Wednesday 26 edition

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The Oracle SEPTEMBER 2, 2016

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Today Today

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WEDNESDAY JULY 26, 2017

ISSN: 2545-5869

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VOL.2 No. 31. N200

Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, I – Osita Chidoka Gov Umahi secures Ebonyi – Page 6

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ORMER Corps Marshall of the Federal Road Safety Corps (CM-FRSC), and a governorship aspirant in Anambra State, Chief Osita Chidoka has confirmed his support for Biafra and a relationship with Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra,

Tribute to Ezinne Obiano as Gov buries mum –Page 44

but is also quick to add that speculations have crept into the expanses of the relationship.

“I know Nnamdi Kanu. He is Igbo like me. However, these are not the bases for the relationship that we have. I saw him as a young man whose freedom was being abridged. We are in a democracy, and what is democracy without freedom? I could not stand him being denied his freedom.

“His incarceration denied him part of that freedom. People should not be punished for expressing their views. Freedom of expression is a right that we all have in a democracy. I did not think that he should be denied the right to express his views. It is not just him; I do not think anyone should be denied the freedom speech,” he said in an exclusive interview with The Oracle Today at his Obosi home.

“What he has said about the situation of Ndigbo in Nigeria is not different from what is happening. What the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), has done is to tap into the mood of the people. If the mood is changed, once it is done, the agitations would cease. It is not that Kanu is saying what has not been said.”

“His arrest and detention is Cont’d on page 2

National Organising Secretary of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Ikenna Emengo receiving the National Chairman of APGA, Ochudo Martin Agbaso, on his arrival from Abuja, at the grand reception APGA held for Agbaso at his Emekuku country-home following the Supreme Court’s ruling that Agbaso was APGA Chairman.

Nigeria may lose benefits of HIV invention –Ezeibe From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

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ROF. Maduike Ezeibe of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) has expressed fears that, unless the authorities take urgent steps to partner with him on

Page 5

• Foreign countries can commercialise drug

his invention with a view to the country ‘owning’ it, Nigeria may lose the benefits likely to accrue from the Medicinal Synthetic Aluminum Magnesium Silicate (MSAMS) for curing HIV/AIDS, as, according to him, many advanced coun-

tries are beginning to show keen interest in the scientific details of the drugs.

Ezeibe, the Head of Department of Veterinary Medicine in MOUAU and Professor of Clinical Virology, said in an interview with The Oracle

Today that since the federal government has not shown any interest in assisting his research team to complete, commercialise and get international patent for the medCont’d on page 2

Abia State Speaker visits injured FRSC officials

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The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26, 2017

NEWS

‘Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, I’ Continued from Pg 1 reflective of the type of government we have. It is the sheer insensitive nature of the government that raised the agitations,” he stressed, noting that the solutions to the agitations rest on government addressing the issues that IPOB has been raising.

“Government can no longer ignore the issues,” he declared.

“My support for Biafra is not about geography or boundaries. I support the idea that when injustices are raised, they have to be resolved. I think it would improve Nigeria as a whole if the issues that are finding expression in Biafra are addressed based on justice.”

Chidoka said he realised that

speculations have been built around his relationship with Kanu and he clarified the issues.

“It is true that I was one of those who assisted in seeing that Nnamdi Kanu met his bail conditions. I was not the only one and it did not mean there was anything else to it,” he disclosed.

“I did it as part of my conviction that the young man needed to be free in line with my belief that we have to keep strengthening our democracy. A most important way of doing that is accessing the liberties that our Constitution grants us.”

He added that the right of Nigerians to live in any part of the country of their choice is a constitutional right that even the government cannot deny them.

“I don’t think any Nigerian is

a landlord or tenant in any part of Nigeria. The colonial government seized all parts of what became Nigeria and every sovereignty and handed it over to the Nigerian State at independence. The right to being Nigerian is inalienable. The government cannot deny any Nigerian that right. Government cannot withdraw passports; it is a part of being Nigerian,” he said.

According to Chidoka: “Nigeria can only issue the threat of a quit notice to foreigners, not Nigerians. If the government cannot give Nigerians quit notice, no groups or individuals can tell Nigerians not to live in any part of the country.”

He attributed the threats to the fall-out of unaddressed injustices.

The 18 November governorship election in Anambra State, he said, would be a referendum on where the people stood on critical national issues. He said the election would signpost the future.

“The election is about our future not our past. It is a referendum on our future. It is an opportunity to create new frontiers for our people. We cannot watch our people alienated from government. Our people deserve a government that measures the development of human beings not projects, a government that works,” he said.

He rated his chances high, saying that the newness of the United Peoples Party (UPP), is not a disadvantage.

“Anambra has a history of electing new parties. The All Peoples Grand Alliance (APGA), was new in 2003, with less than what UPP has today, but it won.

Members from APGA and UPP are together to contest the election.

“The Conservative Party in UK has 149,000 members yet it wins elections. What percentage of the UK population is that? People listen to parties and their messages and vote.

People do not really belong to parties. New or old parties bear little relevance in today’s world.

We also saw that in the election in France. It took Nnamdi Kanu less time to be known than it took Uwazurike. People get the message more immediately these days and act on them.

“How many media platforms have the size of Facebook? The democratisation of information is real. There is nothing new in today’s world. The powers of new media, the networks and the communities that we build and how we communicate and get to audiences by the minute are more important than political parties.”

‘Nigeria may lose benefits from my invention’ Continued from Page 1

icine, many other countries may latch onto the secrets of the research already disclosed in international journals and develop and commercialise the drug.

The Professor of Clinical Virology spoke against the backdrop of a request from an international journal to Ezeibe to submit newer findings from his research for publication by the journal.

In a mail sent to Ezeibe last week, Friday, July 14 to be precise, the Paper Submission Assistant of Health at Scientific Research Publishing, Icy Yin, requested the Veterinary Doctor to submit

any of his recent research materials.

The letter, titled “Paper submission invitation: Pharmacology & Pharmacy” read in part: “Thank you very much for your last paper (“Synergy in Antibacterial Activities of Ampicillin Trihydrate, Stabilized with a Synthetic Aluminum-Magnesium Silicate and Immune-Stimulants, on Resistant Escherichia Coli Infection”) that was published in our journal.

“I am writing to seek papers to this journal...

“Do you have any new research manuscripts in hands now? We want more quality journals to be published and share freely to the world.

Could you please kindly sub-

mit your recent research manuscripts to us?”

Commenting on the request, Ezeibe said it came in “recognition of the Nigerian Medicinal synthetic Aluminum-magnesium silicate as solution to resistant infections.”

“The government should ensure we benefit from our efforts. These other people will take advantage of the secrets already disclosed by the publications while we (Nigeria) lose out,” he agonized.

Since February this year, when he first announced his discovery of a drug, the Medicinal Synthetic Aluminum Magnesium Silicate (MSAMS), which he said is

capable of curing HIV/AIDS, Ezeibe has been appealing to the federal government to assist his research team to develop their invention and produce it in commercial quantity. The government has largely ignored him.

He said the medicine could also be exported since it could be used to potentiate other drugs and contended that Nigeria could realise more foreign exchange from the medicine than oil.

When Ezeibe told journalists in February that he had invented a medicine for the cure of HIV/AIDS, he said the research had reached the level where it required a lot of funding and appealed to the federal government to inter-

vene.

He said such intervention would help complete the final phase of the research, commercialise the drug and secure international patent rights for it.

But, the federal government disowned Ezeibe, saying he did not follow due process in announcing his research findings.

Sequel to this stance, Ezeibe invited the federal government to investigate his claim, to either disprove or agree with him.

In May, a panel put together by the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, interviewed Ezeibe in Lagos but is yet to make its findings known to the public.

Quit notice: MASSOB asks Ndigbo to return home From CHUKS COLLINS, Awka

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S the October deadline given to Ndigbo to vacate the North draws near, the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has declared next month, that is August, the month of “mass return” for Ndigbo living in the northern parts of the country.

MASSOB’s National Information Officer, Samuel Edeson, in a statement said the decision was taken at the group’s national executive meeting presided over by MASSOB leader, Uchenna Madu.

According to him, they chose August because of its significance in Igbo calendar as the period for new yam festival and general women’s August meeting/conference.

MASSOB urged all, especially women, to ensure their family members come home.

The statement disclosed that Biafra Intelligence agents have been deployed all over the country especially northern Nigeria

to monitor the situation, while Eze Ndigbo in 19 Northern States should commence the compilation of names, residential addresses and villages/towns of all Igbo living in their respective northern cities where they lead as Eze Ndigbo, adding that such data collation of the people should end on 10th of September 2017.

The statement read in part: “That in continuation of our earlier stand and position on the quit notice order to the people of Biafra by Arewa people, which will elapse on Oct 1st, MASSOB insists and beckons on Biafrans living in Arewa land to intensify efforts at relocating their families back home.

“That MASSOB has resolved that the month of August being a significant month of special festivals of Iri ji (New yam) and Women August meeting in Igbo land, MASSOB have declared this the month of August 2017, a special month of mass return for all Igbos living in Northern Nigeria.

“That MASSOB also mandated

all married Igbo women living in Northern Nigeria to start intimating their husbands about the dangers of staying in Arewa land which no longer guaranteed their safeties.

“They should also intensify their pressure on their husbands concerning the Mass return in this next month.

“That after the September 10th deadline for this compilation, MASSOB will embark on investigation of all the Eze Ndigbo in northern cities to ascertain their levels of participation in this ancestral order.

“That MASSOB urge the Eze Ndigbo in northern cities to carry out this compilation of our kinsmen data as a native and ancestry exercise. We appeal to them not to betray this acts of nobility because of their individual’s interest or favor from Hausa Fulani.

“That MASSOB under the leadership of Comrade Uchenna Madu will continue undeterred in non-violent pursuant of Biafra • Gov. Obiano kicking off the 2nd edition of Traders Cup at Fegge, actualization and restoration.”

Onitsha.

Photo: Modestus Igudobi

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The Oracle Today, Wednesday July 26, 2017

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION

Only 600,000 Lagos residents pay tax –Ambode

By VICTOR NZE

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agos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode has identified the need for residents to adopt a willful approach to the payment of taxes as a means of addressing fundamental challenges confronting the State and accelerating development in all sectors and sections. Speaking at a sensitization workshop on 2017 Water Technology and Environmental Control Exhibition and Conference (WATEC) held at Ikeja, Governor Ambode said out of a population of 22million, only 600,000 Lagos residents are up to date in paying their taxes,

and that such was not helpful to scale up provision of infrastructure and other amenities for the people.

Responding to a suggestion from one of the participants at the workshop that the State Government should complete the ongoing shoreline protection particularly in the Lekki and Ajah axis as one of the ways to mitigate the impact of torrential rainfalls which caused flooding in the axis last week, Governor Ambode said in as much as government was willing to do such, it was being inhibited by its limited resources. “Talking about protecting our shoreline, I want to tell you something. The ecological

fund that someone talked about does not exist because the previous government, due to political consideration, never gave Lagos anything and protecting the shoreline runs into billions.

“Even doing those groins not to allow the water to break cost a lot of money and then with frozen taxes in the last eight to ten years, there has not been any increase in taxes unlike in the United Kingdom for instance where any young person living there knows that once you start working at the age of 18, your civic obligation is that you must pay tax but here nobody takes it as their business that the new road I am us-

INEC registers 1.41m voters, distributes 54,395 PVCs conduct elections because that was he Independent Electoral Com- on how to register.

In his remarks, President of the major way to achieve that. National Tistered mission (INEC) said it has reg1.41 million voters in the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, who was Coordinator of the Election Moniongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CRV). Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made this known at the launch of ‘Getregistered Naija’ Mobile App by Election Monitor, a civil society organisation, in Abuja.

He said that the commission had also distributed 54,395 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to registered voters across the country in the ongoing exercise.

Yakubu, who was represented

by Mr Iro Gambo, Director Voter Registry Department of the commission, said that 60, 085 transfer requests had been received and 125, 543 demands for card replacement. He said that update on the CVR as at July 7 indicated that Lagos had recorded the highest number of registered voters, adding that the commission’s aim was to register 20 million voters at the end of next quarter. “The commission will continue to strive to get all Nigerians registered; that was why we considered requests for additional registration centres and added 302 registration centres to the existing 774 local government areas.

“New DDCMs are being procured to replace the old ones. The commission has taken delivery of 900 out of the initial order of 1060.’’

Yakubu said that CVR would be devolved to Registration Area or ward level in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun States in line with the commission’s practice for off-season Governorship Elections. He said that the Getregistered App would help Nigerians to be more aware of INEC’s activities and to get the necessary information

represented by Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa, Chairman, Senate Committee on Primary Healthcare and Communicable Diseases, commended the CSO for creating the app. Saraki said that the senate was working towards the achievement of free and fair election in 2019, adding that that was why the Electoral Act was being amended to accommodate better initiative.

He said that the senate’s quest to have a transparent election made them come up with a clause to allow INEC to use electronic means to

tor, Mr Abiodun Ajijola, said the reason they came up with the app was to bridge the gap discovered to be existing between INEC and Nigerians. Ajijola said that it was discovered that there were a lot of people that wanted to register but that there were challenges of lack of knowledge on registration areas “and when and how to register’’. He said that the app would encourage more Nigerians to get registered by providing quality and useful information to facilitate the CRV process.

ing I need to pay something and so they only pay tax when they are inside the real tax net that is you are paying pay as you earn.

“That is the only way we can catch you and so everybody takes it for granted that government will do it and there is nothing like government money, it is taxes that people are paying that you are asking for this shoreline protection, it is from the taxes that you are asking for us to de-flood, it is from the taxes that you are asking for us to do the roads and all that. “The number of people paying taxes in Lagos is less than 600,000 people and we are 22million and then 67 percent of

the people living in Lagos are below the age of 35 and even the retirees, how much are they paying? They are on pension. So, you have to go through your nose and you want to be as compassionate as possible that in a recession, you don’t overtax people.” The Governor said it was time for a convergence between civic obligations and the ability of government to build trust by using taxes of citizens judiciously, just assured that his administration, within the available resources, would continue to invest in infrastructure and deliver good governance to make life comfortable and easier for the people.

25% of Nigerians defecate openly -–UNICEF T

he United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said that 25 per cent out of 46 million Nigerians defecate, while 33 million of these people are in the rural areas. Programme and Planning Specialist, UNICEF, Abuja, Mr Nawshad Ahmed, who said this in Minna during the 2017 Niger State UNICEF mid-year review, noted that open defecation, which was higher in the northern part of the country than the southern part, spread across the country.

Ahmed said that open defecation was less in urban areas due to access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities in urban areas. He also said that one out of every three Nigerians did not have access to safe drinking water, adding that the rate surpassed 80 per cent in some southern states and less than 35 per cent in some northern states. On open defecation in Niger, Ahmed said that there was a need to review the state’s WASH policy for presentation to the State Executive Council for approval.

He said that there was inadequate government support for the implementation of the state’s Open Defecation-Free Road Map to end open defecation by 2025.

The specialist noted that none of

the 25 local government areas of the state had tangible plans to end open defecation, while there were no WASH departments in the local government councils.

He also said that none of the local government councils had existing budget for WASH facilities. He added that the pace of expansion of safe water facilities was lower than the rate of increase in population. On education, Ahmed said that over 20 per cent of world’s out-of-school children — 10 million children — were in Nigeria.

“Children from the richest quintile are three times likely to attend school than children from the poorest families. There is no gender disparity in the school attendance for children in the richest, fourth, or middle wealth quintile; gender gap appears in the second quintile and is wider among poorest children,’’ he said.

He, however, stressed that mother’s education was important to improving the standard of education of children. On his part, Permanent Secretary, Niger Ministry of Planning, Alhaji Usman Musa, disclosed that the 2017 UNICEF work plan was already in progress, adding that the work plan would soon be signed by State Governor, Abubakar Bello.

Ekiti promotes 9,583 public servants T

he Ekiti State Government has said that it had just promoted 9,583 out of its public servants.

According to the government, 6,993 of them are teaching and non-teaching staff of various public secondary schools, while 2,590 are local government staff.

The Chairman of the State Teaching Service Commission, Chief Abiodun Falayi said in a statement that 3,963 teachers and 1,586 nonteaching staff were promoted.

Falayi said that the Gov-Ayodele Fayose-led administration inherited what he called abnormalities in cadres, unharmonized structure as well as inaccurate nominal roll and seniority list. He said that all complaints lodged by affected workers were considered and rectified in the course of the exercise. He said

that all issues relating to adjustment of inter-cadre transfer and conversion had also been settled.

According him, the interview process was decentralized into six zones for administrative convenience and to ensure that it did not unduly interfere with academic activities in schools where they were conducted. He said that the promotion was conducted to motivate workers as well as engender efficiency and effectiveness within the public service. He, therefore, charged the workers to reciprocate government’s gesture by living up to their responsibilities. They should also support the state government’s efforts to improve the public service, stressing that they should make diligence and dedication to duty their watchwords.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26, 2017

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION

We’ll turn challenges to opportunities –Obaseki

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he Edo Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has said that his administration was determined to turn the present challenges in the country into opportunities.

Obaseki spoke during an interdenominational thanksgiving service held at the New Covenant Gospel Church, Benin, to celebrate his victory at the Supreme Court.

He said that Edo had the potential to liberate the country from its present economic hardship and he was ready to propel the transformation. “We are a special people

created by God to show Nigeria the way. “As part of the former Benin Empire, we were prosperous, so we can still utilise our resources for the overall development of the state and country at large,” the governor said.

He said that only God chose him to be the governor of Edo and he was ready to dedicate himself to work for the good of the state as well as the country. “Today is to thank God and the people of the state for their support and also to thank the legends God has used

to propel me into politics. My decision to become the governor of the state was ordained; God even revealed it through my wife that I was being called to service”.

“I was the most unlikely candidate to win the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries because I did not have any political pedigree.

“But God saw me through the rigorous electioneering period, both at the APC primaries and general election,” he said.

The governor extolled the fatherly role his late Uncle, Justice Andrew

Obaseki, played during the electioneering period, regretting that he died shortly after the affirmation of his victory by the Supreme Court.

In his address, the Edo chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bishop Orinane Kure, said that the body of Christ was behind the governor to ensure that his success. Kure described the governor’s victory as the will of God, urging him to rule in the fear of God. The Bishop also commended the governor and the speaker of the Edo House of Assembly, Mr Justin

Okonobor, for responding to the public hearing on Grazing Bill. The high point of the service was the offering of special prayers for the Governor and the entire citizens of the state. Dignitaries who were at the service include the wife of the governor, Mrs Betsy Obaseki; Deputy Governor, Mr Philip Shaibu; the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr Justin Okonobor; the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Esohe Ikponmwen, and former deputy governor of the state, Dr Pius Odubu.

NGO begins campaign on violence against women in FCT C

omplete Women Foundation, an NGO, said it has launched a campaign on violence against women and the girl-child in schools and other public places in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The President of the organisation, Mrs Ireti Ade-Oyinleye, who disclosed this in Abuja, said the campaign is aimed at eliminating gender violence and abuse.

“What we have started is going out; we have this school talk, going out to schools, reaching out to children in schools, going out to religious organisations. “In fact, we even intend to go to market places, we visited orphanages and we will go to as many places as possible where we can reach out to people to create the awareness.”

“Some of the women don’t even know what is going on around them; they need somebody to tell them.

“So it is when they are enlightened that they are empowered to be able to do what they ought to do so that they will not just live life careless.

“And then we don’t even stop at that we intend reaching out to also parents and care givers so that they too will know what to do.’’ AdeOyinleye stated that the organisation has worked closely with other NGOs and relevant government agencies to ensure that it achieves its mandate. She said that the organisation was established to create awareness on issues threatening the well-being and safety of women and girls in FCT. According to her, the NGO is using group-based interactive programmes to sensitise women to the need for them to refocus their attentions o the right values, culture and character as well as their collective roles in the society. The president added that the sensitisation would enlighten the women and girls on how they could discover and develop their inherent potentials through capacity building.

She said that effective sex education would go a long way toward redressing abuse in the society. According to her, the organisation has a link with NGOs and other relevant agencies that have counselling centres where victims of sexual abuse can be taken to. “The essence of referring them to such counselling centres is to encourage them and let them understand that being a victim is not the end of their lives. “With our laudable campaign, we have extended our programme to other states; we want to ensure that we eliminate the issue of sexual abuse and other violence in our society.

“We have the presence of the social media so we put whatever we do on media for people to see so that it’s not just limited to Nigerians alone as many that can go online can have access to what we are doing.’’

•Acting President Yemi Osibajo flanked by N-power call centre agents during his visit to the centre in Abuja recently.(INEC) Chairman, Mahmoud Yakubu and Chairman of the Electoral Commission of Benin Republic, Roger Addah, who paid a courtesy visit to State House in Abuja, Thursday.

ECOWAS begins clean energy workshop CHIDI UGWU, Abuja

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six-Day workshop on improvement of Policy and Regulatory Frame-work on Clean Energy Mini-Grid (CEMG) for Member-States of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has kicked off in Abuja, the FCT. According to a statement by the Acting Director of Press, in the Power Ministry, Etore E. Thomas, the six-day workshop, which began during the week, is being organized by the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) and the European Union Energy Initiative Partnership Dialogue Facility (EUEFPDF) under the framework of the

ECOWAS Programme on Access to sustainable Electricity Service (EPASES) 2014 – 2020.

Thomas noted that some of the objectives of the workshop include to strengthen the capacity of ECOWAS Member States to provide electricity services through renewable energy to rural population, expose participation to the data requirements to represent a renewable energy project in the Independent Power Project (IPP) model, expose participants to the data requirements to calculate the avoided cost in the IPP model, and to expose participants to the data requirements to understanding to represent a green mini-grid, exploring and output.

The statement noted that the

Permanent Secretary, Power, Louis Edozien, who represented the Minister of Power, Works & Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, at the event commended the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) and the European Union Energy Initiative Partnership Dialogue Facility (EUEI-PDF) for their enormous support to Member States and assured them of Nigeria’s unflinching support for clean energy initiative in the region.

“I would like to call on all participants, Country Representatives from ECOWAS member countries to take advantage of the great opportunity being presented by ECREEE, to build needed capacity,” he added.

In his remarks, the Head of Co-

houses destroyed during a heavy rainfall on July 8 in Suleja.

The chief press secretary quoted the governor as calling on the residents of the state to compliance strictly to the urban development regulations to ensure safety of lives and property. Bello, who attributed losses in human and property to the floods mostly to non-adherence to such regulations, warned against indiscriminate building of structures, especially on waterways.

“It is glaring that most of the af-

fected structures were on the natural flood path. We have to desist from these unwholesome practices and obey simple laws meant for our good,” the governor said.

Ndace said the governor also paid a condolence visit to Malam Saad Abdullahi, a resident of Checheniya area who lost two wives and six children to the flood.

Bello, he further said also visited Gawuraka in Tafa Local Government Area of the state where a dead body was recovered meters

operation to European Union (EU) Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Kurt Cornelis stated that the EU is active through a number of partnerships with sub-Saharan African countries in the area of sustainable energy and that more than E700m of grant has been committed for ECOWAS Member States from 2014 – 2020.

This, he said, is very important as it shows that access to electricity and promotion of sustainable and clean energy is of paramount importance to the ECOWAS and European Union.

Cornelis pointed out that the EU Initiative Partnership Dialogue Facility is a good example of a multidonor initiative established with the aim of promoting coherent, effective and efficient European energy development cooperation.

Niger Govt donates N30m to victims of Suleja flood

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iger Gov. Abubakar Bello has approved N30 million to the state Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) to provide relief materials to victims of Suleja flood.

A statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Malam Jibrin Ndace, said that the governor gave the approval when he visited some flooded areas in Suleja and Lapai Local Government Areas of the state. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that 11 persons lost their lives and several

away from the deceased’s home.

He said that Bello also visited Sabo Orehi village in Lapai Local Government Area, where a bridge linking the state to Kogi collapsed due to the flood. Bello assured that a new bridge would be constructed within forty days by the state Road Maintenance Agency (NIGROMA).

The governor, however, directed the agency to create alternative route to enable movement of vehicles take place pending when the new bridge would be constructed.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26, 2017

NEWS

APGA backs restructuring From COLLINS UGHALAA, Owerri

The All Progressives Grand Allaince (APGA) says it is 100% in support of restructuring Nigeria.

This was made known by the factional chairman of the party, Chief Martin Agbaso, while addressing the press after his reception at his country home in Emekuku in Owerri North Local Council of Imo State, saying Nigeria needs restructuring because “as they are now, things are not working in the country.”

Chief Agbaso was declared the National Chairman of the party by a high court sitting in Enugu State, which issued an order of mandamus mandating INEC to recognise him as the National Chairman of APGA. But this has since created controversy as the Ike Oye- led APGA has approached the Appeal Court in Enugu State asking the court to stay the execution of the idea of mandamus issued by the high court.

Chief Agbaso said restructuring is an ongoing debate in the country, describing Nigeria as “a country where people cannot find food to eat; where children cannot attend their classes in a healthy environment and the standard of education is very poor.”

He added: “Nigeria is a country where people don’t have access to power and public infrastructure is completely comatose. Nigeria is a country where the quality of healthcare is the lowest in Africa. Nigeria is a country of 170 million people but we don’t have 17 million people with the skills to drive the side of econo• Chief Martin Agbaso, flanked by party leaders while addressing the party members at a reception my that we have.

“We need to find out why these organised in his honour at his Emekuku Owerri country home. things are not working, because if these things were working no one boycott by the pro-Biafra group, ernor Willie Obiano whom he said would be talking about restructur- saying, “that you expressed your is the Leader of the party has done ing Nigeria. And we are 100% in sup- opinion does not mean you should well. port of it.”

He assured the members of his be crucified.

Chief Agbaso also spoke on the di“It is a discussion that is in pro- party that APGA will return to the rective to boycott the November 18 gress, and as we approach the No- Government House in Awka as govgovernorship election in Anambra vember 18 election, a lot of things ernor.

He said he would be the chief State by the Indigenous People of will change. The process is dynamic, Biafra (IPOB), assuring that the elec- and my being the chairman can electoral officer of the party in the tion will hold despite the directive. change a lot of things”. governorship election, assuring that He said the IPOB members have While addressing the mammoth the Independent National Electoral From CHRIS EZE, Yenagoa the right like other Nigerians to crowd and party faithful that came Commission (INEC) would hand ollowing the growing cases of express themselves, saying that to receive him, Chief Agbaso said the certificate of return to him after cultism among teenagers in “whatever directive they issued he would provide an inclusive lead- the governorship election. He also Bayelsa, the State Police Com- was not different from what has has ership for the party assuring that assured that the people of Anammand has commenced an advocacy been said by others.”

APGA will not shut out anybody in bra State will not abandon APGA, campaign against the menace in He queried why people should the governorship primary election even though “they may be in APC schools in the state. hold on to the directive for election for Anambra State, noting that Gov- or PDP.” The most recent case of attack by cultists in the state was the killing of a former Defense Academy cadet.

Assistant Commissioner of Police, (ACP) Bayelsa Command, Mr Mike Vigara, who flagged off the campaign during the week urged young people BIA State House of Assembly hospital bills and would visit them to shun crime and cultism in the sociSpeaker, Chikwendu Kalu, until they were discharged from the ety. has visited the two Federal hospital.

He gave the advice during a cam“I don’t think I will ever condone paign visit to Billari International Road Safety Commission officials that over-zealousness. I have been School, Tombia Imiringi road in the out- shot on Saturday by police officers attached to him. He had conable to do the needful telling them skirts of Yenagoa, Bayelsa capital. that such a thing will never happen Tagged “why young people must demned the shooting a statement shun crime and cultism,” the campaign he issued on Sunday. again,” he said. is designed to expose the evils of cult- “I strongly condemn any over zeal“I want to say that with every sense ism and cult-related activities in the ousness on the side of any security of responsibility and humility that lives of young people and adults alike. personnel be the person a memI’m well informed about the imporThe ACP implored the youth to be tance of human life, and equally courageous in life, and shun any act, ber of the Police, Road Safety, the Army, and Department of States aware of the provisions of section which will put them into criminality Services. I think I will be the last 33, sub-section (1) of the 1999 conthat would warrant their arrest. stitution as amended that forbids The Police Chief said the essence of person to encourage it because it taking away one’s life, I’m equally living is to find solutions to the prob- doesn’t augur well with state and lems of humanity, adding that stu- the country at large. aware of the sister provision of secdents are in school to get knowledge “ I’m well informed enough to tion 33 sub-section (2) of the same to solve the problems of mankind and know that I don’t have the authorconstitution on the mode a human make the earth a better place. ity to order anybody to shoot and life could be taken,” Mr. Kalu said.

In his remark, the Principal of the I can’t even encourage such an ac- • Hon. Chikwendu Kalu Following an incident involving a School, Mr. Benjamin Osei-Tutu commende, the Police Command for the tion, even in the highest degree of The Speaker visited the Living Word vehicle the Speaker’s wife was in, campaign to get the youth to shun provocation, I think I will move to Mission Hospital, Aba, at about 10 some policemen attached to the the law court as practicing lawyer, am, to see how the men were far- Speaker, who arrived at the scene crimes and criminalities.

He urged the Police to sustain the before I joined politics,” he earlier ing. He again condemned the in- later, shot at the FRSC corps men incampaign and take it to other private stated. cident and said he had paid their volved, two of whom were woundand public schools in the state. ed.

Bayelsa Police takes campaign against cultism to schools

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Abia Speaker visits Injured FRSC men

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Search for killers of JTF soldier provokes tension in Niger Delta From Chris Eze, Yenagoa Even as the Joint Task Force (JTF) deployed to the Niger Delta assured that its ongoing operation to fish out killers of its soldier in Delta at the weekend is within its rule of engagement, tension is said to have risen sharply within the communities around Burutu area where the incident occurred.

However, the military has dismissed reports that troops had invaded innocent residents as untrue.

Recently, unidentified gunmen killed a soldier on duty at Ogbugbagbene settlement, Burutu Local Council of Delta last weekend and made away with the slain soldier’s arms.

In a statement, President of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Eric Omare said since the unfortunate murder, communities along the Forcados River such as Bomadi, Tuomo, Tamigbe, Toru-Ndoro, Bulu-Ndoro, Ogbugbagebne, Ojobo, Torugbene, Letugbene and other communities have been under heavy military siege.

Omare who condemned the murder of the soldier urged the military to collaborate with community leaders to fish out those behind the act.

“We condemn in the strongest terms the gruesome murder of a soldier by unknown gunmen.

“The IYC states that the invasion, sporadic shooting and arrest of community leaders and members of the Delta and Bayelsa boundary communities is counterproductive.

“The current hostilities meted out to settlements along the Forcados River are not the solution to the security challenge.

“The movement of the people has been highly restricted and economic activities paralyzed,” Omare said.

But Maj. Abubakar Abudullahi, Spokesman of the Joint Military Force, codenamed Operation Delta Safe in a statement said the ongoing effort to bring those behind the dastardly act to book is ‘normal and routine’.

Cleric calls for peace in S/Kaduna

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Kaduna based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) – Peace Revival and Reconciliation Foundation- has expressed its commitment to lasting peace in Southern Kaduna.

The Founder of the NGO, Pastor Yohanna Buru, made the remark in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.

Buru said the NGO had embarked on fact-finding missions in various chiefdoms in Southern Kaduna. “We met with some Fulani people in Jaba chiefdom on fact-finding mission in order to bring lasting peace in the area. “We met the Chief of Jaba, Malam Danladi Maude and top leaders in Jaba land and we discussed how to bring peace to Southern Kaduna,’’ he said. According to him, the traditional ruler of Jaba, spoke on the importance of peace, tolerance as key to socioeconomic and political development of any society. “Peace and tolerance are two essential ingredients for promoting societal growth which should be encouraged by every right-thinking individual living in any community,’’ Buru said.

He said that the chief of Jaba also warned that violence and other negative tendencies would not yield any fruitful result, but rather frustrate and drag the society back. He also appealed to the state government to rehabilitate bad roads in the area.

6

The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26, 2017

NEWS Dumping of bodies, newly born babies worries LG boss

By IBE NWACHUKWU The Chairman of Transition Committee for Idemili North Local Council of Anambra State, Chief Raphael Asha Nnabuife has decried what he called ‘indiscriminate’ dumping of dead bodies of new born babies in refuse bins, by unknown persons in the area.

He warned that henceforth, any one caught dumping bodies of dead or living new born babies or even refuse in a bag not tied up would be arrested by a special task force set up by the council to monitor proper or improper refuse disposal of refuse in the area, and prosecuted in a sanitation court.

Nnabuife who addressed a meeting of landlords’ associations, market leaders and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) leaders from the area at the council secretariat, yesterday, disclosed that the newly inaugurated task force members have been deployed to all nooks and crannies in the council area to carry out this important assignment with all the seriousness it deserves.

He described the dumping of bodies of new born babies, whether dead or alive as an act of immorality and environmental pollution, particularly when the babies or other refuse bins are dumped in a dumpsite without tying the neck of the bag containing the body or refuse, to make it easier for the environmental workers to just pick up such bags and throw them into the waste disposal vans.

He also warned that the task force team who might either be in uniform or mufti would arrest scavengers who open or untie such tied bags containing the refuse in search of valuable items to sell, thus scattering the bins, adding that in as much as he is not against scavenging, any one who wishes to scavenge should go to the final waste disposal sites located at either Nkwelle-Ezunaka or Owerri Road, Onitsha and do the scavenging.

He, therefore, reminded them of the need to come out in mass during the November 18 governorship election day in the State and cast their votes for the incumbent Governor Willie Obiano who, he said, has done so much for the State in the areas of infrastructure and management of resources.

He added that they should equally tell their members to register and obtain their voters’ cards so that they can be eligible to vote on the election day.

Responding, the chairman of Nkpor Central landlords Association, Frank Obi; Secretary of Old Motor Spare Parts Association, David Eze and Chairman of United Stockfish Dealers Association, Chief Dennis Anyaduba, commended the council boss for kick-starting enlightenment campaign aimed at ensuring environmental cleanliness in the area and urged him not to relent.

Gov Umahi launches neighbourhood watch From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki

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overnor David Umahi of Ebonyi state has enlisted 216 youth drawn from the 13 Local Councils of the State to form the foundation recruits of the State’s vigilante group, newly founded by his administration.

Inaugurating the vigilante group Monday evening, Umahi said those enlisted were thoroughly screened, investigated and trained through the combined efforts of Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Internal Security, Dr. Kenneth Ugbala; the State Commissioner of police, Titus Lam-

orde and the Director of State Security Service (DSS).

The governor while urging the vigilante members to cooperate with and obey security agents, said the group’s emergence has marked the end of crimes in the state.

He further charged them not to see their assignment as a parttime job, noting that if the issue of state police, which has passed third reading in the national assembly becomes a reality, they might see themselves serving the State in that capacity.

Umahi added that the essence of raising the monthly remuneration of members of the vigilante above minimum wage level and an

additional N10,000 for miscellaneous expenses is to ensure they take their assignment seriously.

He disclosed that the State government would be rewarding monthly at least two members of the group who do great exploits, especially in bursting crimes but warned that any attempt by any member of the group to mislead government, get involved in crimes or intimidate people would be punished.

“If you blow the whistle and it did not catch something, we will catch you. I don’t know if there is any law against those who are in charge of a certain tier of security and they are involved in crime? If there is

none, Attorney General has to put it in the miscellaneous offences laws,” he said.

He said with the vigilante in place, his government would wage war against cultism by next month and warned those involved to desist.

Earlier in his address, the SSA on internal security to the governor, Dr. Ugbala commended the governor for providing all necessary logistics that made the formation and equipping of the group possible.

According to him, each member of group has been provided with a new motorcycle, complete uniform, Identity card and Torchlight to ease their operation.

Children of Phrankstars Classic School, Amawbia, Awka, on a visit to the Ogunike Cave as part of the activities that marks the 2017 Phrankstars Week

By IBE NWACHUKWU

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o fewer than 130 patients suffering from various ailments at the weekend benefited from a free medical check-up for the less privileged persons in the society, organized

by Onyemaechi Hope for the Helpless Foundation, an Onitsha, Anambra State- based not-for-profit, non-governmental and voluntary organisation.

Onyemaechi Hope Foundation treats 130 The free medicare and counselling programme, which took place at Amawbia Town Hall, Awka, attracted the attention of some voluntary organizations, including the Society for Family Health, SFH; Global Family Deworming Organization, GFDO; National Drug Free Club, NDFC, National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, National

Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, among others.

Out of the 130 beneficiaries, 122 were tested for malaria and 87 tested positive, while 35 tested negative, just as 50 persons were tested for HIV/AIDS and one tested positive, while 49 others tested negative.

In the same vein, 122 persons

Delta to resolve boundary dispute with Edo From JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

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he Delta State Government has assured Umutu community in Ukwuani Local Council and Ovre-Eku and other communities in Ethiope East Local Council that it will take necessary steps towards finding a lasting solution to the lingering boundary (land) dispute between Umutu and Urhonigbe community in Edo State and between Ovre-Eku and other communities in Delta and Edo States.

Secretary to the Delta State Government (SSG), Hon.Festus Ovie Agas, gave the assurance when he led a high-powered delegation on a fact-finding visit to Umutu and Eku communities.

He reiterated the irrevocable commitment of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration to the safety of lives and property of all Deltans, adding that “we will work with all relevant information/documents and also liaise with the National Boundary Commission with a view to finding lasting solutions to the lingering

boundary dispute.”

He averred that the present administration has the political will to wade into the matter and advised Umutu, Ovre and other communities to remain calm and maintain the peace, reminding them that taking the laws into their hands is counter-productive.

The SSG commended the communities for their peaceful disposition over the years, despite series of attacks and provocations, assuring them that there would be light at the end of the tunnel.

“We feel your pains and sufferings. Government will not let you down. The present administration, under the watch of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is focused and the wellbeing of the people is dear to his heart. Delta and Edo States have a cordial relationship. We will do the needful to ensure that the lingering boundary dispute is resolved amicably,” he said.

Earlier at the palace of the Okpala-Uku of Umutu, Chief Anthony Nwachukwu, on behalf of the community had chronicled the genesis of the boundary dispute between Umutu and Urhonigbe

communities and appealed to the state government to wade into the matter and put paid to the lingering boundary disputes.

He commended the state government for the fact –finding visit to Umutu, affirming that the visit has rekindled their hope as well as given them a new lease of life and the reason to believe that indeed, Governor Okowa’s administration does not toy with the well being of the people.

In their separate remarks at Eku, the Chairman, Forum of Communities in Delta State sharing boundary with Edo State, Chief Abel and others narrated their ordeal and sufferings in the hands of alleged agents of Presco Oil Plc, saying that they have not only been chased away from their ancestral home, but also subjected to untold hardship, poverty and hunger as their farmlands have been forcefully taken over by the company.

The fact finding visit was sequel to motions of urgent public importance moved by the Member representing Ukwuani Constituency, Hon. Alphonsus Ojo.

were tested for Blood Pressure (BP) and 45 had normal BP, 23 had low BP, while 54 had High BP. The foundation also distributed 127 pieces of Mosquito nets, as part of efforts to fight malaria scourge.

In his opening remarks, Coordinator of the Foundation, Okenwa Kennedy Onyema noted that the purpose of organizing the checkup was to bring God’s love to the poor, widows, the needy and the less privileged, describing the exercise as a selfless service to God and humanity.

Said Okenwa: “We are not a political campaign group, neither are we indigenes of Amawbia nor even from Anambra State. Rather, we are for the less privileged ones in the society and we are here today for those who could not afford to go to the hospital for medical tests and to create awareness about the importance of regular medical check-up.

Also speaking, Coordinator of GFDO, Mrs. Tessy Orakpo advised the participants to de-worm themselves every three months because according to her, worms are very dangerous to the body.

She mentioned hook worms, tape worms, black worms among others as the most deadly ones, which could cause madness, miscarriage, intestinal wounds waist pain, cough, chest pain and malgrowth in children.

In his own speech, the representative of NYCN, Prince Ike Agwu highlighted the importance of living a good moral life and advised youths to avoid multiple sex partners.

7

The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26, 2017

NEWS

Group hails AGIP for developing Niger Delta THE Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change (NDIMRC), Tuesday hailed Nigeria Agip Oil Company Limited (NAOC), for the development of the Niger Delta Region and implored other oil companies it accused of playing games with development of the Region to emulate the company.

Specifically, NDIMRC, an oil monitoring group, showered praises on the Managing Director of the company, Mr. Massimo Insulla for being sensitive to the plight of the people of the region.

In a press statement signed by its President, Nelly Emma, Secretary, John Sailor and Public Relations Officer, Stanley Mukoro, the group commended the Managing Director for making the impact of the company felt in its operations in the region.

According to the group, the Nigerian Agip Oil Company has won its way to the hearts of the people of the region, saying that the company’s corporate social responsibility was working wonders in the oil rich Niger Delta Region.

“We want to commend the Managing Director of Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited, Mr. Massimo Insulla for his managerial skills.

The company has been able to eliminate poverty from the Niger Delta Region through its laudable developmental and empowerment programmes. Jobs have been created for our army of unemployed youths by the company. We have been watching the activities of the company closely and we are im-

pressed with its Managing Director for bringing development, employment and empowerment to the oil rich Niger Delta Region”, the group said.

“The management of the company is very sensitive to the plight of our people in the Region. The corporate social responsibility of the company is real. Other oil com-

panies are playing games with the development of the Region. Agip has shown that it is possible to eliminate poverty and insecurity from the region. No oil company can beat the records of Agip. We want these other multinational oil companies playing politics with the development and empowerment

of our people to emulate the good example of Agip”.

NDIMRC said: “Today, our people are having sense of belonging as a result of the corporate social responsibility of Agip. Our people no longer feel neglected as they are being carried along by the company. If other multinational

• Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, Malala Yousafzai, Girl Advocate for Malala Fund and Gulamakai Champions for Malala Fund, Habiba Mohammad during Malala Fund Team courtesy visit at the State House in Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE/STATE HOUSE. JULY 17 2017

oil companies can do what Agip is doing, the whole of the region will be massively transformed. Our youths have been engaged meaningfully by the company and no longer thinking of going back to the creeks to destroy oil facilities.

“The Managing Director of the company should be commended for the wonderful things he is doing in the region and we are not surprised when the Bayelsa State Government recently offered to provide land for the company to build its corporate office and residential quarters in Yenagoa, the state capital. The company is doing well in the region and we enjoin the Managing Director to keep up with his good work”, the group stated.

“So many communities in the region now want to be host to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited because there is no oil company that can be compared to Agip. The Managing Director of the company should be praised for the empowerment of our people. The interest of our people is being well served by the company. We are charging other multinational oil companies still shortchanging our people to emulate Agip in order to eliminate poverty totally from the Niger Delta region.

“We are using this medium to appeal to all stakeholders where Agip is operating in the region to support the company. Agip ought to be known as Niger Delta Limited as it is the only known oil company that is focusing on the development of the region”.

CHANGE OF NAMES I formerly known and addressed as JUSTINA KABIRI now wish to be known as JUSTINA AJAERO O. This change has become necessary for record purposes. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

I formerly known as EGBEAKA IFECHUKWU EUGENIA now wish to be known as UDEOGALANYA EUGENIA IFECHUKWU. Former documents remain valid, general public take note

I formerly known as MBAMALA FRANCISCA NZUBECHI now wish to be known as EZEJI ANASTASIA NZUBECHI. Former documents remain valid; Banks and general public take note

I formerly known as MISS MODILIM NKIRUKA E. now wish to be known as MRS EZEH NKIRUKA E. (nee MODILIM) All former documents remain valid, general public take note

I formerly known as MISS CHIOMA NKEIRUKA ATUCHUKWU now wish to be known as MRS CHIOMA NKEIRUKA IBEMESI (NEE ATUCHUKWU). All former documents remain valid.

General public take note

I formerly known as MISS IWUCHUKWU CHINEME GRACE now wish to be known as MRS UZOEZIE CHINEME GRACE. All former documents remain valid, federal College of Education (Technical) Umunze and general public take note

This is to certify that UCHENNA OKAFOR U; OKAFOR GOLD OGOCHUKWU and OKAFOR OGOCHUKWU is one and same person, now wish to be known as OKAFOR OGOCHUKWU. All former documents remain valid, general public take note

This is to certify that ESOMUGHA JANE; ESOMUGHA-OKELUE JANE and ESOMUGHA-OKELUE JANE UCHE is one and the same person, now wish to be known as ESOMUGHA-OKELUE JANE UCHE. All former documents remain valid, general public take note

I formerly known as SUSSAN IFUNANYA AGUNWA now wish to be known as SUSSAN IFUNANYA EGOZOBA. All former documents remain valid, Banks and general public take note

I formerly known as MISS AYOGU CYNTHIA THERESA ONYINYECHI now wish to be known as MRS EZEJAH ONYINYECHI CYNTHIA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

This is to confirm that JOHN IYKE EZUGWU and JOHN IKECHUKWU EZEA refer to same person, now wish to be known as JOHN IYKE EZUGWU All former documents remain valid, Banks and general public take note

I formerly known as OFFOR CHINELO EDITH now wish to be known as MADUKAIFE CHINELO EDITH, All former documents remain valid, general public take note

I formerly known as OKOYE LISA EBERE now wish to be known as OKOYE ELIZABETH EBERECHUKWU. All former documents remain valid, general public take note

I formerly known as MISS CHUKWU OLUOMA now wish to be known as MRS AJAKOR OLUOMACHUKWU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note

I formerly known and addressed as NONYEREM ONYEKWELU now wish to be known and addressed as EZEUGWA FANNY NONYEREM. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

I formerly known and addressed as NWANKWO NGOZI PRECIOUS now wish to be known and addressed as ELIAS NGOZI BLESSING. All former documents remain valid; Banks and general public take note.

I formerly known as IBEH UKAMAKA STELLA IFEOMA now wish to be known as IBE STELLA IFEOMA. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

OBIOMA ONYEADOR FOUNDATION The general public is hereby notified that the above – named foundation has applied to the corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matter Act, 1990.

NEW LIFE POWER ASSEMBLY The general public is hereby notified that the above- named foundation has applied to the corporate affairs commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. EVANG TINA EZUMAH 2. REV. OKAFOR SAMUEL IFEANYI 3. EVANG. SAMUEL CYNTHIA IFEYINWA 4. MR. NWOSU LEOTEX TORTI

TRUSTEES 1. ASADU IGNATIUS OGBU – Chairman 2. ASADU NKECHI LYDIA – Secretary 3. FAVOUR KELECHI – (Member)

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE a. To provide care and support to Widows, widowers and the aged in the society. b. To provide care, support and training to the Orphans, (Motherless babies and children) less priviledged and disabled persons c. To alleviate poverty amongst the vulnerable in the society.

Any objection to this application should be forwarded to the Registrar – General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this application.

Signed: CLETUS NNACHETTE ESQ

AIMS 1. To preach the gospel of our lord Jesus Christ Across the world.

2. To build Humanity and uplifting the lives of orphans and destitute.

3. To bring about healing and deliverance to the oppressed.

4. To build strong Discipleship that will help furtherance of the Gospel.

5. To Reconcile men and lost souls back to God Almighty, Any objection should be forwarded to the Registrar – General, Corporate Affair Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this application.

Signed: Chairman

8

The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26, 2017

NEWS

Peter Obi, Ukachukwu, Obiogbolu gun for soul of Anambra PDP • Ozoanaekwe, Ezeanuna point the way forward

By THEO RAYS

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ollowing the Supreme Court judgement that declared Senator Ahmed Makarfi as the authentic National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) last week, the gladiators of the party in Anambra loyal to Makarfi line up are set to fight for the soul of the party in the State, The Oracle Today can report.

Among the gladiators to tango in the fight for the soul of the opposition party in Anambra are former Governor Peter Obi, businessman, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu and Onitsha-born medical doctor and politician Dr Alex Obiogbolu.

The exit of PDP Chieftains like Senator Andy Uba, Hon Tony Nwoye, Chief Obina Uzor and Dr Ifeanyi Uba among others who defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC) a few months ago, has narrowed down the number of the PDP gladiators in Anambra.

It is not yet clear whether some of the PDP-APC decampees plan to return to their former party in which they achieved both fortune and fame.

An impeccable PDP source close to The Oracle Today revealed that the bone of contention among the surviving PDP kingpins Anambra is who would be in charge of the structure of the party ahead of the November 18, 2017 governorship election in Anambra.

Ukachukwu and Obiogbolu according to the source are interested in the race to the government house in Awka and, therefore, want to claim the party structure to be in a better position to clinch the ticket of the party for the governorship race while former Governor Obi is interested in the structure for advancing his political ambition at the national stage.

Obi who is tipped to contest for Igbo Vice President or even President right away in 2019 is allegedly fronting a former Secretary to Government of Anambra State Dr Henry Osaeloka Obaze for the Anambra top job ahead of the November governorship election.

Insinuations in some quarters have it that Obaze is as good as emerging the candidate of the PDP if Obi has his way in the party.

Analysts say the three gladiators are good enough to lead the party, but they have to embrace the culture of carrying the interest of the party ahead of personal interest in order to ensure that party is strong enough to face the challenge ahead of it at the polls come November.

A current affairs analyst and Right activist Dede Uzor A Uzor is of the opinion that former Governor Obi is in a better position to lead the party in Anambra considering the fact that Obi remains very popular among the electorate in the State and also has the wherewithal needed to oil the party ahead of November battle and subsequent battle at the national level.

Another analyst who didn’t want his name mentioned preferred Ukachukwu.

He argued further that Ukachukwu an ex member of the federal House of Representatives has all it takes including the structure,

popularity and the financial muzzle to face the incumbent Governor Obiano and the candidate of APC at the poll in November.

In his opinion, analyst Dr Ejike Nwangwu contended that Obiogbolu a graduate of University of Lagos, has remained a diehard PDP loyalist despite the tribulations that faced the party these past two years, and consequently deserves to be handed over the control of the party in Anambra.

Nwangwu who referred to the Onitsha-born medical doctor cum politician as an intellectual, insisted that he has the capacity to lead the party and of course all it takes to deliver the party at the polls in November adding that Obiogbolu is a household name in Anambra and what he needs is the support of all members of the party to win the November polls.

However, the fate of the gladiators gunning for the soul of the party lies in the support of the key members of the party like the members of the party at the National Assembly, including Senator Stella Odua, members of the House of Representatives and the State Chairman of the party Prince Ken Emeakai, among others On the way forward, a community leader and former Chairman of the defunct Onitsha Market Amalgamated Traders Association (OMATA) Pius Ozoanaekwe advised that those who he referred as ‘Impatient cabals’ who had left the party to join APC should not be allowed to return to party in for stability to return to PDP. The former market leader who described the victory of Makarfi as one of the best things to happen to Nigerian democracy urged

members of the party in Anambra to take advantage of the new development to put the PDP in a stronger position for the challenges ahead.

He added: “The victory of Makarfi is a good omen for democracy in this country and to me it is even necessary that the day of that Supreme Court judgement be declared another democracy day in Nigeria. Sherif was like a monster sent to pull down the PDP and democracy in Nigeria because the death of PDP is as bad as the death of democracy in Nigeria but it didn’t work out for them and we thank God for the that.”

In his own opinion, a November Governorship aspirant on the platform of the PDP Hon. Zeribe Ezeanuna disagreed with Ozoanaekwe saying that the door has to be open for everybody including the APC decampees to return to the fold as all hands should be on deck to return the party to the

• Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (middle); with the State Commissioner for Environment, Amb. Fidel Ayogu (3rd left); Commissioner forTransportation, Mr. Vitus Okechi (right); Enugu East Local Government Transition Chairman, Mr. Cornelius Nnaji (2nd left); and other government functionaries on the second day of identification of illegal structures defacing Enugu metropolis, yesterday.

Keke operators shut down Onitsha over multiple collectors From OGECHUKWU ONYEANUSI, Nnewi

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bout 2,000 tricycle operators, popularly known as Keke NAPEP, yesterday protested in Onitsha, Anambra State over what they called multiple unauthorised levies collected by revenue agents.

The protest grounded human and vehicular movements for hours in the commercial city.

The tricycle operators under the aegis of KKAWAAWPU Amalgamated Tricycle Union and the Keke Riders Forum (KRF), alleged that most of the levies were forced on them and in some cases they are beaten and robbed of their proceeds on a daily basis.

The unions said the agents have been banned by Anambra State government, but unknown to the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano, some agents connive with members of Board of Trustees of KKWAAWPU and are still

collecting the levies, print some tickets strange to them and force them to pay for the tickets.

The protesters joined by members of Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and Biafra Independent Movement (BIM), took their protest to the office of the leader of MASSOB/BIM for Anambra South Senatorial Zone, Mr. Arinze Igbani for assistance.

Addressing newsmen shortly after the protest, state chairman of KKAWAAWPU, Mr. Tony Ogalaonye and his KRF counterpart, Mr. Emeka Ohaekelem displayed the tickets they are currently paying for from Onitsha Owerri Road to Onitsha Main Market as, “Obosi Development Union ticket, Ogbaru Di Uso ticket, Unified Anambra State Local Government Daily Toll, Government of Anambra State with Chariot International daily toll, daily IGR Tricycle Keke ticket, Onitsha Ado N’Idu daily toll, Loading and Offloading Keke Tricycle ticket, ASWAMA Tricycle

ticket, Oba Patriotic Union ticket, which range from N100 to N150 each,” among others.

They appealed to Governor Obiano to investigate their claims and ensure that the culprits are arrested and prosecuted.

MASSOB-BIM Leader, Igbani, while addressing the protesting tricycle operators appealed to them to be peaceful, and promised that he will call all those being accused for a meeting to resolve the issue.

Some of the placards they carried bore various inscriptions like: “AOWAN is collecting money for strange tickets from us,” “Government approved tickets are only three which cost N350,” “We are forced to pay for nine tickets which cost N2,450 daily by revenue agents,” “Revenue agents should stop beating us and stealing our money,” “Members of KKAWAAWPU board of trustees are working against our union.”

Government House in Awka come November this year.

Ezeanuna said “to defeat the incumbent, all hands must be on deck. We must be guided by the spirit of inclusiveness. As a governorship aspirant, I am overwhelmed with expectations that PDP will take over the Government House in Awka as we shall prove that we have learnt from our mistakes.”

Stop destroying oil pipeline…

DESOPADEC boss tells ND Youths FROM EMMANUEL OGOIGBE WARRI 17/7/2017

T

he Executive Director planning and research, Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) Engr. Victor Wood, has admonished youths of the Niger Delta to maintain the prevailing peace for development to come to the area.

Wood warned that there can be no meaningful development in an atmosphere of violence and rancour, stressing that the only path to rapid growth in any nation is sustainable peace and mutual understanding.

Wood who stated this at a oneway interaction organized by the Niger Delta Oeace Tolerance conference in Warri during, enjoined all the grieving youths otherwise known as militants to lay down their arms and allow peace to reign in the region.

“Enough is enough. A lot of people have been killed maimed and properties, including oil pipelines running into billions of naira have been destroyed all because of fighting marginalization and all that,” the DESOPADEC official lamented.

On the 16-point agenda by PANDEF to the Federal Government, Wood posited that people of the region should first of all organize themelves and ensure that there is peaceful co-existence within the region before pushing the government to do something tangible about the agenda.

He warned the youth should and any other group or individuals stop making the Niger Delta a violent region, adding: “There is no way economy can thrive let use make the area fertile first before planting on it. We should stop destroying pipelines and our other source of livelihood.”

“In actual sense, we have not made any headway by being violent. What have we achieved today? Sadly Niger Delta is going backward,” Wood further contended.

Earlier, convener of the forum, Ambassador Young Piero enjoined leaders of the area to be honest with the 13% allocation being given to oil producing areas.

Piero, who is a conflict resolution specialist and youth Ambassador for Human Rights International, said: “I will blame the federal government for not monitoring the fund being allocated to NDDC to know how it is being spent.”

9

The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26, 2017

INTERNATIONAL NEWS Libya PM urges supporters of Gaddafi to return, help solve country’s problems

P

rime Minister of the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) Fayez Sarraj has urged supporters of former leader Muammar Gaddafi to return to the country in order to help solve its problems.

Sarraj made the call while answering a question on whether the Gaddafi supporters, which had emigrated abroad, could take part in the political life of the country.

Sarraj said:“I call on all the Libyans to return to Libya, to gather and hold public, political meetings, to solve the problems together.

“If this does not happen, the situation will worsen, the number of refugees will increase both within the country and in the world, it will cost the Libyans even greater torment.”

In 2011, an armed conflict broke out in Libya between forces controlled by the longstanding leader of the country Muammar Gaddafi and various armed groups.

Gaddafi was overthrown and assassinated in October 2011.

Since then, Libya has experienced a period of turmoil.

Following the 2011 events, many Gaddafi supporters emigrated abroad, fearing persecution at home.

Compiled by Roswitha Chukwuma (with Agency Reports)

Pakistan’s Supreme Court starts hearings to decide PM’s future

P

akistan’s Supreme Court on Monday began hearings that would decide the future of Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, who is fighting for his job and contesting a damning corruption report by an investigative panel.

The Supreme Court is expected to either put Sharif on trial on corruption charges, or even disqualify him, but few expect the judges to dismiss the case after the panel tabled a damaging 254-page report into his family wealth.

Sharif has denied any wrongdoing after the report alleged his family’s vast wealth was beyond their means, and accused his children, including presumed heir Maryam, of signing forged documents to obscure ownership of posh London flats.

Sharif, 67, has rejected demands by opposition parties to resign, warning his ouster would destabi-

lise the country and imperil hardwon economic gains since his poll victory in 2013.

“It hurts that in spite of our hard work, attempts are afoot once again to push the country back,’’ Sharif told a meeting of his ruling PML-N parliamentary party over the weekend.

Sharif in April narrowly escaped disqualification after the Supreme Court ruled there was insufficient evidence to remove him — by a 2-3 split — over documents released by the Panama Papers leak into off-shore wealth.

But it ordered further investigations, and the formation of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) panel.

Sharif has talked of a conspiracy against him, but has not named anyone.

His allies, however, privately claim that elements of Pakistan’s powerful military and the judici-

ary are bent on toppling him.

The army spokesman brushed aside questions about claims the military’s hidden hand was the driving force behind the JIT probe, saying “the Pakistan army is not directly connected”.

The six-person JIT panel included one member from the military intelligence agency and another from the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence directorate, the country’s top spy agency.

Sharif, son of an industrialist serving his third term in power, has had a fractious relationship with the army.

He was originally nurtured by the military as a civilian politician, who would protect their interests, and he served as prime minister twice in the 1990s.

But relations soured and his second stint as prime minister ended when he was ousted in a 1999 coup leading to a decade of exile.

Jordanian soldier gets life imprisonment for killing 3 U.S. army members

A

UAE minister denies any hacking of Qatari websites

T

he United Arab Emirates was not responsible for an alleged hack of Qatari websites which helped spark a month-long diplomatic rift with Doha, the UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs said on Monday.

Speaking at a forum in London, Anwar Gargash said the UAE would not escalate its boycott by asking companies to choose between doing business with it or with Qatar.

Vodafone Qatar, an affiliate of Vodafone Group had said that access to its network was being affected by technical issues.

“The company is working to resolve the issue,’’ Vodafone Qatar said on its official Twitter account.

Several Vodafone customers told Reuters that they were unable to make or receive phone calls.

A spokesman for Vodafone Qatar did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

State-controlled Ooredoo also serves Qatar’s mobile communications market.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain cut diplomatic and transport ties with Qatar on June 5, accusing it of supporting terrorism, a claim which Qatar denies.

Relations with the military during the current term have also been tense at times.

Sharif’s legal team and the opposition will be given a chance to contest the JIT findings and Sharif is also expected to be summoned to appear before the court in coming days or weeks.

Opposition politicians say Sharif is concocting claims of conspiracy to save his skin and argue that if he really wanted to protect democracy he should step down.

Imran Khan, the opposition leader, who pushed the hardest for Sharif to be investigated, said the premier would end up in jail, and vowed protests if he was not ousted by the court.

“Either we will celebrate in Islamabad or otherwise we will hit the streets to save our democracy and to make sure we send this mafia to Adiyala jail,” Khan told supporters.

• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) welcomes the then Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (L) during a visit on April 03, 2015 in Ankara, Turkey.

Jordanian military court sentenced a soldier to life imprisonment with hard labour on Monday for killing three U.S. military trainers at the gate of a major air base in 2016, a judicial source said.

The soldier had been charged with premeditated murder and had pleaded not guilty, the source said.

The incident in November had led to tensions between Washington and its Middle Eastern ally.

Jordanian authorities at first said the U.S. trainers had been shot dead by the soldier when their car failed to stop at the gate of the base.

Washington rejected that account and said it could not rule out a political motive for the killings.

Jordan, a staunch U.S. ally, hosts several hundred U.S. contractors in a military cooperation programme which includes the stationing of U.S. F-16 fighter jets.

They use Jordanian airfields to hit Islamic State positions in neighbouring Syria and to protect its borders.

Union set to Nigeria blessed with huge tourism potentials, says South Africa-based ICT expert initiate Enugu House project in r Fidelis Igbokwe, a South hospitality, hotel and catering sec- tentials before making any move.

Africa-based Nigerian tors. “ Government is trying its best South Africa computer expert, says “ This industry gives investors and it should not relent.

M

Nigeria has huge tourism potentials capable of raising huge foreign exchange.

Igbokwe, the Chief Executive Officer of TRRPN, an Information and Communication Technology firm, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Johannesburg, South Africa, that government must expose these potentials to investors. “ Travel and tourism industry is the largest employer in the market space. This industry cuts across

first hand information about the environment because when investors like a place, they tend to stay. “ Nigeria is blessed with these potentials,” he said.

Igbokwe, who developed a safety and tourism application known as “TRPPN”, said government should use innovation and technology to promote tourist destinations in the country to the world.

He said many investors were willing to come to the country, but needed information on these po-

“ It needs to do more in using innovations and technology to promote places of interest to the world. People want to know about Nigeria before coming to live there. “ The good news is that Nigeria has places that can attract the world,” he said.

Igbokwe suggested that ICT experts in the country should be given platforms to provide solutions and information to drive the process, promote tourist sites and attract investors

carrying 37 people when it capsized early Sunday morning.

The presidency said three soldiers were rescued but 34 passengers are still unaccounted for.

Government said the accident, at the northern end of the coast near the village of Debunsha, is believed to have been caused by rough waters but investigations are underway to learn more.

Cameroon has deployed thou-

sands of soldiers to its Far North region to beat back a Boko Haram insurgency that has killed more than 20,000 people in the Lake Chad region and displaced more than 2.7 million.

The militant group has repeatedly attacked Cameroon. Last month, two children carrying explosives killed at least nine people when they blew themselves up near a camp for displaced persons.

Cameroonian govt says 30 people missing after boat belonging to military unit sinks

T

he Cameroonian Government said 30 people are missing after a boat belonging to a military unit sank off the coast on Sunday.

According to a statement from the president’s office, the logistics boat belonged to the Rapid Intervention Brigade, which has fought Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram in recent years.

Authorities said that the boat was

T

he Enugu State Union in South Africa says it is planning to buy a house in that country for commercial use and image branding of the state.

The President of the union, Mr Mike Ugwu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Sunday that the group would acquire the property in an upscale location and it would be named Enugu House. “ We want to acquire it or get a land and erect it the way we want. If we buy a house, we will renovate it the way we want. “ Our aim is to use the house for image branding of Enugu State in South Africa. It is not also going to be an ordinary house, it will generate funds for the union. “ One day, we will think of home and this project will make members have something memorable to reminiscence on. “ Members have been told to adopt a think-home philosophy,” he said.

Ugwu said while the union could not raise enough funds at its 20th anniversary last year, efforts were on to begin the project. “ The union is already engaging some property firms in South Africa on the choice of house to buy. “ The house will be renovated and partitions created for business centres while a hall for events and offices for business outfits would be let out, ” he said.

10

The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26, 2017

INTERVIEW

‘FTAN will make Nigeria major ALHAJI SALEH RABO is the newly elected President of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), the umbrella body of tourism practitioners. In this interview with The Oracle Today’s Abuja Bureau Chief, TONY AILEMEN, Alhaji Rabo unfolds his vision and mission for the tourism industry in Nigeria, as well as plans to improve hospitality services, enrich Nigeria’s destination tourist facilities, increase the number of recorded tourist arrivals at tourist sites and significantly increase the contribution of tourism to Nigeria’s GDP and other internally generated revenue for States in Nigeria.

Excerpts: Tell us a little about FTAN and its current membership

to eradicating poverty and improving their collective livelihood.

F

TAN is the acronym for Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria.

It is the umbrella body of all tourism and hospitality associations in Nigeria.

FTAN is a legal entity, duly incorporated in Nigeria and, therefore, represents the organized private sector in Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism industry.

What are the contributions of FTAN to tourism development in Nigeria?

FTAN is the Association of Associations in Nigeria’s tourism industry. Our membership includes different association of hoteliers, travel agencies, tour operators, tourism academics, travel journalists, national dance groups, cultural artisans and several other allied practitioners. Hence, FTAN by default is the pressure group for the development of tourism as an economic asset base in Nigeria.

FTAN is a pressure group. Presently, we constitute the largest investors in the Nigerian tourism industry. In addition to contributing to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP), our members employ thousands of Nigerian workers across the country. In the same vein, our members form the bulk of tourism intellectuals, including tourism lecturers, travel journalists among others The objective of FTAN is to be the springboard that government uses to formulate tourism-related policies. We are the most risk-exposed tourism stakeholders that partner with government organs to guide strategic tourism development decisions.

There is no doubt that the industry is having great challenges in Nigeria; what actionable strategy do you have for domestic tourism market growth across Nigeria?

Yes, we do. But it would be presumptuous to let the cat out of the bag now. Like I earlier said, we have an impending FTAN Executive Members retreat next month, that is August, where we would harmonize our propositions and come out with a working template for catalysing tourism development across Nigeria. Nevertheless, I would give you a peek into some of my personal thoughts regarding ‘strategy for domestic tourism market growth’.

First, and foremost, I think we must conduct basic Nigeria tourism market research to ascertain the needs and buying patterns of Nigeria’s domestic tourism markets across the travel seasons. So that based on the research findings, we would embark on massive but surgical marketing and promotion of individual destinations suiting markets’ demography.

Have in mind that we are in the business of selling sweet memorable experiences to tourists. World over, tourism is a major service industry, so we must emphasize giving tourists exactly the experience we promised them when marketing our destinations.

Therefore, our sales-oriented promotion of tourist destinations, both for domestic and inbound markets, would go-hand-inhand with standardization of destination facilities. We have already initiated moves to secure expert technical support, from international organizations, to enrich our tourists’ experience by tailoring hospitality services to meet the preference of the different identified market segments.

How do you plan to involve tourism destinations and host communities for better tourist experience?

Absolutely. Our strategy is to systematically involve host communities in day to day handling of tourists. In this regard, the best practice from global leading tourism destinations is that, host communities supervise the tourism activities in their locality such as being the primary food chain suppliers, tour guides, security vigilante, souvenirs and handcraft sales, traditional entertainment, and many other direct tourist services.

But in the context of Nigeria, the active involvement of tourist host communities is easier said than done, because of the strong hold State governments have over

local government affairs. Consequently, we would proactively engage with State government apparatus to organize their tourist host community leaders and give them formal training on the niceties and responsibilities of tourist’s handling at their respective destinations.

Consequently, the State governments would have to deploy their internal revenue gseneration structures at such host communities to collect tourist taxes and other levies which in turn must be shared with members of tourist host communities. You see, it is not enough for the host communities to simply earn direct income from tourists based on the services they provide.

The best practice here is for the tourists’ host communities to participate as stakeholders in the State government’s tourism ventures. And the most effective way to get the communities’ total buy-in is when the State government gives some percentage of the revenue generated at the tourist host communities back to them.

And the communities need to know the fact of such arrangements before-hand.

That way they see the success of their community as a tourist destination pivotal

As the new FTAN President, what plans do you have for FTAN member associations?

Well, we campaigned to reposition FTAN with bankable action plans that include decentralizing FTAN executive powers to the geopolitical zones, active support of State governments in domestic tourism services, as well as proactively marketing Nigeria at identified tourist source markets, such as the Americas.

So you see, our plans are not only for FTAN but more about unleashing FTAN member associations’ capacity to jumpstart domestic and inbound tourism industry in Nigeria. It is public knowledge that Nigeria gets less than 3% of tourist receipts in Africa. In fact, available data reveals that annually, we export far more tourists than we receive!

Note that funding of FTAN activities is, however, a challenge. To resolve our internal financial insufficiency, we plan to engage consultant financial advisers to guide our choice of investment projects.

It is high time FTAN invested in financial vehicles that would generate revenue for the federation on a monthly basis.

More so, we would reach out to government ministries, particularly Ministries of Aviation and Transport, to facilitate the repatriation of relevant taxes for tourism development.

So, as part of this plan, the newly elected FTAN Executive members would have a retreat from August 4th and 5th to roll-out implementation plans and milestones to immediately get tourism entrepreneurship on track, especially in the tourist host communities, with standardized tourist services delivered by our members operating at every destination in Nigeria.

Presently, there is dearth of data about tourism consumption and market patterns, inter and intra Nigeria. Hence, our government has been driving-blind with regard to their actions and inactions about tourism. It is heart-breaking to see the nomenclature of the former Ministry of Culture and Tourism changed to Information and Culture! Personally, I feel that the decision about nomenclature was made because the government had no access to incontrovertible data that evidently shows the impact of tourism receipts on Nigeria’s economy.

So, in partnership with multinational organizations and Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, we would immediately set up structures to collate tourist data at all leading tourist destinations in Nigeria, as well as, from our international tourist source markets. And so, going forward, we would knowledgably engage and partner with relevant governments based on available and verifiable data.

Let me just say we are very focused on what we want to achieve and very ambi-

11

The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26, 2017

Interview

global tourists’ destination’

• Argungu fishing festival

tious too.

Could you please let us into the type of support and synergy you expect from Nigeria’s government MDAs. Well, ab initio, we are going to sell winwin programmes to government MDAs. FTAN member associations are arguably the most risk-exposed tourism stakeholders in Nigeria, but the government, at State and national levels, are constitutionally the arbiters to our industry growth. The government literally pulls the puppet strings. And we know what government wants, such as improved tax revenue from tourism operators and employment generation for the youth, women and rural dwellers.

Invariably, we would partner with government to guarantee expanded revenue generation from tourism. And in turn, demand improved statutory services from government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs). Very importantly, we would quickly align with the Ease of Doing Business drive of the present federal government, under the able leadership of the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, so as to include templates that facilitate inbound Nigerian tourism.

Currently, intending tourists to Nigeria have difficulties getting visas to Nigeria.

More so, Nigeria’s military and paramilitary organisations such as the Immigration Service and Police, who form the earliest point-of-contact with inbound tourists, are not well prepared to manage the process. As a result, tourists re-

count tales of intimidation, extortion and corruption by uniformed government personnel. Under my leadership in FTAN, things will not remain the same. We would proactively engage, enlighten and partner with relevant security agencies to put Nigeria on World’s tourist map, and work to record more revenue from tourism economic multiplier-effects at our destinations.

What roles do you think state govern-

‘

Specifically, we want to see significant improvement in our hospitality services, enrich our destination tourist facilities, increase the number of recorded tourist arrivals at tourist sites, ensure significant increase in the contribution of tourism to Nigeria’s GDP and other internally generated revenue for States in Nigeria

‘

ments should play to enhance tourism development?

Tourism as you know is community based; hence most tourist attractions are naturally domiciled in rural host communities. States in Nigeria are, therefore, custodians of culture heritage and natural landmarks. In that context, we consider it pertinent to work as a team with the custodians of Nigeria’s tourism assets. Accordingly, FTAN would work with States to midwife tourism destination management programmes to market their destinations and also improve the quality of tourist services in host communities.

Eventually, we would liaise with State governments and the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) to formulate Local Government Tourism Committees for easy tourism administration at the local level, where the attractions are based, in line with the tourism master plan.

Does FTAN have plans to bring foreign tourists into Nigeria for inbound tourism?

Most certainly. But, we must get it right with the domestic tourism market before expecting foreign tourists to come in droves. Nevertheless, we would resort to the findings from the research we would commission to identify Nigeria’s tourist source markets abroad.

So, before we start marketing Nigeria abroad, we must be very sure, based on verifiable facts, about what continent and countries there are large concentrations of tourists that find Nigeria’s tourism product appealing. It may interest

you to know that every tourism country has a comparative advantage with which to effectively compete with other international destinations. For us in Nigeria, our main tourist attraction is the diversity of our cultural heritage. So, in marketing Nigeria, we would ascertain what countries are interested in African, that is, Nigerian culture and simply execute targeted marketing and promotions at those countries. This would include road shows, exhibitions, mass advertisements and, very importantly, social media marketing campaigns.

We already know some of our international tourist source markets but the research findings will tell us how we are presently perceived at those markets so that we can tailor our marketing communication to address the tourists’ needs and concerns. Just give us some time and you will see how things would evolve in Nigeria’s tourism management.

Where do you see Nigeria’s tourism industry by the end of your first term, and possibly, your second term?

Interesting, our determined goal is to richly grow the domestic tourism market in Nigeria. Specifically, we want to see significant improvement in our hospitality services, enrich our destination tourist facilities, increase the number of recorded tourist arrivals at tourist sites, ensure significant increase in the contribution of tourism to Nigeria’s GDP and other internally generated revenue for States in Nigeria.

We are very confident that we shall achieve and exceed these targets in the next three to four years, God willing.

12

The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26, 2017

POLITICS

How I was kidnapped by some members of the IGP M

Y NAME IS IRETO TEMOFEH. I reside in Lagos state where I practice journalism currently with the The Oracle Today newspaper.

Sometime after 1: 00pm on Friday, June 16, this year, I received a phone call from my lawyer. He called to inform me that a man had called him on cell phone and told him that he was interested in buying my mother’s flat at Iba Housing Estate, Ojo, Lagos. Previously, my mother had told me that she wanted to sell her flat located at Plot 86, Block 171, Flat 4, Iba Housing Estate, Ojo, Lagos, because she needed the money for her business. So I had advertized her flat for sale on The Oracle Today newspaper and also advertized on some online social media like Facebook and Whatsapp.

So I left my family at home in Ijegun and went to meet my lawyer at Ikotun where he was waiting for me. When I saw him, my lawyer spoke with the supposedly interested buyer again on phone and told me that the man said that he is coming from Ogun state and that I should wait for him at Igando bus stop so that I can take him straight to Iba Estate from there to see and inspect the flat.

My lawyer gave me the phone number (07053523386) of the supposed interested buyer of my mother’s property and told me to call the man. And I called the number 07053523386 with my number 07031028714. I called the number and the man that answered the call confirmed that he was considering buying my mother’s flat and he told me to wait for him at Igando. I waited for him at Igando BRT Bus Stop and when he arrived about 30 minutes later in a small car, I noticed that there was another man with him in the car. There were actually two men in the car and both of them were in mufti or plainly clothed.

They asked me who owns the flat at Iba Estate and I confirmed that it was my mother.

Then they told me to enter their car and take them to my mother’s flat at Iba Estate, which I did. After seeing my mother’s flat, they said I should enter their car again and take them to my mother’s house at FESTAC TOWN, LAGOS so that my mother can show them documentary proof of her ownership of the property so that they can be sure of what they want to buy.

While inside their car as they drove out of Iba Estate, I told them that it would be better to go to FESTAC by following the straight road to Iyanaba and taking the Mile 2-Badagry road to FESTAC. But the man driving the vehicle said that he would prefer to turn back by taking the U-Turn before LASU GATE and go through EJIGBO to FESTAC. I reluctantly agreed and when he got to the U-Turn before LASU GATE, he started turning the car to go back. Suddenly, another vehicle blocked the small car close to the bush by the side of the road around the U-Turn, and three men in mufti or plain clothes jumped out of the Toyota Highlander SUV with long rifles in their hands and forcefully dragged me from the small car into the Toyota Highlander. The plate number of the Toyota Highlander Sports Utility Vehicle in which I was kidnapped is FST 277 AX. One of the men in mufti in the small car also entered the Toyota Highlander. They collected my phone and told me that I should not make any noise, otherwise they will shoot me dead. I asked them why they were kidnapping me. They first ignored me, then two of them wore reflective jackets which were on the backseat and inside the boot of the vehicle and handcuffed me.

Then they told me that they were policemen. I asked them why they were forcefully carrying me away like kidnappers, especially when I had committed no offence. I was afraid for my life and I begged them to let me go, but they told me that

• IGP Ibrahim Idris I am a kidnapper (like Evans), and also an armed robber. After crying and repeatedly begging them to spare my life and let me go for the sake of my family, one of them introduced himself as “Inspector Osha” and one of them called Afolabi showed me a police identity card. Another one of them also introduced himself as Sergeant Omotimehin or Omotemi Sunday and also showed me a police Identity card. Inspector Osha told me to confess that my name is “Randy” and that I am a kidnapper and an armed robber who lives in Magodo.

As the vehicle (Toyota Highlander with plate number FST 277 AX) in which they forcefully carried me against my consent passed by Iba Police Station at Adoff bus stop, Iba, I begged them to stop at the Iba Police Station and report to the Divisional Police Officer of Iba Police Division that they were taking me away from Iba so that the police at Iba will be aware of what happened to me. I told them that I am a journalist and that I know that according to police operating procedure they are supposed to report at Iba Police Station or the nearest police station within that jurisdiction before carrying me away from Iba Estate forcefully like kidnappers. I told them to first report at Iba Police Division before carrying me away so that at least if my family members started looking for me thinking that I had been kidnapped, the policemen at Iba Police Station would tell them what happened to me after taking‘prospective buyers’ to inspect my mother’s flat at Iba Estate.

But Inspector Osha hissed and told me that they are not going to stop and report at any police station before taking me to wherever they were going to. Inspector

Osha said that he is not under the Lagos State Police Command and that he is also not answerable to the Commissioner of Police for Lagos State. Inspector Osha boasted that he and his men are above the Commissioner of Police for Lagos State and also above the Lagos State Police Command.

Inspector “Sani” Osha said that he and his men are only answerable to the Inspector General of Police in Abuja, and not to any police officer in Lagos, including the Commissioner. Inspector Osha said that he has the power to do whatever he likes with me without first reporting to any police station or Divisional Police Officer (DPO). And I asked him and his men why they didn’t arrest me in public in the presence of people at Igando Bus stop or at Iba Estate Gate if I had actually committed any offence, instead of arresting me secretly, especially close to the bush by the U-Turn on the LASU-IBA road. I asked them if they were actually policemen or kidnappers, and Inspector “Sani” Osha told me that he will kill me if I don’t shut up.

They took me to somewhere in Ikeja (which I later knew to be the office and detention centre of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and the IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT) within the premises of Lagos State Police Command Headquarters and told me that they have information that I am an armed robber and that they were going to detain me inside their cell and forget me there until I die. I begged them to allow me to contact my family and also to call my Editor, Mr. Felix Abugu of The Oracle Today Newspaper, but they refused to allow me to contact my family or call my Editor. When I told Inspector Osha to allow me to contact my lawyer, he said

that my lawyer is also an armed robber and a criminal and that he will also deal with my lawyer.

Inspector Osha now told me that a prisoner in one prison had identified me as an armed robber. He brought out his phone immediately and made a video call to the prisoner in prison and then turned the phone in the direction of my face as he and the prisoner in the video call were talking to each other in Yoruba language. He now said that the prisoner in his video call has identified me as a member of his armed robbery gang that robbed at the Lagos Airport and also robbed some banks in Ondo state between 2012 and 2015 and that he had been looking for me for a long time to arrest me. Inspector Osha said that the prisoner in prison who had spoken with him through video call also told him that the CCTV camera of one of the banks had captured my face while I was robbing the bank with my gang. Inspector Osha also said that the prisoner in prison had given him my former name and address (which was the flat at Iba Estate which I had advertized for sale on behalf of my mother).

I told him that I have never been in hiding and that I was known publicly as a newspaper journalist and Love Doctor and that if had actually been looking for me for a long time as he claimed, he was obviously lying because I was publicly known as a newspaper Relationships Counselor/Love Doctor.

Inspector Osha and his team members (some of whose names are Afolabi, Sergeant Omotemi Sunday, and Ebifa) then took me to one part of their IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT) office and told me to strip naked so that he can see and confirm the bullet wounds that I have on my body. I told Osha that I have no bullet wounds on my body but he still forced me to strip naked. He started slapping me and laughing at me as I stood naked before him and his men. I explained to Inspector Osha, Omotemi Sunday, Afolabi, Ebifa, and their other team members that I had never engaged in armed robbery in my life and that I was only a newspaper journalist who managed the Relationships Columns of newspapers as a Love Doctor, but they refused to listen to me. I told them that I had started my career as journalist when I was employed by The Sun newspaper in 2003 with Mr. Femi Adesina (Special Adviser on Media to President Muhammadu Buhari) as Editor. I told them that I had also worked for Daily Independent newspaper after The Sun newspaper, and that I had been the Relationships Counselor/Love Doctor for The Guardian newspaper, The Sun newspaper, New Telegraph newspaper, and now The Oracle Today newspaper.

I told them that there was plenty evidence to show that I was a journalist and that my names and phone numbers as a Relationships Counselor or Love Doctor have been published publicly and nationwide on many newspapers and also on the internet since 2009. I also told Inspector Osha and his team that I had evidence of my change of name and reversal from Michael Uchebuaku back to Ireto Temofeh, but all I said fell on deaf ears.

Inspector Osha, Afolabi, Omotemi Sunday, Ebifa and others whose names or nicknames I don’t know, dumped me inside one of the SARS/IRT cells (Cell 3), in the evening of Friday, June 16, 2017 after searching my pockets and collecting my Drivers License, First Bank ATM card (Verve) and the keys of my house at Ijegun. I was inside the cell (Cell 3) from Friday, June 16, to Monday, June 20, 2017, without any money or food to eat and without being allowed to call or contact my family, my Editor, or anybody for that matter. They refused to allow me to write a statement and also refused to give me an Investigating Police Officer (IPO). I

In

13

The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26, 2017

POLITICS

Intelligence Response Team (IRT) police –Ireto, journalist even asked them to please take me to their boss or to any senior police officer who can at least hear my case; but Osha refused and told me that his “oga” (boss) is not in Lagos but in Abuja. It was the “Marshall” inside my cell who had pity on me and gave me food to eat a couple of times throughout that weekend from Friday to Monday.

There were over 70 men inside the cell with me and I almost starved to death.

On the morning of Monday, June 19, a policeman who was reading the roll call of inmates/detainees inside the cell blocks asked me for my name since he didn’t know that I had been detained since Friday. I told him my name and he said that he was giving me an IPO called Supol Balogun. I never met Supol Balogun throughout the time I spent in detention at the IRT/SARS cell, but later in the afternoon of that same day (Monday, June 19, 2017), Sergeant Omotemi Sunday came and took me out from the cell to the car park where I saw Inspector Osha and other members of their team waiting beside the same Toyota Highlander SUV with plate number “FST 277 AX” that they had previously used in kidnapping me and bringing me to their office. Inspector Osha opened the boot of the Toyota Highlander jeep and told me to enter inside the boot. He pushed me inside the booth and closed it over me. Then he and his other team members entered the car and told me that they were going to search my house at Ijegun. That was how they put me inside the booth of their Toyota Highlander SUV and took me to Ijegun.

They searched my house at Ijegun without finding any evidence to back up their charge of armed robbery against me, then they took all the phones they found in my house, including my laptop, cutlass I used to cut grass in my compound. Inspector Osha and his men also took away my civil defence volunteer uniform and identity card. I told them that I was a volunteer of Civil Defence and that there were many people in the Nigeria Security And Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) who can identify me as a Volunteer. I even gave them two names: Ngozi Okeke, who is now an Assistant Commandant, and Amadi Clever, as people who can identify me as a Volunteer of Civil Defence, but Osha refused to listen to me. Osha assaulted me several times by hitting me on my head and my back with the back of a cutlass so that I can confess that I am not a Volunteer but an impersonator of Civil Defence. He also slapped me several times and told me that I have been using the Civil Defence uniform to rob.

Osha and Afolabi vowed to kill me if I don’t confess that I have been using the Civil Defence uniform to rob.

I am a civil defence volunteer attached to Ojo Local Government, Lagos. I was an informant to Okomayin Ahmadu who is now the HOU INTELLIGENCE at Iponri, Civil Defence Area Command, Lagos. Okomayin can identify me as a Volunteer of Civil Defence.

When they came back to their IRT/SARS office at Ikeja, they took me out from the boot of their vehicle and threw me back into the cell. Then in the afternoon on Tuesday, June 20, Sergeant Omotemi Sunday came and took me out of the cell again.

He told me that my people had somehow discovered that I was inside their IRT Cell and that he wants me to see my people briefly. He took me somewhere behind the cell block and I saw my elder brother there with another gentleman, a lawyer.

From there, Sergeant Omotemi Sunday, took me, my brother and the other gentleman whom I later discovered to be a lawyer upstairs to see a man called Supol Phillip. Inspector Osha sat beside Supol Philip’s desk and told Supol Philip that I am an armed robber and that he (Osha) had

• Fatai Owoseni, Lagos State Police Commissioner made a video call with a prisoner inside a prison who confirmed me as an armed robber. He said it in the presence of my elder brother and the lawyer. Supol Phillip then asked me if there was any journalist or Editor who can identify me as a journalist and I told him that Mr. Femi Adesina was my first Editor at The Sun newspaper and that Femi Adesina can identify me. I told him that if he checks my contacts on my phone which they took from me, he will find Mr. Femi Adesina’s number, and he said that he too has Femi Adesina’s phone number and that he will call Mr. Femi Adesina if it is necessary. I also told Supol Philip that my Editor at The Oracle Today newspaper is Mr. Felix Abugu and that he can also call Mr. Abugu to identify me. Even as Supol Philip was interviewing me, two journalists walked into his office and one of the journalists called Taiwo Jimoh, a Crime reporter of New Telegraph newspaper, identified me as a journalist and a former colleague of his at New Telegraph newspaper. Taiwo Jimoh of New Telegraph newspaper also told Supol Philip that I won an award as “Staff Of The Year’ of New Telegraph newspaper in 2014.

Before sending me back to the cell on Tuesday, June 20, Supol Philip told Inspector Osha in the presence of the lawyer (Barrister Ugochukwu) to speed up his investigation and allow my family to bail me if he has no evidence against me as an armed robber. But Inspector Osha told Supol Phillip that he was going to physically bring the prisoner in prison who had identified me as an armed robber through video call to the IRT office, Ikeja, Lagos, for the pris-

oner to physically identify me face to face as an armed robber. Osha told Supol Phillip to give him two or three days to bring the prisoner down to their IRT office. Inspector Osha said that he would write to the Nigeria Prisons Service to release the prisoner in prison to him so that he can come physically to the IRT office to identify me before returning to the prison. After Supol Philip had told my brother and the lawyer to give them some more time for Osha to bring the prisoner from the prison to meet me face to face, my brother and the lawyer left and Sergeant Omotemi Sunday took me to his office to write my statement. So it was only on Tuesday, June 20, 2017 that I was allowed to write my statement, four days after being detained since on Friday, June 16, 2017. I wrote my statement under ‘serious supervision’ from Sergeant Omotemi Sunday who constantly warned me “to stop writing rubbish” as he stopped me from time to time while I was writing my statement, in order to read what I was writing and “correct me” wherever he thought was necessary. That was also the day that they bought food (a plate of rice) for me to eat for the first time since I was detained without allowing me to contact my family or making provision for my feeding while being detained inside the cell. It was Sergeant Omotemi Sunday, my IPO (in the absence of Supol Balogun), who bought a plate of rice for me to eat that Tuesday, June 20, 2017. Sergeant Omotemi Sunday, my IPO, also bought food for me to eat two days later on Thursday evening and he told me to call my people on that same Thurs-

day evening to inform them to come and bail me by 10am on the following day, Friday.

After waiting in vain inside the IGP IRT/ SARS cell for Inspector Osha to bring the prisoner in prison who had identified me as an armed robber through a video call with him for a face to face meeting with me at the IGP Intelligence Response Team/Special Anti-Robbery Squad office, Ikeja, Lagos, Supol Phillip finally gave the go ahead for me to be bailed on Friday, June 23, 2017.

I was bailed by my Surety/Guarantor, High Chief Lawrence Okpako, in the presence of Barrister Ugochukwu in the evening of Friday, June 23, 2017 after a lot of “drama” and serious threats to my life from Inspector Osha who insisted that he is going to implicate me and that he will kill me or hang me. Inspector Osha issued some of his serious threats to my life even in the presence of my surety (Lawrence Okpako) and the lawyer and refused to allow my surety to take me away from the IGP IRT office until about 7pm to 8pm even after Lawrence Okpako my surety had filled and signed the Application For Bail since early in the afternoon of the same day, Friday, June 23, 2017. My surety finally took me out of the IGP IRT office at Ikeja, Lagos with an instruction from Inspector Osha that I must report at the IGP IRT office, Ikeja, Lagos, again on Wednesday, June 28, 2017. Inspector Osha also refused to return my Drivers License and First Bank ATM card. He denied ever collecting my Drivers License and ATM card from me. Sergeant Omotemi Sunday also had to search their Toyota Highlander vehicle for a long time before he could find some of my phones, which they had collected. That was how I was granted bail to go back home to Ijegun, Lagos without my Drivers License and ATM card because of the carelessness of Inspector Osha and his team members in handling my personal belongings. Inspector Osha also refused to return my Volunteer Civil Defence uniform and Identity Card to me.

I strongly believe that Inspector Osha and his team may be working for somebody or a group of persons who want to eliminate me, my mother, my family members and my lawyer, because previously me, my mother and my lawyer have been receiving strange calls and threats from unknown persons and extended family members who want to deprive us of my late father’s property. Inspector Osha and the prisoner in his video call must be investigated. After all, other people sell flats and properties after advertising them on newspaper and online. So I see no reason why I should be kidnapped because I advertised my mother’s flat at Iba for sale. It is a setup.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s government is not known for corruption and impunity. For a president who came on board with the mantra of CHANGE, it is inconceivable that this kind of thing is still happening in the Nigeria Police even under Buhari’s watch. It is inconceivable that innocent Nigerians and responsible members of the society continue to be oppressed, subjugated and extra-judicially murdered even under Buhari’s watch. It is unimaginable that Nigerians like me still have their fundamental rights so flagrantly violated with impunity even under President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

What happened to me clearly goes against the APC’s and President Muhammadu Buhari’s principles and manifesto of CHANGE and the war against corruption and impunity in Nigeria.

Yours faithfully, • Michael Uchebuaku, now Ireto Temofeh

14

The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26, 2017

POLITICS

Chime saddened by Supreme Court verdict on PDP From Enugu, CHUKS EZE reports that the survival of the PDP through the favourable ruling of the Supreme Court on the power tussle within the former ruling party does seem to rankle with some former high-ranking members of the party, who would that it had a worse fate.

T

HE RECENT Supreme Court Judgement, which has put to rest the over 18-month power tussle that had the People Democratic Party (PDP) at war with itself, may have disappointed the immediate past governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime, who had hoped that the Supreme Court return a verdict ‘guilty’ against the the Makarfi-led National Executive Committee of the party.

Chime had, a while ago, declared PDP ‘dead’ and irredeemable and even went ahead to officially urge the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to deregister the party on the grounds of gross impotency. But incidentally, rather than his prayer manifesting, it seems to have turned against the Enugu State Chapter of the APC, his new platform, which has suddenly plunged itself into a suffocating power tussle that has already polarised the party into splinters, and pitching the State chairman, Ben Nwoye against his Deputy, A.C Udeh.

Recall that while officially announcing his resignation from the PDP and onward movement into the APC, Chime had stated that he owed PDP no explanations for dumping it because the party was already dead. He even prayed that God should not allow APC to ever experience the kind of crisis that had befallen PDP. The former governor also went ahead to declare that APC was the only viable political party that had the capacity to take any politician to his target position, and called on INEC to deregister his former party, the PDP. In like manner, the (currently embattled) State chairman of APC, Ben Nwoye, had in an interview with The Oracle Today, said PDP is “decimated and finished” in Nigeria. He maintained that the APC was the party to beat in the 2019 governorship election in Enugu State, adding that the coast was already clear for the party to experience unprecedented victory in future elections in Enugu State.

“I have said it over and over that PDP is incapacitated,” he told our reporter, via a telephone interview, adding that the APC had boxed PDP to a corner.

He continued: “The winning power of the party (PDP) left with the exit of (former Governor) Sullivan Chime. When former governor Chime was with them, they had multiple-fold of ideas. But now, we know that come 2019, nothing will stop APC from taking over the Enugu Government House.

“I am certain that it is over with them.

Who is going to drive campaigns for them (in 2019)? Who is going to campaign for them when it comes to Nkanuland? If you go to the west, who is going to speak for them? They will tell you (Deputy Senate President, Senator) Ike Ekweremmadu.

But he is just an Iroko standing. No problem,’ let them depend on him. If you go to the Aninri axis, it is same situation. We have locked up Awgu, and we have locked up Oji River,” he said.

But going by the present situation in the Enugu Chapter of the APC, it seems Chime’s prayer was not answered, just as his prophesies about the PDP appear to have failed. Also, the manner in which

(l-R): Chime and Makarfi Enugu PDP appears to be building up and strengthening its structures, courtesy of the combined influences of the State governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremmadu among others, has put Nwoye’s claims of having “locked up everywhere” to question.

Just recently, Enugu traders shut all markets and shops across the State to converge at Michael Okpara Square to appreciate Governor Ugwuanyi and celebrate his administration in an exercise they tagged, “Mass Traders Rally in Support and Appreciation of Good Governance and Empowerment of Traders in Enugu State”.

The exercise, which was the first of its kind in the State, was conducted under the aggies of Enugu State Amalgamated Traders Union, drawing traders from all parts of the state to a grand exercise that turned Okpara Square to a mecca of sort.

Also, the Ugwuanyi administration, and by extension, the Enugu PDP, has as well been receiving tons of accolades and endorsements from various interest groups, communities and prominent individuals, with several of them openly declaring support for the governor’s re-election bid, even when he has not officially declared interest to re-run.

However, all is not well with the APC in Enugu State. As PDP members across the country continued to bask in the euphoria of the recent settlement of the supremacy battle between the Ahmed Markarafi-led National Executive Committee (NEC), of the party and that of Senator

Ali Modu Sherif’s faction via a Supreme Court judgment, members of the APC in Enugu State, on the other hand, have been thrown into a state of dilemma by the current crisis rocking the party. Some party faithful who spoke to The Oracle Today, expressed dilemma over the situation and urged the national body of the party to wade into the matter and save the party from suffering worse defeat in in the hands of PDP in 2019.

The Enugu APC crisis had taken a worrisome dimension on July 3, when a group, which claimed to be the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, suddenly rose from a meeting at the State headquarters of the party to slam indefinite suspension on their State Chairman, Ben Nwoye. Nwoye was accused of various offenses ranging from abuse of office, high-handedness to financial impropriety, among others. But the party chairman denied all the allegations, describing the action of the party men as a breach of Article 21 of the APC constitution and vowing to bring those behind his purported sack to book.

However, another drama ensued on June 8, this year, when the State party led by the ‘suspended’ Chairman, Ben Nwoye, also slammed one year countersuspension on the five members that were allegedly behind his suspension, on grounds of misconduct and antiparty activities. Addressing newsmen in Enugu, the embattled chairman, Nwoye, said the suspended members were investigated by a special panel set up by the party,

which indicted them. He said they were found guilty of making false allegations against the state executive committee of the APC and causing the party untold embarrassment through a letter they reportedly wrote to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, which he said was not the National office of the party, over unresolved party issues in Enugu.

Those suspended were a former governorship candidate of the party, Valentine Nnadozie, Rev. Jonas Ouorah, Elijah Ngene, Ejike Ugwu and Okenwa Onyekachi. They were barred from participating in any activity of the APC in Enugu throughout the duration of their suspension.

As at press time, there had not been any official statement from the State Caucus of the party over the issue. Also, none of the new-entry political gladiators such as Senators Jim Nwobodo, Ken Nnamani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jeffrey Onyeama, former governor Chime, Grp. Capt.

Joe Orji and former Speaker Eugene Odo among others, who were recently appointed into the state caucus, has made any official reaction to reaction to the raging development.

Meanwhile, The Oracle Today gathered that Enugu APC, which is currently enjoying special membership boost with the entrance of the aforementioned hitherto PDP heavyweights, into its fold, is battleready and already fine-tuning strategies ahead of 2019 exercise. But, it is only a matter of time before the veracity or otherwise of Chime and Nwoye’s notions is determined.

15

The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26, 2017

Interview

‘Estate development is a race against time, cost’ S

IR, could you tell us the type of business that Andora Best International Limited is into?

Andora Best International Limited, we are into property development, we are into Oil and Gas, and we are also into entertainment.

So basically you are into three business concerns?

Yes, by the grace God. How do you assess the business environments in Nigeria today as it relates to the three businesses you’ve just mentioned?

Really, it is difficult to assess the Nigerian system or method of doing business because practically the government is not assisting us in the private sector to give our best. Of course what we do is to mop up any available source to make our business survive and flourish, otherwise our businesses will not survive as the government does not assist us in order to make our business flourish. I can tell you the environment we are operating on is hostile, it is not conducive and it is not supposed to be so.

PRINCE ONUORA EZEOKAFOR, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Andora Best International Limited, Andora Best Entertainment and Area FM Radio Limited has given reason why his Real Estate Firm, Andora Best International Limited prefers to focus more attention to the development of shopping malls than residential houses. According to him, as a businessman whose goal is primarily centred on quick returns on investments, the development of shopping malls suits his goal. According to him his line business is a race against time and cos due to high cost building materials. He disclosed that his major area of operation is primary on Lagos Island even as he further told the Oracle Today that they have properties outside Lagos Island including the Eastern parts of the country. Prince Ezeokafor stated this and many other things in exclusive interview with The Oracle Today in his office on Lagos Island recently.

Excerpts: MADUABUCHI KALU and KELECHI NZE report.

What you are saying is that ordinarily government supposed to do more than they have done to help those of you in the private sector?

Yes. For instance, in the real estate development, by virtue of right, most times even after you have done the necessary things; they still come to see a way of frustrating you by way of trying to discourage you from carrying out your business otherwise, we are supposed to be having partnership and funding from government because like the development that we are talking about, we are developing the state.

We should get assistance from government, if it is not financial, but encouragement instead of frustrating the whole effort we are making.

Now, where are the areas that you would like government to specifically address so that your business will flourish?

In terms of making the approval C of O of land and others tittle documents easier for us because most at times, these projects are time bound. So by delaying the approval of these documents they frustrate us because we are running against time in our line of business. We are asking that government should make the documentation of our property development easier by enabling us get our documentation faster.

Which government are you referring to Local, State or Federal?

I am referring to all of them because they are interwoven. You can’t build without getting your C of O from the state government and the land on which you want to build must certainly be in one local government area or another. Ordinarily if you get approval from the state government, you are supposed not to have any other challenge still the local government will still come to demand for one thing or the other. Apart from that we still have

•Prince Ezeokafor

other challenges like the ‘Area Boys’ but because of our contacts and good will, we know how to go about the issue of the ‘Area Boys’. So, there are many challenges we face while trying to do our business of property development.

It’s like you are talking more of you estate development while not saying anything concerning your other businesses in Oil and Gas and Entertainment that you talked about initially?

Ok! In the Oil and Gas sector, I would say that we are not having much challenge because in that aspect what we do more is haulage and marine transport. In that aspect we don’t usually have problem because what we do is

more or less charter. So, we don’t have much challenge rather the challenge is on the owner of the consignment we are carrying. Therefore, the challenge there is about time, if the owner of the consignment we are carrying does not provide us with where to discharge his product on time that is his problem not ours because the more time our vessel carries the consignment, the more money that accrues to us. So, basically the challenge lies with the owner of the product we are carrying because like I explained earlier, our service is charter.

You talked of government not providing conducive atmosphere to aid your business, I would like to ask, are

you comfortable with the high cost of building materials in the market today?

Nobody is comfortable with the high cost of building materials in the market, but these are things that you can’t help because you don’t have control over them. It is not only about building materials but every other thing in the market. As you can see, I have different quotations from different suppliers.

The only thing is in that aspect, there is nothing you could do but you must do your job. You buy something today for let say N500 and when you go to the market the next day they will tell you the same material goes for N700, N900, N1, 100 etc. It is killing I must confess to you. The problem is that in our

Continued on Page 16

The Oracle Today

16

Wednesday July 26, 2017

Interview

‘Andora works to build African brand in real estate’ Continued from Page 15 own line of business people come to apply and when these materials go up, they will not be ready to add any kobo to what had already been agreed. That is why you see these projects eating deep into our supposed profit but the truth is that we must deliver as agreed.

The thing is; it is either you close your eye and deliver the project or you enter into more trouble by not delivering the projects at the agreed time which is not an option here. Like I said it is not only building materials that are affected by the high rate of inflation in the country, everything is affected.

When did this company start?

Andora Best International Limited started in 2003.

So, you are roughly 13 years plus in business?

By the grace of God we are 13 years plus and still counting.

Where do you see this company in the next couple of years?

We have dream of getting bigger and better in the next couple of years than we are at the moment. As a matter of fact, Andora Best Shopping Mall, we are one of the best in this Lagos Island.

In fact, there is no shopping complex in this Lagos Island that can compare with ours. What does it tells you? It tells you about our quality. My dream is not just to end up in Lagos Island; we want to move into the larger world. We want to move into other areas and build bigger shopping malls so that by the time I am collecting money, I am creating awareness as I look forward to building international standard shopping malls like Shoprite. They have been able to market their brand so much so that when you mention their name, people quickly recognize them. We are trying to build up platforms whereby we can gather to get a large expanse of land and probably pull our resource together and build international standard Shopping Mall. We do not only want to end in Nigeria. We want to become a super brand in the next couple of years from now. So, we want to move to places like Accra, and other cities that is my dream.

Is it only in the development of shopping malls that Andora Best International Limited is into, or are you also into the development of residential accommodations?

We are equally in the development of residential accommodations but you know in business, you have to look at where you make more income. Yes, I do have some residential properties but sometimes because of the economy of the country, people find it difficult to pay the rent. And more importantly, when Fashola was the governor of Lagos State, he made accommodation in the state very affordable unlike in those days when if you want to rent accommodation, you have to prepare to pay for between two to three years’ rent, Fashola outlawed such practice. So, if you want to rent accommodation in Lagos, you don’t go beyond a year and moreover, if you owe your landlord for one year; instead of renewing your rent or paying your landlord, some will pre-

fer to add a little money and look for new accommodation. Therefore, because of that I started thinking on how to balance what people need with what I am doing. More importantly I discovered that people attach more importance to their shops than their accommodations because it is from there that they make money to feed their families, pay their house rents, attend to their various financial obligations. So, they have the propensity to even go extra mile to ensure that they secure their shops because that is where all the money comes from. You see people do not only live there they also earn their living from there, so shops are very critical to this set of people. Whatever they pay for their shops will automatically be transferred to their customers through the services they render to them without the customers knowing about it because it is something they

apply wisdom in doing. Because of the way and importance people attach to the malls, at times even when they know that someone else has already paid for a shop, they will still come to offer you money to let them have the shop probably by giving more money than the former person had paid. But I am not that kind of person that does such things. Just like one of my shops that I let out to someone, before you know it, about four to five people came for the same shop and they were eager to pay very much more than the person I let it to had paid. So at times you see such people putting me under pressure, but I don’t give in to their whims and caprices.

You said that your intention is to make Andora Best bigger than it is at the moment, spreading to other parts of Africa, I am aware that you are from

“

Yes, I do have some residential properties but sometimes because of the economy of the country, people find it difficult to pay the rent. And more importantly, when Fashola was the governor of Lagos State, he made accommodation in the state very affordable unlike in those days when if you want to rent accommodation, you have to prepare to pay for between two to three years’ rent, Fashola outlawed such practice

“

•Prince Ezeokafor

the Eastern part of this country, is there anything you are doing to replicate what you are doing in Lagos in the east?

Inasmuch as all we have been having hearing is Biafra, Biafra, Nigeria, Nigeria. Let me just answer you, you are right, I am from the eastern part and by virtue of birth I am a Biafran. I don’t see the issue of Biafra coming to fruition and I am not thinking of leaving what I am doing at the moment and relocating to the east. I don’t believe in the Biafra of a thing. I am not relocating to east very soon. Even if Biafra comes to fruition, I will still remain in Lagos and just like I said; I am not thinking of relocating to the east very soon. Again, I don’t see myself losing whatever I have worked so hard to acquire even if Biafra becomes a reality tomorrow, because Nigerians from different walks of life are scattered all over the world and they also own properties and other things in these places that they find themselves, nobody has taken those properties away from them just because they are not from all these places. We are all one Nigeria.

So, why should I lose what I have legitimately acquired? What we need is not to go our different ways rather what we need is to see ourselves as one family after all, the Americans (United States of America) are more than us in terms of everything and yet there is no day anybody is calling for separation.

Continued on Page 43

17

The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26, 2017

BU$IN£SS •Energy •Finance

By VICTOR NZE

D

espite the mounting challenges confronting hospitality establishments in the country, the Nigerian environment keeps attracting more investors.

A recently-released HVS Research showed that Lagos, the business capital of West Africa will see up to 13 internationallyflagged hotels come on stream with additional 3, 244 rooms from between December 1 to January 1, 2019.

In addition, international hospitality firm, the BON Hotels, just recently, announced the signing of its 12th hotel in Nigeria, further increasing the company’s presence and footprint in West Africa.

Its two new hotels, BON Hotel Lekki and the BON Hotel Elvis Wuse2, currently under construction are being built to international standards and specifications with the latest technology and facilities. BON Hotel Lekki, situated on the Lekki Peninsula, Lagos, is due to open in June 2018 and will provide a 4-star, international, 45room hotel catering to the corporate and business market, the BON Hotel Elvis Wuse2, Abuja, a 4-star, 85-room, luxury hotel located in the heart of Abuja, primed for the business traveller, is due to open later this year.

The Hospitality & Gaming industry firm, PwC, in the 7th edition of its ‘Hotels Outlook: 2017-2021’ which was released penultimate week, forecast the hospitality market in Nigeria to be the fastestgrowing from a revenue perspective over the next five years, with overall hotel room revenues hitting $517 million in 2021 from $261 million in 2016.

The report further indicated a 5.2 per cent recovery in revenue terms for the country’s hospitality market in 2016 alone.

“The hotel market in Nigeria rebounded in 2016 with a 5.2 per cent increase in total revenue.

However, a number of projects in Nigeria have been delayed or postponed in the wake of the recent economic uncertainty. Nevertheless, there is still a lot of activity in the market for new hotels which will continue to expand overall hotel capacity,” the report said.

However, for those portfolios already on ground, the story is a never-ending myriad of challenges

•Stock

•Insurance

•Aviation

Nigerian hotels growing amidst challenges

e-Platform From Etisalat to 9Mobile: Nigerian telecoms on the brink Travel & Tourism

NTDC Re-enactment Bill passes second reading at senate

Aviation •(L-R): Chairman, BI-Courtney Aviation Services Ltd., Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN); Regional Director, Lagos 4, UBA, (South-West) Mr. Ranti Carew; Chairman, Sabre Travel Network, Dr. Anthony Kila; Minister of Information , Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; and Chairman/CEO, Air Peace Airlines, Mr. Allen Onyema, during the July, 2017 Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative which held in Ikeja, Monday.

Nigeria 50 yrs behind in aviation development’

Insurance NAICOM vows to protect policy holders

Continues on P14

CBN EXCHANGE RATES JULY 14, 2017 Currency

US DOLLAR Pounds Sterling EURO SWISS FRANC YEN CFA WAUA YUAN/RENMINBI RIYAL S /African Rand DANISH KRONA SDR

Buying(NGN)

304.9 396.37 349.202 316.0896 2.7119 0.5117 423.0497 44.9729 81.2937 23.3907 46.9467 423.933

Central (NGN) Selling(NGN)

305.4 397.02 349.7746 316.6079 2.7164 0.5217 423.7434 45.0471 81.427 23.429 47.0237 424.6282

305.9 397.67 350.3473 317.1263 2.7208 0.5317 424.4372 45.1213 81.5603 23.4674 47.1007 425.3234

Stock Market Highlights As At 17 July, 2017

Summary

ASI 33,301.43 DEALS 3,830.00 VOLUME 322,814,473.00 VALUE 2,734,360,594.14 CAP 11,477,362,308,072.99 Most Traded S/N Coy (By Volume) Volume

Value

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

75,025,000.00 213,760,965.67 17,954,972.72 125,230,430.40 320,380,257.31

NIGERINS FBNH FCMB UBA FLOURMILL

150,050,000 35,973,771 14,845,818 14,178,600 12,255,324

5 Top Gainers Company Last Close Current Change 7UP 89.23 94.95 5.72 FO 56.17 60.5 4.33 UNILEVER 33 36.38 3.38 NB 154.02 157.38 3.36 FLOURMILL 25 26.25 1.25 Top Losers Company Last Close Current Change INTBREW 31.46 30 -1.46 PZ 21.5 20.65 -0.85 OANDO 7.55 6.83 -0.72 NASCON 9.5 9.03 -0.47 DANGSUGAR 9 8.66 -0.34

18

The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26, 2017

BUSINESS Elumelu tasks FG on enabling business environment

By CHRIS EBONG he Chairman, Heirs Holdings Tinvestment Limited, an African proprietary company, Mr. Tony

Elumelu has charged the federal government to dismantle the bureaucratic bottlenecks to allow investment inflow from within and outside into the country. Mr. Elumelu said this at the just concluded National Insurance Conference organized by the Insurance Industry Consultative Council (IICC) in Abuja where he spoke on the theme paper; “Nigeria Open for Business”, saying the private sector can only thrive with the support and enabling environment created by government and its agencies.

“We need the public sector to be willing partners in establishing the right, investment-worthy business environment we need in Nigeria.

This is the only way Nigeria can be truly open for business”.

I must recognize here the good efforts of the Buhari – Osinbajo administration. But you must go one step further. You must re-orientate the minds and disposition of the executives charged with implementing your vision.

They must buy into it. They must begin to see themselves as business enablers. They must realize the urgency of the moment and the need to quickly reposition our economy lest disaster of monumental pro-

portions befall us all. They must be willing and committed apostles who share the vision of the masters – otherwise, there will only be motion without movement”.

According to him, today’s advanced economies were not created overnight but by consistent and deliberate investments in building and maintaining strong, transparent institutions, an independent judiciary that ensures the objective enforcement of rule of law.

In addition, he said, that the presence of an independent Judiciary ensures the objective enforcement of rule of law, guarantees the protection of properties and contracts, and assures investors of a neutral platform to settle unforeseen business disputes in a timely fashion, while the adjudication mechanism in Nigeria must be improved to support government’s efforts in getting Nigeria ready for business.

On the legislative arm of government, the founder of Tony Elumelu Foundation noted that legislature is a critical arm of governance. He said as elected representatives of their constituencies, legislators must pass laws that are good for business, enable job creation, and encourage the inflow of investments, stressing that the only way legislators can put their people first is by focusing on designing a business climate that creates Jobs and promote bills that have the potential to transform entire industries.

Leasing industry generates N4.69trn in 5 years --ELAN

By CHRIS EBONG

T

he Equipment Leasing Association of Nigeria (ELAN) says the industry has generated in excess of N4.69trillion in the past five years and over N1.26trillion in 2016 alone.

The group added that the equipment leasing has also been contributing to the global economy and the capital formation in the Nigerian economy, while its impact is visible in all sectors.

“Over the years, equipment leasing has been contributing to the growth of the global economy, and in Nigeria, it continues to contribute to capital formation in the economy. Today, the impact of leasing is visible in all sectors of the economy.

In 2016, outstanding lease volume stood at N1.26trillion, generating over N4.69trillion in the last five

years. The appetite for leasing will continue to increase especially in the current economic situation which has made outright purchase of assets increasingly difficult especially to MSMEs” the association said in a statement signed by its executive secretary, Mr Andrew Efurhievwe.

ELAN noted that in view of the relevance of leasing to the economy, it has deemed it important for all stakeholders in the leasing industry including the media to work together to build a stronger industry, that would contribute more to capital formation in the Nigerian economy thus its intention to create a platform through effective engagement of stakeholders.

For this reason, the association said, it is organizing a one day free session for media practitioners from all desks including business,

transportation, agriculture, health entertainment, telecommunications personal finance in August, noting that the participants at the end of the programme shall have better understanding of the basic concepts of leasing, dynamics of the industry, and value propositions that would further enrich the quality of information from the media to the public, while a certificate shall be issued at the end of the programme in recognition of the knowledge gained.

The Equipment Leasing Association of Nigeria (ELAN) is a Business Membership Organisation (BMO), established in 1983 primarily to promote the business of leasing in Nigeria. Membership of the Association consists of Banks, Finance Houses, Independent Leasing Companies, Vendors, Insurance Companies as well as Professional firms and Individuals.

Brand name: EMTS reassures customers of business continuity

By SAMSON AKINTARO merging Markets TelecommunicaEtrading tion Services Ltd (EMTS ) formerly as Etisalat Nigeria has reas-

sured its customers and stakeholders that the reported termination of agreement with UAE Etisalat Group and the withdrawal of the right to the continued use of the Etisalat brand in Nigeria, would not would not in any way imply discontinuation of its business as Nigeria’s fourth largest mobile service provider.

The company, which has yet to make official announcement regarding its new brand name, which has been widely reported as 9Mobile, denied some media reports that its experience centres and outlets were being closed. “We wish to state that all our offices, Experience

Centres and outlets across Nigeria are in full operation and are providing services including customer care services on 24/7 basis” it said in a statement.

The telco also reiterated its unwavering commitment to delivery of quality services and commitment to continuously empowering all segments of Nigeria through the development and roll-out of innovative products, services and solutions that help individuals, businesses and organisations solve their everyday problems. “Whilst we are intensifying efforts aimed at reaching full closure on ongoing discussions with regards the transition phase, we want to assure that our customers and stakeholders will be duly informed •Founder of Zenith Bank and Zenith Life, Mr. Jim Ovia (r) with Matt Lilley, Chief Executive of Prudential as soon as these are concluded” it Africa, after the close of Zenith Life acquisition deal by Prudential Africa. stated.

... Hotels growing amidst challenges Continued from P13

and obstacles in the form of poor infrastructure, multiple taxations, multiple regulatory bodies, absence of proper regulation and grading system, lack of government support, among many others.

The Hotel Owners Forum, Abuja (HOFA), the umbrella body of operators in the country’s capital, a region which hosts the second largest cluster of hospitality establishments in the country, after Lagos, has continued to raise the alarm over the plight of the hospitality sub-sector in the country.

Only last Monday, the body appealed to the Federal Government to provide a development fund dedicated to tourism and hospitality for private sector investors to help grow the sector, in addition to its earlier call on the authorities for an enabling environment for the tourism and hospitality sector to thrive and generate revenue for the country.

“If the Federal Government provides an effective and reliable Tourism Development Fund, dedicated to investors in the hospitality and tourism industry to access and improve the sector, it will go a long to help.

“The loan can be given at a single digit interest rate to genuine investors in the sector. The fund is absolutely necessary because presently, you cannot get loan from the bank; also even if you build a hotel, it needs constant renovation.

“Guests come into the hotel and stay for days, months and even years which lead to infrastructure decay; you need intervention fund to renovate and put them in perfect condition,’’ President of HOFA, Dr Chike Ezeudeh, said, Tuesday, in Abuja.

The HOFA chief while urging government at the centre to provide the infrastructure to grow the industry, stressed that it remains the sole responsibility of government

to provide policies for the sector to move forward.

“Look at Kenya, Tanzania and other countries; they mainly depend on tourism and agriculture unlike Nigeria.

“Europeans go to tourist sites in The Gambia, Kenya, Tanzania, Egypt and others because there is an environment that enabled them to do so. But this is not so in Nigeria, rather, Nigerians usually visit tourist sites in other countries.

“This is because there is still room for improvement on our tourist sites to encourage the participation of the private sector. We are not saying government should put much money in tourism but do the needful through policies that will sustain the interest of the citizens in visiting tourism sites. ‘’With the population of Nigerians, we can capitalise on what we have internally and move the sector forward,’’ he said.

Nigeria Tourism, and in particular,

the hospitality sector has potential to expand, which is planked on a vibrant travel and tourism sector, as a whole, according to Abiodun Sanni, a travel operator.

“The hotels across the country, whether indigenous of international, are suffering no doubt, but the positive forecast the industry is getting is largely due to the population of the country as well as its GDP, but nothing much to do with the level of infrastructure in the country or any standard grading system in the hotel industry, let alone a regulatory body. So now imagine if they get it right with those, it means by implication that the growth forecast will double or even quadruple,” he said.

On his part, the Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Segun Runsewe, a former boss of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) while reacting to the trend of state governments es-

tablishing hotels, pointed out what he termed ‘the mistake’ in government circles about locating hotels.

“People don’t visit a destination because of the five-star hotel you have, it’s because of the entire destination itself. You see, that’s the mistake we constantly make.

Instead of developing the infrastructure of a particular tourist destination with a view to improving what is on ground, people just go straight to building a five-star hotel there, promote it as a destination and then hope that visitors will troop in. If we have been upgrading infrastructure and then allow the private sector operators to build their hotels, we would have gotten somewhere now,” Runsewe said.

Nigeria’s hospitality industry even as it is has the capacity to create millions of jobs for Nigerians, but a fully-functional one has immense potential to do a lot more for the country’s economy.

19

The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26, 2017

WESTWOOD PARK ESTATE II, SANGOTEDO Westwood Park Estate was conceived out of the urgent need to provide a suitable, conducive, standard moderate and affordable housing in Nigeria with a combination of beauty, quality, comfort and affordability for home seekers and investors alike.

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20

The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26, 2017

WESTWOOD HOMES SANGOTEDO We are glad to bring to your notice that we now have semi detached and blocks of flat for sale in Westwood Park estate phase 2 Semi detached Duplex (5 bedroom) NGN56.8M Blocks of flat (3bedroom) NGN23.5M Blocks of flat (2bedroom) NGN18M 1 bedroom apartment NGN9.8M All available at off plan sales, Expected delivery time is 18months

For more details please contact PREMIUM PARTNERS +234 (803) 887 2988, +234 (803) 300 7069 25 Remi Fani Kayode Street G.R.A Ikeja, Lagos State

21

The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26, 2017

P

A think-home entrepreneur, he is currently building an integrated cashew growing and processing farm on hundreds of hectares of duly acquired land in Isuochi, all in an effort to open up the community and create jobs

RINCE ODINAKA IGWE’s is the typical Igbo story. Which is always like this: a young man sets out with very little at his disposal to start a business and through dint of hard work, prudent life-style and uncommon business savvy, makes a success of his endeavor in record time. And he is almost always a product of Imu Ahia, a trading apprenticeship system peculiar to the Igbo and easily the most effective privately organized youth empowerment initiative in the world.

In 1992, Odinaka Igwe, then 22, was given N10,000 by his master (his uncle actually), whom he served in Owerri, the Imo State capital, to start his own business. What kind of business would he start with N10,000? Of course, with such amount, he didn’t have too many options. He knew, to start with, that renting a shop was out of the question. For, not only was the money not enough for him to rent a shop, it was also too little to appreciably stock a shop of any size—even if he had a shop and all he needed was stock it with articles of trade. Convinced more than ever before that he had to stoop low to conquer, the young Odinaka decided to take what was a ‘demeaning’ action: he simply rented himself a wheel barrow, bought sundry items with the remaining cash and began to hawk goods on the streets of Owerri!

Armed with learned street smartness and inborn tactical shrewdness, Igwe soon made enough money ‘on the go’ to upgrade himself: he relocated to Onitsha, the ‘Eagle on the Niger’ and West Africa’s largest market town, and rented a shop. As his fertile mind churned out more lucrative business ideas and his contacts expanded, Igwe made another big move: he relocated to Lagos where his Chrisnak Group took its final shape.

Twenty-five years after, Odinaka Igwe sits atop his multi-billion naira Chrisnak conglomerate of over 10 thriving companies with interests in oil and gas, shipping, aviation, property development, farming, pharmaceuticals, merchandizing, among others.

The Group’s Mainland Oil and Gas Company Limited, for instance, owns the largest single oil tank farm east of the Niger in Calabar, the Cross River State capital. On the whole, the Group directly employs over 2000 Nigerians who are all well paid and paid as and when due. Igwe’s ambition, he once told The Oracle Today, is to directly employ 5000 Nigerians in his Group.

It is not often that one finds a businessman with such strong pro-people or pro-worker bent as the Chrisnak boss, especially in this part of the world. It has been argued that the issue of unpaid salaries arises not so much because some of such affected companies cannot actually pay as because owners capitalize on advertised poor economic situation to deny workers their salaries.

On the contrary, Igwe says one of the things that give him the most joy is creating jobs for people, thereby helping to bring about a peaceful, orderly and progressive society that we all dream of.

“We want our company to be counted among the top ranks in corporate social responsibility,” he enthused. “In my 25 years of business, I have found out that no matter how much you eat and drink, you can’t consume 10 per cent of your wealth. So, we as Nigerians have to devise a means of giving back to society. That is the work of God. That is why I earlier emphasized providing gainful employment to people, promoting the work of God and supporting charity works.”

As he ran and consolidated his business, Odinaka Igwe also went back to school along

“

“

The

CEO

Report

With Oguejiofor Phone: 08076290498 (SMS only)

Giving back to society is God’s work –Igwe, GMD, Chrisnak Group

• Prince Odinaka Igwe the line. He had gone into business apprenticeship with a secondary school certificate.

Even with Chrisnak Group firmly established, Igwe found it important to go back to school to further hone his business skills. Thus, he enrolled at Federal Polytechnic Oko, where he studied Business Administration. Thereafter, he enrolled at the Lagos Business School for a certificate course in business and entrepreneurship.

“I am born into business and I received both practical and academic trainings in the course of my apprenticeship and education respectively,” he once told The Oracle Today in an interview to mark his 47th birthday and 25 years of business success. “In fact, I started my apprenticeship right from my father’s house. In my education, I studied business administration. Besides all, I have sustained hands-on practical business ventures all my life.”

“In one of my courses at the Lagos Business School, there is something we call Cross Sales,” he explained. “For instance, I am into maritime services and a lot of my clients travel abroad to import and ship in goods.

It was in the course of providing them with maritime services that I saw the need to set up the aviation ticketing business. The same customers who patronize our shipping ser-

vices regularly need to travel by air. So, Chrisnak Shipping and Chrisnak Air Services work together to provide a one-stop service shop for our clients…”

Needless to say, all of his self-improvement efforts have come handy. They have helped to shape Prince Igwe into a wholesome man and stood him in a good stead to actively participate in every facet of the human quest for influence and relevance in the affairs of men.

What it all boils down to is that long ago, Odinaka Igwe had seen his role in the affairs of his community, State or country as beyond that of a man simply with the Midas touch, one given to just making money, creating jobs and buying his way through life. Rather, he had prepared himself for a life of big bucks, philanthropy and deployable good head. Show me, therefore, a man with education, wealth and humility and I will show you the most powerful and influential leader of men. Or, I will simply point to Odinaka Igwe, a man of great depth who sees life in terms of one’s positive impact—material or spiritual—on others.

“I maintain three levels of association: I move and associate with people better than I am to enable me learn from them,” he stated philosophically. “I associate with my equals for sharing—the Bible says that

iron sharpeneth iron. I also associate with people I think are below me to groom them.

So, I keep three blocks of associates—I humble myself to learn from people above me; I share and crossbreed ideas with my contemporaries and I help groom those that look up to me. This has helped me a lot.”

Indeed, one can hardly think of any of his contemporaries with a keener sense of community. In Isuochi, Umunneochi Local Council of Abia State, where Igwe comes from, he is adored as a true man of the people—a wealth/ job creator, a philanthropist extraordinaire and a political liberator. A think-home entrepreneur, he is currently building an integrated cashew growing and processing farm on hundreds of hectares of duly acquired land in Isuochi, all in an effort to open up the community and create jobs. Although the Chrisnak Group has in its employ Nigerians from different parts of the country, the company does not also forget, as they say in these climes, that it comes from somewhere.

As one Isuochi-born writer once offered, Prince Odinaka Igwe has always loved to share things with others. There is the story of how, on one particular occasion in Owerri, he met a group of street hawkers. Remembering that he was himself one before—and in Owerri too—he was reportedly moved with empathy for them and as his car drove by, he asked the driver to stop. When he came down, he took 20 of them aside and gave them huge sums of money that practically changed their lives.

“In his words of encouragement to the young street hawkers, he counseled them on the dignity of labour, enjoining them to work even harder because that is the secret of success for any man who wants to make it in life. This has been his philosophy over the years,” the young man wrote.

With such a pleasant disposition towards people, it is no wonder that Igwe’s entry into partisan politics was warmly welcomed by his people who had been in a desperate need for a kindhearted person to lead them to the Promised Land. Although he lost the contest to represent his constituency at the Federal House of Representatives, he became the game changer in the hitherto staid politics of Abia North under the iron grip of the late Uche Chukwumerije. Today, he is seen not only as a kingmaker but also as a political liberator, an unrivalled philanthropist in whom the people are well pleased.

“The Igwe Dynasty is, indeed, helping the teeming youths of Isuochi and Umunneochi Local Council to make meanings out of their lives. And their philanthropy extends to both the have and have-not,” the young Isuochi writer stressed in his tribute to Chrisnak at 47.

In the end, that is, perhaps, what this life is all about: to live not just for self but that others may live well too. This, to be sure, is the principle that defines Prince Odinaka Igwe’s life.

22

The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26, 2017

BUSINESS

IAEA Mission faults Nigeria’s nuclear programme

By VICTOR NZE

T

he Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) team of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has expressed concerns over the independence of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) in implementing regulatory decisions and activities of its nuclear programme. The IRRS team which recently concluded a 10-day mission aimed at assessing the regulatory framework for nuclear and radiation safety in Ni-

geria, however, commended the agency’s commitment as it ‘works for the continuous improvement of nuclear and radiation safety.’

The team noted that the regulatory body faces challenges in ensuring its full independence in decision-making and in developing its competence to effectively conduct regulatory activities, particularly in light of Nigeria’s planned nuclear power programme. “The IRRS team recognizes the strong commitment of Nigeria to improving nuclear and radiation safety.

The team was extended full cooperation by all parties in this review,” said team leader Lamberto Matteocci, Technical Coordinator for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection at the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), adding: “We believe the outcome of this mission will be of great help to the country in order to enhance its national regulatory framework.”

During the mission, team members observed regulatory activities and held interviews and discus-

sions with the Government and NNRA management and staff, just as it also visited the Abuja National Hospital, a gamma irradiation facility and the Centre for Energy Research and Training. IRRS team while in the country also made recommendations and suggestions to the Federal Government and the NNRA to help them further enhance the country’s regulatory framework in line with IAEA safety standards.

The team identified a good practice in the NNRA’s routine training

NSE goes live with Nasdaq surveillance technology

By SAMSON AKINTARO

T

he Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), has launched a new market surveillance platform powered by SMARTS, Nasdaq’s flagship surveillance solution.

The technology will, amongst other things, enable NSE to proactively monitor market manipulation (including spoofing and layering), detect and deter manipulative tendencies, gather intelligence, carry out traders’ monitoring and analysis, conduct multi-asset and cross-market surveillance, and execute risk-based supervision of flagged participants.

“As we enter the growth phase of the development of our market, including the introduction of new asset classes such as derivatives, there will be the imperative of processing significant volumes of market information in real-time to detect anomalies,” said Tinuade Awe, General Counsel and Head of Regulation, NSE. “The SMARTS technology, which we have successfully deployed, allows our team to proactively analyze patterns and trends to make sense of the vast amounts of data for investigative purposes and protection of investors, while strengthening the integrity of our market” Awe added.

“Through SMARTS, NSE is leveraging the latest in surveillance technology and demonstrating its commitment to fostering a strong marketplace,” said Tony Sio, Head of Exchange & Regulator Surveillance, Market Technology at Nasdaq. “SMARTS performs universal surveillance of all asset classes and provides a strong platform for NSE to develop new products such as derivatives. We look forward to a long partnership with the NSE as the Nigerian markets evolve.”

Nasdaq SMARTS Surveillance solutions have been the industry benchmark for real-time, crossmarket, cross-asset surveillance for over 22years. Used by over 3,500 compliance professionals around the world, SMARTS currently powers surveillance at 47 marketplaces, 17 regulators and 140+ market participants across 65 countries.

NIPC pix: L:R: Oscar N. Onyema, OON, Chief Executive Officer, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE); Ms. Yewande Sadiku, Executive Secretary/CEO, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) and Haruna Jalo-Waziri, Executive Director, Capital Market Division, NSE at the Closing Gong Ceremony at the Exchange recently.

Mobile operators over-taxed in Nigeria, others --Report

By VICTOR NZE

axes paid by telecommunicaTernments tions firms contribution to govin Nigeria, as well as the

rest of sub-Saharan Africa’s outweigh their size in the economy, in just the same way as the mobile sector operators in these region are over-taxed in relation to their revenues, according to the findings of a report released, Wednesday.

GSM Association (GSMA), a trade body that represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, in its latest report titled; ‘Taxing Mobile Connectivity in Sub-Saharan Africa: A review of mobile sector taxation and its impact on digital inclusion,’ further noted that excessive taxes by governments on the various operators rather ignores the contributions these companies make to their host countries.

The report which provided an overview of the tax and fee regime applied to mobile services and its impact on affordability and investment in Sub-Saharan Africa, also explored how mobile sector taxation can raise the affordability barrier in the region, undermining digital inclusion efforts, while discussing how uncertain and complex taxation regimes affect operators’ ability to invest in infrastructure rollout.

“Mobile connectivity is a critical enabler of economic and social development but in many countries, particularly developing countries, the mobile sector is over-taxed relative to its economic footprint.

“The excessive taxation applied to the mobile sector ignores its posi-

tive economic contributions and leads to negative affordability and investment impact. In the current economic climate, it is paramount for governments to foster, not hinder, growth,” said Mats Granryd, Director General, GSMA. Findings from the research demonstrate the distortionary impacts of sector-specific taxation, highlighting the potential economic benefits of rebalancing sector-specific taxes and regulatory fees. In Sub-Saharan Africa, more than 420 million people (43 per cent of the population) subscribed to a mobile service at the end of 2016; but the region faces a significant digital divide with only 26 per cent of the population subscribed to a mobile internet service at the end of 2016.

In 2015, the mobile sector paid, on average, 35 per cent of its revenues in the form of taxes, regulatory fees and other charges in the 12 Sub-Saharan African countries for which this data is available.

Around 26 per cent of the taxes and fees paid by the mobile industry related to sector-specific taxation rather than broad-based taxation; Mobile network operators’ (MNOs) contribution to government tax revenues outweighs their size in the economy. For example, in the DRC, sector revenues accounted for 3 per cent of GDP in 2015 while mobile tax payments represented more than 17 per cent of total government tax revenues; For 27 countries in the region where data is available, the total cost of mobile ownership (TCMO) for purchasing a handset and 500

MB of data per month represents, on average, 10 per cent of monthly income, well above the 5 per cent threshold recommended by the United Nations Broadband Commission.

MNOs in the region have invested $37 billion in their networks over the past five years. However, a combination of frequent tax changes and the high number of taxes levied on MNOs increases the complexity and operational burden; and countries that have a higher level of taxes and fees as a proportion of sector revenues tend to have relatively low levels of readiness for mobile internet connectivity.

The report recommends rebalancing sector-specific taxes and regulatory fees can promote connectivity, economic growth, investment and fiscal stability. A number of principles for reforming sectorspecific taxation and fees should be considered by governments in sub-Saharan Africa in order to align mobile taxation with that applied to other sectors and with the best practices recommended by international organisations such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

It also called for a reduction in sector-specific taxes and regulatory fees, reduce complexity and uncertainty of taxes and fees on the mobile sector, as well as reducing consumer taxes that target access to mobile services and support effective pricing of spectrum to facilitate better quality and more affordable services.

for news media to inform them about its processes and decisions as well as the possible radiation risks associated with facilities and activities. It also urged Nigeria to ensure that the NNRA is effectively independent and is functionally separate from entities having responsibilities or interests that could influence its decisionmaking, as well as allowed to carry out an analysis of all competencies needed to cover its responsibilities, and develop and implement a human resource and training plan.

The IRRS team also recommended that NNRA should ensure that all facilities and activities have a valid authorization, and establish and implement an enforcement policy to respond to non-compliance, in addition to considering the formalization of cooperation with other authorities having responsibilities related to safety.

The final mission report will be provided to Nigeria in about three months, which government has also promised to make public. Responding, Director General of the NNRA, Lawrence Dim, assured the team that the Federal government will cooperate with the IAEA with a view to developing a workplan for the implementation of the mission’s recommendations and suggestions. “The Nigerian Government will work with the IAEA to develop a work-plan for the implementation of the mission’s recommendations and suggestions.

Nigeria is always ready to cooperate with the Agency in the area of nuclear and radiation safety, as well as in other areas. We are committed to using the IAEA safety standards and international best practices to improve our policy, and legal, technical and regulatory infrastructure,” said Dim.

Prudential acquires Zenith Life, enters partnership with Zenith Bank

P

rudential Plc, one of the oldest and most strongly capitalised life insurance companies in the world, has acquired a majority stake in Zenith Life of Nigeria and formed exclusive bancassurance partnerships with Zenith Bank in Nigeria and Ghana.

The acquisition and bancassurance partnerships will see Prudential enter the market in Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, with a population of over 180 million. This demonstrates Prudential’s commitment to Africa following the launch of businesses in Ghana and Kenya in 2014, in Uganda in 2015 and Zambia in 2016.

“Prudential’s purpose is to take the worry out of life’s big financial concerns, helping our customers face the future with confidence. Today’s announcement is an important milestone for Prudential and our growing portfolio of high-quality life insurance businesses in Africa. We are excited by the opportunity of partnering with Zenith Bank, one of the largest and most dynamic banks in Africa, and working with our new colleagues to build Zenith-Prudential into a leader in Nigeria’s growing life insurance industry,” said Matt Lilley, Chief Executive of Prudential Africa.

On his part, Mr. Jim Ovia, Founder of Zenith Bank and Zenith Life, said: “This landmark transaction is set to redefine the life insurance industry in Nigeria. Given the combination of Zenith Life’s local presence with one of the world’s oldest and most successful life insurers, we expect ZenithPrudential Life to act as a significant catalyst within the sector.

23

The Oracle Today, Wednesday July 26, 2017

e-Platform From Etisalat to 9Mobile: Nigerian telecoms on the brink

The telecom operator formally known as Etisalat Nigeria has now changed name to 9Mobile in a sequence of events that started from its decision to obtain loan for network expansion in 2013. But analysts believe the Etisalat case is a reflection of many troubles facing all telecom companies in Nigeria and which may lead to a catastrophic end if not addressed.

SAMSON AKINTARO reports

I

t is definitely not a big deal for a company to change name, especially when ownership structure changes. Indeed, the Nigerian telecoms sector has a shining example in Airtel, which has metamorphosed over the years from Econet to V.Mobile to Celtel and then to Zain, before reaching what appears to be its final destination under the ownership of the Indian telecom giant, Bharti Airtel. But industry watchers are very worried about the circumstances surrounding the recent change in name of Etisalat Nigeria to 9Mobile, which they believe has sent a bad signal to prospective foreign investors about the investment climate in Nigeria, especially in the telecom sector.

Of course, when the news broke earlier in March that one of the leading telecommunications companies in Nigeria, Etisalat, which has about 18.5 million subscribers on its network was on the verge of being taken over by a consortium of banks over its inability to pay its loans, many Nigerians received it with shock and disbelief. And this was because the impression many had about telecom companies in the country was that they are the money bags, who rake in millions every seconds as Nigerians make calls.

But the reality soon became clear to all that Etisalat Nigeria, now 9Mobile had approached some banks in 2013 to acquire a loan to fund its network expansion projects. The loan put at $1.2 billion was syndicated by 13 banks as a medium-term 7-year facility. Unfortunately, the economic situation in the country dealt a huge blow on the borrower as the Nigerian currency fell flat against the dollar, thus, it became difficult for the company to continue servicing its loan.

Eventually, the banks led by Access Banks took over the company as negotiations to restructure the loan failed. This was despite regulatory interventions involving the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria. This was followed by composition of a

new board and management for the company, even though the company insisted negotiation was still ongoing. However, the Abu Dhabi-based Etisalat group, whose shareholding had been taken by the lending banks wasted no time in declaring that its management agreement with its former Nigerian arm had ended and could not but give Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services (EMTS), the Nigerian company operating under the Etsalat brand, three weeks to phase out the name in Nigeria. At that juncture, the management of the company had no choice but to quickly convene a meeting where the new brand name 9Mobile was adopted.

While there are still arguments over whether the banks could run the telecom company or hand it over to another investors, stakeholders in the telecom industry are worried that the government is not looking at the challenges that created troubles for the embattled telco, and which other telcos are still battling with.

Lamenting about the difficulties telecom operators are facing in the country, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, Chiarman of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), said lack of access to forex was a major challenge facing telcos in the country and one which contributed largely to the troubles of Etisalat in Nigeria. “We are in a country where every component of our operation is imported, even from the SIM cards and even when you make an international call, we pay our part of the termination rate in dollar to the networks abroad. All these require forex, yet we are not considered on the priority list of government for easy access to dollar. Many of our members are forced to source for forex at the black market and at the end of the day, operating costs becomes very high” he lamented.

But the real problem, according to Adebayo, is that all the operators would no longer be able to expand or optimize their networks for bet-

•CBN Gov. Godwin Emefiele

ter services.

But beyond expansion, Adebayo warned that failure of one telecom operator in the country would mean break down of telecommunications services in the country because none of the operators have capacity to absorb more subscribers from the other. He urged the government to place telecoms in the priority list for access to forex and address the problem of multiple taxation and regulations, which he said, are weighing down operators in the sector Also speaking against the backdrop of the Etisalat case, Mr Ayodeji Ebo the Managing Director of Afrinvest Securities, urged the CBN and NCC to look beyond the problem

•EVC of NCC Umar Danbatta

of Etisalat but see it as a symptom of a problem affecting all telecom companies in Nigeria, which are not yet open to the public. “The CBN has tried to do a few things with Airline Operators and Oil and gas in terms of forex. They should use Etisalat as a guinea pig to prevent a bubble. If you allow any of these companies to go down, we are looking at human resource issues. Just imagine what would happen if MTN, Glo, Airtel and Etisalat start laying off staffs because they are unable to sustain their operations” he said.

While describing the telecom sector as an important sector of the economy which must be given serious attention, Ebo said, “we all recall

how businesses were running in the days of Nitel and how privatization has changed everything, we need good and efficient networks, so CBN needs to look beyond Etisalat and assist them with forex” he said.

For the telecom operators, however, the Afriinvest boss also suggested listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange as a viable option for them to raise capital for expansion.

“It is a very good avenue for them to raise capital and run smoothly and I believe investors would be willing to invest. I am aware MTN has been working on listing, others can also follow that step that would reduce their debt burden and sustain their business” he advised.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26, 2017

ISSN: 2545-5869

VOX POPULI SACRUM

www.oraclenews.ng

EDITORIAL

Taxing beggars, begging tax payers B

massive public works programme EFFORE we condemn the latest initiative of • Pension – Prompt and stress-free pension paythe APC-government on taxation – Minister ment of Finance Mrs. Kemi Adeosun says that the • Sports – Ensure that participation in sports begovernment will tax beggars – it would be comes a core component of our education at all appropriate to repeat what APC promised Nigelevels rians, including the socially disadvantaged. Its manifesto said that it would run a government • Unemployed corpers will receive a monthly stipend while enrolled in a year-long vocational that would defend and provide for the weak. training • Women – Gender equality policy, improving antiHere are some of the promises that APC made, discriminatory policies, opening up more opporwhich it has neither redeemed nor apologised tunities for women in politics and governance for its failures – There is nothing to surprise anyone about the • Agriculture – Just farm, government will buy it latest offering from APC. The utterances of the • Child Labour – The poorest families will receive government have been worse than its inability a monthly welfare package on the condition to understand that after two years in office, it that their children attend school should not be disturbing Nigerians with what • Educating The Girl child – Holistic programmes it intends to do. It should rather be telling Nigewith special incentives will improve the forrians what it has done. Nigerians would in turn tunes of Nigerian girls and their communities evaluate what the government has done and ask • Education – 20 per cent of the annual budget pertinent questions.

• Ethno-religious Intolerance – A National RecHow does the government that has failed, in more onciliation and Healing Plan which includes a than two years, to do the simplest things like Truth and Reconciliation Commission will work filling vacancies on the boards of parastatals, to towards ending ethno-religious crises; schools enable them operate within the provisions of the will also teach ethnic and religious tolerance law, intend to collect beggars’ tax? Is it the same • Graduate Employment – Within the first year, beggars who are homeless, without addresses 20,000 graduates from each State (and the FCT) that government would tax? will be employed in empowerment schemes • Health – All government officials will be banned Is government serious about its list of 150 people only, whose taxes it would pay more attention from seeking medical care outside Nigeria to? How does government define millionaires?

• Jobs –Creation of 3 million jobs yearly through Its figure of 150 is less than a third of the National agricultural expansion, industrialisation and Assembly (469), where every member is a millionaire from allowances and perks of office. Government has set itself up for another round of indiscernible performance.

Government admits its inability to identify taxable Nigerians with only 150 millionaires on its list. Could the failure, or unwillingness to deal with millionaires, possibly billionaires, be responsible for the descent upon beggars, mere beggars, who are begging for subsistence?

Some have complained about the greed of the politician, some politicians. According to the thesis, the politician’s greed extends to warehousing things for himself and denying others the little they could get.

For any government to descend to taxing beggars is the height of loss of policy focus.

The Senegalese author Aminata Sow Fall, in her epic political satire, The Beggars Strike (1979), fictionalised beggars deserting the streets of Dakar, to punish a prominent politician, who was about to assume more prominence in government. A condition for his promotion was that he gave alms to beggars – he never gave alms, and would rather abuse beggars to no end.

When beggars learnt that his fate

was in their hands, they went on strike until the man lost the appointment. We risk a beggars’ strike with the proposed tax. The consequences are unimaginable for religions that demand that we give to beggars as one of the ways of pleasing the Almighty. How would the government handle a beggars’ strike, which would include the refusal to pay tax?

If the beggars’ tax is part of the sources of funding for the 2017 budget, the Minister of Finance could be giving another reason for the failure of the budget. Either way, Nigeria appears to be in more problems than having inappropriate tax regimes.

It shows in pronouncements of the Minister of Finance. In one line, she says Nigeria cannot borrow any more. In the next line she argues about the inevitability of borrowing if Nigeria would execute the 2017 budget.

The befuddlement that the beggars’ tax may present is another step in the moves of a government that gives confusion new meaning daily. What industry is begging that it should attract tax? Would the tax be company tax or personal income tax?

Beggars should also be asked to pay VAT on their daily earnings. There are so many beggars nationwide that Mrs. Adeosun’s initiative could be the biggest tax drive in Nigeria’s history.

Unknown to the Minister of Finance, beggars already pay tax. Beggars cannot escape the purchase tax, VAT. Is that not enough tax on them?

Why should we place another tax burden on the extremely poor?

A government that resorts to weakening the weak, impoverishing the poor, and delivering deadlier blows to those already down, is completely out of ideas. The beggars’ tax again re-affirms the deficit of ideas on which our government runs. If APC had created six million jobs in the past two years, it could be generating enough taxes, that it would not open the latest sad episode of its emptiness.

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

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

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The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26, 2017

OPINION The polity: Nothing shocks us anymore

By EHICHIOYA EZOMON

I

N this era of “the new normal,” nothing seems to alarm, daze, jolt, outrage, shock, stun or upset Nigerians, and insult their sensibilities. Instead, they would express amazement, bewilderment, incredulity or surprise over abnormal or untoward behaviours or happenings, and just move on.

How else would one describe Nigerians’ response to egregious displays in the polity, many of them threatening the disruption of the government, and even disintegration of the nation?

Let’s kick off the discourse with the Boko Haram insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives and unquantifiable property, and uprooted millions of people from their homesteads across the Northeast.

At the height of their principality between 2013 and 2015, rather than take the threat posed by the terrorists as an existential challenge to Nigeria, the President Goodluck Jonathan government considered it a calculated plot by the opposition to bring it down.

Hence, amid global outcry, the government showed obvious nonchalance, and noncommittal to the rescue of the 276 Chibok schoolgirls abducted by the rebels on April 14, 2014.

Because the government was not outraged by the dastardly act of the insurgents, it took about two weeks for it to “acknowledge” that the innocent girls were “actually” seized.

By then, it was too late to rescue them.

Which is why over 100 of the girls are still not released in spite of efforts by the succeeding government of President Muhammadu Buhari in that direction.

When the agitation for Biafra was mooted in early 2000s by the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), which lately got a shot in the arm by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nigerians were merely surprised that “a group of idle and uninformed Igbo youths” was trying to revive a “dead entity.”

Until a Coalition of Northern Youth Groups issued a notice for all Igbo to quit the North

by October 1, 2017, and a counter threat came from the Coalition of Niger Delta Militants for northern indigenes to vacate the South-South zone, Nigerians paid scant regard to alleged marginalisation and neglect of the Southeast, and security operatives’ reported quick high-handed reprimand against the IPOB agitators.

However, did the same security agents do the needful when the Northern youths, backed by some disgruntled elders, issued that quit notice? No! The police, who Governor Nasir el-Rufai directed to arrest the youths, embarked on a never-ending “manhunt” for the deviants, and thus emboldened their arrowheads to issue further threats against the Igbo, and last week called for the IPOB to be declared a “terrorist organisation.”

If we, as a people, had shown enough concern and consternation, and rebuked early on the intransigence of the youths, we may not be hearing, even from unlikely quarters, “the urgent need to restructure the country.”

Now, to the happenings in the National Assembly - a hallowed institution for lawmaking that looks to be turning itself into

an implementing organ as well. The reason it has earned the appellation, “Legiscutive” - a fusion of legislative and executive authorities in one body, like in a Military interregnum, without separation of power.

Owing to their alleged beef with the presidency over the retention of Mr. Ibrahim Magu as the chair of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the lawmakers have literally declared war on the executive - flaunting the supposed powers they possess under the 1999 Constitution (as amended), especially Section 171, and Section 80 (in relation to Control over Public Funds).

To exhibit these powers, they first “padded” the 2017 Appropriations yes, this is the “real” budget padding - by creating new heads or items, and added, subtracted, juggled or moved projects around that the executive never earmarked for in the estimates.

Secondly, they refused further confirmation of executive nominees because Acting President Yemi Osinbajo queried their powers to alter the budget and confirm certain categories of appointees, as per Mr. Magu.

Then, the lawmakers not only put Osinbajo on notice for impeachment, but two senators also prayed for declaring vacant his acting presidency.

Kabiru Marafa, cued by Enyinnaya Abaribe, moved a motion to declare Osinbajo (who went on an official engagement in Ethiopia) “AWOL” - and thus alleged vacuum in his office - and

install Senate President Bukola Saraki as “Acting President of Nigeria.”

Had Saraki succumbed to the obviously treasonous adventure (the second time in as many months he would avoid endorsing chaos in the system), it would have been a “civilian coup” against the elected government of President Buhari, who Osinbajo is acting in his stead due to his medical leave in London.

But in these scenarios, what did Nigerians do? They shrugged their shoulders, and declined to engage and interrogate the dangerous development, to prevent a future eventuality.

A major plank of the Buhari campaign for president was the fight against corruption. But those caught in the web of the crusade have labelled it a “witch hunt of the opposition,” and spared no effort to blunt its potency through legal shenanigans at the courts, and discredit the fight as “dead.”

Yet, ordinary Nigerians, who should protest that money earmarked against Boko Haram was misappropriated, wonder why the searchlight is beamed on the immediate past government and its party officials.

They would rather the probe was started from the colonial administration of Frederick John Dealtry Lugard of 1914.

It’s time to show genuine concern and anger over (mis)behaviours of officials of government and their collaborators in the civil society. Otherwise, they would bring down the roof on all of us!

• Mr. Ezomon, Journalist and Media Consultant, writes from Lagos, Nigeria.

Ikwum and ogomcracy in Imo government (1)

By PROTUS NATHAN UZORMA

R

OBERT HARRIS, the great AngloGerman novelist (in his Fatherland) noted that “from the pictures sent in for exhibition, it is clear that the eye of some men shows them things other than as they are- That there really are men who on principle feel meadows to be blue, the heavens green, the clouds sulphur- yellow…” These visionary impediments and deceits are not only from the eyes of the beholding appreciators’ of arts but also from the eyes of the art-creator-the artist.

And for this reason, Harris added “either these ‘artists’ do really see things in this way and believe in that which they represent- then one has but to ask how the defect in vision arose, and if it is hereditary the Minister of the Interior will have to see to it that so ghastly a defect shall not be allowed to perpetuate itself- Or, if they do not believe in the reality of such impressions but seek on other grounds to impose them upon the nation, then it is a matter for criminal court.”

The problems that Robert Harris portrays here are akin to what are obtainable in Imo State today. The style of governance, the effectual and emergent realities from the governance, the hidden personal-qualities, intentions and activities of the governor and his make-belief shows displayed like an artwork, all call for urgent evaluation and criticism, in order to have an ameliorated society in Imo State.

According to Harris, either the eye of the artists (Rochas and Co Ltd) has a visionary defect and decides to present the deceiving images to the public or the artist’s eye sees nothing but imposes the implied visions on the State.

Two things are at stake here- the visionary erring of the art-creator (Gov Rochas

and his lieutenants), and the visual blunders of the art-appreciator (Imolites). In whichever angle it comes, one certainty stands obvious: that what we see is different from either what it is, or that what we do not see is the protégé-cache of the art-creator (Rochas), concealed in order to make himself the Michael Angelo of our epoch while a mere countryside cartoonist is more professional than him.

Christ, one of the greatest earth-teachers once told his disciples that whoever wants to remove a grain of sand from the eyes of the other should first be sure that there are no logs of woods in his own eyes. I remember the immediate past Governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, the Ikiri that Uche Ogbuagu today says is better than Onye Oshi, was pilloried for having put his brother, Chief Emma Ohakim (the former Chief of Staff) closer to him in government. He was bitterly burlesqued and lampooned because his artistic intentions were portrayed bare in the artefacts presented to the public.

Today, what type of societal leadership do we have in Imo State? Is it a government or family business? If it is a government, what type of government do we have in Imo State? Is it democracy or Ohacracy? No! It is but Ikwumcracy, Ogomcracy, Ochichocracy, familiocracy, tyranny, name them. A discovery and realisation of the actual operational leadership-typology in the State makes the proposed Imolites’ artistic contemplation on the governance-pictures and images portrayed on canvas (infrastructural development) and sculptures (administrative images) possible. Because as Robert Harris said, “from the pictures sent in for exhibition, it is clear that the

eye of some men shows them things other than as they are- That there really are men who on principle feel meadows to be blue, the heavens green, the clouds sulphur- Yellow.”

In Okorocha’s government today, how many of his family members are there, bearing in mind the extendedfamily ideology prevalent in Igboland?

How many in-laws are in his government- The SGI (Prof Anwuka), the Commissioner of Lands, Survey and Urban Development (Uche Nwosu), the ISOPADEC Director (Prince Henry Okafor), etc? How many cousin-brothers and sisters are manning what in various commissions, boards, agencies, and contracts, etc? How many concubines and concupinage-in-laws are his SSAs and PAs, TC Chairmen and Women, etc?

The eatery-plaza that has replaced the position of the IMSU Library in a citadel of learning, who honestly owns and manages it? Certainly, it is one of the members of the Okorocha-Family Ltd, his former “ikwu” who unfortunately has left the familiocrat for the great PDP. Is it academically conceivable that while entering a State’s classical citadel of learning, the first building to behold is a campus hotel, while in other places the first sights are the admin-blocks, libraries, lecture halls, artistry and relaxation courts?

It this government or family business in which one scavenges areas where markets will flow fast and enrich the establisher, and thus sees a University Campus as one? Why didn’t he site a Campus Clinic or use the grandiose fund buried there to equip the various departmental and faculties’ libraries that will make accreditation this year an easy feat for the lecturers and stu-

dents in the University, and thus redeem lost accreditations in IMSU? •This article, published some years ago, is repeated under a new headline. According to Prof. Uzorma, the author, ‘although Imo government has since made some little adjustment, the philosophy of IKWUM AND OGOMCRACY has not changed.

Prof. Uzorma, ‘Mayor of Imo Youths’, wrote in from Owerri.

To be cont’d next week

THE GROUP

Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Ikeddy Isiguzo Editor Felix Oguejiofor Abugu Deputy Editor/Head, Lagos Bureau Sopuruchi Onwuka Abuja Bureau Chief Tony Ailemen Production Editor Henry Duru Advert Manager Andrew Udeh Head, Graphics & Designs Nnamdi Alex Chukwu Circulation Manager Felix Oti

G i p g W t fi S

l t e a h j R I I t t n O o

I i U o l l t o v a f t o t i f e E n b

The Oracle Today

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Wednesday July 26, 2017

e-Platform

NCC advocates incentives to increase public sector efficiency

By SAMSON AKINTARO

T

he Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Professor Umar Danbatta, has urged the Federal Government to introduce ‘Public Service Excellence Award’ for MDAs that excel in all spheres of their operations in order to increase productivity and efficiency. Such initiative, he said, would be good incentives for the Public Sector which is under increasing pressure to demonstrate that its operations are consumercentric and there is continuous improvement in performance.

Danbatta made this advocacy at Arewa House in a paper titled: ‘Evaluating the Framework for Measuring the Quality Of Service Delivery in the Public Sector’, which was presented on his behalf

by Ubale Maska, NCC’s Executive Commissioner Technical Services, at the National Stakeholders’ Conference on Public Service Delivery in Nigeria. At the Conference, which thematic focus is Building Government Capabilities for Service Delivery: Implementing Performance, Danbatta noted that the dynamism in the tempo and sophistication of consumer needs

and expectations demands impeccable quality of service delivery. He submits that this reality imposes new strategies for success and survival in today’s competitive business environment, and the outcomes correlate to the wellness of economies.

Danbatta said organisations that express passion for the consumer must be honest, give adequate value for money, offer quality products or services, demonstrate high reputation, offer user-friendly processes, meet deadlines, accept and respond to criticisms, as well as institute open complaint management processes.

“These are the bouquet NCC serves and continues to improve upon even in the face of challenges of service delivery in the Nigerian public sector” Danbatta told the conference. He said the Nigerian public service must deal with the absence of monitoring of outcomes; failure to hold people accountable for poor service delivery; shortage of service capacity and inaccessibility; poor service quality and customer care; as well as lack of support services in the area of finance, technology, procurement, and personnel that are required for qualitative service de-

livery.

The NCC Chief Executive Officer told the conference that the pre-eminence of the consumer among several stakeholders in the telecom sector is demonstrated in the 8-Point Agenda unveiled by the Management of the Commission in 2016. He said NCC’s determination to ensure availability, affordability and accessibility to the Nigerian telecom consumer explained the declaration of 2017 as the Year of the Nigerian Telecom Consumer.

Danbatta outlined some of the key aspects of NCC framework for ensuring quality service delivery to include Consultative regulation of the communications industry, Transparent licensing processes, Technology neutrality, Consumer outreach programmes, Robust complaints management processes, Multiplatform communication management, and Level playing field for all licensees to ensure fair competition. The EVC boss also seized the opportunity to address the questions raised by participants about service delivery in telecommunications and promised that NCC will ensure improvement in the quality of service using the extant key performance indicators.

Africa’s mobile subscription to hit 535m in 2020 –GSMA M

ore than half a billion people across Sub-Saharan Africa will have subscriptions to a mobile service by the year 2020, as it becomes the fastest growing region in the world over the period. According to a new report from GSMA Intelligence, titled The Mobile Economy: Sub-Saharan Africa 2017, the number of unique subscribers will grow from 420 million (43 per cent of the population) at the end of 2016 to 535 million (50 per cent of the population) in 2020.

Subscriber growth is expected to be concentrated in large, underpenetrated markets including Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Tanzania, which together will account for half of the 115 million new subscribers in the region during this period. Growth will also focus on currently under-represented segments such as the under-16 age group and women.

Mobile technologies and services generated $110 billion of economic value in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2016, equivalent to 7.7 per cent of regional GDP – a figure expected to grow to $142 billion (8.6 per cent of GDP) by 2020. The mobile ecosystem also directly and indirectly supported around 3.5 million jobs in the region, and made a $13 billion contribution to the public sector in the form of taxes. The report notes that operators across the region have invested $37 billion in their networks, mainly to deploy new 3G and 4G mobile broadband infrastructure.

Meanwhile, GSMA’s Director General Mats Granryd, has disclosed African economies raked in $110 billion from mobile industry in 2016, representing 7.7 per cent of regional GDP.

Granryd,who disclosed this at the opening of the just concluded Mobile 360 Africa Conference in Tanzania, however, called on governments in the continent to put in place right policies and incentives to ensure the industry grow further and to build digital economies for Africa. “To support all this investment and innovation, we need governments to put in place policies that incentivise investment and promote development of the digital economy. Forward-looking governments will encourage the build-out of good networks that improve connectivity and innovation and also make sure that regulation is developed for the new digital age,” he said.

Granryd also called for sustainable partnerships among individuals, corporate organizations and governments to foster digital economy across Africa. According to him, the continent needs part-

nerships to support the positive impact the mobile industry is having, including its role supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The GSMA head said the region is seeing growth in mobile broadband (3G and 4G) take-up – about a third of mobile connections in the region were running on such networks in 2016 and forecast to rise to roughly 66 per cent by 2020 – and in smartphone penetration, which has doubled in the last two years. “Mobile money remains the continent’s big success story, with 140 live services in 39 countries, accounting for nearly 280 million registered accounts. And pay-asyou-go solar power is impacting 4.8 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa. Similar opportunities lie in sectors including healthcare, agriculture and others, “and this is just the beginning of the digital age in Africa,” he said.

•Winifred Oyo-Ita Head of Service

Tecno partners Slot for Camon CX distribution

C

hinese mobile manufacturer, Tecno Mobile, and ‘Official Tablet and Handset Partner of the Manchester City Football Club’, announced an exclusive sales partnership with SLOT Systems outlets , which provides for the exclusive nation-wide distribution of Camon CX Manchester City Limited Edition smartphones.

Addressing the media on the partnership and unveiling of the Camon CX Manchester City Limited Edition, Attai Oguche, Deputy Marketing Manager, PR, offline events and sponsorships, TECNO Nigeria said: “TECNO aims to leverage SLOT Systems’ nationwide presence to connect with local consumers who wish to experience or buy the flagship.” “Only 200 units of Camon CX Manchester City Limited Edition Smartphones will ship to Nigeria this summer and we want to make the distribution nationwide. SLOT Systems stands out as the retail partner that can deliver high quality of customer service for this unique flagship.” Attai Oguche added.

“Over the past decade, SLOT Systems Ltd. has been delivering tailormade customer service to Nigeria’s mobile phone consumers by leveraging advanced technology and trained personnel,” said Nnamdi Ezeigbo MD, SLOT Systems Ltd. “We are happy to partner with TECNO to provide

our consumers with unparalleled mobile experience with the introduction of the new Camon CX Manchester City Limited Edition smartphones.”

TECNO Camon CX flagship is the latest in a line of photo-focused smartphones of the TECNO Camon series; best known for its premium camera upgrades and pocket friendly price tag. The Camon CX Manchester City Limited Edition features the City blue color and includes the official crest on the reverse.

Like Camon CX/CX Air, the phone also comes with dual cameras hosting 4-in-1 light denoising technology.

This means the signal-to-noise (SNR) capability is 1.7 times better than the average smartphone and has an incredible capability to shoot beautiful, stunning photography in low-light.

Each pixel sensor on the 16MP front and back cameras detect and transmit light from any image as independent signals that collectively forms the final image of a picture.

This state-of-the-art camera technology results in selfies that are thirty percent brighter than selfies from average smartphones. This unique smartphone standout features such as full-metal casing in City blue, a laser-etched Manchester City crest on the rear and an upgraded storage space of 4GB RAM/ 64GB ROM, much bigger than Camon CX.

The Oracle Today July 26, 2017

Travel & Hospitality

27

Hotel owners seek improved hospitality sector

H

otel Owners Forum, Abuja, (HOFA) has called on the Federal Government to create a conducive environment which will enable the tourism and hospitality sector to thrive and generate revenue for the country.

President of HOFA, Dr Chike Ezeudeh, who made the call, last Wednesday, in Abuja, stressed that it remains the sole responsibility of government to provide policies for the sector to move forward.

“But when this is not done, it becomes very difficult for the investors to come in and contribute to the development of the sector. Look at Kenya, Tanzania and other countries; they mainly depend on tourism and agriculture unlike Nigeria.

“Europeans go to tourist sites in The Gambia, Kenya, Tanzania, Egypt and others because there is an environment that enabled them to do so. But this is not so in Nigeria, rather, Nigerians usually visit tourist sites in other countries.

“This is because there is still room for improvement on our tourist sites to encourage the participation of the private sector. ’We are not saying government should put much money in tourism but do the needful through policies that will sustain the interest of the citizens in visiting tourism sites. ‘’With the population of Nigerians, we can capitalise on what we have internally and move the sector forward,’’ he said.

According to Ezeudeh, tourism and hospitality sector has the capacity to create millions of jobs for Nigerians.

While pointing out that Abuja Children Zoo, Jabi Lake in the FCT and some tourist sites across the country had little to offer visitors, the HOFA president called on the private sector to contribute to the collective efforts to develop tourism and hospitality, adding ‘’it is high time they woke up from their slumber.’’

He called for a review of the interest being charged by banks on loans secured by stake holders in tourism for the development of the tourism sector in the country.

Travel agents advocate awareness programme to develop tourism

N

ational Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA) has called on the Federal Government, and stakeholders alike, to create an effective awareness programme in the tourism and hospitality sector to facilitate its growth.

President of NANTA, Mr Barnard Bankole, who made the call, Monday, in Abuja, stressed that government should also avoid interfering in businesses that can readily be run by the private sector while restricting itself to creating enabling environments for these businesses to grow.

“For tourism and hospitality industry to thrive and benefit the Nigerian economy there is need for the right awareness; the private sector has to drive the awareness creation supported by the government.

“The government is aware of the fact that tourism is capable of contributing positively to the growth of the country; the government needs us as their foot soldiers in tourism development.

“The government has different platforms for awareness creation, like radio, television and others; they should give us the opportunity to ride on these platforms to effectively sensitise Nigerians on the need to patronise local tourism.

According to the NANTA president, government can equally involve in a public private partnership arrangement regarding tourism sites across the country, even as he further stressed that private firms in developed countries were in charge of supplying guns, weapons and other products, wondering why such cannot be done in tourism in Nigeria.

“Government does not have business managing activities that can be handled by the private sector. Government’s business is formulating and regulating policies.”

Country Director of the World Bank, Mr. Rachid Benmessaoud (l) with the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, when he paid a courtesy visit to the Lagos House in Ikeja, Thursday.

NTDC Re-enactment Bill passes second reading at senate Stories by VICTOR NZE

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he Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) Re-enactment Bill has passed its second reading at the senate.

At the resumed debate on the bill, Tuesday, bill sponsor, Senator Matthew Urhoghide, said that it sought to repeal the controversial Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation Act 1992 and enact the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority 2017.

Urhoghide, who is Chairman, Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism, explained that the bill would promote Nigeria as a tourism destination through improvement of tourism facilities, even as he recalled that it was read for the first time on March 9, 2017, and that tourism played important role in enhancing inclusive economic growth and development of advanced and emerging economics.

“Tourism stimulates economic growth by generating income, employment and it serves as a catalyst for socio-economic development,” he said.

The lawmaker, however, remarked

that in Nigeria, tourism was ‘still at its infancy’ considering the large accumulation of resources which were yet untapped.

“Also, the institutional structure is yet to be regulated to compete favourably with other fast growing tourism destinations. It is unfortunate that the contribution of tourism to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is quite appalling. For example, in 2016 the total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP was N1.86 billion,” he said.

Supporting the Bill, Sen. Jonah Jang (PDP-Plateau) described it as wellthought and should be given urgent attention because tourism if harnessed properly in Nigeria, would be next to oil in revenue generation, ‘if not more.’

“Tourism should be private-sector driven, but there is a need to get the infrastructure that will attract private sector involvement in tourism. Our roads are so bad that our people cannot move freely; the railway lines are not there because the improvement that is supposed to be given to the railways we just read in newspapers.

“The private airlines are virtually just managing and we cannot create tourism that can attract people to come into tourism without this infrastructure that are being provided. So, we have to take a look at what is required in form of infrastructure that attracts the private sector, both foreign and local, to be able to develop our tourism,” he said.

Also contributing, Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa (PDP-Abia) said that the Bill was timely as Nigeria was talking about diversification.

“In most countries, tourism has become the heartbeat and the economic mainstay. Nigeria is endowed with so much tourism potential but we have been unable to harness these potential, maybe because of no enabling laws or lack of interest on our side.”

Ohuabunwa said that if the sector was developed, gains from tourism would surmount that of oil.

Thereafter, President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, referred the Bill to the Committee on Culture and Tourism to work on and report back in four weeks.

Initiate policies to grow hospitality sector - LCCI urges Lagos govt Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has urged the state government to initiate policies geared towards growing and developing its hospitality sector.

Leading a high-level delegation of LCCI to the state Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Chief Samuel Alabi, who said the visit was also to rejoice with the state on her well-deserved Golden Jubilee celebration, added that it was intended to solicit the support of the present administration in developing the hospitality industry.

Alabi who disclosed that the LCCI team was seeking partnership with the State Government in the development of hotels, tourism and entertainment

sector in the state, however, applauded the giant steps already taken by Government which had impacted positively on their industry such as the renovation and rehabilitation of Apapa Amusement Park, beautification of parks and gardens, huge investment in the security of lives and property, amongst others.

He called on the ministry to initiate policies that will act as a catalyst to the development of the sector as well as reduce the number of government agencies that interface with business owners, and also expedite action on the plan to construct new monuments simultaneously across the State.

While noting that these steps would clearly attract more tourists, travelers and

even give birth to new businesses, he reiterated that Lagos remains the commercial capital of Nigeria, as such its tourism potentials must be fully developed towards making the city attain its position as one of the Top Tourist Destination Africa.

Responding, Mrs. Adebimpe Akinsola, the Acting Commissioner in the Ministry thanked the LCCI team for the visit and said the Ambode-administration is an inclusive government ready to collaborate with private and public organistaions on all sectors.

She outlined the government’s plan to develop and strengthen commerce and industry in the State and promised to consider their request for partnership.

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The Oracle Today, Wednesday July 26, 2017

AVIATION

Nigeria 50yrs behind in aviation development’ Stories by VICTOR NZE

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… MMIA Lagos to be certified on July 21

hairman of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), Dr. Wale Babalakin, has declared that the country’s aviation industry remains 50 years behind in modern technology from the rest of the world, even as he further decried the slow pace of development in the sector.

Babalakin, who was speaking during the Aviation Round Table (ART) 2nd Quarter Breakfast Meeting, themed: Investment Opportunity in Airport Development for Economic Growth, in Ikeja, Lagos, last Monday, further posited that the sector has also not grown in Nigeria ‘as those who started same time with the country had left it behind.’

The Bi-Courtney boss, who noted that the aviation sector can be developed to become a catalyst for economic growth, however, expressed doubts over the commitment of the Federal Government to ‘make it happen.’

“Aviation is a catalyst for economic growth it can be too but I am concerned whether we are

keen on this happening. If we are keen, I am concerned if we have the skills to accomplish this. I have seen so many airlines come and go; some celebrated and some are not but they have all come and go.

“Have we researched thoroughly to find out the reason for their collapse? I used to hear the blanket answer that ‘it’s the military,’ but I have discovered that the engine room of the military were civilians for the reason. I no longer find it convenient to say that it’s the military because the civilians there destroyed aviation.

“I am not sure there is any component of an aircraft that is manufactured in Nigeria and certified.

We import everything including the aviation fuel and we are exporting crude oil,” he said.

Also remarking at the event, Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who was guest of honor, acknowledged the failings on the part of government, which he blamed on

the absence of regulatory framework, and poor policy making decisions.

“There are lots of challenges in the area of regulatory framework and policy making decisions. If you don’t obey your own agreements, you will be sending wrong signals not only to your local community but also to the international community. People come here to invest because they want returns on their investment.”

Meanwhile, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has stated that the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, would be certified on July 21.

Director of Operations, FAAN, Mr Rabiu Yadudu, who made the disclosure, Monday, while speaking with newsmen on the sidelines of the Quarterly Breakfast Meeting of the Aviation Roundtable (ART) in Lagos, said that the certification of airports in the country would improve infrastructure, procedure and safety.

“Once we certify Lagos, we will continue with that of Abuja Airport which will take place after another five weeks. We are also targeting the certification of other airports like Kano, Enugu and Port Harcourt within the next few months,” he said.

The airport certification is being done by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), Western and Central Africa (WACAF) under its implementation of the Africa-Indian Ocean (AFI) Plan Aerodrome Certification Project.

The AFI Plan was adopted by the 36th ICAO Assembly to address the safety status of aircraft operations in the AFI Region.

It is meant to address focal areas which are: to establish and maintain a sustainable oversight system (infrastructure/capacity building) and assist states to resolve identified deficiencies within reasonable time.

The plan also aims to enhance aviation safety culture of African aviation service providers.

he Nigerian Airspace ManageTrounded ment Agency (NAMA) has off a four-week On-the-

Also remarking, General Manager, Aeronautical Information Services (AIS) department, Alhaji Ka-

bir Gusau, noted that the exercise was meant to prepare cadets to appreciate the theoretical aspects

of their training through practical interface with equipment and colleagues at work.

NAMA ends training for graduating AIS cadets

Job Training (OJT) for 48 Aeronautical Information Services (AIS) Cadets of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria.

The agency’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Mrs Olajumoke Adetona, who disclosed this in a statement issued, Monday, in Lagos, explained that the assessment was in line with International Civil Aviation Standards and Recommended Practices (ICAO SARPS).

She said the OJT exercise which took place at designated airports in Lagos and Kano centres, was part of the critical requirements for the cadets to attain certification by NCAT as full AIS Officers.

“The cadets who commenced their Nine-Month Basic Aeronautical Information Management Officers Course (BAIMO) in October 2016 have been exposed to fundamentals in Maps and Charts, Air Traffic Services (ATS), Meteorology and Communication.

“They have also received training on Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM), Aerodrome Ground Aids (AGA), Aircraft Operating Characteristics (AOC), among other courses and are due to graduate in August 2017,’’ she said.

Adetona said a workshop on eflight plan and e-NOTAM was also held at the agency’s headquarters in Lagos at the end of the OJT exercise.

Congratulating the cadets, Managing Director of NAMA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, said the agency would continue to prioritize training and retraining of staff, as this would ‘enable them to effectively man the sophisticated Air Traffic Management infrastructure being deployed by the agency.’

NAF resumes training of pilots for drones

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he Nigerian Air Force (NAF), has disclosed that it had resumed the training of pilots for Unarmed Air Vehicles, otherwise known as drones.

The NAF Chief of Logistics, AVM Iliyasu Muhammad who made the disclosure in Kaduna, Wednesday, while receiving the service oldest aircraft, repaired by Dornier, and also flagging off the training of pilots to man the drones, said the aim was to enhance the strategic response of NAF to security challenges in the country.

According to him, the NAF Research and Development Centre had developed training manuals and facilitated local production of a drone in an effort to ensure self-reliance by the service.

He said although the first batch of training was conducted in 2013, but was suspended during the year due to problems of serviceable parts for the vehicles.

The chief of logistics stressed that pilots earlier trained had “contributed immensely to the ongoing operation in the North East with our CH-3A UAV conducting both combat and non-combat operations.

“Following successful modification and reactivation of the trainer UAVs, we are gathered here today to flag off the continuation of UAV pilot training in the NAF.’’ Earlier, the Chief of Standard and Evaluation, AVM Kingsley Lar, said the NAF research and development centre, has built one drone and repaired another with materials sourced off the shelf and locally.

Five officers will be trained for three months to man the drones.

Airline shares rise by more than 20% for June lobal airlines share prices inG creased, and outperformed the global equity index, for the third

•(L-R): Commissioner/CEO Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Engr. Akin Olateru with the Chairman, National Transportation Safety Bureau (NTSB), Robert L. Sumwalt and Managing Director of NTSB, Mr Dennis Jones, at the headquarters of NTSB, Washington DC, United States during Olateru’s recent official visit to NTSB.

‘Compel airlines to pay charges’

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igerian Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) has called on President Muhammad Buhari through the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, and the National Assembly to prevail on the defaulting members of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) to pay up charges so that the nation’s aviation industry would not collapse.

NATCA in a statement jointly signed by both the President and General Secretary Comrade Eyaru Victor and Alawode Banji respectively, said such payments will save the industry from impending collapse and enhance the capacity of the agencies to effectively perform

their duties.

NATCA reasoned that since AON members are paid for the services they render to the flying public, they should in turn be ready to pay for the services rendered to them by the aviation agencies.

According to the association, Federal government should also, as a matter of urgency, look at refining Jet A1 in the country to reduce its present high cost for the survival of the Airlines. The issues of multiple destinations in the country granted to foreign airlines should be reviewed by the Federal Government in the interest of the growth of our local airlines.

“We use this medium to appreciate the Federal Government on the dispatch with which Abuja airports runway was reconstructed. We however appeal that the same zeal should be employed in fixing the Lagos Airports central taxiway (abandoned for more than a decade now), replacement of the unreliable Abuja Control Towers lift, upgrading of the already old nations radar facilities (TRACON), completion of the Kaduna Control Tower under construction to replace the burnt one and reconstruction of equally burnt Maiduguri Control Tower, to mention just a few, in the overall interest of air safety”, NATCA stated.

month in a row in June.

Airline shares have risen by more than 20 percent since start-2017, and are currently around 44percent higher than a year ago.

The recent gains in airline share prices indicate that investors are continuing to look through the impact that squeezed profit margins has had on airline financial performance in Q1 2017, and are focusing instead on signs that the upward pressure on the breakeven load factor is easing.

The resilience of US crude oil supply has continued to put downward pressure on oil prices. Brent crude oil prices fell back below US$50/bbl during June, and are currently broadly unchanged from levels seen a year ago.

Meanwhile, although passenger yields remain around 4.5percent lower in year-on-year terms, the latest monthly data add to signs that the downward trend in yields has bottomed out.

Passenger and freight demand have both continued their strong start to 2017. The passenger load factor remains close to an all-time high, while the freight load factor recently recovered to its highest level since July 2014.

The pick-up in global trade is helping to support premium passenger demand, particularly to, from and within Asia Pacific. Premium revenues have risen in yearon-year terms on key routes to and from the region so far in 2017.

29

The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26, 2017

INSURANCE & PENSION

AIICO Insurance transfers N1.5bn assets to PTAD

FG set to insure public assets

IICO Insurance Plc says it has formally handed over pension assets, landed property, private equity holding and cash worth N1.5billion as legacy funds held in its custody to the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD).

The Executive Secretary, PTAD, Mrs Sharon O. Ekeazor while speaking at the formal handing over said that the Pension Reform Act, 2014 vested all pension assets, funds and liabilities in PTAD. She added that following the consolidation of treasury funds by PTAD in August 2015, the Federal Government discontinued the release of pension intervention funds to insurance companies and in the fulfilment of its mandate under the Act that PTAD has taken over the administration of Legacy Pension Funds and assets in the custody of insurance companies and Boards of Trustees of treasury funded parastatals.

According to her, out of 15 insurance firms that were holding the pension funds under the Defined Benefits Scheme (DBS), only five have so far effected the transfer. She appealed to other nine to do so without delay.

Head, Group Life, AIICO Insurance Plc, Mr Benson Ogunyamoju, speaking on behalf of the company said: “AIICO is fulfilling its obligation by transferring all legacy funds to PTAD”.

AIICO Insurance is the leading life insurer in Nigeria. Founded in 1963, AIICO provides life and health insurance, general insurance, investment management and pension management services as a means to create and protect wealth for individuals, families and corporate customers.

Stories by CHRIS EBONG

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NSE lifts suspension on Sovereign Trust Insurance shares

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he Nigerian Stock Exchange, (NSE) has lifted the recent suspension it placed on the trading of Sovereign Trust Insurance shares on the floor of the stock floor.

In a release issued by the Exchange dated July 11, 2017 and signed by the Acting Head, Listings Regulation Department, the Regulatory Body posited that, “the Exchange has lifted the suspension of trading in the shares of Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc after being cleared accordingly pursuant to Rule 3.3, Rules for filing of Accounts and Default Filing, Rulebook of the Exchange (Issuers’ Rules).

The company, elating over the development, describes it as cheery news not only for the management but also for its shareholders who have over the years been very supportive to the course of the fastgrowing insurance company in the country.

According to the Managing Director/CEO of the company, Olaotan Soyinka, “the development with NSE was rather unfortunate and regrettable, as the company never at any point in time, set out to flout the rules of the Regulatory Body in whatever manner.” In circumstances like this, one can only take the constructive lessons learnt from the whole saga and ensure such occurrence does not happen again. We are avowedly committed to the ethics of our business and we will always continue to be a very responsible corporate citizen at all times, he added.

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he Federal Government, at the just concluded 2017 National Insurance Conference, has assured of its readiness to adequately insure all its assets.

The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, made the pledge during this year’s edition of the confab organized by the Insurance Industry Consultative Council (IICC) with the theme: ‘Nigeria open for business’ in Abuja.

According to her, the move became necessary giving the enor-

mous interest shown by foreign investors in the industry positing that to sustain their confidence, the government need to play its part.

“Foreign investors have shown great interest in the Nigerian insurance sector by entering into the market and progress can be seen in the introduction of new insurance products in the growing mortgage and housing sector.

The Federal Government will play its part to ensure that government assets are adequately insured”, she said.

Mrs. Adeosun, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mahmoud IsaDutse, also hinted that through the Voluntary Asset and Income Declaration Scheme, the Federal Government would train insurance brokers and underwriters whose in their role is supporting individuals to purchase insurance policies that hedge potential losses of wealth and assets.

Commending insurance industry for being dynamic and creating employment and entrepreneurship opportunities at all levels,

NAICOM vows to protect policy holders

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he National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has reiterated its commitment in protecting the interest of policy holders in the country.

The Commissioner for Insurance (NAICOM), Mr Mohammed Kari said this at the just concluded 2017 National Insurance Conference in Abuja. He added that the Commission is also committed to ensuring ease of doing business within the sector in a manner that would engender growth to the sector and economy at large.

“The commission has documented an A to Z on ease of doing business between NAICOM and the industry. The document was compiled from inputs made from the insurance market through NAICOM’s SERVICOM and it contains what is required of the operators and the regulators that will aid ease of doing business,” he said.

The NAICOM boss said that the trend by which individual companies abuse the insurance association was becoming a concern to the regulator and urged the companies to brace up to their responsibilities.

He warned against taking every issue that has to do with regulatory directive to trade associations saying; “When we release guidelines, it cannot conform to everybody’s wishes or expectations, if you have specific issues come to us rather than make it an association issue,” he said.

On the issue of rates of insurance policies, the commissioner said it had become a challenge to the operators in the industries.

Kari urged the insurance companies to come together and work in harmony to be able to resolve the issue, adding that NAICOM would also play its role to resolve the matter.

“On the issue of rating and undercutting, I think we have to intervene and bring an end to this problem. Over time, we have received confrontations and have responded accordingly.

We have agreed that if you (operators) have an agreement, we can enforce it for you so you have to think harder, “Kari said.

The Chairman, Nigeria Insurance Association, Mr Eddie Efekoha reiterated the association’s com-

mitment toward resolving the challenge of disparity in rates of insurance policies. He urged the operators to ensure it met its primary obligations to policy holders, especially in the area of claims settlement.

He noted that in spite of the efforts by the regulator to resolve the issue of unsettled claims, some insurance companies were still defaulting in paying claims.

Efekoha said that the non-payment of claim was affecting the image of the industry and urged the regulator to further look into the matter.

He said that if most of the issues in the sector were resolved, they would help increase insurance penetration in the country.

The President, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Mr Emmanuel Okunorem urged the regulators to ensure that it involved the brokers in its decision making.

He said that the brokers had a major role to play in the industry and should be carried along as collaboration of all players in the sector was vital.

•L-R: Henry Egbiki (Country Leader, EY Nigeria) with Rotini Okpaise (New Partner, Actuarial Services, EY Nigeria) during the media briefing, announcing the appointment of the new Actuarial Partner in EY Nigeria.

she said the government would support the sector to continue to contribute effectively to sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

“We must be willing to expand the insurance market beyond the upper class and formally employed market, to the middle and lower income market. Doing this means that our distribution channels must be innovative, considering product features, cost, proximity and all other relevant factors,” Adeosun stated.

…Approves Guinea Insurance financials for 2016

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he National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has approved the 2016 financial accounts of Guinea Insurance Plc, the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Pius Edobor has confirmed.

According to him; “The approval was contained in a letter signed on behalf of the Commission by its Director (Supervision) Mr. O. Oba, dated 6th July 2017 and captioned: Approval for Publication of Year 2016 Annual Returns and Accounts”.

This in effect signifies that Guinea Insurance is one of the underwriting firms that have secured NAICOM’s approval upon submission of its 2016 International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) based accounts to NAICOM as stipulated in the 2003 Insurance Act. Edobor, in a statement in Lagos, underscored that the Company was well–positioned to take advantage of the competitive terrain as it continued to progress on the directions and efforts of its Board, Management and staff.

In his words: “We are alive to our responsibilities of consolidating and strategically growing market share through decisive long-term investments and customer engagement initiatives. Against the background of a complicated national economic environment in the financial year ended December 31, 2016, the Company delivered a relatively good underlying performance”.

According to him, the underwriting firm grew its Gross Written Premium by 4.18per cent from N870million in 2015 to N907million achieved in 2016. Shareholders’ Fund in 2016 was N2.897billion and N2.899billion in 2015 representing a marginal drop of 0.08per cent.

Profit before Tax margin grew by 194.64per cent from N46.9million in 2015 to N138million in 2016.

Profit after Tax grew by 134.87per cent from N7.2million loss experienced in 2015 to N2.5millon profit recorded in 2016. He added that the company successfully overcame the challenge of solvency margin during the year as its solvency margin stood at N3,014,791,000 in 2016 as against the previous year 2015 when the solvency margin was N2,981,596,000.

He said: “Customer satisfaction is the pivot of our Company’s achievements and this, inevitably builds brand loyalty. We are a formidable team destined for greatness and propelled by a Board of Directors and Management team that keep the faith that there are no limits, there are only plateaus and we will continually strive to remain on the path of profitability and growth”.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26, 2017

INSURANCE & PENSION Prudential buys over Zenith Insurance

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• L-R: Mr. Ibrahim Boyi, Dirctor, Eterna Plc; Mr. Mahmud Tukur, Managing Director/CEO, Eterna Plc; Haruna Jalo-Waziri, Executive Director, Capital Market Division, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE); Mr. Lamis Shehu Dikko, Chairman, Eterna Plc; Mr. Oluwole Abegunde, Director, Eterna Plc and Mr. Tony Ibeziako, Head, Domestic Primary Market, NSE at a Closing Gong Ceremony at the Exchange recently.

Cyber policy to hit $20bn by 2020 –Report Stories by CHRIS EBONG

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yber insurance cover is estimated to range from $7.5 billion – $20 billion by 2020 according to prediction by a research agency.

Predicted to become one of the leading growth areas of the market by industry observers, the report said that global insurance sector has repositioned itself to tap from the new growth area moving from underwriting cyber as part of a combined policy to a standalone policy, according to report.

The rating agency said that with the growing frequency and intensity of cyber-attacks in the past two years, this risk presents the greatest opportunities for the global market, especially U.S. P&C growth.

However, as much uncertainty still surrounds this risk, carriers are advised to be cautious in underwriting practices, using appropriate risk management and mitigation measures.

The report explained that direct premiums for cyber cover have seen outstanding growth of 34.7per cent from 2015 to 2016 as indicated in reports by U.S. companies.

While this trend could continue into coming years, A.M. Best cautioned that some doubts remain as to whether this growth will continue to skyrocket; “after every reported breach, the demand for coverage increases but the overarching question is whether this demand will be sustained.”

A key trend identified from the agency’s analysis of 2015 and

2016 data is that top cyber policy writers have shifted from packaged policies to standalone policies – a sign of progress towards developing more sophisticated understanding of cyber risk.

“Total direct premiums written (DPW) in 2016 was $1.3 billion, of which 67.9per cent were on a standalone basis, with the balance reported as packaged policies.”

“Focusing on the top twenty writers, standalone cyber policy paid losses, relative to direct premiums earned (DPE), increased from 19.5per cent in 2015 to 24.3per cent in 2016.”

This increase in paid losses for packaged coverages was driven by the defence and litigation costs that are inherent in such policies.

The report noted that prior to

this move to standalone cyber policies, most claims had been covered under traditional insurance products such as Commercial General Liability Policies (CGLP), Business Interruption (BI), or Directors & Officers (D&O), however, as the industry makes the shift to writing cyber as a standalone risk, better pricing and reserving methods and more refined models and risk aggregation policies are being developed.

“A.M. Best expects a continued increase in the standalone type of coverage as compared with packaged, mainly due to anticipated cost and expense reductions in litigating disputed claims, as well as more specific and defined policy language focused on the prevalent type of attacks.”

Royal Exchange General settles N2.71bn claims in 2016

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oyal Exchange General Insurance Company, (REGIC), one of Nigeria’s general and special risks underwriters,says it paid out a total of N2.71billion as claims to its corporate and individual clients at the end of the 2016 financial year.

Making this disclosure in Lagos, the Managing Director of REGIC, Mr. Benjamin Agili said that his company’s focus is the prompt settlement of genuine insurance claims asserting that this will continue to be the business philosophy of his firm in years ahead. He said that the company will continue to support the business community as it strives to increase

the manufacturing capacities of industries in the country.

According to Mr. Agili, “Royal Exchange has once again demonstrated its strength and ability to honour its financial obligations and also protect the interest of its various corporate and individual clients, as there is a conscious effort to have a genuine partnership with the clients based on trust and integrity, core values which was instilled by the founders of the company and have continued to drive the operations and strategic directions of the company”.

Speaking further, he said, “For us in Royal Exchange, customer satisfaction is everything. We

have an enduring capacity to shoulder our customer’s risk, should they arise and this is further evidence of our financial depth derived from prudent and conservative accounting system, a highly motivated workforce as well as a professionally structured organisation.

At Royal Exchange, our core values of relationship, trust, and integrity compel us to always seek ways of optimising our processes to ensure that the customer receives immediate benefit for doing business with us”.

Mr. Agili added.

Giving a breakdown of the various amounts paid in the different insurance classes, Mr.

Agili said a total of N1.045billion was paid on Fire and Industrial All Risk (IAR) insurance policies, representing 38.5per cent, followed by Motor and Accident insurance with N953.76 million, accounting for 35per cent, while claims on Marine Insurance grew by 15.3per cent amounting to N415.87million within the period of review.

Other classes of insurance with claims payments include Special Risk insurance policies with N277.11 million paid out as claims, representing 10.1per cent of total claims, Engineering and Bond Insurance policies amounted to N5.27million and N20.08 million respectively.

he foreign direct investment into insurance industry received a boost recently as the British insurer; Prudential said it had bought a majority stake in Nigeria’s Zenith Life to give it access to the African country’s fast-growing insurance market.

It said it had also signed a deal with the Nigerian insurer’s parent Zenith Bank Plc to sell life and other insurance products via the bank in Nigeria and Ghana.

“Today’s announcement is an important milestone for Prudential and our growing portfolio of high-quality life insurance businesses in Africa,” Matt Lilley, chief executive of Prudential Africa.

Zenith Life, which had gross written premiums worth N3.3 billion ($10.82 million) at the end of 2016, will be rebranded as ZenithPrudential Life Insurance.

The investor who already has operations in Ghana, Kenya, Uganda and Zambia, however, did not say what was the worth or size of its equity stake in Zenith Life Nigeria.

$100,000 Insurance: Nigerian woman bags life sentence

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Nigerian woman, Uloma Walker-Curry, who hired assassins to murder her white husband so she could make claims on his $100,000 insurance policy in 2013, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with no parole by a Cleveland court in the USA. According to agency report, Uloma who was 44 at the time of the murder, and her firefighter husband, Lt. William Curry Walker, had been married for just four months when she contracted the trio of Chad Padgett, 21, Christopher Hein, 22, and Ryan Dorty, 23, to kill him so she could collect on his life insurance policy and cover up financial fraud she committed in her husband’s name.

She was convicted of aggravated murder in a scheme that was flawed from the start, according to the court reports because Walker’s ex-wife was still the beneficiary of his policy.

Walker-Curry’s trial began on June 21, 2017, and she did not take the stand in her defense and would be sentenced on August 8.

Prosecutors said she was nearing financial ruin after running up tens of thousands of dollars in debt when she asked her then-17year-old daughter and the daughter’s boyfriend to find someone to kill her husband so she could collect the insurance money.

But a police investigation found that Walker-Curry’s scheme had a glaring problem from the outset as her husband had not yet changed the beneficiary on the insurance policy from his ex-wife’s name to hers at the time he was murdered.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26, 2017

Export Platform

By CHINYEMIKE TORTI

Gold rush to Abia State

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OGNIZANT of the cornucopia of the natural, human, agricultural, mineral resources Abia is endowed with, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu on assumption of office, immediately hit the ground running, embarking on cross border trade missions aimed at revamping, broadening, expanding the industrial and entrepreneurial potentials of the state. During the last quarter of 2015 he led a delegation, consisting of members of both the Aba and Umuahia Chambers of Commerce and 40 industrialists, businessmen to the KONEXPO FAIR, at Istanbul, Turkey, which attracted over 10,000 participants from 20 countries, who in the main are industrialists seeking new markets and raw materials for their products.

Prior to that, the Abia chief executive, was the arrow head of a high powered delegation to the United States of America, where he met and, interfaced with several companies, that had already expressed interest in collaborating with government in doing business, in Abia. The immediate outcome of that American trip was the identification of two Fortune 500 companies, with interest in leather and garments sub sectors.

In April 2017,the governor again was on the economic head winds on the platform of the 1st Nigeria-China Governors Investment Forum held in Guangzhou, China. At the plenary he used the occasion to highlight the investment potentials and attractiveness of Abia State and gave the assurance that any investor that sets up business in Abia State is guaranteed substantial returns on their investment.

He outlined the investment advantages of Abia State to include: location in the middle of 7 states, a captive population of over 25M people, 17 railway stations traversing the length and breadth of the state, proximity to 4 airports, a seaport and home to the largest MSME hub in West Africa.

The Governor also used the opportunity to market the Enyimba Free Trade Zone currently under actualisation. The Free Trade Zone is a 9,000-hectare stretch of land from Ugwunagbo to the boundary with Port Harcourt in Ukwa. Because vigorous industrialisation, thrives with the active collaboration of local and foreign investors Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has put together a template garnished with incentives, tax breaks and mouth watering freebies for public-private participation. More so now that globalisation is running at full throttle, conventional economic wisdom posits that government restricts itself to the role of a buffer stock manager, in providing well focused, business-friendly framework, structures and processes to enable the organized private sector, engage optimally in trade, investments and industry. And that is exactly the mantra, adopted by the present administration in repositioning Abia as the ultimate investment destination.

It is pertinent to mention that Aba, the ENYIMBA City, from time of yore has always been at the matrix of the global supply/value chain of production of goods, commodities, commerce and services. Sampler: for decades, Aba has been known for great tailoring. Of all Nigerian towns, Aba, alone, is known for haberdashery.

Bespoke men’s suits made in Aba, have found their ways to the big markets of the world, particularly Dubai, from where they are re-exported to third countries, including Nigeria, rebranded as Italian suits!

Middlemen and moonlighting travelers have for decades creamed off the sweat and skills of Aba tailors. It is ironic that people with the worldclass skills of Aba tailors should remain poor and under-employed not when Europe in recession, would have use of Aba’s low cost but high quality haberdashery; not when AGOA opens a preferential window to the vast US market; certainly not now that electricity supply is improving and hence driving down the cost of production.

As we speak, clothing factories in Europe and the US are all literally shutting down, leaving In-

• Palm nuts dia and China as the only significant competitors; not when skilled Aba workmen are mobile and can do finishing in foreign markets; certainly, Aba clothes makers have no business being poor at a time like this.

Ditto for shoes, leather products. It is an unassailable fact that Made In Aba, footwear, industrial boots, hard hats are shipped off to Dubai, where they are customised, repackaged and passed off, as ‘designer’ shoes to gullible fashion aficionados in cross border markets. A pair of leather shoe, in Aba with a shelf price of N5, 000, would command a hefty tag of $800 (eight hundred dollars). Not too long ago the Senate President, Dr. Olusola Saraki and former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, threw their hats into the ring by placing orders for Made in Aba shoes while they implored government MDA’s to do the same.

Natural resources, in vast exploitable quantities abound in each of the 17 local governments.

Kudos to the vision of Governor Okezie, oversea investors are beginning to show interests in setting up shop in ABIA. Windows of opportunities abound aplenty, ranging from mineral resources like lead, zinc, copper, phosphate, gypsum, limestone, tar sands, iron ore, kaolin, igneous rocks, natural gas and oil.

Agriculture has always occupied a pride of place as an economic back bone of the state, from primordial times, as Abia lies in the rain forest belt laden with various products such as wood, oil palm, cocoa and a flourishing compendium of human and natural resources. Crude oil and gas are found in very large quantities in Obuzo, Owaza, Ngboko, Nkali, Obeakpu, Isimiri.

There is plenty of room for players willing to partner with the state in the upstream, mid stream and downstream sectors. Extensive gas reserves abound in Ohuru, Ukwa East local government which has tremendous potentials in the global market liquefied natural gas, more especially to countries in the Pacific Basin, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan who have little or no domestic production for piped deliveries. Request for gas deliveries, hover around 40 million tonnes per annum.

Arochukwu, Ohafia and Isiukwuato Local Government Areas command humongous limestone deposits, which have numerous industrial applications for the manufacture of cement, glass, iron and steel, road construction and fertilizer. Lodged in the bowels Lokpaukwu, Umunneochi local government are vintage accumulation of lead, zinc and copper, used for the manufacture of car batteries, X-ray equipment, as it protects doctors and nurses from the hazards of the machines. Still at Lokpaukwu is gypsum; a vital input in the production of cement,

pharmaceuticals and Plaster of Paris (POP).

Amaeke in Umuahia and Arochukwu are bequeathed with extensive phosphate reservoirs.

It is a treasure trove given the extent of proven deposits. Results of geological surveys affirm that enough supplies that could support over 100 years of industrial processing are emboweled there. By far the largest user of phosphate is in fertilisers, accounting for around 85 % of total consumption. Phosphorus is one of the three main plant nutrients, along with nitrogen and potassium, and is therefore included in inorganic fertilisers, for both agricultural crops and for gardens.

Phosphate is also provided to agricultural crops by spreading of municipal waste water sludge for agricultural purposes or by using treated sewage to enhance growth of plants, producing biomass which can be used as an organic fertiliser. Because of its high value as a nutrient, phosphate is widely used in the manufacturing of animal feed supplement. Food grade phosphates are used in many foods including dairy, meat, bakery products and soft drinks. It is also used as a main component of domestic dishwasher detergents, as well as in industrial detergents and specialist industrial cleaning product.

Kaolin is in superfluity at Ikwuano, Umuahia and the northern section of Isiukwuato Local

Government Area. Kaolin, commonly referred to as china clay, is clay that contains 10–95% of the mineral kaolinite and usually consists mainly of kaolinite (85–95%). In addition to kaolinite, kaolin usually contains quartz and mica and also, less frequently, feldspar, illite, montmorillonite, ilmenite, anastase, haematite, bauxite, zircon, rutile, kyanite, silliminate, graphite, attapulgite, and halloysite. Some clays used for purposes similar to those for which kaolin is used may contain substantial amounts of quartz. Kaolin is a huge foreign exchange earner, and the supplies from Abia, Nigeria are included in recorded international trade statistics. Kaolin is an important industrial mineral that has an enormous variety of uses. It is utilized as a coating for paper and accounts for almost half of the total domestic consumption for roughly 80% of the exported kaolin to the world market. Other important uses of kaolin find expression as filler in the production of paint, paper, rubber, fiberglass, mineral wool.

It is used as a landfill liner, and as a catalyst in oil and gas refining. The usage historically associated with kaolin, manufacture of porcelain and chinaware.

In the Uturu, Lokpanta Lekwesi axis of God’s own state are large holdings of igneous rocks.

Because they are so hard, igneous rocks make useful road building materials. When sheets of igneous rock are cut and polished, they are used inside buildings such as banks and offices, and are also used as gravestones. There are different types of igneous rock, therefore each type has its own uses, such as, granite used for long lasting monuments, for trim and decoration on buildings.

We have also the Pumice variety used quite often as a decorative landscape stone. If grounded to a powder, it is used as an abrasive in polish compounds and in lava soap. Crystalline igneous rocks can be used for jewelry and other similar things like countertops and building materials, landscaping. Export prospects to the European market are very strong. Iron Ore is a veritable part of Isuikwuato and the proven reserves are included in the national trade registry. It is the basic raw material used for the iron and steel making industry.

Although iron has many specific uses viz pipes, fittings, engine block, its main use is in the production of steel. Steel has several desirable properties. Making it the main structural metal in engineering and building projects and accounts for 90% of all metal used each year. As we speak, 25 blue chip investors have responded positively to the IKPEAZU revolution in Abia, and we are still counting.

HEREWITH BELOW ARE A FEW OF THE NEW FOREIGN INVESTORS IN ABIA S/No NAME OF INVESTOR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN/PROPOSED FUND SOURCE AREA (S) OF INTEREST 1. Crown Realties Plc Nigeria/Various Free Trade & Industrial Zone 2. Kunwon Construction Co. Ltd South Korea Mini Industrial Park 3. Afropoland Group/Pilgrim Ranch Ltd Poland Agriculture/Goat Farming 4. Kings Corporation Group USA

Refinery, Power Plant, Seaport and Airport 5. Geonel Group Israel New City Development 6. Benchmark Consortium Nigeria/UAE Agriculture/Cassava Value Chain & Oil Palm 7. Fresno Solution

Nigeria Lottery 8. Samthonia Realty Investments LLC, USA Real Estate 9. Dunnel World Wide Ltd Nigeria/Poland Real Estate 10. H. J. Trust And Investment Limited Nigeria Agriculture/Palm Oil 11. AG Homes Ltd Nigeria Real Estate 12. Presco Nigeria Limited Nigeria Agriculture/Palm Oil 13. Rauch Integrated Services Ltd Nigeria Agriculture/Palm Oil 14. S-Atm Nigeria Limited Nigeria Agriculture/Palm Oil 15. CWG Plc Nigeria IT Infrastructure/Automated IGR Projects 16. Epcot Crenshaw UK Waste Management 17. Arc Aspire Projects Ltd Nigeria Real Estate 18. UPS-TUG Nigeria Agriculture/Cassava 19. Global Waste Mgt Solutions UK Waste Management 20. Lucas Group UK Waste Management 21 Elenre Engineering Nigeria Market Development/Real Estate 22. Bioste CUEINNO France Bio Refinery 23. xxxxxx USA Medical/Hospital 24. Evergrand Nig. Ltd Nigeria Market Development 25. MC Global LTD Nigeria Real Estate/Market Development •From all indications, Abia State under the watch of an awesome, visionary, eclectic Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, is back to winning ways as a veritable investment destination, whose potentials have been integrated into the global matrix and value chain of production, goods, services, trade and commerce.

32

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33

The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26, 2017

Love and Living

... With Ireto Temofeh

Oracle Girl of the Week

LOVE NEWS

Couples give marriage advice in just three words after hashtag goes viral on Twitter

A

sk any married person for advice on how to make a relationship work and they’ll probably have a lot to say.

But a new Twitter hashtag which emerged yesterday inviting people to share their ‘#MarriageAdviceIn3Words’ demanded a much more concise response.

More than 1,500 social media users took up the challenge within 24 hours, and their snappy suggestions ranged from the profound and the practical to the amusing and the bizarre.

A handful of celebrities even waded in to join the popular discussion, with two revealing their advice during an appearance on Comedy Central.

‘Eventually you’ll die,’ stated actor Seth Green, while comedian Craig Ferguson quipped: ‘Deny deny deny.’

Meanwhile American fashion designer Kenneth Cole clearly knew what he was talking about when he tweeted: ‘Apologize with shoes.’

One of the most common threeword pearls of wisdom to appear alongside the hashtag was to always let a wife triumph.

Wife’s always right,’ one read.

‘You’re right honey’ and ‘she always wins’, read two others.

Another common piece of advice was to ‘marry your friend’ and to ‘laugh together often’.

Others were a little more specif-

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ic, with one Twitter user advising ‘put lid down!’ and another suggesting ‘get a dog’.

Unsurprisingly, considering some studies have revealed as many as 50 percent of married people confess to an affair, matters of fidelity featured heavily.

‘No hot nannies’, advised one user, while another simply suggested: ‘Don’t ever cheat!’

Computer-related advice was also a common thread, with gems including ‘delete browser history’ and ‘use good passwords’, as well as ‘unfriend exes’.

Many users mentioned religion as being vital in making a marriage work, with guidance such as ‘pray, plan, persevere, and ‘put God first’.

Opinions were split over the issue of bathroom privacy, with one suggesting ‘have separate bathrooms’ and another stating ‘kiss boundaries goodbye’, along with a photo of a Barbie and Ken doll placed in unabashed positions in a toy bathroom.

Finally, upon thorough examination of the most popular themes, there was no shortage of the simple three-word suggestion: ‘Don’t do it.’

Tweets of this nature included ‘kill yourself first’, ‘divorce is expensive’ and ‘get a prenup’.

Courtesy: Daily Mail.

• Do you want to be our next Oracle Girl? Send your photos to ireto007@yahoo. com and call 07031028714.

ODD NEWS Hidden ‘bra cam’ demonstrates how often men and women stare at women’s breasts

C

ontrary to what some men might imagine, it is blindingly obvious to a woman when her breasts are being stared at.

But what about the less overt, split-second glances our bosoms attract on a dayto-day basis? Nestlé attached a hidden camera to the bra of a female volunteer in London to find out, and somewhat predictably, discovered that it happens constantly.

Some men had clearly mastered the art of subtlety better than others, and women were just as likely to sneak a peek at the volunteer’s breasts as their male counterparts; resulting in 36 recorded glances in one day.

To be fair to the starers, the volunteer in this experiment was strolling around London with almost her entire lurid pink bra on show, worn under a mostly un-zipped

sweater.

As she makes her way around the city - stopping by coffee shops, taking the underground and at the office - the number of breast-glances rapidly clocks up.

Interestingly, the many women who stare at her chest do so in a much more blatant fashion, some with a detectable air of disapproval.

In one clip, a baby quite reasonably gazes at the woman’s breasts, and in another, even a dog is drawn to them.

The video is part of a new Nestlé Fitness campaign which encourages women to examine their own breasts for early signs of breast cancer.

‘Your breasts are checked out every day,’ the end-caption reads. ‘So, when was the last time you checked your own?’

It may be everywhere, but our human fascination with breasts is actually some-

thing of a mystery among scientists. Women are the only female mammals whose breasts develop at puberty, irrespective of pregnancy.

Additionally, male humans are the only mammals who show interest in breasts in a sexual context.

Whatever the reason for this, there’s also a specific size ratio that men find most alluring, according to a recent study conducted by London-based plastic surgeon Dr Patrick Malluci.

‘Beckoning breasts’ - as they’ve been dubbed - are ‘45per cent of the breast being above the line of the nipples and 55per cent below.’

Scarlett Johansson and Kate Middleton are both triumphant members of this category.

Courtesy: Daily Mail.

Sexy Love Poem Upon Julia’s Breasts BY ROBERT HERRICK Display thy breasts, my Julia, there let me Behold that circummortal purity; Between whose glories, there my lips I’ll lay, Ravished in that fair Via Lactea.

Romantic Joke Free Tonight A hot secretary came out angry out of her boss’s office. Her colleague asked: “What happened? You went in happy and came out angry.She replied: “He asked me if I am free tonight? I said absolutely free! Then the bastard gave me 45 pages to type!

34

The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26, 2017

True Confession

‘I fell in love with him because of his body’ M

y name is Sandra and I’m 29 years old. A few years ago, I was at a sexy and wild party in Port Harcourt with a group of my friends when I bumped into Chris, a guy I’d had a serious crush on since secondary school but hadn’t seen in years.

We ended up talking for most of the night. But after we’d had a few drinks, he excused himself to go to the bathroom.

When I bumped into him a few minutes later, I suggested that he come home with me. He told me to take some more bottles of beer before we would go home together. At first I refused but he put pressure on me to drink more, and before I knew it I was really drunk.

The next morning, I woke up with the worst hangover I’d ever had, and when I rolled over, I realized that I wasn’t with Chris at all -- I had gone home with his twin brother, Mike, whom I didn’t even know.

I was really angry with Chris for playing such a cruel trick on me. I had always known Chris as a joker but this joke was too practical for my liking.

Imagine having sex with a complete stranger whom you didn’t even meet before having sex with.

I was shocked after realizing that I had gone to bed with Chris’ twin brother and not Chris himself. But somehow I had to secretly admit to myself that I really enjoyed the one night stand I had had with Mike. He had satisfied me sexually, and that didn’t happen to me often!

When I took a good look at him, I loved his body because he was well built. And I felt that it would really be worth it to have an affair with Mike since I had really enjoyed having sex with him in the first place.

I didn’t want to make the first move by suggesting to Mike that we have a relationship. But I was glad when he confessed to me that he had also enjoyed our night together so much. He apologized for taking advantage of me and asked for my forgiveness.

I told Mike that I had forgiven him although I didn’t like the fact that we hadn’t been introduced to each other and therefore hadn’t even known each other before he went to bed with me.

I was really disappointed in Chris for setting me up with his brother like that, but I didn’t want to make a case out of it because if I did, both of them would have been arrested and probably jailed, because strictly speaking, such an act could be regarded as rape since I hadn’t expressly consented to having sex with Mike before the act.

However, I decided to let that matter rest. I accepted it as my destiny to meet Mike and when he asked me if we could date, I said yes from my heart because I knew that that was what I really wanted.

Mike and I started dating and it was really fun and exciting. I regard those first days of dating Mike as the happiest moments of my life.

Whenever I was alone, I daydreamed of the way Mike made love to me and I just couldn’t get him off my mind. I was like a flower and Mike was like a butterfly. We were stuck together!

I was in love with him. And I couldn’t sleep at night without wishing he

was by my side. I would turn and toss dreaming of Mike and wake up still thinking about him. I was crazy in love.

I told Mike about my past. I couldn’t hide my past from him anyway because I thought he deserved to know.

I honestly think that when you meet someone new in your life, that special person deserves to know your history, or rather, your story.

You don’t need to tell him/her every single detail but at least you owe it to the new person in your life to tell him/ her what you’ve been through in life.

I told Mike that I have been a victim of rape and heartbreak. I told him that when I was 17 a schoolmate forced himself on me. I didn’t know that I was pregnant with his baby because I was still a virgin then.

The guy denied me when he found out that I was pregnant. And after my daughter was born, my mother moved us out of Lagos to Port Harcourt and I lost contact with the father of my daughter.

I told Mike that I was lonely and needed the love of a man in my life, and he agreed to be my man.

That was three years ago. And today, Mike and I are still together. Mike says that he never experienced love at first sight until the day he set his eyes on me.

Whenever I tell him that I fell in love with him because of his sexy body, he smiles and looks so happy. Sometimes he says that I’m just teasing him or flattering him to make his head swell. But that is the truth.

In life, I’ve come to realize that exercise is very important to beauty. Exercise makes a man look good. The truth is that my Mike is hot and sexy and that’s to a significant part because of his well built body.

Here in Nigeria, women are the ones usually expected to maintain their shape, while men are allowed to grow pot bellies, erroneously thinking that it is a sign of wealth or good living. Although some men like fat women, a majority of fat women generally feel bad about their bodies and think that they may actually be unattractive.

I love my man because of the way he exercises and keeps fit and I wish all men were like that. I’m going to marry Mike not only because of his great body, but because I love him from the very depths of my being.

“When I took a good look at him, I loved his body because he was well built. And I felt that it would really be worth it to have an affair with Mike since I had really enjoyed having sex with him in the first place.”

35

The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26 , 2017

Relationships and Love Advice

‘Help! My man has gone back to his wife’

Love Search Women seeking relationship/ marriage Christine, 45, wants a loving and caring man for a serious relationship, preferably a widower or divorcee.

08136054294.

Blessing, 33, from Imo, in Lagos, fat, busty, single mother, needs a matured man of 45years+ for marriage.

08025117116, 08053407885.

Blessing, 38, from Anambra, tall, slim, good-looking, needs a dark, slim, Genotype AA, responsible man of 40years+ for marriage. 08164325554.

Stella, 34, a graduate, needs a businessman for marriage or somebody who can help her get a job in Lagos or Abuja. 08132807532.

Chioma, 27, tall, homely, graduate, from Anambra, wants a hard working, understanding man of 28 years+ for a serious relationship. 08066521152.

Ayo, 29, gentle, sexy, needs a reliable and sexually active man of 30-45years for a lasting relationship.

08066642286.

Augusta, 33, tall, graduate, needs a well educated, working or businessman from Anambra or Enugu for marriage. 07080991716.

Tolu, 33, nice, humble and principled, needs a gentle, mature man of 40-52years for a serious relationship.

08037435805.

Lawrencia, 28, a student, in Nassarawa, needs a man of 35-45years for friendship. 08175225886.

Dear Love Doctor, I am now heartbroken and an emotional wreck after my dream man recently returned to his wife. We had been living together for the past five years after he left his wife in Lagos and came to live in Abuja. Last Christmas, he said he was tired of living away from his family and that he wants to reconcile with his wife and children and live once again like a responsible family man. I’ve been feeling so sad since he left. What do I do now?

From Bunmi.

Love Doctor’s Advice: Dear Bunmi, He was never yours in the first instance, so you should have known that you were shooting yourself in the foot when you decided to live with somebody else’s man. Put yourself in the shoes of that man’s wife.

Would you like someone else to do to you what you did to her? The truth is that what goes around, comes around. Therefore, we should do to others what we want to be done to us. Through your living with that man, his family must have suffered a great deal, not to mention the psychological trauma and heartbreak his wife went through. You have to admit that through your actions, you caused his family a lot of pain, directly or indirectly. And if a man now chooses to do what is right by returning to his family and living responsibly as a married family man once again, the best you can do is to encourage him. You shouldn’t constitute a barrier to his doing what is right. We should all learn to make responsible choices in life and take responsibility for our actions. The choice to date or cohabit with a married person will always be wrong. We shouldnot lose our morality or values all in the name of love. It is simply not right. Although you may feel heartbroken at the moment, you just need to move on with your life and forget him.

Call Love Dr. 07031028714, 08131161840. E-mail: ireto007@yahoo.com Note: If you have fertility problems like childlessness, inability to conceive or get pregnant, miscarriages, fibroid, low sperm count, STDs, or need a male child or female? Call 07031028714 or 08131161840. Love Doctor can help you succeed in your marriage/relationship.

Chichi, 24, chocolate, needs a caring and responsible man of 35years+. 08036236683.

E-Mail: ireto007@yahoo.com. Call Love Doctor: 07031028714, 08131161840 for Counseling, fertility problems & Direct Hookup.

Men seeking relationship/ marriage Onyeka, 38, from Imo, businessman in Lagos, fair, needs a lady of 28-36years for marriage. 07033467234.

Obi, from Anambra, tall, fair, needs a lady of 18-32 years with a very large bust, in Anambra, for marriage.

08066671433.

Ndubuisi, 38, fair, 5.8ft, from Imo, businessman in Lagos, needs a lady of 27-34years for marriage. 08140652557.

Prince Kennedy, 31, 6ft, from Imo, in Lagos, needs a responsible woman of 25-35years with a good job that is ready to settle down. 08069162932.

Kunmi, 29, structural engineer, wants a sugar mummy in Abuja or Lagos. 08176088985.

Love needs a mature, sexy, working woman in Lagos for friendship. 08077821830.

Daniel, 25, student, needs a sugar mummy or a single mum in Minna, Abuja or Kaduna who can take care of his educational finance. 08167627446.

36

The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26, 2017

It happened to me:

‘He masturbated right beside me on the bus’

T

he world is full of mysteries and every day we see the unbelievable, unexpected and unusual.

On a sorrowful Friday, a day the entire staff and students of my school (Nigerian Institute of Journalism) had a football match, tribute and candle night session in honour of our dear lecturer Mr. Chris Ugo-Chukwu Ogbodo. He passed on on Friday, March 13, 2013, leaving behind his lovely wife and children.

The staff and students were all dressed in black with candles in their hands. They sang songs as they walked round Ogba, Lagos and back to the school premesis to put off their candles at a spot. The candlelight session ended at about 8pm that day.

I decided to leave school because it was getting late and Friday traffic in Lagos is not what you would want to experience. It is always hectic and frustrating to be caught up in Lagos Friday traffic.

I walked down to Ogba bus stop where I boarded a green tricycle auto mobile popularly known as ‘KEKE-NAPEP’ from Ogba to Pen Cinema, Agege, then from there I entered a a yellow 18-sitter bus headed to Dopemu.

The buses are always tight with passengers shouting “Abeg make una shift o!” And the drivers screaming “If you no want make I join you

with another person enter with your N50 change o!”

The bus driver stopped all passengers at 999, a bus-stop before Dopemu because of the traffic situation. I alighted with others passengers, collected my change from the driver and trekked down to Dopemu, where I boarded another bus to Egbeda.

When I entered the bus, I had to sit down very quickly, due to the impatient attitude of Lagos drivers, who are always in a haste to beat traffic and go for more trips before the end of the day. I sat down in the middle of the last row of a yellow 14-sitter commercial transport bus with one passenger at my left, a man to be precise, and another passenger at my right.

Shortly, after I entered the bus, I turned to my right and I saw a slim, tall, dark-skinned young man in his early 20s. He had brown eyes, a pointed nose and small lips. But I never got to see his teeth because he neither spoke nor opened his mouth while on the bus.

He wore a blue-stripped short sleeve shirt on black trousers with a black belt and black shoe to match.

He was handsome and well dressed.

This young man’s right hand was in his trousers and he used his left hand to cover his right hand with his shirt in order not to be seen by other passengers.

I was worried and concerned; so many questions went through my mind. At first I asked myself what his hand was doing in his trousers or probably he was actually hiding a gun in his trousers waiting for the right time to attack us.

But that was not the case, I actually saw the young man indulging in an act usually done behind closed doors. I have heard about it but never thought a grown young man would exhibit such an act on a public bus.

The young man could not even control his sexual urge. He was masturbating on a 14-sitter public bus and he was so carried away by the act that he was not even concerned about the other passengers sitting on the same row with him.

I however noticed that the right hand in his trousers was actually the hand he was using to caress his manhood and the left hand he used to cover his right hand with his shirt. I could not believe my eyes; I was astonished and also concerned.

Whenever the bus driver stopped to pick up some passengers, he would remove his hand and sit upright; and immediately the bus started moving again, he would put his hand back into his trousers and use the left hand to cover it with his shirt not regarding other passengers seated with him.

Before the driver stopped at Jimoh, a bus stop along Egbeda axis, we were three on the last row. Then the

driver stopped and picked other passengers. One passenger came and joined us at the back, thereby making us four passengers on the last row.

I allowed the passenger that just entered to sit beside me on my left and I was still sitting close to this young man. So I think he obviously was not concerned about other passengers in the bus, because if he was, he would have noticed I was closely watching him.

As he touched himself, so many thoughts dazzled my mind. I could not stop imagining how a young man like him could be so addicted to masturbation that he could not control his urge in public.

I thought he should have waited to get behind closed doors to indulge in such an act. And it was so obvious that the young man had been addicted to masturbation which means to manually stimulate one’s sexual organs to achieve orgasm without sexual intercourse.

After about 30 minutes, due to the traffic situation, we arrived at Egbeda last bus-stop. He alighted from the bus and fixed his belt. I noticed that he had removed his belt from his waist line, which enabled him to freely put his hand in his trousers.

While all the passengers were alighting from the bus, I came down and stared at the young man as he walked down the road, till I saw him no more.

37

The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26, 2017

Love & Living “They say one has to die to know just how it feels but each time he hits me, I die!”

Easily one of the saddest comments I ever heard and it came from Adaugo, a woman who has endured domestic violence for over eight years of marriage.

The last time you read, I promised to let you into the world of women who have continued to endure beatings at the very hands of the same men who swore to protect them before God and man.

For Adaugo, nothing prepared her for the worst since she felt she knew his tendencies well enough before marriage.

They had met back in the university and soon became good friends. He would always say that her sociable nature and assertiveness got him. In those days, she was his closest confidant and he would never make decisions without asking her opinion. Also, he loved the fact that she was the outgoing type who effortlessly related with people making her fun to be with. It was therefore very strange when the hit her across the face not too long after their wedding all because he saw her conversing with a male neighbor. It didn’t stop there, the sight of any male around her suddenly seemed to do something to him and he would always lash out at her.

“The things that he admired about me are the same things he now hates with passion”, she said.

Adaugo insists that she has never given him any reason to doubt her faithfulness.

This situation has truncated her hopes of enjoying a happy married life as all she now does is to dodge men everywhere just so that her husband doesn’t beat her

Ify

ARONU

and

Life

How sour can love get? up again. Correspondence with male colleagues and friends has become a taboo as well.

“I’m always scared and worried that if he sees me around men even at work, he might get the wrong impression and attack me when I get home”.

Let’s get things straight, it is perfectly normal for a man to own his home and run things how he deems fit. It is also not wrong for him to be quite possessive in order to feel that he now owns her completely. It however becomes an issue when this craving becomes an obsession leading him to brutalise the woman just because he desperately needs to feel he’s in control still.

The effects of domestic violence on women like Adaugo cannot be imagined, the sense of insecurity that she has to

sleep and wake up with as well as the erosion of her sense of self worth and confidence are things that cannot be explained.

Regrettably, the society encourages women in this kind of situation to live with it for the rest of their lives, they are never to challenge it or take a walk because marriage is all about endurance. But in all fairness, in the face of rising death rate among women occasioned by domestic violence, it has become needful for women to begin to speak out about these things, seek gainful information about ways to better their lots in marriage while keeping the home together and possibly seek measure to get the men to rethink their ways. There should be a way of reigning in this stark inhumanity. Any married man who without cause keeps suspecting his wife has to face up with and deal with his insecurities rather than unleash it on the woman.

On subtle stigmatisation Maureen Alikor maureenalikor@gmail.com

Me & More After the launch of my foundation, which led to me sharing my rape story, I received a lot of consolation and some words of encouragement from friends and the general public, but there were some people who didn’t believe that my rape story was real.

They kept coming to me at any given opportunity they had to make snide remarks and sometimes I ignored their ignorance, but then it began reoccurring.

It seemed that some could not stand the fact that I went public with the story.

It was possible that there was ‘envy’ that they were not the ones telling the story. I suspected that some of them had similar experiences, but could not go public with their stories.

There are many challenges faced by victims. While stigmatisation ranks tops, this is yet another subtle form of stigmatisation, and it should be discouraged. I have heard some other persons say they have bullied into silence. Nobody could have succeeded in doing that with me. I had a great conviction that I should share my story to draw the attention of society to this evil.

So here is to everyone who bullies victims and survivors into silence with their subtle stigmatisation and their outright disbelief of their true life story.

All of you who keep going into to the inboxes to ask victims/survivors if they were “TRULY RAPED”, and saying that if it was true, then they would be lying to say that they are not affected emotionally, psychologically and sexually by the experience....

And to those who say that the media, which these survivors are using to impact, lives are just publicity stunts set up for their selfish purpose and interest, there is just one word for you... SORRY. This goes to show how damaged our society has become. Everyone is suspecting everyone, and no one is putting his or her best foot forward as it regards trusting the next person. Does this explain why some people will vehemently believe that no one who has been hurt can turn the other way round and choose not to repay evil with good?

Rape is becoming one of the most common topics headlining our local and international news daily and this is abnormal. The number of rape cases we record is increasing in an alarming rate and this means more rapists are been added to the already existing number of rapists.

Maureen can be reached on maureenalikor@gmail.com

38

The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26, 2017

The Law and You

With Barr. Ken Akpom 08162016410

Stealing and Robbery Part Two ROBBERY his is a very serious offence which is committed when a person steals anything, and at or immediately before or immediately after the time of stealing it, uses or threatens to use actual violence to any person or property in order to obtain or retain that thing being stolen or to prevent or overcome resistance to its being stolen or retained. This is in section 401 of the code. The code does not explain what degree of violence that is required but it must be substantial taking into consideration the seriousness of the offence.

of one or more other person or persons, or wounds or uses personal violence to any person, he is liable to imprisonment for life with or without whipping. After the Nigeria-Biafra civil war, because of the alarming increase in cases of armed robbery decree No 47 of 1970 was promulgated.

In this Decree the offence of armed robbery is punishable with imprisonment for not less than 21 years if the offender is not armed with any firearms or any offensive weapon or is in company of any person so armed or immediately before or after the robbery wounds any person, but if the contrary is the case of the offender’s punishment is death which is executed by hanging or by firing squad attempted robbery is PUNISHMENT punishable by imprisonment for not less than 14 years Robbery offence is punishable with imprisonment but not than 21 years and if armed with any dangerous for 14 years. However, if the offender is ARMED with weapon or offensive, it is imprisonment for life with any dangerous or offensive weapon; or is in company whipping which shall not exceed 24 strokes.

T

Note also, that it is also stated that any person who aids, counsels, abets, procures or conspires with any person to commit robbery or attempted robbery is guilty of the offence as a principal offender and punishable under the Decree.

However, with the new civilian government dispensation, these offences under the Decree and tried by special tribunals are now taken over by the High Courts only.

Note: In view of the seriousness of this offence and because it is usually commenced by the police, it is my appeal to the police top officers to please scrutinize properly the reports of the lower ones who in some cases are dishonest and may be bought over to frame up an innocent person of robbery.

Case 1

Case 2 Is robbing with a toy gun robbery? Can a person steal a thing that has no owner?

Dear Lawyer, Please somebody I know went with a toy gun which looks exactly like a real gun and in company of some others and collected another person’s handset on the road. Please, can this be classified as robbery and is the punishment same as those with real gun? Thanks.

Dear Lawyer, Please, can an ownerless property and corpse be stolen?

From Bayo, Port Harcourt.

Dear Bayo,

Answer

Whatever one uses whether loaded or unloaded gun or even toy as you men- No please, consult any lawyer around you for further explanation or you can tioned to disposes someone of his property the offence is nevertheless com- still call or better still text me. mitted provided the circumstances are such that a reasonable man would anticipate violence therefrom.

Thanks.

• Do you have questions or seek legal clarification on issues concerning your marriage, probate, property, etc? Call or send a text message to Barr. Ken: 08162016410, 08075763840. Email: kenakpom@yahoo.com

39

The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26, 2017

Entertainment

With Douglas Omoyooma

Why I’m not married @60-Duro Ikujenyo E

x-Fela Anikulapo’s pianist, Duro Ikujenyo is a force to reckon with as far as Afro beat is concerned. Among others he spent many years playing with Fela’s Egypt 80 Band and was a founding member of Fela’s youth organisation, Young African Pioneers (YAP). And late last year, he marked his 60th birthday with the release of his fourth studio album entitled Tribute to the Masters. In this chat with Oracle Today, The troubadour talks about what it feels like turning 60, his music and why he is not married at the age of 60.

“Marriage is not something that you just jump into,” he begins beaming with smiles as the interview kicks-off at Freedom park, Lagos. “You have to take your time. I have already started the process but I am still looking for the woman. You see, my music takes all of my time so I could say I am married to my music. Music is a very jealous profession. Maybe, if I can find a woman that can cope with my music and life style, then I will get married.”

For over four decades, he has been playing music actively. has he made money from music? Is he fulfilled? “You can see where I am living. I am living with ordinary people. My life is a very big experience; it is not just about me but my entire environment because whatever my environment is, that is what I am. I have released four albums. I started releasing albums very late about 10 years ago but I am thanking God that I am doing everything at his divine time.

“My happiness is an everyday thing. My philosophy is that I don’t depend on perishable things. And that is what my band; The Age of Aquarius is all about. If you dwell on material things you will have hypertension and fail to seek your own original roots.

“When I was growing up, with N1000 you could buy a car so how can you be talking about being fulfilled when Nigeria is getting underdeveloped? When I read Walter Rodney’s How Europe Underdeveloped Africa, I forgot about the Nigerian government because they can never change.

Like I said, I live with the people. They come and say they are hungry and that they have not eaten. There is neither light nor water.

“In fact, I don’t want to talk about fulfilment. If you are talking about fulfilment in Nigeria just forget it because any day there is an election there is always fuel pump price in-

the day he carried his mother’s coffin to Dodan Barracks.

I was right there at the front of the action that very day.”

Despite having been into music for over four decades, how come he only released his first album 10 years ago? “I have been working against the odds. First of all it took me 10 years to get my first album. Now it is being sold for N3, 500 because I insisted we beat Market to it. Alaba is an impediment to CDs because they sell at N60.

“Those days night clubs were the places musicians made money. Today if you go to a night club and start playing they will be like, who is this guy? Is he crazy? They want to listen to hip hop music, they want contemporary music not ideological music and then, they don’t have space.

“They cannot pay the musicians even N20, 000. It was very difficult for me to even start so I got a place at Bogobiri. Bogobiri has developed now that they play music almost every day. My gate fee is N1500 and I got about 100 people and that was how I paid my rent and bills.

“Though it has been rough, Fela’s ideology and what other great masters taught me is helping me in my life today.

Although I did not go to the university, I studied music on my own, I develop myself to write and I am writing a book on high life music right now. Talking about fulfilment, my fulfilment will happen when we have a revolution in this country. I even have a song entitled Revolution. And the revolution must be dynamic and coordinated.”

• Duro Ikujenyo crement. There is no planning in Nigeria. My fulfilment will be that day when we have a revolution. I have a song entitled Revolution which I specially composed for Nigeria.”

He was Fela’s pianist for many years. What was it like working with him: “Fela was a leader with a strong philosophy. We dream was that he wanted Nigerian and African to know that we are all one. But the first thing we must think of is how to organise ourselves into a community.

That is why we have an organisation called May25 Group which originated from Fela’s MOVEMENT OF THE PEOPLE (MOP). You can hear it in Fela’s song, the one dedicated to

Senegal dominates AMAA 2017

I

t was fun and excitement last week Saturday, July 14, when the 2017 edition of Africa Movie Awards Awards (AMAA) held its 13th edition at the Convention Centre, Eko Hotel & Suites, V.I, Lagos.

Indeed it was a night to remember as celebs from across Africa stormed Eko Hotel.

And for the first time in its 13 year history, Senegal dominated the awards with Felicite, a movie which emerged the biggest winner of the night.

Felicite won six AMAAs, the highest number of awards won by a movie. Among others, the awards included Best Film, Best Actress in a Leading Role and Best Supporting Actor.

Meanwhile, Kunle Afolayan’s ’76, won three awards from eight nominations.

In total Nigeria won nine awards, including the Special Recognition Honour given to veteran comic-actor, Nkem Owoh.

And the winners are…

Best Short Film: A Place For Myself (Rwanda) & A Place In the Plane (Senegal) Best Animation: Got Flowers (Nigeria) Best Documentary: Mama Colonel (DRC) Best Film in an African Language: Felicite (Senegal) Best Film by an African Living Abroad: While We Live ( Burkina Faso/Sweden) Best Diaspora Short: 90 Days (US)

& Kbela (Brazil) Achievement in Production Design: ’76 (Nigeria) Achievement in Costume: Queen of Katwe (Uganda) Achievement in Makeup: Oloibiri (Nigeria) Best Production: ’76 (Nigeria) Best Soundtrack: Felicitè (Senegal) Achievement in Sound: Vaya (South Africa) Achievement in Cinematography: The Last Of Us (Tunisia) Achievement in Editing: Felicitè (Senegal) Achievement in screenplay: Vaya (South Africa) Lagos State award for Best Nigerian Film: ’76 (Nigeria) Best Young/Promising actor: Medina Molanga (Queen of Katwe) Tony Elumelu Award for Best Comedy: 3 Wise Men (Nigeria) Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Angelique Kidjo (CEO: Nigeria) Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Papi Mpaka (Felicitè: Senegal) AMAA Lifetime Achievement Award: Nkem Owoh (Nigeria) Best Actress in a Leading Role: Vero Tshanda (Felicitè: Senegal) Best Actor in a Leading Role: Jahwar Soudani (The Last of Us: Tunisia) Best First Feature Film by a Director: Daouda Coulibaly (Wulu: Mali) Best Director: Akin Omotosho (Vaya: South Africa) Best Film: Felicitè (Senegal) Special Recognition Award: Celine • Stephanie Okereke at the red carpet during the AMAA Event Loader

Happiest moment “I did not plan my life but my happiest moments have always been when I release my albums. My happiest moment was when I completed my last album. It took me seven years to make the album.”

Saddest moment “That was when I lost my friend who came all the way from Austria to shoot a documentary with me. His name is Angelbert Theurezberther. The documentary was entitled Lagos: Fastest Growing City in the World and the Future of Planet Earth’ featuring late Fatai Rolling Dollar. He died in an accident while we were traveling. I was hospitalised for days.”

Nkem Owoh excited by Life Time Achievement Award

• Nkem Owoh

A

ctor and comic, Nkem Owoh aka Osuofia was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the organizers of Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), for his immense contribution to the development of the Nigerian film industry.

Receiving his award, an excited Owoh dedicated his award to peacemakers all over the world and commended the founder of AMAA, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe for her consistency and dedication towards promoting film makers.

“I am very excited today by this award and I am dedicating to to all peacemakers across the world. I also want to thank the organisers of AMAA for keeping the Arican dream alive bt promoting African films,” an excited Owoh said.

Meanwhile, speaking, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, represented by his Deputy, Dr Idiat Adebule stated that his administration would continue to provide platforms for showcasing and celebrating creative arts, talents and originality.

40

The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26, 2017

Entertainment

Lai Mohammed’s moment

I

t was a breath-taking event that attracted top dignitaries, music stars and journalists as they all turned up to receive the Honorable Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Saturday, July 15 at COSON House, Lagos.

The event kicked-off with a cocktail witnessed a large turnout of celebs climaxed with the minister’s tour of the facilities by COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji before he was led to the COSON House Arena where he was treated to an unforgettable reception woven in spectacular lights, sound, music, animation and enchanting visuals projected on the massive LCD screen at the Arena.

Deploying modern technology, top Nigerian artistes on tour in various places around the world welcomed the Minister to COSON House on the big screen. Among the artistes projected on the screen were the Chief Commander of Juju Music, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey, who was in London; Rub-a-dub master, Ras Kimono in Atlanta and 2 Face Idibia on tour around the continent.

The highlight of the afternoon was when the minister was invited onto the stage to place his signature and thumb print in ‘The Book’ for poster-

ity. The minister was thereafter decorated with the ‘Copyright Medal of Honour’ by COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji. The ‘Copyright Medal of Honour’ is the highest honour given by the Nigerian music industry to any individual.

At COSON House to receive the minister was an array of Nigerian artistes including the legendary Majek Fashek, Alao Malaika, Koffi Da Guru, Black Face, Tobi Grey, YQ, D’lyte, KASI, the June 12 girl, Kul –GP and Dolzi, among others.

In his address, the Minister said: “I must commend COSON for putting up such a magnificent structure for Nigerian artistes. COSON as an organization can compete with others around the world in terms of excellence, competence and in terms of understanding the terrain and its core values. COSON is very sensitive to the creative industry, because without COSON, many of our artistes will live in penury.”

The minister also assured government’s commitment to ensuring a suitable environment for the entertainment industry to thrive, stating that roundtable discussions, meetings and creative industry conferences are being held to ensure that

the industry moves forward.

Also present at the welcoming ceremony were COSON General Manager, Chinedu Chukwuji and Directors, Mr. Joel Ajayi, Alhaji Sikiru Agboola, Hon. John Udegbunam and Azeezat Allen, who rendered an awe-inspiring version of the Nigerian National Anthem.

Controversy as Wizkid un-follows Drake on Instagram

I

f feelers reaching Oracle Today are anything to go by then, all may not be well with Wizkid and Drake.

Apparently not pleased with the Canadian rapper and singer, following rumours fuelling Drake’s apathy towards him, Wizkid has un-followed Drake on Instagram, even though Drake (@champagnepapi) still follows Wizkid (@wizkidayo).

Drake and Wizkid have been said to never have met each other physically Speculated reasons for Wizkid unfollowing Drake are pointing to the fact that Drake has not shown much support for Wizkid’s international penetration in form of appearances in his music videos.

In One Dance where Wizkid was expected to feature, the starboy was notably absent and Wizkid’s ‘Come closer’ did also not see Drake come through in both the official and unofficial videos. Wizkid has however not gone on to tweet or post anything to further confirm his displeasure with Drake.

• Alhaji Lai Mohammed

Sylvia Edem, Wale Ojo on parade asSandcastle hits cinemas

H

appy times are her for screen diva turned movie producer, Sylvia Edem. Coming on the heels of her debut effort, Ima, Last week Sunday, July 9, all roads led to Raddison Blu Hotel, V. I. Lagos, for the premiere of her latest movie effort, Sandcastle.

Guests that lit the Red Carpet included Patrick Doyle, Elder O, Byran Opara, Ushebebe, Mimi Ojiakor, Isichei Osamgbi, Head, Public Relations, NIMASA, Henry Uranta, Chidi Nwokeabia, Bassey Okon, Sapphire Ogodo, Sophia Williams and Praiz Sam Organ.

A romantic thriller directed by Edward Ukah, Sandcastle is a tale of hope, love and trust that lends a voice to the plight of the physically challenged and the visually impaired.

Shot under the umbrella of Mary Uranta’s 50th Films, Sylvia plays the role of Timi, a young blind girl who finds favour in the eyes of a prominent man Ayade (Wale Ojo). Esosa (Mary Uranta), an upwardly mobile lady and every man’s dream, yet not satisfied tries to compete for the attention of Ayade, the blind girl’s love interest.

Speaking after the premiere, Sylvia Edem said: “I said earlier in the week that Sandcastle is that movie that will change my career for good, the response after the movie was shown shows that I was not far from the truth. This is a movie everyone should watch, it touches on the heart and soul of marriages and keeping the fire and romance ablaze as much as possible.”

The movie opens in cinema na-

tionwide on Friday, July 14 and stars tant, Kemen and Mercy Michael Mary Uranta, Charles Okocha, Shir- among others. ley Igwe, Big Brother Naija contes-

• Wizkid

PSquare mock Nigerian government’s proposed ban on shooting of music videos abroad • Sylvia Edem

OMD Worldwide wins big at Cannes Lions 2017

O

MD Worldwide has added a new feather to its cap as it has been named the Media Network of the Year at The Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, after winning a haul of awards including a Gold, five Silver and five Bronze lions and earning 14 shortlists in the Media Lions category.

“We are extremely proud of the creative and innovative work we are producing around the world in partnership with our clients. Our global winning culture cascades into our local markets and we train our talent on an on-going basis, including exposure to regional webinars as a source of inspiration to be abreast of latest

developments and raise our game,” said Mr. Alba Fader, the Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer, MediaReach OMD Nigeria.

He that the OMD has many local initiatives through which it encourages its staff to produce works that deliver on objectives and help overcome current business challenges of its clients.

Among others, this year, MediaReach OMD Nigeria won the Young Lions Media - Nigeria Competition and Young Pro Media - West Africa Championship which it has won eight times since 2008.

F

ollowing recent reports that the federal Government was planning to ban the shooting of music videos abroad, P Square have come out to mock the Federal government.

Paul Okoye wrote via his Instagram page: “Our behavior when we hear say FG dey plan stop something....soon dem go tell us how and which style we go dey use de Kpakam our wife dem. Let me come and be going.”

Jude Engees Okoye also wrote via his Instagram page: “Smh…. An industry they never encouraged, supported or empowered is what they now want to control. Let all of you stop running to abroad when you are sick as na naija money una dey use patronize oyibo hospital dem. You people are the ones refusing to fix our health facilities so u travel out when mosquito bite una. So why tell us where to record when u can’t provide uninterrupted power here in Nigeria. Sometime I wonder how we got it all wrong. Una children when dey sch for abroad, na which money una dey use patronize them?”

Demmie Vee’s Love Me Tender heats up social media • Garners over 3000 downloads

N

ew kid on the block, Demmie V (Demola Awotungase) is enjoying massive rave reviews.

Thanks to his latest single, Love Me Tender remix, featuring 9ice. This is coming on the heels of his hits, Awesome God, featuring Tuface Idibia and his original Love Me Tender single.

• Drake

According to a statement from his management, Love Me Tender remix did impressively on Friday July 7, the day it was released garnering over 3000 downloads on MTN’s music platforms and making the artiste to trend on Twitter.

Meanwhile, Urban music channel,

Trace Naija, reviewed the song and Big Brother Nigeria winner, Efe, who was interviewed, expressed his love for the track stating that Demmie Vee is a breath of fresh air in the Nigerian music industry. Love Me Jeep remix was produced by DJ Doubloon,

• Peter & Paul of Psquare

41

The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26, 2017

NEWS ‘Funds hamper completion of hospital’

T

he contractors handling the construction of the Otobio Cottage Hospital have debunked the rumours in the social media that they have abandoned the construction of the Cottage Hospital after being paid 85 per cent of the cost of the project.

Addressing newsmen during the week, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Mursu International Ltd, HRM, Murphy Urugbesi, the Ovie of Ellu, said the NDDC awarded the contract to his company in 2011 and he mobilized to site with the money he borrowed from Bank to kick-start the job.

He added that the NDDC later paid him 40 per cent of the amount of the contract, which he used to settle the bank he owed as well as commence work to the level the job is now.

In his words: “NDDC only paid me 40 per cent of the contract, which I used to settle the bank which I borrowed money from to start the project. I personally supervised the project because I need the best for my people. I was so surprised when I read in the media that I abandoned the job. Those are false reports aimed at tarnishing my reputation.”

Ayade frustrating peace efforts – Umahi From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki

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overnor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has accused his Cross River State counterpart, Ben Ayade, of frustrating efforts aimed at ending clashes between their boundary communities.

Briefing Journalists in Abakaliki at the beginning of the week, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Emmanuel Uzor said Mr. Ayade has rebuffed concerted efforts for a meeting to resolve the crisis.

He called on the federal government and the National Boundary Commission to intervene in the boundary dispute between Ofioji in Izzi Local Council of Ebonyi and Ijutun-Idoru community of Obubura Local Council of Cross River State.

The latest outbreak of violence, which occurred last week, led to the death of nine persons, including a pregnant woman.

Uzor argued that Governor Umahi is being blackmailed by the people of Cross River over the resumption of hostilities simply because he asked the Chief of Army

Staff to deploy more soldiers to the troubled area.

“The governor had made efforts to speak with the Cross River governor and the peace committee chaired by the Deputy Governor also made similar efforts to bring lasting peace to the troubled areas but it is disturbing and disheartening how lives are being wasted.

“Governor Ayade had once agreed on a date to meet the governor only to cancel it at the last minute.

“The governor only drew the attention of the Chief of Army Staff to the need for increase in the number of soldiers in the area to help quell the matter and a few days after that, some elements invaded Izzi communities, killing and maiming people and destroying properties.

“He made the demand on the conviction of the ability of the soldiers to quell the situation.

We believe that this crisis is being sponsored by a former minority leader in Cross river state House of Assembly. The same man was indicted for sponsoring similar communal crisis.

“May be he is doing this because he is looking for one appointment

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Read The Oracle Today For fresh perspectives in news reporting.

From Daniel Maduagwu, Umuahia A man who shot his girlfriend dead in Aba, Abia State, has claimed that his action was caused by the by the victim’s demand for money to terminate her pregnancy.

The suspect, Mr Ogbonnaya Igwe, made confession in Umuahia while being paraded by the Abia State command at the Command’s Headquarters, Bende Road, Umuahia.

Igwe confessed that he had extramarital affair with the deceased, Ijeoma Chibuzor, which culminated in pregnancy.

According to him, Ijeoma demanded the sum of N15,000 to terminate the pregnancy which he had obliged her.

But he lleged that rather than procuring the said abortion, Ijeoma returned to demand 1 million naira.

“She came back later to demand another N1 million, saying there were complications during the process of abortion resulting in excessive bleeding, and I was forced to sell my house in Aba to raise the money.

“But the woman kept coming for more money. I had no alternative than to take the woman’s life.”

Nigeria’s oil savings among world’s lowest – NEITI From CHIDI UGWU, Abuja

racle

The

or the other. Governor David Umahi is feeling sad that his people are being slaughtered like animals.

Meanwhile, the Cross River government is unwilling to come for a dialogue. The governor is sending this message, let us make peace; let us dialogue and make peace with the communities. The two communities are laying claims to a boundary area between Ebonyi and Cross River State.

“We want to call for sufficient security personnel at the boundary area and if any security agent has compromised, he or she should be redeployed so that the crisis can be controlled and curtailed. The federal government should come into the matter to stop the wanton destruction of lives and property going on in the area,” he said.

When contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to Cross River State government, Mr. Christian Ita who denied the allegation that the Cross River State government is frustrating peace moves aimed at resolving the boundary dispute described it as untrue and unfounded.

Why I killed my girl friend

Nigeria’s $1.5 billion currently in the Sovereign Wealth Fund is one of the World’s lowest when compared with other resource-rich countries, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has disclosed.

NEITI gave the hint in a paper titled “The case for a robust oil savings fund for Nigeria,” which was presented by its Executive Secretary, Waziri Adio in Abuja during the week.

“The $1.5 billion currently in the Sovereign Wealth Fund is one of the World’s worst ratio to annual budget (10%), and one of the lowest Sovereign Wealth Fund per capital ($8) globally,” Adio said, warning that the time is now for Nigeria to fully embrace a robust policy to save a portion of oil and gas revenue for the rainy day and for the next generation.

According to Adio, “Norway, a country of 5.2 million people has a sovereign wealth fund worth $922 billion, Chile $24.1 billion, Angola $4.6 billion and Botswana $5.7 billion.

Others are Russia $89.9 billion and Kuwait $592 billion.”

The NEITI Executive Secretary added that a national consensus on saving for tomorrow has become urgent to prepare the country to overcome frequent commodity price volatility and depletion of nonrenewable resources.

The paper also highlighted portions of mineral resource revenues that are excluded from the national budget and held as part of a country’s reserve that can greatly enhance a country’s capital balances, attract greater investors’ confidence and significant flow of foreign capital into the economy, adding that these funds also support the provision of critical infrastructure and social interventions during major national emergencies.

According to NEITI, the urgent measures that need to be taken include the immediate transfer of all revenue savings in the stabilization fund and the Excess Crude Account into the Nigeria Sovereign Wealth

Fund.

Adio lamented that in spite of these benefits and the huge revenues that have accrued from oil and gas over the years, Nigeria has one of the lowest natural resource revenue savings in the world.

“Nigeria currently has three oil savings funds. They are the Sovereign Wealth Fund with $1.5bn, the Excess Crude Account with $2.3bn and the stabilization fund with N29.02bn ($95M). In the last forty years of oil production, Nigeria has extracted about 31 billion barrels of its oil reserves. However, from 1980 to 2015, the country exported crude oil worth about $1.09 trillion, but has a current balance of $3.9 billion dollars as at June 2017 in the three funds,” the agency added.

NEITI boss noted that these “different oil revenue saving funds should be consolidated and the legal framework harmonised.”

“Specifically, the 0.5% Stabilisation Funds and the Excess Crude Account (ECA) should be merged with the Sovereign Wealth Fund, as this multiplicity of savings funds with different rules has led to uncoordinated and widespread extra-budgetary spending,” he added.

According to Adio, apart from depleting the savings in each fund, such unrestricted spending defeats the purpose for which the funds were set up in the first place, which is to shield the economy from revenue volatility.

“Nigeria did not save enough oil revenues to sustain economic activities when oil prices began to “tank” in June 2014,” he lamented. “Also problematic is the level of consumption relative to non-oil exports. Nigeria typically responds to high oil prices with equally high, but manifestly unsustainable, level of consumption. The absence of sufficient savings left Nigeria severely exposed when the price of oil, Nigeria’s main source of government revenues and foreign exchange, started to plunge in 2014.”

42

The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26 2017

NEWS

Ohakim tasks PDP on reconciliation Abia former Speaker lists achievements, pledges effective representation

From COLLINS UGHALAA, Owerri

F

ormer governor of Imo State and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Dr Ikedi Ohakim, has called on leadership of the party at State and national levels to pursue true reconciliation in the party as a means to achieve true and lasting peace after the Supreme Court judgement that declared Senator Ahmed Makarfi the National Chairman of the party.

The former governor who is launching a come-back to the government house of Imo State in 2019 made his call in a press release he issued on Monday, saying that though the Supreme Court may have laid the leadership crisis in the party to rest, the party should still seek the political path to resolving the issues.

He reminded the party that “judicial verdicts do not usually heel political wounds.”

“Agreed that the refrain since the judgment was delivered has been ‘no victor no vanquished’, we should look beyond mere sloganeering or clichés to cultivate a genuine passion for true reconciliation,” he said in the press statement.

He further noted that “the court ruling merely provided the party elders and leaders with a handle to pursue genuine reconciliation. To achieve that requires a lot of maturity and readiness to make sacrifices.”

He said there is need for urgent steps for genuine reconciliation in the PDP in Imo State, saying that, “perhaps more than in any other state in the country, there is need for greater sacrifices if we must return the state chapter to the path of stability and cohe-

From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

A

Governor David Umahi in a handshake with the Managing Director of Bank of Industry, BOI, Dr. Olukayode Pitan during the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between Ebonyi State Government and BOI at the Executive Council Chambers, Abakaliki, yesterday..

sion.”

He expressed joy that despite the protracted crisis in the party, the supporters and members of the party remained.

“But the good news is that in spite of that, the teeming members and supporters of the party remained steadfast in their loyalty to the party. In spite of obvious temptations and frustrations, the state chapter witnessed little or no defections,” he said.

Okorocha rejects restructuring, calls for ‘repackaging’ Nigeria From COLLINS UGHALAA, Owerri

I

mo State Governor, Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha has rejected the calls to restructure Nigeria as solution to the myriad of challenges facing the country.

According to the governor, Nigeria does not need restructuring but ‘repackaging’ to enable it compete favourably on the international stage.

The governor who spoke while declaring open the 67th National Conference of the Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON) during the week in Owerri, the Imo State capital, said the different geopolitical zones of the country have different understanding of what restructuring means.

He argued that Nigeria is better as a united than divided country.

“Every geopolitical zone has its own interpretation of restructuring. To the South-East, restructur-

ing means creation of an additional state. For the South-South, restructuring means resource control. For the South-West, it means devolution of power and the North may see it differently. But whatever is the case we are better off as a united Nigeria.”

He called on the BON and the media in general to project the country to the outside world in positively, noting that Nigeria had the potentials to attract foreign investment.

“Our nation requires repackaging. It is unfortunate that a great nation like ours has not been properly packaged for consumption by the international community.

“Yet, there are more evils in other nations than we have in Nigeria but the reports going out about our country are such that no one will want to come into Nigerian unless for those who want to take risks.

“This is not the time to peddle influence or connection.

Rather, it is time to show humility, love and, for those who feel that the judgment was a victory for them, magnanimity.

“In all this, we should be encouraged by the fact that the

poor governance in the state in the last six years has made the entire Imo collective both nostalgic of the past when the PDP provided it with purposeful leadership; and as well look forward to retrieving the mandate that was stolen from them and handing it back to the PDP.”

Man strips wife naked after beating lover to pulp

By OLIVER UDEOGU

A

tricycle operator Godwin 42 a native of Ohaozara in Ebonyi State was unable to control his anger, when he caught another man on top of his wife of 7 years, on their matrimonial bed.

The incident occurred at the Omagba Estate phase 1 on Sunday evening, when Godwin returned home earlier than expected, only to meet the man on top of his wife, right on their matrimonial bed.

It was gathered that the man hurriedly put on his clothes before Godwin descended on him, beating him with all manner of available object.

Eye witness account had it that Godwin further descended on his wife and after beating her mercilessly, stripped her naked before dragging her to the officer of the neighborhood vigilante group.

It was gathered that the scene attracted lots of people who watched the woman’s nudity, as her husband was taking her to the vigilante men.

The wife’s lover, it was gathered, hails from Ebenebe in Anambra State.

Two women in the area who spoke on conditions of anonymity said even though they don’t support infidelity in any form, the man drove the wife into the arms of the man as he maltreats her badly to the extent that the girl’s relations have told her repeatedly to abandon the marriage.

They disclosed that Godwin could not father a child and had married the lady who was formerly married with children, before separating with her husband.

Meanwhile the police are currently investigating the matter, to really ascertain Godwin’s claim.

FORMER Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martins Azubuike, has reassured his Isiala Ngwa North constituents of his commitment towards making human capital development and service to the people the bedrock of his representation.

The lawmaker, who was also a former former Deputy National Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria, gave the assurance during the commissioning of some projects he executed, as part of events lined up to mark his two years in the 6th Abia House of Assembly.

The projects include a sixroom ultra-modern convenience at Orie Ntigha market and a community hall at Umuezenta Nbawsi, Isiala Ngwa North.

Azubuike said he embarked on the projects to better the lot of his constituents, just as he has done a lot in terms of legislation, representation, oversight function, empowerment and projects.

Also at a town hall meeting which was also part of the event to mark the mid-term, Azubuike listed his achievements so far to include sponsoring 17 bills, four motions, five matters of Urgent Public Importance, several reports, personal explanations and petitions.

According to him, some projects and programmes he has equally executed include engaging 130 Isiala Ngwa indigenes drawn from 125 polling units, grading of, at least, three rural roads per ward, cutting across all the 10 wards in Isiala Ngwa North, football talents hunt competition, primary and secondary school quiz/ debate and free medical missions.

Others are bursary award to 100 undergraduates, procurement of electricity transformer, electricity projects, building of community market stall, attracting the reconstruction and rehabilitation of erosion sites, renovation of dilapidated schools, distribution of empowerment items such as Vehicles, tricycles, motorcycles, sewing machines, grinding machines, Power generating sets and Job placements.

He said he has also sponsored 150 youths to the South East Entrepreneurship Development Scheme in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria and providing the platform for the registration of 1000 Isiala Ngwa North indigenes in the Federal Government N-Power Programme.

43

The Oracle Today Wednesday July 24, 2017

INTERVIEW

‘Our business success is supported by brand integrity’ Continued from Page 16 We need to love one another, tolerate each other and see ourselves as brothers and sisters. Have we thought of if we all go to the east, what will happen? Is it because of the oil? What quantity of the product do we have? I think what we should do is for Igbo to see Hausa man as his brother, Yoruba man as brother and the Hausa man and Yoruba man should equally see an Igbo as his brother too and by so doing Nigeria will move forward. We should leave together as one family. That is what I believe in all sincerity. I am not planning to close up whatever I am doing now to relocate to the East. And to go straight to the issue of whether I have the intention of replicating what I am doing in Lagos to the eastern part of the country, I want to tell you that I have some properties in east but they are not giving me what I am getting from Lagos. So, what I am getting from what I have in Lagos is more than what I am getting from what I have in the east. And as businessman, what do you expect me to do? That is it.

You earlier mentioned entertainment as one of the three businesses that you are into, could you be specific?

The entertainment I am talking about is that Andora Best Entertainment Limited owns a Frequency Modulation Radio Station (FM Radio Station) though not yet operational. Before now, I have worked on that project for a very long time now but I am yet to sort certain things out with National Broadcasting Commission (NBC). The name of the station is Area FM and by God’s grace in a couple months from now you will be hearing from Area FM. That is good to hear, in the near future are you going to also veer into the establishment of television station?

First of all we have to start from somewhere. I don’t think that there is any businessman who would not like to expand his business but we have to start from somewhere.

For people looking up to you as their role model, what advise are you going to give them?

The advise that I will give to people looking up to me is first and foremost be honest in whatever you do. By the time of you talk of Andora Best you are talking about honesty. Back then I had the opportunity of making so much money but I refused to sell my conscience. I was here in Lagos Island some time in past and somebody from nowhere came to me. Somebody that I have never met, he came from Warri, Delta State. He works with Shell and came to Lagos Island and may be out of fear of the activities of criminals in those days when Lagos Island used to be very hot, he came with a bag and he walked to me and asked me to keep the bag for him. He dropped the bag with me and left. Later on I opened the bag to know what was in that bag and behold, the bag contains a lot of money. I kept the bag because we were brought up well. My father gave us sound upbringing. My father always tells us to be contented with whatever we have and never to take what does not belong to us. And when the man came the following day, I handed the bag over to him.

I want to tell you that because of that

•Prince Ezeokafor singular act, any time the man comes to Lagos he comes straight to me and I want to tell you that I have done a lot of businesses with the man. Our relationship is still very strong. So, when you see or look at Andora Best, don’t look at may be the cars or the properties but look at the honesty behind the brand Andora Best. So my advise to those who are looking up to me is that they should be honest in whatever they do and they will certainly make it in life.

You have said that you want to grow Andora Best to become a global brand; do you have any political ambition?

Well, I would like to say that there is no successful businessman that will tell you that he does not have ambition for politicking, it all depends on what you want. First of all, I might not want to be a governor or a president but I would like to ensure that where my interest is at stake, the right things are done. If my life or my business is at stake, I would make sure that I step in to ensure that I achieve what I want. A typical example is the recently held election of Lagos Island All Stars Football Club; I stepped in and ensured that the right candidate emerged. I have no other interest than to ensure that the club is administered well to the good of all. This is because I love playing football and I wouldn’t sit by and see that a wrong candidate emerges as the president of the club that was why I stepped out and today everybody is happy. I have no other goal than to ensure that things are done properly, that’s all.

You said Andora started in 2003 and to-

“

We need to love one another, tolerate each other and see ourselves as brothers and sisters.

Have we thought of if we all go to the east, what will happen? Is it because of the oil? What quantity of the product do we have? I think what we should do is for Igbo to see Hausa man as his brother, Yoruba man as brother and the Hausa man and Yoruba man should equally see an Igbo as his brother too and by so doing Nigeria will move forward

“

day we are in 2017, what will you look back to and say this the greatest thing that God has done for me?

The greatest thing that God has done for me is granting me life and good health. As I am sitting down here despite the type of pressure my line of business put on me, I don’t have any

sign of ill health. This is the greatest gift God has given me. I am always in intense pressure and yet when I go for medical check I would be told that I am hale and hearty. What other gift is bigger and better than that? I will not tell you that it is buildings, cars or money.

No! I don’t even consider my wife or children as the greatest gift from God to me because even if I have more money than I have today and more children that I have today I will still consider good health as the greatest gift from God. Like I said, I don’t have any symptom of any ill health not even headache. I can’t remember the last time I complained of any sickness and sometimes when I look around among my workmates, my tenants despite the fact that I have managers in all my properties my tenants would still want to engage me in one thing or the other.

I am always in intense pressure yet I don’t have a sickness. Again, what will be greater than good health assuming you have all the money in this world or even political power and you don’t have good health? How would you enjoy the money or power? Ok, look at our president; he is battling for his dear life after winning election. So, as far as I am concerned; I see the gift of good health as the greatest thing God has given me. Like I said, what does it profit any man to have all that he desires and lack good health? So I am grateful for the good health as I do not have any symptom of any ill health.

Thank you for making out time to talk with you.

Thank you.

44

The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26, 2017

TRIBUTE

Tribute to Ezinne Christiana Obiano (Adinije), Mother Excellency

By EMEKA ARINZE

A

MOTHER is someone who takes the place of all others but whose place no one else can take.

She holds her children’s hands for a short while, but their hearts forever. These can best describe the charismatic diamond mother in a million, Nne ora, the late Mrs. Christiana Chinelo Obiano [Adighi n’ije ma ije ekwe ogiga]. As her name portends, Christiana was born in 1927 into the noble Christian family of Mr. Azodo Manafa and Mrs. Josephine Manafa of Idigo dynasty in Ezi Agulu, Aguleri. Christiana’s mother, Josephine, sold mangala fish while her father; Azodo was a hunter and farmer.

The early Catholic missionaries that brought Christianity to Igboland met the family and converted them. Thus, Mrs. Christiana’s brother, Meze, became a priest. In view of this, most of the early missionaries, including foreigners and their converts as well as other indigenous priests settled in Mama’s family house, which became a rallying point for priests, hence she was widely known as Nne ndi Father.

The little Christiana, perfectly skilled in the art of cooking, would cook for them, wash their soutanes, cassocks and other clothes as well as tidy the home. In return, they would bless her. Mama was a gifted cook. She served many priests, including Blessed Father Michael Iwene Tansi, Dominic Cardinal Ekandem, Bishop Obeleagu, Bishop Shannahan, Father Gbuzue among numerous others. Father Tansi baptised and later taught Mama at Saint Joseph’s and Saint Raphael’s Elementary Schools, Ezi-Agulu, Aguleri up to Standard Six. From her mother’s side, Mama was the first daughter amongst two brothers and five sisters. At 90, Mama was the oldest in Manafa dynasty in Ezi-Agulu, Aguleri.

Because of her beauty, cookery skills, cleanliness, humility, respect, hard work and prayerfulness, the eyes of a handsome and Christian suitor caught up with the then Christy. That lucky man was Sir Philip Onuorah Obiano from Umuanaeveli, Egbeagu Village Aguleri, a Scout Commissioner in the then Eastern region (even during the war), a catechist, teacher and later headmaster.

He was highly disciplined. Story has it that Sir Philip, who had taught in many areas, including Onitsha, Abakaliki, Isienu, Izzi, Ezamgbo, Obosi, Umuoji, Nkwelle Ezunala, Aguleri and

• Ezinne Christiana Obiano then Onitsha, had been observing Christy and remarking her early arrival to church activities, her dedication, honesty, simplicity and humility and other attributes which made him to inquire further of her parents. True to type, the day Philip came visiting, Christy was in the market selling fish with her mother.

They eventually married and were wedded by Monsignor Meze. The union produced six children, two died, while three males and one female survived. They are; His Excellency, Chief Willie Maduaburochukwu Obiano, Governor of Anambra state, Chief Cyril Chukwudozie Obiano, Queen Elizabeth Nkechi Iheme and Mr. Evaristus Chukwunedu Obiano.

Madam Christiana Chinelo Obiano, Nne umu ogbenye, as she was fondly called, was always there for her family, no matter what. Adighi nije was clothed with strength and dignity and she laughed without

fear of the future. When she spoke, her words were wise and she gave instructions with kindness. Mama was very beautiful, down to earth, always helping others and very benevolent, which gave her the name, Adighi nije ma ije ekwe ogiga.

She followed her educationist husband to all the towns he was transferred to teach until he fell ill and died on Wednesday, 4 October 1978 at the age of 57 when Willie, was in the university.

Successful mothers are not the ones that have never struggled. They are the ones that never give up, despite the struggles. Adinije never gave up at the death of her husband, rather, she intensified her efforts and with relentless prayer, she was able to train all her children successfully. Just like Governor Obiano, mama was always with her chaplet, praying her Rosary wherever she went.

Adinije was a famous deal-

er in “Mangala fish” she would buy bags of Mangala at Ochanja market and resell at Ose Okwodu market, Onitsha. She could finish up to ten bags within two days. She was so popular that people from far and near were coming to her shop to buy. Christy Obiano was popularly known as “Ozulu Umuogbenye” (that is, a woman that fed the poor). Whatever amount you came to her shop with, mama must give you fish to feed your family. To the poorest of the poor, she would give money and other food items to take home. Adinije also settled many marital quarrels through good pieces of advice. Before, during and after the war, her home was always a beehive of activities as she gave food, fish and clothing to people, free of charge. During the war, she was selling kola nuts to keep Biafran soldiers awake.

Nwunye Onye Nkuzi was benevolent to a fault. She would

always finish selling her fish first before any other in the market. A story was told of a barren woman who came to her shop, after narrating the ordeal she was passing through as a childless woman, Adinije brought out some fish, prayed over it and gave it to the woman to go and cook with the fish for her and her husband to eat. The couple ate the fish, conceived and gave birth to a bouncing baby boy.

Madam Christiana Chinelo Obiano was highly religious, as she never missed mass. She inculcated in her children the attribute of prayer. When the children were younger, they must attend the Block Rosary and recite sermons to prove they attended the mass. She had no enemies and she always advised her children to always forgive.

Mama hosted most of Ndi Aguleri who visited Onitsha then; gave them shelter, food and transport fares at the end of their stay, thus, she was also called Nwanyi Obioma and Otabili onye. She never left her brothers-in-law, even when her husband died.

Before she ate, she must ensure that all others had eaten.

Before she died, she ran a charitable organization where she was feeding the poor, the less privileged and the vulnerable, three times a day. She took the vulnerable ones as their mother, which gave her the name, “Ozulu Umuogbenye.”

Mama was very strong.

During her hey days, she was trekking from Onitsha with her wares to Umuoji because then, there were no vehicles.

The poor called her Nwanyi Kpojuem aka, Otabili Onye, the rich knew her as Nwanyi udo, the middle referred to her as Nwanyi Obi oma, while everybody knew her as Adinije. The CWO, Onitsha Archdiocese honoured her with Ezi Nne title. She refused to take any other title as she insisted that titles would not take one to heaven. Her son, the governor, once said of Adinije, Quote “my mother is the bone of my spine, keeping me straight and true. She is my blood, making sure it runs, rich and strong.

She is the beating of my heart.

I cannot imagine a life without her”.

Nne oma, to the world, you are a mother but to your family, you are the world. We will miss your folklore, your moonlight tales, your food and your advice. Good night Nne Willie, Nne Governor, Mother Excellency.

• Emeka Arinze works with Anambra Broadcasting Service

45

The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26, 2017

SPORTS Williams, Mohammed land in Budapest for FINA Congress

T

he President of the Nigeria Aquatics Federation (NAqF), Babatunde Fatayi Williams and the new Secretary General of the Federation, Sani Mohammed left the shores of the country Tuesday night for Budapest, Hungary to attain this year’s Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) translated in English to mean International Swimming Federation’s Congress.

The two arrow heads left the country to Budapest to enable them take active part in the activities of the world aquatics governing body FINA. The President, Williams will take part in one of the series of the Congresses while the Secretary of the Federation Mohammed is to acclimatize himself with the activities of the world aquatics governing body’s as he has just been elevated to the position of secretary having served as assistant secretary of the Federation.

This much was exclusively disclosed to The Oracle Today Sports by the former Chairman of the Technical Committee of the last board of the Federation who was re-elected into the yet to be inaugurated board, Steve Onyeaholam in a telephone chat.

According to Onyeacholam: “The President of the Nigeria Aquatics Federation (NAqF), Babatunde Fatayi Williams and the new Secretary of the Federation Mr. Sani Mohammed left the shores of Nigeria Tuesday night for Budapest, Hungary for this year’s FINA Congress,” Onyeacholam began.

“The two NAqF officials are there to take active part in this year’s FINA Congress. While Williams will be taking part in one of the series of the FINA congresses, Mohammed will be familiarizing himself with the activities of FINA have been elevated to the post of secretary.

“He needs to get himself acclamatised with the workings of FINA activities to enable him discharge his responsibilities to the Federation to the best of his ability,” Onyeacholam declared.

Meanwhile, Nigerian swimming team will storm the Hungarian capital next week to participate in the swimming event of this year’s world swimming championship which has already commenced with various events in diving. However, Nigeria’s interest lies in swimming which will commence on 21.

No need to panic over Ikeme, Obuh tells Nigerians Stories by MADUABUCHI KALU

F

ormer Flying Eagles’ coach and the current Kwara United FC gaffer, John Obuh, has advised Nigerians to remove the culture of panicking in their lives any time there is any challenge confronting the national team.

According to the 2011 Africa Cup of Nation Under-20 winning coach, he as a Nigerian has since divested himself of the panic culture whenever there is any challenge. He regretted that the country has entrenched the culture of panic in their life which he explained is not good.

He explained that inasmuch as he sympathizes with Nigerian and Wolverham Wanderers goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme on his present health challenge just like every other well-meaning Nigerians and world football, he believes that the country has a lot of goalkeepers that could effectively replace or take his position for the time being pending when he recovers from ailment.

Obuh is of the opinion that there are many good goalkeepers in the league who could be given the opportunity to be in-between the sticks saying before the emergence of Ikeme, nobody knew he could have manned the post until Vincent Enyeama left the scene unceremoniously.

The Abia State born football tactician said other Nigerian goalkeepers should be given the opportunity to showcase what they can offer to the team than to result to panicking.

“Well, I sincerely sympathized with our goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme who has been diagnosed of acute Leukemia which is the cancer of the blood of the bone marrow,” Obuh began.

“I wish him speedy recovery. He should realize that what he is facing at the moment is not death sentence. He will recover and still come back to what he knows how to do best and continue to put smiles on the faces of millions of Nigerians who are praying for him.

“However, I am saddened with the culture of panicking which has permeated in every facet of our national lives.

“I am not given to such behaviour. I have since exorcized myself of that culture which makes us to panic at the slightest challenge. It is not good and I believe we should do away with that as a country.

“We like putting pressure on ourselves even when there is no need for any pressure and panicking is such example of the type of pressure we put on ourselves which is not necessary.

“I don’t think that Nigerians need to start panicking just because Ikeme has been diagnosed of leukemia. Before the emergence of Ikeme, Enyeama was the goalkeeper but due to his sudden retirement, Ikeme emerged and before this his health challenge; nobody was talking about Enyeama any longer.

“I believe that we have a lot of good goalkeepers in the league. What we need to do is to give them chance to show what they can bring to the national team.

“So, as far as I am concerned I do not see the reason we should start panicking because Ikeme is not going to man the post for us in the next couple of games due to the challenge he is facing at the moment.

“Those in authority should try to fish out good goalkeeper both within and outside the country to fit into his position. Are we saying that we are going to stop playing football because Ikeme is not there? I don’t think so because even if he does not have this health

challenge, he would one day stop keeping for the country and that is the truth,” Obuh explained.

Meanwhile, Ikeme’s English championship side, Wolverhamton Wanderers still retain his No.1 shirt for him despite having signed a new goalkeeper due to his health challenge as a mark of solidarity and support in this his trying

Okocha joins call for Iheanacho to quit Man City F

ormer Super Eagles and Bolton Wanderers captain, Austi Jay Jay Okocha, has joined the call for Nigeria and Manchester City striker, Kelechi Iheanacho to as a matter of urgency quit the English club. Okocha made the call while in England as a part of the Nigerian team to the 8nations tournament.

The former international explained that the time has come for the Imo State born talented footballer to quit Manchester City if he wants to revive his fledging career which has nose dive in recent times following lack of playing time at the English club following the arrival of former Barcelona manager,

Pep Guardiola from Bayern Munich.

Okocha explained that Iheanacho needs to go to a club where he will secure a regular playing time in order to bounce back to reckoning.

He observed that from the performance of Iheanacho in the Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier in Uyo, it was obvious that the players needed to do some-

thing urgent to revive his career.

The former PSG record signing was of the opinion that the only way for the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup Most Valuable player to revive his career is for him to leave City to another

club. He believes that moving away from City will do his career a whole world of good saying “what should be paramount in the mind of kelechi is to ensure that he gets out of Manchester City and move to a club where he will be sure of regular playing time.

“Nobody is in doubt of Kelechi’s potentials. He is a fantastic player but what he displayed in Uyo is far below what we know him of. I know that he was match rusty having been playing on the bench than on the pitch. So, I am of the opinion that it will pay him and his career for him to find another club where he will bounce back to reckoning,” Okocha advised.

46

The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26, 2017

SPORTS

By MADUABUCHI KALU and KELECHI NZE

I

t met all the trappings of elite event, when the new executives of the prestigious Island Allstars Sports Club were inaugurated and new members inducted on Saturday, at The Ball Room of the magnificent Oriental Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The new executives of the nine yearold club elected in May, in free and fair elections will pilot the affairs of the club for the next two years. According to the brief history of the club, the Island Allstars Sports Club came into being in 2008 following the desire of four young men led by Mr. Chuma Ukaere to keep feet and maintain physical fitness by playing football on Saturdays.

The other three men include Uchenna Wachukwu, Emeka Maduka and late Ugochukwu Ezekwem. The history of the club has it that the game of football being a uniting and boundless sport, by the second time these men assembled to play the game they loved so much, the number had grown to nine persons and subsequently, that number continued to increase till date.

The brief history of the club also has it that as the number of participants in the weekend game grew to about twenty two (22), these men led by Mr. Chuma Ukaere called their association Island Allstars Football Club and elected among themselves, the first executive committee to administer the affairs of the newly formed club. Mr. Chuma Ukaere as expected was elected the first President of the club, while Uchenna Wachukwu became the first vice president.

Other members such as Emeka Maduka, Ben Azuh, Ugochukwu Duru, Uchechi Njoku and former Super Eagles’ star, Chukwu Ndukwe serviced in different capacities in the first executive committee of the club.

Meanwhile, the newly inaugurated executives of the Island Allstars Sports Club have vowed to take the club to the next level. Leading in the pledge to take the fast growing elite sports club to a new height is the newly inaugurated President, Nze Barrister Briggs Amajuoyi. In a brief chat with The Oracle Today Sports on Saturday during the Presidential inauguration/induction of the club at the Oriental Hotels, Barrister Amajuoyi said he felt elated on the occasion of his inauguration as the fourth President of the club. He explained that the new executives have commenced the process of ensuring that all the promises made to members are fulfilled by profiling member in order to build the club and capacity of members. He further stated that the executives led by him would work hard to ensure that their network is converted into net-worth. He reiterated his earlier stand that his victory at the poll was a victory for the club as there was no loser but winners as the club remains one family.

Amajuoyi: I feel so highly elated. I feel so proud to be the President of Island Allstars and today is another memorable event. It has not happened before that we have such a wonderful occasion at the Oriental. Today we are chatting a new course for this our club, we are building the adequate profiling of this club and capacity around members. This is our move towards encouraging members to the next level we are going. It is an opportunity again after electioneering to bring all factions together. Bring everybody together because we are one family. It is through love and understanding that we build the club, we love ourselves. It is really a great pleasure for me and I am very happy and very excited,” Amajuoyi began.

“We do other things apart from football.

We do tennis, we do table tennis and in the nearest future we will start our golf course. We have our new permanent site which we are trying to develop very soon.

We are going to be a full blown club, all the amenities and social interactions, socially and otherwise. We are as well building a social network.

On where the club is heading to, Amajuoyi

Island Allstars Sports Club inaugurates new executives, induct members •As Amajuoyi led team pledges to take club to new level

•L-R: Barrister Briggs Amajuoyi, the new President of Island Allstars Club, their guest, Mr Kennedy Nnadi, new Vice President and Prince Andora Okafor, member.

•Some members of Island Allstars Sport Club declares: “We have set up what I call a Road Map Committee. Road Map is going to give us the direction of where we are going in the next five years, in the next 10 years and in the next 20 years. In the next 20 year we are going be the best social club in this axis because we are going to take over. You can see the caliber of young men here; we want to turn out this our network to net worth. We are not going to sell our trade outside. Anything we want is here, our members are professionals; doctors, lawyers and businessmen etc. Everything we want is here. Everything we want is within us. So, we are not looking for any trade outside. So, we trying is to build capacity around ourselves and take ourselves to the next level,” Amajuoyi said.

Also speaking, the immediate past President of Island Allstars Sports Club, Ugochukwu Duru, narrated how the club was playing on bumpy ground around Abraham Adesanya before moving to other locations and today they are playing at the premises of Lagos Business School. On his advise to the new executives Mr. Duru said: “I would like to say that they should understand that leadership of this sort is service to per se, when you are leading people who are bigger and better

than you, you have to be patient, you have to be tolerant, you have to entertain criticism.

You have to understand that you are just servicing them. Now, what it means automatically is that he should be able to bring together the people who supported him and people who did not support him because they are one family. Bring them together in love, to ensure that they also support him to achieve his aim which is, taking us to that level which he must have envisaged before he took this position.

On where he for see the club in the near future, Duru declares: “When I looked at Allstars Sports Club and view us in the next ten years, I see a club where we have not less than 2000 people being our member and at the same time having an understanding of an enviable sports club in Nigeria.”

Also speaking at the occasion, one of the founding members of the club who serves as the coach of the club, Mr. Uche Njoku lauded the new executives for taking the club to the next level already with the inauguration and induction of the president and new members respectively, taking place in Oriental Hotel.

He equally advised everybody concerning establishing anything saying remaining focus

in your vision, hardworking, prayer and commitment to anything one set his mind to do is important to success.

“I am the coach of Island Allstars; I am the founder of this club. My name is Uche Njoku a.k.a ‘Ngolongolo’. We have been doing inauguration but this one has upper established life that is to show that things are going on, that is to show that every day we are adding class, we are adding new persons, things are moving well. You know as a new born baby gradually you grow to certain levels. I am one of happiest people here today. I could remember when we started this club, we were like four or five but today we are above hundred. I think it is a big honour and thanks to God that I am one of the people who started something and it is growing big.

“The advise I am going to give to everybody reading this is that one thing about life is that whenever you are starting something, even if it is home or business that you are starting, don’t lose hope; pray over it and work hard. I believe that when you work hard and remain focused you will certainly succeed.”

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of Andora Best International Limited, Prince Andora Okafor, charged the new executives not to bend the rules when dealing with individual members of the club. He explained that if they do not bend the rules, they will certainly succeed. In his words: “My advise is just straight and simple, stick to the rules, don’t bend the rules for anybody. Make sure that whatever you say stand; because most times you look at the faces when you start treating people and in the process they try to hijack the club. Stick to the rules and don’t bend the rules for any individual and focus,” he admonished.

On his desire for the club, Okafor said they were looking at getting higher than Ikoyi Club because every member of the club kept using Ikoyi Club as a standard. “With the way we are going and the type of cooperation we are getting from members, Ikoyi club should be a starting point for us.”

Some of the dignitaries who graced the occasion include the guest speaker, Mr. Niyi Adesanya, who challenged the club to make their association a family one just like the Lagos Country Club whereby if either the husband or wife registers as a member every member of the family automatically becomes a member. He wished the club success even as he gave them so tips on how to move the club higher than it is at the moment.

Also president at the occasion is the Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor, Akinwumi Ambode on Central Business District (BCD) Mr. Agboola Dabiri, who described the club as the best Allstars sports club he has ever seen even as he assured them of his readiness to assist them whenever they need state government attention.

Members of Island Sports Club attended the grand event with their wives and friends.

The Ball Room of Oriental Hotel was filled to the brim even as musicians and comedians entertained guest.

Meanwhile, the highlight of the event was the inauguration of the new President of the club, Barrister Briggs Amajuoyi and members of his executives and the induction of new members.

47

The Oracle Today Wednesday July 26, 2017

SPORTS Federer makes Wimbledon history with 8th title

Kanu wants Enyeama return to Eagles

By MADUABUCHI KALU

A

s Nigeria is battling to find a replacement for Carl Ikeme who is battling with acute Leukemia, former national team captain, Kanu Nwankwo, has called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to recall Vincent Enyeama from international retirement.

According to the former Eagles’ captain, he is ready to lead the delegation to Enyeama with a view to convincing him to return to the national team particularly now that the country’s World Cup Qualifier with African champions Cameroon is around the corner.

Kanu, an Olympic gold medallist, believes that he will be able to convince Enyeama to return to the Eagles and help the national team qualify for the Russia 2018 World Cup. It is recalled that following the misunderstanding Enyeama had with former captain and coach of the team, Sunday Ogochukwu Oliseh, Enyeama called it quit with the national team but Nwankwo Kanu believes that Enyeama remains the best goal tender in the country at the moment following Ikeme’s acute Leukemia diagnoses.

Apart from Nwankwo Kanu many other Nigerians who are perturbed with the performance of Daniel Akpenyi in the last Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier in Uyo, had before now called on the football authorities to recall Enyeama in order to forestall impending disaster.

There is no gain saying that Super Eagles’ gaffer, Gernot Rohr had in June visited Enyeama in France where he had discussions with the

R

former national team safest hands but the Franco-German was quit to explain that his visit to the Akwa Ibom State born goalkeeper was not for him to return to the national team.

Some concerned Nigerians have equally suggested that Dele Aiyenugba who plies his trade in Israel should be made to return but Kanu Nwankwu would not have any of all these suggestions as he insists that Enyeama remains one of the best goalkeepers in the world and as a result, should be persuaded to return to serve his fatherland.

Odemwingie continues scoring streak in Madura United win

P

eter Odemwingie was the hero as he powered Madura United to a 1-0 win over Persiba Balikpapan in an Indonesian topflight encounter at the Gelora Ratu Pamelingan Stadium.

The Nigeria international striker scored the winner in the 37th minute for the Sapeh Kerab Warriors to claim all three points as they continued their push for Liga 1 crown.

He found his space outside the visitors’ goal area before unleashing a low shot that beat goalkeeper Yoewanto Beny.

The 36-year-old forward continued his rich vein of goal scoring netting in his third consecutive game to propel his team to victory on Monday.

oger Federer became the first man in tennis history to win eight Wimbledon titles when he dominated Marin Cilic of Croatia 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 in the final on Sunday.

“Better than holding the trophy and winning today is to be healthy,” said Federer, who didn’t play in 2016 after his Wimbledon semifinal appearance because of a knee injury. “Not dropping a set, the tournament I played is magi-

PSG ready to pay €222m for Neymar

M

arca reckons Paris Saint-Germain are ready to pay a world-record transfer fee of €222 million to sign Neymar, following a report in Sport that he feels his development at Barcelona is being stifled by Lionel Messi.

The Brazil international would be in line to earn €30m a year in Paris and would link up with international teammates, including Dani Alves, Thiago Silva and Lucas Moura. Manchester United and Manchester City also are credited with interest, although it is claimed the size of the transfer fee could present a problem, even for them.

Meanwhile, the Brazilian and Barcelona super star has been encouraged to leave Barcelona by one element of his entourage so that he can step out of the shadow of Lionel Messi, claims Sport.

The Brazilian moved to Camp Nou in 2013 and is under contract

until 2021, with his current release clause standing at €200 million.

The likes of Manchester City, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain are all expected to be interested if Neymar becomes unsettled enough to look to leave Barcelona.

cal. I can’t really believe it yet.”

At 35 years, 342 days old, Federer is the oldest man in the Open Era to win the Wimbledon title.

He captured the title in perfect style by serving up an ace on his second match point in the final game.

The victory increased Federer’s record of Grand Slam titles earned in the men’s game to 19.

Cilic, the 2014 U.S. Open champion, could never find his range in the match, and constantly was hitting serves, forehands and backhands beyond the boundaries of the court. He was injured and received treatment on his left foot on the changeover between the second and third sets.

“I gave my best and that’s all I could do,” said a teary-eyed Cilic.

“I’ve had an amazing journey here and played the best tennis of my life.”

Federer, who won his last Wimbledon title in 2012, captured his 18th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January. The last year Federer won two Grand Slam titles was in 2009, when he won back-to-back titles at the French Open and Wimbledon.

Federer is the third man in history to win multiple Grand Slam titles in the Open Era without dropping a set. The Swiss sensation also performed that feat when winning the 2007 Australian Open.

Bjorn Borg achieved that feat at Wimbledon in 1976 and the French Open in 1978 and ’80. Rafael Nadal won the French Open without dropping a set in 2008, ’10 and ’17.

Federer saved the one break point he faced in the 1-hour, 41-minute match, which came at 30-40 in the fourth game of the first set.

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Wednesday July 26, 2017

By Martin Ike-Muonso (Ph.D, DBA) 08033148722 (SMS only)

Where is the youth in economic policy development?

O

NE of the clichés that have psychologically dampened many teachers’ enthusiasm about their profession is the insinuation that their rewards are reserved in the life hereafter. Thus, they are not actually remembered now. By extension, therefore, even if they are owed for months, they should literally endure because their rewards are in heaven or in the far future.

Similarly, Nigerian youths have been reminded repeatedly that they are the leaders of tomorrow. Being leaders only of tomorrow means that they are not leaders today. By extension, they should wait till they are adults so as to have matured enough to take up leadership roles. In defiance of longstanding evolution in many countries where the youths have emerged to occupy strategic leadership – economic, political social etc - positions, the older generations in Nigeria are scarcely interested in giving the deserved chance to the young to play leadership roles. Ironically, many of the champions of anti-youth-leadership roles attained the peaks of their achievements as youth.

In life, there are seasons, which subtly define what our activities and expectations from us should be at each phase in the human life cycle. The life cycle psychology makes this clearer by trying to relate the position of a person at each point in time in his life to (a) the kind of challenges that the person faces, (b) the resources available to the person to tackle those challenges and (c) the consequences to the person of failing to either be he/she should be at the expected time and/or not having the requisite resources to deal with the challenges faced. Each phase, therefore, is expected to build upon the previous one and as such one is not expected to be a child forever. If that is the case then the youth cannot conceivably remain youth until the ‘tomorrow’ when he should be a leader.

In a general sense, there are about five phases in life. The first stage expectedly corresponds to the period of birth and childhood growth.

Loosely, this stage can be found within the age range of zero and about 16 years. Then, there is the capacity development stage in which one is expected to make or open up for human capital investments into one’s life either via formal advanced/tertiary or vocational education.

This group belongs to around 17 and 25-year age ranges. At this stage, the humans replete with optimism about the future deliberately go through the process of acquiring the skills relevant for conquering it. The third stage is the planting phase where these persons who have acquired the capacity to conquer their environment actually move on to plant and transform.

Some get employed while others establish own enterprises and employ others. In most of the cases, the dominant objective is to become

• The charm, energy and productivity of youth ... leaders in their various rights. The age bracket for this phase extends from about age 25 to about age 55. Some complete this phase much earlier while for some it extends much beyond age 65. The fourth phase is the reaping stage where one sits back to reap either his years of well invested labour or the penalty for laziness and un-strategic investment.

Based on recent global estimates, Nigeria is the eightieth country with the largest concentration of people belonging to the capacity de-

‘

The life cycle psychology makes this clearer by trying to relate the position of a person at each point in time in his life to (a) the kind of challenges that the person faces, (b) the resources available to the person to tackle those challenges and (c) the consequences to the person of failing to either be he/she should be at the expected time and/or not having the requisite resources to deal with the challenges faced

‘

velopment stage and the lower bands of the planting phase in the world. United States of America is the third after China and India. The implication is that Nigeria has a large deposit of the young who should be acquiring the requisite capacity with which to transform this country as leaders in various spheres of life.

This should actually signal massive quantum of national optimism for the future. But that is where the tragedy lies. The older generation of leaders had deliberately mangled the machinery for high quality development of this teeming mass of the young. The educational system and the consequent output are pitiable and heighten the un-employability of young Nigerians with adverse implications for their chances of turning out as leaders within good age. The story goes on that way. Unfortunately, this is a massively untapped area that should foster our growth as a nation as over 70% of Nigerians are less than 30 years of age.

That is why it has become even more imperative to inquire into the extent of deliberate involvement of the young in the design, implementation and monitoring/evaluation of government’s economic policies. Rarely are the young deliberately involved in economic policy formulation; on the contrary policies that affect their current and future evolution into the next phases of life are designed for them assuming completely that they do not have what it takes to participate in policy formulation. Or that they cannot take decisions about their future. The consequences are immense. Debts burdens, poorly trained manpower, corrupt system, decrepit institutions, etc are piled up to further damage the prospects of their enjoying their own future with their children. But the more of these young that are exposed to economic policy formulation, implementation and monitoring, the better it will be for this country

for many reasons: (a) it will help throw up an increasing generation of knowledgeable people with the energy to challenge the excesses of the older generation of leaders who has indeed plunged and has continued to plunge this country into the economic mess that it is experiencing, (b) it will have adequately prepared today’s leaders among the youth who will be well knowledgeable in growth and development targeted resource allocation, (c) it will help in quickly consigning the older generation of leaders who have continued to deprive them of their opportunities to lead, to the background where they ought to belong as statesmen and advisers, (d) it will orchestrate better advancement in the knowledge economy - science, technology and innovations - which in most instances are not associated with the ageing. And so on. But economics education in Nigerian tertiary institutions is in a big mess!! Where then lies this hope?

Economic leadership should be the current/ next big idea for the Nigerian youth and by extension the entire country. The time for a new generation of the young who patriotically think about the growth and advancement of this country to begin to come together has really come. This new generation is expected to possess the requisite economic knowledge powerbase to unearth the sources and nature of the ‘policy-coated’ scams that have been used over the years to perennially subject this country to underdevelopment by a few. This new generation should have the voice that is strident enough to bring the evil perpetrators among us to order and justice. They shall represent the true spirit of the real Nigerian.

It cannot be effectively done without robust education, much of which many of our youths have been denied and deprived of. That is why Boko Haram in the north, Bakassi in the east, Niger Delta and OPC militancy became easily successful. The minds of most of our youths are so much empty that any wrong thing inscribed on it becomes easily absorbed and acted upon.

In conclusion, consider the average age of the federal executive cabinet members which is about 51years. The same pattern seemingly runs across the legislature and judiciary. The system is populated and driven by the old who are not prepared to give the younger ones reasonable space to participate in policy formulation and implementation, even in the things that concern them. Would it not be worthwhile if the constitution is amended to forcibly accommodate a certain percentage of the youth in executive cabinet composition?

Yes, as much as one would argue that good leadership may not be dependent on age, it is also good to point out that it is only fair that each age band needs be represented when decisions that concern them are being taken.

The Oracle Today is published by The Oracle Newspapers Limited, 116 Awka Road, Onitsha, Anambra State. ISSN: 2545-5869 Email: oracletoday2016@yahoo.com, Twitter: @oraclenews.ng Facebook: oraclenewsngr@facebook.com Website: www.oraclenews.ng Advert hot lines: 09078310060, 09061836916. Editor: FELIX OGUEJIOFOR ABUGU.