba language.

NTDC partners Google to promote upcoming local artists

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igerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) says it is collaborating with Google Nigeria to engage the creative industry in order to promote upcoming local talents.

Director-General of the Corporation, Mr Folorunsho Coker, who disclosed this, Sunday, in Abuja, noted that inadequate funds had hindered some artists from producing their videos, be it dancing or cooking, among others, hence Google would provide an opportunity for them to showcase their work at the local and international levels.

He explained that the synergy would further boost their creativity, as well as provide them with a platform to explore more

opportunities in the creative industry around the globe.

According to him, the collaboration will bring exposure of the country’s creative industry on a global stage, promote local talents and provide exposure of the nation’s creative industry.

“This is a positive initiative because it is the opportunity that becomes employment and employment becomes income and out of the income we get taxation back.

“Google Nigeria has a good relationship with us, and to see both YouTube and Google come together in Nigeria to promote our local talents and bring exposure to our creative industry is a welcome development.

“I think it is also the beginning

of the exponential explosion of the creative industry of Nigeria on the global stage.

“We are looking for upcoming artists in a variety of ways for YouTube and Google to capture their activities and promote it on a global platform. Because it will help their contents; be it videos, arts, cooking and others, showcased right there next to the world on the same platform.

“Google recently launched a series `Come chop Bellefull’ which is about Nigerian content and they have learnt how to make variety of Nigerian delicacies such as Isiewu, jollof rice, Moimoi and with high photography depth, a Russiain in Moscow can make any of the delicacies just by googling it.

Airlines flew 4.4bn passengers in 2018 …As Nigerian airlines, others carry 92m

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irlines across the world flew 4.4 billion passengers in 2018 as per the research, according to performance figures for 2018 contained in the World Air Transport Statistics (2019 WATS) and issued by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The report noted that this development marks an increase of 6.9 per cent from the previous year, just as it also noted that the efficiency reached recordbreaking numbers, as 81.9 per cent of available seats were filled.

IATA said as compared to the 2010 figures, fuel efficiency also improved by more than 12 per cent even as there was an additional 284 million trips by air year-on-year.

Airlines in North America carried 989 million passengers last year, an increase of 4.8 percent.

Asia-Pacific saw the fastest growth in airline passengers during 2018. In total, 1.6 billion passengers in the region, an increase of 9.2 per cent compared to 2017 and representing 37.1 percent of the global market share.

In 2018, 126.2 million passengers were British which amounted to 8.6 per cent, or one in 12, of all international travellers. The United Kingdom was followed by the United States (111.5 million, or 7.6 per cent of all passengers) and China (97 million, 6.6 per cent).

As per IATA’s World Air Transport Statistics, flight availability is also on the rise, with 22,000 city pairs now connected by direct journeys – an increase of 1,300 over 2017.

These figures are double of 1998 numbers of 10,250 direct city pairs connected. As for the cost of air transport, it has been cut in half over the last 20 years.

‘’Airlines are connecting more people and places than ever before. The freedom to fly is more accessible than ever. And our world is a more prosperous place as a result. As with any human activity this comes with an environmental cost that airlines are committed to reducing. We understand that sustainability is essential to our license to spread aviation’s benefits.

“From 2020 we will cap net carbon emissions growth. And, by 2050, we will cut our net carbon footprint to half 2005 levels. This ambitious climate action goal needs government support. It is critical for sustainable aviation fuels, new technology and more efficient routes to deliver the greener future we are aiming for,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO. The IATA CEO said the group ‘understands that sustainability is essential to our license to spread aviation’s benefits. From 2020 they will cap net carbon emissions growth. By 2050, they will cut net carbon footprint to half 2005 levels.’

According to the IATA report, the regional rankings (based on total passengers carried on scheduled services by airlines registered in that region) are: Asia-Pacific 37.1% market share (1.6 billion passengers, an increase of 9.2% compared to the region’s passengers in 2017), Europe 26.2% market share (1.1 billion passengers, up 6.6% over 2017), North America 22.6% market share (989.4 million passengers, up 4.8% over 2017), Latin America 6.9% market share (302.2 million passengers, up 5.7% over 2017), Middle East 5.1 % market share (224.2 million passengers, an increase of 4.0% over 2017), and Africa 2.1% market share (92 million passengers, up 5.5% over 2017).

26

The Oracle Today Tuesday August 6 – Monday August 12, 2019

AVIATION AON kicks as FG grants Emirates additional frequencies into Abuja Stories by VICTOR NZE

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mbrella body of Nigerian airline owners, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has protested the granting of additional frequencies to Emirates Airlines by the Federal Government.

This addition, according to the Chairman of AON, Capt.

Nogie Meggison brings to four the number of frequencies to the United Arab Emirates-based carrier into Nigeria The airline body contended that it was unfair for Emirates to allow such increase barely two weeks after the launch of flights on July 5, 2019 to Sharjah, UAE by Air Peace.

“The move effectively places our indigenous carriers at a massive disadvantage, the Nigerian economy and the jobs of our youths and huge capital flight. You would recall that at the launch of Air Peace flights to UAE, AON appealed that Government must stand tall to play the role of aero-politics to support Air Peace, otherwise it will end up the same way as others such as Bellview, Arik Air and Medview that went before it, as they were unable to play in the wild and aggressive field of international aero-politics.

“Emirates as of today, operates two daily flights out of Lagos and two daily flights out of Abuja.

Etihad, from the same country, also operates daily flights out of

Lagos as well. This translates to five flights daily and a total of 150 flights per month from UAE; as against a Nigerian carrier that only just started operating three flights weekly (12 flights monthly into UAE). This is a colossal plundering of the Nigerian economy through capital flight and a huge loss of Nigerian jobs,” said AON. According to the group, Air Peace was still waiting to be allocated a dedicated lounge or departure wing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport to signify that this is a Nigerian airline; as against the case with Emirates that already has a huge lounge at the Dubai International Airport which is heavily branded in the airline’s colours, adding that

the same goes for Etihad in Abu Dhabi, British Airways in London, Lufthansa in Frankfurt and Air France in Paris among other airlines operating into Nigeria AON argued that in the light of the above, little wonder that the three major carriers in the United States, United, American and Delta berated the same Open Skies and anti-competitive behavior.

Meggison stated that the United States airlines had accused them of being funded by their government to the tune of over $50 billion and undercutting American carriers by offering below-market fares on flights that go to other destinations beyond the Middle East, at the expense of American jobs and the American Economy.

Approve Asaba airport for Boeing 777 handling –Onyema urges FAAN …As airport gets ILS

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hairman of Air Peace Limited, Barr.

Allen Onyema, has called on the management of Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to approve the Asaba Airport to accommodate the Boeing 777 aircraft type.

This is also the Delta State Government announced the installation of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) at the airport.

Speaking at the funeral Mass for his father, Chief Michael Onyema which at the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Mbosi, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, Saturday, Onyema declared that the Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa has transformed the Asaba Airport and the approval of Boeing 777 to make use of the airport will not be out of place.

“Asaba Airport can land a triple 7 and FAAN should quickly give approval for triple 7 to land in Asaba Airport and see what Air Peace will do.

“The Governor, Distinguished Senator Okowa has done very well in Asaba airport and I will talk with my management to domicile Air Peace in Asaba,” said Barr. Onyema, while also thanking Okowa for attending the funeral Mass of his father.

Meanwhile, the Delta State

Government has announced the successful installation of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) at the airport.

Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, who stated this in a statement on Friday in Asaba, noted that with the successful installation of the Instrument Landing System, bad weather reports would no longer affect the operations of aircrafts flying

into and out of the airport.

Aniagwu assured that once the ongoing installation of the Air Field Lighting systems were completed, the airport would be able to operate at night without hitches in line with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) standards.

“The Asaba International Airport has the capacity to become a major hub for local and international flight

operations and called on the relevant regulatory authorities to give the necessary approvals for the operation of Boeing 777 and other bigger airplanes in and out of the airport”, the commissioner stated He commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for his commitment towards ensuring total upgrade of the airport, and make it an aviation hub in the region.

(From left): Governor, Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha; Managing Director, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Capt. Rabiu Hamisu Yadudu; Director of Engineering Services, Engr. Salisu Daura and Director of Human Resources & Administration, FAAN, Honorious Anozie, during the FAAN delegation courtesy visit to the Imo Government House in Owerri, Thursday

Airbus profits soar as Boeing suffers huge losses in H1 2019

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urope’s Airbus revenues soared 24 percent in the first half of 2019 to €30.1 billion ($33.6 billion), while net profit grew to €1.2 billion compared to €496 million in the same period last year, the plane maker’s chief executive Guillaume Faury said during a conference call on Wednesday.

Airbus has beaten its own records with skyrocketing halfyear profits, boasting a strong demand from airlines for its fuelefficient jets.

These results follow Tuesday’s announcement that Air FranceKLM placed a weighty order

for 60 of Airbus’ new Canadianmade A220-300 planes for shortand medium-haul flights – an illustration of the growing demand for Airbus airliners. Most of the profit reported, however, came from increased production of the company’s highly popular A320 single-aisle planes. Since the start of the year, Airbus has delivered 294 of these, and confirmed its goal of the total of 880 to 890 deliveries till the year end.

In contrast, Airbus’ United States rival Boeing suffered huge losses over the 737 MAX grounding.

The A320 is a direct competitor

to Boeing’s 737 MAX, the ill-fated plane that has been grounded indefinitely by regulators worldwide since mid-March after two crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia resulted in the deaths of 346 people. Though a large number of MAX jets have been long expected by airlines worldwide, the US airplane manufacturer will not be able to deliver any until regulators have declared them safe.

Last week, Boeing posted its largest-ever quarterly loss, calculating the total cost of the 737 MAX crisis at over $8 billion, Reuters reported. The sum

mostly covers compensation the manufacturer will have to pay airlines for delayed deliveries and lower production. The company even warned it may have to shut down production of the grounded jet completely if the regulators don’t come up with an assessment soon.

A number of airlines have already demanded compensation from the US company for failed plane deliveries, while Saudi Arabian budget carrier Flyadeal became the first airline to cancel an order of 50 Boeing jets worth up to $5.9 billion in favor of a deal with Airbus.

FAAN seeks collaboration with Owerri airport on infrastructure upgrade

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anaging Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Captain Rabiu Yadudu, has sought collaboration with the Imo State Government in the area of development of infrastructure at the Owerri airport.

The courtesy visit which took place, Thursday, was attended by the Authority’s Directors of Engineering Services, Human Resources and Administration, Airport Operations, General Manager, Procurement, Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport Manager, amongst others.

A statement by General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, Monday, said the meeting was in continuation of the FAAN boss’ interaction with critical stakeholders.

In his remarks, Capt Yadudu expressed his appreciation to the Governor and people of Imo State for their hospitality and tremendous support shown to the Authority.

He added that Owerri airport is very strategic to the economic development of the South Eastern region consequently the need to collaborate to develop infrastructure at the airport.

Highlighting the huge business and tourism potentials of the airport, Capt Yadudu noted that any investment in the airport will be a catalyst for the development of the State and will create employment for the indigenes.

MD assured the Governor of the Authority’s commitment to consolidate its partnership with the State towards improving on safety and security infrastructure at the airport.

Responding, the Imo Governor, Emeka Ihedioha thanked the MD and his team for the visit and expressed their readiness to continually support the Authority to develop critical infrastructure at the airport.

It would be recalled that Yadudu and his team also visited the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Mr. Seyi Makinde to discuss areas of collaboration on Wednesday, July 31, 2019.

MD, FAAN, Captain Rabiu Yadudu

27

The Oracle Today Tuesday August 6 – Monday August 12, 2019

e-Platform

Support for Windows 7 OS ending –Microsoft Stories by VICTOR NZE

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ech giants, Microsoft has announced that it would soon be ending support for the Windows 7 Operating System (OS).

An emailed statement by the firm, Monday, told users to prepare ahead of the expected termination of upgrade and security support for the OS. Although, Microsoft did not state a termination date, it, however, advised users that continued use of the OS exposes their machines to viruses and malware attacks.

“After 10 years, support for Windows 7 is coming to an end on January 14, 2020. We want you to be ready, so we’re reaching out in advance to give you time to

prepare.

“When Windows 7 reaches the end of support, your computer will still work but Microsoft will no longer provide security and software updates. While you could continue to use your PC running Windows 7, without continued software and security updates, it will be at a greater risk for viruses and malware even with additional antivirus software.

“What can you do to prepare?

Back up your files and photos; Get tips on Windows 10 “Thank you for letting us serve you with Windows 7, and we are here to help with this transition,” the statement read.

It would be recalled that Microsoft officially set an end date for its Windows Phone mobile line.

In a Microsoft support page

titled; “Windows 10 Mobile End of Support: FAQ” some questions are answered regarding the eventual drop of support for the Windows Phone platform.

Under “What should Windows 10 Mobile customers do now?”

Microsoft recommends that Windows Phone users “move to a supported Android or iOS device.” Windows Phone devices will no longer receive security on December 10 of this year. Though third party apps may continue supporting Windows Apps, Microsoft will no longer support the platform.

“Microsoft’s mission statement to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more, compels us to support our Mobile apps on those platforms,” the statement said.

Devices that are on Windows 10 Mobile version 1709 will receive security support patches until December 10 while the Lumia 640 and 640 XL on version 1703 will only last through June 11. Microsoft advises those who still have a Windows smartphone to manually create a backup using the builtin tool before the sunset date.

After that, the tool will be phased out. To perform an update head to Settings > Update & Security > Backup > More Options > Back up now.

As for Cortana, Microsoft has positioned the voice assistant not as a competitor to Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, but rather to compliment the platforms. Check out the Source link below to see the full FAQ support page.

“Cortana needs to be that skill

for anybody who’s a Microsoft365 subscriber. You should be able to use it on Google Assistant [and] Alexa, just like how you use our apps on Android and iOS so that’s at least how we want to think about where it’ll go,” – Satya Nadella, Microsoft CEO “Are any of our readers still rocking a Windows device? Let us know which device you have and tell us which phone you might be looking at down the road.

“Though I never owned a Windows Phone, the early days of Pocket PC first sparked my interest in smartphones and I read so many reviews in Laptop Magazine in my high school years (Yeah, I’m kind of young). I don’t know that I’d be writing this right now if it wasn’t for the platform.

Thanks, Microsoft.”

computers increased from 82,000 in 2013 to 356,000 in 2017.

He underscored the need for priority attention to be given to indigenous products, to encourage local innovators to produce what the country need and for the citizens to consume what we produce.

On the Ne-GIF, Pantami said most public institution’s activities were being automated and required connectivity which would save the government, cost.

He recalled that the Treasury Single Account (TSA) of the government was saving N24 billion monthly.

The D-G added that the agency

already has a governing body in place and measures are being taken to implement the guideline to ensure government institutions interact.

He said that the NIIEV enables young innovators, ICT startups to thrive, adding that it would strengthen the Nigerian technology ecosystem.

“It consists of digital infrastructure development, education reform, skills development, Research and Development as well as support for ICT entrepreneurship ecosystem innovation,” he said.

Pantami said they were engaging stakeholders to collectively identify challenges in the ecosystem and proffer solutions to them.

“NCCP is a set of policy statements that articulate government’s strategic plan for cloud computing adoption in the public sector and by Small and Medium Enterprises who provide ICT enabled services to government.

“The goal of the policy is to ensure a 30 per cent increase in the adoption of cloud computing by 2024 among Federal public institutions, SMEs and 35 per cent increase in cloud computing investments by 2024.”

He added that tertiary institutions needed to digitise their activities for the decongestion of population in schools.

According to him, there should be minimum standard adopted by tertiary schools to advance learning in line with global requirements which saved cost and improved efficiency.

NITDA approves 5 IT regulatory guidelines to boost economy

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ational Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has approved five regulatory guidelines to improve service delivery in the sector and boost the nation’s economy.

The approved guidelines were presented to the public at a news conference addressed by Dr Isa Pantami, the Director General of NITDA on Friday in Abuja.

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa state was the special guest at the event attended by critical stakeholders in the information technology sector.

The guidelines, all amended, include Nigerian Content Development in Information and Communications, Nigeria e-Government Inter-operability Framework (Ne-GIF) and Nigeria ICT Innovation and Entrepreneurship Vision (NIIEV).

Others are Nigeria Cloud Computing Policy (NCCP) and Framework and Guidelines for ICT Adoption in Tertiary Institutions.

Pantami, during the

•DG, NITDA, Dr Isa Pantami

presentation of the guidelines, said the agency’s regulatory documents were developmental and not intended to indict stakeholders in the industry.

Pantami, a ministerial nominee, recalled that the agency had on January 25 signed off five regulatory guidelines, adding that the newly approved ones would consolidate the older and ensure the agency remains relevant in regulating the IT industry.

He said that the Guidelines for Nigerian Content Development in ICT, as amended was launched in 2013 and required review to be dynamic to the trends of ICT industry.

“There are new opportunities emerging in the ICT industry and the maiden guideline was meant to be reviewed after five years. We have amended it and through the implementation of this guideline, we were able to develop the local ICT industry better which ensure it made contribution to our Gross Domestic Product.

“The amended guidelines are focused on accelerating the development of indigenous skills, technology transfer, use of indigenous manpower and local manufacturing,” he said.

Pantami, said that with the implementation of the guideline, the patronage of indigenous

Fine/tax status: Technical disagreement exists between us, FIRS, MTN admit

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TN Nigeria, on Friday, admitted to a technical disagreement between it and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), on how the 2015 fine should be treated for tax purposes.

Manager, Public Relations and Protocol, Corporate Affairs/ Corporate Relations, MTN, Mr Onome Okwah, disclosed this in a statement in Lagos.

According to him, the organisation’s attention has

been drawn to media reports regarding the status of taxes relating to the 2015 fine imposed on MTN. He, however, added that while the monies had been paid to FIRS, MTN had taken the disagreement to the Tax Tribunal set up by the FIRS Chairman and Minister of Finance and were awaiting its decision.

“MTN remains fully compliant with the Nigerian

tax laws and will abide by the findings of the tribunal.

“The company is committed to meeting its fiscal responsibilities and contributing to the social and economic development of Nigeria.

“Since incorporation in 2001, MTN has invested more than N2 trillion in the Nigerian economy and has paid more than N1.7 trillion in taxes, levies and other regulatory fees.

Chairman, FIRS, Mr Babatunde Fowler, recently accused MTN of deducting tax from the N330 billion fine it paid to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Fowler maintained that fines and penalties for regulatory infractions were revenues paid to the Federal Government and should not be subjected to any tax deduction.

NCC had in October 2015 imposed a N1.04 trillion fine on

the telecommunications giant for alleged non-compliance with the deadline set by the commission to disconnect all unregistered SIM cards.

The regulator reduced the fine to N780 billion in December 2015, having taken into consideration the stability of the telecommunication sector.

The fine was further reduced to N330 billion after MTN had agreed to be listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

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The Oracle Today Tuesday August 6 – Monday August 12, 2019

e-Platform Facebook to merge Whatsapp, Instagram

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et ready for “WhatsApp from Facebook” and “Instagram from Facebook,” Facebook has notified Instagram and WhatsApp employees that it plans to rebrand both apps, according to sources connected to the company.

Owned and operated by Facebook for two years now, Whatsapp and Instagram social media platforms now appear to be ready to be convoluted.

Until then, a Facebook spokesperson confirmed the change coming to WhatsApp and Instagram, saying: “We want to be clearer about the products and services that are part of Facebook.”

LG rates NanoCell as best LCD TV

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G has restated its commitment to ensuring that innovation remains at the forefront of its television lineup, as a market leader in consumer electronics.

Over the years, LG Electronics (LG) has fine-tuned its premium LCD TV offerings. LG’s advanced televisions have been rebranded under the NanoCell TV name to highlight their NanoCell Display technology.

LG’s NanoCell TVs provide a clear and distinct brand identity, which emphasizes their capabilities to provide a more vivid array of colours and outstanding picture quality from a range of perspectives.

Until recently, larger families and groups would have to sit strategically to ensure they were in view of the TV. With the introduction of IPS displays, consumers can now benefit from wide viewing angles and watch content with ease.

Advancing this, LG’s NanoCell technology was developed out of the desire to enhance viewer experience further. Using Nano Color, LG’s NanoCell TVs reproduce pure colour by applying nanoparticles which work as purifiers to filter dull colours and enhance purity. With a richer colour palette, NanoCell TV supports over one billion colours, with added vibrancy and clarity.

Crucially, these colours are not simply over-amplified or filtered for dramatic effect. They are more understated in their difference, providing accurate colours for a greater sense of realism, from a range of viewpoints.

LG’s NanoCell televisions also feature Nano Black – controlling backlight units individually to render deeper shades of black in finer detail. With Full Array Dimming, NanoCell TVs preserve contrast and minimize light bleeding – ideal when watching darker scenes.

LG’s 2019 NanoCell series comprises of fourteen AI-enabled models, in sizes varying from 49 to 75 inches, including the flagship 75-inch 8K LCD TV (model SM99). The company’s 86-inch 4K NanoCell TV model was recognized at the start of the year with a CES 2019 Innovation Award.

Featuring intelligent processors, NanoCell TVs can analyze content and deploy a deep-learning algorithm to heighten picture and sound quality.

Many of LG’s NanoCell TVs also support premium HDR content, mastered by Dolby Vision™. Dolby’s technology sets a new standard in image quality, dramatically expanding the color palette and contrast range, optimizing picture quality for the screen frame by frame.

NCC hosts stakeholders on improving local content in ICT sector

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igerian Communications Commission (NCC) is set to hold its second edition of the Emerging Telecoms Technologies Research and ICT Innovation Forum.

Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta who disclosed this on Sunday in Abuja said the forum would serve as a catalyst for improving local contents in ICT and the telecommunication sector.

In a statement made available to newsmen by Mr Henry Nkemadu, the Commission’s Director, Public Affairs, Danbatta said the forum was in line with the commission’s commitment to promoting ICT innovation and investment opportunities and facilitating strategic collaboration and partnership.

He said that the forum would present opportunity for NCC to bring together key players in the Nigerian tech-ecosystem to deliberate and suggest policy, framework that could further develop the sector.

Danbatta said the edition, designed for the North-West Region is scheduled to hold at

Bristol Palace Hotel, Kano State from Aug. 14 to Aug. 15th with the theme: “Developing Nigeria’s Tech Ecosystem; Imperative for Improving Local Content”.

He said the lead paper would be delivered by Dr. Chris Uwaje, Africa Chair, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

He said stakeholders will, on the first day, identify the gaps in the ICT and telecoms sector and suggest how to strengthen the collaboration between stakeholders and the commission.

The second day, according to him, would witness a breakout session to discuss possible solutions to the identified gaps.

The NCC boss said the discourse at the forum will also focus on: “Digital Skills Imperative for Retooling National Workforce”; “Developing Capacities for Future Work”; “Innovation Hubs as the Fulcrum of Local Content Development” Other topics are: “Digital Inclusion, Employment and National Survivability”; Legislative and Government Support for Enhancing Tech Eco System in Nigeria”.

Worldwide phone shipments to drop by 2.5% in H2, 2019 –Report ...To grow in Nigeria, others by +1.5%

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artner Research has released its latest report which looks at trends for global smartphone sales.

According to the data, aggregate shipments will decline by 2.5 per cent going from 1.55 billion units in 2018 to 1.52 billion by the end of this year.

Looking at the breakdown by region, we see that the largest drops will be felt in Japan with a 6.5 per cent year over year decline, followed by Western Europe (-5.3 per cent) and North America (-4.4 per cent). On the other side, smartphone shipments will grow in Sub-Saharan Africa (+1.5 per cent), Eurasia (+1.2 per cent) and the Middle East and North Africa (+0.9 per cent).

In mature markets, the highend smartphone market is particularly oversupplied and commoditized, with higher average selling prices (ASPs) and no compelling new utility or experiences for users to

upgrade to.

Analysts expect demand for new phones to drop even lower in the second half of 2019 due to slowing replacement rates across all price segments. Despite the advent of 5G phones, consumer interest in these devices will remain negligible in most markets throughout 2019.

Looking further on, 2020 will be a bounce-back year for global smartphone shipments with an estimated 2.83 per cent increase compared to 2019. This growth will be driven by the larger availability of 5G networks and phones from all established manufacturers.

Samsung tops smartphone sales in Q2 2019, as Huawei, Apple follow Strategy Analytics and Counterpoint came out with some interesting data for Q2 2019 regarding global smartphone shipments, which to no one’s surprise fell year-over-year. And despite the decline, Samsung

and Huawei are seeing a modest increase in shipments and market share for that matter.

According to Strategy Analytics, global shipments fell 2.6 per cent while Samsung recorded 1.9 per cent increase, Huawei gained 1.7 per cent and Apple lost 0.7 per cent year-over-year. Those figures translate into 76.3 million units sold by Samsung, 58.7 million devices by Huawei and 38 million iPhones.

Xiaomi and Oppo follow the top three OEMs with 9.4 per cent and 8.7 per cent market share with both companies seeing a slight increase. However, total shipments for Oppo fell while Xiaomi’s figures remain the same.

Counterpoint’s research gives roughly the same data with a bit more detail for the rest of the brands in the top 10. Samsung’s market share is around the 20% mark, Huawei nearly 16 per cent and Apple with a little over 10 per cent share.

of the NDPR requires data controllers to submit an initial audit report within six months of issuance of the regulation (which lapsed on 25th July 2019). NITDA said several data controllers have appealed for an extension of time to meet this obligation.

“Therefore, NITDA is hereby granting a three-month extension for the conduct of the initial audit report for every data Controller and Processor. This extension

period would elapse on October 25, 2019,” it stated.

According to the DirectorGeneral/Chief Executive Officer, NITDA, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, said the extension of time for the purpose of audit filing does not limit the agency’s right to investigate and enforce other allegations of breach made against any data controller or processor pursuant to the NDPR and the NITDA Act 2007.

NITDA extends filing time of data report to

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ational Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has held a series of consultations with various industry and government stakeholders on the implementation of the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).

The overwhelming consensus of stakeholder groups is that the NDPR is an appropriate regulation that would help provide clarity for data controllers and processors on the rights of data subjects, the basis of processing personal data and transfer of data outside Nigeria among others.

NITDA is pleased to note that stakeholders including other sector regulators, government, banks, industry groups, private sector players among many others, have shown tremendous willingness towards compliance with the NDPR. Consequently, Article 4.1(5)

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The Oracle Today Tuesday August 6 – Monday August 12, 2019

EQUITY & Capital Market

Access Bank secures N30bn tier II Bond Issuance Stories By JEROME USHAKANG

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ccess Bank Plc has secured a regulatory backing from both the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) to a N30 billion tier-II bond issuance it concluded recently.

Access Bank’s Secretary, Mr. Sunday Ekwochi, who disclosed this in a statement said that the bank has finalized the process for the issuance of the bond that would be due in 2026.

According to the statement, Access Bank is also looking forward to listing the bond on the NSE as soon as possible. Prior to this development, Access Bank’s Group Managing Director, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, was quoted as saying that the Tier II N30 billion subordinated unsecured bond issued by the bank to strengthen its funding base was oversubscribed.

Wigwe said the bond was to support the bank’s low-risk appetite. He added that the bond will mature in seven years and is callable after five years.

The issuing houses are Chapel Hill Denham Advisory Limited, Lead Issuing House, Coronation Merchant Bank Limited and FirstAlly Capital Limited.

In another development, the bank has released its results for

CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele

SEC Acting DG, Ms Mary Uduk

GMD, Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe

the first-quarter ended March 31, 2019. A review of the results showed that Gross earnings rose from N137 billion in 2018 to N160 billion in 2019, showing an increase of 16 percent year-onyear.

Profit Before Tax increased from N27.2 billion in 2018 to N45.1 billion in 2019, a 66 percent increase year- on- year,

while Profit After Tax leaped to N41.1 billion in 2019 from N21.9 billion recorded in 2018, glaringly indicating a growth of 88 percent year- on- year. In the same vein, Earnings per share rose from N0.77 in 2018 to N1.39 in 2019. This amounted to 81 percent increase year-on-year. A bond is a fixed income instrument representing a loan made by an

investor to a borrower (typically corporate or governmental).

Nowadays, Bonds are becoming popular as the being used by companies, municipalities, states, and sovereign governments to finance projects and operations.

Owners of bonds are debtholders or creditors of the issuer.

London Stock Exchange to buy Refinitiv for $27 Billion

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he London Stock Exchange Group on Thursday agreed to buy Refinitiv, the financial information service, for $27 billion as it seeks to enter the lucrative business of market data and compete with giants like Bloomberg L.P. It is a sign of how stock markets — even the centuries-old London exchange, one of the oldest in the world — must venture beyond company listings to grow profits. Financial data, the lifeblood of the trading industry, has emerged as a big avenue for such growth.

By buying Refinitiv, a former arm of Thomson Reuters that is now controlled by the investment giant Blackstone and others, the London exchange would be able to sell market information around the world. The British company hopes that the deal will make it a key cog of the plumbing that underpins the financial industry.

The Chief Executive of the London Stock Exchange Group, David Schwimmer, in a statement said, “With the acquisition of Refinitiv, we will transform our position as a leading global financial markets infrastructure group”.

SEC inaugurates Board as FG harps on Corporate Governance

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he Board of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) was last Monday inaugurated in Abuja with the Federal Government Calling on companies quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) to imbibe good corporate governance and accountability in a bid to accelerate the growth of the market and increase both domestic and foreign investor participation.

This was the position of the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Finance, Mr. Mahmoud Isa-Dutse, who is

also overseeing the office of the Minister of Finance, in his speech at the inauguration of the board of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Isa-Dutse, said, “The Nigerian capital market is growing and evolving and to sustain this growth and eventually transform to a world class capital market, transparency and investor confidence is key. He stressed that like world class markets, Nigerian Capital market should be characterised by high levels of liquidity, depth, breath and sophistication with a strong

domestic investor base.”

According to him, it should in addition be innovative and transparent due to robust investor base. It should be innovative, transparent due to robust disclosure regimes, and efficient both in price discovery and in the allocation of capital.

“We must have it in mind that world-class capital markets do far more than provide access to capital. They are enablers of socio-economic development because they hasten the rate of capital formation, foster a meritocracy and promote good

corporate governance, innovation and entrepreneurship.”

He emphasized.

He noted that our capital market should broaden access to economic prosperity by enabling the emergence of financially responsible citizens, accelerating wealth creation and wealth distribution, providing capital to small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs), and catalyzing housing finance.

The Permanent Secretary explained that the inauguration is coming at a time when many players in the market

are displaying weak corporate governance practices that could potentially dampen investor confidence and undermine the steady gains achieved since the 2008 stock market crash and therefore urged the board members to play their own part as crucial enablers in the industry towards advancing a common vision for the growth and revitalization of the market.

He said that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to transparency and accountability in corporate governance.

FG is tackling stamp duties, VAT exemption –Osinbanjo

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he Federal Government has revealed stated that it is already tackling the issues regarding stamp duties collection and the extension of the Value Added Tax (VAT) exemption on capital market transactions.

Vice President Yemi Osibanjo has disclosed at the Awards Night of the Association of Issuing Houses of Nigeria, AIHN, held in Lagos last weekend.

Charges on transactions in the capital market were suspended in 2014 by the then Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala so as to encourage increased trading activities in the market. However, the waiver expired on July 24, 2019.

Osinbajo said , “We have also

commenced work on other aspects of CAMMIC’S requests that require government intervention and would be collaborating with many of you in the capital market community to successfully address them.

My Office is actually represented on the CAMMIC. I will therefore be receiving periodic reports on suggestions to further strengthen our support of your efforts and the market as a whole.”

“We all desire a capital market that would broaden access to economic prosperity by enabling the emergence of financially responsible citizens, accelerating wealth creation and wealth distribution, providing capital to small and medium scale enterprises, and catalyzing housing

finance.” The Vice president added.

He therefore commended the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), CAMMIC and the capital market community for the laudable accomplishments so far recorded in the implementation of the Master Plan, especially in the areas of dematerialization of share certificates, e-dividend mandate, facilitation of access to alternative investments as well as various initiatives to enhance the commodities eco-system.

Osinbajo described the capital market as essential and key to achieving the economic goals of this administration as enshrined in the Economic Recovery and

Growth Plan (ERGP), hence the administration has worked hard to ensure a stable macroeconomic environment, which is necessary to attract and sustain investment that we need to propel our economy forward.

He said, “We see the capital market as an important driver of our growth agenda and we will continue to collaborate with the capital market community to support its efforts to positioning our market to where it should be. This Administration and especially my Office has supported the 10-year Capital Market Master Plan implementation initiatives since inception in 2015”.

The Vice President described AIHN as an important player

in the Nigerian capital market and commended its members for directly contributing to the economy by aggregating the muchneeded funding to support entities in the private and public sectors, adding that government and the private sector need to continue to work together to create sustainable businesses and provide the necessary jobs for the teeming youths.

According to him, the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, ERGP of the Buhari administration recognizes critical sectors for financing to include agriculture, infrastructure, power and SMEs, but added that the government cannot do this alone.

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The Oracle Today Tuesday August 6 – Monday August 12, 2019

MONEY Market Improving FG’s fiscal position would be tougher than expected –Afrinvest

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inancial analysts at Afrinvest have said improving the Federal Government’s fiscal position would be tougher than expected.

The analysts in their outlook titled, “Waiting on FG’s Fiscal Reform Agenda” said the direction of Nigeria’s fiscal policy over the medium-term still hangs on a balance as ministers are yet to resume.

They estimated a 22.9 percent expansion in FG’s revenues over 2018 levels with the removal of petrol subsidies and the adoption of a market reflective exchange rate alone.

The analysts said, their outlook is not entirely gloomy as they see quick wins.

They envisaged that, government spending on energy subsidies continue to be steep which they believe denying the FG and States of much needed resources.

The outlook suggested that, a more pressing concern would be seeing the FG sustaining the policies of the past four years.

They present the task ahead for the finance minister between 2019 and 2023 by analysing the dire state of FG’s finances.

They stated that, since the collapse in the prices of crude oil in mid-2014, the FG’s revenue has fallen sharply to 3.1 percent of GDP in 2018 compared with the record high of 5.0 percent to GDP in 2013.

“With expenditure outpacing revenues at 5.4 percent of GDP, the FG has accumulated N3.9 trillion in debt from the domestic and external debt markets to partly plug its fiscal deficit of N8.2 trillion between 2016 and 2018.

In addition, the FG received N5.6 trillion in monetary financing from the CBN, which is more than half the FG’s total deficits. This support has breached the constitutional threshold of 5.0 percent of the prior year’s revenues by N5.2 trillion. With the cost of servicing debt and recurrent expenditure at 60.8 percent and 146.9 percent of revenues respectively, this strategy is unsustainable. The FG needs a strong revenue boost and cost containment strategies to improve its finances and enhance its contribution to economic growth.”

They stressed that, the strategies to boost revenues in the first term

of President Buhari fell short of expectations which includes a whistle-blower policy which helped in recovering looted funds and the Voluntary Asset and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDs) that supported a broader tax net and N30 billions in receipts despite a target of N305 billion.

Accordingly, FG’s revenue to GDP only improved to 3.1 percent in 2018 from a low of 2.3 percent in 2017, they said.

To achieve revenue targets, they believed there is a need for comprehensive fiscal reform which would include action plans to improve the tax system and administration in a bid to drive efficiency by reducing costs and boosting collection.

In addition, they suggested that, more transparency and accountability would be required by the citizens to encourage tax payments. The VAT increase being

mulled given Nigeria’s lower VAT rate of 5.0 percent when compared to peers represents a quick fix.

“However, this would not be a silver bullet as total VAT receipts for the entire country is weak at 0.8 percent of GDP in 2018. Similarly, as two cities – Lagos and Abuja – account for 75 percent of the VAT receipts, the FG should work on bringing more businesses into the VAT net rather than imposing more taxes on current taxpayers. In Lagos, for instance, consumers already pay twice the national rate of 5.0 percent as consumption taxes. Increasing VAT collection would require lower taxes and costs in the formal economy as well as providing conditions that enable faster business growth. In our view, this would take time, hence revenues are likely to remain weak for an extended time”, they said.

They stated that, reining in spending will also not come easy as

the FG’s wage bill is likely to increase significantly over the next two years due to the implementation of the new minimum wage which is 67.0 percent higher at N30,000.00/month.

The bigger challenge is that public sector wages often rise almost evenly across the board once a new minimum wage takes effect.

“For context, the wage bill more than doubled between 2010 and 2012 after the last revision to minimum wage. Although we expect the increase in wages to be less aggressive upon implementation, it would still put considerable pressure on FG’s fragile finances. The FG is negotiating a moderate increase of 5.0 percent and 9.5 percent for grade levels 7-14 and 1517 respectively while the Trade Union Congress (TUC) is angling for 25.0 percent and 30.0 percent. We believe the FG needs to rein in overhead costs, which are more discretionary, to partly offset the new wage increase.”

Divisional Head, Managed SMEs, Fidelity Bank Plc., Osaigbovo Omorogbe; Chief Operations and Information Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc., Gbolahan Joshua; Chief Economist, Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), Joseph Nnanna; General Manager/Regional Bank Head, Ikeja, Fidelity Bank Plc., Kenneth Opara at the Fidelity SME Radio Forum held at Inspiration FM in Lagos to create publicity ahead of the forthcoming Fidelity SME Funding Connect

UBA makes 20 more customers millionaires …Doles out N30 million in 3rd draw of UBA Wise Savers Promo

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nited Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has again rewarded another 20 customers who have emerged winners in the third quarterly draw of the UBA Wise Savers Promo winning N1.5 million each, bringing the total amount won so far by 60 customers to N90 million.

The electronic raffle draw, which was held at the UBA Head Office in Lagos was witnessed by the relevant regulatory bodies including the National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Lagos State Lottery Board and Consumer Protection Council.

Lucky customers who emerged winners in the latest draw cut across all regions of the country.

They are Yusuf Muhammed; Adebakin Anuoluwapo Elizabeth; Babatunde Temidayo Ruth; Christian Emetole; Nwabuife Ikeagu; Omoye Amiengheme; Ogechukwukanma Okoh; Akinyemi Abidemi Betty; Okoro Chukwuma and Chukwu, Patricia Nnenna.

Others are Adejoke Olarinoye; Fatoki Hassan; Nwokocha Ikechukwu Emmanuel; Owolanke kole Emmanuel; Ferreira Adesola Afolatomi; Emmanuel Omoigui; Uzoigwe Anthonia; Elesin Titilayo Oluwabunmi; James Suleiman Umar and Lawan David Nahinokan.

The ongoing promo, which commenced in September last year, is expected to run till September 30, 2019 and will see a final 20 customers from across Nigeria become millionaires, winning N30 million in the last quarter of this year.

At the end of the fourth promo, a total of N120 million will have been won by 80 customers.

Speaking during the event, UBA’s Group Head, Consumer & Retail Banking, Mr. Jude Anele, said that since the promo began late last year, the bank has been impressed at the level of response by its customers and the general public across the country, adding that the purpose of the campaign is to reward loyal customers while encouraging the savings culture.

Firstbank convenes SME week, reinforces its support to the engine of the economy

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irst Bank of Nigeria Limited, as part of the launch of its specialized SME propositions, has announced the convening of its SME Week scheduled to hold in the week 5 to 9 August 2019. Customers and noncustomers of First Bank can expect to participate in a wide range of events and activities designed with the SME in mind.

The activities range from the SME Masterclass themed “Designing and Implementing a Growth Strategy for your Business” to specialized one on one sessions with renowned business coaches and the launch of seven unique pillars which make up our SME propositions available via SMEConnect – The FirstBank SME portal.

The highlight of the week according to the statement from the Bank is the launch of the SME portal, a platform through which SMEs can access our unique propositions that have been designed to equip them with the essential tools needed for the growth of their business.

“The SME portal is also designed to help SMEs identify various gaps that hinder their business growth leveraging our innovative Business Diagnostics Tool, with a view to proffering tailored solutions and creating opportunities for business improvement, profitability and sustainability.

Following extensive research by the Bank over the years, we identified these seven strategic pillars to be essential for the sustainability and growth of

the SMEs. These include – access to infrastructure, access to talent, capacity building, policy and regulation, access to resources, access to market as well as access to finance. This has duly informed our strategy and propositions for our SMEs going forward.”

Other activities lined up for the week include; one on one coaching advisory sessions, to be simultaneously held across 6 locations in Lagos, Abuja, Rivers, Oyo, Kano and Owerri. The weeklong event will be rounded off

with a live webinar on 9 August 2019, to be facilitated by Gbenga Shobo, the Bank’s Deputy Managing Director.

According to Deputy Managing Director, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Gbenga Shobo, “FirstBank has over the years, been at the forefront of supporting Businesses, especially the SMEs as we recognise that the SMEs are the engine of the economy. We are committed to ensuring that we leave no stone unturned as we connect with them in their continued contribution to

national development in terms of the employment opportunities they create as well as their contribution to the nation’s GDP amongst many economic values.”

“The FirstBank SME Week is driven to promote the Bank’s SME proposition, thereby having SMEs across the country optimally enlightened on how to plug in. We believe this will help SMEs bolster their contribution to the growth and development of the economy” he concluded.

Zenith Bank upgrades its mobile banking application

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enith Bank Plc has upgraded its mobile banking application to ensure its services are more aptly suited for the lifestyle needs of its customers.

The upgraded mobile app has an improved user interface and more offerings such as QR payments, biometric sign-on for android users, and a help menu

for prompt challenge resolution to guarantee a more rewarding bank experience.

Speaking on the launch of the new Mobile App, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive, Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, said the new features were designed to ensure a truly amazing experience that will further create value for its

teeming customers.

To download the Zenith mobile app, customers need to uninstall the former application to be able to install the new one. The Zenith mobile app is available for free download on the android and IOS app stores by following this link https://ww.zenithbank.com/ smartlink.

Zenith Bank Plc is recognized as one of the most innovative financial institutions in Nigeria and was adjudged as the most customer- focused bank in Nigeria for the Retail and SME segments in the 2018 KPMG Annual Banking Industry Customer Satisfaction Survey (BICSS).

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The Oracle Today Tuesday August 6 – 12, 2019

NEWS Cleric petitions IGP over threat to life, demands justice From EMMANUEL OGOIGBE, Warri

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Warri,m Delta Statebased cleric, Prophet Melody Adjija, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) demanding for justice over the humiliation and torture he was allegedly subjected to by a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Delta State, CSP Anietie Ejoh.

In the petition copies of which was also sent

to the Delta State Police Commissioner, the Cleric through his counsel, Omeniroro Ogedegbe, the cleric said his first encounter with CSP Ejoh was sometimes in January 2019 when the DPO invited him to his office demanding for financial assistance to construct a church chapel as there was no such chapel in the Ebrumede Police Station where he was the Divisional Police Officer, adding that consequently

upon the passionate appeal, the cleric then pledged the sum of three million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira.

According to him, trouble started after the cash redemption by the cleric who later discounted that the fund had been diverted as no such chapel was erected, then demanding for the refund of the money.

Subsequently, the DPO then invited the cleric

to his office where he accused him of unfounded allegations. The situation got worse when the CSP EJoh allegedly pulled out a pistol threatening to eliminate him for refusing to come to terms with him, especially as no chapel foundation was laid.

In the petition, the prophet averred that sometimes in June 2019, he got a call from one line comedian popularly called Parara who operates “mock

#RevolutionNow: Police foil planned demonstration in C’River From: ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar

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ross River State Police Command says it has foiled the planned demonstration called by the #RevolutionNoew protesters in the state against the present state of affairs in the country.

The police came out in their numbers Monday morning with their armored tanks as well as other armoured vehicles and positioned themselves at strategic locations in the state.

Despite this however,

they arrested members of the Action Alliance Congress (AAC) alongside the Nation newspaper reporter in Cross River State, Nickolas Kalu who went to cover the protest.

Other protesters were picked up by a platoon of policemen at the Cultural Centre Complex in Calabar where they congregated ahead of their state wide protest which they tagged: #RevolutionNow protest in the state.

Oracle Today learnt that the news as well as Managing Editors of an online medium

“CrossRiverwatch” were equally picked up by the fully armed men of the police.

The basis for the arrest of the journalist is not clear as at press time as he was there to cover the protest.

When contacted over the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Irene Ugbo said she was not aware but added that he will be released if he was ever arrested.

“I don’t know the situation, I’m not in the office, but if at all he was arrested, he will be released,” she said.

Meanwhile the State Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Comrade Victor Dan Udu has condemned in strong terms the arrest of the Nation reporter.

He insisted that the journalist was there with his jotter and pen and called for his unconditional release.

“I condemn the act totally. The journalist is just doing his job. He did not go there with any weapon but with his jotter and pen.

We call for his immediate unconditional release”, Comrade Udu said.

(From left): Risk Group Officer, Interswitch, Kevin Owoamanam; Senior Accountant, National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), Uche Nebolisa; Group Head, Commerce and Digital, Interswitch, Emeka Awagu and Account officer II, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Onifade Abideen, at the raffle draw for the One Music Africa Fest which held at Interswitch Head office, Lagos recently.

Groups flay South East governors over rising But BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

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HE Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) has expressed anger over the killings in the South East zone, particularly in the Awgu area of Enugu State and noted that the matter should be attended to urgently to guarantee security in the zone.

The President-General of the group, Goodluck Egwu Ibem states that, “the South East Governors should stop treating the murderous Fulani herdsmen in the zone with kid gloves. They should stop shying away from their major responsibility, which is

protection of lives and properties of its citizens.

Similarly, a human rights activist and founder of the Initiative for Ideal Development and Emancipatory Leadership in Nigeria (IDEAL Nigeria), Innocent Nwokocha, says the current insecurity ravaging the South East demands that the governors of the zone should deploy their security votes to real purpose for the funds were meant for.”

According to Ibem, “we want the Governors to note that, this is not the time for series of South East Governors meetings. It is the time for action. It is not the time of press releases; it is a time to act like real men.

Their main responsibility is the protection of life and property of their citizens; they must do it. The time for lamenting and complaining is over, it is a time to stand up to the challenge.

“We call on all the traditional rulers, vigilance groups, community leaders and Council Chairmen in the zone to set up community security outfits to ascertain the movement of strangers amongst them. The youth groups should rise and defend their ancestral homes and communities. The issue of security is the responsibility of everybody.”

Said Nwokocha: “The rising insecurity in the South East is quite scary, it calls for

serious attention, more especially from the South East Governors Forum.

This is time for them to show maximally what they use their security votes they receive on monthly basis for.

“Since 2015 when most of them came to power, they have been making use of the security votes they receive on monthly but we don’t know whether it is used as personal savings, but the truth of the matter is that this is the time that we really require them to show high level of leadership, use the security votes for combatting insecurity.’ their security votes to real purpose for the funds were meant for.

College postpones SUG election over protest by students over imposition

By ODOGWU EMEKA ODOGWU

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HE scheduled election of the Student Union of Government of the Federal College of Education (Technical) Umunze has been suspended, following protests by some section of students claiming marginalization.

The Public Relations Officer of the College, Mr Sam Otti said that the election was suspended because of grievances that came up hours before the election. He said that the management has ordered the students back to their hostels. He referred the reporter to the Dean, but every effort to get the Dean Students Affairs of the college proved futile.

The aggrieved students took to the streets to protest what they described as marginalization and unequal treatment of students in the election of the SUG elections of the college scheduled for last Friday.

On Friday, the students, who identified themselves as Anglican and Pentecostal student marched round the town carrying placards bearing inscriptions like: “ Say no to marginalization in FCE(T) Umunze; “We need our Rights Back,” “Catholic Dominance must stop in FCET, Umunze.”

It was gathered that the students were angry that their candidates were disqualified without cogent reasons, while they complained that this had happened in 2013 election of the SUG, when they were denied their rights to elect who should govern them.

A protest resulted in the suspension and termination of admissions of most students of the college.

They claimed that the offices of the President, Secretary, Financial Secretary and other key positions were not contested, they noted that some critical positions in the SUG were reserved for anointed candidates who mostly assume the positions unopposed.

Our reporter gathered that the protesting students filed a petition to the college management demanding for a fair hearing on why the students were disqualified from contesting but their appeal was not treated, hence the protest.

The Chief Judge of the current SUG, Rt. Hon. Justice Alaebo Promise said: “We were protesting irregularities regarding the electoral process in the ongoing SUG election in the college whereby some of the critical positions were declared unopposed for no reason.

We were demanding evidence of their disqualification.

“We actually put calls across to the management but we were told to do whatever we want to do. This provoked us and we decided to show them that we are not happy with things.

“The SUG is a statutory body that must exist in every tertiary institution. They should give us the right to exercise these rights.

“The management has done underground work

that leads to the imposition of candidate on the students. This simply means appointment or selection.

When a presidential aspirant is presented unopposed, that means there was no election. We were having this feeling that the management was behind this every year unopposed government because if they were not, they should have questioned it.”

Promise, who is the President of Anglican students in the college said that the system of election needs to be reviewed. He said that open voting system is outdated and many students have been victimized through the system. He advocated for secret balloting.

Meanwhile, the Catholic leaders in the school were alleged to be brains behind the disqualifications as well as influencing the choice of candidate through the Nigerian Federation of Catholic Students (NFCS).

They claimed that the catholic leaders have deprived the students of their rights to vote and stand for an elective position in the college.

They claimed that the NFCS President was 99 per cent likely to emerge the SUG president after his tenure, thereby relegating other catholic candidates and candidate of other denominations to the background.

A catholic student who preferred anonymity said: I was in the SUG of 2013 set when all this started. It started in the church, I was a pure catholic. I have never seen a higher institution where you impose someone on the students that they have to take it whether they like it or not. They brought out somebody and told us we must vote for the person to the detriment of other candidates in the church, which was not fair.”

The chaplain of the Anglican Chapel of Ascension FCE(T), Rev. Tochukwu Akaegbobi said that a lot had happened in the school, which was why the students took to the streets. He said students of other denominations have been intimidated and relegated.

The Priest said that nobody was against a church bringing out a candidate but imposing it on the students was wrong.

He urged that the students be allowed to exercise their franchise as it is an affair that concerns them.

“If the management wants the students to have their elections, they should separate themselves from the students. The church should also separate themselves from the students’ politics.

Let the students play their politics.”

Rev. Fr. Ben Tochukwu Odika said that the catholic church in the school has nothing to do with the SUG politics, which is not a church affair, but a student’s affair. He noted that the students were supposed to the election on Friday due to circumstances known to them. Then some Anglican and Pentecostal students sought to use that as an opportunity to disturb the peace of the institution by protesting.

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The Oracle Today Tuesday August 6 - 12, 2019

Anambra governorship election 2021: Game over for APGA? H In on Dr Tony Nwoye was bold and daring at the stakeholders’ interactive roundtable of the Anambra State All Progressives Congress, APC with Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo. He told him there was no APC in Anambra. That was direct and pungent. Not all can speak with that audacity. APC members dealt with Nwoye when he campaigned to be Governor of Anambra State in November 2017.

The event which took place at Prof Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Centre was entitled, ‘Repositioning APC Anambra State Chapter in the Next Level Era’. Former Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Nwabueze Ngige, National Auditor of APC, Chief George Moghalu, Director, Budget, Pastor Ben Akabueze, former House of Representatives, Hon Rapheal Okeke among others attended the event.

Those purportedly in the front run who couldn’t get the ticket of the party constituted a nuisance against their own party man, Tony Nwoye, even when they have party positions. How then, do they expect goodies to be happening to members, when they are only good in sabotaging others fortune?

That’s why Senator Ngige continues to enjoy party goodies alone with his cronies. He plays better party politics, though crafty in actions, and thrift in political spending than others. He played clean, so to speak, as other political bigwigs used all forms of subterfuge against Tony Nwoye. They constituted a parallel campaign organization poised at thwarting every move of Tony Nwoye. They became feeders to opposition. They attended meetings in the morning and divulged deliberations to the opposition by night.

I witnessed it first hand, and these people are shamelessly angling to be given positions in APC as true Ambassadors of the party in Anambra state unknown to them that inability to settle gentleman agreement is a bad omen any day.

Some of them are already having positions, but wish to be ministers and higher positions like Ambassadors. One day, their co-travellers would name and shame them, not me.

Prof Yemi Osinbajo was shocked at Tony’s postulations, but that was the truth. He knew those who sabotaged his ambition to be Governor just because they were not favoured at the APC Primary.

Nwoye, a former member, House Representatives, told Osinbajo that APC members are deceiving themselves that APC exists in the state, yet it had not won any seat in the Anambra State House of Assembly, House of Representatives and even Senate. APC achieved six per cent in the last election.

Nwoye said: “As of today, APC is not in existence in Anambra State.

We are just deceiving ourselves about the existence of APC in the state. Since inception of the party, it has not won any seat either at the state or federal level,” he said.

He appealed to the Vice President to rescue the party in the state so that members could wake up from their slumbers. Please tell Mr President that if he wants APC to exist in Anambra state, he must personally intervene and save it from total collapse,” Nwoye said.

Another former member of the Federal House of Representatives, representing Ihiala federal constituency, Chief Fort Dike was equally direct as he lamented that “our members are hungry, angry and

CORNUCOPIA

By Odogwu Emeka Odogwu Telephone number: 08060750240

E-mail : odogwuchampionawka@yahoo.co.uk

• Dr Tony Nwoye

ashamed at the way we are being treated in Anambra state as members of APC. This is the first time since I joined politics in 1979 that members of the ruling party would be so relegated. Party democracy is never run by gangs, cliques or cabals.’’

Dike spoke the minds of other members who couldn’t muster such courage to speak pungently to people in authority. He said APC is at the Centre, but members in the state are all in pains, suffering bitterly and gnashing teeth. He insisted that it’s like the members, especially in the state are being deceived, as there were no jobs, no appointments or any way of carrying the people along.

Deputy National Youth Leader of the party, Chief Olisa Onyeka proposed that four hundred (400) board appointment slots be made available for APC members in the state, since Anambra has only 326 electoral wards.

He said further, “The way the party and the federal government affairs are being run has rendered APC a regional party. We have been so sidelined in the scheme of things that it is really in doubt whether any of the leaders is thinking of how to shore up the party in the state and zone. He described the situation as ugly.

Onyeka dared APC leadership with a one-year ultimatum to change and improve on the welfare of her members in the state or there would be no more APC in the state. He said that while the party prides itself on “Next Level”, it’s “Last Level” in the state.

On same ground, the Acting state chairman of the party, Mr.

Basil Ejidike, a former Member of the state Assembly (Awka North), Mrs Rebecca Udorji, and a former Deputy Speaker of the state, Mike Ugwa expressed the displeasure of members of the party, saying that even though the party was the ruling party at the centre, its members were in hardship.

They condemned the recent appointment of a known member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Hon. Anayo Nebe by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as an aide, when there were several capable hands in the party.

They lamented that APC government’s school feeding programme has been hijacked, same for the NPower programmes, Trader Moni and many others to enable them to take the state in the coming governorship election.

Anambra Central Zonal Publicity Secretary of the APC, Igboeli Arinze, in a release, said APC in state and the South-East were urging the Speaker to rescind his decision or face the anger of party members in the region.

The statement stated, “The appointment leaves a sour taste in the mouths of party faithful who have stood by the party through thick and thin and expect much better from the Speaker.

“The appointment of Nnebe, an APGA member, is indeed a slap in the face of the APC, not only in the zone where Nnebe hails from but the entire South-East zone; it is not acceptable.”

But, Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, rather ignored all the woes presented before him and predicted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would

win the 2021 governorship election in Anambra State.

He told the party members that all the complaints were possible because there was lack of unity.

He said, “What you lack is unity. I am not here to talk to you as a politician but to tell you the truth that will help move this party forward in the state.

“Anambra APC must move forward. How come Anambra performed so low in the 2019 election?

You were the second lowest in the presidential election. ‘’How come we do not even have a House of Assembly member from APC in Anambra, yet we have a lot of landmark projects in the state?

“You are not united in Anambra and that is the problem. It will be a waste of time if you are not united.

You must start now to show commitment to the party. Dr. Tony Nwoye came second during the last governorship election, and what that means is that if you had pushed a little further, APC would have won.

“As we approach 2021 for another governorship election, we must move to another level by having an APC governor here. We will do it’’.

According to Osinbajo, “no spirit can come and win elections for us in this state; it is time for us to take over Anambra state in 2021” “Anambra APC must move on.

Party leadership must be united, if we don’t work together, nothing will work and must equally show commitment” “I’m here to open a new chapter, a new beginning, in 2021, we must have a Governor in this state, but it is not going to be easy without being together and hard work “Osinbajo said.

In line with Osinbajo’s visit, APC had called on the All progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), to prepare for war in the next governorship election in the state in 2021.

The party leaders in a unanimous decision at the Milatel Hotels in Awka, vowed that what happened in the past during elections in Anambra State, would never repeat itself again. They want other parties to prepare for battle in 2021.

Meanwhile, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Anambra State chapter has described the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as a sinking boat.

The Publicity Secretary of PDP, Mr Nnamdi Nwangwu who stated this, said that he was not surprised that the PDP stakeholders meeting which held in the state capital has become a source of worry for the ruling political party in Anambra state. He said instead of APGA faithful to be losing sleep over the activities of the People’s Democratic Party, they should rather worry about the debt profile the incumbent administration has plunged the state into.

The PDP’s spokesperson said the internal and external debt profile of Anambra State is now embarrassing noting that the external debt of the state stands at N107b as at June while the domestic debt was put at N33b. He said the debt situation is not a secret as the information can be assessed from the Debt Management Office. APGA according to him, has plunged Anambra into unnecessary debt which unborn generations would bear. He noted that the situation is even more annoying if one remembers the fact that Chief Willie Obiano inherited a whooping N75b from his predecessor, Mr Peter Obi and wondered what the government of APGA has done with such huge resources.

“The APGA government has failed in all ramifications, it has become notorious for low budget implementation which is as low as 12 percent, the education standard has nose dived resulting in poor performance of Anambra state students in SSCE and NECO as the state has descended from the zenith to an uninspiring seventh position, the functional primary health institutions this administration inherited from Mr Peter Obi are dead.

But, the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) reacted sharply by describing PDP’s statement as a mere wishful thinking, that it would reclaim the state in 2021 gubernatorial election in the state.

State chairman of APGA, Sir Norbert Obi, while saying that era of PDP was between 1999 and 2006 which is over, described PDP’s ambition to return to Government House Awka as “a pipe dream,” insisting that the party died in the state in March 2006, when APGA took over its mantle of leadership.

He is optimistic APGA will win 2021 landslide.

However, the leadership of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has condemned the internal crisis and loss of trust and confidence rocking the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), a political party that is generally believed and adjudged as ‘Igbo Party’.

Chief Ikechukwu Ekwe, the Deputy Leader of MASSOB who made the statement said that MASSOB as a stakeholder in the affairs of Ndigbo is not happy about this APGA degeneration.

“Our major concern in this political ill wind is burned out of the fact that the name of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu (Eze Igbo Gburugburu) was involved in APGA. MASSOB warned that every legacy that the name and person of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was genuinely involved will never be allowed to be destroyed,” he said..

Truly, the last general elections with accusations and counter accusations of fraudulently fleecing APGA candidates of several millions in Anambra and Imo state dealt a blow to APGA. Can it survive it to have a good candidate in 2021?

Can APGA survive this wild gathering against it by the APC and the PDP? Is it actually game over for APGA and if it is, which party stands a chance of a rebound to Anambra Government House come 2021? Is it PDP that has tasted it before or APC that has never had a taste of what it is like? Or shall the APGA enjoying it since Peter Obi’s two terms good governance that gave birth to Obiano’s administration continue? We are watching developments in the wake of events leading to Anambra 2021! The race has started!

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The Oracle Today Tuesday August 6 – 12, 2019

Love and Living

...With Ireto Temofeh

MODEL OF THE WEEK

LOVE NEWS

‘We just went at it like she just didn’t exist.’

Former Playmate reveals she had sex with Donald Trump in front of her friend

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former Playboy Playmate has told how President Donald Trump cheated on his pregnant fiancée Marla Maples – who later became his second wife - during a steamy six-month affair.

Model Barbara Moore, 49, met the tycoon in March, 1993 – three months after she became Playboy’s Miss December centerfold – and claims the president was a ‘great lover’ and a true ‘gentleman’.

The pair embarked on a passionate love affair which saw Moore spending time with the billionaire at Mar-a-Lago and Trump Tower behind Maples’ back.

And in a series of stunning photos obtained by DailyMail.com the blonde beauty is seen posing up in a bikini amid the opulent surroundings of Mar-a-Lago in the private residence of Trump.

She even took a photo of the president flexing his muscles on a sun lounger by the mansion’s swimming pool.

In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, she said: ‘I dated Donald Trump for around six months, from March to September 1993.

Moore decided to tell her story after being bombarded with press

Name: Glory Tel: 08164007657 If you want to be our next Model of The Week, e-mail or forward your photos/data to: ireto007@yahoo.com. Call 07031028714

ODD NEWS Woolly mammoths could come back to life and SAVE the Arctic: Harvard cloning scientist is using DNA from a 42,000-year old carcass to see the Ice Age species rise from the dead

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oolly mammoths could once again roam Arctic regions as part of an incredible plan to clone these vast beasts that disappeared 10,000 years ago.

Harvard University scientists who are set to publish scientific papers in the coming weeks - are using DNA from a woolly mammoth that has been preserved in Siberian ice for more than 42,000 years.

If the two-year plan came to fruition, the woolly mammoths would live in a 20,000 hectare Ice Age safari park created by Russian scientists in a

remote part of Siberia.

This could also regenerate Arctic climates because they would stimulate the growth of vegetation, the lead researcher has said.

Their ambitious plan involves growing the creature within an artificial womb rather than recruiting a female elephant as a surrogate mother.

The final beast would be a hybrid between an Asian elephant and a mammoth.

Researchers are using a genetic technique called CRISPR-Cas9.

The system allows the ‘cut and paste’ manipulation of strands of DNA with a precision not seen before.

Using this technique, scientists could cut and paste preserved mammoth DNA into Asian elephants to create and elephant-mammoth hybrid.

‘We have already revived dozens of genes and are testing them in elephant cells’, lead researcher Professor George Church told the Sun Online.

‘We are focusing on a reviving mammoth genes and making a mammoth/elephant hybrid and help them spread to vast wild, arctic climates’, he said.

According to Professor Church, these large beasts could even repopulate freezing wastelands.

‘Cold-resistant elephants would flatten the insulating snow and supporting trees in winter and favour the highly heat reflective grass in summer’, he said.

‘They would also help capture new carbon by enhancing the photosynthetic capacity of the vegetation.’

It’s thought that the grasslands will reflect more sunlight than the forests that exist today, allowing the winter freeze to penetrate deeper into the crust, and cool the soil beneath.

Over the years, the trees at the Siberian park have been flattened using powerful tank-like vehicles.

But, in order to keep the trees from taking over again, they’ll need to employ large, grazing animals – including resurrected woolly mammoths.

COULD WE RESURRECT MAMMOTHS? Male woolly mammoths were around 12 feet (3.5m) tall, while the females were slightly smaller.

They had curved tusks up to 16 feet (5m) long and their underbellies boasted a coat of shaggy hair up to 3 feet (1m) long.

Tiny ears and short tails prevented vital body heat being lost.

Their trunks had ‘two fingers’ at the end to help them pluck grass, twigs and other vegetation.

They get their name from the Russian ‘mammut’, or earth mole, as it was believed the animals lived underground and died on contact with light – explaining why they were always found dead and half-buried.

Their bones were once believed to have belonged to extinct races of giants.

Woolly mammoths and modernday elephants are closely related, sharing 99.4 per cent of their genes.

The two species took separate evolutionary paths six million years ago, at about the same time humans and chimpanzees went their own way.

Woolly mammoths co-existed with early humans, who hunted them for food and used their bones and tusks for making weapons and art.

requests after she was named in legal documents filed by former Playboy model Karen McDougal who is now seeking to invalidate her agreement with America Media Inc. ‘It was a passionate affair, he was a great lover and a gentleman.

‘But at the time I didn’t know he was with someone else, let alone engaged to Marla Maples and it was only recently I learned she was pregnant at the time.

This has shocked me, but I don’t hold it against Donald, he was a great lover and I think he’s a great president.’

DailyMail.com reached out to the White House for comment.

A source familiar with the matter said the president said these are more false accusations.

Moore’s revelations come amid a cloud of controversy surrounding his alleged flings with porn star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who both claim to have slept with Trump while he was with current wife Melania.

But while Daniels and McDougal have both publicly criticized the president, Moore is far more complimentary.

She met the billionaire at Trump’s Castle Casino hotel, a former Trump owned property in Atlantic City, New Jersey in March, 1993.

As Miss December, 1992 Moore was hired by Playboy to do a fashion show at the posh casino hotel.

‘De-extincting’ the mammoth has become a realistic prospect because of revolutionary gene editing techniques that allow the precise selection and insertion of DNA from specimens frozen over millennia in Siberian ice.

The most widely used technique, known as CRISPR/Cas9, has transformed genetic engineering since it was first demonstrated in 2012.

The system allows the ‘cut and paste’ manipulation of strands of DNA with a precision not seen before.

Using this technique, scientists could cut and paste preserved mammoth DNA into Asian elephants to create and elephant-mammoth hybrid.

Mammoths roamed the icy tundra of Europe and North America for 140,000 years, disappearing at the end of the Pleistocene period, 10,000 years ago.

They are one of the best understood prehistoric animals known to science because their remains are often not fossilised but frozen and preserved.

Romantic Joke

Years of Marriage

In the first year of marriage, the man speaks and the woman listens. In the second year, the woman speaks and the man listens. In the third year, they both speak and the neighbors listen.

34

The Oracle Today Tuesday August 6 – Monday August 12, 2019

Entertainment Lesbians make covert passes at me –Ijeoma Richards

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Ijeoma Rich-

tar of Living in Oblivion, Ijeoma Richards is definitely one of the hot faces in Nollywood making waves. The script writer who also doubles as an actress and moviemaker has a first degree in Business Administration and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Lagos.

The president of Nollywood Creative Minds (NCMF) Forum, in this interview speaks on the

rumour about a lesbian clique running Nollywood.

She said: “I’ve had covert passes from lesbians but it was not from Nollywoid I must add.

If there’s a lesbian cartel this is the first I’m hearing it. Plus, i doubt anyone who knows me will attempt it.”

Talking about her brainchild she continued: “NCMF is an acronym for Nollywood Creative

Minds Forum. We are a Nollywood body that I am president of and we have Lagos State and Kwara State chapters coordinated by filmmaker, Kolade Owolabi. Other chapters are in the process of getting set up. NCMF was founded

by Emeka Okoye, Bukky Thomas and myself. “Our primary purpose is to ensure industry practitioners potential are optimised. We support members in all spheres of growth by ensuring exposure to opportunities, such as work, trainings and personal growth among others. NCMF also has a programme of short film projects produced by members who are divided into clusters. At our Annual In Pursuit of Better Seminar, which holds every December at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, Lagos, we introduced our short film screenings last year.

And this year, the plan is to have a two-day seminar with one whole day dedicated to short film screening. Some notable Nollywood industry practitioners who are NCMF members include Keppy Ekpenyong Bassey, Ngozi Nwosu, Ugezu Ugezu, Charles Inojie, Yemi Blaq, Ebere Okaro, Kalu Ikeagwu,Tunde Olaoye, Anne Njemanze, Kingsley Omoefe, Greg Ojefua,Chinyere Nwabueze, Lekan Ayinde and Tommy Oyewole,

Locked, Charles Granville’s blockbuster hits cinemas August 9

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ctor and recording artiste, Charles Granville is set to heat up Nollywood with his latest movie entitled Locked, featuring Hilda Dokubo and Belinda Efah among a host of others when it hits cinemas August 9.

Directed by Simon Peacemaker, Locked, a thriller is a stimulating account of affection and tragedy with a strong emphasis on mental health awareness, capturing vividly one of the less discussed but an integral part of human existence. It is the story of a young lady who takes her fiancée to visit her parents only to discover that her mother killed her father in a psychotic fit after she finds out he’s about to leave her for a younger woman. Upon this discovery, her mother holds her and her fiancée captive.

Commenting, Charles Granville who doubles as the producer and the executive producer of the movie said: “Mental issues is a real but it has not been taken seriously in this part of the world. Africans must be educated about the realities of mental health issues and that depression is real. People are going into depression and it is causing them to behave in an unstable way, going as far as committing suicide. These are real issues around us which we all need to pay proper attention to. ‘Locked movie’ touches on the effects of child abuse, spousal abuse and its traumatic effect on the children, depression, suicide and dissociative identity disorder also known as multiple personality disorder. It is scheduled to premiere in three Nigerian cities, Lagos, Abuja and Port-Harcourt.”

Emmix releases video for Fowonlenu

Cossy Orjiakor

Shan George

Why I have tremendous respect for Shan George –Cossy Orjiakor

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ossy Orjiakor has finally opened up on why she has tremendous respect for fellow actress, Shan George.

Om a chat, the boobs star revealed how Shan George came to her rescue when her sex-with-dog scandal broke back in the day. Cossy told TS Weekend that though experience was traumatic, she never contemplated suicide.

“It was only Shan George that came to my rescue. It was a very trying period for me. I was depressed but I never contemplated suicide. I withdrew from the public but there was this burning desire to get back at those behind my plight but I knew that if died, I wouldn’t be able to. Well, they say time heals. Keeping those

‘toys’ inside me made me age and looked quite tattered back then. I was big, then I went to zero overnight so all those things that made me mad I spoke out and I started healing.

“It was a very trying period.

Even the elders and those in the industry who shot the movie and those that were in the know kept mute while my life and career were being destroyed. I thought they were going to tell the world that ‘no, Cossy didn’t do this, no, Cossy didn’t do that, it was just a movie.’

But there was a deep conspiracy of silence from the producers and directors of the movie including the journalist who broke the fake story. I am so happy I wasn’t killed during that period because there was too much hate!. Right now I am a lone ranger.”

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couple of weeks after he released the audio of his sophomore single Fowonlenu, fast rising rapper and songwriter, Oludare Segun Emmanuel aka Emmix, has unleashed the video of Fowonlenu which was shot by popular director, JFalon, in Akure recently.

Speaking with TS Weekend, the University of Benin Civil Engineering undergraduate expressed gratitude to God for the progress made so far. Emmix said: “Let me start by thanking God for the success my team and I have achieved so far. Right now, we have just released the video of my sophomore single entitled Fowonlenu which has been a DJ favourite. Now we are taking it to TV screens as the video hits the airwaves with a bang.

And also, it was shot by one of the most experienced video directors in Nigeria. I am talking about JFalon. It was so much fun working with him.

“Fowonlenu is a great song, which will touch many lives. I want all my fans to go online and download it. Xsmile produced Fowonlenu, an irresistible dance melody that is making waves currently in the Nigeria music industry.”

Born November 18, 1996 to a family of four, Emmix was raised in Akure, the Ondo State capital. He started his career as a member of the church choir in 2009. That move triggered his love for music and he metamorphosed into a rapper and singer. Emmix joined a music group called SSR (Senior Squad Rhythms) in 2009 and recorded his first rap song in 2010.

35

The Oracle Today Tuesday August 6 – 12, 2019

ENTERTAINMENT

With Douglas Omoyooma

Challenges of being a Kannywood actress

Maryam Booth, Kannywood actress

By Douglas Omoyooma

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annywood actress, Maryam Booth aka Dijangala is also the CEO of Mbooths Beauty Palour, a brand ambassador, model, fashion designer, makeup artiste and accessories dealer. In this interview with Oracle Today, the Kannywood actress opens up on the stigma Kannywood actresses face and why she is still single. Happily married Mariam who tied the knot a while ago also opened up on how she came into the world of make-belief.

She began: “Honestly, it is sad that in the north, actresses are seen as loose and immoral, it is a serious stigma. Once you are introduced as an actress, the perception is like ‘ha! she is an actress, no, they are prostitutes and wayward girls.’ Indeed it was a huge challenge but presently, the notion is changing; they have begun to treat us with respect and acceptance.

Now they crave to see us and the reception is applaudable. Kannywood actresses no longer lose their suitors to acting. We have suffered emotionally trauma because we chose acting. Virtually, every actress was affected when we started Kannywood but the case is different now.”

Kannywood Recounting how her Nollywood journey began, Mariam says acting is a family business. It all began at age eight while her younger brother, Ahmed Booth started acting when he was three-months old and her mother, Zainab Musa Shareef Booth is a veteran actress in Kannywood.

She says: “Acting is part of my family life; my younger brother is over 10 years and he is an actor and a musician. My success in Kannywood should be attributed to my amiable aunt, Bello Mohammed, who introduce me into the industry. There were a lot of sacrifices which I attribute to my success today. As a northerner bred by Hausa Fulani parents, it wasn’t easy surviving as an actress as most northerners consider us immoral and indecent individuals. In addition, they don’t attach value to the girl child unlike other parts of Nigeria. However, passion, hard work and dedication was my driving force. In fact, l had terrible experiences as an actress at the beginning of my career but I have conquered every one of them.”

007 Global will revolutionaries entertainment industry-Bigsam The CEO of BBB Media, Bigsam Media, Prestige Platform Agency and founder of Broadway TV, Samuel Olatunji aka Bigsam is determined to raise the bar in the Nigerian entertainment space as he has announced the birth of new production company, 007 Global Production.

Speaking with TS Weekend, Bigsam said: “There is need to do smart production work that is why I have set up 007 Global. Last year we went into movie production and teamed up with two other production companies to make our movies.

However, we noticed that we could do more so we decided to set up 007 Global Production, a company focused on doing smart production. We are here to make all sorts of production work easier for both local and international clients. Henceforth, 007 Global will take care of all the production works of BBBMedia and Broadway TV and is set to commence production of a movie from August which will be released in cinemas by November.”

Bigsam revealed that 007 Global’s expertise covers production of documentaries, TV series, TV commercials, idea conceptualisation, TV project consultancy, film making, local support to foreign crew, adverts production, marketing communication materials, radio jingle production, line production and production fixing for foreign and local crew.

Bigsam is a journalist turned PR professional and media entrepreneur. He is the executive producer of The Ghost and The Tout, and the hugely successful, Seven and a Half Dates (two movies that went up to be part of the top 12 movies of 2018.

Hilda Dokubo, Belinda Efah set to dazzle as Charles Granville’s Locked hits cinemas August 9 Actor and recording artiste, Charles Granville is set to heat up Nollywood with his latest movie entitled Locked, featuring Hilda Dokubo and Belinda Efah among a host of others when it hits cinemas August 9.

Directed by Simon Peacemaker, Locked, a thriller is a stimulating account of affection and tragedy with a strong emphasis on mental health awareness, capturing vividly one of the less discussed but an integral part of human existence. It is the story of a

young lady who takes her fiancée to visit her parents only to discover that her mother killed her father in a psychotic fit after she finds out he’s about to leave her for a younger woman. Upon this discovery, her mother holds her and her fiancée captive.

Commenting, Charles Granville who doubles as the producer and the executive producer of the movie said: “Mental issues is a real but it has not been taken seriously in this part of the world. Africans must be educated about the realities of mental health issues and that depression is real. People are going into depression and it is causing them to behave in an unstable way, going as far as committing suicide.

These are real issues around us which we all need to pay proper attention to. ‘Locked movie’ touches on the effects of child abuse, spousal abuse and its traumatic effect on the children, depression, suicide and dissociative identity disorder also known as multiple personality disorder. It is scheduled to premiere in three Nigerian cities, Lagos, Abuja and Port-Harcourt.”

I’m amazed at Busola Dakolo’s courage-Ijeoma Richards Actress and founder of NCM, Ijeoma Richards has revealed that she is amazed by Busola Dakolo’s courage, who recently called out COZA pastor, Biodun Fatoyinbo for raping her serially when she was 18.

In a chat with TS weekend, she said: “I am amazed

by Busola Dakolo’s courage. And I am grateful to her for giving us women the courage to begin to have this conversation about this very horrible menace.”

Trouble began recently when Timi Dakolo had called out the pastor accusing him of raping minors and vulnerable girls at his church. A while later, his wife, Busola, in a shocking interview revealed she was one of his victims alleging that she raped her thrice.

This resulted in a crossfire as Nigerians were divided. While some supported her, others called her a liar. however, as the controversy grew deeper and another woman, came out, Pastor Fatoyinbo eventually stepped down and promised to reply the allegations. Meanwhile, PFN and CAN has waded into the crisis with a promise to investigate.

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The Oracle Today Tuesday August 6 - 12, 2019

Crime IGP orders manhunt for killers Rev. Fr. Offu

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nspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Mohammed Adamu, has ordered massive manhunt for the killers of Rev. Father Paul Offu, a Catholic Priest in charge of St. James the Greater Parish Catholic Church Ugbawka in Enugu state.

Consequently, crack detectives from the IGP-Intelligence Response Unit (IRT), the Forensic and Homicide sections of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) have been deployed to Enugu State to complement the Command in their investigations into the unfortunate incident.

In addition, the AIG in charge of Zone 9 Headquarters has been directed to mobilize more units of Police Mobile Force (PMF) personnel to black spots in Enugu State.

The IGP, while condemning the killing of the Catholic priest and the abduction of the clergymen, calls for calm and assures that the perpetrators will not go unpunished. He therefore enjoins the public to avail the Police with credible information that will assist in apprehending the criminals.

‘Police-VGS mobile app free’ Stories by VICTOR NZE

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igeria Police Force has move to refute newspaper reports (not Oracle Today) that its mobile emergency mobile application is being sold to Nigerians for N12, 000, maintaining that the software is free for Nigerians to use.

A statement signed by Mr Frank Mba, the Force Public Relations Officer, Abuja, Monday, said there was no plans by the Force to charge Nigerians for use of the

app.

“The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to a publication on Page 39 of the PUNCH Newspaper, 2nd August, 2019 captioned ‘‘Nigeria Police Demand N12,000 to use Emergency App’’. The Force wishes to state that there are no plans whatsoever to charge Nigerians for services bordering on Emergency Crime Reportage through the use of Police-VGS Mobile-App. “The mobile-app, which is comparable to the Police 911 emergen-

cy toll-free line obtainable in other climes, is still undergoing internaltest and the Force is working out modalities on how Nigerians can benefit from its use free of charge.

“Consequently, the Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, has directed the Management of Vigiscope Nigeria Limited to expunge the payment option on the app and to strictly adhere to the original terms of reference.

“The IGP has further directed a comprehensive investigation and forensic auditing of all accounts as

Manhunt for kidnapped Enugu monarch launched

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Rivers police foil bus hijack in Ikwerre n attempt by suspected kidnapA pers to hijack a passenger bus laden with travellers has been foiled

in Rivers State.

The 18-seater Port Harcourt bound Owerri vehicle was reportedly accosted at Omerelu axis of Ikwerre Local Government area of the state, Saturday, and had already been diverted into the bush before combined team of police security, led by men of “Operation Sting” security outfit, burst the plan and immediately rescued the passengers and the vehicle.

Spokesman of the state Police Command, Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed the foiling of the kidnap attempt on telephone, saying the driver of the vehicle sustained gunshot wound on his leg.

Meanwhile, stories making the rounds in the state had it that the kidnapper succeeded in diverting the vehicle and that both the vehicle and the passengers were yet to be traced.

“No passenger bus was hijacked.

Yes, there was an attempt to divert a passenger bus, along Elele / Omerelu axis of Ikwerre LGA, but it was foiled by men of Operation Sting, in conjunction with members of other tactical team of the command.

The vehicle and all the passengers were rescued unhurt, except the driver who sustained a minor gunshot wound on the leg, the kidnap attempt did not succeed,” Omoni maintained.

•The four Turkish nationals recently rescued after a week in the captivity of Kwara State; Seyit Keklik (25), Yasin Çolak (33), Ergun Yurdakul (35), and Şener Apal (40), who are construction workers, taken from a bar in the state

Soldiers arrest Phyno, ‘notorious’ kidnapper in Abia Soldiers attached to 144 Battalion, Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State have arrested an alleged member of a notorious kidnapping gang operating in Aba, the commercial nerve of the state and its environs.

The suspect who is also known as Phyno and Red Mood respectively, military sources claimed has been on their wanted list for various crimes that he and his gang have allegedly committed.

A military source who pleaded anonymity said that ‘Phyno’ was arrested through intelligence information in a hotel located on the outskirts of the commercial city where he had taken refuge after a robbery operation.

“He snatched a motorbike from somebody at Uratta junction before he was apprehended by soldiers. Information has it that he was in a hotel (outside Aba main town).

On getting the information, soldiers

traced him to the said hotel in mufti where he (the kidnap kingpin) was picked.”

The military source who hinted that efforts were being made to track down other members of the gang, added that the suspect would be handed over to the police for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The source who stated that the Nigerian Army was committed to making sure that Aba was safe for residents and visitors to carry out their businesses without any fear of molestation from any person warned that they were going to make Aba and its environs unsafe for any person or group of persons to carry out their illicit business.

In another development, Soldiers of 144 Battalion on routine patrol at Uratta Area of Aba on Monday saved a pregnant woman from losing her pregnancy.

The incident it was gathered hap-

pened at about 11 am near the everbusy Uratta junction off Aba-EnuguPort Harcourt Expressway. It was gathered that the expectant mother who lost consciousness while walking was about to be wheeled off in a wheelbarrow by early callers to the scene as there was no vehicle that stopped to render assistance to her.

It was gathered that while some of the callers were rallying round to ensure that she was evacuated from the scene to a nearby Chemist shop for treatment, soldiers on patrol who met the woman gasping for breath quickly evacuated her with their vehicle to a distant private hospital where they made deposit of sum of cash for immediate treatment to be administered on her.

The yet-to-be known woman is said to have been brought to stability at the time of filing this report.

Police arrest 32 suspected cultists, recover arms in Lagos P olice Command in Lagos State have arrested 32 suspected cultists and recovered firearms in the last one week.

Spokesman for the command, DSP Bala Elkana, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Sunday.

He said that a 32-year-old man (name withheld), a member of Aiye Confraternity, was arrested on Saturday.

Elkana said the suspect, arrested

they concern the alleged payment of subscription fee by some Nigerians.

“The Force notes that it will no doubt continue to partner with relevant private entities in evolving technologically driven solutions towards smartly combatting crimes and addressing security challenges within the country. However, such partnership must be done taking into cognizance statutes guiding the Force, the overriding interest of the public and International Best Practices,” the statement read.

by the Cultism Squad, while on patrol at Mosafejo Amukoko Street, Ajegunle, was found in possession of one locally made pistol.

He stressed that the suspect confessed his gang was responsible for series of violent crimes in Ajengule.

“Investigation is ongoing and efforts are in place to apprehend other members of his gang. The suspect will be charged to court,” he said.

Elkana said, on the same day opera-

tives of the Operation Crush from 8 Division in Area H Command, Ogudu raided a cultists’ hideout at Bariga.

The raid, he said, paid off as a 39-year-old suspected cult leader, a resident of Kajora Street, Bariga, was arrested with 22 members of his gang.

“They all confessed to be members of a deadly gang and a cult group responsible for various killings and violent crimes in Bariga. Investigation is ongoing, and suspects will be

charged to court,” he said.

He noted that a follow-up operation, carried out by officers of the Bariga Police Station on Wednesday, at Oyenaya Street, Bariga, led to the arrest of 20-year-old suspect and five other members of his gang.

Elkana said two other suspected cultists were arrested on July 24 at Itabale Igbolomu area of Owutu, Ikorodu, while engaging each other in a battle for supremacy.

nugu State Police Command has launched a manhunt for the abductors of the traditional ruler of Obom, Agbogugu Community in the Awgu Local Government Area of the state.

Igwe Sunday Orji was abducted on August 1, in the latest high-profile crime in Enugu State, suspected to have been carried out by rampaging herdsmen.

The monarch was reportedly abducted on Aug. 4 at Ogbaku community on the Enugu-Port-Harcourt Expressway.

The spokesman of the command, SP. Ebere Amaraizu, confirmed the manhunt in an interview with NAN on Monday in Enugu.

He said that the command’s operatives had swung into action to ensure that the monarch was rescued unhurt.

“We have commenced a massive manhunt and combing of the general area where the incident took place to track down the kidnappers.

“The command believes that the trail of the hoodlums will lead to the rescue of the monarch unhurt,’’ Amaraizu assured.

Enugu State appears to have become a soft spot for criminal herdsmen in recent times, with recurring incidences of killings by people suspected to be herdsmen.

On April 25, 2016, at least 20 villagers were killed when gunmen descended on Ukabi, Nimbo community in the Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of the state, in an act that sparked global outrage.

Last Thursday, gunmen killed a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Paul Offu, a tragic addition to the increasing killing of top-ranking Catholic priests in Enugu State.

Offu, from Okpatu in the Udi Local Government Area was shot dead on Ihe-Agbudu Road in the Awgu Local Government Area of the state.

Earlier this year, on March 20, Rev. Fr. Clement Ugwu, the Parish Priest of St. Mark’s Catholic Church, Obinofia, Ndiuno in the Ezeagu Local Government Area was similarly, killed by suspected herdsmen.

Another Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Ikechukwu Ilo, who was attacked on July 17 on the Nenwe-Nomeh road is currently in critical condition in hospital.

Criminal herdsmen have launched vicious attacks on Nigerians in various parts of the country, killing and abducting travelers on many highways.

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The Oracle Today Tuesday August 6 – 12, 2019

SPORTS Etoroma slams Pinnick on blind support for Rohr

...Says “your comment on indigenous coaches unpatriotic”

By MADUABUCHI KALU

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ormer member of the Delta State Sports Commission, Hon. Ejiro Etoroma has lampooned the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Melvin Pinnick for saying that the clamour for the sack of the national team Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr was engineered by ambitious indigenous coaches who according to him wanted to take Rohr’s job by assured them that it would not happen.

For Hon. Etoroma what Pinnick said concerning indigenous coaches was everything but patriotic saying Amaju’s blind support for Rohr should not make him to discredit indigenous coaches.

According to Hon. Etoroma, there is nothing special about what Rohr has done with the Super Eagles that the indigenous coaches cannot do.

He recalled that late Stephen Keshi guided the Super Eagles to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations trophy in South Africa and wondered what is fantastic about winning a bronze at the AFCON recalling that coaches Christian Chukwu, Shuaib Amodu etc. had since done that and they were booted out of their jobs.

“Well, as far as I am concerned, I do not really know what informed Amaju’s position in saying that it was the ambitious indigenous coaches who are engineering the clamour for the sack of Gernot Rohr after guiding the Eagles to 3rd place finish at the just concluded 33rd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in

Amaju Pinnick

Hon Ejiro Etoroma

Egypt,” the experienced sports administrator began.

“For me, what Amaju said about indigenous coaches is unpatriotic. How do you disparage your fellow countrymen because of a foreigner? I mean, it does not make sense to me.

“As the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), I believe that Amaju reserves the right to retain Rohr if he so wishes but I take exception to the idea of saying that the indigenous coaches who wanted to take Rohr’s job are the people who are calling for his removal.

“I want to him, is it only the indigenous coaches that are calling for Rohr’s sack? The call for the sack of the Franco-German football tactician caught across all strata of the Nigerian society.

So,why hinge the calling for Rohr’s sack on the indigenous coaches? Etoroma queried.

Speaking further, Hon. Etoroma said: “The truth of the matter is that there are no more minnows in world football.

There are no more small or big teams. Football has gone so tactical that the supposedly called small teams are giving the so

called big team a run for their money and the events of the last Nations Cup showed it.

“More importantly, we should realize that these foreign coaches were once footballers before they became coaches and they played alongside our indigenous coaches. So, we have very many of such coaches among us.

“These young Nigerian coaches can perform event better than the so called and over hyped foreign coaches.

“After all, the man who won the recently concluded AFCON is an indigenous coach. As a matter of fact, two indigenous coaches played in the final and one won.

“Of the last four teams to the last AFCON only Rohr was a foreign coach the rest three were indigenous coaches. So what are we saying?

“I believe that Nigerian football is one area where local content should be given priority if we must move forward,” Hon. Etoroma said.

Man City win 1st trophy of 2019/20 season ...Beat Liverpool on penalty kicks to cart away Community Shield

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anchester City struck an early blow for the forthcoming English Premier League campaign as they beat Liverpool on penalty kicks to win the Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday.

They won 5-4, but it was after an absorbing contest which had finished 1-1 following 90 minutes of play.

Former Liverpool player, Raheem Sterling gave the champions the lead in a first half. They dominated as Liverpool’s sluggish pre-season form continued.

European champions, Liverpool were far better in the second period.

They equalised through Joel Matip’s header and created a host of other chances to take the lead as Manchester City appeared to tire.

Manchester City’s Kyle Walker made a last-ditch goal line clearance from Mo Salah’s effort in the dying

moments.

With no extra time being played, the showpiece went to a penalty kicks shootout.

Pep Guardiola’s side, who completed the domestic treble last season, claimed the silverware in the traditional curtain-raiser.

They converted all five of their penalty kicks in ruthless fashion, while Georginio Wijnaldum had his effort saved by Claudio Bravo.

Serena Williams hopes to build on her legacy at Rogers Cup

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he world’s most famous female tennis star is competing in the Rogers Cup for the first time in four years. She’s back in a city she adores, with a chance to do something special.

The 37-year-old superstar, Serena Williams, is looking for her first title since the 2017 Australian Open. If she emerges as champion in Toronto this week, she would join Chris Evert and Monica Seles as the only women since 1978 to win four Rogers Cup women’s singles titles.

A lot has changed for Williams since she last played in Canada in 2015, losing in the final that year to Belinda Bencic.

Since then, she gave birth to daughter Olympia in 2017 and married internet entrepreneur, Alexis Ohanian.

“As a professional tennis player, I have different priorities now. I schedule my life around my daughter,” Williams said as she met with the media on Sunday.

“It’s cool because I always have something really

spectacular to look forward to whether I’m winning or losing a match. It’s a whole different part of my life now.”

The global superstar arrived at her news conference wearing an outfit that combined French couture with a nod to women’s soccer. Her ensemble was part of a Women’s World Cup-inspired collaboration between Nike and French designer, Marine Serre – a lime-green soccer jersey over a white-and-black patterned bodysuit.

She has heralded the U.S. women’s soccer team recently on Twitter, congratulating them for their fourth World Cup win, and reiterated Billie Jean King’s support of their pleas for equal pay. Williams trumpeted Wheaties for putting the champs on its cereal box.

Williams recently became the first athlete named to Forbe’s list of the richest self-made women in the United States, estimating her fortune to be worth US$225-million.

She’s been dropping money into startups. But she’s very

Mikel gets No 12 jersey at new club, Trabzonspor

By MADUABUCHI KALU

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ormer Super Eagles’ captain and former Chelsea of England’s defensive midfielder, John Obi Mikel, who has just signed a two year deal with Turkish giants, Trabzonspor has been given Jersey No12 to wear, the same shirt number he used during his time at Chelsea.

The former Nigeria captain would be wearing the No 12 on the back of his jersey should he make his competitive debut against Sparta Prague in the Europa League qualifying round on Thursday.

Mikel agreed a two-year deal with Trabzonspor on July 1, with option for another year, but only resumed training with the club last week due to international commitments with the Super Eagles at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

When the 32-year-old made his professional debut for Lyn Oslo, he wore the number 20 kit for the Norwegian club.

Having worn the number 10 jersey for the Golden Eaglets at the 2003 FIFA Under-17 World Cup, he was allocated the No 9 at the 2005 FIFA Under-20 World Cup because

team captain, Isaac Promise already took his favourite shirt number.

Mikel played with the number 10 at Tianjin Teda, while he sported the No 2 at his last English club, Middlesbrough.

Mikel it is recalled, captained the Super Eagles to the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Egypt, where the three time continental champions placed third. It is true that the Anambra State born football star captained the team he was rooted to the bench in most of the matches that the team played.

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The Oracle Today Tuesday August 6 – 12, 2019

SPORTS U-20 women’s World Cup 2020:

FIFA inspection team arrives Nigeria

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Chukwu praises God at Thanksgiving service

By MADUABUCHI KALU

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t was a carnival of sort at St. Philip Anglican Church, Obe, Nkanu West local Government Area of Enugu State, when former national team captain and coach, Christian Chukwu rolled out the drums to praise and thank God for saving his life.

It is recalled that the former Enugu Rangers captain and coach, recently returned from England where he gone to seek for quality medical treatment made possible by oil and gas business mogul and philanthropist, Femi Otedola.

The Oracle Today which was dully invited but was unable to attend was in contact with the then national team captain, Christian Chukwu, Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) throughout the ceremony, and can authoritatively report that St. Philips Anglican Church building at Obe Nkanu, could not contain the multitude that gathered to celebrate the event with the man popularly called ‘Chairman’.

Speaking the homily, the Arshbishop of Enugu Anglican Commnion, Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, enjoy all to endeavor to live a good life saying with what Christian Chukwu passed through, if he did not leave a good life, he would not have made.

He said Chukwu used his God’s given talent to serve his fatherland selflessly and because of that God healed him with the help of people that He touched to come to his aid at the nick of time.

“I want to join the man of the people, Christian Chukwu, his family and his loved ones to thank God for His mercies on him and his families. We are all happy because we are praising and thanking God for healing our brother and son, Christian Chukwu.

“We all know what he passed through but the all-knowing God said no, it is not yet time for him to return home. It is for a purpose.

“I want to therefore, use this opportunity to call on us to live a good life while we are here on

earth. So, that when it is time for us to answer the mandatory call we will have nothing to fear because we know where we are going.

“As a matter of fact, there is no gain emphasizing the person and character of Christian Chukwu.

“As a public figure, his life is like open book that can be read by all and sundry. I am convinced that God must have spared his life because of the good life he lived so far. He is an easy going man and despite his position or height in society as football legend in this country he remains humble.

His like is not easy to come by in our present day Nigeria.

“So, we thank God for saving his life because he really suffered and I want to equally use this medium to thank those God used to ensure that the former national team and Enugu Rangers captain and coach regain his health. May God continue to strengthen you in Jesus name…

Amen.

Two bishops attended the thanksgiving service and they are Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma of Enugu Archbishop of Anglican Communion and Bishop Evan Jonathan Ibeagha.

There were more than 15 other priests at theevent.

On his part, the man of the moment, Christian Chukwu used the Opportunity to thank his wife who was there throughout his health challenges. He also thanked the Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for all the efforts and commitment to ensuring that he gets well right from the beginning to the end of his health ordeal.

Speaking further, Chukwu heaped praises on the oil and gas magnet and philanthropist, Femi Otedola who provided the financial muscle with which his foreign medical treatment was made possible.

He also heaped encomium on the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Melvin Pinnick for all the efforts and commitment he put to ensure that everything went well saying words cannot be enough to express his gratitude to him.

Shearer tips Liverpool for 2019/20 EPL tittle

By MADUABUCHI KALU nglish Premier League legend, Alan Shearer has predicted that Liverpool will win the 2019/2020 Premier League title ahead of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City this season.

Guardiola’s City amassed 98 points during the 2018/2019 campaign but won the league on the final day of the season by just a point ahead of Liverpool.

However, the New Castle United legend believes the UEFA Champions League winners will pip Man City to the Premier League title if they can improve on their defence this season after losing the FA Community Shield to the Citizens on Sunday at Wembley.

“Without doubt, it will be Liverpool and Manchester City once again fighting it out for the title,” Shearer told The Sun. “I’m going to stick my neck out here and say Liverpool might just pip City to the league, providing they are more organised in defence than they looked at times on Sunday.

“However, I’m not sure either team will be able to better last season. We were very lucky to witness what we did with Liverpool being so good — and City being just one point better (98).”

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five-man inspection team from world-football governing body, FIFA will arrive in Lagos yesterday (Monday) for a four-day inspection of tour facilities and equipment that Nigeria has put forward to host the 10th FIFA Under-20 women’s World Cup championship next year.

Christopher Exley, Sara Jane Booth, Kliment Taseski, Rhiannon Ceirwen Martin and Heyral Kaj Jurgen will arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport this evening to be received by President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick; NFF first Vice President, Seyi Akinwunmi; NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi; NFF Executive Committee member and Chairman of the Nigeria Women Football League, Aisha Falode and top officials of the Lagos State Sports Commission led by the Chairman, Dr. Kweku Tandoh.

Nigeria had put forward the cities of Lagos, Benin City, Asaba and Uyo for the hosting of the 16-nation finals.

The inspection team will begin its work in Lagos tomorrow, with visits to the Onikan Stadium (match venue), St. Nicholas Hospital and Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (referral hospitals), Teslim Balogun Stadium, National Stadium Legacy Pitch, Eagle Club, Campos Square and the University of Lagos Sports Centre (training sites), before a courtesy call on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the Government House in Alausa.

The team will fly to Benin City same day to inspect facilities at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium (match venue), Western Boys College and University of Benin Sports Centre (training sites) and the Edo Specialist Hospital and University of Benin Teaching Hospital (referral hospitals).

The contingent will check out the facilities in Asaba and Uyo on Wednesday.

In Asaba, the Stephen Keshi Stadium is the proposed match venue, while training sites are Asaba Squash Courts and St. Patrick’s College. The referral hospitals are St. Luke’s Hospital and Asaba General Hospital.

Russian Athletics Federation promises to enforce stricter rules

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he President of Russian Athletics Federation (RusAF), Dmitry Shlyakhtin, has promised stricter rules to prevent banned coaches from being granted licenses.

According Shlyakhtin, stricter rules which will deny and revoke licenses to coaches found to have committed antidoping offences are set to be installed by the Russian Athletics Federation (RusAF) in January as part of the organisation’s bid for reinstatement by the world body, IAAF. The regulations, due to come into force on January 1, will prevent any coach who has an on outstanding conviction for breaking anti-doping rules, or those who have breached their ban within a year of their suspension being announced, from working at the RusAF. Coaches can also be denied a licence by the body, which remains suspended by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), if more than one athlete under

their supervision records an anti-doping rule violation in the two years leading up to the application for a licence.

The move comes after athletics coaches in Russia were found to have continued their roles despite being banned for doping offences.

It was one of the reasons why the IAAF maintained its ban on the RusAF for the 11th time at its Council meeting in June.

“Since the moment of dismissal, the Federation has systematically tightened the rules for licensing coaches,” RusAF President Dmitry Shlyakhtin said.

“For us, this is a fundamental point.”

Ndidi, Chukwueze, Iwobi ranked Nigeria’s best 3 in Europe

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hree Super Eagles stars have been ranked the best three Nigerian players in Europe over the last six months by CIES Football Observatory.

The Switzerland-based football research group rated players in Europe’s top five leagues on a match-by-match basis by taking into account, the pitch production and efficiency at both individual and collective level.

Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi, Villarreal’s Samuel Chukwueze and Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi were the highest-ranked Nigerian players in that order.

Of the 861 players ranked, Ndidi finished in 238th position with a score of 76.6, Chukwueze was ranked 317th and was awarded 75.0, while Iwobi was the 384th ranked player with a score of 73.6. The three players were key members of the Super Eagles squad that finished third at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations and with the exception of Chukwueze, they were utilized in every single game.

Udinese’s William Troost-Ekong (718th, 68.2) and Chelsea-owned defender Kenneth Omeruo (722nd, 68.1) complete the top five Nigerian players in Europe.

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The Oracle Today Tuesday August 6 – 12, 2019

SPORTS

Joshua’s rematch with Ruiz Jr. nearly finalised –Eddie Hearn

All Africa Games: Aigbogun denies F/Eagles final squad list

By MADUABUCHI KALU

F

ormer Enyimba and Warri Wolves coach and the current Flying Eagles Coach, Paul Aigbogun, has denied releasing a final squad list for the football event for the forthcoming All Africa Games in Morocco.

The denial came on the heels of an announcement by the team’s spokesman, Andrew Randa, of a final squad for the continental Games.

“That is not our list. I did not release any list,” dismissed Aigbogun.

The perplexed coach added, “How can I release any list when we just assembled in camp?

“For instance, there’s a player there, by name Solomon (Ogberahwe). He is not in camp, the last I heard, he had traveled to Sweden. How can I include such a player on the list?

“I don’t know who is responsible for that falsehood or what they stand to gain.

“Fine, the bulk of players on the list might make the list as they are in camp, but to be candid, that is

not the original list.

“With time Nigerians will get to see the final and authentic list after we have had days of active preparation.”

The coach informed that the Flying Eagles will play test matches in the new week in Abuja.

In the list in circulation now refuted by Aigbogun were the quartet of Success Makanjuola, Chinonso Emeka, Peter Eletu and Detan Ogundare who are regulars in the Flying Eagles.

Makanjuola, Chinonso and Ogundare were part of the world squad in Poland while Zaruma was part of the team that finished fourth in the Under-20 AFCON in Niger Republic earlier this year.

Nigeria will face hosts Morocco, South Africa and Burkina Faso in Group A of the male event of the All Africa Games which the U-20 grade level will participate in for the first time.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) took the decision to allow the seven teams that participated in the U-20 AFCON together with host Morocco to make up the eight teams for the tournament.

Maguire, now Manchester United player means that he has become Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s third summer signing, he much awaited transfer of Leicester City after right-back, Aaron central defender,Harry Maguire, has finally Wan-Bissaka arrived been sealed the Oracle Today Sports can from Crystal Palace for authoritatively report. £50m and winger Daniel For some time, the rumour has making the round that Manchester United wanted to add Harry James joined from Swansea for £15m.

Maguire to beef up their squad for the 2019/20 Meanwhile, English Premier Leagues season but Leicester City following the put the price very high as they wanted to keep him conclusion of the and at the same time make as much money as they contract signing of Harry Maguire on Monday, it has could. attracted a lot of reactions from different quarters The Oracle Today can report authoritatively that the 26-year-old, yesterday (Monday) signed a six-year including the player, fans and Manchester United contract at Old Trafford, with the option of a further Manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The Man United Manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: year.

“Harry is one of the best centre-backs in the game The fee for Maguire eclipses the £75m Liverpool paid Southampton for Virgil van Dijk in January 2018. today and I am delighted we have secured his signature.

With the signing of Maguire on Monday, it then

By MADUABUCHI KALU

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Petit gives reason Thierry Henry failed as Monaco manager

F

ormer Arsenal midfielder, Emmanuel Petit, has claimed Thierry Henry flopped in his first job as a manager, because he was stuck in the mindset of a player.

Henry was sacked by Monaco in January, just three months and 20 games into his baptism as a head coach.

“Thierry was a tremendous player. Everyone knows what he has done on the pitch. Now, he wants to be a manager and his first job at Monaco did not go well – I think he is still a player in his mind.

“You have to change the mentality – you can’t keep the player’s mindset if you want to be a manager. The way you talk to players and control training sessions is very important. Even if it’s your first job, footballers will test you constantly.

“As a player, Thierry was terrific and I hope he achieves the same as a manager. But I remember saying something to him at Arsenal.

“I told him, ‘Every time you score a goal, you should be more humble and try to have a connection with the fans, rather than living in your own world’.

He didn’t like it,” Petit said according to the UK Mirror.

Petit also believes Henry’s legacy in France will forever be tainted, by his fraudulent handball in the 2009 play-off against the Republic of Ireland.

He said: “He enjoyed huge recognition in England, but in France he doesn’t have the same image, especially after what happened with Ireland – the handball and then ‘comforting’ the Irish players after the final whistle.”

By MADUABUCHI KALU nthony Joshua’s rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr. appears to be edging closer as promoter Eddie Hearn is awaiting paperwork to be finalised with Cardiff still the ‘major option’ to stage the fight.

The Matchroom Boxing boss has been considering plans for the world heavyweight title fight, which is expected to be held in November or December after Ruiz Jr.’s shock victory over Joshua in New York in in June.

Ruiz Jr. has voiced his displeasure at the prospect of facing Joshua on these shores, but Hearn insists the Principality Stadium remains a likely location as he thrashes out details for the return bout.

Eddie Hearn said earlier in the week that Joshua will have final say on fight venue “I know, I think, where the fight is going, but I just have to wait for some paperwork to be tied up and then we’ll make an announcement,” Hearn told Sky Sports.

“Cardiff is still a major option. We have two or three other options around the world for neutral venues.

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Messi out of Barca U.S. tour with calf strain

By MADUABUCHI KALU rgentina and Barcelona skipper, Lionel Messi will not travel to the United States for the club’s pre-season tour after sustaining a calf problem on his return to training from a close season break, the La Liga champions said on Monday.

The Argentine forward experienced discomfort in his right leg during Monday’s training session and tests confirmed that the 32-year-old had suffered a grade one calf strain, forcing him out of the tour.

“Messi will remain in Barcelona… his availability to come back to action will be dictated by his recovery,” Barcelona said in a statement on their website.

Barcelona are set to travel to the U.S. later on Monday, with two friendly matches scheduled against Italian Serie A side Napoli on Aug. 7 (Miami) and 10 (Michigan).

Messi was banned from international duty for three months and fined $50,000 after levelling accusations of “corruption” at South American soccer chiefs during last month’s Copa America.

He was sent off against Chile in the third-place playoff and later alleged that the tournament had been fixed in favour of hosts Brazil, who defeated Argentina in the semi-final on their way to the title.

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Highest paid football players in 2019 These are the highest paid players in 2019 based on their annual salaries according to Goal.com. Top on the list is Argentina and Barcelona superstar, Lionel Messi, who earns €40 million (£36m/$44.6m) and he is followed by his former teammate, Neymar Jr, who left Barcelona for PSG on a world record deal two seasons ago.

Juventus star, Cristiano Ronaldo comes third on the list of highest earning players after he took a pay cut to move from Real Madrid to Italy in 2018.

Below is the list of top 10 highest football earners last season 1. Lionel Messi – €40 million (£36m/$44.6m) 2. Neymar – €36.8 million (£33.2m/$41m) 3. Cristiano Ronaldo – €31 million (£27.9m/$34.5m) 4. Alexis Sanchez – €28.8 million (£26m/$32.1m) 5. Andres Iniesta – €27 million (£24.3m/$30.1m 6. Ezequiel Lavezzi – €23.1 million (£20.8m/$25.7m) 7. Kylian Mbappe – €17.5 million (£15.8m/$19.6m) 8. Antoine Griezmann – €17 million (£15.3m/$18.9m) 9. Luis Suarez – €16.7 million (£15m/$18.6m) 10. Matthijs de Ligt & Frenkie de Jong – €16 million (£14.4m/$17.8m).

“He is a great reader of the game and has a strong presence on the pitch with the ability to remain calm under pressure - coupled with his composure on the ball and a huge presence in both boxes - I can see he will fit well into this group both on and off the pitch.

TUESDAY August 6 - 12, 2019

The

www.oraclenews.ng

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ere the 43 ministerial nominees of President Muhammadu Buhari screened by anti-corruption agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) before the list was sent to the Senate? If they were, then, the nation has no need for the agencies anymore. Not even the security agencies!

President Buhari had told us that, this time round , he would appoint competent people known to him personally. Did he know all of them? If he did, then, he should lay no claim to integrity, nor should he pretend to be fighting corruption any longer.

Indeed, anyone who endorses some of the characters on that list is either a fool or a fraud.

There isn’t enough space to put all of the nominees under the klieg lights here.

As a literature student, therefore, I wish to employ a device known as synecdoche (using a part to represent a whole) for examining the ministerial list. Let’s use the credentials of just one nominee: Mr Godwin Jeddy-Agba from Cross River State.

My witnesses are four APC stalwarts who don’t want Jeddy-Agba as the state’s ministerial candidate. They are Prince Celestine Awoh, Chief Ekum Ekok Ojogu, Hon. Tom Busa Bisong, and Emmanuel E. Odu. The petitioners have not hidden their identities, for each included their full name and their telephone number. In the protest letter by these “Concerned Nigerians” dated July 24 and addressed to the president of the Senate, they based their stand on three grounds: corruption, health, and violation of the Federal Character Principle as it applies to states.

On alleged corruption: Jeddy-Agba, 61 next month, was a civil/public servant for almost all of his adult life and yet he is said to be richer than Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, the poster girl for corruption under the Goodluck Jonathan presidency.

How was a salaried employee from 1984 to 2014 able to acquire a private jet and a merchant vessel? From what source did he make the money used to buy houses worth hundreds of millions of naira in Nigeria and abroad?

As the group general manager, crude oil marketing, of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, from 2010 to 2014, Jeddy-Agba has been linked to many shady deals involving oil sales. “Appointing [him] is [a] tacit support of Diezani Madueke who is a business ally of Jeddy Agba and capable of covering their fraudulent records,” the petitioners wrote.

Our case study here was allegedly under the ICPC investigation until recently.

In one bank account alone, ICPC allegedly found more than U.S. $15million. He owned several companies; none except one has paid as little as N1 as tax for many years. The anti-graft agency was about to invite Jeddy-Agba for questioning when the ministerial list was submitted.

Of much concern is the health issue raised by the group. Jeddy-Agba had brain surgery in 2015 and has been going for medical checks abroad bimonthly. His health challenge was the reason he withdrew from the governorship race in 2015 under the platform of the PDP. “Goddy Jeddy Agba cannot stand the rigour of presenting an executive bill before Council for

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The worry about Buhari’s ministerial nominees Aniebo

Nwamu

•Buhari

one hour,” the quartet said. Remember: we’re referring to one of the best that took Buhari five months after his election or two months after his inauguration to find!

If it was political consideration that the maker of the ministerial list relied upon to pick Jeddy-Agba, they apparently goofed.

He really has no electoral value, the quartet alleged when each of them spoke on the phone. Each said he emerged as nominee for Cross River simply because of his deep pockets. Money must have exchanged hands in Calabar and Abuja, they claimed. The petitioners belonged to a minority: they were aware of what was going on, but they decided to oppose his candidature on grounds of principle.

“Jeddy-Agba was a PDP member, and he crossed over to the APC obviously when the ICPC was closing in on him,” one said.

“We don’t know him in the party. He was the one that sold oil while Diezani was petroleum minister. They should allow Diezani to come back and become a minister or

even president. You can’t say she is corrupt while her cronies are saints. Is that a reason for the ‘change’ we clamoured for?”

Considering the Federal Character Principle recognised by the 1999 Constitution, as amended, a minister ought not to come from the same senatorial district as the governor of his state, the foursome alleged. Jeddy-Agba is not just from the same district as Governor Ben Ayade; both are from Obudu local government area.

And many other critical appointments made in the state have been in favour of people from the governor’s LGA. A similar situation had arisen in 2015 in Niger State, and the nominee was dropped.

Governor Ayade has congratulated Jeddy-Agba on his nomination. Yet, the same governor, according to two of the petitioners, once compiled a dossier on Jeddy-Agba and sent it to the EFCC for investigation. The game seems to have changed!

The governor, in a statement on Saturday, called for the closing of ranks across par-

ty divides to give Jeddy-Agba the needed support to succeed. “The interest of Cross River comes first. Let us therefore rise above party and ethnic affiliations to give one of own, our son, the necessary support he needs to succeed as minister , ” he stated. “And I have no doubt that he will bring his wealth of experience to bear on any ministry he is eventually assigned to.”

On the phone, each of the petitioners was asked whether they would step forward to substantiate their allegations, and each expressed eagerness to appear before the Senate, a court or the EFCC. But when Jeddy-Agba’s phone line was requested so he could be called as well, to present his defence, none agreed they had it. Further efforts to obtain his phone line on platforms where he has a media presence failed.

Not many expect a “bow and go” Senate to perform magic. In fairness to the red chamber, however, the petition of “Concerned Nigerians” from Jeddy-Agba’s home state has not been completely disregarded. The upper chamber of the National Assembly was to screen him on Friday but had to skip him. He and 12 others left are expected to be grilled this week. While those who viewed the 9th Senate as “rubber stamp” didn’t expect a rejection of any of the 43 ministerial nominees, they saw a ray of hope on Friday. A senator raised a point of order referring his colleagues to the constitution’s stipulation that anyone nominated for any office by the president must submit their asset declaration certificate. Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo (Bayelsa West) wondered why they had been screening nominees who didn’t present their asset declaration certificates as required by law and even as the Buhari administration had laid much emphasis on fighting corruption. Of the 43 nominees, only one has not held public office.

Senate president Ahmad Lawan sustained Ewhrudjakpo’s point of order, saying that any nominee who failed to provide their asset declaration certificate risked disqualification.

My assumption – and there is no shortage of Nigerians who think like me – is that Buhari is not in charge of his government.

Some of us could be forgiven for campaigning for him in 2015 because the Buhari who now sits as president of Nigeria is completely different from the Buhari we knew as head of state between 1984 and 1985. The story gaining ground since 2016 – that a cabal has hijacked his administration – seems true, after all. Were it not so, I see no reason anyone that wishes to better their country would unashamedly present most of the 43 names as people they have chosen to lead us out of the woods.

•Nwamu, an entrepreneur, is the CEO of Eyeway.ng. +234-8054100220 (SMS/ WhatsApp only)

The Oracle Today is published by The Oracle Newspapers Limited. Head Office: 116 Awka Road, Onitsha. Lagos Office: 25 Remi Fani-Kayode Street, GRA Ikeja. Abuja Office: 1st Floor, Plateau House, Central Business District, Abuja, FCT. ISSN: 2545-5869 Email: oracletoday2016@yahoo.com, Twitter: @oraclenews.ng Facebook: oraclenews.ng@facebook.com Website: www.oraclenews.ng Advert hot lines: 09078310060, 09061836916. Editor: FELIX OGUEJIOFOR ABUGU.